Rutashubanyuma
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Michezo magazetini leo...
Michezo magazetini leo...
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Rutashubanyuma
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Rutashubanyuma
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Era of massive spending is over, say Manchester City
• City sign Edin Dzeko but promise to meet Uefa guidelines
• Michel Platini says new rules will help clubs reduce debt
- Owen Gibson and Daniel Taylor
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 11 January 2011 20.35 GMT <li class="history">Article history
Uefa's president, Michel Platini, says new financial rules are not a witch-hunt but can promote better business models. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images Uefa today warned that clubs that fail to live within their means would have to "face the consequences" under its new rules, as Manchester City insisted their lavish spending spree was finally coming to an end.
The Uefa president, Michel Platini, faced questions on how City would comply with the Financial Fair Play rules, which come into force next season and could lead to clubs being banned from Europe from 2014-15 if they overspend relative to their incomes.
Manchester City's recent £121m annual losses, following unprecedented spending in the wake of Sheikh Mansour's 2008 takeover, has left many observers questioning how they can reconcile the huge investment with the new landscape.
But the problem of spiraling losses and wage inflation is not confined to Eastlands. Uefa's 2009 benchmarking report, also published today, showed that more than half of the clubs in Europe's top divisions made a loss and contributed a record total of €1.2bn (£998m).
The Financial Fair Play criteria, outlined in detail for the first time, will require clubs to live on the income they generate or face a series of sanctions up to expulsion from Uefa competitions.
Over the first two seasons, clubs will be allowed to overspend by a total of €45m and that permitted buffer will be reduced on a sliding scale for each three-year reporting period that follows. Unlimited investment in stadium infrastructure and youth academies will be permitted.
Leading Italian clubs also face problems but Platini said whatever their stature, the European governing body would not hesitate to take action. "If a club doesn't fall in line and follow the same rules as everyone else then it will be time to face the music. Certainly it is not something we want to see," he said.
"Our objective is not to put clubs into financial difficulty. Financial fair play is to help them escape from this devilish spiral and have a viable economic strategy in the long term. This is not a witch-hunt, this is so they no longer continue blindly and mindlessly."
On the day that Roberto Mancini unveiled his latest £27m capture, Edin Dzeko, he vowed that it would mark the end of the first chapter of City's reinvention using the oil wealth of Abu Dhabi. Questioned on how the club would achieve the goal of complying with the new regulations, Mancini said there would be no major spree to match last summer's.
"This is my ideal squad at the moment. We don't need to buy another six or seven players next summer. Maybe two or three. We are building a great team at the moment. Every year we want to improve, but with another two or three players next season, no more," he said.
Manchester City executives have consistently maintained that they intend to comply with the rules, which will also take into account any sponsorship or marketing deals not deemed to be at market rates. But to do so they will have to continue to increase revenues while cutting a wage bill that has spiralled since Mansour's takeover and includes many players who no longer make the first team.
Andrea Traverso, Uefa's head of licensing, said: "We are in talks with the club – they are aware of the rules and they probably have a strategy to raise their income."
Platini added: "Last year in Abu Dhabi I met up with the owner of Manchester City and he promised they would live with the rules and regulations."
And for all Uefa's tough talk and confidence that the impending rules were already having a deadening effect on transfer spending and wage inflation, there were signs today that clubs would be afforded some latitude as long as they could prove they were heading in the right direction. But Platini, who said the scheme was "very complex but vital for the future of football", was keen to press home the point that the credibility of Uefa rested on its ability to deliver the more secure financial landscape he had promised.
"We have no wish to see clubs that are part of the heritage of football disappear because of bad management," he said. "We want to protect a certain type of football that is fairer and more ethical. The majority of clubs also seem to want to act more ethically."
Platini claims the support of the majority of club owners and the European Club Association has backed the scheme after securing concessions.
Rutashubanyuma
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Era of massive spending is over, say Manchester City
City sign Edin Dzeko but promise to meet Uefa guidelines
Michel Platini says new rules will help clubs reduce debt
- Owen Gibson and Daniel Taylor
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 11 January 2011 20.35 GMT <li class="history">Article history Uefa's president, Michel Platini, says new financial rules are not a witch-hunt but can promote better business models. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images Uefa today warned that clubs that fail to live within their means would have to "face the consequences" under its new rules, as Manchester City insisted their lavish spending spree was finally coming to an end.
The Uefa president, Michel Platini, faced questions on how City would comply with the Financial Fair Play rules, which come into force next season and could lead to clubs being banned from Europe from 2014-15 if they overspend relative to their incomes.
Manchester City's recent £121m annual losses, following unprecedented spending in the wake of Sheikh Mansour's 2008 takeover, has left many observers questioning how they can reconcile the huge investment with the new landscape.
But the problem of spiraling losses and wage inflation is not confined to Eastlands. Uefa's 2009 benchmarking report, also published today, showed that more than half of the clubs in Europe's top divisions made a loss and contributed a record total of 1.2bn (£998m).
The Financial Fair Play criteria, outlined in detail for the first time, will require clubs to live on the income they generate or face a series of sanctions up to expulsion from Uefa competitions.
Over the first two seasons, clubs will be allowed to overspend by a total of 45m and that permitted buffer will be reduced on a sliding scale for each three-year reporting period that follows. Unlimited investment in stadium infrastructure and youth academies will be permitted.
Leading Italian clubs also face problems but Platini said whatever their stature, the European governing body would not hesitate to take action. "If a club doesn't fall in line and follow the same rules as everyone else then it will be time to face the music. Certainly it is not something we want to see," he said.
"Our objective is not to put clubs into financial difficulty. Financial fair play is to help them escape from this devilish spiral and have a viable economic strategy in the long term. This is not a witch-hunt, this is so they no longer continue blindly and mindlessly."
On the day that Roberto Mancini unveiled his latest £27m capture, Edin Dzeko, he vowed that it would mark the end of the first chapter of City's reinvention using the oil wealth of Abu Dhabi. Questioned on how the club would achieve the goal of complying with the new regulations, Mancini said there would be no major spree to match last summer's.
"This is my ideal squad at the moment. We don't need to buy another six or seven players next summer. Maybe two or three. We are building a great team at the moment. Every year we want to improve, but with another two or three players next season, no more," he said.
Manchester City executives have consistently maintained that they intend to comply with the rules, which will also take into account any sponsorship or marketing deals not deemed to be at market rates. But to do so they will have to continue to increase revenues while cutting a wage bill that has spiralled since Mansour's takeover and includes many players who no longer make the first team.
Andrea Traverso, Uefa's head of licensing, said: "We are in talks with the club they are aware of the rules and they probably have a strategy to raise their income."
Platini added: "Last year in Abu Dhabi I met up with the owner of Manchester City and he promised they would live with the rules and regulations."
And for all Uefa's tough talk and confidence that the impending rules were already having a deadening effect on transfer spending and wage inflation, there were signs today that clubs would be afforded some latitude as long as they could prove they were heading in the right direction. But Platini, who said the scheme was "very complex but vital for the future of football", was keen to press home the point that the credibility of Uefa rested on its ability to deliver the more secure financial landscape he had promised.
"We have no wish to see clubs that are part of the heritage of football disappear because of bad management," he said. "We want to protect a certain type of football that is fairer and more ethical. The majority of clubs also seem to want to act more ethically."
Platini claims the support of the majority of club owners and the European Club Association has backed the scheme after securing concessions.
Rutashubanyuma
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Geri Halliwell dresses like a chinchilla
WHO knew chinchillas roamed the streets of London?
Geri Halliwell, 38, arrived for a business meeting in Soho dressed like a giant crepuscular rodent in this uber-fluffy, faux fur jacket. It's the first time I've wanted to stroke a Spice Girl.
WHO knew chinchillas roamed the streets of London?
Geri Halliwell, 38, arrived for a business meeting in Soho dressed like a giant crepuscular rodent in this uber-fluffy, faux fur jacket. It's the first time I've wanted to stroke a Spice Girl.
Rutashubanyuma
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Why Manchester United made life easy for Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool
There could be no more creditable defeat than that Kenny Dalglish experienced on his return to Liverpool, but he has much still to prove
There could be no more creditable defeat than that Kenny Dalglish experienced on his return to Liverpool, but he has much still to prove
-
- Kevin McCarra
- The Guardian, Tuesday 11 January 2011 <li class="history">Article history
Kenny Dalglish, who lost his first game since returning to Liverpool 1-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images A match with Manchester United is a relief for Liverpool rather than an ordeal. Kenny Dalglish could hardly have picked a better fixture to show himself in a favourable light as returning manager. His team were knocked out of the FA Cup, but there was credit to be had in a 1-0 defeat to a debatable penalty on an afternoon when the captain, Steven Gerrard, was sent off with just 32 minutes gone. Liverpool had at least escaped the drab sort of failure that has characterised their season.
There was defiance, too, from visiting fans who would not give the home crowd the satisfaction of seeing them crestfallen. Dalglish's influence was hailed by those supporters even though this is a fixture in which the club regularly produces good form. The team would have shown pride even if nobody at all had taken the place of the sacked Roy Hodgson.
Of the last half-dozen matches with Sir Alex Ferguson's side, three have been won and the others were lost by just a one-goal margin. Dalglish is, above all, a realist and will have understood the artificiality of the short trip to Old Trafford that often lets Liverpool leave their usual selves far behind. There is still plenty of cause to doubt whether he should be seen even as a candidate for the post of manager.
Dalglish will appreciate the incongruity of his sudden status as a candidate. If the American owners had taken over in the close season, when their predecessors were drawn to Hodgson, it is inconceivable that they would have plumped for him. Dalglish does not fit the bill for men enthralled by the hi-tech approach that is perfect for baseball. Apart from that, Dalglish's presence at the disasters of Heysel and Hillsborough must have stripped him of the delusion that football should ever take precedence over normal, priceless life.
His reservations about the sport and the demands it makes have often been witnessed. Dalglish, with good cause, had been putting a safe distance between himself and the game for many years until the return at Old Trafford. He was last a manager with Celtic in 2000 and could hardly duck that appointment. Dalglish initially had the role of director of football operations there, with the inexperienced John Barnes as head coach. The board thought the older man would be a mentor, but could not see any sign of it.
Following the Scottish Cup loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dalglish flew back from La Manga and asked the waiting journalists: "Do you like my tan?" It was not the moment for flippancy. He took over as manager from the sacked Barnes, but a win against Aberdeen in a League Cup final did not deter the board from sacking him. Martin O'Neill then galvanised the club and that decision to ditch Dalglish was vindicated fully.
The issue for Liverpool's owners will not so much be the bad times he has endured as the deterioration in effectiveness. Arriving at St James' Park in January 1997, he led Newcastle United to a second place finish in the Premier League. The club came 13th the following season and he was dismissed, despite a run to the FA Cup final. If Dalglish persisted and talked himself into a return to the technical area it must be because he had already proved to himself and everyone else that he could excel as a manager.
For a while, it had been a masterful career. There were exceptional signings and achievements in his first managerial post, at Liverpool. The horror of the Hillsborough disaster took its toll, yet after stepping down at Anfield he still became manager of Blackburn Rovers. Ewood witnessed the greatest demonstration of his insight. There was hefty spending for that period, with £3.5m paid for Alan Shearer and £5m for Chris Sutton, but it still took sharp management to take the league title to Ewood Park in 1995. Graeme le Saux, for instance, arrived for £700,000 and was eventually sold to Chelsea for £5m.
This is precisely the sort of acumen that Liverpool most need if the side is to be catapulted up the league. The owners, however, must doubt whether Dalglish still has the knack, yet it will not be lost on them either that the Anfield crowd reveres him. The Americans face an early examination of their judgment. Dalglish, with an intriguing fixture at Blackpool tomorrow, might well improve on the miserable results, yet they cannot afford sentimentality towards a club they bought for £300m.
Rutashubanyuma
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Kenny Dalglish - will his tactics work for Liverpool in 2011?
Kenny Dalglish enjoyed success with a basic 4-4-2 formation at Liverpool and Blackburn, but are his methods outdated now?
Kenny Dalglish enjoyed success with a basic 4-4-2 formation at Liverpool and Blackburn, but are his methods outdated now?
-
- Jonathan Wilson
- guardian.co.uk, Monday 10 January 2011 21.13 GMT <li class="history">Article history
Kenny Dalglish, who left Liverpool in 1991, meets the press after taking over from Roy Hodgson. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images Liverpool
v Everton 20 May 1989, FA Cup final
At Liverpool, Dalglish was the last in the great dynasty of the boot-room, his job to an extent merely to keep the flame alive. Tactically Kenny Dalglish's system essentially followed the same model established by Bob Paisley: a basic 4-4-2 with a genuine winger (John Barnes) on one flank and a more tucked-in midfielder on the other (Ray Houghton), and a deep-lying forward (Peter Beardsley in the role Dalglish himself once occupied) off a hard-working front man who worked across the line. Both full-backs were encouraged to push on, and at least one of the centre‑backs had licence to stride out with the ball into midfield. In 1987-88, when it produced 87 goals in 40 league games, and to a lesser extent 1988-89, their football was majestically fluent, but by the time Dalglish left in 1991, a caginess had started to set in. His last full season yielded 77 goals, but a starting eleven away to Arsenal that featured six players who'd spent most of their career in defence, plus Ronnie Whelan, was indicative of a growing mood of caution
Blackburn Rovers
v Arsenal 8 March 1995, Premier League
There was a moment during the 1990 World Cup when England's manager Bobby Robson was asked if he thought 4-4-2 was done with. Snappishly, he pointed out that Liverpool played 4-4-2 and asked whether anybody thought they were finished. They did not, of course, but Liverpool have not won a league title since. Off-field matters – the emotional aftermath of Hillsborough, the appointment of Graeme Souness to replace a shattered Dalglish and a failure to adapt to the new commercial possibilities of the Premier League – were of course a greater cause of the decline than tactical conservatism, but the fact remains that no side has won in the last 20 years with that old-style 4-4-2. In 1994-95, Dalglish had Blackburn Rovers playing a far more direct style than his Liverpool had, with two mobile centre-forwards who were both good in the air, two advanced wide midfielders and a protective screen of two holding players in front of the back four.
Newcastle United
v Charlton Athletic 15 August 1998, Premier League
Sacking a manager two games into a new season is, of course, absurd, but there was a basis to the allegations of over-defensiveness. After the cavalier football of the Kevin Keegan era, Newcastle managed a paltry 35 goals in 38 games in 1997-98. A negative approach in the FA Cup final, with Alessandro Pistone deployed on the left side of midfield, was perhaps justifiable, but when Newcastle started the following season with Nikos Dabizas and Dietmar Hamann in the middle of midfield against Charlton Athletic the outrage was understandable. It was not even that they were there to service a pair of attacking wide-men; rather the use of Rob Lee and Gary Speed left Newcastle desperately short of width. That had Alan Shearer isolated, with Andreas Andersson ineffective in an unfamiliar playmaking role behind him. That Charlton had a man sent off after 25 minutes and Newcastle still couldn't break them down only added to Newcastle's frustration.
Celtic
v Aberdeen 19 March 2000, Scottish League Cup final
A trophy is a trophy, and finals of course carry additional pressures, but Dalglish's final piece of silverware carried an unmistakable sense of anti-climax. Under John Barnes, Celtic had beaten Aberdeen 5-0, 7-0 and 6-0 that season; to beat them only 2-0 was emblematic of Dalglish's caution. In the 7-0 game, Barnes had fielded a midfield of Craig Burley, Lubomir Moravcik, Eyal Berkovic and Paul Lambert, a quartet of passers and creators. Dalglish returned to something approaching the old Liverpool shape, with Vidar Riseth, often a full-back, deployed on the right of midfield, Morten Wieghorst and Stilian Petrov holding in the middle, and the playmaker Moravcik exiled to the left, from where he swooped in to link with Tommy Johnson to create for Mark Viduka. In personnel and style, though, this was a pale imitation of his Liverpool.
Rutashubanyuma
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Kenny Dalglish - will his tactics work for Liverpool in 2011?
Kenny Dalglish enjoyed success with a basic 4-4-2 formation at Liverpool and Blackburn, but are his methods outdated now?
Kenny Dalglish enjoyed success with a basic 4-4-2 formation at Liverpool and Blackburn, but are his methods outdated now?
-
- Jonathan Wilson
- guardian.co.uk, Monday 10 January 2011 21.13 GMT <li class="history">Article history
Kenny Dalglish, who left Liverpool in 1991, meets the press after taking over from Roy Hodgson. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images Liverpool
v Everton 20 May 1989, FA Cup final
At Liverpool, Dalglish was the last in the great dynasty of the boot-room, his job to an extent merely to keep the flame alive. Tactically Kenny Dalglish's system essentially followed the same model established by Bob Paisley: a basic 4-4-2 with a genuine winger (John Barnes) on one flank and a more tucked-in midfielder on the other (Ray Houghton), and a deep-lying forward (Peter Beardsley in the role Dalglish himself once occupied) off a hard-working front man who worked across the line. Both full-backs were encouraged to push on, and at least one of the centre‑backs had licence to stride out with the ball into midfield. In 1987-88, when it produced 87 goals in 40 league games, and to a lesser extent 1988-89, their football was majestically fluent, but by the time Dalglish left in 1991, a caginess had started to set in. His last full season yielded 77 goals, but a starting eleven away to Arsenal that featured six players who'd spent most of their career in defence, plus Ronnie Whelan, was indicative of a growing mood of caution
Blackburn Rovers
v Arsenal 8 March 1995, Premier League
There was a moment during the 1990 World Cup when England's manager Bobby Robson was asked if he thought 4-4-2 was done with. Snappishly, he pointed out that Liverpool played 4-4-2 and asked whether anybody thought they were finished. They did not, of course, but Liverpool have not won a league title since. Off-field matters the emotional aftermath of Hillsborough, the appointment of Graeme Souness to replace a shattered Dalglish and a failure to adapt to the new commercial possibilities of the Premier League were of course a greater cause of the decline than tactical conservatism, but the fact remains that no side has won in the last 20 years with that old-style 4-4-2. In 1994-95, Dalglish had Blackburn Rovers playing a far more direct style than his Liverpool had, with two mobile centre-forwards who were both good in the air, two advanced wide midfielders and a protective screen of two holding players in front of the back four.
Newcastle United
v Charlton Athletic 15 August 1998, Premier League
Sacking a manager two games into a new season is, of course, absurd, but there was a basis to the allegations of over-defensiveness. After the cavalier football of the Kevin Keegan era, Newcastle managed a paltry 35 goals in 38 games in 1997-98. A negative approach in the FA Cup final, with Alessandro Pistone deployed on the left side of midfield, was perhaps justifiable, but when Newcastle started the following season with Nikos Dabizas and Dietmar Hamann in the middle of midfield against Charlton Athletic the outrage was understandable. It was not even that they were there to service a pair of attacking wide-men; rather the use of Rob Lee and Gary Speed left Newcastle desperately short of width. That had Alan Shearer isolated, with Andreas Andersson ineffective in an unfamiliar playmaking role behind him. That Charlton had a man sent off after 25 minutes and Newcastle still couldn't break them down only added to Newcastle's frustration.
Celtic
v Aberdeen 19 March 2000, Scottish League Cup final
A trophy is a trophy, and finals of course carry additional pressures, but Dalglish's final piece of silverware carried an unmistakable sense of anti-climax. Under John Barnes, Celtic had beaten Aberdeen 5-0, 7-0 and 6-0 that season; to beat them only 2-0 was emblematic of Dalglish's caution. In the 7-0 game, Barnes had fielded a midfield of Craig Burley, Lubomir Moravcik, Eyal Berkovic and Paul Lambert, a quartet of passers and creators. Dalglish returned to something approaching the old Liverpool shape, with Vidar Riseth, often a full-back, deployed on the right of midfield, Morten Wieghorst and Stilian Petrov holding in the middle, and the playmaker Moravcik exiled to the left, from where he swooped in to link with Tommy Johnson to create for Mark Viduka. In personnel and style, though, this was a pale imitation of his Liverpool.
Rutashubanyuma
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Lionel Messi is the world's best player but Xavi deserved Fifa's award
The Spain and Barcelona playmaker has been the best in 2010 and should have won the Ballon d'Or last night
Lionel Messi poses with Fifa's Ballon d'Or award in Zurich, a decision Spian's press are portraying as anti-Spanish. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images Leo Messi was wearing a dickie bow last night. Proof, some said with a smile, that he knew he was going to be awarded with a second successive Ballon d'Or – after all, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta were only in ties. But he didn't know: amid all the shock, the disgust and the pathetic patriotic paranoia, the man most surprised at Messi's award was Messi. On his way into the gala, he was asked whether it felt a bit strange to be the best player in the world and yet still know that he wasn't going to get the award for the world's best player. Messi mumbled something along the lines of: no, not really – Xavi and Iniesta won the World Cup.
And there in a barely audible phrase was the crux of the issue. This is the first time since 1974 that in a World Cup year when it was won by a European team the winner has not been from the world champions. And in 1974 it was Johan Cruyff – the World Cup's moral winner. Only one Spanish player has ever won the award – Luis Suárez in 1960 – and for years the reason was assumed to be that, while Madrid and Barcelona had been among the continent's very best teams, there was no international success to push Spanish players over the line. Now at last there is. But this time, more than any other time, the World Cup has not been decisive. If it had been, Messi would not have won the award.
Messi was extraordinary in 2010. If the Ballon d'Or is given to the player who played the best football over the course of the year, he is a worthy winner. It was the year in which there was no doubt. Fans spent much of it scraping their jaws off the floor as he performed with barely plausible brilliance week after week. Even the sceptics were won over. The hammering of Arsenal, especially, turned heads . He became the complete player. The debate surrounding him was elevated to a different plane. It was no longer enough to ask whether he was the best now: was he, in fact, one of the best players ever?
He produced more dribbles, more goals and more assists than anyone else in La Liga and was the Champions League's top scorer. He was the European Golden Boot. He scored 60 goals in 59 games. Despite arguments to the contrary, he played rather well in South Africa. But that basic construction – best player gets vote – has rarely been followed before. This is not the world's best player award. It is the year's greatest achiever award. On the greatest stage, Messi did not leave a lasting mark. And that point strengthens the case of the two men who shared the podium with him last night: without Xavi and Iniesta, Messi was not as good; without him, they were. Without him, they won the World Cup.
Ultimately, the decision rests of the criteria employed. Trouble is, how do you apply a criteria with the electorate expanding as it has? In 2006, 56 people voted, in 2010 96, this year 427. Next year it will be 624. Officially, the Ballon d'Or "awards the best in their category, without distinction of championship or nationality for their achievements during the year". Voters are reminded to be impartial and to take into account all criteria. It is awarded for "on field behaviour and overall behaviour on and off the pitch". Voters were reminded of the importance of "individual" achievements and "team (trophies)".
If it was down to trophies, a basic count, then one man stands above the rest: Wesley Sneijder was the key creative spark of the Internazionale team that won the treble and helped carry Holland to the World Cup final, scoring five times en route. (By the same criteria, the omission of Diego Milito even from the shortlist is baffling but for pointing to the significance of South Africa: he scored the goal that clinched the title, the goal that won the Italian Cup and the goal that won the European Cup but was irrelevant to Argentina. The fact that Arjen Robben has hardly been mentioned jars a little too: Bayern Munich's most important player by miles, he won a league and cup double and reached World and European cup finals).
Under the old format, it would have been Sneijder. The Ballon d'Or used to be voted on by the correspondents of France Football but the award has been hijacked by Fifa – frustrated at its inability to sink the Ballon d'Or with the Fifa World Player Award – and now it is an amalgamation of both trophies. Now, international coaches and captains also get a vote. Counting only the France Football votes, Sneijder would have won. Messi would have been fourth. It is the coaches and the captains not the correspondents who have given him this award.
But when it comes to trophies, none weigh so heavily as the World Cup. Precedent, if not written rules, has pointed that way. Ronaldo in 2002, Cannavaro in 2006. And although Sneijder's case there is strong too, he did not win the World Cup. Here, no one can match Spain.
Iniesta's winning goal – and, it should not be forgotten, his wonderful tournament – propelled him into the top three, despite a year in which he had suffered with injury at club level. Many were furious when José Mourinho insisted that Iniesta did not deserve the award, claiming that "any player could have scored the winner in the final", but he had a point. In Spain, there was talk of Iker Casillas because of his vital intervention against Paraguay in the quarter-final and Holland in the final (his club season had been surprisingly poor). There was not, strangely, much talk of David Villa: another international top scorer award seemed counter-balanced by not having played for Madrid or Barcelona before the tournament.
And then there was Xavi. If football is about legacy, about impact and importance, Xavi's claim seemed unassailable. If it takes into account the whole of 2010 and not just the back of 2009-10 and the World Cup, it grows stronger yet: has any game stood out like this season's clásico in which Xavi led his side to an incredible win? In the past three years, Xavi has won it all. A European Championship in 2008, six trophies out of six with Barcelona (league, Copa del Rey, Champions League, World Club Cup, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup) in 2009, and the World Cup in 2010.
Not just won them: won them in style. There is an argument that suggests, especially after the stunning 5-0 destruction of Real Madrid, that this Barcelona team might be the best club side there has ever been. By winning back-to-back European and world championships, much the same could be said about Spain – they were unusually worthy winners of the World Cup. But it is not just that those two teams have won it all; it is the way they have won. Rarely has a team had such clarity of style, such a distinct identity, as Spain and Barcelona. An identity in which they dominate, control and anaesthetise the opposition, picking apart their defences, undoing their armour piece by piece.
That style is Xavi's style. Xavi lays for Barcelona and Spain. Really plays for them; he is not just in the side, he does not just play, he makes them play. It is not just that he is a great player, which he is, but that he makes other players great. He is the ideologue behind two of the best teams there has been. If any player has marked the last three years, it is he. At 31, he probably won't get another chance to win the award – God knows how many Messi might win – and he should have won it this year. For this year and the previous three; for this era. His era. No matter what the Daily Mail thinks. Especially because of what the Daily Mail thinks.
And yet one thing the criteria is clear about is that this is an award for 2010 alone. In the past, France Football has talked too of "trajectory"; this year, that has not been the case. That's one explanation. In the scramble to explain last night's surprise there have been plenty of theories forwarded. The most tragically predictable has been proffered by the newspaper Marca whose cover ran on a photo of Mourinho (about whose award there has been rather less anger, even though he got the nod ahead of Vicente del Bosque) and Messi. In the middle was a small picture of Sepp Blatter. The headline read: "Two Giants and One Anti-Spaniard". The paper's name was written in red and yellow. "This," complained the cover, "is the flag the president of Fifa hates."
But Blatter did not vote. Journalists, coaches, and players did. And they voted for Spaniards in huge numbers: 42% of the first choice votes went to Spaniards. For the first time ever, seven players from the same country picked up at least one first choice vote. That hardly smells of conspiracy. More skewed surely is the desire for someone, anyone to win the award – just so long as they are a Spaniard. And, in fact, Spain – and here it's worth reminding many in this country that there was no candidate called Spain – may have been a victim of its own success, its very nature. Of the fact that its collective nature meant there was not one, single stand-out candidate for everyone to get behind. The vote was split: Messi won with 22.65%, Iniesta had 17.47% and Xavi 16.48%.
The fact that there is an open vote has allowed some to snipe at who chooses the winner, and pick out those "guilty" for this "crime". But before everyone starts patronisingly laughing at the stupidity of votes from those third-worlders who don't know anything, check out last year's most idiotic voter Besides, that did not damage Spain, either: plenty of votes came in from countries that were being dismissed as irrelevant last night. Although banned from voting for international team-mates, players do indeed – as the example above shows – sometimes vote politically. Amid almost 500 votes, though, that hardly seems sufficient to tip the balance. The wrong player might have won, but no one was actually wronged.
Last night, Leo Messi was surprised. He was not the only one. In 2010, the Argentinian eclipsed everyone. But even he didn't expect that to include his World Cup winning team-mates.
The Spain and Barcelona playmaker has been the best in 2010 and should have won the Ballon d'Or last night
And there in a barely audible phrase was the crux of the issue. This is the first time since 1974 that in a World Cup year when it was won by a European team the winner has not been from the world champions. And in 1974 it was Johan Cruyff – the World Cup's moral winner. Only one Spanish player has ever won the award – Luis Suárez in 1960 – and for years the reason was assumed to be that, while Madrid and Barcelona had been among the continent's very best teams, there was no international success to push Spanish players over the line. Now at last there is. But this time, more than any other time, the World Cup has not been decisive. If it had been, Messi would not have won the award.
Messi was extraordinary in 2010. If the Ballon d'Or is given to the player who played the best football over the course of the year, he is a worthy winner. It was the year in which there was no doubt. Fans spent much of it scraping their jaws off the floor as he performed with barely plausible brilliance week after week. Even the sceptics were won over. The hammering of Arsenal, especially, turned heads . He became the complete player. The debate surrounding him was elevated to a different plane. It was no longer enough to ask whether he was the best now: was he, in fact, one of the best players ever?
He produced more dribbles, more goals and more assists than anyone else in La Liga and was the Champions League's top scorer. He was the European Golden Boot. He scored 60 goals in 59 games. Despite arguments to the contrary, he played rather well in South Africa. But that basic construction – best player gets vote – has rarely been followed before. This is not the world's best player award. It is the year's greatest achiever award. On the greatest stage, Messi did not leave a lasting mark. And that point strengthens the case of the two men who shared the podium with him last night: without Xavi and Iniesta, Messi was not as good; without him, they were. Without him, they won the World Cup.
Ultimately, the decision rests of the criteria employed. Trouble is, how do you apply a criteria with the electorate expanding as it has? In 2006, 56 people voted, in 2010 96, this year 427. Next year it will be 624. Officially, the Ballon d'Or "awards the best in their category, without distinction of championship or nationality for their achievements during the year". Voters are reminded to be impartial and to take into account all criteria. It is awarded for "on field behaviour and overall behaviour on and off the pitch". Voters were reminded of the importance of "individual" achievements and "team (trophies)".
If it was down to trophies, a basic count, then one man stands above the rest: Wesley Sneijder was the key creative spark of the Internazionale team that won the treble and helped carry Holland to the World Cup final, scoring five times en route. (By the same criteria, the omission of Diego Milito even from the shortlist is baffling but for pointing to the significance of South Africa: he scored the goal that clinched the title, the goal that won the Italian Cup and the goal that won the European Cup but was irrelevant to Argentina. The fact that Arjen Robben has hardly been mentioned jars a little too: Bayern Munich's most important player by miles, he won a league and cup double and reached World and European cup finals).
Under the old format, it would have been Sneijder. The Ballon d'Or used to be voted on by the correspondents of France Football but the award has been hijacked by Fifa – frustrated at its inability to sink the Ballon d'Or with the Fifa World Player Award – and now it is an amalgamation of both trophies. Now, international coaches and captains also get a vote. Counting only the France Football votes, Sneijder would have won. Messi would have been fourth. It is the coaches and the captains not the correspondents who have given him this award.
But when it comes to trophies, none weigh so heavily as the World Cup. Precedent, if not written rules, has pointed that way. Ronaldo in 2002, Cannavaro in 2006. And although Sneijder's case there is strong too, he did not win the World Cup. Here, no one can match Spain.
Iniesta's winning goal – and, it should not be forgotten, his wonderful tournament – propelled him into the top three, despite a year in which he had suffered with injury at club level. Many were furious when José Mourinho insisted that Iniesta did not deserve the award, claiming that "any player could have scored the winner in the final", but he had a point. In Spain, there was talk of Iker Casillas because of his vital intervention against Paraguay in the quarter-final and Holland in the final (his club season had been surprisingly poor). There was not, strangely, much talk of David Villa: another international top scorer award seemed counter-balanced by not having played for Madrid or Barcelona before the tournament.
And then there was Xavi. If football is about legacy, about impact and importance, Xavi's claim seemed unassailable. If it takes into account the whole of 2010 and not just the back of 2009-10 and the World Cup, it grows stronger yet: has any game stood out like this season's clásico in which Xavi led his side to an incredible win? In the past three years, Xavi has won it all. A European Championship in 2008, six trophies out of six with Barcelona (league, Copa del Rey, Champions League, World Club Cup, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup) in 2009, and the World Cup in 2010.
Not just won them: won them in style. There is an argument that suggests, especially after the stunning 5-0 destruction of Real Madrid, that this Barcelona team might be the best club side there has ever been. By winning back-to-back European and world championships, much the same could be said about Spain – they were unusually worthy winners of the World Cup. But it is not just that those two teams have won it all; it is the way they have won. Rarely has a team had such clarity of style, such a distinct identity, as Spain and Barcelona. An identity in which they dominate, control and anaesthetise the opposition, picking apart their defences, undoing their armour piece by piece.
That style is Xavi's style. Xavi lays for Barcelona and Spain. Really plays for them; he is not just in the side, he does not just play, he makes them play. It is not just that he is a great player, which he is, but that he makes other players great. He is the ideologue behind two of the best teams there has been. If any player has marked the last three years, it is he. At 31, he probably won't get another chance to win the award – God knows how many Messi might win – and he should have won it this year. For this year and the previous three; for this era. His era. No matter what the Daily Mail thinks. Especially because of what the Daily Mail thinks.
And yet one thing the criteria is clear about is that this is an award for 2010 alone. In the past, France Football has talked too of "trajectory"; this year, that has not been the case. That's one explanation. In the scramble to explain last night's surprise there have been plenty of theories forwarded. The most tragically predictable has been proffered by the newspaper Marca whose cover ran on a photo of Mourinho (about whose award there has been rather less anger, even though he got the nod ahead of Vicente del Bosque) and Messi. In the middle was a small picture of Sepp Blatter. The headline read: "Two Giants and One Anti-Spaniard". The paper's name was written in red and yellow. "This," complained the cover, "is the flag the president of Fifa hates."
But Blatter did not vote. Journalists, coaches, and players did. And they voted for Spaniards in huge numbers: 42% of the first choice votes went to Spaniards. For the first time ever, seven players from the same country picked up at least one first choice vote. That hardly smells of conspiracy. More skewed surely is the desire for someone, anyone to win the award – just so long as they are a Spaniard. And, in fact, Spain – and here it's worth reminding many in this country that there was no candidate called Spain – may have been a victim of its own success, its very nature. Of the fact that its collective nature meant there was not one, single stand-out candidate for everyone to get behind. The vote was split: Messi won with 22.65%, Iniesta had 17.47% and Xavi 16.48%.
The fact that there is an open vote has allowed some to snipe at who chooses the winner, and pick out those "guilty" for this "crime". But before everyone starts patronisingly laughing at the stupidity of votes from those third-worlders who don't know anything, check out last year's most idiotic voter Besides, that did not damage Spain, either: plenty of votes came in from countries that were being dismissed as irrelevant last night. Although banned from voting for international team-mates, players do indeed – as the example above shows – sometimes vote politically. Amid almost 500 votes, though, that hardly seems sufficient to tip the balance. The wrong player might have won, but no one was actually wronged.
Last night, Leo Messi was surprised. He was not the only one. In 2010, the Argentinian eclipsed everyone. But even he didn't expect that to include his World Cup winning team-mates.
Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
- 219,468
- 911,184
- Thread starter
- #2,850
Lionel Messi is the world's best player but Xavi deserved Fifa's award
The Spain and Barcelona playmaker has been the best in 2010 and should have won the Ballon d'Or last night
Lionel Messi poses with Fifa's Ballon d'Or award in Zurich, a decision Spian's press are portraying as anti-Spanish. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images Leo Messi was wearing a dickie bow last night. Proof, some said with a smile, that he knew he was going to be awarded with a second successive Ballon d'Or after all, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta were only in ties. But he didn't know: amid all the shock, the disgust and the pathetic patriotic paranoia, the man most surprised at Messi's award was Messi. On his way into the gala, he was asked whether it felt a bit strange to be the best player in the world and yet still know that he wasn't going to get the award for the world's best player. Messi mumbled something along the lines of: no, not really Xavi and Iniesta won the World Cup.
And there in a barely audible phrase was the crux of the issue. This is the first time since 1974 that in a World Cup year when it was won by a European team the winner has not been from the world champions. And in 1974 it was Johan Cruyff the World Cup's moral winner. Only one Spanish player has ever won the award Luis Suárez in 1960 and for years the reason was assumed to be that, while Madrid and Barcelona had been among the continent's very best teams, there was no international success to push Spanish players over the line. Now at last there is. But this time, more than any other time, the World Cup has not been decisive. If it had been, Messi would not have won the award.
Messi was extraordinary in 2010. If the Ballon d'Or is given to the player who played the best football over the course of the year, he is a worthy winner. It was the year in which there was no doubt. Fans spent much of it scraping their jaws off the floor as he performed with barely plausible brilliance week after week. Even the sceptics were won over. The hammering of Arsenal, especially, turned heads . He became the complete player. The debate surrounding him was elevated to a different plane. It was no longer enough to ask whether he was the best now: was he, in fact, one of the best players ever?
He produced more dribbles, more goals and more assists than anyone else in La Liga and was the Champions League's top scorer. He was the European Golden Boot. He scored 60 goals in 59 games. Despite arguments to the contrary, he played rather well in South Africa. But that basic construction best player gets vote has rarely been followed before. This is not the world's best player award. It is the year's greatest achiever award. On the greatest stage, Messi did not leave a lasting mark. And that point strengthens the case of the two men who shared the podium with him last night: without Xavi and Iniesta, Messi was not as good; without him, they were. Without him, they won the World Cup.
Ultimately, the decision rests of the criteria employed. Trouble is, how do you apply a criteria with the electorate expanding as it has? In 2006, 56 people voted, in 2010 96, this year 427. Next year it will be 624. Officially, the Ballon d'Or "awards the best in their category, without distinction of championship or nationality for their achievements during the year". Voters are reminded to be impartial and to take into account all criteria. It is awarded for "on field behaviour and overall behaviour on and off the pitch". Voters were reminded of the importance of "individual" achievements and "team (trophies)".
If it was down to trophies, a basic count, then one man stands above the rest: Wesley Sneijder was the key creative spark of the Internazionale team that won the treble and helped carry Holland to the World Cup final, scoring five times en route. (By the same criteria, the omission of Diego Milito even from the shortlist is baffling but for pointing to the significance of South Africa: he scored the goal that clinched the title, the goal that won the Italian Cup and the goal that won the European Cup but was irrelevant to Argentina. The fact that Arjen Robben has hardly been mentioned jars a little too: Bayern Munich's most important player by miles, he won a league and cup double and reached World and European cup finals).
Under the old format, it would have been Sneijder. The Ballon d'Or used to be voted on by the correspondents of France Football but the award has been hijacked by Fifa frustrated at its inability to sink the Ballon d'Or with the Fifa World Player Award and now it is an amalgamation of both trophies. Now, international coaches and captains also get a vote. Counting only the France Football votes, Sneijder would have won. Messi would have been fourth. It is the coaches and the captains not the correspondents who have given him this award.
But when it comes to trophies, none weigh so heavily as the World Cup. Precedent, if not written rules, has pointed that way. Ronaldo in 2002, Cannavaro in 2006. And although Sneijder's case there is strong too, he did not win the World Cup. Here, no one can match Spain.
Iniesta's winning goal and, it should not be forgotten, his wonderful tournament propelled him into the top three, despite a year in which he had suffered with injury at club level. Many were furious when José Mourinho insisted that Iniesta did not deserve the award, claiming that "any player could have scored the winner in the final", but he had a point. In Spain, there was talk of Iker Casillas because of his vital intervention against Paraguay in the quarter-final and Holland in the final (his club season had been surprisingly poor). There was not, strangely, much talk of David Villa: another international top scorer award seemed counter-balanced by not having played for Madrid or Barcelona before the tournament.
And then there was Xavi. If football is about legacy, about impact and importance, Xavi's claim seemed unassailable. If it takes into account the whole of 2010 and not just the back of 2009-10 and the World Cup, it grows stronger yet: has any game stood out like this season's clásico in which Xavi led his side to an incredible win? In the past three years, Xavi has won it all. A European Championship in 2008, six trophies out of six with Barcelona (league, Copa del Rey, Champions League, World Club Cup, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup) in 2009, and the World Cup in 2010.
Not just won them: won them in style. There is an argument that suggests, especially after the stunning 5-0 destruction of Real Madrid, that this Barcelona team might be the best club side there has ever been. By winning back-to-back European and world championships, much the same could be said about Spain they were unusually worthy winners of the World Cup. But it is not just that those two teams have won it all; it is the way they have won. Rarely has a team had such clarity of style, such a distinct identity, as Spain and Barcelona. An identity in which they dominate, control and anaesthetise the opposition, picking apart their defences, undoing their armour piece by piece.
That style is Xavi's style. Xavi lays for Barcelona and Spain. Really plays for them; he is not just in the side, he does not just play, he makes them play. It is not just that he is a great player, which he is, but that he makes other players great. He is the ideologue behind two of the best teams there has been. If any player has marked the last three years, it is he. At 31, he probably won't get another chance to win the award God knows how many Messi might win and he should have won it this year. For this year and the previous three; for this era. His era. No matter what the Daily Mail thinks. Especially because of what the Daily Mail thinks.
And yet one thing the criteria is clear about is that this is an award for 2010 alone. In the past, France Football has talked too of "trajectory"; this year, that has not been the case. That's one explanation. In the scramble to explain last night's surprise there have been plenty of theories forwarded. The most tragically predictable has been proffered by the newspaper Marca whose cover ran on a photo of Mourinho (about whose award there has been rather less anger, even though he got the nod ahead of Vicente del Bosque) and Messi. In the middle was a small picture of Sepp Blatter. The headline read: "Two Giants and One Anti-Spaniard". The paper's name was written in red and yellow. "This," complained the cover, "is the flag the president of Fifa hates."
But Blatter did not vote. Journalists, coaches, and players did. And they voted for Spaniards in huge numbers: 42% of the first choice votes went to Spaniards. For the first time ever, seven players from the same country picked up at least one first choice vote. That hardly smells of conspiracy. More skewed surely is the desire for someone, anyone to win the award just so long as they are a Spaniard. And, in fact, Spain and here it's worth reminding many in this country that there was no candidate called Spain may have been a victim of its own success, its very nature. Of the fact that its collective nature meant there was not one, single stand-out candidate for everyone to get behind. The vote was split: Messi won with 22.65%, Iniesta had 17.47% and Xavi 16.48%.
The fact that there is an open vote has allowed some to snipe at who chooses the winner, and pick out those "guilty" for this "crime". But before everyone starts patronisingly laughing at the stupidity of votes from those third-worlders who don't know anything, check out last year's most idiotic voter Besides, that did not damage Spain, either: plenty of votes came in from countries that were being dismissed as irrelevant last night. Although banned from voting for international team-mates, players do indeed as the example above shows sometimes vote politically. Amid almost 500 votes, though, that hardly seems sufficient to tip the balance. The wrong player might have won, but no one was actually wronged.
Last night, Leo Messi was surprised. He was not the only one. In 2010, the Argentinian eclipsed everyone. But even he didn't expect that to include his World Cup winning team-mates.
The Spain and Barcelona playmaker has been the best in 2010 and should have won the Ballon d'Or last night
And there in a barely audible phrase was the crux of the issue. This is the first time since 1974 that in a World Cup year when it was won by a European team the winner has not been from the world champions. And in 1974 it was Johan Cruyff the World Cup's moral winner. Only one Spanish player has ever won the award Luis Suárez in 1960 and for years the reason was assumed to be that, while Madrid and Barcelona had been among the continent's very best teams, there was no international success to push Spanish players over the line. Now at last there is. But this time, more than any other time, the World Cup has not been decisive. If it had been, Messi would not have won the award.
Messi was extraordinary in 2010. If the Ballon d'Or is given to the player who played the best football over the course of the year, he is a worthy winner. It was the year in which there was no doubt. Fans spent much of it scraping their jaws off the floor as he performed with barely plausible brilliance week after week. Even the sceptics were won over. The hammering of Arsenal, especially, turned heads . He became the complete player. The debate surrounding him was elevated to a different plane. It was no longer enough to ask whether he was the best now: was he, in fact, one of the best players ever?
He produced more dribbles, more goals and more assists than anyone else in La Liga and was the Champions League's top scorer. He was the European Golden Boot. He scored 60 goals in 59 games. Despite arguments to the contrary, he played rather well in South Africa. But that basic construction best player gets vote has rarely been followed before. This is not the world's best player award. It is the year's greatest achiever award. On the greatest stage, Messi did not leave a lasting mark. And that point strengthens the case of the two men who shared the podium with him last night: without Xavi and Iniesta, Messi was not as good; without him, they were. Without him, they won the World Cup.
Ultimately, the decision rests of the criteria employed. Trouble is, how do you apply a criteria with the electorate expanding as it has? In 2006, 56 people voted, in 2010 96, this year 427. Next year it will be 624. Officially, the Ballon d'Or "awards the best in their category, without distinction of championship or nationality for their achievements during the year". Voters are reminded to be impartial and to take into account all criteria. It is awarded for "on field behaviour and overall behaviour on and off the pitch". Voters were reminded of the importance of "individual" achievements and "team (trophies)".
If it was down to trophies, a basic count, then one man stands above the rest: Wesley Sneijder was the key creative spark of the Internazionale team that won the treble and helped carry Holland to the World Cup final, scoring five times en route. (By the same criteria, the omission of Diego Milito even from the shortlist is baffling but for pointing to the significance of South Africa: he scored the goal that clinched the title, the goal that won the Italian Cup and the goal that won the European Cup but was irrelevant to Argentina. The fact that Arjen Robben has hardly been mentioned jars a little too: Bayern Munich's most important player by miles, he won a league and cup double and reached World and European cup finals).
Under the old format, it would have been Sneijder. The Ballon d'Or used to be voted on by the correspondents of France Football but the award has been hijacked by Fifa frustrated at its inability to sink the Ballon d'Or with the Fifa World Player Award and now it is an amalgamation of both trophies. Now, international coaches and captains also get a vote. Counting only the France Football votes, Sneijder would have won. Messi would have been fourth. It is the coaches and the captains not the correspondents who have given him this award.
But when it comes to trophies, none weigh so heavily as the World Cup. Precedent, if not written rules, has pointed that way. Ronaldo in 2002, Cannavaro in 2006. And although Sneijder's case there is strong too, he did not win the World Cup. Here, no one can match Spain.
Iniesta's winning goal and, it should not be forgotten, his wonderful tournament propelled him into the top three, despite a year in which he had suffered with injury at club level. Many were furious when José Mourinho insisted that Iniesta did not deserve the award, claiming that "any player could have scored the winner in the final", but he had a point. In Spain, there was talk of Iker Casillas because of his vital intervention against Paraguay in the quarter-final and Holland in the final (his club season had been surprisingly poor). There was not, strangely, much talk of David Villa: another international top scorer award seemed counter-balanced by not having played for Madrid or Barcelona before the tournament.
And then there was Xavi. If football is about legacy, about impact and importance, Xavi's claim seemed unassailable. If it takes into account the whole of 2010 and not just the back of 2009-10 and the World Cup, it grows stronger yet: has any game stood out like this season's clásico in which Xavi led his side to an incredible win? In the past three years, Xavi has won it all. A European Championship in 2008, six trophies out of six with Barcelona (league, Copa del Rey, Champions League, World Club Cup, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup) in 2009, and the World Cup in 2010.
Not just won them: won them in style. There is an argument that suggests, especially after the stunning 5-0 destruction of Real Madrid, that this Barcelona team might be the best club side there has ever been. By winning back-to-back European and world championships, much the same could be said about Spain they were unusually worthy winners of the World Cup. But it is not just that those two teams have won it all; it is the way they have won. Rarely has a team had such clarity of style, such a distinct identity, as Spain and Barcelona. An identity in which they dominate, control and anaesthetise the opposition, picking apart their defences, undoing their armour piece by piece.
That style is Xavi's style. Xavi lays for Barcelona and Spain. Really plays for them; he is not just in the side, he does not just play, he makes them play. It is not just that he is a great player, which he is, but that he makes other players great. He is the ideologue behind two of the best teams there has been. If any player has marked the last three years, it is he. At 31, he probably won't get another chance to win the award God knows how many Messi might win and he should have won it this year. For this year and the previous three; for this era. His era. No matter what the Daily Mail thinks. Especially because of what the Daily Mail thinks.
And yet one thing the criteria is clear about is that this is an award for 2010 alone. In the past, France Football has talked too of "trajectory"; this year, that has not been the case. That's one explanation. In the scramble to explain last night's surprise there have been plenty of theories forwarded. The most tragically predictable has been proffered by the newspaper Marca whose cover ran on a photo of Mourinho (about whose award there has been rather less anger, even though he got the nod ahead of Vicente del Bosque) and Messi. In the middle was a small picture of Sepp Blatter. The headline read: "Two Giants and One Anti-Spaniard". The paper's name was written in red and yellow. "This," complained the cover, "is the flag the president of Fifa hates."
But Blatter did not vote. Journalists, coaches, and players did. And they voted for Spaniards in huge numbers: 42% of the first choice votes went to Spaniards. For the first time ever, seven players from the same country picked up at least one first choice vote. That hardly smells of conspiracy. More skewed surely is the desire for someone, anyone to win the award just so long as they are a Spaniard. And, in fact, Spain and here it's worth reminding many in this country that there was no candidate called Spain may have been a victim of its own success, its very nature. Of the fact that its collective nature meant there was not one, single stand-out candidate for everyone to get behind. The vote was split: Messi won with 22.65%, Iniesta had 17.47% and Xavi 16.48%.
The fact that there is an open vote has allowed some to snipe at who chooses the winner, and pick out those "guilty" for this "crime". But before everyone starts patronisingly laughing at the stupidity of votes from those third-worlders who don't know anything, check out last year's most idiotic voter Besides, that did not damage Spain, either: plenty of votes came in from countries that were being dismissed as irrelevant last night. Although banned from voting for international team-mates, players do indeed as the example above shows sometimes vote politically. Amid almost 500 votes, though, that hardly seems sufficient to tip the balance. The wrong player might have won, but no one was actually wronged.
Last night, Leo Messi was surprised. He was not the only one. In 2010, the Argentinian eclipsed everyone. But even he didn't expect that to include his World Cup winning team-mates.
Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
- 219,468
- 911,184
- Thread starter
- #2,851
Football transfer rumours: Phil Neville to Tottenham Hotspur?
Today's blurb is hacking and sniffling
Today's blurb is hacking and sniffling
- Paul Doyle
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 11 January 2011 08.49 GMT <li class="history">Article history Team-mates again? Photograph: Michael Steele/ALLSPORT Equipped with a balaclava, a grappling hook and a large brown bag with SWAG printed on it, Harry Redknapp is about to launch what the Sun describes as a "shock raid" for Everton's Phil Neville. What would really be a shock, of course, is if the Sun described any transfer as anything other than a "shock", unless perhaps it was a sensation.
Or an outrage. If Redknapp's raid is successful, Neville will briefly train with his old mucker David Beckham, who is currently limbering up on a daily basis with Tottenham, whose training ground, some might say appropriately, is located directly opposite a waste recycling plant.
Redknapp's January recruitment might not be over, what with Roy Keane being available following his departure from Ipswich. The certainly-not-a-wheeler-dealer has given up on Robbie Keane, however, and is trying to convince David Moyes that the former Irish goal-getter is worth exactly one Steven Pienaar.
Chelsea want Pienaar too and are plotting to trump Tottenham by offering real money to get him. Chelsea are also on the verge of signing São Paulo forward Lucas Piazon, who is 15 years old and known to his mates, or at least the press, as "the new Kaká". Shouldn't that be Kakáinho? Isn't that how it works? Anyway, Carlo Ancelotti has managed to reawaken Roman Abramovich's interest in Chelsea sufficiently to put the club in a position to attempt to lure the lad with an offer of a pre-owned Xbox and a £10 voucher for Game. Let the good times roll. Away into the distance.
Speaking of good times, Gérard Houllier has set minds boggling like his eyes by vowing, according to the Daily Mail, to "pull out all the stops" in order to attract Blackpool's Charlie Adam. Sunderland, Everton and Birmingham also want the Scottish schemer, with the highest bid currently believed to be £3.5m. Is that really how much they think Blackpool value their Premier League place? Ian Holloway, meanwhile, is serenading Dundee United's David Goodwillie.
Liverpool are looking for a striker. Specifically, they're looking for Fernando Torres, who hasn't been seen for months. It has been reported that Joe Cole tried to find him once but the ball ended up in Stanley Park. Given Torres's mysterious absence, Liverpool are plotting to bid £17m for Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, who is known to his friends as Alvaro Negredo, which probably wasn't worth mentioning. Liverpool are also said to be interested in Anderlecht's Romelu Lukaku, Lorient's Kévin Gameiro and Lille's Gervinho.
West Ham are hoping Wayne Bridge is man enough to live in the same city as John Terry.
Mark Hughes has been tip-tapping around his old stomping ground in Manchester as he tries to convince City to give him Shaun Wright-Phillips for £4m. Presumably City will only consent if Hughes agrees to take Roque Santa Cruz away too.
Finally, Manchester United are planning to launch a doomed bid for Barcelona midfield shuffler Sergio Busquets.
Rutashubanyuma
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Dalglish tells Torres: Let's make magic
Published 23:00 11/01/11 By David Maddock
Kenny Dalglish is adamant that Liverpool's season can be saved... by a little sprinkle of the old Fernando Torres magic.
The new Anfield boss knows his star Spanish striker could be the key to not only salvaging something from a disastrous campaign so far, but also to securing the manager's job on a permanent basis.
It is no exaggeration to suggest that a rejuvenated Torres could be the difference between success and failure for both Dalglish and Liverpool, with many people believing that the forward's indifferent form so far was the fundamental reason behind the departure of Roy Hodgson.
It is certainly true to say that Liverpool would not be in their current precarious position - just five points off bottom spot in the Premier League - had Torres found the form his enjoyed when first arriving at Anfield three years ago.
And Dalglish knows that.
When asked if his own reputation as one of the all-time great forwards may get Torres to look up to the new boss and start scoring again, he replied simply: "If he bangs in a couple, I'll be looking up to Fernando."
And the Anfield legend is quietly confident that it will happen.
He has a fundamental faith in the intrinsic quality of the Spanish goalscorer, and he insisted yesterday that it is only a matter of time before Torres starts firing.
"One of the first questions I was asked when I came back was whether I had a magic wand for Fernando, but believe me, he has his own magic wand," Dalglish said.
"I've got fantastic respect for Fernando, not only as a footballer but also as a person. When he signed for the club he really threw himself into learning about the history and the tradition of the club, he really soaked it all up.
"He has that quality. It seems strange talking about a lack of confidence in a player of his calibre, and you have to remember that he is still a top goal-scorer and someone who every team fears when he's on the pitch.
"I'll help him all I can, like I will all the players, but we've all got to help each other, have respect and belief in what we are doing and carry it onto the pitch."
There are many who would suggest that Torres has not always had that belief in what Liverpool are doing this season.
Certainly, his body language has cried out frustration and apparent indifference - to the extent that even a seasoned professional such as Gareth Southgate said, as a TV pundit last Sunday, that the striker looked as though he wanted to leave the club.
Dalglish though, doesn't believe that.
He believes that Torres is simply going through the sort of bad patch all strikers experience at some point in their career, and that with help and guidance he will come through it to save Liverpool's season.
"Believe me, I went through a worse spell that he did. I can pass on advice and I will try to help absolutely as much as I can," he said.
"We will do our best to get everything from him, but this club has never been about one individual. It's all about relationships between the staff, the players, how they all get on with each other.
"It's about respect, and it's about confidence with clubs too - if you're winning then you have more faith and belief in your club.
"But he wants it, you could see how much he wants it against Manchester United, where he ran himself into the ground. We'll get him going, sooner rather than later."
Dalglish needs Torres firing immediately.
Liverpool have won just one away game in 12 months under the previous two managers, and face tricky trips to Blackpool and Wolves in the next week.
Sandwiched in between those is the small matter of the Merseyside derby, and if results go badly in those games, then Liverpool will find themselves firmly anchored in the bottom three and facing a relegation battle.
They have the added problem of having to do without the suspended Steven Gerrard for all three matches, and Dalglish was in realistic mood when he assessed the task facing his side at Bloomfield Road.
"Of course, it's a massive blow to be without Stevie. Any team is a much better team with him in it rather than out of it," he said.
"Steven has been unbelievable for this club. I'm sure everyone has their own memories of games he's grabbed by the scruff of the neck, so we will miss that, especially against a Blackpool side that will have confidence.
"They beat us at Anfield, and played very well. They've been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League and exceeded most people's expectations.
"We have to be up for the work or we will be coming away from there with the same results as we had here - a defeat."
Dalglish could pull a surprise by replacing his suspended skipper with youngster Jonjo Shelvey, but will otherwise name an unchanged team from the weekend defeat at Old Trafford.
Dalglish: We won't lose because of a lack of hard work
Maddock column: A plea to Liverpool fans: If King Kenny can't produce miracles, don't crucify him like you did Roy
Holloway: Good luck to Kenny - but not in this match!
Published 23:00 11/01/11 By David Maddock
(10)
Kenny Dalglish is adamant that Liverpool's season can be saved... by a little sprinkle of the old Fernando Torres magic.
The new Anfield boss knows his star Spanish striker could be the key to not only salvaging something from a disastrous campaign so far, but also to securing the manager's job on a permanent basis.
It is no exaggeration to suggest that a rejuvenated Torres could be the difference between success and failure for both Dalglish and Liverpool, with many people believing that the forward's indifferent form so far was the fundamental reason behind the departure of Roy Hodgson.
It is certainly true to say that Liverpool would not be in their current precarious position - just five points off bottom spot in the Premier League - had Torres found the form his enjoyed when first arriving at Anfield three years ago.
And Dalglish knows that.
When asked if his own reputation as one of the all-time great forwards may get Torres to look up to the new boss and start scoring again, he replied simply: "If he bangs in a couple, I'll be looking up to Fernando."
And the Anfield legend is quietly confident that it will happen.
He has a fundamental faith in the intrinsic quality of the Spanish goalscorer, and he insisted yesterday that it is only a matter of time before Torres starts firing.
"One of the first questions I was asked when I came back was whether I had a magic wand for Fernando, but believe me, he has his own magic wand," Dalglish said.
"I've got fantastic respect for Fernando, not only as a footballer but also as a person. When he signed for the club he really threw himself into learning about the history and the tradition of the club, he really soaked it all up.
"He has that quality. It seems strange talking about a lack of confidence in a player of his calibre, and you have to remember that he is still a top goal-scorer and someone who every team fears when he's on the pitch.
"I'll help him all I can, like I will all the players, but we've all got to help each other, have respect and belief in what we are doing and carry it onto the pitch."
There are many who would suggest that Torres has not always had that belief in what Liverpool are doing this season.
Certainly, his body language has cried out frustration and apparent indifference - to the extent that even a seasoned professional such as Gareth Southgate said, as a TV pundit last Sunday, that the striker looked as though he wanted to leave the club.
Dalglish though, doesn't believe that.
He believes that Torres is simply going through the sort of bad patch all strikers experience at some point in their career, and that with help and guidance he will come through it to save Liverpool's season.
"Believe me, I went through a worse spell that he did. I can pass on advice and I will try to help absolutely as much as I can," he said.
"We will do our best to get everything from him, but this club has never been about one individual. It's all about relationships between the staff, the players, how they all get on with each other.
"It's about respect, and it's about confidence with clubs too - if you're winning then you have more faith and belief in your club.
"But he wants it, you could see how much he wants it against Manchester United, where he ran himself into the ground. We'll get him going, sooner rather than later."
Dalglish needs Torres firing immediately.
Liverpool have won just one away game in 12 months under the previous two managers, and face tricky trips to Blackpool and Wolves in the next week.
Sandwiched in between those is the small matter of the Merseyside derby, and if results go badly in those games, then Liverpool will find themselves firmly anchored in the bottom three and facing a relegation battle.
They have the added problem of having to do without the suspended Steven Gerrard for all three matches, and Dalglish was in realistic mood when he assessed the task facing his side at Bloomfield Road.
"Of course, it's a massive blow to be without Stevie. Any team is a much better team with him in it rather than out of it," he said.
"Steven has been unbelievable for this club. I'm sure everyone has their own memories of games he's grabbed by the scruff of the neck, so we will miss that, especially against a Blackpool side that will have confidence.
"They beat us at Anfield, and played very well. They've been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League and exceeded most people's expectations.
"We have to be up for the work or we will be coming away from there with the same results as we had here - a defeat."
Dalglish could pull a surprise by replacing his suspended skipper with youngster Jonjo Shelvey, but will otherwise name an unchanged team from the weekend defeat at Old Trafford.
Dalglish: We won't lose because of a lack of hard work
Maddock column: A plea to Liverpool fans: If King Kenny can't produce miracles, don't crucify him like you did Roy
Holloway: Good luck to Kenny - but not in this match!
Rutashubanyuma
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Enough romance, says Kenny Dalglish as he demands more of the players
The new Liverpool manager says there are no divisions at Anfield but accepts the players have been underperforming
The new Liverpool manager says there are no divisions at Anfield but accepts the players have been underperforming
-
- Andy Hunter
- The Guardian, Tuesday 11 January 2011 <li class="history">Article history
Kenny Dalglish, who left Liverpool in 1991, meets the press after taking over from Roy Hodgson. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images The King has returned to the throne at Liverpool but not to a kingdom. For all the unifying, uplifting benefits of installing Kenny Dalglish as Roy Hodgson's replacement, evident the moment he stepped out the Old Trafford tunnel on Sunday, the significant matter of producing results with an average yet still under-performing squad remains. The point has not been lost on Dalglish despite the emotional drama surrounding his Anfield return.
One of the accusations thrown at Liverpool since dispensing with Hodgson and turning to the one man with a messianic aura at Anfield is that they have turned into Newcastle-by-the-Mersey. Dalglish's first two days in charge have shown he is on a mission to revive Liverpool's self‑belief as well as form, talking up the players at every opportunity.
He is anxious, however, to avoid his return being categorised as a sentimental journey, the kind Kevin Keegan bought into at St James' Park, and knows the expectations that weighed too heavily on Gérard Houllier, Rafael Benítez and Hodgson also apply to him.
"We have got to manage expectations. At the moment it's a wee bit romantic, to be honest," said Dalglish as he was officially unveiled as Liverpool manager for a second time yesterday.
"The romance is brilliant, it's romantic for me to be back, and it's a wee bit romantic for some of the supporters as well. But at the end of the day this game isn't built on romance, it's built on hard facts. And the hard fact of the matter is we have got to start winning games. Once we get the romantics out [of] the road we can get to work and see what happens from there."
Dalglish was in charge only in name against Manchester United. He did not select the team – Hodgson had already done so – and did not take a training session before the last chance of a domestic trophy this season disappeared at Old Trafford. His influence will really begin to be felt away at Blackpool tomorrow and in his first home game on Sunday against Everton, who were also his last opponents at Anfield before he quit the post in 1991. It is not the easiest of starts for any manager of a team languishing only four points above the relegation zone and beaten nine times in the Premier League this season.
"It's all very well prophesising but we will get what we get on the pitch," he said. "I'm sure the players' expectations at the start of the season were greater than where we are sitting at this moment in time. The players' ability means they should be doing better. It's not going to happen overnight but we need to see an improvement and we saw that on Sunday.
"The people here will accept signs of players going in the right direction. We don't want to say a 1-0 defeat is a positive result, but we could take positives out of the game on Sunday. If the people who come along can see something happen, then they will be happy with that."
New faces are unlikely to be plentiful in this transfer window, or at least to the degree that Liverpool require, and their financial situation has hardly been helped by the managerial changes of the past eight months. Benítez left with a £6m pay-off, Liverpool, having overlooked Dalglish's claims for the job last summer, paid £3m to release Hodgson from Fulham, his £3m salary for six months and then agreed another golden handshake with the 63-year-old on Saturday morning. The club's commercial director, Ian Ayre, yesterday claimed: "That payment doesn't come into the same area of the business as our transfer fund and won't make any difference to what we do this summer." But Liverpool are still footing the bill for recent mistakes.
Fenway Sports Group has placed itself in an insidious position with Dalglish's appointment. Should he repair the damage, the clamour for the club legend to remain in situ will be intense at the end of this season and its plans to start anew with its own coach will be problematic to say the least. But Dalglish dismissed the suggestion that Liverpool is an institution fractured by protest, expensive errors and politicking.
"I don't see any divisions at this football club in any shape or form," the Liverpool manager added. "The ownership has been dealt with, there has been new people in. John [W Henry] and Tom [Werner] are in now. There are certainly no divisions that are apparent to me in the dressing room, and they seem a very good bunch of lads.
"There are no divisions within the coaching staff and there is no difference in the size of effort in trying to move the club forward. The people that love the club want the club to succeed. Nobody would ever enjoy sacking a manager, especially someone with the integrity of Roy Hodgson.
"The owners would never have got any pleasure out of that, and certainly I never got any pleasure out of it. There is nothing dividing this club at this particular time."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Enough romance, says Kenny Dalglish as he demands more of the players
The new Liverpool manager says there are no divisions at Anfield but accepts the players have been underperforming
The new Liverpool manager says there are no divisions at Anfield but accepts the players have been underperforming
-
- Andy Hunter
- The Guardian, Tuesday 11 January 2011 <li class="history">Article history
Kenny Dalglish, who left Liverpool in 1991, meets the press after taking over from Roy Hodgson. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images The King has returned to the throne at Liverpool but not to a kingdom. For all the unifying, uplifting benefits of installing Kenny Dalglish as Roy Hodgson's replacement, evident the moment he stepped out the Old Trafford tunnel on Sunday, the significant matter of producing results with an average yet still under-performing squad remains. The point has not been lost on Dalglish despite the emotional drama surrounding his Anfield return.
One of the accusations thrown at Liverpool since dispensing with Hodgson and turning to the one man with a messianic aura at Anfield is that they have turned into Newcastle-by-the-Mersey. Dalglish's first two days in charge have shown he is on a mission to revive Liverpool's self‑belief as well as form, talking up the players at every opportunity.
He is anxious, however, to avoid his return being categorised as a sentimental journey, the kind Kevin Keegan bought into at St James' Park, and knows the expectations that weighed too heavily on Gérard Houllier, Rafael Benítez and Hodgson also apply to him.
"We have got to manage expectations. At the moment it's a wee bit romantic, to be honest," said Dalglish as he was officially unveiled as Liverpool manager for a second time yesterday.
"The romance is brilliant, it's romantic for me to be back, and it's a wee bit romantic for some of the supporters as well. But at the end of the day this game isn't built on romance, it's built on hard facts. And the hard fact of the matter is we have got to start winning games. Once we get the romantics out [of] the road we can get to work and see what happens from there."
Dalglish was in charge only in name against Manchester United. He did not select the team Hodgson had already done so and did not take a training session before the last chance of a domestic trophy this season disappeared at Old Trafford. His influence will really begin to be felt away at Blackpool tomorrow and in his first home game on Sunday against Everton, who were also his last opponents at Anfield before he quit the post in 1991. It is not the easiest of starts for any manager of a team languishing only four points above the relegation zone and beaten nine times in the Premier League this season.
"It's all very well prophesising but we will get what we get on the pitch," he said. "I'm sure the players' expectations at the start of the season were greater than where we are sitting at this moment in time. The players' ability means they should be doing better. It's not going to happen overnight but we need to see an improvement and we saw that on Sunday.
"The people here will accept signs of players going in the right direction. We don't want to say a 1-0 defeat is a positive result, but we could take positives out of the game on Sunday. If the people who come along can see something happen, then they will be happy with that."
New faces are unlikely to be plentiful in this transfer window, or at least to the degree that Liverpool require, and their financial situation has hardly been helped by the managerial changes of the past eight months. Benítez left with a £6m pay-off, Liverpool, having overlooked Dalglish's claims for the job last summer, paid £3m to release Hodgson from Fulham, his £3m salary for six months and then agreed another golden handshake with the 63-year-old on Saturday morning. The club's commercial director, Ian Ayre, yesterday claimed: "That payment doesn't come into the same area of the business as our transfer fund and won't make any difference to what we do this summer." But Liverpool are still footing the bill for recent mistakes.
Fenway Sports Group has placed itself in an insidious position with Dalglish's appointment. Should he repair the damage, the clamour for the club legend to remain in situ will be intense at the end of this season and its plans to start anew with its own coach will be problematic to say the least. But Dalglish dismissed the suggestion that Liverpool is an institution fractured by protest, expensive errors and politicking.
"I don't see any divisions at this football club in any shape or form," the Liverpool manager added. "The ownership has been dealt with, there has been new people in. John [W Henry] and Tom [Werner] are in now. There are certainly no divisions that are apparent to me in the dressing room, and they seem a very good bunch of lads.
"There are no divisions within the coaching staff and there is no difference in the size of effort in trying to move the club forward. The people that love the club want the club to succeed. Nobody would ever enjoy sacking a manager, especially someone with the integrity of Roy Hodgson.
"The owners would never have got any pleasure out of that, and certainly I never got any pleasure out of it. There is nothing dividing this club at this particular time."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Dalglish: We won't lose because of a lack of hard work
Published 15:53 11/01/11 By MirrorFootball
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will employ the personal touch to impart his vast experience to the players and spark the necessary revival at Anfield.
The 59-year-old won eight first division championships - three as manager - with the Reds and also a Premier League title while boss at Blackburn.
And he believes concentrating on the staff he has rather than looking for quick-fix transfers, together with plenty of hard work, will restore Liverpool's fortunes after a difficult six months under Roy Hodgson.
Dalglish's previous success as a manager at Anfield came with the club still at the peak of their powers and a top-class squad.
However, he dismissed the assessment of critics that the current playing staff was not up to the required standard.
"I think it is the best squad of players I have inherited as a manager since the first time I came here," said Dalglish, who also managed at Newcastle and Celtic.
"We don't have much time to get things up and running so the most important people for us are the people here and we will concentrate on them first and everyone will be given an opportunity.
"As far as I can see, the players are 100% committed to what they want to do - to move onwards and upwards. There are no splits or divisions.
"The desire is there in abundance so we will graft as hard as we can and we probably need to work harder in getting things right than some other clubs who are in a better position than us.
"But we won't lose out because of lack of hard work. We will devote as much time to it as we possibly can.
"At the end of the day it is about players, about people, and your relationship with those players and trying to impart your experience and knowledge on them.
"It is looking after players, getting relationships with players and getting the respect from the players."
The latter should not be difficult for a man who possesses legendary status at the club where he is revered as their greatest player.
Nevertheless, after more than a decade out of the game in an official capacity, even Dalglish believes he has to prove something to his modern-day squad.
"It's one thing showing people what you've won - it is another thing to get respect out of them for what you are trying to do and that is what I have got to achieve," he admitted.
"I have no preconceived ideas that because of what I've done it gets me any more respect.
"The only way to earn players' respect is to work with them, get them on your side and hopefully get the confidence levels up, get a couple wins and take it from there.
"What you do on the training ground you take on to the pitch and when you get on the pitch gives you confidence.
"There is none less important than the other but the first place it starts is the training pitch.
"The second thing is if you want it to happen and there is not anyone in that dressing room who does not want it to happen.
"We certainly have the ingredients and we'll take it onwards and upwards."
Dalglish's desire to concentrate on what he has at his disposal is clever because, as well as eliminating unnecessary complications regarding the uncertainty of new arrivals, it offers security to current players and staff.
He has not ruled out signing others - although he will leave the search down to director of football strategy Damien Comolli - but it is way down his list of priorities.
The canny Scot wants to create a sense of belonging, a unified front and club-wide commitment to the cause.
"We have to get our own house in order," said Dalglish, who takes his side to Blackpool tomorrow without suspended captain Steven Gerrard.
"We brought in Steve Clarke (as first-team coach) and settled the place down, making sure Sammy Lee (assistant manager) knew he was staying.
"The other people that are important to us are the people who are here and we look after them.
"That is more important than worrying about what might happen or who might come in.
"What is immediate for us is the staff and players we have working together and the people know who they are there will do their very best to do that.
"If someone comes up who is attractive to the club then fine but at this moment there have not been any conversations about that.
"I couldn't tell you definitively whether there will be people coming in."
Published 15:53 11/01/11 By MirrorFootball
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will employ the personal touch to impart his vast experience to the players and spark the necessary revival at Anfield.
The 59-year-old won eight first division championships - three as manager - with the Reds and also a Premier League title while boss at Blackburn.
And he believes concentrating on the staff he has rather than looking for quick-fix transfers, together with plenty of hard work, will restore Liverpool's fortunes after a difficult six months under Roy Hodgson.
Dalglish's previous success as a manager at Anfield came with the club still at the peak of their powers and a top-class squad.
However, he dismissed the assessment of critics that the current playing staff was not up to the required standard.
"I think it is the best squad of players I have inherited as a manager since the first time I came here," said Dalglish, who also managed at Newcastle and Celtic.
"We don't have much time to get things up and running so the most important people for us are the people here and we will concentrate on them first and everyone will be given an opportunity.
"As far as I can see, the players are 100% committed to what they want to do - to move onwards and upwards. There are no splits or divisions.
"The desire is there in abundance so we will graft as hard as we can and we probably need to work harder in getting things right than some other clubs who are in a better position than us.
"But we won't lose out because of lack of hard work. We will devote as much time to it as we possibly can.
"At the end of the day it is about players, about people, and your relationship with those players and trying to impart your experience and knowledge on them.
"It is looking after players, getting relationships with players and getting the respect from the players."
The latter should not be difficult for a man who possesses legendary status at the club where he is revered as their greatest player.
Nevertheless, after more than a decade out of the game in an official capacity, even Dalglish believes he has to prove something to his modern-day squad.
"It's one thing showing people what you've won - it is another thing to get respect out of them for what you are trying to do and that is what I have got to achieve," he admitted.
"I have no preconceived ideas that because of what I've done it gets me any more respect.
"The only way to earn players' respect is to work with them, get them on your side and hopefully get the confidence levels up, get a couple wins and take it from there.
"What you do on the training ground you take on to the pitch and when you get on the pitch gives you confidence.
"There is none less important than the other but the first place it starts is the training pitch.
"The second thing is if you want it to happen and there is not anyone in that dressing room who does not want it to happen.
"We certainly have the ingredients and we'll take it onwards and upwards."
Dalglish's desire to concentrate on what he has at his disposal is clever because, as well as eliminating unnecessary complications regarding the uncertainty of new arrivals, it offers security to current players and staff.
He has not ruled out signing others - although he will leave the search down to director of football strategy Damien Comolli - but it is way down his list of priorities.
The canny Scot wants to create a sense of belonging, a unified front and club-wide commitment to the cause.
"We have to get our own house in order," said Dalglish, who takes his side to Blackpool tomorrow without suspended captain Steven Gerrard.
"We brought in Steve Clarke (as first-team coach) and settled the place down, making sure Sammy Lee (assistant manager) knew he was staying.
"The other people that are important to us are the people who are here and we look after them.
"That is more important than worrying about what might happen or who might come in.
"What is immediate for us is the staff and players we have working together and the people know who they are there will do their very best to do that.
"If someone comes up who is attractive to the club then fine but at this moment there have not been any conversations about that.
"I couldn't tell you definitively whether there will be people coming in."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Pearce 'to boss GB Olympic team'
Published 23:01 11/01/11 By Martin Lipton
Stuart Pearce will be asked to manage the Great Britain football team at next year's London Olympics.
Current England Under-21 boss Pearce has been identified by FA chiefs as the man to lead the side at the 2012 Games.
Recently-axed Liverpool gaffer Roy Hodgson had been the choice of former FA chairman Lord Triesman, while Olympics supremo Seb Coe had suggested Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson would be the "iconic" face a British side required.
But with the FA having the final say, general secretary Alex Horne made it clear that former England left-back Pearce will be asked to take the role on, combining it with his current job in charge of England's Young Lions.
Horne, speaking at the launch of Vauxhall's £20million four-season sponsorship tie-up with the England team, said: "It is the FA's choice and we will make that decision.
"I will talk to the board about the timing on it but I think we will make the decision in May or June - giving the coach a decent year to run the team into the tournament.
"Stuart is a current employee of the FA and for now he is very heavily focused on the Under-21 European Championship in Denmark.
"We want him to do well in that tournament and that's his primary focus at the moment. But I suspect that what we will have to do next season is to substitute out the England Under-21 fixtures for the Olympics team, which will be an Under-23 side with three over-age players and with a nucleus of English players.
"Unless you have two managers in charge of the same team, it would be very logical for Stuart to have the role."
Pearce's current contract expires in the summer but with the FA expected to be given the green light from UEFA later this month to host the 2013 European Under-21 Championship, the former Nottingham Forest star will be offered a new two-year deal covering both the tournaments.
Horne also suggested that the return of the Home Internationals series to coincide with the FA's 150th anniversary in 2013 would probably be a "one-off" with all England's games played at Wembley.
Vauxhall managing director Duncan Aldred admitted: "We can all remember great games in the past, so I'd be keen to see it happen."
Published 23:01 11/01/11 By Martin Lipton
Stuart Pearce will be asked to manage the Great Britain football team at next year's London Olympics.
Current England Under-21 boss Pearce has been identified by FA chiefs as the man to lead the side at the 2012 Games.
Recently-axed Liverpool gaffer Roy Hodgson had been the choice of former FA chairman Lord Triesman, while Olympics supremo Seb Coe had suggested Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson would be the "iconic" face a British side required.
But with the FA having the final say, general secretary Alex Horne made it clear that former England left-back Pearce will be asked to take the role on, combining it with his current job in charge of England's Young Lions.
Horne, speaking at the launch of Vauxhall's £20million four-season sponsorship tie-up with the England team, said: "It is the FA's choice and we will make that decision.
"I will talk to the board about the timing on it but I think we will make the decision in May or June - giving the coach a decent year to run the team into the tournament.
"Stuart is a current employee of the FA and for now he is very heavily focused on the Under-21 European Championship in Denmark.
"We want him to do well in that tournament and that's his primary focus at the moment. But I suspect that what we will have to do next season is to substitute out the England Under-21 fixtures for the Olympics team, which will be an Under-23 side with three over-age players and with a nucleus of English players.
"Unless you have two managers in charge of the same team, it would be very logical for Stuart to have the role."
Pearce's current contract expires in the summer but with the FA expected to be given the green light from UEFA later this month to host the 2013 European Under-21 Championship, the former Nottingham Forest star will be offered a new two-year deal covering both the tournaments.
Horne also suggested that the return of the Home Internationals series to coincide with the FA's 150th anniversary in 2013 would probably be a "one-off" with all England's games played at Wembley.
Vauxhall managing director Duncan Aldred admitted: "We can all remember great games in the past, so I'd be keen to see it happen."
Rutashubanyuma
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Vidic predicts United ready to peak
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Updated Jan 11, 2011 7:14 PM ET
Nemanja Vidic believes it bodes well for Manchester United that they have managed to hit top spot in the Barclays Premier League without finding their peak form on a consistent basis this season.
There have been highlights for the Red Devils - chiefly the seven-goal mauling of Blackburn in November, a thrilling win over Liverpool and a disciplined display against Arsenal.
Man City vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Bolton
West Brom vs. Blackpool
Wigan vs. Fulham
West Ham vs. Arsenal
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures
But most results this term have been ground out, with valuable points gained at Sunderland and Aston Villa, plus a scrambling success at West Brom on New Year's Day compensating for late disappointments at Fulham, Everton and Birmingham.
However, as they approach Sunday's eagerly-awaited trip to Tottenham, United remain unbeaten, knowing they will have to lose twice for nearest challengers Manchester City and Arsenal to muscle their way back into contention.
Little wonder there is a growing feeling at Old Trafford that this could be the season when Sir Alex Ferguson's side register that record 19th league title.
"We definitely have a positive feeling," Vidic told Inside United.
"We know that up until the win over Blackburn we hadn't performed as well as we can.
"But from my experience, this sort of time is when we usually come into good form.
"We all want to win the trophy. Last season was very disappointing.
"We just need to keep pushing hard and playing well. If we do that, we have a good chance of regaining it."
The strength Ferguson has at his disposal means that United were able to book an FA Cup fourth-round trip to Southampton at the weekend despite resting Vidic and being without the injured Wayne Rooney and Edwin van der Sar.
The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.
In addition, Paul Scholes and John O'Shea have been sidelined for an extended period, while hopes of any kind of comeback for Owen Hargreaves would appear to be fading, given Ferguson can offer no timescale for the England star, who will not enjoy his 30th birthday celebrations later this month.
Not that Vidic is willing to take anything for granted.
There may still be doubt over whether the Serbian will be facing United old-boy David Beckham at White Hart Lane this weekend, but he accepts it will be a tough challenge against one of the most improved sides in what he insists is a tougher league than ever before.
"The quality has improved," he said.
"We saw last season how competitive the league is and it's been even more so this year.
"Sides such as Tottenham and Manchester City have raised their games, whilst other teams understand they have to improve if they want to stay in the league because it is so competitive. They have done that.
"It is a physically strong league and players have raised their game in that way too."
RivalsDM
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Updated Jan 11, 2011 7:14 PM ET
Nemanja Vidic believes it bodes well for Manchester United that they have managed to hit top spot in the Barclays Premier League without finding their peak form on a consistent basis this season.
There have been highlights for the Red Devils - chiefly the seven-goal mauling of Blackburn in November, a thrilling win over Liverpool and a disciplined display against Arsenal.
Wed., Jan. 12
Blackpool vs. Liverpool Sat., Jan. 15
Chelsea vs. BlackburnMan City vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Bolton
West Brom vs. Blackpool
Wigan vs. Fulham
West Ham vs. Arsenal
Sun., Jan. 16
Birmingham vs. Aston VillaSunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures
But most results this term have been ground out, with valuable points gained at Sunderland and Aston Villa, plus a scrambling success at West Brom on New Year's Day compensating for late disappointments at Fulham, Everton and Birmingham.
However, as they approach Sunday's eagerly-awaited trip to Tottenham, United remain unbeaten, knowing they will have to lose twice for nearest challengers Manchester City and Arsenal to muscle their way back into contention.
Little wonder there is a growing feeling at Old Trafford that this could be the season when Sir Alex Ferguson's side register that record 19th league title.
"We definitely have a positive feeling," Vidic told Inside United.
"We know that up until the win over Blackburn we hadn't performed as well as we can.
"But from my experience, this sort of time is when we usually come into good form.
"We all want to win the trophy. Last season was very disappointing.
"We just need to keep pushing hard and playing well. If we do that, we have a good chance of regaining it."
The strength Ferguson has at his disposal means that United were able to book an FA Cup fourth-round trip to Southampton at the weekend despite resting Vidic and being without the injured Wayne Rooney and Edwin van der Sar.
The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.In addition, Paul Scholes and John O'Shea have been sidelined for an extended period, while hopes of any kind of comeback for Owen Hargreaves would appear to be fading, given Ferguson can offer no timescale for the England star, who will not enjoy his 30th birthday celebrations later this month.
Not that Vidic is willing to take anything for granted.
There may still be doubt over whether the Serbian will be facing United old-boy David Beckham at White Hart Lane this weekend, but he accepts it will be a tough challenge against one of the most improved sides in what he insists is a tougher league than ever before.
"The quality has improved," he said.
"We saw last season how competitive the league is and it's been even more so this year.
"Sides such as Tottenham and Manchester City have raised their games, whilst other teams understand they have to improve if they want to stay in the league because it is so competitive. They have done that.
"It is a physically strong league and players have raised their game in that way too."
Rutashubanyuma
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Holloway: Kenny's comeback is a danger to his legacy
Published 23:00 11/01/11 By Jeremy Butler
Ian Holloway fears Kenny Dalglish could ruin his Liverpool legacy by hopping into the Anfield hotseat once again.
Dalglish has ridden to the Reds' rescue as the one time kings of Europe try and chart a way back to the trophy laden years following several seasons of adversity.
And he faces his latest test tonight when he tries to see off a Blackpool team that embarrassed his predecessor Roy Hodgson by winning at Anfield in October.
That victory convinced Tangerines chief Holloway of the mess Liverpool are currently in.
And he is worried his football hero Dalglish may end up wrecking his reputation as a Kop god by taking up the offer of trying to turn Liverpool around.
"He has this affinity, you hear him talk and it's obvious how much he cares about Liverpool." said Holloway. "But it's really difficult when there was no stability at the club in the first place.
"I hope he's got what he wants and I hope he does brilliantly. It would be great if Liverpool were to turn back time to what they used to be.
"But I don't want the fans to ever turn on Kenny - he doesn't deserve that.
"Roy Hodgson didn't deserve it either - to be the scapegoat. There are problems there, and there will continue to be.
"You only have to look at the body language. It's not rocking like it used to. Could Kenny do it? Yes, of course.
"If he was young enough to play he'd make a huge difference on the park but when you're on the touchline, sometimes no matter what you say it doesn't always have the same effect."
Holloway reckons football history is littered with heroes trying and failing to recreate the massive impact they had on their favoured club.
"Look at Alan Shearer at Newcastle," he said. "That's the best example here. Luckily, the fans still like him.
"What Kenny can't do is carry the can for what has gone on before. It will take time.
"Under Rafa Benitez, there were arguments. Did he really get all the people he wanted? Lots of things happened that were unlike the old Liverpool.
"But Kenny's presence will help. There will be some trust there. He will know what to say.
"Its whether the players can produce what the fans want. Last year they finished seventh - and they were nowhere near happy with that.
"That's the pressure of that job. Are they capable of doing it? It's a big ask in this league.
"They want to be in the top four, they always have. They have to handle it. I think Kenny will bring them together."
Published 23:00 11/01/11 By Jeremy Butler
Ian Holloway fears Kenny Dalglish could ruin his Liverpool legacy by hopping into the Anfield hotseat once again.
Dalglish has ridden to the Reds' rescue as the one time kings of Europe try and chart a way back to the trophy laden years following several seasons of adversity.
And he faces his latest test tonight when he tries to see off a Blackpool team that embarrassed his predecessor Roy Hodgson by winning at Anfield in October.
That victory convinced Tangerines chief Holloway of the mess Liverpool are currently in.
And he is worried his football hero Dalglish may end up wrecking his reputation as a Kop god by taking up the offer of trying to turn Liverpool around.
"He has this affinity, you hear him talk and it's obvious how much he cares about Liverpool." said Holloway. "But it's really difficult when there was no stability at the club in the first place.
"I hope he's got what he wants and I hope he does brilliantly. It would be great if Liverpool were to turn back time to what they used to be.
"But I don't want the fans to ever turn on Kenny - he doesn't deserve that.
"Roy Hodgson didn't deserve it either - to be the scapegoat. There are problems there, and there will continue to be.
"You only have to look at the body language. It's not rocking like it used to. Could Kenny do it? Yes, of course.
"If he was young enough to play he'd make a huge difference on the park but when you're on the touchline, sometimes no matter what you say it doesn't always have the same effect."
Holloway reckons football history is littered with heroes trying and failing to recreate the massive impact they had on their favoured club.
"Look at Alan Shearer at Newcastle," he said. "That's the best example here. Luckily, the fans still like him.
"What Kenny can't do is carry the can for what has gone on before. It will take time.
"Under Rafa Benitez, there were arguments. Did he really get all the people he wanted? Lots of things happened that were unlike the old Liverpool.
"But Kenny's presence will help. There will be some trust there. He will know what to say.
"Its whether the players can produce what the fans want. Last year they finished seventh - and they were nowhere near happy with that.
"That's the pressure of that job. Are they capable of doing it? It's a big ask in this league.
"They want to be in the top four, they always have. They have to handle it. I think Kenny will bring them together."
Rutashubanyuma
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Baggies to give Carson the sack?
Published 23:00 11/01/11 By James Nursey - EXCLUSIVE
Scott Carson is struggling to regain his West Brom No.1 spot and could be replaced by a brand new keeper.
Carson was dropped for Albion's FA Cup exit at Reading after his clanger at Fulham last week. Now, back-up keeper Boaz Myhill may retain his place for Saturday's home game with *Blackpool as the Baggies seek to end a six-game losing run.
And Albion scouts have even started looking for a new shot-stopper, which could spell more misery for club captain Carson.
Meanwhile, West Brom are closing in on Aston Villa striker John Carew.
Carew, 31, has been in the Baggies' sights since MirrorSport revealed their interest on December 27 .
Villa's neighbours hope to take the front man on loan until the end of the season.
Albion coach Eddie Newton said: "We are interested in Carew. There's no doubt about that."
Published 23:00 11/01/11 By James Nursey - EXCLUSIVE
Scott Carson is struggling to regain his West Brom No.1 spot and could be replaced by a brand new keeper.
Carson was dropped for Albion's FA Cup exit at Reading after his clanger at Fulham last week. Now, back-up keeper Boaz Myhill may retain his place for Saturday's home game with *Blackpool as the Baggies seek to end a six-game losing run.
And Albion scouts have even started looking for a new shot-stopper, which could spell more misery for club captain Carson.
Meanwhile, West Brom are closing in on Aston Villa striker John Carew.
Carew, 31, has been in the Baggies' sights since MirrorSport revealed their interest on December 27 .
Villa's neighbours hope to take the front man on loan until the end of the season.
Albion coach Eddie Newton said: "We are interested in Carew. There's no doubt about that."
Rutashubanyuma
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Last Torres left in this year's FA Cup used to work in Boots
Published 23:00 11/01/11 By Mike Walters
He used to stack shelves at Boots and even worked at his father's brick factory, but Sergio Torres has lasted longer in this season's FA Cup than his multi-millionare Anfield namesake.
As Crawley hero Sergio Torres basked in the glory of his last-gasp strike against Derby, back home in his native South America they were celebrating one of the most famous FA Cup goals by an Argentinian midfielder since Ricky Villa's Wembley winner for Tottenham 30 years ago.
At £100,000, the transfer fee Crawley paid Peterborough for Torres on a two-year contract last summer would not even cover a week's wages of his misfiring Anfield namesake.
But Torres, 27, has no regrets about dipping into the Conference to help the affluent Red Devils chase their dream of breaking into the Football League and reaching the fourth round of the Cup for the first time in their history.
He said: "It's seven years since I came to England, and it has not always been easy - I spent 18 months stacking the shelves in Boots at their Basingstoke branch.
"I'm still in touch with my old supervisor there - he even called me before the game against Derby to wish me luck - but this is better than getting up at 5.30 in the morning and cycling to work in the rain.
"At one stage, I had convince myself to stay in England. I was thinking about going back home to Argentina - I was missing my family, my friends and the culture. But I didn't want to give up on my dream of playing football, and go back to working in my father's brick factory in Mar del Plata, which is what I was doing before I came to England.
"I used to find it too hard, too hot, too dirty, and although I could not forge a career in professional back home, it's why I decided to try my luck in Europe. Now I can say it's all been worthwhile."
Torres was mobbed in the mandatory pitch invasion after his 91st-minute winner against the Rams, and Crawley will now fancy their chances of reaching the last 16 after booking a trip to Torquay, mid-table in League Two, later this month.
It was only his second goal for Steve Evans' expensively-assembled promotion favourites, and he admitted: "It was an unbelievable feeling which brought a lump to my throat. I could hardly speak.
"I have probably scored better goals, but this was by far the most important and dramatic one of my career. It's an amazing feeling to get a last-minute winner against a Championship club - you could see what it meant to the fans, and we were going crazy in the dressing room too.
"On its own, that goal justifies my decision to drop out of the Football League last summer. I know the manager joked about trying to sign Fernando Torres from Liverpool, but I like to think Nando would have been proud of that finish.
"I never thought I would be the last Torres left in the FA Cup, but it's a great feeling and now I want to go as far as possible.
"Torquay will be a hard game, and a physical one, but we love a battle and after beating Derby we feel as though we can beat anybody and our tie in the next round is winnable."
Published 23:00 11/01/11 By Mike Walters
He used to stack shelves at Boots and even worked at his father's brick factory, but Sergio Torres has lasted longer in this season's FA Cup than his multi-millionare Anfield namesake.
As Crawley hero Sergio Torres basked in the glory of his last-gasp strike against Derby, back home in his native South America they were celebrating one of the most famous FA Cup goals by an Argentinian midfielder since Ricky Villa's Wembley winner for Tottenham 30 years ago.
At £100,000, the transfer fee Crawley paid Peterborough for Torres on a two-year contract last summer would not even cover a week's wages of his misfiring Anfield namesake.
But Torres, 27, has no regrets about dipping into the Conference to help the affluent Red Devils chase their dream of breaking into the Football League and reaching the fourth round of the Cup for the first time in their history.
He said: "It's seven years since I came to England, and it has not always been easy - I spent 18 months stacking the shelves in Boots at their Basingstoke branch.
"I'm still in touch with my old supervisor there - he even called me before the game against Derby to wish me luck - but this is better than getting up at 5.30 in the morning and cycling to work in the rain.
"At one stage, I had convince myself to stay in England. I was thinking about going back home to Argentina - I was missing my family, my friends and the culture. But I didn't want to give up on my dream of playing football, and go back to working in my father's brick factory in Mar del Plata, which is what I was doing before I came to England.
"I used to find it too hard, too hot, too dirty, and although I could not forge a career in professional back home, it's why I decided to try my luck in Europe. Now I can say it's all been worthwhile."
Torres was mobbed in the mandatory pitch invasion after his 91st-minute winner against the Rams, and Crawley will now fancy their chances of reaching the last 16 after booking a trip to Torquay, mid-table in League Two, later this month.
It was only his second goal for Steve Evans' expensively-assembled promotion favourites, and he admitted: "It was an unbelievable feeling which brought a lump to my throat. I could hardly speak.
"I have probably scored better goals, but this was by far the most important and dramatic one of my career. It's an amazing feeling to get a last-minute winner against a Championship club - you could see what it meant to the fans, and we were going crazy in the dressing room too.
"On its own, that goal justifies my decision to drop out of the Football League last summer. I know the manager joked about trying to sign Fernando Torres from Liverpool, but I like to think Nando would have been proud of that finish.
"I never thought I would be the last Torres left in the FA Cup, but it's a great feeling and now I want to go as far as possible.
"Torquay will be a hard game, and a physical one, but we love a battle and after beating Derby we feel as though we can beat anybody and our tie in the next round is winnable."
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