It’s been a while since I last posted and got crucified for saying Roberto Mancini won’t get Man City to fourth spot, but I don’t like to gloat.
So Barcelona have reached an agreement with Thierry Henry allowing the striker to leave the Catalunian club.
I like Barcelona a lot, but I love Liverpool more. As an avid Liverpool fan, currently going through the kind of emotions never felt before, this piece of news is hopeful music to my ears. Not that there has ever been much talk of it, but Thierry Henry could end up at Anfield!
Just a thought.
I don't think Henry is quite ready to end his career at the 'Emirates'. Not the Emirates at Arsenal and certainly not the Emirates in the Middle East where the love of the beautiful game continues to grow. Despite numerous trophy-less years, Arsenal still have a strong, ruthless 'youth' policy. They gambled with an old Gunner like Sol Campbell returning and that didn't quite work, so I don't think the eminent departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona will quite work out as a swap deal of any sort with Henry. Besides, like most Liverpool fans with Kenny Dalglish, I would think most Arsenal fans and Henry himself would much prefer to maintain 'Thierry' as the superstar that he grew into at Highbury and the legendary legacy that he left behind at the Emirates. Going back to Arsenal would be foolish and not as romantic as it sounds.
Henry's affection for the Liverpool fans and atmosphere at Anfield has been no secret. The Anfield crowd, who know their Football well and appreciate talent when they see it, have always had the utmost respect for Henry. So for the majority of fans this wouldn't be a bad, 'cost-effective' signing at all, especially with the state of the clubs finances and transfer kitty this Summer.
Thierry Henry loves the Premier League and the Premier League loves him, bar a few Republic of Ireland fans who rightly feel bitter after the World Cup qualifier against France in which Henry's illegal close control wasn't spotted by the Referee or his Assistant.
I'm well aware that Liverpool have a massive Irish following and I'd like to appeal to them to forget, if not forgive that handball by Henry. Dare I say it, but I'm no way comparing Henry with the great Diego Maradona, but it's about time the handball by Maradona was forgotten, otherwise it could well consume a nation like it has England and we all know how England have done since Mexico '86 in comparison to Argentina.
Fernando Torres is one of many that I feel would relish the chance to spend even half a season on the training ground with Henry. Henry's education, guile, cunning and general clever play would teach Torres volumes. For as good as Torres is, we know he's still not the complete player, and that can only be encouraging at this stage of his career.
As a Liverpool fan, I really don't know what to expect this season. If Henry signed for Liverpool, I certainly know what not to expect. The impact Henry and Torres can have at Liverpool could potentially be compared to Dalglish and Rush, Barnes and Beardsley, Rush and Fowler, Fowler and Owen. Gary McAllister worked wonders when he arrived, so why Henry? You get my drift.
So maybe during their time in London, Mr Hodgson and Mr Henry could have rubbed shoulders in a swanky bar in town on a midsummers night and shared opinions. Maybe they rubbed shoulders last week in South Africa?
Just a thought.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Roberto Mancini not 'the one'
So Roberto Man'City' has got his managerial career off to an absolute flyer. I've never know so many football fans in Manchester (or Salford!) scratching their heads in confusion with the good fortune that has landed on their doorstep.
After Hughes inevitable dismissal, where he appeared to be the only one in the world that was surprised with the sacking, it seems like Man City now mean business.
However, I can't help thinking that Mancini is the wrong man for the job. Just like Zola isn’t quite right for West Ham, how Ranieri didn't last as long at Chelsea and why Vialli also failed.
Amongst a group of common denominators there always seems to be a genius who stands out far and away above the rest. In this particular clique is the vastly underrated genius that shines brightest amongst the Italian Jobs. That man is Carlo Ancelotti - the one Italian manager that looks like he can hack it in the Premier League. What I'm getting at is that most Italian managers are naturally defensive minded, which is fine. In Serie A. I firmly believe that Mancini’s good start is purely a combination of renewed enthusiasm, players eager to please the new Gaffer and fringe players having one last throw of the dice at impressing Capello for a jolly to South Africa with the big boys in June for the World Cup. At least the Man City squad is inspired now, which is more than can be said when Hughes was in charge of all those bore draws.
Hughes’ experience and knowledge of the game is, I feel, very limited. He may have helped conquer Europe under the wily Scot that is Ferguson, but he was a Welsh international who didn't really live through the whole array of unique experiences that come with the World Cup and European Championships. Just like the Carling Cup differs vastly to the European cup, it's that vast difference in National Football versus the International stage. This lacking in Hughes' pedigree is unfortunate, but might be why he's still a rookie manager in relative terms. Unfortunately for Hughes, I don't think the might of the Welsh FA were supporting him, simply because the Welsh FA weren't mighty enough. By this, I mean basic things that become embedded into the fabric of a young Footballer. For example, Wales have never had a ‘Lilleshall’ of their own to be proud of or any school of excellence that I’m aware of where Rush, Ratcliffe, Southall and Hughes could have had a football education to compete with other nationalities. On this note briefly, after watching Ian Rush and Mark Hughes' international career peter out, it makes one wonder why Ryan Giggs chose Wales even after wearing the 3 lions on his shirt. I fear Alex Ferguson advised him accordingly, in order to maintain the interests of Scotland and not let England prosper. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but as a Liverpool fan, I know Ferguson better than I’d prefer. Shrewd move, but that's why Fergie is where he is today. That's an article for another day though. For another writer. For I care little about Man Utd.
Back to Mancini. As experienced and decorated a player and manager he may have been, I just don't think he will give City's filthy rich owners and Silver starved fans their holy grail. Some might say their holy grail is the Carling Cup, but try telling that to the Arabs, to Robinho, to Tevez and to anyone contemplating a move to Eastlands after the World Cup.
It looks as though City are trying to follow Chelsea's blueprint. Rich owners getting rid of an average manager who was obviously always only a caretaker (Ranieri-Hughes) and were subsequently replaced with better Managers. Granted City certainly have done that by getting Mancini in, but maybe they only want Mancini to get that all important 4th spot and then roll out the red carpet for Mourinho next season ? Maybe they've already approached Mourinho and been rebuffed.
That same Mourinho who had Liverpool's famous Liverbird as his mobile phone wallpaper while he was winning the European cup with Porto.
Food for thought, maybe?
After Hughes inevitable dismissal, where he appeared to be the only one in the world that was surprised with the sacking, it seems like Man City now mean business.
However, I can't help thinking that Mancini is the wrong man for the job. Just like Zola isn’t quite right for West Ham, how Ranieri didn't last as long at Chelsea and why Vialli also failed.
Amongst a group of common denominators there always seems to be a genius who stands out far and away above the rest. In this particular clique is the vastly underrated genius that shines brightest amongst the Italian Jobs. That man is Carlo Ancelotti - the one Italian manager that looks like he can hack it in the Premier League. What I'm getting at is that most Italian managers are naturally defensive minded, which is fine. In Serie A. I firmly believe that Mancini’s good start is purely a combination of renewed enthusiasm, players eager to please the new Gaffer and fringe players having one last throw of the dice at impressing Capello for a jolly to South Africa with the big boys in June for the World Cup. At least the Man City squad is inspired now, which is more than can be said when Hughes was in charge of all those bore draws.
Hughes’ experience and knowledge of the game is, I feel, very limited. He may have helped conquer Europe under the wily Scot that is Ferguson, but he was a Welsh international who didn't really live through the whole array of unique experiences that come with the World Cup and European Championships. Just like the Carling Cup differs vastly to the European cup, it's that vast difference in National Football versus the International stage. This lacking in Hughes' pedigree is unfortunate, but might be why he's still a rookie manager in relative terms. Unfortunately for Hughes, I don't think the might of the Welsh FA were supporting him, simply because the Welsh FA weren't mighty enough. By this, I mean basic things that become embedded into the fabric of a young Footballer. For example, Wales have never had a ‘Lilleshall’ of their own to be proud of or any school of excellence that I’m aware of where Rush, Ratcliffe, Southall and Hughes could have had a football education to compete with other nationalities. On this note briefly, after watching Ian Rush and Mark Hughes' international career peter out, it makes one wonder why Ryan Giggs chose Wales even after wearing the 3 lions on his shirt. I fear Alex Ferguson advised him accordingly, in order to maintain the interests of Scotland and not let England prosper. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but as a Liverpool fan, I know Ferguson better than I’d prefer. Shrewd move, but that's why Fergie is where he is today. That's an article for another day though. For another writer. For I care little about Man Utd.
Back to Mancini. As experienced and decorated a player and manager he may have been, I just don't think he will give City's filthy rich owners and Silver starved fans their holy grail. Some might say their holy grail is the Carling Cup, but try telling that to the Arabs, to Robinho, to Tevez and to anyone contemplating a move to Eastlands after the World Cup.
It looks as though City are trying to follow Chelsea's blueprint. Rich owners getting rid of an average manager who was obviously always only a caretaker (Ranieri-Hughes) and were subsequently replaced with better Managers. Granted City certainly have done that by getting Mancini in, but maybe they only want Mancini to get that all important 4th spot and then roll out the red carpet for Mourinho next season ? Maybe they've already approached Mourinho and been rebuffed.
That same Mourinho who had Liverpool's famous Liverbird as his mobile phone wallpaper while he was winning the European cup with Porto.
Food for thought, maybe?
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