Capello’s man-management highlights a major problem

In the build up to the World Cup of 1978, a 31 year old Fabio Capello was a significant component of the Italian team that qualified for the Finals as group winners. Despite playing with a knee complaint throughout the qualifying campaign, the midfielder would have been confident of his place in Enzo Bearzot’s squad. However, noticing hindrance within Capello’s motion whilst becoming increasingly aware of the talents of Marco Tardelli, Bearzot made the decision to omit Capello from his travelling squad. Significantly, the first Capello knew of his exclusion was a TV news broadcast. There was no communication between Capello and his manager suggesting that he would be dropped, let alone any considered attempt to soften the considerable blow. Not quite public humiliation but a brutal way of discovering the end of your international career.

Look forward to 2010 and we see an uncanny reenactment of Capello’s own journey into the international footballing wilderness. Petty retribution directed at an innocent party? I doubt it. However, serious consideration must be taken as to why Capello, a man who knows how it feels to discover your own involuntary international retirement in such circumstances, chose to reveal David Beckham’s future on live television without informing the player himself. The fact that David Beckham is a brand, an icon and England’s leading outfield cap holder should not come into the debate. It is the manner of Capello’s behaviour that causes alarm, not the victim.



Fabio Capello had two options regarding his management of the situation. He could simply swerve the question, praising the performances of his wingers if he saw fit, leaving Beckham out of the equation. If Beckham was not in the Italian’s plans then so be it. If the LA Galaxy midfielder had been omitted from squad after squad, it would have become clear that his international career was approaching an end. By bringing Beckham’s future to the forefront of the media reaction to a friendly that he wasn’t even involved in, Capello indicated that Beckham carried superior status to the rest of the team. There are many former England internationals who will not wear the shirt again. There was no need to publically confirm that their careers were over so why was there a need to place Beckham on a pedestal in front of the world’s media, with the sole purpose of shooting him down? Throughout his England career, Beckham has insisted that he is simply another player. He was a special player, one held close to the hearts of English fans, but why Capello saw a need to treat him in this superior manner is anybody’s guess.

Alternatively, Capello could have phoned David Beckham. Revolutionary I know. We all understand that at times of peril Capello loses all ability to speak the English language and maybe he was simply worried about miscommunication. However, Beckham has a basic understanding of the Italian tongue after his time in Milan. Eccellente. If it were to take his fancy, a touch of Spanish may also have sufficed. The situation could have been resolved professionally in a language of Capello’s choice with minimum fuss. Obviously, I’m being ridiculous but in reality, is this any more ridiculous than Capello’s failure to pick up the phone? If Capello really had to end Beckham’s international career publically on Wednesday night, notifying the player should have been his primary action. If anything, Beckham was a tool for Capello to strengthen his own position at a difficult time. By excluding him from international action the Italian could show that he was his own man and crucially, the man capable of making the difficult decisions to overhaul an ageing England team following a monumental World Cup failure. Rather than convincing the English public that he was the man to take the national side forward, Capello has thrown further ammunition to those looking to shoot him down.

Furthermore, it is not only the style of Capello’s announcement that is an insult to a fine professional, but the way in which he chose to suggest Beckham’s future. Although David Beckham is undeniably a worldwide brand and a celebrity of the highest order, the man himself would want nothing other than parity once inside the England camp. Beckham has stated repeatedly that he will never make himself unavailable for England duty, if needed. By offering Beckham one final England cap, a testimonial with which the humiliated individual can wave goodbye to his adoring public never to be seen in such surroundings again, Capello has clearly sought to draw a line under Beckham’s career and enforce an international retirement that isn’t desired. Unlike others that Capello has called upon, Beckham would happily play for Capello’s England. Forcing him to admit that his England career is over serves very little other than to glorify and exploit ‘Brand Beckham’ one more time. If Capello were able to understand the man himself, he would know that this is the last thing David Beckham desires.



Only a few weeks ago, Beckham was sitting on the bench in South Africa, doing everything in his power to aid his country’s performance in the World Cup finals. Whether Beckham should have been invited is another matter but Capello’s reasoning was that he was a fine professional, respected by all in the squad, who could provide the link between the players and the management. Capello’s actions have only served to exacerbate any gap between squad and the manager. Although his players will never publically state their disapproval, what the likes of Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry think of Capello’s treatment of Beckham is significant. Three players who have captained their country, approaching the final years of their internationals careers, each now wondering when their own future will be revealed and how many millions of people will hear it before they do. Capello has little understanding of the impact that his treatment of Beckham could have on the rest of his squad and in a job where relationships with players are so significant, Capello’s ability to ostracise himself is an increasing worry.

Furthermore, Beckham’s involvement in England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup has been one of the overwhelming positives in the campaign. Whilst comments at board level may have hindered England’s chances, Beckham acted as he has for the vast majority of his career, as a fine ambassador for English football worldwide. When considering the time that Beckham has invested in helping his country in recent times, the style of Capello’s comments come across as nothing but disrespectful, ungrateful and fundamentally, ill judged.

Whilst at the helm of a winning side, Fabio Capello could do little wrong. Firm decisions, insistence on formality and a distant relationship with his players were simply examples of the authority that the English national side had been lacking for so long. Following a miserable World Cup, cracks are appearing in Capello’s armour and his actions are doing little to convince his doubters. Of course, Capello has previous when it comes to making significant errors in regard to a simple phone call. Whilst trying to convince Paul Scholes to return to international duty, Capello left the dirty work to Franco Baldini. It is common knowledge that a more personal touch could have seen Paul Scholes in an England shirt once more. Capello’s treatment of Scholes and Beckham exhibits a total disregard for the feelings of his players and if anything, his failure to do the jobs that a manager should be doing borders on pure laziness. When the FA is paying a manager £6 million per year, they expect to gain a manager who understands his players, not one who passes the tough jobs onto his assistant.



When Capello revealed that David Beckham had no international future on Wednesday night, the England manager opened himself up to all sorts of criticism. At this moment in time, it is difficult to argue that the majority of it is not deserved. As soon as Capello spoke about Beckham’s future, the former captain was elevated to a greater significance than the current squad. The previous 90 minutes faded into insignificance in the eyes of many and the birth of the ‘new England’ was overshadowed by the news surrounding the captain of the old guard. Capello’s crime was not the action, but the manner in which it was carried out. There were two ways in which Capello could have executed David Beckham’s removal from the national team and neither were implemented satisfactorily. A silence on Beckham’s future would have been understandable and the absence of the former Manchester United midfielder from future teams would have told its own story. Alternatively, if Capello felt the need to speak out and end the Beckham infatuation once and for all, a simple phone call prior to the announcement would have been enough to maintain Beckham’s dignity and Capello’s integrity. Beckham represented him country with dedication, professionalism and pride. Whilst Capello continues to overlook simple man-management techniques, fans will doubt whether the Italian can manage the national side with the same principles. Capello still has a future with the England side and if he can overcome the issues he admits he has with understanding the players, it may end successfully. However, Capello must be the first to admit that this is a call he got very wrong.

WorldNET 2010 - Raging Fever Youth Team Report

On Friday 23rd July, Raging Fever FC made the familiar trip to Leeds to compete in the annual WorldNET tournament at Bodington Hall. Crucially, this season had seen a major change in the Fever squad structure. In the most shocking split since Oasis went their separate ways, Fever fielded teams in both the main and veteran competitions. However, unlike our friends from Manchester, the world sat up and took notice at the news of Fever manager John Matthews’ revolutionary idea. Would James Longshaw have a purpose on the football field without the supportive words of Rob Muskett? Who would take penalties for the youngsters now that the Matthews dictatorship had headed for a more arthritic environment? Would a pass ever be successfully completed now that Robb Milne’s ‘easy ball’ catchphrase had so cruelly been taken from us? As Fever’s under 30s headed into the unknown, there were serious doubts as to the credentials of the team without their senior colleagues (and Thom Airs, who was acting as the veteran’s celebrity youngster). As an unfamiliar Fever team, featuring two Scots, two Longshaw acquaintances (always a worrying statement) and a guest goalkeeper in the form of Kidderminster B’s ‘Ackers’, nobody knew quite what to expect. As the team met to watch Dan Pear’s England debut on Friday evening, the appearance of Longshaw’s cider stash left many with the opinion that a prompt arrival at the venue on Saturday morning would be a minor miracle in itself.



Dan Pear making his England debut vs Scotland

As expected, Dan Pear gave an excellent account of both himself and Raging Fever FC in the annual England vs Scotland fixture, playing the second half and winning a key challenge in the build-up to the winning England goal. Hopefully Dan will be the first of many Fever internationals, a figure that would surely be higher if the Welsh and German players weren’t subject to such callous disregard each year.

Following this proud start to the weekend, both Fever squads headed to the Three Horseshoes in Headingley for a pre-tournament beverage. As the drinks were consumed, the subplot to the weekend’s footballing activities began to develop at a frantic pace amongst the veteran players. As expected from such mature men, some even with well paid jobs and partners, the key phrase being thrown around the table was “I’m faster than you are”. Clearly, there would only be one way of solving this ferocious and vitally important debate. A race would be held following the conclusion of Saturday’s group phase. In the interests of keeping the reader’s interest, the video footage will be posted further into this report.



Fever line up to defend a Preston free-kick

Rather than allowing Fever’s makeshift team to gradually grow into the tournament, the draw had placed Fever alongside last year’s 2nd place finishers, Bradford, a Welling side that had heavily defeated a Fever side earlier in the season and an unknown quantity in the form of Ipswich A. Although the sight of caretaker manager James Longshaw emerging from his room in boxers, shortly accompanied by the smell of Yates’ finest brew didn’t fill anybody with confidence, a full squad was present (if not entirely correct) for Longshaw’s slurred team talk after breakfast. By the time kick off in the opening fixture arrived, the men in yellow vaguely resembled a football team. Unfortunately, Bradford turned out to be an accurate representation of an excellent football team and a very tough test first up. Despite this, Fever nearly caused a shock in the opening minutes with a passage of play that provoked great debate between Longshaw and the rest of the squad. In the interests of fairness, both accounts shall be provided. After a slick passing move (after the ball bobbled around uncontrollably ricocheting off the flailing limbs of both sides) the ball fell to Longshaw who calmly rolled the ball out of his feet with just the keeper to beat (the ball fell to Longshaw who tried desperately to dig the ball out from under his feet as the keeper advanced). Neither side could believe their eyes as the Fever striker opened up his body to curl the ball towards the goal with great finesse (as the Fever striker’s foot turned into a sand wedge and the ball looped towards the planes heading in to land at Leeds airport) and cries of anguish were released as the ball bounced clear from the underside of the bar (cries of amazement were released as gravity worked miracles to bring the ball, putting the irregular movement of the Jabulani to shame, down onto the bar). Whichever account you believe (it was the latter), Fever had started well and Jimmy Hickman was inches away from getting on the end of a Dan Pear long throw, a weapon that would be used throughout the tournament. Unfortunately, this was as good as things got and Fever struggled to keep hold of the ball or involve any of the front men in the play henceforth. Bradford’s opening goal was slightly harsh on guest keeper Ackers as he denied the striker when clean through, only for his strike partner to complete the job moments later. Any doubts about the Kidderminster keeper’s ability were dispelled as he dealt well with a barrage of corners and long throws. Why there was any debate over his ability in the first place is staggering. The man had personalised goalie gloves. He could only be brilliant with such accessories. Although Bradford ran out 2-0 winners, Fever should not have been too disheartened as this strong team eventually won the main competition, defeating Lens in the final.



Stuart Burson

If a positive was to be taken from defeat, it was the tactical decision (most certainly not a mutiny) to move Jimmy Hickman up front whilst moving one of the Longshaw-Burson Wantage alliance, Dave Cheeseman, to the wing for the following fixture. This move worked wonders in the next game as Fever hit their stride to gain revenge over Welling. A backline of George Dugdale, Toby and Nicky Pear and John Butcher coped well with Welling’s barrel-chested striker who had caused havoc earlier in the season. Analysts suggest that his decision to remove a one inch ponytail in the intervening months was the true reason for his downfall. Fever started the match at a frantic pace with Theo Dominian’s running causing all sorts of problems for the Welling backline. It was Dominian who opened the scoring, finishing well after an interchange of passes with Hickman. Fever doubled their lead late in the half as Dominian jinked past several Welling defenders before drilling a low shot beneath the advancing keeper. The second half continued in similiar fashion with Stuart Burson and Dan Pear pulling the strings in the middle, Mike Connolly and Mitchell Maulson (who qualified for Fever via a relationship with a member of the manager’s family in the style of Andy Burgess and Sergio Aguero) threatening on the flanks and Hickman bringing others into the game with his hold-up play. A bursting run from Hickman allowed him to round the keeper to extend the Fever lead and soon after, as Welling failed to learn from their mistake, Dan Pear tapped into an empty net after placing the keeper on the Bodington turf. A vastly improved performance from Fever and a confidence boost ahead of the final group game against Ipswich in which only a point would be needed to progress to the main competition’s second day.



Dan Pear battles for possession

Despite the nature of the task in hand, Fever went out to win the match in order to progress in style. However, despite an encouraging start Ipswich took the lead against the run of play when Ackers struggled to clear a backpass and the Tractor Boys took full advantage of a disorganised Fever backline. Forced to chase the game, Fever began to exert their dominance in the midfield but met stubborn resistance from a determined rearguard. When Toby Pear hammered a volley into the roof of the net following a corner by brother Dan, it seemed as if all was well. However, Fever were once more caught sleeping at the back when they failed to clear a long throw and the ball dribbled into the corner of Ackers’ net. Despite relentless pressure in which both Dugdale and Toby Pear ended up as makeshift strikers, Ipswich held firm to move into the second round. Despite dominating the match, conceding two goals from the oppositions only two shots meant that it would be an early start for Fever in the newly christened ‘Remshed Plate’ the following morning. A further blow was dealt with the news that Nicky Pear’s knee injury would rule him out of the second day, breaking up an impressive partnership with Toby.



Toby Pear in control

As the first day headed towards a close, Fever headed over to ‘contest’ a friendly against housemates Motherwell. For the record, the game finished 1-1 with a Dugdale equaliser late on. The game was played with a friendly atmosphere at a relaxed pace (some may say similar to the pace on offer in the veteran’s tournament…). Meanwhile, the much anticipated ‘Raging Fever Donkey Derby’ was taking place on the veteran’s field. Despite allegations of false starts, the result stands and is available below.



The banter continued to be thrown around in the aftermath as both squads travelled into Leeds for a team meal (once more featuring James Longshaw vs The World at bill time) and a visit to the ever popular Cockpit. Despite the youth team’s 8am kick off moving ever closer, a good time was had by all with the veterans enjoying some Nirvana (I heard they stole the Foo Fighters lead singer) as some members of the youth team joined the tattooed teenagers next door for some 21st century tunes. With pre-match meals including shisha, kebabs and a McFlurry, little hope of progress in the Plate remained as the team arrived home at varying times on Sunday morning after a night ‘on the bang’.

A matter of hours later the squad assembled for the second round clash against Kidderminster B, an unfortunate draw considering this was the team carrying the registration of guest goalkeeper Ackers. With Paul Soper kindly sacrificing an hour’s sleep for the youth team cause, Fever lined up with Stuart Burson replacing Nicky Pear at centre back and Nick Wehmeier slotting in alongside Dan Pear in midfield. Despite the odd sore head, general tiredness and the resultant lack of motivation, Fever started well with Wehmeier drilling the ball left-footed into the corner of Acker’s net midway through the first half. As the game moved on, it became apparent that Fever hadn’t been the only side out in Leeds the night before. Although Soper had one smart save to make early in the second half, there was a smooth efficiency to the Fever passing with much of the football being played through Dan Pear, somewhat worryingly for a Kidderminster side noticing that he was waking up a little more with every stride through their defence. Fever deservedly doubled their lead soon after through player-manager Longshaw. After an effort was well saved, the ball fell to Longshaw whose scuffed volley dribbled home. It would have struggled to burst a bubble, let alone the net, but as a quick flash of the ‘Goredayer’ t-shirt showed (it had a whole 6 attendees this year), they all count. The cherry was placed on top of the Fever cake as Wehmeier forced a Kidderminster defender to put through his own net despite having inadvertently blocked Toby Pear’s thunderous volley from a Dugdale corner. Job done without hitting top gear and time for a well-deserved breakfast before the last 16 match against a strong Preston B side at midday. Thanks must go to both Kidderminster for lending us a keeper and Ackers himself for a supreme effort, playing 6 games on Saturday, often in different corners of Bodington with a matter of minutes between games. The Fever manager kindly presented him with a warm can of Strongbow as a man of the match award although his gratitude was placed in doubt by the news that he was carrying a significant hangover.



John Butcher halts a Preston attacker’s advances

Having seen the veterans bow out with a whimper in the morning, the youth team seemed to be motivated by the prospect of avoiding the depression that was emanating from the over 30s camp. Even the sight of a physical Preston side embarking on a 30 minute warm up as Fever soaked up the sun complaining of sore limbs didn’t have the expected effect as the Yellows started the game well with Hickman, Connolly and Dominian going close. Despite dominating a physical first half, Fever couldn’t break the deadlock.



George Dugdale in an aerial battle with Preston’s frontman

As the second half kicked off Fever became aware of the wind that Preston had been so keen to mention in the first half and struggled to clear their lines on several occasions. With the ball holding up in the wind, Paul Soper did well to deal with through balls that could have caused all sorts of problems without such swift action. Despite free kicks in dangerous positions at either end, the game looked destined to be heading for extra time until the ball bounced across the 6 yard box to Longshaw following good work from Dominian and Hickman. As the expectant crowd drew breath, expecting another trademark scuffed volley into the corner, Longshaw miraculously caught the ball sweetly and sent it rocketing over the bar. Late disappointment for Fever but it wouldn’t be long until he gained revenge.



James Longshaw hammers the ball over the bar…

Only moments into the 10 minute period of golden-goal extra-time, Fever won a throw in deep in Preston territory. As the ball soared into the box from Dan Pear’s long throw, Toby Pear put the keeper under pressure and as he flapped, the ball dropped to the feet of Longshaw. Having missed a similar chance moments earlier, this time he made no mistake, putting the ball into the corner of the net and sending Fever into the quarter finals. Preston were undoubtedly stronger than several of the sides that had made it through to the main competition having been victims of a ‘group of death’ and a battling win should not be overlooked.



…but tucks the ball into the corner moments later

As the veterans packed up their Zimmer frames and descended the stair lift for one last time before the journey back to Oxford, the youth side headed over to watch the penalty shoot out that followed a 0-0 draw between Hearts and Port Vale to determine who would make it through to face a confident Fever side. Despite distracting the management team with quips about Lewis Haldane’s skin, hair and insect related treatments, Vale won the shootout in sudden death. In spite of having played a full period of extra time, an hour later it was Vale who looked much fresher and raced into a 2-0 lead within 4 minutes of kick off on a fluctuating pitch. Two long balls caught the Fever line flat-footed and were clinically finished by the Vale front men before the men in yellow had woken up. Despite an improved second half display, it became clear that Fever had run out of ideas and more importantly, energy. Two days of tough fixtures with a small squad had clearly taken its toll on key players and Port Vale held on comfortably to run out fully-deserving winners.

Although the end of the tournament was just as disappointing as the fate suffered by the veteran side earlier in the day, the side left Leeds with their heads held high. Fever remained competitive in all matches against some strong opposition and produced excellent team performances against Welling and Preston in particular. Although it was disappointing not to have another crack at the main competition’s knockout phase, progress into the quarter finals of the plate resurrected some pride. As always, all Raging Fever matches were competitive but carried out in the correct spirit, upholding the traditions upon which WorldNET is run.

Squad:

‘Ackers’ (Kidderminster), Paul Soper, John Butcher, Toby Pear, Nicky Pear, George ‘Dougie’ Dugdale, Nick Wehmeier, Mike Connolly, Dave Cheeseman, Mitchell Maulson, Stuart Burson, Dan Pear, Theo Dominian, Jimmy Hickman, James Longshaw.

Why Evertonians should trust in David Moyes' model in the push for a European spot

It is the 15th August 2009. Following the annual surge of optimism that greets pre-season at any club, the Goodison Park faithful are eagerly anticipating the start of another Premier League season. Everything looks right. In David Moyes they have a manager who understands what it means to lead their club. The squad looks strong. This can be the season where Everton progress to the ‘next level’ and challenge for a top four place. 90 minutes later and the optimism has disappeared. Arsenal outclass their opponents throughout and run out 6-1 winners. Moyes is taking the club backwards. The squad can’t handle the big occasion. Joleon Lescott wants out and his transfer saga has caused irreversible havoc in the changing room. Aside from the humiliation of a mauling on home soil, the overwhelming feeling is one of anticlimax. Maybe next year…



Ten months later and the story is the same. Although several of the players have a World Cup to concentrate on first, the belief that this is the year sits at the forefront of the Everton fan’s mind. Despite the table suggesting that the previous season should be written off as a non-event, an impressive run of results after Christmas is evidence that Everton are a club progressing once more. The challenge for Moyes is to maintain the progression that the fans demand. Having seen Tottenham break the hold of the ‘big four’ – Everton fans will be quick to remind you they managed this in 2005, however limited the following season’s European campaign – there is a realistic hope that Everton can follow suit. If a manager as focussed as Moyes ever needed further motivation, the turbulent times experienced on the other side of Stanley Park could see the Toffees step out of the shadow of their closest rivals.

However, it is not fair to suggest that Everton will break into Europe’s elite competition by following the model that Spurs have created. By their own admission, Everton are not a rich club. They are not a club that is in deep financial trouble, but they lack the ability to spend the sums of money that Harry Redknapp benefitted from whilst rebuilding Spurs. Everton must adopt a different model that is sustainable and relevant to their specific situation. There are three key aspects to the plan that Everton should adopt. Encouragingly, the signs are that David Moyes is striving to put each of these into motion.

With a limited transfer budget, Moyes’ job is not an easy one. The assumption that he has taken Everton as far as he can will undoubtedly attract some ill-judged support should this season follow a similar path to last year’s injury-ridden campaign. In reality, the transfer policy that Moyes is forced to pursue is one that moves slowly. Although the likes of Yakubu and Fellaini were expensive purchases by Bill Kenwright’s standards, the vast majority of Moyes’ acquisitions are players with potential to develop whilst at the club, bought for a relatively small fee and concluded with minimal fuss. Rather than improving his squad with the multi-million pound signature of a continental superstar, Moyes has bought shrewdly and strengthened gradually. It is wrong to avoid the fact that signings such as Andy van der Meyde were poor but it is equally important to remember that the financial loss on such mistakes is limited, especially when compared with the financially disastrous signings that have graced the top clubs in recent years.

The sustainable nature of Moyes’ transfer dealings should be applauded. The signings of promising youngsters such as Dan Gosling, Seamus Coleman and Lukas Jutkiewicz are low risk and are likely to pay dividends over time. Furthermore, Moyes is not afraid to gamble in the transfer market. Rather than financially perilous gambles, Moyes has looked outside of the box in recent times and reaped the rewards. In particular, the decision to allow Landon Donovan to spend his close-season in England was a masterstroke. Whether the signings of Jermaine Beckford and Joao Silva will be similarly successful remains to be seen but few will doubt their credentials. Although plying their trade outside of the top division in their respective countries, both have shown a natural instinct for goalscoring and will benefit from the invention provided by the likes of Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar, amongst others.

Similarly, rumours of a move for released Manchester City winger Martin Petrov do not come as a surprise. If his mind is right, Petrov could benefit greatly from the stable environment provided by Everton. David Moyes’ determination to improve his squad within his budget is a great strength. His willingness to pursue a calculated gamble may also bring benefits in the next 12 months. When considering that Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar cost little over £7.5 million between them, the evidence that quality can be acquired for a limited price is clear. If Everton are to challenge for a top four place, Moyes must continue to get the majority of his ‘risk transfers’ correct.



When working from a limited budget, the importance of development from within is a vital element of the football club. Although acquiring young, talented players from other clubs is a sustainable way in which to do business, the boost from bringing a player through the youth academy into the first team squad is undeniable. As well as the accolades for the individual and the staff at the academy, the boost for the other trainees at Finch Farm is considerable. The rapid rise in the prominence of Jack Rodwell is indicative of this. Crucially, Moyes has been able to fend off interest from Manchester United and has secured Rodwell to a long-term deal at Goodison Park. By the time the 2014 World Cup comes around, Rodwell’s valuation could be many times greater than at present. The long-term deals signed by Rodwell and the similarly impressive full-back Seamus Coleman provide the clear statement that Everton no longer wish to be a ‘selling club’ and will keep their assets. Although interest in top players is inevitable, the length of contract signed by Everton’s youngsters acts as an insurance policy that guarantees a substantial fee for their registration should the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger maintain their interest.

Although Rodwell’s success story is encouraging for all involved at Everton, one player will not represent a successful academy. Moyes will hope that the likes of Shane Duffy (when he recovers fully from a life-threatening injury), Coleman, Jose Baxter and Jutkiewicz will follow Rodwell into the first team fold at Goodison Park within the not too distant future. Loan spells at Blackpool and Motherwell respectively have shown signs of promise for Coleman and Jutkiewicz, not least the latter’s wonder strike against Hibs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byK2oBB_ucQ). The constant flow of first team players from the youth system at any club is valuable. However, in Everton’s case, for each first team player brought through the ranks at Finch Farm, another can be added to strengthen the squad using the money saved. In terms of sustainable progress, the strength of the academy system is of the utmost importance.



A final key aspect of Moyes’ model for Everton’s continued growth is the simple - yet not always easy to enforce – idea of keeping the strongest players at the club. Although the transfer saga surrounding Joleon Lescott’s move to Manchester City last summer was disruptive to Moyes’ preparations in the extreme, the lessons learned from the episode could benefit the club in the long term. Since leaving Goodison Park, the form that had seen Lescott reach the periphery of the England squad has vanished. Before injury ended his season, the ex-Wolves centre back looked a shadow of his former self alongside Kolo Toure amidst the chaos of Manchester City’s squad overhaul. Although the environment created by Moyes at Everton is unspectacular, the close bond within the club is clear for all to see. If Lescott’s departure has taught Everton’s remaining stars anything, it is that despite the astronomical wages available in Manchester, the grass isn’t always greener.

Whilst receiving praise for many aspects of his managerial style, Moyes’ ability to keep his players united is a strength that is often overlooked. Having secured Tim Cahill on a long-term deal, the retention of Fellaini, Baines, Arteta, Jagielka and Pienaar, amongst others, is vital towards Everton’s progression. The loss of Everton’s greatest assets would be hard for Moyes to take, although many would believe in his ability to use any funds raised wisely. These are players who have fallen into the Everton mindset and understand what it means to play for the club. Although footballing ability can often be replaced, replacing what goes on inside the player’s head is much more difficult. Whilst Everton have a strong spine to their squad, Moyes will continue to lead a successful football club.



As with all teams, there is always room for improvement at Everton. There is genuine hope that alongside Saha, Silva and Beckford can convert the numerous chances created by Everton’s nimble playmakers. Whilst the goalscoring issue is being addressed, Everton’s defensive record is good without being tight enough to challenge for top European competition. The return of Phil Jagielka will provide a huge boost to the backline whilst Moyes will hope that Seamus Coleman can push Tony Hibbert for a first team place. The value of having two attacking full-backs cannot be underestimated at any level of football. Whilst Leighton Baines drives the team forward well, Hibbert lacks the dynamism of the modern full-back. Recent comparisons between the style of football exhibited by Coleman and Gareth Bale suggest that the youngster is an athlete who is able to push forward whenever possible, albeit on the opposite flank to the Welsh international. As well as helping attacks by overlapping the wingers, such tactics also limit the threat of opposition wingers by forcing them into tracking back in their own half. Although it would be wrong to place too much pressure upon the Irishman’s shoulders at such as early stage, his rise to prominence may coincide with a change in tactics towards the modern style of full back that is so common throughout Europe. Once more, to be successful, Everton can not afford to be static.

As the events in South Africa come to a climax, the expectations of Everton’s following will once more begin to rise as pre-season commences. Although Moyes will be praying for a more generous bill of health this year, the signs are positive that Everton can improve on last year’s finish. A run of just 2 defeats in the final 24 games of the season shows that Moyes has a team that understands how to win Premier League games. With a full pre-season behind them, there is no reason why this can’t be the year that the strengthened Everton fulfil their true potential. If early momentum can be gained, the belief that Moyes is slowly creating something special will only strengthen amongst those at the Gwladys Street End.

Why this page hasn't been updated for a long time...

I have to get through Uni as well as putting all of my sporting thoughts onto paper. The essay stage is over, the exam phase is just beginning and once they are done I will write further articles. To summarise my views on recent events:

The FA fine on Wolves has set a precedent that can't be followed. My previous article showed that I didn't agree with the team selection but the FA have shot themselves in the foot. If Chelsea rest 9 players, are they allowed to do so because their reserves are a better quality than Wolves' reserves? Are Fulham allowed to because they have priorities in Europe? The FA need to find a way out of this. Wolves should not have been fined in the first place.

Chelsea won the league because they were the best side. Far from perfect, but ruthless when opportunities presented themselves. The other teams have no excuses. Manchester United will be stronger next season but there can be no complaints about the destination of the title.

Portsmouth's players deserve credit for getting to the FA Cup final. The club doesn't. They won the trophy in the past living beyond their means and are suffering the consequences now. The sums of money owed to small companies and services are a disgrace.

Luton Town Football Club should have been honest following the events after the York game and acknowledged that they have a sizeable troublesome element within their fan base. Nick Owen's failure to condemn his club's support was almost as poor as the scenes at Kenilworth Road. There are clearly 'real' supporters there who back their team in the right manner but the acceptance of trouble at Luton Town fixtures from the club itself will harm them in the long-term. The sooner it is removed, the better.

Finally, apologies for my prediction a few months ago. Liverpool's revival never happened, Wolves' were not in any significant danger in the last weeks of the season and much to the smug satisfaction of Mike Lewis, Everton most certainly finished above Birmingham. They should qualify for Europe at the end of next season. However poor my calculations were, this season has certainly been entertaining.

'Should sportsmen's personal problems impact on their day job?' - Article published in the Oxford Mail on 15/3/2010

The life of a professional sportsman carries many privileges. When considering the astronomical income received by John Terry, Ashley Cole and Tiger Woods, it should come as no surprise that they are subjected to intense media scrutiny. Having seen the benefits of life in the spotlight, each of them should have been wary of the effect that their extramarital activities would have upon their reputations. In the UK, Terry has had to bear the brunt of the public reaction to current events. As such, an impact upon his day job was inevitable. Footballers make a career from a team sport in which trust is a major component of success. Terry’s affair appears to have caused some division within the Chelsea changing room and his dramatic loss of form is constantly linked to tabloid headlines. Terry’s deterioration has a negative impact upon his team, manager and importantly, fans. A proportion of a footballer’s wage is paid by money put into the club by supporters. Whilst this remains the case, all players have an obligation to enhance the reputation of their club both on and off the field. It is in this respect that Terry and Cole have failed. Although Woods’ sport is individual, he plays a similar role to Terry and Cole as a worldwide role-model. The sportsman has a responsibility to act appropriately with consideration to their status. When showing such disregard for morality, it is understandable that their integrity is questioned both within their occupation and away from it.

Why Wilder's focus can win over the fickle Oxford fan

Like all Oxford United fans at 9:45pm on Tuesday, I was gutted. Entering 5 minutes of stoppage time United looked set to maintain a lead at the top of the Blue Square Premier with a tactically perfect 1-0 victory at the hostile Kenilworth Road. Terrific. 7 minutes into the ‘5 minutes’ of stoppage time, the Oxford backline had been breached twice and the referee brought proceedings to an end, sparking euphoric scenes amongst the Luton support. Less than terrific. Over the next few days, internet forums were bombarded with fans declaring that the season was over, the capitulation had begun and Chris Wilder had lost the dressing room. Fast forward to Saturday evening and everything was wonderful again. Whilst a 2-0 home victory over Histon was welcomed by those in yellow, the news of away defeats for promotion rivals Stevenage Borough and York City created a noise similar to that generated after an Oxford goal and sent the home faithful home with a smile upon their collective face.

I try to avoid internet forums after points are dropped to maintain a realistic perspective upon the current situation. Thankfully, Chris Wilder and his staff insist upon the same mentality within the dressing room. Whilst home wins against Luton and Stevenage Borough don’t mean that the title is won, neither does a defeat in February mean that the season must be written off as a failure. The last week has exposed the fickle nature of the football supporter for all to see. Every club has fans that are guilty of knee-jerk reactions and a minority who are able to see through disappointment to maintain a positive attitude. Rather than trying to comfort the knee-jerkers and tell them that everything will be alright in the end, it is easier to maintain a dignified silence and wait for a positive result to ease their troubled minds.



Thankfully, the Oxford United squad don’t react to defeat in the same manner as your average fan. Chris Wilder and Mickey Lewis have implemented a mentality throughout the club that treats each game for what it is. Irrespective of the result in the last game or upcoming fixtures, the focus in always upon the next match. It is a simple idea but one that seems to be working. In the heat of the moment, fans will overlook the fact that for 90 minutes, the performance at Luton was everything Wilder would have asked for. Although the problems experienced in stoppage time must not be overlooked, if United had managed to hold on then the fans would have been raving about a tactical master class. The mentality of the manager is far more objective than that of his fans. Rather than looking at the wider picture, Wilder is helping his men to win the next battle. If everything goes to plan, these battles will win a war and see Oxford United return to the Football League.

However, football is not that simple. The fact that football is not formulaic makes it a far more interesting spectacle for everybody involved. Across all divisions, points will be dropped by teams between now and the season’s climax. Looking specifically at the Blue Square Premier, it is evident that teams can drop points in any match. As we go into the final third of the season, it is the reaction to dropped points that will decide who is playing in League Two next season. For York City, a positive reaction to the end of a run that has seen them gain 31 points from a possible 33 is crucial. For Stevenage, two defeats in relatively quick succession have knocked Graham Westley’s side from their stride. Similarly, Oxford are currently 14th in the form table when looking at the past 6 matches. One of the great strengths of Wilder’s team this season has been the ability to respond to a defeat with a morale-boosting victory and continue on a winning run for a significant period of time. Although it is entirely possible that Stevenage and York will respond positively to their setbacks, I have full faith in Chris Wilder being able to complete the job that he has started so well.



This season’s Blue Square Premier is the most competitive the top tier of Non-League football has been for quite some time. Whereas Burton, Dagenham and Redbridge and Aldershot were able to run away with the title for much of the second half of the season, the same will not be true this season. To name but a few, Oxford United, Stevenage Borough, York City, Mansfield Town and Luton Town are teams that are able to take points from each other. Although the matches between these sides will undoubtedly be important in determining the destination of the league title, the ability to cope with frequent matches will also play a large role. Due to the impromptu winter break, the remainder of the season will see teams playing Saturday-Tuesday. It is in this respect that I have great confidence in Oxford United. Kelvin Thomas has allowed Wilder to construct a squad that boasts both quality and depth. With the congested end of season fixture list, this should serve as an advantage for United. Whilst the mentality of the promotion chasing sides will be one that sees no issue with a rush of fixtures, the squads that lack strength in depth will be exposed in the run in as players become fatigued and pick up knocks. Chris Wilder has maintained throughout the season that each and every one of his squad will have a role to play if Oxford United are to win promotion. This is being shown at the moment by the key performances of Rhys Day and Sam Deering, two players who barely figured in the first half of the season. Everybody at Oxford United believes that the squad assembled has enough depth to challenge for both league and FA Trophy honours. If things go to plan, Oxford United fans will have a lot to celebrate at the end of the season.



The end to the Blue Square Premier season will be the clichéd rollercoaster ride with twists and turns in the remaining months. It is inevitable that the fans of each promotion-chasing side will respond to each result with an extreme overreaction. Victory for Oxford against the in-form Rushden and Diamonds on Tuesday night will see fans planning for a League Two campaign whilst dropped points would see a return to the doom and gloom experienced after the Kenilworth Road disappointment. Whilst the fans change their mind on the team’s credentials after each game, Chris Wilder and his staff will stick to the game plan. The only thing that matters is winning the next game. Wilder’s ability to overlook the emotions of the fans around him whilst maintaining a steely focus within the club is a major strength. The football fan is a fickle being but if there was ever a time to believe in Oxford United, this is it.

View Counter

I was asked how many people have read the blog and realised that blogspot has no way of telling you this. I've added a snazzy little view counter now. Unfortunately, it starts counting from this moment onwards. I look forward to seeing how many people read the blog. Keep on retweeting anything blog related on Twitter, it really helps. Thanks to anyone who has taken the time to read the articles so far, I really appreciate it.