Modern day fairytale

When Blackpool F.C. entered the promised land this season, many believed it would be a short lived journey amongst the big boys of English football. The incredible achievement of promotion from the Championship when considered relegation favourites at the start of the season seemed the pinnacle and a few tantalising trips away from the seaside and to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates would be all they could take from a harsh season in the top division. However an already rollercoaster season has seen the ‘Seasiders’ delight their loyal contingent with high-profile wins, exciting football and the teasing prospect of being in the queue to buy their season ticket for the 2011/2012 Premiership season.

When Ian Holloway signed a one year deal to take charge of Blackpool, even ‘Ollie’, and his considerable optimism, could not have predicted what was to come. Avoiding relegation was the target set and a realistic one at that. A side with a limited budget even by Championship standards, showed grit and desire to see off their pre-season critics and rise up the league. Fast forward to the 23 May 2010, and the Tangerine dream had come true with a 3-2 win over the favourites Cardiff. An underdog story to rival the best and David would soon be facing Goliath on a weekly basis as the side stepped up to the next level.



Underdogs



The current Blackpool side have been a breath of fresh air in a time where money has become the be all and end all of modern day football. While the other clubs splash out millions on transfer fees and wages, Blackpool have relied on some aspects that are missed by clubs. Belief, Confidence, Organisation are all prominent in the Seasiders style of play and attitude towards their task. Coming up against the big spenders was never going to be easy, to put it in perspective it is estimated that Blackpool have a maximum wage for all players of £10,000 a week while an unhappy Carlos Tevez earns well in excess of £200,000. Therefore a tilt for the title was certainly a bridge too far from this small-time club. The gung-ho and fearless approach they have taken to the Premier League though has given hope to all lower league teams that the dream is possible and the millionaires can be beaten by the less affluent, unfashionable club from the North-west of England.



Breath of fresh air



The success can be nailed down to a few areas and their charismatic manager, Ian Holloway is certainly one of them. This man has lit up the game better than Blackpool’s illuminations themselves. When the great Jose Mourinho left these shores, a gap for a manager with a bit of humour was left and this man has certainly stepped up. When asked if he had any injury worries, the quick-witted reply was “No, I’m fully fit, thank you” and this is a measure of the man who I could quote all day. However a joker off the park he may be, but in-house he has worked with the players to create a side who are unafraid of their opponents and go into each match with the same philosophy of keeping the ball and creating opportunities. On the first day of the season, Blackpool turned up at the DW stadium expected to be Wigan’s whipping boys for the day, and showed the class and determination to leave with a 4-0 win and a crucial 3 points tucked away in their back pockets. This result sent out a message, that Blackpool weren’t there to make up the numbers and the loyal supporters had a season to look forward to.

That brings me nicely onto another factor behind the success which is the Tangerine Army who have followed their heroes around the country so far this season. They have created a tremendous atmosphere at each game they have attended and given their players fantastic backing even during games such as the 6-0 hammering at Arsenal. They have been rewarded for their support with two wins over Liverpool, the 4-0 thumping of Wigan among other brilliant wins and performances. The fans who arrive at Bloomfield Road each home game go there with the right attitude for a team newly-promoted and rarely is a boo heard ringing round the stadium. The results and league position they have achieved at this half-way stage of the season in just reward for fans that have toiled since the days of the great Stanley Matthews and are finally able to see their team successful again after many barren years.



Leader



Finally the players deserve enormous recognition for their performances guiding Blackpool to the top half and a vertigo-challenging 9^th place. A task led by the captain Charlie Adam in fine style. Since being bought for £500,000 from Rangers, Adam has reignited his career with the club and become a key man in the side. Having scored and created in vast amounts he has repaid the belief Holloway has showed in him, and is finally realising the potential many believed he had. He is ably supported by colleagues such as DJ Campbell, Marlon Harewood, Ian Evatt and Matt Gilks among a squad unheard of by many individually but known as a tough outfit collectively. The aforementioned players have stepped up to the mark tremendously this season, Gilks in particular whose performances led to a call up for Scotland although he remains uncapped at that level. They have all showed that quality will only get a team so far and with the right attitude, organisation and belief, anyone can beat anyone on a given day.

Overall, Blackpool have reached the January window in a position much higher than anyone could have thought. If they continue the form and effort they have put into the first half of the season, and maybe add a couple of quality names in the window then it is almost certain, when the illuminations are switched on next year, Blackpool will still be a Premier League club.

Lost its spark?

After yet another scrappy, tedious Old Firm derby the question has to be raised whether this match can still fulfil its billing as one of the greatest derbies in the world. The massive derbies in England, Spain, Italy, even Brazil must surely be taking centre stage ahead of Scotland’s ‘finest’ due to the lack of sparkle, creativity or excitement produced by both sides.

Spectator

Rightly the Old Firm contest has been put on a pedestal due to the history and passion of the two sides and I’m not for a minute saying it should be forgotten about, which it could never be. The standard of football being served up in recent times though is frankly shocking as both teams shell passes forward and try to feed off the scraps. In the latest derby, Kenny Miller, prolific this season with 22 goals before the New Year, barely touched the ball as Celtic sat in, as has become customary to do as the away side in the game. The Walter Smith approach in big games of setting out his team to see the opposing half as a minefield they don’t want to venture into, seems to have rubbed off on his counterpart across the dugout. Celtic beat Rangers at their own game, drawing them forward then countering quickly to force mistakes in the backline. While this is the benchmark for the two best teams in the country, Scotland will continue to struggle on the international stage and also to attract a sufficient audience for the domestic product to progress.

If you go back a decade ago to 2000, over the space of 5 Old Firm games there were 22 goals and 3 red cards with countless bookings, including results of 6-2 and 5-1. Contrasted with recent times there’s only been 19 goals in the previous 10. This illustrates the difference in attitude that both teams have adopted, with the fans facing a drought of thrills and the most contentious moments coming from referees. It is plain to see in the approach of both teams that they wait for the other team to make an error rather than trying to create their own piece of magic, which was in evidence at the most recent game. With a defensive Celtic frustrating Rangers, it needed a touch of class to change things which is all too rare nowadays. Gone are players like Laudrup, Kanchelskis, Moravcik, and Berkovic who could unlock the opposition with a bit of skill and the spectacle is beginning to suffer due to the lack of quality that the modern Big 2 don’t have.

The Pinnacle

The other famous derbies of the world are making to further heighten the expectations of Scottish fans and mean disillusionment won’t be far away. Watching the football produced by Spain, Holland, Germany among others at the 2010 World Cup is giving the average football fan a thirst for possession, which Scottish teams are struggling to fulfil. El Classico, in which Barcelona made the Galactico’s of Real Madrid look like a Sunday league team, was a football lover’s dream. The skills Messi, Iniesta and the like put on display was a joy to watch as the Catalan club kept the ball as if it were member of the family. This derby was one of footballing perfection, and while it might not match up in the passion stakes, in footballing terms they are in a different world to the defensive and almost scared teams that Glasgow has produced in recent times.

Passion of the Milan derby



The Milan, Manchester, Liverpool alongside Brazilian and Argentinean derbies are all at a standard which competes with the Old Firm, which could be hugely detrimental to Scottish football. We are already struggling with qualification for Europe and will be having no automatic qualifiers from next season. If the pattern of game quality continues then its unlikely Mr Murdoch will be clamouring to renegotiate Sky’s television deal, so the coffers won’t exactly be bursting for Scottish clubs to invest and get us back to a level which will allow us to compete on an even keel in Europe. Therefore it is essential the excitement is injected back into the game rather than the stilted product we have at the minute. If this doesn't happen then we could be thrown into the doldrums of European football, struggling to qualify for the groups of the Champions League rather than the last 16 which every fan craves.

Every now and then both clubs are showing flashes of good football, be it from a Paddy McCourt wonder-run or a Vladimir Weiss solo effort, but reproducing this in the biggest game of the domestic season has been a rarity as both teams cancel each other out. Overall the burning passion and desire of every Old Firm fan has to see their team succeed will mean that the significance of the occasion will never be lost, however unless the quality matches the quantity Scottish football could be in for a tough future.

The Old Firm are the lifeblood of the Scottish game and their future affects deeper than just the two clubs themselves. For all the remaining SPL clubs, the gate money they receive from clashes with the big two keeps them in business for a considerable amount of time. This is a key aspect of their finances and if the revenue from television begins to dry up, prices and costs will have to be raised meaning the purse strings will have to be tightened even more than they are already. This adds credence to the argument that the Old Firm have to address this issue immediately before the  lives of other clubs move further into danger.



A distant memory



Solutions are few and far between in the current financial climate Scottish football is facing, with the times of a £12 million player walking up the steps at Ibrox far gone from the memory and won’t be happening any time in the near future. One answer may be developing academies, be it at Murray Park or Lennoxtown, or creating new facilities which will benefit not only the domestic clubs but the international scene aswell. Barcelona is a prime example of how to create a football club using those from within. With the likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol among many others all graduating through the youth ranks, it shows that money is not always the answer and having fashioned a team widely-regarded as one of the best ever seen, Scotland can learn a great deal from the benchmark placed at such a high level.

Therefore change is needed throughout the league system in Scotland, not just at the top, but throughout all the way down to junior level. Often the lower divisions are disregarded and not given a second thought but the expansion of the set-up will lead to a better standard of player being developed and the quality level increasing at every level. The idea of the reserve sides of the SPL playing in a lower division has often been discussed and this could be the perfect solution to giving players the chance to improve and gain real, match experience. Therefore those in the SFA will need to sit down and assess where our game is headed, with the likelihood of no Scottish teams in the top level of Europe becoming a distinct possibility.

Change is needed, and needed fast.

Is it really just a pipedream?

Tottenham Hotspur F.C has long been regarded as everyone’s second team. Outside of the London rivalries, it seems no one has a bad word to speak and wants them to succeed. A team which has had such a talented squad for many years had never reached the heights they should have. However the introduction of Harry Redknapp to the White Hart Lane dugout has given the men in white the added spice they needed to fulfil the ambitions of a dedicated following. So the question has to be asked; can Tottenham win the Champions League?

Taking over a decimated squad lying bottom of the table with just 2 points from 8 games, Redknapp set about stamping his authority on the club and this had an immediate effect with Spurs, as they are affectionately known, winning 10 out of the next 12 points, including a spectacular 4-4 draw with North London rivals Arsenal. This outstanding turnaround continued to an eventual 8^th place finish in the league and defeat in the League Cup final, and a 4^th place finish the following season.

Redknapp has been instrumental in leading Tottenham away from Championship football and into the bright lights of the Champions League. His qualities have shown through in the surge up the table the team has gone through in his tenure. Morale, which was at an all time low under Juande Ramos, has increased massively, epitomised by the soaking David Bentley gave out to Redknapp during a post-match interview. Redknapp is highly regarded amongst his peers and rightly so given his record not just at Tottenham but his previous clubs as well. With him at the helm, there is a real chance Tottenham could progress further in this season competition.

Another key reason for progression is the squad Tottenham currently possess and the depth in quality therein. Players such as Jermaine Jenas, Carlo Cudicini, and Niko Kranjcar are struggling to get a look in this season which shows the talent at the disposal of the management. Comparing the squad with other sides at the top of the Premier League, it is hard to say a Manchester United or an Arsenal have better options, showing once again the shrewd eye Redknapp has for a player with Bassong, Defoe and Palacios being just some of the terrific buys he has made so far. Although he definitely isn’t a wheeler-dealer as was foolishly suggested by a reporter.



Key men for the Tottenham challenge.



A man who could be vital to the future of Tottenham is a certain Gareth Bale. While not being on the winning side in his first 24 appearances wasn’t the start he may have hoped for, Bale has bounced back to become one of the leading lights in the 2010/2011 season so far. While on the back of his incredible performance against Inter Milan it was wrongly suggested he was up with the greatest players in the world, he still has a great future ahead and i ts would not be out with his ability to perform once again on the biggest stage of them all, well being Welsh the World Cup may be out of the question for the foreseeable future. However Bale has all the necessary skills to be an integral part of a Spurs side for years to come and under the tutelage of the coaching staff may well reach the level many have mistakenly given him already.




Big obstacle

 

Tottenham proved many doubters wrong with their performance in the group stage of this season’s competition. Finishing top of the group ahead of the holders Inter Milan, and very strong Werder Bremen and FC Twente outfits, Tottenham showed the style of play and an unnerving lack of fear which gives substance to the argument they could go far. With players such as King, Modric, Defoe and Lennon, amongst many others, available for the next stage, Spurs have the quality to trouble even the most talented teams across Europe, doing their chances of success no harm. While Redknapp has dismissed talk of going defensive in order to go through, this could be to their detriment when coming up against experienced campaigners in the shape of AC Milan. The 7-time European cup winners will provide stern opposition to the inexperienced Londoners, and could be a bridge too far for their gung-ho attacking style. The likes of Andrea Pirlo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho have the flair and capability of making any team look ridiculous and therefore Spurs must be wary of the threat the Italian’s provide.


Injuries to key players could curtail Tottenham’s challenge for glory further. The likes of Gomes, King and Crouch have the experience to guide this side through and the loss of them would make it far more difficult. The spine of the side is crucial, however if Ledley’s knees can hold up and Tottenham stay clear of suspensions then their know-how will be vital for progression.

Overall though there is no reason why Spurs cannot go forward and challenge for the Champions league. The squad they have at their disposal, the manager in charge and the naive way they have approached their attempt at the silverware may just provide the perfect formula for a trip to Wembley next May. And with Capello’s upcoming departure from the England job, it could be a perfect send-off for Harry as he takes the logical step into leading the national side.

Put away the goals, football’s finished.

When the time comes that a player earning in excess of £200,000 a week, captaining a team that had the chance to be top of the league at Christmas, can no longer cope then surely it is time to burst the old ball and start again.



Happier times for 'homesick' Tevez

Carlos Tevez, hardly a stranger to controversy, dropped a bombshell over the Eastland’s recently by handing in a transfer request to his boss. He has cited missing his family and the less than tropical conditions of Manchester as reasons for his reluctance to honour that piece of paper he signed not too long ago. Whether this will wash with Mancini, who if I’m not mistaken is not a born and bred Mancunian, I’m not sure as he tightens his trademark scarf to keep out the cold.

Of course compassion can be shown as being away from your family for a considerable period of time is tough for everyone; however when the dotted line was presented, the alluring number of noughts seem to have taken greater significance. This enhanced by the news that when given a week of at the start of December, ‘homesick’ Tevez decided to stay in sunny Tenerife, rather than make the trip home to see his family. The fact it has taken until now for these grievances to appear surely shows his life isn’t that much of a struggle and he should throw on the snood, a pair of gloves and get out on the training pitch to prepare for the next game.

Questions have to be asked over his state of mind and whether he should be continuing as captain of a highly ambitious side. While Sheikh Mansour begins to check down the back of the couch for a January spending spree in order to strengthen their title bid, their captain seems not to want to get to the top and this cannot reflect well within the squad. Having your leader contemplating retirement surely doesn’t inspire his teammates to put the extra in on the park to win that elusive title if their skipper is going to jump ship at the first opportunity.

The situation is given a little clarity with the return to the footballing scene of Kia Joorabchian. The footballing Grinch had been quiet for far too long and came out swinging, at the board, the media and anyone who would listen frankly. While he remains the organ grinder, then Tevez will remain the monkey and this won’t end with happily for Manchester City fans. Agents are having far too big an influence on the lives of players, a certain Mr Rooney across the city being a prime example, and this story is going to crop up time and again if the relevant authorities don’t address it. However with Sepp Batter still the man in power, it may be a while before anything of benefit to football turns up.

This festive period was yet to have a pantomime villain and Carlos Tevez was the man to step up. With Joorabchian conveniently behind him, it proved a difficult issue for the board to negotiate but all seems settled now. That is until the January window opens where I would not be surprised to see Mr Tevez off to sunnier climes to join some Argentinean teammates across Europe in Spain.

If this does turn out to be the case, then Tevez, and his bulldog-like approach, will be missed in the Premier League.

Over-reaction or right on the money?

Why, in this day in age, would you consider becoming a referee? Abuse, threats and questions over your integrity are thrown about carelessly by those who have never experienced the role for themselves. Sitting in your armchair with the remote control at your side, those 10 different replays prove nothing over your ability to make that split second decision. Finally it has all became too much for Scotland’s officials, having announced a strike for this weekend’s matches.

 In my opinion, they have every right to do so and, if anything, it has come later than it could have. Those supporters who sit in their local proclaiming they are over-reacting should consider how they would feel in the same situation. If you received dog’s abuse during your working day would you be saying it’s alright, this is what I get paid to do? I realise there are differences, but referee’s are paid to officiate a game however this has recently become a thankless task, as their honour is brought into question every time a throw-in goes the wrong way.



Scapegoat Dougie McDonald



The crunch point of this issue is that the strike has stemmed from a correct decision. When Dougie McDonald conferred with his assistant on a cold afternoon at Tannadice, little did he know the furore he would be causing by giving the right decision. As a young footballer you are told the referee won’t change his mind, play on. Why? Why, if that referee realises he is wrong should he not reverse the decision. After all that is what every football fan wants isn’t it, the correct decision to be made. Mr Blatter has introduced 5^th and 6^th referees;

fans want technology, the point being to get the decision right. So how has it got to the stage where we have our officials refusing to go to games in fear of their safety off the pitch?

I think even the most staunch Celtic fan would agree that it was not a penalty, which makes the reaction it has caused even more baffling. I realise that the white lies that were told are unforgivable and has brought some of the criticism on themselves, but surely this shows the fear which the match officials currently have. Afraid to look as if they are favouring one team over another, this is going to leave Scotland with no up-and coming referees as they don’t want the hassle that comes with the job.

Scottish MP Pete Wishart has come out publicly and said "I seriously do think it would be in the interests of the game if they did declare which team they support. Yes, referees are entitled to support a team. They may support one of the two big teams. But when Rangers or Celtic come to McDiarmid Park I would like to know what teams these referees are supporting”. With all due respect, go back to making a mess of our country from your publically funded property than weighing into a debate that politics has no place in. Coming out with these comments just heaps more pressure on officials, and has contributed hugely to the upcoming strike.

Now being from the blue half of Glasgow I may be biased, in fact I am biased, but the handling of this by Neil Lennon has been inexcusable. As a relatively new manager, he should be learning his trade and going about his business quietly until he establishes himself as a manager. Sprinting 25 yards down the touchline is fine if you are Jose Mourinho taking Porto to Old Trafford, but a last minute winner against a team you should be beating, does that merit the celebrations? Dundee United manager Peter Houston called it “embarrassing”, and this is exactly my point. Lennon should have his players in the dressing room telling them, well done we got the 3 points, but the performance wasn't good enough. But no, he is running around for everyone to see like a child on Christmas morning after getting the toy he was after. All in all a little respect for the men in black wouldn’t go a miss, and taking a step back, maybe following the standards set by the aforementioned Houston and other senior managers like Craig Brown, Walter Smith, Jim Jefferies etc wouldn’t go a miss either.

Lennon’s behaviour has clearly rubbed off on his players as new Celtic signing Gary Hooper commented "We are one of the biggest teams in the world and everyone wants to beat us, all the teams. The referee wants to give a decision against us so he can say something after the game. I think all the big teams get it." Wait a minute Gary; you have been in the SPL a couple of months, is that long enough to make a judgement? Stick to doing what you do best which is scoring goals, rather than giving your two cents. This is exactly the kind of thing which has caused this eruption over the issue recently. Instead of a casual “I don’t think I can comment on that”, everyone wants their say and it has finally came to a head and referee’s have had enough.

I think everyone has at some point given a referee their, point of view shall we say. But change is needed before our game is tarnished forever. While not every decision will be correct, the referees are trying their best so before you are so quick to jump out of that armchair or plastic seat at the stadium, have a second thought and get behind your side rather than on the officials back. That Saturday afternoon you enjoy so much watching your team won’t be so enjoyable if the dreaded postponed announcement comes because the referee’s have finally had enough. Fortunately foreign officials will make sure that this weekend’s games go ahead.

Let’s just hope that an Israeli official isn’t a closet Rangers fan or our recent favourite word ‘conspiracy’ will be out in force again in Sunday’s papers.