10 ways to improve the Premier League

The Premier League is the best league in the world, at least in terms of competitiveness. The suggestions below, are more in order to help it regain some respectability, keep it fair and provide stability for years to come. Issues such as goal line technology need not be mentioned, for they are a overdue necessity.

Let me know what you opinions are, and if you have suggestions.

1. British players are not getting enough game time. It's as simple as that. A rule to ensure that a team includes at least 3 British players in it's 16 man squad each week should be implemented. Of course, we do not want to scare off foreign players who light the Premier League up. It's pleasing to see the likes of Oscar still hungry to play in England. But he and many others, are leaving Britain's bright young hopes with no choice but to pack their bags for a loan spell in the lower Leagues. It is concerning to see how many of the major clubs front lines are dominated by foreign imports. If British countries want to reverse their fortunes, the Premier League needs to let British youngsters blossom.

2. It would be encouraging to see the 'Rooney Rule' established in some kind of form. The statistics are depressing when you look at how little black managers there are in the England. And Chris Hughton is the only black manager in the Premier League, at Norwich. There are an abundance of black players in the Premier League and so many brilliant characters, who not been given the opportunity to manage at the top level. It needs to change. Les Ferdinand is a respected coach at Spurs and should be given a chance to step up.  And I have seen the likes of Sol Campbell and Patrick Viera in interviews and they know what their talking about. The failings of Paul Ince at Blackburn should not influence Premier League Chairman, but in honesty probably does.

3. Lose the computerised format that decides the fixture list. Southampton had to play Arsenal, Man United and Manchester City in their first four games. It is not exactly fair, considering they were promoted as Champions. There should be a review, and fixtures determined by a set of factors. The world will also be a happier place, without Arsene Wenger's constant moaning about Arsenal's unjust winter travels.

4. Allow a maximum of two managers at one club within the season. It is ridiculous to replace a manager, installed after sacking the previous one. It is one of the reasons Chairman are so trigger happy nowadays. By ensuring there is a limit on firings, clubs in the Premier League will become more stable. And Chairman will have to think very carefully about who they choose, to replace the man they have had enough of.

5. A general verification over red cards and unseen incidents would be useful. There are too many loopholes or unneeded rules which could to with being erased.

6. Introducing the Financial Fair Play Regulation would improve the Premier League from top to bottom. Manchester City should be the last club able to buy their way to success, in such a way as they did. Salary cap's and general spending limits need to be implemented. Considering the gulf in wealth between the Top 6 or so and the rest of the Premier League, it is incredible how competitive it still managed to be last season. But to keep the division interesting, the financial world must become a fairer one.

7. Ivan Gazidis, the Arsenal chief executive, said before the start of the season, "We understand the pressures fans are under in the current economic climate". Unlikely. Still, Arsenal, who are notorious for their ticket prices, froze season ticket's for this coming season. So good of them. Premier League clubs, some more so then others, have lost total respect for their fans. Ticket prices need to fall drastically, it's sad to see some grounds with huge, empty patches of seats. The most you will pay for a season ticket at Wigan is £350. At Tottenham it is £1, 845. Even for London side this is expensive. 

8. Scrap the Community Shield. It is rarely entertaining and has a subdued feel. What could potentially be far more exciting, is by using statistics from Opta and the like, two all star teams could be pitted against each other. It would be unique and interesting, to see just how well the in form players from the previous season could play together. Just don't put Terry and any of the QPR lads on the same side. 

9. More interaction from outside of the game. There are sure to be a number of players playing in the Premier League, who could benefit from better financial advice or psychological help. The tragedy of Gary Speed is one football wants to avoid in the future. A player such as Michael Johnson, plagued by injury at Man City, after what looked like such a promising future, is struggling. He was recently found drink driving and it appears he is unhappy with where his career is going. The Premier League needs professionals to look out for those who could be susceptible to depression. Or in Ravel Morrison and Nile Ranger's case, susceptible to anti social behaviour.

 

10. Observe. Learn from the other leagues, like they learn from ours. The Bundesliga is hailed the best division in Europe and for good reason. It's financial security not only ensures stability in the league, but also helps create an even playing field. The Bundesliga has been won by a range of sides in the last decade. In Spain and France, young national players are included, far more so then in the Premier League.

A Crisis in Milan?

Are AC Milan's glory days coming to an end?

Imagine the scenario, if you will. Silvio Berlusconi has worked hard, all week long, to organise a tantalising Bunga Bunga party come Sunday afternoon. Likely to last into the next morning. Except the party was cut short. You see, AC Milan lost 2-1 to Udinese yesterday, and it's put Silvio off his 'dinner'. It's hard to imagine that Massimo Moratti was enjoying his supper that evening either, after Inter slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Siena at the San Siro. This, after Moratti had to see his club compete in the Europa League, a 2-2 draw with Rubin Kazan, having missed out on Champions League qualification.

Is there a crisis in Milan? It appears so. And both clubs have a history of being rather trigger happy when things are going badly. AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri knows his head could well be on a spike, if AC Milan lose their next game (he has been backed by the owners, but what does that really mean?). But is it really a surprise that AC Milan have started so poorly? (They could only muster a stalemate against Anderlecht in the Champions League, and lost to Atlanta the week before). The moment AC Milan decided to become a selling club signalled worrying signs at the club. And has surely seen them surrender the Serie A to the classy Juventus. In the past it was AC Milan that made some of the biggest transfer signings in history (Van Basten, Shevchenko, Rui Costa). 

Now Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been moved on, to PSG, with little resistance. What's more is that they have not been properly replaced. Nobody is quite willing to admit that AC Milan and probably Inter, are feeling the economic strain. But it seems odd to let Ibrahimovic leave, considering the impressive season he just had, 28 goals in 32 appearances. If AC Milan are indeed cash strapped, then they should surely be looking to their youth, many of the greats have come up the ranks and it is perhaps time for a clear out at AC Milan, to make way for promising future players. Because when the going gets tough, the tough wont get going with AC Milan's current side. Too many mavericks go into their egotistic shells. Robinho, Pato and Boateng are petulant and frustrating at the best of times and certainly wont be enjoying the stick they are receiving, for a dreadful start to the season. 

Allegri has been accused of petulance too. Ex Milan defender Allesandro Nesta has criticised him in the wake of a supposed argument with Fillipo Inzaghi, now coaching the youth team. Perhaps Allegri is not impressed with what he sees coming from the youth set up. If this is the case, then it is concerning times for AC Milan. If there is no cash to spend, then players will move elsewhere, unhappy at being second best to Juventus. With no Maldini's on the horizon, AC Milan could struggle massively this season. Along with Anderlecht, AC Milan have Malaga and Zenit St Petersburg for company, in their Champions League group. Normally, such a draw would be easy pickings for them, however on current form they could seriously struggle to make the knock out rounds. And so far, the annual player swap between the Milan sides has hardly worked either. Cassano swapped stripes, moving to Inter, meanwhile Pazzini went the other way. Both teams desperately need goals from their respective new signings. Robinho and El Shaarawy are too inconsistent, while at Inter, Milito is a shadow of his former self and there is little else offering upfront. 

Mourinho's shadow looms large at Inter.

There is certainly a sense that as far as Inter are concerned, Jose Mourinho has been sorely missed. They wont like to admit it but its true. And the talented and reliable squad he put together, and ruled Europe with, has since disintegrated. Brazilian defender Lucio evidently saw what was coming and jumped ship to Juventus this summer. Meanwhile, Inter have appeared all too happy to allow Julio Caesar and Maicon leave the club. Add the fact that Wesley Sneijder is potentially past it and it looks desperate for Inter. In a managerial sense Inter lack stability. Benitez and Ranieri were given little time and without the chance to built a team, Inter's slump down the table has been set in motion ever since Mourinho left. 

Massimo Moratti is in many's eyes, one of the the guilty culprits. A man who likes to hold the power, he has sliced and diced through numerous coaches, coaches he obviously believed to be the right choices, before complaining at their inefficiency. He has to understand that a manager, coming into the Inter set up, needs a season to repair the damage left by the last man. For too long, at both the Milan sides, the men at the top have been ruining their clubs, becoming too involved in the football side of things. They create problems and let the team rot from inside out. It is long overdue for Moratti and the likes Berlusconi to step aside. They wont though, they are greedy men who have created greedy clubs, in place of great ones,. And now they are suffering. Juventus's resurrection has shown that a reality check is sometimes needed, for the good times to come rolling back.

Expect flares, lots of them.

On the 7th of October, AC Milan host Inter at the San Siro. The atmosphere is never short of hostile but expect this one to be explosive. So much could occur in the two weeks beforehand. It is not out of the question that both Allegri and Andrea Stramaccioni, Inter's manager, could be cast adrift. One things if for sure, this match will kick start one of the Milan's seasons and leave the other with more questions then answers. Someone get the message out to Berlusconi, cancel all future parties, until your house is in order, otherwise some of the most passionate fans in the world might want your head, alongside the managers.

When Is Mr Mourinho Coming Back?

Into the Lion's Den.

Having read an article in The Times this weekend it was bought to my attention how much the Premier League has missed Jose Mourinho. There he was flanked by images of Brendan Rodgers and Andre Villas Boas, his prodigies, with one finger wagging, the other clutching the match ball. Looking immaculate in his grey suit, black round neck combo, though clearly irate over some injustice. When isn't he? For those whose most painful memories might be of a man sprinting down the touch line at Old Trafford, or making a small gesture with rather large implications in the Carling Cup Final, there must still be that burning desire to see their team lock horns with the ‘Special One’ again. As for the neutrals Mourinho is simply fascinating to watch and his passion has in no way faltered since leaving Chelsea - if anything it’s moved up a gear. 

The article noted an inherent trait in Rodgers, and Villas Boas, revolving around the power of imagery. There is no doubt Mourinho has fed of this power, wherever he has gone, but as for his prodigies, you just don’t see it. Obviously they need to be given time, at their respective clubs, with jobs that could define them. But there is arrogance to Rodgers (he has a painting of himself in his house) and a sureness to Villas Boas, which doesn’t rub up the same way on the English fans and media, the way that Mourinho's all round conviction did. His ability to cause controversy, and produce heated moments, has been lacking. As far as managerial interaction is concerned, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have mellowed their hatred, to the point that a suspect secret affair could be ongoing behind the scenes. Both seem only too happy to commend each other’s achievements, before battle commences. While Mourinho and Ferguson are friends, it won’t stop Mourinho doing all he can to put United off the task in hand. Friends after, but foes for each and every minute of the game, Mourinho's philosophy will make it just as interesting to watch the touchline, as it is to watch the pitch.

“I think the best place to work in football is England.” Mourinho’s own words, once upon a time. His experiences since, suggest that he himself, still fully believes in that statement. The Mourinho in Spain has had his flashes of brilliance, but has also taken on an uglier persona, which at one stage really threatened his reputation. Eye gorging incidents, and press conferences filled with bad taste, and a sore loser's attitude, marred the most intense rivalry between Spain's two biggest clubs in decades. But Mourinho came out the other side, and he came out a winner. Credit should be given, where credit is due. His first season in charge, he had to taste what it was like, to be well and truly second best. For Mourinho that hurts a lot. And most managers would have packed it in, or had their bags packed for them, with the sort of form Barcelona have been in, for the last five years. Mourinho was not to be outdone though, he even got in Guardiola’s head, eventually, and their title success was an incredible feat, considering Madrid's company. 

A family man.

So, why the lacklustre start this season? Four games played, and only four points in total. Something isn’t quite right. There is a sense, that though Mourinho is willing to stay at Madrid, and compete, he is not desperate to stay. He is not in the precarious position of his predecessors, looking over their backs constantly. Mourinho does things his way. Madrid do things their way. Hence the bittersweet love affair. And now, if anything, you get the feeling he is not adverse to a change.  His sense of humour is lost on the Spanish media. They view him as rude and obnoxious, which at times he is. In England we know what to expect of him, and love him, and loath him for it. But that is where the buck would stop, looking back at his time with Chelsea. Mourinho is family man, and is the sort who wants to escape football, once he gets home. He values parenthood very highly and is often in the company of his children. In Spain, the media refuse to leave him alone, he has made it known on frequent occasions, that he is not at ease with the invasion of privacy into his personal life. He was in London earlier this year house hunting, cue excited Chelsea fans and much gossip. Currently, London only serves as a welcome distraction, from his hectic schedule in Spain, however it is a clear sign that Mourinho intends to reside in England again. Mourinho must long for the greater privacy that he can enjoy in England.  Furthermore, Mourinho loves a new challenge, and if he delivers Madrid the Champions League, he can rest easy, satisfied, and ready to start a new project, elsewhere. He achieved all he could with Inter Milan and then moved on; the same scenario is most likely with Madrid.

In the meantime Madrid need to find form fast, and start catching Barcelona, in La Liga. Not only has his team started the campaign poorly, but Mourinho now has Madrid President Roman Calderon on his back, after criticising his team. Calderon has made it abundantly clear, that such opinions should not be aired in public again. Mourinho does not like getting a slap on the wrist, he wants freedom of speech. But if any club can put black tape over that mouth, it is Madrid. He needs to be careful, not to believe he is irreplaceable. It could be possible that he is holding out for the Manchester United job. Signing a new four year contract implies he is waiting for the right moment. Sir Alex Ferguson could quite easily be gone four years from now, or less. Until then, Mourinho can pursue the Champions League and sit tight. The only club he would surely jump ship for are United.

Having now beaten Barcelona to the La Liga title, many want to see him win the Champions League at Madrid, sooner rather than later, so that he can return to our shores. Playing Manchester City this evening, Mourinho said in the press conference, that a club that are developing as City are, will in the Champions League ‘sooner or later’. Masterful mind games by Mourinho, heaping expectation and pressure on City, he also said it could be won by Mancini, or someone else. Him, perhaps? This, he did not say, but he was surely thinking it. Expect a refuelled and hungry Madrid tonight, against Manchester City. Mourinho wants to make sure he is in that shop window, centre stage, with Guardiola collecting dust in the corner. What would be fantastic is to see both men at Premier League clubs in the near future, and it is certainly possible. 

The self proclaimed 'Special One'.

Mourinho still knows exactly what to say when it comes to the press. Asked about playing City he replied, “To play against City motivates me as much as playing against Getafe. To win the Champions League motivates me like any other match." He is fully aware, that this is what the hierarchy at Madrid want to hear. In addition, although laying fire on his players, after defeat against Sevilla at the weekend, he has been quick to shoulder the blame. Something which he did so well at Chelsea, was to protect his players, as Ferguson does at United, and Mourinho can weather any storm the media and fans throw at him. For a man at arguably, the most demanding club in the world, Mourinho has handled things, on the whole, very well. Mourinho does not want to be at Madrid forever, maybe not even for more than another season. He is hard to predict, but English teams nationwide, better get ready to turn on their sprinklers. Because Mourinho will be back, nobody is sure when, all they know is that he will be. 

Wonderful Wigan

A little ode to Wigan.

Wigan Athletic, a side who for eight seasons, have been an established Premier League team, are viewed  unfavourably by many. This appears to be rather unjust. For it is Wigan, who have moulded themselves into one of the soundest, and most respectably set up sides in the Premier League. Tipped for a relegation at the start of each new season (a prediction which has never come to fruition), they quietly go about proving the doubters wrong. Three things that are notably impressive are their Chairmen, Manager and transfer policy.

The deadly donkey, Franco Di Santo

In Dave Whelan, they have a Chairmen who runs a club the way Liverpool fans could only dream their own would. He is quite unique, approaching situations in a way that the majority of other Chairmen never do. The correct way, the way that somehow, some way, most manage to deviate from. When clubs have come knocking, big clubs who realise Wigan have done all the dirty work, developing the player ( Valencia, Moses, N'Zogbia), Whelan does not fight the inevitable avalanche of offers. He doesn't do a Daniel Levy and let a saga like Berbatov's drag on, and totally destabilise the rest of the squad before the season even begins. The most recent high profile departure, and there is a link in the fact that there is always one every season, saw Victor Moses leave for Chelsea. Whelan, and Martinez, had accepted the fact almost as soon as Chelsea showed interest. Although the transfer took a while to actually happen, there is no doubt Whelan will have let Martinez know, well in advance, to plan for life without him.

What is so impressive is the relationship between Whelan and Martinez. You can immediately tell that this is not a facade, a fake relationship. They genuinely like each other. It is this father and son relationship, which has been crucial in holding the team together, in it's darkest hour. There is hiding the fact that certain Chairmen would have pulled the trigger on Martinez, at one point or other, since he took over at Wigan. Perhaps after the 9-1 mauling against Tottenham in 2009. Whelan however, accepts such results happen. Having been a player too (always a huge bonus in a Chairmen), he understands that a team like Wigan will get hammered, at least twice a season. Especially with the way Martinez wants Wigan to play. Whelan is simply realistic where others aren't. A positive trait to have.

The well liked Wigan manager, Roberto Martinez

It is a mystery as to how Martinez is not yet managing a Top 10 club. His record at Wigan is exceptional. He has mastered the art of winning a relegation battle, and has shown on numerous occasions that he can, at times, outsmart the very best. If Martinez leaves, which is likely, he will leave a philosophy which can keep Wigan secure in the Premier League for a long time yet. Although his team is weak in some departments, Martinez makes the most of what he has, and his desire to play a pass and move style of football is slowly paying off. New players arriving, are quickly integrated into the system Martinez adopts. Some players have come to Wigan, and flourished where they could not elsewhere. Shaun Maloney is playing out of his skin, and though a laughing stock to many, Franco Di Santo has started this season strongly, with a confidence that must have attracted Chelsea to him as a youngster.

Most of this is due to Martinez. There is no player that cannot be changed in his eyes. Anyone he brings in, he brings in with the belief that they can adapt their game to suit Wigan's. The faith that he kept in Wigan's tactics last season paid off too. They went on a fantastic run at the tail end of the campaign, beating Arsenal, with well prepared counter attacking intent, and Manchester United, with a rearguard stubbornness that had deserted them in the past. It will always be a work in progress for Martinez, because his best players get poached, and the style he demands, takes longer to gel in certain areas of the pitch, and with certain players. Just as Wigan take one step forward, they are forced to take two back. Losing Moses is a huge blow. And still Martinez is so coolly calm, he does not panic, and it is admiral that he never kicks up a fuss over the yearly star player loss. Having a calm, clear thinking man at the top is vital. Even more important, for a team that know they will be fighting near the bottom of the table for points. Martinez is just that.

They come, and they go, at Wigan

Wigan's transfer policy should be bought to attention also. Minus the 2010/2011 campaign, the last five seasons have seen Wigan's total selling figure fees higher then that of their buying. With this in mind, it is even more impressive that they have survived the length they have. What Whelan and Martinez agree, and understand, is that they cannot and will not compete, with other teams in the Premier League, when it comes to spending. Whelan is not happy with the way Man City and the like are using their money, and does things the right way. Hopefully this right way will get its reward, if the Financial Fair Play regulations ever come into play. Instead of mass spending, Wigan have made an excellent habit of buying future stars on the cheap, and then making them into top team material, before selling them on for a massive profit. With this money, they rebuilt their team each season.

This reputation has benefited Wigan. The Chelsea's and United's know where to look, within the Premier League, for their next star, and have a great deal of respect for Whelan, who they know is a fair man, one who conducts business in the correct manner. Sir Alex Ferguson obviously saw Wigan as the ideal place to send Tom Cleverly for experience, and now Cleverly is reaping the rewards of his time there. Though Wigan have seen Rodallega, Moses, Valencia, N'Zogbia, Palacios and co all leave, there will always be another star around the corner. If Wigan can just hold on to, or have in the same side, two or three rising stars, it could really give them the chance, and ability, to look up the League, rather then down. In James McCarthy, they have a player of excellent technical ability, and he has orchestrated a solid start to this new season. The chances that him and Martinez could be gone, by this time next year, are quite high. Nevertheless, in Whelan they have a man who has been in such a position before, and he will make a shrewd appointment, whoever he chooses.

Wigan host Manchester United at home this weekend, and so they should. They have earned their stripes in the Premier League, and should be valued more often then they are for doing so. It is rare to find at a club, firstly, a Chairmen who puts total trust and belief in his manager. Secondly, a manager at a relegation threatened club, trying and now succeeding, in playing passing football, and thirdly, a team run the proper way, spending wisely, and making sure that they make a profit on players each season, to warrant whatever spending they do.

Top 5: Man-Managers

Top 5: Man-Managers

In no particular order, and simply a pick of five, from what could have been many.

Harry Redknapp- Redknapp, or 'Arry', as he is affectionately known, is a master in getting the most out of his players. Be it young or old, he has overseen both the blossoming of careers, (Gareth Bale, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard) and the prolonging of them (Paul Merson, Brad Friedal and his own son Jamie). Redknapp is especially successful with British players, knowing how they tick, as well as knowing their sins and desires. He is of the old school, having been in management since 1983 with Bournemouth, and his wealth of experience, with some of the most notorious players, and indeed Chairman's, to grace the English game (think Di Canio and Mandaric) has served him well. Any player under his management, respects his opinions and decisions, and this was epitomised at Tottenham, where he managed to keep a fiercely competitive squad, in the main, happy. The most significant reason that he was fans favourite for the England job, revolved around the fact that he, of all people, could eradicate any ego's and disputes in camp, and create a set up based on trust and togetherness as a group. His time at Portsmouth, during their years in the Premiership, displayed his man management ability well. His side stayed up and then consistently over achieved under his reign and things deteriorated quickly after he left. Players will be careful not to follow in the footstep of one anonymous player though, who during training, left Redknapp fuming. Well worth a view. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOgTCbz-XmU

Sir Alex Ferguson- If Harry Redknapp's seen a lot, then Sir Alex Ferguson has seen it all. And he has become a master, in the dealings of manager and player. Having established himself as a clear authority figure in his 26 years at Manchester United, every United player knows his place. And when they step out of line, they are sure to know about it. But Ferguson is fair, if a player is in the wrong, he will always take the correct measures. The other players respect him for that, which is why they keep a happy house at Old Trafford all season long. A good man manager makes sure everybody is on board, pulling in the right direction, and if their not, then their gone. Van Nistelrooy, Beckham and very nearly Rooney experienced this. Ferguson has always been hands on, even at his age now, and is often knowledgeable, at the right times, about his players. He will know when Giggs needs a rest, he will be aware of when to leave Rooney out and he can gauge when it is time to move a player on (be it through age, Andy Cole, or through situation, Ronaldo). For Ferguson, knowing his side inside out is what has been part of his incredible success. He is also very encouraging to his youngsters, and is not afraid to blood them in early. As a young player, there is no better man to learn off then Ferguson. Ferguson has seen Paul McGrath, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Paul Ince and Cristiano Ronaldo pass by his watch and man managed them as good as anyone other would have. The master of mind games too, Ferguson is a brilliant man manager, by distracting attention from his players on the big occasions. Keven Keegan and Rafa Benitez have been rattled to breaking point, by his deliberately infuriating claims, and it has helped take media heat of off his squad, allowing them to focus on their own performances on the pitch.

Dave Bassett- Nobody in their right mind would have taken on the Wimbledon job, and stayed on for as long as Dave Bassett did. Knowing that he could only do so much to control the 'Crazy Gang', Bassett's greatest feat, was to make no attempt to control them. Under Bassett's seven year reign, Wimbledon made it all the way to Division 1 (having been in Division 4 on his arrival) and begun to cause the big teams all kinds of trouble. Bassett understood his teams qualities, intimidation, aggression and direct football, and he encouraged this style of play. He oversaw the careers of Vinnie Jones and Dennis Wise, players with tempers which needed to be kept in check, and Bassett succeeded in doing this, most of the time. A real motivator, he encouraged team bonding and high morale, and his players fed of this. With a team like Wimbledon, you had to have someone at the top, someone who told Dave Beasant what gloves to bring to training, to tell Lawrie Sanchez what time the team bus was leaving, and to actually pick a side. Left to their own devices, the 'Crazy Gang' would have been just too crazy, let alone the little structure they did have under Bassett. But Bassett did remarkably well with what he had, and showed a sense of humour, when even he was part of the numerous pranks, something which endeared him to the players, and made them eager to win for him.


Neil Warnock- A master in creating an atmosphere of 'us against them', it is no wonder Warnock seems to always take on roles at clubs with civil unrest and unbalanced hierarchy's. Very much The Marmite man, you either admire his approach or despise it. However, looking at his accomplishments, it is hard to argue against the fact that he has down incredibly well, given the situations he has found himself in. At Crystal Palace, he helped the club avoid relegation, having gone into administration mid season, positioned near the play-offs. Just the sort of man for the moment, Warnock refused to panic, reverting his mindset from promotion push to relegation dogfight, and was integral in keeping his bunch of players together, encouraging them to believe survival was still possible. Having then moved to QPR, he inherited a shambolic mess, a side with a squad that was fighting relegation when it should have been fighting for promotion. Given a full season, Warnock delivered promotion, for a set of immensely demanding owners, and achieved in keeping Adel Taarabt satisfied. Often complimentary of his players in post match interviews, he knows how to maintain his team's happiness, and is brutally honest and forgiving where others may not be. The Mad Hatter, that is Ken Bates, now Chairman at Leeds, has obviously seen some sense. If anyone can piece together a decaying Leeds side its Warnock. A man with a wicked temper when pushed, (see the link), but on the whole an excellent man motivator. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJNH26QR3SI


Brian Clough- Being under Clough's management could be terrifying at the best of times, but he was an extremely clever man, who understood the make up, and philosophy, of a player, better then anyone else at the time did. Peter Taylor, his trusted assistant, once said of their partnership, "My strength was buying and selecting the right player, then Brian's man management would shape the player." Man manage Clough would most certainly do, and he oversaw some supremely talented players, and indeed future managers. A young Roy Keane learnt the ropes under his stewardship, and Stuart Peace became a natural leader with Clough's aid. Looking further back, during his time at Derby, Clough bought in Dave Mackay, a defender many believed to be past his prime, washed up and on the brink of retirement. Clough reminded him of his qualities, and playing him as a sweeper, build a highly successful team. It is not a surprise to see a host of managers, that once played under Clough, now succeeding. Martin O'Neill, a man with an abundance of energy, brings a breath of fresh air with him wherever he goes, similarly to Clough. His hunger, and habit of making players feel good about themselves, is a trait surely learnt from Clough. Clough was both respected and feared, though to the right degree. An honest professional, he was out on the training ground, getting his hands dirty, and managing his players from close quarters. His success was founded upon his character and charm. This link, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/4967697/Brian-Clough-remembering-Cloughie.html, provides an entertaining read, from those remembering Clough.

Though the list has focused on British managers, there are some notable foreign names, which should be highlighted. For instance, Guus Hiddink, a man who has at both club, and international level, succeeding in creating squads with a strong team core and togetherness. Most impressive, was the job that he did at Chelsea, arriving as caretaker manager and winning the FA Cup with a team full of ego's and individuals. A team that turned on Phil Scolari (the man who had controlled a Brazlian side full of mavericks, and won the 2002 World Cup). Frank Lampard said of Hiddink, “He’s very serious, but he also has a wicked sense of humour'. 

A perfect blend for any manager. A manager that you know you can joke and laugh with on the walk back from training, but who you know expects you to give your all in the match, and you respect him for this. His celebratory cigar, after the FA Cup win, endeared him to the English public, and showed a manager who knows the time to relax, and reap the rewards of his success. The Capello's and Benitez's could take note here. Finally, Arsene Wenger must receive a mention. Although he has his criticisms on field and in transfer policy terms, his man management on the training ground, and with youth development, has been exceptional. He has helped foreign players establish themselves as world class players since arriving in England. He was aware of precisely what Henry, Fabregas and Bergkamp needed to add, or develop, in their game, to make them winners in the Premier League. Furthermore, he has consistently turned young players with potential, into great players. Alex Song, Jack Wilshire and Samir Nasri all benefited from his insistence on the Arsenal way of playing. Sadly, many of his prodigies have deserted him, but they should be thankful to him, for having taught them many things along the way. 

The Return of the 'Number 9'?

"The centre forward is often a tall player, typically known as a target man, whose main function is to score the majority of goals for his team. His classic number is 9."

"The striker is rather different from the centre forward. Strikers are more known for their ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the blind side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position."   
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_(association_football)

         Alan Shearer, Niall Quinn, Dion Dublin, Mark Hughes, Les Ferdinand and even Emile Heskey. Once upon a time, there was an abundance of centre forwards terrorising defences week in week out. And then for a time there seemed to be none. Extinct, put away in the attic to collect dust, whilst the 21st century striker took his place on billboards across the country. Robin Van Persie scored a hat trick last Sunday at St. Mary's which included all the qualities one desires in a forward. First, a display of supreme technique, to volley home across the keeper, then the instincts of a poacher to tap in on the rebound and lastly a superb glancing header from a difficult angle. So why have a so called 'Number 9' spearheading your attack when you could have Van Persie, Ageuro or Torres. Well the simple matter is that the majority of teams in the Premier League don't have the money to buy such players.

Grant Holt, leading by example.

Alternatively, it seems a number of sides in the division are once more building teams around a centre forward. One who will pose a threat aerially while laying on chances for others. The trend appears to favour a 4-4-2 formation and although the shape in midfield may vary from team to team, a big centre forward accompanied by a small, often pacy striker, is the norm upfront. At Norwich, Grant Holt has been lining up alongside Simeon Jackson, Andy Johnson and Zamora for QPR and Andy Caroll, making his debut for West Ham, with Vaz Te, to feed up off the knock downs. The signing of Michael Owen at Stoke will, I expect, see a similar scenario involving Crouch.

Sam still can't quite believe he got Caroll on a season long loan.

Certain teams are placing even more faith in a forward of the 'Number 9' mould. Steven Fletcher led the line for Sunderland last Saturday, with McClean and Johnson as advanced wingers to provide, and it worked brilliantly. Rickie Lambert, playing on his own upfront, was supported in a similar fashion against Man United and caused a number of problems for Ferdinand and Vidic. Bar Van Persie and a revived Tevez, the weekend was dominated by the big men upfront. Of course, you have to play to a 'Number 9's' strengths. Sam Allardyce will have made it crystal clear to his team on Saturday that everything goes through Caroll. A rousing plan of action that he would have perfected from his days at Bolton and Blackburn. On the other hand, what Andre Villas Boas was thinking, playing Jermain Defoe on his own upfront, at home, is any ones guess. If you play a 4-5-1 formation, you have to use a player like Lambert or Holt. That is in less you are a striker of the highest quality such as Van Persie.   I'm surprised Liverpool let Andy Caroll leave. I know that Rodgers expected to bring fresh faces in, but even so, the beauty of a 'Number 9' is that you can form so many different formations around him. Maybe managers are beginning to recognise this again. It doesn't seem unreasonable to believe Caroll could have played alongside Suarez and Borini in a 4-3-3 formation. Liverpool's loss is definitely West Ham's gain and could be the difference between a relegation battle and Top 10 finish.

Elsewhere, the £12 million pounds payed for Steven Fletcher by Sunderland appeared steep, but O'Neill is a shrewd  manager, and knows exactly what he is buying into. The fact is that centre forwards are evolving. To compete with the more technically gifted players it is a necessity. Fletcher is comfortable on the ball, but more so then, say, Niall Quinn ever was. Where Quinn was happy to bring a ball down from high and lay it on before moving to the back post, Fletcher will be just as happy to try a through ball, or have the confidence to go it alone in the right circumstance. His first goal against Swansea was a goal normally associated with a striker. Curled in with exquisite finesse. And yet he still has all the qualities needed in the box. Fantastic in the air and a nightmare to mark, he often giving his man the slip (peeling off like a striker would).

A Number 9 in every sense.

Grant Holt, who I had the pleasure of seeing live a couple of times last season, has adapted his game too. The aggression and work rate that was influential in his rise from League 2 to the Premier League is already clear to see. But his technical ability is better then it was five years ago also. Some of his goals in the previous campaign were top drawer, in particular a lob over Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey, which having watched live reminded me immediately of Messi's dink against Arsenal in the Champions League. Caroll is at ease on the ball, considering his size, and Crouch attempts the magnificent nearly as often as Ronaldo. The breed of centre forwards nowadays, are far more technically gifted, and will score you all sorts of goals, and at a consistent rate throughout the season. The Southampton's and Reading's will know that when they are scrapping for points come Christmas time, Jason Roberts and Rickie Lambert wont shy away like some of the foreign legion often do. A strong willed 'Number 9' is reliable in times of need and very often a success story for newly promoted sides. It is no surprise that all three promoted teams have such a player at their disposal.

In truth many of the bigger strikers are having to work there way up from the lower leagues, before getting their shot at the big time. Rickie Lambert was making a name for himself at the likes of Rochdale and Bristol Rovers before convincing Southampton to shell out £1 million for him (a lot for a team that were in League 1 at the time). His arrival has positively correlated with Southampton's surge back to the Premier League and has allowed Nigel Atkins to built a team around Lambert confident of scoring goals week in week out. A similar success story is Grant Holt, languishing in the lower leagues until he found his feet at Norwich. Exactly how the scouting system works these days as well as that of club academies, I am not sure. However I would bet good money that many teams are encouraging the development of strikers more to the mould of the Torres's and Tevez's. This leaves players like Holt and Lambert resigned to lower league football, but they have shown it is an error of judgement for England to turn its back altogether on the 'Number 9'. With the arrival of St Georges Park and the desire to play to the style of Spain, young centre forwards of such a nature are going to struggle to get a look in. It is a shame, because I for one really enjoy watching a player as talented as Vidic given a torrid time by Lambert. It is part of the Premier League, and will continue to be.

Fernando Llorente, his nickname, El Rey De Leon
 translates as the  Lion King.

The reality may just be that the traditional 'Number 9's' of this world will have to work their way up. It's been twelve years since a true 'Number 9' finished joined top scorer in the Premier League, Dion Dublin in 1998. This season, I don't have any reason to believe we will see a change. For as long as Van Persie has Scholes and Valencia creating ten plus chances for him a game, and likewise Hazard and Oscar for Torres, you cannot expect Lambert or Crouch to come top of the pile. Regardless of this, I sense somewhat of a return for the 'Number 9' this season, and there will be a number of such forwards getting their sides at least 10-15 goals this campaign. Goals which will decide clubs futures. If you want the benchmark for a player in the 'Number 9' mould, look no further then Fernando Llorente. A rare commodity in a League dominated by pace and flair, he scores the sublime as well as the simple. Llorente can do everything the 'Number 9's' over here can do, and more. St Georges Park should not turn its back on big centre forwards, it should embrace them, and involve them in the Spanish Revolution we all hope can take place.

What are your thoughts on the 'Number 9' and the strikers I have mentioned? Do you think centre forwards are outdated or still highly valuable to a team? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Top 5: Underachieving players in the Premier League

Top 5: Underachieving players in the Premier League

Looking over his shoulder...Nani knows his place is no longer guaranteed.

Nani- Nani, a player with incredible footballing talent can indeed have flashes of pure brilliance, but most of the time he leaves me bitterly disappointed. It is easy to understand why he has become a love him or hate him kind of figure. You would think having been in the company of Ryan Giggs for a number of years now would have taught him a thing or two about teamwork and unselfishness. It hasn't. Unsurprisingly on the bench for the game against Southampton on Sunday, after a sluggish start to the season, he came on mid way through the second half and was highly ineffective. And yet he provided the assist for the crucial match winning goal, a well taken corner at the perfect high for Van Persie. So he can do it, but we all know he can. Nani just does not do it nearly enough. Valencia is far more consistent hence his selection on Sunday and Kawaga seems to have gone above Nani in the pecking order too. I still believe he can develop his game and become a regular for United but he must address his lack of desire when the chips are down and improve his decision making drastically. As of yet he has underachieved in his United career, which is all the more frustrating considering the players he has benefited from having around him.

Suarez- A controversial choice perhaps but only 16 goals in 47 games for a player of his quality is poor, especially as three of the 16 came in a hat trick against Norwich. His dogged determination cannot be faulted, though it is turning out to be a setback too. Suarez is too often caught up in futile arguments with referees or opponents when he feels aggrieved by decisions against his team. He is constantly booked, a bad trait in any striker, which takes the focus away from the positives of his game. Brendan Rodgers must work hard to tame him and find a way of getting more goals out of Suarez, as Liverpool are limited upfront. Liverpool need him to lead the line but for one so talented he is wasteful. I sat and watched chance after chance go by against West Bromwich Albion and struggled to believe this was the lethal striker who turns up for Uruguay nine times out of ten. It really is just a case of adding more goals to his game, if he can do this the rest will follow. A more relaxed and satisfied Suarez is, naturally, a happier Suarez and it is no surprise that when things are going his way he keeps himself calm, whilst infuriating the opposition. Often to the point where a defender makes a rash decision. His freekick against Man City was top drawer and it gets better the more you watch it.     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhg499zG1iM

Gervinho- His former Lille compatriots have florished since arriving in the Premier League but Gervinho never really got started last season. He will know that this season there must be an improvement otherwise Wenger may well get shot of him. What was apparent in his encounters last term was a clear lack of strength and aggression, he seemed incapable of adapting to the physicality of the division. He's not the first player to have such a problem and wont be the last and presumably Wenger will have addressed the issue pre season. He's shown he can already, take Henry, Nasri and Overmars, lightweight players transformed into men within a few seasons. And though many Arsenal fans fear a lack of impetus this season, if Gervinho can find his feet they will soon forget his slow start. 7 assists last season is not bad at all and it must be noted that his season was interrupted by the African Cup of Nations. Given the chance Gervinho can shine this season, his pace and dribbling skills are among the best in the League if you watch him on a frequent basis, all he needs to do is convert more chances and continue to provide. Cutting in from wide he is very dangerous in the box and will win penalties for Arsenal this season no doubt about it. The only worry is that the arrival of Cazorla and presence of Chamberlain and Walcott could see him resigned to a bench role.

James Milner- Somewhere along the line the exciting prospect that is James Milner was dosed with a little too much of Roberto Mancini's Italian negativity. Whilst others blossomed in the fluent football that saw City surge to the title, Milner has appeared to go backwards. He has not progressed into the player he promised at Aston Villa, epitomised by the frustrated reaction of many England fans upon his selection at Euro 2012. A reliable work horse, Mancini relies on Milner as Ferguson did Park Ji Sung for the big games. He will put a shift in wherever he is told to play. However he is wasted as a holding midfielder or defence minded wide man and one has to question if City was the right move for him. Goals are few and far between and compared to his days at Villa his body language suggests he is not entirely happy at City. Adam Johnson realised that City was not the ideal place to further his career or help his England chances. Milner may soon feel the same way. If so he should seek a move away and find a manager who encourages the style of play he distinguished for himself at Villa and one which will give him regular game time. The clip below displays the sort of goal he is capable of, but maybe doesn't have the confidence to take on in a City shirt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tn_IiT37V4


Wright Phillips- Shaun Wright Phillips is very much a forgotten man. Consigned to the bench at Chelsea and Man City a move to QPR should have promised a return to form. It hasn't quite turned out that way. Though he does have respectable competition from the likes of Hoilett, Taraabt and Park a player with his pace should be able to hold down a spot on the wing. One can sense that Wright Phillips has never quite recovered from the battering his reputation took at Chelsea and City. An alarming stat also shows that from joining Chelsea in 2005 up to the present he has scored just 13 goals. But there have been a number of performances over the years where he has been near unplayable. A well liked face within football hopefully he can rediscover his touch, it would be a major plus for QPR who need their wingers to step up and provide for Zamora. Otherwise it's not out of the question that Shaun Wright Phllips could end up playing Championship football against his brother Bradley.

There were some prime candidates for inclusion in my list who have upped their game at the beginning of this new season. Abou Diaby's fitness and form could not have returned at a better time, already looking to have plugged the gap left by Alex Song. He has looked extremely confident and classy so far this season but his consistency has always been questioned, this is a defining season for him. Another dominant midfielder is Marouane Felliani. A class act, the big man has moved up a gear this season, a potential match winner within Everton's ranks. Samir Nasri has also established the form which made his sought after at Arsenal. With Silva somewhat subdued Nasri has taken the mantle of play maker and made it his own this season.

Do you agree with the list? Who else do you think should be included?

Barton's French Crusade

       
        The French League has, it appears, become a somewhat 'rejuvenate your career' stop off for many British players over the last few years. Joey Barton completed a loan move from QPR to Marseille before the transfer window closed this week and he will be eager to prove a point immediately . He will of course want to show his current, and surely insane employees, that he can still cut the mustard. Personally though, I see Marseille as a disaster waiting to happen, poor Tyrone Mears realised the hard way that it is no place for the average player and Barton will realise this too in less he can prove, which I doubt he will, that he is in fact the world class player he believes he is. Anyone Premiership midfielder can put on a Fleetwood Town jersey and look like Bryan Robson, but spend 90 minutes in the Stade Velodrome, scrutinised by a notoriously demanding set of fans and then we will see if Barton really can hack it. My guess is not, perhaps he will go for the tried and tested, kicking out at a young French debutant before lighting up in the changing room (having swapped Marlboro for some nice thin French cigars, you know he's a stylish man) and waiting for the first victim to arrive. Then again he could turn a leaf, he could return a hero, take Joe Cole for instance, reinvented, released into the No.10 role Harry Redknapp still dreams about in his sleep, to then take his bow...back on the Liverpool bench.

Barton's 'Cantona Kung Fu' style kick didn't go down so well in France.

Whilst I have to reluctantly admit that there have been times in the past when Barton's performances have impressed or maybe better put 'surprised' me , his temperament has actually come to ruin his career. When for example Rooney have been punished for his temperament, on the greatest of stages, there is always a common theme in the aftermath, remorse. Rooney has repeatedly had to apologise for his actions but apologise he does and though not every ones favourite you can hint that his apology is honest. With Barton however I don't believe this is the case, you never truly feel his apology is a genuine one, in fact you can almost see Barton making amends for his actions through gritted teeth, the wording always tinged with excuse and external factors out of his control. Ask him one on one down the pub ( or one of his art galleries he tends to visit to encourage a sophisticated image) if he thinks Tevez and Aguero deserved everything they got and I'm sure his answer would be yes. You can only do so much with a player like Barton, his temperament has come to overshadow every other part of his game and once this happens there is little hope of winning any kind of respect back. 

To get away with a fierce temperament you have to be a genius, Cantona and Zidane committed some atrocities on the football field in their time but it's part of their make up, part of what makes them great. Cantona, Barton is not, more the elder brother of Lee Cattlemore. How long Barton can last on croissants and coffee will be interesting, I expect to see him back by Christmas. He has long been infuriated by referees in this country, in France petty decisions are pulled up even more so.

That the French league has become a feeder league and will continue to be ( do not expect Paris St. Germain to end happily ever after) should not discredit the style and technique honed there, which is spot on. Though we wish to see more British players breaking through into the starting eleven at the major clubs in England, who can blame managers going in for players from France, getting an absolute bargain and receiving a player ready to slot straight in and dictate the midfield with relative ease. Cabaye was outstanding at periods last season for Newcastle and Hazard is looking like a candidate for signing of the season already. 

Tony Cascarino has said of playing abroad for Marseille and Nancy in France, "It's one of the best experiences I have had and I think that it helped me greatly, not only as a footballer but as a person. I think if you want to develop yourself as a player then moving to a foreign league has got to be the best way to do this" and his fantastic autobiography, which is well worth a read, reflects this. With this in mind is it not perhaps better to encourage young British players to seek loan moves abroad to improve the parts of their game which European Leagues preach far better then our own? A player like Josh McEachran, shipped off to Middlesborough for the season, will benefit from the intensity and physicality of the Championship. But if he wants to ever break into the Chelsea side he needs to match the Hazard's and the Mata's in technique and flair. A move to France would do well to aid this cause. There is clearly lessons to be learnt for older players abroad too, Cascarino was no spring chicken when he moved to France and neither is Barton. However Barton will have to leave all his opinions behind him. There can be no expectations to walk in and be handed the armband, no expectations to even slot straight in the side. Bad attitude Marseille will not tolerate. 

The truth is that the French League is nowhere near the standard of the Premier League competitively. It has provided some sublime players for the Premier League, Hazard, Cabaye and co. but there is the reality, provided. The French League is becoming a feeder League, with players outgrowing it's lack of competitiveness. Still the French league does not get enough credit, I for one have only just started to notice how many fantastic players are moving to England from France. Perhaps English clubs need to reassess it's usefulness, send youngsters to France where they will actually start games but alongside players which are equally as good as any they would play with in England. Cole may be the older of the two but he would have learnt a thing or two from the magician that is Hazard.

In contrast any British player moving in the opposite direction conjures up only one word in my mind, desperation. That is until a positive trend is established, until younger players go to France to improve their game. Expect Michael Owen to take the plunge, holding aloft a Monaco shirt having missed out on the British deadline for transfers because nobody wanted a player motivated by money. And Barton has now acknowledged nobody in the Premier League will go near him either, so he will set sail, the brave courageous warrior, into unknown waters. Only time will tell if he can in fact rejuvenate his career and earn a recall to the Premier League.

So is the French league beginning to catch up with what have long been regarded the superior European leagues? Will it always be halted by the poaching of it's best players? Or could Paris St Germain's change in fortunes inspire wealthy owners to invest and create a revolution in France?

Your reading and comments are appreciated and I'm interested to gain your opinions.