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Thursday 10 May 2012

The Hodgson Appointment

greetings roaders!


less than a week has passed since the FA appointed Roy Hodgson as the surprise new England boss. Popular or not, it cannot be said it wasn't a major surprise. Everybody and his dog (and rosie) expected 'Arry to be the man to lead the country's hope, expectations - and ultimately - disappointment into the summers gathering in eastern europe.

Redknapp's destiny as next England manager seemed so assured - certainly according to the tabloid media - but in reality that was only media talk as much as transfer rumours are. In the time Capello resigned to 3pm last tuesday when Woyy was announced, the FA kept tightlipped over possible successors and not once did any representative speak openly about the position. So when its was finally announced as not the media's darling ol' twitchy himself, the press, much like a spoilt child, threw their toys out of the pram.


The british tabloids love Harry Redknapp. For the simple reason that 'Arry is a bent as they come, and he supplies the tabloid hacks with ammunition for both front and back pages, with his dodgy dealings and (alleged) tax evasion and this season with Tottenhams on-field exploits that had - for a considerable time - them in the Premier League title picture. For them he is a veritable goldmine. So I don't actually think and buy the total dissatisfaction they feel for Hodgson, certainly at the moment. It's just that Harry was THEIR choice and therefore, obviously the PEOPLE'S choice.

Doh!

So what does Roy Hodgson bring to the English national dining table? Hodgson's CV reads like a whose who of European football (and at times WHO?) certainly geographically; In Italy he had two spells at Inter in '95 and '99 and Udinese in 2001. He managed Grasshoppers of Zurich, immediately after his tenure at Inter ended. He also took charge of FC Copenhagen of Denmark in 2000. Since 2001 he has managed Finland and the UAE and had previously coached the Swiss national team between '92 and '95.


Now while the England job is BY FAR the most prestigious international posting, his international experience will do him no harm in major tournament scenarios. It would be no revelation to suggest that during Hodgson's tenure there may be few goals conceded and/or scored, as is his style. However as in evidence with West Brom, his sides also exhibit very good, attacking play, when given the chance. As West Brom's Peter Odemwingie even suggested, he makes average teams good;


     "I'm not saying the English team is average, but they have not shown the world that they are the best. Maybe Roy Hodgson might make a difference for them. They have great players but they have not won World Cups or European Championships."


Is this not the major problem with the team? Good players, big players, bigger egos. England has its egos. Terry and Lampard in particular. But what Hodgson has done in with big egos is to knock them down to size. Or drop them. This is what needs to happen with the England set-up. If Terry and Lampard do not pull rank they will be shipped out. No questions asked. Take these two volatile elements out and, arguably, there is just Wayne Rooney to control. But as Fergie has demonstrated this is possible and if he can do so, the fruits of Hodgson's labour could be rich indeed.


So what can we expect of Hodgson? Well expectations are pretty low (the press have ensured that) but this may just be perfect. We have seen that sometimes, just sometimes, the team ethos is more important than the sum of its' part. Take the Greek 2002 European champions, as a prime example; No big names, no big personalities, but a real team spirit of determination. It wasn't pretty, but it was successful. I don't think England will be a defensive as they were, but with the right coaching and techniques, England can become the defensive fortress it used to be.

Then we just need a goalscorer....



Tuesday 1 May 2012

champs league analysis.....permeatations...

hi chaps.


Even before last Tuesdays incredibl (y lucky) result against Barcelona last night, I had a feeling that Chelsea were going to progress. It just had that feeling about it. One of those things. In the way Arsenal were meant to win the Champions League in 2005. (hmmm)....(sulk)


Looking at the stats over the two legs, they are nothing short of in-cre-di-ble.

                                           Barca                                                 Chelsea




Shots on Target                      29                                                       5
Possession %                         143                                                     67
Goals                                      2                                                        3


ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY THREE PERCENT out of 200. thats extraordinary. Unsurprising, perhaps, but extraordinary nonetheless, that the winning team had 67 percent share of the 200 pie. in another way thats less than 3/8ths. and this is football that is meant to be balanced. Even if a team parked the bus, that would be a unfair representation of of what Chelsea managed to achieve.

It must have been a bendy-bus....

An even more amazing stat is that Chelsea, in 180 minutes of play, had just 5 shots on target, and scored 3 of them. Thats a 60 % conversion rate. and for that they must be commended. In comparison Barca's success rate was just under 7%. What?......




Instead of match reporting, I want to focus on who Chelsea will play on May 19 in Munich.


Not Real Madrid, no, but European champions of 2000, Bayern Munich. And personally, I had a feeling it would be the Germans who would progress to the final in their own back yard. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo giving the spaniards a 2 nil lead after 15 minutes, it only meant a slight advantage of a solitary goal, and with Bayern already having had chances to notch the oh-so-important away goal, it came as no shock that Robben scored from the spot in the 27nd minute, after Pepe felled him in the Real penalty area.


So followed another 93 minutes of goalless football that resulted in the ultimate lottery of the penalty shoot out. Being contested by the most efficient of world footballs' takers; (xenophobia aside) Zee Germans!



And so it proved - after one of the worst displays of twelve-yard kicking - to be the Germans, who, once again, pulled through when it mattered.

This will be Bayern's second european final in three years. In 2010, the Germans lost 2 nil at the Bernabeu, thanks to a Diego Milito brace, inspired by a - Bernabeu bound - Jose Mourinho's Inter side. There is one thing for sure; Bayern Munich will not want to lose another final, let alone in their own back yard of the Allianz Arena. This for me will be key...

Chelsea will be without at least 2 key defenders in Terry who was foolishly sent off for a knee in the back of Alexis Sanchez and Branislav Ivanovic, who was booked - and subsequently suspended - in the aftermath. (Geoff Shreeves, what a guy). Add to that Cahill and David Luiz still struggling to be fit in time (although I suspect they will) and the Blues could be faced with a defensive nightmare of pairing Jose Bosingwa and Paulo Ferrerira along the back line.

shudder...

They will also be without Meireles, but perhaps most crucially, Ramires, who has been a total revelation for Chelsea this season. In a sea of egos, he seems to be the most grounded individual. His loss come 18 nights from now will be key. Chelsea will have a shout, with the irrespressible Juan Mata behind the main striker, whether it be Torres or Drogba and his support with Salomon Kalou.

Bayern too will be without key members of the team. David Alaba has been superb at left back since his Juup Hyenckes installed the 19 year old from March. He can be covered tho in the form of Phillipp Lahm, his natural position and - as Luiz Gustavo is suspended also - if not him Rafinha. The biggest problem could be the absence of Holger Badstuber, now a national team stalwart. The ukranian Tymoschuk or Van Buyten may be utilised, but both lack agility and this could be where Chelsea thrive.

Where the game will be won, I feel, is the presence of Robben and Ribery. These two will expose Chelsea's core and be able to Supply talisman Mario Gomez. Also Bayern can call upon Toni Kroos and Schweinsteiger to be the ball winners for the Germans in midfield.

So it's tough to call but because of home advantage and Bayern's supreme home record, I would shade Bayern, say 2-1...


I shall return with my views on the impending England managerial appointment