New Signings

Well, there aren’t really any yet – but it seems an apt title considering the long, as in season-long absence of the writing crew here at Total Football. But, rest assured that we’ve picked back up our pencils and put them back down, considering we use computers.

Shitty jokes aside, let’s talk about football.

Perhaps the biggest stories of late are coming out of the English Premier League – surprise, surprise. With five teams in it [United, City, Arsenal, Spurs, and Chelsea] at this important point of the season, the gap is growing between them and the rest of the pack.

Let’s start at the top: United. This season has been the consistency that United has become known for. Not rotating rosters, not following the growing trend of spending a small nation’s GDP on a single player that barely produces, grows tired of the fans and leaves for greener (read: foreign, continental) pasture. But, remaining the starting XI that has given birth to Sir Alex’s identity.

With the youth of Javier Hernandez, a great catalyst was given to the scoring form of United – and has sealed victory several times this season, most recently at West Brom.

Up next, the big spenders – proving only that money doesn’t buy happiness. Arguably, with their game-in-hand, the game this Wednesday against Arsenal in London will be pivotal in each team’s title race. With a loss, City could become easy prey to be overtaken by Tottenham.

Dominating the news around the team, is not only the security of Roberto Mancini’s post, but also of the morale of his team. With other managers on the chopping block – which I feel certain Julian will cover in his next post – Mancini’s trouble has fallen near silent in the press as his team has moved higher and higher in the table. However, with a loss Wednesday, he – and his scarf – could be back in the forefront, and under scrutiny.

Next in the table, Arsene Wenger and the gunners. Season after season the claims have been made that it’s Arsenal’s year. However, with a drought stretching back to the FA Cup in 2005 with Arsenal beating United on penalties – the claims have lost their impact.

With the pitch and bench both filled with talent, it’s no shock that the gunners brushed off their soft stereotype that’s developed this season and have begun to take the identity of a team that can play all 90 minutes, again.

With the return of Aaron Ramsey from injury, and a spell at Nottingham Forest, Arsenal will have another viable threat form their midfield adding to the excitement of seeing what the young Welshman can do for the remainder of this season.

However, results like the one against Wigan last week provide more fuel for critics that Arsenal are a team that can’t defend, and can’t tough it out. With proving tests coming this week against Manchester City, and perhaps the biggest test of the season coming in February against Barcelona, only time will tell if Arsenal have what it takes to secure top place come May.

Trailing Arsenal are their North London rivals, Tottenham. Sitting just three points behind the gunners, Spurs could overtake provided a loss by Arsenal to City and a win against Everton. However, stirring the speculation is the possibility of David Beckham joining the London club on loan – as Harry Redknapp has expressed his desire for the former EPL legend to join the team for the remainder of the season. More to come on this, I’m sure, from Jon Ballenger.

Personally, I’d be fond to see the return of Beckham to English football, just not at the club down the road. However, with the interjection of Beckham to a side who’s undoubtedly made the best purchase already this season with Rafael van der Vaart, coupled with the attacking presence of Gareth Bale – this winter could prove to be very entertaining domestically, and abroad for Spurs fans.

As far as the widening gap is concerned, it ends with Chelsea. Starting the season off at a blistering pace, the title holders dropped off in recent months, and boss Carlo Ancelotti has been added to the list for managers who could lose their job this January.

Losing recently to Arsenal, the Blues gave the gunners their first big four win in the league since Liverpool last season.

Falling off the pace, the Blues could be facing “Liverpool” circumstances if things aren’t fixed. Soon.

Spurs Were All Heart, City Were All Hart

In a rematch of last season’s most priceless game, Spurs were unlucky to drop two points in the opening game of the English Premier League. Manchester City were thrilled to leave White Hart Lane with a result, one that has been rare for the Eastlands outfit against Spurs in recent years.

It was almost unfathomable that Spurs did not get a goal in the first half, muchless three. Young English keeper Joe Hart got the shock nod over the vastly experienced and gifted Shay Given, a decision which may have lifted Roberto Mancini’s buffoon-like status. Hart’s performance had English fans reminiscing of Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton, and the media is eating up the story to proclaim their keeper issues have been solved for the next ten years. Great performance, but it’s a bit premature. Other goalkeepers who have turned in brilliant performances against Spurs in the last year include Marton Fulop, Boaz Myhill, Steve Simonsen and Marcus Hahnemann (twice). 

Point being, relax.

It has to be said that Spurs looked really impressive despite not getting on the board. A team that has made one signing this far in Brazilian Sandro (yet to move due to the Copa Libertadores), looked like they hadn’t skipped a beat from last year’s fourth-place form. You know the signings will be coming soon, but the question of who has become more and more mysterious. It’s become obvious that the main reservation to splash big cash is due to chairman Daniel Levy’s wanting to make sure we get through to the Champions League group stage. With Switzerland’s BSC Young Boys in the cards, Mr. Levy should atleast be able to rest a littlle easier.

Another proper CB, a striker can play up front by himself, and either a winger or box-to-box CM (depending on who leaves the Lane) would seem to be the three positions Harry has identified as needs. If these signings come to fruition, there is no reason that Spurs can’t be a strong contender in England and Europe with the depth in this squad and the massive potential of some of our youngsters.

While we still don’t know who will be coming in, it’s quite clear that they won’t come from Spurs opening day opponent and top-four rival in City. Manchester City must offload a number of players with the new 25-man squad rule, and for obvious reasons, they don’t want to strengthen a team that played them off the pitch.

Manchester City should (still a big if for me) only get better and better each week as this team gels. With each week they don’t, Roberto Mancini’s seat will only get warmer.

On the other side Spurs can feel very confident with what they have going on. With a very complete squad once again, it would be a mistake to discount their credentials to repeat last season’s league success. A very lofty run of fixtures face Spurs in England, and they have the opportunity to get out to the great start thst proved to be so crucial last season. A real test of character awaits on Tuesday in Bern, Switzerland as Spurs Champions League-metal will be seen. The game will be on Fox Sports Net at 1:45 CT.

Come On, You Spurs.

Feeding the Fire

One of the most common criticisms that players and clubs hear during tough spells is a lack of effort. A team losing isn’t showing  pride in their team, their city, and so on and so forth. A team goes one-nil down and they don’t possess enough heart.

For D.C. United fans, they are about to put this old sports cliche under the litmus test. Curt Onalfo after a poor run of results in the league has been dismissed as D.C. United manager. In the last six league matches for D.C. United they’ve only scored two goals, both of them by 17 year-old Andy Najar. Players like Santino Quaranta have been unable to make the impact they are expected to, and the root cause in many people’s eyes including the front office of D.C. United is a lack of passion.

That worry shouldn’t be a problem with newly appointed interim head coach Ben Olsen. There’s no questioning Olsen’s pride and love of the game and especially D.C. United. I can’t imagine any player not giving effort surviving under Olsen. That much is to be expected. But I don’t think that’s enough.

Onalfo was not getting results, and there cannot be too many complaints about letting him go. It wasn’t working and there didn’t seem to be any real plan to get it back on track, but I’m not confident that there’s a person out there that can get D.C. back on track, especially during this season. D.C. have a whole host of issues ranging from a lack of investors, to stadium issues, to personnel problems. They don’t have a consistent presence in the box, the backline is in constant flux, and youthful mistakes have plagued the team along with this supposed missing fire.

It’s a simple fact that D.C. cannot attract the big players that Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle are currently pursuing and landing. They don’t have the financial comfort and the only way they are going to consistently compete is if their front office can make solid moves on matters dealing with the team on the field and the club off of it. So far they’ve failed to do this.

The new D.C. United should show passion during the second half of the season. They may get some hard-earned results with the effort they put it. They will still drop quite a few points, but at least the front office won’t be able to go back into the old sports cliche book and will finally have to look at themselves in the mirror. At least that’s all D.C. supporters can hope for.

Red Bulls throw punches, Galaxy’s turn to respond

The New York Red Bulls and the Los Angeles Galaxy are locked in a battle for the face of the MLS. This war was once waged between D.C. United and the Galaxy, but with D.C.’s many problems and the Beckham saga, Los Angeles undoubtedly became the biggest club in Major League Soccer. New York, despite many efforts to even the playing field including a re-branding, have been a distant second.

Now after this explosive summer period for soccer in the United States, there is a real battle on hand.

In the past, the popularity contest hasn’t translated on the field for Red Bulls and the Galaxy, neither team have won a Supporters Shield or MLS Cup in the past four seasons.Last season New York was far and away the worst team in the MLS. In 2008, the Galaxy shared the bottom of the collective table with San Jose. Despite their bigger image both teams’ poor moves in the front-office left them behind in the results with the rest of league.

Now they are starting to win. Los Angeles is currently in pole position for the Supporters Shield and the Red Bulls, with an entire half season without Henry, is in sight of ever-consistent and never talked about, Columbus Crew.

How will this summer be remembered years down the road?  So far it looks likely to be the summer of the Red Bulls. The Hans Backe appointment was  a masterstroke during the off-season and obviously Henry’s signing is ground-breaking. Add Marquez joining the Red Bulls and it’s been a spectacular summer for the club. He may not be the iconic, flashy goal-scorer that Blanco was, but he’s certainly well-perceived in Mexico, and a great pick-up on the field.  Now New York have the best attacking front in the league with Angel and Henry, and with a smart draft of Tchani and Ream they have the build to be an elite MLS team for years to come.

So far Los Angeles have not responded. They cannot help that Beckham is hurt. When healthy and not worried about the England squad he brings a whole new dynamic on and off the field. Without him there hasn’t been a front-page worthy story about the Galaxy this summer except for maybe Donovan not being for sale while several  MLS teams, especially New York have made headlines.

There’s no doubt that Los Angeles will want to move the spotlight back to the Home Depot Center. Their upcoming friendly with Real Madrid might help, but the big impact they need could come if they somehow secure Ronaldinho from AC Milan. How Henry was well known by most fans of the game, Ronaldinho is known to many who are not. A successful move for him would completely overshadow what New York have done over the last few months.It would be the ultimate statement that Los Angeles is and will be the biggest club in the MLS for years to come.

He would also be a perfect counter for the Henry move on the field. A forward line of Donovan, Ronaldinho and Buddle, and possibly Beckham pulling the strings would be devastating. The four combined would be almost unfair compared to what other clubs are putting out, especially if you factor in the depleted pool with future expansions.

It would not be easy getting Ronaldinho this summer, a massive transfer price would probably be required, and MLS isn’t keen on paying for transfers. They’ve yet to try and break the bank, but Ronaldinho may be worth it. The naturally conservative MLS might not think so and may try and wait for his contract to expire, but if there’s a time for LA Galaxy to act, it’s now.

Also, Ronaldinho has had issues off the field that have led to a decline on it. Late night partying, out of shape, and the general sense of a lack of motivation have plagued his reputation since his not-so-good 2006 World Cup. But, if the money is there, I  think it’s a risk worth taking for the MLS and the Galaxy. Certainly for the MLS.

Red Bulls have been able to overshadow the Galaxy during this summer of soccer despite Los Angeles being the best team in the league at the half-way point. Now it’s time for Los Angeles to counter and for the good of the MLS, I hope they have something big cooked up.

The league really lacks a recognized rivalry that would draw the interest of non-MLS fans. There could be nothing better for the league as a whole than a rivalry between Red Bulls and Los Angeles. With Red Bulls recent moves and a major signing like Ronaldinho for the Galaxy it would become that marquee rivalry that the league is looking for. The MLS must do what they can to make it happen. It may cost a pretty penny now, but the rewards could be huge.

A Summer on the Brink

Forget Gulliem Balague’s A Season on the Brink that told the incredible story of Rafa’s first season at Liverpool and the Champions League glory that followed. In the past few days Liverpool’s assumed disastrous summer could somehow turn around in an incredible way. The following month, and especially next 10 days may be the most important period in the club’s history for a long time.

Just weeks ago Gerrard and Torres were assumed casualties to the debt and poor season. Then the signing of Joe Cole, followed by quick succession of Gerrard recommitting to the club brought a few of the more optimistic heads out of sand. Now with the news that Insua’s deal has collapsed, Fabio Aurelio resigning, and some Spanish striker named Fernando Torres claiming he is happy at Liverpool the feeling around the club has certainly turned around quickly.

Even more positive news is that at least one bidder is making a serious offer to buy the club. Kenny Huang, known for his sports-related business exploits across the world(including helping to engineer the move of Yao Ming to the NBA) has taken an interest in Liverpool, and is presumably backed strongly by Chinese investors.  Many outlets are reporting Huang has given the Liverpool board a 10 day “take it or leave it” bid. This would allow him time to invest in the club before the closing of the transfer window. There’s been no more telling sign that he is extremely serious than him going straight to RBS to discuss the situation. It sounds hostile, but that may be what it takes to finally force the Americans to lower their valuation of the club.

Kenny Huang, Thanks to Soccernet

It’s hard to get overly optimistic about the situation with the past years of ownership and potential new owners turmoil. I can admit I know nothing except what outlets are reporting about Huang, and he is certainly a businessman and not just a fan, but almost any possible way to replace Hicks & Gillett would be welcomed. Also, it’s certainly far from a done deal. Liverpool have denied any board meetings discussing Huang and the latest developments.

But we do know it’ll be up to the panel of five to deal with the bid(Hicks, Gillett, Broughton, Purslow, and Ayre) and possibly, if reports are to  be believed, five other offers. Whether the bids are a fabricated story to stall or bids that were forced by the aggressiveness of Huang is uncertain, but regardless things are heating up very quickly.

From no left-backs, to two. From no Gerrard and Torres to both. And the dream of H&G out of the club and a new owner with serious ambition and funds taking charge, things are looking up. Many things still have to fall in place, and there is still the precarious month of August to go. As we all know these things change almost hourly, let alone what could change in a month, but for now it’s great to see how things may be shifting in Liverpool’s favor.

The Kids Aren’t All Right

His story feels like a movie.

Andy Najar moved to the United States from Honduras at the age of 13. He was turned down for being too small by the D.C. youth academy that same year.  In a stroke of big-screen type luck, the assistant coach for his  high school spotted him playing a pick-up game, and Najar immediately found himself on the high school team. A year of organized soccer later and he made the cut at D.C. United. Fastfoward to 2010 and at 17 he may now be their best player.

Najar’s rise from obscurity to a poster boy for the MLS academies has been rapid and has even caught the attention of bigger fish across the sea with rumors that Arsenal want him for a trial at the end of the MLS season appearing.

He’s quick, good on the ball and incredibly aggressive when given the opportunity by defenders. He’s not the finished product, though. Najar hasn’t been the best making choices in the final third, but that’s not something that should be expected out of a 17 year old, especially one with limited organized play. Not to mention D.C. are pretty lackluster in the final third as it is. What makes Najar extra special is his effort to chase down lost causes and track back to help out defensively. I can’t think of too many young hot-shots that put in as hard a shift as Najar does on a week-to-week basis.

D.C. United  have a history of being involved with the brightest and most hyped young players in the MLS. Santino Quaranta, Bobby Convey, and Freddy Adu all were given their first shots with the club and none have reached the potential many expected from them.  Now it’ll be United’s task to prevent Najar from going down the same paths as the others.

D.C. broke the record for youngest MLS player three times with the signings of Convey(2000), Quaranta(2001), and Adu(2004). When Convey and Quaranta were operating on opposite wings for D.C. it looked as if the future flanks of the US National Team were confirmed for the next decade. But due to various issues(Convey- injuries, attitude, Quaranta – injuries, drugs) their careers never hit the heights that was expected. They still have time left as both are in the their mid-20s, but it will be a large up-hill battle to eliminate the “what-ifs” that will most likely surround their careers.

But D.C. isn’t the one to blame. They aren’t responsible for Eddie Gaven, Danny Szetela and Justin Mapp. While Gaven has had a respectable career in the MLS, all three had similar hype as Quaranta and Convey coming in to the league. The MLS as a whole has struggled to develop these young kids labeled as future stars. It raises the question on whether the league is suited for youth development or if it’s still very much a “link-league” to Europe. I think the MLS right now is a fantastic place for college players to come and get a crash course on the professional level, but until the league can prove it can develop so-called domestic wonder kids, I’ll favor giving these players a chance overseas if given the opportunity.

Every year more and more young players with massive potential are appearing  in the MLS.  Luis Gil and Jack McInerney are just two of the latest. While Najar will most likely play for Honduras in his future, for the future of the national team it’s incredibly important that the nurturing and developing of these special talents is improved so players like Gil and McInerney aren’t stunted. If that can happen in the MLS, I would be ecstatic, I’m just not sure it’s ready for it yet, based on the league’s track record.

The MLS need a win here. If Najar can continue to progress it would be a win for the too often overlooked immigrate population by the national team development program. It would be a big win for the MLS and its’ youth academies, and it would be a major win for the national team he chooses. I have my fingers crossed for his future, and any fan of the domestic game should do the same.

Captain, My Captain

You may have noticed that it’s been a while since Julian Kersh or myself have posted – simply put, we’ve been busy. Countless matches of Arsenal v. Liverpool, selecting MLS sides to support and figuring out the best way to frame Stevie G. and Cesc jerseys. Yes, in a purely tax motivated and business decision for TOTAL FOOTBALL – we’ve grabbed an apartment on the edge of Birmingham, rubbing elbows with millionaires.

Now that we’re straightened out, let’s talk football.

In the weeks since the end of the World Cup – US tours, international transfers and rumors are swirling through the media day-by-day. Of course, our beloved Gunners are not exempt.

THE answer to Arsenal's Goalkeeping problems

First, the man we’ve all been waiting for (since Jens Lehmann left) Mark Schwarzer. All but confirmed, Schwarzer will be making the move from Craven Cottage to the Emirates and be the first choice between the sticks – ready to start against Liverpool and the likes of Fernando Torres and Stevie G.

Arsenal have been lacking in the goalkeeping department ever since Jens Lehmann’s departure in 2008 – even then it wasn’t truly quality work by the German.

In terms of youth, it seems that the Professor has plans for Jack Wilshere in the first team this season – and I, for one, couldn’t be happier. Yes, the music is awful, but this clip of his run against Rangers in the Emirates Cup last preseason is proof enough of why this young man has talent and will be a key player in Arsenal, and England’s, future.

Perhaps I’ve saved the most controversial for last – Cesc Fabregas. I’m not really sure what can be said at this point. After seeing Pepe Reina instigating a middle school locker room bullying with the likes of Puyol and Pique – Cesc seemed rather hesitant and had a worrying laugh about him when forced into a Barca jersey. My take: he will be staying at the Emirates for the season – not leaving before the start of 2010/11, not leaving in January, staying for the season and going on to Captain us through an appearance in the Champions League final and to win the league: our Big Four performances will be different this year. That being said, I’ll wait till the transfer window is closed to hang my Cesc jersey above the TV – not yet having the same commitment that Jules’s Stevie has given to his faithful.

Ready to lead the Gunners to a title - Got that Double feeling?

Joe Cole arrives, but at what price?

The signing of Joe Cole has lifted many Liverpool fans around the world out of the gloom. Despite not making the Champions League, despite the ownership situation, Liverpool have managed to sign one of the more admired players in the Premier League. It could certainly be considered a statement of intent by the club to the fans and to the players, but like many good things there always seem to be a catch.

Cole training (Courtesy of Liverpoolfc.tv)

I’m a big fan of Joe Cole like the majority of fans of the Premier League. His ability to create opportunities and consistently unlock defenses is worth its weight in gold, especially as more and more Premier League teams opt to play with deep, narrow back fours and physically imposing defensive midfielders. An answer to the very restricting tactics is something Liverpool have struggled to find during the Rafalution.

Luis Garcia, who is a cult legend at the club, was that special kind of player. His flair for the dramatic earned him the name King Luis while his inconsistency often overshadowed the plaudits from his magical moments. Chelsea’s new signing Yossi Benayoun played a similar role at the club though he never reached the peaks of Garcia, but nor did he reach the lows.  But as big of moments as those players had they were still very much roleplayers in a squad dominated by Gerrard and later Torres. I believe Joe Cole is a player in a higher quality tier than Yossi and Garcia and with his addition the attacking play is not a burden for just Torres and Gerrard anymore. Add what Liverpool fans saw from Maxi when he began to settle and it’s certainly one of the more intimidating attacking sides Liverpool have put out in a while, and that’s not including the dependable and clutch Dirk Kuyt.

But as I alluded to earlier, there is a catch(or possibly several).

The rumor is Cole will be making around 90,000 pounds a week. As many know Liverpool’s financial situation is not just poor, but approaching  closer and closer to the point of implosion. This 90,000 pounds is not a massive wage for a player of Joe Cole’s quality assuming he has a clean slate in the past nor if the club is in a stable financial state, but neither of those are true in this situation.

He did make 38 appearances last year(many as a sub) which is reasonable at a club like Chelsea when he wasn’t considered a key figure. For reference Lampard had 50, Drogba had 44, Terry had 46, and Yossi had 39 at Liverpool. However if you combine Cole’s total number of appearances in 2006/2007 and 2008/2009 he had just 40. Anything less than 30 starts this season and that 90,000 pound wage is going to look awfully steep and comparisons to Harry Kewell will surface.

Kewell had severe injuries issues at Liverpool

While I’d like to not harp on the salary (you have to spend money to make money after all and an interesting piece by Kuper suggests it helping with winning, too) it’s an issue that can not be overlooked because of the state of the club and the recent selling of Insua(though, oddly Insua was still training at Melwood as of yesterday). Insua had a tough season last year. He was a part of a porous backline and certainly looked behind the speed of the game, most noticeably being caught out of position when the ball was lost. But Insua is still only 21 years old, he’s already been capped for Argentina, and when comparing him to other players in his age group and position not many stack up to his ability. He was an unpolished young foreign left-back thrown into a flat back-four(home and away) in over 40 matches. The learning curve was always going to be very steep.

Just look at another left-back that had a similar situation. Gareth Bale has looked just as overwhelmed at the left-back position as Insua, but was capable of playing another position and had a fantastic season in a higher-up position where there was less defensive responsibility. To expect an entire campaign of impeccable positioning and awareness(especially in a flat back-four away from home) from a 21-year-old is simply asking too much.

Insua looks bound for Italy

But that’s only half the issue and the other part gets us back to Cole. Assuming the transfer goes through Insua is going to Fiorentina for either 3.8m+ incentives or a fee around 5m based on which sources one believes. Hicks and Purslow have stated on numerous occasions that player sells do not go toward the debt but rather into the transfer and wage kitty. Now there can be two views on this:

1) Hicks and Purslow are not telling the truth and Insua was sold because he was viewed as expendable in comparison to the rest of the squad. Never mind that Insua was probably worth around double the rumored price of the transfer.

2) That the money for Insua does go into that kitty.

Let’s assume #2.

As much of an admirer of Joe Cole as I am with the timing of these two deals it looks as if the Insua money went directly toward signing Cole. If we assume it was 5 million pounds for Insua and it’s roughly 5 million for Cole not including incentives or a signing bonus it’s almost a swap. That sounds nice looking at it(Insua for Cole), though remember Insua has his whole career ahead of him and he could have been sold for much more now and possibly even more later if he continued to improve.

But finances and a lack of left-backs aren’t the only reason I’m not jumping through the roof over the signing.

It’s tough to understand why purchasing Cole was worthy of selling the team’s only current first-team left-back and one of its brightest players for the future in exchange for a player that adds a higher quality to an area of the field that has some semblance of depth.

There’s no mistaking that players like Gerrard and Carragher are excited to see a quality addition like Cole to the squad. I’m sure their trip to South Africa together played a big part in him signing with Liverpool. Torres must like the addition as well. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a smooth transition.

Joe Cole has made it clear in the past that he wants to play in the center behind the striker(s). He feels its his best position and it certainly had to play a role in deciding what club he signed for. Unfortunately,  Steven Gerrard and Aquilani thrive in that same spot. Assuming Gerrard stays(which he has recently stated he would) I think it would be madness to separate him from Torres(again, assuming he stays). That leaves Joe Cole on the left where Liverpool currently have Babel, Jovanovic, and Reira. That’s not to say Cole isn’t a quality above those players, he obviously is. I personally  don’t have too much faith in Babel or Reira, but at least they are warm bodies and already on the book.

Now if Cole were to play in his preferred position Gerrard would then need to be moved. Two spots would be available and that’s on the right and in the central midfield pairing. Benitez got arguably the best season out of Gerrard from the right, but it seemed like every week there was discontent about his role by a number of sources including Gerrard. Plus Kuyt and Maxi both are more than capable in that area of the field.

The other solution would be to move Gerrard into a central midfield pairing. This especially worries me.

Gerrard is a special, special player. There are very few that I put in his elite category, but his casual tactical discipline and ambitious play on the ball are not ideal for a central midfielder.

And that’s not even mentioning Aquilani. A lot of money was spent on Alberto and he will most likely slip even further down the pecking order with the arrival of Cole.

Hodgson has quite the task ahead of him

I do want to make it clear that I think Cole signing is a great statement of intent by the club. I’ve always wanted to see a player with the skill-set of Cole at Liverpool. The issue comes with looking at the current financial situation of the club combined with the other issues plaguing the squad.

Left-backs are an absolute must buy as soon as possible. Remember Liverpool only have a few friendlies left, and the club is already operating on a short schedule because of the World Cup and the Europa League qualifier. Another striker must also be considered, and possibly a midfielder if Mascherano goes.

Assuming a quality left-back is brought in and the rest of the team is held together the squad does look very capable of retaking a spot in the top four. But this Cole signing must only be the first step in the process of squad rebuilding and not one of the final phases. I would have been ecstatic if the news of the signing happened after a left-back was signed. When I look back I hope the timing is the only thing that prevented me from being overjoyed, and that there were sufficient reinforcements waiting in the wings.

I know there is a plan. It would be naive of me to assume there wasn’t one. I’m just wondering if the plan was made by the manager or the man who has no real background in the sport and is trying to attract owners to the club.

But hey, at the very least he won’t be scoring against Liverpool anymore.

No Cole? No Problem

 

Don’t get me wrong, Joe Cole would be a welcome addition to almost any side, particularly on a free transfer.  I myself am an admirer of his style, which reminds Spurs fans of a modern-day Paul Gascoigne. Once Cole was out of contract with Chelsea, he was always going to be keen to stay in London with either Spurs or Arsenal with the prospect of Champions League football at both clubs. 

Spurs seemed the most likely fit, given manager Harry Redknapp gave him his first professional contract while at West Ham.  Not to mention five of his English teammates in South Africa ply their trade at the Lane, trying to convince Cole to join them.  Even Frank Lampard, ex-Chelsea teammate and nephew of Harry Redknapp, tried to convince Cole that Spurs were the right fit for him. 

In the last few weeks, it became evident that their was a three-horse race trying to secure the midfielders’ services. Word of his move to Spurs intensified within the Spurs grapevine, but nothing became official. 

To the surprise of many, Cole utlimately decided to join Liverpool in what he dubbed for, “footballing reasons”. When word of the wages the Merseyside club were set to offer Cole, it became fairly obvious where he was going.

To refer to his decision as a footballing one, and to follow it up by saying “it was not financial”, is diabolical at best.  If it were a footballing decision, he would playing at White Hart Lane or the Emirates next season.

As I said, Cole is a very talented player capable of playing on either wing, or as an attacking midfielder.  His seven seasons at Chelsea, however, were marred by injuries and maturity issues.  In those seven seasons, he was unable to command a starting place week in, week out at Stamford Bridge. 

Redknapp likely viewed Cole as a signing to booster the prospect of playing a 4-5-1 in the Champions League, a formation that is ever-popular in the competition.  Outside of him playing behind a target man in this formation, where would Cole fit in the 4-4-2?

Look at the positions Cole plays relative to this Spurs squad.  Assuming Gareth Bale on the left wing, Aaron Lennon on the right, and Luka Modric in that attacking midfield role, there is no place for him in our 11.  Not a chance Joe Cole displaces any of those three.  Redknapp has reiterated his desire to play Bale at left back, but he will certainly feature in both roles depending on our opponent, healthy players, ect..

If you look at the cover we have for those players, Spurs fans should really care less about missing out on the injury-ridden player. You could easily make the argument that another Croatian, Niko Kranjcar is a superior player. The long-awaited Giovani Dos Santos era in North London should take off this season. The young Mexican forward appears to have cut his attitude with Redknapp, and was rated by FIFA as one of this summer’s three best young technical players in South Africa. Given the chance, Giovani can and will shine in 2010-2011. 

David Bentley was markedly improved last season, and should have the chance this season to prove he was worth the pricy fee paid to Blackburn Rovers. There are youngsters aplenty on the wings and in the midfield for Spurs, with left winger Andros Townshend having been the most impressive on our first two friendlies this season. Single volley legend Danny Rose, along with midfielders John Bostock and Jake Livermore come with very high praise, and should get their chances sooner rather than later.

Point being, Joe Cole was never a necessary signing for Spurs. You can never have enough depth due to the physicality of English football, and the rigors that await in the Champions League. There is no shortage of creativity at White Hart Lane.  And for £90,000, well thank God we weren’t that inept. 

As for how he fits in with Liverpool is a different story. Assuming they don’t leave, (no safe assumptions at Anfield this summer) Cole, Gerrard, and Aquillani will all want to play the same position. That prospect spells nothing but trouble for the cash-strapped giants. Cash-strapped, and 90,000/ week for a player that does not fit their needs reaks in fiscal irresponsibility. Desperately scrapping up free transfers out there is only a short-term solution, for a looming potential crisis.

2014: USMNT Player Watch Part I – Central Defenders

With South Africa and the 2010 cycle now behind them the United States national team will now be focusing on earning their way to Brazil and the 2014 World Cup.  While the United States benefits from being a relatively young team in numerous key positions and logically they should have many players that were involved in this cycle play a major part in the years to come, there will be several new faces that emerge over the years.

As an example of the changes that occur during a cycle,  four years ago Freddy Adu, Bobby Convey and Michael Parkhurst felt like dead certain selections for the 2010 squad. Four years is a long time and the US team will evolve regardless of the manager.

So what players could emerge from just role-players or unknowns and make themselves known on the international stage? Let’s take a look at some names that could play a part in getting the team to Brazil or could even make the plane. In the first of a series of posts on the topic let’s look at central defenders.

Early favorites

Clarence Goodson – 28 and will be 32 by the time the next World Cup takes place. He was a late-bloomer who’s career took off when he left American soil and began his career in Europe where he eventually earned his way onto the plane to South Africa. Big and makes an impact in both boxes with his head, he will at the very least play a role early in the 2014 cycle.

Chad Marshall – Marshall is still only 25 years old. A product of the famed Bradenten Academy it seems that Marshall has been around for much longer than his age leads one to believe. He scored his first goal(and only) for the national team in 2005 against Columbia and since then has become one of the MLS’ premier defenders. He’s a two time MLS Defenders of the Year, has the won the MLS Cup, and in his roughly five years with the Crew they’ve won the Supporters Shield three times. Marshall and Goodson were two of the few players that came away from the 2009 Gold Cup with positive impressions. He also made the 30-man squad for South Africa, but not the 23.

The Forgotten

Michael Orozco Fiscal – His last national team appearance came in the 2008 Olympics where he was sent off. Even after the send-off he was involved in a few qualifier camps but still only has one cap to his name. After a stint in the Mexico he’s been loaned to MLS club Philadelphia Union and was immediately a regular in their first eleven. Just yesterday he scored with an excellent header in the Union’s 2-1 victory over Toronto.

Geoff Cameron – Cameron’s first two seasons in the MLS saw his stock rise and eventually earned him a few call-ups to national team camps. There’s still a debate whether his best place is in the backline or as a midfielder, but if he’s going to break into the national team it’ll most likely going to be as the former. A ruptured PCL earlier in the MLS season has ruled him out for the entire year, but if he can make a successful comeback Cameron should factor into a few camps and potentially add a few  caps.

Zak Whitbread - Whitbread is probably the most well-known to US fans in the forgotten category, though he may be the biggest long shot on the list. He was in the Liverpool development system for a number of years though he was unable to break into the first team. After his departure from Liverpool in 2006 he became a regular for Milwall despite battling injuries. He joined Norwich in January 2010 but has failed to establish himself due to yet another injury.

New Kids on the Block

Omar Gonzalez – Gonzalez won the MLS’ 2009 Rookie of the Year award in a year where many other rookies shined. It would surprise many people if he’s not in or around the USMNT squad in the next couple years. A plus is that he wants to play for the USA over Mexico, but it’s important for the USSF to cement his favoritism before the situation gets messy.

Ike Opara – Opara  does not quite have the height of the other names listed so far, but he’s hardly short a 6’2 and his athleticism has led to him being recognized as a player with massive potential. He was drafted 3rd in this year’s MLS draft, and has already scored three goals as a defender in his rookie season.

Tim Ream – Ream was drafted 18th in the same draft as Opara, and has quickly become a name passed around by many American fans as a potential national team member for 2014. What has drawn most fans to Ream has been his ability on the ball as well as off. He isn’t afraid to be on the ball, and has a very calm play-style that many 22 year-old rookies do not possess. He has the potential to be one of the most complete defenders the US has seen in a long time.

And for every player that is hyped now there’s no accounting for the names that will pop up mid-cycle like Bedoya, Davies, and so on that appeared during the run-up to South Africa. Much like the game itself national teams are fluid and constantly changing. Unknown young players seem to be appearing all the time in the MLS and that is a great sign for the future.