As if it a series of humiliating blunders followed by a series of humiliating axings were not enough. Now in an inflated market, that shows no signs of hitting the wall, Paul Robinson has joined Blackburn Rovers for £3.5million. In Premiership terms it is half a bag of peanuts.
For an England international, who is closing in on his finest years, to command such a pultry sum in the crazy football economy must be tough for Robinson to take. A humbling thud at the end of his near-on two year fall. He might as well turn up to the next England meet, if selected, driving a 2007 mini such will be the dent to his status in the young millionaires club.
Not only did he fail to break eight figures, the once England number one has been traded on the same level as Lee Cattermole(Middlesbrough to Wigan) and Brad Friedel (Blackburn to Aston Villa). Had Boro been in the market a straight Cattermole-Robinson swap could have been the ticket.
A fine keeper Friedel maybe, but he is 37 to Robinson's 29 years and Cattermole is little more than a decent midfielder who will trade off the tag former England under 21 for time to come. Now Robinson can only dream of standing on the same shelf as £10million Andrew Johnson and he can forget about his former team mate Robbie Keane at £20million.
The limited comfort that Robinson can take is that Blackburn are still a respectable top half side, thanks largely to Mark Hughes, but whether this will continue under Paul Ince's is only gambler's business.
Robinson has endured a torrid few year, but he is youngish and decentish - has he really stumbled so far? If his confidence was not derailed previously, it must surely have flat-lined now, but worryingly for Robinson - Ince dependent - it may not be his final humiliation.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Ferguson’s posturing betrays only fear
Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is “unconcerned” about the threat of Chelsea to his team’s Premiership crown. The enduing Scot laying down an early challenge to his new rival in a pre-season mind-game skirmish? More like a premature outburst revealing Fergie's fear as Big Phil bears down upon him.
Ferguson claims Chelsea are too old, in capable of developing and Manchester United 's only rivals play in red (Arsenal and Liverpool). The argument is unconvincing and the jostling tactic is unwise.
Chelsea start the season with a team of proven title winners, a new coach with a world cup stamp in his passport and an owner with deep, deep pockets and long, long arms. While both Arsenal and Liverpool are severely depleted with aps appearing not only in thier squads but in their starting line-ups, and they will struggle to recruit sufficient in time for the start of the season. Forget the acquisition of kaka, Robinho or whoever else touted, Chelsea - as they prove last season - are ready to take on United.
Scolari has fired back with an oblivious silence. But Ferguson's disregard and disrespect will have registered at Stamford Bridge, not only in the manager's office, but in the changing room and the board room. After the Champions League final defeat Chelsea would have needed no more motivation, but motivation is an endless scale. And this will have riled them.
It is hard to imagine Ferguson indulging in such early skirmishes with Avram Grant - largely because he saw little threat. The arrival of a World Cup winning coach with a reputation almost on a par with the Manchester United coach's has induced reaction fuelled by a fearful disrespect and reveals nore about fergie's anxieties for the coming season than Chelsea's inadequacies.
Ferguson claims Chelsea are too old, in capable of developing and Manchester United 's only rivals play in red (Arsenal and Liverpool). The argument is unconvincing and the jostling tactic is unwise.
Chelsea start the season with a team of proven title winners, a new coach with a world cup stamp in his passport and an owner with deep, deep pockets and long, long arms. While both Arsenal and Liverpool are severely depleted with aps appearing not only in thier squads but in their starting line-ups, and they will struggle to recruit sufficient in time for the start of the season. Forget the acquisition of kaka, Robinho or whoever else touted, Chelsea - as they prove last season - are ready to take on United.
Scolari has fired back with an oblivious silence. But Ferguson's disregard and disrespect will have registered at Stamford Bridge, not only in the manager's office, but in the changing room and the board room. After the Champions League final defeat Chelsea would have needed no more motivation, but motivation is an endless scale. And this will have riled them.
It is hard to imagine Ferguson indulging in such early skirmishes with Avram Grant - largely because he saw little threat. The arrival of a World Cup winning coach with a reputation almost on a par with the Manchester United coach's has induced reaction fuelled by a fearful disrespect and reveals nore about fergie's anxieties for the coming season than Chelsea's inadequacies.
Grass could be browner for Adebayor in Milan
Emmanuel Adebayor should watch his wishing. Being coveted by two of the most attractive teams in Europe seems like a dream scenario, and it is, but his footballing future (not his financial future of course) could be more precarious than it appears.
The Togo marksman was a revelation last year. He made the transition from a no-man to a hit man in suitably startling fashion, scoring good goals and lots of them. He scored 24 in the league. But before he is invited to the top table at the strikers’ convention and his £35 million valuation is verified, there are mitigating circumstances that should delay the jury.
With a supply line of Fabregas, Hleb, Rosicky etc, how many goals would Van Persie contributed or Eduardo? Have his exploits this season justified a ten-fold increase in valuation from the £3 million Arsenal paid Monaco to the £35 million now mooted.
Adebayor has been a benefactor of his previous anonymity and low expectations. The season before last he contributed 12 goals in 44 games - a modest return that hardly deserves head swelling.
But most of all it is Adebayor's assumption that his career will only climb. Arsene Wenger rescued him from a bench in Monaco and gave him a platform to become a Premiership star. It would be unwise to dismiss those circumstances. A bench is a bench whether it is in Monaco or Milan and those that leave their French mentor do not always prosper. Overmars, Petit, Anelka, Vieira, Henry, all thought they were moving on to bigger things and better times, only to realise they never had it so good. Only to realise that it was they alone after all.
The Togo marksman was a revelation last year. He made the transition from a no-man to a hit man in suitably startling fashion, scoring good goals and lots of them. He scored 24 in the league. But before he is invited to the top table at the strikers’ convention and his £35 million valuation is verified, there are mitigating circumstances that should delay the jury.
With a supply line of Fabregas, Hleb, Rosicky etc, how many goals would Van Persie contributed or Eduardo? Have his exploits this season justified a ten-fold increase in valuation from the £3 million Arsenal paid Monaco to the £35 million now mooted.
Adebayor has been a benefactor of his previous anonymity and low expectations. The season before last he contributed 12 goals in 44 games - a modest return that hardly deserves head swelling.
But most of all it is Adebayor's assumption that his career will only climb. Arsene Wenger rescued him from a bench in Monaco and gave him a platform to become a Premiership star. It would be unwise to dismiss those circumstances. A bench is a bench whether it is in Monaco or Milan and those that leave their French mentor do not always prosper. Overmars, Petit, Anelka, Vieira, Henry, all thought they were moving on to bigger things and better times, only to realise they never had it so good. Only to realise that it was they alone after all.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Ronaldinho restores some faith
Football's premier partyboy Ronaldinho has chosen Milan over Manchester. On the surface it seems the glamorous and obvious choice - and to a large extent it probably is. But it is also a reassuring and re-affirming choice.
He has renounced his right to 15% of the fee, will earn less wages and Barcelona, to their credit (or more accurately their debt), have accepted an offer £8 million less than that of Manchester City's. The acceptance of AC Milan's offer must have owed much to Ronaldinho's insistence on not going to Manchester (for the second time in his career). Hard core cash was not the primary motivation - it seems.
Of course the sums being talked about are ridiculous anyway. But given the current climate, I half expected the Brazilian World Cup winner to wind down his career - at the age of 28 - attempting to import samba to the north, making guest appearances at Rio Ferdinand's Christmas bashes, and setting up a Copacabana night club in the city centre. And the occasional visit to the City of Manchester stadium for treatment on his terminal migraines. Basically doing everything except playing.
But this move shows a semblence of desire and passion to return to the highest summits of the game. It shows a willingness to subject himself to the rigor and scrutiny of the world press, a demanding boss and expectant fans. He will have to perform in Milan - on the pitch. He wants to recue his reputation and tussle with the big boys again. A footballer making a choice on football grounds. Not a big ask of any professional but at least it shows they live one planet closer to earth.
He has renounced his right to 15% of the fee, will earn less wages and Barcelona, to their credit (or more accurately their debt), have accepted an offer £8 million less than that of Manchester City's. The acceptance of AC Milan's offer must have owed much to Ronaldinho's insistence on not going to Manchester (for the second time in his career). Hard core cash was not the primary motivation - it seems.
Of course the sums being talked about are ridiculous anyway. But given the current climate, I half expected the Brazilian World Cup winner to wind down his career - at the age of 28 - attempting to import samba to the north, making guest appearances at Rio Ferdinand's Christmas bashes, and setting up a Copacabana night club in the city centre. And the occasional visit to the City of Manchester stadium for treatment on his terminal migraines. Basically doing everything except playing.
But this move shows a semblence of desire and passion to return to the highest summits of the game. It shows a willingness to subject himself to the rigor and scrutiny of the world press, a demanding boss and expectant fans. He will have to perform in Milan - on the pitch. He wants to recue his reputation and tussle with the big boys again. A footballer making a choice on football grounds. Not a big ask of any professional but at least it shows they live one planet closer to earth.
Monday, 14 July 2008
Barry in vicious cycle of the under and over rated
To be exposed as “overrated” takes an instance, to be celebrated as “underrated” takes a lifetime.
After a rapid rise to prominence in the late 1990’s as a classy centre back, Gareth Barry endeavoured to slip surreptitiously into the “underrated” bracket over the last decade. He achieved this. And now he is on the verge of an abrupt succession into the “overrated” category. The £18 million price tag that trails him is as much an expression of his mispercieved ability as the over inflated market. Good in defence good, good in attack and an all round decent bet, but exceptional in any - come on!
It takes years of consistent ‘soundness’ to continually evade the radar and retain the right to one day earn your spurs as under appreciated. Eligability for this unique group is inextricably linking to the personality type. When long service has been completed, ‘decent’, ‘honest’, ‘steady’, ‘hard working’ players earn their testimonials of a sudden recognition. It is the unspectacular, uninteresting players, the plain boring ones that no-one, but the keenest watchers, notice. (And of course there lies the origin of the term - to distinguish the knowledge of the ‘purists’). In every drab artisan there is a genius wating to be praised, as stars veer violently in fans and managers perceptions.
But, of course, once the day of sudden acclaim comes, and the player is hailed as “underrated”, the chances are they have reached saturation point and are already “overrated”.
It is, like the cycle of extreme capitalism to extreme communism, a natural progression where one is a prelude to the other.
After a rapid rise to prominence in the late 1990’s as a classy centre back, Gareth Barry endeavoured to slip surreptitiously into the “underrated” bracket over the last decade. He achieved this. And now he is on the verge of an abrupt succession into the “overrated” category. The £18 million price tag that trails him is as much an expression of his mispercieved ability as the over inflated market. Good in defence good, good in attack and an all round decent bet, but exceptional in any - come on!
It takes years of consistent ‘soundness’ to continually evade the radar and retain the right to one day earn your spurs as under appreciated. Eligability for this unique group is inextricably linking to the personality type. When long service has been completed, ‘decent’, ‘honest’, ‘steady’, ‘hard working’ players earn their testimonials of a sudden recognition. It is the unspectacular, uninteresting players, the plain boring ones that no-one, but the keenest watchers, notice. (And of course there lies the origin of the term - to distinguish the knowledge of the ‘purists’). In every drab artisan there is a genius wating to be praised, as stars veer violently in fans and managers perceptions.
But, of course, once the day of sudden acclaim comes, and the player is hailed as “underrated”, the chances are they have reached saturation point and are already “overrated”.
It is, like the cycle of extreme capitalism to extreme communism, a natural progression where one is a prelude to the other.
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Friday, 4 July 2008
Roger vs Rafa show
What if Tiger Woods had walked St Andrews with Jack Nicklaus at his peak,
What if Lance Armstrong had tried to break Miguel Indurain in the Alps,
What if Michael Schumacher had chased with Ayrton Senna around Monaco,
What if Muhammed Ali had gone toe to toe with Joe Louis at Maddison Square Gardens,
Bring on Sunday and men's final at Wimbledon.
What if Lance Armstrong had tried to break Miguel Indurain in the Alps,
What if Michael Schumacher had chased with Ayrton Senna around Monaco,
What if Muhammed Ali had gone toe to toe with Joe Louis at Maddison Square Gardens,
Bring on Sunday and men's final at Wimbledon.
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