The Rooney Rule Examined.

Over the past few weeks, as transfer deadline day rocketed my burgeoning Twitter reliance into a full-blown addiction, it has struck me the wide array of debates that people get into when discussing sport. While Michael Owen and Dan Walker were discussing their favourite wrestlers, and Joey Barton was continuing on his crusade to convince people he has a brain by tweeting his favourite exhibits in the Tate Modern, Daily Mirror journalist Oliver Holt was tackling an altogether more important subject: the Rooney Rule.

While, from my time spent endlessly refreshing Twitter in those long summer hours, Holt does seem the type to get a fairly large bee in his red-top bonnet quite regularly; his persistent and dogged arguments regarding the Rooney Rule struck me as unique. I approached my research of the subject with some cynicism - Ollie Holt had, after all, been almost equally persistent in his defence of Manchester City Chief Executive Garry Cook not a few days earlier. I wondered if this 'Rooney Rule' was another instance of Holt getting involved in a debate for the sake of involvement, but as Garry Cook sensationally parted company with Man City to make Holt's defence seem ill-advised, I discovered that his latest debate may be his most important.

The Rooney Rule, for the uninformed, is a ruling in the USA's National Football League that requires NFL teams to interview ethnic minority candidates for head coaching positions when they are open. Like many, I assume, I was previously unaware of the rule's existence and again, like many, I was eager to understand more about this fascinating solution to issues of race in such positions. Named after Pittsburgh Steelers chairman and league diversity committee Chairman Dan Rooney, the law came into existence in 2003. Since that point, several African American coaches have entered jobs that they may not have ever had the opportunity to if the Rooney Rule didn't exist.

Ollie Holt, in combination with his Daily Mirror colleague Darren Lewis, has begun campaigning on Twitter for the introduction of some similar ruling in English football, given the startling lack of black managers in the game. When one considers the issue for the first time, the initial natural reaction is to reel through your mind to name all the black managers there have been in the last few years. While these are numerous, the amount of black managers, and black english managers in particular, is shockingly small. In the English game at the time of writing, while over a quarter of professional players are of black origin, only two clubs employ black managers. Chris Houghton, for so long an assistant manager is currently at Birmingham City, after a spell at Newcastle United. Chris Powell is currently manager at the club where  he is considered a legend after his illustrious playing career, Charlton Athletic. The name so regularly wheeled out in this context is Paul Ince, but the Guv'nor currently finds himself unemployed after plying his trade for several years in the lower leagues, following six months at Blackburn Rovers.

Elsewhere over the last decade, Ruud Gullit added to the contingent of black managers, along with Fulham's gaffer of three years Jean Tigana. The tragic death at the age of 53 of the league's first full-time black coach, Keith Alexander, cut the number of black league managers at the time by a third. Previous black managers have included John Barnes, Viv Anderson and Luther Blissett, but among them none of these managers have ever come close to the managerial role at a sizeable club.

Why is this? Is there a troublingly archaic attitude at the heart of this issue? While England is one of the more forward-thinking nations when it comes to racism and racial issues in football (the shocking scenes during England's game in Bulgaria, where Ashleys Cole and Young were subjected to racial abuse from home supporters, emphasised just how far ahead we are of some areas), certain problems do still persist. While minority players are thankfully not subjected to the same kind of wholesale 'monkey-noise' racial abuse seen in some Eastern European countries, and on a smaller scale across Spain and Italy, racial abuse is still an issue in our game. Tottenham fans last year subjected Real Madrid's Emmanuel Adebayor, ironically now playing for them, to a well-known chant that exploits racial stereotypes, much to the disappointment of UEFA. England fans themselves harked back to the seventies against Bulgaria, and while not quite going as far as the home fans, chanted derogatory cursive about 'Gypsies' amongst other things.

Given the success and prevalence in England of campaigns such as 'Kick it out', it is shocking when one really begins to consider the deeper lying reasons behind the perpetual struggle of black managers to fight for opportunities in the English games. Take Houghton - a manager who successfully guided a decimated and destitute Newcastle side to promotion from the Championship at the first attempt and was sacked after just three months of Premier League life. Keith Andrews, a Lincoln City legend who took the team to four consecutive play-off campaigns, passed away in 2010. His death was recognised by the England national team, who wore black armbands for their next game, and by footballing luminaries across Europe. If he was so well respected, then, why did he never manage at a higher level than League Two?

Footballing greats such as Andrew Cole and the aforementioned John Barnes and Paul Ince have been unable to find any truly great opportunity in management, in spite of the great heights they reached in their career. In my opinion, not all of this can be explained purely by discrimination. In fact, for the debate, as life in general, we must look past the colour of their skin and examine their credentials. Paul Ince may not be that great a manager, while Barnes' record is sketchy at best. I am not arguing that either of these men should be offered the Chelsea job should Villas-Boas prove unsuccessful, but I, like Holt and Lewis, wish to highlight the fact that bog standard white managers are offered opportunities time and time again. How many clubs can Ian Dowie get relegated before Paul Ince is offered a shot ahead of him? How many times will chairmen turn to Alan Pardew, Nigel Pearson, Aidy Boothroyd or Steve Kean before John Barnes is deemed worthy of another chance? It seems that when white managers fail, a chance for redemption is never too far away. If a black manager doesn't succeed immediately, he is confined to the lower leagues, or indeed unemployment, for the foreseeable future.

So is the Rooney Rule the answer? It is certainly an intriguing option. It is reassuring to imagine a world where capable, skilled minority coaches are at least considered for the biggest roles. Without action, it is easy to see the size of the problem at hand. Ex players in particular deserve better. Take Manchester United - one could easily imagine Gary Neville or Paul Scholes being considered to replace Sir Alex Ferguson if they expressed an interest, but would Andrew Cole? When we are completely honest, most of us would admit that he would not.

The obvious argument in favour of the introduction of the Rooney Rule in English football is that certain scenarios would be largely bypassed. Black coaches would be given the legitimate and exciting opportunities they deserve, and if a white manager was chosen instead we could be more sure that at the very least the decision was fair. As things stand, the white elite by which the game is governed seem to be completely oblivious to the problem, rather than ignoring the plight of black managers.

Anti-Rooney Rulers establish the argument that the law is tantamount to positive discrimination and affirmative action, and while I can see the relevance of this point I would argue that affirmative action would be preferable to inaction. In the modern game as it exists, there is a definite gulf in equality, as time and time again black coaches are bypassed when new managers are hired. I sincerely hope that the game is brought into the 21st Century before more time and opportunities pass by.






For their stirling work in raising the prominence of this issue, i'd recommend the Twitter pages of both @OllieHoltMirror and @MirrorDarren.

Better Out Than In?

No matter who you support - the start of the 2011/12 Barclays Premier League season has been eventful. From Wolves' superb starting form, to the sheer excitement of watching a new-look Liverpool side play the game with a verve and style they have lacked for many years, the fledgling campaign seems to have something for most fans to get excited about. Even new boys Swansea and Norwich City, while both only on two points, have shown an early adaption that suggests good things to come - especially from one of the more impressive signings of the summer, Swan's keeper Michel Vorm.

Yes, it seems that the early signs show at least some hope to cling on to. That is unless you're an Arsenal fan. Like the Gunners' great 'Invincibles' side that won so many plaudits, Arsenal's beginning has seen them break records. Unfortunately for Wenger's side, and in a depressing contrast to that wonderful campaign, these records include the worst start to a campaign in decades, the first time the Reds have failed to score in either of their opening games in over ten years and, after Sunday's bewildering defeat to Manchester United, the worst result the club has suffered in 115 years. Most of the early season talk, aside from those waxing lyrical over Manchesters United and City, has been about the extraordinary plight of Arsenal, in a campaign which has seen the club lose two of their greatest players, end 3 consecutive matches with ten men and ship ten goals in two games. I feel, after the sheer amount of analysing and re-analysing our beginning to the season to anyone who'll listen, the time has come to get all my thoughts down in one place. At least this way, like a love-struck sufferer of a horrendously failing relationship, I might feel a little bit less empty.

For a start, things could be worse. Yes, shocking but true. Ultimately, although we have had a terrible start we have had some things go our way. Most importantly, after an impressive performance in Udine, Arsenal qualified for the Champions League group stage. If Arsenal had lost in Italy as well, then who knows how much pressure Wenger would be under now. The performance was enough to give some hope, despite the fact that the fleeting satisfaction was destroyed so mercilessly by United on Sunday. It was a performance of real quality - Song, Gervinho and Frimpong all impressive. Walcott took his chance well. Rosicky came from the bench to find some dedication and passion from somewhere. All this, and I haven't even mentioned that penalty save by the impressive Szczesny.


Then came Sunday. Bloody sunday. There are almost too many issues to mention, but like everyone who witnessed what occured i'll have an attempt. As Sir Alex Ferguson's youthful United side (it has been widely pointed out that the average age of the United starting XI was younger than Arsenal's) ran rings around Wenger's, Arsenal fans were subjected to a display to demonstrate the gaping chasm between the two teams in the most brutal fashion. Put simply, there is no comparison between the two, who for years have provided tense, tight football matches that have gone down as some of the best in the Premier League's two decades. The gap between Manchester United and Arsenal is bigger now, I would argue, than it has ever been under Arsene Wenger; the strength in depth of United is completely polar opposite to the skeletal Gunners, who barely had enough players to field a full team on Sunday let alone one to compete with the Champions. Most importantly, the quality of the full-strength first teams perfectly illustrates the difference between the two. The vast majority of Manchester United's first eleven would walk in to Arsenal's side, while I believe you could count on one hand the Arsenal players who could do the opposite.

With such a thread-bare squad, it is baffling that Arsenal approached Sunday's game with the same system they always do. It has long been said that we are only capable of playing one way, and Sunday was one of the best illustrations of the accuracy of that statement. Frankly, for Wenger to send out his team set up as it was, there was only ever going to be one result. The approach was completely ridiculous, and led to the lowest-quality Arsenal performance I have ever witness in my 14 years as a fan - the midfield trio of Rosicky, Ramsey and Coquelin offering nothing at all; not enough attacking flair to get anything close to penetration, and massively short of the kind of defensive capabilities a side needs to avoid such an embarrassing defeat against United. Andrei Arshavin is famously reluctant to get back and help his full back - a reputation he more than justified with a poor display. Theo Walcott must have felt like he was pushing treacle up a hill, and while he received some assistance from the hard-working Jenkinson, the winger was never able to produce anything more than a sub-standard display. Once again away from home, Van Persie was scarily isolated and consequently unable to do much else than make ill-fated runs in an attempt to create something, anything.

With his poor tactical preparation a given, one of the most frustrating aspects of the performance against United for Arsene Wenger must be the performance given by his more experienced players. Djourou's defending for the vital first goal was ludicrous, Rosicky gave the ball away time and time again in vital areas, while Van Persie's crucial penalty miss is, although perhaps unlucky, a poor error. Between them, these three have accumulated enough experience, international caps and Premier League minutes to do better. Given the pressures of the atmosphere and the context of the game, it is more understandable to see such errors from Jenkinson, Coquelin or the inexperienced Traore. To see them from the elder heads is incredibly frustrating.

Unsurprisingly for such a landmark defeat, there were questions after the game over Wenger's future as Arsenal manager. The question was quickly dismissed by the Frenchman, although the pertinence remains. Personally, I believe it would be a mistake for Wenger to leave now. While I don't think he'll ever be sacked, it would be a shame to see the club's greatest ever manager resign after the poor beginning his side has suffered. While he has been found wanting tactically, and obvious questions remain over his transfer dealings, I doubt there is any other coach who would do better in the current climate. I don't however, want to miss the opportunity to air my main criticisms of a manager who I have always defended vehemently, so often reminding others that 'Arsene knows'. While i've not quite lost my faith, i'll try and establish the niggling doubts that have crept in over the beginning of the season.

My main frustration, like most Arsenal fans', is the apparent ineptitude in the transfer market. In a simple comparison of the players the club has seen depart to those that have come in, the results are quite worrying for the future of the club this campaign. While, of course, Fabregas and Nasri have both left without adequate replacement, we have also lost Clichy, Eboue and Denilson, while Bendtner and Almunia have been apparently imminent departures since July. While Jenkinson has been recruited, I fully believe that Wenger's intention was not to play him straight away. Since Eboue's departure and Gibbs' persistent injury, however, he has started all four games so far. While Denilson was by no means my favourite player during his time at the Emirates, how we miss even a player of his stature now. When the manager is including players such as Lansbury, Coquelin, Ozyakup and Miquel, there is clearly room for an experienced first team player such as Denilson or Eboue in the squad.

Wenger's recruitment has been poor this season, there can be little argument. While the professor has repeated his mantra 'quality over quantity', while reiterating that he is 'not scared' to spend money, Chelsea have signed Juan Manuel Mata, Liverpool Jose Enrique, Manchester United Ashley Young. All of those players would have been easily affordable for us, and indisputably would have added something to the squad. Why, then, is there not even an attempt from the club to land such talent? Another case in point is battling midfielder Scott Parker, who is apparently Tottenham-bound for the measley sum of around £7m. Why has Wenger not got involved?  The biggest mistake the club has made in terms of transfers must be how long they have taken to do anything. Now, with two days left to secure the three players that Wenger has only just revealed he is desperate to capture, the only thing Arsenal have achieved is to push up the price of every player they bid for. Why would Bolton chairman Phil Gartside do anything but ask for £5m more than he would have done a month ago should Arsenal bid for his prized centre-half Gary Cahill, at least? It is unfortunately symptomatic of the naivety that has hindered Arsenal's progress for a few years.


The worst it is going to get for Arsenal FC is a 6th or 7th placed finish, with the latter being nearly unthinkable. In order to sustain our wonderful record of consistent Champions League football, change must come to the Emirates. Not a change of manager, but a change of attitude, policy and awareness. The time has come not for Wenger to step down, but to wake up and face the reality of what his beloved club is becoming. The manager must realise that, especially in terms of transfers, the one thing worse than rushing in to change system, or recruit players, would be inaction. If something isn't done, then it will certainly be a long, long season.

Thanks To A Departing Hero.

On Monday afternoon, a contract was signed that brought to an end one of the most protracted and extraordinary transfer sagas of all time. With the announcement that Francesc Fabregas had joined FC Barcelona, signing a 6-year contract, it signals the end of an era that Arsenal fans new was approaching for a long time. For the second time in 5 years, Gunners fans can only sit and reminisce as we watch our captain ride off into the Catalan sunset. This article isn't a criticism of Fabregas, or indeed his new club, like many have been spewing as the transfer has neared confirmation. No, in fact this is merely a thank you to a young player who has been amongst the best I have witnessed in my lifetime.

On the 28th March 2006, I clearly remember sitting down in my armchair to watch Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final against Juventus at Highbury. Before the game, much of the press speculation was centred around the return of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira for the first time since his exit the previous summer. The former skipper had, of course, been an incredible talent during his time in North London, setting the stadium alight with his passion and skill. It was slightly unnerving, therefore, to see a young, relatively inexperienced central midfielder selected to face him. That young player was Arsenal's number 15 - Cesc Fabregas.

Of course, in spite of his age Fabregas had already gathered notable first team experience. He had already become Arsenal's youngest ever goalscorer after netting against Wolves. He had already scored a league goal against Blackburn, making him the Gunner's youngest ever league scorer, too. He'd started in the Community Shield final, as well as Vieira's last ever game - the F.A Cup final. In spite of this experience, few could predict what was going to happen that night in March.

To put it simply, Fabregas' performance was one of the single finest I had ever seen from an Arsenal player. In my memories of watching football, certain individual performances stand out as particularly excellent - David Beckham against Greece in that World Cup qualifier. Andrey Arshavin's four-goal haul against Liverpool, Steven Gerrard in Istanbul. Fabregas' showing against Juve was, in my opinion, as impressive as any of these. This is predominantly because it was almost unexpected. As the young Spaniard weaved his way through his opponents one-by-one, he made his former team mate and captain look positively ropey. Fabregas' 40th minute goal was followed by a superb assist to tee up Thierry Henry, capping off a performance that left jaws gaping and hopes high that this young lad could become something really special.

Arsenal fans cannot be disappointed. Sure, this is a player who we have nurtured into what he is, and ultimately the pessimist will say it is another who has not repaid our dedication. However, we should simply feel lucky to have been able to call Cesc our own, even if it was for a disappointingly short time. Some of the moments that man has given me, personally, are worth more than another season or two. The sheer joy as he fired in from 30 yards against AC Milan. The ecstasy as he curled a superb free kick against Aston Villa, to effectively keep Arsenal in the title race. His outstanding performance against his future club, scoring a penalty with a broken leg to level the game. These moments are what football is about, and I would personally like to offer my gratitude to this magician for giving me some of my favourites.

So, what now for Fabregas, and what lies ahead for his mentor Arsene Wenger. The fee for the transfer, reportedly £30m up front with £5m in bonuses and additional payments, seems frankly a steal, considering the extortionate amounts paid recently for Andy Carroll and Fernando Torres. It speaks volumes of the extent to which Arsenal's hands were tied. They knew their captain wanted out. They knew he would eventually leave, and that if he stayed his influence would become disruptive and negative. The deal had to be done this summer, and this offer was the best it was ever going to get. Fabregas has already been given the number four shirt by the Catalan giants, and though many Arsenal fans have maintained that the precocious midfielder is more than likely to sit on the bench at the Nou Camp, i'm sure the minutes he gets on the pitch will be increasingly regular, and more enjoyable than those spent in England for the player himself.

For Arsenal, the remaining days and hours until August 31st form perhaps the most crucial two-week period since Arsene Wenger took over at the club. With the departure of Samir Nasri also apparently imminent, the need to get new players in quickly is obvious to all at the club. While the deals completed so far, for Lille's Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton, Carl Jenkinson from Charlton and an apparent deal for young striker Joel Campbell emphasise Wenger's willingness to spend, they leave a lot to be desired. While Gunners fans see Liverpool, Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea spending money for experienced players and established talent, they become increasingly frustrated as more youngsters arrive at the Emirates. Now, surely, seems the time for Wenger to bite the bullet. He simply must spend some money on new, established talent.


Fabregas has gone. Nasri seems more than likely to leave, also. As painful as it may be, we must move on and forget about these two. This season seems to be the campaign for Arsenal to have a fresh start, and I can only hope that Wenger allows one to come about by opening his chequebook. Until then, let me go and YouTube some more highlights of an incredible talent we were able to enjoy for a while.

'The Cost of Football' - or The Beautiful Game's Ugly Truth

For years now, one of the favourite pastimes of the average football fan has been to compare the modern game to that of days gone by. While pub-talk conversations about the speed of the game, the quality of the pitches, stadiums, players themselves and even haircuts inspire great debate over whether the contemporary state of the sport is preferable to decades ago, one area around which there is little debate is the cost of football. Now, thanks to a startling in-depth survey by BBC Sport, football fans across the country are finally able to provide tangible proof for what we've all known for ages: the game is more expensive now than ever. 

The essential basis of the survey is as follows: every club in all division across England and Scotland have told the good ol' BBC a number of statistics about the cost of various aspects of watching their team at home. The survey itself is a quite brilliant idea, and one imagines that only the BBC would be able to pull it off in a climate where it is safe to assume a fair few clubs were reluctant to air their dirty laundry. The figures provided are the price of the cheapest ticket available at any point in the season, the most expensive ticket available, the average price of a pie or other food item in the stadium, the price of a matchday programme and the price of a cup of tea. The results are very interesting, and provide statistics that are eagerly and helpfully dissected on the BBC website. 

While the recession angle that The Sun or The Daily Mail spin on the results of the survey may seem a little bit cliché, it does not mean that it isn't completely true. At a time when so many people struggle for money and household spending power continues to be severely restricted, it is quite shocking to see the amounts that football fans are forced to pay on a weekly basis. The refreshing aspect of the BBC's analysis is that the total values and the subsequent 'league tables' are based on the cheapest possible day spent at each stadium, rather than the sensational values the tabloids bandy around with such relish. 

As an Arsenal fan, such 'sensational values' are unfortunately an unavoidable bi-weekly way of life. The prices at the Emirates Stadium somewhat unsurprisingly top the league tables, and provide the papers with yet more proof of how Gunners fans are ripped off. The most expensive ticket at Arsenal, for a prime-location seat at a so called 'Category A' game (e.g Man United, Chelsea or Spurs), is an incredible £100. This is, of course, the value that is thrown around in newspapers to show how expensive the game has gotten. Obviously, however, this is not reflective of an average game, nor is the figure a million miles away from the £87 at Chelsea or £80 a Tottenham. Regrettably, Arsenal is also the most expensive ground in England to purchase a pie, which will set you back an eye-watering £4. 

Arsenal is not, however, the most expensive 'day out' in the Premier League. Arsenal's cheapest ticket costs £35, the same as the cheapest available at Premier League new boys Swansea City and QPR. There is one more expensive ticket available, though, which pushes the club in question to the summit of the 'Hall of Shame', a fact that bewilderingly the papers have by and large ignored in the hysteria of that hundred-pound-monstrosity in North London. The club is Liverpool, and the cheapest ticket that can be purchased at any time in the season, even a midweek game at home to Wigan Athletic, is £39. £39!  The cheapest 'day out' at Anfield, admittedly probably not the amount it would cost a regular visitor to the ground who will rarely buy all three items, is £46.95. 

The discrepency between the most expensive and the cheapest clubs in the Premier League is startling. Liverpool's total is balanced by an entirely affordable £17.50 at Blackburn, a total brought about because of an incredibly cheap £10 ticket. This places Rovers in a unique group of clubs who offer tickets for a tenner. I feel these deserve special mention in the modern game. So here they are: Blackburn, Watford, Rochdale, Preston North End, MK Dons, Rotherham, Torquay United and  Plymouth Argyle.

I, like many others, feel a mix of strange emotions when I see these figures. Of course, it's fun to pick apart the different values and scoff at some of the numbers involved. However, it is important to remember that these astronomical figures represent genuine problems. Genuine sacrifices. I don't just mean that people sacrifice going to football matches, because football lovers will always find a way to return to their spiritual homes every Saturday. I mean that often people face choices between forking out for that ticket to see the derby match, or buying a new pair of shoes that they need. Buying a present for a loved one. Football fans should not be punished by their clubs. After all, without these faithful fans the clubs wouldn't even exist. They wouldn't have anyone they could rip off. Football clubs should remember who are the most important people in the game, and restore some sanity amongst the soaring prices and the gold-leaf, diamond encrusted pies.  

Arsenal's summer of discontent.

Over a brief hiatus from writing and updating this blog, i've taken time to relax and enjoy myself. As I see newspapers filled with pictures from the latest Premier League star's holiday, hair transplant, affair or transfer rumour, i've reflected on the summers of the past. While the sweltering summer sun beats down over the UK, tennis lovers greedily consume their Pimms, cricket fans keep tabs on England's inconsistent form, while football fans experience one of the oddest periods of all. The summer is a relentless carousel for a football fan, spinning wildly and leaving many feeling worse-for-wear. While ridiculous transfer speculation swirls mindlessly across the back pages, there of course isn't even any real football to sugar the pill. No, just months...and months...of waiting.

Not just waiting for the new season to begin. The cruel practice of releasing the fixtures for the upcoming campaign months in advance aside, all us lovers of the beautiful game have to focus on is the speculation that surrounds our teams. This period is arguably worst for one club in particular, especially out of the biggest clubs England, and this is the club that I, as a foolish 6 year-old, decided to spend the rest of my life following. Summer is never a good time for an Arsenal fan. As season after season stutter to increasingly frustrating climaxes, the summer months feel like trying to cross a desert with a tablespoon of water. Arsenal fans are powerless to do anything but sit and wait for the latest attempt on their most prized assets - be it Henry's consistent near-exits from 2005 onwards, perpetual rumours over beloved captain Patrick Vieira, or the never-ending pursuit of Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona. As much as you try and keep your hand steady, the beating sun means that eventually, the water will be spilled. 

Henry left for Barcelona. Vieira to Juventus. Fabregas will undoubtedly leave for his Catalan home, if not this summer then next. I'm not suggesting that this process is unique to Arsenal fans. Of course, fans of every Championship and lower Premier League team with a star player will more often than not be resigned to his exit. Sunderland completed the signing of promising Ipswich striker Connor Wickham this week, Reading have conceded that it is unlikely they would be able to hold on to free-scoring striker Shane Long, while players such as Peter Odemwingie, Scott Parker and Gary Cahill will all almost certainly be poached by a bigger club over the break. However, the frustrating this for Arsenal fans is that the club is in a position where it should not be powerless to stop this. Fabregas, Henry and Vieira - each individually at one time or another arguably the most influential player in their team, should not just be destined to leave. This arguably naive view, especially in Fabregas' case where there are so many other influences at play, would not be as painful if there was some sense that these players would be adequately replaced. However, even at a time when everyone at the club, from Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis to Wenger himself, are promising multiple transfers, I can't help but worry that August will roll around with at most one or two new arrivals. 

If Fabregas leaves, then it is perhaps inevitable end point of a lengthy process. Barcelona, much like a bigger, stronger man who your wife has cheated on you with, will swoop in and take your beloved off into the sunset. They're better than us, they're richer than us, and he wants to play for them more than us. Which is more, what with the rise of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, the acquisition of just one experienced central midfielder would adequately fill this void. However, if impressive midfielder Samir Nasri and longest-serving player and quasi-sole left-back (in my opinion Kieran Gibbs is way more than one season away from first-team quality) Gael Clichy also leave then the task becomes daunting. Three top class players would now be needed, and this is before we even begin to address the obvious deficiencies that already exist in Arsenal's squad. Every fan has his own opinion, his own priority. A goalkeeper, a leading central defender from the Adams mould, a bossy midfielder or a clinical 25-goal a year man. All arguably as important as each other, however if all three players leave and need to be replaced, this leaves Arsenal with seven signings to make - something that just won't happen under Wenger. 

Not only are there problems on the pitch. Former Director Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith has aired the board's dirty laundry all over Twitter; first claiming that David Dein is the root cause of all of Arsenal's current problems, then backtracking and praising him as the catalyst for all of the club's success. Then, earlier this week, she quite astonishingly claimed that every member of Arsenal's current board should be sacked, including Stan Kroenke - the multi-billionaire who she sold her shares to. Such turmoil upstairs can only be unsettling for Wenger and the players at a very volatile and fragile time for Arsenal Football Club. Mistakes have undoubtedly been made. The long-term sponsorship deal with Emirates for shirt and stadium naming rights has proved a costly error - the contract has bound Arsenal for an exceedingly lengthy period to a contract which now seems like a steal. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham and Aston Villa now have more lucrative shirt sponsorship contracts than Arsenal do, a situation which is quite ridiculous for a club of Arsenal's stature. The comparative lack of revenue will mean that Arsenal's stadium debt will linger on for longer than it ever needed to, while at present it restricts Wenger's spending power to just a fraction of those available to Ferguson, Mancini et al. 

There are transfer rumours. Arsenal fans will also be aware that there are always rumours. The players that i've seen us linked to include Juan Mata, Christopher Samba, Gary Cahill, Gervinho, Roman Lukaku, as well as all manner of sixteen year-olds. However, while the rumours persist at Arsenal, other clubs are actually signing players. Man Utd have completed the signing of impressive young goalkeeper David De Gea, a player that one can only assume would have worked wonders at the Emirates, as well as Ashley Young and Phil Jones. Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City will all undoubtedly sign several players before the new season, while a haul of three would delight most Arsenal fans used to the Professor's economic discipline and stringent transfer policy. 

This is the most important few months in Arsenal's recent history, and will, without exaggeration, undoubtedly determine the direction of the club for the next five or ten years. If the captain, the longest serving player and one of the most talented players all leave and aren't replaced, Arsenal will only go backwards. If, however, one of the three stays, the other two are replaced and one or two others arrive, Arsenal may be able to use results on the pitch to turn around the waining fortunes of other aspects of the club. As an Arsenal fan, I can only hope that August comes quickly. 

Surprise!

Wow. What an incredible end to the season. It seems that so much has happened since my last posting last Tuesday. Some weeks in sport are quiet, most pass without huge incident. Some, like this week however, one leaves with the feeling that people have gone out of their way to create stories. In football, there have been fewer periods that have been more densely packed with big news than this week. The Premier League season culminated with a record 19th title for Manchester United, relegating a truly valiant Blackpool side in the process. Wigan and Wolves escaped from the 'terrifying' jaws of the Championship, which itself amazed with a quality performance by Reading during a 3-0 thrashing of Cardiff City on Tuesday evening.

Sir Alex Ferguson has had a mixed bag, after discovering not only that his future in fortune-telling may not be too successful but that  one of his players (I forget who?) had been less than discrete in his dealings with a tabloid beauty. Just when the week seemed to be rolling to an insignificant close, the mere matter of the Champion's League final to be decided, perhaps the two most baffling events occurred, firstly with Fergie deciding to play the role of 'Demon Headmaster', promising to "get" a journalist who posed an awkward question by banning him from the pre-final Press Conference on Friday, and finally in perhaps the most overdue sequence of events since Robbie Savage retired, everyone's favourite naughty uncle - Jack Warner - and FIFA Presidential candidate Mohammed Bin Hammam are to face an ethics enquiry after allegations of bribery at Football's governing body.

Sadly, at a time when so much has happened that showcases the incredible nature of football, emphasising why we love it so dearly (I defy a football fan to watch the celebrations at White Hart Lane, after Craig Gardner spanked in a 25-yarder that he thought would keep his club up, and not be moved), so much has also happened that has left a decidedly bitter taste. The saddest fact of all, however, is how thoroughly unsurprising I find any of the developments over the last 7 days. In fact, these occurrences sum up the unsavoury underbelly of modern football and leave me wondering where it all went wrong.

Firstly,  it seems appropriate to tackle the issue of manager Carlo Ancelotti's rather ridiculous sacking from his job at Chelsea, after a loss to Everton that saw his team stumble into second place behind a far more consistent United side. Reports claim that Ancelotti was sacked just one hour after the game finished, leading some to speculate that the sacking may have even taken place on the team coach. This frankly ludicrous scenario, which I would dismiss as tabloid drivel if it were any other club, would seem oddly plausible on the King's Road, where it appears any semblance of class, continuity or sanity was discarded upon the arrival of Roman Abramovich's millions. To sack a man who won the double in his first season in charge of the club, the first such achievement of Chelsea's history, as well as persevered with a dignity and class Abramovich could only dream of after the passing of his father in November, emphasises the moral redundancy at Stamford Bridge to the point where passing a note forward from the back of the coach to confirm the manager's departure doesn't seem completely implausible after all.

Chelsea were not at their best in this campaign. At times they stuttered and produced poor results and performances. The signing of Fernando Torres for £50million in January, a move which has subsequently seen the Spaniard play with all the confidence of a bookish virgin in a nightclub, probably didn't help Ancelotti's cause. It speaks volumes, however, that the Italian manage under Silvio Berlusconi, the kind of perilous position normally only reserved for 17-year-old prostitutes, at A.C Milan for nine years, while only surviving at Chelsea for 20 months. Abramovic's standards are seemingly unattainable, and until Chelsea can find a manager who delivers League and Champion's League victories every season, Blues fans may have to wait in frustration for the Russian to change his ways.

Upon hearing the news that Jack Warner and three of his FIFA colleagues were going to be investigated for bribery claims, I, like many, was shocked to the core. That such horrifying corruption could occur at a morally guided, wholly transparent organisation like FIFA leaves me questioning everything. What if Ryan Giggs really did do all of those bad things? What if Barcelona's players are actually, for all of their skill, a team of exaggerating, egotistical maniacs who wouldn't frown at a spot of racist abuse? At one dark moment, I even began questioning the legitimacy of Cristiano Ronaldo's tan. Of course, for the vast majority of right-thinking football fans, such accusations at FIFA are no surprise at all. Accusations have existed for long before the wonderfully titled 'ethics committee' decided to spit out their caviar and do something about it. The level of cynicism in the football community is heartwarming, but ultimately frustrating. Most fans recognise the incredibly fortunate timing - that a groundbreaking bribery case be brought against the sole competitor to Sepp Blatter in FIFA's Presidential election in the build-up to FIFA's Presidential election is nothing short of miraculous! Blatter's sudden adoption of more ethical, honest motives is heartening to see, however in spite of the humour we can all derive from the situation whilst at the pub, the whole thing leaves me incredibly frustrated. 

Why can't England split away from FIFA? Why, when clubs across the world are calling for goal-line technology and more accountability at governance level, must we persist with this self-serving, self-aggrandising organisation whose soul purpose seems to be its own publicity. What would happen if the English, Spanish, Italian, French and German Football Associations decided enough is enough, and split away? The game wouldn't crumble, no, in fact within time I am certain a fairer, more logical system would come in to existence, be it from a newly-founded organisation created by additional members of this new footballing frontier, or by a worried FIFA changing its ways to convince these great nations to renew their membership. Either way, something needs to be done before 'the beautiful game' becomes even uglier.

The tabloid furore that has been created by Manchester United this season again should come as no surprise to any football fans. Firstly, lest we forget, Wayne Rooney was outed at the very beginning of the season as a 'love-rat' for his penchant for prostitutes and the British media's love/hate relationship with the 'Super-Injunction' began. Then, with Rooney's baffling U-turn from want away, selfish child to terrace-hero-super-dad, endless tweets about the latest funny thing his vacuous wife Coleen or baby Kai have done creating more nausea than a picture of his celebratory shaven chest, we saw Ferguson's miraculous ability to sweep problems under the carpet. One filthy mess he hasn't had a big enough broom for, however, is the Ryan Giggs saga: tabloid gold created the moment one of Fergie's 'golden boys' recognised Imogen Thomas in a nightclub. What's next? Paul Scholes taking a hostage? Gary Neville setting fire to a post-box? The mind boggles. 

Giggs' irresponsible, selfish actions have completely destroyed a persona created by 20 years of consistently great performances and success, carefully nurtured no doubt by the media team at Manchester United. Ferguson's most recent bout of lunacy came on Tuesday, when he became infuriated with a question posed by AP journalist Rob Harris about the importance of Giggs to United's Champion's League final hopes, betrays the planned uniform reaction by Manchester United: nothing happened. Realistically in these situations, there is nothing that a club can do. If they come out to criticise the player, they annoy him. They come out to support him, they annoy literally everyone else, so what option is there but to say nothing? Alternatively, you could do what Fergie did and respond as if Harris has just pushed you over in the playground by not inviting him to your birthday party. The most embarrassing aspect of all isn't that the whole conversation was picked up by the mountain of microphones in front of the Scot, or that helpful subtitles have been positioned onto every subsequent video, but that Ferguson lacks the adequate authority to ban anyone from the press conference on Friday, and so Harris will most probably be sat smugly with his laptop and his hand raised, ready to ask his next pointed question.

Sadly, sometimes things in life disappoint you. This much is obvious. These disappointments are made more obvious when they come from a source which is normally so pleasurable and reliable. The crazy week we have just experienced presented football at its best and worst, every moment of skill and shock mirrored by another accusation or baffling row. Football rolls on to another week, while we, the fans, trail behind still getting our heads together. 

For more information about the inherent corruption of FIFA, i'd highly recommend 'FOUL - The Secret World Of FIFA' by Andrew Jennings. 

Football - A lesson in managing expectations?

In sport, there are few examples of cases where so much disproportionate expectation is placed upon the shoulders of athletes than professional football. Sure, growing up I can remember the inevitable surge of expectation that Tim Henman was going to finally win Wimbledon this year, and the exploits of any national team are always closely scrutinised and often criticised for underachievement. The difference here, however, being that generally the expectation of the England cricket team, for example, will play good, attractive cricket and show heart against the Australians during the Ashes, not that they will win every series 5-0. 

Football is slightly different. Of course, there are many examples of clubs who's supporters are more realistic about their situation. One thinks of Stoke City, for example, as I find it hard to believe that any Stoke fan will go in to next season expecting to finish it by seeing Ryan Shawcross lifting the Europa League title. No, instead the superb support they showed in both their solid win against Arsenal (chants of 'Swing low, sweet chariot' being amongst my favourite examples of the tremendous wit of football fans) and during the FA Cup final on Saturday emphasise the grounded nature of Potters fans. They were aware that their team were exceeding expectations by achieving what they have this season, and so Stoke's exploits have been met with appropriate jubilation.

Then there is the other side of the coin. To a certain degree, I count myself in this group because, as an Arsenal fan, the growing frustration at our inability to achieve anything has rendered me furious at several points this season. The Arsenal situation is slightly different, however, because manager Arséne Wenger continues to build the hopes of the supporters every year, claiming that this will be the time his team win something, and so the perpetual under-achievement and inevitable February collapse is arguably a more legitimate source of frustration. Calls to 'get Wenger out', however, highlight the point perfectly that football fan's expectations are often ridiculously high and sometimes unattainable. Arsenal fans need to realise that with the current squad, taking into account the squads of other teams, to expect Arsenal to have won the league is unreasonable. Sometimes, expectations should be more carefully considered. 

Take West Ham United, for example. The vast majority of West Ham fans don't show a great deal of shock at their team's current downfall, in spite of owners Gold and Sullivan's frankly outrageous claims when they arrived that West Ham would be in the Champion's League within ten years. No, instead the fans recognise that with the mismanagement and poor decisions that have been made at the club, relegation was always an unsavoury possibility. This attitude contrasts completely with the delirium that has befallen many fans at another London club, Tottenham Hotspurs, after their team qualified for the Champion's League last year. 

Spurs fans suddenly seem to expect that finishing at least fourth every year is now the baseline, completely disregarding the monumental achievement by the players and manager Harry Redknapp that doing so last season was. For certain fans to boo their team after games this season because they haven't won, or winger Gareth Bale (another prime example of a player who may suffer from the weight of expectation for the rest of his career) is frankly pathetic, and mirrors the actions of a small number of Arsenal fans calling for Wenger's exit. Unfortunately, fans of top clubs are so spoilt that they begin to forget that there is a footballing world outside the top-5 of the Premier League. 

I sincerely hope that the owners of football clubs persevere with courses of action that serve their clubs well in the long term, rather than bowing down to short-term pressures and rocketing fan expectations, as many have done in the past. Some clubs have it right, that's for sure; there has not even been a whisper from Blackpool of the possibility of Ian Holloway losing his job, because the chairman and fans alike have reasonable expectations. Some, meanwhile, have it all wrong, and one can think of many examples of poor decisions made in such climates: Sam Allardyce at Blackburn, Houghton at Newcastle and a plethora of others. Who will be the next manager to fall on the sword of high expectation? While Avram Grant's departure from West Ham is most probably well-deserved, few would be surprised to see Ancelotti leave Chelsea after (shock horror!) not winning the league, or indeed witness Neil Warnock pack his bags by Christmas and leave QPR because his team aren't in the top half. 

Football is undoubtedly big business, and the pressure on managers and players in this environment is vast. I, like many football fans however, would like to see some of the sanity return to the beautiful game. 

Drawing inspiration from a true great.

When one considers the people that, in their lifetime, affect them the most profoundly, a number of different individuals will come up. Family members, friends, partners, as well as a huge number of other sources of inspiration. These could be historical figures or people in the public eye, and many of us are at one time or another inspired by the determination, skill and character of a sportsman or woman. For many in this situation, Severiano Ballesteros will be on that list.

Quite simply, Ballesteros was an all-round inspiration. Without veering into sycophancy, Seve changed the sport of Golf forever, transforming the image and popularity of the game across the globe. With the sad news of his untimely death on Saturday, his native Spain lost perhaps the greatest sportsman it has ever produced, golf mourned the passing of one of its greatest exponents while his achievements were commended at home and abroad. Ballesteros was, to put it simply, an inspiration.

Few will ever pick up a golf club with the same impact as Seve. Self-taught, Ballesteros went on to win five majors in a career that also saw him become one of the all-time greatest Ryder Cup players and a winning captain, as well as world number one. Some of the shots Seve Ballesteros played in his time were absolutely sublime. Highlight reels, which have been quite rightly abundant over the weekend, emphasise to golf fans young and old the skill and technical prowess of this incredible character. Ballesteros' charm and charisma saw him single-handedly re-invent the public image of the sport, something that still resonates today with the increased popularity of golf with the younger generations. For people like my father, an avid golf fan and long-time appreciator of Seve Ballesteros, the emotion with which he recounts tales of the Spaniard's career, and the sadness that his early passing provoked speaks more profoundly than anything, mirrored by the overwhelming number of tributes to Ballesteros from fellow professionals and fans.

Severiano Ballesteros was, and is, an inspirational character; not only for his sparkling career but for the dignity, determination and bravery with which he fought the unspeakable hardships he faced in his latter years. A more genuine, inspiring sportsman you will struggle to find, and I am gladdened that the tremendous professional and personal achievements of this wonderful human being will live on through the adoration of his friends, family and fans. Rest in peace, Seve.

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In an understandably deflated atmosphere in the sporting world, this weekend's Premier League program has been a welcome source of entertainment. Drama at both ends of the table, with West Ham fans beginning to realise the impending doom of their situation, Blackpool, Wolves and Wigan fighting to avoid the two remaining relegation-places, while at the top a successful weekend in Manchester has seen City move to within touching distance of a coveted fourth place, while United have all but wrapped up their record 19th Premier League title.

It was while watching Manchester United's impressive 2-1 win over rivals Chelsea that Ballesteros kept popping in to my head. On a weekend where the achievements of one sporting great have been reiterated and celebrated all over again, the escapades of another two have proved the source of inspiration for me personally, as Ryan Giggs and Sir Alex Ferguson moved to within a point of what will be the 33rd trophy they have won together. Even with the constant exposure we receive regarding United's achievements, some statistics still leave one baffled.

Giggs was imperious against Chelsea, time and time again dispossessing players who are, quite literally, ten years younger than him. He out-ran everyone on the pitch, including the impressive Park Ji-Sung and Wayne Rooney, playing a perfectly waited pass to Park to set up United's first goal, and skinning Branislav Ivanovic before dinking a wonderful ball across the box to provide the second. Giggs' display rolled back the clocks again, in the same way he has been doing consecutively for the last three or four seasons. His manager didn't even dispel the notion that Giggs will still be playing in 2013.

Then there's Ferguson himself, a man who, as a proud Arsenal fan I have had my moments with, but whose unending passion for the game is nothing short of miraculous. Sir Alex still loves big matches such as these as much as he did when he arrived in Manchester in 1986, promising to "knock Liverpool off their perch". Well, 25 years later his team, the physical embodiment of an empire that encompasses so much more than the thirty-or-so players that make up the Manchester United squad, have inched one step closer to the realisation of that dream. With one more point from two games, against strugglers Blackburn and Blackpool, Ferguson's aim will have been achieved, and the jubilant nature of the Scot's celebrations after the final whistle against Chelsea emphasise the boyish enthusiasm the legendary manager still has for the game. His tactical decisions this season have been better than ever, his eye for talent (as proved by the wonderful acquisition of Hernandez) is unblinking and his hunger for success in insatiable.

At a time when we are all blindsided by the intrinsic unfairness of life, and in a sporting sense shocked by the tragic manner in which the life and career of a legendary athlete can be cut short, to see Giggs, and to a greater extent Ferguson, enjoying their careers as much now as twenty years ago is a true source of inspiration for us all. When the family of Severiano Ballesteros is mourning the loss of a true great, it is heartening to see that there are still people left that appreciate the vast fortune of their situations.

The death of the 'character' - has modern football become boring?

We all know what an incredibly big-business modern football has become. Money dominates in a world where the World Cup, the holy-grail of all football competitions, may be moved to the Winter in 2022 as multi-billionaire Qataris struggle to find a way for the world's pampered elite players to strut their stuff in such a searing climate. Certain players in the top leagues across the globe, and increasingly in lower divisions, personify everything that supporters dislike about the modern footballer: he's a money-grabbing, Porsche-driving, sniveling 20-year-old with no acknowledgement of the sheer privilege of his position. Players, however, are not  the only aspect of the modern game that emphasises the capital-driven nature of the sport.

No, the biggest clubs are now almost unanimously referred to as 'franchises'. To the owners of these clubs, the 'Galactico' spirit, where the Korean shirt-sales figures matter as much as the fact of whether this big money signing is worthy of being paid £150,000 a week. Clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are coming under increasing pressure due to the sheer global magnitude of their peers to increase their influence across the globe. Arséne Wenger seems to have finally caved in the long-running debate he has had with the Arsenal board and marketing department over how beneficial it would be for Arsenal's players to embark on a Pre-season tour of the Far East, and Arsenal will most probably be doing so before the 2011/12 season.

If it were ths simple, and the abundance of money was the only problem affecting modern footballers, then fans could probably just about take it. However, I believe there is a more pressing problem with the modern game, this being that there is an absence of traditional 'characters' - those players who go out for five pints on a Friday night and score a screamer on the Saturday. Those great men - the George Bests, the Ian Wrights, the Paul Mersons, Gascoignes and Fowlers. Essentially, these men are flawed characters: two studs short of a boot room, perhaps personal demons or some latest shenanigan hitting the papers every week, but the fans adore them. They love the clubs they play for. In many cases, such players have grown up watching a certain team with the rest of the punters, they are one of the punters. One of the lads, living the dream.

I'm not accusing modern players of being boring, don't get me wrong, nor am I saying that there are no players left who embody this spirit - the guy you just can't stay mad at, be it because he's pulling another prank or conducting another legendary interview. One thinks of Jimmy Bullard, perhaps one of the foremost remaining members of this clan, but there are many more. Most teams still have a 'prankster', but generally there are fewer stories that emerge from clubs than there used to be, excluding the latest prostitution or gagging-order scandal. The reason for this declining phenomenon, in my opinion, lies very much with the structure of player recruitment across the world. A rather ridiculous story of a one-year-old baby being signed by professional club VVV Venlo highlights my point here perfectly. Although this is obviously an extreme case, when I read about Manchester United or Chelsea, Arsenal or Barcelona battling over the signature of a nine-year-old boy it makes me cringe. Children are being signed at increasingly young ages, and trained within clubs throughout their entire teenage life, many being educated solely with other trainees. When they emerge on the other side, they resemble cookie-cutter drones: bred for the strength of their legs and the quickness of their mind. Nowadays, many who don't quite fit the mould are discarded at ages when players before would have only been starting out.

In the modern game, this urgency of recruitment is unfortunately unavoidable. Teams must gamble on training younger and younger kids in the vain hope that one will turn into the next Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas or John Terry. Gone are the days when a player like Roy Keane can only sign for a professional club aged 19 and go on to captain club and country. No, the conveyor belt of talent rumbles on at football clubs across the world, with children as young as seven recruited after they show glimmers of potential. By the time these kids are ready for a starting place in a first team, they have been indoctrinated in club mechanisms for at least ten years, and I ask how healthy this is for football as an environment? Perhaps this system is marginally more effective for developing talent and sifting through young players, but for the game as a whole, i'm not so sure.

The landscape has changed drastically, some of the tales from tournaments even as (relatively) recently as Italia '90 and Euro '94, where squads of players with life experiences and real, working personalities genuinely enjoyed spending time with each other, put modern yarns to shame. Players pranking each other, legendary drinking sessions, sneaking out of hotel rooms and a plethora of other stories which fans can tell over and over again with unwavering enjoyment. In 2010, however, England's players were couped up like a gang of unruly schoolchildren or recalcitrant dogs whose owners are on holiday, about as wild as it got was when the players inexplicably lit up cigars after being spanked 4-1 by Germany. Honestly, how many players are there in the current England squad that you'd like to go for a pint with?

I'm not encouraging players to behave irresponsibly or in a way that brings negative attention to their clubs or national teams, but I am simply mourning the passing of an era where fans were actually able to relate to, and dare I say even like, footballers who lived their careers with the boyish enthusiasm of teenage supporters who still couldn't believe they were doing this for a living. I worry that the next generation of fans might merely be consigned to Twitter feeds of mega-stars discussing their latest Xbox exploits, while others of us are lucky enough to reminisce about the great stories of the past.


Perhaps one day this culture will develop again, and supporter's eagerness to watch more genuine, normal men playing the beautiful game will lead to a resurgence of the great 'character'. Until then, we will only have to wait and tell our great stories. Have you heard the one about...

"He's got some great stuff on YouTube"

Frustration. A word that keeps cropping up for me recently whenever I watch the beautiful game. As an Arsenal fan, I have got used to this time of year being painful. One long, drawn-out period of pain and disappointment, anti-climax mingling agonisingly with false hope to provide a cocktail that should be sold along with the others at the Emirates for £5, maybe called "Long Season Ice-Tea". Arsenal always seem to do the same thing. They will play fantastically from August until December. They will light up the league, no doubt drawing plaudits, making journalists and fans purr with compliments. Players will begin appearing in the press: "This is our year", "we are ready", "we are mature". This time next year, and Arsenal player will tell you, we'll be millionaires.

Alas, as another season draws to a close, and probably one of the most drastically under-performing championship-winning teams in recent history is crowned Premier League champions, Arsenal fans are sipping at that bitter cocktail again, the only thing sticking in our throats more is the perpetual ability of our team to throw away games. Against Tottenham, Arsenal squandered a lead for the 6th time this season in the Premier League alone. This is simply not championship winning form. Don't get me wrong, Arsenal weren't exactly their normal fantastic best during their traditional purple patch before Christmas. Home defeats against Spurs, Newcastle and West Brom left Arsenal fans worrying about what was to come down the line. They were right to.

Frustration isn't restricted to North London. No, every football fan across the globe has experienced disappointment at some stage, and many the frustration that some are unlucky to experience consistently during particularly poor spells. One of the things I find most frustrating, however, is a phenomenon I have noted throughout my life watching football. Namely, when a player is quite frankly criminally overrated. So, in the spirit of this frustration, I have decided to try and name an "Overrated XI", filled with the most over-hyped and under-performing players I can think of. This will be, I know, a particularly contentious post as many will no doubt have seen reams of highlights on EuroSport of one or more of the players I name, but this is simply an opportunity for me to name and shame the players I have found the most frustratingly underwhelming during my life as a supporter:

Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina: I have always found Reina to be very overrated indeed. Yes, there is no doubt he is a talented penalty-saver and at times he shows great reactions. He has also undoubtedly produced some great saves during his time at Liverpool, but for every one there is a criminal gaffe to match. One thinks of his gift against Arsenal this season, as well as against West Ham and in the Europa League against Steaua Bucharest. Quite frankly, how this keeper has a World Cup winner's medal is beyond me.

RB: Glen Johnson: To be frank, Glen Johnson's consistent selection as England's foremost right back has been one of the most disappointing aspects to the National team's recent history. To go from players such as Gary Neville, Lee Dixon and even Danny Mills, who was excellent at the 2002 World Cup, to Johnson is a drastic step in the wrong direction. Johnson can attack with a fair amount of flair, and has scored a few goals in his career, but his defending is seriously suspect as has been shown time and time again both at Anfield and in an England shirt.

CB: Joleon Lescott: Lescott rose to the forefront of media attention with an impressive goal haul in the 2007-08 season while still at Everton, scoring 8 Premier League goals from defence. In four subsequent seasons, he has scored 6, only two following his astonishing £23M transfer to Manchester City. He has only started 26 EPL games in two seasons, and hopes of an England call-up have faded with his form.

CB: Matthew Upson: England's third choice centre-back at the 2010 World Cup, Matthew Upson's career has been very hit and miss. Lacking pace, error-prone and weak in mentality, Upson is somehow viewed as an in-disposable feature in his club's defence. His selection at the World Cup was more out of necessity than merit, and his goal against Germany was marred by an underwhelming display which saw him torn apart by the fast German attack.

LB: Gabriel Heinze: Heinze has somehow managed to play for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Marseilles and win 71 International Caps. For a player as unashamedly under-handed and dirty as Heinze to have played for such great teams speaks more for the fantastic defenses which have surrounded him during his career, rather than any particular attributes he possesses.

RM: Franck Ribéry: As many people continue to wax lyrical about the speedy Frenchman, I continue to wait to see him play well in a game I am watching. A goal against Manchester United in the Champions League last season was about as I have ever seen him do, while the worst includes laboured displays in last summer's World Cup that saw him attacked from many quarters.

CM: Gareth Barry: Barry's continued success is completely baffling to me. The bedrock of England's midfield for so long, Barry offers very little indeed. Not the defensive industry of Scott Parker, nor the attacking ability and passing of Tom Huddlestone. Barry's goal scoring record at Aston Villa, where he excelled in the role of big fish in a small, adoring pond, was impressive, but since his £12M transfer to Man City he has netted just four times, before going on to captain England against Ghana.

CM: Daniele De Rossi: Mentioned in the same group as Sneijder, Totti and even Xavi, De Rossi has never justified the incredible hype surrounding him. A fairly industrious midfielder, he has managed 29 goals in 10 years at Roma, where he is treated as a god. Rumours of a £30M transfer to Manchester United consistently fill the back pages, a fee that beggar's belief when one considers the players Sir Alex Ferguson has bought for less.

LM: Stewart Downing: A more toothless winger I struggle to think of (runner-up may have to be Shaun Wright-Phillips, while Walcott narrowly misses yet another squad selection), but it is Downing's persistent attitude and air of self-satisfaction that infuriate me most. He considers himself an imposing winger with faultless delivery and dangerous crossing. In reality, a fairly sweet left foot and a powerful shot (when he manages to control where his shot goes) is about the extent of his talents.


ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Perhaps the ultimate YouTube player on this list, highlight reels of Zlatan's finest moments (mostly taunting opposing players with mazy runs while in Holland) outnumber the amount of goals he's scored in his career. An impressive goal haul at Inter Milan aside, his perpetual club-swapping belies the anti-climactic nature of his career. He arrives with a fanfair and leaves silently out of the back door, while his brace against Arsenal last season remains the only time I have ever actually seen him play well.

ST: Andy Carroll: A talented front man, a great header of the ball and a good lone forward he is, 8th most expensive player ever he shouldn't be. His transfer to Liverpool cost more than David Villa's to Barcelona, and no amount of battling performances and thundering left-footed goals will ever justify his £35M price tag. In the space of one year he has suddenly become the future of English football, and Kenny Dalglish was undoubtedly restricted by necessity and hype in Carroll's transfer, no matter how much he denies it.


So, there we have it. I welcome debate, as I know that many people will disagree with some of my selections and have their own. As far as i'm concerned, these are the 11 most overrated and frustrating players I have seen play the game. Others, such as Clichy, Eboué, Wright-Phillips, Heskey and Robinho would probably make the bench, as deciding between them is more difficult than it seems. Now, where did I find that video...?

Rory McIlroy - A graduate of the school of hard knocks?

Like many British sports fans, I watched an entertaining Masters from Augusta over the course of last weekend with a particularly intense mixture of emotions. As the hope and excitement whipped up by precocious young Northern-Irishman Rory McIlroy faded into disappointment and desolation on a terrible Sunday, one wondered if the youngster had wasted the best opportunity of his fledlging career. Going in to his final round with an impressive four shot lead at twelve under-par, McIlroy suffered a disastrous collapse on the back nine on Sunday to finish at four under for the tournament - a truly gut-wrenching capitulation for such a young golfer. However, the point of this piece is not to badger McIlroy for his collapse, nor to hash over ground that has been so mercilessly analysed in an attempt to discover what went wrong, but it is instead to praise Rory McIlroy for the incredible character he has shown, perhaps even more impressive than his first three rounds at Augusta this weekend.

McIlroy's beginning to Masters weekend was truly ideal. An opening round of 65 set the tone for what was to come over the next two days. Some of the golf played by the youngster was sensational, as his spirited display gradually drew more and more praise from the following throng. Throughout the weekend McIlroy reiterated the need to remain calm and grounded as other fellow brits stuttered all over the famous course, Westwood and Poulter particularly failed to find any consistency to drive themselves forward. The emphasis on 'just playing the game' from McIlroy's camp was impressive from the very beginning, when young Rory was spotted playing some American football outside of his hotel. He was enjoying his golf, not feeling any weight of expectation and simply excelling in the relaxed climate.

Perhaps, then, McIlroy's age that can be pointed to as one of many contributing factors behind his collapse in the final round, where in three holes he triple-bogeyed, bogeyed and double-bogeyed. This is perhaps because, as many have found in the past, the game can become ery hard when there is expectation applied. McIlroy bogeyed the first hole, and from that point one could sense that disaster was never too far away. With more years under his belt, and with this heartening experience put behind him, McIlroy will be far better equipped should he be in a similar position in future, something he has said himself. One can only hope that in future he will be able to cope with the inevitable pressures that will come in the career of a player who shows such impressive talent.

A taster of this character has been shown by McIlroy so far this weekend in Malaysia. Instead of wallowing in the disappointment of his Masters failure, McIlroy has flown out of the traps and now leads the Malaysian Open by two shots (with a score of, you guessed it, 12 under-par). The ability to get in to this position shows tremendous grit and determination from the young Irishman, but now he simply must push on and finish the job. If he doesn't, it may be a fatal blow to his form over the next few tournaments. However, a victory in Kuala Lumpur will excorcise the ghosts of Augusta once and for all, just a week after they began to haunt him.