Escribbler Football Sports Blog

I bought a Football Club? Maybe Google and Yahoo will follow

2007-09-10T03:20:00.000-07:00

I just bought my own Football Club. Well actually I just paid my £35 to sign up for a share of the investment fund with Myfootball Club.

50,000 members have registered and now the funds are being raised through the £35 subscription. I have no idea if this is the biggest waste of my hard earned £35 and the Web project seems to bring up more problems every time I think about it.

Playing Football Manager for Real

I loved playing Football Manager when I was a kid and have always enjoyed the fantasy football competitions in the newspapers, even when I was in them. All the Professional players would wait with anticipation as the newspapers rolled out their listings of players for the upcoming season. Seeing your name in the paper with a valuation of £3,000,000 is very exciting.

Football Clubs constantly battle to stay in close contact with their fans. Pooling a group of people together on the internet with the only common interest being to buy a football club is hardly a well worked business plan. There is no loyalty to the particular team, no history with the club and it will be difficult to make this a success.

The Downside

Lee Power, the Chairman of Conference side Cambridge United said :

"It's just not workable to have 53,000 fans make decisions on behalf of a club," he said. "Most will have allegiances to other clubs. What's to stop our rivals from buying a significant stake in our club, and acting with vested interests?"

Good point. If your other team, the one that holds your heart-strings is playing the internet club, are you going to influence the selection of the side to the detriment of the teams performance?

he goes on :

"You can't just whisk up genuine commitment by charging £35," he said. "Fifty-three thousand new fans would be great, but are these people going to buy football kits, match programmes, hot dogs? That's what a club needs, not internet voting."

Barry Hearns thoughts on the project were equally downbeat :

"The idea is totally impractical," said Mr Hearn. "One-and-a-half million won't get you far in football these days."

"As far as I'm concerned, when you're running a football club, the ideal size of the ruling committee is one. I don't buy this mass voting nonsense; democracy and football don't mix."

The Upside

Although this is an unusual idea, sports clubs are always looking for new ideas to rise above the opposition. Tech savvy supporters may just jump on board this idea. In Silicon Valley, regular rounds of fund raising for yet to be proved websites easily raise £10s of millions.

Don't believe me. Business.com recently sold for £170,000,000. It is hardly a great website and surely not as interesting as owning your own Football Team.

Google to buy a Football Club?

Football Clubs have been bought up by wealthy investors and Global Branding in Football is a vital part of creating success if you are one of the biggest clubs.

The internet can bridge this global gap instantly. Maybe Will Brooks, owner of the site has in mind bigger fish and will hawk his idea around the corridors of Silicon valley. Google or Yahoo could buy their own football club. In fact if the website can attract 10,000s of visitors every day (as it surely will if there are 50,000 members all checking in to vote on the team for saturday and discuss their ideas for the club), then Brooks will have turned a fun project into a goldmine.

Do the numbers

50,000 visitors a day could easily be turned into £500,000 per year in Google adsense revenues.

Resources

Myfootballclub
Independent Article
Sun Article
Techcrunch Article

Football skills and tricks from around the world (video)

2007-09-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

Viva Futbol Skills & Panna - For more funny movies, click here

and more funny football video

Charlton and Chelseas Matchday Football Tactics - Luck or Skilled assessment

2007-08-28T04:36:00.001-07:00

I have just been reading an interesting bloggers conundrum put out by Frankie Valley, a Charlton Athletic Blogger.

Referring to the differences in Alan Pardews and Jose Mourinhos tactical nous he suggests that -

"football management is 1% perspiration, 1% inspiration, and 98% luck. You can put the same team out every week, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You could make the same changes at half-time every week, and get a completely different effect every time you try it"

It's an interesting argument and one that has received much feedback.

Here is my take based upon how I felt going into matches and what I saw at Professional Football Clubs.

By the time match day arrives, 95% of the preparation has been made for the game. The manager and his coaching staff have completed 95% of the work necessary to get the result.

Players have been prepared during the week, told their duties. The manager has done most of his work in the run up to the game. He has studied the opposition on tapes, watched live games, spoken to all his players who will participate in the match and advised them of anything to be expected or to specifically look out for on the day of the game.

What this means is that EVERY player in the team will have been told what to expect on the day of the game. Defenders will be advised how opposition attackers play, what parts of the field they occupy, the goalkeeper will try and study the oppositions penalty takers routine and try and figure where he will place the ball. In the event that the opposition has a Beckham in their midst, the manager and coaches will devise some kind of plan to protect the goal at free-kicks.

The pre-game build up during the week will also include ensuring the players are at the height of their fitness. This should include not draining the players energy too much during the training sessions before the game. If the team has travelled a long distance for an away game then the managers job is to make sure that he has allowed the players enough time to loosen up for the game. For example, after sitting on a coach for 7 hours on a Friday afternoon, travelling from London to Newcastle, players will be very stiff. Therefore a small training session is required to get this out of the players systems.

Another part of the preparation and vital part of a teams success is ensuring the manager has as many of his players available to him for selection. This means sensible management throughout the season so that he can pick his best team. No person personifies this more than Sam Allardyce, now at Newcastle United. Whilst at Bolton, Allardyce lost only 72 player days to injury, compared to an astonishing 340 days lost at Newcastle last season. It does not take an Einstein to figure out that more injuries to more players equals a poorer match day performance.

By the time Saturday arrives, I think that as Frankie says (and as my dad has insisted for many years) results can go many ways and any tom, dick or harry could make the team decisions. I agree. I think that this is very true because the nature of a football match is that there a million and one variables and no manager or computer can figure out how the result will go.

What matters is :

how good are your players
how fit are your players
how prepared are your players
how prepared is the team

None of the above is done on a Saturday. It's all done beforehand. So I would say that football management is :

90% Pre-match preparation which includes the quality, fitness and preparation of your players and team
1% Inspiration
1% Perspiration
8% Luck

If Pardew fails to deliver for Charlton this year it will be based around his ability or inability to get the best players out on the field in the peak of their physical condition and at the peak of their abilities. If he gets this right then the rest falls into place.

7 Week Football Training Program for Professionals

2007-08-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

Preparation for the Football Season is vital for the performance of players through the season. This program below shows how I prepared for a return to Professional Football with Charlton after a 2 year lay-off. I followed this program on my own which took a lot of dedication and determination not to give up. Although this does not show how heavy the weights were that I lifted or the intensity and type of running exercises, it does give you an idea of what you need to build your stamina, sharpness and ball skills.

7 Week Pre-Season Training Program for Professionals

Day 1 - played competitive game for 1 hour

Day 2 - played competitive game in searing heat. 3 hours after game did stretches in the swimming pool for 20 minutes.

Day 3 - total rest. Swimming and 20 minutes of stretching.

Day 4 - Weight Training circuit for 1/2 hour. 3 sets of 5 or 10 for all muscle groups. Plus 3 sets of 30 sit-ups. 2 sets 10 back raises. plus 4 sets 10 single leg jumps on trampoline. swim in the pool for 1/2 hour with lots of stretching.

Day 5 - Swimming for 1/2 hour plus stretches. Plus 3 sets single leg jumps on trampoline.

Day 6 - Training on football pitch. 3 lap warm up. Stride out to half way line, 4 runs. Stride out to half way line and back, 2 runs. Stride out full pitch and back, 2 times. Duration 17 mins 16 secs. 2 laps and 1/2 hour in swimming pool stretching to warm down. 3 sets 30 sit-ups. 2 sets 10 back raises

Day 7 - Total rest. swimming for ½ hour with stretches

Day 8 - 3 lap warm up. Stride out to half way line, 4 runs. Stride out to half way line and back, 2 runs. stride out full pitch and back, 2 times. Duration 19 mins 38 secs. 2 lap warm down. Weights Training circuit for 1/2 hour. 3 sets of 5 or 10 for all muscle groups. Plus 3 sets 30 sit-ups. 3 sets 10 back raises. plus 4 sets 10 single leg jumps on trampoline. swim in the pool for 1/2 hour with lots of stretching.

Day 9 - Total rest.

Day 10 - Played competitive game in very hot weather.

Day 11 - Total rest.

Day 12 - Stamina Run for 30 minutes

Day 13 - Training for 1 ½ hours. 5 lap warm up followed by various ball and running exercises. Then 3 sets of weights, all muscle groups and 3 sets of 30 sit-ups.

Day 14 - Training for 1 ½ hours. 5 lap warm up followed by ball and running exercises. Then a ½ hour game.

Day 15 - Total rest

Day 16 - 30 Minute Stamina Run. Leg weights. 6 sets of heavy leg weights. Afternoon: ½ hour ball skills

Day 17 - Morning: Training for an hour with ball skills. Afternoon: Friendly but competitive game. Played 90 mins

Day 18 - Total rest

Day 19 - Morning: Stamina Run for 30 minutes. Afternoon: 3 lap warm up with 20 minutes stretches. 5 sets heavy leg weights. 45 minutes ball skills and sprints.

Day 20 - Total rest

Day 21 - Morning Stamina Run for 30 minutes. 1/2 hour ball skills. Afternoon: 3 lap warm up and stretches with 20 minute ball skills.6 sets of 5 heavy leg weights. 6 sets of 30 sit-ups.

Day 22 - 30 minute Stamina Run

Day 23 - Total Rest

Day 24 - Played competitive game in midday heat.

Day 25 - Total Rest and Stretches in the Swimming Pool

Day 26 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 50 minutes of ball skills, jumping and dynamic exercises. Afternoon 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 4 sets heavy weights for legs and upper body. Plus 4 sets 30 sit-ups.

Day 27 - Total rest. 20 minutes stretching in Swimming pool

Day 28 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 1 hour of running, jumping and ball skills. Plus 3 sets of heavy leg and upper body weights. 3 sets 30 sit-ups.

Day 29 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 1 hour of ball skills, sprinting and stretching. 3 sets 30 sit-ups.

Day 30 - Afternoon: Played a friendly match. 90 mins

Day 31 - Morning: played in a match. 90 mins.

Day 32 - Total rest

Day 33 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 1 hour of ball skills and sprints. Then 3 sets of heavy leg and upper body weights. 3 sets 30 sit-ups.

Day 34 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 45 mins of ball skills and sprints. Afternoon 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 45 min ball skills and sprints. Plus 3 sets 30 sit-ups.

Day 35 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by sprints. Half way line and back – 6 times. Full pitch and back – 3 times. Afternoon 30 minute stamina run followed by 3 sets heavy leg and upper body weights. 3 sets 15 sit-ups.

Day 36 - Total rest.

Day 37 - Morning. Played 90 minutes. Afternoon: 30 minutes sprinting exercises.

Day 38 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 1 hour of ball skills, sprinting and jumping exercises. Afternoon: 4 laps of the pitch with stretches. Plus 3 sets of heavy leg and upper body weights. 3 sets of 45 sit-ups.

Day 39 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 1 hour of ball skills and sprints. Plus 3 sets 45 sit-ups. Afternoon: 5 laps of pitch with stretches. 45 mins of balls skills and sprints. 5 sets 45 sit-ups.

Day 40 - Afternoon: 4 laps of pitch with stretches. 1 hr of ball skills and sprinting. Stride outs to half way line and back. 5 times. Followed by 3 sets of heavy leg and upper body weights. 5 sets 45 sit-ups.

Day 41 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by 1 hr ball skills and sprints. Plus 6 sets 60 sit-ups. Afternoon Stamina Run followed by 3 sets 45 sit-ups.

Day 42 - 3 sets leg and upper body weights. Plus 5 sets 45 sit-ups.

Day 43 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run. 3 sets 45 sit-ups.

Day 44 - Played 90 minute match

Day 45 - Total Rest

Day 46 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run followed by and hour ball skills and sprints. Followed by 3 sets heavy leg and upper body weights. 5 sets 45 sit-ups. Afternoon: 6 lap warm up with stretches. 45 mins of sprints. Half way line and back and full pitch and back.

Day 47 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run.

Day 48 - 5 sets heavy leg and upper body weights.

Day 49 - Morning 30 minute Stamina Run.

Day 50 - 5 sets heavy leg and upper body weights

After the completion of this program I was able to fit in comfortably with a Professional teams daily training schedule. The only thing I was a bit short on was match practice at the highest level.

More Articles on Pre-Season Training Programs :

Football Recruiting, the You Tube way

2007-08-22T00:29:00.000-07:00

Football stardom is increasingly more difficult to reach so you have to applaud any creative way to get noticed and then recruited by the Professional Scouts and Football Clubs. I became a Professional Footballer at the ripe old age of 20, eking out my path through the amateur Football Leagues.

Rhain Davis from, Brisbane, Australia has been spotted after his family put this video on You tube. He was spotted by Manchester United and is now under their guidance.

What a great player. Very gifted and looks so comfortable with the Football at his feet. Good Luck to the boy and congratulations to his family for their creative use of modern technology to further their boys chances of being a Professional Footballer.

Another Cheeky Football Photo

2007-08-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

Football trick Free Kick Videos

2007-08-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

I remember trying many different clever free kicks in training but we were never brave enough to put together some of the moves seen in this video. The timing and skills needed to pull off some of these free kicks is pinpoint and so accurate that you really cannot appreciate them until you have tried it yourself. Not to mention the team work involved and a good dose of luck.

Football insults - Marco Materazzi words to Zidane in the World Cup 2006 final

2007-08-19T02:04:00.000-07:00

What did Materazzi say to Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup Football final that provoked the French star to retaliate with a head-butt?

"I prefer the whore that is your sister," Materazzi wrote in his yet-to-be-released autobiography, according to Italian news reports Saturday.

Materazzis "furbo" had to be family orientated to get the kind of reaction Zidane produced. I thought he might have spat at Zidane. Calling your sister a whore might even get a reaction from Borat but I still cannot believe Zidane fell for it. This scheming continues to fool the best players in the world as seen by Ronaldos sending off against Portsmouth, forcing Ferguson to admit that he fell into a trap as old as the game of football itself.

Football Blogger Blagging for Goals Videos from Charlton and Newcastle

2007-08-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have been rescuing all my old football videos from my 10 year professional football career. In all I totalled 135 goals in 361 appearances in the Championship and the premier league and I thought it was time to make an attempt to digitize these old VHS tapes.

At the end of every season I would buy the club video that highlights the season and shows all the goals. I have West Bromwich Albions seasons from 1992/1993 up to 1997/1998, the year I transferred to Charlton Athletic.

I also have the Charlton promotion and championship season in 1999/2000. I have transferred all of these old videos on to DVDs and then to my computer, backing them up on an external hard drive. Now all I have to do is upload them to youtube and my football career is preserved forever.

Unfortunately my videos from Newcastle United in 1990/1991 and 1991/1992 have been destroyed by 6 years of mould and fungus from living in the tropics. I also neglected to purchase highlights of Charlton Athletics first season in the Premiership in 1998/1999 (I guess I was disappointed with the year and didn't want to be reminded of how crap that season was) and also forgot to buy the Premiership season highlights from 2000/2001.

Well life passes by and I am now keen to get this stuff down on a hard drive. Scoring goals at Highbury, White Hart Lane and other famous stadiums are parts of my Professional Football career that my children will love to see when they get older and something I should be proud of.

If any kind Charlton or Newcastle fans have copies of these missing seasons I would love to get them. Of course I will pay for the post and videos, so please email me at andy@greendragonbelize.com if you can help.

So again here are the videos I am looking for :

Newcastle United Football Club Season - 1990/1991
Newcastle United Football Club Season - 1991/1992
Charlton Athletic Football Club Season - 1998/1999
Charlton Athletic Football Club Season - 2000/2001

I am on holiday in England and Holland and enjoying watching the start of the 2007/2008 Football season. I even got the chance to chat to BBC Radio 4 about my career and change of life after Football on Saturday Live with Hardeep Singh Kohli. Hardeep suggested several times about how I must be envious or jealous of players and the lifestyle they lead, citing David Beckham and Thierry Henry as examples. Although my career was cut short at the Premier League level and the heady heights of £15,000/week contracts I never feel envy, regret or jealousy about what could have been. It's a shame the interview was cut because we had a good discussion. The interview is on BBCs website : http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/saturdaylive/saturdaylive_20070811.shtml

Charlton have definitely suffered early season nerves after their first 2 games. My article about the media and fans expectations at Charlton Football Club highlighted the difficulties they may face this season and how I as a Football player experienced it last time Charlton had to climb back out of the Championship.

Charlton will definitely need to show the mental strength required of all pretenders to the throne after this early blip, although their plight is nothing compared to the expectations at White Hart Lane. Tottenhams failure to secure a win after their first 2 games has seen Martin Jol come under increasing scrutiny already. Even arch rival Arsene Wenger provided comfort to Jol after the pack of sportswriters closed in on Tottenhams early frailties.

If anything has been seen from the Premiership seasons first few games it is that 2 games means very little, the big clubs may be slightly mis-firing at the moment but their high calibre squads will push the quality sides up the table and I still stand by my Top 7 Premier League Predictions.

Football has never looked so good - Girls playing football in a muddy field

2007-08-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this great website photo shoot. Asian Football has never looked so good. Complete Photo Album

Top 7 Football predictions for Premier League 2007/2008

2007-08-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

As things stand in the Football transfer market and with just a few days to go to the start of the Premiership season this is where I see the Football title heading next year in 2007/2008.

Manchester United
Liverpool Football Club
Chelsea Football Club
Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United Football Club (If they keep Owen Fit)
Arsenal Football Club
Sunderland (surprise package)

Alan Hansens predictions. (Chelsea FC)

Tevez signing for United gives them an undoubted attacking edge over all the other teams in an already formidable United line up and I see them going from strength to strength over this coming season. (Manchester United thrash Home Team Football Club 14-0). It will be very close but I think that even with my predicted sensational transfer of the season by Chelsea to lure Beckham back from the MLS (Beckhams Major League Football mistake), the title will be red this year.

Will Signing Carlos Tevez make Manchester United untouchable

And my pick for the Championship? :

Charlton (see my seasons predictions for Charlton)
West Bromwich Albion
Southampton

Betting on Football

When I played professionally I used to have a little wager at the start of the Football season on who would win the various leagues. I would place a £100-£200 yankee bet at the local bookmakers which if it came in would bring a big return. Looking back now I believe that this was probably illegal and against the FA rules, but with all the corruption and scandal that is hitting the Leagues at the moment I doubt they would even bat an eyelid.

If I did win the 4 bet Yankee I would send a "friend" to pick up the winnings in case I was spotted by an observant fan. I have just returned to the UK for a months break so I might re-ignite my pre-season ritual and make it to the bookmakers one last time.

Media and Football Fans pressure for Charlton Athletic

2007-07-14T05:24:00.001-07:00

Charlton Athletic Football Club will feel the pressure as they are expected to bounce back to the premier league this year at the first attempt. As one of the players who was in the team that was relegated from the Premier League the last time Charlton went down I feel qualified to comment on the feelings and pressures that the Football club will be going through.

I remember in 1999, at the start of the season, Alan Curbishley was very nervous. It seemed to me that he knew the expectations on the club even though we had only graced the premier league for 1 unsuccessful season.

His first few team meetings were to drill into the squad that it was vital we got off to a good start in that 1999/2000 season. In pre-season and the early games I felt Curbs was over-anxious that we get off to a good start.

Curbs knew that as one of the sides that had been relegated from the Premier League we were expected by the media and by our own fans to be one of the front runners to get promotion. Life then was different for the club as Curbs had not spent big in the summer, signing only myself on a free transfer from West Brom and a few others to strenghten his squad.

This year, the 2007/2008 season will be very different down at the Valley. Charlton have had a long stay in the premier league, subsequently building a squad of higher calibre players than we had in 1999, upon whom the expectations of the fans will be huge.

The bonus Curbs had then in 1999 was that his squad was a good Championship squad, full of experienced players from that division such as Richard Rufus, Clive Mendonca, John Robinson, Mark Kinsella, Steve Brown, Myself and many others who were competent playing at that level. This allowed us to put together a strong season of consistent play as we marched towards promotion and the championship title.

Many of Charltons players will not know life in the Championship and it could be a big surprise to them. With a squad of higher paid players, expectations from the fans will no doubt be very high and emotions will be tense in the early stages of the season as everyone wonders whether Alan Pardews inherited team have what it takes to scrap their way out of the Division.

Pardews side will need a strong start to ensure that they live up to their role as early season favourites and get the crowd on their side. What Pardew will be keen to avoid is a shaky start which will tough on his squad. We worked very hard in the 1999/2000 season and it showed as we dominated the league. Our players were very fit, well organized, played well together, but more than anything mentally very strong.

Pardew has proved himself to be a great manager in the Championship and he will definitely know what it takes to get the addicks back into the Premier League this season. Charlton deservedly are one of the favourites for promotion and lets hope the team hits the ground running on the opening day. I will be watching the season unfold from another continent and will not be nearly as nervous as the last time Charlton tried to climb out of the Championship League.

Will Charlton Athletic Football Club get promoted?

You gotta luv youtube (football video) - warning - this may offend some people

2007-07-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Sheffield United's long running saga over the Tevez Football affair should finally be over as they lose their appeal at the high court for disciplinary action against West Ham.

Hitlers Sheffield Utd Suffer Their Downfall

Could Manchester United beat a Football Team 14-0 this Season?

2007-07-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

Manchester United Football Club get closer to signing their man as Carlos Tevez looks set for his medical at the reds. Although not seemingly the most prolific goal scorer, notching 25 goals in 75 appearances for Boca Juniors, 25 goals in 38 appearances for Corinthians and only 7 in 26 for West Ham United, Tevez as he shows below is in the mould of many footballing geniuses.

Travel Forward in Football Time - 2007/2008 Season - Home Team 0 Manchester United 14

Now cast yourself forward to the 2007/2008 season as United take the field against a gutsy lower team from the Premier League called Home Team FC. (take your pick from any side outside the top 4 or 5 elite premier league sides).

Manchester United field their strongest side with Tevez, Ronaldo, Saha, Hargreaves, Scholes and Giggs providing devastating rapid passing and moving, honed by their pre-season football training sessions.

At home Manchester United find it more difficult to break teams down because the opposition play with a more defensive attitude. But Home Team FC are the hosts and under pressure from an expectant crowd they have to attack the Reds.

Ronaldo Scores and Winds up the Home fans

Manchester United play with a sense of freedom and after 5 minutes Ronaldo puts them 1 up. Ronaldo is getting baited by the home team fans who still can't forgive him for his 2006 World Cup antics, but needless to say the PFA player of the year rises above this and continually eludes his markers.

Remember this is just football fantasy - but it could come true??

Several late tackles by Home Team FC defenders earn them yellow cards. After just 15 minutes another bad tackle, this time against Tevez reduces Home Team FC to 10 men. Manchester United are in full flow scoring several more goals before the half hour mark.

Billy Bulldog

Billy Bulldog, the heart and soul of Home Team FCs midfield and player of the year from the previous season is charging around the field trying to get close to Manchester Uniteds superstars. Home Team FC's own foreign imports are conspicuous by their absence and not "digging in" for the teams cause.

"Twat the dago *&$@&*? " (fill in the accent) bellows a Home Team FC fan to Billy Bulldog. Billy, frustrated by his teams inability to get into the game, rallies to the Fans cry and smashes into Tevez, leaving the Argentinian in agony on the floor. Another Red card for Home Team FC.

30 minutes gone and Home Team FC are 4-0 down and with only 9 players on the field they are in a desperate state.

Manchester United score another 3 goals before half time and relax in the dressing room with a 7-0 lead.

Home Team FC substitute their star foreign striker who has not touched the ball all day and play with a 4-4-0 formation in the second half. It doesn't stop United from notching another 2 quick goals after just 10 minutes of the second half. 9-0 to Manchester United.

172 passes, 5 minutes of uninterrupted Passing and 84% possession

Manchester United, full of players who need little coaching or encouragement to keep the ball, pass the ball from left back to center half to right back, back to center half, into midfield, back to the right full back and so on, exhausting Home Team FC's players.

The key to playing against a team with only 10 men (or 9) is to keep possession and make the opposition work hard chasing the ball. Too many times 10 men teams inspirationally survive because the 11 men teams do not move the ball and keep the penalized side working. After an hour of chasing a ball with one less player a side will wither.

United string together 172 passes and keep the ball for a full 5 minutes of play. At one point Rio Ferdinand actually sits down on the center circle, only to be lectured by Alex Ferguson for his arrogance and disrespect to Home Team FC.

Ferguson brings on Solksjaer for the final 15 minutes of the game and the little Norwegian scores 4 goals in just 9 minutes of play to bring the scoreline to an unlucky 13 for Home Team FC.

Van der Sar, Manchester Uniteds Goalkeeper, scorers their 14th goal from the penalty spot in the final minute of the game, after a tired and desperate Home Team FC defender lunges at Tevez and brings down the diminutive Argentine striker.

The stats show United had 78% possession in the first half and 84% possession of the Football in the second half.

Ok, so this is all fantasy but I really think that Manchester United could do this to an unlucky team this year, especially if they do secure the services of Tevez. What do you think?

Could Manchester United beat a Premier League Football Team 14-0 this season?

Footballs greatest goals - Lionel Messi v Mexico - 11th July 2007 (video)

2007-07-12T05:41:00.000-07:00

I am in a subdued Mexico, as I write this. Mexico is subdued because Argentina knocked them out of the Copa America, 3 goals to 0. Lionel Messi's (contender to Maradonas throne) goal was surely one of the best goals ever last night as he cheekily clips the ball over the stranded Sanchez.

Is Messis goal better than Maradonas v England in 1986?

Messi's Maradona style goal vs Getafe

Carlos Tevez signs for Manchester United Football Club?

2007-07-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

How can any Football Club hope to compete with Manchester United this year if they are able against all odds to create some order out of Carlos Tevez's numerous contracts and sign him to their team for the upcoming 2007/2008 Premiership Football season.

Lawyers from Manchester United United, West Ham United, The Premier League and Media Sport Investment (a subsidiary of a secretive investment firm registered in the British Virgin Islands, who initially brought Tevez to the Premier League) will be fudging their way through Tevez's affairs including who owns his registration. Read about the murky side of Footballs agents and middlemen in the Tevez and Mascherano transfers : Click here.

Back to the Football

Any player capable of pulling the strings for the incredibly talented Argentinian side must be worth signing but with Ferguson's attacking options already bursting at the seams with Ronaldo, Rooney (http://www.waynerooney.com/), Saha, Nani, Solskjaer, one has to wonder how Ferguson is going to juggle all this talent. What seems clear is that he is building a team which will display lightning fast attacks and interplay that will at times be dizzying and breathtaking to watch. I would not be surprised to see a double digit scoreline this year in Uniteds favour if they catch a team off-guard.

No doubt this flair will be matched by the sides fiery Latino temperaments, although I doubt that this will cause Ferguson too many sleepless nights as his dream of collecting the worlds finest footballing geniuses on his Manchester United doorstep come true.

In the spirit of fair play to the rest of the premiership teams, I hope that United do not get their man, although the irresistible thought of Tevez, Ronaldo, Giggs, Hargreaves, Scholes, Nani et al, strutting their stuff is something that every Football Manager can only dream of (unless your Ferguson)

Will Signing Carlos Tevez make Manchester United untouchable

Vote on who got the best deal by signing Thierry Henry (Barcelona) or Darren Bent (Tottenham)

Who got the best deal - Barcelona or Tottenham?

Charlton Athletic and Arsenal lose their Football superstars

2007-06-29T05:36:00.000-07:00

Footballs longest running summer transfer sagas are over (except perhaps Michael Owens Football transfer) as Thierry Henry and Darren Bent make their moves to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

Fans of both clubs must be absolutely devastated about both losing these players. On reflection I think that Arsenal fans must be more disappointed.

Darren Bents Replacement

Bent a great goalscorer, was always going to leave Charlton, even if they stayed in the Premier League. The £16,500,000.00 they receive for him will go a long way to providing strength in depth for the club to return to the premiership next season. (Is Relegation that bad for Charlton Athletic Football Club). Alan Pardew has to build his team based on his own beliefs and as good as Bent is, his sale will not have as huge an impact on Charlton's aspirations as Henry's departure from Arsenal.

How do you replace Henry?

Arsenal on the other hand are one of the Premier Leagues elite clubs, challenging every year for honours. Losing Henry is an even bigger blow than losing Patrick Vierra. 226 goals in 8 seasons at the highest Football level is a phenomenal strike rate and one that will be very difficult to replace. All Arsenal fans must be wondering what the clubs aspirations are after losing one of the worlds best players.

Who got the Best deal?

Tottenham or Barcelona? Barcelona have paid a premium for a player in his peak, but who last season started to show signs of injury troubles. It could be long term that Tottenham have got great value signing a 23 year old outstanding English striker who is only going to get better and better. Everyone knows what Henry is capable of and Henry can certainly bridge the fine line between challenging for success and being champions. Long term though I think Tottenham have got the best deal.

Who got the best deal - Barcelona or Tottenham?

Football Pre-Season Training is coming

2007-06-23T16:39:00.001-07:00

The end of June or early July marks the start of pre-season training for Football teams across the country and believe me there will be a lot of reluctant players trudging back into the training grounds.

Football Training Techniques

Football Training techniques had come a long way when I retired in 2001, from when I first became a Professional Football player in 1992.

Players Fitness levels are one of the first items to be assessed. Typically this would involve checking the players weight, fat levels and heart rate based upon the end of year readings from the previous season. Unlike most players I used to return to pre-season training a few pounds under my playing weight, which was about 180 lbs. The reason was that I used to find it hard keeping my weight up due to any of the muscle mass I had put on during the previous season falling off me.

Beer Bellies

Most players were the opposite, many accumulating a few inches around their bellies and butts. A sure sign of a summer of over-indulgence. In the lower leagues some players would come back looking like Darts players, although the more elite professionals would never allow themselves to become so out of shape.

Once the formalities of fitness levels had been checked and the guilty parties fined or warned by the Football club management the serious business of getting footballers back into shape for the coming season would get under way.

The first few weeks would involve a lot of running. Long distance drills up to 2 to 3 miles to get the heart, lungs and legs pumping again. Managers would have different approaches to the speed at which the intensity of pre-season training would increase but Alan Curbishley at Charlton gets my vote for the thoughtfulness of him and his teams approach to getting the players fit. They were in no hurry and would steadily build up the intensity of the running. A big consideration for the coaching staff is that they want fit players but not at the expense of getting them injured.

Warming up, Warming down and Puking

Very long warm ups and warm downs are an essential part of the pre-season program allowing the players bodies to adapt to training programs. Scattered between the warm ups and warm downs would be stomach burning sit-up repetitions to harden the mid-torsos of the players. It would not be unusual to pound out 600-700 sit ups in a session, inducing searing pain through a players stomach. I have seen many players give up or throw up (or both) in these sessions.

Rest after a training session is vital and in fact you don't really have much choice due to legs, stomach and body generally aching so much that you just go home and collapse for the rest of the day, knowing that tomorrow will be the same again.

Relief

A Football might appear as a gift from the coaches to lift the spirits of the exhausted players. After all we are called Football players and the incentive to play a bit of "ball" was often needed to get players through the weary fitness training.

Another incentive was the pre-season tour. I think the whole club looked forward to this as it was a chance to escape the daily routine, press and have a bit of fun a long the way. Pre-season tours are notorious for players getting into trouble.

I saw the captain of one of my teams revived on the 18th hole of the golf course at 7am by some of our players after falling asleep on his way home to the room at the hotel.

Curfew

The Manager had put a curfew of 10pm on the players, allowing us to go into the closest town for a few drinks and watch a movie. The bus driver waited for us and a happy and slightly inebriated bunch of footballers got back on the team coach at 9.45pm to get back to the Golf Resort we were staying at in Cornwall. The manager was waiting for us and after checking the numbers was satisfied that we had all returned. Little did he know that a small group of our squad had ordered taxis for 10.30pm to come to the Hotel and take the players back into town. Our captain (no names) and this small group spent the night in the club and enjoying the local beer. The rest of us woke up early the next day and found him asleep in the bunker of the 18th hole.

Not wanting to get him in trouble we took him back to his room and did our best to sober him up but our manager had already caught wind of his escapades. He was not pleased and although we pleaded with him to leave the player asleep he insisted he trained with the squad. We all took it in turns to hold him up as we went through our running exercises, a player on each side of our captain, dragging him around the training field.

Ready for the Football Season

Apart from the occasional indiscretion most players would be respectful of the job in hand and enjoyed the pre-season tour. The training is intense but lots of games would be organized so the players could start honing their skills for the season. I always felt like I needed 6 or 7 full 90 minute Football matches in the pre-season to gain my full fitness. Some players would be up to full speed and ready for August kick off in as few as 3-4 full games.

I would find myself running for the sake of running in pre-season games just to boost my fitness levels. The results of the games were not so important for the players as they would be for the fans, who would be devastated if Newcastle United lost to Gateshead or West Bromwich Albion lost to Halesowen, in local derbies.

4-5 weeks into the pre-season and players get an inkling if they will figure in the managers plans for the upcoming season. If you had played in most of the pre-season games then everything looked good. If you had been left out of a few matches, the little voice inside your head would start to question you whether you were in with a chance of making the starting line up in August. As a striker goals make a huge difference and a hatful of goals in pre-season would be great for a strikers confidence.

My professional career lasted 10 years and I only ever missed one pre-season. This was at Newcastle United when I broke a metatarsal in my foot. I missed the pre-season fitness program and found it very difficult to catch up, something that a lot of players will testify to. Pre-season football training is an intense, grueling 4-6 weeks of hard work but well worth the effort and players that survive the program will be in great shape for the upcoming season.

A Typical Football Players Training Day
Plyometrics and Football Training

40 Yard Football Free Kick

2007-06-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

El Salvador vs Trinidad & Tobago. Amazing considering the Footballer took such a short run up.

40 Yard Free Kick - Football Video

Even Roberto Carlos would be proud of that

Roberto Carlos best Free Kick ever

The Collapse of the Premier League Football Empire

2007-06-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

What is going on in the Premier League? Just as the Roman Empire spread itself too thin on the ground and collapsed amid much corruption and double crossing it seems that the English Premier League is awash with dirty deeds and mis-appropriated funds.

Many of the top Football Clubs have been snapped up by mega-rich billionaires, with the appeal and prosperity of Europes wealthiest league dependent upon it's ability to reach further into the corners of the world, just as the Roman Empire did, to fund the ever increasing salaries (£200,000/week anyone?) and dreams of the clubs.

It seems to me that Football in England is now falling under the same hype and copycat behaviour as the crazy Dot-com boom and bust or the Californian Gold Rush. Why on earth are wealthy benefactors buying into the Premier League Football teams.

After Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have been snapped up, Arsenal are sure to follow. After that though reports of other teams being bought are appearing all over the news.

West Ham have been bought and are being accused of driving Premier League wages sky high, reaching an all time high of £1.1 Million Average Salary for a Premier League Football player. West Ham are a long way from being a top 4 club and the investment needed to reach this plateau is enormous. Yet the hammers are not alone. Blackburn Rovers are reported to be in talks with an anonymous US investor, Manchester City are being courted by the former Thai Prime Minister and Birmingham City are thought to be in talks with Lakshmi Mittal, the worlds 5th richest man.

With all due respect to all these teams, there can only be one Premiership winner and only a few clubs who will make it into Europe where they can boost their Broadcasting Revenues. Manchester City, Blackburn and Birmingham City are not going to leapfrog Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal in the near future unless the worlds 5th richest man does decide to duke out, head to head with Abramovich. That would be a battle worth watching. Maybe Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft could join the battle also after his reported interest in buying Southampton. He is Americas 5th richest man and between them these 3 could fight a great Premiership Cash match, pushing the salaries of the premier league football gladiators closer to the £200,000/week mark.

A book about the Leeds United fall from grace should be posted to all prospective Football Club purchasers, with West Ham and Newcastle United surely the most vulnerable.

Newcastle United Football Club in constant crisis and flux is destined for a choppy future, with millions wasted on players, and manager after manager coming through the door. Jean Alain Boumsong, signed from Rangers for an incredible fee of £8 Million seems to sum up the ludicrous amounts of money flowing through and out of the game into the pockets of the Premiership Emperors. Quite incredibly this £8 Million player was signed by Rangers for NOTHING and sold to Newcastle for a handsome profit.

United, a club that attracts a massive fan base is caught up to its neck in the corruption scandal, with one of its former managers (Graeme Souness) and its current manager (Sam Allardyce) both implicated deeply in the corruption and the club itself guilty of inconsistencies in its evidence to the report. Mike Ashleys continued purchasing of Newcastles shares must be seen as very risky.

And the agents who have played a pivotal role in this upward spiral of benevolent behaviour are now being pulled up by the independent report from Lord Stevens, targeting numerous mis-handling of transfer by Football Clubs, Managers and Agents alike.

It seems that the foundations for the fall of the Premier League Empire, although not imminent yet are being laid and the "House of Premiership" is on shaky grounds.

When the dust settles on this latest round of inflated cash incentives for the clubs, we will see a lot of losers and I fear business as usual for Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Many successful businessman will be licking their wounds over bad Premier League investments ruing the day they joined the 2006/2007/2008 Premiership Boom.

Football and Golf cheats - Are people just born to bend the rules?

2007-06-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

Leeds Uniteds and Ken Bates incredible stunt to go into administration and receive a 10 point penalty in the 2006/2007 season after already being relegated made me wonder about the nature of sports and our willingness to bend the rules. Loophole closed by Football League.

More recently Lionel Messi, successor to Maradonas throne, produced this amazing piece of handy work against Espanyol at the Nou Camp. What is it about them little Argentinians and "The Hand of God"

Golf Cheats

I have played a lot of golf in the last few weeks (improving at Golf by learning from Football) with my playing partner and his friends, enjoying their company and improving my golf in leaps and bounds.

I was invited to play with someone else a few days ago and so the 2 of us set off for our round. He is a good golfer, playing off an 8 handicap, and in fact gave me some decent tips in a previous friendly game on how to improve my golfing skills.

The numbers don't add up

After a few holes in I noticed a discrepancy in his scoring. Wildy mis-hit tee-shots and lost balls seemed to have no effect on his score as he bogeyed and even made par on several holes where he should have been scoring 7s, 8s and 9s. His mathematics seemed to make no sense to me even though he only had to count in single digits. I probably should have said something as another lost ball resulted in a par but this was just a friendly game and I didn't really care what his score was. He completed the course in a respectable round of 86 vs my 95.

I was a professional Footballer and so I have a fierce competitive spirit inside me and losing is not in my vocabulary. I like to win even friendly games of golf so I am sure I would have beaten this 8 handicapper had he scored correctly. This was my first introduction into the world of the golf cheat.

Professional Footballers learning to Cheat

Competition Time

My second introduction was more of a confrontation. Only a few days later I was invited into a Tournament, I was partnered with a Lady golfer and another man. He was terrible and knew it. Nice fellow though and we enjoyed a bit of banter around the course.

The woman on the other hand was a pain in the butt. She was a decent golfer similar in standard to me, so we had a small competition between us as our scores tallied most of the way around the course. Yet again her scores were wayward. The 6th hole she triple bogeyed for a 7, but confidently claimed a 6. I asked her again for her score and she repeated "6". Ok, I thought I am going to have to watch her score now.

A few holes later she called a 6 again when she had a 7. I questioned her and she started to get frosty with me and was adamant she had a 6. She was pissing me off now and the friendly smiles had disappeared and we were now at war.

Are you counting my score?

Half way through the next hole I asked her how many shots she had taken. "Are you counting my score" was her response.

"Yes" I said firmly.

"Well please stop, It puts me off my game to count".

"Well, we seem to be counting the scores differently so we should keep a track as we go along" I told her. Deathly silence from the lady and we continued to play.

She played a good round of golf however and there were no more problems until the 15th hole. She was in with a chance of winning the tournament and we seemed to be getting on a bit better. Then on the 15th hole she totalled screwed up, ending up with an 8.

I knew her score but thought I would ask.

"What did you get".

"Oh, I don't know".

"It was an 8" I said.

"7 or an 8" she mumbled under her breath, pissed off with herself for screwing up but still wanting to cheat and get the point for her Stapleford score.

"It was an 8" I said and went through her shots.

That was it. She had blown up now and started ranting about how she didn't need to win this tournament, and that the money wasn't important to her. She was especially annoyed as I described one of her shots as a mis-hit. I ignored her and carried on the rest of my game.

Don't play Golf with Menopausal women

Anyway on the 18th hole she apologized to me for being so horrible and said that she was in menopause and that she was irritable and couldn't concentrate. She shook my hand in apology but it didn't excuse her from cheating her way around the course.

Sports Cheats

I started wondering about the inherent nature of people to cheat. In 2 instances, one in a competitive match and the other in a non-competitive golf game I played against 2 people who seemed to have no guilty conscience about blatant cheating. And I have only just started to play golf seriously so I wondered how many more people actually cheat in Golf.

A survey in America in 2002 among some of the country's leading chief executives asked Two questions : 1. Have you ever cheated at golf? 2. Are you annoyed when other people cheat at golf? 82 per cent answered "yes" to both.

Now, I am standing on my soapbox, discrediting a couple of golfers for cheating as if I am a saintly do-gooder. Yet when I played football I was happy to get away with whatever I could. In training I would always try and cheat to win sprints, jumping the whistle, pushing people out of the way. In Professional games I would push and shove and hold defenders shirts, punch or elbow a player if needed be. I would argue that this was not blatant cheating, a more suitable description might be called professionalism, which means "doing what you can within the boundaries of the rules to gain a competitive advantage". aka Messi and Maradona.

In Football you are constantly battling to gain the edge in training and on Match Days. However a referee will pick up most infringements as all players are trying gain the competitive advantage. Occasionally decisions are missed such as the infamous Maradona incident who declared that this was the hand of god, not in fact his deliberate hand ball to score against England.

The Hand of God

Amateur Golfers are a bunch of Cheating b*******

Football cheating pales in significance to Golfers. Especially Amateur Golfers who are able to drop balls, pick balls up and move them, conveniently find them when the ball is quite obviously lost and many other infringements of the game. It seems that Amateur Golfers are indeed a bunch of cheating B******s.

Resources

Telegraph - Cheating at Golf

Telegraph - Cheating at Football

Football passing to make a Coach Drool (Video)

2007-06-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

This video shows everything that a Coach can dream of from his team. Individual players can always produce moments of magic but Team work like this is perfected on the training field. The willingness of the players to "pass and move" a well used Football mantra is evident in these videos.

What is so clear is the awareness and unselfishness of the players and the cohesion of the team.

On the training ground one touch football as seen in these videos is the mainstay of practice sessions and it must be an absolute joy for the coaches of these teams to see this type of football transferred from the Training ground to a match day game. Every Manager I played for had a different approach to the game of Football but one thing they would always agree on was this philosophy of passing the ball quickly and moving. When all 10 outfield players do this effectively there is no stopping a team.

Beckhams Major League Soccer Mistake?

2007-06-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

David Beckham is now being courted by Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon who in January snubbed Beckhams chances of playing for Real Madrid again.

Free Kick Genius

Get out clause

Real Madrid have hinted there is a get out clause in Beckhams contract with LA Galaxy. I suggested that after Beckhams fantastic return to form that the top Football clubs of Europe would start to show interest in him and seek a way round his LA Galaxy contract. The Real President is reported as saying "We need to sit down with Beckham, his representatives and with (Real sporting director Predrag) Mijatovic, look at this clause, and decide between us."

BBC Article
Telegraph Article

Beckham has been inspirational in driving Real Madrid towards another La Liga title and has also proved himself again for England. After showing what he is capable of at the highest level in Football, surely playing MLS Soccer is going to be a huge come down for him. No matter how many titles he wins at LA Galaxy nothing he will do in the USA will really compare to winning La Liga with Real Madrid or returning to the Premiership for the final few years of his career with a team like Chelsea FC.

Beckhams mega bucks Football deal in the USA cannot be his motivating factor and I believe he will be torn when it finally comes to moving across the Atlantic. A player with his passion and now a rejuvenated belief that he can still perform at the top level will surely have second thoughts on playing in the below par MLS Soccer League.

Players of Beckhams quality do not become available very often and I would be very surprised if the top clubs are not moving heaven and earth to get him.

3 Brazilians and a ball (Video) - Great Football Skills

2007-06-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered how Brazilians warm up for a Football match?

Football News

2007-06-08T04:51:00.000-07:00

Thierry Henry is being linked to AC Milan, which would be a massive blow to Arsenal if they let him go. How do you replace a proven goalscorer like him? I felt they made a big mistake in letting Patrick Vierra leave a few years ago and Henry departing would be another big loss.

Thierry Henrys Football Skills

"So the only thing I can tell you is right now I am an Arsenal player but I cannot deny it's nice to hear about Milan." said Henry, leaving the door slightly open. I hope he stays at Arsenal as Wenger has been slowly rebuilding his squad and a fully fit Henry could spearhead a great season for the gunners.

Thierry Henry Talking about being a Professional Footballer

More Football club owners sell their shares. Alan Sugar has cashed in to the tune of £25 million with Freddie Shepherd getting £37.6 Million for his 28% of Newcastle United Football Club. The Premier League Football Gold Rush continues.

Xabi Alonso has signed a long term contract at Liverpool joining Gerrard, Carragher and Reina. Liverpool seem to have been a bit slower at making new summer signings but keeping their current players is equally important

Chelsea have not done much in the Transfer market yet and even look close to losing Arjen Robben to Real Madrid. I always thought Robben provided great variety to Chelseas game and I hope he stays.

You tube continues to be sued by everyman and his dog. The English Premier League have now been joined by Cherry Lane Music Publishing (owners of Elvis Presley copyrights), French Football and the Tennis Federations. Viacom, owners of MTV started the legal free for all and the German football Bundesliga seem set to follow also. Google, owners of You tube don't seem to be too bothered with CEO Eric Schmidt claiming these are just Business Negotiations. Google will probably cut deals with all these associations to share advertising revenues from all of the unlicensed sports videos now showing up on You Tube.

Scott Parker joined West Ham and I am very surprised that Sam Allardyce let him go. Curbishley must be delighted to get Parker for £7 million, good value in the current market and with Dean Ashton returning to fitness I doubt West Ham will be Premier League struggles this season.

David Beckham must be regretting his move to LA Galaxy (Of course he is earning a fortune but then he is already a multi-millionaire), even though Alexi Lalas said they will drive him to the airport for his International flights back to the UK. After returning to the England team in fine form a career in the MLS is hardly great preparation for top class football. It wouldn't surprise me if he returns to the Premier League next year.

The top clubs and managers must have looked at Beckhams performances and wonder if he could be lured back to the Premier League. Chelsea would suit him as his superstar appeal would do wonders for Chelsea Football Clubs Global branding. And if anyone can afford him it's Abramovich. I wonder what the get out clause is on Beckhams LA Galaxy contract?

12 Great Goals from around the world of Football (Video)

2007-06-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

featuring

Fernando Torres - Atletico Madrid
Amantino Mancini - Roma
Giuseppe Rossi - Parma
Scott Sinclair - Plymouth
Peter Crouch - Liverpool
Juan Pablo Arenas - Chile
Shota Arveladze - AZ Alkmaar
Thierry Henry - Arsenal
Zaltan Ibrahimovic - Inter
Wayne Rooney - Manchester UTD
David Nugent - Preston North END
Pato - Brazil

Top 7 Premier League Football Players from 2006/2007

2007-06-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

The Fink Tank Predictor provides Forecasts and Ranking systems for Professional Football Clubs in Europe. It is a statistical model based on more than 5 years of scores. Player rankings are calculated by simulating the season repetitively and removing players from the equation and replacing them with players of an average score. Then they were able to calculate how many points each individual player added to his team.

By also factoring a players injury record (after all, what good is a player if he only plays 10 games a season) a computer model of the top players in Europe was made.

No prizes for guessing who came top in the English Premier League. The PFA voters were right to give the accolade to Cristiano Ronaldo (voted PFA Player of the year and PFA young Player of the year). Listed below

Top 7 Premier League Footballers

Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United Football Club
Frank Lampard - Chelsea Football Club
Gilberto Silva - Arsenal Football Club
Petr Cech - Chelsea Football Club
Jans Lehmann - Arsenal Football Club
Paul Scholes - Manchester United Football Club
Tim Howard - Everton Football Club

And bottom of the list? Kevin Davies - Bolton Football Club

Resources

Premiership Football Clubs strike Gold followed by £200,000 a Week Football player Wages

2007-05-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

It sounds astonishing to think that a Premier League player can command £200,000 a WEEK, yet this is the figure that is being talked about by the Deloitte Report on the Financial state of the Football.

Television Rights Deals are spiralling upwards, inevitably pushing Players wages upwards and the author of Deloittes report suggests that it will not be long before a player commands a £200,000/week Salary. The mind boggles that an average Premiership player and Journeymen (players who move from Club to Club) could then earn £50,000/week. Far fetched I hear you cry. Yet the money continues to pour into the game at a breakneck speed as the Premier League Football appeal spread across the world.

The English league is dwarfing its Italian, German and Spanish peers, with Match day, Sponsorship and Broadcast revenues reaching £1.4 Billion in the 2005/2006 season. The Serie A Italian League generated £1 Billion, falling well short of the English games financial windfall.

European Success

Perhaps these numbers explain the success of English clubs in the Champions league with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all reaching the final 4 this season.

Chelsea have spent big over the last few years backed by their owners generosity, yet Manchester United are not falling behind, having already spent £35 Million this week on Anderson and Nani, plus quite probably another £17 Million on Owen Hargreaves and the 2006/2007 season has only just ended.

With the newly negotiated TV deal kicking in this season the premier league clubs will be receiving £2.7 Billion over the next 3 years and the spending will not be stopping yet. The highly lucrative Television Rights from abroad will boost even further the amount of money the clubs have at their disposal, pushing towards the first predicted £10,000,000 a year salary.

More Figures of Note

In 2005/2006 Football Agents scooped a noteworthy £50 Million for brokering all these deals.
The general opinion is that Derby Countys victory against West Bromwich Albion is worth an extra £60 Million to them.
Manchester United sell Match day suites for up to £150,000/season
Match day attendance in the Premier League is 92%
Manchester United have an estimated 75 Million fans worldwide with 41 Million residing in Asia
The Premiership had a weekly global audience of 78 Million Football fans in the 2006/2007 season
650,000 South Korean Football Fans have signed up for a branded Manchester United Credit Card

It's not a fair game anymore

It's very hard to get an understanding of all these numbers and what they mean in real terms. My dad has been telling me all his life how it's not a fair game and that it cannot continue (referring to wages of players) and that ticket prices are too expensive. Yet is does continue and in fact Match day income is not the biggest earner for the Premiership Clubs anymore with Broadcasting rights providing the bulk of their income. Football has come a long way since the cloth cap days and there is certainly no turning back to these bygone eras, ridiculed in the Harry Enfield Video below :

My Dads stand against £200,000/week footballers

He has made his decision to stand up for the small club, not because he doesn't want to watch the big games but because he believes it is just plain wrong that people earn this kind of money. He quit watching Premier League Football, cancelled his Skysports subscription and now follows Kings Lynn Football Club week in and week out. The football isn't so good but it is still exciting and it doesn't cost him a large chunk of his weekly pension to see the games.

Splitting the pot

Perhaps it isn't fair anymore. Only as far back as 1992 the TV income was split between the 92 Football League Clubs. Today a staggering 90% goes to the Premier League, with 7% going to the Championship and 3% to League 1 and 2. (Barnet Football Club Chairman - Tony Kleanthous on the state of English Football)

Good Management

Maybe though nothing has really changed. The big clubs still have to get their players. Of course their net is cast ever further looking for the best young recruits and this is not so good for the small English clubs as the money leaves the country. However money still pours down to the lower leagues through Transfers. This is where the smaller clubs have to be run well and managed efficiently.

This is also the lifeblood of football. Without the small clubs, managers do not learn their art, players do not build their skills and perfect their trade, coaches do not gain experience. After all Alex Ferguson, Sam Allardyce, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard et al, did not just appear from thin air. My Father may have lost faith in Football but it may be just that the structure of the game has changed. The smaller clubs will be feeder clubs to the big clubs, and in effect this is what has always happened, as the best move up the Footballing ladder and the worse slide back down, whether you be a club, manager, player or coach.

Fifth Richest League

It will take longer to break into the imaginary elite of football for the rest of the clubs as the gap between the Premier League and the rest of the English Clubs continues to grow. Nevertheless the state of the English game, relative to the rest of Europe seems to be positive, with the Championship being declared the Fifth Richest League in Europe with an annual turnover of £318,000,000.

It's not just the smaller English clubs that can cry foul. The massive buying power of the Premier Leagues elite is also giving them a huge advantage over the rest of the European clubs. It looks like Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have very healthy futures ahead of them. So long as they keep one eye out for the less fortunate teams all should continue to bode well in the English game or Football will simply cease to exist without the whole Footballing structure in place.

And is it worth it? Well you be the judge.

Champions League Football Video Highlights 2006/2007

Resources :

Improving at Golf by learning from Football - Tips for Young Players

2007-05-31T05:07:00.000-07:00

I have been playing a lot of golf recently and have noticed huge improvements in my game as a result of spending many hours on the driving range and picking up tips from better players.

I have bought a few golf magazines to pick up some more tips on how to improve and after flicking through the pages I noticed the amount of advertising for new equipment, something not unusual to see in Football Magazines and it started me thinking about what you need to excel in a sport. I wondered what you actually need to focus on to make big improvements in your chosen game and what you need to ignore.

When I was a boy I played with friends who were more concerned with having the latest equipment, rather than focusing on what you do with the equipment. In fact even as a professional Football player I noticed many players totally absorbed by the latest football boot design. Golfing magazines are awash with adverts for "larger sweet spots", "top performance putters", "titanium cup faces", "fusion technology", "forged cavity irons" etc etc.

Expensive Sports Equipment do not maketh the man

If you aspire to be a great footballer or golfer, the equipment should not be the focus of your game. There have been massive improvements in Equipment manufacturing (especially in golf, where players now average 300 yard drives and can often Drive over 400 yards) yet it is the practice that counts. Play, play and play again. Or I should say Practice, practice and practice again. Learn how a ball spins, moves, stops, swerves, curves and bounces in all conditions whether rain, snow or shine.

Repetition and Training Drills

Repeating every aspect of your game is the key, simulating match situations so that you are confident in pressure situations whether it is taking a penalty at Wembley against Pepe Reina or driving a 1 wood, 300 yards at Wentworth Golf Course. That is what training drills are for. To replicate situations of games so that you are totally prepared. Training drills can get dull but they are the essence of success in any sport and you will need to find a way to get excited every day about the prospect of repeating an exercise you have done 100s if not 1,000s of times before.

If you are a young player, do yourself a favour (or your parents) and save yourself a lot of money. Unless your boots are falling apart or your golf clubs are bent or 50 years out of date, keep them. Read the golf and football magazines but ignore the advertising for the latest products and concentrate on the tips and advice from the pros. The important stuff in the magazines is the information that can be picked up from the professionals, such as how much they practice, how they practice and when they practice.

Making Racehorses out of Donkeys

Professional sportsmen/women are extremely dedicated people and have the luxury of using the latest equipment but their skills were not honed to perfection by the equipment. The equipment enhances already perfected skills. You cannot make a racehorse out of a donkey, even if the Donkey is wearing Adidas Predator Boots and swinging a Titleist 905R Driver with Titanium body and beta-titanium insert with large sweet spot to boot.

1 Less member needed to buy a Football Club

2007-05-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

Sandringham Estate in North Norfolk

Ok, so I wrote about the novel Football website set up by Will Brooks, looking to garner 50,000 members who will all stump up £35 to create a fund in order to purchase a football club. I still have a lot of questions about how this could happen but it is such a fantastical idea that even if it doesn't work out I think it's worth the £35 to "enjoy the ride"

I registered this morning, which involves giving your name and email address. (the £35 comes later).

The biggest decision is too decide which club you wish to purchase, (actually you do not need to decide on any teams yet) ranging from the Premier League all the way down to the Isthmian League.

I thought about the Premier League Clubs but the amount of money that would be raised would not be enough to compete with even the strugglers in the top flight. The lower leagues seem like a more attractive proposition, where an estimated £1,375,000 would be a huge amount of cash.

I have voted for Kings Lynn Football Club, known as the Linnets, who play in the Southern Premier League and come from Norfolk. Why Kings Lynn? Well I used to play for them, in fact they were my first semi-professional team in the late 1980s. They are a lower league team, with a decent stadium (although could do with a lot of improvement), have a decent squad, just missing out on promotion through the play-offs, and also had a decent cup run last year.

Therefore in my humble opinion I think they could be the perfect club. they obviously have a decent team (relative to their standing) and that is a great starting point. Oh, and the queen has a country retreat (picture at the top) nearby so maybe we can get £35 from her also.

So I ask you all to give Kings Lynn a vote and sign up for Footballs Greatest Adventure.

Here is the Website : http://www.myfootballclub.co.uk/

Charlton Football Fans are just a bunch of Bloggers

2007-05-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

Commiserations to West Bromwich Albion after stumbling at the final premier league hurdle at Wembley. Congratulations of course to Derby County who go on to reap the rewards of a fantastic Championship season.

Of course after finishing 3rd in the regular season many observers will say justice has been done.

I was trying to gauge blogger opinion from West Brom fans before the game but it seems that West Brom Fans do not blog. Charlton fans on the other hand seem to be old hands at Blogging. A selection of a few Charlton Blogs that have caught my attention :

I wonder why the addicks are so keen, yet the baggies not so?

West Bromwich Albion Play Off Finals 2007 v Derby County

2007-05-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

Good luck to my old team West Bromwich Albion tomorrow against Derby County in the Championship Play Off final against Derby at Wembley.

Video of West Broms 2 leg victory against their Black Country Rivals Wolves.

It brings a tingle down my spine to see and hear the baggies fans boing boinging at the Hawthorns.

Next : Golf and Football. Ignoring the "fancy" equipment ads and focusing on what really matters if you aspire to be the best.

Chelsea Football Club Youtube Channel - Global Brand

2007-05-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Football Club have become the first club to open a Youtube Video Channel, allowing fans to congregate online, watch clips of commentary on the club's fortunes and post their views on the season's progress.

Chelsea are reaching out to a new, fast growing medium on the Internet, although they are not allowed to show Live footage due to contractual rights.

Chelsea Chief Executive Peter Kenyon said: "We are delighted to work with YouTube. Chelsea is the first football club to move into what is clearly one of the fastest growing new media platforms."

Youtube which was acquired by Google for $1.65 Billion (USD) is reaching out to sports fans all over the world, and Chelsea will be one of the front runners, hoping to grab a small share of the 100 million video downloads every day from the youtube site. With Google experimenting with Video advertising, the Chelsea channel could be a lucrative business for the club.

The possibilities of the increased advertising revenues from the internet are surely very tantalizing for Football Clubs and Chelsea will no doubt be watching closely to see how many pairs of Chelsea "eyeballs" view their Page.

The Social Networking phenomenon (Myspace, Yahoo 360, Bebo, Flickr, Friendster, Youtube etc) has taken the web by storm and how Chelsea interact and communicate with their fans through youtube is yet to be realized. Along with http://www.youtube.com/chelseafc I expect we will be seeing http://www.youtube.com/chelseafc/china and http://www.youtube.com/chelseafc/india (in their local languages) in an attempt to galvanize a larger fan base.

Traditionally, Football Clubs were supported by the local community, in the immediate vicinity of their stadiums and the surrounding town or city. Their reach was limited geographically by this area, however this no longer applies. The reach and success of clubs, especially the larger clubs is linked to their appeal as a Global Brand, the team messages zooming down Fiber Optic networks to the far flung corners of the planet.

With Liverpool FC having 28,000,000 registered online members worldwide, Chelsea seem keen to innovate on the web to cement them as a Global Brand and reach Fans all over the world.

Resources :
Times Online
Chelsea Youtube Page

Top 7 reason NOT to buy a Football Club

2007-05-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

Crowd Abuse
If you get it wrong you could lose a lot of money
Players really don't care about the owner (see no 3, top 7 Reasons to buy a Football Club)
Fans really don't care about the owner
It's a lose, lose situation. A thankless task. Win the league and the players and manager get credit. Get relegated or win nothing (see Newcastle United, Aston Villa, West Ham, Leeds United etc etc) and the fans want more money and better players.
Unless you own one of the big teams no-one will care what you think in the Premier League meetings. (see no 6, top 7 reason to buy a Football Club)
No-one knows who you are

Top 7 Reasons to buy a Football Club

Want to buy your own Football Club. Footballs most ambitious project.

Why Buy a Football Club?

Football Tricks and Top Goals from 2006/2007

2007-05-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

Freestyle Football Video Skills - More tricks than David Blame

2007-05-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

Professional Footballer's Association - Website for Youngsters, Coaches and football fans

2007-05-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

The PFA is a great website for an insight into the goings on of a Professional Football player and is a great read for anyone interested in Football or pursuing a career in football.

The PFAs chairman is my old Charlton Athletic colleague Chris Powell,(Chris's PFA interview) and is packed with information including loads of player interviews.

Chris points to the role of the PFA in his interview which is undervalued and underused by its members (Football players) saying : "I think some players still don't recognise what benefits they can get (from the PFA), how can they be helped with their financial planning and looking ahead to the future, and life outside football".

The website has some short but insightful interviews with Professional Footballers and does not just concentrate on the star names, but goes through the leagues picking the thoughts of players from all over the country. A refreshing change to hear the opinions of players on the fringe of stardom.

It also has a hot seat, currently Stuart Pearce talking about leaving Manchester City, his job, being fired (a brief phone call telling him his services are no longer required), and the future for Pearce.

The website is packed with information ranging from :

Coaching tips and hints aimed at young football players and coaches
news from the Rehabilitation room with stories of players recoveries from injury
Football Legends, (Currently Gianfranco Zola, Christian Ziege and Theo Zagorakis
Player Directory. If you are tired of reading about speculation in the press, go straight to the Player Directory which lists all available players
Up to Date news from around the Football Leagues, and the latest transfer gossip

Today, the modern game of Football has major concerns over widespread corruption and players would do well to take advantage of the PFA (players union), which offers a fine service to players, whereby they receive representation in contract negotiations, financial advice and post career advice. They do this for a modest fee and quite often in a more professional manner.

50,000 members needed to bid for a Football Club

2007-05-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I have found this website that is looking for 50,000 members to join and sign up for £35 each to purchase through a society a Football Club.

The website, which is the brainchild of Fulham fan Will Brooks and 2 years into development has been featured on the BBC. Although it throws up a host of potential problems, the possibilities are tantalizing to say the least. With 50,000 members all having a single vote and the club run by true democracy it has to be worth £35 of anyones money.

MyFootballClub is offering to buy out a club that meets the following criteria :

51% or more of the football club shares can be bought with the Purchase Fund

There is none, or a manageable debt

The club has the potential to reach the Premiership

The Ultimate Fantasy Football Manager Game

Once the club is purchased here is where the fun starts. Members will be able to :

Vote on team selection and formation

Decide tactics, by voting for your preferred style of play and substitutions depending on match situations

Vote for or veto Club transfers

Suggest player purchases and send scouting reports

Vote on how to allocate club funds, whether it’s on transfers, youth policy or the stadium or other major decisions

Currently 26,500 members have signed up and you will even have the option to vote for which club to purchase : The top 5 voted for so far are :

Leeds United

Cambridge

Accrington

Nott'm Forest

Brighton

Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all feature in the voting although I think wishful thinking is more at play here. You can vote for any team from the Premiership all the way down to the Conference North and South.

For more information visit the My Football Club Website here : http://www.myfootballclub.co.uk/

The BBC ran an article covering Will Brooks ambitious scheme : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6639407.stm

Freestyle Football Video Skills

2007-05-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

Freestyle Football Video to make even Ronaldinho jealous

More Freestyle Football

And now the masters, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo

Resources :

Ronaldinho Official Website
Cristiano Ronaldo Wikipedia

Want to buy your own Football Club?

2007-05-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

Sounds crazy but "Footballs greatest adventure" to put together 50,000 members to bid for an English Football Club is underway.

More tomorrow. Or is it an internet scam...

Top 7 reasons to buy a Football Club

2007-05-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

Yet another Premier League takeover is on the cards with Billionaire Mike Ashley buying 41.6% of Newcastle United Football Club, valuing the Geordies at £133.1 million, not quite as much as Liverpools £178 Million but still a vast sum of money. I wrote about why there has been such an interest in the last few years from Billionaires and consortiums in purchasing notoriously bad businesses (Football Clubs) and have compiled a Top 7 reasons list to buy a Club.

Top 7 Reasons to buy a Football Club :

Free Ticket to Home Games and go where you like in the stadium

Entrance to away team Boardrooms

Get to meet the players

Get to buy the players

Bragging Rights

Sit in on Premier League meetings with the high flying big wigs of football

Great Pre-season Holidays with the team

If you have any suggestions leave them in the comments below...

and the Top 7 reasons not to buy the club?

As for the Champions League final. Liverpool got hit with the classic sucker punch. After playing the better football and wasting numerous great attacking positions (how they missed someone like Robbie Fowler), Pippo Inzaghi popped up to show them how to do it with 2 predatory goals, although the first does nothing to prove his goalscoring skills other than his willingness to follow up the free kick and get into dangerous goalscoring areas. Something Liverpool obviously missed.

I rate Dirk Kuyt but so much of his work is done in front of the opposition back 4, contributing much to the teams build up, whereas Inzaghi is constantly looking to get in behind defences, contributing less to the team over 90 minutes, but how much value do you place on 2 Champions League final goals?

Football Pitch in the Olympic Park, Munich, Germany

2007-05-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

Why would you buy a Premier League Football Club?

2007-05-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

For the fun? For the Prestige? For the money? It certainly provides owners with immense Kudos to add a Premier League Football Club to their Portfolios. With premier league clubs being bought up by American Billionaires and mysterious Foreign investors one most wonder why they are doing this, especially when the buyers seem to have very little emotional attachment to the clubs.

No matter how many times Malcolm Glazer (Manchester United), George Gillett and Tom Hicks (Liverpool) and Roman Abramovich (Chelsea) say they love their Football Clubs a cynical observer can only conclude they see these clubs as good investments and will make some money along the way, or at least avoid losing money on the deals, while indulging themselves in the luxury of owning well supported teams in arguably the most passionate sport and football league in the world.

After all if you own racehorses, sports cars, private jets and villas around the world a Football Club is another great plaything.

American Billionaires have shown a healthy interest in purchasing English Premier League Football clubs and an interesting article from Conde Naste Portfolio, probes these buys. Apart from the obvious sheer "hell of it" factor the article points to the fact that these ultra rich men have run out of sports franchises to purchase in the US, and when a Sports team does come up for sale, bidding is frenzied.

So why not turn their attention to European shores where clubs are available and actively searching for new owners to provide the investment needed to keep up with Manchester United and Chelsea. The Conde Naste article continues by quoting Liverpools website has 28,000,000 registered members worldwide. And here I feel is the crux of the matter.

Website Revenue Guestimate

With online advertising growing at a phenomenal rate, (check Googles share price to see what the stock market thinks of online advertising) clubs such as Liverpool have a potential goldmine in advertising revenue on their doorstep. 28 million registered members equates to a lot of people every day viewing the Liverpool site.

If Liverpool can attract 20% of their members to view the website every day, a carefully thought out Website Pay per click Advertising campaign could bring in online revenue of between £80,000-£100,000 EVERY DAY. This is a mind boggling figure and certainly enough to cover the £178,000,000 loan borrowed from Royal Bank of Scotland to purchase Liverpool FC. Add to this the share of the Premiership Worldwide Broadcast rights, other advertising revenues, stadium rights and Gate receipts you can suddenly see the value Foreign Investors now see in English Football Clubs.

These worldwide membership numbers are only set to increase as the clubs fight to gain footholds in the lucrative Chinese and other Asian markets. Hence the influx of Chinese players into the Premier League.

So for the Globally thinking modern Premier League owner, the sky is the limit, this of course assumes that you can create success on the field, which is the eternal footballing battle.

Have you ever wanted to own a Football player or Sports Star? Another interesting article about the incredible prospect of owning shares in an Athlete and then trading them for real money.

http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/sports/2007/04/16/The-Jock-Exchange

Next : Top 7 reasons to Own a Football Club, Top 7 reasons NOT to own a Football Club.

Resources :

Liverpool Football Club Takeover
Manchester United Football Club Takeover
Chelsea Football Club Takeover
Premier League

Conde Naste Football Article

Football Training Techniques - Plyometrics at Charlton Athletic

2007-05-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

My last article I wrote about Sam Allardyce taking over at Newcastle United Football Club and his use of modern techniques to enhance the abilities of his players. I touched on the subject of Plyometrics, a type of exercise that uses explosive movements to develop muscular power.

Plyometrics resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plyometrics

http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/plymo.htm

In the final few years of my Football career I was introduced to this training technique and found it to be extremely useful. Charlton Athletics fitness coach Joe Dunbar was responsible for bringing the technique to the club, although obviously Alan Curbishley (former Manager of Charlton Athletic Football Club) must be given credit for his foresight in using this training technique.

Through a combination of Weight Training, Bounding and Jumping mixed with agility training, Plyometrics was used by Charlton to improve the speed and strength of our players. Initially Joe received very funny looks and lots of ridicule from the Football team as no-one was sure of the purpose of these exercises.

Before every training session Joe would put out cones and small hurdles for the players to bound over, sometimes hopping on one leg and other times bounding 2 legged like kangaroos. Other exercises included zig-zagging from side to side in a slalom like fashion. It felt strange at first. Even though the co-ordination of Professional Footballers is as good as any athletes, the introduction of any new exercise takes some adjusting too. Players would be falling over, crashing into the hurdles and making fools of themselves in front of a large cynical footballing audience.

Of course in Football you have to be thick skinned to any criticism and continue to practice these new techniques. Sure enough over time with the use of controlled weight training, we noticed a marked difference. The use of Plyometrics coincided with our Championship winning season, gaining promotion to the Premiership league.

Over the next few seasons Joe continued these training sessions. Some players were not convinced by these techniques but for a few of us we were hooked and would start our training sessions 30 minutes early in order to practice on the hurdles and slalom courses that Joe set up.

My personal experience was that I found a huge increase in leg strength. I was always a very lean player and found it difficult adding power and strength to my legs. For most of my career I experimented with different kinds of weight training programs, lifting heavy weights to make myself stronger. But Plyometrics surpassed any of my previous training programs and I felt a huge boost in power, enabling myself to jump higher during matches, sprint faster and hold off monster sized centre halves.

I could even be seen in Greenwich Park, London a stones throw away from the Charlton Stadium, practicing these techniques. In June and July before the pre-season training had started, I would find a quiet area away from the sun-bathing public and go through the routines that Joe had given me. Gradually over the weeks my 10 one-legged hops or 10 two legged bunny hops would increase in distance, testimony to the benefit of Plyometrics. I must have looked very strange in my training kit, bounding through the park, but as I previously said, as a Football player you have to have a thick skin. If this technique was beneficial to my game then I was prepared to try it out.

I would recommend Plyometrics to any player, especially Footballers looking to gain more power and strength. Although I would definitely suggest getting professional advice because the strains and tensions put on your muscles and body can cause serious injury.

Another New Era for Newcastle United Football Club

2007-05-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Newcastle United Football Club have taken a brave step in hiring another manager to lift the so called sleeping giants out of hibernation. It must be such an old cliche for the fans of the club to hear, but with a massive fan base and a huge stadium they are a Football Club that could achieve so much more than their history suggests.

In Sam Allardyce they have what seems to be a traditional English manager who builds Football teams that are very hard to beat, yet in the not so traditional sense, Allardyce employs extremely modern techniques at his clubs. With a team of experts around him Allardyce ensures that he has the expertise in areas of a football club that he himself does not have time to run.

I played for many clubs who hired Nutritionists, Specialist Coaches (When I played for Newcastle in the early 90s they had a sprinting coach even way back then), motivational experts, Physiotherapists and other such gurus to enhance the performance of the team.

At Charlton Athletic we had a fitness coach called Joe Dunbar (who also worked with World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Lennox Lewis) who was responsible for the fitness routines, pre match warm ups, post match warm downs and any other Cross Training required at the Club to enhance the players physical attributes. Including a revolutionary exercise program called Plyometrics, which I personally found to be very useful adding enormous amounts of strength and power to my legs.

When I was at West Bromwich Albion, Alan Buckley hired a motivational expert to try and help the players out of the worse slump in the clubs history, 13 straight defeats. In the early 90s this kind of specialism was just beginning although it really failed to have much of an impact on the players or the club at that particular time.

English Football has come a long way since, and Allardyce confirmed that he will be implementing at Newcastle what he did at Bolton, although of course that took 8 years to do. Whether Newcastle United and their impatient fans will give him this amount of time, especially as he has only signed a 3 year contract remains to be seen.

Allardyce has an impressive record at Bolton, finishing 16th, 17th, 8th, 6th, 8th and 7th in the last 6 years. He also points to his ability to inspire older players, star names with so called egos, and also to Boltons exceptional injury record losing just 72 player days to injury this season, compared to Newcastles extraordinary 340 player days.

It doesn't take a Brain Surgeon or indeed a Football expert to analyze these figures and realize that the more time your players are available and the less injuries they are carrying, the greater chance the team has of winning games. With Newcastle Uniteds financial clout and impressive squad, a fully fit team will instantly perform better than most other sides (excluding the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea) and if you average out these performances over a season Newcastle should see steady progress under Allardyce.

Needless to say a lot will depend on Allardyce tinkering to find the right squad plus his ability to build his team of experts and motivate the motivators.

Congratulations West Brom Football Club

2007-05-18T06:29:00.001-07:00

Well done to West Bromwich Albion Football Club in making the Championship 2006/2007 Play Off finals.

Wembley has had quite an overhaul since I played there for the Baggies in the 1993 play off finals. I wish them luck in the final against Derby, and hopefully I will still see 2 of my former sides lining up in the Premier League next season.

Virtual Tour of "Old Wembley"

Freddies Football Faux Pas

2007-05-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

Newcastle Uniteds Chairman Freddie Shepherd was caught on a mobile video phone by an enterprising bunch of Liverpool fans, with a less than complimentary comment about Michael Owen. This video is now doing the rounds on Youtube (140,000 views in 3 days) and is a Classic F**k up which will hardly endear him to Owen.

Outrageous Football Skills

2007-05-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

The agony of Football Relegation

2007-05-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

"When our fans stopped singing we knew Oldham were beating Southampton. You realise out on the pitch that you're doomed." Geoff Thomas, Crystal Palace talking about relegation in 1993.

I have experienced relegation with Charlton and it's a terrible thing. I felt the expectation and disappointment of the fans and really do feel that you are letting a lot of people down.

Adrian Chiles (A West Brom Fan and Match of the Day 2 presenter) wrote from a fans point of view in Four Four Two Magazine, that it is the hope that kills you. Quote "All last season I was dreading going down but when it finally happened I was a new man. It's the hope that kills you"

I suppose once you are relegated you make peace with the fact and move on. Football fans being the ultimate optimists that they are.

Read More from the Guardian Article

Turning down £15,000 a week!

2007-05-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of Emails from people who are suffering or believe they are suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

I was struck down with this illness in 2000 at the height of my professional Football career. For anyone who is looking for a reference point for CFS I would suggest reading the article about the problems I had, including how it affected the end of my football career.

Nearly 6 Years after being diagnosed I am unable to resume even a semi-professional career in football and I am still trying to persuade my insurance company to recognise that this caused the end of my career, and to finally pay me. I wish they were as quick at settling claims as they are at accepting premiums!!!

At the time I was in my last year of my contract and negotiations had started to sign a new contract with Charlton that would have been worth in excess of £10,000/week and possibly as much as £15,000/week, an astronomical figure when I look back now, although in the year 2007 this probably isn't even the average salary of a premier league footballer.

I could have signed the new contract and sat on it for the next 2/3 years while I tried to recover from CFS. You cannot imagine how difficult a decision this was to make. Money vs my health. I suspect many players have taken the money option, and I played with a few who seemed to spend rather too much time off the football field than on it. However I knew something was wrong so I decided to opt for the (arguably) harder option, which was to change my lifestyle and take a total rest from Football. Of course this meant giving up my career at my peak, but no job is worth your health. Even if it is for £15,000/week.

Here is the link : http://escribbler.blogspot.com/2005/11/what-is-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.html

Thanks for the Football memories - West Brom 1992/1993 Play Off Squad

2007-05-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/albion/tm_headline=albion-s-1993-play-off-side-revisited%26method=full%26objectid=19088068%26siteid=50002-name_page.html

For all Baggies fans this is a nice summary and trip down memory lane of the Play Off final squad.

West Bromwich Albion Football Club v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Football Play Off Finals 2006/2007

2007-05-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

West Brom v Wolves in the Play offs. I played in a few of these local derbies and really wish I was there for this one. Good luck to West Bromwich Albion Football Club, my old Team. I was playing for West Brom in 1992/93 in the play offs when we were promoted from the old division 2 in the Play Off final at Wembley Stadium. (heading to Wembley in 1992/93 - my story).

I remember how nervous we all were then but to be up against their long time arch rivals in the play offs is doubly cruel for all concerned.

2006/2007 Championship Play off Review.

And commiserations to Charlton Athletic Football Club (another of my old teams) on being relegated from the Premier League. A big blow I am sure to the Club. Pardew is obviously used to life in the Championship and knows his way around that division very well, so they will be hot favourites to return.

Myself scoring at Wembley Stadium in 1993 for West Bromwich Albion Football Club v Port Vale

100 Milliseconds to Save a Football Penalty?

2007-05-09T03:09:00.000-07:00

Pepe Reinas saves in the penalty shoot out against Chelsea in the Semi Finals of the Champions League were impressive especially when you consider that a goalkeeper has 100 milliseconds to make his decision. According to Professor Tom Reilly (Professor of Sports Science at Liverpool John Moore University) the ball takes 600 milliseconds to travel from the penalty spot to the goal line, leaving a goalkeeper a mere 100 milliseconds to choose his direction. Most Penalty takers would choose their spot before approaching the kick, unless of course you are in the class of Eric Cantona who seemed to have an uncanny knack of sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Looks like this goalkeeper could do with some hints from Reina....

Football Pre Match Routine - Home Games

2007-04-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Football players have a routine that they use before games to prepare themselves for action and I was no exception. Away game Football match preparations (Gambling, Pornography, Tabloid Newspapers, Greasy Cafes and Hardcore Football Fans) are always slightly different to home game Football match preparations due to the lack of Travel.

My pre-match routine would be similar to the following :

Preparation for a game would always start the night before the game. Physcologically I would start to think about the game and also prepare my nutrition for the match. There is a well known technique called Visualization which many top athletes practice. It involves imagining the upcoming event or in more complete terms. Visualization is the process of creating a mental image or intention, of what you want to happen or to feel. An athlete can use this technique to 'intend' an outcome of a race, training session or simply rest in a feeling of calm and well-being. By imagining a scene, complete with images or movies, of a previous best performance or a new desired outcome, the athlete will simply 'step into' that feeling. It is a common technique and proven to be very successful for many top athletes.

I would have a regular meal the night before the game and would always take a Carbohydrate Drink to boost my bodies Carbohydrate levels ensuring I was as ready for the game as I possibly could be.

If I was carrying an injury or feeling stiff I would do some stretches to help relieve tension in my muscles or perhaps go for a short walk in the evening.

I would stay in bed until 9 or 10am the morning of the game. The day of the game is always a bit dull for a player until you actually arrive at the stadium. I always found myself looking forward to the start of the game and getting very excited but you have to wait several hours and so a routine helps to keep your mind off the wait and to reduce the level of tension. I would do alot of pacing around in anticipation of the upcoming football match.

Breakfast would always be a bowl of cereal. I would drink lots of water on the morning of the game, maybe 3 or 4 pints spaced out over the course of the morning.

Lunch would normally be Beans on toast. I found this to be a light meal that would not "lay" too heavy on my stomach for the game. I would not eat anything after 12pm, apart from a Banana before the match if I felt a bit hungry.

I would leave for the stadium with my kit bag and a High Energy Drink, plus a Banana for half time.

Arrival at the stadium was always greeted by fans looking for autographs and wishing you well for the match. It is always a much different experience arriving for a home game compared to an away match, as you would be greeted by fans from your team rather than opposition fans.

Once at the stadium the players would report to the dressing room and spend the next half an hour or so sitting around waiting for the managers team talk, typically at 2pm.

Most managers would announce their team at 2pm, although the players would have a very good idea about the side due to the training session from the day before. If there were going to be any changes the manager would go through them in that training session.

Usually in the dressing room would be a board or chart with a selection of set-plays, such as free-kicks and corners (both for and against) designating who would be standing where and which player was your responsibility. As one of the taller players I always found myself marking one of the bigger players in the opposition, which could mean defending against a very large centre half. This always irked me as not only would I have all my attacking responsibilities but due to my size I was useful as a defender when required, whereas my strike partners would quite often get to have a rest on the half way line.

After the team announcement we would be free to prepare for the game. Get changed into the kit and then head out onto the field for the pre-match warm up.

We would always do alot of running and stretching before the game. It is essential to get your body "revved" up for the game so some long runs to get the lungs and heart pumping were normal. After this I would try to get as many touches of the ball as possible on the field so that I was as ready as I could be.

The pre-match warm up could last anything from 15 minutes to 25 minutes and then we would all return to the dressing room for the final team meeting and lots of "geeing" each other up by the Manager, Assistant Manager and Coach. After a bout of chest thumping and back slapping we were ready to go..

Football Finale - Premier League and Champions League Football run in

2007-04-25T08:55:00.001-07:00

Ferguson, Mourinho, Wenger, Ronaldo, Drogba and the rest of the premier league circus that inspires us week after week are revving up for the showdown of the century. A finale to the Premier League football season whipped into a tantalizing display of the best footballers and teams in Europe, and showcased by the best new technology of high definition TV, a million different camera angles and a host of media bustling to give us every little titbit we can devour.

I am heading back to England for a few weeks break from Belize, full of excitement to see the Premier League finale and the culmination of the Coca Cola Championship. I have a special interest in the Championship as I lived in Birmingham for 5 years playing for West Bromwich Albion Football Club for that duration. I know the passion and rivalry between Birmingham, Wolves and West Brom, and the tension must be at breaking point. The possibility of West Brom and Wolves playing each other in the Play-offs is incredible for the people of the midlands, especially as Birmingham may be joining them if they cannot secure one of the top spots.

I have often said that I do not believe Footballers deserve the money they earn. Yet when the teams serve up a season of endless possibilities: First All English Champions League final; 2 teams in search of the treble; Premier league and Championship all going to the wire, I can only congratulate everyone involved. The Gladiators on the field, the Generals directing from the sidelines all have played a huge role in creating the end of season spectacle we are now witnessing.

Whether you are a Barnsley, Kings Lynn (my first team), Wigan or Kettering Town (my second team) Fan you will all be picking your favourites for the end of season run in regardless of whom your first football love is. The stars of the show will have the world talking about them in a never-ending barrage of compliments, abuse, admiration, despair, frustration and disappointment. They will be the talk of the town up and down the country and although their salaries resemble telephone numbers, Ferguson, Mourinho and the rest of the premier league crew deserve enormous credit for bringing English Football a season’s finale to be proud of.

The only problem I have is finding a good spot to soak up the last few weeks of football as my family don’t have Skysports…..

And the best Football Penalty ever....

2007-04-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

Football Penalty kick - How many re-takes??

2007-04-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen anything like this?

Football Video Skills and Tricks - Step over heaven

2007-04-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

People are compiling some great videos online at youtube. Here is another of Football skills and tricks. It's hard to know how some of these players even do this!!!

Maradona, Pele and Cruyff

2007-04-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

Premier league Football Videos - Got a few spare minutes??

2007-04-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

If you have a few spare minutes at work, click on any of the Videos on the right hand side of this Blog. Scroll down the page and look on the right hand panel for the "Latest Premier League Video" to view Google Video and Youtubes latest Premier League offerings from their Video Streaming services.

The video will start playing at the top of the blog.

West Ham v Chelsea.... come on curbs you can do better than that

2007-04-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

How to Become a Professional Footballer

2007-01-23T04:05:00.000-08:00

I have been writing a series on articles on How to become a Professional Footballer. Starting from how I became a Football player with some good advice to young children on what is required to make the leap from Amateur status to a Professional. Following on from this are several articles on my career at Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic Football Club.

Here are the links to the Articles.

Article 1 - How to Become a Professional Football Player - What it takes to be an elite athlete.

Article 2 - Rising through the Amateur Ranks of Football - Ashill to Kettering Town

Article 3 - Making the leap to a Professional Football Player - Arriving at Newcastle United

Article 4 - Playing for Newcastle United Football Club - Troubled Times

Article 5 - Football with Kevin Keegan

Article 6 - Departing Newcastle United Football Club - Joining West Bromwich Albion

Article 7 - Playing at Wembley in the Play off Finals for West Bromwich Albion

Click on any of the above links to be directed to the articles

The Power of One Football Player - David Beckham

2007-01-12T12:44:00.000-08:00

Many football commentators will have had an inkling of David Beckhams desire to move to the USA, but the magnitude of his contract, reported to be $250,000,000 over 5 years is astonishing. (The $250 million gamble). Especially when you consider that most other players within his team and the MLS league will be earning a decent wage, but certainly nothing comparable to Beckhams contract or even the wages of well paid players in the UK. How that will unravel over the coming seasons in the dressing room of LA Galaxy, only time will tell. I remember when I played in England that as soon as one players wages were increased beyond a reasonable level of the rest of the squad, there would be unrest until parity returned to the clubs wage bill.

Beckham bigger than the Club

Of course when you have a star of Beckhams magnitude in an otherwise average team/league, he will be treated with such reverence that I do believe resentment will build within his team-mates. Fans will walk past and ignore 20 players and head straight for Beckham. That does not make for good team spirit. And how can parity be returned to a squad when the leading player is earning more than the rest of the team put together?? Beckham will enjoy the status but if his performances and teams success don't equate to his wages (which is quite likely), he will feel the wrath of team-mates. The problem is that a fair balance can never return to the LA Galaxy because they cannot afford a squad of 20 players each earning $50,000,000 annually. And what about the LA Galaxy manager/coach. Beckham is bigger than all of these people. Which Is why Ferguson (Manchester United) sold him to Real Madrid. Ferguson saw the bright lights and media circus of Beckhams career a long time ago. When a player is bigger than the manager or the club, you have a problem on and off the field.

Global Brand

I own a resort in Belize, Central America and most of our guests are Americans. When they ask me about my days playing Professional Football, they always bring up the name David Beckham. I think he is the only English Football player they have heard of. Even without playing Football in the USA he has a massive worldwide following and is globally recognised, which has always been a huge surprise to me. Football is not a greatly supported sport in America and how Beckham has reached this superstar status is a bit of a mystery.

Nevertheless he is a superstar in the USA already and he has secured a contract as big as any American superstar in Baseball or the NFL. Beckham is the ultimate marketing machine, liked by the ladies, respected by the men that follow football and carrying a squeaky clean image that Adidas surely adore. Married to a spice girl, he oozes sponsorship credibility.

Igniting Football in America

It’s a convenient fit that Beckham moves to LA Galaxy where he has started his own Football Academy called the “David Beckham Academy” in Los Angeles and will attract hordes of paying youngsters to his Training Camps. The Beckham Gravy Train will roll on into the USA hoping to set a torch under the revival of Football in America. I wish him good luck because I have seen the facilities available all over America for Football and it definitely has the infrastructure to start a footballing frenzy.

I will enjoy watching his interviews as he will have to use the word Soccer for his American audience but at the same time will be causing great offence to the British Football diehards who find the use of this term and not "Football" to be almost sacrilege.

Beckhams deal is all about the merchandising ($10,000,000 per year), sponsorship deals (Motorola, Pepsi, Volkswagen and Gillette totalling $25,000,000 per year) and a very bold attempt to boost the image of Football in America. The MLS cannot sustain a player on these wages and I suspect that the fat egos of the people behind this deal have very little interest in the welfare of Football. Quote Simone Fuller, Beckhams Commercial Agent "I have long dreamt of being responsible for the biggest sporting deal. With the help of David Beckham and his unique sporting talents I have helped achieve my aim". It seems that Fuller has got his way. Hopefully Beckham will survive the onslaught of paparazzi and media attention that his advisors have in store for him.

Professional Football Players Kit Bag

2006-12-12T18:46:00.000-08:00

I recently had an email asking how professional football players choose their kit sizes. This is not an exact science and although we are a spoiled breed, we certainly do not take a trip to Saville Row to get our chest, leg and ankle sizes measured up.

Most players would fit a general size of shirt or shorts, which if you have a good kit man will be pre-determined for you. Life as a professional footballer can be very luxurious at times. A kit mans job is to ensure that all your kit is laid out before you when you arrive at the stadium for a game. This would include Shirt, Shorts, Socks, underwear and boots. All spotlessly clean and ready for action. The only thing you bring in your kit bag is shin pads, little snacks, and any special drinks you personally prefer. For example, a high carbohydrate drink.

Shirt sizes were generally always quite accurate. I am sure the occasional player will need a specially made shirt, or some players might request a specific size. But I rarely witnessed this.

Socks of course are very easy to determine. So no problems figuring out these sizes.

Pre-season (before the professional games started) was the opportunity to get the right Football Boots. As happened at my other clubs a boot man would come into the training ground with a large bag of boots of all types, brand and sizes. This was the time to get your Football Boots for the upcoming season. We were all given the chance to choose 2 pairs of studs and 2 pairs of moulded boots for the drier/harder pitches.

Football player contracts

Some players would have contracts with Adidas, Nike, Puma or whoever and would receive their boots directly from the manufacturer. However when I was at Charlton Athletic Football Club only a very few players had these contracts. In fact I knew very few players who had contracts with large sports manufacturers. These deals are usually reserved for the superstars such as Beckham, Owen, Ronaldhino etc who receive very large sums of money for wearing a brand of boot.

At Newcastle United Football Club we were given the opportunity to raid the Nike factory. For 2 years my friends and family were walking around in Nike sportswear as I was allowed to visit their store and buy boots, kit, bags and other sportswear for about 75% of the retail price.

Training Kit was pre-determined for us. Everything is numbered based on your squad number. T-shirts, jumpers, shorts, rain jackets, woolly hats and long pants.

The gross side of football.

Unfortunately sharing underwear was a part of being a professional footballer. Of course it was boil washed and cleaned but when I look back at my time as a professional footballer I find the thought of wearing pants that belonged to the sweaty centre half in the previous game rather disgusting. As was the lovely job of picking used plasters out of tumble dried training kit socks.

Football Match preparations for an Away Game

2006-11-16T20:48:00.000-08:00

Gambling, Pornography, Tabloid Newspapers, Greasy Cafes and Hardcore Football Fans

Away Day Football Match Preparation for a Professional Football Team. This was the typical routine for most of the clubs I played for, although I am quite sure it is a similar schedule for other Football Clubs.

For long trips involving more than 2 hours of driving we would always depart the day before the game.

Friday Training Session

Friday morning would be a training session at the ground, starting at 10.30am. Friday training sessions would always be a bit different to a regular training session. More emphasis would be placed upon the tactics for the game the next day.

Set pieces. Corners and Free Kicks. Both Attacking and defending. We would spend from ½ hour to 1 hour analysing the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses. Normally with no opposition, the first team squad would go through the corners and free kicks, standing in the required positions. Boring stuff really but important information. You did not want to be the player who had not listened or understood his job (especially defensively) and was caught out on a Saturday, leading to a goal.

Journey

After a 2 hour training session, the coach would be loaded up with the kit ready to depart soon after. Lunch would be laid on at the training ground, although some players would sneak off to the greasy spoon to get their last unhealthy meal before coming under the Big brother control of the club nutritional requirements. i.e. the club would be able to monitor what you eat once you got on the Team coach.

A quick stop at the Newsagents to get the newspapers, magazines, crisps and chocolate (club cannot monitor bags of crisps in the kit bag) and we would be set to go. Mostly Tabloid newspaper nonsense on the team bus plus FHM, Loaded, Football Boot monthly etc.

The whole first team squad would be on the coach, typically numbering 20 players. Plus one of the senior management staff, club physio, kit man and driver.

Journeys would be filled with card games, DVDS on laptops or portable players and sleeping. Arrive at the hotel, normally located within 20 minutes of the away team Football stadium. We would be paired together, 2 to a room. Once arrived and given our room numbers, players would walk around, stretching their legs, getting the long Coach ride out of their system.

Hardcore Football Fans

Hardcore Football fans would be waiting at the hotel entrance. I am not quite sure how these fans would find out where the team was staying but there would always be a group of the most dedicated autograph hunters standing in the hotel reception. No players ever mind signing autographs but these fans are a special breed, testing the patience of even the kindest players. They would carry boxes of magazines, newspaper cuttings and articles. For the more popular players it would not be unknown for them to sign 40-50 autographs for one person.

Football players hanging out in a Hotel

By the time we arrived at the Hotel it would be late afternoon, so Dinner would be next on the Agenda. Most of the time we would be given a room away from the main restaurant. Probably to keep the players away from the regular diners and stop them from bothering people. Meals would be pasta, chicken, steak, rice and vegetables all served in a buffet style for the team. It was standard fare at most hotels. If the manager was in a good mood he would let us have an ice cream. Yippeeee. Sometimes felt like we were in the army with all the rules and regulations.

Preparation!!

After dinner almost all the players would head off to their rooms. Some would play cards until late at night. I heard an anonymous Premiership footballer on BBC Radio Five Live, recently talking about the addictions of young players, who would travel with their laptops, and hook up to the Internet and gamble until the early hours of the morning. This does not surprise me at all. The player said that after finishing gambling they would just surf the Internet looking for porn. Sometimes not getting to sleep until 4 or 5am.

I also knew players who would have a different girl in different parts of the country. A convenient mistress to spend the night with before the game. Although I am not going to name names for fear of being sued.

Other players would bring a playstation, hook it up to the Hotel TV and have a little tournament with team-members. Every player has his own way of “killing time” the night before the game.

Match Day Morning

Next morning would be up for Breakfast, again monitored by the club. Some managers are stricter than others but normally it would be a hearty breakfast, fit for a king. Then maybe a walk with the team to stretch off, or even a very light training session. (I used to hate that. Training on the morning of the game).

The rest of the morning was free, usually hanging out in the room watching football. We would then have lunch followed by a team meeting to re-emphasize the points from the training session the day before and also to announce the team.

Although everyone would already have a good idea of the team due to the training session on Friday, it was normally re-announced. Sometimes players would be sick or carrying an injury and did not pass their fitness test on the morning of the game.

We would get to the ground about 1 ½ hours before kick off. Into the dressing room, walk the pitch, savour the atmosphere. Then get changed into the Match Kit 1 hour before kick off, starting the pre match warm up 30 minutes before the game. One final team meeting before hyping ourselves up ready to take the field.

Charlton Football Club part company with Iain Dowie

2006-11-13T13:50:00.000-08:00

Charlton Football Club parting company with Iain Dowie has surprised me.

Although the team has not won many games this year and there is no doubt about the pressure Dowie and the club would be under at such an early stage of the season, I thought that Charlton Athletic Football club would have persevered and given the manager at least a full season and a shot at promotion next season (assuming the worse case scenario - is relegation that bad for Charlton Athletic?)

Looking back to Alex Fergusons early time at Machester United is a brief reminder of how close he came to losing his job when he became the Manchester United boss.

I am sure that Charlton would have done their homework in depth before hiring Dowie and knowing full well that any change in management is a tricky transition for any Football Club this decision comes as a shock.

Maybe Curbs has had a long enough break and wants his job back!!! Dowie goes back to Crystal Palace, Simone Jordan drops his court case against him and everyone carries on as if we've been stuck in some kind of Footballing wormhole!

Return to Escribbler Football Home Page

Football conundrum for Liverpool FC - Gerrards awkward position

2006-11-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

Arsenal 3 Liverpool 0 - This morning I watched todays game at the Emirates Stadium between Arsenal and Liverpool and can only surmise that Liverpool Football Club seem to be in a state of turmoil. Todays performance against Arsenal was woefully below what is expected of a high quality premiership side such as Liverpool.

Steven Gerrards continued role as a right midfielder is becoming more of an issue for all football commentators (BBC Sport - Benitez shrugs off Gerrard debate) and plenty have noted the folly of playing one of the best central midfielders in the country in a position that is not natural for him.

As a guide to disseminating the choice of playing Gerrard on the right hand side I would suggest putting yourself in Arsene Wengers shoes. What would Wenger be thinking (and most Arsenal fans) when they saw how Liverpool shaped up before the game today? Gerrard playing out on the right side of the field ; Wenger must have been delighted with that.

There were many strange looks from Gerrard to his bench throughout the game, showing his confusion. Rafael Benitez has a constant rotation policy for his team, but playing your best players out of position definitely is not going to win him any admirers. Especially amongst the Liverpool fans.

After the game Benitez said

"Steven was playing in the middle for part of the second half and we didn't create many chances.

"We need to improve as a team and not think about one or two players."

That’s not a great way to motivate your players and Gerrard will surely feel these remarks as criticism from his manager. Justifying his decision to play Gerrard in right midfield by questioning Gerrards lack of influence when he did play him in the Centre of Midfield does not bode well. It is as if Benitez is saying that he wasn't effective in the Centre of Midfield even when he moved him to the centre and therefore his decision to play him on the right was correct.

Well Gerrard certainly did not influence the game on the right. Troubled times indeed for Liverpool.

Arsenal on the other hand are doing their up most to keep up with the phenomenal win rate of Manchester United and Chelsea. Today they looked like a great team, playing with lots of movement, fluidity and able to break down Liverpool on numerous occasions. I hope they can hang on to the coattails of the leading 2 to make this a Premiership season to remember. I am sure we will see some great press conferences and touchline dramas courtesy of Jose Mourinho, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger if the 3 teams can stay neck and neck through the season. Those battles/mindgames could be as exciting as the Football matches themselves and reminiscent of Kevin Keegans emotional outpouring below :

Funny Video
Totally off the topic of Football is this brilliant video in a similar vein to Trigger Happy TV. It's amazing the things people will put up with and do when you point a camera and microphone at them...enjoy

Alex Ferguson Swearing on TV - Classic Football Drama

2006-11-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

Top 5 Funny Football Goals

2006-10-31T17:45:00.000-08:00

Thierry Henry Football Tips

2006-10-31T17:40:00.000-08:00

Funny Football Video

2006-10-31T17:32:00.001-08:00

Football - Leg Breaking, Rib Cracking, Gum Splitting Fun

2006-10-29T16:17:00.000-08:00

Today was one of them defining moments in a football players career. This morning, looking forward to my lunchtime game, I had to search to the back of the medicine cabinet to find ibuprofen, the magic painkiller tablet. Actually anything would have sufficed but ibuprofen was the painkiller of choice at all my old football clubs, so habits die-hard.

I needed it because my back/ribs and my body were generally hurting from a little game I had during the week. But a Sunday game was too much too resist, so out came the painkillers. 2 x 200mg did the trick.

Oh for the days when my enthusiasm and a bit of arm twisting by the coach meant I would play with a broken foot, cracked ribs, and half my lip hanging off!

West Bromwich Albion was the scene of my three heroic injury ravaged games. The first was when Paul Mardon tackled me in a training session on a Monday. All week I received treatment for the excruciating pain in my foot. No chance of playing on Saturday, I thought to myself. Friday, the boss asked me to do a fitness test. Our physiotherapist watched me hobble around the field 3 times.

“How is it”? He asked me.

“Very painful”, I told him.

“You will be ok though for tomorrow”

I looked at him in disbelief. “You’re kidding”, I said

But he wasn’t. The next day I sat in the spacious home dressing room at West Bromwich Albion, wondering how on earth I could play a professional game of Football with a limp. The physio called me into his treatment room and out came the doctor and a needle. They pumped something into the side of my bony foot and a few minutes later I could have run the marathon. The injection got me through 25 minutes of the first half before the pain started to creep back into my foot. By the end of the first half I could hardly walk straight. Half time arrived and I thought I would finally get my relief. Not so, as I was given a second injection. This was getting a bit crazy, as there was definitely something wrong with my foot. I played for a short time in the second half before having to come off. The club sent me to the Hospital for x-rays, which revealed a broken metatarsal.

What is a Broken Metatarsal?

The next injury was playing with a cracked rib. Ugo Ehiogu had elbowed me in a pre-season game against Aston Villa, and cracked my rib. Apart from being extremely painful it is possible to play with this injury. The consensus of opinion at the time was that as long as you can handle the pain, then you could play. A few hefty doses (2 x 600mg) of ibuprofen and I was able to continue playing.

The last of my injury woes was splitting my bottom lip open v Halifax, away at their stadium, live on T/V, with West Bromwich Albion succumbing to the unfortunate 1st round cup exit syndrome that afflicts all Professional Teams.

I met a cross at the near post and scored. In doing so, the defender had headed my bottom jaw and knocked my top teeth into the flesh of the inside of my mouth and bottom lip. There was blood everywhere, and no chance to be substituted as we had used all of our players. We were losing so the only choice was to carry on. I held some gauze over the chunk of flesh that was hanging out of my lip and played on. The final whistle confirmed our cup exit and I was sent to the physiotherapist room to have my mouth stitched up. I always felt bad when I lost a game, but this was a shock cup exit (us being the Golliath) and a smashed up mouth. The weekend was not a good one....

Which brings me to this very funny video I found on You Tube.

Football Injury Training

Football Injury Treatment

Football Penalty Masterclass

2006-10-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

I took quite a few penalties during my career and only missed a couple. I spent countless hours on the training ground practicing the execution of the penalty kick. A lot of this time was without the goalkeeper in the net. My theory was that if the ball was accurate enough the keeper would be unable to get the ball regardless of whether he dived the correct way. Therefore I struck 1,000s of Footballs into both corners of the net until I felt so comfortable doing this that the day of reckoning (a penalty on match day) would be relatively easy (that's the theory).

What I was not able to do, which Cantona does so well in this video is predict which way the keeper was going to dive and then decide a split second later to strike the ball into the opposite corner of the goal.

I would pick my corner before taking the kick and focus all my thoughts and energy into placing the ball in that place. Most athletes use this kind of technique (visualization) to enable themselves to focus and not to be distracted.

Visualization :

Visualization is the process of creating a mental image or intention, of what you want to happen or to feel. An athlete can use this technique to 'intend' an outcome of a race, training session or simply rest in a feeling of calm and well-being. Or in this instance a Penalty Kick in a game of Football. By imagining a scene, complete with images or movies, of a previous best performance or a new desired outcome, the athlete will simply 'step into' that feeling. It is a common technique and proven to be very successful for many top athletes.

Cantonas high level of prediction and split second timing is phenomenal. He is not even visualizing where he is going to strike the ball, although I am sure he is visualizing a positive outcome. I believe what he is doing is waiting for the keeper to move or show him a sign in which direction he is going to dive. Up until that point Cantona has no pre-conceived idea of where he will place the ball. Cantonas approach is very straight to the ball, allowing himself to open up his body and right foot at the last minute and place the ball to the right of the keeper, or continue the more natural strike of the ball to the left of the keeper.

It's a fantastic skill and if you don't believe me try it in the park. Get a friend to go in goal and wait for him/her to move and see if you are able to place the ball with ease in the other corner.....

Footballs Very Funny Greatest Misses

2006-10-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

You are going to laugh at some of these. Even Cantona, Giggs and Henry are not spared.

Football Review - Premier League

2006-10-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a relaxing Sunday league game of Football In Belize. Still able to play 90 minutes, although in 85F heat it's a bit of a stroll for me these days. I know we all complain about referees and linesman, but today I was strangled around the neck (no penalty - in fact the foul was given against me), had a header cleared off the line with a hand (no penalty - and it wasn't the goalkeepers hand) and was given offside almost every time the ball was cleared up-field to me.

I really enjoyed the game though and don't get too stressed about these issues anymore..I even had a laugh and a joke with the Referee about the awful decisions, although for some reason he told me he is a coffin maker (during the half time break), which kind of threw me a bit. Not sure if he was suggesting I shut up and leave him alone.

Best to leave the stresses and pressures to the Premier league managers and players. Fox Sports TV our American Channel that shows the Premier League has just had the EPL premier league review, which I tuned into at the Belize Jungle Dome.

Thierry Henrys 1st goal today against Reading looked so simple but I just want to comment on the quality of Henry. His composure was so perfect before he slotted the ball home, it bordered on arrogance. Many players would have snatched at the shot and pulled it wide of the goal or more commonly lashed it high over the bar. Not Henry. He just calmly placed it first time into the bottom corner and the Reading Goalkeeper did not even move. Sheer Class.

After a shaky start it looks like Arsenal are firing on all cylinders now. With their game in hand over Manchester United and Chelsea and 5 straight wins, I think this year is going to be a cracking Premier League Football season. Hopefully right to the wire.

As for my old Football Clubs, Charlton and Newcastle United do not seem to be in for a good season. Charlton especially must be getting a bit nervous now, after missing out on 3 points against Watford. Amazing to think that with such a poor start to the season, Darren Bent is the joint second top scorer in the Premier League. He is undoubtedly a great talent and it won't be long before Charlton start fending off phone calls enquiring about him. If they can't start picking some wins up then keeping Bent could be tricky, especially now he has England credentials.

The Geordies will also be getting nervous and extremely disappointed as another year of failure looms. With the size of their stadium and transfer budget, anything less than top 6 is unacceptable.

Congratulations to West Bromwich Albion Football Club, who won the Black Country Derby. I played in many of these games and know that tomorrow morning the Baggies faithful will be happy to tease their Wolverhampton counterparts at work. Looks like the Baggies are marching back to the Premier League.

A Football Players Typical Training Day

2006-10-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

A typical day at the training ground.

9.30am

Arrive at Training Ground. Get your kit from the Laundry Room, which includes underwear, socks, shorts, t-shirt, sweat top. If it's cold, add rain jacket and long pants to the list. If it's really cold, woolly hat. Also grab Cleaned boots from the Kit man.

9.45am

Into your assigned changing room to put your kit on. Into the Players lounge area at the training ground for a cup of coffee/tea. Hang out and shoot the breeze with the players. Read the newspapers, watch T/V and talk to the players and training ground staff about what the newspapers and media have been saying about any of the players, team or coaching staff.

10.00am

Into the treatment room to chat with the physiotherapist, or Doctor if needed, about any medical problems. Many players would have a massage every day, although I never felt it necessary. Any little injuries would be wrapped up and dealt with before the training session.

10.15am

Occasionally a little tap on the shoulder from the coach or assistant manager to visit the Boss (Manager) upstairs. Always an unpleasant experience as it normally meant things were to be discussed like being dropped for the next game or concerns over your performance!!

10.20am

Sign the never-ending stream of balls, shirts, pictures, magazines, and books etc that are left at the training ground for football fans.

10.30am

"Lets go". Coach calls the players out to the training field. All still very light-hearted and relaxed, with lots of joking around and chatting amongst the players. 30 - 45 minutes of warming up. Jogging, stretching, fun games and gradually increasing the intensity of the exercises in preparation for the training session. Still very light-hearted, with loads of chatting and laughter.

11.15am

Ready for intense running, sprinting, jumping and action on the football field. Small games in teams, keeping the ball, lots of passing exercises. Starting to sweat a bit and definitely no more joking around as the training session becomes serious.

11.30am

Manager arrives on the training field about this time. Players get split into first team squad and second team squad. The real training starts now with shooting practice, shadow play, team games and tactics discussed for the next 1 1/2 hours.

12.30pm

Manager departs and the players all re-group with the Fitness Coach to do a 15 - 30 minute warm down. Similar to the warm up, where the session is more relaxed and the players all start joking and having a laugh again. Lots of Stretches and jogging. Probably some stomach/back strengthening exercises to finish off.

12.45pm

Get Lunch in the Lounge area. Cup of Coffee/tea or juice.

1pm

Changed and depart. Reporters wait outside the training ground or in the press room and normally on a Friday a mass of interviews are conducted by the press. The better players, goal scorers, and any players in controversy will be asked to do interviews. Players playing against old teams quite often asked to do interviews also. Media includes local press, national press and T/V Cameras.

1.30pm

Finished. Not a bad life really….

2.00pm

Sometimes stay back for 30 minutes to lift weights. Would only do this 2 or 3 times a week, depending on the frequency of games. My personal routine included a general legs (quads, calves and hamstring exercises). It’s important to keep good balance in the workout and make sure that all muscle groups get worked. I would also do some upper body for my back, arms (biceps and triceps) and shoulders. I only did 3 sets of 10 repetitions for each muscle group, although because I was very lean I used to lift heavy weights.

Memorable Off Field Moments in a Professional Football players career

2006-10-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

Memorable off field moments in Football

Watching several of my team-mates chat up Transvestites in a Night Club in Florence, Italy after we had played against Fiorentina in the Anglo Italian Cup. They didn't know until we pointed out the bulges in their dresses. Cue scene from "Crying Game"

Arriving on the team bus we were given the “v” sign and wa**er sign by a dad and his 2 sons (probably 6 & 8 years old) on arrival at Oxford United. Makes you wonder what the Dad is telling his kids at home

Guerilla warfare at a Sunderland vs Newcastle United game. In a pub at 7am on derby day between Sunderland and Newcastle United. A fleet of cars full of well oiled fans, me, Steve Watson, Robbie Elliott and Alan Thompson (none of us in the team and none of us drinking I hasten to add) departs Newcastle for the derby day game against Sunderland. After parking the cars, a barrage of stones, bricks and any other debris come flying over walls as Sunderland fans locate us. Rapid organisation by our crew keeps us out of trouble and we negotiate our way to the stadium to watch the match. Very scary and not something I would like to repeat

As a kid, being stuck behind a fence with my brother Ian and my Dad, exiting the Norwich City stadium after playing Stoke. Bricks, insults and anything else being hurled at each other. Being stuck in the middle of a North East fans battle was scary but this was worse

Repetitive Mobile phone abuse by a Wolves fan, who somehow found out my Telephone number when I was a West Bromwich Albion player. Had to change my number

Being spotted for the first time abroad on holiday in Ibiza, and signing an autograph for a West Bromwich Albion Fan. Good for the ego

Another Ego boost, seeing my name on teletext for the first time

Meeting a drunk Jim Davidson with my Dad (Jim is his hero) in the Charlton players lounge. Having to ask for Jims autograph for my Dad because he was too shy

Standing in the tunnel at Charlton Athletic Football Club with my Grandad as Alan Shearer, Bobby Robson and the rest of the team came trotting out. Have you ever seen an 80 year old man become a little boy again. My Grandad was in awe. I wasn’t playing as I retired the previous year but it made me realize what a great job I used to have

Newcastle United Football Club - A Professional Footballers tale

2006-10-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I was up in the North East. I was signed to Newcastle United for 2 1/2 seasons, although my contribution to the first team squad was limited to the first 18 months (Moving to Newcastle United Football Club and Life with Kevin Keegan). When I was resident in Newcastle the stadium held 28,000 ish and although it had 2 impressive stands, the Gallowgate and Leazes ends of the stadium were in a state of disrepair. I had the great pleasure of returning to the Geordie stronghold for Charlton Athletic in the 2000/2001 season. What an experience that was. The stadium had been completely redesigned with the wrap around of the 2 stands behind the goals completed. It was an amazing experience with over 50,000 spectators seated in luxury.

The main entrance of the Milburn stand was still the same, as was the changing rooms and the players lounge area. The only difference was entering the away Dressing Rooms, which in my 2 1/2 years at NUFC, I don't think I had ever seen. Walking out onto the pitch though, felt a bit like being at Wembley, Beranbeu or the Nou Camp. Peering around the stadium and looking up and up and up at the gigantic new stands brought goosebumps to my skin. I have been to the Nou Camp and visited the Museum, and then walked out into the stands. NUFC felt a bit like this.

We beat the geordies that day, so I am sure the atmosphere was a bit subdued. I can only imagine that once the Geordie faithful have something to be proud of that this will be a very intimidating atmosphere for away teams and many special nights will be held here.

Intimidation

The old stadiums with the spectator standing areas close to the pitch used to create a hostile atmosphere for away teams and their players. I remember playing at the Old Den (Millwall) many years ago, and warming up, literally within touching distance of the hostile fans. I was playing for Newcastle United and received some charming comments as I jogged up and down the side of the pitch. F**k Off, you Geordie Wan**r was one of the verbal blasts from the stands as tat toed, crop haired mean looking diehards, worked their menacing intimidation tactics on our substitutes. Funny thing I thought to myself is that I was born only 20 miles away from Millwalls stadium. I got the call to play from the manager and took my waterproof coat off to find a stream of spit oozing down the back of the jacket!! I am not picking on Millwall because this used to happen at many of the old style stadiums where the fans were right on top of the players. Although Millwall Fans did produce a higher than average volume of spit.

The new stadiums, with the All seater arrangement tend to be further back from the playing area, creating less intimidation for the players. I believe that Newcastles stadium, although a grand structure in every way, has certainly lost some of the fear factor for opposition players. I didn't feel at all intimidated when I played at St James Park in 2000 and in fact revelled in the opulent surroundings.

I'm sure old time football players and fans will look back with fond memories of these pre-taylor report stadiums, but I certainly feel the game has improved with the new mega stadiums. Many of the modern games young premier league players will rarely be exposed to this kind of intimidation, only when they play in FA Cup matches against lower league opposition and pre-season friendlies. I for one am glad I never have to be spat at again.

Charlton Life without Alan Curbishley – Is Relegation that Bad for a Football Club?

2006-10-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Charlton Life without Alan Curbishley – Is Relegation that Bad?

3 months into the 2006/2007 season and life without Alan Curbishley is proving to be a bit tricky for Charlton Athletic. I recently did an interview with www.addickted.net and they asked me about my thoughts for Charlton’s prospects this year.

In this interview I said that I would not be surprised to see the settled South London club get relegated this year. Of course I hope that they do not get relegated but I am writing this article without any bias and based on my many years of playing as a professional footballer. The one thing that disturbs a club the most is instability and change. I experienced this on a yearly frequency at West Bromwich Albion, where the club hired and fired new managers with random glee, which creates confusion and lack of loyalty within the club. Existing players have to adapt to every managers new philosophy on Football, new tactics, new systems, 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 5-3-2 etc. New players have to integrate into the club and so it goes on.

I do not know why Charlton and “Curbs” (as he liked to be called) parted company but I suspect that the 2 had reached a point where they both needed change and felt they could no longer progress. I think that Curbs has been a revelation for Charlton Athletic and should be given the freedom of South East London for what he and his staff achieved. To bring the club from the brink of bankruptcy to a constant fixture in the premier league was a monumental achievement. This rise was steady and constant, taking many years to build up the momentum to finally being able to proudly boast of being an accomplished premier league side. They have proved to be a fine example of how to rise through the ranks of football. Whether they can be the club that breaks through the invisible barrier of the top 6 and maybe even break the stronghold of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United is another chapter in this clubs history.

my article on Bridging the Premier League Gap in Football

But Curbs just seemed unable to push the club into the higher levels of the premier league. It must be the ambition of every team to want more, otherwise what is the point of competing. Charlton had reached a plateau under Curbs reign and were/are seeking to move onwards and upwards. This is no easy achievement in the world of Premier league football. To sustain yourself as a top 6 club with your peers such as Newcastle United struggling to do this will take a shift in thinking, such as bringing in a new manager.

It may take several years for this to happen, as new managers historically take time to “bed” into their new clubs, with many not surviving their first year. I hope this doesn’t happen to Iain Dowie as he has proved himself to be an intelligent, dedicated manager. However, getting back to my original point, it may not be a bad thing for Charlton to be relegated this year. If they did, they would be able to re-group in the Championship, with a very strong squad and have a season to re-establish themselves back in footballs elite by gaining promotion.

If this happened Dowie and his staff would have the full support of the fans, who would be excited to have another Championship season of success, winning games, scoring lots of goals and renewing the excitement of strolling up to the Valley. The players would be playing with a renewed confidence and I am sure would revel at another bite of premier league action. With this momentum behind him, Dowie may just be able to take the Club on to its next level of achievement by pushing themselves into the top 6 of the premier league. Maybe relegation doesn’t come and Charlton and Dowie can continue this success story from within the Premier League, which would be much less scary for the fans and the board.

After all, if you do get relegated, and can’t climb back into the premier league (see Ipswich, Leeds, Sunderland etc) life can get fiendishly difficult.

Bridging the Gap in the Premier League

Top Ten Football Blogs by Google

2006-10-07T05:29:00.000-07:00

It seems that Google has given 6 of the top ten Search Results for a Football Blog to Football (American) and 4 of the top ten Search Results to Football (Soccer). Aston Villa made it and Sunderland reached a credible 12!!!! but no sign of Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal. I guess they can't win everything.

blogfc.com - the football blog
Weblog featuring news and information about soccer around the world, particularly in Europe.blogfc.com/theblog/ - 52k - Cached - Similar pages

Dave’s Football Blog
Then I’m going to start focusing on some actual football. Can you tell I’ve been avoiding talking ... Dave’s Football Blog is proudly powered by WordPress ...www.davesfootballblog.com/ - 67k - 7 Oct 2006 - Cached - Similar pages

Fanblogs.com College Football Blog
A blog network covering all of the major college football teams.www.fanblogs.com/ - 37k - 8 Oct 2006 - Cached - Similar pages

SEC Football - Fanblogs College Football Blog
Blog Roundup: College Football Blogs 08/22/2005.....JaMarcus Russell to start for LSU 08/22/2005.....Mark Richt: Fear the HORSE King 08/20/2005. ...www.fanblogs.com/sec/ - 105k - 8 Oct 2006 - Cached - Similar pages

Giant Football Blog
Giant Football Blog. New York Giants news and analysis. A Blog For All NY Giants Fans -- 1-2-- next vs Redskins Oct 8 1:00pm ...www.giantfootballblog.com/ - 35k - Cached - Similar pages

The Dallas Morning News Hot Reads Fantasy Football Blog
Hot Reads Blog: Oct 2006. Su, Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa. 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5, 6, 7. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 ...hotreads.beloblog.com/ - 17k - Cached - Similar pages

EURO 2008 News
Gökdeniz was banned by the Turkish Football Association for ten months in September 2005 after he ... Football Blog Site Feed · Powered by Blogger. Site Meter.www.neurotribe.net/footballblog/ - 151k - Cached - Similar pages

England National Football Team Unofficial Blog
England National Football Team information for England soccer fans blogged online at We are England.www.gamblog.co.uk/england.htm - 32k - Cached - Similar pages

College Football Blog
College football news and commentary on games, players, polls, and television coverage.www.collegefootballblog.org/ - 34k - Cached - Similar pages

Aston Villa Football Blog
Aston Villa, Thomas Sorenson saves the day, Luke Moore out with a sholder injury, Paul McGrath back from the Brink published this week, Chris Sutton about ...www.astonvilla.biz/ - 44k - 8 Oct 2006 - Cached - Similar pages

Neo Earth - Blog Mapping and Statistics Tool

2006-10-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Great Blogging Tool for anyone interested. On the Top right hand corner of this blog is a Map and you should be able to see your home town currently flashing in the map. Click on the map and you can see where all your visitors have come from.

Grab it here

Football Wives, Agents, Corruption and Bungs

2006-10-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

Agents roles in the game of football are coming under more scrutiny and quite rightly so. How would you possibly regulate this industry when it is part and parcel of the “fabric” of football, whereby fans, media and teams constantly speculate about who should and shouldn’t be playing for the team. Agents fill a niche in this market by connecting the dots between rumour, media, fans, managers, chairman and players.

The problem is that many agents are un-skilled, “del-boy” characters, who provide very little in the way of advice to players, feeding players, managers and clubs the information they want to hear, manipulating the system so that they receive their silver for their services.

Footballers egos are notoriously fragile, and for many young players it is easy to be overawed by the flash characters that continually prowl the halls of football clubs and the surrounding scene around a club. Although I would be hesitant to put the game of football in the same bracket as Footballers Wives it does not fall far short. There really are characters of this sort lurking around every corner and it is in the interests of everyone concerned to protect young players from these people.

Agents receive large sums of money for their services, although as mentioned in my previous post about old and new media in football and sport, their services are questionable in what is actually provided for players. A successful, wealthy young player needs a lot of solid advice from his advisors including

· Contract Advice
· Financial advice. Where to invest his money.
· Personal Guidance.
· Honest Advice on his career. Not lip service.
· Media Advice.
· Advice for when the final whistle blows on their Football Career.

Unfortunately in my opinion, most Agents simply are not equipped to provide this service. They have no training in what is a lucrative and extremely specialised form of work.

The Players Football Association offers a service to players, whereby they receive representation in contract negotiations, financial advice and post career advice. They do this for a modest fee and quite often in a more professional manner. However when I was a player it took me until the later stages of my career to understand the role the PFA plays in football and I am quite sure, most players these days are unaware of how much assistance they can receive from the PFA.

I am not against Agents, just the clueless ones. Clubs are always looking for players, players are looking for clubs and Agents do provide a handy link between the two.

For various reasons a player may want to leave a club and he needs someone to assist in finding a new team for him. This is no easy task for most footballers as they are focused on playing and usually unaware of any interest. Football Clubs are typically selfish in that they will not tell a player of another clubs interest, unless it is in the interest of the selling club. This is where an agent can come in handy.

Bungs and Corruption

It surprises me that Mike Newell’s allegations have caused such a stir in football as anyone in the game will freely acknowledge (off the record of course) that “bungs”, “back-handers” and “tapping players” up are not uncommon.

Put it this way : If you were Jose Mourinho and you wanted to sign Ashley Cole how would you do it? You have to talk to the player somehow to find out if he wanted to play for Chelsea, otherwise what’s the point of starting contract negotiations with Arsenal? So you use your network of resources to contact Ashley Cole and find out if he is interested. Is it ethical – Probably not. But it works and Mourinho got his man, got fined, but do you think he cares? £200,000 might be a lot of money for most people, but not for Abramovich and his billions. And this goes on, all the way down to the grassroots level in football in lesser and lesser degrees of un-ethical behaviour. But of course who cares what happens at crapbag united in the bargain basement leagues.

I hope that after all the turmoil and attention of the current Agents scandal that the regulations will get ever tighter, pushing the quick buck agent out of Football and forcing players advisors to improve the services they offer to their players.

Football Blogs and Sports Websites

2006-10-04T06:14:00.000-07:00

Football Blogs and Sports Websites

I have been trying to track down some of the top names in football and sports to see what websites/blogs they have. I'm quite surprised that the media marketing machines that back up these superstars have been so slow to secure their website domains or to develop their online presence. These players all have backlogs of great football action, goals, interviews and media attention.

With all the attention that Football is getting at the moment due to the corruption and scandals with Agents it might be interesting to analyze what Agents roles are. Old school media such as the printed newspaper and T/V are being transformed and converging with the new media such as Blogging, Podcasting and the Internet. With the ever increasing amount of Bandwith available for downloading on whatever device you like, it would make sense for any forward thinking Sports Agents and Marketing Companies to provide new media advice for their clients (footballers for example) rather than resting easily on their current lucrative fat pay cheques for brokering deals.

A glimpse at Rupert Murdochs, News Corporation (A giant of the Old School Media who own "The Sun", "The Times", "New York Post", "News of the World" and many other printed papers) recent acquisition of Myspace.com, the Social Networking phenomenon shows how old school media is waking up to the future.

Websites/Blogs from these players would make interesting reading for fans. Even the managers should be looking into this. They have a lot of relevant and interesting information that they could be putting out to the Sports World, especially after their retirement. While their careers are still in progress it can be a bit tricky to comment on other players, the team etc but certainly once a player or managers career has ended, it's a great opportunity to pass on their knowledge and stories to the fans. As many players/managers end up writing books, the web could be the perfect window to showcase or drip feed their stories into the media.

Franklampard.com - under development

Davidbeckham.com - domain is parked. No Site

Michaelowen.com - It exists - Hats off to his advisors
Michael Owens Blog - World Cup Blog

Ronaldo - under development

Ericcantona.com - Stolen!!

Ronaldinho - Great site
Ronaldinho Blog - World Cup Blog

Thierry Henry - Blog. Not sure whats going on here

Paul Gascoigne - Exists

Tigerwoods.com - Exists

Michaelschumacher - Exists

Rogerfederer.com - Exists

Pele.com - Great site. Well worth looking at!!

If you know of any other websites or blogs from Football players, Sports superstars or Athletes, click on the comments tab below and I will add it to the list.

Subscribe to this blog : Click Here

or

or Publish the Escribbler blog on your Website/Blog. Copy and paste the following code into any web page. Escribbler Blog postings will be automatically inserted each time the page is loaded.

How to Become a Professional Footballer

2006-10-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

Football. The magical game, the escape from the ghetto, or the streets, to seek fame and fortune. Many youngsters idolize their footballing heroes, longing to become the next David Beckham or Michael Owen. But exactly how do you become a professional footballer?

“I could have been a professional footballer, if it wasn’t for my dodgy knee, or my flat feet”. If I had a penny for every bloke up the pub that told me this line, I’d have my own private jet to fly back and forth from Belize in.

I believe that the way to become a professional footballer, in fact the way to reach the elite in any chosen career is to be passionate about what you do. You do not need to have your arm twisted to go to the training field and play in the freezing winter. You do not need to be scolded and cajoled into running the extra mile. But you do need to run the extra mile.

I started playing football when I was a toddler. As I grew up I had a natural love of the game. I couldn’t get enough of it. I would play 2, sometimes 3 games on the weekend. Saturday mornings, if the Wayland High School (Watton) had a match would be my first game. Then it was off to the local park in Ashill, in awe of the men playing in the first team, standing behind the goal kicking a ball up against the net, annoying the first team goalkeeper for Ashill. “If only I could get a game,” I would think to myself as the older guys strutted their stuff on the pitch. Then on a Sunday it was off to the next village to play in the youth football, from under 11s, all the way up to under 17s.

Of course it wasn’t long before I got to stand in front of the goal and start playing for the mens team in Ashill. I remember starting as a Sweeper, a position I absolutely loved. I had a big 6 foot, hard as nails centre half playing with me, who used to smash the opposition centre forward and I would drop off and pick up all the loose balls. Brilliant.

At this age, 14 or 15 years old I wasn’t really strong enough to compete physically with the men, although I did my best, and started to play in positions further up the field until ultimately becoming a striker.

But I always had a great “passion” for football. 3 games on the weekend was my ideal Saturday and Sunday. While friends went out to parties, I was totally dedicated to playing football. I would go out running in the evenings to get fitter, and never did I need someone to push me into doing this. I think most athletes and professional sportsman will tell the same story, that they just loved doing the thing they do.

Football has to be your hobby. You have to love doing it. Practice at every spare moment. Anyone can buy a ball and go into the yard and practice skills and flicks. Keeping the ball off the ground, kicking it against a wall, running with the ball until it feels as normal as running without it.

Practice, practice, practice. That is what you do when you are a professional, training 5 sometimes 6 days a week. So that is what you need to do before becoming a professional. If you want to be a dancer you stand in front of the mirror and practice your moves. If you want to become a singer you grab the shampoo bottle and sing your heart out at every possible opportunity. The same applies to football. In an ever more competitive sport, the pool of players to choose from is bigger, the quality of the players to choose from is better. You have to be the most dedicated athlete in the world to achieve this dream.

Of course you do need natural talent as well. I would never admit to being the most gifted player in the world but I was very dedicated. No matter how hard you try you cannot make a racehorse out of a donkey. It will soon become evident if you have what it takes to reach the top of your sport. You will coast through games, score bags of goals, be the outstanding player week after week. Then you will need belief in what you are doing. You will have to really believe that you can make it to the top.

Something that I never believed until it happened. I had a lot of determination and perseverance, but it never really crossed my mind that I could become a player until I walked through the front gate of St James Park with my kit bag. Even then I felt like an impostor in a world I should not have been in. Perhaps this was my downfall. Never really having enough belief. Never really feeling like I was a professional footballer.

But I was good enough to play over 300 professional matches and score over 130 goals. Practice was the foundation for everything I did. It almost felt that every cell in my body had to move into line and be synchronised to the exact movements required to perform the different skills in football. That training exercises were put in place to allow my mind to sub-consciously be aware of everything that needed to be done during a game, so that my conscious mind was free to deal with all the more complicated requirements of competing at an elite level.

When I watch amateur football I cannot help but wonder how much of an average players brain activity is used just focusing on controlling the ball. They have doubts in their minds because they are not sure that they will be able to deal with a ball coming at them at 30mph. Whereas a professional is hardly even thinking about this.

Ronaldinho (check his website out) is not worried in the least that he will be unable to control the ball, no matter how hard it comes to him, or under whatever difficult circumstances he receives the ball. His brain is working on much more complicated problems, such as evading his marker, finding space, being alert to the whereabouts of his teammates. He is like a Chess Grandmaster, constantly planning ahead. If the ball comes here, he immediately knows his future options before it has happened.

Practice, practice, practice. It fine-tunes the body into performing routine tasks on the football field such as

· ball control
· striking the ball
· athletic prowess
· and teamwork

and it frees up the brain to deal with the more intricate parts of the game such as

· movement off the ball
· creating space
· weighing up all the future options on the pitch

For all young aspiring Footballers and Athletes and Singers and Dancers out there in the world,

· believe 100% in what you want to be
· have a passion for what you do (otherwise find another sport, hobby, job)
· and practice, practice, practice.

Good luck.

Subscribe to Escribbler Below

More Articles :

How I became a Professional Footballer

Part 1 - Ashill to Kettering
Part 2 - Kettering to Newcastle
Part 3 - To the Toon (NUFC)
Part 4 - Life with Kevin Keegan
Part 5 - Goodbye NUFC, Hello the Baggies
Part 6 - Wembley here we come!!
My Retirement from Football

Van Persie goal - Charlton v Arsenal

2006-10-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

Goede Morgen!!!!!!!!!!!! Pick that out the net

Mayan Temples in Belize and Guatemala

2006-10-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

You Tube Video Sharing.

2006-09-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Just started messing around with You tube the online Video Upload/Sharing service. Not really sure what I am going to do with it but here is the newly created Jungle Dome Belize Video Channel

With some funny video from MTV Wildboyz. Plus Video from us, including the Howler Monkey Riding the Dog and Kayaking

Building our home on the Belize River

2006-09-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Pictures from Football in England and Football in Belize

2006-09-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Music * Mo Horizons * Foto Viva

Howler Monkey Riding an Alsatian Dog in Belize.

2006-09-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

Click on image below and then click the play button.

Music * Gotan Project * Santa Maria

Escribbler Football Sports Blog

I bought a Football Club? Maybe Google and Yahoo will follow

Football skills and tricks from around the world (video)

Charlton and Chelseas Matchday Football Tactics - Luck or Skilled assessment

7 Week Football Training Program for Professionals

Football Recruiting, the You Tube way

Another Cheeky Football Photo

Football trick Free Kick Videos

Football insults - Marco Materazzi words to Zidane in the World Cup 2006 final

Football Blogger Blagging for Goals Videos from Charlton and Newcastle

Football has never looked so good - Girls playing football in a muddy field

Top 7 Football predictions for Premier League 2007/2008

Will Signing Carlos Tevez make Manchester United untouchable

Media and Football Fans pressure for Charlton Athletic

Will Charlton Athletic Football Club get promoted?

You gotta luv youtube (football video) - warning - this may offend some people

Could Manchester United beat a Football Team 14-0 this Season?

Could Manchester United beat a Premier League Football Team 14-0 this season?

Footballs greatest goals - Lionel Messi v Mexico - 11th July 2007 (video)

Is Messis goal better than Maradonas v England in 1986?

Carlos Tevez signs for Manchester United Football Club?

Will Signing Carlos Tevez make Manchester United untouchable

Who got the best deal - Barcelona or Tottenham?

Charlton Athletic and Arsenal lose their Football superstars

Who got the best deal - Barcelona or Tottenham?

Football Pre-Season Training is coming

40 Yard Football Free Kick

The Collapse of the Premier League Football Empire

Football and Golf cheats - Are people just born to bend the rules?

Football passing to make a Coach Drool (Video)

Beckhams Major League Soccer Mistake?

3 Brazilians and a ball (Video) - Great Football Skills

Football News

12 Great Goals from around the world of Football (Video)

Top 7 Premier League Football Players from 2006/2007

Premiership Football Clubs strike Gold followed by £200,000 a Week Football player Wages

Improving at Golf by learning from Football - Tips for Young Players

1 Less member needed to buy a Football Club

Charlton Football Fans are just a bunch of Bloggers

West Bromwich Albion Play Off Finals 2007 v Derby County

Chelsea Football Club Youtube Channel - Global Brand

Top 7 reason NOT to buy a Football Club

Football Tricks and Top Goals from 2006/2007

Freestyle Football Video Skills - More tricks than David Blame

Professional Footballer's Association - Website for Youngsters, Coaches and football fans

50,000 members needed to bid for a Football Club

Freestyle Football Video Skills

Want to buy your own Football Club?

Top 7 reasons to buy a Football Club

Football Pitch in the Olympic Park, Munich, Germany

Why would you buy a Premier League Football Club?

Football Training Techniques - Plyometrics at Charlton Athletic

Another New Era for Newcastle United Football Club

Congratulations West Brom Football Club

Freddies Football Faux Pas

Outrageous Football Skills

The agony of Football Relegation

Turning down £15,000 a week!

Thanks for the Football memories - West Brom 1992/1993 Play Off Squad

West Bromwich Albion Football Club v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Football Play Off Finals 2006/2007

100 Milliseconds to Save a Football Penalty?

Football Pre Match Routine - Home Games

Football Finale - Premier League and Champions League Football run in

And the best Football Penalty ever....

More Funny Football Video

Football Penalty kick - How many re-takes??

Football Video Skills and Tricks - Step over heaven

Maradona, Pele and Cruyff

Premier league Football Videos - Got a few spare minutes??

West Ham v Chelsea.... come on curbs you can do better than that

How to Become a Professional Footballer

The Power of One Football Player - David Beckham

Professional Football Players Kit Bag

Football Match preparations for an Away Game

Charlton Football Club part company with Iain Dowie

Football conundrum for Liverpool FC - Gerrards awkward position

Alex Ferguson Swearing on TV - Classic Football Drama

Top 5 Funny Football Goals

Thierry Henry Football Tips

Funny Football Video