England: Why the need to ridicule?

Thursday morning saw England manager Roy Hodgson release his 24-man squad for the upcoming internationals against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.

The former Fulham boss’ selections have come under widespread criticism, particularly amongst fans, who view it as a poor England side.

New inclusions to the setup come in the form of Tom Heaton, Charlie Austin and Jamie Vardy, with the latter two having endured a meteoric rise from the lower leagues to international football.

Refreshing

Despite the continued ridicule by a number of fans, I see a lot of positives to be taken from Hodgson’s latest squad list.

I find it incredibly refreshing to see quality from ‘lower’ sides get a look-in with the international scene as it has been a rarity for too long – we have persisted with the same failing criteria.

For me, Austin has more than merited his place in the squad having bagged 17 goals for an already relegated side – which is no mean feat. He has consistently scored at every club he has played for, and what is there to say he cannot replicate that with the right service for England?

Vardy has been instrumental in one of the miraculous escapes from relegation in Premier League history and it is encouraging to see such form in the tail-end of the season rewarded.

Mentality

Moving aside from the latest squad selection, the reaction once again reiterated my annoyance with fans of the national side.

With a number of players either partaking in the Under-21 European Championships, or suffering from injury, Hodgson has taken the upcoming fixtures as an opportunity to experiment and hand out chances.

However, such a motion will always lead to derision from the same people who regularly moan about a lack of passion or repetitive approach.

We have a severe tendency to see faults in everything and when we possess a manager who looks to change the norm – in a sense – he is to receive widespread criticism.

Big names

Having held the same farfetched hope in the build-up to every big tournament, I have continued to experience failure and hurt as a fan of England.

Throughout this period I have seen big names – and players affiliated to big clubs – come and go, and the balance has never been right.

I have seen manager after manager squander a country full of talent and consistently under perform at every tournament. Therefore I look at such decisions made, and considering the extent of the task to qualify, experimentation is not only allowed, it is crucial.

If we are to persist with the same notion of picking players due to their names and the clubs they play for, we will continue to cast a lead role in the vicious cycle we are so evidently caught up in.

Excitement

Be honest, when was the last time you watched an England game and felt the passion, the excitement, the feel good factor? It has been a long time, that is for sure.

Many will question the ability of some of the players, but how are we to know if we have ‘the next big thing’ if we shy away from experimentation by failing to give them a platform?

I have grown sick of the same names appearing in every squad that I will even switch over a Friday night England game on ITV to watch Gogglebox on Channel 4.

How can a story regarding two players who have made the almighty – and unheard of – climb from non-league football to international status not excite you? It is the ultimate story, and one that every fan craves.

Yet we will be persistent in screaming the names of tried, tested, and incredibly average players, to continue the maintenance of our mediocrity in the fear of change.

Hypocrisy

England screams for change as fans, but when we are presented with it, we dismiss it and seek alternatives.

The conceited mentality that ourselves as fans, coaches and managers alike have adopted is likely to have led to us gaining a corrosive approach.

I hate to think of the players this country has either ignored or ruined through the means of our actions.

Why does Wembley fail to sell out? Why have people fallen out of love with the Three Lions? Something needs to spark the life back into it, and maybe fresh faces can do that.

If we continue down the same road, I will never see England lift a trophy in my lifetime, and that is a sad thought to digest.

Blaming X, Y and Z is easy, but let us focus on our own discrepancies before we leave others out to dry.

England squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Rob Green (QPR), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Ryan Mason (Tottenham), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Forwards: Charlie Austin (QPR), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

What do you think of the squad? Let me know in the comments section below.

Fulham: Where Did It All Go Wrong?

Where has it all gone wrong? Less than five years ago I struggled to hold back tears of pride as Fulham ran out into the Nordbank Arena to play in a Europa League final. Now I sit here admitting to myself that back-to-back relegations could become a real possibility. Capitulation of the highest order has occurred in less than two years, and I can tell you it is not to be desired.

Last season saw our 13-year stay in the top-flight come to a disastrous end thanks to a campaign that, to be put kindly, rivaled voluntary euthanasia. We witnessed three changes culminating in more titles for the managerial position than a student trying to fill up his word count. After suffering mental abuse on a weekly basis, I thought things could only improve, oh how I was wrong.

A mass exodus ensued, as the countless number of mercenaries ran out of the Motspur Park exit door quicker than they had ran all season. As they looked to steal a profession elsewhere, we were left with only a handful of first-team players as a mad German began rubbing his hands ready to inflict his demonic ways.

Deception kills

To be fair to Magath, he had instilled a sense of optimism and the general consensus amongst fans was that instant promotion was viable. But like a number of bad relationships, deception is commonly found.

Pre-season helped Magath in his cunning plan to convince the Fulham faithful that he was in fact a human exerting moderate levels of sanity. This was soon to vanish as the competitive season took shape.

We saw a coat hanger arrive in the form of Adil Chihi, and a competition winner in Mark Fotheringham. The latter had been released by Notts County previous to his arrival, which evidently ticked all the necessary boxes. Many had thought he was the club’s new groundsman who had overstayed his half-time duties, but we were to be surprised.

Despite popular opinion, I was under no illusion that the Championship would be a breeze. Many believed that our promising crop of youngsters would blitz the league, despite any experience, which was incredibly naive.

However, one point in eight games ended a reign which most would like to erase. Stories of cheese being strapped to Brede Hangeland puzzled the world and had the lactose intolerant community diving for cover as a number of revelations hit the press. With the ‘dictator’ out of the door, the only way was up.

The feel good factor temporarily returned as we appointed Under-21 boss, and Fulham man, Kit Symons, producing a somewhat positive change in fortunes. A great start to his tenure had our promotion thoughts re-entering the brain, but his inexperience was soon to take precedence.

Despite his arrival reintroducing a sense of hope around Craven Cottage, the fun train looks to have ground to a halt and emphatically derailed. Our deadly habit of flirting with relegation has resurfaced and reignited the dire displays we were so keen on nullifying. Bleak is one way to describe the circumstance, but was it always so inevitable?

Who is to blame?

For me, the blame lies in a number of places and it cannot be directed towards a sole individual.

As much as the man has done for this club – which is beyond belief – it has to be said that former owner Mohamed Al-Fayed has played his part in our downfall.

Having been the catalyst towards our meteoric rise through the leagues, our decline of late lies partly down to his lack of investment in his final years at the club. For many a transfer window, we were restricted to free transfers and short-term loan deals. This eventually left us with an ageing squad that was unable to compete in our final season in the Premier League.

Mark Hughes had stated that he left the club due to our lack of ambition, and at the time, that seemed big headed and ludicrous, but in hindsight he was 100% right. After reaching the summits of the Europa League Final, the summer window that followed was the perfect opportunity to attract a higher quality of players to the club, but we abstained and slowly started our demise.

Unfair criticism

This leads me onto another point, which revolves around the unfair criticism surrounding the input of current owner Shahid Khan. Many are under the belief that he is the sole perpetrator for the current mess we found ourselves in, but I cannot see how this can be attributed towards him.

For me, Al-Fayed knew he was selling the club at the right time, with all appearing rosy on the outside – leading to Khan buying the club – but internally proceedings were slowly eroding.

In no way is this a dig at Mo, as I feel like he wanted to relax, particularly at his age – but the club was left in a right old state. This put Khan in an unfortunate position as he tried all in his power to salvage our top-flight status. During his first transfer window, he splashed a hefty amount of cash towards new signings to help our survival bid and since his arrival he has invested when necessary.

It is evident that the Jacksonville Jaguars owner has limited knowledge in our world, hence why I believe many of his advisors are to blame. One of which is CEO Alistair Macintosh, who I feel has been inept in the last couple of years.

Firstly, the signing of Kostas Mitroglou for £12million reeked of desperation, particularly with the Greek arriving injured, restricting him to a laughable three appearances during his time in SW6. Leaving a huge hole in the pockets of Khan.

Added to the Mitroglou fiasco, we have seen our last two windows end in utter dejection. During the summer of 2014, Macintosh had admitted we had brought in all targets, which is a crime against humanity if that was the case.

Of course you cannot solely blame the man for how players perform on the pitch, but when he was responsible for targeting and attracting talent to the club, you have to wonder whether he is doing his job well.

Symons is not the man

Finally, we have our current manager Kit Symons, who has seen his honeymoon period slowly crash and burn. Not only have results of late been catastrophic, so have the performances and it has filled me with little belief that he can overturn our current rut.

Symons is beginning to showcase his clear lack of experience and ability to manage a first-team side. His tactics have been nothing short of puzzling at times with his unhealthy obsession of playing a diamond formation that clearly does not work being an example. Setup is laughable at times, his in-game decisions even more so, along with leaving it until the post-match interviews to make a substitute. The combination becomes a bit too much for my small brain to handle.

It pains me to heavily criticise the man like this, as I would enjoy nothing better than an ex-Fulham player steering us to glory, but we have to be honest and realistic.

Whilst I respect the opinions of others, I find the persistent backing of his incapabilities quite odd, and would suggest that if the rose-tinted glasses were removed, it would be a different story.

I will be the first to admit I was the embodiment of the campaign to give the man the job to start off with, but everybody makes mistakes. Continuity is a must, particularly with a lack of it in recent months, but it is hard to see us continue to accept mediocrity of such an order. It seems as if our expectations have significantly lowered due to his affiliation with the club, and I feel as if that needs to change.

To sack him or not is an incredibly hard question. I  for one do not think I can struggle through another viewing like some of which I have witnessed, but reshuffling once again could provide an unruly knock-on effect.

Continuously dissecting performances has been an almighty task this season, and I see myself giving up. I just hope I do not slip into the mindset of comfortable mediocrity that others have chosen to do.

I will leave you with a map of the average position of each Fulham player in our 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town yesterday, and it will pretty much sum up what I mean.

 

 

England: Who will make the plane to Brazil?

The last few months have seen a slight difference in appearance within the England setup. Several senior figures have seen their future with the national side evaporate, and many of the younger generation have come into the frame.

Last night highlighted a selection headache for Roy Hodgson, of which he admitted post-match, and discussion has begun as to who will make up the 23-man squad. With this in mind I’ve decided to draft up my thoughts on who should make it at this moment in time.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Fraser Forster, John Ruddy.

For me, Joe Hart is probably one of the few Englishmen to be guaranteed a spot on the plane to Brazil. Despite his mid-season turmoil, he has bounced back from his negative patch of form and will be England’s No.1 without a shadow of a doubt.

Whilst I’m not fond of the idea of bringing three goalkeepers to a tournament, Hodgson will opt with this so I feel that both Forster and Ruddy should make the cut. We aren’t blessed with the greatest crop of goalkeepers currently, and I feel that the two are the best of a bad bunch.

Defenders: Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Gary Cahill, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Glen Johnson, Kyle Walker.

Quite a few controversial choices with defenders, but a lot of it has to do with versatility. Baines, Jagielka, Johnson and Cahill’s inclusions, for me, are self-explanatory. Ashley Cole or Luke Shaw is a big decision to be made, but at this moment in time, despite his lack of playing time, I would take Cole. This is due to his undoubted experience at big tournaments, and I still feel he will offer more than Shaw.

Walker deserves the second right back spot and I can’t imagine many people disagreeing with me on that. Smalling and Jones, considering Man Utd’s exploits this season, are strange picks, but both are very versatile, and such a trait is beneficial at tournaments. Smalling’s patchy form has been a result of him being played out of his preferred position, whilst Jones has struggled to find a desired role. When weighing up the pros and cons, these two will definitely add something to the England side and should make the plane in my opinion.

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Frank Lampard, Jack Wilshere, Raheem Sterling, Andros Townsend/Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner

This is the toughest position to fill in my opinion. There are a number of players who can book a seat on the flight, giving Mr.Hodgson quite the headache. The only two guaranteed a place are Gerrard and Wilshere, with the others up for grabs between now and the end of the season.

Despite his age and sporadic playing time at Chelsea, Lampard is still a football player of great quality and will be a good face to have in the squad. His experience is evident and he has the ability to change the game in a blink of an eye.

Adam Lallana’s form at Southampton this season cannot go unnoticed. He made an instant impact last night, coming on and delivering a perfect cross for Daniel Sturridge to head in the winner. He offers unpredictability, a great touch, exquisite ball control, a goal threat, but most of all, a fearless mindset when on the pitch. Whether it be for club or country, he doesn’t seem frightened by any occasion, which is a trait unheard of in many English footballers.

Sterling and Henderson have been producing solid performances for Liverpool for quite a while now, and have been key cogs in their pursuit for a Champions League spot. The former was awarded man of the match in last night’s 1-0 victory over Denmark and showcased his ability to cause defenders severe headaches with his pace, trickery and unpredictability. Henderson has shown mass improvement from last season and has established himself as a regular for what looks a top four side.

Milner may seem a boring choice, but he is Mr. Versatile, as well as Mr. Reliable. He can play all across midfield and can be relied on to put in a shift. You need players who lack the glamour by concentrating on the graft, and he fits the bill perfectly.

Choosing between Townsend and Oxlade-Chamberlain has proven too tough, so I have decided to include both. They have seen their seasons take place in similar fashion, but in reverse order. Townsend burst onto the England scene in October by almost single handedly sending England to the World Cup. However, his form has dipped significantly and who’s to say it is likely to pick up pace once again? Oxlade-Chamberlain had been riddled with injury for the beginning half of the season, but has returned in a good vein of form, which has left the doubt in my mind. Time will tell on that front.

Strikers: Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Andy Carroll, Danny Welbeck 

The hopes of the nation once again rest upon Wayne Rooney and his world class talent, which makes him a dead certainty for selection. Daniel Sturridge has endured a flawless season and has pretty much guaranteed a spot thanks to the displays he has produced. His partnership with Luis Suarez is arguably the deadliest in the Premier League and he is finally starting to fulfil his potential in Merseyside.

Welbeck and Carroll are strange inclusions by myself, but two I think can perform in Brazil. The latter is a very unpredictable character, but can be unplayable when on top form. He showed glimpses of his potential at Euro 2012, as did Welbeck, particularly in the 3-2 win against Sweden. Both will need to hit some form to rubber stamp a spot, but I feel both of them can do so.

What are your thoughts on my England squad for Brazil? Let me know who you would pick in the comments section below, on Twitter or leave a post on my Facebook page.

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The Top Ten Derbies in the World of Football (PART TWO)

There was a great response regarding the first part to this subject, and many are eagerly anticipating part two, to see which derbies have made the top five.  So without further adieu…

5. AC Milan vs Internazionale

Derby della Madonnina, or simply the Milan derby,  historically the clash of Italian giants and funnily referred to as the battle of feuding cousins. Highly regarded as THE derby in Italian football, it has produced many breathtaking encounters in the past.

 

AC Milan was set up by Englishman Alfred Edwards back in 1889, and strangely enough added a cricket section to the club at the beginning. In light of this, a group of Italian and Swiss men decided to form a team to rival Edwards’ AC Milan and from then on, a fierce rivalry came to fruition. Unlike the majority of derbies, the tug-of-war is based upon local pride rather than political and religious reasons.

AC and Inter share the same ground, the magnificent San Siro, which makes it a bit too close for comfort to say the very least. It is the perfect setting for the derby and has helped mastermind highly fuelled bouts.

Although local pride is usually the cause for hatred, there are social differences between the two, with AC Milan historically working class, with links to trade unions, and Inter holding the fan base for a the higher class of the Milanese society.

You will certainly find affection and dedication from all corners of the San Siro on match day, and the cauldron of atmosphere is something that needs to be experienced by not only football fans, but sports fans.

4. Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda) vs Partizan Belgrade 

Best known in Serbia as the ‘Eternal Derby’, the history lies within political institutions, with Red Star formed by an anti-fascist movement and Partizan by the Yugoslav People’s Army.  Both clubs were founded in 1945, and an intense rivalry has brewed ever since.

 

Funnily enough, two sides mentioned in the previous article, Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb also encountered lively match-ups with both sides before the disintegration of Yugoslavia. However, Red Star and Partizan were and are the two biggest clubs, which has made contests very closely fought.

Fan displays are a huge part of the derby, with fascinating symbols of  commitment and effort shown by both sets via the means of flags and flares when the big game comes around,  and a lot of time dedicated to insulting the opposition. Red Star ultras are known as the Delije and Partizan, the Grobari.

 

Fights can often break out in the stands as the Eastern European craze of fighting at games has become somewhat of an epidemic, particularly in the Balkans. It can be guaranteed that you will find it hard to come across a half and half scarf outside the ground before kick-off. Missiles are likely to be thrown back and forth between both sets of hooligans in the ground and can cause a lot of trouble.

This is definitely one for the thrill seekers, and it offers a completely different spin on football fan culture, it is definitely one I’d like to tick off in my lifetime.

3. Fenerbache vs Galatasaray

The Kitalar Arasi Derbi, or in English, the Intercontinental Derby. It’s name tells you a lot of the story.  Unique in the sense that both sides find themselves in separate ends of Istanbul, with Fenerbache situated in Asia, and Galatasaray in Europe, creating mass pride and heritage, drawing people from each area towards one of the clubs.

Oddly enough, encounters started off rather friendly against one another, with plans to merge and become one team gathering pace before negotiations collapsed. The birth of the rivalry came from a friendly in 1934, where tempers on the pitch spilled over onto the terraces and caused mass rioting amongst both sets of supporters. From that day, the bitter rivalry grew bigger and bigger and has created what we see today. The two are the most successful and supported teams in Turkey, which adds another element to the several already on show.

Like all big derbies, passion makes a transition to violence and pure hatred and disorder is a regular occurrence between fans and even players. Recently, like a lot of countries in Europe, football hooliganism has become a phenomenon, following the example of the English in the 1970s. Even managers feel the heat of the derby, with ex-Galatasaray gaffer Graeme Souness planting a flag in the centre circle of Fernerbache’s pitch on his last derby game in charge, which caused scenes to descend into anarchy.

 

Sitting in separate continents, it would surprise you to think that only 40 minutes separates the clubs’ stadiums, with the Bosphorus straits separating each side of the city. English fans are fully aware of the fanaticism in Turkey, with two Leeds fans being stabbed to death by Galatasaray fans in 2000 for ‘disrespecting’ their culture, along with several attempts to intimidate opposition players and fans alike.

Ultra culture is huge in this game, and the pure animation inside the ground on derby day can be quite a scene, despite the violence and animosity at times, the sheer unique factor of two continents in the same country, and same city trumps a lot of history in other derbies. Truly unmissable if the opportunity to go to a game arises.

2. Celtic vs Rangers

This is the one derby that people associate with the United Kingdom, as it holds a wealth of history and controversy. The ‘Old Firm Derby’, as it is better known, is famous for its Protestant vs Catholic paradigm which still troubles the city of Glasgow to this day.

If you were to give an example of a bitter hatred that stems away from the football pitch, this is the fixture most would give you. As people known, the Sectarian divide originates from Northern Irish politics/religion and concerns the national identity and the dispute as to whether one is British or Irish (Scot). This is very relevant to society within Scotland (with the SNP coming to the forefront) and therefore has a big part to play in formulating the hatred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofz-EZ40_sw

Glasgow Rangers are notoriously Protestant and consider themselves British, which is very well documented on match day with waves of British flags marking the terraces. They are traditionally native Scots. Whilst Glasgow Celtic have a strong Catholic background and are the face of Irish Scots in the country, who hold the belief of independence.

The social, religious and political divide often leads to unsavoury scenes both on and off the pitch, with fighting amongst fans and tempers boiling over between players of each side, which has helped contribute towards the fiery atmosphere you will always find at an Old Firm clash. The noise is predictably defining at encounters and provides an experience you are unlikely to forget in a hurry.

Examples of the rivalry getting out of hand include former player and current Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, receiving a letter bomb at his home address, sent by a Rangers fan with an intent to kill. Other incidents include deaths, severe assaults and even domestic abuse being attributed to the derby itself, with reports claiming domestic abuse almost doubles on match days between the two sides.

Unfortunately, in recent years, Rangers have seen themselves demoted to the lower leagues of Scottish football due to a financial crisis. Therefore the last game between the two dates back to April 2012; but with the club slowly climbing their way back up the leagues, it won’t be long until they find themselves back in the top flight, and it is largely thought that the next match is to be the biggest in history.  Watch this space.

1. Boca Juniors vs River Plate

Superclasico, unquestionably the most acclaimed, fierce and important derby that you will find in world football. The two clubs reportedly amass nearly 70% of the Argentine footballing fan base to affiliate with either side and it helps to create quite a spectacle.

Both Boca and River reside in the cultured capital city of Argentina, Buenos Aires, with the former historically situated in the working class district of the city, the Italian immigrant community, and are known as the people’s club. Whilst the latter are placed in the northern part, which is classed as the more affluent area. However, like most rivalries, such core foundations are unseen to this day, with people of all classes supporting either side.

There are not enough adjectives to describe the passion and intensity given by the fans, with it being impossible to find a matching input worldwide. Colour, banners, displays, insanity etched on the faces of supporters, flares, these are the many things you are likely to find at this derby, with the list genuinely endless. Both tiring and breathtaking, all an outsider looking in can do is sit back in awe and admire what they are witnessing.

Despite the many positives, Argentina has suffered a hooliganism problem of late and the derby has a part to play in this, with disorder common ground at the Superclasico, due to the severe hatred. A lot of policing and restrictions have been put in place to try and eliminate this side to the game, but it has come to no avail. The worst of which came in 1968 when 71 fans were crushed to death as mass confrontation erupted after the final whistle. Many of the victims were young teenagers, and it was thought conflict begun via the means of goading one another.

The passion is so intense that in previous decades, wrong decisions given by referees would put their health at risk, with outraged fans willing to do anything for the cause of their club’s fortunes. Despite the actions being very dangerous, it goes a long way to describe the meaning of this rivalry to the masses. The quality of football on show  may be sub-standard to say the least, but when it comes to the spectacle, there is nothing quite like the unprecedented uniqueness of the Superclasico, and it deservedly sits top of the tree.

If you have any queries on the article or just want to leave a comment about your thoughts, either tweet me @OilMerchantBlog or leave a comment in the section below.

Also check out my writer profile on Touchline Talk with a variety of articles.

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The Top Ten Derbies in the World of Football (PART ONE)

After several months of neglecting my blog, I thought it was about time I reignited the flame and rekindled the love. What better way to do that than by presenting you the world’s best football derbies in two parts? That’s what I thought. Enjoy (that’s a demand).

10. Dinamo Zagreb vs Hajduk Split

Known as the ‘eternal derby’, this is without a doubt the fiercest derby you will find in Croatia, with a wealth of history and altercations. The rivalry stems from as early as the 1920’s, with a large part of contests taking place under the now disbanded country of Yugoslavia.

Football firm culture is rife within the Balkans, and Croatia is no different, with Hajduk affiliated with the infamous Torcida firm and Dinamo with the Bad Boy Blues, who are both known to regularly clash at matches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Pz91ArwHM

One thing that both sets of supporters share a common interest in is their extreme hatred towards Serbia, and particularly everything associated with Belgrade, following a full blooded civil war and the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Oddly enough, despite not getting along, they used to travel to games in Belgrade together until 1992, which goes along way to explain their distaste.

Previous encounters include referees being attacked, the Yugoslavian army being drafted in and full scale riots in cup finals regularly labelled as some of the worst in European history, just to name a few.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giChvzhDrYE

It is clear that a lot of the hatred between the two stem largely from war, conflict and history. Coupled with the atmosphere at derbies being more than electric and players letting emotions ride, it has to be considered one of the games to tick off of a hypothetical football bucket list.

9. Cracovia vs Wisla Krakow

Two clubs of whom are separated by a residential park, the ‘Holy War’ is not only the hottest derby in Poland, but one of the most intense in Europe. Both Cracovia and Wisla are the oldest clubs in the country, and are separated by written social classes within their respective backgrounds, particularly during the communist era.

Wisla are known as the ‘White Star’, whilst the Cracovia fans prefer to refer to them as dogs (term used to describe police). This is due to Wisla being owned by the communist police for over 40 years. Cracovia go by the nickname ‘Pasy’ and derive from a strong Jewish heritage, which can and has been frequently used derisively by Wisla fans to taunt rivals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HxUNa17MKI

What was seen in the 70’s and 80’s in England with hooliganism has rapidly moved to many Eastern European nations, with the Poles at the forefront of the hooligan movement in the bloc. This is no more evident than in this derby, with clashes rife when the two sides lock horns both on and off the pitch.

The rivalry is so close to home that residential areas/estates stand side by side, housing both sets of fans, which has led to many problems within society.  In this sense, it is hard to find an escape from it in your livelihood with something always reverting back to the hatred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xopX0yfee0

There is a clear indication as to why it is called the ‘Holy War’, and with the rivalry integrated in everyday life, the politics surrounding it, the intensity, passion and meaning behind this derby makes it a must see for thrill seekers.

8. Real Madrid vs Barcelona

This game is typically known for it’s performances on the pitch rather than off it, and is considered the most fashionable derby in the world. However, many now associate it with the petty scuffles between players and theatrics matching that of a West End show.

Despite recent match-ups between the two sides showcasing the problems of diving in the game, there is a lot of history and passion deriving from this fixture. The two are the wealthiest sides from the two biggest cities in Spain and hold different political stances. Real Madrid effectively represent Spanish nationalism, whilst Barcelona are at the forefront of Catalanism, which is the belief that the Catalan region is it’s own nation.

The two clubs are run like modern democracies with the election of club presidents highly publicised, and voting resting in the hands of members/fans of the clubs. With the two sides being the biggest in the country, the rivalry has grown bigger thanks to closely fought clashes.

In recent years, the intensity has been showcased, with the big money transfer of Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2002 causing mass hysteria, descending into missiles being thrown upon his return to the Camp Nou, with a pig’s head a pick of the objects pelted at the now retired star.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmSPejqhuXA

You will not see the atmosphere of other big derbies, but you will be treated to some of the best players in the world being on show along with fiery on field antics which makes it a must see for football purists.

7. Olympiakos vs Panathinaikos 

Appropriately named ‘derby of the eternal enemies’, the two clubs are the biggest and most prestigious sides in Greece, and each match-up delivers talking points to last a lifetime. Both are situated in the capital Athens, but there are many social, cultural and political differences which have created the rivalry.

Panathinaikos are considered to represent the old higher class of the Athens population, with Olympiakos an example of the working class region of Piraeus and surrounding suburbs who merged to become Athens in the 20th century. Such a divide in class was the formation of one of the most intense rivalries in the world, which can be seen by the mass brawls and violence that can be witnessed at many derbies between the two. The emotion can often spill over to the pitch, with several players getting carried away with the hostile atmosphere.

Olympiakos were originally the more successful of the two, which gave them an outlet to boast about their success, despite their struggles within society. With Athens historically being the centre of wealth in the country, many opposition supporters rallied behind Olympiakos as they used it as an opportunity to repress their anger towards the wealthy percentage in some form. Despite this being the core foundation towards creating the rivalry, this is virtually non-existent nowadays, with fans of all classes affiliating themselves with either side.

Unfortunately, the rivalry can often overheat and cause unwanted anarchy and brutal fatality, with deaths being recorded in clashes between the hooligan firms. The last fan to be killed, Mihalis Filopoulos, being stabbed to death in 2007. Football is not the only sport where fanatical fans turn out to see the derby, with basketball also a popular sport of choice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkRk5zZ1yuI

Animosity is always rife, but despite the increasing violence, it is a game I wish to take in during my lifetime.

6. Roma vs Lazio

‘Derby della Capitale’ has a wealth of history and intense encounters, which has given it a tag of being one of the biggest games in the football calendar. Both Lazio and Roma reside in the Italian capital city of Rome and easily trumps highly anticipated derbies in Italy such as the Milan derby as the most ferocious to come out of Italy.

Like several derbies across the world, the rivalry originates from many differences away from the football pitch. Italy is considered to be very regional, and in the early 20th century, there were initial plans to create a football side in Rome to match the clubs of the Northern region. Lazio were the first of the two to be in founded, in 1900, and were the only major Roman side to resist a merger by Fascist dictator Mussolini at the time, who’s plan was to create a Rome side to challenge the Northern clubs. Therefore the three remaining sides in the city grouped together and formed what is now AS Roma. From that point, the rivalry has blossomed to solve bragging rights and hypothetically determine the dominant force within the region.

Racism controversy has been a dominant force, particularly with Lazio and their ultras’ links to fascism, with swastikas and other symbols of racism evident in the crowd on match days. This has created another element to the derby with insults and fighting usually igniting from the subject of religion. A notable example of the views of the ultras came in the form of a 50-metre banner being unfurled in the 1998-99 derby which read the horrific words of “Auschwitz is your town, the ovens are your houses”, directed at the fan base of Roma, which caused mass hysteria and outbreaks of violence on the terraces.

The derby is historical for being high intensity, and this can sometimes can lead to unsavoury incidents occurring, with riots inside and outside of the stadium almost considered customary at times. However, proceedings have calmed in recent years due to several banning orders and restrictions in stadiums, which has meant the usual fiery and atmospheric clash has been somewhat undermined in recent years, but still possesses the undeniable passion.

This battle is passion and love personified, and the affiliation is strong and unbounded, attending the Rome derby is a dream of mine that I hope to fulfil one day.

If you have any queries on the article or just want to leave a comment about your thoughts, either tweet me @TheOilMerchant1 or leave a comment in the section below.

Also check out my writer profile on Touchline Talk with a variety of articles.

Part 2 coming soon.

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Youth football, are we doing it right?

For years now, we have looked towards the answer to the problems that hinder the English game on an international level. Pundits, commentators and experts have pointed a lot of the negativity towards grass roots level football and I tend to agree with this.

Let me begin with my own experiences. When I was a lot younger, I religiously played football every weekend for my Sunday league side, which is pretty much customary for any young football fan and is part of your education in the game. Looking back at my time, I can pinpoint a lot that was wrong with football at that level.

One thing that I always remember is the father culture at 5-a-side, 7-a-side and even 11-a-side games at youth level. Playing every Sunday at Lillie Rec off the Fulham Palace Road, without fail you would witness a punch-up between fathers for one reason or another. This would occur during even a 5-a-side Under-8s match for example. In addition to this, several parents would persistently nag at their kids (bear in mind not for the team I played for, but mainly opposition parents) and it was a sense of individualism rather than a collective effort.

This individualism is reflected in the way a lot of the kids play their football in England. It is about impressing the right people i.e scouts, rather than playing as a team. We tend to adhere to a selfish footballer culture and this is expressed in several aspects of the game. It genuinely centres around self gain and I don’t think this is right. Most parents and eventually kids will be pleased by scoring and losing rather than winning and not scoring.

In this country, the urge to exert your previous failures and to reignite the dreams you failed to achieve on the field and embed it into the life of your son is very common. Once again, it is not an epidemic but it is very much alive and kicking. Kids are pressured from a very young age to perform on the field and expectations of them considerably grow with age. It is the completely wrong approach in my opinion and in a lot of cases it puts off a lot of younger people off.

Now, I was lucky at my club because this wasn’t necessarily the case and I enjoyed my younger days playing football, but with most people, your teenage years approach and other aspects of life distract you from your routine and you eventually give up on the dream. That and I wasn’t very good either. Mind you, I will continue to blame the other aspects to define the ending of the glamourous football career of mine…

On a serious note, at a young age, it is about nurturing the raw desire and enjoyment to play the game. What you tend to see nowadays are very talented footballers who don’t hold that passion or excitement from playing and I don’t blame them. With the constant pressure thrown upon the shoulders of the younger generation, it slowly chips away at your satisfaction of playing the game. Towards the end of my regular playing days at youth level, I looked at football as a chore and wouldn’t relish the opportunity of getting up on a Sunday morning, and this is the general consensus for many young footballers.

You look at a lot of youth level sides at professional football clubs, and it seems more robotic than free-flowing and carefree. Take the example of South America and even across the continent, you will see this is very rarely the case. Brazilian football culture is admirable beyond belief. You see the country produce and obscene amount of talented footballers and their is no wonder why this is the case. The enjoyment is easy to see, the possibility of even using a football to play with is greeted with exuberance.

Finally, we tend to rush competitiveness into the mindset of the younger ones. The need to battle to win at all costs can be instilled into a child from a very young age and this isn’t necessary. We also rush the progress of young footballers, increasing the pitch sizes and goals too quickly and effectively hindering development. Thankfully this is something that has been recognised and will be changed but there is a lot more we need to do. We have started by opening up the St George’s Park National Football Centre in Burton which will go a long towards improving development but as I’ve mentioned we still have a lot of issues to address.

What do you think about the current state? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or tweet me at @TheOilMerchant1

Also check out my writer profile on Touchline Talk with a variety of articles.

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Where has it gone?

In the modern age, passion, determination and club loyalty is something that is hard to come across. For several people these variables are an integral part of the connection with the beautiful game, something for fans to hold onto and treasure. This is why player loyalty in the game today is something that genuinely bugs myself. For me, this is a big part of the game that has slowly disappeared throughout the years I have watched football. It’s something that every fan prides a player on, yet we are slowly being starved of such brilliance.

Ask the friends of mine who watch football about the views I hold on the subject, and it is something that I feel very strongly about. Personally, I see a lot has changed as I have grown up, and it’s not something that I like to see.

An obvious scapegoat is money. It is the root of all evil in this situation. It comes as no surprise that with a big influx of money into the game comes a lack of respect and loyalty from footballers. My opinion on the money in football is pretty simply, it’s absolutely ridiculous. It is evident I love the game, but for a man to earn £364,000 a week (or whatever Samuel Eto’o is on at Anzhi) for kicking a football is ludicrous. Of course it is more than that, but when you put it into that context, it really does hit home.

Nowadays we have young people wanting to, and actually turning professional footballers simply to cash in on the now fruitful job market that is the footballing world. Players of today don’t hold that desire to play, the graft, the passion or any sense of connection with the game whatsoever. It seems somewhat bland to me in the sense that the love has been lost.

I genuinely think it stems from a youth team level. I remember hearing the stories of trainees having to clean the boots of first-team players and doing so with such honour and pleasure. To have a connection with a hero in that way was something that showed them what they can achieve. It seems as though you had to show your willingness to succeed back then, which is evidently a key factor, but it doesn’t have the same feeling towards it. Ask yourselves this, could you imagine some of these youngsters doing that today? No chance. They are being driven in chauffeured cars, given all the facilities, equipment and even huge sums of money at their age by clubs to entice them. I’m obviously not talking about all in this case, but most definitely at the top level.

It’s crazy what money does to people, it sends some crazy and footballers are no different. Look at the situations involving Loic Remy, Hulk and Axel Witsel, all of which moved to clubs for what is perceived to be solely for money purposes. What annoys me the most is when blatant lies are thrown around by such players with the general consensus being “I was encouraged by the club’s project”. I would much rather prefer it if they were honest about their financial motivation, which would salvage any sort of dignity the player has left.

You sense a bit of arrogance in a lot of footballers today, the “I’m better than you” attitude comes to mind. Nothing pains me more than seeing a player on your team essentially not giving a toss. You would think with the amount of money certain players are earning, that they would somehow try to justify at least some of their pay packet, but in some cases it has had the opposite effect. The pay is guaranteed so why should they push themselves? How stupid of me to assume so. When you consider the amount of money you have to shell out to watch your team play nowadays, you would expect a bit of urgency and willingness to give it your all like player decades ago who played football part-time as it wasn’t a well paid profession.

However, you can sympathise in a way. With the increased media attention nowadays, it is hard for a footballer to be themselves. I can go as far as saying that it is excruciatingly difficult for any of them to trust anybody. The amount of times an honest professional has been conned by a tabloid is saddening. Such intrusions of privacy make it hard for them to believe anybody. The lengths certain newspapers go to in order to derail the life of someone in the spotlight is preposterous and this doesn’t help the cause.

It’s depressing to think that the days of one-player clubs have virtually gone. We have the dying breed still in existence with players such as Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs at Manchester United, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher at Liverpool, John Terry at Chelsea and Francesco Totti at AS Roma. Unfortunately these players are at the climax of their careers and it is a shame that we see the extinction of such raw loyalty and connection between players, the club and most importantly its fans.

One question that saddens me is: “Will we ever see another testimonial for a footballer again?”. After this current era, if I had to be brutally honest I’d say no. Thankfully we have the introduction of the Financial Fair Play regulations into the Premier League which will hopefully see the end of indecent spending on players. Here’s hoping a salary cap can be introduced at some point too. But despite the possibilities of such ideas being implemented, is it too late? I really don’t know.

Do you think it is too late? Let me know your thoughts on player loyalty or any other subjects in the world of football in the comments section below or tweet me at @TheOilMerchant1 on Twitter.

Also take a look at my writer profile on Touchline Talk.

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What does it mean?

Many people ask me: “What does football mean to the fans that love the game? Why is it so special to people worldwide?”. Personally I could write about this for days but I will spare you the reading time.

For me, I was hooked from a very early age after a rather strange period of being obsessed with transport (still puzzles me to this day). The first football match I remember attending was a First Division (now the Championship) game at my beloved Craven Cottage against Blackburn Rovers back in 2000. I had been to Fulham games before but this is the first game I remember. I believe we won the game 2-1 with Saha and Fernandes both scoring. I remember it simply because I was infatuated by a then young Louis Saha. He genuinely made my jaw drop and to this day is still one of my favourite players.

Being six-years-old I loved playing football and everything just clicked for me by just being there. The atmosphere, the tension, the emotions, which is hard to experience at the tender age of six but I felt it. For me, it was from that day I was hooked on the most addictive drug of all time, football. Take this for an example, you can go anywhere in the world and not speak a word of the language but strike up an understanding/conversation with somebody by mentioning the word football. I have experienced this in several places worldwide and it goes to show how big the love of the game is. That in itself brings a sense of unity which only a few things in this world can produce.

For me I see football as a release. I could be having a bad week and I will go to the football, whether it be a home game or an away game, and I can relieve myself of the stress produced. For the whole 90 minutes, you forget about what is going on in your life. I feel a sense of freedom and collectiveness when I’m sitting in the stands. Regardless of the result of the day, you go through an unexplainable wave of emotions. Not often do you find a situation where you are with 30,000+ people in one place and you share an understanding, a passion that is the club you support.

Many people see the 3pm kick off on a Saturday as the highlight of their week. When you are at the football, you’re not an individual anymore, you a part of one big family. Unfortunately some people don’t have this, but when they are at the football they experience this feeling. Everyone is in it together, you will suffer the same roller coaster of emotions as one.

Football has produced many moments which will live long in the memory of everyone involved. Look at events of recent years such as my team Fulham’s scintillating Europa League run and Didier Drogba’s equalising goal and winning penalty in the UEFA Champions League final. Just look at the videos of Liverpool’s amazing Champions League win in 2005 vs AC Milan, the videos of Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp winner against QPR to win the Premier League for Manchester City last season, the videos of David Beckham’s goal vs Greece or Manchester United’s thrilling comeback against Bayern Muinch to win the Champions League in 1999. I do not have any connections with some of these clubs, but they genuinely send chills down my spine watching them. Even just looking at them now I’m shivering (or maybe it’s the cold weather). You cannot achieve such euphoria anywhere. It is a feeling you cannot describe, there are no words for it.

The ability to experience an important goal, a 90th minute winner. To share such moments with so many people is something special, it’s indescribable. For critics of the game it is something you need to experience. As they say, you never know until you try it. People who haven’t witnessed or been a part of something special in the game cannot relate in any way, they cannot understand what it is, how it feels to reach the ecstasy that football produces to the human mind.

I have experienced some amazing moments in my life through the means of football, things I can tell my grandchildren about. I have travelled the nation, even abroad for football and it brings you experiences you can reminisce about. Football is more than just a game of 90 minutes, it’s a journey, it’s the stories and memories that they bring with it. The constant train journeys, bus journeys, coach journeys, it’s so much more.

I’ll leave you with the words of a certain Bill Shankly: “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.”

Why don’t you tell me what football means to you in the comment section below or by tweeting me @TheOilMerchant1 with your views.

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The Transfer Window

As most football fans will know, the transfer window is an integral part of modern day football. But along with several other aspects of the game, it is something that is hotly debated with numerous opinions. I haven’t written a post on my blog in a while and I thought considering the time of year, it was appropriate to air my views on the matter.

The so called ‘Transfer Window’ was implemented and made compulsory back in the 2002-2003 season, however several European leagues had already adopted the method previous to this decision. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what this is, there are two periods (July-September and January-Febuary) in which you can purchase players from other football clubs. For example, if Fulham were interested in buying Lionel Messi from Barcelona (I wish), they can only buy him in these two windows. There are pre-contract agreements etc. but lets not complicate things.

Now, there have been several critics of the window, including figures in the game such as former Reading boss Steve Coppell who said: “The transfer window breeds panic and encourages scurrilous transfer activity. I cannot see the logic in a transfer window. It brings on a fire-sale mentality, causes unrest via the media and means clubs buy too many players”. This is a fair enough point. But as I do see positives of scrapping the system, I am a big fan of the flurry of transfer activity in these periods.

If you ask me, it benefits clubs such as my team Fulham. It prevents the so-called ‘bigger clubs’ swooping in and buying one of your prized assets at any point in the season, which would cause an enormous amount of problems on and off the field. There has to be a cut off point to help clubs out otherwise they are constantly at risk of upsetting the balance of their squad, morale etc.

There are also people who are in favour of only the summer window (July-September), but not the January one. Some of the arguments for this would include some of the reasons that I have previously stated, such as smaller clubs being more vulnerable in this period. However, I tend to disagree with this belief. Why is that? Well, I feel that a month period is enough time to replace any player who has been sold and gives clubs an opportunity to strengthen their squad at a pivotal point in the season. Many teams sometimes fail to replace big players that have been sold at the end of the summer window (e.g. Mousa Dembele from Fulham to Tottenham Hotspur) and the January window gives an opportunity to invest in a replacement.

For me, the main benefit is seeing a manic Jim White talking at 60 words a second in the last few hours of Deadline Day on Sky Sports News (he must be on some mad stuff) as he tries to cram in all the deals. There is nothing better than seeing a man looking as excited as kid on Christmas Eve, over a few transfers. I genuinely anticipate the final few hours where Jim White enters the studio, as I’m sure most football fans do as well. With his numerous phone calls, iPad checks and breaking news stories, it makes an otherwise tedious weekday crank up a few notches. Who doesn’t like that?

I do find that there are some downsides though, such as the constant amount of rubbish rumours flying around on social media sites such as Twitter. Yesterday, I heard a rumour that Ronaldinho was in London to finalise a move to Fulham. You just can’t make it up (well in this case you can). In addition to the rumours, it’s the constant uncertainty over your top players’ futures which have a negative impact for me. As brilliant as the rumours of players to your clubs are, the outgoings aren’t as good.

Despite the few negatives, I see the transfer window as a permanent component of football and can’t really comprehend the game not having it. It produces that excitement amongst fans and creates several talking points to spark somewhat dire discussion amongst friends! More seriously, it seems to benefit most football clubs and it produces much needed structures to the transfer system within the game. I feel that the last decade has proved to us why it is such a positive addition and long may it continue.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Let me know by emailing me, leaving a comment at the bottom or tweeting me at @TheOilMerchant1

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He ain’t heavy, He’s my brother

This new post is a guest article written by a Liverpool supporting friend of mine named Harry Hickman (@HarryMooMoo) who is helping to make the Hillsborough Charity single Christmas No.1 in the charts. It is a brilliant cause which I fully support and it would be great if you could do your bit as well.

 

On April 15th, 1989 James Aspinall went to his first away game in Sheffield. He’d got a ticket to go and watch Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA cup against Nottingham Forest.

James never came home from that game. He was one of 96 people to lose his life that day in a tragedy that has come to be known as the Hillsborough disaster. Sometime before he went to the match, he’d bought his mum a record, “He ain’t heavy, He’s my brother” by the Hollies. It would be the last record Margaret Aspinall ever got from her son.

Fast forward to September 2012, when Everton are playing at home against Newcastle in the Premier League. As it’s the same week as the government announced a new enquiry into what had gone on that day in the spring of 89, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright wanted to show solidarity and support to the families of the bereaved. The idea of playing “You’ll never walk alone” before the match was entertained but ultimately put aside due to potential problems. Instead Kenwright decided, with no knowledge of the songs significance, to play “He ain’t heavy” as part of the brilliant tribute to the 96 that evening.

Margaret explained after the match about what the song meant to her and an idea was formed. Peter Hooton of the farm and the rest of the justice band thought the song should be released as a charity single in aid of the families of the Hillsborough justice campaign.

Then something mad happened. Somebody suggested the group go for Christmas number 1. It was an impossible fantasy; they had only 3 months to record and release it. But they did it, with other celebrities and Liverpool fans getting involved. From John Bishop to Robbie Williams and Paul McCartney, to Heston Blumenthal they poured in to do their bit.

At the time of writing the song has been out for little under a week and is currently vying for the top of the charts with X-factor winner James Arthur (who it must be noted has offered his full support to the charity instead of his own release) but is slightly behind in the race which finishes at 11.59 this evening. I’m writing this as a plea to any of you who can help out by buying the single. It’s easy, you can get it off iTunes, Amazon, HMV or by texting JUSTICE to 80010 and following the links on any smartphone. It’s only a pound but it goes a long way.

The cover of the single borrows from that night on Merseyside when Everton drew with Newcastle. Before the match, two mascots, a girl in Everton blue and a boy in Liverpool red, held hands in the centre circle with the numbers 9 and 6 on the back of their shirts. It’s an image that will stay with myself and many others for the rest of our lives. An image that conveys the meanings of brotherhood, support and compassion all at once. Show that same support by downloading the song.

It’s been a long, long road but we aren’t quite at the end yet. Please, whoever you support and whatever led you to this post just do that. Some things matter more than football. Justice and truth are chief among them.

 

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