Deal being lined up to keep the right man at Newcastle

A deal is being lined up which could see Alan Shearer stay on at Newcastle United. It is though that Shearer will be offered a four year deal to try and tempt him into staying and getting the club back into the Premier League.

Newcastle were sent down much to the joy of Hull City and now the board are rapidly working away in order to get a deal done that would see Shearer stay on. No doubt he will want to as he will still be suffering from the heart break of the drop, this would make it much easier for him to say yes to a good deal as opposed to if the club had stayed up.

If they had stayed up then a number of problems at the club would not have been highlighted and Shearer may then have been persuaded to not stay on as head at St. James’ Park. Shearer is clearly a man with big opinions and ideas about how the club should be run and he will want to get these across in a better manner.

It must be remembered that he did not have long in charge of the team and a few games clearly wasn’t long enough for him to be able to stamp his style of management on the side and as a result they went down. A long and more extended deal will allow him the time and space to develop the side to the exact point to how he would want it.

He also knows how to deal with the players as he was a high calibre on himself. This will be important over the next couple of months when you take in to account the fuss that is likely to be generated over the downgrading of contracts. A lot of Newcastle’s players will be subjected to 50 per cent wage cuts and as a result many may head for the door rather than show their faith and stay on.

Another reason why a long deal would be good for both parties is the fact that Shearer has the ability to inspire. The fans are loyal and love him despite the club going down and he can inspire the younger players in the side to go out and run themselves into the ground for a club that deserves so much more.

Man journalists have been commenting in recent times about how Newcastle had become somewhat of a laughing stock to a number of other clubs in the North East and the rest of the country. This is something that will really get to Shearer, something he will take to heart and work vigorously to change.

So Newcastle would do well to give him every single assurance that he asks for and pretty much offer him whatever he wants to stay as manager of the club. Getting someone else in now would be a bad move as they would take time to settle in and develop the club to their own ends. Shearer is already there and Newcastle need to make sure he stays there.

Fergie will always be one of the greats.

Reports emerging today that Sir Alex Ferguson has missed his chance to become one of the greatest managers of all time are absolutely ridiculous and naïve. Ferguson’s Manchester United side lost last night in the Champions League final and many reporters are now saying his chance at true greatness has been missed.

Well it is hard to believe this when you bear in mind the 35 trophies he has already won including 11 Premier League crowns and two European Cups. The point is that any manager would have suffered last night and it is difficult to think of a team that actually would have beaten Barcelona, regardless of the way United had played.

Barca manager, Pep Guardiola, himself commented before the game that even if his side won that Fergie would always been an idol to him and to other managers because he has achieved so much in a huge career. The Scot will be hungry for more as well, he is a human being and will be feeling as gutted as anyone else on the United plane when it comes home.

No doubt he will want to right this wrong at some point and has already stated that he will not retire until it is clearly obvious that he can’t take a moment more of the excitement and fast pace of the domestic game.

So to suggest his chance for greatness has slipped away is a stupidly naïve statement to make. His side came up against another side that played perfectly in every single area on the pitch. This is something that can sometimes render tactics irrelevant. It seemed that however Fergie tinkered with his team then Barca would play around that problem until it worked for them.

When he does eventually retire then he will be considered as one of the greatest ever, if not the greatest manager in the last two decades. It is impossible to win absolutely everything all of the time and although there was talk of a quintuple this year for United it was an unlikely scenario. This is a side that went for everything and as a result have come out with only the Premier League, World Club Championship and Carling Cup to show for it.

However, at least they had a go. It would take a very special side to win everything they were playing for in a single season. It would take a team with a squad so deep it would seem like they had contracted players walking the streets, ready to play when necessary. It would also take a manager who wouldn’t appear to be a human being, the sort of man that has an answer for everything and knows how to turn literally any game in five minutes so it works to his advantage.

It is very easy to ignore just how well Barca played last night and look at how United clearly were the worse team. It’ll be a hard push for Barca to get into the final again next year as there are a lot of teams who will be gunning for them when the competition starts again. It is certain however, that the statues being made of Fergie are not going to be smashed to bits because of one final defeat.

Vacancy at Newcastle United

Can Shearer say no?

There’s a rather high-profile vacancy at Newcastle United Football Club. For a manager. But don’t bother applying as it’s already been filled. Well, the Toon Army hopes it has anyway.

All the signs are pointing in the right direction of caretaker manager Alan Shearer taking on the job permanently.

When the MD tells the world the candidate has his 110 per cent backing, it’s got to be a fait accompli.

The big question is whether or not Shearer will take the job. Or rather, can he turn it down?

It’s the classic Catch 22 situation. If Shearer accepts the position, he will continue to be Newcastle’s hero. If he turns it down, the Magpies will take it as a slap in the face, very unfair given Shearer’s devotion for the last eight matches of the season and for taking the job on in the first place. He risked not only his health – such pressure just cannot be good for the heart! – and his reputation but igniting the anger of Newcastle supporters if he failed.

In the end, despite valiant attempts to keep the club up, he was unable to prevent the drop to the Championship but, as predicted, fans kept faith. There was still only one man they wanted for the job and the board seems to agree.

MD Derek Llamblas says Shearer is their number one target for the full-time job, describing him as a straight-talking guy and the man who could take Newcastle back into the top flight next season. It would be a huge challenge but that’s probably the key to Shearer taking the job. He has never been a man to give up, on or off the pitch, and coupled with his love for Newcastle, it would be a huge shock if he turned the job down.

The only slight cloud on the horizon is why it is taking such a long time to make an announcement. What exactly is the stumbling block or is Shearer actually having to think about committing to the club full-time?

Fans have been promised an update or an announcement as soon as possible and let’s hope that it comes within the next few days. Newcastle were dealt a huge blow with relegation and if Shearer is confirmed as the new manager, it will lift the whole city.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, meantime, has apologised to the fans for wrong decisions in recent seasons and says he fully accepts mistakes were made. He says the supporters have been magnificent, turning up in their thousands match after match.

Is the slate being wiped clean to make way for Shearer’s new regime? It would certainly seem that way.

If so, comments also made by former Newcastle owner Sir John Hall are pretty irrelevant. He has criticised the attitude of the current squad, describing them as rubbish, useless and yesterday’s men. Talk about kicking a dog when it’s down.

What Newcastle need now is to go forward, not look back. It’s time to rebuild the team, rebuild the club and rebuild confidence and, above all, to start winning when the new season begins. Let’s just hope the man at the front is Alan Shearer.

Young and old conflict at Arsenal.

Arsenal winger, Theo Walcott, has gone head on against the comments made by his manager, Arsene Wenger, and insists that playing for your country at any level should be an honour. Wenger had said that Walcott being picked by both the England U21 side and the full first team would not allow one of his best young players enough time to rest over the summer.

Walcott has met these statements head on and says that whatever the level and whatever the game if England come calling then he is never going to say no. Wenger’s point is a good one considering the physical stress that modern day players are put under but you cannot help but admire Walcott’s ambition and almost childish nature.

Walcott said: “You should be proud to play for your country. I’m happy to play for both teams and put 100 per cent in and that’s what I will do.” Walcott is clearly a very talented and modest young man that takes playing for his country as seriously as he takes playing for his club.

No doubt that if Walcott picks up a bad injury this summer that keeps him out of Arsenal’s pre-season then the story will be reproduced in endless quantities until both parties have had their say to the FA cup. It is clear Wenger is not happy and even after Walcott ripped out the heart of Croatia in a World Cup qualifier he stated his fears that the euphoria surrounding Walcott would become too much for the young man to handle.

Wenger said: “I’ve let it be known to the FA that he should not play in both national teams during the holiday period. Capello is understanding and Pearce is less understanding. It is difficult for us to accept, but we cannot do anything about it.”

Surely Stuart Pearce just wants the best players at his disposal as England’s U21s go into the European Cup this summer hoping to avenge the heart break of semi-final defeat last time round. It is not a case of Pearce not being understanding enough, it is a case of him just wanting his country to win and he feels that picking Walcott, despite other commitments, is his best chance of doing this.

If Walcott comes out the European U21 finals as top scorer and also plays a blinder in the first team’s World Cup qualifiers then no one can be unhappy. The FA and England will be satisfied as their picking of Walcott will be justified and Wenger will be happy as one of his younger players has a lot more experience and has come through the summer unscathed.

It seems that Wenger should maybe just let Walcott off the leash a little and trust the young man to know when to say no, enough is enough, I’m too tired to play and need a rest. It is no good wrapping a player up in cotton wool because if you do then it will not get him anywhere.

There have been numerous occasions this summer where it has been quite clear that Walcott has not been good enough. He is still a very young man and the only way he will get better is through consistency and this will come through more games.

Hip hip hooray for Hyypia

Just how brilliant are the Liverpool supporters! Not only can the Kop raise the roof when the going gets tough, they can now dictate the tactics too.There was a brilliant flash of humour on the final day of the Premiership season as the Reds confronted Tottenham at Anfield.

Liverpool had already secured their creditable second place to Manchester United but Tottenham still had everything to play for with a place in the Europa League at stake.Liverpool also had a record to maintain – an entire season unbeaten at home for the first time in 21 years.

Fernando Torres had already secured a place in the history book by scoring his 50th goal of the season for Liverpool and with the Reds coasting to victory, it was the fans, as opposed to Rafael Benitez, who wanted a change on the pitch. Bring on hero Sami Hyypia, they cried.

Benitez later admitted it had always been his intention to bring the big Norwegian on a minute or two from time so the Kop could wish him a fond farewell. After a brilliant ten seasons with Liverpool, Hyypia is joining Bayer Leverkusen to see out his playing career.

His cool head, brilliant defending and a crucial goal or two made him a firm favourite at Anfield and the crowd had absolutely no intention of letting him go without a rip-roaring send-off.Managers aren’t normally dictated too by the supporters but on this occasion, Benitez just had to concede.

Ten minutes before time, on came Hyypia and what a great touch it was for captain Steven Gerrard to pass on his armband. The icing on the cake would have been scoring and Hyypia very nearly did that too.Afterwards, as Hyypia did a lap of honour, applauding the crowd, he admitted there were tears in his eyes.

Liverpool are losing a grand servant and their loss is Bayer Leverkusen’s gain. It’s great players like Hyypia who form the backbone of clubs, working consistently and silently in the background but always being there when needed.It’s odds on that Sami Hyypia will one day return to Anfield in some sort of coaching capacity and Liverpool will welcome him back with open arms.

Meantime, attention turns to Xabi Alonso who is being tipped to leave Liverpool, possibly for Real Madrid. Benitez says no, this is not the case. Alonso is happy at Anfield, has no plans to leave and is a great player they still want around.Liverpool fans will be waiting to see just who remains in the squad and what new signings will be made for the next season.

The Kop will be hoping to go one step better and secure the Premiership and avoiding those costly draws at home will be the key. Even the fans won’t be able to dictate that one.

Fitting reward for a season of hard work

Fulham will be playing European football next season and it is just what the club deserves as they have prospered under the management of Roy Hodgson. Fulham have developed from a mid-table club who had to fend off the threat of relegation each season to become one of the most efficient sides outside of the top four.

Fulham have attracted a lot of praise from every section of football this season and have created a defence, which rivals even the best in the game. Hodgson, whose appointment was one of much debate in West London when it was announced not too long ago, has created a lot of this.

What Hodgson has brought to the side is the experience that you need to steady a Premier League side that want to jump from one end of the table to the other. Before he arrived you didn’t really know which Fulham side you would be playing, the one capable of beating Manchester United 2-0 or the one capable of caving in to a good thrashing.

The point is that Hodgson brought with him a very level head. He made sure that every element of his side had big characters and that the same players were playing together all the time, keeping rotation down to a minimum. What this created was a sense of team spirit, something that can eradicate the quality of any opposition on any single occasion.

Now this has been set up and is part of the club, Fulham can move on to bigger things and bigger adventures. The chants echoing around Craven Cottage of ‘we’re all going on a European tour’ have not been heard for a very long time and the efficiency that Hodgson has drilled into his team is the main reason for this.

The club now looks very business like, limitations and possibilities are both equally considered with every decision that the football club makes. A strong discipline regime makes sure that none of the players step out of line and if the whole improving attitude continues then Fulham could start pushing the boundaries of what they can do domestically as well as on the European front.

Efficiency is everything in the game of football. Fulham do not play the prettiest game by a long way but they play to their strengths, which Hodgson has helped them develop. The spine of the side from the defence, down the middle to the front men is strong and this often makes the team resilient when they have to take a lot of pressure playing the bigger sides in the Premier League.

Hodgson has given back some confidence to one or two players that previously didn’t really have any and he has utilised the team’s best players and made sure that they are all playing their hearts out for the white shirt every single time they walk onto the pitch.

Fulham would do well to keep Hodgson in place for a very long time. He is arguably their best manager over the last few seasons and he doesn’t look like he will be swayed by an offer from anywhere else any time soon.

Futures are on the line

It looks like Newcastle United’s relegation decider against flying high Aston Villa on Monday, May 25 will decide more than just the fate of the Geordies.

Assistant manager Iain Dowie has revealed that neither he or Alan Shearer know what their future will be after the season comes to a close. Does it depend on whether Newcastle stay up or go down? More than likely. Alan Shearer may well be in his infancy when it comes to football management but there is a feeling he will only stay if the club survives in the Premiership. The fans will certainly want him to continue.

Dowie says that when he and Shearer took on the roles it was just for eight weeks and those eight weeks have been the longest in their lives. A drop to the Championship would be a disaster for Newcastle and the supporters and Shearer and co would be gutted as well. But he would face a very difficult decision. Would he want to continue as manager in the second flight? It’s unlikely that Shearer would go elsewhere although his services will be much in demand. It’s more likely that he would opt to resume his broadcasting career and avoid the stress and strains of football management.

In any event, all hope is not lost yet. Newcastle travel to Aston Villa needing at least a point, with Hull and Sunderland also battling for survival. All eyes will be on Sir Alex Ferguson to see what type of team he fields against Hull. Fergie assures that whatever side he picks, they will be well capable of defeating Hull as promising young players will want to prove their worth and their potential as future stars.

That’s little consolation for Shearer who wants to see Hull slaughtered. Fergie has the Champions League final in Rome against Barcelona three days later very much on his mind and who can blame him for wanting to wrap his big guns in cotton wool? Other managers would do the same. That’s why they are managers. Dare to criticise Fergie for thinking about fielding a weakened team and Manchester United fans will go for the jugular. The teams in the relegation zone have only themselves to blame for the plight they find themselves in. Quite simply, they should have won more matches.

There are no favours in the big time and it will be up to Newcastle, Hull and Sunderland to make their own luck.Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia is at least seeing sense. He believes Fergie will field a side good enough to beat Hull. Sunderland go down if they lose to Chelsea, Hull beat United and Newcastle win their game. Hull might have everything to play for but it will be a great surprise if they manage to get one over Manchester United, under strength team or not.

Meantime, it looks as though out of sorts striker Michael Owen is likely to figure in Shearer’s starting eleven. He has a big point to prove and it’s odds on that Owen is going to slot home Newcastle’s winning goal, turning himself into a hero as much as Shearer already is. May 25 is going to be a very interesting day indeed!

Pressure piled onto Mark Hughes.

The pressure has been well and truly piled onto Mark Hughes as Manchester City’s financial backers are demanding a top six finish next season. The news comes just days after Hughes was told he had a job for a long time at City, however the stakes have been raised by the new owners and Hughes will have to dance to the tune if he wants to stay where he is.

The theory is that taking into account where City are likely to finish this season and the players they are going to bring in then UEFA Cup football is the least acceptable scenario to satisfy the powers that be next year.

On the one hand the club are giving Hughes assurance that he is safe in his managerial position but on the other hand they are dropping subtle hints that he could be axed if he doesn’t fulfil their targets. This equipped with the news that the club are locked in negotiations with Stephen Ireland over a new contract gives Hughes one hell of a headache for the time being.

City chairman, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak said: “We are not going to splash money around because that formula doesn’t work. It needs to be done sustainably, with quality management, quality infrastructure and a quality manager. That’s what we are doing.”

It all sounds like we have heard it all before. When Caludio Ranieri found himself in charge of a Chelsea side with millions in the bank, thanks to a new Russian owner, he too was told his job was safe. A year later he had not made the strides that the club wanted and he was sacked quite harshly.

So it seems that however City want to dress this issue up, Hughes will have to do something special next season. The calibre of names that arrive at City this summer could be rather muted and hence stem the progression of the squad and success. These are all things Hughes will have to take into account but it probably wouldn’t surprise anyone if he was axed by January.

However, so far Hughes has done a pretty decent job in charge, he has managed to control Robinho’s ego from getting out of hand while making sure that the progression of youngsters through the club’s academy does not stop. Even if City have a rough start to the season then it would be a very risky decision to get rid of a boss who clearly has so much managerial potential. Another club would rapidly sign him up without a seconds notice.

The task is quite simple for Hughes to carry out. He just has to win more games and break through a whole host of clubs who have publicly stated their intent to break into Champions League football next season. This means there will be four or five other clubs trying to do what Hughes has been told he must do. This could make his life a lot more difficult and ultimately be the deciding feature in Hughes’ future.

Our World Cup

It’s our World Cup

Say what you want about Britain, you can’t get away from the fact that we are a very proud nation.

Whether it’s boom time or a recession, we Brits are fiercely loyal to our country, especially when it comes under criticism.

This hands-off attitude can sometimes be confused with arrogance, something some officials believe has to be avoided if we are to win the World Cup in 2018 or 2020.

But don’t the two go hand in hand? To be proud you have to be a bit arrogant but it doesn’t have to be in an offensive manner.

Take David Beckham, for example. No man could be more passionate about the game than he is. As an ambassador for our World Cup bid, we couldn’t ask for more. He speaks about the challenge ahead with dignity and pride and holds his head up high. Not arrogance but self-belief. What a different person he has become from the silly, hot-headed young player shown the red card all those years ago for his petulant kick.

England can and will host the World Cup, probably in 2018. At the bid’s official launch, Beckham spoke of the passion for the game which runs throughout our country, from grassroots to international level.

Great players always ask him what it is like to play in front of English supporters and hopefully they will find out. It is electrifying, passionate, intimidating and inspiring. If anyone could help us win the World Cup in 2018 or 2020, it will probably be the crowd. As Beckham so rightly says, no other country can match our supporters.
But it’s not just about the football on the field or the support in the stands. It’s about the facilities.

Britain has shown it can cope with hosting the very best in sporting events, starting with the Olympic Games in 2012. Compared with that, the World Cup would be a piece of cake – well, perhaps not quite that, but the standards will have been set and the infrastructure tried and tested.

We already have some brilliant Premiership stadia which are full week in, week out. They would be bursting at the seams when we stage the World Cup.

But it would be more than that. Football fans or not, soccer fever would once again sweep the nation and infect everyone, world-wide. We know how to support our team and how to put on a brilliant football party.

All we now have to do is to persuade our international friends and colleagues to get on board the passion train, destination England.

Sunderland fate in their own hands

Sunderland will go into the last day of the Premier League season with the fate of their survival in their own hands. The pressure was piled on by Portsmouth last night after a 3-1 defeat left the Black Cats staring over the edge.

However, Sunderland are better positioned than a few teams around them but the drama of last day football has seen stranger things happen and the prospect of facing Chelsea could mean an opportunity opens up for the lies of Hull City or Newcastle United.

Sunderland would have wanted a greater barrier than just two points going into their final clash of the season but manager, Ricky Sbragia, is staying positive. He said last night: “We wanted to get a cushion going into the last game but we know what we have to do. It is going to be difficult but we have got to get a win on Sunday.”

Both Manchester United and Chelsea are facing sides in the relegation places this weekend and will likely field strong sides as they owe it to the others battling away. Sunderland will want to make sure they are safe through winning but a determined Chelsea will want to see Guus Hiddink out in style so it could be a case of hoping that Hull or Newcastle slip up.

Sunderland have by far and away the best chance of survival but if both Hull and Newcastle win their fixtures than it will be the side on Tyneside that goes down, which no one expected. It could well replicate the day when West Brom managed to get safe after looking like they were certain to go down, being bottom of the table on the last day.

The relegation battle so far this season has been extremely interesting to watch and it sure to be tense. All Sunderland have to do is get a win, if they draw then they will be looking at goal difference and as harsh as it seems every fan will be hoping that Aston Villa and Manchester United can romp to victories or at least take points that would guarantee Sunderland’s safety.

It would be such a shame to lose either of Newcastle and Sunderland, regardless of the fact that both sets of fans will want to see the other club plummet to failure miserably. Tyneside has produced some of the most passionate football clubs in living memory and if both manage to stay up then we can once again be treated to one the fiercest rivalries in world football next season.

It is impossible to predict what will happen on the last day because something always develops that no one even considered. Sunderland clearly have a very clever and under rated manager, despite the thumping defeat last night, every single person at the club will have the league table worked out and they know what they need to do. If they win the are safe, the equation is as simple as that, the fact their last day opponents are Chelsea will not matter to a single person in a red and white shirt on Sunday.

Tevez future looks set to be decided once and for all

Manchester United have said today that the future of Carlos Tevez will be resolved in early June. The Argentine forward has been the centre of much speculation, for a large part of this Premier League season.

His substitution yesterday in the match against Arsenal, which saw United lift the Premier League crown, suggested that it might be his last game at Old Trafford. However, the echoes flying out of Manchester today suggest that United would like Tevez to stay and have started working on the terms and details.

The point is that Tevez is not contracted to a club, he is contracted to an agent, Kia Joorabchian. The sum of money reportedly being asked for to make Tevez into a permanent United player is thought to be in excess of £25 million, making the total paid by United for his services £35 million.

Both Tevez and Sir Alex Ferguson have expressed their desire to get the matter sorted and Tevez would jump at the chance to stay at a club where he is worshipped by the fans. It would also save a headache for Ferguson who will want to keep one of his most influential players.

United’s Chief Executive, David Gill, said today: “The actual situation will be cleared up in early June. Carlos has done very well. We would like him to stay but the actual economic situation needs to be clarified.”

United were offered support yesterday by European officials that suggested Tevez’s contract with Joorabchian was nothing more than on an employment type basis, suggesting that Tevez could join United permanently for free. However, the West Ham United and Sheffield United affair showed just how ugly a tussle over Tevez can get and United will not want a repeat in a summer where they will be keeping an eye on many other stars.

The news is positive for United fans though, and for playing staff alike. Tevez does not seem to have an ego and is the sort of player that will run himself into the ground over 90 minutes for his club. He seems genuinely pleased to be where he is and has often kissed the United badge on scoring this season.

It doesn’t make sense to get rid of a player that everyone seems to adore and get on with. There will be a lot of arm wrestling to get him released from whatever current agreement he is held to but United clearly admire and respect Tevez enough to consider it as an option.

Gill’s promise that the matter will be sorted swiftly will be relief to admirers of the club as reports all season long have linked Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo with moves to Spain. It proves that the club has further ambition, despite ample glory, and is determined to not be pushed around by any outside parties.

If a reasonable deal can be reached and all parties concerned are happy then Tevez will be wearing the red shirt of United at the start of next season. Let’s hope the speculation stops and the matter can be settled once and for all.

United on the brink of title success

Manchester United can secure the Premier League title today if they get a point from their match against rivals Arsenal. United will be looking to rapidly wrap up the league to then turn all of their focus and energy towards the Champions League final on May 27.

It would also be fitting for them to take the title in front of their own fans, but Arsenal will be looking to do any thing they can to spoil the party and leave Liverpool with the smallest bit of hope they could still intervene.

United captain, Rio Ferdinand, seems to be the only major injury worry for the current champions who look set to name an otherwise full strength side. Arsenal on the other hand have their work cut out. Manuel Almunia is suffering from an ankle knock, Tomas Rosicky, William Gallas and Gael Clichy will all join him in the stands for the match.

It has been clear this season that United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, has not lost a single bit of his hunger for the game and will be looking to secure this title as though it were his first domestic success in charge of the club.

Speaking ahead of the game, he said: “We have another opportunity to win it in front of our own fans - it would be nice to do it. My first intention was to win one and break the stranglehold Liverpool had on the title. The big challenge was that first one.”

“They have had a bit of criticism recently and they will want to register their abilities on a day when everyone expects Manchester United to win the title.”

You cannot really argue that United have not been the best team this season, at various points they have proved that they have everything needed to grind out horrible points and victories and never really looked threatened when Liverpool had their spell at the top of the league.

If they win today then it would mark another success in the book of what Ferguson has called his best ever team. Their focus may well be on the end of the month and Barcelona but everyone at United will know that if you win the league then it proves you are a better team over a longer period of time as opposed to winning a one off match.

Once the success is secured the close season drama can begin and the club can enjoy the remaining games they have this season. The destination of one or two in the current squad is still unknown e.g. Carlos Tevez. Accompanied with the ongoing saga that is Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, the title success could just be the backdrop to a lot more important drama about to unfold at Old Trafford.

United have proved they are by far and away the best team this season and a lot of work will have to be done over the summer if other clubs are going to get closer and make more of a challenge in the next campaign.

Stevie G’s gold dust

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has double reason to be proud of his latest accolade, Writers’ Award Player of the Year 2009.

For in the wake of the announcement, reaction by football fans across the Premiership has been one of praise, rather than sour grapes.

How different to the nasty gripes which followed the PFA’s choice of Ryan Giggs for their Player of the Year, a title for which Stevie G was also short-listed. Giggs wrongly received plenty of flax, given his lack of appearance for Manchester United this season and the belief that the award was more for outstanding performance over the years as opposed to an illustrious season.

No-one can take that away from Gerrard. He has been an absolute inspiration, a talisman for Liverpool and, but for his injury spell during some vital last games, could and probably would have made all the difference to the Reds’ title challenge.

Gerrard has notched up so many successes and accolades during his career that it’s hard to believe he will be only 29 at the end of this month. He is one of only 16 Liverpool players to have scored more than 100 goals for his team and there have been some absolute crackers.

Gerrard has it all. Charm, charisma, speed, skill, agility, the ability to perform in a variety of positions and the cool head to lead where others will follow. But he has that additional quality no amount of money or training will buy. He has the golden touch. Put Gerrard on to the field when things seem down and out and it’s like sprinkling gold-dust on to the pitch.

Who will ever forget his incredible show of fortitude during the Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005? Apparently down and out with a 3-0 deficit against AC Milan, even die-hard Liverpool fans were switching off their televisions and leaving the stadium in their droves. But just nine minutes after coming back out of the tunnel, Stevie had turned the tide to begin one of the greatest comebacks in years and eventually lifted the cup in front of delirious fans.

And then, in 2006, he did it again, scoring a dramatic last-minute equaliser against West Ham in the FA Cup final at Cardiff to force extra-time and the victory on penalties for Liverpool.

Captain Fantastic, as he has become known, as won virtually every piece of silverware there is going and numerous titles. He concedes that the Writers´Award Player of the Year 2009 is one of his proudest achievements to date.

What Gerrard now needs to do is to win the Premiership with Liverpool, the only accolade eluding him. Manager Rafael Benitez knows what he has got in Stevie G and realises he is the man who can make all the difference between success and narrow failure. Gerrard may well wear red and be a Red through and through but sometimes, on that rare occasion, a player transcends all club rivalry and wins the admiration of all, no matter what their allegiance. Gerrard is one of them.

Madrid legend urges his team to pull out all of the stops

The continuing stories surrounding the future of Bayern Munich’s, Franck Ribery, have continued today with Real Madrid legend, Zinadine Zidane, urging his former side to do whatever is necessary to buy the Frenchman.

Ribery has been strongly linked with a move away from Munich with Manchester United the current front-runners to gain his services. However, the poor form of the Real Madrid side this season has highlighted the fact that they will have to buy this summer in order to get closer to Barcelona.

Zidane played his final days in the French national team just when Ribery was coming up through the ranks. The fact that Zidane is urging them to pay and do whatever it takes to sign Munich’s star player is proof enough that Ribery could well be the most eagerly sought player this summer.

Speaking in the Spanish media, Zidane said: “I hope that Real Madrid can sign Ribery. It would be a great advantage to have such players in our team. If there is an agreement between the clubs, I am sure that Franck would move to Spain. We must do everything to bring him to Madrid, his signing would help to restore the prestige of this club.”

Where Ribery would most like to relocate to is unknown but it seems that if a bidding war develops between Real Madrid and United then the latter is better positioned to win it. United have the recent success, club stature and playing staff to all fit in with Ribery’s attributes.

However, Madrid need to restore some confidence and such a player can do just this. A potential partnership of Ribery and Arjen Robben pacing up and down the Madrid flanks would maken even the most established teams wary.

It is a very long shot though. Ribery is likely to know a lot more people in England who play at various Premier League clubs, this means he would settle in much better if he moved to England and adopted the English game. Zidane however, clearly rates Ribery highly and his recommendation is likely to be closely listened to by the powers that be at Madrid.

Ribery has also been linked with various clubs in England for a lot longer than any clubs from Spain. This could mean that English representatives have been in touch with his agent for a lot longer and hence could give any English club making a bid a slight advantage.

Where Ribery is going to end up is very hard to call. His future could take another twist before the summer transfer window opens up but it seems that a number of clubs are now poised to poach him from Munich. This much is accepted. Where he ends up though is anyone’s guess at the moment.

United are probably slight favourites but the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo now looks like he will not move to Spain could mean Madrid put greater emphasis on signing Ribery. If he is half the player that Zidane makes him out to be then Munich could be in for a big cash injection very soon.

United move to within a point of another Premier League crown

Manchester United need just a point this weekend when they play Arsenal to secure another Premier League title after a 2-1 victory at Wigan Athletic last night. In a tricky match for the champions, a professional performance was enough to see them past a Wigan side that had clearly improved from this point last season.

It was in fact Wigan who went ahead on the half hour mark. Nemanja Vidic’s slip allowed Hugo Rodallega to slam the ball home to cancel out a first half pretty much dominated by United. Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick both got on the score sheet in the second half to give United the three points they were looking for.

It was a very professional display by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side and he will be pleased at the manner of the victory and the fact that there were no players looking to throw their toys out of the pram with this performance.

One Wigan fan said before the game: “We just need to stay in there and fight.” That’s exactly what Steve Bruce’s men did. They literally made it as difficult as they could for United to get any time on the ball that would allow the killer last pass to be made. The Wigan goal may have been against the run of play but it was deserved.

Wigan look to be getting better all the time and surely as time passes they will add higher quality additions to their squad. This will allow them to push on next season and based on this it wouldn’t be a surprise if they show enough grit and determination to secure a top six spot in the next campaign.

United’s work is not yet done. They still need to get a point from the Arsenal game and will face a side likely to be rampant on revenge having been stuffed in the Champions League. United will know that they can’t waste as many good chances to score as they did last night and there is no doubt that if Arsenal can do any thing to spoil the party then they will.

Ferguson will be pleased with the performance of Tevez who looks to have kick started the manager into negotiating with him over a new contract. He will also be pleased that the team got through the match with no fresh injury doubts, something so important when you consider the high calibre of matches they have left to play.

Although the quintuple is now no longer a possibility there has really only been one team who has been so dominant over the entire season and it’s United. Despite Liverpool’s push this season United have proved time and time again that they know how to grind out results and win key points.

This is easily a match they could have let their heads drop in. The rain was pouring down and no doubt one or two of the players wouldn’t have fancied it. However, they stuck to their task and are now within touching distance of the Premier League trophy yet again.

Reading will be looking to turn around first leg deficit

Reading will be looking to over turn the 1-0 score line they conceded in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final, when Burnley travel to the Madejski stadium tonight. Reading played well and built up good spells of pressure in the first leg but fell behind to a penalty, which saw Andre Bikey sent off.

The added incentive is there for the Royals who will want to bounce back into the Premier League at the first attempt. However, Burnley must not be over looked as the prospect of unknown water can often inspire a team and make them play above their normal levels of performance.

Whoever wins the match will set up a mouth watering final clash with Sheffield United and the prospect of playing for a place in the Premier League and a club pay day of £30 million.

Bikey is obviously suspended for four games so will play no part in the match, Kalifa Cisse is likely to take his place. Kevin Doyle is struggling to shake off an injury and winger Glen Little is available for selection. Steve Coppell will have to get his side right if they are to have any chance of progression as Burnley will no doubt adopt a defensive element in the game.

Chris Eagles faces a late fitness test for the travelling side and it is unknown whether he will start. Wade Elliot and Joey Gudjonsson also face fitness tests but otherwise Burnley will travel at full strength.

The match is likely to be a lot more open than the first leg and Reading will be hoping that the home fans can get right behind the team and ensure that the recent home form they have shown is corrected. Reading have all of the tools necessary to progress and watching their last few performances there is a big display about to explode from this side.

However, Burnley are not naïve. They will travel with one goal already in the back and will adopt an efficient system. They may choose to string five men across the midfield if Reading go with three strikers up top again. The only problem is that this sort of system invites pressure and could well be their undoing if Reading hit their straps.

Although Sheffield United at the moment won’t care who they play in the final they would probably prefer it to be Burnley as Reading will want revenge over United for a recent league defeat.

Burnley can win this match but they need Reading to have an off day. Reading’s failure to make the pressure tell the other night was reflected through an angry and animated Coppell, who as we all know is otherwise calm and collected. Therefore it is likely he has been banging on at his side over the last couple of days that they cannot keep failing to convert their chances.

At this moment in time the match is hard to call. For all of the football perfectionists they would probably prefer a Sheffield United v Reading final but this is unknown territory for Burnley, which is something that could fuel the performance of the side.

Barcelona, more than a club

When Barcelona players walk on to the pitch at the Nou Camp in their famous blue and claret strip, they are representing not just a club but a way of life.

They and their fans throughout Spain and the rest of the world hold values dear to their hearts. Fortitude, loyalty, freedom, the right of choice and speech, determination, principles and passion.

But these are not manufactured ethics. These have been earned over more than 100 years of distinguished history. A history which has seen near bankruptcy, the suicide of one of its most influential presidents, a fight to retain its name, the murder of a leading protagonist and even a Fascist bomb. All this from humble beginnings and a tiny advertisement in a sporting newspaper which laid the foundations for a proud future.

Today, Barcelona is one of the most famous football clubs on the planet. It’s estimated that one in four Spanish residents support the team which became a symbol of anti-dictatorship following the country’s harsh years under the forceful rule of Primo de Rivera and Franco.

Barcelona has always shunned the norm and became the first team to refuse shirt sponsorship despite the offer of huge sums of money from household names. Instead, in 2006, the club signed a five year agreement which sees UNICEF receiving nearly two million dollars each year towards its work. It may be one of the richest clubs ever but Barcelona FC has never forgotten its humble roots and the fight to survive and prosper.

The man who started the football club in Barcelona was actually from Switzerland. Businessman Hans (Joan) Gamper, born in 1877, was an avid sports enthusiast. He put a note in a local magazine in 1899 calling for players. Just one month later, he was presiding over the club’s inaugural meeting. Englishman Gualteri Wild became the first president and their very first game was against some ex-Pats who scored the only goal (with a little help from some Barcelona players!)

Barcelona’s famous and imposing Nou Camp is probably as well-known as the team but playing life actually started in the grounds of a number of hotels. However, their first official ground in 1909 made history, having a capacity of 6,000 with a two-tier stand, unique in those early days.

By this time, Barcelona were already winning titles and cups, including the Catalan Championships and the Spanish Championships year after year.

Founder Gamper, who also played for the club as a prolific striker, became president of the club in 1908 to save it from financial disaster. He was to serve as president five times in all up to 1925 and did not deserve his sad end as he committed suicide in 1930 because of business and political pressures.

The years between 1919 and 1929 was a golden age decade for Barcelona, despite huge political difficulties. In 1922, they moved to their new Les Corts ground which became known as “the cathedral of football”.

Much of Barcelona’s history is directly linked to the Fascist reign of Spain which was to haunt them even into the 1970s and it’s said that many supporters joined the club as a way of expressing their disgust at the supremacy, rather than become members of direct political groups. In 1925, the crowd even jeered the Spanish National Anthem and Gamper was forced to resign, contributing to his tragic demise.

In the 1930s, the regime ordered the closure of Les Corts and it was used as a type of military camp during the civil war. Barcelona’s president Josep Sunol was also murdered by Franco’s soldiers and, in 1938, a fascist bomb was dropped on the social club. Franco even ordered the club to change its Catalan name to the more Spanish Club de Futbol Barcelona, a move which was finally reversed in 1970.

Through it all, Barcelona stood strong and earned the respect of millions of Spaniards who shared the same ethics but were not at liberty to speak out. Today, there is still great rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid who were seen as favourites in the Fascist regime. It is one of the reasons why one of their most famous managers, Johan Cruyff was so revered. He said he opted for Barcelona over Real Madrid and even chose a traditional Catalan name, Jordi for his son.

Cruyff is just one of the famous names associated with Barcelona who celebrated the opening of their incredible Nou Camp stadium in 1959. It holds 90,000 spectators and is regarded as one of the best in the world. Walking down its famous steps is said to take your breath away. Great names associated with the club include Gary Lineker, Maradona, Ronaldinho, Efo, Figo, Kluivert, Rivaldo, Simatoz, Schuster and Alberto as players and Terry Venables, Rijkaard and Bobby Robson as managers.

Barcelona have had periods of massive success but lulls too yet the trophy cabinet at the Nou Camp is packed to the brim with silver-ware. They have won virtually everything there is to be won in football, including the La Liga title, the Spanish Cup, the Super Cup, the League Cup, the European Cup, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the Super Cup. Barcelona are just one of three teams never to have been relegated from La Liga and are the second most successful club in Spanish football. One of their greatest nights was winning their first European Cup at Wembley in 1992 and their support at the UEFA Champions League final in Rome on May 27, 2009 was just incredible.

Throughout it all, the peaks and troughs, the triumphs and the defeats, membership of Barcelona has continued to grow as millions of fans agree it is so much more than just a club. Mes que un club. It’s a living legend.

Barcelona suffer injury setback

Barcelona play maker, Andres Iniesta, picked up a thigh injury in the club’s 3-3 draw with Villarreal yesterday that could see him miss the Champions League final against Manchester United.

Iniesta has been arguably Barcelona’s most influential player in recent seasons and the injury is a massive blow to the club and their trophy bids. Barcelona’s manager, Pep Guardiola, admitted that losing such a key player would be a huge blow to the club ahead of the biggest game of their season.

Guardiola said in the Spanish media today: “Losing Iniesta through injury is worse than not having won the title on Sunday. He is definitely out of the cup final but I hope he will be in Rome.”

“Anyway, it is part of the game. You have to take risks. Another player will replace him. We will fight to win and could use players from the academy.”

It must be remembered that Iniesta is the reason that Barca are in the Champions League final. His brilliant precision and accuracy to score the goal against Chelsea last week, which sent them through, was something only he could produce.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping that he does not face up against his side as it will give United one less headache to worry about and no doubt it will provide some space and opportunity in the midfield during the final, which United would otherwise not have.

The reason Iniesta is so important to the Barcelona side is that he has the ability to make everyone else on the pitch look like a world-beater. He creates space and brings players into the game. Pundits speaking after Barca’s win over Chelsea said he was even better on the ball than Thierry Henry or Lionel Messi.

These are not easy comments to attract and prove why Iniesta is so highly rated at the top level. It must also not be forgotten that he was in the heart of a Spain side that cantered to European glory last year.

Every single football neutral will want to see the best players picked for the Champions League final on May 27 so for Barca what they have to do is quite simple. They have to wrap Iniesta in cotton wool for the next couple of weeks while continuing to keep him motivated.

His come back could come at exactly the right time for Barca and no doubt they will want to unleash him for another final and hope that he replicates his performance in a similar manner to the one that was too good for Arsenal in 2006.

Barca can think themselves lucky that the injury was not a lot more serious and providing there is no internal or muscle damage and the blow to Iniesta’s right thigh was just this then a dead leg can easily be over come. Even though United will be hoping it is a lot more serious, in the back of Fergie’s mind he will want the Spaniard to get fit, as he will want to beat Barca’s best team.

Liverpool can temporarily move back to the top of the Premier League

Liverpool face a tricky trip to West Ham United today but can move back to the top of the Premier League with a win. It will be a tough encounter at Upton Park as West Ham are also trying to push for a UEFA cup sot ahead of next season.

Rafa Benitez has no other matches to worry about this season so is likely to pick the best Liverpool side he can. Xabi Alonso will not play any part in the match as he is still recovering from the ankle injury he suffered after Joey Barton’s challenge last weekend. Liverpool’s only other concerns are Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano who are both carrying slight knocks but are expected to play.

Gianfranco Zola will be relying on the ever-audible West Ham support as well as the talents of many young players he has brought into the first team. Carlton Cole will miss out as he continues his recovery from a groin strain and joining him will be James Collins and Kieron Dyer.

Benitez will insist that his team still have a chance the Premier League title glory and will refuse to concede the title to Manchester United until it is a mathematical certainty. This makes for an attacking promise from the Liverpool boss and we may be treated to some of the best football of the weekend if Liverpool hit their straps.

However, West Ham must win the game if they want to have any chance of stealing 6th place away from Everton who are looking more and more likely to finish in that position. The gap is currently six points and a win will put the pressure back onto Everton who face a tough match today against an ever-improving Tottenham Hotspur side.

Hopefully it will not be a dead game as considering both teams do still have something to play for the likelihood that they will get anywhere near these proposed goals by the end of the season is grim. It could well turn out to be a rather pointless encounter, but such is professional football this is not likely to happen.

Until the fat lady sings, everyone on Merseyside and East London will be signing their hearts out and any slack effort or match play from either side will not only let the fans down but will not do either club justice.

There is also the added spice that both managers like to wield the post-season axe and the players should be aware of this. Liverpool will want to improve their squad again at the close season so anyone who does not pull their weight in Liverpool’s remaining games could fast find himself in the Benitez list of players to get rid of.

West Ham are also likely to increase their ambitions next season and this could well mean a massive over haul of playing staff if the new owners of the club allow Zola adequate funds to create a squad good enough to compete in Europe. There are a lot of youngsters currently in the West Ham side and they need to play out of their skins if they want to have any chance of staying in Zola’s plans.

Arsenal secure the future of one of their best talents

Arsenal winger and front man, Theo Walcott, has committed his future to the club by signing a new long term contract. The news comes just days after reports of a new offer being prepared for manager, Arsene Wenger, and the gaffer will be pleased by the news that Walcott has no intentions to move this summer.

Walcott has come under increased scrutiny within the last couple of weeks as his inexperience in the Champions League ties against Manchester United was displayed at its fullest. However, Arsenal fans can now rest easy that this gifted individual will not be playing his football in any other place than at the Emirates come the start of next season.

Walcott seems as enthusiastic by the new deal and is insistent that Arsenal can win trophies in the next campaign. He said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The way the boss has managed all the team, the players he brings in just settle into the team straight away and just be part of it.”

“This team has definitely got the chance to win something, especially for the fans as well because they’ve been absolutely terrific for us this season. We want to do it for them mainly and it would be brilliant to look back on the amount of trophies and medals you’ve won.”

The North London club will be hoping that more players publicly commit their future to the club as Wenger will no doubt look to change things around this sumemr in his endless quest for the perfect football formula.

Walcott was a name rumoured to be targetd by a number of Premier League and Spanish clubs. His pace and touch on the ball are his two biggest assets, both of which are the sole reasons he is at such a big club.

There is little doubt that Arsenal are going to have to rapidly improve if they are to seriously challenge on all fronts next season. The first sign to doing this is to make sure the manager is not forced to sell anyone and the signature of Walcott is the first insurance of his more than talented squad staying together.

The bigger challenge for the former Premier League champions will be to hang onto their bigger players. Captain, Cesc Fabregas, has been linked with a move to Barcelona all season long and, no disrespect to Walcott in the slightest, it is these high calibre players that the club will have to keep.

The younger players can take something from Walcott’s commitment. He obviously recognises the fact there is no better manager in the game than Wenger to develop and nurture the talents of a gifted young player. Wenger, lest we not forget, turned Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira into two of the biggest names in the game from a point where they arrived at Arsenal as just young and raw young men.

The foundatons for Arsenal are very good. If the bigger players stay then it just needs one or two tweaks to make the Arsenal amchine strong again.

Former Manchester United star will be looking to get one over on his old side

Gerard Pique will be looking to get one over on Manchester United when he faces his old club in the Champions League final at the end of the month. Pique made the move back to his native Spain last summer having been raised under the wing of Sir Alex Ferguson at United.

Now Pique wants to snuff out the United attack and prove to the current European champions that they were wrong for ever agreeing to let him leave. He said: “It means a lot. It will be special because I have three good years there, maybe I didn’t play a lot but they were important years for me.”

“There are no words to describe how happy the team is. A team like this, trying to attack all the time, cannot go 180 minutes without scoring a goal. It was in the last minute but it was enough.”

The significance of Pique’s transition as a player is outlined by the fact he is bound to start the final for arguably Europe’s best current team, when he would have struggled to even get in the squad if he was still at United. There will not be any malice or bitterness in his wanting to beat United, but he will be spurred on by the fact that he feels he may have something to prove.

If it is a good night in Rome for Pique then he won’t have an awful lot to do but this is very doubtful considering the rampant display that United showed against Arsenal the other night. Even Barca’s players could not help but sit back and admire the way they destroyed Arsene Wenger’s men.

The Spaniard has transformed himself from a fringe player at United into a first team regular at Barcelona and he will square up in the opposite number to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in the hope that his team comes out well on top. If he scores then celebrations are unlikely as is the mutual respect obviously evident between Pique and his former club, but he will be as determined as ever when he puts on that Barca shirt.

It is impossible to predict what Pique’s performance will be like in the final. Both United and Barca have come a long way from the club’s they were this time a year ago. On the one hand United have learnt how to win the hard way and get through dodgy spells of form and bad performances this season. On the other, Barca have proved that they can take apart any team at will, but have frailties that United can exploit.

Pique will have one hell of a time trying to keep Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney quite all night when the teams meet in Italy but the determination he must feel after his Old Trafford exit could raise his level of performance to heights that United fans didn’t know he could reach. It is an impossible final to call but the feelings involved are already open on display.