Does Money Guarantee Success In Football?

After Manchester City rose to fame by being taken over by Arab Billionaires and won the league last season with an entirely different squad to that of 10 years ago, it begs the question - Does money guarantee success?

I have compiled a table which details each club that is currently in the Premier League and it's net spend. For the less economically knowledgeable, this is basically how much a club has spent - how much a club has received. (Both of these are in terms of transfers). This table has taken into account the last 20 years and goes back all the way to the 1992/1993 season. I have filled in the clubs who have make a loss in red and those who have ended up making a profit in green. I have also ranked each club in terms of their net spend so the club with the highest net spend and the biggest loss is rank 20 (Chelsea) and the club with the biggest profit and lowest net spend is rank 1 (Norwich).

The first thing that stands out is that both Norwich and Reading have ended up receiving more money for selling players than they have spent to buy them. In this day and age I think this it quite an achievement. A special mention to Swansea who narrowly missed out and have a net spend of £0.6m.

The main focus of this article was to analyse whether by a club spending huge amounts of money on players they would be guaranteed to enjoy success.

Arsenal ranked an impressive 6th in the table. Although Arsenal haven't won a trophy for the last 8 years, I would still class them as a successful club as they qualify for the Champions League each year (Just about!) and in the 1990's were successful and this table takes into account that period don't forget. So after spending just £21.9m I would say Arsenal are a perfect example of how you can be successful without spending huge amounts.

On the other hand you have the huge spenders in Chelsea and Manchester City who unsurprisingly ranked 20th and 19th respectively. If you consider Chelsea with their net spend of  £595m you would say they have been fairly successful in the last 20 years. However if you compare them to Manchester United who have a net spend of less than half of Chelsea's then you would say they are nowhere near them. United have been mainly dominant over the last 20 years however they have done so without spending hugely like Chelsea and they have been more successful in my opinion.

You could however look at the other end of the spectrum and consider Reading for example who had a profit with a net spend of -£3.4m. Although their spending has been admirable in the last 20 years, you could say that this has limited them. They haven't been at all successful and are only sporadically in the Premier League. Their lack of spending has meant they haven't been able to compete with other teams and sadly, this argues for the fact that money buys success. 

In conclusion I would have to say yes and no in answer to the question, 'Does money guarantee success?'. My reason for this is simple, it definitely guarantees success, but only to a certain extent. Although Man City have seen a rise in their fortunes recently, they aren't dominating the English game like the figures say they should be, they trail United who have a much better net spend, the same can be said for Chelsea. The argument on the other side is that although Arsenal are punching above their weight for their net spend and I classed them as successful, they are a level below the other big spending clubs and I feel that if they fail to match other clubs' spending then they could be a club in decline from what they once were.

What do you think, does money guarantee success in football? Tell us in the comments section below!

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Liverpool - What's Going On?

When Liverpool sacked club legend Kenny Dalglish and replaced him with Brendan Rodgers, many had high hopes for the Merseyside club. However, since then, success has been few and far between with Liverpool sitting in a 10th position full of mediocrity and averageness. One of the most inconsistent teams in the league have been loitering around mid-table all season - so - What is going on?

December has summed Liverpool up perfectly really, with 2 impressive wins followed by extremely disappointing defeats by both Aston Villa and Stoke. They went to East London and somewhat fortuitously came away with 3 points in a strange game that included 2 own goals. Following this they returned to Merseyside full of confidence only to be outclassed by a weak Aston Villa team who were destroyed by Chelsea a week later in an 8-0 thrashing. Liverpool never looked good in their 3-1 defeat to Villa and they weren't, baffling considering they had just got an away victory against an impressive newly promoted side the week before. 

After the Villa defeat they picked themselves up and blew Fulham away with a 4-0 win. They looked like a quality side that day and played some brilliant football, Gerrard was at his best, orchestrating the midfield. This win would imply that the Villa defeat was simply a blip and they had finally found their stride. However, it wasn't to be as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Stoke in which they looked weak and were easily second best. 

Brendan Rodgers came in and changed things. He wanted a shake up in the club and that was what he got. He completely reshuffled the style of football and replaced it with his free flowing style that was so easy on the eye and evident at former club Swansea. I think this is what Liverpool are struggling with, they haven't been able to adapt yet and I'm not sure the style of play suits them, it seems like it has been forced through but it is not working. He has currently led his Liverpool side to 25 points in 19 games, the same as one of his predecessors Roy Hodgson managed before he was sacked, this is a massive indication of how badly they're under performing.

When I saw Liverpool take on West Ham, there were parts of the game where they were definitely the better team and created good chances but they were definitely not when they attempted 'the passing game'. It looked unnatural and like they were trying to fit a square peg into a round hole when they unnecessarily took goal kicks and free kicks short. When they tried to build up a move slowly with some nice passing and long possession they got themselves into trouble, West Ham hurried them and forced them into mistakes. Liverpool looked best when they counter attacked and broke quickly with their pace and the 'on the floor direct' football seemed to work best for them. Another thing that I noticed was Glen Johnson out of position, he was excellent going forward and had the beating of Matt Jarvis, causing terror all game, however the same cannot be said for his defending and I think he should be given a go at right midfield as he was very effective when he got forward.

It doesn't take a genius to see and realise that it isn't working for Liverpool, for the big club they are, they cannot be this inconsistent, they need some results and for them I feel it is really important they win their next 2 games as after that they face Manchester United, Arsenal and an in form Norwich side who have been very impressive lately. Rodgers should in my opinion stop trying to force his players to play like he wants them to and perhaps let them play how they play best. 

It is no secret that Liverpool were caught short in the Summer with their transfer dealings and I think they should and will move quickly to sign a new striker to accompany and back up Luis Suarez. In my opinion they should push Johnson forward to right midfield and bring in a new right back or perhaps some youngsters from the youth system which seems to be churning out some good little players at the moment. 

In conclusion I think that Liverpool need to settle and find their rhythm or change their style, if one of these doesn't happen soon then I fear that this mid-table mediocrity will continue for them and fans will be greeted by the same inconsistency that has been there all season so far.

What do you think is going wrong at Liverpool? Tell us below!

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Is The Premier League Already a 2 Horse Race?

With the 2 Manchester clubs already sitting pretty at the top of the league over Christmas and at the time of writing, the closest teams being 9 points behind, it begs the question - Is it already set up to be a two horse race between the Manchester clubs for the title this year?


In terms of quality of squad then it doesn't get much better than the stars of the Etihad. Their team is full of world class players week in week out, they're rarely affected by injuries as they have such incredible strength in depth. Players like James Milner, Javi Garcia and Scott Sinclair often find themselves left of that long Manchester City bench and this is a testament to how much quality Man City have to choose from. In my opinion, this is their biggest asset by far and they owe it to their billionaire owners. 


If you look at the squad of Manchester United you would be no where near as impressed. Admittedly it still eclipses many in the league but not a patch on City's, they're definitely punching above their weight and I believe they owe that to their manager. Sir Alex Ferguson is excellent at getting the best out of his players. When Jonny Evans began to break into the Untied first team, he was nothing special but since then he has got better and better every season and is now easily one of their strongest centre backs. Young Rafael is still a bit erratic at times but he can have these games were he is just unplayable, another who is improving year on year. 

If you compare the squads of the two Manchester clubs to that of their chasing pack then I think they have it better than all but Chelsea and Tottenham. Chelsea have class throughout their team after spending big in the Summer and Tottenham have a strong, quick side who love to attack but can't defend well. I think that Chelsea will be the nearest competitors of the the Manc clubs with Tottenham having a massive defensive problem and being almost wholly reliant on Gareth Bale at times and Arsenal being far too inconsistent. 

I would say that what gives the two Northern side the advantage is their ability to come out of games with points when they don't play well. Many have said that this is the hallmark of a good team for years now and I fully agree with it. When United were dominant and won the title numerous times in a row a few years ago, many picked out their ability to nick a result and this is what gave them their dominance. You can't play well every game but if you can limit your damages then you will do better than those who don't and United were brilliant at this. Manchester United have earned 11 points from goals scored in the last 10 minutes of matches this season, showing just how good they are at playing until the end.

For years now United have been known for scoring goals late on and also coming from behind to win games. Now it seems to be City who are doing this and with their last gasp victory against a resilient Reading side, United will be worried. City have managed to start doing what United have been doing for years. They have an even better record for this season with them earning 12 points from goals scored after 80 minutes this season. Sir Alex Ferguson will not enjoy reading this stat!

Personally I think what has set the Manc clubs apart from their chasers is how well their players know how to grind out a result and they have both shown this time and time again this season. However United managed to show City how it was done recently in the derby with an RVP free kick in injury time. City will have to wait until April 6th to try and get their revenge on United in what will be a crucial derby in deciding what colour the ribbons on the trophy are this season.

In conclusion, I feel that it is already a two horse race and clubs may come close to the Manc clubs at times but not close enough to worry or trouble them. History maybe suggests that the title will go to the Manchester club who can score the most late goals, who knows?

Do you think it will be a 2 horse race for the title and if so who will win? Tell us in the comments section below!

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Mark Noble For England?

West Ham's Mark Noble was brilliant last season for the Hammers and has continued that into this Premier League campaign. After an array of excellent performances he is beginning to attract some attention, some are calling for him to get an England call up, the question is - does he deserve one?

After again starring for the Hammers in their home draw against Manchester City recently in the presence of England manager Roy Hodgson, many tipped Noble for a call up. His battling performances have been a main feature in most of West Ham's games for the last year now. Since the departure of former talisman Scott Parker, Noble has really come along. He is the first name on the teamsheet and you can see why. 




Still only 25 years old, the academy graduate has a lot to his game. A tenacious tackler Noble flew in with 6 tackles against Manchester City and he was successful in every one of them. This was more than any other player in that game. He also topped another stat, with 3 interceptions. Against Southampton, Noble grabbed 2 goals, the first being a long range free kick that bounced all the way in and the second an assured penalty. Undoubtedly one of the best penalty takers around, you can always rely on him to calmly slot them home even when under immense pressure. 

He has been in the West Ham team for quite a while and has matured into a great players. Noble can also create chances too, his passing precision is incredible at times. Against Fulham he attempted 81 passes with 79 being successful, a success rate of 98%. They weren't just back passes either, 37 were forward compared to 24 back. He works hard for his team and just when you think the other team is about to break, he's there blocking out the danger. 

A great leader too, he sets an example for his team and has before dragged the team with him single-handedly when it seemed as though the game was lost. A loyal player who grew up around the area and has stayed at the club ever since, he puts his heart and soul into every game, both of those being quite rare these days! He recently signed a new contract at West Ham and continues to be hugely important for the East London club and I predict that a number of clubs will enquire about him in the January transfer window.

I have watched Noble for the last 3 seasons and can see that he has vastly improved as time has gone on. He previously represented England at youth levels but has never been in the senior squad, with his current form surely it's worth a go. If selected it would give him the opportunity to reform his partnership with Scott Parker in midfield, something that will no doubt be useful. In my opinion he is fully deserving of an England call up and Roy Hodgson would be foolish to ignore him, after all England could do with some fresh faces! Whether he picks him or not, you rest assured that Noble will give his everything for his country.

Do you think Mark Noble deserves and England call up? Tell us in the comments section below!

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Mark Hughes - The Most Deluded Man in Football?

A quick glance at Tony Fernandes’s twitter bio sees the internationally renowned entrepreneur and Queens Park Rangers chairman describe himself as a dreamer.  Scroll a little further down and you will find him once again urging QPR supporters for patience; the message: “keep calm, we will come good.”  It will seem all too familiar to fans, who, with more than a quarter of the season played and still no wins, are left wondering when Fernandes will wake up and bring the nightmare reign of Mark Hughes to an end.

The problem with the influx of wealthy outsiders into the game’s highest positions is that they are not footballing men, they do not have the knowledge and understanding of the sport that past owners had, and rely heavily on advisers whose motives do not always match up with their own or those of the fans.

Despite spending the summer assembling a team of mercenaries akin to the latest Expendables blockbuster, Fernandes finds his team 7 league positions worse off than at this stage last season, and must be scratching his head as to where he has gone wrong.

Fernandes is just the latest in a line of foreign owners to be disappointed by Hughes, and it is hard not to feel a tinge of sympathy towards him (as much sympathy as one can have for a multimillionaire).

Hughes spent an astonishing total of £272.75 million in just 18 months at Manchester City, failing to get anywhere near the best out of big name signings such as Adebayor (£25m), Tevez (£25.5m), Lescott (£22m), and Bellamy (£14m); and wasting big money on flops such as Robinho (32.5m), Jo (£18m), and Roque Santa Cruz (£17.5m).  After a spell of just 2 wins in 11 league games he was replaced by Roberto Mancini who has since gone on to win the FA Cup and Premier League with many of the same players that Hughes had at his disposal.

It was therefore a surprise when Fulham owner Mohammed al Fayed gave him another chance to manage a Premier League club, but bizarrely after less than 11 months Hughes repaid him by resigning, stating: “as a young, ambitious manager I wish to move on to further my experiences.”  Leaving a bemused al Fayed to describe Hughes as “a strange man”.

A year later Hughes was presiding over West London rivals QPR in a relegation dogfight, while Fulham finished in the top half of the table. 

It wouldn’t be the last statement to come back to haunt Hughes. 

After losing the last game of the season at Manchester City and avoiding relegation by just 1 point in May he uttered the now infamous lines, “We’ll never be in this situation again while I’m the manager”. 

With an extrapolated points total of just 15 if the remaining 28 games follow the same pattern as the first 10, many QPR fans would now happily settle for a situation in which they achieve survival come next May.

Watching his post match interview after the Reading game this weekend, you would think the Welshmans side had just come off the pitch at Old Trafford; not at home against a newly promoted club who had not won a game all season and were recovering from a draining 120 minutes of midweek madness against Arsenal in which they managed to concede 7 times. 

“Teams aren’t going to allow us to play our expansive game and pass and move.” he says.  Newsflash: no team, not even Reading, are going to turn up and allow you to pass the ball around them and make them look like chumps. 

If you are unable to assert your style of play at home against one of the weakest sides in the league one wonders if this style of play is really the best way forward, or indeed if it exists at all outside the realms of Hughes’ imagination.

“The key is that first win, once we get that things will settle down and we can play our football.”  This is another of his favourite lines lately which suggests there is a Pandora’s box just waiting to be opened at Loftus Road and upon the receival of 3 points we will all suddenly see a dazzling new QPR whizz up the table and take up their rightful place challenging for a Champions League spot with Barcelona style flair and possession.

For anybody still believing the fantasy that Hughes is a great footballing scholar in the mould of Guardiola or Del Bosque: his rough and ready Blackburn side finished rock bottom of the disciplinary table all 4 seasons he was in charge; last season his club captain was Joey Barton - he is by no means a purist.  This is just the latest smoke screen to deter fans and Fernandes from unsatisfactory performances and results and to keep himself in the job a little longer; a job 

which will surely be his last in the Premier League.

There have been arrogant managers before him, great ones too, like Brian Clough and Jose Mourinho.  They get away with it by coming across as charismatic, inspiring, likeable.  There is nothing likeable about Hughes.  He lacks charm and charisma, and has twice failed to get anywhere near the best out of two expensively assembled teams.  His greatest achievement to date is leading Blackburn Rovers to the FA Cup semi finals, but listening to him in interviews you would think he had achieved as much as the greats mentioned above.

Fernandes certainly wants to believe the hype, confidently outlining plans last week for a new 45,000 capacity stadium stating “if we are playing good football and have a good stadium, people will come”. 

Hughes, who turned 49 last week, surely won’t be at Loftus Road by the time he turns 50.   The question is how many more dreamers like Fernandes will be conned by the dour Welshman and leave their club at the whim of his unique blend of arrogance, overspending and dangerous delusions of grandeur.

By James Bruce

Do you think Mark hughes is the most deluded man in football? Tell us in the comments section below!

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Chelsea - Can They Win The League?

Chelsea have started the season very well and at the time of writing sit at the top of the Premier League with 22 points from 9 games, just 1 ahead of the Manchester clubs. They spent big in the Summer, investing just over £75m in players that they hope will bring success to West London. They look very strong at the top right now but are known to have a poor run around in the Winter, the question is - can they avoid it this season and go on to win the league?

Chelsea began their campaign with 3 wins from 3 after beating Wigan, Reading and most impressively Newcastle. This showed that it hadn't taken long for Roberto Di Matteo to continue where he had left off from last season. They then had a slight blip at QPR where they were rather lacklustre and limped to a 0-0 draw in a game that was overshadowed by the off the pitch affairs. After this they struggled to a 1-0 win against Stoke thanks to a late winner, again they were unimpressive. Since then they have been very impressive however with a 6-0 demolishing of Wolves in the League Cup and a great 2-1 win at the Emirates. These results were followed  by a 4-1 win over Norwich and then a spirited 4-2 win at White Hart Lane.


Last weekend however, they lost 3-2 to Manchester United and finished the game with 9 men. They can count themselves unlucky as Fernando Torres' sending off was debatable and Javier Hernandez's winner was marginally offside. Following that they came back to be beat Man United in the League Cup 5-4 in what was a brilliant game for the neutral full of goals.

Their main signing was Belgian Eden Hazard who they paid around £32m for. He was rated very highly in France where he last played his football for Lille and he lived up to that reputation in the first few games, having a massive influence on the team, especially in terms of assists. He also helped out with a few goals. Since then he has gone a little quieter but still shows threat and his assist to Ramires in the recent League Cup tie was classy. They also spent big on young Brazilian Oscar with £20m, he is another with a big future ahead of him. Not a great deal was expected of Oscar straight away with him being so young but he has really stepped up to the plate, scoring in the Champions League and playing well in the Prem as well. Chelsea also bought sibling Thorgan Hazard, Victor Moses, Cesar Azpilicueta and Marko Marin who haven't featured a great deal this season but Moses has looked good when he's played.

In terms of squad, I'd say Chelsea are fairly well equipped. They have a solid keeper in Cech, a good defence, although Ivanovic and Luiz can be a bit eratic at times. The midfield is where they excel with their creativity and the like of Mata (who has been brilliant this season), Oscar, Hazard and Lampard. Torres has been doing quite well although Chelsea will miss him after his dismissal against Man United. They have a good solid young base for their squad with the likes of Ryan Bertrand to name one, however I feel they need some more strength in depth up front as they rely too heavily on Torres and Sturridge isn't quite there yet.

I would say that Chelsea will definitely be title contenders this year but I think they will come just short at the end, this being down to inexperience. If players like Lampard, Terry and Cech can pass over this experience then they will do very well but they have a lot of young players like Oscar, Hazard, Mata and Sturridge who might not know what it takes to win the League just yet. Perhaps if they could sign someone to partner Torres in attack, a natural goalscorer or if they could get a solid and consistent defender then they might do it, however this year I think it's unlikely, they're a young team who will no doubt be stronger next season in my opinion.

What Do You Think? Tell us in the comments section below. Any feedback you have would be great too.

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Neymar - Will He Make It In Europe?

You'd be forgiven for thinking Neymar had been around for ages having recently made his 200th appearance for Brazilian side Santos however the pacy forward is just 20. He is currently a one club man and insists his loyalty remains with Santos for the near future as he isn't ready to leave Brazil yet. Tipped to be one of the hottest prospects around, Barcelona and Real Madrid are said to be fighting over his signature however having only played in one league it begs the question - will he make it on the big stage?

Neymar joined Santos in 2003 but when he was just 14 he travelled to Spain to trial with Real Madrid, he succeeded however it is said that Santos were so desperate to keep him they paid him 1m Reals which is the equivalent to around £300,000. He took this offer and remained at the Brazilian outfit until he signed a professional contract at the age of 17. His talents were obvious even at a young age and he rose through the ranks to make his debut as a 17 year old. It didn't take him long to fit in as the week following his debut he scored his first professional goal for the club. By the end of his first season he had managed 14 goals.

In the 2010 season Neymar settled in as a first team regular and found some goalscoring form with 14 in 19 at one point. Although progressing well in his career, Neymar had already been labelled as a diver by many and this was seen as a problem by the club. Neymar hadn't just been successful at club level, he gradually represented Brazil at youth levels too and progessed through the age groups there as well. He made his official Brazil debut in August 2010 aged 18 and he scored after just 28 minutes.

Neymar has continued to live up to his prophecy and is still scoring goals for Santos but after being labelled as such a talent at such a young age he is now being touted for the big time and it is rumoured that Barcelona are extremely keen for his services. 

However, he has only played in one league for one team. Liga Do Brasil isn't known for its incredible standard and this makes his talent questionable. He isn't playing against the best week in week out and this is what worries some. He is yet to test himself and surely soon he will have to make the jump to a bigger club.

To answer the question, if Neymar will be able to replicate his feats at the Nou Camp for example, yes I believe he will personally. His pace is phenomenal and his dribbling excellent. Sometimes he has a habit of holding onto the ball for too long or showboating unecessarily however it is worth the risk as every now and then he produces some magic on the ball darting past defenders and calmly finishing. Another argument that goes in his favour is his success at international level. Although unproven in the big leagues, he has done well internationally indicating he will be able to pull it off.

 I think the best move for him would be a Spanish club as he doesn't like physicality and the Spanish League suits his style best in that respect. Maybe sometime in the future he could come to the Premier League however he will need to toughen up a bit first but I have no doubt he would be able to live up to the speed of football that we possess in the UK. 

Do you think Neymar would make it on the big stage? Tell us in the comments below! Any feedback would be great!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! 

The Ballon D'or Award

Only announced yesterday was the shortlist for the 2012 Ballon D'or Award, widely regarded as the highest personal accolade for any individual to acquire. Last year Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina took the award for a 3rd time in 3 years, an astonishing feat. Although he is arguably the favourite for the crown he does have quite a lot of competition this year. Here is the official shortlist:

Sergio Agüero (Argentina & Manchester City)
Mario Balotelli (Italy & Manchester City)
Karim Benzema (France & Real Madrid)
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy & Juventus)
Sergio Busquets (Spain & Barcelona)
Iker Casillas (Spain & Real Madrid)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea & Shanghai Shenhua)
Radamel Falcao (Colombia & Atlético Madrid)
Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden, AC Milan & Paris St Germain)
Andrés Iniesta (Spain & Barcelona)
Lionel Messi (Argentina & Barcelona)
Manuel Neuer (Germany & Bayern Munich)
Neymar (Brazil & Santos)
Mesut Özil (Germany, Real Madrid)
Gerard Piqué (Spain & Barcelona)
Andrea Pirlo (Italy & Juventus)
Sergio Ramos (Spain & Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal & Real Madrid)
Wayne Rooney (England & Manchester United)
Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast & Manchester City)
Robin van Persie (Holland, Arsenal & Manchester United)
Xabi Alonso (Spain & Real Madrid)
Xavi Hernández (Spain & Barcelona)


Although not right up there with the best throughout last season, undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world on his day is the Ivorian Didier Drogba. In the latter stages of his career his powers have faded and he wasn't as effective all the time last season but he cannot be ignored after his intervention in the Champions League Final. Something that cannot be avoided was his miracle showing in the Champions League Final. In his last game for Chelsea he signed off in unbelievable fashion by first thumping in a powerful header to equalise the game and send it to extra time and then just to cap it off he rolled in the winning penalty to win Chelsea their first ever Champions League trophy, an amazing night for all of the Blues persuasion from West London. An unlikely winner but worth a mention for his heroics in Munich.


Main Contenders:

Andres Iniesta has been arguably the best midfielder in the world this year. His passing is almost perfect at times and just when it looks like Spain or Barcelona can't unlock a defence as they string together pass after pass on the edge of the opposition box he is the one who darts through the gap to create a chance or slips through a delicious ball to an attacker. The stat of 47 assists in 2011-2012 speaks for itself and he got on the scoresheet on no less than 8 occasions too, showing he has more to his game than simply setting up teammates.

Lionel Messi is obviously the favourite for the award again this year but who can blame him after getting 73 goals in 60 games, he's carried on his form this season too with 17 goals already in just 14 appearances. He dances round defenders for fun giving them the run around.  There's not really much else to say about Messi, the record speaks for itself, maybe the best player there has ever been?

Cristiano Ronaldo was not far behind Messi in terms of goals last season with 60 in 55 and he has 1 more than the Argentine so far this season. Always seen to be in Messi's shadow however many claim he has more to offer with his robust physique and heading ability. The Portuguese has torn apart La Liga since joining for a record fee and could push Messi all the way for the award this year.

Robin Van Persie and his sweet left foot dragged Arsenal into another Champions League campaign last season with him finishing as the top scorer in the Prem. Many claimed he led the Arsenal team last season and was their only good player, I can see why they say that as he almost single-handedly kept them in the top 4. He earnt a Summer move to Manchester Untied and has continued to impress with 7 goals already this season.

In my opinion, there is no one better in the world at this moment in time than Lionel Messi. This could possibly be the closest he has been pushed for the award with Ronaldo right behind him but I still think he will grab the award. 

Who do you think will win the Ballon D'or Award of 2012? Tell us in the comments!

Leave any feedback or questions in the comment section below and I'll get back to you.

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Youth Players in Scotland - What's the point?

Scotland is a small country that somehow manages to produce great football players that go on to play in Europe's finest leagues and become legends in their own right at their respective clubs. However, there's a concern in Scotlandin modern times due to the sheer uselessness of the national team. One could be forgiven for arguing that Scotlandhas nothing to worry about as it has produced some fine players in recent times such as Charlie Adam,
Darren Fletcher and Steven Fletcher and that this will continue.


Unfortunately, this is simply not the case as the next generation will prove to be even more of a disappointment. Scotland's youth system is failing and this is largely down to the attitudes taken up by the clubs themselves and the personnel which they employ to rear their young homegrown talent. There is an overwhelming amount of coaches in Scotland who are willing to turn a blind eye towards the players who show up to play at the weekend hungover, so long as they can strike a ball well. This allows for the rest of the players, including the most dedicated and committed ones to fall by the wayside due to the apparent favoritism which is taking place in the youth setup today. By allowing for this to happen, the less dedicated players rise to the top and this is not an efficient way to build a successful future national team. These boys are more interested in getting drunk at the weekend than getting enough rest for the match the next day. The attitude and diets of such players and coaches who are meant to be leading by example are absolutely horrendous. In my time as a youth football player I witnessed multiple examples but the most memorable would have to be the time whereby the coach training us at the time would constantly make the team run and give stern speeches with regards to the importance of fitness, health and in particular dieting. Rather hypocritically he himself was not in shape and showed up to the training sessions with fast food meals and soft drinks which baffled me at the time and continues to do so even now. Therefore, your efforts and your commitment no matter how solid and admirable, are wasted in this country and your best chance of making it professionally is to move elsewhere as it just isn't taken seriously enough here.


Having taken this in, let's look at the players who have made it professionally and offer a glimmer of hope to young footballers in Scotland by considering the examples above: 
- Charlie Adam was shunned by Rangers and subsequently saved by Blackpool who weren't afraid to give him a platform where he eventually shined, giving way for his big move to Liverpool. 
- Darren Fletcher was playing for a local boys club whereby he was snapped up by Manchester United and this ultimately gave him a huge advantage over anyone else in his area as he would not be subject to the Scottish system which is reluctant to take players of such dedication.
- With this being said, Steven Fletcher is an exception as he came through a hugely successful youth team at Hibernian which had multiple graduates but this is simply one exception to a rule that if you play youth football in Scotland, there's almost no chance of success due to the lack of appreciation that is present within almost all levels of football in Scotland, but even more prominent in the most important field of youth football.
We only need to look at Newco Rangers to see how youth footballers are given a chance to shine, as they largely refused to use youth players before their financial situation came to fruition and now they rely upon producing players who are proving themselves and already being linked to bigger clubs down south! So why is it that committed young players aren’t making it all the way in Scotland? It seems as though managers don’t want to take the risk and would rather give games to a 30-something journeyman who’s played for every club in the Scottish League system because apparently he’s ‘proven at that level’. Until this attitude is changed dramatically, we will never have another successful national football team.

By Brett Hampton

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Paolo Di Canio - Managerial Genius Or Nutter?

As a player, Paolo Di Canio scored over 100 league goals but when he joined Swindon to manage them not play for them in 2011, no one predicted what was going to happen to the club.


Di Canio started well with a 3-0 win over Crewe Alexandra, who also went on to be promoted last season. He immediately made the headlines not long into his reign when he was involved in a pitch-side altercation with his own player Leon Clarke, who was later exiled from the club. This sent out a message, Di Canio wasn't going to take any rubbish from anyone, he would do things his own way. 




In January of this year Di Canio claimed the Premier League scalp of Wigan Athletic, defeating them 2-1 to knock them out of the FA Cup. Di Canio's Swindon went on to reach the final of the Football League Trophy, however they lost 2-0 to Chesterfield, nonetheless an achievement in Di Canio's first season. The season went on and Swindon were promoted as Champions of League 2. An impressive impact in his first season guiding Swindon to a league title and cup final. Di Canio claimed that if his side won the league he would get a Swindon tattoo, now that is commitment. 

What made him such a good player and makes him such a good manager is his passion. Before being appointed as the manager of Swindon he had no connections with the club but put everything into the job. Di Canio also wore his heart on his sleeve when playing in claret and blue for West Ham. He wants to win on the sidelines as much, if not even more than the Swindon players on the pitch do and this means they give even more in the game.

What sets him apart from other managers is the way in which he goes about his business. He does what he thinks is right and doesn't care for anyone elses opinions, a huge risk to anyone ordinary, but not Paolo Di Canio it seems. He showed with his team selection a while ago by leaving out captain Paul Caddis due to a "change in attitude". He didn't care whether the fans thought it was a bad move, he did it because he felt it was the right thing to do. 

Di Canio has hit the headlines yet again as he substituted his goalkeeper after 21 minutes of the game against Preston. The man in question was 21-year-old Wes Fodderingham who had made a mistake, but what annoyed Di Canio was his arrogance when the keeper began to moan at other players after his mistake. He claims that he won't put him back into the team until the keeper apologises to the fans. Perhaps it is this "raw" approach that causes the players to perform, they know that if they don't act professionally then he won't stand for any of it. Di Canio has a good knowledge of the game and was an intelligent player which backs up his excellent managerial record.

Some will say Di Canio is a fool and is crazy but he is not opinion, he is a great manager. He has principles and insists that these are followed. He has found a way to get the best out of his team and this is as far from easy as it gets when it is your first season in charge. Swindon go into League 1 this season seeing another promotion as a dream however I believe consolidation would be an achievement from a club only just promoted. Whether the club's fortunes continue or not, I believe Di Canio will go on to be a Premier League manager, and a successful one at that! No matter what you think of Di Canio, love or hate, I think you'll agree that he is great for the game!

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Moussa Dembele - Potential Flop or Superstar?

Moussa Dembele moved from Fulham to Tottenham in the transfer window this Summer. Spurs triggered the release clause in his Fulham contract by bidding £15m for the Belgian but the question is, will he be a flop or a superstar?

In 2005 Dembele signed for the youth section of Willem II, however this was after Ajax had reportedly shown some interest, he had already caught some eyes with his footballing ability t seems. After progressing well there he went on to earn a move to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and they almost won the Eredivisie title but they were pipped in the end by PSV Eindhoven. From here the team went downhill and finished 12th, it was however the 2008-2009 season that was Dembele's breakthrough one. Although injured for a sizeable proportion of the season, he was recognised as one of the best players in the league, impressing many. This earnt him a £5m move to Fulham in 2010.


Dembele started his Fulham career slowly but surely, scoring on his first start for the club. He had a decent first season but it was last campaign that saw him really recognised by people. He performed very consistently and this was rumoured to have attracted a number of big clubs however it didn't seem as though any followed up their interest. I think what really swung it was the way in which he started this season. He ran the game against Manchester United in which Fulham narrowly lost 3-2 at Old Trafford. 

The Belgian prefers to play as an attacking midfielder, the carries the ball well and is never afraid to take opponents on, beating them most times. He is strong and rarely gives the ball away in midfield. He has enough pace to regularly beat his man and enough skill and intelligence to know when to release it. Dembele also carries a good shot on him and this was shown with his excellent goal that he scored on his debut for Tottenham against Norwich where he buried a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after leaving his man for dead.

I personally think Dembele will fit in well to the Spurs team, he will definitely fill the hole left by Van Der Vaart and can play in the attacking midfield role alongside Sigurdsson with Bale left, Lennon right and Parker protecting the defence I think it will make for a solid team with either Adebayor or Dempsey playing up top. What will also help him settle in is the presence of fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen who Dembele will no doubt know well. This was good business by Tottenham and Dembele will shine in a good team however I do think £15m was a little too much however if he fulfils his potential like he should then Tottenham will have no concerns in splashing out on the playmaker.

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Premier League Kits Of 2012/2013

Here are all the new kits for each Premier League team for the 2012/2013 season, I have rated each one out of 10. 

Arsenal Home: 8

Arsenal Away: 9



Aston Villa Home: 6

Aston Villa Away: 4

Chelsea Home: 7

Chelsea Away: 8











Everton Home: 7

Everton Away: 8








Fulham Home: 6

Fulham Away: 4

Liverpool Home: 7

Liverpool Away: 7

Manchester City Home: 7

Manchester City Away: 5









Manchester United Home: 6

Manchester United Away: 6

Newcastle Home: 7

Newcastle Away: 6

Norwich Home: 5

Norwich Away: 7

QPR Home: 7

QPR Away: 4









Reading Home: 6

Reading Away: 7







Southampton Home: 7

Southampton Away: 7










Stoke Home: 7

Stoke Away: 5

Sunderland Home: 7










Sunderland Away: 7

Swansea Home: 8

Swansea Away: 9






Tottenham Home: 6

Tottenham Away: 7

West Brom Home: 7











West Brom Away: 8

West Ham Home: 7

West Ham Away: 8








Wigan Home: 8

Wigan Away: 8






So there, every home and away kit for each Premier League team and rated out of 10.

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