Remember the Neymar

To be dubbed the new Pele puts a lot of expectation on Neymar da Silva Santos Junior. The 17 year old has already attracted interest from the world's top clubs and will no doubt to gracing European football in the years to come.

Here is a little video of Neymar's talent.

This little Fergie went to market

After Ferderico Macheda shot himself into the centre of Premier League news with his late goal at Aston Villa who would have thought Man United would be attacked.

Lazio president Claudio Loitito believed the title chasers treat their young star's as if they nothing more than cattle. Loitito arguing the player would be still be a Lazio player if it wasn't for Man United's bullish tactics.

But is this a problem with professional football we already knew and is it inevitable? The big clubs have always been able to attract the best players whether that is through the desire for success or financial reasons. There has been a string of players who have been brought to Old Trafford from clubs that had an emotional attachment to the player.

The system is against the Italian clubs who are unable to offer professional contracts to their under 18 players. Although, is the Lazio president thinking more the club's bank balance than the benefit of his young players? A professional contract would have tied Machena to Lazio and subsequently meant that if Ferguson wanted him a transfer fee would have been needed.

The power struggle between clubs will continue as will the 'cattle market' debate but once again it seems money will always be the top priority in modern football.

Playing Away

An adaption of Kevin Sampson's novel Awaydays is released at cinemas this spring. The film follows the character Paul Carty as he is delved in a world of football, friendship and fashion.

Awaydays could be seen as your typical dark and gritty football hooligan film but thankfully without Danny Dyer and his "let's have it" attitude. The book has a large cult following and I expect the film to have same with the blend of culture that made Sean Meadows' This is England a success.

Another football that I apologise for not having mentioned is a brilliant The Damned United. Here's a little clip from the film about the legend Brian Clough.

Football Traitors

I recently read a blog post by Time Added On about the 10 biggest traitors in football and had a couple of different choices.

They poll leaves out one of the biggest traitors in North East football. Lee Clark was a key figure of Sunderland AFC during their promotion success during the 1998/99 season. However Clark was seen wearing a t-shirt insulting those Sunderland fans that had supported him during the 1999 Cup final between Newcastle United and Manchester United.

I also would Harry Redknapp should be further put the list after his comments on Portsmouth being "the club that I could retire at" then leaving to join Tottenham.

Here is a link to the full poll to make your own opinion
http://www.timeaddedon.com/?p=823

Tailored to Win

The new England kit is set to be a return to a classic era in English football with modern technology. The kit is specifically tailored to each player to give the team supposed improvements on the pitch. 

It is seen to be the idle for player that likes his sleeves long or his shorts short. But will it make a difference? Does a well fitting outfit make a successful team?

There are practical improvements to the new strip from a goalkeeper's perspective. The shirt is cut shorter at the sleeve so it doesn't roll over and build up around the glove that can cause irritation and lapses in concentration. 

The 100% win record is certainly a strong positive of the new kit. The 4-0 win over Slovakia and the 2-1 against the Ukraine has given the new strip a good start to it's time with the England team. 

The new kit does have a sense of nostalgia about it and I believe that it is a good idea to introduce new ideas and philosophy into the england team. 

Another Comic Display from England

Last night Comic Relief were able to raise £57,809,938 and the England team were able to do their own little bit for the charity. Along with help from Gavin and Stacey's James Corden aka Smithy a comedy sketch was made to help those less fortunate in the United Kingdom and Africa.

Here's a link to the sketch. Enjoy and please there is still time to do your bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEdDCTRyQdA&feature=related

League of Injustice

I was never a fan of Jeff Winter during his refereeing career due to his allegiances to Middlesbrough a local rival of my club. However since this retirement and listening to him in the media there is a lot of truth in his words.

The League of Injustice is a creation of Jeff Winter's that my interest most average football fans. The league takes into consideration every incorrect decision a referee makes that has a direct effect on the result and makes it right.

At the top of table things stay the same as they are in the real Premier League. However it is in the relegation fight where the incorrect decisions are taking their toll.

Any football fan who feels his team is dealt injustice on a weekly basis should have a look at this table to see how things could have been.

The Jeff Winter League of Injustice
http://www.jeffwinterentertainmentandmedia.co.uk/loi/0809000i.htm

Wenger on the Defensive

Arsene Wenger looked for once out of excuses as Arsenal was out battled to their fourth successive 0-0 draw. Despite a gain in profit over the financial year the possibility of no Champions League football next season could be a blow to big for Arsene Wenger and his philosophy at Arsenal.


The worst run Arsenal have seen for 15 years has Wenger "concerned" and it is his teams inability to score goals that has left him bemused. One goal in the last five games is not good enough for a team battling with relegation never mind a team with ambitions of a Champion League place.

The opposition and a negative 10 men behind the ball style of play they bring to the Emirates Stadium has often been Wenger's defence against their poor results. By blaming the opposition for being what Wenger terms as "anti-football" he deflects examination of his teams own tactical capabilities.

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia was on the receiving end of Wenger's frustrations last weekend stating his team should have gone to the Emirates and "played football". Would Wenger have been so concerned with Sunderland playing football if Arsenal had won the game?

Manchester United has won nine of their 19 league victories this season by a goal to nil and is placed comfortably seven points clear at the top. The belief and the consistency of Manchester United is the missing component of this Arsenal side who fail to break down the strong defensive teams of the Premier League.

Nike: Show Your 5

Here's a look at the new Nike Show Your 5 Tournament

The American Dream?

When it was announced in January 2007 that David Beckham would make the move from the Galáctico's to the Galaxy his motives were questioned. However it seems Beckham's motivation for a move to AC Milan is purely for his love of the game.

For many pundits the reported £128m Beckham would earn as part of the LA Galaxy deal was enough of a selling point and his last big payday before retirement in the Californian sun. So what changed for the man who wanted to give the gift of football to the American public?

It is hard to understand what was going through his mind in 2007 but for Beckham things on the football side of his life were not well. A year earlier Beckham emotionally stepped down as England Captain and the era of the Galáctico at Real Madrid was coming to an end under then manager Fabio Capello. A fresh challenge in a new and up and coming competition like Major League Soccer would have been tempting to any player. There were many others who joined or had already left for pastures new, such as Juan Pablo Angel, Darren Huckerby and Danny Dichio.

The irony is that Fabio Capello, the man who played a big role in Beckham's move to LA Galaxy could be a big reason for Beckham determination to move to Milan. Now England manager, Capello has given Beckham a chance to be part of a England side rejuvenated after the failures of previous squads. Whatever occurs from the tug of war between Galaxy and Milan it seems David Beckham may have never lost his passion for the game and believe that he still has a few years at the top left in him.