Premier League set for a Brazilian invasion?

 

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

There've been plenty of Brazilian footballers who've moved to England to play their football, but often flattered to deceive. Juninho, Gilberto Silva, Edu and Sandro apart, most have arrived with big reputations either intact or burgeoning, which they've failed miserably to live up to.

 

A large majority leave the English game having left no mark on it whatsoever. Mario Jardel, Branco, Jo and Afonso Alves spring instantly to mind when considering the plethora of stars who've joined amid significant fanfare only to perform poorly and move on with a whimper.

 

Now, there's a renewed interest in the Premier League as a possible destination for young superstars of the Brazilian game, led by the likes of David Luiz, Oscar and Coutinho who all ply their trade here.

 

The latest links to English clubs include Atletico Mineiro winger Bernard, fresh from sealing the prestigious Copa Libertadores on his home continent, and exciting forward Leandro Damiao. Arsenal are said to be in the frame for the signature of 20-year-old Bernard, while Southampton and Spurs are battling it out to attract 24-year-old Internacional man Leandro.

 

It's perfectly true that 'next big thing' Neymar snubbed Chelsea, amongst others, in favour of a switch to Barcelona earlier this summer, but there certainly appears to be a sea-change within the mindset of Brazilians about the possibility to play in this country. Should any of the sides mentioned in connection with Bernard and Damiao prevail, it could set off a chain reaction with several other full internationals considering a switch to these shores.

 

An improved influx of quality from the World Cup host nation could be about to gather pace, as the English top-flight attempts to maintain its position as arguably the best league in the world.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

Facebook.com/DLWSports

 

 

 

 



Bale won't resist Madrid

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

The chase for Welsh wizard Gareth Bale is set to come to a crescendo over the coming days, as strong rumours of a mega-deal worth £86m surfaced from Real Madrid today.

 

Carlo Ancelotti is determined to seal a deal for the Tottenham Hotspur winger and will stop at nothing until he gets his man.

 

Spanish giants Real reportedly offered £51m cash, plus Argentine winger Angel Di Maria and Portuguese left-back Fabio Coentrao in exchange. Not only is the opportunity of a switch to the Bernebeu an attractive one for Bale, the transfer also appears highly lucrative for Spurs.

 

Losing the former Southampton man would be a huge blow, but it'd be softened somewhat by the arrival of the world-class Di Maria and Coentrao. Receiving two players of that calibre would strengthen the Spurs left flank and deliver extra options to Andre Villas-Boas in his quest to lead Spurs back into Champions League reckoning.

 

Bale's performances last season showcased the supreme talent he possesses and placed him amongst the world's very best. Spurs will struggle to keep hold of the 24-year-old due in equal parts to the lack of top-level European competition at White Hart Lane and the lure of Real Madrid proving too strong for the player regardless.

 

As evidenced by many cases in the past, keeping a disillusioned player on the books usually becomes counter-productive and Villas-Boas must make a crucial decision soon on Bale's future.

 

It could be argued that even taking into account Bale's excellence, a replacement in the form of Angel Di Maria wouldn't necessarily be a step backwards for the north London side. The former Benfica flyer represents a class addition to the squad should he settle and integrate quickly into the AVB way.

 

Judgement day is almost upon chairman Daniel Levy and he, in conjuction with his head coach, needs to make a decisive choice in the best interests of the club. It may mean Bale leaving to pursue his dream of turning out for Real well in time for the new campaign.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

Facebook.com/DLWSports

 

You can also find me writing for www.football-oranje.com, www.footballhub.tk and www.footballrants.com amongst others! 

 

 

 

 

Waddle: The Marseille Years

By David Lee Wheatley

 

Fed up of the drudgery of English football in the 80's, Chris Waddle decided to follow compatriot and friend Glenn Hoddle to France through a £4.25m switch from Tottenham Hotspur to Marseille.

 

Hoddle had already spent two seasons in Ligue 1 at Monaco, helping them win the title in his first campaign with the Monte Carlo club.

 

English sides were suffering badly following the expulsion from European club football imposed due to the Heysel disaster and many top home-based internationals wished to see what that world had to offer.

 

Marseille's move for England winger Waddle made him the third most-expensive footballer on record at the time of his move in 1989 and many observers wondered if the Spurs man was worth the money.

 

The Gateshead-born star answered his critics in emphatic fashion thanks to his highly impressive performances in the white-and-blue of l'OM. The fans at the Stade Vélodrome took the Geordie to their hearts instantly, as Waddle was christened Le Magicien following the revelation that he watched videotapes of illusionist Paul Daniels to combat homesickness, but also with several dashing displays on the left wing!

 

During his fruitful three-year stay on the south of France, Marseille stormed to three successive league championship retentions, having grabbed the trophy from Hoddle's Monaco the season before Waddle's arrival.

 

At international level, the former Newcastle United wizard appeared rejuvenated by his first campaign in France when arriving at Italia '90 for the World Cup finals. Waddle played at the pinnacle of his powers in England's run to the semi-finals, but West Germany dumped them out on penalties; Stuart Pearce and Waddle himself the culprits missing their kicks.

 

Back at club level, he led Marseille to the European Cup final in 1991, which took place in Bari. Unfortunately, it was more penalty heartbreak in Italy for the England man with Red Star Belgrade the victors in another shoot-out. Mercifully, Waddle didn't take a penalty on that occasion, but felt the devastation of the loss all the same.

 

That third Ligue 1 title of his Marseille era came in 1992, before Sheffield Wednesday offered him a route back to the English top-flight. He ended with 22 league goals from 107 appearances, plus a further 7 goals in other competitions coming out of 42 domestic and European Cup games.

 

He later described the differences between the English and French styles of football when explaining that in England he was expected to run 'up-and-down, up-and-down', yet across in France he was classed an all-out attacker and that was his only job. It seemed a liberating experience for Waddle allowing him to perform at his full potential, while assisting him with the avoidance of burn-out and exhaustion during and after matches.

 

Le Magicien left an indelible mark on the fanatical support in Marseille, too, as he got voted into second place of all-time Marseille players behind legendary former team-mate and captain Jean-Pierre Papin in celebration of the club's Centenary of 1998.

 

After an initially daunting journey of discovery in a foreign land, what a fantastic legacy to leave behind.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

Facebook.com/DLWSports 

 

   

 

 

Bayern v Barcelona - Pep greets old friends to new home

By David Lee Wheatley

The glamour friendly between Bayern and Barcelona at the Allianz Arena kicked-off late due to traffic problems around Munich causing a slight delay to proceedings.

Shorn of their head coach Tito Vilanova, Barça faced up to the prospect of seeing former mentor Pep Guardiola sitting in the opposition dug-out.

Though Vilanova's replacement Gerardo Martino had been installed before the tie, it was decided he would take up his duties today, leaving Jordi Roura in temporary charge of the side.

Barcelona lined up without several star names, due to their choosing to leave out international players who featured for Spain and Brazil during the Confederations' Cup tournament held beyond the climax of the league season.

Bayern, by contrast, settled on a strong starting eleven and set out in the familiar Guardiola formation of 4-3-3 with a false number nine, just as Barcelona still employ.

In the early exchanges, Barcelona looked dangerous in their Catalan flag away shirt, the diminutive Lionel Messi sending a shot just wide of the left-hand upright after only 30 seconds.

However, Bayern came back when Toni Kroos forced Pinto into a smart save in the 3rd minute with a powerful low strike, which was beaten away by the Barça reserve keeper. Only a minute later Robben looked odds-on to score, but defender Adriano got across to deflect away his effort following great work on the left from Ribery. The French international was involved in everything, going through the middle before setting Alaba free on the left edge of the penalty area, but the Austrian hit the ball straight at Pinto.

There was no let-up from the European champions, as Ribery stood-up a great floating cross for the onrushing Lahm. Often a full-back, Lahm occupied a midfield berth last night and it paid dividends when his back-header gifted the Bavarians a 14th-minute lead.

At the other end, a long spell of Barça possession led eventually to a great chance for youngster Sergio Roberto, but he seemed to flinch when Neuer approached and toe-poked his effort wide.

It was very much a case of role-reversal when compared to Pep's days at Camp Nou; the sharp movement and incisive passing coming from Bayern amid slow, deliberate play from the visitors.

Strong penalty claims were turned down when danger-man Ribery got bundled over by Bartra after 21 minutes, but the referee was having none of it. Just a minute on, Muller clipped the top of the crossbar with a neatly-lofted ping at goal.

Barcelona almost levelled when Tello sent a low, curving 20-yarder just right of goal on 38 minutes and five minutes later Alexis Sanchez dinked a seemingly harmless cross from the right, but Munich defender Rafinha chested it down on to his own post. Luckily, it bounced out for a corner kick. Barcelona were beginning to look more like the best version of themselves once again.

After a raft of substitutions from both sides, the second period got off to a sedate start with Barcelona slowing the action down substantially.

It was Ribery again causing havoc to engineer the first real opportunity of the second half after 56 minutes when the winger cut inside, then out, to create space enough to get a shot off. His attempt only found the arms of the grateful goalkeeper Oier, on for Pinto. Shortly afterwards, a Lahm pass from the right located former Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara free in space against his old team, but he couldn't quite get the ball out of his feet allowing the defence to block.

Due to some dallying in their own 18-yard area, Barça stupidly lost control of the ball to Ribery, who played the ball back across goal from the Bayern right to sub Mandzukic. The Croatian striker fired a powerful hit to the keeper's left, but Oier was equal to it.

Bayern, in their blue change strip, were taking the game by the scruff of the neck and Barça seemed devoid of ideas with which to respond; lots of possession short of the final third often amounting to nothing.

Powerhouse Bayern midfielder Schweinsteiger entered the fray in the 68th minute, but must feel a tad concerned about his position in the squad with the level of competition now in place at the club. On top of those who started the game, there's also starlet Mario Gotze waiting in the wings for a slot in the middle of the park.

The contest was effectively over when striker Mandzukic put the seal on victory from point-blank range following a fine right-wing cross by Contento with four minutes of normal time remaining.

It'd be wrong to read too much into the result, as Barça were missing numerous mainstays of the first-team and therefore were at a disadvantage from the outset. But, the German juggernaut looks set to steam on through to another campaign of great success under Guardiola on this evidence.

Bayern line-up R-L: Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Kroos, Thiago, Lahm; Robben, Muller, Ribery.

Barcelona line-up R-L: Pinto; Montoya, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano; Dos Santos, Song, Roberto; Alexis, Messi, Tello.

Twitter: @davewh1980

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From Tito to Tata

By David Lee Wheatley

Despite lacking European coaching experience, Barcelona handed Gerardo "Tata" Martino the keys to the kingdom on a two-year contract as replacement for outgoing head coach Tito Vilanova.

The Argentine seemed a dark horse amongst a host of more familiar names for the post, but impressed sufficiently to claim the job ahead of many illustrious candidates.

Martino has done it all, though, in his native South America, as coach of several clubs in Argentina and Paraguay, plus the Paraguayan national side.

Following roles with a trio of small clubs in his homeland, the former Newell's and Tenerife midfielder moved on to coach Libertad to two consecutive league titles in Paraguay, before taking over at Cerro Porteño and clinching the title for them, too.

A short stint back in Argentina with Colon ended when the Paraguay national team came calling for Martino's services. He led his adoptive nation to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2010 and the Copa Libertodores final a year later, marginally losing out to Uruguay for the trophy.

Switching to former club Newell's, where he enjoyed three spells as a player, allowed Martino the opportunity to win the Argentine Clausara championship. His stylish brand of football, usually set out in an attacking 4-3-3 formation, again paying dividends.

It's that absolute belief in 'Total Football' that brought him to Barcelona's attention in the first instance. A disciple of the coaching methods of such luminaries as Johan Cruyff and Marcelo Bielsa, Martino prefers a high-intensity pressing game when out of possession and a fluid one-two touch passing style when his team have the ball, much like former Barça coach Josep Guardiola.

Martino's tactical plan fits perfectly into the Barcelona way of thinking and, allied to many successes in South America, the Rosario-born coach seemed the right man to take on the task of keeping Barça at the top in La Liga, while restoring their pride in the Champions League after taking a hefty battering from eventual winners Bayern Munich in last season's semi-final.

He may not be a particularly well-known figure on the European continent, but remains a household name in South America due mainly to his exploits in Paraguay and with Newell's Old Boys as a player and coach. Hailing from the same area as Barcelona star Lionel Messi and coaching hero Bielsa, the 50-year-old is sure to be a popular appointment with most in the dressing room.

Harbouring ambitions to make a big name for himself in Europe, should he achieve anywhere near the level of success presided over by Pep Guardiola, then his mission will be complete.

At the very least, the exquisite 'tiki-taka' preached by his recent predecessor is certain to be kept alive at Camp Nou for some time to come.

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The day Real Madrid came to town

By David Lee Wheatley

Anticipation grew to fever pitch yesterday at the prospect of Spanish giants Real Madrid pitching up on the south coast for a friendly match in a million.

Acting upon an arrangement made through mutual contacts, Real arrived with their myriad stars in tow and entertained a near 12,000 crowd in attendance at the Goldsands Stadium.

The newly-promoted Cherries chose to cash in on the excitement surrounding the fixture by charging higher than usual rates for a seat. However, it didn't deter fans from turning up in their numbers, many of whom queued overnight to get their hands on tickets when they became available.

A line-up including Kaka, Modric, Ozil, Isco and Benzema certainly made the expense seem worthwhile.

Alas, Championship side Bournemouth were no match for the superstars from Madrid on a sulty Dorset day. Indeed, it appeared Real simply toyed with their hosts in converting several chances into six goals.

Resplendent in white, the world's costliest player Cristiano Ronaldo drew great appreciation from all four sides of the ground in hitting a handy double for the visitors. He was granted able support on the scoresheet from Khedira, Higuain, Di Maria and Casemiro as Carlo Ancelotti's men eased to a comfortable 6-0 victory.

Despite the £60 cost for a spot in the stands, those that bit the bullet and bought a seat will undoubtedly feel they got value for money in light of the world famous figures on display.

Meanwhile, the footballers representing Bournemouth will take numerous positives out of such an experience in spite of the disappointing defeat.

It'll be an event recalled many years into the future when Bournemouth supporters and players alike allow themselves the luxury of looking back on the night Ronaldo and Co rolled into town.

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Who'll sign the next Great Dane?

By David Lee Wheatley

Ajax schemer Christian Eriksen is a man in demand as several English, Italian and German clubs look closely at the possibility of integrating the 21-year-old prodigy into their squads.

Bayer Leverkusen recently failed in an audacious attempt to snatch Eriksen from under the noses of a clutch of bigger names waiting patiently to pounce. With his future still very much up in the air, which team will succeed in their pursuit of the most exciting talent to emerge from Denmark since the Laudrup brothers?

Eriksen's technical ability, probing passes and attacking instinct marked him out as a star from an early age. The youngster moved from Odense in his homeland at 16, going on to make a first-team debut for Ajax just shy of his 18th birthday. Head coach at the time Martin Jol instantly spotted the potential and even mentioned the midfielder in the same breath as Ajax alumni Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van Der Vaart; high praise indeed for an inexperienced professional beginning to make his way in the game.

Having made a starting spot his own in Amsterdam, the skilful starlet performed a vital role in the heart of the side while Ajax swept to three successive league championships under Jol's successor Frank De Boer. Although reluctant to let go of his prized possession, De Boer accepts the time has come for Eriksen to spread his wings and develop further with another club.

Speculation mainly centres on major interest in the services of the midfield orchestrator from Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool and Milan.

Last season's Champions League runners-up Dortmund stole a march on Liverpool in the race to sign Henrikh Mkhitaryan earlier in the window, who plays a similar role to that of the Danish international. Whether that eliminates Jürgen Klopp's side from the reckoning remains to be seen, but it certainly heightens the urgency with which Liverpool will try to gain the upper hand over the German outfit on this occasion.

The biggest problem that at least partially damages Liverpool's chances of sealing a deal for the 2011 Danish Footballer of the Year is the lack of Champions League football at Anfield. Brendan Rodgers has the task of putting Liverpool back in contention for the top four places in the Premier League, but hasn't yet managed to haul them up to that standard in the short spell he's been on Merseyside. Ajax can offer such a challenge, therefore Eriksen may feel it unnecessary to join a club that currently cannot, despite Liverpool's glorious history.

Italian giants Milan appear in pole position to secure Eriksen for next season, as they attempt to close the gap on Juventus in the Serie A standings and guarantee their group spot in the Champions League via a play-off stage to be played in August. Milan are unaware of their definite opponents for that crunch clash, but nonetheless they'll feel confident of progression into the tournament proper whoever they eventually face.

Unless a last-minute and frankly unexpected bid comes in from Barcelona, Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, then Milan look set fair to make Eriksen theirs. Having thought better of going up against Roma for PSV's Dutch international midfielder Kevin Strootman, one assumes Milan have lined up an alternative in the shape of the diminutive Dane.

Despite reported financial constraints holding Milan back in the transfer market this summer, the Rossoneri reserve the right to sell one of their current crop in order to fund the deal. Should a selection of sides firm up interest in unsettled Kevin Prince Boateng to the tune of £15million, the ammunition will go straight to chief executive Adriano Galliani to finally get his man.

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Who's up for the Barcelona hot-seat?

By David Lee Wheatley

It was announced yesterday that Barça head coach Tito Vilanova will step down from the post due to ongoing treatment for cancer. In such trying circumstances, it'll be hard for the Barcelona hierarchy to think of other matters when Vilanova's health is of paramount importance, but they'll need to put a new man in charge as soon as possible for the good of the football club. The job is one of the most sought-after in world football, with a host names already thrown into the reckoning. Here, I look at the most likely candidates for the position.

Frank De Boer

The current Ajax head coach played for a four-year spell at the Camp Nou and is considered one of the best young coaches in Europe. He led the Amsterdam side to three consecutive league titles, as well as the Manager of the Year award in Holland for last season. De Boer has been offered opportunities elsewhere during his Ajax tenure, but he's remained loyal thus far. However, the lure of a return to Barcelona may prove too good to turn down.

Luis Enrique

Another former Barça star, Luis Enrique had a stint in charge of the 'B' team in Catalonia before moving on to Roma. Following an unsuccessful season in charge, he left the role with a year remaining on his contract. It isn't clear if he'd fancy a crack at the job having only resurfaced as coach of Celta Vigo six weeks ago. Also, despite strong connections with Barça, his time in Roma won't help his cause if he does want the gig.

Marcelo Bielsa

Former Argentina and Chile coach Bielsa loves to play all-out attacking football, as witnessed during a two-year relationship with Athletic Bilbao that came to an abrupt end this summer. The experienced 57-year-old works his players hard to accommodate the style of pressing play he prefers, often leaving them drained of energy. Whether the Barcelona squad would be capable of keeping up with the demands placed on them by Bielsa remains to be seen, but the tactics employed by the Argentinian should find favour in Catalonia.

Andre Villas-Boas

Highly respected across Europe, AVB will almost certainly be on Barcelona's radar for their next head coach. The young Portuguese boss bounced back from failure at Chelsea by leading Spurs to fifth place in the Premier League last season. He also took Porto on an unbeaten season before switching to Stamford Bridge. Villas-Boas seems content with the project he's undertaking at Tottenham, but nothing prepares a man for an offer of the top job at FC Barcelona.

Michael Laudrup

Ex-Barcelona and Real Madrid star Michael Laudrup would be a popular choice amongst fans, but recently revealed he gave his word to Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins that he'd stick around for at least one more campaign. Laudrup enforces a passing style on his team and would be an excellent fit at the Camp Nou. Previous managerial experience in Denmark, Spain and Russia stands him in good stead for the huge challenge that awaits at Barça.

Roberto Mancini

Unattached manager Mancini holds a glittering array of trophy success from his time in charge of both Inter and Manchester City, but showed weakness in crumbling under pressure towards the end of his spell in Milan. Also, Mancini has a rather poor record in the Champions League with both clubs. However, he delivered the Premier League title and FA Cup to Manchester during three years in charge, so he'll feel he has little to prove.

Gerardo Martino

Another Argentine candidate represents the dark horse in the race to be crowned Barcelona head coach. A 15-year coaching career took Martino from relatively small Argentinian clubs to Paraguayan sides Libertad and Cerro Porteño, before becoming coach of the Paraguay national team. Now back in his homeland with Newell's Old Boys, Martino appears to be sneaking up on the rails as a major threat to his adversaries for the position. On the downside, he possesses hardly any experience of European football; his only spell on the continent occurred in 1991 when playing 15 times for Tenerife.

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Transfer window mid-point

By David Lee Wheatley

At the middle point of the transfer window, there’s already several new signings completed involving teams from the English Premier League. What will the new men bring to the league and who’ll have the biggest impact from the array of players that made the journey to England from abroad this summer thus far?

TOP TEN (in no particular order)
*Goals/games for domestic league fixtures only

Alvaro Negredo (SEVILLA TO MANCHESTER CITY) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 36 GOALS: 25*
The top Spanish goalscorer in La Liga last season, Negredo is big, strong and mighty in the air. His build and athleticism should allow him to compete in the rough-and-tumble of English football with ease. The Spain international striker made his name at Almeria before furthering his reputation with a number of fine displays with Andalusian side Sevilla. He’ll fit nicely into Pellegrini’s way of thinking at City in the new campaign.

Andre Schurrle (LEVERKUSEN TO CHELSEA) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 34 GOALS: 11*
Versatile German international Schurrle was schedule to join Chelsea prior to Mourinho announcing his return as coach, but the deal was ratified by the Portuguese tactician and Schurrle appears a big part of his plans. He can play on the wing, as a second striker or leader of the frontline and will provide pace and awareness of the players around him. Schurrle also knows where the goal is and will surely make a splash at Chelsea if given regular time in the side.

Emanuele Giaccherini (JUVENTUS TO SUNDERLAND) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 17 GOALS: 3*
Italian international Giaccherini joined Sunderland this summer for a reported £6.8million fee and is exactly the creative player head coach Paolo Di Canio will look to for inspiration from midfield. Giaccherini is capable of playing on either wing or in the centre of the park and will be the go-to figure for Sunderland when attacking. The former Cesena man looked very impressive for his country at the recent Confederations’ Cup and he’ll attempt to replicate that fine form on his arrival in the Premier League.

Wilfried Bony (VITESSE ARNHEM TO SWANSEA CITY) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 30 GOALS: 31*
Six-foot forward Bony represents a coup for south Wales side Swansea City, as they beat off strong competition for his signature. The Dutch league Footballer of the Year is a powerful unit and with a scoring record of a goal per game, the Ivory Coast international certainly sounds the part; next task is to look it at the highest level.

Leroy Fer (FC TWENTE TO NORWICH CITY) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 26 GOALS: 5*
Dutch international Fer witnessed a move to Everton break down in January, but finally got his wish to play Premier League football with a summer switch to Norwich City. The 23-year-old featured for his country at all levels and impressed at FC Twente over the last two seasons following more than 100 appearances in the colours of Feyenoord. Norwich City manager Chris Hughton may have grabbed himself a bargain; Everton’s loss is Norwich’s gain.

Gerard Deloufeu (BARCELONA TO EVERTON) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 34 GOALS: 18*
One of the more intriguing signings so far this transfer window is that of Barcelona teenager Gerard Deloufeu. The 19-year-old forward joined Everton on a season-long loan and will attempt to develop his skills further under the tutelage of fellow Spaniard Roberto Martinez. Despite a lack of first-team experience, Deloufeu is highly-rated and promises to be a star in the making. His 18 goals from 33 ‘B’ team matches last season suggest an eye for a goal and the youngster has skill to burn. Also, he can play wide right or up-front, offering new Everton boss Martinez various options.

Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (SPORTING TO NORWICH CITY) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 30 GOALS: 14*
Another Dutch international to land in the Canaries’ nest is Sporting Lisbon hit-man Ricky Van Wolfswinkel. The former Vitesse and Utrecht striker agreed to join Norwich during the last campaign and the move was officially confirmed at the season’s end. An assortment of massive European clubs were linked to RVW in the past, due to the promise shown by the wonderfully-named Dutchman. For reasons unknown, the big move never materialised; now Norwich will hope to reap the benefits.

Paulinho (CORINTHIANS TO TOTTENHAM) CORINTHIANS TOTAL – GAMES: 86 GOALS: 20
Brazil international midfielder Paulinho was perhaps the outstanding player of the Confederations’ Cup as the host nation romped to a well-deserved tournament victory. His form prompted a bevy of European sides to make a play for his services and £17million later he was confirmed a Tottenham player. Skill on the ball, supreme balance and a penchant for spectacular goals resurrects memories of Brazilian stars of old and will endear him to the Spurs faithful swiftly. Paulinho promises to be one of the Premier League buys of the summer.

Marco Van Ginkel (VITESSE ARNHEM TO CHELSEA) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 33 GOALS: 8*
Central midfielder Van Ginkel helped Vitesse to a surprise 4th spot in the Eredivisie last season and woke Chelsea up to his potential, amongst others. He won the Dutch Talent of the Year crown (much like the English Young Player of the Year award) for his performances in the middle of the park and prompted Mourinho to nab him. The only concern around Van Ginkel is how much playing time he’ll be afforded at Stamford Bridge, but certainly he possesses the ability on the ball and all-round energy to prove a valuable addition to the squad.

Fernandinho (SHAKHTAR TO MANCHESTER CITY) 12-13 SEASON – GAMES: 23 GOALS: 2*
£30million-man Fernandinho spent eight years in Donetsk while getting largely ignored by his national team. His ability isn’t in doubt though, following some fine showings in the Champions League for the Ukrainian side. The box-to-box midfielder has electric pace and will be more than capable of holding his own in the fast and furious world of the Premier League. At 28, his prime years should coincide with the switch to Manchester City.

Twitter: @davewh1980
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Pep the player

By David Lee Wheatley

Pep Guardiola built his reputation in the coaching arena as ‘B’ team coach at Barcelona, before taking the reins to the senior side in 2008. Four glorious years later, the captain-turned-coach walked away due to the constant pressure he felt in charge of one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Guardiola jetted off with his family on a year-long sabbatical residing in Manhattan, New York City, while agreeing a return to the game around the turn of the year as Bayern Munich trainer; the contract between the parties began in June.

I take a look back at a playing career that laid the foundations for the success that was to follow for Guardiola the coach.

Replicating the path worn in facilitating his switch into team leadership, Josep Guardiola started out in the ‘B’ side of the Barcelona set-up as a first step into professional football after developing his skills throughout a youth career at the club’s famous La Masia academy from the age of 13. Following a year of mainly appearing for the ‘B’ team, he was elevated permanently to the first-team squad on the back of several impressive performances.

The defensive midfielder made a starting spot his own during the 1991-92 campaign when driving Barça on to the La Liga and European Cup double. Replacing experienced international Guillermo Amor in the centre of the park, the 20-year-old displayed style and poise way beyond his years and he was quickly recognised as a rising star.

Making an international debut in October 1992, Guardiola went on to appear 47 times for the Spanish national side. But for injuries, the elegant ball-playing midfield man would surely have achieved more caps for his country.

Meanwhile, back at club level, the starlet formed part of Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ that retained the league championship in 1993 and 1994, but got smashed 4-0 in the Champions League final that year by a force of nature in the shape of a resurgent Milan.

The situation went sour under the Dutch legend, with fourth and third place finishes in 1995 and 1996 pushing Cruyff towards the exit door. Revered English manager Bobby Robson took over the role and led a Guardiola-inspired Barça to trophy wins in the Copa Del Rey and European Cup Winners’ Cup in their only season together.

Foreign interest in the services of club captain Guardiola began, with Serie A giants Roma aggressively pursuing the player. Barcelona were reluctant to let their ‘son’ leave and negotiated a new contract with the technically-gifted midfielder until 2001.

Unfortunately, a calf injury ruined the 1997-98 campaign, as Guardiola missed out on the opportunity to impress new boss Louis Van Gaal. He made just six La Liga appearances, as his team-mates cemented the domestic league and cup double without their captain in tow. An operation meant he was forced to miss the World Cup of 1998, which was a huge blow to a player that achieved everything for his club and desperately wanted the top international football prize to add to the collection.

Despite returning to action the following season, Pep developed a problem with his ankle leading to further surgery in an effort to correct the issue. It was a crying shame that his body was failing him at an age when he should have been enjoying the prime of his footballing career.

Nearing the end of his contract, it was announced that Guardiola would be leaving for pastures new. Surprisingly, he chose much smaller club Brescia with which to experience his first taste of club football outside of Spain. Evens so, the prospect of teaming up with Italian legend Roberto Baggio seemed a mouth-watering prospect.

A remarkable turn of events were set off by a positive drug test for the banned substance Nandrolone after a league game against Piacenza in October 2001. Guardiola pleaded his innocence; those that knew him attested to it. However, the much-loved Catalan hero got slapped with a four-month ban from the game; six years later he was cleared of any wrongdoing, but to further extend the agony the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) re-opened the case in 2009 before they found him not guilty once again.

Following such a damaging career downturn, he elected to continue his Italian adventure by joining long-time suitors Roma in the Italian capital. He played only four times before resuming his Brescia career with another thirteen games in the blue-and-white colours of the northern Italian team.

Lucrative spells followed in Qatar with Al-Ahli and Mexican Primera Division side Sinaloa, fuelling Pep’s passion for travel and new challenges abroad, before he called time on his career in 2006.

The rapid movement between three different countries at the tail-end of his playing career goes a long way towards explaining his decision to accept the head coach position at German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich; another culture, language and lifestyle for a man that actively seeks out such challenges.

Treble-winning Godfather of Bayern Jupp Heynckes will be a tough act to follow, but if there’s a man that can succeed in such circumstances it is Guardiola, the King of Catalonia.

Twitter: @davewh1980
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Giaccherini on verge of Sunderland switch

By David Lee Wheatley

Factfile: Emanuele Giaccherini

Emanuele Giaccherini is set to switch from his Italian homeland to Sunderland in the English Premier League for a reported £6.8million fee and here is a profile of a player that has the potential to be a star on British shores.

Tuscan-born Giaccherini began his professional football career with Cesena, being farmed out on loan in the early stages of his time with the club, before returning to become a first-choice in the role of an attacking midfielder or second striker. He scored 23 goals in 103 appearances across all competitions while with Cesena, including spells in both Serie B and Serie A.

A big-money move to Juventus materialised in 2011, with the diminutive midfield man’s performances for Cesena having thrust him into the spotlight. While making a total of 23 Serie A appearances mainly in a central role, the Turin giants claimed the Scudetto in his first season at the club and he received a call-up to the Italian national squad for Euro 2012 on the back of some excellent form with the Bianconeri.

Giaccherini’s versatility came in handy when gaining a first cap for his country against Spain at the European Championships in a left wing-back role. Italy made it all the way to the final, only to be thwarted by the Spanish when they met for the second time in the tournament.

On returning to his club side, the Bibbiena native featured on 17 occasions in the league, assisting Juve in their successful attempt at retaining the title. He wanted to play more often, but it appeared the ability to play in several positions was working against him, as it became increasingly difficult to pin down a concrete spot in the starting line-up.

The 28-year-old made history for his international side on 11th June 2013 by scoring the quickest Italian national team goal on record by striking against Haiti in a friendly match after just 19 seconds.

Shortly afterwards, Giaccherini got called up to the national squad for the Confederations’ Cup in Brazil. Playing in every game of the tournament, the Juventus star helped Italy to third having lost agonisingly on penalties against arch-nemesis Spain in the semi-finals. The 3rd/4th place play-off versus Uruguay saw Italy come out on top in a penalty shoot-out, with Giaccherini slotting home one of the penalty kicks that settled the tie.

In light of rather limited opportunities at Juventus, despite head coach Antonio Conte remaining a firm fan of the player, Giaccherini made it clear to the Juve hierarchy that he wished to pursue the opportunity to join Sunderland once fellow countryman Paolo Di Canio came calling for his services earlier this month; the club relunctantly agreeing to the request.

The chance for the 14-time international to make an impression in a new league was deemed by the player too good to turn down and thus a move to England is imminent.

With regular time on the pitch, the left winger/central midfielder will be offered a stage on which he can show his true value and therefore cement a place in the Italian national side for the years to come.

Twitter: @davewh1980
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United make play for Cesc

By David Lee Wheatley

Former Arsenal star Cesc Fàbregas is the subject of a €30m bid from David Moyes' Manchester United and with his chances of regular football at current club Barcelona not entirely assured, a move back to the Premier League may appeal.

It's an ambitious attempt from United to sign a player adored by the Gunners faithful, but if they pull it off it could prove to be one of the most vital signings of the Moyes era, as the ex-Everton boss tries to make his mark at Old Trafford. The question is, where will Fàbregas fit in with so many top-class midfielders on the books already? Also, should he sign up, who'll be forced to drop out of the equation for a place in the starting line-up to accommodate the arrival of the Spanish playmaker?

The main men in the middle of the park at the moment remain Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Shinji Kagawa. With doubts over the long-term fitness of Darren Fletcher, Moyes will be wary of relying on him too much at this stage. Ryan Giggs has been appointed player/coach at the club and may be ready to take a small step back from the playing side. Meanwhile, Anderson always fills the vacancy of substitute or squad back-up and new manager Moyes will still see him as such.

Carrick enjoys sitting in front of the back four, providing the time on the ball for others to burst forward before United go on the attack. His position seems secure in the team, but it's Cleverley and Kagawa that appear most under threat from the promise of a new arrival.

Cleverley has matured and progressed to a point where he's now part of the full international side of England. His form for United has largely been good, despite some temporary drops in standard. Kagawa took a while to settle last season after his switch from Borussia Dortmund, but showed glimpses of his capabilities during the second half of last season, which suggests he could be an important member of the United side going forward.

Barça stayed silent after news of the offer broke yesterday, but the fans at Camp Nou didn't take to their returning 'hero' in the way the hierarchy at the Catalan club would've hoped. Fàbregas was heavily criticised by the paying public on numerous occasions for his performances, having seen him run the show in Arsenal's colours before he moved back to his hometown; the Blaugrana may choose to cut their losses and let him go back to England.

There's no doubting the quality Fàbregas holds and, on the form he displayed with the Gunners, he'd be a better option than Cleverley or even Kagawa. You could add Wayne Rooney into the mix due to Alex Ferguson's previous use of him as an attacking midfielder, but he's better suited to a role up front and Fàbregas would provide a smarter solution to the attacking midfield slot than the unsettled striker.

Potentially, the arrival of the Spain international would cause at least two players to become unhappy with the situation at Old Trafford. So, it's not so much where would Fàbregas fit in, it's more a question of who should Moyes leave out?

That conundrum will meet the Scotsman head-on should he complete the proposed swoop for the Barcelona man. However, Moyes possesses a strong backbone from years of Premier League management and will surely make his decisions regardless of the possible fall-out they could cause regarding his players' happiness within the squad. His focus will solely be on improving the team as much as possible and the purchase of one of the best midfielders in Europe would certainly achieve that.

Current stars of the United midfield will simply have to get used to the extra competition, after all, they are employed by one of the biggest clubs in the world. If they joined expecting an easy ride then it was an awful decision to sign for United in the first place.

It'll set off a fierce battle for a starting berth should Moyes complete the capture of the Spaniard, but it's one the 26-year-old is more than capable of winning.

Twitter: @davewh1980

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A bit about me, my obsession with football and passion for writing

FROM THE AUTHOR

David Lee Wheatley
Age 33

My love of football stretches back to early childhood. The first game I can remember watching on TV was the Sunderland v Norwich City Milk Cup final at Wembley in 1985. I can recall my older brother getting ready to travel down to London in the wee small hours of the match-day to see The Lads in action.

Later, I sat transfixed in front of the television, as my beloved Sunderland AFC lost 1-0 to a Norwich City side counting Sunderland hero Gary Rowell and future SAFC manager Steve Bruce among its ranks.

More disappointment followed in the summer of 1986 when a devious yet delightfully brilliant Diego Maradona ripped out English hearts at the World Cup in Mexico. Genius outwitted the battling Three Lions to send them tumbling out of the competition at the quarter-final stage.

Encapsulated within those two occurrences lay my education in the supporting of Sunderland and England, standing me in good stead for many more downs than ups for my teams from that point on!

In 1987, Sunderland dropped into the third tier of English football for the first (so far only) time in the club's history. It was a desperate time, but the initial knock-back allowed the side to rejuvenate and come back stronger. It duly did so under the tutelage of Denis Smith and thanks in large part to the goals of Marco Gabbiadini.

An interest in European football sparked around that time, when I got a copy of a full colour, 1000-page European Football Yearbook. It was just after Euro '88, another big letdown for England, and my thirst for knowledge drew me to the information held within this fantastic book. I was simply fascinated by the European clubs; their strips, crests, players and histories. Reading the book from cover to cover many times over, I developed a love of football away from British shores that seemed way beyond my years.

Writing about the subject began around the same period. I wrote to Sunderland AFC requesting an interview with some of the players when aged around 10. My request was granted, which was an early start to my journalism career!

Fast forward to the present day and I've had my work published in several magazines, newspapers and websites over many years; including SAFC club magazine Legion of Light, The Crack Magazine, Football Echo and footballrants.com amongst several others (plus my blog of course).

I continue to seek out as much writing work as possible, be it paid or unpaid, freelance or full-time.

Football and writing are my two greatest passions and I hope that through the various articles and features that I pen I get that across to you, the reader.

You can follow me on Twitter and Facebook if you'd like. I would be very pleased to have you join me.

Also, if you have any writing jobs or opportunities that you'd like to discuss with me I'd love to hear about them. See the bottom of this page for relevant contact details.

Thank you to all of you that take the time to check out my work and support it.

The journey to develop my career and reach my goals continues...

Contact me
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Email: davewh1980@hotmail.com

The sad decline of Serie A

By David Lee Wheatley

Italia '90 showcased the world's greatest players in numerous famous stadiums amid the most glamorous of surroundings, hooking many football followers to Calcio and the Italian way.

Not long after the tournament's end, British television station Channel 4 bought the rights to screen Serie A across the land. At that time, it was THE destination for the best players to go once huge clubs such as Milan, Juventus, Inter, Roma or Lazio came calling for their services.

Any given Sunday you could be watching a match involving Roberto Baggio, George Weah, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten and Paolo Maldini to name but a few of the stellar names performing in Italian football.

An English Premier League to replace the old first division was just beginning to find its feet in 1992 and, along with all other European leagues, they simply couldn't compete financially with the might of Berlusconi at Milan or the Agnelli family of Juve. The Italian Lira ruled and it was guaranteed that the wages they could offer were vastly superior to that of any other team on the continent.

Illustrating the dominance of Serie A during that era, the Mediterranean nation provided Champions League finalists for nine out of ten finals between 1989-1998. Milan featured in five of those, winning three. Juventus reached the final on three occasions, emerging victorious only once. The other side to make it were 1992 runners-up Sampdoria.

Compare that to the next ten European showpieces, just three featuring Italian clubs. Milan and Juve both got to the 2003 final, while Milan lost to Liverpool by throwing away a seemingly unassailable three-goal lead to eventually lose by way of a penalty shoot-out on a crazy night in 2005. The Rossoneri got their revenge two years later when they beat the Anfield-based giants 2-1 in Athens.

Moving on to the five most recent Champions League final ties, amazingly only one featured an Italian club. It occurred in 2010 when Inter strode confidently through Europe with a steely defiance that frustrated opponents and averted danger; a tactical master-plan devised by José Mourinho that allowed Inter to claim their first European Cup since 1965.

To further enforce the notion of a decline in the standard of Italian football, we need look no further than three other European domestic leagues jostling for position as the biggest football league on the planet. It's debatable as to which currently resides at the head of European club football, but England, Spain and Germany all appear to have stolen a march on Serie A in terms of the sheer quality they can attract to their respective countries.

Once upon a time, a footballer of Cristiano Ronaldo's ilk would've left Manchester United for one of the great Italian sides; even a giant of Real Madrid's standing wouldn't have possessed the capabilities to compete for his services in the 90's. Perhaps he wouldn't even have made it to United from Sporting Lisbon in the first instance, with his likely course diverted to Italian shores instead.

Another clear example that heralds the (worrying for Italy) arrival of French football at the top table and in turn the slide of the Italian game, is the imminent transfer of Edinson Cavani from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain. The nouveau riche Parisian club hadn't won Ligue 1 for nineteen years until last season and only have the European Cup Winners' Cup of 1996 to show for their exploits in Euro competition. All of a sudden, Nasser Al-Khelaifi swept in with a bagful of his billions and now there's not one player on this Earth that could be deemed untouchable.

The money has all but gone from the Italian top-flight; crowd numbers are down, incidents of violence and racism on the terraces are frequent, the television deals aren't up to scratch, while many star names have been lured away to abundantly richer leagues operating without the financial constraints that engulfed Italy a long time ago.

A flicker of hope was offered by Juventus this summer in the form of double signings Carlos Tévez and Fernando Llorente. They're both current international strikers who've made a splash in supposed bigger leagues over recent seasons; Tévez in England with West Ham, Manchester United and neighbours City and Llorente in Spain with Bilbao. According to reports, both were afforded opportunities elsewhere but opted to try their luck in Turin.

Could this finally be the turning point in the fortunes of the proud footballing nation? It is only a small step, but lovers of the Italian game will pray it's the start of an exciting new period for the former, undisputed, greatest league in the world.

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Over to you England

By David Lee Wheatley

On the back of phenomenal British sporting success during the summer of 2012 and another promising year shaping up this time around, can the England national football team finally make their fans proud by going further than the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil to provide a third memorable summer in a row?

The watching public witnessed countless golden triumphs at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics, the wonderful comeback win by the European Ryder Cup team at Medinah, Rory McIlroy taking the PGA Championship for his first golfing major, Chelsea claiming the Champions League trophy against all odds, Bradley Wiggins becoming the first-ever Briton to win the Tour de France and Andy Murray rounding it all off in fine style with his opening Grand Slam tournament triumph at the US Open in New York.

Following that was always going to tough, but the Brits are giving it a good go; Justin Rose won the US Open golf tournament to join the major-winning club, while Andy Murray became the first man from these shores to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry 77 years prior. In rugby union, the British and Irish Lions snapped a demoralising run of series losses with a first tour victory since 1997, beating Australia 2-1 with a comprehensive score advantage in the deciding test.

Meanwhile, Chris Froome is well-placed to replicate Wiggins’ success at the Tour de France. He currently holds the yellow jersey as the General Classification leader and is clear favourite to claim victory. On top of that, England hold all the cards in the first Ashes test against Australia at Trent Bridge and look almost certain to go up 1-0 in the series.

It stands to reason that all of that success should inspire an England football team that has repeatedly failed to get beyond the quarter-finals in five of the last six major tournaments, with the odd one out occurring when they didn’t even qualify for Euro 2008. However, after so many previous disappointments, can England drag themselves out of the mire to put the country’s football team back amongst the world’s best?

Roy Hodgson still doesn’t seem to know his best formation or line-up, which are issues that need addressing immediately. There are four qualification matches remaining, three of which are at home, and if England win the lot they guarantee their spot at Brazil 2014. Ukraine away appears the most difficult remaining challenge, but if Hodgson’s boys can rise to the task then at least we can look forward to seeing the team perform at the tournament proper.

Hodgson’s options include some interesting young players coming through the ranks, who could all potentially provide reasons for optimism should the Three Lions seal their place at the competition. However, the one-dimensional nature of some of the team’s showings under the former Fulham and Switzerland boss have been less-than-impressive.

As usual, the chances of a second World Cup victory 48 years after the first will be hyped up by sections of the media in the run-up to the start of the competition in South America, but realistic hope is largely redundant.

It would be a massive surprise if England made it to the last four or beyond, but if anything can assist in the international side’s quest for the Holy Grail, it has be the inspiration that can be gleaned from the fabulous achievements across a plethora of sports by British sportsmen and sportswomen in recent times.

Come on England; give your supporters something to cheer about!

Guardiola closes on trusted Thiago

By David Lee Wheatley

Born in Italy to a Brazilian World Cup winner, Thiago Alcantara has been destined for great things from a young age. Thanks to his dad Mazinho’s profession, he grew up in Spain either side of a spell in the Flamengo youth ranks back in his father’s homeland of Brazil.

Having eventually broken through at Barcelona, the attacking midfielder shot to prominence this summer due to several exhilarating performances at the Under-21 European Championships, in which he assisted Spain to a glorious title win.

Clubs all over Europe were alerted to his substantial flair, passing ability and skill on the ball, prompting Manchester United to blink first in pursuit of his signature. Reports suggested it was almost a done deal as recently as a week ago, but that was prior to former Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola sweeping into the reckoning as he publicly declared a firm interest in transporting his former protégé to Bayern Munich.

The reigning champions of Europe possess one of the strongest squads on the continent, but need tweaks in a couple of departments. No major reconstruction is required at the Allianz Arena; however the signing of midfielder Thiago Alcantara is viewed as pivotal to the success of the Guardiola way, as the decorated coach attempts to introduce the swift passing game he employed at the Nou Camp.

Excepting the considerable talents of wing-wizards Ribery and Robben, Bayern largely favoured brawn over beauty last season allowing them to maraud their way to the fabulous treble consisting of the league title, domestic cup and Champions League. Despite experiencing a superb campaign, there’ll undoubtedly be a sea-change in the style of play on display next time out.

Bayern’s attempt to acquire the services of the 22-year-old playmaker seems to have blown Manchester United out of the water. Guardiola was a mentor to the youngster during his time in charge of the Barcelona B team, as well as the senior side, and it’s highly likely that Thiago will be hoping for a reunion with Guardiola in Germany soon.

While training in Italy, talk emanated from that country’s press outlets suggesting Thiago has agreed a four-year deal to join up with Bayern imminently.

It would be a huge coup for the Munich giants to take Alcantara from under the nose of David Moyes and would leave the Premier League champions scrambling for alternatives. Meanwhile, new boss Pep would have the crucial piece of the jigsaw in place, as he strives to impose the fantastical vision he harbours for the future of Bayern Munich.

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Falcao et Monaco: A match made in heaven

By David Lee Wheatley

All go in Monte Carlo

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao was officially introduced to the press as a Monaco player yesterday, following his flabbergasting £53million move from Atletico Madrid in May.

Dressed in a smart pink blazer jacket with glorious sunshine bathing the principality around him, it wasn’t difficult to see why one of the world’s best footballers chose to pitch up in the glamorous tax haven.

Falcao was immediately quizzed about his controversial decision to join the Ligue 1 side over more illustrious suitors Chelsea and Manchester City. His response was categorical; this transfer is no mistake.

The former Porto man firmly believes the ambition of the club overrides the fact his new side aren’t in European competition and he’s utterly determined to lead the cash-rich club to the league championship at the first time of asking. The Monegasque project is an exciting one, as they attempt to overhaul the equally lavish Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the standings. Millions have been spent this summer on quality squad additions such as Porto midfielders Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez, the inspirational Eric Abidal, Malaga ball-winner Jeremy Toulalan and former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, who made the switch from Real Madrid.

With the promise of more signings to come, Falcao and co. will be serious contenders next season and could benefit from the lack of a European competition to distract them. Head coach Claudio Ranieri is the man tasked with putting all the pieces together in order to create a winning team, but if he pulls it off then Monaco would be set fair for a title charge.

Third only to superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Spanish scoring charts last season, Falcao possesses the pedigree to suggest he’ll be pivotal to Monaco’s drive for success. His 28 league goals alerted clubs across the continent to his penalty-box prowess and if he can repeat that kind of form it’ll surely trigger further speculation surrounding the potential longevity of Falcao’s stay in Monte Carlo. Again though, he made it abundantly clear to the assembled media that he’s in it for the long-haul.

Falcao appears primed for further honours in the French league having won the domestic cup in both Portugal and Spain, along with the UEFA Europa League twice and a Portuguese Primera Liga championship.

On a personal note, it’ll be a fascinating battle with PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and imminent new recruit Edinson Cavani for the top-scorer tag. The Colombian insists the team comes first, but if he were to top the goalscoring charts, he may well fire his new team to the very pinnacle of French football.

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Rebuilding the dream

By David Lee Wheatley

Dortmund carry on regardless of setbacks

Highly respected head coach Jurgen Klopp is working feverishly with sporting director Michael Zorc this summer in an attempt to place Borussia Dortmund in the perfect position to challenge for Europe’s premier prize once again next season, having come so close to their target in May.

German rivals Bayern Munich proved their nemesis at Wembley in the Champions League final of 2013 and look extremely strong under new coach Pep Guardiola. They swept all before them last campaign when achieving a fabulous treble consisting of the league title, domestic cup and Champions League under Jupp Heynckes. To further strengthen their hand, while weakening that of Dortmund, Bayern struck a critical blow by agreeing a deal to sign starlet Mario Gotze shortly before the Champions League semi-finals were played.

Losing Gotze is one thing, but the prospect of star striker Robert Lewandowski following him out of the door to Munich was too much for Dortmund to bear. The Pole has one year left on his deal, leaving Zorc and his superiors with a major dilemma on their hands. Should they cash-in on him now, while he still holds significant value? Or, would the best course of action be to force him into seeing out the remaining 12 months on his contract, effectively accepting that he’ll walk away for nothing next July?

The ultimate decision of the club was to advise Lewandowski of their intention to hold on to him for the year, while bringing in an abundance of talent to further augment the squad. To illustrate this, Dortmund confirmed their third major buy of the summer yesterday evening in the shape of Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan for £23 million. The much sought-after Armenian international was strongly linked with Liverpool and Spurs, but turned down the duo in favour of an opportunity to gun for glory in the Champions League with BVB.

The opening recruits to the line-up were Werder Bremen’s Greek defender Sokratis and Saint-Etienne forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who turned down a host of potential suitors to make the switch to north-west Germany.

Further signings are expected to arrive at the Westfalenstadion (also known as Signal Iduna Park) over the coming weeks, with Klopp and Zorc putting long hours in so they can locate and deliver the correct ingredients for the team. Last season’s near miss will prove a spur for the club to go one better next time and with the quality of players coming into the club, it looks likely they’ll be capable of sustaining a challenge on both domestic and European fronts.

It’s also deeply heartening for the club that despite the departure of Gotze, they can still attract top footballers to join them in the midst of stiff market competition from numerous rivals across the continent.

Holding on to charismatic coach Klopp was hugely important to the project and judging by the heavy investment laid out on new blood already, the belief within the corridors of power remains that BVB can continue to threaten for the biggest trophies on offer.

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Football Icons: Part 8 - Tomas Brolin

By David Lee Wheatley

Swedish international star Tomas Brolin made his name in Serie A after a transfer to newly-promoted Parma in 1990.

Having started out at Nasvikens, Brolin moved to Sundsvall and Norrkoping before his big break came when afforded an opportunity to move to Italy shortly after the hugely successful World Cup was held in the football-mad country.

Blonde-haired Brolin could play as an attacking midfielder or striker and his partnership with fellow 20-year-old Alessandro Melli fired Parma to fifth spot in their opening season in tandem, thus qualifying for European competition for the first time in the club’s history.

It was a magical five years in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, during which the Swede won the Coppa Italia in 1992, the Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup the following year, plus a UEFA Cup in 1995. Brolin also made a mark at international level during that golden period, scoring three goals during Euro ’92, as he led the nation to the semi-finals of the tournament on home soil.

He repeated the feat at the USA World Cup of 1994, hitting three goals in seven matches as the Scandinavians reached the last four and later claimed third place after the traditional play-off between the losing semi-finalists.

Unfortunately, a broken foot in November 1994 when playing for the national team largely curtailed his season at club level, costing him five months on the sidelines. Parma held top spot in Serie A at the time of the injury, but were eight points adrift of eventual champions Juventus by the time Brolin returned.

Once the comeback commenced, the Hudiksvall-born goalscorer was still classed as a major part of the set-up at Parma. However, he didn’t quite look the same player on the resumption of his career and the Italian club made the decision to secure the signing of Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov during the summer of 1995. It was a bitter blow for Brolin, as he quickly realised that the chances of regular first-team football would be severely limited.

Parma gave short shrift to their out-of-favour playmaker as the season got underway, giving him little time on the field due to a perceived loss of form. Brolin didn’t stick around for long under those conditions and moved to English Premier League side Leeds United in November 1995.

The switch was met with much fanfare, but descended quickly into mutual disdain between player and fans due to numerous poor performances and well-documented weight problems. The slight Brolin of old had long gone, to be replaced by a shadow of the player he once was. The fans were massively frustrated at their new addition, especially considering Leeds shelled out £4.3 million for the once-feared forward.

By the latter part of the season, Brolin’s ankle had become a serious issue and he underwent surgery in an effort to correct the problem. Despite an impressive international record of 47 appearances and 26 goals for Sweden, August 1995 signalled the end of Brolin’s international career after a dispute with coach Tommy Svensson, amid the added disappointment of failing to make it to the Euro ’96 finals. For a man that once came in fourth for the European Footballer of the Year award in 1994, it was a spectacular fall from the heights he’d reached previously.

Loan spells at FC Zurich, former club Parma and Crystal Palace followed, but Brolin simply couldn’t recapture the form that he’d frequently displayed in the past. After two seasons away from Elland Road, a permanent move back to his homeland materialised in the shape of a free transfer to Hudiksvall. He made a solitary appearance in the colours of his hometown team before retiring from the game aged just 29.

Brolin will always be remembered for that stunning goal in Euro ’92 that helped send England crashing out of the tournament, as well as his superb form during that glittering first stint with Parma. However, he’ll also be known as a footballer who lost his magic almost as quickly as it came and could have achieved much more in the game had it not been for debilitating injury.

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Is Van Ginkel latest in long line of bench-warmers?

By David Lee Wheatley

Unchartered territory for new boy

Chelsea has often been a graveyard for young guns looking to progress their career with a move to a big club, but who've floundered badly once installed at Stamford Bridge.

Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Ross Turnbull, Victor Moses, Thibaut Courtois, Oriol Romeu and Marko Marin are just a selection of the names that have struggled to make an impact in west London due to a lack of playing time.

On the flip side, the likes of Oscar, Eden Hazard and David Luiz slotted into the first-team seamlessly and appear integral to Chelsea's future under returning manager Jose Mourinho.

Dutch international midfielder Marco Van Ginkel became the Blues' latest recruit when joining from Vitesse Arnhem in a £9m deal earlier this week. The 20-year-old has been touted as a natural successor to goalscoring legend Frank Lampard in the centre of the park; but with the England man still firmly ensconced in the fabric of the club, will the young pretender to his throne get the chance to prove his worth?

Allied to the enduring presence of Lampard, the new man will have to fight off team-mates Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard for a spot in the starting line-up; no easy task for a relatively inexperienced campaigner.

Ajax sporting director and former Arsenal winger Marc Overmars recently stated his concern over Van Ginkel's switch from the Eredivisie to the Premier League, suggesting the box-to-box midfield man should have considered a move to Amsterdam in order to further his footballing education, as opposed to diving in at the deep end with the 2012 Champions League winners. Overmars is convinced it'll transpire that the Dutchman left his homeland far too early in his fledgling career.

There have been reports Van Ginkel received assurances over the importance of his role under Mourinho during negotiations over the transfer, but the strength of the squad around him surely rules out any prospect of a guaranteed start. Despite a fine season with Vitesse last time out, there's nowhere near enough evidence yet that he'll be capable of waltzing into Chelsea's first eleven immediately.

If the highly-rated starlet hits the ground running on arrival in London, then he certainly possesses the potential to make a place in the team his own. However, he will find it particularly difficult to oust the cast of stellar names surrounding him in the Chelsea dressing room and may need to exercise patience in his quest for a significant slice of the action.

Several quality players have gone before him and suffered from a severe lack of opportunities to show their true colours, while others have flourished in the face of stern competition for places. Van Ginkel will absolutely have his work cut out to avoid becoming another superstar in the making who never quite lived up to his reputation.

There's no doubting he holds all the skill and class required to break into the side and stay there on a permanent basis; he must simply knuckle down and show the world what he's made of.

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Brazil aim to please home support

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

Scolari on a mission

 

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil set out as they mean to go on by comprehensively defeating reigning European and world champions Spain in the final of the Confederations Cup, effectively a warm-up tournament for the real thing next summer.

The Spanish swept all before them going right back to their Euro 2008 victory, until they came up against the collective will of the hosts. No European nation has won a World Cup on South American soil and the suggestion arising from Brazil’s 3-0 demolition of Spain is there won’t be any change to that scenario this time around.

Luis Felipe Scolari returned to the head coach role with the national team in November last year in a bid to recreate the spirit he conjured during his last tenure in charge of the side. Big Phil’s last spell at the helm yielded the World Cup triumph of 2002 and hopes are high he can repeat the feat in his homeland next summer.

Brazil’s recent record is impressive with seven wins, four draws and just one defeat (in Scolari’s first game back versus England) since February.

Established stars alongside some lesser-known names came to the fore during the Confederations Cup, not least attacking midfielder Paulinho, the subject of strong transfer interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

Captain Thiago Silva marshals the back-line alongside Chelsea’s ball-playing centre-back David Luiz, while Real Madrid star Marcelo provides pace and endeavour on the left side of the defence.

Youth is the focus in midfield with starlets Oscar, Lucas Moura and Bernard all making their mark.

Powerful forwards Hulk and Fred flank the audacious Neymar, who seems destined for greatness after a multi-million pound move to Barcelona at the end of last season. Another Tottenham target Leandro Damiao provides an exciting alternative should any of those three lose form.

Reports of Spain’s demise as the dominant force in world football appear premature, especially considering the abundant ability within their ranks, but there’s no doubting that Brazil are benefitting from the harmonious spirit within the camp being fostered by former Portugal boss Scolari. His blend of youth and experience has already paid dividends with the defence of their Confederations Cup title and he’ll be doubly determined to add another World Cup win at the iconic Maracana stadium come 13^th July 2014.

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