Hiddink signs deal to lead Dutch national side once again

 

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

Master tactician Guus Hiddink is to become head coach of the Netherlands national team following the completion of this summer’s World Cup finals, it was confirmed today. The former Chelsea boss has signed a two-year pre-contract agreement with the KNVB to take over the reins from current incumbent Louis van Gaal, once he relinquishes control in order to make a return to club management.

Hiddink managed the side between 1995 and 1998 having also led the senior international teams of South Korea, Australia, Russia and Turkey in a hugely successful globe-trotting coaching career thus far. Now 67, it appears the final challenge of an ongoing 32-year journey since first taking his place in the dug-out as De Graafschap assistant coach.

Having made clear his intention to aim for a top Premier League job, the Dutch FA were well aware of van Gaal’s decision to move on ahead of time and they’ve been busy putting plans in place to adequately replace him with an equally revered elder statesman. Hiddink will lead the Dutch to Euro 2016 in the hope of claiming silverware before handing his duties over to Ajax legend Danny Blind, who will assist him for the next two years alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Several big clubs have been linked to former Ajax, Bayern and Barcelona boss van Gaal, while he's been openly angling for a lucrative switch to the English Premier League. Heavyweights such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are said to be monitoring the situation closely and it seems Spurs would be his most likely destination at this stage.  

Meanwhile, Hiddink will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the in-fighting and public spats which characterised his last spell at the Oranje helm after he inherited a set of fractious individuals severely lacking in team spirit. Edgar Davids was sensationally sent home from Euro ’96 when Hiddink decided to get tough in taking the Dutch to the quarter-finals. His initially troublesome period as manager gave way to a more relaxed atmosphere at the World Cup two years later and Holland made the semi-finals prior to an unlucky penalty shoot-out loss to Brazil.

If he can foster a similar environment within the national side from 2014 onwards to that which he left behind in 1998, then it would be eminently conceivable for the Netherlands to be crowned Champions of Europe for the first time since Euro ’88.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980



Young Guns: Alen Halilovic

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

17-year-old attacking midfielder Alen Halilovic is the youngest-ever player to represent his nation in a full international and also the Croatian first division's youngest goalscorer in history. With a plethora of European heavyweights scouting him from all across the continent for months, it is FC Barcelona who have finally won the day for his signature in a 2.2million euros transfer.

 

 

Born in Dubrovnik, Halilovic quickly ascended through the youth ranks at Dinamo Zagreb to make his first-team debut in September 2012 as a late substitute within the hostile atmosphere of a clash with rivals Hadjuk Split. A UEFA Champions' League bow followed against Paris Saint-Germain, thus gaining further invaluable experience at the highest level.

 

 

Even better was to come, though, for the diminutive left-footer when breaking into the senior national squad, having represented his homeland at all youth stages up to under-17. Portugal were the opposition on June 10, 2013, as Halilovic broke yet another record due to his tender years.

 

 

Many observers have been swift in comparing the wonder-kid to Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric, but his club have been careful to keep their prize asset from getting too carried away with such high praise. Dinamo bled the youngster slowly but surely into action, with the starlet appearing on 19 occasions and scoring 3 goals this season. However, only eight of those were starts in order to allow the developing midfielder the rest he requires to avoid burn-out issues.

 

 

His current side hold an 11-point lead this campaign domestically, while Halilovic has been further subjected to European competition in both the Champions' League qualifiers and Europa League group stage. He will stay with the 15-time Croatian first division champions until the season's end, at which point the Catalan giants will begin to phase him in gently - after what he hopes will be an adventure at the World Cup in Brazil - with a stint playing for their 'B' team initially.

 

 

Hopes are high that Halilovic will mature and prosper under the expert guidance of one of the greatest training academies in the world, while helping him to fulfil his undoubted potential later on during a projected minimum stay of five years. There is no specific timeframe for his promotion to the big leagues and Barca will surely caress his career with great understanding.

 

 

If he performs as well as hoped, his succession of Blaugrana great Xavi won't be too far into the future and the meagre fee of 2.2million euros will increase substantially with myriad add-ons attached to the deal.

 

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

United hit rock bottom

By David Lee Wheatley

Manchester United last night hit their lowest point yet throughout this tortuous campaign when suffering a 0-3 reverse against neighbours Manchester City, having come off worst in a one-sided contest at home to arch-rivals Liverpool just nine days prior.

United enjoyed a brief upturn in fortunes with two wins on the trot in between the two huge north-west derby matches, but it proved another false dawn for fed-up fans when an inspired City knocked three unanswered strikes past an exposed David De Gea. It looked like men against boys on the hallowed Old Trafford turf for most of the evening, with title favourites City seemingly under no pressure whatsoever.

The heat has been on manager David Moyes all season long and the temperature went up another notch after a defeat which leaves them completely out of the race for a top-four finish. Meanwhile, the stats at this stage of proceedings don't make enjoyable reading: highest number of defeats in a Premier League season; most home league losses in 12 years; only one win in 13 meetings with the top-nine teams; beaten home and away by both Manchester City and Liverpool in the same campaign for the first time; a massive 18 points off the top spot that they occupied at the end of last season.

Most observers expected a transitional phase to take place following Alex Ferguson's retirement after more than 26 years at the helm, but nobody foresaw this level of humiliation. Moyes held a good overall record with previous club Everton and was widely touted as the right man to take United forward; it just hasn't happened for him and the scrutiny continues to grow over the precarious nature of his position.

It appears there is no clear vision, preferred style of play or understanding among the players of what their individual roles actually are.

To compound matters, Moyes signed two-time Chelsea 'Player of the Year' Juan Mata for a whopping £37million in January, only to stick the Spaniard out on the right wing. Mata is a playmaker best-suited to a 'number 10' role just off a main striker, where he is free to roam and everything goes through him in the attacking third. However, he cuts an isolated figure out on the touchline and doesn't cope well with the defensive side of the game. Furthermore, talisman Wayne Rooney usually occupies the area of the field where Mata should be employed. He needs to avoid a scatter-gun approach to the recruitment of new players, so that he brings in the right men to take the club forward.

Moyes must impose his principles upon the team and the club as a whole, while weeding out the players that aren't up to the task. Though he admirably takes all responsibility for his side's lacklustre performances when speaking to the media, it is within the inner-sanctum of the club where ruthless action is required. It's all very well repeatedly telling the public that he is to blame, but where are the signs that his training ground message is getting through to the players under his leadership? They don't seem to be carrying out any particular instructions and many of them seem utterly lost.

Former boss Ferguson was an unbelievably hard act to follow and whoever got the nod to take over had to be prepared for teething problems, but even Moyes himself admits to being surprised by the difficulties he has encountered. The harsh truth is the Scot inherited a squad largely bereft of motivation, pace and invention, while some are over-the-hill and ready to be put out to pasture.

A major reconstruction project will be required in the summer and a distinct course set out by the manager as to how he wants the team to play under his guidance. So far, he looks out of his depth and is failing to adapt to the rigours of coaching one of the biggest clubs in the world. Moyes is in negative equity on the evidence of his efforts up to this point, while certain squad members have shown little to suggest that they have a future with the Red Devils.

There won't be any panicking at board level in reaction to this painful period in the club's history and therefore Moyes will be given more time. However, if he is heavily backed in the transfer market and still comes up short, patience will run out much quicker than he would like.

Significant improvement is imperative next season, otherwise Manchester United will be forced to abandon their long-held prerogative of backing their manager over the long-term through both good times and bad. Previous incumbent Ferguson was given plenty of opportunities to build a team in his own image - despite a series of poor campaigns - and he eventually put in place a winning culture which delivered unprecedented success.

In this age of quick-fix hiring and firing, it is unrealistic to suggest that Moyes will get the same level of understanding afforded to his predecessor. He will be allowed to put this season of abject failure behind him, but any replication will undoubtedly result in his swift removal from the Old Trafford hot-seat.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Analysis: Champions' League quarter-final draw

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

The Champions League quarter-final draw handed Manchester United a mighty difficult task in order to overcome holders Bayern, while the other remaining English representatives Chelsea will undoubtedly fancy their chances against French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

An all-Spanish tie between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid appears almost too close to call, with both sides separated by just one point in La Liga at time of writing. Meanwhile, Real Madrid make up an extremely powerful trio of clubs from that country and would seem heavy favourites to sweep opponents Borussia Dortmund aside.

United woke up from their season-long slumber when defeating Greek side Olympiakos 3-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday, thus coming back from a 2-0 first-leg deficit. The first 60 minutes of that second-leg clash were played at a frantic pace from the off and saw the home side cruising thanks to an impressive Robin van Persie hat-trick. However, they had to survive a sprinkling of shaky moments before finally seeing out the game and dumping the plucky Greeks out of the tournament.

Their prize for struggling through is a daunting meeting with current holders Bayern Munich, with United hosting the Bundesliga giants first of all. The only way David Moyes’ men will survive in the competition is by establishing a lead to take to Germany; otherwise it is curtains for the fading Manchester giants. However, even getting their noses in front will prove easier said than done and would be a major turn-up for the books in itself given the Red Devils shocking league form overall this campaign.

Bayern have swept all before them domestically once again, while seeing off the challenge of Arsenal with great ease at the last-16 stage in Europe. Despite the draw pitting them against three-time European champions United, the Bavarian bulldozer seems set to roll on regardless under the canny guidance of renowned tactician Pep Guardiola. The former Barcelona captain is looking to secure his third Champions’ League crown as a coach and won’t be fazed by the prospect of facing up to a team evidently shorn of confidence and possibly the services of the injured van Persie.

Chelsea never left second gear when putting Galatasaray to the sword in the last round against a side with an aging Didier Drogba leading the line against his beloved former club, plus the ineffective Wesley Sneijder in midfield; a once-feted footballer whose star has fallen alarmingly since his apparent peak four years ago under Jose Mourinho at Inter. It was oh-so-easy for the Blues to dissect the Turks’ defence in winning by a comfortable 3-1 aggregate margin and that victory will give 2012 champions Chelsea a great boost as they size up their next assignment.

Led by talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris Saint-Germain are eleven points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and demolished Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 over two legs, with an especially one-sided 4-0 victory coming their way in Germany. Though they possess a fearsome strike-force and a commanding lead domestically, they will find the Stamford Bridge outfit a much tougher nut to crack; wily old Mourinho is a master at stifling opposition strengths, while exposing their weaknesses at will. Additionally, he and the majority of his squad hold the invaluable experience of claiming continental trophies over a number of years and collectively they form a formidable obstacle for the Parisian artisans to successfully negotiate.

It’s likely that Barcelona will be slight favourites going into battle against compatriots Atletico, but only marginally so. In fact, with ten matches left to play, Madrid’s so-called second side sit one point above their more illustrious rivals in La Liga following a fantastic season so far. They underwent a slight wobble when managing just one triumph in four fixtures, including surprise losses to minnows Almeria and Osasuna, but bounced back by securing two league wins on the trot most recently and knocking a severely demoralised Milan out of the Champions’ League.

Atletico will feel they have a strong chance of conquering their fellow title contenders from Catalonia, but must play both legs at the very height of their powers if they wish to progress. Barcelona have also suffered two unusual defeats in the last four games against Real Sociedad and Valladolid, thus falling four points behind leaders Real Madrid and giving Atletico hope. However, they swatted away widely-touted pretenders to their throne Manchester City without much fuss in the round of 16 and are seasoned campaigners at the top table of European competition in comparison with Diego Simeone’s men. It’s likely to be a tight fixture between the two Spanish clubs and will probably be won by the odd goal either way.

Last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund squeaked past Zenit in making their way to the quarter-finals, but they will go into their match-up with Real Madrid with a measure of trepidation. The legendary Galacticos have not lost a La Liga game since 26^th October, a defeat which arrived in the last El Clasico, and look odds-on to lift the league championship trophy come the end of the campaign. Of course, the second instalment of Real-Barca takes place tomorrow evening and that could determine the destination of the title.

Complimentary to their sparking domestic displays, Real also thrashed Schalke 9-2 on aggregate to make it into the last-eight and will aim to do a similar job on a Dortmund side that don’t appear quite as strong as they were during 2012/13. The 1997 winners are miles behind Bayern in the Bundesliga – as they found themselves last campaign – and also looked decidedly porous at the back in leaking a total of four goals to the beleaguered Russians, who sacked manager Luciano Spalletti on 11^th March after a run of one victory in eleven matches. A 5-4 aggregate advantage for the side from Germany's industrial heartland is hardly the stuff of potential European kings.

 

Barring a minor miracle, Carlo Ancelotti’s charges will be in the hat for the semi-final stage of the world’s greatest club competition, as they attempt to justify the bookies’ faith in their ability to claim the glory on offer.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

Vidic wants one last crack at rivals

By David Lee Wheatley

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic signalled the end of an era when announcing his intention to join Inter during the summer at the completion of his Old Trafford contract. After eight glorious years of service, mainly under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Serbian centre-back has decided to move on in order to experience a new adventure in Italy.

Today, he leads the Red Devils into battle against arch-rivals Liverpool for the last time before he leaves for pastures new and the 32-year-old is relishing the opportunity to help his beloved United to secure a key victory in the ongoing battle to put the reigning champions season back on track.

Four places and eleven points currently separate the two sides, but unusually it's the Merseysiders in the ascendancy on this occasion. Their progress this season under Brendan Rodgers has seen the Anfield giants touted as possible title contenders for the first time since 2009, when they finished 2nd in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez. Meanwhile, Manchester United have suffered a dramatic fall from grace since Alex Ferguson's retirement at the end of last season and they go into this afternoon's clash as underdogs.

Vidic and Rio Ferdinand formed a formidable central defensive partnership throughout their first five years or so together, but injury and age have caught up with both recently. However, the club captain will hope to keep a clean sheet against the odds in his team's quest to somehow snatch a top-four spot in last-ditch fashion.

To do so, he and his team-mates will have to keep a rampant Liverpool forward line quiet and that would appear an almost impossible task. Suarez and Sturridge have plundered 45 goals between them and their pace will cause huge problems for a creaking United back-four. Should Vidic and co. pull off a shock and stop them from scoring, it would certainly be plausible for the likes of Mata, Rooney, Januzaj and Van Persie to give Liverpool something to think about at the other end of the field.

Only time will tell if Vidic can sign off in this biggest of fixtures in style. But, a betting man would say he can't, despite so many past glories with the club.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Legend Rivaldo retires

By David Lee Wheatley

Former Brazil international forward Rivaldo announced his retirement yesterday at the ripe old age of 41.

Now president of Brazilian Serie C side Mogi Mirim, with whom he played his final match, Rivaldo pulled down the curtain on a fine career having featured alongside his 18-year-old son in a 1-1 draw with XV de Piracicaba.

He leaves the game having won the World Cup in 2002 as a crucial part of triumvirate Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and himself, while he also helped his country to the final four years prior. A Ballon d'Or winner in 1999, the Paulista native scored 34 times during 74 caps for his country despite rarely playing as an out-and-out striker.

Having moved to Europe when signing with Spaniards Deportivo La Coruña from Palmeiras in 1996, the young South American quickly found his feet in La Liga. His 21 league strikes caught the attention of the biggest clubs across the continent and he was off to Barcelona only a year into his time in Spanish football.

A glittering five-year stay at Camp Nou saw the club lift the Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup once each, while Rivaldo's considerable influence assisted the team in claiming the domestic league title twice consecutively in 1998 and 1999.

Of course, Rivaldo will also be remembered for the incident at the 2002 World Cup when a ball was kicked towards his thigh by a Turkish opponent before he inexplicably slumped to the ground while holding his face in apparent agony. It was one of the most blatant examples of play-acting ever to take place on a football field.

Thankfully, Rivaldo's talent as a footballer far outweighed such shenanigans and he followed up his World Cup winners' medal with a splendid UEFA Champions' League victory at new club Milan in 2003. The Coppa Italia and UEFA Super Cup also came the Italian giants' way that same year, but Rivaldo failed to make a single league appearance in the second season of his stint at the San Siro, thus leading him to a brief homecoming with Cruzeiro on loan.

Olympiakos was his next permanent destination after the end of a short loan spell back in Brazil and he got into the groove straight away when scoring many sublime goals for the Greek side. After three years there, AEK Athens took him on for one campaign previous to an unusual move on to Uzbek side Bunyodkor, accompanied by a mega-money contract. This started a worldwide farewell tour of sorts for Rivaldo, as he also went on to play for São Paulo and then unknown Angolans Kabuscorp before returning to his home country for good with São Caetano and finally back to his very first club Mogi Mirim.

It's been an incredible journey from his early days in the game, with a best period undoubtedly enjoyed in the famous colours of Barcelona. Not only is his longevity a mighty impressive statistic to behold, but also his silky skills on the ball, ability to find a killer pass and an unerring accuracy in front of goal were attributes which blended together to make him one of the finest and most versatile footballers of his generation.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Puyol calls time on career

By David Lee Wheatley

Inspirational Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has decided to leave the club at the end of this season, much earlier than expected after serious injury ruined his campaign.

The 35-year-old has been troubled by numerous knee problems recently, causing him to miss Euro 2012 for his country, while also limiting the defender to just 12 appearances for Barça so far during 2013-14.

Puyol had hoped to make another triumphant comeback for club and country as he'd done following previous injuries, but it wasn't to be. After nineteen hugely successful years in association with FC Barcelona, the defensive lynchpin has been forced into the decision to rescind the final two seasons on his current deal in order to avoid punishing his body any further.

Three years with Barcelona's 'C' and 'B' teams taught a young Puyol his trade prior to a surprise debut for the Blaugrana in October 1999, when pressed into action as a second-half substitute by Louis van Gaal away at Valladolid. He never looked back, cementing the right-back slot with a total of 37 appearances that season.

It took Puyol five long years ensconced within the first-team before a first major title arrived, but in 2004-05 he played an instrumental role as captain of Frank Rijkaard's side as they sealed the domestic league championship. A year on, he lifted the Champions' League trophy in Paris, as the Catalan giants saw off the challenge of Arsenal in the final.

At international level, the versatile Puyol assisted Spain in their successful quest to reach the pinnacle of global football when winning both Euro 2008 and, most impressively, the World Cup on the African continent in 2010. Playing regularly in the heart of defence by that stage for both Barcelona and Spain, Puyol was the rock upon which both teams built their astonishing run of success.

Back at Barça, the highly respected Catalonia native eventually led his club to a total of six La Liga titles, three Champions' League wins and two victories each in the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA World Club Cup and the Copa del Rey, throughout a period largely dominated by the 'tiki-taka' pass-and-move style of play encouraged by Pep Guardiola before he took a sabbatical from the game.

This time around, it's a three-way battle at the top of the Spanish league for honours between Barcelona and the two big Madrid clubs, while the Blaugrana still appear to possess a fantastic opportunity to secure another Champions' League triumph following their precise dissection of Manchester City in the first leg of their last-16 clash. If all goes well, Puyol could yet be signing off with another two trophies to his name come the end of a glittering career with his beloved Barça.

Whatever does occur between now and the season's end, the La Pobla de Segur-born star will go down in the history as one of the club's greatest servants. Tough, uncompromising and above all a winner, Puyol has made the most of his ability in leading Barcelona through an era to cherish and savour. He will be sorely missed around Camp Nou when he goes.

Twitter: @davewh1980

FA must throw book at pitiful Pardew

By David Lee Wheatley

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew stooped to an all-time low this afternoon at the KC Stadium when getting involved in an astonishing touchline fracas with Hull City midfield man David Meyler, resulting in referee Kevin Friend sending the fiery Londoner to the stands after 72 minutes had elapsed of a match easily won by the visitors.

Meyler, in a rush to grab the ball after it ran out of play, ushered Pardew to one side as he went by; an action that was admittedly unnecessary. However, what came next was quite literally stunning: Pardew approached the Irishman with aggressive intent, the two going head-to-head before the 52-year-old directed an apparent head-butt in the direction of Meyler's cheekbone.

It's the latest in a long line of misdemeanours from the one-time Crystal Palace player during a turbulent managerial career at the helm of Reading, West Ham United, Charlton Athletic, Southampton and now Newcastle.

There was that infamous shoving match when in charge of the Hammers in 2006 with Arsene Wenger, for which both men received FA charges. Then the white-hot north-east derby atmosphere got the better of the Wimbledon-born boss when squaring up to then-Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill during the March 2012 draw between the bitter rivals, which also saw Magpies' goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman sent from the dug-out.

Most would think (or at least hope) Pardew would've learned to keep his cool in such circumstances by that stage, especially given that he is subjected to the high-pressure world of top-flight football on a regular basis. Alas, it was not to be, as he proceeded to push a referee's assistant in August 2012 next to Pardew's technical area with United one-up at home to Spurs. Furious Pardew insisted the ball had gone out of touch for a throw-in to his side and felt so aggrieved at the lack of a flag to the extent that he was compelled to 'do a Di Canio' on an official. For that, he was hit with a two-match touchline ban and £20,000 fine - nine games less than Di Canio received 14 years prior and only double the money.

Pardew's rap-sheet resembled something from the Shawshank Redemption (!) by then and yet he still continued unabated with his crazy behaviour. In January of this year he aimed a foul-mouthed rant at opposite number Manuel Pellegrini, as Manchester City ran out 2-0 winners following a feisty St. James' Park encounter in which Newcastle star Cheick Tiote had a goal wrongfully chalked off at a critical stage of the game. His language towards the Chilean was so colourful that Pardew condemned himself to community service of sorts by helping out with local projects close to his heart, despite the FA's reluctance to hand down further punishment to the beleaguered United manager. It was a nice gesture from the Newcastle supremo and earned him back a little self-respect in the wake of another ill-judged temper tantrum.

However, today's outburst displayed a nasty streak the levels of which have been rarely witnessed in the history of the Premier League and the authorities will have a task on their hands deciding exactly what sentence to give the under-fire Magpie manager.

He should be setting a fine example for his squad to follow, but what kind of example is this?

Thanks to their leader's antics, the United players will sadly get little attention for their resounding win over the in-form Tigers, while the incident firmly places the spotlight on much-maligned owner Mike Ashley as regards an appropriate response to such unbelievable scenes.

The Sunday Express newspaper was banned by the club for its assertion that Pardew would be sacked if they lost to Aston Villa last month, a fate they avoided in any case. This might well be an opportune moment for Ashley to pull the plug on Pardew's reign in light of his gross misconduct at the KC Stadium, thus making the Express' report seem not too far from the truth just two matches on from that desperately needed victory over Villa.

If Pardew does lose his job, he will have only himself to blame.

Twitter: @davewh1980