Restless Rooney really ready for move?

By David Lee Wheatley


Rooney heading for the exit

After almost nine years at Old Trafford and nearly 200 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils, is star forward Wayne Rooney now surplus to requirements?

He was benched by Sir Alex Ferguson for last night’s huge European tie against Real Madrid with tactical issues used as the reason for the decision.

That may well have been the case yesterday evening, but Rooney would have been viewed as a vital part of the starting line-up for such a big match up until this season. Whatever tactics the manager wanted to employ would have centred on Rooney in the first eleven and the manager’s pre-match comments about the striker’s lack of sharpness only served to further muddy the waters regarding Rooney’s future.

The former Everton dynamo has certainly had ups and downs during his time in Manchester, not least when he dallied over signing a new deal at the club in 2010. That he eventually  signed the five-year contract seemed to calm the simmering tension created by a public spat between manager and player that had threatened to push Rooney abroad or even to local rivals Manchester City. However, the latest episode in the saga suggests that United could finally be ready to part ways with the England international when the summer transfer window swings open again at the season’s end.

If Rooney is deemed less valuable to the side than the fast-improving Welbeck and prolific Dutchman Robin Van Persie that would surely signal the end for the 27-year-old at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’. Rooney won’t be content to sit on the bench and would walk into most top sides in Europe with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona all able to pay the required transfer fee to prise him away from United. It remains to be seen which of those clubs would be interested in the front-man, but surely at least two of the aforementioned names would throw their money at the Old Trafford outfit if Fergie made him available.

Last night’s omission from the starting line-up will have hurt Rooney greatly, as he will feel that he could have helped United to progress had he been on from the beginning. His demotion from the level of irreplaceable forward to bench-warmer smacks of the treatment given to David Beckham before he left for Real Madrid in 2003. Could Rooney be headed down the same path?

Ferguson’s been a master of renewal over his many years in charge and the Scotsman has no qualms with moving people on when he feels the need to refresh his squad. This evolution is fuelled partly by the quality of players that come through the academy ranks, such as Welbeck, allowing the manager to make money on more established stars. He can then bolster his options with quality signings that he believes will add fresh motivation to the side; Robin Van Persie is a prime example.

United no longer rely on Rooney and it would appear time is up for the fiery forward at Old Trafford.

 

You can follow me on Twitter: @davewh1980

André The Giant

By David Lee Wheatley

The rise, fall, rise of AVB

André Villas-Boas did not have any experience as a pro football player, having been earmarked for a career in coaching since the age of 16.

Then-Porto boss Sir Bobby Robson lived in the same apartment building as the young FC Porto fan and after a healthy debate between the two about tactics, an impressed Robson appointed AVB to a role within the backroom department at the club.

Robson went on to arrange for his young protégé to do an FA coaching course and he followed that up by taking all of the relevant UEFA coaching badges including the Pro Licence. He served a further apprenticeship as an assistant coach under José Mourinho at Porto, Chelsea and then Internazionale.

Villas-Boas then struck out on his own as a manager with spells in the British Virgin Islands and with Portuguese strugglers Academica, whom he led to safety after taking over with the club bottom of the league. This led to intense speculation that the rising managerial star would become boss at one of the big three in the Portuguese Liga and a move back to hometown club FC Porto quickly materialised.

Success was instant at the club he loves when Porto lifted the Portuguese Super Cup two months into his new appointment. Extraordinarily, AVB led his new charges to an undefeated league campaign which allowed them to finish the season 20 points clear at the top. More trophies were added to the honours roll with triumphs in the domestic cup and UEFA Europa League; Villas-Boas becoming the youngest-ever coach to win a European trophy at the age of 33.

Most top clubs around the continent were looking at the young man with the Midas touch and it was to former club Chelsea that he ventured. The Stamford Bridge outfit had to fork out €15m to oust the Porto man from his contract and such a large outlay suggested that the west London club fully believed AVB to be the man for the job.

He was greeted with an ageing squad and a brief to help evolve the team into a younger, leaner, meaner outfit. Friction with the older professionals was almost inevitable, as he left the likes of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba out of the starting line-up in his efforts to create the ‘new Chelsea’ that he was asked to construct. The fact that the new manager was around the same age as some of the senior players was bound to cause a lack of respect if he ever dropped the older ones from the team.

AVB lasted just under nine months in the job (June 2011-March 2012), the last straw coming with successive losses at Napoli in the Champions League last-16 first leg and against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. Roberto Di Matteo took over and led the Blues to FA Cup and Champions League glory, while Villas-Boas quietly went about rejuvenating his enthusiasm for the game after his short, rather brutal stint at Chelsea.

Meanwhile, over at White Hart Lane, Harry Redknapp was being touted for the England job from all quarters, but ultimately he didn’t get the FA assignment and, that summer, it was decided by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy that it was time for the club to go in a new direction. That pointed to the available and still highly-rated Villas-Boas, who was chomping at the bit for another top-level Premier League opportunity.

He was installed to a mixed reaction from the Tottenham faithful, but at the helm of the dynamic Spurs side, he has driven his new club into a strong position to reach automatic qualification for the Champions League. The 35-year-old has achieved this despite a shaky first month of the season; a victory at Old Trafford at the end of September seemed to ignite Spurs’ season and it has been a steady rise for the north London club ever since.

At Tottenham, Villas-Boas has been presented with an attacking, young squad who are all willing to listen and learn from the Portuguese coach’s methods. He was tasked with overhauling a Chelsea squad full of senior players when at Stamford Bridge, but a lot of that renewal work has been done by Redknapp at Spurs already. AVB has simply gone in and concentrated on coaching his new pupils, instead of fighting battles with senior professionals and sections of the fans. He has introduced new tactical ideas including his high-line defence, plus the use of star player Gareth Bale in a central role and it has paid huge dividends.

Yesterday’s spectacular north London derby against arch-rivals Arsenal ended in a 2-1 victory for Villas-Boas’ side, which further strengthens their strange-hold over third place in the Premier League and puts the Gunners in their wake for the first time in a very long time. The win even prompted the confident AVB to remark that Arsenal are now in a “negative spiral that it will be difficult to get out of”.

Tottenham Hotspur sit seven points clear of Arsenal who are in fifth, with Chelsea sandwiched in between two points adrift of the White Hart Lane outfit. Chelsea may be inconsistent at present, but remain a threat. As for Arsenal, they look demoralised at the moment and Villas-Boas may well be right that they will be unable to get out of their downward spiral.

There are ten games to go and plenty of points to play for, but Spurs are undoubtedly reaping the rewards of the AVB influence and now look slight favourites for the automatic qualifying spot for next season's Champions League.

Follow me on Twitter: @davewh1980

Sunderland AFC best

My SAFC best 11+subs - last 25 years

It's a fun and interesting debate to pick your greatest XI and here is my best SAFC eleven from the last quarter of a century.

Simon Mignolet (GK) - The big Belgian is current club number one and has been superb both this season and last. Brave and a fantastic shot-stopper.

Chris Makin (RB) - Great tackler, would run all day and got forward plenty despite only 1 goal for the club.

Michael Gray (LB) - Started out as a winger and attacking instincts showed when bombing forward from left-back. Had a great left foot on him and a very good crosser of a ball.

Gary Bennett (CB) - Tall, rangy, good in the air and famed for his long runs with the ball out of defence. Lead by example.

Steve Bould (CB) - Only played for the club for a short time with injury curtailing a brilliant stint in the heart of defence. Pure class and a great organiser.

Nicky Summerbee (RW) - Crossing ability second-to-none and a bullet shot with his right foot. No need to beat his man with delivery like he had.

Allan Johnston (LW) - Masterstroke to put Johnston on the left by Peter Reid allowed the Scot to cut inside and shoot. Had mazy dribbling ability and an eye for a goal.

Paul Bracewell (CM) - Had 3 spells at Roker Park and was a classy operator. He kept things ticking over, but also had the killer pass in his locker.

Don Hutchison (CM) - Massively effective goalscoring midfielder and was always one step ahead of his opponents. Passing, set-pieces and eye for goal made him the complete player. Shame he didn't spend very long at the club and never really been replaced.

Niall Quinn (CF) - Living legend Quinn worked magic with Kevin Phillips in a partnership that the team have failed to replicate since. Unbeatable in the air, fantastic touch and great ability to control the ball under pressure with his back to goal. Went on to be the Chairman of the club for over 5 years.

Kevin Phillips (CF) - Super Kev was deadly in front of goal, winning the European Golden Boot one season with 30 goals. His movement, positional sense and finishing set him apart.

7 SUBS:
Thomas Sorensen (GK), Johnny Evans (CB), Kevin Ball (CM/CB), Stefan Schwarz (CM), Julio Arca (LW/LB), Martin Smith (LW/RW/CF), Marco Gabbiadini (CF).

Football Icons: Part 3 - Jurgen Klinsmann

By David Lee Wheatley

The Golden Bomber

German striker Jurgen Klinsmann was born in Goppingen, Germany, on 30^th July 1964. His family moved to Stuttgart when he was 14 after his father bought a bakery in the state capital. Klinsmann played for youth club SC Geislingen before signing for Stuttgart Kickers at 16 and he first completed his apprenticeship at the bakery at his parents’ behest before he signed pro forms with Kickers aged 18.

Stuttgart Kickers were playing in the second division when Klinsmann managed to become a regular starter in the 1982-83 season. The following term saw a return of 19 goals from the pacy forward and in 1984 he moved to top-flight local rivals VfB Stuttgart.

In his first season at his new club he was joint top scorer, but the team could only manage a disappointing tenth place finish. Better was to come, though, when in 1986 Klinsmann helped his club to the German League Cup final in which they were defeated 5-2 by Bayern Munich and the following season he got his first international cap for West Germany versus Brazil in a 1-1 draw, while topping the Bundesliga scoring charts with 19 goals.

The 24-year-old was named German Footballer of the Year in 1988 to go with his top goal-scorer accolade. He was getting noticed on a wider scale by clubs abroad by that time and this was reinforced by Stuttgart’s run to the UEFA Cup final of 1989, which they narrowly lost to Maradona’s Napoli by a 5-4 aggregate score.

The European stage he played on in the UEFA final led to a big move to Internazionale, where he joined up with fellow West German internationals Matthaus and Brehme. The glamour of Serie A was attractive to many top players at the time, but it was a harsh place for strikers thanks to the highly defensive tactics employed in the Italian leagues during that period. Despite all that, the striker managed to bag 13 goals in his opening campaign at Guiseppe Meazza. He quickly integrated himself in the Italian way of life by learning the language and that allowed him to settle swiftly in Milan.

His first season went reasonably well for the team as they finished in third place under Giovanni Trapattoni and then West Germany called Klinsmann up to the national squad for the 1990 World Cup. He scored three goals during Italia ’90 helping his country to go all the way in the tournament to become World Champions, beating England in the semi-final and then Argentina in the final. His performance in the 2^nd round against the Netherlands was praised greatly due to his strike partner Rudi Voller being sent off; Klinsmann was left to plough a lone furrow up front, a job he did magnificently to lead the team into the next round.

Klinsmann returned to Inter and won the 1991 UEFA Cup with victory over fellow Italian side AS Roma, while the blonde marksman hit 14 goals in Serie A. Unfortunately, his time at Inter hit the buffers when they placed eighth the following season under Corrado Orrico and the goals dried up somewhat with a meagre return of just seven strikes. He lost his German international starting spot for a short spell, before regaining it for the 1992 European Championships, which the unified Germany lost to shock victors Denmark.

Due to the troublesome season Klinsmann had endured with Inter, it became clear that it was time for him to move on. His next destination was principality club AS Monaco in the French league, a move that transformed the club into title contenders. Monaco came second in his first season in Monte Carlo and owing to the scandal surrounding league winners Olympique Marseille, Monaco were granted their place in the 1993-94 edition of the Champions League.

It resulted in a gallant effort from Klinsmann and his team-mates to reach the semi-finals of the competition only for the extremely strong AC Milan to knock them out. Things went sour at Stade Louis II the following year when they could only manage ninth place in Ligue 1. Klinsmann had suffered two months out with a torn ligament and there were also rumblings that he and his team-mates had fallen out during the course of the season. However, thanks to his impressive performances in the USA World Cup of 1994, in which Germany made the quarters, Klinsmann was voted Germany’s Footballer of the Year for a second time.

He was looking for a way out from Monaco and in a surprise move he joined English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £2 million. The English public and media saw Klinsmann as a ‘diver’ who cheats referees, so Klinsmann had his work cut out to get them on his side.

The prolific forward showed his sense of humour when celebrating his first Spurs goal with a flying dive on to the turf. This act endeared him to many football fans in the country, not least the White Hart Lane faithful! Spurs reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1995, while the former Inter poacher grabbed 29 goals in all competitions.

He went on to claim the 1995 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award, voted on by the football journalists across the country. Many of the writers that voted for him were the very same people that had criticised the German’s playing style when he first arrived!

Klinsmann was on the move again in the summer of 1995 when he joined Bavarian giants Bayern Munich. It was a successful spell at Germany’s biggest club, as they won the UEFA Cup in 1996 and the player himself was top scorer at Bayern during his first two seasons at the Olympic Stadium.

It was back to international duty for the Euro ’96 finals in England, a competition that Germany won handsomely, prompting the famous scenes of Klinsmann and his team-mates singing the tournament anthem ‘Football’s Coming Home’ in celebration. It was a massively important victory for the German national side after the relative disappointment of Euro ’92 and the World Cup in ’94.

The new club campaign at Bayern brought Klinsmann and his club the Bundesliga title. He then chose to have another crack at Serie A with Genoese club Sampdoria, but it didn’t go well and after six months he returned to Spurs for a second stint at the club where he had made such an impression in his single season in 94-95. His transfer in the winter of the 97-98 campaign found Tottenham struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table, but they managed to survive in the division due in part to a four-goal haul from Klinsmann against Wimbledon in a 6-2 victory. He played the last game of his club career on the final day of the 1997-98 season against Southampton.

Rounding off his playing career at the age of 33, Klinsmann went with Germany to the 1998 World Cup in France as team captain. The ageing star played well and managed three goals in the tournament, but it was a feeling of overall disappointment for Berti Vogt’s side with elimination coming at the quarter-final stage.

Jurgen Klinsmann finished his career with winner’s medals at the World Cup, European Championships, in the UEFA Cup and Bundesliga. He is still the third highest goalscorer for Germany at World Cup finals behind only Miroslav Klose and Gerd Muller.

Perhaps just as great an achievement was his ability to change people’s perception of him both in Italy and England particularly. I remember him coming to play for Tottenham and he was demonised by the English press. He was a diver, a cheat. But, when I saw him play in the flesh it was a different story. What an incredible striker he was.

Follow me on Twitter: @davewh1980