Manchester United hot-seat: Five in the frame

By David Lee Wheatley

David Moyes' ill-fated succession of Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager came to an abrupt end this week after ten tortuous months in charge. Following such a legendary figure into the Old Trafford hot-seat was always going to be a hugely difficult task and it proved far too much for the ex-Everton boss.

Now, with the team sitting 7th in the Premier League and appearing to be in grave danger of missing out altogether on European football next season, who is in the frame to replace the man once described as 'The Chosen One' at a club desperate to rectify the problems that have plagued them throughout the entire campaign?

The following names are the five candidates I believe to be highest on the list of possible replacements:

Louis van Gaal (Netherlands national team)

Vastly experienced 62-year-old Louis van Gaal made his intention to seek an English Premier League managerial position clear several months ago when confirming he'd leave his post with the Netherlands national side after this summer's World Cup.

Having led European greats Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich to spectacular heights, he now wishes to try his hand at a competition he admires greatly. There were strong rumours surrounding Spurs' interest in the sought-after signature of the Dutchman, but the chance to resurrect United to their former glories would almost certainly hold more appeal.

Stubborn, a renowned man-manager and firm believer in the 'Total Football' attacking style of football harnessed in his homeland, van Gaal would seem the perfect fit for a side in dire need of direction.

Major honours

League titles: 7 (3 Ajax; 2 Barcelona; 1 AZ; 1 Bayern Munich)

Domestic Cups: 3 (1 Ajax; 1 Barcelona; 1 Bayern Munich)

Champions' League: 1 (Ajax)

UEFA Cup/Europa League: 1 (Ajax)

Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund)

Highly-rated German coach Klopp has been repeatedly linked to several top jobs around Europe since leading Dortmund to successive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, also lifting the German Cup to claim the double on the second occasion.

The former Mainz player impressed many observers with those domestic achievements, but did so even further when taking his side to the Champions' League final of 2013 before losing agonisingly to compatriots Bayern at Wembley.

Entertainment is guaranteed with Klopp's notoriously effervescent displays on the touchline during matches along with his endearing media persona which has placed him near the top of the United hit-list. However, the 46-year-old recently signed an extension to his Dortmund deal until 2018, while also publicly denying any interest in leaving his current position.

Time will tell whether a concrete offer could tempt the Stuttgart-born into going back on his word in order to take over at Old Trafford.

Major honours

League titles: 2 (Borussia Dortmund)

Domestic Cups: 1 (Borussia Dortmund)

Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)

Amiable Italian Ancelotti has a very important job to focus on currently with Real very close to a potential Champions' League final, while also still in the hunt for La Liga glory.

He's managed successfully in England previously when delivering a league and FA Cup double to Chelsea, plus the 54-year-old can also point to fantastic successes over the course of many years with European heavyweights such as Juventus, Milan and PSG prior to a dream move to the Spanish capital.

Whether he'd be willing to give up his long-awaited opportunity to coach the Madrid giants is debatable; after all, he sacrificed a planned continuation of his involvement with a wonderful project in Paris to grab the Bernabeu reins in the first place.

It's likely the only way United could prise him away from Spain is with the open encouragement and blessing of Real Madrid, as opposed to Ancelotti forcing the issue.

Major honours

League titles: 3 (1 Milan; 1 Chelsea; 1 PSG)

Domestic Cups: 3 (1 Milan; 1 Chelsea; 1 Real Madrid)

Champions' League: 2 (Milan)

Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)

Many experts suggested the Portuguese was the only man who could've comfortably filled the shoes of outgoing manager Ferguson when the job was up for grabs the last time around and certainly the role was of huge interest to the controversial tactician before his agreement to make a much-heralded return to old stomping ground Stamford Bridge last summer.

A trophy-laden managerial career thus far puts the former Porto man on a pedestal with some, but he remains a truly divisive figure. Past comments have given rise to furious speculation surrounding Mourinho's apparent desire to take on the challenge of restoring Manchester United to the top of the Premier League tree where they resided for so long under the fiery Scot who presided over nearly 27 years of unparalleled success, but it will be tricky for the self-confident Mourinho to accept the post now that he's ensconced back at the Chelsea helm.

In saying that, it would be typical of 'The Special One' to instigate a sensational U-turn on his claims of being exactly 'where he wants to be' with his beloved Blues by moving across to Manchester. He doesn't care what anybody thinks of him, or about the various repercussions that may occur from such a decision in terms of the reaction from both Chelsea and United fans, because it's all about Jose at the end of the day!

The United hierarchy declined the possibility of appointing the 51-year-old when Fergie confirmed his departure, due to his extensive baggage and unsavoury mind games which often attracts such bad publicity upon the club he represents. However, he has won everything available in club football repeatedly and that impressive roll of honour could prove tempting to any potential suitor.

It's doubtful that anyone with a say in the matter will have altered their opinion on the subject of Mourinho, though.

Major honours

League titles: 7 (2 Porto; 2 Chelsea; 2 Inter; 1 Real Madrid)

Domestic Cups: 4 (1 Porto; 1 Chelsea; 1 Inter; 1 Real Madrid)

Champions' League: 2 (1 Porto; 1 Inter)

UEFA Cup/Europa League: 1 (Porto)

Laurent Blanc (Paris Saint-Germain)

Frenchman Blanc is on the verge of sealing Le Championat in his first campaign with big-spending Paris Saint-Germain, following a slightly disappointing two-year spell in charge of the national team.

He found success in his first head coaching role with Bordeaux, as they lifted both the Coupe de la League and the French championship under his tutelage. Despite a bruising encounter with international football, where his high-point was reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2012, former defender Blanc is back at the pinnacle of Ligue 1 with the ambitious PSG.

At 48, he would seem to be the perfect age to take on the major rebuilding work required at one of the world's most glamorous clubs and he would also command a great deal of respect from the fans immediately thanks to a 75-game stint with the Red Devils during his playing days.

Blanc understands the club and it's traditions intimately, which could hand him a significant advantage in the race for the post should he possess any interest in returning to Old Trafford.

Major honours

League titles: 1 (Bordeaux) - plus another imminent with PSG

Domestic Cups: 2 (1 League Cup Bordeaux; 1 League Cup PSG)

Selected betting odds on United's next permanent manager: Louis van Gaal 4/6; Carlo Ancelotti 13/2; Jose Mourinho 8/1; Jurgen Klopp 16/1; Ryan Giggs 22/1; Antonio Conte 28/1; Diego Simeone 33/1; Frank De Boer 33/1; Laurent Blanc 33/1; Pep Guardiola 40/1; Steve Bruce 66/1.

Follow me on Twitter: @davewh1980

Champions' League club focus: Bayern Munich

By David Lee Wheatley

Most observers' idea of a dream final got pulled out of the hat at the semi-final stage when reigning European champions Bayern Munich were paired with the 'Galacticos' of Real Madrid.

The tasty tie will see former Barça hero Pep Guardiola come up against his nemesis Real in a mouthwatering 'Clash of the Titans', which will undoubtedly produce the bookmakers' favourites to claim this year's title.

Bayern defended their domestic crown in style by winning the Bundesliga at a canter; they remained unbeaten until a surprise loss to Augsburg on April 5th, which was followed up a week later by a 0-3 thrashing at the hands of great rivals Borussia Dortmund. However, it must be stressed that top spot had been sealed long before those twin setbacks - after a record 27 games in fact - and perhaps their collective attention has wandered towards the task of holding on to the biggest prize in European football.

They've displayed some apparent frailties in Champions' League action this term with a disappointing loss during the group stages to Manchester City and a rather uninspiring first-leg draw at Old Trafford before disposing of Premier Lesgue strugglers Manchester United in their second meeting.

Exalted head coach Guardiola is seeking to infuse his own pass-and-move style of football with Bayern's more traditional game built on their superior power and strength. It's still very much a work in progress, but the class of footballer that the Catalan can call upon offers the German giants a distinct possibility of reaching the final for the fourth time in five seasons.

Manuel Neuer has missed two successive games through injury, but should be fit to start Wednesday's first encounter at the Bernebeu. He is far and away Guardiola's number one and the club will move hell and high water in order to get him fit to start the match in Madrid. Captain Lahm has largely featured in a new midfield role handed to him by the imaginative Pep, but has since retreated to a more recognisable position of full-back recently. Jerome Boateng, Dante and David Alaba are the regular three alongside the man who eventually gets the nod at right-back, be it Lahm or Rafinha.

There are two prominent formations regularly utilised by the former Spain international, either 4-1-4-1 with Lahm as the holding player or 4-2-3-1. Guardiola's Barcelona side loved to create through the middle, with Messi the main focus of attack when floating around an area between midfield and attack. They attempted to pass opposition teams into submission, while pressing the ball when out of possession on the basis of a seven-second rule which was intrinsically understood and carried out with incisive precision.

It's vastly different at Bayern, due mainly to their over-reliance on the silky skills of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. Though they possess myriad talented footballers in the middle of the park, it's when they deliver the ball to their dashing wingers that defenders become most concerned. Meanwhile, the increased anticipation of an expectant Bavarian crowd is palpable when those two speed demons drive into the final third of the pitch.

Assuming the Germans go for a 4-2-3-1 line-up in the Spanish capital, plus Lahm does indeed settle into the right-hand side of defence, then the two screening midfielders will probably be Javi Martinez and the inspirational Bastian Schweinsteiger. In front of them, Dutchman Robben will take up residence on the right with French playmaker Ribery implanted to the left of a lone striker. Toni Kroos is then likely to pull the strings from the centre of the pack behind feared forward Mario Mandzukic, who should lead the line in his usual bustling style.

Numerous alternative options from deeper within an extremely strong squad include Mario Gotze, Thiago Alcantara, Rafinha, Thomas Muller, Claudio Pizarro, Holger Badstuber, Diego Contento and Daniel Van Buyten. The guy who'll feel most harshly treated will be the versatile Muller should he get forced to take up a watching brief from the bench and it may be that he actually sneaks into the starting XI ahead of Kroos or Mandzukic.

Although they have gone off the boil somewhat in domestic circles recently, there's no doubting the capability of Bayern's all-star side to pull off a famous victory. Additionally, Guardiola knows his Madrid foes inside-out thanks to a glittering spell in charge of his beloved Barcelona and that understanding of his opponents should stand him in good stead heading into this extremely tough two-legged tie.

Despite sluggish performances against the likes of Manchester United, Augsburg and Dortmund throughout recent weeks, it's still difficult to see beyond Bayern for the trophy once again this season.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Gazza Mania! - #BlogToLisbon campaign by www.camporetro.com

My entry for the #BlogToLisbon campaign by www.camporetro.com

 

By David Lee Wheatley

It was a balmy late-August evening when north London club Tottenham Hotspur visited for the opening home fixture of Sunderland's 1990-91 Division One campaign and it was sure to be a huge test of the Rokerites' ability to cope in the top-flight following an incredibly fortunate promotion.

Swindon Town triumphed over Sunderland at Wembley in the May play-off final thanks to a Gary Bennett own goal, which apparantly condemned the north-east club to another year battling to reach the promised land. However, The Robins were found to have made illegal payments to players over a four-year period, which breached several Football League regulations along the way. The alloted punishment was to have their advancement to the First Division annulled in favour of losing finalists Sunderland taking their spot instead.

Denis Smith's men were suddenly on an incredible high due to their unexpected reprieve following the awful setback they'd suffered at Wembley. The team were determined to make the most of their good fortune and they couldn't have chosen a better way to welcome top-flight football back to Roker Park than to take on glamorous foes Spurs, complete with two superstars fresh from competing in a World Cup that had England fans everywhere dreaming of lifting the golden trophy for the first time since 1966.

I was stood in the Roker End that day as an excited ten-year-old, just to the right of the goal in a corner compartment that was filling up to maximum capacity in anticipation of kick-off. The floodlights shone down on an immaculate playing surface and the atmosphere inside was absolutely electric. My cousin and I were taken to the match by my father and we always got there early before most supporters had arrived; that decision positioned us right at the front behind large yellow metal fencing, which I could barely see over!

As kick-off approached, it became apparent our part of the ground was becoming dangerously full with no sign of any let-up in the increasing amount of fans making their way into that corner. I actually heard at one stage to my utter horror a steward exclaiming, "we can get another thousand in here!". At that point, I was being pushed into the fence by a large group of grown men who'd made their way into the area surrounding us and it was quickly developing into a terribly worrying situation!

Remember, this was before all-seater stadia had been introduced and a young lad of my age at the time didn't stand a chance of keeping his footing when getting crushed against the metal fencing. Eventually, the side of my face was jammed up against the yellow bars ahead of me and a split-second decision by some of the stewards in attendance meant that all of the children at the front were lifted out to safety and led away from the scene. Unbelievably for us, we were all lined up immediately behind the advertising hoardings in a prime location extremely close to the pitch just in time to witness the two sets of players making their way on to the field.

Rapturous applause rang out around a packed Roker Park to herald the arrival of the teams with Spurs resplendent in their yellow and black away strip, as the likes of Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne ran around doing warm-up stretches in preparation for the start of the game. Indeed, during one particular stretch down to touch his toes, the Geordie joker purposefully pointed his backside in the direction of the Main Stand when reacting to the dog's abuse being hurled in his direction from the terraces! Gazza's countrywide popularity had reached fever pitch due to his wonderful performances at Italia '90 and, of course, those infamous tears he shed in the semi-final against West Germany. He'd literally become the most adored footballer on the planet almost overnight, yet the Sunderland fans still hadn't forgotten his allegiance to Newcastle United!

His slightly chubby appearance was unmercifically prayed upon by the red-and-white army when a shower of Mars Bars hailed down on the Gateshead-born midfielder. In true Gazza style, he picked up the nearest chocolate bar, took a big bite and threw it behind the goal where our group were sat. The boy to my right, whom I wasn't familiar with, quickly snatched the half-eaten Mars Bar before wrapping it up and putting it in his pocket for safe-keeping. What a souvenir to take home; completely congealed most likely by the time he got back in the house from the warmth of the coat pocket on a sticky summer's night!

The anxious rush to grab that sought-after item of Mars memorabilia serves to perfectly illustrate the hysteria surrounding Gascoigne during that era; everybody wanted a piece of him, even his left-over food! He'd been the stand-out performer at the World Cup and his fame had peaked at the sort of level usually reserved for movie or rock stars. Nobody had captured the imagination of the English public in quite the same way as Gazza had achieved and to have both he and Lineker in direct competition with our hometown club - when we initially believed just a few months prior that we'd be watching Division Two football all over again - was an awesome sight to behold.

Even though the match ended in a 0-0 draw, it was a fabulous experience to be sat practically on the byline watching proceedings unfold and to witness those two international heroes in action. The 30,000 crowd were treated to a decent contest, but with very few goalscoring opportunities to speak of. I do, however, recall a Gary Lineker strike from about 20 yards flying towards my little face at a rate of knots before I took swift evasive action in order to avoid getting a burst nose or black eye to round off my eventful evening!

That early mark within the infancy of a brand new season held boundless hopes and dreams for both clubs and their dedicated followers, but it all ended in great disappointment league-wise. Terry Venables' side were third in the league after 17 matches, but fell away alarmingly to finish tenth while local arch-rivals Arsenal claimed the title. However, they tempered that feeling of failure by claiming the FA Cup when defeating Nottingham Forest in the final, albeit with the devastating loss of Gascoigne to serious injury. Meanwhile, Sunderland's Division One odyssey lasted only a solitary term, as they were relegated in 19th place alongside bottom club Derby County.

Despite the profound sadness related to relegation, I shall always fondly remember the day World Cup wonders Gazza and Gary Lineker came to town!

Follow me on Twitter: @davewh1980

 

In conjunction with @camporetro for their #BlogToLisbon competition

Champions' League club focus: Real Madrid

By David Lee Wheatley

Spanish giants Real Madrid were granted a free weekend in preparation for their Champions' League clash against Bayern Munich, with the first leg on Wednesday at the Bernebeu. Well rested and ready to go, can they halt Bayern's charge towards a second successive Champions' League trophy?

Carlo Ancelotti's men bounced another two German clubs out of the competition in the shape of Borussia Dortmund and near neighbours Schalke within the knockout stages so far, but struggled to sweep Dortmund aside ultimately despite a comfortable 3-0 victory in the quarter-final first leg. Real Madrid travelled to the industrial heartland of Germany apparantly in total control of the tie, yet lost 0-2 on the evening and were hanging on by the end.

Bundesliga champions already with matches to spare, Bayern Munich represent a significant step up in class from Real's previous German opponents and will provide their sternest test yet in this year's competition. They put English pair Arsenal and Manchester United to the sword prior to being paired with the Madrid behemoth and will feel confident of progressing to the final in order to have the opportunity to defend their title.

Highly decorated former Juventus, Milan, Chelsea and PSG supremo Ancelotti has tactical options open to him, with his squad equally adept at operating a free-flowing 4-3-3 formation or a more conservative 4-2-3-1 set-up. A lot will depend on Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness in terms of team selection, as the Portuguese star is struggling to make the opening meeting with Bayern due to a hamstring injury that saw him miss his side's midweek Copa del Rey triumph over arch-rivals Barcelona.

With the onus on Real to force the issue at home during the first leg of the contest, it's likely they will select an attacking 4-3-3 line-up with Bale and Isco sitting either side of main striker Karim Benzema in the expected absence of Ronaldo. Bale has been in tremendous form of late and his remarkable winning strike with minutes left in Valencia to claim the King's Cup firmly established him as a true Galactico.

The midfield will consist of the outstanding Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria, who's ability to get down the wing and get accurate crosses into the box will be key to Real's success on the evening. Then, a back-four made up of Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe and probably Coentrao will sit ahead of regular goalkeeper Diego Lopez; Copa hero and former Real captain Iker Casillas is unlikely to maintain his position between the sticks despite his involvement in Wednesday's victory.

Should Cristiano Ronaldo become available, it'd push the youthful Isco out of the starting eleven. However, it's doubtful that Ancelotti will be able to call upon his 45-goal genius and that would be a shattering blow to the Italian's hopes of guiding his team to a solid first-leg lead. He requires all of his big guns in place from the start of this two-legged tie, otherwise it's quite conceivable that Real will need to pull off an unlikely win in Munich if they wish to make the final in Lisbon.

Doubts surround Los Blancos' stomach for the fight following their surrender in the north-west Ruhr region of Germany, which almost cost them their spot in the final four of this season's Champions' League. However, on their day they are a truly fantastic side and if they manage to get Ronaldo back in the mix and firing on all cylinders, the lifting of their first European Cup since 2002 could be within their grasp.

Twitter: @davewh1980