Thursday 30 October 2008

Last Chance Jeffers


Francis Jeffers’ career has been spiralling downhill ever since it began. The once prodigious £9 million man finds himself battling constant fitness issues to make the bench for Sheffield Wednesday. Perhaps now it is last chance to save a career that promised so much potential.
Jeffers’ has never reached his ‘fox in the box’ status after bursting onto the scene with his boyhood club Everton. Scoring an impressive 18 goals in 49 appearances over a three-year spell saw Arsene Wenger take a keen interest in him and he was subsequently sold.
At Arsenal, he was limited to 22 appearances whilst scoring a mere four goals. He later had infamous spells with Charlton Athletic, Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, and Ipswich Town before settling down with the Owls.
He joined Sheffield Wednesday for £700,000 last summer and in that time he has only played 12 games and scoring two goals as numerous injuries has hampered him making any real contribution.
Jeffers was brought to replace fans favourite Steve MacLean as he moved on to Cardiff City before moving south to join Plymouth Argyle.
The current number 9 has been submitted too much criticism resulting from his bad form and lack of goals. Wednesday fans believing Jeffers lacks commitment and has no urge to regain a starting place.
His return to action this season resulted in a 25-minute cameo substitute appearance in a 6-0 defeat to Reading, hardly making any significant impact before making a ten-minute appearance against former club Ipswich Town.
For the England under 21’s side, he scored 13 goals in 16 games, equalling Alan Shearer’s record, making him hugely popular in the England scene. Later making his one and only appearance for England against Australia where he scored the only goal in the 3-1 defeat. A night fondly remembered for Sven Goran Eriksson making 11 changes at half time, and the introduction of a certain Wayne Rooney’s international career.
He never had a chance again as Wenger lost faith in his ability, he was quickly ushered out, and this damaged his reputation and more importantly his confidence.
Injury has played a huge role in his mentality and with a run of successive games, his confidence may build up and the Wednesday fans may see some glimpses of that ‘fox in the box’ potential.
His approach play is still there and you cannot lose the talent to score goals overnight therefore, he must have something. He can score goals and can make a name for himself in the Championship but he needs to be mentality and physically in a good shape to be a success.
Brian Laws has reinstated his frustration that Jeffers is not match fit and the fact that he will not be for a while. Surely, it is up to Jeffers to make sure his career does not look a big embarrassment and be remembered as an expensive flop.

Wednesday 29 October 2008

Championship Signing of the Season So Far


The signing so far in a much exhilarating Championship season must be Cardiff City’s Ross McCormack. Having initially arrived from Motherwell on a free transfer, the clubs soon agreed £120,000 in a compensation fee, McCormack has banged 10 league goals in 14 appearances so far this term.
The 22 year old has been out doing players of calibre of Reading’s Kevin Doyle, Wolverhampton’s Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, and Sheffield United’s James Beattie as he is leading the way for the much-anticipated contest of top goal scorer.
After the recent 2-0 win over Blackpool, Cardiff surpass Reading into third spot and have set the bar as early season promotion contenders.
McCormack has been essential in Cardiff’s form, as the team have lost only one game this season, a 2-1 defeat to fellow promotion candidates Birmingham City.
Having scored vital winners in the games against Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, and Charlton Athletic, he has enabled Cardiff to pick up some good wins as they try to better their FA Cup final appearance last year and clinch promotion.
The Scotland Cap was touted to join Premiership side Wigan Athletic in January, and was linked with a move to Middlesbrough this summer. When there was no one who made firm contact, Dave Jones pounced and soon started raking in the benefits.
On his arrival, McCormack stated that one of the main reasons why he join the Bluebirds was the presence of his boyhood idol Robbie Fowler, only for the ex-Liverpool cult hero to leave for a desperate last crack in the Premiership with Blackburn Rovers.
This had been seen as a problem but recently McCormack has been the spearhead of an exciting partnership with Jay Bothroyd as they have scored a combined 13 goals in 14 league appearances.
The Scotsman began his career at Glasgow Rangers, only playing 11 games and scoring two in a three-year spell before he joined Motherwell after a brief spell on loan at Doncaster Rovers.
He famously scored an equalising goal for Rangers in the game against FC Porto in the 2005-06 Champions League season but was not seen as a regular.
He was not the most prolific north of the border, as scoring only 12 goals in 44 appearances for Motherwell in the two years seems a relatively poor investment. He has had no problem with adapting to the Championship needs.
Carrying on this form, he will soon be targeted by a host of Premiership clubs or often as it appears a move back to Rangers.

Tuesday 28 October 2008

Xabi to the Rescue


Liverpool smacked down their challenge for the title as they halted Chelsea’s superior home record of 86 games not out with a glorified 1-0 win.
Xabi Alonso’s deflected goal was the difference between the teams but it did not say enough about his nor the team’s performance.
Stamford Bridge had become a fortress and, excuse the pun, the Bridge has now fallen as Liverpool may have sent shock waves throughout the Premiership. It may help teams grasp to head to Chelsea thinking that they have a chance of achieving a result.
To his credit Rafael Benitez have got his tactics spot on this season (par the Stoke City game) and he looks as if he has learnt that Liverpool need to keep the same steady spine to maintain the early season form.
I do find it ironic that the man Benitez wanted to get rid off was the man who has been consistently performing well this season. Xabi Alonso was heading out with the rest of the Anfield exodus, before Martin O’Neill ruthlessly stopped Gareth Barry joining the Red half of Merseyside.
The ex-Real Soceidad midfielder has stated that he had no intentions to leave Anfield and he wanted to say, too much delight of the Kop faithful. He may have been plying his trade for Juventus or even Arsenal but, in the end, Benitez must have been pleased to keep hold of the Spaniard as his commitment as shown through.
It was a considerable amount of money. Alonso is a very talented passer and with Javier Mascherano and Captain Steven Gerrard alongside him in midfield, Liverpool may have one of the most accomplished midfields in the world.
His ability to link play together helps Gerrard to express himself offensively as Mascherano carries out the necessary donkeywork to ensure that The Reds are not hit on the counter attack.
Alonso can hold back and pick up the ball from Jamie Carragher and bring the full backs into play. His ‘Hollywood’ passes are, on occasions, breath taking and this is one thing that he is possibly the best in the world in doing. Changing defence into attack with one swift pass is a forte in his play and his is very rarely left wondering or out of position.
With Fernando Torres’s pace, he must love playing with his fellow compatriot.
Alonso is often known in scoring fantastic goals as those fans that saw the half way line strikes against Luton Town and Newcastle United will tell you.
With Benitez missing out on an overpriced Barry, Liverpool may have found a rejuvenated world-class midfielder who has been reluctant to wholly express himself. Now he has to perform week in and week out to make sure he will not be heading out the door.
Whilst Liverpool try to maintain their spectacular early season form, Alonso may be a hairpin to their success.

Thursday 23 October 2008

Seve Recovery


It is very distressing to hear that the golfing legend that is Seve Ballesteros will have to tolerate another operation to conquer the nuisance of the brain tumour that has been perceptible recently.
His third operation will see a chance for surgeons to reduce brain swelling as he bids for a steady and speedy recovery. He remains in a serious but stable condition.
The statement from the hospital read that they will try to ‘remove the remains of the tumour’ and hopefully that will be the end of any complications.
Spain’ s Ballesteros famously won 87 titles in his illustrious playing career, including five majors as he was part of the European ‘Golden generation’ that infected the world of golf during the eighties.
In 2007, he retired and lay to rest a prestigious career that saw him be an important figure in the hearts of so many golfers.
He will always be fondly remembered, especially for his leading role in captaining the European team to a breakthrough victory over the US team in 1997 in his homeland at Valderrama.
Legendary golfers have been paying tributes and wishes to wish him back to health.
Four-time European captain Tony Jacklin reinstated that Ballesteros was ‘unique and a one-off’.
Fellow Spaniards Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez have constantly wished their idol a speedy recovery and his impact on golfing tradition.
Ballesteros launched the Seve Trophy in 2000, which complimented the Ryder Cup style into domestic Europe as the match is profoundly between teams from Great Britain and Continental Europe.
The Spaniard announced himself on the circuit in 1976 as he finished second in The Open Championship, he was only a mere 19 years of age, and he has never looked back.
The former Number 1 will not be without support and sympathy as the world of golf holds it breath and hope he makes a full, well-endured recovery.

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Chris Wood looks to Clarke


Chris Woods inevitable decision to turn pro has taken a new turn as Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke has taken a deep underlying personal interest in the Bristol whizz kid.
The 21 year old finished an astonishing fifth in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and he seems to be the latest crop of European youngsters to grace the game in recent time.
Many similarities have been apparent with Justin Rose. Rose has taken around nine years to establish himself amongst the highest elite of golf after famously finishing fourth in the Open as an amateur and with Woods, finishing fifth, ten years later; he would be hoping that he could emulate the success Rose has endured throughout his career.
Rose began well in the European Tour before taking the plunge into the US Tour as his form suffered considerably. Rose, now aged 28, has redeveloped his understanding and his own game to push on as a professional golfer and now he looks an accomplished player, still far from the finished article.
Woods career has began well as he managed to finish in another top ten position at the Portuguese Masters and slowly starts to strengthen his credibility amongst his peers.
Clarke will be able to give pointers on how to handle pressure and how to play consistently well, especially on the difficult courses. The veteran is still popular throughout the golfing circuit and Woods sheer awareness on getting the Irishman on side gives clear indication that his head is where it has to be.
It is important that Woods now has a figurehead to look up to and the mere fact that he is willing to learn is a sign of a true sportsman. His own arrogance is not affecting his own development as he keeps his feet firmly on the ground.
Currently, Woods has to go through the motion that any newly turned professional has to do, as his ambition now is to achieve his European Tour Card for 2009 and battle with the elite.

Tuesday 21 October 2008

Tottenham, Tottenham, How Could It Be?


Many things have mystified me this season. How can Ibrahima Sonko be regarded as a decent Premiership footballer? Hull strangely making a mockery of the early honeymoon period in the top division and why Newcastle are still regarded as a football team.
None of these has come close to Tottenham Hotspurs awful empathy to grasp any solidarity to get their team firing on all cylinders and staring Championship football straight in the face if results do not improve.
The somewhat woeful performance against Stoke City actually looked to be one of their best performance this season. Their back four looked like a respectable back four, compared to other matches even after Gareth Bale received his marching orders.
Johnny Woodgate looked commanding and possibly, he is capturing some of that form that made Real Madrid pay £12 million for him. He is probably the one main player they need to be performing now as he is the hairpin and if he is off form the team will suffer.
Tottenham, surprisingly, has not conceded more than two goals in a game, so it is evident the problem is at the other end.
Darren Bent is a fine striker but he literally needs a chance on a plate to score, I am not sure how he managed to score so many goals for Charlton in their relegation season.
With the recent departure of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, Tottenham have lost all credibility up front and the opposition are not scared of the current crop of strikers. Keane and Berbatov had this understanding and they looked the accomplished partnership that managed to get Tottenham playing good and free scoring football until it ruthlessly got ripped apart when two of the four cae knocking.
Keane always wanted to join his boyhood team Liverpool but Berbatov simply went too late and damaged the squad intensely.
Jaunde Ramos is obviously under severe pressure and the tabloids will be ready to hunt him down. Although I am not completely sure whether it is fully his fault or not, I am not convinced he received the players he desperately wanted.
Roman Pavlyuchenko was a great signing, as he is the mould of a young Teddy Sheringham. Many similarities can be matched but he would have needed a season to adapt to the Premier League culture of rough necks and spirited tackles.
Luka Modric always looks a yard of the pace and he has not had any influence in any game I have seen. He is a good little engine but it is disappointing that he has been reluctant to produce his magic that overcome England before Euro 2006.
In addition, the signing of David Bentley added to the wealth of young British talent Martin Jol began and what seems to be being ripped apart by Damien Comolli. But yet again, he has failed to find his feet and stamp his authority on any game.
Heurelho Gomes seems to be the uglier version of Paul Robinson and does not seem a worthwhile signing as of yet.
Getting Ledley King fully fit is still a primary aim for Tottenham as his partnership with Woodgate should be seen as fundamental instead of seeing whether it can happen. Alan Hutton and Gareth Bale need to go either side, as Vedran Corluka seems to be an expensive luxury.
Some of the problem is the organisation in midfield as they have so many decent players it is hard to gel them all together and find the perfect patterns of play to find successful. Jermaine Jenas needs to play, as he is one player that will cover every blade of grass. With Jenas in the team it would be difficult to accommodate Modric as Tottenham do not have the ‘Berbatov’, the ‘Torres’ , the ‘Drogba’ to play up front by themselves. Therefore, Bent and Pavlyuchenko has play and start every game to provide any real threat and that will lose them an influential midfielder.
Aaron Lennon has been the bright star in a piss poor patch as he has finally found affection for the graft of playing once again and looks a general threat against teams. He must be a dead cert on that left wing.
Tottenham are short of that quality holding midfielder and found that position is a difficult part to fill since Michael Carrick left for Manchester United. Didier Zokara is not good enough and Tom Huddlestone has not quite yet lived up to his promise.
Tottenham has such a good team and it is hard to see why they are suffering so much. Two points out of a possible 24 does not make good reading but they will pull themselves out and make a top ten finish. They may have the financial muscle for next season to buy that world-class striker and world class holding midfielder they desperately need.

Monday 20 October 2008

Leaving Reading is No Good


I was flicking back, reminiscing about our championship year, and looking at those that has left us and feel none of them has made major strides into the progress of their own ‘supposed’ prodigious careers.
Dave Kitson, Nicky Shorey, Steve Sidwell, Glen Little, John Oster, Jon Halls, Ibrahima Sonko, Chris Makin and Graham Stack were somewhat major players in our memorable championship winning season and has time progressed I do not feel that any of these has stretched and made big inroad for their careers.
Dave Kitson transferred to Stoke City this summer as we managed to receive a huge fee for an aging striker. Moving for £5.5 million after leaving us with scoring 54 league goals in 135 appearances is very impressive but his general all round play would be sorely missed. At Stoke, they like to use his height and ability to hold up the ball; unfortunately, he has not scored nor made the sufficient impact that his £5.5 million tag required. He is often taken off for Ricardo Fuller as his effectiveness has dropped sufficiently. If he had stayed, he would be on at least ten goals and be playing full of confidence. Maybe the shrewd Steve Coppell saw what was going on and managed to get rid of him when he had the chance. He is a confidence player and he does need to be scoring goals to be playing well, we all remember the fantastic strikes for us, a hat trick against Gillingham, West Ham, and Brighton. A memorable winner against Newcastle ruining Michael Owen’s return was a yet another amazing win in a truly remarkable season.
I must admit I am a bit smug seeing Kitson not doing as well as he should, as I would have loved him in a Reading shirt still. He may even been regretting the decision as he has already confessed that he hates travelling up north already and it has only been a matter months, we forget he cannot drive at the moment.
Then we arrive at his fellow teammate and the new profoundly named ‘donkey’ Ibrahima Sonko. The Championship season he was amazing, without question then it went sharply down hill when he was injured in our Premiership 3-1 win against Sheffield United. The cries of ‘Sonko is Superman’ were hugely popular and were promptly needed. It almost became as a 1970’s deprived excuse for fashion as some smart arse decided to print those t-shirts that went around the fans quicker than the plague.
His two goals against Plymouth this season gave some indication that his presences maybe needed but after seeing his shambolic performance against a woeful Charlton team, it was obvious that he was not needed. At Stoke, he is achieving minimal success and as Tony Pulis likes his big men, Sonko adds to that representation. He may be in the Premiership but he is no way a Premiership player. Many lessons have been learnt and he was exploited too easily and that will come apparent again as the season draws on.
Glen Little has annoyed me severely since his tail between the legs ‘Bosman’ transfer to Portsmouth. He left a deep cold bitter taste in my explicit mouth as the club looked after him for a year out injured and he packed his packs, got up, and left to play reserve team football. Can I add that those players who play reserve team football are those considered not good enough for the actual first team squad or those who are too young to break into that squad?
As Portsmouth suffers an uncertain start to their prevailing European season, Little does not appear regularly nor even mentioned amongst the Pompey faithful. He was always the one player that sent the crowd into a wave of mad impulses as his 14 assists (highest in the league 05/06) and five goals contributed massively to our 106 points and 99 goals season. The first Premiership season he sent many of the world’s best left backs into remission and leaving for Portsmouth has done him no favours at all. Jimmy Kebe has fortunately stepped up and been performing beautifully this current season, and that is down to Little departing. We were all exciting for Little to return at the end of last season and motions through the press even classed him as a saviour. There was a brief 25-minute cameo against our defeat to Fulham and that proved to be uninspired. Being 33 years of age, surely he would have wanted to be playing first team football but hey, ‘Blakey’ may be on the buses sooner rather than later as a loan spell beckons.
Arguably, our best player, Nicky Shorey, departed for Aston Villa and has struggled to hold down a first team place even with their normal left back Wilfred Bouma out injured. Under Coppell’s guidance, he managed to achieve two England caps against Brazil and Germany, impressive I must say. You have not even heard his name in reckoning for any of the current England squad as Fabio Capello has overlooked Shorey and preferred Wayne Bridge who’s keeping the Chelsea bench warm. Fair enough, Storey is playing European football and gaining a fatter pay packet but technically, he has gotten worse.
Villa are not using his ability for set pieces and as Shorey is a not a run-of-the-mill attacking full back he needs to be involved with the passing aspect of any counter attack and that is not Villa’s style. A team full of pace and energy, Shorey do not fill the huge criteria that is needed of him. You can tell at the end of last season his head was not for Reading and that extremely woeful performance against Tottenham sealed his faint.
Steve Sidwell has left us over a year ago and all he has achieved is to earn a huge pay packet from the comfortable place of Chelsea’s reserves. His move to Aston Villa, along with Shorey, seemed to be a blessing until injuries have set him back ridiculously. The thing that ponders my mind is that will he be able to get into the team as Nigel Reo-Coker, Stilian Petrov, and Gareth Barry have their places pretty much secured. I will see it difficult for him to break into that team. He was the player full of Reading’s desire and it pains me to see him suffering on the fringes of the squad. Even for Sidwell, a call up for the England squad beckoned but now he would have no chance. He needs to be playing decent first team football, just think that James Milner has only been a fringe player for Villa so far and has not justified his massive transfer fee. I hope Sidwell do make it as he was one of my favourites.
John Oster is embarrassingly playing for Crystal Palace and hopelessly contributed to their dire start to the season.
Chris Makin left straight after our promotion season and spent two years wasting away in the Southampton reserves.
John Halls has now dropped to League Two and playing his trade for Brentford after spending most of his Reading career on loan to other Championship clubs.
Graham Stack is now covering goal for Plymouth Argyle as he took over from jail bound Luke McCormick as the number one spot, again after spending numerous amounts of time on loan to other Championship clubs.
Other remaining squad members from our championship winning season has not been doing particularly well as Darren Campbell plays for Fleet Town, Jonathan Hayes went to Leicester City but now makes cameo appearances for lesser League One clubs. Dean Morgan is on loan at Leyton Orient from Luton Town, Jamie Young still remains a reserve figure at Wycombe Wanderers, Johnny Mullins went to Mansfield before moving on to Stockport County, and Curtis Osano is now plying his trade for Rushden and Diamonds.
Simieon Howell and Peter Castle have giving up on playing professional football altogether it seems.
It just shows you that leaving Reading Football Club does not do your career any wonders. What player is the present has achieved better motions than they did playing for Reading?
The only one I can think of is Matthew Upson and he joined us only on loan.
Therefore, Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, and James Harper it is never a good omen leaving Reading, as no one has ever seemed to fulfil their ‘so-called’ massive potential.

Monday 6 October 2008

Owen will Return


Fabio Capello has sent Michael Owen into the international scrap heap once again. It has come apparent that he does not think much of his excellent ability.
Even though, it seemed, that he looked set to break Bobby Charlton’s all time record of 49 goals it looks like he will miss out on such a precious feat.
Only be 28 years of age, his time is not completely up but remembering the international careers of strikers Andy Cole, Chris Sutton, Matt Le Tissier and Ian Wright it may seem likely his time may actually be up.
What a pity that is for the whole England set up including club and country. Capello must like the fact he has scored five goals in six starts, but choose to forget for the sake of the team which is very honourable and brave of him.
Against Croatia he managed to get away with it, plus the upcoming games against Kazakhstan and Belarus he will probably get away with it too as the only good player they have between them is Alexander Hleb and he is only a glorified Joe Cole at best.
I just believe this omission has made Owen finally realise he has to get away from Newcastle and fast. Liverpool and Everton would be good bets, and I am sure he would not go a miss at any of the Midland clubs, nor any London. Just stay clear of Tottenham, even though they still get plenty of players in the England squad.
He must drop his wages and accept that he has to work even harder than he has to stake a claim in the current England set up.
I would personally love him back at Liverpool and regain that number ten shirt. Fernando Torres, Robbie Keane, Dirk Kuyt and Owen imagine that. Although his epic return would not be as romantic as Robbie Fowler’s, I am sure Rafael Benitez would not skip the chance to sign a world class striker on the cheap. Well knowing Benitez he may.
He may not have his electrifying pace he once scared defenders back to the dark ages, but he has intelligent play and can bring so many players into the game. He must be really difficult to mark and I personally would not want another England international on the end of cross to guarantee a goal. He still has that talent you never lose that.
Just think of Alan Shearer and Gary Linekar and how they had to adapt their game with advancing age. For now, Owen you will be missed but with out a doubt he will be back bigger and better.