Angel Michael, welcome back to the Premiership
Wednesday, 31 August 05, 12:53 AM · Comments (9)
Apart from the Essien saga, the only other big story of this transfer season is perhaps the return of Michael Owen to the Premiership. It’s been a somewhat curious affair though. While Michael was begging and pleading to be taken back by Liverpool, with everyone there seemingly very keen, Benitez, the Liverpool manager wouldn’t go back on his decision to dump him. I’ve always wondered why Michael ever contemplated returning to Liverpool under Benitez’s management when it was obvious that his original sale to Real Madrid wasn’t only a tactical decision.
Benitez likes to feel comfortable wherever he goes; he hates the idea of having players (especially local boys) taking the centre stage away from him. People may not realize this, but that was exactly the reason he massively imported Spaniards, offloaded Owen and actually wanted Gerrard to move on; but the latter’s last minute change of mind over the Chelsea move ruptured his plan. No one should believe his public yarn that he wants Gerrard to stay. He would have preferred taking the money and building a team around Xabi Alonso. So, it was a little dispiriting to watch Michael grovel in an attempt to return there. Thank God he’s made the right decision finally by joining Newcastle instead.
Despite the fact that he cannot dribble or make his own goals, I rate Michael Owen highly as a finisher. I wouldn’t have minded him joining Chelsea, but obviously our style of play has no room for his kind of striker. He cannot play the lone striker’s role up front and he doesn’t have the height to cause opponents concern in set-piece situations. But at Newcastle, playing off a Shearer or a Luque will be right up his alley and his acquisition may finally bring out the best in the very rich Newcastle midfield, if only injury will spare them. The signing of Parker and Emre particularly is a visionary move by Souness, but they’ll need others to pull their weight. If we really must be honest, Newcastle’s problem isn’t really that they do not have the players to take them higher; their problem is that not everyone is pulling their weight in that team.
The acquisition of Michael Owen should be the beginning of introspection in that team. The manager should take a hard look at himself and understand that he’s dealing with adults. A confrontational approach to management does not breed trust or respect; Souness will have to let go some of the anger he can barely hide at times. He’s got to build a team with other professionals who just happen to be players, not children.
Another pivotal character is Alan Shearer. I’ve never known a player so powerful in a club like Shearer. I don’t know what role he’s been playing in all the upheaval at Newcastle over the years, but it is clear from the sacking of Gullit and Robson and now this Owen negotiation that he’s more than a player there. Of course, in the eyes of Geordies he does no wrong, which really is a good thing if only he can use such love and confidence selflessly on behalf of the club he loves. I would expect him to dedicate the remaining one year of his playing career to ensure that the Newcastle dressing room is sorted and that everyone pulls in the same direction with the manager.
Most neutral fans want Newcastle to do well, but in my case, not at the expense of my beloved Chelsea. Angel Michael or not, I look forward to celebrating our six points from our two League encounters this season.
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HaHa,
"actually wanted Gerrard to move on; but the latter’s last minute change of mind over the Chelsea move ruptured his plan."
this is the funniest thing i've ever heard for a very long time though.
I was expecting to have some nice reading when i first saw the title, too bad, it was only loads of you-think-you-know-better stuff.
It is a Chelsik FC Blog anyway, so i guess i shouldn't expect that much.
i was sad when i heard that micheal did join newcastle b'coz i wish him that he will be our squad again. Being it's on God's will, i feel happy to see him coming in to priemer league.
Okay, St Mike; sorry for the mix-up.(wink)
Not sure I agree that Benitez was hoping to offload Gerrard. The Liverpool manager strikes me as the ultimate pragmatist, I'm sure he'd have built his team around Alonso if that was the option left to him. However dominant midfield players who can truly grab a game by the scruff of the neck are few and far between. Gerrard is definitely one (name another? Essien? Maybe. Mascherano? Again maybe) and it's no coincidence that Vieira and Keane played for teams who controlled the Premiership.
As for Owen, he is brilliant signing for Newcastle. Did you see his introduction to the fans at St James Park? Unbelievable, most teams don't get that many fans in for a proper game! My only regret is that Newcastle didn't get their team in place before they played Manchester United.
As for St Michael not going back to Liverpool, it strikes me as a financial decision. They wouldn't meet Madrid's asking price and I'm not sure Liverpool wanted two players on, or close to, £100k a week. I wonder how Owen feels about it all, if he'd stayed at Liverpool he'd have won the Champions League. With respect to Newcastle I'm not sure he'll ever fill that particular gap in his medal collection.
Wouldn't like to be Fulham (Newcastle's next home game) in two weeks time.
Nice to read a positive piece and comments on Owen on a blog dedicated to a rival club (though, of course, we can hardly consider ourselves to be your close rivals anymore...).
Naturally I'm delighted by the signing (still pinching myself), but I agree with Blingo Starr that a return to Liverpool was never seriously on the cards primarily for financial reasons. Owen was obviously keen on a move back to Anfield, but even if Benitez had felt the same way Real would never have accepted £8m from Liverpool when there was our £17m offer sat on the table.
Trend Favours Mourinho 02/09/2005 00:00:00
Football has always been susceptible to changing and developing tactics. Sometimes a player or style of play from a group of like minded individuals subtly changes the approach of fellow professionals, as coaches and teams will strive to replicate a successful method of play. At present however, I find myself wondering whether football is returning to the times of defensive minded attitudes.
No doubt, plenty of Chelsea supporters will probably be thinking; ‘here we go again, another article aimed at ridiculing Chelsea’. Well, my thoughts on this subject were alerted before Mourinho took his place in The Blues dugout for the first time. Although, it was the Portuguese Manager’s previous club Porto, who may have started the ball rolling when lifting The Champions League. It has to be said that was a great achievement as no one, apart from the most bias of Porto fans’, would have dared believe it possible. Nevertheless, built on a sound defence, Porto were able to lift the Trophy. Ok, it probably helped that three far more attack minded sides all fell in the quarter-finals, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Arsenal, but that was not the fault of Porto.
Following this was The European Championships, in which the applecart was once turned upside down by Greece. It was probably true that most of Europe did not begrudge these particular underdogs their moment of glory, but it has to be said that they did grind out their success on the back of keeping clean sheets, and a little luck. Now don’t get me wrong, I like a good 0-0 or 1-0 as much as the next purist, and fully appreciate that defending is an art and no less a skill than attacking. All I am pointing out is what appears to be a change in trend. Evidently and quite rightly, Chelsea was applauded for their wonderful season, but it I do think their defensive style has started to return football back to a time that has been forgotten for a while.
It has to be said that Arsenal relinquished their title due to defensive frailties, but then appeared to change their style somewhat, culminating in a rock solid performance to defeat Man Utd in The FA Cup Final. Yet another victory for defensive organisation over attacking flair. Over the initial few weeks of The Premiership, there is no way you could say there has been anything like a goal feast, as in my opinion teams look towards Chelsea’s success last term and try to follow suit. Glancing at the results of the first three weekends, they seemed more akin to Serie ‘A’ than The English Premiership.
It was in the mid nineties when Man Utd, through wonderful artists like Cantona, Giggs and Beckham truly raised the level of offensive play. Replication took place at Highbury with players such as Bergkamp, Overmars, Henry and Pires taking centre stage, as Arsenal fans were to be treated to a style of play that could only be dreamt of during the latter years of George Graham. At the moment comparisons between Jose Mourinho and the ex Arsenal, Leeds and Spurs Manager are probably more likely than they would be with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.
This is not to say that Chelsea don’t on occasions play some exhilarating football, but I don’t think their offensive players can at present be mentioned in the same sentence as those in the previous paragraph. The disappointing aspect to Chelsea is that with their seemingly unlimited funds, they aren’t able to be more adventurous in their play. I appreciate that it is not that they don’t bid for the top strikers, but I feel that Mourinho’s game plan does operate around frustrating the opposition and then getting the ball forward quickly, invariably in the air. I can’t really knock it too much as up to now it is clearly working, but didn’t Arsenal amongst other teams bore us all to death at times in the mid nineties. The only difference really being the money that wasn’t at other teams disposal in the past.
Nevertheless, on the money issue, I think that has been bludgeoned to death and is now becoming a rather laborious point. The facts are that Abramovich, and in a different guise Glazer are here, and this is something that the fans have to live with. But for Chelsea to be remembered alongside the Liverpool’s of the 70’s and 80’s, Man Utd of the 90’s, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and from yesteryear Brazil in 1970 and Holland in 1974, they will require a little more than they portray at present. Italy in 1982, were able to shake off their defensive label when required and were able to take the Trophy as a result.
When this season finishes The World Cup will shortly follow, and I for one will be looking forward with anticipation for the World’s attacking players to show us their full repertoire of skills. There is a feeling that England does have some chance of success, especially should Sven Goran Eriksson abandon his defensive approach when and if his team take the lead in a match. With the Tournament being in Europe, history will state that probable favourites Brazil may not necessarily take the spoils.This leaves a host of teams that will fancy their chances, and personally I hope that the more adventurous come to the fore which may reverse this defensive trend that we live in at present.
As I said at the outset, this is not meant as an article to ridicule Chelsea, as I am beginning to see some more cautious play from their immediate rivals, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. No doubt all four will have days this season when their superior ability comes to the fore as they annihilate certain opposition, but I do wonder just how far other clubs will go in trying to emulate Chelsea’s apparent rock solid rear guard.
I’m sure most neutral fans would not want a return to the early seventies when on days that Leeds, Liverpool and Arsenal went a goal in front, you may as well switch off the radio or television as you knew all three were more than likely to win. I am not advocating a return to recent times when just Arsenal and Man Utd were in direct competition, but I certainly do think that the time when these two were at the peak of their powers, the style of play and wonderful goals scored showed all the beautiful aspects to the game. If Chelsea is to be the games dominant force for a few seasons then I would rather their play is remembered as an enhancement to the game rather than detrimental.
Article taken from www.victorpredictor.com
9 Comments · Add yours
It's actually St Mike... I thankyou.
Yeah...i agree that Benitez really likes to be the centre of attention, I'm so glad our "special one" isn't like that. I mean the cheek of him, where does a manager get off in trying to instill his principles and style of play into a team.