The All-Time English Top Flight
April 27 2007
Things are hotting up in the Championship, as we head towards the conclusion of one of the tightest and most enthralling seasons in second flight history. No less than eleven clubs go into the final two weekends with a chance of promotion, either automatically or through the play-offs.
I for one am hoping that Sunderland and Derby County go up automatically, and that they are joined by either West Brom or Wolves. But this is no arbitrary assignation of allegiance.
Far from it, in fact, for I believe that there is a supreme state to which the English top-flight must strive to return, composed of the twenty clubs that have had the greatest impact over the competition’s 119-year history.
I have defined impact by seasons played, titles and other trophies won and average attendance figures. My All-Time English Top Flight is as follows:
1. Arsenal
2. Aston Villa
3. Blackburn Rovers
4. Bolton Wanderers
5. Chelsea
6. Derby County
7. Everton
8. Leeds United
9. Liverpool
10. Manchester City
11. Manchester United
12. Newcastle United
13. Nottingham Forest
14. Portsmouth
15. Sheffield Wednesday
16. Sunderland
17. Tottenham Hotspur
18. West Bromwich Albion
19. West Ham United
20. Wolverhampton Wanderers
All these teams, with the surprising exception of West Ham, have won the First Division or the Premiership at least once. The only former First Division Champions not to be included are Preston North End, Huddersfield Town and Burnley, as none of these teams have ever appeared in the Premiership.
Furthermore, Preston North End last won the league in 1890 and Huddersfield haven’t been champions since 1926 (although that triumph marked the final leg of an outstanding hat-trick of consecutive titles).
Bolton edge out Ipswich Town (1978 FA Cup winners and 1981 UEFA Cup champions) by virtue of their longevity, current Premiership status and four FA Cup wins. Nottingham Forest’s place is guaranteed by the remarkable back-to-back European Cups they won in 1979 and 1980.
All this should mean that I’m hoping Leeds avoid the drop into the third tier of English football. But as any self-respecting United fan – and any fan of decent, honest football – I’m obviously hoping they plummet like a stone.
Constant outbursts put Mourinho’s reputation at risk
April 26 2007
Mourinho really is losing it. The controlled manner of Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool last night was highly impressive, and yet following the game Mourinho chose to focus on the penalty he felt his team were denied for a handball by Liverpool right-back Alvaro Arbeloa which occurred a good two feet outside the penalty area.
“I just go for facts, and again it is a fact. I don’t think anybody can say it was not a penalty. It was a clear penalty, and I don’t know why. It’s happening, it’s happening, it’s happening.”
Are these the words of a great manager or a madman?
Therein lies the fundamental dichotomy in Mourinho’s character which polarises opinions about him in such a pronounced manner. On the one hand is the shrewd tactician, urging his team to attack a Liverpool side and thereby negating the impact of Benitez’s adventurous 4-4-2 which had reaped such handsome rewards in previous away games against PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona.
But on the other hand is the whingeing moaner who sulks like a petulant child at every single decision that doesn’t go his way. He should have been revelling in another accomplished performance from his side, but he chose to moan about the referee. Those who hail him for trying to deflect attention (and pressure) away from his team fail to acknowledge the irreparable damage such behaviour does to his reputation.
His latest outburst creates the impression that he is a genuinely paranoid, compulsive complainer. And no matter how much success he brings to Stamford Bridge this season, it is something football fans are unlikely ever to forget.
He scoops, he scores!
April 25 2007
Paul Scholes’s delicate pass to Wayne Rooney in the build-up to United’s second goal in last night’s 3-2 victory over AC Milan put me in mind of the outrageous scooped finish from Karel Poborsky that put paid to Portugal in the 1996 European Championships.
And while looking for the goal on YouTube, I came across this little beauty from the poodle-permed former United misfit, scored against Braga in 1998.
Even more reason to rue the complete non-event that was his United career following his £3.8 million move from Slavia Prague.
Another memorable European night at Old Trafford, and another impressive performance by United, particularly in the second half.
This compilation sums thing up nicely. Good to see a YouTube video put together with a bit of finesse.
With Milan 2-1 up and apparently in control, I began to fear that United hadn’t learnt anything from the lesson Milan so coldly and ruthlessly taught them in 2005.
But the sustained intensity of their attacking play was a fine thing to behold, and with all the pre-match focus on Cristiano Ronaldo, it was perhaps inevitable that Rooney would prove to be the match-winner.
His first goal owed a lot to Scholes’s sublime scooped through ball, but he nonetheless showed commendable strength and composure to hold off Nesta’s challenge and push the ball past Dida.
The winning goal showcased Rooney at his instinctive best, firing home first-time before Dida had had a chance to set himself. The celebration showed how much it meant to him. No open-mouthed fist-pumping here. Instead, having slid into the corner on his knees he turned around, put his head in his hands and sunk to the ground. This – you realised – was a goal he will cherish forever.
In spite of United’s stellar season, Rooney hasn’t been on top form (although his 23 goals this season represent his best scoring figures to date). He’s drifted in and out of games, and his temperament continues to let him down.
But by rising to the occasion in such spectacular fashion last night, he suggested he is learning to ally patience and perseverance to his already formidable talents.
Ronaldo: still the breast
April 24 2007
8:54 p.m. (or thereabouts), Saturday April 21st, the San Siro. Supposedly overweight/past-it/not-the-player-he-once-was Brazilian forward Ronaldo demonstrates that he still has an eye for the extraordinary.
This impudent chested finish helped Milan to a 3-1 win over
Cagliari, and gave Il Fenomeno his seventh goal in only 12 games for the Rossoneri.
Looks like there’s life in the old dog yet.
The Greatest Nutmeg of All-Time
April 20 2007
I can’t imagine anyone ever pulling off a nutmeg as audacious as this one by Argentina’s Juan Román Riquelme, during his first stint at Boca Juniors.
As if having his back to the hapless defender wasn’t impressive enough, he’s also about four yards away from him, and when he executes the ‘meg only one of his feet is on the ground. Absolutely delicious.
Mind you, this one isn’t bad either…
The Wright(-Phillips) Stuff
April 19 2007
From a purist’s perspective, it’s hard to get that excited about the football that Chelsea play. But there is one, occasional redeeming feature. And that’s Shaun Wright-Phillips.
He was in scintillating form in last night’s impressive 4-1 victory over West Ham, and his two goals were exceptional. The jinking footwork of the first goal and sublime volleyed finish of the second demonstrated an alliance of devastating speed, close control and supreme technical accomplishment.
Wright-Phillips is one of the few English players who make you think something exciting is about to happen every time he is on the ball. And the hiatus imposed upon his career by the time he has spent on the bench at Chelsea is a crying shame.
During his time at City he was one of the most consistently impressive players in the Premiership, with his soft, slightly knock-kneed mastery of the ball and a thumping shot that belies his tiny frame.
His ability to exploit gaps and spaces in opposition defences sets him out as a unique talent, and with his ability he really should have established himself as the long-term successor to David Beckham in the national side.
Euro 2012: A whole host of issues
April 18 2007
I didn’t see that one coming. Italy were the overwhelming favourites, but the decision to allow Poland and the Ukraine to jointly host the 2012 European Championships sends out a stark message that Italy has to sort out the problems currently plaguing their domestic game.
But if UEFA think keeping the tournament out of Italy will negate potential hooligan problems, they should think again. Poland’s supporters have an unenviable reputation as some of the most violent in Europe, and with the political problems currently plaguing the Ukraine, both countries have their work cut out.
The news is obviously a blow for the other joint bid from Croatia and Hungary. In an article on the BBC Football website this morning (which has annoyingly just disappeared), one of the men behind the bid declared he was thoroughly confident of success owing to the fact their dossier was considerably thicker than those of their rivals.
It’s good news for England though. Average summer temperatures in Poland and the Ukraine are considerably lower than in the inhospitable furnaces of Germany, Portugal and Japan which played such an enormous and not remotely overstated part in their elimination from the last three major tournaments.
At least they’ve got five years to dust off some new excuses.
Waddle Jose make of that?
April 16 2007
Chris Waddle hopes United win the Premiership this season “for the good of football”.
Spot on.
Having said that, if Chelsea do win the Quadruple, it’ll be a brave man who tells Jose Mourinho he isn’t a ”truly great manager”. While fans of beautiful football are praying that Chelsea don’t clean up at the end of the season, it will nonetheless be a thoroughly remarkable achievement if they do.
