The Dim in Beirut

Goodbye Street Fighter Poet

So, today, Luis Suarez has confirmed his desire to leave Liverpool this Summer.

It’s the news every Liverpool fan around the world was dreading. But it was also the news that most Liverpool fans not living with their heads in the sand were expecting.

There’s been a lot of vitriol thrown at Suarez for the last couple of days. People saying he owes Liverpool one more season; others saying that they feel greatly let down.

In all honesty, people need to give the guy a break.

I don't know what certain members of the Liverpool FC fanbase were expecting this Summer, I really don't.

You can't bask in Suarez's brilliance all season, proclaim him as one of the league and world's best players and then get pissed off that he wants to leave a club that have finished 6th, 8th and 7th in the league behind the likes of Newcastle and Everton since he arrived here.

World class players, which Suarez is, deserve a world class setting. He deserves to be playing somewhere where he can compete for major honors; every single honor available to him. Everyone giving him flack must have had your heads in the sand all year to be honest.

The news comes as no surprise to me. It's completely consistent with Suarez's character. The man is a winner. He is the sort of player willing to break his grandmother's ankles for 3 points. He is the one player that looks absolutely destroyed when we lose football games. For him to stay at a club that have lost something like in 1 in 3 or 4 for the last 3 years would be in complete contrast to his character.

Forget all the other talk of the media hounding him (which is a factor, no doubt, but not the main one). Forget whatever conceptions you have of loyalty. None of you were complaining about loyalty when he came to us DIRECTLY after biting some player in Holland and incurring a 7 game ban, with Ajax out of the Champions League places. None of you said he deserved to give Ajax one more year due to their support.

Suarez owes us nothing. He could have easily gone last season; Kenny left and there was the fallout of the Evra affair. He didn’t. He had other offers and decided to give us a chance. He did more than anybody else to make us successful this year; carried us through half a season. He never moaned about having a 17 and 18 year old next to him in attack. He never went crying to anyone that he had no backup for 3 months. He took on the responsibility on his shoulder and relished it.

I'll be gutted when he leaves; more than most. Suarez is, along with John Barnes, the best player I've ever seen in Red. Win, lose or draw I take so much pleasure just from watching him play football. He is the most enjoyable and entertaining player I've ever seen play for us. I thought I was deeply in love with Fernando Torres, but I realized that I never knew what true love for a player was until we got Suarez. With Torres, there was no bad times, nothing to challenge my affection for him. With Suarez, the bad times made me love him more.

Further than that, the way the press and the UK in general have treated him reinforces everything I ever thought about England, it's media and the hypocrisy of those in positions of power (be it the FA or any other institution). But again, I don’t believe that has anything to do with him leaving.

For me, we let him down. On and off the pitch. 

Off it, Suarez came at a time where we've been the weakest for the last 20 years: just at the start of FSG’s reign, where they knew more about weather conditions in Wisconsin than the sport of football.

Suarez should have been a lot more protected by the club during his time here. We should have banned the Daily Mirror from LFC the minute they splashed RACIST as their headline for example. We should have sued for libel the second that happened but took it up the ass like little bitches.

We should have taken the 8 game ban straight to CAS. Anybody who has read it knows there is 0 evidence bar Evra's word. The FA chose to believe Evra and not Suarez and we took it up the ass like little bitches.

We should have gone to war against the FA over the 10 game ban thing when Defoe got picked for England the week after he bit Masch. Gone to war. Instead what did we do? We took it up the ass like little bitches.

The only person that fought for Luis Suarez and Liverpool Football Club and went to war against the media and the FA got fired, in part, because of his "mishandling of the affair". 

I dont believe for one second that any of this has to do with Suarez leaving: he's way too good for a 7th placed team. But for Liverpool Football Club to rise again then it needs to stand up to itself, and stop letting itself be treated like an irrelevant little child. Winning trophies and protecting the club should become a priority as opposed to increasing brand value and making sure Henry Winter, Martin Samuel and Paul Hayward are writing nice things about you.

On it, we'll spend the rest of our lives thinking what could have been had we spent 76m pounds a bit more wisely than on Carroll, Downing, Henderson and Adam. God knows what could have been achieved had Suarez been surrounded by players like Coutinho, Sturridge et all... for more than 4 months.

As far as I’m concerned, he goes with my full blessing. I've been expecting his departure this Summer since the United 3-1 Kuyt Kuyt Kuyt game in 2010. I could see how talented he was and how impossible it would be to keep him here without Champions league football.

I'll remember him with great fondness. The cheekiness of Robbie Fowler, the tenacity and hard work of Dirk Kuyt, the back to goal brilliance of Kenny Dalglish, the flair of John Barnes, the dribbling skills of Steve Mcmanaman, the unpredictability of Titi Camara, the heart of Steven Gerrard, the creativity of Peter Beardsley, the nastiness of Steve Mcmahon, the goal threat of Michael Owen, the star power of Fernando Torres aligned with the desire to use every single blade of grass on the football pitch that is unique to him.

God bless you Luis, you street fighting poet, and best of luck.

Never Again

So a football manager announced his retirement this week.

Not just any football manager mind. Alex Ferguson, the manager of one of the biggest and most famous football clubs in the world. A man who has ruled English football with an Iron Fist for the past 2 decades or so. A man whose political connections are so far reaching, he was awarded a knighthood after helping out Tony Blair win his first prime ministerial elections.

This knight of the realm will, for the rest of his lifetime, be remembered as the greatest football manager in the history of football. What happens after he passes away though, no-one really knows. In England, your achievements are safe until you die. After that, all gloves are off.

The fact of the matter is that Ferguson has achieved so much during his 27 year tenure at Manchester United, that he deserves all the accolades he gets. What is also an undeniable fact though, is that so much of his success has been accompanied by the ugly stench of what Man United fans call coincidences and the rest of the world calls corruption.

From Ferguson’s first Premier League trophy at United when more than 7 minutes of injury time allowed his team to score 2 goals to set them up for the 1992/93 title.  To his last one, where his team did not concede a penalty ALL SEASON (not a single one in fact since October 2011) and did not have a man sent off until well after they wrapped up the league; United’s success have left a lot of football fans scratching their heads.

Ferguson has won 13 English league titles. And just 2 European Cups. The same as Juventus who are the most storied club in Italy. And much like Juventus, many question why United’s domestic dominance did not translate into a European one.

Maybe the simple explanation is that without English referees, United could not translate their dominance into Europe. After all, ask yourself this: would an English ref have dared send Nani off at Old Trafford against Real Madrid?

It’s no “coincidence” that the term “Fergie Time” has entered the football lexicon, a common an expression as any in English football. It’s no coincidence that gambling websites offered punters the chances to bet on Howard Webb becoming Fergie’s replacement at United (4 people actually put money on this!).

It’s no coincidence that Ferguson exits as he ruled: with the tongues of so many journalists wedged so far up his bottom that a sudden outbreak of Cherry Bosom poisoning on Fleet Street would not come as a surprise.

These journalists have been as complicit as anyone in allowing Ferguson an unhealthy amount of power in the English game .For example, Daniel Taylor of the Guardian wrote an article entitled “The Eulogy, the Apology, the Thank You”.

This is a man, like many others, who Ferguson has banned from Old Trafford for years. It did not stop all of them falling over each other to get down on their knees and bow to the “Great Man”.

The sycophancy of the press corps during this last week has been vomit inducing and completely unsurprising. In many ways, its akin to the North Korean’s media reaction to Kim Jong Il’s death.

Not a single article raised the fact of how powerful Ferguson was, or the unhealthy relationship which exists between his club and the Football Association. Not a single article highlighted the abuses of power, the bullying and the double standards that were such a fixture of Ferguson’s reign.

 And as for the issue of the refereeing selection process and the strange “coincidences” involving Manchester United...  forget about it. The media do not want to research, report of highlight this matter.

And not a single one highlighted a key fact: Ferguson has certainly left his club in very good hands. The new FA Chairman, Greg Dyke, is an ex Man United director. The FA Vice chairman is David Gill, current United CEO and future Board member (like a certain Mr. Ferguson). And the new Premier League chairman, Anthony Fry, is a self confessed United fan.

Taken individually, there is nothing wrong with that. The current FA Chairman has links to Man City while other heads of the FA have had links to football clubs.

But at no stage in history (anywhere in the world I imagine), has a club held all 3 powerful positions as strongly inside the country’s football institutions. That this has been allowed, without comment, to happen is the final nail in English football’s media “fair and balanced” reporting.

Ferguson leaving has to teach English football lessons. English football needs to put measures in place to ensure that the years of abuse of power that have formed Ferguson’s reign never happen again:

Never again should a football manager have so much power within the game, to the point where he has his key allies in positions of power inside the country’s football institutions

Never again should a football manager be allowed to abuse the system

Never again should a football manager have his colleagues punish other clubs for firing his son

Never again should a football manager be allowed to bully referees without punishment

Never again should a football manager be allowed to build political connections while working in the game

Never again should a football manager be allowed to ban and bully reporters at a whim

Never again should a football manager be allowed to tamper with the refereeing selection process

Never again should a football manager be allowed to go years without fulfilling his media obligations, with no punishment

Never again should a football manager be allowed to ban referees from taking charge of this team (ask Graham Poll or Jeff Winter)

Never again should a football manager force his players to use his son as an agent, and threaten punishment if they don’t

 

I suggest that the ideal person to take the first step is the new Manchester United manager, David Moyes.

After all, in 2009, Moyes, as Everton manager, demanded the FA investigate Mike Riley. Moyes wanted to ascertain whether Riley was a United fan, such was his bias while refereeing United games.

The investigation never came. Instead, Riley retired and then became the head of the PGMOB; the group responsible for assigning games to referees. He’s the man who decides who referees Man United games.

Over to you Davey.

Premier League Clubs as Lebanese Religious Sects

Christian Maronites- Liverpool Football Club

Rich history, always been present at the highest echelons of the game. Very attached to past legends. Deify ex managers.

Hugely influential in the 70s and 80s, where they went through triumphs and tragedies but been largely marginalized since 1990.

Returned in force on the world stage in 2005, but comebacks of past legends have not managed to bring back the glory days. Finding it hard to accept they may never reach the heights they did before. Going with youth now.

Recent history blighted by infighting.

Sunnis- Manchester United

Always present with big, huge numbers of followers. But only really dominated the local scene since the early 90s.

Blamed by many for having corrupted the local arena, credited by others for having revolutionized the modern game.

Have had the most wealth for the last 2 decades, but events since 2005 have weakened the purse strings. Currently rumored to be in debt.

Current owner considered to be risking his life if he ever comes back to Old Trafford. Have looked nervously at their noisy neighbors for a few years now who have recently surpassed them.

February is seen as a very dark month in their history, due to a tragedy which is remembered annually.

Druzes- Arsenal

While having a rich history themselves, never reached the heights or numbers of Sunnis or Christians- certainly not abroad.

Despite this, they’ve always been relevant and decisive on the local scene. Led by a cult like figure whose capacity to keep his club relevant despite their lack of numbers is admired by many.

Haven’t had real success for a while.

Shiites- Chelsea

Despite claims to the contrary, have always been present on the local scene- though never having the numbers to show it.

Only really made it big in the last decade. Known worldwide now but are often ridiculed for their lack of history compared to their rivals- though have been more succesful than bigger clubs in the last few years.  

While supposedly having several decision makers, only one (bearded) man really holds the power. Are largely financed by money coming from the East. Despite often seen as being in turmoil, regularly achieve success.

Hold the longest undefeated streak at home in the game. Defence was near impregnable around 2005/06.  Constantly strengthen their attacking arsenal much to the dismay and anger of their rivals.

Christian Orthodox- Everton

Few can compare with their history, but have struggled for a long time now. The Christian Maronites’ ugly sister.

Seem to be a tad more relevant nowadays but still a long way away from being decision makers on the local and international scene.

Copts- Fulham

Led by an Egyptian. They exist.

Apparently.

The only inoffensive sect out there. This is probably due to the fact that no-one has actually noticed they exist.

Jews- Stoke

Founding members of the football league. Been around for ages, since the genesis of professional football. Known for their unmerciful and unrelenting attacks from air and ground, bombing the opposing team back to the stone ages.

Owned by a man who made fortunes in the legalised gambling industry.

Spend their time bullying and using every dirty trick in the book to gain an edge on their rivals; are then incredulous with self rightheous indignation when said rivals react to their provocation.

Not liked by many. They don’t care.

Local presence nigh on invisible.

Allawites- Aston Villa

Rich in history- never been more in danger of ruin though.

Current  leader (who studied his trade in Europe), came into power under a wave of pomp and cicumstance with near unanimous backing from all key stakeholders.

At present , however, fans are said to be very much 50-50 as to whether he's the right man to lead them anymore.

Infighting between supporters a well reported theme at Villa Park.

 

 

AGREE OR DISAGREE

3 Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs fans see if they can agree from 5 conclusions from the weekend’s Premier League action.

1) The North London derby is the most entertaining one in the league

Nadim: AGREE

The Manchester one is the most important nowadays, and the Mersesyide derby remains the most aggressive and unique. But for sheer unbridled fun and entertainment, the clashes between Arsenal and Spurs are undisputed number 1.

In the last few years we’ve had that crazy 4-4 game at the Emirates, the Spurs comeback from 2-0 down,  the Arsenal comeback last season and now last Saturday’s game. Full of goals and incidents. Just pure fun.

Joe: DISAGREE

 It is very exciting given the apparent animosity between the two clubs and when you add the flawed defending on show, it only adds to the excitement.

But the fixture cannot compare to the Manchester derby, we have been given a few examples of this in recent years and now that the game is a potential league decider then it only adds to the excitement.

Shep: AGREE

Neutral and fans alike love to watch goal laden fixtures and in recent  years this match has produced  them. I suppose it has a cycle as a George Graham Arsenal would have taking a beating for producing  such outcomes.

As entertaining as they are I think for the supporter this fixture highlights a great deal of deficiencies that will come to haunt them throughout the remainder of the season.

2) West Brom can get a European place

Nadim: DISAGREE

They’ve started well, better than anyone would have expected. But will they finish ahead of 14 teams in the division? I doubt it.

They don’t have the attacking quality of Newcastle last term to have a similar season. Their current run smacks of a team that’s in form, with lots of confidence and getting all the breaks. Won’t last.

Joe: AGREE

They CAN, but they probably won't. Granted they have a good strike force but the test will come when they visit the bigger clubs and have to soak up more pressure than they do at the Hawthorns.

So far they’ve taken a very creditable 6 points from 9 against City, Chelsea and Liverpool- but all those games have come at home. The away games will be a different test for them.

 Shep: AGREE

Great teams are built on solid foundations and usually the cost of putting such foundation runs into the millions. For me, the partnership of Mulumbu and Yacob is, pound for pound, the best midfield in the league.

The key for WBA is injuries and suspensions. The Christmas period, the run of games and the toll it takes on your squad can almost be season defining -and for West Brom I feel this period will be crucial. If it is kind then I'd expect Europa League at the Hawthorns and if not it will still be a very respectable, if not remarkable, season.

 3) 4^th spot is wide open

 Nadim: AGREE

All candidates for 4^th have major flaws. Everton’s small squad, Spurs’ adjustment to the post Modric world, Liverpool’s lack of forward options, Newcastle’s “second season” syndrome and Arsenal’s inconsistencies.

4^th spot is there for anyone that manages to consistently perform, win their home games while picking up some points on their travels.

I’d still expect Arsenal to get it though; just because they always do.

 Joe: DISAGREE

United and City will be in the top 4 for the foreseeable future. Arsenal always find a way of securing their place but for it to be wide open it would require an implosion at Chelsea.

Yes it happened last season and in recent weeks they have dropped points but the top 4 will be United, City, Arsenal and Chelsea

Shep: AGREE

The gulf in quality between the top 3 and the rest is vast so 4th is not guaranteed. At the minute, you look at Tottenham in 8th place and the situation doesn't look irretrievable.

I think the team that does the best business in a difficult January transfer window will ultimately reap the financial rewards that much coveted 4th spot brings.

 

 4) Harry Redknapp is the answer to QPR’s prayers

Nadim: DISAGREE

There’s a certain Spaniard living on the Wirral, with Champions League, La Liga, Uefa and FA Cup winners’ medals in his cabinet, who's out of a job…

Redknapp would do better than Hughes, no doubt. But with the investment QPR have put in into their playing squad, they need to look at someone who can change their youth setup too.

Benitez would be perfect for them. He’d get the best out of the current playing staff and make them very tough to beat. He’d get more out of Champions League players like Cesar, Mbia, Granero and Cisse than Redknapp. And he’d stamp his foot down and refuse to let the likes of Raheem Sterling leave the club.

Joe: AGREE

With the exception of the 2004-05 failed attempt at Southampton, Harry Redknapp knows how to secure a club's top flight status.

Granted, he will have his work cut out but with Fernandes' prepared to bankroll QPR, he could the one to save them. Although I read this morning that Benitez would be interested....

Shep: AGREE

If Tony Fernandes has dreams of QPR remaining in the division beyond May then Harry is his man.

He won't be cheap and imagine it will mean yet more expenditure in January but I believe if they act now they will beat the drop.

 5)  You are looking forward to watching tonight’s West Ham vs Stoke game.

Nadim: DISAGREE

El Shitico.

Carroll vs Huth. Crouch vs Collins. Vaz Te vs Shawcross. Diame vs Nzonzi. Allardyce vs Pulis.

Yummy…

Joe:  DISAGREE

Allardyce v Pulis... Not one for the purists as they say...

Two managers that know how to survive in the premier league but are prepared to swap substance for style.

What’s playing at the movies?

Shep:  DISAGREE

I love football and I am stupid so I will be watching. You occasionally watch a random game of football that becomes an unexpected treat.

However, I will purchase and eat a hat if this fixture becomes that treat…

 Thank God for Messrs Big Sam and Baseball Cap Tony, as thanks to them we manage to agree one something. Just the one from 5 this week. Thanks for reading, leave us your comments.

AGREE OR DISAGREE

3 LFC, MUFC and AFC fans see if they can agree on 5 conclusions from the weekend’s Premier League action. Thanks to @joethewag from http://thenotsoanonymousfootballfan.wordpress.com and @SamerF89 for their contributions.

1) Everton are serious contenders for 4^th place

Nadim: DISAGREE

Their squad is small and that will prove to be their undoing.

Everton are doing a Newcastle , in the sense that they’re beating the teams they should be beating at home and picking up a few points against the bigger sides along the way. 

The difference, however, is that Everton are potless. While the Geordies could go out and spend 10m on Papis Cisse last January to boost their challenge, Everton can’t. They’ll have to rely their small squad all season, which means a prolonged challenge will be next to impossible.

Joe: AGREE

Very well drilled team.

They seem to have confidence in their ability as comebacks often illustrate. Moyes has been successful in rebuilding his teams after some players left for bigger things.

 If only he got more investment then they would be pretty much a certainty for top 4.

Samer: AGREE

What a flying start to the season they’re having.

I have been pretty impressed with how they have approached their games recently. Moyes has done a great job.

Contenders, yes. Can they do it? We'll see. Top 7 come May for sure though.

2)  Fulham are great fun to watch

Nadim: AGREE

In Berbatov and Ruiz, they have 2 of the most elegant players in the entire Premier League. Just watching them play football is as relaxing as a full body massage.

 I was very impressed with them Saturday, especially with how they built from the back and were very patient on the ball. Martin Jol has done wonders for the team, taking them into the 21^st century after their flings with Hodgson and Hughes.

Joe: AGREE

Very well run club.

 With Berbatov at the fulcrum of their attack, a lot can go through him. No cloggers in their team and choose to play the “right way”.

Their biggest challenge will be when clubs come sniffing around their key men. Whilst they have done well since losing Dempsey and Dembele, can this go on forever?

Samer: AGREE

Martin Jol has transformed a usually typicaly English side into one worth watching.

He’s made some great signings and has a great approach which offers neutrals an entertaining brand of football.

Although they gave me a lot of heartache this weekend, they still deserve enormous praise for how they played at the Emirates. Not a lot of teams are able to come to Arsenal and do what Fulham did.

3) On the field, the 2 Manchester clubs biggest asset is their will to win

Nadim: AGREE

Absolutely.

Huge cliché, but it’s the mark of champions. Both clubs just refuse to get beaten. They’ve both gone behind numerous times this season and have almost always recovered (in City’s case, scratch the always).

United’s will to win is legendary; but it was absent last season. For City, it’s a new phenomenon; but a very welcome one. It’s what makes them both title favorites.

Joe: AGREE

Whilst they do have other assets, both clubs simply never give up and it is testament to their team morale that they can so often come from behind.

Two goals down would have been the end for most other teams but you just felt that once the 1^st goal went in, more would follow for United. As for City, there was the same inevitably as Aguero’s goal went in.

Samer: AGREE

As much as it hurts, it’s true.

Both teams have that never give up, no nonsense mentality. Everything was going against them this weekend. However, once both got their first goals, you just knew they'd go on and win it.

Europe is a different story, but in the Premier League both teams just don't know when to give up

 

4) Mark Hughes’ time at QPR is surely up

Nadim: DISAGREE

Any other club, I’d say yes.

But Tony Fernandes has been extremely vocal about his support for Hughes. I have no idea why though as he’s doing terribly. He was lucky to keep them up last year and with the money spent in the Summer, the fact they’re bottom is ludicrous.

Don’t know how bad it will need to get for Hughes to get fired, but I doubt it’ll happen this week.

Joe: AGREE

QPR’s season could mimic that of last: new manager, and money being spent in January to battle for survival.

Mark Hughes needs to take a long look at himself as a manager. His stock has plummeted. Perhaps managing abroad for a few years could do him the world of good?

Samer: AGREE

He's one of the worst managers in the league, he shapes his teams up well, yes, but the amount of money at his disposal at both City and QPR show how much of a fraud he is.

He left Fulham to find a better job… and went to QPR. His team is performing way below expectations. With those summer signings, results are not good enough.  His time at QPR is up. 

5) Unless they sign a new striker in January, Chelsea won’t win the title

Nadim: AGREE

Needing a goal on Saturday, United turned to Hernandez. On Sunday, City turned to Dzeko. Later on in the afternoon, in the same situation,Chelsea subbed off their main striker for the only other striker they have in the squad.

Much has been made of Liverpool having only 2 strikers, but it’s somehow not been noticed that Chelsea are in exactly the same situation. For title challengers, that’s ridiculous- especially when you consider how out of sorts their first choice striker is and how much money they have in the bank.

Joe: DISAGREE

Fernando Torres has shown signs of life this season and Sturridge and Moses can chip in with some goals.

They don’t have a great deal of striking options but remember in 2002-03; United got by with pretty much just Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Samer: DISAGREE

Recently some teams have proven that it is possible to win trophies without having too many strikers.

Barcelona and Spain, prime examples, both use players out of position in that striker role to their own benefit.

Chelsea have an array of attacking talent at their disposal. Even if Torres isn't scoring for fun, he's still linking up with Mata, Oscar and Hazard to create chances. They have more than enough firepower to challenge. 

So we manage to agree on 2 out of 5 conclusions from the weekend’s action. Thanks for reading and leave us your comments.

 

 

Top 10 Luis Suarez Liverpool Goals

Luis Suarez has scored 31 times for Liverpool since his arrival from Ajax in late January 2011. Here's his 10 best so far.

10) vs. Fulham, 2010/11

It takes a special display for a player to be named the man of the match in a game that sees another player score 3 goals. For it to happen twice in a couple of months (while Dirk Kuyt scored 3 against United in March, it was Luis who took home the bubbly) shows just how incredible Suarez’s performances were in his first half season at Anfield.

He tore Fulham to shreds here and all that was lacking was a goal. It came late on as a brilliant Jonjo Shelvey through ball found Liverpool’s number 7.

What sets Suarez apart from other strikers is his balance and close control- and he displayed both attributes fully in this goal. Other players would have taken an extra touch after rounding the keeper, or simply planted their foot on the ground to regain balance. Suarez did neither, and executed the finish all in the same movement.

9) vs. Sunderland 2010/11

Something about Suarez that leaves fans bewildered is his ability to make something out of absolutely nothing.

There’s nothing on when Suarez plays a one two with Dirk Kuyt. The Uruguayan is still on the touchline as he receives the ball. Running in a straight line, he skips past the Sunderland defender and enters the area when he’s closed down by another Sunderland player.

Parallel with the bye line, in an apparent cul de sac, Suarez rips a scorcher of a shot which flies past the shell shocked Mignolet. It’s an early warning to English Football that a man to make the impossible possible has arrived. It’s a confirmation to Liverpool fans, bewitched by the Uruguayan’s performance in the previous game against Man United, that they had something special on their hands.

8) vs. Wolves 2011/12

 Another facet of Suarez’s play is his unpredictability. Instead of passing the ball as you expect, he’ll create space for himself by twisting the defender inside and out.

It’s highly debatable whether he knows what he’s going to do half the time. This unpredictability makes playing with him very difficult for his strike partner but makes playing against him even harder for defenders.

The goal against Wolves is a case in point. Running into a through ball from Jose Enrique, Suarez quickly finds himself in the area. Andy Carroll frees himself by making a run but Suarez elects to move the ball to his right foot and then back to his left very quickly, confusing  2 defenders, before firing a shot with his weaker foot inside the near post from the tightest of angles.

 

 7) 2^nd vs. Norwich 2011/12

I’ve watched football for 26 years. During that time, I’ve seen some fantastic players. None, however, have had the constant ability to make the ball ricochet in their favor.

The amount of times Suarez gets the ball, hits the defender with it before taking the rebound in his stride is unbelievable. The first few times it happened you chalked it off to good luck. But as it still occurs every game close to 2 years after his Liverpool debut, it’s clear there’s something more to it.

Take this goal for example. It starts off with a ricochet which looks like bad defending if you don’t know it happens with Suarez every game. Luis then runs with the ball and reaches the edge of the area where fires in drilled shot from a very hard angle.

6) vs. Udinese 2012/13

Despite scoring a few for Ajax and hitting the bar with one on his full Anfield debut, Suarez hadn’t scored a free kick for Liverpool before his beauty against City in August.

This one was even better, a belting, curling shot into the top corner of the goal at Kop end for Liverpool’s first free kick goal (that went OVER a wall) since Fabio Aurelio’s special at Old Trafford in the 4-1 win in 2009.

5) vs. Hearts, 2012/13

While there are some fantastic dribblers in the English league, Luis Suarez is perhaps the only one who constantly takes players out of the game without touching the ball.

The Uruguayan is a master of letting the ball do the work for him. He often receives a pass, puts his body between the defender and the ball then feints to control it and lets it run past him; taking out his marker in the process.

This is what he does for this goal as he receives the ball in the center circle and eliminates his marker. He’s still a long way away from goal, but Suarez runs at the opposing center back and takes the ball to the left side of the area where he slots home from a tight angle.

He’s often come close to scoring brilliant individual goals like this (and almost scores an even better one a few of weeks later vs Stoke), but the Hearts one is the first time he’s pulled it off.

4) 2^nd vs. Norwich 2012/13

Not a single goal in the entire list encapsulates Luis Suarez more than this one. His ability to score impossible goals is as renowned as his habit of missing easy chances. His skill and insane work rate have made him the biggest nightmare for opposing defenders in the league. He is unquestionably the league’s most hated player, but also perhaps its most gifted.

This goal has everything.

It starts off with the striker missing a simple 1-1 with the keeper by about 5 yards to howls of laughter.  While the Norwich crowd boos him unmercifully, Suarez trots back. By the time the resultant goal kick is taken, he is running to close down the defender who doesn’t spot him.

Suarez nips in to dispossess the Norwich player, turns and nutmegs him in one movement and then guides an exquisite finish from the edge of the area with the outside of the boot in to the far bottom corner- when the easier option would have been to take a few more touches.

28 seconds. 4 touches. 1 glaring miss, 1 interception, 1 nutmeg,  shot.

1 goal.

3) vs. Stoke, 1^st goal, League Cup 2011/12

If Jonjo Shelvey is the king…  The king of the Golf (just watch Being Liverpool- Oh Brendan…); then Luis Suarez is the king of the nutmeg.

There isn’t a defender that Suarez hasn’t nutmegged or at least attempted to. It’s not a exaggeration to say it happens every game and it’s a perfect example of how dangerous Suarez is in tight spaces- and how cheeky and impudent a player he is.

In this goal, again nothing is on as the number 7 picks the ball. He’s surrounded by defenders but Henderson’s run creates space for him. Suarez nutmegs Rory Delap’s apprentice and then curls a fantastic shot into the far right corner to give Liverpool an equalizer.

He’d then grab a late winner but it’s this goal that was on all the highlight reels.

2) vs. Newcastle, 2012/13

There are very few players currently playing professional football that could have scored this goal. Everything about it is sheer perfection.

It starts off with Luis Suarez, 70 yards away from the ball making a clever run between the Newcastle defenders. As the ball is pumped into him by Jose Enrique, Suarez could easily have been distracted by Krul or Coloccini but he keeps his eye on the ball throughout its trajectory.

He then controls it with the upper part of his chest and shoulder, killing it dead. He strains his entire body in order to let the ball drop without any interference from his chest. And while 99% of world footballers would have shot it first time, Suarez rounds the keeper and slots into an empty net.

3 exquisite touches combined with bravery, movement, industry and sheer flair.

Denis Bergkamp, Matt Le Tissier, Diego Maradona?

No, Luis Suarez.

 

1)3^rd Vs Norwich 2011/12            

This goal is a guilty pleasure of mine. There’s nothing else in football I love more than seeing someone chipping the keeper from distance.

For a player to score a chip requires several attributes. The vision to spot the keeper off his line, the cheekiness to decide to try to chip him, the acceptance that you’ll look like a fool if it doesn’t come off and the technique to actually pull it off. All this is done in a couple of seconds.

Few players actually have all these traits. The ones that do are some of the best players in football (Seedorf, Beckham, Alonso, erm, Figueroa…).

Suarez displayed all these traits to score this strike. It was made even better by the fact that it was his hatrick goal, coming 1 week before the cup final. Oh, and by this celebration.

AGREE OR DISAGREE

3 Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs fans see if they can agree on 5 conclusions from the weekend's Premier League action. Thanks to @joethewag from http://thenotsoanonymousfootballfan.wordpress.com/ and @irritableshep for their contributions.

1) Spurs’ loss at home to Wigan is the biggest shock of the season so far

Nadim: DISAGREE

A far bigger shock was the Norwich win against Arsenal. Busted my 14 game accumulator and cost me 1200 pounds. I’m still not over it.

While Spurs have been doing well recently, they still have an air of inconsistency about them and Wigan seem a much better unit this term then they did for 75% of last season. They also won at the Lane a couple of seasons back by the same scoreline.

It was definitely a surprising result, but not one that came as a shock.

Joe: DISAGREE

Yes it was a big shock and probably yet another sign of how much work Spurs still have to do to be considered serious title challengers.

A bigger shock was the Norwich victory against Arsenal a few weeks back.

Shep: AGREE

To many on the outside Tottenham's defeat will appear the biggest shock result of the season so far. Those who saw the game would say it was a well earned victory for Wigan and the margin of victory could and should have been greater.

8 points from a possible 18 at home, compared to 9 from 12 on the road suggests the side is better equipped to hit teams on the break. The sale of Modric and van der Vaart, coupled with injuries to key players, means there could be more days like these unless AVB is backed financially in January.

2) Arsenal will struggle to finish 4th

Nadim: AGREE

They’ve got 15 points from 10 games which is their worst start ever under Wenger and it could have been less if the linesman had not made a horrific offside call for Arteta’s goal last week.

At present, they look a very average side, void of any confidence and presence. However, they’ve had a very tough start with away trips to Liverpool, Stoke, and the Manchester clubs as well as a home game against Chelsea. Should get better these next few months, but they’ll face a very tough challenge from Spurs.

It’s going to be a dogfight for 4th.

Joe: AGREE

Yes they will struggle.

Whilst Wenger insists on making questionable tactical decisions (Ramsey on the right wing?) they will drop points in similar circumstances as they have done so already.

But they will make it. Other teams, like Spurs, are prone to bigger blips than Arsenal.

Shep: DISAGREE

As we saw last year, Arsenal had a rough start but finished the season strongly to get Champions League football at the Emirates. The dynamic changed when Chelsea invested heavily making it look like the top three seems a foregone conclusion leaving a host of teams fighting it out for the remaining spot.

The sale of Van Persie was a big blow and it looks like they are struggling to find the right combination up top. But overall, I think their midfield will do them proud in their quest for Champions League football whilst Spurs adapt to life under AVB and Newcastle come to terms with juggling Europa League commitments. As for Everton, I am unsure they have sufficient strength in depth for a sustained challenge.

3) You didn't see the Norwich revival coming

Nadim: AGREE

I have to admit, after Liverpool them 5-2 I thought they’d do a Derby County. There were times during that game when we made them look amateurish (we could have scored 10) and I really thought they were the worst team in the division.

7 points from the last 9 (and 2 clean sheets) and a win against Spurs in the League Cup have proven me very wrong. Still a long way to go, but I never saw it coming.

Joe: DISAGREE

The moment they beat Arsenal the signs were there that they would not do a Swindon 93/94 or Derby 07/08.

A spirited comeback against Villa and victory over Pulis' cloggers means that they have every chance of staying up.

Shep: AGREE

Going into the October International break following big defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea I thought they were dead and buried with another thumping defeat to Arsenal surely to follow.

The additions of Bassong and Tettey appear shrewd. Grant Holt seems to be returning to his talismanic best following his uncertain summer. I think if Norwich can keep him fit then Hughton has an exceptional chance of keeping them up.

4) The only thing keeping Martin O’Neill in the Sunderland job is his name

Nadim: DISAGREE

1 win out of the last 17 tells its own story but it took a long time for Sunderland to get rid of Bruce (who the fans were patently against). If Short was a trigger happy owner I suspect he’d have sacked Bruce a lot earlier than he did.

As such, O’neill has other factors in his favor bar his name; namely a patient owner. Considering how much money they’ve spent, Sunderland are the great underachievers of the Premier League , and there’s really no excuse for their performances and results. But it’ll need to get even worse for O’neill to go.

Joe: AGREE

The Rolling Stones will always have sell out tours. Noel Gallagher will always have chart topping music. Martin O'Neill will always find a premier league side to manage despite the fact that his managerial career is not living up to its promise.

It is hard to understand where the downward spiral started; but for a man once linked to the Liverpool and United jobs, O'Neill has a lot of work to do to keep his credibility intact.

Shep: AGREE

I think when Martin O'Neill got the Sunderland job the majority of us felt it was an exceptional appointment and feared that trips to the Stadium of Light were going to become difficult fixtures.

Yet with just the one win this season, the only one dating back seventeen games from the end of March, they are showing relegation form. How many other managers would be afforded as much patience in such a winless run?

5) There’s nothing wrong with Liverpool that a top class finisher wouldn’t solve

Nadim: DISAGREE

Liverpool certainly need a finisher, but they need a creator too.

At the moment, Luis Suarez is being asked to be the chief creator and chief scorer. He’s doing well enough with 7 goals and 3 assists in 10 games (don’t get me started on the “offside” goal at Everton last week) for a side with no number 9 and Joe Cole as number 10.

Adding a striker (and there’s strong rumors that Huntelaar is a done deal) will ease Suarez’s goalscoring burden but not the creative one. A top quality attacking midfielder is also greatly needed.

Joe: AGREE

Liverpool's season has seen youngsters such as Wisdom, Sterling and Suso join an impressive list of youth team players in the squad.

A bit more bite in the final third would see the team elevated to potential top 4.

Shep: DISAGREE

Liverpool, understandably, rely too heavily on Suarez. I feel for Rodgers as he is dealing with the legacy of the previous regime and their extravagant expenditure.

Whilst a clinical, proven finisher would alleviate the burden on Suarez, Liverpool need more to make them a team that can string a sequence of results that can trouble the top 5.

I think Liverpool need to look for a long term replacement for Gerrard to mentor. In addition, they need another tricky, quick, experienced wide man to provide goal threat and prevent the younger players like Suso and Sterling from burning out too soon.

So not a single conclusion manages to unite us 3 this weekend. Thanks for reading and leave us your thoughts.

AGREE OR DISAGREE

3 Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd fans from Lebanon and England see whether they can agree on 5 major talking points from the Weekend’s Premier League action.

1) Mark Clattenburg’s performance was yet more evidence of pro United refereeing bias

Nadim:   AGREE

I’ve written a lot on this subject so my views are clear on this.

There were bad decisions all weekend. The 3 games I watched (Arsenal vs QPR, the Merseyside derby and Chelsea vs United) were all decided by refereeing mistakes. The difference between all 3 games though is that I actually predicted what would happen in the United game- and indeed it actually fits into a pattern of behavior from referees that had gone a long time without reffing them.

Joe: DISAGREE

He certainly has a few bigger questions to answer for than those of United refereeing bias if he is guilty of what Chelsea have alleged…

The question of refereeing bias towards United is one that always intrigues me, for example the headlines will read United get lucky when on the same weekend Arsenal and Everton have questionable decisions go their way too.

Oh, and Villa should have definitely had Herd sent off for a dreadful challenge when already on a booking. Still it is United yet again that people will focus on and rightfully so as United got decisions going their way during a period of the game when they needed it most. Ivanovic had to go; Torres was very unlucky with his second yellow. Hernandez fell lucky of not so much refereeing bias but assistant referee ineptness.

Samer: AGREE

Clattenburg’s performance in the first half was acceptable. The Torres kung-fu kick wasn’t intentional. The second half is where the problems were and have been well discussed.

Not here to offer more to a conspiracy theory, however, the amount of decisions that Clattenburg gave United while they were under pressure are just too many in a short period of time. When united were cruising, he was top notch, guess he felt the same pressure they did when dropping a 2 goal lead.

Whether or not this conspiracy is true, the amount of refereeing decisions that United were awarded in that 2^nd half does give food for thought for any football fan of any kind, well except united supporters who enjoy a win over a team with 9 men and an offside goal.

2) There's no light at the end of the tunnel for Aston Villa, they're going down

Nadim: AGREE

I’ll be shocked if they don’t go down.

Their next few games are very tough (United, City and Arsenal in 3 of the next 4) and they look completely devoid of creativity or goal threat. From what I know of Villa, there’s very little money in the bank for January.

Villa have been regressing under 3 managers now. They’ve spent 3 years selling their best players to the extent that there’s very few players left that are any good. In all honesty, I can’t see one redeeming factor in their play and nothing to suggest there’s 3 teams worse than them. Going down.

Joe: AGREE

If Villa were to stay up then a victory against Norwich was crucial, but they found themselves down to 10 men (should have been 9!) and hanging on. Paul Lambert has a lot of cred amongst the footballing fraternity so people are not twisting the knife too much but deep down he must know that he is doomed this season.

Samer: AGREE

They’re running out of solutions. Paul Lambert has worked miracles with Norwich and Colchester in previous seasons. This time it might just be out of his reach. 

Lambert’s team at the moment isn’t anywhere near clicking. His top scorer starts on the bench and keeps sending out disgruntled messages; his backline could be playing for a U 21 team.  He’s got problems. They haven’t faced anyone tough in the league yet, bar Spurs.

Lambert is a good tactician and with one or two good signings in the winter window, he could pull off a good run of results to keep them up. Things at the moment look pretty tough and chances are pretty slim for them to stay up this year.

3) This could be the most exciting title race for ages

Nadim: DISAGREE

Genuinely think we’ll have a 3 horse race for the first time since 1999 (2002 race ended 1 month before conclusion).

Chelsea have improved a great deal while both City and United have looked shaky at times. United are the weakest of the 3 but have the best manager and that will to win of theirs (as well as other factors in their favor). It’s hard to separate the 3 teams, and I think it could well come down to head to head games between them. It’ll go to the wire.

But not to the 93^rd minute of the last game of the season. As such, disagree.

Joe:AGREE

With the organized chaos that both Manchester clubs appear to indulge in when chasing the league added to Chelsea’s in house drama, this season is all set to be another exciting one right to then end.

No team will run away with the league. Question marks over how much Spurs or Arsenal can chip in as Spurs have previous for caving in but if we have 4 teams still in it come December and then 3 by March the neutrals are in for a treat.

Samer: AGREE

The big three are favorites, but it’s hard to ignore how much of a role Arsenal and Tottenham may have in the title race. I do believe Arsenal does have an outside chance, but it’s a small chance, it’s nice to believe though.

 City have been stuttering, but still getting the results. United have started strong and Chelsea before yesterday were absolutely flying, although their fixture list has been kind to them. The league starts to shape up around December, Come May, one of that list will be crowned champion, one thing’s for sure, and it won’t be as easy many think.

It’s going to be a long, controversial and enjoyable title race.

4) Luis Suarez is the most entertaining player in the league

Nadim: AGREE

Love him or hate him (and I don’t know of a single Red who doesn’t love him and a single non Red who doesn’t hate him), the boy is great value.

You can’t take your eye off him. He’s the sort of player who gets you off your seat the minute he gets on the ball if he’s on your team. Concurrently, he must scare the living daylights out of you if he’s playing against you.

And you’ve got all that other stuff coming with him, the dive yesterday was pure comedy gold. His reactions to decisions at times are hilarious. If he was in the WWE, you’d pay good money to watch him get beaten up. The perfect villain but so entertaining.

Joe: AGREE

Entertaining but not necessarily the best because on current form, that title would go to Juan Mata who is the best player for the best team as the current table stands.

Suarez is giving fans the pantomime villain that they have craved since Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2009. Fans will go to games ready to goad him, defenders too. One thing for sure though is that he is a marvel to watch, no quiet moment when he is on the pitch.

Samer: AGREE

I have to admit; he’s got a great touch, lovely movement, tremendous skill and can probably  be called the Premier League’s nutmeg king.

 He does have a negative side to him, many would call him being singled out or victimized, but if you see the series of incidents he involves himself in, he doesn’t do himself any favors.

He is dirty with undoubted ability and skill. If anyone were to ask me if he was the best footballer in the Premier League, I’d say no but he’d be in the top 5.

On the entertainment side in general, he’s undisputed number 1 – with only PL referee’s being his out and out rival.

5) Stoke and Sunderland are the worst teams to watch in the Premier League

Nadim:AGREE

They’re just atrocious to watch.

I’ve watched 4 Sunderland games and seen them create 2 chances. Sessegnon is the only player with any creativity in that side and he’s had an awful start to the season. They rely heavily on their wingers who are giving them nothing at the moment.

Stoke are a bit more fun, simply because their style of play is such a relic to days gone by and there’s usually a good atmosphere at the Britannia. But God knows what they do in training. Kick, long ball, header, throw in, tackle, foul. Do they work on anything else? Do they even have coaches? Surely they don’t need them.

Joe:AGREE

Sunderland will move into November with only 1 player registering a goal as Stephen Fletcher…

A shocking stat.

Even the generous refereeing which resulted in them facing 10 men for the majority of the Tyne-Wear derby could not allow them to buck this trend and they needed an own goal to help them out. I would hate to support them.

But not as much as I would hate to support Stoke. Pulis claims to be attempting to adapt their style… really? With the players he has at his disposal don’t expect any tika taka anytime soon.

Samer: AGREE

Stoke usually are at the bottom of my watching list, unless they’re playing against us. Regardless my personal opinion about Stoke, they always have come across as big bullying footballers who have zero tolerance for mistakes. Even when they added players with pace and flair, their game focuses on being the bigger bully.

It’s been a rough and boring start to the season for both teams, Even MOTD chose to play their game last and it’s going to be a long season for both clubs’ supporters.

Until there’s some sort of improvement, it’ll be a long time before any “neutral” supporter will want to be watching one of their games.

 So there you have it, 3 conclusions from the weekend out of 5 that a Liverpool, Arsenal and United fan agree on. Please leave us your comments should you have any.

The Whole World's Watching

Please follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/DimmyBad and read 3 previous posts which will give you background on today's article here: http://diminbeirut.typepad.com/my-blog/corruption-and-influence-peddling-in-english-football/

It’s amazing how us “paranoids” keep managing to predict the future isn’t it?

Today, Manchester United beat Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.

Not a single football fan across the world is talking about anything other than Mark Clattenburg’s refereeing performance in that game.

Readers of this blog will not have been surprised by the referee’s performance. They will have known exactly what to expect during that game today and even the most skeptical will surely be scratching their heads.

Clattenburg had gone 38 games without refereeing Manchester United. His previous United game was the 6-1 thrashing by rivals Man City at Old Trafford. He sent Johnny Evans off in a match that Alex Ferguson described as “the most embarrassing defeat of my career”.

For 38 games, Clattenburg was not handed a single United game to referee. Not a single league game, not a single cup game. That stat alone tells us nothing: he’s also gone a while without officiating Arsenal or Liverpool games. His performance today, however, tells us a great deal.

Clattenburg has now become the latest in an ever lengthening line of referees who have officiated a United loss, gone a long time without reffing them, then on their return give game changing decisions to Alex Ferguson’s side.

Like Chris Foy, who took charge of a United defeat and went a year without reffing United in the league. During that time, Foy reffed 2 United cup games, giving them penalties in both and sending off Vincent Kompany in one.

Like Phil Dowd, who reffed a United loss, then gave them a penalty in the next game he took charge of which earned United a draw and their 19th league title.

Like Mike Jones, who after falsely awarding Demba Ba a penalty at Old Trafford, gave United 2 penalties in 2-0 home win against Stoke during his subsequent visit to Old Trafford. The list is neverending.

I’m not going to keep repeating myself, all that info is in my 3 previous articles. Halsey, Atkinson, Wiley, Oliver, Webb… There’s enough there to at least make you think Man United are the world champions of coincidences.

The point is this:

Clattenburg sends a United player off in an embarrassing loss at home, and gets a 38 game absence from United games. Is there anyone out there who believes that after his performance at Stanford Bridge, he’ll go 38 games without taking charge of United again?

Anyone?

United fans keep commenting on these articles, telling people that all of this is just a coincidence.

They cite examples at other clubs, in other eras. I ask United fans the following:

Was today yet another coincidence? And if so, aren’t you just a tiny bit suspicious about the fact that these coincidences keep piling up?

Some people have asked why, when the facts are so blatant and suspicions so widely held by the entire global premier league fanbase, is nothing ever done?

England is a country where the powerful protect the powerful.

It’s a country where innocent people (the Guilford 4 and Birmingham 6) were put in jail for decades by authorities who knew they were innocent of the crimes they were convicted of.

England is a country where the truth is withheld from the general population, until the people implicated either die or retire.

The truth about Hillsborough was known 1 year after the event. It’s only 23 years later that the media has spread the information to the wider population. During that time, some key people that could have been convicted passed away. They were protected by other people in power. Meanwhile, the reputations of the deceased were tarnished, their deaths used as banter at football grounds by people either wholly let down by their country’s media or just spiteful.

For decades, Jimmy Savile was allowed to molest children and was protected by people in power. From the BBC, to the police, to the media and to God knows who else… They all played a role in making sure Savile was able to prey on his victims in peace. They made sure the truth would only come out after his death.

That’s England. It’s extremely similar to every single other country on earth. The politically powerful protect the politically powerful everywhere in the world. The media help facilitate this arrangement. Police forces, politicians,  big business, the press and other powerful people constantly work together in mutually beneficial arrangements.

Unlike other world citizens though, the English are sometimes shocked to discover this fact. All these instances I mentioned above came as a shock to the general population- whose trust in their institutions is unwavering.

The powerful protect the powerful. It’s a fact of life.

It’s how Lance Armstrong managed to cheat for so long without investigations. His acussers were called paranoid too and bullied too. Remind you of anyone?

Power talks.

There are very few men in the world more powerful than Rupert Murdoch, the man who finances the global juggernaut that is the premier league through Sky Tv. No man stands more to lose from any investigation into corruption in his cash cow. No newspapers in England are as powerful as his disgusting “The Sun”.

No man in football is more politically powerful than Alex Ferguson. This is a man who was awarded a knighthood on the recommendation of Tony Blair- who Ferguson helped during his 1997 campaign for prime minister. Read Allaistar Campbell’s diaries. It’s all there. Ferguson was constantly on the phone to Campbell asking what he could do to help.

As a reward, Ferguson got knighted. By the Queen of England. That was 13 years ago. God knows what other contacts he’s made during that time. And he didn't even have someone in the FA then.

No football club CEO in England is more powerful than Manchester United’s David Gill, who has now been promoted to VICE CHAIRMAN of the FA who also wants him as their member on Uefa’s executive committee.

And no man was more power in assigning and demoting referees than Mike Riley, the head of the PGMOB. A man whose allegiances to Man United were so suspect that David Moyes wanted him investigated. A man who was appointed a few months after Ferguson heavily criticized his predecessor.

Power protects power. But nothing will ever be done. This is England.

We all have to wait until Ferguson retires (or passes away) , a seismic change happens in the FA and PGMOB or for, by miracle, certain journalists grow some balls and actually delve right into this.

Until then expect many more Mark Clattenburgs. Expect the game you love, the club you adore and the league you follow to forever be at the mercy of backroom deals, strange referee selections and decisions. Expect many more weekends spent scratching your head, wondering just how more coincidences it will take for people to wake up.

The whole world’s watching…

 

Power and Glory

Please follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/DimmyBad

(Please read the first 2 posts in this series which will give you some background on what we will be discussing: Part 1 http://diminbeirut.typepad.com/my-blog/2012/09/the-truth-is-out-there.html and Part 2 http://diminbeirut.typepad.com/my-blog/2012/10/corruption-and-influence-peddling-in-the-english-game.html). Also check out the follow up, after Clattenburg's return to reffing United: http://diminbeirut.typepad.com/my-blog/2012/10/the-whole-worlds-watching.html

First off, let me offer my congratulations to David Gill.

For those who missed it, it was announced this week that Gill is to replace Sir Dave Richards as the FA’s vice chairman. The confirmation of his promotion from board member to vice chairman will come at the next FA Council meeting. According to reports, this promotion is due to the FA’s desire to get Gill, Manchester United CEO, a place on Uefa’s executive committee, representing the English FA’s interests.

Well done Mr. Gill.

This rounds off another strange week in the wacky world of the FA. A week which saw them give their written reasons for banning John Terry for 4 games (half the punishment given to Luis Suarez), get called “a bunch of twats” by Ashley Cole, launch the modern Saint George Park which they hope will take England coaching into the next century (this is the organization that hired Roy Hodgson and Stuart Pearce as managers of the senior side and under 21 team) and refuse to give bans to Cheik Tiote, Robert Huth and Robin Van Persie for violent incidents.

The last one is particularly strange. The FA has shown in the past they will not hesitate to charge a player for off the ball violent conduct. They proved that last year when they banned the Italian Mario Baloteli for a stamp on England’s Scott Parker (the same game where the Englishman Jolean Lescott got no retrospective punishment for forearm smashing France’s Younes Kaboul…).

But enough about the FA for now, though we’ll come back to them later on.

After my last 2 posts got some amazing coverage (75,000 hits in a few days) and Chris Foy’s demotion to League 2 sent Twitter inTO a frenzy, the chief football correspondent of the Rupert Murdoch owned TheTimes, Tony Evans, wrote a piece rejecting the possibility of any pro Manchester United conspiracy. Evans stressed that referee selections were made 6 weeks in advance and thus Foy’s League 2 assignment had nothing to do with his United performance.

I found this strange: if this is true, why are assignments only announced the Monday before games? And, more to the point, how does the PGMOB actually demote referees? Doesn’t a single demotion affect the careful 6 weeks planning done?

Check this link http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/fans/faqs/when-are-referees-selected.html. The PGMOB themselves say that referees are selected for games based on several factors including their current form and how many times they reffed a club before.

How is possible then that these selections are made 6 weeks early? It just doesn’t make any sense at all. How does someone’s form leading up to mid-January earn him a big match in March? And if they take in consideration how many times a ref has taken charge of a team, why was Howard Webb (a referee who's given United 9 penalties in 32 games but only 10 to Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in 100 matches)  given the last United game of the season at Sunderland last term, when he’d already refereed them more than anyone else previously?

Something is not right.

In my last post, we focused on current PGMOB head Mike Riley’s record refereeing Manchester United games. Riley became head of the PGMOB in 2009. The man he replaced was Keith Hackett.

Here is a quote about Hackett from the Manchester United manager after their Cup loss to Portsmouth in 2008. ‘I don’t think he’s doing his job properly and he needs to be assessed. He’s got his favourites, as everyone knows. You look at the refs we get away from home – Steve Bennett, Mark Clattenburg, Phil Dowd, all these people – we never get them at home, always away, and I think that tells you everything about him (Hackett). Clattenburg – oh, Jesus, God.”

(Poor Mark Clattenburg, remember, is the man who took charge of City’s 6-1 win at Old Trafford and hasn’t been assigned a United game for 36 premier league matches since)

A year later, Hackett was gone. Replaced with a man whose allegiance to Man United the Everton manager (and close friend of Ferguson) David Moyes wanted investigated. Like Alain Wiley (the ref in charge of the 4-1 Liverpool win at United), Hackett retired just months after heavy criticism from Ferguson.

“Coincidence”. Again.

Let’s now look at some stats. We saw in the 2 previous posts how long referees who took charge of Ferguson’s team went before being assigned them again. We saw how certain referees got demoted after making mistakes in United games (Atkinson,Jones) or simply officiating their defeats (Foy).

More to the point, we saw how referees Ferguson criticized were subsequently treated. We looked at United’s title winning 10/11 season, where they only lost 4 games and how 2 of those refs went a year without taking charge of them again (with 2 being demoted) while another went 9 months.

United’s title rivals that season were Arsenal and Chelsea. They lost 17 league games combined that season, under 10 different referees. Only 1 referee went a year without getting assigned one of their games (Mike Jones who took charge of Stoke’s victory against Arsenal late in the season and wouldn’t ref them again in the league till late last in the next term).

A huge majority of the refs would get another Blues or Gunners game just a few weeks after reffing a defeat. Certain refs would ref 2 defeats in a row and still get assigned to them a few weeks later.

What’s more striking, in comparison to United, is when referees made heavy blunders in a Chelsea or Arsenal game, there was no punishment.

For example, Phil Dowd took charge of the 4-4 Newcastle Arsenal game where he gave 2 ridiculous penalties to the Toon and sent off Abou Diaby. His next Arsenal game came just 6 weeks later. Would such controversial decisions against United game get him assigned a match at Old Trafford so soon after? It’s highly unlikely, just ask Martin Atkinson.

Liverpool lost 14 league games that season under the guise of 10 referees. Only one referee went a considerable amount of time without being assigned to them again: Michael Oliver who took charge of Kenny Dalglish’s first premier league game after his return at Blackpool, and would go 11 months without another LFC premier league game.

But, again, a big number of refs who took charge of LFC defeats would get another game assigned to them shortly. Howard Webb, Liverpool’s number 1 refereeing nemesis, took charge of the win against Chelsea just a few weeks after officiating the Goodison Derby loss.

The season before that, Rafa Benitez had criticized 2 referees for their performances in Liverpool games: Phil Dowd who took charge of the opening league defeat at Spurs and Lee Mason who sent 2 reds players off in a 3-1 loss to Fulham. Both reffed LFC games a couple of months after. Mason sent Javier Mascherano off in his next Liverpool game (also a defeat) and still got handed another Reds game to officiate a few weeks later.

Of course, this is all one season. And United only lost 4 games so the sample is small. But we saw in the last post what happened the next season: the demotion Mike Jones suffered after giving Demba Ba an imaginary penalty at Old Trafford as well as how long Clattenburg has gone without reffing United after the 6-1 loss to City. And of course, the brilliant “coincidence” of Chris Foy reffing a League 2 game for the first time in 5 years after taking charge of Spurs 3-2 win at Old Trafford.

And for people who still think the refereeing selection process is on the straight and narrow, please explain to me why poor old Mark Clattenburg was not given an Everton game to referee for an insanely long FIVE years after he took charge of the stormy Merseyside derby in 2007. Even considering Clattenburg’s year long absence from the game, surely under the PGMOB publically released criteria, he should have gotten an Everton game before 2012.

The selection process is flawed, full of contradictions and needs to be a lot more transparent. Other clubs may also have cases of referees going a long time without games: but as we saw in 2010/11, they’re very rare cases and are nowhere near as common as with United.

And more to the point, while it sometimes happens, a few things are unique to United.

Not a single referee has claimed that the FA is reticent to assign refs to matches where the club’s manager has criticized them (as Jeff Winter did about United). No ref has claimed he was banned from another club’s games for 2 years, like Jeff Winter did about United. No premier league club has its CEO promoted to Vice chairman of the FA and pushed for a leading role in UEFA. No club has had its ties with the head of the PGMOB put under question by the Everton manager. And no other club’s manager’s criticism of an official’s fitness (Alain Wiley) and PGMOB head performance (Keith Hackett) lead to the retirement of both individuals soon after.

The details that have come out in the case of Lance Armstrong have surely taught us one major lesson: It is extremely unhealthy to have a single individual hold so much power inside a sport.

This could lead to abuses of power, bullying, a culture of fear, influence peddling and pure corruption. After all the numerous “coincidences” we’ve seen in these 3 posts, the fact that Alex Ferguson’s political connections after decades in charge of England biggest team are far reaching, the constant bullying of journalists who dare ask a semi hard question as well as the comments from ex referee Jeff Winter then surely one has to wonder whether the squeaky clean English Premier League is anything but.

And thus, crucially, whether the FA’s desire to give David Gill even MORE power within the domestic and European game is a smart thing to do.

 

Thanks to Samer Faroukh, @SamerF89 for stats analysis, www.soccerbase.com for referee stats and Daniel Rhodes for his wonderful article on Alex Ferguson at www.tomkinstimes.com which alerted me to the Keith Hackett story.