Say ‘NO’ To The International Break

By Lee Jaundrell   4/10/11

I love football, I love Premier League football and I really love Liverpool fc, and I have to wait 2 weeks for our next game. Liverpool have just won their last 2 games, against Wolves and away to Everton, our form is decent and maybe we could go on a run. Our next game is at home to our biggest rivals Man Utd. This International break is an inconvenience to the players and an inconvenience to us fans.

Why can’t all international football be played at the end of the season?

Surely this would benefit everyone, and for a number of reasons. Firstly, from an England point of view, since the poor performance in the World Cup last year, numerous fans have fallen out of love with the national team. Capello’s tactics along with several key players underperforming have left fans disaffected. A qualifying tournament every odd numbered year, with 6 to 8 games played over a 4 to 5 week period in May/June would bring international football to the forefront of everyone’s minds. It would allow managers time to get their players to gel as a team, and hopefully produce better football.

Secondly, injuries would affect the national teams and not their clubs. Liverpool over the years have suffered more than most. I remember John Barnes rupturing his achilles in 1992 playing for England, and was out for 6 months, Jamie Redknapp always seemed to get injured playing for England, Steven Gerrard recently messed up his groin in an England game which he is just coming back from, and Fernando Torres got injured 3 or 4 times while away with Spain. Obviously major injuries affect everyone, but the odd strained calf or pulled hamstring would not affect the clubs paying the players wages. There's nothing more annoying than your star player or players coming back from international duty injured.

Thirdly, and most importantly, the Premier League season would not be interrupted. I don’t know about you but I’m bored and it’s only Tuesday. I’ll have to watch rugby and other sports at the weekend and I may even have to talk to the wife.

While we’re changing international football, we should change the European Qualifying format. There are just too many games. Too many pointless games. What do Andorra, San Marino etc. gain from being thrashed every match? A 2-0 defeat for San Marino against, say, Austria would be treated as a victory. Surely, San Marino would gain more from a ‘competitive’ match against Andorra, than 8 games losing 5-0 in each. San Marino’s current record in qualifying for 2012 Euro is played 9, lost 9, scored 0, conceded 49.

24 teams will take part in the 2016 European Championship, bear with me while I explain how I think the qualifying should work;-

The hosts France qualify, well as hosts.

Leaving 23 places. There are 52 teams wanting to qualify, and I propose breaking this up into 11 groups of 4, with 8 teams missing out. Therefore, first and second in each group qualifies and the best third place. The teams that finish forth (last) in each group would have to enter a preliminary qualifying round against the 8 teams who missed out to gain entry to the qualifying for the next major tournament.

The 8 teams missing out will be the worst performing teams in the previous qualifying tournament, currently the 8 worst teams are;- Andorra, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino and (sorry) Wales.

This leaves every team a 6 match qualifying tournament, which should be played in a 4/5 week period at the end of the season after a couple of friendlies as preparation.

The Premier League season wouldn’t be interrupted, and interest at the end of the season for international football would be immense compared with fans reaction towards the current qualifying tournament.

'Football is a simple game complicated by people who should know better' Bill Shankly

Four Four F*****g Two

By Lee Jaundrell   3/10/11

Before I start rambling about football tactics, I would just like say that I am not really qualified to write about tactics, I am not Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian and author of various books nor am I Zonal Marking of ZonalMarking.net. In fact, the following analysis will most likely be a load of tosh not worth the paper err Internet thingy it’s written on. And now that I have lowered your expectations, I shall begin;-

4-4-2 used to be the default tactic of pretty much every team in England, nowadays the most common formation is 4-2-3-1, but are we heading back to the old fashioned 4-4-2? A number of Premier League sides have played 4-4-2 this season, from Man Utd at the top of the league to Bolton at the bottom. 

Man Utd have obviously done well so far this season, playing Young & Nani either side of Anderson & Fletcher/Cleveley in a 4 man midfield with Rooney up front with either Hernandez or Wellbeck. Going forward it has been very successful but defensively they haven’t been as strong as recent years, although this could have something to do with Vidic being missing and Ferdinand coming to the end of his playing days. 

Liverpool have varied their tactics and formation this season and last, but with Carroll and Suarez so expensively put together, it looks likely that 4-4-2 will be the future of this reds team. Liverpool’s form has been indifferent, so far, with a poor second half against (a 4-4-2) Wolves and also a shocking performance away to (a 4-4-2) Tottenham, but they are currently on target to finish in the top 4.

Also playing 4-4-2 is Tottenham who now they have Parker and Adebayor in their team have performed very well and look very likely to carry on this way having beaten their two main rivals (Arsenal and Liverpool) for a Champions League spot. 

But Bolton, accepting their difficult start, have underperformed, and West Brom having played very well with a 5 man midfield and 1 up front under Hodgson (and Di Matteo) last season, have struggled this season with the addition of, the very good, Shane Long playing Hodgson’s two banks of 4 and 2 up top.

Will this be the norm as this season goes on? Man Utd have given up plenty of chances to the opposition, but have the players to change their tactics. Liverpool haven’t dominated games as they would of liked, and also have a strong squad this year with options to revert back to 4-2-3-1. Bolton and West Brom don’t have as many options to change things. Once the excellent Stuart Holden comes back from his injuries Bolton’s midfield is strengthened, while West Brom have tried Odemwingie wide in a midfield 5 away to Everton in the Carling Cup and probably played some of their best football so far this season.

It would appear that 4-4-2 isn’t dead just yet......

Jordan Henderson - Is he all that?

By Lee Jaundrell   1/10/11

When I first read Liverpool were likely to be signing Jordan Henderson for around £16million, I wouldn’t say I was unimpressed rather I was kind of indifferent. He was a player I had heard of, I player I knew I had seen play when watching Sunderland matches, but I couldn’t really say what kind of player he was. He never stood out in the games I saw. The thing I hear most about Henderson is that he goes missing, and I can’t disagree with that view.

I tried to take more notice of him during the Under 21 tournament in the summer, but found myself drifting away from actually watching him, and yes he went missing. He is still young, turned 21 in the summer, and has two full Premier League seasons in the bag. Also, Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli both know more about football than I do, so I have to give young Jordan a chance.

Having now seen him play several times in the red shirt of Liverpool, I can say the lad has ability. He has a good touch, plays with his head up, and has plenty of energy. He scored a quality goal against Bolton, with his wrong foot, and although he missed a couple of chances when through on goal against Stoke, he had the pace, energy and awareness to make the run and get himself in the position to score. Yet the majority of Liverpool fans would have Dirk Kuyt in the team instead.

At 21 does Henderson just need time in the team, another season playing 30 odd games at this level, helping him develop into the player Dalglish obviously believes he can become. There are plenty of examples of players taking time to settle in top teams, some taking half a season, such has Evra and Vidic, or even a full season such as Pires at Arsenal. Looking closer to home a good example of a player taking time to settle is Liverpool’s very own Lucas Leiva, who was a target for the boo boys for a number of seasons, before finally looking very adept last year, and winning the supporter’s player of the season award.

Lucas came out in defence of Henderson recently saying,"I don't blame the young players because I have been in their position for a few years," the Brazilian said. "He is English and has already adapted to the Premier League.

"But to change your club and move to a big place like Liverpool is difficult. I think he is playing well. He will get confidence when he gets more minutes and understands the role he needs to do more.

"We just have to keep encouraging him and give him the confidence to keep improving."

Also, would Henderson get more time to adapt, from the fans, if he had been born in Bootle, and come through the Liverpool ranks. The likes of Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly have not been criticised in their fledgling careers to the extent that Henderson has been in just a few games.

In conclusion, Henderson obviously has plenty of qualities, yes he goes missing, but he is still young and learning the game. He will get the best coaching possible at Liverpool, and us fans must put our trust in Kenny Dalglish and get behind the lad, who could just possibly become a Liverpool great, or at least a very good dependable player for years to come, just like Lucas Lieva. A good place to start would be at Goodison Park today.

The 10 Best Premier League Players Right Now

By Lee Jaundrell   30/9/11

An unbiased view (well I tried to be unbiased)

No.10 - Yohan Cabaye - Newcastle

When everyone predicted a tough start, the former captain of the French Champions settled everything down and help move the geordies into the top 4. I’d have him in my team ahead of Nolan or Barton any day.

No. 9 - Edin Dzeko - Man City

Did you see the 4 goals against Spurs?

No. 8 - Nani - Man Utd

A bit of a pansy but sure knows how to light up a game with skill, flair and finishing ability

No. 7 - Ramires - Chelsea

A slow start to his Chelsea career last season, but looks every inch a Brazilian international now. Hard working box to box midfielder who is scoring his fair share of goals too.

No. 6 - Sergio Aguero - Man City

Scoring goals for fun in the new look attacking Man City team, and looking worth every penny of the £38million they paid for him. An off game against Bayern keeps him out of the top 5

No. 5 - Ashley Young - Man Utd

Young has fitted straight into Man Utd. He looked a good player at Villa, but looks a great player at Utd, linking brilliantly with Rooney.

No. 4 - Vincent Komany - Man City

Unsung hero (though not to me) of Man City’s great start to the season, a rock in their defence. The guy is achieving everything Football Manager 05 predicted for him.

No. 3 - Luis Suarez - Liverpool

Every Liverpool fan I know would have him at number 1, and they wouldn’t swap him for any other player in the world with the exception of Messi. The guy is just mental. An example of Suarez’s character can be epitomised by one moment in the game against Bolton, leading 3-0 the game done and dusted, Jaaskelainen picked up what looked to be a back pass. Suarez claimed profusely to the referee, the linesman, to everyone he could, like it was the final minute of a World Cup final poised at 0-0, and the Liverpool fans loved him for it.

No. 2 - Wayne Rooney - Man Utd

Held off from the number 1 spot due to currently being injured, though a return is imminent. Rooney is in the form of his life, scoring goals for fun, and dominating every opposition he is coming up against. This isn’t a vintage Man Utd team around him, which makes his achievements so far this season even more remarkable. 

No. 1 - David Silva - Man City

Just watch him, just watch him play football. The movement, the passing, the vision. He is delight to watch and I would presume a delight to play with. How good is the Spain midfield if this gem of a player isn’t guaranteed a place in their starting line up?

He is scoring goals, he is creating goals, and he is a constant menace. The way he floats across the field, always looking for space between the opposition’s defence and midfield is astounding, head up searching for that little pass, or a sway of the hips to open up a shooting chance for himself. Class

And the worst... Carlos Tevez - Man City

No matter how good a player you are when you’re on the pitch, you’re no better than me (I’m not even good enough to be described as a pub player) when you’re sat on the bench refusing to play.