As Sepp Blatter ponders over a possible player quota to be imposed on teams playing in the Champions League, I'm starting to have some thoughts of my own on the matter.
Before that, I would like to congratulate Manchester United for winning the 2008 UEFA Champions League with six English players in the starting lineup for the final, and Chelsea, for starting with four. Both teams had no English players on the bench. It was a true, honest victory for English football in Moscow.
It was certainly a step up from last year when Liverpool started three, with Peter Crouch the lone Englishman on the bench, as opposed to AC Milan, who fielded only four foreign players, with another four on the bench, though it was an improvement from the same tie in 2005, when Milan started only four Italians and Liverpool only two Englishmen.
The 2006 Champions League Final between Barcelona and Arsenal was bad, because I didn't know who the players were playing for. Only a disappointing 5 out of the 22 starting the game were from their respective club's countries.
I feel that it is the duty of the clubs and football associations to ensure that their respective national teams have ample supply of quality players. The English Premier League may have the best league in the world at the moment, but the England national team is doing badly because of the lack of quota and restrictions on foreign players in the league.
The English Premier League places no quota over the number of foreign players, and this ruling has been used to the greatest effect by Gianluca Vialli's 'Italian' Chelsea and Arsene Wenger's 'French' Arsenal in the late 1990s.
Wenger continues to employ a fully-foreign lineup for majority of his campaign, and it is he and his young team who would be hurt most if the quota is imposed. Of all the players that Arsenal are linked to this summer, none of them are English.
Having said that, I really salute Fabio Capello for looking across the Premier League for players to call up to the England team instead of just focusing on these four clubs who have been playing in the Champions League for the past few seasons.
The Premier League, undoubtedly, has the most excellent marketing strategies for a football league, but in their search for more consumers they completely ignore the need to help in the development in their own national team.
If the English FA wants to have a successful national team, then they really need to start looking into Blatter's quota idea.
Italy is a prime example of how well the quota has worked for them. The Serie A is often looked down upon by the EPL fans, simply because they do not play the exciting football they want to watch, but the Italians' style of play and the quota imposed on foreign players meant that there were more opportunities available for the Italians.
In the Italian National Under-21 side, ALL of the players are regulars in the Serie A/B clubs they play in. They are exposed to the highest possible level of football at such a young age, which is difficult for the Big Four to do because they have so many better foreign players they need to satisfy. Future stars on the level of their seniors Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo and Alex Del Piero, are aplenty in this Under-21 side.
Both England and Italy are doing well in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifiers, but the only English U-21 players who have been performing well are Gabriel Agbonlahor, Theo Walcott and Tom Huddlestone. Agbonlahor and Huddlestone are players of potential and they need to be at bigger clubs than they already are. Walcott simply isn't going to do well in an Arsenal side where he is a second string player due to his manager's preference for foreign players. England is currently leading their qualifying group now, and just imagine the immense potential of a group of players who do well on the youth international level, who could bring a whole new dimension to the club's style of play, but they are being deprived of their chances by the influx of foreign players.
Compare this to the Italians, they too, are leading their group, but they have already established youngsters like Giuseppe Rossi (Villareal), Sebastiano Giovinco (Empoli/Juventus), Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari), Arturo Lupoli (Treviso/Fiorentina) and Andrea Russotto (Treviso), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (Fiorentina), Michele Paolucci (Atalanta), Domenico Criscito (Genoa/Juventus), Lorenzo De Silvestri (Lazio) and the list could go. All these players are major performers for club and country.
It is no wonder, at the present moment, the Italians on the international stage are a force to be reckoned with, on both the senior and youth levels.
To begin with, England has never been a force to reckon with in world football. They also need very much to kick the 'superior' mentality and start focusing on the football they play. England could really pick up a few pointers from their Italian friends, even more so now that their coach is an Italian himself, who has won the league title with every team he has coached. Five times with Milan, once with Roma, twice with Real Madrid and twice with Juventus (though these were later erased due to the Calciopoli scandal). Capello was also at the helm of an underdog Milan side which beat Johan Cruijff and Romario's Barcelona 4-0 in the 1994 UEFA Champions League Final.
Speaking of a much older final, past UEFA regulations only allowed a maximum of three non-nationals to be fielded in Champions League games. However this rule seemingly disappeared in 1998, when Real Madrid fielded only four Spanish players in their 1-0 win over then-defending champions Juventus in the final.
But well, having said so much, I should always remember the initial objective of the Premier League was to encourage investment from sponsors, and generate revenue for the owners and clubs. Money, money, money.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
The 4-3-2-1 Formation.. According to Carletto
The 4-3-2-1 formation as devised by Carlo Ancelotti for A.C. Milan.
With many thanks to vasilli07 from Hardwarezone.
The 4:3:1:2 according to...Carlo Ancelotti.
What about 4:3:1:2 formation?
Its the formation we use with Juventus, but it has adapted so that we can exploit the skills of each player.
Why do you use it?
Because it's a formation that allows us to cover the wings with the players and not in a static way as we did last year. In fact, last year our game was more static and we had the tendency to center the game. Today we can be less predictable on the wings and alternate a lateral game to a central game.
What's the advantage?
As I've said before, the lateral wings are covered in a dynamic way because during the attacking stage there aren't static positions.
What are the problems?
Sometimes it's hard to close down the wings and to play as the fifth man during the defensive stage.
This might create some problems during the fast changes of game..
Of course. But if the back player doesn't have a man to mark, he can come out on the midfield players, otherwise he stays together with the defenders. If the opposing midfield players is way behind, he'll get cover by one of our midfield players. If the opposing midfield player stays ahead, then he'll be covered by our back player.
Do you let the makeshift striker come between the three midfield players?
No, because I think that we should ask for long runs from the makeshift strikers during the defensive stage. But it's obvious that they also have to be included in the defensive action.
How?
If the opponents have a defense with three men, the final third player marks the central defender and the forwards more towards the other two opposing defenders. If the opponents defend with four men, the makeshift striker closes (during a lateral pass) down the opposing midfield player near the ball.
What are the themes you follow during the attacking stage?
The width of the field has to be taken by the two fullbacks, who must have offensive skills. This is true also for the lateral midfield players, who must be able to move. If neither the fullbacks nor the midfield players can control the width of the field, one of the two forward will gurantee the control with a player positioned in the final third will move next to the other forward to reassemble the position. We must say that when the ball is in our half of the field, our "director" is the player positioned in front of defense, whereas in the other half of the field it's the makeshift striker who has to be seen. The reason is that with this formation the player in front of the defense has defensive duties and must help to build the game from the back. Unlike the two lateral midfield players he doesn't move forward too much. He has to take advantage of the characteristics of the makeshift striker he's playing with.
What are these characteristics?
As usual, technical qualities (especially in offensive 1v1 situations) and tactical qualities of penetrating balls and playing between the midfield line and the opposing defense, I also want to say that I prefer (as my other coaches) to have a fast forward, whereas the other is strong physically.
What if the reverse the problem and we have to face a makeshift striker?
If we play with four players in the back,one fo them will focus primarily on the defensive stage. If we play with 3 players, our central defender could play with 1v1 situation.
Do you think it's useful to vary the formation during a match?
Only if the team has the knowlege to do it. Of course if you have to move from 4:3:1:2 to 4:4:2, it's not a problem. Otherwise I think it's better to avoid any improvisation.
How do you see the future of soccer?
There is less space to move for everyone. The teams have a very well organized defensive stage. In Italy we play a kind of soccer where we like to limit more than create. To play differently we should take some pressures off the coaches. The quality of the coaches is very good, but we don't always have the chance to work for a long period. To change this thing it would necessary to find a revolutionary.
With many thanks to vasilli07 from Hardwarezone.
The 4:3:1:2 according to...Carlo Ancelotti.
What about 4:3:1:2 formation?
Its the formation we use with Juventus, but it has adapted so that we can exploit the skills of each player.
Why do you use it?
Because it's a formation that allows us to cover the wings with the players and not in a static way as we did last year. In fact, last year our game was more static and we had the tendency to center the game. Today we can be less predictable on the wings and alternate a lateral game to a central game.
What's the advantage?
As I've said before, the lateral wings are covered in a dynamic way because during the attacking stage there aren't static positions.
What are the problems?
Sometimes it's hard to close down the wings and to play as the fifth man during the defensive stage.
This might create some problems during the fast changes of game..
Of course. But if the back player doesn't have a man to mark, he can come out on the midfield players, otherwise he stays together with the defenders. If the opposing midfield players is way behind, he'll get cover by one of our midfield players. If the opposing midfield player stays ahead, then he'll be covered by our back player.
Do you let the makeshift striker come between the three midfield players?
No, because I think that we should ask for long runs from the makeshift strikers during the defensive stage. But it's obvious that they also have to be included in the defensive action.
How?
If the opponents have a defense with three men, the final third player marks the central defender and the forwards more towards the other two opposing defenders. If the opponents defend with four men, the makeshift striker closes (during a lateral pass) down the opposing midfield player near the ball.
What are the themes you follow during the attacking stage?
The width of the field has to be taken by the two fullbacks, who must have offensive skills. This is true also for the lateral midfield players, who must be able to move. If neither the fullbacks nor the midfield players can control the width of the field, one of the two forward will gurantee the control with a player positioned in the final third will move next to the other forward to reassemble the position. We must say that when the ball is in our half of the field, our "director" is the player positioned in front of defense, whereas in the other half of the field it's the makeshift striker who has to be seen. The reason is that with this formation the player in front of the defense has defensive duties and must help to build the game from the back. Unlike the two lateral midfield players he doesn't move forward too much. He has to take advantage of the characteristics of the makeshift striker he's playing with.
What are these characteristics?
As usual, technical qualities (especially in offensive 1v1 situations) and tactical qualities of penetrating balls and playing between the midfield line and the opposing defense, I also want to say that I prefer (as my other coaches) to have a fast forward, whereas the other is strong physically.
What if the reverse the problem and we have to face a makeshift striker?
If we play with four players in the back,one fo them will focus primarily on the defensive stage. If we play with 3 players, our central defender could play with 1v1 situation.
Do you think it's useful to vary the formation during a match?
Only if the team has the knowlege to do it. Of course if you have to move from 4:3:1:2 to 4:4:2, it's not a problem. Otherwise I think it's better to avoid any improvisation.
How do you see the future of soccer?
There is less space to move for everyone. The teams have a very well organized defensive stage. In Italy we play a kind of soccer where we like to limit more than create. To play differently we should take some pressures off the coaches. The quality of the coaches is very good, but we don't always have the chance to work for a long period. To change this thing it would necessary to find a revolutionary.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Nike Unveils New Singapore Kits
the following is an article of mine which i wrote for KallangRoar.com and Nike, after attending the Lions Unleashed press conference which saw the new Singapore kits being unveiled.
Link to article
Basil Yeo
basil@kallangroar.com
SPORTSWEAR giant Nike unveiled the new national team kit for Singapore in a closed-door ceremony held at the Red Dot Traffic Museum this afternoon.
The launch of the kits could not have come at a better time, as the Lions face Asian Football Confederation newcomers Australia in a friendly on 22nd March, in preparation for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers game against Lebanon on the 26th.
Nike Southeast Asia's marketing director, Tim Parkinson, said that the launch is a sign of Nike's commitment towards its strategic partnership with the FAS in January 2007, allowing the Singapore national team access to all its premium products on and off the pitch.
The new kits incorporate the latest technology and performance credentials as worn by the world's best footballing nations such as Brazil, the Netherlands, South Korea and Portugal, and soon, France. The NikeFIT DRY Technology pulls sweat away from the body and aids in rapid evaporation, keeping the players dry and comfortable.
Also, the kit is constructed in a dynamic fit silhouette, which allows maximum movement and reduces shirt-pulling by opponents. The back of the kit features a zonal cooling technology which provides ventilation when players sweat.
Nike has taken all details into consideration, even making sure the seams along the shorts are heat-transferred to prevent chafing, maximising the player's potential.
Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, President of the FAS, added that the signing of the contract with Nike in January 2007 was the threshold of a new challenge for the Lions, and brought many firsts in for Singapore. Associate Professor Ho also believes that Nike's strive for excellence is also what propels the players to be proud, passionate and committed when wearing a Nike jersey emblazoned with the national flag.
Teenage prodigy Hariss Harun is overjoyed with the launch of the kit, as well as his first time appearing in an advertisement.
"I love the new kit. It keeps us cool and I feel very proud to be wearing it," said Hariss.
"This is also the first time I have been involved in an advertising campaign and I feel very privileged to be able to experience this."
National captain Indra Sahdan could not agree more, and said that this was the best kit he has ever worn in 11 years playing in the national team.
"This year's advertising campaign was more fun the last year's, because this year I am working with my team-mates, and we had a lot of fun as well," said the 29-year-old.
The 2008 Nike-Singapore integrated marketing communications campaign, "Unleashed", will begin today, together with the sale of the jerseys, related apparel and equipment in authorised Nike retail outlets as listed below:
Nike retail outlets:
Nike by B.I.R.D Suntec City Mall
#01-114/124 Suntec City Mall
Nike by B.I.R.D Vivocity
#01-138 Vivocity Mall
Nike by B.I.R.D Cineleisure
#03-08 Orchard Cineleisure
Nike Wheelock
#02-02/03 Wheelock Place
Nike @ Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2
#026-081 Airport Boulevard
Weston Corporation
#04-09 Peninsula Shopping Complex
#01-22 Queensway Shopping Centre
Link to article
Basil Yeo
basil@kallangroar.com
SPORTSWEAR giant Nike unveiled the new national team kit for Singapore in a closed-door ceremony held at the Red Dot Traffic Museum this afternoon.
The launch of the kits could not have come at a better time, as the Lions face Asian Football Confederation newcomers Australia in a friendly on 22nd March, in preparation for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers game against Lebanon on the 26th.
Nike Southeast Asia's marketing director, Tim Parkinson, said that the launch is a sign of Nike's commitment towards its strategic partnership with the FAS in January 2007, allowing the Singapore national team access to all its premium products on and off the pitch.
The new kits incorporate the latest technology and performance credentials as worn by the world's best footballing nations such as Brazil, the Netherlands, South Korea and Portugal, and soon, France. The NikeFIT DRY Technology pulls sweat away from the body and aids in rapid evaporation, keeping the players dry and comfortable.
Also, the kit is constructed in a dynamic fit silhouette, which allows maximum movement and reduces shirt-pulling by opponents. The back of the kit features a zonal cooling technology which provides ventilation when players sweat.
Nike has taken all details into consideration, even making sure the seams along the shorts are heat-transferred to prevent chafing, maximising the player's potential.
Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, President of the FAS, added that the signing of the contract with Nike in January 2007 was the threshold of a new challenge for the Lions, and brought many firsts in for Singapore. Associate Professor Ho also believes that Nike's strive for excellence is also what propels the players to be proud, passionate and committed when wearing a Nike jersey emblazoned with the national flag.
Teenage prodigy Hariss Harun is overjoyed with the launch of the kit, as well as his first time appearing in an advertisement.
"I love the new kit. It keeps us cool and I feel very proud to be wearing it," said Hariss.
"This is also the first time I have been involved in an advertising campaign and I feel very privileged to be able to experience this."
National captain Indra Sahdan could not agree more, and said that this was the best kit he has ever worn in 11 years playing in the national team.
"This year's advertising campaign was more fun the last year's, because this year I am working with my team-mates, and we had a lot of fun as well," said the 29-year-old.
The 2008 Nike-Singapore integrated marketing communications campaign, "Unleashed", will begin today, together with the sale of the jerseys, related apparel and equipment in authorised Nike retail outlets as listed below:
Nike retail outlets:
Nike by B.I.R.D Suntec City Mall
#01-114/124 Suntec City Mall
Nike by B.I.R.D Vivocity
#01-138 Vivocity Mall
Nike by B.I.R.D Cineleisure
#03-08 Orchard Cineleisure
Nike Wheelock
#02-02/03 Wheelock Place
Nike @ Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2
#026-081 Airport Boulevard
Weston Corporation
#04-09 Peninsula Shopping Complex
#01-22 Queensway Shopping Centre
Monday, March 10, 2008
Unlikely Hot Favourites
This year's FA Cup is looking set to be history in the making, as the only English Premier League team left in the tournament is Portsmouth, who knocked out hot favourites Manchester United on Saturday, thanks to a 78th minute penalty from Sulley Muntari.
Pompey not only knocked out the 11-time winners of the competition, but stole the hot favourites title from them as well, but the lesser clubs which remain should never be underestimated, as they have demonstrated the ability to knock out top flight teams like Liverpool, Chelsea and Middlesbrough.
The beauty of the FA Cup is definitely in the possibility of the bigger clubs being eliminated by the smaller clubs. This year's competition is living up to that beauty with so many upsets for the Premier League and so much joy for the lower league teams.
The first team to make fans sit up and take notice are non-leaguers Havant & Waterlooeville F.C., who beat League One side Swansea City 4-2 in a 3rd Round replay after initially drawing 1-1, and set up a 4th Round tie with Liverpool, shockingly going 2-0 up before going down 5-2.
The first EPL teams to be killed off were Derby County going out 4-1 to Preston North End (Championship), and Manchester City downed 2-1 by Sheffield United (Championship).
A bigger surprise was in store for the EPL fans as Liverpool were knocked out 2-1 by The Championship's Barnsley. Barnsley subsequently went on to knock out Chelsea 1-0 in the 6th Round to reach the Semi-Finals.
The remaining clubs who have qualified for the FA Cup Semi-Finals are Portsmouth and Cardiff City, who killed off Middlesbrough with two early goals within 25 minutes of the game which ended earlier this evening.
The only remaining League One side, Bristol Rovers, have avoided all top level opposition in their run to the 6th Round. They will face Championship side West Bromwich Albion, who are this close to repeating its unique feat of 1930/1931, when they won the FA Cup and promotion to the top flight in the same season, the only team to do so yet.
Out of all the teams which remain in the competition, only the Albion have tasted FA Cup glory more than once, winning the competition 5 times between 1888 and 1968.
The final 6th Round match will be played in just a few moments, and more updates on the FA Cup and early Semi-Final thoughts will come later.
Friday, February 29, 2008
FIFA Club World Cup - Singapore 2012?
According to an archived report from FIFA.com on 14 August 2007, bidding for the hosting duties for future editions of the FIFA Club World Cup after Japan 2008 will be opened to cities worldwide.
Just as the talks for the dreaded plans for an internationally-played 39th Premier League game highlighted Singapore as one of the possible destinations, it gave me an idea for something even better.
Top clubs will still travel here, but this would be more beneficial to Singapore than the English Premier League could ever give us - holding the FIFA Club World Cup right in our very own backyard.
With the Singapore Sports Hub due for completion in 2011, to be able to hold the FIFA Club World Cup there in December 2012 would be a boost to football, economy and tourism in Singapore.
Of course, all this can only be achieved, if most of the following factors are fulfilled, for FIFA to take our bid seriously.
- Singaporean clubs accepted into the AFC Champions League
- Singapore to qualify for the 4th round of the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers
- Indra Sahdan signs for Real Salt Lake and makes an impact in the MLS
- Sports facilities islandwide are gradually upgraded for the modern day sportsman
- The Singapore Grand Prix receives positive response from over the globe
The FIFA Club World Cup is probably the only FIFA-sanctioned professional level tournament that Singapore is able to handle, since only about 7 teams will be taking part in the entire tournament, which would last about 2 weeks.
Every game can be played at the 55000 capacity stadium, and the entire world will be watching the world's best teams play it out on our very own local grounds.
Just imagine our very own S-League champions pitted against continental champions from all over the world.
However, FAS needs to make a very confident and well thought out bid, and needs all the support from the relevant authorities' to ensure the sports facilities, MEDIA COVERAGE and infrastructure is at its very best.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Classy Italy Proves Its Strength And Depth
Once again, the World Champions were the source of Cristiano Ronaldo's distress as a confident but weakened Italy side beat Portugal 3-1 in a friendly in Zurich two days ago.
Goals from Toni, Cannavaro (through Pirlo) and Quagliarella sealed a victory for Italy. However it would have been 4-1 if not for a refeering error when Pirlo chested down a cross and hit the ball into the back of the net. The referee thought there had been a handball, though replays showed otherwise.
The biggest disappointment of the night was once again Portugese and Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who often crumbles under the pressure of such games. Aside from two heart-stopping free kicks which were saved by Marco Amelia, Ronaldo was merely a passenger in the entire game.
Flashbasck to seven months earlier, where Italian and AC Milan mad dog Gennaro Gattuso had reduced the Manchester United star to 'just another player' in the memorable Champions League semi-final tie between both clubs. Today, even with Gattuso injured, Ronaldo failed to live up to expectations, a shy of the speedy brilliance he usually exhibits in the Premier League.
Since the 2006 World Cup Final, Italy has changed much. Marcello Lippi, who led the team to the title, has been replaced with former Azzuri and Milan star Roberto Donadoni, with the veterans Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti having retired from the international duty since then.
Coupled with a Euro 2008 qualifying campaign which has seen the Italians coming out tops in their groups, only losing one game and convincingly beating group dark horses Scotland both home and away, they have continually proven their worth as the world champions.
The surprising omission of on-form Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano, as well as the injuries of Gattuso, Marco Materazzi and Franco Semioli had everybody fooled into thinking a Portugal side with Ronaldo, Deco and Quaresma were going to walk all over the world champions. However that was not the case.
Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Oddo, Luca Toni and especially Fabio Quagliarella proved deadly for the Portugese. Quagliarella, the 25-year-old Udinese hitman who has scored thrice in eight appearances for the Azzuri, has been a wonderful addition to the side.
The Italians are the reigning World Champions in football, in both the club and international, and the Italy team have proved that despite being weakened through injuries, they have reserve players good enough to beat a strong Portugese side, who recently have been earmarked as THE team to watch at Austria and Switzerland in June
Right now, the question is, how seriously will both teams take this scoreline in preparations for Euro, and how will they fare if they happen to meet again in June.
I'm going all out for yet another Azzuri victory.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Geylang United 4 Police S.A. 0
Geylang United's new signings helped them to a 4-0 win over NFL Division 1 team Police Sports Association.
A 5pm kickoff which was cooled by an earlier drizzle saw both Brazilians Rivaldo Costa and Junior hitting the back of the net, Slovak import Miroslav Latiak scoring from the spot and ASEAN Cup winner Masrezwan Masturi adding the fourth.
However this is definitely not Geylang at its full strength though, as it is just a pre-season friendly, and the amount of expectations for this revamped squad is high. Very high.
The Eagles will be travelling to Malaysia to play in four more friendlies before the commencement of the 2008 S-League season.
List of friendlies and dates:
26/01/2008 - Chinese Recreation Club vs GUFC5pm, CRC Field, Penang
27/01/08 - Kampong Seronong F.C.
5pm, USM Field A, Penang
04/02/08 - Pasir Gudang F.C. vs GUFC
5pm, Pasir Gudang Stadium, Johor
10/02/08 - Johor Melody F.C. vs GUFC
5pm, Seri Gelam Stadium, Johor
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