Welcome

Welcome to The Debate, the home of football debating.

The purpose of this blog is for football fans around the globe to talk and argue about anything involved with the beautiful game, whether it be transfers, managerial comings and goings, any team or anything currently going on, this is the place to debate footballing matters.

Because let’s face it: Football Matters and if we didn’t talk about it, what else would there be to talk about?

Quick Recap Of The Last Week

Sorry I’v been away for the last week, have had a few technical issues. But heres whats been going on:

- Barcelona emerged victorious in El Clasico. Can Real Madrid catch them in the title race now, or is it a straight shoot-out between Barca and Valencia?

- Paul Ince was sacked as manager of Blackburn following their 3-0 battering at Wigan. His replacement, the former Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce. Were the Rovers board right to get rid of Ince? Was he out of his depth at Premier League level? And can ‘Big Sam’ steer Rovers to safety?

-Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester City, none of them win but all progress in the Uefa Cup. Are any of them realistic challengers for the trophy?

-Manchester United win 5-3 against Gamba Osaka in the World Club Cup semi-final and will meet LDU Quito of Ecuador in the final. Can LDU provide a shock?

-Real Madrid and Man U argue over Cristiano Ronaldo again (Yawn!!) Can’t they find somethin new to argue over? It’s getting a tad boring now.

-Speaking of Real Madrid, they will sign Lassana Diarra for around £18million in January from Portsmouth. A staggering fee, and if Tony Adams is given the money, who should he spend it on. I feel a pacy wide man and a quality centre midfielder (possibly Inler from Udinese) should be the areas he looks at.

Quick Point For Sir Alex

Sir Alex Ferguson, brilliant manager he unquestionably is, believes that the media in Britain are picking on his England forward Wayne Rooney and would love to see Uefa ban him for his latest indiscretion (The stamp on an Aalborg player, which is due to be reviewed on Monday).

Now I’m sorry Sir Alex but is this not the same Wayne Rooney currently starring in his own tv show on Sky One, which aims to find the best street player in Britain? And if it is then isn’t Rooney using the media for his own ends, on the show, imaginatively called Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker (actually quite an enjoyable program but beyond the point).

If Ferguson doesn’t want to see Rooney banned in future, then surely he must set about curbing the players temper rather than blaming the press, opposition players, anyone and everyone but the Scouse striker. I’m not saying take the aggression out of Rooneys game, for that isn’t the issue. Rarely does he get in trouble for his aggressive style of play. No Rooney finds trouble when he feels hard done to, or is upset or angry and he goes about looking for retribution/ revenge in the wrong way. Curb the players temper Sir Alex.  Look at the way the great Dennis Bergkamp was ice cool (but the Dutchman still knew how to look after himself and be aggressive when the need arose) and the finest forward at Englands and maybe Uniteds disposal, may just become the world class forward he has looked like potentially being for the last 5 years.

Trouble For King And Maybe Rooney Too

It’s not been a fantastic week for messrs Rooney and King this week as both have fallen foul of the law.

Marlon King, the Wigan Athletic striker currently on loan at Premier League surprise package Hull City, has been arrested accused of assaulting  woman in a nightclub on Sunday evening. King, who scored the winner for the Tigers in their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, was arrested on Wednesday when he voluntarily attended a police station.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a 20-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted at the Soho Revue Bar, in Brewer Street and King has been released on bail until February.

Rooney: Alleged Stamp

On the other hand Rooney could fall foul of Uefa following an incident during Man Uniteds Champions League clash against Aalborg. Rooney scored the equaliser as United drew 2-2 with their Danish counterparts at Old Trafford, yet has been accused of making a dangerous tackle by Aalborg’s Kasper Risgard, which could have left him seriously injured, yet went unpunished by the referee.

I don’t know what happened but he was jumping on my chest,” said Risgard. I think he was a little bit frustrated. Anywhere else but here [Old Trafford] and it would have been a red card.”

Although the French official Laurent Duhamel did not see the incident but if European football’s governing body decides to take action Rooney could face punishment which may lead to him missing the last 16 stage in February.

Time Running Out On Ince

Time appears to be running out on Paul Ince at Blackburn after another defeat has left them as strong relegation candidates come May.

This latest defeat was a 3-1 reverse at home against high-flying Liverpool, for whom Yossi Benayoun, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard were on target. Roque Santa Cruz, the wantaway Paraguay striker, got Blackburns consolation. Yet Ince (above) must now surely find himself under pressure and his moans about institutional racism and his old Man United connections can’t save him. He isn’t under pressure for those reasons.

He’s under pressure due to his failings as a manager.  In under six months at Ewood Park he has taken a club from relative stability (indeed the board at Ewood budgets to finish in the top 10 each season) into a relegation dogfight.

Game of the weekend unquestionably came on Sunday at Goodison as Aston Villa beat Everton 3-2. Twice Everton came from behind with goals from Joleon Lescott. Steve Sidwell, after only 34 seconds, and Ashley Young had given Villa the lead. Lescotts second equaliser came in the 93rd minute, only for Young to snatch the three points for Villa with virtually the last kick of the game.

Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal all recorded wins at the top of the table over Bolton, Sunderland and Wigan respectively.

Inconsistent Man City gained a credible point at Craven Cottage drawing 1-1 with Fulham. City, minus Robinho, took the lead through a Benjani header in the fourth minute but an excellent goal from Jimmy Bullard gave Fulham a share of the spoils. West Brom continue to be rooted to the foot of the table after a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth, Peter Crouch cancelling out Jonathan Greening’s opener.

Hull took all three points at the KC stadium beating Middlesbrough. Tuncay back-heeled Boro’ in front on 79 minutes only for them to be behind just four minutes later thanks to a Ross Turnbull own goal and a penalty from Marlon King.

Stoke came from two goals behind to gain a point at Newcastle, who lead 2-0 at half time thanks to a Michael Owen double. Will Newcastle be able to hold onto the striker (left) when the transfer window opens in January, as it seems certain he will leave of his own accord in the summer when his contract finishes. What do you think?

In Monday evenings London derby, Spurs took all three points from Upton Park thanks to goals from Ledley King and Jamie O’Hara. West Ham were unhappy about a penalty that they didn’t go but Gianfranco Zola’s shot-shy side are in desperate need of some firepower. Who should they look at in the January sales?

Champions League Wins

Chelsea and Liverpool both were victorious in Europe on Tuesday evening to secure their places in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Chelsea defeated Cluj, the Transylvannian side, 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with bad-boy Didier Drogba gettin the winner. LIverpool won 3-1 in Eindhoven against PSV with the pick of the goals a 25-yard strike from Albert Riera which flew into the top corner.

Wolves Continue To Set The Pace

Wolverhampton Wanderers continue to set the pace in the Championship returning to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Derby on Tuesday evening. Reading and Birmingham both won as the top three look like pulling away from the rest. What does everyone out there think. Will the Championship be decided by these three sides? Or can one of the chasing pack break clear and emerge in the second half of the season to take an automatic promotion place?

Silly Season Approaches At City

Just a quick post, as i was dismayed to read in a national newspaper that Man City are to launch a £52 million bid for Valencia striker David Villa in January.

 

I find it completely ridiculous that one  newspaper is writing a story stating that Euro 2008s top scorer will be leaving a Valencia side well placed in La Liga to join the City revolution (which has got off to an inconsistent start), whilst another is feverently denying any contact between City and Villa’s advisors.

Elsewhere and the richest side in the world are being linked with a who’s who of world football: Kaka, Gianluigi Buffon, Roque Santa Cruz, Frank Ribery amongst others. I guess its just something that Mark Hughes, City fans and the rest of us are going to have to get used to.

Keano Quits – What Now For Sunderland?

Alot of talking today following the news of Roy Keanes departure from his post as Sunderland manager after 27 months in charge.

Keane, the legendary  former Manchester United midfielder, has walked away from the North East club following a 4-1 hammering at the weekend by Bolton, and six defeats in the last seven games. Yet how will Keane be remembered by the fans of the Black Cats?

Roy Keane - Leaves the Stadium of Light

After all the club was looking all but doomed when he took charge. They had just been relegated from the Premiership with what was then the worst points total since the leagues induction in 1992, and the decline was continuing following four defeats out of four in the Championship. Yet Keane steered the ship straight back to the top flight at the first attempt, winning the league in the process, whilst last year he guided the side to safety in the Premier League, albeit only three points above the relegation zone.

However, he has spent around £70 million during his tenure, including a British record for a goalkeeper with the £9 million capture of Craig Gordon from Hearts at the beginning of last season.

Niall Quinn the Sunderland chairman has said: “Roy’s decision sums up his desire to always do what is best for the club, despite the club’s efforts to keep him.” 

“Roy deserves huge respect for his contribution and the manner in which he guided the club from the depths of the Championship back to the Premier League. His winning mentality and singled mindedness were just what this club needed. Even in his departure he has been more concerned for the welfare of the players and his staff than himself.”

Yet isn’t Keanes walking out of the club, at what is effectively the first time his management has been questioned, the direct opposite of a winning mentality. For a man so famous for being a leader during his playing days, hasn’t Keane shown the opposite with his latest act? He has left the club and his players in the lurch, perhaps at the time when they needed him most.

League Cup

Congrats to Derby County and Burnley following their victories last night as they progress to the semi-finals.

A terrific performance from Burnley saw them beat Arsenals youngsters 2-0 whilst Derby also beat Premier League opposition in Stoke City 1-0, thanks to a Nathan Ellington penalty.

However, I can’t see any shocks in this evenings games, and i believe that the holders Tottenham Hotspur will beat Watford, and that Man United will see off Paul Ince’s Blackburn Rovers.

Just Some Quick Questions

Are Liverpool, despite being top of the league, serious contenders for the title? Another 0-0 draw at home simply won’t cut it if their to win the league, especially with Man United starting to hit form. Can they win the title 18 years after their last league win?

Congrats to Cristiano Ronaldo for winning the Ballon d’or, the award given to European footballer of the Year. However, despite his brilliance, personally I think Lionel Messi is the better player. What do u think? Is Ronaldo the best player in the world? Or is there someone else out there?

And why are Arsenal the most frustrating side in the country. A hammering at the City of Manchester Stadium followed by a fantastic win at Stamford Bridge. Can they find the consistency needed to mount a serious title assault?

Ronaldo Off As United Win, Whilst Arsenal Shock Chelsea

Manchester United emerged victorious from the Manchester derby against City by one goal to nil, despite having Cristiano Ronaldo sent off, whilst a Robin van Persie double saw Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

At Eastlands, United were in cruise control during the first half as they created chances and dominated possession against a lacklustre City side. Indeed the most fight shown by City came from a ballboy who forcefully threw the ball back to Ronaldo. With Carrick and Fletcher running midfield, and young starlet Rafael nullifying the threat of Robinho City lacked any sort of spark.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when a Wayne Rooney tap-in gave United the lead, following a shot from Michael Carrick that Joe Hart could only parry into the England forwards path.

In the second half and Ronaldo, expected to be announced as the European footballer of the year on Monday (the Ballon d’or), was sent off in strange circumstances. Having been booked for a foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips when it looked like he had played the ball, the Portugese winger handled from a corner, when had he headed the ball he would have surely scored. The United number 7 claimed he had heard a whistle from the crowd, but referee Howard Webb had no choice but to show him a second yellow card and the red.

As it was, United saw out the final twenty minutes fairly comfortably and took three points from the City of Manchester Stadium.

At Stamford Bridge Chelsea took a lead against Arsenal, lead by new captain Cesc Fabregas, thanks to an own goal by Swiss defender Johan Djourou, as he diverted a Bosingwa cross into his own net. Until that point the first half had been quite even and it continued to be so. After half time and Arsenal were dominated by Chelsea and it looked like a matter of time until the blues extended their lead.

However, cometh the hour and cometh the man as Robin van Persie, the injury-prone Dutch forward, turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes.

Firstly, a crisp right-foot strike slammed the ball into the top right hand corner past Petr Cech, from the edge of the penalty area, despite replays showing he was in an offside position when the ball was played.

Three minutes later and he sent a sweet left foot strike low past Cech’s despairing dive into the bottom right corner of the net, inflicting on Chelsea their second home defeat of the season and giving Arsenal the slightest hope in their chase for the title.

Elsewhere this weekend and Bolton were the big winners as they destroyed Sunderland at the Stadium of Light 4-1. Djibril Cisse had given the Mack’ems the lead, but Matthew Taylor, Gary Cahill and Johan Elmander (2) sealed the win for Gary Megsons in-from side.

Everton were victorious against Harry Redknapps Spurs thanks to a deflected Steven Pienaar effort after 51 minutes. However, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, the prolific Nigerian forward, will miss the rest of the season for David Moyes side with a ruptured achilles, “A huge blow” according to Moyes.

Portsmouth threw away a two goal lead for the second time this week, only to beat Paul Ince’s Blackburn Rovers 3-2. Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe scored early in the second half, only for Matt Derbyshire and Tugay to bring Rovers level. However, ten minutes from time and a Sean Davis goal sealed the victory for Tony Adams’ side.

Bottom of the table West Brom were beaten again 2-1 at Wigan, with Emerson Boyce grabbing the winner, as Albion missed a host of chances. Stoke and Hull contested a hard fought 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium, whilst Aston Villa and Fulham, Middlesbrough and Newcastle both ended goalless.

Fantastic FA Cup Weekend

The 2nd round of the FA Cup sponsored by Eon saw some terrific games and my congratulations go out to all those sides who have progressed to round three, but especially to the giant killers of Histon, who turned over Leeds United, and to Eastwood who emerged victorious against Wycombe Wanderers, the only side in the football league still unbeaten in the league.

Great Advert For The Championship

Just thought that I’d add that the West Midlands derby between Wolves and Birmingham was a great advert for the Championship, which is still the most exciting and unpredictable league in England. An excellent match between the top two ended 1-1, goals from Cameron Jerome for Blues and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for Wolves, and was fiercely competitive, exciting and not lacking in quality. Give me an exciting game like this over one of the numerous bland and boring games the Premier League has dished up this season anyday.

So Near, Yet So Far

Leading 2-1 in the 93rd minute and Portsmouth were looking at a memorable win over AC Milan. Yet, with one toe-poke from the master goal-poacher Pippo Inzaghi, and they had blown a two goal lead and a famous scalp.

Pompey had played brilliantly and were thoroughly good value for a win. The superb Glen Johnson creating both goals for Younes Kaboul and Kanu. Tony Adams side had played with poise and vigour and he was looking at a first win as Portsmouth manager at Fratton Park. Yet, a stunning free-kick from former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho had reduced the arrears, leaving Inzaghi to strike in stoppage time his 65th goal in European competition, and to break Portsmouth hearts.

Earlier in the evening and Manchester City and Spurs both recorded victories. City won 2-0 in Germany against Schalke 04 thanks to goals from Benjani and the excellent Stephen Ireland, whilst a Jamie O’Hara strike gave Spurs a hardfought 1-0 win against NEC Nijmegen in Holland.

Morgan Let Off

As an aside I find myself wondering who it was at the FA that decided Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan should face no action for fracturing the skull of Barnsleys Iain Hume. Hume, who was released from hospital for the second time this week could have had not only his career, but his life ended by the defender. And it’s not like this is Morgans first offence. When United were in the Premier League, he was given a three match ban for punching Robin Van Persie off-the-ball, so it’s very much in his nature.

What does everyone out there think? Surely Morgan should have faced a lengthy ban for his cowardly, sickening attack?