Hi

As I’m sure you will have noticed, The Soccer Blog has been away for a few days. Well, just like Steve McClaren and his England players, I thought it might be nice to take a few days off over the Euro 2008 International break. Only difference is I think my break away was far more productive than McClaren’s and England’s. Albeit that McClaren walked away with anywhere between £1 - 2.5million (Pounds Sterling or approx. $2 - 5million US Dollars) depending on the reports you read. Mind you whatever it was, it was 100% too much. No wonder he didn’t resign and waited to get sacked and paid-off. Resign and you don’t get the pay-off, do you? Good work Steve!

Believe me, I could go on and on and on about McClaren, England, the FA et al, and it would be a lot of fun but so much has been said and written over the last few days I would just be repeating a lot of what is already out there. Let’s just say, the FA have to have a serious look at themselves and stop living in the past and admit they are just as much to blame in all this as anyone, if not more. yeah, right! As if that’s going to happen!

So, I think it’s probably best to put the England situation on the back burner until it looks like the new man is nearly in place. I mean, you can only laugh at it all so much, can’t you? And let’s face it, the whole situation is incredibly laughable!

And who will that new man be? Poor sod! Well, Martin O’Neill has quickly ruled himself out of the running. See, he is a clever bloke afterall! Personally I think England could be in for Sven Part II. In other words, another non-English manager. I for one have no problem with that! But then again I’m not English! But even if I were it wouldn’t matter to me. Let’s face it, the last English manager didn’t do too well did he. Not many have. At the end of the day, surely it doesn’t matter where the guy is from. If he gets results and perhaps wins something, who going to complain?

The present problems I think go all the way back to a decision the FA made in the mid 70’s when they were too scared to appoint probably the best English manager of them all. One Brian Clough. “It’s not your job young man……..!” The FA don’t like people with strong opinions and points of view. It seems to undermind them. They are very insecure if you ask me. The typical “old school tie” type. But if they are finally going to find the right man for the job and if they really do want England to finally do well on the international stage, perhaps even win a trophy, the FA have to grow up, admit to their mistakes and shortcomings, bite the bullet and do what is right.

Don’t hold you breath!

The Soccer Blogger

Manchester United and Arsenal took centre stage on Wednesday evening and they both booked their places in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United cruised to a 4-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev at Old Trafford to extend their 100 per cent record and qualify with two games to spare.

Celebrations at Old Trafford Against Dynamo Kiev

United’s first goal will probably not be one that will be rehearsed too often on the training ground. Michael Carrick headed Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick goalwards, only to see it strike the back of Carlos Tevez’s head, with Gerard Pique quickest to react and he headed home. Well, I’d like to see them try and rehearse it.

However where the first was a little slapstick, the second was classic United. Tevez driving at the retreating Kiev defence before playing a one-two with Rooney and drilling a shot beyond the goalkeeper. It was Rooney who made it 3-0 after the break, by volleying home from close range after a superb cross by Nani. The Utd scoring was completed in the closing stages with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his seventh in as many Champions League games.

Meanwhile Arsenal, who needed only a point to go through after their 7-0 demolition of Slavia Prague last time out at Emirates Stadium, earned just that after a stalemate in the return fixture in Prague

Arsene Wenger did a “Benítez” rotating his team and sent out a much-changed side. The Gunners however failed to hit their previous heights with Slavia prague actually coming closest to breaking the deadlock when they broke clear only for Manuel Almunia to smother the chance. Sevilla are on course to join the Gunners in the last 16 of the competition after their win away to Steaua Bucharest.

However, Rangers couldn’t equal their Glasgow neighbours Celtic’s result from Tuesday evening as they were beaten in Barcelona. Lyon’s triumph over Stuttgart moves them to within a point of the Scottish giants, while in Group C Inter and Fenerbahce look set to progress.

There was a late own goal from Anderson Polga as Sporting Lisbon were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Roma, who remain second in Group F. Marco Cassetti gave the visitors an early lead with an unstoppable shot into the top corner after Simone Perrotta had played the ball into his path on the left of the area. But a comedy of errors in the Roma defence allowed Sporting to level as Philippe Mexes took the ball away from Doni and allowed Liedson to slot home. And Liedson then dived to head home a second in the 64th minute from Marat Izmailov’s cross from the left, only for David Pizarro’s late long-range effort to take a wicked deflection off Polga and give goalkeeper Tiago no chance.

Barcelona, who were unable le to break Rangers down for 90 minutes in the fixture at Ibrox, needed only seven minutes to make the breakthrough at the Camp Nou, although it has to be said they enjoyed a slice of good fortune. Ronaldinho clipped a free-kick to the far post where the unmarked Messi headed back across goal for Thierry Henry to force the ball over the line. However, if you watch the replay you can see Henry’s final touch was off his arm.

Messi, who actually accused Rangers of playing ‘anti-football’ in the first leg, then made it two before half-time. Messi exchanged passes with Ronaldinho. The Brazilian’s shot was saved by Allan McGregor, only for Messi to reap the benefits of the rebound.

Lyon made the perfect start against Stuttgart opening the scoring after just six minutes, the goal taking a huge deflection. They then doubled their advantage with an excellent second after good work from Sidney Govou. But Stuttgart didn’t give in and they responded immediately as Mario Gomez pounced to fire home a loose ball after another shot that was too hot to handle.

But home side restored their two-goal cushion before the interval with an audacious piece of skill creating the chance for an equally ambitious shot. Stuttgart reduced the deficit after the interval with Gomez forcing the ball home from close range from a low centre, but they then missed a glorious opportunity to level as the goalkeeper made a superb save from Hitzlsperger’s penalty. Juninho added a fourth for Lyon in the third minute of added time with the French champions moving to just one point behind Rangers.

Sevilla are on course to join Arsenal in the knockout phase after their 2-0 victory away to Steaua Bucharest. Renato opened the scoring when he forced the ball home after Robinson Zapata was unable to hold Christian Poulsen’s powerful header from Jesus Navas’ corner, with the same duo combining for a superb second after the interval.

Inter Milan survived a scare against CSKA Moscow, coming from 2-0 down to triumph 4-2 and dump the Russians out of the competition. The San Siro was silenced with the opener after 23 minutes before an astonishing spell of three goals in four minutes. First CSKA doubled their advantage only for Inter to respond and immediately get back on level terms through Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s close-range strike and Esteban Cambiasso’s cool finish from Hernan Crespo’s dummy.

Then Cambiasso made it 3-2 as he drilled home from the edge of the six-yard box after Ibrahimovic’s cute flick from a corner with the Swede then unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

Fenerbahce are poised to join them in the next phase as they defeated PSV Eindhoven with two goals in the opening half hour. Teenage defender Dirk Marcellis put through his own net after Kazim Kazim’s shot from the edge of the box, before Semih Senturk added a second after 30 minutes, finishing a crisp passing move with a neat finish.

To the click to see all Wednesday’s Champions League results

The Soccer Blogger

Last night’s Champions League results were dominated by the score at Anfield as Liverpool set a new UEFA Champions League record in hammering Besiktas 8 - 0. Elsewhere, Celtic claimed a vital win over Benfica and Chelsea drew away in Germany to Schalke.

Reigning champions AC Milan are now in a good position to qualify from Group D, as are Porto, while Rosenborg stunned Valencia and their new coach for the second time in two weeks.

Real Madrid fought out a 0-0 draw in Olympiakos, while Lazio posted a first win of the group phase by beating Werder Bremen.

So Liverpool, last season’s runners-up, put themselves back in the frame to proceed from the group stages after gaining revenge for defeat in Turkey a fortnight ago by smashing Besiktas with a record breaking 8-0 at Anfield. The one question you have to ask yourself is how did Besiktas beat Liverpool in Istanbul? They were awful.

Peter Crouch, who appears to be a little out of favour this season made a rare start, and he put Liverpool ahead on 19 minutes when tucking away the rebound after his initial shot had been saved.

Crouch stands tall at Anfield

And the 2005 winners were two goals to the good on 32 minutes courtesy of Yossi Benayoun’s volley following good work down the left by Andrei Voronin.

Benayoun, the Israeli captain, then added two poacher’s goals to his collection in the opening minutes of the second half, firstly converting the rebound from John Arne Riise’s shot and then tapping in after Steven Gerrard’s free-kick had been pushed out.

Gerrard helped himself to Liverpool’s fifth goal on 69 minutes, the Reds skipper collecting a clever flick from Voronin and thumping a shot past the Besiktas keeper. He was substituted shortly afterwards. A decision you could understand, job done so no need to risk anything. The complete opposite to when Benítez substituted him half way through the second half of a tense Merseyside derby at Goodison Park!

Benayoun turned creator for the sixth goal on 79 minutes, playing in a low cross from the right, which was beautifully flicked in by Ryan Babel, although the Dutchman’s second on 81 minutes owed more to good fortune as the defenders clearance ricocheted off his back and looped over the keeper. Babel knew nothing about it, neither did the keeper who had come off his line. But Babel should have made the evening even worse for Besiktas moments later when he thumped a header square onto the the bar from six yards out.

But The Reds set a new Champions League benchmark a minute from time when Crouch, the man who started the rout, glanced a neat header home from Benayoun’s cross.

Elsewhere the 2004 winners Porto, now top Group A, after battling to a 2-1 home win over previous leaders Marseille.

A brilliant individual goal from Tarik Sektioui gave Porto a half-time lead as he sped from the halfway line, leaving visiting defenders trailing in his wake before rounding keeper Steve Mandanda and slotting into the net.

Marseille were level within two minutes of the start of the second half as Mamadou Niang showed commendable bravery at the near post to head home Laurent Bonnart’s right-wing cross.

Porto grabbed the winner on 78 minutes when Ricardo Quaresma created a yard of space on the right and his cross was headed home emphatically by Lisandro Lopez.

Chelsea are still in control of Group B after grinding out a 0-0 draw away to German side Schalke. But Avram Grant’s side rode their luck on numerous occasions, none more so than when Peter Lovenkrands struck the post for Schalke.

Rosenborg, who beat Valencia 2-0 at home a fortnight ago, repeated the trick in the Mestalla, usually a fortress for Valencia but not in this Champions League having already lost to Chelsea at home. Steffen Iversen’s first Champions League group phase goal in 11 years put Rosenborg ahead on 31 minutes as he finished off a slick break from the Norwegians. Woeful goalkeeping from Timo Hildebrand gifted Iversen his second goal of the night on 58 minutes as the German missed a corner, giving the former Spurs striker a simple header.

Gordon Strachan and Celtic’s impressive home form in Europe again came to the fore as The Buoys beat Benfica 1-0 at Parkhead in Group D. Perseverance from Celtic was rewarded in the final minute of the first half as Aiden McGeady shot from the edge of he box and his right-footed effort took a deflection which deceived Benfica keeper Quim. With five minutes to go, Benfica’s Augustin Binya was sent off for a shocking challenge on Bhoys midfielder Scott Brown.

Holders Milan got their breakthrough on 66 minutes in beating Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 as substitute Filippo Inzaghi (who scored both their goals in the Final back in May) finished clinically following a delightful through ball from Andrea Pirlo. Inzaghi also had a hand in the second goal on 72 minutes, laying the ball off to Kaka in the box and last season’s stand-out Champions League performer somehow managed to squeeze a shot inside the far post. Deep in to injury-time, veteran poacher Inzaghi scored Milan’s third goal to put the Italians on nine points in the group.

Real Madrid stay top of Group C after a 0-0 draw at Olympiakos, with Ruud van Nistelrooy hitting the crossbar.

Lazio are now off the bottom after a 2-1 home win over Werder Bremen as both teams finished with 10 men. Tommaso Rocchi bundled home the opener on 56 minutes after his penalty had been saved by Tim Wiese. There was no doubting the quality of his second on 68 minutes before Diego thumped home a spot-kick with four minutes to go.

Lazio’s Emilson Cribari received a second yellow card for conceding the penalty before Diego was dismissed in injury-time.

A full list of last night’s result can be found by clicking on this link: Champions League Results

The Soccer Blogger

Well, if Liverpool produce a few more performances like winning 8 - 0 in Europe (a record for the Champions League) everything I wrote in my last article will probably count for nothing!

Pretty impressive but you have to say Besiktas were awful and they got what they deserved.

For a full round up of Tuesday’s Champions League fixtures click this link.

The Soccer Blogger

I find it very hard to believe I am even asking that question. The Liverpool manager has taken the Merseyside club to 2 European Cup Finals in two years, winning one, an FA Cup…. Most clubs would die for that record but unfortunately for Benítez, Liverpool aren’t just any old club. No Liverpool fan will need to be reminded that the club hasn’t won the League title since 1990. Amazingly they are still, just, the most succesful club in England with 18 titles. However, nearly 18 years of drought is far too long for a club like Liverpool not to win the Trophy they covet most. How much longer can Liverpool go without winning it? Benítez may be about to find out.

The pressure is mounting for Benítez

Winning the European Cup for the fifth time and nearly a sixth is great but what Liverrpool fans will really want to see is “19″, “20″ etc next to League Titles in their Roll of Honour. Especially when a certain club just a few miles down the M62 is breathing down their neck! That just adds a little more spice to the pressure starting to pile onto Benítez’s shoulders.

The new Liverpool owners, American billionaires Hicks and Gillet, may not truly understand English football and it’s history, but they are winners. They like to win, like to succeed. They are not the type of men to take a back seat and accept such things as failure. Well, they probably wouldn’t be billionaires if they did! They want that success and believe they have the right club to achieve it. People like Hicks and Gillet don’t spend that type of money without knowing what they have invested in. However, should that 19th Title not come this season, they will begin to wonder, as I believe they already have, whether or not Benítez is really the man to deliver it. A Liverpool title this season is starting to look distinctly unlikely, yet again. And watching Liverpool on Saturday evening I began to ask myself, “Has Benítez lost the plot?”

Those that know me will tell you that I have always maintained a belief that a certain Jose Mourinho always secretly wanted to manage Liverpool and not Chelsea. Don’t ask me why I think that, I just always have. It was something about him. You could tell he was slightly jealous of Benítez and he even admitted he loved Liverpool’s history, their aura if you like, their fans. The Liverpool package. There aren’t many clubs that have it.

So it really wouldn’t surprise me if the Special One was sensationally targeting Liverpool for his big comeback. Sat back in Portugal he must be licking his lips at Liverpool’s progress at the moment, because let’s face it, you can’t really call it progress can you? Benitez is experiencing problems at Anfield. Things aren’t progressing as they were supposed to.

And what do you know? Reports are starting to appear in the Press linking Jose with an incredible comeback to the Premiership. Where? Yes, at the helm of Liverpool. Well, ok I know you can hardly believe what you read in the Press, especially the English tabloids but, the stories have started to appear. Gets you thinking doesn’t it?

So, can you believe the former Chelsea boss adding the Reds to his shortlist of possible clubs to manage next? He’d be a fool not to, wouldn’t he? Mourinho thrives on attention, the limelight. He’s the ultimate showman. What could be better, from his point of view, to return to the Premiership in a blaze of glory to manage the team that knocked him out of two European Cup Finals (as well as a few other things) and take over from the manager that was becoming his “Nemesis”?

Yes, I know that when Jose was shown the door at Stamford Bridge back in September he insisted his next post would not be in England. He had to say that, surely? And that was also before Benitez’s sometimes unfathamable rotation policy cost Liverpool valuable ground in the title race, left their Champions League hopes on the brink of catastrophe and fans beginning to question his ablity. It may only be the beginning of November but the sands of time are starting to run out for Benítez. English football can be a cruel business, especially if you are a manager. Ask Mourinho! Apart from winning the European Cup he couldn’t really have done much more, could he? Yet what is he doing at the moment? Sunning himself back home in Portugal!

Mourinho leaving Stamford Bridge and Chelsea

So Mourinho, who under his severance terms with Chelsea cannot work in England again until next June, will surely believe succeeding Benitez could be his dream return ticket because, apart from what I have said above, Liverpool now have the financial power to compete with Europe’s elite. Plus the Kop must be so completely fed up with the club’s title drought they would probably welcome Roy Keane with open arms if he were to deliver the Title, never mind the Special One and finally, it would make Roman Abramovich even more jealous of Liverpool and Jose could really rub his nose in it! Can you imagine the Press Conference performance Jose would deliver? It would be worth it all just to watch that!

The English Press are quoting a source close to Mourinho as saying: “There’s no question Liverpool is a club Jose would like to manage.”

Also, only last week Mourinho emphasised his determination to hold out for one of Europe’s top jobs by rejecting Valencia, widley regarded as Spain’s third largest club. Oh, come on guys, smell the coffee!! Why turn down a club like Valencia if you weren’t holding out for something else, something even bigger. No disrespect intended Valencia!

Now I may have this wrong. Jose may be waiting for Real Madrid or Barcelona. Don’t forget Jose worked under Bobby Robson at Barcelona and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he returned there one day and it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if he managed Real in the future too. But who else wants to manage Real Madrid? Who else has openly admitted he will return one day to manage his home town club, his first love? Hmm, none only than one Sr. Benítez!

So unless Real Madrid and Barcelona come calling for Mourihno next summer, which I think is unlikely, his options will be limited to either of the Milan clubs or Liverpool. And again, I don’t see Milan or Inter getting rid of Ancelotti and Mancini.

You can just imagine that all this news of “Mourinho waiting in the wings” will certainly unsettle and rattle Benítez. It was quite clear that when the two met that they didn’t really get on, they was a gruding respect at best. So apart from the dislike of the ex-Porto and Chelsea coach, Benítez is now battling a full-blown crisis on the red half of Merseyside.

Liverpool’s failure to beat Besiktas at home on Tuesday will end Liverpool’s Champions League interest. Almost an unthinkable senario for the recent two time finalist. Such an outcome will surely further undermine the Spaniard’s standing at the club. The Champions League and Europe have been, by far, the Spaniard’s forte. Being knocked out in the group stages after only four games would be a ….. hmm, I’m not sure I can think of a suitable word to fully convey how bad that would be. Liverpool at this rate may not even qualify for the Uefa Cup. Ouch!

Let’s not forget that Benítez spent £50million last summer, so should Liverpool depart Europe so early after that type of investment, the only thing that could possibly save Benítez would be to deliver the League Title to the Kop. And even the most ardent Kopite must surely admit that, at the moment, that is looking like a very distant possibility.

The Anfield door is looking nicely ajar for Sr. Mourinho at the moment. Crash out of Europe and Anfield may start to roll out the red carpet!

The Soccer Blogger