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Ajax Academy: The past, the present, the future

By
Ed Wallace
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The Past

Ajax is a club almost unlike any other. While Barcelona have been receiving plaudits for the amount of homegrown players that have cracked their first team in the past decade, it is Ajax which set the tone for building from within as they’ve been reliant on their academy products since their early days of existence. To add to their youth promotion policy, they’ve developed a strict adherence to a brand of football known as totaalvoetbal, or total football.

The basic principles of total football are that there is only one fixed position and that is the goalkeeper, everyone else is supposed to be tactically and physically flexible enough to switch roles almost instantly. Players are to be technically gifted enough while possessing a highly-developed sense of synergy with each other in order to quickly and fluidly overwhelm the opposition. It places a high emphasis on spatial awareness and the ability to overcome any opposing system being faced.

When in attack, the aim of the team was to widen the pitch and aggressively, but intelligently, using geometric spheres of influence to mold the game to their liking. When the ball is won on defense the team immediately switches into attack through possession and mixing the tempo to catch the opposition off-guard. This system requires an incredible amount of technical skill and intelligence as eyes have to constantly be looking for openings and swapping teammates. The preferred formation is an interchanging 4-3-3 with wingers but there have been occasions where an aggressive 4-2-4 has been the go-to choice to overwhelm the opposition.

On defense, a high defensive line would be used to strangle the opposition in order to win the ball back quickly in order to launch an attack. As former leftback Ruud Krol once said, “When we defended we looked to keep the opponent on the halfway line. Our standpoint was that we were not protecting our own goal, we were attacking the half way line.” Often, a centerback serving as a stopper will push up to play as a defensive midfielder and thus overwhelming the opposition with numbers. This can be risky as it leaves the defense with three flat defenders but the beauty of total football is that the rest of the squad is so quick, versatile and intelligent that they have no problem filling in gaps left by pressing defenders.

Putting it simply, the Ajax side of 1971-1972 developed such a system and played such intelligent football that it would lead one to believe that they’d be able to run circles around some of Europe’s biggest clubs in the present. Such was their synergy and utter flexibility that at times they seemed simply unstoppable no matter what tactic the opposition rolled out.

The face of this system was undoubtedly Johan Cruyff, a man considered by many to be the single most complete footballer that has ever lived. Tactically on another plane from his contemporaries, Cruyff possessed such technical skill mixed with pace and flexibility that made him virtually unstoppable on offense while an incredibly balanced player on defense. Not someone who enjoyed physical football whatsoever, Cruyff placed more of an emphasis on possession football which not only permeated at Ajax, but also at Barcelona where he managed and instilled a philosophy which would come to define the club in European competition.

This philosophy has become the prevalent style taught at an academy which boasts a lofty goal of bringing in three first-team players every two seasons. With over 50 scouts scouting the Netherlands, Ajax holds the leading edge in signing skilled Dutch youth to teach them their TIPS model (Technique, Insight, Personality, Speed). Within each of these pillars are eight further principles to follow: coordination training, kicking, passing and throw-ins, moves to beat an opponent, heading, finishing, position play, position game play and small sided games. Famous alumni of the academy which have been taught these principles include Cruyff,  Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Marco Van Basten, Edgar Davids, Frank and Ronald de Boer, Clarence Seedorf, Ruud Krol and many more household names. In the past many of these players would stay at Ajax for extended periods of time but in today’s climate players rise through the ranks and play in the first team for a couple of years before moving on outside of the Eredivisie in an attempt to further their careers.

The Present

Currently, Ajax’s youth ranks have several prospects which not only project to be excellent additions to the first team in a couple of years, but are also starlets which major clubs across Europe are keeping their eye on. Of these, Richairo Zivkovic, Ricardo Kishna, Abdelhak Nouri, Jairo Riedewald and Kenny Tete are the most well-known names with expectations being particularly high for Zivkovic and Kishna.

Zivkovic, signed from FC Groningen just this summer, is a pacey striker with instinctive positioning abilities far beyond his years. Raw and in need of close molding from Ajax staff such as legendary striker Dennis Bergkamp, Zivkovic will likely start to see more and more first team action as the season progresses culminating in a likely starting berth next season. Kishna is in a similar situation. A winger blessed with strong pace and technique, his dribbling is a huge asset in being able to break away from defenders to set up his teammates, as exemplified in the most recent Klassieker victory over Feyenoord where he created three goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. Nouri, Riedewald and Tete might be a little further away from being prospects who are ready to immediately contribute at a consistent level, but the potential is there for Ajax to field a potent starting 11 in the next year or two. However, they’re not the only ones with gems in their stockpile as rivals domestically are starting to make up ground in the academy game as competitors such as PSV and Feyenoord are rapidly becoming talent factories of their own to a level which can cause concern for Ajax.

The problem with the current state of the Ajax academy and the first team is that while they try and adhere to the principles set forth by past legends, the end product isn’t exactly beautiful enough for diehard fans. At Ajax, it’s not just enough to win but the need to win the right way is, in some cases, just as important as the margin of victory. Winning by a 4-0 margin tanks to headers and counterattacks is in some ways inferior to a 1-0 victory with the goal coming from intricate passing and the lead being held by players playing more than one role. The current Ajax squad, for all their talent and training, does some of these things but a certain faction of purists is still pining for days past of quickly overlapping players drifting across the pitch playing totaalvoetbal. That’s not to say that the first team couldn’t return to such an era, but in the present it appears to be slightly lacking that quality which won the club millions of fans across the world.

The Future

In terms of future possibilities, Ajax finds itself between a rock and a hard place. A proud club with a decorated history, Ajax has held firm to its dogma of raising talent from within to play a certain style of football, as opposed to fellow traditional powers buying top class talent and molding it into champions. While one certainly has to praise and admire Ajax for their beliefs and conviction, it’s these same beliefs which are often pointed to as a source of what’s holding the club back.

There’s no doubt that Ajax’s youth ranks are loaded with promising talent in all parts of the pitch, especially on offense. However, given the world that we live in it is difficult to see such talent staying together long enough to develop a strong enough rapport to form a cohesive unit for an extended period of time, much less a potent enough force to challenge powers such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. While they might hold the tactical edge and the financial means to recruit and develop some of Holland’s best young talent, the truth of the matter is that talent simply isn’t good enough anymore to challenge for the Champions League, especially at the young age at which many of said youngsters are thrust into first team action.

It’s not just a matter of age as well. The once famed formation taught by Ajax, the incredibly fluid and flexible 4-3-3, is the backbone of all Ajax training and is the one formation preferred by the organization. Of course, they’ll sometimes morph into different looks but there’s no questioning what their preferred shape is. Adhering to this formation, even with its flexibility, without mux experimentation of other systems limits what this club can do as top sides often mix and match formations to players in order to maximize their potential. In addition to the 4-3-3, Ajax players are trained to be much more technical as opposed to physical, but in a world which sees physically powerful sides such as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea rising to the top, one has to ask what s Ajax’s place in such an environment. Barcelona succeeded in this manner in the past decade, but the gulf in class between those Barcelona teams and the current Ajax players is night and day, and that’s no offense to some of the fine talents wearing the red and white.

Even if Ajax were to abandon their principles, something they’ll seemingly never do, in order to sign bigger and more established names, they face the hurdle of having to persuade such players to come to a league which by all accounts is on the decline. The style of football played in the Eredivisie can be pretty loose and, for the most part, very fun for those who like goals, not to mention that it’s a great breeding ground for excellent young talent which habitually finds itself on the roster of some of Europe’s biggest clubs. However, years of middling results in the Champions League and Europa League, plus dwindling economic power of clubs relative to that of oil-rich growing powers, make the Eredivisie a tough sell when athletes in their prime could be plying their trade at the Santiago Bernabeu, Allianz Arena, Stamford Bridge or the Camp Nou, for example. With all these factors in mind, it’s tough to recall the last time Ajax signed a relatively high-profile name which made a memorable impact both domestically as well as in European competition. Even if they did sign a household name and even if they did unearth a prodigious talent such as Luis Suarez, it would still be a tall task to overcome Europe’s superpowers deep into the Champions League. When looking at recent results in Europe, such as the demolition at the hands of Red Bull Salzburg last season, this idea becomes even more reinforced.

While it would be folly to suggest that Ajax, and other Eredivisie clubs, forego any European aspirations, expectations might have to be adjusted to more closely align with the reality of the situation. Money appears to be the determining factor as to who the true European contenders are and as Ajax’s yearly profits don’t come even remotely close to say, Real Madrid, Ajax might have to put Champions League hopes aside in order to focus on more attainable competitions such as the Eredivise title and the Europa League. While that might sound borderline appalling to diehard fans, it’s simply the reality of the situation given Ajax’s rigid adherence to its policies. 

Ajax is a proud club with a rich tradition of success and building from within, but given its dogma, the severe decline in the Eredivisie and the proliferation in super rich megaclubs, it’s simply difficult to see its sterling academy producing the talent necessary to compete for European glory. That being said, the Ajax model for youth recruitment, training and promotion is one which is second to none and should serve as an inspiration for all clubs to follow, from the smallest of amateur sides to the biggest of superpowers. 

The enigma of English youth system

By
Ed Wallace
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   THE ENIGMA OF ENGLISH YOUTH SYSTEM

Being an Indian fan during the World Cup time is not easy, as most of us have given up hope on ever seeing Indian National Team in a World Cup so we have to choose which team to support! Many support Argentina as they are Messi fans and many others support Brazil for their Joga Bonito football. In the midst of this tug of war between Argentina and Brazil fans there are some who support Germany(as they are a sure bet to reach at least the semis), England(for certain players like Gerrard and Rooney) and Portugal(well they have a certain Cristiano Ronaldo). As someone who roots for England in every World Cup since 2002, they have never failed to disappoint me with poor performances, penalty shoot outs or just horrible luck. So I decided to do some research on why England always put up mediocre performances despite the big names and the high profile league. 

In Soccernomics written by Stefan Szymanski and Simon Kuper, almost 30% of the book was dedicated to the topic “Why England Lose” and they pointed out a number of factors such as the style of English football, English economy, player’s education etc and came to the curious conclusion that England were over performing for a country of their size, economy and population rather than the popular opinion that England were underperforming. But I never fully accepted this conclusion as I believe if Spain, Germany and France can have successful youth systems and a vibrant national squad then why can’t England have one? After all the population, economy and literacy rate of all these countries are comparable, so the problem must be definitely intrinsic in nature. 

In order to write this article I happened to listen to the opinions of former players and pundits like Stan Collymore and FA administrators like Greg Dyke. They primarily blamed the failure of English youth system and the English national team over the last few years on the influx of foreign players into the Premier League. Greg Dyke said he wants only world class foreign imports and the mediocre foreign imports are restricting the game time of English youth players. His argument is clearly myopic and a bit xenophobic. The problem with the English youth system is much more deep rooted than the influx of foreign players. FA must work on these factors if they ever want England to compete for the World Cup and Euros.

  1. Philosophy

Philosophy has been an important word in European football over the last few decades. Total Football has been one of the most popular philosophies of our times. It was coined by Rinus Michels, the coach who led Netherlands to the finals of the 1974 World Cup and led Ajax to four titles in 1972. This footballing philosophy was then taken forward by the Dutch great Johan Cryuff. Under Cryuff, Barcelona adopted the Total Football style and it defined their style of play until Pep Guardiola adopted the tiki-taka style. Total Football was also adopted by the great Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi, who led one of the greatest AC Milan teams of all times to European Cups in 1988-89 and 1989-90. This Total Football philosophy has become the bread and butter of the Dutch National team over the last two decades and the tiki-taka philosophy that evolved from Total Football has been adopted by the Spanish team and it won them a World Cup and two Euros.

Another popular footballing philosophy is the counter attacking philosophy which has been adopted by clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid.  It is also the German way of playing football (though Guardiola’s influence has made some unnecessary tweaks). Germany showed that the game doesn’t need to be attractive but it needs to be efficient if a team has to win the World Cup. 

As you can see when a philosophy has been adopted by a particular club or country and it is passed on to the next generation of footballers then the club or the country definitely achieves relative success compared to the clubs or countries that lack a footballing philosophy. English football has been struggling to find such a philosophy which has eventually resulted in their loss of identity. It is important for England to find this identity and train players at all levels with a single philosophy so that it can be perfected over the years. The lack of such a system clearly shows the myopic view of the administration.  FA must establish a system in which all levels of English team are trained in the same philosophy if they are to regain their identity and compete for the World Cup and Euros.

  1. Lack of Risk

As a Liverpool fan, I’m well aware of Roy Hodgson’s style of football as it bored me to death during his time at Liverpool. But boring football is not a very bad thing. Mourinho plays boring football yet he achieves the desired results. I find Guardiola’s slow tempo game equally boring but again he is a winner. Roy Hodgson is a mediocre manager at best and he should consider himself very lucky to remain the manager of England despite the World Cup debacle. Roy Hodgson was appointed as the England manager as he was seen as a low risk option and the weird logic that appointing an Englishman will miraculously improve the results. Roy Hodgson’s appointment is a clear indication of the FA lacking the testicular fortitude to make a bold and innovative decision. 

Football is a game of tactics, personnel, risks and innovation. FA has appointed 4 managers since the failed Kevin Keegan experiment in 2000 but only Sven-Goran Eriksson’s term can be deemed a success. FA has lacked innovation and ideas while recruiting English managers, they either go for English managers in mid table clubs or spent a large amount of money on high profile names such as Capello or Eriksson. Both the approach haven’t won England a major trophy despite a star studded team. Thus, it is time FA recruit a tactically astute young manager with innovative ideas who is willing to take risks.

Successful managerial appointments have always come with a calculated amount of risks. Let us consider Pep Guardiola, he was a Barca legend but was clearly an inexperienced manager. Despite this the Barca hierarchy took a calculated risk and appointed a young dynamic manager with a clear philosophy of how he wanted his team to play. Another example is Joachim Low, who was Jurgenn Klinsmann’s assistant and hardly had any managerial experience yet he led the German national team to World Cup glory. Arsene Wenger, Diego Simeone, Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez are all products of the calculated risks taken by the management.  There are many managerial talents like Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Karl Robinson etc who can do a great job with the English team yet FA prefers low risk and mediocre managers such as Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson for the managerial position. FA needs to be innovative and should be willing to take risks if they want England to win a major competition.

  1. Youth Facility

On October 9th 2012, FA opened the St George’s Park National Football Centre as a part of its youth development strategy. It is England’s most expensive and the best youth training centre. Though it boasts world class training facilities, I find the whole idea of a national training centre quite redundant. I wonder what exactly is the point of establishing a national youth centre when a youth player spends 90% of his time playing for the club he has signed for? It makes little sense to spend £105 mn on a facility that will be hardly used. Instead of building such huge training centres, FA must instead focus on improving the grass root level youth training. Though Premier League clubs have excellent youth training facilities, the U-21 and U-18 English teams consists of many players from the Championship and League One clubs. Many PL clubs raid these smaller clubs to find rough diamonds so it is very important that FA focus on the development of youth training facilities in these small clubs as most of these youth players spend maximum amount of time in these training facilities. A bottom up approach will greatly help England to develop the next generation of English players.

  1. Loan system and coaching

In September 2010 when Josh McEachran made his Chelsea debut against Manchester City he was deemed as the next Lampard. There were raving articles about his ability and he went on to win Chelsea Young Player of the Year Award in 2011. In July 2011, he signed a 5 year deal with Chelsea and he was sent on loan to Swansea City. After which he was sent on loans to Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan Athletic and now he plays for a Dutch mid table club called Vitesse (Vitesse basically didn’t have a choice but to take him as Chelsea has a partnership deal with them).

It is just amazing how such a young talented player has regressed so much over the last two years that he has fallen out of radar. In this case, Chelsea has to take some amount of responsibility as he was sent to the wrong clubs on loan. The clubs he was sent to either had a different style of play or just wanted him as a squad player. In La Liga the induction of B teams into the system has massively helped in the development of young players. The B teams use the same system as the first team, as a result of which they provide continuity for the players. FA has always maintained that they will not allow PL clubs to have their B teams in the lower leagues as it will negatively affect the smaller clubs. Though I do agree with FA on this matter I believe this has also affected the younger players as they are exposed to many different style of football at a younger age. Thus, the onus is on the parent club to identify the correct club for the younger players and make sure these clubs are willing to provide first team experience for these players. The parent club must make sure the players are loaned out to clubs which play a similar type of football as that of the parent club and the players are coached well. 

  1. Protecting the younger players from burn out

Michael Owen was Liverpool’s youngest goal scorer at the age of 17 and he is one of their greatest strikers of all times. He was a clinical striker with a hell lot of pace. Though his name was tarnished after his move to Manchester United, not many Liverpool fans can deny that he was one of the best technical strikers ever to play for them. Under Gerard Houllier he was a key member of the squad and he contributed to Liverpool’s treble in 2001.  He was probably one of the most promising players of the time but he failed to live up to this promise. Gerard Houllier must take a fair share of blame for the injuries that tarnished Michael Owen’s career in my opinion. Michael Owen played almost 40 games a season from the age of 17 which contributed to the frequent muscle injuries later in his career. Michael Owen was probably the most talented English player I’ve ever seen and I always wonder what his career could have been if he was managed well by the former Liverpool manager.

In the present day football, there is always huge pressure and expectation on every talented player and similarly there is a huge amount of pressure on the managers to win trophies and achieve results because of which these youngsters are made to play a large number of games early in their careers. Players like Jack Wilshire, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling are the beacons of next generation of English football but they are also becoming the victims of over playing and burn out. Brendan Rodgers and Arsene Wenger have the responsibility to make sure these players have successful careers for the club and the country. English Premier League’s highly physical football takes a huge toll on these players and it’s the duty of the club managers to use them judiciously rather than playing them in every match. They should also make sure these players have individual training regimes that suit them.

There are many who believe England doesn’t have the talent to match the European power houses like Germany and Spain but I think it’s a lazy argument. Players like Ozil,Khedira, Goetze, Iniesta, Fabregas etc were all carefully trained and developed into world class talents. I believe Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley, Jack Wilshire etc have the talent to reach these heights or do better but it requires a massive reform in the methods, ideas and structure of FA which will hopefully win England a major trophy in the coming years. 

Is Arsenal’s youth system a success or a failure?

By
Ed Wallace
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Is Arsenal’s youth system a success or a failure? 

Developing future stars is central to the aims of most premier league clubs. Since the league’s beginning in 1992 the youth programme has expanded to huge levels. There are over 40 youth academies across the country and Arsenal’s youth academy features predominantly. As Premier league clubs now are under more pressure than ever to produce youth talent have Arsenal kept up the tradition or have they fallen behind? 

In the Premier league British clubs are now under more pressure to produce young English talents so that they are able to go along with Greg Dyke’s bullish prediction that England could win the world cup in 2022. Arsenal at the moment are doing this. Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere have come up through the youth system to play a prominent part in Arsenal’s success and you cannot accuse Wenger of shying away from British talent. Ramsey, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Wilshere, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain are all on long term contracts with the club and provide the Arsenal side with a British core that is youthful and exciting. 

However excluding Wilshere and Gibbs from the equation all of these young British prospects have begun their careers elsewhere. Jenksinson at Charlton, Ramsey came through the youth ranks at Cardiff and Oxlade Chamberlain and Walcott were products of the Southampton academy. This in itself suggests that the players they have are not products of the youth system at all and that the youth academy were failing, only producing two players who have made it currently at the highest level of English football. But the fact of the matter is Wenger was smart enough to realise that these talented young players were available and he snapped them all up for relatively small fees. They all now play a big part in Arsenal’s success currently and the purchases are looked upon as brilliant bits of business by Wenger. Wojcech Szczesny is also an academy player who is now an established member of Wenger’s first team. Having these three academy players is majorly impressive for a Champions league club and there are few if any of the major teams in England who can match that statistic. 

But where is the current crop of youth talent to come through the ranks? The current bunch of players that Arsenal have at their disposal include: Damian Martinez, Hector Bellerin, Isaac Hayden and Chuba Akpom. All of these players have been given chances to impress in capital one cup matches and the occasional premier league cameo but none of them at this moment in time can claim to have a legitimate chance of breaking into the first team and playing regular first team football. So why has the academy become less productive? Where has all the youth talent gone? 

Part of the reasoning behind this lies in the move that Arsenal made in 2006 to the Emirates stadium. It was the start of a new era for the gunners, the beginning of a new chapter. But most importantly it was another change in the club’s development. In the aftermath of the move Arsenal were forced to focus all their efforts on bringing in talent from the academy into the first team. This was down to the huge financial investment that the club had put into making the stadium. There was little established talent bought in that season and players like Gibbs and Wilshere were given chances to show what they could do at the highest level. The strategy in the end has bore little fruit though with Arsenal not winning a trophy for 9 years since the stadium switch. But despite this, these youth players were important for Wenger at the time and it was a philosophy he stuck by for a very long time, not buying proven world class players but instead adopting an approach where he was able to bring in young players who were going to be important in the years to come. 

These youth prospects like Szczesny, Gibbs and Wilshere have made it now and are key members of the senior squad, and now it seems as if Wenger has had a change of heart, he has begun thinking that it’s time to change the philosophy put in place and focus on bringing in experienced players who know what it’s like to win at the highest level.

This began in January of 2011 where Wenger bought in Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun. These transfers brought a change in focus to the Wenger philosophy and it’s clear that at this point he saw too many flaws with the youthful experiment and he wanted a change of plan. The signings of Mesut Ozil last season and Alexis Sanchez this season have only enhanced the view that experience is just as key as youth. With these signings it is clear that Arsenal are now able to sign world class players instead of having to make their own. 

This could be bad for potential Arsenal youth products though. Instead of taking the time to develop a player who will become the next big thing in the future, they can go out and buy a fully ready-made version. Players are still given opportunities to show that they are stars for the future but these chances are becoming more limited and these could be the only chances that they get again. This though isn’t necessarily down to Arsenal’s youth system being a failure; it is more down to the fact that Arsenal’s youth system now faces a tougher challenge than ever before; being able to bring in top experienced talent as well as bringing in exceptional youth talent that can benefit the senior squad as well. 

Overall though I would say that Arsenal’s youth academy is not a failure at all, despite calls for change from the likes of Andries Jonker Arsenal are still capable of producing top talent all the time. An example of this is Gedion Zelalem; he is only 17 years of age but already has been hailed as the next big thing. He’s been compared to Fabregas, Ozil and many others along the way and is a key part of Wenger’s future plans. This shows that Wenger may well have changed his philosophy, but he hasn’t lost the eye for a top player. Only the most gifted like potentially Zelalem will make it through the youth ranks with the increased competition from others. But it’s clear that talent like this will always be given a look by Wenger. If he can help Arsenal produce more talents like he has done with Wilshere and Gibbs then Arsenal could potentially save themselves millions and fully justify their need for the academy investment. 

The German Youth System: Creating world champions

By
Ed Wallace
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0

The German Youth System: Creating world champions

It has been said by many, that the foundations of Germany lifting the 2014 World Cup at The Maracana, were laid some 14 years ago. They were dumped out of the European Championships in Holland and Belgium at the group stages, finishing bottom.

The writers of a 2011 report on the Bundesliga stated “At the turn of the millennium German football stared disaster in the face – it completely lacked a professional foundation”. The German football association (DFB) came to the decision that they needed to revamp the whole process of producing young German footballers. In early 2001, the DFB made it compulsory for every club in the German top flight to run a youth academy. And a few years later, this rule was extended to the top two divisions, meaning 36 clubs had a mandatory requirement to run youth academies by qualified football coaches.

In 2011, 275 of 525 players in the Bundesliga, were trained at the academies (52%). This set up, obviously came at a price. Between 2001 and 2011 the German FA spent over half a billion Euros, a figure that other nations, like England could never have afforded, with the construction of the new Wembley Stadium, in this period. However, the investment is for all the world to see on the football pitch, with Germany reaching a minimum Semi Final place in the last three World Cup’s, lifting the latter. There was also an all-German Champions League final in 2012 when Bayern Munich met Borussia Dortmund, coincidently, at the lavish new Wembley, with both teams littered with German talent.

Since the 2002-03 season, records have been kept of how much money has been put into the academies by clubs. The 2003 figure was 47 million Euros, which has rose each season by at least two to three million. Clubs in the top two leagues are recognising their money is reaping rewards, with the players that their coaches and academies are producing.

What Germany has now, as well as a Jules Rimet trophy, is a system where they can identify young footballers. They can take them to a state of the art academy, teach them how to play, and when they are ready, throw them in at the highest level. They can do this continuously with the money the German FA and the club teams throw into the pot.  The costs are high, but the rewards are greater.

Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer and Mario Gotze are just three to mention, who had an unbelievable World Cup in Brazil. All came from the German Youth System and are plying their trades at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. 14 of the 23 Germans that lifted the World Cup were 25 or younger. How many more World and European Championships could they go on to win? Imagine what England could have produced with a similar youth model, and similar funding. Instead, we got a flash new stadium, which now sees American Football played on.

Thierry Henry: What’s his next move?

By
Ed Wallace
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Finally, it has happened. Thierry Henry has announced that at the end of his contract, he is not returning to MLS side LA Galaxy. 

Now that the cat is out of the bag, speculations are rife.  What is the next move? Is he going to end his career as a player at Arsenal? Are we going to see him as an assistant striking coach with Arsene Wenger? Or is he the most eligible successor to Monsieur Wenger? The possibilities are endless. The King himself has suggested that he will be associated with Arsenal in some manner. 

All that glitters is not gold

This seems hunky dory to any Arsenal and Henry fan. But as a well-wisher of the club, there is an inherent point to ponder. Today, at 37, Henry is still needed to save the club from its woes. In 2011-12, when Manchester United blanked the Gunners 8-2, he was called on. He came, he scored, he lifted the spirits, and the club was in safe waters.  

As an ardent Gooner, I shudder, at the thought of losing out on Champions League action. Well, thanks to TH14, it did not happen. King Henry is there whenever Arsenal needs him. The real question however remains; why the club could not produce any able successor after the Frenchman left the club for Barcelona FC? There have been players who came in and left but just could not garner that reliability which is associated with the name, Thierry Henry. 

The likes of Bendtner, Park, Chamakh, Gervinho- they came and played for the Gunners. But their impact was quite negligible; so much so that, all of them are plying their trade elsewhere now. An exception was maybe Robin van Persie, but he too failed to stick on. Henry had been through the club during its good and bad times. Well, the fact of the matter is, with him around, there can hardly be any bad times. 

Anybody dare to stand up to challenge TH14?

These days we have prodigal talents who run the opposition riot with their craftsmanship. The sublime touches or that flashy skill thwarts the defenders. Be it Messi, Ronaldo, Hazard, or Diego Costa. They are brilliant players with impeccable ability. However, the issue is, with regard to their impact on the team, in the dressing room. These players will not be able to stand up and lead when the morale of the entire team has taken a beating. The credibility is not questioned. Currently, these are the best players of the world. However, it is the stature that creates the difference. 

That was the kind of belief and confidence that the mere presence of the talismanic French striker injected in the team. The belief that we too can beat the top teams had vanished after that shocker of a game against United. Arsene Wenger realized this and called on his trusted disciple. Reposing faith in his gaffer, Henry performed and the team turned around. Till date, nobody could have created this kind of an outcome for his team.  

We have excellent players who are magical on the field. Off the field, these players have fans who worship them maybe. It nowhere comes close to the effect that King Henry has on his fans as well as enemies. During the 2003-04 season when Arsenal were crowned the ‘the Invincibles’, rival supporters could not hate him anymore. Respect overshadowed any form of negativity and the rise of the Frenchman was acknowledged. Till date, nobody can seem to find a better player to grace the English Premier League. (Yes, that is what it used to be called when the King ruled)

 Is it the style of play or just oodles of talent?

When Thierry Henry used to break down the opponents’ defence, he was unstoppable. That ravaging run with the ball, used to wreak havoc on the opposition. The sight of him running towards you, with the ball at his feet caused unrest in the backline. That kind of an aura cannot be replicated. Nowadays, players are endowed with trickery, but the fear, the panic, that a Henry run would generate, is missing. His surging runs were lethal and scoring goals after starting from the halfway, was a common feat for him. That, surely, is not to be found anymore. 

Messi can dribble past an entire fleet of defenders; Ronaldo can dazzle the opposition with his free kicks and nutmegs. The Frenchman was a perfect combination of both. His strength did not allow defenders to foul him; his pace did not let anybody catch up with him. If he had stepped on the gas, then it was goal from the word go. Rarely, such runs would be stopped and definitely, it would not be a legitimate tackle. Henry, as a player would train hard and that used to reflect in his performance. The strength, the indomitable speed, it was unvanquished.

To a neutral, it may seem like a desperate rant from a Henry fanatic; but are there any neutrals when it comes to King Henry? That certainly is a massive question to answer.

Arsenal needs him, always…

The bottom line is he is needed at Emirates. At any given point of time, even if Arsenal is leading the race, 12 points adrift, his presence might just lead to another Invincible season. When the club is battling off a tough fight for the top 4, TH14 scores and suddenly it becomes all too easy.

That is why, still today, arrival of King Henry ushers in colossal amounts of faith, relief to the club and its supporters. His integrity towards Arsenal is unmatched. Football today is ruled with money and professionalism. Players like Henry create the difference between winning a game and winning hearts if the supporters of the beautiful game. 

So, if the King, at the sunset of his playing career, decides to grace the field for Arsenal, it would be a moment of sheer euphoria. If he is at the dug-out motivating the players, then it would be a sight which any Arsenal fan will die for. In the end, there is only one King and he cannot be replaced.

Vive le Thierry Henry!!

Eredivisie was ranked as the 21st best football league in the world

By
Ed Wallace
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0

In the grand scheme of things, it really wasn’t that long ago that the Eredivisie was producing teams of the highest caliber. While this hasn’t happened in the last decade or so, Ajax’s 1995 remains a pinnacle of Dutch club football, a squad so thoroughly dominant and so supremely talented that surely it marked the start of something special, a potential Dutch powerhouse to usher in the new millennium.

Instead, we sit in 2014, approaching 2015, with the Eredivise representation falling further and further behind in the Champions League with little to no better results in the Europa League (the last Dutch European title was Feyenoord winning the UEFA Cup in 2002). The domestic league itself, while a high quality one to many of its fans and followers and fairly unpredictable the lower down the table you go, is somewhat rightly seen as a one which is top heavy and a borderline one-horse league given recent results. The players, though talented in their own right, are seen as ones who produce only few gems per season who are seen worthy enough to make their way to some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

But is this reputation fair? Does it signify a deep-rooted problem which could spiral he league down the coefficient ranking? Yes and no.

According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics’ report published in January 2014, the Eredivisie (at the time) was ranked as the 21st best football league in the world. The report takes into account domestic performance as well as that of continental competition. Given that Ajax have been dominant domestically while the representatives in continental competitions have been poor, this ranking shouldn’t be a surprise – but 21st? Shocking when one considers that in 2013 the same federation ranked the Eredivisie as the eighth best league. A second report utilizing the ELO ratings has it as the 11th best league in the world, but not even that paints a rosy picture as MLS, a league which many in Europe sometimes unfairly turn their nose to, is right on its heels.

Perhaps the way the league is viewed needs to be altered. Of course the domestic title race if enjoyable for fans and the qualifying teams should be given a fair chance in Europe, but should perhaps it shouldn’t be judged in the same manner as the power four leagues are. It’s a fine line to walk between being dismissive and disrespectful to the league and altering viewpoints, but perhaps the Eredivisie’s reputation might be seeing a shift between a competitive league to more of one which is a developmental league for talented youngsters looking to establish their careers abroad. While that’s certainly cutting the quality of the league short, its dwindling competitiveness in Europe might lead to its general perception seeing such a shift, plus it cannot be denied that some of the most technically intelligent youngsters come from the Netherlands and go there on loans to develop, as evidenced by Chelsea’s partnership with Vitesse. Perhaps it is a link such as this which could boost the league’s profile abroad.

Even if the Eredivisie saw a boom in competitiveness in the league as well as abroad in the Champions and Europa leagues, the structure of it still makes such success a relative pipe dream when it comes to sustainability. The biggest factor working against the league is money, Eredivisie cubs simply do not have the monetary resources to compete with their peers. Oil sheiks are unlikely to invest in a league with a lower population of plyers and visitors but rather opt for the more glamorous clubs in some of Europe’s glitziest cities. Because of this, Dutch clubs are quick to use their vast scouting networks to buy low and sell high once bigger clubs come sniffing. This devalues the level of overall competition and favors the top heavy sides such as Ajax and PSV.

So is it all doom and gloom, is the Eredivisie a lost cause certain to keep free-falling in the minds of football fans everywhere? Well, no. Despite its struggles, it’s still a league which produces some of the best talent in the world thanks to some outrageously excellent youth programs, led by the legendary Ajax academy. Though there have certainly been flops abroad, some of the young talent – especially attacking talent – plying their trade in the Eredivisie is stunning and certain to go abroad as a new wave of Dutch talent rises up. Ajax’s Anwar El Ghazi, Ricardo Kishna, Viktor Fischer, Richairo Zivkovic and Abdelhak Nouri alone are a fearsome quintet of potential, while PSV and Feyenoord are churning out their own wonderkids such as Memphis Depay, a reported target for European champions Real Madrid next summer.

Perhaps the new domestic television deal with Fox International Channels (€1 billionover 12 years) and the performances of former Eredivisie players abroad, such as Christian Eriksen, will boost the profile of the league, perhaps outsiders will see the hotbed of young talent present and will gravitate to it as a “hipster” competition to follow. That being said, unless these wonderkids mesh together quickly enough to make a run at European glory, or unless the stars of the Eredivisie commit themselves to their teams and leagues by not leaving at the first opportunity, we might be seeing the further slide of a once proud and powerful league. A shame when one considers the legendary squads and players this league has to its record.

How grassroots sports can be the foundation of a healthy lifestyle

By
Ed Wallace
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0

How grassroots sports can be the foundation of a healthy lifestyle

Have you ever wondered why countries like Australia and China perform consistently in a majority of sporting disciplines on the international stage? Their ability to compete in the highest echelons not only stems from their world class infrastructure and rigorous training regimes, but also a continuous chain of talent flow right from young age groups. 

A report published by Kristen Zimmerman of George Mason University claims that governments all around the globe in the past few years have been focusing on improving their ‘Sports For All’ and ‘Youth Sports’ policies.  

In India too, there have been hunts for the next Sachin and the new Milkha, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to guide the potential future superstars in the right direction. In a country like ours, where talent has no bounds, youngsters with enormous potential are somehow getting lost. It is a distinct challenge to identify talent pools and help youngsters improve technically, with the ultimate goal being their overall personal development from an early age. 

Coca Cola India and the All India Football Federation have recently come together for a strategic alliance towards building a strong talent pool for the upcoming Under-17 World Cup to be held in India in 2017. The partnership envisions the nurturing of future football stars by providing them a platform to showcase their talents, where they are bound to come under the spotlight. Last year, an Under-15 tournament was held where more than 41,000 youngsters across 86 cities competed in their bid to be a part of the national champion team. 

Why grassroots development is the need of the hour

Grassroots sports development is completely different from a professional set-up; there are no strictly defined rules here. Thus, multiple aspects of any ‘game’ can be modified to inculcate and imbibe basic education in youngsters. In a vast and diverse country like ours, the right kind of grassroots programmes can give the citizens open access to sports, thereby improving their health standards and quality of living. 

From a statistician’s point of view, grassroots sports proportionally contribute to a better life index.  Training and motivating youngsters off the field play a huge role in creating active lifestyles, which in turn lead to an increase in the number of elite sportspersons produced by the country. Of course, the benefits of sports in curbing obesity and other diseases that occur through a lack of physical activity have also been well-documented. 

Grassroots coaches too have a huge role to play in this phenomenon. They teach the youth on how to lead a healthy life and even reach out to their families and relatives, spreading the message far and wide. This often has a domino effect; not only does it help young athletes reach their peak at a young age, it also gives a budding group of players the opportunity to fill their predecessors’ boots. 

Moreover, grassroots sports provide for a platform where discrimination of every kind is ironed out. Very often in life, the impoverished and the disabled miss out on opportunities to progress, but initiatives like the Coca-Cola U-15 Football tournament ensure a level playing field for all. Events like these encourage everyone to get associated with sport and be involved, thus improving the moral and ethical discipline in the society. 

Recently, the honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi stressed about the importance of yoga, and that too on a global stage. Sports, especially grassroots sports, can have a similar effect as yoga in improving the common man’s lifestyle. It’s time for India to embrace this culture, and in the process embrace healthier living too.

Wolfsburg return to the top of the Bundesliga

By
Ed Wallace
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0

Wolfsburg return to the top of the Bundesliga

It was as you were in the Bundesliga after last weekend’s round of games, Bayern Munich’s 0-2 win at Stuttgart answered by VFL Wolfsburg’s 3-0 win over Hoffenheim, the 8 point advantage Bayern hold over the Wolves still intact but the Bavarians will be left under no doubt that they are beginning to gain a serious challenger to their previously impregnable dominance of the German top-flight.

Events over the last week have shifted the landscape of the league, with Bayern suffering a crushing defeat in Wolfsburg a fortnight ago.  The 4-1 loss rubbed away some of the air of invincibility in Bavaria and raising once again questions that Pep Guardiola is unable to summon the same desire and hunger from his players once they return from the winter break boasting a comfortable cushion at the league’s summit. 

Midfielder Bastian Schweinstieger issued caution that something ominous was building on the banks of the river Aller in Lower Saxony, “they are not second for nothing” said the World Cup winner, “Wolfsburg are always capable of being up there”. And that is indeed where they are, hot on the heels of Bayern after losing just twice in the 19 games since the opening day 2-1 loss in the Allianz Arena. 

That devastating display of rapid counter-attacking saw Bayern double their season’s goals against tally for the season in a single match and gave hope that Wolfsburg can indeed catch Guardiola’s men. It is unlikely, though the last team to overturn a half-way 11 point gap was Wolfsburg, back when they won the title under Felix Magath in 2009.

The following five years have been a period of transition for the club, the title winning squad quickly broken up with the sales of Edin Dzeko, Grafite, Zvjezdan Misimovic, Andrea Barzagli and Ashkan Dejagah amongst others as Wolfsburg endured a period of brisk turnover of players as well as coaches. 

Millions were spent, and wasted, on the likes of Obafemi Martins, Karim Ziani and Simon Kjaer, while Brazilian midfielder Diego was signed from Juventus for £13 million, handed a reported €8.2 million salary and left for Atletico Madrid for around £1 million last January after a troubled 3 year spell in Germany. Despite spending a reported €67.5 million in the year after winning the championship Wolfsburg would finish 8th, starting a period of struggle in which they would go through 6 managers, including former England coach Steve McClaren and Magath for a second time, since Armin Veh replaced the title-winning coach in July 2009. 

Dieter Hecking arrived in December 2012 with the reputation of being a solid, long-term coach and he currently remains in place having overseen Wolfsburg’s rise back into European competition after a spell of upheaval. Magath would swell the squad up to nearly 40 players in his second tenure at the Volkswagen Arena but Hecking has trimmed that number down significantly, pushing 29 players through the exit door last season as Wolfsburg finished fifth and qualified for the Europa League. Only 2 players of the 2009 title winning squad remain with the club, goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and defender Marcel Schafer.  

Owners Volkswagen have ramped up investment, breaking the club’s transfer record three times in eighteen months with the signings of €20 million Luiz Gustavo, €25 million Kevin De Bruyne and on the deadline of January’s transfer window, Andre Schurrle in excess of €30 million. Criticism of the dealings have stemmed from a view from the rest of the league that such spend has been in foul of Financial Fair Play regulations, though Wolfsburg are adamant their funding from owning company Volkswagen- as one of only 3 clubs in Germany allowed exemption from the 50+1 rule ensuring majority rule by its members- are in line with the rules.

De Bruyne, who is top scorer with 8 and is leaving many wondering if the Wolves significantly underpaid Chelsea for the Belgian, has been sensational. A brace in the rout of Bayern was added with a vital late equaliser against Eintracht Frankfurt and another in the win over Hoffenheim, while striker Bas Dost has also played himself into form, scoring twice against Bayern before netting at the weekend. 

Having initially struggled to adapt to the Bundesliga following his £6 million arrival from Herenveen, Dost has suddenly burst into life after the January sale of Ivica Olic to Hamburg and the typically underwhelming form of Nicklas Bendtner, paved the way for the Dutchman to become Hecking’s main striker. His recent goals, including a stunning strike to beat Manuel Neuer in the thrashing of the league-leaders, will give hope that he can produce the same red-hot form that registered 38 goals in 39 games in his last season in Holland. 

With Schurrle now coming in to support Dost alongside De Bruyne, who leads the Bundesliga in terms of assists with 11, the big target-man will receive greater service as he seeks to add to his so-far meagre tally of 4 goals. Schurrle has certainly made an impact, orchestrating the victory over Hoffenheim with a debut goal and a pair of assists, including one for Dost, incidentally. 

Wolfsburg’s total of 41 goals scored is only 2nd best to Bayern but De Bruyne’s 8 is the individual highest. Olic’s 5, a number replicated by centre-half Naldo, was a big help but he has departed with World Cup winner Schurrle representing a significant upgrade. 

Portuguese winger Vieirinha, Daniel Caligiuiri and Ivan Perisic have also chipped in with goals and assists though Hecking knows somebody will have to assume the mantle of regular goal-scorer, similar to Edin Dzeko in 2009, should Wolfsburg aspire to become regular company for Bayern.

Gustavo and Atletico Madrid loanee Joshua Guilavogui have protected a robust defence that houses the powerful Naldo, who has excelled alongside 22 year old Robin Knoche, a recent graduate from the Wolfsburg youth academy. At left-back is Ricardo Rodriguez who somehow still remains out of the clutches of the continent’s elite clubs after continuing 2 years of excellent form since joining from FC Zurich in 2012. 

The Swiss, together with Sebestian Jung’s revelatory form at right-back since moving from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer for £2.2 million, is central to Hecking’s 4-2-3-1 which relies on dynamic wing-backs to charge forward and provide width. A powerful, well-shielded back-line together with the pace of De Bruyne, Schurrle and Perisic allows for the type of imperious counter-attacking that did for Bayern. 

Hecking and his men will now use the rest of the season to close in on Champions League qualification while there is also the matter of a Europa League last-32 tie against Sporting Lisbon on the horizon. While Bayern may be out of reach, it will be important for Wolfsburg to finish strongly in order to announce they have returned as one of German football’s powerhouses. With Volkswagen generously bankrolling Hecking’s shrewd coaching, Bayern and Guardiola may receive the genuine domestic challenger they desperately crave.

Arsenal’s Invincibles 2003-04: Blast from the Past

By
Ed Wallace
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0
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 10: Fussball: Champions League 03/04, London; Arsenal London - Celta de Vigo; Team Arsenal London 10.03.04. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s Invincibles 2003-04: Blast from the Past

A lot has been written, told, discussed about the greatest teams to play the beautiful game. There are the likes of Manchester United’s Class of ’92, Real Madrid’s Galacticos, etc. The teams were marvelous, and had an aura about them. There were legends in those teams. Thus, they reached the zenith of success. When you have Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo and Raul in your team there isn’t much to do. 

However, there were hardly any iconic figures in the Arsenal 2003-04 squad. It was a bunch of few next door names that got along well. At this note, let us revisit the glory days for one last time. Let there not be any fawning but a threadbare approach to the side.

When did it all start?

It was a relatively quiet transfer window for Arsene Wenger in the 2003-04 season. There were financial constraints owing to the new stadium in the pipeline. Consequently, Arsene Wenger decided to retain the services of the trusted warriors. Robert Pires, Patrick Viera signed new contracts at Arsenal. This meant the core of the midfield was there. 

Apart from these, the lone signing of Jens Lehmann was the only activity in the transfer period. Many would say Jose Antonio Reyes was a key signing in the January transfer window. But, Reyes was an unheard name before he came to Arsenal. As is the scene after he departed from Highbury.

Overall it was a modest team with a lot of steel in the squad. That grit has been eluding Arsenal ever since. This was a critical factor behind the team’s clean sheets.

Legendary stature? Anyone?

There was Jens Lehmann under the bars. Laurent, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, Martin Keown, Pascal Cygan, Gael Clichy, Johan Djorou, Justin Hoyte- these were the names at the backline. None of them had a cult status before joining the Gunners. Keown was the only name who was there with the team for long. Rests of these names were secured by the watchful eyes of Monsieur Wenger.

In the midfield there was Viera, Pires, Ljungberg, Edu, Gilberto Silva and the veteran Ray Parlour. Parlour was an Arsenal player long before Arsene Wenger joined. He was at his wee end of his career by that time. The likes of Edu and Silva joined the team to add some Samba flair to an otherwise burly midfield. 

None of them were remotely near to being called a superstar. These names today are recalled when the Arsenal team of 2003-04 is the subject. They were players who were synchronous with the team. Nobody was a star in their stature. This is where the rug was pulled under the opponent’s feet. There was no budding prodigy in the team. Hardworking, pacy midfielders would take the play to the opposition. There were fierce counter attacks, leading to immaculate finishes from the strikers.

Coming to the offence department, there was a French striker from Juventus. Yes, you heard it right. Thierry Henry. He was under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger during his AS Monaco days. At that time Henry would be deployed as a left winger.

When he donned the Arsenal stripes, he was an out and out striker. Tall, strong, fast and rugged, Henry would wreak havoc on the defenders. His solo runs and exquisite finishes are unmatched till date. Another phenomenon who would team up with TH14 was DB10. Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp was a prolific goal scorer in his heydays. With the advent of Henry, he was more than happy to slot behind in a supporting role. Nevertheless, the lethal duo would complement each other well upfront. As a result they became an indomitable force.   

Aftermath

The aforesaid team structure had one thing in common. They explicated the adage; ‘United we stand’ and they did stand strong. Resilient in the back, astute in the midfield and deadly in the attack; this team defied all odds. There weren’t any players who could be identified as superstar. But, after their august form, each name commanded respect.

The players took the field with massive respect for the game. The spirit would flow into the pitch uninhibited. Consequently, the results came were in their favour. Under the captaincy of Viera, Arsenal became the team to beat.

Different they were, and different they will be

Till date Arsenal fans become delirious recalling the glorious season. Since then there has been a massive slump in form for the side. With an FA Cup encounter against Manchester United, it will be a tough time for Gunners. 

The 2003-04 taught us a huge lesson in the world of football. We may have fabulous players these days. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard; they may be greater than their team. But, what makes a squad legendary is their fabulous team strength. Football has been and will always be a team sport. An individual becomes an icon with the support of his team. Today, the players of the Invincibles team are renowned. That is what an Arsenal team does to you. It rubs on the sheer magnificence on every individual associated. 

Signing off, once a Gunner, always a Gunner.

Has Luis Enrique burned his
bridges…again?

By
Ed Wallace
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0

Luis Enrique appeared, at least from the outside, to be a sensible if unspectacular choice to
inherit the managerial reins at Barcelona last summer.
A club legend from his playing days, the Catalan giants resorted to a recruitment policy that
has served them well in the past following a largely forgettable spell under the tutelage of
Gerardo Martino.


Prior to the Argentine, who was dispensed of after just one season at the Camp Nou helm,
Barca had put their faith in figures with strong ties to the club – and had reaped the rewards.
Frank Rijkaard passed the baton to Pep Guardiola, who in turn delivered it to the late Tito
Vilanova.


Between them, they delivered six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns.
Undoubtedly, Guardiola was the man to raise the bar and start a trend of promotion from
within that others have tried – with varying degrees of success – to emulate.
In truth, in much the same way as Manchester United have hit the wall following the
departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Barcelona have never quite been the same without a
talismanic figure at the helm.
Enrique was supposed to be the man to turn the corner, but he appears to have been given the
wrong directions. In many ways, perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise.

   by   EnricAndDestroy 
While there is no questioning his achievements on the field, the former Spain international
has hardly set the world alight in coaching circles.
There are not too many figures who would expect to be considered for one of the biggest jobs
on the planet on the back of two one-season stints at Roma and Celta Vigo that failed to
deliver win percentages of over 50 per cent.
It also has to be noted that Enrique’s history in the dugout has seen questions asked of his
management style and an apparent reluctance to cater to the demands of key figures.
While in Italy, reports emanated of a  falling out with club icon Francesco Totti  – an
untouchable figure in the Eternal City and one who was always going to come out on top in
any battle for control in the eyes of supporters and club bosses.

Enrique, to no one’s surprise, was the one to move on. He was, however, to be offered
another shot at the big time three years down the line, with an exit from Celta swiftly
followed by an appointment at Barca.
Surely he would not be as stubborn in La Liga as he was in Serie A, would he? Well, if you
believe what you read, then lessons of the past have not been heeded.
Rather than follow the Guardiola blueprint, open his ears to the players and the press, Enrique
has sought to build walls and alienate himself.
Remarkably, among those he has managed to ostracise is none other than Lionel Messi – the
jewel in Barcelona’s crown and the man around which Enrique would have been expected to
try and build his empire.


It is impossible to ignore the similarities to his spell in Rome, with Messi – who is reported
to  no longer be on speaking terms with his boss – playing the role of Totti as the pair
endeavour to put their differences to one side for the good of the collective cause.
Again, you get the feeling that there will only be one winner if an uncomfortable situation
becomes a battle of wills.


Messi, a public supporter of Martino, perhaps has not embraced the arrival of the new man at
the helm in quite the manner that Enrique would have liked, but surely that is one relationship
he should have been looking to cement from the outset.


As it is,  with Barcelona slipping in  La Liga betting markets as they continue to trail arch-
rivals Real Madrid and with success in the Champions League far from guaranteed, Enrique
finds himself trudging down an all too familiar path.
His C.V. currently includes two 12-month stints, could he be about to complete the hat-trick?
It is difficult to see how he can avoid such a fate if Barca were to end the campaign empty-
handed, with a Copa del Rey final appearance taking on added importance before a summer
in which Enrique needs to start building a few more bridges than he burns.

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