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Jose Mourinho To Manchester City? The rumours linking the Real Madrid boss to Eastlands grow and In The Stands’ Rolly Pelovangu warns that if Mourinho does become City coach then they will dominate the Premier League
Sporting comebacks are usually special things. Who can forget the return of Thierry Henry to Arsenal after five years away? Likewise, wrestling fans the world over will recall with belated nostalgia when Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson made a momentous return to the squared circle after some 8 years.
Legendary stuff. So how would anybody feel about a certain Jose Mourinho returning back to the Premier League? The likeliest destination will, if rumours are to be believed, be with current league leaders Manchester City. This being so, maybe it is better to rephrase that question.
How would anybody bar Manchester City fans feel about the ‘Special One’ coming back to the English top flight to manage The Citizens?
No sooner had Real Madrid been eliminated by Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey quarter-final had a new war of words emerged from the Real camp who ITS’ Rolly Pelovangu argues are suffering from Battered Wife Syndrome
After Barcelona’s Copa Del Rey success over Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, the overriding image which stuck in the mind of most viewers was the scene of Madrid defender Pepe pointing to his head, seemingly unmoved about the fact that his side had lost yet another big game to their fiercest rivals (3-2 on aggregate over the two legs).
You could almost spell out what the Portuguese destroyer was saying as he hugged Alvaro Arbeloa on the hallowed Camp Nou turf.
“Its ok lads, don’t worry. (Pointing to his head) we won. We won…or at least we will win next time. Getting beat is ok. Next time we will kill them and justify it by pointing out that they cheated, hurt, abused, smashed and cut us up first!”
In The Stands’ Rolly Pelovangu takes an in-depth look at the former Chelsea, Inter and current Real Madrid boss and asks the special question: Is Jose Mourinho overrated?
Iconoclastic; the act of challenging established ideas and customs common within a certain place or time and not merely for the sake of argument.
There is being iconoclastic and probing, but on the other hand there is also being overzealous and unnecessarily inquisitive. When it comes to football most people and opinion givers fall into the latter bracket, blinded perhaps by team colours.
Like for example, when a Manchester United fan (who lives in London may I add) once said to me that, quote; “Robin Van Persie is shit!”
Of course his opinions carry as much weight as a soufflé, but hey, is that iconoclasm or just overzealous drivel?! The answer in this case is pretty clear.
To question demotic norms and society-induced precepts is not a sin. Indeed, the great Greek philosopher Socrates turned such a practice into a philosophical art and condemned himself to an early grave doing so.
Simon Taylor, a professional footballer, give insight into his life inside the game. Every week, exclusively for In The Stands…
Introduction to me, and my Diary
Hi. My name is Simon Taylor and I am a professional-footballer. Now, before I go into more detail, I am by no means famous. In fact if you Google my name you get a furniture maker and a Flanker who plays for Bath (Which is a lovely place, although the names a bit obvious though – with all the Baths and that). I also wouldn’t bother looking for me on Wikipedia (especially today) or Football Manager either. Although, I once found myself on Google Street Maps in an awkward crouching position. And before you ask, no, I wasn’t being attacked by two young teenagers. I had simply dropped my wallet and as I bent down I accidentally got kicked in the face. It happens. Okay.
Football and joy go hand-in-hand for Sam Haase as he takes account of one of his most cherished days in his footballing life…
(January 23, 2010 - Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images Europe)
Sunday 8th May 2011 will be a day I remember for the rest of my years, of that I am sure.
I started the year off unsure as to whether I was going to University, working at Barclaycard on my ‘gap year’ to earn some much needed money, and had just joined my old Economics teachers’ Sunday football outfit. In my younger years, god I feel old using that phrase, I wasn’t too bad at football, representing Buckinghamshire county whilst also having a spell at Rushden and Diamonds. But since then school work got on top of me, I began to engage in a more active social life and so on, leading to the inevitable result of my talents slowly deteriorating. I had anticipated that I would have copious spare time during this ‘gap year’ and decided to join this football side in order to regain some fitness, whilst also ensuring that I met regularly with my old school companions.
Sam Haase likes football and he can’t hold back the words anymore… From Maradona to astronomic wages; Sam slurges to you his one true love.
I have grown up watching football almost my entire life – I don’t know any different -and for me it is quite simply the best sport in the world. The pace, the electricity, the excitement, the unpredictability – there is so much about football that draws the attention of millions across the planet.
It is moments like Maradona’s goal against England in the 86’ World Cup Quarter Finals that make me love football. The way Maradona simply crafted his way through the England side from just inside his own half was pure poetry in motion. The effortless way in which he glides past the helpless England defenders exemplified the skill of the great man, and showcased the magic moments football provides us with. Even his infamous ‘hand of god’ goal in the same game demonstrates the drama football creates. The fine skill of Maradona, the drama in which the game was won and the heartache for the England players and faithful, all in one game, what more could you want?
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is a man worth paying to see. Off the field his actions are the stuff of legend and on the field he already is a legend! In The Stands’ Rolly Pelovangu looks back at 5 of the Italian’s finest strikes.
Mario Balotelli Goal vs Rubin Kazan, 2009 UEFA Champions League
Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan were making a mess of qualification from their UEFA Champions League group consisting of holders Barcelona, Russian champions Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev.
Passage into the last 16 depended on a win over Rubin Kazan at the San Siro on Matchday 6 and ‘the Special One’ took a gamble by starting Mario Balotelli upfront with Samuel Eto’o. Alas, it proved to be a masterstroke as the Italian put in a superb performance to set up Eto’o for the opener, before smashing home a stunning freekick which swerved so much that the Rubin Kazan goalkeeper must have thought God was playing tricks on him.
Arsenal are set to offer club legend Thierry Henry a two-month loan deal but is coach Arsene Wenger right to resign the French striker?
There can be no doubt that Thierry Henry is Arsenal’s greatest ever forward and having been voted as the Premier League’s best ever foreign import in a SKY One poll – is, was and will forever be a name associated with greatness within English football.
226 goals, tons of assists, PFA Player of The Year awards, Golden Boots, not one but two Goal of the Seasons, twice runners-up in the FIFA World Player of The Year, jaw-droppingly great goals and a trophy cabinet boasting every single major cup in world football.
Those are but some of the accolades bestowing ‘Titi’ – that is Thierry Henry for those non-Gooners not familiar with the Paris-born star’s nickname in the North London terraces.
With such a celebrated list it would be hard to imagine why the news that Arsenal are set to offer Henry a two-month loan deal has not got Arsenal fans everywhere particularly stirred.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned for 8 games and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Patrice Evra and In The Stands’ Rolly Pelovangu pulls no punches in debating the FA decision.
‘Negrito’. That is the word allegedly in contention following Luis Suarez’s eight game ban after racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Anfield back in September.
Most onlookers will be able to recall the second half confrontation between both Suarez and Evra which occurred in the United box. Although seemingly innocuous at the time, after the match, Evra was quick to report that he had been racially abused by the Liverpool number 7.
Of course such allegations are, were and must be taken very seriously and a resolute Patrice Evra refused to back down despite receiving little support from his team-mates – none of whom claimed to have heard the disputed word.
Videos soon followed and Suarez was caught red-handed ushering the word ‘Negrito’ over, and over, and over again. Ten times to be precise.
After being held to a 1-1 draw by Wigan Chelsea’s slim title hopes have all but ended and In The Stands can confirm that coach Andre Villas Boas has written a letter to Santa Claus stating his Xmas wish list!
It was then New Labour leader Tony Blair who, upon being elected as Prime Minister and thus ending a 19-year spell in opposition, famously bombarded the nation with that now iconic theme song; ‘Things can only get better.’
Alas, it is something which current Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas hopes can and will be applied to him and his team after a less than impressive start to the 2011 Premier League campaign.
Although the Blues defeated Premier League leaders Manchester City 2-1 on Monday, the Portuguese coach still has yet to fully convince Russian owner Roman Abramovich that he has the qualities needed to guide the Blues to domestic and European domination and Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Wigan proved damaging in their title pursuit.
Barcelona face Santos in the Club World Cup final on Sunday in a match which pits South American superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar face-to-face for the first time ever at club level.
The two clubs are the apotheosis in terms of quality in both their respected continents with Santos having won their third Copa Libertadores this year whilst Barcelona conquered Europe on their way to winning the 2011 UEFA Champions League.
Of course the names besetting both squads is like a football roll-call of class, quality and skill, but two names in particular standout above all – namely, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
The South American duo are amongst the most talked about players in world football at present and the good news is that football fans the world over will get to see the pair up against each other for the first time ever in Sunday’s Club World Cup final.
Santos secured their place in Sunday’s final largely thanks to a brilliant individual performance from Neymar.
Once again Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo went missing as Jose Mourinho’s men were beaten 3-1 by Barcelona in the El Clasico begging the question can he perform in big matches?
For many onlookers Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Real Madrid in Saturday’s El Clasico brought up many talking points typical of such a titanic European clash.
We all knew that Lionel Messi is a better team player than Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Saturday only served to reinforce just why ‘The Flea’ is going to win the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Likewise, Barcelona showed the entire continent why they are not quite ready to forfeit their Spanish (and European) crown just yet – if that was ever in doubt.
However, the biggest thing to emerge was that never-ending question on the lips of every Madrid, Barca, Manchester United and Portugal fan – indeed, everybody with an in-depth liking of the beautiful game; can Cristiano Ronaldo perform in the big games? Is Ronaldo a big match choker? And finally, is the pressure of high-profile matches too much for the world’s most expensive ever player?
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