If I can dream...

As always seems to be the case the scene is set. The legendary Franz Beckenbauer has been running his mouth like a WWE bad guy for the last week and The Sun newspaper has spilled out its usual waste heap of trashy propaganda after what was in all honesty a disappointing display by England in the group stage which has set up an anything but disappointing tie with the old enemy. However when all is said and done the only way to talk in football is on the pitch - and the only conversations that matter come 3pm this afternoon are those between Capello and his troops, Loew and his squadron, and the shrill cries between comrades in battle amidst the relentless noise of the vu-vu zela. Although the English have already displayed discontempt towards the local horns by singing a free-lance rendition of 'God Save the Queen' in every game so far - and the Germans have displayed their own unique support with the largest national flag seen in football. This is indeed a clash between two giant nations of the game with all the added controversy, hostility and backhanded respect that comes with the territory of two sides who have historically gained and lost everything through their battles with the other.

We can't talk about an Anglo-Deutsch contest without mentioning the war even though Basil Fawlty would implore us not to; and its a backs to the wall and all out offensive spirit that might just be the key to relive the success of the dambusters and the D-day landings. The only two significant victories scored against the Germans since the wars may teach us a couple of other necessary keys to success. A mean defensive spirit and a striker whose in the mood would take us a long way to state the obvious as we saw in Munich 2001 with the historic 5-1 dismantling of Oliver Kahn's defence. More to the point that age old match winner of international football as we experienced in 1966 wouldn't go a miss - a wee bit of bloody luck.

I'm not going to attempt to second guess tactics or selection front either manager and I'm certainly not arrogant enough to suggest ways in which to beat the Germans. The one suggestion I will tender is can we please do it in normal / extra time? It might just be one of those games where all form and thought goes flying out the window and is all decided on whether Rooney reaches that ball across goal or whether Terry makes that goal-saving block. I personally want us to attack, press and turn it into a high tempo war, show Mertesacker and Friedrich up for the donkeys they're so capable of being. Lets not kid ourselves that Germany can't open us up themselves. Mesut Ozil has already given English fans the pleasure of his destructive company by destroying our under 21 side last year in the final of the Euro U21's. However only one player of our U21 side has progressed to the national side, then captain James Milner, as opposed to the 6 who make up Germany's comparatively inexperienced side. Due to the loss of Michael Ballack the Germans have no survivors from the side that was shot apart in Munich 2001 - with our only remains being Ashley Cole, scorers Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey.

Lets not tease ourselves with the parallels of previous successes and failures but focus on the now. Germany are good but they haven't set the world alight. England are good but they haven't set the world alight. Both sides have points to prove and both sides would love nothing more than to prove them. Whether its a war of attrition or an exchange of damaging raids; its England versus Germany; its South Africa 2010 and by my reckoning 50 years of hurt might have a ring to it, but so does Argentina in the Quarter Finals.

A Continental Revolution

Its amazing really isn't it? How the World Cup is held in Africa for the first time and despite a bright start by the hosts, Bafana Bafana have failed to set the world alight and in truth none of the passionately supported African nations appear destined to finally realise Pele's very own prediction that 'one day an African team will win the World Cup.' Well it was all about the European teams before the last week or so with European football being the dominant continental silverware at club level and almost every global star now earning their stripes in one of the great footballing metropolis of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite all - its the South American sides who have caught people's eye and captured the imagination and I want to know why / how.

First of all is the variation and in some ways break away of expected style which the South American sides have approached this tournament with. The only side who have played to an expected stereotype and succeeded so far are indeed the Germans - but its interesting how already France's crippled, uncoordinated style has seemingly sent them crashing to an early exit at the hands of Mexico and Uruguay. Spain have succumbed to an early setback playing a typical Spanish 'walk the ball in' brand of football which the Swiss had clearly scouted emphatically, and our very own England once again have already been victims of their own smash-mouth style of football.

So the Brazilians have turned up with another generation of outrageously talented attacking midfielders and forwards who can all score from anywhere and glue the ball to their foot right? Well, wrong. The Brazilians have indeed bagged the Confederations Cup, the Copa America and their South American Qualification Title since 2006 but it was playing a style of football in the mould of their former captain Dunga. A relatively unproven attack of Robinho, Elano and Luis Fabiano spear heads a side which has all its glorification in its defensive mental. 3 of their back 5 played in Mourinho's Inter side who defended and battled their way to European glory last season and the experience and presence of Melo and captain Gilberto are an invaluable asset.

If anything it is Argentina who are the new Brazil. Rather than relying on their impregnable defenders such as Ruggeri, Passarella, Chamot and Ayala and turn to one genius such as Maradonna, Batistuta or Riquelme this Argentine side has it all in attack. A team who European top scorer Diego Milito is yet to cement a place in, and Sergio Aguero has not even featured in.  They carry the unpredictable enigma of their coach Diego Maradonna of course who at the last minute ditched his unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation and now claims that Newcastle's right winger Jonas Guttierez is one of the first names on his team sheet to play at right back in place of European club-God Javier Zanetti. Despite the calamitous appearance of the Argentine defence so far they are yet to be troubled as the machine of Higuain and Tevez gathers Messi driven momentum and Maradonna is leading Argentina to maximum points in Group B.

Uraguay have suddenly become a side people are putting outside bets on - and you can't blame them in the light of their performance last night. Uraguay appeared to have stuck to the traditional image of mindless thuggery shaped by the likes of Montero but nowadays the main man of Uraguayan football is one of European footballs best forwards and has been given a role in which he can greatly influence his nations progress in this competiton, behind Edinson Cavani and Ajax goal ace Luis Suarez. Uraguay have indeed retained some of their hostile qualities with a midfield that sends shivers down the spine of the faint hearted, as we saw when Perez and Pereira numbed the threat of Ribery, Gourcuff and Govou. For once it appears the Uraguayans may have struck upon a decent balance rather than mindless attack and blind destruction, making them an outside semi-final threat.

Mexico stunned many with a 2-0 victory over France tonight having been frustrated on the first day by hosts South Africa. The finishing in the first game was indeed disgusting particularly from West Ham's Guilherme Franco. However once again Mexico are a far cry from their unimaginative attacks involving slight, one-dimensional wingers loading balls to the head of Jared Borgetti or the acrobatic and chaotic style fronted by the Bicycle kick king Manuel Negrete. The flamboyance of Vela, Dos Santos and Blanco has made Mexico a fresh threat with a slick Arsenal style of scithing through defences - often with everything right until the finish. Their rolls-royce of a captain Rafael Marquez still oozes quality and defenders such as Salcido at left back give them a more secure image. However Mexico may well still be a Quarter final side at best and one norm still remains. The unrivalled, undoubted, unexaggerated madness of Oscar Perez.

Now for my favourite bit - to Chile. The last time we saw Chile they were in fact surprisingly similar to the Chile side who took the World Cup by the scruff of the neck in their 1-0 win over Honduras. In 1998 Marcelo Salas was the new boy on the block and Ivan Zamorano was always good for a goal himself. Other than that pairing the side was weak and unlike the Chile of today they did not contain the unique enterprise which has been instilled by the passionate Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa. Their interesting 3-4-3 format is no joke. The wingers do indeed have defensive capability but are by no means wing backs; and the 3 forwards are also for real with Mark Gonzalez and Alexis Sanchez fronting a two-pronged threat on both flanks which is fed into by midfield maestro Matias Fernandez and the dogged ball-winning tangent of David Pizzaro and Carlos Carmona. Yes Brava and Contreras are both mad but Chile do have some sense at the back particularly with the young and refreshing defender Javier Vidal. Their team chemistry and workrate is astonishing which is the key to any good defence and indeed any good attack. Should Humberto Suazo - top scorer in the South American Qualification Group - turn on the style in place of the unflattering Jorge Valdivia, Chile may well entertain the world before crashing out in the Second Round / Quarter Final when their loose and fluid attacking strategy eventually becomes unstuck.

Finally Paraguay. What a crock of absolute shite they really are and always have been. Its food for thought though ye. Italy are boring, France and negative, England are predictable, Germany robotic, Portugal one-dimensional and Spain superflous. Meanwhile there is a subtle revolution going on - and you're all really going to laugh at me if all the South American teams go out in the Second Round.

Mind over Matter: England in SA 2010

In every pub and sitting room across the nation even the most optimistic of us thought the same thing on Saturday evening; 'typical bloody England'. A bright start, a couple of injuries, a goalkeeping blunder, wasted chances and a lack of ideas. Its not a curse and its not the fact that we haven't got the players - and these realities were confirmed in fact by our old enemy and the football side that we all love to hate. Many of us sat green with envy as we saw a Germany side who had been wrongly tipped by bookmakers and pundits alike to struggle in their fairly mediocre group stage and pose no threat to Jules Rimet this year. Well those of you who know me will know that I was not at all surprised to see the Germans finally kick this competition into action after an array of draws and tense affairs in the opening games. There's a lot of people in Britain who would have you believe that German football and the continental style is boring. Well actually I disagree and have done for a long time. I'm not bored of winning games 4-0. I'm bored of hearing people criticise Emile Heskey, or say Gerrard and Lampard don't work together or say Glen Johnson can't defend. Maybe we wouldn't still be doing it though, were we just to learn a few simple lessons and learn how to play a game of international football.

I'm not here to rip apart tactics and team selection because I think the real problem with our approach to international football is ideological. Why is it that throughout the entire German demolition of Australia, a side who are of a similar standard to our opponents on June 12th, USA, I did not see one German player make or attempt one pass that any of our players would be incapable of doing themselves. There's an argument that says that the German movement was better and the formation was more fluid than our rigid and dated 4-4-2 which arguably cripples the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney who are the usual candidates to be moving into the same pockets of space as the German playmaker Mesut Ozil expertly exploited at the tender age of 21. There is also an argument that a more intelligent, skilful player such as Joe Cole would have been a more effective tool in terms of breaking down the defensive setup of USA as opposed to the two-dimensional style of speed demon wingers Wright Phillips and Lennon who unsurprisingly enjoyed little success against full backs who were happy to show them down a blind alley and loft ineffective crosses in for their beefy centre halves to deal with. There's no doubt that Lennon and SWP tear defences apart but its the likes of Cole and Milner who unlock them - which is why I personally think Capello's notion of Cole as an 'impact sub' is back to front.

Going back to the Germans and their patient style which brought tangible results. Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski dispelled the myth that good league form is vital for good international form having scored a total of 6 goals in the Bundesliga this season between them. Like Heskey, whose international form has traditionally been better than that for his club; Klose can be classified as a target man - but I did not see one hopeful long ball being piled up to him by either of the German centre halves and any service in the air to Klose was a whipped cross into areas in front of him rather than the ineffective high hanging balls which big Emile is often treated to which ask the striker to generate all the power and accurary with the header usually from around 15 yards. Well to be honest Klose couldn't do that so why would Heskey be able to. When Heskey actually got the ball to feet his post play and distribution was top notch, setting up Steve Gerrard's openers and playing in Wayne Rooney who had narrowly strayed offside in another passage of play.

Not only is Germany's preparedness to keep the ball and keep their passing simple and safe before looking to move the ball more quickly in the final third more effective in terms of attacking, it also reduces the likelihood of pressure being built up on them. Every time Terry or Carragher whacks the ball up to Heskey's neck with little or no supprt we're not only wasting possession but we're giving it to our opponents and thus inviting them onto us. In turn we had a few scares from unnecessary set plays before Green's howler and if anything the goal had been coming. Nothing to do with the keeper, the defence, the midfield or the strikers. Its our style of play and our impatience that costs us and its been a problem for ever since I can remember. Every week at my own club at 1-0 down people start yelling garbage such as 'Get it forward' or complaining when players pass the ball backwards rather than loft it forwards. Well if you learn anything from a game of football learn this from the Germans. Chelsea might have won the Premier League playing a lot of perecentage football and grinding teams down with a solid defence. It might work against Burnley - but it won't work in a World Cup.

Bloomfield and McNamara's Premiership Team of the Noughties

As frequently happens when normal service is resumed after a holiday period the classic pub-chats flow without falter and this was very much the case last night. When my co-creator raised a conversation surrounding a Radio FiveLive debate involving pundits such as Steve Claridge, Graham Taylor, and somebody else who'd achieved just as little in a long, dragged out career which led to their talking nonsense about football after a long overdue retirement - it was our perogative to put them right. The debate of the Premiership team of the noughties led to some interesting names being thrown out by this circus such as Peter Schmeichel, Alan Shearer- I think the great Dennis Bergkamp even found his way into the side. All very way gentlemen - but these players made their names in the 90's when you were still threating over the shortcomings of your own twilight careers. So if you're going to make a Premiership team of the noughties let's have it right. Firstly we want players who made their names in the Premiership not just a who's who of football involving players like Shevchenko who was good before he came then not so good when he actually played.
Secondly we want a functional team with a proper system. None of this playing 3 at the back rubbish to accommodate all of the good centre backs - football management is about tough decision making which is why Graham Taylor and Steve Claridge are both now pundits. And most importantly we want to right the wrong of choosing 90's talismen over the true greats of the Noughties. Like it not this is our generation and its not being flooded by 90's nostalgia, although admittedly that would make a very fun game as well.

First of all the system. Tactics in the Noughties differ in two distinct ways to that that had gone before. The emergence of the 'Makelele role' inspired of course by the famous holding midfielder of Los Galactico's Real Madrid with his move to Ranieri's framework for Mourinho's great Chelsea team of 2004-07 in 2003. This will let us re-live one of the biggest debates of the noughties in the classic 'Gerrard-Lampard' feud and their supposed inability to play together in central midfield.
Secondly the utilisation of a role that we know thanks to Pro Evolution Soccer as the 'Second Striker' or on Football Manager as 'Deep Lying Forward.' This position was inspired by Bergkamp's successful partnerships behind Wright, Anelka and Henry with his unique brand of skill and finess complimented the main bread-winners speed and finishing ability in a way never seen before in a league which was build on partnerships such as Shearer-Sutton, Rush-Aldridge, Fowler-Collymore, and Cole-Yorke at the turn of the century. This is going to give us a real headache but we're sticking to our guns and using the Noughties systems.

The manager - easy - Alex Ferguson. 5 titles and a European Cup during this decade say that he was still the best manager in the noughties fighting off competition from Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho - and not a lot from Rafael Benitez.

Number 1.

Names such as Van der Sar, Lehmann and Cech were bound to be thrown around of course. David James has stacked his own claim as a goalkeeping great on several occasions before ruining them all with an act of lunacy on the international stage. One man stands alone for this post. A man who has kept goal superbly behind a host of disastrous defences since 1997 for Newcastle United and the Republic of Ireland before his move in 2009 to moneybags Manchester City. Named in the Premiership team of the season in 2002 and 2006 - Given's consistency as a great shot stopper and a fiersome organiser in a testiment to his reputation.
Number 1. Shay Given.

Number 2.

We want a tradition English style full back who people only openly rate as a great player when he isn't present. Eboue and Lauren of Arsenal don't quite fit that bill and this position was the only flaw in Chelsea's great sides meaning the answer is obvious. A mancunian through and through who has experienced success at every level of club football with the Old Trafford side. A defender who has adapted his game from a bombing overlapping right back to an assured defensive stalwart for his beloved United.
Number 2- Gary Neville.

Number 3.

Left backs of our era have been a little different to the right backs. Whereas the 90's was epitomised by the engine of Cafu to the elegance of Maldini on the other side before the ferocious Roberto Carlos burst onto the scene making left back the new fashionably attacking position. We're rooting for an athletic full back who knows no bounds at either end of the pitch. The only left back I have ever seen contain our number 7. Step forward Ashley Cole.
Number 3. Ashley Cole

Number 4.

Well we said that this had to be done and there are a few candidates for this role. The symbol of the 'Makelele' role Claude himself is limited in comparison to our choice of Number 4. Unfortunately Roy Keane saw his greatest day in 1999 by numbing Zidane in the Del Alpi and guiding United to the historic final at the Nou Camp with a sensational showing. No we need a man who saw his career go up in lights during this decade. How about a man who led his side to a bit of an unbeaten run? A man who led his side to a Premiership title in which his side were not beaten once in their awesome campaign? The only man I have ever seen play one twos from the half-way line into the area and apply a composed finish. This is no ordinary holding midfielder. This is a leader, a titan and unfortunately a Frenchman.

Number 4. Patrick Vieira (captain)

Number 5.

We want our number 5 to be a footballing centre half. More in the mould of a Beckenbauer to a Baresi. Well Ricardo Carvalho has had his moments and in our opinion he's a much bigger reason behind John Terry's success than the media give him credit for. A man who single-handedly quelled England's attack during the 2006 World Cup. But its not quite enough unfortunately Ricardo. You won your European title with Porto not with our very own Manchester United. A man who until recently was never questioned. A man who in 2002 drove England clear of Argentina's potent attack and is definitely not as people try to say now carried my Nemanja Vidic. Look what happens to Vidic when our Number 5 isn't playing!
Number 5. Rio Ferdinand

Number 6.

Now we want a partner for Rio who puts his head in ridiculous places. How about his European title winning partner Nemanja Vidic? How about his opposite number during that final, England captain and leader of Mourinho's Chelsea, John Terry. Maybe a fantastic centre half whose unrivalled determination led to a passionate European Cup in 2005, pathed the way to a consecutive final in 2006 and has unfortunately for you Jamie Carragher never been enough for you to win this league therefore I'm afraid you've been pipped to the post as well. What made the noughties great for English football? Was John Terry involved in it? No he wasn't. Now if I recall Neville, Cole and Rio all played in a rather decent match in 2001 together. Quite a good result for England actually. Can't for the life of me think who was playing centre back with them? Wait a second was it the man who led Arsenal's unbeatable defence without the support of a consistent partner? Was it the man who took Pompey to FA Cup glory in 2008? The man who scored in the European Cup final of 2007,  the World Cup of 2002, the European Championships of 2004 in which he was robbed of his lawful header and many more. Rio certainly isn't going to be nestling headers into the net from corners is he. Sol Campbell however, is.
Number 6. Sol Campbell

Number 7.

There's been a few good right wingers who have given a good number of left backs a vast array of different headaches over this decade. The emergence of the raw athletic speed dynamo comes in the form of Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott - while the good old clever, tricky customer is personified by the likes of James Milner and Joe Cole. We've also seen a few prolific goal scorers from this position with Freddie Ljungberg gaining a reputation for scoring important goals with his timely surges into the area. The question is what do you get if you combine each of these qualities? A right winger who can terrify with his pace, humiliate with his trickery and put defences to the sword with his deadly finishing. In 2009 he became the most expensive footballer on the globe as Real Madrid paid a record fee of £80m to prize him away from Old Trafford where he scored 84 goals in a 6 year stint. Love him or loathe him Cristiano Ronaldo is a genius of our time and his exploits have not been rivalled by any other. He won the league, the cup, and the Champions League with United and he'll do it again with Madrid.
Number 7. Cristiano Ronaldo

Number 8.

Steven Gerrard can't have a bad shout for the number that has been his own at Anfield during this last decade. Neither surely can Paul Scholes who exorcised the demons of missing out in the 99 Nou Camp Final by featuring in United's victory in Moscow over Chelsea. However it is the man who we believe to have been the linchpin of the Chelsea side who were defeated in the 2008 final and continues to maintain his astonishing goalscoring record from his drifting midfield birth. Despite being undully hailed by his Sky Sports pundit and cousin Jamie Redknapp as some kind of mythical God - its hard to imagine another midfielder with the passing range, shooting prowess and perfect timing of his untrackable runs of Frank Lampard. Lampard has been major in every Chelsea side of this decade and ultimately proved his qualities as a leader with an astonishing performance against Liverpool in the Champions League Quarter Final of 2009 where he outshone his opposite number scoring 2 goals in an emotional encounter. Chelsea's 5th top goalscorer of all time - not bad for a midfielder who is still very much a goal threat in every game he plays.
Number 8- Frank Lampard

Number 9- We were oh so tempted to part with our policy of a typical noughties style but we've stuck to our guns and are going to fulfil the criteria. The man to do it isn't half bad. A unique talent in every way with the poise of Bergkamp, the strength of Hasslebaink, and the aggressive edge of England's greatest number 9 in our eyes Alan Shearer. He captured the imagination of the noughties generation in 2003 with his wonder strike against the unbeatable Arsenal side at the age of only 17. Since then he has been the driving force at the spearhead of every England attack and has complimented some of the finest players of the decade whilst winning the league and European title with Manchester United. A man who can only really be summed up as a 'boy who made it' whose honesty had won over the football loving world. Once a blue and always a red,

Number 9- Wayne Rooney

Number 10- A man who probably due to his own awkwardness has never actually worn this number. A man who has seen off competition from fellow marksmen his entire career to break records all over the world. He stormed the Premier League, he dethroned Ian Wright, has held the World Cup, has enjoyed the European Championship and in 2009 he finally held the ever elusive European Cup. Thierry Henry has achieved everything in football which is was sets him apart from other great noughties strikers such as Michael Owen and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Although it sticks in the throat to pick him as his last contribution to the noughties decade was to cheat Ireland out of a World Cup place it would be ridiculous not to recognise the outrageous exploits of a trully unreal striker.
Number 10- Thierry Henry

Number 11- It would be wrong not to briefly mention the elegant Robert Pires and the improvisational Joe Cole in this next slot. However these greats of the game do not compare with our choice on the left wing. A man who has scored in every single Premiership season. A man who after his magical solo effort which teed up the United treble of 99 it becomes hard to imagine that he could have ever made the noughties his best decade. Well 70 goals from the left wing, 5 Premier League titles, 3 domestic cups and of course that memorable European Cup victory of Moscow 2008 says that Ryan Wilson certainly has. He has successfully adapted his style from the speed demon, dribble wizard who every left footed kid in Britain wished to emulate during the late 90's to a mature, devilish midfielder whose educated left foot and model professionalism is greatly owed.
Number 11- Ryan Giggs.

A decade of fallen heroes- For love nor money

2000-2010 has provided us with some of the greatest footballing talent the world has ever seen. But what has happened to honest professional who is revelled in for his human nature as well as his footballing talent? Why is that in our age of mass media where sportsmen are revered as role models that every hero appears to be in someway tainted? Let's take a look at the greats of our decade who have suffered from the 'Maradonna syndrome' and decide whether we are to 'forgive' or 'forget' them.

Gareth Barry

At the age of 16 Aston Villa paid Brighton & Hove Albion £2.5million for the young left footed prodigy by the name of Gareth Barry. His talents as a defensive playmaker were not discovered until slightly later in his 12 year stint at Villa Park and for a brief period he was in danger of  becoming a dogs body utility player due to the unstable nature of John Gregory and David O'Leary's squads. His ability to feature at left back or even as a left winger prevented him from showcasing his range of passing and classy touch in Villa's engine room until O'Leary finally began playing him regularly in a dynamic centre midfield duo in which he struck an effective partnership with Gavin McCann in 2003-04. Five years later Barry became one of the most valued midfielders in Europe and his guidance of Martin O'Neil's fledgling, young side filled with potential starlets such as Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor - attracted the attention of Rafa Benitez who loomed over the Villa captain as his long term replacement to Xabi Alonso who would later make his own big money move to Real Madrid.
The partnership of O'Neill and Lerner won the hearts of many football lovers as they refused to be bullied into selling their talismanic midfielder for what they saw as a cheap price to a Liverpool set up who have now become the midlands clubs rivals for the top 4 spots. Barry responded slowly in the 2008-09 season before turning the screw on Villa's authentic challenge to breaking the top 4 Premiership dynasty of Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Although Villa would eventually drop off and let their small squad size haunt them at the business end of the season, the team that Barry led marked what many wanted to be the beginning of a power shift in English football.
His leadership of O'Neill's young British side pathed his way into the plans of Fabio Capello's World Cup qualification campaign after England's humiliating failure to qualify for Euro 2008. Since the turn of the century Barry has won 35 caps for England and his presence has ended the famous 'Lampard-Gerrard' debate as he has very much made the number 4 shirt his own with a series of collected performances for his country.

Barry's fall from grace arrived with his fairly sudden exit from Villa Park for a big money contract at Eastlands becoming one of Mark Hughes' first summer signings with his unlimited cheque book. Despite being one of Villa highest paid players with a view to an improved contract - it is understandable for the Holte Enders to feel aggreaved at what one would say was a lateral move in terms of club stature. Barry's comments that City were 'going in the direction' he wanted to go in implied that his former club were not, despite the fact they had finished 22 points and 6 places above Mark Hughes' moneybags outfit.

Forgive or Forget?

Barry can pretend all he likes that his move was inspired by wanting to further his England opportunities or the potential of European football at the highest tier. At the end of the day his opportunity of a move to Liverpool back in 2008 would have provided this for him. Add Barry to the current Villa side and for me you have a team more than capable of pouncing on the floundering fortunes of Liverpool and securing a top 4 spot. Villa still lie ahead of City in the Premiership standings and have strengthened their squad with some intelligent dealings in the summer - unlike City's chaotic spending spree with has led to Hughes being sacked. With a side you would imagine was close to Gareth's heart finally looking as if they could fulfill potential; his plane ticket for South Africa already booked, and more money in the bank than any other player in the Midlands there was no need for Barry to move. For these reasons my verdict is to Forget him.

A decade of fallen heroes - The French Headmaster

2000-2010 has provided us with some of the greatest footballing talent the world has ever seen. But what has happened to honest professional who is revelled in for his human nature as well as his footballing talent? Why is that in our age of mass media where sportsmen are revered as role models that every hero appears to be in someway tainted? Let's take a look at the greats of our decade who have suffered from the 'Maradonna syndrome' and decide whether we are to 'forgive' or 'forget' them.

Zinedine Zidane

For me Zizou was the great of the early 21st century. He came into the year 2000 on the back of marking himself as the ultimate victor, leading his France team to World Cup Glory in 1998 to the delight of the hosting fans. His two first half headed goals in the Stade de France final against then 4 time winners Brazil were just one example of Zidane's all round ability. In a period where football personnel obsess with the idea of specific role assignment - there can be little argument that the Juventus and Real Madrid galactico was a playmaker, a ball winner, a link man and a defensive shield all elegantly rolled into one phoenomenal player.

Unlike many in his mould he certainly has the honours to back up his weighty claim to being an all time great. At the age of 23 Zidane showed his hunger for Continental success by punching above his weight with a Bordeaux outfit that advanced to the 1996 UEFA Cup Final through the UEFA Intertoto Semi Finals. Not for the last time in his career Zinedine was the victim of the German 90's dynasty with his Bordeaux side containing names such as Lizarazu and Duggarry succumbing to a 5-1 aggregrate hammering by rock solid Bayern Munchen. After underachieving with his French team in Euro 96 and being denied an opportunity for revenge at Wembley by the steadiness of the Czech penalty taking and being edged out by Boroussia Dortmund in 1997 with a Juventus side that he fast became the linchpin of - Zizou was more than a little bit fed up of second best. Despite rubbing shoulders with the likes of Del Piero, Inzaghi and Davids, Zidane and company were unable to repeat the success of 1996 and after being runner-up again in 1998 at the hands of Real Madrid - Zidane began angling for one of European footballs most noted transfers. After his move to Real Madrid which saw him become the maestro of Los Galacticos with Figo, Raul, Ronaldo and Casillas for company Zidane finally began to rack up the trophies. The ever elusive European Cup medal  came in 2002 where Madrid triumphed over outsiders Leverkusen at Hampden Park, with Zidane finally putting the German spectre to rest with a spectacular volley which clinched the win. By 2006 the Frenchmen had won it all. The World Cup in 98, the European Championships in 2000, a string of Italian and Spanish league titles and of course the European Cup of 2002.

The reason this outrageous individual falls into this category of debate is for the legendary headbutt in the Final of the 2006 World Cup which stole the limelight and provided the world with a point of remembrance for what was a dismal tournament. Zidane still walked away from Germany with the Golden Ball for leading an average French side to the final against Italy before being dismissed for violent conduct after headbutting Marco Matterazzi who is supposed to have made a personal comment which greatly offended Zizou. His stature as a role model to all young football supporters was marred by this act of rashness and unfortunately it was his last contribution to the beautiful game and what those who were not as honoured as I to watch his majesty on top form.

Forgive or Forget?

A verdict of some conviction I would imagine for most. Yes he was wrong and yes he put a blot on the otherwise impeccable landscape that was his career with his moment of madness. In some ways however it can be said that Zidane showed his humanity with his reaction to the jibes of the Italian centre half and he was punished appropriately by being denied the opportunity to slot a penalty away in the ensuing shootout. The great man is by far and away - Forgiven.

Wait or Date? {Redbrick Article}

I’m sat at home relaxing in front of the television and waiting for a text. I’ve been waiting for a good while now for the latest love interest to reply to a message I sent her yesterday. Am I beginning to feel more and more into her with every second that passes that she ignores me? Is it keeping me guessing as to whether she’s some kind of international woman of mystery and I should feel honoured when she eventually finds time in her day to text me back? Unfortunately not I’m afraid! Actually I’m just beginning to tire of the scenario and think she’s clearly either not interested or playing annoying games designed to impress me. In actual fact, I’m this close to just texting the girl I met last night and see how long it takes her to respond.

We’ve all been there, boys and girls alike and we’ve all got our techniques of defying the conventions of texting in order to make ourselves more attractive by keeping a safe distance. The only advice is you’re walking a tightrope if you think the constant gaming isn’t going to irritate people, and irritate them fairly quickly at that. So the next time you receive a text, write a reply, save it to your drafts and send it four hours later to keep him / her waiting, think about just how honest you’re actually being with yourself never mind the person who’s going to forget they’re even expecting a text from you after ten minutes without reply.

If you genuinely feel there’s a romantic flame with somebody why feel compelled to play them like a game? We all want the movie-made relationship but there’s nothing romantic about basically ignoring somebody for two days and then getting back to them with absolutely no apology or explanation. Do you want someone to fall for the you that grins and giggles a bit when they receive a text from somebody who makes them feel a little weird inside? Or do you want to trick somebody into thinking your some kind of unemotional machine who couldn’t give one about whether they’re falling into an infatuation or not?

To conclude I’d like to finish by saying that as a lad who’s confident and self respecting enough not to chase every girl that passes his line of sight (unless he’s had a few!), I won’t be waiting by the phone for you to text me back no matter who you are. I’ll think a lot more of you if you play an honest game and show me the same respect by replying as soon as comfortably possible. So let’s cut the games out and stop messing each other around. If someone doesn’t explain themselves after keeping you waiting for days, they’re just not worth your time or 10p for a text. If love is really a game, then we can use one of the age old principles of the beautiful game in saying that attack is the best form of defence in the pursuit of the winning goal!