From zero to potential hero

Zakumi: 2010 World Cup Mascot

It’s so close we can almost smell it. The 2010 World Cup is just weeks away and football junkies the world over may rejoice. 64 games crammed into a 32 day schedule and the best players on the planet strutting their stuff on the grandest stage of all. But it is not only the Messis and Cristiano Ronaldos of this world who get the chance to display their talents. There is an opportunity for certain individuals to re-ignite a career that has somewhat stagnated at club level. Football Digest will take a look at five players who are marginalised at their clubs, only to be vital to their countries relative hopes in South Africa this summer.

Pompey Can Take Hart From Recent Displays

Under Fire

What a difference a couple of days make. Whilst in the midst of the worst start to a season in England’s top division since 1930, news filtered out of Fratton Park that the players and staff of Portsmouth Football Club had not been paid. Rogue owner Sulaiman al-Fahim, complete with replica shirt with his own name on it (still better than Mike Ashley’s ‘Smith 17′ effort) comes out with mixed messages regarding the funds available for reinforcements in January. Then manager Paul Hart enlightens us all with this beauty:

”You put one fire out and another starts up in the corner. That’s how it has been in my tenure as manager. But you can spit your dummy out and throw your toys out of the pram, or take it as another fire, put it out and get going again”

However, a corner has been turned in the South-East of England in recent days, both on and off the pitch.

Royston Needs Some Experience to Get Ipswich Back on Trac

Old Foes

My attention on Saturday evening was drawn to the Coca-Cola Championship, or Division 2 as it was called up until BSkyB came along, and the clash between recently relegated West Bromwich Albion and Ipswich Town. Roberto Di Matteo and Roy Keane faced each other as players on numerous occasions during their careers, with one particular incident in the Charity Shield in 2000 leading to one of the 11 red cards Keane received during his Manchester United career. I was very interested to see how West Brom were adapting to the drop down a division, and observe Keane’s work in progress at Ipswich. What I saw surprised me greatly.

My Night in the Shed

Live to Fight Another Day

My college days, as for many third level students, are a bit of a blur. A disproportionate amount of evenings were spent in the various public houses and nightclubs of Cork City. Blotched memories of drinking €2 pints in the Maltings, dancing in Fast Eddie’s and some harmless boyish horseplay in Gorby’s remind of my time in living in the ‘Real Capital’, as the locals like to call it. One Monday night however, myself and three of my esteemed colleagues decided to leave all the drunken debotchary behind us and take in some local culture: Stand in The Shed at Turner’s Cross for a Cork City game.

‘Steinsson?? I Think he’s my First Sub’

Remember a more innocent time, when one would have missed a match on telly for whatever reason. Maybe out shopping, out for a drive, out for a walk, you know the usual reasons. Then you get a spare second, and send off a text

Ashton: Out of Favour

message ‘Any score?’, or some variation of it. It could be Bolton against Wigan on a miserable January ‘Super Sunday’ afternoon. Its pouring rain, the pitch is cutting up at an alarming rate, and even though it’s only 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the floodlights are on full pelt. The reply arrives. 1-0 Bolton. Ricardo Gardner. In the past, then one would send a message back ‘Sure let me know if there are any more goals’. Conversation over. But a goal these days opens quite the can of worms.

Don’t do it Xabi……..

'Water-Carrier?'

It seemed to be all going so well. Reigning champions Manchester United lose the best player on the planet, former big spenders Chelsea seem to be unable to attract the calibre of player that it once beckoned without thought, and Arsenal seem to be stubborn in their quest to succeed without adding some much needed brawn and experience to their ranks. Manchester City are attempting to create the most lop-sided squad in football history, with £70 million spent on their strikeforce meaning they now have 10 senior centre forwards on their books. All roads point to Liverpool being in pole position for the season ahead, but the constant speculation linking Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid has those on the Kop worried. Outstanding last season, his departure could prove to be their undoing before a ball is kicked.

Good Luck and Thanks – Wolverhampton Wanderers

The ultimate Championship manager, Yorkshire man Mick McCarthy will

Mr. Moxley

hope that is this the season that he proves he can cut it in the Premier League. After a nightmare spell with Sunderland in the top flight, he was sacked in March 2006 as the Mackems struggled to what was ,at the time ,the lowest total for a club in the Premier League. His patience and perseverance paid off and Wolves won the Championship with an impressive total of 90 points. With a chief executive Jez Moxley (a name more suited to starring in Hollyoaks than the boardroom) who has his considerable weight behind the club, they will hope to enjoy consecutive seasons in the top tier for the first time since the days of Steve Bull. Here are some who may not be around to enjoy the ride:

Good Luck and Thanks – Wigan Athletic

Since their inception into the Premier League in 2005, Wigan have been what

Closet Man U fan?

could be described as a selling club. Even before the start of the ’05/06 season, their top scorer from their promotion campaign Nathan Ellington left to join West Brom. Over the years, stars like Pascal Chimbonda, Wilson Palacios and Jimmy Bullard have left the JJB Stadium (soon to be called the DW Stadium after the ever modest Manchester United loving chairman Dave Whelan) for a ‘bigger club’. This is the reality of life at Wigan, and they are sure to lose more of their stars before deadline day:

Good Luck and Thanks – West Ham United

Following Alan Curbishley’s rather harsh dismissal from West Ham early last

Much done, more to do

term, Gianfranco Zola came in to take over. The little Italian’s previous managerial experience amounted to collecting the cones after training for Italy’s U-21 side, but he has done a fine job at Upton Park. Ably assisted by Steve Clarke, they have got the team playing some nice stuff, and Carlton Cole looks like finally fulfilling the massive potential he showed in his teenage years. The turmoil involving the takeover by Icelandic holding company CB Holding seems to have brought some stability to East London, and Zola may not have to sell some of his stars. Some of his lesser lights may be leaving though:

Good Luck and Thanks – Tottenham Hotspur

Triffic

A nightmare start to the season, where they picked up just 2 points from the first 24 available led to Tottenham sacking a manager for the 2nd consecutive October. Juande Ramos left, and Harry Redknapp showed his undying loyalty to Portsmouth by walking out on them for the second time. The North Londoners finished 8th, the least a squad with their ability and combined costs should  expect. After spending almost £50 million in January, most of it to re-unite the 2007 Tottenham team, there will be some departures before the big kick-off in August: