Kenny’s rather remarkable renaissance under the stewardship of Neil Warnock has arguably been the story of the Championship season to date. Whilst OPR have been inspired by the sporadic bursts of brilliance by Moroccan magician Abel Taarbat, it has been Kenny’s solidity and presence between the sticks that has been that basis of their success this season. The Londoner lead the division by nine points. The stopper’s 21 clean sheets has been pivotal to Rangers success, conceding a miserly 23 goals in the 38 league games to date. All this after a few turbulent years for the 32-year-old.

His much-puslibhcised martial difficulties and the infamous assault he suffered outside a Halifax curryhouse that left him short an eyebrow led to Kenny excusing himself from international duty in 2007. His employers at the time, Sheffield United, then suffered relegation from the Premier League in that May in the most bizarre of circumstances,  followed by years of stagnation in the Championship. From international and Premier League football back to the second tier all in a couple of months.

Then a seemly innocent purchase of cough medicine led to a positive drugs test in 2009. Kenny had trace of the banned substance ephedrine in his system, which resulted in a nine-month ban. At the age of 31, it seemed all over for the Halifax native. Sheffield United extended his contract, out of pity perhaps, but a series of such crushing blows in the preceding years would have seen a weaker character give up on his career in the game. Not Paddy Kenny though.

Neil Warnock, aka Colin W****r

He returned to the game leaner, fitter and hungrier. Like he had a point to prove. His £750,000 move to QPR last summer raised many eyebrows. United fans were furious that after standing by the player in his darkest hour this was a display of gross disloyalty. Warnock was accused of overpaying and using tunnel-vision in his pursuit of new signings. This has proved to be an expectational investment, of which Warnock is never afraid to speak up about, using his own touch of hyperbole:

Paddy’s the best keeper in the country, and I wouldn’t swap for anyone – even in the Premier League.

That may seem a touch excessive, but Kenny has revitalised himself in such a way that would have seem unimaginable not so long ago.

So what of Ireland? It is no surprise that he has not been recalled to squad. Manager Giovanni Trapattoni commonly ignores to merits of players deserving of a place in the squad, as the like of Stephen Ward and Anthony Stokes will know only too well. Goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly was part of the Ireland set-up back in 2006, and is said to have recommended David Forde and Darren Randolph as cover for Keiren Westwood, who in turn is deputising for the injury-stricken Shay Given. Both Forde and Randolph have impressed at Millwall and Motherwell respectively this season, but neither can claim to have hit the heights of Kenny. Even Westwood’s campaign is not going as swimmingly as expected. Coventry are struggling at the wrong end of the Championship, and doubts have been raised regarding Westwood’s commitment to the Sky Blue cause.

Big night for Westwood.

This, to be fair, would have to be deemed as a convenient assumption, giving City’s failings and the fact the goalkeeper rejected a contract extension in the autumn. Free to leave on a Bosman in the summer, Westwood has his pick of clubs to join. Whether he would be guaranteed a first-team spot is another matter. But these are further distractions, which will hopefully be banished from the custodian’s mind when he steps out onto the Aviva Stadium pitch tonight for his competitive debut. The Cypriot debacle was Kenny’s first competitive game for Ireland, and rarely has there been a more chastening one. Westwood carries himself in a confident manner,which will hopefully spread to the makeshift back four in front of him. This is a defining game in Trap’s tenure as Ireland manager. If it does not go to plan, it will have as adverse effect on his reign as the Nicosia nightmare had on Staunton before him.

I’ve lost the struggle against my body

This was a grim statement and fuel for the cynics that hilariously christened him “Fat Ronaldo”, so he would not be confused with the Portuguese impostor. On hearing the news, I expected a raft of tributes, obituaries and gushing appraisals of a career that touched the lives of millions. Unfortunately this was not the case.

I would be the first to admit my Portuguese is decidedly ropey. People were publicly weeping in the aftermath of the news and I could safely assume that there countless articles dedicated to Ronaldo in his native tongue. But a number of frantic hunts using various search engines for any pieces in English brought little joy. There were plenty of articles with details of his press conference, but nothing that really captured how much of a phenomenon Ronaldo really was. Maybe there are not the words to fully capture how explosive, lethal and unique Il Fenomeno was.

The statistics do Ronnie a certain amount of justice. 352 goals in 515 games spread across the seven clubs he represented with great distinction throughout his 18-year career. 62 goals in 97 appearances for Brazil, leaving him second in the all-time top scorers list for A Seleção behind a certain Pele. Most goals in World Cup Finals history with 15. But these most impressive figures only tell part of the story. It was the manner in which he achieved them and the obstacles he overcame that blew us all away.

His sole season at the Camp Nou, 1996/97, in the colours of Barcelona will linger long in the memory. 47 goals in 49 games from a 20-year-old in his first campaign in the Spanish top flight was an awesome return. But there it seemed like there was more to come. Though his power, pace and direct running may seem at odds to the tiki-taka style that Barcelona have implemented from the days of Rinus Michels right through to Pep Guardiola’s modern-day side, Ronaldo and Barca seemed a perfect fit. The goals flowed, with one effort against Compostela showing the skill and determination that would define his career. But a contract dispute led to a £19 million move to Internazionale in the summer of 1997. That year spent in Catalonia would be the height of his club career on a personal level.

Shortly after moving to Italy, there was a change in Ronaldo’s physique. He was not moving at the sprinter’s gallop of his Barca days, and seemed to have bulked up the top half of his body at an alarming rate. This was blamed as a reason in the injuries that plagued him in years to come. Not that Inter were too bothered, with a UEFA Cup to toast, sealed with trademark Ronaldo goal following a bewildering step-over. He seemed all set for the upcoming World Cup in France to showcase his talents on the grandest stage of all.

Following a relatively smooth passage to the final, aided by four Ronaldo goals, Brazil went into the 12 July 1998 showpiece against the hosts in a positive frame of mind. They were peaking at just the right time, though the draining semi-final against Holland took a physical toll. But the mental toll proved to be greater for 21-year-old Ronaldo. The build-up was feverish, the media attention intense. In this pre-internet and 24-hour-news age, it was impossible to see how there could be any more coverage on this match. The majority of the chaos was directed at Brazil’s number 9, and it almost proved too much. Initially left out of the starting line-up following a mysterious fit hours before the final; he was reinstated less than an hour before the match. An underwhelming display, not surprising in the circumstances, from the striker was a mere footnote in a 3-0 France victory. For one so young, the enormous pressure was too much to bear. Mystery still surrounds the hours before the final, but one can only imagine the torment Ronaldo went through.

Horrific knee injuries then further stalled his progress. On his comeback in April 2000, following 5 months on the sidelines, in a Coppa Italia tie against Lazio, a distinctive Il Fenomeno burst ended in him collapsing in agony on the Stadio Olympio pitch in agony. I challenge anybody to few view this clip and not feel more than a hint of sympathy for the distraught Brazilian. The reaction of Lazio’s Diego Simeone and Fernando Couto gave an indication of how serious the situation was. Major doubts were raised about Ronaldo’s career. Would he ever play again?

Redemption came in more ways than one in the 2002 World Cup. A rather functional A Seleção had struggled to even qualify for the tournament. But with their iconic number 9 back, with an even more iconic haircut, they were a different proposition. Ronaldo’s eight goals, particularly his two in the final against Germany, were met with joy all around the globe. From the depths of mental anguish in Paris 1998, to the physical despair and torment of his career-threatening injuries, he came back in a way than the most outlandish Hollywood producer could struggle to fathom.

The courage, persistence, mental strength and bravery he conjured up from within him to reach such heights again cannot not be complemented and revered enough. Coming back from the horror of the France ’98 final, after which the entire world was wondering what happened and those knee problems is testament to the character of the man. While not always the most disciplined when it came to training and looking after himself following his comeback in 2002, the four year from 98 -02, he endured more anguish, pain and scrutiny than most great players go through in a lifetime. The fact Ronaldo came back in such a victorious and epic manner deserves far more recognition than he gets. We see him often tarred with the same brush as Ronaldinho, a player whose most arduous career obstacle seemed to be what hairband to sport, but in terms of heart and desire there is no comparison.

Ronaldo always played with a smile on his face, his dentures constantly prominent for the majority of his time on the pitch. It was his happy demeanour that brought him so many admirers world-wide. The fact that he was enjoying the game, but people watching him could see it, almost feel how much pleasure he was getting out of earning a living from a game that is adored by millions across the planet. His imagination and ice-cool finishing on the pitch, aligned with his array of tricks and unerring runs into space made him all the more lovable.

His final farewell on a football field will be in June, as Brazil take on Romania in a friendly in preparation for the Copa America in Argentina. If his press conference is anything to go by, it will be an emotional affair. His admission of suffering from hypothyroidism, a disease that affects one’s metabolism will mean he will face another battle to keep his weight at a manageable level. With his final big day to come in June, Ronaldo will want to look the part. It will be a fitting farewell for the greatest striker of our time. There is one last chapter to write in his remarkable story.

Keys soaks up the abuse coming his way

The two totems of Sky Sports football coverage have left the building. While Andy Gray had his £1.7 million per-annum contract terminated by Sky, partner-in-crime Richard Keys resigned from his post as the station’s main anchor. It seemed like a case of leaving before he was pushed. As he spent his afternoon trying to salvage his sullied reputation on Talksport, it is rumoured his bosses at Sky were discussing his fate. His position had become untenable. But not for the reasons Keys suspects. Not just because his buddy is no longer there to banter with him.

The hole 53-year-old Keys found himself in after Saturday’s ‘private’ conversation with Sky’s resident football expert was deepened further by his ill-advised interview on Wednesday. He went around in circles, spoke of the “banter” he shared with Sian Massey whilst apologising, the cheek of Karen Brady not to answer his calls or reply to his texts and his fondness for the 55 year-old Gray. There were digs at Rio Ferdinand and questions raised over the topics of conversation in the Manchester United dressing room. All murmurings of a smug little man who doesn’t seem to see what he has done wrong.
Invariably, comparison has been drawn to the Ron Atkinson affair from 2004. ‘Big Ron’ was also caught out by a blasted microphone, reeling off a explanative laden racist attack on the performance of Chelsea defender Marcel Desillay following a 3-1 Champions League semi-final defeat to Monaco. He was sacked from his co-commentator’s job and lost his newspaper column with the Guardian. Out went the image of a perma-tanned, sheepskin coated, sovereign wearing granddaddy of English football, replaced by a bitter, sour and unforgivable bigot.

Big Ron's big mouth cost him his job.

But can anyone remember who Atkinson was working for that infamous night? After a moment’s thought, one recalls it was ITV. Was the channel’s reputation questioned at the time? Were we all asking if the offices within the station are rife with racism and bigotry? No, if I remember correctly. Atkinson was blamed and punished. He was the individual who took all the heat and his employers that evening were kept out of the spotlight. The working conditions within the walls of BskyB are suddenly in the firing line. Former employees are complained of the boorish and macho atmosphere created within Sky Sports, more akin to a working man’s club than a national broadcaster.

 
The individuals involved are obviously having the finger of blame pointed at them, but a sub-plot of why such behaviour and attitudes were tolerated within the company itself is gathering interest. It is not the kind of publicity that Sky and its owners want for what is seen as the jewel in their crown. Football is a male-dominated arena. Dressing rooms are full of young, fit men, living their dream and getting paid a fortune to do so. Many are cut off from reality, living in their own bubble of yes-men, yes-women, cars and always getting their way. Agents cater for their every need and they strut around with an aura of invincibility. Unfortunately, this feeling of superiority somehow managed to seep its way into the minds of two men paid to merely observe and comment on these men’s efforts on a football field. Keys and Gray were not expected to mimic their subjects’ actions.

Sky’s reputation was on the line and they had to be seen to act firmly. Gray’s star seemed to be on the wane, but the same could be said of many of the football output on the station. Apart from the matches themselves, Soccer Saturday seems to be the only aspect of the approach still producing quality and impromptu debate on the game. People have tired of Gray patronising his wide-eyed accomplice on the idiosyncrasies of the Wigan offside trap. There is only so much one can take. The ignorance and arrogance of both men have perhaps made a decision for the powers that be that they would have been reluctant to make themselves.

So now begins a new era for live football. Or so we will be told. Keys and Gray’s insular humour isn’t the reason people fork out their hard-earned money on a monthly basis to subscribe to Sky Sports. It’s the ‘product’. The football.  The game has survived almost 150 years. Two men as part of the circus around it will be no loss. Especially after showing us what they are really like.

James Richardson kept us up to date with all the Serie A news

Back in the 1990s, it was fair to say we on the west of Europe had something of a love affair with Il Calico. Serie A was the most glamorous league in the world. Our appetite for Italian football was satisfied by Network Two’s highlights show of a Tuesday evening, supplemented by Channel Four’s live match coverage Sunday afternoon. There was also James Richardson’s Saturday morning show, as he spent the best part of an hour flicking through the pink Italian newspapers, sipping his espresso and enlightening us with the events in Italian football over the past week. With Setanta now showing Serie A games once again, it gives us the opportunity to rekindle our love for the Italian game. It has been an interesting start to the season, with AC Milan leading the way 17 rounds in.

After the Rossoneri’s meagre exit 7-2 on aggregate to Manchester United in last season’s Champions League, it was thought that the end was nigh for many of the old guard. United’s younger legs and faster minds made the Milan side more than show their age. For the likes of Rino Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Nesta, it looked like their number was up. Even David Beckham’s attempt to steal the limelight by donning a green and gold scarf in protest to the Glazer’s regime at Old Trafford at the final whistle could not disguise that AC Milan were in need of a major facelift. However midway into the 2010/11 campaign, they are a different proposition, with Nesta in particular having recovered the form of his mid-20s when he had very few, if any, equals as a central defender in world football.

13 goals in all competitions this season for Zlatan

Whilst Nesta keeps it tight at the back, it’s at the other end of the pitch that the real attraction is to this revitalised Milan. A forward line featuring the talents of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Alexandre Pato, Flippo Inzagi and Ronaldinho would have most coaches licking their lips at the prospect of such a wealth of firepower at his disposal. But Coach Massimiliano Allegri has had to find a way to accommodate any number of these players into a functioning and cohesive unit. Ibrahimovic was considered damaged goods after not living up to expectations at Barcelona following his big-money move from Internazionale, despite a more than respectable return of 20 goals in 41 appearances for the Catalans. His return to Italy has been a roaring success with nine goals and seven assists in his 16 Serie appearances to date.

Injuries to Inzaghi and Pato forced Allegri’s hand to an extent that he decided on a frontline of Robinho and Zlatan, with Genoa loanee Kevin Prince Boateng floating behind this most flamboyant of strike partnerships. All three netted during consecutive 3-0 league wins over Brescia and Bologna, but a 1-0 pre-Christmas home defeat to Roma showed that the mix of the side is not just perfect yet. Against a mobile Roma midfield, Gattuso, Ambrosini and Seedorf struggled to match the energy of Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Simplicio.

A sign of things to come?

Whilst the signings of Zlatan and Robinho gave a new excitement to AC Milan, Antonio Cassano’s impending arrival to the San Siro has been met a certain degree of caution. The 28-year old’s talent has never been in question, but with a temperament that would make Milan’s stock of mavericks seem like choirboys, Cassano may be an unsettling influence on what is a delicately balanced dressing room. Then again, it may be the final piece of the jigsaw and led to Ronaldinho’s exit from the club. A brief flurry this time last year gave false hope that the Brazilian was nearing something like his best, but a miserly one goal return this season and lazy, inconsistent displays mean that a return to Gremio looks on the cards. A sad end to this exceptional talent’s career in Europe, though you get the sense that he has only himself to blame for his demise.

An awkward looking Champion’s League Group was managed quite comfortably, despite the meagre looking total of eight points from the six group games. A 20-minute spell against Real Madrid, when they were 2-0 down so early on, and the Rossoneri looked as though they were in for a trimming against a rampant home side. However, Milan regained their composure and even had Madrid under pressure for a period before the game petered out the finish 2-0. Allegri realised that such a cavalier approach would not do and almost became the first man to defeat Mouriho’s Madrid in the return game at the San Siro. Pedro Leon’s late equaliser savaged Real a 2-2 draw, which was followed by a seven game unbeaten run before a 2-0 home reverse to Ajax in a dead-rubber final group game. Tottenham Hotspur provide the opposition in the first knock-out stage and their pace and daring will cause Milan some problems. However Milan have been here countless times before and they may be the ones to pull the rug from under Harry Redknapp’s feet.

Mid-table Cagliari away is up next for Milan, who will be hoping that victory will get them back on track following the Roma defeat. With only two league titles since 1996, Inter in disarray after the Benitez era and their exploits last year and Juventus still finding their Serie A bearings after Moggi-gate, Milan will feel this could be their year. Nearest challengers Napoli and Lazio may not have the experience to stay pace in the title race. After all, with Ibrahimovic on aiming for his eight consecutive title with his fifth club, who would bet against him.

This year’s Carling Cup third round threw up a more than its fair share of surprises. Liverpool lost to League Two Northampton Town on penalties in front of the Kop, neighbours Everton suffered a slightly-less humiliating exit away to Brentford and Chelsea’s mix of second and third-string lost at home to Newcastle’s reserves. Another mild shock occurred at White Hart Lane, when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger picked a relatively experienced side. 11 of the 14 players involved for the Gunners are full internationals. Quite the contrast from previous Wenger League Cup sides. Has his youth policy previously enforced in the competition paid dividends over the years? Football Digest looks at a few hits and misses over the years.

Hits:

Cesc sporting a rather unfortunate mullet

Cesc Fabergas:

Having been plucked from the Barcelona academy at La Masia in the summer of 2003, the then 16 year-old Catalan made his Arsenal bow the following October.  The Gunners prevailed in a 9-8 penalty shoot-out victory over Rotherham, leading to a tie against Premier League Wolves. Lining up in midfield alongside Patrick Vieira, Fabergas played with a maturity beyond his tender years in a 5-1 thrashing of a full-strength Wolves side. Since then, he has taken Vieira’s number four shirt, his captain’s armband and won a World Cup. The heartbeat and brain of today’s Arsenal side, they know another trophy less season will lead to Fabergas returning home to Barcelona.

Ashley Cole:

Possibly the most disliked man in Britain, as his ex-wife Cheryl continues to melt the nation’s hearts very Saturday evening. He is certainly greeted with venom whenever he visits the Emirates, but that is more to do with his achromous departure from North London in 2006 (caused in part by his ill-advised autobiography). It all started so simply for Cole, a late substitute for Ray Parlour during a League Cup 4th round tie at the Riverside against Middlesbrough in 1999. Deployed in a more advanced role on the left of midfield, Cole’s debut ended in defeat. After an impressive loan spell at Crystal Palace, he began the 2000/01 campaign jousting with Sylvinho for the coveted left-back spot, eventually making the position his own. A sense of adventure, combined with his willingness to make lung-bursting runs from deep have made him to be considered by many the finest exponent of full-back play in the world today.  Currently in the blue of Chelsea, he recently became England’s most capped full-back in history, overtaking another former Arsenal man, Kenny Sansom.

Misses:

**Shivers**

Igor Stepanovs:

A name that still sends shivers down the spine of the Arsenal faithful. His £1million signing from Skonto Riga created few headlines and the Latvian international got his first taste of English football in a 2-1 reserve at home to Ipswich in November 2000 in the League Cup 4th round. He marked his debut with a goal, but showed sign he would need time to adapt to his new surroundings. However, Wenger decided to give the 24 year-old his chance in the Premier League following a 4-0 pre-Christmas pummelling at Anfield against Leicester City on St. Stephen’s Day, which coincided with a 6-1 Arsenal victory. The central defender remained a regular until February, when he lined up in a defensive pairing with Frenchman Giles Grimandi to face Manchester United at Old Trafford. Both were left chasing shadows, as a Dwight Yorke hat-trick put United 5-1 up within 40 minutes, ending the Gunners title hopes in the most humiliating fashion. During the subsequent three years of his time at Highbury, he made just six more league appearances, before joining Grasshoppers of Switzerland on a free transfer in the summer of 2004.

David Grondin:

David who I hear you ask? Signed as an 18-year in the summer of 1998 for the princely sum of £500,000, there were big things expected of the French youth international. Equally adept to play as a left-back or in the centre of the defence, many observers expected Grondin and a young Matthew Upson to form a partnership that would take Arsenal into the next millennium. His debut came in a 2-1 victory against Derby in the League Cup Third Round in October ’98. Next up was a home tie against holders Chelsea. The Pensioners had never previously beaten Arsenal in a cup game, but buried that record in style hammering a Gunners outfit containing the considerable talents of Bergkamp and Ljungberg 5-0. It remains Arsenal’s second heaviest home defeat of all-time and proved to be Grondin’s penultimate game at Highbury. The teenager never really recovered from the set-back. An unflustered display in his sole Premier League appearance against Liverpool in 0-0 draw was his to be his Arsenal farewell, before eventually moving to Dunfermline in early 2003.

Maybe?

Henri Lansbury:

Possibly the least recognisable of the Arsenal line-up in their victory over Tottenham in the last round, but that’s not to say the 20 year-old did not make his mark. After bundling in the opener in after the quarter hour, the diminutive midfielder pushed his weight around, picking up an 81st minute booking for his troubles. The England U-21 international did not look out of his depth amongst his more esteemed team-mates in what was his first senior start for the Gunners . He will hope to start tomorrow evening’s trip to Newcastle to keep himself in Wenger’s plans for the season ahead. After spending the past season and a half out on loan, Lansbury will be hungry for game-time to justify the complementary comparisons to one Ray Parlour.

Adkins in reflective mood.

There really is nowhere to hide for poor, helpless Scunthorpe.  Vultures the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, predators are lying in the overgrowth, waiting to pounce on Scunny’s crown jewels. With giants Glasgow Celtic from the north of the isle snapping up star striker Gary Hooper for a £2.4 million fee, the Iron now face the prospect of losing highly-rated physio/manager Nigel Adkins to Southampton of the sunny south coast. The Saints linger in the relegation zone a division below, but in terms of career moves, it could be a case of one step back, two steps forward for the affable Adkins.

The dignity and class shown by the 45 year-old during this scenario is in stark contrast to the similar situations we see on a regular basis in the game. Clearly a man of great principal, he carried with the job in hand during yesterday’s disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Bristol City. He is showing the upmost respect to both his current and prospective employers. Reports suggest that personal terms have been agreed between Adkins and Southampton, but the two clubs are still negotiating a compensation package to suit both parties. Assistant Andy Crosby is also expected to make the move to St. Marys.

At the opposite end of the scale we see Gerard Houllier’s conduct in taking over at Aston Villa. The Frenchman is leading both the French Football Federation and Villa a merry dance. Yet to secure his release from his role in the FFF, he is unable to give Villa a date when he can officially take over at Villa Park. Adkins has not allowed himself get involved in such farce, and stated he waits the situation to be resolved before Scunny’s trip to Sheffield United on Tuesday. All parties know where they stand, and Adkins will play the waiting game as he hopes both sides will come to an agreement. Probably my next piece will be on the Adkins legacy at Glandford Park, but for now at least, he remains Scunthorpe United’s manager.

On the field, Saturday’s loss had a feeling of inevitability about it, ending a run of three straight wins.  Nothing seemed to go the Iron’s way. They even had the misfortune of being up against an in-form David James, who didn’t make any of the howlers that have blighted his career. Michael O’Connor’s deflected free kick was as close as they came, the midfielder’s effort looping inches over the bar with James stranded. City’s goals came from Albert Adomah after 16 minutes, with substitute David Clarkson sealing the win in the fifth minute of injury-time.

Glanford Park

Defeat leaves the Iron 15^th in the Championship table, with two tricky looking away games at Bramall Lane and Swansea City to come. By the time of Scunny’s next home game, against Manchester United’s League Cup side, an awful lot may have changed at Glanford Park.

New beginnings at Anfield under Hodgson?

For man who prides himself on doing his job with the minimum of fuss, the first two months of Roy Hodgson’s reign as Liverpool manager have been a flurry of activity. Whilst the blame for the boardroom wrangling cannot be laid at the door of the affable Hodgson, he seems to be unusually flustered in his dealings. Between juggling reserve goalkeepers, pawning £17 million midfielders out on loan and indulging the new saviour of Anfield, the 62-year old is sowing the seeds that he hopes will harvest a successful tenure in the biggest job of his life. It’s clear he’s going to do it his way.

Yet another shyster has managed to associate his name with the institution that is Liverpool Football Club, the club is turning into a mad-house. Chairman Martin Broughton and managing director Christian Purslow are in charge of finding new owners, and their collective efforts do not seem to have amounted to much. Broughton has so far spent more time hob-knobbing with his chums from the King’s Road than meeting his self-imposed deadline of the end of the transfer window for finding investment. 

The much-maligned Rick Parry’s replacement Purslow got off to a good start in his role at the club, negotiating the £80 million sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered. However, his rift with Rafa Benitez was yet an unwanted distraction during last season and now he is struggling to attract bids for the club. The ludicrous valuation placed on the club by cowardly owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett means there is more chance of Liverpool being in the hands of the Royal Bank of Scotland in autumn, rather than in the loving arms of a sugar daddy. It’s going to be an anxious few months in this regard. 

This does not make it an ideal working environment for Hodgson. Nor was it for Benitez. But one advantage Woy has is that he plays the media game, something the Spaniard was never willing to do. The Londoner gives his few generic quotes, talking without saying anything, giving the journalists quotes for their copy, and Sky Sports News a sound bite for their reports. Benitez was paranoid, justifiably so in many cases. At times, the relentless and unfair questions been thrown in his direction at press conferences and after games were borderline harassment. He was not witty and charming like Mourinho, passionate and articulate as Wenger, or fiery and confrontational like Ferguson. 

Benitez ranting.

So the press turned on him, and he fought back with some churlish, often sarcastic answers. Arguably, the final straw for the former Valencia coach was the coverage provoked by “Rafa’s Rant”. After speaking in a controlled manner, pointing out a few home truths about the influence of Alex Ferguson within the game in England, he was portrayed as a raving lunatic, when the fact remained that the majority of what he said was true. The timing of his words was poor, as Liverpool followed up with draws against Stoke and Everton that arguably cost them the 2009 Premier League title. What followed in the 2009/10 campaign on the field meant it was time to move on, and the Spaniard has landed a pretty plum number by taking over at European champions Inter Milan. 

Hodgson has had some major issues to contend with, some of his own doing. The excessive efforts to help Joe Cole settle into the team have become a bit of a distraction. His display at home against Arsenal can be summarised in that Liverpool were more fluid and organised in his absence, despite been a man short. His sending-off was harsh, but the three league games he sits out will give him much to ponder. The following Thursday saw him miss a penalty (his first since he was 13 apparently) against Trabzonspor, making a tricky trip to Turkey even more perilous. There were roughly eight players in the side that night better equipped to take a spot-kick. I would probably include Pepe Reina in that group. 

Oh dear.

While the miss proved irrelevant, it was just another example of Hodgson trying to give Cole a smooth beginning to live at Anfield. But if it is to the determent of the side, then we can all do without it. All Liverpool fans want Cole to succeed, but they do not want their team to be an audition for Cole to be played in the position he has longed for. It seems more realistic that the former West Ham star will be shifted out to the left, with Steven Gerrard behind a lone striker, and new signings Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles in the middle. 

Reserve goalkeepers at most clubs seem to be along for the ride. Not at Liverpool though. Brad Jones has been drafted in as the new number one; meaning he will observe Reina’s continuing brilliance from the bench, save for an autumn outing in the Carling Cup and perhaps some Europa League games. Former back-up stopper Diego Cavalieri has been moved on to

Itandje: Disgrace

Cesena, and has started life in Italy as substitute too. His pre-match ritual of tangling himself in the nets of the goal whilst chanting manically caught the eye more than any of his performances. His predecessor Charles Itandje disgraced himself at the service for the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy by giggling during the ceremony, an unforgivable display of contempt for the 96 who perished. 

Jones arrives with a £2.3 million price-tag, but a rather unflattering CV. He was relegated with Middlesbrough in 2009, and failed to display anything that would suggest he could keep goal in the top-flight. The £3 million received of Cavalieri ‘s departure shows a small loss on the Brazilian but there is a net profit from both deals. However, with money so tight at Anfield, there were surely more viable options out there. Whilst these transactions will not make or break the club, it seemed another distraction in a summer full of them. Hopefully Jones can perform if called upon. 

Alberto Aquilani’s hurried departure from Anfield made sense in many ways, but after the Robbie Keane fiasco of 2008, it was gut-wrenching that for successive summer the marquee signed failed miserably. His loan to Juventus indicates he is still highly thought of in Serie A to have a big club take him on. The Old Lady are in a similar position to Liverpool, after coming seventh last season, they are clinging on to their glorious past and have had a stuttering start to their league campaign. Aquilani’s frequent absences from the team frustrated fans and pundits alike, but he seemed too frail and timid for life in England. 

The Javier Mascherano situation was completely out of Hodgson’s hands. His apparent refusal to play at Manchester City will infuriate the masses who worshipped the Argentine during his tenure on Merseyside. Now he claims Liverpool regaled on a gentleman’s agreement to let him leave in 2010 if the right offer came along. Which it didn’t. The insulting fee received for the fiery midfielder is further proof of the power the player have in today’s game. Whilst he motives for leaving were not fuelled by greed, more a desire to be with his family, the distinctly ungentlemanly conduct of both himself and Barcelona left a sour taste in the mouth. The Catalans are getting as bad as Real Madrid in their relentless pursuing of players. 

The 3-0 defeat at Eastlands, following by the laboured win at home to West Brom gives Liverpool four points from three games. An unconvincing start domestically, but the four Europa League wins, albeit against mediocre opposition is a positive to take from the opening month of games. Hodgson would have liked more time to mould his squad, and the sale of Mascherano late in the window left him little time to use the funds received. This money will more likely go towards paying off the interest currently crippling the club. Liverpool need new owners and the situation looks like it will get worse before it gets better. Hodgson needs to provide ample distraction, and most importantly results on the pitch.

Twigg grabbed a first-hald brace

Shamrock Rovers 4-1 Bray Wanderers

 To be withdrawn before half-time is usually the ultimate humiliation for a footballer.  He is not given the opportunity to defend  his lame display of the past 45 minutes in the confines of the dressing room. The manager lets the world know what he makes of the player in question’s contribution. Even if the change is tactical, it is still a source of major embarrassment. At Tallaght Stadium on Friday night, we saw an exception to the rule. Shamrock Rovers’ Gary Twigg was withdrawn in first-half injury-time to a standing ovation from all sides of the ground, after a masterful centre-forward’s display that left Bray Wanderers begging for mercy.

The 26 year-old Scotsman didn’t give the Bray defence a moment’s peace during his three-quarters of an hour on the field. Even the for the opening goal, unfortunately bundled into his own net by left-back Sean Houston, it seemed the fact Twigg may have been sniffing around had the Seagull’s back-four in a spin. He had already struck the Bray crossbar, taking a Dan Murray flick-on and hitting an improvised effort over his right shoulder onto the woodwork. All this within the first 13 minutes.

Midfielder Stephen Rice doubled the Hoops advantage 23 minutes in, making a lung-bursting run from deep during a Rovers’ breakaway to fire home from Twigg’s selfless pass. Four minutes later, a static Wanderers’ defence were caught napping again, as Twigg ghosted in to slot past the beleaguered Matt Gregg. Cente-backs Shane O’Connor and Derek Prendergast were given a torrid evening by Twigg’s movement and strike partner’s Neal Fenn constantly dropping off into space to receive possession. Rovers’ right-back James Chambers was bombing forward at every opportunity, giving Heuston plenty of headaches throughout the evening.

Moments before the interval, it was four, with Fenn sliding Twigg through, who drew the keeper before nonchalantly nudging the ball past the hapless Gregg. The gap between the top and bottom of the League of Ireland Premier Division was there for all to see. Throughout the opening period, there was relentless pressure from the Hoops, with Bray offering little threat. Jake Kelly dragged an effort wide in Wanderers’ only opening of any sort.

Following Twigg’s and Murray’s, withdrawn at half-time, departures, the second half was played at a pedestrian pace, unsurprisingly given Rover’s forthcoming game against UCD on Monday evening. Bray, to their credit, did not let their heads drop, and did give Hoops stopper Alan Mannus some duties in the latter stages. Kelly had a couple of opportunities, but failed to hit the target.

O'Neill: delighted

They were finally rewarded in the 89th minute, with midfielder Gary Dempsey scoring with a low strike from just outside the area. Mannus seemed was irate his clean sheet had been spoiled, but manager Michael O’Neill have delighted  in his side’s performance, particularly in the opening period. Five points clear at the top of chasing pack, a first league title in 16 years is a real possibility.

McBoro's recurits from Scotland

An accusation one could not level at the NPower Championship, is that it is predictable. Whilst last season’s top two, in Newcastle and West Brom, were streets ahead of the field, the reminder of the division was a topsy-turvy mix of teams doing the opposite of what was expected of them. Blackpool, considered relegation certainties, were promoted via the play-offs. At the other end of the scale, Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town, to give them their proper title, failed to win any of their first 14 games, coming a lowly 15th. This was after we were subjected to a summer of countless synopsis’ of the Tractor’ Boys prospects claiming Keane knows “what it takes to get teams out of this league”. He almost did, but not into the league expected. Even with all the potential pitfalls, Middlesbrough seem to stand above the rest in my eyes in the race to the Promised Land.

Gordon Strachan did not arrive on Teesside with in an ideal manner last fall. There was a lot of sympathy for the dethroned Gareth Southgate, who was fired with the club in second in the division. Observers seemed to ignore the fact it was Southgate’s incompetence that saw Middlesbrough relegated in May 2009. Be it his overly cautious nature (Boro scored 28 goals in 38 Premier League games), his ill-advised signings (Mido and £12.7 million Alfonso Alves to name but two), a persistence with out of form players (Stewart Downing, Jermaine Aliadiere), or the refusal to give exciting young players a chance (Adam Johnson spent the majority of 2008/09 clicking his heels on the bench), the former England man was not up to the task. So the fiery Scot, as he is so affectionly known, took the helm, but not to universal approval.  

The laid-back nature of the Southgate regime was in stark contrast to the militay approach enforced by Strachan. He cut short the players’ holidays this summer in order to bring his squad on a boot camp in La Manga to prepare for the season ahead. His immediate attempts to stamp his authority on Boro’ were met with cries of despair, which seeped onto the pitch in his early games in charge. With the side winning just three of the former Celtic manager’s 14 games in charge, it was obvious the changeover had not gone as smoothly as anticipated.  

Defeat to Ipswich has given Strachan much to ponder.

By early 2010, Boro seemed resigned to another year of the Championship. It almost seemed many of their games were rehearsals for the main show; if this was the case, the opening night certainly did not go to plan, with a 3-1 home reverse to Ipswich. Many disgruntled fans vented their frustrations at full-time, whilst others just left before the final whistle. Though on a day when there were four debutants, perhaps it will be to their benefit that such a defeat will eliminate any hint of complacency that may be in any of the new recruits. The Old Firm contingent that now resides on Teesside have been tagged as questionable signings by many. 56-year old Strachan reasons that these players are used to winning games and trophies, which is invaluable experience at any level. Also up in Scotland, Celtic and Rangers are considered major scalps by their contemporaries. Every team wants a piece of them. Boro may consider themselves as such a giant having been an established Premier League club for almost a decade, but another stagnate season and they will become part of the furniture in the second tier.  

So it is imperative they go up this season. Former Aberdeen schemer Strachan has moulded his roster into a hard-working, honest outfit, rather than panache and inspiration being the hallmarks of the squad. David Wheater and Stephen McManus will form a stable barrier in defence, with Kevin Thomson adding bite in the middle of the park. The onus will be on Barry Robson to crave out the chances for a front two that enjoyed prolific spells in the SPL. Scott McDonald is a busy presence alongside the more stationary Kris Boyd. We only seem to be alerted to what Boyd can’t do rather than appreciate the fact the chap scored more goals than Henrik Larsson managed in less games in the SPL. A quiet afternoon on Saturday should not deter the Scottish striker; generous Championship defences beware.  

The Riverside on a matchday.

The Riverside is certainly not the cauldron that Ibrox and Celtic Park can be on occasion. Whilst during the derby games and on big European nights, the stadiums are alive with colour, constant singing and during the derby games a fair amount of venom in the air. But go to either arena on a Saturday during the season for a run of the mill fixture, it’s almost like entering a parallel universe. When St. Johnstone are making their third trip in a month to Glasgow, one soon sees the other side of the coin. On my sole trip to Paradise, a punter in front of us, so disgusted with what he had witnessed during the preceding 35 minutes turned around to inform anyone who cared to listen he was off to the pub. So the Old Firm old boys know what it’s like to perform in front of sparse and disinterested crowds.  

Digard & Emnes = Disaster

The exclusion of Mido, Mario Emnes and Didier Digard from Strachan’s 25-man squad for the season is more evidence of the former Coventry player-manager’s intent to fight their way out of the league. He has referred to the Championship as a test of character, rather than ability. Judging by this trio’s time on Teesside, they have an abundance of neither. It is also another indicator that this is now his Strachan’s squad. The fact that these three players cost £13 million combined is irrelevant; they do not fit what Strachan is building towards, and the club will be lucky to receive a tenth of their outlay for any potential suitors for these flops.  

So with a deep squad, a manager with a point to prove and the backing of a long-suffering chairman in Steve Gibson, all signs point toward a Premier League return. There are plenty of potential rivals in an open league, but the flaws in the likes of Nottingham Forest, QPR and Leicester see are more plentiful and glaringly obvious then those on Teesside. Adding to this, the three relegated sides looked like Championship sides for the majority of last season, and will slide back in almost unnoticed. Should Boro go up, Strachan will have to rebuild again in order to maintain top-flight status. The thought of it will have his strawberry blonde locks turn to grey.

Goalkeeper: 

Winning skipper holds the World Cup aloft.

Iker Casillas (Spain): 

The victorious captain cried like a baby at the sight of Andres Iniesta’s winner in the final, but the Real Madrid stopper did as much as anyone in the Spanish ranks to win the trophy. His brilliant save from Arjen Robben in the second half was probably as close to a World Cup winning stop as you are likely to see. His penalty save against Paraguay was also vital, with the quarter-final still scoreless at the time. Managed to overcome a dodgy start and been humiliated by his girlfriend on national television to be the best goalkeeper at the tournament.  

Defence:

Phillip Lahm (Germany): The German captain was superb all tournament, giving his side width during his frequent crusades forward, whilst also offering excellent cover for his centre-backs sweeping up. With Thomas Mueller given a licence to drift in field, Lahm gave his colleagues an outlet, avoiding the congested middle of the field. The 26-year slipped seemlessly into the role of skipper, and is poised for a major face-off with Micheal Ballack to see who will lead Die Mannschaft into qualifers for the 2012 European Championship.  

Fabio Coentrao (Portugal): A breath of fresh air in a rather turgid Portugese side, the sight of the converted left-back flying up and down the line was a prominent feature of  the the Iberian’s disappointing campaign. His lust for charging forward has ably complemented by an appreciation of his defensive responsibities. Left-full was considered a problem position for manager Carlos Quiroez in the run-up to the competition, but Coentrao built on his impressive season with Benfica and has attracted the glances from numerous suitors around Europe.   

Uruguay's defensive rock

Diego Lugano (Uruguay): La Celeste’s inspirational skipper was immense during the five and a quarter games he featured in during their impressive run to the semi-finals. After navigating the group stages with three clean sheets, Lugano needed all his experience when Uruguay conceded against South Korea in the second round as his calm demeanour spread to his team-mates who were becoming ever more erratic. Powerful in the air, strong in the tackle, with supreme organisational skills, he was sorely missing in Uruguay’s 3-2 semi-final defeat to the Netherlands. 

 Lucio (Brazil): It will be little consolation for the Inter Milan defender that he enjoyed an impressive three weeks as Brazil were eliminated in the quarter-finals. His transformation over the past few years from a ball-playing centre-back, noted for lapses in concentration, into arguably the most ruthless stopper in world football has astounded many observers. In South Africa, he displayed his many assets, with countless breaks with the ball at his feet from defence, aligned with his merciless handling of opposing forwards. 

Midfield: 

Don't call him Schweini.

Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany): Schweini, as he hates to be called, found himself in a bit of a dilemma at few months back. At Bayern Munich, the wide positions were earmarked for Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, so the 26 year-old faced the prospect of sitting on the comfortable looking seats that make up the substitutes bench at the Allianz Arena. After a rapid transformation into to an authoritative central midfielder, he formed an uncompromising partnership with Mark Van Bommel, inspiring his side to a Champions League final. His good form continued into the World Cup, and was in total contrast to his 2006 soirée. From a swash-buckling young gun four years ago, to the heartbeat of the German side in 2010, his passing, maturity and energy was evident in all his displays. Particularly exceptional against Ghana and Argentina, there were calls for the midfielder to be in contention for the Golden Ball. 

Mark Van Bommel (Netherlands): Public enemy number one after his bruising performance against Brazil, Van Bommel was vilified for his abrasive approach. But the former PSV star’s mere presence seemed to unsettle the opposition, meaning his vision and splendid range of passing was the springboard to many a Dutch attack. Seen as the epitome of the 2010 Holland vintage, he encountered much criticism from every corner of the globe, intensified by his inexcusable challenge on Uruguay’s Walter Gargano in the semi-final. But this has been Van Bommel’s style of play for much of his career, and it has brought him much success. With father –in-law Bert Van Marijk watching on proudly, the 33-year is certainly someone you would rather on your side than against you. 

Thomas Mueller (Germany): Voted Young Player of the Tournament and winner of the Golden Boot, the illusive Mueller announced himself on the world stage with a series of dashing performances. Five goals and three assists meant the forward was directly involved in more goals than any other player in South Africa. He showed composure in ruthlessly disposing of England, finishing off two German counter-attacks within three minutes, and gave Argentina nightmares with his precision timed runs from deep. A careless booking against the Argies meant he missed the semi-final defeat to Spain, but the Bayern Munich youngster is arguably to most complete of this generation of carefree Germans. Was far more effective his wide midfield role than playing more centrally for Bayern in the latter stages of last season’s Champions League. 

Xavi in control, as always.

Xavi (Spain): His consistency and patience was rewarded with a World Cup winner’s medal for arguably the finest Spanish footballer of his generation. There could be a case made for the Catalan to be his country and regions greatest player of all-time. With the most passes and touches in the tournament, Xavi set the tempo and kept the ball moving within a Spanish team that was not firing on all cylinders. His encouragement coaxed his soul-mate Andres Iniesta back into form, and David Villa was given a taste of the exquisite service that he will enjoy on weekly basis at Barcelona next season. A player who is finally getting the plaudits he deserves, whose stock continues to rise. 

David Villa (Spain): Top scorer at a major championship for the second time in succession, the Barcelona new-boy led a one-man crusade to get Spain past the quarter-finals. He scored five of the Spaniard’s six goals up until the semi-final. An oddity about his goals is that four of them were scored on a position when he started the game out wide on the left of the attack. This seems to suit El Guaje, who finds pockets of space more easily on the wing, and cuts inside to shoot with unerring accuracy with his lethal right-foot. When it gets congested in the middle of the field, he is less effective, but Pep Guardiola will have taken note of his excellence on the left. Potentially, Barcelona could line out with a strike-force of Lionel Messi, Pedro and Villa next season. Three players with will interchange and switch defenders at will, with their movement and trickery more than making up for their lack of height. 

Striker:

He played for Manchester United you know.

Diego Forlan(Uruguay):

Redemption for the former Manchester United striker, as he was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournaments best player. Or so we are led to believe. Forlan redeemed himself many times over during the last six seasons in La Liga, where he has plundered 120 goals in 208 league games in prolific spells at Villareal and Atletico Madrid respectively. His enthusiasm, hard-running and superb long-range shooting were major factors in his country’s path to the last four. The striker gave his all for the cause, and was clearly spent by his efforts over the month as he dragged himself off the field in the heart-breaking defeat to the Dutch. In a tournament where few Premier League players made any sort of positive impact, it goes to show that there is life after the ‘Greatest League in the World’.