Are Madrid the Real deal?

The supposedly untouchable Catalan giants of Barcelona showed signs of real weakness at the weekend as they lost 1-0 to Getafe in La Liga. Juan Valera, formerly of Atletico Madrid, stooped to head in a corner in the second half to lend a helping hand to the other Madrid side.

Real Madrid are on a relentless run of 13 victories, both domestically and in Europe, and have scored an incredible 51 goals in the process. At the weekend they overcame their city rivals in the Madrid derby 4-1, with Cristiano Ronaldo again stealing the show. He levelled the scores from the penalty spot after Real had fallen 1-0 behind, then set up Di Maria for 2-1. Awful defending allowed Higuain to grab the third goal, before Ronaldo scored his second, again from the penalty spot. Atletico haven't beaten their arch rivals since 1999, and ended the match with just 9 men as their miserable run against Real continued.

But Madrid were always expected to challenge for the title, the big question will be whether or not they can topple Barcelona, who have won the league for the past 3 seasons. Defeat to Getafe marked their first loss in 27 matches though, and the reaction of the Barcelona players to Valera's headed goal seemed to be a disconsolate one. Heads went down all over the pitch, and even with a quarter of the match remaining an equaliser could not be found.

In saying that, Messi had a goal ruled out for offside, correctly, and the diminutive Argentinian also smashed a shot against the post late on. There are fine margins between winning and losing in football, but overall Barcelona certainly don't appear to be the same immovable force that they have been in recent seasons. Pep Guardiola has tinkered with his tactics at times, and the absence of Pique and Puyol on occasion has left the side looking much weaker defensively. Maxwell isn't seen as an able replacement at left back for Abidal if the Frenchman is covering in central defence, or out injured, and David Villa hasn't found his form yet this season.

Real Madrid on the other hand have really found their stride, looking dominant in most matches since dropping points earlier in the season to Levante and then Racing Santander. But the season is still in the early stages, and there are so many matches to go that it would be very foolish to discount Barcelona at this point. The title is often won or lost in the 'El Clasico' matches between the two clubs, and Guardiola wasn't overly concerned with the distinct possibility of sitting in second place when they face each other next month at the Bernabeu in the first clash of the season.

"We will prepare for El Clasico when it arrives. It is not vital for us to be leaders ahead of that match and I am not obsessive about Real Madrid."

Jose Mourinho, Madrid manager, was also quick to talk down the fantastic run his team is on, clearly attempting to remain focused following their demolition of Atletico.

"My team always played well. It was ambitious and motivated. It was emotionally controlled but we must be patient and keep our vision. Our winning streak will eventually come to an end."

If Real Madrid can start winning El Clasico matches then many will start to view them as the finished article, as this is where they have often slipped up in recent years. Their discipline has certainly improved recently, as Mourinho highlighted at the weekend, but keeping their head in an encounter against Barcelona is an entirely different matter. Patience and a good temperament are certainly qualities they'll have to show an abundance of against Guardiola's side.

The title race in La Liga promises to be a fascinating one this season, and although the power appears to be shifting in favour of Madrid, there is so much quality and resilience in this Barcelona side that few would be brave enough to write them off just yet. But next month's El Clasico match could go a long way to substantiating Real Madrid's title credentials.

By Laurie Dunsire

Gary Speed: Farewell to a Legend

An almighty sense of shock reverberated around football yesterday as it was announced that Welsh Manager Gary Speed had taken his own life.

The tragedy moved many people to tears as they mourned someone who was not only a fantastic football player in his time, but also a genuine and down to earth person.

Fans of many different clubs spent their evening calling football phone-in shows to pay their respects, and to share tales of just how much of a warm, kind and popular individual Speed had been. Some shared memories of how he would go out of his way to get tickets for fans, or how he would take the time to stop and chat with everyone he could – appearing an immensely friendly and genuine man. Football professionals of all ages hailed him as an inspiring leader and loyal teammate. It was a sad day for millions of people, some with no interest in football, and everyone's thoughts were firmly with Gary's family.

It is certainly a time to mourn, but also a time to celebrate a great footballing career, which began at Leeds United in the late 1980s. Gary Speed made his debut for the first team as a teenager and became an integral part of the success at Elland Road, helping the side win the English title in 1992. After over 300 appearances at Leeds he moved to Everton for £3.5m in 1996, and he would go on to captain the Toffees during his spell at Goodison.

Next up for Speed was Newcastle United, who paid £5.5m for the services of the midfielder in 1998. It was at St James' Park that he enjoyed his first taste of Champions League football, and he also played in two FA Cup finals for the Magpies. Spells at Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United followed before Speed hung up his boots at the grand old age of 39.

Internationally he still holds the record number of outfield caps for his native Wales, winning 85 in total – 44 of which he played as captain of his country. He became the first player to reach 500 Premier League appearances, and will be remembered as a hard-working, combative midfielder, but one with plenty of ability and a thunderous left foot. He was dominant in the air, wore his heart on his sleeve and lead by example.

He was still in the infancy of his managerial career, but was already making great strides in charge of the Welsh national team. The nation had risen from 117^th in the FIFA rankings to 45^th, and the revival was epitomised in their recent 4-1 victory over Norway, Speed's third successive win, and fifth in total, as boss.

The strength of feeling towards a Welsh, and football, great was typifyied at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea yesterday afternoon. A minute's silence was due to be observed by the supporters of Swansea City and Aston Villa prior to their Premier League match, but this was interrupted by rapturous applause and verses of "One Gary Speed". Mere words can't even come close to doing Gary Speed justice, but it's all that many of us now have. At just 42 years old he left this world far too young, but his legacy will live on in football supporters around the globe.

By Laurie Dunsire

Is Andre Villas-Boas the man to take Chelsea forward?

As the full time whistle blew at Stamford Bridge on Sunday a dejected Chelsea side trudged from the pitch after suffering their third defeat in four Premier League matches, and their second consecutive loss at home, this time against Liverpool. It was the first time that such a thing had happened under the stewardship of Roman Abramovich, and the unfortunate milestone, in addition to this also being the worst start to a season since the Russian took over, has put some early pressure on the shoulders of young manager Andre Villas-Boas.

It may be early days yet, but the demands at Chelsea are high. Athough there has been talk of Abramovich now looking at the long term future of the club, his history of showing little patience with managers has led to much scepticism over just how long he'll give the young Portugese coach if results, and performances, don't improve.

But Abramovich paid over £13m to prise the highly-rated coach from Porto in the Summer, and awarded him with a three-year contract. Sacking him would cost around £13m alone, and if you included the fee it cost to sign him then it's double that – even for someone as rich as the Chelsea owner that is quite a substantial loss, and would surely persuade him to show at least a little patience. Then again, this is the man who paid £50m for Fernando Torres – wasting money is possibly not something that concerns him a great deal!

However, in the past few weeks the football world has shown its appreciation to Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, and if anyone is a prime example of why patience can often pay off with a manager then it's this man. Former Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards confessed himself that Ferguson was close to losing his job during the early years at Old Trafford, where it took four years for the Scot to win his first trophy at the club, and seven before a league championship success. 

Speaking with Mirror Sport, Edwards stated;

“My biggest worry was that if success didn’t arrive, the pressure on us from supporters would grow and grow.

“They may have started voting with their feet by not coming to games, because there was a lot of animosity towards Alex at that time.

“We really wanted Alex to survive. But if we’d gone on for another six months or a year without things changing, we’d have been forced to do something."

It's amazing to think now, after all the success Ferguson has enjoyed at the club, that there was a time when his very job was on the line. Although the board maintain that sacking him was never discussed, there is no doubt that for a period of time things were not easy for the Glasgow-born coach. But one thing he did have was experience as a manager, and a number of years at the top level in the UK.

The main problem with the Villas-Boas acquisition for me was that the fact he had little experience outwith his own country. Although he enjoyed a great deal of success with Porto, it's almost expected that the manager of this particular club should win trophies domestically – it's quite similar to taking charge of the Old Firm in Scotland. The Europa League is hardly a prestigious tournament either, so in terms of pedigree there was always a massive question mark over him.

His tactical approach thus far in his Chelsea reign has seemed naïve to say the least, and just completely unsuited to the players at his disposal. His side have been left hopelessly exposed with their high line, with the likes of John Terry appearing very uncomfortable in the new system.

In defence of the rookie manager, he has acquired an ageing squad which really seems to be on its last legs as a group. The spine of the team hasn't changed a great deal since the days of Jose Mourinho, and at their height were successful mainly due to their solidity and defensive strength. Whether or not Villas-Boas is the man to take Chelsea forward there is little doubt that the squad requires a drastic overhaul.

But this group of players are effectively the same team who ran Manchester United reasonably close for the title last season, yet recent performances have raised questions over Chelsea's status as a top four side, let alone their title credentials.

Ultimately I feel that Abramovich really needs to give his new manager at least a season to settle in and try to have an impact on the side, but personally I'd seriously question his appointment in the first place. It would seem that the Russian billionnaire got caught up in the hype surrounding the young Portugese coach, and possibly felt he was signing the next Mourinho – even if the two managers have drastically different tactical approaches.

The sacking of Carlo Ancelotti is also beginning to look more and more ill-advised, but now the decisions have been made there is little point in dwelling on them. Abramovich will continue to call the shots, and although Andre Villas-Boas has publicly stated that his job is safe, the cut throat nature of the position he holds, coupled with the availability of a certain Guus Hiddink, will surely have him feeling more nervous than he'd care to admit.

By Laurie Dunsire

Keane eye for goal makes Robbie an Irish great

As Irish celebrations began on Friday evening, both in Estonia and back on the Emerald Isle, one man looked particularly proud as stood and applauded his fellow countrymen in Tallinn. Robbie Keane - captain of the Republic of Ireland side and scorer of two vital goals in their resounding 4-0 victory over hosts Estonia – has become a linchpin of the national side for many years now, and if anyone deserved to enjoy themselves after a fantastic result such as this one, it was him.

The match was the first of a two legged play-off, with the prize being a place in the finals of Euro 2012. Although the second game has still to be played – in Dublin on Tuesday – it would seem that the game is all but over already. Ireland were already leading 2-0 when Keane first struck with a typical poachers goal, pouncing on a save by the Estonia keeper to slide the ball into an empty net. He then kept a cool head to slot home a penalty kick in the closing minutes of the game, effectively sealing Ireland's place in the tournament proper next year.

Keane is now just two goals away from becoming the highest scoring player in European Championship qualifying, and if he could grab two or more in the second leg it would put him ahead of the likes of Raul, Jan Koller, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Hakan Suker. Regardless of whether or not he achieves this accolade, his place in Irish football history is already written.

He became the first ever Irish player to reach 50 goals at international level, and is the most capped outfield player for his country, with 113 to date, and is only a handful behind current teammate, and record cap holder, Shay Given. But it is not just goals and racking up appearances that is most impressive about Keane, as he is also the Irish captain – and has been for a record number of games.

When he wore the armband against Scotland earlier this year it was his 45^th cap as skipper, officially making it a record, and fittingly he scored the only goal of the game. Whilst Keane has never lost the striking instincts that have made him such a prolific goalscorer, his unselfishness and role as a team player are not to be overlooked, and this was shown in Tallinn when he opted to cross for Jonathon Walters to head home the second goal, rather than shoot himself from a tight angle.

His club career may have been slightly more varied than his international one, having appeared for no fewer than 9 clubs - including Inter Milan, Liverpool and Spurs – and other than his spell at White Hart Lane never really settling anywhere. He did however fulfil a boyhood dream when moved to Glasgow Celtic in 2010 on a short term loan deal.

Keane has since moved to LA Galaxy in the United States, playing alongside David Beckham in the MLS. Although often seen as a 'retirement' move to transfer to America, at just 31 Keane still has a lot to give as a footballer, for both club and country. Tuesday night may well see him break another record, but even if it doesn't happen the striker will, barring a catastrophe, lead his country out in Poland and Ukraine next year.

ALEX FERGUSON QUIZ WINNER

Congratulations to Benjamin Loh after he became the lucky winner of the Alex Ferguson quiz that we ran last week, and some FREE Futera playing cards will now be his. Keep your eyes out for more competitions soon!

Here are the answers to last week's quiz:

1. In what city was Ferguson born, and in what year?

Answer: Glasgow, 1941

2. Who was his first team as a player?

Answer: Queens Park

3. How much did Glasgow Rangers pay for Ferguson in 1967?

Answer: £65,000

4. What team gave Ferguson his first job as a manager?

Answer: East Stirlingshire

5. What was Ferguson's first trophy as a manager?

Answer: Scottish First Division

6. How many European trophies did he win as manager of Aberdeen?

Answer: 2

7. How many times has he won Premier League Manager of the Year?

Answer: 10

8. How much did Ferguson pay for Juan Sebastián Verón in 2001?

Answer: £28.1m

9. How much did he then sell him on to Chelsea for just 2 years later?

Answer: £15m

10. How many home matches did Ferguson lose last season in the Premier League?

Answer: None!

By Laurie Dunsire

Football Writers Wanted - Looking to cover British, European & World Football

The Futera World Football Magazine is currently looking for new writers, bloggers and fans who are interested in getting involved in producing articles for our online blog and football magazine site.

The FWF Magazine is just one part of Futera, a football trading cards company which offers much more than just your standard player card.

The company now operate an online and interactive service - http://www.futeraworldfootball.com - which allows people who collect trading cards, both physical and virtual, to compete in tournaments with other players around the world. By 2011 over 6 million games had been played, with over 55,000 registered players from over 100 countries worldwide, and 10,000 Facebook followers,

In addition to this, the company also launched its own online TV platform - Futera TV - in addition to Futera FC, which is a real football side managed completely online. People can sign up to become part of the management team, and through an interactive platform - broadcasting a video and game commentary - the "Virtual Managers" vote on tactics, formation, substitutions and other decisions. Their instructions are then passed to the players themselves on the pitch.

Basically, Futera are a global brand with many registered users, and the FWF Magazine aims to provide articles, statistics and news on world football to these players, and anyone else who may be interested in reading!

So, if you are an aspiring football writer, at whatever level, and would like the chance to get involved with Futera, please drop myself an email - laurie@lauriedunsire.co.uk. We are interested in covering football all over the globe, and we're quite open to what ideas you may have for articles, features or news sections.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Laurie
(Editor, FWF Magazine)



Follow myself on twitter - Laurie Dunsire, or the magazine itself - FWF Magazine

The Alex Ferguson Quiz – Chance to win free Futera packs!

This week celebrates an astonishing 25 year spell at Manchester United for Sir Alex Ferguson, and to mark the occasion FWF Magazine would like to offer you a chance to win FIVE free Futera World Football game card packs.

All you have to do is answer the 10 questions below about Alex Ferguson and his career, as both a player and a manager.

Email your answers to futeratv@futera.com and the winner will be chosen at random, and notified by email.

1. In what city was Ferguson born, and in what year?

2. Who was his first team as a player?

3. How much did Glasgow Rangers pay for Ferguson in 1967?

4. What team gave Ferguson his first job as a manager?

5. What was Ferguson's first trophy as a manager?

6. How many European trophies did he win as manager of Aberdeen?

7. How many times has he won Premier League Manager of the Year?

8. How much did Ferguson pay for Juan Sebastián Verón in 2001?

9. How much did he then sell him on to Chelsea for, just 2 years later?

10. How many home matches did Ferguson lose last season in the Premier League?

Time for Chelsea to cash their Cech?

 

Once the cornerstone of the meanest defence in the Premier League, Petr Cech now seems to be a mere shadow of a once great goalkeeper.

Chelsea lost five goals at home to London rivals Arsenal, the first time they'd conceded five at home in the league in over twenty years, and Cech looked less than secure. Beaten at his near post on three occasions, the Czech international stopper had only seven shots on target to deal with, and conceded five of them. His shots to save ratio in the Premier League this season is currently 46%, the lowest of any keeper in the division.

In Jose Mourinho's first season as Chelsea manager they conceded a record low of fifteen goals in the entire campaign, a figure that the current Chelsea side have already reached – after just ten matches! In that particular Mourinho year, 2004/05, Cech also set a record of 1,025 minutes without letting in a goal – although this has since been beaten by Edwin van der Sar.

At 29 Cech is relatively young for a goalkeeper, with a potential decade still remaining in his career. He did suffer a horrific head injury in 2006 following a clash with Reading's Stephen Hunt, leaving him with a fractured skull – hence the headgear that the keeper still wears.

But he appeared to make a full recovery from the injury, and although Chelsea lost his return game 2-0 to Liverpool, he then went on another fantastic clean sheet run of 810 minutes in the Premier League. However, the last two seasons have seen Chelsea concede more than 30 goals in league campaigns, something that hadn't happened for five consecutive years prior to that.

There are of course defensive issues at Stamford Bridge other than Cech, as John Terry gets older his lack of a solid defensive partner becomes more and more evident. Ricardo Carvalho provided such a partner during the height of Mourinho's Chelsea success, but at the moment question marks are still being raised over David Luiz or Branislav Ivanović's central defensive qualities. Right back is another position that no longer has a consistent performer.

But Cech certainly appears to be a far less confident and assured goalkeeper than he once did, and in recent seasons has looked suspect at cross balls as well as letting through far too many soft goals. However, he is not yet 30 and has a lot of time to recapture his once superb form. The question is, will he do so, or do Chelsea need to cash in on Cech whilst he still holds some value, and start looking for a new number one?

By Laurie Dunsire