The Football Diary

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of The Football Diary. In this post, I intend to discuss some of the interesting matches that were played over the weekend especially in the premier league. 

Liverpool Brought Down To Earth

Just the previous week, Liverpool were being hailed for the manner in which they outclassed Arsenal for certain periods in the second half of that premier league fixture as they romped to a 4-1 lead. This past weekend however was a different story. Burnley showed Liverpool how to be clinical in front of goal while just having barely 20% of ball possession. With all the possession Liverpool could muster, they still lost 2-0 although it was partly due to some careless defending.

James Milner started at left back for Liverpool in place of Alberto Moreno who was responsible for some calamitous errors in the game against Arsenal. Apparently, his presence didn't make much difference as Liverpool were breached twice by the resilient Burnley team.

Would Jurgen Klopp have rued the fact that this game should have been played at Anfield? Liverpool opted to play this fixture at Turf Moor instead of at home which was the original venue because of redevelopments going on at Anfield currently. They would probably have fancied their chances of defeating Burnley at home and build on their impressive victory over Arsenal at the Emirates.

The inconsistency of Liverpool during the Brendan Rodgers era appears to still be their undoing at the moment as Klopp attempts to build the team in his own image. They need to stop defeating the big boys one week and then coming unstuck against weaker opposition the next.

The question of Alberto Moreno rremaining at left back is a headache Klopp may silently be wishing he had fixed earlier. Perhaps Moreno will eventually come good or maybe Joe Gomez who is currently out with a serious injury could be the cover or messiah that could save Klopp's blushes if Moreno continues with his erratic performances. Time though will tell how it will all pan out for Liverpool.

Hull City Keep Fighting Like Tigers

Hull City are currently a model in inspiration for anyone in a crisis at the moment. A team with only 13 fit senior players, a caretaker manager who doesn't know what the future holds for him and a boardroom in turmoil is enough to put any club in disarray and of course, have telling results on team spirit and performance.

But it appears Hull City have leaders amongst them who have used the unsavoury situation at the club to motivate the team to win their first 2 games with Premier League champions, Leicester City, the first to suffer a shock defeat at the claws of Hull's battling tigers. 

Swansea, Hull City's last weekend opponents, were on the front foot for most of the game but Hull stuck to their game plan and hit Swansea at key moments of the latter stages of the game. Hull City eventually ran away 2-0 winners. Swansea who were 1-0 winners at Burnley the previous weekend got a bitter taste of their own medicine.

For Hull City, time will tell how long this positive run will continue. If it does continue, then it might be the catalyst that could trigger positive changes in the club. For now, Hull City can draw strength from the positive results. The club's fortunes can change if caretaker manager, Mike Phelan, can get the job on a permanent basis and some new players are brought in to make up for the shortfall in squad players before the close of the transfer window.

Arsenal Battle Leicester To 0-0 Draw

Arsenal and Leicester both remain without a victory after 2 rounds of matches played and look set to play catch up to Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd if they both falter in their next games and their rivals grab maximum points.

Arsenal as usual remain good on the eye with their free flowing football but they could not break down a stubborn Leicester defence. Leicester returned to basics after their disappointing loss to Hull City and threatened Arsenal on the break. There were controversial moments as well as Leicester were denied 2 penalty appeals. Leicester City became more dangerous with the introduction of Ahmed Musa at the latter stages of the game but on the balance of play, the result was fair for both sides.

For Arsenal, the need to sign another defender has become as urgent as ever. With their prime target Shkrodan Mustafi proving more difficult to acquire by the day. With this failure so far to land Mustafi, Arsenal has now been linked to other players such as former Man United defender, Johnny Evans, a signing which might yet bring more scorn on under fire manager, Arsene Wenger. 

Wenger was quick to defend his position on transfers during the post match press conference with his observation of Rob Holding's performance against Leicester which has to be said was excellent. He may yet end up an astute signing by Wenger. Then there is also the striker situation which Alexis Sanchez has filled with little success as 'top dog' Olivier Giroud builds up his fitness. Would Wenger be able to sign a 'world class' striker before transfer deadline day? 

Claudio Bravo In, Joe Hart out?

When new managers come into a club, there is the occasional casualty amongst the tried and trusted players who don't fit into a manager's plan or philosophy for the team. A good case in point is the Andy Carrol or Christian Benteke scenario at Liverpool in which both were forced out by Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp respectively.  

It has happened at Manchester United already this season with Jose Mourinho axing Bastian Schweinsteiger from the first team squad and now across the city, Pep Guardiola may be about to make a real statement about the way he likes his goalkeepers to play as Bravo arrives for a medical from Barcelona.

Joe Hart who is number one at City has been dropped by Guardiola for Willy Caballero in City's first 3 competitive games this season because of Hart's deficiency in bringing the ball out of defence. As things look, Hart may be set to go from number 1 to number 3 if Bravo passes his medical.

A big fall from grace this will be for England's number one if this move materialises. 

Meanwhile In Brazil...

The Dream Team VI won Nigeria's only medal at the Olympics by winning the Losers' final by defeating Honduras 3-2 and thus claiming the bronze medal. They have thus become the fourth team to win an Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympics.

Despite the flaws in the team, we have to congratulate the team for earning a medal. This is hoping some of these players step up into the Super Eagles seamlessly and thus provide the much needed strength in depth the Super Eagles desperately needs.

A special mention goes for John Mikel Obi for the exemplary attitude and leadership he exhibited during the games. I dare say he was handsomely rewarded for his efforts by that Japanese philanthropist.

Sadly In Niamey, Nigeria's Golden Eaglets Crash Out of U-17 AFCON

Nigeria has taken the proverbial 2 step backwards after taking one step forward after failing to qualify for the African U-17 Championship and as a result, will not defend the World Cup title it won just last year. 

What is it with us and defending our titles?  The signs that the story wasn't going to end well was when the during the screening, dozens of players were shown the way out of the camp when MRI scans showed many of the players were over the age bracket. Another show of shame.

Poor football administration appears to remain the bane of sustained development and success of Nigerian football at all levels.

The Football Diary

The Premier League is back and returned with not too much of a bang on the opening weekend but it did bring up a shocking result and some entertainment.

With the arrival of superstar managers and players to the League coupled with the fact that most Premier League clubs have spent heavily this summer, the 2016/17 season is set to be one of the most keenly contested ever.

Leicester Start Defence of The Title On A Shaky Note.

The 5000-1 favourites last season surprised many when despite the odds, won the premier league title. Their manager, Claudio Ranieri, who was ridiculed because of his last job as Greece manager was tipped to get Leicester relegated after they just survived relegation the previous season under Nigel Pearson.

But he put his critics to shame and now the rest is history. 

A new season is here now and Leicester have strengthened their squad but have however, lost arguably their most important player in N'Golo Kante who moved to Chelsea and was in action for Chelsea as they defeated West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

Their opponents last weekend was Hull City who are in a shambles at the moment. Their manager Steve Bruce resigned after leading the team back to the Premier League the first time of asking. When they faced Leicester last weekend, they had only 13 fit senior players. Care taker boss, Mike Phelan, didn't bother to make any substitutions during the match.

But instead of allowing the gloom in the boardroom to affect them, the players led by Captain, Curties Davies, were  in inspirational form and shocked the Premier League defending champions with a 2-1 win. 

As any title winning manager knows, it is more difficult to retain a title than to win one. Ranieri has an uphill task in retaining the title if he actually believes he can. The big boys have strengthened and have attempted to poach his best players. So far, Riyadh Mahrez is still a target for Arsenal. Jamie Vardy though, has extended his contract after Arsenal also tried to sign him. 

Kante's absence was felt against Hull  and the new recruits have to quickly step up their game. The trusted senior players and spine of the team, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth,Vardy and Mahrez have to quickly discover their form if they don't want  to play catch up or worse, battle relegation...

Guardiola Starts Reign With Hard Fought Victory

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich  coach, Pep Guardiola, kicked off his reign as Manchester City boss with a last gasp victory over Sunderland as they laboured to a win with help from Sunderland defender, new signing Paddy McNair who put the ball behind his own net.

David Moyes was looking to stamp his influence on Sunderland and they typically provided gutsy performance which suggests that they might yet surprise some teams during the course of the season. Jermaine Defoe remains as dangerous as ever and who knows,  his former boss Sam Allardyce might yet extend an England invitation if his current form continues.

Guardiola would need time for his philosophy to take root at City. There will be bumpy roads along the way but he remains most bookies and pundits favourite to win the title. 

Then there is the situation of the future of some senior players. Joe Hart was on the bench in the game against Sunderland while Willy Caballero was given the nod and now rumours are rife that Joe Hart might eventually be sold if Guardiola is able to sign Barcelona's Claudio Bravo. Yaya Toure was not even in the match day squad so also Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala.

The Game Of The Weekend Lives Up To The Hype

The big game of the weekend was the fixture between Arsenal and Liverpool which was filled with great entertainment, wonderful goals and drama. 

Walcott missed a penalty, then found the back of the net shortly after. Phillipe Coutinho scored a contender for goal of the weekend with his excellent free kick to draw Liverpool level while Liverpool in the second half raced to a 4-1 lead With Sadio Mane scoring on his debut with a wonderful individual goal.

Then there was the Arsenal fight back which ended with Liverpool managing to hold on for a 4-3 win instead of strolling to victory.

Arsenal need to be commended for their fight back when all seemed to be lost and when it appeared they were in danger of another capitulation Arsenal fans are very familiar with. Liverpool without the injury prone Daniel Sturridge showed great attacking ability and if this game is used as a reference point, then expect Liverpool to score many goals this season under the charismatic Jurgen Klopp.

For Arsenal, the same old questions remain. The question of spending big and solving the striker situation remains unanswered. We should remember though, that in the last 4 seasons Arsenal have lost 3 of the opening fixtures at the Emirates but have still ended up in the top 4. If anything, expect the Gunners again to end up in the top 4.

Sparing A Thought For The Dream Team

Nigeria takes on Germany in the semi finals of the Olympics soccer event in midweek. Since it is unlikely the team will be able to stop the Germans from scoring, this is hoping the team will be clinical when the opportunities come and out score the German machine.

This is wishing Samson Siasia and John Obi Mikel the best of luck. They are going to need it.

Nigeria's Group Of Death: Can Nigeria Make It?

After the Russia 2018 African World Cup Qualifiers draws were held in Cairo Egypt last weekend, Nigeria has found itself in what is regarded as the 'group of death' in Group B with opponents Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.

Had Nigeria not been a fading force in African football, it would have fancied itself to go through despite the tough opponents it would have to face. But on the back of 2 consecutive Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification failures, many supporters will be concerned that Nigeria's chances of making it through to the World Cup as group winners may be quite slim considering Nigeria has struggled to qualify from easier groups in the past and has failed to qualify for the AFCON since the Super Eagles won it  under the management of the late Stephen Keshi in 2013.

At the moment, the Super Eagles don't have a confirmed head coach since Sunday Oliseh controversially stepped down as Super Eagles coach citing a lack of support from the NFF amongst other grievances. Presently, the interim coach is Salisu Yusuf who took over from  Samson Siasia who was drafted to  handle the squad after Oliseh's bizarre resignation. 

Salisu has been in charge of the team during recent friendlies and it is yet to be seen the role he will be given in the new management. If the statement of NFF Chairman Amaju Pinnick is anything to go by, it appears Salisu might not be considered as the coach on a permanent basis. Rumours are rife that the chosen candidate for the hot seat is former PSG and Cameroon coach, Paul Le Guen. Announcement on the identity of the coach whoever it is should be disclosed by the NFF soon.

It is important that this key aspect is taken care of as quickly as possible so that the coach can set the ground running as the Super Eagles take on Zambia in October. It is imperative that the manager if he turns out to be a foreigner gets familiar with the players he intends to use to prosecute the qualifiers against Zambia. 

Looking at the fixtures, Nigeria has the chance to build momentum and pile pressure on their group rivals if they can get a victory against Zambia away from home and defeat Algeria and Cameroon at home in the following games. Nigeria has been good at getting draws away from home and could achieve that against Cameroon and Algeria if they defeat Zambia at home. 

Easier said than done though. But it represents the likely way Nigeria will qualify if adequate preparations are made and the best players are selected based on current form and not solely on reputation. If in doubt, ask former England manager, Roy Hodgson on the pitfalls of picking a player based on reputation and not on form or fitness.

For the pessimistic lot among us, it is best not to have high hopes of qualifying if the recent failures to reach AFCON tournaments are anything to go by.  Zambia which could be regarded as the 'weakest' team in the group won the AFCON in 2012, defeating Ivory Coast in the final. Algeria won the AFCON in 1990 and are currently ranked 32 in the FIFA world rankings. They also rank as Africa's highest ranking team at the moment. If their performance at the last World Cup is to be considered, Nigeria would have to be at their very best when they come to town. 

Algeria indeed have world class players in their prime at the moment. Riyad Mahrez was voted PFA player of the year after a stellar campaign for Leicester City last season in which against all odds won the premier league. They also have the likes of Yacine Brahimi, Islam Slimani, and Sofiane Feghouli in their ranks amongst others excelling in various clubs in Europe. It has to be said though, that Algeria has a poor record against West African opposition and this represents a glimmer of hope for Nigeria.

As for Cameroon, they are in similar underwhelming circumstances like Nigeria. A former African Super power with 4 AFCON titles and 7 World Cup appearances but has been mediocre for close to a decade despite having world class players like Samuel Eto'o, Rigobert Song and Alex Song. There are signs though that they are on the brink of a resurgence and a clash with the old enemy Nigeria might trigger another rivalry similar to the glory days of both nations. 

In the last couple of years, Nigeria has emerged victorious or come out with a credible draw when they met each of the teams in their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers group in friendlies or in a major tournament like the AFCON. Will these positive outcomes continue to be the trend or will the harsh reality of the curent state of the Super Eagles reveal how far we are behind our rivals? 

Ronaldo: The Good, The Bad, And The Downright Ugly

Laurent Blanc Set To Quit PSG 

After a clean sweep of all domestic trophies by PSG in the just concluded 2015/2016 season in France, one would have thought Laurent Blanc would at least be allowed to have another crack at the Champions League next season. Sadly, that is looking unlikely as reports have it that Blanc will be stepping down as PSG manager after only just extending his contract last February by 2 years. 

Since Blanc replaced Carlo Ancelloti as manager of PSG in 2013, it's been total domination of Ligue 1 all the way as well as winning 2 French Cups, 3 League Cups and 2 French Super Cups. It's in the Champions League they have fallen short often getting knocked out in the quarter finals.

With such achievement by Blanc's team albeit in a league were traditional rivals Monaco, Marseille, and Lyon are currently unable to compete at PSG's level of financial power, he deserves to leave when he feels he needs a fresh challenge. This mutual consensus between Blanc and the PSG management to part ways just goes to show that success is no longer a guarantee for a manager to keep his job if the 'success' is not in line with the ambitions of the club's directors.

Unai Emery has been touted as the favourite to replace him. If this turns out to be the case, he might end up an astute signing by PSG but he doesn't look the type of manager that would  upstage Barcelona, Bayern Munich or even Real Madrid if PSG was to cross paths with these teams in the Champions League. Remember, Sevilla actually failed to make it past the group stage of the champions league last season that's why they found themselves in a competition they have sort of emerged as specialists in winning after retaining the Europa League for a second year running. How ironic that Blanc's possible replacement is one who thrives in Europe's second tier competition.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Retires From The National Team

Meanwhile, Laurent Blanc's top dog at PSG, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has called it quits with Sweden. Zlatan announced during the ongoing European Championships in France before Sweden  got eliminated that he would no longer play for the national team after the Euros and thus ended speculation about his intentions to play for Sweden at the Rio Olympics.

Zlatan is retiring after making 116 caps for Sweden and scoring 62 goals. He is Sweden's record goal scorer. If the transfer rumour mill is to be believed, then Zlatan should end up at Manchester United after deciding not to extend his stay at PSG.  Zlatan has not had an illustrious career only for Sweden but at club level as well. He has turned out for the likes of Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona with trophies and accolades wherever he has been. Although the Champions League trophy remains elusive for him, a move to Old Trafford will not see him achieve this dream any time soon.

Ronaldo: The Good, The Bad, and The Outright Ugly

Real Madrid and Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo's Euro 2016 adventure has gotten a lot of coverage since his criticism of Iceland's tactics against Portugal in their Euro 2016 opener which ended in a draw as he has been singled out by the media for what can be regarded as undue scrutiny.

It appears Ronaldo has become a victim of his own high standards. And when the media apply pressure, he has demonstrated a low tolerance for their intrusiveness and criticism. Every act of frustration or disappointment by Ronaldo is highlighted. 

Ronaldo has struggled in the Euros and Portugal lacking quality strikers have suffered as a result. He struggled in Portugal's first two games not out for a lack of trying though but because he didn't get the rub of the green.

But when push came to shove, when his country needed him the most during adversity, he reminded his critics what he was capable of by scoring a brace against Hungary.

Ronaldo may have a big ego, he may be petty and a sore loser as the game against Iceland revealed, he may have shown terrible disdain for the media by throwing a journalist's microphone into a nearby lake but he will continue to divide opinion as long as he continues to break and set new records like he has done during Euro 2016.

Leicester And Tottenham Make Statement Of Intent

Premier League Champions, Leicester City have shown that they mean business next season as they have been able to persuade top striker, Jamie Vardy to extend his contract at Leicester and turn down any offers from Arsenal.

Arsenal, according to reports, were said to have triggered a buy out clause said to be in the region of £20 million in Vardy's contract but Vardy has decided that his future lies with Leicester City and not in Arsene Wenger's squad. 

Vardy is currently having a mixed bag at the European Championships with England. He scored against Wales but struggled to make an impact against Slovakia. 

Would he have been a success at Arsenal? Leicester City is largely a counter attacking side and thus is set up to play to his strengths but with Arsenal, there is that odd chance that he may struggle to make an impact with their style as he is currently experiencing with England at the Euros as they labour to break down teams who defend deep which Arsenal often encounter in the premiership.

In other news, Spurs have announced the signing of Kenyan defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama from Southampton on a 5 year deal. As Spurs prepare for Champions League football next season, It appears Mauricio Pochettino has decided one area of priority is cover for Eric Dier. Make no mistake, Wanyama joining Spurs will strengthen Spurs' midfield immensely especially in potentially difficult away games against the big boys in Europe or England.

One can only wonder if this is the season Southampton finally get sucked into the relegation battle or even go down. With Ronald Koeman joining Everton, surely it's a matter of time before a big club snaps up Sadio Mane. It might yet prove one exit too many.

Being On Blogging Hiatus And Bouncing Back

It's been nearly 2 months since I last wrote an article on my blog and on other blogs that I write. The reason isn't far fetched. 

There comes a time when circumstances change, your job changes, you start new relationships and certain things just kind of take priority over what you normally do. 

The key has always been learning how to strike a balance between work, relationships, social and spiritual activities, recreation and relaxation.

Unfortunately, one flaw of mine is that I am not as disciplined and organised as I would love to be. And so, hobbies such as blogging tend to take a back seat when change comes.

In the last couple of months, my work load has increased and most of my time is spent doing a job. I have struggled to keep up with my blogging and I have sort of become lazy.

Perhaps I am lacking in motivation. Perhaps I am allowing circumstances to get the better of me. Perhaps I am discouraged at how things have panned out for me since the last quarter of last year. Perhaps I have grown disillusioned with my dreams.

Whatever it is, I want to make a U-turn. I want to try. I want to try and do what I enjoy. Even though there are many reports of depressing things happening today in our country and writing articles on football might seem trivial. But I won't let it deter me. Not any longer.

We all have a choice to focus either on what is positive or on what is negative. I am not saying we should totally ignore happenings in our environment or our world but there needs to be some sort of filter we need to implement in our lives especially to what we expose ourselves to both on social media and conventional media organisations.

If we focus on what makes us happy, we would be happy. The opposite is the result if we focus on the negative. My articles might seem out of place in a world filled with news on terror, the fall of the naira to a dollar, our weakening economy, secession etc. But I have no choice but to focus on doing what I fill gives me fulfilment and pleases me.

I am not saying I will do this perfectly but I would rather do this and fail than fade out into oblivion with my blogs.

I wish to announce that I would be a guest writer on a Chelsea blog going by the name CHELSEA DIURNAL. I will be writing articles about the fortunes of Chelsea FC at least once a month on the blog. I will also maintain my Paul Oviero's blog and adopt different strategies and styles in the articles on my blog.

I hope you all will stay tuned. Cheers.

Where Do Chelsea Go From Here?

After Monday night's loss to Leicester City, Chelsea's flirtation with relegation and the troubles of Jose Mourinho in the Premier League has been given a lot of media attention. 

What is wrong with Chelsea? This is a question many have grappled with. But the answer to this question is not as straight forward as Chelsea supporters would like.

Many pundits in the British media have had their say as to what needs to be done for things to improve at Stamford Bridge. Some are of the opinion that certain players need to be shown the exit door while others like Jamie Carragher feel Mourinho's time is up.

Others such as Frank Lampard feel that Mourinho, although, needs time to turn things around, appears not to know what to do since this is the first time in his career he has had to deal with what seems to be a relegation dogfight.

In his post match interview after the defeat to Leicester, Mourinho appealed  to the Chelsea board and Roman Abramovich to stand by him because he intends to remain as manager and fix the problems with the squad's performances.

But how long Abramovich will heed this call is anybody's guess. He is not one to be too patient with failure as Roberto Di Matteo and Luis Felipe Scolari can attest. They were kicked out in situations that would be considered bliss now. Apparently, Mourinho's popularity, track record and reputation is what's keeping the "Special One" in a job.

With Chelsea lying 16th on the league table after 9 defeats, should Chelsea allow Mourinho to remain as manager so that he can oversee a change in the club's fortunes? Does he deserve it? If Roman Abramovich decides to pull the trigger on Mourinho's time at the club, who is out there that could galvanise the team? Is  Chelsea's predicament solely down to the actions or lack thereof  of Mourinho?

Some analysts are of the opinion that Chelsea's problems is more than just Mourinho not doing his job properly and the players under performing. It stretches up to the very top as far as Technical Director, Michael Emenalo. 

Looking at Chelsea's transfer policy since Mourinho's second coming, it is clear that there is some sort of disconnect between Mourinho and Emenalo. Players like Felipe Luis, Mohammed Salah, Juan Cuadrado, Papy, and others seem not to be the type of players Mourinho likes to deploy. And as a consequence, Mourinho hardly gives them much playing time.

This has led to the sales of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku to other clubs. Then the policy of loaning out bit part players have also played a role in Chelsea's struggles as there seems to be no back up for injured and fatigued players. Players like Victor Moses who are in good form would have offered an alternative to Mourinho as Hazard struggles to reenact last season's form. Chelsea surely, could do with the attacking threat of the likes of Moses.

And speaking of players, Chelsea have serious issues with their current playing staff. Whether it is a coincidence that all Mourinho's trusted 'Generals' in the likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill,Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are out of form at the same time will only be confirmed in the coming weeks if their form improves dramatically or Mourinho is fired (it is inconceivable to think that Roman Abramovich will not act decisively if the current meltdown continues).

But many critics are of the opinion that the under performing stars plight might be a combination of age catching up with  some of them like John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic and/or a mutiny is well and truly in progress in the dressing room. This is not out of the realms of possibility but what could cause a team to turn against their manager? 

Some have spuriously suggested that Mourinho lost the players support the moment he fell out with Dr Eva Carneiro. But this seems a bit too simplistic. Yes, some players might have been upset at how Dr Eva was treated but this happened in August. Come on, who holds a grudge that long because of a third party who was being made a scapegoat?

A more credible explanation for the poor form of key Chelsea players is that which has been alluded to Mourinho's methods which is physically draining to the players. The problems of Chelsea can be traced to last season when they managed to crawl over the line to win the league as they laboured to win games or held on for draws in their last 8 or 9 matches.

The warning signs were there, nobody heeded them. Now, it has led to a crisis and a fall that is more than anyone anywhere could have envisaged. Perhaps this is the reason why Mourinho after the Leicester City game made a damning statement that his players betrayed him because he brought them to the level  where they could compete and win trophies but were unable to repeat same this season.

How would Mourinho's men react to his criticism? Would they continue to struggle for form or will they raise their game to the levels we know they can? Whatever it is their response turns out to be, Mourinho has to act fast and tweak his squad so that they can claim maximum points in their next two home games against Sunderland and Watford.

But where does he need to make changes? John Terry may have to accept the fact that he is past his sell by date. He can't play games anymore at the level we know he used to. He needs to be dropped. Matic has to be motivated to regain his form of last season or anything close to it. John Obi Mikel does not look like a solution. Fabregas is no longer assisting unlike last season that he racked up assists such that he threatened to set a record. He has since faded as usual but has failed to come back this season. Mourinho may need to look at options on the bench to bring energy and creativity in midfield.

Diego Costa and Eden Hazard between them last season contributed 40 goals as Chelsea marched all the way to the title. But this season, only 4 goals have been scored between both forwards. A stat which shows the extent at which Chelsea has fallen this season. Diego needs competition which he at the moment isn't getting because Falcao and Remy have been out of their 

depth. Costa has been all aggression this season but no substance and has even drawn criticism from Mourinho himself. Had his form been okay, things might have been better. 

Eden Hazard on the other hand needs to rediscover his form quickly or Mourinho may need to give Kennedy a run in the team. But with reports suggesting Hazard and Mourinho already have a fractious relationship then someone has to eat humble pie for the benefit of the team.

The verdict though is that Chelsea's fortunes can be turned around by Jose himself if given time. Any other manager can as well because the Chelsea squad is a good one. This is based on the premise that the players are under performing not out of a desire to frustrate the manager but because of other variables already discussed. But will things get worse before they get better? Time will tell.

Can LVG Salvage Man United's Season?

After Manchester United's embarrassing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Wolfsburg in Germany, questions about Louis Van Gaal's tactics and methods have been brought to the fore again by analysts.

A group featuring the likes of Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven, and CSKA Moscow who are hardly European heavy weights is one a team of the status and calibre of United  should successfully negotiate through. This brutal failure to get past this stage is a huge wake up call to both deluded fans and the powers that be at Old Trafford.

How did Man United get to this sorry mess? LVG who was given a mandate to restore Man United into the Champions League after the ill fated David Moyes reign, achieved the goal but the club's sharp exit at the group stages is not what anyone with any ties with United had in mind.

The team's performance against Wolfsburg may have been valiant, but ultimately, they came up far below the standards required to progress further than the first round. This United team is regarded as a dull and boring side with a lack of pace and pedestrian movement. Many fans and critics alike have rightly pointed at LVG's system or philosophy as the reason for this style which contrived to produce a goalless draw against PSV which with the benefit of hindsight proved to be the game that sealed United's fate in the Champions League this season.

As Paul Scholes said, you wouldn't expect Wolfsburg or PSV to get past the round of 16. Yet, these are the teams (not Barcelona, not  Bayern Munich, not Real Madrid but Wolfsburg!) that eliminated Man United. What Scholes forgot to add is that on the evidence of that display in Germany, that United team would also not progress beyond the second round.

Michael Owen buttressed this fact when he said that LVG's transfer policy should be called into question when he said that the players that have been pushed out for those brought in would defeat Wolfsburg. He mentioned the likes of Vidic, Evra, Chicarito, Evans, Van Persie etc would defeat Wolfsburg easily if they were in his squad. 

Former Wales striker, John Hartson, believes that there hasn't been any significant progress with LVG in charge from the Moyes era. A transfer policy and squad management where Wayne Rooney is the only recognisable striker has to be slated. 

Javier Hernandez whom LVG sold to Bayer Leverkusen meanwhile has at this point scored 14 goals in 19 games for Leverkusen. How desperate would LVG be for such firepower now?

Wayne Rooney has come in for criticism for his performances this season but the performance against Wolfsburg shows that United's problems in attack is not down to Rooney alone. He may be past his best but LVG should receive a large share of the blame for the bluntness of United's attack. No one foresaw the scale of Rooney's regression even though the signs have been there a few years. But the fact that LVG only signed an unproven 19 year old from Monaco and let experienced strikers like Van Persie and Chicarito leave has to be a serious mistake on his part, one deserving of the sack were LVG a nonentity.

In LVG's defence, it has to be said that he hasn't had much luck with injuries. Luke Shaw's double fracture against PSV in the first leg started a run of injuries that has swept Valencia, Jones, Herrera, Rooney, Schnerderln, and now Darmian and Smalling.

These injuries though, reveal the hollowness in the squad. A lack of depth which is surprising considering the amount spent on the squad. Another minus for Van Gaal. 

What next for LVG now? Can he turn United's fortunes around? Should the top brass start thinking seriously about the direction United will be going after Van Gaal?

LVG can turn the fortunes of United if he wants to. However, as former United captain, Roy Keane said, it appears LVG has seen something many United fans don't want to admit: that the players, good they might be, aren't good enough for a club like Manchester United. And as a result, LVG has taken the safe option of making his team compact and difficult to breakdown so that the weakness in the squad won't be exposed. But the strategy has led to a sacrifice of a more fluid and dynamic style. 

As things stand, he has to raid the transfer market in January in the hopes of getting a dependable striker, particularly if Wayne Rooney's poor form continues. Perhaps, his current system could yet work if United had a dependable striker who will bury the few chances they create. 

United are only 3 points off league leaders Leicester City. The Premier League is quite open and with Chelsea out of the picture in the title race and also with Leicester City expected to falter as the title race begins to hot up, United have a good chance of winning the league if they can get a decent striker. A feat which will more than compensate for the early champions league ouster.

Football Still Remains A Uniting Sport

England and France yesterday went ahead with their international friendly match at Wembley after the deadly Paris terrorists attacks that claimed the lives of 129 people and injured hundreds more last Friday in a show of defiance, unity and respect between both nations.

The game ended 2-0 in favour of England with goals from Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur and Wayne Rooney of Manchester United. But it was a game where the score line or the performance was secondary.

It was a show of support by the English for their French rivals who were suffering at this time from the devastation of the attacks. 

England fans joined the French supporters in singing the national anthem. Flowers were laid by Prince William, French Manager Didier Deschamps, and Roy Hodgson.

The stadium was filled to capacity with 70,000 fans turning up to show support for the French. The game was attended by prime minister David Cameron, the Duke of Cambridge, the London Mayor and other dignitaries.

There was of course, the outpouring of emotion by some fans who could not hold back the tears and even the players' resolve would have been tested to the limits by the occasion. A moment's silence was held before kick off with the players and match officials having joint photographs taken in a show of solidarity with the French.

The game in which the French FA turned down a request by the English to be called off turned out to be a spectacle not on the field of play but in the display of unity, love, respect and in its message to the world and the terrorists particularly- Terrorism will not win. Good will always triumph over evil.

Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra, lost his cousin in the attacks and was given a standing ovation when he came on for Yohan Cabaye. Athletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann was also applauded after his sister narrowly escaped being murdered by the extremists at the Bataclan concert were most of the massacre occurred.

In Germany, the friendly between Germany and the Netherlands was called off an hour before kick off due to bomb threats to the Hannover stadium where the game was supposed to be played. Police searched through the stadium for explosives but none has been found yet. 

The friendly between Belgium and Spain was also called off due to security concerns since some of the suspects were Belgian nationals. 

So far, investigations and raids are ongoing in France, Belgium and Germany with different levels of success. However, it is important to note that what has happened in France occurs on a regular basis in the Middle East, Asia and in Africa. And there has been debates concerning the degree of coverage by the media of the Paris attacks when compared to the attacks in other third world countries which may not get near as much coverage as the one in France.

This post is not meant for taking sides or adding to the debate that is currently raging especially on social media over the  media's failure to report extensively or show sympathy or empathy to other atrocities else where. 

I will however say this, the media should learn to as much as possible, give due and balanced reporting to atrocities done all over the world. As I write, there are reports of a terrorist activity here in Yola, Nigeria were a bomb went off and killed over 30 people at a Tipper Garage. It is not getting any serious coverage as it should on world media.

All in all, football has shown once again that it can unite people of different race, creed, belief and religion no matter the circumstance. It also has the power to send a strong message to those opposed to peace and liberty. The game between France and England last night is a testament to that fact.

Moving On From The Drama In Brussels

The Super Eagles on Sunday defeated arch rivals Cameroun emphatically in Brussels and in some ways, the result will bring some calm and belief to the team after the whole fiasco which erupted between Vincent Enyeama and coach Sunday Oliseh and which in retrospect, may have impacted negatively on the team in their first outing against Congo DRC.

It was an encouraging performance which was aided by the rashness of the Cameroun skipper, Stephane Mbia. There were positives to be taken from the performance on the field of play and there is obviously still room for improvement both on it and off it.

The emergence of Leon Balogun in a central role, the energy and verve of Moses Simon, the assured confidence of John Obi Mikel, the movement of Sylvester Igbonu, and the confidence of Odion Ighalo whose purple patch at Watford continued here are some of the positives to be taken out of the game.

There was without doubt some negatives. The most glaring of which was the handling of the Vincent Enyeama situation. A lot has been said about what transpired in the media and since there has been a lot of unconfirmed statements , I prefer not to draw any conclusions from what has been said.

However, it is clear for all to see that Oliseh showed his managerial inexperience in the handling of the situation and going by what he tweeted recently, there is still a long way to go for him. 

Even though there is nothing wrong with being on social media, I find it extra ordinary that Oliseh is on twitter tweeting statements that could be misconstrued by his followers. I'm not aware of any 'top' manager of any team having a twitter account and tweeting thanks to fans and supporters and insinuating some Nigerians are 'true' while others are 'false' or 'liars'.

I doubt you would find a Mourinho, Wenger, Guardiola, Ancelotti and so on using twitter to thank the fans or passing any remarks about anything concerning their teams. It is what press conferences and post match interviews are meant for. 

Oliseh may seem a modern Nigerian coach, UEFA certified and a former FIFA instructor or something, but a bit of wisdom is always required when using social media.

He might have the full support of the NFF in these early days but he needs to remember that in football, things can change very quickly. If he is in doubt, let him ask Brendan Rodgers or even the 'Special One' himself, Jose Mourinho how swiftly things can change.

No doubt Oliseh is the boss now even though his lack of managerial experience should raise questions about his suitability for the job. And as such, he needs the backing of the NFF and Nigerians so that there will be no excuses if he fails. However, he needs to learn how to manage the egos of himself and the key players in the team.

The harsh reality of football is, when things get ugly, the manager usually gets shown the exit door while the players usually remain or return. Enyeama and John Obi Mikel have survived different Super Eagles coaches in the likes of Festus Onigbinde, Christian Chukwu, Berti Vogts, Amodu Shuaibu, Austin Eguavoen, Lars Lagerback, Samson Siasia and recently Stephen Keshi but they are still key players for the Super Eagles under Oliseh.

The manner in which Oliseh has gone about in stripping Enyeama of the captaincy and the fact that Enyeama was even considered for selection in a friendly not minding his psychological state shows Oliseh needs to brush up in his man management skills. The mere fact that Enyeama might be grieving the loss of a close family member was enough grounds to excuse him from a meaningless friendly in the first place. If he had done that, perhaps, Enyeama's forced retirement might have been averted. 

The NFF chairman, Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the NFF intend to organise a testimonial for Enyeama. As a result, he may have been persuaded to reverse his rather hasty decision to quit the national team. Going forward though, Oliseh needs to show why he is the boss by doing what top managers do in potentially tricky situations and thus, avoid a repeat of the farce that occurred in Belgium. Respect after all begets respect. 

This is not to say Enyeama should not shoulder some of the responsibility for the mess, but the coach is the one in charge and he should be able to handle conflict in a manner that will not affect the unity of the squad. Whether he likes it or not, player power is still very much in the Super Eagles like in many teams all over the world.

The Super Eagles will next month start their World Cup qualifiers campaign against Swaziland or Djibouti. Let's hope the problems in Belgium both on and off the pitch are resolved before they show up in the crucial games which if they do, may spell doom for the nation. Nigeria cannot afford to miss out on the African Cup of Nations back to back and possibly the World Cup all because of pride.

Does Mourinho Actually Suffer From The 'Third Season Syndrome'?

With results in the Premier League going south, Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has been under pressure to turn results around quickly and arrest the slump that is Chelsea's worst since 1986. 

The hitherto rock solid defence of Chelsea is leaking goals like a fishing net. Thibaut Courtois could be out for a few months with a knee injury and Cesc Fabregas seems to have continued from where he left off last season with his poor form. This is not forgetting that Diego Costa has not been able to hit a barn door of late with just 1 goal all season.

Even Chelsea's transfer dealings this season have been suspect as unheralded players who are a gamble at best have been signed up to strengthen the squad. Falcao, Rahman, Begovic, Pedro and Papy were signed at the last transfer window but only Pedro and Begovic seem to be quality signings on paper. 

And as Chelsea languishes at the 17th position on the league table, many fans and the media are beginning to speculate whether this is not another case of a 'third season syndrome' that Mourinho is prone to with the teams he has managed in the past.

A journalist with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was bold enough to suggest to Mourinho if the third season syndrome was the reason for Chelsea's uncharacteristic poor performance this season. The journalist got an angry response but  he also got an answer which for me settles this third season syndrome  argument.

According to Jose, there was no third season at FC Porto and Inter Milan as he didn't stay that long. In his first spell as Chelsea manager, he won the League Cup, the FA Cup and also led Chelsea to 2nd place in the league. At Real Madrid, he won the Spanish Super Cup, lost the Copa Del Rey final and also led Real Madrid to the runners up position.

These achievements are great by any standard. Teams like Man Utd, Liverpool or even Arsenal on current form will consider their season as very successful if they could achieve what Mourinho's teams have achieved in his problematic third seasons.

This is not to say that there are no merits in the argument for the third season syndrome. Mourinho's first spell with Chelsea was not turmoil free in his third season as his falling out with Roman Abramovich led to speculation whether he would remain the manager at the end of that season. 

He did remain the manager though but the seeds had already been sown. It was only a matter of time before Chelsea and Mourinho ended their relationship and after an indifferent start to the following season, Mourinho and Chelsea parted ways by mutual consent.

The Real Madrid experience was even more dramatic. In Mourinho's 3rd and last season at Real Madrid, he demoted Iker Casillas, lost control of the dressing room as a result of it as Madrid players sided with Casillas, and he then became a pariah with sections of Madrid fans for the toxic relationship he was having with iconic players of the club. 

Based on these two case studies, it is clear for even a blind man to see that Mourinho has had stormy third seasons and there is a precedent for what he is experiencing now. He has already fallen out with first team doctor Eva Carneiro after she and the physio ran into the pitch to treat Eden Hazard in Chelsea's opening league fixture with Swansea in the dying moments when Chelsea were hanging on. He publicly accused Dr Eva of not understanding the game.

There have been speculations in the British media that Chelsea players are getting disillusioned with Jose and the handling of the Carneiro saga. Substituting John Terry at half time in the Man City league fixture has also been pointed out as a sign of the cracks already in the squad. So, going by Mourinho's record of having fractious relationships in his third season, this is obviously a good pointer to the existence  of a third season syndrome.

However, when people make references to the third season syndrome, most people look at it from the perspective of Mourinho's results on the pitch and not his problems off it. With this in mind, it is safe to say, based on results which is what really counts, that the third season syndrome is a myth. Therefore, there needs to be an accurate definition of what this third season syndrome is when referring to Mourinho. I believe the answer is apparent.

Oliseh's First Game Is One To Forget

Sunday Oliseh began his reign as Super Eagles manager on a mediocre note as the Super Eagles played out a drab goalless draw with the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Daresalaam.

It was a game the Super Eagles were clearly second best. Oliseh had debutante, Carl Ikeme, to thank for the score line as he made a couple of excellent saves that stopped Tanzania from getting a victory that could have condemned Oliseh to a defeat in only his first game in charge.

If Oliseh did not realise the enormity of the task he had inherited when he took over from Stephen Keshi, he would now after watching this performance. The Eagles were quite painful to watch. 

The same old problems remain for the Super Eagles. A lack of creative midfielders, bang average forwards and a shaky back line. These areas remain a conundrum for the Nigerian national team managers. The most glaring weakness of the team is the midfield which is key to many a successful team. 

The Super Eagles midfielders who were on the field of play in Dare salaam failed to make a case for their continued inclusion in the national team as their performance was not up to scratch. Obiorah Nwankwo who is a defensive midfielder, failed to provide the protection the defence needed to contain the Taifa Stars who were able to breach the Super Eagles defence easily.

Haruna Lukman who was a surprise call up in the first place, failed woefully to justify his recall to the squad with a performance so dire that Oliseh felt he had seen enough after 35 minutes and quickly hooked him off and replaced him with Sylvester Igboun.

The attack fared slightly better than the midfield with some attempts on goal through Emmanuel Emenike, although, I can't recall Tanzania goal keeper, Ally Mustapha,making any save of note as most of the attempts on goal either went wide or were blocked by a well organised Tanzania defence. A poor midfield didn't help matters as they were unable to unlock a resolute Tanzania defence.

The defence came out of this game unscathed for a second game in a row. This however, cannot be said to be as a result of the excellent performance of the back line but a combination of good fortune, poor marksmanship and world class goalkeeping from our goal keepers. When the Super Eagles lock horns with the Pharaohs of Egypt in their next two games, they should not expect them to be as generous as the Tanzanians.

The midfield failed to provide adequate cover for the defence and so the defence was easily breached. But the Tanzanians ran into an inspired and an in form Ikeme who ensured that the absence of first choice, Vincent Enyeama, who had to be excused due to a family bereavement was not missed.

So what positives can we take out of this game? The one positive that can be taken out of this game is the performance of Carl Ikeme. Ikeme who is currently the goal keeping number 2 at English club Wolverhampton Wanderers, showed that he is more than a capable deputy to Vincent Enyeama and should probably go on to be his successor after Enyeama hangs his gloves after the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon (if Nigeria qualifies of course).

The other positive is that the Super Eagles have not conceded yet. And when you don't concede, you can't lose. But if you don't score, you can't win either...

A draw has to go down as a positive result for Oliseh if the display in Daresalaam is anything to go by because frankly, the Super Eagles deserved to get beat. A repeat of such a show against Egypt especially in Cairo could spell an embarrassing defeat. 

What does Coach Sunday Oliseh have to do to keep the Super Eagles on track? He should be having Ogenyi Onazi back from suspension in the next game. His presence should bring some solidity and threat from the midfield. John Obi Mikel's presence in midfield remains influential until we find another flair player of his calibre or if the likes of Joel Obi become available.

The defence is decent enough. With good protection from the defensive midfield the defenders should be able to cope with the likes of Mohammed Salah and company. The right back position which has been a problematic area for the Super Eagles has not been fully sorted even though the team appears to be gradually reaching a long term solution for that position. Solomon Kwambe had a decent performance but the jury is still out on him after all, he only played because Leon Balogun (a centre back by trade) pulled out because of injury.

As for the forwards, a swift recall for the likes of Victor Moses and Sone Aluko is imperative. Since the attacking/creative midfield jigsaw puzzle defies solution at this point in time, we need the trickery and threat of these two wingers to score goals. Oliseh should also try and test the resolve of Jordan Ibe and Victor Anichebe and see if he can convince them to play for Nigeria. 

If the likes of Lukman Haruna can earn a call up to the Super Eagles, I don't see any reason why these players including players such as Kelechi Iheanacho ( who surely, can't do any worse than Haruna) can't have invitations extended to them.