Best feet forward
Some of the biggest stories were about people on the move. We saw our national team manager Giovanni Trapattoni replaced by two of the biggest names in Irish football, Martin O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane. David Moyes had the unenviable job of replacing a living legend in Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. Gareth Bale broke the world transfer record with a move to Real Madrid, one consequence of his departure from White Hart Lane being that Spurs practically bought a new team.
In what proved to be a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign for us, the writing was on the wall for Trapattoni for some time before he and the FAI finally parted ways. The FAI took their time appointing his successor – and then came up with a headline-grabbing duo. The arrival of O’Neill and Keane certainly got the country excited again about our national team and their chances of qualifying for the European Championships in 2016. The new era has started as well as it could have but, of course, it’s still only early days. That said, we have had some players really step up to the plate and shine in the last year. Players like Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Robbie Brady and David Forde can be very happy with their progression on the international stage.
In particular, Seamus and James are showing their talent week in and week out in the Premier League for an Everton side playing some majestic football under Roberto Martinez. The style of play suits Seamus down to the ground and ensures he is able to attack at will. He has also added goals to his game this season and if he continues to mature then I wouldn’t be surprised if Moyes switches his attention from Leighton Baines to Seamus.
On the subject of Moyes, I have to say I really am feeling for him. He is getting criticism from all angles as he tries to take over from the man who made Manchester United into one of the world’s greatest football clubs. Fergie is very shrewd and knew it was time to step aside after winning the title in May, with a squad of players inferior to that of Chelsea’s and Man City’s. The transition process for a new manager was never going to be easy, no matter who it was. Moyes deserves his chance to manage this club and I’m sure he will get the time to get things right, but he needs to sign the right type of players. For example, I questioned the Fellaini signing. He is a very good player, but I just didn’t see him fitting into a Man United side — and so far it’s looked that way. This month will be crucial for Moyes to ensure United make the top four at least, as anything less would be disastrous.
With United struggling, it has seen the other bigger teams blossom to a certain extent. After indifferent starts from both Man City and Chelsea, they are now showing signs of a consistency that means they will contest the title with an Arsenal side that, while adhering to its traditional beautiful game, has added the necessary steel to win tight matches. I will be especially intrigued to see if (a) they can keep it up in the second half of the season and (b) if they sign another marquee player this month in the striker department, to send out a signal of intent that they want to win the league.
In the summer there was constant speculation about players like Falcao and Cavani coming to the Premiership but, when they were happier going elsewhere, it seemed that England’s top flight was losing its appeal to a certain degree. There’s no doubt that huge financial rewards were the major factor in them going to Monaco and PSG respectively, but I was still disappointed not to see them come to England. Ironically, as the season has gone on, it’s become clear to the whole football world that we are already blessed with some of the finest strikers on the planet, to the extent that I’m not even sure the likes of Falcao and Cavani could have matched the standards set by players like Suarez, Aguero, Rooney and Negredo. The form Suarez has shown since his return from his lengthy ban, is sensational. After talk of a move to Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the summer, he knuckled down and has catapulted himself into the Messi, Ronaldo and Ribery bracket with sublime performances and outrageous goals.
Meanwhile, at my own club Brighton, we’re just outside the play-off places. But today there will be a break from the league routines as we face Reading in the third round of the FA Cup. It’s a competition I have always cherished from childhood memories of watching it on Match of the Day. Unfortunately, I have never had a great run in the cup as, sometimes, it’s not the priority it once was for clubs who are concentrating on promotion or avoiding relegation. But, for me, it’s still a great day in the football calendar as the “big boys” enter the competition and the lower league and conference sides look to cause an upset.
After today’s fixture, I firmly believe there should be a mid-season break. I’m a huge fan of the festive fixtures. Even though it can be a testing time for players and clubs, I believe it’s a tradition that we should keep. But a break after the hectic Christmas/New Year period would clearly benefit players, not just for the second half of the season but also those lucky enough to be involved in the upcoming World Cup.
The idea of a break is such a no-brainer to me that I’m bemused the FA don’t contest this issue with the Premier League more than they seemingly do.
