Stephen Darwin's Recent Posts

Will Liverpool be making a huge faux pas by ruling out moves?

Stephen Darwin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:16:22 +0000

Football FanCast columnist Stephen Darwin reacts to Rafa Benitez' comments regarding a lack of transfer activity at Anfield and considers whether the Liverpool boss will be making a mistake by not opening his cheque book.

So January is here and it's a time for football fans to salivate at the prospect of their club landing the big-money signing that will propel them to glory or perhaps the bargain buy that will save them from relegation. Tottenham supporters have already been buoyed by the arrival of Jermain Defoe while Manchester City fans will undoubtedly be anticipating the next twenty-odd days with the utmost excitement imaginable. The truth is that clubs all over the country have different hopes and expectations regarding the impact (or disruption as the case may be) that comes with the January transfer window.

But what to make of Premier League leaders Liverpool? Does Rafa Benitez stick or twist in an attempt to deliver the Anfield club the holy grail - their first league title since 1990 ofcourse. Well with the Reds boss' latest comments it would appear that Liverpool may be one club who will be keeping their cheque book firmly closed during the course of this month. So with Benitez and his side chasing glory both domestically and in Europe, is it fair to say that a lack of transfer activity may just come back to haunt the Spanish tactician come May?

Top of the Premier League, comfortably into the Fourth Round of the FA Cup and with a Champions League tie with struggling Real Madrid to look forward to, you could be forgiven for agreeing profoundly with Rafa Benitez and his opinion that Liverpool do not need to dip into the transfer market. The Reds have proved they have strength in-depth and sufficient if not outstanding cover in all areas of the pitch. With Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio all returning from injury, the Liverpool squad appears to be taking shape quite nicely as the Anfield club prepare to battle for three trophies.

There is further evidence to support the notion that Liverpool really don't need to buy this month - and it comes from fierce rivals Manchester United. The Red Devils only bit business in January last season was the capture of Angolan striker Manucho (who coincidentally was shipped out on-loan to Panathinaikos almost immediately after signing a contract at Old Trafford) and Liverpool fans won't need me to remind them of exactly what Sir Alex achieved. In any case with the extravagantly high prices that are being expected by clubs, coupled with many managers' unwillingness to sell, you can forgive Benitez for his hold fire strategy - especially when you consider that valuations will most likely drop in the summer.

Although there are clearly two sides to this story. What if Fernando Torres were to suffer another lengthy injury? Can Benitez really trust Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt to provide the firepower upfront? When put like that the acquisition of Emile Heskey seems a wise move, especially when you consider the former Valencia coaches' preferred formation of the lone front man. Glen Johnson and Matthew Upson have also been mooted as potential arrivals at Anfield and are two accomplished International defenders who would add further competition to the Liverpool squad. But are they really signings that Liverpool desperately need to make and are they really any better than what Benitez already has at his disposal?

It is important to note that Benitez has by no means completely ruled out the possibility of fresh faces coming in before the transfer window slams shut but do Reds supporters feel that the squad needs to be bulked up or are you content that the current batch have what it takes to fight on all fronts for the remainder of the season?

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Are we witnessing the end of one of Man United's famous son’s

Stephen Darwin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:04:07 +0000

Football FanCast columnist Stephen Darwin looks at Ryan Giggs' contract predicament and ponders whether this season may be his last.

As one of the most successful players in the history of British football, it will most definitely be a sad day when Ryan Giggs announces his retirement from the game. The Manchester United winger has openly admitted that this season may be his last and with no new contract on the table at Old Trafford at present, will we really have seen the end of this Welsh wing wizard come the end of the current campaign?

There aren't many Manchester United players over the last decade that have demanded universal respect from supporters up and down the country but Giggs is certainly one of them. As well as collecting 28 medals during a prestigious career with the Red Devils, the former Welsh captain is credited as scoring one of the greatest goals in FA Cup history after lashing past David Seaman following that unforgettable mazy dribble at Villa Park in 1999. So after so many years of loyal service as a Manchester United player is it fair to say that Giggs deserves an extension to his current deal that runs out in the summer?

Well it's fair to say that any side looking to mount a challenge for trophies needs an element of experience - and Giggs certainly has that in abundance. With over 750 appearances in Manchester Red, the left winger has seen it all at Old Trafford and proudly holds the record for most appearances for the club. In addition Sir Alex will clearly run the rule over his other left sided options which could further help prolong Giggs' career. Nani has hardly proved he is ready to regularly feature after a succession of mediocre performances and Giggs has certainly proved that he is as good as any other naturally left sided player in the United squad.

Unfortunately time is inevitably against this Welsh great and with the likes of Nani and Ji-Sung Park vowing for a place in the team, now may be as good a time as any for Giggs to hang up his boots. The recent signing of promising Serb Zoran Tosic is also a clear signal of Ferguson's desire to find an apt replacement for the 35-year-old Giggs.

So after nineteen illustrious years at Old Trafford are we really witnessing the end of the playing career of one of Manchester United's greatest servants? Could Giggs be about to follow the likes of Hughes, Pallister, Bruce and Keane and try his hand at management? One thing for sure is that Ryan Giggs will go down as one of the greatest players of his generation, and deservedly so.

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Surely at £10m they should be biting Spurs' arm off?

Stephen Darwin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:32:17 +0000

Football FanCast columnist Stephen Darwin looks at recent speculation linking Stewart Downing with a move to Tottenham and can't understand why there is so much hype surrounding the Middlesbrough winger.

I have never been a fan of Stewart Downing's abilities on a football pitch. It's nothing personal; I just can't see how his performances for both club and country have justified the extravagant transfer fee that Middlesbrough are currently demanding for his services. Let's make it clear that I am not one of those ignorant fans who bear a grudge and by no means have I ever been quick to signal out the England winger as a scapegoat when the Three Lions fail to perform. I just feel that the modern international footballer, being paid in excess of £50,000 a week no doubt, should have more in their locker than solely being able to aimlessly deliver one out of ten attempted crosses into the box when well placed on the wing.

It would seem that Downing's time at Boro could be coming to an end sooner rather than later despite the fact that the England wide man signed a new five-year contract in February last year. The 24-year-old has seemingly played his trump card by handing in a written transfer request at the Riverside Stadium as he looks to engineer a big money move to Spurs but in my opinion Harry Redknapp would be wise to steer clear and look at other options in the January transfer window. The North London club have reportedly already been knocked back with an initial £6 million offer although a figure approaching the £15 million mark would be a far more attractive proposition that would be ultimately difficult for Middlesbrough to refuse.

If I were Boro chairman Steve Gibson, I would be biting off Harry Redknapp's hand at any bid in excess of £10 million. I really don't see how Downing even comes close to warranting an eight figure sum and I would cash in while the interest is there. Middlesbrough fans may be fretting about where they might be without their supposedly star player, but from what I have seen of Adam Johnson, surely those fears should be relatively short lived? Naturally left-footed and with bags of potential, Johnson looks set to have a bright future in the game and what better time for the England U-21 international to take over the mantle that has been occupied for so long by Downing at the Teeside club.

It would be unfair for me to fail to recognise Downing's contribution to the Middlesbrough cause during last season and previously in the 2004/2005 season where he created numerous goals and notched up a few for himself too. Although consistency is key in this day and age and although some may argue that form is temporary and class is permanent, I just don't think that the Middlesbrough winger has the credentials to ever be an England regular. Downing can do no wrong in a Boro shirt but would his inconsistent performances really be tolerated by Tottenham fans who will be expecting their club to propel up the table following the end of the January transfer window.

Those of you that wholeheartedly disagree with everything I have said thus far will undoubtedly be expecting some sort of statistical analysis to back up my rather potent claims. Well this season alone, Downing has failed to find the net and managed a mere four assists in 22 starts for Boro (and two of them came on the weekend against non-league Barrow). On top of this it is fair to say that Downing has regularly under performed in an England shirt since his debut in 2005 bar one decent outing in a recent friendly encounter against a second string German side. In any case forget the stats, if Downing really is that good then why have the Premier League's elite failed to enquire about his services up to now?

With a left-sided midfielder clearly on the transfer agenda at White Hart Lane, would Tottenham fans welcome Downing with open arms and would Boro supporters be sad to see their prized asset leave? Indeed am I being completely unrealistic in my overall assessment of the England man and would he flourish in the limelight of playing for a so-called bigger club?

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Should Ferguson field his 'strongest team' and be crowned best team in the world?

Stephen Darwin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:22:32 +0000

Football FanCast columnist Stephen Darwin examines the merits of the World Club Championships and ponders whether Sir Alex Ferguson should field a full-strength team for the tournament in Japan.

Champions of England, Champions of Europe but just how seriously should Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United be taking the prospect of being Champions of the World? The Old Trafford club travel to Japan next weekend to take part in the World Club Championship with the Scot intent on coming home victorious but could Ferguson's ambitions ultimately dent United's hopes of domestic glory in the long run?

There are certainly two clear sides to the story in this debate. Do the Red Devils approach the tournament with one eye firmly on the Premier League trip to Stoke on Boxing Day, resting influential stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney? Or does Sir Alex prioritise the tournament staged for continental champions to guarantee that another prize glistens in that most famous Old Trafford trophy room.

Well it would seem that the former Aberdeen boss is fully focused on winning every conceivable title this season as he admitted to the Daily Telegraph:

"I'll take my strongest team (to Japan). I think we look at this tournament as a platform for players to excel, to express themselves," said Ferguson.

"It is a world championship and any player who goes into it will want to play the right way and make an impression.

"To play in a tournament of this stature is wonderful for them."

As a Manchester United supporter I have to say that I am looking forward to seeing a strong side take to the field next weekend, regardless of the standard of opposition. A trophy is a trophy at the end of the day and it is refreshing to see that Ferguson is keen to ensure the trip is by no means a wasted venture. But could this really end up damaging United's hopes of a third successive Premier League title?

Defeat to Tottenham on Saturday could leave Ferguson eating his words as the prospect of a Ronaldo, Ferdinand or Rooney picking up injury in the Far East would make playing catch up an even more daunting task. It is clearly a massive game at White Hart Lane against a Spurs side who will undoubtedly be confident of victory following their rejuvenation under Harry Redknapp. The stakes are noticeably high as a poor performance and result could leave Sir Alex and his side twelve points adrift of the top when they return from Japan to resume the defence of their Premier League crown.

You have to admire Ferguson for his affirmation that he will play a full-strength side next Saturday, especially when you consider the troubles the United manager has experienced with this competition in the past. Despite having won the tournament's predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, back in 1999, Sir Alex and Manchester United drew stark criticism when they pulled out of the FA Cup a year later in favour of the World Club Championships. Add to that Ferguson's decision to field a weakened side in the Super Cup against Lazio in 1999 where he was ultimately humiliated by the Italian club's celebrations and the burning desire to send out a side capable of bringing the trophy home becomes all the more apparent.

It is fair to say that Ferguson's ‘strongest team' may yet still include the likes of Jonny Evans, Nani and Darron Gibson to allow a rest for a few of the bigger names in the United squad but there could well be a place for a Ronaldo or Berbatov too. So would you agree that Sir Alex should be approaching the trip to East Asia with such an intense focus on winning or would the Red Devils manager be better served fielding a weakened team against what look, with all due respect, mediocre continental opponents? Indeed if United do return victorious can they realistically be classed as the best team in the world or merely the Champions of a tournament that's main purpose is to market the game of football in Asia?

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Why Liverpool should break the bank in 2009

Stephen Darwin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:29:27 +0000

Football FanCast columnist Stephen Darwin looks at the new £16 million contract that appears to be on the table for Rafael Benitez and believes that Liverpool's American owners are finally starting to see sense.

It may look a substantial amount of money on paper but to ensure that a manager of the calibre of Rafael Benitez remains at the helm, a £16 million contract could prove to be mere pittance to Liverpool and their American owners. When you consider that Real Madrid have just handed Bernd Schuster a £4 million pay-off to walk away from the club you may begin to wonder why such a similarly lucrative deal is on the table for Benitez. Although the chances of Liverpool's Spanish mastermind being forced out of the door by Tom Hicks and George Gillett looks less likely every day as the former Valencia boss continues to carve out his own unique legacy at Anfield.

What a difference twelve months can make in football. This time last year Rafa Benitez was seemingly fighting to save his job following Liverpool's stuttering start to the Champions League group stages and their apparent inability to mount a realistic title challenge. Although with the Merseysiders resurgence this season it would appear that the days of boardroom discontent at Anfield are well and truly gone and at last the two rather controversial figures at the head of the Reds hierarchy seem to understand the value and importance of Benitez to Liverpool football club and their band of loyal supporters.

Yes £16 million is a lot of money but even Juande Ramos was earning more at Spurs (£4.5 million-a-year would you believe) and bar a useful performance in the Carling Cup, Daniel Levy and Tottenham fans certainly didn't get value for money from their Mediterranean manager. Benitez has built a solid rapport with the Kop - something that must be held in high regard. Liverpool supporters clearly trust the work of the man that delivered Valencia their first Spanish title in thirty one years in 2002, believing that their own exasperating wait for Premier League glory is only just around the corner.

Just glancing at the Madrid born manager's CV gives an indication of his managerial pedigree and that his desire to taste Premier League success could well be realised within the next four years. Ignoring the fact that he managed to ridicule the Barcelona/Real Madrid stranglehold of Spanish football, Benitez has rejuvenated the Liverpool tradition by winning the Champions League in 2005. Lest we forget that the Liverpool boss successfully transformed what was a mediocre squad of players that he inherited from Gerard Houllier, removing the dead wood and replacing them with accomplished internationals who have turned the Reds into perennial trophy contenders.

With the life-span of the average Premier League gaffer drastically decreasing these days with every managerial sacking, Liverpool fans will no doubt be grateful that their owners are finally seeing sense in handing Benitez the contract that he ultimately deserves. The question is, could this really be the season that the ten year wait is over and will Rafa still have the backing of the board and fans if the Premier League dream still isn't a reality come 2013?

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