The 'Hand Of God' Now Belongs to Me

Luis Suarez.  Love him or hate him, the man gets attention.  Between alleged racist comments to Patrice Evra, and now flipping off Fulham supporters at Craven Cottage; he certainly knows how to keep the spotlight on himself.  The question is whether this behavior is detrimental to his teammates and his club, as well as himself.

The Premier League is full of over the top characters.  There is Wayne Rooney and his outburst at the Boleyn Ground.  Or John Terry and his alleged racist comments at Anton Ferdinand.  Or Mario Balotelli and his personal foibles.  Or Ashley Cole and his air rifle.  And those are just the recent ones that made the news.

Suarez’s gesture continues a run of ridiculous vulgarity in London.  And continues his own streak as a marked man by the Football Association.  Love him or hate him, his presence and charisma is undeniable.  He is definitely a leader on the pitch.  He is currently the leading scorer for Liverpool.  He is also their leader in assists.  And strangely, he has only managed to be booked twice.  Both of which were yellow cards.

Suarez is considered, by many, an expert at gamesmanship.  He is notorious for his practice of the art of simulation.  He also stopped, what could have a goal for certain, with his hands for Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup.  Not to mention biting the shoulder of a PSV player, while he was at Ajax.  Obviously, he is no stranger to controversy.  In fact, I think he welcomes it.

With Kenny Dalglish attempting to revamp and build Liverpool into a powerhouse again, it is feasible that Suarez could prove a distraction.  With his disciplinary problems, Dalglish may find that Suarez’s presence to be counter-productive to the vision he has for Liverpool Football Club.

Suarez is not Graeme Souness.  Nor is he Emlyn Hughes.  Nor is he Robbie Fowler.  In a lot of ways, he has not defined his presence on the squad, to be seen in the same light as those various Livepool legends.  Souness was a notoriously hard tackler.  Hughes was a physical force who helped lead Liverpool to European glory.  Robbie Fowler was a fantastic goal-scoring forward, who has been repeatedly accused of diving on numerous occasions.  With these three randomly chosen legends of Liverpool as a point to contrast against, Suarez does not stack up.  At least in his current state.  Maybe if he tempers his zeal and learns how to play football in the English way, he could see his name added to a future list of favorites of the Kop.

I personally think that Suarez is a dynamic player.  One who I can enjoy watching, when he is not resorting to gamesmanship.  He has fantastic vision, and can set up just as much as he scores.  He is fantastic on the ball.  He is always looking to create space, or to find space when off the ball.  There is something to be said for someone who has can do that.  But I see his discipline problem being the one mitigating factor to his success.  I cannot seem to avoid going back to it.  In fact, I think he will be remembered more for his shenanigans, than he will be for his attacking prowess.

Currently, he is the target of two investigations by the Football Association.  He has not received any punishment, as far as I can find with a bit of research.  All I can find is that he is being charged with improper conduct.  I have read ample comments on Twitter, Facebook, and the various blogs that are calling for Suarez to be banned from English football for his alleged comments to Evra.  I do not know the full extent of how Liverpool supporters feel about him.  But I know that friends of mine who support other top flight English clubs would prefer he did not play in England, and especially against the teams they support.  And if that is not a resounding endorsement of Suarez’s abilities, both positive and negative; I could not tell you what is.

Suarez is a talented footballer.  He is perpetually a threat on the attack.  He has the potential to be remembered for the dynamic player that he is.  Unfortunately, his decision-making, in the heat of the moment, tends to undermine his talent.  Because of this, I do not see him ever truly living up to his potential in football.

The More Unfair Competition, the Better

Is the Manchester Derby the new stylish rivalry in England?  More importantly, is it the new Liverpool vs. Chelsea?  Will the rivalry extend beyond the boundaries of the Premier League?  Or, more importantly, the city limits of Manchester?

With the recent development of both Manchester clubs falling out of the Champions League, and into the Europa League, it brings a lot of interesting thoughts to light.  As much as both teams feel as though one is superior to the other, in a lot of ways, they are stuck on a level playing field.  They are currently the top two teams in the Premier League.  They drew each other in the FA Cup.  They both have been eliminated from the Champions League at the Group Stage.  The only thing that either team has over the other, is that City are in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

For the better part of the last six years, the marquee match that you could not seem to avoid was Chelsea vs. Liverpool.  They were playing each other five to seven times a season.  And each of those matches were intense dramatic affairs that were not to be missed.  Especially in that run from 2005 through 2008.  While Liverpool may not have been in strong contention for the Premier League title, they fought valiantly for any hardware they could get their hands on.

On the other side of that rivalry, Chelsea were a force in England.  Under the management of Jose Mourinho, the west London club assailed heights they had never thought of.  They were a force on the pitch.  They dominated England in ways that had not been seen in quite some time.  But, unfortunately, Chelsea could never really get over the hump, outside of the domestic campaigns.

For many years now, Manchester United has been the dominant club, in a lot of regards, in the city of Manchester.  However, in the last few years, with the assistance of Sheikh Mansour, City look to be forging a trail to rival United’s.  City wants to, to borrow a phrase of Sir Alex Ferguson’s regarding Liverpool, “Knock United of its fucking perch.”  And if this season so far is any indication, City may have the groundwork in place to do so.  But it won’t be for a while.

United, on the other hand, are a club in some form of upheaval.  I cannot call it a crisis, but it definitely does not bear the hallmarks of stability.  There are the injury woes that seem to stack up more and more with each week.  There is the discontent from supporters since the club did not buy the services of Wesley Sneijder.  There is discord between the Supporters Trust and the ownership of the Glazers.  But, through all of this, Sir Alex Ferguson has managed to win at least once piece of hardware every year from 2005 onward.  While things may look dire for Ferguson and United, he will navigate these stormy seas with little problem.  He has navigated his club through more frustrating times.

So, with that in mind, where does the comparison to the Liverpool and Chelsea rivalry come in?  Well, for starters, there is the frequency with which there are fixtures.  In the last two to three seasons, both Manchester clubs have spend a lot of time facing each other.  There was the scintillating series of matches between the two clubs in 2010.  Matches have taken on a life of their own.  Filled with moments that have come to resonate both positively and negatively, with each fan base.

There have been controversial goals.  Michael Owen’s versus City, in the 96^th minute of stoppage time.  Or Luis Garcia’s phantom goal against Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League semi-finals second leg.  In the minds of those who have been a part of these rivalries, these goals have helped to define the antipathy that exists between the clubs.

But there have been other controversial moments that threw gasoline on the fire.  There was the transfer of Carlos Tevez to City, from United.  Indeed, a far higher profile move than Fernando Torres from Liverpool to Chelsea.  The Tevez move created far more animosity within the confines of the Manchester Derby.  Tevez, before his petulance got the best of him again, was hated by United supporters and cheered by City.  The coup to bring Tevez to City, was considered to be the first in many steps of gradually plying the empire out of United’s hands.

There is the animosity that exists between managers.  Or at least the perceived hostility.  Part of what made the Liverpool rivalry with Chelsea so much fun, was watching how Rafa Benitez would respond to Mourinho’s goadings.  Much in the same way that there is quite a bit of intrigue as to how Roberto Mancini will respond to Sir Alex Ferguson’s latest commentary on the state of football in Manchester.

With time, I think the Manchester Derby could easily become the match to watch in England every season.  It is poised to replace the derby between Liverpool and Manchester United as the most heated rivalry in England.  With the continual rise of City, and the seemingly unexpected turns that United is taking, the history will merely build upon itself.  The intrigue will grow of its own volition.  And the stakes that come with each match will mean more to each set of players, managers, and supporters.  Especially as either team continues to vie for English dominance parlayed into European staying-power.  Either way, I see a future most interesting for the Manchester Derby, especially now as it moves outside of England, and into the realm of European competition.

Football is a Simple Game; 22 Men Chase a Ball For 90 Minutes and At the End, the Germans Win

One of my passions is football’s history.  Couple this with my love of the Football Manager game series, and it makes for many a interesting discussion with my friends.  Especially those who have as much of an appreciation of football’s past.  Lately, I have spent ample time on YouTube watching classic football matches.  I have mostly been watching whatever matches I can find from the 1950s, as footage of those are difficult to come by, that is longer than two or three minutes long.  But thanks to that, and the Guardian’s Joy of Six column, I have been inspired to tackle the idea of building a team.

I have often speculated, but not really put to paper, my ideal football squad.  Mostly because it seems like there would be a lot of variables to factor in.  What sort of a philosophy is this team built around?  Is it a side that can relentlessly attack?  Or are they stingy in defense?  Do they play a short passing game like Barcelona or a more English style direct passing game?  Do they play a more aesthetically pleasing, entertaining brand of football?  Or do they grind out results using physical play to counter-act any opposition tactics?  So many questions have to be asked, before putting effort into building the sort of team that fits your vision.

One of the hardest parts about this, to me, is setting up a format upon which to build this team.  What formation do I want to use?  How many substitutes do I want available?  Those two factors, more than anything, create limitations for how to build a team to one’s liking.  My friend Preben has challenged me to build this team with only one substitute.  However, I do not feel that this would suffice.  Given that the modern game includes five substitutions, I think this should be the parameter to use for building this squad.

For my formation, I am thinking that a 4-4-2 is the best shape for the team I want to build.  As far as shape is concerned, I have am not sure that I want to deviate from the standard flat positioning.  With that in mind, I will not venture into putting players into specific roles.  It will just be the standard forwards, midfielders, defenders, and keeper.  With that in mind, we should get to the team.

Forwards

Ferenc Puskas – I would pick Puskas for both his killer instinct as a finisher, and his vision, movement, and leadership.  As far as appearances to goals ratio, few equal Puskas at both the club and international level.  He was a major force for Hungary during their “Mighty Magyars” period in the early to mid 1950s.  Not to mention a part of the Real Madrid teams that won the European Cup in 1959 and 1960.

Dennis Bergkamp – With a sublime first touch, and vision that to create scoring chances at will.  Bergkamp was an efficient finisher himself.  During his club career, he scored 234 goals.  During his time at Arsenal, alone, he set up 124 goals.  His goals to assists ratio during this period was 120:124.  That’s almost a goal for every assist.  I cannot think of a better foil for Puskas, than Bergkamp, in terms of their creativity and goal-scoring ability.

Midfield

Garrincha – Between his pace and his amazing footwork, there is really very little to say about him.  Garrincha would routinely make anyone who attempted to mark him look sluggish and lost.  The fluidity of his movement, the precision of his feints, and the ability to make every defender within ten feet of him chomp at everything he threw at them, more than proves his place.  With the space he created, by his movements with the ball, he could draw the defense out for Bergkamp and Puskas to create trouble in their final third.

Duncan Edwards – Edwards is considered by many, including Sir Bobby Charlton, to be the greatest football they had ever seen.  He was a hard-working two-way midfielder.  He could tackle.  He could pass.  He could shoot.  He had a versatility to play virtually any outfield position needed of him.  Had he not been killed in the Munich Air Crash, many people believe that he would have led England to World Cup glory before 1966.  Despite all of the what-ifs, the limited footage of Edwards that exists online, is barely the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to him.

Giuseppe Meazza – Meazza’s legend in Italy looms large, especially in Milan.  As both as striker and a midfielder, he was quite the accomplished goal-scorer.  He also had a proficiency with his feet, in his movements and his passes.  More importantly, he was one of the biggest names in football, of his generation.  He was the one of the driving forces behind Inter and Italy’s successes during the 1930s.

Sir Tom Finney – While he may not have won a glut of hardware as a player, there is a lot to be said for Finney.  He was the Football Writers Association’s player of the year for 1953-54 and 1956-57.  He spent his entire career playing at the Deepdale, for Preston North End.  For his diminutive stature, he had pace and was a master at dribbling around defenders. In a lot of ways, his leadership, pace, vision and concentration made him as much of a legend that his loyalty did.

Defenders

Phil Neal – Was steadfast in the full back role for Liverpool as it transitioned from the era of Bill Shankly into the era of Bob Paisley and European domination.  He captained Liverpool during the late 70s, and spent a good period of his early career at Anfield as the primary penalty taker.  His ability as a passer, in terms of setting up play, or holding up play cannot be denied.

Roger Byrne – He was known for being a hard working full back who chose to use intelligence over physicality to dictate his style of play.  His ability to read play meant that he found a way to put himself into position to disrupt any attack that came his way.  He captained Manchester United to three League titles the 50s, and was a regular member of the England squads of that period.  His leadership and guile made him gained him respect both on and off the pitch.

Franz Beckenbauer – Beckenbauer redefined the role of a full back.  He would regularly move forward with the attack.  He was a natural leader, and he took charge whenever he was on the pitch.  Every team he played for won everything they competed for.  Most likely due to Beckenbauer’s influence.  Again, this is something that cannot be understated.  As much as he was an innovator, he was a leader.  For that reason, I believe I have to give him the armband.

Emlyn Hughes – One thing that this team is missing, is a hard man.  Hughes was a physical presence who helped to define the Liverpool teams of the mid to late 1970s.  He was known for his temper, and his tackling.  Something that I feel that this team lacks.  We need a stronger physical presence to compliment the beauty of those who play ahead of him.

Goalkeeper

Oliver Kahn – Widely considered to be one of the greatest keepers to ever play the game.  He helped lead Bayern Munich to ample success, as well as Germany to Euro success.  He led Bayern to the European Cup, and ample Bundesliga titles.  He is widely respected by his peers and critics alike.  Including being named goalkeeper of the year multiple times.  His ambition, that helped this teams be so successful, is one of the main reasons why I feel that he should be in goal for my team.


Substitutes will follow later.

The Lack of Money Is the Root of All Evil

As the transfer window quickly approaches I'm starting to feel some of the emotions that come with it start to stir. There's the excitement of who might join my beloved Gunners. Seeing who might be the big names to move. Finding out which of the many rumours that get spread are complete b.s. As well as the overall feelings of betrayal that come from seeing players either ask to leave a club you love or get sold regardless and have to move on to become endeared in the hearts of supporters of another club. All of which will be drawn out as long and painfully as possible in as annoying a way as possible.

Unfortunately for the month leading into it and the month the window is open we're gonna have to hear about how every player in the world has been linked with another club no matter how ridiculous the move may be. And we just have to sit in front of our tvs and computers rolling our eyes at the absurdity of Ronaldo’s move to Crystal Palace as they try to win the Carling Cup and stay in contention for future trophies or whatever retarded story some moron with an outlet feels like "reporting" simply because some asshole at the bar heard about it from a friend who knows a guy whose cousin heard it from a neighbor that cleans toilets at the stadium. Its mind boggling all the crap that gets spewed from news sources when there’s no evidence to back any of it up. So far I can honestly say Arsenal alone has been linked to half the players in the world and I can't say I believe any of it. If the rumours were actually true we would have a completely different squad the second half of the season than we do now. And why should I believe any of it? How many players will actually move? Very few in all reality especially in comparison to the number who are currently linked to moves.

And I can’t help but wonder how much is played out behind the scenes by the players themselves in search of the supposed greener pasture and more of the almighty dollar? Can we trust these men to repay the love and support we show them week after week? How many players have agents or people close to them in their ear telling them there's better out there and they deserve more? And how much of this semi-annual debacle is created by the worst of the worst, the players agents themselves in an attempt to pad their own bank accounts at the expense of clubs and supporters alike? After all, when a footballer moves, the ripple in the water is felt by all, not just the few involved. Greed seems to have taken charge during these transfer windows more than bettering squads or making the game better. I do realize sometimes its in the best interest of everyone to cut ties and move on or to make moves to strengthen a side but to what extent is this good for the game?

For me personally the transfer window always brings up questions of loyalty and begs the question, where has it all gone and why does there seem to be so little of it in today’s game? I know from the fans perspective we criticize everyone’s performance after every match and always wanna see the club we love win but at the end of the day we support and love our players like they were brothers or close associates. When they thrive we thrive. When they hit a rough patch we support and can't wait for them to perform at the level we know them to be capable of. Seeing one go down to injury seems to hurt us all and we can't wait to see them on the pitch again. So why then is it asking so much to get the same in return?

For example, when Clichy left to be apart of a team that should feel no pride in any sort of victory this past summer, it was the kind of transfer you like to see. The man had spent years at The Arsenal, is getting up there in age, and was making enough errors and causing goals to where the change of scenery was the appropriate move. He wasn’t leaving for the payday. His current club at the time was definitely better off giving someone else a chance, he was gracious in his departure, and left on terms that didn’t leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth. Other than maybe the club he chose to go to. Both teams in the end feel stronger due to the move and fans on both sides can be happy at the same time. This is the kind of transfer I like seeing.

But when it came down to the move of another Arsenal footballer to exactly the same squad, things were completely different. $amir Na$ri left for the bigger payday. He can say he left for glory, but what glory is there in joining a team that is comprised of nothing but paid mercenaries? No homegrown talent whatsoever. Where is the pride and glory in being apart of the team with the highest price-tag in history? More shame than anything if they prove incapable of winning multiple trophies every year. Na$ri was offered a very nice wage to stay and return the loyalty to the club that recognized his potential at a young age. They were also willing to teach him to be a world class player and even deal with runs of poor form in the process. Only for him to turn his back on the ones who showed him respect for the bigger payday. Arsenal received a hefty sum in exchange for his services which would’ve taken a bit of the sting out of the whole betrayal had he not then went and talked shit about his former club’s supporters. Na$ri had the nerve to claim Arsenal had no pride since leaving Highbury and that City supporters were way more passionate. I call bullshit. First of all what the fuck does he know about Highbury? I'd be surprised if he could even spell Highbury let alone comment on differences between one of the greatest, most history rich stadiums in the world, and the current attempt to make history at the Grove. He let greed become the deciding factor and let supporters down worldwide all while creating a hatred that will never be forgotten.

Even players like Cesc Fabregas don't repay loyalties shown themselves. I can honestly say I understand his reasons for wanting to leave but to allow the team that raised you, made you its captain, and supported you through multiple injuries to take a payment nowhere near what’s deserved is completely wrong. Seeing such a classy young man do this further hurts relationships between clubs and further tears the rift between fans and players

I don’t know the exact facts or stats but I have a hard time believing players from the eras when footballers weren't making ridiculous salaries would turn their backs on us that love them so easily. Even more recently, I could never imagine someone like Tony Adams even considering a move away regardless of the sum of money involved. Players like him had class and real pride and it’s sickening to think todays game is missing this. Players used to be honored to wear the crest on front of their strip instead of wondering where the next payday was coming from. I can't imagine a single fan wouldn't jump at the chance to play for their beloved club for just a place to sleep and a hot meal, let alone the chance to live comfortably. So why then is it too much to ask for a little of the same in return? Players like Jack Wilshere who promise to stay forever are few and far between. Men like Emmanual Frimpong who seem to love their clubs as much as its supporters, leave it all out on the pitch every opportunity , and are willing to actually allow the developmental process to take place and earn playing time are becoming harder to find when all we as fans want to see is more of these types of players. I'm sure every club has a couple of these guys but they seem to be a rarity these days and it begs the question, how much are we as fans supposed to endure before we don't feel the same connection to the men on the pitch? And when the connection is gone where is the fun in supporting a club and wearing its colors

Management of Many Is the Same as Management of Few. It Is a Matter of Organization

The revolving door cavalcade of stars that is top flight football management has gotten ridiculous.  In the Premiership, managers like Steve Kean can hold on to their jobs, even though relegation looms menacingly on the horizon.  Yet managers like Steve Bruce have a rough calendar year, and as soon as the opportunity becomes available; he promptly is shown the door.  Bruce’s replacement, Martin O’Neill has quite a bit of work cut out for him at Sunderland.  But, given O’Neill’s philosophy toward management, I get the feeling he will start to see results by the end of this current season.

Humorously, the joke is that Venky’s, current owners of Blackburn Rovers, believe that Kean can take Rovers back to the summit of English football.  That is all well and good, except that I doubt that Venky’s took the time to do some research into BRFC’s history.  Prior to 1995, when Rovers won the Premier League title, they had not won a top flight championship since 1913-14.  They have not won the FA Cup since 1928.  And the most recent piece of hardware in their dusty old trophy cabinet would be their League Cup from 2002.  Other than those two trophies in the last 16 years, Blackburn have not done much in terms of resembling a contender.  But the faith of Venky’s, in putting their backing in Steve Kean is to be commended.  If not to howl with laughter at.  Blackburn, as of the writing of this piece, are currently sitting on 18^th in the Premier League.  They currently have an abysmal two wins, to go with four draws, and 8 losses.  Luckily for them though, Rovers are joined by two Lancashire neighbors, Bolton and Wigan.  It seems like this season may prove to be a difficult one for Steve Kean.  But, if Venky’s are going to give him time to build the team as he wants them to, and not pander to the trigger-happy media and supporters, then I get the feeling in two to three years’ time, BRFC may be mid-table finishers in the Premiership.

Sunderland under Steve Bruce was a team with promise.  Promise that a lot of people accuse Bruce of pissing away.  Read any one of the articles that appeared in places like The Guardian, where painstaking characters were spent belittling and mocking the limited legacy that Bruce had left at the Stadium of Light.  The point that the articles, like Louise Taylor’s mentioned previously, drive home is that Steve Bruce was a man out of his league. I cannot say I completely agree, or disagree, with this statement.  There were times where it did look like Bruce could not have led a horse to water, much less make it drink.  Then there were times where his Sunderland squad could make believers out of fools, as opposed to the fools out of believers stance that so many in the media want to take.  Bruce had Darren Bent, one of the more prolific English strikers in recent history.  He also signed Asamoah Gyan, Connor Wickham, and got Danny Welbeck on loan.  Those four would make for a formidable striker rotation, at any club.  But it also sort of belies one major point, very little was done to shore up the rest of the squad. Wes Brown is a affable defender in his own right.  But he can have positioning problems, and give up own goals.  Lee Cattermole?  As captain?  That is nearly as laughable as Titus Bramble going to Barcelona.  Actually, now that I think of it, that decision defines Steve Bruce.  He is the embodiment of the absurdity of football.  He seemed to genuinely believe that someone like Lee Cattermole, with a disciplinary record that makes him more enforcer than leader, is captain material.  And that was supposed to solve the Mackems’ problems?  Only Steve Bruce knows.  Currently, Sunderland are 16^th in the table.  Doing better than Kean’s Blackburn.  But the Black Cats are teetering dangerously close to the relegation zone.  Maybe a bit too close for Sunderland’s board’s comfort. 

So what does Sunderland do?  They send old Steve Bruce packing.  I am of the mindset that managerial changes should not be done during the season.  It disrupts the team.  It kills any continuity to build from, because it means that the players have to learn a new system, and how to deal with a new manager.  While it could potentially turn results around, this sort of upheaval and rash decision-making should not be done while the season is still going.  But, Sunderland wanted Steve Bruce out.  So, they got their wish.  Who did the choose to pin their hopes on now?  Martin O’Neill.  I like Martin O’Neill.  I think he was a fantastic manager at Aston Villa, before his team was sold out from under him.  I think had Milner and Barry stayed at Villa, they could have continued to fight to break the Top Four oligarchy.  But it was not meant to be.  So O’Neill went on a bit of a hiatus from football.  Now, he is back.  He is taking charge of a team that is underachieving, and in dire need of direction.  Well, they need a direction that is not freefall.  And I believe that Martin O’Neill could be that man.  But I believe this to be the case if a few things were to happen.  First, he needs time to sort through the squad, and to get rid of any dead weight that may drag the team down.  Cattermole, your days as captain may be numbered.  Second, he needs money to bring in players.  This could be necessary come the January transfer window.  When O’Neill could bring in a couple of guys to stabilize the defensive and midfield ranks.  Then, in traditional Martin O’Neill fashion, he takes his team “back to basics”.  Maybe, by March or April, there will be improvements shown by Sunderland and its players, and their supporters will once again believe that this club is capable of producing, like they did in flashes under Bruce. 

Martin O’Neill got Aston Villa to the Europa League, and the League Cup final in 2010.  I cannot see why it may not be possible for Sunderland to set their sights on trophies like these, maybe next season or two seasons down the road.  I also cannot see this happening this season.  The gulf of points, even at this stage of the Premier League, will mean that Sunderland would just about have to win every match between now and the end of May, to be able to qualify for Champions League.  The Roker Men are 27 points adrift of Manchester City, at the top.  And 17 points adrift of Champions League qualifying.  With 25 matches to play yet, it will be a grueling test of Martin O’Neill’s mental acumen, and man-management skills, to see if he can right the ship enough to finish in mid-table respectability.

Violence Is the Last Refuge of the Incompetent

To me, one of the biggest problems that exists in football, and its subculture, is the idea of tribalism.  Or rather, exceptionalism manifesting itself in vehement aggression against those who do not wear the same color as you.  It is gang warfare, or hooliganism, in its latest form.  Without the pomp and circumstance which defined that era, at its height.  With the infinitesimal expansion of social networks, and the opportunity to co-mingle with anyone who has a computer, or smart phone, and the minimal capabilities of putting together thoughts; this tribalist mentality has taken on a life of its own.  Most likely, in ways that I would feel safe in venturing to guess, that the old hooligans never thought possible before.

Growing up in the US, my experience with football hooliganism was limited to brief news blurbs and soundbytes that never delved into any detail.  I vaguely recall hearing about the Heysel tragedy in 1985.  I do not recall ever hearing about the Hillsborough tragedy.  My full education on both of those came much later in my life.  I also remember hearing brief snippets of news chastising the hooligan culture in England.  I never heard anything of hooligans from other nations, only England.

As I have grown, and immersed myself in football, especially its history and culture, I have spent ample time learning about the darker side of the game as well.  I am quite familiar with the sectarian violence that defined the Old Firm derby for many years.  I have become quite familiar with the animosity that exists between West Ham and Millwall.  Or, well, the animosity that exists against anyone who plays Millwall at The Den.  I have read extensively on the political and sociological acrimony that defines the El Clasico, between Barcelona and Real Madrid.  Or the political rancor of the Derby della Capitale between AS Roma and SS Lazio.  Not to mention the perceived malevolence that English teams and their supporters seem to encounter when playing against Roma.

There is a deep history of antipathy that exists in football.  It is defined by borough, in the case of London and its derbies.  It is defined by region, as is the case of any team that seems to play in Lancashire, or the Basque region of Spain.  It is defined by religion, like the divide in Glasgow between Rangers and Celtic.  It is defined by political ideologies, like Real Madrid and Barcelona, or Lazio and Roma.  Even, to an extent, it is defined by national history, like Scotland and England.  There is a sense of identity that exists within the parameters of these heated rivalries.  A sense of purpose on both sides of the hostility.  Not just the pride that comes with defeating your hated rivals, but a sense of karmic comeuppance being played out before you, if you happen to support the underdog in any of these cases.

In understanding these, even in the most basic of senses, then you can infer at the level of passion and emotion that exists within football, and its subculture.  The concept of identity, as paraded by the local club, or regional club, or national team; is a very integral part of being a supporter.  You are judged by the crest you wear on your shirt.  You are judged by the color of that shirt.  You are judged by the dialect you speak.  You are judged by any, and all, who support a football club.  Especially if those supporters do not share your taste in teams.

This is especially obvious in the medium of social networks.  I have been witness to friends of mine receiving torment for the club they support.  Duly, I have also seen them torment supporters of other teams.  I found myself aghast at the choice of barbs that have been exchanged.  I have read lengthy articles on places like The Guardian about songs between rival groups of supporters, highlighting tragedies in each respective team’s histories.  I have witnessed such insults and comments traded in comments sections of websites, between rival supporters, and passed off as “banter”.  It is crass.  It is absurd.  And it only serves to complicate the experience of being a football supporter.

This problem is not limited to interactions between rival squads.  It is exists within the confines of certain supporters groups, who support the same team.  There is a certain exceptionalism that supporters a club, say they are from England, carry toward supporters of their club who do not live within a certain distance from the club’s home ground.  Or, in the case of certain political groups within those supporters groups, supporters who are deemed to be “casual”, are ostracized and verbally berated, or even physically attacked, by those who call themselves “passionate”.  I have seen the term “plastic” bandied around at people an absurd amount of times.  In this case, “plastic” is a term used to insult supporters who are considered to beneath those who are doing the insulting.  It is a term that I abhor.  It is a classification that I feel belittles the experience of supporters who support clubs in their own way.  It is classless to me, to treat fellow supporters that way.  And it is something that needs to be addressed within the supporter culture.

Unfortunately, with the relative anonymity that exists within the online medium, accountability is at a bare minimum.  This transition of the hooligan, from a beer-swilling fisticuff-engaging barbarian, into a relatively anonymous collection of words on a screen has been relatively seamless.  The ability to vocalize one’s hatred at a rival supporter is taking the terraces into a new place.  It has taken the street fight and moved it into a textual pissing match.  The vitriol is there, in spades.  The disdain is amplified.  And the virulence has taken on a life of its own.  And that is something that needs to be addressed as well.  As a football supporter, or a fan of any sport, the experience is generally shared.  The agony of defeat.  The exhilaration of victory.  Those are experiences shared with one’s friends, and fellow supporters.  While there is a place for sour grapes, lashing out either in violent means, or verbal, has no place in the culture.  It is as deplorable to me as racism, or sexism, or anytime that Andy Gray opens his gaping maw.  It detracts from my ability to enjoy supporting my club, if I am surrounded by hostility.  It detracts from my interest in wanting to be a part of this culture, when that antagonism is aimed at fellow supporters, and rival supporters alike.

This has to stop.  This in-fighting between supporters.  It leaves a blemish on this beautiful game, that I love so passionately.  This tribalism that led to acts like Heysel and Hillsborough.  This mentality that got England banned from European competition from the mid to late 1980s needs to stop.  Violence, either physically or verbally, needs to be excised from football’s culture.  And it needs to happen soon.  It turns away people who could potentially fall in love with the game, because it shows that it has a repugnant side.  It leads to drastic action that can have a lasting affect on clubs, or nations.  And it makes the media treat football and its supporters as though they have barely crawled out of the primordial ooze.  Football is more cultured than that.  Football supporters are more cultured than that.  They have seen what has happened before.  They need to heed the lessons of the tragedies, and senselessness, of the generations before.  More importantly, they need to bring the game back from this precarious threshold.

His Style Is Chaos Illumined By Flashes of Lightning

I have to admit I've never really considered myself a writer nor have I at any point had any desire to have/be involved in a blog but I have been a fan of the game of football as long as I can remember. (However as an American I just fairly recently started referring to it as football instead of soccer) I played for many years growing up and while I'm far from an expert, nor do I have the credentials to be a coach or manager, I do feel as if I have a very good general understanding of the game and many opinions on it.

Recently I was having a conversation via text with my buddy Eric , having our usual discussion of the recent events of English football and pieces from blogs we enjoy when the topic of Eric’s previous blogging came up. Needless to say, the man has missed it quite a bit since his last ventures in it. He, himself, is a writer, and a damn good one at that. I suggested he start his own blog to provide himself a place to put down and share his thoughts and provide an outlet for his regular musings into the strange and often times corrupt world that is football.

Anyway, once the topic came up a few ideas were tossed around and the man extended an invitation to me to contribute whenever possible to provide a little diversity to his works and maybe even entertain a bit while at it. With the offer on the table I was slightly honored to be a part of this and accepted with little hesitation. After all, Eric has been a longtime buddy of mine and I'm more than interested to see what he has to say and who or what will be the subject of his rants which are sure to follow.

Having read his previous efforts I can say that he never fails to entertain and is a well spoken, intelligent writer, who knows his stuff. I will always respect him for his knowledge of the game and its history as well as his ability to form opinions without bias. This is where he is well qualified to be the man writing the blog taking a critical look at the game and its many ups and downs that undoubtedly come year after year. That being said he does have teams/players he likes and supports as well as teams/players he cant stand just like the rest of us but I do know for a fact he calls it like he sees it and while he may be up front and in your face at times, he can always back up what he says and have reasoning behind it. Like he said already, feel free to exchange ideas.

As for me personally, I feel as if I contradict the mission statement here right off the front. I am very biased a lot of the time. I do give respect where respects due (A majority of the time. Some teams and players I will never respect regardless. I mean come on, Tottenham are the Lilywhites and their logo is a chicken standing on a fuckin beachball for fucksake. And don't get me started on the team that’s spent more money in the past two years than anyone in the history of the game. That’s right, fuck the oilers, er uh City), but a lot of my opinions are formed by where my loyalties lie. I am a die hard gooner. The Arsenal FC is by far the greatest team the world has ever seen after all. A fan for many years I can’t help but be slightly consumed by the goings on of the Arse. This being the case you can expect a lot of the pieces I post to involve AFC in one way or another if not completely be about them. I do not however feel this compromises the integrity of this blog as I am only a guest, who will be stopping in every week or so to share a few thoughts and fade into the background once again where I belong here. My role being as it is you may not hear from me as regularly and my posts might be short at times but hopefully I will provide a decent read, possibly a few laughs, and a few moments of entertainment on occasion.

Til next time- Dan