Best league in the world?

There was a time, four years ago, when you could argue that the Premier League was the most competitive league in football.

England supplied three Champions League semi-finalists in 2007/2008, with Arsenal also competing in the quarter finals before an all English final in Moscow was settled by penalties in favour of Manchester United.

Fast forward to 2012 and the much fabled 'best league in the world' only has two representatives in the last 16 of the Champions League. Manchester United and Arsenal scraped through their respective groups, despite few convincing performances in Europe and in the coming years England's second coefficient spot could come under threat from the financially regulated might of the Bundesliga.

Whilst third place still allows four sides to compete in the Champions League, of greater concern are the performances English sides have produced when faced with foreign opposition. I can't recall any games from this campaign where a Premier League side has convincingly dominated and won a game.

Arsenal were extremely fortunate to take one point from Schalke, who topped the group, and faced some nervous moments against Montpellier, who have just six wins this season and Olympiakos, who finished just a point behind Arsenal.

Manchester United were handed one of the 'Europa League groups' that Jose Mourinho complained off, in comparison to his own teams group of death, and topped the group despite playing very poorly. United conceded first in five of their group games and generally defending terribly, but the combined fire-power of Robin Van Persie and Javier Hernandez disguised these wobbly performances.

Even the most jingoistic football fans would not suggest that English sides have a divine right to top their group, but it is the ease with which Premier League sides have been unable to match other teams in terms of ball retention and tactical acumen, which is the real indicator.

The Premier League is technically deficient compared to Serie A and La Liga, there is no question of that. Even the Bundesliga, which is the closest in terms of style of play, has several teams which are far more proficient with the ball. All three German sides topped their Champions League groups, and with Hannover, Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Monchengladbach progressing in the Europa League, the Bundesliga has an impressive seven representatives in the latter stages of European football.

Roy Hodgson and his side were outplayed by every team at Euro 2012, a 30 minute spell in the Sweden game aside, and the physical and speed focused aspects of the Premier League are starting to seriously hamper it's chances internationally.

English football has produced some incredible results over the last 12 months: United winning 8-2 over Arsenal, City scoring six at Old Trafford, Chelsea losing 5-3 to Arsenal and commentators are right to label this brand of football exciting. But exciting does not translate as effective and European sides are increasingly able to take advantage of the defensive errors that were incumbent in the previously mentioned goal-fests.

The Premier League tops the big five leagues, in terms of goals conceded as a result of individual errors, which suggests that teams are tactically stronger in La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and the Ligue 1 as individuals are not exposed as frequently. This stat can be found here, via whoscored.com, and is further indication that the Premier League is far from the strongest. Fans want to see well construed goals, not defensive errors which lead to efforts.

Italy occupy fourth place in the UEFA coefficients, but I would argue that the strength of their league is greater than the Premier League. A hypothetical top six of Juventus, Inter, Milan, Roma, Fiorentina and Napoli would beat a supposed top six of United, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle from England

The tactical dominance of Serie A was displayed in Turin three weeks ago, as Juventus romped to a 3-0 scoreline, which flattered Chelsea in truth. Roberto Di Matteo was sacked the next day, but there was very little any side could have done to stop Juventus that evening. Their fluid 3-5-2 saw the Old Lady dominate all areas of the pitch, with numerical superiority in defence and midfield.

Manchester United emerged as 3-2 winners in the hectic Manchester derby this afternoon but the 4-2 between Roma and Fiorentina in Italy on the same weekend featured the better football, from teams that are likely to fight it out for fourth place.

The Roy of the Rovers style of the Premier League may be exciting to some, but football purists and fans will appreciate the technical dominance exercised by the rest of Europe and hope that theses teams won't escape further into the distance before the English game tries to catch up.

Some Totti genius.

Michu value

Miguel Pérez Cuesta, known to the Premier League as Michu, coolly took his tally to thirteen goals for the season this weekend and the Spaniard is fast becoming the signing of the season.

The £2 million summer signing for Swansea City is only four gaols shy of matching his remarkable tally from last season, hitting seventeen goals for relegation threatened Rayo Vallecano, which made him the top scoring Spanish midfielder in La Liga in 2012.

2011/2012 was Michu’s only experience of the top flight in Spanish football, but his goal-scoring exploits for Swansea have banished any fears that last year was a flash in the pan. Aged 26, his chance in the premier divisions has come relatively late, and despite scoring seventeen last season he only hit double figures on one other occasion, in a nine year spell in and around Spain’s second tier.

Players who make their breakthrough late are often more appreciative of where they have come from and Michu’s languidness and composure around the pitch are indicative of a man who has a great understanding of the game.

His brace against Arsenal was a lesson in finishing and composure. The first was a beautifully shaped left foot finish, before seeming to take too long when played in but the Asturias native was the coolest man in the pitch as Arsenal players came back at him, only to roll it past a flailing Wojciech Szczęsny.

If many Arsenal fans were still in the Emirates to observe Michu’s second celebration they would have noticed the 26-year-old drop to his knees and performing a dual rendition of his trademark ear flick. Penned to silence Granada fans who booed Michu after missing a penalty in 2010, Michu responded with a penalty of his own for Vallecano in 2011 and was ready with his riposte.

Michu seems to glide around the football pitch, much like Dimitar Berbatov, never seemingly in full sprint, but incredibly efficient with his movement and seemingly in the right position to finish of Swansea attacks.

Signed as a replacement for Gylfi Sigurdsson, Mich started the season playing just behind Danny Graham, though over the course of the season Swansea’s number 9 has been deployed as the forward, responding with a remarkable return of goals.

That Michu has no caps for Spain will come as a surprise to casual observers in England. These are likely to be the same observers who took no interest in Miguel Pérez Cuesta when he was touted round Europe over the summer.

Rayo Vallecano was financially destitute and needed to cash in on their best player over the summer. Michu was rumoured to have been offered to every club in the Premier League club for a fee of £2 million and after a return of thirteen goals in sixteen matches, Swansea will be fending off Champions League clubs in the January transfer window.

Managers are quick to bemoan that there is a lack of value in the transfer market, especially on English players. The fees spent on Andy Carroll, Adam Johnson, Jordan Henderson and company are enough to make managers think twice before signing any player, but Michu proves that the financial clout of the English game dominates all but the big two in Spain.

The television revenues that the English Premier League accrue allow English sides to pay wages that are far better than La Liga sides. A side like Stoke are financially flush compared to Serie A and La Liga and the depressing truth for football purists, is that they could buy the best player from a Valencia or Fiorentina.

Michu was far from a gamble, anyone with an internet connection could tell you that there is a better than good chance that the top-scoring midfielder in the world’s then second best league, would do well in the Premier League.*

Interest is inevitable after his start to the season, but Michu declared he is happy at Swansea for the foreseeable future, and being the focal point of a Michael Laudrup side is an enjoyable role.

Michu is also a man of principle. He turned down a move to Sporting Gijon, then in the Primera Division, because he is a boyhood Real Oviedo fan and the two clubs are fierce rivals from Northern Spain. Swansea will struggle to keep hold of Michu for much longer, but he is not the kind of player to force through a move.

At £2 million the Spaniard is undoubtedly the signing of this season and is proof that there is value in an age of financial doping in football.  

(Would just like to point out I had Michu in my Fantasy Football team from week one. I should be a manager.)

Gazzamania returns to Serie A

Serie A hosts one of the continents fiercest derbies this Sunday, as Lazio host their local rivals Roma. This is a derby that has clear political and ideological connotations; the socialist Roma tifosi have clashed with the right-wing leaning Lazio ultras for decades and the return of Roma under Zdenek Zeman, who has had spells with both clubs in the past, promises an explosive derby.

An Englishman will be centre stage at the Stade Olimpico on Sunday, and despite a professionally disappointing two years in Rome, Paul Gascoigne enjoys cult status amongst the Lazio fans. Two self inflicted injuries delayed his move to Italy by a whole 12 months, and after finally working his way back to full fitness, Gazza saw fit to score his first goal in Serie A against Roma in the derby, rescuing a point for Dino Zoff's side.

He only went on to score another five goals for the Biancocelesti, including this solo strike against Pescara, but despite leaving for Rangers, after falling out with now Roma boss Zeman ironically, Gascoigne is still deigned a hero by one side of Rome and the club roll out a banner for the Englishman every Rome derby.

Gazza enjoyed as much success off the pitch in Italy and his notable contributions to  Football Italia on the fledgling Channel Four, with James Richardson, are a hilarious insight into his off the field life. Don't just take my word for it. Here is a documentary from about six years ago, narrated by journalist James Richardson, who was privy to Gazza in Serie A. A great watch.

Serie A preview

Vincenzo Montella, manager of Fiorentina

Italian football rumbles into action this weekend, with the Supercoppa Italiana taking place on Saturday, the game exported to the Bird's Nest stadium for the third time. Juventus take on Napoli in the Serie A curtain-raiser and interest will be high after Italy's excellent showing in Euro 2012.

Juventus completed an unbeaten season last year, and despite drawing 15 games they conceded just 20 goals all year, which saw them edge home ahead of the more volatile AC Milan who were four points away. As well as a resolute defence the midfield three of Pirlo, Marchisio and Vidal were key to the title for the bianconeri. Pirlo was magnificent in the deep playmaking role and Vidal and Marchisio had the energy to press extremely high-up, giving Pirlo time and space.

They have moved quickly this summer, signing Lucio from Inter on a free and adding Udinese's best midfielders; Mauricio Isla and Kwado Asamoah. Paul Pogba finally made the switch from Old Trafford and with Robin Van Persie heavily linked with a switch, Juventus look in best shape to defend their 28th scudetto (30th if you ask the club).

AC Milan have taken the biggest hit this summer, losing Thiago Silva and the league's top-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG. Sold for a combined €60 million it remains to be seen how Massimo Allegri reinvests in his playing squad, if sanctioned by Berlusconi. Milan have already brought in Ricardo Montolivo, excellent business on a free, Bakaye Traore and Columbian, Christian Zapata, from Villerreal. However, none of these signings look like exciting the Milan faithful, and fans will be looking for a star striker to replace the outgoing Ibrahimovic. Carlos Tevez and Van Persie look dead deals, so fans will hope that Pato can stay fit the coming season.

Udinese finished an impressive third last year, but after losing more key players, they will be relying on youngsters stepping up to the plate in 2012-2013. Giampaolo Pozzo's Udinese experiment reached English shores with his acquisition of Watford, adding to a portfolio that includes the Spanish side Granada, and the president has invested heavily in scouting at the Italian side. Two of the latest products from the scouting set-up, Isla and Asamoah, were sold this summer and the only star performer left is 34-year-old Antonio Di Natale. I think they'll struggle to make the Champions League in 2013.

Lazio finished fourth last season, and claimed Italy's first Europa League spot, after the league lost its fourth CL place via co-efficient. They did well to finish above fierce rivals Roma, who spent heavily, and Miroslav Klose adapted well to Italian football. They pipped Napoli to fourth by a single point, but you would expect Napoli to finish above them this season, without the added pressure of Champions League football. The departure of Ezequiel Lavezzi is a massive blow, but the Naples outfit have invested in youth and Chilean Eduardo Vargas will get his chance in the starting XI. Further reinforcements come in the shape of Valon Behrami and Alessandro Gamberini from Fiorentina, and bring real experience.

36-year-old Andrea Stramaccioni has been thrust into the deep-end with Internazionale, and the club seem unsure of how to overcome their Mourinho vacuum. The club have flopped since his departure for Madrid, and despite the core of that side still being around they have failed to threaten domestically, let alone continentally. Expensive flop, Diego Forlan, has been moved on, but the acquisitions this summer are relatively modest for a club that splashed a then world-record €48 million on Christian Vieri in 1999.

Handanovic has been brought in at goalkeeper, but with the experienced Julio Cesar already at the San Siro his addition seems superfluous. Matias Silvestre has signed on loan, and Rodrigio Palacio has come in, as has free-kick specialist, Freddy Guarin, after a loan move. Doubts remain over Wesley Sniejder's future, as do Chelsea target, Maicon. Inter seem stuck in a rut. Unwilling to splash the cash like their competitors, they need to move on an ageing squad but their rivals are moving away from them. Winning the inaugural Next Gen series indicates that there is some impressive young talent coming through the ranks but these teenagers are not ready to be thrust into Serie A action en masse.

The team to watch for me however, are Fiorentina. They finished a lowly 13th last season, in a year that will be remembered by armchair fans for then manager, Delio Rossi, attacking winger Adem Ljajic as he was substituted. Unsurprisingly the club dismissed Rossi, and bought in the relatively 'green' Vincenzo Montella. Nicknamed 'The Little Airplane' he had a fantastic playing career at Roma and after a caretaker role with the Rome side, he spent last year managing Catania. Montella steered the unfancied side to a 11th place finish, their highest finish in 10 years.

This led to Fiorentina making their move and the Viola have invested superbly this summer. The club lost the integral Ricardo Montolivo on a free, but have acted quickly to make dreams of a Champions League return a real possibility. Alberto Aquilani is a ready-made replacement for Montolivo, whilst the Chile international Matias Fernandez and Emilano Viviano have also come in. Fiorentina managed to raid relegated Villerreal for two of their most important players; Borja Valero and Gonzalo Rodriguez. Despite his failure to breakthrough at West Brom, Valero is one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe and the experienced Rodriguez is a superb replacement for Gamberini.

Gabriel Batistuta scored this for Fiorentina in a remarkable Champions League run in 1999-2000, but within two years the club were on the brink of bankruptcy, and had to be re-formed as Associazione Calcio Fiorentina e Florentia Viola in 2002, starting in the Serie C2. They have a history of giving young managers a chance, Roberto Mancini cut his teeth at Artemio Franchi, while current national team manager, Cesare Prandelli was manager for five years before taking the national post. Montella was a cult icon at Roma and I predict an impressive year for him and Fiorentina. 

Pescara to Paris, for Marco Verratti

Perhaps the biggest disappointment to come out after Italy's excellent showing at Euro 2012 is the news that talented young playmaker, Marco Verratti, has quit Serie A for the nouveau-wealth at Paris Saint German.

Verratti has already been lazily billed as the next Andrea Pirlo, after the Juventus midfielder reminded the English media he was quite good this summer, and after dominating Serie B with his home-town club Pescara last season, he departed to join PSG for a fee of €13 million. 


That the 19-year-old will not compete in the top league in Italy has caused some contention in Italy. After declaring his admiration for Pirlo and the less than subtle admiring glances from the Old Lady, it was widely assumed that the young midfielder would inevitably join Juve, whether this summer or the next.


The Pescara chairman has gone as far as to criticise Juventus and Napoli for not following up their interest in the hottest young talent in Italian football and being prepared to match the offer from Qatari funded PSG.


"Evidently, they lacked the will [to complete a deal], because if one seriously wants an important player, €1m should not make a difference," said Daniele Sebastiani. He was also keen for an Italian side to complete the transfer as it would have seen Verratti stay with Pescara for their year in Serie A.


Verratti was unveiled on the same day as the Zlatan-show rolled into Paris, and his own press conference was reduced to an aperitif before the Swede's 48 minute première. Leonardo was eager to point out that PSG had concluded their summer strengthening (a point undermined by Ibrahimovic in his first 48 minutes at the club) but the additions this summer fall into a different bracket compared to 2011.


Last summer Paris strengthened from within their domestic league. Jeremy Menez, Blaise Matuidi, Kevin Gameiro were recruited to bolster the squad, before the continental experience of Alex, Thiago Motta and Maxwell came in during January. 


The expenditure this summer has truly caught the eye though. Thiago Silva, Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic and Verratti (as well as all playing in Italy) are players who would interest the elite sides in world football. Owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated during the Ibra unveiling that the Champions League was their stated target, completely forgoing any mention of winning the domestic title. How the 19-year-old Italian fits into this grand vision is less than clear.


The departure of Pescara boss Zdenek Zenan  this summer, probably accelerated the sale of Verratti, as did match-fixing claims against the club, subsequently punished with a two-point penalty. Zenan, a figure of cult status in Italian football returned to Roma (again), and he is renowned for his attacking sides and building young outfits who like to play football.


Verratti came in for all of the 2011-2012 season and dovetailed beautifully with loan-signing Lorenzo Insigne, the pair contributing 20 goals in Pescara's promotion to Serie A. Zenan is a huge advocate of a 4-3-3 formation and on his appointment at Pescara immediately assigned Verratti to the deep-lying defensive midfielder role, finally bought to mainstream attention with Pirlo's exploits in Ukraine and Poland.


Deploying your most technical and ball-playing midfielder in defensive midfield might not seem conducive with attacking football, but with the other two central midfielders closing down higher up the pitch the DM is afforded more time on the ball to dictate the game and play the killer pass. 


Pescara won Serie B and many fans as they blasted home 90 goals en route to the title in 2012 and Verratti was the player who caught the eye. Only five foot five, the midfielder has enormous passing capabilities, and for his height is extremely strong on the ball. Coupled with the ability to trick his way past opposition players, it's easy to see why Cesare Prandelli thought highly enough to include the Pescora player in his initial 30-man squad for Euro 2012.


Verratti didn't make the final 23, but given the competition in the Italian midfield; De Rossi, Montolivo, new team-mate Motta and Pirlo, there is no shame in not making it into that squad at just 19. 


Competition for places could well be a big problem for Verratti at the Parc des Princes. Although he would face fiercer competition at the Bianconeri of Juventus, who have further bolstered their midfield with Isla and Asamoah from Udinese, dislodging €39.8 million signing Javier Pastore appears an even bigger challenge for the 19-year-old.


After arriving for a club-record fee expectations were going to be high, and despite 13 goals in his first year in Ligue 1, the Argentinian has struggled to win over fans and the media. He has struggled to fit into Carlo Ancelotti's 4-3-3 formation and has often found himself out on the wing, rather than in the centre of the pitch, where both Pastore and Verratti want to play.


PSG will keep spending money to improve their squad, meaning competition for a place in Ancelotti's midfield three wil be incredibly fierce. At 19, the last thing the Pescora native wants to do is halt his development by sitting on the bench.


Paris might seem like a step forward, but unless Verratti can make an impression on Ancelotti, and convince the Italian to mould the team around him, he may find he struggles to adapt. Verratti is clearly a huge talent, but he needs refining and that could have been served with one attempt at keeping hometown club Pescara in Serie A.

Watch Verratti in action for Pescara last season, he's the small chap putting all the passes in for the strikers to fluff.

NextGen series produces its first star

The final of the inaugural NextGen football series ended last week and the first star has already been identified from the competition.

He's not one of the under-19 year old players who have been sweating it out for the crown but the 36 year old manager who guided Internazionale's kids to glory last Sunday.

Andrea Stramaccioni, in the space of a week, went from leading the Inter youth team at the NextGen final to taking charge of his first ever game in Serie A. Although his promotion to head coach is only on an interim basis, until the end of the season, a thrilling 5-4 victory in his first game will lead many to speculate that the young Italian can stake a claim for the job permanently.

For Inter they lurch to their third manager of the season. After replacing Gian Peiro Gasperini with Claudio Ranieri, after just three months, Massimo Moratti then finally ran out of patience with the 'tinkerman', who was moved on on Monday.

Whilst results failed to really pick up under Ranieri, there was a sense that it was too late to mount a challenge this season and the stop-gap manager would be quietly moved aside in the summer for a big name candidate.

However, the juxtaposing form of Inter's NextGen squad and their full-team, came full circle last Sunday when Stramaccioni's young charges beat favourites Ajax in London and the youth team manager was put in charge of the first-team the very next day.

That Moratti chose to attend the NextGen final, played at the Leyton Orient's Matchroom Stadium, rather than watch his expensively assembled squad take on, and lose, against Juventus is indicative of how badly Inter's season has gone. Inter may decide to look to youth in the future and young Lorenzo Crisiteg has already vindicated the creators of the NextGen tournament, going on to make his full debut for Inter in the Champions League after appearing in the youth series.

Stramaccioni's appointment is relatively low risk: the young manager can surely only improve Inter's eight place in the league and it makes more sense in developing a young managerial talent, then letting Ranieri preside over a stuttering end of season.

If he does badly then the names of Villas Boas and the dream candidate, Marcelo Bielsa (who turned Inter down last summer) will be discussed again as Inter look to make a full-time appointment. But if the 36 year old impresses, with what is an ageing squad, then he throws his own name into contention for the permanent role and the rebuilding job that Internazionale must surely undertake.

Though few inside Inter will admit it, there must be a hope that Stramaccioni will emulate his most prominent predecessor, Jose Mourinho. Both had virtually no professional playing career, are university trained and started managerial work at a young age. Inter, and to a lesser extent Chelsea, both seem to be suffering from a Mourinho vacuum. Whether he overachieved at the clubs or simply enjoyed the squads when they were in their prime is a pertinent question but since his departure from both clubs they have struggled to re-capture that same form and success.

It will be several years before we know whether Stramaccioni bears comparison to Mourinho, but Inter fans will hope that his explosive debut win marks the start of another special one.