Mourinho’s Madrid must be wary of Barcelona backlash

Posted on April 6, 2013 by SoccerCapper

Graham Hunter byline

In the white corner, ladies and gentlemen, the reigning Spanish champion, conqueror of all comers in Italy and England, still lean, still mean, still fighting fit Joooooseeee ‘Don’t Call Me the Special One call me the Only One’ Mourinhoooo.

In the blue and purple corner – the challenger, unknown, tall and spindly, short of fanfare and unproven in whether he can give or take a punch Titoooooo ‘The Marquis’ Vilanova.

So, if we are about to get ready to rumble, what’s the tale of the tape in Spain?

Well, even if it’s feasible that Real Madrid and Barcelona manage to headhunt two Premier League talents in Luka Modric and Alex Song before the market closes the absolutely remarkable fact is that Spain’s two big clubs have, at this stage of the summer, made ONE signing between them – Jordi Alba moving from Valencia to his alma mater club at the Camp Nou.

THE ONE AND ONLY: Jordi Alba holds a rather unique distinction right now

Last season Los Blancos played a hard-nosed, athletic, often entertaining but noticeably ruthless brand of football which smashed all records. More points (100), more goals (121), more away wins than ever before and a goal difference which resembles a John Daly scorecard on a bad day round Troon in the wind (+89).

The triumph, of course, made Mourinho the only man to have coached a champion side in the Premier, Serie A and La Liga. Hats off to him.

What’s likeable about their preparation, despite the terminally slow job they are making of converting their passion for Modric, is that they’ve been equally steely eyed about their pre-season. A long, well-organised training camp in the US without massive, regular travelling, a firm emphasis on physical preparation and a series of good, competitive wins.

It’s the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ school of management and Chelsea fans who enjoyed the golden age of the Special One at Stamford Bridge will recognise it.

Last season’s heroes were, unquestionably, located in the spine of the team – Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos (converted to centre back) Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and a Cristiano Ronaldo who not only crashed in the goals but became as generous a team player as at any time in his already prolific career.

GIVE IT A REST: Messi comes into this season after his biggest pre-season break. Be warned

Mourinho, and club President Florentino Perez, are authors of a frantic campaign to persuade voters (every national team coach and captain in the FIFA family plus selected France Football correspondents) that Ronaldo must win the Ballon D’Or in January. I think they are wrong in their premise and I think that the electorate will again show their awe at Lionel Messi’s skills (83 goals for club and country last season, Eighty. Three. For. God’s. Sakes) but what’s important in the short term is that Ronaldo has a short window of opportunity (the Spanish Supercup, the Champions League Group stage, about a quarter of La Liga and one league Clasico) with which to convince further and convert doubters.

Ronaldo’s battle for Ballon D’Or

Will he put on the turbo chargers as a soloist, making more selfish decisions on the ball which contrast with last season, or can he continue to harness his exceptional powers to the benefit of the group as Real Madrid, institutionally, make patent their ache for him to dethrone Messi who has brought the Ballon D’Or to the Camp Nou for the last three years? Watch this space.

In theory Barcelona are not only a proper threat to Madrid domestically but prime candidates to repeat their 2011 Champions League triumph at Wembley again this season. Since winning in 2006 Barça have only once not either won the tournament or been knocked out in the semi final by the eventual winner. Their risk factor goes beyond Vilanova’s debut season. He’s a smart, durable, football-intelligent bloke who does have the respect of his squad.

As a novice he may make mistakes but if the group of veteran winners at his disposal react as they should do to the manner of their La Liga loss last season then he’ll merely need a guiding hand on the tiller, not whips, thumbscrews and a constantly harsh, commanding voice.

Their key? Can they get David Villa, Carles Puyol and Xavi fully fit and functioning with regard to their respective problems which are recovery from a broken leg, second knee surgery in 12 months and a chronic achilles problem?

Should Eric Abidal fulfil his dream to be back to first-team football in December after liver transplant surgery in spring then, regardless of being Blanco or Blaugrana, everyone should celebrate.

However, can Barça really expect that each of these medical bulletins result in the all clear… all season?

Messi has just enjoyed his longest summer break since becoming a Barça first-team player and responded with his most prolific pre season form. He’s probably got a future in the game that lad.

Valencia and Real Sociedad provide strong opposition

This weekend Spain’s big two face Valencia at the Santiago Bernabéu and Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou before doing battle with each other in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup next Thursday.

The Basques haven’t beaten Barça away since they were powered by John Aldridge and Dalian Atkinson two decades ago and even the decent acquisitions of Carlos Vela and Jose Angel plus the fact that Barça often look a little constipated after an international week (particularly when players are shipped to and from Puerto Rico!) shouldn’t negate a home win.

The mouth-watering tie is, of course, between the champions and Spain’s third-placed team last season. Valencia have a new coach in Mauricio Pellegrino, normally debutants are meat and drink to Mourinho, but their level of threat will be modified depending on whether star striker Roberto Soldado is fit (which he expects to be).

La Liga is back, flaws and all, which means for those of us who like our football to be technically exquisite, tactical and tribal the next 10 months shape up as sheer joy.

Betting: La Liga
La Liga fixtures 2012/2013

Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based, British soccer writer whose passionate insight into La Liga can regularly be heard on TV and radio. He will be providing regular columns for the Paddy Power Blog on Spanish football this season. Follow him on twitter here.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

France wary of ‘hurt’ Swedes

Posted on June 18, 2012 by SoccerCapper

France take on Sweden in their final Group D match on Tuesday knowing that qualification to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals is very much in their own hands (Sweden 5/1, France 8/13, draw 9/4 – Match Prices).

Les Bleus have been tipped by many to go far this summer but will have to be watchful against a Sweden side looking to regain some pride after two defeats.

French optimism was replaced by general whinging after their opening draw against England, as anyone with an opinion blasted England’s defensive style, but they bounced back to take all three points against Ukraine with a solid 2-0 victory.

That success was all the more impressive given the circumstances surrounding the match, and they clearly coped with the storm delay better than the co-hosts.

They sit at the top of the standings, level with England on four points, and a draw on Tuesday night in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium will be enough to see them through to the last eight.

Defeat would by no means be a disaster, as a Ukraine victory over England could still see them qualify on goal difference depending on the severity of the French loss (Ukraine 5/2 – To Qualify).

But Les Bleus will not be thinking of losing and have the talent to take care of a Swedish outfit who, despite showing some promise, have ultimately disappointed to date in the competition.

They were beaten by a Ukraine side whose coach, Oleg Blokhin, had virtually conceded defeat before a ball had been kicked, before going down to an England side who had been tipped to struggle in Poland and Ukraine.

France showed their true colours against Ukraine last time out and their big players upped the level with the likes of Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and Yohan Cabaye all excelling.

A repeat display should be god enough to at least come away with the draw they need but they will have to be wary of the threat of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Tipped to be a star of the tournament, the AC Milan striker has scored just one goal to date in a losing cause against the east Europeans and he will want to exit the competition on a high.

He was well marshalled by the England rearguard and the French back four will have taken note of that display.

France’s defence is not the strongest and so the Swedes are not without hope of at least bagging one goal to end their participation on a positive note, but they would love to conclude with a win to deflect some of the criticism that is certain to come their way on returning home.

The Scandinavians have led in both their matches to date but have been unable to get over the line and Ibrahimovic and a number of his team-mates made it clear after the England defeat that they thought they were the better side.

Whether or not that is true is open to debate but it is goals that count and the fact that they were unable to stop 35-year-old Andriy Shevchenko and could not deal with the pace of Theo Walcott when he was introduced by Roy Hodgson means they prop up the group and have nothing but pride to play for this week.

They are clearly taking this match seriously as reports claim the entire squad took part in training on Sunday despite the fact that it had been made voluntary by coach Erik Hamren, who remains upbeat about his squad despite their collective failure this time around.

France still have some bridge building to do with the French public after their behaviour at the 2010 World Cup and a decent victory over the Swedes to seal qualification would go a long way.

They are now unbeaten in 23 matches and if that becomes 24 on Tuesday then Laurent Blanc’s men will have achieved the first part of their aim this summer (France 7/1 – Tournament Outright).

Winning the group is vital for the long-term prospects of the side as it would probably mean avoiding Spain in the quarter-finals and so three points will be the target for the 2000 champions.

There have already been a few shocks this summer and Blanc will be keeping his fingers crossed that his men are not involved in another one.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Celtic wary of Caley threat

Posted on November 26, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Bet on the SPL Saturday’s SPL match predictions…..
All the news building up to this weekend’s Scottish Premier League games has covered who would officiate the matches given the referees’ strike, but it seems like the Scottish Football Association has managed to save the full card of top-flights games.

If everything does go ahead, there are five matches in the SPL on Saturday and Celtic can go top of the league if they beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Celtic Park. Terry Butcher’s side are the surprise package of the SPL so far this season and go into this daunting trip having won their last three games.

Celtic fell three points behind Rangers after they conceded an injury-time equaliser last weekend against Dundee United, and Neil Lennon cannot underestimate the challenge posed by an Inverness side, who have somehow not lost on their travels in almost a year.

With the knowledge they can put the pressure on their rivals and bounce back from last weekend’s disappointment, Celtic are priced at 2/9 to win and look likely to end Caley’s impressive away record.

It is a case of two teams looking to kick-start their season as rock-bottom Hamilton welcome another struggling side in St Mirren to New Douglas Park.

Their home ground has not been a happy place for Hamilton this season, they have not won in six in front of their home fans, but will be buoyed by the fact St Mirren have only tasted success once on the road and have conceded 15 goals in six games.

The distinct lack of form shown by both teams going into this game suggests it is likely to be a cagey affair, but St Mirren just have the edge and have improved enough in recent weeks to get the win – which is priced at 23/10.

Hibs and St Johnstone are only separated by goal difference in the SPL table and a win for either side could create some valuable breathing space between them and the wrong end of the league. Colin Calderwood has recovered from a poor start to guide Hibs to some impressive wins, but that came to an end when they were beaten 4-2 by Inverness last weekend.

St Johnstone’s win over beleaguered Aberdeen ended a run of four losses in a row, but they are struggling for away form and Hibs (20/21 to win the game) will be too strong for them, even without the suspended duo of Derek Riordan and Paul Hanlon.

Kilmarnock were only narrowly defeated by Rangers last weekend and put on an impressive showing, and they welcome an Aberdeen side that have lost their last five matches. Killie’s loss to the leaders was their first defeat in five games and the form gives the advantage squarely to the home side, so Kilmarnock – 3/4 to win the Rugby Park clash – look like piling more misery of Mark McGhee.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Gerrard wary of mean Swiss

Posted on September 7, 2010 by SoccerCapper

England captain Steven Gerrard has warned fans not to expect a goal rush against Switzerland in Basle on Tuesday night (Switzerland 16/5 – To Keep A Clean Sheet).

The Three Lions move on from the 4-0 hammering of Bulgaria at Wembley in the opening game of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign by taking on the stingy Swiss.

Ottmar Hitzfeld’s men set a new record at the World Cup for minutes played without conceding a goal – 559 – which beat the previous best of 550 minutes set by Italy.

Switzerland also rolled over eventual world champions Spain in their opening group game although they still failed to get into the second phase after a defeat to Chile and a draw with Honduras.

Gerrard admits he has personally run the rule over the Swiss and says England must be patient as they look for chances later.

The Liverpool star said: “They’re a top side. Defensively they’re very good. We’ll be watching more tapes of them before the game.

“I followed them really closely in the World Cup because we were linked with a player called (Gokhan) Inler with the rumours that (Javier) Mascherano was supposed to be leaving Liverpool.

“They’ll be difficult to break down. I liked Inler, thought he was good, but I don’t control what players we sign.”

While the Swiss are mean at the back, lack of goals was their problem in the summer while they only scored more than two goals on one occasion during World Cup qualifying – against minnows Luxembourg – in 10 games.

In contrast, England scored 34 times during qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals although the feel-good factor around Fabio Capello’s side evaporated during a dreadful campaign in South Africa.

Capello is looking forward, though, and admits he is delighted to have unearthed the strike partnership of Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe (England 4/7 – To Score First Goal).

The Italian said: “Sometimes over the course of a season it is like players have a chemical moment. I can see that in them now.

“Against Bulgaria, Defoe’s movement was fantastic and Rooney’s passing was fantastic.

“Rooney has played in a lot of different positions, left wing in the Champions League, as a lone centre-forward and in midfield.

“On Friday I asked him to play just in front of their two central defenders.

“He had a lot of possession, was free to move around the pitch and was really good with the ball at his feet.

“He is so technically strong his passing was excellent.”