Amongst the many arrows aimed at the temples of Rafael Benitez Maudes of late, has been the allegation that his ability to bring through young players is limited. Certainly the foriegn teenagers he has brought to Anfield, bear no comparison with Arsene’s shrewd kiddy business.
Three years ago, Arsenal’s youngsters, including Walcott, Song and Denilson, ran riot at Anfield in this same competition. Sky Sports 1 at 7:45pm is the place to be tonight, which is good news for Lee Peltier, Gabriel Paletta, and Danny Guthrie - just some of Rafa’s future stars that night, who will be watching on television this evening.
Elsewhere, Celtic will be looking to recover from the embarrassment of their former manager seeing Middlesbrough as a step-up, by beating Hearts in the CIS Quarter Final (BBC1 Scotland 7:35pm).
The U17 World Cup continues in Nigeria, and if you want to help Rafa find a good young player, Holland face Gambia at 3pm, and then it’s Turkey vs Costa Rica at 6, both on Eurosport 2.
But the spectacle of the night, will be on ESPN at 7:45, where Milan visit Napoli. The Partenopei haven’t lost at San Paolo since 1998 and will fancy their chances tonight. Both sides started the season slowly, but Milan have picked up of late including a win at the Bernabau, whilst Napoli have improved since the booting out of Roberto Donadoni
1. England aren’t the only country with a dodgy keeper
Madrid - Milan was a terrific match, end-to-end and iced with a couple of wonderful goals. But there were also some dreadful goalkeeping on display, from two men who are in contention to be the custodians for two of the favourites to win in South Africa.
Iker Casillas had his worst game in a Madrid shirt for many years. Not only was he beaten by Andrea Pirlo’s 87 yard strike for the Milan equaliser, but he then made a terrific hash of a standard long ball, to allow the Duck to put the Rossoneri ahead.
2. Serie A is no longer the home of Catenaccio
Things aren’t what they used to be in Serie A. 17 goals in the four matches in which Italian sides were involved this week, shows that the days of tuning into Ch4, to watch Roma and Sampdoria pass the ball around the back four inside their own half, are well and truly over.
3. Frank Lampard needs a team built around him
Much flapping and excitement in today’s press, as the golden boy Frank Lampard returned to form last night with a goal and two assists against the awful Atletico. Less lauded however, was how Lamps was at his best due to once more having three midfielders screening him, allowing Frank effectively a free role. It’s this sort of indulgence that Lampard has become used to, and that Capello is trying to stamp out with England.
Steven Gerrard to a slightly lesser degree relies on the same indulgence - at his best in a free role with three midfielders in behind him. Many would argue the pair are so good, they are worth spoiling. Thespoiler isn’t so sure - Paul Scholes used to score 15 a season playing with just Roy Keane alongside him, let alone two others.
Champions League and Championship-related schooling
1. Rafa has failed to think of the children
Whilst continual whinging about lack of funds has earned him an undeserved amount of sympathy, Rafa Benitez’s failure to bring through a single young player of any note during his five years at Anfield is pretty damning. Both United and Arsenal have a number of young players who have been developed through the clubs’ feeder teams (albeit often poaching them from other clubs in their late teens.) Yet Rafa, despite booting out Steve Heighway as Youth Development Manager and replacing him with err…himself, has merely signed dud after dud after dud, whilst ignoring local, young players entirely.
That, and not lack of funds, is why the Liverpool squad is so poor, and their bench so shallow.
2. Platini may have been right
Last night was possibly the best evening of Champions League football in a while, and much of it down to the tinkering Michel Platini made to qualification in the summer. Rubin Kazan, Unirea Urziceni and Dinamo Kiev all received direct passes into the group stage this year whilst Debrecen had a far easier time of qualifying into the Champions League proper, due to Platini’s ruse of pairing seeds.
After a slow start, it’s shaping up to be the best Champions Leaue group stage for a while, and were Inter, Liverpool and Milan to fall at the first hurdle, Platini would be a vindicated man.
3. Winning isn’t always a good idea
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it Gareth.
With all the important European leagues now in full swing, the weekend offers a fabulous few hours viewing for those who don’t want to watch the X Factor exploit the tragic death of a young man. Here are the highlights:
England:
If you’re still dripping from the Machester derby last month, the U18s battle it out on MUTV 10:45 Saturday morning. Once wide awake, watch Aston Villa beat Chelsea on Sky Sports 1 (12:30), whilst at 5:30, the same channel screens Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United, a Premiership match in all but quality.
Sunday’s Sky offering sees the first top-flight East Lancs derby for forty years followed by Wigan Athletic vs Manchester City, a match Mark Hughes’ men lost at a similar time last season. This time, they will expect to do better. £150m better in fact.
Scotland:
Its St Johnstone vs Rangers on ESPN at midday Saturday. Rangers will win. Go and spend the time doing something else.
Germany:
The biggest match of the weekend is in the Bundesliga, where the top two clash in the Nordbank Arena. 5:30 Saturday on ESPN to watch the last two unbeaten clubs in the Bundesliga.
Sunday’s match may be slightly less easy on the eye, as Borussia Dortmund host Bochum (ESPN 4:30).
Italy:
ESPN are bringing us three decent matches from Serie A this weekend, starting at 7:45 on Saturday with Genoa vs Inter Milan. The two highest-scoring sides in the league should be well worth watching.
The day of rest is unlikely to be too restful for whoever presents the Italian football on ESPN. At 2pm, Lazio meet early league leaders Sampdoria, and at 7:45, struggling Milan will probably continue to struggle at San Siro against Roma.
Spain:
Three matches from la Liga too. The game of the weekend in Spain sees Valencia host Barcelona at 9pm Saturday night on Sky Sports 2.
Sunday’s double bill sees Athletic Bilbao face Sporting Gijon at 6pm, followed immediately by Osasuna vs Atletico Madrid, both on Sky Sports 1.
Russia:
With one third of all clubs in the Russian Premier League hailing from Moscow, you never have to wait too long for a Moscovite derby. On Sunday morning, ESPN at 11 is the place to be for Spartak vs Locomotiv.
Massimo Oddo can sympathise with Spider-Man, as he too has a blessing that is also a curse. His rugged good looks have earned him the affections of pornstars and a delightfully homoerotic fashion shoot, but they also nearly cost him €150,000.
Bildare reporting that the Bayern Munich defender was recently seduced by two sexy (and presumably female) police officers in Italy. They photographed him in “compromising” positions, and two months ago, threatened to publish them if he did not stump up €150,000. Thoughtfully, they also showed the pictures to his wife - and the mother of his two children - Claudia Crivelli.
A managerial edition of our daily transfer roundup
As you can see, Franz Beckenbauer and Jurgen Klinsmann used to be in love. After last night’s humiliation, however, things aren’t so rosey…
Jurgen Klinsmann faces the sack
Over-opinionated Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has called his side’s first half performance against Barcelona “the worst in the club’s history.” German newspaper Bild are leading with the headline “Klinsi close to the exit,” and they go on to say “If the directors don’t fire him straight away, it’s obvious that his job will be on the line for each league game.”
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Currently languishing in fourth place in the Bundesliga, and having suffered a piss poor 5-1 defeat at Wolfsburg last weekend, Klinsmann must be very close to seeking alternative employment.
Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea
According to The Sun, the Italian has told Chelsea he is ready to take over from Guus Hiddink in the summer. A contract worth around £5.8m a year has been discussed, and should be signed and sealed in June. The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Ancelotti says he has a gentleman’s
Here’s a great spot from the handsome devils at Off The Post. At first glance, it looks like a performance by a phenomenally untalented boyband. Take a closer look at the chap who snatches a Polaroid from the lady in pink, and you will see a Ukrainian who failed to impress in the Premier League.
Man trades dignity for luxury apartment within boutique
Andrea Vasa is a defender with Brera, a side who ply their trade in the Promozione, the seventh tier in Italian football. This puts him approximately six divisions below a player who would be able to afford a luxurious three-storey apartment in the heart of the fashion capital.
Fortunately, German fashion designer Dirk Bikkemberg (who?) has come to his assistance, allowing him to live for free in a fancy pad located within his Flagship Milan store. Vasa parks a brand new Porsche 911 at the store, gets all the Bikkemberg gear
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