Former England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, may be appearing back in the Premier League soon after rumours started circulating that he is after one of the top jobs in England. Sven formed his reputation in Italy before taking on the role of England head coach, he guided the national team to numerous quarterfinals before joining Manchester City.

Since he was sacked as the national coach of Mexico, Sven has been in somewhat of a hiatus and it appears that it may soon be time for this to end. Sven is one of the few managers in the game that prefers to sit back and let his tactics unfold as opposed to standing and screaming on the sidelines.

He was often criticised for this but he has always been well noted for doing his homework and being able to buy in the right calibre players for the position he is in. Portsmouth could emerge as the frontrunners to get his signature, after the recent take over down on the south coast.

Eriksson’s agent said: “He doesn’t like talking about a club when a manager is in place and neither do I. Without specifying Portsmouth of course, he would be interested in a Premier League club with ambition.”

That is quite a big hint and quite an obvious attempt to cover up something that may have already started to unfold. Pompey eventually managed to comfortably fend off relegation this season but it is quite obvious they have a number of weaknesses in key areas. The pumping in of finances and a new manager could well take them to the same level that Aston Villa or Everton are currently playing at.

Sven may also feel that he still has a point to prove in English football. Having left the national side amidst some controversy surrounding tapping up by Chelsea and then leaving the Manchester City position as the blue half of Manchester was getting beaten silly, may have left Sven with the feeling that he has a point to prove.

He is not a bad manager at all and retains one of the best results records in charge of an England side. When you look at all of the teams England lost to during his tenure then they are always sides that went on to win a tournament or had a manager that went on to manage a huge club.

It would be a breath of fresh air as well to see a manager come back to English football who is clearly very modest and carries around with him no signs of an ego that can always peg back the process of whatever that person is involved in.

If Pompey manage to get him then it may well work differently to how he deployed his tactics at Manchester City. Many people will forget that he actually raised City to a level where they interested big financial backers and if Sven manages Pompey this will already be in place, meaning that what he could achieve is huge.

Real Madrid are moving in on Manchester United’s Champions League heart break by suggesting the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga will open up again this summer. Real caused controversy last season when report after report emerged in the English media in attempts to unsettle the English champions into letting the Spanish giants talk to their best player.

Well in typical Real fashion, president elect, Florentino Perez, has promised to table a bid of 80 million Euros for Ronaldo if he is voted into the highest position of the club at the next Real elections. This won’t be any thing new to United as Sir Alex Ferguson has often commented on the under hand way Real try to go about things.

Ronaldo has already stated that he has no intention of joining Madrid, is happy in England and promised that he will be a Manchester United player at the start of next season. The disappointment of losing such a big match will always bring with it consequences but to say that the loss to Barcelona was pivotal in changing Ronaldo’s mindset is very naïve.

Perez’s election next month is now pretty much a formality and he has already made a number of promises to bring the best players to Real in order to make them great again. Well it may turn out that they have to look elsewhere as Ferguson would probably rather prefer to let Ronaldo rot in the stands of Old Trafford than let him join a club that have been nothing like courteous in the way they have gone about their business.

The point is that Real have not left the story alone. They continue to talk about it even though United have stated the black and white facts. What this suggests is that they don’t give a thought about unsettling a player so he won’t perform to his capabilities for the club he is contracted to and that they really don’t care about any other club but themselves.

Perez is probably yet to encounter the stubbornness that Ferguson possesses, Roman Calderon gave up ages ago and as the person who is about to come in is saying all of the same things it is unlikely that Ferguson will crumble. He is old enough and wise enough to know how to handle the situation and will probably make sure Ronaldo is on holiday for a few weeks next month when Perez is elected in.

The point is that the speculation last summer was as strong as it could possibly get so if a move was going to happen then it probably would have already done so. Furthermore the logic behind Ronaldo joining Real would be bizarre. He is clearly already at a club that offers him everything and he already has the status as the club’s best player, why he would want to move and give all of this up is highly confusing.

This is not the first of this ongoing saga that will be heard this summer and it will not be the last. It really wouldn’t be surprising if Ferguson brushes it all off and things remain as normal when the new season starts.

Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink, is hoping that today’s FA Cup final against Everton is not his last ever match as a manager in English football. Hiddink arrived at Chelsea in place of big Phil Scolari who failed to have the impact on the Premier League that many thought he would.

Hiddink was given the chance of crafting a respectable season for Chelsea from a position where they looked as though they would struggle to secure third place. That has since been achieved and Chelsea now have the chance of snapping up some silverware from the hands of Everton.

It is unlikely that Hiddink will stay on at Chelsea after this last game of the season. His position as manager of Russia means that he will owe it to the Russian FA to see out his contract and manage the national team with no further distractions. So for the time being it would seem that we won’t see Hiddink on a Premier League touch line for a while.




Speaking ahead of the final, the Dutchman said: “The English game is dominant in world football and of course I am tempted to return here. I feel the obligation to go back to Russia, but the temptation is there.”

So these are the strongest hints to date that should Chelsea offer to buy out Hiddink’s contract with the Russian FA then he may consider staying at the club and having a crack at glory when the new season starts. However, he does seem highly realistic. He appears a man that is responsible and honest and sticks to his commitments.

To get him to leave the Russian side deep in the water is something that he probably would not like on his conscience and because of this he won’t consider it. He may also still have big ambitions in world football, Russia qualified for last years European Championships at the expense of England and no doubt Hiddink will want to prove again that his side are getting better than then.

His CV is exceptional and he has now proved that he can handle one of the biggest clubs in the world. He is yet to prove himself on the biggest stages of domestic and European football as other high calibre jobs have ended swiftly and in disappointment but the hunger is clearly there. He seems to respect the English game and everything it is about and seems to have a level head, which would be necessary to win things in this country.

So there are bound to be a few clubs keeping a close eye on him over the coming months. There is still a bit of time before the World Cup starts next year so it may be a while before we see Hiddink back in England but the point is that he is almost certain to return.

Any manager that would dip into a league for a few matches and then not want a better go at things would not be human. He obviously likes what the Premier League about but the defining question is the club he will manage when he does eventually come back.

There’s been a big fuss recently, well actually for a couple of years now, over the British presence in football at the upcoming Olympic Games in England.

The original idea was to have England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales unite to form one team, much like they did decades ago when they entered Olympic competitions.

However, it appears that Scotland, Northern, Ireland and Wales aren’t too keen about lacing up the boots with English players. These countries for some reason, seem to think they will lose their footballing independence with FIFA if they play under the name of Great Britain, or the United Kingdom, or whatever. Of course, England are sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place here as they are hosting the event.




So it seems England has invited the rest of Britain to join them, but have now come to the, “screw you, we’re playing anyway,” conclusion. And I can’t say I blame them. The argument against playing that is put forward by the rest of the nations does seem to be a bit far fetched. Does anybody seriously think for one minute that all of a sudden Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales will lose their spots with FIFA because of one Olympic tournament? It’s very unlikely my friends.

But anything’s possible with the incompetent FIFA, especially with Sepp Blatter in charge. He’s definitely not the sharpest knife in the drawer, actually he’s one of the dullest. Still, let’s get real here. England isn’t worried about their independent stature and they are in the same boat as the rest of the nations.

I’m wondering if there’s something else behind the opposition to a united squad. Euro 2012 will take place just before the Olympics, but with Olympic teams being made up of under-23 players with a couple of oldtimers thrown in, I don’t really see this having a bearing on things, especially with British teams often missing out on Euro competitions. The Olympic teams are often made up of the country’s Under-21 squads.

One of the major problems here is FIFA’s involvment in the first place. It should be a matter for the International Olympic Committee and none of FIFA’s business. What goes on in the Olympic Games shouldn’t affect a team’s status with FIFA. They should be two separate things.

The current mess is exactly the opposite of what sport, and especially the Olympics should stand for. It has now become a political issue with overtones of money-making. There’s no way England wants to host the Olympics with no football representation as it’s the most popular sport in the land, let’s face it.

On the other hand, wouldn’t more money be made and more public interest be roused if all four countries were allowed to enter a team. Shouldn’t Great Britian ask the IOC for an exception to the rule here and seek permission for four teams?

It’s certainly a mess that has gone on long enough and I understand England’s stance here. We need a football team at the Olympics and if you don’t want to help out, we will go it alone. Unfortunately it will be under the banner of Great Britain and not England.

Now that the crying is all over with, all the arrests have been made and life is back to normal for most Manchester United fans, what’s next for the Red Devils? Before going on though, I must mention the Barcelona supporters who were killed in Nigeria, by some lunatic who ran them over while celebrating their team’s victory. Our sympathy goes out to all of their family and friends.

On the pitch, we see that manager Sir Alex Ferguson has blamed the Champions League loss on poor defending, while Portuguese superstar and the team’s top marksman Ronaldo has blamed bad tactics. Well, they’re both right, but the players and manager need to take a good look in the mirror and watch a tape of the game to see how lifeless and disappointing they really were. At least they both acknowledged that Barcelona was the better team on the night.

But, will United realistically bounce back next season, or was this the last kick at the can for a while now? Well, a lot of things really depend on who goes and who stays. Ronaldo has again been rumoured to be heading to Real Madrid and has also been rumoured to have said he wants to stay at United.

This should basically be the team’s decision as he’s under contract until 2012, but is there really a buyout clause in this contract that will allow the player to head elsewhere. United will have to think this one over long and hard before making a decision. Is Ronaldo really that good and does he inspire his teammates?





Well after watching him since he broke in as a rookie, I must say he has matured quite a bit, but still seems to be very inconsistent in his play. I also think he hit his peak last year with 42 goals and it’s highly unlikely he’ll reach that number again. Perhaps the time is right to sell him before his play and goal tally slips even further. Take the money and run while the offer’s still on the table.

If he does go though, how will this affect the team and who will replace his lost goals. Well, United can either bite the bullet and go with what they have for a year or two until some of their youngsters like Macheda develop, or they can go out and spend on new players, which of course is the likely scenario.

And if Ronaldo does leave, what happens with Tevez, can you afford to lose them both at once? And where does Nani fit in, or doesn’t he? Owen Hargreaves should finally be ready to come back next season, but he’s not really an offensive threat. They also have Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, and Paul Scholes, who are all longer in the tooth these days. Next season could well be the last for all three of them. And let’s not forget Edwin van der Sar in net, he’s not going to last too much longer, but I think if Ben Foster can stay healthy, United looks pretty good in goal

While United have bought quite a few top-notch players over the years, they’ve also developed some pretty good youngsters of their own. I think it’s a good balance that has served the team well, and that’s why United hasn’t really been perceived as a team that has bought its way to championships.

This will be a very important summer for the club, but I will be somewhat surprised if they can repeat this year’s successes again next season. At least they have something to aim for though, as they would become the first English team to win four straight league championships.

Arsenal front man, Robin Van Persie, is awaiting refreshed contract talks with Arsenal, as he appears keen to stay at the Emirates stadium. So far an agreement hasn’t been reached it may not be long before the Dutchman gets frustrated and seeks a move elsewhere.

Arsene Wenger who clearly saw something in him brought Van Persie to the League from Holland. He has an aggressive attitude, he is quick and physically very strong. These are all traits that Arsenal will need from a number of players if they are going to improve on the disappointment of this season.

The details of why a contract agreement can’t be reached are unknown. It could be details of finance as Van Persie justifies being one of the club’s best paid players or the player could be seeking assurances about Arsenal’s ambition and prospects for season yet to come.

Van Persie said today: “The club and I have not been able to make any headway. But maybe I will soon have something new to report. That is all I have to say on this now.”





It seems really just a matter of time until the club and the player’s representatives can reach a deal as the fuss must just be over one or two smaller details. There have been no strong rumours linking Van Persie with a move away from Arsenal and he appears happy to stay where he is if the new contract gives him all of the assurances he needs.

Arsenal would do well to sign him on for a good few years quite quickly. Wenger is going to have to play a big part in the summer transfer market this year and the calibre of players such as Van Persie will be crucial in getting better players to join the club. If he and the club fall out over negotiations then it could jeopardise future success even further.

Arsenal fans will also be hoping that he signs a longer deal because he embodies everything the modern day Arsenal side are about. He is a big presence in both the dressing room and the team. It has been all too obvious in the past that Arsenal need big players and leaders to stand up and be counted if they are to close the gap between themselves and the best teams in England and Europe.

Van Persie is one of the people that will help them to achieve this so the club should really give him whatever he wants in order to get him to stay. They will have their work cut out to hang onto the likes of Cesc Fabregas this summer, which makes the future of Van Persie doubly significant.

Arsene Wenger is a smart man and although he will not want the club to be held to ransom by Van Persie’s agents he will recognise the importance of getting him to stay. It could also help him persuade other players to stay put, players that look dead set on getting moves this summer.

Alan Shearer has demanded that he is given at least £20 million this summer before signing a contract to manage Newcastle United in the Championship. Newcastle were relegated on the final day of the season after a defeat by Aston Villa and it seems that Shearer wants drastic measures put in place before committing his future to the club.

Shearer would also have the monumental task of reorganising the club’s wage bill and coping with the effect of a number of players leaving that would be hard to replace. His demands seem to imply that if he is going to be the person to step in and get Newcastle out of this current mess then this is how he feels it needs doing.

He will not want Newcastle to stew in the Championship because he probably feels they should never have been anywhere near relegation in the first place. Newcastle are also more likely to cope with the financial impact of going down and the figures that Shearer is asking for should be achievable and raised by the club’s board.

A source from Newcastle said: “The talks are ongoing, but there could still be a way to go before there is an agreement signed. Alan is desperate to help Newcastle and take on the job because of his love for the club.”

“The state of the squad is a part of the negotiations. It desperately needs reshaping and freshening up – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work that out. The Championship is about pace and power, and this squad doesn’t have a lot of that.”

Shearer is still learning about management and will be looking to improve quickly. He will want to tie down a contract as soon as possible so he can move on and deal with the major issues that are about to smack the club in the face. If the Toon are going to bounce straight back up then the damaged infrastructure of the club needs to be addressed within the next couple of weeks.

What this will mean is that eventually at the end of next season if Newcastle are top of the Championship they will be well positioned to fit straight back into Premier League life and the issue of upgrading contracts should be a relative formality.

It has to be remembered that Shearer is very much a hard line Geordie himself and no one looked more disappointed last Sunday than he did when the realisation of what had happened started to kick in. The demands he is making are not excessive, it is just what he feels is necessary to get the club back to the top of English football and fighting against the teams they should be fighting against.

Newcastle is a massive club and they should not have been anywhere near the relegation places. However, reality has hit and will slowly be sinking in and the club would do well to get the manager signed on very quickly so he can start making inroads.