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Weekend Football
05 October 2007
by Jerrad Peters

SEPP Blatter is calling for a quota on foreign talent in European football. The FIFA president will attend a European Union summit in Lisbon in a fortnight at which he will request an exemption from EU employment legislation. Blatter's proposal, that European clubs be limited to five non-nationals, is in direct contravention of Europe's open labor policies. Still, both he and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge will argue that sporting bodies be governed as an exception. "This is a matter of principle," stated Blatter, "and we need to protect the national identity of football clubs." UEFA president Michel Platini is likely to be in agreement with his FIFA counterpart. Limiting the number of foreign players permitted on a squad would only serve to nurture the development of football in smaller countries -- Platini's key constituency.

Ajax manager Henk ten Cate is poised to join Chelsea. The 54-year-old was part of Frank Rijkaard's coaching staff when Barcelona won the Champions' League in 2006 and Blues' owner Roman Abramovich is hopeful that he can bring similar success to Stamford Bridge. After winning the European Cup, ten Cate lifted Ajax from a 5th-place finish in 2006 to a 2nd-place finish last season. A believer in attacking, flowing football, he will be expected to revitalize Chelsea's often dour, defensive performances. What his introduction will mean for Steve Clarke is, as of yet, uncertain. Clarke, whom manager Avram Grant endorsed as his number-two just this week, is the final member of Jose Mourinho's staff still working at the club. Ten Cate has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea and will likely be unveiled some time next week. He will work in tandem with Grant; and it is doubtful that there is room for both he and ten Cate at the club.

Ajax, meanwhile, have targeted Martin Jol as ten Cate's replacement. The Amsterdam giants, currently atop the Eredivisie, were dumped out of the UEFA Cup, Thursday, and would prefer to name a permanent successor to ten Cate rather than an interim manager. Jol, whose job at Tottenham Hotspur hangs by a thread, earned a 1-1 draw away to Famagusta and, by virtue of Spurs' 7-2 aggregate victory, has qualified for the Group Phase of the competition. Still, if the London club stumble any further in the Premier Leaue, Jol will be shown the exit door. Juande Ramos, enduring a difficult season at Sevilla, is Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's preferred successor to Jol.

Dean Ashton has been recalled to the England squad. The 23-year-old West Ham striker broke his ankle while training with the national team last summer and missed most of last season while rehabilitating. But he has enjoyed a superb start to the 2007-2008 campaign and is believed to be the ideal replacement for the injured Emile Heskey. Injury concerns did not prevent manager Steve McClaren from including Frank Lampard, Shawn Wright-Philips, and John Terry, either. Reading full-back Nicky Shorey and Aston Villa forward Ashley Young retain their places as well.

Fortunately for McClaren, injuries are forcing the embattled England manager into making several, difficult roster decisions. Ahead of September's EURO 2008 qualification matches with Israel and Russia, knocks to Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard prompted the inclusions of Emile Heskey and Gareth Barry. Both, as it happened, performed brilliantly over the two matches. This time around, fitness questions surrounding Michael Owen and the injury to Emile Heskey will force Wayne Rooney back into the starting-XI. Had both Owen and Heskey been healthy and available for selection, the Manchester United star may have started next weekend's match against Estonia on the bench. Instead, he is likely to partner one of Peter Crouch or Dean Ashton. Ashton, recalled after a year's absence, is similar in style to Heskey and should be the logical choice.

While reports suggest that Michael Owen may be named to Newcastle's 16-man squad ahead of Sunday's match at home to Everton, Toon manager Sam Allardyce is not so sure. Owen, who underwent a procedure in Germany last weekend to repair a pulled stomach muscle, was back at training on Tuesday and resumed full drills late this week. Still, Allardyce will not rush the 27-year-old back into the lineup prematurely. "If our medical team feels Michael is not ready," stated the manager, "England will get a warning from us."

Micah Richards' contract negotiations with Manchester City have come up against a wall. Although the player and club have agreed a wage, City are refusing to include a get-out clause in the 19-year-old's deal. Apparently, the club feels that, by so doing, they are increasing the value of their asset. Richards is undoubtedly baffled by the club's position. He has only to cite Ronaldinho's exorbitant 85M-pound out-clause as an example. City are well within their rights to negotiate a similarly high clause; and their reluctance to do so is rather puzzling.

Pity that Celtic's famous victory over AC Milan at Parkhead was overshadowed by a mere "stroke." The incident should need little introduction. In the dying minutes of Wednesday's Champions' League clash between Milan and Celtic in Glasgow, a fan stormed the pitch and mockingly stroked visiting goalkeeper Dida across the stomach. Dida, after chasing after the intruder for a few strides, suddenly fell to the pitch with his head in his hands and was carried off on a stretch -- ice-pack and all. His assailant was subsequently banned from Celtic matches, home and away, for life. On Friday, the fan revealed himself to the press. Twenty-seven-year-old Robert McHendry remorsefully remarked, "I was just a fan overcome with emotion because of the goal. If we get chucked out, I think I might top myself.