jerradpeters.blogspot.com

Weekend Football
04 January 2008
by Jerrad Peters

In/Out
Transfer season has arrived on planet football. And unless you’ve been holding your breath while Real Madrid make ridiculous offers for Cristiano Ronaldo and Juande Ramos proclaims Dimitar Berbatov to be worth 35M-pounds, chances are that you’ve yet to be impressed by any of the winter moves thus far. Do yourself a favor. Breathe out.

Ronaldo is not going anywhere and Berbatov is not worth 20M-pounds, let alone 35. The nonsense coming out of the Bernabeu is merely grandstanding. Madrid knows it; United knows it. That’s why both clubs can bandy about such ridiculous figures.

Berbatov is another matter. He and Ramos are playing a dangerous game. By now, it’s become clear that the Bulgarian will be leaving White Hart Lane, whether this month or over the summer. He would prefer it to be sooner rather than later. Thus his shameless self-promotion. Ramos, meanwhile, is hoping to keep him at the club until season’s end. If he can’t, he’ll attempt to get maximum value from his sale. Berbatov’s presence would help Spurs push into the European places down the stretch, or so the club hopes. On the other hand, by throwing out the 35M-pound valuation, they are mindful that the 26-year-old could net them a substantial profit.

Both need to tread carefully, particularly Ramos. The Spaniard’s valuation exceeds all logic and, should Berbatov be worried that buyers will be scared off by the number, he may demand a transfer. Of course, he may also be so bigheaded as to assume that he is worth every penny. Don’t put it past him.

Chelsea buy Serb defender as Terry languishes
Word is that John Terry could be out of the Chelsea lineup for longer than was first expected. The 27-year-old skipper had tagged mid-February as a likely return date; although the latest indications are that he may miss up to a month or six weeks longer than that. Terry, remember, suffered a triple bone break in his right foot as the result of an Emmanuel Eboue tackle on December 16 at Emirates Stadium.

To cover his loss, Chelsea paid 8.9M-pounds for Branislav Ivanovic, yesterday. In so doing, they are hopeful that they’ve uncovered the next Nemanja Vidic. The Lokomotiv Moscow defender is 23-years-old and adept at every defensive position. His versatility will be welcomed by Avram Grant. And if he can amount to anything resembling countryman and former Spartak Moscow defender Vidic, Ivanovic will have become a long-term answer in the centre of the Blues’ backline.

The standings never lie. Right, Rafa?
When the Premier League resumes after this weekend’s FA Cup matches, Liverpool will find themselves in fifth place – 12-points back of leaders Arsenal and 10-points adrift of Manchester United. Unfortunately for their legions of fans around the world, it is familiar territory. Of course, when you’re drawing Wigan and almost losing to Derby, perhaps fifth-spot is something of a complement.

Now, I’m not going to repeat the punditry which everyone and their uncle has already heard. But at some point, you’ve just got to think that the curtain will drop on Rafael Benitez’ stint at Anfield. To be 12-points off the pace at Christmastime is unacceptable for a club with the stature and means of Liverpool. And to be rotating the forwards and midfielders in and out of the lineup when all logic would suggest that it is lunacy to do so is equally absurd. Benitez spins his players through the squad with enough velocity to make you dizzy. But that’s all been hashed about at great length. Here’s another way to look at it.

Consider the Liverpool lineup. I’d make the argument that no more than two, and perhaps just one, Liverpool players could crack the starting-XI at either Arsenal, Chelsea, or Manchester United. Think about it. None of Benitez’ defenders could get into any of the three squads. Jamie Carragher might come close; but John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho are an established pairing at Chelsea; and Arsenal are doing just fine with Kolo Toure and William Gallas, thank-you very much. And Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic comprise the top defensive tandem in English football at the moment.

Among the midfielders, Steven Gerrard would be an obvious inclusion in any of the other top-four sides. But he’s the only one. None of the others even come close. In fact, many of them would have trouble walking into the lineups at Aston Villa, Everton, and Manchester City. It’s an interesting thought. Because, as it stands, Liverpool are battling with Villa, Everton, and City for a spot in the top-six, never mind the top-four.

At the forward positions, Fernando Torres is the only one who could contend for a place at Arsenal, Chelsea, or United. That said, I don’t think he could unseat anyone at the Emirates or Old Trafford. At Chelsea however, he would step right in.

But you see my point. Why are Liverpool of the mindset that a top-four place and Premier League contention are theirs by divine right when the squad is comparatively mediocre? Benitez assembled the players. Ask him.

In October, 2006, I wrote a column which addressed the same issues Liverpool are dealing with this January. It’s eerily applicable to the current state of affairs at the club. Click here to give it a read and see if you agree.