Premiership: Boxing Day Comments

Chelsea's troubles do not seem to be over although they seemed to just rescue a victory from the jaws of giantkillers Fulham. Let's hear it now from all those clever dicks who were brown nosing Ancelotti if they are still as confident about Chelsea odds to win it this year. Without Drogba at the CAN and Anelka out injured, it might be quite tricky to maintain the form of the season start. Scolari, anyone?

Birmingham is confirming its series of good results with 4 points out of 6 (1 at home from Chelsea and a hard earned win at Stoke that usually does not concede). Not least thanks to the excellent performances of midfielder Lee Bowyer and the determined Jerome.

Liverpool is so lucky... very lucky against plucky Wolves who were confident in holding the ball and creating chances but shockingly lacking in the quality of their final touch (and also against Man U), and again against Villa tonight, who thereby return to their mid-table ways of inconsistency (1 out of 6 points).

Spurs look strong with 4 out of 6 points and the return of Luka Modric but should have done better against Fulham.

Can't believe Arsenal could be within 1 point of Chelsea... go Portsmouth (for once I think I am supportive of Avram), go Bolton, go Klasnic!!!

And City finally showing some of that star quality statistically - 6 points out of 6, 5 goals scored, 2 clean sheets, Mancini's head must be blowing up large like this guy's.

The prediction that this season is going to be tight seems the most relevant still as the big boys continue to drop points all over the place and also in the most unlikely places.

Some good links

Been meaning to post this one for a while, great video of Trap, he's so endearing:

TRAPATTONI on the France-Ireland game

Also check out this very good article from WSC that challenges notions of what it means to be a football fan:

Ironic cheers rather than generous (moronic?) applause/support

C'est le Bayeeerrn!

Grandissimo Bayern, quelle performance. Et ils sont ou maintenant les Juventines? Très très belle soirée de Champions en ce 8 décembre donc, quelques belles surprises (autre exemple: la très bonne perf de FC Zürich) et des beaux buts, notamment:
1. le 3ème but de Porto de Huuulky
2. le coup franc de Cristiano (surtout, mais aussi le deuxième)
3. le 3ème but de Michael Owen (special mention for the Obertan dribble on the 2nd)
feel free to complete the list...

Ca brille, Lamouchi

Quelques saisons en arrière, je vous avais déjà vanté les mérites de l'Europa Ligue (anciennement Coupe UEFA), la petite soeur de la Ligue des Champions comme l'a si tendrement surnommé le sociologue à la même époque. Pour rester cohérent avec cette ligne directrice, il fallait donc bien s'imprégner de la nouvelle version de la petite gonzesse, qui a encore subi un re-lookage ("re-branding" en anglais, précise Nelson Monfort) des mains des sorciers de marketing de Nyon afin de pouvoir enfin prétendre s'attirer vers elle quelques-uns des regards machistes scotchés sur la grosse poitrine de sa sœur aînée (voir à droite). Rendez-vous donc avec son macro français incarné en la personne de Romain del Bello sur Canal+, qui tente la parade périlleuse d'injecter autant de salive enthousiasmante dans son pitch en faveur de l'objet de désir que Stéphane Guy dans ses pubs d'émissions gavés de buts anecdotiques de Liverpool.

Après plusieurs journées de visionnage et d'analyse de cette nouvelle formule depuis le début de la phase des groupes A à M, se déroulant parallèlement à la première phase de la Ligue des Champions, l'avis de vos experts préférés est que ça mérite le détour. Autant la Ligue des Champions souffre d'une dimension de plus en plus ennuyeuse depuis quelques années étant donné la prévisibilité de la hiérarchie si peu muable de ses principaux protagonistes, autant l'Europa Ligue est surprenante, cocasse et distrayante. Rien que le simple survol des lieux des rencontres de n'importe quelle soirée vous projette dans la même sorte de rêverie voyageuse mais légèrement mystifiée que provoque la lecture des magazines d'Easy Jet qu'on est bien obligé de feuilleter en attendant l'envol de l'engin, ayant été privé de nos outils de divertissements par la gestapo orange. Timişoara, Bruxelles, Valence, Prague, Glasgow, Hambourg, Salzburg, et j'en passe – tout le charme discret de l'Europe profonde s'y trouve, et je ne suis même pas à la moitié de la liste.

Composée principalement de baroudeurs de milieux des tableaux des grands championnats européens et des premiers de classe des moindres, avec une pincée de quelques anciens grands rétrogradés en cours de répétition (précédemment le Bayern, le Milan A.C., cette année les rouges de Liverpool), l'Europa Ligue est surtout aussi un théâtre de combat très ouvert. Rien que la densité des rencontres (12 par soir, fois 2) rempli le cœur du fan du football du même type d'ivresse que la première phase de la grande messe du mondial, provoquée par l'anticipation de la découverte des équipes méconnues et de l'intensité de la pression sur les épaules des favoris. Le manque de consistance athlétique et de rigueur technique – qui affectent la majorité des participants à l'Europa Ligue – fait qu'en plus, on peut y voir beaucoup de beaux buts ainsi que des ratés des plus spectaculaires qui existent.

Dans la rencontre retransmise en ce jeudi soir du 3 décembre, on a ainsi pu constater que la FC Basel nouvelle version post-Grossienne est une équipe assez technique, disciplinée, qui joue au ballon et qui sait patienter, se tenant à un plan de jeu ancré dans la construction tournée vers l'avant. Malgré leur ouverture de la marque et en dépit d'une domination dans le jeu et le monopole du ballon pendant de longues périodes, les Bâlois ont cependant cédé au réalisme romaniste, dû en grosse partie à un manque de réalisme criant dans le dernier geste. À l'image du reste de la compétition, les ratés des Bâlois sont d'ailleurs de véritables joyaux de cocktails d'incompétence et de poisse dans la finition, qui pourraient fièrement orner n'importe quelle compilation de bêtisier du football digne de ce nom. Et c'est justement dans cette juxtaposition des ratés monumentaux et de bourdes de gardiens, contrastant avec des buts d'autant plus beaux de leur éclat de supériorité technique et de vista, que se situe le charme de l'Europa Ligue.

L'exemple parfait de la beauté est donné par le deuxième but de la Roma qui est un chef d'œuvre de finesse technique, une reprise de volée basse de Vucinic qui bonifie une magnifique passe à effet rétro de l'extérieur de De Rossi.

Mais le vrai clou de la soirée, c'est Sabri Lamouchi. L'ancien auxerrois, monégasque, parmigian et nerazzure (entre autres) est la révélation télévisuelle de cette nouvelle saison, et représente pour les personnes avides d'un journalisme footballistique compétant et mesuré une rare source de rafraîchissement. Tel un sphinx taillé en la forme physique d'un Louis de Funès d'inspiration nord-africaine (1), notre vétéran distille sa fine science footballistique avec des commentaires toujours justes et pertinents, bondés de sérénité Mitterrandienne. Les bras croisés ou posés sur ses genoux, l'impassible Sabri, en bon briscard de milieu de terrain qu'il est, a ce magnifique don de garder en toute instance une totale maîtrise de soi, dosant à merveille son effort (ses contributions) et restant en permanence totalement impassible quant aux perturbatrices tentatives d'agitation du présentateur. Au lieu de se lancer dans des grandes théories où des assassinats de footeux sur la base d'un simple mauvais contrôle comme certaines des grandes brutes qui passent pour des confrères sur la chaîne, Sabri situe ses commentaires dans un esprit toujours à priori positif, démontrant avec perspicacité les différentes facettes d'une action, stratégie, ou enjeu sportif. Et puis surtout, sur la base de l'émission de jeudi, on constate qu'il ne se laisse à aucun moment attirer dans le jeu de Romain del Bello, le nouveau Alexandre Ruiz, préférant garder son indépendance intellectuelle et regard critique sur les événements, comme un expérimenté défenseur central qui sait qu'il ne faut jamais se lancer dans les pieds de l'attaquant tant que celui-ci ne se trouve directement devant les buts vides. Ce qu'il ne l'empêche pas de placer quelques petites pépites de sarcasme et humour qui ne passent pas inaperçus au téléspectateur averti.

Exemple 1: cas typique de surenchère inutile sur un truc relativement anodin et peu probable:

RdB: Wow, ouais, cette équipe de Dinamo Bucarest (ndlr-3ème du groupe F avec 6 points en 5 rencontres) est vraiment intéressante, le Panathinaikos devrait s'en méfier, ils peuvent vraiment créer la surprise…

SL: Ah bon, donc vous voyez cette équipe aller loin dans la compétition?

RdB: Euuh, oui, enfin non, he he, ce n'est pas exactement ce que j'ai voulu dire, euuuhh

Exemple 2: sensuel moment de franchouillardise franche:

RdB: Djibril Cissé est encore très fort, ne pensez-vous pas, Sabri, hein qu'il est fort le Français, regardons encore ses deux actions (ratés)…

SB: Oui effectivement il est encore présent, il fait un bon appel de balle en profondeur là, et l'on voit qu'il joue bien sur ses qualités de qualité physique et d'accélération, et ensuite il tire depuis ou il peut

(Traduction entre les lignes: il n'a rien dans la tête et surtout il n'a aucune vision du jeu, regarder l'impossible angle fermé dans lequel il s'est enfermé et depuis lequel il prétend pouvoir atteindre le but, mais bon je vais essayer de l'encenser un peu, puisque vous me le demander si gentiment et que c'est un Français)

Ce qu'il ne l'empêche pas de résister à la tentative de ridiculisation gratuite du joueur tentée tout de suite après cet échange par le présentateur.

RdB: Mais alors, pensez vous qu'il a ses chances pour la sélection nationale, à condition bien sur de faire un bon parcours dans son championnat? Il faudrait au moins que le Panathinaikos fasse un bon parcours en Europa Ligue, car le championnat grecq n'a pas la même visibilité que les autres championnats?

SL: Oui, pourquoi pas, il a encore ses chances, c'est encore loin la coupe du monde. Domenech a souvent fait appel à lui, c'est un garçon qui a beaucoup de talent, etc etc.

On voit bien à travers ses exemples que Sabri est en passe de prendre carrément une dimension fondamentale du seul antidote agréable qui nous ai connut (1) à la baveuse fièvre de promo rageuse de la chaîne, qui ne conçoit plus le football en d'autres termes qu'un spectacle de strass et paillettes et qui se voit en permanence engagé dans la surenchère médiatique. C'est sans doute le meilleur recrutement de la chaîne en termes de consultants de ses dernières années. Un vrai régal, je vous dis. On se réjouit de le revoir.

(1) avec qui il semble partager la même passion pour les pulls à cols roulés

(2) Le primitivisme latéral de Bixente, bien qu'exerçant une fonction d'agent calmant contre la rage habituelle de la plupart des présentateurs et consultants de la chaîne, ne doit être considéré qu'en dernier recours, comme un suppositoire.

France-Ireland: A Different View

It's good to see what a brouaha has built up around Thierry Henry's cheat, even though I hope that it is clear that I have no sympathies with the chorus of the cult of fair play, which typically advances the pathetic and censorious "role models for children" argument of vile right-wingers and do-gooders. As my previous post should have made clear, this is 100% about defending the Irish (on the strength of their 210 minutes performance) who deserved to go through while at the same time having a very enjoyable dig at Thierry Henry and the FFF.
Which hence allows plenty of space for the enjoyment of other points of view, such as this delightfully entertaining and refreshing (as well as supremely venomous) expulsion by one of Ireland's most expressive players, the belligerent Roy Keane. You got to love it.
(Link to Sky Sports video)

A Most Shameful Victory

I am very sad. Very sad. I know football isn't fair but sometimes it is difficult to satisfy's one's intelligence solely by slick reminders of the logic of realpolitik home truths. The heart will not buy into such grim logic, especially when it is accompanied by such insidious consequences.

I am sad, but not outraged; resigned and demotivated, but not angry. I am not punching my fist through the wall and ranting up and down my house. I am simply filled with sadness and a dull feeling of hopelessness. It's a similar kind of feeling I felt when the U.S. was invading Iraq. I think it's the kind of feeling that people all around the world get when they see the rich, powerful and the corrupt get away with theft in broad daylight.

Because that is exactly what tonight's French win, achieved solely on the basis of Thierry Henry's cheating handball, can possibly represent. It's like watching Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld and their cronies rob and steal from Iraq and their fellow Americans in broad daylight, unashamed in their arrogant conviction that it is nothing but their due.

The moment of shame

The analogy may be far fetched in terms of colliding those two worlds together, but think about how much disingenuous and self-righteous bile those shameless crooks fed the American and the world public before being (almost simultaneously) revealed in their true ugly form for all to see. Who does it remind you of in the football world? For me, what just happened has exposed Mr Thierry Henry, the supposed cool guy with a conscience and prototype model of the "new man" footballer, always there for the right good cause photo shoot opportunity, as the real unscrupulous and unsavoury character that he really is.

There is nothing redeeming about what has happened. Comparisons will wrongly be drawn with Maradona's hand of God. Nothing could be further from Diego's incredibly audacious gesture than this horrendous shame. In 1986 in that incredible game against the English, Maradona not only scored one of the most amazing goals in football ever, but his other goal by handball was the outrageously cheeky and slick conclusion to a deft footballing move that had seen the little Argentinian set himself up in a scoring position for an eye-to-eye duel with Peter Shilton. I am not excusing it per se but at least it punctuated and occurred in a context of a truly thorough display of world class, history-defining footballing skill.

Gallas & Henry

Thierry Henry's goal, on the other hand, has nothing graceful or artistic about it to redeem it from its chilling consequence. It is sly, ugly (even from an athletic/footballing point of view) and smug, especially given how clearly visible it is on the replay. If we really have to make parallels with divinities, than it's more like the goal of Pain and Panic, the two little imps of Hades in the Disney Hercules movie.

It's too bad for Henry. He had seemed to have become more humble at Barça, as if he had finally understood the need to no longer display - at least in public - that despicable smug attitude of aristocratic-like entitlement to success that he always displayed previously when celebrating his goals, and especially in Arsenal colors.

That's right, give yourself a hand

In a sense, from a totally emotional personal point of view, it's not a bad thing altogether, considering how much he has climbed back up to the top of my personal shit list after this. Not just because of the handball, but because of his shameless statements after the game, where he claims that the ball "hit his hand and he played it" (1). Fortunately in today's high definition replay age, we can all see that he not only controlled the ball but directed it to the direction of the goal and the desired pass with the second touch.

Hopefully he will achieve the same pitiful status in the eyes of many others as he has now done for me, so that this callous steal will forever sully his contribution to the game, eclipsing all his other achievements.

One of the greatest gents of football, Mister Geovanni Trapattoni

And that would really be the only potentially fair compensation for such an unbalanced outcome. It would have been worth it even just so that the whole world could have once again been able to witness the class of Geovanni Trapattoni, who himself abstained from displaying bitterness after the game and only spoke of the importance of fair play in general (2). But in fact, judging by the physical stamina, commitment and skillful play in front of goal over the 210 minutes that the two teams fought through, the Irish bid for the World Cup in South Africa was every bit valid and deserving of another showing. They were the better team; but it wasn't to be.

Had the French qualified on the back of the penalty that could have legitimately had been awarded on Shay Given's dive into Nicolas Anelka's feet a bit earlier in the second half, at least the sense of outrage would have been mitigated by a basic acknowledgment and comfort that the rules of the game had been applied as per the rule book and nothing more. As it happens, the French were woeful, pathetic, invisible, and shambolic. These are the words of their own TV and media pundits. Indeed they have qualified on the back of a lucky double re-bound (1st game in Dublin) and a disgusting piece of cheating tonight, in the context of 2 games that the Irish had dominated from head to toe, even if woefully inadequate in their finishing, including in the first game.

So yes, this one is up there in the top 5 of my saddest moments in football (more about that another time). There are only 2 consolations to it:

Nico's class act

1. Nicolas Anelka: the Chelsea forward's relative superior class to his teammates is becoming clearer to all by the minute. Nico is the only Frenchman (with Hugo Lloris in goal) to have earned his right to wear the colours, and with a solid display of class to boot. He is the only one that I am happy for that he will appear in South Africa (and I do hope that he does).

2. There is still Domenech.

And you know how much I love revenge.

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(1) See Yahoo link: http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/19112009/29/thierry-henry-il-y-avait-main.html

(2) Read transcript of Trapattoni's post-game statement: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-11-18-4232948951_x.htm

Surprising Sevilla?

This year, the ranks of the top European leagues are fairly tight so far, including in Spain, which is – for the surprisingly significant amount of talent in contention for glory – generally in the end a two-team affair between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Some might even venture to say that Spain is in danger of emulating the debilitating predictability of the Scottish league. Do those words resonate of bad faith, a bit like some French journalists trying to compensate for the poor form of French clubs in Europe? In fact they come from none other than the famed Monchi, otherwise known as Ramon Rodriguez, sporting director of Sevilla FC, who recently underscored the real danger of this eventuality if other Spanish teams did not step up their game. And yet these words are not borne out of despair, because far away from all the glamour, noise and the glitz accompanying the players, their wags, the twelfth man, stadiums, presidents, board members and other key and marginal features of the modern game, there shines a hidden gem in la Liga. Perhaps not so much for those in the know, but certainly for the greater public used to the pre-packaged ready-serve aristocracy of European football that typically makes up a mundane local Sunday afternoon footie summary. That gem is the football club of Sevilla.

Interestingly, it seems that this is a corner of Europe that has been overlooked from various perspectives and not just in relation to football, which is surprising given the quality of the place. Abundant in historical and cultural riches, a friendly and apparently tolerant place, sunny and warm, large but accessible, the former capital of the Moor empire of Andalusia could be forgiven for growing a bigger head, and notably in football. Not many can boast achieving such results – not least the 2 consecutive wins of the UEFA Cup in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 – but also a surprisingly consistent all-round track record in recent years, seemingly flying in the face of the logic of the club's apparent position in the hierarchy of Spanish and European football. Informed specialists would point to an uneventful history (bereft of any significant achievements since the 1940s) and distant location on the edge of Spain & Europe, potentially problematic from an economic standpoint. But perhaps the most significant and contradictory factor in relation to this recent stellar form that one would expect to exert significant influence – from a technical standpoint – are the departures of significant players who contributed to important club milestones. It is worth listing those names (and where they went to) just to remind of the extent of the quality that has been groomed and brought to light at Sevilla: Antonio Reyes (to Arsenal), Julio Baptista (to Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (to Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (to Barcelona), Seydou Keita (to Barcelona) and, to a lesser extent, Poulsen (to Juventus). All of these players contributed to the club's successes and though their subsequent moves onto "bigger clubs" and accompanying bigger salaries did not in every case result in further great achievements or personal glory, their individual quality cannot be disputed.

So now that it is in its second participation in the Champions League and already qualified for the next stage of first knock-out round (1/16 finals), we can agree that Sevilla is no one hit wonder. Not only has it maintained its competitive edge over these recent years, but continues to produce an exciting brand of daring football, fundamentally founded in the spirit of attacking play and therefore supremely entertaining. All this is the product of several key factors that have served to form a strong foundation allowing the club to flourish:

1. The strong presidency provided by José María del Nido since 2001 has allowed the club to eliminate previous debts (notably via the sales of some of the afore mentioned key players) and implement a new strategy that is composed of the following other ingredients below.

2. A fruitful football academy, known as the "Factoria de la Carretera de Utrera" (the factory from Utrera street) which has overseen the development of the likes of Jose Antonio Reyes, Sergio Ramos, Diego Capel, Jesús Navas, and the late Antonio Puerta. This year the world has witnessed the talent of Diego Perotti, another attacking winger of the Capel/Navas mould, whose impact was particularly important in the win against Real Madrid in October. For those wanting a glimpse into the future, be on the look out for three other such home-grown talents who performed well mid-week in the cup against Atlético Ciudad de Murcia, attacker José Carlos and defenders Marc Valiente & Manuel Redondo.

3. The keen eye and disciplined self-effacing role of chief recruiter and sporting director Monchi, whose reported web of 700 recruiters worldwide is the stuff of legends, has cleverly allowed the club to attract, develop and replace talented players on a continuous basis. Luis Fabiano (brought in from Porto after an unfruitful season in 2005) and Frédéric Kanouté (from Tottenham Spurs, also in 2005), perhaps the two most statistically significant recruits over the last few years, need no introduction any more, but the club continues to buy wisely. Monchi highlights the importance of working together with the first team coach, previously Juande Ramos and currently Manuel Jiménez, to identify and agree on players who fit the team's needs and add to the squad's overall quality. One fine example of such recruitment (along the lines of former fullback Daniel Alves) is the classic Brazlian-style attacking fullback Adriano Correia, scooped up from relatively modest Brazilian club of Coritiba in 2004. Another one would be Seydou Keita, who – after being attracted from French side Lens – impressed so much on the European stage while with Sevilla during the 2007-2008 season that he was subsequently immediately snapped up by the Catalonian giants. This year, the capture of Negredo, another one of Real Madrid's home talents (nurtured in the blancos' academy) deemed insufficiently galactic to be part of Pellegrini's travelling circus, has added options up front and the youngster has already made his mark on several occasions (as well as receiving his first international call-up).

4. In extension of points 2 and 3, the conviction and willingness to make use of young talent and give budding talent enough time on the pitch to develop and perform: in this respect Sevilla certainly deserve just as much salivating over by professional journos and specialists as is typically reserved by these gents for the equally formidable though recently fruitless professor Wenger.

5. A spirit of play founded on attacking football, notably the input of fast and technical wingers and fullbacks feeding deadly crosses to the two header goal-scoring machines that are Fabiano and Kanouté.

6. Last but not least, a strong local support – both financial and emotional – of the home crowd (which apparently counts among its ranks the wonderful Maria José Suarez, pictured above), and notably that of the Biris, the ultra fans, whose energetic chanting and unwavering support I was able to witness myself last Sunday during the game against Villarreal.

It is probably also pertinent to mention the existence and contribution of Sevilla's team of twelve psychologists, headed by Miguel Ángel Gómez, whose work focuses on the control of nerves, depression, anger management, self-belief, and visualisation of success. This factor appears particularly relevant in today's age of big brother sports media, permanently threatening to drown its supposed heroes in the cocktail of unattainable politically correct moral attributes and the culture of preordained success. As the whole of Europe reels from the tragic suicide of Germany's and Hanover's goalkeeper Enke, we are reminded of the challenges that the actors of our favourite sport have to go through sometimes. After all, Sevilla itself had to deal with the loss of one's of its heroes, Antonio Puerta, which for a moment during that season of 2006-2007 almost threatened to break the club's composure in pursuit of its objectives.

The Sunday game was an interesting opportunity to witness first hand all of the above characteristics which I have been observing now for a little while, as well as reflect on the contrasting fortunes of Sevilla and another recent strong achiever, Villarreal. The proverbial yellow submarine's fortunes seem to have slumped this year as, with the exception of a few wins, the club is clearly struggling to cope with the departure of coach and spiritual daddy Pellegrini (in place since 2004) and significant player turnover, notably key goal-making and scoring players Nihat (lost to Besiktas), and Franco (West Ham). Sevilla too faced a similar challenge a couple of years ago after coach Juande Ramos was wooed by the pound-waving sirens of North London. Few, including this writer, had much faith in the incumbent manager Manuel Jiménez, before that the second team coach and a former talismanic local player. But the wily Spaniard has not only inherited the formidable machine described above, but has also enjoyed real empowerment from his president and has shown resilience, passion and determination. Sunday's game clearly evidenced the strengths of the current squad's game, but also some challenges.

The strengths:

1. The forwards:

Firstly, Luis Fabiano's form continues to impress since his charismatic and inspired leadership of the seleçao in June in South Africa. Sunday's double against Villarreal could have easily been a treble, such is the man's hunger, audacity and sheer talent. His game seems so well rounded with ample ability displayed in passing vision and skill of execution and deadly finishing (via heading or shooting) as well as, when occasionally in the role of the lonely target up front, cool ball control that allows the rest of the team to transition from defensive to attacking mode. His first goal of the night is a perfect illustration of all of the above, an unexpected yet academically precise control of a crossed ball (coming from the right) by the right foot to bring the ball down on the ground, followed by a light push by the left to position the ball for the strike, punctuated by delicious stroke of the tip of the left foot that sends the ball into the net underneath the oncoming goalkeeper (see YouTube link, at 1min30secs).

Secondly, Kanouté's inspirational comeback (from recent injury) not only served to put the team in front with the Mali forward's smashing header: his intelligence in positioning, generosity and availability to assist the midfield in construction and ball recovery helped to close the yawning gap that at moments had threatened to drown Sevilla and especially the hard working but somewhat erratic Renato and Zokora. Both had been left somewhat abandoned to cover a wide area in midfield created by Fabiano's and Negredo's forward positioning as well as the attacking appetites of Perotti and Jesús Navas.

Negredo's performance on the night was fine too but not quite the standard of the two veterans, who clearly enjoy playing together and have a rapport built on mutual respect and support. The complicity of the two men, evidenced in many a shoulder tap, hug or assistance in picking the other one up after a fall, was endearing for its authenticity and spirit of camaraderie so severely lacking in the many fantasy football sides of today.

2. The ability to play wide and the attacking support of the wingers and fullbacks:

As mentioned above, it is through Sevilla's ranks that Sergio Ramos and Daniel Alves made their marks on the world stage, arguably 2 of the most gifted fullbacks in the world today alongside Maicon. Adriano is another fine specimen of the genre, although on Sunday the team started with newcomer Sergio Sánchez (brought in from Espanyol) on the right and Fernando Navarro on the left. With Jesús Navas and newcomer Perotti, as well as Diego Capel as an option, Sevilla possesses a formidable goal-creating machine for the two forward head-hunters Fabiano and Kanouté. All three of the goals on Sunday came from centres arriving from crosses from the sides, one by Sánchez and the other two by the terrific Adriano.

Beyond their technical prowess and physical stamina, it is these players' courage in propelling the game forward, as well as skill in switching positions (between winger and fullback role) when the opportunities call for it that makes Sevilla so regular in scoring. While on this outing Perotti and Navas did not evidence success statistically speaking – partly due to the need to defend during difficult moments of the game – this trait was clearly visible via the 5 players used on the wings. Most of all it is Adriano who exemplified the best balance of these traits, alternating a mean pressing of Villarreal's midfield and defense players, like a Gattuso on acid, with able bending in of crosses like the spice boy in the days when he inspired movie script writers.

3. The coaching

Manolo's timely introduction of Kanouté and Adriano in the second half, and then Lolo for Luis Fabiano in the final 10 minutes to pack the midfield and provide support to the tired Renato and Zokora, deserves praise. Often one observes coaches hesitating to let go of the initial thesis behind their starting 11, only to succumb in desperation to the total abandonment of the plan in the dying moments of the game. Especially since both Kanouté and Adriano were only just fit to return to competition, the relative boldness of the coach's move to risk those players is all the greater.

Challenges and areas for improvement:

1. Central defense & the role of the defensive midfielder

I will readily admit that I am somewhat à priori biased to be critical of Escudé and Squillaci as, being a fairly typical Genevois (citizen of Geneva) and of Serb origin to boot, I am generally of anti-French pre-disposition. While their non-selection for Saturday's decider against Ireland by Domenech is not necessarily a bad sign (given the French coach's record), the two French central defenders are unlikely to feature in anyone's dream 11. While sufficiently decisive on the night, E&S rarely displayed the kind of authority that world class central defenders like Lucio or Puyol command. Admittedly it's always going to be extremely difficult to achieve defensive coherence in a squad that is as forward minded as Sevilla is. In the absence of alternatives, a solution may exist in a more traditional and disciplined defensive midfielder whose role would be more clearly demarcated from that of the more creative/attacking midfielder like Renato. Examples would be Mascherano (but with more brains, please), Cambiasso or even Sevilla's own former "great Dane", Poulsen.

That this is a real problem was clearly evidence in the progressive loss of control of the midfield and initiative which followed Fabiano's first goal and which was further highlighted by the wonderful play that constituted Villarreal's equaliser. Following a lengthy spell of relative midfield chaos, a spinning high ball from the defensive area was recovered by the boys in yellow, allowing Pires and Eguren to link up in a textbook 1-2 on the edge of the Sevilla penalty box and Pires to adroitly volley low into right corner of Palop's goal. All this took place before the eyes of an apparently outclassed and awe-gazing Sevilla back.

2. The linking role of the midfield players, especially with the forwards

In the context of the initial 4-4-2 set-up, with Fabiano and Negredo holding their forward positions, the flip side of the forwards' impact was the significant weight placed on the shoulders of Renato & Zokora. While they were not beyond criticism themselves, in the absolute they were tasked with an unfair burden of ball recovery. Rarely did either of them seem to be in real control of the ball and the movement of the team, spending more time chasing Villarreal's players and the ball. The weight of this responsibility was greatly eased with the introduction of Kanouté as commented above, who showed a lot more willingness than either Negredo or Fabiano in assisting in this task. Lolo's substitution added further comfort but one wonders if such a squad – with one lone striker – would be as productive upfront. While Jiménez will need to ponder the dilemma of how to make the midfield more robust as Sevilla contemplates the first knock-out round, observers of the game should be left marvelling at the gifted and central place that Kanouté holds in Sevilla's system of play.

In conclusion, just like the amazing city, Sevilla's current squad overall showcases great talent, flair and class, and particularly in attack with the now classic Fabiano-Kanouté duo, where it has nothing to envy other current power combos such as Ibra-Messi, Milito-Eto'o or Anelka-Drogba. The challenge for the rest of the season will be in ensuring that precious equilibrium and composure at the back, especially in front of teams that know how to hold on to and make the ball run. If Pires, Capdevila and Eguren were able to create such havoc and put Villarreal 1-2 up after the re-start of the second half, one wonders if Sevilla would have come out on top of Sunday's game if Senna and Santi Cazorla were also on the pitch for the visitors. Some concerns are therefore pertinent in anticipation of the likely opposition for the knock-out stages in Europe, as well as in la Liga's forthcoming shockers against the still mighty as ever Barça and an increasingly confident Valencia (for the return game). However there is a great spirit and character in this squad, and this dramatic victory last Sunday, coupled with the equally emotional win against Madrid in October, is testimony to that. We certainly look forward to seeing this toro in the arena, creating new surprises for the pompous and more established toreadors, draped in the pomp and shining wares of their past glories.

The start of the yugo blog

Yes, folks, it's finally here, the blog of the consultant yugo has been set up. To add another layer to my own digital self-aggrandizement, this will be the location of all of the articles written on Subfoot.com, in French (the majority up to now) and in English, as well as the place to post a quick'n'dirty rant against the current favorite hate targets (Liverpool, Juventus, Canal+, and so on), cos here we love to love but we also love to hate.
Enjoy.