Debate of Week - The Aliadiere Ban

SHUT UP MIDDLESBROUGH

Last Saturday, Middlesbrough’s Jeremie Aliadiere was sent off by referee Lee Mason for slapping Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano. Middlesbrough appealed the dismissal but, on Wednesday, were informed by the FA that the appeal was being dismissed because it was frivolous and an extra game was added to the striker’s initial three-match ban. Middlesbrough were predictably outraged, with chairman Steve Gibson launching a scathing attack on the FA describing them as ‘amateurs’ and ‘silly little men.’ In my opinion, Gibson should shut up and grow up. Aliadiere slapped Mascherano in the face; the force of the slap is not the issue. Once the referee saw the incident he had no choice but to dismiss the striker. The referee did not make a mistake and Middlesbrough had absolutely no grounds for an appeal. Therefore the appeal was unnecessary, frivolous and doomed to failure. Gibson was dumb to submit it in the first place and now he has managed to extend the ban of Aliadiere. What was the basis of his appeal? – “Eh, yes he deliberately struck Mascherano in the face but it wasn’t very hard!” Get real.

JANUARY 2008 MANAGER OF THE MONTH - FIONA BUCKLEY

Fiona Buckley celebrates her third UCCFFC monthly success. Her previous successes were in April 2003 and March 2007.

DEBATE OF WEEK: SHOULD RAFA BE FIRED?

Arguments in favour: - Persistent failure to mount a serious Premier League challenge as Liverpool are usually 15-20 points adrift in by January; Excessive rotation of squad and inability to decide on his best XI; Poor quality of football with not enough of a effort to pass through midfield; Overly-cautious approach away from home; Tendency to lose to lower league sides (e.g. Barnsley, Burnley); Indecisiveness about whether to play Gerrard on the right of midfield, in the centre or in a free role off the striker(s); Poor purchases in the transfer market, e.g. Kuyt, Voronin, Kewell, Bellamy, Sissoko.

Arguments against: - In 3½ years he has led Liverpool to success in the Champions League and FA Cup as well as finishing runners-up in the Champions League and Carling Cup; He has not spent as much money as people seem to think – Liverpool have only two players who cost more than £12m (Torres and Babel) compared to Chelsea who have ten and Manchester United who have eight; Liverpool will be best served by stability and giving Benitez time in the same way as Manchester United persisted with Ferguson when he was struggling.

The Global Premiership

The big story of the week was the announcement by the Premier League that it is considering the idea of staging some matches around the rest of the world. At a meeting in London on Thursday, all 20 clubs agreed to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games. Those 10 extra games would be played at five different venues, with cities bidding for the right to stage them. It is understood the additional fixtures could be determined by a draw but that the top-five teams could be seeded to avoid playing each other.

My immediate reaction when I heard the announcement was that it was a crazy idea and another example of English soccer selling its soul and blatantly chasing the money. However, it also has to be accepted that the Premier League is now a global phenomenon. The league's income from the sale of overseas TV rights has already increased from £178m in 2001 to £625m for the current deal that runs until 2010. Broadcaster NowTV paid around £100m for the rights to Hong Kong alone. Premier League games are broadcast to over 600m homes in 202 countries worldwide, while an estimated 1 billion people watched the Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester United in November 2007. From a football (as opposed to business) perspective, the proposal seems quite problematic as it is adding an extra game into an already over-crowded calendar which includes meaningless international friendlies. By playing certain teams three times a season a situation will be created which will favour some clubs while disadvantaging others. Premiership titles, Champions League places and relegation battles might be ultimately decided by the extra overseas game. If a club like Sunderland are fighting the drop and their extra game is against Manchester United, this will give a huge advantage to a relegation rival like Wigan whose extra fixture might be against Derby. What do you think? Post your views to www.uccffc.blogspot.com from Monday afternoon onwards.