Next Goal Wins

Blunt questions for Grant Wahl: speaking with the man hoping to take down Sepp Blatter and clean up FIFA

philosofooty:

Interview by Eric Beard, writing from Barcelona. Illustration by Jon Horner.

I often assume the role of a romantic or even an idealist when writing about football. When Grant Wahl announced his intention to oppose Sepp Blatter, it was genuinely invigorating. What would FIFA be like under, more or less, a man of the people? For football fans everywhere it is an intoxicating image. Millions like myself already get enough enjoyment out of taking reign of teams in FIFA 11 or Football Manager, but actually being El Presidente at the governing body of the beautiful game? For many passionate supporters that’s an equivalent to being the god of football. EA Sports, make it happen.

Despite my initial indulgence in the notion that someone with values like myself rather than like those of Gordon Gecko could be in power, reality came and brought me down to my feet. Idealism aside, with the current set up of FIFA elections, displacing Sepp Blatter or even Qatar’s Mohamed Bin Hammam will be so difficult even Arsene Wenger has the word ‘impossible’ on the tip of his tongue. With that in mind, a few logistical and even moral issues arose. Although I became quite a skeptic of Grant’s motivations behind his movement, thankfully he took time out of his busy schedule to answer everything I had on my mind, from the basic to the blunt…

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Valencia Return

Brilliant news, looks like this cheeky chappy is going to be back soon. Fergie said the Arsenal game tomorrow (a game which i am oging to, and will be blogging about!) is too soon, but he it nearing a return.

I personally think Valencia’s importance is hugely undervalued, a player who is perfect for the Premiership….pure pace and power. I cant help but feel that Rooneys lack of goals this season musth have something to do with this man having that horrific injury against Rangers. Cant wait to see our new salmon (Little Pea) leaping up to head in his pin point crosses.

Underrated player….but the player to push United over the finish line, and to the title.

Rene Adler - Overrated or just clumsy?

For my first proper blog I need to get something off my chest about Rene Adler…. Or more to the point, overrated players, with Rene being the prime example…

Adler has long been linked with filling the soon to be vacant position between the posts for Manchester United. (God forbid) Even rumour of him having a buy out clause specifically for United as he has been a fan since he was a wee lad. I imagine he would still cost United beyond the 20 million euros mark, not sure if that is the “value in the market” Fergie is looking for.

Even though Adler has obviously got some talent, he is falling foul of having a big reputation,that when you actually look at his games, he just cant do it consistently enough. At the beginning of 2009 Adler was touted as the next big thing, earning rave reviews from the Germany manager Joachim Loew, “Rene Adler is my new first choice between the sticks - assuming nothing serious happens. He has my absolute confidence after keeping clean sheets against South Africa and Azerbaijan,” Loew was quoted as saying

It looks like something did go wrong, just over a year later Adler was torn to shreds by Germany legend (and a man who doesn’t sugarcoat his views) Franz Beckenbauer when he stated after watching Bayer Leverkusen play Hamburg, “If somebody makes an error like that in a school team, then you would tell him to find a different sport,” Beckenbauer said on Sky. “Adler is a great goalkeeper, but since he has known that he is the No. 1, he is making one error after the other.”

I know it is not Adler’s fault that the media look for the new messiah in every half decent teenager that breaks into a teams first 11, but he really isn’t going to solve the goalkeeping crisis at United, Arsenal or Bayern Munchen. Adler becoming more than average keeper for Leverkusen - Certainly. World Beater - Not a chance.

We are guilty of in this country more than most … we don’t give our players a chance to develop and write them off BEFORE THEIR CAREER HAS EVEN GOT GOING! Jordan Henderson…Good player but nothing more yet, i have already bloody seen him “entering talks” with all the biggest clubs in the country. Jack Rodwell … Burst onto the scene but now his form has been up and down, nothing to write home about … our players don’t get a chance. Leave them be and we might have a chance of even beating Norway convincingly.

Regardless of this if you are looking for a new number one in the red side of Manchester, need look no further than the man Keeping Adler out of the German side … and will do for years to come …. Manuel Neuer