Lessons learnt from ’11 (Part 1)

As we move into the new year, we find ourselves at the door-step of another exciting year of football. As football continues to dwell in its evolution, 2011 makes its own contributions.

But what exactly have we learnt in football in the past year or so? The absence of a major international tournament puts club football around the world in the spotlight. The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, the Champions League, all dominated headlines around the world, as expected. But there were one or two others from around the world, noticeably from Russia and China.

So let’s go through some stories that have been the highlights of the year, and what to look forward to in 2012.

ENGLAND

Let us start with England. As ESPN and Sky collaboratively force it down our TV Cable lines, our masses eventually end up finding themselves “fans” of the English game, so we will linger here a while longer.

Here is what we learnt from England:

The Power Shift

The entire focus of the English game has not shifted from the city of Manchester, it would seem. Indeed, Manchester United had grabbed all headlines in England and beyond for a good part of the last two decades, but with the advent of Manchester City to the Champions League and the domestic top 3, the spotlight on the city of Manchester has only intensified, to the power of two!

With City winning the Cup and the League going to Old Trafford last season; add to that the fact the two squads arguably combine together to provide the best players as well as the best football displayed. It seems that all the major domestic trophies are destined to head back to Manchester, one way or the other.

The only team in a position to make a claim for the League title this year outside of Manchester, comes from London. But hold on a second, it is not Chelsea, not Arsenal, but Tottenham! Another indication of a power shift, moving away from the traditional powerhouses in the city of London.

Tottenham began and ended the year on a high, playing in the quarters against Real in the UCL to finish the year above both Arsenal and Chelsea. But how long can Spurs sustain this run? It all depends on their ability to retain the services of Bale, Van der Vaart and Modric.

The downfall of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool

I might upset a few here when I use the word ‘downfall ‘ alongside Chelsea, but ever since AVB conceded defeat in the title race before the end of the year, one can only imagine how bad the situation at Stamford Bridge could be. But I do see that they will clean up the mess before the end of the season and should be ready to bounce back in style by the start of 2012-13.

Arsenal have confirmed themselves as the ‘ultimate selling club’ with Fabregas, Clichy and Nasri all leaving for greener pastures beyond The Emirates this past season. With RVP being constantly rumoured to make a big money move, Arsenal fans will fear the worst. Honestly, I do not see Arsenal improving, with Wenger’s arrogant and tightfisted approach in shaping his senior squad.

Liverpool started the year on a high, signing two fresh faces by letting a falling star go. Suarez has lived up to his reputation but Carroll has struggled to justify his 35mn pound price tag, so have Henderson (16 mn) and Charlie Adam (reportedly 9mn). Expensive mistakes have cost Liverpool dear, in ways more than one, and they will start the year 2012 with Suarez out for 9 games. Once again the Kop faithful look to Gerrard to dig them out of this hole, not for the first time, nor the last!

Honourable mentions:

Blackpool’s relegation after finishing 8^th at the end of 2010; Birmingham’s League Cup glory and Stoke’s run to the final.

SPAIN

Messi claims supremacy

Of the million El Clasicos in 2011, a similar pattern seemed to emerge from all the games.

Madrid seemed to play each game with ten men, to begin with. Even if the referee did not dole out a red card to a Real player, Ronaldo’s absence from most of the games was so conspicuous that his team seemed to be playing with ten men. Messi bamboozled his way through the Madrid defence and clearly claimed supremacy over his fiercest contemporary rival.

Ronaldo might have scored more goals but being outclassed by the ratio of 1:5 by way of trophies, goals seem only to be a matter of statistics. Ronaldo’s plight, may continue along the same path, unless he brings about a drastic change in his attitude to the game and his team, something he has been criticised for in the past.

This picture in the Spanish daily Marca just says it all:

Barca defines football for a whole generation and the next

Such has been the influence of the tiki-taka, I strongly believe this will be Barca’s version of the Ajax “Total Football” phenomena. Just as Ajax not only defined but revolutionised how the game should be played, people decades down the line will look back at this Barcelona side and claim them responsible for changing football’s face for the good.

It is not just a mere coincidence that one could find traces of Total Football in the tiki-taka philosophy.

With their UCL and Club World Cup in three years, Barcelona have established themselves as the team to be emulated and the team to beat. With players of unbelievable calibre, this will arguably go down as the best club football team ever.

Valencia are the most entertaining team in Spain

So what if Valencia do not score the same number of goals as the top two in Spain, they more than make it up by conceding almost as many as they score – well, almost! It also makes them the side not to miss in any weekend’s action. Valencia seem to go by the philosophy ‘we score one more than we concede’.

And do not get me wrong, they possess a quality squad and a decent defence, but it’s just that they love to attack. Be it the 2-2 draw against Barca or the 2-3 defeat against Madrid, both at home, they provide top quality in attack and entertainment. They clearly remain the best among the rest in Spain’s top flight.

Honourable mention:

Levante’s amazing start to 2011-12; Villareal’s drop to the relegation battle.

Lessons learnt from ’11 (Part 2): Lessons learnt from The Champions League, Serie A, Rest of Europe and the globe. Tomorrow!