Sportskeeda Exclusive: Interview with football journalist, Michael Calvin

Michael Calvin.

Michael Calvin is a award winning journalist and writer. He currently writes for Independent on Sunday. He has twice been named Sports Reporter of the Year, and has collected the Sportswriter and Sports Journalist of the Year award. He presents vodcasts for BT’s football site, Life’s A Pitch. His latest book, “Family: Life, Death and Football” was nominated as football book of the year in 2011.

Sportskeeda.com got the chance to get his views on recent developments in the Premier League, FFP, and his predictions for next season.

Firstly, thank you for taking time out from your busy schedule to answer our questions.

No worries.

Eden Hazard, Lukas Podolski, Marko Marin, Olivier Giroud, Shinji Kagawa, Kevin de Bruyne – how vital is it for the Premier League to keep importing foreign stars?

Important, rather than vital. It is a matter of quality. Hazard, Giroud and to an extent Marin are making a logical career progression. Kagawa will, I’m convinced, develop into an authentic Manchester United player – he’s no mere shirt-seller. What we don’t want in the PL is too many of what I call B+ players, good, but not the very best.

Some say that the influx of foreign players into the Premier League is the main reason behind England’s poor performance in international tournaments. Your thoughts?

The lack of game time for young English players is an obvious fault of the system. It will not be solved by the Premier League’s ruinous youth development strategy, the Elite Player Performance Plan. This merely masks greed as supposed progress. It was written by the top 8 clubs, for the top 8 clubs. The real problem – poor coaching – has still to be addressed.

Is money ruining football?

In a word, yes. Ask yourself this: who will the new £3billion TV deal enrich? Players and agents. Fans, as usual, will be completely disregarded. Their loyalty is being taken for granted – and that is dangerous.

Do you think FFP will have a significant effect on clubs like Man City, Chelsea and PSG – or will these clubs find loopholes?

Forgive the cynicism, but not a chance. Why? Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Michel Platini. Great player, grotesque politician. He’s interested in power, not principle.

The Championship clubs have voted in favour of bringing in new regulations regarding club spending. Do you see this being implemented in the Premier League anytime soon?

I refer you to the first sentence of my previous answer!!

Do you think Man City’s title winning season is a one-off wonder (given how their main competitor, Man Utd were rebuilding) or can you see them having a Man Utd-like dominance in the next few seasons?

Roberto Mancini has hooked up to the gravy train for the next five years. Money is not, and never will be, a problem. City’s first League title, in the modern era, was the hardest to win. It will not be the last.

Can we trust footballers to be loyal these days ? Will we ever find another Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard or Tony Adams?

There might be the occasional one club man, but he will be a freak of nature. Loyalty is, sadly, an outdated notion. The first Commandment of modern football is look after number one.

What are your thoughts on Robin van Persie’s recent statement that he will not be extending his Arsenal contract? Do you see him leaving/staying?

I was appalled, but not surprised. That statement was transparent nonsense, and reeked of smugness. The disrespect it showed to Arsene Wenger – who has developed RVP as a player and as a person – was awful. Get rid. Now.

Spurs have made some great signings along with AVB in Sigurðsson and Vertonghen – can they do better than ‘Arry’s Spurs?

In the long run, yes. I was never ‘Arry’s greatest fan. A terrific motivator, but against the best teams, a trifle one dimensional in a tactical sense. He was old school. The future is smart recruitment and development of young players, not an arm round the shoulder.

Which big names do you expect to come to the PL this summer?

It will be down to the agents. But who would I love to see in the PL? Llorente. He’d be an absolute sensation.

Young player to watch for this season (PL)?

Nick Powell. He might take a little time to break through at Man United, but I expect him to evolve into a key player in that number ten role. He will be in the England senior squad by the time of the 2014 World Cup.

(New) Foreign player to watch for this season (PL)?

Shinji Kagawa.

Best signing?

Jan Vertonghen – leadership qualities from a proper, all-round defender.

Predicted flop signing?

Lukas Podolski ( who could prove me very wrong, but not on the evidence of the Euros!).

Player to watch for this season (PL)?

Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Top scorer for this season (PL)?

Sergio Aguero.

Your top four clubs for this season (PL)?

Man City, Man U, Tottenham, Liverpool.

Your bottom three clubs for this season (PL)?

Norwich, West Ham and, sadly, Swansea.

Most surprising team this PL season?

Chelsea, for all the wrong reasons – the chemistry doesn’t feel right. They should be a shoo-in for top three, but I think the appointment of Robbie Di Matteo was a sign of weakness.

Most disappointing team this PL season?

Arsenal – again the vibes are not good.

2012/2013 Champions League winner?

Barcelona.