Silva is City’s most important player

David Silva spent most of his debut for Manchester City being buffeted about the pitch by Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone on the opening day of the season. Then it seemed like City’s big summer signing was not made for English football, where praise from pundits generally centres on a player’s pace, power and drive, rather than his vision or ball skills. We routinely hear Premier League tub-thumpers prattling on about how they would like to see how Lionel Messi would fare against Stoke City, an argument with more holes in it than West Ham’s defence.

This is not something to be proud of and it is, of course, why English players struggle at international level, where possession is key, but in the Premier League, a small, skilful player is often viewed as a wanton luxury and Silva must have wondered what he had let himself in for as 21 headless chickens charged around him while he struggled to dictate play.

Since then his rapid rise has been remarkable. If Carlos Tevez has been portrayed as City’s heart, then Silva is the brains. Tevez was missing through suspension against West Ham – and may be on his way out of Eastlands for good – but City did not suffer in his absence. Much was made before the game of City’s inability to win without Tevez, but Silva would be a bigger loss. Indeed, if he maintains this level of performance, Roberto Mancini might not be too disappointed to see Tevez go. While it is true to say Tevez is City’s captain, it is Silva who is their leader.

He was a delight to watch, constantly on the ball, teasing his opponents with his soft, shuffling footwork, keeping City ticking over with the intelligent economy of his movement. He looks like a small woodland creature and plays with the impish mischievous glint of one too. Everything went through Silva. He is the thinking man’s footballer. His assist for Adam Johnson’s goal, an impossibly brilliant through-ball, was outstanding and something no other player on the pitch could have done. Silva’s work has largely gone unnoticed outside of Manchester, but judging by the way he spent the afternoon quietly winning a game of hide-and-seek with Scott Parker, one imagines that’s just the way he likes it.

Never write off a top side

Chelsea are fourth, one point off the league leaders, Arsenal. They have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League. Frank Lampard is back and Didier Drogba is scoring again. And this is a crisis? Of course, all that fails to tell the whole story. With a defence leakier than a US diplomat, Chelsea had been appalling for weeks and Tottenham found themselves cast in the unlikely role of favourites yesterday. Favourites against a side that won the Double last season. Initially that feeling was justified after Roman Pavlyuchenko’s clever goal again exposed the flaws in Chelsea’s back four, but in the end, Tottenham were reliant on Heurelho Gomes’s save from Drogba’s stoppage-time penalty to earn them a point.

While only managing to draw the match extended Chelsea’s winless streak to five league games, their performance yesterday hinted at a return to their swashbuckling form at the start of the season. Against a very good side, Chelsea were excellent at times and should have scored more than once. Given their atrocious run, the manner of their comeback after Pavlyuchenko’s goal was highly impressive and reveals a dressing room that is very much united. It was a game reminiscent of Guus Hiddink’s first in charge in February 2009. Chelsea, in turmoil after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari, travelled to Villa, cocky upstarts in fourth place, with few people expecting them to win. Chelsea swaggered to a 1-0 victory. As Manchester United have already demonstrated this season, it never pays to write off a top side. Even when they have been as bad as Chelsea in recent weeks. In the long run, they will end up proving you wrong.

Hope doesn’t kill you

It might be a famous quote, but Brian Stimpson was off the mark when he said “I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can’t stand.” Sure, on the surface, that makes sense. We can empathise with that. We know what he means. Yet, in reality, it fails to ring true. We need hope. It is what sustains us and without it, there really is no point any more. West Ham were dreadful against City, hopelessly outclassed and outplayed by a team that was able to leave out two strikers who cost £25m each and another who cost £17m; only no one was particularly surprised.

This is not your average relegation West Ham are experiencing: it is an Avram Grant relegation, lifeless, insipid and utterly devoid of personality. Quite simply, West Ham’s supporters are bored. Bored with losing. Bored with the terrible defending. Bored with the awful football. West Ham have won only 10 of their last 55 league games. With a record like that, it is almost an achievement that they are still in the Premier League and it is no wonder the fans are fed up.

In years gone by, such a limp display would have been greeted furiously by the Upton Park crowd. Instead on Saturday, just like their team, they sat back and watched in abject silence as City took them apart with surgical precision. The fight is gone. There were hardly any boos and there haven’t been all season. West Ham are doomed and everybody knows it. They have known it since August. When West Ham were relegated in 2003, they genuinely were too good to go down (they finished on 42 points, still a record in a 20-team league) and it was possible to pin one’s hopes on a player such as Joe Cole. Now they have Carlton Cole. Somewhere along the line, someone appears to have made a terrible mistake.

Pardew is not a bad manager

He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy. Newcastle’s supporters made that very clear before their game against Liverpool, when Alan Pardew’s arrival in the dugout was met with a less than positive reaction. Pardew, a man of relentless positivity and an oddly unsettling belief in his own ability, is unlikely to have been fazed by that. Given the circumstances of his arrival and Chris Hughton’s sacking, he would have expected nothing less. A lot has been said about events at Newcastle over the past week, but few things in life are as pointless as trying to comprehend what goes on in Mike Ashley’s head.

Either way, Ashley’s decision to appoint Pardew is not quite as disastrous as is being made out. True, Hughton should never have been sacked and Pardew’s contract until 2016 does have a sniff of being an elaborate hoax. Pardew, though, is not a terrible manager and starting his career on Tyneside with a 3-1 victory over Liverpool is as good as it gets and would suggest that Newcastle’s players have not turned mutinous following Hughton’s dismissal. For some time, the suspicion has lingered that Pardew has unfinished business in the Premier League, after he lost his way with West Ham in 2006. Pardew is well-versed in motivational techniques and even though he has said he knows he will not win the PR battle, he is exactly the sort of manager who is able to tap into a crowd’s mentality. Supporters have been known to take to him. Players too. If he is embraced at Newcastle, he could be brilliant. After all, at the club where reward for beating your local rivals 5-1 is getting the sack, nothing ever tends to make sense.

Moyes needs a fresh start

Another weekend, another game in which Everton have failed to overcome moderate opposition. This has now turned into a genuine problem for David Moyes’s side. We are used to this with Everton – they have always started seasons slowly, gradually building up momentum as they get into their stride and charge up the table. This season something has changed. The charge up the table has not materialised and after a 0-0 home draw with Wigan, they are only two points above the bottom three. Push someone’s buttons for long enough and eventually you’ll end up with a bloody nose and, similarly, eventually a bad start to the season will be impossible to recover from.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that David Moyes, excellent manager though he is, has gone stale at Everton. They have hit the wall under him, in the same way that Martin O’Neill was unable to take Aston Villa into the promised land of the Champions League. There has been no reward for Moyes’s fine work, largely due to Everton not having the financial muscle required to breach the top four. Moyes has hardly done a bad job, quite the opposite in fact, but there is a fatigue enveloping Goodison Park now and the current state of affairs is doing nothing to enhance his reputation. All parties need a fresh start and it would be a surprise to see Moyes still at Everton next season.

Last week I had the pleasure of watching the second leg of the New York Red Bulls against the San Jose Earthquakes. Some brief observations on soccer v football…

Firstly, the entire experience is far more pleasant. No tattooed thugs shouting and ranting, no fighting, no racist/obscene chanting, and so on. The better atmosphere was part created and part illustrated by the presence of more women (not in a pervy way) and more children (not in a paedophilic way). It was more a spectacle than a tribalistic show of passion, as football has wont to be in the UK.

The ground is divided into several sections, as per usual, but one of them is ‘Supporters’ – this is a specific (and small) area for the vocal, passionate and I assume more thuggish element, but the rest of the ground was relaxed and chilled out for the most part.

There were only small queues for the drink and the food – and they served booze, and you could take it in and drink it at your seat. I mean that alone is enough for me to prefer it. But the fact the fans are ‘trusted’ with that shows how much more respectable they are than their British equivalents.

However, what was gained in convivialness was admittedly lost in the quality of the play. Uniquely in the MLS, some of the players are just-over-the-hill international class footballers – in this game Rafael Marquez, Thierry Henry, and Juan Pablo Angel – whereas some are part-timers on a few hundred dollars a month. Chris Wondolowski, top scorer in the league, also has a part time job as a coach to make ends meet. Which is a little bizarre.

So whilst there was some quality on view, there was some shit as well – particularly at the back. If you’re going to go for a marquee signing it does tend to be an attacker, so the defences are, relatively, poor. Weirdly that doesn’t seem to lead to a proliferation of goals though. Can’t quite explain that.

The American love of stats was on full view – ‘Post Game Season Most Goal Assists’ ‘All time MLS Shut-outs’ ‘All time MLS Shots on Goal’ and so on were beamed on the screens before the game.

The fans seemed no less informed than your average Brit – admittedly in the UK the vocal ones are usually the spastic hooligans who know nothing about the game anyway – but the occasional woop and holler came in about the same level of understanding. They cheered and boo’d at the right times.

It would have been interesting to hear some post match analysis – I doubt it would have been much worse than ‘fuckin’ ‘ell they were fuckin’ shit’ which is the kind of insightful post match reaction you get exiting the County Ground.

Overall, it was an immensely enjoyable experience. San Jose won 3-1, a shock result that gave them a 3-2 aggregate win and passage to the final. Thierry Henry, who was carrying an injury, only played the last ten minutes or so – with no impact – which was the only real downside. It was more an event, a showcase, a spectacle, than the gang warfare that so often constitutes British football.

There were many empty seats in the 25,000 arena which shows that ‘soccer’ still has a long way to go in the US (bearing in mind this was the Eastern Conference Semi-Final featuring the largest city’s only team) – and the away support was minimal – but absolute respect to these San Jose Ultras who made the journey across America:

I happened to read Marcotti in the Times yesterday, he was there too, and contrasted it with his visit to the Red Bulls’ first game – an interesting read, even if he is a fat arrogant cunt. I can’t link it or paste it because of the Times’ stupid paywall. Summary being, American football has come a long way, but still has a long way to go. Which after my visit seems a fair synopsis.

The only worry is that the further it goes, the less enjoyable it will become.

BBC Sport outlines the promotion and relegation issues in England and Scotland – plus the race for European places.

Manchester United were the first team to qualify for Europe

The title race will go to the final day of the season on Sunday 9 May, when leaders Chelsea host Wigan while rivals Manchester United entertain Stoke. Chelsea are assured of the title if they beat Wigan – and given Chelsea’s superior goal difference, United will need to win and hope Chelsea lose to win the title.

The top four sides in the Premier League qualify for the Champions League. The top three go straight to the group stage, while the fourth-placed team faces a play-off. Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham (who beat Manchester City on 5 May to seal their place) are all assured of a top-four finish.

English clubs are offered three places in the Europa League – for the FA Cup winners, the Carling Cup winners and the fifth-placed team in the Premier League.

Carling Cup winners Manchester United have already qualified for the Champions League, as have Chelsea who face Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.

The FA and Premier League have decided that Pompey should not play in Europe as they had not applied for a Uefa club licence (as administration meant they were not in a position to file their accounts), and rejected the club’s appeal.

Burnley’s relegation was confirmed after a heavy defeat by Liverpool

Unless that situation changes, the teams finishing sixth and seventh will also qualify for the Europa League. Manchester City will enter the Europa League, along with Aston Villa and Liverpool.

There are also extra Europa League places available for one team from each of the top three countries in Uefa’s Fair Play rankings. As of 31 December 2009, England were ranked third – and if Fulham win the Europa League final, Burnley are in line to take up the Fair Play place.

Portsmouth, who were deducted nine points after entering administration in February, went down on 10 April, while Burnley’s relegation was confirmed on 25 April after a 4-0 home defeat against Liverpool and Hull’s with a 2-2 draw at Wigan on 3 May.

Newcastle clinched promotion back to the top flight on Easter Monday

Newcastle United clinched an immediate return to the top flight on Easter Monday and were the first Football League team to be promoted. They won at Plymouth on 19 April to seal the title. They were joined by West Bromwich Albion on 10 April after their 3-2 win at Doncaster.

Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City, Leicester City and Blackpool will contest the play-offs.

Peterborough United were the first Football League team to be relegated after drawing 2-2 with Barnsley on Easter Monday. Fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle were sent down in the same game that saw Newcastle crowned champions. Sheffield Wednesday were relegated on the last day of the season after they could only manage a draw against relegation rivals Crystal Palace.

Norwich clinched promotion on 17 April and the title a week later

Leaders Norwich City clinched promotion on 17 April and secured the title on 24 April with a 2-0 win against Gillingham.

Leeds, Millwall, Swindon, Charlton and Huddersfield could all grab the second automatic promotion place on the final day of the season – but Leeds and Millwall are favourites. The other four teams will contest the play-offs.

Four teams will drop to League Two – Stockport County were condemned to relegation after losing 3-1 to Yeovil on 10 April, and Southend United joined them after a 2-2 draw at Oldham on 24 April.

Wycombe Wanderers were relegated on 1 May after losing to Leyton Orient, which all but mathematically confirmed Orient’s place in League One.

Hartlepool now join Tranmere, Exeter and Gillingham as candidates for the remaining relegation place after Pools were fined three points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Brighton in April.

That leaves them just one point above the relegation zone going into their last game of the season, away to Brentford.

Notts County clinched the League Two title with a win over Darlington

Notts County, Bournemouth and Rochdale have clinched the three automatic promotion places, while County won the title with a 5-0 win at Darlington on 27 April.

Rotherham and Aldershot have secured their places in the play-offs – with six teams contesting the final two play-off spots on the last day of the season.

Two clubs will be relegated to the Blue Square Premier. Rock-bottom Darlington were relegated on 13 April, while Grimsby Town will join them unless they win at Burton on the final day of the season. That result would send Barnet down if the Bees fail to beat Rochdale, while Cheltenham are safe barring a heavy defeat for them at home to Accrington, coupled with wins for both Grimsby and Barnet.

Chester City’s demise means only three teams will be relegated

Stevenage Borough clinched the title and promotion to the Football League with a 2-0 win at Kidderminster on 17 April.

Oxford United and York City will contest the play-off final on 16 May for the second promotion spot.

Chester City were expelled from the Football Conference on Friday 26 February, liquidated and their results subsequently expunged, so only three teams will be relegated from the division.

Grays Athletic became the first club to be relegated in any of the top five English divisions on 3 April after a goalless draw with Kettering. Forest Green and Ebbsfleet United joined them on the final day of the season.

Four teams are promoted to the Blue Square Premier – the champions and play-off winners of the Blue Square North and South divisions.

Newport County were the first team in the top six tiers of English football to clinch promotion by beating Havant & Waterlooville 2-0 on 15 March to make sure of the Blue Square South title, while Bath City face Woking in the play-off final.

Southport took the Blue Square North title on the final day of the season with a 3-0 win at Eastwood Town. Alfreton Town and Fleetwood Town will contest the play-off final.

Rangers made sure of their 53rd SPL title on 25 April

Rangers clinched their 53rd SPL title with a 1-0 win at Hibernian on 25 April, and should enter the Champions League at the group stages. Celtic will definitely finish second and will enter the Champions League at the third qualifying round.

However, from 2011/12, the SPL will lose one of its two Champions League places after Belgium overtook Scotland in Uefa’s coefficient ranking table.

Teams finishing third and fourth will qualify for the Europa League, together with the Scottish Cup winners. Scottish Cup finalists Dundee United are guaranteed to finish third in the SPL so will qualify for the Europa League – but if they win the Cup, the additional Europa League place will go to the fifth-placed SPL team.

There are also extra Europa League places available for one team from each of the top three countries in Uefa’s Fair Play rankings. As of 31 December 2009, Scotland were ranked seventh.

The bottom club will be relegated to Division One.

Champions Inverness Caledonian Thistle returned to the SPL at the first attempt after rivals Dundee lost at Raith on Wednesday 21 April.

As the bottom club Ayr United were relegated to Division Two, whilst last-but-bottom Airdrie United face a play-off with three Division Two teams.

Stirling, who became champions on 1 May, will be promoted to Division One, with Alloa, Cowdenbeath and Brechin contesting a play-off withAirdrie United, the ninth-placed Division One team.

Clyde were relegated on 20 April after losing 2-1 at home to Stirling, while Arbroath face a play-off with three Division Three teams.

Livingston’s draw against Berwick on 17 April assured the side of the title and promotion.

Forfar, East Stirling and Queens Park will contest a play-off with Arbroath for a place in Division Two. There is no relegation from this division.



Here it is in full:

1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, £11.3million)
2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona, £10.4million)
3 Lionel Messi (Barcelona, £9.1million)
4 Samuel Eto’o (Internazionale, £9.1million)
5 Kaka (Real Madrid, £8.7million)
6 Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, £7.4million)
7 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, £7.4million)
8 Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, £7million)
9 John Terry (Chelsea, £6.5million)
10 Frank Lampard (Chelsea, £6.5million)

11 Thierry Henry (Barcelona, £6.5million)
12 Xavi (Barcelona, £6.5million)
13 Ronaldinho (AC Milan, £6.5million)
14 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, £6.5million)
15 Daniel Alves (Barcelona, £6.1million)
16 Michael Ballack (Chelsea, £5.6million)
17 Raul (Real Madrid, £5.6million)
18 Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United, £5.6million)
19 Kolo Toure (Manchester City, £5.6million)
20 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, £5.2million)

21 Robinho (Manchester City, £5.2million)
22 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, £5.2million)
23 Victor Valdez (Barcelona, £5.2million)
24 Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla, £5.2million)
25 Deco (Chelsea, £5.2million)
26 Didier Drogba (Chelsea, £4.8million)
27 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, £4.8million)
28 Francesco Totti (Roma, £4.8million)
29 Luca Toni (Roma, £4.8million)
30 David Villa (Valencia, £4.8million)

31 Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich, £4.8million)
32 Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich, £4.8million)
33 Ashley Cole (Chelsea, £4.8million)
34 Fernando Torres (Liverpool, £4.8million)
35 Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £4.8million)
36 Patrick Vieira (Internazionale, £4.8million)
37 Charles Puyol (Barcelona, £4.3million)
38 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, £4.3million)
39 Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, £4.3million)
40 Andreas Pirlo (AC Milan, £4.3million)

41 Phillipe Lahm (Bayern Munich, £4.3million)
42 Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich, £4.3million)
43 David Beckham (AC Milan, £4.3million)
44 Wayne Bridge (Manchester City, £4.3million)
45 Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid, £4.3million)
46 Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United £4.1million)
47 Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal, £4.1million)
48 Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea, £4.1million)
49 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United £4.1million)
50 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus, £4.1million)

Ummm…. where to start? The very inclusion of Wayne Bridge? The fact Gareth Barry is higher than Iniesta? The fact Cesc Fabregas doesn’t appear on the list? The fact Del Piero and Giggs are 49th and 50th, with such dross above them? The fact Ronaldo earns more than twice as much as Rooney? I could go on. But I’ll let you find/draw your own fantastic conclusions…

Notes:

(1) The figures are the result of research carried out in more than 30 publications worldwide that specialize in football. Of which, the major newspapers and magazines of the top leagues in the world.

(2) The figures are unofficial and approximate, and depend on new hires, or renewals of each contract.

(3) Figures refer to gross wages of the players (before tax), which of course does not include advertising contracts, gaming awards, signing bonuses, or other extra pay.

(4) There may from time to time differences with the figures, due to exchange rate in relation to players do not receive their salaries in euros. You can read the original article in full here.

Traditionally football has been tribal, with rival factions roaring on their boys and wishing ill upon their rivals, the love of winning and hatred of losing overriding all else. And certainly that has its own thrill and attraction. But to purely appreciate football, wouldn’t it be better to watch as an abstract neutral, observing with detachment and disinterest?

Before I begin, I must admit this is more relevant to the ‘top’ sides, those that feature regularly on TV – and therefore more relevant to fans of those teams. Lower league fans largely enjoy the same impunity I do, and that’s why it’s better to support a shit team. You can enjoy watching the good ones. And before I make my case, I must confess a bias to my cause. Shrugging off my childhood glory supporting of Man United I am now a semi-serious supporter of the mighty Swindon Town – but on the whole, I am largely a neutral.

This allows me to watch Big Four clashes, local derbies, grudge matches, heated rivalries and so on without my emotions being influenced, without the potential for my day being ruined, without a visceral hatred toward eleven men on a pitch or other people in the bar. I can enjoy it for what it is, a sport. My ‘loyalties’ don’t turn me into a moody, abusive, blind acolyte.

Because I don’t support a football team, I can watch football and enjoy it. I am a football fan, not a fan of a footballing entity. Not a ‘team fan’.

I actually feel sorry for die-hard fans. They cannot watch and enjoy a game without it somehow influencing them – league position, transfer targets, cup qualification, impact on rival teams, etc. Super Sunday becomes an emotional rollercoaster rather than an enjoyable pastime.

Furthermore, following a team (literally) is pretty shit. Cost, travel, having to spend your time amongst football crowds (which in all honesty are pretty disgusting, both actually and as a reflection of humanity), the lows (as few teams actually enjoy many highs) the mis-management, the bad signings, the underperformances – a lot of it is suffering, bearable only for the occasional 1-0 away win at Bolton.

Of course, I exaggerate. It’s not all bad. But being a fan of a team is certainly worse than being a fan of the game.

In fact I would go so far as to say, if you support a team, you don’t really like football that much (bear with me). You don’t watch football to appreciate great games, great players, and great goals (how anyone who says they like football doesn’t enjoy watching Arsenal is beyond me), you watch football for the small minded neanderthal tribality of it, the sense of belonging, of being part of something. I know (many) people who won’t watch Man Utd because they can’t bear it, won’t watch Arsenal in case they win, etc. That’s not liking football. That’s liking a team – and therefore not liking another one (or more).

For many, football is just an outlet. An outlet for aggression and loyalty, an outlet to moan and suffer, a chance to feel part of something, something to give your life some meaning. These people don’t like watching the sport – they just like being in a gang. An excuse to hate.

You may find this polemic – I am not disbaraging every team’s every fan – merely saying that if you watch football to follow a team, you like the team and all it provides – not the sport.

But that’s just one point of view. Perhaps you enjoy football more because you support a team – it gives an extra angle/edge to the viewing pleasure. I’d love to hear from you. I’m open minded. Unlike your average ‘team fan’.

Now let’s discount your archetypal spotty fat loser computer geek here. I am talking about normal people who play football and also play computers – latterly Pro Evo, FIFA and harking back to Super Kick Off, Sensible Soccer, European Club Soccer, Actua Soccer, and so on.

I appreciate I have offered no reasons why they might help you on a cold Sunday morning on Hackney Marshes, and the obvious thought is that sitting in your bedroom bashing a pad won’t do one jot for your fitness.

But I am talking about understanding the game – an appreciation of picking a pass, making a run, and beating a keeper. The timing on an expertly executed slide rule pass. Holding the ball up while support arrives. And so on.

Simulating this – i.e. playing a computer game – can only help, surely? Picking when to drop off the defender’s shoulder and into space, when to make the dart to the near post – and when to pick someone else out when they do – is a fine art, which practice makes perfect. And doing it on a computer game, whilst not quite the same as an afternoon at Colney Hatch, is at least practice of some sort.

Subconciously perhaps – but I genuinely think that rehearsing moves and simulating real life actions can only help when it comes down to you, rather than a pixellated Wayne Rooney, needing to find that yard in the box.

Of course, this has to be part of a balanced diet of exercise and gaming – you can’t scrimp on the physicals on the premise a few games of FIFA on Xbox Live will do just as well. But what they will do is further your understanding of how individuals and teams should act and move during a match. And that can only make you better at football.

On Monday May 11th Middlesbrough make the short journey to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United in what should be an ethralling relegation battle. Both sides desperately need three points if they are to put together a run and make a last dash towards survival and the game should be appraoched by the players like a cup-final.

To be totally honest I’m not expecting the game to display too much quality. Newcastle have only managed two points from their last six games, while Boro haven’t faired much better and have managed just four points. In relegation battles though it is the passion which often decides the outcome and I’m anticipating both sides to come out fighting as they bid to retain their Premier League status.

As the game is at St James’ Park the Newcastle faithful should be in full voice and the atmosphere should be electric. If Middlesbrough are to emerge victorious they will really need to attack Newcastle in the opening stages and silence the Toon army. This will be no easy task but I have noticed a slight improvement in Boro’s form over the last few games despite the losses, though they were at the hands of Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.

There will be a number of key battles across the pitch that will decide the outcome of the tie. If Newcastle name three up front with Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka then there should be plenty of chances for Newcastle, if their fairly poor midfield can create them. Boro’s defence hasn’t actually been that bad over the course of the season and their main problem has been scoring goals.

The game could rely on the performances of key players in both teams. In Newcastle’s case they will be looking to Martins, Owen and Jonas Gutierrez to lift their performance. Owen is the kind of player who can remain anonymous for 89 minutes but pop up with a goal anyway and Newcastle will be hoping he rediscovers his scoring form. The pace of Martins causes all kinds of trouble for defenders while Gutierrez is perhaps their most likely midfielder to create the openings for the strikers.

From a Middlesbrough perspective they need Stewart Downing to put in a heroic display. I’ve always thought Downing is a little overrated but he can deliver a decent ball and he has a fairly good shot on him. £12million flop Afonso Alves could finally endear himself to the Riverside crowd if he manages to get amongst the goals while loan star Marlon King could earn a permanent move to Boro if he manages to bag a few in the last three games of the season.

What this game lacks in quality should be more than made up for in passion. As well as it being a local derby it is a must win game for both sides and we really are set for a fierce battle on Tyneside. I wouldn’t like to predict a winner, it really is a tight encounter and it could all hinge on a single piece of quality to provide the winning goal. One thing is for sure though, it’s a safe football bet that this game will be played like a cup-final and should make for essential viewing.

Sky have won the rights to four of the six available blocks of live Premier League games from 2010 to 2013. There is another round of bidding to come, in which Sky may attempt to buy a fifth block, strengthening their position.

However, there are strong rumours that ESPN are looking to enter the British football market – and they are one of the few who can compete with Sky’s bidding power.

No one station can have a monopoly, so Sky will have five maximum; perhaps ESPN will allow that, and dip their toe in the water with a sixth of what’s available – at the same time avoiding a bidding war with Sky. Taking on Setanta, ITV and the BBC is a wholly less fearsome proposition.

Plus, with the terrestrial channels unlikely to sanction a bid – it is not financially viable – and Setanta reportedly struggling, ESPN could get in on the cheap.

Footballsup Moments of Genius – those rare but beautiful occasions when someone produces something breathtaking, something out of this world, unattainable by mere mortals.

Fernando Torres produced one yesterday in the Merseyside derby, controlling and then backheel-volleying a perfect through ball for Steven Gerrard to drill past Tim Howard. Still recovering from injury and off the pace, Torres can still provide that moment of match turning genius.

Click here to see it in all its glory.

Throughout football writing, journalism and commentary, you hear the occasional, but recurring, adjective/phrase that seems ‘out of place’. Words that have no place in the vocabulary of your average football fan. Yet, they only ever seem to crop up in reference to football.

We’re not talking about ‘dominant’ or ’slide rule pass’ here – but the more eloquent adjectives, the descriptive words that you hear and think you understand, but probably don’t know the actual meaning of.

At Footballsup, we aim to widen your vocabulary and increase your understanding. The second in our series:

di⋅min⋅u⋅tive

[di-min-yuh-tiv]

Common Usage:

The diminutive Gianfranco Zola

Played in by the diminutive striker

Footballing synonyms: Compact, Pint-sized, Pocket-sized, Short, Slight, Squat, Stocky

Full Definition:

-adjective
1.     small; little; tiny: a diminutive building for a model-train layout.
2.     Grammar. pertaining to or productive of a form denoting smallness, familiarity, affection, or triviality, as the suffix -let, in droplet from drop.

–noun
3.     a small thing or person.
4.     Grammar. a diminutive element or formation.
5.     Heraldry. a charge, as an ordinary, smaller in length or breadth than the usual.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML dīminūtīvus, equiv. to L dīminūt(us) lessened (for dēminūtus; see diminution ) + -īvus -ive

So, diminutive: short, compact, pint-sized, often stocky (mainly because short players need to be).
Most often used in reference to strikers – Zola, Tevez, Defoe – largely because that’s the easiest position to get away with a lack of height. But, think also Paul Parker, Alan Wright, Lassan Diarra… The players who filled all dwarves with a sense of what could be.