All Time Premier League XI - Right Back (no.2)

As I attempt to put together this All Time Premier League XI, I cannot help but feel like every position could be filled by Manchester United players past or present, and I find myself questioning whether it is just too easy to put Manchester United players in due to their overall team success, or whether they genuinely are the best players for the position. In the case of Peter Schmeichel, there is no doubt at all that he is the All Time Premier League Goalkeeper. But for the outfield players... tough decision.

Gary Neville is my main concern with regards to filling all of the positions with Manchester United players. Neville has had an excellent career at right back, coming into the side during the golden era of Manchester United's Youth Development. There has only been one position that Sir Alex Ferguson has not felt the need to spend millions of pounds to improve, and Gary Neville's consistently high level of performance has earnt him legendary status amongst all Manchester United fans. However... there's just something so uninspiring about Gary Neville. So uninspiring that I held him responsible for Ramsey joining Arsenal over Manchester United this summer. Never loved, and sometimes loathed by England fans... is Gary Neville the best right back the Premier League has seen?

During Gary Neville's thirteen Premier League seasons, there have definitely been seasons where other right backs have surpassed him. I think it is fair to say that, the most sought after right back the Premier League has seen was Steve Carr. Steve Carr possessed everything you'd want in a right back. He was strong, fast, could defend and always wanted to attack. More importantly, when he got forward, he delivered. At his peak, Steve Carr could have moved to almost anywhere in the world, particularly Barcelona... but fate was cruel to Carr. Firstly dealing him a serious injury, and then taking his career to the graveyard of English football that is St. James' Park. I believe Steve Carr is now unemployed. Neville's longevity, and success means he stands tall above Steve Carr. A whole inch above him.

Someone I feel who could oust Gary Neville from his suspect position as All Time Premier League Right Back is Glen Johnson. Johnson was definitely the Premier League's best right back last season, and in my opinion has been unfairly overlooked for England at a time when Wes Brown was an unfortunate consistent feature. Johnson has come a long way since arriving on the scene in the "too good to go down" West Ham side, where his impressive performances earnt him a £6m move to Chelsea. As with Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell, Shaun Wright-Philips... Glen Johnson struggled to find regular first team football at Stamford Bridge, however Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth revival has sparked new life into Johnson's career. At only 23, Johnson has shown a lot of promise, and last season turned potential into performance. A good start to the season could and should see Johnson making the England no.2 shirt his own... and with Neville's age counting against him, Johnson should now be thinking about being the best right back in the Premier League. It's a lot of pressure to handle.

But until Johnson does prove himself amongst the best, perhaps breaking into the "big four", Gary Neville will remain the All Time Premier League Right Back.

All Time Premier League XI - Goalkeeper (no.1)

A friend recently pointed me in the direction of an online forum (http://www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/) where members are discussing the all-time Premier League XI. Concluding each positions' debate is a vote, and the winning player is elected into the team. This has inspired me to create my own all time Premier League XI. First things first, a goalkeeper.

For me, there are a number of Premier League goalkeepers that immediately stand out. David Seaman enjoyed several years at the top, in an Arsenal defence renowned for not giving anything away, and kept the England no.1 shirt for nearly a decade. Seaman won the Premier League twice with Arsenal, and the FA Cup three times in the same period.

Petr Cech is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world. When Cech arrived in England, nobody really knew much about him, but he has helped stabilise a Chelsea defence, and developed his reputation thoroughly to the extent that even with Cudicini as a reserve, it is a huge concern when Cech is out of the side. Cech has won the Premier League twice, the League Cup twice, the FA Cup once... and a specially commended Barclays Golden Glove Award for a record 25 Premier League clean sheets.

However, as succesful as these two have been, one other goalkeeper stands head and shoulders above, and that man is Peter Schmeichel. Firstly, for all the clean sheets and records that Seaman and Cech delivered, they have performed in sides intent on defending well and sneaking the odd goal. Schmeichel performed as admirably, but in a side intent on attacking football. Schmeichel himself played a major role in the team going forward, sparking counter-attack after counter-attack with his quick thinking and long throws. Schmeichel occasionally made an impact in the opposition penalty area too, scoring for Manchester United and Aston Villa, and being involved in the infamous Sheringham equaliser in the 1999 Uefa Champions League Final.

What Schmeichel also has over Seaman and Cech is longevity. Seaman perhaps stayed on too long, with high profile errors against Brazil and Macedonia, before an indifferent season with Manchester City. Cech only has a handful of seasons, and therefore trophies under his belt, and although he managed to return from a fractured skull his consistency over a prolonged career has not been tested. However Schmeichel completed 8 seasons with Manchester United before leaving at the peak of winning the Champions League, he then went on to complete full seasons with Sporting Lisbon, Aston Villa and Manchester City, never looking like a faded talent.

And to further prove his Premier League legacy, he then spawned an excellent goalkeeping talent in Kasper Schmeichel, who followed in his father's footsteps at Manchester City.

On-Football's All Time Premier League XI Goalkeeper is Peter Schmeichel.

Are Contract Extensions Headline News?

This morning, I checked BBC Sport to see that Michael Essien has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, running to 2013.

This afternoon, I checked BBC Sport to see that Michael Essien has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, running to 2013.

Now, at 2345 in the night, BBC Sport's main football headline is STILL that Michael Essien has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, running to 2013.

I cannot bemoan BBC Football for a slow news day, after all it is not their fault that this summer's transfer activity has been... well it's been dead. My query is with regard to whether Michael Essien's contract extension is really headline news.

Football is in the midst of a large battle. On one hand, you have a select few that believe that the modern day footballer is a slave, trapped by their contract, unable to move freely within the footballing world. Unfortunately these people are the people with power. That's the European Union, Sepp Blatter, and the players. On the other hand, you have the rest of the footballing world, correction, the rest of the world, that believe that 'player power' is at an incredulous height.

"If they are slaves, what the hell are the rest of us?" Wigan Manager, Steve Bruce

In contrast, Roy Keane has come out in support of 'player power'. Recently retired Sunderland Manager Keane says “If you can go on to bigger and better things then bloody do it… people question players’ loyalty, I always question clubs’ loyalty, it’s like a business to them, when they’ve had enough of you, you’re out the door”.

All of this stems from the Cristiano Ronaldo affair, and his apparent demand to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid. The same Ronaldo whom, 18 months ago signed a new contract until 2012. So I ask you, is a contract extension headline news when the majority of them do not last the distance?

Or does this just truly highlight how slow the football summer has been?

Carson Suffers from Barry's "Ambition"

The recent news of Scott Carson's impending departure to West Brom has done nothing but highlight the petty relationship between Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Scott Carson has been unfortunate to be caught up in this Gareth Barry feud, as he should definitely be heading to Villa Park for the start of the season. Carson spent all of last season with Villa, enjoying first team football, and succesfully making it into the England set-up (albeit making one of the worst performances in England history). Aston Villa wanted to make Carson's move permanent, but were met with a £10m transfer fee. Now, we hear that Scott Carson will be heading to West Brom for a fee of £3.25m.

This is for two reasons. Firstly, Liverpool are being petty. They feel that Aston Villa are over-valuing Barry, and so over-valued Carson to them as a childish reposte. Business, and football, can be like that. However secondly, Liverpool are now in need of money. With hopes of signing both Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane, Liverpool will be outlaying a reported £35m for the pair. That is money that the Liverpool board are unwilling to supply to Benitez, and so a number of their players could become available "on the cheap".

It's good to see a big club like Liverpool needing to sell to raise money, but I feel it would be even better to see Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane staying at their clubs where they both had great seasons as Captain.

And I hope for Scott Carson's sake that his move to West Brom does not send his career down the same path as Richard Wright's.

Scoring On and Off the Field at South Africa 2010

In another slow day for football headlines, bad news has filtered out of South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. Plans to legalise prostitution during the time of the international tournament has been met with protests.

Personally, as an England Member, I harbour ambitious hopes of making it to South Africa for the World Cup in 2010, and whilst I have little intention of taking in some of the more "rural sights" of the streets of South Africa, I would support the movement to temporarily legalise prostitution during the tournament.

Promoters of the legislation change point to the increased revenue in "adult entertainment" during Germany 2006. A country like South Africa could benefit incredibly from regulating the industry, as a large number of football fans will be expected to partake in the occasional illicit activity. Also, by allowing the trade to exist legally, it would reduce the probability of trouble during the tournament, with fans being able to 'blow their load' rather than becoming aggressive. Take the Dutch for example, the most liberal country in the world, not known for their aggression.

Finally, and perhaps most poigniant, South Africa is a country with a severe Aids problem. By regulating the sex trade, efforts can be made to reduce the spread of HIV during the tournament, as we know legalised or not, there will be hundreds of fans that take an interest in the professional girl.

Luton Town's 30 Points Deduction

Luton Town are going to start next season in League Two with an UNBELIEVABLE 30 point deficit.

I believe the points penalty to be fair to a club that has serious problems, but at what point should common sense come into play? Docking points is the clear punishment for breaching FA rules, but when a club like Luton Town has broken the rules in such a way, and ended up with such a hilarious points deficit, surely it would just make more sense to relegate the club into the Blue Square Premier?

What is going to be achieved? How demoralising to be turning up to pre-season training, to be playing the opening games of the season, to be winning that ninth game of the season... and still to be in negative points.

It's funny though.

Twenty20 Cricket to 5-a-Side Football?

On a day where the English Cricket Board (ECB) gather to consider proposals to revolutionise the domestic game, I consider what, if anything, Football can take from Cricket's recent growth.

When Twenty20 Cricket was spawned three years ago, it was a breath of fresh air in the world of Sport. It rode on the wave that had been created by the Ashes victory in 2005, and brought hundreds to thousands of new fans to the Cricket Ground. No-one then could have imagined what Twenty20 Cricket has become today, as England prepares to host the second Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in 2009. Twenty20 Cricket has put fans back in the stands.

But what is it that is so great about Twenty20 Cricket? It's quick, and it's exciting. It's what all sports should be like, and that is why it's so popular. Can Football take anything from this Cricketing revolution?

The alternative "short-form" of the Footballing world would be 5-a-side Football. This is an exciting proposal. Logistically it could become difficult in what is already a very long season, and most of the Premiership does not struggle significantly with attendances to introduce an experimental "Second League", but we know that it would be quick, it would be exciting, and it would be popular.

Masters Football is a popular annual event, live on Sky Sports, where ex-professionals represent their former clubs in regional 5-a-side tournaments, before competing nationally to be Masters Champions. I don't doubt for a second that there are current professionals looking forward to representing their clubs in Masters Football when their careers are over, and introducing a 5-a-side tournament during the professional season could actually be met with a lot of excitement from the current pros.

Is this a more ridiculous concept than playing a 39th Premier League match in Asia at Christmas? I don't believe so. I actually believe it would be a quite feasible project for the Richard Scudamore to consider at a time where they look to make money they don't need from anywhere that they can.