Issue 2
Feb/Mar '12
Truth & Football
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odern football. It's an interesting subject for many of us lovers of the beautiful game. Some might say it's less beautiful than it was thirty, twenty or even ten years ago, ruined by money and Sky Sports culture. That could very well be true but one constant has remained throughout - personalities. Characters, individuals and mad men; we love them as often as we loathe them. The early 1990's saw the death of the "dark days of British football". Dilapidated grounds, hooliganism and floundering attendances were replaced with shiny all-seaters and maxi-coverage that created a new phenomenon; the arm-chair fan. Undoubtedly, BSkyB was the mother that gave birth to the bastard child of the Premier League. Who was the father? Tricky to say but probably gluttonous chairmen ready to guzzle up the profits from their club's loyal, now exploited, fans. They gathered, shook hands over a pot of tea at Lancaster Gate, and then quaffed brandy in toast to their new-born baby. So what has all that got to do with the colourful characters of the game? Well, put simply, there seems to be fewer of them around these days. Money, ultra-coverage and fame have been bestowed on
the current player, and subsequently personalities seem to have been watered-down. The uber professionalism of our splendid game has without doubt, produced a faster, more explosive and often higher quality breed of the player. However, it has also fast forwarded the need to be tee-total, interview-savvy and above all 'a professional'. There are stereotypical models of a footballer that we could all agree on: the mad-as-a-box-ofbadgers goalie, the hard-case centre-half who'd boot the shit out of anyone that looked at him, the midfield-general whose loyalty was secondto-none, the silky winger with three girls on each arm, the unstoppable striker with more goals to his name than IQ. We love these stereotypes because we can relate to them from our childhood kickabouts down the park, arguing over which famous player we would be. And who ever wanted to be the consummate professional instead of the mad diving Italian? This leads us to the maverick. The poetic artist on the pitch. The controversial one. The one loved and hated in equal measure, capable of sheer bloody brilliance on his day and causing a furore once the whistle blew. The engrossing characters of the past were often as outspoken off the pitch as they were
captivating on it. The recently departed Socrates embodied the South American guerrilla spirit in his own democratic movement that opposed the then militarised government of Brazil. Not to mention a genius on the pitch, a doctor of medicine off it, all wrapped up in a beer-swilling, Marlboro-smoking dude with a sweatband. Maradona - one of the greatest players to cross the white line, often enjoyed another kind of line or two as well (very obviously so in World Cup ‘94). Gazza. Again, a player capable of magnificence, he was equally prone to tragic let downs off the pitch.
Joey Barton and Mario Balotelli are two fine examples. One a scathing scouser, the other a moody Italian. Barton quotes Nietzsche, Orwell and Morrisey. Definitely surprising words from a one-dimensional 'footballer'. He’s prone to speaking his mind so vociferously it often lands him in trouble. Balotelli was once stopped by Police when he was driving, he had five grand in his wallet and when asked why he had this vast sum of cash on him and he replied; "because I'm rich". Although the young Italian oozes nonchalance on the pitch he is often criticised for being lazy, uninterested and miserable.
There's still hope though. They may be sparse these days (as the majority of the players have to fit the bill for the sanitised, squeaky-clean image of the modern-day game), yet there's a handful of prodigal talents, coupled with their charisma, that reminds us of being a kid again.
So it seems that there are still a few extroverts in today's game, a pale number in comparison to days of old, but enough to entertain and intrigue us in these days of "Super-Soccer Sundays", "WAGS" and the FA Cup being sponsored by a Yankee beer company.
introduction by greg holmes
Are we too quick to blame refs? words by james carruthers
Listen to any post match radio phone-in and you will not fail to hear fans the length and breadth of the country pillorying referees. More often than not, you will hear it from managers too. It is second nature and a mechanism for finding explanations following a hurtful defeat.
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hilst a regular occurrence week-in and week-out among affiliates of Premier League clubs, every so often the spotlight that constantly hovers above referees beams brighter and penetrates further. There is usually a trigger that causes scrutiny to escalate, criticism to intensify and fans to demand solutions to the refereeing dilemma. Though generally accepted that refereeing is a tough business it cuts little ice when a decision goes against your own. In a sport where referees take endless flak from disgruntled supporters, next time a dubious call is made consider the following factors before adding to the onslaught: Perhaps the most fundamental principle of refereeing is if the officials do not see it, they cannot give it. Sure, good positioning is critical to being a competent referee, but sometimes players can block the line of sight or incidents can happen off the ball that may be missed, especially in a packed penalty box. In such circumstances,
there is little choice than to be gracious enough to accept that the referee just didn’t spot an offence. In the modern-era of slow motion replays, freeze frames and digital assistance we tend to forget how quick the game really moves. The old adage stipulates that the hand is quicker than the eye and this human frailty is never more exposed than when assistant referees are presented with an offside decision that might be deemed borderline. Using replays, fans and pundits can determine absolutely whether a player is on or offside, but for assistant referees the decision is complicated by the speed of the run, the shape of the through-ball and the speed in which the last defender steps up in an attempt to highlight the attacker as offside. Awarding a penalty in a game is the most deliberated of all calls and to do so referees must be sure of their convictions. It should be understandable when a referee decides to err on the side of caution when a player goes to ground in the box if he cannot be sure contact was made. Players and managers always call for consistency in refereeing decisions and that is certainly what the officiators should be striving for. However, given the scope for interpretation of the rules this is always going to be a tad idealistic. Liverpool fans were none too happy with the sending off of midfielder Jay Spearing earlier in the season as the Reds crashed to defeat at Fulham. Yes, while some referees may have seen the tackle as but a yellow card offence , in other’s eyes it was a lunge reckless enough to warrant a red card. Perception is reality and all that jazz. Certainly, in these instances players must take responsibility for putting referees in a position where they have to interpret the merits of the tackle and it is easy to see why the player was dismissed on that occasion. One of the biggest bugbears of most right minded fans is players who
A black and white Collie dog renowned for his role in finding the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966. Designed & Published by Randl
deliberately set out to con the ref. Even the great Barcelona have been guilty of rolling around hysterically in an attempt to elicit sanctions against their opponents. With such behaviour a regular occurrence in the Premier League, it becomes increasingly difficult for referees to separate foul play from simulation. As if the job of officiating in the Premier League isn’t tough enough, refs increasingly have to contend with players looking to cheat their way to victory and without the help of retrospective sanctions they will continue to struggle in this battle. The offside rule has been a source of confusion for many years and is perpetually being tinkered with. The introduction of the “active” element to the law has added confusion since its inception, with many a pundit struggling to confidently assert whether a player is on or offside. It is actually the officials who tend to be the most knowledgeable regarding the rule book, especially this updated version. Goal-line technology can only be of benefit to referees. FIFA’s resistance to this has waned since the catastrophic error involving Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal in that game against Germany on football’s biggest stage. However, until its impending introduction referees are entitled to a bit of slack when it comes to telling whether a ball has crossed the line... in most cases at least. These factors can help to clarify a referee’s seemingly dubious course of action, although that is not to say that all controversial decisions are explicable. Like players and managers, referees are susceptible to poor performances and in such cases they should not be exempt from criticism. However, slamming officials without due consideration of their operational parameters undermines the validity of any criticism when it is deserved. The temptation will always be there to instinctively lash out at referees, but assessing their performances in a more measured manner is surely a fairer way to judge the men who attempt to stand for fairness.
is there still a place for good tackles in football?
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he water-cooler moment of this year’s FA Cup Third Round was undoubtedly the controversial sending off of Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany. Chris Foy’s decision early in the game divided a city and in its aftermath Mancunian natives could be split, Blues or Reds, from just the tone of their grumbles. Non-partisan observers have been equally divided, with arguments ranging from it being a strong but honest tackle to a stone wall red. Fence sitters may suggest Foy applied the rules but not his judgement, though it is difficult to see how one can criticise the ref for this: is this not what he was there to do? The unfortunate fact for Manchester City’s captain is that the challenge was in the realms of a red card. Harsh as it may be given the fact he made clean contact with the ball and not the player, Kompany gave the ref every opportunity to reach for his pocket by taking both feet off the ground and lunging in to the tackle. Although some claim Kompany slid into the challenge, when both feet leave the ground a lunge is a lunge that any ref will deem as a player losing control, endangering his opponent. While the decision to give one of Manchester City’s pivotal performers a very early bath elicits an element of sympathy given the circumstances, managers always demand refereeing consistency. If there is one thing referees are remarkably consistent about, it is brandishing red cards for anyone who leaves the ground with both feet. So much energy has been expended to argue on behalf of Kompany, yet advocates of sturdy, full-blooded and fair tackles would have been better served to drum up support for a player who received significantly less column inches. Nenad Milijas’ sending off versus Arsenal in December was, put simply, incorrect and far more detrimental to the fine tradition of tackling than Kompany’s misfortune. Mick McCarthy was rightly dismayed with the decision to dismiss Milijas for a textbook tackle. The Wolves’ midfielder most definitely slid in as opposed to lunge, kept his foot low at all times and timed it to perfection. It was controlled and accurate, yet referee Stuart Attwell saw fit to issue the player a red. Yes, the fight to preserve the art of tackling is a noble one but Vincent Kompany’s tackle was no Picasso. It was untidy, crafted from poor technique and, what’s more, uncharacteristic of one of the league’s top defenders. Fans do not appreciate poor passing or poor shooting and likewise poor tackling should also be discouraged. A good tackle can elicit a roar from the crowd to match any last minute equaliser but this is why we should be discerning, not indiscriminate, in our love for them.
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Joseph Anthony Barton Miscreant? Gentleman? Misunderstood philosophical thinker?
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fter being asked to investigate thee very questions by the Pickles' brass I was left with a sinking feeling. Is there really any doubt that Barton is, at best, more unsavoury than that final, day-end Gregg's steak slice? I longed for something simpler, perhaps 600 words on Ray Parlour’s hair through the years or the relative merits of snoods. But a brief conversation one Friday night opened my eyes. Me: So I'm doing an 'is Joey Barton actually alright?' article for Pickles. Him: Really? Didn’t he burn out some kid’s eye? Man's clearly an arsehole. Me: Right, yeah. Him: I still follow him on Twitter mind. And there it is. People are intrigued, endeared even. In an age of PR professionalism and official club statements, where so many complain that football has become a bit beige, Barton stands out like a coiffured beacon of old. But are times so hard that we must resort to Barton as the Premier League's colourful character or is he just the latest in a long line of lovable rogues? Now here was an angle.
the hell raising days of George Best and Gazza, joyfully out of place in the modern game. But was this just a fallacy foisted upon him by fans, alienated from the slick money-go-round game of today? What can't be argued is that his passion for the game is equalled only by his disdain for the politics behind it. In 2006 Barton captured the mood of the average fan when he openly lambasted players from the 2006 England World Cup squad for 'cashing in' on their poor performance by releasing autobiographies detailing the events. He later cemented his 'man of the people' image by singling out Frank Lampard's performance in the tournament, only to then take his spot in England's next game. To many supporters, one of their own was in the team. More dividing has been his tendency to deride his own clubs, starting in 2007 when he shared fan's frustration at Man City by publicly damning Man City's then recent signings as 'sub-standard'.
From the off Barton's career has been marred by temper. As far back as 2004 the young player raised eyebrows, inciting a ten man brawl after numerous fouls in a friendly against Doncaster. And then, of course, came Christmas.
This 'otherness' from the modern game would enter a new stratosphere, however, when perhaps the most open man in football found Twitter. Now with over 1 million followers, Barton's tweets have blown open debates from John Terry's 'is-he-aint-he' racist debacle to Newcastle’s transfer policy, a tirade of publicly aired laundry that eventually gained him a free transfer to QPR last summer.
While it is a British tradition to see out the year necking a secretary at the office Christmas party, most of us are content to keep it to hi-jinks; photocopied genitals at a push. Not for Mr Barton though who, after a night of fine dining and free alcohol, responded to a youth squad member's attempts to set the bottom of his shirt alight by stubbing out a lit cigar in the prankster's eye.
With his newly coiffured hair and Nietzsche spouting online persona, Barton seemed a man reborn by mid 2011. Heralded by Tony 'I asked for a Scotch but I think she meant tea' Adams, Barton now finds himself patron of the former wild-man's Tamsin Gulvin fund for sportsman with addiction issues and heavily involved in, of all things, a fishing-to-keep-them-off-the-streets-charity.
Fast forward a slap on the wrist, a £60K fine and a rather forced club apology and Barton was cementing his position at Man City; earning plaudits for his steely passion on the pitch. Having obviously learnt his lesson Barton went on to have a relatively controversy-free season. That was, of course, until the shackles of the Premier League were off and, after soaking up the Buddhist offerings during a friendly tournament in Thailand, used his leisure time to assault a 15 year old Everton fan. Though it was reported that the young fan had shin kicked him first it nonetheless, required a bulky pre-season Richard Dunne to restrain the incensed Barton.
Shameless PR stunts? Perhaps, but from reading his now regular Big Issue column it is clear that Barton does connects with the every man. Somewhat more surprisingly, Barton recently revealed his pro-gay rights beliefs in a documentary made by the Fashanu family stating it was his generation's responsibility to: "... change the game for the better."
Barton’s temper haunted his every turn, like the power bar on a beat-em-up that, once filled, unleashes a torrent of attack no matter who might be standing in front. From detaching the retina of team-mate Ousmane Dabo during a training session brawl to using Morten Gamst Pederson's chest as a whack-a-mole machine, Barton has swaggered from team to team with the air of menace usually reserved for a professional wrestler. Though covered more often than Brown Eyed Girl by drunken divorces at Karaoke nights, it would be facile to write any article on Barton without covering his genuinely heinous assault of two men in December 2007. Following a night drinking with his Brother and Cousin in Liverpool an altercation outside of a McDonalds where that night nobody was lovin' it - led to Barton 'punching a man twenty times, causing him to lose consciousness, and attacking a teenager, breaking some of his teeth.' Later Barton was sentenced to six months imprisonment, serving 77 days and joining Alcoholics Anonymous in hopes of 'total abstinence'. Even during this period, for many Barton was but a throwback to
Such is his evolving public persona it would be impossible to answer who Barton really is. At the risk of copping out, a wager he's a bit of all we've come to expect, part lout, part thinker would be a safe bet. Only one thing is for certain; any man who calls out England's internationals, dubs Alan Shearer 'a shit manager' and waxes openly on the downfalls of today's game - with seemingly not a care for the consequences - is certainly worth lending an ear. Just never, ever an eye.
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n Saturday 28th May 2011, a packed Wembley Stadium saw Barcelona systematically dismantle Manchester United. Even Sir Alex admitted as much. But it was no great surprise; as ever Barcelona were the favourites heading in to the game, a team of such unique style that aficionados the world over have grown comfortable hailing as the greatest of all time.
years since Guardiola took charge; and all with a team that might be deemed physically inferior by Premier League standards. Of the team that started club football’s showpiece, only four players – including the goalkeeper, Victor Valdes – were over 6ft tall and none of the three players shortlisted for this year’s World Player of the Year Award (named above) stretch above 5ft 7”.
The attacking talent at Pep Guardiola’s disposal is phenomenal. The technical ability possessed by Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi – to name just three of the Catalan heroes – is something few youngsters are encouraged to learn on British training grounds. The ability of these superstars to retain possession and pull teams out of shape has delivered consecutive La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies in the three
Certainly, the modern day preference in British football academies is to unearth athletes who will be able to impose their physical attributes on a game. On top of that, coaches layer skills and technical knowhow in order to turn these powerful, pacey youngsters into Premier League stars. Smaller players may find it difficult to break through in the English game and convince clubs of their worth, but Barcelona’s academy has no such concerns and any player who learns to love possession of the ball may one day find themselves playing in the famous Blaugrana shirt. Yet the Premier League is still littered with players who after having initially been rejected for due to size have gone on to find a home. Michael Essien famously revealed that he was twice rejected by Manchester United for being too small. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joey Barton and Kevin Phillips too all tell similar tales of rejection. However there is one English club trying to buck the trend and place more emphasis on technical gifts rather than athletic prowess. Arsenal, the club who last won the league in 2004 with a
team of Invincibles, are now trying to adopt the model developed deep in the bosom of Camp Nou. As their exit to Barcelona in the last two Champions League knockout stages proves, Arsene Wenger’s men are some way shy of producing the talent to execute this philosophy to the full, but the rise of Jack Wilshire through the Arsenal ranks indicates the belief Wenger has in focusing on the calibre of players rather than physical stature. It will take a lot of patience and dedication to see the philosophy bear fruit, but should Arsenal adhere to the policies and philosophies they have begun to implement – and it will require the buy in of the managers and staff who succeed Arsene Wenger – they may someday have a team and a style of play comparable to Barcelona and the current crop of great Spaniards. When a culture and way of playing is so firmly embedded in the psyche of both club and nation it is a mammoth challenge to convince those in power to outlay the considerable time and resources required to bring about such change. But Barcelona, and in particular their fans, are certainly enjoying the rewards of investment sewn so many years ago. As they see it, keeping control of the ball for 90 minutes means the opposition, no matter how big and strong they may be, cannot inflict any damage. In that respect, size no longer matters to FC Barcelona or the people of Spain.
The Badge New York Cosmos 1971-77 – Designer: Wayland Moore – www.nycosmos.com
New York Cosmos When the team was founded in 1971, Cosmos general manager Clive Toye chose the green and yellow of the Brazil national team as playing colors as part of his strategy to lure Pelé, one of that country's star players, to the United States. The club's initial uniform was all green with yellow trim, with the colours reversed on the away kit. When Pelé did come on board in 1975, the kit was changed to all-white in imitation of his club in Brazil, Santos. Kit's designed by Ralph Lauren were used from 1979 until the eventual demise of the NASL.
The artist commissioned by Toye to design the team's logo was Wayland Moore, a sports artist from Atlanta who had already worked on the logo, uniform and program covers of that city's soccer team, the Chiefs. Moore attempted to create a design that was simple, recognisable and inclusive of New York's many nationalities. The three colored "blades" surrounding the football in the center represented its movement, while the font originally used was chosen simply because it was easily legible on the uniform. The text was shortened to "Cosmos" in 1977.