What next for shattered Aston Villa?

Taken with archetypal Roman confidence, young Federico Macheda’s exquisite later-than-late goal at once re-established Manchester United’s dominance in the title race and thrust a dagger deep into the fading heart of Aston Villa’s season. In the second minute of stoppage time came the cruellest of blows – Villa’s hard-earned 2-1 advantage was finally overturned with a swaggering swish of the teenage Italian’s right boot. Was this the moment the Midlands side conceded defeat in the chase for fourth place?

Well, of course not. Publically, Martin O’Neill will not make a concession to that effect, but it’s been clear to all and sundry that Villa’s Champions League challenge faded quite some time ago. In taking the hotly-debated decision to rest a host of first-teamers for the difficult UEFA Cup 2^nd leg tie with CSKA Moscow, the Villa manager had on his hands a team that were no longer mildly-fatigued winners, rather dog-tired losers. The momentum which had been gradually building since Intertoto duty kicked off their season at the height of summer was irretrievably lost.

Round about this time too, a telling piece of TV production (occasionally it happens) highlighted the rising tide against which Villa’s tiring troops were battling. As the magical skills of Andrei Arshavin were beginning to re-ignite the Gunners’ waning goal-making - and taking - prowess following their lengthy lean patch in front of goal, the camera panned along the line of upcoming Arsenal returnees. Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Eduardo da Silva were all among a benchful of world class talent, each on the verge of a return from one long-term injury or other. It was an ominous signal that the North London club were ready to kick out of the stupor which had dogged their season.

Villa have quite patently been unable to compete with such impressive strength in depth, and understandably so; because they have not been party to continued Champions League ‘financial doping’ (a term Arsene Wenger used about mega-rich club owners such as Roman Abramovich having a distortive effect on the game, but which can easily be applied to the current Champions League cartel). The wafer-thin squad of the Second City side was supplemented only by Emile Heskey (who has unfortunately been largely MIA since his debut goal at Fratton Park) during the January transfer window. Rather than speculating to accumulate, O’Neill stuck steadfastly with his hand and subsequently went bust. At the time, it must be said, few fans complained about the lack of recruitment.

Successive defeats culminating in Sunday afternoon’s unlucky – if somehow inevitable; given United’s prodigious injury-time goalscoring record – loss at Old Trafford have again drawn a harsh light on the limitations of the squad. Without defensive lynchpin Martin Laursen, the back four – too often featuring Nigel Reo-Coker as a fish-out-of-water right-back and Mr Consistency Luke Young deputising for Freddie Bouma at left-back – has been sieve-like. The switch to 4-4-2 in order to accommodate their new England centre forward saw the counter-attacking menace of the previously preferred 4-5-1 significantly diluted.

For some time now, the more pragmatic Villa fan has been glancing down the table at surging Everton rather than dreaming of gate-crashing the Champions League party. The Toffees are one of the few clubs to have usurped the big four’s hegemony in the past decade and, led by the exceptional David Moyes – one of Martin O’Neill’s few equals or superiors in the Premier League – their recent form is enough to suggest that it is they that should now be favourites for fifth.

As the New Year rolled around and the tightly-packed table promised a dramatic conclusion to events at either end of the league, there was much talk of a refreshing shift in the static Premier League hierarchy – with Villa at the vanguard of the uprising. It looks unlikely now that such a change will transpire: United are probable champions; Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal cruise along behind. Even at the bottom, a previously intoxicating survival battle is fast losing its allure – at least for the neutral. It’s still possible (though unlikely, given Stoke’s outstanding home form) that the three promoted clubs could slip back into the Championship and the status quo would then be well and truly restored.

Following that logic, many would have pencilled in Everton and Villa battling it out for Europa League entry and so it has turned out. The two sides meet at Villa Park next week with the momentum inexorably in Everton’s corner. For Martin O’Neill’s men, the game has the feel of make or break – a defeat here would finally concede Villa’s dearly-held ‘best of the rest’ tag to the Merseysiders.

Gareth Barry’s future destiny again looms on the agenda like a long-feared dentist’s appointment – though let’s hope any ensuing saga doesn’t drag on as painfully as last summer’s snore-athon. This year, Stillian Petrov’s contribution to the Villans’ engine room has matched, even surpassed, that of the England star. Yet to lose their talisman – and longest-serving player – would be a shattering blow to the hopes of a club with fast-rising ambition. So far, progress under O’Neill’s guidance has been admirable. Whether or not the Ulsterman can now lead his team up another level will define the success, or otherwise, of his Villa Park reign.

A tactical revolution? How the Big Four have changed

Much has been made of the many comings and goings at the ‘Big Four’ clubs throughout a summer full of signings and speculation. The Premier League title is destined, however, for the team which makes the most of their resources, whether massive or relatively meagre. Personnel, motivation – and luck – are all important factors, of course, but countless points will be won and lost on the pre-game chalkboard.

The relative importance of tactical systems is debated long and hard by so-called students of the game, and, from Harry Redknapp’s successful “keep it simple and enjoy your football” mantra to Arsene Wenger’s relentlessly analytical approach, the pros differ wildly in their methods too. It’s undeniable, though, that there has been a significant tactical shift at the top table of English football between this season and last.

Starting with the defending champions, whose hand has been forced by the much-hyped loss of their free-scoring talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, early season outings have seen Manchester United reclaim their beloved (but long-estranged) formation: the classic 4-4-2. Ronnie’s departure, allied to that of Carlos Tévez, has necessitated a switch from Sir Alex’s patented ‘strikerless’ set-up to a more orthodox approach. United often exhilarated spectators and overwhelmed lesser opposition, during their golden run of the past three years, with a fluid forward line of Rooney, Ronaldo and A.N.Other. Michael Owen’s arrival means that the manager will, more often than not, adopt a flattish midfield four incorporating two wingers from Nani, Valencia, Park, and, in due course, Obertan and Tošić.

Wayne Rooney, therefore, will shoulder the burden of responsibility for both goalscoring and goalmaking, alongside Owen or Berbatov. The evidence so far suggests that reining-in the multi-talented forward’s excessive workrate outwith his new penalty-box remit will be more difficult than first considered.

It is, these days, something of an anomaly to operate a simple two-man central midfield partnership too. Can Carrick and co. still influence games in the same way as before, especially when taking into account the continuing physical decline of old stagers Giggs and Scholes? All told, it is difficult to see United, barring late investment in the squad, dictating to the Premier League minions in quite the same manner as before.

Old rivals Arsenal, meanwhile, have made alterations with an eye on suffocating those opponents that stubbornly refuse to roll over upon mere sight of pretty passing football. In other words: Bolton and Blackburn. In order to turn over their Lancastrian nemeses (and other sides of their ilk), manager Arsène Wenger has in fact borrowed (just a little) from Gary Megson’s team.

Though he’d hardly admit it, the right-sided role that Wenger has thrust Nicklas Bendtner into of late echoes that of Bolton warhorse Kevin Davies – one of the league’s most quietly feared opponents – in seasons past. While the big Dane’s physicality is minimal by comparison with Davies, his presence in the new-look three-man Arsenal front-line draws defensive attention away from the mercurial talents of Robin van Persie and, particularly, Andrei Arshavin.

Wenger explains: “I want to play high up the pitch and bring the threat to the opponents half very early in the game. We are an attacking team and that gives us an opportunity to show our character.”

This plan worked to tremendous effect at Goodison Park last weekend, but doubts persist over whether the Alsatian’s slavish adherence to the beautiful game in its purest form can realistically yield a first league title since 2004. Much will depend on the consistency and continuing development of Cesc Fabregas’ midfield cohorts; Alexandre Song and Denilson. If that pair can form an effective shield in front of an already impressive Gallas-Vermaelen defensive axis, the Gunners might prove more than just also-rans this year.

To finish as relatively close runners-up last year was something of a breakthrough for Rafa Benítez’s Liverpool. To then lose one of their most consistent and able performers from that campaign might be considered careless if it weren’t for the sheer scale of Xabi Alonso’s new employers’ ruthless ambition. Thirty million big ones is an impressive haul, some would say, for a deep-lying midfielder with a shamefully weak goal/assist record. However, the technical prowess and vision offered by Real Madrid’s new no.22 was crucial in the delicate tactical balance which held together the 4-2-3-1 line-up favoured by Benitez.

Notwithstanding the possible impact of energetic Roman midfielder Alberto Aquilani on the Merseysiders’ fortunes, there’s no doubt that they have lost a significant dimension to their play. The over-reliance on Steven Gerrard’s freakish blend of athleticism and finesse, and on Fernando Torres as the point of attack (Andrii Voronin might have returned from a brilliant loan spell in Berlin with greater confidence, but still lacks a little star quality) means that Liverpool will inevitably struggle to maintain their momentum.

While a significant departure has placed Benítez in something of a tactical quandary, title rivals Chelsea will surely benefit from continuity of key personnel. The latest head coach along the Stamford Bridge production line, Carlo Ancelotti, has brought with him from Milan a narrow midfield structure; latterly used by a certain Jose Mourinho. The Blues’ abundance of able central midfield players lends itself to such a ‘diamond’ formation, it’s true. The absence of orthodox wingers from the XI, however, brings with it serious limitations.

One of the main beneficiaries of the switch, Michael Ballack has played the old “you can play any system with good players” card in recent interviews. Tellingly, the 32-year-old has conceded Ancelotti’s preferred option has as many cons as pros: “You gain a small advantage through the centre but there's more hard work for the four midfielders because they have a lot of work to do on and off the ball in this system,” said Ballack.

Quite where this approach will leave the likes of resurgent Florent Malouda, expensive new-boy Yuri Zhirkov and the returning Joe Cole is for Carletto to know and the King’s Road hordes to find out. At least the Premier League’s most frightening front two – Anelka and Drogba – can both be accommodated within the new framework. At the Stadium of Light this week, near-forgotten Deco was given a chance in support of Drogba, showing a certain flexibility in Ancelotti’s thinking. It is for this reason that Chelsea can produce their most cogent title push since the departure of their one-time tactical tsar, Mourinho.

Of course, it’s too early in the season to fully assess the impact (and longevity) of these changes, but it will be fascinating to see how events unfold on the chalkboard as the season develops.

To tinker with a winning formula exhibits bravery, for there’s the risk it can all go horribly wrong – witness Martin O’Neill’s switch to 4-4-2 spectacularly de-railing Aston Villa last term; beware Harry Redknapp, who has spoken of altering his hitherto winning formula by adding a third man to the Tottenham front-line.

For those who gamble and win? Well, they’ll be lionised as tactical geniuses forevermore. Well, at least until their next cock-up. 4-5-1 at home to Stoke!? What were you thinking?

What next for shattered Aston Villa?

Taken with archetypal Roman confidence, young Federico Macheda’s exquisite later-than-late goal at once re-established Manchester United’s dominance in the title race and thrust a dagger deep into the fading heart of Aston Villa’s season. In the second minute of stoppage time came the cruellest of blows – Villa’s hard-earned 2-1 advantage was finally overturned with a swaggering swish of the teenage Italian’s right boot. Was this the moment the Midlands side conceded defeat in the chase for fourth place?

Well, of course not. Publically, Martin O’Neill will not make a concession to that effect, but it’s been clear to all and sundry that Villa’s Champions League challenge faded quite some time ago. In taking the hotly-debated decision to rest a host of first-teamers for the difficult UEFA Cup 2^nd leg tie with CSKA Moscow, the Villa manager had on his hands a team that were no longer mildly-fatigued winners, rather dog-tired losers. The momentum which had been gradually building since Intertoto duty kicked off their season at the height of summer was irretrievably lost.

Round about this time too, a telling piece of TV production (occasionally it happens) highlighted the rising tide against which Villa’s tiring troops were battling. As the magical skills of Andrei Arshavin were beginning to re-ignite the Gunners’ waning goal-making - and taking - prowess following their lengthy lean patch in front of goal, the camera panned along the line of upcoming Arsenal returnees. Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Eduardo da Silva were all among a benchful of world class talent, each on the verge of a return from one long-term injury or other. It was an ominous signal that the North London club were ready to kick out of the stupor which had dogged their season.

Villa have quite patently been unable to compete with such impressive strength in depth, and understandably so; because they have not been party to continued Champions League ‘financial doping’ (a term Arsene Wenger used about mega-rich club owners such as Roman Abramovich having a distortive effect on the game, but which can easily be applied to the current Champions League cartel). The wafer-thin squad of the Second City side was supplemented only by Emile Heskey (who has unfortunately been largely MIA since his debut goal at Fratton Park) during the January transfer window. Rather than speculating to accumulate, O’Neill stuck steadfastly with his hand and subsequently went bust. At the time, it must be said, few fans complained about the lack of recruitment.

Successive defeats culminating in Sunday afternoon’s unlucky – if somehow inevitable; given United’s prodigious injury-time goalscoring record – loss at Old Trafford have again drawn a harsh light on the limitations of the squad. Without defensive lynchpin Martin Laursen, the back four – too often featuring Nigel Reo-Coker as a fish-out-of-water right-back and Mr Consistency, Luke Young, deputising for Freddie Bouma at left-back – has been sieve-like. The switch to 4-4-2 in order to accommodate their new England centre forward saw the counter-attacking menace of the previously preferred 4-5-1 significantly diluted.

For some time now, the more pragmatic Villa fan has been glancing down the table at surging Everton rather than dreaming of gate-crashing the Champions League party. The Toffees are one of the few clubs to have usurped the big four’s hegemony in the past decade and, led by the exceptional David Moyes – one of Martin O’Neill’s few equals or superiors in the Premier League – their recent form is enough to suggest that it is they that should now be favourites for fifth.

As the New Year rolled around and the tightly-packed table promised a dramatic conclusion to events at either end of the league, there was much talk of a refreshing shift in the static Premier League hierarchy – with Villa at the vanguard of the uprising. It looks unlikely now that such a change will transpire: United are probable champions; Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal cruise along behind. Even at the bottom, a previously intoxicating survival battle is fast losing its allure – at least for the neutral. It’s still possible (though unlikely, given Stoke’s outstanding home form) that the three promoted clubs could slip back into the Championship and the status quo would then be well and truly restored.

Following that logic, many would have pencilled in Everton and Villa battling it out for Europa League entry and so it has turned out. The two sides meet at Villa Park next week with the momentum inexorably in Everton’s corner. For Martin O’Neill’s men, the game has the feel of make or break – a defeat here would finally concede Villa’s dearly-held ‘best of the rest’ tag to the Merseysiders.

Gareth Barry’s future destiny again looms on the agenda like a long-feared dentist’s appointment – though let’s hope any ensuing saga doesn’t drag on as painfully as last summer’s snore-athon. This year, Stillian Petrov’s contribution to the Villans’ engine room has matched, even surpassed, that of the England star. Yet to lose their talisman – and longest-serving player – would be a shattering blow to the hopes of a club with fast-rising ambition. So far, progress under O’Neill’s guidance has been admirable. Whether or not the Ulsterman can now lead his team up another level will define the success, or otherwise, of his Villa Park reign.

Blackburn and Boro’s blues: The true price of the drop

In spite of the inescapable economic crisis, which will get its grubby little hands on us all in one way or another, English football remains in rude health. Or so it would seem.

Within the space of seven days, the publication of Deloitte’s Club Football ‘Money League’ and announcement of a new, improved TV deal have given cause for optimism to those concerned about the impact of the contracting economy on the much-loved national game.

If the exchange rate value of the pound had not depreciated so dramatically of late, there would have been nine, rather than ‘just’ seven English clubs in the Deloitte Top 20 and Manchester United would instead have topped the list (which is based purely on revenue) ahead of Real Madrid. Even so, the big guns of the Premier League need not fear falling far behind their continental cousins any time in the near future.

In the face of the challenging economic environment, the Premier League also secured a record deal for live domestic broadcast rights for 2010/11 to 2012/13, up 4% to £1.782bn in total. And that’s before lucrative overseas rights are stirred into the pot.

It’s a rosy picture indeed for those clubs at the top of the pyramid, but for the vast majority of Premier and Football League members, that picture is increasingly obscured by stormy clouds on the horizon. To say nothing of the problems faced by a plethora of lower league clubs, those top flight teams without the clout of United, Liverpool or Chelsea are facing up to a period of enforced austerity and serious belt-tightening.

Let’s take, for example, two long-established Premier League clubs; both firmly entrenched in the unseemly scramble for survival which has, this season, engulfed the top-flight’s traditional also-rans.

Struggling Middlesbrough, it has emerged, are in debt to the tune of a hefty £85m. Under-fire manager Gareth Southgate has been quick to acknowledge the pressure that such a ticking financial time-bomb places on his position and on the club as a whole.

“We know the resources we have and we know the parameters and that makes life difficult,” said Southgate.

“We are in a different position now to the last eight or nine years. The chairman knows what he will get from me and that is every hour towards keeping this football club in the Premier League.”

Failure to do so, though softened a little by two years worth of ‘parachute payments’, would hold catastrophic consequences for the Teesiders, let alone the managerial career of the ex-England international.

It’s a simple economic reality: If a club can't regularly fill a 35,000 capacity stadium, then it will inevitably incur big, fat debts. Middlesbrough have punched above their weight for a sustained period now. Fortunately for them, their saintly proprietor Steve Gibson has underwritten the majority of that colossal debt and should his side be one of the three to slip through the trapdoor this May, then the resulting loss of revenue will fall at his door only. Of course, should such a Boro blow-up come to pass, there will be few, if any, buyers willing or able to take a quite unattractive proposition off Gibson’s hands.

Over in Lancashire, amid the big-spending might of United, City and Liverpool, lies Blackburn Rovers FC. It’s more than a decade now since their remarkable Premier League win under the stewardship of the Walker/Dalglish dream-ticket. They’ve had their ups and downs since then, but in the aftermath of the inspirational Mark Hughes’ departure, the hasty curtailment of Paul Ince’s tenure and subsequent installation of Sam Allardyce, Rovers are prime candidates for the drop.

The posting of record turnover this year (£56.4m, collated principally on the back of media money) presents a positive facade. Yet, as chairman John Williams pointed out this week, Blackburn are still, more or less, only breaking even. This is due to ridiculous wage expenditure - 76% of their turnover has been splurged on salaries over the past five years. Such a percentage is absolute commercial nonsense.

Allied with average attendances of under 24,000 (currently the 3^rd lowest in the League) and a commendably reasonable ticket pricing policy (generally speaking, Rovers lay on the cheapest top flight tickets); Blackburn have cultivated a model which is impossible to continue upon relegation.

Not only Blackburn but all clubs, whether they’re spending 60, 70 or 80 percent, should be striving to reduce obscene salaries. In fact, most other businesses operate around the 25% mark. In other European leagues there are strict rules capping the percentage of income a club can spend on paying players. Unless the English game is to slip into a deep black economic hole, the most extravagant spenders have no alternative but to fall in line.

Chairman Williams admits that his club are walking a financial tightrope: “If we ran with the 17th highest wage bill - believing that would mean three teams finish below us - that would be incredibly risky.”

“Of course if you have the 12th highest wage bill and you get relegated and you have a relatively small turnover you are in for trouble, which is why relegation for us would be so worrying.”

The Premier League has made token efforts to even up the playing field between the haves and the have-nots. They would argue their distribution formula of TV revenue gives a semblance of even distribution. And, more so than in other leagues (such as Serie A, where each club negotiates its own deal) it does.

“It could be more even,” argues Williams. “More sporting socialism, a bit like the NFL, would suit Rovers.”

For a club that effectively bought its way to the title in the recent past, that might strike some as a rather hypocritical stance to take. Williams, though, has a valid point. The NFL employs a salary cap in which each franchise can spend only a set limit on wages. Under European employment law, this scheme would be almost impossible to integrate into the Premier League, even if the will was there among the clubs – and it isn’t.

Another US sport, baseball, might hold the key to tackling this escalating problem. Teams mutually agree an upper salary limit. If this limit is exceeded, the franchise must pay a ‘luxury tax’, to be re-distributed among the other teams. That’s the kind of ‘sporting socialism’ which could conceivably return some semblance of a level playing field to our game. But, again, enforcement is a major problem.

All of the top clubs are in significant debt too, whether it is to an individual (Chelsea) or to our beloved, eminently trustworthy financial institutions (United, Arsenal, Liverpool). These vast debts, however, are serviced by guaranteed income from giant international fanbases, ownership of lucrative stadia and regular Champions League football. Other more modest clubs such as Blackburn, Boro, Portsmouth now find themselves in a predicament which, if it doesn’t yet threaten their very existence, might see any one of them go the way of Charlton, Southampton or even Leeds United.

Uncommonly loyal Shay’s outburst is a given

Saviour of club and country for well over a decade, Shay Given has long earned his place in the hearts and minds of Geordies and Irishmen alike. The 32-year-old from County Donegal was unveiled as a Manchester City player on Thursday morning, after completing his move from Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee, understood to be around £8m, on Monday.

Throughout the continuing turbulence which has plagued the North East giants since Sir Bobby Robson’s unfortunate departure, Given has been “a small, reassuring constant in an ocean of change”. So says a Shay fansite, where one Newcastle supporter laments that his departure “will sting as only the bitter break-up with a loved one can”. Now that’s some serious feeling.

It’s safe to say, though, that unpopular owner Mike Ashley failed to appreciate the depth of the attachment between the fans and their hero. Given explained:

“The first contact I had with Mike Ashley was on January 26. There were a few things they could have done to try and keep me but they didn't do so. In the end they were happy to take the money and move on.”

The goalkeeper continued: “It felt like a long and drawn-out transfer. I felt they could have dealt with it a little bit better. Considering the service I gave the club, the regime could have looked after the whole thing a bit better. They made me do things I didn't want to do.”

Given, having already sealed his lucrative move up the Premier League pyramid, stood to gain little by indulging in a barely credible Charles N’Zogbia-style self-pitying rant. Instead this was a calculated assessment of the state of play at Newcastle, borne out of frustration at having to leave in order to fulfil his ambitions.

Despite the alarming slump from top four contenders to relegation-threatened also-rans in recent years, the Ireland no.1 has long remained tight-lipped about the wandering direction of the club he did so much to serve. Only now that he is free of the unedifying circus which poses as the Newcastle United hierarchy has Given chosen to speak out. A decade-plus of total commitment and outstanding performances (papering over the gaping cracks left by Bramble, Boumsong, Cacapa, et al) have earned him that right.

The Christmastime thumping at the hands of free-flowing (yes, really) Liverpool facilitated his departure. That humiliating 1-5 reverse was the nadir of a long, illustrious career which encompassed spells at Celtic and Blackburn prior to his arrival at St James’ Park. With the club offering only token resistance to City’s advances, Given’s switch to Eastlands was a fait accompli.

Kinnear’s version of events, not surprisingly, doesn’t quite tally with that of his fellow countryman’s though. According to the ex-Wimbledon gaffer, he maintained a “great relationship” with the ‘keeper he claims is “one of the best in the world.”

“I would be the last person in the world who would want to sell him,” he said, “But these things happen.”

With his frequent rants against the media and perceived unfair treatment at the hands of referees, it is clear that under-pressure Kinnear hopes to foster a siege mentality at St James’. However, to successfully pull off such an approach, as frequently mastered by the likes of Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager must keep the playing staff firmly onside.

Given’s mid-season exit (with the words: “over the last six months it has been fizzling out and it’s not been enjoyable going into training”) allied to N’Zogbia’s altogether more predictably messy departure, suggests that the Geordie ship is sinking – with a helpless Captain Kinnear flailing helplessly about at the helm. His man-management skills must be called into question if, as expected, there is a mass exodus – led by perma-crocked Michael Owen – from Tyneside in the summer.

The interim manager revealed several weeks ago that he had been offered a new two-year deal to remain as manager, which will apparently be formalised come the summer. The offer was seen as means of Ashley instilling a little stability. But is it really such a wise decision? And speaking of ‘Wise’ decisions: has Newcastle’s executive director of football really made a competent fist of the post he was so bafflingly appointed to?

Wise’s abject failure to recruit adequately during the January window could prove costly. The prospective arrivals of Toulouse full-back Albin Ebondo, City’s Michael Johnson and Kieran Richardson of Sunderland failed to materialise. A flimsy, ill-balanced squad, littered with dead wood, has been supplemented by Kevin Nolan, Ryan Taylor and Peter Lovenkrands, but stands in real danger of a calamitous drop through the top-flight trapdoor.

Only saintly-patient Steve Harper’s obvious ability to step into the void left by Given is a small mercy. The imminent returns, from injury, of Alan Smith, Oba Martins and, to a lesser extent, Mark Viduka might yet engender an upturn in mood and fortune. A win from Saturday afternoon’s clash at The Hawthorns with fellow strugglers West Brom is now desperately important if the Magpies are to survive their second successive relegation battle.

“I've got no bitter feelings towards the fans, they are extremely loyal,” said Given as he wrapped up his move to Manchester. An accurate assessment of the Geordie faithful’s dedication, but it’s difficult to see how that loyalty will ever be re-paid as long as the much-maligned ‘Cockney Mafia’ remains in situ at St James’ Park. You can’t help but feel that Seamus is better off out of it.

Moyes makes most of meagre resources

If Bill Shankly wouldn’t open his curtains to see Everton playing at the bottom of his garden, then it’s fair to assume that Rafa Benitez would hardly bother to pop on his specs to watch the Toffees knocking neat one-twos across his solid oak dining table; such is the Spaniard’s apparent disdain for Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals. Yet, due to his erratic recent conduct, the credibility of the former Valencia coach’s various opinions has seriously nosedived – none less than his assessment of David Moyes’ men.

Everton stand accused of boring, stultifying and – shock, horror! – defending, their way up to sixth place in the Premier League on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run. That they haven’t lost a game since their unfortunate 2-3 reverse in early December’s “Thriller with the Villa” speaks volumes for the deep reserves of fortitude and ability at the Goodison Park club. Taking into consideration the paucity of forward options Moyes has been forced to deal with – Yakubu, Saha, Vaughan are all M.I.A – that achievement should be heralded all the more.

Since his switch from Preston in 2002, Moyes has made a name for himself as an accomplished maximiser of relatively meagre resources.

Arch-critic Benitez has had a net spend of £100m-plus, with his predecessor Gérard Houllier reportedly getting through £120m (with sales of approx. £57m) during his tenure. In his first six years at the Everton helm, prior to last summer, Moyes had spent just less than £80m and recovered £52m – effectively at an annual cost of around £5m. At a time when finances are especially thin on the ground and a healthy chunk of his squad is laid up with injury, it seems that the taciturn Glaswegian has, once again, come into his own.

Due to his reticent nature, Moyes is generally shy with the superlatives, but didn’t hesitate to apportion full credit to his two defensive bedrocks following the Toffees’ 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday night. Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka were both “outstanding” and “out of this world”, according to their manager. Jagielka continues to draw praise as one of the Premier League’s apparently ‘unsung heroes’, but it is the consistently brilliant Lescott – the duo’s senior partner – who has shone the brightest since his overdue switch inside from left-back.

Boyhood Liverpool fan Leighton Baines has now come good in the position vacated by Lescott. Elsewhere: in midfield; Phil Neville is a limited player, notoriously so, but a solidly dependable one. Record-buy Marouane Fellaini has split opinion, but the aerial threat the lanky Belgian offers in absence of Everton’s recognised front-men has been invaluable to the cause. Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar’s assiduous endeavour on the flanks has allowed much-admired creator-in-chief Mikel Arteta to shine in his preferred central role.

It is, of course, the goal-getting efforts of Tim Cahill which grab the majority of the headlines. To watch the versatile Australian’s adept penalty-box manoeuvres at attacking set-plays is to watch a master at work. His prodigious spring, and uncanny knack of appearing ethereally from off-radar to bulge the net, makes Cahill an invaluable asset to a decidedly workmanlike outfit.

It is exactly how Moyes has sculpted these key players, as well as those in the margins, into an unassailable unit which is most noteworthy aspect of their recent ascent. Without an established target-man, Everton have adopted a set-up which could be crudely described as a 4-6-0 formation. Fellaini, when available, has provided an unlikely attacking fulcrum; with Cahill, Pienaar and Osman breaking forward at will to join in on the team’s rare forays forward.

Over the course of the last few seasons – as the vast majority of Premier League line-ups have moved away from the long-established 4-4-2 – it has become fashionable to flood the midfield and leave one man up front to plough a lone furrow. Though borne of necessity rather than careful invention, Everton’s forward-less formation is not in itself revolutionary.

Facing a similar injury crisis as they challenged strongly for the 2006/07 Serie A scudetto, Luciano Spalletti’s Roma used Francesco Totti (typically a classic no.10) as a nominal centre-forward; supported by quick, able runners from midfield such as Mancini, Taddei and Simone Perrotta. Often, Totti would drop into his more conventional position, leaving the team bereft of a single out-and-out striker. The ploy worked to some success, as the Romans played some of the most enterprising football throughout Europe that year. In a slightly different case, Manchester United featured a fluid front-line of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo on many occasions last season – often with all three working outside the penalty box; leaving the team entirely without an old-fashioned no.9.

Such justification for their current style won’t appease Everton’s harshest critics though. In the aftermath of the second 1-1 Merseyside derby draw within a week, and in sharp response to Benitez’s harsh appraisal of the Everton approach, Moyes went on the offensive with characteristic maturity and distinction. He said: “This is a great club, and we do things with dignity and style. I take great pride with how the players are performing at the moment – the resilience they are showing.”

It’s not hard to surmise, then, that his high-flying side are made very much in the image of their resolutely single-minded manager. On Saturday evening, the immovable object which is Everton’s back four (or perhaps back five, six, seven...) meets the irresistible force of Manchester United. Ironically, an unlikely Toffees win at Old Trafford would play nicely into the hands of Rafa’s boys across Stanley Park. Moyes won’t care about that for one moment though. Instead he’ll concentrate fully on once again making the most of the hand he’s been dealt.

Is Arshavin the man to rouse erratic Arsenal?

Zenit St Petersburg general director Maxim Mitrofanov claimed yesterday that talks are on-going with Arsenal over the potential move of their prized asset, Andrei Arshavin, to the Emirates Stadium. Some sources have it that Arshavin has already visited London with a view to wrapping up one of this season’s most tedious transfer sagas.

It seems a deal is imminent. So is it a move that can revitalise Arsenal’s flagging title challenge, or is this impending transaction too high-risk and somewhat ill-advised given the evident shortcomings of the Gunners’ squad? In short: is Andrei Arshavin really the right man to rouse Arsene’s Arsenal?

YES

Arsene Wenger admitted to French TV channel Canal Plus last month that he wanted to secure the services of a creative midfielder during this transfer window. Following last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Plymouth he said: “What I want, if we do add somebody, is someone who can create a little spark.”

“If the right player comes in, even if he is not available for the Champions’ League, the class is more important. Players like (Aaron) Ramsey, of course they still show lapses, through lack of experience.”

He concluded: “In the Premier League now, you need to be really a man.”

It’s implicit, then, that an experienced, inspirational talent such as Arshavin would be a more than welcome arrival at Ashburton Grove. And rightly so.

Signing a technically adept, innovative playmaker might not seem an immediately obvious response to a campaign characterised by defensive lapses and a lack of engine room fortitude. However, it is a typically Wenger-esque solution to his team’s exasperating form of late. Just look at one of his previous expensive winter purchases – José Antonio Reyes.

OK, so in the long-run that deal didn’t work out for the best, but the impetus of Reyes’ arrival from Sevilla helped the Gunners along to their ‘perfect’ 2003/04 title. Arshavin would have his hands full trying to steer Arsenal to top spot this time around, but could make all the difference in the battle, with Aston Villa, for a precious Champions League spot.

It’s a move that would also relieve the creative burden which falls heavily upon the slim shoulders of Ramsey, Nasri, et al, in the continuing absence of talisman Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky. It is the little Czech midfielder who stands to lose out from this move, but few fans will shed a tear should his inconsistent, injury-riddled stay at the Emirates be terminated come the summer. Like Rosicky, Arshavin is not a frequent goalscorer, but will weigh in with his fair share and create at least twice as many for others. In his best year to date, 2007, he notched up 15 goals and a remarkable 25 assists in 46 league and European games.

Those harbouring doubts whether the player can adapt to the relentless rigours of English football need only cast their eye across North London towards Spurs’ Roman Pavlyuchenko – the major protagonist behind the Lilywhites’ run to within touching distance of the Carling Cup final. The striker was not an immediate success, but his numerous qualities have become all the more apparent in recent weeks. Should he finally arrive, Arshavin must similarly be given time to acclimatise.

One recurring complaint about the proposed deal is the financial aspect. Zenit are holding out for a fee in the region of £20m, to be paid in full. Yet, when you consider that Arsenal alumnus David Bentley – a gifted, but essentially superfluous performer – cost Tottenham £17m last summer, Arshavin should certainly command such a sum. In any case, the eventual price will surely be less, with Zenit keen to cash in on a disillusioned asset before the window slams shut.

Finally, though it would hardly concern Wenger, signing the mercurial midfielder would really spice up the upper reaches of the Premier League. Arshavin is one of those rare players, in the mould of a Messi or Ribéry, who can routinely turn a game on its head – as evidenced by his stellar performances during Euro 2008; particularly in Russia’s comprehensive quarter-final defeat of Holland. Throughout that tournament, Wenger eulogised to all and sundry about the exceptional talents of the little man from Leningrad. Now is the time to give the tricky no.10 his big chance to make it in the West.

NO

Zenit want £20m payment in full, a deal which, given the standard Premier League practice of paying by instalments, would spectacularly shatter Wenger’s strict model of prudency. Arsenal’s record outright payment (Reyes cost £10m plus various add-ons) was the £13m acquisition of Sylvain Wiltord some eight years ago. Mid-season, while a new, young side is in its infancy is hardly the time for the ex-Monaco manager to abandon his famed principles.

And what of Ramsey and 17-year-old prodigy Jack Wilshere? Surely Arshavin’s arrival would curb their encouraging development, with first team opportunities at a premium – especially once Fabregas returns.

Even if a lavish outlay is forthcoming, Wenger must spend it in the right areas. As Bill Shankly used to say: “A football team is like a piano. You need eight men to carry it and three who can play the damn thing.” The potential addition of Arshavin to the Arsenal ranks may add another virtuoso player, but leaves them, still, with precious few carriers.

What Wenger most needs now, as most observers would surely agree, is a destructive element. Someone to sift through the dirty work; as Messrs Vieira, Petit and, latterly, Flamini did with such authority. A box-to-box player such as Barcelona’s Yaya Touré would fit the bill nicely. Mark Hughes apparently hopes to persuade the Ivorian to swap Camp Nou for Moss Side, but if any club might prise Kolo’s little brother away from the Catalans it would more likely be Arsenal. And, of course, there are many other, cheaper, alternatives. Arshavin’s Zenit team-mate Anatoliy Tymoshchuk would be one.

With ex-skipper William Gallas and Mickael Silvestre ruled out of action for the rest of the month, defensive recruits must now take priority – Matthew Upson is supposedly a key target.

As for the transfer target himself; between making his first-team debut at, curiously enough, Valley Parade (against Bradford City in the 2000 Intertoto Cup) and his influential role in Zenit’s UEFA Cup triumph last season, Arshavin made only a negligible impact on the football public’s consciousness. His star turns against Sweden and Holland during the Euros were impressive, it’s true, but the 27-year-old was notable by his absence during the Russians’ capitulation in the semi-final clash with Spain. In that game, it was Xavi, Iniesta and Arsenal’s own Fàbregas that shone, while Arshavin floundered.

Since that time, he has sulked his way through the remainder of the Russian League season, as potential summer moves to Spurs and Barcelona faltered at the negotiating stage. Zenit then fell through the Champions League trapdoor, with Arshavin failing to make an impression. His fleeting appearances in the competition this season would also rule him out of Arsenal’s challenge for European honours – their best remaining chance of major glory this term.

Should this gamble fail, Wenger’s apparent infallibility will be drawn under further scrutiny. Any departure from the policy of youth and shrewdness that has served the 59-year-old so well in his career cannot – and will not – be taken lightly.

Beauty vs Beasts: Can Mowbray’s men beat the drop in style?

“Stoke City offer different types of problems than we give teams and yet they are just as effective, and at this moment more effective, than what we do. Whatever they do it is within the laws of the game and difficult to defend against.”

This was West Brom boss Tony Mowbray’s tacit admission, in the build-up to Saturday afternoon’s clash with Stoke City, that brawn can conquer brains. For a dedicated advocate of short-passing football such as Mowbray it is a difficult acknowledgment to make. The aesthetically-pleasing nature of his side has gained many admirers so far this season but, gradually, the Baggies have slid to the foot of the tightly-packed Premier League table.

Meanwhile, Stoke have hassled and harried their way to mid-table (admittedly, only three points ahead of their Midlands rivals). Along the way they have earned a certain notoriety. Arsene Wenger’s ill-advised whining in the aftermath of Arsenal’s deserved defeat at the Britannia Stadium, earlier this month, held the magnifying glass up to the ‘merits’, or otherwise, of the Potters’ physical approach.

Upon their promotion to the top flight, Tony Pulis’ side were widely-touted as relegation certainties, yet few observers would now confidently put much money on that outcome in late May. Rory Delap’s ridiculously prodigious throwing abilities have warped the result of many a Stoke game already, and their massed ranks of 6ft-plus scrappers ensures that they’ll not be out-fought all season long. As Pulis says, Stoke have forged a clear identity:

“There’s a system in place, so the players know exactly where we want the ball to go in certain areas. The organisation is very good and that goes right through the club.”

It’s not popular among the neutrals - comparisons with past Wimbledon and Watford sides are quite accurate – but few teams will travel to the Potteries expecting an easy three points. On the other hand, West Brom have already developed a reputation as something of a soft-touch.

Last season’s ‘if you score three then we’ll score four’ attitude has lingered at The Hawthorns, yet Mowbray’s men palpably do not have the capacity within their ranks to maintain that mantra in the unforgiving surrounds of the Premier League. The ex-Hibs manager has been lauded and barracked in equal measure for his strict adherence to a ‘pure’ footballing philosophy. To date, he’s shown no sign of acquiescing to the pro-pragmatism pack.

“You have got to keep believing in what you're doing, that it's right and keep going until someone tells you ‘enough is enough’,” he said this week.

“I don't feel any pressure. Hopefully in January we can strengthen our team with a couple of quality players and keep pushing on.”

Mowbray’s confidence is admirable, but such comments seem to almost invite the pressure he claims not to feel. If, in a worst-case scenario, Albion find themselves cut adrift at the turn of the year, Chairman Jeremy Peace might feel inclined to call his manager’s bluff and tell him that enough is enough.

Just a couple of wins from mid-table obscurity they may be, but West Brom’s numerous problems are glaringly apparent. The raft of defensive recruits from Holland’s Eredivisie are still struggling to adapt to the rigours of English football – Ryan Donk particularly. At the head of things, Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller are beginning to show signs that they can make the step up, but neither could be considered prolific. The Baggies have scored only a paltry ten league goals so far and a Kevin Phillips-style poacher is prominent on the January shopping list for Mowbray. Naturally, though, such players rarely become available and cost a pretty penny when they do.

The technical and creative qualities of the Albion midfield are without question; with much-missed talisman Felipe Teixeira returning from a frustratingly long layoff to compliment the likes of Robert Koren, record-signing Borja Valero and skipper Jon Greening. Like the Arsenal team whose style they are so keen to emulate, a midfield enforcer is sorely lacking.

To cap their troubles, ‘keeper Scott Carson has just endured another confidence-sapping international experience. It’s hardly the ideal preparation for Saturday’s 40-mile trip. After all, Delap’s missiles + the foreheads of Sidibe & co. x Carson’s hesitancy = impending disaster, surely?

That’s not to mention that Stoke are Albion’s bogey team – they’ve not won in the Potteries since 1982, when a young Cyrille Regis was on the scoresheet. A solitary point from the last possible 18 also makes for sorry reading. A small crumb of comfort can be garnered from the absence through injury of Ricardo Fuller – their chief tormentor in recent games between the clubs.

It’s still too early for talk of six-pointers and must-wins, but at least avoiding defeat this weekend is essential if the Baggies’ self-belief is not to be further deflated. Their fans are among the most dedicated – and vocal – in the country, but even they need a scrap of hope to cling onto going into the hard winter months ahead.

About as far-removed from a glamour fixture as you can get, Stoke vs West Brom will, nonetheless, offer an intriguing gauge of each side’s ability to beat the drop.

Stoke are uncompromising and unremittingly physical; a throwback to darker days in English football. Albion are dedicated to a strict policy of ball-on-ground possession football. The third promoted club, Hull, chose to take the middle road – and have reaped the rewards. Only the passage of time will tell which - if either - of the two proud Midlands clubs has chosen the right route to avoid the top-flight trapdoor.

Keane’s vitriol earns popularity, not points

It’s been another busy old week or so in the life of Roy Keane. It kicked off in style with a charge of improper conduct by the FA, following Keane’s clash with referee Martin Atkinson and subsequent rubbishing of their increasingly devalued ‘Respect’ campaign.

A string of controversial, headline-grabbing statements have since kept the Sunderland’s manager firmly in the spotlight, even when the performances of his expensively-assembled team have been distinctly average.

And ‘average’ is the word which the driven Corkman detests the most – closely followed by ‘mediocrity’ and then, presumably, ‘discretion’.

In an era of ‘celebrity’ managers – when TV cameras pan straight to the triumphant/red-faced/passive gaffer following a wonder-goal/concession of a last-minute equaliser; compensation fees for managerial ‘transfers’ climb ever higher; and every result (whether positive or negative) is attributed solely to the input of the boss – Roy Keane has become a prime illustration of the trend.

His current club, now swathed in the kind of mediocrity for which he famously admonished it in his book, are rarely, if ever, the main thrust of any major story. Instead it is Keane – and his propensity to start a row with anyone and anything short of the rubber plant on his office desk – that keeps the press corps in clover day-in, day-out.

Following Sunderland’s recent defeat to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium, Keane damned not only the lame efforts of his players, but also his own “below average” contribution to proceedings. “And I don't want to be average,” seethed Keane.

He continued: “I should have been braver. If you want to be successful there is risk involved. Ultimately I have to be critical of myself and I always am, whether it be team selection, tactics, whatever. The bottom line is that I got it wrong.”

But, as if to prove he’s not all about merciless self-flagellation, Keane reserved his fair share of ire for several other quarters in another well-publicised interview last weekend.

The steely-eyed Irishman has long been renowned for giving the shortest of shrift to – amongst others – corporate sandwich-munchers; incompetent match officials; and, above all; professional football’s contingent of ‘bluffers’ and ‘clowns’ (see Messrs Mick McCarthy and Jack Warner). Oh, and blond, journeyman Norwegian defenders. Never really cared for that particular breed either, come to think of it.

This time round, though, it was the massed ranks of dim-witted TV pundits that Keane laid into with fearsome relish. Prompted by a Sky Sports reporter to add his considerable voice to the tiresome Wenger vs Pulis media knockabout, the Black Cats’ boss instead let rip with a bitter (but entirely agreeable) broadside about the shabby state of sports broadcasting and the all-pervading influence certain quarters of the fourth estate have on the modern game. With glorious predictability, he wasn’t coy in naming names.

“I certainly don't see myself being in management (that long) because of the media side of it, particularly Sky Sports,” Keane said.

“The debate about Arsene Wenger: How crazy is that? What that man's done for the game - and we're giving these people air time. I wouldn't listen to these people in the pub, and yet they're on television constantly, ex-players, ex-referees getting interviewed giving out their opinions.

“Will Arsene Wenger be remembered in 25, 50, 100 years' time for what he has done for football? Bet your life he will. Will any of these people on the television be remembered for what they've achieved? None whatsoever.

“I wouldn't trust these people to walk my dog.”

Keane has it exactly right here – I wouldn’t even leave my pet hamster in the care of the likes of smarmy (yet strangely ubiquitous) Graham Poll or dull-as-ditchwater Nigel Winterburn (freely interchangeable with Merson, Le Saux, Shearer...).

He was far from finished there though:

“I was asked by ITV to do the Celtic-Man U game, but never again unless I fall on hard times. I'd rather go to the dentist.

“You're sitting there with people like Richard Keys and they're trying to sell something that's not there. I tell people any time they watch a game to switch the commentators off, don't listen to experts, gather your own opinion.”

So there’s no denying the malice he bears for the media. Yet, paradoxically, Keane stands in clear danger of becoming the Premier League’s premier rent-a-quote – that’s if he hasn’t already. Ghost-writer of Keane’s revelatory autobiography and one-time Keano confidante, Eamonn Dunphy, recently highlighted this trend. In the absence of the Special One, it seems the ex-Manchester United hardman has assumed the mantle of English football’s antagoniser-in-chief.

He will – privately, of course – have the backing of many other managers for his latest tirade. In fact, Keane is generally well-liked among the fraternity. Not that he cares (or so he’d have you believe).

Old sparring partner Tony Adams even came out before his side’s victory over Sunderland to say that his new-found pal Roy is a “very intelligent, courteous and respectful” man.

Keane took the time to send Adams a congratulatory fax when the ex-Arsenal man was appointed Portsmouth manager last month. It was clearly a much appreciated gesture:

“I thank him for his support” said Adams. “In my experience of Roy he is a fantastic coach, gets involved and has a drive there that I identify with. He wants to do things right and is very determined.”

These are the undeniable qualities Keane shares with – perhaps even derived from – his brilliant mentor, Brian Clough. Like Cloughie before him, Keane knows full well that he’s great value for those – the journalists – he so professes to loathe. It still remains to be seen if Keane will ever come within even a country mile of replicating Ol’ Big Head’s stellar achievements in management. He must be given time, of course.

But it’s a landscape far, far removed from that of Clough’s era – player power, billion-pound telly deals, and an all-consuming sports media are all part and parcel of the crazy, hedonistic swirl of the Premier League today. To progress further in his new career, Keane might occasionally find need to bite his tongue before once more bemoaning the excesses of the modern pro. After all, the grand master of this managerial lark, Fergie, seems to restrain his obvious contempt for the playboy lifestyles of some of his stars, so long as they perform both on the training ground and on the pitch.

Keane will continue to rail against all of the ills in the modern game, of that we can be sure. For us, the fans, there’s plenty of entertainment to be had along the way.

Long term though; can Keano adapt and survive, or will he go muttering bitterly into the night about the ‘good old days’? For long-standing fans of the player, the man and the inimitable persona – a group in which I include myself – we can only hope that the man from Mayfield will grace the nation’s dugouts at least a little while longer.

Will Dubai oil billions flood The Valley?

In a week which saw FA Chairman Lord Triesman warn of the perils of barely-regulated foreign investment and an upcoming bust to follow the Premier League boom, many were surprised at the news of a prospective takeover of Charlton Athletic by a Dubai-based investment company.

The Addicks were seen as unlikely candidates for a takeover by the Zabeel Investments group, which was recently rumoured to have shied away from a deal to buy Newcastle United due to Mike Ashley’s inflated valuation of the St James’ Park club.

Instead of bidding for an established Barclays Premier League club, the Zabeel group has followed the lead of Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, who took over QPR for a relatively small £14m investment. It may appear an unconventional choice for an investor worth more than £3bn, but their excellent London location – and the fact that they own the freehold on their stadium and training ground – in fact makes Charlton a very attractive purchase.

Mohammed Al Hashimi, executive chairman of the group, added: "We feel now is the right time to make a strategic, long term investment in Charlton and get them back to the English Premier League where they belong.

"The passion of the fans at Charlton, the heritage of the club and the unique status it enjoys in the community make it an exciting proposition for us."

The Charlton board reciprocated the love-in:

"The board firmly believes that a successful outcome for this transaction would be beneficial to shareholders and employees of Charlton, all fans of the club and the local community as a whole," said a club statement.

It continued: "Should the offer be made formally to shareholders, the board would recommend shareholders to accept it.”

Charlton are currently scrapping for, realistically, a Championship play-off place at best and may not have seemed an obvious attraction for overseas investment when a club such as Portsmouth are reported to be on the market for a similar amount. However, while Pompey club are flying high in the Premier League, they lack the solid foundations of Charlton; who already harbour plans to expand, and have the Thames Gateway and Kent to exploit, in terms of potential fanbase.

Al Hashimi plans to immediately wipe out the club’s current debts of around £20m, pending due diligence formalities, and invest heavily in new players to make a drive for the promised land of the Premier League. Manager Alan Pardew has apparently been reassured by the club's board – and the prospective new owners – that his job is safe and that he will receive funds in the January transfer window. Current chairman Richard Murray will also remain at the club in some capacity.

The news has, understandably, been met with mixed reaction.

In one camp – the delirious fan; dreaming of imminent Premier League glory and subsequent world domination (note to these fans: Messi and Agüero won’t be rocking up at The Valley just yet).

The other, more sceptical camp wonder what the takeover means for the aforementioned reputation of the Addicks as a true ‘community club’ (a status envied by many fans of other clubs which have seemingly deserted their loyal, dyed-in-the-wool fans in the race for copious TV money).

This breed of fan may have found an unlikely ally in Lord Triesman.

“(Fans) feel their clubs are being touted around the marketplace for whoever might want to buy it,” the FA chief said of the growing foreign ownership in English football, earlier this week.

“You want to know what an owner’s values are and if they’ll be recognised over a long period of time. Many of the foreign owners do have those values.

“I’ve talked to a number of them and there’s no doubt in my mind that they share that community perspective on the importance of their club.

“But all I’m saying is that you can’t have owners with a total disregard for people’s passion for their club.

Yet, those urging sobriety from those in charge of the nations’ 92 professional clubs – who were reported this week to be in a collective £3bn pounds of debt – may find their words lost among the flood of investors from the east.

While Western economies crumble, football remains aloof – and why not? If you should find yourself in difficult financial straits, just sell out to the highest oil-rich bidder and retire (dis)gracefully with a trouser-sagging back-pocketful of cash.

The model of responsibility and financial accountability showcased by the scrupulously fair German Bundesliga (which boasts inexpensive ticket prices and packed stadia) is an ideal which we can only admire from afar. While the TV money continues to flow – and forecasters still expect the next deal to increase in value – the gold-paved road to football-as-Monopoly will perpetuate.

The admirable identity of Charlton Athletic – an increasingly rare example of a club which has combined relative success on the pitch with a strong community presence – will hopefully not be lost amid the mayhem.

Ashley mounts his defence, as Toon slide deeper into crisis

When Mike Ashley took over as Newcastle owner in May 2007 many press reports described the Sports Direct chief as a “reclusive” self-made millionaire, and several questioned why such an apparently private individual would want to undergo the unique scrutiny faced by the modern Premier League proprietor.

Then, before our eyes, Ashley morphed into something of an embarrassing dad figure at St James’ Park – sporting an XXXL Toon shirt and grasping a ubiquitous pint glass – trying desperately to prove he’s still ‘one of the boys’, not merely a dull, money-making ‘suit’. He also became a tabloid regular; with lurid tales of his lavish expenditure in strip joints and nightclubs worldwide Ashley gained notoriety as a wannabe playboy.

This unedifying process naturally drew attention towards the previously media-shy retail magnate, and similarly drew the ire of traditionalist football fans – those who would prefer that the game’s moneymen show a little decorum and act as a positive ambassador for their club (see Boro’s saintly Steve Gibson).

But his appointment, last season, of Geordie messiah Kevin Keegan provided a feel-good factor; a shot in the arm for the long-suffering fans who endured years of turgid football under the guidance of Messrs Souness, Roeder and Allardyce. When KK’s footballing mantra of positivity finally kicked in, and the returning hero steered the team to safety, St James’ was awash with talk of a renaissance to match that of the thrilling mid-90s joy-ride Keegan had himself led.

The cracks started to appear, as many predicted they would, this summer, when Keegan’s dreamy aspirations could not be matched by Ashley’s funds or – crucially – the efforts of the desperately unpopular ‘player recruitment’ team of Dennis Wise and Derek Llambias. Keegan spoke of fetching the lad Henry back from Camp Nou; of handing Becks one final shot at the Premier League; of making Newcastle United great again (though you could quite creditably question when exactly they were ‘great’ before) by bringing in the big-name stars who might illuminate Tyneside with their winning artistry and flair.

Instead he got Xisco. And Nacho Gonzalez. And, er, Danny Guthrie.

So when James Milner was then sold to Villa from under his feet (for a hefty fee, it must be said), Keegan bit the bullet and quit on a point of principle – a stance which he has notoriously taken on several prior occasions. Naturally, the Geordie faithful have come out in vociferous support of their hero and publicly damned Ashley’s ‘London mafia’ of Llambias and the loathed ‘Ratface’ Wise, through long and loud protest.

On Sunday evening, Ashley acceded to their wishes and put the club up for sale, via an extraordinary 1,644-word press release, which will, nevertheless, most likely prove a case of ‘too little, too late’ in the eyes of thousands of rabidly angry fans.

In the statement, the UK’s 54^th richest man cited fears for his safety and that of his children as the primary reason for selling up; having received numerous threats of violence since Keegan’s untimely departure.

He also mounts a strong defence of his tenure at the St James’ helm, saying: “Like any business with assets the club has debts. I paid £134 million out of my own pocket for the club and then poured in another £110 million – not to pay off the debt but just to reduce it. The club is still in debt.”

And the 45-year-old highlighted the naive profligacy of the previous Hall/Shepherd regime, painting a vivid picture of his gallant ‘rescue’ of a club in crisis: “The club still owes millions of pounds in transfer fees. I shall be paying out many more millions over the coming year to pay for players bought by the club before I arrived.”

“Commercial deals such as sponsorships and advertising had been front loaded. The money had been paid upfront and spent. I was left with a club that owed millions and part of whose future had been mortgaged. Unless I had come into the club then it might not have survived. It could have shared the fate of other clubs who have borrowed too heavily against their future.”

“Before I had spent a penny on wages or buying players Newcastle United had cost me more than a quarter of a billion pounds.”

Even accounting for a large dollop of positive spin – as employed by his lawyers or whomever else was involved in ghosting the statement – it is difficult to argue that Ashley is part of this insidious new breed of greedy Premier League owners that have both eyes fixed on the potential profit margins offered by colossal TV deals and global merchandising.

So, having apparently justified his presence as owner of Newcastle, the statement then turned to Ashley’s role in the recent machinations at the club:

“I was always prepared to bank roll Newcastle up to the tune of £20 million per year but no more. That was my bargain. I would make the club solvent. I would make it a going concern.”

“My plan and my strategy for Newcastle is different. It has to be. Arsenal is the shining example in England of a sustainable business model. It takes time. It can't be done overnight. Newcastle has therefore set up an extensive scouting system...and money is being poured into the Academy. This is a long-term plan for the future of the club so that it can flourish.”

This stubborn – but prudent – refusal to spend big on the established stars somewhat unreasonably coveted by Keegan marked a key difference in ideology with his manager that has obviously proved irreparable.

A model of continuity and sustainability is an admirable one. But in the hectic, logic-defying world of English top-flight football – where last years’ paupers can be this years’ kings at the pen stroke of a moneyed foreign investor – it is rarely attainable. Where Ashley has primarily faltered – aside from his disastrous public image and appointment of Wise – is in attempting to administer a dose of realism to a club renowned for its wildly unreal aspirations.

With King Kev gone and Ashley heading the same way, acrimony reigns on Tyneside. Once again, the self-styled Geordie nation waits in hope of a new saviour.