After Manchester City had beaten Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final, I was keen to soak up any footage I could of the day, and stumbled onto youtube. On there, the FA had uploaded a video showing a tunnel-cam throughout the day, a look behind the scenes. It was strangely hypnotic, devoid as it was of commentary. Players arriving, managers chatting, Robbie Savage chatting to Micah Richards for some reason, and then Paul Scholes being led to the dressing room by an official after being sent off.

It was that moment that an old thought popped back into my head. It’s always the little things that I spend too long dwelling on, the banal details behind the action, and there is one utterly insignificant thing that has always intrigued me (and probably no one else).

What does a player do when he is sent off?

Does he sit there in full kit, awaiting the arrival of the other players so that he can apologise? Does he wait by the door ready with a spirited invective about how hard done to he was? Does he get the bath running? Does he get changed and go and sit on the coach? Or just hide from the “gaffer”?

It must be a lonely place to be. Imagine being sent off after 5 minutes, and having to sit there for 40 minutes stewing on what you have done and how it has probably cost your team. Take Neil Taylor of Swansea, who as I type has been sent off for after 90 seconds in a crucial play-off semi-final game. He’s got a long 45 minutes ahead of him in the dressing room. Maybe red-carded players dig out their massive headphones and listen to yet more music – footballers seem so obsessed with listening to music that they are usually still doing it when they get off the coach, when they wander into the dressing room, and no doubt when they are putting their kit on.

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I always thought that dressing rooms (of wealthy clubs at least) would have TVs, so that the match could be watched in there. But Manchester City put their own tunnel cam video on the official website this week showing the night of the Spurs match, and Wilson Palacios, off injured in the first half, could be seen loitering around the tunnel area in the 2nd half watching the game on a monitor. Couldn’t he have just gone back to the bench?

What struck me most about the video though was the friendliness between the players. I don’t expect them to blank the opposition, but as they lined up to go on the pitch, the scene was far more relaxed than I imagined. Harry Redknapp stopped for a chat with Mike Summerbee, Dzeko was catching up on old times with Modric and Corluka (I think it was them), and Shaun Wright Phillips and Defoe were reunited after what was clearly too long apart.

And am I overreacting to see a Spurs player smiling as he walked down the tunnel after the game? Probably.

There’s a famous clip, widely available on youtube, of the tunnel before a Manchester derby a good few years ago. Peter Schmeichel is by this time the City keeper, and he goes up the line of United players, shaking hands, meeting old friends. Then he gets to Gary Neville, the captain at the front, and Neville, sporting his hard-man face, totally blanks a rather bemused Schmeichel.

Just pumped up for the match perhaps, focused, a true professional. Because clearly shaking an opponent’s hand will destroy his focus and drain away his ability. And to him, Schemichel had done the unthinkable, and joined THEM. Neville reinforced what most think of him anyway, and his majestic levels of concentration didn’t work. City won.

But back to that City v Spurs match, and briefly away from the hectic tunnel. This week saw another bug-bear of mine. Why oh why to some fans is virtually every other match now a “must-win” game?! This is especially true near the end of the season of course. This week I heard endless times how Manchester City v Spurs was a must-win game for City. It was nothing of the sort. If they had lost, they still would have been 4th. If they had lost at home the following week, they would still have been 4th. Even if they had failed to beat Bolton on the last day of the season, it was conceivable that other results would mean they would still finish in 4th. Must-win games are just that – games that, without any doubt, HAVE to be won, MUST be won. As I said, it’s the banal things that get to me.

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On Saturday, you could perhaps argue that the FA Cup final for City (and City) is a “must-win” game. The big question is this though: how will Tony Pulis pull off a baseball cap/suit combo for the FA Cup Final? And while I am on the subject of suits –how pathetic are managers who wear a nice suit on match-days just when the big boys are in town? It’s like getting the expensive china and cutlery out when your wealthiest friends are coming round for dinner. Your other friends can eat out of a bowl.

Anyway, whatever happens in the FA Cup final, the tunnel-cam video will again be a must-see. It’s the future of entertainment, trust me. I just look forward to the day they do dugout-cam and manager’s office-cam.

FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage’s Face in a Baby Scan

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With the introduction of the Bosman ruling and the financial difficulties many teams found themselves in over recent years, a swathe of footballers have found themselves on the football scrapheap once their contracts expired.In the Premier League this hasn’t been a problem with the oceans of cash swimming around, but with the introduction of the Financial Fair Play rules by UEFA this summer meaning clubs have to balance their books and the requirement of a 25-man squad, footballers leaving Premiership clubs this summer might find it harder than usual to walk into employment.This week Aston Villa announced a whole raft of players to be released. Most notably for me was Nigel Reo-Coker. After a highly disappointing spell at Villa you would expect plenty of teams to take a chance on him, especially perhaps one of the promoted teams. However, if he is on a wefty wage, it could prove a problem for him, and a host of others. Also being released by Villa is a certain John Carew, and Robert Pires too. They have the advantage of course of not carrying a transfer fee with them if purchased, but with signing on fees, agent fees and wages, it can still be a risky acquisition for anyone to buy someone on a Bosman signing. Brad Friedel is on his way too, aged 40, but has already reportedly attracted the attention of Liverpool and Spurs.Relegated teams are the ones that often have to release the most players, as the financial implications of Championship football begin to hit home. Birmingham have released Kevin Phillips, who will struggle at his age to play at such a high level again. Also released are Sebastian Larsson and Lee Bowyer, who should find employment easily enough, much like Stoke’s Abdoulaye Faye.Blackpool’s relegation has forced them to release an even larger number of players, including Marlon Harewood. Expect David Vaughan to stay in the Premiership (my money is on Sunderland). [ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’] The most notable player on the market will probably be England’s Michael Owen, complete with laminated brochure and the burning injustice that scoring against Blackpool hasn’t secured him an England recall. I don’t think many will be losing much sleep wondering if he has found a new club. But that helicopter doesn’t pay for itself. Other high-profile players available include Manuel Almunia, whose high-profile mistakes may put off potential buyers.At the end of the January transfer window I saw a list of players looking like they would be free agents in the summer, and you forget some of the names still playing their trade in the top division. The odd player, like Jose Bosingwa, sorted out contract extensions, but where next for Sol Campbell, released by Newcastle last week?  Or Kieron Dyer, Boudewijn Zenden, or Ricardo Fuller? Where now for Diomansy Kamara, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, or the cursed Owen Hargreaves? Is the best he can hope for a pay-as-you-play deal? You could argue the same for Jonathan Woodgate.Eidur Gudjohnsen anyone? Rob Green? Matthew Upson? How about a return to the Premiership for Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill and Ruud Van Nistelrooy??There will be plenty of youth players not having contracts renewed as well – age can be a blessing for them, but also a worrying time. You often see youngsters released at the bigger clubs, who buy big, but with the pressure for immediate success in modern football, youth players often don’t get the chance. But it is not always the club getting rid of the player of course. Players often run down the contract themselves as a way of leaving a club. One Manchester City youngster seemingly on is way this week is John Guidetti, frustrated with only one Carling Cup appearance this season. Johan Elmander seems to have allowed his contract to run down, and won’t struggle for interest.I doubt many will be too anxious at premiership footballers looking for new clubs, nor should they. Whilst the better players will never struggle to find a new club, those a bit lower down the ladder may find it harder than it used to be to maintain the deal they had. One possible positive outcome from the new fair play rules will hopefully be that many players will be forced to be more realistic with wage demands. And with the clubs more aware than ever that costs must be capped, expect plenty more clubs over the coming weeks to announce a raft of player releases. It could be a worrying summer for many.

German midfielder Michael Ballack will not play in his farewell match for his country against Brazil, labelling the proposal ‘a farce’.Ballack’s national team boss, Joachim Loew, announced on Thursday that Ballack would no longer be playing for his country under his tutelage after an impressive 98 appearances for the 2002 FIFA World Cup runner-up.

But Loew did extend an olive branch to Ballack by saying he would be given the chance to turn out one last time against Brazil in a friendly in August.

The friendly had already been scheduled before it was turned into a possible ‘farewell’ for Ballack, something which angered the combative midfielder.

“Turning a friendly match, which has been planned for so long, into my farewell is, in my opinion, a farce,” Ballack told Bild.

“I know I owe it to my fans to participate in that game, but I cannot accept this offer.”

Ballack also voiced his displeasure at Loew’s lack of respect in breaking the news to the midfielder.

“The form and content of his message surprised and disappointed me because they reflect the way he has been treating me since I got injured last summer,” he said.

Germany will face Brazil at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart on August 10.

‘I disagree with people when they say football is a sport. When the Sky (TV) money came in, that changed. Football is a business’. The recent admission from the former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson during an undercover meeting may have come as a shock to some, but to most, isn’t it something we already knew ?

For those who don’t know, or didn’t see the program, Channel 4’s ‘Dispatches’ documentary recently went undercover, posing as wealthy businessmen on the look-out to buy an English club. They met a group in Thailand, which Bryan Robson was a part of, and openly discussed the possibility of buying two clubs (which is illegal) and how they would circumnavigate the laws to achieve this. Robson was secretly filmed discussing this in the meeting, and openly talking about how his links to a certain Premier League club and other managers, would help call in ‘favours’ and loans, to build-up their newly acquired teams. They also stated they were not in it for the long-term – just looking to buy the club’s cheap, gain promotion, make a massive profit, then get out. It was when queried on the moral issues surrounding such a takeover that Robson gave the above statement.

Are many of us still naive to think that the people who invest billions into our clubs will not want the maximum return possible out of their investments, and do everything they can in trying to achieve such things? That is exactly how the business world works. However, we are talking about football – a sport. Our ‘beautiful game’ that means so much to so many, world-wide. To have our beloved club’s bandied around like toys by these rich businessmen, is not a nice thought for any passionate supporter.

Of course, the huge money invested in today’s football has changed many things for the better. The way the sport is brought to us (so-called ‘expert’ pundits aside), seemingly 24 hours a day through every kind of media possible. Clubs have better stadiums, better training facilities, better injury care, the list goes on and on. But is the most important thing any better; the actual football? Sky TV would have you believe so, but that’s another debate.

Utilising loopholes and creating deals to advance is nothing new and has been going on for years within football clubs. The difference today is that the clubs are now viewed as businesses – loopholes and deals are now used with the end purpose of creating the maximum profit; the business philosophy. Not for the end purpose of trying to make the club the best it can be; the sporting philosophy. With such large amounts of money available in the game, many an individual’s integrity is put to this test. The power to ‘influence’ sporting decisions (illegal or otherwise) has been around for some time, but in today’s game nothing attains influence greater than money.

Whilst Robson’s opinion may well be right, looking to underhandedly capitalise on the sorry state of affairs and cash-in, is disgraceful. Two wrongs don’t make a right eh Bryan?

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Fenerbahce’s Emre Belozoglu is required to testify as a suspect in the ongoing investigation into match-fixing in Turkish football.According to Turkish publication Zamen, the former Newcastle and Inter Milan midfielder will be forced to answer questions on allegations that he sent a series of text messages to Ankaragucu defender Kagan Soylemezgiller before the two clubs met in the last match of the season in May.

The messages are reported to have said: “Don’t let my president (Aziz Yildirim) be angry. Don’t play your best game.”

But the Fenerbahce club captain has denied those suggestions, with the messages supposedly sent by the Ahmet Bulut – business partner of his agent Ekrem Okumus – with the approval of the player.

Emre has also been accused of promising a number of Ankaragucu players that he would help them secure a move to Fenerbahce if they did not play in the fixture.

The midfielder’s most recent appearance in front of the media came on Monday, where he admitted the national team was struggling to focus on their Euro 2012 qualifiers with the saga hanging over their heads.

If Emre is found guilty he may join Fenerbahce patron Yildirim and Besiktas coach Tayfur Havutcu in being arrested.

Tottenham Hotspur have tabled a £22 million bid for Valencia’s left wing starlet Juan Mata. Should the diminutive winger for some reason choose Tottenham over Arsenal, what would this mean for Gareth Bale? And what would Mata bring to the north London club?

Finally, Tottenham have dared to do something. This bid is the first exciting move that Spurs have made in this transfer window. Not only does chasing Mata signal the ambition of the club. The attempt to hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of the player adds spice to the offer.

Juan Mata is a player with a growing reputation and no doubt a growing price tag. He was an outstanding performer for Spain at the European Under 21 Championships this summer and has cemented himself a first team slot in the Valencia side after three very impressive seasons there. Last season he provided 12 assists and scored 8 goals in La Liga, he is quick and creative with an eye for goal. He is small, only 2 inches taller than Aaron Lennon, but does not shirk from the physical side of the game and should be perfectly capable of playing on a cold night at the Britannia stadium. It is easy to see how he could cause problems and sharpen Spur’s attack.

Redknapp has consistently talked of his intentions to push Gareth Bale deeper, into the left back position and Tottenham’s interest in Mata suggests that Redknapp could be ready to make that step. When the Welshman’s terrific vein of form last season catapulted him into the limelight, the Spurs manager astutely noted that Bale’s successes came when running from deep and using his pace and stride and overall speed over distance to rip apart defences. When his concentration improved, Redknapp said, he could be pushed back and then he could get a really good head of steam up.

With Bale charging past Mata on the overlap the potential for goals from the left hand side would be greatly increased, although defensively Bale is definitely not the finished article. As a combination though, it could work. Mata likes to cut inside, vacating the space for Bale to surge into and both are more than capable of scoring goals whilst Mata’s record for providing was second only to Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez last season.

Even though the likelihood is that Mata will choose Arsenal over Spurs, does Tottenham’s bid indicate that Redknapp is willing to make the tactical leap of pushing Bale back to left back? It would be a progressive and attacking decision irrespective of who plays in front of him.

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Where would you play Bale and could VDV be a success on the left of midfield? http://twitter.com/#!/philipwroe

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Whenever an important player leaves a club and a new one arrives, there is generally a rule in the footballing world were people must compare that player to the outgoing hero, or a previous star. Can they fill his boots? Will he rise to the challenge? But equally, newly arriving managers face the exact same scrutiny – a task made all the more daunting if sitting in the hot-seat of those who have achieved success and had a legendary status bestowed upon them. So can managers truly succeed, when directly following a ‘great’, in the modern era were results and success needs to be instant? Or is it virtually mission impossible?

It seems a catch-22 situation to be placed in from the start. Attempting to replace a legend is a thankless task. Win, and it’s expected – the norm. Lose, and the accolades of the former manager are thrust into full view, with negative headlines splashed across the papers. You could never just be ‘your own man’. Every decision, tactic, signing and substitution is scrutinised with unfair comparisons being made. Catch-22.

The recent intense pressure placed on Arsene Wenger in the media (maybe not helped by himself in some small part by the apparent, early stinginess in the transfer market) led to talk of him possibly walking out of Arsenal, or being shown the door. If that scenario was to occur, who would replace him? He has been an absolutely legendary figure at the Gunners since he arrived back in the 90’s, transforming the club’s playing identity, whilst also bringing it into the new century with his training, dietary and psychological methods that were virtually unheard of in the English game at the time. The success that followed only added to his adulation, thus ensuring a near-impossible task for whoever replaces him, whenever that time comes.

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It’s the same at Manchester United, though even more daunting. Talk of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has been around for years. As to who his eventually replacement may be has been discussed many times with various names thrown into the hat. With United’s success, it has been safe to say that whoever is attaining similar success, or hype (or both) at the time, would have been named as Ferguson’s definite heir. But whoever sits in that hot-seat faces an almighty task. How do you replace the man who has guided a team through the most successful period in their history – by far!?? Who lasted over a quarter of a century, collecting the biggest trophies for much of that period? It will be a brave man who sits in that seat. Win, and it’s the norm – but they would also have to win playing a certain style. Lose? Well losing won’t be an option.

One man who is many people’s favourite to succeed Ferguson is a coach who himself attained legendary status at not one, but three successful clubs, thus ensuring his successors a tough time even before they began work; Jose Mourinho. Directly after leaving Porto having won the European Cup, the club burnt through four managers in little under two years as none could live up to what Mourinho achieved. At Chelsea, he (along with the help of a certain Russian’s bank account) won the league title instantly; a feat the club hadn’t achieved for 50-years. More silverware followed but success in Europe was never realised and after a fallout with the owner, the Portuguese moved to Italy. Chelsea, have had five managers since he left. At Inter, Mourinho walked in to a pressure situation; Inter, fresh from being winners of Serie A, were in the ascendancy. Not winning the Scudetto for Inter in the wake of Calciopoli would be seen as a massive catastrophe, bordering on embarrassment. However Mourinho’s remit was clear: deliver the European Cup. He duly obliged, cementing his status as Inter legend and ensuring his replacement would have an impossible task. That man was Rafa Benitez, and he lasted six months.

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Back to Chelsea, who had their brief dominance under Mourinho interrupted by Manchester United, and have now turned to the ‘new Mourinho’ in order to reclaim glory; Andre Villas-Boas. The comparisons are immense. Dubbed ‘mini-Mourinho’ by the press, Villas-Boas served under Mourinho, whilst at Chelsea and Inter, and that has also brought the instant pressure and hype of being compared with Chelsea’s most iconic former manager. But there is a difference this time that will put Villas-Boas in good stead; he’s done it before. Yes, at Porto he was finally the manager who filled Mourinho’s shoes, even surpassing some of his former mentor’s records at the club.

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An immense pressure is sat on Villas-Boas’ young shoulders, as it is for any manager who chooses to sit in the seat once occupied by a club legend. Can he succeed in ‘mission impossible’?

If you want to read more from myself including news, thoughts and views you can follow me on Twitter @fantasista1077 thanks!

After experiencing trips to Madrid and Milan last season Tottenham Hotspur fans will this year have to familiarise themselves with places like Thessaloniki, Kazan and Dublin ahead of visits as part of Tottenham’s Europa League campaign.

However while Spurs fans may care about the European competition, it is appears that Harry Redknapp does not and instead he sees it as a hindrance and nuisance to the clubs progress in the league especially in trying to gain a top-four finish that would again secure Champions League football. In Redknapp’s eyes finishing higher in the league is far more important than winning the Mickey Mouse cup of European football. But by doing this are Spurs missing a great chance of European success by concentrating on the league or does it make financial and business sense?

Last week, Redknapp choose a relatively strong 25-man squad for this season’s Europa League group stages after earlier suggesting that he would give the kids a run out this year. There are only two major absentees in Van der Vaart and Freidel in the squad but I expect to see a much changed first eleven when it announced for the game against PAOK Salonika after a number of first team players did not travel with the team. By playing such a young and inexperienced side Harry could be jeopardising any chance they had of success in Europe.

The money that a club like Tottenham can earn from just qualifying for the Champions League group stages completely dwarves what they what get from reaching the final and even winning the Europa League. So more resources go towards the league than winning a trophy that doesn’t mean too much to club despite the fans obvious desire to win another trophy. It is certainly harder to attract the best players to White Hart Lane with just the Europa League to offer them rather than the prospect of playing against the world’s best players in the Champions League and if Spurs were to go another year without the huge draw of Champions League football, it is possible that they would find it hard to hang onto to some of their star players like Modric and Bale. So I can understand why Redknapp has put the Europa League level with the Carling Cup as a chance to play some of his fringe players so he can focus on the league and last year Tottenham’s league progress was certainly affected by their Champions League campaign.

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It was therefore somewhat of a surprise this week to see Rafeal Van der Vaart make it clear that he was unhappy at being left out of the Spurs 25-man squad for the Europa League group stages. However it was a breath of fresh air to see a footballer care so much about a much maligned trophy and I think that perhaps English clubs should take the trophy more seriously as Fulham did two years ago, eventually losing in the final to Atletico Madrid. If Tottenham were to win the Europa League but miss out on the top four, would that constitute a good season?

I believe that Spurs should not take this year’s Europa League too lightly as there is a lack of top clubs in the competition until the Champions League drop-outs join in at the knock-out stages. Instead Harry should use it as a chance to see the players who are on the fringes of the first-team which will surely become useful in the later stages of the season and give some of the young kids like Tom Carroll and Harry Kane some much needed experience. If Spurs can get the balance right between youth and experience then I think this will benefit the club in the much harder knock out stages. Only then can we expect Redknapp to think about taking the competition seriously and that is not a certainty especially if the race for the Premier League top four hots up. For now bring on the mighty Shamrock Rovers.

Let me know your thoughts and follow me on twitter @aidanmccartney for more thoughts and discussion on the beautiful game.

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Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has spoken of his loyalty to the club, and stated that he has no plans to leave North London.

The playmaker, who is currently on the sidelines due to an ankle injury, has been linked with a transfer to Manchester City after Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy’s summer moves to the Etihad Stadium.

Despite this, the England international has spoke of his desire to stay at The Emirates.

“No disrespect to Manchester City but Arsenal is the perfect home for me right now,” he told Mirror Football.

“Some players have got their price, but to be honest that’s not the way I look at the game. All I think about is playing at the highest level and in the top competitions, so I can measure myself against the best in the world.

“I really am happy at Arsenal at the minute. Obviously I want to win things [but] I want to do it with Arsenal. I have been at Arsenal since I was nine and I have grown to love the club.

“There are players there who have been there as long as me and I think we are starting to build something special there with the likes of Emmanuel Frimpong and players I have seen in the youth teams coming through. In a couple of years, they’ll be big players for us.

“Obviously I want to play in the Champions League and that is the aim for Arsenal and everyone at the club. We’ve started a bit slowly but we still feel we can finish in the top four,” he stated.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has come under-fire in the press, which Wilshere feels is unwarranted and unfair.

“We do get a harder time from the critics than most teams, but we haven’t won anything for six years and that’s not good enough for Arsenal.

“It is harsh, though, especially on the boss. He has been there for 15 years and been great for Arsenal. The criticism Arsene gets is a joke,” he concluded.

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Wilshere is expected to be out of action for another couple of months, with a strict rehabilitation process underway in his search for fitness.

By Gareth McKnight

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Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has thanked the club’s fans for their support, and feels the St James’ Park faithful are one of the main reasons for the Tyneside outfit’s excellent start to the season.

The Magpies are unbeaten in their first nine games, and can move into third place in the standings if they remain undefeated after the game with Stoke on Monday night.

Despite losing the likes of Joey Barton, Jose Enrique and Kevin Nolan over the summer, the Geordies have excelled, and Pardew has praised the supporters for their part in the team’s success.

“I think it’s very important that you have a good feeling running through the club, from the terraces right down to the pitchside,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think there’s a trust from the terraces in what we’re doing, especially in the players that we have.

“That trust has come out in a number of areas this year that have seen us get victories. And you can’t do that without the tremendous backing that we’ve got here.

“I think they see that we’re trying to do it the right way, approaching the game in the right style, and hopefully producing football that makes them want to come back every week.

“The support helps when bad days come along, and they will come along. We’re going to have some tough days and if they trust that the management and the players are doing everything to try to win the game then they’ll stay with you,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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