Is Anderson the new Scholes?

It's a cardinal sin, but I am very prone to criticising Alex Ferguson's signings. None more so than when, in the summer of 2007, he splashed out £40 million on two youngsters from the Portuguese league, Anderson and Nani. For two years, the pair appeared far too lightweight. But the latter has appeared to get his act together over the last two years, contributing plenty of goals and assists and sometimes looking half as good as Ronaldo. Which will do most teams just fine. For his Brazilian co-signing, however, the jury is largely still out. Can he ever nail down a regular place in the side? Recent evidence has suggested perhaps he can.

The more I watch Anderson, the more I am convinced Ferguson is a canny old bastard. He has been used sporadically, and at 23 this may prompt many professionals, especially those looking to get into the Brazil side, to seek out another club. But United have been desperately lacking a creative midfielder, especially this season, and it's clear that Paul Scholes can no longer fill the void. You just get the impression that, come August, it will be Anderson who suddenly emerges into this role, fulfilling the plan his manager had all along.

In the games where United have been at their most impressive this season, Anderson has played a big part. The 7-1 demolition of Blackburn, the 5-0 over Birmingham, the ground out 1-0 over Arsenal and the Champions League semi against Schalke. In all of the above, his energy from midfield has sparked some devastating counter attacks, his slide-rule balls have created endless chances, he has got on the scoresheet himself and wasn't afraid to put in a tackle. Which, unlike Scholes, he executed well; he has only been booked 5 times all season.

You can see, therefore, where my seed of positivity has come from. Turning into Scholes 2.0 requires a significant development, particularly in the goals department, but it is a transition the player, and more importantly the manager, is more than capable of making. There is always a surprise package in United's line up for the big games, and come Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona, Anderson's pace, tenacity and flair could be an interesting counter-point to Barcelona's tiki-taka. He lasted only 45 minutes in the 2009 final, so may be even more determined to prove how far he has come.

United are linked with some big names this summer: Sneijder, Modric, Ashley Young, but it would be just like Ferguson to shun these in favour of a lovingly-developed, 'home-grown' talent that is ready for the big time. Would they be that much worse off for it? Instinct says yes, which almost certainly means it would be another stoke of managerial genius.

The FLB Premier League end of season awards

Everyone else is doing them, thought it was time I had a go.

In a season where many of its established stars have faded into obscurity, the Premier League has been at its most surprising and entertaining over the last nine months. So how to round it all up? The following prize giveaway, The Beavers 2011, if you will, are the latest attempt to define the most notable Premiership peaks and troughs.

Breakthrough of the season
Jack Wilshere - This was the year he became an Arsenal and England regular. A position he is likely to occupy for the next decade.

Signing of the season
Yaya Toure - Often understated but always effective. The epitome of the midfield dynamo; his bursts from midfield are devastating and his eight goals included the winner in the FA Cup final. Can't for the life of me think why Barcelona sold him, but their decision has helped propel Manchester City into the Champions League.

Javier Hernandez also deserves an honourable mention for always popping up with a goal when United really needed one.

Shock of the season
R**n G***s shagging Imogen Thomas. Genuinely tarnished my view of one of my biggest sporting idols.

Comedy moment of the season
European leagues qualify here, so I can include the moment Sergio Ramos dropped the Copa del Rey off the side of Real Madrid's victory coach. Crunch.

Manager of the season
Owen Coyle - He turned Bolton into an interesting team. There has to be an award for that. But additionally, his side were in the Premiership top four, they never once got involved in a relegation fight, they turned Daniel Sturridge into one of England's hottest prospects and they scored more goals at home than Arsenal. Boom.

Sacking of the season
Roy Hodgson - Saved both Liverpool and West Brom's seasons. He is now back in the running for the England job.

Flop of the season
Joe Cole - At the World Cup, we screamed for him to come off the bench. He was the one to make the difference. His arrival at Anfield was supposed to revolutionise both the player and the club's fortunes; as it turns out the Reds did just fine without him. The pace has gone, defenders can read his tricks before he makes them, and the goals have dried up. Potentially a cheap pick up during the coming transfer window.

Twat of the season
David Sullivan - Refused to sack the worst manager in West Ham, if not Premier League, history, publicised a botched attempt to recruit Martin O'Neill and Steven Sidwell, and was only too happy to admit defeat at times it was totally inappropriate to. Today's defeat was probably our worst display of the season, and the majority of our starting 11 chose to not even turn up. It's painfully clear what that says about the way the club is run.

(Twat #2, Robbie Savage. You're not a pundit mate.)

Game of the season
Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4 - A game that defined Arsenal's season. Occasionally sublime but ultimately shambolic. Check Tioté's last-minute volley also qualifies for its own award as 'Jump out of your seat moment of the season'.

Team of the season
Blackpool - They were more fun than anyone else by a mile. They ended up one point from Premiership survival, and scored more goals than anyone else in the bottom half of the league. For a team containing the likes of Ian Evatt, Keith Southern and Brett Ormerod, that is really quite amusing.

Goal of the season
Nedum Onuoha v Chelsea - The most surprising result of the season was capped by Sunderland's centre-back beating three Chelsea defenders and clipping a delightful finish across goal, while off balance. Has not scored since. Worth waiting for the next one though.

#2 - Jermaine Beckford v Chelsea from today. Are you kidding me?!

Player of the season
Joe Hart - It's worth pointing out that Man City aren't fantastic defensively. Vincent Kompany aside, the players back there are ordinary. Yet Hart has kept more clean sheets than any other keeper, and that is why his side ultimately finished third. He also established himself as England's number one for a generation. Had Arsenal made their move for him last summer, they would have had silverware, no doubt about it.

And that's your lot. Further contributions are welcome and may well be entered for the Beavers 2012.

West Ham United: The New Reality

I've been a West Ham fan for 17 years. I remember the 2003 relegation after Glenn Roeder's brain tumour; I remember being knocked out of cups by the likes of Wrexham, Chesterfield and Swansea. I remember the play-off defeat to Iain Dowie's Crystal Palace. But I have never felt more disappointed, let down or upset, than over the last couple of days. Blowing yet another comfortable lead against inferior opposition, not seeing any of the fight that previous West Ham sides have shown, and a racism-infused end of season fight has got to be up there with one of the more unpleasant relegation experiences.

My November blog called for it. The fans kept calling for it, the press raised the issue after every game. Yet Avram Grant still kept his job. When someone is so obviously failing, the blind refusal to take any action smacks of ineptitude or worse, contempt for the business you are in charge of.

There is more than a touch of the Mike Ashley's about our owners David Gold and David Sullivan. Too fond of their own opinions, too slow to act, and then making the wrong decision when called upon. Can you be too fond of a club to see you're slowly killing it? Possibly. Then there is Karen Brady, a footballing tidal wave. The Steve Sidwell affair was just insulting for everyone at the club. The frequent quips about what players are up for sale, how poor a performance was or what games qualify as 'save our season' are little better.

Unquestionably, what needs to happen now is a re-shuffle of Tunisian proportions. Total overhaul, with a young, creative coach given three years to build a strong side, achieving promotion in the process. My hunch is for Chris Houghton at present, but others should be considered before he is given the call.

For now, this is how I see the summer exodus looking.

Definitely gone
Scott Parker - Most combative midfielder England has got. United, Liverpool and Arsenal all really need one of those.
Robert Green - Better than probably ten of the current Premier League number ones.
Matthew Upson - Out of contract, out of shape, out of favour. Good shout for one of the promoted sides.

Barring a miracle
Demba Ba - The fact that he only signed in January, and has reportedly dodgy knees, might work in our favour. Relegated sides tend to keep one player they have no right to; this could be ours.
Carlton Cole - Will the lower Prem teams think he is good enough?
Jack Collison - Didn't get enough football last season, people may have forgotten how talented he is.
Thomas Hitzlsperger - Wage demands may put teams off.

Fingers crossed
Junior Stanislas - Has pace and can shoot, inconsistent against top teams but potentially lethal in the Championship.
James Tomkins - Looks a top player on his day. Needs a full season as first choice before anyone can make their minds up.
Mark Noble - Would be made captain if he stayed, loves the club and hasn't really showed his best form of late.
Jordan Spence - Had a great loan spell at Bristol City, now has the choice of the Wolves bench or making our right-back slot his own.

Who cares either way
Freddie Sears - If you can finish, you will be of use whatever level you play at. Unfortunately, he can't.
Danny Gabbidon - Player of the year one season, anonymous the next. Retired from the bloody Wales set up. Get over yourself.

Good riddance
Kieron Dyer - Shocking waste of wages.
Julien Faubert - Like Dyer, except he also thinks he can tackle.
Radoslav Kovac - The most un-elegant footballer I have ever seen.
Luis Boa Morte - One time tricky forward, now fat, fouling central midfielder.
Robbie Keane - Did he actually miss those chances on purpose?

Making the above moves would get rid of the old, rotten core of the side. Which then begs the question of how to re-build it. The likes of Nicky Maynard, Adam Lallana, Luke Chambers and Jonny Howson should be looked at, plus one or two older heads. Typing that last sentence is all the more painful considering that twelve months ago we were linked with Juan Riquelme.

This, however, is the prospect West Ham fans must now confront. I'm reminded of a sign in the Bradford City museum here; this is our 'new reality'. In three years we will move to a stadium with a capacity second only to Manchester United in size. For Premier League football, it will be a big push to fill that space. For home games against Barnsley and Coventry, it's impossible.

If we are not in the top league by 2014, there will be no parachute payments, no fans, and a very bleak future ahead. This is, therefore, our one end goal, and nothing else matters a jot. The best way to save the club is patience, bravery and sensible investment on the part of the club's owners. The time to make some very long lasting decisions is now. Can they keep out of the papers long enough to make it happen? Only time will tell.

The FA Cup Final: Who to hate more

I've always loved the FA Cup final, and normally it's pretty easy to watch as a neutral. This year, however, I'm finding it bloody hard to pick a preference.

For the first time in a long time, neither side competing tomorrow has much of a history in this competition. Man City last reached the final in 1981, and Stoke have never got this far. Neither team really deserves it more, then, but the problem is, it's Man City. And Stoke. Neither side deserves it less.

These sides have among the worst disciplinary records in the league (Man City's is the worst), a fact that is born out of some truly desperate styles of football. City are the most negative top-four side I have ever seen, making sure to shut up shop and play for a 0-0 whenever they come into contact with a big rival. Like Stoke, they believe in getting the edge over opponents by out-muscling them, rather than out-thinking them. Stoke have some pacey wingers, but the vast majority of their goals are scored from three yards by one of the following: Kenwyne Jones, Jonathan Walters, Ricardo Fuller, Mamady Sidibe, John Carew. What do all of these have in common? They were used as extras in the Lord of the Rings battle scenes.

City have the better players, Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure in particular are world class, but this is countered by the fact that their success is bought. For 200 million, fourth place is the bare minimum required, and with the lack of entertainment that comes with it, it's almost impossible to see them as deserving a trophy. Certain players like Joe Hart perhaps deserve success, but then Joleon Lescott is the worst £20million centre-back it is possible to dream of, and Mario Balotelli is too busy being the biggest pikey in living memory to worry about becoming the best striker in the world.

The paradox is, both sets of fans are pretty decent. It should be a great atmosphere at Wembley, fuelled by the feeling that this result really matters to them. What a shame they have to follow the teams they do.

So in the battle of the Premier league spoiled rich kids and the playground bullies, your preference is like choosing between Audley Harrison and David Haye. One is going to upset you that little bit less, but entertainment is almost certainly not an option.

For anyone who fancies a punt on a thrilling 5-4, I highly recommend it.

Nine Reasons Liverpool could win the league next year

It's been written every year since 1990, but you can't help your gut feelings. Next season could be the one where Liverpool finally get their hands on the Premier League title. Below are a list of reasons why this is possible:


1. Kenny Dalglish
Liverpool's coach is the only British manager, other than Alex Ferguson, to have won the league, a feat he achieved at Blackburn in 1995. Despite over a decade in the wilderness, his impact at Anfield since he took over has been astounding.
Comparing his record to Roy Hodgson, one of the league's best managers, makes for interesting reading. Having managed ten fewer league games, Dalglish already has eight more points than Hodgson achieved. His win percentage is 52% versus Hodgson's 42%. His goal difference is +21, significantly better than Hodgson's +12.

This is not a slight on Roy Hodgson; his successor has not just eclipsed him but every other Premier League manager. In fact, if the season started on the day Dalglish took over, Liverpool would be second, one point behind Chelsea, with a game in hand.

2. Kids
"You'll never win anything with kids": An assumption that was extinguished a long time ago, despite Arsene Wenger's best efforts to reinforce it. This season has seen the development of Jay Spearing, John Flanagan, Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey, Martin Kelly and Jack Robinson as occasional first-teamers. There are more coming, including Paul Ince's son Tom, and Jamaican Raheem Stirling. When they have been called upon, they have all looked very useful, and at the very least they pose an exciting option off the bench.

3. Experience
To compliment the influx of youth, the squad also has a healthy number of seasoned pros who know how to win things. Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Fabio Aurelio, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole all fall into this category. Not to mention Raul Meireles, who has four league titles and nearly 50 caps at international level.

4. Steve Clarke
Dalglish may be getting all the credit for the club's recent form, but it's easy to forget that Liverpool have the best assistant coach in the league. Steve Clarke played a massive part in Chelsea's back-to-back league championships, and turned West Ham into a mid-table side. He also has a reputation for establishing very mean defences; he transformed Matthew Upson into an England regular, and since he left the same player has suddenly become fat and useless. The goals against column has gone down sharply at Anfield since Clarke's arrival, and if that trend continues next year, Champions League football is almost guaranteed.

5. Money
Under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool have got their spending power back. And they have done good business. After spending £57million in January, and recuperating all of that through the sale of Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, their front line looks a great deal more dynamic. If they can make the same improvements to their midfield (Scott Parker) and defence (Gary Cahill), there won't be many teams who can contain them.

6. English
All championship-winning sides seem to have an English spine to them, and all of a sudden Liverpool seem to have found the right balance. Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard still have a good season or two left in them, while Glen Johnson and Andy Carroll look exceptional on their day. A unit like that can only have a positive impact in the dressing room.

7. Psychology
Liverpool are also the only team to have properly stuffed Man Utd this season. Their 3-1 victory at Anfield was one-way traffic from beginning to end, when everyone's negative assumptions about United's midfield and defence seemed to be vindicated. They also beat Chelsea home and away. These are the sort of results teams will remember, and want to replicate.

8. Luis Suarez
The best buy of the January transfer window, if not the entire season. Gave the standout individual performance of the season against Man United, a sure sign that he can be relied upon on the biggest occasions. In front of goal, he is as good a finisher as Torres circa 2008, and also brings pace on the wings and dead-ball accuracy to the party. Realistically, he hasn't got into his stride yet in the Premier League, but 2011/12 could be the season he really stamps his class.

9. History
Barring a miracle, Man Utd will clinch a 19th league title at the weekend, surpassing Liverpool's record. That will really hurt. Footballers read the press, listen to the analysis, and come August 2011 there will be no team more motivated to show that they belong in the footballing elite once again.

How 'Yes to AV' makes actual sense

I don't pretend to understand the full intricacies of the AV debate, and the raft of celebrity supporters and mud-slinging by each side only seems to cheapen what is a first UK referendum in 35 years and a rare opportunity to make a pretty major change to how we are governed.

Then, joy of joys, the No campaign spelled it out for me with a horse race. The one in front comes in first, but what's this? The horse that came in third has won? That can't be right can it?

This analogy, shown in the 'No to AV' video broadcast, is the linchpin of the argument against voting reform. And for me, it fails miserably.

To boil a nationwide series of ballots to one, straight dash for the line ignores the fact that an election is made up of countless individual races. A better comparison would be motor racing, and then the picture changes dramatically.

In the 2008 Formula One season, Lewis Hamilton won his first driver's title. He won five races along the way. Felipe Massa, however, was 'first past the post' on six occasions; he won more races and would have been crowned champion using our current voting system. This, of course, fails to acknowledge the consistency of Hamilton's season, where he only finished out of the points on three occasions, compared to Massa's five.

Surely the same logic should apply to politics; if one party performs consistently well in more regions, without necessarily winning, surely there should be some reward attached to that. Currently in my home constituency, the Lib Dems win 39% of the vote with not a sausage to show for it. The Green Party took Brighton with a much lower percentage. Under AV, the eventual winners have to have 50% of the population at least partially behind them. Sounds fairer to me.

Leaflets through my door have been screaming the 'one person, one vote' argument for keeping first past the post. In reality, most people don't get anything like that much of a share; mine currently counts for 0.3 of a vote. This therefore totally undermines a central argument of the No campaign: they preach about the power of our vote, and this would actually be increased if they are defeated in the vote tomorrow.

Under AV, voter power in my area increases by 30%. That has to be a good thing. An excellent tool for assessing how AV would affect your vote can be found via http://www.voterpower.org.uk.

Scaremongering about what would help the BNP, cripple us financially or dilute voter power has essentially ruined what should have been an engaging political debate. If you, like me, are swayed by pure numbers, then the Yes/No decision appears a very clear one. So vote Yes tomorrow - if you can be bothered to go to the polls at all that is.