2013-05-25T18:53:43-04:00 Ian Wilson http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=ian-wilson Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Ian Wilson Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1541932 2012-05-24T19:00:00-04:00 2012-07-24T05:12:07-04:00

Ian Wilson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-wilson/
This saddens me, it really does. As a boy growing up watching Terry Butcher, Stuart Pearce and my favourite player of the time Gary Lineker, my understanding was that representing your country was the highest level of achievement possible in football. It was an honour, a distinction reserved for only the most talented and hardest working players in the game.

Somewhere since that period from 1986 and the post-Terry Venables era, something went wrong, drastically wrong. I watched every minute of those tournaments, kicked every ball, felt every tackle. Not now. Perhaps it was the greed that came with the Sky money, or perhaps it is an example of how the world just got too greedy generally.

Whereas Butcher, Pearce, Gascoigne et al would have run through brick walls for the team, often shedding blood, sweat and tears in the process, they were slowly replaced by ego-centric individuals more intent on self-promotion and self-satisfaction rather than legacy, loyalty and effort.

As good a player as David Beckham was, I would never expect him to leave the field having put his faultless face in the way of someone's boot, for the good of the team... and he was probably one of the more committed of his era.

Gradually the ego's have worked their way into the team. John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and their chums are incapable of connecting with the fan base of today, meaning a wave of apathy has swung over the country, when excitement should instead. We just don't empathise with these players anymore. The average Joe would crawl to Wembley if they had a chance to play for England, whereas the current generation seem happy to crawl back to their clubs having crashed out again. It seems they don't really care about England. So why should we?

When Paul Gascoigne played for England, the fans didn't just like him because he was extremely talented. They liked him because he wasn't perfect. He was slightly tubby, had a lack of discipline and was incapable of concentrating. He was a flawed genius, but he cared and it was obvious. He cared so much he famously broke down on the pitch at a World Cup, and even trashed a hotel when he wasn't picked for another one. I'm not saying his behaviour was right, but how many of the current crop of players care one iota as much?

What the England team needs to reinvigorate it is characters. Freddie Flintoff types that bring a smile to your face and make it easier to connect with the team. We need Butcher's, Pearce's, Lineker's and Gazza's. Not in terms of ability but in terms of heart and enthusiasm. We need lion hearts, to inspire us and reignite our interest

Alan Shearer had it (possibly the last one who did). I'm not a huge fan of his punditry. His lack of research is blindingly obvious, and he never communicates a rounded view. However, I recall when we were knocked out in 2006 in Germany following the infamous Ronaldo wink. Without a thought for what he was saying, Shearer exclaimed live on the BBC, "it wouldn't surprise me if Rooney lamps Ronaldo when they're back at Man Utd", capturing the pure emotion and sense of injustice of the event. He captured the mood of the nation. Rooney didn't lamp Ronaldo of course, because he simply doesn't care.

Roy Hodgson had a chance to fix this issue when he named his Euro 2012 squad on 16 May. For example, he could have chosen not to name, say John Terry who's become a laughing stock quite frankly, or Stewart Downing who does not comfortably make the transition to international football. He could have chosen not to pick Andy Carroll, clearly a man who carries emotional baggage on his person. He could have left more of the egos behind. He could have chosen someone without an ego. Someone with passion for the game. Someone like Grant Holt.

Holt combines the pantomime of a Paul Gascoigne, with the will to win of a Stuart Pearce, with the heart of a Terry Butcher.

Holt physically shouldn't work as a footballer yet is the second-highest English goal scorer. He's not the second best English striker in the Premier League. He wasn't even necessarily the best striker in the Championship. However what he was (and still is) is one of the most effective players anywhere in the country.

Grant Holt playing for England would have shown that hard work, heart and determination are still valued and rewarded. He may not be stylish or fashionable, but he sure is effective, just ask any central defender in the Premier League. He may have lacked the necessary composure. No matter, he would have given us all hope.

Does Holt care about England? Well after his rejection by Hodgson, Holt has behaved very oddly in the last week, handing in a transfer request at the club and referring to unfair comments about him in the press. It's possible that he feels that his role as a figure of fun has cost him an England place, and this has made Mr Holt very cross. Whether he had an implosion akin to that of Gazza in 1998, we don't know, but Roy Hodgson had an opportunity to bring the passion, commitment and feel good factor back to the England team and much like those since Terry Venables, he failed.

Will I be watching England without Holt? I'd rather mow the lawn thanks.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1151184 2011-12-15T19:00:00-05:00 2012-02-14T05:12:02-05:00

Ian Wilson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-wilson/
I will assume that for Darren to take an extended break his symptoms must either be severe or persistent, or both. For those that don't know what it is, or perhaps don't want to know, let me shed some light on what Darren might be going through, but be warned, this isn't going to be pretty.

Colitis is a terrible, debilitating condition that has the potential to be life-threatening. Much like cancer, it comes from nowhere and can totally derail your life. Let's be clear, this is not something that people bring on themselves through bad lifestyle choices such as drinking, smoking or eating 'the wrong things'. The medical profession do not understand what causes it, which makes it harder to rationalise the changes the body goes through.

Doctors don't know why, but colitis is becoming more common, especially in Western cultures. It is the disease of the rich and healthy, effecting more non-smokers than smokers. Norwich City footballer Russell Martin is a fellow sufferer. Since being affected by it in 2010, he has made a great recovery and now is in the form of his life as a linchpin at the back of the Norwich City Premier League defence.

Worst case scenario is that Darren has been hospitalised many times due to frequent bloody diarrhoea, severe vomiting and intense abdominal pain. Think about how you feel after a 24 hour bout of severe food poisoning and then imagine that hell continuing for weeks or months. That is the life of a colitis sufferer.

If hospitalised, he will probably be connected up to various bags of medication being pumped into his veins including steroids, antibiotics, fluids and anti-blood clot drugs. Moving around with all of that connected to you is a challenge, so he may well be spending most of his time in bed. This is hardly the activity of choice for a young footballer with infant twins.

There will be various doctors and surgeons (sometimes five at a time) turning up to review his progress and monitor him. He will have blood taken everyday and will be subjected to various extremely uncomfortable tests. If his blood inflammatory levels do not respond well to the medication, he may well require surgery. He will be at risk of catching other infections such as the potentially fatal C-Difficile and at a higher risk of bowel cancer.

When I was in the same situation 18 months ago, of course I was worried about being ill. However, part of me was more worried what people would think. This macho culture we live in, where illness is see as a sign of weakness, makes it difficult to admit to this kind of condition. I was worried friends would disown me, or that people would think I was not clean or infected. I dare say that some repulsive jokes have started at Darren's expense already.

Darren has been very brave admitting to this condition and deserves everyone's support and understanding. People would not be making jokes if he was suffering from cancer, and colitis has the potential to be just as bad.

For all the money and privilege that footballers have, for all the elitist medical care, sometimes serious illness pays you no respect whatsoever.

Get well soon Darren, keep strong and you'll beat it.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1137768 2011-12-08T19:00:00-05:00 2012-02-07T05:12:01-05:00

Ian Wilson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-wilson/
Rooney is lucky in more ways than one as now there will be a huge clamour for him to be included, especially as England seem to have been drawn into an eminently winnable group at Euro 2012. How we've all heard that before. He will miss the opening games against Sweden and France, returning for the fixture in Donetsk against the joint hosts.

So, is the scene set for a dashing young hero to ride into Eastern Europe and slay his way through the opposition, taking us to the final or better? Fact is a lot more sober than fiction. Every tournament there's a time when fans forget that despair is sometimes an easier emotion to deal with than forlorn hope, where football is concerned.

Win our group and we'll face Italy, Ireland or Croatia. Could Rooney be the difference against the best of those 3 teams? Possibly. Can he be trusted to deliver? Probably not. Finish second and we'll play Spain. I'm aware we beat them recently (despite being totally outplayed), but a competitive game is different. It's safe to assume that even with 11 Wayne Rooney's (a horrid thought), Capello's men would be worlds apart from the current World and European Champions. This is Spain's once in a generation moment, I must have missed ours, but that's a whole new topic.

Rooney has been called a big game player, but he has blown hot and cold since being catapulted into his first cap as a teenager. The general consensus of those in the know is that Rooney's reduced suspension will not now preclude his inclusion in the squad. However, his form has been in decline since the sending off in Montenegro and arrest of his father, mirroring Manchester United's equally inconsistent period.

Perhaps some would accuse me of schadenfreude, but the boxer's son from Croxteth is perhaps proof beyond doubt in the existence of karma. He is a player clearly affected by events off the pitch, and as the manager, Fabio Capello has to decide whether the country can rely on Rooney's mind to be focussed and clear when the time comes to perform.

If Capello takes four strikers (as he surely will if only playing one up top), Darren Bent, Jermaine Defoe and the excellent Daniel Sturridge would perhaps be the pick of the current crop. Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch and Bobby Zamora seem to very much on the periphery, with Carroll in particular suffering a meteoric fall from grace after being hailed as our new hero only 12 months ago. From this trio, a fully fit and functioning Bobby Zamora would offer something different and a solid option should Capello revert back to his preferred 4-4-2.

Capello could see it as a straight fight out between Manchester United colleagues Rooney and Danny Welbeck. Rooney hasn't scored in the league since September, whilst Welbeck has scored just once in the Premier League since the crushing victory of Arsenal in August. Neither are setting the world alight. Therefore it's probably form that will determine whether Rooney has gotten away with it again, and will determine who will have the chance to be a hero for the Three Lions. Let's just hope Fabio steers it so that someone has this chance.
]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1025822 2011-10-23T19:00:00-04:00 2011-12-23T05:12:02-05:00

Ian Wilson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-wilson/
However, the times they are a-changing and Arsene's moods have become a metaphor for the fall from grace of the three-time double winners. Where once the gawky Wenger was placid, laid back and sagacious, over the last half-dozen seasons he has become ever more tense, tetchy and uncharacteristically argumentative. His decisions not to shake hands are as enigmatic as they are ill-mannered. This is as alien to us Brits as diving or feigning injury.

Perhaps Wenger was a casualty of the Jose Mourinho years more than any other foe of the suave former Chelsea-boss. Whilst somehow Sir Alex Ferguson and Mourinho have maintained a mutual respect, the Arsenal manager seemed to be the most unappreciative of the verbal fisticuffs that entertained Mourinho so frequently. The only other manager who the self-confessed 'Special One' got under the skin of was Rafa Benitez, and we all know what happened to him.

Ever since that last trophy (the FA Cup in 2005), Wenger's powers have waned each and every year that they remain trophy free. Lest we forget that it was that season in 2005 that the 'invincibles' were finally beaten. Wenger had built an incredible side that could and perhaps should have gone on to become a legacy of his tenure. Pires, Henry, Reyes, Ljungberg, Viera, Campbell and of course Dennis Bergkamp were the big names in that team and since that time Wenger has looked increasingly lost, clinging on to the nostalgia of that era, watching on as his team slowly slip out of the football firmament. Enjoyment of nostalgia is only for people that find reality too uncomfortable.

Wenger has looked increasingly impotent of late, particularly in the transfer window. With Clichy leaving, an already depleted back line was looking fragile. I recall a radio phone-in, where Gooners were calling in their droves in response to the presenters' prompt that Gibbs deserved his chance. Caller after caller reasserted that Wenger had a back up plan and there would be many new arrivals in the summer. They were confident that the Clichy money would add to an already ample transfer pot. However, it appears as though Brazilian left back Andre Santos was only brought in reluctantly after the infamous drubbing by Manchester United.

Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas's departure in the summer was no less obvious than night following day, but Wenger still managed to give the impression of being caught on the hop come 31 August by signing Mikel Arteta and Youssi Benayoun, not to mention the slow starting Per Metersacker.

Wenger gave the impression of spending the whole summer mowing the lawn and pruning shrubs whilst the roof had a great big hole in it. Unfortunately he did a cheap patch up job just as the rain lashed down. Clive Dunn may as well have been in charge of the transfer kitty.

It's disappointing watching this fall from grace. I can't see another team of the class of 97/98 or 03/04 ever hailing from the Emirates. Sadly for Wenger and Gooners everywhere, the style baton has been passed to Roberto Mancini this season. Manchester City are the team everyone wants to watch, they have style, pace, strength; not to mention the coolest manager in the Premier League.

Mancini's 'Barcelona Blues' remain one of only four unbeaten teams in all four divisions and are the highest scorers in the top flight. Yes they still need to learn how to win ugly, but their football has been scintillating. David Silva has been a revelation playing behind the strikers, and if Dzeko is off-colour, there is always a rejuvenated Mario Balotelli. Then there is Sergio Aguero, the most naturally talented striker I have ever seen in this country.

Move over Wenger, there's a new entertainer in town.
]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1019437 2011-10-19T19:00:00-04:00 2011-12-19T05:12:01-05:00

Ian Wilson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-wilson/
My wife and I had decided that I should speculatively attend our first property auction, and sit this one out, observing how frivolous the great and the good are with their money. Under almost any circumstances we weren't going to buy. Buying at auction would be ridiculous, fraught with risk and pitfalls, something we didn't want to face, especially with a two-year old to look after and another child due in March.

Rewind a few weeks, and the English property system had just failed us for the third time. Our modest 3 bedroom semi had been sold back in august for a price we'd felt lucky to achieve in the current climate. On the day we were meant to Exchange contracts on our sale and the purchase of a delightful detached cottage, the chocolate in the chocolate box house started melting. The present owners had underpinned the property of our dreams themselves and not told the insurance company, meaning the deal could not go ahead. So, after committing over £2,000 of our hard earned cash into it, we had to walk away. Boxes were packed, removal men were booked and the post had already been re-directed. Worst of all, we had to move in with relatives, much to my wife's dismay.

After surveys on a further two properties had highlighted potentially show-stopping problems on these as well, the search was beginning to become really rather urgent. One of my wife's frequent flicks on her ex-favourite iPhone app found a glorious looking property for sale in a charming village we hadn't previously considered, at a price that was just outside of our budget. That excited (and slightly scared) feeling came on again, as I rushed to join her side and stare at the little digital screen. A stunning detached Georgian house stared back at me, unfortunately as did the price and the small print, 'for sale by auction'. Well that's that then.

We decided to attend one of the group viewings just to see how the other half lived. There were four sessions, and the one we were at had perhaps a dozen attendees. It was unsurprisingly a popular property. However how many were there to buy and how many were there to have a nose round his lordships house? Turns out a local multi-millionaire business man was the owner, who had long since relocated to Belgravia.

We retreated back to Rightmove and thought no more of it. When yet another property we wanted to buy fell through, my wife (the reliable, hard-working, organised one) decided that I (the creative, slightly dreamy yet courageous one) might as well go along to the auction just for the experience. We wouldn't bother getting a survey done as the property is bound to go for over half a million pounds. After all, it has a drive in/out driveway, an indoor pool and most exciting of all electric curtains! Silly money. No survey then.

Lot's 1-8 all went for 30-40% over the guide prices. Bidding was competitive and there was standing room only at the back of the packed hall. Each winner was taken away by an attractive young lady and made to sign papers in front of solicitors whilst the crowd looked on in awe and intrigue.

Lot 9 was next. The auctioneer took the price down from over £600,000, until someone bid in at £400,000. The price quickly rose, and then came to a sudden halt, at below our maximum price.

I had one of those slow-motion moments with the sudden realisation that the next couple of seconds could define my entire life, the realisation that this could be either the best or worst decision I ever make... and I bid.

Next followed silence, save for the palpitations of my thumping heartbeat as hundreds of pairs of eyes turned to see who the little upshot was that thinks he can pay that much for a house in this age of austerity. 'Going, going gone'. 'Sold, to the gentlemen on my left!' I honestly couldn't tell you what happened next, but evidently I'd just bought a dream house for about the price of an average London home.

The following few days were a blur of anxiety and sleepless nights penetrated by occasional rays of sunshine and feelings of exhilaration, especially when the survey came back OK.

Yes, I know it is supposed to be an age of austerity and yes inflation is over 5% and yes I know we're all doomed to economic permafrost (thanks for the cheery phrase, Paul Mason). My wife and I are of modest means, all our money is our own and we're not blessed with elitist academic backgrounds. However, I can confirm that the British version of the American capitalist dream is alive and well. If you want something enough and fate agrees, pretty much anything is possible. For whom the hammer falls, it falls for thee.
]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1007095 2011-10-12T19:00:00-04:00 2011-12-12T05:12:02-05:00

Ian Wilson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-wilson/
Clearly, the England team is not as good as it once as. Fans and commentators talk about the lack of passion and commitment, but the significant deficiencies run deeper than that. The rest of the world has caught up. Once where it was the number of hat-tricks Gary Lineker would score in qualifying that was the litmus test of success, now it appears as though qualification is success itself.

The trouble is, England have only one great player, or two when Steven Gerrard is fit. That in itself isn't a problem, it only becomes an issue when the player is bigger than the team he's playing in - or thinks so anyhow.

The enigma that is Wayne Rooney cannot be underrated. He is the 3rd highest paid player in the world, he averages a goal every 2 games for Manchester United. He's won four league titles, a Champions League. In 2004, he was going to be the best player we'd seen in an England shirt since Bobby Charlton; the boy can play. The stats support this undoubted ability. England have played three games without Rooney since the last World Cup and won none of them. In that same period, England have won seven of the nine games they have played with Rooney in the team, with the two draws against Montenegro accounting for the other two matches.

Beneath all of this though is something even more crucial than ability. Beneath the brilliance is a flawed and self-destructive character. His disciplinary record is well-documented, as are his off the field misadventures. All of this however, could be forgivable. England have had players of this ilk before, petulant, flammable characters with ability in droves and built of dubious moral fibre. Rooney is different; he's not able to focus in the face of adversity. He does not deliver when he is expected to and he puts himself ahead of his teammates far too often (rewind twelve months for an example of this).

A sign of things to come was the 2004 friendly in Spain. The team, outplayed, were subject to racial taunts from the home fans and a short-fused and angered Wayne Rooney was substituted before he got himself sent off. Yes, the chants were horrific, but there was simply no need for the outburst. It was unprofessional, foolish and immature. Fast forward seven years and the boy is still not yet a man.

Anyone who has studied team building theory will know that balance and togetherness are the fundamental building blocks of successful teams, not ability.

Take Norwich City as an example. Few would say that the Championship promotion winning side of last year had any 'Rooneys'. Cardiff City had ex-Premier League stars Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra. Reading had Shane Long, Jimmy Kebe and Matthew Mills. Leicester City had the talented Yakubu amongst other internationals. Norwich boss Paul Lambert approached things a different way. He proved that selecting from a group of 15 or so hard-working, likeable professionals can achieve more than a team made up of envious 'side-show' players to the one or two gifted, but high maintenance stars. Lambert's team was balanced, focussed and together, a recipe ripe for over-achieving in the Championship.

There are many other examples of the importance of teams over individuals. Few could argue that Manchester City's 'money can't buy' dream team have achieved what they should have given the significant investment of Sheikh Mansour. The jury is out on whether anything is different this season. They certainly don't look a happy camp. International football is full of examples of groups of average players being moulded into great teams. Think Greece in Euro 2004 or even Germany in 2002.

Whether or not you want Rooney to attend the finals in Poland and Ukraine is a personal view. However, on balance, I'm not convinced that England are any better off with a player who is at times quite brilliant and at other times, a liability. Show some strength Fabio and put the best team out at Euro 2012, not the best players. Don't take the idiot abroad.]]>