2013-05-22T02:27:11-04:00 Nick Wilby http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=nick-wilby Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Nick Wilby Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2580420 2013-01-30T07:17:54-05:00 2013-04-01T05:12:01-04:00

Nick Wilby http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-wilby/
Mancini's patience with the superstar's antics on and off the pitch seems to have come to an end but Balotelli will leave English football with his cult status firmly intact.

The Italian striker has grabbed more column inches than goals in recent months but his charming blend of nonchalance and volatility will be sorely missed and there are five reasons we'll fondly remember the player who famously asked, "why always me?"

1) Never a dull game with Mario

Balotelli's much-publicised career has been plagued by ill-discipline on the pitch and for all his extreme talent the 22-year-old has attracted the majority of his headlines for anything but acts of footballing brilliance.

The player missed eleven games through suspension in 2011/12 and when he was on the pitch he looked as utterly disinterested as he did explosive. There can be few players in the history of the game for whom the word 'hothead' is more fitting and the maestro appeared to drift from one bone-headed contribution to another throughout his time at Manchester City. It was these contributions that left pundits increasingly frustrated - but they were undoubtedly an entertaining aspect of his games.

His individualism meant that he warranted no place in a serious football team but his presence on the team sheet alone could sell tickets and the striker will remain a box office lure wherever he lines up.

2) His relationship with Roberto Mancini

Life at Manchester City has become like a soap opera in recent years and Balotelli's relationship with his manager has become one of the most intriguing storylines in the history of the Premier League.

The duo's on-going drama has been like a double act and press conferences and football matches all over the world have been the stage on which their love-hate relationship has rapidly developed.

Mancini once told his signing that "If you played with me, ten years ago, I give to you every day one punch in your head!" That is almost what the manager had to do when the pair came to blows at training earlier this month and their clash was a result of the growing frustration between mentor and mentored.

No manager has ever been sad to see the back of Balotelli, but on Wednesday Mancini spoke of his 'love' for the Italian and admitted that he would miss him after his move to Milan. His new coach Massimiliano Allegri will now be given the opportunity to man manage one of the maddest men in football and a player Jose Mourinho considers to be unmanageable.

3) Mad Mario's off the pitch antics

When Balotelli revealed his "why always me?" t-shirt 36 hours after fleeing his smoke-damaged luxury mansion in Mottram, you couldn't help but admire a statement of such ironic proportions. It was certainly a swift move from a man that witnessed his friend set a firework off inside his bathroom just hours before the Manchester derby.

Balotelli's off the field antics appear to have been far less appreciated here than in Italy and the player has been indignant about his characterisation in the British press. He believes that he is portrayed as a liability and a constant source of frustration, but the reality is that the press have become obsessed with his kamikaze behaviour and he heads back to Italy as a celebrity in both countries.

Whether he was throwing darts at youth team players, writing off his Audi R8 supercar or handing out cash to the homeless, Balotelli's stories made for compulsive reading regardless of whether they were fact or fiction.

4) His hilarious quotes

When Mancini admitted he would like to give his striker a punch, Balotelli simply responded by saying, "he couldn't. I do Thai kick-boxing."

It was symptomatic of the playful humour that has made the Italian such a hit with his fans and at times it was inconceivable that a player of such immaturity was capable of such humorous comments.

Aside from claiming he had no clue who Jack Wilshere was and when he wasn't telling reporters Lionel Messi was the only player who could rival him in world football, Balotelli's long list of quotes have had football fans in hysterics and his press conferences have become the hottest ticket in football.

5) Balotelli can play...

The enigma of Balotelli is that while his temperament and attitude are constantly under scrutiny, he remains a prodigiously talented player and he is capable of moments of breathtaking brilliance.

Blessed with pace, fantastic feet and overwhelming physical strength, Balotelli has made world class defenders look average at times in his career and he possesses everything you'd want from a striker.

Those that have worked with him have always agreed that he could potentially be one of the best in the world and his touch of class is almost reminiscent of Eric Cantona. Even the way Balotelli took penalties was enough to stir the blood at the Etihad.

His followers will now hope that the emotional draw of Italy will help the superstar settle and deliver on his formidable talent. There is every reason to believe that could be the case, but whether or not Balotelli can reach the top will depend on whether or not he continues to exist in his bizarrely constructed world.

You can get all the latest Premier League news, views, tips and transfer gossip at FootballTips.com.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1912733 2012-09-25T10:58:08-04:00 2012-11-25T05:12:01-05:00

Nick Wilby http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-wilby/
When Kean was handed the Blackburn Rovers job in December 2010, the side were thirteenth in the Premier League and were showing little sign of finishing anywhere near the relegation zone. The new manager went on to oversee a shocking set of results that saw the club cling on to their Premier League status on the last day of the season.

Less than two years on from his appointment, the 1994/95 Premier League winners sit in the second tier of English football, attendances continue to dwindle as exasperated supporters have turned to protesting with their feet and Kean unbelievably continues to survive as manager.

According to reports, the manager was on the verge of the sack after defeat to Middlesbrough on Friday evening but the much-maligned boss appears to have survived the axe once again - much to the dismay of Blackburn's bewildered fans.

When Venky's appointed Kean, the owners had discovered a man with no managerial experience at any level and his promotion was one of many astounding decisions that have led to the capitulation of the club. The side's followers have been in uproar ever since and the well-documented protests that have accompanied his spell as manager have seen exhausted Blackburn fans heavily criticised by the media.

Blackburn supporters will rightfully feel that they have been unfairly mauled and patronised by the press over the course of Kean's reign and some so-called experts have let down the fans on a massive scale. The sympathy afforded to Kean amidst dissent over the last two seasons has clouded the judgement of many and there is no getting away from his abysmal record in the dugout.

Thirteen victories in 59 Premier League matches saw Kean finish Blackburn's life in the top flight with a win ratio of just 22% and Venky's unhealthy appetite for the bizarre has seen the manager keep hold of his job, despite a number of calls for his removal.

Blackburn Rovers' deputy CEO, Paul Hunt, was forced out of the club after he warned owners of relegation and financial turmoil under the reign of Steve Kean and chairman John Williams, managing director Tom Finn and finance director Martin Goodman have all left the club whilst the manager continues to cut a forlorn figure on the touchline. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has called for his dismissal and even local MP Jack Straw has joined supporters in asking for his removal.

At times last season, few would deny that it was uncomfortable witnessing the anger pour out of the stands at Ewood Park, but Blackburn supporters will argue there was no other way of getting through to their owners. When Rovers were relegated at home to Wigan earlier in the year, the Venky's hierarchy were nowhere to be seen and a haunted Kean was the subject of a barrage of abuse that stemmed from eighteen months of built up frustration.

When Kean was appointed, Venky's had found a yes-man and though his bizarre rise through the ranks was questioned by many, nobody could blame him for jumping at the chance to prove himself after over 27 years working in the industry. His self-confidence is admirable, but it is clear he has fallen well short of the task and his defence of a disastrous spell in charge is almost as absurd as the regime that employed him.

A crowd of just 13,405 saw Friday's match and many supporters are adamant they will not return until Kean is dismissed. A number of high-profile pundits will undoubtedly say that sacking any manager that sits second in the table is unfair, but Kean should be judged on the plight of the club since he took charge from Sam Allardyce.

In the past Kean has talked of European nights at Ewood Park and Champions League football had been a vision he shared with his disillusioned owners. Now you suspect that even if that mystifying dream became a reality it might not be enough to convince Blackburn's tortured supporters.

You can get all the latest football news, views and tips ahead of all the big games at Bettingpro.com.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1612648 2012-06-20T12:40:32-04:00 2012-08-20T05:12:05-04:00

Nick Wilby http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-wilby/
The royal meeting has always been hugely successful when it comes to attracting the planet's finest thoroughbreds, but it's difficult to remember a time the course has welcomed such a high profile name and the countdown to Black Caviar's British debut is about to come to an end.

A worldwide audience will tune in to see her put her Goliath-like reputation on the line in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and racing fans can expect to witness one of the most pulsating performances they're ever likely to see.

But who is she? Quite simply, Black Caviar has become a genuine Australian sporting icon throughout a career that has heralded 21 magnificent victories and she continues to attract the sort of media attention you would expect from a film star.

At least that's how it seemed when she arrived in Britain last week with an army of security guards and an entourage almost big enough to eclipse her astonishing 575kg frame. Her travelling support will be in excess of 5000 people and her devoted fans will be expecting another breath-taking display from the greatest racehorse they have ever produced.

Her odds would suggest that the race is almost a foregone conclusion and with the knowledge that she is the first horse in Australia to have ever run 200 metres in less than ten seconds, it isn't hard to see why she is so heavily fancied to land the six furlong showpiece.

Look back to any of her superb victories and you will see that Black Caviar has never for a single second looked like being beaten and her fame around the world has travelled almost as fast as the sprinting sensation herself.

In Australia, Back Caviar is the owner of her own merchandising outlet and fan club and she attracts the sort of following that British trainers could only dream about. She continues to be the envy of every owner in the world and after being purchased for just £130,000, she has amassed a staggering £3.7m in prize money.

Recently, Black Caviar's owners were tempted into a six-figure contract with television channel TVN for semi-exclusive access to the mare's trip overseas and with this exclusivity the channel will be making a documentary which will be viewed by people all over the world.

She is valued so highly that it's no surprise her trainer Peter Moody has been "nervous" about her international mission, but she will be welcomed with open arms by British racing fans who have become fascinated, even obsessed, with the idea of her making the trip to Ascot.

Every possible measure has been taken to ensure that Moody's nerves are at ease and the champion stepped off her plane at Heathrow sporting a Lycra suit that was specifically designed under the guidance of 100m hurdler Sally Pearson. It was created to make sure her journey around the world was without injury and she is constantly under the watch of vets and attendants to monitor her wellbeing during her trip.

On Saturday millions of people all around the world will tune in to see the globetrotter in action and with the race kicking off well past midnight in Australia, the party is likely to last long into the night.

There is no doubt that Black Caviar is a cultural phenomenon Down Under but now it's time for the magnificent mare to be unleashed on Ascot and showcase her talents at racing's greatest spectacle.

You can get all the latest news and views ahead of Black Caviar's trip to Royal Ascot at Racingbase.com.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1579459 2012-06-07T19:00:00-04:00 2012-08-07T05:12:03-04:00

Nick Wilby http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-wilby/
The likes of Zinedine Zidane, Marco van Basten and Michel Platini have all secured greatness in championships gone by - but who will shine at this year's tournament? Let's take a look at five players that have the potential to light up this year's tournament.

Arjen Robben

Arjen Robben will be at the forefront of Holland's bid for Euro 2012 glory and the winger will be looking to banish the memory of his missed penalty in last month's Champions League final.

Ultra-talented but equally as fragile, Robben has always been a difficult character and his individualism has been as frustrating as it has been exciting in recent years. After accumulating a total of £71 million in transfer fees by the age of 25, he has now settled at Bayern Munich and he has finally become the player he always threatened to be.

His selfishness for Bayern and Holland is welcomed by the two squads as it succeeds so often and his sustained brilliance has made him one of the most feared players in world football. If Holland are going to go all the way, the superstar's goals, assists and mesmerising trickery could be the key to their success.

Karim Benzema

France will be looking to right the wrongs of their disastrous World Cup in South Africa two years ago and a revitalised Karim Benzema could be the key to their resurgence.

The Real Madrid forward was in fantastic form for club and country last season and it looks as though he could finally be developing into the world class striker that many had predicted.

Laurent Blanc's French side are now unbeaten in twenty-one matches and Benzema is the key to the whole system of the team. With Franck Ribéry and Samir Nasri supporting in attack he spearheads a formation that creates plenty of chances and though he can occasionally be clumsy in front of goal, he is more than capable of leading the line on his own.

Don't be surprised to see Benzema battling it out for the Golden Boot as France look to win back their European Championship crown.

Steven Gerrard

Eight years after captaining his country for the first time Steven Gerrard has finally been given the armband on a permanent basis and the talismanic Scouser will have to be at his sensational best if England are going to have a successful Euro 2012.

The Liverpool legend has never been able to reach the dizzy heights he had hoped for with England and he has saved all of his most memorable performances for the Kop. Though he was arguably England's best player in South Africa two years ago, it was another tournament he failed to shine in and he has admitted himself that some of his performances have been poor.

Now he heads to a tournament as the captain and he'll finally be able to play in his preferred position for England. It is likely he'll be the central figure in a 4-4-1-1 formation and it'll be up to him to orchestrate proceedings, especially in the absence of Wayne Rooney.

Considered by many to be Liverpool's greatest ever player, England fans will be hoping that Gerrard's individual virtuosity can see him lead his national side to glory at a major tournament.

Mesut Özil

Germany head into Euro 2012 as one of the most likely winners and Mesut Özil is being tipped by many pundits to win the player of the tournament award.

It isn't hard to see why the gifted playmaker has so many admirers and Germany undoubtedly have one of the most talented midfielders in the world in their ranks.

Özil had a spectacular season at club level for Real Madrid and managed to acquire more assists than Lionel Messi in a memorable title-winning campaign, while the maestro also topped the assists chart in the Euro 2012 qualifying stages.

The superstar is elusive in possession and impeccable around the box and he looks set to be at the centre of a golden era for German football.

The lavish praise he attracts is thoroughly deserved and if he has a good tournament then it is highly likely Germany will be turning on the style.

Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli is becoming more famous for his off-field exploits than his achievements on the pitch and whatever happens at Euro 2012, the Italian striker is bound to be in the headlines.

The Manchester City forward has flair in abundance but he continues to grab more column inches than goals and his attitude has been heavily criticised in recent months.

Cocky, petulant and unbelievably charismatic, Euro 2012 could be Balotelli's chance to prove that he really is one of the hottest properties in Europe and the Italians will be counting on him keeping his cool when it matters in Ukraine and Poland.

The creativity and verve he showed at times in the Premier League last season would be welcomed with open arms by a changing Italian national side and the tournament could provide the perfect stage for his unquestionable talents.

Get all the latest news and views from Euro 2012 at Bettingpro.com and take a look at their comprehensive online guide to the tournament now.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1551927 2012-05-30T19:00:00-04:00 2012-07-30T05:12:13-04:00

Nick Wilby http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-wilby/
England's preparation has been typically baffling and the media circus that follows the team is in full swing, but there are ten good reasons to believe that Hodgson's lions will be roaring at this year's tournament.

1 - Roy Hodgson

Harry Redknapp might have been the nation's first choice when the England manager's job became available, but Roy Hodgson was arguably the safest choice and in appointing him manager they have installed one of football's shrewdest thinkers. Hodgson is vastly experienced having worked for no less than 16 teams in eight countries and he is revered at some of Europe's biggest clubs. He might not be the motivator that Redknapp would have been, but he is tactically astute and he'll be leaving no stone unturned this June.

2 - A fresh Wayne Rooney

Despite his dejected display in South Africa, Wayne Rooney is still England's most important player and there are no grounds for supposing England can launch a serious challenge at Euro 2012 without their most precious talent. Having the superstar available for one group game could be the difference between progressing and flying home early and if we do go through, we know we've got a striker playing at the top of his game. His club form has been mesmerising at times and he doesn't look to be carrying the injuries that plagued him two years ago.

3 - Joe Hart

Finally England has a world-class goalkeeper in its squad and you get the feeling Joe Hart will be very busy if we are going to get to the final in Kiev. Hart has been in fantastic form this season and he has excelled in between the sticks at one of the biggest clubs in Europe. He looks to have all the attributes to go on and become of England's greatest keepers of all time and his day-to-day practice with the likes of Sergio Agüero, David Silva and Mario Balotelli can only make him stronger.

4 - Spain can be beaten!

Chelsea's incredible victory over Barcelona and Bayern Munich's success over Real Madrid will have the leading contenders at Euro 2012 purring with excitement as Spain look to win their third major tournament on the bounce. They are undoubtedly the most formidable team on the way to Ukraine and Poland, but Chelsea showed that Spain can be conquered and if England do meet them then it is far from being all doom and gloom.

5 - England doesn't expect

It's hard to remember England heading to a major tournament with so little expectation and whereas the media have unscrewed the English wheels in the past, this year it seems it is very much a case of building for the future. Germany proved two years ago that the right blend of youth and experience can lead to great things and if England do use this tournament as a stepping stone to the 2014 World Cup, who is to say we won't surprise ourselves?

6 - The younger lions set to make their mark

It always seems to be the case that there is one exciting player trying to dribble their way into the England squad at these tournaments, but this year we seem to have a whole host of ultra-talented youngsters that could make an impact this summer. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has looked every bit the real deal at Arsenal and Danny Wellbeck continues to flourish in a Manchester United shirt. The future is certainly bright, but the present is equally as exciting.

7 - Keeping John Terry and Rio Ferdinand apart

Hodgson has resisted the temptation to pick John Terry and Rio Ferdinand in this month's England squad and the manager's decision will be welcomed with great relief in the dressing room. The relationship between Terry and Ferdinand looks incurable and the tension in the England camp could buckle under the strain of their feud. On his day Terry is a superb centre-back and nobody can fault his effort.

8 - Important players in form

For once there looks to be a number of England's leading names in fine form and it isn't just Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart that are buzzing ahead of the Euros. Frank Lampard has looked back to his best at the centre of Chelsea's siege for silverware, John Terry remains world class on his day, Ashley Cole still looks like one of the best left backs in the game and there are a whole host of players upping their game as the season reaches its climax. Even Andy Carroll is beginning to look unplayable!

9 - A case for the defence

Roy Hodgson is one of the most organised managers in English football and his impressive CV has been built on methodical tactics and successful back fours. These major tournaments are more often than not very tight affairs and there won't be too many goals between winning and losing. Luckily, England will have a fantastic goalkeeper, a well organised back four and one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League in the shape of Scott Parker if we do need to park the bus.

10 - The travelling England fans

England's travelling fans are without doubt the best in the world and despite the vast expense and long distances involved, we can be sure that thousands of supporters will be making the trip to Ukraine and Poland this summer. England's enthusiasm is more than a match for any of their rivals and they won't be fighting against the sound of the vuvuzela this time around. The England players will feel close to home when the fans flock to Donetsk for their clash with France.

Take a look at the upcoming fixtures at Euro 2012 and get all the latest news and views ahead of the tournament at Bettingpro.com]]>