David O'Leary : Glorious fall from grace

Ten years ago, Fianna Fail had 76 seats in government, the Twin Towers were still standing, and the Euro had not come into currency. A decade is a long time too in sport. As the Champions League is currently in half ways through the quarter final stage, it is easy to forget that in 2001, Leeds United were at this stage, having come through two group stages including teams such as Barcelona, AC Milan, Lazio and Real Madrid. Under Despite reaching the semi-finals, that was as good as it got for David O’Leary’s team, as they became a symbol of financial mismanagement, lost their best players, and dropped down three tiers of English football. If an insight as to how this occurred was needed, O’Leary’s book, “United on Trial” gives a clear insight.

The book was released in controversial circumstances, after a number of Leeds United footballers went to trial twice over the serious physical attack on an Asian student. The book alienated O’Leary from the changing room, and within a year he was sacked as manager. O’Leary is pre-occupied with informing the reader that the irresponsible actions of a number of players were in no reflection on the club, and that those individuals were detracting from the good name of the club. Yet paradoxically, it is titled “Leeds United on Trial”

A common theme from the book is the total lack of accountability. Every single negative is backed up with an excuse “we were denied a famous victory over Real Madrid by a deliberate handball by Raul”, and even after Leeds are beaten 4-0 away to Barcelona, he is more concerned at the conduct of their hosts in the media zone, where he felt “their conduct was an utter disgrace” The consistent references to injuries also grates after a while. Maybe a deeper problem was the fact their youth academy was producing only average players at best.

What is palpable throughout is a heightened sense of self-importance. Four pages are taken up with how he spoke to Alex Ferguson to assure him he had not spoken to anybody about the Man. Utd job. Further afield he claims of suitors “It seemed that Lazio had been enquiring about me in their search for a long term replacement for Sven”.

The book helped bring an end to O’Leary’s reign at Leeds United, and after a 2 year stint at Aston Villa, he has drifted into managerial obscurity. It will be difficult for him to shake off the tag as an over-spender. Some what ironically, he is now in the UAE managing Dubai based side Al Ahli, in a country where money is no object.

Astute Guardian Readers

A look at various media shows that most agree, generally, on top performing players of last weekend, with some tight calls in the back-row and front row. The readers of the Guardian seem to disagree, and have 11 English players in the team of the weekend. Some interesting picks. Even though Ireland - France was clearly the stand out game of the weekend, and the only match of a decent standard, only one player makes the cut, French centre Rougerie. Only one "outsider" makes the pack, Welsh flanker Dan Lydiate, curious given the fact that Sam Warburton and Thierry Dusatoir were both named as the stand out performers in their respective games.

Planet Rygby

15 Luke Fitzgerald

14 Chris Ashton

13 Aurelien  Rougerie

12 Jamie Roberts

11 Shane Williams

10 Toby Flood

9 Morgan Parra  

8 Imanol Harinordoquy                                                                             

7 Sam Warburton

6 Sean O'Brien                                                                                         

5 Tom Palmer                                                

4 Paul O'Connell                                           

3 Dan Cole                                                   

2 William Servat
1 Cian Healy

Sportingo.com

15 Luke Fitzgerald

14 Chris Ashton

13 Aurelien  Rougerie

12 Jamie Roberts

11 Shane Williams

10 Toby Flood

9 Morgan Parra  

8 Nick Easter                                                                             

7 Sam Warburton

6 James Haskell                                                                                         

5 Tom Palmer                                                

4 Paul O'Connell                                           

3 Dan Cole                                                   

2 William Servat
1 Alex Corbisiero

Sky Sports

15 Sean Lamont
14 Chris Ashton

13 Aurelien  Rougerie

12 Jonathan Davies
11 Shane Williams

10 Toby Flood

9 Ben Youngs  

8 Imanol Harinordoquy                                                                             

7 Sam Warburton

6 Thierry Dusatoir                                                                                       

5 Tom Palmer                                                

4 Paul O'Connell                                           

3 Mike Ross                                                  

2 Matthew Rees
1 Alex Corbisiero

Irish Examiner

15 Sean Lamont
14 Chris Ashton

13 Aurelien  Rougerie

12 Jamie Roberts

11 Mark Cueto
10 Toby Flood

9 Ben Youngs
8 Sergio Parisse                                                                             

7 Sam Warburton

6 Thierry Dusatoir                                                                                         

5 Julien Pierre                                                

4 Paul O'Connell                                           

3 Nicolas Mas                                                   

2 William Servat
1 Paul James

Guardian Readers

15 Sean Lamont
14 Chris Ashton

13 Aurelien  Rougerie

12 Jonathan Davies
11 Mark Cueto
10 Toby Flood

9 Ben Youngs  

8 Nick Easter                                                                             

7 Dan Lydiate
6 James Haskell                                                                                         

5 Tom Palmer                                                

4 Louis Deacon                                           

3 Dan Cole                                                   

2 Dylan Hartley
1 Alex Corbisiero

And Then There Were Two

After two rounds of matches, the RBS Six Nations has become a lot clearer. England and France are the last two standing in the quest for a Grand Slam, Italy have mixed the good with the bad and suffered their usual fate. Scotland has shown that as well as mixing it with France, they can give the Italians a run for their money when it comes to putting on a poor show. Wales have clearly taken a step backwards, though hardly surprising given their Autumn showing, and Ireland sits somewhere in the middle. We have shown glimpses where we can match the top two, but we have demonstrated that we are not as far away from the bottom tier as we would like to think.

What is quite refreshing is the sobering reality that maybe, just maybe, we are exactly where we deserve. We stuttered against Italy, and really the Azzurri should have closed the game out. All they needed was to gather the re-start, or at least defend better for the final two minutes. The move for O’Gara’s drop-goal was like playing Jonah Lomu rugby with New Zealand, with rucks substituting for mauls. The kick was sublime, and you could hear the Leinster folk almost choking on the lemon in their G&Ts to that their nemesis had won the day.

The French game was almost a sense of deja-vu, with Sean Cronin finger tips away from snatching a win. The game was again error strewn. This has become such a feature, one must wonder when is this is still poor luck. We were “unlucky” in this fixture four years ago, and how often have we fallen behind by a cricket score only to lose gallantly in Paris? That 1 win in 10 against the French, and one must concede that we are still some way off their level. They possess something that we are desperately searching for; game management. The French rarely fail to do what is needed. “Which French team will turn up?” is a mythical question notion, championed to death by Tom McGurk and co. In the past ten years, Wales have won the Grand Slam twice, Ireland once with the so-called “Golden Generation” and England have won the World Cup. Yet who has won the most matches in that time? The boys with the bad breath of course! They are the only team every season to a) want to play expansive rugby and b) have the personnel to do so. What makes the “unpredictable” is that it does not come off in every match. When it works, there can be spectacular results, and when it doesn’t, see France v Australia November Test 2010. What is comforting for their fans is that the game plan and philosophy is always attack minded, though this can also cause anxiety. Ireland’s first try came from the French running out from within their own 22. Highly unlikely Fitzgerald or Kearney would do the same. 100% certain Girv the Swerve would never even have thought of it, never mind try to copy it. Good old Girv, never let us down.

Back to Ireland, and to the rest of the Championship. Best case scenario is we win away in Edinburgh and Cardiff, and then deny England the Championship/Grand Slam, with a very outside chance of claiming silverware ourselves. Worst case scenario is losing to England, as well as one from Wales or Scotland. Losing all three seems even a little far fetched, even for the most pessimistic. The Scotland-Wales match was a turgid affair. When George Hook is so preoccupied with criticising Dan Parks, that he does not mention the Leinster legend that was Eddie Hekenui, then you know what kind of showing it was.

It now looks like we are back to our past ambitions for this season, where the most we can look to achieve is to deprive our nearest and dearest neighbours further opportunities to sing Sweet Chariot. The Guardian proclaimed after their win over Wales that the Grand Slam was eminently possible, and that their World Cup credentials were greatly boosted. True to form the English media are building their team up again, and their clash against the French will tell a lot about their standing, and the accuracy of The Guardian’s journalism

Burning Ambition

Money grabbing, disloyal, disrespectful……there are many other phrases that are thrown out by supporters at footballers who leave their club, or rock the boat by publicising their unhappiness at the club, or eagerness for pastures new.

This season in particular has seen public upheaval by some of the biggest names in the Premier League. Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres, Carlos Tevez and Darren Bent have each endured the wrath of supporters. These four players have quite a lot in common. All are proven goal scorers, the most valuable commodity in football. All can be prone to loss of form at one stage or another, but since Torres and Tevez came to the Premiership in 2007, these players have scored 217 goals between them.

Goal scorers will always be the most valuable players on the transfer market, and will generally command the biggest fees. Rooney was a record teenage buy, Torres is the most expensive signing in Britain, while Bents transfer fees have now risen to over £50 million. West Ham agreed last year to pay Sheffield United £4 million a year for five years for the single season Tevez played with the Hammers. His goals helped West Ham survive and sent Sheffield United down. These strikers are supporters favourites when they scoring for their team. They are undoubtedly the most popular names on the backs of jerseys, but when the player wants to move on of his own accord, there is a sharp change of attitude.

Rooney and Tevez both handed in transfer requests which caused at stir on both sides of Manchester. Whatever the reasons, both men changed their minds, but considerably improved their wages. Torres has caused angst among Liverpool supporters by joining their rivals, but has also had a pay rise. Bent’s move is a little more curious. While Aston Villa may be traditionally viewed as a “bigger” club, Sunderland are in a much healthier league position. When there is little to choose between clubs, money talks, and Bent has reportedly doubled his wages.

The consternation of fans when a player leaves is clearly felt. Leaving emotion aside if possible, and looking at football in business terms, it is easier to appreciate. When an employee is unhappy, they must be moved on if a solution cannot be found. Torres is a prime example of when the solution cannot be found. Tevez and Rooney were able to find solutions with their employers, most likely financially. Is there any employee in any organisation who would not push for a pay increase when they know they are one of the most valued members of the organisation? Granted football is quite a public profession. What about the hypocrisy of abusing a player for moving onto better things, while campaigning for the removal of a manager when things are going badly. Where is the loyalty from those same supporters?

Loyalty does have a place in the game, though it is diluted like any profession. People commend Carragher, Gerrard, Scholes and Giggs etc for their loyalty, but they have silverware to show for their loyalty, as well as the financial perks that go with being an international player. If any of these were at a lower league club, would they still be there? And while Liverpool and Sunderland curse their recently departed strikers, without doubt, both improved the clubs they were at, both on the field and off it. Both clubs have more than doubled their outlay on their purchases, so the club has gained in every sense. Replacing players is nothing new in the game

Football, in many ways, is the same as all businesses. Every employer (club) wants to be successful, and will take every step it can to do so. They will employ people who they feel will progress the club, and let go those who do not. Employees will look to achieve as much as they can, both financially and through achievements. When these two stakeholders goals cross, supporters are happy. When they don’t, they show their displeasure, and test the flammable qualities of their replica jerseys.