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Anton Ferdinand will decide in the next 48 hours whether to shake John Terry’s hand when QPR meet Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday. That’s according to this morning’s copy of The Times.

Reports elsewhere say that Ferdinand has already decided to snub the Chelsea captain’s handshake, while others say Ferdinand’s is under strict instructions from his club to politely adhere to the pre-match formalities.

Obviously, no-one knows what will happen when the two men meet. All we do know, is that this is an epoch defining event in football. A point in history against which all future events will be measured.

Already the Olympic countdown clock in Trafalgar Square has been recalibrated, and is now ticking down to 3pm on Saturday.

Crowds have begun to gather in St Marks Square in a 24-hour vigil. And the Pope will lead a service in the hope that God will offer Ferdinand divine guidance on the issue.

So serious are the potential consequences the guardians of the famous ‘Doomsday clock’, which indicates how close the world is to Armageddon, have inched the minute hand one notch closer global catastrophe.

A small number of people have even formed a new cult and retreated to a deserted Scottish Isle. There they will live secluded from the world existing solely by a new code of ethics based on asking themselves: “What would Anton do?”

Meanwhile, for those who have decided to remain in the UK and live through these tumultuous events, Sky News will broadcast rolling coverage of the event. Using helicopters their cameras will track Ferdinand and Terry as they emerge from the tunnel, warm-up, and move down the line of players as they go through the pre-game rituals.

So, with judgement day looming and with the world’s religious leaders calling for peace, we will all continue to count down to the big moment. Only to find out that Anton’s out with a groin strain….

Related articles

• QPR & Chelsea issue fans warning (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Chelsea Release Joint Statement With QPR Ahead Of FA Cup Tie (football-talk.co.uk)

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It’s mid-January. Tottenham Hotspur sit three points adrift of leaders Manchester City and level on points with Manchester United. The media is abuzz with title talk and Ladbrokes have cut the odds to as short as 6/1. It’s a situation that seemed entirely unthinkable following heavy defeats to United and City in our opening two games.

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• Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes club are genuine title contenders (telegraph.co.uk)
• Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Match Preview (footballfancast.com)
• Spurs have chance at title – Redknapp (vivaafricasports.wordpress.com)

The row over tackling in the modern game keeps coming back with depressing regularity. In the last week alone we’ve had rows about tackles by Man City’s Kompany, Chelsea’s Lampard and now Liverpool’s  Glen Johnson. To be honest, I’m bored of it. It’s time to sort it out once and for all.

Most disagreements seem to stem from the evaluation that some players are not capable of making a truly bad challenge. This is most frequently seen in the use of the phrase, “He’s not that sort of player” by pontificating pundits and managers trying to defend a player.

Whilst part of my brain tells me this line of defence is bollocks I have never played the game professionally. So what do I really know?

Instead let’s accept the wisdom of the football professionals. Let’s follow their logic through and bring some black and white clarity to the grey area we’re currently mired in.

If there really are footballers who “aren’t that sort of player” let’s officially recognise them. Each season an independent panel of former players and match officials could meet to categorise players into “not that sort” and “that sort”. So Lee Cattermole and Joey Barton would obviously be quickly and easily categorised as “that sort” whilst say Luka Modric and Theo Walcott would be “not that sort”.

Managers and more importantly match officials could be given a list of these players. With a pre-agreed list of players who are “that sort” or “not that sort” referees would then be empowered to use more discretion.

Whilst the oft quoted ‘letter of the law’ may require the player to be sent off for a career ending, two footed, lunge, a players status as “not that sort” would allow the referee to opt for a yellow card or perhaps simply to wave play on. Similarly, a referee may be unsure whether a tackle justifies any action, however, if the player’s one whose been classified as “that sort” then it’s easier for him to reach for the red.

“Consistency” is what players, fans and pundits most often demand of a referee. Even with professional match officials we’ve not been able to create this refereeing panacea. It obviously can’t be achieved.

Introducing a “that sort” “not that sort” system would formalise inconsistency by introducing a rationale for it. It we can’t have consistency, we might as well have consistent inconsistency.

Related articles

• You: Mancini & Gerrard row over tackle (news.bbc.co.uk)

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The reappearance this week of Paul Scholes and Thierry Henry in English football has given the Premiership a distinctive ‘Back to the Future’ feel. But all the media circus and excitement of fans got us wondering here at 1FITG towers what other players we’d like to bring back to the Premiership to spice up the league.

So here’s our top 6 players, who we reckon – for one reason or another – would be guaranteed to make the division “interesting, very interesting….” 

Matt Le Tissier 

One of the finest players players England has ever produced, certainly the Channel Islands at any rate. Le God was the arguably the last of the “lazy playmakers”. Midfielders whose outrageous level of talent allowed them to stroll through games pinging 60 yard passes onto teammates toes, mug off defenders with a silky touch, and dribble past opponents as if they were in slow motion. All without breaking a sweat. Sadly ‘modern’ football with its high tempo pressing has no room for these players. But just consider his stats. A goal every two and half games. From midfield. For Southampton. And they weren’t exactly tap ins either.

Thomas Brolin

With apologies to fans of Leeds United and Crystal Palace, there are some players whose passage through English football gives much schadenfreude to the neutral observer. Players who you thank God aren’t at your club, but who bring great amusement to you through the hell they rain down on the poor club that employs them. In Brolin’s case it wasn’t so much what he contributed to the Premiership as what he didn’t.

Arriving at Leeds in 1995 he swiftly fell out with manager and fans for showing more interest in Yorkshire’s pie industry than in the team. His pudgy faced and paunchy waistline finally departed the EPL in 1998 after an embarrassing spell at Palace which epitomised the fact that any interest in football had completely disappeared. He effectively retired from football then, but not before a bizarre 15 minute appearance in goal for a Swedish semi-pro side.

Ali Dia

It’s the classic scenario – a former World Player of the Year decides to give you a call completely out of the blue and decides your team is ideally placed to pick up an amazing player for free. In this instance, the victim of the prank was then Southampton boss Graeme Souness, who was tricked into thinking he was signing George Weah’s cousin. Subbed on after an injury to Le Tiss in the first half, Dia was then subbed himself towards the end of an appalling debut and released two days later. Dia by name, dia by nature. But everyone deserves a second chance, and 53 minutes as a sub is hardly enough time to make a conclusive judgment. He might be 46 now, but he certainly can’t look any worse than he did in 1996 and everyone deserves a second chance, right?

David James

No, not the successful England keeper – it’s time for the return of Calamity James, the other goalkeeper that graced the Premiership. Never was the prospect of a hopeful cross into the box so exciting – it was the golden era for average wingers. Popular with most fans of his opponents, he was The People’s Calamity. His foray into proper goalkeeping saw this persona disappear for a long stretch. But all is not lost. The ageing James has shown a few signs this season at Bristol City of returning to his much-loved comedy routine, and what better way than to harness this further through a return to top-flight football.

Ashley Ward

Pound for pound the greatest striker the premier league has ever seen 1998™. After a fantastic season for Barnsley, where Ward scored 20 goals in 46 games, Ward got his big time move to then UEFA Cup challengers Blackburn.

His style and technique would not be out of place in the current Blackburn team, the (lack of) speed and (huge) physical presence would give the Yak a hell of a foil. They would ‘literally’ be the pound for pound heaviest strike force in the Premier League. I’m sure Venky’s would make profit purely on their chicken sales alone!

If you’re reading this Venky’s please do contact us, we’re happy to give you very good rates for this transfer….better than you’ll get for Ronaldinho or Becks.

Jamie Redknapp

Literally. I’d love to see him using these balls now making them literally explode off his foot. I’m sure he’d literally leave players for dead. Though it would literally be a miracle if he could play 90 minutes these days – then again sometimes you get a label and it literally sticks.

Be great to see him literally dominating that centre circle though.

Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments.

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1 – Fernando Torres (to Chelsea)

Oh Fernando, what have you become? Lumbering, awkward, slow and unhappy. 3 goals in 28 games for Chelsea – a goal every 9 games says a lot. With the £50 million price tag saying the rest, that makes it £16.6 million a goal. If there has been a bigger transfer flop per pound I’d like to see him. Will he ever come good? I’m not sure, this summer will be 4 years since he scored in the 2008 European championships, arguably the last year he actually had any form. Long way back Fernando….

2 – Andy Carroll (to Liverpool)

First things first, 4 goals in 23 games for Liverpool – that’s a gaol every 5 and a bit games. Not ‘too’ bad until you realise that’s a £8.7+ million a goal and think wow. In many ways Carroll is unlucky, he never wanted to leave Newcastle by all accounts but at £35 million I’m sure Ashley thought he’d never get this chance again. Liverpool will argue that they have paid for potential and that English players carry a premium (also see Henderson and Downing) but that is a lot of money for potential. He may come good, but unless Liverpool change the way they play I think Andy will be shipped out back to Newcastle.

3 – Pascal Chimbonda (to QPR)

Pascal was in the team of the year at Wigan, which earned him a move to upwardly mobile Spurs the season after. In 2011 he played 3 games for QPR before being shipped out to Doncaster where his agent (Willie McKay) now acts director of football.

4 – Shefki Kuqi (to Newcastle)

Picture the scene, you’ve just lost your top goalscorer for £35 million and you need someone to fill the gap in your first season back in the Premier League. Who do you plump for? Well Kuqi was free so beggers can’t be choosers. Shefki signed after the transfer deadline on a free and played 6 games for Newcaslte with no goals. A year later he’s banging them in for Oldham.

5 – Steven Pienarr (to Spurs)

This might be a little unfair to Pienarr but he still makes the list. His contract was running down at Everton and Harry thought he’d snap himself a bargain, which he did at £3million. Injuries and fierce competition have meant that Pienarr has either been unavailable or on the bench and has only managed 8 games in a Spurs shirt. Rumours today suggest that he’s available for a transfer.

6 – Kieran Dyer (to QPR)

What a player Dyer was at Ipsiwch and Newcastle, I remember him demolishing Spurs twice in the early 00’s with lightening pace and a hell of a left foot. Unfortunately his body has packed in and it was only a matter of time before he got injured. Tough for him and for Warnock but the sad thing is that we all knew it would happen didn’t we?

Honourable mentions for flops of 2011 -

Henderson (to Liverpool) £20million

Poulson (to Liverpool) £4million

David Ngog (to Bolton) £undisclosed

We’ve missed countless others, so who do you think we should of added into the list? Let us know in the comments below and Happy New Year!

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Dortmund Terracing

Last week, all 12 clubs in the Scottish Premier League voted unanimously to relax rules that require clubs to have a minimum all-seater capacity for their stadia. The change allows clubs to introduce ‘safe-standing’ areas – has the time come for this to be considered elsewhere in the UK?

The rules have been on have been in place essentially since the SPL voluntarily brought in the Taylor report recommendation that terracing at grounds should come to an end. Under the SPL agreement, local council and police need to approve a club’s decision to reintroduce standing before the SPL will approve the application, but this is a major shift in policy.

Nobody needs much of a history lesson to recall why standing was abolished. The Hillsborough disaster 22 years ago saw mass-overcrowding in terracing areas ultimately lead to the tragic deaths of 96 Liverpool fans. The subsequent inquiry led by Lord Justice Taylor recommended that clubs in the top two divisions move to all-seater stadia by the start of the 1994/95 season.

Safety at grounds has certainly improved in the years since the Taylor recommendations were brought in. This has not just been through the removal of terracing, though the act of their removal did kick-start investment to redevelop a lot of old areas in grounds. Coupled with increases in TV money, clubs generally made much-needed improvements to their grounds that have helped to increase safety.

Some clubs, unwilling or unable to fund a complete rebuild of terracing areas, went for the much cheaper option of adding seats directly onto the old terracing – resulting in cramped, uncomfortable seating with an often terrible view of the game. This was certainly the case when I’ve ‘sat’ in the away end at Fratton Park, and meant that if you wanted to be comfortable and see the game, you had to stand – so everyone did.

Standing at games is not for everyone. For kids and the elderly, it can be problematic. I love standing at matches. At away games, when the atmosphere inevitably tends to be better regardless of how your team is doing, you often find fans stand for most of the game – with stewards attempting in vain to get everyone to sit down.

Taylor was sceptical about the idea of standing at games creating a better experience:

‘I am not convinced that the cherished culture of the terraces is wholly lost when fans are seated. Watching the more boisterous and demonstrative sections at all-seater grounds, I have noted no absence of concerted singing, chanting, clapping or gesticulating in unison. The communal spirit is still there and finds ready expression. To such extent as the seating limits togetherness or prevents movement, that price is surely worth paying for the benefits in safety and control.’

There are certainly grounds that are all-seater that have decent atmospheres, driven to a degree by particularly passionate sections of the ground. But Taylor’s view suggests a lack of appreciation for those fans that genuinely do have more enjoyment at a game if they’re able to stand. He is absolutely correct that standing should not be at the expense of safety, but this need not be a simple zero-sum game – you can have standing and retain safety, and there’s plenty of evidence to suggest fans would like the choice.

The Football Supporters’ Federation produced an excellent report in 2007, with a foreword from a survivor of the Hillsborough disaster, where they highlighted the success of safe-standing in the German Bundesliga, where they can be easily switched to seated areas if required. The Deutsche Fussball Bund (German FA) had their own review following the Heysel & Hillsborough disasters, and like Taylor considered the merits of switching to all-seater stadia – and rejected them. In amongst the reasons, two stood out for me:

‘In the long run, abolishing standing areas would make it considerably more difficult, if not impossible, for socially disadvantaged football supporters to attend their team’s matches. Football, being a people’s sport, should not banish the socially disadvantaged from its stadia, and it should not place its social function in doubt itself.’

‘It is here where the atmosphere that attracts millions of people all over the world to our sport is created. It is here where the fans that are the first to cheer their team on and the last to whistle are to be found. Young people live with the emphasis on the physical. They seek and require direct (and physical) contact with their like-minded peers. The terrace is their own miniature world, a place where people from all sections of society meet. Those who do away with standing areas take away a part of these people’s lives.’

The first point perhaps reflects Germany’s generally more reasonable pricing structure, which continues to offer top flight football at a fraction of the cost of the Premier League. At a time when fans are being priced out of many games, safe-standing could enable clubs to offer tickets at lower prices.

The second is a good response to Taylor’s lack of understanding about why people enjoy standing areas. It also suggests we have lost something in removing all standing areas. We have certainly lost choice, and have created situations that suit neither those that want to stand and those that prefer to sit. In the away end at Wycombe earlier this season, fans en masse were standing up singing for the first 15 minutes – for the first time I witnessed an older fan arguing with a steward to make the fans sit, because he didn’t want to. We have fans standing in seated areas, because they really enjoy standing and it’s an important part of them enjoying their match day experience, and some fans suffering as a result because they have no interest in standing. What we need is choice – safe-standing for those that prefer it, allowing those that don’t to fully enjoy the game from their seats.

The SPL are paving the way for this to become a reality up in Scotland. Celtic are rumoured to be seriously considering piloting it. How easy would it be to make this happen South of the border? Unlike in Scotland, we have legislation relating to this – The Football Spectators Act 1989. But it may not require much to change it, according to the FSF report:

‘The Football Spectators Act does not…state that stadia in the Premier League and Football League Championship should be all seated. It simply says that the Secretary of State may direct the FLA [The Football Licensing Authority] to make conditions regarding seating a condition of granting the licence which is required for each ground. The Act also states that the Secretary of State shall consult with the FLA, which may make recommendations as it thinks fit. The all-seater requirement could be relaxed if the Government so wished, without the need for new legislation. The Secretary of State could simply repeal the Regulations.’

So, in essence, this could change quite quickly in the event a Government wanted to allow clubs to introduce safe-standing if they so wished to. One politician said in 1995 that ‘While safety must always be the number-one criterion, there is no reason to ignore technological improvements made since Taylor reported, which might now allow for safe standing.’ That politician was Tony Blair, who then completely ignored the issue in Government.

In the weeks leading up to the last General Election, the Lib Dem culture, media and sport spokesman Don Foster spoke of his party’s support to look at safe-standing: ‘The Lib Dems are committed  to exploring options for introducing safe standing at football grounds in consultation with fans, clubs and safety experts and have passed a motion at our party conference to this effect. The evidence from countries like Germany shows that safe standing can operate effectively and safely to give fans more choice about how they enjoy the game.’

Foster has a bill that will have its second hearing in the Commons on 20 January after being first discussed a year ago – The Safe Standing (Football Stadia) Bill. This has no chance of becoming law unless it’s supported by the Government, which is unlikely to happen unless people contact their local MP about it. If it’s an issue that you care about, ask your MP to support this bill when it comes up next month. You can also sign the FSF petition.

The SPL decision to look at safe-standing is a sensible one. We don’t want to return to the old days of old terracing. But as an enhancement to fans’ experiences at games, we can learn from examples from abroad where safe-standing is a success and give clubs the option to introduce it.

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It’s time for the annual madness that is the British football calendar at Christmas. We’ve just had a round of midweek Premiership fixtures, and from Boxing Day to the first weekend of January sees an almost unending list of footballing gifts on offer. All this will be lovingly broadcast in HD and maybe even 3D for your viewing pleasure and amusement.

Seems you’ve got a busy Christmas ahead of you then, wrapped up warm eating chocolates in front of a huge new TV watching umpteen different matches. But how about stepping outside on Boxing Day and enjoying another fine Christmas tradition, the Boxing Day match? I know it’s cold outside, but I’m sure you can get away from those chestnuts round a fire for a moment to get a proper bit of jack frost nibbling at your toes. This blog is a big supporter of football at all levels and there’s nothing quite like going to an actual game and watching it live. If you’ve never seen a match in the depths of winter then you’ve never lived! As a tonic for clearing the head, getting the circulation going and really feeling like you’ve earned that pint and the huge plate of leftovers from Christmas dinner there’s nothing like it.

So, on Boxing Day take your old man with along with you to your local side. Or any other family member who likes their football. Invite your mates. Take a wander along on your own even. But go! Support your local side, whoever they may be and whatever standard they play at. Give them a cheer and a shout, give them a decent gate attendance and a bit of support for the players who will (probably) have had to forego a bit of festive cheer so they can put in a decent performance for you.

It doesn’t even have to be football. As it’s Christmas and we’re full of generosity, you could even give another sport a go! There’s likely to be rugby matches on near you if there isn’t any football, they can be fun even if you don’t understand the arcane rules or the odd way the ball bounces.

Just wrap up warm and you’ll be fine.

Happy Christmas!

Related articles

• Arsenal put back Boxing Day match (news.bbc.co.uk)

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Things move fast in the world of football and dodgy racial relations. By the time our post on Suarez was up yesterday on the Suarez affair, everyone was starting to move on to John Terry. And while many were contemplating the impact of the John Terry
case a whole load of people moved on to Alan Hansen’s comments on Match of the Day.

Whatever you think about individual cases (some of yesterday’s blog comments showed how important club loyalty can be to an issue) it seems that racism is still an issue in football. The punishment handed out by the FA to Suarez shows that it is willing to punish racist language with a severe penalty. The fact that the CPS is involved in the John Terry incident and it is going to court indicates that what happened was deemed of enough potential seriousness to warrant criminal proceedings. Alan Hansen was clumsy in handling a sensitive topic and used outdated language that showed his age, but was not in any way malicious. I’m pretty sure an apology
will suffice but as an experienced broadcaster you can’t help but think he should have been more considerate given the nature of the issue.

When a club with the standing and profile of Liverpool and a decent sized section of their fans essentially say that racism is ok, as long it’s not really serious racism, then that’s disturbing. When someone like Stan Collymore  is on the receiving end of some horrendous racial abuse on Twitter for ‘daring’ to speak out about racism in the game then you know something is wrong. When the CPS is getting involved in something that happened on the pitch and when the FA is handing out 8 match suspensions to players then things are getting out of hand.

All this adds up to a need for football to have a proper conversation about racism within football and how to deal with it. Organisations such as Kick It Out have done some fantastic work over many years. The change in attitudes over the last 30 years has been a credit to football and in the UK we are miles ahead of some other European countries in terms of that. But we shouldn’t rest on our laurels, there’s still a lot more to do. What that is I don’t know. It won’t be just the one thing that advances it, but a series of smaller things that add up. A softening of hardline ‘my club right or wrong’ attitudes can help people see the bigger picture in individual cases. Being able to speak out against racism and challenge it within grounds without fear will help as well. But football doesn’t exist in isolation and racism is a problem that society as a whole has to tackle. It’s not easy and it’s not simple, but then anything that’s worth doing because it will change things isn’t easy or simple.

Related articles

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Before anyone says anything else, I think it should be pointed out that the FA found him guilty of using racist language on a football pitch. If you disagree with this finding, the argument over his guilt is not going to be discussed here. As far as it’s possible to tell, the FA looked at the evidence, considered it and found that Suarez had been racist.

Surely an 8 game ban for being racist is appropriate? If the game is serious about racism and tackling it then it needs to hand out punishments such as this. It has to show to all players, regardless of where they’re from, that racism is not acceptable within British society and is not acceptable on the football pitch. An 8 game ban is severe but then a ban for being racist should be severe. It’s behaviour that requires severe consequences.

Over the last month or so many Liverpool fans have been defending Suarez. In the light of this finding by the FA it will be interesting to see if the tune changes, especially if the appeal that is likely to be forthcoming is unsuccessful. Mind you, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with my club appealing against a decision where one of the players was found guilty of being racist on a football pitch.

Put aside the club partisanship (hard, I know). Forget the feeling of victimisation that often accompanies being a fan of a ‘big club’. Ignore the crowing from fans of rival teams. Look at it like this: a player was found to be guilty of being racist on a football pitch. He’s been banned for a substantial period and fined. That seems appropriate, doesn’t it?

Related articles

• Liverpool fuming over Suarez ban (news.smh.com.au)
• National Sport: Reds jump to Suarez’s defence (coventrytelegraph.net)

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‘Special’ is very subjective isn’t it?

Harry Redknapp has suggested Spurs will sign a special player in January, but not Tevez, so don’t get excited Spurs fans.

The comment does raise a question though, who is this ‘special’ player?

Will Harry Redknapp keep it close to the family, Lampard seems to be out of favour…? Though quite how he fits into a dynamic Spurs midfield I’m not sure.

How about a bit of Torres? He certainly has special hair, could Harry’s man management bring out the best in a player who hasn’t seen form for 2 and a half years?

Or how about Leandro Damiao? Playing at quasi Spurs feeder club Internacional in Brazil, the boy is certainly special.

Then again, Zamora was linked with Spurs in the Evening Standard yesterday and Titus Bramble is certainly ‘special’ in his own way…who knows, ‘special’ is subjective after all.

Who do you fancy Spurs fans?

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