World Cup 2018 Preview - Group A

With less than 50 days to go till the World Cup in Russia begins, I felt like it is time to start preparing myself for it by learning about the teams and what players will be gracing our screens this summer.
Which country will surprise us all this summer, will Germany retain the title they won so dramatically in 2014, or will Messi get the World Cup to stop his doubters using it as an excuse for not being the greatest?
The tournament begins on 15th June in Russia, with 12 stadiums hosting 63 games over 4 weeks culminating at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, a huge 88'000 seater stadium in the Moscow Olympic Park that will host the final.
Looking back to 4 years ago, my prediction of an Argentina/Brazil final were dashed by the Germans hitting 7 past Brazil in the semis. James Rodriguez exploded on to the world stage in Brazil, who will it be this time? He finished top scorer, although it was Messi who took home to Golden Ball for dragging Argentina to the final with some outstanding performances. There will be no problems with humidity in Russia, so unlike 4 years ago there will be no drinks breaks and hopefully the football is a little faster.
Starting with group A, lets take a look at the players to look out for, teams to expect to progress, and anything interesting regarding each group.

Group A 
Russia (66 in Fifa Rankings)
Uruguay (17)
Egypt (46)
Saudi Arabia (70)

Russia - As World Cup groups go, group A is about as weak as they come on paper. Russia as host nation are in their worst ever Fifa ranking spot, and have won just 3 times in their last 13 games, against South Korea, New Zealand and Hungary. In last years confederations cup they were beaten by Mexico and Portugal on home soil, and it will be difficult for them to progress here again.
Only once has a home nation failed to qualify through the group stages of a World Cup(South Africa 2010), and despite Russia being as poor as they have ever been, they have been given a draw that gives them the best chance possible to keep it that way.
The first game against Saudi Arabia will be absolutely crucial, if they can give themselves a platform with 3 points, they could potentially play for a draw against Uruguay and Egypt to try and progress. The Russian squad certainly lacks real quality, with only 2 players likely to be included that play outside of Russia. Gone are the days of players like Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko playing regularly in the Premier League, now they rely on talent playing in the Russian Premier League. For years the back line included Sergei Ignashevich and the Berezutski brothers, but now they have a big problem with many defenders in their late 20's that have hardly any caps due to the longevity and, perhaps, over reliance on ageing defenders.
This year, there is a new set of twins to look out for, and perhaps Russia can look to them to make a difference now, and in the future. At 22 years old, the Miranchuk brothers, Anton and Aleksei have been playing a crucial part at Lokomotiv Moscow as they push for their first Russian title since 2004. Aleksei is a slightly more advanced midfielder than Anton and will hopefully provide a goal threat while Anton can assist from deeper. Along with Alan Dzagoev, who is now 27 years old and should be hitting his prime, they will be aiming to take Russia past the group stages, and at least give something for Putin to smile about.

Star Man - Every country needs a goalscorer, and Russia will be expecting Fyodor Smolov to be the top man for them. He has been a consistent goalscorer for Kuban Krasnodar over the last 3 seasons, with 50 goals in 66 appearances. At 28 years old he only has 30 caps for Russia, with 12 goals. But his emergence with Krasnodar the last 3 seasons means he will be going to the World Cup in his best ever form, and he has some talented creative players behind him to create chances for him.





Uruguay -  The Sky Blues finished runners up to Brazil in the notoriously difficult South American qualification section despite winning only 2 games on the road(Paraguay and Bolivia). Their home form is excellent, but they recently beat Czech Republic and Wales in the China Cup to show that they can win while travelling as well. Although they will face tougher challenges in Russia, they are definitely strong favourites to progress from Group A with so many quality players at their disposal. They were well beaten in the Round of 16 four years ago by a James Rodriguez inspired Colombia, but they were missing Luis Suarez after he took a bite out of Chiellini's shoulder in the final group game. This time around they have the opportunity to go further, with the defense being organised by Diego Godin, probably playing his last tournament at 32 and the forward line of Cavani and Suarez with 92 goals between them both 31 years old, its now or never for the current generation. Cavani has 25 league goals for PSG this season, and Suarez has 23 for Barcelona. No doubt these two are the stars, but can they link up, and produce the performances that should make them the most feared partnership at the World Cup.

One to Watch - Away from the obvious stars at Uruguay, there are a group of young players coming through, and the tournament will be a great place for them to make their name and stamp earn a big move. Of those under age 25, it is Nahitan Nandez of Boca Juniors that is likely to shine. He moved from Uruguayan club Peñarol last season, and in his first season at Boca has been a creative influence from midfield, and is a likely starter on the right hand side. The former under 20 captain has stepped up to the senior team, and at 22 years old, it is a huge opportunity for him to become a regular for his country, and take over the mantle from retiring older stars.


Egypt -  The Pharaohs qualified comfortably for the World Cup, winning a group with Uganda, Congo and Ghana easily. The famous face in the dugout is former Inter and Valencia manager, Hector Cuper. His squad doesn't have a huge amount of talent to choose from, and will include several faces plying their trade in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and some more familiar faces playing in England. Ahmed Hegazi and Ali Gabr are both defenders at West Brom now, with the former being a regular this season for the Premier Leagues worst club. It's hardly a great base for the defense, and with Mohamed El Neny in front of them, they will be hoping that they can improve on a mediocre season in the league. At 21 years old, Ramadan Sobhi is one for the future at Stoke, but he has shown glimpses of quality, and is an important part of the Egypt midfield. Of the 6 games in the second phase of qualifying, only 3 players scored goals for them, which is a huge problem. They are relying heavily on Mo Salah to hit the net, he was the top scorer with 5 in qualifying, the next best was 2 for 32 year old Abdallah Said, currently playing in Finland for Kups. Last year they lost the final of the African Nations against Cameroon, so they are capable of winning matches in knockout tournaments, but this will be a step up, and they will be heavily reliant on one man.

Star Man - Mo Salah has lit up the Premier League this year, and the Champions League. He is on course to have the best goalscoring season ever in the Premier League, and potentially ever for a Liverpool footballer. He is without doubt the best player in Africa, and on current form is running Messi and Ronaldo close to be the best in the World. The system at Liverpool suits him perfectly, but in the Egypt team he is expected to be the main man. He has to create chances for himself and doesn't have the same players to link up with. He has the potential to win a game on his own, but if anything happens to him, injury or suspensions, Egypt look like an average team bereft of quality.


Saudi Arabia - The lowest ranked team in the tournament, The Green Falcons qualified through the Asian section by, along with Japan, getting through a group including Australia, Iraq, UAE and Thailand. It is  not difficult to see why they are the lowest ranked team, with the majority of the squad currently playing at home in the Saudi Professsional League. This will be their first appearance at the finals since Germany 2006, where they were beaten by Ukraine and Spain, earning their only point with a draw against Tunisia. Only once(Last 16, 1994) have they made it through the group stages, and with no real stars it will be difficult to emulate that. There are a few players on the books of Spanish clubs, Al-Sheri(Leganes), Al-Muwallad(Levante) and Al-Dawsari(Villareal), and despite none of them playing for the first teams, they will likely be a major part of the Saudi squad.

One to Watch - Winger, Fahad Al-Muwallad at 23 years old is the most likely name to emerge from an average squad. He already has 41 international caps, and recently joined Levante on loan from Al-Ittihad, although with the Saudi Sports Ministry paying the full value of his contract, and having no appearances, it is clearly not due to his ability. He has 10 goals for his country, including the winner in a crucial victory over Japan in the last game of qualifying to take them to Russia. At only 5ft6, he is a diminutive figure, but if Saudi have any chance of qualifying, they will need him to play better than ever before.




Predictions - Uruguay are firm favourites for this group and I think they will top it easily. They have much more quality in the full squad than the other teams. Joining them in the last 16, will be Russia. Egypt have Salah and a good team spirit, but Russia have the home crowd, and I think Salah having played so many games this season, and everything expected of him will struggle to produce the form needed. It will be tight, as all teams should beat Saudi Arabia, but Russia will just sneak through.

What to Bet on - Uruguay are 4/5 to win group A, that's printing money for me.

World Klutz - World Cuts was a popular feature of my preview 4 years ago(?), I reckon. But this time, lets have a look at an individual that has cost their team, or someone that deserves a place among World Cup history for all the wrong reasons.
For our first ever World Klutz, it's a memory from the first WC that I remember as a child. The final of 1994 World Cup in USA is one of, if not the earliest game I remember watching. But there is no doubt, that the person who left a mark on their tournament for their failure to hit the net at a crucial time, is Diana Ross. Not only the fact that she missed, but that the goals still collapsed just makes it perfect.

Life after Football

Judging by the response my previous post has gotten it is very clear that the problems I had as a player were not unusual, and that talking about them has been worth my while. The amount of well-wishers, messages of support and the general attention it received shows that this is something that needs talked about more openly by anyone who is having their own troubles.

I have been left with a sense of relief having finally managed to speak out and I really wish I felt able to years ago. One of the big bonuses to come from it has been the messages from former teammates and other professionals who say they have felt similar problems in their careers, and that has made me feel slightly better knowing I was not alone.

I also think it is important that if other players feel they need someone to talk to they know they can. The PFA in Scotland is doing a lot for mental health awareness, and they have people you can talk to anonymously if there is anything you need to talk about. It has been really good to talk to other players that have come to me, and I'd happily chat with anyone that is scared to talk or just wants to chat about similar problems.

It has genuinely touched me the amount of people texting me and wishing me the best, and now it is important for me to move on with my development personally and try to start a new career in something else. Football has been and always will be a huge part of my life and something I love watching and talking about. I have always been interested in analysing games, tactics and performances which is probably part of the problems I had in myself. Constantly analysing my own and others performances probably created doubt and caused a lack of self belief, now I think I can turn that trait into a positive and use it to stay involved in the sport.

Writing has definitely made me realise I should be doing it more often and that is something I want to pursue. Coaching is another thing I should have started a few years ago, but at 31 I still have time, and an opportunity in Norway to start doing it would be ideal. The amount of players doing coaching badges these days is incredible and it is such a competitive environment, but everyone is different and has different experiences that has shaped them so it's something I'd like to start.

Thank you to everyone that got in touch with me in the last 2-3 weeks, it has meant a lot and made it all worthwhile.

Hiding Nerves and Anxiety in Football

So, I wrote this 4 months ago, but I was scared to share it. But it seems like I'm not alone, and it will probably do me good to let other people read about my problems.


I was looking through Twitter earlier and noticed some posts about ex Falkirk and Queen of the South player(among others) Chris Mitchell, and how he hid his depression from his family and friends, before sadly taking his life about 16 months ago. There is a definite expectancy in general life that men especially should sort themselves out, get on with it and cheer up. But I want to write about my own troubles in football, and how I think it affected my career. It's really sad that it came to such a tragic end with Chris, but it has encouraged me to speak out a bit about my own troubles.
I should start by saying I'm not suicidal, never have been and although I have almost certainly been depressed, its so tough to write about it and I have genuinely been wanting to for so long, but the irony is, to write about anxiety and nerves you have to overcome them, therein lies the problem.

I can pinpoint to the game the first time I ever felt nervous before a game. It was for St Johnstone in 2008 against Hamilton at McDiarmid park in my first season professional. I hadn't started a game since the new manager took over in October, then suddenly I was thrown in against top of the league, in an important game for us in February. I had never been nervous before and was always relaxed before games, but suddenly self doubt and anxiety crept in. Although I would try and tell myself I wasn't nervous, my body was telling me different. I felt physically sick, couldn't eat, could hardly speak to people, felt breathless and my legs felt heavy. These symptoms are all due to nerves, lack of self belief and anxiety. I honestly think that anyone who says nerves are good for you, has never been nervous. I can 100% guarantee, that the body feels better, the head clearer and everything is easier when you are relaxed before a game.

When I was 21 I was super fit and everyone who knows me will know that back then pace was the main part of my game, but on this day I was tired after one run, my legs felt like they were cramping up in the first half and I had zero energy . I had a bad game, and it was the beginning of the end for me. When I arrived at St Johnstone in May 2007, I was flying high with confidence after promotion with Queen's Park, and my pre season and early season form was good, I felt great and I was playing. The difference between then and 9 months later was incredible inside me, and I don't think I ever recovered.
This was the start of 10 years of this feeling and the start of what was essentially a downward spiral in my career with a small peak at Falkirk which we will get to later.

The football dressing room and training ground is a very tough place to be if you have any anxiety or depression, because it is a ruthless business where everyone looks after themselves, and also most of the jokes are about making fun of people. There is no place to hide on a training pitch every day, and when I was young and at Queen of the South I found it difficult. I remember feeling so nervous before my first game I told the assistant manager I was too nervous to play, but it was ok, I was on the bench. I hadn't eaten, felt sick and had no energy. It is the only time in my whole life I have ever told anyone I was nervous. As it turned out I came on for an injured player after about 15 minutes. It was probably the best way as I had no time to think about it, and I played quite well.
From then on though, I was nervous about every game. I was sick several times, once on the pitch during the warm up and it affected my performances regularly.

The worst thing about it is that it becomes a never ending downward spiral. I lacked confidence and doubted myself a lot, and that in turn made me play worse, which made me doubt myself more. One time I remember calling in sick the morning of a game because I felt so bad. I felt ashamed doing it and I lay in bed all day feeling awful. I used to see people who were arrogant and full of confidence and wish I had that in me, I know I would have been a better player, but I think it just wasn't the way I was.

After 3 years at Queen of the South, my contract wasn't renewed and for 6 weeks I had no deal. I was resigned to stopping full time football, but luckily I got the chance to train with Falkirk. After the initial nerves at training and in my first game, I soon found myself feeling better and that is down to 2 things. The manager was absolutely perfect for me, he was full of praise, knew exactly what I was good at and he used me in a way that suited me perfectly. The second thing is the squad was younger, and the dressing room much friendlier. It coincided with the best spell in my career for those 8-9 months, almost injury free and playing every week.

The second year was a different story. Hamstring injuries had ruined pre season for me, and although I did get into the team by September, I wasn't playing as well. I remember coming back from another injury and I was playing my first game after a few weeks training. I felt fit and was due to play right back. However due to so many injuries and weeks missed I felt really nervous that day, and in the first half I got hammered by the winger. I had jelly legs, no energy, sore head, all the usual symptoms. I remember the manager saying my fitness was a disgrace, and it probably looked like that, I wish I could have told him the truth.
Two days later at training I did 10*400m in 70 seconds, 1 to 1 rest on my own and then hill sprints with the res of the team . My fitness was very high but my anxiety was the issue. I hardly played again for Falkirk, apart from a decent spell in February/March, and I knew my time there was coming to an end. My old problems had returned, or never gone away really, just hidden under the surface.

I have learned to deal with the feeling over the years, but they never really go away. I can force food down before games and I can relax sometimes, but the truth is I was never the same player again. I never ever felt carefree and confident like I had when I was 19, and it resulted in part time football and dropping down the divisions.

In the years since then injuries have been a problem, my pace has gone, and although I still had the appetite to train hard and try to get back to a good level, my body didn't let me. I lost confidence, I felt anxious every weekend and even some training sessions. I felt unfit every Saturday even if I was as fit as I could be. I could never produce anything like the form I wanted, and even if I was training well I never gained confidence. I've seen many players I played with go on to higher levels and even become internationals and I honestly feel that if I didn't have my issues I could have gone on to a higher level. It created huge self doubt, depression and many hours worrying and going over performances in my head. Now I am trying to come to terms with not having football at all as although I am 31, I can't love doing it when it makes me feel this way. I have dreaded games for nearly a decade, and that is the opposite of how it should be. I can relax at training and enjoy it, but never in a game and I am tired of that and don't want to do it anymore.

Looking back I wish I had asked for help, or at least spoken to a manager I trusted. But I didn't and I am sure that is normal for more than just me. This is my way of  opening up and telling people my issue, and there are so few people in football that are an open book. It is a huge taboo mental illness, and in football I think if you show it you are just tagged as mentally weak.

People always say you get out what you put in to life, and football is the same. But if your mind doesn't let your body work the way it is trained to, then you won't get your rewards. Although I had a decent career, it should have been much better and I'll probably always think that and a forever regret it.



After finishing this, I read Chris Kirkland's article on the BBC, it literally came out as I finished typing. It is exactly the same as what I feel, everything about it. Irrational feelings, and it helps that other people have the same problems. I wonder how many hide it...
Read that article here

I have also been reading the book on former Germany keeper Robert Enke, it absolutely spoke to me in so many ways, so many similar feelings. It's a tragic story of a top keeper, but well worth a read for anyone else struggling with what I did.

A big thanks also to the Queen of the South fan, who made this video of my goals at the club. It made me feel better any time I was down, and helped me feel like a better player than I probably was! Probably half the views on this video are me...
To any manager that wasted me out at right wing, here is the evidence that I am a poacher.

Guardiola v Mourinho

There is no doubt that Guardiola and Mourinho are two of the best managers in this generation, but their differences in style are something I find really interesting, and something I felt like writing about. They both have a winning mentality, big personalities and have an aura about them that is intriguing to watch. 

It is clear that Mourinho has a win at all costs mindset that shows through his mindgames before matches, his antics on the touchline and his tactics. Guardiola on the other hand is more of a purist, demanding the team plays a certain brand of football and ensuring that nothing will stop his team playing a passing game.

I have always had a bit of an agenda with Mourinho and never enjoyed watching his teams, but when you have a direct comparison with their city rivals now it is clear to see in my opinion that his ideas and tactics are inferior to his counterpart. City are playing the sort of football that every football fan dreams that their team would play. Passing from the back, one touch passing and quick transitions both offensively and defensively are making them thoroughly enjoyable to watch. As a player it must be a dream come true to play for him as you get to play football the way it is supposed to be.

When you watch both teams the big difference I can see is the freedom to express themselves being given by the manager, and also the confidence to do it knowing they won't be blamed or outed in public for mistakes. This is the single most noticeable difference for me from the two managers. 
The United players look paralysed with fear on the ball and in their attitude towards attacking football. That comes from the manager and his constant demand for defensive work from his attacking players. Players like Martial, Rashford, Mata and many more before them are employed as defensive wide players, and often find themselves in full back areas. They know if they don't do a job defensively they will be blamed publicly by their manager, much like Hazard was at Chelsea when they lost against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in 2014. This cripples them in terms of their attacking intent and ultimately bleeds them of their confidence. 

I am not saying that attacking players shouldn't defend, because actually if you watch City their players all work extremely hard off the ball, but in different areas. The transition to defense happens up the pitch, as they try and win the ball back quickly in high areas and force opposition teams to play through them or go long. This means they will always be high up the pitch and when they win it back the transition to attack happens immediately as they are already in a dangerous area. This is the type of defending that attacking players can actually enjoy, on the front foot and going after the ball instead of worrying about players running in behind them and defending 1v1. Is is much easier for them to defend like that, and means they can use their energy high up the park instead of tracking back and doing the job of the fullback. As a former wide players who tried defending at times, I can confirm 1v1 defending is harder than pressing high up the pitch, and I will never have a career at right back as a result!

In terms of the public blame game that Mourinho plays, I know a lot of fans like that honesty and think players are wrapped in cotton wool. But as player that can never work and it turns the squad against the manager and creates a divide that will never really come together. When you compare that to how Guardiola handles similar situations, for example with Claudio Bravo last year, it is a much easier environment to flourish and keep confidence up. I'm sure he knew Bravo was having a poor season, but he always defended him publicly and same goes for when Stones made mistakes, or Sterling was low on confidence. Although privately he would I'm sure be harsh on his players at times, publicly he always defends them and as a player that is important to gain trust in your manager. It also gives you the confidence to make mistakes, which in turn results in less mistakes as you can relax. At the level these guys are playing at, when they can relax they can play football that is a joy to watch and I am glad is it reaping the rewards so far this season as hopefully it makes people realise that Mourinho is not the genius he thinks he is, and that the way Guardiola goes about his business is the model for all future managers to take note of.

Messi

I've made it no secret in the last few years that in my mind Messi is better than Ronaldo, and that for the rest of his career we just need to enjoy watching him and feel privileged that we are alive when this man is playing football. There is absolutely no doubting the goal scoring prowess of Ronaldo, but Messi is so much more than that. If you take away his goal records for Barcelona you would still be watching an artist on the pitch, capable of picking a pass out from 5 to 80 yards no problem. Capable of dribbling at defenders and going past them with ease, time after time. He isn't as quick as he used to be, but he still has the burst of pace, that first 3 yards is as quick as anyone. His awareness of where opponents and teammates are at all times is just incredible, it is like he is watching the game from the stands. He is often compared to a computer game, his close control and dribbling almost as if the ball is stuck to his foot, and when you add in that he is the best finisher in the history of the game, you have someone who I think we will never see the likes of in our lifetime.

Now that he will be 30 this year, it is time to just forget about records and comparing his goals to Ronaldo, or whether you think he could do it in the Premier League and just enjoy watching him and be happy that footage of him will exist to show your children and grand children. He is a once in a generation player that we will be lucky to see anything like again.

Ronaldo is probably the greatest goalscorer of all time, but I am convinced we will see someone like him again not too far away. An athlete with an incredible attitude and willingness to improve and try to be the best in the world. A goalscorer with a mentality that he is only happy after a game if he has scored, no matter how the team plays. Someone so driven to win and achieve greatness they will do anything to get it. Yes of course he is blessed with natural talent, but you can see and admire how hard he has worked to get where he has.

One thing that is not said enough with Messi, because he is so good at dribbling is just how calm and composed he is in front of goal. Anywhere inside 20 yards he passes it in to the corner. It should be easy, if you were passing to a teammate 20 yards away with a side foot you wouldn't even think about it, but the mental aspect of it being the goal makes it tough for your average player. Messi makes it look easy time and time again, no matter how much pressure he is under, when in the game it is, what the score is, he slots the ball in the corners, top and bottom, both sides. He also does it from free kicks more regularly than most, which makes it strange that he has missed so many penalties. I always wondered why he doesn't just run up and place it top corner, I'm sure he could if he wanted to 99 out of 100 times. It is the only part of his game that is in line with the average footballer.

I have never seen Messi live, but I have to do it before he retires. It might be a good 6 or 7 years away yet, but his decline will start soon because his genius can't last forever unfortunately. It is an absolute joy to watch him on the television, and we will never forget him as long as we live, I know I will be telling any grandchildren about him, the greatest footballer that has ever lived.

5 x Ballon D'or winner, should probably be more

Life in Norway

It would be nice to do an article about how the differences in the Norwegian football system benefits the league and enhances the fortunes of the national team, but unfortunately they are struggling just as much as Scotland, so I just have to write about the differences and separately try to dissect the continuing troubles of our countries football team.

I know one man will be happy I left Scottish football, but not so happy I wrote this. My friend told me in the summer I was linked with going back to Stirling Albion on a forum. One fan, seemingly unhappy with my previous spell there, wrote "Him and his blog can get to fuck", so mixed emotions for him, for which I apologise.

Football in Norway

Continuing my football career in Norway was always going to be something I would do when I knew I was moving here. But the truth is I had fallen out of love with football in Scotland, and grown tired of constant injury problems and having to trial or train with clubs to win contracts. If I had still be in Scotland I'm not sure if I would still be playing, even so it would have likely been out of the professional leagues. Injuries have been a problem ever since I started training full time, and they have only become more frequent in the last 3 years. The last time I felt genuinely fit and sharp was at Stirling Albion in 2013, when in the last 4 months of the season I managed to score 8 goals and help the team to promotion. Tearing my calf on the last game of the season with 15 minutes to go was the worst thing that could happen, as it resulted in a long term absence which didn't give me the chance to perform for Alloa. That season was a real regret for me, and although you try and keep a brave face and laugh off any jokes, it is not easy. Since then it has been a struggle to motivate myself for games and getting as fit as I need to be to play my best becomes almost impossible.
One thing that I do still enjoy is the training, and I am far too honest to turn up to training and not give 100%. I really hate it when players don't train hard or turn up to just mess around. I understand it should be up to the manager to ensure it isn't happening, but personal pride is really important for me and I will always give my best. To then see players who don't try at training continually given games is a real motivation drainer.
I had 3 months of no football and I really missed the training, so I decided I would go in to the local team here Levanger FK. At the time they were 3rd top of the 1st Division, which is the 2nd tier, so I knew it would be difficult to walk in and get a contract. After a week of training and basically nobody talking to me while they all spoke Norwegian, I realised I hated it. It was a chore to go in, so I stopped. I'm sure I wouldn't have been given a deal anyway, but I wasn't moving to Norway to be miserable. At this point I thought I was done with football, and saw it as an opportunity to move away from professional football as it wasn't making me happy anymore.
It was another 2 months before I touched a ball again, when I decided to go into another local team Verdal IL. They played 3rd division(4th tier)so I knew it would be slightly lower standard, but maybe it's what I needed. Turns out it was, and the last 2 months have been really enjoyable, training and playing with guys who love football and play because they want to. The standard is good, and next season will be somewhere close to League 2 in Scotland, which I am excited about and looking forward to a hard pre-season in the snow. There are young players in the team who will be scouted by teams in the region higher up the leagues, like Levanger and Ranheim, and possibly even Rosenborg, so it is a good opportunity for young players to develop by playing competitive games.
The pyramid league structure which is in place just now, meant that there were 88 teams at a higher level than Verdal, and 164 at the same level, with regionalisation of leagues. However with the new structure meaning only 2 leagues for the 2nd division, and 6 for the 3rd division, there will 60 clubs higher up the leagues and 80 at the same level. This in theory should mean no easy games like this year, and also less teams relegated from the higher leagues. Regionalising the leagues is important here because of the travel distance, so the structure is necessary otherwise you would have to fly to games which is not great for the budget of smaller clubs. One thing about the structure means that there is a clear pathway for teams for promote, and the leagues aren't so closed off like they are in Scotland with only 1 team able to promote into League 2, if they win a playoff. It is a good way to get young players playing competitive games at local clubs before they can then move on to bigger teams. It should mean that players have experience of senior football and gets them ready to step up, as opposed to playing under 21 football and getting a shock to the system when you have to step down a league or two and play against senior players who are playing for a job. It also gives players and clubs real incentive to do well, as there is a clear path to the top leagues and a chance to play against bigger teams.


Scotland - Is there a bright future?

If it isn't depressing enough that we haven't been at a major tournament since 1998, it seems that our national team is enjoying another trough in their graph of recent history. A last minute goal to salvage a draw against Lithuania was followed up by a thumping in Slovakia, and led to question marks over another managers future. I don't think there is any point in sacking Strachan, but that doesn't mean I think he is doing a good job. What would happen if he was sacked? Another manager comes in, plays 4231, or 451 away, fails to qualify and gets sacked. The pattern is repeated.
It is clear there is a lack of depth in terms of squad selection, but that doesn't mean there is a lack of talent. One problem I do have with Strachan is the way he talks to the media and treats the average Scotland fan like an idiot. Telling us we played well against Lithuania or before the game that it isn't must win is not smart, we can all see the truth in front of us.
Scotland has been crying out for a goalscorer for years, and we have one who consistently scores goals for the best team in our country. He has done throughout his career, yet for some reason he doesn't get his chance with Scotland. How can it make sense that Leigh Griffiths scores 40 goals in a season for our best club, but can't start for our national team? It doesn't, and to me it seems that there are other reasons for him not playing, and this is where Strachan annoys some supporters, with his stubbornness and his unwillingness to move away from his normal of Chris Martin or Fletcher up front on their own. Neither are at their best as a lone striker, both are very good at holding up the ball and linking play, but with  Griffiths poaching goals and taking chances it would be far more effective than what it currently is.
We have good midfielders to supply them, and promising full backs, but our central defense is a real weakness, so to score goals is important as we are not keeping any clean sheets.
Here is what my team would be for the next game, but maybe we need to start blooding some youth for our future:

I think a back 3 would help keep clean sheets, and it would not include Grant Hanley, who for me isn't good enough. 4th choice defender in a Championship club should not be an automatic pick for our country. Christophe Berra has had a lot of praise from Mick McCarthy, and I would play him. One player who I played with, Murray Wallace, is someone I always thought would be a future Scotland player. He is a regular at Scunthorpe who are top of League 1, and I know he is better than Hanley, I hope he has a future in the Scotland team. Stephen Kingsley has also been playing for Swansea and I can see him developing into the left central defender position.
Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney are both great options at left wing back, and I like the pace and directness of Oliver Burke. He is young and a little raw, but you can see he is a threat, and hopefully being in Germany his technical side will improve and also his defensive positioning should get better.
Our midfield 3 will work hard, and we also have the quality of Ritchie and Snodgrass who can both pick a pass and score from distance.
I think the strikers will link up well, plus we have McCormack, who should be in the squad, or Naismith to make an impact from the bench.
It seems that every manager we get plays the exact same system, and it doesn't work. It would be nice to see a change to try and change our fortunes. The way it is going just now we won't be at Russia 2018, and with our seeding for the Euro qualifiers it will be difficult again to get through the groups.
It might be time to let older players move on, like Fletcher, Martin, Maloney and Morrison, to see if we can give younger players games and get used to playing on the international level. It is getting towards 2 generations of players who have failed to make it to a major championship, it is time to change something or we will continue to disappoint and be an easy 3 points for half the countries we play against, bigger or smaller.

Euro 2016 - My Preview

Hello to all who have missed my blog that ceased to exist for a couple of years, and to others who may be reading what I write for the first time. Apologies for the lack of activity, I'd like to make a good excuse but I don't have one.
However, this is a perfect platform to tell all who read, that I am planning a move to Norway in July, and that the blog is a perfect place to keep people up to date with my football which I hope to continue doing out there. I figure that if you are interested enough to read this, a small update about football in Norway could be a nice way to introduce most of you to Norwegian lower league football and also let you know how I am doing.
First though, since it is tomorrow that France kick off Euro 2016 against Romania, I thought I'd do a personal preview just for myself to gain information on all the teams, and also so I can share my opinion on potential winners, surprise packages and players I expect to light up France this Summer.

 Euro 2016

Another major tournament has come upon us without Scotland, so it is time to get supporting someone else again, or just enjoying the football. I always find it difficult to support the other home nations in football, probably because they are our close rivals, and also because I have no real ties to the other countries. However with my old driving partner and teammate Mikey McGovern likely to be playing for Northern Ireland I'll definitely be rooting for him to keep some clean sheets and have a great tournament.
I think I should start with some players that I am excited to watch, and my tips for Golden Boot and Player of the tournament.

5 players to watch 

Trying to avoid the obvious world stars, here are my 5 players to look out for to have big tournaments.

Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Turkey - 18 caps 6 goals) 

Çalhanoğlu is one of the big talents currently playing in the Bundesliga, and possibly gained a bit more attention with his goal in the recent friendly against England. At 22, the Leverkusen attacking midfielder has a big future, and I think this Euros is a chance for him to show he is one of the most promising players in Europe, and earn himself a big move. His dead ball skills are second to none. His free kicks are incredible and his corners are almost always causing trouble. Added to that he has good pace, great technical ability and an eye for goal. Turkey are in a hard group with Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia, but they have a good recent Euros record and with players like Çalhanoğlu, progression is definitely possible.

Radja Nainggolan (Belgium - 19 caps 4 goals)

Nainggolan is one of many Belgium players that have come through together and look set to have a serious go at winning this Euros. He currently plays for Roma and he is a regular for Marc Wilmots in the Belgium starting team. He is a great foil for the creative players that Belgium have, like Hazard, De Bruyne and Mertens. He is very combative in midfield, but like most players brought up playing in Italy, is exceptional on the ball with and very comfortable taking it in tight areas. He is hugely important for Belgium, and I expect him to have an important role to play breaking up attacks and also being crucial to starting attacks for a team that other teams will allow to have possession of the ball. He has been linked to the Premier League, most noticeably with Chelsea, and if he has a good tournament his price tag will go up again and I;m sure more teams will come calling for his signature. He will be hard to miss with his distinctive hair, which makes it easy to keep an eye on what he does for his team against the ball and appreciate how hard he works for his team.

Anthony Martial (France - caps 9 goals 0)

Martial has burst onto the scene this year, and yes he cost the best part of £50million, but he is only 20 years old and I like what I have seen. I can see him having a huge tournament for France with his pace and directness. It's something that is quite unusual in the modern game to see players being as direct as him while dribbling, and it is great to watch. I think away from the Man United scene he will be more free to do what he is good at, and not have so many defensive duties demanded of him. His finishing is strong inside the box, and he makes good quick runs in between defenders. I can see him scoring 3 or 4 goals this year and taking France deep into the tournament.

Dele Alli (England - caps 8 goals 1)

Dele Alli has been in great form for Tottenham this season, and I expect it to continue into the Euros. He has great timing of runs into the box which is quite similar to Lampard when he was young. However he has more pace than Lampard and also links up very well with Harry Kane which should be utilised by England. Alli is perfect for the role behind Kane if he is allowed to play it instead of Rooney. One weakness is his willingness to get involved with other players when the wind him up. It's an issue that could easily come to bite him in this tournament, so he could potentially become another Rooney or Beckham. But I think if he can get into advanced positions with the ball, keep his composure and link up with Kane, he should be one of England's best players this Summer.

David Alaba (Austria - caps 46 goals 11)

Alaba is a regular for Bayern Munich, but he mostly plays in defence, or in a deeper role. However when he plays with Austria he has a bit more license to get forward, where he chipped in with 4 goals in qualification. His left foot is one of the best in the game, and he regularly tries his luck from long range, usually with a lot of power. Austria qualified really well, winning 9 and drawing 1 of their 10 games and Alaba is their main man. In a group with Iceland, Hungary and Portugal, they should be able to get through, if not even top the group. Alaba can be the catalyst for what could be a strong tournament for the Austrians, and he seems to relish playing more advanced where can show off his passing, shooting and dribbling in the final third.


Golden Boot

The Top Goalscorer for the Euro 2012 only scored 3 goals, that was shared with 6 different players. This year with the extra game, it should be more likely to be 5 or 6 goals that wins it. Only Platini in 1984 when he scored 9, has scored more than 5 in a European Championships. With the extension of the competition to 24 teams, it does look noticeably weaker, so I think it gives potential for someone to get a hat-trick in the group stages and push on from there. With the trend towards 1 striker it means not many players are in with a big shout, however there are a few midfielders that could score plenty goals for their countries. Looking at the groups, I think that Ronaldo and Griezmann both have big chances to score 3 or 4 goals in the groups before adding to them in the knockouts. However my pick for top scorer, is Harry Kane. He had a great season again for Spurs, and he is definitely the first choice striker for England. I think they have a good group that they should be able to score goals in, and that they could go quite deep in this tournament. At around 14/1 I think he is a good bet to at least get close.


Champions

Spain went into Euro 2012 as big favourites, and rightfully so, they were by far the strongest team. This year however it appears to be much more open. Germany appear to be in a bit of transition despite only winning the World Cup 2 years ago, and Spain are not as good as they were 4 years ago. Italy look as weak as they have done for many years, so they shouldn't be challenging. I think Austria will be a big surprise to most this year. They come in on great form, they have a strong team, and should get through their group no problem. A place in the Quarter Final is very likely in my opinion. But the winners I think are going to be France. They seem to be coming to their home tournament with the strongest squad they have had since 2000 when they won it. Pogba and Matuidi are a great central midfield partnership, they provide the more defensive cover to let players like Griezmann, Martial and Payet play further forward. One potential issue is Benzema not being there, But Giroud can score goals and I really like his movement, plus there will be goals from midfield. Lloris is one of the top 3 goalkeepers in the world, and they have some pace in defensive and good experience. It looks like a team that can win a tournament, and with the backing of the home support, I fancy them to do it.

All that is left to say is, enjoy the tournament, it should be a belter. See you next time when I will be in Norway, hopefully playing football and keeping you up to date with my life. Please comment and let me know what you think of my opinions, and if anyone wants to visit me in Norway, I'm pretty sure we can arrange that. It will be interesting leaving Scottish football for something else, but it is really exciting and I am looking forward to not only starting a new chapter in my life, but starting a new part of my career.