Ronaldo's United move isn't dead yet, Benteke could be the answer to Arsene's problem

Ronaldo's United move isn't dead yet, Benteke could be the answer to Arsene's problem

David Moyes' admission that Manchester United still believe they can lure Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford should not surprise Grapevine readers.
And while the prospect of a move being achieved in January is highly unlikely, a deal after next summer’s World Cup finals to sign Ronaldo IS on the agenda.
At the start of the season this column revealed the main reason United’s summer activity in the transfer market had been 'off the pace' was because the club genuinely felt that they could land Ronaldo for this season so the funds had been set aside.

Wanted: Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Real Madrid at Almeria before being taken off injured

For a variety of reasons - not least the time it took for Real Madrid to sign Gareth Bale - Ronaldo's proposed return did not happen.
Yet it was the 'big gift' that Sir Alex Ferguson had hinted at bequeathing his successor.
It’s over a year now since what was passed off as a friendly 'for old times' sake' dinner at a top London casino between Ronaldo, his advisers and members of the United hierarchy took place.
Actually, it sowed the seeds of a potential mega-commercial deal to bring the player back to United, which the club’s owners the Glazers see as part of their global strategy.

Success: Ronaldo won three Premier Leagues and the Champions League during his six years at United

When Bale arrived at Madrid, Ronaldo soon signed a new deal. Apart from more hard cash there was a vanity aspect to it - Ronaldo making sure he remained the highest paid and 'numero uno' star. In turn the club protected a future transfer fee.
When it was signed it was suggested that any chance of United buying Ronaldo back had gone for good. That though is not the case.
As Moyes admitted this week: 'Everyone at Manchester United would tell you he (Ronaldo) is the best in the business. I have not been fortunate enough to work with him but there is still a hope some day it might be possible.'

 

Even though Theo Walcott is on his way back, Arsene Wenger has at last admitted he might have to sign a new striker in January if Arsenal are to kick on and win the title this season.
The question is who?

Double: Olivier Giroud scored both goals as Arsenal beat Southampton at the Emirates

Christian Benteke remains a strong possibility. Aston Villa’s Belgium striker is proven in the Premier League and could be bought for £28million.
This column has also revealed that France forward Karim Benzema is set to be put on offer to English clubs by Real Madrid in January and would interest Arsenal.
But ever since having his fingers burnt in Janaury 2004 when £17m was spent on Jose Antonio Reyes - now of Sevilla - who proved a flop, Wenger has been wary of spending big mid-season.

Wanted: Christian Benteke has been linked with a big-money move away from Aston Villa

Against that Wenger has recognised that failure to bolster his squad in recent seasons during a campaign has cost Arsenal going on from a strong position to win a trophy.
So Wenger is prepared to act when the window opens.
But he could still go for a less high profile and expensive talents like Benteke or Benzema and opt for Getafe’s Romania striker Ciprian Marica.

 

Like Arsenal, Chelsea are in still in search of a prolific and hungry striker.
Then again, the thrilling 3-3 Merseyside derby draw throws further bad light on the judgement of Jose Mourinho and predecessor Rafa Benitez.
Romelu Lukaku, whom Mourinho allowed to go out on a season’s loan despite a superb loan season at West Brom last campaign, was in outstanding form again for Everton at Goodison Park, scoring twice.

On fire: Romelu Lukaku scored two goals in the Merseyside derby for Everton

Super sub: Daniel Sturridge came off the bench to head a late equaliser for Liverpool in a 3-3 draw

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s equaliser was scored by Daniel Sturridge - whom Benitez sold last January for £12m.
But no–one at the club is likely to lose any sleep over selling Belgium forward Kevin de Bruyne who has not fitted in since singing from Genk nearly two years ago. It seems he is on his way to German club Wolfsburg.
Until the January window opens Chelsea will continue to be linked with a host of strikers.
But just because reports in Italy have dismissed the prospect of Mario Balotelli, who played under Mourinho at Inter Milan, joining the Blues from AC Milan in January, don’t rule it out.

 

As an after dinner speaker Neil Ruddock will not be to everyone’s taste. His anecdotes and jokes are, er, a bit like his tackles used to be; not for the feint hearted.
But he had over 1,000 insurance brokers and their guests in stitches on Thursday night at the Lloyds FC annual dinner. Not least guest of honour Fabrice Muamba.

Way with words: Former West Ham and Liverpool defender has become an after-dinner speaker

SSSHH

Which player who won the European Cup in the Nineties, has been retired for the last few seasons and has long since moved back to his native Essex, has named his new house Camp Nou, (note his upturned nose) rather than Nou Camp?

Muamba is now enjoying life on the celebrity circuit and as a media pundit after recovering from a cardiac arrest when a Bolton player at Tottenham in March 2012.
After making a short speech to a standing ovation, Muamba then took his place on the top table next to Ruddock.
Ruddock then took the microphone and began his routine.
'Alright that’s enough applause for the miracle man here (pointing to Muamba). OK, so he got over a heart attack. Big deal. Back in my day when I had a heart attack I just used to run it off.'
You couldn’t help but laugh. Nor could Muamba. Razor Ruddock has a way with cutting humour.

 

I SAY

Mon: FIFA decide to re-open the voting for the Ballon d’Or because it seems one of their top brass (er, wonder who) has decided it could be embarrassing if Franck Ribery wins it. It’s what you might call a Zimbabwean practice.
Tues: Ronaldo produces one of the all-time great individual international displays, scoring a hat-trick as Portugal beat Sweden 3-2 to qualify for the World Cup. Surely even Sepp Blatter (who else)  would have to choose Ronaldo for the Ballon d’Or now.
Weds: After being upstaged by Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, says: 'One thing is for sure, a  World Cup  without me is nothing to watch.' Yeah, but no doubt he’ll rescue the tournament for all of us by ending up in Rio with a sponsors/media pundit hat on. Phew, Zlat's alright then.
Thurs: Computer images are released of what the Olympic Stadium will look like in 2016 as work begins to turn it into West Ham’s new ground. Big Sam and the players better buck their ideas up then. The images look far too grand for the Hammers v Leyton Orient derby in the Championship.
Friday: Mourinho says he would like to see CCTV to record what happens in the tunnel. Why not in the dressing room for pre-match and half-time team talks, or in the boardroom as well. What’s to hide?

Libero
Jock Stein once said that you wear boiler suits to qualify for a World Cup then put on the dinner jacket at the finals.
Well under Roy Hodgson, England have very much donned boiler suits all the way.
And in the friendly defeats to Chile and Germany, it was a case of donkey jackets. But amid all the doom and gloom we need a bit of perspective.
Hodgson risked defeat in both games by experimenting, as a manager should once qualified. It is a pity, though, that he didn’t take the experiments further and instead of using so many different players he hasn’t looked at a radically different system.
Whatever the slight variations, Hodgson remains in essence a 4-4-2 man dating back to the seventies when as a young coach he was a student of Allen Wade.
So trying out 3-5-2 might give him a seizure but it could just be the shot in the arm England need to resolve some of the same old problems that keep cropping up; a lack of defensive solidity, surrendering possession, a lack of flexible movement and creativity in midfield, a lack of variation in attack. Plodding and predictable.
Yes I know it is argued that the formation is out of fashion and that no English clubs every really play it. So how could the players possible adapt?
Well they did under Bobby Robson when it was brought in during Italia 90.
And it served England pretty well for most of the games under Glenn Hoddle and at France 98.
Besides, there would be plenty of time at the remaining warm-up matches and pre-tournament training camp to make the change.

Frustrated: Roy Hodgson's decision to play experimental teams led to back to back defeats for England

And an even more radical move would be to make skipper Steven Gerrard the linchpin of it all by moving him back to play in the role of sweeper or libero.
The days of Gerrard being the all-action Roy of the Rovers-type in midfield are over. Certainly he couldn’t work box-to-box miracles in the Brazilian heat.
But his range of passing, vision and reading of the game could transform England in that role.
Not only would he stiffen up the defence - governing Phil Jones, Chris Smalling or Gary Cahill around him - but he could then pull the strings in the manner of a quarterback by stepping out into the pocket ahead of him.
It would also mean that Frank Lampard could operate as a midfield pivot with young legs like Jack Wilshere, Ross Barkley, Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Ravel Morrison running around and offering some magic.

Star: Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez scored both goals in Chile's 2-0 win at Wembley last Friday

England full backs like Kyle Walker, Glen Johnson, Leighton Baines and Ashley Cole are suited to the wing-back role.
And in the heat and altitude 3-5-2 would enable them to overlap far better than in the 4-4-2 straight jacket.
The system then allows for two strikers, such Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge. When Robson brought the system in at Italia 90 - after pressure from the players - England became a more expansive but at the same time solid side.

Towering: Per Mertesacker's header lifted Germany to a 1-0 victory over England on Tuesday

And under Hoddle while most of the players were used to 4-4-2 at the their clubs they all agreed 3-5-2 worked better at international level. One of the best aspects was that by loading up in midfield it meant ball retention and positive possession became became better.
And in Euro 96 Terry Venables' Christmas tree system was more of a 3-5-2 hybrid than a 4-4-2 given that Paul Ince played in a forward sweeper role. Robson, Hoddle, Venables all concluded that England had to change the conventional game to thrive at a tournament.
Sven Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello didn’t and look what happened. So why shouldn’t Hodgson give 3-5-2 a go and see it in the dinner suit with a bow tie we would all love to see in Brazil.

 

I AM HEARING

That Charlton midfielder Jordan Cousins, who can also play at the back and who has just won the Football League’s player of the month, is already a target for several Premier League clubs including West Ham and Tottenham.
It’s a remarkable rise for the 19-year-old, who only signed as full pro two months ago.

Back Heel
It was a truly stunning outcome as Portugal, aka Ronaldo, beat Sweden, aka Ibrahimovic, 3-2 in Stockholm to qualify for the World Cup finals. Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick and one-man demolition of Sweden over two legs confirmed him as one of the greatest players there has ever been.
When I first saw Ronaldo in the flesh playing for Manchester United at Charlton nearly 10 years ago, at times he looked a bit like Michael Flatley on ecstasy.
Some of Ronaldo’s runs down the wing were like watching the Irish dancer doing the Riverdance, such were the number of step overs, side steps and soft shoe shuffles. It was a blur of legs.

Difference: Ronaldo scored all four goals in Portugal's World Cup play-off win over Sweden

I AM ALSO HEARING

That if Andy Carroll can prove his fitness and stay fit for the rest of the season than he will be part of England’s World Cup squad.
Carroll is seen as Hodgson’s plan B - or row Z - depending on your view, but I also hear it’s a BIG if for him to get the required games and goals under his belt.

Often in that game he eventually ran down dead end alleys or his final delivery - whether it be cross or shot - was too rushed. But it was still something to behold. You could tell there was some special raw talent out there, but could it be refined?
It goes without saying it has and how much he has learned and matured to fully exploit his extraordinary natural talent and physique.
His hat-trick summed it up really. Ronaldo’s sublime first touch then the way he lengthened his stride in the moment before shooting, slowing himself down enough to enhance his timing without upsetting his balance or momentum.
Could Ronaldo do a Maradona and lead a decent but not outstanding Portugal side, Pied Piper-like, all the way next summer?

Leader: Ronaldo's hat-trick in the second leg added to his goal in the first to lead Portugal to the World Cup

It will be one of the many fascinating facets in Brazil to watch.
There may not be much to get excited about England right now, but assuming the infrastructure and political situation in Brazil can cope it could prove to be the best finals of all-time given the individuals on display.
Many will still argue that Mexico 1970 still ranks as the best tournament. Maybe, but I would suggest the best ever game came in 1982 when Italy beat Brazil 3-2 and Paolo Rossi scored a very different type of hat-trick to the one Ronaldo struck last week.
It inspired Italy to overcome a brilliant Brazil side and to go and lift the trophy. Sit back for a few minutes and behold.
iBet
Tony Pulis will be officially unveiled as Crystal Palace manager on Monday.
Palace have been around the houses several times to eventually decide upon their original first choice.
At first he was reluctant to move to London while Palace didn’t come close to his wage demands. It appears a deal has now been worked out, part of which would be a straight £1million bonus payment for keeping Palace up.

New job: Tony Pulis was in the stands to watch Crystal Palace beat Hull at the KC Stadium

But too much time has been wasted and points lost since Ian Holloway departed a month ago. Coral make Palace 1-16 certs to go down.
But if you are one of those Palace fans who believe in miracles then you can get 7-1 on the Eagles staying up. That said Pulis' appointment got an adrenaline reaction yesterday as Palace won 1-0 at Hull, thus softening odds  for going down to 1-10 and 6-1 for staying up.

High flying: Barry Bannan scored a late winner for Palace in their 1-0 victory on Saturday

Meanwhile Sam Allardyce - seen as fireproof at West Ham few weeks ago - is now moving towards the top of the sack race chart after the 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea which leaves the Hammers just 3 points ahead of bottom placed Palace .

 

Y-Factor
Why is there is so much hostility to Hull City AFC becoming known as Hull City Tigers or even Hull Tigers?
It’s hardly the worst example of a foreign owner messing around with an English club or dissing tradition.

Unhappy: Hull City supporters protested at the team's name change to the Hull City Tigers

Wrestle: Stewards tried to remove the banner which read 'We Are Hull City'

 

 

Besides name changes, complete make overs have long been part of the game’s evolution.
Everyone who knows anything about the game’s history will tell you the world’s biggest club started out life in 1878 as Newton Heath and it wasn’t until 1902 it became Manchester United.
Many leading clubs changed names, grounds, even locations as the game moved forward from its 19th century roots into the 20th century.
Indeed, two years later a team called Hull Comets became Hull City when it turned professional. Not long after it got the nickname Tigers because of the orange and black striped kit. It’s stuck and it’s distinctive.
Tigers is very much part of Hull’s heritage.
And if using it as part of the team’s name makes the club more attractive to potential new followers in Asia in the 21st century then why not?
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FOTB
I heard recently that as a teenager Nicklas Bendtner was the worst student at a media training seminar Arsenal had set up.
It would be fascinating to know what young footballers are actually taught.
The majority of players now talk in 'blanditudes', but young Gunner Jack Wilshere is an honourable exception.
Virtually every interview is then vetted and airbrushed. In most cases it becomes a case of the bland leading the bland.
But media-friendly smiles and soundbites suit sponsors.
Maybe that is a reason Bendtner got so irritable and didn’t listen during class because even as an 18 year old he recognised the power of self publicity.
Bendtner is now 25 and has flopped time and again at fulfilling his proclamation he will become the best centre forward in the world.
But still he doesn’t tire at spouting the bravado on the basis the more you say it the more people will believe it.
And Bendtner went into overdrive last week when asked what sort of club he expected to join when Arsenal eventually sell him and replied: 'Barcelona or Real Madrid.'
The boy really does need to put his foot on the ball. Then again in a game where increasingly hype counts for more than talent, the power of self PR balderdash may eventually get Bendtner the sort of club he wants.

Flopped: Nicklas Bendtner has struggled to make an impact at the top level

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