No Longer Prospects Without Positions: Jones and Wilshere Break old English Mould

PhilJones_22_532x3_1481174a

Making his debut for The False NineGreg Johnson casts his eye over the country’s antiquated outlook on football, and bemoans the cult of the individual hero…

Phil Jones’ second season at Manchester United began muted by injury. The sight of him initially struggling to find form felt strangely and shamefully satisfying, and yet as he limped off on Monday night against Reading the only thoughts that one could conjure were those of loss and interruption.

A series of gut-busting displays last year flicked the switch on the Phil Jones hype machine, which quickly spiralled out of control. In no time at all, the versatile young defender was being touted as the nation’s latest elemental wonderkid and a future saviour and captain of England. It appeared amorphous potential and purely physical gifts had once again seduced pundits into holding faith in one of English football’s most dangerous and enduring myths: the cult of the individual hero. Continue reading

The Clash of the Titans – Real Madrid v Manchester United

 

Freddie Mickshik previews the Champions League clash with a sub-plot down every avenue…

A decade on from Ronaldo’s hat-trick at Old Trafford, in one of the greatest ties the Champions League has witnessed, his Portuguese namesake returns to the club that made him great for a fixture that has mouths watering across Europe. Continue reading

Above the Law? Life on Sir Alex Ferguson’s Soapbox

alexfergusonR_468x298

Chelsea fan and False Nine debutant, Stu McKain, takes issue with Sir Alex Ferguson’s command of the media and the FA’s leniency in the past when his words have gone overboard…

“I am disappointed with him – we have not had a good record with him.”

These remarks came from Sir Alex Ferguson following Manchester United’s disappointing draw with Tottenham Hotspur on January 20 2013, concerning assistant referee Simon Beck. Arguably, this spiel could have been cherry-picked from any losing match report since the Old Trafford club won their first Premier League title – under his stewardship – in 1993 though. Continue reading

Third Generation Thoroughbred Hernandez Back To His Best

javier_hernandez_praying-1920x1080

Making his TFN debut, Will Jones looks at the footballing DNA of the Hernandez family and Chicharito’s renaissance in 2012-3…

His father never thought he’d make it. But now Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez is doing it in a way that his forefathers never could.

Continue reading

The Greatest Ever Premier League Finale

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers - Etihad Stadium

In the final part of our look back at 2012, False Nine editor, Andrew Belt, salutes one of the best moments in Premier League history…

As was the case 44 years ago, Manchester City would be going into their final day clash with only their city rivals able to wrestle the title off them.

Continue reading

The Shape of Things to Come?

 venkys-web

False Nine editor, Andrew Belt, looks at the recent sackings at Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest, and laments the diminished role of managers and greater emphasis on owners in the modern game…

Were you at London Road on 17th November? Continue reading

Time for Balotelli to Reclaim the Spotlight

mario-balotelli

Ahead of tomorrow’s Manchester derby, False Nine editor, Andrew Belt, calls for one of the current Premier League champions’ stars to emerge from the shadows and take centre stage again…

Admit it.

You thought Mario Balotelli was the best striker at Euro 2012.

One Fernando was being touted for great things but Llorente was consigned to a watching brief as Spain slay all before them playing the much-lauded ‘false 9’ formation, in which the other Fernando, Torres, managed to bag three goals and restore some much-needed confidence. Continue reading