Thanks for reading and commenting. Here is a piece worth reading over your lunch break:
When Kevin Keegan went to Hamburg
In Kevin Keegan’s three seasons in the Bundesliga he managed to win the Ballon d’Or twice, play in the European Cup final against Nottingham Forest and release a top-10 smash hit
In August 1960 a promising but amateurish young band travelled to Hamburg in the back of an Austin minivan. They had come to seek fortune in the vibrant underground music scene emerging from the city’s crumbling docklands. It was hard work for these young men in the viceland of the Reeperbahn, Hamburg’s bristling red-light district.
They gigged almost every night, hostage to the whims of their employers: “Mach schau…mach schau (make a show),” was the mantra dictated to them by the owner of the Kaiserkeller, one of the nightclubs in which they played. And though at first they earned little and slept in a dingy room beside the ladies’ toilets of the Bambi Kino, a seedy movie theatre, they would go on to become megastars.
The band’s name was, of course, the Beatles, and they had come to Hamburg from another great seafaring town, Liverpool. Seventeen years later, with the group dissolved and Beatlemania just opened on Broadway, a footballer named Kevin Keegan made the exact same trip, albeit in rather more glamorous circumstances.
Like the Beatles, he came in search of a fortune. John, Paul, George, Stuart and Pete had swapped Mersey for Elbe to take advantage of the higher pay in Hamburg and it was no different for Keegan. While playing for Liverpool, his reported annual salary was £12,000. At Hamburger Sport-Verein, whom he joined in 1977, he would earn £250,000 a year after endorsement deals. Continue reading
Barney has signed off:
Sujal Mistry asks:
What do Manchester United need to do in January window to at least secure third place or even challenge for the title?
Guardian staff They just need to keep going. There is too much talent in the squad, the manager's too good for United to finish outside the top 3. They laughed earlier this season when I said they might still win the title. But who's laughing now?
(Still them. But not quite so hard, maybe).
WallyFister asks:
Do you think that this year Wenger is in even greater peril than normal? He now has spent more money and is making more mistakes than ever? Is age catching up with him or is it the greater pressure?
Guardian staff Yes, I do think he's "in peril". Every time he crosses the road he's just seconds from death. No wonder he looks worried.
TheSquire86 asks:
If you were Wenger, who do you think you’d be looking to sign at centre-back?
Guardian staff
Radamel Falcao. Is he really all that?
Guardian staff He's not fit. He hasn't been fit yet. He's also got a lot of miles on the clock. In his day though, what a player. Diego Costa +5
JezKeen asks:
Since Manchester City won the football lottery even as a City season-ticket holder I can say we are now hated by most football fans, are the Guardian merely staying in step with the general mood by kicking the shit out of City at every opportunity?
Guardian staff I don't see that happening at all. City get a pretty good even treatment as far as I can tell. This is a left-leaning paper so there was always going to be a lot of winning over to be done when something like this happens - basically an experiment in extreme capitalism - but if you read Danny Taylor or David Conn, Jamie Jackson, they're all pretty fair on by the wider stuff being done, the regeneration, the youth setup, the "campus" .
LoneFrontman asks:
Hey Barney. Do you think David de Gea will be wearing the number one for Madrid next season ? Also what do you think about Haméz Wilson, is he going to be world class?
Guardian staff De Geal who knows. What an exciting, charismatic keeper he is though. If I was a goalkeeper - i'd want to be like that. We do seem to have moved a bit on since the old Dave Beasant/John Lukic type days.
James Wilson looks good too doesn't he. His speed and energy are obvious. He can obviously finish too. Just needs to learn to play at that level. I would love to see Van Gaal give up on the reanimation of Falcao and just go with Wilson, give him a seaosn, let him play, bring someone through. You can tell he wants too. It appeals to his ego for one thing. Plus it would nourish the club to have another genuine home grown success.
MrGarethE asks:
Do you think there are grounds for a manager to wear a tracksuit on the touchline or does it make them look a bit amateur? No tracksuited manager/head coach has ever won the Premier League.
Guardian staff Howard Wilkinson wore a tracksuit, but just missed the cut off. Personally I yearn for the day a manager in shorts wins the Premier League
maxfisher asks:
Steven Gerrard: discuss.
Guardian staff Is this actually an A-level question these days? It wouldn't surprise me.
citizenthirdmankane reports:
The Telegraph report that Wenger has said he ‘will win the league within three years’. I report that he’s delusional.
Guardian staff You can see, of course, that it would be completely unprofessional for him not to say, and indeed, believe that is possible. and it is possible. and why not? All Arsenal need is a new goalkeeper, right back, center back, central midfield, other central midfield and A-list centre forward. Plus three or four more quality reserves. And not to lose anyone they've already. And a good run with injuries. And a new, tighter way of playing against the best teams. Maybe a new assistant manager. Defensive coach. New manager. More passionate home fans - so perhaps new stadium. Change the kit colour to lucky blue. Maybe a new name. Then and only then, they might just win the league.
This is a joke of course. Except the bit about the defence, midfield and properly good striker. Things can change quickly. Personally don't think the gap is that huge.
Here’s the link to the Telegraph story, where Wenger doesn’t actually say that Arsenal will win the title in three years:
Asked if he could win what would be his first Premier League title since 2003-04 during the three years of his contract, Wenger said: “Of course. We have not started very well, but we never had the squad together since the start of the season. It was a post World Cup start typically. I think we have what is requested to do it. We have to fight like mad now to come back as much as possible to show that we can compete in every single game.”
ilbirbone asks:
Premier League in 2014: Meritocracy or mediocrity?
Guardian staff
rahulkeerthi asks:
Barney, Southampton are an ambitious club and it’s nice to see them aiming to break into the top-club tier. Is their form so far going to peter out while reality sets in or do you think they what it takes to to keep challenging into the new year?
Guardian staff I think sadly i will be the same as last year. they have a really tough run coming up, the squad is relatively thin, Koeman has sidestepped any kind of teething problems as a new manager. It will catch up with them at some point. Unfortunately this is what the brutal stratification of English football has done. You simply cannot be a well-run upstart club that breaks into the top four for any period of time. Money will not allow it. People will say it's always been like this but only to a degree. In the 70s-80s Derby, Forest, Leeds, Liverpool, Arsenal and Villa all won the league. I can remember Watford coming second, and quite recently Villa and Norwich pushing for the title. This is now literally impossible.
Africanblue asks:
Do you think Jose Mourinho will start with Drogba or Remy this evening? And which striker would you start with?
Guardian staff Personally I'd go with Remy, but with Fabregas playing a bit further forward and the central midfield stiffened a little with Ramires in. Mourinho probably won't do this. But then, what's he ever won?
TheManFromNantucket asks:
Hello. How big an impact will the Africa Cup of Nations have on this season’s race for second place? And do you think it’s had an impact on how many African players are at the top teams in Europe... it just seems that there’s been a massive drop off in the past four or five seasons.
Guardian staff I do think it's had a bit of an impact, but there is clearly a much bigger story here. One aspect, so i'm told by someone who knows a lot about this, is the way clubs in many African nations have attempted to feed the needs of European clubs, most notably the Premier League. So the best or most celebrated young players tend to be the most physical, or they might be told to play in a certain position (often hard-working central midfield) and the whole system suffers. The suspicion is there is an unhealthy interaction here generally. as ever in a totally unregulated market-driven goldrush of a sport.
QuietVendetta asks:
Barney, do you have some predictions for scorelines tonight? Could be a very interesting set of results for the top six in the table if Southampton or Chelsea have a bad night.
Guardian staff I think it will be
Arsenal 2-1 Southampton
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Everton 3-1 Hull
Sunderland 0-8 (eight) Manchester City
I also see Alloa and Rangers are playing in the semi final of the Petrofac Training Challenge cup. Can see Rangers sneaking that. But another great Petrofac night in store.
GhostWiper asks:
Hi Barney. Remember when they used to say that Peter Schmeichel was worth an extra 10 points a season to Man Utd? Well how many points do you think De Gea will be worth by the end of season? I calculate him to be worth 24 so far.
*Marouane Fellaini is the other one.
Guardian staff I remember when people used to say "a fit Jan Molby would save anyone five million pounds". You heard it all the time. At least 10-20 times a day.
ClamBuster asks:
In terms of competent central midfielders, do you think Manchester United now have a reasonably decent bunch?
Guardian staff Van Gaal has done something good here hasn't he? Beneath the layers of guff he's managed to dig out a really promising midfield from all those high priced bits and pieces. My own devotion to Marouane Fellaini is a matter of record: obviously it took another bona fide footballing genius to recognise that he's still got a huge amount to offer in the center as long as you accept he can run all day, just not very fast, and that he's got to be allowed to play as a forward bruiser some times. Carrick remains an excellent manipulator of the ball in the Premier League . Herrera is inventive. It's not exactly Keane Scholes Beckham Giggs but midfield is no longer a problem for Man Utd, for in the first time in a while.
GoogleWhack asks:
What’s your prediction for Arsenal v Southampton? I’m going with a Saints win (but them I’m a Saints fan), I’d say 1-2. More importantly who do you WANT to win?
Guardian staff I think Arsenal will score a late winner and take it 2-1. The loss or lack of fitness of Schneiderlin (even if he plays) could be key. I don't really care who wins: I'm a fan of the Southampton youth system, which means i get to be pleased whichever way it goes.
mike65ie asks:
Why was there no webchat for yesterdays games?
Guardian staff Mainly because of you. We've been working really hard on a plan to goad you by bot offering enough free instant football content tailored exactly to your needs. It worked!
Updated
MrGarethE asks:
Hi Barney. Can you see any positives for a Spurs fan already developing a mild flop sweat about the game tonight?
Guardian staff Yes. Spurs have some really good attacking players. Lamela is as talented as they come, in moments and Erikson is in good form. That goal against Everton was the mark of an absolutely sublime player I thought. More than that though Pochettino's idea of what he wants his team to do - swarm and press and harry in numbers in midfield - is exactly the kind of thing that might work at Chelsea's most obvious weakness, the slight lack of mobility and numbers in central mid, where Matic basically does all the hard work. Schalke got at them in that way at Stamford Bridge. But of course Mourinho can see this too. It will be a very good game I think.
Updated
SvenskTenn asks:
Is Neil Warnock a Premier League quality manager?
Guardian staff He manages in the Premier League. Therefore, by definition he is a Premier League quality manager. He may separately dilute the quality of the substance that is Premier League managerdom, or even raise it. But that quality is constant in its basic identity.
DebbieDoesPalace asks:
How on earth is Arsenal’s wage bill higher than Chelsea’s? This seems amazing.
Guardian staff Chelsea have made a major effort to cut theirs. Arsenal should pay more. they have higher matchday revenues. Chelsea's hierarchy have done a very good job in trimming that side of things. I know it's not fashionable in football but this is a case of one person doing something well rather than another person being a disgrace, liability, bleedin' joke etc etc
Barney is online now:
DebbieDoesPalace asks:
Do you think Tottenham looking back will regret having sacked Harry Redknapp?
Guardian staff Hello everybody. The chat is now flowing.
No, not really. They wanted a modern, shiny, younger "systems" manager who could take things forward in areas other than the transfer market and telling everybody they're great on the training pitch (before eventually falling out with them and telling Goals On Sunday they're lazy/fat/bang out of order etc). Redknapp did well, but it was a shift in methods more than anything else. Obviously it hasn't quite worked yet. Probably Spurs regret more the fact modern football won't let a player like Gareth Bale stay at a club like Spurs.
Barney will be online from 12.30pm GMT to answer your questions
Here are reports from last night’s games:
- West Brom 1-2 West Ham
- Crystal Palace 0-1 Aston Villa
- Manchester United 2-1 Stoke City
- Burnley 1-1 Newcastle United
- Leicester City 1-3 Liverpool
- Swansea City 2-0 QPR
And here are tonight’s fixtures:
- Arsenal v Southampton
- Chelsea v Tottenham
- Everton v Hull City
- Sunderland v Manchester City
Drop your questions into the comments section below
That's the end of the web chat. Thanks for all your questions and sorry I only managed to answer a few of them. It's not because they weren't good questions. Really. It's not you. It's me.
Back soon. Enjoy the games tonight. Barney.