Author Archives: FWA News Editor

FWA Q&A: Tim Vickery

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TIM VICKERY on his dislike of walking in Venezuela…disrespecting Kaka’s voice…and Alfredo the great…

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
Take your pick – paper boy, menswear shop assisant, labourer, comedy writer, box office assistant, theatre manager, English teacher.

Most memorable match?
Think I’ll go with the 1992 European Cup final, Barcelona v Sampdoria at Wembley. London turned into the Mediterranean for a few days, and a wonderfully enthralling game got a historic result in the last minute. I lapped it up.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
Pele and Bobby Moore together after the 1970 World Cup match between England and Brazil – a fantastic match in which these great players performed to full capacity, winning the respect of each other and friendship in the process.

Best stadium…and worst?
South America is full of stadiums where you’re breathing the air of the history of the game – the Centenario in Montevideo and La Bonbonera in Buenos Aires are personal favourites (not least because you can walk to both from the centre of town).  But there’s a new one (2007) which for me could fit into the category of best and worst – the Metropolitano in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. It was built for the 2007 Copa América, and it was bizarre to see a compact, English model stadium in relatively small town Venezuela. Very impressive – except that it was nowhere near ready when it opened for the Copa – it was a building site, full of empty lift shafts, though it looked great on TV. My big complaint about it, though, is that it’s so far out of town – a pet hate of mine, especially when there are no mass transport options.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
I know my limitations. Stick to pen and paper, mate. Biggest disaster was when I forgot to take a pen.

Biggest mistake?
Too many to mention but a couple stand out. My first piece for World Soccer magazine was a profile of a Brazilian goalkeeper with German ancestry.  I foolishly commented that this was the perfect combination, some Teutonic steel to balance out the local flair. I should have known that Brazil’s defensive record is and always has been, way superior to Germany’s. Lesson – take no myth for granted.

Or a few months back on Brazilian TV. Kaká had just been recalled to the national team even though he was not getting a game for Real Madrid. I couldn’t resist the easy quip, saying that the only explanation for his comeback was that he has been singing the national anthem very well. It was a lack of respect to a quality player, who proved me wrong when he slotted successfully into the side.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
Charlton Heston (when he was still alive). I recommended a good optician.

Most media friendly manager?
In Brazil they tend to be very media friendly.

Best ever player?
Pele, Maradona, Messi – genius in all of them.  But hard to believe that anyone has been as influential as Alfredo Di Stéfano.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
Barcelona of recent years (they have brought back the little player) and Brazil of 1958 – without the media of 70 but far better man for man.

Best pre-match grub?
Doesn’t happen over here. We don’t get fed.

Best meal had on your travels?
A good old Ruby Murray every time I come back home.

…and the worst?
Can’t remember what it was in Colombia that had me up all night vomiting.

Best hotel stayed in?
Any time, anywhere – providing someone else is paying.

…and the worst?
A place in Cali, Colombia that I checked into, paid for a night up front, had a little nap and then noticed did not have running water.  Needless to say, I was paying for the place myself.

Favourite football writer?
Hughie Mac.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
Peter Jones/Brian Moore.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
Let me in whenever I want – don’t need anything else – just want to watch the game and come to my own conclusions.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
The Ashes in Oz.

Last book read?
Thatcher’s Britain by Richard Vinen.

Favourite current TV programme?
Discovered Law and Order SVU during the last Copa América. Got hooked. Think I’ve shaken it now.

Your most prized football memorabilia?
Copy of the autobiography of the late and undoubtedly great Zizinho, signed to me.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Don’t expect wealth or security, and always remember that your subject is more important than yourself.

Tim Vickery has lived in Brazil since 1994. A regular contributor to World Soccer and Sports Illustrated, he can be heard on 5Live and talkSPORT. Twitter: @Tim_Vickery

Next week: The Q&A world tour continues in Asia with Michael Church.

IRELAND BEWARE: “HE THINKS AND ACTS LIKE A KID,” SAID JOSE MOURINHO – IS MAD MARKO EUROPE’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL PLAYER?

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HE BORROWED A TEAM-MATE’S BENTLEY AND IT WAS STOLEN

HE CYCLED INTO A GOLF CART

HE CALLED HIMSELF A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNER BUT NEVER PLAYED IN THE FINAL

HE WAS INJURED PLAYING WITH HIS DOG

…AND WAS INVOLVED IN A NIGHT CLUB PUNCH-UP DEFENDING HIS BROTHER

OH, AND HE’S GOOD FRIENDS WITH BALOTELLI

By CHRISTOPHER DAVIES

AS MARKO Arnautović used Mario Balotelli as his role model at Inter Milan perhaps it is not surprising that the Austria striker has consistently made the headlines for the wrong reasons.

But some of the things Arnautović has done make Mad Mario seem a pussy cat and in the view of José Mourinho, the even Madder Marko “thinks and acts like a kid.”

Arnautović is set to play against the Repuiblic of Ireland in the 2014 World Cup qualifier in Dublin on Tuesday and one way or the other Irish fans can expect fireworks from the striker who looked up to Balotelli, the player called “unmanageable” by Mourinho, as a guiding light.

The Austrian was loaned to Inter from FC Twente during their Treble-winning season of 2009/10, but the only treble Arnautović managed was the three games he played before being sent back to Holland.

Arnautović said: “The problems with Mourinho started when I went out five times a week despite being injured. I tried to distract myself, but I did it the wrong way.”

The 23-year-old has made a habit of doing things the wrong way. He once cycled into a golf cart and said: “My team-mates asked me why I can’t cycle. I lived in the Netherlands for three years and everyone rides a bike there. Accidents simply happen.”

They do to Mad Marko who is an accident waiting to happen and rarely disappoints.

He once “borrowed” the Bentley that belonged to Inter team-mate Samuel Eto’o and took it for a ride around Milan. Arnautović claimed he had planned to buy the vehicle from the Cameroon international. “I drove it for two weeks to check whether I liked it. I was at a restaurant with friends when it was stolen. This incident affected me so badly I was unable to train. Thank God the car resurfaced in the meantime.”

Yet it all started so well for Arnautović when he made his debut for FC Twente in April 2007, five days before his 18th birthday. Under former England manager Steve McClaren the teenager became a first-team regular, scoring 14 goals plus seven assists in 2008/09. At 6ft 3ins he had the strength to go with his skill and Europe’s big guns soon became aware of the Vienna-born player who had a Serbian father.

He was due to sign a permanent contract with Inter in the summer of 2009, but a foot injury saw the move made a loan deal. The Italians later thanked their lucky stars.

Arnautović had a carefree approach to life, so it was no surprise when he bonded with Balotelli another player who tended to act first and think later. Mourinho said: “Mario Balotelli is his [Arnautović] best friend, coincidentally they have the same problems. Marko is a great guy, but he has the mentality of a child.”

He was to make only three appearances for Inter before Werder Bremen paid FC Twente €7.5 million for Arnautović who didn’t take long to upset his new club. Arriving in Bremen his team-mates were amazed to see he had “Champions League winner 2010” printed on his football boots even though he was not in the Inter squad when they defeated Bayern Munich 2-0.

From being, in his mind, a European Champion, Arnautović soon found himself in a relegation dogfight while off the pitch he was involved in some fisticuffs in a night-club. He claimed to be an innocent party, going to the defence of his brother, who had allegedly been attacked by Werder fans. “There were some young men who attacked my brother without provocation,” said Arnautović. “I then came in between them. I had to do that and then I suffered a blow.”

Calling Werder Bremen “a dump” in front of a TV camera did not help Arnautović as he struggled for form. Neither did an interview in which he said that not only did he like tattoos, he required them, together with silicone-inflated breasts, in his dream woman.

His form improved, but he was sidelined when he tore knee ligaments, not the result of a crunching tackle. Arnautović was playing with his dog. The Austrian can’t even be sent-off in straightforward circumstances. During a game against Hamburg he was cautioned for a body-check on Heiko Westermann. Referee Thorsten Kinhofer showed the yellow card and Arnautović’s reaction was to threaten to kick the ball against the official’s head. A second yellow and a red card quickly followed.

His poor form and bad behaviour saw him dropped by Austria for 18 months, but Arnautović is back with the national team after the birth of his daughter gave him an added responsibility. “I must keep myself under control,” he said. “I have a big responsibility as a father and that helps me to become more sensible. It’s better that I keep my mouth shut and let my feet do the talking.”

It’s a pity Arnautović isn’t Irish. It would be fascinating to see how Giovanni Trapattoni handled him.

Mike Collett of Reuters gives his viewpoint on England’s World Cup qualifiers

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Mike Collett of Reuters looks ahead to England’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro.











listen to ‘Mike Collett of Reuters looks ahead to England's World Cup qualifiers’ on Audioboo



PATRICK BARCLAY looks at England’s 2014 World Cup qualifying ties against San Marino and Montenegro

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WIN in Montenegro and England are favourites to qualify

LOSE and there’s an international crisis

By CHRISTOPHER DAVIES

The preparation to the week that will go a long way to shaping England’s 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign could hardly have started worse. Instead of the focus being on an improving and dangerous Montenegro after the lesser demands of San Marino, Riogate has dominated the build-up.

Whatever the rights and wrongs surrounding Rio Ferdinand’s England  call-up and withdrawal, wherever your sympathies or any perceived agendas regarding the 34-year-old Manchester United defender, it has not been the ideal start to the next games on the road to Brazil.

“It’s going to make England seem a little incompetent with poor lines of communication,” said Patrick Barclay, columnist for the Independent on Sunday and Evening Standard. “This may be a little unfair. The start of all this was Rio’s rather impetuous statement that he’d be ready to pack his bags at a moment’s notice. There was an asterisk missing with ‘medical advice permitting.’

“But it is a poor beginning to what is an absolutely vital game [against Montenegro] because of what England are playing for.”

Montenegro lead Group H after four games with 10 points having beaten San Marino twice, drawn at home with Poland and a 1-0 victory in Ukraine. England are second with eight points after a draw in Poland, a home victory over San Marino, an away win in Moldova and a 1-1 draw at Wembley against Ukraine.

In the Euro 2012 qualifiers Montenegro draw 0-0 at Wembley, with Wayne Rooney sent-off during the 2-2 draw in Podgorica. Montenegro may be relatively new to FIFA as an independent team having joined in 2007, but Barclay said: “They are a solid, experienced well-knit side. At Wembley they were extremely well organised, a good all-round side with a quality player up front in Mirko Vucinic of Juventus.

“If you offered Roy Hodgson four points from the ties in San Marino and Montenegro he’d be tempted to take it. It will be very important for England to keep their discipline and not have anyone sent-off again because it will be difficult enough with 11 players.”

Ideally Hodgson’s team would be one with regulars playing well for their clubs in the Barclays Premier League. That will not be the case and Gary Cahill’s absence through injury for the San Marino leaves England with a problem in the centre of defence already without Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott no longer a first choice at Manchester City. In attack Danny Welbeck did a fine job for England last year, but has scored only one goal in 22 league appearances, many as a substitute, for Manchester United.

Barclay said: “It seemed like a good idea for England when Chris Smalling left Fulham for Manchester United because he was such a promising defender, a right-back we thought. He’s started fewer than half of United’s games this season with injuries compounding the problem.

“I was sorry to see Michael Dawson pull out, most of us thought he was worth another England chance on his club performances. Steven Caulker shows potential for Spurs, yet if you put him in you’d have to keep your fingers crossed.

“Welbeck stamped his authority on the European Championship as a real player, but he goes back to United and has to fight for a place with Robin van Persie.”

Against Montenegro, Hodgson will probably choose Cahill, if fit, and Smalling who played together in the 2-1 win over Brazil last month. The midfield against the 2014 hosts was Theo Walcott, Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverly though Wilshere is injured.

Barclay said: “Gerrard’s form for Liverpool this season has been a big plus for England. He has found a way of conserving his energy and in this respect the arrival of Philippe Coutinho has helped. The Brazilian has taken a load off Gerrard’s shoulders in midfield while the return of Lucas has also been a bonus.

“Gerrard is not a worry. Michael Carrick is in good form, so is Cleverly…it’s a question of getting the balance right. I don’t think England have had a completely balanced midfield since Owen Hargreaves became unfit. Every top country in the world has a holding player, a ball winner, except England. For me, when he was fit Hargreaves was the first name on the team-sheet. I don’t think England have replaced him.”

Before the challenge of Podgorica there is the inevitable victory over San Marino in the Serravalle Stadio Olimpico on Friday. True, San Marino made history in November 1993 scoring after 8.3 seconds which remains the fastest World Cup qualifying goal though England went on to win 7-1.

In the FIFA rankings nobody is below San Marino, the third smallest state in Europe after Monaco and Vatican City and who have never won a competitive game (with only one friendly victory, against Liechtenstein).

Barclay said: “I have no problem with the likes of San Marino and Andorra being in the World Cup, but they should have to pre-qualify, as in the Champions League. I don ‘t agree with those who say it would lessen these countries’ chances of progressing. You would find they will build confidence with matches at a level closer to themselves and that could be carried on into the next stage.”

There are nine European groups with each winner qualifying for Brazil 2014. The eight best group runners-up will be paired into four home-and-away playoffs. If teams are even on points at the end of group play, the tied teams will be ranked by:

1.     goal difference in all group matches

2.     greater number of goals scored in all group matches

3.     greater number of points obtained in matches between the tied teams

4.     goal difference in matches between the tied teams

5.     greater number of goals scored in matches between the tied teams

6.     greater number of away goals scored in matches between the tied teams if only two teams are tied.

Barclay does not believe Hodgson should rest key players against San Marino, despite the risk of injury or a red card. “It’s important at international level more so than at club level to keep the understanding between players,” he said.

England last failed to qualify for the World Cup finals in 1994, but in a tight, competitive group with, in many respects, little to choose between England, Montenegro, Poland and Ukraine there is no room for error. Barclay said: “All World Cups are important, but this one in Brazil has a little more stardust. If you could use a cricketing analogy it’s an Ashes series…you want to be there more than ever.

“I am nervous for England. If they win in Montenegro the whole nation will breathe a sigh of relief because England could consider themselves favourites [to qualify]. I think this is a potentially exciting era for England coming up. I don’t necessarily think they will win the World Cup, but if they can build a team – and Hodgson is doing that – then at Euro 2016 in France…if they can get a team and not just 11 players it could be a really thrilling European Championship for them.”

And if England lose in Podgorica? “There is no question a defeat for England would be extremely damaging. People will be asking if Roy Hodgson is the man to take them forward. At the moment most recognise we have the right man in charge, what’s more he’s an English manager and that’s important. Should England lose, suddenly there’s an international crisis, that’s how big this game is.”

Group H

                             P  W  D  L  F  A   Pts

1 Montenegro   4   3  1  0  12  2   10
2 England         4   2  2  0  12  2    8
3 Poland           3   1  2  0  2  5      5
4 Moldova         4   1  1  2  2  7      4
5 Ukraine          3   0  2  1  1  2      2
6 San Marino    4   0  0  4  0  16    0

FWA Q&A: KEVIN BAXTER

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KEVIN BAXTER of the Los Angeles Times on why Manchester is the culinary capital of the world…the wonderful Doghouse…and the importance of learning a second language

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?

As for covering the sport, I came very late to football – and even later to a deep appreciation of it. For more than 20 years I primarily covered baseball and only became involved in football because my newspaper needed a Spanish speaker to follow the Mexico team through its preparations for the 2010 World Cup. I followed the team through Europe then to South Africa. And I’ve been hooked ever since.

Most memorable match?

Still a relatively small sample size. But given the stakes, I would guess I’d have to narrow it down to three from the last World Cup. The U.S. victory over Algeria, which advanced the team out of group play, was memorbable mainly because of Landon Donovan’s goal in stoppage time. Then there was the final between Spain and the Netherlands that went to overtime. But if I had to pick just one – and this might be a game that many have already forgotten – the quarter-final in Johannesburg between Ghana and Uruguay. It was incredible. It the was game with the Luis Suarez handball when he saved a certain game-winning goal, was red carded and when Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty kick, the game went to overtime and ultimately a shootout, which Uruguay won. The result also prevented Ghana, in the first World Cup to be held in Africa, from becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals. A memorable game for many reasons.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?

I could spend the better part of a week answering this question. And we could probably have a great debate on it. So many incredible performances by so many great players. And let’s not forget the women’s game. There are some memorable moments and some fantastic athletes there as well. So as not to be predictable and cliché, I will pick a moment I witnessed – and have not forgotten – yet one many world football fans are probably not aware of. I’ll go with Giovani Dos Santos’ physics-defying goal for Mexico against U.S. keeper Tim Howard in the 2011 Gold Cup final. It was the clinching goal in a 4-2 win and Dos Santos’ skills defy description. He left-footed the ball into a spot so small…do yourself a favor and Google it.

Best stadium?

I’ll use the same excuse as before..limited sample size. But Old Trafford has to be on the list for the history. I liked Ethiad a lot (a picture I took there this winter is the screen saver on my cell phone). Some of the new stadiums in Mexico, such as Chivas’ in Guadalajara, are nice. So are the newer Major League Soccer stadiums which are soccer-specific, though they are much smaller than the big facilities in Europe. After seeing the men’s and women’s 2012 Olympic finals, which both drew more than 80,000 rabid fans, I’ll go with Wembley as the best stadium I’ve been to.

…and the worst?

I have to distinguish between big, historic stadiums and smaller, less well known ones. The stadium in Tijuana, Mexico, for example needs a lot of work. But among the large, world-class, World Cup-type facilities I would have to say the Azteca in Mexico City is the worst I’ve been to.

Biggest mistake?

Not becoming passionate about the game earlier.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?

Thankfully for the other person, no.

Most media friendly manager?

By and large, I believe American coaches are more media friendly — largely because they are still trying to grow the sport here. So I’ll pick two Americans – Bruce Arena of the L.A. Galaxy and late of U.S. national team and Dominic Kinnear of the Houston Dynamo – and a Swede, Pia Sundhage, former coach of the U.S. women’s team

Best ever player?

I know this will anger the oldtimers, but anyone who says Lionel Messi is NOT the best player ever isn’t paying attention. He is simply outstanding. He is putting up numbers that will never be approached again

Best ever teams (club and international)?

If you are talking about history and not a finite time frame, it would have to be the Brazil national team. As for club teams, my wife, a diehard Manchester United fan, will object but I’ll take Real Madrid and its nine European Cup/Champions League titles

Best pre-match grub?

Wembley. Before a friendly between England and Mexico, May 2010

Best meal had on your travels?

Akbar’s in Manchester. Nothing has come close.

…and the worst?

The media food at any of the Olympic venus at London 2012. Sorry, London. Had a great time. The volunteers were unbelievable. But the food? Not so much.

Best hotel stayed in?

Marriott on La Reforma in Mexico City

…and the worst?

I’ll keep the name to myself. But know who you are, you Durban South African hotel.

Favourite football writer?

I’ll stick with judging my comrades in the States and go with Steve Goff of the Washington Post.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?

Andres Canto (Spanish) of Telemundo, one of NBC Universal’s networks.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?

More access to the players. That’s not really been a problem in the States and as a result we’ve been able to present a human side to our players that has helped draw fans to the game. Access to players is limited in Europe and largely non-existent in Latin America. As a result I think players come across as one-dimensional football robots. It is also a big reason there’s so much rumor-mongering and gossip. If you can’t ask the player a question and get a decent answer, some writers tend to make up the answers themselves

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?

I have to say I’ve been fortunate to cover just about everything anyone could dream of. Two Olympics, Pan American Games, a World Cup. Is there anything else out there? [Cricket? – Ed].

Last book read?

This will make no sense to anyone outside the U.S. but it was Ozzie’s School of Management: Lessons from the Dugout, the Clubhouse, and the Doghouse About U.S. baseball manager Ozzie Guillen.

Favourite current TV programme?

Family Guy.

Your most prized football memorabilia?

A Manchester City jersey (my wife picks my Manchester United shirt).

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?

Learn the game, of course but additionally learn a foreign language. This is a real problem for most U.S. writers who know only English. Unlike in Europe, few Americans speak multiple languages. And then you run into footballers like former Chelsea and Tottenham keeper Carlo Cudicini, who has learned four languages primarily because of football. Or Jürgen Klinsmann and Pia Sundhage who both speak several and you begin to realize language is the key to truly understanding the culture that produces the different styles of football in Latin America, Italy, Spain, Germany and the UK.

NEXT WEEK: The Q&A’s world tour continues and catches up with Tim Vickery in Brazil.

MINTO’S DREAM JOB – WITH THE ULTIMATE CLASICO TO COME AT WEMBLEY?

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By CHRISTOPHER DAVIES

SCOTT MINTO is living the dream. To be the presenter of Sky Sports’ coverage of Spanish football at a time when Barcelona have come within touching distance of perfection, their rivalry with Real Madrid has reached new heights and the national team rules Europe and the world is as good as it gets.

Minto has a great job – he is reluctant to call it work – and it is the reward for his dedication when, after 17 years as lively left-back for Charlton, Chelsea, Benfica, West Ham and Rotherham, the sands of time caught up with him.

“I was injured as lot during my last year at Rotherham and at 35 I knew it was time to quit,” Minto told footballwriters.co.uk. He contacted Pete Stevens of Radio London – the pair had worked together covering games – and asked if there was a chance of work on a more permanent basis.

Minto was living in Sheffield and was assigned to cover London clubs playing in the north for the station. Eager to learn as much as he could about his potential new career he took up the offer from Lawrie Madden, who played over 300 games for Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday before becoming part of the Daily Telegraph’s football coverage.

“Lawrie told me about a journalism course for players and ex-players. While things were going well on the radio I didn’t want to be sitting around doing nothing. As a player I was a lazy sod, come home, feet up and watch TV. I wanted to stay in football, but not management so the two-year course was ideal.”

The studies were intense and left little time for being a couch potato – “how those players who were still active found time to do it I don’t know.”

In the meantime Minto had started to work for Chelsea TV and Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday. His first live game was Burnley v West Bromwich where he took his position “up with the gods” at Turf Moor. “I could hardly see the numbers on the stripes. In fact, I was so high I could hardly see the Burnley numbers. The first time Jeff Stelling came to me after a goal I was tongue-tied. ‘Yes it’s a goal from a free-kick, I mean goal-kick, no corner…’ Driving home I thought to myself it wasn’t meant to be.”

But Sky Sports saw potential in Minto and persevered with him. .” In 2008 Minto graduated from Staffordshire University with a degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting. The course taught him, among other things, how to write match reports and to assess what the best story-line was. Minto was given work by the London Evening Standard until budget cuts forced belt-tightening.

“Rather than speak to someone and they put it into my words I wanted to write it myself. I was completely different to how I was as a player. I didn’t need to work on my mind then, but when I retired and the physical work ended I found I was happy to put pressure on myself mentally. I’m glad I did the course and I am where I am now because of this.”

Minto’s big break came in September 2011 when Sky Sports decided not to renew the contract of Mark Bolton who had presented their Spanish football coverage. Producers at Sky’s headquarters in Isleworth had watched Minto presenting shows on Chelsea TV and Al Jazeera and were impressed with his calm authority.

With a young daughter plus twins on the way – all three are still under the age of three – Minto knew accepting the job meant the demands on his time would be immense. He also knew it was an offer he could not refuse.

While he is fluent in Spanish – he has a Colombian wife – his language skills were not a consideration. He said: “Though it helps being able to talk to Rafa Benitez, Albert Ferrer, Marcelino, Gaizka Mendieta and other Spanish guests in their language off air, the shows are all in English.”

Minto has grown into his role, at ease with live coverage where, as a presenter talks to the camera, the producer can be chatting to him via his earpiece. “They may be saying ‘keep going, we can’t go to that replay yet’ or ‘hurry up we have to go to a break.’

“I was talking to a famous presenter recently and he told me the first time he did a live show he said on air ‘yes I know, I know’ as the producer spoke to him.”

La Liga games on Saturday and Sunday show the best of Spanish football with Revista de la Liga on Tuesday a look-back at the weekend’s action alongside Guillem Balague, Graham Hunter and Terry Gibson [Minto is pictured with Mendieta and Balague, courtesy of Sky Sports].

“In some ways Revista can be more manic than a live game because there is so much to cram in. I’ll chat to producer Mark Payne the day before about the schedule. I am passionate about Spanish football and I hope that comes across.

“I think Spain have the best two teams, certainly the best two players, arguably the best five players in the world. But when it comes to the organisation it can be shocking. Often we have only two weeks’ notice about when a game will be played. Our pundits say such things are so much more professional in England.”

Games involving Barcelona and Real Madrid rarely disappoint and the clasico head-to-heads between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola were like Hollywood productions. “I watched every second of every clasico, even before I was offered the job. For me, the most glamorous club game in world football has always been Barcelona versus Real Madrid. They seem to play each other more than they used to, but I absolutely love it…I loved watching the games and now presenting them.

“The matches are never dull. It’s the same even if they play Granada or Deportivo…there is always something to talk about.”

Minto’s passion did not extend to the extreme of his brother-in-law. “He is a massive Barcelona fan and they’ve just had a baby boy. He texted me last Tuesday to say they want to call him Lionel.”

That night Minto saw Barcelona’s brilliant, breathtaking 4-0 victory over AC Milan on a boat with the London-based Barca fan club. He watched the game again at home, savouring every moment. “I needed to confirm what I thought at the time and that was it was one of the best performances in the history of football. I have nothing but admiration for players and teams under immense pressure not just producing the goods, but then some. In Barcelona’s case some people were almost writing them off to the point those critics wanted them to lose so they would be proved right.

“It was one of the few occasions where Barcelona were the underdogs to go through, yet the way they started and continued was Barca at their absolute best.”

A Barcelona versus Real Madrid Champions League final is still a possibility as the clubs were kept apart in the draw for the quarter-finals. For Minto and millions of others, Wembley would be host for the ultimate clasico.

FWA Q&A: Sid Lowe

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The Q&A section is on a world tour, talking to football writers in different countries. This week: Spain.

SID LOWE on fascism in Barnsley…the Reina in Spain that caused him a lot of pain…and a romantic getaway for one eating cake

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
Yeah. When I was younger, I coached on kids’ sports camps during summer holidays. Like just about every Englishman who’s ever set foot in Spain, I’ve taught English. And I spent two years lecturing and giving seminars in Southern European Fascism at Barnsley College, as part of a University of Sheffield degree. Oh, and teaching some beginners’ Spanish there, too. And ‘facilitating’, which as far as I can make out meant sitting there in the library trying not to fall asleep.  Just in case anyone wanted any help. Like: “Can I borrow your pen?”

Most memorable match?
If you asked me tomorrow, I’d probably give a different answer and the day after a different one again … I honestly don’t know. Different games grab you for different reasons. I was at the 4-3 between Spain and Yugoslavia at Euro 2000. The Alfonsooooooooo-unbelievable one. The 1986 FA Cup final was incredible and all the more so because I was only 10.  Sadly, when you become a writer, you don’t entirely want a brilliant game, or at least not a dramatic one: lots of late goals kill you. But then afterwards you look back and think: wow. As incredible performances, perhaps Barcelona’s 5-0 win against Real Madrid and Spain’s 4-0 against Italy in Kiev. That 4-3 Liverpool-Newcastle, the first one, stands out of course but I wasn’t actually there. And Barcelona’s 6-2 at the Bernabéu, which was so unexpected. Madrid’s 4-3 over Espanyol was mental too, just bonkers.  And that 3-2 over Getafe when Pepe lost his head.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
It’s been done already: “Matt LeTissier: Unbelievable.” A whole collection of them. Genius.

Best stadium?
Again, it depends on what you’re gauging it by. There’s nowhere in Spain quite like San Mamés.

…and the worst?
Getafe’s stadium is near-ish to my house, which is probably its only advantage, although it’s also a great place to watch football in terms of just how good the press position is. And yet … and yet, it’s got little character, no history and few (but very loyal) fans. They call it the Coliseum, which is like calling my Skoda the Batmobile.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
Yeah, thanks for that. I’d just about managed to overcome the pain. I lost a handful of interviews on a digital recorder. They were for my Madrid-Barca book and, well, they were pretty big names. Hours of work and people I was not convinced I could get back to. I phoned up my agent and ranted at him “F this f-ing book, I’m not f-ing writing it any more.” Actually, I did manage to get back to a couple of them, with my tail between my legs.

Biggest mistake?
Erm, don’t know. Must have made loads of them. I once wrote a match report in which Ronaldo had scored four. Just before I hit send, the person sitting next to me noted what a good goal someone else had scored (I forget who) … “You mean it wasn’t Ronaldo?!” I got lucky. A mate of mine once filed a match report with the wrong final score. He wondered why the manager was so upbeat afterwards despite having lost. It was because he’d won.  I turned up for an interview once thinking I was getting Pepe Reina and it was Claudio Reyna. Luckily I noticed before I went in … and in the end didn’t do it anyway.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
Not anyone good.

Most media friendly manager?
I’m probably not the right person to answer that because within the labyrinthine dynamics of political relationships etc in Spain, there will be many who are good, bad and indifferent and I won’t even know about it. There have been players, for example, that other journalists have really slagged off but who have been consistently good to me. From personal experience: Vicente del Bosque is very, very nice indeed but that is not always an advantage in media terms. Writing this book, some people have been astonishingly generous with their time.  Michael Laudrup, Radi Antic, Míchel (ex-Sevilla now Olympiacos), Ángel Cappa (various teams in Argentina), for example. I have always enjoyed listening to Pep Guardiola, who is fascinating; Mourinho was interesting at first but has retreated almost entirely (understandably, I suppose). Javier Aguirre is entertaining and very engaging. And I loved talking to Unai Emery (Sevilla), who is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. But there’s no one quite to compare to Juanma Lillo (ex-Almería).

Best ever player?
Because of my age no one will ever have the impact on me that Maradona did at the 86 World Cup. And the first year I lived in Spain was 1996, when Ronaldo was at Barcelona: I had never seen anything like it. Unreal. If he had kept doing that, maybe him. Right now, it’s hard to resist saying Messi. I think Maradona, still.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
This Spain team has to be right up there. I’m too young to say much about Brazil. At club level, again, historically I can’t make too much of a claim. Madrid in the 1950s, perhaps, although that was a different era and domestically they were not quite as dominant as their European success suggests. The recent Barcelona side make a pretty good case.

Best pre-match grub?
Aye, right. Spanish clubs don’t do food. It was one hell of an eye opener when I did my first games at Chelsea and Arsenal. No wonder you all turn up early for games. I was sitting at the Emirates eating a bloody ice cream, for Christ’s sake. Brilliant. And the wifi worked … ask any journalist and they’ll tell you the same thing: that’s what really matters.

Best meal had on your travels?
Beware of a menu that says “Fish: according to market price”. Found that out in Mallorca once, on a player’s recommendation. Ouch. Bugger me, it was good though. And the best paella restaurant is in Vila-Real. Pity it’s always shut.

…and the worst?
I’ve had countless dire meals. Games finish well after midnight, you end up in town, desperate for anything. Taxi drivers’ cafes, day-old sandwiches, cheese at the bar, a packet of crisps and some olives. You reach the point where go somewhere and someone says the next day: “what was it like?” … “open”.

Best hotel stayed in?
I went to an event in Munich once with Ronaldo (the original one) and he was so late that the whole event – which brilliantly included playing briefly on the Allianz Arena pitch – got put back and in the end our flights were cancelled and we had to stay. I got put on a 6am flight (or similar) the next morning. God, I was bitter.  The best hotel room I have ever stayed in, an amazing comfy bed, and I must have been in it for all of two hours.  Mind you, the best … well, not the best because the hotel is actually a bit rubbish, but …. It was in Barcelona when I accidentally booked the ‘pack romántico’.  Bottle of champagne, chocolate cake and petals on the bed in the shape of a heart. I got back after the clásico – alone, late – and ate the cake watching the repeat on telly. It wasn’t very good. I shudder to think that people might genuinely book that place for a romantic getaway.

…and the worst?
Again, there must be loads of bad ones. But ultimately, if you’re there briefly it doesn’t really matter. There were some horror stories about the Ukraine this summer, although I more or less got away with it … except the night when I didn’t have one and had to sleep on a mate’s sofa.  And even then the comedy value made it worth it.

Favourite football writer?
Are you trying to get me in trouble … ? Whoever you don’t say is going to moan. As Bielsa once said: the problem with picking a number one is that rather than a eulogy of him it looks like a criticism of the number two and that’s not the case. Graham Hunter and Pete Jenson. I always enjoy Roberto Palomar (Marca), even when I don’t agree. Juanma Trueba (AS), too. And while I feel like David Gistau (freelance) has got into a rut recently, I think he’s a genius.  Lu Martin (El País) and Santi Giménez (AS). Scott Murray (Guardian sports editor) always makes me laugh. Ian Macintosh (ESPN) as well. Jonathan Wilson knows everything. And Sean Ingle has recently started writing a column in the Guardian, which is, I think, a great addition. Barney Ronay has great vision and expression. I tweet a lot of articles that grab me – there are some brilliant people about.  I’m bound to have left some real geniuses out [No doubt they would agree – Ed].

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
Wow. You are, aren’t you? Ok, Miguel-Ángel Roman on GolT in Spain. Gary Neville has been a revelation. And I really like Terry Gibson. Ah, and Graeme Sounness. When I have done Five Live it has been a real pleasure. Mark Pougatch is great.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
Normalisation. And access. There isn’t necessarily a need for mutual suspicion (although at times I understand that they feel that way.) Also differentiate: not all clubs and players are the same … and not all journalists are either.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
I went to the Olympics in Athens and that was very special. Wrestling especially. Watching Luke Milligan at Wimbledon was great and watching my brother at Wembley once, playing basketball, was the business. I’d love to see an NBA finals or the Super Bowl.

Last book read?
Actual book? You mean, not football or history? Leaving the Atocha Station, which I read recently. It’s the first time I have read literature (well, it’s almost poetry) for a long time. I tend to read non-fiction more.

Favourite current TV programme?
I am a fan of Revista de la Liga, which is far better on Spanish football than most things in Spain. I don’t get much time for much else, sadly. But, and I realise this is the clichéd stock answer, but The Wire. If there’s a chance to watch something briefly, I’ll always choose comedy.

Your most prized football memorabilia?
I’ve got quite a bit. I’m a bit of a history/football but: match day posters, old stickers, that sort of thing. But … for many reasons, my Petr Dubovsky* shirt, which was bought in an auction in Oviedo recently and given to me. I actually cried when I found out.

*A Slovak footballer who played for Slovan Bratislava, Real; Madrid and Real Oviedo in the 90s.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Don’t. Only joking. Erm, I suppose to be aware that you’ll get knocked back a lot, to know that it won’t be easy. “Paid for watching football” is rubbish: it is, like anything else, a job. It’s amazing how much you enjoy a game when you’re NOT working. But, that said, let’s not go down the miserable, cynical route: it’s a great job, fascinating and different. Enjoy it.  And ask people questions whenever you get the chance. Don’t seek a certain answer; ask a question. If you’re interested, your readers may be too.

*You can read Sid Lowe in The Guardian and The Observer plus SI.com; he is also a regular contributor to talkSPORT and Five Live. Twitter: @sidlowe

NEXT WEEK: Kevin Baxter (Los Angeles Times)

THE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR RACE IS ON – COULD IT BE A DEAD HEAT?

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By CHRISTOPHER DAVIES

“The professional player who, by precept and example, is considered by a ballot of members to be the Footballer of the Year.” – from the Football Writers’ Association’s minutes, 1948.

THE DISCUSSIONS, some of the heated variety, are already in full flow. Who should be the recipient of the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year award on May 9?

In the past decade the winner has often been obvious from February or March as Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie joined the illustrious list of winners. This season three players are dominating the thoughts of those who will vote: Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and van Persie. Others such as Juan Mata, Michu and Michael Carrick have their respective claims, but the Tottenham midfielder and the strikers of Liverpool and Manchester United are the current favourites.

The criteria laid down by Charlie Buchan, the writer-publisher of Football Monthly, in 1948 still applies today. The original founder members – Buchan, Roy Peskett, John Thompson and Clifford Webb – decided on a boat trip home from England’s 5-2 win in Brussels to form the Association. Buchan later proposed an award to “the professional player who, by precept and example, is considered by a ballot of members to be the Footballer of the Year.”

This asks that more than playing outstanding football is taken into account and Liverpool supporters, understandably defensive of one of two ignominious entries on Suarez’s cv which may preclude some FWA members giving him their vote, would point out Eric Cantona won the award in 1996 despite being banned until October 1 for his kung-fu kick at a Crystal Palace supporter, though the incident occurred the previous season.

In 2013 it is, perhaps, unrealistic to expect any top player not to have been involved in some controversy or other, be it simulation, a red card or an off-field indiscretion. It is a decision for FWA members where to draw the line. What has never been a yardstick is whether the footballer about to receive a member’s vote is part of a successful team. It is an individual award and many Footballers of the Year did not play for trophy-winning sides.

The award is decided on a one vote per member basis. The FWA have briefly discussed a top three voting system, but the view has always been that nothing is broke and doesn’t need fixing. Similarly, the FWA have never seriously considered a Young Footballer of the Year or a manager’s award. The FWA have one award and the belief is that adds to the prestige of the Footballer of the Year.

The FWA had 42 members when Sir Stanley Matthews was chosen as the first recipient in 1948. Around eight times that total will be involved in deciding who will receive the trophy from chairman Andy Dunn at the Lancaster London hotel two days before the FA Cup final with more than 700 guests present – a far cry from the first dinner which was held in the Hungaria Restaurant in Mayfair, though the restaurant at Waterloo Station was also discussed.

Maybe, just maybe, there will be a second dead-heat following the historic tie between Tony Book and Dave Mackay in 1969 when the votes were cast by post. Two votes arrived in the second post (those were the days) but missed the deadline. They were both cast for the same player yet it remains an FWA secret who might have won had the letters arrived earlier.

This season the vote will be all electronic, opening on April 25 and closing on May 2, the winner announced at 7am the following day. There have been suggestions of the voting being too early, but only three Barclays Premier League fixtures remain after the votes are counted.

Members take their vote seriously with some typically strong views held when the topic is brought up. While the FWA usually get the vote just about right, the list of winners has a few notable absentees, mainly those from Manchester United in the last 15 years when the club have been a victim of their own success. I was chairman in 1999 when United won the Treble and presented the trophy to David Ginola. “You were culpable,” Sir Alex Ferguson told me in a friendly hairdryer manner, bemused that none of his history-making side was chosen.

In fact, the United vote was, not for the first time, split between four or five players, enabling the Tottenham winger to win more votes than any individual Treble winner.

Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Peter Schmeichel are among those with valid claims to have deserved to join Cantona, Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham, Ronaldo and Rooney as United players to have been elected during the Premier League era and it will be little consolation that the league leaders have won the award more times than any other club in the last 20 years.

No South American has ever won the award; no one has ever won back-to-back awards with different clubs so perhaps history will be made this year.

Football writers I have spoken to in the past week have yet to make up their mind which way their vote will go and indications are it will be a photo-finish…unlike the Barclays Premier League title race.

STEVE STAMMERS OF THE SUNDAY MIRROR LOOKS AHEAD TO BAYERN MUNICH v ARSENAL

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Steve Stammers of The Sunday Mirror looks ahead to the second leg of Arsenal’s Champions League last 16 clash against Bayern Munich, examines the Gunners’ defensive problems and whether Arsene Wenger’s men can force their way back into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.



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