Just who could spell agony for Chelsea..?

Weekly Sport is owned and published in the UK and Eire by Independent News Ltd.  The title was launched by a team of  journalists keen to create a tabloid suitable for all the family.     As such, the Weekly Sport aims to provide genuine sports news coverage throughout the Olympic year and to offer our readers intelligent editorial commentary on current news.   It is hoped that this will continue to expand as a long term positive media project, and help to restore the lost integrity of the red top and its central part in our popular British culture.       SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S DUNCAN EDWARDS   WHY PHIL JONES HOLDS THE KEY TO MAN UNITED’S SEASON – AND WHY A SWITCH OF POSITION FOR HIM COULD SPELL AGONY FOR CHELSEA, MANCHESTER CITY AND LIVERPOOL Exclusive sport commentary by FRANK WORRALL. LOOKING back on the summer signings, some pretty impressive names ended up at the biggest clubs – and have made pretty impressive starts. I’m thinking of Stewart Downing at Liverpool, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal and Juan Mata at Chelsea. All class acts who, in turn, bring a touch of class, even if they arrived at a premium (£20million for Downing, £10million for Arteta and £24million for Mata).      Of course, there are some who cost a fortune and make you scratch your head and wonder why. In particular, I’m thinking of Jordan Henderson, who arrived at Liverpool from Sunderland with a fanfare and in a deal worth a reported £20million. Now, don’t get me wrong – I think Kenny Dalglish is doing a terrific job at Liverpool and I applaud his commitment in reinforcing his team with a British spine. Andy Carroll, Charlie Adam and the aforementioned Downing are all players who will help the foreign imports such as Luiz Suarez and homegrown genius like Steven Gerrard turn the Kop kings into a force to be reckoned with once again.           But Jordan Henderson? For me, he is a box to box player with a good engine (as the cliché goes) but is he absolutely top-notch? I have my doubts: he didn’t impress for England Under-21s in the summer European Championships and I don’t see much in him beyond a hard work ethic – a top-notch journeyman if you will. Of course, I hope he proves me wrong and becomes the new Steven Gerrard, but he has a long way to go.           Especially when you look at the player who is definitely THE best buy of the summer transfer market. Yes, I’m talking about the colossal called Phil Jones, who signed for Man United in a £17million deal from Blackburn. An absolute bargain at the price, I don’t think I have ever seen a player settle in so quickly at Old Trafford, or look so much the part from the very start of his career there.       This, remember, is the boy who none other than Sir Bobby Charlton said reminded him of the late, great Duncan Edwards, who tragically died from injuries sustained in the Munich air disaster of 1958. A huge bear of a boy-man, Duncan would have surely become the greatest player ever at United and England, and his presence in the national team could have even meant it would have been he who held the World Cup aloft in 1966 rather than Bobby Moore. Indeed, if Duncan had survived Bobby might not have made it into the team if, as would have been likely, they were both vying for the same starting position.      I can understand why Sir Bobby said he saw Edwards in Jones. The new boy is just 19 yet looks in his mid to late 20s such is his size and presence on the pitch. He is an excellent reader of the game and I believe he is the key to the success of the new United Sir Alex Ferguson is creating.      Jones has already played at full-back and centre-half for United and I am sure that even now, at 19, he would serve the English national side better than John Terry. Yes, he is that good, better than Terry and Rio Ferdinand and certainly a couple of leagues higher up the scale than Gary Cahill, who Fabio Capello astonishingly promoted ahead of him in Ferdinand’s absence for England recently.      But it is in another position that I believe Jones will save Fergie’s skin this season. As a holding midfield player with the vision to control and run the game. United began the campaign at breakneck speed with everyone talking about the new group of youngsters Fergie was blooding – Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck. Looking at them closely, I would argue that only Jones and Smalling are guaranteed first teamers right now. The rest have potential – but who would you put up front with Rooney against Barcelona…Welbeck or Hernandez?         ‘Chicharito’ would win hands down. Similarly, Cleverley clearly has potential but he is rather fragile. He needs to beef up – has he the physique and energy to play out a full season at United? This is where Jones comes in. After the injury-plagued Owen Hargreaves was allowed to leave, United lack a natural holding midfielder who has vision. I know Darren Fletcher can take on the role, but Jones is a natural and a much better player than the captain of Scotland.         Somewhere down the line, Sir Alex may find his ‘fledglings’ are suffering. Then, he may well slot Jones into this new role in midfield, to tighten things up and had a shield in front of the defence. Barcelona have Sergio Busquets to the job, and every great team needs someone to anchor so that the likes of Rooney at United, Mata at Chelsea, Aguero at Manchester City and Suarez at Liverpool can thrive.        Phil Jones, United’s new Duncan Edwards, could well turn out to be the best of the lot – and that would spell joy for United and agony for Chelsea, City and Liverpool…and maybe, just maybe, even the mighty Barca. Don’t be surprised if Sir Alex employs him in that anchor role in midfield when the going gets tough – and don’t forget where you read it first…in your No 1 Weekly Sport.   follow the Weekly Sport on Twitter join the  Weekly Sport on Facebook forward the Weekly Sport to a friend  Copyright © Independent News Ltd.  2011 Independent News Ltd., 'Weekly Sport' and 'WeeklySport.co.uk' are legal and registered trading names of Independent News Ltd. All rights reserved. As a Weekly Sport reader you qualify for our free sporting news commentaries, updates and special offers. If you should wish to unsubscribe at any time simply press the tab. Our mailing address is: Independent News Ltd. Studio C, 41 Edith Grove London, England SW10 0LB Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list  update subscription preferences

Bartercard backs our new look Weekly Sport!

Weekly Sport is owned and published in the UK and Eire by Independent News Ltd.  The title was launched by a team of  journalists keen to create a tabloid suitable for all the family.     As such, the Weekly Sport aims to provide genuine sports news coverage throughout the Olympic year and to offer our readers intelligent editorial commentary on current news.   It is hoped that this will continue to expand as a long term positive media project, and help to restore the lost integrity of the red top and its central part in our popular British culture.        Bartercard backs a new look 'Weekly Sport' tabloid! Creating a proper sports focused red top, providing real sports news rather than soft porn or that familiar 'loony tune' editorial, the Weekly Sport has attracted some leading UK advertisers through its membership of Bartercard. Weekly Sport is now owned and published in the UK and Eire by Independent News Ltd. and has recently won a significant advertising revenue agreement through their media company's longterm membership of Bartercard. Bartercard is a trading exchange that allows businesses to link up with each other and swap services and goods in exchange for trade pounds. These can then be used to save cash. "This is just what an exciting title like the Weekly Sport needs," says Bartercard's regional rep Scott Clancy. "The direct injection of our mainstream advertisers will kick start this sporty title straight into the game running..." During a recession, with advertising hard to secure, Bartercard may just be the winning formula that gives the Weekly Sport a competitive edge. The title was launched by a team of  journalists keen to create a tabloid suitable for all the family.   As such, the Weekly Sport aims to provide genuine sports news coverage throughout the Olympic year and to offer our readers intelligent editorial commentary on current news. "We aim to bring positive and beneficial news to all our readers and profits to our all advertisers," says publisher Duncan Williams. "Already we have thousands of readers signed up to our digital Weekly Sport bulletins which are accessed during live matches and contain valid sporting commentary from some of the very best journalists working in the UK." Advertisers certainly do seem reassured by the stats. Reading your news on an iPhone or iPad is certainly nothing new, but ousting porn advertising in favour of attracting leading brand advertisers, keen to be associated with a title that is paving the way for digital journalism, is a revolutionary move for the tabloid media. "From a moral perspective too," insists Duncan Williams. "The move away from negative press, lies and soft selling pornography, is both ethical and a very wise evolutionary move forward following a wave of public scandal within the industry." "Frankly, the red top must either evolve or die. And by this I mean both technically and content wise. I believe I have the team and resources to do this." Williams is certainly no stranger to a challenge and boasts a 20 year career in the newspaper industry. His passion for media is evidenced during the many detailed lectures he has given on the subject of British media. He certainly won no friends within the American based Rupert Murdoch camp when he was one of the first to assert that British media ought to be owned by the British. He has been vocal in objecting to News Corp's stranglehold on the British media industry for decades and was vehemently opposed to James Murdoch's bid for BSkyB. Only a growing readership and advertising will finally tell if the Weekly Sport will gain a foothold in the cut and thrust world of the tabloid. Bartercard will certainly help. And those subscription figures already seem very favourable. It is hoped that this will continue to expand as a long term positive media project, and help to restore the lost integrity of the red top and its central part in our popular British culture.   follow the Weekly Sport on Twitter join the  Weekly Sport on Facebook forward the Weekly Sport to a friend  Copyright © Independent News Ltd.  2011 Independent News Ltd., 'Weekly Sport' and 'WeeklySport.co.uk' are legal and registered trading names of Independent News Ltd. All rights reserved. As a Weekly Sport reader you qualify for our free sporting news commentaries, updates and special offers. If you should wish to unsubscribe at any time simply press the tab. Our mailing address is: Independent News Ltd. Studio C, 41 Edith Grove London, England SW10 0LB Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list  update subscription preferences

Why won't Fergie manage the 'British team' ?

Weekly Sport is owned and published in the UK and Eire by Independent News Ltd.  The title was launched by a team of  journalists keen to create a tabloid suitable for all the family.     As such, the Weekly Sport aims to provide genuine sports news coverage throughout the Olympic year and to offer our readers intelligent editorial commentary on current news.   It is hoped that this will continue to expand as a long term positive media project, and help to restore the lost integrity of the red top and its central part in our popular British culture.     WHY SIR ALEX FERGUSON WON’T MANAGE THE BRITISH FOOTBALL TEAM AT NEXT YEAR’S OLYMPICS…   ….SO GIVE THE JOB TO DAVID BECKHAM!   WATCHING England stumble to a 1-0 victory over Wales at Wembley the other night got me thinking about the prospects of Team GB at next year’s Olympics in London. The Welsh and the English, along with the Scots and Northern Irish, have been invited to take part in a unified UK team – although only the English are keen to do so. The other three home nations are against the idea, fearing it could lead to them ultimately losing their right to take part as separate,  individual countries in FIFA competitions in years to come.        I can understand those fears given the lunacy of the FIFA power brokers, headed by the king of the asylum, Sepp Blatter. But I can also understand the feelings of young players within the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish teams who would give anything to play for Team GB on such a stage. In particular, I am thinking of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey of Wales, who both caused so many problems for Fabio Capello’s England at Wembley last Tuesday.      I am also convinced that those young men will be able to achieve their dream, despite the misgivings of their nation’s FA bosses. International law and freedom of movement and trade make it inevitable that they will be able to take part, if they so desire. And they do desire, and understandably so. Wales have not qualified for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup – and similar failings by Scotland and Northern Ireland explain why their players would also probably jump at the chance of appearing in a major international finals (such as the Olympics) given the chance.     The only real problem I can envisage is when the manager of Team GB chooses the majority of his players from England…with a couple from Wales, one from Scotland and none from Northern Ireland! That, more than any quibbling over whether their players should have refused to take part, is likely to cause the biggest headlines in the papers. No doubt there will be accusations of favouritism and discrimination against the manager.      Which, rather conveniently, brings us to the subject of just who that manager should be. The smart money is on Stuart Pearce, the man in charge of England’s Under 21s, being the chosen one…basically because he has been in charge of England’s Under 21s and he is, well, available for the role. Indeed he has canvassed heartily for it.       But is he any good? Put simply…no, he is not good enough, not up to the job and shouldn’t even be boss of England’s Under 21s if truth be told. Remember when Kevin Keegan was the manager of England from 1999-2000? All pumped up passion, hand on heart, but no tactical nous. Well, Pearce is the modern version but has even less tactical know-how judging by his results with the recent golden boys of the Under 21s and when he managed Manchester City (disastrously). Flip charts do not make you a tactical genius, neither does looking all grim and serious (and trying to look super intelligent).      No, the obvious candidate for the job is Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. But he does not want the job. Why? Well, would you want to choose a Team GB squad that contained only one name from your Scottish homeland? (Darren Fletcher). No, you would feel embarrassed and maybe that you had betrayed your country. Fergie is no fool; why would he want to manage England (which is what Team GB will essentially be unless the authorities further decide there must be an even quota of players from each of the four home nations). He is as proud a Scotsman as they come and his only interest is Manchester United and Scotland…in fact, he loves to knock the English national side and, like all Scots, is happiest when they get a good hiding. No, Fergie is not the man for this particular mission (impossible).       So, who should manage the team, then? Well, let’s assume that Argentina, Brazil or Portugal dominate (like they usually do), the best England (sorry Team GB) can hope for is to reach the quarter finals (like they usually did until Capello became boss).       So why not give it to someone who will at least make our presence off the field bigger and better than the rest, even if we aren’t as good on the field?       Someone who will grab us the limelight by virtue of him being the most famous footballing face in the world and, indeed, one of the most famous people in the world.        Yes, step forward…David Beckham! OK, he’s no Sir Alex, but he’ll give us some much needed aura, he’s a better bet than Stuart Pearce (who is prickly and dull as well as not up to the job) and he knows all the England (sorry Team GB) players better than anyone…he should do, he was part of the team up to last year’s World Cup.        And what of the likely Team GB line-up for the Olympics? Eight Englishmen, two Welshman (Bale and Ramsey), one Scot (Darren Fletcher) and no Northern Irishmen.         Team United Kingdom? Team Disunited Kingdom more like… WHY SIR ALEX FERGUSON WON’T MANAGE THE BRITISH FOOTBALL TEAM AT NEXT YEAR’S OLYMPICS…   ….SO GIVE THE JOB TO DAVID BECKHAM!   A match report for the Weekly Sport by Frank Worrall.   WATCHING England stumble to a 1-0 victory over Wales at Wembley the other night got me thinking about the prospects of Team GB at next year’s Olympics in London. The Welsh and the English, along with the Scots and Northern Irish, have been invited to take part in a unified UK team – although only the English are keen to do so. The other three home nations are against the idea, fearing it could lead to them ultimately losing their right to take part as separate,  individual countries in FIFA competitions in years to come.        I can understand those fears given the lunacy of the FIFA power brokers, headed by the king of the asylum, Sepp Blatter. But I can also understand the feelings of young players within the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish teams who would give anything to play for Team GB on such a stage. In particular, I am thinking of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey of Wales, who both caused so many problems for Fabio Capello’s England at Wembley last Tuesday.      I am also convinced that those young men will be able to achieve their dream, despite the misgivings of their nation’s FA bosses. International law and freedom of movement and trade make it inevitable that they will be able to take part, if they so desire. And they do desire, and understandably so. Wales have not qualified for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup – and similar failings by Scotland and Northern Ireland explain why their players would also probably jump at the chance of appearing in a major international finals (such as the Olympics) given the chance.     The only real problem I can envisage is when the manager of Team GB chooses the majority of his players from England…with a couple from Wales, one from Scotland and none from Northern Ireland! That, more than any quibbling over whether their players should have refused to take part, is likely to cause the biggest headlines in the papers. No doubt there will be accusations of favouritism and discrimination against the manager.      Which, rather conveniently, brings us to the subject of just who that manager should be. The smart money is on Stuart Pearce, the man in charge of England’s Under 21s, being the chosen one…basically because he has been in charge of England’s Under 21s and he is, well, available for the role. Indeed he has canvassed heartily for it.       But is he any good? Put simply…no, he is not good enough, not up to the job and shouldn’t even be boss of England’s Under 21s if truth be told. Remember when Kevin Keegan was the manager of England from 1999-2000? All pumped up passion, hand on heart, but no tactical nous. Well, Pearce is the modern version but has even less tactical know-how judging by his results with the recent golden boys of the Under 21s and when he managed Manchester City (disastrously). Flip charts do not make you a tactical genius, neither does looking all grim and serious (and trying to look super intelligent).      No, the obvious candidate for the job is Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. But he does not want the job. Why? Well, would you want to choose a Team GB squad that contained only one name from your Scottish homeland? (Darren Fletcher). No, you would feel embarrassed and maybe that you had betrayed your country. Fergie is no fool; why would he want to manage England (which is what Team GB will essentially be unless the authorities further decide there must be an even quota of players from each of the four home nations). He is as proud a Scotsman as they come and his only interest is Manchester United and Scotland…in fact, he loves to knock the English national side and, like all Scots, is happiest when they get a good hiding. No, Fergie is not the man for this particular mission (impossible).       So, who should manage the team, then? Well, let’s assume that Argentina, Brazil or Portugal dominate (like they usually do), the best England (sorry Team GB) can hope for is to reach the quarter finals (like they usually did until Capello became boss).       So why not give it to someone who will at least make our presence off the field bigger and better than the rest, even if we aren’t as good on the field?       Someone who will grab us the limelight by virtue of him being the most famous footballing face in the world and, indeed, one of the most famous people in the world.        Yes, step forward…David Beckham! OK, he’s no Sir Alex, but he’ll give us some much needed aura, he’s a better bet than Stuart Pearce (who is prickly and dull as well as not up to the job) and he knows all the England (sorry Team GB) players better than anyone…he should do, he was part of the team up to last year’s World Cup.        And what of the likely Team GB line-up for the Olympics? Eight Englishmen, two Welshman (Bale and Ramsey), one Scot (Darren Fletcher) and no Northern Irishmen.         Team United Kingdom? Team Disunited Kingdom more like… follow the Weekly Sport on Twitter join the  Weekly Sport on Facebook forward the Weekly Sport to a friend  Copyright © Independent News Ltd.  2011 Independent News Ltd., 'Weekly Sport' and 'WeeklySport.co.uk' are legal and registered trading names of Independent News Ltd. All rights reserved. As a Weekly Sport reader you qualify for our free sporting news commentaries, updates and special offers. If you should wish to unsubscribe at any time simply press the tab. Our mailing address is: Independent News Ltd. Studio C, 41 Edith Grove London, England SW10 0LB Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list  update subscription preferences

Tip for the Top Job?

Weekly Sport is owned and published in the UK and Eire by Independent News Ltd.  The title was launched by a team of  journalists keen to create a tabloid suitable for all the family.     As such, the Weekly Sport aims to provide genuine sports news coverage throughout the Olympic year and to offer our readers intelligent editorial commentary on current news.   It is hoped that this will continue to expand as a long term positive media project, and help to restore the lost integrity of the red top and its central part in our popular British culture.       FRANKIE SAYS; "THIS JUAN DOES MATA!  ... TO BOTH FERNANDO TORRES AND CHELSEA’S HOPES OF REGAINING THE PREMIER LEAGUE..."  ... and   TIPPED FOR THE TOP - ANCELOTTI TO BE NEXT ENGLAND BOSS? Your latest Weekly Sport news commentaries direct from Frank Worrall FINALLY, after a mish-mash of signings and a transfer policy with little obvious calculation or foresight, Chelsea buy a player who can seriously improve their team. Yes, Juan Mata is just the man they need and, even at £29million, could prove the essential catalyst to spark the brilliant but currently underachieving Fernando Torres into life.   Mata showed his potential when he came on as a sub at Stamford Bridge for the Blues last weekend, scoring a late goal to mark his debut,  Of course, the former Valencia star was already on the radar as one to watch after his performances for the Spanish national team and Spain’s triumphant U21 side in the Euros just gone.   But it is the potential he brings to boost Torres that is the key to his signing for Chelsea. Both former manager Carlo Ancelotti and current incumbent Andre Villas-Boas have tried and failed to find a suitable foil for Fernando – Anelka, Drogba and Kalou have all been unsuccessful.      The answer was there all the time – and full credit to Villas-Boas for seeing it and seizing it. When at Liverpool, Torres functioned best when paired with Steven Gerrard directly behind him. Now he has the chance to replicate his most deadly form with a similar pairing – with Mata just behind him. And, of course, it will help that he is a fellow countryman, and someone who knows, and is clever enough a player to use that knowledge, just how Torres operates best.    Lumping Torres up front with another big man like Drogba was never going to work. It needed someone smaller and with more guile – a Spanish Gerard if you like, yes, a Juan Mata. As the Daily Mirror pointed out today, when Mata scored on Saturday he became  the 26th Spaniard to do so in the Premier League since it formed, and those players have managed 232 goals between them. And guess who tops the pile with 66? Fernando Torres, of course…so the new partnership with Mata bodes extremely well for both Spaniards and Villas-Boas’s hopes of seeing out more than a season at the Bridge.   Other recent buys by the Blues leave me puzzled, though. Why spend £18million on Belgian wonderkid Romelu Lukaku when you have Torres there? At 18, Lukaku may one day be the new Drogba – but is he going to forge any better a partnership with Torres than Drogba did? And why is he needed if Mata is going to be the man who works with Torres? Unless the plan is to dispose of Torres within a season or two?      Too many questions and no answers…it just doesn’t make any real sense.      As neither does the signing of Barca reject Oriol Romeu, a defensive midfielder. OK, he is young and has potential, but would Barca have let him go if he was that good? And, assuming he is going to be that good, what’s the point of allowing the Spanish giants to have a buy-back clause inserted in the deal?      Barca get the best of both worlds – their player educated in London because he is not good enough for their first team, but the safety net of a buy-back just in case he does manage to make the grade!       I feel Villas-Boas could also have cleared out some dead wood from the Bridge – like Kalou and Ferreira – and strengthened the squad with superior replacements. My gut feeling is that Chelsea will struggle to finish in the top two of the Premier League this term – Man United and Man City look shoo-ins – and that they will also find it tough going in the Champions League with United, City and the Spanish duo of Barca and Real Madrid looming large.    But if Mata forms as deadly a partnership with Torres as Gerrard did at Liverpool, you never know. The Blues could still come through…      And there could be a shock at the end of the season – again linked with Chelsea – when the new England boss is announced. Current boss Fabio Capello will definitely leave his post after the Euro 2012 finals in June and the favourite to take the reigns from him is Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.      But I am told by a source at the FA that former Chelsea gaffer Carlo Ancelotti is also in the running! Ancelotti is currently on a year out of football – more specifically English football – because of a clause in his £6.5million pay-off deal agreed by Chelsea.      But I am also told that Ancelotti is desperate to get back into English football and has already thrown his hat into the ring to succeed Capello. The thought of another Italian running the English national team might not be to everyone’s taste – especially after Capello flopped so badly in last year’s World Cup finals.   Yet Ancelotti has admirers within the FA and within English football as a whole. Unlike Capello, he speaks perfect English and he is much more of a modern, ‘in-tune’ guy rather than a regimented sergeant-major type. Plus his sacking at Chelsea was incomprehensible given that he won the double the year before – and his track record as boss at Chelsea and previously AC Milan (where he twice won them the Champions League) is miles better than that of Redknapp, Roy Hodgson or any of the other wannabe England managers.     Ancelotti to take over from Capello? Remember where you read it first... follow the Weekly Sport on Twitter join the  Weekly Sport on Facebook forward the Weekly Sport to a friend  Copyright © Independent News Ltd.  2011 Independent News Ltd., 'Weekly Sport' and 'WeeklySport.co.uk' are legal and registered trading names of Independent News Ltd. All rights reserved. As a Weekly Sport reader you qualify for our free sporting news commentaries, updates and special offers. If you should wish to unsubscribe at any time simply press the tab. Our mailing address is: Independent News Ltd. Studio C, 41 Edith Grove London, England SW10 0LB Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list  update subscription preferences

Weekly Sport - news bulletin!

Weekly Sport is owned and published in the UK and Eire by Independent News Ltd.  The project was launched by a team of former tabloid journalists who met via church groups - theMediaNet, HTB Brompton and various UK betterment programmes - all keen to create a traditional style red top that was ethical, interesting and inclusive.     As such, the Weekly Sport aims to provide genuine sports news coverage throughout the Olympic year and to offer our readers intelligent editorial comment on current news.   It is hoped that this will continue to expand as a long term positive media project, and help to restore the lost integrity of the red top and its central part in our popular British culture.   AN EYE FOR AN EYE: HOW IDIOTIC JOSE MOURINHO KILLED OFF HIS BIGGEST DREAM…TO MANAGE MAN UNITED  An exclusive report by Frank Worrall   JOSE MOURINHO has, naturally, yet again been monopolising the sporting headlines across Europe. Unfortunately, yet again, they have been for all the wrong reasons – and may prove fatal for his career. Following on from the now inevitable run-ins with referees, fellow managers, players and authority, the Portuguese recently dropped a terrible clanger when he decided to have a go at gouging the eye of Barcelona assisant coach Tito Vilanova.      The angry gesture followed the defeat of Mourinho’s Real Madrid side to La Liga champions Barcelona during the Spanish Super Cup. Mourinho was clearly feeling the stress of not being able to get the better of Pep Guardiola’s team of geniuses and lost his rag (and his head).       It was a cowardly move; one hardly befitting the coach of one of the world’s three super clubs (the others being Barca and Manchester United). It was a disgusting move, it was a move that did Mourinho only harm and blackened the name of Real Madrid and all that famous club stands for. It was a move that shamed both manager and football club. And what an atrocious example to set for children who follow the so-called beautiful game throughout the world.    It also emphasised the belief that Mourinho, so often the master manager in England and Italy, was now struggling for the first time in his star-spangled career. The man for whom success seemed a given at Chelsea and Inter Milan was now becoming frustrated at his obvious inability to translate the same golden touch in Spain.      Mourinho, the man who had always been in the right place at the right time, from his wonderful beginnings at Porto to Stamford Bridge to the San Siro, had dropped an almighty clanger by heading to Spain at the wrong moment. He hadn’t thought it through enough: he had assumed, as you would if you had a monster ego like Mourinho, that he would simply clean up in Spain like he had done elsewhere.   In that sense, he was a fool betrayed by his own foolish ego.   He hadn’t grasped the basic fact that however much money he spent at Madrid, or how many different ways he tried to manipulate refs, players, managers or the footballing authorities, he would not be able to halt the juggernaut known as FC Barcelona. The juggernaut that was racing towards him at 100mph and would run him over, leaving him desolate, depressed, disillusioned and, ultimately, beaten.     The fact is this: Barcelona are simply too good for Real Madrid, indeed they are simply too good for any club side at the moment. So Mourinho is banging his head against a brick wall, and now he knows it, and that is why he is resorting to tactics that threaten to derail his career for good.       The simple fact of the matter now is this: the night Jose tried to gouge the eye of Vilanova, he not only lost respect in Spain, but he also crushed his own ultimate dream. Of following Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United. Before the incident, there was probably still an 80 per cent chance that Jose would have eventually walked into the Old Trafford manager’s office. But after it? No chance, not even one per cent.       There is no way that the world-famous football club would even entertain the idea of employing a man who tried to gouge out another man’s eye: it is simply too disreputable. Can you imagine Sir Bobby Charlton looking him in the eye (if you will excuse the turn of phrase) and saying ‘You’re very welcome here Jose’? Of course not, and Sir Bobby’s view counts for a hell of a lot at the Theatre of Dreams.    Has Mourinho realised the self-harm his gouging action has caused? I am sure he has, and it is the thought of having now wrecked his hopes of the United job that has added to his misery and disenchantment. Not only has he failed to dislodge Barca from their throne, but he has killed off his own No 1 ambition of ascending the throne at United.      What a fall from grace for one of the most colourful – and undoubtedly talented – managers and characters in the game. Mourinho’s options would now seem severely limited after Madrid. It is difficult to see another top English team wanting him – or him wanting them. They will all be frightened of his smeared reputation and the potential damage he could cause to their club’s reputation. Would any club be willing to gamble with him? Maybe he will return back to Inter Milan, or opt for international management with Portugal.       But how I bet he now wishes he could turn back the clock and erase the act that has so emphatically brought down the curtain on his dream. It is a sad ending, but it is also hard to feel sad for Jose Mourinho. He has had the good times and now he is set for the footballing equivalent of skid row: all because he was the idiotic architect of his own downfall.  An eye for an eye, indeed… follow the Weekly Sport on Twitter join the  Weekly Sport on Facebook forward the Weekly Sport to a friend  Copyright © Independent News Ltd. 2011 *|LIST:COMPANY|*, 'Weekly Sport' and 'WeeklySport.co.uk' are legal and registered trading names of Independent News Ltd. All rights are reserved. *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|*  unsubscribe from this list  update subscription preferences