How will the African nations fair in the the 2014 World Cup?

When the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) announced in May 2010 that the African Cup of Nations was to be held in odd-numbered years in an attempt to contain the poor performances of the nations representing Africa in the World Cup from 2013 onwards, there was inevitably a sense of both hope and sadness across the continent.

Hope would have definitely been the underlying feeling within many of Africa's leading footballing nations. For years, much had been expected of sides such as Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, at the biggest stage of world football over the past decade, with reputable footballing figures such as Samuel Eto'o, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Didier Drogba originating from each of the four respective countries. Never in the history of the World Cup has a country belonging to the African continent made it to a semi-final. Ghana were harshly eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-final stage on penalties in the last tournament. With no African Nations Cup scheduled  over the course of the next two months, it is now hoped that the continent's four premier nation's, along with Algeria, who will make their fourth World Cup appearance, will make a better account of themselves at this summer's finals in Brazil.

At the other end of the spectrum following CAF's announcement more than three years ago now, was ultimately a sense of sadness, too. Last year the Nations Cup, which was won by Nigeria in South Africa, was the first time the tournament  had not been played in an even-numbered year since the fifth inception of the tournament in 1965. Up until Nigeria had sealed their qualification to this summer's competition by comfortably seeing of Ethiopia last month, it had been nine years since the African Nations champions had qualified for the world cup- when Tunisia saw off Morocco in Tunisia in 2004 (and even that edition of the African Nations was not played in the same year as the World Cup).

This dismaying statistic should be met with particular anguish amongst Egyptians. Undeniably the most successful team in the continent of the 2000's, capturing an unprecedented three African Nations cups in a row, in 2006, 2008, and 2010, it seems a great shame that one of Africa's most  successful teams seem highly unlikely to be denied the fortuity to showcase their capabilities to the world. Key players who had propelled the country to such heavenly and historic heights, Mohamed Aboutrika, Ahmed Hassan and Wael Gomaa have now retired from international football, in the case of Aboutrika and Hassan, or, in Gomaa's case at 38 years old, has very limited time representing his country.

Nevertheless, there is one thing that Egyptians, and the rest of the African nations not participating in Brazil possess that no other continent seem to have, a sense of unity- the 'spirit of Africa' which was experienced in the 2010 World Cup when Ghana were a goal-line clearance (regardless of how legitimate Luis Suarez's interception was) and the width of a crossbar away from reaching the semi-finals, before succumbing to Uruguay via penalties. It is this spirit which is expected to provide the additional boost for impressive performances from Africa's representatives next summer. Below is a breakdown in more detail on how each nation shape up ahead of the World Cup between 12th June to 13th July.

Cameroon

Having won the African Nations Cup four times and qualified for the FIFA World Cup seven times, more than any other team in their continent, Cameroon are one of Africa's most prominent teams. Hence the reason why it is quite bewildering that the team known as Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions) have only made it out of the group stage of the competition once, in 1990, when they became the first African team to reach the quarter-final, ultimately succumbing to England in extra time.     

Roger Milla was the star for Cameroon in that competition, and went onto become not just a Cameroonian icon (he already was one), but Africa's most recognised footballer and an unmistakable character universally too. He was named one of the 125 greatest living footballers in 2004 by the Brazilian football legend Pele.

That accolade has long been taken over by Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon's favourite son. Eto'o's achievements is unrivalled in world football let alone Africa. At club level Eto'o has been honoured with fifteen winners medals, which includes three UEFA Champions League honours, three La Liga titles, winning the Scudetto with Inter Milan as well as the FIFA Club World Cup with Inter as well. With the Cameroonian international team, Eto'o has won the African Cup of Nations twice back in 2000 and 2002, and an Olympic Gold Medal in Sydney, also in 2000. He has won the African Player of the Year four times. In addition to being named top scorer of the tournament twice in 2006 and 2008, and the competition's all-time highest scorer, Eto'o is his nation's third most-capped player, after Rigobert Song and Geremi Njitap, with 114 caps, and, inimitably, Cameroon's all-time top scorer with 55 goals. Records aside however, and most importantly to Cameroon, Eto'o remains Les Lions Indomptables talisman.

Despite his powers slightly appearing to be on the wane when playing for Chelsea, the 32 year-old is still Cameroon's best player. Over the past two years Eto'o has developed an 'on and off' relationship with the Federation Camerounaise de Football, Cameroon's footballing federation, following a series of events which commenced in December 2011, when he was banned by the board for fifteen games, after the team refused to play a friendly against Algeria earlier that year, Eto'o was seen as the instigator in that particular case and undoubtedly contributed to Cameroon's inconsistent form over the last two years and their absence from the last two African Cup of Nations in 2012 and 2013.

Controversies aside, it is very hard to see Eto'o and his team-mates replicate the awe-inspiring form of Roger Milla and company 24 years ago. Cameroon are grouped with hosts Brazil, and face stern encounters with Mexico and Croatia. Emerging from that group seems almost impossible when you consider Cameroon's opponents and their form over the past couple of years.

The appointment of the German football manager, Volker Finke, in May of last year, as well as the nous of Eto'o and other experienced players in Jean Makoun, Alex Song and Pierre Webo are essential in order to compliment the fine talents of Nicolas N'Koulou, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik and Vincent Aboubakar, if Cameroon are to have any chance of reaching the last 16 of the World Cup for only the second time.      

Ivory Coast

Whereas Egypt was the most successful African team of the past decade conquering the continent three times in a row, Ivory Coast were (and arguably still are) unquestionably the most gifted. Having endured the pain of losing two of the last five African Cup of Nations finals by penalties to Egypt in 2006, and then, heartbrokenly to Zambia (losing 8-7) in 2012, time is running out on Didier Drogba, Didier Zokora, Kolo Toure and Yaya Toure, all of whom are on the wrong side of their thirties, if they are to make a forceful impact in world football.

In all fairness, the The Elephants- have been unfortunately drawn in the 'group of death' in the last two World Cups. In their first appearance in the tournament in 2006, and under the guidance of the former French midfielder, Henri Michel,  they were drawn alongside international heavyweights Argentina and the Netherlands, as well as Serbia and Montenegro, ending third and four points of second spot. Then in 2010, and this time led by Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Ivorians were grouped with one of the favourites Brazil, along with Portugal, and debutants North Korea, this time only a point shy of a place in the next round.

This time under the tutelage of Sabri Lamouchi, the Elephants have the chance to make the final 16 of the competition for the first time in their third attempt, though it would not be easy. Colombia, Japan and Greece await them, and although the Ivorians are faced with a slightly simpler task compared to the groups they were sectioned in the other two occasions, qualification would still remain a splendid accomplishment. Columbia, with the likes of Radamel Falcao, Fredy Guarin and James Rodriguez, Japan, with Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda, and Greece, who possess the free-scoring Olympiakos hitman, Kostas Mitroglou, will all be tough tests for the Ivory Coast.

Colombia should prove too strong for the three other sides and are predicted by many to top the group. Conversely, Greece, are seen by many as the underdogs and are expected to end last. That would leave Ivory Coast and Japan to contend with each other for second place. The two nations face each other in their first games of the tournament on 14th June, a contest which has quietly been anticipated by neutrals since the draws for the World Cup were made earlier this month. It is a match which sees Ivory Coast's athleticism come up against Japan's technicians- brawn versus brain.

For the Elephants to progress from this group, the qualities and experience of Drogba, Zokora and the Toure brothers who make up the spine of the Ivorian team are essential and must be inherent in order to compliment the exuberance and enthusiasm of Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Cheick Tiote, in which their  creativity, guile and aggression will very much be integral to Ivory Coast's cause if they are to progress.    

Nigeria

Amidst the ongoing internal bickering between Nigeria's head coach Stephen Keshi and the Nigerian Football Federation over the former's accusations of unpaid salary throughout much of last year, 2013 has been a very fruitful year for Nigerian football in general. In February, the senior team captured the nation's third African Cup of Nations trophy with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in Johannesburg. This was then followed by the nation's fourth triumph of the FIFA U-17 world championships last month, defeating Mexico 3-0 at the United Arab Emirates. Nigerians all around the globe will be hoping for further improvement at the finals next year.

This will be the country's fifth appearance at the World Cup having not progressed further than the last 16 in any of their previous four appearances. Their performance in the last World Cup was personified by Yakubu Aiyegbini's astonishing four yard miss against South Korea in a match they had to win to avoid expulsion from the group stage. One of the most shocking moments in World Cup history.

This time around, Keshi's men hope to go one step further. Grouped with Iran, World Cup debutants Bosnia and Herzegovina, and two-time champions Argentina, there is renewed optimism that the Super Eagles can clinch qualification from Group F, where Argentina, whom Nigeria have now been drawn in the same group with in Nigeria's last three appearances in the finals, are expected to win the group with considerable ease. Iran should prove to be stubborn, but negotiable opponents, meaning Nigeria's game with Bosnia, who boast the talents of Manchester City's Edin Dzeko and midfield starlet Miralem Pjanic (who is in stunning  form for Roma in Serie A), on the 21st June 2014 should become the defining fixture for both nation's respective hopes of reaching the next round of the competition.

If Nigeria are to qualify for the last 16 of the world cup, much will be expected of the Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel and Fenerbahce frontman, Emmanuel Emenike. In Keshi's favoured, high tempo, counter-attacking, 4-2-3-1 system, Mikel plays as the most advanced of Keshi's three midfielders, the linchpin in an attacking midfield role, dissimilar to his role for his club side positioned as a holding midfielder patrolling Chelsea's back four.

The powerful yet enigmatic, Emmanuel Emenike, is unquestionably Nigeria's premier marksman. However, for, the Fenerbahce striker to be in top form, much is dependent on the service he receives from Mikel behind him, and the flanks. Though, Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa and Brown Ideye are all blessed with searing pace and that sense of unpredictably to beat an opponent, all three have the propensity to perform consistently inconsistent in the green and white jersey, with their inability to pick the right pass and deliver a telling end product being their major hindrance.

If Nigeria are to advance to the second round of the World Cup, Mikel and Emenike will have to be on top of their games.  

Ghana

Apart from the 3.3 million or so citizens living in Uruguay, it is very uncommon to meet any other football fan that felt Luis Suarez's self-proclaimed "save of the tournament", had deprived not just Ghana, but a continent home to a billion people the cherished opportunity of a African football team advancing through to the last four of sport's second biggest international event after the Olympics.

Late in the second half of extra time in this quarter-final match-up, and with the score tied at 1-1, full-back John Paintsil sent an outswinging free-kick from 30 yards out into the box; Suarez blocked Stephen Appiah's resultant shot on the goal-line. The former then blocked Dominic Ayidiah's following goal-bound header with his right hand to save what would have been the game's winner and was consequently sent off. Asamoah Gyan then agonisingly hit the crossbar with the ensuing penalty, with a relieved Suarez, who stopped to watch, cheerfully celebrating the miss before heading down the tunnel. Ghana, seemingly severely psychologically affected by the drama that occurred a few minutes earlier, lost on penalties to the Uruguayans 4-2. This was the most memorable moment of the 2010 World Cup.

It is often forgotten that, notwithstanding the event that occurred in Soccer City, Johannesburg, Ghana had performed appreciably in the last World Cup. Outperforming their African counterparts for the second time in a row, as they did in their first World Cup appearance in 2006, when they made it out of a  group that had contained Czech Republic (who's team included more than a few of the remnants that had performed so earnestly in the European championships reaching the semi-finals a couple of years before), the United States, and the eventual winners, Italy, Ghana were finally knocked out by a Ronaldo-inspired Brazil in the second round.

If Ghana are to advance through to the group stages and into the last sixteen for the third successive time, they will have to somehow negotiate their way through a very tricky group. One that consists of one of the pre-tournament favourites, Germany, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, and the United States, a nation Ghana will encounter for the third World Cup in a row, having also defeated them in 2010 after extra time in their second round clash.

 Ghana's midfield, with distinguished names such as Michael Essien, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng will have to perform to the best of their abilities in order to thwart German, Portuguese and American opposition. Boateng is arguably the key player for the Black Stars occupying the no.10 role behind Asamoah Gyan. Critics both within and outside Ghana have questioned the Schalke midfielder's motives having only come out of international exile in November to play in the second leg of the World Cup qualification play-off match against Egypt in Cairo. Before then, the last time the 26-year-old Berlin-born midfielder had represented Ghana was in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo in October 2010.

It is hoped that Boateng, along with the aforementioned experienced midfielders and other quality players who are central to the Black Stars cause, Gyan, Andre Ayew and his younger brother, Jordan, will also have to bring out their best form in order to give Ghana a decent chance of reaching the last sixteen for a third consecutive time.    

Algeria

The one-time African Nations Cup winners and Egypt's fiercest rivals will be making their fourth appearance in the World Cup having not progressed any further than the group stage. In the last World Cup, Algeria were drawn with the United States and Slovenia, and nullified England into a goalless draw in Cape Town, much to the frustration of Wayne Rooney whom infamously shouted towards an advancing cameraman voicing his displeasure at hearing supposed "loyal supporters" booing his England teammates.

More stubbornness will be required by the Algerians in Group H if they are to restrict Belgium, Russia and South Korea, but finishing last for the second consecutive time in the World Cup seems their most likely position.

The former Rangers defender and current captain of Algeria, Madjid Bougherra, is the keystone to the side. Bougherra, who now plies his trade for the Qatari side, Lekhwiya Sports Club, lays the basic foundation to coach Vahid Halilhodzic's team and will be heavily influential in their attempts to frustrate the seemingly inevitable onslaught that will come from the Belgians, Russians and South Koreans. Djamel Mesbah, formerly of AC Milan, and now playing for Parma, naturally an attacking full-back who often looks positionally perplexed when it comes to defending, will ought to have his hands full fending off the attacking threats of Kevin Mirallas for Belgium, presumably Vladimir Bystrov for Russia, and South Korea's Lee Chung-Yong.

In 2010, Algeria failed to score a single goal in the group stages. Les Fennecs, (meaning the Fennec Foxes, the national animal of Algeria), will be reliant on the creativity of Valencia winger Sofiane Feghouli, and the Inter Milan pair, Saphir Taider and Ishak Belfodil. All three players are relatively inexperienced at international level and represent the future of Algerian football. Nevertheless, the nation is heavily dependent on them to provide the goals for their nation. Making an impact at this World Cup for the trio, Belfoldil and Taider particularly, seems a little premature however.

Are Andre Berto's Days as a top rank fighter now over?

It was just over five years ago when Andre Berto landed the WBC Welterweight title that Floyd Mayweather had vacated following his two-year hiatus from boxing after his defeat of Ricky Hatton in December 2007. By defeating his opponent, the Mexican, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, by way of technical knockout in the seventh round of the contest at the FedExForum Arena in Memphis, Tennessee, Berto was predicted to become a dominating force in the 147-pound division.

Berto's elevation seemed destined for greatness. Growing up in Winter Haven, Florida, a city prided for its history of producing successful sportsmen such as the four-time NBA all-star and Olympic gold medallist, Otis Birdsong, three-time Olympic gold-medal swimmer, Rowdy Gaines and Olympic gold medal sprinter Kenneth Brockenburr, the script was made for Berto to become another successful athlete from the city. Like many African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans who enter boxing, Berto, nicknamed 'The Beast', was reared in a working-class family, one of seven children to Dieseul and Wilnise Berto, both of whom had migrated from Haiti in the 1970s. 

Hailing from a family embellished with MMA fighters, his father Dieseul competed in mixed-martial arts in Japan, his older brother James, dubbed the 'Little Tiger' was the former Real Fighting Championship Lightweight Champion whilst his younger sister, Revelina 'Nana' Berto, was a previously undefeated mixed martial arts contender for Real Fighting Championship, Andre, was supposed to be the exceptional anomaly to all of them.

Berto has always had raw talent in abundance. Blessed with lightning hand speed, astounding athleticism and explosive punching power, Berto entered his fight with Rodriguez boasting an unblemished record. Winning all of his 21 bouts, eighteen of them coming by way of knockout,  defeating creditable fighters such as David Estrada (who had been in the ring with boxing legend 'Sugar' Shane Mosley and the tenacious Puerto Rican, Kermit Cintron) and Cosme Rivera by technical knockout and unanimous decision respectively, en route to his fight with Rodriquez.

The Rodriguez fight duel followed the same pattern. Berto quickly asserting control of the contest with his incisively rapid left-hand jabs and one-two combinations, exerting his power on a bigger welterweight in Rodriguez who stands at 5 ft 11. The then 24-year old was ahead in most rounds according to the three judges at the time before Berto closed the show with a mortifying uppercut to the jaw of his Mexican opponent early on in the seventh round before the referee, Laurence Cole, stopped the fight later on in the round due to the unforgiving hammering the Floridian had inflicted on Rodriguez, to become world champion.  

But despite his fledgling career in a welterweight division that had included fine boxers such as Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Zab Judah and Paul Williams to name a few, doubts over his defense and his seemingly one-dimensional approach in all his bouts had always been a concern despite his imposing power and tremendous athleticism. 

Queries over Berto's defence had initially registered after his wins over Estrada and Rivera and these doubts continued after unrewarding victories over good, but not formidable adversaries in Steve Forbes, Luiz Collazo and Carlos Quintana to preserve his unbeaten record and retain his WBC Welterweight title.

Then, on what was suppose to be the biggest fight of his career, Andre Berto was scheduled to clash Shane Mosley in a unification bout for the WBA and WBC Welterweight titles on 30th January 2010. In what would have been one of the highest contested fights of that calender year, Berto pulled out twelve days before the fight after the catastrophic and distressingly ruinous events that occurred as a result of the Haitian earthquake that was measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, leaving hundreds of thousands civilians dead, including several of Berto's family members, therefore leaving Berto "mentally and physically exhausted" and with no choice but to withdraw from his bout with Mosley. Fortunately, his sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived the disaster, though they too were left homeless.   

Berto returned to the ring registering the first round stoppage of Freddy Hernandez. However, in his next contests, Berto came up short against proficient southpaws Victor Ortiz (a fight that was named The Ring magazine's 'Fight of the Year' for 2011 with four ruled knockdowns) and Robert Guerrero. In these two defeats, Berto's weakness in defense and his one-dimensional 'come-forward' style were badly exposed by Ortiz and Guerrero, both of whom are more elegant welterweight competitors compared to Quintana, Collazo, Forbes and other opponents Berto had dispatched with relative consummate ease. In the Guerrero fight, a grueling match which left Berto with both eyes swollen shut, and Guerrero's right eye closed, Berto adopted the 'shoulder-roll' defense perfected expertly by Floyd Mayweather, to inadequate effect. 

His surprise loss to Mexican, Jesus Soto-Karass, at San Antonio, Texas, on 27th July 2013, is undoubtedly the nadir of his nine-year professional career. Having loss to Ortiz and Guerrero, the pressure was on the Beast to not just emerge triumphant over Soto-Karass, but to do so in a stylish manner that befitted his record. He injured his right shoulder in the fourth round, yet coming into the final round, was leading just about ahead on the scorecards. Fighting with one arm, but only requiring to see out the remaining minute of the bout, Berto's tendency to come forward proved to be his nemesis once again, walking into a left-hand by the Mexican that dropped the Haitian-American, thus ending the fight. Now Berto has three losses in his last four fights.

Despite the ineffectiveness of the shoulder-roll defense against Guerrero, and a new trainer in Virgil Hunter, an expert in defensive coaching, who has reignited Amir Khan's career and has played a major contribution in making unbeaten WBA (Super) and The Ring Super-Middleweight champion, Andre Ward, an accomplished fighter, Berto is in desperate need of Hunter significantly bettering the former's defensive skills and awareness if Berto is to become a force in the Welterweight division again. 

Amir Khan was in a similar position to Berto this time last year losing surprisingly to Danny Garcia, the WBC, WBA (Super) and The Ring Magazine Light-Welterweight Champion, having lossed to Lamont Peterson via a contentious split decision in his previous fight. Nevertheless, Khan put himself back in the talent-rich light-welterweight division with wins over Carlos Molina and Juan Diaz, with a proposed fight against Devon Alexander pencilled in for December this year.  


The problem Berto has is that unlike Khan who is 26 now, age is not on Berto's side. He turns 30 in September, and the appointment of Virgil Hunter did not seem to have any telling difference in terms of eradicating Berto's defensive vulnerabilities. With another lengthy lay-off anticipated due to the injured shoulder he suffered in his disheartening comeback fight with Soto-Karass, it would be interesting to see where Berto goes from here. He remains adamant that he would not retire, but with no marquee boxers expected to fight him unless he makes a remarkable and notable upturn in form, are Andre Berto's days as a top-rank fighter now over? 

Does the injection of money into football clubs by foreign owners always grant success?

"QPR is a raw diamond and hopefully I can contribute into turning it into a diamond". These were the exciting and trusting words of Tony Fernandes upon his arrival at Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 2011. The then Rangers manager Neil Warnock described Fernandes' takeover as a "momentous" occasion for the west London club. QPR had achieved promotion from the Championship three months earlier, going up as champions.

From a business perspective, the takeover of QPR made complete sense for Tony Fernandes. Born in Malaysia, Fernandes was educated at the famed Epsom College for four years before graduating at the London School of Economics in 1987. Standing as the proud owner of Asia's largest low-fare airline, Air Asia, as well as the boss of the Caterham Formula One Racing Team, the deal that enabled the 48-year-old tycoon's increment of QPR seemingly pointed sharply towards a hasty ascent up the Premier League table.

All those optimistic hopes amongst the fans that the club could be transformed into a side competing for a possible Europa League spot as well as a successful run in at least one of the domestic cup competitions this season have proved strikingly contrapositive. Languishing second bottom in the table with a meagre 24 points from 33 games, and seven points away from safety, QPR are almost consigned to facing the ignominy of relegation. Under Fernandes' reign thus far, QPR have had three managers (Warnock, Mark Hughes and the current manager, Harry Redknapp), but more astonishingly, they have signed an incredible twenty-three players within the space of 21 months. Their highest earner, Christopher Samba, signed from the nouveau-riche outfit Anzhi Makhachkala for £12 million, is on an exorbitant £100k a week. These figures illustrates both the embarrassment of riches Rangers have at their disposal but also how alarming it is to find the side in the position they are deeply entrenched in. This prompts the question; does the injection of money into football clubs by foreign owners always grant success?

The case of Portsmouth Football Club suggests it is anything but good. The club had garnered tangible success in the first decade of this century, achieving promotion as winners from what was then known as the First Division (it is now known as the Championship) in, ironically, Harry Redknapp's first season in charge of the South Coast club. In their first three seasons in the Premier League, the club had accomplished finishes of 13th, 16th, and 17th.

In January 2006, Portsmouth was bought by the French-Israeli businessman, Alexandre Gaydamak from Milan Mandaric, who had saved the club from the possible threat of liquidation in 1999, when the club fell into administration. Over the next couple of years, the Fratton Park side went on to sign several England international players including: Peter Crouch, the club's record signing at £11 million, Jermain Defoe, Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson and David James. The acquisition of players of this sort of calibre was rewarded by their triumphant run in the 2008 FA Cup final which concluded in their 1-0 defeat of Cardiff at the New Wembley Stadium, and a subsequent place in the 2008-09 UEFA Cup, where amongst others, they administered a memorable 2-2 draw at home to the second most successful team in European history, Italian giants, A.C. Milan. 

Fortunes changed for 'Pompey' after Redknapp left the club to join Tottenham in October 2008. In May 2009, Gaydamak sold the club to Sulaiman Al Fahim, a big-time operator from the United Arab Emirates. The following season saw Portsmouth littered with a multitude of financial problems. Several of their key players and top earners were sold, the players went two consecutive months without pay, the club were placed into administration for eight months (leading to a deduction of nine points) and their form suffered turbulently culminating in relegation to the Championship. The decline of Portsmouth has been alarming. The two years they spent in England's second tier was met with more worries, both on and off the pitch, with contractual disputes and the team's poor form, aided by a seriously depleted squad coming to the fore. 

Portsmouth is currently positioned 22nd in League One and face a stern battle to avoid the humiliation of relegation for what would be the third time in four seasons. Their squad consists solely of players who have been loaned, or are on short-term and non-contractual terms. The club continues to decline. 

Despite this proposition, the success Chelsea has amassed due to the takeover of foreign owners, suggests that spending plenty of money on a perfectly assembled squad does have its rewards. Extravagant spending in the first years of the Roman Abramovich era was complemented with back-to-back Premier League titles, two League Cups, and an FA Cup. Between 2008 and 2011, Abramovich, expertly nullified the extensive signings made during the Mourinho era with the purchase of players for moderate transfer fees. Under Luiz Felipe Scolari in the 2008-09 season, the club had only spent £24 million with the additions of Jose Bosingwa from FC Porto for £16.2 million and the former Barcelona playmaker Deco for £8 million. In the 2009-10 season, Chelsea spent £23 million on four players and was rewarded with both the Premier League and FA Cup titles. During the close season for the following campaign, Abramovich spent a further £31million before abandoning his restriction of cautious spending in January 2011 with the British record-breaking transfer of Fernando Torres from Liverpool for £50 million and Benfica's David Luiz for £21 million. 

This reluctance to spend excessive amounts of money on players for nearly three years was surely in relation to the UEFA Financial Fair Play Rules which will finally come into effect at the start of next season, this will prevent football clubs from spending more than they earn, which in turn means they avoid the threat of financial meltdown which could affect the long term survival of the team. However, Chelsea's figures in terms of revenue and debts since the Russian billionaire carefully managed his club’s transfer budget for two-and-a half seasons have been impressive. Since 2008, the club has not been faced with any external debt, and the yearly revenues they gather through their kit sponsors, Adidas and Samsung, as well the television money they receive (rising from £39.3 million in the 2006-07 season to £59.4 million in the 2011/12 campaign), continue to improve annually. This has been combined with sustained success throughout Abramovich's tenure. Chelsea have only had three out of ten campaigns without winning any silverware (excluding community shields) since the Russian magnate has been owner of the club.

In Germany, the '50+1' ownership rule, states that a club must retain at least 51% ownership, thus prohibiting foreign businessmen from assuming outright control of any of the country's clubs. This has proved highly successful with regards to the development of numerous young German players from different Bundesliga sides, and the influence it has had on the national team's resurgence as a world force. With the exception of perhaps Bayern Munich, none of the German clubs can boast the economic clout that numerous teams around continental Europe possess. During the winter transfer window for this season, for instance, the expenditure of sides from the Bundesliga was cast at £35.6 million. This, approximately, represents an astounding £93 million windfall compared to the Premier League's staggering expenditure of £128.7 million. The money spent by clubs in Germany's top division during January also represents a £63 million deficit on what teams from Russia's Premier Liga had lavished out on, and a further £33 million in comparison to clubs from Italy's Serie A. 

Out of all the German sides that are labelled the most 'fit and proper', Borussia Dortmund stands out as the most pronounced example. In 2005, Die Schwarzgelben (The Black Yellows), as they are devotedly referred to as, had fallen into bankruptcy, resulting in a 20% pay-cut to all players. Since then, the club has gradually reduced all its debts and has adopted a policy of selling cheap tickets and limiting the clubs season tickets to ensure every one of the city of Dortmund has a chance to see the game, with the away team only allocated 10% of Die Schwarzgelben's 81,000-seater Signal Iduna Park, the largest stadium in Germany. 

An improvement off the pitch has coincided with improvements on the pitch, with Die Schwarzgelben winning two consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Much of this is in relation to the emergence of the young players who have come through the ranks. Mario Gotze, Marco Reus (who returned to Dortmund from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer), Nuri Sahin and Marcel Schmelzer were all groomed at the club and have played a fundamental role in the renaissance of Die Schwarzgelben. This achievements they have experienced at grassroots level has been interspersed with the obtainment of cheap, marquee signings, in the recent past and present. Names such as Robert Lewandowski, Shinji Kagawa, Lucas Barrios, Neven Subotic, Mats Hummels and Lukasz Piszczek, all spring to mind. 

Dortmund are now potentially 180 minutes away from reaching their first Champions League final since their historic 3-1 win over a Juventus side starring Zinedine Zidane in Munich sixteen years ago. Their resurgence as a European heavyweight should act as a constant reminder to all European clubs that progress can be made without the need for substantial investment by foreign owners. In most cases, the injection of money into football teams does benefit the clubs. The investment Abramovich has put into Chelsea and, likewise, Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City has been duly repaid with by success on the field, which is okay. The fortunes of QPR , however, has proven to be an exception to this trend. 
  

Would Daniel Sturridge turn out to be another expensive flop for Liverpool?

The arrival of Daniel Sturridge to Anfield from rivals Chelsea for a fee in the region of £12 million has not been met with an overflow of melodramatics amongst Liverpool supporters, jostling each other outside the Melwood training ground in pursuit of pictures amongst the scrim of photographers also queuing frantically to capture photos of the latest marquee signing. 

When watching him play it is thoroughly comprehensible why the acquisition of Sturridge has been met with a sense of unpledged affection from both Chelsea and Liverpool fans. Though his talent is undoubted, Sturridge has the frustrating tendency to mix his combination of amazing trickery and exceptional footwork with wayward long distance shooting and wasteful finishing, especially when a pass to a team-mate situated in a better position is on, much to the infuriation of his coaches, teammates and supporters, respectively.

 The signing of the Birmingham-born attacker signals the Reds' first foray into this month's transfer window but many of the club's most circumspect  followers are inevitably pondering the worth of the former Manchester City trainee. While Liverpool are in desperate need of more striking options to ease the Herculean task they have often been provided with by their talismanic forward Luis Suarez so far in this campaign, at £12 million, the purchase of Sturridge represents a sizable outlay of the funds supposedly afforded to the  manager, Brendan Rodger's budget. Therefore, it is only natural for fans to feel restrained over the transfer having witnessed the signings of overpriced British talents before. Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson joined Liverpool within seven months of each other for a combined transfer fee of approximately £91 million, during Kenny Dalglish's ill-fated second reign at the club last season. All three have been disappointing so far, despite the recent improvement in performances from Downing and Henderson.  The Merseyside club simply do not need another profitless addition to the squad. 

Sturridge joins Liverpool with the same reputation as another underachiever who signed for the Reds, Ryan Babel. The latter was signed as a gifted 21-year-old from Ajax by Rafa Benitez for a similar cost of £11.5 million back in the summer of 2007. He was touted as the next Thierry Henry. Nonetheless, moments of brilliance from the Dutchman was repeatedly entwined with the needless squandering of ball possession, profligacy and a reluctance to work hard for the team, aspects often associated with Brendan Rodgers' latest recruit.

Liverpool could do without Sturridge overdoing intricate tricks, and speculative efforts from thirty yards when a pass to Luis Suarez or an onrushing Steven Gerrard is on. Nor do they want a squeamish individual in the starting eleven, who appears discouraged and uneager to complement the endeavour and industry so often characterised by the Uruguayan, as well as the captain Gerrard, midfielders Joe Allen, Lucas Leiva and the rising starlet Raheem Sterling. It was this absent-minded mannerism that prompted Roberto Di Matteo not to include the attacker in most of Chelsea's important fixtures that climaxed in FA Cup glory over the Reds and, most memorably, European glory in Munich last season. A team in which its success depended heavily on team effort and work rate.   

Sturridge made his league debut for Manchester City as an 18-year old substitute against Reading in February 2007, nearly six years ago. Since then, the striker's only period of consistent success in his career came when he was loaned out by the then Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti to Bolton Wanderers in the second half of the 2009-10 season where he managed eight goals in twelve games for Owen Coyle's side. Now at the age of 23, it is still hoped that comparable accomplishments are to be recounted. 

 In which position of the three attackers Rodgers intends to deploy Sturridge in the Northern Irishman's favoured 4-3-3 formation is anyone's guess. Having been deployed in the right of a front three during Andre Villas-Boas' short period in charge of Chelsea last season, where it finally seemed as though the forward was finally showing signs of maturing, Sturridge had amassed thirteen league goals in thirty appearances. So far this season, the forward has made fourteen appearances scoring a paltry two goals. This time last year he had featured in  twenty-two of Chelsea's games and had ten goals. It was the skill and his propensity to expect the unexpected that made Sturridge a constant menace, bamboozling full-backs with deft touches, flashy flicks and sublime step-overs. 

Despite the success Sturridge had sustained playing out wide, the striker, similar to his England international teammate Theo Walcott at Arsenal, has a preference of playing as the main striker. Rodgers has already refuted claims that Sturridge's contract states that he has to play through the middle insisting that no new signings will specify in what position they will play. While Sturridge certainly possesses the raw talent and is capable of playing in the central striking role, he does not necessarily boast the attributes needed to lead the line in the system Liverpool adopt. Sturridge, like the claims made about Walcott lacks the all-round footballing intelligence to play in a lone role in a 4-3-3 formation, in which your are required to create and score goals. His hold-up play and link-up play with the midfield can be found wanting as was apparent when playing for Great Britain in the Olympics last summer although he scored two goals in five appearances. Sturridge also lacks the ability to find clever space in the final third of the pitch in order to get himself into a decent position to score or incite centre-backs out of position by coming deep to collect the ball or moving into channels, subsequently enabling forward thinking midfielders to advance into the resultant free space. This is an area of the game in which very few can better Luis Suarez at.

The data in terms of the amount of goals and assists Sturridge has totalled thus far in his career in the Premier League gives an even more damning verdict in terms of the Englishman's inconsistency.

In the 21 league games he made as a Manchester City youngster, Sturridge scored five goals providing three assists. This meant that on average he scored 0.24 goals and set-up 0.14 during his time at Eastlands. During his three-and-a-half year stint with Chelsea, he appeared in 63 league fixtures, finishing with thirteen goals and seven assists in total, which equates to 0.21 goals a game and 0.11 assists. At Bolton, his most productive spell up to now, Sturridge netted eight in twelve games at an average of 0.75 a match. However, he failed to supply his teammates with any goals during his time on loan at the Reebok Stadium.

If these statistics were to even itself out over the course of a season, Sturridge would have scored ten goals, further contributing to his team's cause with four assists at an average rate of 0.27 goals per game and 0.1 assists over the same period too. These figures best applies to that of a flamboyant winger compared to that of a twenty-goal a season striker. It would also relieve some of the burden placed on Suarez too, compared to that of Stewart Downing who accumulated no goals or assists in the last campaign and Raheem Sterling, whom despite showing a lot of promise, is still far from the finished article.  

It is still hoped that Sturridge is to reach the peak of his powers. As we all know he is not a bad player despite the telling figures. In addition to his involvement in the England national team setup, at club level he has one Premier League honour, two FA cups- and most luminously a Champions League medal to his repertoire. The case could be made that if he was not from England, say he came from France, Italy or Brazil for instance, the assumption could be made that all the appeasement is the sign of a great player who has not entered the pinnacle stage of his career yet.

Realistically, for that to happen, his time at Anfield has to be a potent one. Upon the official announcement of his signing, Rodgers stated that "We are bringing in a player who knows he has to perform if he wants to be at one of the biggest clubs in the world and this is probably his last chance". This view was aptly reinforced by Steven Gerrard who conceded that Sturridge can have "no excuses" if he was not to execute his prodigious talent during his stay at the home of the five time European Cup winners. Manchester City and Chelsea had both signed Sturridge believing that it will only be a matter of time before he developed into the player everyone had once heralded him as. Now that he has joined Liverpool, it is imperative that he overcomes the disappointments of the past or risk becoming another expensive flop for Liverpool. Whether he has the mentality to succeed at the most decorated club in England and win over his staunch critics is another story.  

           

What next for Manny Pacquiao?

WHERE DOES MANNY PACQUIAO GO FROM NOW FOLLOWING DEFEAT TO JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ?

The Mexican welterweight Juan Manuel Marquez's stunning knockout of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas last Saturday night provoked a small minority of boxing fans to draw their own conclusion on the 33-year old Filipino's future following the defeat which left him flattened, face-first, on the canvas in the penultimate second of the sixth round - retirement.

The loss was the 'Pacman's' first to the 39-year old in a rivalry which has spanned over eight years and three different weight divisions, including a draw, and two victories to Pacquiao's name, all three previous results had proven highly dubious amongst boxing's faithful, as many argued Marquez should have won. There was no disputing the fourth fight, however. Marquez had floored Pacquiao in the third round with a looping right hook before the latter returned the favour knocking down Marquez in the fifth, leaving him bloodied and exposed. The 'People's champ' Pacquiao sought to go after the Mexican in the following, decisive, round, as it was revealed in the post-match interview that Marquez had actually suffered a broken nose having been grounded in the same round.

The Filipino's onslaught was conspicuous to say the least, dispatching clean short right jabs and outstretched left hooks in his customary southpaw stance, drawing many spectators at the MGM grand (including defeated presidential candidate Mitt Romney) off their seats anticipating a stellar knockout blow from Pacquiao as Marquez's face increasingly became cascaded with blood. Spectacularly, all the presentiments had backfired within a second, as the Mexican, nicknamed 'Dinamita', and widely revered as the best counter-puncher in contemporary boxing, nullified a Pacquiao jab magnificently through the execution of a devastating right counter leaving his crushed opponent benumbed on the canvas for a few minutes, as many of the Mexicans apparent in the arena uproariously celebrated with the victor.

This was the Pacman's fifth professional defeat overall, but, more pertinently, it was his second successive loss, following the controversial split decision that declared Timothy Bradley as the new WBO welterweight champion in June. Frantic questions have been asked from different sections of boxing fans as to where the charismatic boxer's future goes towards from this point. Pacquiao himself after the fight had immediately suggested the possibility of a fifth fight with his triumphant opponent. "Yes, why not?, he said. "If you give us a chance, we'll fight again.". This proposition was unmistakably backed up by his promoter, the indefatigable, 81-year old, Bob Arum who ardently declared within minutes of the encounter: "A fifth fight? Why not? Have you seen a more exciting fight in years?".

 Many fans of the sport will be receptive to the idea of another twelve rounds of constant brawling, complimented by brisk exchanges of counter punching, and blood shed relentlessly, between these two boxing greats. This notion, however, will not be shared with Pacquiao's wife, Jinkee, whom cried convulsively once Marquez landed his ferocious right hand to the Filipino's unprotected jaw, scurrying to her dismembered husband's aid. This was the most poignant moment of the battle. The couple's relationship had been strained last year following the Pacman's loss to Bradley, with Jinkee pleading with her spouse to retire from his beloved sport and return to his homeland to further pursue his fledgling career as congressman in the Philippines. Pacquiao opted to continue.

It is the debate of retirement that has recurred  following the Filipino's latest loss, though, once again the Pacman has refuted suggestions of hanging up his gloves. His Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach, who has endured a very difficult last twelve months (as a result of Britons Amir Khan's surprise knockout loss to Danny Garcia in July and Sergio Martinez's comfortable win over fellow trainer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., as well as Pacquiao's aforementioned loss to Bradley) has already stated that he does not want the Pacman to take any chances returning to the ring prematurely, predicting September 2013 as an ideal time. Arum's thoughts differ, salivating over a potential fifth fight between Pacquiao and Marquez, or a possible fight with the unbeaten Mexican-American, Brandon Rios.

Some quarters of the boxing public have suggested that the Filipino should assume a role as promoter of the sport. A business in which former top-ranked pugilists, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton (before the latter's unsuccessful return to the sport), both respectively retired from the ring having been annihilated by Pacquiao, are now employed in. The Philippines have always maintained their tradition of producing exceptional boxers amongst the lighter weight-divisions. From the days of Francisco 'Pancho Villa' Guilledo in the 1920's, to Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde in the 60's, through to Pacquiao today. It is the latter, however, who has advocated the growth and emergence of a plethora of Filipino fighters. Foremost amongst that group is Nonito Donaire, a four-division world champion, currently rated number six pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to Ring magazine, and, to a lesser extent, Michael Farenas who fought on the undercard of Pacquiao’s fight last Saturday, losing to the undefeated Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa by unanimous decision. A role for the Pacman as promoter could release even more Filipino talent into the international scene.       

Irrespective of the decision Pacquiao eventually agrees on with his close family and Freddie Roach by his side, the prospects of a dream fight between him and Floyd Mayweather Jr, one that would inevitably be compared to the great epics of boxing past; the bout everyone wants to see at some point before the pair's illustrious careers draws to a conclusion seems highly unlikely to materialise any time soon. This thesis could conceivably be endorsed by Pacquiao, if he does deliberate on his subsequent aims, and indeed decides to call it a day, leaving plenty of his fans to lament on what has been a fruitful career.