Mark Hughes and The Official Game Podcast Team of the Season

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Well,it's that time. The final Game Podcast of the season. And to give it a proper send-off, Mark Hughes is on board this week.

Alyson Rudd joins us to run through the FA Cup Final (Congrats to Pompey, BTW), preview the Champions' League Final and helps us put together our Team of the Season. For those who don't bother reading after the jump, here it is:

David James - Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra - Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, Steven Gerrard MBE, Joe Cole - Fernando Torres, Roque Santa Cruz

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

(BTW, I had very little say in this - I just adjudicated where there was a dispute - so please vent your anger at Guillem, Bill and Alyson)

We also do our final Quick Hitting of the season and, as ever, Bill's on board with another stat. So join the Podcast Debate below. In fact, let's keep it going all summer. I'll post if you post...

Bill reckons that Portsmouth only turned in one good performance in the FA Cup this season. Which is a bit harsh methinks, though he does concede that the Cup is a just reward for their Premier League performance this season. We also debate where Harry Redknapp ranks in the galaxy of active British managers right now.

Guillem worries that the Champions' League Final is going to be as boring as the FA Cup final last season. I think United will be making a big mistake if they treat Chelsea like Roma and Barcelona, which is why I think the game will actually be rather wide open.

Mark Hughes talks about how he managed to take relative unknowns like Ryan Nelsen and Christopher Samba and how he revived Roque Santa Cruz's career. He also says he'd be willing to move abroad at some point.

Bill's stat reveals that the Champions' League is actually far more wide open now than it was in the old days. So much for the old European Cup purists.

Comments

[danny]

hi gab.
jus want to say thanks for your apperances on italian football on channel 5 this season.

a QUESTION ABOUT AC MILAN gallini is ststiing ac milan will be 35million in the red and the fans should stop monaning because money is tight but i would just like to point out they have not spent anything yet they sold oliviara and gilardino to pay for boreiello and zambrotta. do you not think ac would be better spending the money now like bayern last season letting the squad gel and get used to playing with each other and then next year they would only need to sign a goalkepper. if they spent the money this year season tickets would go up. they would win the uefa cup and possilby the scuddetto and get money back from this and for sure would qualify for the champs league of which they would not need to spend any of the money.

i just dont see the point of buying half the palyers they need this year and then the other half. a goalkeeper, centre back and striker next. they never repleced stam or shevechenko and did it on the cheap bringing in vonera and olivira not good enough ac milan are one of the biggest sides i the world about time they started acting like that in the transfer market. GAB what do you think is gallini rught to delay signings or should he act now.

just like to make the point in the last 2 summers they have only sighed emerson bonera and olivera depite selling shev for 30million and wiinning the champs league £30million. they have then had to rescue themselves in january with signing oddo ronaldo and pato when it was to late and they finished fourth twice why make the same mistake agen.

[Matt Riley]

NOW LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED!

Mark Hughes is off, just weeks after your show, is this the power of the game podcast...?

i am unsubscribing in protest, blaming gab and gulliem as the catalysts for his departure!

(not really)

although i am upset by sparky moving on, in the end it was inevitable, I wish him the best of luck with his futher career.

Hopefully the Rovers board will try and get someone up and coming to take over, Tony Mowbray please...

[reuben anderson]

I think Essien needs to play for a smaller team. I completely agree that he could run the whole match if deployed correctly... but I can't see any way you could setup chelsea so that he could have the freedom while also accomodating Lampard and Ballack, both of whom are incredible players in their own right.

If Essien was playing for Villa, Spurs, Newcastle or Blackburn... you'd set the whole team around him in the middle of the pitch and let him boss the game.

A bit like Roy Keane maybe?

[Lee]

I really cant agree with Joe Cole in a team of the season. The guy is an attacking midfielder, not a winger. You could, and probably should have fudged it and named Ronaldo on the left, which wouldn't have been cheating too much, and picked another right winger. I used to see Cole as the next big thing in English football and he probably would have been had he gone to Arsenal or United, teams that would have accepted his talent for what it was and not forced him to become something he isn't. He may now have more technical nous but people do not go to a football match just to see Joe Cole anymore. His performance in the CL final, both with his feet and with his loose mouth, encapsulated everything thats wrong with Chelsea.

I do however agree that Essien is 'the whole freaking show'. For my money, played in the right way he'd be running games, not just influencing them.

Actually, having said that, him and Joe Cole are victims of the same problem. A Genuine shame.

[Gabriele Marcotti]

1. Tim - Gerrard's numbers are hard to ignore. The more I think of it, I think Sagna over Brown would have been a good shout. That said, with his pinpoint LEFT FOOT cross, Brown did make a good case for himself (albeit after the fact). Joe Hart is a good keeper and he's promsing... but it's a bit too early for the team of the season, no?
2. Matt - I can see why you want us to stop praising Hughes... but if we do that, we'll get stick from those who claim we only focus on the Big Four
3. Richard - Thanks for your kind words.
4. Michael - Dossena is a gifted attacking wingback who can run all day. The reason he doesn't get much of a look-in is that Italy can count on Grosso and Zambrotta to fill that position (plus, though he's played mostly at CB this season, Chiellini). Also, he's very much a wingback ( Udinese play 3-4-3) and because Italy play a 4-3-3 they want more defensive-minded fullbacks.
5. Alan - I generally agree. Redknapp screwed up at Southampton. But every manager makes mistakes. He's not perfect, all I said is that he was in the top five of British managers right now. As for the allegations, we were judging based on football. We've discussed those issues before, in an appropriate context.
6. Clayton - The thing is, other players have had outrageously good individual seasons. If you talk about the greatest of all time, you need to have some sense of longevity. That was his undoing. For my money, he ranks just below Van Basten as the greatest centerforward - whose career of course was also cut short - I've seen in his prime (I missed out on Pele).

[clayton]

Gab,

Thanks for the response, Bullard was of course under consideration, but he didn't play for long enough to get in my team, maybe next year.

On a completely seperate note, i was wondering if the gravity of your opinion could help sway an agument for me. When talking with a friend about the greatest players of all time, i suggested that Ronaldo (the real one, not the pretender at man united) without the injuies would have the been the greatest. In that year at Barca and the first two at Inter el phenomenon was like Pele AND Garrincha rolled into one. Like jim Beglin once said, it wasn't fair, it was like having Robocop on your team. Surely as an inter fan you'll agree? Keep up the good work.

[Tom Eldridge]

Gab

Where can I listen to you while the podcast takes it's summer break? I used to tune in every Sun & Mon on Talksport and am now a podcast devotee.

Also, what can you tell us about potential Liverpool signing Dossena?

Thanks

[Kevin Brock]

Hi there

Please send Alison to a ground other than Anfield. She needs to get out more...if she actually believes that Pepe Reina is goalkeeper of the season, I strongly suggest medication! However, as with most moaning minnie Reds fans, she seems incapable of seeing reason, and prefers to live (miserably) in a world of her own. maybe she simply needs a visitor or two. Oh, and a video of his performance against Chelsea...

[Alan]

Hi guys

I just wanted to comment on your thoughts on Harry Redknapp being one of the best, or possbily the best English manager around at the moment. While I'm not looking to put forward alternatives I think your eulogising of his achievements completely neglected one huge failure - getting Southampton relegated in 2005. He had time - from December to the end of the season, the January transfer window, and one of the closest ends of the season ever, but still managed to fail to utilise his fabled man management skills and get Southampton to safety.

It also seems that while innocent until proven guilty, there's often a hint of 'mystery' about Harry's transfer dealings which doesn't exactly show him up in a positive light.

I just thought that there needed to be a bit of balance to the comments that you made.

Keep up the good work on the podcast. It would be great if you could add in more stuff on teams outside the top four and outside the Premiership in your discussions of the week's action. There is a world of football outside of the Chamions league places.

[michael]

Gab, may I please ask your opinion on Andrea Dossena of Udinese. From what has been reported in the press recently it would appear that this is the full-back that Guillem was talking about Liverpool having signed. I hear very good things about him, but wonder why he hasn't been capped more by Italy.

[Will]

I'm so glad a couple of people on here have mentioned Ashley Young. I have only just listened to the podcast and whilst i have a lot of repect for the opinions of the majority of the panel (usually) i was flabbergasted to hear them include Joe Cole on the left wing - he doesn't even play there for Chelsea!!! Moreover, despite his talent i think he has been mediocre this year. Ashley Young on the other hand has showcased pace, trickery, vision and composure on a consistent basis this season and was second on the assist list behind Fabregas. And yet, not even a mention.I can't quite get my head around it. Please explain yourself.

Elsewhere Gerrard's inclusion on League form over Essien is suspect. It happened last year with the PL team of the year and he flagrantly didn't deserve it over Essien. Gerrard has more of a case this year than then, but still...thats what happpens when you put Liverpool fans on a panel.

[Joseph]

Whilst Joe Cole's form hasn't been great of late, it was earlier in the season. It really helped Chelsea get through their rough patch. I was at the game at Ewood Park were he made the difference. Definitely worthy of a place in the team. I'm not sure about Wes Brown though. It's easy to say he played well, but he never had had to mark anyone - Ronaldo occupied the winger and left back. If you look at his performance playing for England against France, he was absolutely terrible.

[Richard, Nottingham]

Gab/Guillem,

MORE MORE...

C'mon fellas the season may be finished but that isn't the end of it !! Take a few weeks off then come back and hit us with some Euro08 podcasts. And so what if England aren't there. There will still be plenty to analyze and comment on. Also, you haven't promised us that you'll be back next season.

Don't leave us wanting MORE !!

[NADO09]

Hi Guilem, In your post you mentioned Liverpool getting a striker. Is this definate or is this an area which you think we should improve in. Also I heard in the Liverpool forums that you mention in revista de la liga, Liverpool are in negotiations with Valencia over David Silva. Is this true or just a rumour?

[Matt Riley]

Thanks for a great season guys...

when do you return?

also, fantastic to have Mark Hughes on the show, as a Blackburn fan i could not have imagined how well he has done with the club in the past few years...

Recruitment has been awesome and from what i hear the clubs finances are in good order...

maybe we could break into the top four if we plunged ourselves into half a billion pounds of debt ;-)

Finally, as great as it is to hear our beloved manager on your show, STOP TELLING THE WORLD HOW EXCELLENT HE IS. I'm sure it won't be long until another team come in for him, later rather than sooner i hope!

and finally finally, roque santa cruz, what a world class, humble and honest footballer he is, fantastic season. he is becoming a real hero at the club, helped indeed by him assuring everyone how happy he is and that he doesn't want a move, if only DB could be like that!

[NADO09]

Hi Guilem, you mentioned that we might be getting a striker. Is that defenitly the position rafa is strengthening or is that where you think we should improve. Also I heard a rumour that Liverpool were in negotiations with valencia over David Silva Revista de la liga.Is this true or just a rumour

[Tim]

Great pod again guys. I dont always enjoy the interviews you have but the last couple have been first rate.
However I have got to take some issue with the choices for team of the season.
First up I got to agree with what others said about Wes Brown. He is in it because he didnt mess up? Sagna has had an excellent season and barely missed a game. For a player to come here and slot in right away is excellent. Just compare his efforts with those of Malouda.
In goal I would have had Joe Hart. No goalkeeper has been truely impressive this year but I think Joe Hart has done well for Man City and gives all England fans hope that maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel. That said David James has played well so also deserves some recognition.
How did Essien not make the team? As an Arsenal fan I still rue the day that Chelsea managed to price us out of a move for Essien. I cant think of a better midfielder at the moment in the league. The combination of Essien and Fabregas would be next to unstoppable.
How does Steven Gerrard get a place??? He has played well in the last couple of months but he was dreadful before Christmas and disappeared in both Champions League ties against Arsenal and Chelsea.
Anyway feel free to disagree but those are my thoughts.

[Gabriele Marcotti]

1. David -I'm with you o Essien. He's the whole freakin' show.
2.Kamran - O'Neill is welcome any time.
3.Ivan - Yep, Ashely Young should have been a contender, IMHO.
4.Brian - Are you suggesting that Gerrard is inferior to Carrick?
5.Jimmy - We'll have to agree to disagree. Essien may not have been as dominant early in the season, but he does so many little things off the ball which make his teammates better.
6.Clayton - Nice list... though Richards is well overrated IMHO. And shouldn't Bullard be in there somehwere?

[Mac]

Guillem,
The full back positions were important for liverpool to sort but echoing the sentiments here they blatantly need a number 7 and a number 10 (right wing and second striking play maker ) not the charlatans (well kewell's gone) currently making a mockery of the heritage of previous incumbents. don't you agree ?

[NADO09]

Hi Guilem, I was just wandering if Liverpool are getting a striker. I think you said maybe. If so then is it Pavel Pogrebnyak

[Will]

Wes Brown? Really? He's the right back of the year because he wasn't the disaster he was at the end of last season? Oddly, there aren't a ton of great choices at this position in "THE GREATEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD", but surely there is an improvement on Ginger Brown. It has to be Sagna. Being his first season shouldn't hurt him.

Joe Cole? I understand the format confusion led to Bill's choice slipping through, but Cole didn't even play that much or that well. He had a few very strong passages and the rest of the time it looked like he woke up in his kit after a long night out. How Ashley Young could be ignored is an outrage. What were you guys thinking? His service and pace were superb.

Guillem? All Liverpool need are a few right backs, Gareth Barry, and a striker? Will they be making the Anfield pitch 10 feet wide? Wingers man! WINGERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Thanks for being a nice a addition to a great season of football. Hope you're all back again next year and perhaps pop in with the odd podcast through the summer.

Enjoy the summer sun.

[Richard]

David James

Wes Brown- HA!HA!HA! Poor defender, next you'll be telling me that Joleon Lescott should,be in the team. I think Micheal Essien should fill this position.

Rio Ferdinand

Nemanja Vidic- hard to argue against but I would like to give a shout out to big Samba.

Patice Evra

Crist1ano Ronaldo

Steven Gerrard

Cesc Fabregas

Joe Cole- I think he's had a poor season and is an overrated player. How about Ashley Young or Hleb.

Fernando Torres

Roque Santa Cruz

However great podcast and hope to hear from you guys at the start of the season.

By the way what do you make of this Roberto Mancini situation at Internazionale. I have learn not to extactly trust what Moratti says and I don't think there can be anyway back for Mancio. Your thoughts Gabriele and Guillem?
You guys should dedicate more time to the foreign game in your pod more regulary.

[Scott Broadhurst]

Alison,

Reina never made a mistake? Did you not watch Man Utd vs Liverpool? He can't take crosses under duress.

[clayton]

Gabriele,

You are quite right about Michael Essien. Not just a powerhouse, put a gifted dribbler and passer, reduced to barrelling up and down the wing to cross for Drogba.
My team of the season is so very similar, i've chosen a non top four team of the year instead:

David James
--------------
Vedran Corluka
Micah Richards
Martin Laursen
Joleon Lescott
--------------
David Bentley
Gary Barry
Niko Kranjcar
Ashley Young
--------------
Kenwyn Jones
Roque Santa Cruz

Manager: David Moyes

There seems to be six English players in my team, how the hell has that happened?

[Jimmy]

Gabriele,

I'm surprised you think that Michael Essien should have made it into the team of the season. I'm a Chelsea fan, but for a large part of the season he was pretty average. The last 2 months of the season he came alive again and put in some typical Essien performances, showing the usual drive and determination we expect from him, the game against United comes to mind in particular, but he doesn't merit a place in that team in my opinion. Makelele and Ballack were far more impressive for Chelsea this season in the midfield area.

[brian cole]

as was pointed out by one of the panellists wes brown is not a full back and it showed too often this season.alyson rudd astutely selected sagna and his partner,clichy,should have been given the edge over evra.gerrard,fine player that he is, epitomises the english style(bat out hell-giving the ball away,particularly at international level) which needs refining and carrick , this season,
has quietly succeeded in that midfield role.

[Ivan]

Surprised at the missing Wayne Rooney from conversations of striker of the year. Yes goals are the trade: 12 goals (prob more if he could finish..and yes that's an "IF") and 13 assists in 27 app in the league. Compared with Roque who i think should probably be in the team in the end...Roque 19 goals 7 assists in 36 app.

Lescott/Bentley perhaps could have got in.

ASHLEY YOUNG the second highest assister in the PL couldn't get a sniff.... Joe Cole has been exceptional in parts but if the argument for Tevez is that he got dropped, the same thing happen with Cole during the season.

[Kamran]

Hi guys, I have to agree with Gab. What a shame to see Michael Essien being exiled to RB. One of the best midfielders playing there seems to be a shame. One only has to see how he performs in midfield for both Chelsea and Ghana. The man is a powerhouse.

Also, I hope you guys can get Martin O'Neill on sometime:) I am sure it would be very entertaining.

Grazie, gracias and thanks for your work

[Keenan]

Hi Guillem,

I heard you mention that Benitez has already signed two full backs, probably Degen and Dossena. Is Barry still a possibility and you also mentioned a striker which would probably replace Crouch and/or Voronin. My question is why are Liverpool not after any wingers as this area clearly needs strengthening?

[David]

Hey guys,

The fact that there was such indecision about the midfield in your team of the year would back up to me what I have been feeling about the fact that no central midfielder has had an outstanding season through out. This is unlike a couple of years ago when gerrard and Lampard had out standing ones, this season I felt both were not as consistantly good as they could be. When you look at the other 2 midfield stars of the premiership Essien and Fabregas they to did not have outstanding seasons. Fabregas was fantastic for the first part of the season, but like Arsenal did peter off at the end, which is understandable when you remember he is only 20 years. Essien unfortunately is wrongly used by Chelsea. They ought to use him like they do for Ghana by giving him the license to move around the pitch. In this role he is immense as he does not just defend well he goes forward and causes havoc to the oppositions defence. If Chelsea used him in this way than they would have one of the best players in the world and Chelsea would be more creative and successful to boot