A note to Escalette - look at the Ivory Coast

Sigh, I wish the Ivory Coast FA could be switched with Escalettes and the FFF powers that be...clearly the Elephants understand the importance of the man managing the team and are willing to make difficult decisions to give their squad a fighting chance at the World Cup. As they close in on the Dutch Master, I can only sit back and dream that the FFF would make a similar move.

100 days until South Africa - Hiddink to manage the Elephants?

We are 100 days before the World Cup kicks off in South Africa. According to most reports, the venues are on pace to be ready for the event, which was always a fear. With a host of friendly matches tomorrow, highlighted by France v Spain, Argentina v Germany, England v Egypt, Holland v USA, Cameron v Italy and a number of other matches much will be made of the results of these games. Of course what can we really draw from tomorrow? Not much. 100 days is an eternity in football - injuries, players losing their mojo, managers being sacked (Ivory Coast has already sacked their Bosian manager Vahid Halilhodzic) - teams that are playing well now or teams that are in struggles now tend to have no bearing of what happens once the tournament begins. However it will be interesting to watch and to start the speculation, let the madness begin. Only 100 days to go!


Speaking of the Ivory Coast - rumor is that Hiddink is being lined up to take over the squad. He would be an excellent choice for the side. They are a veteran bunch, headlined by Drogba (a player Hiddink would know well from his stint managing Chelsea) but seem to be lacking when it comes to defensive organization. The Elephants do not need to figure out who should showcase for the team or how to develop their players - the side is full of veterans - Drogba, Toure brothers, Eboue, Kalou to name a few - so they are not in need of a manager to develop a team over a qualification. They need a manager that can put the right tactics in place and give this team a reason to believe in itself. 

Could the Dutch Master be the perfect strategist for this side? Clearly he has a great mind for football - just look at his track record with clubs with much less talent than the Ivory Coast. The Elephants are already in the group of Death - with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. It will be a major battle to get out of this group, however with Hiddink at the head of this group their chances have just take a turn for the better.

Dutch Master to lead the Turks

Scratch Hiddink off your list of potential managers to replace Rafa at Liverpool. It was announced that the Dutch Master will be heading to the Bosphorus to manage Turkey. Based on his past successes - most notably taking the South Koreans to an improbable 4th place finish in the 2002 World Cup (a feat had achieved 4 years earlier with Holland in the 1998 World Cup). He again surprised many by getting the Socceroos into the knock out stages of the 2006 edition, many would argue he was unlucky to not go farther after a very questionable referee decision gifted the Italian Diving Team a injury time penalty kick.

Hiddink will now take over his 5th national side - he is leaving the Russian federation after not qualifying for the World Cup but having had a very strong European Championship. Clearly based on his track record much can be expected from the Turks. This is a side that can be world beaters at times and other times fail miserably to even qualify for major tournaments. Turkey has a strong base of players and is continuing to build and taking advantage of FIFA rules by pulling in players born outside of Turkey to Turkish parents.

If the Turks from the Euros can show up, coupled with Hiddink's managerial ability they will have a legitimate chance to go deep in the next European Championships and beyond.

Quick Champions League Predictions

Yes the next leg of Champions League footie is upon us, so some quick predictions:

• Bayern Munich v Sporting (agg 5-0) - Um not sure anyone has come back from a 5 goal deficit...so the easy prediction. Bayern through to the next round.
• Juventus v Chelsea (agg 0-1) - This is a tasty tie, heading back to Italy with the Old Lady needing to come out and find a way to over come that goal down. The intrigue for me is how Trezegol will have an impact on the game. However I think that Chelsea is starting to click, and Drogba is becoming the beast he once was. It is also clear that having Hiddink in the bench has some how calmed the egos on the Blues. Chelsea goes through after a 1-1 draw.
• Liverpool v Real Madrid (agg 1-0) - Oh now this is an interesting match up, my good friend Benitez is already whining about being "picked" on by the press, that he has a good track record in the Champions League...just disregard the futility in England. Liverpool has the huge away goal and are going to force Real to come to Anfield. Face the following.
  
  
  
  If one thing Benitez has shown is an uncanny ability to manage for one game matches. I think he got exactly what he wanted from his trip to Madrid and will now build his line up to sit deep and absorb the Real attacks and look to counter via Torres (assuming El Nino passes his match day fitness test). I just do not see the Real player that will be able to solve the Reds. Liverpool head on with a boring 0-0 draw.
• Panathinaikos v Villarreal (agg 1-1) - The Greek side has a good chance, heading back home with a precious away goal. Their manager Ten Cate is well experienced in European football so knows how to manage his squad and with veterans like Gilberto I can see the Greek side coming out of this tie. Granted Villareal cannot be underestimated, with Rossi, Senna and Pires they have the necessary veterans to overturn the tie in a hostile environment. However, I think Panathinaikos is this years Fenebache - the Greek side goes through with a 2-1 victory (3-2 agg).

It does pain me to predict Liverpool goes through...oh well.