Farewell 'Uncle Phil' - Phil O'Donnell - 1972-2007

I liked the young lad as soon as he was described
A new Bryan Robson ordained
The scorching run, a blistering shot
Instantly a fan he'd gained

'He's the new McStay' noted Tommy Burns
Shelling out handsomely to make him a Bhoy
A million and seven hundred thou
Too expensive to be just some decoy

As the dreaded injury curse struck
Yorkshire missed out on the prime of 'Uncle Phil's career
The prodigal son thus returned to Fir Park
As the faithful raised a chorus and cheer

Day in, day out, fans watched
from stand Davie Cooper
Butch made him skipper to guide the young lights
The twilight looked bright for this trooper

And so as Motherwell entertained the Tangerines
The Belshill boy decided to say farewell
A seizure marked his place in the pantheon of legends
Foe, Feher, Puerta, O'Donnell

© Emdad Rahman

COMMENT:

As football mourns as such every now and then
Our commiserations go out to Phil's wife and children

A tragic loss of a man amongst boys - Phil O' Donnell - 1972 - 2007

I remember Phil O'Donnell, a Belshill boy, bursting onto the scene as an explosive talent at Motherwell - His footballing prowess immediately encouraged comparisons between Captain Marvel - Bryan Robson and Celtic legend Paul McStay. The comparisons with my hero Robbo instantly led me to take an active interest in O'Donell's career. In 1994 he joined Celtic for 1.7 million - still a record figure for an outgoing player at Motherwell.

'Uncle Phil' made his debut as a wiry 18 year old at St Mirren and was given a torrid introduction to Scottish football by Kenny Macdowall, the tough and unassuming St Mirren Centre half. It obviously helped as O'Donnell went on to become Scotland's young player of the year in the 1991-92 season. He scored in a 4-3 Hamden Park victory over Dundee United in the 1991 Scottish Cup final. It was the last time the 'steelmen' won any silverware.

Persistent injuries hampered an excellent career and he found it difficult to settle into team spells at Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday, before returning home to Scotland and Motherwell.

Terry Butcher, who probably saw the same fighting qualities he used to display on the pitch in O' Donnell, ensured that the mercurial O'Donnell's services were retained for a further year as club captain. O'Donnell collapsed from a suspected seizure at Motherwell's SPL fixture against Dundee United at Fir Park yesterday. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Manager Marj McGhee told Radio 5 Live that O'Donnell had produced his performance of the season.
O'Donnell at 35, very much the older statesman in the dressing room, took great pride at leading such a talented bunch of youngsters, including his two nephews at Motherwell. Interviewed in the Times last month he said; 'I will be 36 in March and I am just trying to play as long as I can and enjoy it.

'Honestly, each game is special to me. I have missed too many games in the middle of my career to stop playing at the age of 35, so I will play as long as I can.

'I can definitely play another two, three, or even four years.'

After being instaled as skipper by Maurice Malpas, O'Donnell held onto the captaincy under Mark McGhee. His tremendous form in the current campaign was a major contributory factor in Motherwell reaching the summit of third place behind the Old Firm.

Ex Scotland boss Craig Brown called O'Donnell ' a gentleman.' O'Donnell joins Motherwell, Rangers and Scotland Wing ace Davie Cooper as footballing greats that died young. An explosive, combative, box to box midfielder, if he hadn't suffered injuries O'Donnell would have been as good as Steven Gerrard.

Phil O 'Donnell died yesterday aged 35 at 5.18 pm - on the very stage that his legend had begun - Fir park. He leaves behind his wife Eileen and four children.

Benazir Bhutto - 1953 - 2007

Have yourself a merry little Christmas (Kop version)

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let the kop take flight
because then
A league title will seem just a blight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Winning streak till May
and if not
the throne may belong to Jose

’Are we still going through a phase?’
Glaring crossly at the score
Loyal Reds who try not to fuss
’Kop kings,’ they boldly roar

Shedding tears
by no means mind the weather
’Be steadfast’ fans vow
’Never walk alone’ they chant and wipe their brow
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

© Emdad Rahman - www.football-poems.com - www.footballpoets.org

The great Xmas truce of 1914

Sub zero in the trenches of Armentieres
It’s the most unheard of event in years
Amidst the ravaging spectacle of war, looms a most certain killer
As foes come together in surprising fashion, through football the great healer
Putting aside the death stench of the “Great War” before the aerial bombardment
A cacophony of despair and poisoned gas attacks, sprayed with much resent.

No guns and roses in the dressing room, no crazed Terry Butcher in full swing,
No chest thumping headbutting, door breaking
Only warm carols, silent, soft in tone,
Lone German voices mixed in with death’s moan
Joined thereafter in union with the English enemy
Echoing across no man’s land, beyond the darkened stymie

‘Tipperary’ echoes hauntingly across death’s plains;
‘Deutschland Uber Alles’ resonates like clanking chains
‘We come in peace’; the English walk into German territory
Crossing no man’s land, unarmed in hope and glory

Bully beef delicacy swapped for smokes, the amber nectar flows
Trust braveheart, wee willy Wallace, his face glows
Thus a Scot brings on a football
Will there now be a melee, a scrum or a brawl?

Helmets for goalposts, no offside, a free for all on dry ice
Foraging through the gunge, 'watch that detonating device'!
Chasing this instrument of peace, a marauding hunting pack, a free for all
Like crazed hounds or rather dogs of war, seeking the ball
The origins of Mud football are sown as the teams descend the autobahn
Thus King George’s officer embraces , albeit for a shot period, the Kaiser’s man
Where the foe was seen as a person, not from a faceless enemy clan

Merry Christmas and a hearty 3-2 result, Fritz defeating Tommy
Not a shot fired, there follows a celebratory Tsunami
The festival of love, when that which was so loathed, became for an instant, loved.
London & Bonn united, for a short moment betrothed
For once, not an ounce of hate, replaced by loving authority
Commonality, smiles, brotherhood, and most of all sorority

The dawn of Boxing day and Cap’n stockwell’s three shots signal the end of the truce.
Goodwill to all men

© Emdad Rahman - www.football.org

Comment - An Austrian at Ypres called Adolf complains at such bizarre integration.

"Winners become antipatici"

He scored against England in 1973
Securing for the Azzurri
An historical win at Wembley
The highlight of his career for Italy
Until… the FA sent out an SOS plea
The Sergeant embarks on yet another victory spree
He said "for the language, the mentality.”

© Emdad Rahman - www.footballpoets.org

www.football-poems.com

Poem - If the cap fits

Italy's Fabio Capello, right, scores the second and final goal for Italy as England's Martin Peters looks on during their soccer match against England in Turin, Italy in this June 14, 1973 file photo. Capello was appointed as England's new national soccer team manager Friday Dec. 14, 2007. (AP Photo)

If the cap fits

Conquering triumphant titles with every club
In the end he was last man standing
You have in charge a gentleman of distinction
With the most sought after habit of winning

Can anyone forget one of the great Euro duels?
Copa da Europa versus Barcelona
As the San Siro invincibles ripped to shreds Spain’s finest
Gol!, Gol!, Gol!, roared the announcer

A reviled Roma supremo who professed his love for Lazio
Fab’s the oldest ever hotseat appointment
An unnerving will to do as he pleases
Just ask Totti, Del boy, Beck’s and Ronaldo

‘Tis my last job’ he disclosed the end script
Proclaiming the close of his story
Four years of grandeur, splendour, brilliance
Will end in magnificent glory

Capello's backroom boys - haiku

Franco Tancredi
Baldini and Mas Neri
Don Galbiati


Fabio Capello's CV

On Thursday The FA Board approved Capello’s appointment, and he is now confirmed as England Manager. Here is his CV.

Fabio Capello
Born: 18 June 1946, San Canzian d'Isonzo, Gorizia, Italy.

Playing Record:

1964–1967 SPAL
1967–1969 Roma
1969–1976 Juventus
1976–1979 AC Milan

Honours

Italy - Serie A winner: 1971-72, 1972-73, 1974-75 (Juventus); 1978-79 (AC Milan); Coppa Italia: 1968-69 (Roma); 1976-77 (AC Milan)

National Team

1972–1976 Italy (32 caps, 8 goals)

Coaching Record

1991–1996 AC Milan
1996–1997 Real Madrid
1997–1998 AC Milan
1999–2004 Roma
2004–2006 Juventus
2006–2007 Real Madrid

Honours

Italy - Serie A winners: 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96 (AC Milan); 2000-01 (Roma); 2004-05, 2005-06 (Juventus)

Spain - La Liga winners: 1996-97; 2006-07 (Real Madrid)

UEFA Champions League winners: 1994 (AC Milan 4-0 Barcelona)

UEFA European Super Cup winners: 1994 (AC Milan 2-0 Arsenal)

Fabio Capello Factfile

1964: Makes his professional debut for Ferrara side SPAL, beginning a playing career in which he also represented Roma, Juventus, AC Milan and earned 32 caps for Italy.

14 November 1973: Scores the only goal of the game, three minutes from time, as Italy beat England at Wembley for the first time.

1991: Appointed head coach of AC Milan.

1992: Wins first of three successive Italian League titles.

1993: Guides Milan to Champions League Final, where they are beaten 1-0 by Marseille.

1994: Milan reach the Champions League final again, this time beating Barcelona 4-0. They later add the European Super Cup.

1995: Milan reach their third successive Champions League Final but lose 1-0 to Ajax.

1996: Leaves Milan after winning a fourth Scudetto in five seasons and is appointed Real Madrid coach.

1997: Wins Spanish league title with Real, before returning for a second spell with Milan.

1999: Takes over as coach of Roma.

2001: Guides Roma to their first Scudetto for 18 years and only the third in their history.

2004: Leaves Roma to take over as Juventus coach, winning the Scudetto in his first season.

2006: May - Retains Scudetto with Juventus but they are later stripped of the title after match-fixing allegations.

July - Appointed Real Madrid head coach for a second time.

2007: Helps Real Madrid win their first league title in four years

Courtesy - www.thefa.com

Rafa V the bosses!