... And I Have Returneth

After a long time away from my computer, I have revived THE Football Space. Football is a world within a world, full of brilliance and corruption in equal measure and I now have the tools required to bring you my view on this crazy world of scandal, genius and strong opinions. New articles will be published three times per week. I am also considering changing the title for the blog, so please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Bob Davis

The Tevez Situation

Manchester City, for all their muscle in the transfer market, can not realistically replace Carlos Tevez. City's top scorer last season is reportedly contemplating a move back to South America, with Brazilian giants Corinthians allegedly eager to sign the Argentine international for a cool £35 Million. Tevez is reportedly unsettled due to the distance between himself and his family, a situation Manchester City must be willing to at least try to move mountains to rectify.

A club of City's size can attract almost any player, especially now they have secured a Champions League berth for next season but Tevez is one star they will not replace. Tevez has been talismanic in the two years he has spent with the blue half of Manchester, inspiring them as captain to third place and an FA Cup Final win last season.

Tevez's irreplaceableness lies in the fact he is like a better version of Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt. This may seem an odd point, but think about it: Tevez, like Kuyt, is important to his club due to the fact he scores important goals and runs solidly for 90 minutes. It is this never-say-die attitude which inspires City fans to back both Tevez and the team, and raucous fans obviously inspire any team. Tevez is a better version of Kuyt.

Furthermore, Tevez is a proven Premier League goalscorer, especially with City, where he has bagged an impressive 43 goals in just 63 games. City have been linked with Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero and Udinese's goalscoring midfielder Alexis Sanchez but neither of these are proven in the Premier League and could turn out to be expensive mistakes.

With City's buying power it's easy to overlook what you already have and before Mancini spends the millions City have at their disposal he must try to keep Tevez. Holding on to Tevez looks like it may be in vein, but the club have to try whatever it takes simply because the impact Tevez has had over the last two seasons has written him in City folklore. Many players will go through City's revolving door, though few will be as brilliant as Tevez.

Top ten derbies in world football- number 9- Ajax V Feyenoord

Known as "Der Klassiker" in Holland, this a bitter and often violent derby. Its a clash of cultures more than anything, Rotterdam is a huge port city with many thousands working on the docks. They seem to have a no-nonsense, working class attitude. Amsterdam is a more bohemian, vibrant and percieved by many Feyenoord fans as middle class.

Great clashes

Feyenoord fans remember fondly when they beat their fierce rivals 3-1 in the final of the Dutch Cup in 1980. This was the only time these two great clubs have ever met in a major final, and Petursson ensured that the trophy would be in the Rotterdam club's cabinet. Ajax fans, however, will point out this season's breathtaking 5-1 victory in Amsterdam, when Demy De Zeeuw grabbed two goals. Also, Ajax's 2006 victory in Rotterdam is a great memory for the Ajax faithful. They ran out 4-0 winners thanks to double's from Kenny Perez and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Off the pitch

There has been a lot of violence and bitterness between both clubs but perhaps the most unforgettable was at a reserve match in 2004. Ajax fans stormed the pitch and attacked players and staff, Jorge Acuna, Feyenoord's winger, was attacked and consequently taken to hospital with head injuries. All this happened at a reserve match! In 1989, two nail bombs made by Feyenoord fans were used against Ajax supporters. This led to 14 people being injured, but luckily no deaths.

Some of the chants are unsavoury as well. Ajax are thought to be a jewish club by Feyenoord fans and Ajax have adopted this and refer to themselves as the "super jews", but Feyenoord sing "Hamas, Hamas, kill the jews", which is a reference to the Gaza conflict.

Who's top dog?

Well, between these two it has to be Ajax. They, guided by Johan Cruyff's brilliance, won the European cup three times in a row from 1971 to 1973. They have also won 29 Dutch league titles, 17 Dutch cups. They have been successful internationally and have won the European cup 4 times (which they have also won since it's been the Champions League in 1995), 1 UEFA Cup, 1 Cup Winners' Cup, 3 Super Cups and 2 World Club Cups.

Feyenoord also have a long and proud history. Domestically, they have won 14 league titles and 11 Dutch Cups. They have also been successful in Europe, becoming the first Dutch club ever to win the European Cup in 1970 when they beat Celtic in the final. They have also won the World Club Cup once in 1970. They have also won the UEFA Cup twice, and their second UEFA Cup final win over Borussia Dortmund was the last time a Dutch club won a European trophy.

In recent years, PSV have been the team to beat and both Ajax and Feyenoord have struggled to match the Eindhoven club. Ajax last won the league in 2004 whereas Feyenoord haven't won it since 1999.

Cock Idol: The Premier idiot of the week competition

This weeks award goes to... Emiliano Insua. Interesting choice I know, but we've been rather starved of idiocy this week and it has generally been a good week for English clubs in Europe, with one exception of course: Liverpool. Everyone's favourite crisis club were beaten by Wigan on Sunday, then by Lille in the Europa League. Insua had an absolute shocker against Wigan, getting turned inside out by Charles N'Zogbia (who now qualifies to play for England, you watching Fabio?). Most thought Liverpool would recover well, and beat a good side, Lille, in France. Well, that didn't happen and Insua got skinned by Lille starlet Eden Hazard time and time again. Insua's problem is he doesn't know whether he's a left-back or left-midfielder. I'd go for neither: he's a bench-warmer. We need to define idiocy here, is it poor performance?

That is why this week's runner up is Rafa Benitez. He plays Insua at left-back after all plus he probably should have started Albert Riera, who I personally believe is better than Babel in the sense that he is more consistent. Benitez has to motivate the side and looks to have failed here. The rumours of him leaving will be surrounding Liverpool's fixture against Portsmouth on Monday as they have to win to maintain pursuit of forth place.

Cock Idol: The Premier idiot of the week competition

The winner of the inaugural Cock Idol award goes to... Wayne Bridge.

The Manchester City left-back refused to shake John Terry's hand in the wake of the "Terrygate" scandal. Firstly, Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend had the affair with Terry (notice the "ex" prefix), which was a private matter, and then the media made the headlines. Firstly, Bridge wasn't in a relationship with the woman in question despite her being a mother to Bridge's child, and secondly Terry was the one who lost out. Terry almost lost his wife, lost sponsorship money and the England captaincy thanks to Capello's beliefs and knee-jerk reaction to idiotic media pressure. What Terry did was morally wrong, but what Bridge did at Stamford Bridge was just plain unprofessional. What happens off the pitch is irrelevant, when you step out into the limelight of a Premier League fixture a certain decorum should be maintained. Bridge was pathetic, childish and wholly unprofessional. A close second in this week's award was Craig Bellamy, whose unpopularity is well documented. The Welshman went on record as saying "everybody in football knows what the guy (Terry) is like". Well, Craig Bellamy, it is well known what you're like. Sending abusive messages to Alan Shearer, Brawling in a Cardiff nightclub and hitting former Liverpool team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club because he wouldn't sing in a karaoke competition. As Terry himself said, "people who live in glass houses should not throw stones".

Terry the villain part two

When will England's supporters who go to Wembley to watch games do one thing: leave club interests at the door. England's "loyal" fans who boo players because they hate their club side have no clue about football. John Terry, the ex-captain, faced early boos from the crowd which were lapped up by the media as if they haven't got enough mileage out of the saga already. Club interests or personal interests are irrelevant at international level, and the booing can affect all the players' moral. For instance, what if something happens in the private life of Gareth Barry that has nothing to do with football, will he be harshly booed? is he now having to watch his back? Also, it may occupy the concentration of players when they should be focused on delivering the result plus the players may be good friends with John Terry and have no wish to see him harshly abused in such a manor. It proves that whilst many football fans have the sense to see past our sensationalist, CCTV culture, many idiots can not. Please, support the England team if you're English rather than abuse people who are committed to the cause. Terry put in an average performance as England were under par, particularly in the first half, against Egypt. In the end it took fantastic substitutions as Capello threw on Wright-Phillips and Crouch. Crouch grabbed a brace, one of which was set up by Shaun Wright-Phillips, who got the third.

Mourinho's team get win

Inter Milan claimed the 2-1 win in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League first knock-out phase. Inter, now managed by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, surprised Chelsea in the 3rd minute as Argentine striker Gabriel Milito beat Petr Cech at his near post. Milito's strike embarrassed both John Terry and Petr Cech, who should have done better to prevent the goal. Chelsea stepped up soon after and dominated possession, and saw a Drogba free-kick strike the bar. Chelsea eventually got the equaliser in the 51st minute through Saloman Kalou, who up until this point had an absolute shocker and constantly gave the ball away. Kalou was, however, the victim of a terrible refereeing decision when he was brought down just before half time by Inter's Walter Samuel. Esteban Cambiasso scored a fantastic long range effort in the 55th minute to give Inter the lead. Chelsea faced an even bigger problem when Petr Cech fell awkwardly and had to go off. It is now confirmed that he will be out for a month, which could effect the rest of Chelsea's season. Chelsea had the better of the game but Inter were resolute and held on. All eyes will be on the Mourinho's return to Stanford Bridge in three weeks.