INFTH Top 100: Numbers 90 and 89

90. Clint Dempsey- An exhilarating attacking midfield player, Dempsey is ever tenacious, either in the heart of midfield or just behind the strikers. After years of excellence in the Premier League, Dempsey managed to surpass himself, producing a wonderful 10/11 for Fulham Football Club. Twelve goals in the Premier League led him to Fulham's top scorer gong, as well as the record for all time leading American scorer in the Premier League.

On the international level, Dempsey has continued to impress throughout 2011, building on what was already a very healthy reputation. As the United States prepare for the 2011 Gold Cup, Dempsey remains an integral part of the team, a guaranteed starter, and one of the men expected to make a difference in some of the Stars and Stripes' key matches.

Strong in the air and a possessor of silky foot skills, Dempsey is an extremely versatile player, something which makes him well suited for the fast paced English game. However, in recent weeks the American has been linked with moves abroad; supposedly the Di Bennedeto family now in charge of Roma have him in mind, as well as French club Paris St. Germain.

If Dempsey does leave, and I for one hope he does not, he will be remembered with nothing but fondness by the Fulham fans. Deuce has made himself really popular around West London, and you can be sure that the Craven Cottage faithful will be desperate to see him back next year.

89. Luis Suarez-  Perhaps the pressure was a little too heavy on Luis Suarez during the first half of the 10/11 season. Departing South Africa as a villain rather than a hero, much was expected of the magical Uruguayan as he attempted to lift Ajax back among Europe's elite.

Unfortunately, August to January proved a torrid period for Suarez, he failed to perform well in the Champions League and was suspended for biting an opposition player during Eredivisie action. However, Suarez's fortunes were to drastically change after his big money January move to Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool, the Uruguayan was an instant hit with the Anfield faithful.

After scoring on his debut against Stoke, Suarez really hit the heights against Manchester United, when his mazey dribble and pass put the Reds on their way to victory over their most hated rivals. More was to come after the United match, just days later Suarez scored from an impossible angle against Sunderland, cementing his place in the hearts of Liverpool fans everywhere.

Based on his performance in the second half of the season for Liverpool, Suarez would be sitting much higher up the INFTH Top 100 List, but due to his early season form, he was dropped down dramatically. Next season, he'll be a dead cert for the top fifty.

Darren Bent Shows Exactly Why England Have No Chance In 2012

Every year when the international fixtures roll around you really want to start feeling optimistic. You want to be excited about your team, bullish about their chances in the upcoming major tournament, and confident that you are worshiping a squad of players capable of bringing silverware to the country you love.

As the years have progressed, I have found it more and more difficult to feel such emotions when considering the future of the English national team. Yes there have been highs; the massacres of Germany in 2001, and Croatia in 2008 were brilliant, as was Rooney's ascendance to the top of the game in Portugal. However, such memories are becoming fewer, farther between, and now they are starting to fade, their replacements being the Wally with the Brolly, Wazza's stamp and Uruguayan refereeing decisions.

As much as I would love to put these disasters down to bad luck, or refereeing injustice, I simply can't. There is something wrong with the English National Team, and it has nothing to do with penalty shoot outs or Steve McClaren. Even if England could produce decent managers, and even if the team had any kind of mental fortitude, they would still come undone when it mattered most. The truth of it is, England boast a playing staff inferior to that of their main European rivals. While the Villa in the Spanish squad is David, the one most associated with that name in England is Darren, quite simply, Villa's Bent is nothing to Barca's Villa.

Undoubtedly, England were poor when pitted against a lively Swiss side on Saturday afternoon; shorn of one or two key players they lacked fitness and creativity. It would be easy to blame their deficiencies on the absence of Rooney and Gerrard, but one must only look at Spain's performance yesterday, when their reserve side ripped apart the United States on the opposite side of the pond, for confirmation that England have much work to do. Spain were vibrant, full of ideas and imagination, and that was without arguably their most important player in Xavi Hernandez.

While the goals role for Spain, you can be sure the excuses will for England, such is the nature of their converse mentalities. Over in Germany, when the national team was embarrassed at Euro 2000, they rebuilt, investing heavily in the promise of youth, and subsequently reached the latter stages of a series of high profile international tournaments. England meanwhile, continued to stall on the building of a high tech footballing academy, allowing their wealth of young talent to stagnate, contributing to the current dearth of real international quality.

One of England's best performers yesterday, Jack Wilshere, represents what could have been for the English National Team, had they realized that instead of paying an Italian over the odds to do nothing, they should have invested those precious pounds into the development of a playing staff capable of competing with that of Germany and Spain.

In seven days time, the England U21s will kick off against their Spanish equivalents in the Uefa U21 Championship. That match will pit the finest youngsters that England have to offer, against those possessed by Spain. The match is likely to be an embarrassment, a lesson in how to develop youth, but I fear that even then the obstinate English will refuse to learn the error of their ways.

How Spain Rated Against The United States

Pepe Reina- Often short of opportunities to perform with the national team, I though Pepe Reina did well under absolutely no pressure, in a game which he was able to enjoy from the comfort of his penalty box.

Rating: 8

Sergio Ramos- As always, Ramos was solid in defense and lively further up the field. Knowing Ramos though, he will have been disappointed not to have found the score sheet, the defender came close to finding the net when his shot flew wide during the first few minutes.

Rating: 8


Gerard Pique- Without his normal partner, Pique continued to look like one of the best defenders on the planet with a commanding display that decimated the hopes of Agudelo and Altidore. Certainly, I hope aspiring central defender Tim Ream took note of Pique's performance, Ream plays a similar style, but has much to learn from men like Gerard Pique.

Rating: 9

Raul Albiol- The replacement for Carlos Puyol, Albiol put in a good shift alongside Pique. To be honest, neither were really called upon to produce any high intensity defending, but I thought that Albiol (like Pique) did a good job distributing the ball from the back.

Rating: 8

Alvaro Arbeloa- As always, Real Madrid right back Arbeloa put in a steady shift, not wowing the Foxborough crowd by any means, but still producing a more than commendable performance.

Rating: 8

Sergio Busquets- This man is the future of Spain's holding midfield position. Terrific against Manchester United last weekend, Busquets once again put on an absolute clinic. The ideal conduit, a link between defense and the attacking midfield, Busquets helped maintain fluidity, and created the space for David Silva to weave his magic.

Rating: 9

David Villa- One of his more quiet games, but Villa still did manage to produce a moment of magic; it was his dummy which led to Santi Cazorla's opener. As Spain's top scorer of all time, Villa will have been disappointed to end the game scoreless, though he did only play forty-five minutes.

Rating: 7

Xabi Alonso- Despite his side's domination of the game, I felt that Alonso was unable to really make a mark on the fixture. Three or four times he sprayed long passes directly out of bounds, atypical of any Spanish player, let alone Xabi Alonso. Next season could be a difficult one for the World Cup winner, if he continues to sloppily lose possession, then his spot in the Real Madird line-up could be usurped by the incoming Nuri Sahin.

Rating: 6

Santiago Cazorla- The scorer of Spain's first and third goals, the diminutive Cazorla was impressive all afternoon. His finish for goal number one was splendid, and his runs to the edge of box were reminiscent of Frank Lampard in his pomp. I often think that for all their terrific passing Xavi and Iniesta don't find the net enough, maybe Cazorla could prove to be a consistent provider of goals from midfield.

Rating: 9

David Silva- My man of the match, the Manchester City creator was simply irresistible at the top of midfield. Silva's statistical contribution to the game may have been just two assists, but his overall performance was simply remarkable. His movement in the attack sliced the United States to bits, and his incisive dribbling had Bradley's back four stumbling around like a bunch of blind gorillas.

Rating: 10

Alvaro Negredo- Negredo is a player who I've been a really big fan of for quite a while. His performances at Sevilla are consistently excellent, and I think that he and Llorente could give Torres a run for his money in terms of that starting berth alongside David Villa. On Saturday, Negredo was only allowed forty-five minutes, but nevertheless he was highly impressive. A delicate chip was denied by the bar, before he doubled Spain's lead having been released by Xabi Alonso.

Rating: 8

Subs


Iker Casillas: 7
Joan Capdevilla: 7
Bruno Soriano: 7
Andres Iniesta: 8
Borja Valero: 8.5
Fernando Torres: 7

Five Things We Learned From USA vs Spain

1. At the back, the US simply must improve- Perhaps it is a little harsh to accuse a team of defensive instability after being annihilated by the Spaniards, but here I believe it is a fair assessment. Though Spain did only score four, the US looked completely out of their depth when faced with the dynamic Spanish attack. Once again, Onyewu was slow and uncertain, forever out of position, forever a liability. Next to him, Tim Ream failed to show any of the promise which has earned him a place in the national team squad, he and Onyewu let the Spanish strikers get behind them far too many times. In the full back positions, neither Eric Lichaj nor Jonathan Spector showed much of an inclination to get forward, and on those rare occasions that they did, end product was sorely lacking.

2. Chris Wondolowski might be a better option than Jozy Altidore- US soccer fans are getting to that point with Jozy Altidore. After a promising start to his career both in club football and with the national team, the powerful center forward seems to have lost his way. Following a transfer to Villareal, Altidore has been short of form, and his loan stints around the world have all been unsuccessful. For the national team as well, Altidore has been poor. Since playing brilliantly against Spain in the Confederations Cup semi final of 2009, Altidore has fallen away, failing to score when it matters most. After viewing the United States' loss yesterday, my hopes of a renaissance for Jozy are fast dissipating. The striker looked sluggish, totally ineffective, at a loss as to how to best combat the water tight Spain defense. I hate to say it, but when Altidore was taken off and Wondo brought on in his stead, the US immediately looked more dangerous Wondolowski did well with what little of the ball he was able to see.


3. Sacha Klejstan is not the answer in central midfield- In a game showcasing so many superbly skilled attacking midfield players, it is a shame that Bob Bradley chose not to play the best one that he personally could have had available. Meant to provide the spark in a stodgy midfield featuring destroyers like Jermain Jones and Maurice Edu, Klejstan was unimpressive, failing to put any kind of stamp on the match. While Spaniards like Borja Valero were able to come on and immediately spray the passes around like they had been in from the start, Klejstan failed miserably. Sitting at home, Jose Francisco Torres must have wondered what he needed to do to get into Bradley's side, Torres is a player that could have provided the United States with some real attacking impetus, but instead he was forced to watch from home.

4. The Spain reserves are pretty good too- No Xavi, no Iniesta, no Torres, yet in the first half of their four-nil mauling of the US, Spain looked every bit like World champions. Despite barely resembling the team which stepped out to face Holland in South Africa, Spain's passing remained seamless, their interplay immaculate. In midfield, Silva showed that their is life after Xavi, while the cameo appearance of Borja Valero was also encouraging. Up front, Alvaro Negredo proved that their is an able replacement for Fernando Torres in tow, if the striker continues to misfire next season. Negredo's delicate, cross bar kissing chip at 0-0 was just as impressive as the goal he would score twenty minutes later.

5. The US must learn how to frustrate a possession oriented team- Many a US fan, disappointed by their country's humbling at the hands of the Spaniards, will take solace in the fact that at the upcoming Gold Cup the States will not have to play opposition with nearly as much quality. In some ways, that is true, the US will not have to face any side that progressed farther than them in last year's World Cup, and their initial opponents will be teams likely ripe for the slaughter. However, the United States' Gold Cup campaign will not be defined by the number of goals they smash past Guadeloupe and Panama, but by how they fare in the final, against Mexico. It is here where the memories of yesterday's defeat to Spain could be evoked. Though obviously not as classy, Mexico play the game in a similar style to the World champions, a style that had the US at a loss yesterday. When up against the Mexicans, Bradley's team must learn how to control the game when in possession, and hustle the opposition when the don't. Lessons learned on Saturday could come in handy.

INFTH Top 100: Numbers 92 and 91

92. Paolo Cannavaro- The rock that Napoli's incredible season was built off of, Cannavaro has become more than just Fabio's younger brother. As the captain of a Napoli side which took Serie A by storm, Cannavaro was an ever present, a leader at the back and a valuable asset to Walter Matzarri's side.

Though Cannavaro, and the rest of the Napoli defense, were outshone by the attacking triumvirate of Cavani, Hamsik and Lavezzi, the general consensus in Italy remains that Cannavaro has greatly improved as a player, a fitting bearer of that most famous of names.

Having played for Napoli since his youth, it seems unlikely that Cannavaro would ever consider leaving the side, especially with the enticing prospect of Champions League football for next season. Much like Dortmund and Porto, the head honchos at Napoli are likely to have trouble keeping hold of their start names, however, I doubt that retaining Cannavaro will pose many difficulties to the Azzuri hierarchy.

91. Joao Moutinho- Serially linked to Everton, last summer Moutinho became one of the many Portuguese speaking stars to have been sucked through the entrance way at FC Porto. As captain of Sporting, Moutinho's decison to join rivals Porto was described as "deplorable" by some parties, but their is no doubt that Moutinho must now be eternally grateful that he did decide to join the Portuguese giants.

Coached by Andre Villas-Boas, Porto won an unprecedented treble, including the Portuguese league and cup as well as the Europa League. Key to that success was new signing Moutinho, a young, exciting attacking midfield player. Though his goalscoring statistics leave a lot to be desired, there is no doubt that Moutinho's creativity was a crucial factor in the incredible totals boasted by some of his Porto colleagues.

Having signed a five year deal at the start of the season, a move abroad looks unlikely for Joao Moutinho, the midfielder is with content living in his native Portugal and he'll savor the opportunity of representing his club in next year's Uefa Champions League.

Certainly, I for one will be looking forward to seeing Moutinho on show at next year's European Championships, in the past he has disappointed but I think 2012 could be his year.




Read more from David Yaffe-Bellany (The Chairman) @ www.redflagflyinghigh.com

INFTH MLS Predictions

Los Angeles vs DC United- This match could tell us quite a lot about the LA Galaxy. Without Landon Donovan, they will be up against it playing a team which ended Portland's fabulous run of home form last weekend.

DC were handed a boost heading into this game, as star striker Charlie Davies was declared fit to play in what will likely prove to be one of DC's toughest examinations this year. Obviously, a rather porous DC back line led by Kitchen and Jakovic will be pleased about Landon Donovan's absence, but they still will have plenty to deal with. Beckham's position atop the MLS assist making leaderboard has been very well publicized, as has Lopez' ascendance into the first team.

If DC can perform to the same level that they did in Portland last week then they could have a decent chance of salvaging something from this game. However, if they let their concentration slip then they will be punished severely.

Prediction: 2-0

Toronto vs Kansas City- The stars are fit, the home opener is just one game away and Kansas City are ready to get their season back on track. Boasting the worst record in MLS, KC are in quite a predicament, but with stars like Teal Bunbury, Kei Kamara and Omar Bravo fit and raring to go they should pose any defense in the league problems.

Toronto meanwhile, have no home opener to look forward to as a way to relieve themselves of their problems, the dire straight that they find themselves in is unlikely to disappear.

Considering Sporting's terrible away form, Toronto should feel fairly confident heading into this one, but the one thing that must surely have been lacking since last weekend's humiliating defeat to Philly is confidence.

Prediction: 2-2

New York vs Columbus- After a chastening last few weeks, the Red Bulls are unlikely to find things the slightest bit easier against Columbus. With a whole plethora of Gold Cup stars gone for the best part of three weeks, the Red Bulls must quickly find a way for a new look line-up to work, or risk being left in Philadelphia's dust.

Columbus have capsized defensively in the last few weeks, surprising considering their early season prowess in that area. After conceding only three in seven, they have let in seven in three, a remarkably dreary statistic. To make matters worse, Robbie Rodgers is set to be gone for a lengthy period while playing for the USA, that won't help the Crew in the attacking third.

If Columbus DP Andres Mendoza can deliver the goals that he did last week, then the Crew might have a chance. However, even a weakened New York line-up should be too much for Columbus.

Prediction: 3-1

Dallas vs New England- They're the form team in MLS, and that is with their best player sidelined. Yes, the rise of FC Dallas this season has been as dramatic as it has been surprising, even without Davide Ferreira they remain the team most likely to challenge the LA Galaxy for the Western Conference title.

New England were handed a slightly double sided boost midweek, when Benny Feilhaber withdrew from the US squad. While Nicol will be able to keep the American under close eye, the reason for his withdrawal was injury, so it's not as though he won't be missing any action for the Revs. Adding to the Revolution's midfield crisis is Shalrie Joseph's Gold Cup participation, his energy in the middle will be sorely missed.

With the form of Castillo and Shea in mind, as well as the back up of a water tight defense, it's hard to look past an emphatic Dallas victory.

Prediction: 3-0

Chicago vs Seattle- A massive game for Chicago, Seattle's visit marks the debut of new manager Frank Klopas. After a terrible run of results, Carlos de los Cobos was sacked on Monday, ushering in a new era at the Chicago Fire.

There is no question about it, Marco Pappa's international obligations could have a really negative effect on the opening weeks of the Klopas regime. Arguably the Fire's only decent performer this season, Pappa's creative influence will be sorely missed, someone will have to step up or the Fire are likely to struggle.

Coming off a stunning away win at the Rio Tinto Stadium last weekend, Seattle will be bursting confidence. However, the Sounders have been notoriously inconsistent this season, and I wouldn't be surprised if they fail to perform at Toyota Park.

Prediction: 2-1


Colorado vs Philadelphia- The defending champions have been anything but convincing this season, but Jamie Smith's Rapids are still a difficult team to play away from home.

Last week, the Union really put on a show for their travelling fans, finding the net six times away in Toronto. It is unlikely that that form will be replicated on Saturday, but if players like Mwanga, Mapp and Ruiz can continue to score goals then the champs could be in for tough night.

Encouragingly for the Rapids, they are beginning to get their key men back. Conor Casey returned from injury last week, though Omar Cummings will be unavailable with an ankle problem.

Prediction: 1-1

RSL vs Vancouver- Now under the stewardship of Tom Soehn, Vancouver will look to build on a draw midweek and capitalize on RSL's poor form.

Real Salt Lake have been on a tragically bad downward trajectory since disappointment in the Concacaf Champions League, and Kreis is likely to find it challenging to get his team's season back on track. Javier Morales' injury has left the team devoid of creativity in the final third, and with Olave suspended they are unlikely to be water tight at the back.

Coming into this game without suspended front man Eric Hassli, Vancouver will look to forwards like Salgado and Camillo to step up their play. Salgado has shown a decent amount of promise, and Camillo will be high on confidence following a fine goal midweek, so maybe a second consecutive Rio Tinto shot could be on the cards.

Prediction: 2-1

Chivas vs Portland- Last weekend was a huge disappointment for Portland as their unbeaten home record was obliterated by DC United. John Spencer said after the match that his team had received the beating their performance deserved, and you can be sure that any lapses this week will not be tolerated by the fiery Scotsman.

Chivas have the disadvantage of coming into this game after midweek action, but that shouldn't really have any great effect on them. At home, Robin Fraser's men will fancy their chances of victory, but they won't be taking Portland at all lightly.

I think I'll go for a Chivas win in this one, they've been unlucky in a few games of late, so I see something finally going their way this time.

Prediction: 2-0


San Jose vs Houston- Another of the teams affected by the Gold Cup, it will be interesting to see how San Jose do without Chris Wondolowski. Last year's golden boot winner was just clicking into gear when the call up came, perfect timing for him, not so much for the Earthquakes.

Houston have been struggling to win games of late, the goals have dried up for Will Bruin, and Cam Weaver can't seem to put together any really cohesive sequences of scoring. At the back, Houston remain fairly average, they really haven't kept enough clean sheets this season.

I think I'll tip San Jose for the win in this one, even without Wondolowkski they should maintain confidence following some impressive form of late.

Prediction: 2-1

INFTH Top 100: Numbers 94 and 93

94. Mauricio Isla- In the great pantheon of surprise packages, Udinese have certainly claimed their own special berth. While the eyes of the World will no doubt be drawn by star attackers like Sanchez and Di Natale, players like Isla have also had a great say in Udinese's success over the last season.

Able to play all along the back four and even in midfield, Isla is would be a useful  would be weapon for any team in European football, and Udinese certainly benefited greatly from his services last season. Isla seems to have a real taste for entertaining football as well, he was a starter in Chile's World Cup team, and he and Alexis Sanchez have managed to translated that enthusiasm for the game to Italian football.

In the future, I'd love to see Isla ply his trade at one of the top European clubs, he has the talent for it, and many of the big European teams are greatly lacking in the full back areas. However, for now, I hope that Isla stays put so that Udinese can really build on last season, and show off their attacking impetus in the Champions League.

93. Darren Bent- In the midst of high profile transfers including the likes of Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Fernando Torres and Edin Dzeko, Darren Bent was largely a forgotten man. Having done so well for Sunderland under Steve Bruce, Bent completed a big money transfer to Aston Villa last January, a move which seems to have benefited both club and player.

A serial goalscorer, Darren Bent once again finished the Premier League's top English marksman, something which hasn't gone unnoticed by Fabio Capello, 2011 has been the first year that Bent has really been given any kind of shot at National Team success.

After scoring on his debut against Manchester City, Bent went on to net another eight times in the league, helping a struggling Villa side move out of the relegation zone. Had it not been for Bent's goals, Villa's plight could have been severe, they were in dire straights up until his arrival.

On the other hand, the club that Bent started the season with (Sunderland) plummeted down the standings following his department, a fact that will no doubt satisfy the Englishman immensely, he clearly was an important cog in the Black Cats' machine.

Going into next year, Bent will be determined to further himself even more, Euro 2012 is just around the corner, and if Bent is to take the next logical step in his career then he must perform for his country at a major international tournament.

Check out David Yaffe-Bellany, alias "The Chairman" at www.redflagflyinghigh.com

INFTH Top 100: Numbers 96 and 95

96. Benedikt Howedes- Another brilliant up and coming German player, Howedes is the forgotten man of Germany's U21 team. At 6ft. 2, Howedes cuts an imposing figure on the football pitch, and he has imposed himself well on opposition attackers all season long.

Though Schalke's league season was anything but acceptable, Howedes will most likely remember 2011 for his side's performance in two cup competitions. Schalke were superb in the Champions League, reaching the semis before a resounding defeat to Manchester United over two legs.

A season that started with two red cards in his first three games ended with a first ever major club trophy for Howedes. Going into their German Cup final with Duisburg, Schalke were massive favorites, and Howedes helped them to take advantage of their superiority, scoring the German club's fourth in a five nil victory.

Going into next season, Howedes will hope that he forms part of a defense which yields far fewer goals, but for now, he will be content to sit back cradling his German Cup winnners' medal.

95. Alberto Aquilani- Alberto Aquilani's transformation from greatest enigma in football to a member of INFTH's top 100 list has been quite impressive. After an injury ravaged time at Liverpool, Aquilani was loaned back to Italy before the start of the 2010/11 season; with the grateful recipients of his services being Juventus.

A brilliant midfield passer, Aquilani excelled all season in the slow environment of the Italian midfield, scoring a respectable two goals from his deep lying position. Perhaps even more significantly, Aquilani managed to break back into the Italy squad, playing eighty-four minutes of a Euro 2012 qualifying win over Slovenia.

Heading into the summer, and eventually next season, Aquilani's future is still very much in doubt. Juventus  are hesitant to pay the original fee agreed for the purchase of Aquilani, and Liverpool (no doubt impressed by his performances) are now interested in retaining the player. It is quite obvious that Aquilani would prefer to stay in Italy, but whether that will be with Juventus is much less clear. Under new ownership, it wouldn't be surprising to see Roma make a move for Aquilani, Mexes has already left for Milan, and De Rossi could be on his way too. Even if De Rossi does stay on, the Roma management team would no doubt be interested in a player capable of replacing the creative capabilities of aging attacker Francesco Totti; especially one as ingrained in the culture and history of the club as Aquilani.