Madrid draw Barcelona in Champions League Semi-Final

Real Madrid have drawn Barcelona to set up a blockbuster Champions League Semi-final clash. 

Jose Mourinho (right) has taken a lot of stick from the fans, the press and many Real Madrid legends over the style in which his Madrid side plays.

The 'special one'

However I do believe that they are being very harsh. Earlier in the season he watched as his Madrid side were dismantled 5-0 by Barcelona, so to me it is fairly obvious that he is not going to play the same way or even attempt to take them on that their own game. Barcelona are without doubt man for man the best team in the world. However as Mourinho has shown in the last two encounters he is capable of tactically beating them. It isn't pretty but it is attritional. The closing down and breaking up of attacks stops Barcelona playing. This tactic takes an enormous amount of concentration of which he instils into his sides. People say it is boring however it is actually a wonderful watch to see the two styles collide. He knows that Barcelona are the better team however his ability to frustrate them is second to none. He did it with Inter Milan last year and I can see him doing it again this year. It will be a thrilling two legs. Having already played them twice it will be interesting to see if he persists with similar tactics.

Mourinho is known for surprises. The first game showed that. Playing Pepe in front of the back four in which he would break up attacks and then drive forward caught Barcelona by surprise. He, Pepe, was outstanding in the league game. A game in which Madrid had the chances to win. He wasn't so influential in the Copa Del Rey Final however the counter-attacking style did prevail.

The Champions League promises to be fascinating and I do think the winner of that tie will win the tournament at Wembley. You may not like it but you have to appreciate it. It gets results. Would Arsenal fans swap the pretty football for trophies? He is without doubt the best manager in the world at this moment in time.

There is no other manager in the world I would want if my team had to win a one off match.

Arsenal's Woes Continue

Another trophyless season has now been confirmed for Arsenal. Sundays defeat to Bolton was the was final nail in the coffin. The slim hope that Arsenal had of challenging Manchester United for the title is gone. This is now the sixth season without a trophy and the Aresnal fans are more restless then ever. Arsene Wenger's (below right) stubbornness over his policy of not spending money is again damaging the team. 

For years now Arsenal have been lacking a title-winning spine to the team. A world class goalkeeper has been needed, why he did not sign Shay Given years ago no one will ever know. He has persisted with the likes of Almunia and Fabianski who will not win you leagues or cups. They are liabilities. This year Schenzy has had some very impressive performances and is me for is the best goalkeeper at the club but he is still error-prone.

Time for Wenger to spend

The centre of defence has been weak since the likes of Tony Adams retired. Thomas Vermaelen has been impressive however his injuries have affected Arsenal. Without him the defence is weak. Lorient Koscielny and Sebastian Squillaci are in their first seasons but have not impressed. Arsenal are noted as weak from set pieces. Teams such as Bolton and Stoke have always troubled Arsenal in recent years due to their physicality. Wenger always complains however his successful sides would not have had a problem. At the back he had Sol Campbell, Martin Keown and Adams. They were always very strong and gave the team real backbone. 

They also had the likes of Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour to boss the midfield. These were hard players who could easily hold their own. Vieira is the one who they have missed very much. They have never replaced him. Diaby and Song are just not in the same league.

Players such as Ljungberg and Pires have not been replaced. These were great players at the height of their careers. Both were skilful players who the likes of Tomas Rosicky are no where near up to their standard. Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri have their moments and Theo Walcott is a shadow of the player he should be.

Another area where Aresne has seems to have changed tactic in up front. In the beginning he had Nicolas Anelka an unknown at the time that took the league by storm. When he was sold to Real Madrid he was deemed an almost impossible player to replace. The pace, power and clinical finish. However suddenly in comes another reasonably unknown called Thierry Henry. He proved better then Anelka and is one of the greatest Premier League forwards of all time. Another element to the success was that of the masterful Dennis Bergkamp. Now neither have been properly replaced. Robin Van Persie is a great player however his injuries have prevented him from maintaining his form for an entire season. Wenger seems to have gone against his electric frontman tactic which for me is an error. Nicklas Bendtner should not be at the club, the Barcelona game proved that. For me he has the player to fulfill the void and that is Walcott. Why has he never put Walcottt up the middle? He is wasted out wide. When I first saw Walcott, I saw him as a potential Henry for England. His performances for the U21, especially his two goals against Germany were world class. He only came on in the 77th minute. Where has this player gone?

His potential is not being fulfilled and he is rotting on the wing and at Arsenal. Walcott needs to leave Arsenal to both play every week and be put through the middle. He is now a shadow of that player he was and now seems is scared to shoot.

Arsenal have good players but not great. They lack leaders throughout the team. Until this is rectified no trophy will be coming Arsenal's way. The Carling Cup was a prime example of this. This was a defining moment in the season. Too many weak links and no winning mentality has cost them. Arsenal never grind out results like Chelsea or United do. Arsenal's football is fantastic but has no cutting edge. They try to play Barcelona style however don't have the Lionel Messi and David Villa at the end of it. I honestly believe Wenger's time is coming to an end. In the last few weeks he is losing the plot, the comments to Kenny Daglish after the Liverpool game proved that. Arsenal need a new approach; either a new man like Jose Mourinho who will maybe not give the style but will provide trophies or a Pep Guardiola to continue the style but add the end product. Alternatively Wenger needs to cull the weak links and failures and spend, which I cant see happening.

Ins-Golakeeper, centre half, dominating centre midfield like Yaya Toure and clinical forward.

Outs- Bendtner, Rosicky, Denilson, Almunia, and thats just for starts.

Harry's Challenge

Big test for Harry's men tonight

Tonight Harry Redknapp's (right) Tottenham side takes on Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in what will be a pulsating tie. Tottenham have performed very well so far in the tournament and have produced epic performances against both AC and Inter Milan. Granted AC Milan are not as strong as maybe the name gives the illusion of but still the performances were of real class. Tottenham deserve to be in the quarter finals and this is their chance for a memorable tie.

Real Madrid are very tough opponents however have been stuttering in La Liga and are once again in the shadow of their rivals Barcelona. For Real and Jose Mourinho the Champions League is their only real hope. Their weekend defeat possibly shows that they were concentrating on this game. However they are beatable, as Sporting Gijon proved, and Tottenham can do it. Tonight's result is key. At the Bernabeu Jose will be hoping for a 2-0 victory (which is 11-2 with Skybet). This will be a very good result for them. No away goals and nice lead. Whereas Tottenham would take a draw and an away goal that could prove vital.

Tottenham will have to be resilience and tough. I imagine they will play a similar way to the way they played at the San Siro, counterattacking when possible. With Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale this is a very dangerous outlet and one which Real will be fearful of. Also Rafael Van der Vart going back to his old club will be looking to prove a point. He has had a fantastic season and has proved to be a terrific capture by Redknapp. He is creative and very dangerous around the box. Real will know of his capabilities all too well. Peter Crouch will have his part to play and will do so with his usual style. If Jermaine Defoe is on he must take his chances, he wont get many if any. For me his is too inconsistent and at this level you have to be clinical.

One of Madrid's danger men- Ronaldo is a real threat

Madrid threat will come from Cristiano Ronaldo if he is in fact fit, which I doubt. He is their main man and goalscorer. If Ronaldo is not on top form then I can see Tottenham being able to contain them. Emmanuel Adebayor and Mesut Ozil both top players but can see Tottenham containing them. Real Madrid have many stars however if they will turn on the style tonight we will have to wait and see. If they do then Tottenham will have to be at their best to avoid a drubbing.

I expect a close encounter in which the score will finish 1-1 (8-1 Skybet).