With six grand slam titles to his name already Nadal has already staked his claim as one of the greats of the game but the aura he used to bring to the court has vanished.

In his first round-robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Monday he was bullied by Sweden's Robin Soderling, spending virtually the whole match on the run.

It was a similar story on Wednesday against Nikolay Davydenko, with the Spaniard losing his second match in straight sets to leave himself with no chance of making progress.

The match against Soderling was instructive. His shots lacked depth and menace, and were food and drink to his opponent, who had time to set up hisbig forehand and pin Nadal in the corners of the court.

The serve is a worry too -- he is managing very few easy points there -- and then there is the matter of his knees. Only Nadal knows how much the tendonitis that prevented him from defending his Wimbledon title is still bothering him.

So much of Nadal's mystique was built around his physical attributes, his speed and his court coverage. Getting the ball past his racket looked a near impossibility at times as Nadal often seemed twice as big as he actually is.

That intimidatory factor is not there now, however. His movements seems a little less explosive and players with the tools to attack the Spaniard are able to dominate rallies that used to be bread and butter for Nadal.

Better players than Soderling and even Davydenko used to walk on court against Nadal already beaten between the ears. For a while even Roger Federer, the greatest player to wield a racket, seemed to have run out of ideas against him.

Right now, however, Nadal looks vulnerable and he is without a title since May. In Beijing in October he was thrashed in the semi-finals by Marin Cilic and recently in Paris world number three Novak Djokovic proved far too strong.

For the sake of tennis, it has to be hoped that Nadal can recover his spark in time for the defence of his Australian title in January. The men's game would be a poorer product without the swashbuckling Spaniard challenging for grand slam titles.

PHOTO: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his ATP World Tour Finals tennis match against Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in London November 25, 2009. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett

Portugal, France and Russia, could all perish and the tournament, which is supposed to be the pinnacle of the game, could have a cast list including Honduras, New Zealand, North Korea, Slovakia, Bosnia and Slovenia.

Some fear the absence of world stars like Portugal's Real Madrid playmaker Cristiano Ronaldo, Russia's magician Andrei Arshavin and France's mercurial Frank Ribery would de-value the tournament.

But would it be such a bad thing?

Some would suggest that Europe's top nations should be guaranteed entry into the World Cup finals with a few token places for the also-rans.

But where would that leave the likes of Bosnia? Who could deny them their place on the biggest stage for the first time if they overturn a 1-0 deficit against Portugal in Zenica.

While that would leave Ronaldo kicking his heels on some beach next year, it would open the way for new names. Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko may not have much of a profile yet outside his home country and the Bundesliga where he plays, but after scoring 10 times in qualifying few would begrudge him his chance.

France have endured a fairly miserable few years under Raymond Domenech since finishing as runners-up in 2006. They should be there next year after winning 1-0 in Dublin last weekend but there may well be a few wry smiles from some of their rivals if they blow it in Paris.

Bar owners in South Africa's host cities may also be hoping that Ireland's party-loving fans are in town next year. And while Ireland have no A-list players, their supporters would certainly embellish the tournament.

PHOTO: Bosnia's Edin Dzeko react during their World Cup playoff first leg against Portugal at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Nov 14, 2009. REUTERS/Jose Manuel Ribeiro

It seems almost beyond dispute, though, that whenever the Spaniard is unavailable Liverpool look ill equipped to challenge for the title, a situation hardly helped by the sales of Xabi Alonso, Robbie Keane and Alvaro Arbeloa in the past year.

I realise this could come across as heresy to Liverpool fans, but might the answer be to sell Torres too?

Torres is, without question, an exceptional player but he is not irreplaceable. Liverpool have won nothing with the Spaniard in attack because they simply do not have the same in-depth quality that Chelsea and Manchester United can boast.

If Cristiano Ronaldo was worth 80 million when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid, Torres should command a similar figure.

With that money Liverpool could buy three, maybe four, top drawer players who would give their squad more balance. Valencia striker David Villa would cost around 30 million and would be a handy replacement for Torres, as would Atletico Madrid's Argentine frontman Sergio Aguero. Either, or both of them, would leave manager Rafael Benitez enough left over to strengthen in other areas.

Villa's team mate David Silva would add some creativity in Liverpool's midfield as would Tottenham Hotspur's midfield spark Luca Modric or his team mate Aaron Lennon, if they could be prised away.

With Liverpool's debts unlikely to ease any time soon, Benitez will probably need to sell before bringing in new blood but few of their current squad, apart from Torres, Gerrard and midfield anchor Javier Mascherano, would raise the kind of money that they would require for a major squad overhaul.

Selling Torres might be the one step back Liverpool need to take in order to take two forward because at present they appear to be getting left behind.

PHOTO: Fernando Torres looks on during their Champions League soccer match against Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence September 29, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

Arsene Wenger has not collected trophies quite as greedily as his Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson but in terms of his impact on English football he has no equal.

Ferguson transformed an under-achieving United into the most succesful club in English football but Wenger has set the benchmark for modern-day club football in terms of style.

Like the great Dutch sides of yesteryear, Arsenal's players, whichever part of the globe they come from, are schooled in Wenger's philosophy of pure football, one-touch passing and dazzling counter-attacking.

They have evolved from a side built on the traditional English assets of power, grit and workrate to become among the slickest footballing teams in Europe. On their day they are the best team in the world to watch and are a textbook for how the game should be played.

Wenger became Arsenal's longest-serving manager on Thursday and his latest squad appears equal to anything that has gone before. Great managers are judged on their ability to rebuild teams when key players either get too old or move on and both Wenger and Ferguson are masters at it.

Despite a good start to the season for United, it still looks like the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo might return to haunt them.

Arsenal, though, have Andrei Arshavin quickly establishing himself as the new darling of the fans following Thierry Henry's move while ball-playing defender Thomas Vermaelen is making his mark. The Gunners are oozing potential.

Wenger appears to have crafted another great squad and with Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott on the way back from injuries, this could be the season that the Frenchman starts collecting silverware again after four trophy-less years...

PHOTO: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger addresses a news conference in Liege, September 15, 2009. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Enter Ryan Giggs.

The veteran Welshman was introduced as a substitute for the often infuriating Nani after 57 minutes and took just five more to provide the pass from which Dimitar Berbatov broke the
deadlock.

He then teed up John O'Shea for United's second with a pinpoint free kick.

When Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Real Madrid, the spotlight turned on Nani and new recruit Antonio Valencia to fill his boots.

But Giggs, the club's record appearance maker, is proving that there is no substitute for class and know-how.

Gone are the days when his twinkle toes would leave defenders swinging at thin air, but the 35-year-old's value to Alex Ferguson's squad is still immeasurable.

Giggs appears to have an uncanny ability to read a football match, to unlock a defence with a simple pass. He made three of United's four goals against Manchester City last week and his two assists against Wigan Athletic helped his side go back to the top of the Premier League.

He could again be United's trump card this season as they try to win a fourth consecutive title and reclaim the Champions League and its no wonder that Ferguson has always treated him like a favourite son.

Few players in the history of the club have endured as long as Giggs and, treated carefully, there appears no reason why he cannot continue at the top level for another couple of seasons.

In the meantime, Nani and Valencia should look and learn and remember the old adage that football is essentially a simple game too often made complicated.

PHOTO: Manchester United's John O'Shea celebrates scoring against Stoke City with Ryan Giggs during their English Premier League match, Sept. 26, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium gleamed in the sunshine on Saturday as the north London side produced an exhilarating display to beat Portsmouth 4-1 in the Premier League.

The impressive structure, wedged into a densely populated part of the capital, is one of England's finest club grounds but many of the 60,000 fans sat on their comfy plastic seats would have pined for the old Highbury ground just across the road.

Highbury, like Goodison Park, White Hart Lane, Anfield and the old Maine Road, was born in an era when football was the traditional "working class" escape from a hard week's labour.

Just being at the ground, watching your favourite players, was enough reason to raise the voice and wave the scarf. Things were spontaneous, sons followed fathers as the terrace folklore was passed down from one generation to the next.

Old-school football fans are watching the Saturday afternoon traditions die.

So it is that the image gurus at Arsenal are busy devising ways to re-create what the march of money, live TV, expensive tickets and millionaire players has eroded.

"Arsenalisation" they are calling it. The club is promising a number of measures to try and link the concrete and plastic bowl that the Emirates is to Arsenal's rich history.

On Saturday this involved the placing of a free red and white scarve on every seat.

Page 12 of the glossy matchday programme instructs fans to place the scarf above their heads when the players come out and to remember to bring them to the next game.

True, it looked good, but have football fans become so pampered that they now have to be given instructions on scarf-waving? Arsene Wenger said he was a big fan of the initiative, eluding to the fact that "soul and love" appeared to be missing at the new edifice.

Once upon a time, taking a scarf, a rosette, bobble hat or banner was just instictive behaviour...new songs would float down from the terraces on a weekly basis.

Arsenal just pump up the volume on the Elvis Presley classic The Wonder of You which for reasons not quite clear has been adopted as their theme tune.

This is by no means a dig at Arsenal. The fact they have identified a problem is to their credit.

Other stadiums also appear to have to initiate the atmosphere. At nearby Tottenham the Tannoy blares a medley of some of the club's anthems before kick-off while at Wembley Stadium, fans are blasted with a selection of the winning club's favourite tunes, as if they need a helping hand to celebrate.

With the old Victorian stadium gradually disappearing (White Hart Lane, Anfield and Goodison Park may all soon be gone) clubs will increasingly have to come up with gimmicks in a bid to maintain their identity.

And another thing, since when do self-respecting football fans need to be reminded of the score at halftime and fulltime. It's another iritating trend that appears designed for the corporate hospitality brigade who might have missed something while tucking into their canapes.

PHOTO: A young Arsenal fan holds up his scarf before their English Premier League soccer match against Portsmouth at the Emirates Stadium in London August 22, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Significantly, the players bought by manager Mark Hughes are tried and tested in the Premier League which augurs wells for City's chances of shaking up the established pecking order in English football.

Opposing managers must have watched with a growing sense of awe and no doubt a little envy as Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) joined to form a formidable looking strike force while defender Kolo Toure (Arsenal) was recruited to beef up the back four and England midfielder Gareth Barry signed from Aston Villa.

Consider the likes of Robinho, Craig Bellamy, Shaun-Wright Phillips, Wayne Bridge and Micah Richards, who were all part of last season's team, and City already boast arguably the strongest squad in the Premier League with the transfer window nowhere near closing.

But can they win the league? Are the new recruits going to bridge the 40-point gap between champions Manchester United and City last season or eben the 20-odd extra points they will need to challenge for a Champions League spot.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill certainly thinks so.

"City might not be favourites to win the league, but they should be," O'Neill said last week. "They have as good a chance as anybody of winning it."

Vast riches are no guarantee to silverware but as Chelsea proved when Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, factor in a coherent transfer policy and an astute coach and anything is possible.

It did not happen immediately at Stamford Bridge and it wasn't until a year into the Abramovich reign that Claudio Ranieri was sacked, Jose Mourinho recruited and Chelsea won the league for the first time since 1955. Another title followed as Chelsea became the dominant force in English football for a while.

Man City are a similar size club to Chelsea, both in terms of support and history.

They have not won the league since 1968 and you have to go back to 1976 for their last major domestic silverware when they won the League Cup.

Should they fail to end that long wait this season Hughes would almost certainly pay with his job. There can be no excuses from Hughes this season. He has been given all he wants and no manager will be under the spotlight more than the Welshman.

It would be a major surprise if City are not challenging in or around the top four before long this season, though. Arsenal look particularly vulnerable to the new threat from the North West, while even champions Manchester United, minus star player Cristiano Ronaldo, will be keeping a close watch across the city.

Buying success may not be popular, unless you support the team in question, but it has been done before and watching City's progress will be fascinating this season.

Just spare a thought for the other clubs who clawed their way to the fringes of the top four in recent seasons such as Villa and Everton.

O'Neill summed up the mood. "I'm deflated by it," he said last week. "You think, 'Well, you got quite close last year and suddenly another club has just stepped over you'. It kind of punctures you."

So what do you think? Are Man City title contenders?

PHOTO: Emmanuel Adebayor (R) of Manchester City is challenged by Thomas Sweswe of Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus stadium in Pretoria, July 25,2009. REUTERS/Denvor de Wee

Has John Terry got a bit big for his boots by questioning whether Chelsea’s ambition matches his own?

The defender and club captain said that was the reason for the delay in him nailing his colours to the Chelsea mast in the wake of Manchester City’s reported 200,000 pounds per week offer to take him away from Stamford Bridge.

Nothing to do with money. Nothing to do either with the fact that he has peaked as a player and with injuries niggling away at his joints, the England skipper is likely to find it more and more difficult to excel at the highest levels of the game.

Fans of the club will take some convincing that Terry still has his heart fully at the club despite his words to the contrary.

They might also argue that losing Mr Chelsea for an enormous fee to a club not even in the Champions League would have been a good piece of business and not the disaster some predicted.

Terry is still a world class defender but is certainly replaceable. He is no Cristiano Ronaldo after all. He will be one of the first names on Carlo Ancelotti’s team sheet as the new season kicks off but City are unlikely to have been totally put off the scent.

Terry said he hoped to have a good season and then sit down and talk to the club about a new deal….any loss of form, however, and club owner Roman Abramovich might just decide that Mr Chelsea is expendable after all.

PHOTO: Chelsea's John Terry keeps his eyes on the ball as he falls on the pitch during the second half of their 2009 World Football Challenge soccer match against AC Milan in Baltimore, Maryland, July 24, 2009. Chelsea won 2-1. REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang

Former England striker Jimmy Greaves summed it up quite well at half-time during England's 6-0 thrashing of Andorra in a World Cup qualifier.

"Have you ever seen a team this bad at Wembley?" Greaves, one of several members of the 1996 World Cup squad to be given belated winners medals after missing the final, said when interviewed by ITV.

Greaves went on to question the sanity of the near 60,000 fans who bought tickets to watch England beat a side that would struggle to survive in the fourth tier of English club football.

It wasn't quite what ITV wanted to hear after desperately trying to stoke interest in the miss-match but the outspoken Greaves made a very good point before we were returned hurriedly to the studio.

The likes of Andorra and San Marino may belong to the FIFA family but they offer absolutely nothing to football at this level.

There sole objective is to avoid a double-figure thrashing which they usually achieve by positioning 11 players behind the ball and never venturing over the halfway line.

Apart from the three points pocketed by the teams facing them and the chance for strikers to skew their goalscoring stats the matches are... pointless.

Andorra have managed just three wins in 84 internationals with a combined goal difference of minus 203. San Marino are even worse, having managed just a solitary win in a friendly against Liechtenstein.

It is now time for FIFA and UEFA to act and stop these excuses for games of football.

Nobody is advocating banning them, but a system whereby the minnows must come through a pre-qualifying group before getting to face the big guns would at least weed out the country's who are just cluttering the schedule.

By playing against nations of a similar standing it might even encourage them to try and score goals and ultimately improve their level of play.

Alan Shearer has a big decision on his hands after his eight-game stint in charge of Newcastle United ended in relegation from the Premier League on Sunday.

Most fans of the club will be desperate for Shearer, the club's record goalscorer, to be handed the job of rebuilding the team as they prepare for life outside the top flight.

But is sentiment once again in danger of clouding the judgement of those who will make the decision? After all, Newcastle appear in such a mess that surely a manager of vast experience is needed.

Then again, Kevin Keegan was a managerial rookie when he took over in 1992 with the club heading for the third tier of English football and he transformed them into a side that almost landed the Premier League title.

The recent record of former big name players making the jump to manage big clubs is not great, however. Paul Ince failed at Blackburn Rovers, Tony Adams at Portsmouth and Roy Keane ultimately walked away from Sunderland.

Geordie fans will demand an instant return to the top flight and that will heap huge pressure on whoever is in charge next season. Shearer would be given more leeway than an outsider, but it would still be a huge gamble for him and the club.

If it failed, where would they go from there?

Owner Mike Ashley would be best served by approaching a proven manager such as Wigan Athletic's Newcastle-born boss Steve Bruce with Shearer involved as an assistant.

Fulham's Roy Hodgson would also be a safe bet as would former Tottenham Hotspur boss Martin Jol who has often expressed a wish to return to English football.

However, logic has tended to go out of the window at Newcastle down the years. With Ashley still trying to appease the fans after Keegan's sudden exit this season from his second stint as manager, Shearer is clear favourite -- if he wants the job.

After eight weeks of stress, he may just head back for the BBC studios for the less health-damaging career of football punditry.

PHOTO: Alan Shearer throws the ball back into play during their English Premier League match against Aston Villa, May 24, 2009. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez