So we have the usual complaints from the champions of Europe at this time of year again as well as all the media criticism. This is a Mickey Mouse tournament, the gap in class is massive ie. we don't feel like playing here cause we'll win anyways etc.
Of course all these arguments only apply to the European champions. For the rest of the world, it is their opportunity to pit themselves against greater opposition. Gamba Osaka may have lost 5-3 but they treasured the experience greatly and will have a great story to pass down to their kids. Have a look at Hashimoto's fine strike. His face tells the whole story.
Yamazaki's placed finish was a well worked goal too but I can't be bothered to find it. Back to the topic. Gamba were 5-2 down. Hashimoto lashes a fine effort past van der Sar. Cue celebrations. Sure United were only in third gear and Gamba couldn't defend a sandcastle from a wave if they had to but the fact is such games are needed to gauge and close the gap between football's confederations. One game may not change anything anytime soon but eventually some team outside of Europe and South America will win this tournament and make the world sit up. Of course everyone will say the champions of Europe were not motivated etc etc but that's an argument for when it actually happens.
I know it is a farce and the gaps in quality are huge. But for the sake of the rest of the world it must go on. Only the Europeans don't like it. Well live with it. The rest of us would like some sort of stage to get global recognition thanks.
Meanwhile Juande Ramos checks in and suddenly decides to bring the future English team with him. Or at least that's his plan for now. Papers have mentioned Adam Johnson, Aaron Lennon, David Bentley and Ashley Young. It will probably remain paper talk but the link is intriguing nonetheless. Hard to see Bentley at Madrid though. It just doesn't feel right.
On the upside at least Ramos is getting support within the Madrid camp already. Robben has already declared he prefers life under Ramos and the new man in charge has also received support from Higuain. Signs are already positive that Ramos will take Madrid forward instead of back as clearly shown under Schuster this season. Time will tell and it should be a pretty interesting show as well.
And the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League has been made. I may be a bit biased but United vs Inter certainly looks like the tie of the round. For the most part the big guns have all been drawn against each other. Other significant ties include, Real vs Liverpool, Chelsea vs Juventus and Arsenal vs Roma. Of course in today's world any tie involving Premiership teams automatically qualifies as significant but this time they are all facing opponents capable of knocking them out. I see five potential winners of the Champions League this time around - United, Inter, Liverpool and Barcelona. Chelsea just don't seem like they will be thereabouts this season but should they comprehensively beat Juve, you can add their name to the list. Inter may be inconsistent in Europe but their side is undoubtedly filled with matchwinners, Ibrahimovic and Mancini to name two. United have a rock solid defense and perfect ammunition going forward in Rooney and Ronaldo. Liverpool under Benitez have always been strong in Europe and their form this season suggests they will be around come the end of the Champions League season. Barcelona have been scoring for fun and Eto'o looks like a player transformed, sitting pretty at the top of the La Liga scoring charts.
I'll be very surprised if none of those four win the Champions League this season. But at least you'll be able to say the team that wins it deserves it. For now it is to be forgotten till February. More Premiership saturated news and transfer rumours till then. Ugh.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Just filling in
I've been busy with more uni and work so forgive me for not posting much. For now I'll just post my feature writing assignment for my journalism class. A bit dated maybe but it's something to fill in the gap. Feel free to comment and let me know how I can improve. My lecturer gave me a distinction for this piece but he's not exactly a football fan.
The small legion of faithful supporters tries earnestly to create an atmosphere in the stands. A couple of Malaysian flags drape over the rails in a show of support. The rain seems woefully symbolic. There are less than five hundred people watching the game between Malaysia and Nepal on a soggy pitch reduced to a mud patch. Malaysia has just scored their fourth goal and Nepal look like a team who do not have the motivation to continue. The disjointed passing from both teams sums up the night. The stadium is more than three quarters empty and tells the whole story.
For years, Malaysians have abandoned what used to be a popular pastime – watching the national team. Only the hardcore fans continue turning up. And signs are that even they might be getting fed up of the mediocrity. Despite beating Nepal 4-0, there is a very obvious sense of dissatisfaction among the fans. The rain certainly did not do much to lift their spirits. All the positives cannot hide the fact that there is something very wrong with Malaysian football at the moment.
Gone are the days when Malaysia routinely beat South Korea and Japan. Once a formidable force, feared all over the continent, they were a true giant of Asian football. Nowadays, the stories of yesteryear crop up all too often. There is a sense that Malaysians are living in the past, not taking sufficient measures to improve for the future.
Questions have been posed over and over and the answers are all the same. There is a distinct possibility, almost a certainty that something much deeper is at the heart of the problem. Is this only a phase or can the rot be stopped now?
Politicians within the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) establishment have always been looked at suspiciously by the fans. Their presence within FAM has always been a topic of debate among fans. Some think that they are merely there to add another accolade to their CV. Some feel that they only use their position to put themselves in the spotlight. However, the general consensus is that they do not need to be on the board.
“FAM is not a political association. The only thing is there are people who are involved with the football and it so happens that they are politicians,” says Datuk Soh Chin Aun, current Malaysian team manager and former captain.
However he does concede that there may be politicians with agendas of their own. “Whether they are really for the development of football or not for the development of football, I don’t know,” he admitted. The pauses in between his answers suggest there is a lot more that he knows than what he is willing to divulge.
He quickly changes the topic and comments, “There needs to be better coaching available.”
“I think coaches must have had playing experience at a certain level so they can pass on their experience and knowledge to the younger generation. The input is currently lacking.”
He blames the current state associations for not developing better players for the national team to utilise. “There are a lot of people talking about how FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) is not doing their job which I think is wrong,” he grumbles. “The state associations and the clubs are the ones who have to produce good players, and then we can bring them to the national team.”
“If you give us A, we will have A in the national team. If you give B, then we will have category B in the national team, as simple as that. Say I am cooking and you give me the wrong recipe, so what? I can’t do anything.”
To him, people in the country now are blaming the officials even though they have nothing to do with the problem. His exasperated reply epitomises his views on the matter. He also puts the blame on foreign coaches and expensive foreign players.
“You see all those years we were thinking of using ‘mat salleh’ coaches and I think they were a letdown. Just because they can talk. If only I can talk like them, I can be a greater coach,” claims Soh, clearly wound up merely talking about the issue.
“They all come here to bullshit and when the players fart, they say it’s very nice. But we were footballers before. We know what is happening. We know what is good and bad.”
The recent decision to ban all foreign players from the Malaysian league was a move that perplexed many. Pundits rubbished the decision and the media continually poured scorn on the head of FAM. The simple truth behind this was that Malaysian football was not getting their money’s worth from mediocre talent. According to Soh, over RM30 million was spent last season alone on foreign imports, most of them admittedly poor. He believes the FAM made the correct decision and that it also helps clubs from promising to pay players more than they can afford.
“We just don’t want them anymore. They were a key reason for many teams being in debt,” reasons Soh. “We need to have good foreigners here, so they can help our local players. But to me, not many of the foreign players are good. Why should we spend this kind of money on them?”
He claims that some of the local players are better than the foreigners, a view not necessarily shared by the fans.
“Despite officials claiming the foreigners are average, they are still better than the majority of our players,” says Eddie Gnaniah, who has been watching the national team for the past forty years.
“The top three goalscorers in the Malaysian league this year were all foreigners! Explain that to me. I don’t understand how they can say that the foreigners don’t add anything to the league because I believe they do.”
He acknowledges the lack of funding but believes this is merely due to mismanaged funds. “Why would you agree to pay someone what you don’t have? That’s the only reason why clubs are in debt,” argues Gnaniah.
The lack of quality opposition and exposure is another factor for Malaysia’s decline in Gnaniah opinion. Malaysia has only scheduled five matches this year, excluding the ongoing Merdeka Tournament, of which only two are not regional rivals – India and Pakistan.
“Playing against such mediocre opposition is not going to help us improve. In fact it will only help our opposition improve as we are technically better than most of them,” he laments.
“This ongoing Merdeka Tournament is another example of how low the standard has dropped. We used to have the best in Asia playing here as well as teams from Europe. The best team in the competition this time is Mozambique and they didn’t even bring their first choice squad!”
The lack of quality competition is something Datuk Soh has come to accept and puts the blame on the international schedule today. “Most of the countries cannot accommodate this tournament as they have their own agenda. Secondly, today, teams like Korea and Japan are a different class compared to Malaysia. Even if you invite them, they won’t come. There is nothing for them to gain,” he argues.
“So many people are asking why we didn’t invite better teams. It’s not that we want to win but we can only take what is available.”
He believes it is not all doom and gloom for Malaysian football and that there have been improvements made in the last two years. A combination of a well educated coach as well as hungry young players has resulted in improvements in various areas, according to Soh. He is certainly well-placed to judge being the current national team manager.
“Before when we used to play, even before we played we knew we were going to lose already. Since I am with the team, somewhere or other I know there are improvements,” claims Soh.
Gnaniah shares Soh’s optimism but believes there are still sensitive hurdles to be cleared, prejudice and racism included. Today’s Malaysian team is predominantly made up of Malays with one or two Indians and Chinese in the squad. In their heyday, the national team was a multi racial set-up with members of all races featuring prominently in the squad.
“There are Chinese and Indian boys who can play very well today. The Malay players are undoubtedly good but there are definitely Chinese and Indians that can be in the national squad,” he says.
“Obviously this is never covered in the media nor can it be proven but I feel it’s definitely a factor. It’s a sensitive topic, but we must confront the issue sooner rather than later.”
Former Selangor youth player, Chris Mun agrees. “I believe Malaysia does have many good players, but that they were not selected because of certain biases. I know this because I've been through the selection sessions before,” he says with a slight hint of regret.
“Often it's for show only as the manager or selection committees already have the players they wanted in their mind.”
In contrast to Soh, he also suggests that the blame does not lie with mediocre foreign coaches, but the managers that select the team to play matches.
“Even when we have some very good coaches from overseas coming to coach our national team, we still can't perform,” he grumbles.
“This is because the manager of the national team interferes with the selection of the team when they are not the one training the team. Most of the times they tend to choose players who may not be suitable but are their favorites.”
Whereas Soh is reluctant to acknowledge the effect politicians have on the local game, Mun openly discusses the subject with no qualms. He believes the non-existent knowledge of politicians only serve to cause confusion and harm to FAM, not least when it comes to choosing players.
He claims that, “Most of them don't play or know anything about football, but all want to have a say about how to run FAM.”
“Their decisions are not for the good and advancement of FAM. The coach trains the players, but it is usually the manager, who knows nothing about football, that does the choosing.”
In his opinion, Malaysian football needs to have a complete overhaul of their current system in order to improve. He is adamant that politicians must be removed from the hierarchy and that coaches and managers be left to handle team affairs without interference. He also urges the FAM to have an open mind when it comes to trials.
“Only the best should be selected. If they are good, pick them to represent the country. Don't go by color, preference and quota,” he advises.
“Most of our players are spoilt with too many benefits. They need to be pushed outside their comfort zone.”
His final words seem almost symbolic as the players trudge off the pitch looking very satisfied with their night’s work - a 4-0 victory against a Nepal side offering little resistance. Even the muddy bogged down pitch could not disguise how easily Malaysia dominated the game – well within their comfort zone. FAM are likely to not heed Mun’s words or Soh’s suggestions anytime soon. They could do worse than try.
For now Malaysian football remains in the doldrums, the shadow of politics and poor performances looming like a dark cloud over its shoulder. It is widely known that improvements and changes need to be made. The question that has yet to be answered is when?
What next for Malaysian football?
The small legion of faithful supporters tries earnestly to create an atmosphere in the stands. A couple of Malaysian flags drape over the rails in a show of support. The rain seems woefully symbolic. There are less than five hundred people watching the game between Malaysia and Nepal on a soggy pitch reduced to a mud patch. Malaysia has just scored their fourth goal and Nepal look like a team who do not have the motivation to continue. The disjointed passing from both teams sums up the night. The stadium is more than three quarters empty and tells the whole story.
For years, Malaysians have abandoned what used to be a popular pastime – watching the national team. Only the hardcore fans continue turning up. And signs are that even they might be getting fed up of the mediocrity. Despite beating Nepal 4-0, there is a very obvious sense of dissatisfaction among the fans. The rain certainly did not do much to lift their spirits. All the positives cannot hide the fact that there is something very wrong with Malaysian football at the moment.
Gone are the days when Malaysia routinely beat South Korea and Japan. Once a formidable force, feared all over the continent, they were a true giant of Asian football. Nowadays, the stories of yesteryear crop up all too often. There is a sense that Malaysians are living in the past, not taking sufficient measures to improve for the future.
Questions have been posed over and over and the answers are all the same. There is a distinct possibility, almost a certainty that something much deeper is at the heart of the problem. Is this only a phase or can the rot be stopped now?
Politicians within the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) establishment have always been looked at suspiciously by the fans. Their presence within FAM has always been a topic of debate among fans. Some think that they are merely there to add another accolade to their CV. Some feel that they only use their position to put themselves in the spotlight. However, the general consensus is that they do not need to be on the board.
“FAM is not a political association. The only thing is there are people who are involved with the football and it so happens that they are politicians,” says Datuk Soh Chin Aun, current Malaysian team manager and former captain.
However he does concede that there may be politicians with agendas of their own. “Whether they are really for the development of football or not for the development of football, I don’t know,” he admitted. The pauses in between his answers suggest there is a lot more that he knows than what he is willing to divulge.
He quickly changes the topic and comments, “There needs to be better coaching available.”
“I think coaches must have had playing experience at a certain level so they can pass on their experience and knowledge to the younger generation. The input is currently lacking.”
He blames the current state associations for not developing better players for the national team to utilise. “There are a lot of people talking about how FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) is not doing their job which I think is wrong,” he grumbles. “The state associations and the clubs are the ones who have to produce good players, and then we can bring them to the national team.”
“If you give us A, we will have A in the national team. If you give B, then we will have category B in the national team, as simple as that. Say I am cooking and you give me the wrong recipe, so what? I can’t do anything.”
To him, people in the country now are blaming the officials even though they have nothing to do with the problem. His exasperated reply epitomises his views on the matter. He also puts the blame on foreign coaches and expensive foreign players.
“You see all those years we were thinking of using ‘mat salleh’ coaches and I think they were a letdown. Just because they can talk. If only I can talk like them, I can be a greater coach,” claims Soh, clearly wound up merely talking about the issue.
“They all come here to bullshit and when the players fart, they say it’s very nice. But we were footballers before. We know what is happening. We know what is good and bad.”
The recent decision to ban all foreign players from the Malaysian league was a move that perplexed many. Pundits rubbished the decision and the media continually poured scorn on the head of FAM. The simple truth behind this was that Malaysian football was not getting their money’s worth from mediocre talent. According to Soh, over RM30 million was spent last season alone on foreign imports, most of them admittedly poor. He believes the FAM made the correct decision and that it also helps clubs from promising to pay players more than they can afford.
“We just don’t want them anymore. They were a key reason for many teams being in debt,” reasons Soh. “We need to have good foreigners here, so they can help our local players. But to me, not many of the foreign players are good. Why should we spend this kind of money on them?”
He claims that some of the local players are better than the foreigners, a view not necessarily shared by the fans.
“Despite officials claiming the foreigners are average, they are still better than the majority of our players,” says Eddie Gnaniah, who has been watching the national team for the past forty years.
“The top three goalscorers in the Malaysian league this year were all foreigners! Explain that to me. I don’t understand how they can say that the foreigners don’t add anything to the league because I believe they do.”
He acknowledges the lack of funding but believes this is merely due to mismanaged funds. “Why would you agree to pay someone what you don’t have? That’s the only reason why clubs are in debt,” argues Gnaniah.
The lack of quality opposition and exposure is another factor for Malaysia’s decline in Gnaniah opinion. Malaysia has only scheduled five matches this year, excluding the ongoing Merdeka Tournament, of which only two are not regional rivals – India and Pakistan.
“Playing against such mediocre opposition is not going to help us improve. In fact it will only help our opposition improve as we are technically better than most of them,” he laments.
“This ongoing Merdeka Tournament is another example of how low the standard has dropped. We used to have the best in Asia playing here as well as teams from Europe. The best team in the competition this time is Mozambique and they didn’t even bring their first choice squad!”
The lack of quality competition is something Datuk Soh has come to accept and puts the blame on the international schedule today. “Most of the countries cannot accommodate this tournament as they have their own agenda. Secondly, today, teams like Korea and Japan are a different class compared to Malaysia. Even if you invite them, they won’t come. There is nothing for them to gain,” he argues.
“So many people are asking why we didn’t invite better teams. It’s not that we want to win but we can only take what is available.”
He believes it is not all doom and gloom for Malaysian football and that there have been improvements made in the last two years. A combination of a well educated coach as well as hungry young players has resulted in improvements in various areas, according to Soh. He is certainly well-placed to judge being the current national team manager.
“Before when we used to play, even before we played we knew we were going to lose already. Since I am with the team, somewhere or other I know there are improvements,” claims Soh.
Gnaniah shares Soh’s optimism but believes there are still sensitive hurdles to be cleared, prejudice and racism included. Today’s Malaysian team is predominantly made up of Malays with one or two Indians and Chinese in the squad. In their heyday, the national team was a multi racial set-up with members of all races featuring prominently in the squad.
“There are Chinese and Indian boys who can play very well today. The Malay players are undoubtedly good but there are definitely Chinese and Indians that can be in the national squad,” he says.
“Obviously this is never covered in the media nor can it be proven but I feel it’s definitely a factor. It’s a sensitive topic, but we must confront the issue sooner rather than later.”
Former Selangor youth player, Chris Mun agrees. “I believe Malaysia does have many good players, but that they were not selected because of certain biases. I know this because I've been through the selection sessions before,” he says with a slight hint of regret.
“Often it's for show only as the manager or selection committees already have the players they wanted in their mind.”
In contrast to Soh, he also suggests that the blame does not lie with mediocre foreign coaches, but the managers that select the team to play matches.
“Even when we have some very good coaches from overseas coming to coach our national team, we still can't perform,” he grumbles.
“This is because the manager of the national team interferes with the selection of the team when they are not the one training the team. Most of the times they tend to choose players who may not be suitable but are their favorites.”
Whereas Soh is reluctant to acknowledge the effect politicians have on the local game, Mun openly discusses the subject with no qualms. He believes the non-existent knowledge of politicians only serve to cause confusion and harm to FAM, not least when it comes to choosing players.
He claims that, “Most of them don't play or know anything about football, but all want to have a say about how to run FAM.”
“Their decisions are not for the good and advancement of FAM. The coach trains the players, but it is usually the manager, who knows nothing about football, that does the choosing.”
In his opinion, Malaysian football needs to have a complete overhaul of their current system in order to improve. He is adamant that politicians must be removed from the hierarchy and that coaches and managers be left to handle team affairs without interference. He also urges the FAM to have an open mind when it comes to trials.
“Only the best should be selected. If they are good, pick them to represent the country. Don't go by color, preference and quota,” he advises.
“Most of our players are spoilt with too many benefits. They need to be pushed outside their comfort zone.”
His final words seem almost symbolic as the players trudge off the pitch looking very satisfied with their night’s work - a 4-0 victory against a Nepal side offering little resistance. Even the muddy bogged down pitch could not disguise how easily Malaysia dominated the game – well within their comfort zone. FAM are likely to not heed Mun’s words or Soh’s suggestions anytime soon. They could do worse than try.
For now Malaysian football remains in the doldrums, the shadow of politics and poor performances looming like a dark cloud over its shoulder. It is widely known that improvements and changes need to be made. The question that has yet to be answered is when?
Friday, November 28, 2008
2-2
So Portsmouth had a victory snatched from them thanks to the close control and quick feet of Inzaghi. For a 35-year-old that was some finish. Have a look at it.
His fabulous close control and finishing has made him one of European football's greatest strikers and he merely reemphasised that notion against Portsmouth. Ronaldinho's freekick was also a thing of beauty.
Such displays of individual quality are what make Milan the odds-on favourite to win the UEFA Cup this season. This squad should really be playing in the Champions League but this is the consequence of their inconsistency last season. Fiorentina are now out of the Champions League and are likely to parachute down into the UEFA Cup. It just shows how they are not ready to take on the best of Europe yet.
Anyways back to the UEFA Cup, another result showing a team on the way up was Man City's surprising win over Schalke 04. The Germans are no pushovers and City's win will certainly give them some confidence. The fact that they managed such a victory without their star striker, Robinho, goes to show that they have the quality in their squad to go far in the competition. It also should show the rest of the Premiership that City's ambitions could be realised far sooner than first thought possible. Of course it will take a few more million to refurnish the club but that's another story for another time. For now, City fans can look back and be proud of a performance worthy of such adulation. Stephen Ireland in particular has been in a rich vein of form and he certainly will have a pivotal role in City's future endeavours.
Another stunning result was Olympiakos' 5-1 victory over Benfica. The Greeks played the Portuguese off the park and banished the memory of their opening day defeat to Galatasaray. However, I wasn't so interested in those results as I am in beautiful goals. To add to Ronaldinho's freekick, here is Gonzalo Colsa's fine equalising effort for Racing Club against PSG.
Ronaldinho or Colsa? Take your pick. The Manchester derby is on this weekend and although it may not rival some of the world's greatest derbies, it certainly will grow and intensify. Especially if City continue to make progress. Who knows? It may one day live up to the Glasgow, Milan or Buenos Aires' derbies. For now we'll just have to watch Robinho and Rooney go head to head. Should be an interesting match this weekend.
His fabulous close control and finishing has made him one of European football's greatest strikers and he merely reemphasised that notion against Portsmouth. Ronaldinho's freekick was also a thing of beauty.
Such displays of individual quality are what make Milan the odds-on favourite to win the UEFA Cup this season. This squad should really be playing in the Champions League but this is the consequence of their inconsistency last season. Fiorentina are now out of the Champions League and are likely to parachute down into the UEFA Cup. It just shows how they are not ready to take on the best of Europe yet.
Anyways back to the UEFA Cup, another result showing a team on the way up was Man City's surprising win over Schalke 04. The Germans are no pushovers and City's win will certainly give them some confidence. The fact that they managed such a victory without their star striker, Robinho, goes to show that they have the quality in their squad to go far in the competition. It also should show the rest of the Premiership that City's ambitions could be realised far sooner than first thought possible. Of course it will take a few more million to refurnish the club but that's another story for another time. For now, City fans can look back and be proud of a performance worthy of such adulation. Stephen Ireland in particular has been in a rich vein of form and he certainly will have a pivotal role in City's future endeavours.
Another stunning result was Olympiakos' 5-1 victory over Benfica. The Greeks played the Portuguese off the park and banished the memory of their opening day defeat to Galatasaray. However, I wasn't so interested in those results as I am in beautiful goals. To add to Ronaldinho's freekick, here is Gonzalo Colsa's fine equalising effort for Racing Club against PSG.
Ronaldinho or Colsa? Take your pick. The Manchester derby is on this weekend and although it may not rival some of the world's greatest derbies, it certainly will grow and intensify. Especially if City continue to make progress. Who knows? It may one day live up to the Glasgow, Milan or Buenos Aires' derbies. For now we'll just have to watch Robinho and Rooney go head to head. Should be an interesting match this weekend.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
I've been thinking about something to rant about for awhile now. Nothing really came to mind. I can't be satisfied with the way football is as there is always a major talking point somewhere, somehow. There's the ever boring topic of the EPL, crap refs, fourth officials, club vs country etc etc on and on. Yet I can't seem to find anything recently that makes me feel like speaking out on the matter. Maybe it's because no answer will solve anything completely. We will never go without controversy in football.
Take the issue of club vs country for example. My personal opinion on it is that the line is far too fine for both sides to be able to come to a decent compromise. Theo Walcott dislocated his shoulder whilst training with England and is now out for 3 months. What to do for Wenger and Arsenal fans? Arsenal may be eligible for compensation but what good is that when they can't replace him with a similar player to cover for him while he's injured? Players should play for their country if fit and available, that's my personal opinion. But it's impossible to predict how or when a player will be injured. Who knew Walcott's brittle shoulder would fall out of place? Clubs have every reason to be wary of these friendlies. On the evidence of England's second string win against Germany, international friendlies are extremely useful for coaches to gauge and judge their player's abilities. Clubs protest against this simply for their own benefit. Obviously they'd rather let a player recuperate for a whole week rather than fly off somewhere and play for their country. Both club and countries have reason to be wary of each other. And any player with any sort of dream and ambition would love to represent their country.
This leads to another stalemate in terms of compromise. Clubs don't want to release players for friendlies for fear of injury, serious or otherwise. Valid point. Players, understandably, want to impress their international manager and cement their places on the national squad. Valid point. Countries want the players to see whether they can do a job for the millions of fans who pin their hopes and dreams on them. Valid point. So what's the answer? Compensation does little for the club who have lost one of their key players (although in Arsenal's case they probably have a fresh faced teenager ready to fill in). (Normal) Players will get annoyed if they are prevented from joining up with the national squad (unless they think it is their God-given right to do their country a favour. By the way that is way over the top for me). National teams will be annoyed because they can't alter the international calendar as the rest of the year is too jam packed with club football to fit in any other dates. So with all three parties having valid arguments and the compromise not able to accomodate the wishes of everyone what happens now? Nothing quite frankly. Just more and more time devoted to people voicing reasons for and against international friendlies. And me feeling jaded and bored with the whole issue.
That's just one example. Take refs as another one. You get the whole "refs need to be of a better standard" etc etc and the other side's defending them with "they are only human" etc etc. No decent compromise either. Many other issues with the same debate and answer like salary caps, Beckham to Milan, Liverpool to win the Premiership and why Ryan Babel raps. Incidently have a look at it below.
Click HERE to go to the page where you can get the translation of this ludicrous attempt at integrating talking with weird beats.
That's that for now. Catch highlights of Brazil mauling Portugal if you can. There's an issue with a clear conclusion. Brazil are better. Period.
Take the issue of club vs country for example. My personal opinion on it is that the line is far too fine for both sides to be able to come to a decent compromise. Theo Walcott dislocated his shoulder whilst training with England and is now out for 3 months. What to do for Wenger and Arsenal fans? Arsenal may be eligible for compensation but what good is that when they can't replace him with a similar player to cover for him while he's injured? Players should play for their country if fit and available, that's my personal opinion. But it's impossible to predict how or when a player will be injured. Who knew Walcott's brittle shoulder would fall out of place? Clubs have every reason to be wary of these friendlies. On the evidence of England's second string win against Germany, international friendlies are extremely useful for coaches to gauge and judge their player's abilities. Clubs protest against this simply for their own benefit. Obviously they'd rather let a player recuperate for a whole week rather than fly off somewhere and play for their country. Both club and countries have reason to be wary of each other. And any player with any sort of dream and ambition would love to represent their country.
This leads to another stalemate in terms of compromise. Clubs don't want to release players for friendlies for fear of injury, serious or otherwise. Valid point. Players, understandably, want to impress their international manager and cement their places on the national squad. Valid point. Countries want the players to see whether they can do a job for the millions of fans who pin their hopes and dreams on them. Valid point. So what's the answer? Compensation does little for the club who have lost one of their key players (although in Arsenal's case they probably have a fresh faced teenager ready to fill in). (Normal) Players will get annoyed if they are prevented from joining up with the national squad (unless they think it is their God-given right to do their country a favour. By the way that is way over the top for me). National teams will be annoyed because they can't alter the international calendar as the rest of the year is too jam packed with club football to fit in any other dates. So with all three parties having valid arguments and the compromise not able to accomodate the wishes of everyone what happens now? Nothing quite frankly. Just more and more time devoted to people voicing reasons for and against international friendlies. And me feeling jaded and bored with the whole issue.
That's just one example. Take refs as another one. You get the whole "refs need to be of a better standard" etc etc and the other side's defending them with "they are only human" etc etc. No decent compromise either. Many other issues with the same debate and answer like salary caps, Beckham to Milan, Liverpool to win the Premiership and why Ryan Babel raps. Incidently have a look at it below.
Click HERE to go to the page where you can get the translation of this ludicrous attempt at integrating talking with weird beats.
That's that for now. Catch highlights of Brazil mauling Portugal if you can. There's an issue with a clear conclusion. Brazil are better. Period.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Ronaldinho's back!
He's back! Ronaldinho finally looks like he's on his way back to the top of world football. Granted he won the game for Milan in the UEFA Cup against a team unknown to most of the world (Braga), but there is no denying that he is playing much better this season with his new club. Although I didn't watch the game, the reaction of the goalkeeper after Ronaldinho's screamer flew in says it all. Braga deserved a point. Ronaldinho's moment of magic robbed them of it. Not that many of us care. It's good to see Ronaldinho back on form and his winner last night was not unlike this one.
Another last minute winner. Moments like those seemed like an eternity ago as Ronaldinho struggled at Barca for the past two seasons. The good times seem to be back. Hopefully it won't be a flash in the pan. It'll be like WWE, never as good as it was a few years ago. Somehow, you get the feeling that Ronaldinho is here to stay.
Moving onto another Brazilian, have a look at Robinho's fantastic strike below. It's a highlights package so be patient. It's not that long anyway.
I have to admit I was a bit skeptical of how Robinho would fit in at City when he first signed. I thought he had a bit too much talent to fail miserably but there's always the lingering doubt that accompanies South Americans to the Premiership. Brazilians have evolved over the years but Robinho isn't exactly tall and stocky. I'm pleased that I've been proven wrong for now but then again Juan Sebastian Veron promised so much when he first signed for United, especially in Europe. There's still a slight doubt in my mind but for the most part I've gladly accepted that Robinho has settled in nicely in England and with the extensive media coverage of Premiership clubs, I can easily watch one of my favourite players regularly.
On a completely unrelated matter what's up with Werder Bremen? These guys score for fun in the Bundesliga, yet always seem to udnerachieve in Europe. They scored five goals again on the weekend. I think I've seen them do that twice before but I'm a bit lazy to check up on that. What I do know is that they're underachieving in Europe and it's getting to me. Maybe they attack too much for their own good. Whatever it is they need to sort it out. They were expected to qualify from their Champions League group comfortably behind Inter. Instead they find themselves behind Cypriot wildcards Anorthosis and Panathinaikos. I still expect them to qualify but it's won't be a smooth path to the last 16. Anorthosis have proven to be no mugs and Panathinaikos showed what they were capable of by beating Bremen. Should be an interesting end to Group B.
I just previewed the layout of this post and I have to say the preview picture of the first video of Ronaldinho fits in perfectly with the title. RONALDINHO 80. Brilliant. Of course should you choose to watch it, the artistic nature of it will disappear. However, it is a sacrifice worth making. When did anyone prefer looking at a picture as opposed to a video?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Refs and others
I have attached the Roma Chelsea highlights above. If you don't like them you can go look for your own or pay for TV. Keep an eye out for Vucinic. His goals last night were both of top quality.
However the night was soured by the sending off of Deco. I have seen some truly horrific decisions by referees (including a goal given when a goal kick was appropriate), but last night the decision was simply wrong. Deco who was already on a yellow, took a freekick quickly which released a teammate on the right flank. The referee trying to look like he fit in the cool crowd then pulls out a yellow and sends Deco off. For what? A genuine piece of creativity and invention. That is just criminal to say the least. Even if he had warned Deco to wait prior to taking the kick, was a yellow necessary? It's not like anyone was harmed or a serious foul occurred. This sort of performance from refs make the Respect campaign look utterly ridiculous. Or in less formal jargon, retarded. I know the Respect campaign is only ongoing in the Premiership and doesn't apply to Europe but there have been some truly bad decisions being made week in and out in the Premiership and Europe. Poor refs in European football aren't going to help the reputations of refs in general either. Sure refs make mistakes but there was no excuse for any mistake or misjudgment in this case. Taking a freekick early is not a yellow card offense in any part of the world. Ok maybe if the player constantly ignores the ref's orders to wait five times in a row then that's asking for it. Deco was not guilty of that particular offense. The fact that he was sent off as a result of his creative genius is even more difficult to fathom. If you're going to give an inexplicable yellow, at least make sure the person receiving it is not already booked. It just makes the stupid decision twice as bad.
Moving on to less retarded matters, I am going to comment on Dimitar Berbatov. Yes I'm biased but I can't help it. The guy looks like he is settling in and is displaying his wide array of skills, tricks and flicks. Pure class. Have a look at his assist for Ronaldo's goal below.
Stunning. That's all I can say. My jaw doesn't usually drop a lot when it comes to football but that took my breath away. He looks more comfortable in the side and is beginning to show why he commanded such a high price. He's been getting goals as well as his fair share of assists, not to mention the various tricks and skills he pulls off in matches. His first touch is first class and I think his form can only get better as he still isn't at his best. Scary. The only downside to his brilliance is that Tevez has been benched a lot. Hopefully Fergie will find a way to keep him happy because I would not be pleased if he left.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Coming up next
Forgive my erratic posting schedule. Uni work and other stuff occupy my mind most of the time and will probably be the case until November. Until then bear with me. Not like I have a massive audience to satisfy either.
Moving on, my complete lack of access to any channels on TV showing football leads me to other places to get my fix, namely the internet. I'm pretty sure I watch more highlights than Astro cares to offer. I now get weekly shows for the entire English Football League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Eredivisie, Scottish Premier League and other leagues I can't be bothered to name. Which means I get to see players from across Europe regularly. And this brings me to my topic. On a side note www.fbtz.com is a great forum and where I get my stuff. Check it out.
Watching the Ligue 1 highlights show, two players stood out. And no they're not obscure, in fact they're the touted future superstars of French football, Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa. I'm sure everyone has heard of them before, and probably even know what I'm going to say about them. However, it's unavoidable. These two ARE the future of the French national team. Benzema was involved in both of Lyon's goals this weekend. He first collected the ball in the opposite half of the field, ran a bit, did a SINGLE natural stepover (take note Robinho, Nani) and comfortably beat his man before finishing at the keeper's near post with his left foot. His second telling contribution was a swift turn and deft lob with his left foot over the opposition defense from his own half which led to a goal. He may not have scored nor was it an assist, however, it was a moment of class, one which completely changed the pace of play and resulted in a goal. It may not sound impressive in words but let me assure you that that finish and lob was simply confirmation that this young man is ready to take on the world. Lyon's annual target to get past the quarterfinals of the Champions League is certainly more realistic with this man's presence in their first XI. There have been rumours of Man City and Man Utd readying bids of £80m for him and although it is likely to be simply talk, it shows how far this striker has come in his short career.
Meanwhile, Hatem Ben Arfa wasn't as impressive but one moment of magic from him resulted in Marseille taking the lead. Receiving the ball in the box, he shimmied and evaded 4 defenders before his placed shot wrongfooted the keeper. Cristiano Ronaldo probably couldn't have done that. He'd probably have gone to ground before he got past one defender. Ben Arfa is another one ready for the big time, I feel. I don't really have much to say about him. I'm simply highlighting his obvious talent. His summer move from Lyon to rivals Marseille may not have been the smartest but at least it ensures he'll be playing week in and out, although it's hard to imagine him not getting a starting spot at most clubs. When he does decide to leave, you can imagine the scramble for his signature. Or he might just end up at Man City.
As for the shambles at Newcastle and Spurs I'm not going to bother talking about that. The simple solution to every problem nowadays is sack the manager and get yourself a foreign owner apparently. The real answer is simply to let the manager handle things and make him SOLELY responsible for running the team (including transfers). Then if and when he screws up, he is SOLELY responsible and sacking him will not cause outrage from fans and force you to sell your luxury toy.
I'd like to end by giving my approval to the small teams that made it to the group stage of the Champions League, ie. CFR Cluj, BATE Borisov, Aalborg BK and Anorthosis Famagusta. Please go and knockout one of the big guns. I could do with watching another fairytale. Money has completely overrun football and it'd be nice to be reminded again what it really is all about.
Moving on, my complete lack of access to any channels on TV showing football leads me to other places to get my fix, namely the internet. I'm pretty sure I watch more highlights than Astro cares to offer. I now get weekly shows for the entire English Football League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Eredivisie, Scottish Premier League and other leagues I can't be bothered to name. Which means I get to see players from across Europe regularly. And this brings me to my topic. On a side note www.fbtz.com is a great forum and where I get my stuff. Check it out.
Watching the Ligue 1 highlights show, two players stood out. And no they're not obscure, in fact they're the touted future superstars of French football, Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa. I'm sure everyone has heard of them before, and probably even know what I'm going to say about them. However, it's unavoidable. These two ARE the future of the French national team. Benzema was involved in both of Lyon's goals this weekend. He first collected the ball in the opposite half of the field, ran a bit, did a SINGLE natural stepover (take note Robinho, Nani) and comfortably beat his man before finishing at the keeper's near post with his left foot. His second telling contribution was a swift turn and deft lob with his left foot over the opposition defense from his own half which led to a goal. He may not have scored nor was it an assist, however, it was a moment of class, one which completely changed the pace of play and resulted in a goal. It may not sound impressive in words but let me assure you that that finish and lob was simply confirmation that this young man is ready to take on the world. Lyon's annual target to get past the quarterfinals of the Champions League is certainly more realistic with this man's presence in their first XI. There have been rumours of Man City and Man Utd readying bids of £80m for him and although it is likely to be simply talk, it shows how far this striker has come in his short career.
Meanwhile, Hatem Ben Arfa wasn't as impressive but one moment of magic from him resulted in Marseille taking the lead. Receiving the ball in the box, he shimmied and evaded 4 defenders before his placed shot wrongfooted the keeper. Cristiano Ronaldo probably couldn't have done that. He'd probably have gone to ground before he got past one defender. Ben Arfa is another one ready for the big time, I feel. I don't really have much to say about him. I'm simply highlighting his obvious talent. His summer move from Lyon to rivals Marseille may not have been the smartest but at least it ensures he'll be playing week in and out, although it's hard to imagine him not getting a starting spot at most clubs. When he does decide to leave, you can imagine the scramble for his signature. Or he might just end up at Man City.
As for the shambles at Newcastle and Spurs I'm not going to bother talking about that. The simple solution to every problem nowadays is sack the manager and get yourself a foreign owner apparently. The real answer is simply to let the manager handle things and make him SOLELY responsible for running the team (including transfers). Then if and when he screws up, he is SOLELY responsible and sacking him will not cause outrage from fans and force you to sell your luxury toy.
I'd like to end by giving my approval to the small teams that made it to the group stage of the Champions League, ie. CFR Cluj, BATE Borisov, Aalborg BK and Anorthosis Famagusta. Please go and knockout one of the big guns. I could do with watching another fairytale. Money has completely overrun football and it'd be nice to be reminded again what it really is all about.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Back to business
It's been awhile but sadly assignments have to be done. I'm back for the meantime.
At any rate let's focus our attention on the Premiership. Yes the same league that grabs attention every single day and pushes its rivals to the not so glamorous sidelines. Think about it. The coverage of Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga news is an entire galaxy apart from the Premiership. The again we feed the craze so we only have ourselves to blame. But how can you ignore a league in which Robinho joins a mid table team for a British record fee.
At any rate let's focus our attention on the Premiership. Yes the same league that grabs attention every single day and pushes its rivals to the not so glamorous sidelines. Think about it. The coverage of Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga news is an entire galaxy apart from the Premiership. The again we feed the craze so we only have ourselves to blame. But how can you ignore a league in which Robinho joins a mid table team for a British record fee.
Yes, the inevitable topic of ADUG springs up. All I can say is that I went to bed on Monday night and all seemed well. When I woke up, City were suddenly the world's richest club and had broken the British transfer record, signing Robinho for £32.5m. Just 24 hours before, he was declaring his love for Chelsea. Now while most people are getting on his back for following the financially smart option, I thought he had no other choice. Chelsea simply did not want to stump up the extra £4m to get their man. City did. As a result, instead of Robinho aiming to win the Premiership with Chelsea, he's aiming to bring it to City for the first time in their history. Scary. Their owners have already declared their intent on bringing the best football players in the world to this "superclub". Ronaldo, Fabregas, Torres and Messi are just a few names they have made public. This undoubtedly has sparked off rumours of Mark Hughes having no authority over players brought into the club. So far, this has been denied but the situation will certainly crop up again come January 1. It will be interesting to see how Sparky takes control of this cash rich club. He could never have envisaged this situation when he first took over. It's now up to him to deliver, and fast, otherwise we could see a new face in place before the end of the season.
Speaking of sackings and resignations, Newcastle and West Ham have both lost their managers within 24 hours of each other. Kevin Keegan officially resigned from the managerial position at Newcastle yesterday, following Alan Curbishley's example the day before. Both of them cited problems with their clubs' transfer policies leading to their exits. This isn't exactly anything new but it's coming up with increasing regularity. Since when did directors up in the air-conditioned offices bring in players? What good does it do for the club? These directors don't work with the players on the training ground everyday. They don't know their strengths and weaknesses as well as the manager. So why would they have a say in who the club brings in? A manager is the only one who knows his team better than anyone else. Therefore he should be the sole one in charge of bringing in players and moving them out. This relatively simple concept is incomprehensible to many fat men saddled with the uneviable task of carrying chequebooks to offices. If they desperately want to take control of a club, don't hire a manager. Or play fantasy football. Either option works although the former is the most attractive to neutrals.
"I have been left with no choice other than to leave," said Keegan. Some may say this is nothing new from the man who left Newcastle once and England as well instead of sticking it out. But this time you feel it's different. It's like playing Football Manager and not having control over who to buy. What's the point?
We've already seen the consequences of Andriy Shevchenko's nightmare at Chelsea. It took them two years to get rid of him and probably didn't help their objective of breaking even in the coming years. On a completely unrelated note, imagine if Abramovich died tomorrow. Chelsea's reign at the top would end earlier than one cycle of Newcastle's Next Top Manager.
Back onto more pleasant matters (from my perspective at least), Man Utd finally signed Dimitar Berbatov after almost an entire summers of countless stories and rumours. I never really thought they would miss out on him, just a bit frustrated that it took so long to reach a conclusion. They ended up paying over £30m for Berbatov anyway. Why couldn't the deal be reached two weeks ago? We might have a 100% record in the league as well as a Super Cup in our trophy cabinet. Not that it's an important trophy, just for the sake of saying we've won it. At any rate, the goals should start flowing once Berbatov settles in. With support from Tevez/Rooney and Ronaldo, this season should be nothing short of spectacular for Man Utd.
And a slight mention for Amr Zaki here. The Wigan striker has already shown the Premiership what a capable striker he is and Steve Bruce may have got himself a steal. Then again someone else could easily steal him come January. Money is not an issue for most clubs these days. The same can't be said of Wigan.
World Cup qualifiers to look forward to this weekend. Too much for me to keep track off and too much focus on England. So I will talk about neither. However if Andorra do score against England, there's an unavoidable topic to discuss. It would be unheard of. Almost the same as Malaysia stringing 5 passes among themselves without losing the ball.
Speaking of sackings and resignations, Newcastle and West Ham have both lost their managers within 24 hours of each other. Kevin Keegan officially resigned from the managerial position at Newcastle yesterday, following Alan Curbishley's example the day before. Both of them cited problems with their clubs' transfer policies leading to their exits. This isn't exactly anything new but it's coming up with increasing regularity. Since when did directors up in the air-conditioned offices bring in players? What good does it do for the club? These directors don't work with the players on the training ground everyday. They don't know their strengths and weaknesses as well as the manager. So why would they have a say in who the club brings in? A manager is the only one who knows his team better than anyone else. Therefore he should be the sole one in charge of bringing in players and moving them out. This relatively simple concept is incomprehensible to many fat men saddled with the uneviable task of carrying chequebooks to offices. If they desperately want to take control of a club, don't hire a manager. Or play fantasy football. Either option works although the former is the most attractive to neutrals.
"I have been left with no choice other than to leave," said Keegan. Some may say this is nothing new from the man who left Newcastle once and England as well instead of sticking it out. But this time you feel it's different. It's like playing Football Manager and not having control over who to buy. What's the point?
We've already seen the consequences of Andriy Shevchenko's nightmare at Chelsea. It took them two years to get rid of him and probably didn't help their objective of breaking even in the coming years. On a completely unrelated note, imagine if Abramovich died tomorrow. Chelsea's reign at the top would end earlier than one cycle of Newcastle's Next Top Manager.
Back onto more pleasant matters (from my perspective at least), Man Utd finally signed Dimitar Berbatov after almost an entire summers of countless stories and rumours. I never really thought they would miss out on him, just a bit frustrated that it took so long to reach a conclusion. They ended up paying over £30m for Berbatov anyway. Why couldn't the deal be reached two weeks ago? We might have a 100% record in the league as well as a Super Cup in our trophy cabinet. Not that it's an important trophy, just for the sake of saying we've won it. At any rate, the goals should start flowing once Berbatov settles in. With support from Tevez/Rooney and Ronaldo, this season should be nothing short of spectacular for Man Utd.
And a slight mention for Amr Zaki here. The Wigan striker has already shown the Premiership what a capable striker he is and Steve Bruce may have got himself a steal. Then again someone else could easily steal him come January. Money is not an issue for most clubs these days. The same can't be said of Wigan.
World Cup qualifiers to look forward to this weekend. Too much for me to keep track off and too much focus on England. So I will talk about neither. However if Andorra do score against England, there's an unavoidable topic to discuss. It would be unheard of. Almost the same as Malaysia stringing 5 passes among themselves without losing the ball.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Kickoff
It's finally about to start! After 3 long months, the waiting is finally over. There's been a lot to keep me occupied sports wise over these 3 months, not least Euro 2008 and Wimbledon and the Olympics. But nothing comes close to the Premiership for me. Mainly cause I support Man Utd. Personally I think the Bundesliga is more entertaining overall. Honestly who gets excited over Bolton vs Wigan? But in any case, there can be no doubt that the Premiership is the greatest league in world football. The Champions League last season was ample proof. Three semifinalists. And that was the second time in as many seasons. Case closed.
Well since I'm not going to do an in-depth preview of the upcoming season, I have taken the liberty of linking to the BBC's Premiership guide. The top 4 will be exactly the same this season. The only question is whether Chelsea or Man Utd will finish first and whether Arsenal or Liverpool will finish third. I can see Spurs pushing to get into the top 4 if they have a good run of results but I think a successful season for them would be a top 6 finish. Then again, half the league are aiming for a top 6 spot. Everton, Villa, Spurs, Man City and Blackburn just to mention a few. Even Newcastle believe their defense is sufficient to challenge for a UEFA Cup spot. A dose of realism never hurt anyone. Only Thaksin.
The BBC has also done a decent piece on the Premiership newbies. I'll be keeping an eye on some players this season. Especially the ones who've joined Spurs. Gomes, Modric and dos Santos are not inexperienced teenagers and Spurs fans will be expecting them to lift their side to greater heights this season. It's the least they'd expect after shelling out over £16m on a player who's spent his entire career in the Bosnian and Croatian leagues. Personally I don't get the fuss over Modric. He played some decent games at the Euros and in qualification but apart from that what else? I haven't seen anything from him that suggests he would be an instant hit in the Premiership. Then again my opinion could change completely by the end of the weekend.
I'm more excited about dos Santos. That's one player I'd like to see hit the heights. Already highly rated, he only left Barcelona because he could not compete with Messi. No shame in that. I'll expect a lot more from him than Modric. Especially if Berbatov heads off to Old Trafford. He'll be used as a support striker for Bent a lot if that transfer goes through. Speaking of Bent, he's been very impressive in pre-season. Whether he can transfer that form into the Premiership is yet to be seen. He'd better. I have him in my fantasy team!
I'll also be watching Behrami of West Ham closely. Why he chose to leave a decent team like Lazio for the underachievers of West Ham I'll never know. A short list of others I'll be watching - Ramsey, Nasri, Degen, Deco, Elmander, Coloccini and of course the promoted sides. I don't know much about them as the Championship isn't exactly broadcast live around the world.
Bring on the new season! I've waited too long.
Well since I'm not going to do an in-depth preview of the upcoming season, I have taken the liberty of linking to the BBC's Premiership guide. The top 4 will be exactly the same this season. The only question is whether Chelsea or Man Utd will finish first and whether Arsenal or Liverpool will finish third. I can see Spurs pushing to get into the top 4 if they have a good run of results but I think a successful season for them would be a top 6 finish. Then again, half the league are aiming for a top 6 spot. Everton, Villa, Spurs, Man City and Blackburn just to mention a few. Even Newcastle believe their defense is sufficient to challenge for a UEFA Cup spot. A dose of realism never hurt anyone. Only Thaksin.
The BBC has also done a decent piece on the Premiership newbies. I'll be keeping an eye on some players this season. Especially the ones who've joined Spurs. Gomes, Modric and dos Santos are not inexperienced teenagers and Spurs fans will be expecting them to lift their side to greater heights this season. It's the least they'd expect after shelling out over £16m on a player who's spent his entire career in the Bosnian and Croatian leagues. Personally I don't get the fuss over Modric. He played some decent games at the Euros and in qualification but apart from that what else? I haven't seen anything from him that suggests he would be an instant hit in the Premiership. Then again my opinion could change completely by the end of the weekend.
I'm more excited about dos Santos. That's one player I'd like to see hit the heights. Already highly rated, he only left Barcelona because he could not compete with Messi. No shame in that. I'll expect a lot more from him than Modric. Especially if Berbatov heads off to Old Trafford. He'll be used as a support striker for Bent a lot if that transfer goes through. Speaking of Bent, he's been very impressive in pre-season. Whether he can transfer that form into the Premiership is yet to be seen. He'd better. I have him in my fantasy team!
I'll also be watching Behrami of West Ham closely. Why he chose to leave a decent team like Lazio for the underachievers of West Ham I'll never know. A short list of others I'll be watching - Ramsey, Nasri, Degen, Deco, Elmander, Coloccini and of course the promoted sides. I don't know much about them as the Championship isn't exactly broadcast live around the world.
Bring on the new season! I've waited too long.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Did you see that?
Wow! What great penalties. Portsmouth will probably do better at a shootout next time they face one. Jermain Defoe's penalty was the only successful conversion and even that wasn't a convincing effort. Lassana Diarra and Glen Johnson were guilty of some truly horrific Beckham-esque penalties (I still hold the man in high regard. It's just a shame he had to miss the important ones!) and essentially gifted the Community Shield to Man Utd.
I don't have satellite television, being the poor soul that I am. I resort to reading reports and watching YouTube highlights so forgive me for not going in depth into matches as I probably won't have watched it. I watched the shootout though and from what I heard, United completely dominated, created the better chances and squandered them, one after another. Only another reminder to Fergie that we'll need a striker. Fast. Anyone who we've been linked to in the papers will do nicely. Berbatov, Villa, Huntelaar, hey even Henry looks attractive right now! Sure he might be past it but I'd like to see that particular move come off just to see what Arsenal fans would make of it. It won't happen but imagine if it did! Either way Fergie has acknowledged the need and is no doubt working on it.
I have two uni assignments to do and as much as I'd like to be writing more about football, I have to write on subjects on which I have half the understanding and motivation for. A big Premiership preview for my next post! Well it depends how I feel on Friday....
I don't have satellite television, being the poor soul that I am. I resort to reading reports and watching YouTube highlights so forgive me for not going in depth into matches as I probably won't have watched it. I watched the shootout though and from what I heard, United completely dominated, created the better chances and squandered them, one after another. Only another reminder to Fergie that we'll need a striker. Fast. Anyone who we've been linked to in the papers will do nicely. Berbatov, Villa, Huntelaar, hey even Henry looks attractive right now! Sure he might be past it but I'd like to see that particular move come off just to see what Arsenal fans would make of it. It won't happen but imagine if it did! Either way Fergie has acknowledged the need and is no doubt working on it.
I have two uni assignments to do and as much as I'd like to be writing more about football, I have to write on subjects on which I have half the understanding and motivation for. A big Premiership preview for my next post! Well it depends how I feel on Friday....
Friday, August 1, 2008
I can't wait for the start of the new season. We'll all be free from the irritatingly inaccurate transfer rumours newspapers write to fill in some space and sell some papers.
The long running transfer sagas have been dragging on throughout the summer and have come nowhere to concluding. Like those irritating Chinese soap operas that run for years. Like Bold and the Beautiful. Like Paolo Maldini except at least he has the decency to reveal his plans nice and early. Take a look at the drawn out proposed deals of the summer. Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid, Frank Lampard to Inter, Gareth Barry to Liverpool, Samuel Eto'o to somewhere else. They all have died down to some extent but there's always another "sensational" story that pops out of nowhere to keep the drama going.
After a few days of Ronaldo-less news, he drops a bombshell by sensationally "announcing" that he will join Madrid next week. You can't really be sure whether he actually said that or not, knowing how the press twists and edits every little word uttered. Whatever they've done, another episode has been added to this long winded drama and the ending is nowhere in sight yet.
As for Lampard, Jose Mourinho seems to have finally given up his pursuit of his former player after signing Sulley Muntari instead. Great signing by the way. Cheaper, younger and may be better than Lampard in a few years.
Barry's move to Liverpool might still be on though. Apparently Liverpool missed the deadline to respond to Villa by 15 minutes although that's probably more newspaper fabrication. Another saga that needs to be resolved quickly although I don't see that happening anytime soon. Liverpool signing Robbie Keane for an initial fee of £19m means they probably needs to seel before they can buy again. Good signing for Liverpool by the way, but a bit overpriced. Nonetheless Fernando Torres finally seems to have an ideal strike partner, a proven Premiership goal scorer at that. Liverpool's attack will definitely be one of the most potent in Europe this season.
Moving onto Eto'o, well, you just don't know where he'll end up this summer. Apparently there is still interest from several big clubs, but it's well known that his preferred iption is to stay at the Nou Camp although he is surplus to requirements. His work ethic however, has impressed the club president who said Eto'o may still stay with Barcelona this season. I can see it happening although I think a move will suit him better than staying loyal to employers who don't want him. It's like a girl hanging onto what's left of her relationship even though the guy doesn't want anything to do with her. Not a good way to spend a couple of months. In Eto'o's case, it could be a lot longer than that if he ends up staying.
And another mini saga of sorts - Man Utd's search for a new target man. They're one of two Premiership sides that haven't brought anyone in yet over the summer (the other being Everton). They still have 30 days left, but fans must be wondering who the club have in mind. I think they'll still take their time over their targets but if Louis Saha (somehow) manages to stay fit, he'll be like a new signing. When on form, his finishing is deadly and will easily fit into the United side. There's also Manucho, the Angolan international who has proven himself at international level. Whether a work permit has been approved for him is still unknown but he is a proven goalscorer and could be the answer to United's striker shortage. As a United fan I'm following this very closely and anyone who the papers have linked us with will do nicely but if I had to pick I'd take Dimitar Berbatov for sure. He's a proven Premiership goalscorer and although he's a target man, he's got other fantastic skills that will be an asset to the club. Although he's got the Ronaldo-esque whining, his goalscoring ratio makes up for it.
I'm very interested to see how Tottenham line up this season. They have made some very shrewd signings and their midfield has been strengthened considerably. Luka Modric, Giovani dos Santos and David Bentley are not unknown quantities and in Juande Ramos, they have a tactically sound manager who won't stand for any nonsense from his players. If Arsenal or Liverpool have another mediocre season, Tottenham could very easily finish above them. However, a realistic finish that would satisfy most Spurs fans would be a UEFA Cup spot based on their league position.
Meanwhile, the Champions League 3rd qualifying round has thrown up a very intriguing tie - Atletico Madrid vs Schalke 04. Both clubs would have fancied making the group stage and now one of them has to miss out. Luck of the draw. It can be a blessing or a curse. The media in Britain are hyping up the other "intriguing" tie between Arsenal and FC Twente, managed by the disaster that is Steve McClaren. Although McClaren is a better tactician than given credit for (thank the English media for that), most fans outside Holland would struggle to name even one player from his side. Arsenal, I believe will stroll into the group stage without any major problems.
I still want to see at least one mega transfer this summer, involving a massive club and player. The odds of that happening dwindle with each passing day although transfer deadline day has always provided some spectacular last minute signings. Wayne Rooney's transfer to Man Utd in 2004 was concluded just hours before the deadline. It can happen. Who knows. Maybe we'll see one of Ronaldo, Lampard, Barry, Eto'o, Berbatov, Villa, Silva, Alonso, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko or Robinho make a move. You never know.
The long running transfer sagas have been dragging on throughout the summer and have come nowhere to concluding. Like those irritating Chinese soap operas that run for years. Like Bold and the Beautiful. Like Paolo Maldini except at least he has the decency to reveal his plans nice and early. Take a look at the drawn out proposed deals of the summer. Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid, Frank Lampard to Inter, Gareth Barry to Liverpool, Samuel Eto'o to somewhere else. They all have died down to some extent but there's always another "sensational" story that pops out of nowhere to keep the drama going.
After a few days of Ronaldo-less news, he drops a bombshell by sensationally "announcing" that he will join Madrid next week. You can't really be sure whether he actually said that or not, knowing how the press twists and edits every little word uttered. Whatever they've done, another episode has been added to this long winded drama and the ending is nowhere in sight yet.
As for Lampard, Jose Mourinho seems to have finally given up his pursuit of his former player after signing Sulley Muntari instead. Great signing by the way. Cheaper, younger and may be better than Lampard in a few years.
Barry's move to Liverpool might still be on though. Apparently Liverpool missed the deadline to respond to Villa by 15 minutes although that's probably more newspaper fabrication. Another saga that needs to be resolved quickly although I don't see that happening anytime soon. Liverpool signing Robbie Keane for an initial fee of £19m means they probably needs to seel before they can buy again. Good signing for Liverpool by the way, but a bit overpriced. Nonetheless Fernando Torres finally seems to have an ideal strike partner, a proven Premiership goal scorer at that. Liverpool's attack will definitely be one of the most potent in Europe this season.
Moving onto Eto'o, well, you just don't know where he'll end up this summer. Apparently there is still interest from several big clubs, but it's well known that his preferred iption is to stay at the Nou Camp although he is surplus to requirements. His work ethic however, has impressed the club president who said Eto'o may still stay with Barcelona this season. I can see it happening although I think a move will suit him better than staying loyal to employers who don't want him. It's like a girl hanging onto what's left of her relationship even though the guy doesn't want anything to do with her. Not a good way to spend a couple of months. In Eto'o's case, it could be a lot longer than that if he ends up staying.
And another mini saga of sorts - Man Utd's search for a new target man. They're one of two Premiership sides that haven't brought anyone in yet over the summer (the other being Everton). They still have 30 days left, but fans must be wondering who the club have in mind. I think they'll still take their time over their targets but if Louis Saha (somehow) manages to stay fit, he'll be like a new signing. When on form, his finishing is deadly and will easily fit into the United side. There's also Manucho, the Angolan international who has proven himself at international level. Whether a work permit has been approved for him is still unknown but he is a proven goalscorer and could be the answer to United's striker shortage. As a United fan I'm following this very closely and anyone who the papers have linked us with will do nicely but if I had to pick I'd take Dimitar Berbatov for sure. He's a proven Premiership goalscorer and although he's a target man, he's got other fantastic skills that will be an asset to the club. Although he's got the Ronaldo-esque whining, his goalscoring ratio makes up for it.
I'm very interested to see how Tottenham line up this season. They have made some very shrewd signings and their midfield has been strengthened considerably. Luka Modric, Giovani dos Santos and David Bentley are not unknown quantities and in Juande Ramos, they have a tactically sound manager who won't stand for any nonsense from his players. If Arsenal or Liverpool have another mediocre season, Tottenham could very easily finish above them. However, a realistic finish that would satisfy most Spurs fans would be a UEFA Cup spot based on their league position.
Meanwhile, the Champions League 3rd qualifying round has thrown up a very intriguing tie - Atletico Madrid vs Schalke 04. Both clubs would have fancied making the group stage and now one of them has to miss out. Luck of the draw. It can be a blessing or a curse. The media in Britain are hyping up the other "intriguing" tie between Arsenal and FC Twente, managed by the disaster that is Steve McClaren. Although McClaren is a better tactician than given credit for (thank the English media for that), most fans outside Holland would struggle to name even one player from his side. Arsenal, I believe will stroll into the group stage without any major problems.
I still want to see at least one mega transfer this summer, involving a massive club and player. The odds of that happening dwindle with each passing day although transfer deadline day has always provided some spectacular last minute signings. Wayne Rooney's transfer to Man Utd in 2004 was concluded just hours before the deadline. It can happen. Who knows. Maybe we'll see one of Ronaldo, Lampard, Barry, Eto'o, Berbatov, Villa, Silva, Alonso, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko or Robinho make a move. You never know.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Of all places....
So when I was browsing through various articles and news sources over the past few days, one article really stood out and shocked me. Eto'o to Kuruvchi?
That's not everyday transfer rumours. He's actually been seen in Tashkent, fueling claims that he might actually sign a deal to play there for 6 months and in the process become the best paid footballer ever. Sure he'll only be the best paid for 6 months but would you turn down €40m for 6 months work? Personally I think he should sign that short term deal. It's only 6 months. At the end of it, he'll have a plethora of interested clubs lining up to sign him for free for the second half of the European season. Not to mention a healthy bank balance at the end of it all. He won't be cup-tied for the Champions League/UEFA Cup either, which means he'll have more clubs to choose from. Go for it! Make history in Uzbekistan! I'd like to see the deal go through. It also means he won't be in the Premiership scoring against Man Utd for at least 6 months. More importantly, he'll raise the profile of Uzbek football significantly and give football a huge boost in the nation. Unless Inter spoil the party.
Another interesting story that popped up today is a new, possible mega deal. And one that eclipses the main event of the summer. Apparently Chelsea have lined up a world-record €100m for Kaka and he hasn't rebuffed their advances. And we've been talking about a world record fee for Cristiano Ronaldo for the whole summer! No one will pay that for Ronaldo, not even Madrid. So if the deal goes through, it looks like Kaka will be the most expensive footballer in history.
"This time is different. This is the first time we feel that a deal will definitely happen," says his elated spokesperson/personal assistant/advisor. I wonder if he's also Kaka's agent. I'm sure he could retire if he manages to persuade Kaka to ditch Milan for London.
"Because of the situation Milan are in at the moment, the deal is good for all parties involved." By all parties, I believe he is including himself. Even if agents get a 1 or 2% cut, this deal is massive for them. He could get up to €2m just for persuading Kaka to head off to Chelsea. For that kind of money I'd give it a go as well! For now, although nothing has been confirmed by either club, fans of the Rossoneri must be a bit concerned that their star player might be heading off elsewhere. Especially when it comes from his own mouth!
“There are two teams who are very interested in signing me, but now I do not want to talk about it. Until we return to Milan and know how things are, we cannot decide what happens with my future.”
That's what he said. The second sentence usually is code for I want to leave! For now he'll keep quiet until more light is shed on the matter. I can't imagine how he'd do in the Premiership though. He's world class so I'm pretty sure he'll find a way to adapt. For that kind of money, Chelsea better make sure he's not a flop! Oh, the abuse they'll get from fans up and down the country. And the rest of Europe.
And as I write this, Milan have issued their statement on the matter.
"Kaka is absolutely not for sale." There are some things money can't buy and Kaka is not one of them. I'll be following this one closely.
In other news, the Lampard saga is still ongoing and does not look like moving anywhere anytime soon. Just like the Ronaldo saga but Fergie has insisted he's not going anywhere.
"I can say he'll be a Manchester United player next season. He won't be sold."
Strong words from Fergie but I was hoping he'd leave. As long as he plays half as well as he did last season in the coming one, I don't think any United supporter will hold a grudge against him. That's 21 goals we expect from you Ronaldo sir. And don't do the seizure dance when taking penalties. And don't cry!
That's not everyday transfer rumours. He's actually been seen in Tashkent, fueling claims that he might actually sign a deal to play there for 6 months and in the process become the best paid footballer ever. Sure he'll only be the best paid for 6 months but would you turn down €40m for 6 months work? Personally I think he should sign that short term deal. It's only 6 months. At the end of it, he'll have a plethora of interested clubs lining up to sign him for free for the second half of the European season. Not to mention a healthy bank balance at the end of it all. He won't be cup-tied for the Champions League/UEFA Cup either, which means he'll have more clubs to choose from. Go for it! Make history in Uzbekistan! I'd like to see the deal go through. It also means he won't be in the Premiership scoring against Man Utd for at least 6 months. More importantly, he'll raise the profile of Uzbek football significantly and give football a huge boost in the nation. Unless Inter spoil the party.
Another interesting story that popped up today is a new, possible mega deal. And one that eclipses the main event of the summer. Apparently Chelsea have lined up a world-record €100m for Kaka and he hasn't rebuffed their advances. And we've been talking about a world record fee for Cristiano Ronaldo for the whole summer! No one will pay that for Ronaldo, not even Madrid. So if the deal goes through, it looks like Kaka will be the most expensive footballer in history.
"This time is different. This is the first time we feel that a deal will definitely happen," says his elated spokesperson/personal assistant/advisor. I wonder if he's also Kaka's agent. I'm sure he could retire if he manages to persuade Kaka to ditch Milan for London.
"Because of the situation Milan are in at the moment, the deal is good for all parties involved." By all parties, I believe he is including himself. Even if agents get a 1 or 2% cut, this deal is massive for them. He could get up to €2m just for persuading Kaka to head off to Chelsea. For that kind of money I'd give it a go as well! For now, although nothing has been confirmed by either club, fans of the Rossoneri must be a bit concerned that their star player might be heading off elsewhere. Especially when it comes from his own mouth!
“There are two teams who are very interested in signing me, but now I do not want to talk about it. Until we return to Milan and know how things are, we cannot decide what happens with my future.”
That's what he said. The second sentence usually is code for I want to leave! For now he'll keep quiet until more light is shed on the matter. I can't imagine how he'd do in the Premiership though. He's world class so I'm pretty sure he'll find a way to adapt. For that kind of money, Chelsea better make sure he's not a flop! Oh, the abuse they'll get from fans up and down the country. And the rest of Europe.
And as I write this, Milan have issued their statement on the matter.
"Kaka is absolutely not for sale." There are some things money can't buy and Kaka is not one of them. I'll be following this one closely.
In other news, the Lampard saga is still ongoing and does not look like moving anywhere anytime soon. Just like the Ronaldo saga but Fergie has insisted he's not going anywhere.
"I can say he'll be a Manchester United player next season. He won't be sold."
Strong words from Fergie but I was hoping he'd leave. As long as he plays half as well as he did last season in the coming one, I don't think any United supporter will hold a grudge against him. That's 21 goals we expect from you Ronaldo sir. And don't do the seizure dance when taking penalties. And don't cry!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
We have movement!
Finally! We have some transfer activity worthy of mention. At the same time as Ronaldinho's switch to Milan, Aleksandr Hleb's transfer to Barcelona is almost done and sealed.
Neither transfer is surprising and in fact have both been mooted for months. Two of the summer's midcard transfer sagas have finally been completed, with the distinct possibility of a third mega transfer by the end of the transfer window. If you have no idea of this possible main event record breaking transfer you probably haven't been anywhere near any form of communication or media. Or you might simply be a North Korean.
Anyways let's get down to analysing what both can contribute to their clubs. Ronaldinho, in my opinion, still has a lot to offer. His drive is clearly evident from his decision to join Milan rather than Manchester City. Milan are an established European superpower and are always among the favourites for the Scudetto at the start of every season. Although they only managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup, you can bet they'll be vying for the league title as usual. Man City probably have a much smaller chance of winning any silverware this season compared to Milan and if Ronaldinho felt he didn't have anything to prove, he'd probably head for England. The reported offer of a £200,000 per week contract is one even Frank Lampard wouldn't be able to turn down. I said before that I think he would've shone in the Premier League but I guess his hunger to win probably tipped the balance in favour of Milan. Man City as champions of England or Milan as champions of Italy? You can choose which statement sounds more realistic.
Another possible reason for Ronaldinho moving to Milan is the company. Kaka and Alexandre Pato both play for the club and although Ronaldo won't be seen much on the pitch he'll most likely be in and around Milan. Three fellow Brazilians, all of whom he has played with in the national team. Better company and probably an easier transition into a new place and language. Try picturing Ronaldinho living it up in Manchester with Martin Petrov, Dietmar Hamann and Richard Dunne. No it doesn't work at all. Ronaldinho was always going to go to Milan over City and for all the reports that City were close to signing him and were the favourites to win his signature, you never really felt that the former World Player of the Year would ever join them.
Meanwhile, Barcelona see Hleb as a direct replacement for the departing Ronaldinho. His ball skills, vision and creativity can shine in La Liga where individualism is more widely encouraged than in the Premiership. Playing alongside players such as Bojan and Lionel Messi can only help his game go from strength to strength. On the downside, he was also tipped for greatness when Arsenal signed him from Stuttgart. However, his time at the Emirates can hardly be classified as the stuff of legend. Common sense dictates that he will be a solid, dependable performer for Barca rather than a superstar enjoying the adulation of millions. Ronaldinho at the peak of his power was a crowd puller and he was recognised from Catalunya to the streets of Cambodia. I can't really see Hleb filling in Ronnie's role as brilliantly as he did when he actually played as if he gave a crap. Can you see Hleb tearing Real Madrid to bits at the Bernabeu and getting a standing ovation from their fans? Point made.
Another downside for him is that Messi is likely to be the focal point of attention from the fans. Even when Ronaldinho was wowing crowds weekly, Messi was championed as their superstar of the future. The downfall of his former teammate has only elevated him to the top a lot quicker than imagined. Hleb can't possibly hope to enjoy similar status unless he makes a sigificantly larger impact than Messi on a regular basis. And with Messi enjoying his status as the world's second best player (behind the world's richest slave), there is little chance of Hleb establishing himself as a true global superstar. Good luck to him. He could still prove everyone wrong but I highly doubt it.
And a final dig at the world's richest slave. GO! It's clear his heart isn't at Man Utd anymore and they don't need to be dragging deadweight around. No doubt he'll command a world record fee and rightly so. However, even if he is the best, United have to let him go. No one wants to see Ronaldo crying on pitch (although it happens every other game). He might suffer a nervous breakdown soon if he is forced to continue his hard labour for United. Maybe Madrid will warm to his tears instead.
Neither transfer is surprising and in fact have both been mooted for months. Two of the summer's midcard transfer sagas have finally been completed, with the distinct possibility of a third mega transfer by the end of the transfer window. If you have no idea of this possible main event record breaking transfer you probably haven't been anywhere near any form of communication or media. Or you might simply be a North Korean.
Anyways let's get down to analysing what both can contribute to their clubs. Ronaldinho, in my opinion, still has a lot to offer. His drive is clearly evident from his decision to join Milan rather than Manchester City. Milan are an established European superpower and are always among the favourites for the Scudetto at the start of every season. Although they only managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup, you can bet they'll be vying for the league title as usual. Man City probably have a much smaller chance of winning any silverware this season compared to Milan and if Ronaldinho felt he didn't have anything to prove, he'd probably head for England. The reported offer of a £200,000 per week contract is one even Frank Lampard wouldn't be able to turn down. I said before that I think he would've shone in the Premier League but I guess his hunger to win probably tipped the balance in favour of Milan. Man City as champions of England or Milan as champions of Italy? You can choose which statement sounds more realistic.
Another possible reason for Ronaldinho moving to Milan is the company. Kaka and Alexandre Pato both play for the club and although Ronaldo won't be seen much on the pitch he'll most likely be in and around Milan. Three fellow Brazilians, all of whom he has played with in the national team. Better company and probably an easier transition into a new place and language. Try picturing Ronaldinho living it up in Manchester with Martin Petrov, Dietmar Hamann and Richard Dunne. No it doesn't work at all. Ronaldinho was always going to go to Milan over City and for all the reports that City were close to signing him and were the favourites to win his signature, you never really felt that the former World Player of the Year would ever join them.
Meanwhile, Barcelona see Hleb as a direct replacement for the departing Ronaldinho. His ball skills, vision and creativity can shine in La Liga where individualism is more widely encouraged than in the Premiership. Playing alongside players such as Bojan and Lionel Messi can only help his game go from strength to strength. On the downside, he was also tipped for greatness when Arsenal signed him from Stuttgart. However, his time at the Emirates can hardly be classified as the stuff of legend. Common sense dictates that he will be a solid, dependable performer for Barca rather than a superstar enjoying the adulation of millions. Ronaldinho at the peak of his power was a crowd puller and he was recognised from Catalunya to the streets of Cambodia. I can't really see Hleb filling in Ronnie's role as brilliantly as he did when he actually played as if he gave a crap. Can you see Hleb tearing Real Madrid to bits at the Bernabeu and getting a standing ovation from their fans? Point made.
Another downside for him is that Messi is likely to be the focal point of attention from the fans. Even when Ronaldinho was wowing crowds weekly, Messi was championed as their superstar of the future. The downfall of his former teammate has only elevated him to the top a lot quicker than imagined. Hleb can't possibly hope to enjoy similar status unless he makes a sigificantly larger impact than Messi on a regular basis. And with Messi enjoying his status as the world's second best player (behind the world's richest slave), there is little chance of Hleb establishing himself as a true global superstar. Good luck to him. He could still prove everyone wrong but I highly doubt it.
And a final dig at the world's richest slave. GO! It's clear his heart isn't at Man Utd anymore and they don't need to be dragging deadweight around. No doubt he'll command a world record fee and rightly so. However, even if he is the best, United have to let him go. No one wants to see Ronaldo crying on pitch (although it happens every other game). He might suffer a nervous breakdown soon if he is forced to continue his hard labour for United. Maybe Madrid will warm to his tears instead.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The saga continues.....
Now that Wimbledon is long gone, I can finally turn my attention back to football again. It was competitive sport and certainly kept my attention away from football for awhile.
But then again there's nothing new to write about. It's all transfer rumours and signings and press conferences again and that's the way it's going to stay until the start of the new season. The big story that has emerged today is Liverpool's reported interest in David Villa. Rafa Benitez certainly would love to pair him with Fernando Torres in a direct clone of Spain's forward line. You get the feeling however that Torres will be a completely different player should Villa arrive at Anfield. It was clear in Euro 08 that Torres did most of the running and Villa simply added the finishing touch to the move. Just a thought.
And apparently, Goal.com has the exclusive scoop that Barca have concluded a deal for Aleksandr Hleb and are going to make an official announcement within the next two days. It's another signing to boost their midfield which will be missing Deco, and most likely Ronaldinho as well, next season. I think Hleb will do no better for Barca than he did for Arsenal. He is accustomed to their one touch passing style and may find it difficult to adjust to the Spanish style of play. However, he has wonderful dribbling abilities and may indeed shine in Spain where individual skill is allowed to shine much more than in the Premiership. Only time will tell but my feeling is that Barca have signed themselves a solid player who won't take La Liga by storm.
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard is still unsure where he will be playing next season. Chelsea have also denied reports that Lampard was angered by Luiz Felipe Scolari's announcement that he will still be a Chelsea player for the coming season. Inter had a bid of £7.95m rejected by Chelsea and it is widely expected that they will continue to bid for the England player over the summer. Chelsea and Lampard have yet to come to an agreement on a new contract and this can only be beneficial from Inter's point of view. Lampard could work wonders in Italy given his talents. His pasing range can be fully shown of in a league where the pace is slow, giving him ample time to pick out his target. It would also probably give him more time to unleash his trademark strikes from distance. If he could regularly score those in the Premiership with such little time and space, he could probably do it a lot more frequently in Italy. There is also the small matter of linking up with Jose Mourinho again, a relationship that goes deeper than just footballing matters. I'm not too sure what to expect with all the different reports from different perspectives. I wouldn't be surprised if Lampard stays but I wouldn't be surprised if he left for Italy either.
The Ronaldo saga will simply not die down. Apparently Rafael Nadal was told after his Wimbledon victory that Real Madrid have the transfer of Ronaldo under control and that all that was left was for them to seal the deal. While this may be true it's a sign of how this transfer had blown everything out of proportion and any sliver of news is viciously gobbled up by the media. Then again we all read it so it gives them a reason to. Either way I still expect him to go. I ceased to care a long time ago. I only hope he leaves quickly. Gives United ample time to bargain for more players.
But then again there's nothing new to write about. It's all transfer rumours and signings and press conferences again and that's the way it's going to stay until the start of the new season. The big story that has emerged today is Liverpool's reported interest in David Villa. Rafa Benitez certainly would love to pair him with Fernando Torres in a direct clone of Spain's forward line. You get the feeling however that Torres will be a completely different player should Villa arrive at Anfield. It was clear in Euro 08 that Torres did most of the running and Villa simply added the finishing touch to the move. Just a thought.
And apparently, Goal.com has the exclusive scoop that Barca have concluded a deal for Aleksandr Hleb and are going to make an official announcement within the next two days. It's another signing to boost their midfield which will be missing Deco, and most likely Ronaldinho as well, next season. I think Hleb will do no better for Barca than he did for Arsenal. He is accustomed to their one touch passing style and may find it difficult to adjust to the Spanish style of play. However, he has wonderful dribbling abilities and may indeed shine in Spain where individual skill is allowed to shine much more than in the Premiership. Only time will tell but my feeling is that Barca have signed themselves a solid player who won't take La Liga by storm.
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard is still unsure where he will be playing next season. Chelsea have also denied reports that Lampard was angered by Luiz Felipe Scolari's announcement that he will still be a Chelsea player for the coming season. Inter had a bid of £7.95m rejected by Chelsea and it is widely expected that they will continue to bid for the England player over the summer. Chelsea and Lampard have yet to come to an agreement on a new contract and this can only be beneficial from Inter's point of view. Lampard could work wonders in Italy given his talents. His pasing range can be fully shown of in a league where the pace is slow, giving him ample time to pick out his target. It would also probably give him more time to unleash his trademark strikes from distance. If he could regularly score those in the Premiership with such little time and space, he could probably do it a lot more frequently in Italy. There is also the small matter of linking up with Jose Mourinho again, a relationship that goes deeper than just footballing matters. I'm not too sure what to expect with all the different reports from different perspectives. I wouldn't be surprised if Lampard stays but I wouldn't be surprised if he left for Italy either.
The Ronaldo saga will simply not die down. Apparently Rafael Nadal was told after his Wimbledon victory that Real Madrid have the transfer of Ronaldo under control and that all that was left was for them to seal the deal. While this may be true it's a sign of how this transfer had blown everything out of proportion and any sliver of news is viciously gobbled up by the media. Then again we all read it so it gives them a reason to. Either way I still expect him to go. I ceased to care a long time ago. I only hope he leaves quickly. Gives United ample time to bargain for more players.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Back to normal
With many suffering from withdrawal symptoms post-Euro 2008, there is nothing to satisfy people like us, deprived of competitive international football until the World Cup 2010 qualifiers commence. Unfortunately, we're now back to the usual reports of players and managers in the traditional summer transfer frenzy. Only the media blow it out of proportion. A lot.
Then again, we're so starved of anything football related, we'll take anything that come our way. In this report, Andriy Shevchenko has reported agreed to join Sampdoria on loan for the coming season. Really? I thought Milan were open to the idea of the legend returning to the San Siro at anytime. That report is probably just that. A report. Full of nothing. Shevchenko may be desperate to quit England but although he's likely to return to Italy sometime, I doubt it'll be to Sampdoria. Milan's pursuit of Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to end in failure because they can't afford the measly sum of £35.6m for the Togolese hitman. Wouldn't they have a spot for Shevchenko to fill? I can definitely see it happening.
Speaking of Adebayor, £35.6m? Really? For him? With all due respect to the man, no one in world football is worth more than £35m apart from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While he is a great player, he is certainly no world legend of the game. Neither are Messi or Ronaldo but you get the feeling they're more likely to reach the summit than Adebayor. I expect (and I suspect many others too) Ronaldo to pick up this year's FIFA Player of the Year award. The only question is which club will he be playing for then? I'm not too interested in the ongoing saga so I'll leave it at that.
Moving onto this editorial I found, Asia's next top talents are briefly profiled. One thing I have a problem with is the inclusion of two South Asian players, Sunil Chettri and Ali Ashfaq. Why do they deserve a spot on the list? I don't need to mention due respect because South Asian football is quite frankly rubbish. Let me put this into perspective. Those two Asian talents are from India and the Maldives respectively. India's best (Bhaichung Bhutia, once of Bury FC) has tried their luck in the Malaysian league and did not exactly turn on the style, leaving after a few months. Ashfaq, meanwhile, played in the Malaysian Super League for DPMM FC (Brunei), and was hardly a superstar either. Now to the damning conclusion of the article. Malaysian football is widely regarded as crap nowadays (and that's being polite) and I'm in complete agreement. So why do those two players merit a spot on the list of Asia's top talents when they can't even stand out in one of Asia's worst football leagues? It's not an official list, nor is it a conclusive list. But it reaches a large readership and certainly portrays a wrong view of talent in Asia. I won't comment on the rest as I have not seen them play. I've seen those two play, and they are not what you would call Asia's best. Not by a long shot.
That concludes the random rant of the day. The lack of solid football news leads me to write upon anything I set my eyes on. The concluded transfers to the Premiership may warrant some space but I'm tired of the focus on the Premiership. Jo's joined Man City for a club record. Great. I won't be bothered analysing whether he'll be a hit or miss. If Ronaldinho joined him there, that would be a lot more interesting. Apparently Man City are still confident of pulling off the coup. Intriguing.
Then again, we're so starved of anything football related, we'll take anything that come our way. In this report, Andriy Shevchenko has reported agreed to join Sampdoria on loan for the coming season. Really? I thought Milan were open to the idea of the legend returning to the San Siro at anytime. That report is probably just that. A report. Full of nothing. Shevchenko may be desperate to quit England but although he's likely to return to Italy sometime, I doubt it'll be to Sampdoria. Milan's pursuit of Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to end in failure because they can't afford the measly sum of £35.6m for the Togolese hitman. Wouldn't they have a spot for Shevchenko to fill? I can definitely see it happening.
Speaking of Adebayor, £35.6m? Really? For him? With all due respect to the man, no one in world football is worth more than £35m apart from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While he is a great player, he is certainly no world legend of the game. Neither are Messi or Ronaldo but you get the feeling they're more likely to reach the summit than Adebayor. I expect (and I suspect many others too) Ronaldo to pick up this year's FIFA Player of the Year award. The only question is which club will he be playing for then? I'm not too interested in the ongoing saga so I'll leave it at that.
Moving onto this editorial I found, Asia's next top talents are briefly profiled. One thing I have a problem with is the inclusion of two South Asian players, Sunil Chettri and Ali Ashfaq. Why do they deserve a spot on the list? I don't need to mention due respect because South Asian football is quite frankly rubbish. Let me put this into perspective. Those two Asian talents are from India and the Maldives respectively. India's best (Bhaichung Bhutia, once of Bury FC) has tried their luck in the Malaysian league and did not exactly turn on the style, leaving after a few months. Ashfaq, meanwhile, played in the Malaysian Super League for DPMM FC (Brunei), and was hardly a superstar either. Now to the damning conclusion of the article. Malaysian football is widely regarded as crap nowadays (and that's being polite) and I'm in complete agreement. So why do those two players merit a spot on the list of Asia's top talents when they can't even stand out in one of Asia's worst football leagues? It's not an official list, nor is it a conclusive list. But it reaches a large readership and certainly portrays a wrong view of talent in Asia. I won't comment on the rest as I have not seen them play. I've seen those two play, and they are not what you would call Asia's best. Not by a long shot.
That concludes the random rant of the day. The lack of solid football news leads me to write upon anything I set my eyes on. The concluded transfers to the Premiership may warrant some space but I'm tired of the focus on the Premiership. Jo's joined Man City for a club record. Great. I won't be bothered analysing whether he'll be a hit or miss. If Ronaldinho joined him there, that would be a lot more interesting. Apparently Man City are still confident of pulling off the coup. Intriguing.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Congratulations
Now that my virus is gone, I can write a long overdue piece on Spain. Not that it will be long anyways. There wasn't much to discuss.
Well done to Spain. They were the best team in the tournament and fully deserved their 1-0 victory. No arguments. Their dominance was clear to see. After Germany's 10 minutes of fame at the beginning of the first half, Spain took over and never let the Germans back in.
They could have won by more than one goal for sure, such was the poor quality of the German defending. Jens Lehmann was responsible for keeping the score respectable, his saves thwarting Spain although they were guilty of passing up some clear cut opportunities, Sergio Ramos' point blank header and Marcos Senna missing the ball from a few yards out to mention a couple. However, no one can begrudge Spain their first major title in 44 years and they now look to be in a strong position to mount a serious challenge for the World Cup in two years time. The youth of the team should ensure that the core of this squad will be around then, providing the world with a sizeable task.
Germany were unbelievably poor. Michael Ballack put in another sub-par performance and the team went close on one occasion, Ballack shooting into the side netting. They lacked creativity and penetration, something Spain had in abundance. Their good spell created few clear chances and although they dominated possession, they did not use it well. The entire defense was not solid through the night and this was the cause for Spain's goal, Fernando Torres taking advantage of Phillip Lahm's inability to pass the ball back to Lehmann before dinking the ball over the onrushing Lehmann. The pace and the quality of the finish emphasised the clear gap in class. Germany can have no complaints.
Xavi Hernández was named the best player at the tournament, beating off the likes of Andrei Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko and David Villa. Personally, I think he deserves it. Arshavin only set the tournament alight for a couple of games, Villa only scored in two games despite finishing as top scorer and Pavlyuchenko was less consistent than Xavi, considering impact on matches played. Xavi played in all of Spain's games apart from the meaningless group game against Greece, and had a profound influence in every game he played in. His consistency merits the Best Player award and there is surely more to come from him. At 28, he should be approaching his peak and his experience and quality will surely be crucial to Spain's hopes in two years time.
In transfer news, Frank Lampard's proposed move to Inter has reportedly been played down by Jose Mourinho. I thought it was done! Never trust papers, even for a second. For the moment, Lampard hasn't distanced himself from the speculation and Mourinho claims he will have Lampard playing for him by next season at the latest. Interesting. Meanwhile, Deco has finalised his move, fueling the speculation that Lampard is on his way to Inter. He might as well just go now. The saga is heading towards the level of the "Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid" reports. I don't see this one playing out for so long however. Apparently Man Utd are confident of keeping Ronaldo at the club. As a fan, I'm not bothered whether he stays or goes. United have the advantage whatever the outcome and I'm not Ronaldo's biggest fan. Pretty boy.
I'm done for now. Withdrawal symptoms are a fixture every time a major tournament concludes. I'm already looking forward to South Africa 2010. If it's even held there. Sepp Blatter has reportedly arranged a backup nation should S. Africa fail to complete infrastructure and stadium upgrades. Good luck to them. I wouldn't mind if it's held in Asia again. At least I won't have to stay up every night.
Well done to Spain. They were the best team in the tournament and fully deserved their 1-0 victory. No arguments. Their dominance was clear to see. After Germany's 10 minutes of fame at the beginning of the first half, Spain took over and never let the Germans back in.
They could have won by more than one goal for sure, such was the poor quality of the German defending. Jens Lehmann was responsible for keeping the score respectable, his saves thwarting Spain although they were guilty of passing up some clear cut opportunities, Sergio Ramos' point blank header and Marcos Senna missing the ball from a few yards out to mention a couple. However, no one can begrudge Spain their first major title in 44 years and they now look to be in a strong position to mount a serious challenge for the World Cup in two years time. The youth of the team should ensure that the core of this squad will be around then, providing the world with a sizeable task.
Germany were unbelievably poor. Michael Ballack put in another sub-par performance and the team went close on one occasion, Ballack shooting into the side netting. They lacked creativity and penetration, something Spain had in abundance. Their good spell created few clear chances and although they dominated possession, they did not use it well. The entire defense was not solid through the night and this was the cause for Spain's goal, Fernando Torres taking advantage of Phillip Lahm's inability to pass the ball back to Lehmann before dinking the ball over the onrushing Lehmann. The pace and the quality of the finish emphasised the clear gap in class. Germany can have no complaints.
Xavi Hernández was named the best player at the tournament, beating off the likes of Andrei Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko and David Villa. Personally, I think he deserves it. Arshavin only set the tournament alight for a couple of games, Villa only scored in two games despite finishing as top scorer and Pavlyuchenko was less consistent than Xavi, considering impact on matches played. Xavi played in all of Spain's games apart from the meaningless group game against Greece, and had a profound influence in every game he played in. His consistency merits the Best Player award and there is surely more to come from him. At 28, he should be approaching his peak and his experience and quality will surely be crucial to Spain's hopes in two years time.
In transfer news, Frank Lampard's proposed move to Inter has reportedly been played down by Jose Mourinho. I thought it was done! Never trust papers, even for a second. For the moment, Lampard hasn't distanced himself from the speculation and Mourinho claims he will have Lampard playing for him by next season at the latest. Interesting. Meanwhile, Deco has finalised his move, fueling the speculation that Lampard is on his way to Inter. He might as well just go now. The saga is heading towards the level of the "Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid" reports. I don't see this one playing out for so long however. Apparently Man Utd are confident of keeping Ronaldo at the club. As a fan, I'm not bothered whether he stays or goes. United have the advantage whatever the outcome and I'm not Ronaldo's biggest fan. Pretty boy.
I'm done for now. Withdrawal symptoms are a fixture every time a major tournament concludes. I'm already looking forward to South Africa 2010. If it's even held there. Sepp Blatter has reportedly arranged a backup nation should S. Africa fail to complete infrastructure and stadium upgrades. Good luck to them. I wouldn't mind if it's held in Asia again. At least I won't have to stay up every night.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Final countdown
So after three weeks of ups and downs and great games every day, the final of Euro 2008 is a few hours away, to be contested by Germany and Spain.
For the Germans, it has been business as usual, getting to the latter stages of a tournament without playing to the best of their capabilities. In fact, had Turkey been preparing to headline the final, the Germans would not have had anything to complain about. They were let off the hook by the gutsy Turks who had the Germans cornered, only for them to conjure up a goal from nowhere. Typical Germany. Michael Ballack even admitted that it was their "German" mentality that got them to the final. Their mentality is probably their key strength, simply not knowing how to lose. The team is almost machine-like, bound to get the job done no matter how.
Meanwhile, Spain have reached their first final since 1984. For a team that has traditionally had some of the world's best players, this modest return is quite incomprehensible. Spain have been tagged as perennial underachievers, always packing up before they get started. This tournament has seen them emphatically lift the weight from their shoulders and proven themselves to be one of the fine teams, if not the finest, in the tournament. Their passing is superb and they monopolise the ball to such an extent that at time the only way for their frustrated opponents to stop their flow is to give away a deliberate foul. They haven't beaten the Germans in a competitive fixture since 1984, but there is a real sense of confidence within the team, one they haven't had in a very long time, and this could very easily be their year.
Both sides have played themselves down as the favourites, and with good reason to. There is already enough pressure on each team and the additional weight the favourites tag brings along does not help either team. Personally, I'm tipping Spain as the favourites, simply because they have been impressive in every game, bar the quarterfinal against Italy. That performance was also due to the Italians spoiling the game. The Germans have barged into the final with their workmanlike performances and good luck along the way. Ricardo and Rustu didn't exactly put in stellar performances against the Germans and must take huge credit for some of Germany's goals. Simply put, if the Germans are not out to spoil the game, I believe Spain will play them off the park. Incidentally, I cannot see any other way for the Germans to win other than to impose their size and physicality on the game. The question is whether they will use that style of play or not. It makes for an intriguing battle and one I cannot wait to watch.
The whole tournament has been a huge boost to football's reputation as the beautiful game and I for one will be getting a DVD review of the tournament as soon as it is available. Xabi Alonso said, "The best is yet to come and we need to finish off what we have done so far." We can only hope the game lives up to his words.
In transfer news, Frank Lampard has reportedly sealed the deal on a lucrative move to Italy, joining his former boss José Mourinho at Inter. Expected it really. The bond between the two would have probably fit in straight into Brokeback Mountain. Ok maybe not that far, but it was pretty close. Ricardo Quaresma has joined Inter as well, possible as a long term replacement for Luis Figo. I think he's overpriced, there are lots of other wingers around for less than €35 million. Cash-strapped Valencia would probably have accepted that offer for David Silva, who in my opinion is a lot better than Quaresma. Yet who am I to doubt the Special One. He must have a plan in mind. I don't feel like talking about other transfer speculation and done transfers at the moment. Too many to cover and I'm not in a writing mood. Head over to goal.com if you really need some news to read.
For the Germans, it has been business as usual, getting to the latter stages of a tournament without playing to the best of their capabilities. In fact, had Turkey been preparing to headline the final, the Germans would not have had anything to complain about. They were let off the hook by the gutsy Turks who had the Germans cornered, only for them to conjure up a goal from nowhere. Typical Germany. Michael Ballack even admitted that it was their "German" mentality that got them to the final. Their mentality is probably their key strength, simply not knowing how to lose. The team is almost machine-like, bound to get the job done no matter how.
Meanwhile, Spain have reached their first final since 1984. For a team that has traditionally had some of the world's best players, this modest return is quite incomprehensible. Spain have been tagged as perennial underachievers, always packing up before they get started. This tournament has seen them emphatically lift the weight from their shoulders and proven themselves to be one of the fine teams, if not the finest, in the tournament. Their passing is superb and they monopolise the ball to such an extent that at time the only way for their frustrated opponents to stop their flow is to give away a deliberate foul. They haven't beaten the Germans in a competitive fixture since 1984, but there is a real sense of confidence within the team, one they haven't had in a very long time, and this could very easily be their year.
Both sides have played themselves down as the favourites, and with good reason to. There is already enough pressure on each team and the additional weight the favourites tag brings along does not help either team. Personally, I'm tipping Spain as the favourites, simply because they have been impressive in every game, bar the quarterfinal against Italy. That performance was also due to the Italians spoiling the game. The Germans have barged into the final with their workmanlike performances and good luck along the way. Ricardo and Rustu didn't exactly put in stellar performances against the Germans and must take huge credit for some of Germany's goals. Simply put, if the Germans are not out to spoil the game, I believe Spain will play them off the park. Incidentally, I cannot see any other way for the Germans to win other than to impose their size and physicality on the game. The question is whether they will use that style of play or not. It makes for an intriguing battle and one I cannot wait to watch.
The whole tournament has been a huge boost to football's reputation as the beautiful game and I for one will be getting a DVD review of the tournament as soon as it is available. Xabi Alonso said, "The best is yet to come and we need to finish off what we have done so far." We can only hope the game lives up to his words.
In transfer news, Frank Lampard has reportedly sealed the deal on a lucrative move to Italy, joining his former boss José Mourinho at Inter. Expected it really. The bond between the two would have probably fit in straight into Brokeback Mountain. Ok maybe not that far, but it was pretty close. Ricardo Quaresma has joined Inter as well, possible as a long term replacement for Luis Figo. I think he's overpriced, there are lots of other wingers around for less than €35 million. Cash-strapped Valencia would probably have accepted that offer for David Silva, who in my opinion is a lot better than Quaresma. Yet who am I to doubt the Special One. He must have a plan in mind. I don't feel like talking about other transfer speculation and done transfers at the moment. Too many to cover and I'm not in a writing mood. Head over to goal.com if you really need some news to read.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Spain stake their claim to be the best
Xavi Hernández, Daniel Güiza and David Silva will be on the lips of every Spanish supporter for years to come. Spain’s 3-0 victory against Russia last night emphasised that this squad had come of age and have no doubt that they can lift Europe’s biggest prize come Sunday.
Russia had been tipped in some quarters to emerge victorious in this encounter. Of course, much of their success would depend on their playmaker extraordinaire, Andrei Arshavin. He didn’t deliver, thus Russia didn’t deliver and they lost to Spain by a three goal margin yet again. David Villa’s injury was a pivotal moment in the match. Luis Aragonés opted to switch to a five man midfield, bringing on Cesc Fàbregas. The match was rather even until the first goal, scored by Xavi early in the second half. Spain completely dominated after that, with Fàbregas and Andrés Iniesta dominating the midfield. Russia had already struggled to wrest the ball away from Spain with four men in midfield. Now with five, they played some delightful one-touch football, frustrating the Russians and moving the ball around the pitch effortlessly. A fine clipped pass by Fàbregas over the Russian defence led to an opening for Güiza and the striker took his chance well, lobbing the ball past a helpless Igor Akinfeev. Another fine defence splitting pass from Fàbregas set up Silva to cap a fine performance by Spain and send them to their first final in 24 years.
Fàbregas’ superb performance was not good enough to get a Man of the Match accolade but he has almost surely sealed a starting spot for himself in Sunday’s final. Aragonés will be sorely tempted to start with five in midfield again after witnessing Spain dominating proceedings against the Russians. Such possession is only a distant dream for many coaches, yet Aragonés has an extremely talented midfield that can dominate against the best the world has to offer. He acknowledged that Spain played better football with five in midfield and most of that credit must go to Fàbregas. His vision and creativity was a welcome addition in the middle of the park and as a result, the Russians were never really in the game after Xavi’s opener.
Arshavin was anonymous the entire night, watched closely by Marcos Senna. He never really got going and as a result, Russia’s source of creativity had to be found in other areas. Unfortunately for them, there wasn’t enough elsewhere. Roman Pavlyuchenko was another anonymous figure although it can be argued that his supply was cut off last night by Spain’s superbly marshalled defence. They were completely outclassed, no two ways about it. There wasn’t an element of bad luck about the result, nor did the referee have an unwanted influence on the game. Spain won because they deserved to. Russia captain Sergei Semak said, “We could have done better, but this is how the match went. The Spanish won absolutely on merit.” No one who watched the game will disagree with his evaluation. Spain have been the tournament’s best team by far and if they win on Sunday, the tournament will have a worthy winner. Nothing against the Germans but there isn’t a clear underdog for the final and I’d like to see the best team win the trophy.
Xavi Hernández, Daniel Güiza and David Silva will be on the lips of every Spanish supporter for years to come. Spain’s 3-0 victory against Russia last night emphasised that this squad had come of age and have no doubt that they can lift Europe’s biggest prize come Sunday.
In other news, Emmanuel Adebayor has announced that he will be staying at Arsenal for next season, killing off speculation that he could be heading to AC Milan or Barcelona. At least he’s had the decency to announce his decision nice and early. Unlike some Portuguese wingers who play for Man Utd. Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will be back for pre-season training with Man Utd but has not formally announced where he would like to play next season. Unethical and inconsiderate are two words that immediately spring to mind. It’s hard to see past money as a motivating factor, as Man Utd are clearly a better team than Real Madrid, so it’s not a case of wanting to improve his game. He could do much worse than take a page out of Adebayor’s book of ethics and motivation. I stumbled across this interesting article, shedding some light into Adebayor’s difficult past. Whilst it’s not a deep biography, it does show us what kind of person he is and how he was brought up. He has kept his feet firmly on the ground and it is refreshing to see such a player in today’s world, where many succumb to the lure of riches. Adebayor insists, “I was born in Togo so I never cared about playing for money, my happiness was to play to enjoy myself.” Many others should be looking to emulate this man for what he is on and off the pitch.
And as I write this, a news story has surfaced in which Adebayor makes a complete U-turn on his stance. He says, “I am footballer, I have a three-year contract at Arsenal but as you know, a lot of clubs are interested in me.” So much for all that loyalty talk I was writing about. Football never ceases to amaze me.
Russia had been tipped in some quarters to emerge victorious in this encounter. Of course, much of their success would depend on their playmaker extraordinaire, Andrei Arshavin. He didn’t deliver, thus Russia didn’t deliver and they lost to Spain by a three goal margin yet again. David Villa’s injury was a pivotal moment in the match. Luis Aragonés opted to switch to a five man midfield, bringing on Cesc Fàbregas. The match was rather even until the first goal, scored by Xavi early in the second half. Spain completely dominated after that, with Fàbregas and Andrés Iniesta dominating the midfield. Russia had already struggled to wrest the ball away from Spain with four men in midfield. Now with five, they played some delightful one-touch football, frustrating the Russians and moving the ball around the pitch effortlessly. A fine clipped pass by Fàbregas over the Russian defence led to an opening for Güiza and the striker took his chance well, lobbing the ball past a helpless Igor Akinfeev. Another fine defence splitting pass from Fàbregas set up Silva to cap a fine performance by Spain and send them to their first final in 24 years.
Fàbregas’ superb performance was not good enough to get a Man of the Match accolade but he has almost surely sealed a starting spot for himself in Sunday’s final. Aragonés will be sorely tempted to start with five in midfield again after witnessing Spain dominating proceedings against the Russians. Such possession is only a distant dream for many coaches, yet Aragonés has an extremely talented midfield that can dominate against the best the world has to offer. He acknowledged that Spain played better football with five in midfield and most of that credit must go to Fàbregas. His vision and creativity was a welcome addition in the middle of the park and as a result, the Russians were never really in the game after Xavi’s opener.
Arshavin was anonymous the entire night, watched closely by Marcos Senna. He never really got going and as a result, Russia’s source of creativity had to be found in other areas. Unfortunately for them, there wasn’t enough elsewhere. Roman Pavlyuchenko was another anonymous figure although it can be argued that his supply was cut off last night by Spain’s superbly marshalled defence. They were completely outclassed, no two ways about it. There wasn’t an element of bad luck about the result, nor did the referee have an unwanted influence on the game. Spain won because they deserved to. Russia captain Sergei Semak said, “We could have done better, but this is how the match went. The Spanish won absolutely on merit.” No one who watched the game will disagree with his evaluation. Spain have been the tournament’s best team by far and if they win on Sunday, the tournament will have a worthy winner. Nothing against the Germans but there isn’t a clear underdog for the final and I’d like to see the best team win the trophy.
Xavi Hernández, Daniel Güiza and David Silva will be on the lips of every Spanish supporter for years to come. Spain’s 3-0 victory against Russia last night emphasised that this squad had come of age and have no doubt that they can lift Europe’s biggest prize come Sunday.
In other news, Emmanuel Adebayor has announced that he will be staying at Arsenal for next season, killing off speculation that he could be heading to AC Milan or Barcelona. At least he’s had the decency to announce his decision nice and early. Unlike some Portuguese wingers who play for Man Utd. Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will be back for pre-season training with Man Utd but has not formally announced where he would like to play next season. Unethical and inconsiderate are two words that immediately spring to mind. It’s hard to see past money as a motivating factor, as Man Utd are clearly a better team than Real Madrid, so it’s not a case of wanting to improve his game. He could do much worse than take a page out of Adebayor’s book of ethics and motivation. I stumbled across this interesting article, shedding some light into Adebayor’s difficult past. Whilst it’s not a deep biography, it does show us what kind of person he is and how he was brought up. He has kept his feet firmly on the ground and it is refreshing to see such a player in today’s world, where many succumb to the lure of riches. Adebayor insists, “I was born in Togo so I never cared about playing for money, my happiness was to play to enjoy myself.” Many others should be looking to emulate this man for what he is on and off the pitch.
And as I write this, a news story has surfaced in which Adebayor makes a complete U-turn on his stance. He says, “I am footballer, I have a three-year contract at Arsenal but as you know, a lot of clubs are interested in me.” So much for all that loyalty talk I was writing about. Football never ceases to amaze me.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Turkey - Expiry date: 25/6/2008
It had to happen eventually. Turkey had thrilled us three games in a row. Surely it couldn't happen a fourth time?
It very nearly did. Turkey had a decimated squad missing 9 players through injury and suspension. Unsurprisingly, Germany were the overwhelming favourites to progress to the final. Turkey, however, had ideas of their own. The 3-2 loss was harsh on them as they deserved to take the match through to extra time at the very least. They completely outplayed the Germans in the first half, catching them off guard with their attacking play. Kazım Kazım was desperately unlucky to see his shot cannon off the crossbar with Jens Lehmann well beaten. He hit the bar a second time with a scuffed, looping shot and Uğur Boral somehow managed to turn in the rebound. Germany's equaliser came through their first real attack on the Turkish goal, Lukas Podolski sending in a low cross which Bastian Schweinsteiger expertly flicked home, using the outside of his right boot. The second half was less of an attacking spectacle although Lehmann continued to make saves and Turkey continued to have shots on target. However, Rüştü Reçber horrific mistake looked to have lost the game for Turkey when Miroslav Klose beat the keeper to the ball and headed into an unguarded net. The never say die attitude of the Turks brought them level when Semih Şentürk struck in the 86th minute to revive Turkish hopes once more. Extra time loomed but Philipp Lahm's one two with Thomas Hitzlsperger settled the contest in the final minute, Lahm finishing at Rüştü's near post, with the keeper at fault once again for going to ground too early and exposing his near post.
Turkey had 17 shots in total, of which 11 were on target. Germany had 7, of which 3 were on target. And those 3 shots resulted in Germany's 3 goals which sent them to the final. Turkey have every right to feel hard done as their enterprise did not bring about the reward they so richly deserved. However, with a European Championship semifinal under their belt, to go along with their 3rd place at the 2002 World Cup, they can now claim to be one of football's leading nations. Many of their players are surely bound for bigger leagues in Europe after the tournament concludes. Reports are already linking Arda Turan with Juventus and expect many more similar reports involving his teammates. Their fighting spirit was their standout quality and Turkey can be proud for providing the watching world with 4 memorable games and they will surely build on this and hopefully go one step further in the next tournament in 2 years time. Fatih Terim was full of praise for the Germans but he must be wondering how it is not Turkey that will be lining up in the final on Sunday. "I am proud of my players for showing the world what good players they are," he said. The watching world has been given ample evidence of that.
Germany must be relieved more than anything. Their 3 goals were the only 3 shots they had on target all game. Their ruthless finishing only underlined what a quality team they are as well. They may have survived the Turkish onslaught on their off day but they must now regroup and shift up a few gears if they are to lift the trophy on Sunday. Their players will need no further reminders and motivation for the prize at stake. Joachim Löw said, "We were worried, but we were lucky to score in the 90th minute. Congratulations to Turkey for a fantastic show." Easy to be full of praise for your opponents when you have triumphed. Germany would have had no reason for complaint had they been on the wrong end of that scoreline. They were second best on the day but they will now contest who the best team in Europe will be on Sunday. Football is harsh but the Germans won't mind in the slightest and the competition's most successful side ever will now be full of confidence of adding to their trophy cabinet.
Their opponents will be either Russia or Spain, due to play in a few hours. I will not predict this game as anything can happen. It's extremely even and a repeat of Spain's 4-1 win in the group stage is extremely unlikely. The Russians have improved massively, with a large chunk of that credit going to Andrei Arshavin. Spain have quality all over the park and an off day can be glossed over with a moment of magic from one of their many talents. I will be supporting the Russians, simply based on their underdog status and their brand of football. Also because there is a need for an underdog in Sunday's final. Underdogs who play their more illustrious opponents off the park. A dream for any neutral. I have a feeling that Spain will go through but I'm hoping the hunch is wrong. Good luck to Russia and may Arshavin justify my decision to sleep at 5am again. He's been subject of an official approach by Barcelona and hopefully he proves why tonight.
And a quick rant about the transmission interruptions. It's quite unbelievable that UEFA would be so underprepared for such an event. Apparently they've now got backups for the generator backups should the power cuts occur again. Well it's too late now isn't it? Why wasn't that implemented in the first place? We're not going to see the best 10 minutes of Turkey vs Germany live again now are we? Not good enough and they've been left with egg on their face. Deserved.
It very nearly did. Turkey had a decimated squad missing 9 players through injury and suspension. Unsurprisingly, Germany were the overwhelming favourites to progress to the final. Turkey, however, had ideas of their own. The 3-2 loss was harsh on them as they deserved to take the match through to extra time at the very least. They completely outplayed the Germans in the first half, catching them off guard with their attacking play. Kazım Kazım was desperately unlucky to see his shot cannon off the crossbar with Jens Lehmann well beaten. He hit the bar a second time with a scuffed, looping shot and Uğur Boral somehow managed to turn in the rebound. Germany's equaliser came through their first real attack on the Turkish goal, Lukas Podolski sending in a low cross which Bastian Schweinsteiger expertly flicked home, using the outside of his right boot. The second half was less of an attacking spectacle although Lehmann continued to make saves and Turkey continued to have shots on target. However, Rüştü Reçber horrific mistake looked to have lost the game for Turkey when Miroslav Klose beat the keeper to the ball and headed into an unguarded net. The never say die attitude of the Turks brought them level when Semih Şentürk struck in the 86th minute to revive Turkish hopes once more. Extra time loomed but Philipp Lahm's one two with Thomas Hitzlsperger settled the contest in the final minute, Lahm finishing at Rüştü's near post, with the keeper at fault once again for going to ground too early and exposing his near post.
Turkey had 17 shots in total, of which 11 were on target. Germany had 7, of which 3 were on target. And those 3 shots resulted in Germany's 3 goals which sent them to the final. Turkey have every right to feel hard done as their enterprise did not bring about the reward they so richly deserved. However, with a European Championship semifinal under their belt, to go along with their 3rd place at the 2002 World Cup, they can now claim to be one of football's leading nations. Many of their players are surely bound for bigger leagues in Europe after the tournament concludes. Reports are already linking Arda Turan with Juventus and expect many more similar reports involving his teammates. Their fighting spirit was their standout quality and Turkey can be proud for providing the watching world with 4 memorable games and they will surely build on this and hopefully go one step further in the next tournament in 2 years time. Fatih Terim was full of praise for the Germans but he must be wondering how it is not Turkey that will be lining up in the final on Sunday. "I am proud of my players for showing the world what good players they are," he said. The watching world has been given ample evidence of that.
Germany must be relieved more than anything. Their 3 goals were the only 3 shots they had on target all game. Their ruthless finishing only underlined what a quality team they are as well. They may have survived the Turkish onslaught on their off day but they must now regroup and shift up a few gears if they are to lift the trophy on Sunday. Their players will need no further reminders and motivation for the prize at stake. Joachim Löw said, "We were worried, but we were lucky to score in the 90th minute. Congratulations to Turkey for a fantastic show." Easy to be full of praise for your opponents when you have triumphed. Germany would have had no reason for complaint had they been on the wrong end of that scoreline. They were second best on the day but they will now contest who the best team in Europe will be on Sunday. Football is harsh but the Germans won't mind in the slightest and the competition's most successful side ever will now be full of confidence of adding to their trophy cabinet.
Their opponents will be either Russia or Spain, due to play in a few hours. I will not predict this game as anything can happen. It's extremely even and a repeat of Spain's 4-1 win in the group stage is extremely unlikely. The Russians have improved massively, with a large chunk of that credit going to Andrei Arshavin. Spain have quality all over the park and an off day can be glossed over with a moment of magic from one of their many talents. I will be supporting the Russians, simply based on their underdog status and their brand of football. Also because there is a need for an underdog in Sunday's final. Underdogs who play their more illustrious opponents off the park. A dream for any neutral. I have a feeling that Spain will go through but I'm hoping the hunch is wrong. Good luck to Russia and may Arshavin justify my decision to sleep at 5am again. He's been subject of an official approach by Barcelona and hopefully he proves why tonight.
And a quick rant about the transmission interruptions. It's quite unbelievable that UEFA would be so underprepared for such an event. Apparently they've now got backups for the generator backups should the power cuts occur again. Well it's too late now isn't it? Why wasn't that implemented in the first place? We're not going to see the best 10 minutes of Turkey vs Germany live again now are we? Not good enough and they've been left with egg on their face. Deserved.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Italy bores me!
World champions two years ago. Isn't that something to think about? The Italians were so negative in their approach last night its amazing how they even bothered turning up at all. Placing a brick wall in front of their goal would have provided just as much entertainment.
A bore draw. 0-0. Nothing more, nothing less. Last night's quarterfinal between Spain and Italy offered as much excitement as Cristiano Ronaldo's pending announcement. You just knew what the outcome was going to be. The Italians may have been deprived of their 'fantasista', Andrea Pirlo, but that's no excuse to be playing such boring rubbish. They would've struggled to create anything even if you had given each player a bucket of Play-doh. Spain did their best to create chances but anything they put together was quickly snuffed out by Italy. The closest they came to scoring was when Gianluigi Buffon fumbled Marcos Senna's drive onto the post. Spain struggled to break down what was admittedly a very well organised defense, Giorgio Chiellini and Christian Panucci performing admirably as makeshift centre backs.
You'd expect Spain to come up with better than that. The onus was on them to be the creative team in the contest with Italy playing for penalties. They failed. David Villa looked extremely quiet on the night and David Silva was probably their most effective player going forward, with several long range shots just off target and some testing Buffon somewhat. It was still surprising to see Fernando Torres hauled off to be replaces by Daniel Güiza, especially with penalties looming. Güiza missed his penalty in the shootout and must be thankful for Iker Casillas' subsequent save from Antonio Di Natale. Somehow, despite the lack of openings created by Spain, you felt that they were bound to go through. At least they had tried to make a contest of it. If Italy had on the shootout, football would be the loser. It just felt fair. Their victory was their first over Italy in a major tournament in 88 years. Can't say it was worth the wait but at least they're through to their first European Championship semifinal since 1984. All these firsts. Shows just how much Spain have underachieved. There is a sense they can go all the way this time but they'll have to be more creative and lethal in front of goal than last night.
Especially since they're up against Russia, a completely different side than the one they convincingly beat 4-1. With football's latest superstar, Andrei Arshavin, Russia will certainly have revenge on their mind and to show the world that the defeat to Spain was only a flash in the pan. Reports have already linked several clubs to Arshavin and don't expect the trend to change until he finds a new employer. The only thing certain about the game is that Russia won't be such easy pickings for Spain again. It should certainly be another good game of football, certainly better than last night's. It would be a huge disappointment if it was anything less.
No talk of Ronaldo today. Thank God. Just a bunch clubs eyeing up Arshavin. And Paul Ince has become the first black British manager in the Premiership. Trust the media to play up such an incident. Plain fact is that if there were good ones before, they would've risen to the top earlier. Forget all the talk of not enough chances, if you're good enough, you'll get to the top sooner or later. Good luck to Ince, he'll need some of it.
A bore draw. 0-0. Nothing more, nothing less. Last night's quarterfinal between Spain and Italy offered as much excitement as Cristiano Ronaldo's pending announcement. You just knew what the outcome was going to be. The Italians may have been deprived of their 'fantasista', Andrea Pirlo, but that's no excuse to be playing such boring rubbish. They would've struggled to create anything even if you had given each player a bucket of Play-doh. Spain did their best to create chances but anything they put together was quickly snuffed out by Italy. The closest they came to scoring was when Gianluigi Buffon fumbled Marcos Senna's drive onto the post. Spain struggled to break down what was admittedly a very well organised defense, Giorgio Chiellini and Christian Panucci performing admirably as makeshift centre backs.
You'd expect Spain to come up with better than that. The onus was on them to be the creative team in the contest with Italy playing for penalties. They failed. David Villa looked extremely quiet on the night and David Silva was probably their most effective player going forward, with several long range shots just off target and some testing Buffon somewhat. It was still surprising to see Fernando Torres hauled off to be replaces by Daniel Güiza, especially with penalties looming. Güiza missed his penalty in the shootout and must be thankful for Iker Casillas' subsequent save from Antonio Di Natale. Somehow, despite the lack of openings created by Spain, you felt that they were bound to go through. At least they had tried to make a contest of it. If Italy had on the shootout, football would be the loser. It just felt fair. Their victory was their first over Italy in a major tournament in 88 years. Can't say it was worth the wait but at least they're through to their first European Championship semifinal since 1984. All these firsts. Shows just how much Spain have underachieved. There is a sense they can go all the way this time but they'll have to be more creative and lethal in front of goal than last night.
Especially since they're up against Russia, a completely different side than the one they convincingly beat 4-1. With football's latest superstar, Andrei Arshavin, Russia will certainly have revenge on their mind and to show the world that the defeat to Spain was only a flash in the pan. Reports have already linked several clubs to Arshavin and don't expect the trend to change until he finds a new employer. The only thing certain about the game is that Russia won't be such easy pickings for Spain again. It should certainly be another good game of football, certainly better than last night's. It would be a huge disappointment if it was anything less.
No talk of Ronaldo today. Thank God. Just a bunch clubs eyeing up Arshavin. And Paul Ince has become the first black British manager in the Premiership. Trust the media to play up such an incident. Plain fact is that if there were good ones before, they would've risen to the top earlier. Forget all the talk of not enough chances, if you're good enough, you'll get to the top sooner or later. Good luck to Ince, he'll need some of it.
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