Before I begin, I have to tender my apologies to all readers of my blog articles for the long silence. I have been extremely busy. I will try to be more regular and consistent. Thanks.
The International breaks never go down well with me and a lot other soccer fans all over the globe because it temporarily halts the excitement of club football. But what must take place, must definitely take place.
The last couple of games were very pivotal for a host of prestigious countries who aimed to qualify automatically for the various tournaments that concerned them. The three lions of England were faced with a daunting task of taking at least a point off a determined Montenegro side in Podgorica. The Turks and Belgians were also in a battle to take second spot in a group that had already been won by Germany. Scotland also had the unenviable mission of taking all three points against Spain in Alicante. Serbia had to win against Slovenia in Maribor to have any chance of claiming a play-off spot. Sweden had to win their last 2 games to qualify at worst for the play-offs,or as best runner-up.
Nigeria , Cameroon, South Africa and Egypt were all in precarious situations with regards to qualification for the AFCON 2012 in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea. Also, the 2014 World cup qualifiers kicked off in the American Region without Brazil as expected--------naturally because they are the host nation.
I am going try to elucidate what transpired over the past one week or so...... region by region....sit back and enjoy reading.
AFRICA
One would have thought that teams like Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, and South Africa who have a lot of talented players plying their trade in some of the biggest Leagues in world football, and considering the number of national and international titles they have accumulated in years gone by, will qualify easily. But as they say, football is not mathematics. Nigeria needed to defeat Guinea to qualify and they had the advantage by virtue of the fact that the match was to be played at Abuja. Cameroon and Egypt on the other hand, were all but certainties to miss out of the draw ceremony which is slated for 29 October in Equatorial Guinea.
The Super eagles of Nigeria and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa had it all to play for in their respective make or mar encounters with Guinea and Sierra Leone. Coach Samson Siasia stuck to his guns, with regard to the non-invitation of asst captain and number one goalie, Vincent Enyeama.....asides this, the squad was full strength. The fans and supporters of the West African nation were in high spirits and very optimistic about their nation's chances of reaching the group stages of the biennial showpiece.
The match began with Nigeria expectedly piling pressure on the men from Conakry, hoping to stamp its authority on the match from the off. It was not to be as the well marshaled defense of the east African side, coupled with the inexplicable misses of Osaze Peter Odemwingie, and his compatriots ensured that the scoreline still remained goalless. At this time there was some unrest in the Nigerian camp and coach Siasia wasn't at all pleased with his side's mediocre performance. The supporters were seen in the terraces soaked in disbelief and utter shock. But it was only 45 minutes and there was still time for improvement........so they thought, or rather wished.
Ten minutes into the 2nd half, Former Dynamo Kyiv hotshot and Dubai based versatile player,--- Ismael Bangoura silenced the already devastated Abuja crowd with a goal that all but made matters worse for the Eagles. Victor Obinna Nsofor restored parity minutes later, and IK Uche put Nigeria ahead......a lead that would have been enough to see them in yet another football fiesta. At this time, the entire Nigerian populace had found their voices, singing and raining praises on the entire team for a job well carried out.....but the Syli Nationale (nickname for the Guinean National team) had other plans.....with just a few minutes to the final whistle, Ibrahim Diallo put a very sharp dagger through the hearts of the most populous black nation in the world with an all important, qualification clinching goal. That was the end of the NIGERIAN DREAM. It came as a shock to everyone in and out of the National Stadium. The failure to qualify represented the 1st time it had happened for 25 years (since 1986, although the country did not participate in the 1996 and 98 tournaments due to political disagreement and suspension).
South Africa on the other hand was a story of unprofessionalism and ignorance of CAF rules for qualification. It was inscrutable when Pitso Mosimane, the coach of the Bafana Bafana and the governing body (SAFA) came out to say they were unaware of the qualification requirements. The southern African nation were held to a draw by the Leone stars of Sierra Leone and it was purely intentional, when instead Pitso and his boys should have gone out to win outright. FUNNY, isn't it? I found it gut-busting.
After the last round of qualifying matches, it was astonishing to find out that 8 of the last 9 winners of the previous AFCON tournaments and 4 of the 6 representatives of Africa in the last World Cup finals will not be present in next year's football party.
The 16 PROFICIENT teams that will fly their countries flags are:
GABON, EQUATORIAL GUINEA (Debut appearance)--both co-hosts, MALI, GUINEA, ZAMBIA,MOROCCO, SENEGAL, NIGER, LIBYA, BURKINA FASO, GHANA, COTE D'IVOIRE, ANGOLA, BOTSWANA, TUNISIA, and SUDAN.
For the draw ceremony in about two weeks time, the POTS will be like this:
POT 1-Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast
POT 2- Angola, Tunisia, Zambia, Guinea
POT 3- Mali, Senegal, Morocco, Burkina Faso
POT 4- Sudan, Libya, Botswana, Niger
EUROPE
Before the penultimate qualifying match-day, Germany, Italy, Spain and Netherlands had already sealed their places in the football festival to be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. Nations like England, France, Denmark, Portugal, Czech Republic Sweden etc were looking to join them.......But they had to negotiate past some very tough matches to achieve their objectives. It had all the makings of a great show.
England flew to Podgorica knowing that only a draw will cement its position as group winners and secure automatic qualification, rather than go through the avoidable heartache of the play-offs. Capello' team reached their aim, but not without a price. The three lions took a 2-1 lead into half time courtesy of Ashley Young and Darren Bent......at this point, they were home and dry and could even have added more in a half that saw them dominate for long periods, until a very costly error led to Montenegro pegging one back on the stroke of half time. It proved very detrimental as Talisman and Super star Wayne Rooney rolled back the years by inexcusably kicking out at an opponent (Miodrag Dzudovic) 14 minutes from time.... which resulted in Wolfgang Stark---the match referee sending him off. There was no challenging or criticizing the decision as it was spot on. UEFA on Thursday piled more misery on the Merseyside born striker and dented England's slim hopes of performing well in the Euros by announcing that he will sit out the entire group stage. The FA hope to get a reprieve when they appeal. Montenegro secured their own place among the play-off teams by scoring a late equalizer to make it even more annoying for Fabio Capello and England. 2-2 it ended.
Mesut Ozil is a turkish-german but chose to play for the DIE MANNSCAFT. El Cuervo or der-rabe (which means the raven)as Ozil is affectionately called, was in for a very nasty reception because of his Turkish roots, but luckily for him, he was hampered by a slight injury. The German National team had a 100% record alongside the Oranje (Holland) and the la furia roja (Spain) and weren't in any mood to repudiate it. Istanbul is an electrifying and intimidating stadium with all its vociferous fans and they also had Guus Hiddink ....easily one of the best managers in the History of the sport. It promised to be a masterpiece. Joachim Loew has over the years built a fantastic team only second to Spain in terms of performances in the last two international competitions. If not for the Spanish team, Germany would probably have raised the '08 European trophy and the '10 World Cup. Players like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, etc have made them too difficult to play against, talk more of defeating them.
They started in customary fashion in Turkish soil, scoring the first two goals courtesy of in-form Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller, Hakan Balta replied for the Turks, but Bastian's penalty made sure of the victory and continued the near impeccable record of 9 out of 9 for the German machines. 3-1 it ended.
Del Bosque's Spain defeated Czech Republic in Prague by 2(Mata and Alonso) goals to nothing, Sweden defeated Finland 2-1 in Helsinki and France trounced Albania by 3 goals to nil.-----Remy, Malouda and Reveillere on the score sheet.
Craig Levein's Scotland put themselves within touching distance of a play-off slug out with the Czechs with a slim 1-0 win at Liechtenstein all thanks to a Craig Mackail-Smith goal in his 1st competitive start. They then had the 'very difficult' job of beating Spain to at most, make the play-offs. Wales and Gareth Bale easily swept the Swiss team away. Nani scored two goals en route to the Selecao's (Portugal) 5-3 win v Iceland. As for Bosnia,......-Dzeko, Missimovic, Pjanic and co scored five past a hapless Luxembourg side to set up a gran stand finish in Group D.
The last match day had many FINALS. Denmark-Portugal, France-Bosnia, Germany-Belgium (crucial for Belgium), Turkey-Azerbaijan, Slovenia- Serbia (a Serbia win essential), Spain-Scotland, Lithuania-Czech Rep, Sweden-Netherlands, Rep of Ireland-Armenia.
Denmark, inspired by Ajax wonderkid, Christian Eriksen outshone Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal's own Christian) and the Portuguese team.........the teenager put in a phenomenal performance in midfield where more established stars like Meireles and Martins were present, but out of sorts. The match ended 2-1 with Arsenal cast away, Niklas Bendtner scoring once again against the Bento propelled team. Brondby's Krohn-Dehli opened scoring in a match that the Danes dominated from start to finish. The World's best player (alongside Messi)----Ronaldo sent a thunderous trademark set piece past Sorensen in the Danish goal in the dying seconds of the encounter, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the fans who came all the way from Portugal only to witness such a forgettable performance. Nani again was the only player worthy of praise in the entire team....Ronaldo inclusive.
Germany made light work of Belgium with Ozil, Schurrle and Gomez again on the score sheet in a 3-1 win. Everton's Fellaini scored a consolatory goal for the opponents. The mannscaft finished the qualifying phase with a perfect 10 in 10 record. The best in the whole of Europe if you consider the fact that they played 2 more matches than the roja. -----(Spain 8 out of 8). Turkey were saved from a disappointing campaign by a Yilmaz second half goal v Azerbaijan
The French national team were for the second consecutive qualifying campaign helped by bad refereeing decision. Bosnia's tall and dangerous forward----Edin Dzeko stunned the les blue faithful by putting the underdogs in the lead with a brilliant curling shot that went past Hugo Lloris.. and it lasted until about 15-20 minutes to the end of the match when Samir Nasri tumbled quite easily under the challenge of Emir Spahic and the referee undoubtedly pointed the spot. The Manchester City playmaker dusted himself up and scored to send France into EURO 2012 as Group D winners.
Sweden knew that to defeat the 'flawless' Oranje, it had to take something special and that they did in Stockholm. It wasn't a smooth ride though they started brightly....Kim Kallstrom, the man widely known as the <Swedish Gerrard>. scored a wonderful free kick to put his side in the lead...The Netherlands equalized via the deadly Klaas Jan Huntelaar who scored his 30th International goal in 48 appearances and his 12th of the qualifying race. The first half ended with both sides at par.
IN the second half, the Oranje stepped it up a level and it was no surprise when Dirk Kuyt scored after good work from RVP and Strootman. The lead lasted two minutes as Seb Larsson restored parity with a well taken penalty after a handball in the box.It did not end there.......OLA TOIVONEN, the PSV attacking jewel sent the fans into frenzy by scoring the winner. Sweden went through as best runners-up, but in doing that, ended Holland's winning record in Group E.
The AVIVA Stadium in Ireland was buzzing- It was a do or die affair between the hosts (Rep of Ireland) and Armenia. Armenia had to win to qualify for the play-offs....Advocaat's Russia had already secured their place in next year's sporting feast by thrashing minnows Andorra by six very good goals. Dzagoev of CSKA MOSCOW was the star of the show. The Irish began brightly and even had the advantage of playing against 10 -men early on when Armenia goalkeeper, Roman Berezovsky was wrongly given the marching orders for coming out of his restriction to handle the ball. Replays showed that it was even Cox (The Rep of Ireland player) who used his arm to control the ball and the ball didn't actually hit the goalie's hands...the deed had been done. Defender Aleksanyan made matters worse when he diverted Doyle's back heel into his own net..talk about adding fuel to a furnace and you won't be far from the truth. Richard Dunne found the opponents net this time with the second goal for his country and that all but sealed Ireland's place among the play-off countries. Armenia got a goal through Henrikh Mikhitaryan who was very fortunate to have benefited from a rare Shay Given error. That ended the Irish record of 8 successive clean sheets and more than 800 minutes without conceding a goal. They end someday, don't they?
Alicante was a hostile atmosphere, especially for away sides and Scotland found that out early enough when a David Silva first half double made it almost impossible for them to find a way past the red army of Spain. The Spanish armada did not end there...David Silva on his mission to prove to Del Bosque that he has the ability to stake a claim for a starting role, was doing just that with an unselfish pass to David Villa ten minutes into the second half.....typical of 'EL GUAJE', he didn't waste time before slotting the ball easily past Allan Mcgregor. The goal marked his 50th in national colours. Scotland grabbed a lifeline midway through the second half when David Goodwillie slotted a penalty passed Victor Valdes, after the Barcelona shot stopper had impeded the Blackburn new boy. It would have been 3-2 if Goodwillie had just been a little bit unselfish....he was in a good position to pass the ball to fellow striker, Mackail-Smith, who was two yards away from Valdess' goal,.... but chose to chase personal glory, which ultimately failed. The Xavi captained side sealed a perfect 8 out of 8 record in Group I and thus became the 2nd team (Germany as well) to complete the stage with a stainless winning record.
Nemanja Vidic pledged to give his all to the Serbian cause. The gritty defensive stalwart hadn't played since mid-August, but was determined to help his country qualify for its 3rd major tournament in 5 years. Life is a bitch and a wicked one at that. After Dare Vrsic scored a very very 'lucky' goal to give Slovenia the lead, the Captain of Manchester United had a chance to level the score from 6 yards out, but his tame spot kick was saved by 'penalty expert' Samir Handanovic in the Slovenia goal. It ended in Maribor 1-0 to the home team. Serbia unfortunately couldn't make the cut.
THE QUALIFIED TEAMS TO THE EUROS NEXT YEAR ARE:
POLAND, UKRAINE---co-hosts, GERMANY, SPAIN, HOLLAND, ITALY, FRANCE, ENGLAND, DENMARK,SWEDEN, RUSSIA,GREECE.
Four teams will join the privileged 12 after the play-offs in November (11th/12th and 15th)--
PLAY-OFF DRAW:
BOSNIA-PORTUGAL
CZECH REP-MONTENEGRO
TURKEY-CROATIA
REP OF IRELAND-ESTONIA
Some few STATS from the QUALIFICATION RACE
- Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored 12 out of his country's 37 goals to proudly sit on top of the goal scorers chart, three more than the next highest, Miroslav Klose
- David Weir of Scotland was the oldest player to feature in the competition at 40 years of age
- The 'divine' Jari Litmanen was the oldest scorer at the ripe young age of 39.
- Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku (then of Anderlecht) was the youngest player at 17 years.
- Czech's Vaclav Kadlec was the youngest scorer at the age of 18.
- Mesut Ozil and Kim Kallstrom of Germany and Sweden shared the award for highest assists with 7 apiece
EMERGING PLAYERS
- ALAN DZAGOEV-RUSSIA, JACK WILSHERE, PHIL JONES, DANNY WELBECK AND CHRIS SMALLING -ENGLAND, MARCO REUS, THE BENDER TWINS (SVEN AND LARS), ANDRES SCHURRLE, ILKAY GUNDOGAN AND MARIO GOTZE - GERMANY, JORDI ALBA AND THIAGO ALCANTARA-SPAIN, ROMELU LUKAKU-BELGIUM, etc.
In other reports, The World Cup Qualifiers kicked off in South America with Copa America champions, Uruguay, Argentina and co hoping to start off on a good note. The Celeste (nickname for Uruguay) defeated Bolivia in the first match by 4 goals to 2 with Suarez and Cavani among the goals. The second match for Uruguay was a re-match of the COPA AMERICA final-----this time it ended 1-1 with Richard Ortiz denying Forlan and co a 2nd win in 2 games. The La Celeste goal was scored by DIEGO FORLAN CORAZO----a goal which made him the highest goal scorer of all time for the South American team, adding that to his increasing cap record.
Alejandro Sabella started life as Argentina boss on a dream note...in his 1st competitive match, he put Claudio Borghi's Chile tot he sword.... bashing them by 4 goals to one with Gonzalo Geraldo Higuain (El Pipita) scoring his second hat-trick in a week (the first was against Espanyol in la liga for Real Madrid). The best CLUB footballer in the World and new albiceleste skipper, Lionel Messi---finally broke his international duck dating back to 4 months. Mathias Fernandez scored Chile's only goal. Sabella's world came crashing down in Puerto La Cruz. Once again Leo Messi failed to find the extraordinary form he shows for the Blaugrana (Barcelona) week in, week out. Higuain was like a lost sheep in the garden. Cesar Farias's side claimed Argentina's scalp for the first time in 19 meetings------everything that has a beginning , surely has an end. Chile fared better than their previous outing as they just did enough to edge past a determined and talented Peru side that shocked many in the Copa America months ago. They were still missing injured Alexis Sanchez, but the gifted midfield anchor, Gary Medel returned to the fold to boost their chances of taking all the 3 points. The match ended 4-2 with Medel and Suazo (pk) among the scorers. in-form Werder Bremen finisher, Claudio Pizarro and Schalke's Farfan were on the score sheet for the Peruvians, but it was not enough to take even a point.
Mano Menezes's Brazil are not involved in qualifying games by virtue of their status as tournament hosts......Despite the exemption, the samba boys still took part in some friendly games v Costa Rica and Mexico in the US and Mexico. They won both games,1-0 and 2-1 although not comfortably. The positives taken from both games was the performance of returning LEGEND, Ronaldinho Gaucho and the hard work of Fernandinho. stand in goalie, Jefferson, also saved an Andres Guardado penalty which was among the many fabulous saves he racked up in the Mexico match........It was also a send-off match for Mexican goalkeeper, Oscar Sanchez who was also in that kind of form where nothing just wouldn't go past him, until Ronaldinho delivered one of his truly special masterclass set pieces which flew past the veteran keeper like a missile.He had earlier saved from the buck toothed attacking wizard's right foot, but this wasn't going to be stopped. Neymar also put in encouraging displays crowned by his well taken goal v Costa Rica which won the game for the Selecao. The big surprise was Lucas Moura who was not as spectacular as he usually is.......It is a learning curve for the 19 year old and he will come good.
Done and Dusted.
OHIS
Follow me on twitter @ohiskaka1990
Friday, 14 October 2011
Monday, 19 September 2011
Are Football fans right to criticize Frank Lampard?????is Torres done??????
First of all, I want to make it crystal clear that I am not among Lampard's many followers, neither do I consider him in my list of favourite players.
In spite of the aforementioned fact, it is absolutely certain that Frank Lampard is a living Legend. Without mincing words, the Englishman epitomizes greatness. The runner up in the 2005 World and European footballer of the year awards (both collected by the magical Ronaldinho Gaucho), three time Chelsea player of the year, two time English player of the year, amongst others is undoubtedly among the finest footballers of his generation.
In recent weeks, questions have been raised for the first time in Frank's exceptional playing career, about his ability to remain a consistent performer and command a starting shirt for club and country. This was confirmed when Fabio Capello left him out of the starting line-up in the Euro 2012 qualifier v Bulgaria in Sofia. That was the first time in 9 years that had happened. Capello explained his action...........pointing out the fact that Lamps was not in form. That is totally acceptable. The Italian coach was applauded for such a bold decision. I was also in support. In my opinion, Frank has never replicated club form for Country......he has always been very passive and ordinary in national colours, but for the 'Blues', no footballer (except Gianfranco Zola) has been more influential for them in all my years of watching football.
Chelsea Football club became a constant challenger for all the coveted trophies of Domestic and European trophies when Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. In fairness, one of the few jewels he met at the London club was Frank Lampard---------a player Claudio Ranieri (the thinker man) signed from fellow London side, West Ham United in June 2001 for a bargain of 11 Million pounds. He didn't come unknown as he had already done great things for West Ham, including leading them to 5th position in the 98-99 EPL season (their highest ever). Then 22 years old, he played in all Chelsea's league games in his maiden season (except the ones he was ineligible for) and went on to garner an unbelievable 164 consecutive league appearances (ended December 28, 2005 v Manchester City), beating the records of David James(159) and Wayne Bridge (113-record for an outfield player). His consistency was unreal.
If Ranieri helped Lamps in his transition from a promising player to a good player, then it was Jose Mourinho who totally transformed the Romford born midfield god to the great player that he is today. When the Portuguese replaced the 'thinker man' in 2004, he immediately made Lampard a better player, by converting him from a central midfield to an attacking midfielder/support striker----------a role which is nicknamed 'trequartista' in Italy, 'enganche' in Argentina. It worked perfectly for all those involved with the West Londoners as it automatically coincided with the Club winning its first League title in 50 years........with the impressive Lampard scoring 13 league goals , including the League clinching brace at the Reebok in April. Lampard thrived in his new role as a result of his excellent goal scoring abilities and his astounding vision which was evident in Mou's first season where he led the EPL assists chart with 16. With Makelele doing the dirty job in midfield, Lampard again made light work of various oppositions in the next season as he improved his goal scoring stats to 16 league goals and 20 in all competitions. Chelsea secured the League title by trouncing Manchester United 3-0 at the Bridge.
Lampard has maintained his remarkable level since then and even the departure of the Portuguese miracle worker didn't in any way dampen his spirit. He has only scored below 20 goals in a season twice since 2003 (04/05-19,10/11-13). The 10-11 season was poor by his standards because he was out for up to four months with injury. In the 09-10 season, his 27 (22 in the league) goals in all competitions was what inspired Ancelotti's Chelsea to their 1st league title in 4 years. Till date, he is the only midfielder that has scored more than 20 league goals in an EPL season. He has broken all sorts of records in the Premier League-------------has scored four goals in one match on two separate occasions and many more. His 141 EPL goals places him at number 8 in the list of highest goal scorers in its history. He is the only midfielder in that exclusive club and if his amazing scoring record continues, he is tipped to displace Les Ferdinand and Michael Owen (who are joint 5th with 149 strikes) at the end of this season. It is no mean feat.
The lad has been capped 86 times (84 as a Chelsea player) by England and has scored 22 goals including holding the record for the highest conversion of successful penalties (7). You don't just achieve all these in a week. Your career has to be blessed to amass all these astonishing acquirements. There is no substitute for quality and class is permanent in any great football player. He hasn't been at his best this season, but as John Terry said when Fabio left Lamps out, 'you only write him off at your own peril'. He has proven time and again that he can deliver on the big days and I do not foresee anything to the contrary.
If I am to rate the best midfielder in the EPL for the last 10 years, FRANK J. LAMPARD is the outstanding and hands on choice. He has been there and he is still there right among the best footballers in World football typified by his breathtaking goals, eye catching assists and all round play. 171 goals, 110 assists as a blue is enough to convince anyone that his days as a major influence at the Bridge are far from over.
Spanish superstar and the World's best striker in 08-09, Fernando Torres is in probably the worst ever period of his phenomenal career. The prolific marksman was signed by Chelsea in January for a whopping sum of 50 million pounds, thus making him the most expensive signing in EPL history and of course in Chelsea 's too. Since then, he has only managed 2 goals (one of them when it was raining) in more than 20 appearances for the pensioners, but up until yesterday, his showing has never really given the fans hope that the dismal form was going to come to an end any time soon. He performed really well in Chelsea's first UCL game of the season vs Leverkusen, setting up 2 goals for Mata and Luiz, but for a man who managed 81 goals in just 142 appearances for Liverpool before jumping ship, it is the goals that will count more than anything else. Everyone, including those sadistic soccer analysts and pundits in Britain, has written him off already.......................a player they once dubbed the best striker in the World barely 18 months ago, has all of a sudden become the worst striker ever. However, yesterday at the TOD (Theatre of Dreams), He was fantastic all through, running at the United rearguard and causing all sorts of problems for the hosts. He capitalized on a rare error by red devils teenage defender Phil Jones, to score a quality goal seconds after the second half began, but the chance he missed afterwards was perhaps the most shocking sporting display of the entire decade.----------------not because other players in his class and level had not committed similar errors, but due to the magnitude of the bizarre way he threw away the opportunity to further pile pressure on Manchester United.
The certitude that El Nino is a World Class player is unarguable. It is only under a huge deal of threat. I have never been agnostic about the genuineness of his greatness, but I have questioned his ability not once, not twice. I mean who wouldn't. A player who scored 24 EPL goals in his debut season, thus eclipsing the record set by Ruud Van Nistelrooy (23 goals in his first season-01-02), destroying many great teams on the way and scored Spain's winner in Euro 2008,... a player who came third in both the European and World footballer of the year awards that same year and is only 27....now playing like someone who has never been on a football pitch. He no longer exudes the confidence of that fearsome predator who scored exceptional goals week in, week out for the merseysiders. Yesterday was different. I could see it in his eyes that he was a man on a mission....a man out to prove that he still has it in him to wreck havoc on any team as he has indeed always done. He is a very good player and he will show it in coming weeks. No one can say he is done because he is aging, he is only 27 and has many more years to torment opponents.
But it is about time he starts living up to his worth and status as a great player. 6 months is enough for even a foreigner to adapt in the League, talk more of someone who registered 65 league goals in 102 appearances for Liverpool. Contrary to most people's views, Fernando Torres is not finished and I am very optimistic and presumptuous that soon, he will prove the world wrong and get back to that frightening form that made him so loved, admired and adored.
I rest my case.
ff me on twitter @ohiskaka1990
In spite of the aforementioned fact, it is absolutely certain that Frank Lampard is a living Legend. Without mincing words, the Englishman epitomizes greatness. The runner up in the 2005 World and European footballer of the year awards (both collected by the magical Ronaldinho Gaucho), three time Chelsea player of the year, two time English player of the year, amongst others is undoubtedly among the finest footballers of his generation.
In recent weeks, questions have been raised for the first time in Frank's exceptional playing career, about his ability to remain a consistent performer and command a starting shirt for club and country. This was confirmed when Fabio Capello left him out of the starting line-up in the Euro 2012 qualifier v Bulgaria in Sofia. That was the first time in 9 years that had happened. Capello explained his action...........pointing out the fact that Lamps was not in form. That is totally acceptable. The Italian coach was applauded for such a bold decision. I was also in support. In my opinion, Frank has never replicated club form for Country......he has always been very passive and ordinary in national colours, but for the 'Blues', no footballer (except Gianfranco Zola) has been more influential for them in all my years of watching football.
Chelsea Football club became a constant challenger for all the coveted trophies of Domestic and European trophies when Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. In fairness, one of the few jewels he met at the London club was Frank Lampard---------a player Claudio Ranieri (the thinker man) signed from fellow London side, West Ham United in June 2001 for a bargain of 11 Million pounds. He didn't come unknown as he had already done great things for West Ham, including leading them to 5th position in the 98-99 EPL season (their highest ever). Then 22 years old, he played in all Chelsea's league games in his maiden season (except the ones he was ineligible for) and went on to garner an unbelievable 164 consecutive league appearances (ended December 28, 2005 v Manchester City), beating the records of David James(159) and Wayne Bridge (113-record for an outfield player). His consistency was unreal.
If Ranieri helped Lamps in his transition from a promising player to a good player, then it was Jose Mourinho who totally transformed the Romford born midfield god to the great player that he is today. When the Portuguese replaced the 'thinker man' in 2004, he immediately made Lampard a better player, by converting him from a central midfield to an attacking midfielder/support striker----------a role which is nicknamed 'trequartista' in Italy, 'enganche' in Argentina. It worked perfectly for all those involved with the West Londoners as it automatically coincided with the Club winning its first League title in 50 years........with the impressive Lampard scoring 13 league goals , including the League clinching brace at the Reebok in April. Lampard thrived in his new role as a result of his excellent goal scoring abilities and his astounding vision which was evident in Mou's first season where he led the EPL assists chart with 16. With Makelele doing the dirty job in midfield, Lampard again made light work of various oppositions in the next season as he improved his goal scoring stats to 16 league goals and 20 in all competitions. Chelsea secured the League title by trouncing Manchester United 3-0 at the Bridge.
Lampard has maintained his remarkable level since then and even the departure of the Portuguese miracle worker didn't in any way dampen his spirit. He has only scored below 20 goals in a season twice since 2003 (04/05-19,10/11-13). The 10-11 season was poor by his standards because he was out for up to four months with injury. In the 09-10 season, his 27 (22 in the league) goals in all competitions was what inspired Ancelotti's Chelsea to their 1st league title in 4 years. Till date, he is the only midfielder that has scored more than 20 league goals in an EPL season. He has broken all sorts of records in the Premier League-------------has scored four goals in one match on two separate occasions and many more. His 141 EPL goals places him at number 8 in the list of highest goal scorers in its history. He is the only midfielder in that exclusive club and if his amazing scoring record continues, he is tipped to displace Les Ferdinand and Michael Owen (who are joint 5th with 149 strikes) at the end of this season. It is no mean feat.
The lad has been capped 86 times (84 as a Chelsea player) by England and has scored 22 goals including holding the record for the highest conversion of successful penalties (7). You don't just achieve all these in a week. Your career has to be blessed to amass all these astonishing acquirements. There is no substitute for quality and class is permanent in any great football player. He hasn't been at his best this season, but as John Terry said when Fabio left Lamps out, 'you only write him off at your own peril'. He has proven time and again that he can deliver on the big days and I do not foresee anything to the contrary.
If I am to rate the best midfielder in the EPL for the last 10 years, FRANK J. LAMPARD is the outstanding and hands on choice. He has been there and he is still there right among the best footballers in World football typified by his breathtaking goals, eye catching assists and all round play. 171 goals, 110 assists as a blue is enough to convince anyone that his days as a major influence at the Bridge are far from over.
Spanish superstar and the World's best striker in 08-09, Fernando Torres is in probably the worst ever period of his phenomenal career. The prolific marksman was signed by Chelsea in January for a whopping sum of 50 million pounds, thus making him the most expensive signing in EPL history and of course in Chelsea 's too. Since then, he has only managed 2 goals (one of them when it was raining) in more than 20 appearances for the pensioners, but up until yesterday, his showing has never really given the fans hope that the dismal form was going to come to an end any time soon. He performed really well in Chelsea's first UCL game of the season vs Leverkusen, setting up 2 goals for Mata and Luiz, but for a man who managed 81 goals in just 142 appearances for Liverpool before jumping ship, it is the goals that will count more than anything else. Everyone, including those sadistic soccer analysts and pundits in Britain, has written him off already.......................a player they once dubbed the best striker in the World barely 18 months ago, has all of a sudden become the worst striker ever. However, yesterday at the TOD (Theatre of Dreams), He was fantastic all through, running at the United rearguard and causing all sorts of problems for the hosts. He capitalized on a rare error by red devils teenage defender Phil Jones, to score a quality goal seconds after the second half began, but the chance he missed afterwards was perhaps the most shocking sporting display of the entire decade.----------------not because other players in his class and level had not committed similar errors, but due to the magnitude of the bizarre way he threw away the opportunity to further pile pressure on Manchester United.
The certitude that El Nino is a World Class player is unarguable. It is only under a huge deal of threat. I have never been agnostic about the genuineness of his greatness, but I have questioned his ability not once, not twice. I mean who wouldn't. A player who scored 24 EPL goals in his debut season, thus eclipsing the record set by Ruud Van Nistelrooy (23 goals in his first season-01-02), destroying many great teams on the way and scored Spain's winner in Euro 2008,... a player who came third in both the European and World footballer of the year awards that same year and is only 27....now playing like someone who has never been on a football pitch. He no longer exudes the confidence of that fearsome predator who scored exceptional goals week in, week out for the merseysiders. Yesterday was different. I could see it in his eyes that he was a man on a mission....a man out to prove that he still has it in him to wreck havoc on any team as he has indeed always done. He is a very good player and he will show it in coming weeks. No one can say he is done because he is aging, he is only 27 and has many more years to torment opponents.
But it is about time he starts living up to his worth and status as a great player. 6 months is enough for even a foreigner to adapt in the League, talk more of someone who registered 65 league goals in 102 appearances for Liverpool. Contrary to most people's views, Fernando Torres is not finished and I am very optimistic and presumptuous that soon, he will prove the world wrong and get back to that frightening form that made him so loved, admired and adored.
I rest my case.
ff me on twitter @ohiskaka1990
Saturday, 17 September 2011
A LOOK AT THE STAND OUT MATCHES OF THE WEEKEND ALL OVER THE WORLD
The weekend of 17th and 18th September 2011 serves the football world some special football games. Supporters, spectators and fans of the round leather sport will be licking their lips in anticipation of these extraordinary matches. I mean what will you say about duels involving Manchester United and Chelsea, Napoli and Milan, PSV-Ajax etc. It is only Spain that there are no such matches this weekend.
Below is a run-down of what to expect from the heavyweight bouts.
- INTER MILAN - AS ROMA
Gian piero Gasperini is under so much pressure at the moment. He has every reason to be worried as he is at a club where the President (Don Massimo Moratti) is extremely impatient, but success driven. The former Genoa tactician took over from Leonardo in the summer, and has led the Beneamata to three consecutive losses, including the Italian super cup v AC Milan. The Uefa Champions League hasn't alleviated his problems, as his charges flattered to deceive in their shock 1-0 loss at the Meazza on Wednesday. It left a sour taste in the mouths of those who love the club and the divorce bells have already started ringing. Although the Inter Supremo allayed such fears, stating firmly that he believes in the manager, GpG will do well to ignore such leading statements, as his predecessors have learnt the hard way.
Today, the black and blue host another club in similar situation at the moment, AS Roma. Spanish manager, Luis Enrique has found life as a professional manager a herculean task. The Capital club is not having it their way at all, as they have also been knocked out of the Europa League, and lost in their own backyard to Cagliari last time out. All these coupled with the strained relationship between II Bimbo d'oro (Totti) and the manager, are reasons why the club must put things right as soon as possible if they are to turn their season around. Inter's loss to Palermo at the Barbera was largely due to the exceptional display of Fabrizio Miccoli who consistently tore the defence of Walter Samuel and co apart. Enrique will be full of belief and hope that new signings, Bojan and Oswaldo can inflict a similar harm on their more distinguished opponents. Promising Argentine youngster, Eric Lamela is fit again and ready to play his part.
Internazionale have players like the divine Javier Zanetti, Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito who amazingly missed a golden opportunity to put Inter ahead in midweek, Mauro Zarate, Diego Forlan, Gianpaolo Pazzini, Ricky Alvarez and others to count on. Despite Inter's loss last weekend, El Principe (Milito) still managed to register two goals and no one will bet against him adding to that tally tonight. Diego Forlan can also build on the confidence emanating from his debut goal against the Sicilians.
PREDICTION- An Inter win.
PSV -AJAX
Two of the most successful clubs in Dutch football history and two of the famous big three (ajax, feyenoord, and psv) lurk horns this weekend at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven. It hasn't been a flying start for the Boerens as they lie fifth in the table behind ajax, az, feyenoord, and fc twente. But they will aim to put one over one of their main rivals for the Eredevisie title. Ajax on the other hand, lead the table with 4 wins from 5 games, with the other a draw against an Ahmed Musa inspired VVV Venlo side who at a point led by two quality goals.
Fred Rutten has dismissed Media reports and assertions that his team will be favourites when they do battle, but in his heart of hearts, he will be very optimistic that the Landlords of the Philips Stadion can be the first team to bring the godenzonen to their knees this season. He has every reason to be.........new signing, Dries Mertens has been a revelation this season in spite of PSV's not too exemplary start. The Belgian has scored in each of his five league games for the club and tops the scorers charts with 7 goals. He was signed alongside dutch international, kevin strootman from fellow dutch club, fc Utrecht for about 13 million euros and has proved a bargain ever since.
Frank De Boer, one of the best footballers of his generation and manager of Ajax has been a blessing to the Eredevisie giants since he joined first as caretaker coach in the middle of last season. He led the Amsterdam club to their first league title in 7 years last season---a triumph that qualified them automatically for the UCL. He hasn't done badly this season either as he is sitting atop the league standings with his team largely due to the astonishing form of Miralem Sulejmani, Icelandic sharp shooter, Kolbeinn Sigporsson, captain, Jan Vertonghen, new signing from twente, Theo Janssen,(now vice captain), Danish teenager wonder, Christian Eriksen and other quality players. The stand out performers for them this season has been Sigporsson and Sulejmani who will look to continue their scary partnership up front. Undeterred by the loss of Dutch first choice goaltender, Martin Stekelenburg to DiBenedetto's revamped Roma, De Boer swiftly made Kenneth Vermmer the first choice safe hands and it hasn't been a bad decision up till now.....they face a daunting task this weekend against one of their arch-enemies, but winning is the objective as it is this kind of games that differentiates a good team from a great team.
PREDICTION: an entertaining draw.
NAPOLI - MILAN
It has been a fantastic rebuilding process and the turnaround has been breathtaking as only a few years ago, Aurelio De Laurentiiss' Napoli was Languishing in the lower tier of Italian football, but within a space of 3 to 4 years, they are back among the exclusive class of Italian Football, hoping to redeem their lost pride and place.
Walter Mazzarri has been charged with the unenviable task of leading them to diadem once again. They came third in the league last season thereby qualifying for the prestigious UCL and they have started brightly, taking a point of mega rich and quality assembled Manchester City at the Etihad stadium. Paolo Cannavaro and his colleagues have also started the season brightly, picking up their first points of the season away at Cesena with a goal from Hugo Campagnaro who miraculously recovered from a fatal accident which occurred in June.
Milan, on the other hand, haven't started as they expected. Maxi Allegri was very ecstatic especially when they defeated Inter in the Super Coppa Italia title match, that this season will be a continuation of the last where they ran away with the Serie A crown for the first time in seven years.
The Italian champions started the season with a very watchable feisty 2 all draw with Lazio, who had new signings, Klose and Cisse to thank for putting them two goals up in the early stages of the first half.....the Rossoneri rallied back to even matters with goals from Ibra and Cassano. The performance was satisfactory, but the end result was disappointing. The however went to the Camp Nou in mid-week to pull an unlikely draw v European Champions, Barcelona. Alex Pato the 'duck' scored a goal in the 24th second of the match to the dismay of of the Spanish side. Nevertheless, It was Thiago Silva's injury time bullet header that ensured that Milan did not leave Barca empty handed.
The match will be a great duel between two excellent teams who know themselves very well..Stars like Hamsik, Lavezzi, Edison 'el matador' Cavani, Clarence Seedorf, Pippo Inzaghi and co will be on show.
PREDICTION: A narrow win for Milan
SCHALKE - BAYERN
Gelsenkirchen which hosted the 2004 UCL final between Porto and Monaco is owned by Ralf Rangnick's Schalke. They play host to a very dangerous and in-form FC Hollywood (Bayern Munich/Munchen) on Sunday.
The match holds a lot of importance in many ways. It is the clash of two Bundesliga giants and then the small matter of Mnauel Neuer coming back to his old stomping ground. The Germany goalkeeper captained the team last season to a respectable quarter-final (l to Man Utd) place in the UCL and the DFB Pokal crown, beating his new employers Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, courtesy of a Raul goal. The 25 year old is expected to face a hostile crowd when the game kicks-off.
Bayern Munich are top of the pile in Germany, albeit only on goals difference and are looking so good under Jupp Heynckes, who is in his 3rd spell at the Bavarian club. In domestic matters, Freiburg were the latest victims of the rampaging bavarians as they romped to a 7-0 victory with Mario Gomez scoring a quadruple(4 goals) and Ribery contributing two fine goals. In Europe, they were again impressive as a Toni Kroos first half strike and a Rafinha clincher secured a 2 goal win for them at the El Madrigal v Villareal.
Schalke in their own case haven't done badly for themselves,taking 9 points from their 1st 5 games. However, last weekend they lost to Magath's Wolfsburg at the Wolkswagen stadium by 2 goals to one and will look to get back to winning ways. They have the awesome strike force of the bionic Raul and the predatory Klaas Jan Huntelaar 'the hunter' to rely for the goals, with the indefatigable Jefferson Farfan supplying the balls.
FC Hollywood have a lot of quality players in their ranks-.....the likes of Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, and goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer have it in them to turn a match on its head and in their team's favour, but they will miss the goals of Gomez and the attacking wizardry of Arjen Robben.
PREDICTION:a great game with both teams sharing the spoils.
MAN UTD - CHELSEA
Premiership Champions and European cup finalists, Manchester United host AVB's Chelsea for the 19th time at the Theatre of Dreams (OLD TRAFFORD), The red devils have a slim advantage over their new found rivals with six wins to Chelsea's 5. There is not much between them in the EPL standings too as United are only 2 points ahead of the pensioners and know quite alright that despite that jaw dropping start to the season, have it all to play for, come Sunday.
It will be a disservice to say Manchester United haven't been ferocious this season and that is putting it mildly. The red devils have glowingly set the pace for others so early in the season, going against their traditional way of playing catch up in the early stages in previous years. Wayne Rooney and co have scored a record 18 goals in 4 games and let in a paltry 3. The highlight of the season was an 8-2 annihilation of fellow top four side and previous main rivals, Arsenal. That performance sent a direct message to challengers that they are not prepared to relinquish the Title this season. Rooney has scored a career first 8 goals in 4 EPL games and equalled Ruud Van Nistelrooy's record of scoring in the first four games of an EPL season for the Manchester giants. New signings,Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David De Gea have contributed their parts in the amazing run, with Ashley and Phil racking up 2 goals and more than 5 assists between them. It has been a dream start for the lads who have already bagged the Community Shield and it was even sweeter because it was at the expense of Manchester City.
AVB and Chelsea may be third in the League, but they have just managed to win their matches so far and there is nothing really exceptional about them thus far. Fernando Torres is still searching for his scoring boots, DD is out injured, Lampard, a shadow of his former self, ALex and Luiz are error prone and Malouda hasn't really found his form. They have been however boosted by the return to fitness of Petr Cech, the acquisitions of Mata and Merieles and the good form of Daniel Sturridge who scored the winner in their last domestic outing v Sunderland. They can build on the victory over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek as Torres showed flashes of his old form when he set up two goals for luiz and compatriot, Mata to seal a 2-0 win.
The hosts will be without Vidic, Rafael, and Cleverley who are long term absentees. Welbeck is back in training, but will not feature and Rio is fit and raring to go. The team will be once again led out by new vice captain, Patrice Evra and they hope to continue from where they left off last weekend when they steamrolled Bolton. Chelsea represents a tougher proposition and they will go all out to prove a point as their young and very intelligent manager has not lost a League game since April 2010 and hopes to prolong that record at least for another week.
PREDICTION:Man Utd to win
That does it.
ff Ohireime Eboreime on twitter at @ohiskaka1990
Below is a run-down of what to expect from the heavyweight bouts.
- INTER MILAN - AS ROMA
Gian piero Gasperini is under so much pressure at the moment. He has every reason to be worried as he is at a club where the President (Don Massimo Moratti) is extremely impatient, but success driven. The former Genoa tactician took over from Leonardo in the summer, and has led the Beneamata to three consecutive losses, including the Italian super cup v AC Milan. The Uefa Champions League hasn't alleviated his problems, as his charges flattered to deceive in their shock 1-0 loss at the Meazza on Wednesday. It left a sour taste in the mouths of those who love the club and the divorce bells have already started ringing. Although the Inter Supremo allayed such fears, stating firmly that he believes in the manager, GpG will do well to ignore such leading statements, as his predecessors have learnt the hard way.
Today, the black and blue host another club in similar situation at the moment, AS Roma. Spanish manager, Luis Enrique has found life as a professional manager a herculean task. The Capital club is not having it their way at all, as they have also been knocked out of the Europa League, and lost in their own backyard to Cagliari last time out. All these coupled with the strained relationship between II Bimbo d'oro (Totti) and the manager, are reasons why the club must put things right as soon as possible if they are to turn their season around. Inter's loss to Palermo at the Barbera was largely due to the exceptional display of Fabrizio Miccoli who consistently tore the defence of Walter Samuel and co apart. Enrique will be full of belief and hope that new signings, Bojan and Oswaldo can inflict a similar harm on their more distinguished opponents. Promising Argentine youngster, Eric Lamela is fit again and ready to play his part.
Internazionale have players like the divine Javier Zanetti, Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito who amazingly missed a golden opportunity to put Inter ahead in midweek, Mauro Zarate, Diego Forlan, Gianpaolo Pazzini, Ricky Alvarez and others to count on. Despite Inter's loss last weekend, El Principe (Milito) still managed to register two goals and no one will bet against him adding to that tally tonight. Diego Forlan can also build on the confidence emanating from his debut goal against the Sicilians.
PREDICTION- An Inter win.
PSV -AJAX
Two of the most successful clubs in Dutch football history and two of the famous big three (ajax, feyenoord, and psv) lurk horns this weekend at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven. It hasn't been a flying start for the Boerens as they lie fifth in the table behind ajax, az, feyenoord, and fc twente. But they will aim to put one over one of their main rivals for the Eredevisie title. Ajax on the other hand, lead the table with 4 wins from 5 games, with the other a draw against an Ahmed Musa inspired VVV Venlo side who at a point led by two quality goals.
Fred Rutten has dismissed Media reports and assertions that his team will be favourites when they do battle, but in his heart of hearts, he will be very optimistic that the Landlords of the Philips Stadion can be the first team to bring the godenzonen to their knees this season. He has every reason to be.........new signing, Dries Mertens has been a revelation this season in spite of PSV's not too exemplary start. The Belgian has scored in each of his five league games for the club and tops the scorers charts with 7 goals. He was signed alongside dutch international, kevin strootman from fellow dutch club, fc Utrecht for about 13 million euros and has proved a bargain ever since.
Frank De Boer, one of the best footballers of his generation and manager of Ajax has been a blessing to the Eredevisie giants since he joined first as caretaker coach in the middle of last season. He led the Amsterdam club to their first league title in 7 years last season---a triumph that qualified them automatically for the UCL. He hasn't done badly this season either as he is sitting atop the league standings with his team largely due to the astonishing form of Miralem Sulejmani, Icelandic sharp shooter, Kolbeinn Sigporsson, captain, Jan Vertonghen, new signing from twente, Theo Janssen,(now vice captain), Danish teenager wonder, Christian Eriksen and other quality players. The stand out performers for them this season has been Sigporsson and Sulejmani who will look to continue their scary partnership up front. Undeterred by the loss of Dutch first choice goaltender, Martin Stekelenburg to DiBenedetto's revamped Roma, De Boer swiftly made Kenneth Vermmer the first choice safe hands and it hasn't been a bad decision up till now.....they face a daunting task this weekend against one of their arch-enemies, but winning is the objective as it is this kind of games that differentiates a good team from a great team.
PREDICTION: an entertaining draw.
NAPOLI - MILAN
It has been a fantastic rebuilding process and the turnaround has been breathtaking as only a few years ago, Aurelio De Laurentiiss' Napoli was Languishing in the lower tier of Italian football, but within a space of 3 to 4 years, they are back among the exclusive class of Italian Football, hoping to redeem their lost pride and place.
Walter Mazzarri has been charged with the unenviable task of leading them to diadem once again. They came third in the league last season thereby qualifying for the prestigious UCL and they have started brightly, taking a point of mega rich and quality assembled Manchester City at the Etihad stadium. Paolo Cannavaro and his colleagues have also started the season brightly, picking up their first points of the season away at Cesena with a goal from Hugo Campagnaro who miraculously recovered from a fatal accident which occurred in June.
Milan, on the other hand, haven't started as they expected. Maxi Allegri was very ecstatic especially when they defeated Inter in the Super Coppa Italia title match, that this season will be a continuation of the last where they ran away with the Serie A crown for the first time in seven years.
The Italian champions started the season with a very watchable feisty 2 all draw with Lazio, who had new signings, Klose and Cisse to thank for putting them two goals up in the early stages of the first half.....the Rossoneri rallied back to even matters with goals from Ibra and Cassano. The performance was satisfactory, but the end result was disappointing. The however went to the Camp Nou in mid-week to pull an unlikely draw v European Champions, Barcelona. Alex Pato the 'duck' scored a goal in the 24th second of the match to the dismay of of the Spanish side. Nevertheless, It was Thiago Silva's injury time bullet header that ensured that Milan did not leave Barca empty handed.
The match will be a great duel between two excellent teams who know themselves very well..Stars like Hamsik, Lavezzi, Edison 'el matador' Cavani, Clarence Seedorf, Pippo Inzaghi and co will be on show.
PREDICTION: A narrow win for Milan
SCHALKE - BAYERN
Gelsenkirchen which hosted the 2004 UCL final between Porto and Monaco is owned by Ralf Rangnick's Schalke. They play host to a very dangerous and in-form FC Hollywood (Bayern Munich/Munchen) on Sunday.
The match holds a lot of importance in many ways. It is the clash of two Bundesliga giants and then the small matter of Mnauel Neuer coming back to his old stomping ground. The Germany goalkeeper captained the team last season to a respectable quarter-final (l to Man Utd) place in the UCL and the DFB Pokal crown, beating his new employers Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, courtesy of a Raul goal. The 25 year old is expected to face a hostile crowd when the game kicks-off.
Bayern Munich are top of the pile in Germany, albeit only on goals difference and are looking so good under Jupp Heynckes, who is in his 3rd spell at the Bavarian club. In domestic matters, Freiburg were the latest victims of the rampaging bavarians as they romped to a 7-0 victory with Mario Gomez scoring a quadruple(4 goals) and Ribery contributing two fine goals. In Europe, they were again impressive as a Toni Kroos first half strike and a Rafinha clincher secured a 2 goal win for them at the El Madrigal v Villareal.
Schalke in their own case haven't done badly for themselves,taking 9 points from their 1st 5 games. However, last weekend they lost to Magath's Wolfsburg at the Wolkswagen stadium by 2 goals to one and will look to get back to winning ways. They have the awesome strike force of the bionic Raul and the predatory Klaas Jan Huntelaar 'the hunter' to rely for the goals, with the indefatigable Jefferson Farfan supplying the balls.
FC Hollywood have a lot of quality players in their ranks-.....the likes of Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, and goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer have it in them to turn a match on its head and in their team's favour, but they will miss the goals of Gomez and the attacking wizardry of Arjen Robben.
PREDICTION:a great game with both teams sharing the spoils.
MAN UTD - CHELSEA
Premiership Champions and European cup finalists, Manchester United host AVB's Chelsea for the 19th time at the Theatre of Dreams (OLD TRAFFORD), The red devils have a slim advantage over their new found rivals with six wins to Chelsea's 5. There is not much between them in the EPL standings too as United are only 2 points ahead of the pensioners and know quite alright that despite that jaw dropping start to the season, have it all to play for, come Sunday.
It will be a disservice to say Manchester United haven't been ferocious this season and that is putting it mildly. The red devils have glowingly set the pace for others so early in the season, going against their traditional way of playing catch up in the early stages in previous years. Wayne Rooney and co have scored a record 18 goals in 4 games and let in a paltry 3. The highlight of the season was an 8-2 annihilation of fellow top four side and previous main rivals, Arsenal. That performance sent a direct message to challengers that they are not prepared to relinquish the Title this season. Rooney has scored a career first 8 goals in 4 EPL games and equalled Ruud Van Nistelrooy's record of scoring in the first four games of an EPL season for the Manchester giants. New signings,Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David De Gea have contributed their parts in the amazing run, with Ashley and Phil racking up 2 goals and more than 5 assists between them. It has been a dream start for the lads who have already bagged the Community Shield and it was even sweeter because it was at the expense of Manchester City.
AVB and Chelsea may be third in the League, but they have just managed to win their matches so far and there is nothing really exceptional about them thus far. Fernando Torres is still searching for his scoring boots, DD is out injured, Lampard, a shadow of his former self, ALex and Luiz are error prone and Malouda hasn't really found his form. They have been however boosted by the return to fitness of Petr Cech, the acquisitions of Mata and Merieles and the good form of Daniel Sturridge who scored the winner in their last domestic outing v Sunderland. They can build on the victory over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek as Torres showed flashes of his old form when he set up two goals for luiz and compatriot, Mata to seal a 2-0 win.
The hosts will be without Vidic, Rafael, and Cleverley who are long term absentees. Welbeck is back in training, but will not feature and Rio is fit and raring to go. The team will be once again led out by new vice captain, Patrice Evra and they hope to continue from where they left off last weekend when they steamrolled Bolton. Chelsea represents a tougher proposition and they will go all out to prove a point as their young and very intelligent manager has not lost a League game since April 2010 and hopes to prolong that record at least for another week.
PREDICTION:Man Utd to win
That does it.
ff Ohireime Eboreime on twitter at @ohiskaka1990
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Why Manchester United should not underestimate Benfica!
The UEFA Champions League is here again. The World 's most prestigious club competition (arguably) is back on our TV screens. This year's group stage draw pitched Manchester United against Benfica for the third time in seven campaigns. The red army from Manchester will not forget in a hurry how the 'encarnados' put paid to their ambitions of reaching the knock out stages of the competition six seasons ago(05-06) when Geovanni dieberson mauricio gomez, simply known as 'geovanni' and Giberto galdino dos santos also known as 'beto' scored two first half goals to cancel out paul scholes' 6th minute opener. That season marked the first time that Fergie had failed to qualify for the knock out stages in as long as I can remember.
Although the Manchester giants got their revenge when they were drawn against each other in the next CL competition (06-07)..........(beat the Portuguese giants home and away 3-1,1-0), the pain has not really gone away. This season marks another chance to make amends for that grueling night in Lisbon.
Nothing will satisfy Sir Alex more than an impressive display capped by a very comfortable victory to kickstart the 11-12 UCL season. But, it is going to be far from easy. Looking at the 'aguias'(nickname for Benfica), you will agree with me that they have a wonderful and immensely talented squad............One better than the aging one of six years ago. The Scottish gaffer of Man Utd knows quite alright that this will definitely be far from a stroll in the park.
Jorge Jesus possesses a team capable of inflicting harm on any clubside in the world, including Barcelona.... If a team was all about names and talent, Benfica have that in abundance. If it is about quality, they also have that in droves. In Pablo Aimar aka 'EL PAYASO', they have a player who on his day, is World class. From his days in the Valencia team that had the likes of Claudio Lopez, Gaizka Mendieta, Sanchez, John Carew, Ruben Baraja, Santiago Canizares, et al, he has always shone brilliantly both for club and for country. If not for injuries, ill-luck and inconsistency, the diminutive Argentine playmaker would have been mentioned in the same breath as the Stevie Gs of this world. Aimar is only one out of many at the Lisbon club these days. Despite the loss of Coentrao to Real Madrid, they have in their Arsenal, weapons that can tame any army. Experienced players like skipper Luisao, Javier Saviola (the little rabbit), Maximiliano pereira, Oscar Cardozo(103 goals in 168 apps for Benfica) and exceptional talents such as axel witsel, Manuel agudo duran(also known as NOLITO), nicolas gaitan, nemanja matic make them an even tougher nut to crack.
The champions league runners-up should be under no illusion that this is going to be an easy day out. Confidence is sky high and rightly so, as a result of their scintillating start to the season to the season where they have registered 21 goals in 5 games (18 in 4 league games--------a record), and let in only 5. The red devils have capable hands too in Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney (has contributed 8 out of the 18 goals and a couple of assists), Chicharito, new signings Ashley Young and Phil Jones, Portuguese player, Nani, former Porto starlet, Anderson, etc. All these however count for little when proceeding go underway at the Estadio Luz (Stadium of light) as it is a completely different scenario from the domestic form they have shown. The Lisbon club will want to prove that they have the game to beat a European superpower like United. Therefore, all hands must be on deck that ensure that there are no loose ends and no regrets. There is still a lot of skepticism regarding the goalkeeping abilities of new number one, David De Gea..... The young man has done extremely well in my opinion as it isn't easy to acclimatize to the harshness of the English Premiership and all its head hunting, error searching analysts. He will do himself more favours by shutting the hungry and skillful attacking force of Benfica.
The central defense is a worry because of the absence of Leader and Captain, Nemanja Vidic and his partner, Rio Ferdinand who was left at home with Sunday's cracker with Chelsea in mind. Teenager, Phil Jones has found it so easy to adapt to life as a Manchester United player, with his eye catching performances, especially against Bolton at the weekend. Evans is a doubt, but in Chris Smalling, United have another good replacement. But it is the Champions league and more often than not, experience says a lot in determining the outcome of games of this magnitude. Cardozo, Aimar and co will want to exploit this seeming weakness. We will see how well the young jewels can cope with this kind of pressure.
The game promises to be a cracker as of course most meetings between the two have turned out to be. For Man Utd fans, it was this same club, that Sir Bobby Charlton and co defeated in 1968 to claim its first European Cup, ten years after the Munich air disaster which claimed the lives of supreme talents of the EPL defending champions.
Although the Manchester giants got their revenge when they were drawn against each other in the next CL competition (06-07)..........(beat the Portuguese giants home and away 3-1,1-0), the pain has not really gone away. This season marks another chance to make amends for that grueling night in Lisbon.
Nothing will satisfy Sir Alex more than an impressive display capped by a very comfortable victory to kickstart the 11-12 UCL season. But, it is going to be far from easy. Looking at the 'aguias'(nickname for Benfica), you will agree with me that they have a wonderful and immensely talented squad............One better than the aging one of six years ago. The Scottish gaffer of Man Utd knows quite alright that this will definitely be far from a stroll in the park.
Jorge Jesus possesses a team capable of inflicting harm on any clubside in the world, including Barcelona.... If a team was all about names and talent, Benfica have that in abundance. If it is about quality, they also have that in droves. In Pablo Aimar aka 'EL PAYASO', they have a player who on his day, is World class. From his days in the Valencia team that had the likes of Claudio Lopez, Gaizka Mendieta, Sanchez, John Carew, Ruben Baraja, Santiago Canizares, et al, he has always shone brilliantly both for club and for country. If not for injuries, ill-luck and inconsistency, the diminutive Argentine playmaker would have been mentioned in the same breath as the Stevie Gs of this world. Aimar is only one out of many at the Lisbon club these days. Despite the loss of Coentrao to Real Madrid, they have in their Arsenal, weapons that can tame any army. Experienced players like skipper Luisao, Javier Saviola (the little rabbit), Maximiliano pereira, Oscar Cardozo(103 goals in 168 apps for Benfica) and exceptional talents such as axel witsel, Manuel agudo duran(also known as NOLITO), nicolas gaitan, nemanja matic make them an even tougher nut to crack.
The champions league runners-up should be under no illusion that this is going to be an easy day out. Confidence is sky high and rightly so, as a result of their scintillating start to the season to the season where they have registered 21 goals in 5 games (18 in 4 league games--------a record), and let in only 5. The red devils have capable hands too in Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney (has contributed 8 out of the 18 goals and a couple of assists), Chicharito, new signings Ashley Young and Phil Jones, Portuguese player, Nani, former Porto starlet, Anderson, etc. All these however count for little when proceeding go underway at the Estadio Luz (Stadium of light) as it is a completely different scenario from the domestic form they have shown. The Lisbon club will want to prove that they have the game to beat a European superpower like United. Therefore, all hands must be on deck that ensure that there are no loose ends and no regrets. There is still a lot of skepticism regarding the goalkeeping abilities of new number one, David De Gea..... The young man has done extremely well in my opinion as it isn't easy to acclimatize to the harshness of the English Premiership and all its head hunting, error searching analysts. He will do himself more favours by shutting the hungry and skillful attacking force of Benfica.
The central defense is a worry because of the absence of Leader and Captain, Nemanja Vidic and his partner, Rio Ferdinand who was left at home with Sunday's cracker with Chelsea in mind. Teenager, Phil Jones has found it so easy to adapt to life as a Manchester United player, with his eye catching performances, especially against Bolton at the weekend. Evans is a doubt, but in Chris Smalling, United have another good replacement. But it is the Champions league and more often than not, experience says a lot in determining the outcome of games of this magnitude. Cardozo, Aimar and co will want to exploit this seeming weakness. We will see how well the young jewels can cope with this kind of pressure.
The game promises to be a cracker as of course most meetings between the two have turned out to be. For Man Utd fans, it was this same club, that Sir Bobby Charlton and co defeated in 1968 to claim its first European Cup, ten years after the Munich air disaster which claimed the lives of supreme talents of the EPL defending champions.
Friday, 9 September 2011
ITALIAN SERIE A - 2011-2012 SEASON PREVIEW
The 2011 Serie A champions, AC Milan were all smiles at the Birds' nest in China last month when they defeated city rivals and neighbors, Inter Milan to the Super Cup title with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ghana's KP Boateng scoring to secure a 2-1 victory, despite being 1-0 down, courtesy of Wesley Sneijder's gorgeous free kick in the first half.
Serie A runners-up, Inter Milan, let the third coach out of their grasp, when Brazilian manager, Leonardo left for PSG. Former Genoa Tactician, Gian piero Gasperini has since been given the mantle of leadership. They also sold Samuel Eto'o to big spending Russian clubside, Anzhi Makhachkala - A deal which made the Cameroonian great, the highest paid footballer ever. The Nerazurri also sold Davide Santon to English club, Newcastle. They brought in the likes of Ricky Alvarez from Velez Sarsfield, Diego Forlan Corazo from 2010 Europa cup winners, Atletico Madrid and a few other quality additions. The black and blue will be looking to recover the Scudetto from the hands of Berlusconi's Milan.
The SENSI family finally relinquished control of the Capital club, Roma after almost two decades at the helm. Although it was officially agreed in the summer of 2010, Rosella Sensi was still a Director until Thomas DiBenedetto, a wealthy entrepreneur and his consortium, signed an agreement with UNICREDIT to buy about 67% of the club, thus becoming the Largest shareholder. He immediately went into action, bringing in the likes of Walter Sabatini as Club Director, signing a deal with the England assistant manager, Franco Baldini to take over as general manager after the European Championships next year, and recruiting former Spanish playmaker and Barcelona B coach, Luis Enrique to take over as Head Coach.
It is not only the board room that experienced bounteous changes. The playing staff was also altered and bolstered with the likes of Bojan Krkic, highly rated Celeste, Eric Lamela, Pablo Oswaldo, and Netherlands safe hands, Martin Stekenlenburg coming in. Free agent, Gabriel Heinze also joined the giallorossi. Roma seem to love south americans, especially argentines a lot. After the captures of heinze, lamela, and Oswaldo(argie-italian), the club added another argie in Fernando Gago, the much maligned midfielder who came from Real Madrid on a season long loan. The Italian giants also let the likes of Jeremy Menez, John Arne Rise and Mirko Vucinic leave for PSG, FULHAM AND JUVENTUS respectively.
There are some internal issues to be resolved though. The roman army was struck a major blow last month as they fell to lowly rated minnows, Slovan Bratislava in the Europa League Qualifying rounds. That isn't as burdensome to them as the rift between their most decorated and successful player, Francesco Totti and new manager, Enrique. Something that started when the new manager decided to leave the talismanic captain out of the matches against the Slovakian club. The President and Directors have however been working round the clock to reconcile the pair. The hierarchy of the team made it clear from the onset that nobody is bigger than the team-------but we all know that some players are almost indispensable and Er pupone (TOTTI) falls into that category. For a player that has been at the club for 19 years and scored more than 200 league goals, some rules can be bent to accommodate his excesses.
Roma's city rivals, SS Lazio haven't been shy in the transfer market either. If you take into account, the dealings they have made, they certainly mean business. Club Supermo, Claudio Lotto managed to tempt seasoned and experienced players like Miroslav Klose------ a player who is 6 goals short of equaling the all time record of Gerd Muller for the German national team and just one goal behind the great Ronaldo Da Lima as the highest goal scorer in World Cup History. Coincidentally, it is 'Da Bomber' Muller's world cup record that he equaled in South Africa. the Biancoceleste haven't stopped there. Players like Djibril Cisse, Marius Stankevicius, Abdoulay Konko and former Marseille skipper, Lorik Cana have also teamed up with the 'sky blue and white'. They let Mauro Mathias Zarate join Inter Milan on loan, but still have the likes of Tomasso Rocchi and major threat, Hernanes to depend on. No one would argue against them staking a claim for at least a UEFA champions League spot come the end of the season.
AC Milan won their 1st Italian League title (Scudetto) in seven years. They have Swedish Superstar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the ever reliable Dutch great, Clarence Seedorf, the ' duck' from Brazil, Alex Pato, Robinho and co, to thank for leading them to GLORY, after so many near misses in years gone by. Since the Departure of KAKA, no other player had really taken the bull by the horn, until they signed 'Ibracadabra' from Barcelona......by winning the 2011 Scudetto, it extended the giant Swede's incredible run of 9 league titles in 9 straight years with Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and of course Milan.
Coach, Maximilliano Allegri has brought in the likes of Taye Taiwo, Stephan El Shaarawy, Philippe Mexes, and Alberto Aquilani who is on loan from Liverpool. Aquilani was brought in to fill in the void left by long serving Andrea Pirlo who transferred to rejuvenated Juventus after 10 successful years with the Rossoneri. The Milan side will hope to bring back the glory days in Europe this season after falling in the second round to Spurs in the previous campaign. They officially kick start the 11-12 League season with a home game vs Lazio later tonight.
Since the Calciopoli scandal that rocked the Italian League some years ago. The 'old lady'----a sobriquet used to describe Juventus, has suffered a great decline both in form and in finesse. Last season was one of the worst in recent history. I cannot remember when Juventus failed to qualify for any European competition. Luigi Delneri was immediately shown the exit door by Andrea Agnelli and former player and legend, Antonio Conte installed to try and return Juve to the summit of Italian football where they truly belong. The most successful club in Italian football history with 29 Serie A titles, they spent heavily to tempt the very best players of the jump to jump ship. The club also officially opened their new home, the 'JUVENTUS ARENA' on the 8th of September with a friendly match against Notts County.
Quality players like Andrea Pirlo, Mirko Vucinic, Arturo Vidal, Eljero Elia, Stephan Lichtsteiner have been purchased from the likes of Hamburg, Bayer Lverkusen, etc..Marcelo Estigarribia, the flying Paraguayan has also become a Bianconeri. All these in their bid to at least challenge for honours when the season starts. Carvalho Amauri has returned from a successful spell at Parma and will fight for a place in the starting 11 with the likes of Quagliarela, Vucinic, Matri. Luca Toni, Ianquinta, and captain, Alex Del Piero.
SSC Napoli, the 4th most supported club in Italy, has returned to the European stage (UCL). The main catalyst behind their recent success is 2010 summer acquisition, Edison Cavani...........El Matador as he is affectionately called, scored 26 league goals to propel the Napolitans to the third and last automatic qualifying spot in the League. The partenopei predator was only just beaten to the Caponcannonierie (highest goal scorer) crown by lethal Zebrette veteran, Antonio Di Natale----scored 28 league goals to scoop the award for the second consecutive year. It will be unjust to neglect the excellent contributions of Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Captain Paolo Cannavaro and others......as a team they were almost unstoppable. The club which has boasted the likes of Diego Maradona and Fabio Cannavaro in their ranks, will hope to go one or two places better in their quest to restore the victory times the club enjoyed in the late 80s and early 90s. They are certainly title challengers and they signaled their intention of gatecrashing the big two of last season, with the inclusion of Goran Pandev who has enjoyed success with Lazio and Inter Milan. Swiss midfield gem and ex-Udinese star, has also teamed up with the Walter Mazzarri led team.
Udinese Calcio began the summer with the fight for the signature of speedy winger, Alexis Sanchez who was chased by Barcelona, and both Manchester Clubs. He eventually joined Barcelona after Chile's elimination from the Copa America. Giampaolo Pozzo immediately replaced him with Gabriel Torje.......a Romanian winger who is blessed with similar characteristics. Cristian Zapata, one of the reasons the Italian outfit came fourth last season, has been sold to Villareal. They also lost Gokhan Inler to Champions league campaigners, Napoli. Despite the set backs, they can continue to count on the dependable Tonio di Natale who has provided 57 goals in 71 League games in 2 seasons.
Other clubs like Palermo, Fiorentina, Genoa and co will have to make do with scampering for top 10 positions or at best Europa League spots.
Ohireime Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
Serie A runners-up, Inter Milan, let the third coach out of their grasp, when Brazilian manager, Leonardo left for PSG. Former Genoa Tactician, Gian piero Gasperini has since been given the mantle of leadership. They also sold Samuel Eto'o to big spending Russian clubside, Anzhi Makhachkala - A deal which made the Cameroonian great, the highest paid footballer ever. The Nerazurri also sold Davide Santon to English club, Newcastle. They brought in the likes of Ricky Alvarez from Velez Sarsfield, Diego Forlan Corazo from 2010 Europa cup winners, Atletico Madrid and a few other quality additions. The black and blue will be looking to recover the Scudetto from the hands of Berlusconi's Milan.
The SENSI family finally relinquished control of the Capital club, Roma after almost two decades at the helm. Although it was officially agreed in the summer of 2010, Rosella Sensi was still a Director until Thomas DiBenedetto, a wealthy entrepreneur and his consortium, signed an agreement with UNICREDIT to buy about 67% of the club, thus becoming the Largest shareholder. He immediately went into action, bringing in the likes of Walter Sabatini as Club Director, signing a deal with the England assistant manager, Franco Baldini to take over as general manager after the European Championships next year, and recruiting former Spanish playmaker and Barcelona B coach, Luis Enrique to take over as Head Coach.
It is not only the board room that experienced bounteous changes. The playing staff was also altered and bolstered with the likes of Bojan Krkic, highly rated Celeste, Eric Lamela, Pablo Oswaldo, and Netherlands safe hands, Martin Stekenlenburg coming in. Free agent, Gabriel Heinze also joined the giallorossi. Roma seem to love south americans, especially argentines a lot. After the captures of heinze, lamela, and Oswaldo(argie-italian), the club added another argie in Fernando Gago, the much maligned midfielder who came from Real Madrid on a season long loan. The Italian giants also let the likes of Jeremy Menez, John Arne Rise and Mirko Vucinic leave for PSG, FULHAM AND JUVENTUS respectively.
There are some internal issues to be resolved though. The roman army was struck a major blow last month as they fell to lowly rated minnows, Slovan Bratislava in the Europa League Qualifying rounds. That isn't as burdensome to them as the rift between their most decorated and successful player, Francesco Totti and new manager, Enrique. Something that started when the new manager decided to leave the talismanic captain out of the matches against the Slovakian club. The President and Directors have however been working round the clock to reconcile the pair. The hierarchy of the team made it clear from the onset that nobody is bigger than the team-------but we all know that some players are almost indispensable and Er pupone (TOTTI) falls into that category. For a player that has been at the club for 19 years and scored more than 200 league goals, some rules can be bent to accommodate his excesses.
Roma's city rivals, SS Lazio haven't been shy in the transfer market either. If you take into account, the dealings they have made, they certainly mean business. Club Supermo, Claudio Lotto managed to tempt seasoned and experienced players like Miroslav Klose------ a player who is 6 goals short of equaling the all time record of Gerd Muller for the German national team and just one goal behind the great Ronaldo Da Lima as the highest goal scorer in World Cup History. Coincidentally, it is 'Da Bomber' Muller's world cup record that he equaled in South Africa. the Biancoceleste haven't stopped there. Players like Djibril Cisse, Marius Stankevicius, Abdoulay Konko and former Marseille skipper, Lorik Cana have also teamed up with the 'sky blue and white'. They let Mauro Mathias Zarate join Inter Milan on loan, but still have the likes of Tomasso Rocchi and major threat, Hernanes to depend on. No one would argue against them staking a claim for at least a UEFA champions League spot come the end of the season.
AC Milan won their 1st Italian League title (Scudetto) in seven years. They have Swedish Superstar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the ever reliable Dutch great, Clarence Seedorf, the ' duck' from Brazil, Alex Pato, Robinho and co, to thank for leading them to GLORY, after so many near misses in years gone by. Since the Departure of KAKA, no other player had really taken the bull by the horn, until they signed 'Ibracadabra' from Barcelona......by winning the 2011 Scudetto, it extended the giant Swede's incredible run of 9 league titles in 9 straight years with Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and of course Milan.
Coach, Maximilliano Allegri has brought in the likes of Taye Taiwo, Stephan El Shaarawy, Philippe Mexes, and Alberto Aquilani who is on loan from Liverpool. Aquilani was brought in to fill in the void left by long serving Andrea Pirlo who transferred to rejuvenated Juventus after 10 successful years with the Rossoneri. The Milan side will hope to bring back the glory days in Europe this season after falling in the second round to Spurs in the previous campaign. They officially kick start the 11-12 League season with a home game vs Lazio later tonight.
Since the Calciopoli scandal that rocked the Italian League some years ago. The 'old lady'----a sobriquet used to describe Juventus, has suffered a great decline both in form and in finesse. Last season was one of the worst in recent history. I cannot remember when Juventus failed to qualify for any European competition. Luigi Delneri was immediately shown the exit door by Andrea Agnelli and former player and legend, Antonio Conte installed to try and return Juve to the summit of Italian football where they truly belong. The most successful club in Italian football history with 29 Serie A titles, they spent heavily to tempt the very best players of the jump to jump ship. The club also officially opened their new home, the 'JUVENTUS ARENA' on the 8th of September with a friendly match against Notts County.
Quality players like Andrea Pirlo, Mirko Vucinic, Arturo Vidal, Eljero Elia, Stephan Lichtsteiner have been purchased from the likes of Hamburg, Bayer Lverkusen, etc..Marcelo Estigarribia, the flying Paraguayan has also become a Bianconeri. All these in their bid to at least challenge for honours when the season starts. Carvalho Amauri has returned from a successful spell at Parma and will fight for a place in the starting 11 with the likes of Quagliarela, Vucinic, Matri. Luca Toni, Ianquinta, and captain, Alex Del Piero.
SSC Napoli, the 4th most supported club in Italy, has returned to the European stage (UCL). The main catalyst behind their recent success is 2010 summer acquisition, Edison Cavani...........El Matador as he is affectionately called, scored 26 league goals to propel the Napolitans to the third and last automatic qualifying spot in the League. The partenopei predator was only just beaten to the Caponcannonierie (highest goal scorer) crown by lethal Zebrette veteran, Antonio Di Natale----scored 28 league goals to scoop the award for the second consecutive year. It will be unjust to neglect the excellent contributions of Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Captain Paolo Cannavaro and others......as a team they were almost unstoppable. The club which has boasted the likes of Diego Maradona and Fabio Cannavaro in their ranks, will hope to go one or two places better in their quest to restore the victory times the club enjoyed in the late 80s and early 90s. They are certainly title challengers and they signaled their intention of gatecrashing the big two of last season, with the inclusion of Goran Pandev who has enjoyed success with Lazio and Inter Milan. Swiss midfield gem and ex-Udinese star, has also teamed up with the Walter Mazzarri led team.
Udinese Calcio began the summer with the fight for the signature of speedy winger, Alexis Sanchez who was chased by Barcelona, and both Manchester Clubs. He eventually joined Barcelona after Chile's elimination from the Copa America. Giampaolo Pozzo immediately replaced him with Gabriel Torje.......a Romanian winger who is blessed with similar characteristics. Cristian Zapata, one of the reasons the Italian outfit came fourth last season, has been sold to Villareal. They also lost Gokhan Inler to Champions league campaigners, Napoli. Despite the set backs, they can continue to count on the dependable Tonio di Natale who has provided 57 goals in 71 League games in 2 seasons.
Other clubs like Palermo, Fiorentina, Genoa and co will have to make do with scampering for top 10 positions or at best Europa League spots.
Ohireime Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
Thursday, 8 September 2011
THE 11-12 LA LIGA SEASON - an overview of what to expect.
The much anticipated Spanish La Liga season finally got underway two weeks ago, after the first weekend of matches was called off due to unpaid salaries and allowances in the excess of over 50 million euros owed to over 200 professional footballers. After trashing out the issue and reaching an agreement, the footballers have called off the strike and to God be the glory, the season kicked off with Gijon and Sociedad playing the first match.
The 10-11 Spanish Liga season was won by Barcelona and deservedly so. Although it will be unfair to disregard Real Madrid's challenge, it will also be very wrong to leave out the explosive and determined way Pep's boys went on to win their 3rd successive La Liga title.
Florentino Perez brought Jose 'the special one' Mourinho to dislodge Barcelona from the Zenith of Spanish football, but he knew quite alright that it wasn't going to be a piece of cake. Mourinho led the 'whites' to 2nd place, the semi finals of the UCL (lost to Barca) and the Copa deL Rey title( def. Barca). This season also began with Madrid losing the super cup title to Barcelona again, but with Mourinho, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Josep 'pep' Gaurdiola won his 12th title as manager of Barcelona yesterday at the Stade Louis Stadium in Monaco. The title was his second UEFA SUPER CUP victory in 3 years and thus made him the most successful manager in the history of Barcelona, eclipsing Johan Cruyff. It is not the tournaments they win that makes them so special, but the way and manner in which they win. The win yesterday also put Barcelona ahead of Madrid as the most successful Spanish club in terms of accumulation of trophies (Barca-76, RM-75). Although the los merengues (REALM) have a wide lead in la liga trophies won (31 to 21) and UCL (9 to 4) In all of Pep's 100+ games for Barcelona, his team has dominated possession...this is no mean feat. Even the great Rinus Michel of blessed memory will marvel at the masterclass performances delivered by the catalans week in week out, match after match. It is just breathtakingly easy on the eye. Football made simple and special. With great players like Xavi, iniesta, messi, fabregas, Villa, A.Sanchez and co, it will be a herculean task for Jose to win the La liga this season.
In the last three seasons, the battle for supremacy has largely been between the two Spanish giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Other teams have been way behind them. But this season might be different, especially with the emergence of Malaga as a strong force ready to mix it up with the big wigs of Spanish football. Formerly owned by past Real Madrid President, Lorenz Sanz, who sold the club to Qatari Billionaire business mogul,Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al_Ahmed_Al_Thani last year, the club has seen a huge inflow of cash since the acquisition. The man from the middle east has not hidden his desire to take Malaga to greater heights and he has lived up to his promise by spending big in January and in the summer, recruiting the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan, Joris Mathijsen, Santiago Cazorla, Joaquin Sanchez, Julio 'the beast' Baptista, Martin Demichelis, etc. The squad of former champions of various leagues like RVN and Demichelis is managed by seasoned tactician and former Villareal and Real Madrid Manager, Manuel Pelegrini, who took over the mantle of leadership from Jesualdo Ferreira after a dismal run by the Portuguese coach,. Although they haven't played as a team in official matches, the Andalusians cannot be taken lightly because they have the weapons in their 'Arsenal' to punish any team. In fact, their intention this season, is to slug it out with the Barcas, Madrids, Valencias and co of the Spanish League.
Real Madrid have been active in the transfer market as usual..........bringing in Fabio Coentrao, Jose Callejon, Nuri Sahin, Hamit Altintop, and teenager prodigy, Rafa Varane, to bolster their squad. Barcelona replied with the addition of long time target and catalan to the bones, Cesc Fabregas and speedy wing wizard, Alexis Sanchez. Valencia let Mata go to Chelsea, Joaquin and Isco to big spending and ambitious Malaga, but have brought in the likes of highly rated Argentine footballer, Pablo Piatti from Estudiantes de la plata and Sergio Canales from Real Madrid. New promoted Real Betis also recruited Roque Santa Cruz from Manchester City on a season long loan. Granada also made sure that Andalusia is well represented in the top tier of Spanish football, securing promotion from the Segunda (Spanish second tier league).. the new comers have tied up deals for players like Franco Jara of Benfica and a couple others from Udinese.
The La Liga season has started with criticisms from a lot of Presidents like Manuel Llorente of Valencia CF of and Jose Maria Del Nido of Sevilla, concerning disparity in t.v contracts and all sorts of irregularities. The Club supremos are of the opinion that Real and Barca are given preferential treatment in financial issues and that's why they can sign players for millions of Euros, while other clubs sell their prized assets to balance the accounts. This outbursts came after the first round of matches which saw both Spanish giants winning comprehensively, 6-0 and 5-0 respectively. Barca's was even more humiliating,, because it was against another Spanish powerhouse in recent years, Villareal.
Jose Mourinho will be hoping that his boys show much more resolve this season, as the bid to unseat Barca as the undisputed best team in the World has began.
Ohireime Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
The 10-11 Spanish Liga season was won by Barcelona and deservedly so. Although it will be unfair to disregard Real Madrid's challenge, it will also be very wrong to leave out the explosive and determined way Pep's boys went on to win their 3rd successive La Liga title.
Florentino Perez brought Jose 'the special one' Mourinho to dislodge Barcelona from the Zenith of Spanish football, but he knew quite alright that it wasn't going to be a piece of cake. Mourinho led the 'whites' to 2nd place, the semi finals of the UCL (lost to Barca) and the Copa deL Rey title( def. Barca). This season also began with Madrid losing the super cup title to Barcelona again, but with Mourinho, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Josep 'pep' Gaurdiola won his 12th title as manager of Barcelona yesterday at the Stade Louis Stadium in Monaco. The title was his second UEFA SUPER CUP victory in 3 years and thus made him the most successful manager in the history of Barcelona, eclipsing Johan Cruyff. It is not the tournaments they win that makes them so special, but the way and manner in which they win. The win yesterday also put Barcelona ahead of Madrid as the most successful Spanish club in terms of accumulation of trophies (Barca-76, RM-75). Although the los merengues (REALM) have a wide lead in la liga trophies won (31 to 21) and UCL (9 to 4) In all of Pep's 100+ games for Barcelona, his team has dominated possession...this is no mean feat. Even the great Rinus Michel of blessed memory will marvel at the masterclass performances delivered by the catalans week in week out, match after match. It is just breathtakingly easy on the eye. Football made simple and special. With great players like Xavi, iniesta, messi, fabregas, Villa, A.Sanchez and co, it will be a herculean task for Jose to win the La liga this season.
In the last three seasons, the battle for supremacy has largely been between the two Spanish giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Other teams have been way behind them. But this season might be different, especially with the emergence of Malaga as a strong force ready to mix it up with the big wigs of Spanish football. Formerly owned by past Real Madrid President, Lorenz Sanz, who sold the club to Qatari Billionaire business mogul,Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al_Ahmed_Al_Thani last year, the club has seen a huge inflow of cash since the acquisition. The man from the middle east has not hidden his desire to take Malaga to greater heights and he has lived up to his promise by spending big in January and in the summer, recruiting the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan, Joris Mathijsen, Santiago Cazorla, Joaquin Sanchez, Julio 'the beast' Baptista, Martin Demichelis, etc. The squad of former champions of various leagues like RVN and Demichelis is managed by seasoned tactician and former Villareal and Real Madrid Manager, Manuel Pelegrini, who took over the mantle of leadership from Jesualdo Ferreira after a dismal run by the Portuguese coach,. Although they haven't played as a team in official matches, the Andalusians cannot be taken lightly because they have the weapons in their 'Arsenal' to punish any team. In fact, their intention this season, is to slug it out with the Barcas, Madrids, Valencias and co of the Spanish League.
Real Madrid have been active in the transfer market as usual..........bringing in Fabio Coentrao, Jose Callejon, Nuri Sahin, Hamit Altintop, and teenager prodigy, Rafa Varane, to bolster their squad. Barcelona replied with the addition of long time target and catalan to the bones, Cesc Fabregas and speedy wing wizard, Alexis Sanchez. Valencia let Mata go to Chelsea, Joaquin and Isco to big spending and ambitious Malaga, but have brought in the likes of highly rated Argentine footballer, Pablo Piatti from Estudiantes de la plata and Sergio Canales from Real Madrid. New promoted Real Betis also recruited Roque Santa Cruz from Manchester City on a season long loan. Granada also made sure that Andalusia is well represented in the top tier of Spanish football, securing promotion from the Segunda (Spanish second tier league).. the new comers have tied up deals for players like Franco Jara of Benfica and a couple others from Udinese.
The La Liga season has started with criticisms from a lot of Presidents like Manuel Llorente of Valencia CF of and Jose Maria Del Nido of Sevilla, concerning disparity in t.v contracts and all sorts of irregularities. The Club supremos are of the opinion that Real and Barca are given preferential treatment in financial issues and that's why they can sign players for millions of Euros, while other clubs sell their prized assets to balance the accounts. This outbursts came after the first round of matches which saw both Spanish giants winning comprehensively, 6-0 and 5-0 respectively. Barca's was even more humiliating,, because it was against another Spanish powerhouse in recent years, Villareal.
Jose Mourinho will be hoping that his boys show much more resolve this season, as the bid to unseat Barca as the undisputed best team in the World has began.
Ohireime Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
Saturday, 27 August 2011
NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S RISE TO THE SUMMIT OF MEN'S TENNIS-----the Journey*
Serbia has produced great sportsmen like Dejan Stankovic and Nemanja Vidic, but it is safe to say that none can compare to the new WORLD NUMBER ONE of Tennis, Novak Djokovic commonly known as the Djoker-joker or nole among friends, fellow professionals and fans alike.
Born, 22 May 1987, the 24 year is just a week younger than Andy Murray (15 May 1987)......but has won 3 grand slam titles and 9 ATP masters 1000 crowns in addition to a bronze medal at the 08 Olympic games in China, the 09 ATP season ending tour finals tournament (formerly known as the MASTERS CUP),etc.
The humorous sports man who turned pro in 2007, is also the youngest male player to reach the semi finals of all four grand slams.
The chap first caught my attention four years ago in Montreal when he defeated then World no 3, Andy Roddick, no 2 ranked Rafa Nadal, and no 1, Roger Federer in consecutive days to claim the Masters 1000 title in the Canadian town. Although he immediately lost early in the next tournament (Cincinnati) to former World no 1, Carlos Moya, the tennis world had already began to witness the making of a great player.
The djoker went to the US open and true to it, finished runner-up to Roger Federer in three tight sets, while the then world number 2, nadal buckled in the fourth round against country man,david ferrer. The djoker finished the year ranked world number 3 for the first time.
At the 08 Australian Open, Novak djokovic was in inspired form, beating every player that came his way, including the undisputed World number one, Roger Federer in the semi-finals(thus claiming the Swiss' scalp for the first time in grand slam play), thus reaching his second consecutive slam final. He went on to defeat frenchman , Jo-Wilfred Tsonga(who dismissed nadal in straight sets in the semis) in four sets in the title match, to win his maiden grand slam. He also made history, becoming the first Serbain player to win a slam. He started knocking on the door of Nadal's no 2 spot. H e went on to defeat american, mardy fish in the 08 indian wells final, hi second successive final appearance (after losing the 07 final to nadal). He avenged the defeat to Nadal in key Biscayne, sending the Spanish supremo packing in the q/finals(07). In Hamburg, he had the chance to become world number two, if he beat nadal, but he lost to his friend and rival, thus remaining world number 3. He reached his 5th straight grand slma semi finals at Roland Garros, but fell again to eventual champion, Rafa Nadal in straights. He lost before the semi-final for the first time since the 07 french open at the 08 Wimbledon v former world number one, Marat Safin in the early rounds (Safin went on to reach the semis losing to Federer). Novak reached another slam semis at the US Open, losing to Fed-xpress again. Djokovic went on to win the season ending masters tournament , defeating Nik Davydenko in the final. He also made huge strides in 09 and 10 reaching q/finals,semi-finals and finals of major tournaments. He reached his 3rd grand slam final at the '10 US open final, but was unlucky at that time, as he was up against Rafa Nadal, a man on a mission to complete a career grand slam/golden slam.He lost in 4 sets. He again lost to Nadal in the semi-finals of the season ending masters tournament in London. That represented his last loss in a long time. He went on to inspire Serbia to the 2010 Davis cup title and from then on, was UNSTOPPABLE.
2011 began with Djokovic in total dominance. He brushed past all who came his way in the 1st grand slam tournament of the year, including Roger Federer in the semi-finals. He lost only one set en route to his 2nd grand slam triumph, defeating Murray in the final in a straight sets. This was Murray's third straight grand slam final heart break (his 1st 2 was to King Roger). Nole went on defeat Federer again in Dubai in the final in straight sets and took his second title of the year. He was full of confidence going into the first two masters 1000 tournaments of the year and he again swept past everyone who came his way in lightening fashion, including Roger, who he defeated for the 3rd successive time in Indian Wells. In the final, he was up against a man who had a 16-7 match win-loss record against him and had beaten him the all the five finals they had met on the ATP tour. He didn't let that get into his head though, as he edged the great MATADOR in 3 sets,thus winning his 5tth masters 1000 title and preventing Nadal from lifting his 19th masters 1000 title. He was determined to win more and he had that air of invincibility in his play. He wasn't the Novak who would retire at the slightest opportunity anymore, nor was he one who couldn't grind out matches. Many believed it was his gruelling semi-final win v Federer at the 10' US open, that was responsible for this mental supremacy. In his cheerful and ebullient style, he was also extremely dominant even against people who had the edge over him in previous years. After taking out Roger in Miami, he took the number two spot from the Swiss Master. He was not only winning, but also winning convincingly and expertly. He carried his devastating form to Miami where he accounted for the dismissals of Mardy fish, kelvin anderson and co to set up another final v Nadal. He again came out on top in three sets to claim his second straight victory over Nadal and improve to 2-5 in finals and also his 26th consecutive win and 24th of the year. By winning the Aussie Open, Indian wells and Miami tournaments, he emulated the feat achieved by Roger Federer in 2006.
He withdrew from Monte Carlo to the relief of his fellow professionals. A tournament Nadal won for the 7th straight year. He however came back at his home tournament in Belgrade. The end result was a familiar sight as he flashed past Feliciano Lopez in the final to win his 5th straight tournament. Tennis Legends Matt Wilander, Bjorn Borg, and John McEnroe, whose record of 42 straight match wins was under serious threat, praised the 24 year old Tennis champion. He took them in his stride and all that motivated him to achieve even more. He went into the clay masters 1000 swing with a lot of belief and that paid off as he became the first man to defeat Nadal in consecutive clay court finals (Rome and Madrid) and four consecutive finals overall. Nadal was broken and his number one position was under serious threat. It was not long before Nole claimed it as that was his ultimate goal. In fact , it would have been a disservice if he wasn't crowned the Undisputed numero uno of Tennis, sooner rather than later.
Despite Nole's heroics, Nadal was favourite to win his 6th french open title, but Tennis commentators and former players didn't disregard the huge challenge posed by the sparkling Serb. The Serb's 41 match winning streak finally came to an end against Tennis's Greatest player, Roger Federer, who defeated him in the semi finals, before going on to lose the final to Nadal for the 4th time in Paris, and 6th in Grand slam finals. By beating Djokovic, Federer delayed the inevitable situation of the Serb being Number one. Nadal still held his position at least for the time being.
The djoker pulled out of Queen's (the warm up tourney for Wimbledon which was won by Andy Murray),but was fit enough for the grass slam at the SW19. He had reached two semi-finals in this tournament already, including the previous year where he inexplicably lost to Thomas Berdych in straight sets. This was a different player now and he was determined to improve on last year's run. He did and even went on to displace Nadal as the champion of Wimbledon and World number one, beating him for the 5th time on the bounce to even their final match-ups 5-5. The Serbian genius was in bullish mood and there was no stopping him. It was official............JULY 4 2011, NOVAK DJOKOVIC WAS RANKED WORLD NUMBER ONE for the first time in his fantastic career. He achieved in two days, all what he has been dreaming of...triumphing at the All England Club and becoming Numero Uno of Tennis.
The Top tier of Tennis didn't feature in the small tournaments leading up to the US OPEN, but came out of their holes when the big one in Montreal went underway. Djokovic continued from where he left off a month ago, winning the tournament after just edging past Mardy Fish in three tight sets. This was his 9th title in 10 tournaments and his 12th consecutive win on the spin. Who can stop him?????????was the question on every one's lips.The other members of Tennis top echelon (nadal, federer, murray) couldn't even make the semis. Next stop was Cincinnati and Nole again, expectedly reached the final only to retire with a shoulder injury, after trailing Murray 4-6, 0-3. This marked the end of his astonishing run post Roland Garros. He has compiled a remarkable 57-2 loss record this season and no one will bet against him lifting his 4th grand slam title and 3rd of 2011 at Flushing Meadows(US OPEN). Nadal will be wary of his friend and rival, considering what has transpired between them this year. Djokovic is the only man on the ATP tour to defeat Nadal in 10 or more matches
Ohireime Eboreime
follow me on twitter @ohiskaka1990
Born, 22 May 1987, the 24 year is just a week younger than Andy Murray (15 May 1987)......but has won 3 grand slam titles and 9 ATP masters 1000 crowns in addition to a bronze medal at the 08 Olympic games in China, the 09 ATP season ending tour finals tournament (formerly known as the MASTERS CUP),etc.
The humorous sports man who turned pro in 2007, is also the youngest male player to reach the semi finals of all four grand slams.
The chap first caught my attention four years ago in Montreal when he defeated then World no 3, Andy Roddick, no 2 ranked Rafa Nadal, and no 1, Roger Federer in consecutive days to claim the Masters 1000 title in the Canadian town. Although he immediately lost early in the next tournament (Cincinnati) to former World no 1, Carlos Moya, the tennis world had already began to witness the making of a great player.
The djoker went to the US open and true to it, finished runner-up to Roger Federer in three tight sets, while the then world number 2, nadal buckled in the fourth round against country man,david ferrer. The djoker finished the year ranked world number 3 for the first time.
At the 08 Australian Open, Novak djokovic was in inspired form, beating every player that came his way, including the undisputed World number one, Roger Federer in the semi-finals(thus claiming the Swiss' scalp for the first time in grand slam play), thus reaching his second consecutive slam final. He went on to defeat frenchman , Jo-Wilfred Tsonga(who dismissed nadal in straight sets in the semis) in four sets in the title match, to win his maiden grand slam. He also made history, becoming the first Serbain player to win a slam. He started knocking on the door of Nadal's no 2 spot. H e went on to defeat american, mardy fish in the 08 indian wells final, hi second successive final appearance (after losing the 07 final to nadal). He avenged the defeat to Nadal in key Biscayne, sending the Spanish supremo packing in the q/finals(07). In Hamburg, he had the chance to become world number two, if he beat nadal, but he lost to his friend and rival, thus remaining world number 3. He reached his 5th straight grand slma semi finals at Roland Garros, but fell again to eventual champion, Rafa Nadal in straights. He lost before the semi-final for the first time since the 07 french open at the 08 Wimbledon v former world number one, Marat Safin in the early rounds (Safin went on to reach the semis losing to Federer). Novak reached another slam semis at the US Open, losing to Fed-xpress again. Djokovic went on to win the season ending masters tournament , defeating Nik Davydenko in the final. He also made huge strides in 09 and 10 reaching q/finals,semi-finals and finals of major tournaments. He reached his 3rd grand slam final at the '10 US open final, but was unlucky at that time, as he was up against Rafa Nadal, a man on a mission to complete a career grand slam/golden slam.He lost in 4 sets. He again lost to Nadal in the semi-finals of the season ending masters tournament in London. That represented his last loss in a long time. He went on to inspire Serbia to the 2010 Davis cup title and from then on, was UNSTOPPABLE.
2011 began with Djokovic in total dominance. He brushed past all who came his way in the 1st grand slam tournament of the year, including Roger Federer in the semi-finals. He lost only one set en route to his 2nd grand slam triumph, defeating Murray in the final in a straight sets. This was Murray's third straight grand slam final heart break (his 1st 2 was to King Roger). Nole went on defeat Federer again in Dubai in the final in straight sets and took his second title of the year. He was full of confidence going into the first two masters 1000 tournaments of the year and he again swept past everyone who came his way in lightening fashion, including Roger, who he defeated for the 3rd successive time in Indian Wells. In the final, he was up against a man who had a 16-7 match win-loss record against him and had beaten him the all the five finals they had met on the ATP tour. He didn't let that get into his head though, as he edged the great MATADOR in 3 sets,thus winning his 5tth masters 1000 title and preventing Nadal from lifting his 19th masters 1000 title. He was determined to win more and he had that air of invincibility in his play. He wasn't the Novak who would retire at the slightest opportunity anymore, nor was he one who couldn't grind out matches. Many believed it was his gruelling semi-final win v Federer at the 10' US open, that was responsible for this mental supremacy. In his cheerful and ebullient style, he was also extremely dominant even against people who had the edge over him in previous years. After taking out Roger in Miami, he took the number two spot from the Swiss Master. He was not only winning, but also winning convincingly and expertly. He carried his devastating form to Miami where he accounted for the dismissals of Mardy fish, kelvin anderson and co to set up another final v Nadal. He again came out on top in three sets to claim his second straight victory over Nadal and improve to 2-5 in finals and also his 26th consecutive win and 24th of the year. By winning the Aussie Open, Indian wells and Miami tournaments, he emulated the feat achieved by Roger Federer in 2006.
He withdrew from Monte Carlo to the relief of his fellow professionals. A tournament Nadal won for the 7th straight year. He however came back at his home tournament in Belgrade. The end result was a familiar sight as he flashed past Feliciano Lopez in the final to win his 5th straight tournament. Tennis Legends Matt Wilander, Bjorn Borg, and John McEnroe, whose record of 42 straight match wins was under serious threat, praised the 24 year old Tennis champion. He took them in his stride and all that motivated him to achieve even more. He went into the clay masters 1000 swing with a lot of belief and that paid off as he became the first man to defeat Nadal in consecutive clay court finals (Rome and Madrid) and four consecutive finals overall. Nadal was broken and his number one position was under serious threat. It was not long before Nole claimed it as that was his ultimate goal. In fact , it would have been a disservice if he wasn't crowned the Undisputed numero uno of Tennis, sooner rather than later.
Despite Nole's heroics, Nadal was favourite to win his 6th french open title, but Tennis commentators and former players didn't disregard the huge challenge posed by the sparkling Serb. The Serb's 41 match winning streak finally came to an end against Tennis's Greatest player, Roger Federer, who defeated him in the semi finals, before going on to lose the final to Nadal for the 4th time in Paris, and 6th in Grand slam finals. By beating Djokovic, Federer delayed the inevitable situation of the Serb being Number one. Nadal still held his position at least for the time being.
The djoker pulled out of Queen's (the warm up tourney for Wimbledon which was won by Andy Murray),but was fit enough for the grass slam at the SW19. He had reached two semi-finals in this tournament already, including the previous year where he inexplicably lost to Thomas Berdych in straight sets. This was a different player now and he was determined to improve on last year's run. He did and even went on to displace Nadal as the champion of Wimbledon and World number one, beating him for the 5th time on the bounce to even their final match-ups 5-5. The Serbian genius was in bullish mood and there was no stopping him. It was official............JULY 4 2011, NOVAK DJOKOVIC WAS RANKED WORLD NUMBER ONE for the first time in his fantastic career. He achieved in two days, all what he has been dreaming of...triumphing at the All England Club and becoming Numero Uno of Tennis.
The Top tier of Tennis didn't feature in the small tournaments leading up to the US OPEN, but came out of their holes when the big one in Montreal went underway. Djokovic continued from where he left off a month ago, winning the tournament after just edging past Mardy Fish in three tight sets. This was his 9th title in 10 tournaments and his 12th consecutive win on the spin. Who can stop him?????????was the question on every one's lips.The other members of Tennis top echelon (nadal, federer, murray) couldn't even make the semis. Next stop was Cincinnati and Nole again, expectedly reached the final only to retire with a shoulder injury, after trailing Murray 4-6, 0-3. This marked the end of his astonishing run post Roland Garros. He has compiled a remarkable 57-2 loss record this season and no one will bet against him lifting his 4th grand slam title and 3rd of 2011 at Flushing Meadows(US OPEN). Nadal will be wary of his friend and rival, considering what has transpired between them this year. Djokovic is the only man on the ATP tour to defeat Nadal in 10 or more matches
Ohireime Eboreime
follow me on twitter @ohiskaka1990
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