MANCHESTER UNITED-SHAKHTAR DONETSK PREVIEW

                                      


A sigh of relief will be breathed around Old Trafford on Tuesday night. The uncanny feeling of being away when you are actually in front of your home fans will be laid to rest temporarily when Mircea Lucescu's Shakhtar gang come to town. David Moyes, yet again, ensured that two of our proud records became history at the weekend. A 41 year old home run v Newcastle left the record books with speed. Also, for the first time in eleven years, the red army lost two home games on the spin. Another very disturbing news which has since been debunked by MANCHESTER UNITED is that Robin Van Persie has asked to leave the club for reasons incomprehensible to many of us.

Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk lurk horns in a straight shoot-out for top spot in the Group. Something that will prevent either of them from meeting the big dogs of European Football. Moyes, defiant as he may sound, knows better than to face Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona or PSG in this condition. It will be suicidal.

The under pressure Moyes has fared better in Europe this season. He has yet to lose a European game and was an RVP penalty away from winning at San Sebastian.. United's record under Moyes reads- 5P-3W-2D Status-Q. Q-Qualified for the Round of 16. The game against the Ukrainian club is important for confidence to be restored in the set-up ahead of a difficult away trip to Birmingham this weekend. But it won't be easy as they are coming up against a rejuvenated team who have garnered for straight wins in all competitions and know that for qualification to be a certainty,  they must match or better whatever result Bayer Leverkusen achieve at the Basque County. Beating Xabi Prieto won't be bread and butter. The red army know that only a point is required to ensure top spot is sealed going into the busy Christmas period. Bad as the situation is, changes are expected to be rang in various departments.


PREDICTED LINE-UPS-

MANCHESTER UNITED-

Lindegaard, Smalling, Rio, Evans, Buttner, Anderson, Giggs, Valencia, Young, Rooney, Welbeck

With matches coming thick and fast over the next few weeks, David will know better than to risk the fitness of Robin Van Persie who hasn't completely recovered from his groin strain. The Dutch National team captain showed glimpses of what he is capable of doing last weekend, but hasn't hit top gear yet. Danny Welbeck scored the opener in the reverse fixture two months ago and should partner Wayne Rooney in attack if everything goes as planned. Marouane Fellaini cannot get into the team at the moment and that is down to his dismal performances thus far. Tom Cleverley is in a world of his own and in there, only those who don't know the basics of football climb the ladder of success. The TC23 brand is rather dull. The evergreen Giggs consistently delivers on the big stage even at the ripe young age of 40. He is expected to be selected in midfield alongside Anderson or Jones.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK-

Pyatov, Srna, Rakitskiy, Kucher, Shevchuk, Wellington Nem, Fernando, Taison, Teixeira, Costa, Adriano

Lucescu is spoilt for choices in defence, midfield and attack. With the BRAZILIAN TRIUMVIRATE of Costa-Adriano-Teixeira, he can rest easy and be sure that whoever is picked in the United rearguard will most likely buckle. Wellington Nem has slowly worked his way into the Starting eleven in recent matches and Darijo Srna  remains one of the best right backs in the World, although he is massively underrated. He tormented Manchester United at the Dombass Arena and will have the freedom of Old Trafford to replicate the exact same thing.. It is common knowledge that United have no left back. Evra is non-existent.


Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990

MANCHESTER UNITED-NEWCASTLE PREVIEW

                                           


Nowadays, when clubs come to Old Trafford, they are high on confidence that most of the records held against them by Manchester United will come crumbling down like the Walls of Jericho. Afterall, Moyes has let records that took years to build, get broken with the slightest degree of effort. Tomorrow, another one is one the line. Newcastle United visit Old Trafford tomorrow knowing fully well that they have not won there since the 1971-72 season. Four decades+. Manchester United are no longer unbeatable...they are no longer impregnable at home against the so-called minnows of English Football, talk more of a club in the magnitude of Newcastle. The magpies lie in sixth position after four wins and a solitary loss in their last five outings. Swansea made them look like toddlers in Wales two days ago but that will count for little when they confront an out of sorts red army. The story of the EPL has been the defending champions making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Four losses in fourteen games cannot be acceptable for a club whose lofty ambitions are well documented. Tomorrow brings another opportunity to either assuage the fans fears or compound their woes..

Alan Pardew can be happy with the way his team is playing at the moment. Even without the likes of Ben Arfa and Cisse, players like Remy, Sissoko, Ameobi and Gouffran have come in and done excellent jobs for the magpies. That eight year contract is still in tact one may presume. The french contingent he has brought to the club since his appointment, has been instrumental to the successes they have garnered in recent time.

David Moyes is probably the unhappiest man in the World at the moment. He not only threw away a 20-year long record on Wednesday, but he watched sheepishly as the team he managed for eleven years won there at the first time of asking under a manager he recommended to his former Chief Executive. An achievement he never managed. The sad development has raised dust and unsettled quite a few associated with the club. It is time amendments are made and changes must start tomorrow.

PREDICTED LINEUPS-

MANCHESTER UNITED
DDG, Rafael, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Jones, Cleverley, Nani, Januzaj, RVP/Welbeck, Chicharito

For Manchester United, the task has been made more difficult with the absence of Wayne Rooney through suspension. The Englishman once again showed his idiotic part when he needlessly kicked Jagielka. An action that effectively ruled him out of tomorrow's game. Robin Van Persie is still nursing that groin injury and no one knows when he will get back on the field of play. The abject footballers in the team can get a run out with the absence of key names.

NEWCASTLE
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Sisokko, Remy, Ameobi, Gouffran

Pardew wouldn't like to change a winning team. As you were ALAN......No FRENCH...NO VICTORY.

Let's hope for a captivating encounter as both United(s) rarely fail to deliver when pitched against each other.

Ohireime P Eboreime

What next for the man Everton loyalists affectionately nicknamed 'DITHERING DAVE'? Can he steady the sinking RED ARMY ship?

DISTRAUGHT DAVE

Last night must have been one of the worst of my life. I am a football fan, yes. But on top of everything, I am a staunch, unrepentant supporter of Manchester United and what the club stands for. For almost two decades, I have loved and followed the red devils and long may that remain.

This Premier League season has been intriguing and exciting to say the least. Irrespective of where our allegiances lie, this campaign might be the best we have ever witnessed the way events are unfolding. However, one man is a beleaguered and confused spectator thus far. Sometimes, I think of what I can actually do to the Scot who was handpicked by SAF to take over the managerial responsibilities of MANCHESTER UNITED. Unfortunately, my hands are tied.

David Moyes has won the LMA award three times in his career and only SAF (RETIRED) and Arsene Wenger have taken the MOTM (Manager of the month) gong more times than him since he became a top flight manager. He has the credentials to coach any team in the Country but I am beginning to doubt if the present one is part of the 'pot'. The former Celtic defender has only been here for five months and all our enviable records against every team in the League are disappearing faster than anyone could ever have imagined.

When SAF was delivering his final speech at the Theatre, he said 'The fans MUST stand by their new manager', knowing fully well how rough his first few years where before he starting hitting the right notes and accumulating titles like they were going out of fashion. Those times seem to be lost now. Memories we would have liked to remain fresh if his replacement does well to keep up with the winning tradition. So far, so underwhelming.....so frustrating....so depressing. 14 games into the 13/14 Season and it is W6-D4-L4. For EVERY other team, it would seem a pretty decent record, but not for a club in the stature of Manchester United. The position is even more shameful. 9th? Holy Christ. For God's sake, we are staring at the likes of Soton, N'castle, Everton and Spurs ahead of us after more than a third of the total no of games have been played. It isn't something out of the ordinary that Arsenal, Citeh, Cfc and Liverpool lead the pack with the gooners setting the pace quite remarkably and Ozil providing the needed flair and maturity of a WINNER.

It's all doom and gloom at M62. With the departures of Gill and SAF, the club has been positioned under the leadership of Edward Woodward- a man who from all indications, knows absolutely nothing about being at the forefront of greatness. The man is bereft of ideas and has done nothing to improve the club since he was promoted. The last transfer window was probably the worst in the club's history with the failed pursuits of Fabregas, Thiago, Ander Herrera, Leighton Baines are a host of others, the major talking point(s). Toothless and tactless. More painfully, we panicked at the last minute and paid far more for Maroaune Fellaini than he was valued by the club he served for half a decade. Bad bad bad all the way. More saddening is the disgraceful statistic that the Belgian giant has failed to start a League game for us and end up on the winning side. Yesterday night was probably his best game for the club and it still ended up in disappointment.

Before Moyes came, the likes of West Brom would come to the Theatre knowing fully well that only a point could surface whatever they brought to the table. This season, everything has turned for the worse. The differences between the way Fergie took over and his woes in the early part of his reign and Moyes' are glaring for all to see. SAF left a League dominating side for Moyes, whereas the great Scot inherited a rotten team staring at relegation in the face with morale at its lowest ebb. Nothing can be worse than watching your beloved club being taken apart by teams unworthy of even getting a shot on target before the arrival of Uncle Dave the dithering one.

Lamentations and rants aside, I still believe Sir Alex has reasons why he chose Moyes ahead of more illustrious and deserving candidates for the managerial hot seat he vacated. Only time will tell if the 50 year old will eventually prove everyone wrong and resurrect the hopes of the average fan. As defending champions, even if we are going to get beat(en0, we should show some resilience and courage. Four losses have left us TWELVE POINTS behind Arsenal and just a paltry TWELVE ahead of 19th placed Crystal Palace. The mathematicians among us can do all the permutations they deem fit, but as things stand, only a miracle will enable us retain the title and realistically, 4th place is now a priority for a club used to dictating the pace and leading the pack season after season.

The likes of Arsene and Jose still maintain that we are not out of the title race yet. Nothing can be more distasteful than seeing rival managers holding hope in a seemingly hopeless situation which has metamorphosed into a big sarcastic brouhaha. I can't deal! In situations like this, we have to stand by our new MANAGER as Fergie said. Those who play the piper must dictate the tune. Circumstances may have changed but we owe SAF a lot for establishing us among the greatest teams of the last two decades. Taking his parting words hook, line and sinker for a couple of seasons might hurt, but will not kill.

My final submission is that DAVID MOYES is the right man for the job. He alone cannot make the ship sail. Everyone must contribute in his own little way, especially the executives, including SIR ALEX FERGUSON. Astonishingly, I never thought I would ever toe this path, but a scary situation calls for urgent reactions and actions. Decisions have to be taken, no matter whose ox is gored. Some players are not fit to wear the United jersey and we are all aware of that. Names like Welbeck, Cleverley, Anderson (sadly) should never be seen/found anywhere around the club. Danny Welbeck never improves. Our patience as fans, has run out. Even an imbecile would have transformed into something much better in the span he has taken to score a handful of goals in a zillion appearances. We cannot continue to eat work rate and industry. He can keep those attributes in his pocket. January represents a good chance to bring in some very good players who can at least bring back some sanity into the club. Remi Cabella very much wants to exit Montpellier and the likes of Koke and Resu have been thrown into the mix. Although the latter is a big ask and Klopp will know more than to sell one of his prized assets. We need MIDFIELDERS-About 10 (exaggerating), and good wingers. Nani and Valencia are pipes. Januzaj needs to continue developing and Uncle Ashley Young should be donated to/for a good cause.

Enough is enough.....AS ROY KEANE said in 2005 before his ill-fated RANT, 'WE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO'....Nothing else matters but to remain the UNDISPUTED BEST.

One thing is for sure though-DAVID MOYES has no place to hide anymore at Manchester United. Good results are tied to a great tactician and he must start to turn things around. Enough of the 'LEARNING CURVE' sh*t. It is SQUEAKY BUM time and the earlier he realises it, the better for us all.

Ohireime P Eboreime
ohiskaka1990

MANCHESTER UNITED-EVERTON PREVIEW..Tough game for Moyes as faces the team he managed for a decade

                                          

Fresh from grinding out a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane and falling nine points adrift of runaway Leaders, Arsenal, Manchester United have nowhere to hide as Everton come to town. It is a must win game for the red army even though it is just 13 matches into a long and predictably difficult campaign for everyone. Anything other than a convincing win will spell doom for the red army, considering that Arsenal play host to Hull City Tigers, who with all due respect, cannot dream of scoring a goal, talk more of securing any result.

Everton on the other hand, are flying high. Higher than Manchester United in the League at least. Roberto Martinez has done much better in three months than people expected him to do for the whole season. He has made the team compact, fearless and deservedly ambitious. Despite the loss of Moyes and Fellaini, the Blue half of Merseyside has done really well up till this point. The appalling record v Manchester United at Old Trafford matters little to a team high on confidence. On Saturday, the toffees ran out 4-0 winners at Goodison's much to the delight of the delight of the home fans and their Spanish manager. Wednesday's game at the Theatre is another great opportunity to show the other title contenders that they are for real.

Roberto Martinez is well aware of how daunting the task that lies ahead is. Everton have not won an away game at Old Trafford in any of its last 20 visits and that might be very difficult to end when both sides square up on Wednesday. As for Manchester United, they will be quite chuffed that Wayne Rooney is in great form and has virtually carried the club all on his own since August. The absence of strike partner, RVP has further added weight on the Englishman's shoulders. Something that he has taken with courage and determination. His 10 goals in 16 games this season best explains the simple fact that he is hungry and raring to go. Romelu Lukaku Bolingoli has torn many a defence apart since he came off age last season under the tutelage of Steve Clarke at the Hawthorns. Now wearing the blue and white of Everton, he has continued to defy belief and astound a lot of us who thought he wouldn't be as exceptional as he was last term. 8 goals in 10 games already means he might even beat the 17 he posted last time and that is staggeringly phenomenal for the young forward who is on loan from Chelsea.

When both teams come out of the tunnel tomorrow, David Moyes will be feeling very funny and uneasy, facing a team he led for 11 glorious years for the first time since he bade farewell to them at the end of last season. He remains a cult hero at the club but tomorrow, they are not willing to offer him any gifts on the pitch. Roberto Martinez has been fantastic in his first 13 League games and his team have only lost one game since the start of the season. However, they will be aware that it was not far away from OT that they fell to neighbours, Manchester City. The other twelve games have brought 6 wins and 6 draws and they have shut out their opponents in four of their last five games, thanks largely to Tim Howard and his capable rearguard.


PREDICTED LINEUPS-

MANCHESTER UNITED-

DDG, Rafa, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Fellaini, GIggs, Januzaj, Nani, ROONEY, Chicharito

With games coming in thick and fast and the need for the players to remain injury free, Moyes will know better than to start majority of the team which fought hard for 90 gruelling minutes against a Spurs who had everything to prove after being overrun by Manchester City the previous week. Ryan Giggs is expected to feature in his 1st game since turning 40 and rightly become only the 7th man in history to play a top flight domestic game in England. Luis Nani was unlucky to only be a late substitute on Sunday and will likely feature from the start. Recently nominated BBC young sports personality of the year, Adnan Januzaj will not like to repeat the lacklustre display in Wales. He must continue to improve to remain in Moyes' plans. He might also get a look in. Kagawa was lost in the shadow at the Lane and must have to make do with a place on the subs bench. Rafa may also come in for Chris Smalling who has been exerted a lot since the Brazilian got injured. He doesn't mind but for his fitness to remain intact especially as this is traditionally the busiest month in every Premier League season. Wayne Rooney is an automatic choice anytime, any day, more so now that he is getting on very well with football. He should not rest until May. Chicharito has managed only one league goal-albeit an important one, this season. He must start taking his chances as they come.

EVERTON-

Howard, Coleman, Distin, Jags, Oviedo, Barry, McCarthy, Barkley, Mirallas, Pienaar, LUKAKU

When you are on a superb run like Everton are currently, no need to start changing personnel too much. The toffees will line up almost exactly the same way it has been all season. With Kev Mirallas delivering crucial crosses and posting workmanlike performances week in, week out, everything seems to be going on well for Evertonians. It is a dream season for them are they are loving every bit of it. As explained earlier, Romelu Lukaku needs no introduction no more. Only Kun Aguero, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez have scored more goals than the Belgian and he is on the same number with Remy, Ramsey and Rooney. Four Rs all on 8 EPL goals. Coincidence? James McCarthy has settled in well at GP since his 14 million pound move from the DW stadium. Ross Barkley, Leon Osman and Gareth Barry make Everton so dominant in midfield which is a big worry for Manchester United. Bryan Oviedo is set to play at left back again after a great show v the Potters at the weekend where he capped his performance with a fine goal. At this rate, Leighton Baines might regret ever getting injured.


A somewhat epic match made even fiercer and eagerly awaited because of the likes of Moyes and Fellaini who face their former club and admittedly, they must still love and cherish. Well, allegiances have switched now and there will be no mercy for Everton if the opportunities present themselves. The red army MUST WIN the battle between 8th and 5th. Whoever emerges victorious has a great chance of ending the day in 4th place if results go their way in other matches.

Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990

SPURS-MUFC PREVIEW...AVB on the brink of getting fired after a dismal run in the League

                                                      

Andre Villas-Boas' position as manager of the lilywhites is under severe threat after his expensively assembled side were annihilated at the Etihad last weekend. The 6-0 bashing didn't go down well with the Spurs hierarchy and even though the Portuguese tactician has come out publicly to rubbish reports of his impending sack, he'll know better than to take the Daniel Levy led Board for granted.

Today's opponents, Manchester United have not last at the Lane since 2001 and Spurs will have memories of great comeback wins home and away in the last twelve years. The red army posted their best performance of the season away in Germany in midweek when they ran out 5-0 winners at the BayArena v Sami Hyypia's Leverkusen. It was a masterclass display delivered on a night when it was needed most. Wayne Rooney, Shinji Kagawa and Ryan Giggs at the very top of their game in the encounter. Nevertheless, the defending Champions will have to get back to winning ways in the League after being pegged back by Cardiff last time out in a match they should have won. No time for slip-ups anymore with Arsenal in great form and ten points ahead going into this all important cracker.

Tottenham relieved themselves of some of the pressure piled on them domestically, when on Thursday, they visited  recently relegated Tromso. The 2-0 scoreline was deserved but a little flattering considering the level the opposition are in at the moment. An own goal coupled with a Moussa Dembele composed finish ensured that Spurs kept their perfect record in the competition. It was a good victory which should give them some confidence coming into this game. Well, the game had some drama as during proceedings, a Norwegian Manchester United fan, Reidar Stenersen was seen and heard taunting the Spurs manager with chants of 'You will be sacked in the morning'. It got to a head when AVB reported the matter to the UEFA Inspector who in turn instructed the security to remove the said fan from behind the Spurs bench. It was immediately obvious that Mr Stenersen, who declined to watch the match from the game from any other seat, got under the beleaguered AVB's skin. It might be ridiculous from any other person's point of view, but apart from being a coach, he is also a human being. Thin skin or thick skin, it is a matter of opinion and human nature.

Manchester United will like to get one over Villas Boas especially. He took four points from the red army last season including a first win for Spurs at Old Trafford for more than twenty years. A victory sealed by the now departed Clint Dempsey who now wears the colours of Seattle Sounders in the MLS. Anything less than three points today means that chances of retaining the EPL crown will become extremely slim. David Moyes has done well in all other competitions asides the League. Although his side is unbeaten since falling to West Brom in September, draws v Cardiff and Soton have hampered the team's chance to at least be in the top four on the League table. Victory today will not guarantee that but will at least cut the deficit to seven points.

Today's game pitches two under pressure managers against one another. Yes, they are both under pressure even if one's seems to be more than the other's. Let's hope for a great show


PREDICTED LINEUPS-

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-

Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Vertonghen, Sandro, Dembele, Paulinho, Lennon, Lamela, Soldado

For Spurs, AVB continues to remain adamant that the RS9 brand will come out sparkling with time and patience. The Spanish acquisition has failed to live up to his reputation and price tag since he stepped foot on the White Hart Lane turf. Apart from rare glimpses of the talent he showed mainly at the Mestalla, he has fallen way below expectations. However, his manager still retains a lot of confidence in him and is set to field him from the start yet again. Jermaine Defoe who is exceptionally gifted and finds the net regularly, will remain on the bench in one of the most bizarre situations ever witnessed. Younnes Kaboul was like a lost sheep last weekend as Negredo, Aguero, Navas and Nasri ran rings around him with relative ease. Vlad Chirciches though untested, came in highly recommended and should prove an able partner in defence for the ever dependable Michael Dawson. The Spurs skipper was demolished in Manchester and wouldn't want another Manchester side to get the better of him again. Paulinho was very poor in midfield v Yaya Toure and Fernandinho. He has to improve considerably and try to dominate a midfield bereft of the injured Micheal Carrick.


MANCHESTER UNITED

DDG, Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Jones, Cleverley/Fellaini, Kagawa, Valencia, Roo-RVP

Moyes faces a tricky selection headache coming into this game. The likes of Nani and Shinji Kagawa are pushing for starting spots after the victory in Germany. The imminent returns of Captain Nemanja Vidic and Dutch master, Robin Van Persie should see them named in the starting eleven barring any last minute decisions. Rio Ferdinand has done his best years and form/fitness haven't be fair on him lately. The Englishman was partly at fault for Cardiff's equaliser and almost let Stefan KeiSling in on goal on Wednesday but for a fantastic Jonny Evans tackle. The overrated TC23 might feature in the absence of the very reliable Michael Carrick, Belgian giant, Marouane Fellaini has done nothing to justify his huge price tag since he arrived. Clumsy and very insipid performances are becoming increasingly worrisome. Phil Jones kept the entire Arsenal front line quiet quite remarkably a few weeks ago. Something that hasn't been achieved by many this season. The much improved England International has done exceptionally well in every position he has played this season. Alongside Ryan Giggs, he made Simon Rolfes and Lars Bender look like toddlers on Wednesday. The bionic Ryan Giggs turned 40 on Friday and will become only the 7th man to be involved in a top light game after clocking 40 if he plays any part today. On the basis of his fantastic display in midweek, he should start.....but age is not on his side and another 90 minutes might be asking for too much. Needless to say, Wayne Rooney has been the leading light in the red army camp this season. Six League goals might not be enough to prove the statement right, but his all round showings have left many bewildered and very impressed. But for Ozil's classic game at Cardiff, Wazza would have been top of the assists table with 5 (StevieG and Mirallas have as many). If he comes to the Lane with his A game, nothing else matters. A win will definitely be the end result for the red devils. Michael Carrick is still out and has been sorely missed. United's best midfielder by a country mile will miss the game against his former club because of an Achilles problem. Without him, the centre of the pitch was like a see saw for MUFC  at Cardiff but inexplicably, against the more fancied Bayer, it thrived like never before. With Paulinho, Sandro and Dembele ready to dominate, it will be an uphill task for anyone Moyes chooses to replace Carrick.


Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990

PORTUGAL SEEK TO REACH BRAZIL AT THE 2ND TIME OF ASKING...AFTER STUTTERING IN QUALIFICATION............

                                         

RACE TO BRAZIL 2014 GOES DOWN THE WIRE WITH PORTUGAL HOSTING SWEDEN IN A SUPERSTAR MATCH-UP

La Seleccion host Erik Hamren’s Sweden in a must win 1^st leg affair for the right to be one of the 32 participating teams in next year’s much anticipated Football festival in Brazil. Paolo Bento knows there’s no room for errors like the one Rui Patricio handed out in the last qualifying match. Victory against the Scandinavian giants will set the tone for a comfortable night next week.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been one of the World’s great players in the last decade. The towering attacking jewel of Paris almost carried Sweden single-handedly in the just concluded qualifying campaign. They were of course in a much tougher group than opponents, Portugal. This two legged fixture pitches him against one of football’s finest ever footballers and the best player in the World since August, Cristiano Ronaldo. After the battles have been fought, unfortunately, one of the two biggest gladiators of our time will not make it to South America. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

The in-form team coming into this fixture is undoubtedly Sweden. The yellow army have won 4 of their last 5 matches losing only to Germany in an 8 goal thriller, a carbon copy of the miraculous comeback from 4-0 down last time in Germany. This time around, DIE NATIONALELF edged this 5-3. Portugal on the other hand, has won only 2 of its last 5 games. Anything but a resounding performance on Friday will signal the end of any World Cup ambitions they have harboured.

The two front liners of this mouthwatering game have scored 39 goals between them in club duties this season and we are still only in November. Cristiano Ronaldo has been head and shoulders above all the footballers on the planet with hat-tricks in every competition he has been involved in. 16 La Liga goals in just 11 matches played, 8 goals in 4 CL games have been the highlights of his impressive start to the season. Ibra is not far behind. His four goal haul in Belgium is one of the best individual performances ever witnessed. Anderlecht were the unlucky recipients of such an unreal masterclass display.

All will be put to bare on Friday in Lisbon when two of Europe’s finest nations lurk horns. For all that may be said, for all that is expected, there can be only one outcome. Only ONE of the two great nations can compete in Brazil next year and terribly, either CR7 or Ibra will not be able to showcase his qualities come 2014. The wait is killing us all.

PREDICTED LINEUPS-

PORTUGAL-

Patricio, Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Coentrao, M.Veloso, Moutinho, Josue, CR7, Nani, Postiga.

Ronaldo on 43 goals is just 4 away from equally PAULETA’s record of 47 for the Selecao. He hasn’t trained yet, but will feature on Friday or Bento’s doomed.

SWEDEN-

Isaakson, Lustig, Nilson, Antonsson, Olsson, EKdal, Durmaz, Wembloom, Larsson, Elmander, Ibrahimovic

If Anders Svensson enters the fray or gets a starting berth on Friday, he will extend his appearance record for Sweden. The Saints and Swedish football Legend has amassed a ground breaking 146 caps for the yellow army in 14 years as a professional. His set piece and passing abilities haven’t waned. Class is permanent.

Ohireime Eboreime

TWITTER-@ohiskaka1990