What a strange game of football it was. Manchester United visiting Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena for the first leg of their quarter final encounter. If there was any hint of déjà vu, it was heavily stacked in Bayern's favour at the end of the game. 90 minutes of really good attacking prowess against error-prone defending. For Sir Alex Ferguson, there were a few bitter pills to swallow. He'd be left wondering how his defence was callously dismantled after keeping Bayern at bay for 70 minutes. And of course, Rooney's continued trysts with injury as the days of reckoning draw closer.
The away goal must provide a flicker of hope. With or without Rooney. Sir Alex would've learnt from the whole Cristiano Ronaldo episode, that to win trophies, you need a team that can play together. If United can put it past Bayern at Old Trafford, I've got my money on them to go all the way. At the moment, there's daylight between them and a place in the semis. But they have a week to tip the scales back to parity. One thing's for sure, you can never ever write off Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson (CBE). Not with 34 pieces of silverware sitting on his shelf.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Playing the hard ball.
With Chelsea's Champions League sores still to heal, it's not the best time to appraise the Premier League's finest tacklers. But as much as purists rave about flair, skill and technique, these are the pairs of legs that plough away on the pitch, unnoticed. So this week, let's pay tribute to those who make no bones about their business. Here's a quick glance at the 10 best ball winners who have created an impressive body of work this season.
10. Lorik Cana & Lee Cattermole (Sunderland)
Now, if only Steve Bruce could find some creativity to dovetail along with these defensive engines, Sunderland would've been jostling for Europe instead of warding off relegation. When on song, Cattermole and Cana can be quite a handful.
9. Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers)
As long as he’s partnering someone competent enough to come and collect the ball off him and engineer an attacking move, Muamba will win the ball back for you all day long. And he seems to relish doing just that against top quality opposition.
8. Mohamed Diame (Wigan Athletic)
While team-mate Hendry Thomas may tick all the toe-crunching boxes, Diame is quite the finished product. When he wants to, he can slip into the shoes of Wilson Palacios with consummate ease. Consistency however, is a different kettle of fish.
7. Nigel De Jong (Manchester City)
Holland's first-choice defensive midfielder can be proud of his exploits this season. He wins the ball and keeps possession with metronomic reliability. In the face of an indifferent season for the club, De Jong has stepped up to the plate, often unnoticed.
6. Alex Song (Arsenal)
For someone who began the season a little rough around the edges, this Cameroonian has it all neatly polished now. While he's busy greasing the wheels in midfield, it allows Fabregas to foray into the attacking third and carve out defences at will.
5. Michael Essien (Chelsea)
In Essien’s continued absence through injury, John Obi Mikel has done a fairly decent job without really uprooting any trees. But Essien has a bit more mettle in his locker. Had he stayed fit, Chelsea might have had the title in the bag by now.
4. Scott Parker (West Ham United)
It may yet be a dire season for West Ham. But the man who was once destined for great things at Chelsea has raised his stock considerably. In my opinion, Parker is the finest English box-to-box midfielder, beating Michael Carrick by a country mile.
3. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Over the season, you could bet your last dime on this hirsute Belgian retrieving the ball in hopeless situations. Relentlessly sticking in a long leg and swivelling back, much like Patrick Vieira did in his prime. If only he could keep himself as fit.
2. Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur)
Wonder if there's anyone who hasn't felt the force of Palacios' tackle this season. The Honduran’s all-action style and lust for combat has been key to Spurs’ charge for a Champions League place. Possibly the best signing Spurs have made in recent seasons.
1. Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
It’s alarming to think what Rafael Benitez would do without the hard-nosed resilience of his Argentine pit-bull. While hard tackling could be up anyone's alley, Mascherano's got it down to a fine art. Easily, the world's best defensive midfielder since Claude Makelele.
Ok, so I've picked some of the more low hanging fruit. Yes, I could've spared a thought for Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, Aston Villa's Stylian Petrov, Fulham's Dickson Etuhu and Wolves' Karl Henry. But Fletcher is more of an enforcer, Petrov has still to convince, Etuhu wins more ankle than ball and Henry doesn’t get any of the ball at all. Yet still, these could make the cut at some point.
Can't say the same about Paul Scholes. He's... well, somewhat a Picassian version of a ball-winning midfielder. And that's putting it ever so kindly.
10. Lorik Cana & Lee Cattermole (Sunderland)
Now, if only Steve Bruce could find some creativity to dovetail along with these defensive engines, Sunderland would've been jostling for Europe instead of warding off relegation. When on song, Cattermole and Cana can be quite a handful.
9. Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers)
As long as he’s partnering someone competent enough to come and collect the ball off him and engineer an attacking move, Muamba will win the ball back for you all day long. And he seems to relish doing just that against top quality opposition.
8. Mohamed Diame (Wigan Athletic)
While team-mate Hendry Thomas may tick all the toe-crunching boxes, Diame is quite the finished product. When he wants to, he can slip into the shoes of Wilson Palacios with consummate ease. Consistency however, is a different kettle of fish.
7. Nigel De Jong (Manchester City)
Holland's first-choice defensive midfielder can be proud of his exploits this season. He wins the ball and keeps possession with metronomic reliability. In the face of an indifferent season for the club, De Jong has stepped up to the plate, often unnoticed.
6. Alex Song (Arsenal)
For someone who began the season a little rough around the edges, this Cameroonian has it all neatly polished now. While he's busy greasing the wheels in midfield, it allows Fabregas to foray into the attacking third and carve out defences at will.
5. Michael Essien (Chelsea)
In Essien’s continued absence through injury, John Obi Mikel has done a fairly decent job without really uprooting any trees. But Essien has a bit more mettle in his locker. Had he stayed fit, Chelsea might have had the title in the bag by now.
4. Scott Parker (West Ham United)
It may yet be a dire season for West Ham. But the man who was once destined for great things at Chelsea has raised his stock considerably. In my opinion, Parker is the finest English box-to-box midfielder, beating Michael Carrick by a country mile.
3. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Over the season, you could bet your last dime on this hirsute Belgian retrieving the ball in hopeless situations. Relentlessly sticking in a long leg and swivelling back, much like Patrick Vieira did in his prime. If only he could keep himself as fit.
2. Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur)
Wonder if there's anyone who hasn't felt the force of Palacios' tackle this season. The Honduran’s all-action style and lust for combat has been key to Spurs’ charge for a Champions League place. Possibly the best signing Spurs have made in recent seasons.
1. Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
It’s alarming to think what Rafael Benitez would do without the hard-nosed resilience of his Argentine pit-bull. While hard tackling could be up anyone's alley, Mascherano's got it down to a fine art. Easily, the world's best defensive midfielder since Claude Makelele.
Ok, so I've picked some of the more low hanging fruit. Yes, I could've spared a thought for Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, Aston Villa's Stylian Petrov, Fulham's Dickson Etuhu and Wolves' Karl Henry. But Fletcher is more of an enforcer, Petrov has still to convince, Etuhu wins more ankle than ball and Henry doesn’t get any of the ball at all. Yet still, these could make the cut at some point.
Can't say the same about Paul Scholes. He's... well, somewhat a Picassian version of a ball-winning midfielder. And that's putting it ever so kindly.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Like a bridge over troubled waters.
So Chelsea's doomed attempts to win European club football's major prize are invariably stalled for yet another year. Why? Because Jose Mourinho showed the world why he's touted as the 'Special One'. But what's so special about him exactly? His outspoken demeanour that yokes away the media focus off his teams? Or his uncanny ability to fan the fire with pre-match insinuations? Or the ruthless efficiency he exudes when he's cavorting with the press?
Neither. The business end of things is on the pitch. And that's where Inter Milan covered themselves in glory last night. Chelsea were pedestrian across every inch of the lush green at Stamford Bridge. Michael Ballack, an innocuous non-presence. Didier Drogba, the footballing equivalent of a ticking time bomb. Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda laboured all evening. But only enough to illustrate the void in class between two teams currently at the top of their respective leagues. Esteban Cambiasso and Thiago Motta marshalled the space in front of defence as if their lives depended on it. And Lucio, Maicon and Samuel at the back – as if fiercely protective of their goalkeeper – threw their bodies in the way of each and every shot on goal. Upfront, Mourinho shed the cloak of conservatism to use a three-pronged attack. Samuel Eto'o and Goran Pandev were gainfully deployed along wings while Diego Milito plied the lone furrow through the centre. Orchestrating all of Inter's attacking play was the wonderfully rejuvenated Wesley Sneijder. In a fluid state of creativity – as he was all evening – it was only fitting that his sublime pass put the game well and truly beyond Chelsea. Enough to firmly slam the door on their dream of European glory for another year.
Champions League success has eluded Roman Abramovich since he decided to shower his millions at Chelsea in 2004. It's been six years now, and the cupboard – while not being bare – is still relatively conspicuous. I wonder how much longer can this repeatedly battered Chelsea line-up keep going to the well and coming back empty handed.
Doesn't really matter for the moment at least. It's water under the bridge.
Neither. The business end of things is on the pitch. And that's where Inter Milan covered themselves in glory last night. Chelsea were pedestrian across every inch of the lush green at Stamford Bridge. Michael Ballack, an innocuous non-presence. Didier Drogba, the footballing equivalent of a ticking time bomb. Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda laboured all evening. But only enough to illustrate the void in class between two teams currently at the top of their respective leagues. Esteban Cambiasso and Thiago Motta marshalled the space in front of defence as if their lives depended on it. And Lucio, Maicon and Samuel at the back – as if fiercely protective of their goalkeeper – threw their bodies in the way of each and every shot on goal. Upfront, Mourinho shed the cloak of conservatism to use a three-pronged attack. Samuel Eto'o and Goran Pandev were gainfully deployed along wings while Diego Milito plied the lone furrow through the centre. Orchestrating all of Inter's attacking play was the wonderfully rejuvenated Wesley Sneijder. In a fluid state of creativity – as he was all evening – it was only fitting that his sublime pass put the game well and truly beyond Chelsea. Enough to firmly slam the door on their dream of European glory for another year.
Champions League success has eluded Roman Abramovich since he decided to shower his millions at Chelsea in 2004. It's been six years now, and the cupboard – while not being bare – is still relatively conspicuous. I wonder how much longer can this repeatedly battered Chelsea line-up keep going to the well and coming back empty handed.
Doesn't really matter for the moment at least. It's water under the bridge.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sad for Beckham, not for England.
So Beckham won't be on the plane to South Africa. This injury probably signals the end of an illustrious career. It's unfortunate for a player who brings a great deal of passion and commitment with him on to the pitch. But truth be told here. For England, he remains a blunt instrument rather than the rapier thrust. And the emergence of Lennon, Milner, Wright-Phillips and Walcott has somewhat stymied Beckham's swagger in recent months. But this is just how competitive it gets on that right-hand side of the England midfield. No quarter asked and no quarter given. I'd say it's better to be out injured than have Fabio Capello pull the rug from under you.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
A white canvas.
So, it finally happens. After 11474 days of goofing off. My own blog. Where do I start? Hmm. Oerr... Arsenal beat Hull City at the KC last night. Close finish. Nicklas Bendtner – who couldn't hit the side of a bus last weekend – grabbed the winner in the 93rd minute. Keeps the three-horse race to the title on course. So that's it then. This is a football blog. Makes all that effort to sign up worth every kilobyte. Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I love forcing footballing fundamentals into everyone's cranium.
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