tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37156461747424777372024-03-05T07:11:44.581-08:00Soccer Analysisall about the beautiful game of football.there is so much to talk about from the business to the intrigues on the field of play.you just cannot beat this.Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-33341257481712610782012-08-22T11:23:00.000-07:002013-09-12T07:45:24.551-07:00EPL Opening Match-day Drama: …and the Business Begins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After the last minute ‘down to the wire’ winner deciding ending to the premiership last season, a brand new season has commenced. With an opening day filled with as much drama as this one, it justifies the claim that every new season comes with its own intrigue and peculiarities. Ranging from new player signings and coaches to another set of three teams promoted from the first division to the premiership. All of them combine to make the English Premier League (EPL) one of the most exciting football leagues to follow in the whole wide world. It constantly dishes out a compact and irresistible brand of football doses weekly. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <b><span style="color: red;">The Transfer Window Background</span></b></span><br />
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As a background to the new EPL season 2012/2013, the usual scenarios which take place in the transfer window just before opening match-day had gone down. A principal feature in there as almost normal in recent years with Arsenal Football Club was its familiar policy of selling one or two of its best players almost every other season. The latter combined with clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona, Manchester United and AC Milan - all of them remaining on the big stage as the biggest buyers in the market, always out in search of the next best thing to strengthen or replenish their squads. Before this post becomes centred on the transfer window which is still open, we should rather let it rest here as an issue for another day. <br />
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Although it must quickly be mentioned that players such as Robin van Persie had moved to Manchester United, Eden hazard to Chelsea, Steven Pinear back to Everton, Podolski to Arsenal and many more transfers similar to these ones. Also some key actors in the premiership in recent years had also moved on, many to China and some others to the United States or some other places in Europe. Principal among such include Didier Drogba, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Nikolas Anelka, Tim Cahill and Solomon Kalou. <br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Goals Galore Plus lots of Drama</span></b><br />
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With the foundation laid thus, the business began as usual with games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There was a repeat tonic of the large score-lines that have now come to characterise the premiership opening day in recent times, coupled with absolute shockers that may have weighed better had they happened further down the season-long adventure. In a weekend that featured the full set of ten games, a total of twenty seven goals were scored. The main highlights among these happened to be Fulham beating Norwich by five goals to nil, Swansea City putting five away goals past Queens Park Rangers (QPR), West Bromwich getting the better of Liverpool FC by three goals to nil while Everton handed down the real shocker to Manchester United - a rare opening day defeat of one nil, which must be highlighted as having been a very fair score-line to United considering the fact that Everton could have led by as many as three to four more goals but for some last gasp crossbar and upright hits and other highly commendable saves by their goal keeper David Degea. <br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Tight Affairs</span></b><br />
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The action would be incomplete without mentioning the close affair between the holders Manchester City and new boys South-Hampton which ended three goals to two in a five goal thriller settled by Samir Nasri. The goal ensured that City started their title defence on a strong note. Although it must be said that South-Hampton are no weaklings being very efficient on the afternoon, giving more bite to the claim that there are no pushovers in the premiership any longer. Every team has to work hard if they are to earn the all three points available or even a point resulting from a draw. Arsenal also began their season on a note they now seem to strike well with openers in the last two to three seasons - a home draw against Sunderland. With teams like West Ham winning over Aston Villa, Chelsea got a bit of a lucky victory over Wigan Athletic with two early goals, both having something to do with their new signing Eden hazard. Newcastle also had a tight win of two goals to one over Tottenham in a keenly contested game.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">From Last Season With Love</span></b><br />
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This review would not be complete without giving kudos to some great coaches who had done well with smaller teams last season and as a result had been handed bigger appointments in more prestigious teams. Such include Brendan Rogers who moved from Swansea to Liverpool FC and Paul Lambert to Aston Villa, with Martinez deciding to stay on at Wigan even in face of more juicy offers. Some others who had been with other teams last season but were drafted in various new teams this season include Andreas Villas Boas replacing the magician Harry Redknapp at Tottenham and Michael Laudrup resuming at Swansea.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Let the Business Begin</span></b><br />
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Indeed the drama would never have been full enough, if teams like Manchester City had not been forced to squeeze out a winner coupled with a seemingly fortified attack of Manchester United rendered impotent on the day even with the addition of robin van Persie - the premiership top scorer and best player for last season. These combined with the three nil loss of Liverpool by West Bromwich - their fast becoming bogey team, and huge score endings for Fulham and Swansea. Indeed the excitement was at its height, a great advertisement for the English Premier League especially on an opening day. Indeed it raises the curtain on a season of real surprises and happenings to come. What more can we say but “Let the Business begin!” <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Related Posts</span><br />
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<a href="http://dakes83-socceranalysis.blogspot.com/2012/05/just-before-curtain-falls-preview-of.html">Just Before the Curtain falls</a><br />
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<a href="http://dakes83-socceranalysis.blogspot.com/2011/10/inside-premiership-match-day-of-circus.html">Inside The Premiership: Match-day of Circus and Intrigues</a> <br />
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<a href="http://dakes83-socceranalysis.blogspot.com/2011/04/business-behind-game-maverick-and.html">The Business behind the game: maverick and intrigues of Football </a><br />
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Thank you for reading this post. please make it more interactive by dropping a comment below and feel free to share with the rest of the larger online community. Football lives! football continues!! football forever!!!<br />
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Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-75191797254983971042012-08-19T16:41:00.000-07:002013-09-12T07:49:10.720-07:00Help! Our Manager Has Gone Crazy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB">Now if ever anyone had thought football was just a game, then they would be needing a rethink because the game has gone way beyond entertainment to becoming a full blown business both off and on the pitch of play especially in modern times. Picking it up from the perspective of being a business, everyone knows that there is a ridiculous amount of money to be made some where in there. More so, considering the massive salaries players earn these days and how much there is to be made off television rights, shirt sponsorship, stadium name rights and gate-takings not forgetting the gambling racket outside of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> In the midst of all of these, it is so easy to forget the very essence and root of the game of football which is more towards competitive entertainment, and a strong clause that features constantly through the generations of gaming is the collective gathering referred to as the spectators, audience, supporters or the fans as the case may be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Profit Sharing Over Fan's Interest</span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">When the managers of the game put aside the interest of such supporters especially when they are paying and it is no more free service, then there begins to show up a major problem unfolding. Enter the fray- Arsenal football club of England and how much of business astuteness they seem to have shown in these last eight years. It must be said that they have built a state of the art stadium, converted the former stadium in to a block of luxury flats that have paid off the debts incurred to build them and now add to the profits coming in, a standard training ground and many more achievements off the field. But that is as far as the commendation should go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The club has totally lost focus as to where the main stakes lie. They continue to punish the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg - the very game of football on the pitch of play, the paying fan-base and the larger worldwide cult-like following. Almost the whole world now wonders if the club management ever heard of the phrase “striking a balance between making money and winning trophies.” Nothing like that seems to exist in their dictionary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Profiteering In the Name of Rebuilding</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">How else do you relate going a whole season unbeaten with a team of experienced and quality players as at eight years ago and subsequently going virtually trophy-less for the next eight seasons? Much focus has been put on balancing the books, so much so that the manager Monsieur Arsene Wenger has intentionally phased out a whole first team squad of twenty-two players and more from the academy all in the name of rebuilding. He now has a track record of selling between two to three of his best players in one season, sometimes adding the captain and the assistant to such to-be-sold ranks for good measure.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">He started the tradition by selling Captain Patrick Vieira to Juventus, then sold players like Robert Pires to Villareal, Captain Thierry Henry to Barcelona, Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan, Gilberto Silva (asst. captain) to Olympiakos, Alexander Hleb to Barcelona, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City in the same season, then Captain Cesc Fabregash, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy in the same season to Barcelona and Manchester city respectively. The list goes on, Emmanuel Eboue, Sylvian Wiltord, Lauren Etameya, and Freddie Ljumberg and on and on grows the list.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The Self-Destructive Track record</span></b> </span></div>
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</span> <span lang="EN-GB">The seeming final straw of this season could be the maintenance of Wenger’s new found track record; by selling his Captain and best player in the English premier league last season Robin van Persie, and another of his greatest players Alexander Song to Barcelona. All of this journey must have made him over two hundred and fifty million pounds in conservative estimates considering the long list plus a series of other young lads that have been chucked out who have gone on to become great players in the clubs they left for; granting Arsenal an earning potential - something for raising them.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In the same time that this downward spiral had been embarked on, the board had relatively kept silent because their business interests had not only been protected but greatly boosted as the club shares were increasing in value and they were making much more money. Ironically, in that same period, the ticket prices both singular and seasonal were rising to become some of the most expensive not only in England but in all of Europe. Simply put, the fans and spectators were being bilked out of their hard earned moneys with a phony charade on display called beautiful football.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Do the Fans Matter at All?</b></span></div>
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</span> <span lang="EN-GB">The end of the season showed no trophies and the Silverware cabinet kept gathering cobwebs as it has been empty for so long that it almost does not get a cleaning anymore. Now the money is only one side to it, the other part is the emotions of these same fans that have not only been toyed with but plainly rubbished. The latter combined with the constant ridicule from opposition fans, referring to Arsenal football club as an academy, a stepping stone, a feeder team, a team of greens and all sought of strange name tags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">With this background, the question arises “When big clubs set out every season, do they think of “Merely doing well or Going for glory - the ultimate price being the trophy?” This is what teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City have gone for with great dividends not only in money, but follower-ship and an appreciation of fans telling and showing them they are the major reason why they still play this game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</b></span></span> <span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>A Clear lack of Prospects or Ambition Going Forward</b></span></span></div>
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</span> <span lang="EN-GB">When a player like Robin van Persie who is captain of the club and one who virtually carried the team on his back to third position last season, seats with the Club Manager Arsene Wenger and the Chief executive Ivan Gazidis ; asking them to paint a picture of the prospects for the next few years. He comes out of such meeting saying that he just couldn’t see it as they were just not so particular about trophies meaning it was more of mediocrity and money all the way. The latter happened to be the more reason why van Persie chose to join Manchester United. The seasonal aim for Arsenal Football Club had become “let’s just finish in a good position on the table, qualify for the champions’ league, and celebrate fourth place as a golden trophy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Easily, you get to ask yourself, “does anyone set out to self-destruct on purpose?” especially when the interests hanging involves a wide plethora of people. There seems to be no better explanation than saying - either the Manager has gone crazy or the whole board of directors are not only senile but totally obsessed with milking the purse at the expense of the Fans and the game bringing in the funds. The Question is: where do we go from here? As the long term fans are saying it is a lesson in loyalty especially since they were there during the glory days of a whole season unbeaten, and now eight years of tears without a trophy.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue;">Related Posts</span></div>
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<a href="http://dakes83-socceranalysis.blogspot.com/2011/04/business-behind-game-maverick-and.html" target="_blank">The Business Behind the Game: Maverick and Intrigues of Football</a><br />
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<a href="http://dakes83-socceranalysis.blogspot.com/2011/09/monsieur-wenger-finally-gets-message.html" target="_blank">Monsieur Wenger Finally Gets the Message</a><br />
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<a href="http://dakes83-socceranalysis.blogspot.com/2012/08/arsenal-releases-new-first-team-squad.html" target="_blank">Arsenal Releases New First team Squad Numbers</a><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Wenger's Perfection Induced Obsession</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A strong submission would be this- “After seemingly achieving immortality and invincibility with the unbeaten season, Arsene Wenger went in to a Perfection induced obsession feeling that no opinions counted anymore as he had now become all in all” the reality speaks differently and he is being brought down to earth by the results in recent seasons and another thing is becoming worrisome- the rate at which he is ageing. Rather than do so gracefully, he has chosen the path of continuous stress overdrive because of a lack of capable personnel due to his stubbornness and ill-needed frugality.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">All we can say is “the wait goes on whether for a trophy or at least a golden coin if there was any silverware going by that name.” An attachment to that would be how you can manage to convince the other players left that you want to achieve anything meaningful, extending to results that depict a purposeful career. Someone had better told him to learn from Ajax and the glory days. The moment they started selling was when their downward spiral really began, turning them into one of the main feeder teams for the big clubs in Europe -a trend that has continued until now.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><span lang="EN-GB">Picture Source: <a href="http://arsenal.com/">Arsenal.com</a><br /><br />
</span> <span lang="EN-GB">thank you for reading this post. if you have got other opinions, please drop a comment below and share with the larger online community. It is high time this issue was dealt with extensively.</span><br />
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Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-54332501923372731002012-08-17T16:00:00.000-07:002012-08-17T16:00:19.416-07:00Arsenal Releases New First Team Squad Numbers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After the different changes in personnel, Arsenal football club has finally released the new squad numbers for its first team members. The new numbers are as listed below.</div>
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AFC First-team squad as follows:<br /><br />1 SZCZESNY<br />2 DIABY<br />3 SAGNA<br />4 MERTESACKER<br />5 VERMAELEN<br />6 KOSCIELNY<br />7 ROSICKY<br />8 ARTETA<br />9 PODOLSKI<br />10 WILSHERE<br />11 SANTOS<br />12 GIROUD<br />14 WALCOTT<br />15 OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN<br />16 RAMSEY<br />17 SONG<br />18 SQUILLACI<br />19 S.CAZORLA<br />20 DJOUROU<br />21 FABIANSKI<br />22 COQUELIN<br />23 ARSHAVIN<br />24 MANNONE<br />25 JENKINSON<br />26 FRIMPONG<br />27 <a data-bitly-type="bitly_hover_card" href="http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/gervinho-signs-for-arsenal-pictures" style="color: #aa0000; text-decoration: none;" title="Gervinho (27) player profile">Gervinho</a><br />28 GIBBS<br />29 CHAMAKH<br />30 PARK <br />52 BENDTNER</div>
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Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-69533978568305156492012-06-09T15:17:00.001-07:002012-06-11T14:35:20.737-07:00UEFA Euro 2012 Begins: The Clash of the Titans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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The European championships have begun. The UEFA Euro 2012 promises to be an exciting and explosive tournament with a rich feature of star players from all across the continent participating. The once-in-four-year tournament is being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. The tournament which spans over twenty-three days kicks-off June 8 in the Polish capital, Warsaw and ends July 1 in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.<br />
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<b>Groupings</b><br />
Below are the qualified teams and their groupings in the tournament schedule:<br />
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<b>Group A</b><br />
Poland | Greece | Russia | Czech Republic<br />
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<b>Group B</b><br />
Netherlands | Germany | Denmark | Portugal<br />
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<b>Group C</b><br />
Spain | Italy | Ireland | Croatia<br />
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<b>Group D</b><br />
France | England | Ukraine | Sweden<br />
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<b>Country Star Players</b><br />
It has been dubbed the clash of the titans as the tournament promises to feature an array of stars from all over Europe. Some of them have been highlighted for you to be able to keep easy tabs as the competition unfolds. Three star players from each country have been featured on our highlight list:<br />
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<b>Poland</b>- Robert Lewandoski, Lukasz Piszczek, Wojciech Szczesny.<br />
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<b>Greece</b>- Giorgos Karagounis, Georgios Samaras, Kostas Katsouranis<br />
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<b>Russia</b>- Andrei Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Yuri Zhirkov<br />
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<b>Czech Republic</b>- Tomas Rosicky, Petr Cech, Milan Baros<br />
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<b>Netherlands</b> - Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder<br />
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<b>Germany</b>- Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Mesut Ozil<br />
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<b>Denmark</b>- Nicklas Bendtner, Daniel Agger, Christian Poulsen<br />
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<b>Portugal</b>- Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul Meireles<br />
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<b>Spain</b>- Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Fernando Torres<br />
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<b>Italy</b>- Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli, Gianluigi Buffon<br />
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<b>Ireland</b>- Shay Given, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane<br />
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<b>Croatia</b>- Eduardo, Verdran Corluka, Luka Modric<br />
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<b>France</b> - Samir Nasri, Patrice Evra, Philippe Mexes<br />
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<b>England</b>- Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Wayne Rooney<br />
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<b>Sweden</b>- Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Christian Wilhelmson, Olof Melberg <br />
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<b>Ukraine-</b> Andriy Voronin, Andriy Scevshenko, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk<br />
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<b>Fixtures</b><br />
<b>Group A</b><br />
Friday, June 8<br />
<b>Match</b> <b>Venue</b> <b>Time(GMT)</b><br />
Poland v Greece Warsaw 16:00 hrs<br />
Russia v Czech Rep. Wroclaw 18:45 hrs<br />
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Tuesday, June 12<br />
Greece v Czech rep. Wroclaw 16:00 hrs<br />
Poland v Russia Warsaw 18:45 hrs<br />
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Saturday, June 16<br />
Greece v Russia Warsaw 16:00 hrs<br />
Czech Rep. v Poland Wroclaw 18:45 hrs<br />
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<b>Group B</b><br />
Saturday, June 9<br />
Netherlands v Denmark Kharkiv 16:00 hrs<br />
Germany v Portugal Lviv 18:45 hrs<br />
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Wednesday, June 13<br />
Denmark v Portugal Lviv 16:00 hrs<br />
Netherlands v Germany Kharkiv 18:45 hrs<br />
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Sunday, June17<br />
Denmark v Germany Lviv 16:00hrs<br />
Portugal v Netherlands Kharkiv 18:45hrs<br />
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<b>Group C</b><br />
Sunday, June 10<br />
Spain v Italy Gdansk 16:00hrs<br />
Ireland v Croatia Poznan 18:45hrs<br />
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Thursday, June 14<br />
Italy v Croatia Poznan 16:00hrs<br />
Spain v Ireland Gdansk 18:45hrs<br />
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Monday, June18<br />
Croatia v Spain Gdansk 16:00hrs<br />
Italy v Ireland Poznan 18:45hrs<br />
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<b>Group D</b><br />
Monday, June 11<br />
France v England Donetsk 16:00 hrs<br />
Ukraine v Sweden Kiev 18:45 hrs<br />
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Friday, June 15<br />
Sweden v England Kiev 16:00 hrs<br />
Ukraine v France Donetsk 18:45 hrs<br />
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Tuesday, June19<br />
Sweden v France Kiev 16:00 hrs<br />
England v Ukraine Donetsk 18:45 hrs<br />
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<b>Bookmakers’ Favorites </b><br />
For most bookmakers- Spain, Germany, Netherlands and France are firm favourites with England and Italy, labelled as seeming Contenders. Also Russia, Sweden and Ukraine are dark horses with the potential to pull surprises. It promises to be an explosive atmosphere with a Goal Rain. The question is “Who would emerge eventual champions?” Only time would tell.<br />
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<br />Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-54611556826232998442012-05-19T11:47:00.002-07:002012-05-19T11:49:50.078-07:00Mother of All Finals: UCL Finals '11/'12 - Chelsea versus FC Bayern Munchen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJmD8OVdAsfkuPuTCiheqS8ZxM_iwk7g9XrfXfSmgNaBWzSVDHZxepWODSwbygV6u7ye6wCQF8kJXKktkubYoYba1Cx8EkELbA4hid6176OEotU9r7TOAnWFlFTFHfhaxv1AlWVW5HG0V/s1600/ucll6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="187" width="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJmD8OVdAsfkuPuTCiheqS8ZxM_iwk7g9XrfXfSmgNaBWzSVDHZxepWODSwbygV6u7ye6wCQF8kJXKktkubYoYba1Cx8EkELbA4hid6176OEotU9r7TOAnWFlFTFHfhaxv1AlWVW5HG0V/s320/ucll6.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In the slug-out that has been dubbed the mother of all finals, the closing game of the UEFA champions league season would be going down at the allinze arena,Munich,Germany. The two gladiator teams in the deciding contest that wraps up the 2011/2012 season are wothy ones- Chelsea Football Club and FC Bayern Munchen.<br />
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Although it is not news anymore that the much touted el-classico finals that had been hugely anticipated would not be happening; no doubt the ones who have earned the title 'classico killers' would be presenting a more dynamic showdown in Germany. It must also be said that the venue happens to be the home of one of the gladiators FC Bayern Munchen, but the champions league finals being what it is, would always play out as one of the finest spectacles of the modern age.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbpD5SvMpENHoAbDjKfn3W4LfhkX4DHNm-FohrJKgw1H5NbpkB2dtEKOz3qRZ8x0uH5937pMwuR9X9cUvp-Nx3_gMj1DAoO7oSrOKf-2oFKm86jU93EFVXCNkA8wU_zks50dQ2GiqU_a_/s1600/ucll5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbpD5SvMpENHoAbDjKfn3W4LfhkX4DHNm-FohrJKgw1H5NbpkB2dtEKOz3qRZ8x0uH5937pMwuR9X9cUvp-Nx3_gMj1DAoO7oSrOKf-2oFKm86jU93EFVXCNkA8wU_zks50dQ2GiqU_a_/s320/ucll5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Chelsea and Bayern Munchen, both of them giants in their own rights may not have had the ideal season in their various leagues as the champions league and other competitions must have taken their toll; in the midst of all that, the joy of participating in one of the greatest showpieces of all time wipes off the pain in an instance.<br />
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Both teams have definitely got scores to settle with the cup claim, as they have once been on the losing side in a UCL finals in the last four years. A chance to finally bury the ghost of 2008 for chelsea,after losing to Manchester United in a penalty shoot-out contest,they had almost won. They seek to claim the most prized and desired trophy their proprietor, Roman Abramovich has ever wanted.<br />
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Bayern Munchen equally lost to Inter Milan in the 2010 finals; now they have seemingly earned revenge against the coach of that same side Jose Maurinho, albeit in the dugout for his new team Real Madrid. Going all the way to qualify for a final that had been slated for their stadium even before the season began, Bayern would naturally feel that they were destined to claim the much coveted trophy right in their own backyard.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nTYcgfER8MEm5dN5-uwMOeay05YkY1OUsI_DD01_w0OqSds3jeVemcJ1kDMRmr6lFLtpLwgVkLF51wqmONc1QVNrG-PNmHQ1sV8R_pz0rOKPAz3ZJbn0shCMG1AQI2Kj9PeMu-6IOHnw/s1600/ucll3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nTYcgfER8MEm5dN5-uwMOeay05YkY1OUsI_DD01_w0OqSds3jeVemcJ1kDMRmr6lFLtpLwgVkLF51wqmONc1QVNrG-PNmHQ1sV8R_pz0rOKPAz3ZJbn0shCMG1AQI2Kj9PeMu-6IOHnw/s320/ucll3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
For chelsea it would not only be a joy to win it for the fitst time,but to go into the next season as defending champions in a season when the finals would be taking place at wembley stadium,London in celebration of the centennial.Nothing would give them more happiness than to tour the same city that would be hosting the olympics in less than sixty days from now with a UCL trophy no london side has ever one.<br />
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There would be lot at stake for both sides, but it must not be forgotten that in the windy road to the finals, they had both lost very important personnel. All of that must count for something,but it remains to be seen how the absence of John terry, Raul Meireles,Ramires, and Borislav Ivanovich would affect their game-plan with injuries tto some other members of the side.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtgeauAlO2RUZyqfO_VFW-abI0r5GYDXU7dfzvMPU-NYs04pVeA-XLPjOY_KvNkrJHax8pVVpHdBZGKIaOdETgEI1mIZfzj5CyVkfUBKqXx8T61-Z2-PHN3cGLPC5hK0j7Vhyphenhyphen-ycvYA-5/s1600/ucll4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="185" width="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtgeauAlO2RUZyqfO_VFW-abI0r5GYDXU7dfzvMPU-NYs04pVeA-XLPjOY_KvNkrJHax8pVVpHdBZGKIaOdETgEI1mIZfzj5CyVkfUBKqXx8T61-Z2-PHN3cGLPC5hK0j7Vhyphenhyphen-ycvYA-5/s320/ucll4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Their opponents would also be missing key players in the form of Gustavo. David Alaba, and one more key player. Bayerm Munchen seemed to be better poised to handle the shock; combined with the backing of their teeming fans,the pendulum looks set to swing in their favour a bit more.<br />
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Pundits have done all kinds of analysis, and bookmakers have put out their ratio for the stakes and likely bets; one thing every football follower must not forget about the season is that it has been one full of twists,turns and last minute drama. You would choose to write off any of the two teams only at your own detriment.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd0sW2sW6jm1m9MgJV3Gc0eWApBwopRCWITt8V081cG0F-Blk-iRj6aAMC7vdZ2UiF1Vx3yMHZKC9-JduH84PQlJSEfSLCl6Ca1u41wM-QrUwNxOVDA0CZ6V_in7jCLmG07J4nSfliLvk/s1600/ucll1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="182" width="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd0sW2sW6jm1m9MgJV3Gc0eWApBwopRCWITt8V081cG0F-Blk-iRj6aAMC7vdZ2UiF1Vx3yMHZKC9-JduH84PQlJSEfSLCl6Ca1u41wM-QrUwNxOVDA0CZ6V_in7jCLmG07J4nSfliLvk/s320/ucll1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
All in all,only one side can win it, and it must have been thoroughly deserving.Whatever happens, the beauty of the game is in participating and there is definitely going to be adequate financial rewards for both sides regardless. Let the game begin, as we can't wait to see the mother of all finals play out right before our very eyes. May the better side win!!<br />
<br />Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-53768977876926803002012-05-12T14:33:00.000-07:002012-05-12T14:38:00.237-07:00Just Before the Curtain Falls: A Preview of the Last Day of the EPL 2011/2012 Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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By all standards, this has been one of the most intriguing and amazing football seasons in the English premier league. It has been a long chain of drama all season, with quite unexpected twists and turns that would make the season go down as one of the most keenly contested of all time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6k2-6pBfP9YNYb62EFmzDZ0hudDrUrpQRlKxTj-FMyMuk42Z7bbChLOWnONa31JhCHwrD05BYpcl2LwzSQH53a7wejVshNmynwno9GBjOGhZZIfqc8g-JrMsu34Bt_VvBc3gQnp1skG6/s1600/epl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="224" width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6k2-6pBfP9YNYb62EFmzDZ0hudDrUrpQRlKxTj-FMyMuk42Z7bbChLOWnONa31JhCHwrD05BYpcl2LwzSQH53a7wejVshNmynwno9GBjOGhZZIfqc8g-JrMsu34Bt_VvBc3gQnp1skG6/s320/epl2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The drama has shown up in phases: first at the top as featured in the race between the top two all through out the season; next was the battle for the remaining two UEFA Champions League (UCL) ticket spots by the second set of four teams on the table, and then the battle to survive relegation by another set of five clubs, with one displaying some magnificent level of football inspired by the passion to survive. <br />
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In glancing, you can not forget the teams which thrive in the middle of the table, neither up there nor at the bottom; just seeming to enjoy life in the premier of all English leagues while hoping for better days.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWiIUKaHguDvCA4S7Ro5diFAtw0cpQgqQDU_ob5I08Qq2DsgfMtq5OSQcHit186AcqrcolQ4-hY8AHOLWilXDmP969W_Y3lT9WT54LpeILNr0cSBDSieJOqTud2iAAsLgL-UAefmC2f-M/s1600/epl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWiIUKaHguDvCA4S7Ro5diFAtw0cpQgqQDU_ob5I08Qq2DsgfMtq5OSQcHit186AcqrcolQ4-hY8AHOLWilXDmP969W_Y3lT9WT54LpeILNr0cSBDSieJOqTud2iAAsLgL-UAefmC2f-M/s320/epl1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Enough of waxing philosophical, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of the beautiful round leather game as played out this season in the EPL. The top battle had always been between Manchester United and Manchester City in a fitting continuation to where they left off last season having both picked up the main trophies i.e. the EPL title and the FA Cup respectively. <br />
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It must also be said that they both contested the season opener- the Community shield and from that point on, the battle line seemed drawn. It was to continue in a see-saw fashion, with Manchester United holding fort at the top for some time before Manchester City overtook them and made the place their own for very long.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-XSjGVgUNoolQN28gmpoc8xs5fViAqgOrvRR2x8diXgcdiFaphmWXzziUkHV9ebrsy-gs-mtcclu0AwSH5wSO_fxC8DcgJpdVQ7recugOQgcN7x_uTbaN9izJXyLR8Tr8CrHhbR3SYts/s1600/epl3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-XSjGVgUNoolQN28gmpoc8xs5fViAqgOrvRR2x8diXgcdiFaphmWXzziUkHV9ebrsy-gs-mtcclu0AwSH5wSO_fxC8DcgJpdVQ7recugOQgcN7x_uTbaN9izJXyLR8Tr8CrHhbR3SYts/s320/epl3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
All of these while, some new entrants were also staking claim to the third and Fourth spots in what was a striking move away from the norm as recorded in previous seasons where the usual top teams, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool would sit in comfort, waiting to claim their right to the UCL spots at the end of the season.<br />
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This particular season was different in that Newcastle had announced their full recovery from the crisis that rocked the club not quite four years ago; a journey that was to see them go down in to the championship, bounce back, then move on to mid table and in no time, get back among the contenders for the prestigious UCL spots available only to the top four. <br />
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Apart from Newcastle United who occupied the third place for some time, there was Tottenham who had just been waiting in the wings to replace Newcastle in third spot once the opportunity showed up.<br />
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In spectacular fashion, all of these played out while Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool kept drifting on the brink, lurking in background all waiting to swoop with one burst of sustained form praying that those earlier mentioned two occupying the third and fourth spots slip up. <br />
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Each of these three teams also had their peculiar moments along the line: Arsenal having to recover from going as low as seventeenth position on the table after losing three of its first six games, and looking almost all dead and buried even before the season had really begun. They were to recover in dramatic fashion fitting for the making of a film; a feat that would not be complete without the mention of their phenomenal captain, Robin van Persie.<br />
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Next up was Chelsea who seemed to have all sought of problems even after bringing in a coach whom many had thought was young and dynamic, fitting the long-term picture of the owner and one who could deliver the elegant style of football combined with the continuous capture of trophies for the Stanford bridge outfit. <br />
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In no time, all of that went burst, and Chelsea were staring a major crisis in the face. Some spoke of player sabotage, others of change that had been too rapid. At the end of the day, Villas Boas got the sack, his replacement was Roberto Di Matteo his erstwhile assistant until now; appointed to steer the ship till the end of the season. Boom! Recovery came leaving many wondering what had changed; No doubt Chelsea was back. <br />
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Not Least among them was Liverpool who had shown prospects and a strong intent to return to the top caucus, playing some amazing football at the beginning of the season. The form began the dwindle from the point where they found unusually hard to win home games, a feature that characterized their season and merely reduced them to an entity that could only display cup form, as they ended up claiming the carling cup and playing the FA cup finals, a trophy Chelsea claimed at their expense amidst some measure of controversy.<br />
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Before zoning in on the final day, it is quite worthy of mention that Wigan Athletic were simply astounding, having changed their game pattern in silence only to announce this by claiming the scalps of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal almost in rapid succession, the only key survival of the Wigan end of the season whirlwind was Chelsea albeit with two highly controversial goals that denied Wigan at least a deserved draw. <br />
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To think that Wigan athletic achieved all of these in the face of relegation with the same set of players which had been there all season long; was a story up there among the stuff of legends. One of such wins was to contribute to the main twist leading to a final day decider as to where the EPL trophy would rest its prestigious head for the next one year; that was the win against Manchester united at a time when they had taken a seemingly unassailable lead of eight points which at the end of the day was reduced to five as Manchester City started their journey back from the slump.<br />
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In a season that has defied many of the earlier set myth and the trend of book makers, even witnessing a player literally comeback from the dead in the form of Patrice Muamba, there may never have been one better poised for a final day decider, witnessing two table toppers tied on eighty-six points apiece, only separated by an eight goal difference. <br />
Manchester United faces Sunderland in a bid to claim a twentieth trophy, but they would certainly be needing a favour from Queens Park Rangers (QPR) who match up against Manchester City, also bidding for their first title in Forty-four years if only they can hold on. <br />
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The next decider would be among Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle, who would be slugging it out against West Bromwich, Fulham and Everton respectively in the quest to claim third spot, and maybe a fourth spot which would be rendered useless if Chelsea were to win the champions league. <br />
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At the bottom of the table, QPR and Bolton both need wins in their respective games as only one of them can survive the drop, in a last gasp finish, any of the two club fans would have given anything to avoid. Truly this has been an amazing crown to the end of a breath-taking season, rounding up in style.<br />
Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-49574359089362784482012-05-02T20:40:00.000-07:002012-05-02T20:40:03.817-07:00The Pseudo-Premiership Derby Final: Did It Live Up To Expectation?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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In the midst of all of the hype that had been attached to this classic derby,it would only have been normal to have certain fans ask the question "was it all worth it in the end?" Before your heart wonders much longer,what is being talked about exactly- it is the Manchester derby that has now come and gone but the aftermath determines in what direction the premiership trophy swings. it has been made all the more exciting this year; especially having two clubs from the same city slug it out for supremacy in the English premier league. This is in addition to the build-up to such controversial and much anticipated derbies.It must be pointed out that the game would normally be tough enough without the prospect of a cup at stake as the clubs would gladly play their hearts out just to earn the bragging rights for themselves and their fans in the city space they share.<br />
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The whole story gets more interesting considering the fact that we have had families where the father supported one half and the mother the rival side.Often times, such scenarios are replicated among siblings- this would give you an idea of how controversial such derbies can be. Narrowing it down to the very last in the series of epic battles between these two city rivals Manchester united and Manchester city; the first leg ended in a mauling for the latter in a place that would normally be regarded as their fortress- Old Trafford 'The theater of dreams' with the game ending six goals to one in favour of Manchester city. that scoreline was the exact kind of backdrop for this latest meeting combined with added juice,the premiership trophy at stake. All of that being said, the game which had been loaded with as much hype as the english press could muster started just like any other.<br />
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With the expectations set at such a high level, the game failed to live up to its billing,as it turned out a one-sided affair with united failing to hit a shot on target all through the ninety minutes of play, a characteristic quite alien to the team and their high standards.They were out-muscled,out-played and overall very poor on the night.quoting Goal.com below:<br />
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<blockquote>But this was not a night for his volumes of scrapbooks. He picked the wrong team, organised them into a cautious formation and saw his side fail to produce a shot on target for the first time in a Premier League match in three years.A victory by a wider margin would not have flattered City, who made up for what they lacked in final-third dazzle with energy, power and hunger, epitomised by the outstanding Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany.Ferguson’s tactics failed miserably. He chose his European away-day formation, setting his team out in 4-5-1 with Wayne Rooney up front alone, and Ryan Giggs and Park-Ji Sung given starts ahead of in-form pair Danny Welbeck and Antonio Valencia.<br />
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This summed up the story on the night,leaving Fergie smarting on the sidelines.Before the game he had mentioned that it was to be his most important derby yet. considering that he has had such a long and rich history in the game,such words were not to be taken with levity, but they also seemed to have been his undoing; rather than approach the game with a youthful,pacy and energetic squad who could match Manchester city for pace and style,Sir Alex chose to go with the conservative, starting players like Giggs,J.S Park,Paul scholes and Ferdinand. The few pacy ones available on the night were Nani and Rooney and they both failed to come to the party. The beautiful thing that has now come to be associated with the evolving Manchester city side is the flair and quality of their attacking football which was brilliantly displayed on the night even though Manchester united made the job rather too easy for them.<br />
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The season may be far from over as there still two more determinant games with Manchester city still needing to visit Newcastle's sports-direct arena before hosting queen's park rangers on the final day of the season;both very tricky ties. Manchester united also have Swansea city and Sunderland to deal with in the final run-in. While Manchester united may have the easier of both sides' fixtures,the crunch derby game may just turn out the season decider with the winner going on to pick up the much coveted trophy, except something major happens. Both sides have also got the necessary inspiration to finish the season on a high and all is set for a relishing crescendo ending to the season.Which ever way it goes,it must be said for the records that this has been one season the richly adds to Mancunian football folklore as the two clubs from the same city have had a go right from the first day and the story remained about them all season long.They have both been gallant gladiators but there can only be one champion,that would be a finding that is worth the short wait.<br />
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credit to goal.com for the quote and google images for the pictures.Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-1562514742218557962012-02-11T14:06:00.000-08:002012-02-11T14:06:00.784-08:00The Evra-Suarez Race Row: Victory for the Team, One Individual or the Game?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk8-TuJ-5KfoOMWxblNVFleYgdtekxvNkI5pZjLscljyp29OCFzsxjvjEm8usIrcKdUzNXytegJZazBU7RpRSH8qdlywYMx8zYHIPinIZHz2n6muGhWNt92IwKcTRENWBeVZXJfz0B5Nm/s1600/suarez-evra1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="215" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk8-TuJ-5KfoOMWxblNVFleYgdtekxvNkI5pZjLscljyp29OCFzsxjvjEm8usIrcKdUzNXytegJZazBU7RpRSH8qdlywYMx8zYHIPinIZHz2n6muGhWNt92IwKcTRENWBeVZXJfz0B5Nm/s320/suarez-evra1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In the build up to the game between Manchester united and Liverpool, there had been so much made of the racial row between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra; both of them key players for their respective sides, and this had put a very strange colouring on the game. Amidst all of the speculations over who was right or wrong, and the consequential eight match ban for the Liverpool striker, the stage was set for what was to be the biggest match of the weekend. The club officials had come out to play down the issue on the basis of concentrating solely on the round leather game, but many could easily predict that there was some drama to come beginning from the decision to either shake hands or not, between the two actors involved. After so much anticipation and speculation, the game finally began and almost everyone got to shake hands except Luis Suarez who refused to shake the hand of a certain Patrice Evra. It could only signify something; the rift was far from over and the bad blood was to be carried over into the game. <br />
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Apart from the long drawn row between the two players, it is common knowledge that both teams have always had the long running rivalry between them and there has never been much love between fans of both clubs. The race row was only to add to the feisty relationship that had always existed, dating back to very many years in the past. Moving away from the row to the individuals involved; which ever team won on the day would have decided which of the two individual actors got the bragging right and the seeming satisfaction of having had one over the other. Very early in the game, Liverpool looked to be more on the front foot even with tackles flying especially in the Manchester united defence where the principal actors were involved and would always have the chance of potential contact. On the way the game went on, Liverpool came out more and seemed a bit more comfortable even while Manchester United struggled as the home team on the night, initially preferring to catch Liverpool on the break. No doubt, it was early days and Liverpool seemed to have settled in better, while the home team was still looking to find their rhythm.<br />
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The initiative remained with the Liverpool side for some time, with Manchester united getting lovely surges upfront especially from the right wing through Luis Valencia who was giving the Liverpool left-back a torrid afternoon. Some of those breaks were to help switch the initiative back in favour of Manchester United and in no time the Liverpool midfield virtually collapsed, leaving the duo of old Paul Scholes and Micheal Carrick to take firm control of the game. Manchester United were put on the front foot creating chances from right left and centre, with chances falling to Danny Welbeck, Paul Scholes and Luis Valencia. The home team remained in front till the end of the first half, and one would have been forced to ask, why the Liverpool coach Kenny Daglish had adopted such troubling tactics choosing to play Jay Spearing, Jordan Hendersen, and Stewart Downing ahead of Charlie Adam and Craig Bellamy. It was clearly obvious that the two less-experienced players in the Liverpool midfield forced the more matured Steven Gerrard to stay back, having to play very deep rather being able to move further upfront to connect the midfield and the attack, with the potential opportunity of weighing in with a couple of goals or assists.<br />
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The other obvious question was why start Stewart Downing started ahead of Craig Bellamy who had been on a high burst of form lately only to have been taken off when the Liverpool team needed someone to send in the crosses as at when Andy Carroll was brought in to the game? As the game drew on, it became quite obvious that even the Liverpool players were confused and really could not interpret the tactics any longer. Manchester United was to make them pay, as they punished them very early in the second half with two goals in quick succession, the first coming in as early as the forty-ninth minute. They maintained the initiative all through out the second half, although Liverpool finally pulled one back through Luis Suarez, a little victory for the Uruguayan on the day. Before then, not much had been done to trouble David De Gea, the Manchester United goalkeeper.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvT5A2YKDt8B32B4dFfWxqwQ42HkwIrojj59DL6t6qMd1CRDMxtWNrI0z269dr4l9byTEiUCWHkwvpKy9bQvEW4Hyzow2IRFimfy07MrJ42utP60CiNQzj2FLOfjVTJzroYHlF95tQNCT7/s1600/suarez-evra5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvT5A2YKDt8B32B4dFfWxqwQ42HkwIrojj59DL6t6qMd1CRDMxtWNrI0z269dr4l9byTEiUCWHkwvpKy9bQvEW4Hyzow2IRFimfy07MrJ42utP60CiNQzj2FLOfjVTJzroYHlF95tQNCT7/s320/suarez-evra5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Overall, Manchester United came out victorious, with Patrice Evra captaining the team on the day even with a personal score to settle. He seemed to have his fellow defender Rio Ferdinand sharing his sentiment as he showed that in no little manner to Luis Suarez in his conduct before and during the match. Both actors might have had individual victories on the night, although Patrice Evra may be seen to have come out with the more cherished victory, and thus he did not hesitate to express lavishly as he was so jubilant and cheerful in front of the Manchester United fans as if he had won the champions league. He even went close to the other actor while celebrating and it had to take some quick intervention from match officials and stewards to keep them apart. To be fair, maybe they never had the intention of joining issues or having an altercation, but the referee had to wade in with a word of caution for Patrice Evra seemingly telling him to be cautious as there could be further consequences down the line. The affair between both players had been quite melodramatic, and cast a shadow on the whole but the game could not have been the better for it as they left many unanswered questions and a continuous trail of controversy. <br />Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-34050537260685288282011-10-25T11:15:00.000-07:002011-10-25T11:15:25.388-07:00Inside The Premiership: Match-day of Circus and Intrigues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPsKZnizQy4SJwmZ9x5odBHOVxccgTQZx7nblCmtN8Ogh7npeJKA0ckw_n5sgaSegOcc7yI5PD66GEr3vm84mncQExzY6NHrMPm0Hop2bRmk61Xtz3h6iAM2Y52zK4K2k1rwccRX5H0W3/s1600/premier+league.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="107" width="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPsKZnizQy4SJwmZ9x5odBHOVxccgTQZx7nblCmtN8Ogh7npeJKA0ckw_n5sgaSegOcc7yI5PD66GEr3vm84mncQExzY6NHrMPm0Hop2bRmk61Xtz3h6iAM2Y52zK4K2k1rwccRX5H0W3/s400/premier+league.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Some say football is life; the question is “how do you argue against such a claim that has proved itself so plausibly over time?” For some of us this is what we live for, to experience the beauty of the game and to savour the grandeur of its unpredictability. The last weekend in the premiership would be any genuine football follower’s dream day, where the stage was so well set up with intriguing features such as: noisy neighbours transforming in to genuine championship rivals; the underdog pip title favourites; seeming minnows go to a celebrated slaughter ground and come out alive with a gleaming point for their pains; giants who once sank regaining vigour and potential; a tale of two strugglers- a question of who wanted it more. I could go on and on and on; Intrigues, intrigues, and more intrigues. Such is an apt description of what went down on premiership match-day nine.<br />
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<b>Manchester United versus Manchester City Match [1 - 6]</b><br />
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The famous Manchester derby could not have played out with more intrigues than we witnessed on this day, with the score-line totally unbelievable. In what was only Manchester city’s second win in old Trafford in thirty-seven years, the ones referred to as the ‘noisy neighbours’ transformed in to genuine title contenders handing both Sir Alex Ferguson and his team their worst ever home defeat till date. Which better opponent could have been poised to end the Manchester united run of nineteen consecutive home league wins than Manchester city?<br />
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A game that started out as a repeat of the ceremonial season opener- the community shield game where Manchester united came back from two goals down to take the title after scoring three goals. Revenge could not have been sweeter for Manchester city and to have handed it out in such fashion and venue spoke of style and class, speedily announcing city’s arrival at the helm of English football. <br />
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The win took them five points clear with an extra five-goal difference cushion. The enigmatic and controversial Mario Balotelli had mistakenly burnt down his house on the eve of the match - a freak firework accident leaving Roberto Manchini with a million questions. Instead of lament, he decided to take out his pain on Manchester united scoring the first two goals in what was to turn out a rout in the end. Next thing he went to the fans to celebrate with his shirt up and the underwear unveiling this question in print “Why always me?” only him would be in the best position to answer that.<br />
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The remaining four goals were scored by players fast coming into their own, namely Edin Dzeko- a brace, Kun Aguero and the in-form David Silva. Darren Fletcher pulled back a consolation goal around the eighty minute mark, but it was too little on the day to salvage such a humiliation from a city neighbour or share bragging rights. Ferguson has since referred to the day as his worst ever in football both as a coach and as a player.<br />
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<b>QPR versus Chelsea [1 - 0]</b><br />
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The stage was set for Chelsea to go second on the league table right after the Manchester united loss to their city neighbour, but QPR had other ideas. In what turned out to be QPR first win over Chelsea in sixteen years, an underdog really got one over a title favourite. Before the end of the first forty-five minutes, Chelsea was a goal down and two men short; something absolutely unthinkable before the match began. <br />
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As much as Chelsea struggled on the day trying to exhibit that extra stuff of champions, there was only going to be one winner and it was QPR. Never an easy task when a team of nine men had to stand against a full squad of eleven inspired men. Some say the referee was a bit too harsh in sending off Bosingwa and then Didier Drogba, but it just seemed like another day at work for referee Chris Foy. Chelsea were left to rue what could have been, three points worse and a minus one goal difference for effect. <br />
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<b>Arsenal versus Stoke City [3 - 1]</b><br />
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The third consecutive win for the gunners and another back to back home win against such spirited opponents such as Stoke City. It was a case of the fading giants looking like they are coming back to their best potential. Although it wasn’t to come easy as everyone has now come to know that in Stoke city, there lies a tough customer, and to get a win you would have to grind it out.<br />
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That is exactly what Arsenal had to go through even with the luxury of playing at home, needing a cameo appearance from the now magical captain Robin Van Persie to claim maximum points, as he scored a brace and spared the gunners a few blushes. Gervinho also proved quite lethal on the day proving to Arsene Wenger that he just might be a viable striking option.<br />
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Analysing an Arsenal game would never be complete on a day without mentioning their defence, a perpetual problem. On the day, they seemed to get their acts right although conceding the now ‘standard’ give-away goal they have developed as a habit. Overall they did well, and the few shortcomings were drowned by the joy of the win. <br />
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<b>Blackburn Rovers versus Tottenham [1 - 2]</b><br />
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The pressure keeps mounting on Steve Kean and his men as they conceded another set of three precious home points to Tottenham. Blackburn has got to realise that sparks of good performance just won’t do it, as Tottenham continue their quest to return to the champion’s league with unique victories both home and away.<br />
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The Tottenham team deserved praise on the afternoon, especially Van der Vaart for converting the brace, sealing the game for his side. It must be said that claiming three points at the home ground of Blackburn who could be very stubborn customers on their is quite commendable.<br />
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<b>Bolton W. versus Sunderland [0 - 2]</b><br />
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This game in particular, a case of two strugglers and that aptly describes the drab performance all through the first half of the match with both sides playing as if there was not much at stake. Prior to the game rumours were out that Steve Bruce could lose his job if he lost the second of two deadline games, the fist one being the loss at Arsenal the previous week. The bite from his side just could not confirm the latter news. Although all of that was to change in the second half, as their attitudes showed more aggression and on the day they happened to want the win more than their hosts. Two goals in the last nine minutes of the game acquitted them alright, thanks to Sessegnon and Bendtner. <br />
Bolton wanderers were handed out their fifth consecutive home loss, asking real questions of Owen Coyle and his side. Dropping points especially at home does not do anybody any favours. The heat is on, and Owen Coyle must try to find a solution before it is too late. <br />
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<b>Liverpool versus Norwich [1 - 1]</b><br />
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To have gone to a slaughter ground like Anfield, the Liverpool fortress and come out with a draw, new boys Norwich should be highly commended especially with the plethora of stars Liverpool had available on the day. The same score-line happened to be what premier league giants Manchester United thankfully left with the previous week, and to have achieved the same feat for Norwich was no mean achievement.<br />
So far in the Premier league Norwich has given a good account of itself, but it must be said that while Kenny Daglish’s project for the reds is still very much on track, they must learn to claim maximum home points as such dropped can only come back to haunt the team in the final reckoning. <br />
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<b>Fulham versus Everton [1 - 3]</b><br />
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Two late goals from Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell sealed Fulham’s fate handing Everton their first ever win in craven cottage. Fulham only have them to blame as they could have sealed the game with begging chances not converted. Everton continue their away form magic of previous years, as they have now built a record of tricky guests for any home side in the premiership, the top four inclusive.<br />
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Fulham would feel very unlucky after such a competitive game, the least they should have gotten was a draw, but goals determine these games as they painfully had to learn, if you do not score then be ready to take the fall. <br />
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<b>The Rest of the Bunch</b><br />
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<b>Wolves versus Swansea City [2 - 2]</b><br />
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Swansea City would definitely take the away point almost as a loss after they gave away a healthy two goal lead in the dying minutes of the game; again another top level lesson for them -that at this stage, you either seal it or protect what you have.<br />
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Wolves coach Mick McCarthy cut a picture of one with very mixed feelings after the game, both with the relief of a rescued point while at the same time being quite crossed with the behaviour of the team fans on the day. Wolves salvaged a point from an effectively drab performance at home.<br />
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<b>Aston Villa versus West Bromwich [1 - 2]</b><br />
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The baggies went to Villa Park to claim their first win in thirty-two years over a formidable opponent. They also had the one man extra advantage fully in their favour as Aston Villa had to live with referee Phil Dowd’s controversial red card handed out to Chris Herd.<br />
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Villa had gone ahead, but lost the game to two come-back strikes by West Bromwich giving Roy Hodgson something to cheer following a second consecutive win after claiming the scalp of wolves last week. It would only be proper to spare Alex McLeish some thought as he tried to make his side recover from the heavy loss to Manchester City last week but it was not to be.<br />
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<b>Newcastle versus Wigan [1 - 0] </b><br />
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Newcastle showed the original stuff of champions after having to dig in to their bag of tricks to pull of a win on a day they did not exactly deserve all three points. Wigan had a fair performance on the day, but Newcastle reiterated the point of remaining unbeaten so far in the season.<br />
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Speak of a side riding quite high on confidence at the moment, a good enough compensation for their troubles in recent years that saw them sink in to relegation before staging an immediate come back the next year. Credit must be given to Alan Pardew and his side so far for their recent exploits, fast transforming St James Park in to a fortress.<br />Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-40812329060687675602011-10-19T06:54:00.000-07:002011-10-19T06:54:35.607-07:00Inside The Premiership: Inferences from Match-day 8The last weekend in the premiership was a very exciting one and can compete notably with some of the most exciting ones in the past throwing up some strong inferences which would be drawn out as we go on.<br />
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<b> Liverpool versus Manchester United Match [1 - 1] </b><br />
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This particular derby also known as the Lancashire derby has a history of being the biggest and the greatest in England, but a series of events seemed to have overtaken the very famous fixture. Worthy of mention would be rivalries between Manchester United and Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, also Arsenal and Tottenham.<br />
History is almost back to its best as this North West derby is fast becoming the biggest once again as it has shown in the last three seasons especially the Anfield version. The pudding gets more interesting throwing in players such as Luis Suarez, Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerard, Nani , Javier Hernandez (Chicarito),Patrice Evra , Wayne Rooney and the rest of the lot.<br />
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Liverpool is fast proving to be Manchester United’s albatross in recent times, considering how much dominion Manchester United seem to have exercised over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in recent Seasons. After Two straight losses at Anfield, it took a Chicarito equalizer to salvage a point and to preserve Manchester United’s unbeaten run in the league. It also speaks volumes about the Liverpool team fast returning to its best. <br />
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<b> Manchester City versus Aston Villa [4 - 1] </b><br />
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If anything else can be drawn from this game, it is the fast emerging fact that Manchester City are beginning to cut the picture of genuine title contenders especially as they now sit atop the premier league in terms of points and Goal difference. The amazing thing was the mode of execution against an Aston Villa side that had been until that day. Roberto Manchini on the day chose to feature a team with David Silva, Kun Aguero, Edin Dzeko, or the embattled Carlos Tevez; and in spite of the omissions, the result was resounding with spectacular goals on display; especially the two from Mario Barlotelli and James Milner. <br />
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The Manchester City defence also kept a player like Agbolanhor quite for most of the game, to preserve their unbeaten run setting their title hopes on a firm footing, although it might be too early to talk about that, with thirty other match-days to go.<br />
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<b>Chelsea versus Everton [3 - 1] </b><br />
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This may not go down as the best of games between the two; judging by the standard and quality of recent games in the last two seasons. Everton lacked that giant killer instinct that shows up almost every other time they get play a top four side. Although Kudos must be given to Chelsea on the night that remains without the services of Fernando Torres serving a second of his three match ban .It was nice to see players like Daniel Sturridge, Juan Mata and Ramires bringing in a bit of fresh air to the side.<br />
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The young but dynamic manager Andre Villas Boas is yet to convince some of the Chelsea fans, but that is a problem that might be fixed with time as Chelsea remain nicely poised third on the log, especially with the potentially beneficial timing of the Manchester Derby taking place next week.<br />
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<b>Arsenal versus Sunderland [2 - 1] </b><br />
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Captain fantastic- Robin Van Persie is proving to be more than a talisman for an Arsenal team that has been under so much fire of late. His form in 2011 has been scintillating scoring twenty five goals in the last twenty eight games, even amidst calls by greats like Dennis Bergkamp that he could be of better use and value to the team if he were to be used behind a main striker, without having to shoulder the goal scoring burden of the whole team. So far, Arsene Wenger has been justified, but it remains to be seen if the club can tie down the striker in the long-term with the contract talks presently put on hold.<br />
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Sunderland gave a fairly good account of them, but no one understands how Steve Bruce expected to have taken maximum points or a draw at the least from such a game without fielding a clear cut striker, breathing down the necks of an Arsenal defence that is now known to be so generous. It is simply hard to forget the Asamoah Gyan Loan Scenario. <br />
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The win propelled Arsenal to the top half of the Table, placing them tenth on the log standing.<br />
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<b>Newcastle versus Tottenham [2 - 2] </b><br />
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It was all fireworks from beginning to the end at St. James Park, on Sunday as Newcastle who remain both unbeaten and fourth on the log, twice had to come back from behind to draw level with a formidable Tottenham side. The Alan Pardew led team is brewing with so much confidence even after the exit of the important duo- Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton. After a strong showing on coming back last season, they are really building on that platform now.<br />
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Notable was the midfield duel between Tiote who is fast establishing himself as an enforcer in the middle of the pack and Scott Parker, who easily stands out as one of the best defensive midfielders in whole of the premiership.<br />
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The game was tough and exciting; with a fair enough result for both sides in the end.<br />
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<b>Norwich versus Swansea City [3 - 1] </b><br />
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If anything Swansea city must realise that a mere display with beautiful passes and skills does not cut it at this level, if the cutting edge remains absent. Against a Norwich side that happened to have come up at the same time as Swansea, losing all three points in this kind of game was not the best of options on the day. Kudos to Norwich, as the whole idea is to get the job done- a prerequisite for staying on at this level. Norwich has now risen as high as ninth on the Table. <br />
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<b>QPR versus Blackburn Rovers [1 - 1] </b><br />
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The trip to India happened to have done the Blackburn team some good as they went away to the Queens Park Rangers’ grounds to pick a precious away point, although the result does not improve their position as they stay rock bottom of the league table. It’s amazingly strange that Blackburn is performing this poorly even with the quality of players they can still hold on to. Houliett for one is doing a great job. It remains to be seen how long Stephen King can hold on to his job.<br />
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<b>The Rest of the Bunch</b><br />
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<b>Wigan versus Bolton [1 - 3] </b><br />
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Nice to see Bolton go to Wigan Athletic to pick up all three points, that effectively puts back on track Owen Coyle’s project which has been commendable albeit unlucky of late. Wigan now cuts the picture of a side fast on the decline, a departure from gallant performances put up when they first came to the premiership. This portends a dangerous trend that may see them on their way back to the championship if something different is not done soon enough.<br />
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<b>Stoke City versus Fulham [2 - 0] </b><br />
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Stoke city maintain a fortress in their home ground as it is fast becoming a fact that any club visiting could forget about taking away all three points available on the cards. Fulham remain unconvincing only showing flashes of brilliance from time to time.<br />
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<b>West Bromwich versus Wolves [2 - 0] </b><br />
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West Bromwich Albion did themselves a world of good by picking up all three points available on the night, with their striker Peter Odemwingie back on the score sheets. Roy Hodgson would be mightily relieved to have picked all available points against a Wolves side that haven’t had a bad start to the season so far. Mick McCarthy would be looking to put the team back on track with their next game. <br />Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-69788367506142883772011-09-13T03:53:00.000-07:002011-09-13T03:53:04.349-07:00Monsieur Wenger Finally Gets The message<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSPqscZRIyCp9DfBy3BI2YY3S8HFRrihHvWWNfJ2Vh8ObeKtb0SOxL8yyrIaqypPbm6be9ENzo5UH069SnESqqEXHW-JUvNnWDyxkFTsDqLVAIV49K3Um1d0gOYasIU0w_N7mhMhEjY64/s1600/arsenal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSPqscZRIyCp9DfBy3BI2YY3S8HFRrihHvWWNfJ2Vh8ObeKtb0SOxL8yyrIaqypPbm6be9ENzo5UH069SnESqqEXHW-JUvNnWDyxkFTsDqLVAIV49K3Um1d0gOYasIU0w_N7mhMhEjY64/s400/arsenal.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Timeline is 2011, and monumentally the year marks Arsenal football club’s one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary.Everywhere else it would have been a time to roll out the drums and celebrate,with Arsenal thankfully not an exception. Sorry enough,that’s where the similarities end.In other places also, it would often mark a change in board policy,say setting a target of picking up extra trophies,bolstering the squad,enlarging the stadium and giving the fans a treat, possibly clear discounts on seasonal tickets. Amazingly, Arsenal Football Club have opted for the reverse in the majority of points earlier listed.The board refusing to change a policy that has cost the club six trophy-less years, sales of more than four experienced players plus the loan of a couple of other valuable legs. An increase in the price of seasonal tickets in a season when we should be celebrating.Weakening the squad up to a point where the team loses loses scandalously to one of its biggest rivals by a scoreline last experienced one hundred and fourteen years ago.One would be forced to say “what a way to celebrate our one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of existence.” Rather than change the policy, Wenger insists on doing the same thing he has done in recent years that brought about the decline in the first place.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStSVBgWytHkl7OH0AMsEvmVKuFLIzgG4t5cezuy6ID9Dm_6kCskbObAx7bzgldMfSbd3vWWleyDhmPwyTNnmthK7H6aRPlLqYT2uMVwPO57bQM5R26_ygmZ4iQtFhRzMPVS0oReiE_WGp/s1600/gun__1309172655_125awayshirt03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="228" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStSVBgWytHkl7OH0AMsEvmVKuFLIzgG4t5cezuy6ID9Dm_6kCskbObAx7bzgldMfSbd3vWWleyDhmPwyTNnmthK7H6aRPlLqYT2uMVwPO57bQM5R26_ygmZ4iQtFhRzMPVS0oReiE_WGp/s320/gun__1309172655_125awayshirt03.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Needless to say, the last time Arsenal won the premiership was in 2004/2005 season during the era of the 'invincibles' , prosecuting the whole season without losing a game. Do we say that perfection got Wenger obsessed,and then he decided to try out another method,hoping to achieve the same result? It must be pointed out that the same squad that is now famously referred to as the 'invincibles' had in it experienced legs such as Vieira, Henry and Pires,some of whom had won the World cup and the European title as at the time; including some seasoned campaigners like Dennis Bergkamp,David Seaman,Ray Parlour,Kanu Nwankwo,Ashley Cole,Lauren Etameya,who had won a couple of African nations cup trophies and even the olympic football medal,not forgetting Gilberto Silva,who was a part of Brazil’s 2002 world cup winning squad. Clearly, it took such as arsenal of players with that much fire power to achieve such an enviable feat in contemporary English football. The question now remains “how does a coach who achieved so much with such a side,turn around and invariably deny the importance of experience? choosing to pursue an all-out youth policy,which in all fairness has proven futile in the long run?”,only monsieur Wenger can explain.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzXMB5ibqN1aLUrGhuMUnuiXoUR6Bq1p800dgjKQ899AcEueRD6koVZow4Bnp9mYk1Tw_Pw9xbxhYb_AVTo0swI78ddMXoR6cI1Oj1VizHoY417GS2j0FxeGDLqvOYlidTggwst_W7D9R/s1600/zp_121977702SM005_Arsenal_Trai_3515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="217" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzXMB5ibqN1aLUrGhuMUnuiXoUR6Bq1p800dgjKQ899AcEueRD6koVZow4Bnp9mYk1Tw_Pw9xbxhYb_AVTo0swI78ddMXoR6cI1Oj1VizHoY417GS2j0FxeGDLqvOYlidTggwst_W7D9R/s320/zp_121977702SM005_Arsenal_Trai_3515.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Whilst one would try not to be too hard on the man,seeing what he has already achieved,and how much he loves the club and wants to do well for it; it is hard not to class him as an extremist after doing the same thing for six years without a positive result and insisting on remaining on the same path. It is painful to mention that since 2005,Wenger has sold an average of two players every season,most times players playing in the same position when one could have stayed as replacement for the other, and at other times without clear replacements.how do you explain the sale of Patrick Vieira and Edu in the same transfer window, or Gilberto Silva and Flamini in the same season? He went on to sell players like Pires,later on Hleb, Lauren,Henry and the likes. Every team relies on a blend of its more experienced minds and a league of youth,so that the culture can be healthily transferred on and the younger players now understand what it means to play for the badge,and to show pure loyalty when you kiss the badge.It may sound like rubbing it in by a sheer comparison with Sir Alex Ferguson,who has chosen to do the latter,but who else do you compare a seasoned coach like Arsene Wenger to? Both coaches exist in a class of their own,having been the only two managers to have handled big clubs for over ten years. It is also necessary to compare as it keeps the fire burning and signifies the willingness to improve.Even as an Arsenal fan,i would admit that Sir Alex has copied Wenger’s style so many times,achieving success in the process.Can the professor just do the same? Afterall life is about learning the lesson and moving on.<br />
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Enough said about the negatives.The financial climate has not been the same as in the past, and the harsh reality is that football does not exist on a different planet, so the financial crisis does affect our beautiful game too.One must appreciate that ‘le professour’ is doing a good job in balancing the books,especially considering huge debts other clubs have been incurring combined with having to service the loan repayment of the emirates stadium expenses all at a go.Nevertheless there must be a balance,so that a club with such lasting legacy and a huge supporter base does not begin to toe the path of self-destruction by getting obsessed with a conservative policy of not spending.It has to be realized that winning major trophies even if assisted by spending,improves the popularity of the brand and in turn value of the club,by attracting a higher sales of club merchandise, richer sponsors, more valuable television rights, better sponsorship deals from kit manufactures and sponsorship partners. With a seasoned board, albeit on the decline since the departure of David Dein,one would think that it should not take much to realize all of these points ,as the whole combination is the glaring reality and the obvious truth.It even attracts fans from some places like Asia and America where the fan base is not yet as large as it should be bringing about a temptation to tour such regions in the nearest future.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQkDQYTwX1LjY9M7t0DqWVd5COM9Av6v_KRsypBSKTnx8Ys7XzT59RJOHc9wxpVYfy0jQCylQVexyu-ew4ByZgTJ_xNnaTiCZGiWkSr4EfNb2GdUPuBoeCqYT7xwbsFX8VqCPcwEzwnUe/s1600/EMIRATE+G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQkDQYTwX1LjY9M7t0DqWVd5COM9Av6v_KRsypBSKTnx8Ys7XzT59RJOHc9wxpVYfy0jQCylQVexyu-ew4ByZgTJ_xNnaTiCZGiWkSr4EfNb2GdUPuBoeCqYT7xwbsFX8VqCPcwEzwnUe/s400/EMIRATE+G.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Even if the board has not shown any positive prospects with their moves in the board room,it appears Arsene Wenger has been forced to get the message by the harsh realities of the day.As earlier said,balance is key and it would be a rare combination of a football mastermind and some shrewd economics. Point of note, Wenger had chased per Mertesacker for four years, as long as i can remember,only picking him up with one year left on his deal albeit at twenty-six years of age,even with the benefit of the player forcing one last promising move to a big club as added advantage.Bringing in an experienced player like Santos,a left-back for the Brazilian national team, Mertesacker himself being the captain of his former club and a seasoned campaigner for the ‘German machine’; Park chu Young,another international and captain of the South Korean national team, experienced premiership executioner by the name Yossi Benayoun,also captain of the Isreali national side and finally Mikel Arteta who has done it all for Everton,a graduate of the famous Barcelona ‘le-mercia’, and one who has played for the Spanish national team at every level except the senior team which is not hard to put down to the boom of stars the current generation in Spain has thrown up. Who says experience does not count? The only question remains, “we all hope it is not a little too late to salvage the season and at least a fourth place finish? It remains to be seen. Another clear concern which must be voiced before bringing this to an end is the training routine Wenger deploys which is more geared towards fitness than it is football specific.May be that would account for the number of injuries the players sustain, and the high number of players out on the doctor’s list simultaneously? If It was an issue of concern with much younger players who should be better at coping with it, as compared to older players that have just been brought in, one can only wait in anxiety.Thankfully enough, Wenger splashed the cash on the last three days of the transfer window,coming up with some shrewd deals and extra cash for the banks as usual.Some would attribute it to the ‘Man-Utd’ loss,but i disagree, feeling that Wenger always had it all planned this way.Only that nature chose to deal him a strong lesson to go with it. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP_MycJpUmjyccaUe_UZf5yx1dd_bY_0r2IGMpC3IMDBI1CoBF1nzgM0gJdnS_PCEcGiUPlHYYdGf2PgTLqeZ0mD_ssU-cRWDBMl37u4gOQ0yBn1c9dmcIdBzk2H_yIhZ3-uKugll_Uzq/s1600/zp_123996642SM004_Mikel_Arteta_1093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP_MycJpUmjyccaUe_UZf5yx1dd_bY_0r2IGMpC3IMDBI1CoBF1nzgM0gJdnS_PCEcGiUPlHYYdGf2PgTLqeZ0mD_ssU-cRWDBMl37u4gOQ0yBn1c9dmcIdBzk2H_yIhZ3-uKugll_Uzq/s400/zp_123996642SM004_Mikel_Arteta_1093.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_WqIOYDcTEtch_7JxWEy-vZVFhi2fj4fKhUEg3JARbUvm0vdSYDDVnittLlKq4bCimG6O1pUktCwmFI1MyO_25ipAUILhDLcPumt1e6aJdFk-MicUK3rXL1fKXEEK4RSDL67it_mmJU8/s1600/zp_121977702SM016_Arsenal_Trai_2045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="283" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_WqIOYDcTEtch_7JxWEy-vZVFhi2fj4fKhUEg3JARbUvm0vdSYDDVnittLlKq4bCimG6O1pUktCwmFI1MyO_25ipAUILhDLcPumt1e6aJdFk-MicUK3rXL1fKXEEK4RSDL67it_mmJU8/s400/zp_121977702SM016_Arsenal_Trai_2045.jpg" /></a></div>Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-6659150756575842472011-07-14T03:21:00.000-07:002011-07-15T03:52:51.244-07:00My Take on The Transfer Window So farThe transfer window again opened this season break just like every other one, but definitely not without its own peculiarities.I feel there is much less quality on the market these days and their prices are just way beyond reasoning.Gone are the days when you had real quality on the market and you had them moving for prices kind of relative to their qualities.<br />
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<b>On The Top5 Premiership team Transfers That Have Happened </b><br />
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I really can't believe that Liverpool bought Jordan Henderson for £20 million and had the guts to price charlie Adam at £8.5 million, even though Blackpool had been relegated.well they got him, even when when he should have been priced much higher.<br />
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How could Man utd have bought Phil Jones for over £18 million, although i feel Ashley Young was worth all of £20 million.<br />
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Well The typical Arsene Wenger buying Carl Jenkinson for £950000,maybe a good buy and Gervinho for £10 million pounds,very interesting.<br />
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Man city had a good bargain in Gael clichy at £7million pounds, for such an experienced left back.<br />
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Chelsea has a new coach in Andre Villas-Boas, and for what his record is worth i think he was worth the compensation they had to pay Porto. <br />
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<b>On The Transfer Links and Rumored Targets </b><br />
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Cesc fabregash to barcelona? if you asked me, i think its about time to go.Arsenal should let him move after 8 good years.i think he has been patient enough.<br />
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Samir Nasri, maybe he is a little bit too ambitious, although i can share his sentiments of wanting to win trophies, but even he has to understand that after one full brilliant season, it would only be fair enough to give the team another chance.<br />
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Carlos Tevez.Funny enough he has a history of being unsettled any where he goes but this time around he seems to have a genuine claim of desiring a reunion with his family in a place they feel comfortable staying in.A part of me feels its an excuse to move to spain.I would be surprised if he takes the corinthians deal.<br />
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Alexis sanchez, so much for the noise.if barcelona want him, they should just make the move and spare us the details.Udinese feel no qualms about it.<br />
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My take on Neymar, highly over-rated younster.i have seen him at the Copa Americas, he is a budding youngster maybe not woth anything close to £50 million. brings to mind the whole Robinho saga.<br />
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Aturo Vidal, nice player.let's see where he ends up as that might have a great inclination for his next season.<br />
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<b>The New Season Predictions</b><br />
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I would say watch out for Liverpool fc, Kenny Daglish seems to be brewing up a storm.<br />
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Arsene wenger might need to re-consider some of his principles, as he may be towing the line of self-destruct even though he might be commended for being prudent, but that he is beginning to do to a fault.<br />
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Kudos to Fergie, The old man shows no signs of letting up, he keeps reinforcing.sounds like he has Barca in his sight, and would cherish a chance to avenge to champions league final defeats.<br />
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Chelsea has a very young and ambitious coach in villas-Boas, but i hope he is not beginning to curse his luck with the 6 months injury to micheal Essien,i think he should ask Scolari, and Ancelotti.he seems to hold the key to a lot, unless there is a credible replacement.<br />
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For Real Madrid, they have had some interesting buys in Nuhu Sahin,Emit Altintop, Fabio Contrao and the likes.let's hope Chief Mourinho has enough to compete with Barcelona now.If only some one could advise him to talk less and do more of the business on the pitch.<br />
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Barcelona,well they have had it nice for the last three seasons but it can't continue forever.The top is a very lonely place and you have to keep challenging your self.They had a lot of weaknesses last season, but had mother luck to thank,not taking away from their quality.imagine issues with abidal,puyol,pique and the likes.gambling with mascherano as a five and sometimes sergio busquets.some favorite side calls from referees too came into the mix.<br />
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well we look forward to a great and exciting 2011/2012 season.cheers to the beautiful game of football.viva Soccer Fans!!!Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715646174742477737.post-76294040456829777562011-04-11T06:12:00.000-07:002011-04-12T02:00:29.111-07:00The Business behind the game: maverick and intrigues of Football<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPipJOB6WNny3LfdnVd5WJqjTNUPGsmlV_niQ7pVAtpuY5uriv9uoWKUUTDzxheVClCMOYGvEzZkv3JIDUZAv6dc3PLiTrTmIhDAjQwXPsnSBNF2lo_xNJaZC3XYnonXefWwe4EvwS99E/s1600/footie7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="130" width="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPipJOB6WNny3LfdnVd5WJqjTNUPGsmlV_niQ7pVAtpuY5uriv9uoWKUUTDzxheVClCMOYGvEzZkv3JIDUZAv6dc3PLiTrTmIhDAjQwXPsnSBNF2lo_xNJaZC3XYnonXefWwe4EvwS99E/s400/footie7.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Football today happens to be a whole lot more than what goes on on the field of play.it has definitely become more than just a game, even metamorphosed in to a religion for some but that would not be my concern today, rather i would be particularly more concerned about the politics behind the game.it has become surrounded with so much intrigues that one is left wondering about what may happen next.dwelling on the politics of the game might even sound a bit ambiguous because we are almost less concerned about the elections or who gets put in what office or not, but the maverick side to this whole business called soccer.<br />
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Need i remind you that with so many vested interests from such wide ranging perspectives,there is a constant jostle for power and who makes the final decisions or what gets to play out in the final analysis.Did i just hear you say,"let's just quit the suspense, and cut to the chase"? that's exactly what i am going to do next.The various stake determinants include betting ranks/sites,football governing bodies,TV right holders,the various teams, ticket sales, brand sponsors, speculators, book makers and the list can go on, but we must have mentioned some of the most important.<br />
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Now let's get a perspective to all of these.If we were to use the UEFA champion's league as our model and there is a draw to be made. there might have been so much hype about two teams whose meeting would be any fan's dream anyday,maybe that would exclude the respective team fans especially at a very dicy stage of the competion,somewhere before the semi-final stage. Immediately these earlier mentioned forces set into play.The governing body begin thinking about delighting football fans to their own benefit in terms of television rights,ticket sales and other copyright brand gains.The televisinon companies with rights cannot wait to start juicy negotiations so they would also lobby.The brand or team kit companies would give total support especially if both teams playing were to be displaying their labels,it would be a huge pay day. Betting ranks and sites would sink in huge investments to see it happen because they know there can only be one result - smiles to the bank, as long as they can guarantee the governing body not to fix games.The whole business of betting begins to take on the 'legit-illegit' status especially with the strange but hidden alliance.Not forgetting the teams themselves who would gladly sell out the passionate fan's tears or pain of exit for a big pay day in ticket sales,remuneration from brand sponsors,sales of other rights,jersey sales,tourism revenue via stadia tour and the rest.Then comes speculators who would get a lot of benefit running analysis,winning stratigies,proposed team tactics,speculations all mostly for financial gains and personal excitement ,not leaving out book makers who definitely have become forecasters telling the future by the past and they would give anything to add to the records.<br />
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To think that so much has been said and even the draws have not been done yet.That deinitely begins to tell you a lot about the mavericks and the intrigues involved just behind one matchday not to talk of several over one season and cummulatively over the years.it is just safe to note that Football has gone beyond being just a game to whole business industry which comes along with its own saints and devils.The painful thing here is that the ones who should really get to enjoy the games considering how much they invest in finance,passion, and life; that is team fans just do not get a consideration as their interest is just a pin drop in this mighty ocean called the business behind the game.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl5Vdz54aQZKw3dT3KOHBvqvj8pelGl9_Bube5NkfHzvAf2StMGNav3kxfDXscso0R9L-wXen3bakbE16quas7s7oOTXjBGxB1OuzjGgK4sSD8Muzz3seo56htlp9Rqut7iSC0AbDLKFg/s1600/football1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl5Vdz54aQZKw3dT3KOHBvqvj8pelGl9_Bube5NkfHzvAf2StMGNav3kxfDXscso0R9L-wXen3bakbE16quas7s7oOTXjBGxB1OuzjGgK4sSD8Muzz3seo56htlp9Rqut7iSC0AbDLKFg/s400/football1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It has become so pathetic that rather than just putting up the charade of a draw that we see on television with marked balls and the likes,especially when the outcomes are already predetermined, UEFA should just come out and tell us that they have made their authoritarian choices but wait a minute,how can they ever do that when there is also so much to make from selling television rights of the draw program itself.The million dollar qoestion here is "just what is the way out of this quagmire?" Help! Football has been hijacked.Somebody save our souls, hear the passionate pleas of concerned fans.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fOkRVBKGv0fLUu4rS-GT8tUTsrQ9Q3nsnpcZ7oLU6FFPgi3xbflD1AztHPHjtwcnWM3HKjwvnB7rcD6qw5lKB5lCrNCC1DDRhux5W8px4aPvrM96pk8foM7m_HAu1HyIr_X67NnhJkHz/s1600/footie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="124" width="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fOkRVBKGv0fLUu4rS-GT8tUTsrQ9Q3nsnpcZ7oLU6FFPgi3xbflD1AztHPHjtwcnWM3HKjwvnB7rcD6qw5lKB5lCrNCC1DDRhux5W8px4aPvrM96pk8foM7m_HAu1HyIr_X67NnhJkHz/s400/footie3.jpg" /></a></div>Akinola Odunukanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575155910059053012noreply@blogger.com0