Category Archives: Football ⚽️

Image

⚽️ Mario Balotelli

10 Tuesday Apr 2012

Tags

, , , ,

No Regrets.. 

Jose Mourinho said he was a player that could not be coached.

So, with Manchester City eight points adrift of their fierce rivals, and with that kamikaze striker Mario Balotelli facing the prospect of a nine-match ban some are asking what Roberto Mancini was thinking in hiring the mercurial Italian in the first place.

Well, Balotelli is a wayward talent, who let down his side in the last minutes of that crucial match with Arsenal on Sunday with a completely unnessary foul.

Earlier in the season, with City cruising at the top, his antics could be tolerated even raising a chuckle or two, for the game of football needs characters and this exceptionally talented player is certainly that.

Events of the last month have however changed the landscape, and even the usually calm Mancini is buckling under the pressure.

City are by no means finished, if we have learned anything about the League this year is that being top doesn’t stop you from being beaten by anyone, and Manchester United are by no means invincible.

Some are predicting a mass clear out at the need of the season, starting with the eviction of Mancini as coach.

Well that would be a mistake, City will have learned from this, and they will come back next season a much tougher team – mentally.

No doubt some players will leave, to let go Balotelli however would be a mistake for he has all the makings of a future Eric Cantona.

At the moment, he needs a firm hand perhaps from the owner for Balotelli is a wayward talent, who could like Cantona earn himself a reputation of being a flawed genius.

That is not going happen though, if no one is prepared to put up with him.

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️

≈ Leave a comment

⚽️ Barclays Premier League 🥅 🏟

02 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in Analysis 🙌, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

There may be only one English team left in the European Championships, however that has not stopped the Premier League from being a compelling spectacle last weekend.

If, as is expected, Manchester United defeat Blackburn Rovers tonight then the league title is almost certainly theirs, after City were held to a draw by Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland.

Roberto Mancini for so long the quietly assured manager of big spending City is discovering what numerous managers of the past, most famous of whom was Kevin Keegan, will testify to, that when it gets tough, at the crunch, Alex Ferguson will be there to face you off.

Are the mind games getting to Mancini – you can’t say for certain yet, though things may be more clear after tonight.

The feature of the league this year has been how any team wherever their position in the League has a chance to defeat the top placed sides, as Arsenal discovered with their defeat to QPR who despite this result still remain third from bottom.

But perhaps the most striking image of the weekend came during Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to Alan Pardew’s Newcastle, when the vastly over-rated and overpaid – £35 million – Andy Carroll stormed off after being substituted by Kenny Dalglish.

Newcastle who are in sixth position are eleven points clear of eight-placed Liverpool.

And yet, Liverpool have spent £115 million on players, whilst at the same time Newcastle £26 million.

Image

⚽️ Why English Clubs fail in Europe 🏟

09 Friday Mar 2012

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Manchester Clubs were defeated in the first legs of their Europa League fixtures yesterday. In the case of City, losing by one goal to Sporting Lisbon may have had more to do with their own internal issues than with the quality of their opposition who were well organised and held back only by the resolute goalkeeper that is Joe Hart. City looked tired and out of sorts, and still appear to have problems adjusting to Europe, which given the speed of their progress is understandable.

United however, were outplayed outclassed and well out…everything by a team from Spain called Athletic Bilbao.  That United have a one-goal deficit had more to do more with Athletic missing a number of chances than how Alex Ferguson’s men played on the night.

Yes, we have seen the emergence of a new Spanish powerhouse, however, the question has to asked as to what is to become of the English clubs – the Europa League was meant to be Europe’s First Division, well try telling that Athletic who taught the once great European side that was Manchester United how to play with speed, skill and sheer talent.

Arsenal heroics the other night against AC Milan in the Champions League may have been celebrated by the fans, however the truth is they were completely outplayed in the first leg and all Milan had to do was sit back and soak up the pressure for the return fixture at the Emirates.

Robin Van Persie’s miss at the end was not a real reflection of the gap between the two sides.

And Chelsea, who have never really looked like winning the Champions League title ever, have it all to do against Napoli if they are to progress into the quarter-final.

It’s going to take more than getting rid of AVB to come back from a 3-1 defeat here.

Years ago, 2004 if my memory serves me right, a  cab driver gave me the low down on the English game. He believed that English football just did not cut it against the Europeans, something you could clearly see reflected by the continued failure of the national side  and that those foreign players that were lured by the money to play here lost their vitality so that they never the same players ever again.

Trouble is he was right then, and what he said then, is also true today.

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK

≈ Leave a comment

Image

AVB – What Roman Abramovich Is Looking For

05 Monday Mar 2012

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

http://soundcloud.com/nayabchohan/avb-what-roman-abramovich-is

Posted by | Filed under Football ⚽️, Radio 🎙, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, Television 📺

≈ Leave a comment

Image

England v Holland, Wembley Stadium, 2-3

01 Thursday Mar 2012

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Stuart Pearce, England’s stand in coach, fielded a young side for this warm up for the Euros and it was not a complete failure by any means.

Sure, England’s lack of experience when pitted against world-class opposition that included Arjen Robben and Arsenal’s Robin van Persie was clear for all who were present at Wembley last night.

The Dutch – who were awful in that World Cup final defeat to Spain – played with in themselves and always looked as if they could step up a gear when they needed to.

And they grabbed two excellent goals within three minutes to take the lead in the second half.

However, England got two back with some well worked moves which should be something that a future coach could build on.

Of course, Holland were the better team, everyone could see that, however there was enough to hint at a brighter future if you are an England fan.

It’s too early to start talking about emerging stars and based on previous experience not a good idea – so the best that can be said of this game is that a highly experimental England side worked hard, played with spirit and at the end left enough to encourage the home of football.

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Europe 🇪🇺, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK

≈ Leave a comment

Image

Arsenal 5 Spurs 2, Emirates Stadium

26 Sunday Feb 2012

Tags

, , , , , ,

With his team two down, on the back of heavy defeats to AC Milan and Sunderland, Arsene Wenger must have wondered whether his once great side was facing its third straight high-profile failure.

And with former golden boy Theo Walcott also the subject of abuse from home fans, the omens did not look good.

The Arsenal boss needed his men to step up.

They did not disappoint – by the end of the first half Arsenal had wiped out that lead.

Once again, it was Robin Van Persie, who set up the first and secured the second, all within three minutes.

The second half was all Arsenal with Walcott’s surges – often criticised for not going anywhere – producing two impressive goals.

Arsenal’s fans – some of whom had left the stadium after their North London rivals exposed the Gunner’s defensive frailties with a goal in the fourth minute and a penalty by Emanuel Adebayor in the twentieth  – were toasting perhaps their team’s greatest triumph since that defeat of Barcelona on February 16, 2011.

They were also toasting the former fall guy now restored golden boy Theo Walcott.

Arsenal’s problems at the front and back are still there, but surely the true test of this team will be whether they can put five past AC Milan in the Champions League on March 6. Then, we will know whether Arsenal have moved on or have just flattered to deceive.

http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3475709/first-team/ac-milan-v-arsenal.

http://www.arsenal.com/fixtures/fixtures-reports

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Breaking News 📺 🎙🗞, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️

≈ Leave a comment

Image

Arsene Wenger (Should he stay or should he go?)

19 Sunday Feb 2012

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

ANALYSIS – With his team crashing out of the FA Cup to a hungrier Sunderland, to cap a week when they were taken apart by AC Milan, there will be those who will wonder whether the great man will be there next season.

Most likely he will remain – only Arsene may want to take into account the contributions two of England’s best coaches have made, Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp and the man who masterminded today’s defeat, Martin O’Neil, namely to keep things tight, don’t leave gaps for the opposition to exploit whether at the front or back.

Those of us who were admirers of Arsenal always feared that the lack of one strong player at the back and at the front would cost them in the long run.

Arsenal were so long the purveyors of the beautiful game, but who ever said beauty can’t be backed up by some steel and old-fashioned grit.

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️

≈ 1 Comment

Image

AC Milan v Arsenal, Champions League, Ist Leg

16 Thursday Feb 2012

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Arsenal were outplayed, outclassed and were completely out of their depth last night. AC Milan actually struggled to get to this stage – there again who wouldn’t with Barcelona in your group – you would never have guessed it by the way they took apart Arsene Wenger’s men last night – 4-0 was being kind, this was men against boys, and the appearance of their legend Thierry Henry for one last hurrah only hinted that this was Arsenal that was on  the field at the San Siro and that this was one of the best teams in Europe.

Robinho netted two – the first of which came after a stunning volley from Kevin Prince Boeting, and everytime you looked at the coach’s corner, the usually authoritative Arsene Wenger looked more lost than the rest of us.

If rumours that Henry wants to continue prove to be true, then this Arsenal team will need him for Robin Van Persie is currently carrying this side and that can’t last forever.

Those who thought Arsenal had moved on from that 8-2 drubbing from Manchester United, may want to think again.

Posted by | Filed under Europe 🇪🇺, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK

≈ 1 Comment

Image

👓 Fabio Capello 🥅 🏟

08 Wednesday Feb 2012

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Fabio Capello’s fate was sealed during that World Cup game with Germany when an England team who had until the last ten minutes of the first half been completely outclassed fought back by applying pressure on their much younger rivals.

The same was expected in the second half, but did not occur which allowed Germany to get back into the game on their own terms.

Perhaps, a Martin O Neill or Harry Redknapp would have seen the opportunity, the vastly overpaid and  over-rated Fabio Capello did not.

The FA have alot of questions to ask about this whole saga – why did they appoint this man in the first place to run a team of players that were not despite what was being claimed a golden generation.

Truth is England have only once looked like winning a tournament – Euro 96 under the creative genius that was Terry Venables.

And what happened to him then?

Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Europe 🇪🇺, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK

≈ 2 Comments