Category Archives: Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️

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⚽️ David Beckham plays for PSG against Barcelona 🥅

03 Wednesday Apr 2013

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 ANALYSIS 

In his heyday, the Paris Saint Germain player, David Beckham was known for his trademark free kicks, the ability to loft the ball to an eager forward and of course a steely nerve when it came to the penalty spot.

The first two were in evidence last night as the 38-year-old played against the greatest club team on earth.

It was great to see Beckham play in Europe, and he was not in any out of his depth, which begs the question, could he be part of the England set-up again.

The last time there was such a debate was of course over the decision to terminate the career of Kevin Keegan who went on to show that he was still a force with the then second division side of Newcastle United.

England lost something then when they so abruptly got rid of a player that still could have exerted an influence at an international level.

And on the evidence of last night, it appears that history is repeating itself in the form of David Beckham.

Champions League Quarter Final, Ist Leg, PSG 2 Barcelona 2

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Barcelona 4 AC Milan 0 – Champions of the Champion’s League

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

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TEMPLATE REPORT

Before this game, Barcelona asked their home fans to believe in them.

The faithful who filled the Nou Camp last night were not disappointed, as the world’s greatest team overcame a 2-0 deficit to make Champions League history and remind us all that there such a thing as magic.

From the fifth minute, when Lionel Messi struck a stunning volley the pressure on their Italian giants was unrelenting.

Imagine Spanish national team with Messi as their NO 10 and you have got an idea of how great this Barcelona side were last night.

Messi’s second goal came within a minute of the young Milan striker M’Baye Niang hitting the post.

Had that gone in, then perhaps it would have taken the sting out of the Barca tail. but AC Milan were still in it even in the second half when David Villa put the Spanish giants against three ahead.

It would have only taken a single away goal to rob Barca, and the world, of surely yet another Champion’s League triumph at Wembley.

Fortunately for everyone concerned Milan’s Brazilian striker – what ever happened to Brazilian football then – Robinho was simply overwhelmed by the sheer class of the opposition.

Barcelona answered all the questions asked of them in this game, they became the first team to overcome a deficit to progress into the next round, and in the process they reminded us all that there is such a thing as the beautiful game.

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United should not fear Ronaldo ‘Return’

04 Monday Mar 2013

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TEMPLATE REPORT

 Manchester United must not live in fear of former star Cristiano Ronaldo when he returns to Old Trafford for the deciding Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed.

“If we worry about the danger Cristiano can give us we will forget some of the things we can do ourselves.”

“What do you expect when you play against a team with Cristiano in it?” said Ferguson. “You expect problems during the match. We have to try to curtail that as much as we can and as best we can.

“The experience young Rafael had in the first half in Madrid hopefully helps him because he will be given the same task again.”

Ronaldo scored Real’s goal in the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu – leaving the last 16 tie delicately balanced ahead of Tuesday’s second leg.

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Arsene Wenger (Should he stay or should he go..part two)

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

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arsene wengerTEMPLATE ANALYSIS

Arsenal are fifth in the Premiership, four points behind third placed Spurs and two behind Chelsea. Neither of these two sides are better teams than Arsene Wenger’s men – but can that be said of the Manchester sides that sit in first and second place? And there is the root of the problem, for the manager who once set the standard finds himself playing catch up by a long way.

In Europe, they were taken apart by a clinical Bayern Munich side that made it look ridiculous easy despite being away from home.

Theo Walcott who recently secured another highly lucrative contract is still a yard short when he comes up against world-class opposition.

Nothing new in seeing Premiership sides fail in the Champion’s League – all  English sides have struggled in Europe, even Chelsea’s victory last season was more down to luck than their superior football skills.

But if the board at Arsenal are serious about a replacement – then there needs to be credible alternative.

Celtic’s Neil Lennon wouldn’t be a bad choice – his Celtic team failed against AC Milan because of a lack of word class firepower up front – something a rich club like the one based at the Emirates would be happy to oblige him with.

Of course, even now with Arsenal twenty-one points behind Manchester United in the Premier League and a humiliating FA Cup defeat to Championship side Blackburn Rovers behind them, no one is seriously talking about letting go of the great man.

And that’s that.

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City are back, but United are still six points clear

17 Monday Dec 2012

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TEMPLATE COMMENTARY

Saturday, December 15, 2012 marked a turning point in Manchester City’s fortunes. You would have never guessed it, ten minutes into their game with Newcastle though. For until then, Roberto Mancini’s men – reeling from a humiliating exit from the European Champion’s League and now six points behind their rivals following that deflected goal from Robin Van Persie last Saturday – were being run around St James Park.  That is until a Aguero goal turned the game on its head. Mancini learned from his mistake in the Manchester Derby, namely not teaming Carlos Tevez with Sergio Aguero, who along with David Silva, Yaha Toure et al gelled into a world-class team – the team that should have been playing the Corinthians on Sunday for the title of World Club Champions.

At half time it was only 2-0 to the Champions – it should have been far more and although Demba Ba stole a goal early in the second half, the result was never really in doubt. City still look frail when a team gets at them, however that is more than compensated by their attacking prowess.

United’s response was a 3-1 defeat of Martin O Neil’s struggling Sunderland side, although the margin of the win flattered Alex Ferguson’s men who continue to play their old trick of being top without actually having the performances behind them to merit their position.

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Roberto Di Matteo is fired

21 Wednesday Nov 2012

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

Chelsea were simply outclassed last night against a Juventus team that was sharper and far more creative than the Champion League Cup holders.

And their slide from the top of the Premier League was a clear indication that they had come off the boil, and would struggle to get back there even against two Manchester teams that are still not firing on all cylinders.

Even at the beginning of the season there were worrying signs – remember that 4-1 drubbing by Atletico Madrid at Monaco?

So, it should not be a surprise that owner Roman Abramovich was not happy.

However, the speed and ruthlessness of the sacking of the former head coach has taken everyone by surprise.

Di Matteo of course is in good company – even the special one himself suffered the indignity of the axe from an owner who wants to see his team play like Barcelona, and blood players of the calibre of Lionel Messi from its own ranks.

Truth is English clubs look out of their league when they play in Europe and even when they win the trophy there’s always that feeling that they were lucky – that the performance did not merit the outcome.

That a man like Abramovich is losing patience is a good thing for English football – our national side needs to shaken at its core, we need men like Abramovich to remind our underperforming  multi-millionaire Premiership players that a fat pay cheque does not mean that you have made it, only that you are lucky.

CHELSEA’S FALLEN MANAGERS

Claudio Ranieri: Sep 2000 to May 2004

Jose Mourinho: Jun 2004 to Sep 2007

Avram Grant: Sep 2007 to May 2008

Luiz Felipe Scolari: Jul 2008 to Feb 2009

Guus Hiddink: Feb 2009 to May 2009

Carlo Ancelotti: Jun 2009 to May 2011

Andre Villas-Boas: Jun 2011 to Mar 2012 (Click here for Template Report)

Roberto Di Matteo: Mar 2012 to Nov 2012

 Click here and here for Template Commentary about Chelsea Champions League win.

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Manchester City move to second, two points behind United

12 Monday Nov 2012

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TEMPLATE REPORT

So, it is a rerun of last year’s thriller, when City beat their bitter rivals on goal difference, This time though Alex Ferguson’s men are two points clear and have a greater goal difference.

Roberto Mancini is a man under pressure, his side has not played well in the Premier league, or the Champions League either and yet they still have a chance of winning both – in the Premiership they remain undefeated, whilst in Europe, they’ll need the rub of the green to get into the next round.

United haven’t looked great either – however, they have managed to carve out the results as they have done so season after season. This time, a very young Aston Villa side found out what its like to lose to United, despite taking a two goal lead and out playing them for three-quarters of the game.

Outside the rivalry between United and City, the most interesting developments are occurring at Anfield where the newly installed Brendan Rodgers is attempting to mould Liverpool into a football force to be reckoned.

It’s not going to be easy, but Luiz Suarez has stepped up to meet the challenge, something his colleagues failed to do so.

This time, he grabbed a late goal to deny third-placed Chelsea a much deserved win.

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