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โšฝ๏ธ Two Spaniards (no Barcelona), one German and one English side into the last four of the Champions League ๐Ÿฅ… ๐ŸŸ

10 Thursday Apr 2014

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ANALYSISย 

Weย are now into the semi finals of the Champions League and apart from Barcelona being ousted by Atletico, it’s the usual suspects – Bayern, Real Madrid and Josรฉ Mourinho (this time with Chelsea).
European football, and probably the World game, is currently dominated by German and Spanish teams, something that will no doubt be reflected in this summer’s World Cup also.
For the Champions League, Atletico look the sharpest, their attacking style that is conducted at a lightning speed will take some beating – even for a team like Bayern. Of the remaining sides, Chelsea are clearly the weakest, although they have a manager who is used to winning at this level with Real and of course Porto. And as a consequence this ageing Blues side can never really be discounted, although the semi final stage may prove to be a step too far for them.
And what to make of Ronaldo’s Real who are also challenging for the La Liga title with Barcelona and Atletico – well, they like Bayern are in transition and as a result, they can be beaten, as can their Spanish rivals and pretenders Atletico who despite all their energy and pace often miss in front of goal.
So, all bets are off for one of the most open Champions League tournaments in years and the good news for the impartial observer is that the same can be said for Brazil 2014.

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Lionel Messi outshines Ronaldo and Bale to show who is the best player in the world

24 Monday Mar 2014

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

The two most expensive players in earth were on show last night as Real Madrid did battle with their great rivals Barcelona at the Bernabeu in a fixture simply known as El Clasico.
There was also an up and coming Brazilian called Neymar, as well as a galaxy of stars and talent.
None of this mattered, however, as the greatest player on earth propelled his side to a 3-2 win to throw the La Liga title race wide open – there are now three contenders Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and of course Barcelona. All is set up for an incredible title decider between Atletico and Barcelona at the Nou Camp at the end of the season.
Lionel Messi had been criticised of late for not being on the ball, there’s even been talk the second highest scorer in La Liga history may leave the club that’s been his home since he was a childhood prodigy. Well, that’s not going to happen now – when it matters Messi makes it count. It was so against Manchester City in the Champions League, and it was so last night as he scored his second hat-trick in a row to silence the some 53, 000 that had gathered largely to watch and pay homage to their own Cristiano Ronaldo.
Real Madrid were reduced to ten men for the last twenty minutes of this pulsating game, which saw Messi set up the first goal before a Ronaldo penalty put the homeside 2-1 ahead within fifteen minutes. At that point,ย  it looked as though Barcelona may rue three missed chances against their much fancied opponents. By the half time whistle Messi had restored parity in a game that had been played at a blistering pace. Surely, both sides couldn’t keep this up in the second – yes they could as Messi cooly slotted in two penalties to become the highest scorer in El Clasico history. Real will complain that they were handicapped by the referee, but they also had the two most expensive players in the world on their side. Money of course can’t buy you success and as Messi showed last night it doesn’t make you the greatest player on earth either.
FT: REAL MADRID 3 BARCELONA 4

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โšฝ๏ธ TEMPLATE ANALYSIS The end of Manchester United as a football force? ๐Ÿฅ… ๐ŸŸ

16 Sunday Mar 2014

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

When Muhammad Ali was beaten by some one called Trevor Berbick, it was clear that the world of boxing was witnessing the end of an era.
Was the same happening at Old Trafford today where Liverpool outplayed the once mighty side called Manchester United to win 3-0.
There were three penalties – two of which were converted by Steven Gerrard – and the killer blow that ensured David Moyes’ men were out of it was made by their star striker Luis Suarez, who no doubt was the reason for the appearance of Diego Maradona in the crowd.
At least two of the penalties were questionable, but Brendan Rogers’ men had numerous other opportunities against an oppostion that despite fielding Robin Van Persie and the highly paid but sadly overrated Wayne Rooney showed no sparkle.
Currently, the Premier League Champions look a pale shadow of that triumphant side which looked unstoppable for season after season under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Of course, they need major surgery although the haste to sign Wayne Rooney for a massive contract or some of the other additions like Fellaini have not helped David Moyes’ cause.
Whether Van Persie will remain next season despite his claims to wanting to stay is another matter given the likelihood that the current Manchester United side may not even qualify for Europe – unless they win the Champions League title.
So are we looking at the end of an era?
Well, four sides are now clearly breathing and functioning in the absence of the great man. The board at Old Trafford will of course stick with their man but if they are in the same position this time next season and the side will look as hopeless as they did today they will find it difficult to justify keeping the under pressure Moyes.
At the moment, United look a top seven side side will little chance like say Spurs of breaking into the top four. That can change for a team the size of this club with the right signings. And one other thing Aberdeen have just won Scottish Cup, their first trophy since Ferguson left their club for an up and coming one called Manchester United.ย  Are the Old Trafford faithful who so memorably supported their side today despite an abject performance prepared to wait that long for their next taste of success?

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ARSENAL BLEW IT AGAIN

12 Wednesday Mar 2014

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

No one gave the Gunners a chance last night as they attempted to overturn a two goal deficit against the European Champions on their home turf.
Surely, lightning doesn’t strike twice, surely last year’s 1-0 win at Bayern Munich was a freak result.
Well, for the first twenty minutes or so it looked like Arsene Wenger’s nearly men were never going to get a sniff of chance at the opposition goal, as the powerful Germans played lockdown.
For the rest of the half Arsenal had their moments but nothing more.
And when Bayern’s Bastien Schweinsteiger grabbed a goal early in the second half, it looked like the floodgates had opened. But then something astonishing happened when the German forward Lukas Podolski literally brushed aside a Bayern defender and fired in the equaliser against his old club.
Podolski had expected to be booked but Arsenal had got back in and the manner had stunned the opposition who like the powerful national side folded now they were under the cosh.
After this Bayern looked ordinary as Arsenal had numerous opportunities to seal the deal. Trouble is they just did not have the quality up front to make that happen.ย  Mesut Ozil the man who had missed that penalty in the first leg and who could been the made the difference here had been subsituted for the second half of this leg for what later turned out to be a hamstring injury.
It could have been Arsenal’s day – a fact underlined by Bayern’s Thomas Muller missing a penalty in the last minute, after Lukasz Fabianski dived the right way and then dived again to prevent a follow up.
But Arsenal blew it – sure there were positives, Wenger’s men had made the superhuman Germans look ordinary, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was energetic, but he like the rest of the fowards just didn’t make it count.
And with that it another year out of the Champions league for the Premier League’s great underachievers.

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โšฝ๏ธ ENGLAND ARE GOING TO NEED MORE THAN GOOD LUCK AT BRAZIL ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ

06 Thursday Mar 2014

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ANALYSIS –ย Denmark is clearly rebuilding its football team – that was obvious to everyone who watched England’s unsatisfying 1-0 win at Wembley Stadium last night. They are not going to the World Cup in 98 days time. Trouble is, its Roy Hodgson’s team of unlikely lads that have that dubious pleasure. England showed no sign that they have moved on from the European debacle, when a flat and tired looking side folded as soon as they faced the first real opposition in the competition, namely Italy. This England side doesn’t look tired but it is still flat, lacks imagination and creativity at the front, and frankly appears clueless – each player struggling to find a role in a side that still hasn’t cemented into a team capable of going beyond the qualifying stages of a major tournament. Of course, there aren’t any great teams out there, but England are floundering and Roy Hodgson’s comments that he felt the national side were shaping up nicely show that he is either deluded or plain stupid.
The Danish manager wished them good luck last night.ย  On the evidence of their performance yesterday and during the last two ‘friendlies’ they are going to need a lot more than that in Brazil 2014.

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TEMPLATE REPORT: Barcelona teach Manchester City a lesson

18 Tuesday Feb 2014

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TEMPLATE REPORT

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Etihad Stadium

MANCHESTER CITY 0 BARCELONA 2

Just how good and how far have Manchester City come this season – that was the question on everyone’s mind as the blues took on Lionel Messi and the highly rated and much respected side called Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium tonight.
In the first half, City had the best of the chances despite the dominance of Barcelona who played in the way that they have done so often, possession followed by more possession, wearing down the opposition through silky passes that called on the hometeam to chase after the ball.
In the second half though, the game was out of City’s reach once Messi had slotted in a penalty following an advance that reduced the Premier League’s most exciting side to ten men.
The second goal from Danni Alves in the 90th minute ensured that there would be no way back in the second leg of this tie.
Barcelona are virtually threw to the quarter finals and they had not even got out of first gear – remaining throughout the nintety three minutes compact, assured and ever dangerous when given a sniff of a chance.
City were taught a lesson today by a side that is used to success at the highest level. The team that has dazzled us all in the Premier League were outclassed in a game their opponents never looked like losing.
And still they will be many who will question whether Barcelona have what it takes to win this competition.

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โšฝ๏ธ Have England really got a chance in Brazil 2014? ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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Roy hogdson

Contemplating failure?

TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

The last two games that this country’s national soccer side were involved in, have been cited by most commentators, even the most the patriotic ones, as a wake-up call for England’s chances when they enter the lofty heights of tournament football.

Chile, and later Germany showed, that despite fielding a ‘second-team’ against England, that they were a yard ahead in terms of class.

In the case of Chile, one outstanding player, namely Alexis Sanchez, proved to be the difference.

But perhaps, more disappointingly, against Germany Roy Hodgson’s men lacked a clear structure and were caught short on the counter on a number of occasions – the scoreline of 1-0 could easily have been two or three.

England don’t play to a game plan, and when they do they stick to it rigidly. When playing in qualifying games to major competitions that is fine, but you will always come unstuck when facing the best in Europe or the World.

And at a time, when more money than ever is going to be poured into the Premiership – thanks BTSport’s One billion pound deal – ย that only mean more failure and disappointment at an international level for England’s overpriced and overrated football ‘stars.’

roy-hodgson-press-2and this is what it looks like.. after Euro 2012

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โšฝ๏ธ David Beckham plays for PSG against Barcelona ๐Ÿฅ…

03 Wednesday Apr 2013

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ย ANALYSISย 

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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