24 Saturday May 2014
Tags
Champions League, Champions League Final, Champions League Final Real Madrid, Distant Echoes, Hala Madrid, Nayab Chohan, NayabChohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Real Madrid, Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid, Template News, Template Sport, UCL, UCLFINAL
Posted by The Template News, Current Affairs and Sport Website | Filed under Breaking News 📺 🎙🗞, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️
11 Sunday May 2014
Posted in Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK
02 Friday May 2014
Posted in Football ⚽️, Germany 🇩🇪, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️
Tags
Bayern Munich, Bayern Munich Guardiola, Bundesliga, Distant Echoes, football, Nayab Chohan, NayabChohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Pep Guardiola, Template Sport
Pep Guardiola: Bayern Munich must decide if I’m the right coach
22 Tuesday Apr 2014
Tags
David Moyes, Distant Echoes, football, Manchester, MANCHESTER UNITED, NayabChohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson, Template News, Template Sport
ANALYSIS – David Moyes whose tenure as manager of Manchester United football club came to an end with two messages on twitter always had a difficult task – for one he had to follow in the footsteps of a great man and perhaps more importantly the side he inherited needed serious surgery. The decision by the board at the club clearly shows that they could not trust the man chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson to make those tough decisions. United currently languish in seventh place out of reach of any Champions League football next season and the manner in which the side has played particularly against Liverpool and Manchester City as well as the last poor showing against Everton points to a manager unable to motivate an ageing side in the way José Mourinho has done at Chelsea.
The decision to fire Moyes has been endorsed by a rise in the share price.
That however does not address the central problem with this football club, that United have been in decline since their star player Cristiano Ronaldo abruptly left for Real Madrid. After that the club was held together for sheer force of will which meant that United were a fixture on the Champions League but no longer a force. And as long as they continued to prosper in the Barclays Premier League, there would be no complaints from the owners who could guarantee at least a third place to the shareholders. With the club languishing in seventh place and dull performances on the field the decision to fire their manager after just ten months is clearly a signal that the Glazer family have lost patience. Whether getting rid of the failing Scot will answer the clubs long term problems is however another matter.
For this is a club that is in decline and one that could have done with a man like Mourinho at the helm to steer it through those rough times. Instead, it made the decision to appoint a man with no experience of winning top level competitions and now finds itself nowhere.
Firing Moyes was easy – finding someone good enough to restore this club to the heights it once enjoyed is another matter though.
Posted by The Template News, Current Affairs and Sport Website | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK
10 Thursday Apr 2014
Tags
Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Champions League, Champions League Semi Finals, Chelsea, Distant Echoes, football, Jose Mourinho, Nayab Chohan, NayabChohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Real Madrid, Semi-Final, Template Sport, UCL
ANALYSIS
We 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 José 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.
Posted by The Template News, Current Affairs and Sport Website | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️
17 Monday Mar 2014
Tags
Distant Echoes, Manchester City, MANCHESTER UNITED, Nayab Chohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson, Template Sport
TEMPLATE ANALYSIS
So, in the year after the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson four sides that would have struggled had he remained manager are now bidding for the title of Premier League Champions.
Yesterday’s results that saw Liverpool humble the ageing giant that is now Manchester United, and Arsenal grinding out a result against a Spurs side that showed plenty of energy but little else, means that the Premier League is wide open, and promises to be even more exciting this year than it was when Manchester City grabbed a winner in the dying minutes of the season to steal the title.
Only one of the top four has the distraction of Europe – though that should not be a problem for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, whose side’s shock defeat on Saturday to Aston Villa now means all bets are off.
Mourinho has the experience and steely determination to steer his side through two tough tournaments simultaneously, although his Chelsea side are not the sharpest in the Premier League – that is surely Manchester City who are now favourites to take their second title in three seasons.
Mathematically, Liverpool can’t win should Chelsea win all their games, although this remains a league where the bottom side can still inflict a defeat on the top one. And that leaves Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal who having lost to Bayern Munich despite a very encouraging performance, who are in with a shout for the FA Cup and who managed to make Tottenham look like a second league side despite their North London rivals having most of the possession.
Until yesterday’s win, most people had written off the Gunners’ chances. But they remain contenders – whether they can make it count this season is of course another matter.
Posted by The Template News, Current Affairs and Sport Website | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK
16 Sunday Mar 2014
Tags
Distant Echoes, football, Liverpool, Liverpool v Manchester United, MANCHESTER UNITED, Muhammad Ali, Nayab Chohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Premier League, Template News, Template Sport
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. 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?
Posted by The Template News, Current Affairs and Sport Website | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️
12 Wednesday Mar 2014
Tags
Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Bayern Munich, Bayern Munich v Arsenal, Champions League, Distant Echoes, football, GUNNERS, Nayab Chohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Template News, Template Sport, UCL
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. 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.
Posted by The Template News, Current Affairs and Sport Website | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Europe 🇪🇺, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️, UK
20 Thursday Feb 2014
Tags
Arsenal, Arsenal v Bayern Munich, Arsene Wenger, Bayern Munich, Champions League, Distant Echoes, Nayab Chohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Template News, Template Sport
TEMPLATE ANALYSIS
There was a depressing familiarity to Arsenal’s defeat to Bayern Munich at the Emirates stadium last night.
Arsene Wenger’s men are currently sitting near the top of the Premier League where they have been for most of the season, and yet that didn’t matter when faced with the current European champions.
Like Manchester City the night before, Arsenal were taught a lesson by the German Champions who many argue are a stronger side this season than the one that destroyed Barcelona in the last.
After a strong start the Germans took full advantage of a penalty miss by Mesut Ozil in the first half to put the game out of Arsenal’s reach in the second with goals from the highly rated Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller.
Arsenal like City face an uphill struggle when they leave the comfort of their own turf for the second leg of this tie.
Already, winning this competition looks well out of their reach, and that of Manuel Pellegrini’s side whose outstanding performances in the Premier League now looked to have flattered to deceive.
Of course, the impartial observer can’t wait to see Pep Guardiola’s German side face the Spanish side he built up into the European Champions.
But that still leaves the English sides who are at the moment a yard short when they line up against the European elite.
And that doesn’t bode well for England’s chances in the World Cup later this year – or for the chances of any Premier League manager like David Moyes who is hoping to attract talent like Toni Kroos to a team that was once called Manchester United.
Posted by The Template News, Current Affairs and Sport Website | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Europe 🇪🇺, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️
18 Tuesday Feb 2014
Tags
Barca, Barcelona, Champions League, Distant Echoes, football, Manchester City, Manchester City v Barcelona, Nayab Chohan, NayabChohanLIVE, Template News, Template Sport, UCL
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.
Posted by The Template News, Current Affairs and Sport Website | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Comment, Europe 🇪🇺, Football ⚽️, Sport 🏏 🎾 ⚽️
Template - News, Current Affairs and Sport Website 