Ultimate Football Wallpapers
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Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or
Posted by T ZAMAN in Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Manchester United, Portugal
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or
Posted by T ZAMAN in Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Manchester United, Portugal
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or
Posted by T ZAMAN in Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Manchester United, Portugal
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or
Posted by T ZAMAN in Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Manchester United, Portugal
Clarets turf out Gunners
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football
Burnley celebrate famous win
Burnley's giant-killing spree in the Carling Cup continued after a 2-0 win over Arsenal's rookies in the quarter-final at Turf Moor.
Kevin McDonald struck in each half as Owen Coyle's men followed up victories over Fulham and Chelsea with a richly-deserved success over the Gunners.
The Championship side took the lead after just six minutes when McDonald slotted into the net after Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski had failed to collect Chris Eagles' low cross.
Gunners striker Nicklas Bendtner was denied by Brian Jensen either side of McDonald's opener, and the Burnley keeper also made a smart save to thwart Carlos Vela.
Fran Merida came close to a brilliant solo goal early in the second half before McDonald, who scored his first goal for Burnley at the weekend, grabbed his second of the night on 57 minutes.
He anticipated Eagles' quick throw-in and, after getting the better of Mark Randall, flicked a nonchalant finish past Fabianski and inside the far post.
Though Jensen kept his side in it on occasions, Burnley's football was more than a match for a fledgling Arsenal side that had ripped apart Sheffield United and Wigan in previous rounds.
Capital Punishment III
The match was locally billed as 'Capital Punishment III' after Chelsea and Fulham were put to the sword in previous rounds - and it lived up to expectations.
Yet Arsenal almost took the lead before McDonald made the breakthrough when Merida released Bendtner, however Jensen stayed alert and diverted the striker's effort to safety.
Burnley took the lead in the sixth minute after Chris Eagles swung in a superb cross from the right and Arsenal could not clear their lines after Fabianski failed to gather the ball.
McDonald took full advantage to score from the edge of the six-yard box to put the the second-tier side in the driving seat - and they never looked back.
Arsenal were stung and Bendtner sprung the offside trap in the ninth minute after a good through-ball from Vela but Jensen was equal to his effort.
Then Martin Paterson skipped away from Kieran Gibbs but his shot carried little power and the goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save.
Burnley were dictating the pace against their inexperienced opponents and Robbie Blake tested Fabianski in the 28th minute.
The young Arsenal goalkeeper looked nervous and spilled his effort, only to recover in time and take the ball off Paterson's toes.
Paterson should have extended Burnley's lead when he stole in on the blindside but only succeeded in rattling a shot against Fabianski's body.
Arsenal responded in the 37th minute and Bendtner sent Randall clear with a clever flick. Randall had only Jensen to beat but the goalkeeper stood tall to make the block.
The goalkeeper was again proving difficult to beat after an impressive display in the victory against Chelsea.
It looked as though Vela would equalise in the 41st minute but Jensen cleared the danger.
Merida came close after 49 minutes when he weaved his way into the penalty area but failed to test Jensen, curling his effort just wide.
Burnley extended their lead in the 57th minute with McDonald again showing a cool head when needed.
Randall was caught napping when Eagles delivered a throw-in and McDonald raced clear before curling a delightful shot into the far corner with the outside of his right boot.
Uphill task
This was an uphill task now for Arsenal and Wenger responded by bringing on Jay Simpson for Jack Wilshere in a bid to turn things around.
Simpson had shown his potential in the last round with a brace in the victory against Wigan.
However, Paterson should have made it 3-0 in the 65th minute only to send a soft header into Fabianski's arms following a cross from Blake.
Burnley were happy to knock the ball around and keep possession but Arsenal still looked dangerous going forward.
Bendtner should have pulled a goal back with three minutes remaining but the striker failed to capitalise on a good ball from Vela to put the seal on a miserable night for the Gunners.
| Burnley | Team Statistics | Arsenal |
| 2 | Goals | 0 |
| 1 | 1st Half Goals | 0 |
| 8 | Shots on Target | 9 |
| 3 | Shots off Target | 4 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 1 |
| 3 | Corners | 1 |
| 13 | Fouls | 12 |
| 3 | Offsides | 2 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 68.2 | Passing Success | 81 |
| 35 | Tackles | 23 |
| 80 | Tackles Success | 82.6 |
| 39.6 | Possession | 60.4 |
| 52.1 | Territorial Advantage | 47.9 |
Read more...
Clarets turf out Gunners
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football
Burnley celebrate famous win
Burnley's giant-killing spree in the Carling Cup continued after a 2-0 win over Arsenal's rookies in the quarter-final at Turf Moor.
Kevin McDonald struck in each half as Owen Coyle's men followed up victories over Fulham and Chelsea with a richly-deserved success over the Gunners.
The Championship side took the lead after just six minutes when McDonald slotted into the net after Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski had failed to collect Chris Eagles' low cross.
Gunners striker Nicklas Bendtner was denied by Brian Jensen either side of McDonald's opener, and the Burnley keeper also made a smart save to thwart Carlos Vela.
Fran Merida came close to a brilliant solo goal early in the second half before McDonald, who scored his first goal for Burnley at the weekend, grabbed his second of the night on 57 minutes.
He anticipated Eagles' quick throw-in and, after getting the better of Mark Randall, flicked a nonchalant finish past Fabianski and inside the far post.
Though Jensen kept his side in it on occasions, Burnley's football was more than a match for a fledgling Arsenal side that had ripped apart Sheffield United and Wigan in previous rounds.
Capital Punishment III
The match was locally billed as 'Capital Punishment III' after Chelsea and Fulham were put to the sword in previous rounds - and it lived up to expectations.
Yet Arsenal almost took the lead before McDonald made the breakthrough when Merida released Bendtner, however Jensen stayed alert and diverted the striker's effort to safety.
Burnley took the lead in the sixth minute after Chris Eagles swung in a superb cross from the right and Arsenal could not clear their lines after Fabianski failed to gather the ball.
McDonald took full advantage to score from the edge of the six-yard box to put the the second-tier side in the driving seat - and they never looked back.
Arsenal were stung and Bendtner sprung the offside trap in the ninth minute after a good through-ball from Vela but Jensen was equal to his effort.
Then Martin Paterson skipped away from Kieran Gibbs but his shot carried little power and the goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save.
Burnley were dictating the pace against their inexperienced opponents and Robbie Blake tested Fabianski in the 28th minute.
The young Arsenal goalkeeper looked nervous and spilled his effort, only to recover in time and take the ball off Paterson's toes.
Paterson should have extended Burnley's lead when he stole in on the blindside but only succeeded in rattling a shot against Fabianski's body.
Arsenal responded in the 37th minute and Bendtner sent Randall clear with a clever flick. Randall had only Jensen to beat but the goalkeeper stood tall to make the block.
The goalkeeper was again proving difficult to beat after an impressive display in the victory against Chelsea.
It looked as though Vela would equalise in the 41st minute but Jensen cleared the danger.
Merida came close after 49 minutes when he weaved his way into the penalty area but failed to test Jensen, curling his effort just wide.
Burnley extended their lead in the 57th minute with McDonald again showing a cool head when needed.
Randall was caught napping when Eagles delivered a throw-in and McDonald raced clear before curling a delightful shot into the far corner with the outside of his right boot.
Uphill task
This was an uphill task now for Arsenal and Wenger responded by bringing on Jay Simpson for Jack Wilshere in a bid to turn things around.
Simpson had shown his potential in the last round with a brace in the victory against Wigan.
However, Paterson should have made it 3-0 in the 65th minute only to send a soft header into Fabianski's arms following a cross from Blake.
Burnley were happy to knock the ball around and keep possession but Arsenal still looked dangerous going forward.
Bendtner should have pulled a goal back with three minutes remaining but the striker failed to capitalise on a good ball from Vela to put the seal on a miserable night for the Gunners.
| Burnley | Team Statistics | Arsenal |
| 2 | Goals | 0 |
| 1 | 1st Half Goals | 0 |
| 8 | Shots on Target | 9 |
| 3 | Shots off Target | 4 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 1 |
| 3 | Corners | 1 |
| 13 | Fouls | 12 |
| 3 | Offsides | 2 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 68.2 | Passing Success | 81 |
| 35 | Tackles | 23 |
| 80 | Tackles Success | 82.6 |
| 39.6 | Possession | 60.4 |
| 52.1 | Territorial Advantage | 47.9 |
Read more...
Clarets turf out Gunners
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football
Burnley celebrate famous win
Burnley's giant-killing spree in the Carling Cup continued after a 2-0 win over Arsenal's rookies in the quarter-final at Turf Moor.
Kevin McDonald struck in each half as Owen Coyle's men followed up victories over Fulham and Chelsea with a richly-deserved success over the Gunners.
The Championship side took the lead after just six minutes when McDonald slotted into the net after Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski had failed to collect Chris Eagles' low cross.
Gunners striker Nicklas Bendtner was denied by Brian Jensen either side of McDonald's opener, and the Burnley keeper also made a smart save to thwart Carlos Vela.
Fran Merida came close to a brilliant solo goal early in the second half before McDonald, who scored his first goal for Burnley at the weekend, grabbed his second of the night on 57 minutes.
He anticipated Eagles' quick throw-in and, after getting the better of Mark Randall, flicked a nonchalant finish past Fabianski and inside the far post.
Though Jensen kept his side in it on occasions, Burnley's football was more than a match for a fledgling Arsenal side that had ripped apart Sheffield United and Wigan in previous rounds.
Capital Punishment III
The match was locally billed as 'Capital Punishment III' after Chelsea and Fulham were put to the sword in previous rounds - and it lived up to expectations.
Yet Arsenal almost took the lead before McDonald made the breakthrough when Merida released Bendtner, however Jensen stayed alert and diverted the striker's effort to safety.
Burnley took the lead in the sixth minute after Chris Eagles swung in a superb cross from the right and Arsenal could not clear their lines after Fabianski failed to gather the ball.
McDonald took full advantage to score from the edge of the six-yard box to put the the second-tier side in the driving seat - and they never looked back.
Arsenal were stung and Bendtner sprung the offside trap in the ninth minute after a good through-ball from Vela but Jensen was equal to his effort.
Then Martin Paterson skipped away from Kieran Gibbs but his shot carried little power and the goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save.
Burnley were dictating the pace against their inexperienced opponents and Robbie Blake tested Fabianski in the 28th minute.
The young Arsenal goalkeeper looked nervous and spilled his effort, only to recover in time and take the ball off Paterson's toes.
Paterson should have extended Burnley's lead when he stole in on the blindside but only succeeded in rattling a shot against Fabianski's body.
Arsenal responded in the 37th minute and Bendtner sent Randall clear with a clever flick. Randall had only Jensen to beat but the goalkeeper stood tall to make the block.
The goalkeeper was again proving difficult to beat after an impressive display in the victory against Chelsea.
It looked as though Vela would equalise in the 41st minute but Jensen cleared the danger.
Merida came close after 49 minutes when he weaved his way into the penalty area but failed to test Jensen, curling his effort just wide.
Burnley extended their lead in the 57th minute with McDonald again showing a cool head when needed.
Randall was caught napping when Eagles delivered a throw-in and McDonald raced clear before curling a delightful shot into the far corner with the outside of his right boot.
Uphill task
This was an uphill task now for Arsenal and Wenger responded by bringing on Jay Simpson for Jack Wilshere in a bid to turn things around.
Simpson had shown his potential in the last round with a brace in the victory against Wigan.
However, Paterson should have made it 3-0 in the 65th minute only to send a soft header into Fabianski's arms following a cross from Blake.
Burnley were happy to knock the ball around and keep possession but Arsenal still looked dangerous going forward.
Bendtner should have pulled a goal back with three minutes remaining but the striker failed to capitalise on a good ball from Vela to put the seal on a miserable night for the Gunners.
| Burnley | Team Statistics | Arsenal |
| 2 | Goals | 0 |
| 1 | 1st Half Goals | 0 |
| 8 | Shots on Target | 9 |
| 3 | Shots off Target | 4 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 1 |
| 3 | Corners | 1 |
| 13 | Fouls | 12 |
| 3 | Offsides | 2 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 68.2 | Passing Success | 81 |
| 35 | Tackles | 23 |
| 80 | Tackles Success | 82.6 |
| 39.6 | Possession | 60.4 |
| 52.1 | Territorial Advantage | 47.9 |
Read more...
Run Ronaldo, Run
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Manchester United, Ronaldo
If he wants to go, they should let him go.
That's my opinion.
And if you're wondering what I'm talking about, then you really haven't been clued on this whole summer have you?
Cristiano Ronaldo.
The player who signed a lucrative deal with one of the world's richest clubs not that long ago and now is being courted by another club that is of similar stature.
To cut a long story short, he's wanted by Real Madrid but Manchester United's owners would rather see him rot in the reserves (which made him even more upset, mind you) and the young man's even gone on to say nothing about the whole situation throughout Euro 2008 which has pretty much frustrated every single MU fan around the world.
He's also gone on to say that he's only thinking about Portugal's progress in the tournament and has successfully ducked all the questions concerning his footballing future after the summer.
Here's a little thought for all those MU fans out there.
Sir Alex Ferguson has always said that no one is bigger than the club, not even himself. Remember Jaap Stam, Ruud Van Nistlerooy or even one Golden Balls?
If one Ronaldo goes, then so be it. It's a team game after all, right?
But then again, it's only an opinion.
Read more...
Run Ronaldo, Run
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Manchester United, Ronaldo
If he wants to go, they should let him go.
That's my opinion.
And if you're wondering what I'm talking about, then you really haven't been clued on this whole summer have you?
Cristiano Ronaldo.
The player who signed a lucrative deal with one of the world's richest clubs not that long ago and now is being courted by another club that is of similar stature.
To cut a long story short, he's wanted by Real Madrid but Manchester United's owners would rather see him rot in the reserves (which made him even more upset, mind you) and the young man's even gone on to say nothing about the whole situation throughout Euro 2008 which has pretty much frustrated every single MU fan around the world.
He's also gone on to say that he's only thinking about Portugal's progress in the tournament and has successfully ducked all the questions concerning his footballing future after the summer.
Here's a little thought for all those MU fans out there.
Sir Alex Ferguson has always said that no one is bigger than the club, not even himself. Remember Jaap Stam, Ruud Van Nistlerooy or even one Golden Balls?
If one Ronaldo goes, then so be it. It's a team game after all, right?
But then again, it's only an opinion.
Read more...
Run Ronaldo, Run
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Manchester United, Ronaldo
If he wants to go, they should let him go.
That's my opinion.
And if you're wondering what I'm talking about, then you really haven't been clued on this whole summer have you?
Cristiano Ronaldo.
The player who signed a lucrative deal with one of the world's richest clubs not that long ago and now is being courted by another club that is of similar stature.
To cut a long story short, he's wanted by Real Madrid but Manchester United's owners would rather see him rot in the reserves (which made him even more upset, mind you) and the young man's even gone on to say nothing about the whole situation throughout Euro 2008 which has pretty much frustrated every single MU fan around the world.
He's also gone on to say that he's only thinking about Portugal's progress in the tournament and has successfully ducked all the questions concerning his footballing future after the summer.
Here's a little thought for all those MU fans out there.
Sir Alex Ferguson has always said that no one is bigger than the club, not even himself. Remember Jaap Stam, Ruud Van Nistlerooy or even one Golden Balls?
If one Ronaldo goes, then so be it. It's a team game after all, right?
But then again, it's only an opinion.
Read more...
Torres brilliance not rewarded
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Spain, Torres
After seeing Manchester United crowned Premier League champions, we can finally take stock of what has undoubtedly been a truly enthralling season.
As the dust settles on Fergie's final day success, I have to say that, like many others, I have been thoroughly impressed with United's flying winger Cristiano Ronaldo this campaign, a player who has really caught the eye - for obvious reasons. Hats off to the lad.
The Portugal international has illuminated almost every game he's played in. Then again, the same can be said of Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Well, whenever he's been allowed to play that is.
Since there has been so much praise lavished on Ronaldo, let's talk more about Torres.
For me, he has been nothing but fantastic this season, no doubt about it. This 24-year-old striker is a newcomer to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League and he has shown that he is a cool customer when coming to terms with the physical side of the English game. Not every foreign player can do that, often failing to make as big an impact as Torres has.
The fact that the Spaniard did so well in his debut season is very encouraging and I think he can only get better. The only criticism is maybe that he doesn't score enough goals away from home. A sign of a true quality striker is the ability to score both home and away. But, so far at least, he's still worth all the money Liverpool spent on him..
To be honest though, it's a shame that despite all the effort shown by Torres, Liverpool have finished the season with nothing to show. They may have won a lot of accolades, but there are no trophies to show for their efforts. No hardware. Praise can only take you so far.
On the flip side, this will just make the team hungrier for success and, with that desire for glory, comes titles. Hopefully, Liverpool will shed the tag of ‘nearly-men' soon.
I expect a clear out at Liverpool come summertime when the league goes into hibernation. Xabi Alonso, John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant could all be saying their goodbyes. I actually wouldn't miss most of them, especially Pennant whose place on the right wing was taken by Dirk Kuyt. Need I say more?
If you were to ask me who I would like to see arriving at Anfield, then Gareth Barry is one of them. It is getting a little ugly between Martin O'Neill and Rafael Benitez, but this shows how important and talented Barry is.
There can be little doubt that Barry will be the perfect foil for Steven Gerrard in the centre of midfield. We have seen it before when the duo played for England. It will be a good combination for Liverpool and one that will persuade Rafa to stick Stevie G in midfield because that is his best position. Period.
Liverpool also need an out-and-out winger and Blackburn's David Bentley is one of those who has impressed me. This former Arsenal apprentice will be a perfect replacement for the other former Arsenal apprentice at Anfield. Bentley is one of those wingers who can do everything - deliver accurate crosses from deep, take on players with pace and is deadly from free-kicks. But Blackburn have been steadily improving every season and don't need to sell their players. It would take a massive amount of effort and money to even open discussions with Rovers gaffer Mark Hughes.
Apart from Liverpool, there were a few key moments - or should I say controversial moments - that marked this BPL season. I was particularly surprised by the sackings of Jose Mourinho and Sam Allardyce at Chelsea and Newcastle respectively. They were perhaps a victim of their own club's misguided ambitions. But the most talked about BPL moment has to be the reinstatement of Kevin Keegan at Newcastle. It was an appointment that shook the English game.
Who knows what kind of twists and turns we will have in the coming 2008/09 season? After the exciting cliff-hanger we had on the final day of the season, I for one will be looking forward to next season with even more anticipation than before. Will you?
Read more...
Torres brilliance not rewarded
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Spain, Torres
After seeing Manchester United crowned Premier League champions, we can finally take stock of what has undoubtedly been a truly enthralling season.
As the dust settles on Fergie's final day success, I have to say that, like many others, I have been thoroughly impressed with United's flying winger Cristiano Ronaldo this campaign, a player who has really caught the eye - for obvious reasons. Hats off to the lad.
The Portugal international has illuminated almost every game he's played in. Then again, the same can be said of Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Well, whenever he's been allowed to play that is.
Since there has been so much praise lavished on Ronaldo, let's talk more about Torres.
For me, he has been nothing but fantastic this season, no doubt about it. This 24-year-old striker is a newcomer to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League and he has shown that he is a cool customer when coming to terms with the physical side of the English game. Not every foreign player can do that, often failing to make as big an impact as Torres has.
The fact that the Spaniard did so well in his debut season is very encouraging and I think he can only get better. The only criticism is maybe that he doesn't score enough goals away from home. A sign of a true quality striker is the ability to score both home and away. But, so far at least, he's still worth all the money Liverpool spent on him..
To be honest though, it's a shame that despite all the effort shown by Torres, Liverpool have finished the season with nothing to show. They may have won a lot of accolades, but there are no trophies to show for their efforts. No hardware. Praise can only take you so far.
On the flip side, this will just make the team hungrier for success and, with that desire for glory, comes titles. Hopefully, Liverpool will shed the tag of ‘nearly-men' soon.
I expect a clear out at Liverpool come summertime when the league goes into hibernation. Xabi Alonso, John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant could all be saying their goodbyes. I actually wouldn't miss most of them, especially Pennant whose place on the right wing was taken by Dirk Kuyt. Need I say more?
If you were to ask me who I would like to see arriving at Anfield, then Gareth Barry is one of them. It is getting a little ugly between Martin O'Neill and Rafael Benitez, but this shows how important and talented Barry is.
There can be little doubt that Barry will be the perfect foil for Steven Gerrard in the centre of midfield. We have seen it before when the duo played for England. It will be a good combination for Liverpool and one that will persuade Rafa to stick Stevie G in midfield because that is his best position. Period.
Liverpool also need an out-and-out winger and Blackburn's David Bentley is one of those who has impressed me. This former Arsenal apprentice will be a perfect replacement for the other former Arsenal apprentice at Anfield. Bentley is one of those wingers who can do everything - deliver accurate crosses from deep, take on players with pace and is deadly from free-kicks. But Blackburn have been steadily improving every season and don't need to sell their players. It would take a massive amount of effort and money to even open discussions with Rovers gaffer Mark Hughes.
Apart from Liverpool, there were a few key moments - or should I say controversial moments - that marked this BPL season. I was particularly surprised by the sackings of Jose Mourinho and Sam Allardyce at Chelsea and Newcastle respectively. They were perhaps a victim of their own club's misguided ambitions. But the most talked about BPL moment has to be the reinstatement of Kevin Keegan at Newcastle. It was an appointment that shook the English game.
Who knows what kind of twists and turns we will have in the coming 2008/09 season? After the exciting cliff-hanger we had on the final day of the season, I for one will be looking forward to next season with even more anticipation than before. Will you?
Read more...
Torres brilliance not rewarded
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Spain, Torres
After seeing Manchester United crowned Premier League champions, we can finally take stock of what has undoubtedly been a truly enthralling season.
As the dust settles on Fergie's final day success, I have to say that, like many others, I have been thoroughly impressed with United's flying winger Cristiano Ronaldo this campaign, a player who has really caught the eye - for obvious reasons. Hats off to the lad.
The Portugal international has illuminated almost every game he's played in. Then again, the same can be said of Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Well, whenever he's been allowed to play that is.
Since there has been so much praise lavished on Ronaldo, let's talk more about Torres.
For me, he has been nothing but fantastic this season, no doubt about it. This 24-year-old striker is a newcomer to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League and he has shown that he is a cool customer when coming to terms with the physical side of the English game. Not every foreign player can do that, often failing to make as big an impact as Torres has.
The fact that the Spaniard did so well in his debut season is very encouraging and I think he can only get better. The only criticism is maybe that he doesn't score enough goals away from home. A sign of a true quality striker is the ability to score both home and away. But, so far at least, he's still worth all the money Liverpool spent on him..
To be honest though, it's a shame that despite all the effort shown by Torres, Liverpool have finished the season with nothing to show. They may have won a lot of accolades, but there are no trophies to show for their efforts. No hardware. Praise can only take you so far.
On the flip side, this will just make the team hungrier for success and, with that desire for glory, comes titles. Hopefully, Liverpool will shed the tag of ‘nearly-men' soon.
I expect a clear out at Liverpool come summertime when the league goes into hibernation. Xabi Alonso, John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant could all be saying their goodbyes. I actually wouldn't miss most of them, especially Pennant whose place on the right wing was taken by Dirk Kuyt. Need I say more?
If you were to ask me who I would like to see arriving at Anfield, then Gareth Barry is one of them. It is getting a little ugly between Martin O'Neill and Rafael Benitez, but this shows how important and talented Barry is.
There can be little doubt that Barry will be the perfect foil for Steven Gerrard in the centre of midfield. We have seen it before when the duo played for England. It will be a good combination for Liverpool and one that will persuade Rafa to stick Stevie G in midfield because that is his best position. Period.
Liverpool also need an out-and-out winger and Blackburn's David Bentley is one of those who has impressed me. This former Arsenal apprentice will be a perfect replacement for the other former Arsenal apprentice at Anfield. Bentley is one of those wingers who can do everything - deliver accurate crosses from deep, take on players with pace and is deadly from free-kicks. But Blackburn have been steadily improving every season and don't need to sell their players. It would take a massive amount of effort and money to even open discussions with Rovers gaffer Mark Hughes.
Apart from Liverpool, there were a few key moments - or should I say controversial moments - that marked this BPL season. I was particularly surprised by the sackings of Jose Mourinho and Sam Allardyce at Chelsea and Newcastle respectively. They were perhaps a victim of their own club's misguided ambitions. But the most talked about BPL moment has to be the reinstatement of Kevin Keegan at Newcastle. It was an appointment that shook the English game.
Who knows what kind of twists and turns we will have in the coming 2008/09 season? After the exciting cliff-hanger we had on the final day of the season, I for one will be looking forward to next season with even more anticipation than before. Will you?
Read more...
Hughes backs Jo to shine
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Manchester City
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is convinced summer signing Jo will prove his worth at Eastlands.
The Brazilian striker, 21, could return to the side against Paris St Germain in the UEFA Cup at Eastlands tonight after recently being on the fringes.
While Robinho has settled in quickly following his summer move, Jo has struggled to adapt after arriving from CSKA Moscow.
Hughes, however, believes Jo will come good.
"He is a young player who has come into a stronger league than he has been used to, " said the City boss.
"It takes time and it is harder for forwards to integrate straight away. Robinho has been able to adapt quicker but he is a more experienced player.
"Jo has found it a little bit of a struggle but he is working hard in training. He will get better."
Hughes added: "There will be changes against PSG. We will look to use the squad as we need to give a respite to some key players."
City are looking to record their third successive victory in the group - they have already qualified for the last 32 - and Hughes wants a positive response following the defeat by Manchester United.
"We need to pick ourselves up very quickly, " he said. "No-one likes losing any game, least of all a derby.
"We came up a little bit short. Our energy levels were not where they need to be to force the issue against a side as good as United. We just needed that spark to our play."
The French side also suffered a loss at the weekend, going down by a single goal to Rennes.
Hughes wants to finish the last two matches - they play Racing Santander in Spain in a fortnight - in style.
He said: "There is a prize to be had. If we are to finish top of the group that is to our benefit. Hopefully that will mean an easier draw in the last 32.
"If we can get a positive result from this match that should be enough and I feel we can make chances at home against any team.
"PSG are a good side. They need a decent result but it just depends on what significance they place on this competition.
"They have changed their team in previous rounds and protected their senior players for league games."
Read more...
Hughes backs Jo to shine
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Manchester City
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is convinced summer signing Jo will prove his worth at Eastlands.
The Brazilian striker, 21, could return to the side against Paris St Germain in the UEFA Cup at Eastlands tonight after recently being on the fringes.
While Robinho has settled in quickly following his summer move, Jo has struggled to adapt after arriving from CSKA Moscow.
Hughes, however, believes Jo will come good.
"He is a young player who has come into a stronger league than he has been used to, " said the City boss.
"It takes time and it is harder for forwards to integrate straight away. Robinho has been able to adapt quicker but he is a more experienced player.
"Jo has found it a little bit of a struggle but he is working hard in training. He will get better."
Hughes added: "There will be changes against PSG. We will look to use the squad as we need to give a respite to some key players."
City are looking to record their third successive victory in the group - they have already qualified for the last 32 - and Hughes wants a positive response following the defeat by Manchester United.
"We need to pick ourselves up very quickly, " he said. "No-one likes losing any game, least of all a derby.
"We came up a little bit short. Our energy levels were not where they need to be to force the issue against a side as good as United. We just needed that spark to our play."
The French side also suffered a loss at the weekend, going down by a single goal to Rennes.
Hughes wants to finish the last two matches - they play Racing Santander in Spain in a fortnight - in style.
He said: "There is a prize to be had. If we are to finish top of the group that is to our benefit. Hopefully that will mean an easier draw in the last 32.
"If we can get a positive result from this match that should be enough and I feel we can make chances at home against any team.
"PSG are a good side. They need a decent result but it just depends on what significance they place on this competition.
"They have changed their team in previous rounds and protected their senior players for league games."
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Hughes backs Jo to shine
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football, Manchester City
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is convinced summer signing Jo will prove his worth at Eastlands.
The Brazilian striker, 21, could return to the side against Paris St Germain in the UEFA Cup at Eastlands tonight after recently being on the fringes.
While Robinho has settled in quickly following his summer move, Jo has struggled to adapt after arriving from CSKA Moscow.
Hughes, however, believes Jo will come good.
"He is a young player who has come into a stronger league than he has been used to, " said the City boss.
"It takes time and it is harder for forwards to integrate straight away. Robinho has been able to adapt quicker but he is a more experienced player.
"Jo has found it a little bit of a struggle but he is working hard in training. He will get better."
Hughes added: "There will be changes against PSG. We will look to use the squad as we need to give a respite to some key players."
City are looking to record their third successive victory in the group - they have already qualified for the last 32 - and Hughes wants a positive response following the defeat by Manchester United.
"We need to pick ourselves up very quickly, " he said. "No-one likes losing any game, least of all a derby.
"We came up a little bit short. Our energy levels were not where they need to be to force the issue against a side as good as United. We just needed that spark to our play."
The French side also suffered a loss at the weekend, going down by a single goal to Rennes.
Hughes wants to finish the last two matches - they play Racing Santander in Spain in a fortnight - in style.
He said: "There is a prize to be had. If we are to finish top of the group that is to our benefit. Hopefully that will mean an easier draw in the last 32.
"If we can get a positive result from this match that should be enough and I feel we can make chances at home against any team.
"PSG are a good side. They need a decent result but it just depends on what significance they place on this competition.
"They have changed their team in previous rounds and protected their senior players for league games."
Read more...
Will Seahawks' Woeful 0-2 Start Leave Them Out of the Chase for the Super Bowl Title?
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football
If you set your goal to not only get to but win the Super Bowl this season, it is not a good idea to lose your first two games. During the 8-year period from 2000 through 2007 only 6 of the 70 National Football League teams that started the season at 0-2 went on the make the playoffs, much less win the Super Bowl. So here come Mike Holmgren's Seattle Seahawks, all full of spit and vinegar and wimpering out while losing their first two games, a 34-10 thumping from the Bills in Buffalo and a 33-30 overtime loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers, a National Football Conference West Division rival.In two games the Seahawks, which returned all 11 of their defensive starters (almost unheard of in pro football), gave up 33.5 points a game.One explanation for their lapse of playmaking came from defensive coordinator John Marshall, who maintained that there were not many blown assignments as much as the players simply not trusting their teammates and overcompensating in their own areas to make up for what they perceived as a shortcoming somewhere else. It kind of sounds like they were minding everyone else's business but their own.There are, of course, some other perhaps less plausible but more understandable explanations, such as spending too much time:1) Reading the press clippings about how great they were going to be this year.2) Placing a quick cell phone call to their agent to see what new endorsements might put them more in the spotlight.3) Figuring out the quickest route to the hot dog stand after the first half ends.4) Trying to figure out if that foxy looking blond in the 4th row on the starboard side is approachable.The defensive front did record 8 sacks but the defensive secondary was last seen somewhere near Tukwila, 12 miles south of Qwest Field in downtown Seattle.The six exceptions to the 0-2 rule of going nowhere fast were:1) The 2007 New York Giants who went 10-6 and won Super Bowl XLII (Super Bowl 42 to people in the real world, as opposed to NFL executives).2) The 2006 Kansas City Chiefs who went 9-7 and lost the AFC wild card game.3) The 2003 Philadelphia Eagles who went 12-4 and made it to the NFC championship game.4) The 2002 Atlanta Falcons who went 9-6-1 and made it to the NFC divisional game.5) The 2002 Pittsburgh Steelers who went 10-5-1 and made it to the AFC divisional game.6) The 2001 New England Patriots who went 11-5 and won Super Bowl XXXVI (Super Bowl 36 to people in the real world, as opposed to NFL executives).Alexander Pope, the master of the heroic couplet, penned "Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man never is, but always to be blessed" and so it is with the Seahawks.After being mired in a pitiful state like fraternity boys caught with their pants down outside in the dead of winter, the Seahawks made a 180-degree turn at home last week and routed the St. Louis Rams (another division opponent) 37-13. With all of Seattle's starting wide receivers banged up and left with major inexperience at the wide receiver position, the Hawks' handed off to Julius Jones 22 times for 140 yards (6.4 yards per carry), including a 29-yard touchdown scamper. They handed off to T. J. Duckett 19 times for 79 yards and 2 short TD runs, and that was that.Did I mention that rookie tight end John Carlson (all 6-foot-5, 251-pounds of him) continues to look good and actually catches the ball when you throw it to him? Carlson comes to Seattle from Notre Dame. He is not the first great tight end from Notre Dame.That honor belongs to the immortal Leon Hart, the 1949 Heisman Trophy winner and the only lineman to win 3 national titles in both college (1946, 1948 and 1949 national championships at Notre Dame) and pro football (1952, 1953 and 1957 NFL championships with the Detroit Lions).Leon Hart is also the last and only 1 of 2 linemen ever to win the Heisman Trophy. He was an All American tight end on offense and defensive end on defense. That was when men were men rather than self-centered, spoiled, multi-millionaire, petulant stars who show up but don't always play for fear of being hurt.Seattle has a bye this week but travels to New York on Sunday (10-5-08) to face the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants. We shall see if the Seahawks can duplicate their last game success at home while on the road in East Rutherford (NJ), where Giants Stadium is located. There is a rumor going around that the Giants are really happy to see the Seahawks coming, something about patting their 3-0 record.
Read more...
Will Seahawks' Woeful 0-2 Start Leave Them Out of the Chase for the Super Bowl Title?
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football
If you set your goal to not only get to but win the Super Bowl this season, it is not a good idea to lose your first two games. During the 8-year period from 2000 through 2007 only 6 of the 70 National Football League teams that started the season at 0-2 went on the make the playoffs, much less win the Super Bowl. So here come Mike Holmgren's Seattle Seahawks, all full of spit and vinegar and wimpering out while losing their first two games, a 34-10 thumping from the Bills in Buffalo and a 33-30 overtime loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers, a National Football Conference West Division rival.In two games the Seahawks, which returned all 11 of their defensive starters (almost unheard of in pro football), gave up 33.5 points a game.One explanation for their lapse of playmaking came from defensive coordinator John Marshall, who maintained that there were not many blown assignments as much as the players simply not trusting their teammates and overcompensating in their own areas to make up for what they perceived as a shortcoming somewhere else. It kind of sounds like they were minding everyone else's business but their own.There are, of course, some other perhaps less plausible but more understandable explanations, such as spending too much time:1) Reading the press clippings about how great they were going to be this year.2) Placing a quick cell phone call to their agent to see what new endorsements might put them more in the spotlight.3) Figuring out the quickest route to the hot dog stand after the first half ends.4) Trying to figure out if that foxy looking blond in the 4th row on the starboard side is approachable.The defensive front did record 8 sacks but the defensive secondary was last seen somewhere near Tukwila, 12 miles south of Qwest Field in downtown Seattle.The six exceptions to the 0-2 rule of going nowhere fast were:1) The 2007 New York Giants who went 10-6 and won Super Bowl XLII (Super Bowl 42 to people in the real world, as opposed to NFL executives).2) The 2006 Kansas City Chiefs who went 9-7 and lost the AFC wild card game.3) The 2003 Philadelphia Eagles who went 12-4 and made it to the NFC championship game.4) The 2002 Atlanta Falcons who went 9-6-1 and made it to the NFC divisional game.5) The 2002 Pittsburgh Steelers who went 10-5-1 and made it to the AFC divisional game.6) The 2001 New England Patriots who went 11-5 and won Super Bowl XXXVI (Super Bowl 36 to people in the real world, as opposed to NFL executives).Alexander Pope, the master of the heroic couplet, penned "Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man never is, but always to be blessed" and so it is with the Seahawks.After being mired in a pitiful state like fraternity boys caught with their pants down outside in the dead of winter, the Seahawks made a 180-degree turn at home last week and routed the St. Louis Rams (another division opponent) 37-13. With all of Seattle's starting wide receivers banged up and left with major inexperience at the wide receiver position, the Hawks' handed off to Julius Jones 22 times for 140 yards (6.4 yards per carry), including a 29-yard touchdown scamper. They handed off to T. J. Duckett 19 times for 79 yards and 2 short TD runs, and that was that.Did I mention that rookie tight end John Carlson (all 6-foot-5, 251-pounds of him) continues to look good and actually catches the ball when you throw it to him? Carlson comes to Seattle from Notre Dame. He is not the first great tight end from Notre Dame.That honor belongs to the immortal Leon Hart, the 1949 Heisman Trophy winner and the only lineman to win 3 national titles in both college (1946, 1948 and 1949 national championships at Notre Dame) and pro football (1952, 1953 and 1957 NFL championships with the Detroit Lions).Leon Hart is also the last and only 1 of 2 linemen ever to win the Heisman Trophy. He was an All American tight end on offense and defensive end on defense. That was when men were men rather than self-centered, spoiled, multi-millionaire, petulant stars who show up but don't always play for fear of being hurt.Seattle has a bye this week but travels to New York on Sunday (10-5-08) to face the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants. We shall see if the Seahawks can duplicate their last game success at home while on the road in East Rutherford (NJ), where Giants Stadium is located. There is a rumor going around that the Giants are really happy to see the Seahawks coming, something about patting their 3-0 record.
Read more...
Will Seahawks' Woeful 0-2 Start Leave Them Out of the Chase for the Super Bowl Title?
Posted by T ZAMAN in Football
If you set your goal to not only get to but win the Super Bowl this season, it is not a good idea to lose your first two games. During the 8-year period from 2000 through 2007 only 6 of the 70 National Football League teams that started the season at 0-2 went on the make the playoffs, much less win the Super Bowl. So here come Mike Holmgren's Seattle Seahawks, all full of spit and vinegar and wimpering out while losing their first two games, a 34-10 thumping from the Bills in Buffalo and a 33-30 overtime loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers, a National Football Conference West Division rival.In two games the Seahawks, which returned all 11 of their defensive starters (almost unheard of in pro football), gave up 33.5 points a game.One explanation for their lapse of playmaking came from defensive coordinator John Marshall, who maintained that there were not many blown assignments as much as the players simply not trusting their teammates and overcompensating in their own areas to make up for what they perceived as a shortcoming somewhere else. It kind of sounds like they were minding everyone else's business but their own.There are, of course, some other perhaps less plausible but more understandable explanations, such as spending too much time:1) Reading the press clippings about how great they were going to be this year.2) Placing a quick cell phone call to their agent to see what new endorsements might put them more in the spotlight.3) Figuring out the quickest route to the hot dog stand after the first half ends.4) Trying to figure out if that foxy looking blond in the 4th row on the starboard side is approachable.The defensive front did record 8 sacks but the defensive secondary was last seen somewhere near Tukwila, 12 miles south of Qwest Field in downtown Seattle.The six exceptions to the 0-2 rule of going nowhere fast were:1) The 2007 New York Giants who went 10-6 and won Super Bowl XLII (Super Bowl 42 to people in the real world, as opposed to NFL executives).2) The 2006 Kansas City Chiefs who went 9-7 and lost the AFC wild card game.3) The 2003 Philadelphia Eagles who went 12-4 and made it to the NFC championship game.4) The 2002 Atlanta Falcons who went 9-6-1 and made it to the NFC divisional game.5) The 2002 Pittsburgh Steelers who went 10-5-1 and made it to the AFC divisional game.6) The 2001 New England Patriots who went 11-5 and won Super Bowl XXXVI (Super Bowl 36 to people in the real world, as opposed to NFL executives).Alexander Pope, the master of the heroic couplet, penned "Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man never is, but always to be blessed" and so it is with the Seahawks.After being mired in a pitiful state like fraternity boys caught with their pants down outside in the dead of winter, the Seahawks made a 180-degree turn at home last week and routed the St. Louis Rams (another division opponent) 37-13. With all of Seattle's starting wide receivers banged up and left with major inexperience at the wide receiver position, the Hawks' handed off to Julius Jones 22 times for 140 yards (6.4 yards per carry), including a 29-yard touchdown scamper. They handed off to T. J. Duckett 19 times for 79 yards and 2 short TD runs, and that was that.Did I mention that rookie tight end John Carlson (all 6-foot-5, 251-pounds of him) continues to look good and actually catches the ball when you throw it to him? Carlson comes to Seattle from Notre Dame. He is not the first great tight end from Notre Dame.That honor belongs to the immortal Leon Hart, the 1949 Heisman Trophy winner and the only lineman to win 3 national titles in both college (1946, 1948 and 1949 national championships at Notre Dame) and pro football (1952, 1953 and 1957 NFL championships with the Detroit Lions).Leon Hart is also the last and only 1 of 2 linemen ever to win the Heisman Trophy. He was an All American tight end on offense and defensive end on defense. That was when men were men rather than self-centered, spoiled, multi-millionaire, petulant stars who show up but don't always play for fear of being hurt.Seattle has a bye this week but travels to New York on Sunday (10-5-08) to face the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants. We shall see if the Seahawks can duplicate their last game success at home while on the road in East Rutherford (NJ), where Giants Stadium is located. There is a rumor going around that the Giants are really happy to see the Seahawks coming, something about patting their 3-0 record.
Read more...
