RANTS of the Champions

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH TODAY’s FOOTBALL?

Ok! That was a relief… I have let it out off my chest.

Moving on…

Congratulations are due to all the teams and clubs and fans and management boards and coaches and players and stewards and associations and companies and sponsors and kit manufacturers and airlines and telecommunication providers and anything that was part of the football season 2011/2012. (which, and by the way, is not totally over).

• Juventus are the undefeated Italian champions. The new invincibles are here, but did they just win the 28^th or the 30^th title? I am confused.
• Real Madrid won the Spanish League. I watched some of the celebrations, and I was wondering if the Spanish League is the best in Europe or hunger for titles have made that a big deal.
• Manchester City repaid the Sheikh’s faith and investment. Congratulations are in order, but the question is: Will the Sheikh approve such acts? (check the photo below and the video here)
  

  Tevez holding a “RIP Fergie” sign. No comment!

• Dortmund have won the double. Bayern Munich coach says it is a fact that there is a better team domestically than his. Why didn’t he play his superior side nationally?

In other news: Messi scored 50 league goals – Ruud van Nistelrooy announced retirement – Nesta, Inzaghi, Gattuso, and Zambrotta left Milan – and Giggs will play one more season…

I will leave you with this video that sums up the best league in the world and the most thrilling and exciting ends in modern history.

LNFR: Just Rants

1. AC Milan signed Maxi Lopez: I remember when he was dubbed the “Blond Batistuta”. It was proven right during his Barcelona days.
2. Manchester City have finally become a match to Manchester United: Both were kicked out og the Champions League, Carling Cup, and FA Cup before February. History in the making.
3. Rio Ferdinand’s tweets are to be investigated: The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has launched a formal inquiry into whether the tweets (which promoted Snickers Chocolate Bars) made it clear they were marketing communications. Sir Alex will now know that “You’re not you when you’re hungry”.
   

   He should eat this more if he is to remember the basics of defending

4. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is tired of comparisons with Theo Walcott: SMART man!
5. Marco Borriello joined Juventus, while Amauri left to Fiorentina: Nothing changed there. Status quo for Juventus.
6. Jose Mourinho waited the referee of the last El Clasico near his car and insulted him. What’s next? Suicide bombers outside the Bernabéu?
7. Andre Dias of Lazio joins “The Fight Club”: Balotelli and Pepe are jealous 

Transfer Talk – Part 3

Following what we’ve already covered about some of the Premier League’s top clubs (part 1 and part 2), Figo29.com and Thefootballsupernova.com now have a look at some of Europe’s elite, and most active in the market, Football clubs.

FC Barcelona

Figo29: The major concern is in the attack as David Villa is ruled out for the season. Rumor has it that Chelsea are willing to swap Fernando “I Fire Blanks” Torres for the young trio of Cuenca-Roberto-Montoya. However, they will be looking for a striker with experience AND eligible to play Champions League. Bids are already in place for Abidal (PSG) Keita (Milan) and Maxwell (Arsenal), while Mario Götze is on Barca’s radar. I recommend Maxi Lopez for a second spell or someone who is a real number 9. p.s. Forget about Neymar, please!

TFS: Despite Villa being ruled out, I just can’t see Barca buying anyone significant during the middle of their season. Basically, the way I think of it is – why fix something that isn’t broken? To be fair Villa hasn’t had the best of seasons and regardless of his presence, Barca will still be successful and beating teams for fun. So, no signings here in my opinion, but maybe a new name from their youth ranks.

Real Madrid

Figo29: Mourinho still has at least six months before we witness a new exodus and a wave of signings. Albiol, Higuain, Benzema, Khedira, Diarra, Kaka and Ozil are all rumored to be leaving but that’s not likely to happen soon, not at least for most of them. New additions are coming, so expect to see Neymar, Bale, Gotze, Tevez, or even Hulk. I take no gambles with Real Madrid.

TFS: I can’t see them selling anyone in the transfer window. Anything could disrupt the fragility of their title challenge. Mourinho is never a big spender in January, nor are Real Madrid. If a signing is made, it’ll be in the summer and it will be another huge “galactico” signing. So for now…nada.

AC Milan

Figo29: Galliani says it is either Tevez or no one. Don’t trust him. Pato and Robinho are unsettled, so is Taye Taiwo. Maxwell and Keita are probable reinforcements, and a surprise Kaka return might be on the cards. Maxi Lopez, Domenico Criscito, Riccardo Montolivo, and Ganso all expressed their love to Milan, and Milan needs all of them.

TFS: They’ve got to buy Tevez. If not to bolster their striking options, then simply so that we (the football fans) can stop hearing about Tevez moaning about what he likes and dislikes (weather, food, golf…). Taiwo could be possible departure and I never thought about it – but Old Trafford would suit him, as United do need cover at left-back.

Internazionale Milano

Figo29: Expect another round of useless transfers including a change of the coach, too. Inter has an aging squad and a mad millionaire who will bid for anything this winter. Milito, Motta, Chivu, and Sneijder may not stay and some footballers’ lookalikes will join.

TFS: I bet Sneijder is cursing himself for not pushing to leave during the summer. I doubt they’ll buy anyone significant. Their transfer activity in January won’t do much I believe. Alejandro Gomez (Catania), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen – and a legend in the game Football manager) and Juraj Kucka (Genoa) have all been linked. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Krasic jump the boat from Juventus to Inter either.

Juventus

Figo29: Antonio Conte is gaining the fans and the board’s trust, and no one will argue with him if Vincenzo Iaquinta, Eljero Elia, Fabio Quagliarella, Luca Toni, Amauri, and Miloš Krasić are placed on the transfer list. Yet, do not expect big names to replace any departing player. Angelo Palombo is a probable signing, while Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertongan are tempting enough for the Old Lady.

TFS: Rumor has it that 2 moves are in the works for January – Martin Cacares (a loan from Sevilla with an option to buy) and Marco Boriello (another loan from Roma with an option to buy). Juve have been lethal this season, and I wouldn’t doubt the effect that Conte’s signings could have on their title challenge.

Paris Saint-Germain

Figo29: A rich club wanting to be among Europe’s biggest names in no time, so you do the math. Carlo Ancelotti will lead the overhaul, and he might sign his previous favorites: Malouda, Pato, and Alex. Beckham is one name bigger than the club and can bring the media to Paris, while Tevez might be a shock signing.

TFS: The equivalent of Manchester City in France, they’re linked with pretty much everybody. Some of the names being spoken about are quite ridiculous but I wouldn’t put it past them to make the moves – Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Kaka, Pato, Malouda, Alex, David Beckham, Higuain….and of course, Carlos Tevez. Let’s see which of these will happen, but I don’t expect Pastore to be the lonely megastar in that team for long.

Panic Shopping – The Transfer Market Will Go Crazy

By the time I am done writing this post, there will only be 22 more hours left for football agents and clubs to go panic shopping. Yet, don’t worry, I am staying in Dubai, and that gives them 2 or 4 hours more if they are to abide by the CET or GMT zones.

So, here we are, on August 31, where no football league is promising good matches, but numerous rumors are the appetizers. The world of football stands still for a week of international games as per the FIFA calendar and for the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Nevermind the friend-lies, and let’s focus on what to expect by the end of the day. Rumor has it that:

1. Romelu Lukaku who just landed at the Bridge might make a surprise swoop to Britannia Stadium. Stoke City are looking for a season long loan deal. Yet, with Drogba’s horrific injury, I say he stays.
   

   When the "Elephant" is down, Torres might smile, or even score.

2. Sneijder is still pondering a late move to Manchester United. If we are to talk football, it will be great for him and the English champions because Moratti has gone insane, yet again. I pity Inter though. There is no Mourinhoesque path anymore: Back to the medieval ages. Don’t worry Italian fans, he will not leave, as Manchester United cannot pay his salary.
3. Carlos Tevez is still distracted, but Mancini is hopeful, or yet distracted too. The Argentinean changed 3 clubs over the last six seasons. The new club might be Inter. But look at this: Tevez joins Real Madrid and Higuain leaves for Liverpool. Interesting?
4. Mr. X, need to say more? Well, the brilliant transfer market history of Galliani and co. tells us that there is still hope. Whether it will be Kaka or Balotelli, or even a loan deal for Ibrahim Afellay, you should really stay tuned with AC Milan.
5. Luciano Moggi says he is not impressed with Juventus new signings. I trust Mr. Moggi, and rather I miss his presence in Serie A. Expect a couple of fringe players joining the Old Lady.
6. Modric didn’t want to play against Manchester City. Harry Redknapp was persistent and included him and lost by 5 goals and Modric was the flop of the match. Let’s face it: who can shun the money?
   

   He didn't leave for money, but that was the only squad number available

7. FC Barcelona already grabbed two titles in two weeks. They are strong enough for now. They even welcomed Cesc back. But who can assist Guardiola all throughout a long season when his backline is exposed? He just crushed Villarreal with a surprise formation including one genuine defender only: Abidal. Any calls against Chygrynskiy going back to Camp Nou?

You know most of the above, but I couldn’t help myself writing about it. I can even imagine some of the following:

Ganso to Chelsea – Neymar to Milan – Higuain to Inter – Parker, Moutinho, and Cahill to Arsenal – Gago to Roma – and Borriello to PSG.

Who do you think will be the most surprising “Panic Shopping” when the window is closed?

When you only score 10 goals in one season, and when you are 32 years old, Moratti will pick you up. Life is good.

Diego, Champions, and more

The first half of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 has seen the following qualify: Shakhtar Donetsk – Tottenham Hotspur – FC Schalke 04 – and FC Barcelona. The waiting list includes some big guns like last year’s winners Internazionale Milano and the Reds of Manchester. Looking at the odds of each team in the quarter finals, it is still early to judge and guess but we might see some mouthwatering encounters.

Everyone seems happy to have reached this stage, but the only man worried about what’s next is Harry Redknapp who wants anyone but Barcelona. I am dreaming already about such an encounter. Call me an airhead or a fool or a novice, but I see a lucrative moment in the Champions League history if Spurs play Barcelona. It will be the game to watch. A Bale – Alves encounter? Modrić – Xavi runs? A Messi show at White Hart Lane? Trust me, it will be EPIC!

 

The only Barcelona Harry would want to meet (copyrights: Khalid AlMarri - @khalmarri)

1. Luc Castaignos is Inter’s most recent acquisition. He will move to the Nerazzurri by the end of the 2010-2011 season. A Thierry Henry resemblance they say, let’s hope it is not the Henry of Juventus 1999.
2. Enzo Francescoli believes that Messi is better than Maradona. Well, everyone with such a statement is looking for a football comeback; nothing more.
3. Wenger is looking for a loan replacement for Wojciech Szczesny after the latter has been injured blocking Dani Alves’ freekick. Now we know why Almunia let three goals in.
4. Cedric Enjorlas has been banned for six months by the French Football Federation for submitting a bid to lure Messi into his FC Borne, a second division club that plays in the Haute-Loire league. I wonder if such a ban would be sanctioned against Moratti.
5. Harry Redknapp is rumored to be frustrated with his strikers and is looking to sell them all for an overhaul in the frontlines. Let’s see the math: Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, and Crouch have scored together 9 league goals in 28 matches. Van der Vaart alone scored 10. Does Real Madrid have anymore?
6. Bojan is the hottest target on top of Wenger and Redknapp’s list. If it were for Wenger, he loves them young, if it were for the Spurs then two words: Remember Giovani dos Santos.
7. Rumors are floating about Diego Maradona learning the Ukrainian language in preparation to take over as the First Team Coach. The man who managed to make Martin Palermo score in a World Cup can certainly remind people who Andriy Shevchenko is.
   

   Don't you miss those better moments from South Africa?

LNFR – Goals and Rumors

Nothing brings joy to the heart more than watching football games; or at least this is what I believe. The craze a football match puts into me is sometimes beyond any description. However, seeing quality goals surpasses those feelings. While Messi’s brilliant freekick (watch here) got the Goal.com goal of the week vote, I choose this one by Napoli’s Edinson Cavani (watch here).

1. Gianluigi Buffon returned to Juventus starting eleven; the best signing in the January window.
2. Jorge Valdano finally admitted that they are in the market to get a striker. Whether it was Klose or Milito, Mourinho doesn’t take no for an answer.
3. King Kenny wants money to buy players in the next fifteen days. Fact check: There was one King in the Premier League.
   

   Ooh Ah Cantona, Ooh Ah Cantona!

4. Sepp Blatter was adamant about the goal-line technology and now he will give it a chance. The only chance I agree with him has gone into the gutter.
5. Diego Maradona for Qatar’s job and Batistuta as his assistant. It feels like Al Jazeera production.
6. Luciano Moggi proves he still has talent. He is the only one to admit that the current Juventus players and signings are not Juventus quality. Hats off!
7. John Rooney, Wayne’s younger brother, will join New York Red Bulls. Thierry Henry is said to be excited.
8. Craig Bellamy has been arrested and charged with assault again. He was bailed out as no one managed to find the golf club.
   

   Craig "The Golf Club" Bellamy

Ballon d’Or and More

I never thought that the Ballon d’Or or the FIFA Best Player of the year award will be one day a topic I would discuss or a thing I would be interested to catch up with. Let’s face it: It is a fake prize, though prestigious, presented to the player with the better affiliation with the Blatterian, earlier the Havelangean, bureaucracy. However, this year, the story was different. The whole world, including the winner himself, aka Lionel Messi, knew that the winner should be Xavi Hernandez. At the age of 30, Xavi, or El Maestro, has provided more assists and passes than the whole English Premier League teams have ever done in three consecutive seasons. His 360 ball control ability is unprecedented to the extent that it turns the most straight men on earth on. On top of that he is the winner of the World Cup, a fact that always provided the nominees for the award with the cutting edge. So why didn’t Xavi win it?

Xavi is too modest and this is never an aspect of the winner; with the exception of Roberto Baggio in 1993. Some will argue that Messi is modest too and that I am forgetting that he comes from the land of Diego Maradona. I will keep that in mind for another day to discuss or you can read a little about my point of view in an earlier post here. Moreover, the sign of redemption that FIFA wanted to send to the football universe says: Sorry Argentinians that we never picked up your greatest before, here we are redeeming ourselves and choosing Messi for the next 10 years.

“… I didn’t expect it because everyone had been talking so much about Xavi and Andres.”

I will keep myself wondering and the excuses for the decision open for discussion and move on to the football ranting material as it seems that no one cares and Blatter always wins.

1. Milan vs. Udinese was labeled the match of the season. Anyone who remembers my match of the decade? (Hint: Milan vs. Lazio – October 1999)
2. Cristina with a hattrick and now at 62 goals out of 63 games, the questions are: Does Mourinho need his striker? Is Benzema learning?
3. Rumors say that Torres is contacted by Juventus. If that happens I see a van Basten in Black and White.
4. Mancini believes that the other teams have the experience his team lacks. I want to hear what Sheikh Mansour has to say.
   

   Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan - Attack is the best way to defend

5. Saudi Arabia with a déjà vu of the Asian Cup 2000: Lose the first game, kick out the coach, call upon Nasser Al Johar for the rescue; and the legend continues, when history repeats itself.
6. Edin Džeko states that Manchester City “… were my first choice and only choice.” No comment.
7. The moment Pele advises Ronaldinho to play for Gremio, Ronaldinho joined Flamengo; the smartest play from Ronaldinho in ages.
8. 7 goals conceded in 2 consecutive matches, and they are still buying strikers. Juventus is the new Manchester City.
9. Chelsea finally scored the 7 goals, against a coach-less Ipswich Town, and the win doesn’t entitle them for the three points needed to surge them back into the Premier League race.
   

   My ex-employers had blue jerseys too. I can be your Ancelotti, no?

10. van Bommel is rumored to join Milan. Well, at the age of 33 he surely fits the profile for the retirement house.
11. Diego Maradona is visiting England soon for a possible “Current” Premier League job. Now we know the secret behind the picture below.
    

    The diploma read: "Master Inspirer of Oxford Dreamers" - Now it reads: Studied at England to coach the English.

Transfer Sagas

It is that time of the year when goal.com and the whole world start speculating the next big transfer over the Winter break. No one can tell, not even club owners, who will join which team at this moment of time. Until it is February 01, the rumors will increase, the bets will go sky high, the money will flood the green fields, and the fans will embrace their hopes and prayers.

I cannot do the guessing and I cannot be the resource to all the transfers, too. Yet, I fancy some moves happening out of the fear of losing the faith of the fans or because of financial fantasies. I can see a better January transfer market than last year’s. Some teams need to spend big; others need to spend wisely, whereas most of them should deal with the reality that the future is next season.

If you are a fan of one of the following European teams, spread the word, I am offering free advice today.

Manchester City: The most needed signing for the citizens is a creative midfielder. I have seen their defence shaky at moments, and their attack in lack of a “Tevezian” spirit, but I have not seen anyone creating the chances. Tevez and Silva always run into the middle of the park to get their balls. Yaya Toure changed overnight and started chasing his dream of becoming the next Zidane. A team that has millions to spend needs to get the 100 million dollar copy of Xavi; if any. Someone who can organize the midfield and create the spaces is what Mancini needs; someone who can make even JÔ a goal scoring machine.

Real Madrid: Mourinho wanted an additional striker at the beginning of the season. Florentino Perez is yet to listen to his demands. However, a needed player at the royal team would be a left back. And while they are it, another right back would make Mourinho’s vision a reality. Ramos will be the perfect partner for Carvalho, and Marcelo will sit on the bench and learn what he missed out when he didn’t watch Maldini. The surprising signing for Los Blancos will be Kaka. He will be the real signing when he returns to full fitness. The only surprising aspect about his return is that Perez will not need to pay any money to have him in the starting 11.

Internazionale Milano: The case with Inter is easy: Sign a new manager and a whole new squad. Moving on…

Chelsea FC: Check Inter’s signings above.

Liverpool FC: Check Chelsea’s signings above.

Juventus: Check anywhere in the world for a new spirit.

FC Barcelona: Ibrahim Afellay is on his way to the club this Christmas. He is a real genuine signing not because of the qualities he possesses but because of the meaning of such a signing. His signing means that the Catalan Giants are on the right track of covering up for the midfield maestro, the one and only Xavi. Guardiola might leave or be tempted to leave in the future. However, and for him to leave a legacy, he needs to make sure that the club signs players who can emulate Puyol’s defence spirit, Xavi’s vision, and Eto’o’s missing power. Yet, all those can wait for a thorough planning by the end of the season. What is needed now, is a striker, who is stronger than Bojan and with less attitude issues than Zlatan, to accept the bench role and really contribute when asked to.

AC Milan: Praise Nesta, offload Ronaldinho, and get some support to the flanks.

Marcos Rojo is set to join FC Spartak Moskva; pity no one lured him earlier

I am not sure if I shall revisit this subject soon, but no one can tell either if Anelka and Rooney will remember how to score goals again.