So, Arsenal have the early lead in England – even if it’s early days yet – and they’ve looked well worth their place at the top, I must confess. To think all the “experts” had them well out of contention a few short weeks ago.
I’ve seen the Gunners twice in the last week now – plenty for a non-Arsenal fan – and if anything, they look far stronger this term than they did in the previous one. They showed great resolve and character while riding their luck to a comeback win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday and their 3-0 demolition of Sevilla on Wednesday – in truth a closer game than the scoreline suggests – was an impressive display against one of Europe’s top teams.
Arsene Wenger’s team always play brilliant passing football, but they clearly lacked a clinical cutting edge last season, especially with Thierry Henry missing for long spells. How ironic then that they’ve become much more ruthless after the departure of the prolific Frenchman. Togolese Emmanuel Adebayor is looking pretty sharp upfront and the skillful midfield duo of Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky are finally looking a part of the Emirates family.
The key man, of course is 20-year old midfield general Cesc Fabregas, despite his tender years, one of the best schemers in world football. Already with 4 goals to his name this season, the youngster is showing he can score goals as well as he’s created them over the past couple of seasons. Then again, despite his slim returns since joining Arsenal, Fabregas knows a thing or two about scoring goals. He won the Golden Boot as top scorer (as well as the Golden Ball, for best player) at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2003. If the Spanish genius can have what I call a Lampard season – 20 goals from midfield – then there’ll be no stopping the Gunners this season.
On another note, they say one should not speak ill of the dead – or in this case the departed – and so I’m being really careful with my take on the exit from Chelsea of a certain Mr. Jose Mourinho. Trust me, it’s not easy. But there’ll definitely be more on that topic later this week.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
La Liga: It's Looking Like Real To Me
I had this La Liga post in the pipeline a few weeks ago, after the first two rounds, but never quite got it done. The season’s three rounds old now, but not much has changed so here goes:
Ah, La Liga! After last season’s exciting finish, I think we can look forward to another superb season. All eyes, as usual, will be on Real Madrid and Barcelona, but Sevilla will be pushing them all the way again, even if they haven’t added many new faces like the big two.
Barcelona were my pre-season favorites for the title, but Real have made the more convincing start. The Catalans have lost Samuel Eto’o to injury for a couple of months but even that disappointing news has only made coach Frank Rijkaard appear to be something of a genius. His summer signing of Thierry Henry had everyone wondering how he would fit his four star forwards into three starting positions, but with the Cameroon striker out, Henry will partner Ronaldinho and Leo Messi in the meantime. Problem solved- at least in the short term. Of course, Barca have added more personnel elsewhere too and they should be more resilient than last season. Yaya Toure will be a useful addition in central midfield and Eric Abidal already looks a great buy at left back. Then there’s Gaby Milito, the Argentina centre back, who will provide much needed cover for Carles Puyol and the aging Lillian Thuram. Beyond that, Rijkaard has to restore team spirit, after the soap-opera-like spats of last season, if Barcelona are to return to their all-conquering form of 2006.
Unlike last season, Real Madrid – under new coach Bernd Schuster - have got off to a flying start. Not that they’ve had an easy start either. A local derby against arch-rivals Atletico Madrid, which they won 2-1 on a last-minute winner, was followed by an amazing 5-0 trouncing of Villareal at the dreaded Madrigal. It’s early days yet, but Schuster’s team has played with the swagger and style of a championship winning side. Where Fabio Capello moulded a pragmatic, effective but unexciting team last season, Real’s new arrivals have transformed this side into an attacking machine built on a solid defensive base. The German Christoph Metzelder is proving an able replacement for the departed Helguera in defence, and veteran Guti is excelling in his attacking midfield role. It’s the Dutch boys that are making all the difference though. Royston Drenthe, the dreadlocked U-20 star has been a revelation at left wing back while Wesley Sneijder, the oft under-rated former Ajax player as been the star so far with 3 goals and 4 assists from 2 games. If Ruud van Nistelrooy can keep scoring as is his wont, Real look a good bet for another title.
The good news for Sevilla is that they have managed to keep coach Juande Ramos and the bulk of their pretty solid squad. Newcomer Seydou Keita, the Mali international, should add depth and a creative edge to a midfield anchored by the energetic Christian Poulsen. The two-time UEFA Cup winners will also be looking to make an impact in the Champions League but I don’t think they’ll push the big two out of the top positions. Watch out for Atletico Madrid though. After letting star striker Fernando Torres leave for Liverpool, they have added loads of quality in the shape of Luis Garcia, Simao, and Diego Forlan, and they already have Argentine starlet Sergio Aguero on the books. If only they had been able to lure Juan Riquelme from Villareal…..
Ah, La Liga! After last season’s exciting finish, I think we can look forward to another superb season. All eyes, as usual, will be on Real Madrid and Barcelona, but Sevilla will be pushing them all the way again, even if they haven’t added many new faces like the big two.
Barcelona were my pre-season favorites for the title, but Real have made the more convincing start. The Catalans have lost Samuel Eto’o to injury for a couple of months but even that disappointing news has only made coach Frank Rijkaard appear to be something of a genius. His summer signing of Thierry Henry had everyone wondering how he would fit his four star forwards into three starting positions, but with the Cameroon striker out, Henry will partner Ronaldinho and Leo Messi in the meantime. Problem solved- at least in the short term. Of course, Barca have added more personnel elsewhere too and they should be more resilient than last season. Yaya Toure will be a useful addition in central midfield and Eric Abidal already looks a great buy at left back. Then there’s Gaby Milito, the Argentina centre back, who will provide much needed cover for Carles Puyol and the aging Lillian Thuram. Beyond that, Rijkaard has to restore team spirit, after the soap-opera-like spats of last season, if Barcelona are to return to their all-conquering form of 2006.
Unlike last season, Real Madrid – under new coach Bernd Schuster - have got off to a flying start. Not that they’ve had an easy start either. A local derby against arch-rivals Atletico Madrid, which they won 2-1 on a last-minute winner, was followed by an amazing 5-0 trouncing of Villareal at the dreaded Madrigal. It’s early days yet, but Schuster’s team has played with the swagger and style of a championship winning side. Where Fabio Capello moulded a pragmatic, effective but unexciting team last season, Real’s new arrivals have transformed this side into an attacking machine built on a solid defensive base. The German Christoph Metzelder is proving an able replacement for the departed Helguera in defence, and veteran Guti is excelling in his attacking midfield role. It’s the Dutch boys that are making all the difference though. Royston Drenthe, the dreadlocked U-20 star has been a revelation at left wing back while Wesley Sneijder, the oft under-rated former Ajax player as been the star so far with 3 goals and 4 assists from 2 games. If Ruud van Nistelrooy can keep scoring as is his wont, Real look a good bet for another title.
The good news for Sevilla is that they have managed to keep coach Juande Ramos and the bulk of their pretty solid squad. Newcomer Seydou Keita, the Mali international, should add depth and a creative edge to a midfield anchored by the energetic Christian Poulsen. The two-time UEFA Cup winners will also be looking to make an impact in the Champions League but I don’t think they’ll push the big two out of the top positions. Watch out for Atletico Madrid though. After letting star striker Fernando Torres leave for Liverpool, they have added loads of quality in the shape of Luis Garcia, Simao, and Diego Forlan, and they already have Argentine starlet Sergio Aguero on the books. If only they had been able to lure Juan Riquelme from Villareal…..
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Eaglets Rule The World. So What Next??
Nigeria claimed the U-17 World Cup in Korea for the 3rd time last weekend, after earlier wins in China (1985) and Japan (1993). They did it playing excellent soccer too, and for that much kudos to coach Yemi Tella and his well-drilled team. But, beyond the high of another win – and the players’ hopes of European contracts - what does that really mean for Nigerian soccer?
A friend actually got me thinking about this earlier in the week when he asked how come the Eaglets successes had not translated to better fortunes at senior level. Big question, that, and one I’ve pondered often over the years. I’ve heard many arguments too, the most common of which is that the alleged use of over-age players means that the boys are spent – too old – by the time they should be performing for the senior team.
Others blame the inevitable exodus to European clubs that makes it subsequently impossible to camp a team for several months, as we are wont to do with our U-17 teams. In fact, my friend wondered why, if we could raise a wholly home-based U-17 team to win the world cup, we couldn’t do the same at senior level. Now, that’s a thought.
Here’s what I think. There’s plenty to suggest that over-age players have often been used and there’s no question that moving abroad robs us of the easy camping logistics. But I don’t think that’s why our U-17 and U-20 successes have not translated to senior success. Frankly, I don’t think age-grade success is ever an indication of success at senior level. Just look at the evidence: Of all the past winners of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, only Argentina, Brazil and Germany have gone on to win at senior level, and only very rarely has any players been involved at both levels. Maradona (Argentina), Taffarel, Dunga, Bebeto (Brazil) – that’s the list of players who’ve won world cups at youth and senior level. Of course, when you consider that these major powers – all past World Cup winners before the advent of age-grade world cups – would probably have won the World Cup anyway, the value of their youth successes pales even further.
More starkly, consider what became of the other U-20 winners: USSR won in 1977 and the peak of their senior achievement was a European Championship final appearance in 1988; Yugoslavia, champions at Chile 87, did show promise at the World Cup in 1990 – reaching the last eight – but the subsequent Balkan split robbed us of a true evaluation of that team, even if Croatia did reach the World Cup semis in 1994 featuring some of the stars of that youth team. Portugal are perhaps the best example of the potential of a sound U-20 foundation, with the emergence of their “golden generation”, following consecutive World U-20 cup wins in ’89 and 91. But, despite giving us the likes of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, that side too ultimately under-achieved at senior level. Remember too, that Qatar were runners-up in 1981!
More recently, Argentina have won five of the last seven U-20 finals, playing great soccer and producing some of the best young talent in world soccer. Yet, the South Americans have not won a senior trophy in 14 years, and their last World Cup triumph was in 1986 when Maradona ruled the roost.
The evidence at U-17 level isn’t any more encouraging. Taking Brazil out of the picture, not one U-17 champion has repeated at U-20 level. Both Nigeria and Ghana have been beaten finalists at U-20 level years after being crowned at U-17 level; Argentina and Spain finished 3rd in 95 and 97 respectively, and then followed that with U-20 championship wins two years later. On the flip side, Saudi Arabia beat Scotland in the 1991 final, Guinea, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman have all finished third and Australia were runners-up in 1999.
Even with the players, standing out at youth level doesn’t ever guarantee a successful senior career. The truth is that nobody really knows how a sixteen year old is going to turn out. It all depends on attitude, character, clubs, coaches, luck, health etc. Remember the top scorer from the 1987 U-17 World Cup? I do. His name is Yuri Nikoforov, and he was a superb striker for the USSR team that beat Nigeria in that year’s final. He was good enough to play at U-20 level two years later and eventually made it to the senior Russia squad in the mid-90s. By then, of course, he had become a capable centre-back for Moscow club, Dynamo. From top-rated striker to central defender - who could have predicted that - yet he’s one of the lucky ones who made it all the way. Many others fall by the way side: James Will won the Golden Boot at Scotland 89, and then what?
Having said all that, age-grade soccer certainly has its merits, no more so than as a shop-window for clubs to view tomorrow’s potential stars. These championships also provide a valuable learning experience for young players on their way to the professional grade, and hopefully, to senior international prominence.
In this regard at least, Nigeria has not fared badly. Our Nations Cup winning squad of 1994 involved several players who had come through the age-grade ranks: Nduka Ugbade (U-17 85, U-20 87,89), Samson Siasia (U-20 83), Stephen Keshi (U-20 79), Willy Agbonavbare (U-20 83), Thompson Oliha (U-20 87), Mutiu Adepoju (U-20 89), Austin Okocha (U-20 93), Emmanuel Amuneke (U-23 91), Victor Ikpeba (U-17 89), Alloy Agu (U-20 85). And many more have been involved since then – think Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Jonathan Akpoborie, Garba Lawal, Mobi Oparaku, Victor Agali, Yakub Ayegbeni, Julius Aghahowa and more recently, John Mikel Obi and Taiye Taiwo.
But curiously - and this is really interesting -we’ve also produced loads of players who never went through the age grade process. In fact, one could argue that the Super Eagles most successful years, between 1991 and 2000, was at a time when the core of the team was formed by players who had never been involved at age-grade international level. Goalkeeper Peter Rufai, defenders Uche Okechukwu, Chidi Nwanu, Ben Iroha, midfielders Sunday Oliseh and Finidi George and strikers Daniel Amokachi and Rashidi Yekini. Even today, a look at the current crop of Super Eagles regulars hardly shows a large number of age-grade graduates. Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Danny Shittu, Chidi Odiah, Seyi Olofinjana, Yusuf Ayila, John Utaka, Osaze Odemwingie, Christian Obodo, and Obafemi Martins, all never played for Nigeria at U-17 or U-20 level. On the flip side, not one of the U-17 team that finished 2nd at the 2001 World Cup – six years ago – is even on the fringes of the senior team today. Makes you wonder how much value these teams really offer in terms of senior international success.
A friend actually got me thinking about this earlier in the week when he asked how come the Eaglets successes had not translated to better fortunes at senior level. Big question, that, and one I’ve pondered often over the years. I’ve heard many arguments too, the most common of which is that the alleged use of over-age players means that the boys are spent – too old – by the time they should be performing for the senior team.
Others blame the inevitable exodus to European clubs that makes it subsequently impossible to camp a team for several months, as we are wont to do with our U-17 teams. In fact, my friend wondered why, if we could raise a wholly home-based U-17 team to win the world cup, we couldn’t do the same at senior level. Now, that’s a thought.
Here’s what I think. There’s plenty to suggest that over-age players have often been used and there’s no question that moving abroad robs us of the easy camping logistics. But I don’t think that’s why our U-17 and U-20 successes have not translated to senior success. Frankly, I don’t think age-grade success is ever an indication of success at senior level. Just look at the evidence: Of all the past winners of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, only Argentina, Brazil and Germany have gone on to win at senior level, and only very rarely has any players been involved at both levels. Maradona (Argentina), Taffarel, Dunga, Bebeto (Brazil) – that’s the list of players who’ve won world cups at youth and senior level. Of course, when you consider that these major powers – all past World Cup winners before the advent of age-grade world cups – would probably have won the World Cup anyway, the value of their youth successes pales even further.
More starkly, consider what became of the other U-20 winners: USSR won in 1977 and the peak of their senior achievement was a European Championship final appearance in 1988; Yugoslavia, champions at Chile 87, did show promise at the World Cup in 1990 – reaching the last eight – but the subsequent Balkan split robbed us of a true evaluation of that team, even if Croatia did reach the World Cup semis in 1994 featuring some of the stars of that youth team. Portugal are perhaps the best example of the potential of a sound U-20 foundation, with the emergence of their “golden generation”, following consecutive World U-20 cup wins in ’89 and 91. But, despite giving us the likes of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, that side too ultimately under-achieved at senior level. Remember too, that Qatar were runners-up in 1981!
More recently, Argentina have won five of the last seven U-20 finals, playing great soccer and producing some of the best young talent in world soccer. Yet, the South Americans have not won a senior trophy in 14 years, and their last World Cup triumph was in 1986 when Maradona ruled the roost.
The evidence at U-17 level isn’t any more encouraging. Taking Brazil out of the picture, not one U-17 champion has repeated at U-20 level. Both Nigeria and Ghana have been beaten finalists at U-20 level years after being crowned at U-17 level; Argentina and Spain finished 3rd in 95 and 97 respectively, and then followed that with U-20 championship wins two years later. On the flip side, Saudi Arabia beat Scotland in the 1991 final, Guinea, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman have all finished third and Australia were runners-up in 1999.
Even with the players, standing out at youth level doesn’t ever guarantee a successful senior career. The truth is that nobody really knows how a sixteen year old is going to turn out. It all depends on attitude, character, clubs, coaches, luck, health etc. Remember the top scorer from the 1987 U-17 World Cup? I do. His name is Yuri Nikoforov, and he was a superb striker for the USSR team that beat Nigeria in that year’s final. He was good enough to play at U-20 level two years later and eventually made it to the senior Russia squad in the mid-90s. By then, of course, he had become a capable centre-back for Moscow club, Dynamo. From top-rated striker to central defender - who could have predicted that - yet he’s one of the lucky ones who made it all the way. Many others fall by the way side: James Will won the Golden Boot at Scotland 89, and then what?
Having said all that, age-grade soccer certainly has its merits, no more so than as a shop-window for clubs to view tomorrow’s potential stars. These championships also provide a valuable learning experience for young players on their way to the professional grade, and hopefully, to senior international prominence.
In this regard at least, Nigeria has not fared badly. Our Nations Cup winning squad of 1994 involved several players who had come through the age-grade ranks: Nduka Ugbade (U-17 85, U-20 87,89), Samson Siasia (U-20 83), Stephen Keshi (U-20 79), Willy Agbonavbare (U-20 83), Thompson Oliha (U-20 87), Mutiu Adepoju (U-20 89), Austin Okocha (U-20 93), Emmanuel Amuneke (U-23 91), Victor Ikpeba (U-17 89), Alloy Agu (U-20 85). And many more have been involved since then – think Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Jonathan Akpoborie, Garba Lawal, Mobi Oparaku, Victor Agali, Yakub Ayegbeni, Julius Aghahowa and more recently, John Mikel Obi and Taiye Taiwo.
But curiously - and this is really interesting -we’ve also produced loads of players who never went through the age grade process. In fact, one could argue that the Super Eagles most successful years, between 1991 and 2000, was at a time when the core of the team was formed by players who had never been involved at age-grade international level. Goalkeeper Peter Rufai, defenders Uche Okechukwu, Chidi Nwanu, Ben Iroha, midfielders Sunday Oliseh and Finidi George and strikers Daniel Amokachi and Rashidi Yekini. Even today, a look at the current crop of Super Eagles regulars hardly shows a large number of age-grade graduates. Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Danny Shittu, Chidi Odiah, Seyi Olofinjana, Yusuf Ayila, John Utaka, Osaze Odemwingie, Christian Obodo, and Obafemi Martins, all never played for Nigeria at U-17 or U-20 level. On the flip side, not one of the U-17 team that finished 2nd at the 2001 World Cup – six years ago – is even on the fringes of the senior team today. Makes you wonder how much value these teams really offer in terms of senior international success.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Much ado about Beckham
The decision of Los Angeles MLS club, Galaxy, to bring David Beckham to the States – for all those millions – appears more and more ridiculous now, but not quite as ridiculous as England manager Steve McLaren’s about-turn on Beckham’s international career. Okay, maybe one can understand Galaxy’s decision. Afterall, the MLS has never enjoyed this much media buzz in its 11 year existence, and with crowds rushing in to catch a glimpse of Mr. Golden Balls, attendances at Galaxy games have increased and the club has already made a pretty buck on the deal. Whether that will translate to success on the field is another matter. So far, it has not - even if Beckham has weighed in with his fair share of assists and free-kicks – and the Messiah is now injured and out for the rest of the season. Cue another poor season for Galaxy. Now we’ll have to wait and see if the hype survives a long close season.
As for McLaren, the less said the better. An average club manager at Middlesbrough, he’s looked out of his depth at international level so far. Bringing back 31-year old Becks – after making such a huge show of dropping him after the world cup – only betrays the kind of lack of courage that is the hallmark of failure at this level. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Beckham had to make that unnecessary jaunt across the Atlantic for a mere friendly match against a far-from-full-strength Germany, and then dash back for another Galaxy match 2 days later. That would take its toll on a fully fit 20-year old player, let alone a veteran barely recovered from a long term ankle problem. But rather than try someone else – Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant, perhaps or the resurgent Shaun Wright-Phillips – on that right flank, McLaren shipped in the old man and then gave him a full 90 minutes to boot. In a meaningless match! Now with Beckham crocked – along with Steve Gerrard and Frank Lampard – McLaren will have to try that new face on the flank in the crucial Euro qualifiers against Israel and Russia. Very wise!
Frankly, I fail to understand this fuss about Beckham. Yes, he is a master at free-kicks and crosses. But what about the rest of the game? Never blessed with pace or dribbling trickery – like the likes of Pennant, SWP or Aaron Lennon - he more than compensated with hard work and that determination to succeed. I’ll admit that, at his best, Beckham gave everything on the field and I grew to admire his industry. But that was six years ago. Beckham has done precious little at international level since that free-kick that won a world cup berth against Greece back in 2001.
Now, if soccer were like American football, Beckham would be perfect as a kicker – just wheel him in for the corner kicks and free-kicks and put him back on the bench afterwards. If the Galaxy can convince FIFA to amend the rules - another Beckham rule, perhaps? - they might actually have a trophy to show for all their millions.
As for McLaren, the less said the better. An average club manager at Middlesbrough, he’s looked out of his depth at international level so far. Bringing back 31-year old Becks – after making such a huge show of dropping him after the world cup – only betrays the kind of lack of courage that is the hallmark of failure at this level. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Beckham had to make that unnecessary jaunt across the Atlantic for a mere friendly match against a far-from-full-strength Germany, and then dash back for another Galaxy match 2 days later. That would take its toll on a fully fit 20-year old player, let alone a veteran barely recovered from a long term ankle problem. But rather than try someone else – Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant, perhaps or the resurgent Shaun Wright-Phillips – on that right flank, McLaren shipped in the old man and then gave him a full 90 minutes to boot. In a meaningless match! Now with Beckham crocked – along with Steve Gerrard and Frank Lampard – McLaren will have to try that new face on the flank in the crucial Euro qualifiers against Israel and Russia. Very wise!
Frankly, I fail to understand this fuss about Beckham. Yes, he is a master at free-kicks and crosses. But what about the rest of the game? Never blessed with pace or dribbling trickery – like the likes of Pennant, SWP or Aaron Lennon - he more than compensated with hard work and that determination to succeed. I’ll admit that, at his best, Beckham gave everything on the field and I grew to admire his industry. But that was six years ago. Beckham has done precious little at international level since that free-kick that won a world cup berth against Greece back in 2001.
Now, if soccer were like American football, Beckham would be perfect as a kicker – just wheel him in for the corner kicks and free-kicks and put him back on the bench afterwards. If the Galaxy can convince FIFA to amend the rules - another Beckham rule, perhaps? - they might actually have a trophy to show for all their millions.
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