There are those who think the English Premiership is over-hyped, over-covered and over-rated. Okay, I guess I am part of the problem, if the general slant of my posts is anything to go by. What can I say? I grew up on a steady staple of English soccer – long before the advent of the Premiership, I must add – and with my long affair with the Liverpool football club it’s inevitable that I would have this close tie to the English game, if there’s any such thing these days.
Unfortunately that has left other leagues under-covered on these pages. Not least the German Bundesliga, which, for my money is producing some of the most entertaining soccer on view this season. And by that I don’t mean just Bayern Munich, even if the Bavarian giants are leading the pack again this season. After a disastrous 2006-07 season left them out of the Champions League, Bayern went on a shopping spree in the summer, digging deep to bring in Italian striker Luca Toni, French ace Franck Ribery, Germany striker Miroslav Klose and Turk Hamit Altintop.
They’ve been a transformed team this season as the newcomers have settled quickly. Ribery has been the outstanding player in the league this season, taunting and teasing opposing defences with his creative skills and proving the perfect foil for the Toni-Klose tandem upfront. Both strikers have scored 8 goals apiece after 10 games, but Bayern look strong all over. Oliver Kahn has been his old solid self, centre-backs Lucio and Martin Dimechelis make a formidable barrier at the back, and Ze Roberto - back from a year’s sabbatical in Brazil - has been equally impressive. For my money, Bayern are the best team outside the Champions League this season and I can’t wait to see them back next year.
But – as I’ve said – the Bundesliga isn’t all about Bayern. I caught the Schalke-Werder Bremen game on Saturday and it was probably the best game I’ve seen this season. Sure, I’ve seen some impressive soccer from Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but those were mostly one-sided affairs, with the other team just hanging on. This was different. Exciting attacking soccer from both sides, loads of chances and solid defensive play as well – all that’s beautiful about our game.
My one criticism would be the low score line – it finished 1-1 – and missed chances, but the stalemate probably contributed to the occasion with neither side willing to settle for one point. The best player on view was Bremen midfielder Diego, the Brazilian voted player of the year last season. His ball control, vision and range of passing were simply superb. And to think he can’t get into the Brazil team.
There were others that caught the eye too: For Bremen, centre-backs Naldo (another Brazilian) and Per Mertesacker, captain Torsten Frings and strikers Boubacar Sanogo and Hugo Almeida. For Schalke: Brazilian midfielder Rafinha, strikers Kevin Kuranyi and Gerald Asamoah, and midfielders Ivan Rakitic, Carlos Grossmuller and Fabian Ernst.
I think Bayern will win the title this season, although both Schalke and especially Werder Bremen – currently 5th and 2nd respectively – should chase them all the way. Third-placed Hamburg, another exciting team admirably led by the young Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart, should also finish amongst the top four, while last season’s surprise champions Stuttgart are looking like a one-season wonder as they currently lie in 12th place.
On a more personal note, I was pleasantly surprised to see two young Nigerian strikers in fine form in the Bundesliga several weeks ago. Olympic team star Solomon Okoronkwo was on target with a beautiful 20 yard screamer into the top corner to give Hertha Berlin a 2-1 win against Wolfsburg, while Super Eagles new boy Manasseh Ishiaku went one better with two well taken goals as Duisburg beat Arminia Bielefeld 3-0. They are both havng decent seasons so far too; Ishiaku has five goals to his name after 10 rounds, while Okoronkwo has found the net four times. Little wonder Berti Vogts gave the Duisburg striker his international debut in the 2-2 draw against Mexico a fortnight ago.
It’s no surprise now that Brazil is the world’s number one exporter of soccer talent. But how often does one team produce no less than five exports that end up at the very top of the European game? That’s the remarkable story of Santos FC, class of 2002-03. Pele’s old team won the Brazilian championship in style in 2002 with a bunch of players that include some of the better known names in Europe today.
At centre back was Alex, the big stopper now plying his trade with Chelsea after several successful years with PSV; upfront was Luis Fabiano, now leading the line for Sevilla in Spain; and in midfield was the trio of Diego, Elano and Robinho. I’ve already waxed lyrical about Diego in this post, and Robinho has been making his mark, with both Real Madrid and Brazil, over the past couple of seasons. Elano is the latest of this bunch to come out of the dark, after Sven Goran Errikson paid 8 million pounds get him to Manchester City from Shakhtar Donetsk. Since then, the 27-year-old has been one of the best players in England this season – scoring 4 goals and creating many more to help City to its best season start in over 10 years.
I guess in retrospect it’s no surprise that Santos did so well with this bunch in its ranks. They would have done even better, had they succeeded in their bid for the 2003 Copa Libertadores. They did reach the final that year, before losing to Argentina’s Boca Juniors – a team led by a stocky young striker by the name of Carlos Tevez.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
FIFA Shortlist: What??
FIFA must be trapped in some kind of time warp. How else to explain the shortlist for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the year? For a moment there I thought the shortlist was for player of the decade, what with the inclusion of several players clearly past their best.
Okay, I have no problems with including five Italian players – they are, after all, World champions – but when that list includes Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Cannavaro, one begins to wonder. Buffon, remember, was playing in Serie B last season, while Cannavaro, who won the award last year after an outstanding world cup, struggled to settle in his first season in Spain with Real Madrid. Then there’s Francesco Totti. He won the Golden Boot as top scorer in Europe last season, leading Roma to 2nd in Serie A and lifting the Italian Cup. Certainly deserving of mention, right? Wrong. FIFA couldn’t find room for him in a shortlist of the 30 best players of the last year.
And there is more. Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, led Inter’s championship run last season with 15 goals. He’s also missing from the list. Instead, we have Samuel Eto’o, great player, but out with injury trouble for the better part of the year. Eto’o scored 11 goals for Barcelona last season, but 8 of those came in the early part of the season – in 2006 – before injuries hobbled the Cameroon star. No room also for Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, the inspiration of Arsenal’s amazing start to the new season. Instead we have Lillian Thuram, another veteran struggling to settle at a new club. I am sure he deserved a place on the 2006 shortlist, but certainly not this year’s. His teammate, Thierry Henry also has a place among the chosen thirty. Now, there’s no question that Henry is one of the very best strikers in the game, but not in 2007, when injuries restricted him to half of Arsenal’s matches and left him playing well below his high standards.
FIFA’s list frankly looks like nothing more than a collection of high profile names. At best, someone just got lazy at FIFA and decided to reel out all the usual suspects from years past. At worst, FIFA appears to be out of touch with the game it is supposed to be running. Now that’s a scary thought.
Then again, it could just be that FIFA knows there’s only going to be three real contenders anyway so it doesn’t really matter who else they pad up their list of thirty with.
That makes me wonder why they need to list 30 players in the first place. Wouldn’t it make more sense to name just ten? Well, here’s my personal top ten of 2007 – and the reasons why I have picked them.
1. Kaka (Milan & Brazil) – outstanding in Milan’s Champions League campaign
2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina) – spectacular performances and goals for club and country
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man U & Portugal)– Man U’s inspiration in championship winning season
4. Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast) – 30 goals for Chelsea , including winning goals in both Carling and FA Cup finals
5. Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana) – excellent all round season in midfield (and right back)
6. Juan Riquelme (Villareal/Boca & Argentina) – inspired Boca to Copa Libertadores and was outstanding for his country at Copa America.
7. Francesco Totti (Roma & Italy) – Roma’s inspiration and European Golden Boot winner
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter & Sweden) - Key player in Inter’s Scudetto winning season
9. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal & Spain) – Midfield brain behind Arsenal’s spectacular start to new season
10. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid & Holland) – His goals pushed Real to Spanish title
So, what do you think of my list? Better than FIFA’s effort I’d bet. Well, do let me know. I would pick the first four in that order; after that, well, it’s a free for all.
Okay, I have no problems with including five Italian players – they are, after all, World champions – but when that list includes Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Cannavaro, one begins to wonder. Buffon, remember, was playing in Serie B last season, while Cannavaro, who won the award last year after an outstanding world cup, struggled to settle in his first season in Spain with Real Madrid. Then there’s Francesco Totti. He won the Golden Boot as top scorer in Europe last season, leading Roma to 2nd in Serie A and lifting the Italian Cup. Certainly deserving of mention, right? Wrong. FIFA couldn’t find room for him in a shortlist of the 30 best players of the last year.
And there is more. Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, led Inter’s championship run last season with 15 goals. He’s also missing from the list. Instead, we have Samuel Eto’o, great player, but out with injury trouble for the better part of the year. Eto’o scored 11 goals for Barcelona last season, but 8 of those came in the early part of the season – in 2006 – before injuries hobbled the Cameroon star. No room also for Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, the inspiration of Arsenal’s amazing start to the new season. Instead we have Lillian Thuram, another veteran struggling to settle at a new club. I am sure he deserved a place on the 2006 shortlist, but certainly not this year’s. His teammate, Thierry Henry also has a place among the chosen thirty. Now, there’s no question that Henry is one of the very best strikers in the game, but not in 2007, when injuries restricted him to half of Arsenal’s matches and left him playing well below his high standards.
FIFA’s list frankly looks like nothing more than a collection of high profile names. At best, someone just got lazy at FIFA and decided to reel out all the usual suspects from years past. At worst, FIFA appears to be out of touch with the game it is supposed to be running. Now that’s a scary thought.
Then again, it could just be that FIFA knows there’s only going to be three real contenders anyway so it doesn’t really matter who else they pad up their list of thirty with.
That makes me wonder why they need to list 30 players in the first place. Wouldn’t it make more sense to name just ten? Well, here’s my personal top ten of 2007 – and the reasons why I have picked them.
1. Kaka (Milan & Brazil) – outstanding in Milan’s Champions League campaign
2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina) – spectacular performances and goals for club and country
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man U & Portugal)– Man U’s inspiration in championship winning season
4. Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast) – 30 goals for Chelsea , including winning goals in both Carling and FA Cup finals
5. Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana) – excellent all round season in midfield (and right back)
6. Juan Riquelme (Villareal/Boca & Argentina) – inspired Boca to Copa Libertadores and was outstanding for his country at Copa America.
7. Francesco Totti (Roma & Italy) – Roma’s inspiration and European Golden Boot winner
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter & Sweden) - Key player in Inter’s Scudetto winning season
9. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal & Spain) – Midfield brain behind Arsenal’s spectacular start to new season
10. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid & Holland) – His goals pushed Real to Spanish title
So, what do you think of my list? Better than FIFA’s effort I’d bet. Well, do let me know. I would pick the first four in that order; after that, well, it’s a free for all.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Mourinho: Annoying, But Great Coach
It’s ironic that a few weeks after railing against the antics of the “Special One” I should be lamenting the departure of Jose Mourinho from Chelsea. It was quite a rude shock when I belatedly stumbled on news of his departure a good day and a half after the deed was done. It’s perhaps appropriate then that it’s taken me this long to put my thoughts down.
If you read my earlier posts you would know for sure that Mourinho isn’t exactly my favorite person. Arrogant, loud, full of himself, sore loser and just simply annoying, are all apt descriptions of the Portuguese coach. But there can be no denying that the man knows a thing or two about coaching.
Sure, he had Roman Abramovich’s millions to play around with, but I think it takes much more than money to achieve success. For one thing, his predecessor, Claudio Ranieri, came up short on all fronts in his one season at the helm of the “Roman Revolution”. Mourinho settled in quickly, claiming the Premiership title at his first attempt and repeating the feat the following year. Besides, Mourinho had already proved his worth in leading modest Porto to Champions League glory in 2004.
Mourinho certainly ruffled feathers in his three year stint in England, not least those of fellow high-flyers Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez. And he was great entertainment for the press corps as well, spouting quotable quotes on almost every occasion. To my mind, Mourinho’s one failing was that same brash arrogance that made him such great copy. He started last season with a lean squad of 21 players, proclaiming that was all he needed to win a third championship and finally bring home the Champions League. In the end, an unexpected injury crisis left his team below par. Their saving grace was that goalscorers Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba stayed healthy – as their absence early this season as proved. Sure, they still won two cups, but a deeper squad could have achieved much more. Some would put that down to bad luck, but a manager – especially with that much financial muscle - has to factor in the possibility of injuries at the beginning of the season and Mourinho chose not to bother. Instead, he tried to beat all comers with one hand tied behind his back!
I think Chelsea will be the poorer for his absence, though, especially given that he had already deepened his squad this season with the arrival of the likes of Belletti, Alex, Ben Haim, Sidwell and Pizzaro. That is not saying they won’t be challenging for honours. They certainly have players to match any club in England. Watching Chelsea lose to Man U the other day, I couldn’t imagine Mourinho doing nothing to address Mikel Obi’s sending off with one of his astute substitutions. Avram Grant did just that – nothing – and Chelsea lost a game they could have shut down under Mourinho. For me, the game that best demonstrates Mourinho’s quality and courage as a coach was the spectacular FA Cup clash with Tottenham last season, when with his team trailing 3-1 at half time, he tossed in his full cavalry to salvage a remarkable draw.
Okay, I’d better stop waxing lyrical about Mourinho’s coaching before you think I’ve fallen in love with the man! Point is: For all his other annoying traits, Mourinho is a damned a good coach. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes next – my bet would be one of Italy’s top teams. Wouldn’t it be ironic if he ended up at Juventus – taking over from Ranieri yet again?? More interesting for me would be a move to AC Milan, my favourite Serie A team. Would I be forced to become a Mourinho fan then? Ouch!!
If you read my earlier posts you would know for sure that Mourinho isn’t exactly my favorite person. Arrogant, loud, full of himself, sore loser and just simply annoying, are all apt descriptions of the Portuguese coach. But there can be no denying that the man knows a thing or two about coaching.
Sure, he had Roman Abramovich’s millions to play around with, but I think it takes much more than money to achieve success. For one thing, his predecessor, Claudio Ranieri, came up short on all fronts in his one season at the helm of the “Roman Revolution”. Mourinho settled in quickly, claiming the Premiership title at his first attempt and repeating the feat the following year. Besides, Mourinho had already proved his worth in leading modest Porto to Champions League glory in 2004.
Mourinho certainly ruffled feathers in his three year stint in England, not least those of fellow high-flyers Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez. And he was great entertainment for the press corps as well, spouting quotable quotes on almost every occasion. To my mind, Mourinho’s one failing was that same brash arrogance that made him such great copy. He started last season with a lean squad of 21 players, proclaiming that was all he needed to win a third championship and finally bring home the Champions League. In the end, an unexpected injury crisis left his team below par. Their saving grace was that goalscorers Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba stayed healthy – as their absence early this season as proved. Sure, they still won two cups, but a deeper squad could have achieved much more. Some would put that down to bad luck, but a manager – especially with that much financial muscle - has to factor in the possibility of injuries at the beginning of the season and Mourinho chose not to bother. Instead, he tried to beat all comers with one hand tied behind his back!
I think Chelsea will be the poorer for his absence, though, especially given that he had already deepened his squad this season with the arrival of the likes of Belletti, Alex, Ben Haim, Sidwell and Pizzaro. That is not saying they won’t be challenging for honours. They certainly have players to match any club in England. Watching Chelsea lose to Man U the other day, I couldn’t imagine Mourinho doing nothing to address Mikel Obi’s sending off with one of his astute substitutions. Avram Grant did just that – nothing – and Chelsea lost a game they could have shut down under Mourinho. For me, the game that best demonstrates Mourinho’s quality and courage as a coach was the spectacular FA Cup clash with Tottenham last season, when with his team trailing 3-1 at half time, he tossed in his full cavalry to salvage a remarkable draw.
Okay, I’d better stop waxing lyrical about Mourinho’s coaching before you think I’ve fallen in love with the man! Point is: For all his other annoying traits, Mourinho is a damned a good coach. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes next – my bet would be one of Italy’s top teams. Wouldn’t it be ironic if he ended up at Juventus – taking over from Ranieri yet again?? More interesting for me would be a move to AC Milan, my favourite Serie A team. Would I be forced to become a Mourinho fan then? Ouch!!
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