MID SEASON REPORT CARD. (BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE) Part 2

Yesterday was for the top 4 this season... On to the assessment of the next 4 clubs on the table..

LIVERPOOL

Coach: Brendan Rogers

Current League Position: 5th (36 pts)

Position at This stage last season: 10th (25 pts)

Best Player So Far: Luis Suarez

Worst Player So Far: Iago Aspas

Liverpool have been one of the most delightful sides to watch in Europe this season. Clouds of doubts hung over the club at the beginning of the season with pundits predicting a Europa League spot as the best come May 2014. All these doubts have been seemingly dispelled with the early season form of Daniel Sturridge and the current form of Uruguayan hit man Luis Suarez. Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva's form in the middle of the park have maintained balance in the team. Also, Mahmadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel's defensive awareness (and sometimes attacking ventures) have aided the side at certain times in the season and kept the in the title race. Their push for the title will be further enhanced if Sturridge rediscovers his early season form and Suarez is kept out of trouble. Also Brendan Rogers and the fitness team must aim at maintaining the fitness of stalwarts such as Gerrard, Lucas, Sakho and Coutinho.

TEAM RATING: 7.16/10

GRADE: B+

MANCHESTER UNITED

Coach: David Moyes

Current League Position: 6th (34 pts)

Position at this stage last season: 1st (49 pts)

Best Player So Far: Wayne Rooney

Worst Player So Far: Wilfried Zaha

Manchester United have not had the best seasons so far. David Moyes in the early stages of the season seemed to have no ideas as to what he was doing but in the last few games, he seems to have found the formula Sir Alex used to get the best out his side. The form of Wayne Rooney has been very impressive playing out of position but playing there well. Also Patrice Evra, Van Persie and Phil Jones have impressed in a seemingly ordinary United side. Talk of mounting a challenge for the title seems far fetched but United may just have a say in the final outcome in May. Moyes must get the best out of the entire side and also get the best out of Marouane Fellaini who hasn't as bad as thought. The defense must close up shop as they have conceded 22 goals so far. 

TEAM RATING: 6,95/10

GRADE: C+

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Coach: Tim Sherwood

Current League Position: 7th(34 pts)

Position at this stage last season: 3rd (36 pts)

Best Player So Far: Andros Townsend

Worst Player So Far: Erik Lamela

Spurs have been by far one of the poorest top sides in Europe this season. With the amount of money spent in the off season and the kinds of performances displayed on the pitch, it can be said that yes they have been horrible. This stems from Andre Villas Boas's inability to replace Gareth Bale adequately. Also the inability of the forwards to bang in the goals regularly and the porous nature of the defense. AVB's dismissal seems to have improved the output of the side so far (no disrespect to Tim Sherwood's abilities as a manager). The best Tottenham can hope for now is a Europa league spot for now.

TEAM RATING: 6.85/10

GRADE: C

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Coach: Alan Pardew

Current League Position: 8th (33 pts)

Position at this stage last season: 15th (20 pts)

Best Player So Far: Mathieu Debuchy

Worst Player So Far: Gabriel Obertan

Good times seem to have returned to the Magpies camp this season but on a stop-start basis. They had a good month in November with a 100% record. Alan Pardew seems to have improved the attacking aspect  of the team to the detriment of the defense. The record of conceding 24 goals in 19 games is more than enough evidence . Yohan Cabaye and Yoan Gouffran have been outstanding for the Magpies in their various positions this season. Loic Remy seems to be enjoying himself upfront with 10 goals in 16 appearances. Mr. Pardew must improve on his defense and keep his forwards sharp and a Spot in Europe will be guaranteed.

TEAM RATING: 6.92/10

GRADE: C+

MID SEASON REPORT CARD. (BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE)

The English Premiership. The greatest league with some of the best teams, exceptional players, great goals, crunching tackles, wonderful saves, colorful managers, passionate fans, filthy rich owners, epic moments and the inability to predict seemingly predictable matches. Yes, that's what the Premiership is about and we've been through half of it. At the halfway point, clubs are getting ready to assess themselves in order to make plans for the penultimate part of the season and I'm here with my Report Card of each club (Plan on assessing 4 clubs daily). 

ARSENAL

Coach: Arsene Wenger

Current League Position: 1st (42 pts)

Position at This stage last season: 5th (33 pts)

Best Player So Far: Aaron Ramsey

Worst Player So Far: Yaya Sanogo

The Gunners so far this season have certainly overachieved by their standards and find themselves at the top of the pile at the halfway point of the season. A horrendous start to the season with a 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa threatened to be like other seasons if not worse, but the deadline day signing of Mesut Ozil, the early season form of Olivier Giroud, defensive stability and the current form of Aaron Ramsey have led to their current standing in the league. Ability to grind out results and resort to the not so nice side of football to get the results also count for that. In order to maintain this position and grab the ultimate in May, they've got to keep their players fresh and free of all injuries and the signing of a clinical striker to help in their charge for the title.

TEAM RATING: 7.07/10

GRADE: B-

MANCHESTER CITY

Coach: Manuel Pelligrini

Current League Position: 2nd  (41 pts)

Position at this stage last season: 2nd (42 pts)

Best Player So Far: David Silva

Worst Player So Far: Stefan Jovetic

Manchester City have been having a sort of season no one can as yet describe. A perfect record at home and a very horrible away record by their standards (3 wins 2 draws 4 losses). The ability to maintain the  form of forward Sergio Aguero and keep him fit is essential in their charge for the title. Also, an improvement in away form and the ability to keep key players happy and fit will guarantee consistent performances. Manuel Pellegrini should help Joe Hart regain his form and confidence and City may be crowned Champions come May 2014.

TEAM RATING: 7.11/10

GRADE: B+

CHELSEA

Coach: Jose Mourinho

Current League Position: 3rd (40 pts)

Position at this stage last season: 3rd (38 pts)

Best Player So Far: Eden Hazard

Worst Player So Far: Demba Ba

The return of the Special One to Stamford Bridge was supposed to work wonders for Chelsea but so far they look and ordinary side based on performances and results. Toothless performances from Forward line makes their hardworking midfield look redundant. Also Jose Mourinho's refusal to play Juan Mata on a regular basis is a bane to Chelsea's progress this season. Eden Hazard and the entire Defense of Chelsea has been the bright spots in an otherwise underwhelming campaign. To improve performances , Juan Mata MUST play and Jose must get the best out of his forwards.

TEAM RATING: 6.96/10

GRADE: C+

EVERTON

Coach: Roberto Martinez

Current League Position: 4th (37 pts)

Position at this stage last season: 6th (33 pts)

Best Player So Far: Seamus Coleman

Worst Player So Far: Nikica Jelavic

The Toffees so far this season have performed beyond expectations going as far as venturing into uncharted territories of the top four. The form of Romelu Lukaku and Seamus Coleman have been a factor in their rise coupled with Roberto Martinez's tactical ability. Their defense is one of the meanest this season (joint first with Arsenal) conceding 18 goals in 19 matches . The performance of Gareth Barry in front of the back line ensures this statistic. Their ability to keep fit and maintain these performances will go a long way in the push for a return to Europe .

TEAM RATING: 7.03/10

GRADE: B-

A Fury Of Red Blazing Across The Globe Today and Tomorrow

"Its a bird! It's a plane! It's La Furia Roja"

As I watch the U20 World Cup match between Spain and Ghana, I ask myself 'when will the domination of Spain in football come to an end?' I realized it was a rhetorical question as I was watching a junior team of the best team on the planet play. It's quite scary to think of a continued Spanish dominance because this doesn't exist only on the international scene but on the club scene as well . With the performances of their clubs on the European scene Spain's dominance doesn't seem to be waning anytime soon. Let me not deviate as this is about Spanish national teams not the clubs.

This dominance wasn't always so as Spain were regarded as perennial underachievers. Always qualifying for international tournaments but failing to live up to the hype that followed. It was mainly as a result of the lack of stability on the bench and in the dressing room . A certain calmness was lacking and the presence of large egos made it uneasy for Spain to progress despite all its talents. Fast forward to 2004, Luis Aragones was signed on to steady the ship. He had a false start in his first year at the Euro's in Portugal. He was maintained and this proved to be a masterstroke. He qualified them to the world cup in Germany where they put up a good show only to be stopped by the great Zidane. He led them to victory in Austria and Switzerland. There he introduced the famed tiki-taka football which mesmerized the world and all opponents. He also put the mentality of teamwork over individual talent which helped curtail the egos. Aragones passed the baton to Vicente del Bosque. He did the best thing for the team by not fixing what wasn't broken. Rather , he found ways to compliment this Spanish team by drafting in younger players. This was made possible through the good work of La Masia, Real Madrid B and the teams all over Spain.

The emphasis placed on youth in the Iberian region has helped the national team as the philosophy of Luis Aragones was maintained. The culture of passing the ball all over the pitch and starving your opponent off possession and making him tired as he chases the ball. This has transferred the winning mentality from the national team to the youth teams. This is can be seen as the Spanish u21 side successfully defended their European Trophy in Israel using a typically similar tactic.

This success though doesn't all go to the coach as his playing personnel make his ideas seen on the pitch . The likes of Casillas, Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, David Villa etc .. have made this sort of play a joy to watch . The upcoming bunch of Isco, Delofeu, Bartra, Thiago,Jese Rodriguez and others are going to ensure that this style of play doesn't fade away anytime soon.

A little tip for the punters . Place your bets on Spain in any tournament as they are a good value for money in the Confederations Cup, U20 Youth Championship, World Cup and many other tournaments to come. La Furia Roja doenst seem like slowing down anytime soon and this doesnt bode well for the others. For us the neutrals, we just sit back and enjoy the Spanish dominance

REPORT CARD OF THE CONFEDERATIONS CUP PARTICIPANTS

TEAM: Japan (The Blue Samurai)

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Winners Of 2011 AFC Asian Cup

SUMMARY OF THEIR TOURNAMENT

Placed on Group A alongside  Brazil, Italy and Mexico, they started off with a 3-0 defeat against the host nation but played some of the most delightful attacking football in the tournament as they served a classic game against the Azzurri which was only won by a Sebastian Giovinco tap-in. They served a similar thing in the game against Mexico but a double from Javier Hernandez consigned them to a campaign of successive defeats.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

Due to the attacking nature of their play, their standout performers have been Shinji Kagawa and  Shinji Okazaki They have had a good tournament scoring three goals between them and Kagawa setting up one more . Though they conceded quite a lot, Eiji Kawashima was also a top performer for the Blue Samurai in between the posts making crucial saves at times.

COMMENT

Having already qualified to the 2014 showpiece in Brazil, Coach Alberto Zaccheroni has minor problems as he has to find a strong center forward to compliment the efforts of Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki. Also he needs to find good defenders as most of their work up front was undone by some shoddy defensive work at the back. If attended to, they will go beyond their best of an appearance at the round of 16.

Position: 7th

Neymar To Barcelona: A Legend in the making or A Monumental Flop in the Making

Life is a sum of all the choices we make. Some smart, others not so smart. Sometimes we make these choices as a result of what we feel, others too based on what we think and some based on what those around us say or think. Whatever it is that lead us to making those choices may come back to haunt us or make us happy. We may or may not regret them but its all in the future so we might as well enjoy the best parts of it.

 Now to my main topic, Neymar Da Silva Santos, the 21 year old Brazilian magician. This young lad currently has the world at his feet (literally). Gifted with magical feet and the skill of Ronaldinho(my view).

His ability to make magic happen in perilous times for his club and country making him a prized asset for club and country.

His skill did not go unnoticed as some of the giants in football came knocking at his door for his signature. Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, noveau-riche PSG just to name a few chased this genius. He was spoilt for choice. At 21, he's a  three time Campeonato Paulista winner, a Copa Libertadores to his name, an Olympic Silver Medalist not forgetting his numerous individual awards won all over the continent.

At a tender age of 21 and such talent, he had shown the South American continent what they had to see hence the need to move to better himself . He eventually chose La Liga and Catalonia as his preferred  home with Barcelona being his new team snubbing Real Madrid who made an offer twice as much as Barcelona made and a higher wage packet. This could be seen as a love for the game rather than love for personal gain. The Big Question here is WHY? This unfortunately can be answered  he alone but will this bode well for him in the end? As seen in times past, a footballer's success is attributed to himself, likewise his failure so take heed Neymar.

His Barcelona move could be a success by dint of certain reasons and also a failure as a result of other factors but first lets see why this move could be a success.


1. The South American Flavor

Most football players have been able or unable to perform to the highest levels due to their inability to adapt to new surroundings but in Neymar's case, this shouldn't be a problem. The presence of Dani Alves( who Neymar regards as his big brother), Adriano and  Alexis Sanchez . This set up should help him adapt quickly in Catalonia.


2. The Barcelona Stability

Barcelona is a club noted for its stability in the dugout . Also the stability in the dressing room. this all acts as a tonic to help him succeed in Barcelona. The presence of calming presences of  Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta might help Neymar succeed in his new environment.


3. His Individual Brilliance

Neymar has ability to create magic out of nothing, a weapon that Neymar will (or can ) use as a lot of Barcelona's opponents who will sit back and try to catch Barcelona on the counter. With this asset, the burden of unlocking tight defenses will be lifted off the usual suspects .


Now like all humans,the probability of success stands at  1/2 whereas the other 1/2 stands for failure.

Neymar has all the qualities to be a success and legend at Barcelona but then again, the possibility of failure

stands . Here in my opinion are some reasons why Neymar wont make it in Barcelona.


1. Messidependecia

Barcelona's Independence on Lionel Messi cannot be denied. A Barcelona without Messi is unimaginable. Without him, they seem toothless and beatable. PSG almost seized on it whereas Bayern Munich exploited it relentlessly. Some fans will say this is the reason why Neymar was signed but I say wasnt it for this same reason Villa and Alexis Sanchez were signed? Is it not for this same reason, Tello, Bojan, Pedro and other La Masia products were promoted?



2. His Position in the Team

His style of play has been likened to that of Barca great Ronaldinho. This comparison might tempt Villanova (or whoever coaches Barca) to play Neymar in the hole behind the main striker. this will be a failed attempt as proven in Brazil's game against England . Not to say he was a flop but he wasnt as effective as we have to know him to be.



3. Not Being the Star Man

Another reason why Neymar might not make is because he is not going to be the star man here . Neymar is used to being the man around which the play revolves in Brazil and at Santos. Messi is firmly the man here and hence Neymar must play to put him in the spotlight. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is evidence of this fact. Going from the poster boy of Brazil and Santos to a member of a team will be a tough step for Neymar and his ability to handle this transition is going to quite interesting

MY VIEW

Neymar's talent and ability cannot be questioned his status a global superstar has being cemented but all this hype could cause his downfall. Being named in the same breath as Ronaldo and Messi and being compared to legends such as Ronaldinho and Pele wont help his cause. Besides signing for Barcelona puts him in an environment where in the minds of many he is already a better player than he is ever likely to become. These all indicate the makings of a failure at Barcelona.

Aftermath of Champions League final

All these are just satirical and just for laughs

1.Robben Declares He's the best player to have played in a UCL final

After heartbreak in 2010 and 2012, Arjen Robben declares "I was made to headline finals and I'm the best to play in a final ever!" he goes on to call out Iker Casillas who is somewhere in Spain celebrating the impending departure of Jose Mourinho with Sergio Ramos, Iniesta and Xavi and also Petr Cech with the aim of redeeming his image against them.

2. Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski claim their winners' medals in the tunnel from Jupp Heynckes and a smiling Götze is heard muttering , " this is why I signed up for them" and Lewandowski also claiming, I had to miss to gain a place in next season's squad.

3. Pep Guardiola is seen in Barcelona telling Messi, " I don't need you anymore .. I've got Robben" but is forced to eat his words when Robben misses great chances against Chelsea in the Super Cup and Bayern Lose the game .

4. Jurgen Klopp is attacked by Two men in Red and loses his arse only for FC Bayern supremos Uli Hoeness and Karl Heinze Rummenigge to unveil a new exhibit in the FC Bayern Munich Museum on Monday.

5. Dortmund supremo Watzke backtracks on his words and starts poaching stars such as Julian Draxler  and Luuk De Jong both from rivals Schalke and Moenchengladbach respectively and declares during their unveiling that 'Bayern did it , so can we' to the dismay of Schalke and Moenchengladbach fans

MY TAKE ON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2012/2013 FC BAYERN MUNICH VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND (A FAIRYTALE ENDING OR A BANISHING OF FINAL DEMONS)

The 21^st Uefa Champions League Final taking place in the historical Wembly Arena hosts the first ever all German final which features two of the most exciting teams in Europe this season , Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich. This all German final represents a power shift in European football but let me not bore you with this and move straight to the point!

Introducing tonight’s finalists:

FC Bayern Munich

Die Roten coached by the highly experienced Jupp Heynckes have had a remarkable season, steamrolling most opponents in all competitions. They have been highly effective and relentless in dispatching opponents including Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal this season.

The German Bundesliga was secured with a 25 point gap over Dortmund with a number of games to spare going ahead to set a new record of 91 points in a season. They cemented their dominance by setting up a final in the DFB Pokal with VFB Stuttgart.

PATH TO FINAL

They were placed in Group F along with Valencia, LOSC Lille and BATE Borisov. They topped the group level on points with Valencia but ended up as group winners by dint of the goal difference ruling.

They were paired with Arsenal in the Round of 16. They won the first leg 3-1 at the Emirates and lost 2-0 in the return leg at home (their only home loss this season) but went on to the quarter final stage as a result of the away goals rule.

Here the resurgent Juventus were their opponents but they dispatched them with unnerving ease by defeating them 2-0 both home and away (4-0 on aggregate)

The semi final bought on the mighty Barcelona but Bayern thought them a lesson in football by thrashing them 4-0 in Germany and finishing the job  by defeating them 3-0 in the return leg in Spain ,completing a 7-0 aggregate victory, a record for this stage of the competition

PLAYERS TO WATCH

DANTE:  A stalwart for Die Roten at the back this season. Signed from Borussia Moenchengladbach last summer, raising a few eyebrows has lowered all these eyebrows with his assured performances helping FCB set a record for the fewest number of goals conceded in a season in Germany

JAVI MARTINEZ: The talented midfielder signed from Athletic Bilbao  for a record fee justified this fee with  impressive performances alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger at the heart of the Bayern midfield. His pressing ability and passes from deep midfield may be a weapon in helping FCB emerge Champions.

THOMAS MULLER: A stellar season for the German international has seen him score 21 goals and chip in with 13 assists in 36 games this season with 8 goals and 2 assists in the Champions League. His work rate, ability to pick out passes and finishing are essential in ensuring a Bayern victory. A bet on him scoring at anytime is likely to yield dividends for the punters around.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND

A less impressive season for last season’s Bundesliga Champions as they were runners up to Bayern Munich this season. This can be accounted to an inconsistent start to the season and injuries to key players. The highlight of their season has been an amazing Champions League campaign chalking results at the death and classy performances.

PATH TO FINAL

 They began their journey to Wembly in the group of Death . A group filled with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax. They ended up as Group Winners with 14 points, 3 ahead of the mighty Real Madrid.

They went on to the knockout stages and had a tough pairing in the form of Shakhtar Donetsk. A draw in Ukraine and a victory in Germany confirmed their place in the quarter finals .

The quarter final came with Malaga. A stalemate in Spain tipped the scales slightly in Malaga’s favor. The odds went against them as Malaga scored twice in Germany but a goal at the death by Joel Santana sent them into the semi finals.

A rematch with Real Madrid was set up but a peerless performance by Robert Lewandowski in which he scored 4 goals all but booked their place in the semi final. This dream was almost shattered as a late rally by Real Madrid saw them concede two goals but held on to ensure their place in the final was confirmed.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

MATS HUMMELS: The former Bayern Munich youth star who defected to Dortmund a few years ago has been marvelous all season. He’s a ball playing central defender with an eye for goal. His strengths include his aerial prowess and his ability to pick a out a team mate from deep.

MARCO REUS: The left footed signing from Borrusia Moenchengladbach has had an impressive debut season scoring 18 goals and 11 assists in 39 appearances. His direct running and speed are essential to Dortmund’s style of play. Also his ability to shoot from distance and dribbling ability act as a danger to Bayern.

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI: Described by some as the best striker in Europe this season, the Polish international has been nothing but phenomenal this season. Topping the goal scoring charts in Germany with 24 goals in 29 appearances and 10 in 11 appearances in Europe taking him to 34 in 40 appearances in all competitions. His season highlights include the quadruple he scored against the mighty Real Madrid in the semi final at The Signal Iduna Park. His eye for goal might be a determining factor in the destination of the Trophy tonight.

MATCH FACTS (whoscored.com)

·         Bayern Munich have kept a clean sheet in their last four matches in Europe

·         Bayern have scored in each of their last 7 matches in Europe

·         Dortmund have not lost to Bayern in 9 of their last 10 meetings in all competitions

MY PREDICTION

A tight game with minor details settling but Bayern’s strength in depth might just do the trick and nick it for them.

Bayern 2-1 Dortmund