In Arsene do we still trust?

One can write a book, a series or even make an entire trilogy about Arsenal's rise to glory, their successes and their decline. One man that has lasted through all of that is French master tactician Arsene Wenger. The "Professor", as he is often tagged, redefined Arsenal when he was appointed in 1996. He has created four generations of Arsenal players and the fifth one is up and running. The only man one that can match up to Sir Alex's record is Wenger. Staying with the same club for more 15 years says a lot about the man and his loyalty towards the club. He could have easily managed the French national team and lead them to greater heights, instead he stuck with Arsenal and took it as his duty to reshape the club and not leave the fans hanging.

 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

If there is a club that I hate, it is Arsenal, even more than United since I am a Chelsea fan. But that's mainly due to Arsenal fans who believe Arsenal's recent misfortunes are all due to bad luck. To some extent yes, but not entirely. Let's not discuss Arsenal's illustrious years during the late nineties and the early 2000's. Everyone knows about that. It is also a well known fact that Arsenal have declined since 2005 and haven't won a trophy since then. What is the true reason for this? It is not bad luck. It is the periodic departure of important players. And who is to blame for all this? In my opinion its the clubs fault, maybe even the manager. 

Tony Adams was the last truly loyal player to have played for Arsenal. He once said that if a contract extension was placed in front of him, he would sign it without even reading it. That's the kind of commitment that is lacking in Arsenal. In the summer of 2005, Patrick Vieira left for Juventus leaving Arsenal captain less. Why would someone who is a captain at a world class club leave for another? One reason might be that the board were not resolute enough in their efforts to keep him. Another reason might be that foreign players don't always feel the same loyalty for an English club as a homegrown English player. 

Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams.

Well, whatever the reason maybe, he left and this started a trend that still continues. Pires, Henry, Ljunberg, Cambell, Ashley Cole and Wiltord all left and in the 2007/2008 season almost all of the invincibles were gone. In addition to that, the likes of Adebayor, Hleb and Nasri also left the club in subsequent years. One year back, another club captain, Fabregas left for Barcelona in search of trophies.   

Patrick Vieira moved to Juventus from Arsenal in 2005.


Now, after an outstanding season with Arsenal, captain Van Persie also desires to leave the club. He stated his reason to be the club's future plans. If Van Persie leaves, Arsenal will be left with an inexperienced squad and will surely suffer since most of Arsenal's goals were scored or created by the Dutchman. Wenger can be blamed for one thing, not spending enough money on players. After the shift to the Emirates stadium, Arsenal had no reasons to complain since the revenue generated provided them with enough cash. But Wenger's reluctance to invest heavily in the transfer market has often stung Arsenal's title hopes. The bargain buys of the likes of Henry, Vieira, Bergkamp and Pires were a one time thing and the same formula does not work all the time. Wenger was able to tutor those young talents into world class players, but that's an old tradition now. Two other great examples are Van Persie and Fabregas.

It is true that Wenger has the ability to transform an ordinary player into a special one but that is not enough. It is important to invest in proven players. The only notable signings, after the invincibles, made by Wenger were Arshavin, Nasri, Adebayor, Rosicky and now Podolski, as far as I can remember. There was also a certain Marc Overmars and Dennis Bergkamp once. In comparison to Utd, Chelsea and Man City, its laughable, especially in today's game where the transfer market is hot with players up for the grabs. Arsenal's signing of Podolski is a strange one. Neither is he young nor is he on top of his game, he is not even French. Wenger might be a few years late there. Now, if Van Persie leaves, it will have a devastating effect on Arsenal's attacking pedigree. However the singing of French attacker, Olivier Giroud seems to be a promising one, after his performances with Montpellier and the French national team.

New Arsenal signing Lukas Podolski


For the new season, Arsenal should have Wilshere back in action which will be a huge bonus. He is a great technical player and can prove to be the future of Arsenal as well as England. He also has the ability be a leader on the field and might be the future captain of Arsenal. If the Euros were anything to go by, Arshavin should also be back rejuvenated and in top form. Looking at the team now, Wenger will have to do a lot of work to muster a championship winning side. The idea is pretty far fetched but even if Van Persie leaves, Arsenal have the right ingredients to challenge for major trophies. The maturing of Walcott, the promise of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Frimpong could yet provide Arsenal with some hope.The key will be consistency and avoidance of injuries. One is forced to wonder if Arsenal could have won the league if they ever had an injury free season. We could find out next year. But first they need to contend with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and champions Manchester City.

The beginning, the fall and the return of the "Bison"

No, I am not referring to Christopher Nolan's Batman series. I am speaking of Chelsea midfielder and powerhouse, Michael Essien. The Ghanaian international joined Chelsea at the wake of Chelsea's first premier league title in the summer of 2005. Then Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, was quick to spot the player's potential. The 04/05 champions league campaign saw Essien and his former club Lyon perform exceptionally, managing to top a group consisting of Manchester United, Fenerbahce and Sparta Prague. Lyon progressed as far as the quarter finals where they lost to PSV, but in their path they lay waste to Werder Bremen, defeating them 10-2 on aggregate. Essien was one of the many players instrumental in Lyon's progression. At the end of the season, Chelsea continued their spending spree and snapped him up for 24.4 million pounds.


Michael Essien for Lyon.


His first season at Chelsea provided the fans with only a glimpse of what he is capable of. Due to the presence of Claude Makelele in the team, Essien had to forfeit the defensive midfield role and play in a more free role along with Lampard. The Blues won the league title for the second time in 2006. In the 06/07 season, Essien was truly unleashed upon the premier league and champions league. He mastered the defensive mid role which mean't that even the great Makelele had to take a back seat. But Essien wasn't an ordinary defensive midfield player. Unlike Makelele, he liked to push forward whenever the chance presented itself. He scored a notable number of goals, the stunning late strike against Arsenal being the most memorable one. There wasn't to be a third consecutive league title for Chelsea but they did manage a domestic cup double by winning both the Carling cup and the FA cup. Quite understandably, Essien was awarded the best Chelsea player of the season ahead of the brilliant Drogba, who won the premier league golden boot award. 



Essien tackling Flamini of Arsenal at the Bridge during the 06/07 season.

By then, Essien had become a crucial part of the team and was also one of the 9 untouchables of Jose Mourinho. He had a great ability of breaking up play and charging forward with the ball. His immense strength and tank like characteristics earned him the nickname of the "bison". In him, Chelsea had the best defensive midfielder in the world and perhaps the most intimidating. The next year, which saw the sack of Mourinho, Essien was like a leader in the team. Chelsea encountered all sorts of problems during the 07/08 season, from the appointment of Avram grant to the injuries to Lampard and Terry. Essien had a very central role in the team and was fast becoming one of the senior players. Along with the likes of Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Michael Ballack, Essien managed to revive Chelsea's faltering season which allowed them to challeng for the title late on in the season. Unfortunately Chelsea finished 2nd after a final day tussle with Utd. Even in the champions league final, Chelsea failed to overcome Utd after a heart break in the penalty shootout. Anyway, Essien had a great season. He was now an established player at the club.


Essien with Germany captain Michael Ballack.

The next two seasons proved to be unfortunate for Essien. He suffered an injury to his knee which took a  while to repair. Without him, Chelsea lost a lot of their fervor and tenacity. The midfield was weakened with Mikel filling the whole left by Essien. He did return to action a few times, but the injury reoccurred and his appearances were limited. He missed much of Chelsea's 09/10 title winning season. Ballack often played in his role. The 10/11 season saw Essien make a recovery and had a decent season. He no longer had the same energy as before. Mikel was improving and was often preferred to him. However, Essien managed to feature in most games. Last season, injury struck Essien again. He was to undergo an operation which subsequently rule him out for more than half the season. When he made his return against Sunderland, he looked but a shadow of his former self. He looked like a completely different player. Fans began to think whether his days in the club were numbered. Mikel was now a firm favorite for the defensive mid role and  he performed his duties brilliantly. The Nigerian was also instrumental in Chelsea's champions league triumph.


Essien has encountered several injury problems with his knee.


The future was looking bleak for Essien. Had the time come to let him go? Was he at the twilight of his career? The answer is no. Chelsea are currently touring the United States as part of their pre season preparations. They played three games till now, against Seattle Sounders, PSG and the MLS All-stars. Essien was brilliant in all three of them. It's seems like he is out to prove a point, not only to the club but also himself. He has started to play like he did 4 or 5 years ago. The true Michael Essien has returned. Although it'll be interesting to see if he will be selected in the main team for the league season with the likes of Ramires, Mikel and Meireles waiting on the wings. Nonetheless, its wonderful to watch the "Bison" back in touch and form. If he continues like this, the premier league better watch out.


Essien back in training and ready to go.

2012 London Olympics: A preview of the beautiful game

The official logo of the 2012 Summer Olympics to be held in London.

The Olympics are back in a football nation. Expect a lot more stress on the game than some of the other traditional Olympic sports such as sprinting or swimming. I am not complaining. It will be wonderful to watch the matches as well as the other sports taking place in well known British stadiums. Five stadiums are to be used for the preliminary matches - St. James' Park in Newcastle, Old Trafford in Manchester, Hampden Park in Glasgow, Millenium Stadium in Cardiff and Coventry City Stadium in Coventry. The final will be held in the 90,000 capacity Wembley stadium in London, home of the English national team.

Cardiff's Millenium stadium will be one of the six stadiums hosting the football tournament.

Holders Argentina will not have the chance to defend their title due to their failure to qualify for the event. Having beaten Nigeria in the final of the previous Olympics held in Beijing, Argentina must be distraught at missing out at this opportunity. However their South American arch rivals, Brazil, will be playing and understandably as  favorites. Consisting of great young talents such as Neymar, Ganso, Moura and Oscar along with a few established players, they look like a well balanced attacking side. Their recent 2-0 friendly victory over Great Britain would have only raised their confidence further. Brazil's group consists of Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand. It  might seem like an easy group but in the Olympics you never know. Egypt could prove to be a tough cookie. Having said that, the Selecao should still make it through the group with ease.

Alexandre Pato and Neymar, two of Brazil's most important players.

Reigning World cup and European champions Spain is pitted against the likes of Japan, Honduras and Morocco. Despite the absence of key players from the Euros, Spain still look impressive. Jordi Alba, Juan Mata and Javier Martinez are the only call ups from the Euro squad. Mata and Martinez will be looking to prove a point after being left on the bench for much the Euros. Alba, however played every game and will be eager to impress further. He scored in the Euro final against Italy and a good run in the Olympics would help him secure a  starting place in his new club Barcelona. Other players to watch out for will be Manchester United keeper David De Gea and Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu.

Juan Mata, one of the established players in the Spain team.

Group B consists of Mexico, South Korea, Gabon and Switzerland. With no clear favorites, this group could provide the fans with a bit of entertainment and well contested matches. Notable players from Mexico will include Carlos Salcido and Giovanni Dos Santos, once a promising young talent. Having won the recent U-23 tournament, this Mexican team will look to capitalize on it by providing a decent show at the Olympics. The Koreans are regular fixtures in the Olympic games and could provide the Mexicans with a challenge. Gabon are a relatively unknown entity in football but so were Senegal in the 2002 world cup and we all know what happened then.

Players from the Gabon national team.

Finally we get to the group of the hosts and perhaps the group of death. The hosts Great Britain will be accompanied by Senegal, UAE and Uruguay. I live in the UAE and to watch them playing on a world stage will be incredible. Of late, UAE has been playing astonishingly well, beating Hungary 5-0 and New Zealand 4-2. They will be going into the tournament with a lot of confidence. Uruguay will be fielding one of the strongest strike partnerships with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Both of them have impressed with their respective clubs, Liverpool and Napoli. It'll be interesting to see whether they can coordinate to help their team progress in the competition. Speaking of strike partnerships, Ba and Cisse won't be featuring for Senegal but the Africans are still a decent side that can provide a challenge for the world's best teams.

Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani for Uruguay.

Great Britain, managed by Stuart Pearce, will be featuring a host of promising players. One of them is Chelsea man Daniel Sturridge. Having been left out of the England squad for the Euros, he will have a point to prove in a bid to stake a claim in England's side as well as Chelsea. Other promising players are Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal, Ryan Bertrand of Chelsea, Danny Rose of Tottenham, Tom Cleverly of Utd, Scott Sinclair of Swansea and Adam Johnson of Man City. The three senior players will include Welshmen Giggs and Bellamy, and Micah Richards. It came as a surprise to many that Beckham was left out. Having lost his place in the English team, this would have been the ideal tournament for him. Gareth Bale was another surprising exclusion.

Stuart Pearce will be taking charge of the Great Britain team.

Not as exciting as the world cup or the Euros, the Olympics should nevertheless be an exciting competition to watch. It is known to produce great players of the future and there is plenty of scope for that this time around. The first round of fixture commences on the 26th of July with UAE facing off against Uruguay and the hosts entertaining Senegal later on to kick off group A. The football filled summer continues. 

Written in the Stars?

11th February 2012, after a lackluster display at Goodison Park, Chelsea is forced to the 5th position in the Barclays Premier League, just about 17 points behind the leaders, Manchester City. Soon comes the round of 16 first leg of the UEFA Champion's League tie against Napoli at Stadio San Paolo where Chelsea can't handle the fast paced attack of the Italians and lose 3-1 after scoring the first goal. For any Chelsea fan even hearing the words, 'Champion's League' brings about feelings of breaking agony and desperation. These feelings obviously spur from the fact that Chelsea hasn't had not won it ever, even after coming so close to it every season. It's like that seasonal pie at that famous bakery, all your friends have had it, you are always in the line and can smell the deliciousness but when you get there, it's all done. Well, all that changed in the season of 2011/2012.

Lavezzi scoring one past Cech

Okay, back to the thrashing in Naples. Soon after another defeat in the league, everyone knew what was coming. André Villas-Boas follows the ill fate and the wrath of Roman, as did many of his predecessors, and is sacked from his position of head coach at Chelsea. Now, we can talk about the negative and positive aspects of this decision but let's not get into that. Upcoming fixtures after the sacking? FA Cup 5th round replay, away to City, London derby with Spurs and that Champion's League 2nd leg. Yup, every sane Chelsea fan had given up on the season and just prayed enough to finish the season in top 4. "Oh gosh, we might become like Liverpool!", I thought in disgust. But wait, who will manage Chelsea now? Well AVB did appoint a local Chelsea hero as his assistant manager who rose to the occasion with passion and might, Mr. Roberto Di Matteo.

Inspiring Roberto Di Matteo

Under Di Matteo, the team seemed to be replenished. They were clearly playing to win now and not just survive. Maybe it was the senior players not liking AVB, maybe it was AVB's rotating formations or future thinking but I think it hit the players pretty hard of what was going on and Di Matteo, being fueled by John Terry, excellently channeled those frustations into the fields and got the best out of the players. And so the magic began.

It's really hard to put in words the exhilaration from the Chelsea vs. Napoli 2nd leg game. The players didn't care about any trophy or tournament during the game, the objective was just to win. And they did win with great goals and by clearly playing better than the opposition, luck used 0%. Next up, Benefica in the quarter-finals. Seemed to be a pretty even fixture and again Chelsea over-powered them home and away with no special luck powers. But before even it sinks in that from such a disaster of a season Chelsea has made it to the semi-finals of the Champion's League and also punished Spurs to reach the FA Cup final, it became clear to most straight thinking and logic following people that Chelsea's magic run will come to an end at the hands of the mighty Barcelona. First leg, Chelsea display an excellent defensive front and even manage to sneak in a goal by who else but Didier Drogba. Chelsea not playing entertaining football? Yes. Chelsea using luck to win? No. Also, important to note, it is not easy for players to play so defensively. They are naturally inclined towards taking that run far wide and also while playing at the back, one small mistake will cause you the game. Anyway, bottom line, advantage Chelsea. Chelsea fans more shocked than Barca players. But I'm pretty sure the Catalans believed pretty strongly that they were gonna finish off Chelsea in the 2nd leg at Camp Now. And thus begins the drama filled 2nd leg. Chelsea, fully aware of the attacking power of Barca, come in with even more of a defensive outset than the first leg. Shortly before the first half ends, Barcelona have scored 2 goals, Gary Cahill gets injured and Chelsea's captain gets a red card. So, Chelsea are playing without any natural centerbacks and Barca are playing like their weekly attack and defense practice drill. Blues' fans trying to convince themselves, it's okay, this was bound to happen, all over now. But before the ref gets a chance to blow the whistle for half-time, Chelsea gets spurge of hope from a brillant volley by Ramires. Away goal advantage, will Chelsea force Barca to take a sip of their own medicine? 

The 2nd half of the game put every Chelsea fan's heart into their mouths and drove Barca fans to a high state of frustation where expensive iPhones are equivalent to a cheap glass for smashing to the ground. Yeah, the match had shifted to Chelsea's latter half, shot after shot, pass after pass and miss after miss. Some chances wasted because Barca players made some sort of a mistake in the execution and most chances wasted because of Chelsea's defensive resilience. So yeah, less luck more skill. Then came the penalty. Who else to take but the world's best, Lionel Messi. The world's best who had never before scored against this English opposition, failed to score again. So, was this Chelsea's luck that stopped Messi from scoring or maybe just Messi not being able to handle the pressure of the given situation like a world class player should? Then came the shining moment of the game, Fernando Torres finishes the job. Let's see, could it be Chelsea's luck that forced Barca to bring up their entire defensive lineup upfront? I'm gonna go with a no. Then comes the final against Bayern Munich in Allianz Arena, which happens to be their home ground. Chelsea again put up a defensive front but finding their glimmers of attack as well. And after a late goal from Drogba again, Chelsea manages to finish the normal time with 1-1. Then comes that moment again, Robben to take a penalty in extra time. Again maybe the pressure of playing a final or playing against his old team forces him to miss. Also, the great hands of Petr Cech. The game goes to penalties and Chelsea fans have gotten used to this feeling of things not going their way by now. As everyone knows the Germans are masters at taking penalties, freshly beating Real Madrid on penalties, while as history dictates most of Chelsea's penalties have not gone their way. But the Chelsea players manage to handle their nerves better and prove themselves a better team and crown themselves the Champions of Europe for the first ever time!

Chelsea's celebration parade in London

So, to sum it up. 'Luck' was mostly against Chelsea at most situations. Coach fired, getting a draw with Napoli in the 5th round, getting a draw with Barca in the semifinals, playing the final at the opponents home stadium and settling things at what the opponent is best at. Some other things were against Chelsea, like John Terry missing out half of the semi-final and the final and some other key players missing the final, but that was due to the player's own doings and discipline. I feel it was all about what was going inside all the players' heads which enabled them to display that passion to win. Let me state these feelings as bullets just because it looks nicer, especially after that giant paragraph, so in no particular order-

1. Midseason shock after AVB's departure.
2. Need to display passion for the club, specially when an old hero is the coach.
3. Revenge that Barcelona semifinal from two years back.
4. Constant disappointment and frustation of coming close to winning the UCL.
5. Not winning the final means not playing in the tournament next season. (On top of that, our spot will be taken by Spurs!)
6. Filling that empty space for the UCL trophy in the cabinet and in Roman's heart.

Pumped by all this, Chelsea proved to the world how to excel against all odds. I will agree with you that Chelsea didn't play striking beautiful football along the way and wasn't maybe better than the opposition at times. But, their objective of the game was winning. If you can come with the strategy to wear out the best passing and attacking side of the world and beat someone at their own backyard, you clearly are playing high level football. Still singing Chelsea was super lucky and play ugly football? Well, haters gonna hate.

TL;DR- Chelsea won the Champion's League with pure skill not luck.

Every man needs a partner, even on the pitch

The classic 4-4-2 formation is a thing of the past. Ever since the Dutch came up with "Total football" during the 70's, teams have been playing in all sorts of formations. Now, the most prominent formations include one striker with maybe two wingers or a supporting striker behind the main center forward. These are adopted by most of the big and successful clubs such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea. Nowadays there is a lot of stress on the midfield and teams like to solidify that area for more protection. How often do we see Benzema and Higuain play together for Madrid? I have rarely seen it. Despite this some teams still deploy two strikers side by side and the combination of two strikers can prove to be lethal and menacing.

The greatest strike partnership the premier league has ever seen existed between Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke when they played for Manchester United in the late 90's. It was often termed as "Black Magic" and it was truly magical. A telepathic connection existed between the two as if they shared the same mind. Both were equally good in quality and experience, Yorke having played for Aston Villa, Cole having played for Newcastle. They scored a total of 140 goals for Man Utd and led them to several triumphs including the 1999 league, cup and champions league treble. A particular goal against Barcelona at the Nou Camp is a perfect example of how good their combination was. The Barca defense had no idea what was going on, as simple as that. Here it is enjoy!!

Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke combining to score for Manchester United against Barcelona

Ronaldo and Rivaldo formed a formidable partnership for Brazil during the 1998 and 2002 world cups. Although Rivaldo often played in attacking midfield, his role can be considered that of a striker. Faltering to France in the 98 final, Brazil were in merciless mood during the 2002 world cup. They were relentless with their scoring. The two players scored a total of 18 goals between them in the tournament, a staggering stat. In the final, Ronaldo scored past the legendary Oliver Kahn twice with Rivaldo virtually providing both the assists. Two of Brazil's greatest players playing in the same team was wonderful to watch. Unfortunately Rivaldo lost favor with the national team a bit after the world cup and eventually lost his place. 

Rivaldo and Ronaldo during training for Brazil.

Speaking of legendary partnerships, one cannot leave out Raul and Fernando Morientes. Having won 3 champions leagues and 3 la liga titles together, they formed one of the most feared striking partnerships in Europe as well as in the international stage with Spain. But they could not transform their club success into international glory. Another great combination is Henry and Bergkamp for Arsenal in the early 2000's. Two geniuses playing side by side for Arsenal provided the fans with a treat. Henry's trickery and Bergkamp's technical ability blessed the premier league with a brand of attacking football never seen before. It was pivotal in Arsenal's unbeaten run of 49 games. The partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton for Blackburn in the mid nineties definitely deserves a mention. They helped Blackburn to the 1995 premier league title. Later Shearer moved on to achieve greater heights with Newcastle while Sutton played for Chelsea and Celtic. 

Raul and Morientes with the 1998 champions league trophy.

Finally we get to a more current partnership. Newcastle's Demba Ba and Papisse Cisse have provided us with a does of emaculate finishing. Cisse's brace against Chelsea was astounding, with one of them potentially the goal of the season. Even though Cisse was there for only half the season, this combination seems promising, especially with Newcastle's recent good form and decent players. The duo also play for the same national team, Senegal. Balotelli and Aguero also formed a strong combination for Man City. It was two contrasting styles, which is often a good recipe for attack. In the international level, the only good combination I can think of is Villa and Torres but that has been cut short due to frequent injuries to both players and Spain's adoption of 5 or even 6 midfielders in the team. 

Newcastle and Senegal duo Demba Ba and Papisse Cisse.

 So whether it be the classic 4-4-2 or the modified 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation, the idea of two center forwards is a frightening one for defenders. Personally I prefer the latter since its more dynamic and consists of a defensive midfielder which is essential in today's game. These were a select few that I have come to see and appreciate during my time of watching football. I will sign of by mentioning one last pair, Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano for Chile. They are an underrated pair who featured during the 98 world cup and performed well. 

Chile strike partners Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano during the 98 World 

Cup.

Play Breakers

The "defensive midfield role" is an under appreciated art form. Breaking up plays, delivering crunching tackles and uncompromising challenges, they are often cast as bad guys. Dismissed as thuggish midfielders devoid of skill, they are seldom recognized for their tactical acumen, positioning, reading of the game and dictating play.

What fans and pundits don't realize is that although every team needs a quality play maker, a championship winning team requires a holding midfielder who can dictate the tempo of the game. If we look back to various tournaments the teams that have come out on the top are the ones which are blessed with the presence of a good solid defensive midfielder. Whether it was Brazil in 1994 with Dunga or Gilberto Silva in 2002, both played an important part in Brazil's World Cup Triumphs. Similarly in 2006, it was Rino Gattuso along with Andrea Pirlo who guided Italy to World Cup glory.

In recent times, Manchester United have struggled in Europe, because they still haven't been able to find a solution to this problem position since Owen Hargreaves, who, in his first season with the Red Devils was instrumental in securing the League and Champions League double.

Here is a list of the top 10 defensive midfielders in the world. Although these players may sometimes let the ball or the man go, they definitely won't let both of them through.

10. John Obi Mikel

The defensive midfielder is blessed with an abundance of talent, and started playing professional football at he age of 15. At one point he was considered the brightest prospect in the world behind Lionel Messi. His development has not gone quite as planned, hindered by injuries and a suspect temperament, Mikel is finally coming of age. He played an important part in Chelsea's successful European campaign, providing support to the back four and causing the opposition midfield all sorts of troubles with his relentless running and aggressive tackling. Needless to say if he can continue his current form he may well develop into the world class player he once promised to be.

9. Alex Song

Originally brought in as a utility player to Arsenal, Song quickly established himself as a key member of the current Arsenal team. His game is characterized by his tireless running and ability to read his opposition's play. He provides the perfect covering in front of a fragile back four. He plays a key role in breaking up opponents' attacking moves, shielding the ball and launching counter-attacks. Over the last season he has developed into an integral part of a steadily deteriorating Gunner's side.

8. Javi Martínez

The versatile Spaniard can play in the role of a defensive midfielder as well as a center back. He was a part of the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 winning Spanish team and has established himself as a key member of Athletic Bilbao at just 23 years of age. Known for his tackling and positional awareness, he uses his size and strength to muscle opponents off the ball. Along with good ball control and an excellent passing range he is just the type of holding midfielder that every good side requires.

7. Arturo Vidal

The midfielder enjoyed a terrific debut season with Juventus guiding them to their first Scudetto in almost a decade. Known for his versatility, he can be deployed anywhere in the midfield. His game is characterized by his tireless running and terrier like intensity. He played the perfect foil to Andrea Pirlo in the Juventus side that went undefeated the entire season and was indeed one of the star performers. His long time dream of playing in the Champions League will finally be realized next season and he played a key role in making it happen.

6. Scott Parker

Scott Parker is a technically gifted player and an extremely good passer. His box-to-box running and never-say-die attitude has earned him a lot of admirers. He is fearless in his challenges and never stops running. He even has a neat shot to accompany these qualities and has proven that with a number of spectacular strikes from outside the box. He possesses unquestionable leadership qualities and formed an efficient partnership with Luka Modric last season.

5. Yaya Touré

He was the midfield mainstay for Manchester City in their title winning season last year. He is deployed in the middle of the park due to his immense physical presence and impeccable positioning, but he often moves to more attacking positions during the game. Known for his lung bursting runs from the middle of the park, he is equally good at shooting and passing. He was an integral part of the Barcelona team that won the sextuple in 2009, and has proved his importance to the current Man City squad as they have struggled whenever they have played without him.

4. Sami Khedira

Sami Khedira was a last minute call-up to the German squad to replace an injured Michael Ballack. Those were big boots to fill for anyone but the young midfielder did so with aplomb, forming an instant understanding with Bastian Schweinsteiger (featured further up the list). Khedira is a dynamic midfielder with enviable aerial abilities. He is a tireless runner covering every inch of grass on the field, in his attempts to recover the ball. He is an excellent reader of the game and is often the starting point of numerous counter-attacks.

3. Daniele De Rossi

Daniele De Rossi is often described as the complete midfielder. He is a versatile player who can play in  both attack and defense. A tough tackler, never to back down from a fight, he uses his strength to dispossess opponents. As good as he is in a defensive role, he is equally useful while going forward. An excellent passer of the ball, he also possesses a cracker of a shot. Such is his regard in Italy that he has been given the nickname "Capitan Futuro" as he is seen as the heir apparent to both Francesco Totti and Gianluigi Buffon.

2. Bastian Schweinsteiger

Putting Bastian Schweinsteiger over Daniele De Rossi was a tough call, both are world class players, similar in age and position, a similar style of play and both are one club men (loyalty still counts in these crazy times). But what tips the balance in Schweinsteiger's favor is the lackluster performances of both Germany and Bayern Munich in his absence. Joachim Löw has aptly called him "the brain" of the German National Team, and I believe not only is he the brain but also the heartbeat of both national and club team. He began his career on the wings but has since developed into an outstanding holding midfielder. He is perhaps the most versatile midfielder of his generation. Bastian Schweinsteiger has excellent dribbling skills, passing ability, ball control and good tackling capability and as if this was not enough he has a thunderous right foot and a wicked delivery from set-pieces. He is the complete midfielder who dictates the game no matter where he plays.   

1. Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso is a midfield maverick. He is the one who makes the whole team tick, whether it is for Real Madrid or Spain. He is perhaps the best passer in the game today and his vision is unrivaled. Whether he is spraying 40 yard passes across the field or maintaining possession, he is the best at what he does. A superb reader of the game, he is an expert at breaking up the opposition's play and dictating the flow of the game. He has won everything the game has to offer and it is perhaps time that he should be awarded the Ballon d'Or. Blessed with an abundance of talent and a keen footballing mind, a player like Xabi Alonso appears only once in a generation.

Why Brazil is going to win the 2014 World Cup!

Having just recently demolished a decent Italy side in the 2012 Euros final, Spain looks set to capture the 2014 world cup in Brazil as well. Their squad is not an aging one. Xavi who is 32, can easily play at his best for another 2 years, same goes for Cassillas. The only exception might be Puyol but even center backs have a knack of playing well into their thirties. Spain have now won 3 major tournaments in a row and there seems to be no team with the required skill and determination to overhaul them. Who can stop the Spanish Armada? Surely not the British this time, maybe the Brazilians.


Spain lifting the 2012 Euro trophy.

The next edition of the world cup will be held in Brazil itself, providing the the home team with an advantage. Brazil, having won 5 world cups to date, have never won on their home turf. This can change this time around. Brazil is renowned for their massive support and the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which can now hold upto 85,000 people, once fitted in more than 150,000 people for the 1950 world cup final between Brazil and Uruguay, won by Uruguay. Most of the players in the national team now play in Brazil unlike in previous tournaments. This trend might prove to be a key factor in preparing the players better for the tournament. The riches and glamour of Europe often grab the attention of international players but I feel it is essential that these players play into their early twenties in their homelands. Later, a move to a big European club might be sensible.


A packed Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Recently, since the past 2 or 3 years, Brazil has been producing some of the most noticeable talents in the world. European clubs have been after many of the home grown Brazilian starlets such as Neymar, Ganso, Oscar, Moura and Piazon. Chelsea have already snapped up Piazon and look set to land Oscar from Internacional as well. Arsenal captured left back Andre Santos last year. Real Madrid have been hot on the heels of Neymar, who has become quite a sensation at a very young age. Not only has he impressed with his club Santos but also dazzled for Brazil. He is now a regular fixture in the national team. His Santos compatriot, Ganso, has been overshadowed by him to an extent but having returned from injury, he looks set to go again. Lucas Moura is being chased by Manchester United and Chelsea, with the red devils most likely to get the Brazilian's signature. This guy is sensational. Trust me when I say this, Moura has the quickest feet in football today. His low center of gravity, pace and amazing balance makes him extremely dangerous. Defenders get confused while dealing with him. He has the potential to be a true legend given he keeps up his form and avoids injuries.


Neymar for Brazil with Lucas Moura in the background.

In addition to the plethora of young players, Brazil also contains well established players in their mid or late twenties. One of them is Alexandre Pato, whom Milan signed from Internacional in 2007. He has done well for club and country, except a few injuries for Milan. Thiago Silva, arguably the best center back in the world, is going to marshal the defense at the world cup. He is Brazil's captain and recently transferred to PSG from Milan. Now that Lucio and Juan are no longer in the team it's up to him to bolster the defense. Playing alongside him might be David Luiz of Chelsea. Marcelo will slot into left back probably ahead of Andre Santos. The right back position will be contested between Rafael and Maicon if he is still playing.

The immense attacking options available to Brazil is simply mouth watering especially for Brazilian fans. Other than Pato, Brazil consists of youngsters Neymar and Leandro Damiao. Hulk, at 25 years of age, is at his prime and  contains an unusual combination of pace and power, similar to Drogba. Robinho, at 28, can still prove to be an important player but his place in the team is not guaranteed. In midfield Kaka seems unlikely to start given his age and decline in form. I am expecting Ramires to start in the first eleven. He played in the previous world cup and is starting to show good form for his club Chelsea. The defensive mid position for Brazil is of a slight concern but it looks like Sandro is the main contender at the moment. Felipe Melo might be in with a shout but his form in recent years has been poor and he will have to improve in the next few years to make it into the main team.


Thiago Silva and Sandro for Brazil. 

Having great players does not mean that a team will succeed but the current Brazil team has been performing well and has shown glimpses of what they can do. To compete in the world cup the younger players need to develop a bit of maturity. Other than that, I don't see any reason why Brazil shouldn't do well. Brazil's style of play is more dynamic than Spain's. They have different kinds of players with a lot of striking options, whereas Spain's strength lies in midfield. Spain's style is predictable and can be disrupted easily and I think Brazil is the perfect team to do it. It would be funny if some other team went on to win the trophy. Let's see, Italy cannot get any better than now, France is a developing team and also boasts a lot of decent young players and Germany is also in with a chance. But I will stick to my verdict and predict Brazil to win their 6th world cup in their own country.

Hard Tackle - Counting Down the 10 Best Defenders

Defenders are often overlooked from the spotlight for the obvious, and slightly unjust, reason that they do not score. Ask any kid to name his idols growing up and he’ll name strikers and midfielders, rarely a defender. Defenders are cast as bad guys, players that are included in a team to actually stop the opposition from scoring.

But its defenders who win you championships. A sound defense is the key to any side that has even the slightest desire to mount a serious title challenge. Ask any Arsenal fan how many titles they have won in recent years and I can assure you the question will not be greeted well.

I have always been attracted by defenders. For me the greatest players have always been defenders, whether it is Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta for Milan, Fabio Cannavaro for Italy during the World Cup in 2006 or Nemanja Vidić for Manchester United. Defenders put their bodies on the line to protect their goals without ever taking the spotlight from their teammates playing up front. They are the unsung heroes of the game.

We are counting down the 10 best defenders plying their trade in Europe at the moment and if it is true that defenses win trophies then these may well be the most valuable players in the world right now.

10. Jordi Alba

The young Spanish fullback is a product of the famous Barcelona youth academy, where he finally made his senior team debut for Valencia. He originally trained to be a left midfielder, but due to injuries was forced to play left back. This turned out to be a good move and he has flourished, he is also a good attacking threat and frequently interchanged positions with Jérémy Mathieu down the left flank to form a dynamic duo. He had a solid Euro campaign and capped off his good performance with a goal in the final. He was one of the most talked of players at the Euro’s, which earned him a move to the Camp Nou, where he will fill a troubled position for Barcelona. I think we will hear a lot more about this Spaniard in the years to come.
9. Vincent Kompany

The Manchester City skipper, was an inspiration at the back and led his club to the English Title on the back of some extraordinary performances. It was no surprise that the imposing City defender was named the Premier League Player of the Season for 2012. He is certainly the best center back in the Premier League and one of the best in Europe on current form. Standing at an impressive 6 ft 4 in, he is a hard tackler and a good reader of the game, and is an aerial threat going forward scoring a number of goals, and most famously against their city rivals Manchester United in the title decider. He is good on the ball and at just 26 years of age, we can expect him to lead the Citizens to many more titles.

8. Fábio Coentrão

Not a lot was known about the Portuguese left back till Real Madrid acquired him for a modest €30 million. However, by then he had already established himself in the national team and a lot was expected of him ahead of his move to the Bernabéu. His first season with Madrid was not the greatest, but he was often played out of position and seldom got a start in his prefered position of left back. But it was at the Euro’s that he grabbed everyone’s attention with his mazy runs forward, tireless tracking back and some excellent tackling. He played every minute in Portugal’s run to the semifinals, when they were eliminated on penalties by Spain after a 0-0 draw. Real Madrid have definitely found their left back for next season.

7. Giorgio Chiellini

Italy is the origin of the Catenaccio system of football,  it is only fitting that we should have the Italian defender on this, surprisingly he is the only Italian on the list. For a country known for its defenders, Italy is shockingly bereft of quality at the back at the moment. Fortunately, Chiellini is not one of them. The no nonsense defender, is a hard tackler and an aerial threat on set pieces while going forward. He has been a constant presence in the Italian and Juventus back four for sometime now and will probably be for sometime to come. At the age of 27 he still has many years in him and, if he is blessed with the same longevity as most Italian defenders seem to be (think one Paolo Maldini), there are a lot of strikers who need to watch out for those cold, staring eyes.

6. Pepe

Pepe arrived at Madrid in 2007 as one of the best center backs in portugal and has done no harm to his reputation while at Madrid, in fact he has established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe. He forms an integral part of this Madrid squad under José Mourinho and along with fellow center back Sergio Ramos (featured further up the list) and his compatriot Fábio Coentrão, he forms one of the toughest defences in La Liga and Europe. There is no doubt that Pepe is an excellent defender, but his temperament and sportsmanship abilities are often questioned, these concerns although quite understandable, have been greatly exaggerated due to his performances against Barcelona and some excellent acting by Pedro, Busquets and Dani Alves. He won the La Liga this season and also had an excellent Euro 2012. He is definitely one who will be moving up this list soon.

5. Gerard Piqué

Another product of the famous La Masia, Gerard Piqué move to Old Trafford due to a lack of first team opportunities, but returned to Barcelona in 2008. Since then he has been a regular starter for Barcelona and is touted to be a future captain. Good on the ball, excellent in tackle as well as possessing a long passing range, Gerard Piqué is an excellent technical defender. He has formed a formidable partnership with Spain and Barcelona teammate Carles Puyol and now that age is catching up with his defensive partner, Piqué has started to forge an equally impressive pairing with Sergio Ramos for Spain. The pair had an excellent Euro 2012, in which they conceded just a single goal and created a new record by not conceding for a record 509 minutes.

4. Mats Hummels

Mats Hummels started his career with Bayern Munich, but was shipped off to Dortmund. How they must be kicking themselves right now, given their recent defensive woes. Hummels has flourished at Dortmund and is one of the most exciting defensive prospects in world right now. Hummels is a throwback to the old days, playing as a sweeper, he is an outstanding defender possessing excellent technique. He is an excellent tackler, good on the ball, and possesses a pace to catch up to opponents and strip them of the ball. He is known for his positioning, frustrating opponents with well-timed interceptions. His style of play has earned him comparisons to the great Franz Beckenbauer. He has lived up to these expectations by playing an integral part in Germany’s run to the semifinals in Euro 2012 and winning the league-cup double in Germany. Still just 23, he is one player who will definitely be on this list for a long time to come.

3. Philipp Lahm

Philipp Lahm is perhaps the best full back the world has ever seen. He can play on either flank. He is quick, an excellent dribbler, and a precise tackler. He is well known for his lung bursting runs, and possesses a thunderous shot and a good passing range. The only attribute missing from his play is an imposing physique but he more than makes it up with his excellent technique and reading of the game. He is a one-club man, having started his career at Bayern Munich, he’s currently the club captain as well as the captain of the German National Team. He debuted for Germany in Euro 2004 and has been a regular in the national team ever since. Still only 28, there is still a lot to be seen from the “Magic Dwarf”.

2. Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos has already been named twice in this list so it is no surprise that we find him so high up on this list. The Spanish defender has always been a crowd favorite due to his passion on the pitch, playing for both Madrid as well as Spain. Sergio Ramos was trained to be a central defender, but initially during his time at Madrid he was forced to play as right back. It is no doubt a testament to his talent that he has flourished in both roles at Real Madrid. He has lightning fast pace and formidable ball skills. He displays an attacking prowess unseen in defenders, he is good in the air, and has an equally thunderous shot. He has now switched back to the center of the defense for both Madrid and Spain and has forged an unbelievable partnership with both Pepe and Piqué. If he keeps on delivering like he has so far in his career, he may well be topping the list soon.

1. Thiago Silva



And finally it is time for the top of the lot - Thiago Silva! Milan bought the young Brazilian defender from Fluminense in 2008 and then under the tutelage of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, he has developed into perhaps the finest defender in the world. Along with Alessandro Nesta, Silva formed the defensive rock on which Milan’s team was formed. He is quick on the ball, uncompromising in his challenges, and an excellent athlete. He recently moved to PSG (run by the traitor Leonardo, who seems hell bent on destroying Milan) for a sum of  €42 million an amount, which is in no way unjustified for perhaps Milan’s best player for the past couple of seasons. His quality is evident when you consider the fact that Milan was the only team that could stop Lionel Messi from scoring last year and if it wasn’t for some very dubious refereeing (how many times has this happened against Barcelona), Milan could well have reached the semifinals of the Champions League. Thiago Silva is definitely the player to look out for at the World Cup in 2014.

Hand in a transfer request...to join a club with a better history or more titles....naaaa just look for the Arabs!

I'm sure each and everyone of you has been hooked on to the internet or TV to get the latest on the transfer market! (What else can football fans possibly do during the summer??) Well its no surprise that a new Arab is ruling the transfer market, yes I am talking about PSG and their new Qatari owner. PSG a team whose claim to fame was just that it was Ronaldinho's first club, is now a serious contender in Europe! Well maybe not a serious contender yet, but this is surely a Man City part 2. And PSG is as French as pizza and pasta. Yes they have drained Serie A of some big names such as, Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Lavezzi. In fact if PSG win the Champions League, I think the points should go to Serie A and let them have their four CL spots back! (At this point I must admit I am a AC Milan fan).

But other than my pure hatred for the French side, one must admit that clubs like PSG are better off being the so called "middle clubs", where players like Ronaldinho are born. A club where talent is given a chance to grow, so they can make it to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan or United or what we call the traditional power houses. As someone who has been a fan of European football for a while, it is difficult for me to watch clubs like Liverpool and Milan lose out in competition due to the lack of funds. Five time champions league winners, Liverpool, have not played in the tournament for three seasons now! Something has definitely gone wrong somewhere...yes Sheikh Mansour I am talking about you. I agree City deserved to win the title last season, but lets try calculating how much money they spent...wait its too big an amount to calculate now. A club that pays 43 million pounds for Robinho, has some serious issues. Money can't buy you everything, but clearly in football these days it can buy you titles!

Roman Abramovic, spending? 

You are doing it right sir! 

It all started with Mr. Abramovich at the turn of the century. But there was a difference there, he looked at quality too before he got players, he bought a certain Drogba before he was the star that he eventually turned out to be! However PSG and Man City are more obsessed with the price tag than the player are they not? When you have Dzeko and Balloteli as back up strikers, why would you still go after Van Persie?? And honestly if they really want to invest all this money for the game, why not do it in their own country where the quality of the game is quite pathetic, 2022 will be in Qatar, now would be a good time to look for and promote talent in the region!

It's also a shame when players like Ibrahimoivc call a move to PSG a dream come true. Seriously?!? After winning Serie A 6 times and La Liga, you call a move to France a dream move? Ibra can probably score 20 goals with only his left foot in France, but why would he care. He makes more money than Messi now! At the age of 30 he gets 12 million euros, what more can he possibly ask for. And Thiago Silva was going to be the captain of a team that won the CL 7 times, and strangely after extending his contract, he could not put a foot down and say he is staying no matter what!

Dream move for the big Swede, really?

Well the balance in the game is shifting now, the traditional powerhouses are no longer powerful. Mr. Berlusconi and Mr. Morrati can no longer afford teams than can challenge for major silverware. Manchester United are losing out to Manchester City when it comes to spending (and titles!). Arsenal.....oh well that's a whole new story all together, leave that for now. But long gone are the days when players like Paolo Maldini and Tony Adams existed. They would sign the contract without looking at the amount mentioned. Its no longer about love for the club, its all about the big buck!

A game in the UAE pro league, 
notice the empty stadium?