I was going to do a predictions post for tonight's game, but instead here are 50 goals scored by Lionel Messi. Worth watching.
Showing posts with label messi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label messi. Show all posts
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Head Can Be Used For Other Purposes
I'm not going to get embroiled in yet another Messi v Ronaldo debate, but...
The Sunday Supplement on Sky Sports has a journalist arguing that Ronaldo is the better player, and one of the reasons he gives is that Ronaldo is taller, and is therefore better at heading the ball. I guess that puts Ronaldo ahead of Maradona and Zidane too, since he's better at heading the ball than either of those two were. What a silly argument. Surely footballers shouldn't be judged purely (or even primarily) on physique. I mean that's what makes the game beautiful - the fact that the small guys can compete with and outclass the big guys. Players like Andres Iniesta and Paul Scholes can be considered great because they are thinking players who can read the game better than most.
Eamon Dunphy said that if you don't get Messi then you don't get football. My argument for thinking Messi to be "better" than Ronaldo is simply that he embodies much more of what football is about than Ronaldo. Ronaldo has the power, the height, the absolutely frightening shot. Messi has the close control, the dribbling skills, the deft touch, the incisive passing. The ball and Messi are one. His skills are shown with it at his feet. For Ronaldo, his skill is shown when the ball has left his foot and thundered into the net from impossible distances. At this point it becomes a thing of preference, but what I don't understand is the suddden shift that has taken place in football. It used to be that the ball players were the most admired - Zidane, Bergkamp, (Brazilian) Ronaldo - but now there are many who place the emphasis on being some kind of footballing behemoth a la Cristiano Ronaldo; someone who can "terrorise" defences by being a sort of dormant threat than can just explode in an instand and do something out of nothing. I appreciate such a potent weapon of course, but best in the world? Really?
My great disappoint with the game today is that if Zinedine Zidane -- the most naturally gifted footballer of the past 20 years -- were in his prime today, he probably wouldn't be considered the best player since he doesn't score enough goals or "isn't as good with his head as Ronaldo is". What the Sunday Supplement journalist failed to mention is that the head can be used for other purposes in football - purposes far exceeding the one employed by Ronaldo. I don't think Messi is on the same level as Zidane when it comes to the mental aspects of football (and I don't believe he will ever be), but he is far closer to that level than Ronaldo is. So is Ronaldo's teammate Wayne Rooney. The question then becomes do you prefer/place more value on footballing brains or footballing braun? For me it's brains every time. It's the reason I love the sport.
The Sunday Supplement on Sky Sports has a journalist arguing that Ronaldo is the better player, and one of the reasons he gives is that Ronaldo is taller, and is therefore better at heading the ball. I guess that puts Ronaldo ahead of Maradona and Zidane too, since he's better at heading the ball than either of those two were. What a silly argument. Surely footballers shouldn't be judged purely (or even primarily) on physique. I mean that's what makes the game beautiful - the fact that the small guys can compete with and outclass the big guys. Players like Andres Iniesta and Paul Scholes can be considered great because they are thinking players who can read the game better than most.
Eamon Dunphy said that if you don't get Messi then you don't get football. My argument for thinking Messi to be "better" than Ronaldo is simply that he embodies much more of what football is about than Ronaldo. Ronaldo has the power, the height, the absolutely frightening shot. Messi has the close control, the dribbling skills, the deft touch, the incisive passing. The ball and Messi are one. His skills are shown with it at his feet. For Ronaldo, his skill is shown when the ball has left his foot and thundered into the net from impossible distances. At this point it becomes a thing of preference, but what I don't understand is the suddden shift that has taken place in football. It used to be that the ball players were the most admired - Zidane, Bergkamp, (Brazilian) Ronaldo - but now there are many who place the emphasis on being some kind of footballing behemoth a la Cristiano Ronaldo; someone who can "terrorise" defences by being a sort of dormant threat than can just explode in an instand and do something out of nothing. I appreciate such a potent weapon of course, but best in the world? Really?
My great disappoint with the game today is that if Zinedine Zidane -- the most naturally gifted footballer of the past 20 years -- were in his prime today, he probably wouldn't be considered the best player since he doesn't score enough goals or "isn't as good with his head as Ronaldo is". What the Sunday Supplement journalist failed to mention is that the head can be used for other purposes in football - purposes far exceeding the one employed by Ronaldo. I don't think Messi is on the same level as Zidane when it comes to the mental aspects of football (and I don't believe he will ever be), but he is far closer to that level than Ronaldo is. So is Ronaldo's teammate Wayne Rooney. The question then becomes do you prefer/place more value on footballing brains or footballing braun? For me it's brains every time. It's the reason I love the sport.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Huh?
"Messi is the best. What he does is from another world.
"He is exceptional.
"After watching Arsenal against Manchester United, I insist Cristiano Ronaldo is one thing and Messi is another.
"There is no comparison. Messi deserves to win the Ballon d'Or this year."
- Thierry Henry, November '08
"When Messi is playing well, he can do things that no-one else can.
"I honestly understand why there are those who compare him to Maradona but I repeat: at least right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best. In the future... we will see."
- Thierry Henry, April '09
So Messi used to be the best, but since he has gone on to score over 30 goals and Ronaldo has gone on to perform quite poorly, Ronaldo has become the best again?
Me thinks Henry is playing mind games of some sort. Fergie would be proud.
"He is exceptional.
"After watching Arsenal against Manchester United, I insist Cristiano Ronaldo is one thing and Messi is another.
"There is no comparison. Messi deserves to win the Ballon d'Or this year."
- Thierry Henry, November '08
"When Messi is playing well, he can do things that no-one else can.
"I honestly understand why there are those who compare him to Maradona but I repeat: at least right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best. In the future... we will see."
- Thierry Henry, April '09
So Messi used to be the best, but since he has gone on to score over 30 goals and Ronaldo has gone on to perform quite poorly, Ronaldo has become the best again?
Me thinks Henry is playing mind games of some sort. Fergie would be proud.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
World's Apart
I used to spend googles of energy deriding Cristiano Ronaldo and applauding the actual best player in world football, Lionel Messi. As juvenile and pointless as it may have been, I gotta tell ya, it feels great to be justified. This individual competition has never been won over one single game, and it never will be. It's impossible to pick out the exact moment when Messi surpassed Ronaldo, because to be honest, that moment doesn't exist. Messi was born a better player, and will forever be the superior player. That's just the way it is, no matter how many goals CR7 scores.
Having just watched Messi score a delighful hat-trick against Atletico Madrid, you could be forgiven for thinking that such a magnificent performance "proves" he is better than Ronaldo. However, that's not the full story. What truly illustrates the gulf in class between these two much lauded players is the fan reaction after their recent respective withdrawels. Ronaldo has been taken off to a chorus of boos and hisses in the games gone by, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of these came from his own people during that famous "self-substitution" incident against Sunderland. Messi, however, was given a standing ovation by the opposing Atletico Madrid fans as he exited the field (something Ronaldinho received from Real Madrid fans of all people a couple of years ago). I can only dream about how damaging it is for Ronaldo's ego to see Messi playing as he is and receiving all of the praise so effortlessly. And just to rub salt into the wound, Messi left Ronaldo out of his Team of 2008. I love you Lionel. No, really, I do.
Having just watched Messi score a delighful hat-trick against Atletico Madrid, you could be forgiven for thinking that such a magnificent performance "proves" he is better than Ronaldo. However, that's not the full story. What truly illustrates the gulf in class between these two much lauded players is the fan reaction after their recent respective withdrawels. Ronaldo has been taken off to a chorus of boos and hisses in the games gone by, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of these came from his own people during that famous "self-substitution" incident against Sunderland. Messi, however, was given a standing ovation by the opposing Atletico Madrid fans as he exited the field (something Ronaldinho received from Real Madrid fans of all people a couple of years ago). I can only dream about how damaging it is for Ronaldo's ego to see Messi playing as he is and receiving all of the praise so effortlessly. And just to rub salt into the wound, Messi left Ronaldo out of his Team of 2008. I love you Lionel. No, really, I do.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Another Year Over
Since it's that time of year, I thought I'd compile a list of some memorable football moments over the past 12 months. This is a totally subjective list, so bear that in mind before leaving angry comments about the exclusion of so-and-so. I don't doubt that I've left out some footballing nuggets, but these are what came to mind in the 10 minutes I spent thinking about the year gone by. I'll try and include relevant Youtube clips where possible, because that's the kind of guy I am. And also, the list has no order. So without further adieu...
Fabregas v Milan
It was the second leg of the first Champions League knockout round. Milan had gotten a slightly fortuitous 0-0 draw at the Emirates, where Adebayor somehow managed to miss a header roughly 7 inches from the goal line. Most people thought Arsenal had blown their chance. The old dogs of Milan were said to be too wily to let this youthful Arsenal side get the result they needed on Italian soil. Cesc Fabregas and co. proved most people very wrong.
It was a team effort of course, with even Philip Senderos playing well for a change. But it was the little Spaniard that ran the show from beginning to end. His tackling was tenacious, his workrate second to none, and everything we've come to expect from Fabregas -- his impeccable decision making, his precise passing, his ability to control the tempo of a game -- was on song. He had been quite laboured in the weeks that led up to this game, and quite laboured afterwards as well, but in these 90 minutes he was the complete midfielder, showing the once imperious Pirlo how it's now done.
Discovering Football Weekly
I can't quite remember when exactly I discovered Football Weekly, but I know it was some time in 2008, so that's good enough for it to make the list. I've championed this podcast on the blog already, but I have no problem doing so again.
To put it plainly, my football experience is not complete until I hear the opinions of "the pod" on Monday afternoon and Thursday evening. For anyone who says that football is their favourite sport, Football Weekly is practically required listening. If you haven't yet discovered the joy of it, then do so as soon as possible. There will be a new podcast up on Monday the 29th. I strongly encourage you to listen to it.
Arsenal v Liverpool
Another Arsenal related moment. This time the Gunners were faced with a tricky tie against Liverpool at Anfield (Liverpool in the Champions League and all that jazz) after coming out of the first leg at the Emirates with an unjust 1-1 draw (it should really have been 2-1, with Bendtner blocking a goal bound effort from Fabregas, and the referee denying Hleb a stone wall penalty after the Belarusian had danced his way into the box with his patented nimble footwork). Arsenal had to score at Anfield, and boy did they do just that and then some.
They completely dominated for 30 minutes, playing some of the best football of the season. The goal came from a neatly worked move, and at that point it almost looked like it was just a question of how many Arsenal would score. But then the Senderos factor kicked in. Having completley lost one of the most dangerous aerial threats of the last 10 years in the form of Sami Hyypia at a corner, Senderos then went on to give about 3 yards of space in the box to one of the most potent finishers in the Premier League, and Torres accepted the gift by guiding the ball into the top corner.
The game seemed to just drift away from Arsenal, until Theo Walcott produced a moment of unbelievable brilliance. Never did I think him capable of such things, but he proved me and a host of other people very wrong. It was just incredible to watch, and a moment worthy of winning any tie. Unfortunately for Walcott and Arsenal, it wasn't sufficient to win this tie. In keeping with their season, Arsenal managed to overshadow their attacking prowess by switching off mentality, and allowing Liverpool to go straight back up the field and win a (soft) penalty. A fourth Liverpool goal followed, and Arsenal's Champions League dream was shattered.
Still though, this was easily the game of the season for me, and one that will live long in the memory. If I did have an order to this list, this game would probably be at the top.
Terry Penalty
England's lion heart. England's war hero. Chelsea's rock, their heartbeat, their captain fantastic. John Terry has received all sorts of praise over the years, but in my opinion he has been vastly overrated. He is a good defender, but he's not even the best at his own club. That honour goes to Ricardo Carvalho, and it seems that it is the Portuguese defender's absence which is alerting people to this fact ironically enough.
Terry's missed penalty has of course nothing to do with his defensive capabilities, but you can forgive me for taking a certain amount of pleasure from seeing him completely fluff the chance to win Chelsea that much coveted Champions League trophy. Why he was the designated fifth penalty taker I do not know. The nasty part of me thinks that he just wanted the chance to be a hero, and selfishly decided to step up to the plate rather than letting someone with actual penalty taking abilities to the job. But then maybe no one else wanted the pressure, so JT took it upon himself when all else cowered at the chance.
Either way, he missed, and at that point you just knew who was going to go on and lift the trophy. The only disappointment was that had he scored the penalty, then Ronaldo would have been to blame for United's loss, and on a schadenfreude measuring device, I don't think anything could top that.
Messi v Ronaldo
When Man United and Barcelona were pitted against each other in the semi final of the Champions League, football fans' collective mouth began to water. The games themselves didn't quite work out as people thought they might. They were supposed to be end-to-end affairs, feasts of attacking football, but instead they were slightly cagey, with Barcelona having most of the ball and United defending superbly.
However, the subplot in this tie was equally intriguing. This was billed as 'Ronaldo vs Messi', the battle to see who really is the best player in the world. Of course all of this was sheer hype, and the best player in the world was never going to be decided during the course of two games. But that didn't stop people from getting worked up, with many probably seeing this as the chance for Ronaldo to show that he is the superior footballing specimen.
Well, he did nothing of the sort. If this was indeed Ronaldo vs Messi, then there was only one clear winner, and it wasn't the player who plucks his eye brows. Messi had been out for a month or so before the two games, but he was a constant thorn in United's side over both legs, producing some vintage 'Messi' moments along the way, some of which you can see here. There was a priceless piece of play in the first leg when Messi faced Ronaldo with the ball, waited for the pristinely groomed playboy to make a tackle, and just jinked by him in the blink of an eye. It served as a microcosm of the duo's battle.
The good news is that finally, after many, many months of hearing about Ronaldo's status as best in the world, people have woken up to the fact that the Camp Nou is the home of the world's best football player. The irony is that this realization was only cemented in popular belief around the time Ronaldo picked up the Ballon D'Or. That must really hurt the winker's ego..No wonder he's lashing out at everyone in sight.
Spain
It's very rare these days that the team who play the best football win a major trophy at international level. Since France's victory at Euro 2000, there hasn't really been a team worthy to be considered the best in the world/Europe. In 2002, Brazil won what was a distinctly average World Cup, 2004 saw a resolute but technically limited Greece side lift the European Cup, and the same can be said about the victorious Italian side of 2006, who were excellent in defense but quite laboured in the final third of the pitch. In each of these tournaments the quality was subpar, and only the Argentine team of '06 sticks out as being truly world class.
Euro 2008 broke the curse of dodgy international football, and it saw Spain break their long lived curse of being supreme under achievers. In truth, I think Spain have been vastly overrated in previous tournaments. Players like Etxeberria, Albelda, Baraja, Luque and Joaquin were getting games in 2004, but they were not really good enough to ever win anything. Compare them with Xavi, Iniesta, Senna, Villa and Fabregas and it is clear that the Spain team of 2008 really was a much better team than those of previous years. This was a team with genuine talent, a team that could have been justifiably branded as having under achieved by getting knocked out in the quarter finals.
However, this was to be their year, and never has a team so richly deserved to lift a trophy. They played the best football in a tournament full of good football, and I don't think there is any football fan who would begrudge them their victory. The defining moment of their tournament has to be the win over Italy in the quarter finals. This would usually have been the point for Spain to exit stage left, and having outplayed the Italian's for 120 minutes it seemed all set up for Italy to snatch victory courtesy of a penalty shootout. However, Fabregas was given the chance to exorcise a host of demons, and the former Barcelona prodigy made no mistake, cooly slotting the ball past one of the best goalkeepers ever to grace the sport.
This monumental win lifted the heavy burden off of Spanish shoulders, and they went on to dispatch Russia by playing their best football of the tournament, and ended proceedings by completely outclassing Germany in the final.
Euro 2008 was not only a victory for Spain though - it serves as a victory for football in general. The Spanish team didn't contain any immense physical specimens like Drogba or Cristiano Ronaldo. This was a victory for brain over braun. A victory for intelligence over physicality. Spain showed that playing football the way it should be played, the way that makes it the beautiful game, is the best way to win things. They have set the bar when it comes to international football, and given the relative youth of the side, it could be a while before they are knocked off their perch.
Barcelona v Athletico
There is no doubt as to which is the best club team at this moment in time, despite what the Fifa Club World Cup (or whatever it is called) might tell you. Barcelona have won 13 of 16 league games, scoring 48 goals and conceding only 10. If they were in the Premier League, they'd be third, 4 points behind Liverpool and 1 behind Chelsea, with four games in hand. As it is, they are first in La Liga, a massive 10 points clear of their nearest 'rivals' - hardly surprising given that they are averaging 3 goals a game, and have just beaten four of the best teams in Spain by an aggregate score of 11-1.
I've watched a lot of their games, but the one that stands out is the tie against Athletico Madrid. While Athletico were missing a few players, what Barcelona did to them was just catastrophic. The Catalan giants were 3-0 up after seven -- yes, seven -- minutes, and 5-1 up after twenty eight. It finished 6-1 in the end, but only because Barcelona didn't want to embarrass their opponents.
At the beginning of the season when Barcelona had lost and drawn their opening two fixtures, the ever excellent Sid Lowe (who will be in the pod today on Football Weekly) said that it's only a matter of time before Barcelona start clicking and beat someone 24-0. Well, they haven't quite managed 24, but they have won 6-1 (x2), 6-0, 5-0, 4-0, 4-1, and have generally looked unplayable.
While people are saying that Barcelona pose the biggest threat to another Champions League of Anglo domination, it seems more correct to say that the English teams pose the biggest threat to Barca domination. A slightly shakey defense still leaves a large question mark looming over their Champions League-winning credentials, but if they continue on this form in the new year and get past Lyon in the last 16 of the CL, then they will be the team that nobody (not even Liverpool) wants to draw.
Abu Dhabi Group
The comical tales of Messi and Kaka going to City aside, this takeover could well be the start of something very serious in world football. While Manchester City hover in and out of the relegation zone, the events of August 31 await their fulfillment in the January transfer window, and in the summer ahead. Nobody quite knows what's going to happen. Who will move to the Eastlands? Will players such as David Villa want to go? Or will City just end up buying the Shevchenko's of this world - former great players who are looking for a hefty retirement package?
There is talk of players like Bellamy, Defoe, and Parker moving to City, but if the Abu Dhabi group and Manchester City are serious about getting into the Champions League then they must overlook such third tier players. They need to look outside the Premier League for the players that they need, starting with Diego of Werder Bremen. A striker will most definitely be sought after, but Defoe and Bellamy don't represent good options. City should be looking to play a 4-2-3-1 formation (all the cool kids are using it these days), and I don't think such a formation will suit Defoe, and if Bellamy wasn't good enough for a bad Liverpool team then he shouldn't be good enough for a side looking to eventually break into the top 4. He's a mid-table player, nothing less and nothing more.
By signing Robinho, City have set the standard pretty high. I had my doubts about him -- some of which remain -- but you can't deny that he is a first or second tier player; his wonder goal against Arsenal and his last minute strike against Blackburn prove as much. But he needs good company (no pun attended). Will the Abu Dhabi group be able purchase the required personnel? We await with baited breath.
Ireland's goal v Hull
While Robinho has been quite the success story for City this season, he has actually been eclipsed by a 22 year old Irishman in the form of Steven Ireland. The former Cobh Ramblers youngster has been nothing short of excellent so far this season, and if the award for player of the season was given out now, he might well be the favourite to pick it up.
He has had many great moments in a City shirt so far, a personal favourite of mine being his performace against Hull on Boxing Day when he scored one and assisted three, giving me 38 points in Fantasy Football since I had him as captain.
However, the moment that encapsulates his season so far is his second goal against Hull back in November. He controlled the ball outside the box, and as it landed to the ground he just guided it into the bottom corner on the half-volley. It was a Robinho-esque piece of magic, and yet it was produced by someone who can play for the Irish national team. Speaking of which, if Steven Ireland isn't in the next Irish squad then Trapattoni needs his large head examined. At the moment he's the best Irish player I've seen since Roy Keane, and if we are to acheive anything then Steven Ireland must be reinstated, no matter how many grannies he's killed off.
Fabregas v Milan
It was the second leg of the first Champions League knockout round. Milan had gotten a slightly fortuitous 0-0 draw at the Emirates, where Adebayor somehow managed to miss a header roughly 7 inches from the goal line. Most people thought Arsenal had blown their chance. The old dogs of Milan were said to be too wily to let this youthful Arsenal side get the result they needed on Italian soil. Cesc Fabregas and co. proved most people very wrong.
It was a team effort of course, with even Philip Senderos playing well for a change. But it was the little Spaniard that ran the show from beginning to end. His tackling was tenacious, his workrate second to none, and everything we've come to expect from Fabregas -- his impeccable decision making, his precise passing, his ability to control the tempo of a game -- was on song. He had been quite laboured in the weeks that led up to this game, and quite laboured afterwards as well, but in these 90 minutes he was the complete midfielder, showing the once imperious Pirlo how it's now done.
Discovering Football Weekly
I can't quite remember when exactly I discovered Football Weekly, but I know it was some time in 2008, so that's good enough for it to make the list. I've championed this podcast on the blog already, but I have no problem doing so again.
To put it plainly, my football experience is not complete until I hear the opinions of "the pod" on Monday afternoon and Thursday evening. For anyone who says that football is their favourite sport, Football Weekly is practically required listening. If you haven't yet discovered the joy of it, then do so as soon as possible. There will be a new podcast up on Monday the 29th. I strongly encourage you to listen to it.
Arsenal v Liverpool
Another Arsenal related moment. This time the Gunners were faced with a tricky tie against Liverpool at Anfield (Liverpool in the Champions League and all that jazz) after coming out of the first leg at the Emirates with an unjust 1-1 draw (it should really have been 2-1, with Bendtner blocking a goal bound effort from Fabregas, and the referee denying Hleb a stone wall penalty after the Belarusian had danced his way into the box with his patented nimble footwork). Arsenal had to score at Anfield, and boy did they do just that and then some.
They completely dominated for 30 minutes, playing some of the best football of the season. The goal came from a neatly worked move, and at that point it almost looked like it was just a question of how many Arsenal would score. But then the Senderos factor kicked in. Having completley lost one of the most dangerous aerial threats of the last 10 years in the form of Sami Hyypia at a corner, Senderos then went on to give about 3 yards of space in the box to one of the most potent finishers in the Premier League, and Torres accepted the gift by guiding the ball into the top corner.
The game seemed to just drift away from Arsenal, until Theo Walcott produced a moment of unbelievable brilliance. Never did I think him capable of such things, but he proved me and a host of other people very wrong. It was just incredible to watch, and a moment worthy of winning any tie. Unfortunately for Walcott and Arsenal, it wasn't sufficient to win this tie. In keeping with their season, Arsenal managed to overshadow their attacking prowess by switching off mentality, and allowing Liverpool to go straight back up the field and win a (soft) penalty. A fourth Liverpool goal followed, and Arsenal's Champions League dream was shattered.
Still though, this was easily the game of the season for me, and one that will live long in the memory. If I did have an order to this list, this game would probably be at the top.
Terry Penalty
England's lion heart. England's war hero. Chelsea's rock, their heartbeat, their captain fantastic. John Terry has received all sorts of praise over the years, but in my opinion he has been vastly overrated. He is a good defender, but he's not even the best at his own club. That honour goes to Ricardo Carvalho, and it seems that it is the Portuguese defender's absence which is alerting people to this fact ironically enough.
Terry's missed penalty has of course nothing to do with his defensive capabilities, but you can forgive me for taking a certain amount of pleasure from seeing him completely fluff the chance to win Chelsea that much coveted Champions League trophy. Why he was the designated fifth penalty taker I do not know. The nasty part of me thinks that he just wanted the chance to be a hero, and selfishly decided to step up to the plate rather than letting someone with actual penalty taking abilities to the job. But then maybe no one else wanted the pressure, so JT took it upon himself when all else cowered at the chance.
Either way, he missed, and at that point you just knew who was going to go on and lift the trophy. The only disappointment was that had he scored the penalty, then Ronaldo would have been to blame for United's loss, and on a schadenfreude measuring device, I don't think anything could top that.
Messi v Ronaldo
When Man United and Barcelona were pitted against each other in the semi final of the Champions League, football fans' collective mouth began to water. The games themselves didn't quite work out as people thought they might. They were supposed to be end-to-end affairs, feasts of attacking football, but instead they were slightly cagey, with Barcelona having most of the ball and United defending superbly.
However, the subplot in this tie was equally intriguing. This was billed as 'Ronaldo vs Messi', the battle to see who really is the best player in the world. Of course all of this was sheer hype, and the best player in the world was never going to be decided during the course of two games. But that didn't stop people from getting worked up, with many probably seeing this as the chance for Ronaldo to show that he is the superior footballing specimen.
Well, he did nothing of the sort. If this was indeed Ronaldo vs Messi, then there was only one clear winner, and it wasn't the player who plucks his eye brows. Messi had been out for a month or so before the two games, but he was a constant thorn in United's side over both legs, producing some vintage 'Messi' moments along the way, some of which you can see here. There was a priceless piece of play in the first leg when Messi faced Ronaldo with the ball, waited for the pristinely groomed playboy to make a tackle, and just jinked by him in the blink of an eye. It served as a microcosm of the duo's battle.
The good news is that finally, after many, many months of hearing about Ronaldo's status as best in the world, people have woken up to the fact that the Camp Nou is the home of the world's best football player. The irony is that this realization was only cemented in popular belief around the time Ronaldo picked up the Ballon D'Or. That must really hurt the winker's ego..No wonder he's lashing out at everyone in sight.
Spain
It's very rare these days that the team who play the best football win a major trophy at international level. Since France's victory at Euro 2000, there hasn't really been a team worthy to be considered the best in the world/Europe. In 2002, Brazil won what was a distinctly average World Cup, 2004 saw a resolute but technically limited Greece side lift the European Cup, and the same can be said about the victorious Italian side of 2006, who were excellent in defense but quite laboured in the final third of the pitch. In each of these tournaments the quality was subpar, and only the Argentine team of '06 sticks out as being truly world class.
Euro 2008 broke the curse of dodgy international football, and it saw Spain break their long lived curse of being supreme under achievers. In truth, I think Spain have been vastly overrated in previous tournaments. Players like Etxeberria, Albelda, Baraja, Luque and Joaquin were getting games in 2004, but they were not really good enough to ever win anything. Compare them with Xavi, Iniesta, Senna, Villa and Fabregas and it is clear that the Spain team of 2008 really was a much better team than those of previous years. This was a team with genuine talent, a team that could have been justifiably branded as having under achieved by getting knocked out in the quarter finals.
However, this was to be their year, and never has a team so richly deserved to lift a trophy. They played the best football in a tournament full of good football, and I don't think there is any football fan who would begrudge them their victory. The defining moment of their tournament has to be the win over Italy in the quarter finals. This would usually have been the point for Spain to exit stage left, and having outplayed the Italian's for 120 minutes it seemed all set up for Italy to snatch victory courtesy of a penalty shootout. However, Fabregas was given the chance to exorcise a host of demons, and the former Barcelona prodigy made no mistake, cooly slotting the ball past one of the best goalkeepers ever to grace the sport.
This monumental win lifted the heavy burden off of Spanish shoulders, and they went on to dispatch Russia by playing their best football of the tournament, and ended proceedings by completely outclassing Germany in the final.
Euro 2008 was not only a victory for Spain though - it serves as a victory for football in general. The Spanish team didn't contain any immense physical specimens like Drogba or Cristiano Ronaldo. This was a victory for brain over braun. A victory for intelligence over physicality. Spain showed that playing football the way it should be played, the way that makes it the beautiful game, is the best way to win things. They have set the bar when it comes to international football, and given the relative youth of the side, it could be a while before they are knocked off their perch.
Barcelona v Athletico
There is no doubt as to which is the best club team at this moment in time, despite what the Fifa Club World Cup (or whatever it is called) might tell you. Barcelona have won 13 of 16 league games, scoring 48 goals and conceding only 10. If they were in the Premier League, they'd be third, 4 points behind Liverpool and 1 behind Chelsea, with four games in hand. As it is, they are first in La Liga, a massive 10 points clear of their nearest 'rivals' - hardly surprising given that they are averaging 3 goals a game, and have just beaten four of the best teams in Spain by an aggregate score of 11-1.
I've watched a lot of their games, but the one that stands out is the tie against Athletico Madrid. While Athletico were missing a few players, what Barcelona did to them was just catastrophic. The Catalan giants were 3-0 up after seven -- yes, seven -- minutes, and 5-1 up after twenty eight. It finished 6-1 in the end, but only because Barcelona didn't want to embarrass their opponents.
At the beginning of the season when Barcelona had lost and drawn their opening two fixtures, the ever excellent Sid Lowe (who will be in the pod today on Football Weekly) said that it's only a matter of time before Barcelona start clicking and beat someone 24-0. Well, they haven't quite managed 24, but they have won 6-1 (x2), 6-0, 5-0, 4-0, 4-1, and have generally looked unplayable.
While people are saying that Barcelona pose the biggest threat to another Champions League of Anglo domination, it seems more correct to say that the English teams pose the biggest threat to Barca domination. A slightly shakey defense still leaves a large question mark looming over their Champions League-winning credentials, but if they continue on this form in the new year and get past Lyon in the last 16 of the CL, then they will be the team that nobody (not even Liverpool) wants to draw.
Abu Dhabi Group
The comical tales of Messi and Kaka going to City aside, this takeover could well be the start of something very serious in world football. While Manchester City hover in and out of the relegation zone, the events of August 31 await their fulfillment in the January transfer window, and in the summer ahead. Nobody quite knows what's going to happen. Who will move to the Eastlands? Will players such as David Villa want to go? Or will City just end up buying the Shevchenko's of this world - former great players who are looking for a hefty retirement package?
There is talk of players like Bellamy, Defoe, and Parker moving to City, but if the Abu Dhabi group and Manchester City are serious about getting into the Champions League then they must overlook such third tier players. They need to look outside the Premier League for the players that they need, starting with Diego of Werder Bremen. A striker will most definitely be sought after, but Defoe and Bellamy don't represent good options. City should be looking to play a 4-2-3-1 formation (all the cool kids are using it these days), and I don't think such a formation will suit Defoe, and if Bellamy wasn't good enough for a bad Liverpool team then he shouldn't be good enough for a side looking to eventually break into the top 4. He's a mid-table player, nothing less and nothing more.
By signing Robinho, City have set the standard pretty high. I had my doubts about him -- some of which remain -- but you can't deny that he is a first or second tier player; his wonder goal against Arsenal and his last minute strike against Blackburn prove as much. But he needs good company (no pun attended). Will the Abu Dhabi group be able purchase the required personnel? We await with baited breath.
Ireland's goal v Hull
While Robinho has been quite the success story for City this season, he has actually been eclipsed by a 22 year old Irishman in the form of Steven Ireland. The former Cobh Ramblers youngster has been nothing short of excellent so far this season, and if the award for player of the season was given out now, he might well be the favourite to pick it up.
He has had many great moments in a City shirt so far, a personal favourite of mine being his performace against Hull on Boxing Day when he scored one and assisted three, giving me 38 points in Fantasy Football since I had him as captain.
However, the moment that encapsulates his season so far is his second goal against Hull back in November. He controlled the ball outside the box, and as it landed to the ground he just guided it into the bottom corner on the half-volley. It was a Robinho-esque piece of magic, and yet it was produced by someone who can play for the Irish national team. Speaking of which, if Steven Ireland isn't in the next Irish squad then Trapattoni needs his large head examined. At the moment he's the best Irish player I've seen since Roy Keane, and if we are to acheive anything then Steven Ireland must be reinstated, no matter how many grannies he's killed off.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Barca and Torres
The best central midfielder in the world today?
There is just so much to write about concerning the beautiful game this weekend that I'm not sure what to focus on - the Pro Evo 2009 demo? Arsenal dropping more points against inferior opponents? Tottenham being genuine relegation candidates? So much to choose from, so little time to write about it all.
I'll pick out the two things that struck me the most, starting with Barcelona v Athetico last night. In case you don't know, Barca won that game 6-1, going 3-0 up after 8 minutes. In a word, they were phenomenal. The quartet consisting of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Eto'o was just breathtaking at times. Each of them had moments that would adorn the most silky of games.
Xavi bringing the ball down with his foot (which was almost at head height), knocking it by a player, and then playing Henry though on goal. Iniesta cutting inside and curling a stunning shot off the post, Messi dribbling by 3 players and chipping the ball over Coupet, only to see his shot go just wide, and Eto'o chesting a ball down, dummying both the defender and goalkeeper, and slotting it home for his second of the night.
Rarely have I seen a team out-play another team like this. I mean we're talking Argentina v Serbia here. If Barca really wanted to, they could have scored 10. It was the kind of performance they threaten against most teams but never actually deliver. The kind of performance that should see them installed as favourites for La Liga (if they weren't aready), and genuine contenders for the Champions League (their defense is too abysmal to make them favourites). Their attacking options are unrivaled by any club in the world. In Xavi, they possess arguably the best central midfield player in the world today (can anyone name someone better?), in Messi and Iniesta they possess the best duo of wingers, and between Eto'o and Henry they possess enough firepower to cause most defenses problems (though I would still have a few question marks over Eto'o and his penchant for wastefulness).
Athletico were horrible, make no mistake about that. But Barcelona played some exquisite football nonetheless. It was a masterclass of footballing beauty you might say.
The other thing I want to talk about is Torres. And more specifically, me not liking him that much. I have nothing against him personally of course. I just don't see what everyone else sees in him.
I mean Benitez came out today and basically said he's the best player in the world. After 2 goals today to bring Liverpool back to 2-2 against City you might be inclined to think Rafa is on to something, but don't let those goals fool you. Torres was woeful in the first half, and not much better in the second. Can a player score 2 goals and still be bad? I think so.
I just don't get very excited when Torres plays. For me, he loses the ball too often, and there's nothing I hate more in a player than an inclination to surrender possession cheaply. You can score all the goals you want, but if you keep giving the ball away when you're not putting it in the back of the net, I won't like you very much. This is just my personal opinion. I know it's not shared by many, but I wanted to make it known.
Watching a player like Xavi, or Iniesta, or Fabregas gives me much greater pleasure than watching someone who scores goals, but doesn't do a whole lot else. Torres is a good player, no question. I just don't think he's as good as people make him out to be. From what I saw of Spain this summer, David Villa was actually the more complete striker of the two. But, you know - since Torres plays in the Premier League, he must be better. I mean, look at how much Deco has improved since he came to England [???].
Regardless of my personal feelings for Torres' game, he must be applauded for his sublime instincts inside the box, and for getting Liverpool out of jail against City today. That was a vital win - not just for the 3 points, but also as a show of character, and a warning to the other teams that they are title contenders this year. This season is shaping up to be better than last, and if Arsenal don't buck up they could find themselves out of the race by Christmas. You heard it here first.
I'll pick out the two things that struck me the most, starting with Barcelona v Athetico last night. In case you don't know, Barca won that game 6-1, going 3-0 up after 8 minutes. In a word, they were phenomenal. The quartet consisting of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Eto'o was just breathtaking at times. Each of them had moments that would adorn the most silky of games.
Xavi bringing the ball down with his foot (which was almost at head height), knocking it by a player, and then playing Henry though on goal. Iniesta cutting inside and curling a stunning shot off the post, Messi dribbling by 3 players and chipping the ball over Coupet, only to see his shot go just wide, and Eto'o chesting a ball down, dummying both the defender and goalkeeper, and slotting it home for his second of the night.
Rarely have I seen a team out-play another team like this. I mean we're talking Argentina v Serbia here. If Barca really wanted to, they could have scored 10. It was the kind of performance they threaten against most teams but never actually deliver. The kind of performance that should see them installed as favourites for La Liga (if they weren't aready), and genuine contenders for the Champions League (their defense is too abysmal to make them favourites). Their attacking options are unrivaled by any club in the world. In Xavi, they possess arguably the best central midfield player in the world today (can anyone name someone better?), in Messi and Iniesta they possess the best duo of wingers, and between Eto'o and Henry they possess enough firepower to cause most defenses problems (though I would still have a few question marks over Eto'o and his penchant for wastefulness).
Athletico were horrible, make no mistake about that. But Barcelona played some exquisite football nonetheless. It was a masterclass of footballing beauty you might say.
The other thing I want to talk about is Torres. And more specifically, me not liking him that much. I have nothing against him personally of course. I just don't see what everyone else sees in him.
I mean Benitez came out today and basically said he's the best player in the world. After 2 goals today to bring Liverpool back to 2-2 against City you might be inclined to think Rafa is on to something, but don't let those goals fool you. Torres was woeful in the first half, and not much better in the second. Can a player score 2 goals and still be bad? I think so.
I just don't get very excited when Torres plays. For me, he loses the ball too often, and there's nothing I hate more in a player than an inclination to surrender possession cheaply. You can score all the goals you want, but if you keep giving the ball away when you're not putting it in the back of the net, I won't like you very much. This is just my personal opinion. I know it's not shared by many, but I wanted to make it known.
Watching a player like Xavi, or Iniesta, or Fabregas gives me much greater pleasure than watching someone who scores goals, but doesn't do a whole lot else. Torres is a good player, no question. I just don't think he's as good as people make him out to be. From what I saw of Spain this summer, David Villa was actually the more complete striker of the two. But, you know - since Torres plays in the Premier League, he must be better. I mean, look at how much Deco has improved since he came to England [???].
Regardless of my personal feelings for Torres' game, he must be applauded for his sublime instincts inside the box, and for getting Liverpool out of jail against City today. That was a vital win - not just for the 3 points, but also as a show of character, and a warning to the other teams that they are title contenders this year. This season is shaping up to be better than last, and if Arsenal don't buck up they could find themselves out of the race by Christmas. You heard it here first.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Keep It Up Messi
Does anyone else really want to see Lionel Messi continue this rich vein of form and pip Cristiano Ronaldo to the World Player of the Year award? Kaka does anyway. Oh man I'm getting giddy at the thought of Cristiano's face if it's announced that Messi is the winner. I actually wouldn't be surprised if he burst out crying, such is his similarity to a teenage girl. Forget about whether he deserves it or not - read this and tell me you want him to win it.
Watching Messi's winning goal last night just reminded me about how much better a player he is to watch than Ronaldo. Of course, it's highly unlikely he'll win the award this year. Ronaldo scored 42 goals, blah blah blah. Messi will have his turn though. In fact Messi will have his fair of turns, and you can be damn sure he won't be saying he deserves it.
Watching Messi's winning goal last night just reminded me about how much better a player he is to watch than Ronaldo. Of course, it's highly unlikely he'll win the award this year. Ronaldo scored 42 goals, blah blah blah. Messi will have his turn though. In fact Messi will have his fair of turns, and you can be damn sure he won't be saying he deserves it.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
A Dull Game in the Sun
I was going to get up at 5am to watch the Olympic Football Final. I didn't, and I'm very glad of that. Instead, I decided to record it. That way I could skip over the uninteresting bits. You know - the goal kicks, the throw-ins, the injuries, the times Mascherano is on the ball. Unfortunately in this case, the uninteresting bits took up most of the 90 minutes. Not because Mascherano continuously had possession, but because it was just not a good game, for a variety of reasons.
For one, it kicked off at 12 in the afternoon under a blistering sun. Just about the worst time to play a football match. Also, the pitch was bobbley, and really, really slow. To give you an idea of just how slow, if the pitch were a football player, it would be Darren Fletcher (and in the words of J.D., oh he's slow). And when a pitch is bumpy and slow, it's just not possible for players like Riquelme and Messi to strut their stuff. Especially Riquelme. He's motionally challenged already so having a slow pitch to boot just makes him hugely ineffective. His little passes were just getting held up on the turf, and without those he hasn't got much else to offer.
Messi made some obligatory nice runs, but again he lost the ball more often than not. He was of course a threat and an occasional joy to watch, but his performance certainly wasn't up to the standard of that against Man Utd last season (that move on 3:05 is just magic. Scholes didn't even have time to put one of this trademark 'tackles' in).
One player I was quite impressed with was Angel Di Maria (pictured above), who clocks in at Benfica when he's not donning an Argentine shirt. He scored a beautiful chipped goal to settle the tie and light up an otherwise dim affair, and looked reasonably impressive throughout this match, and even the tournament (Yes, I watched other games in this tournament. Woe is me).
Nigeria were stereotypically African, as you might expect from, well, an African team. They were quick, strong, mobile, good in build-up play, and then absolutley horrible within a 30 yard radius of the goal. One time a player of theirs shot from almost the endline, and as you'd expect from that position, the ball just sailed high and wide into the stands. How long will African teams continue to show such naievity in front of goal? Because if they ever become clinical, then Pele's prediction of an African team winning the World Cup by the year 2000 will no doubt come true. Wait - what year are we in now?
Overall, it was a bad final, which is just typical of finals in football tournaments. Except in other tournaments like the World Cup and the Champions League, the outcome actually matters, making the game bearable (although only just in the case of Liverpool-Milan in '07). I mean does anyone outside of Argentina really care that they won an Olympic gold medal? Were the 88,000 people in the stadium there to see the football, or were they there to see large women throw heavy things across some grass a little later on? Given the quality of the final, I think I'd actually have preferred to watch the latter.
Not to worry though. There's plenty more football on show today, with a toss up between Boro v Liverpool and Spurs v Sunderland in the afternoon, followed by Arsenal v Fulham in the evening. But to kick all of that off, there's Football Focus - the show where grown men sit on couches in the most suggestive of manners. I swear one of these days they'll cut to Lee Dixon and Mark Lawrenson on the couch, and the two of them will just be lying on top of each other making out. A disgusting image I know, but don't say I didn't warn you.
For one, it kicked off at 12 in the afternoon under a blistering sun. Just about the worst time to play a football match. Also, the pitch was bobbley, and really, really slow. To give you an idea of just how slow, if the pitch were a football player, it would be Darren Fletcher (and in the words of J.D., oh he's slow). And when a pitch is bumpy and slow, it's just not possible for players like Riquelme and Messi to strut their stuff. Especially Riquelme. He's motionally challenged already so having a slow pitch to boot just makes him hugely ineffective. His little passes were just getting held up on the turf, and without those he hasn't got much else to offer.
Messi made some obligatory nice runs, but again he lost the ball more often than not. He was of course a threat and an occasional joy to watch, but his performance certainly wasn't up to the standard of that against Man Utd last season (that move on 3:05 is just magic. Scholes didn't even have time to put one of this trademark 'tackles' in).
One player I was quite impressed with was Angel Di Maria (pictured above), who clocks in at Benfica when he's not donning an Argentine shirt. He scored a beautiful chipped goal to settle the tie and light up an otherwise dim affair, and looked reasonably impressive throughout this match, and even the tournament (Yes, I watched other games in this tournament. Woe is me).
Nigeria were stereotypically African, as you might expect from, well, an African team. They were quick, strong, mobile, good in build-up play, and then absolutley horrible within a 30 yard radius of the goal. One time a player of theirs shot from almost the endline, and as you'd expect from that position, the ball just sailed high and wide into the stands. How long will African teams continue to show such naievity in front of goal? Because if they ever become clinical, then Pele's prediction of an African team winning the World Cup by the year 2000 will no doubt come true. Wait - what year are we in now?
Overall, it was a bad final, which is just typical of finals in football tournaments. Except in other tournaments like the World Cup and the Champions League, the outcome actually matters, making the game bearable (although only just in the case of Liverpool-Milan in '07). I mean does anyone outside of Argentina really care that they won an Olympic gold medal? Were the 88,000 people in the stadium there to see the football, or were they there to see large women throw heavy things across some grass a little later on? Given the quality of the final, I think I'd actually have preferred to watch the latter.
Not to worry though. There's plenty more football on show today, with a toss up between Boro v Liverpool and Spurs v Sunderland in the afternoon, followed by Arsenal v Fulham in the evening. But to kick all of that off, there's Football Focus - the show where grown men sit on couches in the most suggestive of manners. I swear one of these days they'll cut to Lee Dixon and Mark Lawrenson on the couch, and the two of them will just be lying on top of each other making out. A disgusting image I know, but don't say I didn't warn you.
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