My Winning Eleven

We all have our favourite players, and we all have our players who we think are the best. Sometimes the two overlap, sometimes they don't. What I'm going to attempt to do is to try and come up with a team that basically consists of players I like, and players that might well be the best in their respective positions. It's all subjective at the end of the day of course, so do bear that in mind as you read.

...................................................Casillas.................................................


Sagna.....................Carvalho.....................Vidic.........................Clichy


...................................................Senna...................................................

.............................Xavi..................................Iniesta..............................


.....Messi..................................................................................Kaka.......

....................................................Villa......................................................

There are players such as Rooney who I think are individually brilliant, but they just wouldn't fit into this team. There's also Alex Hleb, who's one of my favourite players, but it's just impossible to leave Kaka or Messi out. Anyone have any strong objections to this team, or perhaps a team of your own? Comment away then.

A Question For the Head of the Premier League:

Can Liverpool really win the Premier League? Really? Liverpool?

A lot of articles I've been reading over the last day have said "Yes" to this question. Liverpool are now considered "genuine title contenders", and with seemingly good reason too. They've beaten Manchester United at home (something they never do), they've beaten Chelsea away (something nobody ever does), and they've put away a decent team like Man City in the process too, although in slightly fortuitous circumstances in must be said. Still, those all sound like solid title winning credentials, and in a way, they are. Your record against the top teams is crucial these days - that's why United have won the league the past two season, and that's why Liverpool haven't won the league in the past two seasons...or in the 15 seasons before that. Improving their record against their "rivals" was a must if they were to mount a serious title assault. That said -- and I'm willing to go on record with this -- I still don't think Liverpool can or will win the league.

They were very impressive against United a month or so ago, and they were very impressive against Chelsea on Sunday. All the players put in big performances, and they all died for the cause. Granted it took an own goal against United and a deflection against Chelsea to help them on their way, but still, I think everyone would agree that they deserved their victories.

However, while such victories are crucial for any team with title aspirations, Liverpool just don't have the quality to go the distance in my opinion. They have some of the qualities - they're resilient, they work extremely hard, they have a 20+ goal striker (not Robbie Keane - the other one), and they work extremely hard...oh wait, I used that one already. My point is, they're good but they're not the one. They played out a boring nil all draw with Aston Villa, they failed to put away Stoke City, and they've been extremely lucky on several occasions up to now, and such luck is bound to run out sooner or later.

Unlike United and Chelsea, I just don't have any confidence in Liverpool winning every time they step onto the pitch. They're playing Portsmouth tomorrow, and I honestly think that there is a good chance they will drop points. So far this season, Liverpool's biggest win was a 3-1 defeat of PSV at Anfield, and their biggest Premier League win was a 2-0 victory away to a very poor Everton side. In other words, they've yet to beat any side by more than two goals. Every game is nearly a struggle for them, whereas with a lot of United and Chelsea games you're almost wondering just how many they're going to score even before kick off. Even Arsenal have that ability to sweep past a lot of teams and win games with seemingly minimal effort.

And speaking of Arsenal, I think they will prove to be a harder team for Liverpool to beat than either Chelsea or United. I can see Arsenal securing all six points against Liverpool, because Arsenal have something neither United or Chelsea have in abundance, and that is speed. Liverpool's full backs were rarely tested against the big two, but against Arsenal it will be a different story altogether.

Of course Arsenal are yet to be really tested themselves, so it's hard to know how they'll fair against their direct rivals (impending games against United and Chelsea will go far in determining that of course). Still, I can see Liverpool dropping the maximum points against them, whereas I wouldn't dream of saying the same with regards Man Utd and Chelsea. In a way, Liverpool undid their win against United by drawing with Stoke in the next game. I fear they could do the same against Portsmouth tomorrow.

One of a Kind

As some readers may know, I have a penchant for liking players who are slow, lazy, flimsy, mentally weak, but technically sublime. No player incorporates such a list of characteristics better than Juan Roman Riquelme. As another blogger pointed out, you either love him or you hate him - very rare that there is an in between. And in case you haven't guessed already, I fall into the former camp.

I first heard the name Riquelme through the medium of computer games - more specifically, through Championship Manager - the game that eats away the time of those who love football, but are too lazy to do anything about it. He was one name on a long list of 'must-buys' from South America which cropped up in each incarnation, up there with the likes of Saviola, Klimowicz, Aimar, Palermo and Diego.

However, it wasn't until quite a few years later that I got to see him play in the flesh. I had heard about his good form for Villarreal (he had won an award for 'Most Creative Player' in a league that consisted of Zidane and Ronaldinho), so I was excited to see him pitted against the 'golden generation' of English football, which might I add is one of the biggest myths to have surfaced throughout my life time.

Anyway, I watched the game with intrigue, and Riquelme most certainly didn't disappoint. He put on one of the best displays I've ever seen from a player, with grace and finesse just emenating from every touch of the ball he took. Ledley King remarked after the game that he couldn't get near Riquelme, despite the fact that Juan Roman has the pace of, well, something very very slow.

If you didn't see the game, then watch the highlights of Riquelme's performance here (there's a couple of clips before you get to the England game), and just remember that this is only a snippet of what actually happened that day. Yes it was a friendly by name, but it certainly wasn't a friendly by nature, which is hardly surprising given the two teams in question. However, in a hotly contested affair, Riquelme played the game at his own pace, dictating everything from wherever he decided to roam. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and I fell immediately in love with this "lazy genius".

There were highs and lows in the career of Riquelme after this game - the highest high being taking his team to the Champions League semi-final with series of stunning performances, none moreso than against Inter Milan in the quarter final; the lowest low being that famous 'spaghetti western' style missed penalty against Arsenal.

Then came the World Cup. Many argue that he was disappointing, but I would say that many are wrong. He set up both goals against the Ivory Coast, he ran the show against Serbia in what was the team performance of the tournament, admittedly he was below par against Mexico yet he still created two very good chances, and against Germany he assisted the goal, with his substitution being cited as a major factor for Argentina's demise. That's not a disappointing World Cup, is it? Not in my books anyway.

Fast forward to today. Having resorted to playing club football in his home country, I very rarely get to see him play anymore, but I did get to see him tog out for Argentina last weekend, and on a bobbly pitch he put in a first half performance that made me fall in love with him all over again. He set up Messi's goal wonderfully, and barely once did he give the ball away.

With Riquelme, it's the little things that matter. You can look at his videos on Youtube, but they never tell the full story. There are little flicks and shimmys and passes that escape the highlights reel, but are as sublime as they are subtle. Tim Vickery is certainly right - he is one of a dying breed. There are few playing the game today who have the mental capacity, awareness, and execution skills of Juan Roman, which is a great shame.

There is hope on the horizon however. Extinction may be prevented. For amidst the wave of immense physical specimens such as Drogba and Ronaldo, emerged a team of midgets in the form of the Spanish national side. They proved and continue to prove that cunning and guile go a long way in the world of football. They proved that the game is indeed beautiful, and lets hope that many follow in their footsteps.

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.

Football Weekly

For the past 7 months or so, I've been listening to a football podcast called Football Weekly, which can be found at the Guardian's website. To make this brief, it's the best thing you can listen to that's about football, at least in my opinion anyway. My weekend football experience isn't complete until I've heard the witty one-liners of James Richardson, or the cynical rants of Barry Glendenning. And then there's Sid Lowe in Spain, who writes an excellent weekly column about La Liga for the Guardian website, and keeps listeners up to date via the telephone on Football Weekly.

Overall, I can't recommend this show enough to any football fans out there. Listen to the latest podcast here, and I guarantee your enjoyment. This might just be the best one I've heard so far, so they're not all up to this standard. But if you're looking for a place where wit meets intelligent football conversation, look no further than Football Weekly. Trust me. Click on the link a couple of sentences up and prepare for your football experience to be enhanced significantly.

Love It

I can't let this week pass without giving mention to Samir Nasri's beautiful nutmeg in the game against Porto on Tuesday. He was in his own half, surrounded by two players, and instead of passing the ball back or launching it up the touchline, he just dropped his shoulder and slid the ball right through Meireles' legs, and then proceeded to play a pinpoint pass to Sagna on the far touchline.

It was a sublime piece of skill, and more importantly, it shows how confident he is in his own ability.

Now, stop getting injured.

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.