Arsenal beat FC Porto 2-1

Arsenal looked better tonight in defeating Porto than a couple of nights ago against Ajax in the Amsterdam Tournament. It almost looked like a real game.

Lisandro gave Porto the early lead after side-footing in a cross.

Arsenal faced quite a bit of pressure from Porto the entire game whose midfield had more control before the half, and probably overall. Freddie Ljungberg came off the bench and provided both goals, playing much better than in the 1-0 victory against Ajax. He made an immediate impact.

New signing Alexander Hleb was again full of ideas and looks likely to have earned himself a starting role but I’ve noticed he tends to drift forward a bit too much. Arsenal were exposed a couple of times from that. Speaking of starting roles, Ivorian Emmanuel Eboue is doing well, and against quick players. He’s looked sharper than Lauren albeit making a few mistakes in the process.

Porto, with new Dutch coach Co Adriaanse, looked good. A few late defensive bungles almost made it 2-2. Pascal Cygan provided the late drama. For that matter, Senderos didn’t look that great either before Toure replaced him.

For what its worth, Arsenal are unbeaten so far this pre-season and better keep Sol Campbell.

Owen Premiership return imminent

Real Madrid are reported as saying they will not stand in the way of a Michael Owen transfer. PR code for “let’s hear some offers”.

Now that Santos striker Robinho and Julio Baptista of Sevilla have joined Real Madrid they are well stocked and have signaled they are ready to sell. Realistically, Owen’s form will continue to be ignored so he’d do better to leave.

Generally this means a good price. Manchester United have been in the rumor mill for Owen, as well as Arsenal. A quick purchase benefits everyone and Owen still has a lot to offer.

Real Madrid’s purported asking price is in the 10m pound range. Manchester United are the more heavily linked team but it’s an open race now. Other Premiership clubs like Tottenham need a striker more than Manchester United does and could be encouraged now that Madrid has opened the door.

Chelsea make final Essien offer

Reportedly Chelsea have made their final offer for Lyon midfielder Michael Essien. Earlier in the week Lyon raised their demands on the Ghanaian 22 year old to shocking levels.

The final offer is about 20m pounds plus midfielder Tiago on loan for a single season. That’s a big difference from the 32m pounds plus Tiago outright that was demanded.

When negotiating parties are this far apart and still negotiating it means that one side is bluffing. And that would be Lyon since nobody else in Europe is bidding.

Adu wants Chelsea chance

16 year old American footballer Freddy Adu from DC United has told the media he’d love a move to Stamford Bridge during a preseason exhibition against Chelsea.

"I definitely want to play for Chelsea one day; they’re my favorite club in England” –Adu

Adu looked more comfortable with DC United than the USA side which he joined in this summers FIFA World Youth Cup. He played well, nothing like the splash Christiano Ronaldo made when Manchester United played Sporting Lisbon in a friendly a couple of seasons back (ended up Ronaldo’s last game for Lisbon) but enough to merit a second look.

Adu reasonably needs a few seasons, probably 3, to achieve the polish and consistency required.

The American youth international had a conversation with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho before the game began. Chelsea may have to begin looking other places than Europe for talent because of price. Adu, just thru hype, will get the internationals required. He’d be a juggernaut from a marketing perspective, that’s for sure.

Alan Smith wants to replace Keane

Alan Smith from Manchester United has taken inspiration from Chelsea’s Eidur Gudjohnsen and decided to play in midfield. But while you’d think it would be in attacking midfield like Gudjohnsen, its not.

When I read the headline I thought, “Oh, wants to replace Scholes” and then I read Alan Smith actually wants to replace Roy Keane in a defensive midfielder’s holding role. Keane is planning to retire at the end of this season. I was suprised, but then thought it might be a good idea.

I commend Smith former Leeds United man, he’s never been a perfect fit as a striker and we may just see his do really well. He’s a gritty player and liked to dig for the ball from the front.

The switch will require patience from manager Alex Ferguson but could pay off over time. For now, he has the coaching staff’s support. Given the failure Manchester United had with Eric Djemba-Djemba and Kleberson’s un-emergence, the door is open for Smith.

Arsenal rumors point to Sol Campbell

Rumors persisted around Arsenal that Robert Pires or Freddie Ljungberg would be the next players to leave after Patrick Vieira’s exit to Juventus.

Sol Campbell might actually be the player leaving the Gunners. The reason why, I think, is that Campbell is not willing to risk his World Cup 2006 prospects and at the moment probably feels under a lot of threat for his place.

The durable central defender missed a large part of last season to injury which gave Swiss international Philippe Senderos a chance to emerge. At the moment Campbell is working on a calf injury which means Senderos will start the season.

Newcastle United have admitted they would package Jermaine Jenas in a sale which included Campbell.

Personally, I’m hesitant to change the starting lineup because of an injury. You’re comparing a few months of good form with an entire career. If Senderos didn’t exist Arsenal would be perfectly happy with Sol Campbell.

In fact, I don’t think Arsenal should sell a single player. Pires and Ljungberg have value to the squad and so especially does Campbell. If a sale does take place, it’s because the player wants it. Arsene Wenger stated that he has no interest in selling Campbell but that is what he said with Vieira. With Campbell the circumstances around a move are a bit different but the right ingredients certainly exist to push a deal.

Hleb brilliant for Arsenal in win over Ajax

Apart from being meaningless, pre-season tournaments do give new players a chance to mix with the team.

Alexander Hleb did just that. After he scored in his debut, he looked magic tonight against Ajax Amsterdam in the Amsterdam Tournament.

As soon as he came on as a 60th minute substitute the team started moving. Hleb laid crafty balls in the paths of players, played people thru, chased, kept possession and set up the winning goal 1-0 in the 86th minute. Lupoli with the finish.

I can’t say much more. Hleb is even better than I thought.

Ajax played Hedwiges Maduro in central defense tonight instead of his normal defensive holding position. He did rather well for the most part. Ajax held together for most of the game but neither team was overly industrious by any means.

Henry was his curious self. At one point he made a stunning overhead pass by side-foot-chipping the ball up in the air and laying it off with his foot to (eee, I think) Reyes so accurately Reyes didn’t lose a step.

Liverpool sidestep Everton

Everton, Champions League newcomers, were relieved to avoid their neighbors Liverpool but are handed a stiff test against Spanish club Villarreal.

Last years third place club in Spain finished a mile behind both Madrid and Barcelona but had a +32 goal difference. That means top scorer Diego Forlan (bottom) for Everton to contend with.

Liverpool are the better side by a mile against potential draws CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria or KF Tirana of Albania. They take a 3-1 advantage against Kanus home to Anfield for the second leg.

Everton, Champions League newcomers, have a lot to prove this season and are now in the 3rd round qualifying draw. How Andy Johnson could help Everton right now. Crouch is over at Liverpool handing Cisse goals.

Real Madrid scuttled

The Brazilian Football Confederation has rejected Robinho’s transfer to Real Madrid. An international transfer certificate is required which the Brazilian FA and Santos will not provide to make the sale.

Politics at work. Santos insists on the full buyout clause even though 40% belongs to the player. Madrid are offering Santos their 60% portion of the buyout (21m pounds). Robinho has publicly relinquished claim to his part.

The player has refused to train with Santos after suffering thru his mother’s kidnap in Brazil. He wants to leave. After what he’s been thru the Brazilian FA should let him go. Santos gets their money; Robinho is in Spain minus a lot of cash; Madrid gets their man.

Premiership rumors and the Chelsea shakedown

In our latest football shakedown, Chelsea are being asked for an even more enormous sum for Lyon midfielder Michael Essien than before.

32 million pounds + Tiago

That’s about three rungs above too much.

Lyon are really overblowing Essien’s value. I’d rate the exchange as 12m pounds + Tiago, 14m max. Patrick Vieira cost 13.5m pounds!

If it were my club, I’d close the negotiation immediately. Chelsea’s midfield is on par with any club in the world. It’s time to make a statement if Abramovic wants this to stop. There are dozens of super talents emerging all over the world.

Around the rest of the Premiership there are some tempting rumors.

West Ham United appears to have Freddie Kanoute in their sites. Kanoute, who I think Tottenham underrate. An offer has been tabled and rejected. West Ham are ‘considering their options’ (nothing like pr talk, is their?).

Everton have put the money down on the Andy Johnson link to the tune of 7m pounds which was rejected. Everton keep getting rejected.

In the “Why?” category, Aston Villa are interested in Milan Baros of Liverpool. So you’d like to team Angel and Milan Baros up? I don’t know about this one.

Tottenham have secured Dutchman Edgar Davids in a bit of a swoop. Davids and Carrick in the same mid-midfield is a decent pairing.

Bolton Wanderers are apparently preparing a move for Uruguayan Gonzalo De Los Santos. The midfielder has been loaned around but is on the books at Valencia in Spain. Stuttgart and Everton have also shown interest in the 29 year old.

Bad for football

European clubs touring around the world to places like Asia and North America is bad for the game.

Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and AC Milan are among a host of clubs which subjugate their players to this meaningless practice.

It’s clear to me in the last few World Cups that the players were tired. The trend of big names dropping in the group stages are as much a product of many teams improving as it is about tired international superstar players. Both exist.

There is a small argument for the practice of touring. Its great exposure for the game and people all over the world see players they would normally not. That’s all great, but the practice of touring is causing harm.

The trend is increasing as FIFA pretends that its changes to the football calendar are making a difference while players load up on matches and have less to give for the different championships.

The problem, like always is money. These games are lucrative, for the players too, the sponsors like it, and obviously the Real Madrid bank account favors it as well.

FIFA’s political players see a host of forces all backed up with money. What is good for bank accounts makes Manchester United more likely to tour and less likely for anyone to act on the harm.

Is it fair to wait 4 years and then have tired-ass players show up at the World Cup?

A smarter strategy would be to have the second teams travel and some youth players. I know, everyone earns a lot less, but there is real benefit in it. And it’s been tried (but not given enough time).

A huge club like Manchester United has quite a good second squad; Chelsea has a second unit that could make Europe on their own. Tour your future and in a decade people will come because they know they will hear the names they see on tour again.

But 2005 is about the quickie, not the investment. And you wonder why these guys are always in debt? Tour, tire your players for money, add risk to losing silverware, and maybe go deeper in debt.

Giving games to players that play less often is good for player’s morale, not to mention experience and exposure.

Touring exposes the fundamental problem in pro sports: business comes first. In the quest for earnings, AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester United, et al, continue damaging their own prospects.

German Footballer of the Year announced

Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack has been named German Footballer of the Year for the third time in 4 seasons.

Ballack won by the landslide of landslides too. Sheesh, his 516 votes totaled almost 5 times the second place man.

I’ve felt that Michael Ballack is a bit underrated abroad but he’s not that much better than Lukas Podolski from Koln, Hertha Berlin midfielder Marcelinho, Nurnberg's Marek Mintal, and Bayern Munich playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger, numbers 2 thru 5 in the journalist’s voting tally.

It’s not the strongest list of 5 finalists compared to any of the top 25 players in England. It’s an indication of the Bundesliga’s decline. You can read into that also Germany’s 2006 World Cup hopes.

Sleeping giants awake

Manchester United fans, after such a muted response to the club takeover by Malcolm Glazer, have been urging shirt sponsor Vodafone to stop sponsoring Untied. People outside the shareholders meeting had signs with "Hang up on Malcolm Glazer" written on them.

Vodafone’s PR machine says the number of contract cancellations in protest is insignificant. They'd lie anyway, but are probably right.

The sponsorship deal lasts until 2007 so I don’t quite see how this has any effect other than to stir up negative PR for Vodafone.

What might be a more effective strategy would be for Shareholders United to link up with a competitor and sell subscriptions to a new provider outside the ground before games. Not close enough to cause a problem, but promoted well enough for people to seek it out.

Vodafone would take newspaper photos of fans in Man U kit signing up for someone elses mobil service seriously. Would be great comedy in it too.

I read thru “Shareholders United’s” paper which has a convincing argument. But nobody will stop any sponsorship unless they see the takeover in real terms.

That means Manchester United related cancellations. The rest is cigar ashes.

The English Patient

If he ever played, he’d be “England international defender Jonathan Woodgate”.

Now, the Real Madrid player has injured his hamstring again in training and is currently traveling to America and Finland for a fresh pair of eyes.

Jonathan Woodgate is football’s version of NBA player Grant Hill. Hill missed about 3 seasons with ankle problems and is in constant threat of it happening again. He's never kicked a ball for Madrid.

Real Madrid paid 14m pounds from Newcastle last summer who acquired the player from Leeds United. Reportedly it even happened while training with the medical staff.

Initially Real Madrid tried to deny it, but it’s a bit hard to deny when your player has to leave the team in Asia to seek treatment. More than often these stories end badly, so I hope Woodgate can sort this out.

If he can’t, don’t make it like watching the movie "The English Patient" made by a director doesn't know when to end a film.

Bolton bolting up front and back

Sam Allardyce has agreed to a season long loan deal for Senegalese international defender Abdoulaye Faye.

The snag in a full signing is probably the player’s work permit.

Faye makes a trio with Senegal international team-mates Khalilou Fadiga and El-Hadji Diouf now at the club. This will likely help the player adjust and improves his chances of success.

Mexican international Jared Borgetti has signed for Bolton Wanderers in a 1m pound deal. What a bargain! Allardyce is brilliant. Borgetti is a fantastic striker for that money.

I’m willing to bet he starts and impresses because he’ll compliment Diouf and Okocha well and scores good goals. He’s similar to Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes.

What a penchant this coach has for grabbing good players that are going unnoticed.

Finally, the rumor mill says Bolton are also on the verge of landing Spanish defender Juanfran. The ‘officials’ are saying there are negotiations taking place and the player is very keen to play in England.

Former Liverpool defender joins Wigan Athletic

Movement continues to take place lower in the Premiership pecking order.

Former Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz has signed a single season contract with Wigan Athletic.

Last season Henchoz played with Celtic in Scotland but languished.

The 30 year old had been on trial with Wigan. German club Kaiserslautern and Basle from his native Switzerland were interested but he chooses to fight the newly promoted fight with Wigan. Might not be a bad idea as he never seemed the most motivated player.

A 12 month contract suits everyone too, Wigan could get relegated or Henchoz could defend like a tree stump.

West Bromwich Albion sign versatile attacker

Senegal international Diomansy Kamara spent part of last season on loan at Portsmouth.

West Brom have signed the player for 1.5m pounds from Modena.

Word is Portsmouth used a get-out clause in the transfer which meant he returns to Modena, minus the 1.5m remaining balance of his transfer being paid. Albion moved in with remaining money to secure the transfer.

Rather surprisingly, Portsmouth didn’t pay the rest and secure the player for such a modest amount. I don’t really understand it.

Kamara adds width and pace, creates more opportunities for others than he can score goals himself, but that’s not such a bad thing.

Kamara becomes West Bromwich coach Bryan Robson's fourth signing of the summer following the purchases of Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, central midfielder Darren Carter from Birmingham and Steve Watson from Everton on a free transfer.

Unrest continues for Manchester United

I predicted unrest for Manchester United in my top 10. Signs of it have started popping up recently and old faithful, Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has had a bust up with manager Alex Ferguson.

When Keane pops off a boiling point of one sort or another has tipped. In 1998 Keane was sent home from the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Even little things have started happening like players in their own cars instead of the team bus.

This stuff didn’t exist last season and are signs of an unfocused team, Chelsea are focused.

“
Even the posturing in the transfer market by Chelsea and Newcastle United is barely a sideshow to the big footballing story of the weekend: the apparent eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation and subsequent fall-out between Sir Alex Ferguson and his trusted club captain and sergeant-at-arms Roy Keane that has seemingly left the volatile Irishman training with the juniors back in Manchester, recovering from a hamstring injury, while the senior players complete a lucrative eight-day trip to Hong Kong, China and Japan.
“ - football.guardian.co.uk

Done deals

Celtic have finally wrapped up transfer of Reggina playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura. Gordon Strachan has signed one of the best playmakers available in Europe at the moment and boosts his prospects significantly. This is the best player at Celtic since Henrik Larsson.

Cardiff City have signed 18-year-old ex-Parma forward Andreas Ferretti after a successful trial. The player moves to the Welsh side on a 2 two year contract. Apparently the player came at Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson’s recommendation. Funny, he probably gets his first start as a Bluebird in a friendly against Italian side Udinese.

Nigeria midfielder Sunday Oliseh has returned to Belgium with KRC Genk. The move is a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund where he’d spent the last five seasons. Nigerian youth international Promise Isaac had made his first move to Europe via Turkish outfit Genclerbirligi.

Leonardo has left Santos in Brazil to sign for Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian League title holders have brought in the 19 year old defender to start right away. Leonardo won the FIFA U-17‘s in 2003 with Brazil and looks a quality defender.

Chelsea looked prepared

Shaun Wright-Phillips saw his Chelsea debut as the Blues beat AC Milan comfortably 1-0 in their United States pre-season tour.

Icelandic international Eidur Gudjohnsen was impressive in possession. Floating between a striker and an attacking midfielder he added fluidity by dropping back to link up play. He found a very comfortable playing position last season and I’m hoping he stays there.

Phillips looked sharp from the start. His speed was amazing and opened space for himself on a number of occasions. Arjan Robben, man of the match and the eventual goalscorer, was also quick and profitable.

Chelsea quite literally have two top 10 Premiership sides within the same team. Mourinho, who used virtually his entire team in substitutions, looked eager to make the most of the opportunity to see his players. I got the honest impression he has an open mind about his first 11. Well, except maybe for perpetual disappointment Hernan Crespo who missed the easiest chance of the game.

The most interesting of these decisions Mourinho must make is whether to play Wright-Phillips or Arjan Robben. It’s a tough choice, they were equally impressive. Find a way to play them together like Real Madrid did with Beckham and Figo.

AC Milan, obviously missing Kaka and Shevchenko looked depleted despite hard work by Rui Costa and Cafu to play the team forward. Christian Vieri missed golden chances and looked like a Clydesdale among thoroughbreds.

AC Milan must feel a step behind, like Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United do. From what I saw, in addition to Chelsea’s new livery, was a team chocked full of players eager to prove more than a single Premiership title.

Promise fulfilled

Nigerian youth international Isaac Promise has signed for Turkish first division club Genclerbirligi. I promised there would be interest.

Feyenoord were apparently keen, as well as Auxerre and Sporting Lisbon (where he had been on trial) but the young forward chose for regular first team football out of the gates instead.

Realistically, at a club like Auxerre the player would spend at least his first season on the bench so it makes sense to display the talent, which is no doubt there.

Genclerbirligi, a club from Ancora, get a promising talent. Promise certainly foreshadowed his name with his impressive play at this summers FIFA Youth Tournament in the Netherlands where I happened to have been able to watch him play.

“Turkey was a great football deal and a great financial deal for him and we're sure that we've made the right choice for his future development.” –agent Dan Fletcher

This solidifies the player’s first move from Africa into Europe. There comes now a nervous season of adjustment but as long as Isaac stays focused on his football there is huge upside and eventually an EU work permit for the Premiership.

A good season in Turkey gives Promise Isaac a great chance of a place with the Super Eagles in the 2oo6 World Cup.

My Premiership bottom 10 for 2006

I’m following up on my Premiership top 10 list recently with the bottom 10.

The bar has been raised significantly in the Premiership's top 5. Unfortunately, the bottom 10 has fallen even further behind.

My bottom 10, in descending order:

11th – Middlesbrough losing Zenden has dropped them from the top 10 for sure. They hold the 11th spot tediously, as the summer transfer window’s closure approaches they will have to spend to stay here.

12th – Charlton Athletic will more or less hold their ground but they don’t have a lot of depth. In their favor Charlton play well as a team, but are prone to defensive breakdowns. In total Charlton leaked 58 goals last season and until that changes neither will their position in the table.

13th - Until Aston Villa has a striker scoring more than 7 goals in 30+ appearances the team won’t improve. This will probably be Angel’s last chance; Aston Villa had other players step up to deliver goals last season, 10th was an overachievement.

14th – Blackburn Rovers have an impressive player in Mort Gamst Pederson. Blackburn gave up a modest 43 goals last season, in small part due to the defensive help of Paul Dickov. But they only scored 32 goals in large part due to Dickov who contributed a meager 9 in 29 appearances. Unless that improves Blackburn won’t.

15th – Birmingham City have not made any significant transfers and will probably fall behind to what seems like the theme of this article: lack of goals. Emile Heskey scored 10 in 30+ games. But Birmingham City are without another player in the Premiership top 25 top scorers list from last season.

16th – Portsmouth will more or less stay even because they have creativity and talent in midfield and can score a few goals. They leaked goals to the tune of 59 last season and some were so hapless that it looked like the Portsmouth back four competing a three legged race. That can’t continue, but it might just and Portsmouth are not clear of relegation by any stretch.

17th- Wigan Athletic are the best team promoted. They clearly looked the best prepared last season for the Premiership and come in with a squad that can hold itself pretty well under pressure. If they can hold their form early in the season and gain confidence, they will survive.

18th- Sunderland probably have the best chance of surviving. A host of signings came ahead of the season but that may prove a problem. A promoted team that doesn’t start well often goes back down. Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has an uphill climb.

19th – Fulham likely to lose Boa Morte and likely to be relegated either way. I think losing Edwin van der Sar was enough to tip the balance. Fulham lack the stability, player for player, to cope with giving up more goals.

20th – West Ham United are prone to a bad performance and don’t have a Joe Cole or Jermain Defoe to make plays and score. In the end, West Ham have a midfield that simply has too many questions to answer. That inevitably means more pressure on the back line; too much pressure to survive.

Politicos discover Figo a galactico after all

Real Madrid’s "politico class" spoiled a move to Liverpool for Luis Figo by demanding a transfer fee.

He was a galactico to the politico after all, so he stays the #10.

Figo has been quoted saying that he is going to stay at Real Madrid and see out the final year of his contract. After this season the player is free to go wherever he chooses without Madrid’s politicos to break up the move.

Liverpool probably won’t try again for the Portuguese international and former world player of the year. It’s Real’s money; they can pay him millions to sit the bench. He saves his legs for a season anyway and can play international.

But in a season, at age 33, his options will be even more limited.

"I know I'm not first or second choice” -Figo

Figo’s penalty actually gave Real Madrid a win on tour, 3-2, over a Chinese side. Expect another season of turmoil and drama at the Bernabeu because of Luxemburgo who I give until mid season before being fired.

Ferguson dreaming

Alex Ferguson thinks his Manchester United squad is equal to Chelsea.

He’s dreaming. Let’s begin at the top: Jose Mourinho has out-coached Alex Ferguson virtually every time they have played each other. And that includes FC Porto where Mourinho had a fraction of the Manchester United transfer kitty.

2 years ago Arsenal went through a whole season unbeaten. Last season Chelsea only lost one game and are still hungry. To these grim facts, Ferguson replies:

“The bar might have been raised but there is still nothing between our side and Chelsea’s”

Alex Ferguson has a good team, no doubt. But Chelsea have a better and deeper back four, an equal but deeper midfield and 2 better goalkeepers. Manchester United has the best striker on both teams in Wayne Rooney but Chelsea have the best player in Arjan Robben. Over a season this adds up.

Arsenal, now minus Vieira, are going to find it even rougher going this season, but Manchester United have the storm cloud Glazer to contend with and that’s worth -5 points at least.

Roberto Carlos getting dual nationality

Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos will become a dual-citizen of Spain and Brazil so the club can have another non-European Union slot, namely for Robinho.

La Liga rules stipulate only 3 non-EU player are allowed in a squad. Real Madrid’s slots were used by Walter Samuel, Ronaldo, and Roberto Carlos last season. I speculated that Carlos or Ronaldo would be leaving because of Robinho’s arrival but Real Madrid look set on keeping their big name Brazilians.

With Real trying to close the deal to sign Robinho, the latest news would free up a place in the squad should the transfer saga end.

Strangely, Carlos was robbed in Brazil last month while giving a radio interview. 2 armed gunmen on a motorcycle robbed a car he was driving in. Guns are proliferated in Brazil and gun crime is at fever levels. Not too long ago Pele was carjacked until the thieves realized who it was and ran out of respect. No such luck for Roberto Carlos or Robinho who had his mother kidnapped.

Greatest goal ever?

Too often when you judge something like the greatest goal ever things like nationalism, club allegiance and your favorite players get in the way. Not to mention you haven't seen every goal ever scored.

When Swedish international Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored this goal back when he was still with Ajax Amsterdam I thought it could have been the best goal I'd ever seen.

I uncovered this video of it the other day and the same thought came to my mind, “this could be the greatest goal ever”.

If you watch this goal in detail, notice he beats 5 players a total of 9 times. One poor guy got faked 3 times, another twice. Every fake was a virtuoso move. He even fakes the camera man out twice!



There are goals that are special because they have meaning but this one is special because if its sheer brilliance.

Best goal ever? If not, it’s up there.

See the entire greatest goals ever series

Celtic to get lucky after all

KeepTheFaith.com, a website which follows Celtic FC reports that Shunsuke Nakamura is going to sign for the club.

When a player gets quoted that way, it’s usually a sign that a deal is being prepared. I’m pretty confident that Nakamura is going to join Celtic who really need his playmaking as a host of preseason draws demonstrate.

This on again, off again saga has started to drag on too long. If a player is too hesitant, what does it say?

If the signing doesn't happen in a day or so I think its time to forget about it. Signing hesitant players often goes badly.

Kerlon, the amazing head dribbler

I heard rumors about a Brazilian wunderkind named Kerlon which dribbled the ball with his head to go past players.

Zidane from Real Madrid and Ronaldinho from Barcelona are famous for creating new tricks other players copy but here is one which is truly unique and I have the video to prove it:

Kerlon dribbling with his head, video

Kerlon Moura Souza plays for Brazilian club Cruzeiro, where his trick is named 'seal dribble'. He and his father claim he’s been perfecting the trick since he was a little boy. This may sound like a circus trick but it's very effective.

Bewildered defenders don’t know how to stop it and, as you can see from the video, resort to fouling the player. At 17 Kerlon has not broken into the Cruzeiro first team. A testament to how overstocked Brazil is with players.

It’s astonishing how many superstars emerge from the same country. European youth systems like Ajax and Arsenal are criticized for being too structured in their programs to the detriment of creativity, look how fathers teach their kids football in Brazil. They are not taught to play well, they are taught to play creatively.

Unfortunately, work permits keep most of these starlets out of the Premiership until they cycle thru other leagues and become 10 times the price.

Manchester City set for Feyenoord winger

After a windfall from the Shaun Wright-Phillips sale, Manchester City look to be signing 22 year old Dutch international Romeo Castelen.

A natural right winger, Castelen, is similar in size and agility to Wright-Phillips. He made only 30 appearances for Feyenoord in his first season there; Regardless, impressive Dutch national coach Marco van Basten has given Castelen 7 caps.

This is exactly the kind of player that could replace Shaun Wright-Phillips and begin to reduce the City debts. Debt can kill a club off as fast as constant losing.

If the rumored deal for 4 million pounds turns out to be confirmed I’d say City should be quite happy. I’ve seen him play a few times and he’s impressed me at international and club level. Castelen is well worth the money and the chance.

Everton, Tottenham, Newcastle and Fulham rejected

With Andy Cole set on leaving Fulham for Manchester City, coach Chris Coleman sparked a chatter by suggesting Manchester United striker Louis Saha could be loaned back to Fulham.

Everton and Tottenham have since inquired about a Saha loan but all of them have been flatly rejected by coach Alex Ferguson.

Along with Saha, Newcastle have also been rejected on a bid for Luis Boa Morte. Why Newcastle are considering paying 10 million pounds for Nicolas Anelka and not upping their offer for Boa Morte is beyond me. You Newcastle fans want Anelka? After Robert, the pitch fight, et al, wouldn’t a more stable player make more sense? I’d rather pay 10 million pounds for Andy Johnson.

But back to Louis Saha for whom 13 million pounds was paid.

I’m amazed sometimes at how little time players are being given at top clubs. Today’s football climate is similar to the pop music business, you either make a hit song or they try the next disposable act. Saha has only played 16 gamed for United.

Fred?

Clubs (like Arsenal, Everton, Celtic and Middlesboro) that need a striker, take note.

Brazilian Fred, pronounced “freeetji”, has been lighting up the Brazilian league.

The prolific 22 year old plays for Brazilian club Cruzeiro where he's scored 35 goals in his last 35 matches. 17 of those came in a span of 11 games.

This is Cruzeiro’s biggest prospect since Ronaldo who was swooped up after just his first season at the club by PSV Eindhoven.

Fred’s full name is Frederico Chaves Guedes. His playing name, like so many other Brazilians is a single name substitute, but doesn’t quite have the zing to it yet, does it. Maybe spell it with a phonetic pronunciation. When you hear it in Portuguese it sounds different but I can see the odd stare in a Premiership program with someone thinking to themselves "Fred Something, but single named Fred?”. The first thing that came to my mind was Fred Flinstone, 35 goals in 35 Premiership matches would change that.

Not playing in the big cities like Sao Paolo and Rio De Janeiro, Fred has not gotten a lot of attention. For his previous club America-MG, he scored 34 in 57 matches. He’s only played a total of 43 for Cruzeiro so far and has already equaled that total.

He’s scored 68 goals in 100 matches. That’s consistent productivity.

His goalscoring touch is immaculate. He has this habit of hitting the bottom inside of the post a lot and the ball ricocheting in. Whether by coincidence, I don’t know. Didn't seem like it, they were spiffy goals.

Fred has patience too. Often waits and waits, even backs off, with an eye for headers a defender can't reach to turn to goal with the foot. At about 6’ 2” (185cm) can head as well.

He reminds me a lot of (at one time) prolific Brazilian goalscorer Mario Jardel or a bit of Freddy Kanoute. The only thing I have seen lacking is a bit of pace. Remember when Tottenham signed Helder Postiga and you could see immediately that he wasn’t nearly quick enough for England? He's quicker than that, but more recently Kezman?

The same could happen to Fred, but he has a much better shot on goal than either one of those players. And Kezman did get some easy chances, from what I saw, this Brazilian would have buried them and kept a place at Chelsea.

It appears Monaco in France made a 3 million pound offer a while back which was rejected. Cruzeiro apparently wants 6-7 million pounds (from clubs like Arsenal, Everton, Celtic and Middlesboro) .

Dutchman to coach club and national side at same time

PSV Eindhoven coach Guus Hiddink will announce tomorrow that he's also Australia’s new national coach. The team failed to impress at the Confederations Cup in Germany, the place the next World Cup will be held.

The Dutchman, which led South Korea to a quarter final in the last World Cup, will give a big boost to a National side which, like South Korea, lacks a hi-powered domestic league. Hiddink also coached the Netherlands in the 1998 World Cup in France.
The Football Federation Australia has accepted Hiddink as their coach part-time, while staying on at PSV Eindhoven. This is an odd arrangement and I wouldn’t be surprised if Eindhoven balks at it. For Hiddink to coach 2 teams half way around the world from eachother is a ballsy move on his part.

Former Australia coach Frank Farina left the post after six years at the helm and a poor run of form.
So if Australia qualifies for World Cup 2006 you can guess what happens next.

Celtic may not get lucky

Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura is now being chased by Racing Santander and Borussia Dortmund.

Celtic have offered the most but Japan’s playmaker is keen to play in Spain.

Reggina have accepted 2.75m pounds bid from Celtic but negotiations have stalled with the player.

Nakamura doesn’t seem so interested in joining Celtic. He is waiting for a different team to match the bid it seems, as Celtic seem to have agreed to his imaging rights demands.

Unfortunately it looks likely that Celtic’s league strength is hurting them again in attracting talent.

Baros should take the hint

Liverpool striker Milan Baros should be actively pursuing another club. Gerard Houllier would be glad to have him at Lyon but Liverpool didn’t take their chance to sell.

Maybe money or coach Rafael Benitez was worried that he wouldn’t get another striker to replace him. Maybe he also worried about the lineup considering all the Liverpool injuries last year.

Liverpool purchased Peter Crouch from Southampton and Liverpool have told Baros they don’t want him yet the optimist insists he wants to stay at the club. Why? I thought the objective as a professional footballer was to play (and do well). When you are a defender and don’t score that’s one thing, but a striker ?

Instead of getting his career on track Baros prefers to ignore an imminent sale:

"If he says he does not need me, then we will start solving the problem, but nothing is happening now and I am not letting it play on my mind." -Baros

What team keeps a player out of Champions League matches other than to assure his marketability to potential suitors?

Liverpool need to sell Milan Baros and Milan Baros needs to get himself and his manager hopping in search of a new club.

Liverpool buy the tall guy

24-year-old Peter Crouch has joined Liverpool. The 6’ 7” (200 cm) striker gave defenses fits for Southampton last season.

Crouch should join Liverpool’s training camp in Switzerland this week after a medical.

The final settlement price was 7 million pounds. Liverpool had 6 and 6 ½ million pound bids rejected. Once it became clear other clubs like Manchester City and Middlesboro were preparing to make offers Liverpool got down to business.

So what have Liverpool purchased? Being so tall Peter Crouch causes defenses problems in the air. They can’t defend him and have to be weary of players running off his headers. He’s accurate with the head and has a decent shot. The other thing that makes him tricky is the amount of space his first step creates.

There’s the good stuff. What else.

Liverpool are going to play the long ball more. That’s boring, considering the great passes on the ground Xavi Alonso and Steven Gerrard deliver. Luis Garcia also likes intricate touch passing with the strikers.

I’m not saying Crouch doesn’t have a ground game and has no touch, he’s got both and likes touch passing, but Fernando Morientes clearly has a more polished ground game and a significantly better shot.

Jose Mourinho whilst at FC Porto often used a substitution for a tall striker, usually Benni McCarhy or Edgaras Jankauskas, with success.

I think Crouch would be utilized better as a substitute in the same way. Peter Crouch is a good player at a good price but nothing I’ve seen convinces me he’s a better starting option than Morientes and Djibril Cisse.

Chelsea set the watermark

The watermark stands at 21 million pounds, which is what Chelsea paid for Manchester City starlet Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Notice in the news today how Michael Essien just got more expensive to the tune of 30 or so million pounds?

That’s expensive. About 2x David Beckham to Real Madrid expensive.

I think constant swirling speculation of players moving to Liverpool had the same effect earlier this summer.

Chelsea pays the wealth tax. It will be interesting to see if anyone matches the price. I’m willing to bet there isn’t another team in Europe except for Chelsea that is going to spend more than 21m on a player this summer.

In 2003 Ronaldinho was sold to Barcelona for 21.5 million pounds. David Beckham went to Real Madrid for 17 million. And that is only two years ago. What would Chelsea pay for Ronaldinho today? 40 million?

In the Figo and Zidane boom days, Real, at that time, inflated the market. It’s inflating again. When smaller clubs get big sums from a player sale they raise the middle market’s watermark (4-10m pound range or so) for teams like Newcastle, Manchester City could challenge and bid on Luis Boa Morte now.

Vasco dreaming

Remember Romario?

He’s still playing, believe it or not, going on 40. He’s been back in Brazil for years after stints at a number of European clubs in his prime.

It not so much his age. 40 is not unheard of, age 50 is unheard of and if Romario were to play until that age, his behavior would remain just as unheard of.

Romario was never noted for his smarts. This is the man which had a Mario Zagallo (former Brazil coach) caricature painted on the toilet door of a Rio de Janeiro nightclub he owned. Zagallo was sitting on the toilet seat, with former Brazilian international Zico next to him holding the roll of toilet paper.

Now that’s macho, isn’t it?

Well, guess what, he did the same thing to his teammate Edmundo (pictured left, a real piece of work in his own right, apparently once got a rented chimpanzee drunk at his kids birthday); by making a caricature of him on a different toilet door in the same night club.

We’ve gone from macho to what?

By the way: the club that this toilet door incident happened at is Vasco da Gama.

Playing at age 40, Vasco da Gama's new coach Renato Portaluppi has brought back Romario.

Referee graffiti

I saw an interesting thing done by a referee during a Brazilian league match the other day.

During every free kick the referee pulled a small spray can from his pocket and drew a small line at 10 meters. It was a yellowish line and didn’t leave large marks all over the pitch, but what it did do was measure out 10 meters in a way that players won’t cheat. No more arguments about lines cheating up!

The players didn’t have much choice and often looked at the line to get their bearings instead of following the referee and arguing.

I’ve really no idea how widespread using spray lines is in Brazil, it was the first time I’d personally seen it but I liked it immediately. It sped up the taking of free kicks and, if this little idea is more widely adopted, could serve to produce more goals.

Heavily linked teen gets Arsenal trial

It looks like we have the first shift at Arsenal since the departure of Patrick Vieira to Juventus last week.

Arsenal have invited highly rated defensive midfielder Alexandre Song for a trial and look serious about signing him. There is lots of interest in the youngster.

The 18 year old Cameroonian rejected a move to Middlesbrough 5 years ago at age 13. Alexander is also the nephew of Cameroon international Rigobert Song who currently plays for Galatasaray in Turkey. Rigobert played for Cameroon at age 17 in the 1994 World Cup.

Full name Alexandre Song Bilong, he is currently on the books at French club Bastia where he has been used in central defense and defensive midfield. Bastia were relegated last season which could explain the impetus of the move.

Song, standing 1m 82cm, has been part of the Bastia youth system and made 34 appearances last season in the first team.

Another one of these players Wenger goes after that you'd never imagine.

The player has also been linked with Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Auxerre and FC Porto.

This move is not a replacement for Vieira but you can see Wenger stocking youth at the position.

Done deal, Chelsea buy Wright-Phillips

Shaun Wright-Phillips has been withdrawn from the Manchester City squad traveling to Thailand tonight night for an Asian tour.

Chelsea have agreed to a 21 million pound deal which will bring the young and talented England international to Stamford Bridge.

The final push came from the player himself after he told the club that he wanted to move to Chelsea. From that moment, City compromised on their price and the new Chelsea player will now undergo his medical.

Wright-Phillips says goodbye to his boyhood club. He joined Manchester City from Nottingham Forest as a teenage trainee in 1998. Now at age 23 he leaves Manchester City and his brother Bradley to grow into the huge hole he leaves behind.

Wright-Phillips has 4 caps for England. His profile should be significantly boosted for World Cup 2006 and so is Chelsea’s fortune for the Premiership next season.

Manchester City have a big hole to fill now but 21 million pounds can do that nicely.

Everton may finally land player

After weeks of rejections and low offers, it appears that Everton may strike gold in Andy Johnson.

The newly capped England international is anxious to stay in the Premiership after Crystal Palace was relegated last season in a thrilling final day of the season. So anxious that the striker had a meeting with coach Ian Dowie to announce he wants to go. Didn't go so hot.

The competition this time comes from Tottenham.

Liverpool swooped former Valencia player Mohammed Sissoko from Everton after it became public they were negotiating for him. Liverpool quickly raised the offer from 5 million euros to 8 million. Coach David Moyes was left with that distinctive look he gets when Everton give up a goal.

If I were Everton I would stop dancing around it and put down the cash for Andy Johnson. He’s motivated to stay up for a chance at the England World Cup 2006 squad and shouldn’t give any problems on personal terms. And there is Champions League football, too.

Tottenham had an 8 million euro bid for Johnson laughed off. It could reasonably take double that (or 10 million pounds).

Toure joins Olympiakos

Yaya Toure, Arsenal defender Kolo Toure’s younger brother has been signed by Olympiakos Piraeus.

The younger Toure spent a summer on trail for Arsenal a few seasons back but didn’t get picked up. He joined Belgian club Beveren instead and then Ukrainian club Metalurg Donetsk.

The Ivorian midfielder was apparently a target of Norwegian coach Trond Solied and joins the Greek side for a 1.2 million euro fee.

Son of Lybian leader in hot water

Libya football international Al Saadi Gaddafi, son of Lybian leader Mommar Gaddafi, has been charged in Italy for sporting fraud.

The 32-year-old Udinese player is again in trouble but the details are not yet public. He only joined Udinese from Perugia last month but that looks to be in jeopardy now.

This is the same player which hired ex-sprinter and world class cheater Ben Johnson to train him; oh, then he got busted using steroids.

Morte means death, as in relegation for Fulham

Boa Morte, translated literally means ‘good death’ from the player’s native Portuguese.

Luis Boa Morte leaving would certainly be the death blow for Fulham.

Earlier this summer goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar left the club for Manchester United, a move that already leaves Fulham in a precarious position. Having done very little in the transfer market the club can little afford to lose any more talent.

Having Luis Boa Morte follow suit would be enough to place Fulham in the bottom four. I’ve wanted to follow up my top 10 with a bottom 10 and was waiting to see if this move took place. If it did, it means bottom 4 for Fulham, for sure.

They have lost their best player at the back and now their best player up front? Not good. Scoring 44 points last season with a -8 goal difference? Hmmm. Simple math:

Lose goalkeeper = more goals against

Lose attacker = fewer goals for

Total = relegation

Manager Chris Coleman is upset about the approach and wants a speedy resolution telling Newcastle they have a week.

“Newcastle are bidding 3 million. You won't even get his boots for that.”

Fulham are correct on that front. They are asking 5 million pounds which is a good price compared to 20 million for Shaun Wright Phillips.

In fact, it’s a very good price for a veteran Premiership player with a work rate like Luis Boa Morte's.

Stuttgart swoop, AC Milan changes up front

AC Milan are making changes up front. Hernan Crespo is headed from AC Milan back to Chelsea and now Milan have let striker in Jon Dahl Tomasson leave. Parma's Italian international Alberto Gilardino has moved to AC Milan as has Christian Vieri from Inter Milan to partner Andrei Shevchenko up front.

Danish international Tomasson has joined VfB Stuttgart on a four year deal based on a free transfer.

Kevin Kuranyi left Stuttgart for Schalke 04, so Tomasson, a much better striker in my opinion, will finally get the regular first team football he deserves.

New Stuttgart coach Giovanni Trapattoni has shown a decent eye in the transfer market. I guess I’ve underestimated him as a coach. I thought his performance at Benfica last season was remarkable. I even considered adding defensive midfielder Fernando Meira to my list of players I thought Arsenal should buy but I know Stuttgart are not going to sell him.

For Milan though, I wonder why Christian Vieri over Tomasson. I’ve never liked Vieri much. He’s a decent passer/shooter but a bit of a one trick pony in front of goal. It’s either space to shoot or he passes and thus creates very little for himself.

Newcastle, give Hugo Viana chance

Hugo Viana can play.

Mercurial, a bit self interested, a bit whiny, yes. A troublemaker? In the Laurent Robert mold? No, I think Bobby Robson promised him a lot to move there. He was mad about it and didn't handle it well.

At the time Hugo Viana was the most sought after teenager in Europe. The reality of the competition for places in the club and other ego’s was different. Newcastle, remember were ecstatic to get him.

Whether it was Viana or Newcastle that didn’t deliver, I don’t exactly know. I didn’t see a lot of the games he did play in. I read him crying about it when he didn’t play, that’s for sure.

The reason I write he should get a chance is because Newcastle need players that can create. He hopefully has something to prove, and he even has a real footballer's number now.

Viana, when the temperature is just right, when his boots are just so tight and didn’t get up too early for the flight, can play.

We gotta work on the other stuff, especially since the Newcastle fans have a reasonable bone to pick.

Viana, for all his talent, could have handled the whole thing differently. Think about all the Robert episodes, the fact that Gary Speed is gone; if only he was more patient, he’d of had many chances by now.

No money, no Serie A

Messina and Torino have been expelled from Serie A because they have no money.

The Italian Football Federation came down hard on both clubs Friday.

This is not a new precedent in Italy as Fiorentina was expelled a few seasons ago (on top of relegation) from Serie B to Serie C for the poor state of its finances.

Perugia and Salernitana from Serie B are also getting the rabbit-ears-relegation. (If you don’t know what that means, pull your pocket linings from your front pockets all the way out and up, presto, no money but a pair of rabbit ears)

Messina are appealing but Bologna could profit by taking their place in the Italian top flight. I don't know, its kind of hard appealing being bankrupt.

These kinds of regulations force good governance on clubs which private ownership schemes often can hide. I’m glad Italy is doing this, the more transparency the better. Notice Fiorentina is back in the top flight and doing quite well.

Chelsea foiled again

Man, its becoming a routine story. Chelsea have had another bid rejected.

This time they have been told no for winger Shaun Wright Phillips by Manchester City. This bid was for 20 million pounds.

Wright Phillips is keen to join Chelsea though, it has been revealed that he called the club chairman and asked for permission to speak to them. The City spokesman said the board is currently considering their options regarding the player. PR speak.

Manchester City are holding out for a bigger fee for their best asset. To me, 20 million pounds is already fair value. But if you haven’t noticed, Chelsea pay the wealth tax. And clubs usually want max value when it’s their best player on the move. So from a Manchester City perspective I can understand why they want the extra few million. It means more to them than to a wealthier club.

I think this is deal is going to happen. With 20 million already on the table, a few more won’t stop Chelsea from being foiled this time.

For the second time I regret making my top 10 list early.

Five players to replace Vieira at Arsenal

I keep wondering what Arsene Wenger has planned now that Patrick Vieira has left Arsenal.

I can’t image that he’s preparing to pile a heap of pressure on a teenager like Cesc Fabregas. So Arsenal with either move new signing Alexander Hleb into that position, give it Gilberto or spend.

With Gilberto you’d lose distribution. Hleb would be the more likely to play in the role, but that is a pretty big risk for Wenger to take knowing that there is Chelsea to compete with. It makes more sense to spend and bring in a specialist for that role.

So who out there, that Arsenal have a reasonable chance of acquiring, could replace Patrick Vieira?

1 – Arsenal need a player that can battle. They also need experience and are losing a lot of height. That is why I think Michael Ballack from Bayern Munich is the best fit. He also wants to leave Germany.

2 – Last season Michael Carrick emerged at Tottenham Hotspur and I was really impressed with his calmness and consistency. He’s not a battler in the same way Vieira was but he’s a great passer and is also tall. Having already broken into the England side, he’s got a big future and will step to a bigger club sooner or later. Arsenal would do well to try.

3 – In France last season 20 year old Rio Mavuba emerged at Bordeaux. He was so impressive, so quickly, that he was brought right into the French national side to replace the injured Patrick Vieira for a few matches. Mavuba has all the skills for the job. Arsenal would be getting more of a Claude Makelele in Mavuba, but let me tell you, he’s a fantastic player.

4 – Sure he is on the tail end of his career, but Edgar Davids could do well at Arsenal. He was apparently offered to Real Madrid in trade for Luis Figo and has hinted himself at a move away from Italy.

5 - Denny Landzaat was a big reason that Dutch minnows AZ Alkmaar did so well last season. He was given his first international cap and shows a lot of toughness and desire in defending in front of the box. He’s not a bad passer either and reminds me a lot of Roy Keane. He would not be the most elegant player of Arsenal’s 11 but his skills are well suited to England.

It’s too bad Maniche jumped so soon to join Dynamo Moscow.

Liverpool get Real Madrid man

Real Madrid have backed down from demanding a transfer fee and have agreed to let Luis Figo go. Madrid told the player he was free to find another club but once it appeared that club was Liverpool, they decided to ask for a 3 million pound fee.

That meant no deal and Figo joined an aimless tour of America with Real.

Inter Milan swooped in when Liverpool staunchly refused the fee but apparently the player does not want a switch to Italy. He also snubbed a move by German club Stuttgart.

Figo was prepared to spend this season at Madrid and negotiate a free transfer in January on his terms so at the end of the season he had a team. It would have meant many games spent languishing on a bench but Madrid also realizes they would be paying about 7 million euros to warm that seat next season.

Michael Essien insists on Chelsea transfer

Ghana has a football star in 22 year old prized midfielder Michael Essien.

Chelsea seems bent on buying him and he now seems bent on leaving.

Every scout in the world wishes to find a player like this. Whoever scouted Essien for French club Bastia knows his stuff.

Michael Essien, who speaks four languages including English, was born in Accra, Ghana.

His father was a professional footballer for Ghanaian club Hearts of Oak. Essien joined his first club in Ghana, Liberty Professionals, at age 13. By 16 he was in the youth national side and played in the 1999 World Youth Championship in New Zealand (where they finished 3rd).

Interestingly, he was given a trial after that youth cup by Manchester United. Alex Ferguson wanted to lend him out to a Belgian club but the player felt he’d get better football in France. Bastia signed Essien and after three seasons he was signed by Olympique Lyon. Manchester United lost out.

Now, after two seasons at Lyon, Chelsea are about to dish out a large fee for him. Essien has consistently improved and played well with every club he’s joined. Lyon were champions in France last season.

New Lyon boss Gerrard Houllier has been adamant about keeping Essien but recently the player has started to insist for the transfer to Chelsea to take place.

Houllier is fighting a losing battle here and should accept the money. Lyon should find the scout that found Essien and hire him.

Arsenal lose Patrick Vieira

This morning the Italian were reporting leaks of a 13.5m pound deal. Now it’s real. French international midfielder Patrick Vieira is a Gunner no more.

The guard has changed at Arsenal. It’s a shift that I thought would happen with the retirement of Dennis Bergkamp. Next to Thierry Henry I considered Vieira Arsenal’s most important player. After last season, when he turned down Real Madrid, I thought he was going to stay a while. When I heard the rumors about Juventus I thought they were ridiculous.
I’ve enjoyed watching Vieira playing for Arsenal; I hate to see him leave.

I can only hope Arsene Wenger has a way to fill the gap Edu and Vieira have left. Flamini is no Fabregas, and Fabregas is not yet a Patrick Vieira. He is the one holding player which allowed Arsenal to play their style more consistently than anyone else. Fabregas has only had a season in the Premiership and has played above his years but has a long way to go to replace Vieira’s ball winning skills.

Juventus are every bit the team that didn’t sell Trezeguet to Chelsea. The quotes coming from the club said they were not selling, they were in fact buying, and they were true. This will improve Juve’s chances in the Champions League, a place Arsenal has not succeeded.

AC Milan when bought Vieira as a teenager from French club Cannes. From AC Milan Vieira joined Arsenal.

He returns to Italy a seasoned world class veteran player. Good luck Patrick.

Rio Ferdinand unrest is tell tale sign

I have a feeling Rio Ferdinand doesn’t want to play for Manchester United anymore.

Now because Chelsea are interested, or there is big money elsewhere. I don’t think he wants to play for the Glazer clan.

The England international has been offered a 100,000 pound a week deal. That’s huge, for a defender especially. I don’t know for a fact, but it must make him the highest paid defender in the world.

Apparently Rio Ferdinand is holding out for 120,000. That’s too much. That’s I want to leave Manchester United too much. Or that’s Malcom can afford it too much.

Alex Ferguson is keen to shore up his defense and wants Ferdinand to sing a long term deal. I have not seen him put this much pressure on a player before.

It is a fantastic offer. Too bad Manchester United stinks. Maybe Rio has a conscience. The rest of you are sell outs.

Vieira to Juventus looks imminent

In the Italian media there are reports that a Patrick Vieira deal has been finalized with Arsenal.

I just published my predictions for the Premiership next season and I’m already regretting it. I placed Arsenal 2nd, but not without Vieira.

What a surprising move, as last year Real Madrid wanted the player and were offering a lot more and a better team. Juventus must be offering Vieira a lot of money. I can’t see another reason he’d trade Arsenal style football for Juventus’s style of play. And if is willing to trade those two, he’s selling out.

It’s also claimed that the deal is for 5 years. Do you think that Arsenal is getting hurt by its single year contract stance?

Vieira might worry that in a few seasons he may also be getting Bergkamp contracts. I wouldn’t want that either, Pires was offered a single year deal and is going.

Coach Arsene Wenger must have something up his sleeve to lose Edu, Vieira and Pires in the same year.

Gerrard scores hat-trick, notice who didn’t play

Qualifying for the Champions League has started with the defending champions in action.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard proved to critics that he was at Liverpool to play. 3 goals, one after just 8 minutes, put the Reds ahead against the overpowered Welsh side TNS.

Thankfully Spanish international striker Fernando Morientes played, more on that later; he gave Gerrard a great final pass for a second goal.

On the field Liverpool look to have continued where they left off 45 minutes before this qualifier in the Champions League final.

TNS played conservative with a single striker to try and hold the midfield but further into match Gerrard’s long range shot made the keeper a spectator for his third and put the game away.

Djibril Cisse came on as a sub. Milan Baros didn’t play. Baros started the Champions League final. To be healthy and not feature is clear evidence Liverpool want to keep his sale options open. Sell! The Cisse-Morientes combination is a winner, just look at the combination of speed and fundamental striker characteristics.

My Premiership top 10 predictions for 2006

Chiming in early with some predictions for next season, let’s see how I do. I’ll list my favorites in descending order.

10th - West Bromwich Albion - I’ll start with my sleeper team. I think Albion grew a lot from their scrap last season to stay up. They have a new slate and can benefit from their mistakes now. Zoltan Gera will emerge. They can spend a small kitty and will play above their heads. We’ll see. It was close, but I think Middlesboro will finish 11th.

9th Newcastle United – Alan Shearer has something to play for and there is still talent and money to spend but there is also internal disarray. I’m not convinced Graeme Souness is a problem solver. Newcastle needs a lot of focus this season. If the potential problems stay potential they Newcastle can succeed. If not, then Alan Shearer for player coach.

8th Everton – They have a lot to do next season and haven’t changed the team significantly since losing Rooney and Tomas Gravesen. I think the Champions League will distract from the Premiership. Everton could have bought a host of great talent but it’s not appearing. Maybe the offers are too low. Tim Cahill is very impressive, a bright spot.

7th Manchester City – Small bump up if they don’t lose Shaun Wright Phillips; and I hope his brother Bradley gets to play more. I think City will get a small jump from the new Manchester United ownership situation. Maybe wishful thinking, we’ll see.

6th Tottenham Hotspur – It would be a decent result for Tottenham to reach Europe next season. I’m not the convinced that the team is getting a lot better. Michael Carrick is impressive and Tottenham need to spend what they have wisely. The level of play in the Premiership has improved. No more mido-ocre players.

5th Bolton Wanderers – Sam Allardyce is a great coach. Bolton overachieves and seems to mesh often in the most ugly duckling of ways. Jay Jay Okocha was amazing in the 1994 World Cup but he came into Bolton with very little on the doorstep in terms of reputation; look now. It’s nice to see the late bloomers.

4th Manchester United – Of course we have talent and $$. The lost soul gets you a pip behind now. Can the club achieve as it has? I doubt it. I think Manchester United has a lot of soul searching to do and that will affect the players. In my view the defining moment has passed, Arsenal played badly and beat them in the FA Cup.

3rd Liverpool – They will be much improved next year and I think they’ll finish third, but only by a hair. Benitez has gotten Liverpool back in shape. I hope Luis Figo joins; he should already be there instead of touring with Real Madrid. Liverpool have also kept their players and are active in filling the gaps. Things are really improving.

2nd Arsenal – Arsenal are in second with Patrick Vieira. They need a signing to compete with the new guard. Arsenal will face an even tougher challenge than last season since the parody has increased at the top. Hleb will do very well and Henry will score enough goals to pip Liverpool.

1st Chelsea – I sense a double of some sort for Chelsea. Mourinho knows the value of consistency and intelligent motivational tactics. At Porto he proved able to keep the team on course with successive UEFA Cup and Champions League trophies. Chelsea don’t really need another signing if Arjan Robben is healthy.

I think the top three will be decided by five points. It would be nice to have a repeat of what we had in relegation last year up top.

Shunsuke Nakamura

Celtic are all over the map looking for players. So far this season they have purchased 4 players and could likely add more.

Apart from pissing off Harry Redknapp there are some interesting possibilities being considered by the team but the most interesting by far to me is Shunsuke Nakamura.

The Japanese international plays in Italy for Reggina. The playmaker was really impressive in the Confederations Cup last month in Germany.

The asking feel is about 3 million euros. That’s a steal. Nakamura has made the deal more complex though, with image rights and his handlers have insisted the club play exhibitions in Tokyo.

Spanish clubs such as Atletico Madrid have expressed interest in the player but Celtic look set. Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is very high on the player. With good reason, he’s good enough to force Hidetoshi Nakata from the playmakers role on the Japanese national team.

Pires era ending

It looks like Arsenal winger Robert Pires is destined to leave the club for another league.

Galatasaray, from the Turkish league, are apparently interested but Arsenal say they have not heard anything. All that exists are a few newspaper quotes from Galatasaray officials.

Juventus have made confirmed contact with Arsenal over signing Pires. Juventus have been in the news a lot lately as they also want to sign fellow Frenchman Partick Vieira. I doubt that will happen. They could probably buy Pires pretty easily from Arsenal as we saw his chances diminish a lot last season. He brings goals but he has slowed down a lot.

Belarus international midfielder Alexander Hleb’s arrival at Arsenal has made his chances for matches even fewer now.

Arsenal don’t want to budge from their single year contract offer. Pires wants a longer term deal and at age 31 I don’t blame him, I’d want to sign a longer deal too.

Ajax too much

I found this interesting reading; I thought I’d pass it on.

It’s about Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Rafael van der Vaart who has perplexed many in the Netherlands with his surprise transfer to German club Hamburg SV.

Hamburg is noted for not being noted, but interestingly that is what the player wants.

The pressure of Ajax, his club since childhood, was too much.

Read the BBC article.

Harry Redknapp the great

I like Harry Redknapp. I think he's great. Not just because he’s outspoken but because he’s got the right attitude about the game and he knows how to coach.

When he left Portsmouth because he said he needed a break, that the work was done, I believed him and he was also right, the team was solvent. Portsmouth had a solid season and with quality players like Patrik Berger and Lomana LuaLua.

Redknapp leaves Portsmouth and they buy Lauren Robert. Enough said. Well, ok, it could go either way but it’s not a risk I would take.

When he joined Southampton about a week later and explained, I believed him. And when Southampton played Portsmouth away, the fans also did.

You can just see by his demeanor that he just wants a challenge.

Redknapp has one for sure: to get an instant bounce back to the Premiership for Southampton. Whether he has the personnel to do it remains up to Celtic.

Apparently the Scottish club is linked with a host of Southampton players such as keeper Antti Niemi.

Not one to mince words, Redknapp lets new Celtic manager Gordon Strachan have it:

“Is Gordon trying to unsettle my entire team?“

and

"I'm sick of it. It's time for Celtic to come up with money for my players or keep out of my affairs. It's basically a put up or shut up situation."

Will Tiago stir Chelsea?

Portuguese international Tiago joined Chelsea last summer from Portuguese side Benfica. Apparently Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho was really high on him and made him one of his first signings.

I’ve wondered about what Tiago brings to Chelsea and whether he is really the long term player they want or will become a casualty in the build-up like Kezman.

Why do I wonder? Well, I’m not so sure Tiago is tough enough. He seems too much a finesse player. Of course not every finesse player demonstrates a lack of toughness, look at Christiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs from Manchester United for example. It’s a question of degrees. With Tiago, I think he’s prone to being manhandled by a more physical midfield on both offense and defense. That wouldn’t happen to Frank Lampard. And how well would he be doing in England without defensive midfielder Claude Makelele behind him cleaning up? Benfica won the Portuguese title after he left.

Too often it’s easy for a player to shine when quality surrounds them. It’s definitely easier to spot a really good player on a bad team. What about at Chelsea?

Let’s not be too negative. Remember I’m ambivalent. Tiago is an excellent player technically. He’s at times shown excellent vision and deft passing. He’s not all bad in defense either, bringing the foot in often enough to make a contribution.

Tiago can also shoot on goal as he added a few during the season. He does many things well, but nothing incredibly, not yet. His consistency has also been remarkable, considering it’s his first season in England.

All are good signs pointing upward. Tiago deserves at least one more season to prove he can fill the spot. Chelsea were looking at Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard recently, so, by no means do they smell a superstar emerging either –and at 24 he’s at the age limit to see it.

The one thing that Tiago shouldn’t let happen is becoming a perpetual reserve ala Real Madrid midfielder Guti.

Real Madrid shipwreck

Brazilian Wanderley Luxemburgo will be fired as coach of Real Madrid soon. That’s my prediction.

Over the summer he has managed to anger quite a few Madrid players with a domineering coaching style and tendency to humiliate them.

Luxemburgo simply makes no sense. He and the club told Figo to find another club, so Figo has done that with Liverpool. Look at this quote:

"Owen and Figo have contracts and should be here. Whether they are going to play or not is a different story but they are Real Madrid players" -Luxemburgo

First he gave the go ahead for Luis Figo to look for a new club and now that Figo has come to terms with Liverpool, he is expected at training with Madrid (ever since Real Madrid have flip-flopped and asked for a fee for Figo)? That’s nuts.

Michael Owen, a former Liverpool player has been told to accept a peripheral role.

What is also funny about the Luxemburgo player selection system is why the out of form Raul was never questioned as a first team choice along with the overweight Ronaldo. On the one hand, we have Madrid’s favorite son, Raul, so benching him would have produced politics. So Luxemburgo chose to play politics instead. At most clubs Owen would have replaced an out of form striker.

Ronaldo over Owen? Owen played much better when Ronaldo was injured. Madrid played better. Coach notice? No.

So Figo, Owen and now Guti are being mismanaged.

"If Guti said he didn't like it here and was going to go and find another club he should have gone. But as he is here it is because he didn't find another team and he should appreciate the work." -Luxemburgo

Plenty of clubs were interested in Guti.

This is the worst Madrid coach I have seen in a very long time.

Manchester United numbers charming, but offensive…

I'm holding my nose at the Manchester United charm offensive.

BBC: Malcolm Glazer's vow to fund Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson in the transfer market has been questioned by a leading business academic.

If you don’t read to the bottom of that BBC article, here is the last bit:

"I find it extraordinary that anyone reported Joel Glazer's 'interview' as an interview as such.

"This was on the station that he owns, with questions posed by, in effect, one of his own employees and in which, presumably, all the questions and answers were rehearsed previously.

"On their entire charm offensive, where the impression was that they had met and talked with absolutely everyone possible, they appear to have managed to avoid meeting a single supporter or coming up against a single independent journalist."

The reason I’m posting that bit is because I read about people like Bobby Charlton apparently being really impressed with the plan after meeting the Glazer delegation.

The Glazer interview appeared on Manchester United's MUTV pay-per-view television channel.

They control it all now… they can tell you whatever they want. That is the new paradigm hidden behind the interview smiles and chat room faces and new parasites who will now latch onto what was your club.

The truth is the numbers don’t add up, they will now try and sell the lie. You will buy this lie in the stands every week when ticket prices go up.

Giving Alex Ferguson transfer money is the bait and switch and will probably shut most of you up.

Downing extending Middlesbrough contract

After a breakout season there was suspicion Stewart Downing would be leaving Middlesbrough this summer.

But after losing midfielder Boudewijn Zenden recently to Liverpool, Middlesbrough could scarcely afford to lose another first team player. 20 year old Downing had already rejected 2 offers by the club.

Tottenham Hotspur seemed to be the most interested party, as they seem to be for just about every mid-priced player in the Premiership. With a 9 million euro offer on the table, Steve McClaren acted quickly and set the left sided player’s contract strait.

The new deal is set to keep Stewart Downing in Middlesbrough for the next five seasons.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink

Among PSV Eindhoven’s best players last season was Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. He extended his contract today with the Dutch outfit for another 2 seasons.

His last name is interesting. When translated, it means “Venegoor or Hesselink” –as in, you can call me either one.

We know the new Barcelona man Mark van Bommel and Manchester United starlet JS Park by name but the tall Dutch striker at age 26 is a relative unknown outside of Holland. He’s a goalscorer though, and intimidating in size.

At about 6’ 5” he’s only a couple of thumbs under Peter Crouch of Southampton, but more muscular. He was the Dutch Eredivisie top scorer with 19 goals in 28 matches last season.

His new contract will stretch until 2008.

Much Freddy Adu over nothing

DC United, from the American MLS football league, is where youngster Freddy Adu plays.

He’s barely 16 but has been described in the American media as the US’s football savior. Not the touted rebirth of Pele, but similar to Shaun Wright Phillips from Manchester City.

The DC club president Kevin Payne lashed out in the media over a situation which seemed rather normal. It’s quite common to hear a club president or coach in Europe comment about how much he’d love to have a player on his side.

Target of the tongue lashing was Alexi Lalas, a former U.S. international who is the New York MetroStars club president. Apparently he said that he’s like to see the player there. Whoa.

I find this all a bit strange. The league in the USA is apparently under tight control and player movements are strictly supervised. It’s claimed to be a measure to cut costs. Salaries are also capped. Adu apparently earns in the top 5 in the league.

To make this more ridiculous the league is preparing to fine Lalas for his comments. Imagine Arsene Wenger at Arsenal or Martin Jol at Tottenham being fined for expressing interest in a player. Even better, imagine AC Milan owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi getting a fine.

Lalas, who I happened to briefly meet once, is an eccentric character, kind of like US Football’s version of former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine.

Real Madrid shakes down Liverpool

Real Madrid, after letting Luis Figo go this summer to pursue another club, have turned tail and are asking Liverpool for a 3m euro transfer fee.

This is a strange development. A shakedown, like mafia would do.

So now that Figo has settled terms with Liverpool it seems Madrid are going back on their word. Under transfer rules Liverpool couldn’t talk to Figo to agree on anything without express permission from Madrid, so they had the right to talk.

So unfortunately Figo’s career at Madrid is going to end ugly. And he might end up without a club. Liverpool should pay it, it’s a nominal fee and it’s true that, technically, the player has a year on his contract. Madrid (technically) have the right to demand a fee so to hell with them.

Hold your nose and grab the talent. It’s reported that the club and player have agreed to the salary, it would be a shame to sink the deal over this.

I’ve wanted Luis Figo in the Premiership for years. I know he’s 32 and has lost a step. But players like Gianfranco Zola of Chelsea had great elderly years in England. And Figo is not slow. He can cross from either side, keep the ball, create, scores a few, and has a footballer’s brain to boot.

And experience should count for something; he would do a lot to improve Liverpool’s maturity by helping the team show it in a more measured and consistent manner across a Premiership season.

Where do you buy that for 3 million euros?

Newcastle, Juventus, Valencia, Manchester United and Betis have something in common

Benfica's right-back Miguel is in demand by so many clubs that I didn’t even list them all in the title. Even Liverpool is considering the Portuguese international. Newcastle United and Real Betis have both inquired but there seem to be much bigger clubs interested.

Man United’s Kleberson is wanted by Portuguese champions Benfica. There may be a player/cash deal for Miguel, whose full name is Miguel Monteiro.

Miguel’s quickness was originally noticed after replacing Paulo Ferreira after Portugal’s first match loss to Greece in the 2004 European Cup. Originally a midfielder on the wing, he converted to playing in defense.

Miguel’s agent is Manuel Dimas who is a former Juventus player, there is a strong link there. Juve has scouted Miguel heavily and are serious about his purchase. Miguel himself seems keen on the move.

The wider the game gets, the more important it is to have players who can cover the space quickly. I would not be surprised if he came to England, his value has soared after an excellent season where he impressed former Benfica coach Giovanni Trapattoni to no end.

All is not right at Liverpool

So suddenly Steven Gerrard has decided he wants to stay at Anfield. He snubbed a 100,000 pound a week offer only to turn around and accept it again. Hmmm. He claims he realized how much the club meant to him but I’d say he miscalculated the fallout and has decided to stay on.

100k a week is fair value to me. That makes me question further Gerrard, or his management’s motives.

As much as I like Steven Gerrard, I get the distinct impression he’s marrying as a duty. I think the lion heart’s heart lies elsewhere.

Gerrard also admitted that he did want to leave the club at one point, albeit in a fuzzy way.

Struan Marshall, Gerrard’s agent could be the root of the problem. Gerrard’s defense of his agent did little to convince me. Unfortunately in terms of agents, there are more bad seeds than good ones, so you can’t use the argument that a few bad seeds destroy the bunch. It’s the other way around.

Agents lie to get more value for their players. Greed makes it easy to blur the lines but football and business are strange bed-fellows. Clubs hemorrhage money. Would your company survive that way?

Let’s face it, reporting a breakdown in talks might have attracted new buyers, or a host of other ways out of Anfield.

Agents are manipulators. They look to add value to their players without consideration of the supporters of the club. I think we saw a calculated stunt.

To an agent, in the loose football climate we have today, planting stories is more normal than abnormal. And remember: no transfer means no cut of the transfer fee for the agent. Robinho’s agent just got 10 million euros!


The media compliments this, rumors are easy stories for reporters, like this whoozer I saw today that says Figo has signed for Liverpool.

Whatever motivates a rumor, be sure that there is a motivation behind it. But today’s word is clouded with word salad, isn’t it? And ‘motivation’ is now a code word for ‘lie’. When you start a rumor, your motivation is to lie.

This time it’s clear the breakdown rumor came from the Gerrard camp. Liverpool had no interest in losing the player, 100k is a lot of dough, and Gerrard’s face said it all.

Robert Huth, clean up your act

Replays have gotten very good at determining a player’s intent. When you see close-ups of German international and Chelsea defender Robert Huth you can spot what I am talking about.

Since he returned to Chelsea from injury last season I have seen too many extra pushes, foot swipes, and bullying with size.

No doubt, Huth is a big guy. He’s strong too and he has a powerful foot. Great assets for Chelsea. He’s got talent, and is fast for his size.

He brought more of it to the Confederations Cup in Germany last month though, on 2 occasions he could have seriously injured an opposing player.

He should use size to his advantage, but referees should pay more attention to the bullying. He plays with his elbows too much and is a brute when it comes to defending corners. Football has come a long way and it’s no time to turn back the clock.

Dacourt not joining Bolton

Olivier Dacourt won’t be a Bolton Wanderer just yet. The deal is on hold as Roma are banned from transfers for a year.

FIFA have levied a transfer ban on Roma who have appealed the decision. That could last months though.

Sam Allardyce’s plans look different from a week ago, that’s for sure. He wanted a player with Premiership experience. Dacourt had spells both at Everton and Leeds United.
All may not be lost as Dacourt only has one season left if forced to stay on at Roma. He may join on a free contract in a season, but there would probably be other bidders by then.

On another note, I sure hope Allardyce plays Ricardo Vaz Te over Kevin Davies next season. He's very talented and deserves a starting chance.

Steven Gerrard: the face said it all

You know, during the Champions League final when Liverpool stunned AC Milan in what might be the finest final in history, I noticed something at the end of the match that has stuck with me since: it was Steven Gerrard’s face and body language.

He celebrated much like the other players most of the time, but something didn’t seem right.

It was sort of an ‘I’m leaving and we just won’ face. Rumors had swirled shortly before the final that he was on his way. Or the ‘I want to leave, but I can’t now’ face. Kind of like if you are about to quit a job and get a big bonus right before you plan to do it.

I don’t know, did anyone else notice this?

Right after the game the camera was on Gerrard and for a second and he didn’t look happy or elated. He looked shocked. Then someone came up and jumped on him.

And then when he celebrated with a few players, it just didn’t look genuine. It looked like a farewell looks.

And on the stage it happened again, shortly before he was awarded the trophy, head slouched and staring down, again caught in this moment of deep thought. He looked distracted and unable to be in the moment to me.

I know Gerrard came out after the match wanting a new deal with Liverpool. I know he has been there forever. But I also think he was intent on leaving until they won that final.

Now the media reports a ‘large rift emerging’. I wonder what has really happened.

Has Steven Gerrard started looking for an excuse to leave?

A few weeks delay seems pretty petty.

They can’t be that far apart. If they are, shame on Liverpool.

Club chairman calls Sepp Blatter ass

Wolverhampton Wanderers chairman Rick Hayward has really laid into FIFA president Sepp Blatter over a new move which will restrict transfers with Football League clubs to match the same rules as English Premiership clubs.

FIFA has been looking for a common policy for transfers which would cover leagues around the world. Hayward said:

"I can't see any reason for it whatsoever, but of course, it comes from FIFA and that idiot Sepp Blatter"

and

"I don't know what his problem is, but he's a complete ass as far as I'm concerned”

While I think Sepp Blatter runs FIFA like his little kingdom, a common policy would be a positive step because the behavior in Europe is saintly compared to behavior in many other countries.

Blatter’s brushes with cronyism make me wonder just who benefits in this new scheme. Too often when FIFA moves in to regulate, a new, more subtle form of corruption replaces the local system.

FC Roma get transfer ban, others get wrist-slap

Roma have received a ban by FIFA for one year for recruiting players illegally. Roma will also need to pay 8 million euros in compensation to Auxerre.

Last year Roma encouraged AJ Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes to break his contract. Then the player quit the club and signed for Roma without informing his club, a totally outrageous move.

This is an unprecedented punishment will serve notice but in the current climate of transfers and outrageous fees for agents, it’s too little too late by too many foot draggers inside FIFA.

bhad a bad season last year, losing the ability to transfer might actually give them some time to get their finances in order and players some focus.

But recent purchases of Monaco striker Shabani Nonda and Sammy Kuffour from German club Bayern Munich are probably junked now.

FIFA gingerly handed Mexes a six-week suspension. As far as I know the agent received no punishment.

To me, the player seems to always get off easily. I think that contributes to the problem. FIFA want to be heavy handed but they should also consider being even handed and spread the blame.

Players encourage this behavior just as much as clubs and agents do.

Great new rule closer to adoption

Apparently the new rule by FIFA to counter time wasting tactics has been too harshly interpreted during its trial run at the World Youth Championship.

The rule was instituted to caution players caught delaying the game but it got out of hand when keepers were being carded by helping get the ball back in play and opposing players picking the ball up and walking to spot the ball at the foul.

Basically, in the first few games anyone that touched the ball got a card.

FIFA president Sepp Batter said the rule needed adjustment before this fall’s under 17 tournament in Peru.

Italy was the most penalized thru the new rule during the tournament.

I agree, the rule needs refinement but it’s an excellent rule which should definitely be adopted, it improves the flow of the game significantly and more importantly stops players complaining because they know the ball is about to move again.

Lionel Messi, Argentina win FIFA Youth World Championship

The extraordinary Lionel Messi cooley converted two penalties to give Argentina a 2-1 win over Nigeria in the FIFA Youth Cup tonight in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Argentina was truly great. Intricate, calm, professional, it was a senior level performance.

Nigeria played well, but lost composure after the second penalty and were unable to recover in a meaningful way. A third was avoided by some handy goalkeeping by Ambruse Vanzekin.

The play was open and it was close for the entire game. Argentina had the more creative of the play. Nigeria preferred to use their height advantage to play longer balls and outrun the Argentinian wings.

Promise Isaac, linked heavily with French club Auxerre, played well for the Nigerians who brought talent and more discipline to the tournament but were again let down by bad defensive mistakes giving Argentina 2 penalties in a tightly played game.

In addition, when flustered, Nigeria were shredded apart defensively and needed to rely regularly on individual talent to get a timely foot in.

Argentina were steady the entire tournament. And it was Barcelona's recently-150,000-million-euro-buyout-clause Lionel Messi which proved beyond a doubt he was the player of the tournament.

Barcelona must be ecstatic right now. He’s as exciting as Christiano Ronaldo of Manchester United or Arjen Robben of Chelsea. His end product is at that same level. He’s missing some exposure and a few more matches, but Lionel Messi is nothing but brilliant.

Everton told to bargain hunt elsewhere

Crystal Palace have received a 10 million euro bid for prized striker Andy Johnson.

The offer was rejected in style by Palace chairman Simon Jordan:

"What does Everton chairman Bill Kenwright think he will get for £6m? Andy Johnson's trainers. Andy will be starting the season with Crystal Palace.”

Obviously Palace want an instant bounce back to the Premiership but might find it hard to keep Johnson.

For a few weeks I have been thinking of an article wondering why Chelsea don’t swoop for Andy Johnson. I think he would be a smash at Stamford Bridge and he would come a lot cheaper than the strikers Chelsea have been bidding for up until this point. He reminds me a lot of Arjen Robben (not in terms of playing style, but rather his impact at PSV).

Andy Johnson would go for the right price. It would take enough money for Palace to buy enough talent to replace him which would make Johnson worth about 17 m or so euros/12 m pounds.

Robinho deal done

After months of trying and an unsuccessful bid by Arsenal, Brazilian international Robinho is finally set to join Real Madrid.

The agreed price is 25 million euros.

Amazingly, the player’s agent gets 40% of that transfer fee. Looks like Robinho is making his agent Wagner Ribeiro awfully rich.

Agents make me laugh. Why is this man getting such a large sum? Something doesn’t seem right about that.

This sort of deal should be completely outlawed.

Madrid has their new attacking option in place now. Expect the sale of Michael Owen soon, or Ronaldo, but the overweight coach favorite is likely to survive at Madrid. Owen though, would do well to go as his talent is being wasted.

A host of English clubs could profit from this deal.

I think this is a prime moment for Chelsea or Arsenal to buy the England international but I suppose Real would not be so pleased with Arsenal at the moment for driving up their new player's price. Arsenal and Robinho's agent.

Greatest goals ever series

Below is a list of links to the some of the greatest goals ever scored. You can also check out the worst moments in football series and funniest moments series. Keep checking back as I add new video clips:

Platini's greatest goal - 1983, Michel Platini, Juventus vs Ascoli

McFadden's audacious smash - 2007, James McFadden, Scotland vs France

Hennie Meijer scores a brilliant goal - 1988, Hennie Meijer for FC Groningen

George Best's Stunning Goal - 1981, George Best, NASL as a San Jose Earthquake

The 45 Yard Stunner - 2007, Jose Manues Rey, Venezuela vs Ecuador

One From 40 Yards Out is Incredible, but Two? - 2005, 2006, Matthew Taylor's 2 goals vs Everton and Sunderland

When Harry Kewell Scored that Goal Against Arsenal... - 2003, Leeds United vs Arsenal

Cruyff's Two Greatest Goals - Johan Cruyff for Barcelona and Ajax

The Diop Screamer, 2004, Papa Bouba Diop smash, Fulham vs Manchester United

The Greatest Bicycle Goal Ever - Couldn't choose between Trevor Sinclair and Hugo Sanchez

How to Fool a Goalkeeper - 2000, Nwankwo Kanu, UEFA Cup, Arsenal vs Deportivo de la Coruna

The Best and Worst of Paolo di Canio - 2000, Paolo di Canio, Goal of Season vs Wimbledon

The Greatest Penalty Ever - 1982, Johann Cruyff, Ajax vs Helmond, the cheek and innovation of the great Cruyff

Zlatan's Audacious Flick - 2004, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Euro 2004 group match, Sweden vs Italy

The Zidane Volley - 2002, Real Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen, Champions League Final

Tribute to Theirry Henry: his two greatest goals - Theirry Henry, 2000 vs Manchester United, 2002 vs Tottenham

The best goal of the 2002 World Cup - 2002, Dario Rodriguez, Uruguay vs Denmark

Ryan Giggs's Slaloming Supergoal - 1999, Ryan Giggs vs Arsenal, FA Cup Semifinal replay

The Marco van Basten Volley - 1988, Marco van Basten goal vs USSR, Euro '88 Final

Zola's Brilliant Flick - 1996, Gianfranco Zola, Greatest corner ever vs Norwich City

Remembering Cantona's Greatest Goal - 1996, Eric Cantona, Manchester United vs Sunderland

Greatest Team Goal in History - 1970, Carlos Alberto, Brazil vs Italy World Cup Final

Vasquez's Cheeky Stunner - 2007 Andres Vasquez 'rabona', Sweden against Orebro

Ronaldinho's Cannon Shot - 2006 blast for way outside, La Liga against Sevilla

Messi's Maradona Moment - 2007 supergoal in La Liga against Getafe

Bergkamp's magic goal - 2002 goal of the year, Arsenal versus Newcastle

Remembering Yeboah's greatest goal - 1996 goal of year, Leeds United versus Wimbledon

George Best's great strike - 1966, Machester United versus Benfica

The goal which started the Pele legend - Pele's 1958 World Cup gem

George Weah's greatest goal - 1996, AC Milan against Verona

The Maradona Masterpiece - World Cup 1986, Argentina against England

The Greatest Save Ever - 1966, Gordon Banks makes an incredible save against Brazil, Pele

Greatest Goal Ever? - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores one of the best goals I've ever seen