A vital win for Barcelona in Zaragoza kept La Liga alive for the Catalans, following Real Madrid’s shock defeat at Real Betis earlier in the day. But it wasn’t the kind of victory that Frank Rijkaard would cherish. On their part, Barca did produce some of their trademark passing moves and slick one-touch creativity in the first half and deserved to go into the break with the 1-0 lead. The goal from Thierry Henry was exquisite. It was pretty reminiscent of his Arsenal days, more than any other goal he has scored for Barca.

The penalty was dubious, undoubtedly. Rijkaard remarked after the match that the handball seemed unintentional. But you couldn’t say that for sure, could you? Ronaldinho coolly slotted away the spot-kick to hand Barca the win. The Brazilian should have actually scored two, when he later missed a close-range shot after brilliantly controlling a Carles Puyol cross. On another day he would’ve put it away with ease, but that one missed effort was enough to tell us that he is still nowhere near the World-Player-of-the-Year-twice standards.

Victor Valdes was their saviour on many occasions yet again. His save from a Diego Milito effort was a telling statement about why he should wear the Spain colours sooner rather later. He has returned to his rock-solid best with some great performances in the last few games and that has given the Barcelona defence much-needed stability. Gabriel Milito produced a fine performance on his return to his former club. The best goal of the night did come from the home team though. Ricardo Oliveira’s tight-angled finish past an in-form Valdes was a classic aide memoire of his Real Betis days. Sergio Garcia’s pass to set up the goal was just as good.

A positive aspect of this hard-worked away win was that Barcelona can still produce some outstanding midfield engineering in the absence of Andres Iniesta, who has been fundamental to the team’s victories. Xavi and Deco were up for the game and Edmilson produced one of his best performances in a Barca shirt. The problem, once again, lies with the forwards. Lionel Messi’s form will give Rijkaard something to think for before the Celtic trip, as his game has been understood by most Spanish teams and you always have two-three players marking him down. Being the talent that he is, he still does create space and dribble through them but that has now become more occasional than regular.

Overall, it’s not a win that should open up a hot discussion regarding whether Barca deserved the points or not. They did put in much more of a show than last week. Zaragoza made their own mistakes when given the chances, like the Milito penalty. Barca did enough and a 5-point gap with 14 games to go is hope gained, not hope lost.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

While football accomplishments and failures are usually measured season to season, the end of an year gives an opportunity to view a team’s (or a player’s) performance from a different perspective.

Here’s a look at the teams and people who deserve to be nominated as the worst performers in 2007, allowing for slumps in form and what not.

The England / FA / Steve McClaren

Arguably, one of the most under-prepared, over-rated and poorly-carved football teams of the year. England’s national football team is in tatters and was a perfect example of how a team should NOT be. Most of their matches were avoidable in a true footballing sense and Crotia’s remarkable victory at Wembley to eliminate them should not be considered an upset at all. It was well-deserved and well-earned. You’d bet Croatia to do a Greece in the upcoming European championships, purely on the basis of their heroics over the two legs. The FA and Steve McClaren were of course the other causes of England’s fall from grace. The former because of poor leadership and error-prone decision making, the latter because of pure lack of management abilities and tactical understanding at such a level. McClaren was one of the worst appointments in the history of the national team.

VERDICT: The football world isn’t too upset with the sinking of the egoistic English titanic in the seas and oceans of international football. Croatia deserved to finish group toppers. Russia did just enough for us to remark “England deserved it”…..

Ronaldinho

The Brazilian sorcerer’s shocking twist of fate saw him produce such mediocre form that Barcelona would have at least taken a peek at Middlesbrough’s bid for his services. Football’s prodigal son produced some of his all-time worst performances in the year gone by and people are beginning to lose hope that Ronaldinho will return to his best one fine day. That “one fine day”, however, is restricted to a diary of the past and it will take a miracle for Ronnie to return to his best. Add to that, expectations at Barcelona have seen Ronaldinho’s life take a U-turn. He is no longer worshipped or endeared by the Catalans nor do his No.10 shirts still sell like hot cakes.

VERDICT: On another day you’d pity him if the causes of his demise were recurring injuries or personal problems. But good old Ronnie has lost what is most essential in football – the happiness gained from playing the game. His attitude doesn’t speak for that and Ronaldinho’s good times may have already come to an end…..

Bayern Munich

The German giants were booted from being champions to huffing and puffing for a UEFA Cup spot in the Bundesliga. Like the England team, the in-team egos worked against each other and the Bayern hierarchy were shell-shocked at their horrendous position in last season’s table. Bayern have hope with the arrival of players like Franck Ribery, Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose. Not just hope, in fact. They should finish champions if the aforementioned trio quickly gel in with the rest of this hugely-talented outfit. A UEFA Cup triumph would make Bayern the I-most-look-forward-to-watching team of season 2008-09. The return of Ottmar Hitzfeld is also worth a mention as he has seen them through some of their most successful years in football.

VERDICT: Fourth place in Bundesliga was deserved. Few could argue against the fact. But Ribery, Toni and Klose combined with emerging prodigies like Toni Kroos could create a re-incarnation of Barcelona 2004-06…..

David Beckham

He might be comfortably seated on his heavily-expensive sofa, cozing alongside his wife and counting American currency using a 20-bit calculator(Is that enough even?) in Los Angeles, but David Beckham is arguably football’s greatest loser ever. And to top it off, his wife made it more worse than it was. Beckham was one of the most talented footballers to have ever played the game, with his inch-perfect passing and precise set-pieces becoming trademarks of his game. But at the age of just 31, he left Europe to play in a country that doesn’t even truly appreciate football on the whole. Both Milan and Bayern Munich were interested at some point, but the ferocious Posh Spice drove them away. How well Beckham would have done to be a part of Milan’s Champions League-winning squad or Bayern’s competitive outfit, you wonder.

VERDICT: Becks will be remembered only for the glitz and glamour he bought to football, which wasn’t even needed. It’s sad because he was a rare talent. After all, Sir Alex Ferguson hardly gets things wrong…..

Barcelona

One of the most feared teams in Europe is, ironically also, the most easily defeatable of the big ones in the continent. There has been a dramatic turn in Barca’s fortunes. The Catalans had their pocket picked when arch-rivals Real Madrid snatched away La Liga on the penultimate weekend of last season. An embarassing elimination in the Copa del Rey did no good to them. Ronaldinho is a dead man walking. Talents like Fran Merida and Dani Pacheco have been taken away by English teams. One of the world’s best players, who is lighting up North London, is a product of their famous La Masia academy. Frank Rijkaard has reportedly lost control of his players. And to top it off, Madrid are 7 points ahead in La Liga at the end of the year and have just beaten them at home for only the second time in 20 years. How worse can it get. Only one little man fuels hope in Catalunya – Lionel Messi. Although it’s a little unfair as Andres Iniesta has emerged as a world-class midfielder who is doing something that Barca have forgotten completely – playing consistently. Decisions need to be taken urgently.

VERDICT: Barcelona have “done” enough to be deemed the new Galacticos. They deserve to be where they are and need to re-build their team immediately. The biggest new year warning, hence, goes to the Blaugurana…..

Happy New Year folks, and let us know who you think were the worst of the worst in 2007.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

While football accomplishments and failures are usually measured season to season, the end of an year gives an opportunity to view a team’s (or a player’s) performance from a different perspective.

Here’s a look at the teams and people who deserve to be nominated as the best performers in 2007, even by their own high standards.

Manchester United

Ending Chelsea’s two-season hegemony in the Premiership and bringing Jose Mourinho crashing down to earth were two things that football’s purists, neutrals and non-Chelsea fans most wanted when the year began.

Manchester United produced a brilliant season and were arguably the best club side this year. They steered well clear of Chelsea and it wasn’t one of their trademark Jan-to-May comebacks that won them the title. It was all-round brilliance in the team, built around the genius and instincts of Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo almost single-handedly brought United glory in England and even Europe. If it wasn’t for Milan’s magical home performance(which is a rarity nowadays), we might well have seen him named as World Player of the Year.

KUDOS RATING: Well done, United. The glory days are back for sure. With the arrival of some more attacking talent to the ranks, they can press for only their second Champions League title.

Fabio Capello

The Italian taskmaster was cruelly sacked by Real Madrid, just days after delivering their first trophy in four seasons and ending Barcelona’s then-deserved dominance in Spain.

But he was a winner nonetheless, rescuing Los Merengues from their dormant phase and injecting the kind of optimism that may have actually helped Bernd Schuster launch the campaign for their 31st league title. Capello did have the last laugh when he secured the England job, which probably should see him lead a very comfortable post-retirement life.

Oh, I am talking money. Life may not be all sweet and sundry once Capello comes face-to-face with the monstrous English media and the expectations of the fans.

KUDOS RATING: Good work Mr. Capello, whether Madrid appreciate it or not. But brace up for what is set to be the most challenging period of your managerial life.

Inter Milan

The Champions League still eludes Roberto Mancini’s side, but they have done enough to be named as one of the teams of the year. After the controversial scudetto “win” in the 2005-06 season, Inter went all guns blazing to conquer Italy for the second straight time.

Mancini might well lose ambition at Inter if they finish champions of Europe this season. But he has done the hard work, setting up a side that just can’t stop winning matches and, to the bitter disgust of their arch-rivals, the Milan derbies. The Nerazzuri have expressed interest in Barcelona’s wonderkid-turned-superman Lionel Messi, but do they even need him? The depth in the current squad suggests that Inter don’t even need to splash out anymore.

KUDOS RATING: Fans of Milan, Juventus and Roma could argue that Inter were the largest beneficiaries of the Calciopoli scandal, but Mancini deserves credit for creating a tough-to-beat side.

Francesc Fabregas

The emergence of Cesc Fabregas as Arsenal’s new star turn couldn’t have been better timed. Fabregas showed promise when Patrick Vieira departed the Gunners and has now stepped up to be the next icon in the wake of Thierry Henry’s exit.

Fabregas is no longer about potential and fans have embraced him with open arms. He is one of the most complete midfielders plying the role today, and that at a meagre 20 years old! He has within him all the qualities that traditional cantera from Barcelona’s famous production line had and even more. He added goalscoring to his repertoire this season and results for Arsenal have evidently been influenced by this “latest attraction” in his vastly-talented inventory.

All that remains is for Fabregas to be seen with a winners’ medal. Because Arsenal haven’t won anything since his meteoric rise.

KUDOS RATING: Arguably, the best player in the world today. If he starts winning trophies for Arsenal, then rumoured interest from Real Madrid could turn into record-breaking transfer bids.

Iraqi Football Team

Not a winner that triggered debates within football pundits or resulted in Arsene Wenger scouting for young Iraqi talent and not even a world-altering winner as such, but the Iraqi national team’s emotional 2007 Asian Cup triumph deserves our sentiments and applause in overflowing quantities.

The war-torn nation produced a remarkable campaign to inspire their fans back home and elevate them from crisis, at least spiritually. The win in the final over heavily-favoured Asian giants Saudi Arabia was one of their all-time greatest victories and sparked widespread celebrations and finally some fireworks that didn’t cause bloodshed.

KUDOS RATING: They say football can influence life in ways that nothing else can. The Iraqi win is, so far, the best exponent of that and we can only stand up and salute them for the triumph that may have given hope and pride to the thousands of people ravaged in battle.

Notable Mentions

World Player of the Year Kaka would have been top of the list if it weren’t for his team’s poor performances in Serie A. Liverpool enjoyed a good, decent year. Roma captain Francesco Totti was the year’s comeback king. A special thanks to Lionel Messi of course, who is giving me and many others out there hope that we haven’t missed out on the brilliance of Diego Armando Maradona completely.

Happy New Year, and let us know your picks as winners for the year 2007.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

A very Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everybody out there. But it certainly isn’t a bright and sparkling Christmas for a select few in the footballing world. Let’s go through those unfortunate players, bosses and teams:-

1) Valencia Club De Futbol

Valencia’s problems actually originated in a period when they weren’t really struggling in La Liga. They were doing just well enough to remain in the top half of the top half of the table. But poor showings in Europe eventually saw that form translate into the league and they have taken a huge fall then on. Ronald Koeman has done little good so far. But his radical upheaval of the team’s long-serving veterans has done enough to garner a lot of page space in major footballing dailies. Their comeback draw in Real Zaragoza just makes the silver lining visible in a very dark, dense cloud.

HOPE: There could be a turnaround, most definitely. But patience is something that doesn’t come naturally to fans of a big club like Los Ches.

2) Carlo Ancelotti

Champions of Europe. Champions of the world. 12th in Serie A and 25 points behind city rivals Internazionale. Not even 3 games in hand give you hope, do they? Milan must improve their perilious league form, especially their poor home performances. Because if they do not finish in the top four, then look around for a person named Predrag Mijatovic lurking around the San Siro, waiting to pounce on the newly-crowned World Player of the Year, Kaka. Rejecting the overtures of a fast-returning-to-glory Real Madrid could be hard for him too, despite all affiliation to Milan.

HOPE: Inter are unlikely to drop their bearings. They are too good for that, I guess. Roma are playing great football. Juventus have done well to return to the upper echelons of calcio. Competition from teams like Lazio, Fiorentina, Palermo and many others isn’t a piece of cake either. You decide…..

3) England fans

They may be satisfied supporting their respective clubs for the time being. But in all the Christmas cheer, they know that their national team isn’t going to feature in the summer’s biggest football extravaganza. Fabio Capello’s appointment may soothe things a little and bring hope back, but not playing in the tournament could be, in fact is, one of the worst chapters in the history books of English football.

HOPE: English fans, lose your senses for those three weeks of the summer. And shut Michael Owen’s mouth when he returns to play in the World Cup qualifiers against a smirking-in-pride Croatia.

4) Thierry Henry

Expectations bogged down the French phenom’s early days in the Catalan capital of Barcelona. Now there are injuries and flak from the press on the whole team. And that was topped by his former club Arsenal’s meteoric return to the top of European football. Gone are the days of that fabulous, eye-pleasing, heart-thumping goalscoring. But we would be advised to pray that he returns to his best. Remember, how goalscoring was revolutionized…..

HOPE: His post-christmas time holds the most hope. Henry has overcome his injury and should regain freshness in the two-week Spanish mid-season siesta.

And finally,

5) RONALDINHO

How times change. In fact, this is something new. No former World Player of the Year felt to such depths playing at the top level, as has Ronaldo de Assis Moreira. His attitude and training desire have been questioned. Even his passion for playing football is being put up for debate. He no longer makes those miraculous runs, or glances one way before passing the other way, cannot conjure up those still-unbelievable goals, looks slow on the ball and doesn’t even show any regret. The only thing that remains is the grin. The grin that lit up Catalunya once upon a time…..

HOPE: The grin can’t play football for you, nor convince the fans, the press and the ghost of the old Ronaldinho.

Merry Christmas, nonetheless…..

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Here are ten reasons why Barcelona can no longer call the shots, or at least title-winning shots:

1) The side is very poorly organised. Despite a positive start against Real Madrid at home, they clearly went off track against more disciplined Los Merengues(who weren’t brilliant themselves, but smarter). When you see four defenders closing down on a single opposition attacker and leaving too much space for the supporting forwards, you sense that something is wrong.

2) Barcelona’s best player on the night was Andres Iniesta. Actually, Barca’s best player is Andres Iniesta despite the breathtaking displays of Leo Messi. But even he wasn’t rightly used yesterday. He started out on the right, but his trademark mazy runs were all from the left, which meant he was more comfortable with that position and Frank Rijkaard’s failure to realize this cost them.

3) Ronaldinho & Deco put in their worst displays of the season. Although Ronaldinho had a few decent touches and shots on target, he failed in the eyes of the millions of viewers of El Clasico. He might be on his way out now for sure, but it’s unlikely that such a player moves on in January.

4) Young players like Bojan Krkic and Giovani Dos Santos have proved enough to show that they deserve starts. Then why didn’t Rijkaard give at least Dos Santos a chance to replace the irreplacable Leo Messi. Bojan’s 12-minute display was actually more passion-provoking than any of the other Barca duds.

5) It was Rijkaard’s fault yesterday. No longer can you completely blame the players. To trust a half-fit Deco and a vacationing-in-hell Ronaldinho was a suicidal mistake. His tactical prowess is no longer holding out and too many teams have understood Barca’s fairly-predictable movement.

6) President Joan Laporta’s ever-confusing statements on faith in Ronaldinho need to be done away with. I think he openly needs to state whether the club are keen on keeping him and if they are, then how will they handle the seemingly un-interested former World Player of the Year.

7) Barcelona need an injection of inspiration sooner rather than later and their over-dependence on Messi will not ease their current problems in the long run. After all, Messi was injured for the best part of last two seasons and even his stylish return to form last time out did not spark a third straight title.

8 ) The improvement in the form of Real Madrid is another reason. That is largely out of Barca’s control. It is more in the hands of a former Blaugurana midfielder, Bernd Schuster. Madrid were 13 points clear in La Liga when they last beat Barca at the Nou Camp in 2003. And the Catalans finished two places above them. But Madrid were far too inconsistent and were about to witness a classic demolition of the Galactico era. This time, that is highly unlikely.

9) The failure of the Fantastic Four is a huge let down. It was always impossible to make the four work together and even if they had managed to do that, it would have been a way too attack-minded side.

10) Lack of decisions. From the president and the coach. 7 points is a huge gap and if Madrid don’t stumble, they are worthy champions. Forget that though. What is the guarantee that Barca wont stumble further….

What do you guys think?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

While Jose Mourinho’s antics might inspire you to believe that the Portuguese wild cat brilliantly takes attention off his team and onto himself, his successor at Stamford Bridge goes one better to actually take the attention off Chelsea FC itself.

Yes, how smartly Avram Grant has pressed the OFF switch to ensure that the media hovers more around Arsene Wenger’s explosively-talented Arsenal, Manchester United’s ruthlessly efficient squad and Liverpool’s hierarchical problems.

What we all must learn from Grant is that you can even win matches without creating a fuss about them. Mourinho did everything he could to bring attention to Chelsea and turn them into a permanent member of the Big Four. But that cost him eventually. When defeats and poor performances piled up and with Mourinho also not treating the fans and his Russian owner to the kind of satiating football that they desire, he had to eventually depart. Grant stays on. He has been handed a
four-year contract by the club. And that despite defeats at fierce rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.

Mourinho would have all but ensured that his team do not return empty-handed from Old Trafford or the Emirates, if not by his football and tactics then by his off-pitch ramblings and antics. Grant just cant do that. But his team and fans aren’t complaining either. Grant’s silence has worked hard to ensure that Chelsea win with efficiency when they do win games. He doesn’t scream, shout, abuse, ramble and doesn’t even pioneer win-at-all-costs. Chelsea’s ambition is to win the Champions League and Grant might actually do that, as silently as he has won all his matches.

In short, he has tamed Chelsea to focus completely on football and not to induldge in managerial star wars and useless mind games.

Mourinho is the only Special One we know. And that is largely due to the fact that the crown was self-proclaimed. Grant isn’t even seeking such a title. But we may well be advised to give it to him if he does win Chelsea the Champions League.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News