I lived in the hood...

I know what you may be thinking. Why is he talking about such a topic? Well I have read Aaron's post about the temperamental geniuses and their flaws. I'd like to talk a bit about why these players have these flaws.

The players that were mentioned earlier (Rooney, Zidane, Ronaldo, Adriano, Cassano) all have one thing in common. They were all from the mean streets or in ghettos in some cases. They knew the one way for them out of their situation was to get a soccer ball and start honing their games. This guys would practice on their craft day in and day out trying to get themselves and their families out of the struggle. However while they weren't playing soccer, they were in the streets causing all kinds of trouble, whether it is committing petty crimes or just getting into fights with other kids. These young men only knew the rules of survival. The "I'm going to get mine" rules.

After mastering the game to the fullest, they were either scouted or went on trials. The scouts didn't care what kind of character they had, they were focusing themselves on finding the best players for their clubs. So those young men have finally found a way to get to their goal of being a professional and getting out of the struggle. Then these prodigies turned out to be the best in their youth and reserve sides and make it to the senior team. By this time, they were on top of the world. They were making millions and millions of dollars and they were enjoying things that they have only dreamed about. But these young men still lived by their street mind-set. The problem with this is that it is magnified in the public because they are on TV almost everyday. So that's when their flaws are exposed, because in the youth ranks, the youth coaches would turn a blind eye to fights that might have occurred in the academy. Once a player makes it up to the big leagues, a fight lands one in the newspaper (ask Joey Barton). So they can be as great as anything however when someone disrespects them (coach, teammates, media, or opponents) they have to show them that they are hood and they aren't taking it.

That's why a player like Kaká is not in this list because he did not have to worry about all the troubles that those other players have had to deal with. He always had the silver spoon in his mouth and if someone disrespects him he isn't going to fight them, he is just going to go on with his business and torch you for everything he has on the field. That's why I think he will last a lot longer then other players because he has his life in order. As for the others, it only takes one incident to highlight a magnificent career as this picture shows us.

Temperamental Genius

Every club has one, and if they don't, they want one. The on-field genius with a screw loose. The creator and the destroyer all in one. The make-or-break factor that carries a club to dizzying heights, or causes the same club to spiral out of control. More often than not, the player is an attacking midfielder or forward with mesmerizing skill, but a tragic flaw that can drive the player to inspiring brilliance or cut him off at the knees.

These players are infamous in their magnificence and petulance. From the "modern" age (2000 and on) we can name such players as Francesco Totti, Adriano, (fat) Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Cassano, David Beckham and most famously, Zinedine Zidane. These players, all oustanding talents in their own rights, have infamous shortcomings that have pushed them over the edge on various occasions. From Totti's spitting incident and Adriano's double-fisted to Ronaldo's partying and Zidane's legendary temper, there is plenty of evidence that these temperamental geniuses are often their own worst enemies.

The tragic flaw is not a product of the modern environment, but rather a characteristic of legendary footballers through the ages. Going back through time, such players as Eric Cantona, Diego Maradona and Edmundo were all famed for their mental lapses, snapping on players, fans even animals.

Such reprehensible behavior would not be tolerated from these players if they didn't produce such remarkable displays of footballing prowess and beauty. For every double-footed stamp by Totti there was a mazy run from inside his own half. For every reckless tackle from Zidane there was his graceful pirouette and slide-rule passing. These players' exquisite play comes with a price, but for such fantastic displays, I (and most fans of the beautiful game) deem it worth it.

Maradona: The Right Man for Argentina?

In 1986, Maradona gifted Argentina the country’s second world title by beating West Germany 3-2 in the final, a feat making him much more popular than any Argentine celebrity or even president! Through Maradona’s outstanding play in the tournament and his wonderful performances at the club level, the FIFA had no other option but to give him the player of the year and later go on to prize the Argentine with the Best Player of the Last 50 Years Award, along with Pele. There is no doubt Maradona was far and away one of the top two players to have ever played the sport. However, with Argentina’s present predicament in their qualifiers for the world cup in South Africa, the question remains: Did Grondona and the AFA make the right decision in appointing the eternal national hero and World Cup winner, Maradona, as the new coach? The answer is simple, NO!
It is 100% true; by selecting Maradona as head coach of their national team has reunited the Argentine population after a free-for-all Basile caused during his second era with Argentina’s national team. Maradona’s fervent attitude towards the Argentine jersey and country makes him an instant crowd-pleaser. Obviously his past credentials as a player also give more incentive to trust he will do more than a good job with Argentina’s finest. Because of his love and passion for the sport and the country, all Argentine players will forever respect him for bringing glory to an overzealous country. He is not only Argentina’s footballing symbol, but also one of two the entire world has. Unlike other coaches, who are often disrespected and disregarded by their players, Maradona is confident his personality and his past will never be doubted by his fellow countrymen, and this is because he was a football giant, a rare player who has only come along every once in a while in a privileged generation. Others like Hugo Sanchez, after an appalling run as Mexico’s head coach, will never restore all of what they represented because he was not one of the best ever. Maradona will not have to worry about losing his Argentina’s respect because of his achievements. Also, unlike Basile’s era, Maradona will strongly bring out the passion and love for the jersey and country from every player he selects, making them work harder as a team. But surely, player respect and effort along with the entire country’s support are not enough to direct Argentina to their third World Cup title. Obviously, there is much more to coaching than just having the backing of the players, federation, and population because after all, a coach, by definition, is a fundamental leader who keeps organization and discipline within a team structure.
Maradona, believe it or not, has had a short spell in the early to mid 90’s as a head coach of a couple Argentinian clubs, including the popular, Racing. During his short stint as coach, Maradona racked up 3 wins, 12 draws, and 8 loses, a record not worthy of bragging about. Grondona, clearly, overlooked the one measurement sports analyst, fanatics, and experts use daily when studying and discussing the art of sport: the statistic. Other coaches, like Carlos Bianchi, on Grondona’s hit list for Argentina’s head coach have won every club competition Argentina and South America have to offer, yet because of a personal conflict between the AFA president and Bianchi he was not selected. Grondona also overlooked other coaches who have much more quality (in terms of length and good results) experience like Batista (Argentina youth coach and winner of the 2008 Olympics tournament) and Russo, the current San Lorenzo (tied for first place in Argentina) coach. Statistically, Maradona is not even close to being the ideal coach for Argentina, especially under the current crisis the national team finds itself in qualifying, being tied for third with neighbor and trans-Andean rival, Chile.
The second troubling aspect of the Maradona selection is: does Maradona have the right attitude and personality to coach a star filled Argentinean team? Maradona is and will always be the most criticized footballer of all time, from his playing days (drugs, red cards, fights, etc.) to his coaching days (red cards, verbal assaults, media personality, etc.) to his days as an observer of the sport (player and coaches criticisms, recommendations, etc.). The recent conflict between Maradona and Messi is a clash between Maradona’s care for the player and his obsession with being the best ever. Though Messi reminds Maradona of himself as he and Grondona have admitted, Maradona always seems to criticize Messi more than everyone else, maybe because he expects more of Messi or because Messi reminds him of himself or out of sheer jealousy, whatever the reason, Messi respectfully retaliated in a media conference by stating, “Maradona always has something to say about me”. It must be said, Maradona is very close with the Argentine squad (coaches and players), but this can also cause some problems, take for example the Maradona-Aguero relationship (Aguero is Maradona’s son-in-law).
Maradona’s obsession with being the best leaves little room for others to object to any of his ideas because Maradona is very passionate about being the best, even when he makes mistakes. This characteristic is a negative one to have for a coach, especially an inexperienced coach. During Maradona’s reign, he will need to consider his player’s feelings, ideas, and playing ability, and stop comparing himself to his ideal world, which he has often done when watching Argentina play. As a coach, it is important to accept mistakes and poor results in order to learn from them, hopefully, for Argentina’s sake, he does not get too rattled when things do not go his way because he is on the sidelines now, not playing.
Maradona’s coaching behavior in the past has haunted his teams in the past, as he has gotten more red cards in his short coaching career than he did in his entire playing career. In a troubling situation like the one Argentina currently finds itself, Maradona’s coaching behavior will be tested, especially with tough world cup qualifying trips at La Paz, Quito, Asuncion, and Montevideo. Again, Maradona’s pride can cause some problems for Argentina. Maradona will bring more outside attention to himself and the team.
Maradona recently claimed he has more than enough experience (from his playing days) to coach Argentina to victory. One must reject his claim when taking into account his coaching career numbers (again, in terms of wins and length of career). Coaching an international squad is much more difficult than a club coach because you don’t train everyday like the clubs do, instead you meet up every couple of months for a week and play two games or you meet up for a couple of months during international tournaments, one month for training and one month to play the tournament. Also, as mentioned before, Maradona has had plenty of experience controlling situations in the field but not off the field. He is blessed with the best players in the world, but with this blessing, one goal needs to be achieved: a World Cup trophy, anything less will be an absolute failure (if Argentina does not qualify for the World Cup, the world should come to an end!). If Maradona is to succeed in this new highly difficult challenge, Maradona will need to learn how to control himself on and off the field, accept the way his player’s play, and tactically set up a team that is nearly impossible to field correctly because of the large number of talented players the country provides every year around every league.
As an Argentinean football fan, I hope Maradona can prove me wrong and win the World Cup. Though I must admit he is not the right man for job because of the current delicate state of the team and his experience. We’ll see what happens in March when qualifying restarts again. Good luck Maradona, you’re going to need it!

Chance for Redemption

In around three months, the Juventus management (President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, Managing Director Jean Claude Blanc, Sporting Director Alessio Secco and Manager Claudio Ranieri) have a gilt-edged chance to put themselves on the path to redemption in the supporters' eyes. The bulk of this burden lies on the first three names on this list, as Ranieri has proved himself at least a decent manager over the past few years, especially with the resources at his disposal. He performed admirably in guiding Juve to a 3rd place finish last year, and has been cursed with a spate of injuries that would bury even the most accomplished of managers.

However, the upper management of Cobolli Gigli, Blanc and Secco have much more for which to answer. Staunch Juventus supporters like myself are fed up with the poor handling of footballing matters, and it's high time that changes are made, whether they be through sacking or a simple change in mentality. As I've mentioned many times before, the purchase of such abject failures such as Jean-Alain Boumsong, Sergio Almirón, Tiago, and (more recently) Christian Poulsen who seems a poor buy already, cannot be simply swept under the rug.

That being said, the chance to take positive steps forward looms large in January. Such names as Diego Ribas da Cunha of Werder Bremen, Xavi Hernández of Barcelona have been thrown around, but it remains to be seen whether or not this transfer period will come and go without a quality signing to show for it. The fans are restless, and nothing but excellence and forward progress will quell the complaints and remonstrations in the near future. Only a return to winning ways will quiet the fans and placate expectations.

Basile’s Renunciation: Argentina’s Saving Grace

Yes, I agree, its cliché to blame a team’s poor performances on the coach, but to be honest, in Argentina’s case, it was the coaching that caused the surprising Argentine downfall over the last few months. Alfio Basile’s recent renunciation may give the Argentine people a fresh breath of air for now, but come March, the people will need to hold their breath again in a new coaching era. With Basile gone, all problems won’t automatically be solved; however, Basile’s departure is a step in the right direction.

Basile’s number one problem was he tried to field all the best players at the same time. He made a habit of putting center backs and center midfielders in the wide positions, where they are neither comfortable nor effective. By putting players like Gabriel Heinze, a player who is better in the center than on the left, on the outside of the defense, Argentina’s attack was hindered as was their one-on-one defending. Getafe’s Cata Diaz and Newcastle’s Fabricio Coloccini are other players Basile put at left and right back respectively. In fact, due to these tactics, the majority of the goals Argentina conceded came from the wing when the opponent outnumbered Argentina in the outside positions.

In the midfield, Basile committed the same mistake with Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Sebastian Battaglia, and Esteban Cambiasso, all of which are far more effective as center midfielders than wide midfielders. Argentina’s fans criticized Basile for putting three defensive midfielders out of the four midfielders on the field at the same time, often giving Leo Messi, Sergio "Kun" Aguero, Carlos Tevez, and the deeper Juan Roman Riquelme little to no support on the attack; thus, forcing them to hold on to the ball way too long, way too often. Also, Heinze and Javier Zanetti were more concentrated on covering for others than joining the attack, meaning there was very little support coming from the outsides. Argentina’s offense seemed anything but natural; in fact, it was so stagnant it looked as if Argentina would never score, a problem Argentina has never had in the past because of their abundance of offensive talent.

Argentina was often disorganized and one-sided in their attack because of an asymmetrical tactical line up. With Messi in the right forward position and no natural right midfielder behind him, it left Zanetti to play both right back and right midfield. On the left side, when Argentina did not play with a natural left-winger (like Angel Di Maria or Jonas Gutierrez)-which was very usual under Basile, Heinze was forced to do the same as Zanetti because Basile decided to place players like Cambiasso, who naturally drift centrally, in those positions. With Aguero’s recent emergence as a world class player, Basile felt forced to play Aguero, Tevez, Messi, and Riquelme. Though he noticed an abundance of similar offensive players, Basile’s solution to this problem was to field either Aguero or Tevez on the left, a position in which neither player is completely comfortable. Defensively, with Cambiasso moving to the wide left position (just behind Tevez or Aguero), the left side had plenty of cover while the right side was the opposite, as Messi’s role required the Barcelona man to stay up and not defend, leaving Zanetti exposed because Mascherano could not cover his defensive position and the right side of the pitch.

When you saw Argentina play under Basile, it looked like a free-for-all defensively, with players covering for the four forwards, and offensively, it looked more like an individual show than a collective team effort because of the lack of numbers in the offensive positions.
Argentina’s dependence on Riquelme is mostly caused by this tendency to play down the center, since their wide players were made up by central players who drifted centrally to defend and attack (and for those who do not agree with this Riquelme dependence, watch the Chile-Argentina game). Without wide midfielders, Messi and Aguero depend on Riquelme for service, but against any team that pressured and marked Riquelme closely, the opponent caused offensive confusions and problems for Argentina. This forced an overall dependence on individuals to score, set others up, and win games.

In many ways, this problem caused Argentina’s offense to become too predictable and much easier to defend than the typical free-flowing passing Argentinean team. Under Basile, Zanetti and Heinze were usually left stranded due to the over-emphasis on the center of the field. Heinze, a purely defensive player, lacks real technical ability to attack, leaving right back Zanetti, the only natural wide player, to start up attacks from wide positions while Messi roamed in and out of central and wide positions looking for the little space the opponent gave him. All of these elements piled more and more pressure on the Boca number ten, who has often been criticized as much as Basile.

Lastly, Basile’s international call-ups have been criticized over and over again, and rightfully so. Basile’s obsession with calling-up central players gave the coach very few options when he needed to have a more attack minded team with a new attack mode. In Argentina’s game against Chile, his lack of wide players on the bench forced the coach to continue the three-forward attack without any wide players offering crosses or support. Basile, in Jonas' absence, often left Di Maria, the only wide midfielder in the entire squad, on the bench. The lack of quality target men is not Basile’s fault, but in such a huge talent pool, there are plenty of wide midfielders and wide backs he could have used, a decision that often continued the one-dimensional, extremely predictable Argentinean attack.

Against Peru, Basile finally decided to use Pablo Zabaleta, a natural wide back, but he used the former Espanyol man as a central midfielder, a mistake that went on to cost Argentina in the dying seconds of the match when Peru tied with the last kick of the ball. Monzon, a quality left back, has rarely been used, though he looks more comfortable than Heinze on the left. Finally, Basile called up three domestic uncapped players, to list a couple: Bergessio and Sand, for the latest FIFA qualifying dates for the COMNEBOL, instead of calling up players like Higuain, Lavezzi, and Zarate, all of which have more international experience and are performing very well in the top leagues. Basile overemphasized the power of the Argentinean League by calling up three San Lorenzo players and one Velez player while leaving out other players with more experience. As such, Argentina suffered from lack of experience and quality.

Player effort, player fatigue, and individualism add to Argentina’s decline in form. However under Basile, Argentina was a team few fans recognized because of the lack of ‘true football’ the team produced. Add player troubles like the ones previously mentioned with Basile’s unorthodox tactics and international call-ups and the result is a world class Argentinean squad in danger of not qualifying, a problem Argentina has not encountered for some time now. There is now a new hope for Argentina; it is up to the new coach, whoever it may be, to re-organize and bring back the true Argentinean playing style, a style of great technique and an impressive work ethic.

If Argentina, with arguably the best player, Messi, best striker, Aguero, best number ten in Riquelme, and best defensive midfielder in Mascherano, were not to qualify to the South African World Cup, it would be the biggest upset since the Dutch lost the 1974 World Cup final to West Germany. To quote Messi, “Under Basile, we had no idea what we were doing on the pitch”, and this was very clear over the last 5 or 6 qualifying matches.

Should We Believe this?

I've been reading all day on various football sites that Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has said that the pursuit of Christiano Ronaldo is over "forever". This should signal the end to this saga right? I do not think so. The simple fact is that elite European clubs should not be trusted with their words because one day their presidents or directors say the chase is over and then when reelection comes along they promise their fans that big-name signings like Ronaldo will be theirs. So I find it very hard to trust any of these guys. That being said, it may be possible that the chase is over on Real's side of things, but do you think that it is over for Ronaldo? I doubt it.

Even though I think that Manchester United is a better side than Real Madrid at the current moment. I believe that Ronaldo's heart is not totally in Manchester. His goal celebrations have been more subdued and he does not seem his old self on the field. I have been starting to wonder when is he going to start sabotaging his stay in Manchester. I believe that he is one of those types that could possibly do something like that. He can start getting underneath players skins and more importantly Sir Alex's. I do think that some of his teammates already do not trust him. Alex doesn't really care about that but once he starts undermining the captain of the ship, it's something the legendary manager will not take too kindly to. Ask Ruud Van Nistlerooy and Roy Keane about that. So I have been wondering, when is he going to start doing the Manny Ramirez? Will he start complaining about his knees being hurt in the middle of winter? Or going half-speed in important games? I do not know, but I can certainly see it.

So do I believe that this saga is completely over? Absolutely not, because C. Ronaldo still (in my opinion) has his heart set on going to Real Madrid and by all means he will do whatever he can to get there.

"New Money"

Putting aside my hatred for Inter Milan as a die-hard Juventus fan, I can't help but admire the club's recent success. The Milano club has dominated the Serie A since 2006's infamous Calciopoli scandal (from which it picked up a couple Juve players that form the core of their team, I might add), and the management has built a squad nearly any supporter would be happy to have. While I am not a fan of the 'Special One' Jose Mourinho, I do respect his abilities as a tactician and manager. However, I still can't seem to shake the feeling that Inter, despite it's storied history, is still rather nouveau riche.

Inter Milan has been around since 1908, and the club has a rich and successful background, including two European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) wins in 1963-64 and '64-65. In recent years, Inter has struggled away from the peninsula with it's lone bright point the 2003 Champions League semifinals. The 90s and early 21st century was a dark period for the Nerazzuri, and it seemed a miracle was needed to restore their former heights.

Enter Calciopoli. With the discovery that 5 Serie A clubs were guilty of match-fixing (Juventus, Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio & Reggina), Inter was awarded the 2005-06 Serie A title for being next-highest in the league in 3rd position. With the money gained from that "win", 8 points being deducted from Milan, and the relegation of Juventus for the first time in it's storied history, Inter was well placed to retain "their" title the next year. In addition, with Juve's relegation, Inter was able to poach two of their biggest stars, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Patrick Vieira from the Bianconeri ranks.

Inter went on to easily win the Serie A in 2006-07, further reaping the financial benefits that came from being on top of the table and in the media spotlight. However, the "upstarts" were still unable to achieve success in Europe, and were unceremoniously knocked out by Valencia that year, and again by Liverpool the next year, leading to shouts for Roberto Mancini's head.

With Inter's growing financial clout, the club was able to lure Jose Mourinho as well as a host of new players, including the €18.6 signing of Ricardo Quaresma. However, as dominant as Inter has been on the Italian stage, the club still does not seem to hold the same pedigree as their compatriots AC Milan and Juventus. Although it has been much more successful locally in recent years, Inter's name does not seem to hold the same resonance as the other, more storied Milan club, or the Bianconeri of Turin. Nonetheless, with the arrival of Jose Mourinho and his proven success in Europe, Inter's name could soon ring as true as Associazione Calcio Milan or Juventus Torino.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 9

Andres Iniesta: Recently, the Albacete-born Iniesta has caused a buzz around the world for his excellent performances in the Euro and with Barcelona in 2008. Iniesta showcased his excellent technical ability and intelligence at this year's world stage in the Euro. The scrawny, sick-looking Iniesta is proof that a world football star does not have to be a supreme athlete; instead, he can dominate with his innate technical ability and his footballing brain. Iniesta, a first-teamer for quite some time at Barca, has blown away expectations the last couple of seasons to a point in which he is a first team regular on Spain's Euro 2008-winning side. Iniesta is proof that wingers don't need to be speedy players, as he has demonstrated by usurping Henry's left forward position at Barcelona (despite being a natural central midfielder). A center midfielder with great versatility to play as a winger, Iniesta has developed a strong one-on-one game, causing defenders a lot of trouble in the open field or in tight spaces. He is extremely rare and special because he represents the classic footballer, a player who relies more on his abilities than his athleticism and physical attributes; it truly is a pleasure to see smart players, like Iniesta, take over the world stage.

Iniesta's personality has to come to question when it comes to winning prestigious awards like the Player of the Year Award. His dominance is just starting to take form, but his team-first mentality, though great for any club, can lead him to hold back from being the dominant player every Player of the Year needs. The needed greed or sense of individualism seems to be lacking from Iniesta's game and overall mentality, because of his quiet attitude and modest personality. Recently Nike wanted to use Iniesta's image as their centerfold for this year, but he does not seem like the type of personality to excel when he receives a great deal of attention. His quietness may not be overlooked on the field, but other stars will shine more than he will because of it.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 8

Steven Gerrard: Liverpool's eternal captain is the best example of the complete midfielder. A playmaker, set-piece taker, goal scorer, defensive midfielder, and leader, Gerrard is the do-it-all man for Liverpool. Throughout his career, he has played right back, center back, defensive and attacking center mid, and wide mid (right and left). Recently, with important goals in the CL and in the EPL, Gerrard is the most clutch player the world has to offer, without a doubt. Liverpool's acquisition of Torres last year proved vital to Gerrard, as the two are one of the most feared 1-2 combinations in the world. It is clear that Liverpool will never walk alone, as long as Gerrard leads the way.

One can say there are few players like Riquelme, Deco, or Werder Bremen's Diego. One can also say there are few players like Gerrard because he is arguably the most complete player. However, Gerrard has been deemed as just one of the best in the world and not the best because of his lack of flair. You won't see Gerrard dribble three opponents and score. He depends too much on others to really pull off an individual play like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can pull off, and these plays attract more attention than a game-winning strike in the 90th minute. He's just not that type of player/personality, and everyone knows, Player of the Year Awards are given to players that offer moments of individual brilliance. England's missing out on the Euro action will hurt his chances as well.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 7

Lionel Messi: As far as talent goes, the 5'7'' Messi can be blamed for hogging it all. At just 21 years old, Messi has shown no signs of slowing down, despite being on the world stage for three solid years at Barcelona. After an injury-filled season, Messi showed his dominance with strong performances in La Liga and CL when he was cleared to play. Another individual milestone this superstar received was the MVP award of the Olympics in Beijing this summer. His lightning pace, unbelievable ball control, sublime quickness, and superior intelligence have transformed this youngster into one of the best footballers in the world, with most labeling him as the "Next Maradona". As a winger, when he combines with players like Iniesta and Xavi at Barcelona or Riquelme with Argentina, Messi is unstoppable no matter where he is on the pitch. As a playmaker, a new role in which Messi has adopted in the Olympics and in recent Barcelona games, he clearly shows he is capable of playing any offensive position on the field (Barcelona vs. Shaktar); thus, making him more vital to any team he plays on. Messi is known to produce moments of brilliance in either one-yard of space or 10; with his feinting and quickness, it makes no difference.

Lionel Messi's performances have football fanatics reminiscing Maradona's magical moments in the 80's/early 90's. Lately, however, even Maradona, himself, has criticized Messi, and these criticisms, along with the Barcelona faithful's disappointment in some of his play (vs. Sporting Lisbon), have taken their toll on Messi's play. Often called individualistic and a poor finisher, Messi's confidence has seemed to have taken a blow with some "below-par performances" and lack of energy in some games, though glimpses of his genius are still spotted. Once Messi learns he can trust his teammates a little more, he will be the best player in recent times. Undoubtedly, Argentina's lack of competition (either Copa America, World Cup, or Intercontinental Cup) will hurt Messi's chances of winning the Players of the Year award.

Why Does Capello keep on picking Beckham?

There has been much debate on newspapers and talk shows about why David Beckham continues to be picked for the English National Team. While Michael Owen has been getting overlooked for a spot. Fabio Capello’s rationale of why Owen cannot make the team is that he is on a Newcastle team that is struggling in the English Premier League. I cannot defend that because David Beckham is on the worst team in the MLS, a third tier league among the leagues in the World. I believe I have an idea why Capello continues to pick Beckham in his national team and it falls closely in line with their days at Real Madrid.

I remember when David Beckham signed his 5 year/$250 million MLS contract in the winter of 2007 while he was on the Real Madrid side managed by Fabio Capello. When this happened, Capello shunned Beckham and told him that he would never play for his Real Madrid side again. At that time, Beckham became a practice player for Real Madrid. Madrid began to struggle during this period and it looked like Capello wasn’t doing a good enough job as coach and it would be another trophyless season for Los Merengues. Then around springtime, Fabio Capello saw that David Beckham was improving his play among the reserves. Beckham could have easily taken his foot off the pedal and coasted along, but Don Fabio and Beckham's teammates saw the improvements that Beckham was making and Capello decided to let Beckham back in the first team side. After his return, Real made a run all the way to the Primera Liga title and Beckham was an instrumental part of the side winning their first trophy since 03.

I do think that Fabio sees Beckham as an important part of his England side, and I think he does owe Beckham for his services when they both were in Real. Do I think it is right? No, but I do think it is an logical reason while the ageing icon is still in the side. However Fabio is not a stupid man, he is not going to pick Beckham unless he is playing first-team football in Europe during the MLS break. That is why Becks is desperate to go back to Europe. The fact that the LA Galaxy continues to be the worst team in the MLS also helps Beckham's decision to possibly return to Europe.

Yaya- Caught in the middle

As a part of the Barca revolution of the summer under the newly taken reins of Pep Guardiola, Seydou Keita, the Malian international, was brought in to shore up the midfield. Along with this step, Pep took it upon himself to bring up Sergio Busquets and Victor Sanchez (who got the full 90 against Athletic Bilbao today) from the youth team. While I am a huge proponent of the youth and B teams being used to mold talent for the first team, and am proud to say that no other big club in the world compares to Barcelona in this respect, the addition of these two has led to Yaya Toure being forgotten.

Yaya was the most consistent performer for the team last year by a long shot and was looked on as one who would surely stay on and play a huge part while people such as Marquez lived with question marks above their heads. But the start of the season has seen him with limited appearances though he is the only out and out holding midfielder in the team. With the attacking fluency of a team such as Barca that can easily be caught out, such a man is pivotal and very few (Mascherano, etc.) play the position better than the Ivorian. This lack of appearances has caused an outburst from the player's agent that has no doubt rattled some cages in Barcelona as they have not been denied by the player himself. The use of Busquets more than Toure seems a slap in the face as the young Spaniard, while good, still has much to learn.

With that said, the interest of Juventus is unwarranted. I know my friend Mr. West is disgusted at the thought of another midfielder (a defensive minded one at that) being added to the bianconeri stable. With the purchase of Poulsen over the summer and Sissoko in January, there is no need for the addition of Toure. Therefore here is a man caught between a rock and a hard place- a place with alot of competition for three central midfield spots and one with alot of direct competition for two central midfield spots. I personally, as a Barca fan, would not like to see such a force leave the fold when there is still so much he could offer us. But I am neither Pep Guardiola nor Txiki Begiristain nor Joan Laporta so the decision is not mine. As for Yaya, I do not envy his position and would support his decision to move on to a place where he will play more, but I would like to think he would not see the Estadio delle Alpi as the place where that can be done.

No-Win Situation

It's the 71st minute of the Juventus-Napoli match and Claudio Ranieri might have just lost us the match. Tied 1-1, Ranieri opted to withdraw captain and lethal finisher Alex Del Piero for... Paolo De Ceglie. While De Ceglie has a bright future ahead of him, he is naturally a left back or left midfielder. By sacrificing a 2nd forward for a more defensive-minded midfielder, Ranieri has once again shown his "no-lose" attitude as opposed to the "must-win" mindset we've come to expect as Bianconeri fans.

At this point, I'm so upset with the Juve management I can't even speak. More to follow when the final whistle blows.

Update: Literally less than 10 minutes from the moment I began writing this post, Ezequiel Lavezzi ghosted in to make it 2-1 for Napoli. I want to be happy that my analysis was correct, but I'm so angry at Claudio Ranieri's idiocy I can't enjoy it at all.

Final update: Juve lost 2-1 thanks to Claudio Ranieri's complete lack of managerial knowledge. The only positive that could come of this is if the upper management finally realizes that Ranieri is trash and sacks him immediately.

The Pension Club

This morning, Goal.com reported that AC Milan is interested in launching a bid for 33-year-old David Beckham in the January transfer window. Beckham is set to train with Milan in January, and the Italian club will once again attempt to capture one of the world's most recognizable sports figures after missing out on him 2 years ago.

Milan has one of the oldest squads in the Italian Serie A, not to mention in Europe. With fully 15 out of their 27 squad players 30 years or older, an injection of youth is sorely needed. Enter... Beckham? While it is difficult to argue against Beckham's obvious quality, he's simply not what Milan needs at this point. Beckham does provide unmatched set piece ability, pinpoint crossing, and laser-accurate long balls. However, quite frankly: he's getting old.

Beckham has never been the quickest of players, and that has worked to his advantage as he's aged. He has been able to retain the same skillset through the years without having to adjust his game drastically because of a lack of pace or agility. However, pace and agility is something that Milan could do with a bit more of, especially given that the two players who possess most of it are regularly chopped down violently (Kaká) and still developing (Alexandre Pato).

In Milan's defense, however, Beckham's proven skill gives indication that he will most likely be able to settle into the slower, more tactical Serie A rapidly. He can provide much-needed service to ageing striker Andriy Shevchenko, and he would provide the long passing ability that Milan desperately misses in the injury-enforced absence of Andrea Pirlo.

Time will tell if Beckham is a proper fit for Milan. As a die-hard Juventus fan, I sincerely hope he's a flop. As a football fan, I hope he plays brilliantly but Milan loses every game in which he plays.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 6

Sergio "El Kun" Aguero: Recently, fans and experts are in agreement with the belief that Aguero possesses a more well-rounded game than Argentine compatriot Lionel Messi. Aguero's goalscoring, playmaking, and teamwork have football fans putting Aguero higher in the player of the year standings than Messi. A fantastic finisher (great with both feet and his head) combined with great speed and strength gives the gifted 20-year old an advantage over any defender, even standing at just 5'6''. Off to a great start in the CL with two goals away to PSV and another against Marseille, "El Kun" shows he can perform on the international level (vs. Brazil in Beijing and vs. Paraguay in WC qualifying) as well as the club level. Another Argentine regarded as Maradona's prodigy has taken the footballing world by storm over the last two seasons.


Aguero, being a striker, has had plenty games in which he does not get involved nearly enough (i.e. Atletico vs. Sevilla and Argentina vs. Peru). He frequently depends on a playmaker to give him the ball in the right spots so he could demonstrate his brilliance. In these types of games, his strong goalscoring characteristics hinder him from being the dominant player he has the potential of being because, as a striker, he tends to stay too far up and does not get involved nearly enough as most would expect the best player to do.

Where Do We Go From Here?

We're only a few games into the season, but I've already had my fair share of disappointment, anger and frustration as a Juventus fan. My beloved Bianconeri have, to put it bluntly: sucked. The high hopes of last season's miraculous 3rd place finish, the return of La Formica Atomica (the Atomic Ant) Sebastian Giovinco and the signing of Amauri was supposed to signal Juventus' return to Europe's elite. But apparently it's not yet to be.

Juventus' dreadful upper management (whose names I will not mention at this time because they've become worse than expletives in my mind) have managed to nearly break the Old Lady's hip, an injury that may take more than this season to heal. Instead of investing in quality players (like anyone who knows the game would do), the Juventus directors have splashed cash on past and present garbage which has been incredibly detrimental for the team (see Jean-Alain Boumsong, Tiago, Sergio Almirón, Christian Poulsen, Momo Sissoko).

The board's insistence on crushing supporters' hopes and dreams by announcing their interest in world-class players and settling for world-class losers is enough to give even the most fair-weather Juve fan a conniption. A year ago, if you told me that instead of lining up with Xabi Alonso, Diego Ribas da Cunha, or Rafael Van Der Vaart, Juve would be sporting the likes of Christian Poulsen and Momo Sissoko side by side, I would have fought you for even mentioning the possibility. Now, as if to further enrage supporters, the management have decided to continue in their ways of stocking up on useless defensive midfielders.

While I believe Yaya Touré is a great player, he is a player that is of absolutely no use to a Juve side lacking creative midfielders and wing talent. If Touré's purchase came with the added bonus of Tiago, Sissoko, Poulsen's sales and the purchase of Diego and another creative midfielder, I would be overjoyed. Since this is far from the case, I am incensed at the board's overarching idiocy.

To me, the plan seems incredibly simple: Sell Tiago, Sissoko, Poulsen and Molinaro. They are not of Juventus quality, and need to be offloaded. Next, Juve must bring in at least one creative midfielder for the centre and one winger. Finally, we must secure a quality left back and a world-class centre back. While I am more than aware that the actual implementation of this plan is not nearly as easy as it sounds, I'm quite sure it would be possible if the board actually cared enough about the club to give it a shot.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 5

Xavi Hernandez: Xavi is the ultimate complete midfielder. Xavi, a Barca product, has really erupted in popularity over the last two years or so. Xavi is best known for his ability to keep the ball in the tightest spaces and create for his teammates while under pressure. He is the gel that keeps Barcelona together. An excellent player with the ball at his feet, Xavi uses both feet and his fantastic turning ability to take him away from trouble and often pass remarkable through-balls or shoot from distance. Xavi, like his teammate Andrés Iniesta, relies more on his technique than most players, but that is why he is so unique. The Euro 2008 Player of the Tournament defends and aids Barcelona in producing the flowing football it has football fans accustomed to watching whenever Barça steps on the pitch. He's been performing so well of late that Marcos Senna, Spain teammate and Villareal player, has stated that Xavi is the best player in the history of football.

The complete player, Xavi Hernandez received some recognition this summer for his classy play. Easily one of the best players in the world, Xavi is still not given all the credit he deserves. Although he is a player with no glaring weaknesses, at times he struggles against athletic teams and players because he does not possess the physical attributes like speed or strength to be the most dominant player in the world. When he does take on teams that mark him closely and play him physically, he drifts in and out of games.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 4

Javier Mascherano: Maradona recently said 'Mascherano is the only indispensable player Argentina has right now and not Messi nor Riquelme'. A tireless worker who makes his presence felt all over the pitch by his hard tackling, Mascherano is the best defensive midfielder in the world, although his work often goes unnoticed. Once he does hunt down his opponents, he offers his team neat passing, so his team not only wins the ball but also keeps it. Not physically intimidating, Mascherano is merely 5'9'', but is often described as a predator hunting prey when he chases players down to take the ball. A frequent yellow and red card receiver, Masche, as he is known in England and his native Argentina, can also be seen making darting runs up from his defensive position in the 90th minute and every game. Mascherano or "The Little Boss" is a remarkable talent that is clearly indispensable for both Argentina and Liverpool. Masche played for the full national team before he played for his club team, River Plate, something truly remarkable due to the talent of Argentina's squad especially in the midfield and because you don't hear many players given a chance on the national team before they play for their club.

Mascherano, arguably the most underrated player in the world, will probably never get the full recognition he deserves because he is not flashy or offensively gifted as the likes of Robinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, etc., even though his distribution in long and short ranged passes is extremely accurate. He resembles Makelele, Marcos Senna, and Gattuso, and like other defensive midfielders who pride themselves on hard work and unnoticed responsibilities, Mascherano offers a different class of player who is highly unlikely to win any individual awards, but he is more than worthy of receiving praise for doing the job nobody likes to do so well.

The Catalonian Roller Coaster

As an avid fan of FC Barcelona I am constantly riding an emotional roller coaster. The last decade for the club have been filled with highs and lows that could probably see me end up with a heart problem when I am in my 60s. But right now I have absolutely no idea what to think. Yes, I am happy that my club is on a long winning streak after a very disastrous start to the season (at least by the standards expected) and I was filled with joy as I watched highlights of the 6-1 thrashing that was handed out to fellow title contenders Atletico Madrid (if only it had been those smug b*stards from the blanco side of that city then I could die in peace).

But I am still not sold on Pep. I was a big fan of Rijkaard. Here was a man who had single handedly saved the team from almost relegation in the 03-04 season to 2nd place in the table. Here was a man who brought in players such as the one and only Samuel Eto'o, Deco, Rafa Marquez, etc. Here was a man who invested in the up and comers from La Masia and unleashed talents such as Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Bojan on the footballing world. Here was a man who led us to the most successful two year period in the recent memory of the club (back to back Liga titles and a Champions League trophy). But here was also a man who had lost control of his crop of players, letting them run wild and leading to the last two disastrous seasons.

I respect Mr. Guardiola. As a former midfielder he is one of the players I payed most attention to in my younger days. He was simple and effective. And while I do like the fact that he does not seem to be stuck on a one track tactical ride like Rijkaard was, he does not exude the same confidence that old Frank did. Going into games with Frank at the head there was an expectation to win, even after the disappointments over the past two seasons. Now though, a feeling of fear creeps into me as I await watching Barcelona games. I have no idea what squad will be selected, whether I will be blessed with another opportunity to watch Leo the Lion, Sammy Eto'o, Titi, Xavi or Iniesta play. I am not a fan of the rotation policy because it doesnt provide for any consistency in play. Rafa Benitez tried this with his Liverpool team a few years back and it did not yield very good results- at least in League terms (I think they won the UCL). But the most important trophy to win is La Liga. It is the one fans care about the most- and it is the fans who watch games.

But at the same time, the rotation policy keeps players fresh and allows all the different diamonds that are available to sparkle equally throughout the year. Toure, Keita, Busquets (although I am still not sold on him, even after watching him live in Giants stadium), Xavi and Iniesta rotate through the midfield and it is a spectacle to watch them all play. Up front, the policy may hopefully alleviate the injury problems that have plagued Eto'o and Messi over the past two years (coincidentally no titles were won in those years) so there may be some good to come out of it. The only thing left to do is strap myself in and let the roller coaster roll. Hopefully when its all done I haven't screamed too much or thrown up after I got off.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 3

Wesley Sneijder: Similar style to fellow Dutch player, Van der Vaart, Sneijder is yet another player who does not possess the athleticism and physical attributes that most players have, but again, like Xavi, Van der Vaart, and Iniesta, he is a highly intelligent technical player, who can also strike the ball solidly from any position. Real Madrid’s designated freekick taker, Sneijder is deadly anywhere inside or around the box no matter how far he is from the target. To come into Spain’s La Liga and win the player of the year during his first year is nothing short of spectacular, especially coming from an ‘inferior league’ like the Erdivisie. Sneijder is also a great team player that sacrifices himself defensively, making him a complete player. Sneijder’s diligent work rate with his national team and club combined with his innate talent has transformed him into the star he is today.

A preseason injury has kept one of the best players in the world sidelined this season so far. Much is expected of the Dutch maestro when he returns to the Real line-up alongside fellow Holland teammate, Van der Vaart. Sneijder is another of those players who lacks a real weakness worth noting, though his injury could prove to be costly for his great progress.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 2

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Standing at a towering 6’3’’, Zlatan is a rare breed. When one looks at Ibrahimovic, one cannot help notice his size and overall athleticism, but what cannot be seen until you see the giant Swede on the football pitch is his excellent technical ability. The combination of power and finesse characterize this elegant footballer. After proving decisive for Sweden in the Euro with two goals in three games, Zlatan proved he could perform at the international level and at the highest club level, as he was one of the leading scorers in the CL last year. Tough to defend in the air and on the ground, his one-on-one ability and his great vision makes him one of the best target men in the world. Combining these important elements to his strong finishing and goalscoring record, Zlatan is no doubt one of the best players in the world.

Ibrahimovic, like many players who receive a lot of attention, has a reputation of being very egotistical and self-centered. Although one needs to be greedy to be a goalscorer, Zlatan often overlooks possible passes to open teammates and dribbles excessively. Also, like C. Ronaldo, Zlatan at times plays more for the crowd than he does for the team by abusing his skills and trying the impossible in order to score, set up others, etc (though sometimes it works: Inter vs. Bologna Serie A 08/09). Zlatan is an immense talent, but with that talent comes a great deal of responsibility of one’s character and attitude, something he has struggled with in the past; however, under Mourinho, thus far, he seems to have changed, as noted from his recent CL and Serie A performances. It is no doubt, Zlatan is his own worse enemy, and only he can hinder his potential.

UEFA have their priorities wrong.

For me, the Union of European Football Association have their priorities wrong. UEFA wants to kick out Manchester United, Chelsea and other sides who have growing debt. The problem is that they are trying their best to get rid of these clubs because of financial problems. However when dealing with clubs or national teams who chant racist and homophobic they only get small fines that they can pay out of their pocket. I just don't understand where they are coming from with this. The Association is supposed to be on the forefront of stamping out racism and yet it keeps on happening in alarming rates. In most instances nothing happens to them. All those people can just go back to the park and chant the same things and the club will just pay the fine, tell the supporters not to do it again and the cycle continues.

I am not saying that they don't need to punish those who have large debts. I am just saying that if you want to banish those who have those debts, I believe that you should also ban clubs who condone racism (and homophobia) or at least deduct points from them. Maybe it will lead to those clubs/national teams to tell their supporters to either stop their conduct, or ban them from the stadiums forever. They may even force them to play behind closed doors so that it will keep the small minority who do make those chants out. If that happens you may see some vigilantes among the fans who see these actions going on and do something about it. Only with firm action can you begin cutting down racism in stadiums.

Gallas' Tough Time/ Take Heed of this "Dream" Talk

I have been reading my new British newspaper online site (I used to read The Sun and now I read Daily Mail) and in it, William Gallas states that he is having the worst time of his career. It is about time that he took responsibility for his liabilities. To Sir William: Ever since you've gotten the captain's armband for Arsenal, you have struggled mightily and just haven't been able to pull out the same form that made you a good player before you decided to leave Chelsea. Maybe you should not be captain for Arsenal anymore. It is too much responsibility for you. The fact is that you are not a very good leader and that is okay. We all cannot be leaders. Then again it does not make you a follower either. I am not the leader type but personally, when I get on the field, I try to do my thing. That is what you need to start doing: leading by example. You do not need the armband to show your skills. It isn't necessary.

If I were an Arsenal fan I would be afraid of what Fabregas has just said. Even though he did confirm that he was committed 100% to Arsenal, he said recently that going to back to his youth club (Barcelona) would be a dream for him and he would like to go back there when he can. That is a dangerous thing to say, even though he says that he is fully committed to Arsenal. I remember another player (Christiano Ronaldo) saying it was a dream to go to a Spanish club and then we had to deal with a summer of whether he was staying or going. Plus he has been speaking to his ex-teammate Aliaksandr Hleb, who is at Barcelona at the moment. The fact that he has not ruled out means that he could possibly go to Barcelona next season. It is going to be interesting what happens at the end of this season if they don't win a trophy, because if Arsenal does not win one for a fourth consecutive year, Cesc will weigh the pros and cons and Barcelona will try to pull him in. The thing is that I don't even know what Arsene would do: he might think well 'I can just make another Fabregas, it's nothing'. Thus making more Arsenal fans frustrated about getting rid of their star players.

Who is the World's Best? Candidate 1

This is an 10-part series on my picks for the world's best players. Each candidate gets his own respective section. This is not necessarily in any particular order, just my picks for the best 10 in the world. It's not done by position or country, but based on pure skill. First in the series is Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo:

After a 42-goal season, most say Ronaldo is a shoe-in for the FIFA Player of the Year Award. He has been Manchester United’s most importance player this year, leading them to a double: EPL title and a UEFA Champions League title, while being the leading scorer in both competitions. Cristiano, with his blinding speed and quickness, is becoming one of Europe’s deadliest goalscorers. His step-overs and scissors make him one of the most feared one-on-one players in the world. By scoring headers, screamers, and even cheeky back heels, Ronaldo’s 07/08 season is best remembered for his ability to score goals in different ways, showing great versatility for a winger. At Manchester United, a team that prides itself in counter attacking football, Ronaldo is allowed to freely run at defenders on the break; as a result to this freedom, he scored 43 goals under Ferguson’s guidance and tactics. With space, Ronaldo is the best one-on-one player in the world.

Although Ronaldo’s goalscoring, skills, and athletic ability make him the favorite to win FIFA World Player of the Year, one must wonder if his below-par performances in important games still leave the best player in the world title in the air. His lack of participation and initiative in the Portugal-Germany game and Man Utd-Barcelona series are a couple of examples. Sure, he did score the goal vs. Chelsea in the final of the CL, but he was totally non-existent for the remaining 100 minutes after he scored the game’s opening goal. In addition to his frequent disappearing acts, Ronaldo, at times, tends to play more for the crowd than for his team’s cause. Though he possesses great skill, he is also known for overusing flicks, tricks, and other fancy plays, and when Ronaldo begins to be too clever, he looses the ball often (Man Utd vs. Villareal on CL Match Day 1 or Man Utd vs. Chelsea in 08/09 EPL). Back from his summer ankle surgery, Ronaldo hopes to prove his doubters wrong and show his dominance once again this season. The question still remains: Can Cristiano do it against the best in England and in Europe?

Le Ballon d'Or

Ah, the Golden Ball. Awarded by French (obviously) magazine France Football, le prix convoité is the honor given to Europe's best player. From the inaugural winner Sir Stanley Matthews to last year's winner Kaká, the winner's list is a who's who of footballing history. Now, as we approach the selection of the winner for 2008, the race has narrowed to two young players: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel "Leo" Messi.

Leo the Lion and C Ron have both had sublime seasons; Messi scored 16 goals and dished out 13 assists in 40 games before being sidelined with a torn thigh muscle in the Champions League. Ronaldo scored a whopping 42 goals in 49 games and led Manchester United to EPL and Champions League glory. So who wins?

In my opinion, as much as I dislike his off-the-field antics, sulky mannerisms and frequent diving, Cristiano Ronaldo's accomplishments last season cannot go without reward. He carried Manchester United last season despite frequently "disappearing" in big games due to overly rough treatment and being marked by multiple players through many matches. Although Diego Maradona's heir apparent, Leo Messi showed many moments of sublime skill, 42 goals in all competitions is a number I find difficult to see past, as hard as I try. Ronaldo for the Golden Ball.

Don't Get Excited Yet

I admit that last year I didn't expect Manchester United to achieve the success they did. Honestly, who could have predicted that Cristiano Ronaldo, the dive queen of England would be able to perform the way he did? He was finally able to use his ridiculously flamboyant dribbling skill, mercurial pace and deceptive aerial ability to devastating effect, learning how to combine them into the final product. Over 40 goals in all competitions is not a figure I was expecting.

However, this year, I'm remaining pessimistic about the Red Devils' chances. While they have added a key piece in Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov and promoted some brilliant young talent (see Rafael), they haven't really strengthened their depth in the centre of midfield, an area that caused them problems last year. With Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves (perpetually) hurt, United look dangerously thin through the middle. While John O'Shea is a decent enough deputy, he hardly inspires confidence in the centre of the park. Darren Fletcher is a good player, but he's not quality enough to deserve a starting spot at Manchester United. The one bright spot for me is Anderson, but he is still relatively young and learning his trade.

I also feel like the addition of Dimitar Berbatov to the United ranks is one that could eventually upset the balance of the normally tight-knit squad. One of the trademarks of Alex Ferguson's United teams has been the rabid ferocity the whole team possesses when not in custody of the ball, and their sheer determination to win it back at all costs. Every member of the team (with the exception of Ronaldo at times) works together and there is no slacking off.

Dimitar Berbatov is not one to toil without immediate payoff: "Sometimes people would say that I am lazy but it's not true. My body language can be confusing. I may not need to run non-stop, because there is no need to chase unreachable balls... I like to play with my head. It's not about laziness, it's about the cleverness of the player. Real quality doesn't need to show effort." This precise attitude is why I feel he doesn't fit in with the Manchester United mentality. In their Champions League match with Aalborg, Berbatov frequently walked around the pitch when United wasn't in possession, hands on his hips, waiting for his teammates to win it back for him.

While this attitude may pass when times are good and the goals are flowing, it will most certainly not be tolerated in the United camp when matches are tight and hard work is needed to bring results. One of the reasons Carlos Tevez was able to so quickly ingratiate himself to United supporters was his excellent workrate as well as his commendable goalscoring record. Should Berbatov not adjust his attitude, he could well find himself warming the bench when Ferguson tires of his lackadaisical mindset and the team needs hard work.

If Berbatov and co. are able to successfully gel and the centre of midfield can stay out of harm's way, I may be forced to eat my words. However, if they cannot achieve the Manchester United style of constant pressure and hard work, I feel their chances are diminished greatly.

Liverpool? Title Challenger

Now I always poke fun of one of my good friends Ben Hunter about his side's inability to make a Premiership Title challenge in the last (I think) twelve years. In Rafa Benitez's era, he has been more obsessed with the Champions League- noting he has made 2 finals appearances- and not really giving the Premiership a chance. He oftens rotates players around, not putting out the best sides during those games and often folding under pressure.

This season, it seems like they have gotten it together. There have been more than a couple of games that they have cameback from especially against Manchester United- whom Rafa hasn't beaten until this season. Then the Man City game opened my eyes, because it is pretty rare in the Premier League that they would come from behind from 2-0 and find themselves a winner, with Dirk Kuyt scoring his first goal in forever. They have the right mix of players. They have Reina between the posts, Carragher is a rock in defence, and Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, and Steven Gerrard show enormous character amongst the midfield. Finally they have one of the best goalscorers in Europe at the moment: Fernando Torres. I mean those ingredients alone smell like a title for this side. I haven't even mentioned Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt (who it seems will run into a brick wall for you) and Robbie Keane- who will catch form soon. They SHOULD challenge for all titles this year. It is going to be up to Rafa as to whether he wants to go for the titles because I will admit myself this is one of the most talented teams Liverpool has produced in a while (yes better than the Champions League winning side) so if I was Rafa and they aren't able to win anything this year, I would look over my shoulder.

SWP back in form..

I did not realize that Shaun Wright Phillips went back to Man City until he scored two goals in his first game. I know that Man City is happy to have him back and I know that he is happy to be back with them. With three goals in three in three Premier League games back with the side and he also added a goal tonight in their UEFA Cup match against Omonia Nicosia.

Now we all said that his three seasons in Chelsea were a bust. He only scored four goals for his three seasons there. However I think he learned how to be a true pro with his experiences in Chelsea. He saw how other star players handled themselves in pressure situations and he made rare appearances that got his experience up. So as for his performances in the royal blue, they were a bust, but I believe Manchester City have an experienced and even better pro than they had when they let him go to Manchester City. And I'm glad for him, especially since he is repping the lil fellows. So go SWP go!

He's Baaaaack

King Kev is at it again. For the third time in his career, Kevin Keegan looks set to take over Newcastle United. With a South African consortium in with a bid to buy Newcastle as well as a Nigerian conglomerate with an eye to do the same, Keegan has stated his intention to return as caretaker of the floundering Toon. Both African bidders have shown their support for a KK rally, and the grey-haired gaffer may be on his way back to Tyneside.

Newcastle has been in a distinct freefall since Keegan's departure, with such highly-rated signings as Fabricio Coloccini and Xisco left wondering what exactly they got themselves into. At a lowly 19th position in the Premier League table (right about suicidal Tottenham), Newcastle has no choice but to right the quickly sinking ship before the crew and passengers decide to swim away. Newcastle supporters have been overwhelmingly vocal concerning their beloved Black and Whites, and change must come about for them to be even remotely satisfied.

In addition, the stars currently residing at St. James' Park will not stand for any more upheaval, and will slowly file out of northern Engerland as quickly as you can say Owen, Owen and away! The return of Keegan may indeed temporarily stop the bleeding for Newcastle, but it may not fix the wound. As Keegan said when he left in 1997: "It was my decision and my decision alone to resign. I feel I have taken the club as far as I can, and that it would be in the best interests of all concerned if I resigned now."

Keegan may be able to resurrect the club, but where can he take it? In the 2007/08 season, Newcastle had another miserable start, but he was able to guide them to 12th position by season's end. Can he do the same again? I believe with assurances from his new board of full player and managerial control, King Kev will be able to at least get Newcastle out of the relegation wasteland and then steer his ship in the right direction for the future.

Two different managers...One Team

Now, we have seen Chelsea for the first month of the season and I'm not going to crown them championship already or anything but they look darn good. And I am just going to assume what Jose Mourinho would say if they were to win the Premier League and/or the Champions League, it will probably go something like this: "Well, he (Scolari) has accomplished all this with my players." This statement is flawed in many ways but I'm not going to really discuss that. I'm going to try and discuss how two different managers formed this Chelsea team into a dangerous team for anyone playing them.

Now we know how Jose Mourinho manages his teams. He finds ways to counter and score and also how to bog down to get his results. His style was not always the greatest, he will be the first to admit this, but they got the job done. Meanwhile you have Scolari coming in and he wants the ball moving very fast. You will not see his Chelsea squad booming balls into Drogba for him to just hold it up. He wants his guys for the most part to keep the ball on the ground and be able to express themselves and not stay in one spot like a machine or something like that.

Now how does this come together? Think of this team playing the lower teams in the Premiership or even the weaker opponents of the Champions League on the road because believe or not you need to beat them to win championships because they are the competition that you are suppose to win. These teams will try to intimidate teams like the Chelseas, Man Utds, Arsenals of the world. They don't plan on playing attractive soccer, they just want to put ten men behind the ball and counter attack. Scolari is going to want to play attractive soccer, keep the ball and find ways to score, but what if that is not necessarily working at the moment? What if their scare tactics are working for the first 45 minutes of the game? Now you can bring out the same players that Mourinho had and they can find a way to score goals as dirty and as cheap as anyone, then once you can get that first one no matter how it is, the flood gates will open and that's the different between this team who were bullied by a Stoke City for a half and then turned up the heat on them, and an immature who wants to walk the ball in the net ALWAYS and ends up losing to a Hull City side (by the way I do like the Arsenal even though I'm criticizing them). The strong team knows how to just get the result and look at the next game. Mourinho and now Scolari have helped to form this side in being a favorite to win everything they enter because they know how to win by any means possible.

Is It Time?

The Tinkerman's hour may be up. 4 goals in the last 5 games is hardly a stat that makes Juventus fans quiver with excitement. With such such a high-powered attack, boasting the likes of (now injured) David Trezeguet, Amauri, Alex Del Piero, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Mauro Camoranesi and Pavel Nedved, why aren't the goals flowing?

In my opinion, the problem lies in Claudio Ranieri's overwhelmingly cautious mindset. Too often he goes into matches hoping not to lose, rather than attempting to win. It happened multiple times last year, when Juve lost the title by not being able to beat the smaller teams. Too many times the players he dispatched seem intent on defending with their lives, rather than capitalizing on weaker opponents and attacking with aplomb. Interestingly enough, Ranieri seems to grow in confidence when his Bianconeri side face opponents of a larger magnitude, rarely ever losing to "big" clubs. More often than not, Juve has prevailed in the higher profile matches over the past year or so, leading me to believe that Ranieri does have it in his power to play with an aggressive mindset.

Many of Ranieri's critics (myself included) state that his tactics are too cautious overall, and he should be scrapped in favor of a more adventurous manager. While the midfield tandem of Christian Poulsen and Momo Sissoko offer plenty of steel and defensive cover, a more creative centre-midfielder would provide much of the spark the side needs. While much of the blame can be placed on Ranieri, it's been a long-standing point of contention with Juventus supporters over lack of discretion in the transfer market.

However, although Ranieri does seem to have a no-lose mindset, it has to be said that with the exception of Amauri, most of the attacking players have not been pulling their weight on the goalscoring front. With chances galore, someone besides the big Brazilian-Italian has to step up before Ranieri is sacrificed on their behalf.

Welcome

Welcome to On The Touchline. I created this blog in order to bring together a group of people who are passionate about football, soccer, footie, whatever you want to call it. All of us are highly opinionated about the game, and I wanted to create an open forum for all of us to speak our minds about whatever footballing matters we feel merits a discussion or monologue.

I hope whoever reads it enjoys, but if not, we really don't care.

-- Aaron