Disclaimer : I am not comparing the players.
All I am doing is trying to make sense of what is happening in the transfer market. Specifically, with respect to Real Madrid.
Madrid have been very open about their interests in Alonso and Ribery but neither Bayern nor Liverpool are refusing to budge. In both cases, it looks like the player wants to leave, but the manager/club do not want to sell.
Any dejavus?
Any ESP's on whats going to happen next season with Ribery/Alonso? (i.e. if it does not happen this season)
Now, besides the "Will he, wont he" sagas, I would like someone to define the term "tapping up". And can someone please tell me if it is legal? Or is it "officially" illegal? I, for one, am getting sick of it. Anyone care to join me?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
HELL of a 24 hours
The first time I heard about Owen's imminent switch to Manchester United was on BBC. And one can only imagine the rage I had inside of me. Or for the matter, inside of any Liverpool supporter. The very thought of a Liverpool player playing for Manchester United is mind boggling. And of all the players, Michael Owen. The player who made me who I am today.
On a neutral note, the move might resurrect Owen's career. Not that it needed any resurrection. Just that he needed to be in a top club to produce the goods. As for getting into the England frame is concerned, well, its all up to Mr. Capello.
As for Manchester United, well, they have got themselves a goalscorer. They can go to hell.
When Owen left Liverpool in search of silverware in 2004, they won the Champions League in 2005. Now, Owen has joined United in 2009. The Premier League might well be on its way to Liverpool. Who knows?
P.S. I never thought the 4 labels for this post would ever be connected.
On a neutral note, the move might resurrect Owen's career. Not that it needed any resurrection. Just that he needed to be in a top club to produce the goods. As for getting into the England frame is concerned, well, its all up to Mr. Capello.
As for Manchester United, well, they have got themselves a goalscorer. They can go to hell.
When Owen left Liverpool in search of silverware in 2004, they won the Champions League in 2005. Now, Owen has joined United in 2009. The Premier League might well be on its way to Liverpool. Who knows?
P.S. I never thought the 4 labels for this post would ever be connected.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Not so much
I thought Armageddon would hit the English Premier League as well. Except Manchester City (reserved for another day), the other clubs seem to be playing it safe. Too safe, for my liking.
Yes, there have been crazy and monstrous bids from Chelsea and Manchester United for certain players. The likes of Pato, Maicon, Ribery, Benzema and co have been subject to bids from the big clubs from England. But, nothing concrete has happened yet.
On the contrary, it is the cash strapped (supposedly) Liverpool who have made the first big money signing (Glen Johnson) among the big four of the EPL. I would be amazed if the transfer window ends like this.
More to come, I assume.
Yes, there have been crazy and monstrous bids from Chelsea and Manchester United for certain players. The likes of Pato, Maicon, Ribery, Benzema and co have been subject to bids from the big clubs from England. But, nothing concrete has happened yet.
On the contrary, it is the cash strapped (supposedly) Liverpool who have made the first big money signing (Glen Johnson) among the big four of the EPL. I would be amazed if the transfer window ends like this.
More to come, I assume.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Armageddon
What a summer of transfers it has been already. To think, it has just started.
In the day of the so called financial crisis, ridiculous amounts of money have been flying around and my guess is, they will continue to do so. The past 2 weeks in football has dwarfed anything that has happened in the past.
My only worry is this. I hope (sincerely) that whatever happens this summer (the entire summer) will not have negative effects in the future. There is a distinct possibility of many clubs doing a Leeds or a Newcastle even.
As a Liverpool fan, I think, Liverpool's financial worry at this moment of time is a blessing in disguise. This should be the time to be smart, consolidate, and not be carefree.
This summer might go a long way in deciding football's future. Armageddon, on the cards...
P.S. More to come on individual deals in the market. Stay tuned.
In the day of the so called financial crisis, ridiculous amounts of money have been flying around and my guess is, they will continue to do so. The past 2 weeks in football has dwarfed anything that has happened in the past.
My only worry is this. I hope (sincerely) that whatever happens this summer (the entire summer) will not have negative effects in the future. There is a distinct possibility of many clubs doing a Leeds or a Newcastle even.
As a Liverpool fan, I think, Liverpool's financial worry at this moment of time is a blessing in disguise. This should be the time to be smart, consolidate, and not be carefree.
This summer might go a long way in deciding football's future. Armageddon, on the cards...
P.S. More to come on individual deals in the market. Stay tuned.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Football - Bloody hell!!
A truly magnificent season for Barcelona, who won the Spanish Cup, La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
All this after going 3 years without a trophy.
All this while displaying a brand of football which goes back to the Johan Cryuff days. Or so I hear. But this Barcelona side has just revamped the modern definition of "football" and "team". Lets just hope it continues.
10 years ago, Sir Alex famously said "Football - Bloody hell!!". Well, this season, it was "Football - Bloody heaven!!"
All this after going 3 years without a trophy.
All this while displaying a brand of football which goes back to the Johan Cryuff days. Or so I hear. But this Barcelona side has just revamped the modern definition of "football" and "team". Lets just hope it continues.
10 years ago, Sir Alex famously said "Football - Bloody hell!!". Well, this season, it was "Football - Bloody heaven!!"
Monday, May 11, 2009
Arsene "Hmmm"grr
Arsene “When”grr comes across as a coach who likes to bring young talent through(as I’ve mentioned before). And everyone praises him for that. They call him a great manager who has done wonders with kids. At the same time, he’s criticized for his reluctance to buy big. He nurtures relatively unknown young talent and makes them into “Big” players. Henry, Vieira, Ljunberg, Fabregas to name a few.
But there might be another angle to this. The fact that he has hardly bought 4 or 5 “Big” players at a time means that he has not managed 4 or 5 “Big”(bought) players simultaneously(above 25 years of age). Yes, he has managed Henry, Vieira etc etc but most of them were with him from a young age. Yes, he did manage a Bergkamp and now an Arshavin(whom he has bought "Big") but look at his other “Big” players. Most of them were already there. Can he be called a great manager without having to manage Big egos? Is this the reason he is reluctant to leave Arsenal and go to a Madrid for instance?
Hmmm, something to think about…
But there might be another angle to this. The fact that he has hardly bought 4 or 5 “Big” players at a time means that he has not managed 4 or 5 “Big”(bought) players simultaneously(above 25 years of age). Yes, he has managed Henry, Vieira etc etc but most of them were with him from a young age. Yes, he did manage a Bergkamp and now an Arshavin(whom he has bought "Big") but look at his other “Big” players. Most of them were already there. Can he be called a great manager without having to manage Big egos? Is this the reason he is reluctant to leave Arsenal and go to a Madrid for instance?
Hmmm, something to think about…
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Red/Yellow menace
Most of you are aware that in the UEFA Champions league, if a player gets 2 yellow cards in the tournament, he is suspended for the next match.
A few years ago, this policy was tweaked a bit in favour of the player. i.e. If a player was on a yellow card at the end of the Group Phase, then the yellow card was scrapped and the players start afresh from the 2nd stage onwards. This was a postive initiative by the UEFA in my opinion. But I would suggest tweaking this policy a little further and scrap all yellow cards for a semi-final.
Nobody wants to miss a UEFA Champions League final(which may come once in a lifetime for a few players). Roy Keane and Paul Scholes for example, missed the 1999 UCL final and Roy Keane did not get another opportunity unlike Paul Scholes. And most recently, Dani Alves will be missing the final of the 2009 UCL final.
Everybody wants to see the best of the best play in the final. Suspending players for the final does not make for a fitting end to the greatest club competition in the world. And frankly, I don't see any positives for anyone in suspending players for the final for suffering 2 yellow cards.
P.S. A red card in the 2nd leg of a semi-final would be the next issue to tweak.
A few years ago, this policy was tweaked a bit in favour of the player. i.e. If a player was on a yellow card at the end of the Group Phase, then the yellow card was scrapped and the players start afresh from the 2nd stage onwards. This was a postive initiative by the UEFA in my opinion. But I would suggest tweaking this policy a little further and scrap all yellow cards for a semi-final.
Nobody wants to miss a UEFA Champions League final(which may come once in a lifetime for a few players). Roy Keane and Paul Scholes for example, missed the 1999 UCL final and Roy Keane did not get another opportunity unlike Paul Scholes. And most recently, Dani Alves will be missing the final of the 2009 UCL final.
Everybody wants to see the best of the best play in the final. Suspending players for the final does not make for a fitting end to the greatest club competition in the world. And frankly, I don't see any positives for anyone in suspending players for the final for suffering 2 yellow cards.
P.S. A red card in the 2nd leg of a semi-final would be the next issue to tweak.
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