The never ending transfer saga of Cesc Fabregas..

 Staring into an uncertain future..

  Barcelona, Arsenal and Cesc Fabregas have been through this for 2 seasons running and its high time the whole saga is put to bed. In a football world where money talks, Fabregas has watched on helplessly, torn between the love for his boyhood club and being indebted to Arsenal and Wenger.

                             It’s an open secret Barcelona want to bring home their boy and have been repeatedly told by Wenger his captain isn’t for sale. Hardly the type to charge up the dressing room with motivational speeches, Fabregas, had been handed the armband in hope he would opt to stay on and lead this young team but Wenger’s attempt to tie Fabregas down to the club is turning out to be futile. It’s down to Fabregas to decide if he would rather have pretty medals dangling around his neck for being a bystander at Barca than having the chance to lead this Arsenal side to glory and hanging up his boots with his name written into Arsenal and football folklore.

            The real question is how much Barca really need Fabregas? With a midfield boasting of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, it’s almost a given that Fabregas will be warming those benches at Barca, as he did with Spain during their successful World cup campaign. And with Barcelona in over 400m debt and a financial crunch, they don’t have the luxury of affording both Sanchez and Fabregas. Guardiola has time and again stated that Sanchez would be his priority signing.     Barcelona had their 26m bid for Fabregas rejected last summer and despite all the noise from the Barcelona camp the truth is that they haven’t tabled a new offer.

 Arsenal chairman, Peter Hill-Wood, recently said: “I am not sure how keen they are. They don't talk to us.”

             

Home is where the heart is?

 Barcelona players have been talking of  Arsenal “not allowing Fabregas to return home” but in truth Guardiola and Barcelona management know Fabregas’ transfer to Nou camp would mean a 30m hole is their transfer budget and a ‘30m’ that would probably be spending more time off the pitch than on it. If Barcelona dig deep and fund the transfer, Cesc, Arsenal and Barcelona could all end up being losers in this game.

                  

                           The much talked about and dramatized “homecoming” of Fabregas won’t have the romantic ending everyone is anticipating. He’d only return home to find his love happily married.

Let Rome be forgotten, Let Wembley be forgotten

Even if you are having a nightmare day during which nothing will go right, never cease looking for the ball- Duncan Edwards

Park Ji Sung.. unsung no more..

Park Ji Sung- A team man if there ever was one..

            When Alex Ferguson signed Park Ji Sung from PSV Eindhoven for a meagre sum of 4 million pounds, many called it a marketing ploy to tap into the Asian fan base. They either didn’t know Ferguson too well or hadn’t seen in the South Korean captain what Ferguson had. Park is now Fergie’s trump card.

                           A team man if there ever was one, Park Ji Sung, Manchester United’s ever running battery, has been instrumental in the past few seasons for United in Europe. Never a regular at United, Park is always prepared for his managers call because when it came the big dogs would be in town and he’d have his task cut out and the gaffer would be counting on him..  

                         He is a manager’s dream. Making every tackle like his life was on the line.. Boots grazing every blade of grass on the field..  Haggling for the ball at every nook and corner of the pitch.. Yet always in the right place at the right time either starting or finishing a move in big games. 


 

" He's got the discipline, intelligence and football knowledge you need in the biggest games. When you pick teams for big games you need a core of discipline and he's one of the players who can give you that. You can always rely on Park Ji-Sung  to keep a cool head.”

                             -   Sir Alex Ferguson.

His winners against Wolves (last gasp) and Arsenal have proved decisive in the Title race that United clinched last week at Blackburn, now stats credit Manchester United with having the most League Titles in the country. 19 is the magic number. A majority of Park's goals have come against big opposition-the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal ( guess they’ve come to expect Park’s name to be on the scoresheet everytime they play United), AC Milan, and Liverpool to name a few.

Another big scalp.. chelsea sent packing..

                  That night in Rome was a forgettable one for Park and his team mates. Xavi and Iniesta orchestrated the midfield show. Barcelona played keep ball and made a mockery of the United midfield and system. United and Park, when they travel to Wembley, have before them the chance to make amends. United are ready. Whoever runs the midfield takes home the prize. Park-Giggsy-Carrick-Valencia will form the gaffer’s midfield at Wembley. They’ll have to deny Xavi-Iniesta and co possession, and dictate the midfield. A titanic task it might seem but United’s new system has proved effective in big games. Giggsy playing in central midfield along with Carrick, who has finally put the ghosts of Rome to bed and is in the form that United fans have come to expect from him, Park and Valencia, running the lengths of the pitch linking up play and yet providing defensive cover for the full backs. The United defence with Van Der Sar in goal has been the best in Europe for the past three seasons. Up front the Rooney- Hernandez combo has been an absolute scream. Rooney prefers to drop back and link play while contrastingly Chicharito loves to play on the shoulder of the last defender. The Mexican has a sense of timing about him that made Solskjaer deadly, always in the right place at the right time. Barcelona collectively and individually have some of the most talented players on the planet but what United don’t have in natural talent they have in heart and commitment. They have been over reliant on Ronaldo and Rooney in recent seasons. United are more a team now. Each man counts..  Each man has a job to do.. Each man backing up one another..  United in every sense.. name and definition. 

United in every sense - name and definition..

        

                        Park probably won’t satisfy a lot of people’s criteria to be stamped  a United Legend.. because he never makes the headlines.. he isn’t a natural like Rooney.. doesn’t know the nuances of defending like Ferdinand.. doesn’t bang in goals like Van Nistelrooy.. he doesn’t control the tempo of the game like a Paul Scholes..  he isn’t your fiery Roy Keane.. he is no Giggsy on the wing.. And not to mention that he has no Kung fu kicks to his name either. Yet Ji Sung is Ferguson’s first name on the team sheet in big games. Big hearted, Park Ji Sung has always sacrificed personal glory for the team’s. Alex has trusted him over the years in big games and he has delivered on more occasions than not and if that doesn’t qualify for the term Legend I don’t know what does. 

“I’m not really interest in attention from the media – United have enough personalities. But, I do enjoy the attention from the fans for my football.” - Park Ji Sung

Park has been United’s man for the big occasion. And it simply doesn’t get bigger than having to battle it out with Barcelona for the Holy Grail of the beautiful game at Wembley. 

Let Rome be forgotten.. and Wembley remembered..

Fernando Torres is still top dog..

You can weigh the $50m down on his shoulders.. label him a flop.. make him out to be the worst player on the pitch every time chelsea take to the field but you cant take the prolific striker out of Fernando Torres.

Form is temporary, Class is permanent.

Torres being substituted after a disappointing debut against his former employers.

                        Named Atletico Madrid captain at the age of 19, Nando, as his friends affectionately call him, rallied the team around him and resurrected the side that was in the lower division a year before to being a team consistently securing the European berth. Atletico forever shadowed by the wealth and success of their neighbours Real Madrid, made a mark for themselves and Torres himself scored a few goals past their rivals in memorable matches.

                                  He proved to be Rafael Benitez’s best buy as he transferred to the Kop and started off in stunning fashion as he scored a debut goal against chelsea and finished the season with an astonishing 29 goals, a record for a debutant in the Premiership. His partnership with Gerrard flourished and Liverpool gave united a run for their money in the 2009 season and came closest to landing the scousers their first Premiership title in over 20 years.

                                                 His 50m move to Chelsea in the January transfer market infuriated Liverpool fans and chants of traitor and boos rang around Stamford Bridge as he was substituted in a muted Torres performance as Liverpool ran out 1-0 winners on the night. People forget that Torres is one of the best strikers on this planet, if not the best.. He came to England to be successful personally and at club level, as every player desires to. He showed Liverpool the respect they deserve, he stuck with them for many a season when they flattered to deceive. He extended his inevitable departure in hope of a resurrection that never really came. One could argue that Liverpool are a different side under Dalglish and he has indeed changed the attitude around Anfield and he has instilled belief into both players and fans alike, but Torres was destined to move to Chelsea in the summer unitl Roy Hodgson convinced him to stay. Liverpool were down in the dumps when Hodgson was sacked and Torres couldn see Liverpool fighting for trophies in the foreseeable future. Torres could have chosen a host of clubs who would have loved him, the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester city but as he himself mentioned he couldn out of sheer respect for the club. He gave his all for the club and his form had dipped, it was time for the change and he made the right move but maybe it could have been better timed, maybe this summer.

   Torres' miserable show in his blue shirt continues..

              And unlike many predicted Chelsea and Fernando Torres wasn’t a match made in heaven. It certainly doesn’t look that way yet. But it hasn’t been simply because Ancelotti(or Abramovich rather) made the wrong choice and Carlo has been too scared to change the Chelsea system that is built around Didier Drogba with Anelka and Malouda playing on either side of him. Chelsea’s successful seasons have been built on their 4-3-3 formation.

                              A typical old fashioned number nine striker who plays on the shoulder of the last defender, making runs between defenders making it hard to track him. And add to all that his blistering pace and composed finishing and you have ready, Torres, a complete striker and a nightmare to any defence. When you invest 50m in a player you should back him up and play the way that brings the best out of him. Torres isn’t a managerial buy. Abramovich forced the deal through. And Ancelotti isn’t willing to change the chelsea system, a system that doesn’t suit Torres and yet out of sheer pressure of the cost of the deal he doesn’t have the courage to put him on the bench either. Which has resulted in Drogba being benched in recent matches.

Fernando Torres looks like he has got weights attched to his feet. His confidence has been sapped, looks like a boy lost on the field and seems to have forgotten how to smile. The pattern of his stay at Chelsea has all the makings of the next Andriy Shevchenko. Ancelotti will be sacked at the end of the season. Abramovich isn’t known for his patience. He will chop and change every season that doesn’t bring him the Premier League at the every least.

                                  Torres isn’t your versatile player like Drogba or Rooney, who can both adjust their style to the way their managers want to play them. Chelsea have to show faith in Torres. Change the system, play him where he prefers to.. and the goals will flow.. the smile will return, the $50m forgotten and the  El Nino story will continue..

Why Arsenal need to worry about holding onto Jack Wilshere rather than Fabregas..

WILSHERE STANDING UP TALL.. BOY NO MORE..

Come this summer, Arsene Wenger should be making Jack Wilshere’s immediate future at Arsenal a priority as opposed to Cesc Fabregas’. Wilshere’s performance in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Barcelona at the Emirates was ample proof of the ability Arsene Wenger has shown faith in. For all the talent hunt Wenger has done over the years throughout Europe, notably France, he found this gem in a training ground a little away from North London. The inspiring performance from the Englishman had Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler describing the 19 year old Wilshere as the -

“The boy who plays like a man.”

Pitted against Barcelona’s deadly trio Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta, who have redefined and dictated the way football is played, Wilshere stuck to his natural game, unfazed by neither occasion nor the opponents. He oozed confidence as he displayed his wide range of passing, looked assured on the ball working himself out of tight spots as he found his teammates consistently when the likes of Xavi, Messi, Iniesta closed in on him on various occasions. He certainly proved to be the cog in Arsenal’s wheel as they beat Barcelona in the first leg of the knockout phase. During the early periods of the game and the second half, Arsenal enjoyed a lion’s share of the possession and had the freedom to play their passing game as a result of Wilshere’s work ethic in the center of the park as he cut out passes of the Blaugrana and spread the ball confidently and with relative ease. He found space despite Pep Guardiola deciding to play 5 in midfield as he brought on Keita for David Villa early in the second half, to protect the latter’s clinical strike in the first half.

Wilshere has also looked threatening going forward, ghosting into the box, spotting gaps and feeding the strike force with defence splitting through balls and passes. He could be the answer to England’s problems in midfield. With Wilshere sitting in front of the defence, Lampard and Gerrard can do what they do best for their respective clubs, move forward and link up with the strikers. Fabio Capello paired Wilshere with Lampard in England’s friendly against Denmark and seemed reasonably pleased with what could be a blooming partnership, he also said Wilshere had the capability to be England’s Makelele. England has lacked someone with his passing range ever since Paul Scholes left the International scene to concentrate on his club career at Manchester United.

Wilshere’s all round game suits Arsenal’s passing game and counter attacking style which they used to deadly effect as Barcelona were undone by a swift break that had Arsenal written all over it. Started by Wilshere as he fed the ball to Fabregas, who fed Nasri along the right wing with a through ball as Barcelona’s back line found themselves scrambling back, out of shape and position. Nasri then found Andrei Arshavin at the edge of the box and the little Russian put his poor form behind him with a curler into the bottom corner that registered Arsene Wenger’s first win over the Blaugrana.

Wilshere’s industrious performance at the Emirates has made Europe sit up and take notice and one would expect top clubs to keep tabs on Englishman hereafter. With the kind of money that clubs are willing to spend on proven players and the inflated transfer market that exists, Arsenal will be forced to accept huge bids if Wilshere expresses his desire to leave the club that nurtured him. One thing football has proved over the past decade or two has been “Never say never”. Loyalty and common sense are hard things to come by in football today. Arsenal must remind the likes of Wilshere, Fabregas, Van Persie, Walcott and Samir Nasri of the club’s ambition, if they ever need any reminding, keep them grounded and establish their importance to the club with lucrative pay packets to ward off scavengers like Real Madrid who prefer to cherry pick rather than nurture talent.

Cesc Fabregas could leave this summer if he doesn’t lay his hands on any silverware this season. Arsenal are alive in all competitions and winning the Carling cup seems realistic and in fact a good possibility with them playing Birmingham City in the final later this month but Arsenal really need to win the Premier League or the Champions League to convince Fabregas to commit his future to the club. Not just on paper but to his own conscience. Players signing new contracts hardly ward off suitors with clubs ready to break the bank to secure their services. Tottenham’s revelation this season, Winger Gareth Bale putting pen to paper on a deal that ties him to White Hart Lane for the next four years only seems a deal to secure a higher transfer amount with the sale of the Welshman almost inevitable given his performances in Europe, especially against Inter Milan both at the San Siro and White Hart Lane.

Without doubt their Captain Fabregas has led the young guns by example over the past few seasons. But after reiterating his desire of returning home to Spain and Barcelona he hasn’t been the same, performances have fallen from the standards we have come to expect from the Spaniard. Arsenal for long periods of their current season have rode on Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere and Alex Song’s stellar performances in the middle of the park along with goals from Maroune Chamakh and the prolific Dutchman Van Persie up front for the earlier and latter parts of the season respectively.

Wenger ensured Barcelona didn’t buy back Fabregas last summer as he quoted an exorbitant price for the Spaniard and to Fabregas’ credit he didn’t throw tantrums most footballers have made a habit of. He was all along open to Wenger and the Arsenal fans about wanting to go back home. Wenger must now be aware of rumours of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea hovering over his talismanic Captain. If Arsenal loses out on the premier league, Champions league and eventually Fabregas, Wenger should rebuild his side centered around the likes of Nasri, Wilshere, Walcott and Van Persie.

Wenger’s decision to not buy quality, proven defenders last summer could backfire on his quest of the Holy Grail, the Champions League this season. Squillaci hasn’t been first choice despite Thomas Vermaelen being injury ridden all season. Koscielny though has been reasonably consistent and did exceedingly well against the Barcelona attack, but has at times been a little rash with already quite a few red cards to his name and was the culprit in their shock 4-4 draw at Newcastle United despite being up 4-0 at half time as he gave away two peanlties. Swiss defender Johan Djourou has come back from injury problems and has done well in the Premier League but looked out of sorts against Villa and Messi.

Another Wenger find, Polish keeper Wojciech Szczensy, who positioned and spread himself well making crucial saves throughout the night, seems to be the Gunner’s answer to a world class keeper. Szczensy made his debut against Manchester United a month ago as Arsene Wenger found his first choice Keeper Almunia and his replacement Fabianski ruled out because of injuries. Judging by the commanding and assured performances the Polish Keeper has produced it would hardly come as a surprise if Almunia and Fabianski find themselves warming the bench at the Emirates once they make their return from their respective injuries.

The return Leg at the Camp Nou could be crucial to Arsenal and their captain’s near future but it would take another stellar performance from Jack Wilshere to stop Xavi, Iniesta and Barcelona from passing their opponents to death. Arsenal need to stick to their game and use the flanks efficiently. With Barcelona’s defence holding a high line along with attacking full backs, Arsenal must get Theo Walcott to use his pace along the wing rather than cut inside and on the counter attack get behind Dani Alves and utilize the space to create opportunities. Theo Walcott must use his blistering pace as he did last year against Barcelona devastatingly. Arsenal must be clinical against a Barcelona defence that finds themselves without a suspended Gerrard Pique. Koscielny and Djourou should look to cramp Barcelona for space and simply cannot afford to hold a high offside line themselves as they helplessly watched Barcelona repeatedly beat the offside trap at the Emirates and if it hadn’t been for wayward shooting from Barcelona and an impressive show from Szczensy, Arsenal would have been travelling to Nou camp to complete the formalities of Barcelona’s passage into the quarter finals.

WILL THE PROMISES BE DELIVERED ARSENE?

Wenger knows what is at stake when his team takes on what is considered, not just the greatest Barcelona side but the greatest side to have ever played the game. Arsenal must not get complacent after the result at the emirates because Barcelona are still the team to beat.. and one of the greatest sides ever and at their fortress capable of streamrolling the best of sides as their demolition of Real Madrid earlier in the season will remind us and Wenger. But Arsenal have the chance to carve a niche for themselves in history by winning the Champions League or go down as the team that nearly was, a team that flattered to deceive. The return Leg at Camp Nou has all the makings of a classic European night. Wenger’s young guns have matured, their stage is set.. It’s time they got their guns out of the Arsenal and fired..

Did the 2018 and 2022 World Cup editions go to the highest bidders?

In what can be claimed as one of the biggest scams in sport, FIFA, the governing body of football, is rumoured to have sold the rights to host the 2018 and 2022 editions of the FIFA world cup to its highest bidders. When Zurich witnessed Russia and Qatar being awarded the right to host the 2018 and 2022 editions of the World Cup respectively, it highlighted the power of financial clout in the so called fair practice of voting observed by FIFA- The power of Oil and Gas.

                                The process of voting involves 24 members of the FIFA executive committee to cast their votes on the prospective hosts of the most prestigious tournament in football with each member having a single vote and the FIFA president would vote if a tie arises. Countries wishing to host the tournament must table a formal bid with FIFA and then showcase their facilities and convince the travelling executive committee members. The lure of money was evident as two members of the Executive committee were banned from voting by FIFA, after investigations proved that Reynald Temarii, the French FIFA vice-president and Amos Adamu, the Nigerian representative on the committee allegedly assured votes for the U.S bid to reporters posing as lobbyists for the United States for a sum of $800,000.

                                The various factors involved are the host countries’ financial ability, travel facilities, hospitality, accessibility, technological advancements, climate, footballing facilities and conditions-stadiums, training set up, a competitive league and above all, an undying passion for the Beautiful game.

                            Russia, where the League still cannot be included in the top 5 European leagues, has a shameful record of being racists, as they have proved on numerous occasions in the past. In what can be described as the biggest carnival in the world, the last thing you would want is Racism. The strict Visa restrictions of Russia will be another hindrance for the travelling fans. The FIFA technical team itself had rated Russia as “medium risk” in its report whereas The England and the combined bid of Netherlands and Belgium bid were rated as “low risk”. England had the best commercial and technical bid. The presentation of the England bid with the support of Prime Minister David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William was hailed as the best by the FIFA president himself, yet England had to endure a humiliating first round exit at Zurich after securing only two votes, thereby resulting in elimination. Russia on the contrary enjoyed a safe passage to the second round and secured a staggering thirteen votes to win the rights to host the tournament. Russia did not even have Vladimir Putin present at Zurich. Rumours are that Putin boasted to his friends on the eve of the bid that it was already decided. Spain a week before the bidding process claimed the “Fish is already sold”

                         FIFA defended its Committees decision to award rights to Russia saying every country must be given a chance to host the World cup. Take nothing away from South Africa for hosting a wonderful tournament last summer. It has indeed developed football and helped the country economically progress.

                      But the question is whether the criteria to choose a host for the world cup, be based on a country not having hosted the tournament. If so, why were countries having hosted the world cup previously deemed eligible. Why should Technical and commercial facilities of a country be rated. England was backed by the best facilities, arguably the best league in the world, favourable climate, are the founders of the very game and above all the English have  passion for the game which no other country can match. But all this apparently proved a disadvantage more than an advantage. FIFA wanted to give smaller countries a chance to express themselves, a chance to grow.

   The disappointment was best summed up by British Prime Minister David Cameron-

"According to FIFA we had the best technical team; no one could identify any risks of coming to England. I think we had the strongest commercial bid and the country is passionate about football, but that apparently isn’t enough."

The 2022 bid was awarded to Qatar, a country where temperatures are at the higher side of 40 degree Celsius during the summer, when usually the world cup is held. It’s impossible to change schedule to winter as the leagues of various countries would be in progress.

                       Former Asian Football Confederation general secretary Peter Velappan criticized the decision saying "No player will ever want to play in these conditions.”

FIFA should be more transparent with its voting process to ensure corruption does not creep into the system. The two suspended members, are ample proof that money can sway votes and with it economical fortunes for hosting countries. Money should never be allowed to rule the beautiful game. Sepp Blatter has certainly let the beautiful game down. FIFA’s image and reputation has taken a battering. Manchester United Manager criticized the FIFA saying “It is a new word for Fifa – Democracy”

                    Countries spend fortunes for the bidding process’ and most countries do so to win a race, which it isn’t even running. Atleast in the FIFA’s eyes.  Best put in words by Blackpool’s Manager Ian Holloway- “We spent £15m on the bid - maybe we would have been better off tucking all that in a few envelopes and seeing if that did any good”