In the wake of a long layoff, from writing, I return with something related to my last article: the Italian team.
In the wake of Italy's 3-0 battering at the hands of Brazil, serious questions now have to be thrown at Marcello Lippi, and his seemingly “impressive” system. For a man who's talked about moving on from 2006 euphoria to collect more glory, Lippi seems to be stuck in the past. I don't think he's aware of the fact that he's fielding a bunch of 30-year olds, half of which are has-beens, against a side with excruciating pace and technical ability, arguably one of the best in the world. That is just screaming for a defeat, and quite frankly the scoreline should have been more than 3-0.
Against the blinding magic of Kaka, Fabiano, Robinho and Maicon, Italy looked like hapless children. Veterans they might be, but Brazil's skill and speed made them look like kids, reminiscent of the Arsenal-Manchester United semifinal clash in Europe – which, if you remember right, was summed up as “11 men against 11 kids” by United wingback Patrice Evra.
While the quartet worked their magic, Felipe Melo (who is now being strongly considered as one of the best in his position) put in a brilliant shift at the heart of midfield. Meanwhile, Cesar and the back 4 had minimal damage to clean up, and they thoroughly enjoyed watching their pals upfront batter the helpless Italians. Had Dani Alves lined up for this game as well, I doubt that Brazil would score less than 4.
So now, games are games and they're over for the Azzurri, and Lippi has nothing left to do but head back to Italy and rethink. He goes home knowing that he left Guiseppe Rossi, the best Italian forward in the world, as a substitute. He goes home knowing that Vincenzo Iaquinta does not fit his system, Alberto Gilardino still underachieves, and that people are right about Luca Toni being way past his best. To improve for the return to South Africa, Lippi must think – and reshuffle – his ageing frontline. As the likes of Del Piero, Totti and Inzaghi vanish off into the sunset, this current crop has proven to be ineffective save Rossi, and new blood must be thrown into an Azzurri shirt for 2010.
First on the list is Mario Balotelli. Despite the fact that Balotelli is an arrogant, pompous brat who seems to have no respect for the elderly, you cannot deny that the kid's got talent. At club level he learns from the best of the best, and feeds from the best from the best in Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He is a work in progress, but as of now he can be capable of standing up to the big boys of the international scene. For him to rise to greater heights with the Azzurri, though, he's got to integrate himself into this system first, and with more or less a year remaining, the time is right for Balotelli to play for the senior squad.
Next up is, surprisingly, someone not young – veteran striker Sergio Pellissier from Chievo. Pellissier enjoyed a fine season as Chievo had a good run, despite negative outlook at the start of the season. He does not have the proven star quality as any of the above mentioned strikers, but he is as good as they come. A potential late bloomer a la Grosso, he has impressed in recent time and Lippi must take note of the veteran.
Then there's Sebastian Giovinco. He has not appeared as often as someone of his talent should be, but that can be blamed on Claudio Ranieri's mind-boggling tactics. Explosive on the wing, the Atomic Ant has very good skills, and can score himself if the situation needed him to. He has been the spark of Italy's Under-21s, and the time is ripe for him to carry it over to the senior squad. One might wonder if the U21s would be depleted if Giovinco and Balotelli left, but it only makes the chance for other promising starlets to get used to the international game, such as Federico Macheda.
And last, but not least, there is Antonio Cassano. He's probably far away from South Africa, but must be the happiest man in the world right now. The best Italian forward so far in 2009, Fantantonio must be laughing as he watches that old coach who hates him fail miserably in a tournament they had high hopes. No Cassano, No Trophy, the Sampdoria striker would most likely say. And with good reason.
Italians, argue all you want about Cassano's attitude. Say all you want about Lippi's “team” tactic – what's that gotten you in recent time? Nothing. You've been outclassed by a rejuvenated Spain side, while the likes of England and the Netherlands are slowly rising up as serious contenders for the Cup. Go ahead and say that Cassano is “overrated”, only for yourself to find out how wrong you are. So long as Lippi continues this immature grudge, then you can honestly count Italy out of contention.
Is it harsh? Yes. But so long as Lippi refuses to adjust to the rest of the world, the Azzurri won't be defending their title in glorious fashion. By 2010, they'll look like a pile of rubbish, battered and bruised by real contenders.
For now, though, the name sticks – Marcello Lippi, the old fool.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Kaka's loss is Milan's double loss
Remember last January, when Manchester City staged a coup to sign Kaka from AC Milan? We all remember that, of course – Milan were on agreement with the Citizens over Kaka's price, just that the Brazilian star's signature was not put to paper, meaning that he stayed in Milan. Everyone will remember the chaos that ensued then, as Milan fans were on the verge of going insane upon loss of their most exciting forward.
Fast forward to the next transfer window – and it's happened again. With the only English involvement being the vague Chelsea ambush bid (which was later on denied), Kaka has put us through another rollercoaster saga. This time, though, he has left the San Siro coop for real. Milan and Real Madrid have both confirmed the former's selling of Kaka to the latter, in a move that has no doubt shocked many. Only last winter, Kaka said that he would not leave Milan – only now, it's happened. And as much as Kaka has said that he did it “for the good of Milan”, one really cannot believe in that statement.
As it stands, AC Milan are on a return trip to the Champions League next season – a competition in which they have been arguably the best in this decade. Time and again Milan has proven to be kings of the continent, as players like Maldini, Nesta and Inzaghi led them to European dominance. However, it remains to be seen whether this Milan team will be able to compete at the level which they have had in previous installments.
In addition to Kaka, Carlo Ancelotti – the mastermind of European glory at the San Siro, has flown over to Chelsea, where he will be put up in charge of making success happen at the Bridge. Now at the helm of Milan is Leonardo, whom Galliani hopes to “do a Guardiola”. While Leonardo does have decent credentials and is a good choice for Milan's new direction, the same cannot be said of the squad.
AC Milan have not done themselves a favor, having just lost their most renowned player under 30. If anything, Milan is starting to look even older. Despite being some of the world's best at their prime, the likes of Ronaldinho, Nesta, Dida, Gattuso, Zambrotta, Pirlo, Inzaghi and Seedorf will no longer be enough to snag the Rossoneri another European trophy, when you take into consideration the style of teams like Barcelona and Manchester United. While there remains Mathieu Flamini and Alexandre Pato, 2 players will not be enough to rescue this team. Change is needed at the San Siro, although in fairness to them, they seem to be wasting no time – Wolfsburg hitman Edin Dzeko has been linked with a San Siro switch. Dzeko was a vital part of Felix Magath's Bundesliga winners, and will no doubt prove to be valuable for Milan. With Superpippo bound to hang up his boots in a couple of years, one could see Dzeko blossoming into a fine player under his tutelage.
As for Madrid, they have gotten themselves off to a heck of the start. Florentino Perez is a man on a mission, as he scours the globe for potential fits to Madrid's puzzle. Kaka is surely not the last big signing, as Madrid continue the Cristiano Ronaldo and Valencia-raid sagas, as well as continuing their interest in French star Franck Ribery. It will only be a matter of days before the Merengues get another player, whether it be any of the aformentioned names, or as simple as recalling Alvaro Negredo or Ezequiel Garay. Now that he's now in charge, Perez must deliver his promise – or else face the wrath of Madridistas raring to get their team back to former glory.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Lippi's Squad a Resounding Cassa-NO Yet Again
Another selection process has passed for Italy coach Marcello Lippi, and much to no one's surprise, one name has been left out yet again.
Antonio Cassano must be wondering what he's been doing wrong in recent time that does not get him a call-up to represent the Azzurri. Fantantonio has arguably been the best Italian in Serie A since the start of 2009, but for the umpteenth time, he has been left out from the national squad. While there is an argument that Cassano is contradictory to Lippi's selfless, teamwork philosophy, it does not present much of an argument against Cassano's inclusion in the squad. Even if Cassano might not be fit in Lippi's first XI, he should at least be a player on the bench, as he is the type of player that will undoubtably change a game because of his one-man show.
Cassano, however, is not the only one left out. I'm sure alot of blogs and editorials have mentioned these, but I will mention them again for it shows some cracks in Lippi's selection. Roma's Matteo Brighi had an amazing season, and was definitely one of Roma's shining stars in an otherwise gloomy season. Yet he, like Cassano, has been snubbed. Angelo Palombo, who is essentially the same type of player as Brighi, did not have as good a season, yet it is he who will be traveling to South Africa. In the case of another player, Gaetano D'Agostino is out, and Riccardo Montolivo, despite his disappointing performances in recent time, is another player flying to South Africa.
Moving on from midfield, we take a look at the next place - the frontline. Luca Toni, the scapegoat of Bayern's struggles this season (many have claimed that he is slow and he is no longer the player he once was), as evidenced by his recent performances for Bayern Munich. Yet it is the veteran who, above Cassano, and even above Giampaolo Pazzini, is called up by Lippi. Surely, another of his selections that must be lookd upon.
As the Confederation Cup looms near, Italy are one of the favorites, but that is due more to their top reputation than their players heading to South Africa. From the looks of it, Brazil and Spain are fielding very strong squads, and there is not much criticism on their selection, unlike the Azzurri. Top it off with the Azzurri's tough group stage, and one could see the logic why Italy won't be winning that trophy. If they do lose, hope that Marcello Lippi gets a wake-up call, because change is needed for Italy to mount a serious bid come 2010.
Antonio Cassano must be wondering what he's been doing wrong in recent time that does not get him a call-up to represent the Azzurri. Fantantonio has arguably been the best Italian in Serie A since the start of 2009, but for the umpteenth time, he has been left out from the national squad. While there is an argument that Cassano is contradictory to Lippi's selfless, teamwork philosophy, it does not present much of an argument against Cassano's inclusion in the squad. Even if Cassano might not be fit in Lippi's first XI, he should at least be a player on the bench, as he is the type of player that will undoubtably change a game because of his one-man show.
Cassano, however, is not the only one left out. I'm sure alot of blogs and editorials have mentioned these, but I will mention them again for it shows some cracks in Lippi's selection. Roma's Matteo Brighi had an amazing season, and was definitely one of Roma's shining stars in an otherwise gloomy season. Yet he, like Cassano, has been snubbed. Angelo Palombo, who is essentially the same type of player as Brighi, did not have as good a season, yet it is he who will be traveling to South Africa. In the case of another player, Gaetano D'Agostino is out, and Riccardo Montolivo, despite his disappointing performances in recent time, is another player flying to South Africa.
Moving on from midfield, we take a look at the next place - the frontline. Luca Toni, the scapegoat of Bayern's struggles this season (many have claimed that he is slow and he is no longer the player he once was), as evidenced by his recent performances for Bayern Munich. Yet it is the veteran who, above Cassano, and even above Giampaolo Pazzini, is called up by Lippi. Surely, another of his selections that must be lookd upon.
As the Confederation Cup looms near, Italy are one of the favorites, but that is due more to their top reputation than their players heading to South Africa. From the looks of it, Brazil and Spain are fielding very strong squads, and there is not much criticism on their selection, unlike the Azzurri. Top it off with the Azzurri's tough group stage, and one could see the logic why Italy won't be winning that trophy. If they do lose, hope that Marcello Lippi gets a wake-up call, because change is needed for Italy to mount a serious bid come 2010.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
On the Blue Vision of Europe; and Transfers
With regards to the Premier League, it's been a couple of hectic days so far this transfer season. Just recently, Carlo Ancelotti has been confirmed as the man to take Chelsea forward, and has bombed the newspapers with a surge of Chelsea-Milan transfers. One claims that Andrea Pirlo is bound to head to the Bridge, with Essien going the other way. Brazilian starlet Pato is another one currently linked to join the Blues, as well as veteran midfielder Clarence Seedorf. And, in what probably tops all of these, Chelsea are now set to throw £73.5 million to the San Siro for another Brazilian, but this time it's Kaka making the paper rounds. The very same Kaka who's said a million times that he wants to stay at Milan. The very same Kaka, who, a mere 24 hours ago, was being tipped to join Real Madrid at £65 million. Talk about absurd, but welcome to the crazy world of football transfers.
Now, let's first look at the new coach himself, Carletto. Was this the right move for Chelsea? The Rossoneri were finally getting things back on track, People shake their heads and point to Ancelotti's less than impressive domestic record. For a team who has to compete with gigantic Manchester United, resurgent Liverpool and young Arsenal, one would say that there are better coaches out there to take on this role. Surely, Roberto Mancini or Frank Rijkaard, people argue, could bring silverware to Chelsea. But with the appointment of Carletto at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea's recent track record, one could discern why Chelsea brought him in in the first place – to conquer Europe.
No other team has been as unlucky as the Blues in recent years, especially in Europe. Two years ago, they lost out on the most cruel of deciders – penalties – with the image of John Terry's comical slip in the shooutout etched in everyone's mind. That put the nail in the coffin, and in Moscow they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to bitter rivals United. Nevertheless, summer came, and with it a new mood in London. Renowned coach Felipe Scolari took charge, and the signing of Ricardo Quaresma had people's hopes up. Again, all that ended in naught – Scolari was sacked, Quaresma flopped (again), and Chelsea were eliminated in the Semifinal of the Champions League, this time against a free-flowing Barcelona side, who, thanks to sneaking past the Chelsea bus courtesy of Andres Iniesta, as well as the referee, would go on to beat defending champs United in the final, 2-0.
Fast forward to the present, and another look at the Chelsea situation. As it is, Ancelotti has inherited a squad brimming with talent, yet have consequently failed to deliver. He could always take a note from Hiddink and play much in the same way – Hiddink revived the careers of Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba – but that is not the way to go. The Blues are in danger of becoming the next “AC Milan” - a retirement home. Players such as the aforementioned Drogba, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack are fast approaching the old age, and do not have enough time to mount consecutive pushes at Europe. It's now or never for them, and Ancelotti is going to be responsible for bringing this team to the top.
Which brings us back to where we started – who do Chelsea pick up? Is Essien worth giving up? I'm actually agreeing on this proposed Pirlo-Essien swap. One, John Obi Mikel has proven himself to be the kind of player Essien is, so it's as if they'll really miss him. Two, Pirlo is the kind of player that will spark creativity – mouthwatering for a team long accused of Ballack/Lampard punts to Drogba goals. Pirlo will create a buzz at the Bridge, and he could be the man to succeed where Deco failed. To me, this is a move that will be good for both parties involved – Essien can definitely find his place in an ageing Milan squad, while Pirlo adds the dimension to take the Blues to the next level. There are other players, too, which Chelsea have looked at – the Wolfsburg duo of Edin Dzeko and Grafite have attracted continent-wide interest, and could be interesting for Chelsea to pick up, given that Nicolas Anelka now plays a wider role, Drogba might have to carry the team on that side of the pitch. He could certainly use a hand, no? Stephane Sessegnon has also been linked, along with a host of other viable names. It remains to be seen whether these players will flourish in London, but Carlo Ancelotti will certainly look to that happening.
Before I wrap up this post, though, I'd like to say a couple of more stuff on the Premier League transfer window. Bear with me, but I'll keep it as short (maybe not) as possible.
a. Michael Owen begins the “Let's Get Out of the Sunken Newcastle Ship” brigade, with a couple of links to Premier League squads. Rafa Benitez has supposedly been told by his players to “get him back”. Harry Redknapp is reportedly keen to bring him in a Tottenham, who want to add him to their ever-growing list of forwards. The more interesting rumor though, is that David Moyes is offering Owen 50 grand a week to play for his Everton team. Yes, you could argue that the Toffee's loss of Jo and their lack of health up front are a reason of concern, but is adding another injury-prone striker the solution? How many games do you think a trio of Yakubu, Saha and Owen can play in? And another thing, would the former Liverpool man play in navy blue in a Merseyside derby? Nonetheless, it's an interesting issue.
b. In a deal that has actually been confirmed, Manchester City have snapped up Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry for a mere £12 million. Yes, you read it right. The man who dreams of European football has left the Europa League-bound Villans for Eastlands, where he has now become member #3 of the “Manchester City are the Future” club, behind Robinho (who most people think has gone loco) and Liam Gallagher (who is also crazy, but makes good music). For a player who was once bound to move to Liverpool, this comes as a shock, especially when you consider that City aren't even going to be in Europe next year. A class move by the Sheikhs, but only time will tell if Barry made the right decision. Meanwhile, a cry of joy is heard all the way over at Anfield, where Barry's signing now means that the #1 candidate to replace Xabi Alonso is out of the question, fueling rumors that the Spaniard will once again stay.
City, however, refuse to stop there. Now they're planning on plucking Carlos Tevez from their red rivals, with reports that the Citizens will cough up enough money to outbid everyone else for the Argentine striker. It's not helping that Ferguson is hoping to bargain, with a supposed offer of £20 million. For Fergie, though, it's slowly looking inevitable that he has to let go of his best weapon off the bench. The fact that Tevez might still play in Manchester, but not in Old Trafford, however, is a scary thought.
Now, let's first look at the new coach himself, Carletto. Was this the right move for Chelsea? The Rossoneri were finally getting things back on track, People shake their heads and point to Ancelotti's less than impressive domestic record. For a team who has to compete with gigantic Manchester United, resurgent Liverpool and young Arsenal, one would say that there are better coaches out there to take on this role. Surely, Roberto Mancini or Frank Rijkaard, people argue, could bring silverware to Chelsea. But with the appointment of Carletto at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea's recent track record, one could discern why Chelsea brought him in in the first place – to conquer Europe.
No other team has been as unlucky as the Blues in recent years, especially in Europe. Two years ago, they lost out on the most cruel of deciders – penalties – with the image of John Terry's comical slip in the shooutout etched in everyone's mind. That put the nail in the coffin, and in Moscow they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to bitter rivals United. Nevertheless, summer came, and with it a new mood in London. Renowned coach Felipe Scolari took charge, and the signing of Ricardo Quaresma had people's hopes up. Again, all that ended in naught – Scolari was sacked, Quaresma flopped (again), and Chelsea were eliminated in the Semifinal of the Champions League, this time against a free-flowing Barcelona side, who, thanks to sneaking past the Chelsea bus courtesy of Andres Iniesta, as well as the referee, would go on to beat defending champs United in the final, 2-0.
Fast forward to the present, and another look at the Chelsea situation. As it is, Ancelotti has inherited a squad brimming with talent, yet have consequently failed to deliver. He could always take a note from Hiddink and play much in the same way – Hiddink revived the careers of Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba – but that is not the way to go. The Blues are in danger of becoming the next “AC Milan” - a retirement home. Players such as the aforementioned Drogba, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack are fast approaching the old age, and do not have enough time to mount consecutive pushes at Europe. It's now or never for them, and Ancelotti is going to be responsible for bringing this team to the top.
Which brings us back to where we started – who do Chelsea pick up? Is Essien worth giving up? I'm actually agreeing on this proposed Pirlo-Essien swap. One, John Obi Mikel has proven himself to be the kind of player Essien is, so it's as if they'll really miss him. Two, Pirlo is the kind of player that will spark creativity – mouthwatering for a team long accused of Ballack/Lampard punts to Drogba goals. Pirlo will create a buzz at the Bridge, and he could be the man to succeed where Deco failed. To me, this is a move that will be good for both parties involved – Essien can definitely find his place in an ageing Milan squad, while Pirlo adds the dimension to take the Blues to the next level. There are other players, too, which Chelsea have looked at – the Wolfsburg duo of Edin Dzeko and Grafite have attracted continent-wide interest, and could be interesting for Chelsea to pick up, given that Nicolas Anelka now plays a wider role, Drogba might have to carry the team on that side of the pitch. He could certainly use a hand, no? Stephane Sessegnon has also been linked, along with a host of other viable names. It remains to be seen whether these players will flourish in London, but Carlo Ancelotti will certainly look to that happening.
Before I wrap up this post, though, I'd like to say a couple of more stuff on the Premier League transfer window. Bear with me, but I'll keep it as short (maybe not) as possible.
a. Michael Owen begins the “Let's Get Out of the Sunken Newcastle Ship” brigade, with a couple of links to Premier League squads. Rafa Benitez has supposedly been told by his players to “get him back”. Harry Redknapp is reportedly keen to bring him in a Tottenham, who want to add him to their ever-growing list of forwards. The more interesting rumor though, is that David Moyes is offering Owen 50 grand a week to play for his Everton team. Yes, you could argue that the Toffee's loss of Jo and their lack of health up front are a reason of concern, but is adding another injury-prone striker the solution? How many games do you think a trio of Yakubu, Saha and Owen can play in? And another thing, would the former Liverpool man play in navy blue in a Merseyside derby? Nonetheless, it's an interesting issue.
b. In a deal that has actually been confirmed, Manchester City have snapped up Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry for a mere £12 million. Yes, you read it right. The man who dreams of European football has left the Europa League-bound Villans for Eastlands, where he has now become member #3 of the “Manchester City are the Future” club, behind Robinho (who most people think has gone loco) and Liam Gallagher (who is also crazy, but makes good music). For a player who was once bound to move to Liverpool, this comes as a shock, especially when you consider that City aren't even going to be in Europe next year. A class move by the Sheikhs, but only time will tell if Barry made the right decision. Meanwhile, a cry of joy is heard all the way over at Anfield, where Barry's signing now means that the #1 candidate to replace Xabi Alonso is out of the question, fueling rumors that the Spaniard will once again stay.
City, however, refuse to stop there. Now they're planning on plucking Carlos Tevez from their red rivals, with reports that the Citizens will cough up enough money to outbid everyone else for the Argentine striker. It's not helping that Ferguson is hoping to bargain, with a supposed offer of £20 million. For Fergie, though, it's slowly looking inevitable that he has to let go of his best weapon off the bench. The fact that Tevez might still play in Manchester, but not in Old Trafford, however, is a scary thought.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Transfer Talk, 1.
So yeah, cheers to me for making my brand new blog.
In here, I'll post all my rants, thoughts and praises following the sport of football. Transfer talks, match results, tournament previews, opinions - this is where I'll be putting them all. So yes, look forward to a highly entertaining (hey, that's how I think of it) read, courtesy of me. Yay, yay.
There's not much on this site right now and the look is something I'm not a fan of, but I say that I'll work on it, to make it look better and all.
Anyways, yeah, there. Good day.
In here, I'll post all my rants, thoughts and praises following the sport of football. Transfer talks, match results, tournament previews, opinions - this is where I'll be putting them all. So yes, look forward to a highly entertaining (hey, that's how I think of it) read, courtesy of me. Yay, yay.
There's not much on this site right now and the look is something I'm not a fan of, but I say that I'll work on it, to make it look better and all.
Anyways, yeah, there. Good day.
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