AC Milan

BARCA PUT TRIO ON TRANSFER LIST

Pep Guardiola signalled the start of his Barcelona revolution by informing the world that his illustrious trio of Deco, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o are all up for grabs. widely believed to be the most troublesome inmates at Camp Nou, the internationals are seeking pastures new following Guardiola’s Press Conference yesterday where the Coach said,

All of the players in the first team squad last season are of a very high level but we are forming a squad and Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto’o are not in our minds.

Each of the trio has been linked with new homes this summer already. Cameroonian international Eto’o was initially interested by Tottenham Hotspur’s overtures but stated his desire to continue playing at the highest level. A move to a major Premier League club seems unlikely unless Cristiano Ronaldo moves to Real Madrid or Didier Drogba leaves Chelsea. Even then, other players are reportedly ahead of Eto’o in the wanted list of Ferguson and Scolari. AC Milan have been negotiating with him but were seen to be backing off as Adriano Galliano, Milan’s vice-president, stated recently that Eto’o was the most expensive option of their striking requirements.

Deco meanwhile has been publicly telling everyone that Chelsea have been in touch with him. Whether his national team coach remains as big a fan as the player thinks remains to be seen. For Ronaldinho, the options are more limited and the fall from grace startling. His relationship with the Barcelona power-brokers has become more publicly fractious over the past two seasons as their concerns about his fitness - physically and mentally - were leaked to the press, culminating in yesterday’s announcement.

In itself, it is not a surprise that Guardiola has permitted the Brazilian to leave. The destinations being mooted are. For all of Thaksin Shinawatra’s reported investment in Manchester City, it is a club who would not have even been entertained by his agent twelve months ago. Salary figures of £200k per week might turn players heads but there is little evidence that City are likely to challenge for honours or even qualify for the Champions League. It has been suggested that Ronaldinho might follow David Beckham’s path to America and the MSL seems a plausible destination, a chance of the player to be an exceptionally big fish in a small pond. The benefits of the USA are plain to see; it will raise his public profile to a higher level and keep him in the public eye. His fondness for a party might well be tolerated more in a country more at ease with celebrity than others around the globe.

Whatever the case, to go from FIFA’s World Player of the Year to footballing mercenary, unwanted on the biggest stage is a sharp decline indeed.

Capello Drops FA In The PR Mire Again

If the Football Association had any illusions that the appointment of Fabio Capello would steady the ship of tarnished reputations were brutally shattered by the announcement that the Italian is under investigation by Turin magistrates for tax offences, centring on offshore companies created by his sons.

As part of the fallout of the Calciogate scandal that engulfed Juventus and Milan amongst others, the involvement of high profile individuals is of little surprise. Even less so would be the ‘news’ that the Football Association already knew of the investigation, no doubt disclosed prior to his appointment. If it was not then there are serious questions to be answered regarding the depth of any enquiries made by Brian Barwick and his team of interviewers and also whether Capello himself should have disclosed the investigation to his potential employers.

The FA spokesman this evening was put in an invidious position; the organisation had to back its most high profile employee or otherwise become a laughing stock once more. That dubious honour may yet be bestowed upon them should the easy denials of any wrongdoing be proven to be wrong. It will however not ease the pressure on Barwick whose reputation amongst the media at least, continues to erode any work that he tries to do.

Ronaldo Propels United to Victory, Poised for World’s Greatest Sportsman

Cristiano Ronaldo once again set Manchester United on the path to victory by scoring the club’s two and only goals in Sunday’s match against Everton. It is Ronaldo’s 16th goal for United this season.

His first goal came in the 22nd minute, but was negated in the 27th by a good header from Everton’s Tim Cahill. As the game progressed a draw seemed likely. However, in the 88th minute a penalty was awarded to United for a foul on veteran Ryan Giggs. Ronaldo took it well and gave United the win.

It has been a recent trend for the the 22 year old, whose fitness, pace, intensity, and accuracy have already made him a European soccer legend. His reputation is hampered only by accusations of dramatics and questionable practices such as stutter-steps. Yet simply considering statistics, he has earned his new deal with United–which could see him with the club until 2012.

Ronaldo scored United’s two winning goals in matches against Fulham earlier this month and against Blackburn in November. His goals also constituted wins for United against Sporting Lisbon and Birmingham in September.

Perhaps not surprisingly, he was nominated for this year’s FIFA World Player of the Year award. He came in third place with Brazil’s Kaka emerging as the winner. But despite the snub United’s assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz, insists it’s only a matter of time before Ronaldo is acknowledged as the world’s greatest sportsman.

In an interview with Sunday Mirror Queiroz said, “During my career, I have worked with some of the world’s finest players like (Zinedine) Zidane, Ronaldo of Brazil, Raul, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos. Yet, I can honestly say, I have never seen such a football creation like Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Ronaldo is undoubtedly a contributing factor in Manchester United’s EPL success this season. They are now neck-and-neck with Arsenal, who hold first place with a single point over United. If Ronaldo’s current form remains and United win the league, they will in large part owe a debt to his talents. Queiroz’s prediction that Ronaldo will soon become to soccer what Michael Jordan was to basketball could be well on its way to realization.

Source:
ESPN
Sunday Mirror

Champions League draw

Today was the draw for the Champions League knock out stage, with only sixteen teams left in the competition, this is where it gets exciting and the draw threw up a couple of real whoppers today.

Champions League draw

Draw Friday for the Champions League (home teams in first leg listed first):

Second Round

(Matches to be played Feb. 19-20, and March 4-5)

Celtic (Scotland) vs. Barcelona (Spain)

Lyon (France) vs. Manchester United (England)

Schalke (Germany) vs. FC Porto (Portugal)

Liverpool (England) vs. Inter Milan (Italy)

AS Roma (Italy) vs. Real Madrid (Spain)

Arsenal (England) vs. AC Milan (Italy)

Olympiakos (Greece) vs. Chelsea (England)

Fenerbahce (Turkey) vs. Sevilla (Spain)

Celtic get Barcelona, while Liverpool and Arsenal both the teams from Milan, while Man utd may think themselves fortunate to get Lyon and Chelsea meet the Greek side Olympiakos. When you think that half of those teams will not be going through to the next stage, it is then when the importances of getting a good draw in this league!

Source [IHT]

Bitter Redknapp Wrong about Capello, FA

Harry Redknapp, now-controversial manager of Portsmouth FC, recently lashed out in interviews about the FA’s appointment of Fabio Capello as England manager. In the eyes of fans, Redknapp was one of the only viable English candidates—note the emphasis—in the running. However, Redknapp ruled himself out when he was arrested last month on charges of match fixing.

Redknapp’s bitter rampage, as reported by ESPN, roamed everywhere from Capello’s nationality to offense that the FA didn’t consult him on the decision. The FA did talk with a number of England’s top managers, such as Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United. Redknapp considered the omission a snub and said “I’m obviously not important.” There’s no denying that Redknapp has a great deal of experience in football, but the issue is a moot point; not only has the position been filled, but his arrest rendered him an impossible candidate.

Redknapp insisted the position should be filled by an Englishman, yet there are few English managers presently fit for the job. Instead, it’s foreigners who’ve occupied the foreground. Fabio Capello and José Mourinho, who despite meetings with the FA turned down the job, have always been two names at the top of the potential manager list. And Fabio Capello’s nationality has had no negative effect on his impressive career.

As an Italian, much of his playing career was spent at high-profile Serie A teams such as Roma, Juventus, and AC Milan. With his various teams he won the league four times. He has 32 caps with the Italian national team. As a coach he led AC Milan, Roma, and Juventus through league and Championship winning seasons. He had two stints with Real Madrid, one of which included working with English national player and football superstar David Beckham, and resulted in winning Spain’s La Liga.

His achievements have occurred outside of England, but that does not make him impotent to lead English players. Redknapp expressed concerns that being a famous coach counts for nothing; tactics and player selection win matches. He may have a point, but the sort of talent presently on the English side does require some degree of coaching—or they risk running chaotically like wild stallions, each following his own plan.

The FA is confident that Fabio Capello can be manager, coach, and tactician. Fans are largely satisfied with the choice. His nationality has little to do with the decision, except that it has allowed him to fit naturally into some of the most competitive leagues in the world, and to learn stellar European football style. Redknapp may insist that Englishmen are better, good coaches don’t count, and the FA made a gross oversight in failing to consult him, but both the FA and history are on Capello’s side.

The FA have released an overview of Fabio Capello’s CV here.

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