The World Of Soccer

Player Profile: Bobby Charlton

2012-02-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

Bobby Charlton

11th October 1937

Country: England

Major Clubs: Manchester United

"I wonder all over again how so much could come to one man simply because he was able to do something, which for him was so natural and easy, and which he knew from the start he loved to do more than anything else", said Bobby Charlton in his autobiography, My Manchester United Years. He was a player whose life was changed in the blink of an eye. One of the original Busby's Babes, Charlton was a Red Devil throughout the extent of his career. He played 759 games for Manchester United, and scored 249 goals in the duration of 17 years at the club.

One thing in Charlton's life that haunts him till date is the Munich air disaster. Seven of his teammates, including the great Duncan Edwards, died in the disaster, but Charlton somehow managed to pull himself out of the injuries he sustained. Later, he along with Matt Busby's assistant Jimmy Murphy, was responsible for the resurrection of the club. He possessed qualities of being a terrific goal-scorer, as well as being able to score splendid goals; something of a rarity in English football at the time.

In 1966, England hosted the FIFA World Cup. The team that year was completely in the hands of Alf Ramsey, who selected Charlton for the side playing the World Cup Finals. His contribution to England was commendable throughout the tournament, as he won himself the Golden Ball that year. However on 30th July 1966 when England played their World Cup Final at Wembley, Charlton was rather quiet. England, though, went on to win the cup.

Two years later, he captained United to remarkable run in the European Cup, leading a team that became the first English side to reach the cup final. The final, played at Wembley against Benfica, was a tight affair, until Charlton scored twice in extra time to hand United a 4-1 victory.

Much later, during his days at Old Trafford, he was a part of the Holy Trinity which included himself alongside Denis Law and George Best. George Best said for Charlton, "I've never seen anyone go past players as easily as he did.". On the individual front, the list of the honours he's won is too long to be written here. But some of the greatest honours such as the Ballon d'Or, FWA Footballer of the Year, among others still dress up his cabinet.

Bobby Charlton went on to manage Preston North End towards the end of his career, and also had a brief spell at Wigan as a caretaker manager. However, he didn't embark on a full fledged career in management. Charlton was conferred with the knighthood in 1994, and is currently on the Board of Directors at Manchester United.

His contribution to the club is and probably will be unmatchable by anyone so far, and even in the future. Despite the many blows he took at Manchester United, starting from the Munich disaster, to the 1958 FA Cup loss, and the 1969 European Cup defeat, Charlton believed in hanging in there, unlike many of the modern footballers who change colours for medals.

-PRANAV MUKUL

Written for India's premier football magazine: 90 minutes (October 2011)

Player Profile: Anwar Ali

2011-11-29T07:09:00.000-08:00

Anwar Ali
24th September 1984
Country: India
Major Clubs: JCT, Dempo, Mohun Bagan

At 189 cm, Anwar Ali is one of the tallest players in the Indian national football team. From JCT to Dempo, and now to Mohun Bagan, Anwar has steadily moved up the Indian football ladder, and is also a regular for the national team.

Anwar started playing at the Rurka Kalan Academy in Phagwara, which also happens to be his home town. After graduating from the academy, the 26-year old played for some local teams, before featuring for Punjab in the Santosh Trophy in 2004, where his side reached the finals.

Later that year, he went on to join Punjab Police. And it was during his time there that he started playing as a center back as opposed to his previous position of right back. He grew into the role steadily, and it wasn’t long before JCT were aware of his performances, and signed him up. Since then, he’s managed to make his mark on Indian football, and has forged a good career for himself.

The Durand Cup in 2006 was a big tournament for Anwar, and it would be turn out to be the moment when he burst onto the national scene, thanks to some sterling performances. JCT went all the way to the final, and the Phagwara boy put in another great shift in defence, but couldn’t save his side from losing to Dempo.

After his performances at the Durand Cup, he was awarded the tournament’s ‘Most Promising Player’ award. He then went on to complete a fantastic season, as he helped JCT finish second in the then National Football League (NFL).

Along with his qualities as a footballer, his physical strength was vital in convincing Bob Houghton he was ‘India material’, and he was called up to the national team for the 2008 SAFF Cup. However, he came into the limelight for the first time as an India player during the AFC Challenge Cup later in the year, where India conceded only thrice in six games. In the tournament, he forged a fine partnership with Gouramangi Singh in central defence, and has since established himself as a regular in the national squad.

The very next season, Anwar left JCT and moved to Goa to join champions Dempo SC. However, he stayed there for only one season, playing 18 matches for the Goan side, after which he shifted base to Kolkata in 2010, as a Mohun Bagan player. His first season with the Bagan wasn’t as successful as he might have hoped, since the Maidan club only managed to finish 6^thin the league. Nonetheless, Anwar feels that things will improve. He recently said, “It was my first year in Kolkata and I’ve gained some good experience which I shall put to use this season. I hope this year’s experience would be even better.”

Interestingly, he’s also the second Indian to have trained with English Championship side Coventry City (Sunil Chhetri had earlier gone there for a trial), as he went there for a training stint last month. His pace, being one of his weaknesses, was apparent to himself when he trained with other footballers in England, and should help him understand his game better and learn to work around it. The knowhow which he gained from Coventry should prove to be extremely beneficial for him, Bagan, and India, and could help the lad who is just coming into his prime as a footballer.

-PRANAV MUKUL

Written for India's premier football magazine: 90 minutes (September 2011)

Player Profile: Alfredo Di Stefano

2011-10-31T09:52:00.000-07:00

Alfredo Di Stefano

4th July 1926.

Country: Argentina

Major Clubs: River Plate, Millonarios, Real Madrid, Espanyol

Though you can read his nationality as Argentine, Di Stefano played for three different countries during his gilttering career as a footballer - Argentina, Columbia and Spain. However, he did not play at the World Cup finals even once.

He started his professional career at the age of 17 by playing for River Plate in Buenos Aires where he was born, and from there the journey of this legend started as he only made more than just a mark on Millonarios, Real Madrid and finally Espanyol. His journey from the Americas to Spain has been followed so much in Spain, that a Spanish movie titled as his nickname, "Saeta Rubia", has been produced to portray his life in Spain.

The list of his honours is never ending but what one always remembers him for is his pivotal role in Real Madrid's European success in 1950's. Also, it was the Spanish giants who asked Di Stefano to convert his citizenship to Spanish, so they could utilize their foreign spot for the newly signed Raymond Kopa. The 11 years he spent at Madrid were probably the golden years of his career, as he led a powerful line up from the front, with other star players such as Raymond Kopa, Ferenc Puskas, Francisco Gento, et al.

Di Stefano is essentially considered to be the best 'all-rounder' of all time. Yes, we're still talking about football, nothing else. The remarkable stamina and agility he possessed helped him to be an all-rounder of sorts, on the field. He could roam anywhere over the length of the pitch owing to these qualities, which allowed him to even defend, distribute the ball, give orders to other players and of course, score goals. His presence on the field was so crucial, that his former coach at Madrid, Miguel Munoz said, "The greatness of Di Stefano was that, with him in your side, you had two players in every position."

Apart from the other qualities Saeta Rubia flaunted, his main quality was very straightforward - to take the ball and out it in the back of the net. He scored 307 goals in 397 appearances at Madrid, and won the Pichichi award for scoring the highest goals in a La Liga season five times during his career there. Post Madrid, Di Stefano moved to Espanyol in 1964. He did decently at the Catalan outfit, and two seasons later, he retired from football as a player.

However, he was still connected to the game. He later went on to manage clubs such as Elche, Boca Juniors, Valencia, Real Madrid, Sporting Lisbon, Rayo Vallecano, Castellon and River Plate. In 1990, while he was still managing Real Madrid, he was appointed as the advisor to the president of Los Merengues.

Only a year later he was appointed as the president of the former players of Real Madrid. His contribution to the club's administration didn't end there either, as in 2000, he was appointed as the honorary president of the Spanish giants. In 2006, to respect his contribution to the Los Blancos, the "Alfredo Di Stefano stadium" was inaugrated, and is the stadium which the first team uses to train.

Written for India's premier football magazine: 90 minutes (July 2011)

-PRANAV MUKUL

Player Profile: Bobby Moore

2011-05-03T23:05:00.000-07:00

Bobby Moore

12th April 1941.

Country: England

Club played for majorly: West Ham United

He stands 20ft. tall at the Wembley weighing about two tons, portraying the many successes he has won for his country. “He was my friend as well as the greatest defender I ever played against,” said Pele himself for this English Captain who was the first and till date remains the only one to have won the World Cup for England.

Robert Fredrick Chelsea Moore a.k.a. Bobby Moore is considered to be one of the greatest footballers in the history of England as well as West Ham United. He held a record of 108 caps for England until March 28th 2009, when David Beckham played against Slovakia at the Wembley. But unlike Beckham, Bobby Moore has played every single minute of every single cap he’s earned. He was a poised central defender and was well known for his ability to foresee the opposition’s movements. To mock his ability former Celtic centre half Jock Stein once said, “There should be a law against him. He knows what's happening 20 minutes before everyone else.”

Moore joined West Ham United in 1956 as a youth player and advanced through this setup to join the senior team on September 8th, 1958 playing his first match against Manchester United. But he’s more a legend for the English team than for The Hammers. It is said that in early 1966 Bobby Moore wanted to leave West Ham the reason being some heat he shared with his club manager Ron Greenwood. Also, the fact that his demand of £10 more per week as his wage with his contract expiring at the end of that month wasn’t being fulfilled made him decide that he would leave the club as soon as his contract expired. But Sir Alf Ramsey who was then the manager of England, intervened timely and helped Moore realize that he would become technically ineligible to contribute for the England squad if he left the club. Ramsey called Greenwood to the hotel where the English team was staying and told him and Moore that they had one minute to sort out their problems. Moore then signed a one month contract to elongate his stay at Upton Park which allowed him to captain the English National Team for the World Cup they later went on to win.

After the World Cup win, he won several individual honours including the “BBC Sports Personality of the year” and the OBE (Order of the British Empire) at the end of 1966.

He ultimately left West Ham in 1974 after playing for 16 years and making 544 appearances while scoring 24 goals in the process. After leaving West Ham he joined Fulham where he played for three years. Ultimately, he retired from club football playing for the Danish club Herning Fremad which is now known as “FC Midtjylland”.

Other than football, he also played county cricket for Essex with his West Ham teammate Geoff Hurst. More than being just a good footballer, Moore was also a good person and a good teammate. When the English team got a £22,000 bonus for winning the World Cup, Moore insisted that the money should be split between every player in the 22-man squad regardless of whether he played or not.

Also published here

-PRANAV MUKUL

Follow @pranavmukul

Player Profile: NP Pradeep

2011-04-26T04:39:00.000-07:00

NP Pradeep

April 28th 1983.

Country: India

Club: Viva Kerala

Naduparambil Pappachen Pradeep. His contribution to the game is as weighty as his name. NP Pradeep better known as Pradeep, is an attacking midfielder who plays for the i-League outfit Viva Kerala. Originally from Kerala, Pradeep started his senior career with the team of State Bank of Travancore (SBT) in 2002 at the age of 17. Before that, Pradeep started off as a striker playing for the state of Kerala at the U-17 and later the U-19 levels. He then turned himself into a midfielder soon after joining SBT. He represented SBT till 2006 during which he played 56 games and scored 8 goals. During his stay at SBT, he managed to win four Kerala league titles for his club.

After leaving SBT in 2006, Pradeep joined Mahindra United. Incidentally, his record of 56 appearances and 8 goals was repeated at his new club till 2010 when the club was disbanded. He experimented with various positions while at Mahindra and sometimes even played as a full-back. At Mahindra United he was benched for a lot of the season 2008-09 and at the end when the coach Derrick Pereira left the club, Pradeep was visibly happy to see him go. Pradeep, on his birthday in 2009 said, “Last season, I was benched for most parts of the season and that didn’t please me one bit. For me, Derrick leaving Mahindra is good.” Despite all this he managed to win two IFA shields with Mahindra in 2006 and 2008. He also contributed to his club reaching the quarter finals of the AFC Cup.

It was his contribution to Mahindra in the AFC Cup that caught Bob Houghton’s attention. This led to him being called up for the National Squad. Initially he started playing as a left-back for India but progressively he came back to his position of a goal-scoring mid fielder. For the national team, Pradeep actually came into the lime-light post the Nehru Cup 2007. He scored the most important goals of the tournament. He scored the opening goal of the Nehru Cup for India and he also scored in the final against Syria making it the only goal of the game and helping India lift the Nehru Cup for the first time. After the cup, Pradeep became a regular in the starting XI for the English coach and has been proving his worth since then.

Later as Mahindra played him at various positions, Pradeep started losing form. Eventually when the club broke up, he remained a free agent for some time until joining Viva Kerala in January 2011 late in the transfer window. Even in Qatar during the AFC Asian Cup, Pradeep’s role in the team was crucial since India hasn’t produced many attacking midfielders of his kind. To his credit, he has also been tipped by various critics to surpass the former Indian captain I.M. Vijayan considering his talent and skills on the pitch.

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United We Stand: The Story Of An Infant Football Club

2011-03-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

FC United of Manchester, The Red Rebels, FCUM are various names of the same club. But don’t confuse this Northern Premier League Premier Division club for the English top-flight giants Manchester United. This club was formed in 2005 after hundreds and thousands of fans detached themselves from United following the takeover by American businessman Malcolm Glazer. The takeover which was controversial in many ways, including huge loans from hedge funds, is still being opposed by Man. United fans in the way of the “Anti-Glazer” Green and Gold campaign. This campaign was launched only recently by the independent Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST). The trust started with an intent of taking over the club from the Glazer family and launched the campaign which has 167369 supporters as on 22-03-2011 08:37 IST. For more information on the MUST, visit http://action.joinmust.org

The Glazers managed to retain David Gill and Sir Alex Ferguson at the club considering the great successes achieved by the duo in all the past years. But this effort didn’t hinder the small group of disgruntled supporters from forming a small club known as ‘FC United of Manchester’. This club is based in Bury, Greater Manchester. FC United started their journey in the English club football on 14th June 2005 at the Gigg Lane ground which they share with Bury F.C. They entered the tenth level of the English club football system which is known as the second division of the North West Counties Football league. Since their formation, the first three years they saw ultimate success with winning promotion thrice in a row and lifting themselves to Northern Premier League Premier Division where they currently play. Currently, FC United is managed by the ex-Macclesfield Town player Karl Marginson.

The club recently came to light when for the first time they reached the first round proper of the FA Cup. They were anticipated to face their parent club Manchester United in some later stages had the former not been beaten in a replay against Brighton & Hove Albion. This young club has a lot of promise and aims to build its own ground before 2012 which will be known as the ‘Ten Acres Lane’. The club has a fund-raising campaign for their new home known as ‘Make it so?’ where it collects pledges and donations from supporters.

The Golden period of this club was from April 29th to September 30th 2006 when they were unbeaten for 22 games in a row making it the longest unbeaten streak for the FC United. The highest recorded attendance was on December 8th 2010 at the Gigg Lane ground where they hosted their FA Cup opponents Brighton & Hove Albion and 6,731 supporters registered their attendance. The endeavour put in by the all time top scorer of FCUM, Rory Patterson was enough for the club to attract the interest of various professional clubs all across Great Britain.

If you’re a Man. United supporter but are anti-Glazer, this is the club you should be aware about. To know more about FC United of Manchester or to support it, visit: http://www.fc-utd.co.uk

-PRANAV MUKUL

Also published HERE

UEFA: The Money Makers

2011-02-22T02:51:00.000-08:00

The UEFA Champions League is arguably the biggest club level football competition in the world, where millions of people show their support by coming to these matches. Only last year the attendance for the match between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was recorded to be 73,170 and the year previous to that when Barcelona won their treble by beating Manchester United at Estadio Olimpico in Rome, 62,467 football supporters registered their attendance. The highest registered attendance in a UEFA Champions League final match has been of 1, 35,000 fans which is in itself a colossal figure.

Seeing these rising figures of attendance, The European Football Association, UEFA, thought of becoming a money minting machine and hiked the ticket prices for this year’s finale at the Wembley Stadium, London on May 28th 2011. The association has been blamed for the overpricing of tickets and leaving fans furious over the prices which begin at £176 for general sale including the booking fee. UEFA announced that it will keep 11,000 tickets for general public at a price of £150 plus a £26 ‘administration fee’. Also, 50,000 seats are reserved for fans of both the finalist teams that will play the match but these tickets are priced at only £80 each. These tickets are categorized under “Category 4”.

The general tickets will have various prices costing £150, £225 and £300 plus the additional ‘administration fee’ which is just like the extra icing on the cake of expensive ticket prices. If we compare these ticket prices to those at Rome in 2009, we can clearly see that the prices have almost doubled since then. The rise every year in the Champions League finale tickets since Manchester United played Barcelona is about 15%. Even the World Cup tickets in South Africa were priced at around £100 each which shows the extraordinary charging by UEFA at Wembley. The UEFA director of competitions Giorgio Marchetti said, “This is the market price. Do you think we would have trouble filling Wembley if the prices were higher? Do you think it would be different? We try to strike a balance between the interest of supporters and the interest of the event. Why should we price the tickets lower than what we think is a fair level?” But the Football Supporters Federation Chairman Malcolm Clarke had something else to say. He thrashed the idea of such humongous ticket price by saying, “These prices are absolutely outrageous and take ticket pricing to an absurdly stratospheric new level.” He empathized with the situation of the supporters by adding, “In a difficult economic climate, not only in this country but across Europe, where supporters may be coming from, this represents disgraceful exploitation of fans.”

Last year UEFA earned a reported £11m at Madrid during the final between Bayern Munich and Internazionale and this year they are expecting to make £14m at Wembley. So, whichever team wins hardly matters to UEFA because it is going to make a fortune. If you wish to show your support, get ready to shell out a couple of hundred pounds.

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Evra chosen over Marcelo

2011-02-22T00:16:00.000-08:00

Patrice Evra agreed to a new four-year contract with Manchester United which will keep him at the Old Trafford until the summer of 2015. The French defender’s current contract ends in the summer of 2012 and he was speculated to join the La Liga side Real Madrid coming summer.

Usually, Manchester United wouldn’t have started contract talks until the end of the current season but Sir Alex being aware of the potential move of the Left Back to Spain asked David Gill, the chief executive, to put forward the contract talks. According to some reports, Evra was part of a deal where Real Madrid offered the English side player plus cash which included the Brazilian Left Back Marcelo.

‘Why did Sir Alex choose Evra over Marcelo?’ is the ultimate question here. Obviously he would have thought ‘Real’ hard to make such a choice considering the never ending defense problems at Manchester United. And with an experienced player like Gary Neville hanging his boots the difficulty to make a choice only arose. Considering the time a player like Fernando Torres could take to adjust at Chelsea, Marcelo would certainly be a long term investment for Manchester United. But disturbing the defensive line could only bring troubles for a team who has a poor away-form this season. This point can be supported by the statement Marcelo made in the press conference at the end of the 2008-09 season saying, “I now feel better playing as a striker.”

Also, a player of Evra’s cadre is difficult to replace for any club. The pace at which he proceeds towards the goal on the left flank, the last ditch challenges he puts on opponent wingers, the stamina he flaunts on the field are unimaginable for a 22-year old to fill in for. A career total of 458 club appearances and 12 goals in the process show his commitment towards the backline of the Red Devils’ line-up.

But now the possibility of any move has been eroded with the Frenchman committing his long-term future as a Red Devil. This news must have come as a certain shock to Real Madrid who has made Manchester United their feeder club. From Beckham to Van Nistelrooy to C. Ronaldo and now Patrice Evra, Real Madrid wants every good player that has played at United. But for now they have to be satisfied with what they have and play Marcelo who has been tipped as the successor to Roberto Carlos by many spectators.

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An interview with Atishay Agarwal

2011-02-18T02:01:00.000-08:00

In an e-mail interview, Pranav Mukul interacts with Atishay Agarwal, who worked with Goal.com India from October 2008 to May 2010 as both an Editor as well as the Chief Editor and shares with us his views on Indian and World football. He's preparing a surprise for every football fan in the nation but for now read on...

Q1: If you could describe the current scenario of Indian Football in a line, how would you do it?

It’s a vicious circle. Players need better fans, and fans want better players.

This is obviously keeping aside the administration of the sport, which still leaves a lot to be desired.

Q2: Would you like it to change? If Yes, how?

Well, it must change. The future of Indian football is in the hands of the fans, who must show their support for the local game instead of trying to compare it with the various leagues around the world. India is way behind, and the fans here must understand that only with their support will the standard of the sport improve in the country. Once investors see that interest from the people of India, more money will gradually start pouring into the sport, which will in turn improve the standard of our football, which is what is needed.

As far as the AIFF and various other state bodies are concerned, they have to be more professional in their approach and market the game aggressively. They need to learn from other Asian nations and be professional about their job. They have to look at football as a business that is in their hands, and make it grow. This has been oft-repeated though, and I don’t want to harp on it.

Q3: What are your predictions this year for the: i-league, EPL, La Liga and The Champions’ League?

I-League: East Bengal look fairly strong this season and should win it, as it already looks like a one-horse race. However, the season is long and you never know, especially when it comes to the Kolkata sides. Dempo are a bit weakened by the absence of the Indian national team players, and are finding it tough to cope with it. Churchill will rely solely on Okolie once again, and although Salgaocar stand in 2nd place, I don’t really expect them to challenge for the title come the end of the season.

EPL: Chelsea were runaway favourites at the start, and their story reminds me of the 2004-05 season, when champions Arsenal started in whirlwind fashion, only to drop several points after their first defeat. I had a gut feeling about United at the start of the season, but changed my mind once I saw them play. However, they’ve proved me wrong and really are the favourites now, although I think it will be close, between them, Arsenal, and Man City . United don’t really have a better side than both those teams, but are edging it on mentality at the moment. They are just so used to winning, that it is carrying them through. You can’t really count Chelsea out, and I do think they will be in the top four, but the title seems out of their grasp now.

La Liga: This is a tough one, but I expect Barca to retain their crown. Mourinho has definitely made Madrid a tougher team to beat and has gotten them closer to the top, but I feel he will need one more season to win the title. However, the rest of the league is almost playing at a division lower than Barca and Madrid, which is quite disappointing from a neutral perspective.

Champions League: I feel Madrid, Barcelona, and Chelsea have a good chance this season. Barca for obvious reasons, they just are that good. Madrid have Mourinho in charge, who knows just what it takes to win this competition, and Chelsea because they should regain their form once the knockout stages resume. AC Milan, if they get past Tottenham, should also be dangerous. Inter and Bayern will probably not replicate last season’s heroics, and while United have a relatively easier draw, they just don’t have enough quality to see the competition through. Arsenal had an outside chance, but after being drawn against Barca, it’s tough to not see them going out.

Q4: Talking about the i-league, do you think disbanding of clubs like Mahindra United amongst others has some impact on Indian football?

Well of course, more so because it was Mahindra United. They’ve been the biggest club in Mumbai for decades now, and were a well-known name all over India. There are still a few Mumbai clubs in the league, but none of them are even nearly as strong. I don’t feel the league will be affected as such, but it’s just that the disbandment created a sense of negativity in Indian football, which is the last thing we need at this moment.

Q5: Considering the talent present in Indian football, not only in the premier leagues of the country but also in the local leagues in city like Kolkata, Pune, etc. do you think that India has a good future in world football?

Well the talent is there but it could be nurtured in a much better manner with improved coaching and infrastructure. Also, I feel India should now begin to cultivate a proper playing style right from when the player is young. The national team often struggles due to a lack of identity, really, as they don’t seem to have a signature style of play. Hoofing long balls to Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia, while they do well for their size, won’t really get us anywhere in the long run. Technique and pace (especially) need to be given a lot of importance in order for the players of tomorrow to be able to produce quality on the pitch and not just play head tennis. As the Asian Cup has shown, we are way, way behind physically than all these teams. They can go past us easily because our players just can’t turn quickly enough, or have enough pace to catch up. We need proper training right from a player’s younger days to ensure the next generation can match at least other Asian nations.

Q6: Do you think the development of football in India is hindered by the extra-ordinary popularity of cricket in the country?

I don’t really agree with this. I feel every sport has its own audience, and if more money, support and thinking is pumped into football, fans will follow, and then so will the media. Already we see a majority of young kids enjoy football today, but they have no love for the game locally. That needs to change.

Q7: How important do you think is the role of media in development of Indian football?

Very important, naturally. However, we are seeing improvements in this regard as compared to a decade ago. Although there is scope for improvement, I-League matches have been telecast live in recent years, and although they are not as of now, the IMG deal should see that change in the near future. We are seeing good coverage of the Indian team at the Asian Cup on tv, on the web, as well as the print media, so there is sufficient coverage of the national team as well. However I still wish news channels gave some more airtime to football and footballers, but I guess that will come only when the team is more successful.

Q8: Finally, summing it up, I’d like to ask, where do you see India in world football 10 years from now?

I don’t see India in the World Cup, but I see it as a much bigger name in Asian football. We should first try to qualify for the Asian Cup again and again, and with the current U-16s and U-19s (Both have impressed internationally in recent times) filtering through to the seniors, we could be seen as a strong continental side, which could knock on the doors of the World Cup by about 2022 or 2026. However I’ll say it again, we need to create our own identity as a footballing side, and play in a particular style that focuses on our strengths.

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Premier League Match Preview: Arsenal v/s Chelsea

2010-12-27T05:49:00.000-08:00

Emirates Stadium,

North London.

Monday, 27^th December 2010,

20.00 GMT.

Many say that this match should be a cracker and they are correct in every sense. Two of the contenders this season are playing in the deadly winter to heat up the race for the Premier League title. The hosts seem quite confident about the London derby as their French manager made a statement on the club website saying, “Let’s say we look at the number of points they have and the number of points we have. We have nothing to envy.” Whereas on the other hand, Chelsea’s recent form can be termed more than poor as they haven’t experienced victory in five consecutive premier league fixtures.

TEAM NEWS:

ARSENAL:-

Gunners’ skipper Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby and Lukasz Fabianski who were all to be involved against Stoke will be starting against Chelsea as well. Arsenal would definitely miss Thomas Vermaelen who will be out till the end of January owing to Achilles’ heel, an injury which he incurred during the match against Blackburn Rovers in August. Kieren Gibbs will also be out until starting of January. But to round off all these injuries, Arsenal have an in-form Samir Nasri who has scored 8 goals in 14 premier league appearances he has made this season. Gunners have managed to win 3 out of the 5 last premier league fixtures losing only to current league leaders Manchester United and local rivals Tottenham Hotspurs. The Londoners also have Van Persie available who claimed the opener from the spot against their European fixture against Partizan Belgrade.

FORM GUIDE:

Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal (13^th Dec’ 10)

Arsenal 3-1 Partizan Belgrade (8^th Dec’ 10)

Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (4^th Dec’ 10)

Arsenal 2-0 Wigan Athletic (30^th Nov’ 10)

Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal (27^th Nov’ 10)

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Maroune Chamakh, Samir Nasri, Robin Van Persie .

CHELSEA:-

Chelsea is the team here who should be doing their homework carefully. They have displayed a disappointing show by getting only three out of possible 12 points in their last few league fixtures. But they have a reason to be confident as they have already beaten Arsenal earlier this season at the Stamford Bridge and have lost only twice in their last 18 meetings with the London rivals. Both Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard who have been seeing a few previous kick-offs from the bench will be in the Italian manager’s starting line-up against Arsenal whereas he will still be deprived of the services of Alex, Yuri Zhirkov and Jose Bosingwa due to injuries. Drogba should be one player the Arsenal defence needs to take care of to make sure they get out with some result.

FORM GUIDE:

Tottenham Hotspurs 1-1 Chelsea (12^th Dec’ 10)

Marseille 1-0 Chelsea (8^th Dec’ 10)

Chelsea 1-1 Everton (4^th Dec’ 10)

Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea (28^th Nov’ 10)

Chelsea 2-1 MSK Zilina (23^rd Nov’ 10)

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard.

MY PREDICTION:

When, in movies, the titans clash, we see just a flash of light and nothing henceforth. This one may be like one of those we may see nothing or just see a little bit. Chelsea need to win this one to keep themselves intact in the title race with newbies such as Spurs and Manchester City waiting to snatch away the spot. So, it’s Wenger’s youth policy playing versus the experience. The visitors have got something to prove but the home-side doesn’t seem to care.

Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea

-PRANAV MUKUL

Also Published HERE

OH YES IT WAS BORING!

2010-12-19T02:08:00.000-08:00

The 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is more than 6 months old now but still haunts a football fan. With Russia and Qatar winning the bids for hosting the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, people are scared of missing out action they have seen over so many years in the soccer-fanatic nations. It started with a day which concluded with draws followed by several other draws throughout the group-stage which summed up to 14 draws out of which 6 ended 0-0. Apart from the draws in the group stages, 13 games ended with just one goal separating the two teams after 90 minutes. So, on paper, 27 out of 48 games turned out to be a turn off for a football fan who must have bunked college or office, fought with his/her girlfriend/boyfriend just for the beautiful game which did not prove to be beautiful this year. Coming to the K.O. stages we had quite a spectacle in the Round of 16 as we saw U.S.A. exiting to Ghana which was a boost for the continent of Africa but that too “a.e.t.”. Nevertheless we had one of the most anticipated matches in this round of whose result turned out to be as it was anticipated by a major part of the following. Germany 4-1 England-One of the biggest international level football rivalries. Even half my friends go to sleep as the half time concludes 0-0. The line goes well then “Score To Live”. No goals is a dead game then.

Even the Finale was dead-boring. What made it more boring was that most people speculated a penalty shootout but last minute goal broke heart of many those who watch for entertainment and those who supported the Netherlands. What made the tournament so boring and obvious that almost every follower of the Beautiful Game knew who was going to win and without any hesitation the anticipation came true?

Bringing Joy To No One!

Yes! The tournament had no balls! It had Jabulani. The irony is that “Jabulani” means “Bringing Joy to everyone”. Brazil goalkeeper Júlio César compared it to a "supermarket" ball that favoured strikers and worked against goalkeepers. Second part of the irony with the ball is that it didn’t bring joy to anyone except the players who endorse the producer and the ones who were able to score owing to some really wicked deflections. On one hand where the English ‘keeper David James stated that, "The ball is dreadful. It's horrible, but it's horrible for everyone" his teammate Frank Lampard who endorses the producer company of Jabulani gave good reception to it saying, "(It is) A very strong ball, true to hit." FIFA claimed that it would discuss the matter with coaches and teams after the World Cup. But what’s the use Sir? We’ve already been bored!

Practice makes a tournament boring!

The actual saying is that “Practice makes a man perfect” but perfection this time made the game really monotonous. Though on the other side we got to see some really good tackles but what is the use when it makes all the teams equally good? As time goes, in any tournament a group of death would probably kill the audience. Nevertheless, hitherto the game has been better than what it is speculated to be with the onset of goal-line technologies and action-video replays; gosh! Mr. Øvrebø, your career and our entertainment is in danger!

Viva La Espana!

It was much anticipated world cup win, unlike many previous large-scale tournaments. Spain were the favourites ever since they won Euro ’08. A true prediction is always welcome but the flawlessness with which Spain played was lukewarm. Big-Big clashes are sometimes unwelcome when rather Small-Big clashes manage to end up with more goals. Certainly the Portugal v/s North Korea match would have been more of an enthusiasm than even the Final. But then Spain aren’t held fully responsible for the murder of someone’s enthusiasm who wishes to get sheer entertainment and pleasure for 90 minutes, it is collectively the whole game out of which flaws are being picked out one by one making it just 90 minutes of disheartening goalless draws.

-PRANAV MUKUL

Also Published HERE

2010-06-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

Where can you see the World Cup in Ahmedabad?

Ahmedabad: Though there is a lot of Cricket following in the city there are still a handful of soccer fans scattered all over Ahmedabad who would love to gather up and watch the world’s biggest sporting event. Here, I have made a list of the best places in Ahmedabad where you can watch the beautiful game.

The Veni Vichi Restaurant (Sardar Patel Ring Road)

Out of the city, open air, garden restaurant and a special arrangement for the FIFA World Cup: what else does an ‘Amdavadi’ soccer fan need more than that? With a standard multi-cuisine menu and pleasant atmosphere, driving out of the city is an ideal way for you to enjoy the event. Special arrangements for the World Cup include a large screen and fascinating mocktails. Make sure you book your garden table well-in-advance to enjoy the world’s biggest sporting event in Ahmedabad.

The Ozone Hookah Lounge (S.G. Highway)

Word around is that they serve the best Hookah in Ahmedabad with all genres of music being played regularly including hip-hop, trance, techno and more. A famous theme-based hang out for youngsters which brings out a moderate bill for more than its worth of fun, this is the place you want to be at if you love your music as much as watching Rooney bang one in.

Tc’s Lounge (Ellis Bridge)

Popular with college students and young executives because of its moderate pricing, TC’s is an ideal place to gather up and watch the world cup on a large screen TV as you sip your milkshake or enjoy your Sheesha with some of your friends. A large variety of eatables ranging from Indian to Mexican (China and Italy come in between) makes it a perfectly hippy place to hang out at.

Detour Café (Vastrapur)

One of the newest café’s in Ahmedabad, Detour is a good place to catch up with friends and the creative art interiors can really amaze you. With large LCD’s for viewing the matches, Detour also provides its customers with a Wi-Fi service. A small cover-charge is to be paid to enter the café which can be reimbursed to buy food or goodies inside. Be it the world cup or just some good old internet surfing, Detour is one of the best places in Ahmedabad for you to unwind and relax.

Detour Cafe (ahmedabad burrp com)

The Chocolate Room (Navrangpura)

Go here with your family or go here with your friends. The Chocolate Room has come out with a unique chocolate-theme-based culture in Ahmedabad. One of the very few places in Ahmedabad to serve alcohol, The Chocolate Room is a certain hit from those coming from outside the state. One can play scrabble or Chess while having their milk-flavored Chocolate Melting pot or can even lie down on the couch while watching Messi put one through past Cesar. In all, The Chocolate Room is an ideal place where you can sit for hours and hours and enjoy your game.

-Pranav Mukul

Also Published HERE

WHO WILL REPLACE THE SCOT?

2010-05-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

Sir Alex Ferguson; not just a name but an era for Manchester United. An era which defined the club's success more than anything in its history. There were ups and downs in this era but fans and critics could only remember the good times of this era.

He came from Aberdeen to make a mark. Had he not won the F.A. Cup in 1990 against Crystal Palace, the world would have not been acquainted to the mighty Scot. Then started the war for the best football club in the world with Sir Alex leading the Red Army. Promoting more players from the youth rather than spending money only helped him stabilize the club both on and off the pitch. David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and others started off with a might. In 1993, the club won its 1st double winning both The Premier league and the F.A. Cup. and then the double in 1996. After that came the historic treble in 1999 where United won The Premier League, The F.A. Cup and The Champions League(for the 1st time under Ferguson). With 24 years of astonishing service to the club, now the Scot considers retiring owing to his age. Will the most adaptable club in the world be able to adapt a new manager and still continue with their mighty run? Who are the best candidates for filling in the Scot's shoes? Will they be able to keep up with Sir Alex's credibility?

5. Martin O'Neill (Aston Villa)

A healthy and well speculated replacement for the Scot, Martin O'Neill has had a powerful spell at Aston Villa. He has even beaten United in a few games over the past couple of seasons. A master tactician, he has led Villa to The English League cup final too. He has won the Premier League ‘Manager Of The Month’ award four times since he joined Aston Villa in 2006. He narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot this year and if he stays on at the club, European football may not be too far away.

4. David Moyes (Everton)

Another manager speculated to take over Manchester United after Sir Alex Fergusonhangs his boots. He has taken Everton to great heights since his appointment. He has managed to qualify for the Europa league and even qualified for the Champions League back in 2005. His squad beat Manchester United in the F.A. Cup to reach the finals against Chelsea two years ago. He has an impressive 42.41% win rate at Everton with his current crop of players and a stronger and better Manchester United squad will no doubt guarantee him a better record. He was even tipped by Sir Alex himself as his successor at United back in April this year. His wish is to manage Celtic where he played once, but the United call may be too hard to resist!

3. Carlos Queiroz (Portugal)

Currently the Portugal National coach, he assisted Sir Alex Ferguson in two separate stints at Manchester United during his career. He was, in 2005, declared as the most likely successor to Sir Alex by the gaffer himself. He certainly knows the tactics and strategies of Manchester United and is a familiar face at the club which can help the players adapt faster. His short spell at Real Madrid was mately successful as he managed to win 35 out of 59 games while at the helm. Can he be the next Portuguese import to hit Old Trafford?

2. Josep Guardiola (Barcelona)

Currently managing the best team in the world, Barcelona, Guardiola is a well deserved candidate to step into Sir Alex's shoes. He won the treble with Barcelona in his first season as manager. His side defeated Sir Alex's in the Champions League last year to complete their historic treble. Another double this year has only strengthened his credentials. Well, Pep at Old Trafford anyone?

1. José Mourinho (Internazionale)

The most speculated replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson, "The Special One". He has ledInter to consecutive domestic league titles and has won the Champions League with two different clubs. His world-class tactics and strategies have made him the best manager in the world. He's done it with Chelsea, he's done it with Porto and he’s done it with Inter. He came, he saw, he conquered. He's Jose Mourinho.

So, are these candidates deserving of replacing Sir Alex who has won 11 domestic titles, 5 domestic cups, 4 league cups, 8 charity shields, 2 champions league cups, 1 UEFA cup winners' cup, 1 UEFA super cup, 1 Intercontinental cup and 1 FIFA Club world cup which tallies to a total of 34 trophies which makes him the most successful manager at United in terms of trophies? Time will only tell.

-PRANAV MUKUL

Also Published HERE

Champions League Preview: Chelsea VS Internazionale

2010-03-12T20:10:00.002-08:00

Kick-Off: Sunday, March 16th, 19:45 GMT.
Stamford Bridge, West London.

Chelsea and Inter lock horns as they meet up in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League.

Inter leading from the first leg by two goals to one will be watching to thump Chelsea out and progressing to the quarter finals. The English side who showed a weak performance in the first leg and also got their shot-stopper Petr Cech injured have a Herculean task to perform on their home ground.

TEAM NEWS:

CHELSEA:

The only thing that Chelsea would be worried about will be their faltered defence since the injury of Petr Cech and he being replaced by Ross Turnbull. As compared to their English counterparts in the Champions League Manchester United and Arsenal, Chelsea have the weakest second-choice goal-keepers but the Italian boss still trusts the former Boro 'keeper. Chelsea's dependance on Petr Cech in important fixtures clearly showed when The Blues lost to Manchester City by 4-2

in a Premier League fixture.

In other news, Chelsea still have a derby fixture against West-Ham United which may bring out, god forbid, further fatigue and injuries if any. Notable players include Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and all the other veterans who add the Champions League experience to the English Side.

INTERNAZIONALE:

It's Jose Mourinho once again who'll be coming back to the Stamford Bridge and he's the one (see Special One) worth watching there. Will he? Won't he? These questions must be right now oscillating in Roman Abramovich's head. Inter have an advantage of the first leg and with the astonishing Samuel Eto'o being still doubtful and Christian Chivu having a long term absence, Inter have to think about something. Mario Balotelli had reported a knee injury which calls him off the game as well.

The in-form Diego Milito would be the player worth a watch from the Italian side.

FORM GUIDE:

CHELSEA:

Chelsea:
March 7 v Stoke City (H) - WON 2-0 (FA Cup)

Feb 27 v Manchester City (A) - LOST 2-4 (Premier League)

Feb 24 v Inter (A) LOST 2-1
(Champions League)

Feb 20 v Wolves (A) WON 0-2 (Premier League)

Feb 13 v Cardiff City (H) WON 4-1 (FA Cup)

INTERNAZIONALE:

March 7 v Catania (A) - LOST 3-1 (Seria A)
March 7 v Genoa (H) - DREW 0-0 (Serie A)
Feb 28 v Udinese (A) - WON 3-2 (Serie A)
Feb 24 v Chelsea (H) - WON 2-1 (Champions League)
Feb 20 v Sampdoria (H) - DREW 0-0 (Serie A)

PREDICTION:
If you take a closer look; It's Carlo Ancelotti VS Jose Mourinho once again after Ancelotti left AC Milan for Chelsea last summer. Every detail except the Champions League experience goes towards Inter. Chelsea have been great performers in the Champions League but if we look at Ancelotti; if he wasn't able to beat Mourinho's side with Kaka, Pato, Beckham, Ronaldinho, Nesta, Pirlo and other such greats, he wouldn't be able to make it with the aging Lampard, Drogba, Ballack, etc. Plus he has only less to offer inside the 16 yard box. But these are the players who have reached the Champions League final and semi final for two consecutive years. Further, this year champions league has only surprises to offer. Liverpool's exit, Fiorentina's exit due to refereeing errors, Real Madrid thumped by Olympique Lyon and Arsene Wenger hoping to see off Chelsea or Manchester United in further K.O. stages(pun intended), we can't predict anything in a pragmatic way. The match stays all in a balance.

MY PREDICTION: CHELSEA 0-2 INTERNAZIONALE
(Inter proceed to Quarter-Finals on an aggregate of 4-1)

-PRANAV MUKUL

TOP 10 SENSATIONS OF TOMORROW.

2010-02-09T21:57:00.000-08:00

They are here for now but in a few years time, they will be where no one may have ever reached. We're talking about the young sensations and prodigies, who will make up the star cast or as well-known, "The Galacticos" of tomorrow. Here I give the list of top 10 young-stars who are more than important to their clubs and countries as well. They get a chance when a Senior player is injured or suspended but don't leave any chance for the critics to fire on them.

10) ALEX SONG(ARSENAL)

COUNTRY: CAMEROON

AGE: 22

POSITION: MIDFIELDER

There was a French who made the key to Arsenal's rear-midfield and since he left in 2005, it has been cumbersome for Arsene Wenger to find a replacement for Patrick Vieira. But come to the late times and things have changed with the emanation of Alex Song. It was the African Cup of Nations in 2008 from where he came into the limelight, playing an important role in the Semi-Final victory over Ghana where he was awarded the Man-of-the-Match too. He joined The Gunners on loan from Ligue 2 side SC Bastia in 2005, then moving permanantly in the summer window of 2006 for a reported fees of £1m.

9) IGOR AKINFEEV(CSKA MOSCOW)

COUNTRY: RUSSIA

AGE: 23

POSITION: GOALKEEPER

From the producers of great 'keepers like Lev Yashin, Rinat Dasaev and Alexei Khomich, comes another shot-stopper, "Igor Akinfeev". Every other guy growing up in the world wants to be a striker or a midfielder and wants to score goals. But, in Russia they all want to be a goal-keeper. Igor, the youngest player to represent Russia at 18 and a first-team goalie for CSKA since he was 17 and a 'keeper with great positioning and alertness makes him the current most-wanted by big European clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea. He was dropped out of his squads in 2007 owing to a knee-injury for four months which obstructed his development but has been Guus Hiddink's first choice goal-keeper since then for Russia.

8) DAVIDE SANTON (INTERNAZIONALE)

COUNTRY: ITALY

AGE: 19

POSITION: DEFENDER

"A predestined that reminds me of a young Paolo Maldini", said Italy coach Marcelo Lippi defining the 19 year old Davide Santon who has also been a part of a praise-worthy InterMilan squad. He joined the Nerazzurri in 2005 but made his debut straight in 2009 against Roma in the Coppa Italia claiming a 1-0 win. Seeing his might on the back of the field, Mourinho placed him in the Champions' League home draw against Manchester United in 2009 straight against C. Ronaldo where Inter managed to stop The English side from scoring any goals. After an astonishing performance in a friendly against Northern Ireland, Marcelo Lippi quickly chose him for the line-up at the FIFA Confederations' Cup but a knee-injury blocked the 19-year-old from playing.

7) PEDRO RODRIGUEZ (BARCELONA)

COUNTRY: SPAIN

AGE: 22

POSITION: FORWARD

"Fire from the within". Barcelona can rightly boast about this phrase as they're experts in manufacturing players from within their academy. From the great Leo Messi to Xavi to Iniesta, we have Pedro. A forward who might not be as mighty as Messi at his age, but surely will make up one of the players with the best techinical ability in a few years time. He has scored 15 goals in the 47 appearances he's made for the European Champions and has made more of his impression by scoring great goals against Ukrainian sides Shakhtar Donetsk in the Super-Cup final and Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions' League group stage this year.

6) MIRALEM PJANIC (LYON)

COUNTRY: BOSNIA

AGE: 19

POSITION: MIDFIELDER

A legend's a legend and so is his jersey. The great Juninho Perambucano only left his number 8 jersey for another dead-ball specialist to take it over. Comes in Miralem Pjanic, the youngster who's already making marks on the dead-ball record sheet at just a juvenile age of 19. He's already scored 7 goals for the French side and assisted 7 as well. While he played for Metz, he represented Luxembourg at the U-17 level but now plays for his birth-land Bosnia at the international level. In 2008, despite receiving offers from European top-flights such as Bayern Munich and Barcelona, Pjanic opted for Lyon considering the playing time he would get at this club.

5) MARIO BALOTELLI (INTERNAZIONALE)

COUNTRY: ITALY

AGE: 19

POSITION: STRIKER

Another 19 year old from the Inter side in this list and you must be aware of InterMilan's future potential. Super Mario as he is nick-named by fellow team-mates, made through his first starting 11 against Reggina in a Coppa Italia and ended up scoring a brace in what Inter won 4-1. Further, scored two goals yet again against Juventus in a Coppa Italia quarter final and this, gained him a national attention. All this at an age of 17, and we couldn't ask for more. The only thing that checks this young star's pitch-time is his discipline. But the 24 goals and 11 assists he's added to the Nerazzurri record-books cancel the ill-records of the young Italian.

4) DANIEL STURRIDGE (CHELSEA)

COUNTRY: ENGLAND

AGE: 20

POSITION: STRIKER

From Aston Villa, he rose to Manchester City and to the current league leaders Chelsea. Daniel Sturridge had no more he could prove at the age of 20. In the 2007-08 season, Sturridge became the only player ever to score in an FA Youth Cup, FA Cup and The Premier League in the same season. He has been a bit unfortunate with the time spent on the pitch but has been used as an impact substitute at Manchester City. In 2003, he was the leading scorer in the Nike Cup which is the largest U-15 tournament in the world at club level. He recently scored his 3rd goal for Chelsea in a tremondous way against Preston North End in a FA Cup tie and proved himself to his Italian boss.

3) JONNY EVANS (MANCHESTER UNITED)

COUNTRY: NORTHERN IRELAND

AGE: 22

POSITION: DEFENDER

Manchester United who're believed to have the world's strongest defense are only made up of mighty defenders like Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and last but not the least Jonny Evans. Evans has been a UCL regular for United for quite a time now. Owing to the injuries of his Senior players Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for a considerable time, Evans' doors to make his mark on United's defense were opened. He came into the limelight after the match he played for Sunderland at Cardiff under the harsh storm. He stood to ground, implacable and imperturbable to any attacker and calmly collected the ball and left it where it should have been. He has also been a regular for Northern Ireland, a feat for himself at the age of 21. He played an important role in the team that defeated Poland in the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifier.

2) STEVAN JOVETIC (FIORENTINA)

COUNTRY: MONTENEGRO

AGE: 20

POSITION: FORWARD

"Who's this hairy 18 year old from Montenegro?" This must have been a question from most of the Fiorentina fans. But, as for now, his grin rocks the fans as much as his footwork does. Season 2009-10 must have been a dream come true for this young lad where he scored a decisive Champions' League goal against Sporting Lisbon bringing the result to a 1-1 draw and he also scored both the goals in the match where Liverpool were humiliated 2-0. He scored his first hat-trick at the age of 17 when he played for Partizan in a UEFA Cup qualifier which his side won 5-0. He had then been sought after by European biggies such as Real Madrid and Manchester United. In March 2007, he consisted of the squad that made the found the Montenegro national team.

1) ALEXANDRE PATO (AC MILAN)

COUNTRY: BRAZIL

AGE: 20

POSITION: STRIKER

And here we are, Number 7, oops! Number 1! Alexandre Pato, nicknamed as The Duck by his team mates at Milan. He's been quite lucky to see his international companions at Milan which include his ex-teammate Kaka, Ronaldinho, Dida and Thiago Silva. But, he must be the only probable reason, the Italian outfit would have let Kaka leave San Siro for the Bernabeu. To his might, he scored two goals against Real Madrid this year in a Champions' League group stage match in Spain to take his side to a 3-2 win. He has been linked with quite a few European top-flights such as Manchester United, Chelsea, etc. But, he says he's committed to Milan and what we can see out of him in the coming years can be more than miraculous. In 2008, he broke Pele's record after scoring on his international debut only seconds after entering the pitch. This young prodigy could give out more than what anyone would expect. Only to add to it season 2008-09 would have been an individual satisfaction for the Brazilian wonder-lad as he finished the league as the top goal-scorer for Milan.

Other notable players this list could've included are: Aleksandr Ryazantsev(Rubin Kazan), Jack Wilshere(Arsenal), Bojan Krkic(Barcelona) and Rafael DaSilva(Manchester United)

-PRANAV MUKUL

THE FALL AND RISE OF LIVERPOOL F.C.

2010-02-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

A man may transfered or he maybe injured, clubs may be in debts, but the ideas and the confidence never dies. We're talking about Liverpool F.C., five times European top-flight champions and seven times F.A. Cup winners. But where did Liverpool's might go this season? Was it the departure of Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa to The Bernabeu that shattered the Merseyside champions' line-up or the injured Fernando Torres? If only key-players were the might of the team, Manchester United wouldn't have been consistent to stay on the summit without their hot-shot Cristiano Ronaldo, who, too, left for Real Madrid.

WE NEVER WALK BEHIND

The Reds had shown consistent poor performance in the first half of this season, winning only nine fixures out of nineteen as well as the humiliating exit from the UEFA Champions' League only added to their poor plight. But, then suddenly The Reds' Spanish Boss Rafael Benitez felt that the time was running out and some quick changes made his team re-gain confidence. With the stars like Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, Jamie Carragher and the newest signing from Atletico Madrid Maxi Rodriguez still on the pitch, Liverpool fans have still the effervescence of expectations inside them.

Liverpool shot ahead in the second half of the Premier League as they have lost none in their last six League fixtures winning four out of them and this brings them back into the top four and completes the Top 4 with the Big Four again-Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. The order won't remain same after this evening as Chelsea host Arsenal in what is supposed to be Arsenal's biggest test of the season. But, the crux here right now isn't Arsenal or Chelsea. It's Liverpool! The club that walked on the side-line of a cliff for most of the season till now. Transfer speculations about Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and even Rafael Benitez(to Juventus, a deal which did not take place) showed the Merseyside club's pressure this season.

But as they rise now, beat their Merseyside rivals Everton yesterday by a thin margin of one goal to nil, Liverpool grabbed the bragging rights owing to their Flying Dutchman- Dirk Kuyt. Dirk Kuyt who claimed to have felt the pressure, somehow reduced the pressure on his team and gained confidence by beating their bitter-rivals. "What we have done really well is keep working hard. We have been a bit unlucky with a couple of injuries, but the players are coming back and we are getting stronger and stronger. Once they are back we will all learn that it makes us stronger." said the Dutch to a press conference ahead of Saturday’s derby against Everton.

THEY WALKED ALONE

The Kops did walk alone without the injured stars like Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Yossi Benayoun all out for atleast a month from now. A month, that could decide Liverpool's fate in the league. But, where was the manager's intellect to guide the team without key-players? Where was his back-up plan? All that Liverpool could see was exit from The Champions' League, exit from the FA Cup and a poor league position. Is this all Rafael Benitez is capable of? He won The Champions' League in 2005 without these players as well, so was that a fluke or was the second finish in the league last season a fluke? It would be far too much to call him a fluke. During his entire coaching career, he's won the Spanish League twice and a UEFA Cup with Valencia C.F. Helped two Spanish sides to promote them into the La Liga and won the Champions' League, the FA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FA Community Shield with Liverpool.

To a manager and a coach with such might, is it the time to leave Liverpool and let the fans assume him to be the greatest manager of all times at The Anfield or shall he risk his remaining good impression and try his heart out to win some Silverware for Liverpool in these times?

Only he can answer, only time will answer. Will they walk alone?

-PRANAV MUKUL

Where is the Good in Goodbye? -Nemanja Vidic

2010-02-05T22:19:00.000-08:00

He came, he saw, he played, he won and now it's time for him to leave. If there could be one thing that could stop Nemanja Vidic to leave United this summer, then Sir Alex Ferguson must have already tried it out. It might be the financial crunch Manchester United is facing or it might be the offers Vidic will be tempted to join either the Rossoneri or Los Merengues or just for a matter of case, it might just be Mrs. Vidic who asks the Serb to leave England.

LIFE'S LIKE THIS.

Manchester United have already started preparing for a life without the 28-year-old defender who made the key to the defence which was termed as the strongest defense in the world by Joe Morrison. Speculations about signing either Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus or Evan Hovland from Adeccoligaen side Sogndal Fotbal who has already been termed as the 'Norwegian Nemanja Vidic' may just show the preparations United has started to make to adapt themselves to a Vidic-less life.

Post-Vidic, United's central-defense will be dominated by only the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans and Wes Brown. Vidic leaving the English side will only weaken the defense and it will be just shattered to pieces as Vidic is a world-class defender and is one of the best in England as well as Europe. He is highly regarded for his physical presence, heading ability in both defence and at attacking set pieces, as well as his bravery.

Sir Alex Ferguson is only ready to sell Vidic if the interested clubs offer a sum of £20m, compared to the £7m he bought him for from Spartak Moscow,then, making him the costliest defender in Russian-League's history. But, is Vidic just worth £20m to Manchester United? I don't think so. He is worth the 13 goals he's scored for United and all the clean-sheets he's earned. It will be almost next-to-impossible for The Red Devils to find a replacement for the Serbian defender. The world is evident about Vida's might on the back of the field and maybe Cristiano Ronaldo would've been too and maybe that's how he's been keenly followed by Real Madrid to land him at the Santiago Bernabeu. Or will it be AC Milan, that are capable enough to get him to the San Siro? Vidic meet's Milan in the Champions' League draw of 16 and maybe it will be a chance for him to decide his future at the Italian outfit.

Within all these speculations and dilemmas, should Vidic leave it on Sir Alex Ferguson to decide his future or should he ask his wife?

- PRANAV MUKUL

Premier League Preview: Chelsea VS Arsenal

2010-02-05T01:27:00.000-08:00

Kick-Off: Sunday, February 7th, 16:00 GMT.

Stamford Bridge, West London.

It will be a titans' clash this Super Sunday as Chelsea welcome Arsenal FC to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, currently on the summit of the Premier League with two points clear from current champions Manchester United host Arsenal FC who're on the third spot trailing to Manchester United by three points.

Recently, Chelsea showed a weak performance with a 1-1 draw against strugglers Hull City and Arsenal, too, have been thrashed by Manchester United 3-1 at Home.

Chelsea are on a strong home form winning 11 out of 12 home fixtures, but, Arsenal's away form can not be ignored as well. Arsenal have won 15 out of 24 total fixtures played this year and lost only 5 , but, The Blues haven't lost a game on home ground till date in this season. Bookies, as of now, have Chelsea as the favourites for the win.

TEAM NEWS:

CHELSEA:

With John Terry being almost out of the game regarding his personal affairs that may cost him his English captaincy, Chelsea will be quite distracted and this was seen at the KC Stadium where they could only manage a draw against Hull City with a Didier Drogba free kick. Michael Essien, Juliano Belletti and Jose Bosingwa still remain absent in the fixture owing to their respective injuries.

Didier Drogba is still in top form as he scored 15 goals already this season and mostly from set-pieces. But the Chelsea defense still remains a question as The Blues lack key players in their defensive system and Ancelotti believes that they may need some re-inforcements. "We know about it. I know very well how many goals we have (conceded) from set pieces," Ancelotti said to Sky Sports.

Frank Lampard has proved to show a great form at Chelsea this season with scoring 11 goals and 9 assists it has been a dream-season for the Blues' midfielder. Other players worth watching in this fixtures from the Italian boss' side will be Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Alex Dimond.

ARSENAL:

A really poor performance by Arsene Wenger's side against Manchester United at The Emirates and the same-margin defeat against Stoke City really produce doubts for The Gunners at The Stamford Bridge. With their main striker Robin Van Persie still being out because of his ankle injury, Arsene Wenger may well again put up Nicklas Bendtner or Tomas Rosicky in the attack. But, Arsenal's away form, which has been way too good than their home form, gives them a benefit of doubt.

The Gunners' skipper Cesc Fabregas has nothing more he could prove this season. With leading the Actim Index, scoring 11 goals and assisting 13 as well, he is in formidable form. Thomas Vermalean is another player the French Boss could be proud of this season. He has been a striker in disguise and means to Arsenal what Sergio Ramos and Roberto Carlos to Real Madrid and Patrice Evra is to Manchester United.

Other Arsenal players that could be notable this game would be Andrei Arshavin, Samir Nasri and Denilson.

FORM GUIDE:

CHELSEA

Feb 02: Hull City 1-1 Chelsea

Jan 30: Burnley 1-2 Chelsea

Jan 27: Chelsea 3-0 Birmingham City

Jan 23: Preston 0-2 Chelsea (FA Cup)

Jan 16: Chelsea 7-2 Sunderland

ARSENAL

Jan 31: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United

Jan 27: Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal

Jan 24: Stoke City 3-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)

Jan 20: Arsenal 4-2 Bolton Wanderers

Jan 17: Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Arsenal

PREDICTION

The History says it. Out of the last five games Arsenal played at The Bridge, they have managed to win only one and draw two. With a clear victory for The Blues at The Emirates this season with a splendid margin of three goals to nil, Chelsea remain clear favourites for this game. Chelsea still maintain their lead over Manchester United even if they lose the fixture, but it may cost them the title, whereas for Arsenal, it will be a must-win, if they wish to lower the gap to the summit of the table.

MY PREDICTION: CHELSEA 2-1 ARSENAL

-PRANAV MUKUL

Terry Oh! Terry

2010-02-05T01:22:00.000-08:00

John Terry, the English legend, captain and probably the most resisting defender with the three lions has been asked to hand on his captains' armband. Reason, he had an affair with ex-Chelsea teammate Wayne Bridge's girlfriend. But his personal life is being dragged too much into professional career. If this was the case Sergio Ramos should've been dropped out of the Spain's Euro winning team because he had a night out with Cristiano Ronaldo's ex-girlfriend Nereida Gallardo. Somehow getting personal life strike a player's professional career has been impeccable by the press and the following respective disciplinaries.

With John Terry not yet agreeing to give up on his captaincy, many other Englishmen must have already been curious and restless to get the arm-band. The most deserving candidates include Steven Gerarrd, David Beckham, Ashley Cole, Gareth Barry and maybe Rio Ferdinand.

But a legend's a legend and with the on coming FIFA 2010 World Cup, it will be difficult for Fabio Capello to make a quick decision that may falter his line-up in South Africa.

So Terry gets my call for The Three Lions.

-PRANAV MUKUL

Here goes the Ginger-Man - Paul Scholes.

2010-02-05T01:12:00.000-08:00

Paul Scholes, one of the most experienced player in the Manchester United squad, is the current crux of United's great record in the referee's books. With the 35 year old making 628 senior appearances for the club in over 18 years, he seems to be the one who's never learnt how to tackle over such a long period of time. Over this span, Scholesy has managed to collect 77 Yellow cards and 4 Red Cards in the premier league and 24 Yellows and 2 second Yellows in the Champions' League, that's more than any other player in any competition.

So, is it time for the Ginger-man to drop out now?

No, not as yet. He's been at United since the very beginning and his experience is what counts. The two things required by any soccer player to be called world class are Great Technical Ability and Great Speed and Swiftness. Maybe Scholes is overloaded with just one of them. He has both technical intelligence and tenacity for the ball, which makes him one of the greatest attacking-midfielders in the world. A recent spit from the back to the front field against United's League-cup 2nd leg draw against Manchester City showed what he's really capable of.
Zizou once said, "My toughest opponent? Scholes. He is undoubtedly the greatest of his generation."
So once Scholes retires, United will feel the void of the legend who had sensational passing range, vision, creativity and goalscoring prowess.

-PRANAV MUKUL