Football Tactics and Opinion
Neymar’s world record transfer is sure to have a ripple effect on football for years to come.
However, if one were to speculate and build a fantasy world, what domino effect would this transfer really have on Europe’s top leagues?
For a select number of clubs, we can only imagine….
Real Madrid have noticed that Barcelona has just been weakened and push to sign Continue reading “The Neymar Effect : A fantasy future based on the world’s record transfer fee”
There will always be that performance at the Camp Nou.
The 2010-2011 Champions League First Knockout stage. The second leg between Arsenal and Barcelona in Catalonia. Underneath the starry skies and upon the canvas of the European stage. Inside the amphitheater that forms Barcelona’s majestic football stadium. Amidst the brilliance of Lionel Messi, within the kaleidoscopic passing of Barcelona and beyond the controversy of a Robin Van Persie red card — there was Jack Wilshere.
The then 19-year old showed why many had Continue reading “Jack Wilshere must be wary of becoming Wayne Rooney”
Not many would have disagreed with Arsene Wenger. His observation seemed spot on, his assertion quite right on the money. For the 2013-2014 Champions League season, Bayern Munich were the favourites.
In fact, as Wenger aptly put it, they were the super favourites.
And that truly showed in the opening rounds — especially against Manchester City. At the Etihad Stadium, Bayern Munich out-passed and outplayed the Citizens. It seemed then as if the Bavarian club was on course to achieve the unachievable. Maybe, they could become the first club in the Champions League era to defend the European Cup.
But laboured wins against Arsenal and Manchester United in the knock out rounds brought about a sense of Continue reading “Why the Champions League will be open and more competitive than previous years”
Rarely do two games in the midst of a six year successful period provide such a quantum conclusion. Indeed, with the emphatic semi-final loss to Bayern Munich last season, there was a sense that the end of an era had arrived for Barcelona.
That is a somewhat hurried conclusion. For if that had been the case, semi-final defeats in 2010 and 2012 would have indicated that long before 2013. But while that had been the short conclusionContinue reading “Changing Times : Gerardo Martino”
For a while, Xavi Hernandez seriously considered joining Manchester United.
He was just breaking through from the youth ranks at Barcelona and into the first team and though he was being touted as the next best thing, he had one problem. Pep Guardiola was still ahead of him in the pecking order. The then Barcelona captain commanded the midfield with orchestral fashion. Guardiola had been injured when Xavi had made a name for himself but the Catalan idol, while acknowledging the prodigious talents of the dimunitive Xavi, had promised to make life hard for him to get into the first team. Guardiola had Continue reading “Cesc Fabregas: To leave or not to leave?”
Such is the nature of football that even in a score-line as emphatic as 4-0, it is the slimmest of margins that illuminate.
As such, it has been coming for some time now. Barcelona was bound to lose out someday. Dethroned they have been, but nobody thought it would come in this way.
Of the many traits that have been bestowed on this Barcelona side is the fact that it was never expected that they would capitulate in the same manner that Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team did in the 1994 Final. Whereas Cruyff considered identity above everything else, this Barca side had the insatiable desire to produce results on a constant occasion. Thus success has Continue reading “Bayern dethrone mighty Barca”
[This is a Champions League semi-final preview of Bayern vs Barcelona. For Dortmund vs Real Madrid, click here]
The change of guard is probably here. As the players step onto the pitch and listen to that Champions League anthem, they will know that the shaking of hands that follows may very well symbolise the passing on of the baton.
Bayern Munich are most certainly the next kings of Europe. It is they who look most likely to dominate Europe in years to come the same way Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona did. As such, Guardiola himself seems to acknowledge – he will be coaching the Bavarian side as from next season.
Bayern come up against a wounded Continue reading “Changing times for Barcelona and Bayern”
Sometimes, greatness is thrust upon human shoulders allowing superhuman feats to be achieved.
Lionel Messi is titanium. Hamstrung and clearly unfit, he ensured Barcelona would not fall. Starting from the bench, it was his introduction that allowed Barcelona to rise above the solid resistance that Continue reading “Titanium Messi”
[ This is continuation of the article – No Surprises in the Champions League ]
With the second legs of the quarter finals to come, here is a look at how each of the eight teams’ prospects of winning the Champions League fair. Plus an analysis of what to expect from each club in the years to come.
With the team most likely to win the Champions League first,
1. FC BARCELONA
Despite everything, they remain the class act. That they did not manage to lose a game in which they were significantly outplayed is testament to that. In the end, it felt as if PSG had snatched victory from their jaws.
As the second leg returns to the Camp Nou, there is no doubt that this isContinue reading “Who will win the Champions League?”
[ In relation to this article also, check out the follow up article – Who will Win the Champions League? ]
Nobody in their wildest dreams would have imagined that it would be Chelsea, not Bayern Munich that would be climbing the steps of the Allianz Arena to accept the Champions League trophy from Michel Platini. The events that had just been witnessed signalled the culmination of a dream run by the London club. As such, it was a surprise.
That surprise however will not be Continue reading “No surprises in the Champions League”
Futball Triangle 