2011 May | Soccer Football

Football Season Finished?

May 292011

The Kuban Stadium - Krasnodar

If the events of last night’s Champions League final have left you desperate for yet more football, you could watch the English League 1 playoff final today, between two of the most promising teams around the lower leagues – Huddersfield Town and Peterborough United. But what after that?

Well, you could follow one of the more exciting leagues in Europe – the Russian Premier League – which for the last time will be taking place in the summer months, as they are due to switch to the same timing as the other major leagues next season. The league now features another top flight derby match to go with the several Moscow derbies, as there are two teams from Krasnodar – FC Kuban Krasnodar, and FC Krasnodar – both of whom play at the Kuban Stadium (pictured). Keep checking Soccer Football for more information and regular Russian Premier League updates.

Then we have the transfer merry go round which takes place during the off season, where the transfer of just one player can initiate a flurry of player movement, as managers look to replace their star player with someone equally as competent, but maybe less costly. We will bring you some insight on the main stories, and plenty random speculation and gossip about transfers which will never happen – surely they’ll never happen.

Will Neymar end up at Chelsea as everyone suggests? Or will QPR snatch him from under their noses, along with a timely interception of David De Gea on his way up to Manchester.

Barcelona in Attack

Tactics

May 282011

After looking in the last article, at how Manchester United can try to stop Barcelona playing, whilst at the same time launching effective attacks of their own, it is now time to look at what at times can be an unstoppable force – the Barcelona attack. Because when you keep the ball like they do, you rarely need to defend!

Having one of the best players ever to play the game helps. As does having the top 3 players in the world at the moment, but these players have been allowed to shine in the Barcelona system, and the system benefits them as much as they benefit the team. It gives them an amount of creative freedom to do what they’re best at.

At times Lionel Messi is the old fashioned inside right, receiving the ball just off the front line, giving him the opportunity to run at defenders, or make late runs into the box to get on the end of a precision pass from elsewhere. Daniel Alves is basically a right wing forward, it’s always funny when he gets listed as ‘defender’ on team sheets. But will they be more wary of Manchester United’s counter attacking in this game? You can expect a front line of Pedro, Villa, Messi to be listed in the match previews, but at times this is more like Pedro, Villa, Messi, Alves.

The defenders they do have, Pique and Puyol, normally play quite wide when attacking, using the link up with Busquets or Xavi to get the attack started. Always providing an option to retain the ball. You could expect a Rooney yellow card, due to frustration from relentless closing down in this area to no avail.

And we haven’t even got around to the guy who won the World Cup for Spain, or the guy who wants more competitions to be created so he can score goals in those too.

You’ll notice the tactics diagram doesn’t contain any of the usual arrows for player or ball movement, and the apparent lack of standard formation in the attacking sense, which is another reason why the pass and move game of Barcelona is so difficult to defend against. The options they have when on the ball, are seemingly unlimited.

Champions League Final Preview

Tactics

May 262011

Manchester United V Barcelona – 28/05/2011 – Wembley Stadium

The odds for Manchester United to win the Champions League final, are around 3-1 with most bookies. Is there really that much of a gulf between the finest team England has to offer, and the Spanish champions, Barcelona? If Manchester United are to upset these odds in the upcoming Wembley final, they won’t just have to display the mental strength that Manchester United units are known for, they will also have to get it tactically right.

For some tactical references they could look at the recent spate of El Clasico matches, and surely they will take some encouragement from the fact that Real Madrid seemed to stand the best chance of stopping Barcelona from playing, by employing some swift and direct attacking moves of their own. And the deployment of Pepe in a spoiling midfield role might be the type of curveball required to upset the Catalan pass and move.

What will be important for Manchester United is their use of wingers, along with a a midfield spoiler of their own. It might be worth taking gambles on playing some players out of their usual position, but doing their usual job. For example, a midfield duo of Park and Giggs would mean they have the energy and work rate which Park guarantees for 90 minutes (probably 180 if he had to), and the poise, experience, and passing skill which Giggs has shown all season – he’s been their best central midfielder.

So the plan is, win the ball in midfield (easy right? Maybe Fletcher and Park in a 4-5-1 then), use the wingers to take advantage of Barcelona’s attacking full back(s), and cross it in for that poacher by the name of Hernandez to get in ahead of the Barca centre backs.

It seems the important positions in both attack and defence for Manchester United will be the wide players. Evra at left back will have to be on top of his game defensively, as he’s likely to be up against Messi, cutting inside more often than not, and they may go for a more defensive, more experienced right back in O’Shea, over Rafael.

So in summary, they have to win the ball back in the middle, and attack down the wings spraying balls into space on the left and right. Then once in the attacking position, pick the right ball, which could very well be the on rushing Rooney looking for a return pass.

Maybe 3-1 is about right then.

Abramovich Announces New Chelsea Manager(s)

Satire

May 232011

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will be taking an unprecedented approach to next seasons English Premier League campaign, after announcing that he will appoint one manager for each of Chelsea’s games. The managers will be picked according to their strengths and weaknesses when compared with the opponents they are facing.

Rumours are already circulating that a returning Avram Grant “won’t last until half time”, and there are worries that Michael Sheen and Ricky Tomlinson aren’t the managers Abramovich thinks they are.

Rafa Benitez will be brought in for a tough European game where they will need a bit of luck, and apparently the Spaniard has been offered a season long role entitled – Get The Best From Torres. Ian Holloway will be in charge for any game where they require a breath of fresh air, and Alex Ferguson could be drafted in for any important game refereed by Howard Webb, possibly versus Liverpool.

The names mentioned so far are a varied bunch, some of whom are listed here:

Erland Johnsen
Marco Van Basten
Andre Villas-Boas
Guus Hiddink
Tim Lovejoy
Harry Redknapp
Frank Rijkaard
Frank Sinclair
Mark Hughes
Eddie Newton
Gianfranco Zola
Joachim Loew
Martin Jol
Tore Andre Flo
Louis Van Gaal
Martin O’Neill
Roberto Di Matteo
Gus Poyet
Dennis Waterman

Carlos Tevez Free Kick

Analysis, Premier League

May 182011

The best free kick takers of all time? Well we won’t get into any of those top 5 or top 10 lists that are much loved on the internet, but surely any of the names who frequent these lists would have looked on in admiration at Carlos Tevez’s second goal against Stoke. We’re talking Juninho Pernambucano or Sinisa Mihajlovic territory here.

Aligned just to the right side of the goal and about 30 yards out, as one camera angle captured it brilliantly from behind, Tevez runs up from the left creating what is almost a right angle in relation to where he wanted to hit it. Then with some of the best technique you’re ever likely to see in any sport which involves kicking a ball, Tevez not only bends it around the wall, but hits it with enough power that it gives the goalkeeper absolutely no chance.

We’ve seen the lauded technique of Ronaldo or Drogba in the way they almost put their foot through the ball to generate such power, and also the ‘benders’ like Beckham or Ronaldinho. Then you have the smash the shit out of it school of free kick takers, who will just run up in a straight line and belt it, in the style of an old rugby kicker – a technique very well practised by the likes of Chelsea centre back, Alex.

Tevez latest effort seemed to be a combination of all these free kick styles, having the power and velocity of a Ronaldo blast (but not ending up in the stands), and the curve and precision of a Beckham free kick (but not ending up nestled in a camera man’s face).

All Liverpool Need Is Love

Satire, Transfer Rumours

May 142011

In a bid to restore more of Liverpool’s former glories, Kenny Dalglish, new contract in hand, has requested that Liverpool’s owners make a bid for CSKA Moscow’s Brazilian Striker, Vagner Love.

Kenny has already posted lyrics on various Liverpool fan forums, in which he wants the terrace chant for this potential new signing to be based around The Beatles classic, ‘All You Need Is Love’. It is believed that the combination of local youth, handpicked foreign talent, and Beatles songs, will help propel Liverpool back to the success of their glory years.

Andy Carroll and Sotirios Krygiakos are said to be eagerly anticipating the arrival of Love, in the hope he will give them some tips on how to add some colour to their long locks, without compromising their style and hard man image.

One of our insider sauces for transfer rumours, High Profile, say that the board have backed the deal for the Brazilian, but they encountered problems when it came to dealing with the selling club. In a bizarre twist of events, CSKA Moscow retorted with the only riposte they thought suitable for such a culturally motivated transfer, by informing Liverpool that ‘money can’t buy you Love’.

After this unexpected breakdown in talks between the two clubs, the Anfield club are set to turn their attention to Barcelona’s left sided attacking fullback, Maxwell.

Alex Ferguson Set To Retire

Satire, Transfer Rumours

May 102011

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has announced that he will retire from football management, after Harry Redknapp suggested Manchester City will sign players this summer “who’ll blow your brains out”.

Sir Alex is thought to place a high value on his footballing brain, something which served him well as a quick minded striker during his playing career, and even more so during his impressive managerial exploits. He rejects the notion that he will let these upstarts from across the city have any effect on his brain, and the suggestion that it will be blown out by Manchester City’s summer signings didn’t go down well with the short tempered Scot.

Officials around the Old Trafford club are suggesting that Fergie is extremely worried by Redknapp’s comments, so much so that he is set to announce his retirement at some point in the off season.

So who are these mind blowing players? Stay tuned to Soccer Football during the coming days and weeks, where we will keep you up to date with all the latest transfer rumours!

Transfer Rumours Update

Satire, Transfer Rumours, World Football

May 042011

We begin with today’s story that Michael Owen is to join Derby. After joining Manchester United, Owen claimed he has been unfairly labelled injury prone. However, after struggling with injuries during his time at Manchester United, the striker has been linked with a move away to several Premier League clubs. But the obvious choice for the rumour monger would be Derby County.

Carlos Tevez has seemed more and more unsettled at Manchester City lately, and now the club have put a £50m price tag on the striker, suggesting he could leave. This will alert Chelsea as Abramovic continues to seek success in Europe, and what better way to do it than with a £100m strike force. Derby County are also rumoured to be interested in the player.

French title chasers Lille are set to begin next season with no players. Their entire squad have been linked with moves away from the club after their success in Ligue 1 this season, with Arsenal amongst the interested parties having made a bid for all their French players. Borussia Dortmund are facing a similar dilemma to keep hold of their team, with Bayern Munich showing interest.

Sachin Tendulkar has attracted the interest of Blackburn’s new owners, and the club are expected to offer him a contract in the summer. They have sent scouts to several Indian Premier League fixtures, and have reports that Sachin is a good striker of the ball.

And finally, QPR have shown interest in Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano. Officials within the club are said to be checking for any 3^rd party ownership, as it is vital for them that he has it.