Soccer Diva – Page 16 – BRITISH SOCCER {DIVA}

Whoops…they did it again…

The life of an England fan is tough. Prior to every major football competition, we always believe our team can win it all. And going into this World Cup, the confidence of every England fan was exceptionally high. Fabio Capello has everything to do with that confidence. But did the Xen Master make mistakes with his team selection against the United States?

Sure Robert Green screwed up beyond belief. Sure he made one of the biggest mistakes by a goalkeeper in World Cup history. It was embarrassing and it shouldn’t happen at this level of football. But despite Green’s calamity, Capello should have been more assertive about his choice for England goalkeeper. He hesitated in making a decision and this didn’t instill any confidence in Green or the rest of the team.

It wasn’t just the goalkeeping position that posed problems for England. They looked unsure in various areas of the pitch. And Capello is lucky in some regards because Green’s awful error took the spotlight off some of his first-team choices. Ledley King shouldn’t have started in defense with John Terry. He should have played Jamie Carragher or Matthew Upson from the start. James Milner had no place in the team after being sick all week. This was Capello’s biggest mistake. If Gareth Barry was fit then Milner wouldn’t have started at all. But with that in mind, surely Joe Cole or Shaun Wright Phillips would have been a better choice? Emile Heskey did well, but we didn’t look dangerous or threatening up front at all. I still believe Peter Crouch is more dangerous and can give more if he starts the game.

The other major question is can Aaron Lennon actually cross the ball and get it past the first defender? I’ve been critical of Lennon’s quality in terms of what he does after the run even in his role for Tottenham. He can pass players and scare the living daylights out of them but his final ball is so poor. I couldn’t help but think of Theo Walcott during the game last night. In hindsight, should he have been in the squad, especially as he has proved he can perform at that level for England?

I know it’s only the first game. But this isn’t the Premier League people. There are not 30 odd games ahead of us here. There are only two games left and I think Capello has some big decisions to make that will shape England’s success or failure in this tournament.

Who will win..?

cannavaro Are you ready for the British Soccer Diva World Cup competition?

Last time around Fabio Cannavaro had the honour of lifting the World Cup for his beloved Italy. Fast forward four years and we excitedly find ourselves closer to another mouth-watering tournament.

The passion, the glory, the unpredictability and despair make-up some of the greatest sporting memories of our lifetime. Villains and heroes are waiting to be crowned. Are you ready? I can’t take the wait much longer.

Can England really do it? Will Brazil stand in everyone’s way again? How about the Italians and their incredible ability to do well in big tournaments? Is this Holland’s time? What about the reliable Germans? Are the U.S.A. ready to cause a huge upset? Will an Asian country rise and take it all? Can an African nation win the World Cup? Is it possible that we could see a Messi vs Ronaldo final, or will Rooney get his revenge on the winker? I can’t stand it.

This is a competition that unites the world and the world could sure use a month off this summer! We can’t wait until the economy, the politics and the daily grind of life comes to an incredible halt. We are ready for what is undoubtedly the most anticipated sporting event in the universe. How many times have we all played out scoring the winning goal for our country in the World Cup? Even girls do that boys!

When you post your comments to this story, please also include the 2 teams you think will qualify from each group to the knockout stages. Make it clear who you think will finish 1st and 2nd. You get 2 points for the top team and 1 point for the group runner-up. We’d also like for you to pick a “dark horse” team. You only get one choice so make it a good one. If your “dark horse” team makes it, you get a bonus 3 points. And finally, to make this puppy even more fun, we’d like you to pick the two teams you think will make it to the final. You will get 5 points for each team. Once we move to the knockout phase, we will then introduce another round of picks to the competition.

The world waits. Fans of football live in hope. Boyhood dreams are waiting to be fulfilled. Who is your money on..?

Bye-bye Inter…

Jose Mourinho. We here at British Soccer Diva have promoted you from The Special One to The Special Super Duper One & Tactical Master of a Genius. What else is there to say other than, what do you think of how Super Duper the Special One is? And how lucky are Real Madrid going to be next season?

The Champions League final wasn’t as exciting as we had hoped. But there was a spark in the game and he played right up front in the trenches for Inter Milan. Argentine striker Milito reminds me of the year Italian hit man Toto Schillaci took Serie A by storm and then went on to star for Italy in the World Cup that same year.

But I think the difference is Milito will be around for many more seasons scoring many more goals in any league he chooses to play in anywhere in the world. I was shocked Andy Gray didn’t say “take a bow son” following his second goal. His finishing was classic and clinical. What a player he has been this season. Let the bidding begin for his services

Congratulations Bayern Munich for getting as far as you did. If Ribery was playing perhaps it would have been a totally different game. But when you play against the Super Duper Master of a Genius, it’s tough to win. Bayern will be even more of a team to be reckoned with next season. If they can hang on to their best players, they will be just fine.

As for Inter Milan, the Super Duper Special One delivered the goods for the Italians in Europe after a 45 year wait. He did the same at Chelsea after they had gone 50 years without the title. The man knows how to win. How many times do we have to say this? The only questions is how much will he win before his career is over? How many times do we have to ask this? And for Inter, who will dare succeed this genius and coach them next season?

It will take a Brave One to step in to the Special One’s shoes.

They think it’s all over…it is now…

Congratulations Chelsea! After a thrilling season, pants are swinging on the King’s Road again now the Blues have been crowned champions of the Premier League.

Following a crazy tabloid infused season which included naked photographs of Ashley Cole’s private parts and John Terry’s affair with a teammate’s girlfriend, Chelsea were able to grind through their scandalous mess and still win the title in the toughest league in the world. How did they do it? In a word…Ancelotti.

It’s tough to work through any problem in life. It’s especially tough when the world watches as you battle through your problems. Despite the scandals they faced, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti kept his team together. He saved the ship when it was sinking at a rapid rate and he even steadied its course to bring it home safely. He never gave up and always believed his team could win. He made no excuses. He handled it like a world-class manager.

A world-class manager also needs world-class players to perform for him and Chelsea have them in abundance. Didier Drogba has certainly been a star again this season, but it’s the unsung hero Frank Lampard who deserves to be their player of the year. For so long his leadership qualities have walked in the shadow of John Terry. But this season, he showed what makes him such a quality world-class player. He stood behind Terry throughout his scandal and other players followed. He led on the pitch with goals galore and play making any coach would be proud of. Frank Lampard…if only they would make you captain of England!

Chelsea’s achievement this season is impressive. The media told them they were nothing but an aging team who probably didn’t have championship legs. Looks like Lampard & Co. could have run for another 90 minutes on Sunday. They were also told they had a manager who wasn’t tested in the Premier League, despite his success in Italy. Ancelotti went on to win in his first season as manager and could potentially do the double if they win the F.A. Cup.

Most importantly for Chelsea – they finally won “the big one” without “the Special One.” Is it possible they can finally lay the ghost of Mourinho to rest? It is possible when you are living under the reign of King Carlo…

Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur…

After years of paddling around in the kids pool, Tottenham finally get their chance to dip their large man toes in the big boy pool. Champions League football beckons at the Lane next season. Question is, will they sink or swim? For now, Tottenham fans are not worried about the two-legged play-off in August. For now, they are just happy to have been invited.

Regardless of how they do in their first Champions League tournament, for Spurs fans, this is a monumental time. Not only have they achieved their main objective of the season by qualifying for Europe’s most prestigious footballing competition, they have also surpassed expectations by beating London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea. In seasons past, they always failed against the big boys. Not anymore. This is a new Tottenham.

‘Arry Redknapp has done a phenomenal job guiding Spurs into the Champions League in his second season as boss. He has built a team that play for each other. He has developed Michael Dawson into a potential England international. He has made Gareth Bale a positive attacking force and his displays have made him a target for Manchester United. He has given Huddlestone so much confidence that you can now see his “Hoddle” like abilities. He even made Bentley step-up to the plate following Aaron Lennon’s injury. And his boy Peter Crouch came up trumps netting the winner against City. You could go on and on about what a great job ‘Arry and his staff have done. It’s good to see an English manager getting the opportunity to manage an English club in the Champions League.

Spurs are now breathing down Arsenal’s neck in more ways than one. They have certainly caught up to their North London rivals with regards to talent on the pitch and they are certainly miles ahead in the spending ranks. Plus they have done much better in domestic competitions over the last few years. They’ve actually won something! Credit to Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy for making some bold decisions and for being willing to make mistakes in order to achieve success. With Tottenham having gained on Arsenal so fiercely, is the power shifting to the blue side of North London?

There’s lots to dissect after this game, but the other obvious winner last night was British football. Manchester City made some bold statements at the beginning of the season. They spent huge amounts of money which left them so assured about qualifying for the Champions League. Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Wayne Bridge were already guaranteed Champions League football with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. So if it was really about playing Champions League football, then surely Adebayor, Toure, Bridge and Tevez would have have stayed at their previous clubs no? Gareth Barry wanted to play Champions League football but snubbed Liverpool for Manchester City, who were not even in the competition. All of these moves were motivated by the big bucks City were willing to pay. And it didn’t work. Does this mean you can’t buy success?

For British football, Tottenham and Manchester United, the fact City didn’t qualify is great news! But despite their failures, City have much to be excited about next season. They will no doubt have a new manager and they will certainly bring in some new faces. Of the faces they currently have, it’s questionable who will stay. One thing is for sure, Adam Johnson looks like a future star and was the best buy of the bunch that rolled into City over the last few months. If I were running the blue side of Manchester, I’d build my team around Johnson.

For now, the day belongs to Tottenham. It’s been such a long journey for their fans. They are ready to cheer their team on in Europe. Could they be singing “Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur” all the way to Wembley in 2011 or will it all end in tears before the party has even begun..?

Did Inter Milan park the bus..?

Football really is a funny old game. Whether you win, lose or draw, as an owner, manager or player, at some point, what you say or how you play can always come back to haunt you. Always!

Just a few seasons back when Jose Mourinho was manager of Chelsea, he made this comment following a Premier League game against London rivals Tottenham. “As we say in Portugal, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal. I would have been frustrated if I had been a supporter who paid £50 to watch this game because Spurs came to defend. There was only one team looking to win, they only came not to concede – it’s not fair for the football we played.”

With Inter Milan’s heroic victory over Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League this week, you could easily point the finger at Mourinho and his Inter team for parking their bus in front of the Catalan goal at the Nou Camp. You could also say that fans were upset his team was so defensive and that they didn’t come to play real football against the world’s prettiest team. You could say Mourinho did to Barcelona what Tottenham did to him. But would you? Was this really a case of parking the bus, or was it purely a defensive master class planned by the Special One and executed by his loyal army of men?

If you read the media reports in Italy, Mourinho’s team played like heroic gladiators on the night. If you read the media reports in England, it’s evident how the British game misses Jose since his departure from the Premier League. And if you read the media reports in Spain, Inter’s play was negative and “park the bus like” and Barca were the unlucky heroes after dominating on the night. Isn’t it great how we can all see things so differently? But don’t you think that even as rival football fans we should give credit to the opposing team when we witness something truly amazing?

For me, it wasn’t a case of parking the bus, it was truly a case of tactical mastery. And as we said in a post earlier this month when Inter Milan beat Chelsea, Jose Mourinho is still very much the Special One. Perhaps we would have viewed Inter Milan’s approach differently if they had kept 11 players on the pitch. But when you go a player down and you are winning the tie by 2 goals, there’s no need to gamble. There’s no need to chase the game. You just defend. And that’s what Inter Milan did. And their organization, their timing, their positioning…it was all just so impressive. It wasn’t a case of parking the bus and hoping for the best. They wore Barcelona down. They had the tactics and the will to win. The red card changed the game.

Busquet’s beahviour was disgusting. The way he had one eye on the referee while rolling around like a girl was grotesque. Motta should definitely know that in the modern game if you touch a player’s face like that you could be sent off. But the manner in which Busquet reacted was truly unsportsmanlike. As talented as Barcelona are, it’s this part of their game that makes them unattractive. They get away with it and the media doesn’t give them a tough time about it. Lots of acting, rolling around and poor behaviour overall. Following that incident, I found myself rooting for Inter Milan even more. And I think the sending-off gave the Inter team even more determination to win.

Even Lionel Messi couldn’t do anything in that game and despite Barca’s dominance of possession, they couldn’t break down the Inter defense because of the incredible organization and discipline. Pique finally got the goal that gave Barca hope, but the game was already lost in the second half in Milan. And all Mourinho had to do at the Nou Camp was not give anything cheap away by gambling unnecessarily. They played their game to perfection and shockingly, for a defensive performance by one team, it was still compelling and thrilling to watch.

When the final whistle reverberated around the Nou Camp, Mourinho exploded into a celebration like we’ve never seen before. It was even crazier than his leg slide across the pitch and his running down the touch line. This time around he ran onto the pitch with his finger firmly pointing in the air. You could see how much this all meant to him. How much he wanted to win this game. In fact, he wanted more than just a victory. He wanted to dot the “I” and cross the “T.” He wanted to show Barcelona they made a mistake about him. He wanted to prove he could beat the best in their own back yard. And he did. And Victor Valdes could do nothing about it!

Mourinho will continue to beat the best in their own back yard. Why? Because he is the best. He’s special. And when his career is over and he’s sitting in his favourite chair looking back, he will have an abundance of trophies from each of the major footballing countries. And he will probably have a World Cup winners medal with Portugal too. Only one question remains and we asked it a few months ago. Where will he go next? Wherever he goes, fasten your seat belts and get your popcorn ready, because as T.O. says “it’s going to be a show.”

Do you think Mourinho’s celebration was over-the-top? Did Inter Milan park the bus…?

Player of the year…

The ultimate climax is upon us. The season is reaching its crescendo. We are all about to burst. This is one of the most exciting finishes to a season in recent years. Who will win the Premier League? Who will win the Champions League? Heck who will win the World Cup?

We are all waiting. And in the midst of our anticipation comes another question. Which player has made his team tick the most in the Premier League? Which player has been the sensation of the season? Who deserves to win Player of the Year?

Can anyone eclipse the season Wayne Rooney has had? If Manchester United don’t win the league, is Rooney’s season a failure? Do his 30 odd goals count for nothing? Can we call him the best if United don’t win it all?

With all his injuries, is it fair that Cesc Fabregas is in the frame for Player of the Year? Has he really made a difference to Arsenal’s season? Has he truly been the best player?

Carlos Tevez has scored a bundle of goals for Manchester City. Has the Argentine hit man done enough to be considered the best in 2010? If Manchester City don’t qualify for the Champions League, can we really put Tevez on the best player pedastal?

Didier Drogba has been superb for Chelsea over the years. But has he really lit it up this season? The Blues could easily walk away with the title, but has Drogba done enough to win the big player prize?

Which players do you think have been totally ignored for Player of the Year? Did Gareth Bale deserve a shot? Should Vermaelen have been considered? Why is Lampard ignored year-after-year?

Have your say…

Hello Premier League…

The Toon Army is back in the Premier League! Newcastle United clinched promotion before they even kicked a ball or a Sheffield United player last night. And it’s much relief after the nightmare of being relegated last season. What a difference a year makes.

Mike Ashley’s Newcastle reign started horrifically. We all know the story. He made some terrible decisions. Hiring Dennis Wise. Firing Kevin Keegan. The list goes on and on. He even tried to sell the club when fans got hostile which was scary for his family so he wanted out. But no buyers meant no deal and Ashley had to figure out a plan to save Newcastle. The club was on its knees. What a difference a year makes.

Despite the turmoil of their relegation year, it does appear as though Mike Ashley learned much from his hellish experience. Together with his executive team, manager Chris Hughton and the players, they banded together at the start of their Championship season and made a very important decision. As a group they would fight to get Newcastle promoted. And their inspiration? The same Newcastle United fans that passionately protested against their self-proclaimed football fan owner, Mike Ashley. What a difference a year makes.

Newcastle United fans are without question the most passionate fans in England. It doesn’t matter who their team is playing against, they will turn out in their thousands to watch. And when their beloved Newcastle hit rock bottom, they didn’t let them down. They sucked-up the whole relegation experience and they too made a decision to support their team in the pursuit to get back into the Premier League. Week after week 50,000 would show-up to watch Leeds, Cardiff City or Sheffield Wednesday. They watched and cheered with the same passion they would show against Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal. These same fans that were ready to walk away from the Mike Ashley years altogether made a U-Turn. What a difference a year makes.

When you scratch away at a club, whether it’s the owner, the players or the staff, deep beneath the turf lies the heart beat that keeps it all alive and possible. The fan. But in Newcastle’s case something unusual happened in their relegation season. The players, the owner and the staff stuck together with the fans to fight back. Sure a couple of players left to remain in the Premier League, but most however stayed which added to that strong heart beat that runs right through the club. We’re the first to point the finger at players for being greedy, but the likes of Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands and Fabricio Coloccini could have easily left but they didn’t. They chose to stay with the club that portrayed nothing but dysfunction to the world. They chose to fight for the owner and fans. What a difference a year makes.

Credit to Newcastle. I for one am delighted they are back. Hopefully Mike Ashley will do it right this time around in the Premier League. He will need to invest in players and build around the core that played so valiantly throughout their Championship season. The one question remains. Will Chris Hughton be given the big job? Who would have thought he’d still be standing at Newcastle United after everything that’s gone on? In football, anything is possible. The Toon Army can say hello again to the Premier League. What a difference a year makes…

The special one strikes again…

72067014SJ001_UEFA_Champion When Chelsea sacked Jose Mourinho, we all knew he would come back to haunt them as coach of an opposing team. On his much hyped return to London with Inter Milan, things went very well for the man from Portugal.

As his old team crumbled, his new team stood like giants. And with millions of football fans watching, it was evident the ghost of “the Special One” still lingers and bedevils Chelsea Football Club.

How much do you miss him now Blues fans? Will you ever get over him?

Avram Grant, Phil Scolari, Guus Hiddink and now potentially Carlo Ancelotti have all failed to fill the shoes left wide open by the “Special One.” Sure they won the F.A. Cup with Hiddink and Ancelotti could yet snag the Premier League. But the trophy the club and their Russian billionaire owner so desperately desire has eluded them once again. Will this Chelsea team ever win the Champions League? Does Roman have any regrets sacking Mourinho? Does he wish he could turn back the clock?

Make no mistake. Jose Mourinho is still the “Special One.” He orchestrated that Champions League game better than a conductor guiding the Italian Symphony. The defense stood big and tall like a woodwind section never missing a beat. The midfield men pulled all the strings by plucking and playing the Chelsea team like several fiddles. And in true brass form, the strike force huffed and puffed to a massive crescendo, helping Inter Milan create some beautiful music on the night. It came together as flawlessly as the symphony always does.

As much as Mourinho loves Chelsea, it must have been a sweet victory for him last night. He made Stamford Bridge a fortress during his tenure at Chelsea. They were undefeated at home when he was the boss and he built a sense of invincibility with a Chelsea team that had underachieved for so many years. Chelsea were very little when Mourinho arrived. They had won the F.A. Cup and Carling Cup here and there. But the league eluded them for 50 years. He put Chelsea on the map. Granted he had Roman’s money to do it, but as we’ve all seen, it’s not easy to just buy and win. Go and ask Rafa!

There is so much you can write about Mourinho and there is much you can say about Chelsea and how they have lost their bite since his departure. What I will say about Mourinho is that the man is a born winner. He is a born leader of men. He can win anywhere. The question on all of our lips is where will he go next? I for one would love to see him back in the Premier League, but something tells me he might be heading for Spain.

Wherever he goes, he will inspire, he will deliver and he will be special…

Who will cross the finish line first..?

horses Our crystal ball spoke to us clearly and concisely when the excitement and anticipation of the 2009/10 season kicked-off. We made our predictions. We chose the chosen ones and it was off to the races.

As the best of the best galloped into the eyes of victory and defeat, we raved, we ranted, we posted and we polled about the beautiful game. And as the race to be crowned champion nears its end, we can’t help but wonder, who will cross the finish line first?

For so long Chelsea have been the favourites to scoop the Premier League title. If I remember correctly, we warned the Stamford Bridge outfit not to celebrate too soon. At Christmas, the Chelsea players and faithful believed they had it in the bag. There was an evident cockiness to them which has become synonymous with Chelsea. But a loss to Everton and a whipping by Manchester City in their own park soon made the Blues players and fans realize the fight to the finish will not be so easy. Did they under estimate their opponents? Did the John Terry scandal hurt them? What would they do without Drogba? Will the iron Chelski curtain find its strength again as they head towards the finish?

With Wayne Rooney turning on the style and making a case to be European Footballer of the Year, Manchester United are once again finding their strength and form at the right time. Determined to create history and make it four Premier League titles in a row, the Red Devils are as hungry as ever for silver ware. They’ve already bagged the Carling Cup, they have one eye on a Champions League quarter final spot and they are two points clear at the Premier League summit. Granted they haven’t been as exciting to watch as a team this term, but Rooney has given us every reason to be up for watching Manchester United play. Do you think they’d be flying if Ferdinand and Vidic were fit all season? Do you think Rooney deserves to be Player of the Year? Has Valencia been a success? Will Berbatov be the man United fans want him to be?

And what of Arsenal? After losses to Manchester United and Chelsea, everyone had written off their title chances for good. How could the Gunners win the league if they couldn’t beat the two best teams in the country? Somehow, some way, Arsenal have hung in there. Even though they lost to the big two, they picked up some good results in games we’ve easily seen them lose over the last few seasons. Beating the likes of Stoke and Hull has helped. Losing Ramsey to such a horrific injury has not. But unlike the Eduardo injury experience which saw Arsenal implode that season, it appears this time around the team are galvanized to win it for Ramsey. They seem to have a purpose we may not have seen in recent times. Can Arsenal finish strong without Fabregas? Would they be clear of United and Chelsea on points at this stage if Van Persie hadn’t been injured? Was Vermaelen the best buy of the season? How good could Arsenal actually be if they bought three more world class players?

The rest of the league are fighting for a fourth Champions League spot, a Europa League place or just plain old fashioned survival. How do your predictions match up to what you thought at the beginning of the season? Who do you see wining it all? Chelsea? Manchester United? Or Arsenal? Can Tottenham really steal a Champions League birth? Will Manchester City or Aston Villa ruin their coming out party? Will we see another famous old club like West Ham go down? Has Hull City’s luck finally run out? When Portsmouth go down, how much further will they sink over the next few years? Remember Leeds?

There is still much to play for. It’s sad that the season is almost ending but fear not fellow footie fans! The silver lining is that we are in a World Cup year so the wait for some quality football won’t feel like eternity. Could this be the year Wayne Rooney shines on the world stage? Is it his time to be crowned a world football superstar? The race to the finish line is almost over. The only question is, who will win?