Michu's emotional goodbye to football & all that's good, bad & ugly about the beautiful game

Spanish international professional football player, Celta Vigo, Swansea City, Rayo Vallecano , Napoli and La Felgura striker , Miguel Perez Cuesta, announced his retirement as a player via letter written both in Spanish and English, scanned and then shared on his Twitter page.

At 31 years of age, Michu's retirement isn't entirely unexpected. Moreso, following a struggle with injury.  But it drew us in as at the very end, Michu once again was both passionate and sublime. This time, to show us how deep football gets for a professional footballer.

Dissecting AVBs Depature From Tottenham on 'Mutual Consent'

I am of the red persuasion when it comes to matters soccer in the north of London. Naturally, I should be over the moon with the news coming out of the white corner. Andre Villas Boas has been shown the door. No telling the imprints of Tottenham Hotspurs chairman David Levy’s boot(s) on his backside. Mutual consent is cited in the press release by the London club. 

I wonder why they bother to put that in there: Mutual consent. As if, so late in the day, there is a contrary alternative. Besides, the familiar cry of vultures explained the moving shadows over AVB’s head in last night’s presser. Five nil to Liverpool at White Hart Lane, and you and I knew too well of the aroma wafting in from the kitchen clouding  the press box. It was not the whiff of burgers and fries meant to feed the angry hungry lot at White Hart Lane that Sunday evening; AVB’s goose had been cooked.

Kolo Toure Doping Saga: In His Defense A Can Of Worms

Image Gunnersphere

Any parent would be proud to have two have nee two world beaters. Top athletes at the top of the game, rubbing shoulders with the best in their sport and sharing the occasional beer after a well fought out duel on the sporting arena away from the television cameras. Likewise it is a pride of a nation whenever those breed of the fruits of its soil fly the flag on the world stage. For a continent like Africa seen to be the world's basket case, it is always a joy when one of the brethren overcomes malaria, malnutrition, prejudice, poverty and its brothers and makes it.

Understandable it is therefore that Uruguayan hero Luiz Suarez draws disgust courtesy of his cheating hand that kept the goal that could made the Black Stars of Ghana the first African nation to make it to the semifinals of World Cup right here on African soil in the 2010 South African edition. What is even harder for the public to understand is how such unsporting behavior, such blatant cheating in the full light of the floodlights of  Soccer City stadium could fail to draw personal liability.

Maybe it's on account of such happenings and on the back of tales passed down generations- most notably the suspect manner in how Cameroon was officiated out of another milestone way back in  the 1990 Italy  edition- that the six month ban imposed on former Arsenal ' The Invincibles' team member, now former Manchester City captain, Ivorian national team automatic pick Kolo Toure; after his 'B' sample failed the doping test, has been met with muted reaction in most of Africa.

Arsenal fans remember the shock when Arsene Wenger chose the Sheik's petrodollars over the dedication, handwork and 'die-for-the-badge' attitude that Kolo Toure put in week in week out for Arsenal even when it became more apparent that age was catching up with the defender. For some it was good business as Kolo Toure had without doubt done his bit for Arsenal and it would have been selfish of Wenger's to deny the Ivorian the call of a new challenge and the well known perks that come with being a Manchester City player- probably not bad boy Mario Balotelli but definitely Kolo Toure deserved all that.

When Yaya Toure was spat out by super Barcelona after years of service comparable only to his brother, to well wishers, it was a football fairy tale when the Toure brother's reunited at Manchester City. Though Yaya's move was more about the money the Ivorian would be making as a Manchester City player bringing to fore what Arsene wenger labels as financial doping in football, it is the other Toure's doping calamity that has left a stink.

In a paper “Doping in Sport: From Strychnine to Genetic Enhancement, It’s a Moving Target” Gary I. Wadler then a associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University School Of Medicine notes “ Competition, at its most basic level, appears to drive athletes to do whatever it takes to win. Perhaps the need to win at all costs is a Darwinian response, an adaptive mechanism..” As a sports fan it is often hard to forget the pressure on the shoulders of our favored athletes.

Taking the case of Yaya Toure for instance, the noise has only quieted down on account of his impressive end of season form where his contributions to Manchester City's first cup in over half a century were taken to be worthwhile paybacks for the monies that he takes home as the game's top earner. No telling the pressure on his brother's shoulders when he chose to take, as he puts it in his defense, his wife's slimming pills

Doping is as old as sports Wadler quips “Even as long ago as the 3rd century B.C., the Greeks, inventors of democracy and the Socratic method, were known to ingest hallucinogenic mushrooms to improve athletic performance. In the Roman era, gladiators used stimulants in the famed Circus Maximus (circa 600 B.C.) to overcome fatigue and injury, while other athletes experimented with caffeine, alcohol, nitroglycerine, opium and even the potent stimulant, strychnine.”

On the day that Barcelona face Manchester United at Wembley in the 2010/11 Champions league final, it is worth noting one of the star attractions-super Messi- were it not for a defined medical reason could be said to have benefited from doping.

 The Messi legend goes that Barcelona acquired the services of a player who Wenger reckons that hisexploitss in the modern game could only elicit one responsee: Kneeling down- as the Catalan outfit were the only team interested in the young exceptionally gifted yet puny player (on account of a genetic deficiency in  growth hormone) , who could afford the treatment that the now 21st Century god of football desperately needed.  

So dicey is this doping in sports affair that even the definition of what doping is remains problematic. Others argue for the need to demonstrate intent on the athletes part which as Wadler notes is problematic as “notion that we can actually assess one’s intent, both qualitatively and quantitatively” is futile leaving room for the use of  “surrogate measure, the testing of bodily fluids, especially urine, has become a marker for assessing intent.”

That said, did Kolo Toure INTEND to gain unfair advantage by taking his wife's slimming pills? Qualitatively? As one of his fans, probably not. Quantitatively? The 'B' sample says it all. Worth noting is that in the eyes of his fans, probably the qualitative measure counts more than any quantitative measure thus the n muted repose and overwhelming public opinion in his support. Nonetheless, those six months ought be enough to hit the gym.

My father oftened told me the truth is often simple. The simplest of explanations oten bear the truth. Though Kolo Toure's defense was as simplistic as they come, as Wadler notes “ It’s a struggle between the manipulators versus the investigators and each side’s armaments grow more advanced each day.”

Arsenal Catches a Manchester United as Chelsea Goes Down with a Case of Malaria

Fifteen games in and looking at the Barclay's English Premier league Table, you'd have to rub your eyes just to make sure it's not a mirage.

Image: socerlens.com

Nothing peculiar with Manchester United leading the table two points clear of second placed Chelsea.  Or with Arsenal being third only on goal difference, +15 compared to Chelsea +19. Manchester City clinches the final Champions League spot three points behind Arsenal with Tottenham breathing down their necks just a point away goes quite according to script.


The astonishing part is the little mater that the league leading team has drawn half of its games played so far. The second and third placed  teams, Chelsea and Arsenal, have an identical record having lost four games and drawn two in just 15 games. Such statistics bring forth the fact that things are not that ordinary this 2010/2011 Premier League season.

 The English premier league has become somewhat an affair akin to a formula 1 race.

Depending on the track, the conditions, team decisions and luck, any of the drivers at the start of the race can win the race. Similarly, dependent on the venue, manager decisions and luck, any of teams in the top flight English division can win the match.

Looking at it,  I don't think the phrase 'upset' quite applies anymore. Consider this: Is Chelsea's defeat at home to Sunderland an upset? Or are home Arsenal's defeats to West Bromwich  Albion and Newcastle up sets? What of West Bromwich Albion's come back at Old Trafford to earn a draw?

Two of Arsenal's defeats came at home after seemingly having the respective match under control  commanding a two goal advantage at the break. Fist it was the unlikely West Bromwich Albion resurrection then a Garth Bale inspired second half comeback which gave Tottenham their first London derby away win in 13 years.

Both matches ended with a 3-2 Arsenal loss. The manner of these defeats reminds one of Manchester United early season woes when they threw away leads most notably at  Everton away and West Bromwich Albion at home.

Bizarrely, the past few seasons, Arsenal was the team among the top three that drew the most matches- part reason for their continuing seven year wait for Premier League success. Now it appears it's Manchester United's turn to suffer the draws bug.

Chelsea's woes appear to be beyond Didier Drogba's recent bout of malaria which saw a dip in his form if the observations of teammate Malouda are to be believed. If it is, then it must be of the highly virulent complicated type complete with cerebral symptoms; occasioned by the larvae of the dangerous p. falciparum species blocking  low caliber cerebral vessels of the London outfit's decision making organ.

The wisdom behind the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti's assistant is yet to dawn on the rest of us.  Simply put, Ray Wilkins was the 'premiership guy' considering his wealth of experience. Why Roman Abrahamovich chose to relieve him off his services is lost to many.

The disgruntled voices coming from Chelsea Technical Director who has indicated his desire to quit at the end of his contract in the summer is another cause of concern especially in light of the intense competition for talent among European clubs and Leagues.

Competition is the rightful answer to this apparent seismic shift in power among the European football clubs. How else can one explain the changed topography of the English premier league log?

Unlike the US National Football League (NFL) where a non -performance based revenue system has enabled smaller teams be more competitive as they are availed with funds strictly  earmarked  for development of  team quality, the different nature of the European scene sees the top performing teams  retain most generated  revenues, while collectively bargained revenue sources like Tv broadcasting returns are shared in hierarchical fashion.

The amount received by each team depends on the teams final position in the league.

The effect of these two systems has resulted in different scenarios. In The NFL, every team stands a chance of being competitive as the shared revenues enable them attract and retain quality players who might have otherwise been hoarded by the larger teams as sparingly used squad members.

The European leagues skewed distribution of revenues sees the emergence of elite teams, who among themselves dominate the competition year in year out. In England there is the Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool foursome. In Spain,there is the Barcelona- Madrid hegemony while in Italy, the San Siro clubs and AS Roma are the roosters in that fiefdom.

In an effort to compete, clubs in Europe have increasingly injected funds to enable them attract star players who make the difference. For instance, Barcelona in spite of trouble in its books spent 25 Million to acquire Mascherano from Liverpool in the summer. The Catalan club  was ready to spend another reported 35 Million to lure Arsenal's captain Cesc Fabregas, had the London club not fought so bravely.

In another example, Manchester United's star Wayne Rooney was recently subject to speculation to a move to filthy rich neighbors Manchester City.

Moreover, smaller clubs not to be out done, are spending resources which they may not have. A look at lower tier teams shows an increasing ability of the teams to attract top talent.

For instance, one of the scorers in Sunderland's 3-0 win at the Bridge was Ghanaian star and African world cup hero Asamoah Gyan. Peter Odimwinge another experienced Nigerian international was in the squad that tormented Arsenal at the Emirates.

One of the premier league's  all time stars, Robert Pires recently joined Aston Villa on a short deal, the premier league signing of the 2010/2011 season saw Dutch star Van dar Vaart make  his move from Real Madrid to Totenham while decorated William Gallas made the switch from Arsenal to Tottenham.

All this not considering the wads of dollars splashed by the Sheikh at Manchester City.

The monies spent by the lower tier teams has certainly shaken up the competition a bit even though it is still the traditional power teams that  harbor a realistic chance of  winning the premier league.

The danger of  such spending lies in the possibility of business going bad as liabilities outweigh returns, a fact that the G14 is cognizant of in it's proposal on new financial rules.

The proposal by 18 of Europe's most powerful football teams (G14) seeks to bar teams which fail to spend within their earnings from participating in elite European competitions like the Champions League. This G14 proposal aims to somewhat level the ground as teams will be allowed to spend only what they earn.

Till this proposal comes into effect, the roller-coaster league currently on show in England may just be a clone of yet to come times. Damn exciting times indeed!

Guide to Weekend Football: English Premier League Matches, Preview and Soccer Talk

The big match this weekend is the Manchester City v Arsenal game at Eastlands. Chelsea look set to extend their lead at the top when they host Wolverhampton wanderers. Manchester United should abandon the draws and the Rooney saga and get their 2010/2011 campaign on the roll. Tottenham need to avoid a loss not only to prove that they have the mantle to carry out a challenge on twin fronts- especially after their loss to Inter Milan in midweek. While West bromwich Albion at home to Fulham should seek to keep their dream season going after impressive results against Arsenal and Manchester united. For a full guide to the Barclays premier league action read more:
Guide to Weekend Football: English Premier League Matches, Preview and Soccer Talk

Liverpool Sale To Boston Red Sox Owners, New England Sports Ventures, Set After Judge Ruling

LONDON:
If football clubs were generals, Liverpool Football club would be the most decorated amongst  the ilk competing in England. With 18 league titles and triumph in 5 European cup finals, Liverpool FC ought to be the embodiment of success.

However, as the English saying warns: ' Do not Judge the book by the cover '; on the books, Liverpool football club is in debt to a tune of  some 200 million pounds owed to the Royal Bank Of Scotland. In the pitch, following its worst league start in over half a century, Liverpool lies among the top three clubs that stand to be relegated from the English top flight- in the Harry potter world scenario that the 2010-2011 season of  Premier League were to somehow prematurely end now. 

This is the situation as the two men from the land of soccer-not football- leave following an English courts ruling to back the decision of the Board of Liverpool Football club to sell the club to new owners, in an effort aimed at averting a case similar to the Leeds United debacle or the more recent Portsmouth FC  fall into financial administration+/- relegation to the lower echelons of English Soccer. 

Hicks and Gillet are the villains in this football epic. The two American billionaires took over Liverpool football club in 2007 betting on leveraged financing to help realize the Merseyside dream of a new home, more world class players to add on to the enigmatic captain Steven Gerard and a loaded trophy cabinet. 

Withered Dreams: The Proposed Liverpool Stadium. Image courtesy of architecturelist.com

A global recession later and a shift in the dynamics of English football finances that saw half of the football clubs in the premier league being foreign owned, that Merseyside dream turned into drifting log to a shipwrecked sailor. Away it went, as financial trouble sucked Liverpool further into the abyss of the open sea. The lack of success in the pitch since the dramatic 2005  Istanbul triumph over Ac Milan in the UEFA champions league final just served to confound Liverpool's troubles as the much needed performance linked television revenues suffered a blow.

Sensing that they were walking alone, Hicks and Gillet sought to sell the club. After a whirlwind of claims of various parties interested in restoring the glory days of Liverpool circulated in the press, it emerged that New England Sports Ventures that is partly owned by New York Times Co and owns the Major League Baseball side Boston Red Sox had offered 300 Million pounds for Liverpool.

Boston Red Sox, an iconic sporting brand in America, much like Liverpool in English soccer, had been in a situation much akin to that facing Liverpool not long ago. New England Sporting Ventures rescued the Major Baseball league side from demise and were planning to replicate their success with Boston Red Sox in English soccer.

The Liverpool board, English premier league and by extension the British government -courtesy of their ownership of The Royal Bank Of Scotland that occurred in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, approved the impending deal that would see the debt settled and set plans of a new Liverpool stadium and football revival on the way. Current Liverpool co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillet Jr, moved to court to bar the board from selling citing  the apparent undervaluation of the club and questioning the authority of the board to initiate the sale talks.

High court Judge Christopher Floyd in his ruling lifted the one stumbling block that looked set to bring some reprieve to the Anfeild faithful. With their street protests and you tube video campaigns, it appears that Liverpool fans will have to settle for half a loaf rather than the more desirable situation where they would have loved to control the club.

Once the deal is confirmed as expected,  the singing shall move from the streets back to the terraces of Anfeild to create that famous suffocating atmosphere for opposition teams. The Kops have done their bit in  resolving board room battles. Now its time to cheer on the reds as they battle their way up the premiership table. Hopefully, with the impending New England Sports ventures deal, it will not be a case of jumping from the frying pan into the fire nor one of the known devil being better than the unknown angel.

Chelsea Vs Arsenal Preview

Ask Arsene Wenger and he will tell you that its has been the financial muscle of the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, Manchester United that has kept the trophy cabinet at Emirates Stadium, Ashburton Groove, squeaky clean. You can say Arsenal picked a wrong time to be in transition.

Roman Abromovich stepped in from the cold of Russia and with the tactical nous of Jose Mourinho, soon later enabled Arsenal's London rivals their first premiership trophy in 55yrs. Chelsea was hot again, not only in having a sexy name but also

This solid background has seen Chelsea claim their first double ever in 2009/2010 season with their triumph in both the league and FA cup. By then Mourinho was long gone, Avram Grant and Luois felippe Scolari had stopped by, but the seeds he had sown in the shape of Didier Drogba, John Terry, Frank lampard and six time Fa Cup winner Ashley Cole were still bearing fruit.

Former AC Milan boss was in charge for the double. You can't accuse him of feeding off the fruits of the Jose Mourinho tree, as he has managed to do something that  none of the host of mangers in charge of the Roman army has done: He has manged to produce a brand of soccer that someone can travel to go and watch.

If you were to ask Arsene wenger again of the state of his West London Rivals- Chelsea, he will tell you that Roman Abramovich's experiment had paid off at least in the short term. Looking at Chelsea's trophy cabinet, it is creaking under the weight of three English premier league titles, two FA cups and Two Carling cups.

Looking at the state of their accounts however, the picture is inverted in Arsenal's favour. Profits breaking sport financial records has been the norm at North London. In West London, the news has been about cutting losses. Maybe North London needed that- something to brag about- as the cups have deserted Arsenal since that FA cup win on penalties in over Manchester United in the 2004/2005 season. But things are changing

A look at Chelsea's bench today as they host Arsenal for the game of the season so far at Stanford Bridge will reveal a few names to you. Probably you might know of exciting Frenchman Gael Kakuta courtesy of the protracted transfer that saw the European Governing body UEFA fine Chelsea and even suspend them from taking part in transfer activity for a short spell a couple of years back.

The only new face in Arsenal's lineup maybe the 18yr old Jack Wilshere. The rest as Arsene Wenger points out are experienced internationals. Yes, they may be young at age, but the footballing hours under their belts make them some of the most experienced footballers anywhere on the globe.

How things have changed. Or really?

Berbatov 3 : 2 Gerrad, Manchester United Edge Out Liverpool In Thriller

It is strange how fast things turn. From a drab cagey match that with every passing minute seemed to be less fun than watching paint dry, the premiership blockbuster between Manchester United and Liverpool exploded quite late on into an exciting encounter. At its culmination, Dimitri Berbatov the 30 million pound plus deadline transfer signing who had withstood much criticism since his big money move from White Hart Lane to rainy Manchester, answered his critics with a a performance that only  a footballer of his genius can pull..

Sir Alex claims that there is a genius about this forgotten man of Old Trafford. It's easy to agree with the Scot man as no other footballer could have made it appear so simple as he perennially does it. From being labeled lazy, slow and sometimes wasteful;  tonight and for the week to come at the very least, Dimitri Berbatov is the most loved man in the red half of  the city of Manchester, in the swathes of Manchester United supporting masses in Shanghai, Seoul and other cities in the orient. Down to the religiously soccer mad faithful in sub- Saharan Africa who followed the match via a public product in some shack at a minimal fee of an equivalent of  a few $US cents.

Berbatov did it three times. Twice with is head and one audacious one over his head. 

Sluggish defending by Torres allowed Berbatov to wrap his head around a Ryan Giggs corner to give Manchester United a lead just before the break.. The Old Trafford faithful had to wait for slightly over 40 nins to get this piece of action  to distract them from the rain was pouring. It was a half dominated by careful marking on the part of Liverpool and a cautious approach from Man United resulting in at best at a host of corners for the home team.

Nani's fierce shot from just outside the six yard box rattled the cross bar before a long ball towards the channel found  him again (Nani) . His outstanding contribution bore fruit having lost his marker Koschensky, a Fulham import brought in by Roy Hodgson, Nani controlled the ball and floated it into the box over Wayne Rooney's head but some how onto the thigh of the huge Bulgarian. Berbatov in his characteristic deft touch allowed him to bring the ball under his control and looped a shot over his head,  past a bemused Pepe Reina with his back all this time facing goal.  This, I might add is contender for the goal of the season.

Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool

At this point Liverpool with a deep playing Steven Gerrad and a largely isolated Torres looked dead and buried.. This season Liverpool's top scorer, 21 yr old David Ngong, came off the bench and out went out a largely anonymous Maxi Rodriguez in an attempt at adding some bite upfront.

However, it was the man Ngong came to support,,  the lethal Fernando Torres,  who proved to be the tormentor when his ball through the legs of the shaky Evans saw the Man United young defender sliding tackle catch his legs in the area. World cup final referee Howard Webb rightly pointed to the spot for the penalty. Gerrard however did not do a " Asamoah Gyan " as Rosicky had on Saturday in Arsenal's game against Sutherland, he coolly dispatched the ball hitting the back net after sending Van der ser the wrong way.

With this kick by Stevie G,  the game came alive again. as Liverpool particularly, Joe Cole,  who was strumming the creative play from the center of the pack found new purpose and it was not long before Torres struck again, this time it was right back John Oshea who caught him as he chased a rather purposeful through ball. Howard Webb flashed a yellow , pointed the spot 12 yards out were the free kick was to be taken from. Steve Gerrard took over a gain the honors of taking the free kick.

Oshea was lucky to get away with a yellow but, a poor wall made by almost the entire bunch of the 11 united out field players allowed Gerrard to sneak in the second for Liverpool..

2-2 it was, a scoreline that Sir Alex Ferguson later during the post match interview described as a travesty considering how tame Liverpool's rather tame demeanor that Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford. Six minutes from time, Berbatov, again rose higher than Carrager in the box, his majestic header giving Man United the winner. Forward to the nineteenth title Manchester United Moved as the rose to tie points with second placed Arsenal one point behind Chelsea who were yet to play their fifth game of the 2010-201 Barclays premiership campaign against the newly promoted whip boys Blackpool.

For Liverpool however it was another unconvincing display, as the slid to 16 the in the table with only one win so far in the neighborhood of the Blackpool's of the a league. Quite a travesty for England's most successful club.. It appears that the Liverpool faithful will have to wait a little longer for that elusive 19th title.

Stat Attack

Berbatov became the first Manchester United player since 1947 years to score a hat trick in this fixture.