8
MOST
EXPENSIVE
TRANSFERS
NEYMESSIS: WHERE DID IT GO WRONG WHY WENGER SHOULD QUIT
8
MOST
EXPENSIVE
TRANSFERS 1. Gareth Bale (€100 million) - Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid in 2013 The eyes of the world were on the Welshman when he was presented as the most expensive soccer player in history on September 2, 2013. Having wowed fans at White Hart Lane, Bale outgrew Tottenham and was relieved to have secured his 'dream move' after weeks of protracted negotiations between the two clubs. 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (€94 million) - Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 The Portuguese step-over king had been wanting to leave Manchester United for some time and the Old Trafford club finally accepted this massive bid from Real Madrid in 2009. Fifa World Player of the Year in 2008, Ronaldo's vast repertoire of tricks and ability to score goals from a variety of different positions were crucial factors in Real's decision to shell out. His iconic status was also a major pull.
3. Neymar (£49million) Santos to Barcelona in 2013 The 21-year-old, who agreed to join the Spanish champions in May 2013 said: "Money is OK but happiness takes priority. We decided to come to Barcelona. I had a lot of offers but I followed my heart. The player - who was a target for Real Madrid due to his repertoire of tricks and growing image chose Barca over other clubs due to the lure of playing alongside Lionel Messi. As well as Real, Neymar had also been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United since making his debut for Santos in 2009.
4. Zinedine Zidane (€75 million) - Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001 Juventus built their team around the mercurial French playmaker, and he won back-to-back scudetto titles in his first two seasons at the club. His sustained brilliance persuaded Real Madrid to beat their own world record outlay (for Luis Figo in 2000), and Zidane paid them back with the winning goal in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
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5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (€69 million) - Inter Milan to Barcelona in 2009 In hindsight, Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola made a mistake signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic for such an astronomical fee and sending Samuel Eto'o the other way to Inter Milan. The Swede started brightly but ultimately flopped at Camp Nou amid accusations of laziness which were given added credence by goalkeeper Victor Valdes actually running further in one match (ironically against Inter) than the big striker. Now at Paris Saint-Germain.
6. Kaka (€68 million) - AC Milan to Real Madrid in 2009
7. Edinson Cavani (€64 million) - Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 After three prolific years at Napoli, Edinson Cavani decided it was time to move on, despite President Aurelio De Laurentiis' determination to keep him. Despite the sadness at the prolific Uruguayan striker leaving, Napoli can certainly consider it good business, having paid Palermo €17 million for the player in 2010. Deadly in the box and a guaranteed source of goals.
AC Milan supporters protested outside the club's headquarters over the possible sale of Kaka to Manchester City in January 2009. That transfer ultimately stalled because the Brazilian did not want to move to Eastlands but the Milan tifosi could do nothing to stop the playmaker joining the Merengues in the summer of 2009 as Florentino Perez's galacticos policy got into full swing. After four largely indifferent years at the Bernabeu, Kaka returned to Milan on a free transfer in 2013, with Real keen to get him off their wage bill. 8. Luís Figo (€62 million) - Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 If ever there was $55.6 million well spent, it was on Figo. The Portuguese wizard wowed the masses at the Bernabeu for five years, his trickery and crossing ability from the wing embodying Real's policy of signing entertainers with end product. World Player of the Year in 2001, what he lacked in pace, Figo made up for in skill. This was one of the most controversial transfers in history as he left Barcelona for the club's hated rivals. When he returned for a league match at Camp Nou in 2002, angry supporters aimed missiles at him, including a pig's head.
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ATLETICO 0 - 0 CHELSEA
WHY
MOURINHO CAN T CHANGE! T
he matchup between Atletico and Chelsea did not leave my heart palpitating. The idea of watching two teams with identical philosophies that borders more on negativity ingrained in them left me not in the least amused. I had to watch the game, more out of necessity, than a burning desire to be entertained by the highest level of football. This turned out to be game bereft of any real tactical nous from both sides. While this may not be surprising, it just goes to show that
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Mourinho may be dyed in wool a million times overÍž the fact remains he can't change. Jose Mourinho is of the school of thought that the end justiďŹ es the means and the whole world can go to hell for all he cares. The bottom line is his motivation and how he does it doesn't matter. The truth is Mourinho has to be in the spotlight as the untainted perfectionist. If his team wins, it's down to his tactical acumen. If they lose, then it's the referee or his players who didn't play to instruction.
possession. There were few genuinely interesting features of the game and no real progression to the tactical battle.
While Mourinho has been known to play in this manner in the past, the inability for his side to be proactive was a huge disappointment.
A matchup between two counter-attacking sides is rarely ever pretty, especially when neither side considers themselves genuine favourites, and in a two-legged contest with a great deal riding on the game. Mourinho decided, naturally, that the optimum approach against an Atletico side that loves sitting back, winning the ball in midďŹ eld and counterattacking rapidly was to defend extremely deep, preventing the home side from attacking in their preferred manner. While Mourinho has been known to play in this manner in the past, the inability for his side to be proactive was a huge disappointment. Chelsea relied on set-pieces for their attacking moments. Willian and Ramires combined nicely on the break in the ďŹ rst half – they were the only two players breaking forward from deep positions. In truth, this wasn't a particularly interesting game, but it underlines once again why Mourinho can't CHANGE!
Against Atletico, he went back to his tried and trusted. He selected a defensiveminded 4-1-4-1 system, which is more of a 4-5-1 where the lone striker is tucked in more to help out defensively than to look for the scraps that may come his way Chelsea's defensive approach was obvious from the outset, and Atletico dominated
5
NEYMESSIS: WHERE DID IT GO
WRONG?
.”In La Selecao he is the go-toguy, but at Barcelona he has to defer to Messi.”
T
he summer of 2013 ushered in a flurry of activities. Bankers in Madrid moved from one device to the other, peddling numbers and trying to make sense of numbers that had grown life of their own. They were sweating under the coolness of their hallowed offices. Lawyers were scurrying from one office to the other to ensure that details of every transaction was enshrouded under the protectorate of the law or a semblance of it. In the Catalonia enclave where Barcelona reside, it was no different. Top execs were hopping from one plane to the other, traversing the ends of the earth to beat the enemy to the punch. Barcelona had just won the league, Real Madrid had finished trophy less and Jose 'the mouth' Mourinho had just lost a lucrative job. It was understandable; palpable tension and excitement in the two cities as their flag bearers kept putting pressure on a young lad,
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who seers of the game had prophesied was the messiah. None wanted this messiah to berth in a manger, they all coveted him and prepared palaces fit only for kings. He didn't have to bow before them to be given the world, all he had to do was say yes to their dreams. Under a deal shrouded in secrecy and dubious intent he affirmed to don the shirt of the Catalonia flag bearers; Barcelona. The world was not to know the details of the deal and salivated at the thought of the young messiah from Santos partnering with the king from La Rosario. Real Madrid losing out, licked their wounds, swallowed their pride and off to London they went to erase a transfer world record. Ten months down the line and a partnership that seemed to have been scripted in the heavens had failed to deliver on the promise. Kicked out of the Champions League, lost the Copa del Rey final and all hopes of winning the league is nearly over. A trophy less season looms. The big question is, for a partnership that promised so much but
Barcelona dressing room, which has been stable since Pep Guardiola's arrival. His presence in the media was out of all proportion to what he's done on the pitch and the comparison certainly caused alarm: Neymar, for his cost, his wages and the club's treatment of him, is one of the two principal players in the squad. Nobody in the entire history of Barcelona has earned as much as Neymar is: not Messi, or any other of the 'blaugrana' stars. The Argentinean renewed his deal recently (the sixth time in recent years), but Barcelona will have a difficult job justifying how Neymar earns more than him. Now Barcelona has upset the hornets' nest. To borrow an Igbo adage; they have brought in the ant infested firewood that has invited lizards in. They have upset the hierarchy in the dressing room and it will take a huge effort to calm the storm. Barca will be troubled to find answers. I have always been of the opinion that Neymar should have joined Barca after the World Cup, but that opportunity is gone. Many have mooted the sale of Messi as a solution and my opinion is, that won't fix the problem. If you sell Messi, then you would need to overhaul the squad and build the team around Neymar. Truth is Messi is tried and tested, whereas Neymar isn't. If Messi goes would Neymar deliver? Best bet is give Messi what he wants and let peace reign, after all it wouldn't be the first time the midget would get what he wants. If however Barca decide to bite the bullet, they must be prepared for what follows. delivered nothing, where did it go wrong? When Barcelona went in the pursuit of Neymar, the wise head of Johan Cruyff had warned against it, insisting Messi should be sold before Neymar was bought. Nobody heeded his advice, now the man who contrived to embarrass him is out of a job and starring jail time in the face and Barcelona can't wait for their worst season in a long time to pass. Surely this has got to be a money matter more than on field affairs. On the field, for Neymar to thrive, he has to enjoy the role that Messi enjoys, something the flea isn't ready to relinquish. That is why Neymar shines for Brazil and flops for Barcelona. In La Selecao he is the go-to-guy, but at Barcelona he has to defer to Messi. Even though the club would want him to be his own man. More trouble erupted when news leaked that Neymar was actually earning more than Messi. Did this influence Messi's psyche? Did it hurt his form? We may never know. The arrival of Neymar at the Camp Nou sure destabilised the
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WHY
B
y the end of the season, it would be nine years since Arsenal last won a trophy. Arsenal fans hope that their darling club will finally win something by landing the FA cup and winning the trophy they have always won for years; a champions league place. The prospects of ending that drought is very high as a final against Hull City (a team they beat a week ago) looks like mission achievable. However,
8
WENGER SHOULD
QUIT!
that is beside the point, for a team like Arsenal should be challenging for trophies every year. The much vaunted saying within the ranks 'In Arsene we trust' is overplayed. The drought period has ensured that Wenger is no longer worthy of credit in this very competitive business of football. A litany of errors, lame excuses recycled every year has ensured that the fans have become accustomed to failure. If Mourinho described Wenger as a specialist in failure, it is not because Wenger has failed to win any trophy in nine years, but rather the relative comfort with which he has settled into failure. Arguments can be made about how much budget he has (already debunked), his expertise in managing young lads to challenge
for the top four. While that is commendable, it must be noted that Wenger chose that path and his obstinate stubbornness in changing should not be rewarded with a new contract. Right now, he is mulling over whether to sign up for another two years and the fans are praying he should stay, instead of wishing he'd leave. A look at successful clubs shows that Wenger is in a class of his own, a dinosaur of the game and a relic of the past. Manchester United has shown it by sacking Moyes, Chelsea has gone through several coaches, while even Liverpool; set to win the league has gone through several coaches too. Whether that is a recipe for success is up for debate but while we're at it, FA cup or not, it's time for Wenger to leave.
LIVERPOOL: CLOSE TO EL DORADO
M
athematically, Liverpool needs 7 points from their final 3 games to be declared champions. This analysis is predicated upon Manchester City winning their remaining 5 games. If and when Liverpool wins the league, the 19 years wait would have been well worth it. The protagonists of this challenge which at some point didn't look feasible, Brendan Rodgers, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling have caused belief to run through the kops. This weekend they face a testy tie against a Chelsea side that knows the league may just be beyond them. Are we to believe that Mourinho's sights are no longer on the Premiership, or that he would truly field a weakened side? Whichever it is, the momentum is with Liverpool. The last time these two sides met was in December, it ended 2 – 1 in Chelsea's favour. However
this is Anfield, only 2 sides have managed to leave Merseyside with anything – Southampton, a 1 – 0 victory and Aston Villa; a 1 – 1 draw. All the top 7 sides have fallen at Anfield. Mourinho is a man unwillingly to lose and would probably park the bus in this game. Avoiding defeat in this game will be a good result for Liverpool if only Man City fail to win at Crystal Palace. With the next game against a stubborn Crystal Palace, Liverpool would be pressed to get a win at home to Chelsea. Whichever way it goes, Liverpool can smell gold. El Dorado is not too far! VERDICT: Liverpool wins, Man City draws.
9
A
tletico Madrid are on the cusp of something special. They are on the verge of breaking the Real Madrid/Barcelona duopoly. For all the money these heavyweights command it will be a breath of fresh air to see a different side win. Atletico ďŹ nd themselves in a position that suits them, with
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four games to go they are four points ahead of their closest rival Barcelona and six ahead of Real Madrid (who have a game in hand). They know they have to maintain the four points they currently have ahead of Barcelona going into the
last match. If they do this and hold at worst a 3 point gap over Real Madrid, then that game against Barcelona would be a dead rubber. Simple as it may sound, it may be a bridge too far for Atletico. It's been a real long while they've found themselves in this position and hopes would be that they don't lose out to nerves. With the character they've exhibited over the season, it is unlikely to see that happen. They've shown nerves of steel and a strong desire to win. All this may count for nothing though if the game against Chelsea is taken into cognisance. An almost ambitionless Chelsea, whose sole aim was to avoid defeat strapped in and were able to keep Atletico at bay. Atletico's inability to score is not what bothers those who want them to lift the title, rather it is their lack of invention in breaking down Chelsea that worries many. Now the whole world has seen it, Valencia, Levante and Malaga have seen it and would fancy their chances of taking points off them. While this may not be a blueprint for defeating Atletico, it definitely looks like a sure fire formula for stopping them from winning. Amassing 9 points from their next 3 games is of utmost importance to winning the title. For Diego Simeone who has done a fantastic job at the Vicente Calderon, passion, desire and fire in their bellies may not be enough. He needs to add guile and creativity to his steely side. VERDICT: The two Madrid sides to win this weekend, Barcelona however have a dicey tie in which a draw looks the most likely result. Lionel Messi would be critical for a win.
THE REMAINING FIXTURES WEEK 36 Levante Real Madrid FC Barcelona
vs vs vs
Atletico Madrid Valencia Getafe
WEEK 37 Atletico Madrid Celta Vigo Elche
vs vs vs
Malaga Real Madrid FC Barcelona
WEEK 38 FC Barcelona Real Madrid
vs vs
Atletico Madrid Espanyol
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