Saturday:
Blackburn 2 Stoke 1
Bolton 2 Portsmouth 1
Fulham 0 Middlesbrough 0
Hull 2 Sunderland 2
West Ham 0 Aston Villa 2
Sunday:
Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1
Newcastle 1 Tottenham 2
West Brom 1 Man City 1
Monday:
Everton 1 Chelsea 3
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Friday, 19 December 2008
Premier League’s Big One: Arsenal v Liverpool
Arsenal v Liverpool (Premier League, Sunday 21st December 4pm)
The formula for producing your best in the biggest games is one of the most elusive in sport. But after 2-1 victories over rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, Arsenal seem to have mastered the art of the one-off performance. And that knowledge, despite their infuriating inconsistency, will give the Gunners the belief that they can overcome Liverpool on Sunday.
Liverpool, similarly unreliable against smaller teams, will be desperate add creditiblity to their title challenge.
Team news:
Arsenal - Samir Nasri could return, while Kolo Toure is a doubt with a calf injury and Micklas Bendtner has a knee proble. Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky are long-term absentees.
Liverpool - Striker Fernando Torres could be back next week after a hamstring injury, while full-back Fabio Aurelio (calf) may return to the squad and long-term absentee Martini Skrtel is back in training after two months out.
The bosses:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he will only spend money in the January transfer window if he spies something very special, but stubborness in his search for perfection will surely concern the club’s fans.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez returns to the bench on Sunday after being hospitalised due to kidney stones.
Result: Arsenal to gain another valuable point against their ‘Top Four’ rivals with a 1-1 scoreline, though it will be a bigger point for Liverpool.
The formula for producing your best in the biggest games is one of the most elusive in sport. But after 2-1 victories over rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, Arsenal seem to have mastered the art of the one-off performance. And that knowledge, despite their infuriating inconsistency, will give the Gunners the belief that they can overcome Liverpool on Sunday.
Liverpool, similarly unreliable against smaller teams, will be desperate add creditiblity to their title challenge.
Team news:
Arsenal - Samir Nasri could return, while Kolo Toure is a doubt with a calf injury and Micklas Bendtner has a knee proble. Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky are long-term absentees.
Liverpool - Striker Fernando Torres could be back next week after a hamstring injury, while full-back Fabio Aurelio (calf) may return to the squad and long-term absentee Martini Skrtel is back in training after two months out.
The bosses:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he will only spend money in the January transfer window if he spies something very special, but stubborness in his search for perfection will surely concern the club’s fans.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez returns to the bench on Sunday after being hospitalised due to kidney stones.
Result: Arsenal to gain another valuable point against their ‘Top Four’ rivals with a 1-1 scoreline, though it will be a bigger point for Liverpool.
Friday, 12 December 2008
The big one: Tottenham v Manchester United
Tottenham v Manchester United (5.30pm, Saturday December 6)
Manchester United jet off to Japan for the World Club Championships after Saturday’s game and the reigning Premier League and Champions League holders will be desperate to leave the domestic competition on a high note, particularly as rivals Chelsea and Liverpool will be attempting to gather as many points as possible while United are away.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, however, knows a thing or two about beating United hwon against them with Bournemouth, West Ham and Portsmouth in his career.
The bosses:
Despite rumours of his impending retirement, Sir Alex’s Ferguson ’s desire for success seems to be unquenchable and he will relish the crucial month facing United.
The wily Harry Redknapp has overseen a dramatic reversal in fortunes for Tottenham since taking over from Juande Ramos and the former West Ham boss is quickly transcending his reputation as a very good boss into a top manager.
Team News:
Man U - Dimitar Berbatov (Achilles) is struggling to be fit to face his former side. Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are suspended but Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be fit. Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick are doubts.
Tottenham - tbc
Key players:
Man U - With Rooney definitely out and Berbatov potentially so, the pressure will be on Carlos Tevez to lead the line for United and score the goals.
Tottenham - Heurelho Gomes has come in for massive criticism since his move from PSV but the Brazilian goalkeeper performed well last time out and will need another confident display if Tottenham are to take anything away from Old Trafford.
Tactics - Won and Lost
With nothing less than a win on the mnds of Manchester United, they are sure to come out of the blocks hard.
Harry Redknapp will be aware that his flaky Spurs defence is unlikely to withstand United’s attack all game and so will encourage his side to charge forward whe the opportunity presents itself.
The pace of Aaron Lennon on the counter attack could be especially productive for Spurs especially as Patrice Evra is out.
With Rooney out, Ronaldo could be handed a more central role behind Carlos Tevez. If so the Portugual international will look to run at the heart of Spurs defence, which could be susceptible to the quick changes in direction of the forward, and unleash plenty of early long range efforts on goal.
Prediction:
Spurs to push United but the Premier League champions to prevail 2-1 with Ronaldo scoring the winner.
Manchester United jet off to Japan for the World Club Championships after Saturday’s game and the reigning Premier League and Champions League holders will be desperate to leave the domestic competition on a high note, particularly as rivals Chelsea and Liverpool will be attempting to gather as many points as possible while United are away.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, however, knows a thing or two about beating United hwon against them with Bournemouth, West Ham and Portsmouth in his career.
The bosses:
Despite rumours of his impending retirement, Sir Alex’s Ferguson ’s desire for success seems to be unquenchable and he will relish the crucial month facing United.
The wily Harry Redknapp has overseen a dramatic reversal in fortunes for Tottenham since taking over from Juande Ramos and the former West Ham boss is quickly transcending his reputation as a very good boss into a top manager.
Team News:
Man U - Dimitar Berbatov (Achilles) is struggling to be fit to face his former side. Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are suspended but Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be fit. Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick are doubts.
Tottenham - tbc
Key players:
Man U - With Rooney definitely out and Berbatov potentially so, the pressure will be on Carlos Tevez to lead the line for United and score the goals.
Tottenham - Heurelho Gomes has come in for massive criticism since his move from PSV but the Brazilian goalkeeper performed well last time out and will need another confident display if Tottenham are to take anything away from Old Trafford.
Tactics - Won and Lost
With nothing less than a win on the mnds of Manchester United, they are sure to come out of the blocks hard.
Harry Redknapp will be aware that his flaky Spurs defence is unlikely to withstand United’s attack all game and so will encourage his side to charge forward whe the opportunity presents itself.
The pace of Aaron Lennon on the counter attack could be especially productive for Spurs especially as Patrice Evra is out.
With Rooney out, Ronaldo could be handed a more central role behind Carlos Tevez. If so the Portugual international will look to run at the heart of Spurs defence, which could be susceptible to the quick changes in direction of the forward, and unleash plenty of early long range efforts on goal.
Prediction:
Spurs to push United but the Premier League champions to prevail 2-1 with Ronaldo scoring the winner.
Monday, 8 December 2008
One to watch: Man U target Adem Ljajic
Adem Ljajic
Position: Attacking midfield/Forward
Age: 17 (29/9/1991)
Height: 5ft 11”
Current club: FK Partizan
Country: Serbia under 21 international
Valuation: GBP10million
Plays like: His sparkling talents on the ball have generated comparisons to Brazil’s Kaka and even take on teh nickname ‘Little Kaka’.
Interested: Ljajic has already spent time on trial with Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to secure the young prodigy’s signature.
See Ljajic in action...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_UOcFAFJ3zw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAq3BzV9u6s
Position: Attacking midfield/Forward
Age: 17 (29/9/1991)
Height: 5ft 11”
Current club: FK Partizan
Country: Serbia under 21 international
Valuation: GBP10million
Plays like: His sparkling talents on the ball have generated comparisons to Brazil’s Kaka and even take on teh nickname ‘Little Kaka’.
Interested: Ljajic has already spent time on trial with Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to secure the young prodigy’s signature.
See Ljajic in action...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_UOcFAFJ3zw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAq3BzV9u6s
Sunday, 7 December 2008
The Premier League final word
The final words:
Arsenal 1 Wigan 0
Where does this win fit in the narrative of an Arsenal team trapped in a cycle of unfulfilled potential.
A telling battling win borne out of hard lessons learned for a team closing in on their true selves or just another incidental win for a team short of what it takes to win a championship?
The latter seems the likier.
Blackburn 1 Liverpool 3
Self-delusion is the final refuge of a man on the brink of his demise.
Blackburn boss Paul Ince’s claims that his team’s improved performance against Liverpool means they have no cause for concern will be far more terrifying for the team’s fans than the act of shipping three goals against a Liverpool attack spearheaded by Dirk Kuyt.
Blackburn are second bottom and have lost five league games on the bounce.
The effort may have improved, the performance may have improved but they still got stuffed. These are worrying times for Blackburn whatever Ince may claim.
Bolton 0 Chelsea 2
That is 11 straight away wins for Chelsea - the ideal away side.
With the pace of Nicolas Anelka up top and the precise distribution of Deco and Frank Lampard waiting to pounce, they are a potent counter-attacking force.
But they need to find a way of replicating that form at home and teams may now assume more cagey away-from-home tactics when Chelsea come visiting - Didier Drogba could yet have an influential role to play in their title challenge.
Fulham 1 Manchester City 1
Without their Brazilian trio of Elano, Jo and most importantly Robinho, Manchester City had to rely on a more physical approcah against Fulham and it worked until Jimmy Bullard’s fine effort grabbed a point for the hosts.
It may be silly season with the tabloids transfer stories, but expect Manchester City’s novelty-size cheque book to be the first open in the New Year.
Hull 2 Middlesbrough 1
An intoxicating 12 minutes and the man in black decide this one.
Hull boss would have appealed for a bit of luck after going five games without a win and he certainly got it when the referees sent off David Wheater for a foul on Geovanni and award a penalty which Marlon King dispatched with glee.
Manchester United 1 Sunderland 0
A defender’s injury-time winner against ailing opposition - it is what so many cliches about title winning credentials were founded on.
Nemanja Vidic’s late header ensured Sunderland’s situation, which was relatively solid a few games ago, could quickly turn into a full blown crisis.
Sunderland need to fill the Roy Keane void sharpish.
Newcastle 2 Stoke 2
Just because other clubs have claimed the limelight recently does not mean Newcastle are a club out of crisis.
Little has change in the North East, Joe Kinnear is still ranting to no positive effect, teh team are still drawing rather than winning, in-form striker Michael Owen is doing his best to avoid a new contract and Newcastle are still tettering on the brink of the final humiliation of relegation.
Could they fall for the great footballing gods’ trick of ‘crisis, what crisis’.
Arsenal 1 Wigan 0
Where does this win fit in the narrative of an Arsenal team trapped in a cycle of unfulfilled potential.
A telling battling win borne out of hard lessons learned for a team closing in on their true selves or just another incidental win for a team short of what it takes to win a championship?
The latter seems the likier.
Blackburn 1 Liverpool 3
Self-delusion is the final refuge of a man on the brink of his demise.
Blackburn boss Paul Ince’s claims that his team’s improved performance against Liverpool means they have no cause for concern will be far more terrifying for the team’s fans than the act of shipping three goals against a Liverpool attack spearheaded by Dirk Kuyt.
Blackburn are second bottom and have lost five league games on the bounce.
The effort may have improved, the performance may have improved but they still got stuffed. These are worrying times for Blackburn whatever Ince may claim.
Bolton 0 Chelsea 2
That is 11 straight away wins for Chelsea - the ideal away side.
With the pace of Nicolas Anelka up top and the precise distribution of Deco and Frank Lampard waiting to pounce, they are a potent counter-attacking force.
But they need to find a way of replicating that form at home and teams may now assume more cagey away-from-home tactics when Chelsea come visiting - Didier Drogba could yet have an influential role to play in their title challenge.
Fulham 1 Manchester City 1
Without their Brazilian trio of Elano, Jo and most importantly Robinho, Manchester City had to rely on a more physical approcah against Fulham and it worked until Jimmy Bullard’s fine effort grabbed a point for the hosts.
It may be silly season with the tabloids transfer stories, but expect Manchester City’s novelty-size cheque book to be the first open in the New Year.
Hull 2 Middlesbrough 1
An intoxicating 12 minutes and the man in black decide this one.
Hull boss would have appealed for a bit of luck after going five games without a win and he certainly got it when the referees sent off David Wheater for a foul on Geovanni and award a penalty which Marlon King dispatched with glee.
Manchester United 1 Sunderland 0
A defender’s injury-time winner against ailing opposition - it is what so many cliches about title winning credentials were founded on.
Nemanja Vidic’s late header ensured Sunderland’s situation, which was relatively solid a few games ago, could quickly turn into a full blown crisis.
Sunderland need to fill the Roy Keane void sharpish.
Newcastle 2 Stoke 2
Just because other clubs have claimed the limelight recently does not mean Newcastle are a club out of crisis.
Little has change in the North East, Joe Kinnear is still ranting to no positive effect, teh team are still drawing rather than winning, in-form striker Michael Owen is doing his best to avoid a new contract and Newcastle are still tettering on the brink of the final humiliation of relegation.
Could they fall for the great footballing gods’ trick of ‘crisis, what crisis’.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Premiership predictions
Saturday:
Arsenal 3 Wigan 0
Blackburn 1 Liverpool 1
Bolton 0 Chelsea 2
Fulham 1 Man City 2
Hull 0 Middlesbrough 0
Man U 4 Sunderland 0
Newcastle 2 Stoke 2
Sunday:
Everton 0 Aston Villa 2
West Brom 1 Portsmouth 1
Monday:
West Ham 2 Tottenham 2
Arsenal 3 Wigan 0
Blackburn 1 Liverpool 1
Bolton 0 Chelsea 2
Fulham 1 Man City 2
Hull 0 Middlesbrough 0
Man U 4 Sunderland 0
Newcastle 2 Stoke 2
Sunday:
Everton 0 Aston Villa 2
West Brom 1 Portsmouth 1
Monday:
West Ham 2 Tottenham 2
Friday, 5 December 2008
Premiership’s big one – Blackburn v Liverpool
Blackburn v Liverpool (3pm, Saturday December 6)
Liverpool are standing tall at the summit of the English Premier League table but without striker Fernando Torres, who will be absent for a further month with a hamstring injury, doubts persist ovre their goalscoring ability. Paul Ince’s Blackburn are desperate for any points they can grab as they face up to the prospect of a ruelling battle to avoid relegation
The bosses:
Blackburn manger Paul Ince is on the brink of the sack. Blackburn are languishing at the bottom of the table and the board cannot contemplate the havoc relegation would create.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is sitting contently at the top of the table despite some critics still questioning whether he has enough quality forward options after their 0-0 with West Ham on Monday.
Team News:
Blackburn - Brett Emerton and Roque Santa Cruz hope to be fit after knocks during the midweek defeat to Manchester United. Zurab Khizanishvili is sidelined out with a groin injury, but defender Chris Samba is fit.
Liverpool - Fernando Torres and Fabio Aurelio are both out for the Premiership leaders.
Key players:
Blackburn - The returning Christopher Samba will have to keep a keen eye on Robbie Keane and hope the livewire Irishman does not expose his lack of mobility.
Liverpool - Rafa Benitez has admitted that striker Robbie Keane has yet to show his best form since arriving from Tottenham in the summer for more than £20 million. With the continued absence of Torres, the pressure will be on the Irish international to provide a ruthless edge to Liverpool’s attack.
Tactics - Won and Lost
The addition of Albert Riera over the summer has given Liverpool greater width to their play but they are still over reliant on Steven Gerrard’s runs and goals from central midfield and just behind the main striker. With neither Keane nor Dirk Kuyt possessing blistering pace, Benitez will demand his striker or strikers operate high up the pitch to create space for the rampaging Gerrard in the centre ground. Also watch out for Albert Riera’s cut backs from the left for Gerrard on the edge of the penalty area.
Blackburn will be desperate for a point, and despite some doubting the dressing room spirit, Paul Ince will ensure his players scrap for everything.
The hosts’ attack will as always revolve around Roque Santa Cruz - if fit - but the question will be whether they can provide himn and the in-form Matt Derbyshire with the opportunities to score. With the Blackburn midfield looking bereft of creativity, they could adopt a direct style against Liverpool and hope that enough chances drop to Santa Cruz and Derbyshire, who can in turn react quicker than the sometimes imobile Liverpool central defenders. However, the Liverpool midfield tend to offer a highly effective shield for their defensive team-mates.
Prediction:
Blackburn to scrape a 1-1 draw at home and prolong the debate over Liverpool’s title credentials.
Liverpool are standing tall at the summit of the English Premier League table but without striker Fernando Torres, who will be absent for a further month with a hamstring injury, doubts persist ovre their goalscoring ability. Paul Ince’s Blackburn are desperate for any points they can grab as they face up to the prospect of a ruelling battle to avoid relegation
The bosses:
Blackburn manger Paul Ince is on the brink of the sack. Blackburn are languishing at the bottom of the table and the board cannot contemplate the havoc relegation would create.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is sitting contently at the top of the table despite some critics still questioning whether he has enough quality forward options after their 0-0 with West Ham on Monday.
Team News:
Blackburn - Brett Emerton and Roque Santa Cruz hope to be fit after knocks during the midweek defeat to Manchester United. Zurab Khizanishvili is sidelined out with a groin injury, but defender Chris Samba is fit.
Liverpool - Fernando Torres and Fabio Aurelio are both out for the Premiership leaders.
Key players:
Blackburn - The returning Christopher Samba will have to keep a keen eye on Robbie Keane and hope the livewire Irishman does not expose his lack of mobility.
Liverpool - Rafa Benitez has admitted that striker Robbie Keane has yet to show his best form since arriving from Tottenham in the summer for more than £20 million. With the continued absence of Torres, the pressure will be on the Irish international to provide a ruthless edge to Liverpool’s attack.
Tactics - Won and Lost
The addition of Albert Riera over the summer has given Liverpool greater width to their play but they are still over reliant on Steven Gerrard’s runs and goals from central midfield and just behind the main striker. With neither Keane nor Dirk Kuyt possessing blistering pace, Benitez will demand his striker or strikers operate high up the pitch to create space for the rampaging Gerrard in the centre ground. Also watch out for Albert Riera’s cut backs from the left for Gerrard on the edge of the penalty area.
Blackburn will be desperate for a point, and despite some doubting the dressing room spirit, Paul Ince will ensure his players scrap for everything.
The hosts’ attack will as always revolve around Roque Santa Cruz - if fit - but the question will be whether they can provide himn and the in-form Matt Derbyshire with the opportunities to score. With the Blackburn midfield looking bereft of creativity, they could adopt a direct style against Liverpool and hope that enough chances drop to Santa Cruz and Derbyshire, who can in turn react quicker than the sometimes imobile Liverpool central defenders. However, the Liverpool midfield tend to offer a highly effective shield for their defensive team-mates.
Prediction:
Blackburn to scrape a 1-1 draw at home and prolong the debate over Liverpool’s title credentials.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Who will be the next Premiership managerial casulaty?
After Roy Keane resigned as Sunderland manager this morning, the attention is turning to who will be the next casualty of the mid-season cold snap. With the prospects of relegation battles and challenges for European qualification crowding the minds of chairmen, boards and fans alike, managers are as vulnerable as players in the January transfer window.
Three on the brink:
Blackburn manager Paul Ince
The former England midfielder has endured a torrid start to life as a Premiership manager after his summer move from MK Dons. Blackburn are second bottom in the Premiership following seven games without a win and, despite his relative short tenure, Ince’s position is precarious. With a squad that includes Roque Santa Cruz, Matt Derbyshire and Benni McCarthy, Blackburn’s shocking return of four goals at home this season will more than disturb chairman John Williams.
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes
Hughes’ previous work at Blackburn generated a reputation in football management – which secured his move to Eastlands - that will not subside easily. But the astronomical cash injection at Manchester City is akin to filling a hatchback with rocket fuel with the obvious hike in expectation of performance from the owners standing at a safe distance. Hughes must someway control this explosive beast if he is not keep his job. However, rumours are already circling that the owners are considering more experienced candidates and with big money to be spent in January, Hughes could be ousted sooner rather than later.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray
Having led West Brom back into the Premier League with a styling and entertaining brand of passing football, Tony Mowbray’s stock could have hardly been higher at the beginning of the season. But reaching midpoint in the season and sitting bottom of the league table, the prospect of relegation will be entering the thoughts of the board. West Brom’s desire to shake the tag of a yo-yo club - bouncing between the Premiership and Championship - and Mowbray’s entrenched tactical philosophy, which has failed thus far, could result in a surprise exit for the manager.
Three on the brink:
Blackburn manager Paul Ince
The former England midfielder has endured a torrid start to life as a Premiership manager after his summer move from MK Dons. Blackburn are second bottom in the Premiership following seven games without a win and, despite his relative short tenure, Ince’s position is precarious. With a squad that includes Roque Santa Cruz, Matt Derbyshire and Benni McCarthy, Blackburn’s shocking return of four goals at home this season will more than disturb chairman John Williams.
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes
Hughes’ previous work at Blackburn generated a reputation in football management – which secured his move to Eastlands - that will not subside easily. But the astronomical cash injection at Manchester City is akin to filling a hatchback with rocket fuel with the obvious hike in expectation of performance from the owners standing at a safe distance. Hughes must someway control this explosive beast if he is not keep his job. However, rumours are already circling that the owners are considering more experienced candidates and with big money to be spent in January, Hughes could be ousted sooner rather than later.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray
Having led West Brom back into the Premier League with a styling and entertaining brand of passing football, Tony Mowbray’s stock could have hardly been higher at the beginning of the season. But reaching midpoint in the season and sitting bottom of the league table, the prospect of relegation will be entering the thoughts of the board. West Brom’s desire to shake the tag of a yo-yo club - bouncing between the Premiership and Championship - and Mowbray’s entrenched tactical philosophy, which has failed thus far, could result in a surprise exit for the manager.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
One to watch: Liverpool target Yoann Gourcuff
One to watch: Liverpool target Yoann Gourcuff
Position: Central Attacking midfielder
Age: 22
Current club: Bordeaux (on loan from AC Milan)
Country: France (5 caps 1 goal)
Valuation: £15million
Plays like: The tall, elegant French playmaker has been compared on numerous occasions to French legend Zinedine Zidane.
Interested: Liverpool are thought to be in pole position to sign Gourcuff with his chances of ousting Kaka from the AC Milan midfield slim. But Arsenal are also monitoring the situation.
Gourcuff in action on you tube….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSy9fLLXtrk
Gorucuff vs Zidane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-3qcq4hCf8
Position: Central Attacking midfielder
Age: 22
Current club: Bordeaux (on loan from AC Milan)
Country: France (5 caps 1 goal)
Valuation: £15million
Plays like: The tall, elegant French playmaker has been compared on numerous occasions to French legend Zinedine Zidane.
Interested: Liverpool are thought to be in pole position to sign Gourcuff with his chances of ousting Kaka from the AC Milan midfield slim. But Arsenal are also monitoring the situation.
Gourcuff in action on you tube….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSy9fLLXtrk
Gorucuff vs Zidane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-3qcq4hCf8
Monday, 1 December 2008
Lag-time gives Ronaldo the edge in race for the Ballon d'Or
Lag-time gives Ronaldo the edge in race for the Ballon d’Or
Cristiano Ronaldo appears set to be crowned European Footballer of the Year and thus win the coveted 2008 Ballon d’Or. He will follow in the footsteps of such greats as 2007 winner Kaka, Zinedine Zidane, Brazil’s Ronaldo, Marco Van Basten, and the first winner Sir Stanley Mathews.
Ronaldo has some worthy opponents. Due to the sublime talents of Lionel Messi, Barcelona have been producing some of the best football in Europe at the beginning of the Spanish Primera Liga and, despite Argentina’s trials at senior international level, it was again Messi that led their Olympic team to gold in Beijing. There are also a number of Spanish players rehearsing their speeches just in case, foremost Fernando Torres, after they won the European Championships in the summer.
Were the objectives of the competition to route out the finest footballer currently performing in Europe, Ronaldo may come up short. The Portuguese winger has yet to fully hit his stride this season, despite the occasional virtuoso performance, after an injury and transfer speculation overshadowed the start of his season. Not only that but he failed to shine for Portugal in this summer’s European Championships.
But thankfully for Ronaldo it is a cumulative award taking into account the performances of European based players over the past year and - after defining roles in Manchester United’s Champions League and Premiership winning season - he is a worthy, if annoyingly self-satisfied, winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo appears set to be crowned European Footballer of the Year and thus win the coveted 2008 Ballon d’Or. He will follow in the footsteps of such greats as 2007 winner Kaka, Zinedine Zidane, Brazil’s Ronaldo, Marco Van Basten, and the first winner Sir Stanley Mathews.
Ronaldo has some worthy opponents. Due to the sublime talents of Lionel Messi, Barcelona have been producing some of the best football in Europe at the beginning of the Spanish Primera Liga and, despite Argentina’s trials at senior international level, it was again Messi that led their Olympic team to gold in Beijing. There are also a number of Spanish players rehearsing their speeches just in case, foremost Fernando Torres, after they won the European Championships in the summer.
Were the objectives of the competition to route out the finest footballer currently performing in Europe, Ronaldo may come up short. The Portuguese winger has yet to fully hit his stride this season, despite the occasional virtuoso performance, after an injury and transfer speculation overshadowed the start of his season. Not only that but he failed to shine for Portugal in this summer’s European Championships.
But thankfully for Ronaldo it is a cumulative award taking into account the performances of European based players over the past year and - after defining roles in Manchester United’s Champions League and Premiership winning season - he is a worthy, if annoyingly self-satisfied, winner.
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