Extra Time Magazine

The English Angle:The True Cost of Success

There has been a lot of talk over the past few weeks about how because of Manchester City’s money, they are ready to make an assault on the top four. 'There is no longer a top four. We have made it a top five. From this season, we have to go in with the mindset we're one of the very best clubs." Robinho stated.

The arrivals of Carlos Tevez (pictured) and Emmanuel Adebayor have had the effect of strengthening Manchester City whilst weakening their rivals.

The money invested into City has brought heightened expectations; a higher class of player sought and purchased this season has seen City emerge as genuine dark horses.

If defenders are acquired City could be the ones to watch this season. Is this the true cost of success? For all their plaudits Martin O’ Neill’s Aston Villa side

fell badly short of steam at the end of the season and Everton make small steps each season in the absence of hard cash, but if they are making small steps and the big clubs are making giant strides can they ever catch up?.

probably should have stayed up) it was expectation. On the way up Leeds had little pressures the signed players to take them to the next level, they played lovely football, integrated a number of English players into their team and were not afraid So money makes the world to spend big money on quality go round, Look back at the (Rio Ferdinand for example) Leeds United team of the late obviously for every Rio there is 1990’s /early 2000’s. They had a Seth Johnson but I digress. an excellent forward thinking manager in David O’ Leary Leeds sacked David O’ Leary and a very strong first team. because they were worried At that time Lee Bowyer was that they would not qualify for essentially Frank Lampard, the Champions League, this getting forward scoring at a time when it was ultra important goals. Harry Kewell competitive to get in. They had had no peers, the Australian spent big and in fear of operating was Ryan Giggs equal, which is at huge losses they made a some compliment. The reason decision to sack the manager. underlying why it all went wrong for Leeds was not the financial Now one must consider that mismanagement though that to sack a manager, during the probrably helped, nor was it season in order to save your poor management (although season i.e. finish as high as the squad that went down still possible is somewhat illogical,

one understands the time it take to analyse a squad, identify shortcomings, change the formation, if the team is lucky they will integrate and gel quickly but if the team is less fortunate and the transfer budget has been spent, you have a new manager with no money who has to what he can with what is available, is that better than sticking with the old manager?

Money creates pressures and expectations. You rarely see a manager who has small resources to work with under such scrutiny as a Mark Hughes or an Arsene Wenger. Claudio Ranieri was doing a good job until Roman Abramovich came along and then he was ill equipped for the task at hand. Indeed he may not be a manger of Guus Hiddink ilk but one must contend that when you spend money as a manager you are held up to scrutiny, it makes sense as you are spending the clubs profit margin, it is by such signings you live or die, how you build your legacy.

Arsene Wenger is an interesting one, I do not contest the view that he is one of the finest managers to grace these shores and he plays football in a way that if I supported arsenal I too would argue about the merits of the style of play over Manchester United and Chelsea, however he is more stingy than Silvio Berlusconi. We do not know the financial situation at Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson seems to believe that the Gunners do not have any money, Adebayor as he made his move to Manchester city contended that "I told him I wanted to stay. I don't think our

relationship is broken. I think they need the money and needed to sell someone’’. Giles Grimandi, scout said that the Gunners would need to sell again before they buy. Wenger contends they have money to spend. Smoke and mirrors, however what should be noted is that the Gunners have regressed in recent years.

Monsieur Wenger seems remiss to splash the cash, on the one hand he makes a good point; how can the young players ever get any better if one keeps signing players in front of them? But the visual evidence is startling; could Theo Walcott have scored 4 goals against Liverpool?

Doubtful.

Andrei Arshavin is a casing point, he is in his prime, and he is 28 years old, players like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are in their peak in their late twenties, at times last season (Chelsea 4 – 1 Arsenal, Arsenal 1 – 3 Man Utd) it was mean against boys.

Lukas Fabianski’s blunder in the FA Cup semi final cost his side a place at Wembley if Fabiansski was say 30, would Arsene so understand? Youth for youth sake is not progression it is regression.

When you see the other clubs favoring a blended approach you see the gap cannot close, Arsenal if they play to the best of their abilities, with few injuries and suspensions can undoubtedly challenge. In one off games they can win, but is Alex Song better than Michael Essien, Javier Mascherano or Michael Carrick? Will he ever be?

Would the signing of a Christian Poulson at age 30 not help the youngster to groom him for a

first team berth? Cesc Fabregas is unique, not every young player can harness their ability and show such consistency at a young age. To expect Denilson, Song or Abou Diaby to consistently out perform more seasoned opponents is too much.

Investment is needed, It is easier to not spend money and be close, than to spend and fail.

Sir Alex revolutionized his squad after losing back to back league titles, in came Van Der Sar and Hargreaves (Both Champions League Winners) They came at a cost, but in these money driven times who doesn’t?

Chelsea after losing their title and being unable to regain it have brought in Russian winger Yuri Zhirkov, and have promises a ‘marquee signing.

Liverpool have introduced a more dynamic right back in Glen Johnson to turn some of those frustrating draws last season into victories. Arsenal have bought a centre back in Thomas Vermaelan who in all honesty is not really better than what they had, he may become Arsenal’s Vidic, but may is the apt word. Wenger couldn’t make Philipe Senderos a world beater, and that was two years at least of a player who was not good enough for a championship side.

Arsenal and this may be a harsh thing to say are a selling club, you can claim they wanted to sell Adebayor, but does the same go for Petit, Hleb, Viera, Henry, Overmars, Reyes and Anelka? Hmm. Just because you get a high transfer fee does not mean you have gained because

the time needed to purchase a replacement, implement him into the team, can cost you the league.

The English Premiership is the most competitive league in the world as there are four genuine sides who can win the title.

‘In Wenger we trust’ was a

banner unfurled at the end of last season, would the Frenchman enjoy such support if he splashed the cash? On the one hand it is clear Arsene bleeds Arsenal and the lack of trophies affects him as much as the fans, but only he can do something about it.

Is Arsene scared of expectation?

Does he have ultimate faith in his kids? Or does he just have no money to spend? To be fair we don’t know, but one thing we do know is that trust only goes so far.

Eduardo Scapegoat or Villain?

In the wake of Arsenal’s Champions League routine win In the wake of Arsenal’s win against Celtic in the Champions League everybody was only talking about one thing the Eduardo incident. Now Arsenal were 2 -0 up from the first leg and in pole position when Eduardo burst into the area rounded Artur Boruc the Celtic keeper and went to ground, the replay showed very minimal if any contact. Eduardo dusted himself off and stroked home the penalty, Celtic were irate, and called for a ban lest demanded a ban, now what do you think Uefa did?

If we look at the merits of this case it is startling, retrospective bans for players who are believed to be conning the referee, so the old yellow card doesn’t cut it anymore. Arsenal believed they were being made scapegoats a point reaffirmed when it was said this was the only case that Uefa were looking at.....

I can see Arsene Wenger preparing his sarcastic voice.

I am far from condoning what Eduardo did Extra time believes it was a dive, a very good one but a dive nevertheless, but

the way Uefa went straight for It seems we find the voice Arsenal’s jugular did not reek of to speak up when it’s easy, a fairness to be succinct. foreign player is a much easier target than an English star. In my As a Lithanian player found out lifetime the knock the ball past a couple of years ago it does not the keeper and wait for contact pay to dive against a Scottish is routine, it’s the era that we live team, Arsene calls it witch hunt, in, why now? Uefa has adopted Sir Alex calls it fair, I say it is a a rather scatter gun technique bit of both. where they adopt legislation and It is a witch hunt as the penalty propose it with due diligence but however soft it was no softer with great erracity. than Steven Gerrard against Atletico last Champions League Will the ban stick, well probably Campaign or Wayne Rooney’s not, but then again this is Uefa against Slovakia in World Cup anything is possible.

Qualifying.

Premier League: Hostile Takeover

As Chelsea sit atop the Premier league after 4 rounds of fixtures there are unfamiliar forces circling underneath them, indeed after the opening 4 fixtures the traditional top four had already lost four games between them.

This season in England there has been a shift, it is well known that the English Premier League has four of the strongest teams in the world in Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea but now we are starting to see there is more than meets the eye. Tottenham Chelsea and Manchester City have the only 100% records left in the league.

Tottenham are the team that always flatter to achieve but under Harry Redknapp there seems to be a new resolve about the side. At the start of this season there were no outlandish boasts no claims of it being Tottenham’s year just a quiet

Hoffenheim model, and ensure the players keep the players feet on the ground and their eyes on the prize there is no limit to their potential.

So the Manchester Galacticos, Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and Emanuel Adebayor, not the shopping list for a side that finished mid table last season.

But Mark Hughes has brought in some top class players this season with cetral defenders set to follow. Kolo Toure arrived and before long Joleon Lescott found himself in City Blue. The Citizens have set the bar high this season which is why a good start to the season was essential, a prestigious friendly win against Barcelona sandwiched confidence about a side which in between three wins in the was ready to become the sum league. of its parts. Since Redknapp has taken over Tottenham have taken When money is no question it one point less than Arsenal, and is not all about whom you buy had he been in charge earlier but what they can do to add they would surely have qualified dimensions to their team. In for the Europa League.

Adebayor City have a player who has a lot to prove and can Tottenham 4 wins out of 4 and a hit 25 league goals, Coupled growing confidence an opening with the twin powers of Tevez day over Liverpool followed by and Robinho, City should be not a satisfying win at West ham just respected but feared. City’s has shown a new maturity in next two encounters at home the side. With genuine quality to Arsenal and then away to oozing through the spine of the Manchester United - will provide team in Luka Modric, Wilson a far more telling indication as Palacios, and Jermaine Defoe, to their ambitions this season and a squad which allows for the than encounters with Blackburn, likes of David Bentley, Gio dos Wolves and Portsmouth, but you santos and Roman Pavlychenko can only beat what is in front of to be garnering splinters in their you. rears. There is an optimism that Spurs can push for entry into Chelsea look ominous new coach the highly restricted Champions Ancelotti has started well; quick League, can they challenge to dispel the myth that the for the title? If they take the squad was too old he has quickly

the side that battered a decent Stoke side or the side that were unable to illustrate their much vaunted possession football which had become par for the course last campaign. Glen Johnson continues to impress at right back with his attacking contribution already surpassing his predecessor Alvaro Arbeloa.

Emiliano Insua has started well and is garnering international recognition. As Rafa Benitez says, it is easy to pick on the likes of Lucas but it is now that Stevie Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina need to show that they are worthy of breaking Manchester United stranglehold, if Liverpool and his tactics. In short Chelsea are to win the league. I feel if it have thus far lived up to their doesn’t happen this season lest preseason billing, with ruthless an Arab style take over it may efficiency and flair, they are and not happen for a long time. will remain the team to beat.

Midfielder Ballack says the Blues Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal have taken extra motivation Arsenal, where do we start from their rivals dropping points. exquisite against Everton in “It was a surprise that Liverpool their 6-1 mauling of the men lost twice in the first three games from Merseyside, functional and it gives us extra motivation,” against Celtic in qualifying for As if they needed any.. the Champions League and at

implemented his style of play on his new team. The 442 diamond has allowed for Michael Ballack and Deco to recapture their past magic, with a fluid formation that allows for rapid interchange of positions it suits Chelsea’s players whom are technically skilled and very intelligent, the formation allows for Ashley Cole to bomb forward and his goal against Burnley shows that he has added a new bow to his string.

Liverpool are a difficult team to rate, are they just having a Didier Drogba and Nicolas sluggish start to the season or Anelka are illustrating that they are they suffering from a Xabi can play together, when Anelka Alonso sized hangover. Unlike opened the scoring against other magazines Extra Time is Burnley it was the third time not going to have a knee jerk this season that the pair had reaction to these results but combined so that one claimed some of the performance shave the assist for the other’s goal. been worrying. Second best To fully understand that statistic, against Tottenham and all of a Dimi Berbatov and Wayne sudden the zonal marking system Rooney have only combined for is coming in for a lot of abuse. a goal assist and score three Looks great when it comes times. Harmony is present as off....appalling when it doesn’t. all the players love the coach So what are the true Liverpool

times utterly ridiculous against Manchester United. It is of no consequence how well u play if you make such basic mistakes.

Manuel Almunia’s dash off the line to bring down Wayne Rooney gave United a way into the match when there should have been none.

Couple that with a terrible own goal from Abou Diaby and the men from North London had contrived to lose a game that they were dominating. The impact from this game will be more prevalent over the

coming month. But there are substantial positives to come out of the beginning of the season. Denilson has impressed having looked too lightweight at times last season the Brazilian midfielder has stepped his game up. He was the best player on the pitch against Celtic and continued in a similar vein at Old Trafford. Alex Song is blossoming in the midfield enforcer role, and Thomas Vermaelen is looking an astute purchase. However instead of being three points clear of United they are three behind, and defeat in Manchester in two weeks’ time will most probably find the Gunners a full nine points off the top and reduced to arguing against talk of a crisis. With Johan Djourou both the only centre-half in the Arsenal squad over six foot and injury prone, better cover than the inconsistent Mikael Silvestre is required.

Manchester United have three wins out of form and have arguably not played a good 90 minutes yet. One goal in two games against newly-promoted clubs, led to calls of how much they miss CR7 but then a thumping of Wigan followed by a win over rival Arsenal has led to calm in the ranks.

the lead an illustration of how hard it is to win a spot kick at Old Trafford. Team selection will be very important to Sir Alex this season. He got it wrong against Burnley and Darren Fletcher’s importance grows by the game present or not. They miss the flat track bully Ronaldo, who often plundered goals against weaker teams, but it is up to Wayne Rooney to stand up (pun intended) and provide the goals, a successful season depends on it.

Aston Villa having reverted back to the tried and trusted formation that served them so well last season picked up two wins having been beaten at home on the 1st day of the season. Martin O Neill must think back to a run of only two wins in 17 games since he signed Emile Heskey and wonder what might have been if the Villans had not changed their formation to accommodate the bustling centre forward when John Carew was already there.

Despite the plaudits following the win at Liverpool Villa are still yet to adequately replace Gareth Barry. With the level of competition that exists in the Premiership now the Villans will be looking downwards rather than upwards I feel.

In the absence of their talisman one thing must be noted, the home ground is a fortress.

Just four visiting teams have prevailed at Old Trafford there in as many years and it remains the hardest trip on the football calendar. All away games are born unequal, but some are more unequal than others. The penalty that should have been given shortly before Arsenal took

What a difference a year makes, Portsmouth had won the FA Cup had a progressive talented young team and were ready to embark on a European Odyssey.

Fast forward a year and minus Niko Krankjaer, Sulley Muntari, Lass Diarra, Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson, Sylvain Dystain and Sol Campbell, the south coast team must be considered one of the

favourites for the drop, no points from 4 games. Anew owner who seems to have less money than Valencia, I jest but I don’t know any Arab millionaires that purchase Tommy Smith from Watford, then again I don’t know any Arab millionaires. It will be a long hard season and if they are to survive it will be down to David James to show why he is England No.1. Stoke have come a long way in a year, ridiculed as being a long throw one trick pony, the Potters play genuine football and look comfortable to stay up at this early stage. The double signing of Robert Huth and Sanli Tuncay looks too be excellent business and perhaps staying up is no longer enough for stoke, do not be surprised to see them around the 10th place mark they have the potential to be this seasons Fulham.

I don’t know whom is disliked more Gordon Brown or Gary Megson in Bolton, a lack of fire power that Ivan klasnic is not going to fix, functional but an uncreative midfield. Bolton are in a worse position than under Allardyce despite more funds to spend. It could be a reflection of the fast moving times of football or it could indicate someone who doesn’t have an eye for a player.

Blarim Dzemalli a fine deep lying midfielder now residing at Parma was shown the door despite no chances to impress, and Johan Elmander was purchased despite vehement protests that he would not get the goals they required.

The Premiership is a different beast and it is survival of the fittest, Starters orders the sack race is officially about to begin.

No Benzema, No Juniniho, No Quality.....

“This is bad news for the French championship,” Deschamps declared to RMC. “It is a loss for Ligue 1. Karim Benzema is indeed one of the best players, even if he is still young. I think that for the visibility of the French championship, it was better for him to stay, because the league needs one star player who is French.”

Didier Deschamps (Marseille)

talisman striker but has league un lost as a whole? With the sale of Juninho, he made a switch to Al-Gharafa of Qatar, the league has lost two of its most recognisable players.

consisting of Michael Essien, Florent Malouda (both now at Chelsea), Mamadou Diarra (Real Madrid) and with Sidney Govou at his peak it was a midfield that struck fear into the heart of teams all over Europe. The biggest travesty is that twice the team should have done better in the earlier part of the 2000’s first getting knocked out by a talented PSV side but one that were not their betters, and then getting knocked out by a AC Milan side that rode their luck as Lyon missed chance after chance after chance and were then hit by a late sucker punch to knock them out.

There is ammunition for those to say that the French league has lost its lustre. From the days when the principality shocked the football world and contested perhaps the most unfashionable The new Marseille boss Champions League final expressed his upset at the with Jose Mouriniho’s Porto sale of Karim Benzema, but in recent memory, it seems at the same time the tactician a long time since Jerome must have been rubbing his Rothen, Ludovic Giuly and co. hands together at the fact a Dazzled on the European stage.

Lyon side which had looked Since then all of the components well off the required pace at Then came Paul Le Guen’s Lyon that made Lyon such a smooth times this season had lost their side, and what a side that was, machine have been sold

Fernando Morientes: Back when Monaco were good off, it seems now to be a more what could have been than what could still be.

The French league is no longer the draw it once was, Maroune Chamakh would rather move to Sunderland for a new challenge than stay with the newly crowned French champions. The ability to draw the best youngsters is waning too, with French clubs lacking the same financial clout, the best young players are being sold off earlier and earlier.

Blaise Maitudi (St Etienne) is ready to leave these shores, but there was once a time when the next step up constituted of

moving to one of the top four (Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille and Paris S-G) and getting game time in an important Europe competiton, then moving to a European big boy, the middle step is all too often missed out and to the detriment of the player.

This season though there may be a turnaround, Lyon seem to have revived the spirit with the signing of Porto duo Aly Cissohko, Lisandro Lopez and talented midfielder Bastos (Lille).

Marseille have completed the signing of Argentine playmaker Lucho Gonzalez 14 million Euros the league

has a stronger look about it.

With Zidane’s heir Yoan Gourcuff settled into his new home at Bordeaux for a change League Un looks as if it is highly competitive with the other second tier leagues (Germany, Portugal and a case could be made for Turkey) and that bodes well for European progress and Raymond Domenech will hope that it translates into more French players, playing at the Europe League and Champions League level, rather than being bad news the sale of Benzema may signal a renaissance in the French game.

Bundesliga I spent most of the month preparing a piece on how Bayern had failed to effectively start the season. With just two points from their opening three games, with a disastrous loss to Mainz questions are were already being raised over Louis van Gaal’s ability to get the job done at Bayern Munich.

Jurgen Klinsmann had a terrible start to the season but still had acquired more points that Van Gaal after the same stage.

Wolfsburg were next up but then something remarkable happened. Arjen Robben arrived in a deal that was wrapped up in such spectacular haste that I lead to the rumour mongers arguing that a deal for Franck Ribery had been set in stone in order for it to happen. A big game the champions having just come off the back to a defeat to Wolfsburg a defeat unthinkable, two draws and two losses after an extravagant spending spree.

system unable to link together a cohesive 90 minutes.

of AC Milan for forward Ezin Dzeko and their squad mentality seems a little fragile, bust ups The new Diamond formation between the playing staff, a not fully working as Bayern lack home defeat to Hamburg and a player who is able to link the the defeat to Bayern, will have play in the hole, Jorge Sosa hit their confidence The team continuing to flatter to deceive. has missed captain Josue and Up front Mario Gomez looks to his return to action in the next be the first name on the team few weeks will bolster the side sheet and although he has immeasurably. The international arguably been the best player break is necessary to restore so far. The problem with Bayern confidence in the team. is that they need a young world class goalkeeper Rene Adler Extra Time’s tip to be contenders, would fit the bill but would the Hamburg have started the Robbery as they are being management have faith in him if season well and are unbeaten, to dubbed in the German press he made a few mistakes, and a say that they bought well would combined to devastating effect, maestro playmaker The decision be a gross understatement the leading Bayern to a 3-0 win to send Toni Kroos out on loan signing of Ze Roberto (Free and ease the pressure on the looks silly if Van Gaal knew he Agent) would have been to buy coach. The duo in particular wanted to play the diamond well when you add to that young Dutch attacker forward Eljero raced half the length of the pitch formation.

Elia from Twente you have done for the final goal interchanging passing, before Robben eased The champions Wolfsburg seem very good business. To top that the ball into the net. To be fair to be slow to adopt the mentalities off with the revelation of the injuries to Mark van Bommel of new coach Armin Veh, having summer Marcus Berg is a coup, and Martin Demichelis as well as lost their Championship winning 7 goals in the u21 tournament Franck Ribery have stunted their trainer Felix Magath who has put him on the radar and it is progress. But the Bavarian outfit moved to Schalke, they spent the ridiculous to think Hamburg are also struggling with the new summer resisting the advances were the only team to make

a concrete offer for him, at this stage of his career though Hamburg is the correct place for him, the German league is a step up from the Dutch league but not as competitive as the Premier League or Italy, in other words an excellent place to hone his craft.

step up from the Eredivision.

Bayern Leverkusen have started well despite a lack of big money reinforcements, but doubt would have to remain about the size of squad but they should still be aiming for Europa League places.

New Schalke bass Felix magath fresh off his title triumph at Anyway we digress and Elia has Wolfsburg will no doubts be really impressed as he has taken looking to make two in a row responsibility on and made the with his new outfit, has a lot to

do and he has started solidly with 7 points from his first 4 games.

Schalke finished a disappointing 8th last season and have made few big money signings the manager having said 5 million euro players are out of his price range, Manuel Neuer will be important for them.

Daylight Rob-Bery Bayern have made positive steps in the transfer market the arrivals of Alexander Baumjohann and Anatoli Tyomoschk from Shaktar have added grit and guile to the midfield. In Ivica Olic Bayern have found a quick hard working striker who will more than fill the gap left

by Lukas Podolski’s move to Cologne. Olic whilst not the most prolific will provide width and backup on the left flank. Mario Gomez is the major purchase at 30 million Euros, doubts remain over his ability to be the no.1 German striker but in Germany he is indeed Super Mario, undoubtedly the double transfer whammy that Bayern managed to pull off was the retention of Franck Ribery and the purchase of Arjen Robben.

Ribery, caused Bayerm much consternation this summer

70 million Euros fee slapped on his head and despite wishing to be the newest galactico Bayern have held firm, resisting advances from all and insisting that Ribery will start the new season Ribery who was subject to as a Munich player general attention from all the major manager Uli Hoeness said European clubs, had a huge “We are not prepared to talk,

not even for €70 million or more.” Such a stance has invited rumours that Ribery would try to force a break in his contract, FIFPro. The worldwide organisation for professional football players came out and showed its support for the Frenchman insisting it would support

Ribery in any decision that he made. That led to Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, threatening to take FIFPro to court in the event that Ribery followed up on the advice.

fee and a succession of injuries Robben was a brightest of dim lights last season. Often picking Real up by the scruff of their neck, Robben seems likely to pay the price of individual poor performance in the big Bayern waited it out, and games last season. watched as Madrid spent euro after euro, Chelsea’s So it proved despite on interest arrived as well and it several occasions stating looked for a fleeting moment he wanted to stay Robben that due to the Bavarian was allowed to leave clubs interest in Jose without much ceremony, Bosingwa that the may be The Galacticos’ thinking that willing to trade or at least talk. getting a return on the winger Eventually Ribery Finally was more important than said the words all Bayern having a quality alternative. fans had been waiting for all In reality Robben s a started summer. he is a player that if loved and revered can score and “The signing of Arjen Robben create and equal amounts. has convinced me to stay Robben remarked “It all at Bayern. The arrival of a happened very fast. There player of his class is a sign were a couple of things I from the club that they’re wanted to think over, but in keen to fight for silverware the end I decided I really again. I wanted the club wanted to move to a huge to sign a player like Arjen club like Bayern, “ the player and I’m happy that the club explained in an FCB.tv secured his services,” Ribery interview. was quoted as saying by TZ. “Right from the start, Bayern See Bayern that was quite gave me a very good feeling, simple in the end wasn’t and I feel very welcome here. it!? Purchase a world class This is a massive club with winger to appease the a glorious history, and I’m world class winger you delighted to be here now. I’m have already. The Robben totally fit, I had a good pretransfer saga was a little season with Real Madrid, more complicated. Earlier and I’m ready to play.” in the summer Extra Time stated that: Despite a large He was most certainly ready

to play; making his debut against the champions Wolfsburg he scored twice and caused havoc in the opposition box. Hs second goal a rapid counter attack where he and Ribery interlinked to provide a glimpse of the future. The plaudits rained in, but Robben has a tendency to go missing in the BIG games, in the Bundesliga he will run riot but in the Champions League in the big games, it will be interesting to see how he performs he has a lot to prove after all.

Jorge Valdano the Real general said once the club started to add to their midfield options he was always likely to go.

“If Kaka joined then Sneijder would go and if Ronaldo joined then Robben would leave. That is normal thinking,” he continued.

It is normal thinking, fundamentally rational but Robben is a fantasia player he can do things players can only dream of. Real’s loss is to be Bayern’s gain.

I have never been that good at maths so I’m not sure whether this equation works, Robben + Ribery = Champions League?

Seria A: Mourinho claims Milan Derby

“We had to fight in the first 20 minutes, but then we played a great game. I have to congratulate my boys for another reason too - they didn’t want to attack relentlessly and they stopped in the second half!”

they fell behind to a nice move from Inter they crumbled. The gulf between the two sides there for all to see. Having seen Gattuso sent off. Inter didn’t take long to exploit their numerical advantage, and in the first minute of stoppage time Maicon finalised a nice one-two with Milito with a clinical finish to make it 3-0 to the ‘visitors’ just before the break. A Dejan Stankovic piledriver completed the scoring in the second half and that was it mercifully for Milan.

Massimo Moratti was positively beaming after his Inter side gave AC Milan a thrashing.

Indeed such was the manner of the defeat Andrea Galliani’s pre match boast that he was 98% confident of victory seem insane. Milan did start well and had a few half chances but once There

was

a

false sense of enthusiasm surrounding the Rossoneri.

The difference in quality all over the park was staggering, regression of the older players in the squad is worrying and the replacements are not forthcoming. Inter played some excellent football indeed the 1st and 3rd goals were well worked moves which would not look out of place at the Nou Camp.

But for Milan the truth hurts; their midfield is too slow, static and inflexible. The fullbacks, have seen better days ridiculous it is incumbent on them to

prove this writer wrong but they are both but particularly Marek Jankulovski on the left, vulnerable – the Czech was run ragged by Maicon. Meanwhile, Rino Gattuso and Ronaldinho who were once arguably the best in the world in their respective don’t have the ability or the hunger perhaps even both to damage high level sides. The penalty concede

by Gattuso coupled with his sending off ended any hope Milan had of a comeback but.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar sat on the bench as he was omitted for the out of touch Marco Boriello other than that, the frightening thing is that this is the best Milan XI available to coach Leonardo.

Had this Milan played Genoa away and Juventus at home they would have no points and a terrible goal difference, they need direction and leadership not to bury their head in the sand.

Carlo Ancelloti left for a new start but would he have stood for this? As a new coach Leonardo must state what he needs to achieve his project. Wide players, full backs, midfielders why not sell pirlo if that 30 mil can strengthen three positions.

The fans know they are in for a long season, over the road Inter are still the team to beat in the Scudetto race, but they are not without peers “I think Juventus are becoming a serious team that are capable of fighting in Serie A and in the Champions League,” Moratti told reporters.

“I think it’s nice to see another

remember as fellow big money signing Felipe Melo who arrived from Fiorentina burst through from midfield and slammed home left-footed from 25 yards into the bottom corner.

Ronaldinho: Lots to Prove team who are strong enough to challenge and make the league more interesting, but I hope Inter can keep the same equilibrium as [in] past seasons.”

Juventus’ first test came away to Roma, and boy did they pass with flying colours. Diego the star of the show , for his first feat the Brazilian stole the ball from Marco Cassetti on the centre circle, shrugged off the Italian before leaving John Arne Riise and gently caressing the ball with the outside of his boot, past Julio Sergio in the Roma goal.

Having been pegged back by a outrageous strike by Daniele De Rossi, Diego was keen to prove that he is the only Brazilian attacking midfielder of note The former Werder Bremen man found himself one-on-one with Philippe Mexes, and dummied delightfully before burying his finish past Julio Sergio.

It was a Brazilian day to

Juve made it maximum points from their first two games, and sent out a Scudetto-warning shot, a job well done for Juventus but meanwhile Roma are still pointless and now coachless. Luciano Spalletti resigned in the wake of a disappointing start to the season and a fairly disastrous transfer campaign in which the golden boy Alberto Aquilani was sold to Liverpool and no real replacements were brought in. “I handed in my resignation and Roma accepted it instantly,” the coach told reporters.

Spalletti met with Roma president Rosella Sensi at the Villa Pacelli in Rome alongside director Daniele Prade. The reunion lasted little over half an hour as the coach informed the club of his decision.

The Rome fans tend to have short memories despite Spalletti taking the side back to the Champions league; the fans were quick to voice their discontent at the coach when things got tough. Most rational fans would recognise that Spalletti is a fine tactician who got the most out of his players.

Serial runner up Claudio Ranieri takes the reins with much to do.

Is Adrian Mutu’s fine too much?

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few months one of the biggest talking points is Adrian Mutu and his massive fine that has been levied on him.

supporters let me know I was start the Romanian lost his way not alone in this battle.” in the second half of the season.

In September 2004, Mutu “Now I am only thinking about failed a drugs test for cocaine the national team and the last for which he would receive a chance to go to the World Cup.” £20,000 fine from the Football Association (FA) together with “I don’t have €17 million and These were Mutu’s words prior a seven-month ban. Chelsea sincerely believe that only four to Romania’s crunch world Cup also took the additional step of or five players in the world have games with France. Here’s the sacking Mutu, leaving him as a that kind of sum available,” backstory. free agent.

“Everyone’s help is essential, but I do not intend to do In August 2003, Chelsea signed Despite still having a further fundraising or collect money. Mutu from Parma for £15.8m five months of his suspension Even against Palermo, the (€18.6m). After an explosive to run, Mutu then joined

Juventus on a free transfer in January 2005 (he would then move on again to Fiorentina in the summer of 2006), with the Bianconeri fighting off all attempts by Chelsea to gain compensation.

Finally after years and years or circling the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that the striker had committed a breach of contract by taking cocaine, and that under FIFA’s laws for compensation he was liable for the transfer fee Chelsea wrote off their accounts when they sacked him. The final damages, following an unsuccessful appeal, were set at £14.6m (€17m).

This opened a massive can of worms, you have the two sides, Chelsea sacked the player and he was banned for seven months, no wages, his reputation damaged one could argue that the player had served his punishment and should be allowed to start a new chapter of his career.

Alternatively you could placate Chelsea, they invested a lot of money in a player, whose resale value plummeted due to his own indiscretions and thusly they were robbed of a transfer fee. They have no choice of recourse other than to demand the money from the player himself.

Where is the fairness, Chelsea who took the decision to sack Mutu, and it was their prerogative to release him on a free transfer rather than sell

him on and limit their damages.

How can Mutu be responsible for a transfer fee that was agreed between Parma and Chelsea? If Abramovich had decided to pay 50 million for him, would Mutu now be expected to pay all that back?

a player whom Mourinho liked was banned would Chelsea have also sacked them?

You cannot discount the Rio Ferdinand example in 2003 when he failed/refused to take a drugs test, and was subsequently banned for eight Mutu has been made an months and fined £50,000. example of in the battle against Man Utd did not ditch him then drugs in football, only that in this attempt to sue him. case there is now reformation no magical comeback, it is an Chelsea’s people act according example that don’t bother to to the club’s best interest. They reform your character as you calculated that they probably will still have to pay. would never receive £17m from his transfer and thought it was It is an awful message by Chelsea best was to force Mutu to pay and FIFA with regards to the the loss himself. international rights of players.

Chelsea are unsurprisingly Graham Lister from Goal argues moot on this point, they don’t Chelsea’s eagerness to occupy need to wade in and exercise the moral high ground whenever their muscles as the CAS are they can is no more than a doing it for them. Chelsea’s cynical attempt to redress the people act according to the ethical balance in the wake club’s best interest to maximise of their own several dubious the success of the PLC. They practices in the Abramovich era. probably acknowledged they would never receive £17m from However the message rightly or his transfer and thought it was wrongly is being sent out you best was to force Mutu to pay may be young rich and gifted, the loss himself. but there are consequences to you actions. All workers To be fair to him Mutu has are responsible for what they completely turned around do and for the image of the his life. As recently as 2007, company they represent. If the Guardian newspaper they cause damage, they praised Mutu for his newfound should pay for it. Do not think maturity. Indeed, it is no ah well it’s over because I got exaggeration whatsoever to sacked the investment into that call the Romanian a completely player’s profile should not go changed man. Perhaps, then, understated. Is he punishment the sacking from Chelsea was proportional to the crime? It’s a wake-up call that he needed. difficult to call, some call it Mourinho did not like Mutu he obscene, a few say it’s just but was not a Mourinho signing, if most say that this isn’t over.

Italian Round Up: Claudio’s back results in week 2 showed the gap that exists between them and their rivals for the title with Inter winning the Milan derby comfortably with a 4-0 away victory and Juventus overcoming Roma 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico. These victories for both sides were wins that will give them great confidence and now the title race looks more likely to be a two horse race.

AC Milan could well be a club who will struggle to challenge this season with them loosing their talisman Kaka to real Madrid in the summer and placing their hopes on the inconsistent Ronaldinho to step up to the plate or rather the plateau given the lack of collectiveness the team showed against their local rivals. The ageing squad does not have a superstar for them to rely on anymore and the manager Leonardo faces a daunting task trying to keep the Rossoneri fans happy with the performances of the team.

Roma will need to reinvent themselves under new coach Claudio Ranieri who was quickly installed into the position. Former coach Luciano Spalletti resigned after hinting to have lost the dressing room and with two losses in the first two games fans may see the change of coach as a positive step for the Roman club. The Tinkerman who is a Rome native has he’s critics in Italian football but his first job will be rejuvenate them after the 3-1 thrashing at home to Juventus.

The problem with Roma was not Spalletti but the squad, this is evident with Danielle De Rossi

commenting that “Juventus and Inter are the strongest” and indicating that they do not have the strength and depth in squad to challenge the big two. The Rome native is coming home with a great desire to do well but the squad he has at his disposal could hinder him from challenging for the title and with the ownership of the club still up in the air it could well be a difficult season for the Giallorossi.

Other than that not much has changed after the first two weeks of football in Serie A with the two teams most likely to challenge for the championship being Internazionale and Juventus. The

Jose Mourinho on the other hand will be pleased with the start he’s team have had to the campaign, after a fairly disappointing start at home with a draw to Bari, Mourinho’s men showed against Milan why they should be regarded as favourites for the title. Fielding Wesley Sneijder the latest summer signing in the starting line-up for the 4-0 demolition of their rivals, they were able to control the Milan derby and scored some well worked team goals. Sneijder has provided Mourinho with the playmaker he has sought for all summer and he will be able to play the trequartista role behind Milito and Samuel Eto o. It was important for Massimo Moratti

to back Mourinho in the transfer market and it enabled him to make the signings he believed will help the Nerazzurri to finally be serious challengers for the Champions league. The loss of Ibrahimovic will not seem all that bad for Inter Milan with the creative influence of sneijder coming in and the attacking prowess of Milito and Etoo combining well in the first few games.

Juventus have won their opening two games and many people including Marcello Lippi the Italian national coach sees them as title winners come the end of the season. Having signed the Brazilian duo of Felipe Melo and the Diego, Juventus have improved their side and although they are under the guidance of inexperienced coach in Ciro Ferrara they look likely to occupy one of the top two spots come the end of the season. Diego stood out in the Roma victory and received many plaudits with many people comparing him to the great Roberto Baggio. The free signing of Italian Captain Fabio Cannavaro did not please many of the fans having left the club when they were demoted to Serie B, however with him partnering Giorgio Chiellini in centre defence the Italian national team partnership will have solid and assured defence and the late signing of Fabio Grosso from Lyon will also help provide added experience to the squad.

Other potential rivals for a Champions league spot are Fiorentina, Napoli, Genoa and Sampdoria. Fiorentina have had an adequate start to the season with a draw on day 1 of the season away to Bologna and a home win against a good Palermo team. The €8 million Euro starlet Jovetic is beginning to show his worth with a

few solid performances and some vital goals for both Fiorentina and his national team Montenegro. The big story surrounding Fiorentina is the ongoing saga involving Adrian Mutu and the fee of £14.65 million he owes to Chelsea after losing a Fifa ruling for breach of contract.

The forward faces an uncertain future and the issue is still yet to be finalised.

The Lazio coach Davide Ballardini has called on his players to show they are worthy of their lofty league position when they play Juventus on Sunday. Lazio have started the season brightly with two consecutive victories placing them joint leaders at the top of the table. Lazio look like potential contenders to challenge for a champions league spot but will face a tough challenge this weekend when the inform Juventus visit the Stadio Olimpico.

The new coach who replaced Delio Rossi at the helm of the Roman club in the summer sees the game as their first real test “On Saturday we come up against Juventus, a team that is the fittest in Serie A and that has plenty of enthusiasm and team spirit”.

Lazio however face injury concerns with their two frontmen facing late fitness tests, Mauro Zarate is however likely to feature and will be the main attacking threat for Lazio. Lazio also have former Inter hit man Julio Cruz who has a good record against Juventus with 9 goals against Juve in official Serie A games.

Napoli are another side with the potential to be up near the top come the end of the season. The signing of Italian international Quagliarella and keeping hold of other attacking threats such as Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek

Hamsik, have indicated their desire to challenge this season and despite the opening day loss to Palermo they were able to bounce back with an impressive victory over Livorno. That victory will give them confidence but they face a difficult trip to Genoa who have a started well with two victories in the opening two games. Last year Napoli’s season fell flat on the ground because of their away form, so they will look for an assured performance away against Genoa.

The Grifoni have started well this season with two consecutive wins, this despite them loosing arguably their two most influential players to Inter Milan (Milito & Thiago Motta). Their opening day victory over Roma and another victory over Atalnata will give them great confidence for the season ahead.

They host Napoli in day 3 of the which should be a very interesting contest but one in which Genoa will believe they can get a result which would give them an impressive three wins out of three and keep them at the summit of the table.

Finally Sampdoria have been another team to have won their first two opening games of the campaign and this is a complete opposite to how they started the previous campaign where they failed to pick up a victory in their opening seven games. Consecutive victories over Catania and Udinese has generated a buzz around the city and the strike force of Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini is arguably one of the most lethal in the league. With their strike force they will always have a great attacking threat and one that can push them into a European spot come the end of the season.

Eredivision

10 million euros, Players like Urby Emanuelson needed to step up and show they can fill the void. Jol is a excellent man motivator but in the big games last season Hamburg were felt lacking and it may take longer to bring the glory days back to the capital club.

The early results have been fairly promising, only one defeat and that came in a 4-3 thriller against PSV and a frustrating home draw against Sparta have sullied an otherwise fine start. Marco Pantelic signed on a free transfer will provide goals and Luis Suarez will provide the creativity.

The biggest game of the past weekend was the game between Feyenoord and Twente, Feyenoord keeping their unbeaten start to the Eredivisie campaign. A win would have put Steve McClaren’s Twente in top spot no small feat as both Elia (Hamburg) and Mauro Arnautovic (Inter) have departed for pastures new.

The coach seemingly able to continue the upward mobility of the Dutch outfit. Feyenoord on the other hand were rather fortunate to gain a draw but look like they are in the first signs of recovery after a couple Champions AZ Alkmaar have of disastrous years. lost inspirational manager Louis van Gaal (Bayern)but Former player Martin Jol has have held onto forward Mounir taken charge at Ajax, and El Hamdaouni scorer of over has already rung the changes 20 goals last season. Rather firstly he made the decision than extravagant spanding to appoint playmaker Luis worthy of a debut champions Suarez as skipper for the league campaign. The striker forthcoming season following has found his touch again and the departure of Thomas has bagged 5 goals already Vermaelen to Arsenal. Then he this season to lead the scorring told last season’s big money charts. signing Miralem Sulejmani’s that he is essentially a physical AZ took a pragmatic approach wreck, and needs to work on and sought to renew the his fitness for the forthcoming deals of their star players last season. Then he brought along year. Dutch International Stijn his favourite player in the whole Schaars and Belgian Sebastien world Timothee Atouba having Pocognoli both penned new played under Jol at Tottenham, deals. Also much mooted and last season at Hamburg, deals for Moussa Dembele and the Cameroonian makes it a Demy De Zeuww failed to go trifecta when he signed for through, if consistency breeds Ajax this season. The loss of success, last years Champions Vermaelen compensated by are in a good positon. They

Stevie Mac doin well

top the league going into the international break.

Balazs Dzsudzsak has been PSV star performer, contributing assists and goals it seems only a matter of time before the player seeks fame and fortune in another league. He and Danny Koevermans seem to have an almost telepathic understanding which will be important as they attempt to wrestle the Eredivision from AZ. Ola Toivonen remains a star on the rise and Orlando Engelaar seems to be reinvigorated since his return to Holland. New PSV coach Fred Rutten will have seen much to impress him as his side are unbeaten to date.

Japan international Honda has been the revelation of the new Eredivisie season thus far with five goals in VVV’s opening five matches, all of which have ended as draws. Linked to a move to Liverpool and PSV the youngster will become a household name.

Ligue Un

French Round Up Bordeaux regained top spot in Ligue 1 in the final game before the international break- but a goalless draw at unbeaten Marseille means the league’s final 100 per cent record has gone.

It was a tight game with perhaps L’OM shading it but neither side could be disgruntled at a share of the spoils. Bourdeaux have started well shrugging off the summer transfer talk surrounding Maroune Chamakh they look like champions and having been put into the same Champions League group as Real and AC Milan they will need to sharpen their claws if they are to may an impact. Yoan Gourcuff continues to shine, the

sheer idiocy of Milan to sell kaka a high level team, the spirit it and his heir in the same transfer there,” window just staggers belief, but Seria A loss is Le Championnat’s he told the club’s official website. gain.

“The match against Bordeaux Four matches of the season in showed that Marseille have a and Didier Deschamps is pleased strong team. with the way OM have started the campaign, most notably in “The players have a very good the defensive realm. Four league spirit on the bench and on the games have yielded two victories, field.” though Marseille have also accrued a couple of impressive Under Erik Gerets last term, draws against Stade Rennais and OM finished second in Le Girondins de Bordeaux in this Championnat, with defence their spell, giving them eight points major Achilles heel. Deschamps from a possible twelve. has worked hard to bolster this area of the side, and OM boast “Beyond the countable aspect, the most watertight back line in which is certainly essential for Ligue 1, having lost only one goal

(a penalty against Rennes) in the first month of the campaign.

1 table and easing themselves into the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition.

“The defensive sector is strong The signs look good, Lyon did but it also comes from the fact good business in the window, that the attackers are doing a lot Michele Bastos completed of work to allow the team to win an €18 million move to the the ball,” he said. “It is nice not Stade Gerland from Lille, the to concede goals, but it would be Brazilian midfielder who is yet nice to score a little more without to win his first cap enjoyed an forgetting our defensive rigour.” excellent season last term. An Lyon looking to bounce back excellent piece of business, from not winning the title have after completing the signing made a good start also. of Lisandro Lopez from Porto.

Olympique Lyonnais have also A 2-2 draw in Le Mans on the landed the Argentinian’s former campaign’s opening day did not club-colleague Aly Cissokho. bode particularly well, but they The dynamic left back seen as a have since won all five of their replacement for Juventus bound matches, including two legs of Fabio Grosso. a Champions League play-off against Anderlecht, installing Lyon must take the ligue 1 this themselves in third in the Ligue season,it’s make or break for Russia Champions Rubin Kazan have continued where they left off and top the table 20 games into the new season, with a 4 point lead over Spartak Moscow. Buoyed by the return of Argentinean midfielder Alejandro Dominguez (right) whom returned from Zenit St. Peterburg to join his former club Rubin Kazan on a one-year contract, and Rafal Murawski (Lech Poznan), Rubin have made a strong attempt to defend their crown thusfar this campaign. Dominguez in particular has had a happy return as he has hit 12 goals ably assisted by Bukharov who has 11.

Zenit who made big money

moves for Fernando Meira and Szabolcs Huszti pre season and added talented Italian winger Alessandro Rosina (Torino) € 7millon euros to the ranks and currently sit 6th in the table how they miss Andrei Arshavin as Danny his replacement has not been quite up to par.

Zico’s CSKA side whom have been good but somewhat inconsistent away wins at Dynamo Moscow coupled with dissapointing draws with sides such as Terek Grozni have left the side sitting in 4th place 10 points off the top.

Spartak lead the chasing pack in second place with forward Welliton topping the scoring.

Claude Puel on paper Lyon are better than Marseille and Bordeaux in terms of strength and depth, they are better and more balanced in every position, what they lack is team chemistry.

PSG may or may not self implode, the departure so it could even be a four horse race.

PSG have been relatively quiet in this transfer window however veteran Goalkeeper Gregory Coupet arrived from Atletico Madrid; and Forward Mevlut Erding made his long awaited move from Sochaux. If new coach Antoine Kombouare can get this PSG team over achieving like he did his Valenciennes side anything is possible, they sit in second with 10 points from four games.

Primera Liga: Galacticos at the ready.

La Liga returns with vengeance this season as it attempts to re-establish its former identity as Europe’s most competitive league. Following on from Barcelona’s triumphant treble winning season which ended in Champions League victory, Spain may now feel they have another team potentially capable of recreating the Catalans glory, enter the spectacular return of the mighty Real Madrid.

With only one round of La Liga matches played it would be extremely harsh at this stage to rule out any surprises La Liga may provide, but it would take a brave man to bet against either Barcelona or Real Madrid to take the title this season.

Both teams recorded victories during the opening weekend

in the Primera Division, with Real running out 3-2 winners at home to Deportivo La Coruna and Barca beating Sporting Gijon 3-0 at the Nou Camp. Despite the first round of matches unable to offer any indication as to how the two teams will continue to play, it is however a winning start for the only two realistic title contenders.

Looking back at last season, one match in particular encapsulated both Real’s and Barca’s season and was certainly a turning point for both clubs. It was the meeting of the two teams in El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu. The match ended in a 6-2 victory for Barcelona which sent them flying into the final stretch of their historical season. For Real

Madrid it stamped a need for drastic change in terms of the players they had and the way in which they were playing.

Los Blancos’ drastic changes have since come at the hands of the newly elected president, Florentino Perez.

Having previously held presidency for Real, Perez is well known for his policy of high quality big money signings and he has delivered again with his ambitious project taking shape quickly during preseason. Perez has spent an unprecedented €252 million on new acquisitions, the first of which was the Brazilian playmaker Ricardo Kaka for €65 million – a world record transfer fee for a limited time until the much sought after Cristiano Ronaldo was signed from Manchester United, for a

staggering €96 million. There were also the additions of Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa, and Esteban Granero for a mere collective sum of €86.5 million. With all the money spent on new arrivals, Real did manage to recoup €90.5 million in player sales during an exodus of unwanted players such as Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Klass-jan Huntelaar and long time servant Michel Salgado. The man given the responsibility of making this ‘new look’ Real Madrid team play fluent attacking football is the talented Manuel Pellegrini, former manager of Spanish side Villareal.

It goes without saying that having invested so much money in rebuilding a team that looks impressive on a

team sheet; the expectations in terms of silverware this season are great, according to Iker Casillas: “It would be a disaster not to win something with this team this season”.

The objective is to win every trophy available to them ending with victory in a dream Champions League final to be held at the Bernabeu in May next year. Of course it is a long season and the team must gel and discover their form until such aspirations could possibly become reality, all coming with time and patience – ironically, factors that Real Madrid’s fans and hierarchy do not possess.

Away from the Spanish capital towards the Catalan capital, Barcelona had the tricky task of improving a side that literally won everything put in front of them last season.

One of Barca’s main priorities was to recruit a new left back to compete with the Frenchman Eric Abidal. However they were priced out of their original choice which was Deportivo La Coruna’s Filipe Luis, before they struck an astute deal for Maxwell for €4.5 million from Inter Milan. The Catalan giants also strengthened the centre back position with Dmytro Chygrynskiy arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk for €25 million, a player that Pep Guardiola pushed Barcelona’s director of football Txiki Begiristain to sign.

However, Barca’s major summer headline was regarding rumours with which striker they were going to bring in after the inevitable exit of Samuel Eto’o.

The Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the required

attributes that Guardiola had been looking for in a player to spearhead his attack alongside Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry.

When the sensational deal was finally agreed with Inter Milan, the Italian giants received €46 million plus the exchange of Eto’o who was valued at €20 million.

With their new striker in place, Los Cules had already wrapped up two more trophies to add to their cabinet before La Liga had started. These titles came with their 5-1 win on aggregate against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup, and the 1-0 European Super Cup victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco.

However, many believe if Barca are to repeat the success of the ‘triplete’, it will depend on the desire of the team and the injuries to key players that may or may not take place during the season. Having had a fresh faced coach in Guardiola to motivate his players throughout the whole of last season, this season will prompt a firm test of Pep’s skill to inspire the same level of hunger back into his players which will certainly play a vital part if his team are to earn silverware again.

So which side is more likely to win the league?

Pressure is a major factor with both teams and it will be the team that can focus and display resilience on the field most that will succeed. Real

Madrid’s second coming of ‘Los Galacticos’ has certainly created masses of pressure for the club and Florentino Perez, as the total money spent means they have something to prove. With the introduction of two former Ballon’dOr winners in Ronaldo and Kaka, Madrid now possesses that special type of player that can win games single-handedly, a similar luxury to Barcelona’s often reliance on Lionel Messi or Andres Iniesta. However, the jury is still out there as to whether these star names can operate cohesively as a team.

That is Manuel Pellegrini’s task; he could find himself with the easiest job in the world or perhaps out of one if he doesn’t get it right from the start.

out when they were up against defensively dogged opponents.

Real Madrid also faces the duty of entertaining their fans due to heavy criticism in the past for their style of football, even when achieving positive results.

Last season had shown that when in the face of adversity, Real demonstrated that their squad had courage, steel and determination as they climbed to just four points behind Barca before the 6-2 thumping in El Clasico. As the squad has been pumped with new flamboyant talent, Real have lost many of the squad players, some often referred to as the workers in the team. This could have a conflicting affect on last season’s fighting mentality which worked well when producing gritty hardworking performances to grind results

Injuries could also take their toll on certain players for all the efforts that were put into the performances last season.

Every player’s legs are a year older with only a certain amount of strain that the muscles can take. Moreover, people may just be feeling the pressure in Barcelona slightly more than Madrid. This is due to the fact that Barca have three things to lose which Real Madrid do not.

The La Liga title, the Copa del Rey title and the Champions League title.

Barcelona faces a great deal of pressure to ensure that their label as the best in Spain and the best in Europe remains in tact. Everything that was achieved last season must be forgotten – for now, as Guardiola must reignite the fire that saw his super fit side crush opponents with a dynamic barrage of attacks on defences and a hounding of the opposition until they retained the football. If they repeat the mistake that was shown after the 2006 Champions League triumph they could struggle, the sense that a victory will take care of itself without a need to work for it.

With either club yet to firmly establish themselves in this season’s league table as of yet, the backdrop for La Liga promises it to be a highly entertaining race for supremacy

LA LIGA ROUNDUP

David Villa Not going Anywhere

Whilst the two major forces in La Liga slug it out for the title, elsewhere in Spain Ateltico Madrid manager Abel Resino has already conceded the idea that the title is out of his grasp. Despite this, Atletico return to European football’s top club competition for a second consecutive year, ready to mount another stab at qualification from the Champions League group stage. Having held on to their superstars Kun Aguero and Spain’s top goal scorer last season Diego Forlan, they have retained the fire power needed to challenge once again for a top four finish. However, although they managed to add former Real Betis captain Juanito and highly rated goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo to their ranks, their opening La Liga outing

ended in a 3-0 defeat away to Despite the acquisitions of Malaga.

Didier Zokora from Tottenham and Alvaro Negredo from This suggests they may once Real Madrid, Sevilla had a again promise big things weakened side going into but fail to deliver. Malaga the biggest game in La Liga’s however, under new coach opening weekend, against Juan Ramon Muniz, will Valencia at the Mestalla. receive a huge confidence boost following the result as The home side ran out with they hope to build on their a comfortable 2-0 victory impressive eighth placed following two second half finish last season. goals by Juan Mata and Pablo Hernandez after Frederic Last years third placed side Kanoute’s sending off just Sevilla are also back in the before half time. Unai Emery’s Champions League and hope men must now focus on to make an even stronger restoring Valencia’s pride in impact on La Liga this season. ensuring them Champions It has been mentioned that League football next season. this season’s Sevilla team Although it has been well could perhaps become documented that Los Che stronger than the side that are in severe amounts of won numerous silverware debt, they have held firm under the guidance of former in resisting any pressure to manager Juande Ramos. sell their stars such as David

Villa and David Silva, the only high profile exit was Raul Albiol’s departure to Real Madrid. Valencia did however somehow find the funds to strengthen their side, with Moya arriving from Mallorca as the long awaited heir to Canizares, along with Mathieu and Bruno to reinforce the back four.

Villareal were dealt with a tough opening fixture, travelling to Pamplona to visit Osasuna in the Reyno de Navarra. With the loss of their long-serving manager Manuel Pellegrini to Real Madrid, Ernesto Valverde has been placed at the helm to guide the Yellow Submarine back up the table. In a tightly fought contest, both teams ended up with a share of the points as the match finished 1-1.

Santi Cazorla’s strike gave the away side the lead on the half an hour mark, before Walter Pandiani equalised five minutes later. There is no shortage of talent to suggest Villareal will struggle to challenge for a top four place this season. Boasting players such as Marcos Senna, Giuseppe Rossi, Santi Cazorla and the newly signed Nilmar, they should not have a problem in aiming for a place amongst Europe’s elite.

Surprisingly after round one of fixtures it is Getafe that sits at La Liga’s summit.

Following their 4-1 demolition

of Racing Santander at El Sardinero, it was a former Real Madrid youth product Roberto Soldado that stole the headlines scoring a hattrick to become La Liga’s top goal scorer. Getafe’s manager Michel was extremely pleased with his side’s performance and lavished praise on Dani Parejo, the playmaker of all Getafe’s attacks. If the Madrid based side can maintain this level throughout the course of the season they look set to become tricky opponent for any team in the league.

Over in the Basque region, Athletic Bilbao earned a 1-0 win against Espanyol at the San Mames. The goal came from Gaizka Toquero after Javi Martinez’ long ball was met by the striker as he ran on to score. With a host of talent in every position on the pitch, Bilbao look more than capable of challenging the top sides towards a place in Europe. With Fernando Amorebieta’s leadership in defence, Javi Martinez’ creativity in midfield and Fernando Llorente’s finishing ability, Los Leones could become a dark horse in the hunt for silverware this season.

Over on the coast, Mallorca began their La Liga campaign with a solid win against first division debutants Xerez.

Goals from Tuni and Aduriz in a two minute spell around

the hour mark were enough to ensure the victory for Gergorio Manzano’s side.

The winners of last season’s Segunda Division Xerez, left the field with nine men following two red cards for Leandro Goida and Carlos Calvo. The La Liga new boys will have to produce better performances if they wish to remain in the top division for the future.

The opening fixture list also conjured up a clash between fellow promoted sides Real Zaragoza and Tenerife.

Having been promoted at the first time of asking, Zaragoza splashed out in the summer transfer market purchasing Nigerian forward Ikechukwu Uche from Getafe along with Jermaine Pennant from Liverpool, as they look to cement their status in the Primera Liga. It was a pleasant debut for both new players as the home side beat Tenerife 1-0 thanks to a single goal from Javier Arizmendi.

Finally, Almeria and Real Valladolid played out a dull 0-0 encounter as the match became 90 minutes of tactical defending for the away side following defender Nivaldo’s sending off on 12 minutes.

The closest Almeria came to goal was when Kalu Uche’s decent effort struck the bar.

What’s all the hype about?

He does not score enough goals, his strike rate is still too low for an internationally renowned striker and especially for ligue1, his link up play is impressive but more so than Kevin Davies (Bolton) or Kenwye Jones’s (Sunderland) ?.

Also the 25-year-old has not been able to translate his form to success for his country in World Cup qualifying, leading to rifts between the player and the national federation.

The Bottom line

Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux)

displays have made him a transfer target for quite a number of European sides.

The Upside

Not quite as dynamic as his teammate Yoan Gourcuff, Chamakh is very strong in the air and works tirelessly for the team, holding up possession and bringing midfielders into play undoubtedly contributing to his side’s success and Lauren Blanc’s first titles.

The elegant Moroccan forward had his breakthrough season this year with Bordeaux, managing to win both the Coupe de la Ligue as well as the Ligue 1 championship.

Chamakh scored 14 goals in all competitions, showing skills with his The Downside feet and his head his

One man’s elegant is another man’s tall and lanky, the jury is still out on Chamakh and that is reflected by the range of clubs interested in his services from Arsenal to Tottenham to Sunderland?!

The Bordeaux chairman said “What the f*** would he do at Sunderland? You have heard him say he will only sign for a big English club. “ But Sunderland’s interest should not be discounted and Steve Bruce’s eye for a bargain is to be above all respected.

Chamakh does not discount Sunderland and that may illustrate the player is aware of his level. Time will tell.

Champions League The Champions League is back and Extra Time is here to guide you through the ones to watch Chelsea New Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has touched down and is ready to begin a three year spell at Stamford Bridge, despite Manchester City fluttering their eyelids and their bulging wallets at their captain John Terry it appears the England skipper will stay. No other significant outs with Ricardo Carvalho and Deco now settled the squad looks good. Ancelotti looks as if he will favour a 442 diamond formation with Bosingwa and Ashley Cole providing the width, with Frank Lampard being let loose in the hole behind two strikers. Having toyed with Deco and Michael Essien in the deep lying playmaker role, John Obi Mikel should be given the nod, the Nigerian will provide the poise and Essien will provide the power. In have come teen striker Daniel Sturridge and Russian winger Yuri Zhirkov, the skilled wide man purchased on the word of former interim manager Guus Hiddink will provide cover, balance and competition to the left flank. Ancelotti is being paid 6.5 million pounds a season and his brief will be brief ‘win the Champions League’ and with the squad at his disposal it is possible. If Frank Lampard continues his campaign to be regarded as one of the players of the decade and Didier Drogba spends less time swearing

at officials and more time being unplayable, Chelsea could and should be considered favourites.

It’s amazing what a couple of signings can do...

further replace Zlatan, but even if they don’t Inter have bought well. Jose Mourinho having learnt a harsh lesson from big money flops Ricardo Quaresma and Mancini seems to have gone for experience this time Internazionale round, Lucio (Bayern Munich), Diego Milito, and Thiago Motta Ibracadabra and vanish, argu(Both Genoa) have all arrived ably the most potent forward in to give the Champions a stronSeria A for the past few years ger look about themselves. leaves Italian Shores, Inter One problem with Inter last have been suitably renumeryear was that they were too ated with €40 million euros and one dimensional and relied too Cameroonian striker Samuel much on Ibra, Mourinho having Eto’o, but can Eto’o be the new realised this has now acquired talisman? Eto’o at Inter could two forwards and a creative be tricky. He will not receive as midfielder something that was many chances as he did Barca severely lacking last campaign and one could contend he is not has arrived in the guise of Wesas reliable in front of goal as in ley Sneijder. Whilst these new his Mallorca days. Just as well signings may not bring the long that Inter are rumoured to be awaited Champions League the seeking Antonio Cassano to help squad seems much stronger for

a sustained assault this time round.

Manchester United Manchester United must face up to a CR7 – less future as their talisman has finally departed for Real Madrid, MO7 is the new king in town. That may be taking things a bit too far but Manchester United are changed, in comes Michael Owen, Luis Valencia (Wigan) and Gabriel Obertan from Bordeaux. Owen to replace the Manchester City bound Carlos Tevez, Valencia and Obertan to try to replace Cristiano Ronaldo. Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated that there will be no further investment into the personnel this season having already purchased Zoran Tosic he clearly thinks that there is value in a returning Owen Hargreaves who if fit surely would not have allowed Barcelona to pass circles round Man-

chester United and heightened investment in youth potential, Federico Macheda and Danny Wellbeck will have important roles to play. The hunger will certainly be there, wounded by their performance in last season Champions League final and with a point to prove that they can still be champions without CR7.

Arsenal Arsenal once again head into the season without any superstar signings, it is not the Wenger way, but after watching his team when shorn of a few first teamers so callously devoured by Manchester Utd in the Champions League semi final last year, and the impact a certain Andrei Arshavin had you could be forgiven for thinking that Monsiuer Wenger had rethought his priorities. In comes Belgian defender Thomas Ver-

malen from Ajax for a rumoured 10 million, and out goes Emanuel Adebayor his lack of form last season did not go unnoticed and he is the latest signing for the Abu Dhabi regime at Manchester City. Kolo Toure is the latest to join the Manchester City revolution having agreed a 15 million pound deal. A lot of Arsenal’s problems stem from the fact they rely on players whom are injury prone Robin Van Persie springs to mind and other player such as Tomas Rosicky have been out for so long they can’t possibly be the same players, the question is can they be as effective players? Robert Pires suffered serious injuries but modified his game in order to remain a dangerous player.

Liverpool Rafa Benitez has not enjoyed as quiet a close season as he would have liked, Rafa was fortunate last year as when he tried to swap Xabi Alonso for Gareth Barry, Juventus pulled out and he did not have the funds to complete the necessary transfer. Alonso with a point to prove went on to have his best season to date, his performances showing that he had indeed eclipsed Andrea Pirlo in the role of deep lying Playmaker (second only to Xavi), scoring goals and assisting in equal proportions, Alonso showed his manager that the thought of selling him was at best a moment of insanity and at worst self sabotage of the highest order. As always Real got their man and Benitez has been forced to rebuild, at the worst possible time. Alberto Aquilani arrives with plenty of

fans but also plenty to prove, Rafa has also had to issue hands off warnings regarding Javier Mascherano the former West Ham midfielder attracting interest namely from Barcelona.

In comes Glen Johnson from Pompey for a fee of £17 million pounds, believing that Johnson can add dynamism to the right hand side and can link effectively with Kuyt. Benitez stated ”he is a very good offensive fullback who can give us more options when we are at home and teams are defending deep “ rumours that an attacking player will arrive cooled by faith in the squad players. Whether there is enough depth to lead an attack on the big eared trophy is debatable.

Barcelona Having spent the majority of the summer articulating the merits of the Galacticos’, Barcelona appear to have stolen a march on their La Liga rivals by completing the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter, the Swede who was top scorer in Seria A last season has swapped places with Samuel Eto’o. Does this make Barcelona unbeatable? A critism albeit a small one is that sometimes last season when Barca were up against teams that put many men behind the ball they needed a player who could hold the ball up, as seen in the Chelsea games last season where Eto’o was anonymous. How to improve on a treble winning side was the question which Pep Guardiola and Joan Laporta (club president) had to ponder over

the summer months, the other limitation in the side was Eric Abidal, in purchasing Maxwell (Inter) Barcelona have managed to acquire a left back that matches Daniel Alves dynamism on the right flank. Barca remain the team to beat.

Real Madrid Real have strengthened, and strengthened well, in signing CR9 and Kaka they have assured themselves of a strong challenge for the Primera division and the Champions league.

In Benzema they have a hugely promising striker whom will only get better, having stagnated last season despite his assertions that he wished to stay in france for another year in the lead up to the World Cup 2010, a move does everyone the world of good. Lyon gets to cash in on their best assets with suitable remuneration and Madrid get some youth into an older strikeforce (Raul and Van Nistlerooy).

In Raul Albiol a young talented

defender, the heir to Puyol in the Spanish national side, Madrid have strengthened the CB position with the departing Cannavaro (Juventus bound) suffering both injuries and poor form in his final year in the capital.

With Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa back as well it appears that Madrid are solving all the problems they had last season.

Bayern Munchen Bayern Munchen had a difficult campaign last term early optimism regarding the Champions league eradicated by a mauling

by Barcelona, and a failure to really get going under coach Jurgen Klinsmann led to them failing to win the league. Klinsmann will claim that his observations that the squad were not strong enough to compete have been vindicated. New coach Louis Van Gaal has a plethora of new players to pick from.

Income Croatian midfielder Daniel Pranjic from Heerenveen

for a fee of €7m; Russian midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (Zenit St. Petersburg) €14m and Forward Mario Gomez from Stuttgart €30m; Big spending from the German giants in an attempt to bring back the title. The much discussed sale of Frank Ribery has thus far failed to materialise and the hierarchy must be hopeful that they have been able to ward off the chasing pack. Highly rated Dutch defender Edson Braafheid from Twente for a fee of €2m; and more business may yet be undertaken in order to replace outgoing captain Lucio (Bayern). With the arrival of Arjen Robben from Madrid, anything less than a champions league semi-final spot will be considered a failure.

Juventus Ciro Ferrara has been heavily backed in the transfer market

in come Brazilians Felipe Melo (Fiorentina) and Diego (pictured) to add craft and skill to a hard working midfield, Fabio Cannavaro arrives on a free transfer to continue his national team partnership with Chiellini, and rumours abound about Martin Caceres arriving to strengthen the defence yet further. On paper Juventus look strong but the players need time to gel, “When you change tactics, it’s normal there should be a period of adjustment,” Ferrara mused .The most difficult task for Ferrara is keeping all the stars happy, rotation a must with a large international hungry squad and a feverish desire to win the Scudetto, Juventus fans will hope Ferrara has Pep Guardiola’s template on how to win it all.

Porto Portuguese Champions FC

Porto have been in a state of rebuilding this summer, having lost three member of their title winning side: Aly Cissokho, Lisandro Lopez (Both Lyon) and Lucho Gonzalez has made a move to Marseille, it has been a difficult time but they have been remunerated well with over 50 million Euros banked Porto will have to show they have the fight for another rebuilding job, following Jose Mourinho side last year’s squad was the most competitive that has been assembled in recent year. Argentinean midfielder Fernando Belluschi arrives from Olympiakos for a fee of €5m to help replace L Gonzalez and Hulk will be expected to step up and provide goals and presence missed now Lopez has departed. He will be assisted by new signing River Plate’s Colombian international Radamel Falcao Garcia, Falcao played 111 matches and scored 45 goals for River Plate, helping them win the 2008 Argentinean championship. His long awaited move to Europe having materialised, Falcao will be expected to step up.

AC Milan Milan sole summer signings ‘Gooch’ Onyewu (Standard liege) and Klaas Hunterlaar have not sat well with the Milan faithful having seen their star player Kaka depart for a world record fee at the time, Milan fans were optimistic of transfer activity, couple that with the departure of French prodigy Yoan Gourcuff (Bordeaux) for nearly €20 million Euros, the fans thought the well was full and Milan were to drink. Not

the case, not only has Silvio Berlusconi Milan president not reinvested in the squad he has said ‘no more signings are required’. The natives are restless, it would be one thing not too invest but when the entire first team midfield Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso, and Andrea Pirlo are in their thirties and having just lost legendary left back Paolo Maldini, it is too much to bear. Riots and protests aside I fear new coach Leonardo will ultimately bear the brunt of this.

Lyon Lyon have sold their star striker Karim Benzema but it is not all doom and gloom Lyon have paid the Portuguese champions €24 million, plus a potential further €4 million based on results for the Argentinean Lisandro Lopez, haven enjoyed an excellent Champions league campaign last season the forward’s stock rose for him to be considered a more than worthy replacement for Benzema. Michele Bastos completed an €18 million move to the Stade Gerland from Lille having enjoyed an excellent season. An excellent pice of business, after completing the signing of Lisandro Lopez from Porto, Olympique Lyonnais have also landed the Argentinian’s former club-colleague Aly Cissokho. The dynamic left back seen as a replacement for Juventus bound Fabio Grosso.

Wolfsburg New coach Armin Veh is too well aware of the difficulties

that come from a startling league triumph, His Stuttgart side were triumphious in 2007, only to suffer the following season, unable to replicate their previous form under the pressure the side were brutalised in the Champions league and Veh will do well to understand and avoid the same mistakes.

The Dane Thomas Khalenberg is a good acquisition as is Oba Martins but more was needed if the side is to be able to compete on two fronts. A fullback and some back up to Zvjezdan Misimovic, the Bosnian has provided 19 assists and six goals.

An outstanding campaign from the ex-Bayern midfielder and despite Brazilian Grafite and fellow forward Dzeko grabbing the headlines it is arguable whether Wolfsburg would be German Champions without the contribution of the talented playmaker.

Luis Fabiano

Atletico Madrid Diego Forlan top scorer last season is integral to his teams fortunes as too Sergio Aguero. The arrival of Sergio Asenjo (Valladolid) is a look to the future with the young shot stopper gaining rave reviews for his performances last season. Jurado, Cleber Santana, Reyes, Cabrera and Juanito will all retun from loans to bolster the squad. With a strong team already Atletico could really achieve something this year, but we have said that before haven’t we?

Sevilla Sevilla will be strengthened by the signing of Didier Zokora (Tottenham) the team finish 3rd with a flourish last campaign but will be expecting more, The squad is settled and genuinely harbours hopes of progression in the competition. Much is expected again of Luis Fabiano after a fabulous Confederations Cup where he attracted the interest of Milan.

Fiorentina Fiorentina buoyed by reaching the champions league qualifiers again, have signed Argentinean forward Jose Ignacio Castillo (Lecce); Midfielder Marco Marchionni (Juventus) and Defender Cesare Natali.

Despite solid reinforcements Fiorentina will do well to regroup following the sale of star midfielder Felipe Melo, the knockout round will be their limit

Portugal Portuguese Champions FC Porto have been in a state of rebuilding this summer, They have started promisingly, winning two of their first three games.Argentinean midfielder Fernando Belluschi arrived from Olympiakos for a fee of €5m to help replace L Gonzalez and Hulk will be expected to step up and provide Lopez’s goals and presence.

He will be assisted by new signing River Plate’s Colombian international Radamel Falcao Garcia, Falcao played 111 matches and scored 45 goals for River Plate, helping them win the 2008 Argentinean championship. His long awaited move to Europe having materialised, Falcao (pictured) will be expected to step up.

Liedson, a naturalized Portuguese citizen got Sporting off the mark as he netted in a routine win over Academica their first win of the season. Sporting have made two key acquisitions to bolster their ranks Ecuadorian forward Felipe Caicedo (Manchester City) and Chilean midfielder Matias Fernandez (Villarreal) The Chilean arrived with a big reputation but struggled for playing time at el madrigal and Villareal thought it best to get rid of the youngster. If Sporting can reinvigorate the player they could have a gem on their hands. In reality the Lisbon club will still be kicking themselves about being knocked out of the Champions League by Fiorentina, the better side over two legs undone by one moment of skill by Stefan Jovetic, they should be taking their place in the group stages.

Benfica have splashed the cash in order to end their title drought in came Spanish midfielder Javi Garcia from Real Madrid for a fee of €7m; Brazilian midfielder Ramires from Cruzeiro for a fee of €7.5m and Argentinean forward Javier Saviola from Real Madrid for a fee of €5m.

Saviola is a more extreme version of Fernandez, he has struggled for minutes and form but seemed more like his old self when on loan at Monaco a few seasons back, now away fromm the Bernabeau and the spotlight he could perhaps find himself, and in turn Benfica may find themselves Champions. They too have started solidly and gave Vit Seutabal a thrashing when they beat them 8-1.

Greece Champions Olympiakos have looked to retain their title with a number of eye catching signings in comes loanee Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn) on a permanent deal. Swedish defender Olof Mellberg arrives from Juventus for a fee of €2.7m having failed to settle in Turin. Enzo Maresca arrives from Sevilla with much to prove having frozen out for much of the last campaign. They will have

Champions League football this year after successfully negotiating the qualifying rounds.

Panathanikos have splurged in an attempt to rest themselves back on the top of the food chain Djibril Cisse has completed his move from Marseille for a fee in the region of €8m. The 27-year-old forward spent last season on loan at Sunderland. Argentinean midfielder Sebastian Leto from Liverpool for a fee of €4m having spent the last season on loan at Olympiakos the midfielder has now moved across to the bitter rivals and assured himself a lovely reception for next season I’m sure. Indeed Leto scored a fine goal in the Champions League tie with Atletico, but the Madrid based club were too strong over the two legs to leave Pana in the Europa League.

With the Greek league in its infancy Pana are the early pace setters with two wins from as many matches.

Turkey New coach Frank Rikaard (oictured) has enjoyed an electric start to his new job. Four wins out of four and the coach is revered already, the gaffer has been backed in the transfer market, he needed a wide man and in came Ivory Coast forward Abdel Kader Keita from Lyon for a deal worth €8.5m.

Keita is talented but lost his way at Lyon a new coach a fresh league could be exactly what he needs. Elano (Manchester City) is a player in a similar position, having been heralded when he first arrived his star has dimmed and a move to Gala may be needed to rejuvenate him. Leo Franco arrived rom Atletico to give Rikaard an experienced custodian for the new term. Despite all the new arrivals it is a forgotten player in Harry Kewell who has excelled in the early

weeks. Assisting and scoring, Kewell has shown a new lease of life at Gala. Expect Rikaards team to be in a tough battle with Fener for the title.

Fenebache were not exactly enamoured with Besiktas’ title win last term and have gone about their business with real purpose, there is a new face in Christoph Daum who has officially been appointed Fenerbahce coach. I say new coach but Daum returns for a second spell, the coach led Fenerbahce to two Turkish league championships, was then sacked by the Istanbul giants after losing the Turkish league title to Galatasary.

They say you should never go back......Fener are strengthened

by Mehmet Topuz from Kayserispor for a fee of €5m and

Scotland

Business as usual as both Rangers and Celtic had solid starts to their domestic campaigns.

Both teams show a 100% record thus far in the campaign. Celtic have secured the services of attacker Zheng Zhi he becomes new Celtic manager Tony Mowbray’s fourth summer signing following the arrivals of MarcAntoine Fortune Daniel and loanee Landry N’Guemo from Nancy-Lorraine. Tottenham targets Scott brown and Aiden McGeady have impressed in the opening weeks along with Kenny Miller.

Rangers have been fairly quiet in the transfer window but they did manage to bring in former French international Jerome Rothen from PSG. More surprisingly is the fact that the club are willing to cash in on perpetual top scorer Kris Boyd. Free scoring strikers are a commoditity in this writers opinion.

have started the season with an anything you can do i can do better attitude. They too have maximum spoils and having wanted a move in the summer Daniel Guiza seems to be doing what he’s best at scoring goals.

Turkish champions Besiktas did not rested on their laurels this season having clinched the championship they brought in Matteo Ferrari and Nihat (Villareal). Kahveci returns to the club where he started his career after seven-and-a-half years in the Spanish top flight with Real Sociedad and then Villarreal.

But they look strangely toothless in attack and have drawn 3 of their first 4 games. Already 6 points off their rivals, improvement is mandated

Michel Bastos (Lyon) Two seasons ago one would be forgiven for not knowing the name Michel Bastos but over the the last couple of years the talented midfielder has slowly become one of Ligue 1’s most prominent stars.

His contribution to Lille last season cannot be understated one needs to just look at the facts: he top-scored for the Stade Lille-Metropole club by netting on 14 occasions, but he also led the entire league in assists, making nine decisive passes according to the strict official statistics of Le Championnat.

Technically he therefore contributed 23 key moments to Lille’s season, and he was not even used as an out-and-out striker. Deployed primarily on the left side of an attacking midfield trio, Bastos pushed forward impressively, using his space effectively with a freekick style that has drawn comparisons to set-piece wizard Juninho. Bastos has illustrated his ability to find the net from similarly outrageous distances punctuated with a screamer of a free kick against Lyon last season.

Bastos’ reward for his efforts over the course of the season were a nomination for the Player of the Year award, he was awarded the Trophée du Meilleur Passeur and became

the only player in Ligue 1 history to appear in the top five of both the goalscorers’ table and the assists’ table. He was named in the league’s Team of the Year, and completed a move to former champions Lyon to complete a dream year. Well almost national team recogni-

tion beckons. Coach Carlos Dunga has looked at the former Lille man and is keeping him in mind. “I know of him,” Dunga said, “if he continues to perform he will get his chance”, Who will bet against the brilliant Brazilian taking it.

Ones to watch

Luis Jimenez

(West ham)

Luis Jimenez having lost his way at Inter is ready to rebuild his career and reputation at West ham. “He will give us something extra especially in the last 30 metres. That is the kind of player we have got,” Gianfranco Zola said of Jimenez who can no longer be called a ‘prospect’ at his age, he should h

Diego Milito (Internazionale)

It’s taken a few years but the free scoring Argentine finally has his place at a big club. After a Digo Milito brace secured Inter a friendly win against rivals Milan, Inter president Massimo Moratti mused “Milito has confirmed himself as a real goal scorer,” but Moratti was wrong Milito was confirmed as a goal scorer a long time ago Diego Milito started playing at Argentine first division Racing

have already exploded as a player.

He had a great start to his career, especially at Fiorentina, where he formed a great partnership with Luca Toni.

The Chilean generally played as the playmaker for Fiorentina. He appeared 19 times during the 200506 season for Fiorentina, scoring 3

goals in the process. After a transfer wrangle with Ternana whom he was co-owened with Fioerentina Jimenez completed a move to Inter in 2007 He scored his first Inter goal in the Champions League against Fenerbache, an exsquisite goal coming in extra time gave the fans a glimpse of what potential they had acquired.

Inter officially signed him on a co-ownership deal. Under current coach Jose Mourinho, he played his first game against A.S. Roma coming on as a second half substitute and scored a penalty in Inter’s Italian Supercup win. Subsequently injury and a lack of favour limited Jimenez to a total of 6 appearances for the 08/09 Serie A season.

There are many who think Jimenez is a talented primma donna, others that he has regressed an will never reach the level that he was touted for, However As with all technical players who have played in Serie A before moving to England who are somewhat temperamental Paulo Di Canio and Benny Carbone spring to mind, for example - he definitely has the potential to be a great. The player did not have the opportunity to shine at Inter one thing that nobody can argue that if Jimenez does not perform this campaign it will not be down to a lack of playing time.

Club in 1999,. During this time, his where better to end up than lining younger brother Gabriel played for up with his brother Gabriel at Real Racing’s main rival, Independiente. Zaragoza. He finished the season as Real Zaragoza’s top scorer with 16 At the beginning of 2004, Milito goals in the Spanish first division. moved to Italian second division Genoa. where he scored 33 goals Milito was made the club captain in 59 matches in Italy, Genoa were at Real Zaragoza, taking over from relegated down to Serie C1 as a his brother, who departed for world punishment for an alleged match- domination with FC Barcelona in fixing case in the final match of 2007. Milito leading by example the 2004–05 season. Due to this, scored 23 goals, His goals Milito was forced to leave Genoa showcasing his ability to finish as one of the high wage earners and with either foot helped Zaragoza

to a sixth place finish in the league.

As of January 2008, Diego was averaging higher than a goal every two games for Real Zaragoza, a statistic he also achieved with Genoa.

Fernando Hidalgo confirmed Milito chose explicitly to return to Genoa despite having received more lucrative offers from other major European clubs. He made his debut against AC Milan, doing what he does best Milito scored and set up Milito returned to Genoa after another. The forward then struck the Spanish team were relegated his first hat-trick for Genoa in the to Segunda División. His agent 4-0 victory against Reggina. He

finished the season with 24 goals in 31 league appearances, placing him second behind Zlatan Ibrahimović in the Capocannonieri scoring title.

Milito bid a fond farewell to Genoa and there were tear aplenty as he and his teammate, Thiago Motta were transferred to Internazionale for an undisclosed sum.

Zlatan Misimovic Wolfsburg The creative midfielder shows there is life after Bayern The Bosnian playmaker, Zvjezdan Misimovic, is one of many Wolfsburg players without Champions League experience, but demonstrated his class last season during the club’s successful Bundesliga campaign. The clever midfielder provided over 20 assists for his strike-force of Edin Dzeko and Grafite. If the trio can hone their attacking instincts in continental competition, the German champions may go far.

To be fair VfL Wolfsburg’s surprise Bundesliga title win must have caused extra joy for Misimovic considering the fact that he was deemed surplus to requirements at Bayern Munich having started his footballing career with the Bavarian giants in 2002.

He made only three appearances for The Bosnian midfielder is Bayern before he was widely regarded as one of the moved on for pastures best creative midfielders in the new, Bochum to be Bundesliga. With guile, skill and more precise. Having trickery he is mesmerizing to impressed there, he then spent a watch, what the playmaker lacks season with Nurnberg where his in speed he more than makes reputation increased further and up for with slight of foot, the Wolfsburg trainer Felix Magath player who is the heart f Bosnia’s signed him for £3.9 million in charge for the World Cup. Bosnia 2008. are well placed in Group 5 ahead of both Turkey and Belgium in Last season could casually be the race for second spot in the called a breakthrough season, group behind favorites Spain. although most of the headlines Misimovic may soon have the in Wolfsburg’s title winning opportunity to ply his trade on season were grabbed by strike the grandest stage of them all. duo Grafite and Edin Dzeko who

scored 54 goals between them.

The man behind the headlines was definitely Misimovic, who pulled all the strings from midfield and was the maestro.

Misimovic smashed the assist record last season with a stunning 20 assists. He also chipped in with seven goals of his own. Injury permitting this next season should help Misimovic cement himself as one of the best playmakers in Europe.

Player of the Month Jermain Defoe Tottenham The Tottenham star finally seems ready to blow. One thing about Jermaine Defoe is that he was a striker who would score you goals, it has always been the case but recently there is something different, a hunger a desire. He looks lean fit and aggressive an outstanding hat-trick against Hull has been the high light thus far but I’m sure netting against his former club west Ham would be up there as well.

The finish against West ham showed how far he has come an unnerving finish after the ball had been presented to him; he is turning into a clinical striker.

Against Hull he showed pace, poise and accuracy in completing his hat trick something which would not have gone unnoticed to National team coach Fabio Capello. It has been a long journey for Defoe whom was not first choice in his last spell here but had a staunch supporter in Redknapp, like Peter Crouch and Niko Krancjar the Tottenham Manager saw fit to take Defoe with him from Portsmouth last January.

Defoe began his career with Charlton Athletic, joining their youth team at age fourteen, before moving to West Ham United aged sixteen, and rising through the ranks. He made his professional debut for West Ham in 2000, and after a season-long loan spell at Bournemouth during the 2000–01 season, established himself in the West Ham

lineup. A move to Tottenham in 2004 soon followed, Having found himself surplus to requirements, Defoe left for first team football under the tutelage of Harry Redknapp. Goals followed and when his mentor whom had also been in charge of him at West Ham arrived at White Hart Lane it seemed only a matter of time till Jermaine followed.

He should be going to the world cup as a starter many feel but Defoe despite being an easy going character is irked by the constant reminders and comparisons to Michael Owen.

“It’s like if my name gets mentioned Michael Owen’s has got to get mentioned as well. That is sometimes frustrating.

Michael Owen is a great player but it is not that if I’m in the squad he’s not, or that if he is in the squad, I’m not. he’s not, or that if he is in the squad, I’m not.

“It would be nice to get away from it.”

It is easy to see why Defoe has become so frustrated. The 25-year-old has not only been in outstanding form for Tottenham, he also scored both England goals in Amsterdam last month when Fabio Capello’s side roared back to almost win a game that looked beyond them at half-time.

And, nagging away at the back of his mind must be the fear that Owen may dislodge him, but he has nothing to worry about.

Harry Redknapp says he’s up there with the best when he is in this form it is difficult to disagree.