Can Chelsea Overtake Both Arsenal And Manchester United To Win The Premiership?

I am a Manchester United fan and i think we are going to win the premiership title ahead of Arsenal, but both us and the Gunners have a problem. A common enemy in Chelsea. Chelsea's league form has been really great of recent, and that has got everybody having second thoughts about the so much talked about 2 horse race between Arsenal and Man. Utd for the premiership title.
With both Arsenal and Man Utd dropping points to relatively easy opponents, Chelsea just powers through their matches and both the gunners and the red devils managers have said a few things about Chelsea.
Hear what Sir Alex Ferguson had to say;

"The number of points Chelsea are behind Arsenal is not insurmountable as points can be dropped," he said.

"The fact that they have got us and Arsenal at home, and their home record is so good, you would have to think they have still got a big chance in the Premier League."

Chelsea finished as runners-up to Ferguson's side in the top flight last season after winning the crown for two successive seasons.

But the United boss believes Chelsea would be happier winning the Champions League rather than adding to their Premier League title count.

"I think that is what they are really after, given owner Roman Abramovich's contribution to their rise in the last few years," added Ferguson.

Tomorrow Is A Super Saturday

I personally cannot wait for 1st March, 2008. I call it super saturday for the English Premiership.
It doesn't happen often that the top 3 in the league all play the same day, but tomorrow that will happen and all 3 top teams in the Premiership play very tricky matches. With Arsenal 3 points ahead of Manchester United, and with Chelsea not quite far behind, the matches of 1st March is keenly awaited.
I personally cannot wait to see Man Utd level up on points with Arsenal, and we know of course that Man Utd is ahead on goals, so i really cannot wait to see us get on top of the premiership at the end of the weekend.
I always fancy Christiano Ronaldo to score in every match, tomorrow will not an exception.You can hear me ask, where is Manu Adebayo?
I wander what my friend Emmanuel Ekanem at Naijafootballfans will have to say on this one, he is a Gunner

David Beckam Deserves A England 100 Caps

I am one that thinks that English players are most of the times over-valued, except one. I love Beckam as a player even though he is English. He has served his country well, and i don't see why he should not be given his 100th cap at least to say thank. England boss Fabio Capello did not pick Beckham, 32, for this month's win over Switzerland and he fears a lack of fitness could see him sidelined again. One glaring and noteable thing about Mr. Beckam is that he does not feel undone or left out,even though he really wants that 100 cap.Hear him;

"I've no match fitness," said Beckham, who plays for LA Galaxy in Korea on Saturday. "All I've done is training."I would love to reach the 100 caps, but I have to be physically ready to be part of the team." He has played under Capello before at Real Madrid and i think he understands the gaffer more than anybody else. I really want this fine crosser of the ball to reach the 100 caps landmark.

Read more about Beckam here

Between Keshi And Siasia As Eagles Coach!!

I am a Super Eagles fan, and will continue to be despite our great team's downward slide. A slide that has seen the Super Eagles struggle on the continent with minows before unheralded rub shoulders with us. I hear we are even now being called the "Super Chickens", this is not funny at all and it hurts so bad.
It is on paper that our most glorious moments in football was orchestrated by a white man, a different white man than the one that led us to probably our most disastrous outing at the just concluded Nations Cup in Ghana. I really don't have a problem against a white man as our coach, my problem is with the calibre and experience of the appointed coach.
Berti Vogts is a good coach, but without any knowledge of African football,especially the Murky waters and the intrigues and the power games that is the Nigerian Football Association(NFA). The bottom line is that he failed in a football mad country, we are bonded by football more than any other thing.
Now the NFA is at it again, picking the man that will be in charge of tinkering the team towards the world cup in 2 years time. Several names have been put across including Stephen Keshi,Sampson Siasia,Sunday Oliseh,Daniel Amokashi and even Clemens Westerhorf who remains by some miles,the most successful Super Eagles coach.
If you ask me, i think the job should be given to a Nigerian, no sentiments. All of the above listed names are home boys except Westerhorf, and all have played at the highest level, so they know how bad the team has fallen since their glorious days. Westerhorf was very stubborn as a coach,probably the single most outstanding quality you will need to work with the NFA.
If not for his sturbboness, Siasia would not have made it with the Under 20 team at Holland 2005. Keshi we all know has coached in Togo and was quite successful taking them to the nations cup 4 years ago. We also know that the "Boss" as Stephen is called is very authoritative.
Amokashi and Oliseh, well i don't want to talk about them because there isn't much to say about them.The only word for them is "Inexperience" at this level.
So as NFA name their man this week, i hope the boys in the glass house realize that they should not only work for their pockets, they should put the progress of our DEAR SUPER EAGLES in their hearts in minds.
Hey! i think i will pick Stephen Keshi and Siasia as assistant, or what do you all think?

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Is Inter Milan In Crisis?

After being substituted in the 81st minute,Patrick Vieira refused to shake manager Roberto Mancini and the went on to kick some of the water bottles by the subsitutes bench.This happened during yesterday's 1-1 draw with Sampdoria.
Just last week, fellow team mates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Materazzi had a bust up, and we all know how this could easily go against the team.Inter play real good football in the serie A,though their Eufa Champions league form is anything but.They were beaten by Liverpool last week at Anfield.
We all that Inter bought many big name players including Vieira,making them the most star- studded team in the Italian top flight.This has given them the edge over almost all the teams in the league,but as we are now beginning to see,it has also started bringing them infamy with the players now openly expressing their big ego.
This inevitably brings to mind the situation Real Madrid faced with the Galacticos,a situation that led to the team going through a very lean spell of several seasons without trophies.
I just want to put in a few words here as regards our own player Zlatan Ibrahimovic.He can be a little hot tempered,and i just hope that he keeps his head as we approach the Euro Championships.

Microsoft Withdraws HD DVD Player From X BOX 360

I don't know what to say or how to put it,but this represents a personal opinion. The decision by Microsoft to stop the production of HD DVD Players for the X Box 360 is a shame.i am just beginning to wander if competition from the likes of Toshiba is finally snuffing Microsoft's plans.
I personally enjoyed the 360 with the HD DVD and now,i don't know what we are to expect as gamers.Hear their exact words;
“As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD. Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market,” a statement issued on the Gamerscore Blog said.
“As we stated earlier, we do not believe this decision will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace. HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own.”

As Lagerbäck Tries New Players Before Euro 2008

During Sweden's last friendly against Turkey, coach Lars Lagerbäck tried some new players including FC Groningen striker Marcus Berg and Rasmus Lindgren, who recently joined AFC Ajax from Groningen play well. I think this is a very positive development because it was beginning to look as if we were running short of players to compete at the very top.
With most our veteran players nearing the end of their playing careers and others having hung up their boots, Sweden cannot be lacking behind the major European powers like Italy,Spain and the likes of them.
Sweden play Brazil on the 26th of march, i think we are likely to see a continuation of the current player testing by Lagerbäck.
Our other friendlies before the Euro are:
Sweden V Slovenia ----26th may
Sweden V Ukraine ----1st june

Can Arsenal Win The Premiership?

I know playing against a team with a man down can be daunting,but some teams should not have much difficulties winning games like that,but am forced to ask myself this question after watching Arsenal throw away a goal lead to draw at Birmingham today.With a 5 points lead over Manchester United, one would think that Arsenal would press home their advantage by taking every scoring opportunity they have.
Against Birmingham, they had so many scoring chances and Emmanuel Adebayo floundered all of them.In a match that saw Theo Walcott score not just his first premiership goal, but a second and largely saved Arsenal against a ten-man Birmingham side, Arsenal have virtually thrown open the door to Manchester United who today beat Newcastle United 5-1 at St Jame's Park.
Now the gab has been narrowed to 3 points and with United smoking as it were at the moment,i wonder how Arsenal will take the pressure of a steam rolling Manchester United.
Just a word for Eduardo who got a nasty injury in the early stages of the match,and now looks set to miss the rest of the season and possibly the Euro 2008 championships,quite a blow for Eduardo and Croatia.
You can read more by visiting our partner blog at Naijafootballfans Blog

Sweden And Lars Lagerbäck

That Lars Lagerbäck is still Sweden coach is what i call continuity, and that is supposed to bring in good results every time we play,whether in the world cup or the Euro championship.
At any of these championships,we parade some of the best and in-form players,but at the end of it all,we don't have much to show for all our troubles.
I just wander if it because other teams are far better than us or maybe,just maybe our technical bench is running out of ideas.As Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland nears,the thoughts of our dear team winning the trophy keeps crossing my mind.

Welcome Sweden

Hello Guys, i just want to tell us that from now on, this blog will be dedicated to the Sweden National team and its players.
You will know what is happening in the team as regards its preparation for the upcoming Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.We will bring you up to date reports on the top Swedish players as they all prepare for the event., so make it a date to always come here for the digest.

Nigeria's New Coach Is .......?????

I can't believe that the nations cup is over, just like that.Funny how time flies when you are having fun, or no fun at all,that's if you are a Nigerian.
The situation with our football is really terrible, i have seen our great team played woefully,but this has to be the grand daddy of all.
Now so many people are talking about a new coach, with Sunday Oliseh even putting his name in the hat to be next coach should he be called upon.On a personal touch, i don't think Oliseh has what it takes to be Super Eagles coach just yet,though i think he can function in some other capacity.
My mind takes me to Stephen Keshi who has proven he can handle a bunch of difficult players like he did with Adebayo and co. in Togo
I like Keshi because he commands a lot of respect.Siasia is also not a bad choice,he is very patriotic and we all know that.
Now we all wait to see what Angola will offer in 2010, they will fancy their chances don't you think, they did impress everyone in Ghana.

As The Dust Settles

4 Of The Best?

So we are down to last 4 at the African Nations Cup in Ghana.
Cote d Ivoire
Ghana
Cameroun
Egypt
They will all do battle today to and try to qualify to the final,and i have to say that these are the best at the moment.
The Ivoriens are by far the best team,the Camerounians have not surprised me by getting this far,thanks to their resilience and fighting spirit.
The Egyptians have done very well as well and deserve their place in the semis,and the host Ghana have not really impressed,probably due to the vociferous home crowd that sometimes go against the home team.
So by the end of today,we will all the 2 finalist who will play for the Cup on sunday.

What A Disgrace!!

So Nigeria has finally been booted out of the ongoing nations cup in Ghana by the host team.And to think that Nigeria could not beat a 10 man Ghana team after the sending off of the Black Stars Captain John Mensah for impeding a goal bound move by Osaze, and that they even allowed the Ghanaians to dictate the pace of the game with 10 men is really appalling.
Well, this has only confirmed what everybody has been saying about this team,the worse Nigerian team of all times.Back to the drawing board if there is any such thing for the NFA.
Will Nigerian football ever recover after such a disgrace?
Well,live must go on and for the tournament,it has to continue.I think that Cote 'd' Ivoire can now go all out and win their second nations cup,i don't see any team stopping them now.

GHANA VS NIGERIA , Mother of all battles Who will triumph on Sunday!!

African football has over the years served up its fair share of compelling rivalries, but Ghana versus Nigeria outshines them all.

These two nations just love to knock the living daylights out of each other (in anything), but more so on a football pitch.

In my opinion, their rivalry is the one by which all others are measured and the Africa Cup of Nations will heat up on Sunday when they collide in a quarter-final tie in Accra.

There is, indeed, something tasty about a confrontation between these two West African neighbours - particularly at the Nations Cup – where more than bragging rights is at stake.

“We Nigerians just love to beat Ghana even though they taught us the game in the first place,” said Segun Odegbami, a member of Nigeria’s 1980 Nations Cup winning side.

We can argue endlessly about the football pedigrees of these two arch-rivals but there can be no question about the interest and passion this fixture invokes in both countries.

So, come Sunday, fans in both countries will decorate their faces, put on their national colours and perform whatever rituals needed to spur their teams to victory.

There is no bad blood between Ghanaians and Nigerians – just a deep-rooted desire to be regarded as both the regional and continental top dogs.

There is an element of respect to this rivalry, though, with Nigeria envying Ghana’s four Nations Cup titles and Ghana envying the success of Nigerian players abroad.

Sunday will not be the first time these two teams have met at the Nations Cup – they have confronted each other five times at African football’s flagship tournament.

Their last meeting was as recent as the 2006 finals in Egypt where the Super Eagles won 1-0 in the group stage, to add to their previous victories in 1984 and 2002.

Ghana’s only win came at the 1992 finals, courtesy of a magical goal from Abedi Pele, but the Black Stars have not beaten their rivals in a competitive fixture since.

Not surprisingly, I have lost count of the number of Nigerians who gleefully point out that “history is against Ghana” going into Sunday’s showdown at the Ohene Djan stadium.

Overall, the two teams have met 59 times. Ghana lead with 24 wins to Nigeria’s 16, with the other 19 matches ending in draws.

That said, there is no point in denying the fact that the 60th confrontation sees the Black Stars take on a Nigerian side that looked extremely vulnerable in their group campaign.

But one cannot help having the impression that despite their woeful form thus far, the Super Eagles are still capable of turning this Nations Cup on its head.

In football,we all know that sometimes the best teams do not always win.I hope the best team on the day wins this titanic battle,or what do you think?

Good luck SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA.