Football!

Hi Guys, Posted my last article on 12th August 2011, the subject being Cesc’s journey from ‘Captain to Benchwarmer’… Will post some more articles soon!… 

Cesc Fabregas, will finally return to his boyhood club, after giving Gooners, three disturbed seasons! The tale for Arsenal fans has ended wretchedly, but it will be even more gloomy for Cesc and Barca. A player who used to play each and every game, will be on the bench on a regular basis. Maybe when the season of 2011/12 ends, Fabregas may know how it feels to be on the bench throughout the season, which he didn’t at his flourishing 7-year spell at the Emirates. This is will be a blunder of a signing for the Catalan club. With Thiago Alcantra, already one of the promising stars of the future, looming for a spot in Barcelona’s playing XI. He plays in the same position as Cesc, to make matters shoddier, he has been remarkable, already on the score sheet in pre-season matches. Thiago clearly has an advantage here, he is younger and a speed-merchant as well, which Fabregas lacks. It will be humiliating for a $35 Million, world class player to be warming the bench, while Alcantra plays. I think Arsenal should move on now, they should look for someone else and accept the reality! Although Cesc is making sure not to dishearten his fans, and is trying to make this transfer as cordial as possible, but he has forgotten something, Arsenal have one of the most passionate and die-hard fans in the world, a feat which very few clubs can boast of. Afer the whole saga which spanned 2 seasons, Fabregas certainly does not feature in Gooner’s good books with his recent comments.

 “I’m very calm, I have nothing to say. The market? If something happens it’s because it has to happen. I’m always optimistic. If a player is on the market it is because a club does not want him, I have no problem with that.”

On a personal note, even being a United fan, I can say he didn’t do justice to Arsene Wenger, who showed faith in him by fielding him when he was 16 in the Premier League, an Arsenal record! #GetalifeCesc.

Los Blancos manager Jose Mourinho has been praised and lauded by everyone, Barcelona being an exception here. Madrid’s President Florentino Perez has tipped Mourinho’s side for success on all fronts this year, and Madrid fans have been patient, knowing that the Portuguese tactician is a genius, recently echoed by David Beckham. Supporters know that the Special One is building a side for the future, a side for the decade, which requires some time. Though the squad building procedure is going well and smooth, A notable fact here is that the Portuguese has bought players from the Premiere League, and those players are playing a vitol role in his tactics, He has used his English connections well (managed Chelsea 04-07), as soon as he took over from Chilean Manuel Pellegrini. Three of Premiere League’s top players, United No. 7 Ronaldo and Liverpool spanish duo Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa had already arrived before Mou was appointed, with stars in the squad, people did not notice Mourinho’s first signing, Ricardo Carvalho, the Portuguese was scooped from Chelsea without any fuss. Lastly Emmanuel Adebayor services were bought on loan from Manchester City after he went down the pecking order following the arrival of Dzeko. Former Gunners hitman publicly stated that he wanted to be at Madrid, His public humiliation (Was left out of the First team squad to their States trip,the former Togolese striker was told to train with the reserves) will fuel the deal more quickly and he has even stated that he wants to retire at Madrid. Carlos Tevez is a probable to join the list, as he is interested in a move, away from Manchester, meanwhile Mourinho is looking to add another striker to their already perfect team, the only block is his 5O million fee and bids from former South American Champions, Corinthians, his old club. Tevez will definitely prefer a move back to South America, where his family reside, also the reason stated to leave Manchester was he was home-sick and away from his daughters. Only time will tell where Carlos Tevez will go, and how many Premiere League players will play in Jose Mourinho’s dream team. :)

Owen Hargreaves has not been offered a new contract at Manchester United, the England International spent his tenure at Old Trafford warming the benches, most of the time. Former Bayern man was not out of the playing XI because he is didn’t play well, in fact he was dazzling when he was on the field, but it were the injuries which kept him in shadow. An exceptional player spending his time to recover from injuries and playing a game, tearing a ligament, spending the rest of the season on sidelines, Well, this has been the tale so far for Chelsea star Michael Essien too. Two years younger than Hargreaves, Owen’s demands have diminished, a free agent this season, But Michael Essien is still in demand, with Real Madrid showing interest in the Ghanian International, if injuries continue to plague him, it will be another loss for football, suffering from knee injury in the pre-season itself, is a big blow to Chelsea, as everyone are aware of the quality the Black Star brings to Chelsea’s midfield. So… All we can do is wish Michael Essien and Owen Hargreaves as well, a speedy recovery, hope to see them in action.

Looks like Arsenal will suffer a twin blow this summer in the form of their skipper Cesc Fabregas, which was the talking point last season too, and Samir Nasri’s move, which comes as a blow, Already losing Gael Clichy to Manchester City. To be counted among the top 4-5 elite teams of Premiere League, the Gunners can’t afford to lose players like Fabregas and Nasri. Arsenal’s first signing this summer has been Lille’s Gervinho, two days ago. Gervinho, a versatile player will not aid Arsenal in any way currently, because they already have a surplus of strikers (Van Persie, Walcott, Chamakh, Bendtner, Vela) they are losing two midfielders here, and still have not managed any replacement, they’ve been chasing Spaniard Juan Mata, but he is more likely to join Liverpool. The departure of Gael Clichy is not a problem as his substitute, Kieran Gibbs, is all set and raring to go, the 21-year old has shown a lot of promise and he is up for top flight English football. Arsene Wenger will be a annoyed man this summer too, as he has been for the past 6 years! As a United fan, I’ve been pretty disappointed the way the Gunners have handled their transfer activity this season, giving away Clichy to City, and now Nasri’s deal reaching to an agreement as well, more importantly the Gaffer not wanting to sell Nasri to United particularly is pretty harsh, Lets see if Arsenal’s fortune change or they taste failure even before the season starts.

A Football Maniac, who follows EPL religiously, and other European Leagues as well!!