David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gabriel Heinze...who's next?

Over the years, Real Madrid have bought many players from Manchester United. In reality, their main reason for this must have been to try and match the recent success of the English club.

David Beckham was at the peak of his powers when he left Manchester United, a household name with global marketing power. Who come's knocking on the door? That's right, money-hungry Real Madrid. I suspect that the David Beckham transfer was simply about publicity and increasing revenue, although there's no denying that David Beckham was a great footballer and a true professional.

Next, Real Madrid tried to buy United's success through the transfers of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gabriel Heinze. Needless to say, this attemp failed as well. Both players seemingly disappeared of the map after their respective transfers.

Then came a transfer that everyone saw coming, but no-one expected. Real Madrid came calling for the gem of Old Trafford, Mr Ballon d'Or himself, Cristiano Ronaldo, for a record 80 million. As we all know, this bid was accepted and Ronaldo is now plying his trade in Spain. At the same time, Real Madrid secured the services of Kaka, a previous Ballon d'Or winner, Xavi Alonso and Karim Benzema. Once again they tried to buy success...and once again they failed. Their only real chance for silverware this season is the league, and lets face it, Barcelona aren't going to make it easy for them.

Now it seems as if Real Madrid have their eyes firmly set on another United player, or two. Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are the latest United players to be coveted by the Spanish outfit. Haven't Madrid realised that success cannot be bought, I mean 200+ million couldn't even buy them a place in the Champions League quater-final. Why don't Real Madrid try investing in youth (look at the ages of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney when United bought them, or try developing their own young talent (David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, etc).

Real Madrid need to stop buying United's superstars, and start making their own...maybe then they can be successful. Look at it this way, how many of Barcelona's first team started in their youth academy??    

Could David Beckham's injury open the door for Adam Johnson?

With David Beckham's suffering from a ruptured achilles tendon, it looks in all likelihood that he will miss this year's World Cup.

As sad as this may be, it may have opened the door for an up-and-coming winger, the likes of which England do not currently have. Adam Johnson, a very gifted, left-footed winger, came of the bench yesterday to give, a very poor-looking, Manchester City an injection of creativity and rescue them a very unlikely point.

Those of you lucky enough to see the goal will have no problems admitting that we have a new contender for "goal of the season", and that the goal was truly something special...any lower and it would have been headed clear, any higher and it would have hit the bar.

With Aaron Lennon and David Beckham currently injured (coupled with the largely eratic form of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Theo Walcott), a spot has opened up for a new superstar to emerge. Although Aaron Lennon still has a chance of making the World Cup, having both he and Adam Johnson on the wings could represent real problems for any opposition.

Stuart Downing would have hopes of being called up to play on the left wing, but with the form Adam Johnson is in, I can't see another player more deserving of a call-up. 

In my opinion, Adam Johnson at least deserves a place on the England bench. He is a very technically gifted player, he is quick, has a good turn of pace, can go past defenders, has good vision and, like David Beckham, he can deliver quality crosses. He also has an eye for goal. More importantly, he is left-footed and will provide natural width on that side of the field. This opens the door for Steven Gerrard to take up a more cental role, where he is most affective, and support Wayne Rooney upfront.

Also, I believe that England should take up a 4-5-1 formation with Rooney alone ufront man, Gerrard coming in from midfield to support the attack, and Adam Johnson and Aaron Lennon (hopefully) on the wings to deliver qaulity crosses for the ever-dangerous Wayne Rooney.

Please, have your say. Will Adam Johnson make the World Cup sqaud?  

English Premier League (EPL)

So the EPL has reached the final stretch, and with 3 teams still firmly in with a chance, could go right down to the wire. Let's take a look at some things that could potentially decide the title:

1. Manchester United (P: 29, W: 20, D: 3: L: 6, Pts: 63)

With United seemingly always hitting top form at just the right time in the season, this could just be their time...if they can put a run together they may be able to put some distance between them and the other two contenders. United's run-in sees them play Liverpool (21 March) at Old Trafford, Chelsea (3 April) at Old Trafford and Manchester City (17 April) at The City of Manchester Stadium. These fixtures could prove costly if results don't go in United's favour. A win over Chelsea though, would give them a little breatning room.

After coming through the Champions League tie against AC Milan, with an aggregate score of 7-2 in United's favour, the champions sent out a clear statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League.

If Rooney can stay clear of injuries from now until the end of the season, while maintaining his truly blistering form, United could well be on their way to a fourth consecutive title.

2. Chelsea (P: 28, W: 19, D: 4, L: 5, Pts: 61)

The first thing to consider here would be Chelsea's game in hand, which, if they win, will move them back to the top of the Premier League. Chelsea's form has been stuttering lately, and with a must-win game against Jose Mourinho's Inter coming up, Chelsea may decide that the time is right to rest some key players. Chelsea's run-in pits them against the likes of Aston Villa (27 March) at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United (3 April) at Old Trafford and Liverpool (1 May) at Anfield. With Aston Villa already taking 5 points off Manchester United this season, the Villans could be well-placed for a result against the Blues.

With off-the-field incidents seemingly affecting captain John Terry's focus and performances, and with Drogba going through a mini-drought, will Chelsea's title charge stutter? Terry could bounce back stronger than ever. Drogba's hunger for success could drive him on to try harder. Both players could decide that NOW is the time for action and propel Chelsea to the title. However, with their captain unfocussed and  with  talismanic forward not firing on all-cylinders, their performances may suffer.

3. Arsenal (P: 29, W: 19, D: 4, L: 6, Pts: 61)

Arsenal have looked to be completely out of the title race twice after heavy defeats to both Chelsea and Manchester United. But, the would-be champions have shown a togetherness and great resilience, as well as a determination not to let their chance slip. With Arsenal's run-in looking the easiest on paper (the Gunners avoid all of the big boys), they could surge to the top with a run of good results.

Injuries have been a constant menace to Arsenal's title charge this season. Robin van Persie (unknown return date), Aaron Ramsey (Unknown return date), Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas (hamstring - misses the Hull City game), Tomasz Rosicky (unknown injury - misses the Hull City game), Bacary Sagna (unknown injury - misses the Hull City game), William Gallas (unknown return date), Manuel Almunia, Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner have all suffered from injuries already this season. If Arsenal are sustain their title charge, they need their players to stay fit for what remains of a truly intruiging season.

Arsenal have shown great mental strength in overcoming their injuries, none more so than the Aaron Ramsey incident, this season. If they continue to demonstrate this desire to win, I can see them pushing United and Chelsea down to the wire.

I've had my say, now have yours. What do you think of this year's Barclays Premier League, and who do you think will come out victorious at the end of it?

Drogba scoops award

Drogba named Africa's best...again

Didier Drogba has been crowned CAF African Player of the Year for 2009. The Côte d'Ivoire striker saw off competition from Chelsea team-mate Michael Essien of Ghana and Cameroon's Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto'o, to take the prize at the awards ceremony in Accra last night.

Drogba, who turned 32 yesterday, claimed the honour for the second time in his career having first won it in 2006. Drogba was not present to personally collect the award, with an official of the Ivorian Football Federation collecting it on his behalf.

The Elephants' frontman, nominated on the final three-man shortlist alongside Essien and Eto'o, succeeds Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor. The winner was decided by votes from the coaches of the national associations affiliated to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).



Ghana were the other big winners on the night with striker Dominic Adiyiah picking up the Young Player of the Year award ahead of South African Kermit Erasmus of Feyenoord and Nigeria's Sani Emmanuel from Bodens BK. Sellas Tetteh was named Coach of the Year having led the Black Stars to the FIFA U-20 World Cup title last year.

There was also success for the Democratic Republic of Congo, who scooped the Africa Club of the Year and Best Player on the Continent awards in the form of CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe and their captain Tresor Mputu Mabi.

2010 FIFA World Cup™ participants Algeria were rewarded for qualifying for the finals for the first time in 24 years and reaching the CAF Africa Cup of Nations last four by being named National Team of the Year.

Fifth Time Lucky for United

Some people (those against the United movement) have tried to downplay United’s win over AC Milan on Wednesday night. They say it isn't such a big deal, that Milan are team of ageing athletes who are past their prime.

But this is still AC Milan, a European elite boasting some of the most talented players on the planet, namely Ronaldinho, Pirlo, Seedorf, Beckham and Pato (although the latter did not play in the 2nd leg). However, United progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-2 aggregate win, beating the Italians at the San Siro for the first time in 5 attempts, before putting them to the sword at Old Trafford.

Also take into account, the average age of United’s starting 11 on Wednesday night was 29, while Milan’s was 28. United's veterans are described as having valuable experience and a winning mentality, while Milan's veteran are seen as old??.

The bottom line is simple, Manchester United played the better football over the two legs and deserved their victory. Wayne Rooney took another 2 chances in front of goal, taking his goal tally to 30 for the season , while Ji-sung Park denied Andrea Pirlo any time and space on the ball. Van Der Sar was rarely tested (other than the Beckham attempt) on the night.



With United looking rampant, is a third consecutive final on the cards for The Red Devils?

Things You Need To Consider When Shopping for World Cup Shirts and Jerseys

The World Cup surely is one of the most awaited events in the world. And since World Cup is just around the corner, you may want to get ahead of everybody and show how you support and just love your favorite team. Nothing matches the effort to wear your teams name to show your support compared to any other way . If you wish to spend your holiday money on World cup t-shirts for your family then folow this guide of ours.

Thanks to the millions of fans of football world cup t- shirt retailers make money in millions. And because of the demand for great looking world cup jerseys annually, there are those that take advantage of least-experienced shoppers who would do and buy everything for their team. Be it the World Cup fan kits or basic World Cup jerseys you are planning to shop for you and the family ,do a little rethinking.

If you are one of those who have settled with replicas of World Cup shirts, you know by now that they are only good for one season. Sure they do look good but after a year, they are look and downright unworthy to be worn when watching a game ?" even when you're just at home. Chnces are your World cup jerseys must have become quite shabby even for bed ,if you and your wife are thinking of wearing them daily. Sure you may have saved a couple of dollars when you have bought that replica, but after months' use, you begin to ask yourself, "Is it really worth it?"

Aside from having a really great-looking set of authentic World Cup shirts, when you have bought genuine items, what is the chance that you may actually end up with collector's item? The distance is not so much after all. Are you satisfied with your purchase? As an innocent fan you may get fooled by good imitations and end up paying the amount worth for the real stuff. If you do not buy jersey from an established store you are likely to get a replica.

When shopping for World Cup jerseys, it's good to actually look around online. Check the store's feedback, reputation and customer testimonials. Ask around, there are many concerned World Cup fans that are more than willing to lend a hand.

English Premier League - Gameweek 30

Let's take a look towards this weekends fixtures:

Tottenham v Blackburn
Birmingham v Everton
Bolton v Wigan
Burnley v Wolves
Chelsea v West Ham
Stoke City v Aston Villa
Hull City v Arsenal
Man Utd v Fulham
Sunderland v Man City
Liverpool v Portsmouth

And there is also a mid-week game that sees Aston Villa play their game in hand:

Wigan v Aston Villa

In all honesty, I can't see any upsets in the fixture list above. However, the Premier League has been very open this year, with 4 genuine contenders challenging for fourth spot and about 7 teams battling relegation.

I expect all the big boys (United, Chelsea, Arsenal) to come away with good results this weekend, although I'm not so sure about Liverpool. I'd back Portsmouth to maybe grab a draw.



Aston Villa can cement their place in the Top Four for a while with two solid wins against Stoke and Wigan, although this sounds easier than it is. Aston Villa are away for both games, while the Britannia Stadium and DW Stadium are 2 of the hardest places to go and get a result. If Villa come through unscathed, I'd back them for fourth.



Birmingham v Everton seems like another good tie, with Birmingham City still sitting pretty in the top half of the table after 29 games having just been promoted, and Everton rapidly finding form.

This is the time of year where mistakes, injuries and suspensions count, and could define your season...any team with hopes of winning trophies or getting into Europe need to come through this period with flying colours and, if possible, all the points

The Rise and Rise of Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney was born 24 October 1985.

At the age of 10, he joined the youth team at Everton FC.

He made his professional debut in 2002 before briefly becoming the Premier League's youngest ever scorer.

After 2 seasons at Everton, Rooney decided it was time to move on to bigger and better things. He moved to Manchester United before the start of the 2004-2005 campaign. Since his move, Rooney has won 3 Premier League titles, The UEFA Champions League once and two League Cups. Rooney has never won the FA Cup with Manchester United, and he won't acheive that this season either (with the Manchester club already knocked out).

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at United as an 18 year old in 2003, a season before Rooney...and the same season he won the FA Cup.

It is fair to say that Rooney came to United with the bigger reputation in England, but after a very successful first season, he was forced to take a backseat to the portuguese wing wizard.

Since Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid before the start of the 2010-2011 season, Rooney has become United's main man, putting in a tremendous amount of effort while finding the back of the net 30 times already this season. He is being tipped to surpass the 42 goals set by Ronaldo in the previous season. Rooney has become the creative force for United, as well as the biggest goal threat...it is true that he has almost single-handedly carried United to where thet are this season

So is Wayne Rooney the best player in the world? You decide...

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The Downfall of Liverpool

7 Reasons why Liverpool FC will continue to suffer...unless things change

In essence, you could put these 7 reasons in 3 broad categories, namely:

1. Rafa Benitez

• The decision to "rap players in cotton wool" is a strange one, given the position Liverpool find themselves in. If players are fit, then they need to be playing (Aquilani comes to mind here)
  
  
  
• When you are chasing 4th spot in the league, and Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City are all better placed than you, you cannot rest players (unless they are actually injured or sufferign from burn-out)
• Sometimes money needs to be spent in order to challenge for top honours. We've seen this through Manchester City's rapid rise into the Premier League's elite (although this hasn't fully come to fruition yet). Also with Real Madrid in La Liga (not so much in the Champions League as Lyon proved last night)

2. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres

• When these two players are not fully fit, Liverpool have a problem. Yes, they can play without one of them (although not very well), but when both are out, their belief and their form suffers
• Even when these two players do play, if they are not 100% on their game, there is no-one in the Liverpool team looking to take the game to the opposition. If Liverpool don't strengthen, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will suffer from burn-out, and Liverpool will eventually fall out-of-sight.

3. Lucas

• Am I the only one that thinks Lucas' place in the team isn't based on performance or team contribution? What exactly does Lucas offer the team? I will agree that he has improved, but there is no need to have him and Mascherano on the field at the same time (unless you are defending a lead with 20 minutes to go). Mascherano is obviously the better and more experienced player of the two, and that is why it should be him, and him alone, in that defensive midfield role
• Also, having two defensive midfielders disrupts the attacking rythym of the team, resulting in poor performances, and more importantly, poor results

Ofcourse there are a number of other reasons contributing to Liverpool's poor performances this season, but I prefer to concentrate on the on-field matters, the matters that the players (and management) themselves have some control over


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