If you believe the papers, offers are pouring into the Mestalla offices for David Villa. President Vicente Soriano has apparently turned down €47m from Real Madrid already, but the blancos - as well as billionnaires Chelsea - are said to be waiting in the wings with improved bids.
Of course the president has already stated that he won't sell his prized asset, but in this day and age of player power it's hard to imagine that, should Villa try to force his way out, he wouldn't succeed. This leads to a question: with two of Europe's top clubs beating down Valencia's door, why is he not answering?
What To Gain?
On the surface he would do well to go elsewhere. Let's face it: Madrid and Chelsea are European heavyweights, while Valencia have not been called this for a few seasons now. Indeed, last year they fell out of the Champions League in dire circumstances, and this season they didn't even qualify.
Instead they scraped through to the UEFA Cup via winning the Copa del Rey against tiny Getafe - hardly a major achievement - amidst a dire league campaign. Instead of rubbing shoulders with Juventus and Manchester United they'll face Grasshopper and Queen of the South. (Yes, yes, and AC Milan.) These are not the sort of teams that Valencia fans feel their side should be rubbing shoulders with, and Villa himself would surely agree. By subjecting himself to it when Champions League football was in the offing elsewhere some may say that he's doing himself a disservice.
The same applies at league level. Barcelona have their act together and Madrid still look strong, meaning that the idea of a non 'big two' side winning the Liga is drastically reduced. Valencia were the last side to do so back in 2004 (and in 2002; prior to that it was Depor at the turn of the century) but few would argue that they could do so again. Even the Champions League qualification spots of third and fourth are arguably more competitive than ever, leading us to wonder whether or not Villa can emerge on the big stage that his talent deserves.
Finally, there is lucre. While Villa is a loyal soul (more on that later) he, like virtually any other professional, has finances on his mind. Valencia are said to be on the verge of offering him a new, improved contract, but negotiations have gone quiet and, unlike David Silva, there has been no accord announced. If he doesn't get new terms then the idea that he has refused to seek out the untold riches of Stamford Bridge or the Bernabéu may come back to haunt him.
The Dangers
Clearly the player loves the club but a bit of longer-term thinking from himself and his agent may serve him well. First of all, his great form may not last forever. It seems inconceivable, but remember that not all great strikers are infallible. Ronaldo, beset by injury and personal problems, isn't what he used to be; Andriy Shevchenko has endured two terrible seasons, barely skipping a beat between world-class and reserve-class after winning Footballer of the Year. Of course in Sheva's case such a decline in form was brought about by a transfer, but injury, low morale, a new manager, or even personal problems could trigger it for one such as Villa. For a player under a long contract, a decline in form could see him stuck in a rut.
There are other dangers. Valencia, as we know, is a club not exactly unaccustomed to boardroom reshuffles and backroom backstabbing. All is rosy right now under Soriano, but it remains to be seen how long that lasts. Should he be replaced - and it's hardly out of the question, given how unlikely he was to take over in the first place - any new president may not only wish to keep Villa, but also be totally unwilling to offer a new contract.
Why Leave?
Still, with a guaranteed first team place, the adulation of the fans, and a club that has a proven track record both at home and in Europe, it's hardly inconceivable that Villa might just have a good thing going. For all that the Mestalla is a drama bomb last season was beyond the pale even for them; with things settled down off the pitch - for now - and a good, young manager in charge, Villa may feel that the glory days are once again just around the corner for Los Che.
Furthermore, providing that Emery sets the team up in a certain way then Villa will remain utterly integral to the side, and impressive with it. This in turn guarantees him time with the national team - something that even top scorers and good performers at other clubs cannot be automatically granted if they are not playing every week, or are compelled to do so out of permission.
Finally there is that intangible quality: loyalty. Villa, as we discussed last month (see here if you missed it), may one day move on, but when he does he'll have taken the high road, which is ultimately beneficial not only to his club but to himself. And it may well be that, should he decide to quit Valencia next year, the club will remember the dignity with which he's conductedh imself over the past two seasons and work with, rather than against, his wishes. Sure, it'd make for a fairly boring summer transfer saga, but it would be a fittingly classy ending to the Valencia career of a classy player.
But that's all hypothetical. What seems likely is that, for this season, Los Che have Villa up front yet again. That's good for them, but is it good for the player? I've said my piece - now it's your turn.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Primera Predictions 2008-09
Certainly most fans feel that this season's La Liga race is going to be closer than the last. Barcelona never quite got going in the previous campaign, and eventually Madrid, unfettered even by an excellent Villarreal side, strolled towards the title.
This summer, though, the blaugrana have changed their manager and also strengthened significantly, signalling that they are once again looking for the Liga championship. Real Madrid, having already won the Supercopa, won't let their trophy go so easily, though, and with Valencia and Sevilla looking somewhat more accomplished is remains to be seen what becomes of this season's race.
As for players, Spain has welcomed some new imports. Rafael van der Vaart and Aliaksandr Hleb are among the most prominent newcomers, but there are others, too, like Romaric and Pablo Piatti.
I present below my predictions for the new campaign, based on all the developments that applied up until the second the article was published. Any subsequent signings or injuries, then, have no bearing on the below.
Still, these are my choices. I invite you to submit your own at the end of the article. Come next May we'll dig them up and see who was closest!
2008/09 Primera División Predictions
Title Winners: Real Madrid
Champions League qualifiers: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Villarreal
UEFA Cup qualifiers: Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao (cup runners-up)
Relegated: Recreativo de Huelva, Valladolid, Málaga
Copa del Rey winners: Sevilla
Best Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) - He was the best last year and will be the best this year. Nobody comes close to Iker.
Best Defender: Daniel Alves (Barcelona) - Gianluca Zambrotta was a disappointment for the blaugrana. Alves, either in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3, will be solid both at the front and at the back.
Best Midfielder: Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) - His pre-season hasn't been the best but he has the class to succeed once more. It may take him a month or two to get going, though.
Best Attacker: Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - Despite being just 20 years old he is on track to become one of the world's best forwards. This will be his greatest year to date. His countryman, Leo Messi, was a close second.
Best Summer Signing: Koffi Romaric (Sevilla) - By 'best summer signing' I mean a player who not only has a lot to offer, but also didn't cost the world and fills a gap. Having lost Keita and Poulsen in summer Sevilla desperately needed a classy central midfielder, and in Romaric they have one - for just €8m, too. Rafael van der Vaart was a close second.
Worst Summer Signing: Mista (Deportivo La Coruña) - Singularly failed to impress at Atlético during those rare moments that he didn't occupy the treatment table. Depor may be largely restricted to freebies but Mista can't have come cheap in terms of wages - in my estimation he is a waste of money.
Golden Boot: Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona) - Last season he had the best minutes:goals ratio in the top flight and it could well be the same this time around. A goal-getter of the highest order.
Best Youngster (Under-21): Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - For the same reasons as previously mentioned.
Best Foreigner*: Arjen Robben (Real Madrid) - With Robinho largely out of the picture the Dutchman has the freedom to shine - a chance that he has so far taken in spades.
Best Spaniard*: Xavi (FC Barcelona) - The best player of Euro 2008 will be invaluable once again for the blaugrana. Like Iniesta, he could start slowly, but he will heat up around winter.
Player of the Year: Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - A clean sweep for the Argentine.
Coach of the Year: Bernd Schuster (Real Madrid) - A decent run in the Champions League and a close-fought title win will see him considered the top manager, even though there will be bumps along the way. Honourable mentions for Pep Guardiola and Manolo Jiménez, both of whom will improve their sides markedly on last season.
This summer, though, the blaugrana have changed their manager and also strengthened significantly, signalling that they are once again looking for the Liga championship. Real Madrid, having already won the Supercopa, won't let their trophy go so easily, though, and with Valencia and Sevilla looking somewhat more accomplished is remains to be seen what becomes of this season's race.
As for players, Spain has welcomed some new imports. Rafael van der Vaart and Aliaksandr Hleb are among the most prominent newcomers, but there are others, too, like Romaric and Pablo Piatti.
I present below my predictions for the new campaign, based on all the developments that applied up until the second the article was published. Any subsequent signings or injuries, then, have no bearing on the below.
Still, these are my choices. I invite you to submit your own at the end of the article. Come next May we'll dig them up and see who was closest!
2008/09 Primera División Predictions
Title Winners: Real Madrid
Champions League qualifiers: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Villarreal
UEFA Cup qualifiers: Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao (cup runners-up)
Relegated: Recreativo de Huelva, Valladolid, Málaga
Copa del Rey winners: Sevilla
Best Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) - He was the best last year and will be the best this year. Nobody comes close to Iker.
Best Defender: Daniel Alves (Barcelona) - Gianluca Zambrotta was a disappointment for the blaugrana. Alves, either in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3, will be solid both at the front and at the back.
Best Midfielder: Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) - His pre-season hasn't been the best but he has the class to succeed once more. It may take him a month or two to get going, though.
Best Attacker: Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - Despite being just 20 years old he is on track to become one of the world's best forwards. This will be his greatest year to date. His countryman, Leo Messi, was a close second.
Best Summer Signing: Koffi Romaric (Sevilla) - By 'best summer signing' I mean a player who not only has a lot to offer, but also didn't cost the world and fills a gap. Having lost Keita and Poulsen in summer Sevilla desperately needed a classy central midfielder, and in Romaric they have one - for just €8m, too. Rafael van der Vaart was a close second.
Worst Summer Signing: Mista (Deportivo La Coruña) - Singularly failed to impress at Atlético during those rare moments that he didn't occupy the treatment table. Depor may be largely restricted to freebies but Mista can't have come cheap in terms of wages - in my estimation he is a waste of money.
Golden Boot: Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona) - Last season he had the best minutes:goals ratio in the top flight and it could well be the same this time around. A goal-getter of the highest order.
Best Youngster (Under-21): Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - For the same reasons as previously mentioned.
Best Foreigner*: Arjen Robben (Real Madrid) - With Robinho largely out of the picture the Dutchman has the freedom to shine - a chance that he has so far taken in spades.
Best Spaniard*: Xavi (FC Barcelona) - The best player of Euro 2008 will be invaluable once again for the blaugrana. Like Iniesta, he could start slowly, but he will heat up around winter.
Player of the Year: Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - A clean sweep for the Argentine.
Coach of the Year: Bernd Schuster (Real Madrid) - A decent run in the Champions League and a close-fought title win will see him considered the top manager, even though there will be bumps along the way. Honourable mentions for Pep Guardiola and Manolo Jiménez, both of whom will improve their sides markedly on last season.
Top Twenty Transfers of the Summer
The factors taken into account are
(a) form over the last 12 months,
(b) potential, and
(c) transfer fee involved.
The extension from ten to twenty was compiled by taking into account previous editions.
This week Mirko Vucinic, Martin Cáceres and Tomáš Ujfaluši were knocked out of the top 20 in favour of three new editions. Find out who below...
20. Giovani Dos Santos (Barcelona to Tottenham)
Last week: 17
A rather opportunistic and clever signing by Juande Ramos, but he is a gamble nonetheless. There is a good reason Barcelona got rid of him on the cheap. His attitude had been a subject of concern for eighteen months, which saw young Bojan Krkić leap ahead of him in the pecking order. His impact on the dressing room had not made positive news either. Spurs fans must hope that was the exception and not the rule.
19. Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon to Marseille)
Last Week: 16
Marseille have lost Samir Nasri to Arsenal, but have managed to land the perfect replacement in the man Arsene Wenger had his sights on to start with. What is more, they can keep him for a year or two, and make a cool 8-10 million profit.
18. Alberto Gilardino (Milan to Fiorentina)
Last Week: 15
On the face of it, it looks like the Viola have signed an unhappy, out-of-form striker. However, that was just what Adrian Mutu's move from Juventus looked like not so long ago. The fans will help him forget Milan in a hurry, and rediscover the striker that wowed Calcio when at Parma. The partnership with Mutu can be backed to produce some special moments in the Champions League.
17. Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea to AC Milan)
New Entry
After two seasons of mediocrity at Chelsea, the Ukrainian is back at his spiritual home. Nonetheless this is a considerable gamble for the rossoneri: with a full complement of fit strikers, a Shevchenko who cannot hit form may warm the bench. On the other hand his return - even as a 30-year-old - could signal a goalscoring comeback unseen in Serie A since... well, since Andriy Shevchenko.
16. Julio Baptista (Real Madrid to AS Roma)
New Entry
The Beast, The Tank - you'd be as well calling him The Happy Wanderer, for the Brazilian has now experienced three countries in as many seasons. The 26-year-old has only seldom repeated the form that saw him shine at Sevilla four seasons ago, but he began the last campaign well enough with Madrid. Part of the problem is that he's been kept out of position for so long in order to accommodate more prestigious players: if Roma can build a system around him, instead of slotting him in wherever there happens to be a space, they could have a real superstar on their hands.
15. Seydou Keita (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Last Week: 14
At the time of his arrival he was the best signing Barcelona had made this season, particularly in light of the way their soft underbelly was exposed on the road last year. With him partnering Yaya Touré in the middle, it will ensure that the likes of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi do not get bullied, and also get the full license to thrill. 15 million euros worth their value.
14. Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander to Real Madrid)
Last Week: 13
What a capture! Barcelona seemed to have him in the bag, but hesitated a little too much as they waited for Frank Rijkaard to leave and a new coach to take charge. Madrid managed to snatch Sergio Ramos a few years ago, and what a signing that has turned out to be. This one may be no different.
13. Deco (Barcelona to Chelsea)
Last Week: 12
On the wrong side of 30, a first look suggests that he is past it, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is a fire that burns in him as we saw during Euro 2008, and he has a lot more to give to football. He is not what Frank Lampard is, as he will never score as many goals. But then, he is also everything Lampard is not. Superb creativity, a great eye for the game, and an ability to run the show that has seen him win the Champions League with two different clubs. Finally, Chelsea have a player who can orchestrate the pleasing football their owner wants. With Ballack and Essien set to play around him, it will be an ominous midfield.
12. Amantino Mancini (Roma to Inter)
Last Week: 11
Jose Mourinho does not quite promote exciting football, but he does like a fast, aggressive winger forward at least on one flank. That is just what he has found in Mancini, who will be handed the license to thrill just as Arjen Robben was during the glory years at Chelsea. Tends to blow hot and cold, though, as Roma found out last season. Lack of consistency will not go down well with the 'Special One', so he does need to focus a lot more.
11. David Bentley (Blackburn to Tottenham)
Last Week: 10
A great way for Spurs to show their ambition - by winning the race for the talented Blackburn winger, and in the process signing a former Arsenal youngster. Given what Juande Ramos did with Jesus Navas - a very similar player - this one has success written all over it. He has the potential form a formidable attacking midfield along with Giovani Dos Santos and Luka Modric.
10. Robbie Keane (Tottenham to Liverpool)
Last Week: 9
Make no mistake, I rate him very highly. That said, the Reds paid a few millions too many. He will still score the 15-20 goals needed to complement Fernando Torres' 25-30, so Rafa might just have splashed the extra cash with good reason. Their draw happy start to the season destroyed their title challenge last time around, so goals is what they need, and that is what they will get.
9. Amauri (Palermo to Juventus)
Last Week: 8
The Brazilian-Italian striker made it to number three after earning himself a long overdue move to a top four club, but now slips down to nine. He has already shown his potential with Palermo, and the prospect of him getting some top quality service from the Juve midfield is simply mouth-watering. Champions League, here he comes.
8. Vincent Kompany (Hamburg SV to Manchester City)
New Entry
The former Hamburg man left Germany under something of a cloud in order to affect a very quick transfer to City, but for all the "shotgun wedding" nature of the move it seems to have been the Mancunians' best of the summer. Put it this way: just one game into his tenure he put in a confident, mature showing in what is thought to be the world's fastest and most furious league, then said afterwards with characteristic nonchalance that he learned his new teammates' names on the pitch. Imagine what he'll be like once he's settled in and has a bit more experience.
7. Daniel Alves (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Last Week: 7
Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United – these are just some of the clubs that have queued up for him over the last 18 months or so. However, it is Barcelona who land him after some difficult negotiations with Sevilla. Perhaps a touch overpriced at 30 million euros (he would have been number one on this list at 20m), but then again, he is the best attacking full-back this world has seen since Roberto Carlos.
6. Samir Nasri (Marseille to Arsenal)
Last Week: 6
The highly rated French international is the latest to join the clan of young Gunners. Many view him as a replacement for Aliaksandr Hleb, while others go a step further and call him the next Zidane. He has had some problems with injuries, but let's hope those were exceptions as opposed to the rule. The prodigous playmaker is at number five.
5. Ronaldinho (Barcelona to Milan)
Last Week: 5
A gamble? Yes. But given the chance, would you sign one of the all time greats of football for a third of his market price last summer? You bet you would. At 28, he is far from over. Some diet planning and some tough training, and he will give at least three or four good years to the Rossoneri. A gamble nonetheless, or he would definitely have been number one. Number four for the Gaucho.
4. Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham)
Last Week: 4
The hottest young Croatian was snapped up by Spurs despite the interest of clubs such as Barcelona and Chelsea, and what a signing it has already turned out to be. Looks set to become the jewel in Juande Ramos' midfield next season. He remains at the sharp end of our list.
3. Aliaksandr Hleb (Arsenal to Barcelona)
Last Week: 3
A very shrewd buy, and what could very well turn out to be a stroke of genius from Barcelona. With Lionel Messi expected to run the show, what they needed was not a Ronaldinho, but a tireless, no-nosense attacking midfielder to offer support from the other flank - without hogging possession or the limelight. And they got him on the cheap too. A true critics' player in that while fans rave about others, he runs away with the technical plaudits.
2. Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal to Milan)
Last Week: 2
The underrated Frenchman was one of Arsenal's best players last season, and Milan's signing was nothing less than a coup. That it was a free transfer makes it even better. Has been the smartest transfer this summer for a while, now, but drops down to number two, finally.
1. Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg to Real Madrid)
Last Week: 1
A lifelong Barcelona fan and one of the best playmakers in the world today, how Madrid managed to sign him for nine million euros I don't know. What is even more baffling is how Hamburg let him go at that price (even if clauses could raise it to 13m). I would probably have put him up here even if he had cost 15 million. A downright steal, and just the kind of person who will add to Bernd Schuster's team without destroying it (get the hint?).
(a) form over the last 12 months,
(b) potential, and
(c) transfer fee involved.
The extension from ten to twenty was compiled by taking into account previous editions.
This week Mirko Vucinic, Martin Cáceres and Tomáš Ujfaluši were knocked out of the top 20 in favour of three new editions. Find out who below...
20. Giovani Dos Santos (Barcelona to Tottenham)
Last week: 17
A rather opportunistic and clever signing by Juande Ramos, but he is a gamble nonetheless. There is a good reason Barcelona got rid of him on the cheap. His attitude had been a subject of concern for eighteen months, which saw young Bojan Krkić leap ahead of him in the pecking order. His impact on the dressing room had not made positive news either. Spurs fans must hope that was the exception and not the rule.
19. Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon to Marseille)
Last Week: 16
Marseille have lost Samir Nasri to Arsenal, but have managed to land the perfect replacement in the man Arsene Wenger had his sights on to start with. What is more, they can keep him for a year or two, and make a cool 8-10 million profit.
18. Alberto Gilardino (Milan to Fiorentina)
Last Week: 15
On the face of it, it looks like the Viola have signed an unhappy, out-of-form striker. However, that was just what Adrian Mutu's move from Juventus looked like not so long ago. The fans will help him forget Milan in a hurry, and rediscover the striker that wowed Calcio when at Parma. The partnership with Mutu can be backed to produce some special moments in the Champions League.
17. Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea to AC Milan)
New Entry
After two seasons of mediocrity at Chelsea, the Ukrainian is back at his spiritual home. Nonetheless this is a considerable gamble for the rossoneri: with a full complement of fit strikers, a Shevchenko who cannot hit form may warm the bench. On the other hand his return - even as a 30-year-old - could signal a goalscoring comeback unseen in Serie A since... well, since Andriy Shevchenko.
16. Julio Baptista (Real Madrid to AS Roma)
New Entry
The Beast, The Tank - you'd be as well calling him The Happy Wanderer, for the Brazilian has now experienced three countries in as many seasons. The 26-year-old has only seldom repeated the form that saw him shine at Sevilla four seasons ago, but he began the last campaign well enough with Madrid. Part of the problem is that he's been kept out of position for so long in order to accommodate more prestigious players: if Roma can build a system around him, instead of slotting him in wherever there happens to be a space, they could have a real superstar on their hands.
15. Seydou Keita (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Last Week: 14
At the time of his arrival he was the best signing Barcelona had made this season, particularly in light of the way their soft underbelly was exposed on the road last year. With him partnering Yaya Touré in the middle, it will ensure that the likes of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi do not get bullied, and also get the full license to thrill. 15 million euros worth their value.
14. Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander to Real Madrid)
Last Week: 13
What a capture! Barcelona seemed to have him in the bag, but hesitated a little too much as they waited for Frank Rijkaard to leave and a new coach to take charge. Madrid managed to snatch Sergio Ramos a few years ago, and what a signing that has turned out to be. This one may be no different.
13. Deco (Barcelona to Chelsea)
Last Week: 12
On the wrong side of 30, a first look suggests that he is past it, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is a fire that burns in him as we saw during Euro 2008, and he has a lot more to give to football. He is not what Frank Lampard is, as he will never score as many goals. But then, he is also everything Lampard is not. Superb creativity, a great eye for the game, and an ability to run the show that has seen him win the Champions League with two different clubs. Finally, Chelsea have a player who can orchestrate the pleasing football their owner wants. With Ballack and Essien set to play around him, it will be an ominous midfield.
12. Amantino Mancini (Roma to Inter)
Last Week: 11
Jose Mourinho does not quite promote exciting football, but he does like a fast, aggressive winger forward at least on one flank. That is just what he has found in Mancini, who will be handed the license to thrill just as Arjen Robben was during the glory years at Chelsea. Tends to blow hot and cold, though, as Roma found out last season. Lack of consistency will not go down well with the 'Special One', so he does need to focus a lot more.
11. David Bentley (Blackburn to Tottenham)
Last Week: 10
A great way for Spurs to show their ambition - by winning the race for the talented Blackburn winger, and in the process signing a former Arsenal youngster. Given what Juande Ramos did with Jesus Navas - a very similar player - this one has success written all over it. He has the potential form a formidable attacking midfield along with Giovani Dos Santos and Luka Modric.
10. Robbie Keane (Tottenham to Liverpool)
Last Week: 9
Make no mistake, I rate him very highly. That said, the Reds paid a few millions too many. He will still score the 15-20 goals needed to complement Fernando Torres' 25-30, so Rafa might just have splashed the extra cash with good reason. Their draw happy start to the season destroyed their title challenge last time around, so goals is what they need, and that is what they will get.
9. Amauri (Palermo to Juventus)
Last Week: 8
The Brazilian-Italian striker made it to number three after earning himself a long overdue move to a top four club, but now slips down to nine. He has already shown his potential with Palermo, and the prospect of him getting some top quality service from the Juve midfield is simply mouth-watering. Champions League, here he comes.
8. Vincent Kompany (Hamburg SV to Manchester City)
New Entry
The former Hamburg man left Germany under something of a cloud in order to affect a very quick transfer to City, but for all the "shotgun wedding" nature of the move it seems to have been the Mancunians' best of the summer. Put it this way: just one game into his tenure he put in a confident, mature showing in what is thought to be the world's fastest and most furious league, then said afterwards with characteristic nonchalance that he learned his new teammates' names on the pitch. Imagine what he'll be like once he's settled in and has a bit more experience.
7. Daniel Alves (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Last Week: 7
Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United – these are just some of the clubs that have queued up for him over the last 18 months or so. However, it is Barcelona who land him after some difficult negotiations with Sevilla. Perhaps a touch overpriced at 30 million euros (he would have been number one on this list at 20m), but then again, he is the best attacking full-back this world has seen since Roberto Carlos.
6. Samir Nasri (Marseille to Arsenal)
Last Week: 6
The highly rated French international is the latest to join the clan of young Gunners. Many view him as a replacement for Aliaksandr Hleb, while others go a step further and call him the next Zidane. He has had some problems with injuries, but let's hope those were exceptions as opposed to the rule. The prodigous playmaker is at number five.
5. Ronaldinho (Barcelona to Milan)
Last Week: 5
A gamble? Yes. But given the chance, would you sign one of the all time greats of football for a third of his market price last summer? You bet you would. At 28, he is far from over. Some diet planning and some tough training, and he will give at least three or four good years to the Rossoneri. A gamble nonetheless, or he would definitely have been number one. Number four for the Gaucho.
4. Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham)
Last Week: 4
The hottest young Croatian was snapped up by Spurs despite the interest of clubs such as Barcelona and Chelsea, and what a signing it has already turned out to be. Looks set to become the jewel in Juande Ramos' midfield next season. He remains at the sharp end of our list.
3. Aliaksandr Hleb (Arsenal to Barcelona)
Last Week: 3
A very shrewd buy, and what could very well turn out to be a stroke of genius from Barcelona. With Lionel Messi expected to run the show, what they needed was not a Ronaldinho, but a tireless, no-nosense attacking midfielder to offer support from the other flank - without hogging possession or the limelight. And they got him on the cheap too. A true critics' player in that while fans rave about others, he runs away with the technical plaudits.
2. Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal to Milan)
Last Week: 2
The underrated Frenchman was one of Arsenal's best players last season, and Milan's signing was nothing less than a coup. That it was a free transfer makes it even better. Has been the smartest transfer this summer for a while, now, but drops down to number two, finally.
1. Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg to Real Madrid)
Last Week: 1
A lifelong Barcelona fan and one of the best playmakers in the world today, how Madrid managed to sign him for nine million euros I don't know. What is even more baffling is how Hamburg let him go at that price (even if clauses could raise it to 13m). I would probably have put him up here even if he had cost 15 million. A downright steal, and just the kind of person who will add to Bernd Schuster's team without destroying it (get the hint?).
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Football Manager 2008 RiP [106 MB]
http://rapidshare.com/files/68717565/SE_GAs.Footb_all.Manager.2oo8-_max_grab.part1.rarhttp://rapidshare.com/files/68718043/SE_GAs.Footb_all.Manager.2oo8-_max_grab.part2.rarRAR Password :www.maxgrab.orgInstallation Notes:1). unrar with latest winrar or use 7zip2). double click: Football-start.exe ( must be done )3). Say thanks in this thread!
Top Five Bizarre Transfer Rumours
1. Samuel ETO'O (Barcelona > Mallorca)Mallorca, having lost Daniel Güiza to Fenerbahçe, could use a striker to operate along with Keita, Webó and Arango. Who better than want-away Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o? The island club's new moneyman, Paul Davidson, was asked if there was a possibility of the Cameroonian returning to the islands: after being quietly told who Eto'o was, his response was non-commital. Could Eto'o go "home" to Palma de Mallorca to enjoy the untold riches within?
2. Rafael VAN DER VAART (Hamburger SV > Real Madrid)On the face of it this isn't a surprising transfer at all, but the fee mentioned most certainly is. Reports have it that the merengues bid just six million euros for one of the Bundesliga's brightest stars. HSV are more apt to seek around 20 million. Rumours persist as to the player's contract including a rather cheap get-out clause, though
.3. Andrei ARSHAVIN (Zenit > Fiorentina)While Fiorentina are worthy Champions League contenders, one surely would not place them in the small group of Italian clubs who are willing and able to splash out around 27 million euros for the Zenit ace, especially as it seems less and less likely that Adrian Mutu is going to Roma. Wishful thinking on the part of the player's agent, perhaps.
4. Claudio PIZARRO (Chelsea > Real Betis)Betis occasionally pull a top-drawer signing off, but the perennial underachievers of the Liga seem unlikely to do so at present, what with president Ruiz de Lopera's court cases and a general lack of funds floating around Seville. That's what makes it all the more surprising that Chelsea outcast Claudio Pizarro is apparently top of their shopping list. Again, this seems to be mere wishful thinking.
5. Samuel ETO'O (Barcelona > Real Madrid)Eto'o makes his second appearance in the list, and a very different one at that. Madrid could surely offer Eto'o the kind of wages and environment that he'd be suited to after Barcelona, but... well, think about it. A player with such a chequered history among the more rabid Bernabéu fans, who would necessitate breaking the entente between presidents Laporta and Calderón: it all seems very unlikely. Txiki Begiristain thinks so: the Barcelona director said that Madrid would need to pay the entire release clause for Eto'o - fully €150m!Special Mention: Samuel ETO'O (Barcelona > Kuruvchi)Everyone's "favourite" Uzbekistani team are still holding out hopes of securing the Cameroonian on a short-term deal to aid their Asian Champions League challenge. If it was ever going to happen it would have done so by now. The ultimate case of wishful thinking: for all the club's wealth, attracting Eto'o eastwards is just too far out there.
2. Rafael VAN DER VAART (Hamburger SV > Real Madrid)On the face of it this isn't a surprising transfer at all, but the fee mentioned most certainly is. Reports have it that the merengues bid just six million euros for one of the Bundesliga's brightest stars. HSV are more apt to seek around 20 million. Rumours persist as to the player's contract including a rather cheap get-out clause, though
.3. Andrei ARSHAVIN (Zenit > Fiorentina)While Fiorentina are worthy Champions League contenders, one surely would not place them in the small group of Italian clubs who are willing and able to splash out around 27 million euros for the Zenit ace, especially as it seems less and less likely that Adrian Mutu is going to Roma. Wishful thinking on the part of the player's agent, perhaps.
4. Claudio PIZARRO (Chelsea > Real Betis)Betis occasionally pull a top-drawer signing off, but the perennial underachievers of the Liga seem unlikely to do so at present, what with president Ruiz de Lopera's court cases and a general lack of funds floating around Seville. That's what makes it all the more surprising that Chelsea outcast Claudio Pizarro is apparently top of their shopping list. Again, this seems to be mere wishful thinking.
5. Samuel ETO'O (Barcelona > Real Madrid)Eto'o makes his second appearance in the list, and a very different one at that. Madrid could surely offer Eto'o the kind of wages and environment that he'd be suited to after Barcelona, but... well, think about it. A player with such a chequered history among the more rabid Bernabéu fans, who would necessitate breaking the entente between presidents Laporta and Calderón: it all seems very unlikely. Txiki Begiristain thinks so: the Barcelona director said that Madrid would need to pay the entire release clause for Eto'o - fully €150m!Special Mention: Samuel ETO'O (Barcelona > Kuruvchi)Everyone's "favourite" Uzbekistani team are still holding out hopes of securing the Cameroonian on a short-term deal to aid their Asian Champions League challenge. If it was ever going to happen it would have done so by now. The ultimate case of wishful thinking: for all the club's wealth, attracting Eto'o eastwards is just too far out there.
AC Milan: Should Milan Sell Kaka For €100m?
There have been reports in the press over the past few days that Chelsea are prepared to fork out €100m, or even €150m, to bring Kaka to Stamford Bridge. If such a bid were to be officially lodged, should Milan accept?
Yes They Should SellEven by today’s inflated standards, €100m is an obscene amount of money. From purely a business point of view, it would make sense for Milan to sell Kaka. He may still only be 26, but his game, a little like Cristiano Ronaldo, relies heavily on physical attributes such as pace, acceleration, and quick movements. Within a few years these will have declined, and it is debatable whether Kaka will then still be the same player he is today. Furthermore, the Brazilian had a miserable time with injuries last season, and there are still some lingering fitness doubts following the chronic knee problem that was recently operated on.With the €100m that Milan receive for Kaka, they could buy three guaranteed world class players who would surely strengthen the team. Use the example of Zinedine Zidane’s world record €76m move from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001. Luciano Moggi was heavily criticised for offloading arguably the best player in the world at the time. However, Moggi used the money recouped to sign three world class players in Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram and Pavel Nedved. At that time Juve were in a similar position to that which Milan find themselves in now. They hadn’t won the Scudetto for a few years, and needed revitalising. With these three purchases, Juventus again became the dominant force in Italian football, winning four of the next five Scudetti prior to the Calciopoli crisis.Despite buying Mathieu Flamini (24), Marco Borriello (26) and Ronaldinho (28) this summer, Milan still have a very old team. The entire defence is over the age of the 30, while most of the midfield is also nearing or already past this landmark. A €100m war-chest would go a long way to injecting some top quality young players into the squad for the future.No They Should Not SellWhile it is true that €100m is a lot of money, who could Milan realistically buy to adequately replace Kaka? There are very few players in the world who could live up to what he has done. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is one, but even if the Blaugrana decided to sell, he would cost more than €100m. It is also unlikely that a high profile Argentine would move to such a Brazilian environment. I still have my doubts over Cristiano Ronaldo, and he is probably set to join Real Madrid anyway. Even if he stays at Man Utd, his transfer fee would be astronomical. If you rattle down the list of other highly rated attacking midfielders – Gerrard, Sneijder, Ribery, Riquelme, Iniesta, Robinho, Diego, Van der Vaart – could any of these, assuming they are purchasable, replace Kaka and be value for money?In simple terms, Kaka is probably irreplaceable in Milan’s current system. Ronaldinho, who plays in a similar position, has just signed but, as has been well documented, he is a huge gamble. The only way the Rossoneri could counter Kaka’s loss would be to change their style of play, which is what Juventus did when they sold Zidane. During the first few years of Marcello Lippi’s first reign in Turin, Juve played some of the most delightful and entertaining football in Europe, with Zidane at the centre of the action. When they sold him in 2002, they had already decided to go down the more efficient route, with workhorses in midfield instead of artists.With Silvio Berlusconi as owner, this would simply never be allowed to happen at Milan. The club are Berlusconi’s joy, just like Chelsea are to Roman Abramovich. They must always play beautiful football, and so Kaka, someone who brings great enjoyment to the Italian President, must therefore stay.It must also be noted that when Juve sold Zidane, he was coming off three relatively average seasons for his club. While Zizou was a revelation in his first two years at the Delle Alpi, he struggled to lift a team who had gone into decline from 98/99 onwards and, in truth, offloading Zidane, was a Moggi masterstroke. Kaka, on the other hand, may have been under-par last campaign, but this was only down to injuries, and despite this, he still finished as the club’s top scorer with 15 Serie A goals. Kaka is in his prime now at the age of 26, Zidane was approaching 30 back in 2001.Those are the two sides to the argument, but what are your views on this topic? Should Milan accept €100m for Kaka? Yes or No?
Yes They Should SellEven by today’s inflated standards, €100m is an obscene amount of money. From purely a business point of view, it would make sense for Milan to sell Kaka. He may still only be 26, but his game, a little like Cristiano Ronaldo, relies heavily on physical attributes such as pace, acceleration, and quick movements. Within a few years these will have declined, and it is debatable whether Kaka will then still be the same player he is today. Furthermore, the Brazilian had a miserable time with injuries last season, and there are still some lingering fitness doubts following the chronic knee problem that was recently operated on.With the €100m that Milan receive for Kaka, they could buy three guaranteed world class players who would surely strengthen the team. Use the example of Zinedine Zidane’s world record €76m move from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001. Luciano Moggi was heavily criticised for offloading arguably the best player in the world at the time. However, Moggi used the money recouped to sign three world class players in Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram and Pavel Nedved. At that time Juve were in a similar position to that which Milan find themselves in now. They hadn’t won the Scudetto for a few years, and needed revitalising. With these three purchases, Juventus again became the dominant force in Italian football, winning four of the next five Scudetti prior to the Calciopoli crisis.Despite buying Mathieu Flamini (24), Marco Borriello (26) and Ronaldinho (28) this summer, Milan still have a very old team. The entire defence is over the age of the 30, while most of the midfield is also nearing or already past this landmark. A €100m war-chest would go a long way to injecting some top quality young players into the squad for the future.No They Should Not SellWhile it is true that €100m is a lot of money, who could Milan realistically buy to adequately replace Kaka? There are very few players in the world who could live up to what he has done. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is one, but even if the Blaugrana decided to sell, he would cost more than €100m. It is also unlikely that a high profile Argentine would move to such a Brazilian environment. I still have my doubts over Cristiano Ronaldo, and he is probably set to join Real Madrid anyway. Even if he stays at Man Utd, his transfer fee would be astronomical. If you rattle down the list of other highly rated attacking midfielders – Gerrard, Sneijder, Ribery, Riquelme, Iniesta, Robinho, Diego, Van der Vaart – could any of these, assuming they are purchasable, replace Kaka and be value for money?In simple terms, Kaka is probably irreplaceable in Milan’s current system. Ronaldinho, who plays in a similar position, has just signed but, as has been well documented, he is a huge gamble. The only way the Rossoneri could counter Kaka’s loss would be to change their style of play, which is what Juventus did when they sold Zidane. During the first few years of Marcello Lippi’s first reign in Turin, Juve played some of the most delightful and entertaining football in Europe, with Zidane at the centre of the action. When they sold him in 2002, they had already decided to go down the more efficient route, with workhorses in midfield instead of artists.With Silvio Berlusconi as owner, this would simply never be allowed to happen at Milan. The club are Berlusconi’s joy, just like Chelsea are to Roman Abramovich. They must always play beautiful football, and so Kaka, someone who brings great enjoyment to the Italian President, must therefore stay.It must also be noted that when Juve sold Zidane, he was coming off three relatively average seasons for his club. While Zizou was a revelation in his first two years at the Delle Alpi, he struggled to lift a team who had gone into decline from 98/99 onwards and, in truth, offloading Zidane, was a Moggi masterstroke. Kaka, on the other hand, may have been under-par last campaign, but this was only down to injuries, and despite this, he still finished as the club’s top scorer with 15 Serie A goals. Kaka is in his prime now at the age of 26, Zidane was approaching 30 back in 2001.Those are the two sides to the argument, but what are your views on this topic? Should Milan accept €100m for Kaka? Yes or No?
Makelele:The French Water Carrier
Makelele: The French Water-Carrier
People associate the job of a water-carrier with him, an unenviable job in which all he has to do is stop the opposition’s moves and pass the ball unselfishly to his teammates. He is a sort of player who hardly evokes much inspiration, someone who would hardly make a 10-year old wild-eyed boy jump with excitement(provided of course you are not Javier Mascherano). Yet he is indispensable, a player whom you do not notice until he is not there. For over 15 years Claude Makelele has been playing, well, the ‘Makelele Role’ and now he is seemingly on his way out of the footballing realm. His contract at Chelsea came to an end in the summer and he is now at Paris Saint Germain on a one-year contract with an option to play for one more season. Yet Claude Makelele has left behind a legacy that, although not Zidane-esquely glittering, is certainly monumental. The 35-year old Frenchman has come to define the entire role of the defensive midfielder in a game of football, a role that is now considered fundamental for any team’s success. All his life Claude Makelele has played the second fiddle: always the first to kickstart an attack, always the last to be acknowledged; a man who in spite of jokingly telling The Guardian in June 2003,”But you do have to believe in yourself, to sell yourself. There are too many great players to choose the very best in the world. So, it’s me, then,” the DR Congo born Frenchman has never quite relented, never begged for public attention, carrying out his job with the humility of a priest listening to confessions of sins. At Real Madrid You just need to ask some former Real Madrid players. Claude Makelele was not so much as booted out of the Bernabeu in 2003 as spitted out like Anaconda vomiting out Paul Sarone when the then Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, the self-conscious man who thought himself as an emperor but was more like Frankenstein unable to manage his monster, refused to hand him a better pay package and promptly sold him off to Chelsea, claiming, “We will not miss Makelele….Younger players will arrive who will cause Makelele to be forgotten.” Not that Perez was entirely wrong in his view, since in three years from 2000 to 2003 the Bernabeu had realized that although Makelele was an adept anchoring midfielder, his ball distribution left much to be desired and would moan and groan whenever Makelele would mispass a ball. Yet that was the pivotal move that crumbled Perez’s Galacticos policy leading Zidane to doubt,”Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?” and Fernando Hierro to note,”The loss of Makelele was the beginning of the end for Los Galacticos…You can see that it was also the beginning of a new dawn for Chelsea.” Makelele’s recruitment at Real Madrid in the summer of 2000 had been overshadowed by signing of the first Galactico Luis Figo but he had arrived after spending two successful seasons with Galician side Celta de Vigo. He would go onto feature in 126 league matches for Los Merengues and win the Spanish league title twice and the UEFA Champions League crown once. At Chelsea In football, one man’s loss is another man’s gain. Makelele at Chelsea was an even more success. Here too he went relatively unnoticed(until, to put it ridiculously, he was not playing) but at least he was receiving the due respect. The then Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho heaped Makelele with eulogy on every possible occasion and in five seasons at Chelsea, Makelele was not only the best defensive medio in the Premiership, he was the best in the world by a country mile. In over 200 league matches, Makelele could manage just two goals(and one of them was that goal against Spurs in November 2006) but he saved countless goals for the Blues and it is hardly an exaggeration to claim that Chelsea without Makelele would have imbibed a different hue altogether. But then again, Claude Makelele is 35 and understandably is trekking towards the twilight of his career. He might still be in large parts an unsung hero but he has won everything there is to be won in club football. And glue that to a healthy 71 international appearances for France and you are forced to acknowledge his greatness. In the summer of 2008 Claude Makelele’s five-year contract at the London club expired and although there were calls for him to carry on playing for the Blues, the club decided to release him on a free transfer. Back In France And now the anchoring midfield genius is back in France, where he started his professional club football adventure with Nantes and progressed at Marseille. At PSG the pressure would be muted and the stress not severe as the Parisian aims to do better than a 16th place finish in French Ligue 1. Claude Makelele is not quite finished but he is nearing the point when he would have to bow out and then pass off in the mist of history as a footballing legend. Greatness, these days, is an often elaborated, overcooked and loosely used term. A single classy goal or a single Maradona-esque flick and you have commentators parroting the term ‘greatness” at the top of their voice. But when it comes to Claude Makelele, greatness actually doesn’t come anywhere near in describing the player who has almost radically altered the perception of a holding midfield player.
People associate the job of a water-carrier with him, an unenviable job in which all he has to do is stop the opposition’s moves and pass the ball unselfishly to his teammates. He is a sort of player who hardly evokes much inspiration, someone who would hardly make a 10-year old wild-eyed boy jump with excitement(provided of course you are not Javier Mascherano). Yet he is indispensable, a player whom you do not notice until he is not there. For over 15 years Claude Makelele has been playing, well, the ‘Makelele Role’ and now he is seemingly on his way out of the footballing realm. His contract at Chelsea came to an end in the summer and he is now at Paris Saint Germain on a one-year contract with an option to play for one more season. Yet Claude Makelele has left behind a legacy that, although not Zidane-esquely glittering, is certainly monumental. The 35-year old Frenchman has come to define the entire role of the defensive midfielder in a game of football, a role that is now considered fundamental for any team’s success. All his life Claude Makelele has played the second fiddle: always the first to kickstart an attack, always the last to be acknowledged; a man who in spite of jokingly telling The Guardian in June 2003,”But you do have to believe in yourself, to sell yourself. There are too many great players to choose the very best in the world. So, it’s me, then,” the DR Congo born Frenchman has never quite relented, never begged for public attention, carrying out his job with the humility of a priest listening to confessions of sins. At Real Madrid You just need to ask some former Real Madrid players. Claude Makelele was not so much as booted out of the Bernabeu in 2003 as spitted out like Anaconda vomiting out Paul Sarone when the then Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, the self-conscious man who thought himself as an emperor but was more like Frankenstein unable to manage his monster, refused to hand him a better pay package and promptly sold him off to Chelsea, claiming, “We will not miss Makelele….Younger players will arrive who will cause Makelele to be forgotten.” Not that Perez was entirely wrong in his view, since in three years from 2000 to 2003 the Bernabeu had realized that although Makelele was an adept anchoring midfielder, his ball distribution left much to be desired and would moan and groan whenever Makelele would mispass a ball. Yet that was the pivotal move that crumbled Perez’s Galacticos policy leading Zidane to doubt,”Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?” and Fernando Hierro to note,”The loss of Makelele was the beginning of the end for Los Galacticos…You can see that it was also the beginning of a new dawn for Chelsea.” Makelele’s recruitment at Real Madrid in the summer of 2000 had been overshadowed by signing of the first Galactico Luis Figo but he had arrived after spending two successful seasons with Galician side Celta de Vigo. He would go onto feature in 126 league matches for Los Merengues and win the Spanish league title twice and the UEFA Champions League crown once. At Chelsea In football, one man’s loss is another man’s gain. Makelele at Chelsea was an even more success. Here too he went relatively unnoticed(until, to put it ridiculously, he was not playing) but at least he was receiving the due respect. The then Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho heaped Makelele with eulogy on every possible occasion and in five seasons at Chelsea, Makelele was not only the best defensive medio in the Premiership, he was the best in the world by a country mile. In over 200 league matches, Makelele could manage just two goals(and one of them was that goal against Spurs in November 2006) but he saved countless goals for the Blues and it is hardly an exaggeration to claim that Chelsea without Makelele would have imbibed a different hue altogether. But then again, Claude Makelele is 35 and understandably is trekking towards the twilight of his career. He might still be in large parts an unsung hero but he has won everything there is to be won in club football. And glue that to a healthy 71 international appearances for France and you are forced to acknowledge his greatness. In the summer of 2008 Claude Makelele’s five-year contract at the London club expired and although there were calls for him to carry on playing for the Blues, the club decided to release him on a free transfer. Back In France And now the anchoring midfield genius is back in France, where he started his professional club football adventure with Nantes and progressed at Marseille. At PSG the pressure would be muted and the stress not severe as the Parisian aims to do better than a 16th place finish in French Ligue 1. Claude Makelele is not quite finished but he is nearing the point when he would have to bow out and then pass off in the mist of history as a footballing legend. Greatness, these days, is an often elaborated, overcooked and loosely used term. A single classy goal or a single Maradona-esque flick and you have commentators parroting the term ‘greatness” at the top of their voice. But when it comes to Claude Makelele, greatness actually doesn’t come anywhere near in describing the player who has almost radically altered the perception of a holding midfield player.
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