Go You Toffees!

Everton are on the rise..believe me...we were Merseyside's best team last season, and we will continue to assert our dominance over the failing Reds...Congrats to winning the Champs League but Premier League wise...Everton were better...anyway, the Toffees have signed Per Koldrup from Udinese for 5m and Mikel Arteta should be on his way back to Goodison before the start of the season...Hope Moyesey buys more players...players who I would like to see don the Blue of Everton..Zoltan Gera, Nathan Ellington and Neil Clement. Gera will provide skill in the middle, Ellington is a proven finisher and Clement will provide stability to the back..GO YOU TOFFEES!

Mixed Fortunes

Another day at the football field yesterday...Morning game was a breeze, an easy 10-0 rout of the opponents...played the second half as a stopper then moved to left back, and had an assist to my name...supplied the cross for the ninth goal i believe...The usual afternoon match, we took a break from the league fixtures and played a friendly, and it was a tough match, lost 3-2 to a bunch of army regulars..

Spent the weekend watching football..watched a dramatic penalty shoot out in the Youth Championships when Nigeria played Netherlands...both sides could not be separated after all eleven players including the goalkeepers had taken their kicks, and it was back to square one with the first kickers with the score at 9-9. Collins John missed for Holland and Tawio scored to send Nigeria to the semis...it was a thrilling kick, one of the longest i have seen...

University Football Pics

Found old team pictures of my University Soccer team...hehe..




2003 ACT State League 7


2002 ACT State League 5

Emre- Premiership Bound

Bound for the Premiership

The stars keep going to the Premiership. Latest to be linked with a move to England's top flight is Turkish star Emre Belozoglu. The Inter ace has found playing time limited at the San Siro under Roberto Mancini, and is relishing a new challenge. Already, Everton, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle are reportedly to be interested in the central midfielder who is a proven class act both at country and club level. Both Everton and Newcastle are the front runners, although the Magpies may have stolen a march on their rivals by speaking to the player's representative in Monaco before his summer break. Which club he will play for will be known within the next few days, when the player returns from his holiday and consider the offers put forth to him.

Emre is a good player...I saw him play when I was studying in Australia..think it was about a year ago..Turkey played two friendly matches, one in Sydney the other in Melbourne against the Socceroos. Went to the one at Sydney...it was packed with Turkish fans..of cos Emre got the most cheers...he controlled the midfield...guess his status at Inter was about the same as Alvaro Recoba....both never really achieved starting eleven positions...but when called to do the job, both would stand up and deliver....guess a move to the Premier League would not do any harm to the Turk...

Park's a Red Devil, Unlucky Japan

Park Ji Sung

It has been confirmed that South Korean star Park Ji Sung will be plying his trade in the Premiership next season, with of all teams, Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson made Park his second signing following the signing of Edwin van der Sar earlier in the month. After impressing in the Champions League last season following PSV's dream run to the semi finals, Park's stock rose tremendously and now, the Korean will have to make sure he can cut it among England's elite and ensure that he is not just a marketing tool for the Red Devils, but a player who can turn the fortunes around for a team that has seemed to lose its dominance in English football.

Anyway took PSV Eindhoven in my FM 2005 game...and Park was one of my star players...won Dutch Player of the Year 3 times in a row, holds the record for assists in a season and his ratings never dropped below 8.00 every season and was a crucial element in my PSV side that swept all before them...fantastic..one of the best players ever worked with..or managed...also managed South Korea and he was my ever present in the South Korean team..captain marvel...midfielder extraordinaire

Confederations Cup- Japan 2 Brazil 2
So close yet so far for Japan. A gutsy performance saw the Asian champs hold the World Champs to a two all draw. Goals by Nakamura and Oguro were not enough though to send the Japanese into the semi finals, as the Brazilians qualified with a better goal difference. Robinho had given the Brazilians the lead but Kaji had a goal disallowed incorrectly before that. Nakamura then drew the Japanese level with a stunning 30m screamer, before Ronaldinho restored the lead for the Brazilians. However, five minutes left, Oguro scored his second goal in two games with a rebound after Nakamura's freekick hit the post. Japan surged forward in search of the winner and Oguro could have sealed a dramatic comeback only for Brazil goalkeeper Marcos to make a point blank save from the striker in injury time. Kudos to the Japs!

The other match saw the first 0-0 draw of the Confed Cup as Mexico and Greece both failed to score in an exciting match which had more than 30 attempts on goal by both sides. However excellent goalkeeping by both goalkeepers and profligate finishing by both sets of forwards meant the scores remained goalless.The most dramatic moment of the match came in the seventh minute when Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez made an astonishing double save to deny Greece an early goal. First he deflected a powerful header from Zisis Vryzas on to the bar and when Vryzas smashed the rebound goalwards, Sanchez parried the ball to safety after it took a wicked deflection off a defender.

Spanish side Valencia have added to their summer arrivals with the signings of Mario Regueiro and David Villa from Racing Santander and Real Zaragoza respectively. They follow Patrick Kluivert, Edu, Juan Luis Mora and coach Quique Flores as the Che's new arrivals. After a horrendous year in which they surrendered their title to Barcelona, the Che are looking to challenge strongly again next season. Ranieri never fitted the bill, and his signings never lived up to expectations...Di Vaio, Corradi....etc...no wonder he got the sack...


Sunderland new boy Tommy Miller

Premiership new boys Sunderland have made Tommy Miller their fifth summer signing. The free signing joins his boyhood team from Ipswich as manager Mick McCarthy looks to build a team capable of challenging in the Premier League. He joins Jon Stead, Nyron Nosworthy, Kelvin Davis and Daryl Murphy as the new faces at the Stadium of Light.

Juan Roman Riquelme for the Uninitiated

Juan Roman Riquelme

For those who are thinking..Who the hell is Juan Roman Riquelme and where did he come from? Let me enlighten you.

Juan Roman Riquelme is part of the current crop of the new generation of Argentinian football. This generation emerged from the successful 1997 World Youth Cup where Argentine claimed the trophy, with Riquelme the playmaker and the brains behind the team.

Born in 1978, he started his career as a young boy playing for Argentinos Juniors, and was so good that both River Plate and Boca Juniors wanted his signature. Being a Boca fan, there was only one club he would sign for, and moved in 1995. During his time with Boca, he won the Argentine Apertura championship twice, the Clausura championship once, the Copa Libertadores twice and the Intercontinental Cup. He was nevertheless dubbed the new Maradona.

The financial crisis in 2002 forced many Argentine clubs to sell the best players and Riquelme was one of them, as he moved to Spanish giants Barcelona for 9 million euros. However, his time at Barcelona was one of disappointment. He failed to shine in his first season. He was loaned to Villareal for the 03/04 season to make way for Ronaldinho and it was there that he started to showcase his silky skills. The Yellow Submarines led by Riquelme took the Primera Liga by storm as they qualified for the Uefa Cup.

Last season 04/05, was probably Riquelme's season. Still on loan from Barcelona, he was the catalyst in the Yellow Submarines amazing season where they qualified for the Champions League after finishing third in the Primera Liga, while reaching the semi finals of the Uefa Cup and his partnership with Diego Forlan allowed the Uruguayan to claim the Golden Boot award.

Roman in action

Needless to say, Riquelme has since been signed permanently by Villareal from Barcelona, and can now call Villareal home. The Argentine's vision and free kicks are his main offensive weapons, and next season will see a new challenge as the Yellow Submarines take on Europe's best.

Absolutely Argentina!

Woke up to watch the Confed Cup this morning...had to channel surf between Supersports plus and Supersports as both games were played simultaneously..managed to catch all the goals...6 in total for both games..but was more interested in the big clash between Argentina and Germany..was not to be disappointed...

Argentina 2 Germany 2
The Germans were looking to end a 13 match, 5 year winless streak against the major football paying nations, while they were looking to achieve their first win over the Argentines since the 1990 World Cup final when Andreas Brehme's penalty gave them the coveted title. With qualification secured, coach Klinsmann decided to rest Ballack, Podolski and several other stars, giving the fringe players a chance to stake their claim. Two foreign born Germans scored for the hosts- Brazilian born Kuranyi with the first and then Ghanian born Asamoah with the second.

The Germans took the lead twice only to be pegged back by the Argentines twice. And the man responsible was Juan Roman Riquelme. Indeed, Riquelme is definitely proving to be the pivotal point of attack for the Argentinians and is to Argentina like Ronaldinho is to Brazil. The Man of the Match scored a superb freekick for his third goal in three games, and then when the chips were down, he grew in influence as his side searched in vain for an equaliser.

I could not contain my excitement when Pekerman decided to throw Pablo Aimar into the fray after going behind 2-1. Imagine, Aimar and Riquelme, two of Argentina's rising playmakers playing alongside each other.....drool......well, the tactic worked as the Argentines grabbed a second through Cambiasso...

This Argentina side looks capable of achieving great things next year...with Riquelme, Aimar, Saviola, Tevez, Figueroa, Lucho Gonzalez, Zanetti, Crespo, Ayala, Coloccini....and many more potentials in the form of D'Alessandro, Maxi Rodriguez...perhaps..just perhaps...

Australia 0 Tunisia 2
In the other game, the Aussies finished bottom of Group A after going down 2-0 to the Africans. A dreadful goalkeeping error by third choice Michael Petkovic allowed Dos Santos to give the Africans the lead in the first half, before the same player profited from slack marking from the Aussies to seal the win for the Tunisians.

Asier Del Horno is officially a Chelsea player after completing his move from Athletic Bilbao. The Spaniard will compete for the left back slot with Wayne Bridge. This appears to be the first of many summer moves for the Premiership champions as they look to strengthen what is already a strong squad....Guti has set his heart on a move to Highbury. The Real Madrid star is apparently tired of his 'eternal substitute' role and is looking for first team opportunities..with Arsenal set to sell Pires to Valencia, Guti may just get his wish..

Latest Edition of World Soccer

July 05 Issue


For all LIVERPOOL fans out there, you might want to get the latest edition of World Soccer Magazine that talks about the Reds victorious night in Istanbul. There is also an interview with Liverpool's captain marvel, Stevie G.

Cote d'Ivoire- Africa's Rising Force

Didier Drogba


Cote d'Ivoire, or Ivory Coast is the new rising force of African Football. Currently leading Group 3 of the CAF World Cup qualifiers, they are on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time in their history. They currently lead Cameroon by two points and both sides will be bracing for the final showdown to see who gets the coveted ticket to Germany next year.

For so long, African football have been representated in the major tournaments by Nigeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia and recently Senegal. Cote d' Ivoire have nearly been there, when in 1994 they only needed a draw against Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup in USA. They went on to lose 4-1.Recently, the missed on the last African Cup of Nations, and the current side are desperate to feature in a major tournament.

Indeed, with the quality of their players, they should be on the World Stage.In Didier Drogba, Aruna Dindane and Bonaventure Kalou, they have perhaps the most feared attacking trio in all Africa right now. Drogba is currently the top scorer with seven goals to his name in the qualifiers

At the back, Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is a rock in defence for the Elephants, while in midfield the Nantes duo of Gilles Yapi Yapo and Emaerse Fae run the show.

With talismanic Frenchman Henri Michel at the helm, the Elephants are poised for greater things!

Koldrup to Everton, Figo to Newcastle?

Latest reports have said that Everton have agreed a 5m fee for Per Koldrup of Udinese, after being put off by the 7m wanted by Manchester City for Sylvin Distin. Koldrup is a Danish international and helped the unfashionable Udinese to a 4th place finish, to a champions league spot. So Koldrup will still be showcasing his skills in the Champions League even if he signs for the Toffees. Go you toffeeS!

The Toffees have also been linked with Toulouse midfielder Achille Emana, a Cameroonian international. Ligue 1 big guns Lyon and Paris Saint Germain were both linked with bids for the midfielder, but failed to follow up their interest, and the way could be clear for David Moyes to push through a deal if he believes the midfielder would add a new dimension to his Goodison Park squad.

Newcastle United are in talks with Portuguese star Luis Figo. Frozen out at Real Madrid, Figo is set to leave the Bernabeu and there are already a long list of clubs queueing up for his signature. However, it is believed that Figo is keen on trying his luck in England and Newcastle are ready to offer him the opportunity. Magpies boss Graeme Souness is keen to bring in high-profile signings after a disappointing campaign last term and it is believed he is in negotiations with Figo.

Newcastle's northeast rivals Middlesbrough look set to clinch their second summer signing, Austrian Emmanuel Pogatetz from Bayer Leverkusen before pre season training commences. Boro have already signed former Pompey hot shot Yakubu Aiyegbeni to add to their list of strikers, but have released Italian flop Massimo Maccarone.

England- Best Team in Europe

Legendary Franz Beckenbauer has openly said that he believes England are currently the best side in Europe and the Three Lions may go all the way and lift the trophy in next year's footballing showcase, the World Cup in Germany. They have the right blend of youth and experience and with most of the side having played in the last world cup, they have the big tournament experience. The Three Lions may just win only their second ever international trophy.

Who begs to differ?

Sunday Football

Today is Monday- body aching..from the two games of soccer yesterday...played in the morning well it was supposed to be in the morning at 10.30am but knowing the games at Braddell-Westlake Secondary School, they usually delay so our game started at 11.30am. Played for Eriksson's team, Sunday FC. Good outing, won 3-0...

The afternoon game, well, it was kind of bad cos we missed most of our regulars, ended up losing 4-0 and my ankle took another knock again...

Confederations Cup- Greece 0 Japan 1
Getting the feeling that the Greeks victory at Euro 2004 was a major FLUKE...perhaps they were lucky or had some bomoh curse the rest of the teams..cos the way they played yesterday, it was AWFUL. Japan, the Asian Champions, totally outplayed them in the middle of the park and could have gone in at the break by at least three goals to the good- Tamada and Messina striker Yanagisawa decided to be selfish and claim personal glory..but good things in the form of young hope Masashi Oguro, who came on as a sub and scored the winning goal...Nakamura and Nakata linked up well, amid reports of a rift between them...man of the match has to be Nakamura

Mexico 1 Brazil 0
Stunning victory for the Mexicans..perhaps Brazil are not that good as compared to the Argentines...The Brazil-Japan game should be a cracker...

Transfer News Updates
Scott Parker has joined Newcastle from Chelsea
Laurent Robert has joined Portsmouth on loan from Newcastle
Jon Stead has left Blackburn and signed for Sunderland
Pompey are close to signing Colombian John Viafara
West Brom in link with Javier Saviola!!!!!!!
Everton look to buy Sylvin Distin from Manchester City

New blood?

Confederations Cup- Argentina 4 Australia 2
Australia needs new blood in defence. This is obvious. Craig Moore, Tony Popovic, Lucas Neill, Kevin Muscat are just not doing the job. While the attacking talent is undeniable, the defensive depth leaves much to be desired. Eight goals in two games, and they are on their way home. They could have gotten a point from Germany after clawing their way back to 2-2, while last night against Argentina, they were simply outplayed. One plus point for the Aussies is that Osasuna striker John Aloisi is taking his chance well, in the absence of Viduka and Kewell, with 4 goals to his name so far, leading the scorers charts at the Confed Cup.

As for Argentina, they have been simply amazing. Juan Roman Riquelme is a class act, the brains of the team. This time round, Luciano Figueroa, formerly of Birmingham City, profited from Riquelme's skills by notching a hat trick.

Duncan Ferguson has signed a new one year deal with the Toffees. Good on him! The most used sub last season, but equally important as he came on to score some crucial goals including the winner against Manchester United! Not the player he was eight years back but nonetheless still an integral part in the Toffees set up.

Latest transfer rumours
Robinho set to open talks with Real Madrid over possible transfer...South Korean star Park Ji Sung is set for Manchester United after agreeing a four year deal with the English giants. Park will cost about 7million...Valencia hope to prise Robert Pires away from Arsenal...AC Milan are hot favourites to claim the signature of Italy golden boy of the moment, Alberto Gilardino....Polish striker Maciej Zurawski set to open talks with Celtic.

Kick Off

Am dedicating this blog to everything and anything soccer..soccer is the most watched game, the most played game in the world...so yeah..A blog for soccer..why not?