Fitting pieces of the puzzle...Jose Bosingwa

In the modern era of football the wing back position has become integral to top teams across the globe. Gone are the days when defenders were told to keep within their half of the field. The high pace of the modern game has coerced teams to utilize defenders on their wings that can push forward from the flanks to service the attack line. Chelsea despites its achievements over the past few years fell short in the RB position. They utilized LB Ferriera and multi dimensional Ghanan Essien at times to fill this void but felt that they needed to add a player that specialized in this area. Their solution was purchase a Portuguese international from the Portuguese club Porto. His name is Jose Bosingwa and he is now one of the most entertaining defenders to watch in Europe.

Boswinga is an awesome talent that has contributed largely to Chelsea's successive start to this season. His style of play has been utilized greatly by Chelsea manager Felipe Scolari. Scolari who was the Portuguese national teams former head coach knew exactly how to take full advantage of Chelsea's summer signing. He used to make use of his talents on the international scene. Scolari being a Brazilian has decided to turn Chelsea into an attacking powerhouse pushing his wing backs forward into opponent's half applying offensive pressure. Boswinga has merged into the team almost immediately and has ran down the wing and executing precision crosses that have made the likes of Anelka and company find the back of the net. When Boswinga is not passing the ball he takes the time to venture just outside or in the box to take shots on goal. This has paid off with him scoring two goals this season already. The Portuguese international also ensures to play his part in defending when oppenents move forward. Jose is defintely a promising star in the Premiership to watch this season.

The Future Before Us...Man Utd's Rafael Da Silva

Yesterday I witnessed one of the most entertaining match ups in the Premiership this season. My beloved Arsenal against their bitter rivals Manchester Utd. During the second half of the match a young player I have been noticing since the preseason, Rafael Da Silva was introduced into the match to rest the aging Man Utd captain Neville. The young man who plays in the right back position immediately impacted the match upon his entry. His great performance was capped with a magnificent goal that created nervous times during a match that for the most part was Arsenal's taking apart of a fighting Manchester Utd squad. This was a big match with world stars on either side of the pitch. A bitter rivalry that made even the most veteran of players clench their teeth, yet this young lad entered the game and took it by the scruff of the neck and urged his team on with his performance and shouts urging his team on. I knew at that moment Sir Alex Ferguson had found a gem, that will probably see captain Gary Neville and veteran player Wes Brown finding themselves in stiff competition for first team position.

Rafael is one of Manchester Utd budding teenage signings who hails from Brazil. The 18 Righback is one half of promising twin Brazilian signings made by Sir Alex Ferguson this year. His twin brother Fabio is also a defender who plys his trade on the opposite wing, but has been able to enter into the first team line up. Rafael and his brother were born and grew up in Rio De Janiero and began to play football at the Brazilian club Fluminese where he eventually signed a professional contract. A scout employed to Manchester Utd witnessed the twins performances during a youth tournament in Hong Kong. He then brought the twins abilities to the attention of the Manchester Utd manager. Sir Alex then signed them during the January transfer window in the 08/07 season. Rafael's performances in the reserve team impressed the manager enough to assign him to duties in the pre-season match ups where he continued to shine.

Rafael made his official debut coming on as a substitute in this season's opener game against NewCastle. Not long after he was offered his first start during the Sept 23 matchup against Middlesborough pushing his way into first place choice against the likes of Gary Neville and Wes Brown. The young RB continued to impress giving his manager no choice but to place him in Champion League group stage matches. The young player showed no signs of adjustment problems to his new league or European environments and his name began to be mentioned as a promising prospect in the football world. His impressive displays came to a paramount with his first senior team goal against Arsenal lastnight that gained his team a goal in a powerful defeat against his rivals.

After last nights performance, even the strongest of critics must have been impressed with the young Brazilian. He is a defender that can also play in midfield. Infact in my opinion I believe if he was placed in the defensive midfield position he would probably give fellow Brazilian Anderson a run for his place. Rafael is a quick player who pushes forward during attacks while being able to return in defense and hit opponents with precision tackles. He is not afraid to commit himself to ending the runs of dangerous attacking players such as the Arsenal squad. Despite being a defender he also plays with the Brazilian flair and at times rivals his Portuguese team mates with his awesome ball control and dribbling skills. When he moves forward he shows an impressive attacking mind, setting up sweet crosses, low passes or taking the iniative and kicking the ball towards goal. His goal against Arsenal showed a player who is gifted with great technique in shooting the ball. The long range effort from the right side was precisely guided in the leftside of the goal box, eluding the Arsenal keeper. Rafael has proven that he belongs in the Man Utd team and should be a player to keep on the radar for years to come.

Breaking the Mold: Wigan's Amr Zaki

The premiership is tough for lower table sides. Teams that are not in the top 4 usually have limited funds and have to depend on shrewd scouting tactics to bring in players under the radar. Recently Wigan, one such team has been slowly building their team with international talent. Manager Steve Bruce in the summer decided to make a bold step to sign a little known Eygtian striker Amr Zaki on a year long loan. He even went as far as making an outrageous statement claiming he now has the best striker in the World. Most persons laughed upon hearing this, but with the season in full swing the laughter has quiet down and the football world are now looking at this player with intrigue. The Eygtian is now the leading scorer in the Premiership managing to have an impressive goal tally of one per game. Pundits are now placing him as a candidate for the golden boot award and his manager now compares him to Englands greatest home grown striker Alan Shearer.

Zaki hails from Egypt and is owned by the Egyptian side Zamalek where he racked up an impressive goal tally of 22 goals in 56 appearances. His appearances in the African Nations Cup gained the attraction of clubs in Europe which eventually led to his loan deal with Wigan. The 25 yr old is 6ft 1 with broad shoulders and a well built physique that has proven to be a challenge to defenders. He seems to love using his physical power to overpower defenders, opening up space for shots. His eye for goal is second to none. During his six appearances he has made shots on target in and outside the box, making his opponents wary of his presence in their half. Zaki is definitely a player to watch in this season, as he provides entertainment with his amazing goals and moves on the ball.

Guardians of the Empire: Twin Towers Rio Ferdinand and Vidic

It takes a team to win the premiership and the Champions League. Many persons may think of Cristiano Ronaldo's brilliant exhibition of attacking skill for the success of Manchester United last season. However Ronaldo's goals would have come to nothing if Manchester Utd did not have a effective defense which was anchored by the partnerships of central backs Ferdinand and Vidic. The duo made their keepers job much easier allowing the least of amount of goals last season. Their professionalism on the pitch allowed the attacking line to move forward with confidence. Alex Ferguson has put his faith in a once fun loving, high life style Brit and a determined indestructable Serb.

Ferdinand 29 is the more senior of the duo and joined Manchester Utd in 2002. He is a product of West Ham's famous youth academy and attracted Manchester Utd after a spell at the once great Leeds United. Manchester Utd broke the record books signing the young Brit from Leeds. It then took some seasons before he began to mature to his full potential. He was known to have lapses in concentration and led a colourful life off the pitch. During this time there was tonnes of controversy about his life style and commitment to the club. It was not until the 06-07 season when Ferdinand was partnered with younger Serb Nemanja that he began to settle into becoming a true top class defender. Ferdinand began to use his experience and football intelligence to anticipate opposing attackers movements and take control of the ball. His height and built also allowed him to rise above strikers during aerial threats. He has mastered the art of defending and makes the task seem rudimentory. He also showed his attacking skills during set plays and counter attacks, occasionally heading a goal to help his team gain precious points.

Vidic 26 compliments Ferdinand in the defense line. He spent his early career in Eastern Europe and Russia. Manchester Utd bought him from the Russian team Spartak Moscow during the January transfer window of 066. While Ferdinand is graceful in taking the ball away from opponents, Vidic brings fear into the hearts by going all out in his tackles. He is not afraid to use all 6 ft 2 of his muscular frame to end attacks. He throws himself at ball and player with one intention only, stopping any attacking buildup. He even has scars and missing teeth to show for his battles. The Serb also likes to participate in set plays, ending up with the occasional goal from a well placed header or shot.

Last season the partnership was responsible for Manchester United impressive display of keeping out goals as well as bringing in both the English Premiership title and the Champions League trophy. They only conceded 22 goals in the Premiership and managed to silence the attacking powers of world class players like Lionel Messi during the knock out stages of the Champions League. This season Old Trafford faithful will be looking towards this partnership to defend their premiership and Champions League titles to ensure more silverware.

Its My Time To Shine: Theo Walcott ends all speculation with 3 goals

In one of my first entries I did a short article forecasting Walcott's future. I mentioned that England and Arsenal's future rested in this young man's hands, or should I say mind and feet. I mentioned that I expected young Theo to eventually take up the mantle and put his team on his back. In less than six months my predictions have come true. English manager Fabio Capello placed confidence in the 19 yr old forward during a time when the English public were uncertain of their chances of qualifying for World Cup 2010.

Walcott was first given a chance in the first qualifier against Andorra. His pace outmatched the inexperienced Andorran defenders, but he failed to apply the final touches and at times lost control of the ball during his runs. Once again the public cried foul and felt that the young man could not handle the responsibility granted to him. Many felt that Joe Cole, who came off the bench to score 2-0 in the match should have been granted a start over the lad. Capello in his usual manner ignored his critics and once more placed the young striker, turn midfielder on his right wing, for the anticipated rematch against Croatia.

The result was breathtaking for those who witnessed. English critics in a matter of 90 minutes suddenly lost their scepticism of Capello and Walcott, and began to praise the Arsenal forward in joy. Walcott rewarded his manager with controled runs on the wing as well as icing the cake with three brilliant goals, that led England to beat their bitter rivals 4-1. Walcott scored his first international goals, all three making him the youngest Englishman to score a hat trick internationally. His hat trick was the first in a qualifier since Michael Owen managed the feat some years ago.

Walcotts goals showed a man that was determined and in control throughout the game. The first came from a defenders deflection that landed the ball in his path, which he then angled a low diagonal shot that beat the Croatian goal keeper. He then hit a similar shot that gave him his second, and then closed his display with a beautiful individual performance after recieving the ball from his team mate Wayne Rooney. Walcott is gradually developing into the player Arsene Wenger has predicted he will come. This Saturday the World will be looking at Theo to see if he will bring his present international form to the club level in Arsenal's match up against Blackburn.

Diamond in the Rough: Angolan star, Man Utds takes Saha's place

It seems today in the light of the success of Adebayor and Torres, there is a fad for English teams to add a tall powerful striker to their squad. Tottenham has added a Russian, Man City a Brazilian and now the defending champions have added Manucho from Angola to their roster. Manucho may not be well recognized yet, but anyone who witnessed his goals during last yrs African Nations Cup will tell you this man has a great chance of blazing the premiereship with a tally of goals.

Manucho spent most his developing years in Luanda at a small club Flamenguinos under the tutelage of his father, who was also his coach. During this time he was opted for the wing midfield position. From there he moved on to professional football in Angola first joining Benfica De Luanda before moving on to Petro Athletico were he spent 6 yrs making 78 appearances scoring 34 goals. His performances soon earned him a trial at Old Trafford, where he impressed Sir Alex, who decided to sign him to the club. He officially became a Manchester Utd player at the end of 07 and was then loaned out to Greek side Panathinaikos for the rest of the season. He was not able to play in the premiereship due to difficulties acquiring a work permit. Manuche appeared 7 times for the Greek side and scored 4 goals. Manucho has now been granted a permit and has now rejoined his team mates at Old Trafford.

Manucho will give Ferguson pain when choosing his striking options. The 25yr old Angolan is tall (6 ft,2) with great muscle structure, with a great eye for the goal. He has been successful in scoring amazing goals with both his feet and head. I was amazed at his long range screamer against Eygpt and a rocket header he executed during his loan time period with Greek giants Panathinaikos. He will bring strength and physical presence that is lacking in Manchester's striker position. His aerial ability will be a plus, he will be able to out jump defenders to the ball to ensure the ball ends in the back of the net. Defenders will also be wary of his shooting abilities, since he is quite capable of shooting from a distance or in the box. I expect Manucho to have an impressive start to his English career.

Scolari for Vendetta: Chelsea's Revenge

Stamford Bridge was left with a bitter taste in their mouths three times last season. Chelsea FC managed to fall short in the Premiereship, Carling Cup and Champions League. For each competition they had to settle for runners up medals. To add injury to insult they were nice denied their glory by their arch rivals Manchester United. First in the Premiership and soon afterwards on a rainy night in Moscow during the Champions League Finals. That night the English season came to a close and so did Chelsea's manager Avram Grants helm. Captain John Terry had his destiny at his feet and threw it away with a slip at the penalty line that secured victory for the Red Devils. The Chelsea board decided then that drastic changes would have to be made to bring the club back to its success period during Mourinho's regime. Soon after the final Chelsea FC parted ways with Grant and began to look for a suitable successor to take over his position. During that period Euro 08 was being played and rumours spread that two integral members of the team were making preparations to leave the club. A Portuguese defensive winger Boswinga was also signed before joined his team mates in the Euro's. It would soon turn out the winger was not the only Portuguese link that would arrive at the club. In the middle of the Euro's Chelsea released news the the manager of Portugal Felipe Scolari would be their next manager.

Not long after this news Chelsea signed another Portuguese international, Brazilian born Deco. Rumours also spread that Deco would be joined by his former rival team Real Madrid's Robinho. There was a promise that Chelsea would becoming a more entertaining team that would play attacking football similar to the performances the team played at the end of Grants regime. It was exciting times at the Bridge. With Scolari came a calibre and respect that Grant failed to earn from his players. A manager who has a resume that is pages long, that also has World Cup winning Brazilian manager to go a long with it. The only cup that is more coveted than a Champions League trophy is the World Cup, few have the honour to claim that they have won it. The effect of the news immediately changed the atmosphere in the club. Lampard and Drogba, two players who were rumoured to leave quickly rubbished rumours. Lampard went one step further and held negotiations on his time with the club, which eventually lead to a long term extention that could see him ending his career at the club. In the pre-season Scolari exhibited the new Chelsea team during tours in Asia. The team put on impressive displays, including a 5-0 destruction of AC Milan. Chelsea fans bit their nails in anticipation for the official start to the new BPL season.

Chelsea's opening against Portsmouth was not a disappointment. Portsmouth was last season's FA Cup winners and a team known for their defensive capabilities. The Pompey team was not prepared for the attacking onslaught Scolari's team presented at the Stamford Bridge and conceded a goal before the 30 minute mark. New player Deco took on his play making role to the fullest and serviced the attack line with splendid passes and movement. Scolari also gave more freedom to his defensive wing backs which saw Boswinga and Cole to run forward and provide crosses. It was not long before Pompey saw themselves down 3-0. Deco then placed the nail on the coffin with a long range curling ball that left England's number one keeper David James flat footed. The alarms sounded all over the world that Chelsea meant business. Pompeys manager Harry Redknapp was flabbergasted by the performance and explained that the calibre present was to great for his team to respond effectively. The next game Deco continued to impress as he scored an impressive freekick away at Wigan. Chelsea then shared a point with Tottenham in a heated London Derby.It is still early, but so far Scolari has provided Chelsea with the right elements to be a leading contender domestically and in Europe. The he provides respect, Chelsea now has a manager that the players respect. Marquee players who make millions of dollars a season need to be lead by someone who has achieved and has a past of success. Scolari's predessor lacked this and it was evident that his players had little faith in his leadership. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea under Scolari can manage to once more become domestic champions and clutch the coveted Champions League trophy.

The Future Before Us...Francis Coquelin

This summer three Frenchmen became we added to the Arsenal squad. Most people only know about two, but one came in under the radar and looks set to take the premiership by storm in the upcoming seasons. Coquelin was taken on trial during the start of the summer and impressed Arsenal's coaching staff, which eventually brought him to the attention of Wenger who quickly signed him. He was signed even after his trial came to a premature end due to an injury. Arsenal was so impressed in the young man they decided to contribute to his academy (FC Laval, lower division in France) despite Coquelin being a free transfer.

17 yr old Francis Coquelin could be the answer to Arsenals defensive midfield void in the near future. He is a tenacious defensive midfielder that destroys attacks with his precise tackles. He is also comfortable going forward sending passes to forwards and taking shots on goal. During the preseason matches he showed confidence and determination. He was highly rated in the matches he participated in. It was not long before pundits and Arsenal fans began to know his name. Coquelin already looks the part. His phyisque reminds me of Flamini and he is already being referred to as a "young Makalele. A slight injury during the preseason may have been the only reason why he did not join his fellow reserves mate Wilshere in a first team jersey. He is currently a part of Arsenal's reserve team and could play a significant role in this years Carling Cup.

The "Young Don" Ashley Young

This season I am predicting that a 23 yr old midfielder will take the premiereship by storm and he will not be from Portugal. Instead he will hail from jolly old England and go by the name of Ashley Young. The end of last season saw Young make a transition from a quick paced left wing midfielder with an affinity for dribbles and stepovers down the sidelines to a ghosting attacking forward that supplied his fellow forwards with awe inspiring crosses and took deadly shots on goal. As he grown into his new role more goals came in for Aston Villa and they continued in this pre-seasons Inter Toto Cup where Young performed an impressive run into the box before hitting the ball into the back of the net with a mesmerising shot. The talented midfielder will be the key figure in setting up Aston Villa's attack in the upcoming season that sees them competing in the UEFA Cup.

Research on Young has informed me that he is of Jamaican descent, and I am sad that he decided to play for the English senior team. With that being said Young hails from Stevenage England and is the product of Watford Football Club where he spent 7 yrs. He was originally a member of the Academy but was released due to a lack of performance and worked his way back in favour with the club. During his time in Watford he made 98 appearances in the Senior team and scored 19 times. This included a goal on his debut as a substitute. During his time at the club he began to develop into a midfielder that created assists. In 2005/06 season he a substantial role in Watford's promotion to the Premiereship. That season he scored 15 goals in 40 appearances. This display attracted attention from clubs in the Premiereship. Watford rejected a number of offers from other clubs during this period. In January of 07 they finally gave up and sold him to Aston Villa for an estimated 9 million pd. He then made his presence felt at the club by scoring on his debut against New Castle.

It was not until his first full season that manager Martin O'Neill began to see Young's true potential. Last season he provided 17 assists and 8 goals. Most of his goals came at the end of the season when O,Neill gave him the freedom to move around the attacking space. He then transformed into player similar to Cristiano Ronaldo creating a "grey" area between midfield and forward. He seems to have grown into this role and is embracing it full heartedly. This should provide Villa with increased attacking options. During the first part of the season his game was quite predictable, despite difficult to contain. He would move along the left wing beating defenders with his pace and ball control and then crossing the ball into the box. This changed in the latter part of the season. Instead of staying on the left he began to move all about creating openings. He also started to take more shots on goal. Young also is also effective in dead ball situations. He has provided precise free kicks directly at goal or supplied into the box and also takes most left side corners for Villa. As a result of his relentless work Young was voted into the 07/08 team of the year. I believe that this year should see even more improvement of this promising young talent.

The New Season is upon us....EPL 08/09 Preview prt 1

The new season is finally within grasp, and fans all over the world will now turn their attention to confronting their rivals about who will be the champions this season. Last season I witnessed probably the most exciting season ever in top flight English Football as top teams Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United battled each other valiantly while covet top prize in England and Europe, while promising teams such as Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Manchester City tried to push their way into the top of the table. In the end Manchester United proved to be victors capturing both the BPL title and the Champions League under the stewardship of their prolific manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his brilliant midfield master Cristiano Ronaldo. If that was not enough, this summer saw a large movement of world stars coming into the Premiereship with rumours of more on the their way. I expect this season to be the most exciting, as the English game continues to evolve everytime players enter the pitch. I shall now give a little review of what could be expected in the following season.

First of we shall start with the Champions Manchester United. Manchester United had quite a summer break. United's most valuable player decided to disturb his clubs intentions of retaining their titles by publically mentioning that he would accomodate a transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid. After months of speculation the midfielder finally agreed to stay with the club for at least on more season. This should be good news for his manager, however Ronaldo is expected to miss the first two to three months of the season due to recovery from surgery performed on his ankle. Since Ronaldo was the club's leading scorer last season, the team will now have to find a solution. The obvious option seems to be striker Tevez, who was the second highest goal scorer for the club. Young winger Nani will also see himself with more starting time and will also have to provide goals. In regards to defense Manchester United should be in top form with their outstanding partnership duo Ferdinand and Vidic, as well as the welcoming return of veterans, captain Gary Neville and Silvestre.

It would be expected than Manchester United would continue to hold their place in the top 3 throughout the season. The club has managed to retian its players thus providing stability.One problem may however hinder the champions. They will have to start the season without a number of their proven goal scorers since Ronaldo is injured, Rooney has been diagnosed with a virus and Nani out on suspension. Tenacious midfielder Anderson is also away on Olympic duty, so Sir Alex will have to resort to experienced fringe players or unproven youth to fill this void. There are also rumours that Tottenham marksman Berbatov could be moving to Old Trafford, however it would seem that Man Utd are now concerned with acquiring the full ownership to Tevez and this may reduce their spending intentions. Players to watch this season are Tevez, Rooney, Nani, Ferdinand and Vidic. Will Tevez continue to develop into Manchester United's main attacking option? Will Rooney begin to live up to his full potential?Will Nani become more disciplined and develop into a top player like Ronaldo and will Ferdinand/Vidic continue to destroy incoming attacks with their partnerships.

Next we focus on runners up to the BPL and CL Chelsea. Alot has happened in the summer for Chelsea. The end of last season saw the club firing manager Avram Grant and then placing World Cup winner and former manager of Portugal Pelipe Scolari. Chelsea also signed CL Champion, Deco from Barcalona and defensive wing player Bosingwa. The team also has so far managed to fight off attempts of other teams luring their stars Lampard and Drogba away from the team and are presently looking to add Brazilian forward Robinho to their line up. It seems that finally there are exciting times at the bridge. The team has grown a reputation of playing lacklustre football and this could change with Scolari at the helm. Scolari's teams in the past have been known for their flair and entertainment. Scolari also brings confidence and sustainability to the players on the team. He has already proven that he can manage teams to success and is respected by players all around the world. This was something his predecessor could not achieve since he was simply a "rookie" asked to lead veterans. Scolari now has the painful decision of choosing a starting squad out of Chelsea's many options.

The inception of Portuguese attack minded players and perhaps a Brazilian could be just the type of football Chelsea own Abromvich hopes to see this season. The future looks pretty bright for the Blues since the team has a mixture of youth and experience that should keep them as major contenders during the season. Good news in the preseason has come with the re-emergence of Anelka's goal scoring. Scolari now has the option of two proven goal scorers and may be able to bring back Shevchenko his glory. Wright Phillips may also finally see some much needed time on the pitch, since he is a player that has pace and should suit Scolari's style of play. Essien may also find himself more up the pitch than before, probably increasing his goal tally. A number of the players are Portuguese and this should make transitions of strategies easier for the manager. Players to watch are Drogba, Anelka, Wright Phillips, Ballack and Lampard. Since Scolari has positioned Anelka into his more suited central role, it how much goals will the partnership between him and Ivorian Drogba produce? Will Wright Phillips finally have a regular starting berth and provide the attack line with high paced runs and shots on goal? How will Scolari utilize these two midfield veterans to the best of his advantage.

In third place we have Arsenal helmed by French manager Arsene Wenger. This summer Arsenal saw a number of players leave the club while new faces entered. Gone are goal keeper Lehmann, attacking wizard Hleb and defensive midfielders Gilberto and Flamini. In their place Wenger has decided to sign French midfielder Samir Nasri, Welsh international Aaron Ramsey and French Portoguese Bischoff. Wenger also recalled Mexican prodigy Carlos Vela from long term loan duties in Spain. Wenger also decided to promote reserve players such as promising Jack Wilshere and Gavin Hoyte to the first team. With this lineup Arsenal should continue to remain in the top 3rd throughout the season. Arsenal despite its young age have six experienced players in their starting lineup (Toure, Gallas, Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Senderos and Clichy). These players along with an impressive line up of mid experience and youth talent should continue to provide Arsenal with impressive ball control that the team is reknowned for. The club has increased in depth during the summer and should be able to bolster injury scares along the season. With the likes of Togo International Adebayor, Dutch forward Robin Van Persie, defenders Sagna, Clichy and Troare all committing to long terms to the club the future is very bright. This season should open with a fit attacking partnership of goal scoring phenomenons Adebayor and Van Persie up front, with mesmerising pace provided down the wing by young Englishman Theo Walcott.

The new players that have arrived are mostly midfield players. It seems that the manager realized that last season injuries to a number of his midfielders were one of the main reasons the team began to drop precious points. With the inception of Nasri, Ramsey and Bischoff he now has a number of options in this department. He is also expecting the contribution of once fringe players Diaby and Denilson to play a more extensive role in the upcoming season. The arrival of Carlos Vela is also great news. The young Mexican has grown a reputation to cause havoc on defenses in Spain and can play either on the wing or upfront. So far in the pre-season he has shown huge potential playing as a striker and has scored a number of impressive goals. Samir Nasir and Ramsey respectively have also exihibited impressive pre-season displays, the former fitting in with the team almost seamingly taking Hleb's vacant position and taking shots on goal. Players to watch Diaby/Denilson, Gallas, Adebayor, Nasri and Walcott. Will Diaby or Denilson fill the void left in defensive midfield by Flamini? Will Gallas lead the young players in a manner that will see them champions at the end of the season. Will Ade continue to develop into a goal scoring monster feared by defenses? Will Nasri adopt to the English game as fluently as his countryman Sagna? Will Walcott take on the responsibility of wearing Henry's number and bloom into the player Wenger destines him to be?

Dreaming of a new era..Tottenham under Ramos

The new English Premiere League season is upon us and with it comes hopes and expectations of clubs that fall below the top 4. This year one particular club from London aims to break through the ceiling and become a true contender for English domination. This club is Tottenham Hotspur under the tutelage of Spanish manager, Juande Ramos. Ramos has created quite a reputation of winning silverware from his days in Spain in charge of Sevilla FC. There Ramos took his team to the UEFA Cup in his first season in charge and then managed to retain the title the following season. He also managed to lead Sevilla to a 3rd place position in the La Liga and win the Copa Del Rey against Getafe. His achievements attracted Tottenham after they parted ways with their former manager Martin Jol after a disappointing start to the 07/08 season.

Ramos made his way to England in October to take over Tottenham and made drastic changes that lead the team to win the Carling Cup. Ramos however made it clear that he was not impressed with the lineup he inherited and informed his board that he intended to overhaul the existing team in the summer transfer window. Ramos kept his word and this summer a number of players exited the club, while Ramos signed new players from around the globe. With the transfer window not quite closed Ramos still seems to be skillfully weaving his way bringing in players into the club. Over the past two months Tottenham has seen new faces such as Croatian playmaker Modric, Mexican prodigy Dos Santos, Brazilian goal stopper Gomez and heir to David Beckhams English role David Bentley. Ramos also gave a number of Tottenham players the exit, such as marksman Robbie Keane, defender Chimbonda and goal keeper Robinson. Existing players were also given more responsibilities, such as striker Darren Bent, defender Gareth Bale and midfield duo Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas. If the preseason is anything to judge future performances for the Spurs, then it could be said that Ramos has improved the squad with his transfer strategies. Tottenham has had an impressive pre-season so far with new and old players contributing to a number of goals against Championship teams and German opposition.

It seems Ramos has done alot of good in the summer. He has weeded out all the sub par players in the current roster and has replaced them with potential and quality. At the same time he has put his faith in existing members of the squad. The best example of his faith in an existing player, is English forward Darren Bent. Bent was signed by former manager Martin Jol for over 9 million pds and failed to impress with the Spurs. His signing became the laughing stock of media jokes and many felt that Bent would have been one of the first players Ramos would have given a pink slip. Instead of giving Bent the exit, Ramos has allowed starting striker Robbie Keane to leave the club, and has given Bent his place. This move may have been coerced since it is alleged that Liverpool and Keane partnered in forcing Tottenham into the transfer. However this does not stop Ramos from finding a suitable replacement outside the current squad since he has has been granted the necessary funds to revamp the team. Bent has rewarded his managers faith in him with an impressive preseason display where he has scored 4 goals in one match against Championship side Norwich and has scored consecutively in over 4 games. If he continues to perform at this level when the season starts, Keane will not be missed.

The arrival of the Mexican teenager Giovanni Dos Santos also seems to be a positive one. Gio is a product of Barcalona's prolific youth academy and was hailed as the heir to Ronaldinho in Spain. Last year he saw himself playing a more substantial role in Barcalona's first team due to injuries to key players. It was believed that this season he would have galvanized his position in Barca's first team. The football world was shocked to hear that the young Mexican decided to move to England and sign with the Spurs. Giovanni's signing allows Ramos to have a number of options in the attacking area. Gio's versatility allows his manager to utilize him either as a striker or an attacking midfielder. He is a proven playmaker that is able to distribute the ball to the striker or position himself for a shot on goal. Ramos already has a number of playmakers in his squad such as Modric, Jenas and new signing Bentley, so Giovanni could see himself in striker role, or supporting striker role. Dos Santos should provide to be a handful to defenders in any position he is placed on the pitch.

This season movement up the pitch and servicing should not be a problem for Tottenham. Ramos has signed and retained a number of talented midfielders. The two new players brought in are Luka Modric and David Bentley. Modric was Ramos first summer signing and he could soon turn out to be the steal of the transfer window, with a going price of just 10 million pds. Juande was shrewd enough to capture the budding midfielder before his appearance in the Euro 08 competition, which would have certainly increased his transfer fee. Modric brings potential and youth to the club. The young Croatian has earned a reputation of his smooth control in midfield. If he is able to adjust to the English game he should be able to regulate the tempo of the Spurs attack. The next midfield purshase Ramos made has already proven that he has the ability to perform in the EPL. This player is David Bentley and he should provide the Spurs with precision long passing and top quality free kicks. Last season while playing for Blackburn Rovers, Bentley was among those that topped the league in assists and gave David Beckham a fight to retain his starting position on the English squad.

Jenas and Lennon are the two promising young midfielders retained by Ramos. Both players are in their early 20's Jenas plays in the center of the pitch and is tall, strong and has the ability to move forward and score goals. Jenas has also improved under Ramos tutelage which has found him being called up for the English senior squad. Aaron is a midfielder that plies his trade on the wing. He is short and quick and is able to bring the ball quickly up the pitch to service the strikers. These two along with retained midfielder Huddlestone should be able to make positive contributions to the side.

It seems that where Ramos falls short is in defense. Ramos has not signed any new defenders so far. His main signing in the defensive part of the pitch has been Brazilian goal keeper Gomez. Ramos felt that the goal keeper he inherited from Jol, Paul Robinson was not effective and sent him off to Blackburn Rovers. His solution is former PSV goalkeeper Heurelho Gomez who is expected to keep the ball from entering the back of the net. Other than the goal keeper he has decided to keep his present defenders. This could be the achilles heel for Tottenham. Last season the team conceded a large number of goals. Ramos main central defenders King and Woodgate, while extremely effective are prone to injuries throughout their careers and spend most their time off the pitch. The positive in defense is the return of the young Gareth Bale, who missed out most of last season due to injuries. The young defender has grown a reputation of going up the pitch on the wing and scoring impressive free kicks. It should be interesting to see if Ramos can achieve to recreate the success he brought to Sevilla with this promising lineup.

The Future Before Us...Jack Wilshere

Ironically the future of English Football lies in Arsenal. His name is Jack Wilshere and guess what? He is only 16 yrs old. This promising midfielder was so impressive in the gunners preseason games that Wenger has awarded him with a first team position. The professor was so impressed with the young English man he has decided to give the "kid" the number 19 jersey to own. This number was presently vacated by the legendary midfielder Gilberto Silva. Jack is a product of Arsenal's youth academy. He joined the Academy in 2001 at the age of 9 and continued up the ranks continuing to impress. This season Arsene decided to put him on trial in the preseason as he looked for more options for his first team line up, the rest is history.

Wilshere is a midfielder that can play on both wings or in the center. Currently Wenger has placed him on the wing. He has high football intelligence, good strength, pace and dribbling skills. He seems to display the presence of a veteran despite only just entering the first team squad. One feels a sense of anticipation everytime he touches the ball. He has scored three goals in the pre-season including a brilliant control and shot on German powerhouse Stuttgart against Arsenal's legendary goal keeper Lehmann. Jack also showed his more physical gerth against veteran players Nedved and Salgado, showing the world that he will not stand to be placed in to the "light weight" category. I am looking forward to seeing this young man development in the following weeks under the close tutelage of Arsene Wenger.

The Stone The Builder Refuses: Crouch signs with Portsmouth to create partnership with Defoe

The summer transfer window has finally gotten into full swing. Weeks of media hyped speculation and rumours have all of a sudden been replaced with factual evidence of players moving to new clubs. Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has decided to return to his old team Portsmouth to help form a goal scoring partnership with Jermaine Defoe. This partnership is an interesting one because both players have one major thing in common. They both have no problem finding the net, but remained overlooked by their former clubs and were both forced to sit unhappily on the bench. There move to Portsmouth has granted them the opportunity to literally shove goals into their former clubs faces and become regular placements in Capello's English squad. The two players already have an history of playing well together. According to statistics provided by Sky Sports, they haved appeared together 7 times and have netted 10 goals. Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and England manager Fabio Capello will be hoping that these two can continue develop their partnership infront of goal so they can be utilized for both their club and country.

Physically the two could hardly be any different. Defoe a short player just reaching 5ft 7 inches while Crouch towers at 6ft 7 inches. Both players have a knack for using their feet to score amazing goals. Crouch despite his height however is not known for his aerial capabilities, while Jermaine has scored a few goals using his head. Defoe moved to Portsmouth on a loan turned permanent deal from Tottenham during last season's January transfer window and Portsmouth soon began to see returns for their investment. He made just 11 appearances and scored 7 goals. He score in almost all his first games for the team. Redknapp his hoping that Crouch have a similar start to his return to Portsmouth. The last time he donned the Portsmouth blue and gold he made 37 appearances and scored 18 goals. At that time Portsmouth did not have the calibre of players in its roster that it has now. With midfield service from players like Diarra and Kranjcar we can expect him to surpass his old goal scoring tally. This partnership should be very interesting to watch come next season and beyond.

Finally Samir Nasri becomes a Gunner

Young French Algerian prodigy Samir Nasri has finally completed one of the most anticipated transfer deals this summer. Earlier today Arsenal FC presented pictures and news of the midfielder becoming Arsenal's second signing for the summer. Fans waited anxiously, visiting the club's website for news of the transfer conclusion. I am more than elated to see Nasri finally wearing the red and white jersey. I was watching a International game, and noticed Nasri coming off the bench. It only took me a matter of minutes to come to the conclusion that his game suited Arsenal perfectly. I felt that his passing and quick pace would attract Wenger and dreamed that he would be signed. It was a great surprise to know that Arsene and I were on the same page. Nasri brings to the club great promise in regards to midfield service and attacks at goal. He is a versatile midfielder, that is able to play on either wing or set in central midfield. His attributes are his amazing dribbling skills and precise passing. He is also not afraid to take shots at goal. He is expected to replace an outgoing Alexandre Hleb and may see himself in a supporting striker role, that was once held by Hleb. He could also be utilized on the left wing freeing up Rosicky to take up his favoured central midfield role, alternating with Fabregas.

Nasri's started his football career as a youth player at the French club Olympique Marsielle after he was scouted at a small club his parents allowed him to join. He became apart of Marsielle at the young age of 9 and joined the senior squad in 2004. During his time in the senior squad he made 121 appearances and scored 11 goals. Despite his lack of goal scoring for the club his passes contributed to the success of the club and enplacement in European competition. In 2007 he won the French Lique One Young Player of the year award. Nasri has also been selected for both the French youth and senior teams. The French manager selected him as a substitute for his Euro 08 squad. Nasri has made 12 appearances for the senior squad and has scored twice. Nasri's decision to join Arsenal should present the frenchman with a great opportunity to develop his game with a manager who is known to bring the best out of young talent. His experiences in the Premiereship should also provide positive growth. I am happy that he has decided to join Arsenal and look forward to his contribution.

Euro 08 Beholds A Russian Czar....Andrei Arshavin

I picked the Netherlands as the winners of this summers competition long before their amazing display in the opening group stages. I also felt that they would continue to entertain and dismantle teams as they moved towards the finals. So today when I sat down to watch the match I felt, yes Russia is a sleeper team, but Holland should be able to come out with a positive result. My predictions turned out to be wrong as Russia from the start pushed Holland into a defensive stance with their attacks and eventually stifled masterful midfield players such as Van Deer Vaart and Wesley Sneidger. I also saw an impressive display of a Russian player who wore the number 10 on his jersey. This player had something to do with almost every counter attack the Russians executed. I soon realized he was the player I read that impressed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger so much that he contacted the players club manager about a possible transfer to the Emirates. This player is 27 yr old Andrei Arshavin and he so far is the new found gem and star of Euro 08. Today the World, myself included now know who this player is and I believe that if he does end up in the Premiereship or another top league next season, we could be looking at a future World Player of the year. All one has to do is watch a repeat of the Russia Vs Holland match and look at highlights of his performances for his club to agree with my opinion.

Arshavin to me is a real attacking player. He is multi-dimensional and can play on the wing or upfront. Currently he plays a supporting striker role, a position that Arsenal utilizes Hleb in. What is impressive about this player is he is the whole package. Arshavin is short but stocky and he has great dribbling skills. He is able to use them along with his balance to move around defenders. He also is very intelligent, he chooses his passes or shots on goal depending on the situation. He has an array of shots at his arsenal, he is able to be a poacher in the box as well as a master at long range shots. He is also an effective free kick taker and has scored goals using his head. Arshavin expresses confidence in his play, he is not afraid to take on defenders and even the goal keeper. A number of his goals came from audacious attempts of chipping the ball over the keepers head, kicking the ball out of the keepers hand and even lurking behind the goal and pouncing on an unexpected keeper dropping the ball to kick it. Some of his moves have the flair of household names such as Ronaldo, Henry, Messi and Ronaldinho. He seems to be a player that has the mindset of Henry, one that knows his ability to score and scores but still wants to incorporate his team mates into the play by distributing beautiful passes into the box.

Arshavin currently plays in Russia for Zenit St. Petersburg where he has scored 47 goals in 217 appearances. Last season he started in all 30 matches in the season, scoring 10 goals and distributiing 11 assists while guiding his team to their first league title. It seems that he has decided to use the Euro's as a stage to gain the attention of top flight clubs in Europe. Reports mention that he has expressed a desire to move to a top flight club in England, Arsenal or Chelsea being his favoured choice. He also plays an integral role in the Russian national team. He has made 36 appearances and has scored 13 goals. He was suspended during Russia's first two opening matches in Euro 08 and his presence was deeply missed as Russia was totally dismantled by Spain. His return to the team saw the team winning a place in the knock out stage of the competition. Today the took their success one step further by knocking out Holland to earn a semi final spot and a chance to win the competition. Arshavin has scored two goals in the competition already and has played an integral role in the setting up of the other goals. His relentless movement and precise passing have left defenders and goal keepers alike in awe as the ball passed through the goal. I am really hoping this player becomes an Arsenal member and graces the premiereship with his awe inspiring skills.

Mexico's future rest in the Premiereship

The mexican team has seen an emergance of promising talents in the form of Giovanni Dos Santos, Carlos Vela and Nery Castillo. These attacking prodigys attracted English clubs looking to bolster their offense. Castillo was the first to touch the shores of England when joined Manchester City on a loan spell in January. He however failed to impress due to unfortunate injuries. Carlos Vela was signed to Arsenal for a couple of seasons now but was forced to go on loan spells in Spain in order to to fullfill his requirements to get a work permit. He has now been granted a work permit and will join Arsenal next month for preseason training. Last but not least is Dos Santos the Barcalona youth midfielder that was projected to eventually be Ronaldinho's heir at the Spanish club. He grew tired of limited playing time and decided to move on to Tottenham. These young players once they settle should entertain fans with beautiful attacking performances.

The question now is what can you expect from these three young players. Castillo 24, is an attacking minded player that can play on both wings as well as upfront. I have a feeling that Manchester City new manager Mark Hughes might play him upfront, utilizing his pace to unsettle defenders and score or contribute goals with his partner. Nery started his European career at the Greek team Olympiacos and scored 30 goals in 105. He then was bought by Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk made only six appearances with them before he was loaned to Manchester City. It was reported that Castillo was so uncomfortable at Shakhtar he decided to finance his own transfer fee for the loan to go through. Despite his clubs determination not to sell him, I cannot see him returning back to Eastern Europe. Castillo appeared for the Mexico team 15 times prior to his injury and managed to score 5 goals. As soon as he shakes his injury he will most likely be implemented in Mexico's upcoming World Cup qualifiers since ex Manchester City manager Sven Eriksson is now Mexico's national team manager.

The next impressive Mexican player is Carlos Vela. Vela 19 is also a multi dimensional attacker. He can play on both wings as well as upfront. He played in the midfield for Osasuna last season on loan and recently he was applied upfront in a forward position for Mexico. Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger hinted that he felt that he was more suited as a forward in the Arsenal line up. If this is the case, I expect Vela to provide depth Arsenal's lineup probably to the sacrifice of Bendtner. Vela is a skillful player that enjoys using his pace and dribbling skills to force defenders into making fatal mistakes which then opens a chance for a shot or pass towards goal. His most popular performance was against Real Madrid where he wrecked havoc on defenders forcing them to resort into fouling him as a means of consoling him. Vela should be able to fit into the entertaining passing game Arsenal is reknowned for. Vela has made a number of appearances for the senior Mexican team and has scored 5 goals in less than 10 appearances.

The final member of the young Mexicans to join an English club is 19 yr old Giovanni Dos Santos. Giovanni is an attacking midfielder that can also serve out his fair share of tackles on the defensive side. Like his two national team mates he can also be implemented in on either wing or upfront. Giovanni is the son of Brazilian footballer Zizinho and joined Barcalona as a teenager before graduating to the first team last season. Last season he made 38 appearances for Barcalona due to injuries in the first team. He managed to score 4 goals and 4 assists. Three of his goals came from a splendid end of season hat trick appearance against Real Murcia. Dos Santos uses his pass and his passing skills to contribute to attacking movements. Out of the three Dos Santos relies less on tricks to move forward, his movements are like Messi's driving forward with excellent ball control instead of step overs. He is also pretty strong for his age and is able to overcome pressure from defenses. Giovanni's international career started in the youth stages and his form was so impressive he is now a part of the Senior National team, however he has failed to score any goals.

The future is bright for these Mexican prodigies and they will now be playing in the World's most diverse and entertaining league. The experience they will learn in the premiereship can only contribute positively to the development of these players. I believe that Dos Santos will probably have the most successful season of the three in the Premiereship. He will most likely be given more playing time than the other two since Tottenham's manager is looking to revamp the team. His partnership with other new players such as the promising Croation, Modric could bring the Spurs the much wanted success in the league. Castillo's contribution depends highly on the decision of Mark Hughes to utilize him. Vela will have to impress Wenger during the pre-season to ensure a starting place in the team's lineup. Theo Walcott is determined to break into first team striker position and this could provide each player a challenge to impress their manager to

Where does the future lie for the World's greatest player?, Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo had a brilliant club season. A season that other players could only dream of. He scored over 40 goals, won the English Premiereship title for the second time in a row and won the most elusive of trophies, the Champions League Cup. He did this while perfecting the art of attacking football and collecting numerous individual awards on the way. He has now earned the accolades from his peers and rival fans alike across the world. Later on in the year everyone expects him to win FIFA Player of the year. His only disappointment this season came from his international duties in Euro 08. Portugal after having a magnificent start fell short to the powerhouse known as Germany and left Ronaldo ample time to contemplate on his club future. Real Madrid acknowledging the fact that Ronaldo expressed interest in joining them someday decided to focus their energies on persuading Ronaldo to set his goals on becoming their marquee player for seasons to come. This did not go well with Ronaldo's current club Manchester United. The club has realized how important the young man is to their continued success and refuse to let go of the midfielder who has contributed to over 40% of Manchester's magnificent goal tally in the past season. A bitter war has now begun over the two clubs due to Madrids audacious attempts to lure the Portuguese. Ronaldo has also fueled his club's temper by refusing to to put an end to rumours of his desire to apply his trade in the La Liga, by teasing the press with ambigous remarks and putting off his final decision until further notice.

In my opinion I believe Ronaldo will be requesting to leave England this year. I do not believe he will leave because of financial greed. Instead I believe he wants to face a new challenge. Ronaldo has won all major trophies in England including the Champions League and it would seem that he would find it hard to regain the passion and form to top the past season. Ronaldo is a player that is obssessed with goals and challenges. He constantly works hard to improve his mental and physical aspects of the game. I watched his performance in the Euro 04 recently and could see major differences between the teenager that played in that match and the man he has become today. Gone was the slim built midfielder with a knack to do countless step overs and hit long range shots. He now turned into a powerful hybrid player, not a midfielder not a striker but a player that ghosts around the attacking front looking for the ball. He now added a number of other impressive options to his arsenal. He no longer relied on shooting from outside the box, but also improved on his aerial capabilites and inside box shooting. He also implement his pace and step over techinque only when he knew the percentage of beating his defender was high and not just for showboating to the pleasure of the crowd. He also spent hours on the training field practicing and perfecting the art of free kicks. All this shows evidence that this is a player that has to be motivated to perform at the highest levels. I am more than confident that at this moment Ronaldo is preparing himself for Euro 12 so that he may get over from dropping out so early in the competition. When he walked away from the pitch alone, it showed that he felt disappointed in himself for failing the task. This is why I believe Man U should swallow their pride and let Ronaldo go if he wishes.

I believe that Manchester United can force Ronaldo to stay with the club. This I believe would eventually lead Ronaldo to start losing interesting in the developments on the pitch, and he could start performing below par. We saw when Ronaldinho won the CL and he realized that he has won everything his form decreased dramatically. I fear this could happen to him. What Real Madrid represents to Ronaldo is a new challenge. He will have to establish himself into a new team and new system. He will then have to use his abilities to help his team win maintain the La Liga title and win the Champion's League. This will provide him with a goal to continue to maintain his brilliant form. I would not be surprised if Ronaldo manages to achieve these goals at Real Madrid, they too will have the pain of seeing him move on to one of the Serie A giants. Another interesting note is that Ronaldo's mother is a diehard Real Madrid fan and has stated her desire to see her son play for the club. Despite the fact that she has been quoted as saying that she believes he should stay with Manchester United, this may highly influence his decision. Ronaldo has already expereinced the passing of his Father and knows the reality that mortality is temporary. It seems to me that Ronaldo realizes anything can happen in football and he may not gain this opportunity again. We now have to wait to hear his announcement in the next 48 hrs.

Euro 08 opening matches review

The Euro's have begun with a firing start. This year's championship is extra enticing because of Europe's top clubs are all looking to add players to their growing rosters. Players and even managers are using the competition as a platform to highlight their talents. So far the opening matches have concluded and here is a brief look at what has developed so far.

Top Team: The Netherlands: Holland had the enormous task of confronting Italy in their first match and they were up to it. The Orange men performed brilliantly demolishing the Italians with three stunning goals. The first goal was a controversial slip in by goal poach Van Nistelrooy. An Italian defender who was hurt took himself off the pitch without the referee's acknowledgement and allowed the dutch striker to remain on side to kick in a pass into the box. The second goal also came from a Real Madrid man. The dutch midfielder Snieder who hit an amazing close range shot to foil the experienced goal keeper Buffon. The final goal came from the likes of Barca defensive midfielder Van Bronkhorst who heading in a cross to nail the coffin closed for Italy. It was the first time Italy has ever been beaten by such a wide margin in the tournament. Runner Up: Spain.

Top player: Spain's David Villa: Rumour has it that Valencia is in a cash burden and are willing to sell their strike man this summer. Villa added more value to his abilities by scoring a hat trick against Russia in their opening match. Villa partnered upfront with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres proved to be a nemesis to the Russian defense line. He managed to time his run to meet Torres pass and slip the ball into the back of the net. He then met a pass through pass from Iniesta to score his second goal. In the second half Torres was sent to the bench and Villa then played the remaining time as a lone striker. He continued his fine form by scoring a magnificent goal that showcast his individual skills. There is no question that Villa has made an impression on the scouts present at the competition. Runner up: Portugal's Jose Boswinga and Germany's Podolski.

The Future Before Us...Bojan Krkic

Imagine being 17 and having greats of football such as Ronaldinho and Henry jump to their feet at your display on the pitch. Bojan Krkic does not have to imagine because he has witnessed the greats praise his contribution throughout the season. During the pre season Ronaldinho jumped to his feet in approval as the young man awesome ball control skills left defenders and the goal keeper praying for divine intervention. The teenage Spaniard forced himself into the Barcalona's first team squad after destroying goal scoring records in the youth and reserve teams. There is no doubt that he will continue to evolve into a key figure in the Catalan's attacking line up.

Bojan was born in Catalonia, Spain and is the son of a Serbian footballer. His father moved to Spain after meeting his mother and he soon became a scout for Barcalona. The youngman soon became a member of the Barcalona Academy and soon gained the reputation of a goal scoring phenomenon. In just seven years he scored over 500 goals. It was no real surprise that Barcalona decided to grant the young striker a professional contract on his 17th birthday. He then went on to score 10 goals in 15 appearances for the Barcalona reserves. This performance earned him a promotion into the first team in the 07/08.

Injuries to Etoo and Ronaldinho forced him into on to the pitch. He made debut against Osasuna in the La Liga league competition and even played in Champion League matches. His Champions League debut against Lyon made him the youngest player ever to play in the competition. He went on to break records during the season such as being the youngest player to score a goal in a Barcalona shirt and the second youngest player to score in the Champions League. Krkic went on to score 10 goals in 31 appearances during the season. The young prodigy also has already become a legend in for his country. In 2006 he scored the goal that won the under 17 Euro Championships. He then went on to earn a spot in the Under 17 Fifa World Cup where he scored 5 goals that aided his team reach the final. This year at the young age of 17 he was called up to the senior team for a friendly against France in Febraury. He however did not play because he asked to be excused due to sickness. He was also a candidate to be included in Spain's Euro 08 team but asked to be excused due to fatigue he experienced playing for Barcalona.

The future is extremely bright for this youngman. He comes from a football background and has already proven to one of the world's biggest club staff he is a natural goal scorer. His ball control and dribbling skills are uncanny. They remind me of a cross between Ronaldinho and Messi. Due to his long hair style I sometimes mistake him for Messi when he makes his dribbling runs at defenders. He is also fearless and is never afraid to try an outlandish move to embarass defenders and the goal keeper. He also has a great football mind despite his young age. His shot selection is very good and he knows when to pass the ball when defenders try to console his movement. He should recieve more time on the pitch if Ronaldinho and Etoo move on this summer. I expect to be entertained by Bojan for seasons to come.

Arsenal...Wenger has nothing to worry about Prt 3 Midfield Movements

So far we have looked at transfer signings and strikers we shall now look at the midfield options Wenger has for the upcoming season. It is important to note that Flamini left the club and Hleb may also be leaving so I will be leaving these two players out the article despite their great contributions this season. Based on the facts the players that will play a role next season will be Fabregas, Walcott, Rosicky, Denilson, Diaby, Gilberto and Eboue. These players along with summer transfer signings and youth talent will provide the attacking and defensive line with precision passing and attack ending tackles. Two main players come to mind when I look at this list and these are Fabregas and Walcott. I shall now focus on each midfielder indvidually.

Cesc Fabregas: This young man is touted to become the world's best midfielder years before he celebrates his 25 Birthday. Fabregas has become Arsenal's most important player after the departure of Henry to Barcalona. His precision passes help cut pathways for the strikers. He also has a knack to score goals and has scored over ten during the start of the season. He has ended up with an impressive tally of 13 at the end of the season and has over 16 assists making him a true attacking playmaker. Fabregas not only provides good attacking but he also earned a reputation to be a tough cookie in defense. Opponents learned quickly not to mess around with him after soon finding out he is more than capable to dish out his share of bone crunching tackles despite his stature. The verdict is great for the future. Fabregas is set to extend his deal with the club and is forecasted to improve next season. I am fully confident that the young Spaniard will continue to produce impressive displays of skill next season.

Theo Walcott: I dont think there is an English player quite as exciting as the young 19 yr old Walcott. He is really a striker but Wenger has been developing his talent by forcing him to play on the wing. This season he began to see regular first team action coming off the bench as an attacking right midfielder. His performances had critics pondering why Wenger would not grant him more starting roles. His outstanding pace allowed him to brush defenders aside and push forward into the box. He also managed to score goals of such great quality that comparisons to Thierry Henry were inevitable. This season he managed to hit the net 7 times, scoring twice against Birmingham to open up his premiereship goal tally. His attacking run's during the CL against both AC Milan and Liverpool are some of the most brilliant displays of football this season has encountered. The young Englishman seems to grow everytime he touches the pitch and is gradually becoming a force to reckon with in Europe. The verdict: Walcott's development is amazing, I beleive he will continue to grow into the perfect attacking machine. He now needs to learn how to control his pace and improve on his passing and shot selections. I expect him to earn a starting position next season.

Tomas Rosicky: From the time I saw this players magnificent opening goal in the 06 World Cup I felt that Wenger bought a great player to London. Rosicky is a higly skilled player that provides Arsenal with attacking options on the wing or in center field. The only major flaw with him is he is easily injured and this forced him to limited contributions during the season. Despite this fact Rosicky managed to score 7 goals before being forced to reside on the sidelines due to season ending injuries. Verdict: Rosicky can be relied on to score goals when he is healthy, however I beleive that Wenger should consider signing a player that would provide us with a replacement whenever Tomas is injured.

Neves Denilson: This young Brazilian is one of the next generation of Arsenal players being groomed to become senior players. He plays an attacking role and comes of the bench to provide passing and attacking runs. His contribution in the domestic cup matches earned him two goals. Verdict: Denilson is still in early stages of development, but over time I believe he will be a truly skillful midfielder. His height and body allow him to stay on the ball despite

Vassiriki Diaby: This young Frenchman has all the qualities to become a major force in the Arsenal midfield. He is slim, tall and masterful on the ball. He uses his pace to push forward into the opponents box and sometimes takes a shot on goal. With Flamini's exit many are touting the youngman to be his successor as partner to Fabregas in the midfield. Diaby has a wicked outside shot that has left more than one goal keeping clutching the air this season. This season he has scored 7 goals in all competitions. Verdict: If Diaby is able to remain healthy he has the capabilities to make left central midfield his own spot. Diaby's weakness tends to be overplaying the ball, he needs to learn to pass the ball whenever defenders try to overpower him.

Gilberto Silva: Gilberto remains one of the few veteran players from the Arsenal's winning era. Last season he returned home tired from International duties and lost his starting role as defensive midfielder to Flamini. Flamini's impressive display lead to the Brazilian staying on the bench for the majority of the season. It has been a rough season for Gilberto who felt disowned at the club but remained loyal to the cause. As the season came to a close he was granted more and more appearances by Wenger. Gilberto despite such a lacklustre season has expressed his desire to stay with the club. Verdict: I believe with the departure of Flamini we should keep Gilberto, he provides the team with experience and I believe that he can gain his magnificent form back once more if Wenger gives him the opportunity to play.

Emmanuel Eboue: Many critics believe that Eboue should be dropped from the team. I do not share this view. Wenger decided this season that Eboue was capable of the right midfield role instead of right back. Eboue fit into his role well during the early part of the season. His partnership with Sagna on the wing proved to be almost unstoppable and contributed to Arsenal's many goals. He also contributed to the goal tally with 2 of his own. Eboue however began to become erratic as the season went on drawing attention from the officials that resulted in cards and sending offs. I believe that during this time the player had a lack of focus and dont believe he should be judged by these actions. He is still fairly new in the midfield role and it will take time for him to become accustomed to it. I believe his partnership with Sagna is the main reason he is able retain the starting role over Walcott. Verdict: I expect Eboue to start off the bench next season with Walcott becoming more of an attacking force. Eboue needs to improve in the mental aspect, his pace is perfect to provide passes and crosses from the right, however he needs to calm down and improve on his shot selections.

Reign Supreme: Man U Kings of Europe

Rain and blood poured in Moscow as Manchester United and Chelsea once more faced each other in an epic battle to prove who were the true title owners. Both teams were evenly matched and it took penalty kicks to decide the winner. As much as it hurts me to utter the following words, I believe that overall Manchester United deserved to win the Champions League. They are the best team in the World this season and their focus, determination and team spirit represent what is good in football. They also have been bolstered by the stunning display of their defensive players Ferdinand and Vidic as well as the best player in the World this season Cristiano Ronaldo. There determination to win was evident throughout the season. The team refused to lose matches. It was a normal image to see players with blood running from their bodies as the fought on throughout the season. When they were down a goal instead of giving up the pushed on to at least earn a point. The coaching staff of Manchester United lead by Sir Alex Ferguson made a decision to create a team capable of challenging on the European shores and they have succeeded. The main problem in the past was depth and Ferguson decided to strengthen his team by retaining the core of his team while strengthening it with shrewd transfer signings.

Their summer transfers complimented the more seasoned players. Young players such as Nani and Anderson came into the team with zeal to gain acceptance. Anderson was forced into the starting line up due to injuries and soon made center defensive midfield role his own as dismantled opponents attacks with his tackles. Nani also made his contribution with awe inspiring dribbles and a number of impressive goals. His only weakness being his lack of mental maturity, that earned him a red card and constant attention from referees and opponents. The other two signings that were made in the summer turned out to be just as impressive. The loan deal for Carlos Tevez was a profound move by the team. The Argentine striker already had a winning spirit after winning in the Brazilian league with then top side Corinthians. Bringing him over from West Ham proved priceless as the striker managed to save Man U from losing full points on more than three occasions thanks to his late goals. He fit in seamlessly in the attack front complimenting the movements of his partners Rooney and Ronaldo. He became the teams second highest goal scorer for the season with 19 goals. Owen Hargreaves was the final piece to the transfer puzzle. Man U was determined to add this player to their roster. After failing to sign in him in the previous season they once again pursued the case and were successful. This defensive midfielder provided protection to the backline with precision tackles. He also proved himself to be multi dimensional as Ferguson utilized him as a right back and centre back due to injuries. Hargreaves also managed to find himself on the scoring sheet with a cunning free kick.

Beside the transfer targets Man U recieved much needed boost from their seasoned young starting duo Rooney and Ronaldo. This season both players began to play a new role. Ronaldo became more of a forward while Rooney spent more time in midfield to cater to the runs of Ronaldo. Anyone who has watched football this season cannot deny the growth of Cristiano Ronaldo this season. The young Portuguese received a red card during one of earlier matches of the season. He was forced to watch on the bench as his team struggled to score goals. This agitation seemed to fuel a desire in him to perform throughout the rest of the season and he achieved this by scoring 42 magnificent goals. This season he emerged into the perfect attacking machine, scoring with both feet and his head. He also seemed to have found the secret to taking free kicks. His only weakness seemed to be taking penalties. Rooney also had his trials and tribulations. He injured himself during the start of the season and had to spend time on the sidelines nursing a broken foot. When he returned he began to have short bursts of success in front of goal that would bring his final tally 18 goals for the season. He also showed his versatility and determination by fitting into the midfield and even playing defensive midfield during Ronaldo's drifting up front. Saha also when fit provided the team with attacking options and he scored 5 goals for the season despite being wrath with injuries.

Man U's success was also much to the depth of their midfield in particular. I already made mention of the three midfield summer transfers that have played their respective roles. There is Giggs and Scholes, veteran midfielders, that have provided the team with experience, leadership and goal scoring capabilities. Giggs was granted the captain role due to injuries to Neville and he accepted gracefully leading the team while scoring 8 goals. Scholes after fighting injuries saw himself starting less due to the over achievement of Anderson. He still contributed with 4 goals, including a screaming long range shot that propelled Man U into the Champions League Finals in Moscow. Carrick, Oshea, Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park stepped up and performed when they were called upon. Carrick and Fletcher controlled the midfield and contributed to 4 goals each. Oshea failed to hit the net, however bolstered the defense coming off the bench during the second half of matches. Park was injured for most of the season but regained health in the second half and put on some magnificent runs that aide the forwards in placing the ball in the goal. Ferguson also gave young midfielder Eagles a few chances to experience first team play throughout the season.

I think that defense proved to be the determining factor in Manchester United success this season. The partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic combined to only concede 22 goals in the Premiereship. They also proved integral in keeping out goals during the CL challenge. Both players put their bodies on the line to stop attacking players from scoring. Vidic recieved a head rattling injury after his face connected with Chelsea's striker Drogba's knee. Ferdinand could be seen bleeding from his foot as he shunned pain and battled on through the season while injured. Their relentless protection of the goal gave the attacking players confidence to go forward and score goals. Wes Brown fit into the right back position and held the fort effectively against some of the best attacking forces the premiereship had to offer. Evra became settled and gave assistance to the attack line up with swift runs down the wing. During the dying embers of the season veteran defender Silvestre managed to make a number of appearances giving evidence of the team's depth. Young defender Pique was also given the opportunity to fight for first team placement due to injuries. He replaced Vidic and played in both the centre back and right back roles with great ability and skill. The defensive line up would not be complete without the contribution of the most underated players on the the field, the goal keepers. First team goal keeper Edwin Van Der Sar provided protection in the box keeping out goals with long stretches across the face of goal. Second place and third place goal keeper's Kuszczak and Foster both played their role in the team's success. Kuszczak was able to shake a disappointing Carling Cup defeat to fit into the role of first team goal keeper during the second half of the season due to a Van Der Sar picking up a groin injury.

My two cents: All these elements combined with the leadership and ruthlessness of the coaching staff provided Sir Alex Ferguson with a perfect formula for success. He managed to keep his veteran player, while bringing in new players and introduces youth players into the game. His squad was then large enough to bolster through injuries to key players such as Scholes, Neville and Van De Sar. He also had a number of options to choose from during games. If he felt to apply an attacking minded team, he simply placed Nani, Anderson and Ronaldo in the midfield. If he felt that experience was needed in a game he could rely on veterans Scholes and Giggs. When he felt that the game needed to be slowed down he galvanized the midfield with Hargreaves. The mixture of young talent and expereinced veterans provided him with a team that was able to defend the premiereship in its most competitive season in years. He was also able to claim the most coveted prize the Champions League trophy and become the King of Europe. Another season has ended and I look forward for the transfer window and the new season to see how the sage continues. Congratulations Manchester United on your success in the 07/08 season.