Soccer Europe |
- Luka Modric Deal is Just What Tottenham Need
- Stade de Reims: Back From The Dead
- Tottenham land Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembele for £23 million
- Inter flying high after win over Pescara
- Everton v. Leyton Orient Preview: Time for Moyes to Unleash Kevin Mirallas
- Silly season strikes as transfer window reaches climax
| Luka Modric Deal is Just What Tottenham Need Posted: 28 Aug 2012 07:36 PM PDT
Despite all their off-season moves and transfers, they simply have not delivered in the first two rounds of the 2012-13 English Premier League season. Maybe there was too much hype on Andre Villas-Boas, or perhaps the teams they played were better than we gave them credit for. Whatever the case be, the fact remains that a loss to Newcastle United and a home draw to West Bromwich Albion simply is not a good start to the year. The North London club seemingly need a spark; a catalyst that gets their season rolling and something that they can look back on as the moment that defined their Premier League year. And I want to say that the spark they are looking for might have just taken place. I think Luka Modric is the spark that Tottenham needs. His transfer to Real Madrid could well be the defining moment in their season; the point to which they look back on and realize how different and how successful they have become since then. I think that the Croatian international leaving White Hart Lane will be the kick-start that Tottenham needs this year in the Premier League. This transfer allows Tottenham to move forward with direction. They know exactly where they stand, and what they can and cannot do in the midfield this year based on the personnel available. The transfer also renews confidence in the Spurs’ board and Dan Levy, reassuring that they can get the job done and are still a successful club. Sure, the perfect world would have seen Spurs hang on to Modric and him lead them to multiple Premier League titles, but that simply isn’t the case. Modric wanted out and the Spurs understood that. So the deal was done, despite the thinking of many that it would fall apart at the final hurdle. They proved that they are a strong club to both the fans; and renewed the confidence in the players. But perhaps most importantly, the transfer allows Tottenham to bring in new players. Andre Villas-Boas has reportedly been given the green light to spend the Modric money. It seems that the former Chelsea and Porto boss will bring in new talent for the Spurs midfield just before the summer transfer window closes. He has already proven this summer that he is capable of bringing in big transfers and keeping star players(shown through Jan Vertonghen’s transfer and Gareth Bale’s new contract) and the same could happen over the next three days. Who Spurs will look to sign is an entirely different discussion. Names like Moussa Dembele, Willian, Leandro Damiao and Joao Moutinho are all touted as potential arrivals at White Hart Lane over the summer. If you ask me, who they sign is largely irrelevant at this point in time. What matters most is that they were able to move on at all and that they can bring in new talent. The defining moment in Tottenham’s season will not be the arrival of Dembele or Willian any more than it was the arrival of Vertonghen, Sigurdsson or Villas-Boas himself. No, the defining moment in Tottenham’s season will be the moment in which the Spurs realized that they were still a genuine threat this year; a successful club that can get the job done, and one that has an incredibly bright future ahead in the English Premier League. That moment will be the moment that matters, and that moment could well have just taken place in the sale of Luka Modric. How the Hotspurs respond over the next four weeks will be the key in understanding whether or not they are contenders, or simply just pretenders in the English Premier League this season. |
| Stade de Reims: Back From The Dead Posted: 28 Aug 2012 05:43 PM PDT
Football is full of tales of wonder, as well as dreams, that eventually turn to nightmares…this is both. The club itself was formed in 1911 as Société Sportive du Parc Pommery, before the changing to their current name -some twenty years later. After success in the amateur leagues, Reims made their top flight bow until after the Second World War They would go on to finish fourth that year before claiming their first ever French Championship, just three seasons later. Four years later and they were champions once again, followed up by another title two seasons later. Winning the 54-55 season was a watershed moment in the history of French football. What this title did would set them apart from every other club in the country, because of something that was stirring elsewhere in France. The idea of a tournament that would feature club sides across the continent was one that had been mooted for some years. Various competitions across Europe were staged, most noticeably the Mitropa Cup -which featured teams from: Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Later clubs from Italy, Romania and Switzerland joined. War prevented further expansion of this competition, which was briefly resumed under a new guise in 1950, but didn’t start properly until 1955. By this time, another cup had rivalled it’s popularity. The Latin Cup featured the league winners of France, Italy, Portugal & Spain. Stade de Reims took part on three occasions. Winning the cup in 1953 and finishing runners up two years later. Meanwhile, the English press was proclaiming Wolverhamption Wanders as the unofficial Champions of Europe following victories over Moscow Dynamo, Spartak Moscow and Honved. French magazine L'Equipe proposed that a team from each nation be entered into a knockout competition over two legs in midweek with a one-off final crowning the official European Champions. FIFA (worried that a tournament, which was widely backed by clubs all over the continent, would be controlled by a body they would have no say in) held a meeting to deal with the matter. During the meeting, the European Cup was officially sanctioned-provided clubs taking part had the approval of their FA. UEFA would take charge of the competition under the rules suggested by L’Equipe, and the rest (as they say) is history. Having claimed the top prize in France, Reims was going to be the first club to represent their country in the newly formed European Cup. Victories over AGF Aarhus, Vörös Lobogó and Hibernian saw them go head to head with none other than Real Madrid in the final. The game itself was a seven goal thriller, with Reims two up within the first ten minutes. Goals from Héctor Rial and Alfredo Di Stéfano levelled the game before half time. Michel Hidalgo’s goal on the hour once again gave the French side a lead, but it wouldn’t last as Marquitos once again levelled before Rial scored a winner for Madrid ten minutes from time. As places in history go, being the runner up of the first ever European Cup isn’t a bad place to sit. Despite losing influential midfielder Raymond Kopa to conquerors Real Madrid, Reims added a core of French internationals who would go on to help them lift a third title in five years. Back in the Europe’s elite competition once more, they would again find their way back to the final of the competition. There they would have a chance for revenge against Real Madrid. However, the Spanish team would emerge victorious. A 2-0 victory was enough to claim their third European Cup. Domestically, Reims continued to pick up trophies. Two league titles in three years marked a great start to the sixties. The retirement of midfielder Just Fontaine and inexplicable sacking of legendary manager Albert Batteux (who went on to become – and still is – France’s most successful manager) marked the beginning of the end for the club. The next season saw Reims finish seventeenth and shockingly demoted to the second division. Promotion in 1966 was followed by immediate relegation. Four years later Reims did manage to fight their way into, and stay, the top flight but at the end of the decade the club went back down again. It was about to get a lot worse. Some thirty years and a world away from the heights of clashing with Real Madrid, the eighties brought with them a further twist in the tale. Uplifting cup runs in the latter part of the decade masked a growing financial crisis going on behind the scenes. In 1991, Reims was demoted to the third division of French football, after failing to find a buyer. In October of that same year the club was liquidated. Their name was subsequently changed to Stade de Reims Champagne FC. They were declared ineligible to compete with only one game left of the Division 3 season. In the months that followed all that remained of the old club, including medals and trophies, was auctioned off. The ascension began in very inauspicious circumstances after reformation in 1992. Despite bouncing around the second and third tiers of French football, they were able to recover most of the items of that had been sold off following liquidation in 1996. They dropped the Champagne from their name in 1997, to once again have the name that was one at the top of French football. The hard work was beginning to pay off and in 2002 Reims was awarded professional status and promoted to Lique 2. The next decade saw Reims struggle to maintain a foothold in the second division with relegation always looming. However, every demotion was followed by an immediate return to Lique 2. They finished a remarkable tenth in 2002, but the season later saw an even more remarkable turnaround. Reims took second place and finally returned to Lique 1, after thirty-three years. Kossi Agassa is hardly the most conspicuous of players. He wears the number sixteen in goal for Reims and has fifty two caps for Togo. Before Saturday, he was the only player on their books that was born the last time they won a top flight game of football. There was no heroic, match winning goal the likes of which always end stories like this in the movies. It was an own goal, from Sochaux’s Sloan Privat, in the ninety third minute that gave them their first three points in Lique 1 in over three decades. Not that it matters to the people of Rimes, some that have seen their club go from the top of Europe, into obscurity and then back again. To those that have seen it all, it will have been a long and arduous journey, one that might even end up in relegation at the end of the season. Even if that were to happen, they’ve bounced back from worse. |
| Tottenham land Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembele for £23 million Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:10 PM PDT  (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) With just less than 24 hours having past since the finalizing of the £27 million deal to send Luka Modric to Real Madrid, Tottenham have already turned around and splashed £23 million of it right back out. BBC Sports announced that the club has raided fellow London side Fulham for the services of Belgian midfield star, Moussa Dembele. The Belgian had a tremendous season last year in England and had already impressed in his first two matches of the new season with the Cottagers. Dembele was seen arriving at Tottenham's facilities to undergo his pre-contract medical examination and is said to be set to put pen to paper on his official deal on Wednesday afternoon. Spurs have gained a much needed midfielder player in Dembele as he has all of the ability to be a world class playmaker, but he has the body strength to be a powerful holding midfielder as well. His versatility is certain to come in handy for Andre Villas-Boas this season. Since joining Fulham in 2010, Dembele has made 73 appearances in the English Premier League having scored seven goals in his playing time. It is now being speculated that his arrival could signal the departure of Rafael van der Vaart according to the Guardian. You can also follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz, Facebook and Pinterest. |
| Inter flying high after win over Pescara Posted: 28 Aug 2012 01:33 PM PDT
Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni favored a 4-3-2-1, as opposed to his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, which saw new signings Antonio Cassano, Walter Gargano and Matias Silvestre start the first match of the season. Stramaccioni selected Luca Castellazzi in goal, with Javier Zanetti and Yuto Nagatomo as right and left backs respectively, Andrea Ranocchia and Matias Silvestre as the center back pairing, who were shielded by a three man midfield comprised of Fredy Guarin, Walter Gargano and Esteban Cambiasso. Just behind striker Diego Milito were Wesley Sneijder and Antonio Cassano. Philippe Coutinho, Alfred Duncan and Marko Livaja replaced Antonio Cassano, Walter Gargano, and Diego Milito respectively. While Inter has a host of renowned professionals at their disposable, Pescara’s lineup is barely able to field a household name. Especially after losing two of their best players: Marco Verratti to Paris Saint Germain, and Lorenzo Insigne to Napoli. Pescara started Mattia Perin in goal, with Damiano Zanon, Simone Romagnoli, Marco Capuano and Antonio Balzano at the back, three midfielders including Emmanuel Cascione, Giuseppe Colucci, and Matti Nielsen. The three forwards in Pescara’s 4-3-3 were: former Manchester City winger- Vladimir Weiss, Jonathas and Gianluca Caprari. The substitutes were Mervan Celik, Juan Quintero and Elvis Abbruscato. Pescara came out of the gate well with a rehearsed set piece that needed saving by the Inter goalkeeper. Shortly after, Diego Milito got the ball at the edge of the area and sent the ball across the box where Wesley Sneijder neatly finished. Only two minutes later, Sneijder played an incisive ball to an unmarked Antonio Cassano who simply passed the ball to an unmarked, on-form Diego Milito-who thumped the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. Just before half-time, Pescara put together a nice piece of attacking play that culminated with a wide open header that Inter keeper Castellazzi did well to parry. On 75 minutes, substitute Philippe Coutinho played a beautiful ball to a wide open Diego Milito and the house money would have been on the Argentine to score. Instead he went for the fantastic and saw his shot go just wide of the right corner. Minutes after Milito’s miscue, he made up for it with a great centering cross that met the run of Coutinho. The young Brazilian finished the goal off beautifully and gave Inter an insurmountable 3-0 lead. The defensive problems that plagued the Nerazzurri last season were attenuated this past weekend. Should that type of defensive performance be mimicked throughout the season, Inter will be very tough customers. Man of the match was Diego Milito as he was instrumental in each of Inter’s three goals; one of which he scored and the other two he assisted. Wesley Sneijder also turned in an impressive performance. There were also bright spots for new signings: Cassano, Gargano and Silvestre. Inter began the season as they should, a win over a team that they were favored against. While Pescara is far from the best team the Nerazzurri will face this season, they were brilliant and will look to continue their run of form as the season progresses. |
| Everton v. Leyton Orient Preview: Time for Moyes to Unleash Kevin Mirallas Posted: 28 Aug 2012 12:36 PM PDT
Yep, that’s it. There’s no point in analyzing the contrasting styles of play, the history between the two squads or the formations that each will deploy. Because the fact of the matter is (and my apologies to the throngs of Orient supporters who are undoubtedly not reading this piece) Everton is going to dominate this match. No contest. But Kevin Mirallas? Now he’s something worth talking about. Last week the 24-year-old Belgian striker, from Olympiakos, signed a four year deal to join the Toffees. He made his debut in 20 sparkling minutes against Aston Villa. From the second he stepped on the pitch it was clear that Mirallas is a difference maker. With blazing speed, slick skills, sharp cuts, intelligence and a carnivorous eye for goal, he looks to be everything one could want in a striker. And then pair him with Nikica Jelavic – and you might possibly have the most underrated strike partnership in the Premier League. Of course, we’ll need a bit more time to fully confirm that statement. The confirmation should begin Wednesday when David Moyes hopefully names the Belgian in his Starting XI. Given Orient’s early season woes (0 points in 2 matches) this appears to be a no brainer. But Moyes’ right hand man, assistant manager, Steve Round, shared somewhat tempered thoughts on Mirallas. The 41 year old said that Mirallas “gives [Everton] a different dimension,” and that he’s “very alert,” which will allow him to run in behind defenses. Round continued that “[f]irst impressions are pleasing and it looks like he will be a very good player for Everton” but that he and Moyes will “bring him along gradually.” Ahhh, good-old Roundy-poo – always trying to temper the feverish expectations of us Evertonians. Well, it isn’t working on me. Did we bring Nikica Jelavic along gradually when he came over from Rangers? No. Did we bring Marouane Fellaini along gradually when he came over from Standard Liege? Aucu. Did we bring Steven Pienaar along gradually when he came over from Borussia Dortmund? Nicht. So why on earth would they hold back the 24 year old who led the Greek league in scoring last year? I don’t see it happening. Come kick-off on Wednesday, Moyes needs to unleash our new weapon. And when he does, Toffee lovers across the planet should sit back and enjoy our first full glimpse at the man who is poised to bring Everton to the next level. |
| Silly season strikes as transfer window reaches climax Posted: 28 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT
Step forward the Sun newspaper as the ultimate organ for scraping the bottom of the barrel in this regard – as it is for most others. Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live’s Monday Night Club, the paper’s football writer Neil Custis alleged that Wayne Rooney’s days at Old Trafford were numbered. This theory came on the back of no more solid evidence than him starting the Fulham match on the bench after playing poorly at Everton in the first match the season. Despite this, Custis felt this was enough to build a case for Rooney’s imminent departure, arguing that his month-long injury lay-off after sustaining a gashed thigh will simply divert attention from the issue while, Kagawa and van Persie go about building their partnership. This case was based on a supposed simmering feud between manager and player over Rooney’s transfer request before he performed a u-turn and signed his new contract, as well as one dropping for a disciplinary breach last season. It may be true that Sir Alex Ferguson has sent some big name players packing when they stepped out of line, such as Beckham, Stam and Van Nistelrooy. But this ‘Fergie Fury’ line ignores the fact that many have fallen out with the boss and found a way back, such as Peter Schmeichel-in 1994 following a furious dressing room row and Eric Cantona-after his infamous kung-fu kick incident. The other part of the case was that Rooney went missing in too many games last year, such as the two derby games. So, presumably, we should blame him for the defensive ineptitude that saw a side with ten men letting in six goals. Or his isolation as a lone front man in a formation lacking the in-form Valencia, but including the unfit Park. Above all, the ‘Rooney in decline’ case conveniently ignores the fact that he scored 35 goals last season, one more than when he was ‘footballer of the year’ in 2010. As ever, it is too good a story not to make up, an inevitable alternative to the ‘new signings fail to settle’ line that would have emerged with undue haste had van Persie and Kagawa not started so well. It is no coincidence Rooney should become a target after both new signings scored against Fulham. Nonetheless, the Sun has run with this lame speculation and others have joined in. Yet the scattergun nature of such so-called analysis becomes evident when compared with what Custis had to say about Manchester City. In their case, he argued that the lack of new signings, to provide competition for the club’s star players, was causing them to be complacent-placing their championship defence in deep peril. One may argue that Roberto Mancini has given too much ammunition to rivals and critics alike with his public moans over the club’s transfer policy. It is also is true City would have lost at Anfield had it not been for two terrible defensive errors by Liverpool. Even so, a sensible attitude might be to reserve judgement at this early stage. That, however, is not the way in the British tabloid media. There is an obvious contradiction between the analyses of the two Manchester clubs: buy new players to provide more competition for places and it’s a crisis for someone who is on the way out. Don’t buy them and it’s a crisis because the existing players will slacken off. Play a game with rules like this and you cannot lose. As a result, we can prepare ourselves for some near certainties: there will be many stories about Rooney being sold and Mancini throwing the toys out of the pram and quitting. We can also be pretty sure that neither will happen. It is true that Chelsea has stolen a march on the Manchester clubs with their fine winning start, but they have done that before and lost their way, notably two years ago. However, nobody is paying any heed to that possibility just now. With just two games gone and plenty of column inches to be stuffed with transfer speculation over the next few days, all that matters to some is their own agendas -which leaves no room for caution or level-headed analysis. |
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