Don't miss the match of the day - Argentina vs Mexico in the Fifa U-20 world cup.
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Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Click and buy: How scouting embraced the 21st century
Click and buy: How scouting embraced the 21st century - Transfers, Football - The Independent: "Manchester United completed one of the best deals of recent years with the capture of Mexican striker Javier Hernandez for £7m from Guadalajara a year ago. 'Chicharito' was scouted the traditional way – he was first flagged up by United's scouts in 2005 playing for the Mexican Under-17s and only signed after chief scout Jim Lawlor had spent three weeks in Mexico carrying out an in-depth assessment.
Every club craves unearthing such a precious gem as Hernandez, who scored 20 goals in a memorable debut season at Old Trafford. However not every club can afford the kind of scouting network, both formal employees and informal contacts, assembled over decades by the likes of Manchester United.
More and more, clubs are turning to technology to fill the void, and cut the cost of expensive trips to watch promising youngsters. In the past year, the leading football data companies have turned their focus to player recruitment and are pushing their products hard, believing it is an area of immense potential growth over the next decade. The next Hernandez is just as likely to have been spotted by a nerd at a computer screen as a scout on a football pitch."
Every club craves unearthing such a precious gem as Hernandez, who scored 20 goals in a memorable debut season at Old Trafford. However not every club can afford the kind of scouting network, both formal employees and informal contacts, assembled over decades by the likes of Manchester United.
More and more, clubs are turning to technology to fill the void, and cut the cost of expensive trips to watch promising youngsters. In the past year, the leading football data companies have turned their focus to player recruitment and are pushing their products hard, believing it is an area of immense potential growth over the next decade. The next Hernandez is just as likely to have been spotted by a nerd at a computer screen as a scout on a football pitch."
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Mesut Ozil to wear No.10 shirt for Real Madrid in 2011-12 - Goal.com
Mesut Ozil to wear No.10 shirt for Real Madrid in 2011-12 - Goal.com: "The 22-year-old creative midfielder had an excellent first season in Spain last term, but with the signing of Nuri Sahin and the emergence of a fully fit Kaka, competition for places at the Santiago Bernabeu is set to be increased.
Despite this, the former Werder Bremen man has discarded the No. 23 jersey, and taken the starting line-up shirt from Lassana Diarra, who is seemingly on his way out of the club.
The Gelsenkirchen-born player donned his new jersey against Chivas Guadalajara in a pre-season friendly game in San Diego, a clash that saw the Spanish side run out as 3-0 winners.
Ozil had the second most assists in La Liga last season with 17, two behind Barcelona's Lionel Messi, as Mourinho's men failed to stop the Camp Nou outfit picking up their third consecutive Spanish title."
Despite this, the former Werder Bremen man has discarded the No. 23 jersey, and taken the starting line-up shirt from Lassana Diarra, who is seemingly on his way out of the club.
The Gelsenkirchen-born player donned his new jersey against Chivas Guadalajara in a pre-season friendly game in San Diego, a clash that saw the Spanish side run out as 3-0 winners.
Ozil had the second most assists in La Liga last season with 17, two behind Barcelona's Lionel Messi, as Mourinho's men failed to stop the Camp Nou outfit picking up their third consecutive Spanish title."
Messi’s form for Argentina is raising legitimate questions
Daily Monitor: - Sports Columnists |Messi’s form for Argentina is raising legitimate questions: "With every performance, there is irrefutable evidence that Messi’s genius in the game is thanks in part to Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. The system at Barcelona is so fluid and perfected that Messi’s style dovetails with the passing and movement of accomplished players like the aforementioned stars and Daniel Alves.
Argentina cannot play like Barcelona - no team can. But they have some top class players who on paper should form world football’s most feared attack. Few countries boast names like Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito and Angel Di Maria.
There are manifestly areas of concern in defence and midfield; problems not of Messi’s making. Messi has routinely been compared to Maradona but when the latter singlehandedly won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina, he had arguably a more inferior supporting cast than Messi today."
Argentina cannot play like Barcelona - no team can. But they have some top class players who on paper should form world football’s most feared attack. Few countries boast names like Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito and Angel Di Maria.
There are manifestly areas of concern in defence and midfield; problems not of Messi’s making. Messi has routinely been compared to Maradona but when the latter singlehandedly won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina, he had arguably a more inferior supporting cast than Messi today."
Friday, July 22, 2011
Manchester United hit jackpot as United States tour reaches fever pitch both on and off the field
Manchester United hit jackpot as United States tour reaches fever pitch both on and off the field - Telegraph: "More than 67,000 spectators turned out to see the 7-0 victory against Seattle Sounders last Wednesday, while next Saturday’s Champions League final rematch against Barcelona at FedEx Field, the home of the Washington Redskins, is expected to test the stadium’s 82,000 capacity.
The financial benefit to United of their five-game tour has not been divulged by the club or the tour organisers, but a flat fee in excess of £3 million, plus commercial and attendance-related spin-offs, is understood to be close to the figure the club can expect to generate.
Their presence in the States also helps promote the brand to the world’s leading companies. In a survey commissioned by the club, United have 333 million fans worldwide, with 6.5 million apparently based in the US. Those numbers explain why the likes of DHL, Audi, Epson and Singha are determined to pay handsomely for association with United."
The financial benefit to United of their five-game tour has not been divulged by the club or the tour organisers, but a flat fee in excess of £3 million, plus commercial and attendance-related spin-offs, is understood to be close to the figure the club can expect to generate.
Their presence in the States also helps promote the brand to the world’s leading companies. In a survey commissioned by the club, United have 333 million fans worldwide, with 6.5 million apparently based in the US. Those numbers explain why the likes of DHL, Audi, Epson and Singha are determined to pay handsomely for association with United."
Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: Analyzing Who's Better in 20 Categories
Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: Analyzing Who's Better in 20 Categories | Bleacher Report: "Lionel or Cristiano? Ronaldo or Messi?
The eternal question remains: who's better? This article will try to approach this question by analysing 10 technical and physical categories and deciding a winner in each one.
By tackling this topic (yet again), I expect both Messi and Ronaldo fans to disagree with me.
But I will try my best to remain objective and to declare a winner for the attributes I have decided to compare them on—both physical and technical attributes (shooting, acceleration, strength...) and 'intangible' ones (mentality, marketability, ego...).
The winner will be determined by points on each category they win.
Want to know who'll win in speed?
Or in free-kick ability?
What about sportsmanship?
Will it be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Start the slideshow and find out!"
The eternal question remains: who's better? This article will try to approach this question by analysing 10 technical and physical categories and deciding a winner in each one.
By tackling this topic (yet again), I expect both Messi and Ronaldo fans to disagree with me.
But I will try my best to remain objective and to declare a winner for the attributes I have decided to compare them on—both physical and technical attributes (shooting, acceleration, strength...) and 'intangible' ones (mentality, marketability, ego...).
The winner will be determined by points on each category they win.
Want to know who'll win in speed?
Or in free-kick ability?
What about sportsmanship?
Will it be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Start the slideshow and find out!"
RONALDO TAKES TOP SPOT AHEAD OF GIGGS, GERRARD, LAMPARD AND VIEIRA
RONALDO TAKES TOP SPOT AHEAD OF GIGGS, GERRARD, LAMPARD AND VIEIRA | Give Me Football: "1. CRISTIANO RONALDO – SPORTING LISBON, MANCHESTER UNITED AND REAL MADRID
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player to have ever graced the Barclays Premier League. A goalscoring winger with exceptional pace, balance and skill for a big man, the Portuguese international became the first man since Andy Gray to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards in the same year (2007). He then won the Players’ award for a second time 12 months later and also the FIFA World Player of the Year award after scoring 31 league goals – a remarkable return for a winger."
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player to have ever graced the Barclays Premier League. A goalscoring winger with exceptional pace, balance and skill for a big man, the Portuguese international became the first man since Andy Gray to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards in the same year (2007). He then won the Players’ award for a second time 12 months later and also the FIFA World Player of the Year award after scoring 31 league goals – a remarkable return for a winger."
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wayne Rooney says he won’t be happy until he is as good as Lionel Messi
Wayne Rooney says he won’t be happy until he is as good as Lionel Messi | The Sun |Sport|Football: "Manchester United star Rooney faced Messi in May's Champions League final and, while they both scored, it was Barcelona's Argentine master who ran the show in a 3-1 victory.
Now Roo aims to reach a standard where he too can be crowned World Player of the Year and once again bring the Champions League title back to Old Trafford.
He said: 'Messi is a great player and rightly World Player of the Year.
'For every footballer out there, not just me, that's the target you want to try to get to and, hopefully, I can."
Now Roo aims to reach a standard where he too can be crowned World Player of the Year and once again bring the Champions League title back to Old Trafford.
He said: 'Messi is a great player and rightly World Player of the Year.
'For every footballer out there, not just me, that's the target you want to try to get to and, hopefully, I can."
Soccer star Lionel Messi might play in Miami exhibition match
Soccer star Lionel Messi might play in Miami exhibition match - Total Soccer | Fútbol Total - MiamiHerald.com: "The Argentines’ surprising quarterfinal exit from Copa America could mean that Lionel Messi, the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, will join his Barcelona teammates in Miami on Aug. 3 and play in the exhibition match against Mexico’s Chivas Guadalajara at Sun Life Stadium.
According to reports out of Argentina, Messi is vacationing earlier than he had expected after the disappointing Copa America and is planning to fly to the United States to join his club team at the end of July."
According to reports out of Argentina, Messi is vacationing earlier than he had expected after the disappointing Copa America and is planning to fly to the United States to join his club team at the end of July."
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