He once was the most feared striker on the planet. A former goalkeeper, he made his mark as a striker at boyhood club Atletico Madrid, playing a part in the promotion of the team to La Liga. In his second season, at a tender age of 18, he was the 3rd highest goal scorer in the league, netting 19 times in 35 appearances. He also attracted attention from top European sides in particular Chelsea who were ready to spend £28 million on the starlet. That just shows what a phenomenon he truly was. His move to Liverpool proved to be one of the best if not the best decision he has made in his career. … [Read more...]
World-beaters: Spain are still the team to beat
Coming off international successes as World Champions and dual European Champions, many believed Spain would come out of the World Cup qualifiers relatively unscathed. With a relatively mediocre group, consisting of France, Belarus, Georgia and Finland, who would’ve expected their job to be so tough? … [Read more...]
Barcelona’s defensive woes highlight their need to buy a defender
Two years ago, with Guardiola at the helm, Barcelona was on the receiving end of plaudits from the greatest the game has ever seen. They prided themselves in their ability to win the ball back quickly and in doing that continue their possession based game without interruptions. Their backline, consisting of Puyol and Pique at the centre was by far the most feared and arguably the strongest in the world. Puyol's physicality, strength and pace combining with Pique’s tackling technique made their backline the least penetrable. No one had answers and they played a major role in helping the side … [Read more...]
How can Barca get back to their best?
It all started last year, on 27th April, that fateful day no Barca fan will ever forget. It had been a horrible 2 weeks for the Catalan giants, first losing in El Clasico to arch rivals Real Madrid, who eventually went on to win La Liga, and then their shock elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Chelsea. Despite their attacking qualities, it was not enough to break down a much criticised display of resilient defending from their opponents. Barca only had themselves to blame. The tie should’ve been over after the 1st leg. Disappointment followed. Their League and Champions … [Read more...]