A Football Report

By Ryan Morrison

Poor old Rafa Benitez is under so much pressure at Liverpool these days that his eyesight is starting to fail him, this disease is more commonly known as Arsene Wenger disorder. Rafa defended Steven Gerrard following allegations the midfielder made a V-sign gesture towards the referee Andre Marriner during Liverpool’s defeat to Wigan on Monday. “Sometimes you move your fingers. It was nothing. We are not considering it, it was nothing,” said Benítez. Ahem…

Other news this week concerns “The Wandering Man” of International football Guus Hiddink. Still contracted to the Russian National side until May, Dutch National broadcaster NOS says that Guus Hiddink has agreed to coach Ivory Coast in this year’s World Cup from 15 May to 15 July before then taking over as the head coach of Turkey in August! Does this guy ever take a break?

On a sad day for English football, Chester City F.C was wound up by a British court on Wednesday. The club, based in northwest England, owed a total of 26,125 pounds to the British tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs. Chester failed to field a team for their last two fixtures in the Blue Square Premier, English football’s fifth-tier, and last month were booted out of the league. Notable former players include Liverpool legend Ian Rush, ex-Arsenal defender Lee Dixon and one-time England striker Cyrille Regis. Spokesman David Evans said: “125 years of history have been extinguished today but that’s just the body of the club - its soul lives on.”   R.I.P Chester City Football Club       http://www.myoffside.com/

By Dominic Vieira

He’s a fighter, a team player, and an extremely potent goal scorer. Since the mega sale of goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, a huge pressure and responsibility fell upon Wayne Rooney. He has responded to the high expectations in terrific form along with many, many goals. In 27 league appearances, he has hit the back of the net 23 times and is currently leading the European Golden Boat Award. This is clearly Wayne Rooney’s best season and it is nowhere near completion, there is still a lot more to come from him. He is extremely focused and consistent each week; now the big challenge is to maintain his superb form. To be considered the best in the world a player needs to do two things: be consistent and win.

This season Wayne Rooney has been the driving force of Manchester United and has played a vital role in their League Cup victory and the 7-2 (aggregate) beating United just gave to Milan. Now the real challenges lie ahead: winning a Premier League title and the getting to the Champions League Final in Madrid. The World Cup is not far away and Wayne Rooney will do everything he can to make England crowned World Champions. If England is to have a chance, Rooney must play at the top of his game. Rooney has yet to be awarded a prestigious best player award, but with the level his game is at right now and the numerous goals he has been scoring, it won’t take long. However, he is not an individual player and winning these types of awards or not doesn’t affect him.

Rooney has simply been unstoppable this season. He is no longer the kid on the block with a bad temper, and he has worked hard to become a goal scoring forward, a team player, and most importantly, a professional leader. Any defence that plays against Rooney will have a lot to fear because he is unpredictable and can score in many different ways.

What do you think about Wayne Rooney’s season? Who do you think is the best forward/player in the world right now? (highlights of Rooney at his very best are embedded after the jump)

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By Dominic Vieira

Every footballer wants to play.

All footballers can all run, jump and shoot. All players enjoy being part of a winning team. But how many players suffer a huge injury throughout their career? How many players end up not being able to run, jump, and shoot? How many players have to watch their teammates lift up trophies whilst they are in crutches?

Unfortunately, injuries play a negative role in football. Nobody wants to suffer them or injure another player opposition. Injuries are regarded as the worst moments in a footballer’s career, especially those who spend months (or years) on the sidelines suffering. The span of a football player’s career is short, and being told that they have to end their career early is a huge psychological and physical blow to take.

Imagine telling a 20-year-old he can no longer play football? Fortunately, medical treatment in football has improved tremendously; this has enabled players to continue playing after being told that they can’t play anymore. The beautiful game has become more demanding, and as players play more games they are put under more pressure and their muscles and bones need to be highly specialized. Therefore, the chance of an injury is excessively high. The individual player is not the only person who suffers from the injury but also the teammates, manager and the fans lose out.

The majority of players bounce back from a serious injury mentally and physically stronger, but sometimes that is not the case, the injury ends up destroying a football player’s career. In this article, I have closely studied 4 players’ career-altering injuries.

Ronaldo:

The Brazilian superstar has a very unlucky right knee. In 1999, against Lecce, he ruptured it and immediately underwent surgery. After several months away from the field and completing a rapid recovery, O Fenômeno returned to the fields on April the 12th, 2000 against Lazio. Just several minutes after his return Ronaldo found himself on the floor in pain, once again with his right knee injured, but this time it was worse than the last time. This injury ended his hopes of playing in the Sydney 2000 Olympics. 20 months later Ronaldo was back and earned a place in the 2002 World Cup winning team. The story does not end here. In 2008, whilst representing AC Milan, Ronaldo suffered another injury; this time it was his left knee and was sidelined for another 9 months. The striker was not expected to recover from it, but once again, he regained his fitness. However he also gained weight. Ronaldo is currently playing for Corinthians in Brazil, but is not in Dunga’s plans for the 2010 World Cup.

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Here at A Football Report we like to think of ourselves as decent human beings (when not on the pitch). We are all well aware that there are far more serious issues in the world than who grabs the last spot in Champions League Qualifying, and we feel that we should give homage to a few good causes and charities (on our appropriately named “Good Causes and Charities” Page) that use the beautiful game as a means to change and improve the world we live in for those who are currently unable to live life to the fullest. And that leads us to the announcement of our “Good Causes Giveaway” (sponsored by the awesome SoccerPro).

We are giving away (at least) five pairs of Nike’s (Red) Laces, which were designed to fight AIDS in Africa. So although we’re you can get your hands (and feet) on these laces, you can do so knowing that those laces have helped contribute to the long and tenuous battle with AIDS.

“So how can I make myself eligible to win these stylish and good-intentioned laces?”

Well, here are the (quite simple) giveaway details:

1. If you “Tweet” (@afootballreport), “Reblog”, or share this post (or our “Good Causes and Charities” Page) on Facebook with your friends and followers, then you are eligible. (Note: You can also send us an email telling us you want to be entered in this contest if you miraculously still do not have a Tumblr, Twitter, or Facebook account at this time. But you have to spread the word about helping the cause to fight AIDS in Africa in some way. So just let us know how you’ve done your part!)

2. The five winners will be chosen randomly from the pool of participants in the giveaway. However, those who choose to spread the word in more than one way will have their name entered another time in the participant pool.

3. The giveaway will last until next Friday (March 19th). The winners of the Nike (Red) Laces, which are supplied by our fellow good human beings over at SoccerPro, will be announced over that ensuing weekend.

By Dominic Vieira

Another Champions League match day on the agenda, two huge clashes between European giants. David Beckham will finally return to Old Trafford after 7 years and he will be hoping that AC Milan can get the needed victory against Manchester United. After a poor performance at Stade Gerland, Real Madrid is planning on thrashing Lyon at the Bernabeu. Both games will be played at the usual time; they guarantee quality football and goals!

Manchester United vs AC Milan (3-2 Aggregate)

Rooney’s return has certainly boosted United’s confidence for this match and is expected to start alongside Berbatov. Despite the return of their invaluable goal scorer, United have a few players sidelined for this encounter and will be without Brown, Giggs, Owen and Ryan Giggs; Michael Carrick is suspended after receiving two yellow cards at the San Siro. United are a highly experienced team in this competition and will certainly know how to deliver the needed result. Sir Alex Ferguson’s experience will be just as influential as always in this tight affair. The Red Devils will be fielding their strongest defence in this match, Ferdinand and Vidic must be fully focused and efficient; they can’t afford slip-ups like in the first leg. The atmosphere will be diabolical at Old Trafford and normally the team which plays the second leg at home has that advantage, so let’s wait and see.

This is an all or nothing situation for AC Milan and they may take some gambles. However, they will start with the same formation and approach they used in the first leg which I believe was a good one. Hopefully there will be more luck on their side this time. Clarence Seedorf and Pato have recovered in time for the match and travelled to Manchester. In the last game the Milan defence looked shaky and will have to step up a gear to ensure that the clinical United attack doesn’t punish them. Ronaldinho will be the star of Milan’s side, he destroyed Manchester United last game and if he has enough freedom on the pitch he can kill the game off for Leonardo’s men.

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Match Recap

“It is never perfect but it was a very good, very strong performance. Our first half was excellent and then after a bit of a struggle at the start of the second half, Samir Nasri’s brilliant goal settled us down and we were comfortable winners.” - Arsene Wenger

Arsenal have overcome the odds and have booked a place for themselves in the quarterfinals. Nicklas Bendtner will make all the headlines as the hat-trick hero, but in all honesty it was a superb performance from the eleven men wearing the red jerseys tonight. Going into the game a goal down on aggregate, Arsenal claimed a 5-0 victory and the match-up finished 6-2 on aggregate. Arsene Wenger can only be overjoyed as his side, playing without their captain Cesc Fabregas, truly put on a show in North London tonight.

Samir Nasri had an individual effort that even Maradona would be proud of, as the Frenchman made it 3-0 by slicing through four Porto defenders in the 62nd minute. Just two and a half minutes later, Emmanuel Eboue made it 4-0 and made the Emirates erupt by rounding Helton (who was actually top-class tonight) and placing the ball into the back of the net.

Full Time. Arsenal win 5-0 over Porto.

90+1º Goal! Arsenal 5-0 Porto. Nicklas Bendtner steps up to take. And he grabs his hat-trick by placing his penalty perfectly to the left of Helton, who guessed correctly.

90º Porto fans look incredibly frustrated, as they should be. Fucile gives Arsenal a penalty by rolling over Eboue. Bendtner to take.

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Arsenal’s top keepers, Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski, have come under quite a bit of scrutiny over the past few months for their inability to prove themselves as reliable Champions League-caliber players. I think the true problem is that the Gooners just miss Jens Lehmann’s shenanigans. The German (now at Stuttgart) would make all the same mistakes (whilst trying out new karate moves and tackling cameramen), but all of these mistakes would be overshadowed by ensuing hilarity.

Whether its Manuel or Lukasz in goal tonight for Arsene Wenger’s side, one of them better have the game of their life or develop an epic sense of humour… quickly.

By Dominic Vieira

It’s the second round of the last 16 in the Champions League. It is now or never, make or break. Tuesdays kicks off with two huge clashes, Arsenal vs FC Porto and Fiorentina vs Bayern Munich, both at 19:45 GMT.

Arsenal vs Porto (1-2 aggregate)

Despite the goal disadvantage, Arsenal will be considered favourites for this encounter. However, never underestimate Portuguese sides in Europe; remember what Porto did to United in 2004 and Benfica to Liverpool in 2006? The Gunners have a colossal challenge ahead of them; they will be missing their captain and leader Cesc Fabregas. Porto has a strong midfield which enjoys dominating the game, and without Cesc in the middle of the park Arsenal may be constantly forced under high pressure and will have to be chasing the ball often.

The other players who join Cesc on the sidelines are: William Gallas, Aaron Ramsey, Van Persie, Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou. Porto, played a poor match on the weekend against Olhanense at home (2-2), but they did rest Rolando and Raul Meireles and they are boosted by the return of Hulk, who could be the match winner of the match. Arsenal can win this match without their captain if they play their good football and Arshavin and Nasri deliver, they could end this match with a comfortable victory. But, Porto is a fast and efficient team and if Arsenal loses concentration at the back, it is game over. Hulk and Falcao don’t miss their chances and they are not the only threats imposing the Arsenal defence. Luckily for Wenger, Fernando – Porto’s anchor man - is injured for the match.

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As we pass begin the week, let’s all remember that February wasn’t all THAT bad. Here are the best strikes to be found in the Premier League in the past 28 days or so. They’re in no particular order, but what’s your favourite? I have to say Luka Modric’s cheeky shot is up there, along with George Boateng’s pile driver.

Let me start again by pointing out Siena’s abysmal performance: Alberto Malesani’s lads are now closer to avoiding relegation than ever.

Despite only drawing 1-1 against Parma at home, we have to consider that Siena keep getting points. They are still at the bottom of the league, and now they’re only one point below Atalanta and two behind Livorno.

The safe zone is only 5 points ahead. They can still hold onto their spot in Serie A.

As far as Champions League placement is concerned, Juventus leaped forward in the standings even more by winning against Fiorentina. The Brazilian Diego and Fabio Grosso secured an important victory for the Bianconeri, especially facing the upcoming Europa League match against Fulham. But Diego’s opening goal seemed to be offside, and resulted in lots of scrutinizing of the referee, which is usual in the Serie A. The bad news is that centre-back defender Giorgio Chiellini got an injury, and will certainly miss the match on Thursday as well as some other games in the upcoming weeks.

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