Archive for December, 2009

West Ham United v Chelsea: Respect, Revenge and Rivalry

December 20, 2009 at 1:52 PM · Filed under Chelsea, Chelsea FC, English Premier League, EPL, Football ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Carlo Ancelotti sold Gianfranco Zola  to Chelsea for £4.5m in 1996  when he was managing the Italian side Parma’s. Gianfranco Zola went on to become a legend at the west-london club being voted as the best ever Chelsea player by the Chelsea fans in 2003. Carlo Ancelotti went on to become one of the world’s best football managers leading his teams to many titles including 2 Champions League titles. Ancelotti still rues the day he sold Zola over tactical disagreement with the player. Ancelotti wanted to play a 4-4-2 system but the impish Zola wanted to play in the centre as a striker. Carlo a Zola fan admits to it being one of the  biggest mistakes of his career blaming his managerial inexperience at the time. He is however quick to see the silver-lining; Zola wouldn’t have had the great success that he had with Chelsea had he not sold him.

Today, the two men meet again as Zola’s former club Chelsea being managed by his former Parma manager Carlo Ancelotti go to play West Ham United which Zola currently manages to try and extend their lead and go 6 points clear of Manchester United, who were completely outplayed by Fulham last night,  at the top the Premier League Table.Zola must beat the club that made him a legend if West Ham United are to climb out of the relegation spots of the Premier League Table, but may be it would be simpler for him if he thought of it as the team of the man who failed to see his potential so many years ago and sold him, even though that turned out to be the first step to his becoming the success that he became! Claudio Ranieri once famously said of  Gianfranco Zola, “Gianfranco tries everything because he is a wizard and the wizard must try” but the fact that West Ham United haven’t won this East London versus West London derby since 2003 doesn’t help. Its not going to be easy, however with or without the history… beating Chelsea rarely is… easy.

Leave a Comment

Champions League Draw: Will the Returning Heros Conquer?

December 19, 2009 at 7:17 AM · Filed under BC First, Champions League, Chelsea, Chelsea FC, Football ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

The one thing the Champions League promises is great football with the best teams competing for the ultimate prize in Europe. Sometimes it can also promise that extra bit of drama which intriguing fixtures bring with them like 2 fixtures from today’s Champions League draw pitting a former ‘jilted’ manager against his old club, a super-star player returning to play against the club where he became the super-star that he is and a good old-fashioned managerial rivalry.

Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan drew Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea which means the ‘Special One’ will be returning to Stamford Bridge just 2 years after being sacked (oops! I meant after leaving the club ‘by mutual consent’). Jose Mourinho lead Chelsea to two Premier League titles and two Champions League semi-finals and surely will be warmly received by the fans at Stamford Bridge but they will also be all too aware of his strategic genius and wary of his famous mind games.

Carlo Ancelotti who is no stranger to Jose’s ways said “I’m not ready to play mind games. I never will be ready to play these games. I prefer to play football matches. I have experience of what he’ll do.”

The two managers have never really gotten along with Jose Mourinho once famously saying that the former AC Milan manger Carlo Ancelotti was ‘no friend of his’  but Ancelotti is hoping to change that.  ”If we don’t have a good relationship, this game can be a good opportunity to return to a good relationship,” said Ancelotti.

Mourinho who was adored by the players and the fans alike was quite unceremoniously sacked by Chelsea after being one of their most successful managers and will definitely be looking to prove a point. Carlo Ancelotti understands this perfectly,”I think that, for him, it will be an emotional game. He did a very good job here in Chelsea so to play against Chelsea won’t be easy for him. He will do his best to win.

“Mourinho did a very good job and maintained a very good relationship with these players. That’s normal. They won things and this will be a reminder of those seasons.”

Ancelotti added “It’s difficult because I think that Inter are, at this moment, the strongest team in Italy. They are at the top of the table. It’s difficult also for them, though, to play against Chelsea.”

Another fixture that stands out from the draw is Manchester United versus AC Milan. This tie will see the return of David Beckham to Old Trafford. David Beckham is now a global superstar but was once one of ‘Fergies Fledglings’. Sir Alex Ferguson runs a tight shift and doesn’t tolerate superstars in his dressing room and his relationship with Beckham started to deteriorate as a result of Beckham’s commitments away from football. The fledgling grew up and spread his wings all the way to Real Madrid and then LA Galaxy This is the first time he will be returning to play where it all started. Also  both these sides are footballing giants and have won 10 European Cups among them. The Italians triumphed in the 2007 semi-finals of this competition which was the last time that the two sides faced each other but both teams are quite changed since 2007  and without players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Paolo Maldini.

Let the games begin!

Last 16 draw

Internazionale v Chelsea

Lyon v Real Madrid

Milan v Manchester United

Olympiakos v Bordeaux

FC Porto v Arsenal

CSKA Moscow v Sevilla

Stuttgart v Barcelona

Bayern Munich v Fiorentina

The first-legs ties will be played on 16-17 February and 23-24 with the second-leg ties on 9-10 and 16-17 March.

Leave a Comment

Tiger Woods voted AP’s Athlete of the Decade

December 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM · Filed under BC First, Sport ·Tagged , , , ,

After a terrible few weeks and horrible news headlines, Tiger Woods has finally got some good news. The Associated Press selected Tiger Woods as the Athlete of the Decade. Woods received 56 of the 142 votes cast by the members of The Associated Press showing that no matter how shocking the sex scandals, no one can take away the fact that not only is Tiger Woods, arguably the best golfer ever but  is also the best thing to have happened to golf.  His influence on popularizing the game is immense. TV ratings for golf soared when Tiger Woods was playing and owing to his broad appeal, the prize money has increased many fold since he joined the PGA . Woods has won 64 times including 12 majors, bringing home a trophy from every continent where golf is played. In a decade, Tiger Woods has won 56 PGA Tours and 12 major titles this decade to go along with the two he won in the 90s. He is only 4 short of the record held by Jack Nicklaus. Although there were many big-names from the world sport nominated, it really wasn’t much of a contest for Tiger Woods.

Interestingly, more than half of the votes cast by the members of The Associated Press were after the car-crash which set off the stories of his infidelities. Lance Armstrong, the 6-time Tour De France winner and cancer-survivor finished second with 33 votes. Tennis Maestro Roger Federer, who has won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other man was third with 13 votes. Record-setting Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps came in fourth with 13 votes ahead of  New England quarterback Tom Brady (6) and sprinter Usain Bolt with 4 votes.

The voting showed, quite rightly that three-weeks of damaging reports cannot take away from 10 years of incomparable golfing achievements.

Leave a Comment

The Return of the Grant : Chelsea v Portsmouth

December 16, 2009 at 6:09 PM · Filed under Chelsea, Chelsea FC, English Premier League, EPL ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Once upon a time, on a cold evening in London, Chelsea football club was abuzz with excitement. The fans watched expectantly as the incredibly handsome John Terry lead out his men at Stamford Bridge to play against Everton.  Surely, this would be the day that the glorious CFC extened their 2 point lead to go a super 5 points ahead of Manchester United. We were gonna win. Everton fans in the stands not wanting to show fear cheered their team knowing all the while that they would need a miracle to beat Chelsea that evening. The referee (who wasn’t the t*** called Howard Webb) blew his whistle and Chelsea fans started to count the ways they could taunt their insane friends who supported Manchester United.

Alas, Chelsea lads being  generous, loving and wonderful couldn’t bear the thought of taking such a clear lead of 5 points. The defense felt it was just not fair to their competition and they decided not to defend any Everton set piece whatsoever. Manchester United deserved some leeway you can’t pit work-horses against thoroughbreds! It was Christmas after all! So we gave away two points and drew 3-3 against Everton.

A good deed however always pay-off. Someone, somewhere was watching the Chelsea lads enchanting, selfless generosity and decided to reward the Blues. Title contenders (don’t you dare call them title defenders!) Manchester United took on Aston Villa in a match which everyone expected them to win to go level on points with Chelsea at the top of the table. But remember, generosity pays…. Aston Villa beat them and in the process ended their horrible record against Manchester United since the 80s! Chelsea on the day of their incredibly selfless deed of dropping 2 points, in total gained 1 point. Sigh, a wonderful heartwarming football Christmas tale for the young and old alike!!

Alright, now Chelsea are 3 points ahead of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table… don’t blow it! Enough with the Christmas spirit, winning part of the spirit too! We play portsmouth this evening who are at the bottom of the table and c’mon Blues lets keep it that way. Manchester United have already played their game against Wolverhampton, the wimps didn’t show up! The manager Mick McCarthy made 10 changes to the side that defeated Tottenham on Saturday and then watched his team lose 3-0. I am so glad the Premier League have asked for an explanation from him. Speaking of managers, our ex-manager Avram Grant (the guy who replaced Jose) is now the manager of Portsmouth and this is his first match against us since he took over. He managed to take us to the Finals of the Champions League and well, wasn’t very pleased when the club sacked him.

“When I was sacked I was surprised,” said Grant. “I don’t know if I would have stayed had we won [in Moscow]. The chairman [Roman Abramovich] said that it was my fault that John Terry missed the penalty, and it was my fault that we hadn’t started the season so well. He forgot I was not there in the beginning.”

Although his criticisms of Chelsea hierarchy were delivered with a smile, I am sure  he is looking for revenge and losing 3 points right now will hurt! Portsmouth, however will be without Kaboul who is serving a one-match ban. Steve Finnan and Kevin-Prince Boateng who both missed their last game due to viruses, could be available to return at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea on the other hand will  be without the Drog, who hurt his back in training but Alex comes back and will be replacing Ricardo Carvalho in tonight’s game  which if Chelsea just keep their heads looks like an easy 3 points. Cmon Chels. ktbffh.

Possible Starting XI

Chelsea: Cech, Terry, A Cole, Alex, Ivanovic, Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Anelka, Kalou, J Cole

Portsmouth: James, Hreidarsson, Ben-Haim, Hughes, Finnan, Wilson, Yebda, O’Hara, Brown, Boateng, Dindane

Leave a Comment

The Great Brazilian Football Robbery

December 9, 2009 at 11:58 AM · Filed under BC First, Football ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Brazil’s most popular club Flamengo beat Grêmio 2-1 in the dramatic last day of the Brasileiro ending a 17-year drought and winning their sixth national title. The overjoyed Flamengo fans partied all night but a different hollywood-thriller -style drama was unfolding in a cash-delivery firm in São Paulo.  A clever group of robbers aware of Brazil’s love for football thought the final day of the championship to be the perfect time to steal £3.5 million!

While the nation was transfixed by the phenomenal football being played, police suspect the robbers who tunneled into the firm’s building, waited until when the final games of the national championships were played on Sunday afternoon to break in and steal more than 10 million reais ($5.7 million)

Although a security guard working at the firm on Sunday reported hearing loud noises he assumed they were fireworks lit by excited fans, the Globo news network’s website reported São Paulo police as saying.

The thieves rented a nearby house several months ago and disguised themselves as residents,also put a Christmas tree in their window to allay any suspicions. They then painstakingly dug a 150-meter (490-foot) long tunnel to the firm’s building.

Europe should watch out in May for some copy-cats are bound to surface,  Christmas tree, however could be a giveaway!

.

Comments (1)

December 7, 2009 at 8:51 PM · Filed under Uncategorized

25RKZGTC3TZP

Leave a Comment

Furious Fans, Viagra and the English Football Team

December 7, 2009 at 8:24 PM · Filed under BC First, World Cup ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

England has been bitten by the World Cup bug since the draw last week. Fans are furious, the England manager is planning and strategizing and the FA are have started issuing statements denying stuff.

FIFA’s  allocation of 55 per cent of the event’s 3.7m tickets to favoured corporate groups could see many of the expected 50,000 England fans miss out on the World Cup. While VIP’s and sponsors will get 2 million tickets, England were given only 15,716 tickets, leaving the England fans absolutely furious.

The England manager who doesn’t need to worry about his ticket and has been busy planning England’s warm-up games. England will face USA, Algeria and then Slovenia in Group C, a group being dubbed by many as the ‘Group of Joy’ however, the England manager, Fabio Capello has been quick to warn his players against complacency. Fabio’s strategy is  to play against teams with similar characteristics as the teams in England’s group  to better prepare his team for the tournament. Since, USA are the main threat to England’s ambition of  topping their group, Capello is trying to get one friendly match against either Mexico or Honduras.

While the FA are denying the use of Viagra to help England players rise to the occasion in South Africa!

The Football Association denied that Fabio Capello’s side are considering the use of Viagra to help players cope with playing at very high altitudes at the World Cup.

A report claimed, that the anti-impotency drug could improve the team’s lung capacity. The team’s base camp in Rustenburg in South Africa  is 5000 feet above sea level .

However a FA spokesperson said today, “The England medical staff are conducting detailed research with a variety of experts ahead of next year’s World Cup. However, there has been no discussion with regard to Viagra and certainly no plans for the players to take it in South Africa at the tournament.”

The World Cup is in the air, how could the fascinating, absurd, ridiculous, insane, speculations and inspiring headlines be far behind?

Leave a Comment

Love is in the Air at Chelsea FC!

December 6, 2009 at 3:06 PM · Filed under Chelsea, Chelsea FC ·Tagged , , ,

” Why don’t you let me give you that special feelin
The kind of feelin that’ll make you feel so real and
Ooh why don’t you hit me with that special feel
The kind of feelin that’ll make me feel so real”

Frank Lampard goes completely mental about John Terry at “the Chelsea star on a Stool” event on December 3!  This isn’t the best of recordings and I am sure Chelsea will be putting up this entire event on the CFC YouTube channel but I just had to share it NOW!

Frank ♥ JT, JT ♥ Frank and I ♥ ‘em both,  but seriously, how can two people be so adorable?

Damn, I ♥ Chelsea! ktbffh

Leave a Comment

Florida Highway Patrol will not press charges against Tiger Woods

December 1, 2009 at 9:24 PM · Filed under BC First, Sport ·Tagged , , , ,

The Florida Highway Patrol has confirmed that they will be not be pursuing criminal charges against Tiger Woods in connection with the car accident last Friday and confirmed that there will be no further investigations into the matter. Woods hit a fire hydrant while pulling out of the driveway of his Isleworth, Florida, home and then drove into a tree on his neighbor’s property.

Maj. Cindy Williams from Florida Highway Patrol said Woods was guilty of careless driving and Woods had met all the legal requirements of Florida law by providing his driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance. The FHP added that after reviewing the evidence, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence available to issue a subpoena for any additional medical information that might exist in this case.

“There are no claims of domestic violence by any individual”, the Major confirmed.

Woods, 36, has been given a citation for careless driving and if found guilty will be fined $164 and 4 points on a driving record.

The golfer, who was treated for facial lacerations, withdrew from his own golf tournament blaming the injuries from the crash.

Leave a Comment

Charlize Theron is the guest presenter for the World Cup draw!

December 1, 2009 at 7:29 PM · Filed under FIFA, Football, World Cup ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

The World Cup draw is going to take place this Friday,December 11 at 5pm  GMT and if that wasn’t enough reason for you to watch, get this; Charlize Theron will be the guest presenter!  The South African Oscar-winning superstar  will assist the FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke during the draw which will be held in the International Convention Center in Cape Town.

According to the FIFA statement released today, the draw will showcase a number of live music acts  and a series of short films designed to  ”give a taste” of the upcoming tournament. Grammy award-winners Soweto Gospel Choir, Beninese singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo and one of South Africa’s most successful solo musicians Johnny Clegg will also be performing alongside the Jazzart Dance Company as the final draw looks to celebrate both the African continent and the beautiful game of football.

Charlize Theron will be joined on stage by many sporting celebrities including star footballer and one of only a few players to have scored in 3 consecutive FIFA World Cups David Beckham, two-time Olympic gold medallist and nine-time athletics world champion Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, the first Black player in the South African Cricket team fast-bowler Makhaya Ntini, the captain of the rugby world champions John Smit, and  the Bafana Bafana player Matthew Booth.

The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma and FIFA’s president, Sepp Blatter will welcome the audience at the start of the 90-minute live show.

The chairman of the World Cup’s orgnaising committee Issa Hayatou, the Nobel Peace Prize winners FW de Klerk and Archbishop Desmond Tutu will also be present.Nelson Mandela will address the audience via video message. Other guests on the day include former footballers Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Eusebio and Roger Milla.

It is estimated the draw will have a global audience of more than 200 million people spread over 200 territories with 2000 on site invited guests and 1700 media representatives in attendance.

The World Cup organising committee will be meeting tomorrow under the chairmanship of  the FIFA vice-president, Issa Hayatou and the procedures for the draw and the seeding process will be announced thereafter on December 2.

“This is a very important event for football and Africa as the Final Draw comes to Cape Town where an unprecedented six teams from the host continent will be represented,” said FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke. ”We expect a record global audience which I hope will be glued to their screens for the duration of the show.”

The World Cup really keeps giving you more and more reasons to get on a plane to South Africa!

Leave a Comment

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.