Manchester Blues

Ball Harambee By Bagga Wilks

As Yogi Berra was fond of saying, “It is not over until the fat lady sings”. Manchester United had the EPL title in the palm of their hands but Manchester City has snatched it away. In an epic encounter, Manchester City defeated Manchester United 1-0 in a game they had to win to keep their hopes alive to win the title. There are two more games to be played and if Manchester United win their remaining fixture and Manchester City does the same, the latter wins on goal average. But Manchester City must defeat Newcastle on their home field which will not be an easy undertaking.

Kicking the Ugly Head of Racism

Ball Harambee Feb. 12 By Bagga Wilks

The Football Association went out of its way to protect Luis Suarez’s due process rights. He was given every opportunity to make the case of his innocence against the charges of bellowing racist epithets brought against him by Patrice Evra. He had the support of the Liverpool Football Club and his manager Kenny Dalglish. Anyone who reads objectively the findings of the arbitration board sees clearly that the evidence against Suarez was overwhelming. He was fined and suspended for 8 games.

How Great is Barcelona?

By Bagga Wilks

There is no question that Barcelona is the best team in football at this juncture. They do not have the best defense. Pique is an excellent central defender and Mascherano showed his versatility as a defensive player by partnering with Pique. Playing as a central defender is not Mascherano’s natural position. Danny Alves is more an attacking full back and Abidal’s quick return from cancer surgery was heroic. When Manchester United attacked, Barcelona’s defense looked shaky and Rooney’s masterful curler gave United hope and signaled that Barcelona’s defensive perimeter could be breached.

Other than Rooney’s goal, Manchester United looked incredibly ordinary. Barcelona plays against great teams like Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid and treats the game like a training exercise.

Coaching is significant but the aggregation of Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Alves, Abidal, Villa and Pedro make them into passing wonders. They short pass, they move, they turn, they mesmerize and then they strike like vipers.

The Manchester tactic was to pressure the ball and not give Barcelona time to dominate possession. It worked for a couple minutes in the first half but as Barcelona stepped into a rhythm, Sir Alex’s contingent was running in circles and when they got the ball, were immediately dispossessed.

A central aspect of Barcelona’s ability to dominate is their capacity not to allow their opponents to put passes together. What is unique is not the art of the short passing but the use of space and the nonstop running off the ball.

Manchester Triumphant

By Bagga Wilks

The Manchester United vs Chelsea game produced interesting match-ups. Ashley Cole the Chelsea and England left-full back was beaten and turned around repeatedly by Valencia, Manchester United and Ecuador’s right mid-field player. It was similar to Bale of Tottenham running rings about Macion of Inter Milan and Brazilian’s right full back. Valencia only returned to action in January after suffering a broken ankle the previous season.

Chelsea’s central defenders did not match up well with Rooney and Hernandez. The latter scored in the first 30 seconds of what was virtually the play-off game for the English Premier League. Both Luiz and Terry were caught square. The newly acquired Luiz started so shaky that he was replaced by Alex at half time.

At half time trailing 2-0, the Chelsea coach, Ancelotti went to his bench and replaced Mikel with Ramires. Later, the $50 million Torres replaced Kalou. Lampard scored in the second half but was never was able to put his stamp on the game. Essien has become an inconsequential mid-field player. Terry is no longer a dominant central defender. Chelsea ended the season strong but the big question mark for next season is to what extent has the squad aged? Does the squad need tinkering or does it need massive rejuvenation?

Champs vs Chumps

By Bagga Wilks

The logical prediction for Arsenal vs Manchester United on Sunday, May 1st, 2011 would be that Arsenal’s lack of shooting power would be easy pickings for Manchester United’s two defensive stalwarts, Vidic and Ferdinand and that United’s fire-power of Rooney, Hernandez and Nasri would extinguish Arsenal’s porous defense line. But that Sunday at the Emirates, the opposite occurred.

For the first 45 minutes Arsenal’s mid-field of Song, Wilshere and Ramsey overran Manchester United’s invisible mid-field. Walcott, Van Persie and Nani mounted raids on Manchester’s backline. Arsenal dominated the mid-field play to the extent that Arsenal’s defensive line spent more time on attack than on defense.

Manchester United is not only fighting for the EPL title but during the week they “toyed” with Shalke of the Bundesliga for the semi-final of the Champions League and even though there is a second leg coming up on Tuesday, the odds are clear that the Champions League final will be between Barcelona and Manchester United. Shalke looked like a light-weight in the same ring as a heavyweight. The Champion League not only puts the best European teams in the gladiator ring of world football but it provides us with an insight to the respective strength of European Leagues. The E.P.L. is vastly stronger than the German League. It is not surprising that no Italian team qualified to advance in the semi-final of the Champions League. It signifies the weakening state of Serie A and in a larger context, the decline of Italian football.

Arsenal: The Last Supper

By Bagga Wilks

Bolton broke Arsenal’s back with a 2-1 defeat on their home turf where they have been more than resilient for most of the season. For Arsenal, this was the last supper. For 2011, there would be no resurrection. Not winning vital matches, giving up goals from set pieces, giving up goals in the last minute of games, failing to close the show has been the club’s “bugaboo”.

By some standards, Arsenal had an excellent season. They have played great football. Nasri has emerged as a fine creative player. Fabregas is ending the season unhurt. Walcott has shown flashes of brilliance. Wilshere is a great player in the making. Song has become an indomitable defensive mid-field player. Van Persie is a great goal scorer. But the team lacks certain essential defensive ingredients.

Winning Championships and the Management Factor: Man U 4-2 West Ham

Coaches are not on the pitch playing the game but they are a huge factor in the final result. A soccer game is two forty-five minute halves and what adjustments are made at half-time can determine the final outcome of the game.

At the end of the first half, West Ham was leading the English Premier League leaders, Manchester United, two goals to zero. Avram Grants’ men had another forty-five minutes to secure three points, an upset victory, and to put them in a more competitive position to avoid relegation. Grant’s team began the second half with no adjustments. They had secured the lead by the referee granting them deserved penalties. But even before the first-half ended, Manchester was already asserting their superior class. West Ham’s best chance of winning was to insert another player who could withstand United’s relentless attacks.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who has to be considered one of the more astute managers in the game, made adjustments in the second half. He inserted “Chicharito” Hernandez and Berbatov to join with Wayne Rooney in the attack. Ferguson not only makes the right moves at the right time but he selects players who are match winners, very much aware that although mid-field play is dominant, having players who are specialized goal scorers is critical to winning matches and winning championships. Rooney scored a hat trick in the second half and “Chicharito” converted the fourth. West Ham went down to defeat 4-2.