Bleacher Report - Articles by Sheikh Zakaria

Manchester United-Arsenal: Disaster for the Gunners

Sheikh Zakaria — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:41:04 -0500

Both Rio Ferdinand and William Gallas denied claims that a loss either way may well decide the winner of this season's Premier League title.

But certainly a winning team will always take positives from the game and use them to springboard and look forward to what remains of the season in all competitions.

A majority of the teams' fans were rooting for a lackluster draw though when the starting eleven was announced.

Ronaldo and Giggs were left out of the entire squad for United, while Arsenal had their leading scorer Adebayor on the bench and Rosicky sidelined.

United went for a rather unorthodox formation and lineup, where Sir Alex gave Park and Fletcher a chance to prove their worth at the club. Fletcher and Park started in the wings, while Nani played behind Rooney upfront

When you see the gaffer leaving out the Talisman Ronaldo, you must rant at him and lose all your hopes for a win.

But the gamble did pay off, and in some style, too, as the Gunners were mauled with four goals, and the man of the match was none other than Darren Fletcher.

Though different sports channels opted for different players for the awards, I would go for the Scot because he has been so fairly underrated by the pundits and he needed to reply to them.

There wasn't even any open chance for Arsenal to score and their attitude was nothing more than tardy and disgusted.

United dominated the entire match in all respects—possession, shots on goal, corners etc...

Our midfield produced the most resounding performance of the season—Carrick was on top of his game, better than his counterpart Fabregas, and was delivering immaculate passes.

Nani delivered the two assists from which Fletcher scored his brace, and oh boy was he tormenting the Gunner defenders as if he had some grudge against them. What skills, what dribbles—that was a sublime game from the 20-year-old Portuguese international.

Anderson showed his ball retention skills superbly and had some decent shots on goal.

You simply can't discount one player from the United team who hadn't unleashed themselves last night—Van der Saar was an exception though, as he rather relished some frolics with the referee!

The game also reinstated the fact that Ronaldo isn't the only scorer for United, but it vividly reflects the fact that everything in United revolves around him when he plays the game.

But as long as we keep winning, that's of no concern for us.

All said, it's time for the gaffer to carry this performance to the remaining games of the season and checkmate Professor Wenger.

There's simply no room for complacency now. Any more points dropped in the league, and the title may head to North London.

Manchester United: Rooney and Company Set for Backlash Against Arsenal

Sheikh Zakaria — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:50:28 -0500

If one can take the romantic vibe of the FA Cup literally, then he must hail the scheduling of the matchup of United and Arsenal just two days before Valentine's Day.

But here's the irony—ask any Gooner or United fan about how they feel for each other, and your ears will be stung with all the abuses of the world.

United and Arsenal haven't been involved in the title race for the last couple of years, and much to the delight of their fans, the next generation of players on either team have revived the same old detestation for each other.

Don't get me wrong here, we Mancs never adored the North Londoners, but in terms of title race, we are glad that we have got our prime contenders.

Though both teams are denying that the FA Cup aftermath will have any effect on their title race, deep down the players know that a win will give their title ambitions a massive boost.

After last week's horrendous derby defeat against City, United welcomed back the soul of their team—Wayne Rooney and flying left back Patrice Evra—both of who have been out for suspension.

United have lost all their four games in the league this season without the service of this English prodigy, and still the anti-United faithful will pinpoint Ronaldo as the only player in the team. Or to be precise, will call United a "one man team."

It's worrying though that Rooney hasn't got a fair share of the goals this season, with Ronaldo and Tevez scoring more than 80 percent of them. It's possible that the gaffer is using Wazza's presence in the team as an intimidation for the opposition defense—as you know how many chances he creates. But on the gloomier side, you know how many he misses!

As for Arsenal, their Togolese stalwart Adebayor is grabbing all the attention right now, as he, like Ronaldo, is propelling his team's title hopes.

Though Rosicky and Giberto are lacking match fitness, the likes of Fabregas, Hleb, and Flamini are expected to torment the back of United.

United should use the aftermath of this match as a springboard and improvise the potential energy that they will get to take them all the way to the pinnacle of success.

Of course no one is discounting Arsenal, as history is on their side. The last time they played United at Old Trafford in an FA Cup, they won 0-2. After all, who can forget the Beckham-Fergie incident?

So the stage is set, the players are poised, and all we need to do is sit back and relish the beauty of football.

Alex Ferguson's Lineup Blunders: Why United Lost the Derby

Sheikh Zakaria — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:07:06 -0500

Just like all other United fans, I was absolutely crushed by the shocking home loss to local rival City, who are now on an upswing.

The somber atmosphere at Old Trafford brought emphasis to the defeat, marking the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air disaster. United had hoped to draw inspiration from the heroics of the Busby Babes and pay them homage in some style.

But instead the team looked tardy and emotionally handicapped throughout the match, and City no doubt capitalized on their weaknesses to produce a victory.

Now I know I’m not Fergie, but I have to say I think he made some real errors in his lineup.

Why play Anderson and Scholes together? While their levels of expertise and experience may differ, these players share a very similar style of play.

Sir Alex should have started either Hargreaves or Carrick to secure the back of the midfield, but he went for an attacking strategy and this will never work without Wayne Rooney, who is currently suspended.

And why play Giggs for the entire 90 minutes? Yes, he's a veteran, he can deliver (sometimes) when it comes to big matches, and he creates lots of assists.

But look at his age! Giggs is 34 years old. Is it really ever a good plan to start an aging player, then rely on him to complete a grueling 90 minutes?

J.S. Park is not as graceful as Giggs, but when you play Nani and Park in the wings, the team gains mobility and most likely some decent assists—provided that Ronaldo plays up front.

Finally, let’s consider this error. Not truly a tactical misstep, but rather Ferguson’s brazen decision not to buy a striker in the January window.

Players like Huntelaar and Berbatov were closely linked to a United move, but Fergie still conserved his faith to rely on Louis Saha, who has truly disgusted me this season so far. You know that at some point, either Rooney or Tevez will suffer slight knocks or be rested for big matches, but who can defy Sir Alex?

Meanwhile, though, United must look forward to Sparky's team, who could cause an upset at the Emirates.

Yeah, I may be talking crazy, but it's football after all.

Manchester United: Why Ryan Giggs Should Be Rested

Sheikh Zakaria — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:18:28 -0500

Ryan Giggs is one of the most evergreen players the Premier League has ever seen.

Born and bred United, this Welsh International can be regarded as the best left winger to have ever graced the greens of not only Old Trafford, but also the EPL.

If you are speaking against him, then beware of his 18 major honors, that includes an unprecedented 9 league titles and a Treble.

But in the wake of this new generation of Man United players, Ryan has not been in his peak form in many of the game's he has played.

Undoubtedly a point of controversy, as i will find many hardcore United fans raving at me that Giggs is class, he is fabulous and he can excel in matches.

I won't disagree at all, but when you look at his age (34), you must be surprised at how he can play for a team each week.

Thanks to his Yoga programs and the United physios.

However, when an average player crosses 32/33 years old, the first flair that he looses from his game is speed. It's quite visible on field that Giggs doesn't run these days as he did five or six years back.

There's no question of his agility and composure, as you can see him playing for over an hour. Also, he has spectacularly maintained his finesse, for which he is still the No. 11 at Old Trafford.

United have recently signed a Portuguese prodigy in the shape of Nani, who is likened to Crisitiano Ronaldo when he first came at Old Trafford back in 2003.

The left winger has come in as a future replacement for Giggs, and he has got blistering pace,tremendous shot power and outwitting skills. But the only thing which has kept him out from starting for United regularly is his experience.

He's a neophyte to English Football and is still just 20. Where Sir Alex Ferguson always opts for a cocktail of experience, talent and a little of youth, you can't expect Nani to knock off Giggs from the starting 11 straightaway.

What I have noticed throughout the season, however, is a lack of speed and aggression down the left flank.

Evra always comes out of his left back position and assists Giggs to keep up the pressure in the left, but how long will Evra leave his defense stranded?

I don't mean that Giggs can't do it all alone—come on haven't you seen those cheeky dummies and freestyles?

But, United have to level up their speed cumulatively in order to keep up with the pace of other EPL teams. The one man who is struggling to do so is Ryan Giggs.

Therefore, in my opinion, Nani should be given more games to acclimatize with the intensity of English football and develop a consistent team chemistry with his peers.

Of course you are not keeping Giggsy out forever—he may play a vital role in several key matches in the league and also in Europe.

It will not certainly cost United several defeats to make Nani a fully-fledged winger, and you can expect some insane attempts on goal, some immature fouls, and on the positive side, some moments of magic!

EPL Top Five: Saluting the Masters of Free Kicks

Sheikh Zakaria — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:41:21 -0500

Throughout the years, the Premier League has been bestowed with some of the most spellbinding artifices of shooting the ball on goal. We call it the free kick.

The free kick takers had their own style and ruse, distinguishing them from all the other nine or 10 players on the team.

Not everybody could master taking free kicks, and if you watch some of the wondrous goals scored by the players, you will realize the sweetness and thrill of the shot.

The names of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer, Hasselbank, etc. have always been synonymous with free kicks, and among these favorites I have mentioned above I will put the former England captain at the top of the pile.

1. David Beckham

Arguably the best free kick taker in the history of English football, Beckham’s majestic curls into the top and bottom corner of the nets have been the eye candy of many football fans.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger had this classic apt for bending the ball in compliance with the aerodynamics, which the goalie could only admire after he would concede the goal. Not only his precision, but also the posture with which he goes over the dead balls, are truly fabulous.

He has managed around 70 to 80 goals solely from his free kicks.

As for his very best, it’s hard to single out one, but if you consider the timing and urgence of goal then certainly his last gasp equalizer against Greece in the WC’02 qualifiers beats the rest.

2. Thierry Henry

A surprise pick, but you have to give him a bow when you see his ball wrying around the corner of the air and sliding past the keeper into the net. He also liked to bend the ball like Beckham at times, but not as immaculate as Beck’s were.

It was really amazing to see his short run up and then watch him smash the ball hard, which coupled with the bend deceived the keeper to go past him.

3. Les Ferdinand

Highly controversial choice again from the reader’s perspective, but one thing I appreciated about this former Newcastle ace was the power of the shot.

He would hit the ball with all his body strength and it simply rocketed to the back of the net, dumbfounding the keeper. Though free kicks could not bring him many goals, he will be remembered for his short run up and lashing the ball through the wall into the net.

4. Frank Lampard

I am tempted to put Gianfranco Zola’s name here, but what’s so beguiling about this Englishman’s free kick is that you can hardly stop it even it’s right in front of you!

Confused?

He had his own style of hitting the ball hard, but made it dip so that in some cases it would fall right in front of the goalie and bounce over him to cross the goal line. On several occasions, he loved to drill the ball home as swiftly as he could with a sharp small bend and a deflection or two from the wall.

5. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

The former Leeds and Chelsea striker resort to no special techniques while handling the dead ball situations, but he loved to score from free kicks quite often.

The Neophyte: Cristiano Ronaldo

My hands were itching to type about this boy’s free kick knackery—and it should certainly do after I watched an absolute peach of a physics-defying goal from the Portuguese whiz kid against Portsmouth.

He engineers his free kick like no one has ever done before—a short run up, a hit to the ball causing it to gain a momentary elevation in air, and a slide down the top corner of the net.

What’s more jaw-dropping about the free kick is that the ball automatically swayed wildly left to right as if the air was a springboard to it. Though his accuracy of the shots on goal isn’t that great, which he openly admitted last night, no one can stop the ball when it’s on target.

According to Sir Alex, the goal against Pompey was the best free kick he has ever seen in the EPL. I will not stand firm for his claim, but that’s blatantly one of the goals of the season.

Honourable Mentions

Steven Gerrard, Paul Ince, Eric Cantona, Van Persie, Gamst Pederson and the other guys who you reckon worth mentioning but haven’t impressed me that much.

Manchester United: Who Can Stop Cristiano Ronaldo?

Sheikh Zakaria — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:40:43 -0500

United's 3-1 triumph over a rejuvenated Spurs side was buoyed by Cristiano Ronaldo's brace. But folks, this was not the first time he’s deployed the strategy.

This season Fulham, Blackburn, Everton, Spurs, and Wigan have all fallen victim to his double acts. Whenever United needs someone to bust up a narrowly contested match, they send Ronaldo into the thick of things to snatch all three points for the Red Devils.

Amidst the recent media buzz guessing at his move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo has lost neither focus nor ambition; he has never lost sight of the dreams he made come true at United.

Still, his move was looking imminent in the summer window when his mom revealed that she wished her son to play for Real before she breathes her last. And Ronaldo’s mother even fueled the saga, saying that she’s always loathed English football and never expected her son to play for United.

But it seems this footballer will not be derailed from his goals. There's not even a shadow of a doubt that he will achieve something really immense this season—maybe the league, or the Treble, and in personal terms, FIFA World Player of the Year.

Since United's last gasp win against Everton on December 23rd, Ronaldo has enjoyed a terrific goal scoring spree. Though he did miss out in scoring against Birmingham, his first hat trick for the club against the Toon made up for that.

Apart from a minor thigh strain—for which he sat out from the loss against Bolton—Ronaldo's fitness level this season has been stupendous. It's really amazing to see a player week in and week out running like a nutter, scoring goals for fun, and never getting hurt. He has United's fitness coach to thank, who has made a great endeavor to maintain the fitness levels of the starters.

With 25 goals in 27 games in all competitions, Ronaldo is only seven short of breaking George Best's record of scoring 32 goals in a season as a winger.

As a United fan I can see that he's really an odd guy to be hailed as the regular goalscorer for his team.

There has been a significant diminuendo in Wayne Rooney's goal scoring performances this season; his accuracy and timing haven’t dovetailed much. But here's the twist—this season United has lost each match in which Rooney did not play. Even with Ronaldo, United was downed by an upbeat West Ham during the Christmas rounds.

And that's why Ronaldo has heaped praises on Rooney and held him primarily responsible for recent goal scoring opportunities. Not only his assists, but Rooney’s monumental presence has lifted the team to the top of their game.

My anti-United friends have recently challenged that if Ronaldo is sidelined for at least three or four games, United's title hopes will be shattered.

But, as they have shown on many occasions, United isn’t a one-man team. Ultimately there will always be a match winner, but if Ronaldo is consistently prepared to cash in the opportunity to score, why pressure Tevez and Rooney to do so?

EPL Golden Boot: Another Two-Horse Race?

Sheikh Zakaria — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:28:07 -0500

Manchester United and Arsenal have set the pace for this season's Premier League title race, and it's apparent that no one's catching up with the two Red Titans of England.

Though Chelsea should not be written off just yet, they will need a miraculous chain of events to derail the steely Gunners and Red Devils from the title race.

However, the contest for the 2007/08 Premier League Golden Boot is shaping up pretty fast—and as the statistics suggest, Cristiano Ronaldo and Emmanuel Adebayor are among the top candidate sto grasp the Golden Boot.

Of course other prodigious strikers—such as the likes of Benjani, Robbie Keane, and Fernando Torres—are breathing down the necks of the top two, but I really doubt whether they can overhaul the runaway leaders.

Let's have a close eye on the favorites and adjudge their credentials for the Golden Boot.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

If I tell you that this Portuguese winger started his carrier at Sporting Lisbon as a striker, you won’t be startled.

Given his stupendous goal-scoring form of late—bagging 23 goals in 26 games—this wonder kid is taking the Premier League by storm this season. Officially rated as the third-best player in the world and second-best in Europe, Ronaldo is currently atop the goal-scoring charts with 17 goals.

Much like last season, the man from Madeira has been the lynch pin of United’s success so far this year. Though the contributions of the other Devilish Duo—Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez—should not be discounted, C’Ron is the man encourages United supporters to paint a rosy picture of their treble-winning aspirations.

People are tipping Ronaldo to break George Best’s record of 32 goals in a season as a winger for United, but Ronaldo seconds personal glory to that of his team’s.

Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal)

The 25-year-old striker from Togo has been a complete revelation for the North London club this season.

Due to Thierry Henry’s towering presence in the field, he had to play in his shadows for much of last season—and the fans, therefore, could not see the best of this charismatic footballer.

Now, as the French Talisman has departed, Adebayor has found firm ground in the league on which to build his goal scoring. He has exceeded expectations of many Arsenal supporter s, and his 15 goals are a token of his free-scoring style.

Blistering dribbles and deft headers have been his trademark—and if there’s one guy who can threaten Ronaldo’s leadership in the goal chart, it’s Adebayor. Credits also go to the ever-magnificent midfield trio: Rosicky, Fabregas, and Hleb, who have been providing the crisp through balls and crosses for him.

As a Man United fan, my prediction will of course be that Ronaldo takes the Golden Boot for United—and perhaps, in some style, by successfully defending the League title.

Liverpool FC: Sack Rafael Benitez

Sheikh Zakaria — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:15:31 -0500

The past few weeks haven’t been savory at all for the All Reds - a string of draws in the league and a hard-fought rematch against the Luton in the FA Cup were all they could earn.

We know that the present unrest at Liverpool has instilled a downtrodden morale among the players, which is costing them valuable points in the league.

So who is to blame for this?

I hold Rafael Benitez solely responsible for the club’s recent lackluster performance. So, the co-owners don’t understand football or the transfer market, does this mean they are not meddling with the team line-ups?

There are some valid reasons as to why I’ve made such a bold statement. Before you scousers rave at me, I want you to have a walk down memory lane and assess Liverpool’s seasons under Rafa.

It’s a harsh reality, but Liverpool is the most successful club in England in terms of winning league trophies, and Rafael Benitez was called on for the reprise of those glorious years.

Barren years for a club of Liverpool’s stature is certainly not a satisfactory fact for a Reds supporter is it?

However, Rafa came in, took the club by storm, changed everything right down to the feet and the outcome was a European glory - its first UEFA Champions League title or fourth European Cup. But what about the league?

Same old story: fourth place.

Things even got worse for them in the following season when they finished fifth, but still managed to defend their title unsuccessfully by virtue of UEFA’s benevolence.

If Rafa has only been brought for European and Domestic Cup success, then I suppose Gerard Houllier was better. Remember the year 2001 when Houllier won a bizarre treble for the club- FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup?

He even took Liverpool to second and third in one or two occasions, but look what Rafa has done?

Houllier didn’t go for lavish spending like Rafa, and still won the trophies he wished to win (except the EPL).

Houllier didn’t have a star-studded squad, though Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard were playing at the top of their game. He didn’t even grumble for transfer window fundings, and spent with prudence according to the needs of the club.

Granted Rafa didn’t have a multi-star team which won them the Champions League, but if you take that glory out of this equation, then you may question why Liverpool are still holding on to Rafa.

We’ve seen in the previous seasons how many serial signings Rafa made, and how many rotations he made in his starting line-ups, and how many players he kicked out.

The rule of thumb for a manager has always been that after several rotations, if you have found the winning team, cling on to that and give it a run. But why Rafa needs to be unorthodox here?

It’s obvious that he doesn’t want to disappoint the bench-warmers or his backup players, but what’s the point then to have such a ginormous squad?

Apart from injuries, I don’t see any logic behind this, but then again the question comes that how many players can get injured in a club? Hundreds?

I hope you’re not still in memory lane. If you are, then just fast forward and look at this horrible season of the Reds.

After an albeit jaw dropping start to the season, Liverpool has suddenly started to forget how to win.. They are loosing points on the occasions they were expected to win comfortably.

Don’t you think with the likes of Torres, Babel, the evergreen Steve G. and Carragher the Red Army should roll on?

If there’s any positivism that Liverpool can take from this season so far, that would be the acquisition of a top draw striker-Fernando Torres, who has been the savior for them.

To wrap up my critique, all I can see is a lackluster, boring, last gasp winning: Liverpool and hanging to the fourth position forever until they see off the Spaniard and look for a fresh start under a new manager.

The Whiz Kids of Europe: A Glance at Football's Stars of Tomorrow

Sheikh Zakaria — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:12:41 -0500

Giving promotion to Youth Academy players and signing young players have been considered as masterstrokes by many football pundits these days. And if you are looking for some perfect examples- ask Arsene Wenger or Frank Riijkard.

Unlike Manchester United or Real Madrid, Arsenal and Barcelona didn't go for lavish spending in the past summer. Instead, they dug deeper into their own reserves and youth team.

As for Arsenal, Wenger was frugal to sign players like Bacary Sagna and Nikolas Bendtner, unfazed by the departure of his starman Thierry Henry. He knew that his fledgling 'kids' like Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb can soon reach the stardom as Henry did when he was at Arsenal.

Now, we can see the consequences of the prudential approach of Wenger-his team sitting pretty at the top of the table, only behind United in terms of goal difference.

However, many youngsters across Europe have been displaying some of the finest football that i have witnessed recently, and if they can hold on to their finesse, no doubt we will have a Galaxy of Stars in the coming years.

But lets hope that the don't all play in the same team!

Here are my top five wonderboys-

1. Karim Benzema: Though of Algerian origin, the 21 year old is a born and bred Lyon player. Clubs like Real Madrid, AC Milan and Manchester United have been linked with him, and his outclassing performances for Lyon can only add to his already glittering portfolio

He has been the lynchpin of his team's success this season, and is currently Ligue 1's top scorer with 13 goals.

2. Fransesc Fabregas: A fruit of Barcelona's Youth System, Cesc is one of the majestic figures to have ever graced the greens of EPL, especially Arsenal.

Though he came through the same ranks of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, the then 17 year old caught the prying eyes of Professor Wenger and he bagged the Spanish prodigy for less than a million pounds.

After a relatively mediocre performance in the past two seasons, Cesc has suddenly burst into the scene this season and is undoubtedly the catalyst of his team's success so far. Terrific man marking, crisp crossing and fabulous assists have been his common traits. Surely, a legend on the making

3. Bojan Krkic: Have you ever thought of a Barca starting line up without Ronaldinho? for once?

If you haven't then start doing so, because this Serbian boy wonder has been starting regularly for Barca, leaving the out of favour Ronaldinho to warm the benches.

Yet another fruitful product of the Barca Youth System, the 17 year old striker has taken the Spanish Media by storm when he made his first appearance in a league match, scoring one and setting up a goal.

Much alike Fabregas, his finesse is more suited for a striking role rather. He has been playing in the 4-3-3 formation with Ronaldinho is the far most flank and Eto'o in the middle. With this formidable trio, Riijkard can brew for another successful season.

4. Alan Hutton: This Scottish International fullback took me by surprise when i saw him obstructing Ronaldinho on many occasions when his club Rangers held Barca to a goal-less draw at the Ibrox.

Even in Scotland's double over France, Hutton rose to the occasion and defended his team's priceless lead as if he has been playing for ages.

Spurs had their offer snubbed by him off late, because he's keen to ply his trade at United rather.

5. Samir Nasri: Hailed as the new Zinedine Zidane, the Marseille born midfielder is the focal point of his team. Gritty, speedy,and crafty, the Ligue 1 Player of the Year 2007 awardee is getting heaps of praises from the pundits, but only for his individual performance

His team Marseille is languishing in the bottom half of the table for all the wrong reasons, but let's hope that this gem of a player won't get tarnished with his team's performance.

Of course, you guys may have some other names in your mind, and my apologies for being unable to list them all. But Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) Oliviera Anderson (Manchester United), Geovanni Dos Santos (Barcelona), Charles N'Zogbia (Newcastle), and Giorgio Chilleni (Juventus) deserve some honorable mentions.

Manchester United-Newcastle United: Curse of the Trinity Rocks the Toon

Sheikh Zakaria — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:58:53 -0500

A managerless Newcastle United had the most daunting task of their life as they faced an in form Manchester United, who had everything going along their way.

A record turnover of 245 million pounds for the 2006/07 season boosted their ambitions of notching even bigger glories this season, and Newcastle United really should not have messed with the wrath of the Red Devils.

Yes folks,they are now the richest club in the world, only leading Real Madrid by 12 eurs-considering all the loan deals, revenues, TV rights, bumper sales, massive fanbase (330 million!), and the presence of world class players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Talking about Ronaldo, well he has again reiterated the fact that the FIFA World Player of the Award trophy should have his name written on it. A sublime performance yet again for the table toppers, with his first hattrick of the season and increasing his goal tallies to an astounding 22 goals in all competitions!.

Newcastle just can not get rid of the grief-laden atmosphere,which has smothered their aspirations of breaking into the top half of the table. With the likes of Michael Owen and Mark Viduka, one would certainly expect his side to perform week in and week out, but Newcastle haven't agreed their terms with good luck just yet.

United on the other hand had to lift their game after a dismal display against Birmingham, and Sir Alex also had to vouch his comments that the crowd was a 'funeral' in that day.

With a full strength squad and a team brimming with talent and class, the first half of the match really did not entertain the neutrals.

THough the United fans had too voice their strong disapproval against some horrendous decisions made by the referee Rob Styles. He overlooked two clear-cut penalties where in one of them, the much culpable pace of Ronaldo came under spotlight again.

However, i leave it to you Gooners fans to rant and rave at him, because you guys really need a high after seeing a lacklustre performance of your side.

Anyways, after a goalless second half, I stared blankly at my TV and wondered why on earth did i bet 100 bucks with my friends for United thumping 4 past Newcastle?

But my blushes looked safe for the day when Ronaldo opened the floodgate with a brilliant free kick, slotting the ball home right below the leapfrogging Newcastle wall.

Soon after, Tevez followed up by tapping a cross from Ryan Giggs after he capitalised on a dire defensive mixup at the Magpie's back.

Suddenly, my sixth sense started to give me vibrations that we are up for a football fiesta tonight and o boy wasn't my sense right?

United were flying high and continuously hammering shots from every corner of the field. Defender Jose Enrique made some decent saves from the goalline when Danny Simpson and Carrick had their go.

But Ronaldo was pumping up and converted another top draw cross from Tevez to make it 3-0 for the Devils.

Meanwhile, N'Zogbia could have scored what could have been the goal of the season as he twisted and turned and penetrated through the United defence, but only for Van der Saar to pounce on the ball right at the death.

THe last 80 mins of the game saw another three goals from Ronaldo Ferdinand and Tevez, which effectively sealed the game for United and took them to the top of the table by the virtue of an amazing goal difference of +33.

There can't be just one highlight of the game- Ronaldo's first hattrick of his United carrier after denied several times before, Rooney's man of the match winning performance although he couldn't bag one goal for him, and finally United at the top of the table with scoring the maximum goals (44), least goal scored at home (3), maximum goal difference and lots more...

I'm pretty sure that Arsenal will have a backlash at the Cottagers when they face them in their Derby match, while United can expect another exhilarating second half of the season ahead.

Glory Glory United!

Sam Allardyce Firing: A Recipe for Failure

Sheikh Zakaria — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:29:06 -0500

The eighth managerial casualty of the season has been recorded in the English Premier League, with Sam Allardyce getting the axe from Newcastle.

Allardyce has been on the job barely seven months, but could not set a pace via which the Toon Army could see light at the end of the tunnel.

There has been real angst at the Tyne side this season, with the team languishing in the bottom half of the table. Several back-to-back defeats and poor scoring form has left the Barcode Men in utter dismay—and the only man who could put things right was Big Sam.

Allardyce had a grossly successful tenure at Bolton Wanderers, and took the West Midlands club to Europe in his dying days as the Trotters boss. He has the unprecedented distinction of beating Manchester United twice on the bounce at Old Trafford—and who can forget his several memorable wins against Arsenal?

But things didn't go according to Big Sam's initial plans at St. James', as his beginning was as stuttering as his end. He had a full strength squad, with an ever-absentee Michael Owen.

Though he scored a few of his winners last season, he has yet to repeat that feat this term.

Sam wanted more consistency and a gradual buildup this season. But Newcastle's play has created sullen atmosphere around the club, and the results couldn't stop the fans from voicing their disapproval.

Their form has been like a yo-yo: win-loss-draw, draw-loss-win...

Sam said that to mold a winning side, you have to investigate and experiment with each and every player in the squad. If it backfires, then try for plan B—or wait for transfer windows to fortify the squad, and in the meantime go for satisfactory results.

The hard work would surely have paid off if the restless Newcastle fans gave Allardyce a bit more time to bring harmony to the team.

Success doesn't come overnight, after all.

Sir Alex Ferguson could not elevate his United side to the top half of the table in his first three or so years in charge of the Red Devils. His team was not well disciplined, lacking finesse and match-winners.

But United fans didn't panic, nor did the United board of directors. They knew that the club's fortunes were in safe hands, and the only thing they could do was to wait and watch.

Ultimately, as we all know, they were repaid in full.

Arsene Wenger's 12-year reign in North London is another example for those unruly glory-hunting fans who think that success is only around the corner.

Also look at Alan Curbishley's 15 years at the Valley. He got some yo-yo seasons under his belt, but once Charlton Athletic found its ground in the late 90s, they didn't look back.

Certainly, league titles weren't expected from such a club of a comparatively mediocre stature, but the Addick fans were pleased with Charlton and their manager.

But then, of course, there's the argument that Jose Mourinho won five trophies with Chelsea in three seasons.

Mourinho should thank Claudio Ranieri for that, because in his four years at the helm at Stamford Bridge, the present Juventus boss built a strong foundation and habituated the players to a winning mentality.

It was Ranieri, after all, who signed Frank Lampard, Makalele, William Gallas, and the like.

With bags of talents at his disposal, Mourinho needed only his Midas touch to bring the elusive Premier League and Carling Cup titles to the Blues.

The longest-serving manager for Newcastle was Sir Bobby Robson, who took Newcastle to Europe's elite competition once and the UEFA Cup competition several times. But Ruud Gullit, Daglish, Kevin Keegan, Graeme Sounness, and Glenn Roeder all had their days numbered much earlier than Robson's.

As I see it, the mantra of success is patience.

We, as football fans, must give our full support to the first man standing for our club—in whatever dire circumstances he faces—so that at the end of the day we can have something to cheer about.

For the time being, curse your luck Newcastle fans, as your club won't be seeing the flying colours soon enough if you continue to boo off your own beloved players and slander the gaffer.

Much Ado About Something: The Story of Dimitar Berbatov

Sheikh Zakaria — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:48:44 -0500

If there's a club with banks of money to spare and in need of a top draw striker, I would yell at them to go for Dimitar Berbatov.

But as far as Europe is concerned, I don't see any G-14 class clubs running after his signature.

So why on Earth is there such media frenzy surrounding this Bulgarian striker?

Before I answer, I must tell you that Manchester United have officially ruled themselves out of the January player inputs, and so there's no question that Fergie will miss out on the opportunity to see this charismatic player grace the greens of the Theatre of Dreams.

Chelsea's lack of a hitman means that they are the favourites to bring the striker to Stamford Bridge. Roman Abramovich will be splashing his cash in the transfer window, as several of their first-team players are injured for the long term, and some have international duties in Africa.

So, £35 million won't be a worrying figure for Avram Grant. But he's more likely to get the services of Abdul-Salam Bilal—more famously known as Nicolas Anelka—who has recently spoken of his interest in wearing the Blues' shirt.

However, the question remains: What has made Berbatov the talk of the EPL this month?

Putting aside the over indulgence and exaggeration of the English Press, I wouldn't say that the £35 million price tag on Berbatov is too lofty an amount.

Since his move last summer from Bayer Leverkusen, he has gone from strength to strength, and last season became the cynosure of Spur's success in booking a place in the UEFA Cup.

Even though Spur has suffered a nightmare start to the season, they are on the ascendancy again—thanks to Dimitar Berbatov and his formidable partnership with Robbie Keane. Between them they have scored 18 goals in the Premier League this season, leading Tottenhman to their league-leading 42 goals overall.

Certainly, Juande Ramos does not want to see his star striker leave, so he has told the big guns to break the British transfer record and make the signing of the season.

But what about Berbatov's high ambitions?

Well, he was too self-effacing to face the camera, and so he had his agent to speak to those. According to his agent, Dimi wants to play for a club with a bigger stature and regular participation in the Champions League.

This has created a tug-of-war between his agent and Daniel Levy, the Tottenham Chairman. Tantalizingly, there are no indications as to who is winning.

Newspaper accounts have stated that if Spurs can't qualify for next year's Champions League—which is highly unlikely—then Berbatov will consider to taking his trade to a bigger club.

So, if not January, then summer will draw the curtains on Berbatov's tenure at White Hart Lane for sure.

But let's hope that he doesn't turn out to be the next Andriy Shevchenko, wherever he moves!!

Best of the EPL: Midseason Awards

Sheikh Zakaria — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:58:03 -0500

Well folks, we're now more than midway through the EPL season.

The title race has started, and much like last season, this one may go right down to the wire.

Arsenal are currently leading the pack with a two-point cushion over Manchester United. Given Liverpool's languid performance and Chelsea's case of "pick-me-up" syndrome, the Gunners and Red Devils look set to battle their way to the top of the podium.

Before they do, though, let's rank and rate the teams and their players according to their displays through 20 games...

Best Team: Arsenal FC

As a United fan, it hurts in the very flesh of my heart to hail Arsenal, but their youthful display of attacking and vibrant football has been too impressive to ignore.

You won't find any egotistic players on the club, or any player with bags of individual honours. Collectively, though, Arsenal are the team to watch out for in the future.

Game by game, Arsene Wenger is proving his doubters wrong. Good things really do come in small packages.

Honorable Mention: Manchester United FC

Best Manager: Arsene Wenger, Arsenal FC

Though he doesn't put on spectacles these days, he is much the same Professor Wenger for me as he was 10 years ago.

Wenger has his own doctrine of football, doesn't make hasty decisions, and has the tonic to boost his players' spirits when they suffer setbacks.

His latest mission is to build a title-winning side with players of an average age of 21. Much to the distress of his counterparts, he's on course to get the job done.

Honourable mention: David Moyes (Everton FC)

Best Striker: Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal FC and Fernando Torres, Liverpool FC (tie)

Their goal tallies say it all about these players' stupendous performances.

Grit, aggression, skills, savvy, and speed—these two have all the attributes that a perfect striker should. Adebayor (11 goals) and Torres (9) are the top scorers for their respective clubs, and are competing with Cristiano Ronaldo (13) for the EPL Golden Boot.

Honourable mention: Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United FC)

Best Midfielder: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United FC

Some of you Arsenal fans will cry for Cesc Fabregas instead of the Portuguese Wizard.

Don't get me wrong—Fabregas has been the player of the season for Arsenal, and is anchoring his team's title hopes. But look at Ronaldo.

As a midfielder, he's the top scorer in the league. He has a fantastic nose for the goal, flabbergasting freestyle moves, and superb two-footed ability.

I don't see that in any other player in the league.

Honourable mention: Joe Cole (Chelsea FC), Alexander Hleb (Arsenal FC)

Best Defender: Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United FC

At 23, Vidic has coupled with Rio Ferdinand to stymie the onslaughts of United opponents. The 11 goals conceded in 20 games is a testament of this guy's defensive aptitude.

Honourable mention: William Galas (Arsenal FC), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool FC)

Best Goalkeeper: Robert Green, West Ham United FC

A surprise pick—but the fact that West Ham's opponents have missed five penalties with Green in net convinced me to give him the nod.

He's versatile, committed, and has a good rapport with West Ham's defence

Honourable mention: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal FC)

Best Goal: Nani vs Tottenham Hotspur FC (1-0)

United registered their first goal of the season at home against a stubborn Spurs side, who had to curse their fortune after failing to get a win at Old Trafford in the previous two seasons.

The game was headed for a third consecutive stalemate, until at 65 minutes new signing Nani fired a 30-yard screamer that Paul Robinson didn't have a prayer of stopping.

Nani's goal against Boro, Adebayor's sideways flip against Spurs, and Abu Diaby's belter against Derby County also deserve mention.

Best Partnership: Rooney-Tevez, Manchester United FC

Many football pundits raised their eyebrows when Sir Alex brought Carlos Tevez—a veritable Wayne Rooney clone—to Old Trafford.

Tevez's first few games with Rooney as his strike partner ended in disappointment, but soon they developed up a great chemistry. Together, the duo have scored 11 goals for United, and the best is yet to come.

Best Youngster: Oliviera Anderson (Manchester United)

The 19-year-old Brazilian whiz-kid may soon become the anchor of United's midfield.

Anderson's finesse is unquestionable. His passing, runs, and tackles have been spot on. Though he's yet to score a goal for the Red Devils, he's a promising prospect.

Honourable mention: Stephen Ireland (Manchester City FC), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa FC)

Best Signing: Fernando Torres, Liverpool FC (from Atletico Madrid)

Nicknamed El Nino, this Spanish stalwart has been money well spent on for Rafael Benitez.

£20 million was the largest amount Liverpool had paid for any player in their history, but Torres' 15 goals this season have paid for themselves.

Honourable Mention: Roque Santa Cruz (seven goals), £3 million from Bayern Munich

So there you have it—my best of EPL after 20 games.

Before I conclude, I must say that I'm entitled to my own opinion, and so are you all.

I beg to disagree if your choices are different from mine.

Boxing Day Bonanza: Gunners Flop, Reds Top

Sheikh Zakaria — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:29:22 -0500

With the festivity of the Christmas looming large on the Barclays Premier League, God couldn't have bestowed his followers a better Christmas gift than the Boxing Day matches.

Almost all the games were an out-and-out thriller and they never failed us the fans to entertain, even if some of us were on the loosing side.

There were goals galore in this latest round of matches- an average of 3 goals scored per game and a total of 28 goals scored in total. But the highlight of the day was the slip up of the in form Gunners and the Red Devils peeping past them to the top of the league for the first time this season.

The day started though with an 8 goal thriller at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea salvaged themselves from a humiliation which they have shunned for the past 3 yrs. the Villan hero Shaun Maloney was doing all the damage to the Blues as Villa took a first half 2-1 lead. But Chelsea pulled one back when Knight saw red after hauling down Ballack in the penalty area.

The resilience of Chelsea was paid off as Shevchenko and Alex silenced the traveling fans with an astounding 3-2 lead. There were more drama to follow as Laursen equalized again at the expense of a red card for Ricardo Carvalho.

It really looked done and dusted for Chelsea when Ballack hammered a free kick in the 88th minute, but yet another sting in the tail was there for Grant's men as Barry slotted home a 91st minute penalty at the expense of an Ashley Cole sending off.

3 red cards, 8 goals, two penalties, there lots to talk about, but who knew that the floodgates of goals were wide opened from then.

Reigning champions Manchester United traveled to the Stadium of Light with a half second string squad as Giggs, Anderson, Tevez and Hargreaves were warming the bench. Roy Keane devised a young side to make the Christmas a nightmare for his former employers, but sometimes things really don't go according to the plans.

Rooney broke his goal scoring drought, so did Saha with a double, and the top scorer in the league Cristiano Ronaldo increased his tally to 12 goals with a sublime free kick. The Sunderland defence were caught napping in several occasions and the Reds could have scored more goals, only for Rooney unable to control his composure.

Arsenal had their work cut out against Portsmouth and anything less than a win was unexpected from the Red-hot Gunners. From a neutral perspective, the Gunners were off beat in most occasions. They were up against a composed and gritty Portsmouth defence and the frontmen lacked the incisive pass to Adebayor to convert into goals.

Portsmouth also had some decent chances, only for Benjani and Kanu to squander them horribly. Arsenal though never gave up till the end, and Rosicky produced the final scare of the game when his close range belter wheezed past David James.

The game was a stalemate and lifted United ahead of Arsenal to the top by a point.

In other games, Spurs thrashed Fulham with a 5-1 win, Benitez's men saved their blushes for another day as their skipper Gerrard won the match for them in the dying moments from a close range against rock bottom Derby County. Mcleish revolution continued as Birmingham cruised past Boro 3-0 and Sam Allardyce is closing on to the nadir of his managerial career as his side crumbled to a defeat at the JJB stadium.

Two more rounds to go to wrap up the jam-packed fixtures, but for the time being, it's time for the United faithful to celebrate their midseason culmination.