illya mclellan's Sportswriter Profile

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illya mclellan

Joined about 1 year ago

102 articles written
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illya's Bio

As the years go by it appears more and more likely that we will never see footballers like George Best, Pele, Garrincha and Maradona again. For not only were they possessed of myriad skills and talents for the game, but they were also exceptionally strong players because of the crash and bash nature of football in the past. The only really exceptionally skillful player who comes close to the skill plus physicality of these greats is Leo Messi, the others are all too busy falling over to show us any real 'old school skill', anymore.

check out my blog if you want.
http://illblog33.blogspot.com/

illya's Recent Articles

WEST BROMWICH, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 03: Andrei Arshavin of Arsenal celebrates after setting up the second goal for his team during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns on March 3, 2009 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Andrei Arshavin: The Cure For an Ailing Premiership?

Published 19 days ago
1,021 reads 17 comments

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Martin Petrov of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the City of Manchester Stadium on September 28, 2009 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Manchester City's Impressive Start Makes Them Serious Contenders

Published 19 days ago
118 reads 16 comments

Maradona and Messi: Legend and Heir Apparent, Will They be at 2010 World Cup?

Published about 1 month ago
272 reads 11 comments

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Players and fans pay tribute to Sir Bobby Robson whom recently past away prior to the FA Community Shield match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 9, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

The Big Four Are As Strong Ever Despite Media Reports Otherwise

Published about 1 month ago
289 reads 24 comments

See 98 more of illya's articles »

illya Writes About

Tor responded to a comment on Arsenal: How Good is Their All-British Team?
Tor responded to a comment on Arsenal: How Good is Their All-British Team?
illya mclellan responded to a comment on Arsenal: England's Traditional Bearer at Cross Roads
illya mclellan responded to a comment on Arsenal: England's Traditional Bearer at Cross Roads
Marzia Hazra responded to a comment on Ronaldinho and Pato Down AS Roma at the San Siro
Marzia Hazra responded to a comment on Ronaldinho and Pato Down AS Roma at the San Siro
Andrew Jordan responded to a comment on 10 Best Rivalries in International Football

The Short List What illya thinks about sport's most pressing questions

Favorite Athletes

Tony Yeboah,Ronaldinho,Lionel Messi,Patrick Viera,Wynton Rufer, Ryan Giggs, Joe Rokocoko, Eric Cantona, Jari Litmanen, Cristiano Ronaldo,Thierry Henry, Lillian Thuram,Bebeto,Zinedine Zidane, Roy Keane, Nathan Astle
Favorite Sports Teams

Wellington Phoenix, Nottingham Forest,Island Bay AFC, Werder Bremen, Manchester United,Blackburn Rovers, Australia Soccer,All Blacks, Maycenvale Utd AFC,
Favorite Coaches

Brian Clough, Big Ron Atkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Claudio Ranieri, Griz Wylie
All Time Sports Moment

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer champions league final, Nathan Astle, fastest ever test 200 (153 balls) Christchurch Vs. England. 2001/02
Most Memorable Game Attended

United vs. Ipswich 92 season old trafford and England vs. All Whites (New Zealand) Park Island 1996
Most Unbreakable Sports Record

Oldest player to play in FA cup final Sir Stanley Matthews
Ruth or Mays?

Hadlee, Crowe
Unitas or Montana?

Shelford, Lomu
Jordan or Russell?

Maradona
Gretzky or Orr?

Nathan Astle
Pele or Maradona?

Pele is King
Federer or Sampras?

Federer
Tiger or Nicklaus?

Bob Charles, Michael Campbell
Petty or Earnhardt?

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Schumacher or Senna?

Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren
Pac 10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC, or Big East?

Pacman, Big Bopper.

Bulletin Board (333) Post a note »

by Carolina
2 days ago

I've finally got around to writing something about the Tiger's current plight. Take a look for me and see what you think.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/284692-hull-city-and-an-uncertain-future

Love the picture of Sir Stanley in his Blackpool pomp by the way.
by S
12 days ago

Coming soon to a league near you:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/277846-fifa-u-17-world-cup-neymar-is-his-name

Don't forget to check out the goal.
by Willie
13 days ago

Bad day at the office!

By the looks of things, Spurs took the game for granted. Palacios was very laxidasical, and they allowed Stoke to set the tempo in midfield.

Funny thing about Crouch, he's very good on the deck, but sometimes I wonder if his height allows the lesser players to go long instead of taking responsibility and picking out a harder pass.

It's something that happened at Liverpool too, and Rafa couldn't fix it so he got rid of Crouch...

As for Spurs challenging...

I don't see it to be honest, unless 'Arry can bring in a recognised left sided player and allows Modric to come inside.

Spurs are just too predictable, knock it out wide to Lennon who tears up the line or out to Modric who cuts inside.
by tumang
18 days ago

seeff efreken in the flesh! big year for us, thats for sure. too bad the coach resigned/fired/ammicably departed.

i m planning to write an article about it. the two countries SA and NZ have a bit of history between them not least charles dempsey!

we have played NZ more times than we have played the aussies. not that we are complaning :-)

i hope you guys make it through, you played well enough in the confed cup.
by tumang
18 days ago

new zealand? huh? quite a few south africans living that side.

i guess that name issue goes deeper than that, you have to understand the politics and social landscape of my country to get why i got so worked up.

but no harm done, one more friend gained. funny an altercation preceeded a formal introduction!
by tumang
18 days ago

sure not a problem mate.

however, i get really upset when people mispel my name when i make an effort to write theirs properly. it smacks of deliberate disrespect.

but other than that, water under the bridge. thanks for the comments.
by Andrew
22 days ago

Hey Illya, I just made a slideshow over what are the ten best international football rivalries. I would appreciate it if you could give me your reaction.

Thanks, Andrew

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/272899-ten-best-rivalries-in-international-football
by Salomon
24 days ago

Dang bruv. Thanks a bunch man! That was an amazing article. Saw it last night but had to bookmark and conme back to this morning. It was extremely long...

Alot of things in there I didnt know about myself. Though in my defence, most of the article is about the times before I was born...

Michael Laudrup and Preben Elkjaer are my personal heroes...

Thanks again man.
by Carolina
27 days ago

Thanks Skelator.

I knew all the stuff about his comeback already but the insight from Roeder was interesting.

I can't wait for the Fulham game. I have been seeing little bits of optimism amongst the dire performances and the Wigan game was the icing on the cake of just what we are capable of again.

Thanks for the head up mate.
by Andrew
about 1 month ago

Hey Illya, I recently wrote an article about if it's possible to beat Manchester United.

If you could read it and tell me what you think about it, I would really appreciate it!

Thanks
Andrew

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/264808-how-do-you-beat-manchester-united
by Joseppio
about 1 month ago

Thanks for that. He must've read my article eh ;-p
Cheers,
Joe
by Naveed
about 1 month ago

Hey Illya, in what I hope to be a new feature to the site, I've written a comprehensive biography of France Legend Michel Platini, it's long so I can understand if you don't have the time to look at it but otherwise I'd really appreciate your opinion on it.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/262769-legends-revisited-the-life-and-times-of-michel-platini
by Salaar
about 1 month ago

Good Times at the Bridge!

How long will they last?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/257618-has-carlo-ancelotti-revived-chelseas-premier-league-challenge

Give it a read.
Thanks,
SS
by Carolina
about 1 month ago

Just reviewed the summer transfer window and the start of the season for the tigers.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/253729-hull-city-unrealistic-expectations-placed-on-a-small-premiership-club

Let me know what you think, thanks Illya.
by John
about 1 month ago

Bleacher Report Champions League
http://en.uclfantasy.uefa.com/
Pick your team. Enter both leagues. Below our the codes for the leagues:

Most points wins : 1593-496
Head to Head with top 8 teams qualifying for Knock-Out: 1593-518

Please enter this in 5 other soccer writer's bulletin boards on their bleacher report page.

Thanks. John

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illya mclellan

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illya's Recent Articles

Andrei Arshavin: The Cure For an Ailing Premiership?

Manchester City's Impressive Start Makes Them Serious Contenders

Maradona and Messi: Legend and Heir Apparent, Will They be at 2010 World Cup?

The Big Four Are As Strong Ever Despite Media Reports Otherwise

illya Writes About

The Short List What illya thinks about sport's most pressing questions

Bulletin Board (333) Post a note »

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