Robinho: Real Madrid to Manchester City

Just writing those words makes you want to go back and check your facts, Robinho to Manchester City? Is that right? Was it all just a bad dream??? Does Robinho know what the hell he's let himself in for? Does Robinho even know where Manchester is?

Er, apparently not. After signing for Manchester City for a British record transfer fee of 32.5million pounds the Brazilian told reporters he was happy to be at City because he knew they were a "very big club."

But, even though Robinho might not know what he has let himself in for, one can safely say that after being taken over by one of the richest companies in the world, it is top ten finishing Manchester City who pulled off the biggest and most shocking transfer cop of them all.

Robinho had been Big Phil Scolari's number one transfer target all season, and even though Chelsea desperately put in a last ditch attempt to lure the playmaker to Stamford Bridge, it was Manchester City who beat them in the end, and its not often you can say that!

But it doesn't stop there, apparently City's manager Mark Hughes has been told he can bid 80million pounds each for some of the worlds biggest stars including; Messi, Kaka, Torres and Fabregas, with a renewed bid of 60 million for Berbatov - yes the world has gone mad!

Andrei Shevchenko – From a “living legend” to no one (“Who is he?”)!

Few years back when I asked a dummy if he knows Shevchenko he told me he’s the greatest striker ever. Most strikers in football are either a “fox in the box” kind of players or physically strong or good in aerial attacks but Shevchenko was one of the very few complete strikers who had all those ability instilled in him at that time. Recently I asked the same question to another dummy and his response was like “Who the hell is he?” That itself tells a story!

Shevchenko joined A.C. Milan in 1999 for a then-record transfer fee of $25 million. He made his Serie A debut on 28 August 1999 in a 2-2 draw with Lecce. He became the first foreign player to win the Serie A scoring title in his debut season, finishing with 24 goals in 32 matches. Scoring goals is never an easy task in Serie A and in spite of that he managed to capture everyone’s attention by his goal scoring ability.

He scored the then match deciding penalty that gave AC Milan their sixth champions league trophy, the icing on the cake was when Shevchenko was named the 2004 European Player of the Year, becoming the third Ukrainian player ever to win the award.

This was all achieved mainly due to the support given to him by AC Milan, the coach, teammates, technical staffs, management, and not forgetting the fans. He was adored by many Milan fans all over the world, including me.

The first thing that strikes ones mind upon coming across his name is the term “living legend”. He was deemed the next big thing after the great Marco Van Basten by the AC Milan faithfuls. He was the living legend in AC Milan Team along with the greats such as Paolo Maldini, Kaka, and Alessando Nesta.

When he was being treated like almost the prince of Milan, he had other ideas. He decided to leave Milan and join Chelsea mainly due to the fact that Chelsea offered more money and more than him, his wife was attracted more to it. The reason for him to leave was that, in Italy his children were not assured proper education whereas in England his children will be given better education. It seemed to be more like an excuse than a proper reason.


One of the fan actually pleaded shevchenko(shown in the picture) while he was in the stands asking him to be with Milan but it seemed to have gone to deaf ears as his move was confirmed.
He was never the same from the first game he played for Chelsea. He was unable to convert his chances to goals and something was clearly wrong. Initially it was thought the reason behind it was mainly due to the change in style from the Italian league to English league, but he was never able to adapt even after mid season. He was put in reserves and his carrier was taking a stinging blow at that point.

On 23 August 2008 it was announced that Shevchenko had re-joined AC Milan on a transfer deal from Chelsea. But whether or not will he be the same Shevchenko will only be answered after the season begins and as it progresses.



Arvind

History of football

Football is the word given to a number of similar team sports, all of which involve (to varying degrees) kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal. The most popular of these sports world-wide is association football, also known as "soccer" and most commonly just "football". The English language word "football" is also applied to gridiron football (which includes games like American football and Canadian football), Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby football (rugby league and rugby union), and related games. Each of these codes (specific sets of rules, or the games defined by them) is referred to as "football".

These games involve:

* two teams of usually between 11 and 18 players. ("Six-man" and "eight-man" football are also played in less-populated parts of the United States).
* a clearly defined area in which to play the game;
* scoring goals and/or points, by moving the ball to an opposing team's end of the field and either into a goal area, or over a line;
* the goal and/or line being defended by the opposing team;
* players being required to move the ball—depending on the code—by kicking, carrying and/or hand passing the ball; and
* goals and/or points resulting from players putting the ball between two goalposts.

In most codes, there are rules restricting the movement of players offside, and players scoring a goal must put the ball either under or over a crossbar between the goalposts. Other features common to several football codes include: points being mostly scored by players carrying the ball across the goal line and; players receiving a free kick after they take a mark/make a fair catch.

Peoples from around the world have played games which involved kicking and/or carrying a ball, since ancient times. However, most of the modern codes of football have their origins in England.

Euro2008 Goals - All matches

Euro2008 produced some great football and great goals. So get the goals of all matches played in Euro2008 and also some special videos like Best Goals and a compilation for Spain, the Champions.

Click here for the goals

Link1 -> Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 ,
(or)
Link2 -> Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 .

Top 10 Goals -> Link
Best Goals Of Euro 2008 (30 Goals) -> Link
Best Moments of Euro 2008 -> Linkl
Spain - Euro 2008 Champions -> Link

Ronaldo's season 2006-07

Cristiano Ronaldo made the Footballing world take a look at him in the 2006-07 season with his performance for Manchester United. What even more special is that Ronaldo did all the things even when he was jeered by all for his incident with Rooney in 2006 World cup. Re live the magical moments of Ronaldo during the 2006-07 season.

Click here for the goals

Oxford , Oxford , Sevilla , Fulham , Reading , Bolton , Portsmouth , Everton , Reading , Man City , Aston Villa , Aston Villa , Wigan , Wigan , Reading , Man City (P) , Aston Villa , Watford (P) , Totteham (P) , Fulham , Middlesbrough (P) , Europe11 , Middlesbrough (P) , Roma , Roma , Watford , Milan , Man City (P) .

The Ronaldo Saga

Cristiano Ronaldo

- a name that has been coming daily on the front pages. All the talk has been about his possible move to Realmadrid. And this talk started from the day Ronaldo told a Spanish Television that he was sure of his future at United and he dreamt of a move to Realmadrid. Incidentally this was just a few days before the "Champions League Finals". So was he planning to leave United for sometime now, the answer has to be "YES". Who would talk like this just before a huge "Final" that too being the crucial player of the team. Ronaldo might give reasons to leave Manutd as "He has won everything possible with Manchester" but had United lost the Champions League final, the reason would have been that he wants to win Champions League so he wants to move.

But his preferred destination, Realmadrid have failed to cross the group stages for the past 4 years. Initially it was rumoured that his agent Jorge Mendes was the man behind Ronaldo's ambition to move as he would get a handsome amount from the huge transfer fee. But those were quashed when it was revealed that Mendes wanted Ronaldo to remain at Manchester United. Some reports say the reason behind is the failure of United to offer a new improved contract than his current £120,000 a week deal. While few reports say Ronaldo had made up his mind in December that United were going to win everything and he had asked his agent to work on a move to Spanish capital. But his desire may be also due to the fact that his mother is an ardent Realmadrid fan.

And as the Euro was approaching there were all sorts of talk about Ronaldo. And his mom told that his son would stay at United this season. But Ronaldo kept quiet. And after a not so successful Euro he made his intentions clear that he wants a move. But United were never going to sell him. It was reported that United along with Nike were going to offer Ronaldo £200,000 a week deal. Nike too wanted him to stay as his move to Real would mean Adidas will be the sponsor. The sponsorship battle went to the extent that Barcelona, who are sponsored by Nike were asked by the sportswear giant to bid for Ronaldo.

Realmadrid actually need a player in his position. Though that might in the minds of Schuster, the board member's thoughts would have been on the fan follow Ronaldo had developed. It was estimated that Realmadrid would make about £500 million if Ronaldo comes. But now after his surgery all directions point towards "Ronaldo's stay at Old Trafford". But god only knows what is coming!!!!!!!!

The "RIISE" And Fall Of A Warrior

RIISE STRIPPED OF HIS LIVERPOOL JERSEY !!

I never imagined this to take place. John Arne Riise arrived from Monaco as an unknown product and became an instant hero among the Kopites. But those golden days are no more.For a guy who wanted Anfield to be his home till the end of his career has been kicked out cos of a single goal.The mistake was that he netted the goal in the wrong side of the ground.He became a ZERO from being a HERO in just a split second of MADNESS. He must have rued the decision he had made to clear the ball with his head instead of his legs.

One poor season and he has now been sold to Roma for £4,000,000. A man who was considered by the KOP to be a man with a golden left foot, is now in ITALY hoping that he is treated better there.

But this again lays the emphasis on BENITEZ's man management abilities. After all who can forget the way he manhandled STEVEN GERRARD, forcing Steve G to give a transfer request. If a single poor season and a solitary own goal means a player will be sold, it doesnt give the right signal to the present players. If this happens to an veteran then see the plight of the club, whose Co-owner has blasted its CEO calling him a "Total disaster". But I still feel Liverpool havent got the squad to challenge for the Premier League and that would mean wait for the Liverpool fans to celebrate title number "18" would go on atleast for a year.