Barcelona V Man Utd....

... It still baffles me that people were expecting anything other than a good thrashing by Barca?! I mean, the Champions of Spain versus the Champions of England..it was no contest, the English game is full of brutes and thugs, and for people to even compare Rooney to Messi is absurd and insulting!! Throughout the game, how many times did Antonio Valencia of Man U knock Little Messi to the ground? 3 or4 times, and he only got 1 yellow card in the whole match. Credit goes to Messi he just dusts himself off and gets on with the game, but that is because time is currently on his side but as he gets older he will start to feel them, like Kaka', when he was in Italy he would use his speed to get away from the tackles but once he lost that extra step he had to rethink his way of doing things. I have no doubt that Messi will also find another way, but I still feel a huge amount of concern for him and I hope he doesn't go the same route Nedved did, when after every match he was in agonising pain.

What did really get me miffed about this match was the commentary, it was simple infuriating! One example that jumps to my mind is the off side goal, that no one wanted to mention. If that had been a Barca' player we wouldn't have heard the end of it, but because it was Giggs they would make excuses about how it's difficult to tell and it was just marginally off... and in the box they all looked at each other like they knew but no one would say anything!!! Another glaring incident about how the commentators are not impartial, is when Evra did a hand ball... now I agree, it was too close that he couldn't do anything about it but when the same thing happened to Villa.... there were shouts that it was deliberate!!! What should he have done, chop off his hand!!

I hate the english game..they refuse to evolve in any way!!!

The glory of Rome..

Rome is a city of immense history and beauty, now it is know for it's many famous tourist attraction but a person interested in the history and what the Roman Empire achieved... it is awe inspiring. Rome had and still does, have a profound impact on language, philosophy, architecture, religion and law. The Roman Empire included the like of England/ Wales, Spain, Greece, France, The Middle East and the North African Coastal region. The Roman world was so huge and has giving us so much that it will be hard to mention everything. The Romans made lavish palaces for their emperors, but the common people were never forgotten- to begin with, eventually they did lose their touch with the people hence, The Fall of the Empire , the actual Roman people always had bread, water and not to mention entertainment in the large amphitheatre's. The Government was wise back then, they knew as long as you give the public "bread and circus" they will be happy because there were an awful lot of Roman citizens then politicians and if they were unhappy the can reek havoc, unlike now, where people are being screwed over by their Government but are doing nothing!

Rome engineering was something out of this world, it was simple genius- not to mention most of it is still around in some form or another today. We live in a disposable time, many of the buildings around today wont last 500 years, most of them will not even last a year! And just think the Ancient Romans didn't have the technology and equipment we have now,and their buildings are still standing.

To be continued....

How the mighty fall...

How did it go so wrong for Juventus so suddenly? I can't seem to get my head around it, they did their time in the second division, so they had paid their debt to the footballing world, one would think that would grant them a clean slate. They came back to Serie A after one season, maybe they over achieved, because straight after their return they reached 3rs and 2nd under Claudio Ranieri, he was the sacked with 2 games remaining of the 08-09 season, which is rather baffling since he had done a good job in creating a competitive team.

For the last 2 games Ciro Ferrara, a former Juve player was brought in and then assigned as Coach for the 09-10 season. Ranieri was not the only great loss, Juve Legend, Pavel Nedved also retired from the game and Juve have been trying to find a suitable replacement ever since. In the 09-10 season they bought Diego, and after a great start it was becoming obvious he was find it hard to fit in. This was not hard to understand, it was his first season in the Italian League after playing in the German Bundisliga for two seasons, an adjustment period was required, but the Juve director didn't think about that and he was quickly sent back to Germany. But he wasn't the only one to go as Ferrara also had to vacate his position. He had helped Juve get to seventh spot and the board were not amused, so he had to go.

For the 10-11 season we then so former coach of Sampdoria, Gig Delneri come in. He had helped Sampdoria get into the Champions League and the board was hoping he could do the same for Juve. He brought in a bunch of players, one in particular was Milos Krasic, who the critic were all tauting as the next Nedved, which was not entirely correct as Nedved himself has said, they play in different positions, they only thing they have in common is their blonde locks!! But again The Old Lady was plagued with injuries and alot of bad luck, and they finished the season 7 and this time they don't even have the Europa League to play for. Delneri was sacked with one game remaining, they have now appointed Antonio Conte, another former Juve player who has had some success by getting Siena back up.

Juventus need stability and some consistency and this will not happen if the have a revolving door system!

Out of Europe, a good thing?...

Juventus are now out of Europe, and who can be surprised with this team that has been so inconsistent? But I don't even think they deserved to play in Europe, it may seem harsh, but this is a kindness, now they have no distractions and can fully focus on the League and how to play as a team again.

The game against Napoli was always going to be a tricky one, even without Edison Cavani, but Napoli were safe in the knowledge that they had secured third spot and it's not like they could go any higher, so it did seem a little cruel. But as a loyal Juve supporter, I wouldn't have want Napoli to just role over- with the Calciopoli scandal so fresh in everyones minds, I didn't want people to think that we always get a helping hand, but I have to admit, I am just a little frustrated. Juve had over 50% possession and 18 shots with 9 on goal, so it's not like they didn't try! Juve have just been shaky at the back all season, conceding goals and making it hard for themselves. Juve are also lacking that cutting edge to turn all that possesion and chances into goals.

Juve are going to be welcoming back a familiar face in Antonio Conte, let's just all hope he knows how to get the best out of the players!

All of this has happened before, and all will happen again..

Someone once said that a person who repeats the same thing over and over again, but expects different results as insanity... you got to wonder whether the people in charge of Juve are in fact sane? They have gone through 4 coaches Ranieri, Ciro Ferrara, Zaccheroni and now Delneri, and they have all been sacked by The Old Lady. The tactics and choices are made by the coach, but it is not all his ding, the team must take some responsibility. Juventus have been plagued by bad luck and who know what could have been if Quagliarella didn't get injured in week 18? But then they brought Alessandro Matri, who is a fine player but not as mobile or inventive as Fabio, so one could come to the conclusion that it has been buying mistakes and not tactical mistakes. But Delneri is right when he said that Juve have no time for improvements, they want instant results. They have sold players after one season and coaches after just one season, how is anyone going to handle this kind of pressure in their first season, and how can you give an accurate assessment of a person in such a short time frame. I am not saying that Delneri is without fault, all I am saying is that Juve will not get the consistency they so desperately need if they keep chopping and changing.

Celebration Pre Match - AC Mian vs. Cagliari - 14/05/2011

Parma V Juventus...

Thank the Gods I didn't watch this! Now they are out of Europe, the Mighty Juve... the old lady of Italian football forced to beg for scraps, their hope lie on the beating Napoli and Roma losing against Sampdoria- which realistically I can't see happening. All throughout the season Juve have failed to reach the one thing needed to win a championship....consistency. As Chiellini put is;" they are not working as a team". Whenever I watched them I would see a distrust, and miss placed passing and not to mention their defence, but above all they are lacking the mental strength to grind out wins and to hold onto leads i.e the game against Chievo and Catania.

This will not happen overnight and this was still a rebuilding season, but I thinks it's time to stop trying to rebuild but try and invent something new. Juve have always been able to get respect because of their great past but I think it's time to make a formidable future... and they have enough quality in the group to make this happen. The one thing they can't keep doing is.. getting rid of personnel after one season, because how is a team meant to play together when they don't know who they'll be playing with in the next game, plus a team will not work well if there is no clear sense of leadership, if they keep getting rid of coaches it will make for a very unstable team. Let's just hope Juve learn from their mistakes by next season.

Review of Salt...

This film is not even in the same universe as the Bourne films, I don't know why or how it ever got compared to it. Don't get me wrong it was highly entertaining but a bit fantastical, for example: how could a hit from a skeleton do any harm to a group of burly men?! And does she have secret healing powers, because I'm pretty sure she gets roughed up pretty bad, and by the next scene she is completely healed. I would've like to know more about her training and by that I mean I would like to see more, also why does she turn.... is it only because they killed her " husband"? She could have stopped it, but she just stood by.... Jason Bourne wouldn't do that. Worth a watch but don't look for any semblance of realism! 2 out of 5.

Juventus V Chievo..

.. Was it just me or did anyone else feel a sense of deja vu'? Against Catania, they were leading by 2 goals and let it slip, the same happened tonight. After Del Piero opened the scoring with a calmly tool penalty and then Matri got on the end of a fine Del Piero cross, it should have been done and dusted- right? Well you would be wrong, after some dreadful defending Chievo got their first and then just a minute later, they got their equaliser. Juve seemed to panic which is something they have been guilty of far too often. A team with so much prestige and history as they have, this shouldn't be the case, they should have the mental strength to fight for and win every ball and then the game.... but this Juve simply didn't.

Juve's slim chance of a Champions League spot is almost unattainable now, they have to win their next games which is no easy feat- against the likes of Parma and Napoli and hope that other teams lose if they have any hope at getting that elusive fourth spot. But if by some act of God they do get there.... do they deserve it? This was meant to be any easy win for them and look how they threw it away, if the get to the Champion League preliminaries will the really be able to beat the likes of Bayern Munich and Villareal?

Juventus are starting to look amateurish, the way they let the second goal in was just unforgivable, they keep trying to play the off side trap but getting it wrong!! The Old Lady of Italian football is falling apart and they better pick themselves up soon if they intend to stay in Europe.

Basilica di Superga Turin Italy

Villa Borghese - Roma

Sore losers!!

I don't remember the last time I heard a team whine so much, Real Madrid as a team, are in such denial, why can't they just accept-they were simply outclassed? The stats reveal it all, Madrid had no shots on goal and had a mere 31% possession, but no.. Ronaldo and Alonso had to stir up all these conspiracy theories that the ref was favouring Barca- No they simple came to play the game and you didn't. I find absolutely hilarious that Ronaldo of all people, is complaining that the Barca' player fall to the ground to easily, this coming from the guy who would fall over if you blew on him just to get a cheap free kick!!

All this does bubble up when you foster an atmosphere and belief that everyone is against you. A certain Mr Mourinho is always quick to blame everyone else for his failures- it's starting to become very annoying, and this kind of dis respect to the opposition and referees is starting to seep into the players. Mourinho is guilty of doing this with Inter- does anyone remember Sneijder's " happy clapping"? This kind of behaviour is ruining the game and the game is becoming more about these mind games than what it is meant to be about- FOOTBALL!

Real Madrid are just jealous because Barcelona have a loveble talisman in Messi, and they have the guy that you just want to punch in the face- Ronaldo!

Lazio V Juventus... Scrappy Dappy Doo!!

... Not a scintillating game by any stretch of the imagination, but by some miracle Juve managed to grind out a result. The first half was all Lazio and Juve were struggling to get out of their own half, and when they did, a sense of miscommunication by the Bianconeri would result in possession being handed right back to Lazio.

Lazio had 60% possession and had 16 shots and forcing Buffon to make 4 fine saves, while the side from Turin had a mere 5 shots and only tested Muslera twice. The longer it stayed goal less the more frustrated I would get, Juve were not playing well at all, there were miss passes and players getting in each others way or not being in the right place to receive the ball- work is obviously still needed to bring this team back to the top. If by some miracle Juve make Champions League football, I doubt the will make it out of the preliminary stage, as some big teams will be there like a certain Bayern Munich.

I may sound like a broken record but... Krasic does not look happy at all and at times he would be standing still- it was hard to watch. Juve did seen better at the back, and that was due to the return of Chiellini. But the real turnaround moment came when Cristian Ledesma got sent off in the 81st minute and Lazio were able to hold on for six minutes before Simone Pepe got the winning goal.

This was a vital three points for The Old Lady but they can't be too happy in the way they did it, having to rely on them losing a man should not be the way. But if they lost... now that would've been a lot worse!!!

Bari vs AS Roma 2-3 - All Goals and Full Highlights - (01-05-2011)

Cesena Vs Inter Milan 1-2 - All Goals & Highlights - 30/04/2011

Week 35... Closer to the Edge

What a weekend of surprises, and it is not over yet as we still have Juve- Lazio tomorrow. But maybe the biggest disappointments- at least for me was the Inter- Cesena. For Inter to win it deep in stoppages was just pure heartbreak, the "Seahorses" were up by 1 goal for 90 minutes and then a late substitution brought on Pazzini which subsequently brought about the 2 goals, which puts Inter in second place and makes Milan wait another week before they can be crowned champions.

Milan versus Bologna was more of a even match. The Rosoneri were without their main strike force of Pato and Ibrahimovich, but that mattered little as the goal came from Matthieu Flamini. A rare goal for the Frenchman but oh so vital, as Milan just need one point to be crowned champions.

Bari versus Roma may not have had the same crowds as the two Milan matches but there was just as many fireworks! There were three red cards show, 2 for Roma and 1 for Bari- this gave Bari a numerical advantage, but they were unable to capitalise and lost 3-2.

This all leaves me with a great feeling of dread for Monday's game;(