Kaka moves to Madrid June 9, 2009
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Kaka, Real Madrid.1 comment so far
Brazilian playmaker and AC Milan’s star player announced to the world that he has decided to ply his trade in the whites of Real Madrid from next season. He is the first of the new galactico signed by Real this year. In an offer that Milan, who is supposedly affected by the ongoing financial recession according to Kaka, valued at €65m for a six-year deal, Kaka made his move.
But he seems to be doing it out of gratitude to Milan than by compulsion to move. In his own words
Everything I’ve always done for Milan has been by mutual agreement, from the moment I arrived until my departure today. I’m leaving by the front door
And Milan in a statement said
His loss on the field, though serious, can be filled. It will, however, be very difficult to fill the void left by Kaka the man
Lets hope Kaka does well in Madrid and Milan get over the crisis with this money and gain success in Italy. Both the club and the player are liked by many including me.
Here is a good take on the deal by Tim Vickery in BBC
Sanity prevails in Football January 21, 2009
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Kaka, Man City, Transfer, tranfer deals.add a comment
Kaka decided to stay put in Milan declining a personal offer of a multi-million personal package from Man City…and to some extent AC Milan redeemed itself by not bowing to money.
Goodbye to Gilberto, Hleb & Flamini July 22, 2008
Posted by freekicker in 2008-09 season, AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, EPL, Flamini, Gilberto, Hleb, Panathinakos.add a comment
It has been a month of goodbyes from the Emirates camp with the once very densely populated Arsenal midfield getting thinner and thinner as we near the season. Two first teamers Hleb and Flamini left the club to join Barcelona and AC Milan. One very loyal player who I thought might stay to lend some experience to the midfield, Gilberto also left few days back to the Greek club,Panathinakos.
Wenger would not have sold all these players if he did not have a plan. He sure is hardpressed for money, though that is never declared in public, he would have thought about suitable replacements who would come in before the season starts. One heartening matter is that Rosicky would be ready by September and if he and Van Persie can stay fit for atleast 3/4ths of the season, the team would look strong to challenge a lot of top teams for the league. With Eduardo most likely to return by the end of the year, the team would only get stronger.
Gilberto, a world cup winner with Brazil, played in the Copa America just before the 2007-08 season started and was tired to join the squad for the season starting. This meant that Flamini took his place and put in his best season for the club only to go out on a free transfer. Flamini also was responsible to some extent for Diarra feeling demotivated sitting in the bench. He also left for Portsmouth. So Gilberto who had one of his best seasons in 2006-07, leading the side for most of the season due to Henry’s injury, found himself to be the second in line for the holding midfielder role. Well, he did a great job for the team and I wish him all the best for his future.
Thanks also to Flamini the fighter and Hleb the dribbler for their contributions.
No point in creating if we cannot complete April 4, 2008
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Adebayor, Anfield, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Bendtner, Eboue, Eduardo, Fabregas, Flamini, Gunners, Liverpool, Rafa, Rafa Benitez, San Siro, Van Persie, Walcott.add a comment
The first leg at Emirates turned out to be quite a frustrating one for Arsenal as they scored first but in less than three minutes Liverpool equalised through a defensive lapse and then minutes and minutes of possession and control of proceedings did not yield the winner. This has been a season of missed opportunities like last year, where they created a lot but the finishing left a lot to be desired.
A footballing team like Arsenal will always create chances in any match (unless they play really really bad). Wenger philosophy of passing football, maintaining possession and playing in the opposition half will go waste if he cannot find a striker who can finish off these chances. Even converting one quarter of all the chances created can yield 3 points or a victory in every match the team has played so far. Such has been the creativity of Fabregas, Hleb, Walcott and even Adebayor for that matter. But when it came to finishing, Adebayor himself has left us disappointed, so has Van Persie after coming back from injury (and going back to it) and Bendtner, whose enthusiasm is understandable but finishing undefinable.
Even the midfielders who have had goal scoring opportunities, have disappointed. Take Fabregas, who on a one-on-one with the goalkeeper shoots straight at him nine out of 10 times. How many goals could he have scored this season, only he knows. Eboue has been also one of the main culprits and I think he has maybe made the goalie save one or two times maximum this season. Hleb has had lots of opporunities to shoot, but hasn’t. Flamini I would say has had the least number of opportunities to score, but he has also not taken his chances. So this is an area where the team needs to improve.
Eduardo was considered the solution for this finisher problem in the club, but unfortunately he wont be back till end of this year. We can always blame the referee for not giving us the penalty (which was as clear as water), or Bendtner for stopping Fabregas’s prod at the goal (he was off balance and did his best to get away, I think). but if we dont score from the chances that we get, then we will end up ruing our chances after every match. Adebayor missed a sitter at the end of the 90 minutes against AC Milan at the Emirates, but we made up for that at the San Siro. Anfield might not be the same.
Liverpool certainly has an advantage going into Anfield, but I would like to see how Arsenal bounce back. The Gunners can score in any ground as Rafa himself said, but its how Liverpool react after (if) Arsenal scores first that will decide the tie.
The Saturday clash against Liverpool in the League would be again an interesting watch to see who all play and who all get rested. I would love the momentum to be with Arsenal and see them win.
There was only one Kaka and there will be only one Fabregas March 6, 2008
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Arsenal, Cesc, Champions League, Fabregas, Kaka.2 comments
AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal March 5, 2008
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Adebayor, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Champions League, Europe, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Kaka, Milan, Walcott.1 comment so far
It is not often that the World Player of the year/European Player of the year feels frustrated and throws the ball in disgust and gets a yellow card. Even more when the player we are discussing is Kaka, one of the coolest footballing dudes. It showed how much Arsenal has got into their skin of this aging AC Milan side, how much they had tackled and won the ball from these silky footballers like Kaka and Pirlo, how much they had played their passing game and ran around the Milan team. Arsenal qualified to the quarterfinal stage beating Milan by two late goals that set the tone for a new era of youth and exuberance in Europe. This is the end of the Maldini era and the begining of the Fabregas era.
Midfield control has been grasped by the trio of Flamini, Fabregas and Hleb. They played like men possessed to show Europe the hunger and vitality of youth in this young Wenger side. Hleb was here, there, turning, beating 3-4 opponents,stealing possession, Flamini was biting into Gattuso and Kaka and Pirlo and giving them irritating times, Fabregas had all the time in the world to look around play some through balls and also be present in scoring positions from time to time. It was a match dominated by Arsenal and though Milan had their chances, Arsenal were the team that the crowd in San Siro watched.
For all the domination of possession which looked as if Arsenal were playing in the Emirates and not San Siro, it looked for a long time in the match like the same old story of lost chances and defeat at the end. But this team has been scoring late goals after late goals and last nite again was the same. Hleb won the ball from Pirlo I think, and passed it to an advancing Fabregas, who ran with the ball, cut in into the centre and slammed a low shot from almost 30 yards!
It dipped, pitched in front of the really tall goalie, who did not expect Fabregas to take strike and squeezed in between him and the goalpost. I was feeling restless seeing the chances being missed and was shuttling between my bed and the sofa, 5.45 in the morning. I never expected Fabregas to shoot from such long distance and even if he did I did not think that it will go in in anycase. But it did and the joy on Fabregas’s face said it all. he announced his arrival and he has been the main man for Arsenal yet again in a high profile encounter.
Adebayor was a thorn in the Milan defence and he kept troubling them and he was also rewarded with his first European goal, courtesy Walcott. He beat the Milan defender in a race to win the ball, went past him and passed aquare of the goal in front of the goalie for a simple tap in for Adebayor. He deserved his goal as he worked tirelessly, from attack to defence in the whole match. Senderos starting with Gallas again had a tremendous game and Almunia was efficient at the back with a few good saves. Clichy and Sagna were impeccable and Clichy did create some problems to the Milanese players. Eboue and Diaby also played their part. the unfortunate part was the wrongful booking of Hleb by the ref. It was a clear cut unlawful tackle by Nesta and should have been a free-kick or for that matter a penalty.
Hopefully this win should act as a morale booster to the team in their pursuit of the League crown. With Persie also back in the side, it should be a good month for Arsenal. For all those who support Arsenal I am sure this victory at San Siro will go as one of the best nights in Europe.
Can we beat Milan? March 3, 2008
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Ancelloti, Arrigo Sacchi, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Emerson, Jankulovski, Kaka, Milan, Rosicky, San Siro, Seedorf, Toure, Van Persie.21 comments
I think we can if we put in a performance like we did at Emirates. The away goal will come to matter if we score at San Siro. And I think, if Arsenal score once this tie is in the pocket given that it will be difficult to score twice against Arsenal. But having said that, Milan team is a tiger at home. Last year the way they destroyed Manchester United is good enough to unsettle any team.
One good news for Arsenal is that Seedorf will not be featuring in this match. He has been a key player in their recent pursuits of European glory. Contrary to some reports, Kaka might be playing in this match as he will be key to how Milan perform offensively on Tuesday night. Emerson and Jankulovski were also injured in their recent clash which makes it a slight bother for Ancelloti. Their 1-1 draw in the Serie A match on the weekend means they are on a slightly subdiued form at present. But we all know that AC Milan in Serie A and AC Milan in Champions League are two different teams.
Arsenal on the other hand have been having long term injury problems. Van Persie and Toure might start on the bench for this match and will probably feature in the second half. Saving a point against Aston Villa in the Premier League would have done their confidence a wee good, but the manner in which they played the entire match would be a cause for concern for Wenger. His team looks very thin and the subs used in that match are just not there with respect to quality. We need Persie and Rosicky back as soon as possible.
But a victory tomorrow night will give the side the right impetus to forge ahead in the Premier League and will stand them in good stead for a fighting chance in the Champions League. There has been criticism of the approach taken by Wenger in promoting youth in winning the European Crown by the former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi. This is going to be a vindication of Wenger’s wisdom and I would like to see him come out of this victorious.
A point gained March 2, 2008
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Adebayor, Agbonlahor, Arsenal, Ashley Young, Bendtner, EPL, John Carew, Manchester United, Rosicky, Van Persie.add a comment
A last gasp goal from Bendtner saved the day for Arsenal as they managed to keep the lead on Manchester United to one point on top of the table. Only time will tell if this one point is going to make any difference to the title race. As of now the momentum is definitely with Manchester United after their thumping of Fulham.
Bendtner who came in as a substitute just after half-time replacing the ineffective Abou Diaby, scored from an assist from Adebayor’s header resulting from Clichy’s long ball. It looked as though Adebayor will not pass to Bendtner at all in the match as it looks as if he is still carrying some bitterness from their earlier spat. Otherwise Adebayor was the culprit for wasting atleast three or four headers in the match. He seems to be trying too hard and his form has dipped in the recent past.
Aston Villa had pace in Young and Agbonlahor and brute strength in Carew. All the three created enough problems for our defence with Senderos the most under pressure. I thought he had a mixed game as he did make some timely defensive work but at times got hassled. I wont blame him for that own goal as he was not clumsy or careless in cutting across that cross, it was just one of those things in football. He was replaced by Wenger in the second half by Gilberto. Flamini made way to Denilson also in a double switch. That is when you look at the bench and say, where is the ammunition with Arsenal to win the League.
Van Persie and Rosicky have been missing in action for weeks together now and how they comeback into the last leg of the season is going to be crucial for Arsenal. I can see Manchester United scoring more goals than Arsenal come May, but we have to hold on to the one point lead somehow to come victorious in the end. The big three clashes and split of points are going to be crucial in the end as Chelsea also announced the return of their full strength by crushing West Ham United.
Lets take one match at a time and for now, concentrate on the Champions League match at San Siro and how to put a goal past Milan. I am confident that if we score first we will win the match and advance to the next round.
