The aftermath

SEMI-FINALS: THE AFTERMATH

After the Semi-finals of UEFA, only two teams were left: Manchester United and Chelsea FC.

Before anything else, I would like to comment on Cristiano Ronaldo. I don't know what's happening to him. Before the semi-finals, he was a very intense player, but now, I don't know what's up with him. Maybe he's just saving his strength for the Finals? We don't know. But for me, I want to see the Ronaldo that played with fiery rage a couple of fixtures back. If he is truly the best player of our generation, he better show that he deserves the title. Don't get me wrong. I like Cristiano Ronaldo, but it just pains me to witness only above average performance from a very very excellent player.

Anyways! I guess Eto'o's claim that they will score against Manchester in their away game was not fulfilled as they lost because of Scholes' magnificent long-shot.
Final score was (1-0)

Chelsea has really made a comeback. They showed that they were not just some team that was there to fill up the space. They showed that they can stand up from disaster games(Fenerbahce 1st leg) in a past. And now, they beat Liverpool, even when people thought that they won't be coming back from their poor performance in the first leg. Drogba, who scored 2 goals, and Lampard, who scored 1 (at last), certainly stepped up and put out an amazing performance. At first, I thought that Liverpool will be the one to advance because they started out strong. I guess Chelsea proved me wrong. They beat the team that defeated them and went on to collect the Championship Trophy two seasons ago. Final score was (3-2).

The finals are next. Who will win? Both of the teams are the best, or else they wouldn't be in this stage.

My bet is Manchester United! Although the finals isn't only for one game. Each game should be looked at one at a time. It was proved in the past that the outcome of one game does not decide the outcome of the next.

Well I guess only time will tell who will be this year's Champion!


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Cristiano Ronaldo: A show off?

- Manchester United FC's Official Site
04/04/2008 21:30, Report by Ben Hibbs
Carry on Ronaldo

Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Cristiano Ronaldo’s showmanship and insists the Portuguese winger would never disrespect his opponents.

Roma’s combative midfielder David Pizarro claimed the United star is “arrogant”. He was quoted in the English press, saying: "Despite the fact that he is a great champion, he is arrogant. This is the ugliest thing for a player. In the return leg, I will have something to say to him."

Sir Alex feels that Ronaldo’s flicks and tricks should be understood as an expression of talent rather than needless flamboyance. The same way a quick player uses his pace to the fullest, or a tough-tackling midfielder won’t pull out of a 50-50 challenge. Ronaldo’s skill is the only way he knows how to play.

“He just tries to express his talent,” said the United boss. “The boy has the confidence and courage to do it and, as far as I'm concerned, he can carry on doing that. People pay £40-£50 to see him play. That may be annoying to an opponent because he’s prepared to take the ball to them and show his talent.

“But at the end of the day he is a winner. You can’t kick him out of the game because he will always get up and play. The most important message he is giving out is that this is a great player that isn’t afraid to take the ball and beat men. That’s what he’s saying. And in whatever fashion he does it, I don’t care.

"It’s about having the ability and expression in his play to be able to do it. We encourage it with all the players here. In the modern day it’s a breath of fresh air to see players that won’t be intimidated by opponents. I say keep on doing it.”

Ronaldo’s fellow countryman, Nani, was accused by Arsene Wenger of disrespecting Arsenal’s players by juggling with the ball during United's 4-0 FA Cup win at Old Trafford earlier this year. At the time Sir Alex sympathised with Wenger, but has since watched the footage again and says there was nothing wrong with it.

“I looked at the video again, and I don’t see that Nani was showboating,” he said. “He was under pressure and he kept the ball up. I’ve seen many players do that. Thierry Henry did it against Southampton in a cup final if I remember correctly. We don’t encourage our players to humiliate opponents - that’s important. But fans want to see players show talent like his. It’s great to see players developing their game so that they can use skill in a big game. We don't want that to change.”

- Manchester United FC's Official Site

I agree with this article. He isn't showboating or disrespecting fellow players. He's just playing his own style of football, the way he has played since his career started. People shouldn't criticize him for doing what he loves, in style.

Side note:
Why is is that when Steve Nash, Lebron James, or even Michael Jordan did their creative jumps, passes, dunks and shots, they weren't accused of "disrespecting" their fellow players?

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HOORAY for BARCELONA FC and MANCHESTER UNITED FC!

2:30 a.m. Philippine time.

As I opened my TV, I asked myself, "How will I be able to watch two games at the same time?!" Without another TV unit to spare, I didn't have much choice but to use the jump function. It was the Barcelona v Shalke game on Star Sports and the ManU v Roma on ESPN.

I was shocked to discover that Barcelona, the team clad with orange jerseys, wasn't going to have Ronaldinho and Messi in their line up and that Eto'o just came from a fitness test. It's sad to know that they weren't going to play in Barcelona's 6th Quarter Final game since the start of UEFA Champions League. My alarm also went up when I heard that Totti wasn't going to play as well. These were going to be exciting matches.

BARCELONA FC v SHALKE FC
The game started with a very calm atmosphere. Both teams weren't showing much intensity against each other. For a few minutes, the game was showered with mediocre plays, fouls, etc. But then, out of nowhere, Barca's striker Bojan Krkic found a chance to convert and he did, giving his team the lead. Of course, I wasn't able to see this at it's exact time of happening because I was thinking watching the ManU-Roma game that time. So I quickly switched back to Barcelona's game. A few minutes after Krkic's goal, the Shalke players tried to get some for their team with Kuranyi's attempt on the 16' and Westermann's on the 20' but their efforts were futile and were stopped by Barcelona's goal keeper. That was about it. A series of failed attempts stemming from excellent plays followed. I was disappointed to see that Henry wasn't able to convert since I was hoping to see some from him. Nonetheless, over-all, I was happy to see that my team pick for this match won, even without key players Ronaldinho and Messi.

MANCHESTER UNITED FC vs AS ROMA
STADIO OLIMPICO - The game started with a much higher intensity compared to the other match. I observed that even without the Roma striker Totti, the Red Devils were having a hard start. They weren't making an effective impact in the front third. There were a couple of below average through balls and goal attempts. An example was Anderson's long range attempt which passed high above his opponent's goal. On the other hand, AS Roma was playing very well despite having their star player sit this game out. Roma's Mirko Vucinic was playing really well and was showing his opponents that he was a threat to the ManU defense. They were showing a lot of short one-twos which definitely gave Manchester United some trouble. I thought that AS Roma might get a chance to win this one. Then, on the 39' minute, Wayne Rooney made an excellent cross which was converted by the Portuguese player, Cristiano Ronaldo. This gave the Red Devils a boost in morale. This was soon to be followed by another goal from Rooney, who was, by the way, showing excellent performance in this game. AS Roma wasn't able to get back up after the the second goal.

These were exciting games but it was quite hard to watch both games alternately. I'm hoping that the next matches of this Match day will be better.

My bets: Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC.

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WHO'S BETTER? CRISTIANO RONALDO or RONALDINHO?

Take out all the other factors, except the skills! GO!


- Youtube
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The best BOOT?

Among the boots that have called the attention of players here in the Philippines, four stood out. The Adidas +F50.8, the Adidas Predator powerswerves, the Nike Lasers, and the newest Nike Mercurials. As we can see, it's really a battle between top brands : Nike and Adidas.

1) Adidas +F50.8
Ever since Adidas release the F50s, players in the Philippines have been yearning to try on the newest boot on the speed line of Adidas. When the +f50.6 was released, players and fans alike were fascinated by the customization capabilities of this cleat. The top designs weren't bad as well. It was certainly something that would raise commotions here and there. After a couple of generations, the .8s have come out and they're better than ever. Having a set is like having a couple of boots in one. One can replace the studs, the chassis and the top. The news about the newest feature, the see through heel gave the players something to look forward to.

"F50.8 TUNIT

A boot thats a better match for you means a better-played match. As part of the TUNIT system, pair this rugged upper with a chassis and stud set for a boot that's perfectly suited for the way you play.

• Engineered lightweight TUNIT microfiber synthetic upper for glove-like fit
• Innovative lace cover for optimal fit and increased kicking area
• AgION™ anti-microbial treatment stops odors, bacterial and fungal growth
• Exchangeable TUNIT ClimaCool® Competition Chassis for light weight and breathability
• Second-density, semi-clear, 3-D heel/bottom unit for optimal stability and flexibility
• TRAXION™ outsole for maximum grip in all directions; Set of studs supplied for soft, firm, natural and hard ground surfaces; Stud wrench included
• Imported"

*source: Shop Adidas
2) Adidas Predator Powerswerve
Next in line in Adidas' arsenal of boots is the newly improved Predator, Powerswerve.Of course, everyone knew what the Predator series were. Famous players, Beckham, Zidane, Ballack, etc., showcases this line frequently in their matches. But what is new with this boot? Adidas claims that it increases the curve of the shot by 8%. It also increases the power by 3%. This boot also raised alarms when it was first released here. Even before the release date, fans and players alike already knew about it and what it can benefit them.

"Predator PowerSwerve TRX FG

If youre ready to compete at the elite level, you're ready for the Predator® PowerSwerve. Perhaps the world's best boot, it has K-leather for a glove-like fit and exchangeable, dynamic PowerPulse® to fine-tune the amount of power, swerve and control.

• K-leather upper for durability, lightness, and glove-like fit
• Second-density asymmetrical external heel counter for optimal comfort, fit and stability
• Re-engineered dynamic Predator® featuring dynamic PowerPulse® for more power, swerve and control
• Synthetic lining for comfort
• New exchangeable dynamic PowerPulse® for more flexibility and increased shooting power
• Split outsole for optimized weight and flexibility; TRAXION™ FG outsole for grip and comfort on firm, natural surfaces
• Imported"

* source: Shop Adidas

3) Nike total 90 Lasers

When this boot is mentioned, two things come to mind: the sweet spot - "Precision rings", and Wayne Rooney.Nike aimed to present a boot that gave the players the capability to put the ball where they want it. This was the reason behind the PRs. What mainly intrigued the players and fans here in the Philippines were the rings. Although the boot has yet be played by the majority since the market and the viewers in the Philippines alike looked towards the Powerswerves and the soon-to-be-released-in-the-Philippines +f50.8s. However, new productions of this boot might improve the sales and might even set up the bar for power boots in the Philippines.

The newest update of this line is the Nike T90 Laser 2. This might possibly give Adidas, Philippines a run for their money.


"The Nike Total 90 Laser is the new boot choice of England and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, creating a revolutionary enhancement of the Total 90 series.

Applying the learning from sports like golf or tennis, the expanded Sweet Spot on the Nike Total 90 Laser allows the athlete to maximise shooting and passing accuracy through better boot to ball alignment and targeting.

Unique precision rings create optimum trajectrory, spin and distance control. Twisted medial rings provide more agggressive contact, enhancing ball spin and swerve opportunities.

The highest density material (3 times harder than a synthetic upper) is aligned with the hardest part of the foot for improved accuracy and distance. The precision rings are sectioned to help the player keep the ball down when shooting at goal. Rings also add more aggressive contact to the ball, allowing the player to add height and swerve to the ball as desired.

Waterproof eVent Fabric also lets sweat escape, maintaining a constant temperature inside the boot while playing. "

*Source: Prodirect soccer.com

Last but not the least,
4) Nike Mercurial Vapor SL and the Nike Mercurial SL Carbon
This particular line is yet to be released here in the Philippines but it gave rise to commotions all around the world when its biggest endorser, Cristiano Ronaldo, raced a Bugatti Veyron, the world's fastest accelerating car, and actually won it. Watch the here. The lace covers are a new addition to what the mercs usually had. It was included to provide better touch and so that the players wouldn't need to think about the laces, just like what happened with the Tunits, the Ronaldinhos and other boots in other brands. Although like before, it was designed to give the users the capability to achieve their top speed in seconds. Combined with speedy and powerful players, this boot can give an edge in scoring opportunities. The carbon issue is a limited issue in commemoration of the 10th year of Nike Mercurial

"Nike Mercurial Vapor SL Firm Ground Sport Red/Gold Football Boots

Featuring Nike's new SL (SUPER LIGHT) CARBON FIBRE SOLE PLATE...

The Mercurial Vapor SL has been designed with one thing in mind: ultimate speed. Worn by the World's deadliest players, every contour and feature has been engineered to the highest Aerodynamic specifications.

Using a revolutionary Carbon-Fibre Chassis, it is a strong and super light boot that strikes fear into opponents and leaves rivals in its wake.

Weighing a mere 210g, the Mercurial Vapor SL is one of the lightest boots ever produced. The composite Carbon-Fibre Chassis is engineered for incredible flexibility without compromising strength.

Sleek, streamlined lace-cover tongue-top for accuracy and touch. External Carbon-Fibre heel counter and lateral pods provide extra protection. Moulded, perforated E.V.A. sock-liner cushions impact at high speed."

*source: Prodirect soccer.com


So what's the best boot? It varies for different players. I have yet to try all 4 lines myself. Any comments? Feel free to comment.

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