The ABCs Of European Football

A – Starting off this post with the letter ‘A’ seems all too simple yet complicated. Arsene Wenger came into the English Game and changed the way football was played. From hard defending to stylish attacking, the Frenchman brought a new flair of brilliant football into the EPL.

B – Barcelona FC are currently the best team in the world. With Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and the likes in their ranks, no team could even come close to where and what they have achieved over the recent years. Basel FC, a team that knocked Manchester Utd out of the Champions league are giving a new breath of fresh air to the game with unpredictability.

C – Chelsea FC are a team in Renaissance now. A shadow of the team that dominated the game in the Mourinho era. Andre Villas Boas is really feeling the heat from all corners in order to deliver the one trophy that Abramovich relishes, the Champions League.

D – David Beckham may not be playing in a European league, but the number of teams wanting his signature at the moment increases by the minute. From PSG to Tottenham Hotspurs, the former England captain is sure gonna have a lot of offers from all corners of the continent.

E – The English Premier League is talked about as the best league in the world BUT I tend to disagree. The best players and type of football played in a wonderful manner resides in the La Liga. Once again, all these are just my opinion.

F – Fiorentina happened to be one of my favorite teams when they had Gabriel Batistuta in their ranks. Whatever happened to them now?

G – The German national team is a team evolving from their hard hitting style of winning matches to the stylish and open, fluid play that saw them demolish old rivals, England and Argentina at the last World Cup in South Africa.

H – Hamburg FC, perhaps the most underrated team in the Bundesliga. It isn’t a wonder how they have not been able to challenge for the title, after having wonderful players only to be sold after a period of time.

I – The Italian Serie A is the toughest league in the world. Mark my words. No more monopoly of domination from the likes of Inter, AC and Juventus. Udinese, Lazio and Napoli are proving worthy title contenders.

J – Jose Mourinho aka, The Special One. What more can I say about him?

K – Kaka is still a mystery to me. The one time Best Footballer in the World is a shadow of himself. Despite coming from a career-threatening injury, he is still to find that spark that made him untouchable among his peers. How I wish he would end the “Messi-Ronaldo” domination.

L – Lionel Messi, just like with Mourinho, I can’t say anything about him. He is just immortal.

M – Both Manchester clubs are in a bitter rivalry at the moment. City beat United devastatingly at Old Trafford earlier this season. Now they face each other in the FA Cup and who knows, the bookmakers are already tipping them for the Europa League Final.

N – Napoli, in my opinion, are the team to watch in the Champions League. Edison Cavani made a meal of Manchester City in their two leg encounter in the competition. I wish them good luck.

O – The Old Firm derby is by far one of the best derbies ever. No disrespect to the El Clasico and other derbies, Rangers and Celtic provided intense drama and twists in recent times. No wonder the clubs have been dominating the Scottish League for a long time. I wonder how they would fare in the EPL. I would bet if the clubs are given the chance, they would bring a new dimension to the league.

P – Pep Guardiola is arguably the most successful manager of all times. Having won a bus load of trophies for Barcelona, the former midfielder has achieved a lot in his short period as manager. Little wonder why he is so successful, born and raised the Catalan way, he has dominated every section of the coaching game. Only Sir Alex and Jose Mourinho can stand up to him in terms of coaching achievements.

Q – Queens Park Rangers actually started the otherwise downfall of Chelsea with the 1-0 victory early this season. With players like Joey Barton, Shawn Wright-Phillips and Helder Helguson, the team is such a surprise package that even top clubs cannot underestimate them.

R – Robin Van Persie is the main man at Arsenal. With 15 goals in the EPL this season so far, he has grown to be a Gunner legend in the making. At Arsenal’s 125th birthday, who better to give them the victory against Everton than the Flying Dutchman at the club, with legends like Thierry Henry and Ian Wright in the stands watching on. Ronaldo is also in hot form for the Galacticos, on his way to another high scoring season. It still baffles me why he didn’t shine at the recent Clasico derby. Rovers of Blackburn are on the low at the moment. The only team to have won the EPL aside from Manchester Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea, the team should be flying high but the Lancashire club are facing hard times.

S – Sunderland got the best start to Martin O’Neill’s first game in charge at the Stadium of Light. Suarez is the main man at the Kop and the toast of the Uruguayan National team.

T – Titus Bramble is in a world of his own. His troubles seem to overshadow his abilities as a fine player. I totally wish him the best.

U – UEFA Champions League is still the best competition ever after the World Cup. I think I’ve made my point.

V – Van der Vaart, Van Persie, Van Nistlerooy, and Van Bommel. What does these name have in common? The letter V and one more thing, these Dutch players are on form at the moment for their teams.

W – Winning. That’s what all teams in Europe craves to do at a regular basis. No wonder big teams spend so much to get as many Ws in their track sheet.

X – Xavi Hernandez, THE BEST MIDFIELDER IN THE WORLD.

Y – Young, the Ashley one at Manchester United is proving to be one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s buys of the season. With goals and assists to his name, the Englishman is one for the future.

Z – Zinedine Zidane. Though born African, he ignited Europe with his style of play and panache. Who can forget that goal against Leverkusen in the Champions League Final in Scotland? Nobody. Who can remember the headbutt to Matterazzi in the World Cup Final in Germany? Everybody.