The tall Togolese international striker has scored some very important goals for Arsenal but he wasn’t always like this immediately he arrived. Some couldn’t see the potential the young man had, I myself included.
The first time he was brought on for Arsenal, I thought to myself "here comes the African version of Peter Crouch", and at the time Peter Crouch was struggling.
Just like his tall counterpart, Adebayor has blossomed at the hands of Arsene Wenger and turned into a goal machine that scores at the time when goals are needed the most.
His mentor, Thierry Henry, also has had an impact on the young man who in fact plays like him. If you really concentrate and look at the way he scores his goals, he does so in typical Henry style.
The two have even made a dance that they often perform if either of the two puts the ball in the back of the net. The first time the two performed the dance is during the time Tottenham Hotspurs first visited the Emirates.
At the time Henry was injured and when Adebayor opened the score sheet, he raced over to the sidelines, danced and celebrated with his mentor. Since then, it has always been the same style every time one of them scores.
In the beginning of season 2006/2007 when Arsenal visited archrivals Manchester United, Adebayor scored the only goal of the match in the 87th minute and helped Arsenal walk away with a very important win.
He has always stood up to the task when asked to by his manager. He has always stepped in when Henry wasn’t there and scored very important goals for the Gunners.
I applaud the young man for all his attempts and encourage him to continue so. He has made quite a good decision in choosing Henry as his mentor and surely something great will come out of the friendship between the two.
Adebayor is truly a rising African star.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
John Terry & Peter Cech: The Gruesome Twosome Are Back, Will They Make A Difference For Defending Champions Chelsea?
The name "the gruesome twosome" isn’t in any way meant to demean the two incredible players, it is meant to describe the situation which was brought about by the partnership between the two outstanding players which in all cases frustrated strikers from around the globe.
The two were rock solid when they were together. They defended Chelsea's net from all who wanted to score. They frustrated all well-known and talented goal poachers whether at home or away.
The partnership was however split because of injury and thus the Chelsea goal net was left undefended. One of the many problems that have put Chelsea in their current position is the injury of the pair.
Well they are back and free to wreak havoc in the striker's world. I believe that with the return of the two, Chelsea will start gaining points and will win the title race, that is if Manchester United slip up along the way.
Jose Mourinho is happy with their return, as is the whole team, for Chelsea has been rocked with problems and loopholes in their defense ever since the twosome couldn't play due to injury.
They even lost against Liverpool because of a few mistakes here and there by the make shift center back Micheal Essien who was filling in for the injured skipper, John Terry.
Now that he's back, Essien will go back to playing a role that he is most effective in, attacking. Even the substitute goalkeepers, however hard they tried, couldn’t fill Peter's gloves.
The two are very effective together and as they have proved before, they can thwart all strike plans thought up by any English, European and well, anyone.
They are an example of what can happen when two people, or rather when two highly gifted people work together hand in hand.
I expect changes, although it will take the two some time before they are fully able to function normally. Mostly Peter will need some time to get his bearings right since the knock really affected him.
But as soon as they are back on track, I foresee a lot of changes in the results that Chelsea will start producing. Well all I can see to all the strikers who come up against the two, good luck and may God be with you.
The two were rock solid when they were together. They defended Chelsea's net from all who wanted to score. They frustrated all well-known and talented goal poachers whether at home or away.
The partnership was however split because of injury and thus the Chelsea goal net was left undefended. One of the many problems that have put Chelsea in their current position is the injury of the pair.
Well they are back and free to wreak havoc in the striker's world. I believe that with the return of the two, Chelsea will start gaining points and will win the title race, that is if Manchester United slip up along the way.
Jose Mourinho is happy with their return, as is the whole team, for Chelsea has been rocked with problems and loopholes in their defense ever since the twosome couldn't play due to injury.
They even lost against Liverpool because of a few mistakes here and there by the make shift center back Micheal Essien who was filling in for the injured skipper, John Terry.
Now that he's back, Essien will go back to playing a role that he is most effective in, attacking. Even the substitute goalkeepers, however hard they tried, couldn’t fill Peter's gloves.
The two are very effective together and as they have proved before, they can thwart all strike plans thought up by any English, European and well, anyone.
They are an example of what can happen when two people, or rather when two highly gifted people work together hand in hand.
I expect changes, although it will take the two some time before they are fully able to function normally. Mostly Peter will need some time to get his bearings right since the knock really affected him.
But as soon as they are back on track, I foresee a lot of changes in the results that Chelsea will start producing. Well all I can see to all the strikers who come up against the two, good luck and may God be with you.
Peter Crouch: Proving The Critics Wrong
The first time I saw Peter Crouch on the pitch, I didn’t think he was first-class for anything except set pieces whereby he would just stand and head the ball in without any endeavor whatsoever.
I thought he was too dawdling for a striker and did not display the class and other essentials that English football stresses from a striker like good dribbling skills and plenty of pace and power behind the ball.
Many critics used this as an opportunity to think of the harshest things you could say about a young football player in the making. We as critics tried to put him down but he just wouldn't stay down at all.
He showed good spirit and kept on playing until he perfected himself. Once I saw him score a goal that I didn’t think he would be able to. He scored utilizing the well-known scissors kick.
He scores more often than Craig Bellamy, who according to the grapevine has every quality needed to score hat tricks on a daily basis. The young man has displayed why he is in the England national team.
Peter has shown good moral fiber and I think he has done more than just silenced us critics. Crouch should be used as a role model for all those who thought that stature or anything else bodily or intellectual might be a barrier from them gratifying their dreams.
Unlike others, Peter didn’t waste his time by pawing at the critics. He concentrated on improving his game and though the critics appeared to win round one, he KO'd them in the second round.
Using his tactic, silent but deadly, Peter left the critics to their bickering and casually continued with pursuing his dream. If that isn’t great character and wisdom, then what is it?
Indeed Peter Crouch is in a class of his own and who knows, maybe he has more to show us than what he is currently illustrating.
I thought he was too dawdling for a striker and did not display the class and other essentials that English football stresses from a striker like good dribbling skills and plenty of pace and power behind the ball.
Many critics used this as an opportunity to think of the harshest things you could say about a young football player in the making. We as critics tried to put him down but he just wouldn't stay down at all.
He showed good spirit and kept on playing until he perfected himself. Once I saw him score a goal that I didn’t think he would be able to. He scored utilizing the well-known scissors kick.
He scores more often than Craig Bellamy, who according to the grapevine has every quality needed to score hat tricks on a daily basis. The young man has displayed why he is in the England national team.
Peter has shown good moral fiber and I think he has done more than just silenced us critics. Crouch should be used as a role model for all those who thought that stature or anything else bodily or intellectual might be a barrier from them gratifying their dreams.
Unlike others, Peter didn’t waste his time by pawing at the critics. He concentrated on improving his game and though the critics appeared to win round one, he KO'd them in the second round.
Using his tactic, silent but deadly, Peter left the critics to their bickering and casually continued with pursuing his dream. If that isn’t great character and wisdom, then what is it?
Indeed Peter Crouch is in a class of his own and who knows, maybe he has more to show us than what he is currently illustrating.
Wayne Rooney: A Force To Be Reckoned With
He gave the word temper a whole new meaning. If you can remember, during the World Cup in Germany, Wayne was substituted for another player so that he doesn’t end up aggravating his injury since he had just become fit recently.
Sven Gorran Errikson, former England national coach, did this so that Rooney would be fit enough to play in other more important games, but did Wayne want to know? No.
Immediately he got to the benches, he made it his job to make the World know he wasn’t happy. He threw everything he got his hands on in the air and was seen uttering something that any one can lip read.
In another story on the young striker, he was involved in a scuffle in a night club in England, after a man made some unkind remarks about his girlfriend and Wayne some how saw it fit to punch him in the face.
That used to be the World's view of Wayne Rooney. These days though, he has become a really mature and well-mannered player. I mean the more I watch him, the more I admire him. He has changed and now the goal net is the only thing complaining about him.
In a game Manchester United played against Portsmouth, Rooney managed to lift and curve the ball in such a way that even Portsmouth's goalkeeper, David James couldn’t see it coming. It was a classic goal, and I do mean classic.
In another encounter between Man U and Watford, Rooney did a one two with Henrik Larsson and finally passed it back to Larsson and he coolly finished it. He is not only a goal poacher but also a playmaker in my own terms.
He even lobbed Watford's goalkeeper from close range to score and we all know how hard it is to lob someone from close range and get it right on the mark. He is also known to have a very powerful right foot, which he often uses to get goalkeepers in check.
He is on the fast track to stardom and I say he is a legend in the making for England. I applaud the young man for quelling his anger and also by channeling it in the right way or in the back of the net if I do say so myself.
Sven Gorran Errikson, former England national coach, did this so that Rooney would be fit enough to play in other more important games, but did Wayne want to know? No.
Immediately he got to the benches, he made it his job to make the World know he wasn’t happy. He threw everything he got his hands on in the air and was seen uttering something that any one can lip read.
In another story on the young striker, he was involved in a scuffle in a night club in England, after a man made some unkind remarks about his girlfriend and Wayne some how saw it fit to punch him in the face.
That used to be the World's view of Wayne Rooney. These days though, he has become a really mature and well-mannered player. I mean the more I watch him, the more I admire him. He has changed and now the goal net is the only thing complaining about him.
In a game Manchester United played against Portsmouth, Rooney managed to lift and curve the ball in such a way that even Portsmouth's goalkeeper, David James couldn’t see it coming. It was a classic goal, and I do mean classic.
In another encounter between Man U and Watford, Rooney did a one two with Henrik Larsson and finally passed it back to Larsson and he coolly finished it. He is not only a goal poacher but also a playmaker in my own terms.
He even lobbed Watford's goalkeeper from close range to score and we all know how hard it is to lob someone from close range and get it right on the mark. He is also known to have a very powerful right foot, which he often uses to get goalkeepers in check.
He is on the fast track to stardom and I say he is a legend in the making for England. I applaud the young man for quelling his anger and also by channeling it in the right way or in the back of the net if I do say so myself.
Arsenal Vs Bolton Wanderers: Reebok Stadium (FA Cup 4th round replay)
Bolton Wanderers in my view are the kind of team that just like spoiling other team's chances of winning a cup but in the end, don’t get to win it themselves. The team, as is their stadium, is filled with an unusual spirit.
The team that in the end knocks them out of the competition, has a name that you couldn’t remember the next morning even if it was spelled to you in twenty different languages that you apparently understood.
If you assess most of the times Arsenal have visited the Reebok Stadium, it ends up in tears for the visiting Arsenal fans. More often than not, Bolton just pulls it off with a late winner.
When Bolton visited Arsenal, Arsene Wenger didn’t want to go through the hassle of a replay at all. He wanted to use the chance handed to him and win the game but as always he got unlucky against them. They drew 1-1.
Nicholas Anelka, a former Arsenal striker, has made quite an impact at Bolton and even scored twice against his old club when they visited Bolton in the Premier League encounter, which Bolton apparently won.
To say the truth, Arsenal doesn’t have a good record playing against Bolton at the Reebok and this, and the stadiums negative ambiance, points to the fact that Arsenal will most probably loose the replay. However, since it's football, anything might happen.
Maybe Arsenal will win just like they won against Liverpool at Anfield. Maybe, but on a lighter note, let me review the two teams.Bolton Wanderers, as I earlier said, have Nicholas Anelka on their side.
In their latest games since he arrived, he has made a quite a good impact on the team more so than his strike partner El Hadji Diouf who got sent off in one of their more recent games for his unkind remarks to the referee.
Arsenal on the other hand, have been flying high in all the games they have played. They have increased their attack mindedness and have beefed up their defense with younger and more vibrant defenders.
I would like to offer a few words of advice to Sam Allardyce (just let Arsenal win and they are more likely to put up a better fight than you chaps. Ok, sport?) But if you don’t, your boys will most probably go through a very embarrassing and demeaning cup exit.
Sam Allardyce, Bolton's manager, has often exhibited the kind of temper that his players quite frequently show on the pitch. Maybe if he quells his anger, then and only then will they start playing football like professionals.
I think their anger is also visible in the kind of football they play. They love contact and their contact is overly aggressive. That’s why Arsene Wenger complains about their more physical style of play.
My prediction is Arsenal will lose by a goal to Bolton but lets watch the game and see cause I am rooting for Arsenal.
The team that in the end knocks them out of the competition, has a name that you couldn’t remember the next morning even if it was spelled to you in twenty different languages that you apparently understood.
If you assess most of the times Arsenal have visited the Reebok Stadium, it ends up in tears for the visiting Arsenal fans. More often than not, Bolton just pulls it off with a late winner.
When Bolton visited Arsenal, Arsene Wenger didn’t want to go through the hassle of a replay at all. He wanted to use the chance handed to him and win the game but as always he got unlucky against them. They drew 1-1.
Nicholas Anelka, a former Arsenal striker, has made quite an impact at Bolton and even scored twice against his old club when they visited Bolton in the Premier League encounter, which Bolton apparently won.
To say the truth, Arsenal doesn’t have a good record playing against Bolton at the Reebok and this, and the stadiums negative ambiance, points to the fact that Arsenal will most probably loose the replay. However, since it's football, anything might happen.
Maybe Arsenal will win just like they won against Liverpool at Anfield. Maybe, but on a lighter note, let me review the two teams.Bolton Wanderers, as I earlier said, have Nicholas Anelka on their side.
In their latest games since he arrived, he has made a quite a good impact on the team more so than his strike partner El Hadji Diouf who got sent off in one of their more recent games for his unkind remarks to the referee.
Arsenal on the other hand, have been flying high in all the games they have played. They have increased their attack mindedness and have beefed up their defense with younger and more vibrant defenders.
I would like to offer a few words of advice to Sam Allardyce (just let Arsenal win and they are more likely to put up a better fight than you chaps. Ok, sport?) But if you don’t, your boys will most probably go through a very embarrassing and demeaning cup exit.
Sam Allardyce, Bolton's manager, has often exhibited the kind of temper that his players quite frequently show on the pitch. Maybe if he quells his anger, then and only then will they start playing football like professionals.
I think their anger is also visible in the kind of football they play. They love contact and their contact is overly aggressive. That’s why Arsene Wenger complains about their more physical style of play.
My prediction is Arsenal will lose by a goal to Bolton but lets watch the game and see cause I am rooting for Arsenal.
Friday, February 2, 2007
If Mourinho Leaves Chelsea, The English Premiership Looses The Plot
We know that just like in the biblical story about David and Goliath, every story needs a Goliath in order to become riveting and entertaining because as everyone looks for a David amidst themselves to depose Goliath from his throne, spectators would get Goosebumps watching all the drama unfold right.
Another advantage that has come of late with satellites is that if you are anywhere in the known world, you can watch anything live.
This means more money in the bank for the English Premiership because as demand for the English game grows around the world, they will sell more and more rights to TV stations who would want to televise the game live.
Well, in the case of the English Premiership, Chelsea or more practically Mourinho is their Goliath. Ever since Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge, he added a distinct flavor to the English Premiership.
He removed the same old Goliaths we were used to for a long time like Manchester United and Arsenal from their thrones and merely wasted them on the football field to prove that he indeed was the man or the team to be beat.
More and more people heard of this arrogant Portuguese manager who under the arm of Sir Bobby Robson, had learnt a lot and apparently had the best managers in the world beat whether away or at home.
A lot more people wanted to see whom between the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, or even the other unknown managers, would at the end of the day bring down this towering Goliath.
As the first season passed, no one had him beat so more and more and even more people were glued to their sets. The plot was there and the public loved it. They grabbed it hook, line and sinker.
In the second season, some of them put up a fight but no one seemed to quite bring down Goliath and so do the math. Even you who is reading can tell that the English game has become so popular off late and if you really think of it, since Mourinho arrived.
If he leaves, then another Goliath should come about. If he doesn't then he should get his reputation of being a Goliath back, (and we know he is more than capable of doing that) because we are all tired of the same two clubs calling the shots season in and season out.
Another advantage that has come of late with satellites is that if you are anywhere in the known world, you can watch anything live.
This means more money in the bank for the English Premiership because as demand for the English game grows around the world, they will sell more and more rights to TV stations who would want to televise the game live.
Well, in the case of the English Premiership, Chelsea or more practically Mourinho is their Goliath. Ever since Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge, he added a distinct flavor to the English Premiership.
He removed the same old Goliaths we were used to for a long time like Manchester United and Arsenal from their thrones and merely wasted them on the football field to prove that he indeed was the man or the team to be beat.
More and more people heard of this arrogant Portuguese manager who under the arm of Sir Bobby Robson, had learnt a lot and apparently had the best managers in the world beat whether away or at home.
A lot more people wanted to see whom between the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, or even the other unknown managers, would at the end of the day bring down this towering Goliath.
As the first season passed, no one had him beat so more and more and even more people were glued to their sets. The plot was there and the public loved it. They grabbed it hook, line and sinker.
In the second season, some of them put up a fight but no one seemed to quite bring down Goliath and so do the math. Even you who is reading can tell that the English game has become so popular off late and if you really think of it, since Mourinho arrived.
If he leaves, then another Goliath should come about. If he doesn't then he should get his reputation of being a Goliath back, (and we know he is more than capable of doing that) because we are all tired of the same two clubs calling the shots season in and season out.
Chelsea Fall At Liverpool's Mighty Studs
Anfield was ablaze with sounds of triumph and jubilation after they scored twice in the opening twenty minutes of the match.
A goal from Dirk Kuyt and another spectacular shot from pennant deflated all of Chelsea's hopes that they would repeat what they did last season by beating Liverpool.
Chelsea did not play at all like the champions they are, oh sorry, the champions they were. The only thing that might have given hope to Chelsea's adoring fans was Peter Cech.
He made his first appearance in the first eleven after the knock he received last year when Chelsea visited Reading. Apparently he could not remember playing the game but could only remember shaking hands with the Reading players before the game.
I would however like to point out that although Micheal Essien is trying he cannot replace John Terry as a center back. If Terry would have played in the game, he might have stopped the first goal from Dirk Kuyt.
What Chelsea need urgently is a good and solid defense to stop them from conceding any more goals. This will in turn bring Essien back to his usual spot where he is most dangerous.
Without Essien, the Chelsea midfield does not look menacing at all. In fact they don’t provide the strikers with as much balls that are needed upfront in order to score as much goals that are needed.
Other top-flight clubs should also dread at the fact that Peter Cech is back. Even though it will take him some time to get his form back, when he does it will for sure spell problems for all opposing strikers.
Mourinho should also consider starting with two usual strikers at all games so that they can get used to playing together upfront. He can then consider making substitutions after that.
He has all the talent that he needs but he just has to figure out a way of utilizing it to its full potential. I have faith in the man. If Chelsea would have gone to Anfield with the above things in check, they would have annihilated Liverpool.
If at all a bunch of youngsters did it, then they should have at the least beaten Liverpool 10-2. Last but not least, team spirit should be at the top of their agenda.
If Mourinho works on these things, Chelsea would re-define the English Premiership as they did so last season and the season before that. I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt they would do exploits.
A goal from Dirk Kuyt and another spectacular shot from pennant deflated all of Chelsea's hopes that they would repeat what they did last season by beating Liverpool.
Chelsea did not play at all like the champions they are, oh sorry, the champions they were. The only thing that might have given hope to Chelsea's adoring fans was Peter Cech.
He made his first appearance in the first eleven after the knock he received last year when Chelsea visited Reading. Apparently he could not remember playing the game but could only remember shaking hands with the Reading players before the game.
I would however like to point out that although Micheal Essien is trying he cannot replace John Terry as a center back. If Terry would have played in the game, he might have stopped the first goal from Dirk Kuyt.
What Chelsea need urgently is a good and solid defense to stop them from conceding any more goals. This will in turn bring Essien back to his usual spot where he is most dangerous.
Without Essien, the Chelsea midfield does not look menacing at all. In fact they don’t provide the strikers with as much balls that are needed upfront in order to score as much goals that are needed.
Other top-flight clubs should also dread at the fact that Peter Cech is back. Even though it will take him some time to get his form back, when he does it will for sure spell problems for all opposing strikers.
Mourinho should also consider starting with two usual strikers at all games so that they can get used to playing together upfront. He can then consider making substitutions after that.
He has all the talent that he needs but he just has to figure out a way of utilizing it to its full potential. I have faith in the man. If Chelsea would have gone to Anfield with the above things in check, they would have annihilated Liverpool.
If at all a bunch of youngsters did it, then they should have at the least beaten Liverpool 10-2. Last but not least, team spirit should be at the top of their agenda.
If Mourinho works on these things, Chelsea would re-define the English Premiership as they did so last season and the season before that. I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt they would do exploits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)