Breaking Down the Tevez Transfer

In a recent article I touched the lack of depth at the striker position for Manchester United. I noted that beyond Alan Smith, provided he remains at United for the season, there is little support in attack for Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha. I didn’t mention Man United’s latest transfer target, West Ham United’s (for now) Carlos Tevez, whose obstacle-laden move to Old Trafford has become almost comedic in its inefficiency. The omission of Tevez was not an oversight. I had hoped that I could write a follow-up to my original piece once Tevez’s transfer was complete. Although the Argentine striker is anything but signed, sealed and delivered, this is an appropriate time to examine the details of this bizarre deal.

What makes this transfer deal so unique is the arrangement between Tevez, his agent, Kia Joorabchian, and the bidding clubs. Under the arrangement, Media Sports Investments (MSI), a company formed by a group of football investors, which was headed by Joorabchian until June 2006, technically owns permanent rights to its clients’ footballing careers. The players are then “loaned out” on long-term deals, which, for all intents and purposes, play out like traditional transfers, except for the fact that MSI receives a healthy portion of all transfer fees for its players and never relinquishes control over the player to the team for which he plays (it’s kinda like a company that sells timeshares). Prior to this episode, MSI was best known for its controversial deal with Brazilian football club Corinthians, in which MSI would bolster the club’s bank account and roster of players in exchange for a significant degree of control over the club. This deal led to Tevez and his fellow Argentine international, Javier Mascherano, arriving at Corinthians, and ultimately, it played a central role in their controversial September 2006 move to West Ham United in the Premeirship.

In February 2007, Mascherano departed West Ham, going to Liverpool on either on a deal whose financial details are still somewhat sketchy. As for Tevez, he was pursued in the transfer market by a number of top clubs, including Manchester United and Italian champions Inter Milan, finally agreeing to personal terms with United in early July. Because the Permiership has serious questions regarding the distribution of the proceeds from the deal, what should have been a relatively routine £20 million transfer deal has turned into a complete circus. The Premiership has insisted that any deal for Tevez must be completed between Manchester United and West Ham United (not MSI), with a majority of any transfer fee going to West Ham.

As things stand now, Carlos Tevez is still a member of West Ham and Manchester United are still in pursuit of his services, reportedly willing to pay as much as £30 million to buy his rights. Earlier this month, ManU and West Ham agreed to call in FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, to rule on the matter. Sadly, on July 24, FIFA declared that it could not render a decision on the matter of Tevez’s ownership and recommended that the case be sent to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the world’s highest court for sporting matters. Oh yeah, just one other thing! Remember Carlos Tevez’s slightly sketch agent? On July 13, an international arrest warrant was issued for one, Kia Joorabchian, for money laundering at Corinthians, the Brazilian club where MSI is a majority stakeholder. Joorabchian has denied all wrongdoing, but, seriously, if the Brazilian government thinks you’re corrupt, you probably did something wrong.

What does all this nonsense actually mean? In the end, probably not a whole lot for anyone that does not have a stake in Carlos Tevez’s transfer fee. In all likelihood a ruling will be handed down outlining the proper recipients of Manchester United’s money and Tevez will likely be on the pitch at Old Trafford, helping ManU defend its Premiership title. The greatest long-term effect of any ruling handed down on this matter will not be felt in this transfer deal, but it will be the precedent that will be set, setting the boundaries for agents and keeping shady organizations like MSI out of professional sports.

There! I’d felt that it wouldn’t be appropriate to address the issue of Carlos Tevez on the pitch without addressing this ongoing fiasco off of it. Be sure to look for my forthcoming article in which I will examine Carlos Tevez on the pitch and analyze his potential impact on the United attack.

It Is Wayne Rooney's Time

It's time for Wayne Rooney to establish himself among the world's best footballers. Wayne Rooney's power and skill have never been in question. He is a good striker. But good is not enough. It is time for Rooney to learn how to stay calm, play within himself, and realize his immense potential. If he does this, not only will he be regarded as one of the world's top players, but his team could be one for the ages.

The 2007-08 Manchester United squad has a chance to be truly special. The midfield is one of the Premiership's best, featuring reigning Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick. Also joining the United midfield are incoming transfers, Anderson (Brazil) and Nani (Portugal). These talented youngsters could make an impact right away. As for the defense, the long-awaited addition of Owen Hargreaves, who will play defensive midfield, combined with a deep defensive corps filled with experienced players, like captain Gary Neville, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic, and a world-class goal keeper like Edwin van der Sar should produce fantastic results.

The only question mark on the United roster is the lack of depth in a striker corps. In attack, the side features Rooney and the talented Louis Saha, with little depth behind them. The pair will be backed up by the likes of Alan Smith and the aging Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In order for this side to realize its potential, the team's strikers will have to deliver consistently strong results. This undermanned group will need a very strong effort form each member. As the most talented of the group, the club will look to Rooney to anchor its attack. This is the year that Manchester United truly needs Wayne Rooney to take that next step and become a superstar.

Who is the World's Best Footballer?

I recently spent some time thinking about who is the best footballer in the world. Considering physical gifts/technique, individual statistics and team success, I was able to narrow the field down to three candidates: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United, AC Milan’s Kaká and Didier Drogba of Chelsea. Let’s be clear, these are not the only players that warrant consideration, but I felt these were the three top candidates based on 2006-07 results and overall form during the season. Based on the above criteria, a strong case can be made for each of these three players.

Cristiano Ronaldo

• Was the top player for the 2006-07 English Premier League Champions
• Scored 24 goals in 49 games in all competitions (Premiership, Champions League, FA Cup, Carling Cup) for Manchester United
• Placed third with 17 goals in the English Premier League
• Won the Professional Footballers’ Association awards for Best Player and Best Young Player
• Has evolved his game from all-flash-all-the-time to a far more “functionally spectacular” style of play

Kaká

• Scored 18 goals in 46 games in all competitions (Italian Serie A, Champions League, Coppa Italia) for AC Milan
• Led AC Milan to the Champions League title, scoring a staggering 10 goals in just 14 games in the competition, which made him the top scorer in the Champions League
• Was named the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League Fans Player of the Season
• In two Champions League Semi-final ties against Manchester United, he scored three world-class goals. Two of these goals were not only spectacular, but also doubly valuable, as they were scored in Milan’s away tie at Old Trafford.
• Played a role in both of Milan’s goals in the Champions League Final against Liverpool, despite being the marked man on the ptich. Just before halftime, he made a run, and was subsequently fouled, resulting in the free kick that led to the first goal. In the second half, his beautiful through-ball to Pippo Inzaghi set up Milan’s second, and title-clinching. goal

Didier Drogba

• Scored 33 goals in 54 games in all competitions (Premiership, Champions League, FA Cup, Carling Cup, Community Shield) for Chelsea
• Led the English Premier League with 20 goals
• He scored the lone goal in the 116^th minute of Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup Final victory against Manchester United at the New Wembley Stadium
• Won the English Golden Boot and African Footballer of the Year awards
• After being criticized in the past for inconsistency and diving in the box. He’s learned to utilize his awesome size and strength, as well as his surprising quickness, inside the penalty area to become the Premiership’s deadliest striker.
• Member of the 2006-07 Carling Cup winning Chelsea side

After looking at all of this, my inclination is to say that Kaká is deserving of the title of World’s Best Footballer. After all, he was clearly the best player in the most prestigious club competition in the world, which his team won. His virtuoso performance against United in both ties of the Semi-final was absolutely incredible. Finally, his Milan side does not have the depth of talent of either Manchester United or Chelsea. With Kaká in the top spot, how do the other two shake out? Here’s where I kinda surprised myself.

Disclaimer: Although I watch a lot of EPL matches, the only football team that I am a FAN of is FC Barcelona. I don’t like Chelsea and Manchester United is my favorite Premiership team to watch.

I neither wanted to, nor thought I’d end up doing this, but my vote for #2 footballer in the world goes to Didier Drogba. Drogba’s development has been nothing short of phenomenal. After enduring a lot of criticism in his time at Chelsea, he has transformed himself into the best pure goal-scorer in the world. His great goal-scoring record, coupled with Chelsea’s Carling Cup and FA Cup titles, puts his season on par with Ronaldo’s campaign with United.

Finally, there’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Ironically, he’s my favorite player of the three. Ronaldo, who was spectacular as usual, had his finest scoring season with United and was vital in helping secure the Premiership title. Maybe I penalized him for having just a consistently excellent season, but without a true “defining moment”, like Kaká’s domination of the Champions League or Drogba’s clutch goal to clinch the FA Cup.

What do you guys think? Which of these is the world’s best footballer? Are there others I should have considered?

Heavyweight Showdown in 2007's Copa final

Sunday afternoon, Brazil and Argentina will meet in the final of the 2007 Copa America. Not unexpectedly, this Brazil-Argentina meeting, like many before it, will be a contest between two sides with contrasting styles, both loaded with talent. The departure from historical norms is that, this time, it is Argentina that is free-flowing and pretty to watch, while the normally rhythmic and artistic Brazilians have been the grind-it-out, pragmatic, occasionally cynical, counter-attacking side.

In addition to the switch in styles of play, this latest matchup between the giants of South American football will include several intriguing story lines:

- Will heavily favored Argentina, with its devastating attack, spearheaded by all-world playmaker Juan Román Requelme and the incomparable Lionel Messi, continue its mesmerizing performance and supplant Brazil atop South American football?

- Can Brazil, in the absence of two of the world’s top players, Ronaldinho and Kaka, cap its solid, workmanlike run in the Copa America with its second straight title, and fourth in five years? Will an unsung hero step to the fore and clinch the title for his country?

- Which young superstar will shine in the limelight of an international cup final? Will Leo Messi, Argentina's 20 year-old footballing genius, continue his rise to the ranks of the world’s best? Or will Robinho capitalize on finally having the opportunity to lead Brazil to glory and flash the form that earned him the title of the “next Pele”?

- Can Brazilian goalkeeper Doni vault himself into the world’s top tier at his positon by capping off his outstanding Copa America performance against Argentina’s potent attack?

After dodging a bullet in its semifinal against Uruguay, narrowly escaping in a penalty shootout, Brazil enters the 2007 Copa America final as a decided underdog. Plagued by inconsistency and unable to produce the beautiful “joga bonito” style of football that has come to be associated with Brazil, there is some doubt as to Brazil’s chances of victory on the eve of the final. In spite of this, Brazil is still a team comprised of world-class professionals, with strength and athleticism at both ends of the pitch. The Brazilian defense, comprised of Daniel Alves, Juan, Maicon and Gilberto will have a significant task ahead of it trying to contain the potent attack of Argentina, but given their talent, and goalkeeper Doni’s rise to world-class status, it isn’t beyond them, as they have surrendered an average of just one goal per game thus far in the tournament. Also, despite the perceived shortcomings in their style of play, Brazil boasts a diverse collection of talent in attack, with powerful attacking midfielder Julio Baptista and Vagner Love complementing the amazing talent of Robinho up front.

Argentina enters the Copa America final against Brazil with a string of dominating all-around performances under its belt and a well-deserved status as the overwhelming favorite to hoist the trophy. Not only has Argentina's defense, led by team captain Roberto Ayala and Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze, put a stranglehold on the opposition, (just 3 goals allowed in 5 tournament games), this side also boasts a gifted and diverse attack. In addition to the team-leading three goals scored by Riquelme, Messi, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and the injured Hernan Crespo have each added two goals apiece. This along with a comparison between each side’s respective performance against Mexico, the only common opponent for the two teams (Mexico, who shut Brazil out 2-0 to open the group stage of the tournament, but was dominated 3-0 in its semifinal match against Argentina), seems to indicate that Argentina is on course to a enjoy a comfortable victory against Brazil in the final.

For all coverage of Argentina’s dominance and Brazil’s solid, if “un-Brazilian” performances, one would be tempted to predict a convincing 3-0 or 4-0 victory for the Argentines, but it may not be so cut and dry. There is no doubt whatsoever that right now Argentina looks to be the superior team, but public opinion seems to have gotten out of control, making Brazil, a team loaded with talent and international experience, nearly a 3-to-1 underdog. Look for physical battles in each team's attacking third to determine the upper hand in this game. If the Brazilian defense is able to catch up to Lionel Messi and force him and J.R. Riquelme to surrender the ball, Argentina will have a difficult time on attack. On the other side of the ball, despite the small number of goals they've allowed in the tournament, Argentina’s defense can be penetrated down the middle. It will be Robinho’s responsibility to maintain possession for Brazil in the attacking third and creat scoring opportunities, either for himself or for Brazil’s other scoring threats, such as Vagner Love and Julio Baptista, the only Brazilians other than Robinho with multiple goals in the tournament.

Even without Ronaldinho and Kaka, the talent and pride on the Brazilian side should not to underestimated. This game will be closer than expected, likely ending in a 2-1 Argentina victory or, possibly even requiring penalties to find a winner.

Copa America Semi Pushes Brazil to the Brink

The first semifinal of the 2007 Copa America between Brazil and Uruguay was a highly competitive and entertaining match between two of South America’s strongest teams that culminated in a Brazil victory following seven rounds of penalty kicks and truly showed the fickle nature of momentum in football.

The game’s first ten minutes did not produce any serious threats to either goal, as both teams cautiously felt one another out. In the 13th minute, with Brazil attacking down the right side, defensive midfielder Mineiro received the ball in the box. His shot was stopped by a fantastic save by Uruguayan keeper Fabian Carini but the ball bounced to Brazil’s Maicon, and with Carini out of position following his save, the Inter Milan defender fired the ball into the net to give Brazil a 1-0 lead. It seemed as though the game had finally begun to find a rhythm, but it lasted just five minutes as, in the 18th minute, a section of lights at the Uruguayan end of the pitch went dark, leading to a 14-minute stoppage in play while officials debated the proper course of action. Play resumed at the 32-minute mark, with Brazil gaining a slight edge in momentum, culminating in a Robinho cross across the face of the Uruguayan goal intended for Vagner Love. As the ball moved across the field, a second Brazilian goal seemed a foregone conclusion. That is, until Vagner Love was taken down right in front of the goal by a Uruguayan defender before he could redirect the ball into the net, seemingly earning Brazil a penalty kick. The officials, however, were not convinced, and allowed play to continue. This would prove to a vital moment in the match.

Not long after, following several corner kicks for Uruguay and an impressive string of defensive plays by Brazilian goalkeeper Doni, Uruguay broke through. In the 49th minute, Doni failed to clear an Alvaro Recoba corner, and the ball bounced out to Diego Forlan. From the edge of the box, the new Atletico Madrid forward, gathered the ball and fired a low shot past Doni, who had gotten tangled up with one of his own defenders, evening the score at one goal apiece.

Brazil regained the lead just five minutes later on a header from Julio Baptista following a free kick. Brazil maintained its 2-1 lead until the 70th minute, when Diego Forlan, the spearhead of the Uruguayan attack, struck again, this time setting up Uruguay’s equalizer. Following a Cristian Gonzalez cross, Forlan headed the ball along to Sebastián Abreu. Abreu, who replaced Recoba at halftime, received Forlan’s header at the far post and put the equalizer past Doni.

With neither team able to find the winning goal in the game’s final twenty minutes, a trip to the Copa America final came down to a game of chance- penalty kicks. Robinho opened by firing his shot past Carini, putting Brazil ahead, 1-0. Uruguay’s first penalty was taken by Diego Forlan, the man of the match through 90 minutes. Doni dove to his right while the ball went left, but the Brazilain keeper made a brilliant kick save of Forlan’s penalty, preserving the lead for Brazil. After both sides converted each of their next two penalties, Afonso Alves of Brazil gave Uruguay new life by missing Brazil’s fourth attempt. Following the Afonso miss, Cristiano Gonzalez converted to make the score 3-3. After Brazil’s midfielder Diego converted is attempt, the spotlight shifted again to Sebastián Abreu. After equalizing in regular time, Abreu evened the tally at 4-4, pushing the shootout into sudden death.

Brazil was forced to face its tournament mortality after Fernando missed the first sudden death attempt, leaving Uruguay just one penalty kick from punching its ticket to Sunday’s final. Against that backdrop, Pablo Garcia stepped up and sent his effort toward the right side of the Brazilian goal, but he pushed it a bit too far, as the ball smacked off the post and stayed out. Brazil was still alive! Next, Gilberto coolly stepped up and converted his penalty, giving his team a 5-4 lead. Uruguay’s Diego Lugano, with his team on the brink of elimination, needing to convert its next penalty to extend the shootout, had had his attempt saved by Doni, who appeared to move a considerable distance before the kick was taken. As with the tackle on Vagner Love in the first, the referee elected to let the play stand as it occurred on the field.

In spite of the final save, Brazil fairly earned its place in Sunday’s final match after a hard-fought match-up with a Uruguayan side that is much stronger than its #30 international ranking would suggest. This was a thrilling test that forced both sides to endure a bizarre mid-first half stoppage of play, dramatic swings in momentum, both in regulation as well as the penalty shootout and questionable refereeing decisions on both sides.

Robinho Taking His Game to New Heights

Given the opportunity to grab the spotlight for his national
team, Robinho, Brazil's prodigiously gifted forward, is
leading his side admirably and looks poised to establish
himself as one of the superstars of the 2007 Copa America
tournament. With All-Universe midfielders Ronaldinho and Kaka
asking out of the competition, citing fatigue, the door was
left wide open for the emergence of a new Brazilian superstar
on the international stage. Robinho, the most talented and
highest profile member of this side, has stepped into this role
as fluidly as he steps over his dribbles on the pitch, scoring
an amazing six goals in the team's last three games, netting
all four goals in back-to-back victories against Chile (3-0)
and Ecuador (1-0), and adding two more in a 6-1 thumping of
Chile in the tournament's quarterfinal. With the exception of
its 2-0 opening match loss to Mexico, Brazil has produced an
impressive march to the semifinals, due in large part to
a world-class effort from Robinho, who has transitioned
smoothly from Real Madrid's championship run in the Spanish
Primera Liga to the Copa America competition.

At just 23 years old, Robinho has already spent an inordinate
amount of time in the spotlight. He joined the youth program
of Santos, one of Brazil's best-known professional clubs and
the club with whom the King of football, Pele, spent his entire
Brazilian career, at age 9. Over the years, due to his
relatively small frame and masterful ball skills, combined with
his relationship with Pele during his time in Santos' youth
program, inevitably led to Robinho being tabbed "the next Pele."
Despite an excellent record in his four years at Santos, scoring
60 goals in just 137 games, as well as being named 2005 World
Soccer Young Player of the Year and securing a big money
transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid, Robinho has yet to
confirm his superstardom on the global stage. In the 2007 Copa
America, this is changing before our eyes.

Robinho's solid performance in Real Madrid's championship run
in La Liga was apparently just a taste of the bigger-and-
better things that were to come. While it's true that even in
the absence of Ronaldinho and Kaka, Brazil's Copa America
side is hardly devoid of world-class talent, featuring, among
others, talents like Arsenal's Gilberto Silva, Werder Bremen
midfielder Diego, as well as Anderson, a recent big-dollar
addition to English champions Manchester United. With that
said, Robinho's outstanding performance thus far in the
tournament has him at the forefront of the Brazilian team, and
has team Brazil just a July 10 win over Uruguay away from a
place in the final match.

The stage is now set for Robinho's breakthrough. If his next
180 minutes of football are anything like his last 270,
Robinho's star will spectacularly rise to new heights. 

Bayern Munich Look to Return to Bundesliga Dominance

Bayern Munich is NOT happy about having to relinquish its Bundesliga throne and is determined to regain it by flexing its financial muscle. The 2006-07 season saw Germany’s largest club, and winner of 3 of the past 4 Bundesliga titles, finish fourth in the league, ten points behind league winners Stuttgart, and fail to bring home any domestic or international silverware. Additionally, finishing out of the top three, a decidedly “un-Bayern-like” finish, leaves the club out of next season’s Champion’s League, a competition in which the club is a mainstay. Stung by these sub-par results and determined to leave them in the past, Bayern Munich has aggressively attacked the summer transfer market, spending about £47 million ($94.2 million) to bolster its squad and fill holes in the lineup left by a series of outgoing transfers.

While Bayern Munich’s entire 2007-08 squad will feature new faces at several positions, the club’s attacking corps will have undergone the most dramatic facelift, with German international Lukas Podolski the only prominent holdover. Following the exits of its 2006-07 leading scorer, Dutch striker Roy Makaay (Feyenood) and Peruvian international Claudio Pizarro (Chelsea), Bayern added Fiorentina striker and World Cup champion Luca Toni for £7.5 million ($15 million), as well as Werder Bremen’s Miroslav Klose for £10 million ($20 million), Germany’s leading scorer in the 2006 World Cup, where he teamed with Podolski, who is also a Polish-born German international. The club also looked to the bottom of the Bundesliga for another attacking option, spending €1.2 million to bring in striker Jan Schlaudraff from newly relegated Alemannia Aachen.

In its midfield, Bayern lost a talented duo, but more than made up for it by going on a bit of a midfield shopping spree. The club, at long last, completed the £17 million ($34 million) transfer of 26 year-old defensive midfielder Owen Hargreaves to Manchester United. The English international and Manchester United had been engaged in a protracted public courtship, which was delayed due to Bayern Munich’s refusal to part with the player at less than full value. In addition to Hargreaves, Bayern Munich will lose talented playmaker and 2004 Asian Player, Ali Karimi, whose contract expired following the 2006-07. Due to poor form likely brought about by injuries, the Iranian international, whose exceptional ball skills have led to his being called the “Asian Maradona, will continue has career elsewhere.

In response to these losses, the club has not only revamped every aspect of its midfield, but has also added one of the world’s top attacking midfielders. The crown jewel of Bayern’s off-season spending is French international Franck Ribery, most recently of Marseille. Combined with the clubs collection of world-class strikers, the French international