What Blackburn Rovers' visit to Pune meant for Rovers, Pune FC and Indian Football

A view from inside the Balewadi Sports Complex.

Blackburn Rovers:

After the original date (July) of the visit was postponed to October, it looked highly probable that the game would be postponed to sometime next summer. But Blackburn had to visit India this year, as a visit next year, could be a year too late for them. Currently 19th in the Premier League, the winners from the 1994-95 season seem to be major candidates for the drop, to the npower championship.  A visit after relegation, would not attract the same crowd (which were lesser than expected anyway) and so the trip to Venkys homeland had to be made this year.

On the football field, Blackburn did was what expected out of them. They won 3-0, courtesy a brace from Jason Roberts and a screamer from Ruben Rochina. Big names like Yakubu, Samba, Formica, Givet and NZonzi featured in the game, and in reality, Blackburn could have scored more than those three goals, had they played with the same intensity they play with in a Premier League game. 

Pune FC:

We've heard of the cliche, 'the scoreline didn't reflect the true story of the game' numerous times. I'll repeat that. 

So Pune FC lost 3-0. They lost Anas Edatodika through his own stupidity 15 minutes into the biggest game they've played so far. What Edatodika was thinking when he made those rash tackles, we'll never know. But what we do know is that Pune need not worry about goal keepers. Shahilal Meloly, in goal because first choice 'keeper Subrata Pal was out injured, made save after save to deny a cricket like scoreline in the game at the Balewadi Sports Complex. 

Star forward, Jeje was hardly involved in the game. But then many strikers coming up against Samba hardly look involved in the game. What Pune missed was creativity in midfield, and even though Arata Izumi tried his best to provide creativity, Pune's midfield had none. Anas Edatodika's stupidity and being a player down didn't help, but to be considered a major force in the Indian League, you would expect more creativity from midfield.

But the experience of playing a Premier League side should augur well for Pune FC and the players should come out with a whole list of positives, which they should implement in future games.

Indian football:

Having hosted an international friendly between Argentina and Venezuela and now the game between Blackburn and Pune FC, we should be hoping for a brighter future in the sport we're hoping becomes as half as big as cricket in the near future. A world cup appearance in the near future is more far fetched than Ajit Agarkar getting a recall to the Indian cricket team, but we are taking small steps towards putting ourselves on the world map in football.

Shahilal Meloly, Jeje and Arata Izumi (who recently gave up his Japanese passport) could join Sunil Chhetri at a club overseas. If Blackburn want serious PR and do really want to help football in India, they should sign or take Chettri on loan in January. If they do get relegated, they should sign Chhetri on a long term deal. 

Why Arsenal and its fans shouldn't be celebrating its summer signings

Going into this summer after six trophyless seasons, Arsene Wenger and his followers knew they had their work cut out.

They knew that their club captain, and their most influential player, Cesc Fabregas was going to leave, and were in all probability looking for replacements for the inspirational Spaniard.

Arsenal were linked with names like Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing at the start of the summer. None of them could replace Cesc, but all three of them, could have added something this Arsenal team desperately requires;

Class!

Then, Samir Nasri added to their woes by announcing (or not), that he wanted to leave the club and was extremely close to joining their rivals, Manchester United. Luckily, for Arsenal, that move didn't work out, but unluckily a few weeks later, a move to Manchester City did materialise, and Arsenal lost two of their best players in a matter of a few days.

This followed Gael Clichy's move to Manchester City. By then, Young and Downing had signed for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively and Juan Mata had agreed terms to join Chelsea. Others, linked with the Gunners included, Scott Dann, Phil Jones, Jose Enrique, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka.

Wenger got none of them.

He bid 6 million for Cahill (Bolton wanted close to 15). Arsenal were interested in signing, Jose Enrique. (He signed for Liverpool) They wanted Scott Dann. (He signed for Blackburn) They bid 9 million for Phil Jones. (Blackburn sold Jones to United for 16.5 million) They wanted Baines and Jagielka. (They got none. A club in desperate need of cash might have been lured in selling for money. They got Arteta, they could have got the others too.)

Then they got beaten 8-2 to Manchester United and 'The manager of the decade' took a leaf out of a great manager, Sir Alex Ferguson's book. He spent just like other great managers do, instead of being arrogant. He bought:

Per Mertesacker. Great buy. (He's the guy who stopped Messi and the rest of Argentina in the World Cup)

Better than Jagielka? Yes.

Better than Gary Cahill? Potentially yes. But Cahill would probably get the edge because of his experience in the English game. But in all fairness, he fits into Wenger's thought process of buying potential. While, he is experienced and has proved himself, a good season in England still awaits and whether he proves himself against Rooney, Young, Suarez and Bent etc, is another thing.

Good transfer business: Umm, yea  

Andres Santos: Gael Clichy's replacement.

Is he better than Clichy? Doubt it.

Is he better than Baines? NO Is he better than Jose Enrique? Doubt it. ( a proven LB in the EPL)

Good transfer business: No. Simply because he replaced someone who was better than him. And 'The manager of the decade' could have got someone better (Baines or Enrique)  

Mikel Arteta: Replacement for Fabregas. Other players linked included Juan Mata.

Is he better than Fabregas? NO

Is he better than Mata? NO

Is he injury prone? Yes

Good transfer business: No. You can't replace players like Fabregas. You can't replace players like Fabregas with Arteta for sure.  

Yossi Benayoun: Replacement for Samir Nasri? Other players linked included Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.

Is Benayoun better than Nasri? NO

Is he better than Young or Downing? NO

Is he injury prone? YES

Good transfer business: NO. (Even though its a loan deal)  

Park Chu

Don't know, won't comment. Apparently he's good in PES. (If that's the reason, please start playing FIFA, Mr. Wenger)

So all in all, was this a good transfer window for Arsenal, considering they signed five players on deadline day? I say, no.

The signings could end up being disastrous. Also, if Santos gets injured or doesn't adjust to England? Why is Armand Traore at QPR?

And oh, they were also linked with Eden Hazard and Karem Benzema.

Note: This could be one piece of opinion that could go horribly wrong, but I'm sticking my neck out and saying, in all probability this piece of opinion will be absolutely correct.

WAKE UP Wenger, WAKE UP Arsenal. 

The curious case of Liverpool's midfield

>Amidst all the transfer gossip that's gone on so far, being a Liverpool fan, Raul Meireles' speculated move away from Anfield has caught the eye. With Charlie Adam reported to be coming in, the Blackpool captain could be the one who's replacing the midfielder.

Not the move Liverpool fans had in mind, considering Raul Meireles was one of our better players last season.

But in my opinion it's the right one. (Personally, I would love seeing Meireles continue wearing the number 4 jersey at Anfield. But if it's one between Adam and Meireles. Get Adam!)

Meireles moved to Liverpool at the start of last season from Porto and fit straight into Roy Hodgson's group of under achievers. Used wide right, when Stevie G was fit,

Meireles looked a shadow of the player, who turned up for Portugal in international games.

Steven Gerrard's injury forced Hodgson to move Meireles in central midfield alongside Lucas Leiva (one of the few players who weren't a part of Hodgson's under achievers). Meireles and Lucas struck an understanding straight away as the duo were instrumental in notching up a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield. With Gerrard's return to the team, Meireles was pushed again into a wide role. He disappointed in the role again.

Liverpool disappointed again.

Roy Hodgson was sacked soon.

With King Kenny's return to the club, Meireles was soon pushed into the centre

again. (He started wide right in Kenny's first game in charge at Old Trafford in the FA Cup).

Not only did Kenny push him back in, he gave Meireles the attacking midfielder role behind

Fernando Torres. The Portuguese midfielder responded with an important goal in the derby against Everton. Playing off Fernando Torres, he his game of the season in one of Liverpool's best away day performance against Wolverampton Wanderers (not only did he score the amazing volley, he supplied a tap in for Fernando Torres and looked very comfortable in possession). He followed these performances with goals against Fulham, Wigan and a goal in an incredible victory over Chelsea at Stamford

Bridge.

While these games made him a hero at the club, and made him standout in a season of major disappointments for the boys at Anfield, what is worth noting is:

Meireles' best performances came playing behind the strikers. Steven Gerrard normally plays in that role. No matter what Meireles does, Steven Gerrard is the best in that role and WILL occupy that position for Liverpool.

With strikers like Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt around with rumours suggesting Conor Wickham joining too, Liverpool look certain to field two strikers in every match. Kuyt and Suarez being versatile help, as they can play wide right and left in a game lending to a 4-5-1 formation if needed.

In a traditional 4-4-2, with a winger expected to join in, Gerrard and Lucas will take the central roles. Lucas as a defensive midfielder proved his worth during the course of last season and will occupy the position again. If Adam joins us, he's back up for Lucas in that position as he's one who can sit in and run box to box, as he proved last season with Blackpool, not to mention his lethal freekicks and penalties.

Adam scores over Meireles in versatility. His ability of playing as a CDM, LM and central midfield will be very important under Dalgish, as his signings, with the exception of Andy Carroll, show he's looking at versatile players. (Suarez can play left, right, behind the striker and upfront on his own, Henderson can play wide right as well as down the centre.)

In a diamond formation, Meireles can occupy the left sided centre midfielder's role. Kuyt will take the right position. If Liverpool do manage an attacking left back (Clichy and Enrique linked and Insua is an attacking left back), that allows our fullbacks (Johnson on the right to bombard the wings. Clichy, Jose Enrique, Johnson and Insua are good crossers, so the ammunition to Carroll will not suffer).

Additionally, Meireles seems to has problems completing games. A central midfielder needs to be able to complete games. Normally wingers and strikers are the ones who need to be brought on to change games. With Meireles having that issue, a substitution gets wasted with a central midfielder. Adam completes games. Gerrard completes games. While trailing in games, Lucas should be the one sacrificed for an attacking midfielder (Henderson?).

Being an international, Meireles wouldn't be want to occupying the bench at Anfield. A 14 million bid from Inter, could benefit him and Liverpool.

So if the reports from the Italian media turn out to be true.

All the best and thankyou Raul Meireles.

PS: In an ideal scenario, Meireles, Adam, Henderson, Lucas and Steven Gerrard should comprise Liverpool's midfielders list come September 1, 2011.

Poor poor Arsenal

Logging onto Facebook, everytime an Arsenal game gets over (win or loss) seems to be a bigger challenge than going through an economics text book. Arsenal fans (will be referring to them as Arsene Wenger's followers) change their preferences (their own players) game by game. One day, Almunia is the best goal keeper in the world, the other he sucks and what not (will keep the post clean). Others like Denilson, Song, Diaby, Walcott and Ebouye are not spared either.

For God's sake, they can't be THAT GOOD, if they're THAT BAD.

Once they're done with their players, it's the referees that are their next target.

Referees were blamed for the 4-4 draw against Newcastle and the 1-1 draw against Liverpool, amongst other games.

Before I get to the game against Liverpool, for those Arsene Wenger followers, a penalty is a foul inside the box.

The Liverpool game had two instances of that. Spearing committed a foul on Robin Van Persie and Ebouye committing a foul on Lucas.

While, obviously, no Arsene Wenger follower complained about gaining a penalty from a soft challenge by Spearing on Fabregas, the foul on Lucas by Ebouye was seen as a Christmas gift the referee handed Liverpool and a lolly-pop the referee stole from one of the Arsenal kids.

Face it, it was a foul. Ebouye's contact on Lucas would've resulted in a free kick from outside the box, so obviously since it happened in the box, it was a penalty.

Pity, that more penalties aren't given. Pity, more penalties aren't given to Arsenal.

Arsenal seem to be the unlucky ones.

Walcott was taken off for Bendtner. Diaby for Song.

These substitutions followed Liverpool having to make two emergency substitutions.

Taking off Carragher and Aurelio for Soto and Robinson.

A fresh Soto Kyrgiakos will never be half as quick as an exhausted Walcott. A fresh Bendtner will never beat Kyrgiakos in the air.

Basic managerial issues.

Champions create their own luck.

Arsenal don't get the rub of the green and they're not champions.

Or maybe they're not the unlucky ones. Maybe they're just not good enough.

The Newcastle game:

After going 4-0 up in the first half, nothing should prevent a team from bagging all three points.

Diaby's sending off didn't help, but then again even with 8 players, Arsenal shouldn't have reached a stage they should've cried at the refereeing decisions. Tiote's screamer sealed it and Newcastle looked likely to grab all three points at the end of it. Can't even imagine what would Wenger and his followers end up doing (on facebook), if THAT happened.

Against Newcastle, once the first goal was conceded shouldn't have Arsenal switched to a more conservative style of football? Shouldn't the manager of the decade take more responsibility in his teams performance than just chucking a bottle of water onto the ground and showing the customary dissent he shows at the end of most games he fails to win?

A ten man team does NOT attack at 4-1, 4-2 away on a ground like the St. James' park. The fans are way too vocal and supportive and go a long way in bringing their team back. 15 minutes without conceding would get the volume down and take out some of the life out of the team trailing.

As a football fan, in both the games mentioned, the referee would've never been an issue at all had cranky Arsene Wenger made the right decisions.

It's Wenger who got it wrong. Whatever the reason may be, Arsene Wenger's followers should mourn about that. He's been trophyless for seven years. For a club of Arsenal's stature, or the stature they claim to have reached, that's way too long. Referee's, players and the opposition have been blamed, its time for them to check on their manager and their policy.

Batsmen, bowlers, fielders and numbers!

Who's most likely to win India the cup?

Going by the first two games, the Indian bowlers looked ordinary. Other than Zaheer Khan (one spell) no other bowler looked the part. No one looked capable of taking wickets or stemming the flow of runs in either of the two games.

But then, on Indian wickets very few bowlers can do so. An extraordinary spell by an extraordinary bowler is the only way of turning things around on such pitches.

Australia has gone that way by taking three wicket takers in Lee, Tait and Johnson.

England lack wicket taking bowlers (Tim Bresnan isn't a wicket taker and his five wickets against India could be misleading).

South Africa has Dale Steyn.

New Zealand certainly doesn't have any.

Pakistan has Shoaib and Afridi.

Sri Lanka has Malinga. (You'll read why Murali isn't mentioned as you read on)

In my opinion an extraordinary bowler isn't one with 700 wickets or with an economy of 3.5-4 runs per over. It's one who can make things happen.

The World Cup in the sub continent will have be played on flat and docile pitches. Add to that 20 overs of a powerplay and 10 slog overs (if the batting power play is taken before the 40th over). That leaves us with 20 overs where a captain can set 'his' field and the bowlers can bowl how 'they' want to.

Muttiah Muralitharan usually comes into bowl after the second power play (over number 16). A sensible batting team (or one portrayed to be sensible) stops taking risks between over numbers 16-34 (say the power play is taken in over number 35). That's when a captain, spreads his field and with the lack of catchers around the bat, Murali will not take wickets.

I stick my neck out on this one. Even if Sri Lanka win the World Cup, Muttiah Muralitharan will not be the leading wicket taker.

He won't be in the top three either.

Zaheer Khan is best known for swing.

Out of his ten overs, he bowls 5-6 in the first power play. 2-3 in the batting power play and the remaining in the slog overs.

Obviously because of the conditions and the pitches available, Zaheer cannot keep pitching the ball up, as even if he gets the odd edge and the edge doesn't go to a fielder, it could easily mean four runs to the batting team. 2-3 instances of this, coupled with the balls that don't swing, he could easily end up with figures like:

5-0-52-0. (Sreesanth's against Bangladesh)

9-0-91-1 (Anderson's against India)

Lets take James Anderson's bowling performance against India. Over the past two-three years, he's easily been the best seam bowler in England.

In the ODI at Bangalore. Anderson started off by swinging it, induced edges from Sehwag, which just evaded the fielders and he ended up playing catch up by bowling cross seam or cutters to stem the run flow. That didn't work either and he went for runs. Big runs.

Netherlands smashed him around too.With Stuart Broad returning in the next game, will Anderson be dropped?

I highly doubt.

So, a wicket taker around the world has gone for more than 8 an over in two games, only accounting for one wicket.

Sreesanth played in the game against Bangladesh. He played in the warm-up game against Australia.

With the help of statistics from a cricket website:

He induced five edges against Bangladesh in five overs. He beat Ponting's bat seven times (six, if the umpire would've spotted an edge we all spotted)..

In comparison, Zaheer beat the bat thrice in his ten overs against England. (One LBW, one bowled and one which almost dismissed Yardy).

Munaf didn't beat the bat at all.

Both ended up conceding more than six runs per over.

For the spinners, Dhoni always had a slip in place (sometimes even a leg slip for Chawla). He hoped the bowlers attacked but they never did. No flight, no turn.

Just ponder on this:

If Sreesanth came onto bowl as a first change bowler (over numbers 10-12) and bowled his overs between over numbers 10-34 (which would mean only two-three of his overs during the powerplay). If Dhoni could give Chawla a slip and a leg slip, give Sreesanth a slip for all his overs during his spell. With the spread out field, he'll probably go at 6 per over, but he gives India a genuine wicket taking threat.

India need a wicket taker during that phase of the game.

With seven batsmen, three of them who're decent spinners (Yuvraj, Yusuf and Sehwag) is it worth taking the risk of playing a genuine wicket taker?

I say it is.

PS: Two games into the World Cup, if we go by history and statistics, India might well be favourites to win the World Cup.

• The last time an Indian batsman scored 175 in a World Cup, India won it.

• Every cup that MS Dhoni has lifted has involved a tie for his team.

1. India - Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in 2007
2. Chennai - Punjab in the IPL 2010
3. Chennai - Victoria in the Champions League T20 2010.

Well done Kenny, NESV and Andy Carroll!

"I was a bit surprised and didn't really know what was going on at the time. When I knew it was real and that there was a chance for me to come here I knew it was a great opportunity and I had to take it". This is what Andy Carroll said in his first interview after joining Liverpool.

He wasn't the only one who didn't really know what was going on.

Rewind to 31st January 2011 at 10:00 pm IST, 4:30 pm GMT (just a few hours before the end of the winter transfer window) and football fans worldwide were glued to their computer screens on atleast five different websites looking for the latest on Fernando Torres' move to Chelsea. Resigned to losing Torres, we fans were hoping that Luis Suarez wouldn't face the same problem Torres faced under Roy Hodgson at Liverpool. In simpler words we were hoping to bring in a new striker.

With a few hours left for the window to shut the Liverpool management's agenda had three important points:

1: Convince Torres to stay

2: Convince Chelsea to pay 50 million (no exchange deal involving Sturridge)

3: Sign a replacement for Torres.

Along with these three important things, Dalglish and Commoli (I'm assuming they were at the forefront) were trying to get on the line with Blackpool's owner to convince him to listen for offers for Charlie Adam.

Commoli also got in touch with Houllier over a proposed move for A.Young which prompted the Frenchman to come out twice to declare that his winger wasn't available. A speculated bid for Micah Richards failed too.

Then came the inevitable. Torres' deal was agreed with Chelsea for 50 million. Frantically, Liverpool were in the market to sign his replacement. Two bids were rejected by Newcastle, before a 35 million bid was accepted and the big man was finally Anfield bound.

Now, belatedly maybe, comes my point.

35 million pounds!! Overpriced? Certainly. Rumours had it that Khedira, Ozil, Chicharito and Van der Vaart were worth 35 combined. Kenny what were you thinking??

Carroll? Why?

Is it because he's probably the best young English talent around now? (No offense to Wilshere, really rate that guy)

Is it because Liverpool needed a striker on transfer deadline day and everyone knew that. Any club possessing a player Liverpool needed would obviously overprice. Mike Ashley = Einstien then? Well done!

Is it because since Sami Hyypia left, Liverpool's only headed goal from a corner has come from Soto Kyrgiakos (who doesn't start a game now) and the Reds needed a physical presence in the box?

Is it because he's got a knack of scoring goals and has done so already this season against Arsenal and Chelsea?

Is it because he's got 11 goals for a team that has just been promoted to the Barclays Premier League?

Is it because he's got 9 assists?

Is it because Luis Suarez needs a striker to play alongside?

Is it because he's English and he's overpriced?

Carrick = 18 million. (Correct me if he wasn't overpriced)

A 17 year Wayne Rooney 28 million (not sure about the price, please correct me here)

Sir Alex made these deals and no one doubted him.

We needed Andy, we got him.

We as supporters didn't pay for him.

We as supporters can certainly enjoy the prospect of a few headed goals, a few assists and a physical presence that creates havoc in the oppositions defense.

Let's go Carroll!!

Goodbye Roy!

Oh Roy, you managed Liverpool like a new born playing with his new toy.

This blog follows a question asked by a fellow Liverpool supporter. He asked, when will things change.

When will things change?

When Roy Hodgson leaves.

When Kenny Dalglish manages Liverpool.

When an out of form Fernando Torres can be sent to Spain for a two week rest.

When Steven Gerrard likes the players he’s playing alongside.

When someone can be called half as important as Steven Gerrard is seen at Anfield.

When Danny Agger starts.

When Fabio Aurelio starts.

When we can rest an out of form player.

Agree with my observations?

So other than the first two questions, Roy had these options to his disposal. What he did to start of with was, win over fans by signing Joe Cole. Then, the defeats to Blackpool and Northampton at Anfield were forgotten as addressing the ownership battles between Gillette, Hicks and Liverpool seemed to be more important.

Takeover completed, Everton beat Liverpool 2-0.

Press conference after the game: Roy = Liverpool’s second half performance was their best performance under him.

Truth: First half of that game = pathetic. Second half of the game = Everton: taken their foot of the gas, Liverpool: Trying to grind out a performance.

Then: A Torresmatic victory over Chelsea. Torres showed the world what he’s capable of with two stunning goals. Three days later, a game scheduled against Wigan at the DW. Torres scores within the first ten minutes!

The pundits then go: Torres is back, Liverpool FC are back. Are they back?

No!

Raul Meireles (second best player on the pitch against Wigan), is taken off to be replaced by Jonjo Shelvey. (18 years old, touted as the next Gerrard). Would you rather see an 18 year old showcase his skills when three points are important? Leading 1-0 at Wigan, if Meireles was tired (that’s the reason Roy gave for his substitution), was Shelvey the man? With a squad full of internationals (albeit ,out of form), an experienced head would do the job? Enter Shelvey, Liverpool drop two points.

Next up: Stoke City. Get battered 2-0! Momentum gained after the Chelsea win?

No!

Liverpool’s last few games have summed up Roy Hodgson’s tenure as Liverpool manager. Struggle, struggle, struggle. Lots of pain, no gain, all the effort in vain, fans becoming insane, players needing a shot on their backside with a cane!

Now to the positives under Roy:

1. Joe Cole signing for Liverpool, without the Champions League and moving out of the capital to join Liverpool. PS: He was offered a larger pay cheque.

2. ?

Was there a second positive?

No!

I’m for one who believes that managers must be given time at a club: Provided he shows glimpses of taking the club to the right direction. Signing Meireles, was the right decision.

Playing him wide right? No.

The players history shows he started of as a left back. He moved to central defensive midfielder and then to a role of a central midfielder. He’s shown his glimpses of his best form as a central midfielder only. He started in the centre against Villa. Put in his best performance, gained an understanding with Lucas and then came the Wolves game. Gerrard returned from injury. What would the best 11 and the best formation be?

If anyone associated with football would place Meireless on the right and Kuyt on the left with squad players such as Joe Cole, Ryan Babel, Maxi Rodriguez and Milan Jovanovic (all internationals) in the squad. Please don’t read further, you won’t understand this. You’re not a football fan!

For God’s sake! Kuyt played as a right winger in a part of a 4-2-3-1 formation. He enjoyed his days on the wing only because we had Torres (in-form, at a time when his understanding with Gerrard was out of the world) and Alonso and Mascherano to accommodate in the team. He cannot play on the left. When a right footed player, plays on the left wing, he needs to have pace to cut in behind defenders to leave space for the left back to storm through to play the crosses in (Konchesky played LB against Wolves).

Result: Liverpool 0 Wolves 1.

Common sense then prevailed (it almost didn’t). Liverpool played Bolton at home. Better team, more balanced (only after half time with Cole coming in for Ngog, Kuyt playing off Torres, Cole in a free role and Maxi on the left). Liverpool played better football, and grinded out the result. Emotional scenes at Anfield.

Three points grabbed, with Blackburn next, mission turnaround is on its way?

No. We’re halted again. Poor play, de-motivated footballers, zero managerial intelligence (Aurelio dropped from the squad and Agger demoted to the bench), NGog starting with Torres.

How tough is it Mr Hodgson? The supposed 442 formation being played away from home isn’t working. Please play 4-4-1-1.

Reina

Johnson Skrtel Agger Aurelio

Maxi Gerrard Lucas Babel

Cole

Torres

How tough is it? NGog hasn’t scored a goal away from home. For all his efforts is he a better player consistently than Babel? Is he a better player than Joe Cole?

No!

Move over Roy, bring in King Kenny!