Talk about any victorious football team of any generation and you get star names thrown out at you. Rightfully, the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, Alfredo di Stefano, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Marco van Basten are called and revered as legends. However, there have been very rare teams (if at all) where all 11 players on the field have received equal admiration or fanfare. Similarly, there has never been a side led to sustained glory by one individual alone. Not even the footballing demi-gods mentioned above or any other like them have managed this.

For every Pele, there also has to be an anti-Pele – one who does the grafting, the hard work, the tough tackling and precise passing, who gives 150% in every minute of every game. This article is about such men still around in the Premier League. A super team of work horses, who do the unspectacular with spectacular consistency and facilitate the full expression of the genius of a Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Gareth Bale or Sergio Aguero. A team of the ‘dependables.’

Goalkeeper

Hugo Lloris may have come in and stolen his starting slot but if ever you wanted a keeper that you could bet your house on to put in a solid, mistake-free shift, Brad Friedel is your man. Joe Hart is, without a doubt, the best keeper in the division and Petr Cech, David de Gea, Michel Vorm and Tim Krul among others are all hugely talented, but Friedel is a classic, no-nonsense, old fashioned shot stopper. Giving him competition in this team of dependables would be Asmir Begovic.

Left Back

While Ashley Cole has over a 100 England caps, Patrice Evra has been captain of France, and Gael Clichy is probably the best attacking left back, but none of them in my view can compare to Leighton Baines. Easily the best left-footed crosser of the ball in the League, Baines is equally effective at both ends of the field, something the above three are not. Also, in a team that does not boast too many game changers, his dead ball ability would be a definite plus.

Right Back

For all the praise heaped on Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta is perhaps the best defender on City’s books. The veteran Argentine has kept Micah Richards out of the Man City side, and with good reason. Whether its the pacy Gareth Bale or the wily Nani that he’s up against, Zabaleta always holds his own defensively. And he gets up and joins the attack as well with regularity, putting in far better crosses than anybody else in the City side.

Centre Backs

The centre back pairing would be an all British affair, putting together two highly underrated defenders. Phil Jagielka has been capped by England many times but is yet to cement a starting spot, often seen as fourth in the pecking order behind John Terry, Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott. However, Jags is arguably the best stopper back of the lot currently, and his improvement over the last year or so has seen him reach a standard for Everton that is comparable to JT at his peak.

Partnering him would be, in my view, the most improved defender in the EPL over the last year – Jonny Evans. The Irishman has come on leaps and bounds from the fragile, low-on-confidence shell of a player who was most famous for being sent off early in the 6-1 drubbing against Man City last year. He is the prime reason that Nemanja Vidic is not being rushed back from injury as United have done a couple of times in the past. Alongside Vidic or Rio Ferdinand, Evans has prospered as a strong tackling defender who reads the game well and is also confident moving out of defence with the ball at his feet. And doing his form and confidence no harm has been the fact that he has started scoring as well. While youngsters Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have been receiving tremendous praise for their potential and performances, Evans is the type of reliable figure Sir Alex Ferguson loves to have in his side.

Left Midfielder

Capable of playing anywhere across the midfield, James Milner is a quintessential work horse. The England international does a job which is at the same time crucial, unpleasant and tiring. He provides cover to the full back on the defensive front, he joins in for every major attack, gets to the byline and provides good crosses, and also comes in-field to try and score a few. And he does this for 90 minutes, twice or thrice every week.

Right Midfielder

A position where David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and others have thrived in the Premier League years sees plenty of worthy heirs even now. Antonio Valencia and Nani at United and Theo Walcott at Arsenal are probably the best three in that position in the League, but my choice for this particular team would be Park ji Sung. The South Korean legend does not have the natural flair or talent of those mentioned above, but he surely has maximised his limited potential. While he has not been as much of a feature this season as QPR fans would have liked, during the seven years he was at United, Park was a regular fixture despite being surrounded by vastly superior talents. The role Sir Alex deployed him in, particularly during Champions League matches where he would hound the opposition defenders and midfielders tirelessly, is just the reason I would have him in this side.

Central Midfielders

A three man central midfield would feature Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and playing slightly in front, Kevin Nolan. Everything written above about Park is applicable also for Fletcher, whose virus-forced absence has been a major loss for United in the last few years. Carrick has, of late, been compared to the legendary Paul Scholes, a just comparison. The England international possesses a passing range comparable to Scholes and is a calming influence in midfield, defence or wherever he plays. Plus, he can tackle! Nolan would complete the trio of underrated but supremely efficient central midfield generals. Wherever he has played in a journeyman career, Nolan has been a role model, a true professional who wears his heart on his sleeve. He has the healthy knack of popping up with goals from time to time too.

Centre Forward

Probably the most difficult choice to make but in the end I’d have to go with a fully fit Darren Bent. Right from his time at Charlton Athletic, Bent has scored goals for fun for unfashionable teams (which this side would definitely be), often without receiving much support from the other men on the side. He is definitely not a van Persie, Rooney, Aguero, Demba Ba or Michu, but he is just as good, if not better, at poaching goals. A quality this particular team would dearly need.

Team: Friedel; Baines, Jagielka, Evans, Zabaleta; Milner, Carrick, Fletcher, Nolan (c), Park; Bent

Sub: Begovic, Ivanovic, Dawson, S Larsson, Parker, Dempsey, Holt

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of Sportskeeda

As revering chants of Mou-ri-nhio, Mou-ri-nhio rang out around a packed Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night, the man who was the target of that adulation sat confined in the Real Madrid technical area with a smug look on his face which almost seemed to suggest, “are you watching, Perez and Iker?” A second string Los Blancos outfit did what many Mourinho teams of the past have done – find a way to win against any opposition.

This time the opponents were the hated enemy, Barcelona. While the result was immaterial (Barca are still 13 points ahead of the capital club with just 11 games to go), a second successive defeat at the hands of their arch enemy and a third in four matches was a crushing blow to the collective morale of a side hailed by many as the greatest ever. Whether they are is a question best left for a rainy day but what is of significance to note is the complete implosion of character shown towards the end by many of Barca’s supposed superheroes; a trait they’ve often blamed as undeserving gamesmanship on Real.

Victor Valdes charged out of the goal-line after the final whistle to protest what he thought was a penalty in the dying seconds of the game and promptly got sent off for dissent. The notorious Sergio Busquets was up to his off-the-ball hacking and body checks again, as were Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano. Countless times Barca players surrounded the referee (who, it has to be said, had an exemplary game), trying to put pressure on him to get Real players booked or for getting decisions in their favour. Almost every team on the planet does this but please, the next time it is done against Barcelona, I urge the Barca players, coaches and fans alike to not even think of taking the moral high ground and pretend to always be the victims when that is clearly not the case.

As recently as last week, Barcelona’s feisty right back Dani Alves was quoted by FIFA.com as saying that ‘excuses are for losers.’ After their recent dip in form, players, current and past, management staff and a whole host of Barca-adoring so-called football pundits have pointed fingers at everything from Tito Vilanova’s health issues, injuries to Xavi and Iniesta, a dip in form of the incomparable Lionel Messi and even a congested fixture list as reasons (read excuses) for their plight. If Alves were to be taken at face value, who are the losers now?

Before going any further, let me make it clear that this is not a fan tirade against Barcelona. However, considering the monumental hype surrounding the side, its youth system and players and the unwillingness of many ‘experts’ to call a spade a spade, this article is made necessary to try and balance things out a bit. Indeed, the commentary during the Copa del Ray second-leg was nothing short of criminal for how one-sided it was in the home side’s favour even when they were being overrun by a rampant Real. For when Barca wins and Real loses, it is because of the genius of the former but when results are turned, it is only because ‘Barcelona played bad’ or Real ‘upset the tempo of the game’ and never because Real played extremely well!

Which is exactly what Mourinho’s men have been doing in the recent past in the Clasicos. Sure, the Portuguese took a few games to figure out how to get past Barca. But ever since the day Cristiano Ronaldo headed in the winner in the 2010-11 Copa del Ray final, Real have largely had the better of Barcelona in head-to-head encounters.

These last two wins were particularly impressive considering they looked in total control throughout the game. Barcelona had most of the possession but could hardly ever translate that into meaningful forays or shots. They went about their pretty passing but considering it was mostly in the middle of the field and hardly ever in the opposition third, it was, for all practical purposes, pretty useless passing. Sticking to your ethos and playing a certain style is very commendable, but at the end of the day the game is all about putting the ball in the back of the net and not about how many passes you’re able to string together.

Of course, all this does not go to suggest that Barcelona are suffering some severe breakdown. They are still a shoe-in for the La Liga title and given the quality of their side, it would be no surprise if they overturn a 2-0 deficit against AC Milan and go on to eventually claim the Champions League title at Wembley.

But what Mourinho has done so dramatically in the space of four days is demystify Barcelona. Teams will now go in to games against Messi and co with a new-found belief that they can win. They have a model in front of them as to how to keep Messi quiet, how to render Iniesta ineffective, how to shackle Xavi’s influence and how to score goals against a defence which leaves themselves wide open to counter attacks time and again.

Also, what Mourinho and his men have achieved is show Vilanova and his management team that they really do need a Plan B. If a team comprising of Alvaro Morata, Jose Callejon, Luka Modric (all of whom were extremely effective), an out of form Kaka and the rest, in place of key regulars like Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Gonzalo Higuain, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and of course Ronaldo, could dominate (again in terms of effectiveness and chances created rather than possession) Barca the way they did, it clearly shows that something has indeed gone wrong.

Despite their famed tiki-taka build up, much like they found out against Chelsea (but did not learn from) last year in the Champions League, they do not have an alternate way to goal. That is where a Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have done them good. That is where a classy winger can change their fortunes around instead of over-reliance on full backs Alves and Jordi Alba.

For unlike Ronaldo, Messi cannot win games single handedly when the build-up is not tailored to his needs. As was rightly pointed out by analyst Guillem Balague, Messi against Milan and in the two Clasicos has looked like the Messi of Argentina; almost non existent at times. With Xavi and Iniesta not as effective as they normally are and with David Villa not yet back to his best, Messi’s contributions become far too little and far too spaced out. The run and finish for the equaliser on Saturday was probably the only reminder of the Messi we’re used to seeing and it was telling that it happened the one time Barca played the game Messi wants them to play – dragging out defenders to leave him space to exploit and then playing an early ball, giving him ample time to finish before being mobbed by defenders.

Messi and Barcelona will benefit if the side tones down just a little bit on their ‘only one way to play the game’ attitude. Footballing history shows us this is not the case. If Brazilian samba flair under Pele, Zico and co was successful, German defensive solidity and workmanlike approach has also been equally effective. If the great Dutch sides of yore perfected Total Football, Chelsea of last year perfected Total Negative Football. There is no harm in having a second option.

In 2010, when Serbia conquered all corners en route a maiden Davis Cup triumph, they did so on the might of four top class players, three young, classy singles exponents and a wily, old doubles specialist. While Novak Djokovic was and remains the kingpin amongst the lot, the remaining trio of Janko Tipsarevic, Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic were playing at a level where they were able to win rubbers even without him. However, while Tipsarevic has come on leaps and bounds since then, the dip in form of Troicki (who does singles duty when Djokovic sits out) has seen the collective might of the Serbian side decrease, particularly when the opposition has a strong doubles combination.

The individual rankings of the three singles players then and now tells a tale in itself. By the time the decider against France came up in 2010, Djokovic was ranked world No 3. Now he is rightfully at the top of the pile in the men’s game, on the back of an incredible two and a quarter years that has seen him capture three straight Australian Opens, one Wimbledon, one US Open and reach the semifinal or final at each of the last 11 Slams he has played, dating back to Wimbledon 2010. Tipsarevic was very much the third fiddle in the 2010 Serbian lineup, as was evidenced by the selection of Troicki over him for the deciding rubber against France. Tipsy was ranked in the 40s back then but has over the last year shot into and consolidated a top 10 slot, and is currently ranked 9th in the world.

But Troicki’s rankings, form and results have taken a nosedive since that memorable November night in Belgrade, all the way from a career-best 12 (early 2011) to 44 currently. However, judging by the talent of the 23-year-old, this is indeed quite a shock. While his compatriots have grown from strength to strength, increasing the efficiency of their go to strokes and working tirelessly to nullify their weaknesses, Troicki’s game has degenerated on multiple counts.

While he still has a big serve, his first serve percentage in most big matches is extremely poor for it to become a factor. While he still hits a few mean groundstrokes, he tends to go for the spectacular winner far too early in rallies instead of playing the percentage points. His physical stamina remains a plus even today but his mental frailties are his biggest weakness, and to me, the root cause of 90% of his problems.

Indeed, Troicki’s current problems offer a throwback to the Djokovic of old – bundles of talent and promise side by side a frustrating inability to deliver when it matters, mostly due to a brash temperament. While most pundits point to Djokovic’s switch to a gluten-free diet and a resulting tantamount difference in his stamina as the main reason behind his sensational form over the last two years, the oft neglected yet arguably the greatest change in his game has been a new-found ability to keep ice cool under pressure.

Of course, comparing today’s Troicki to the pre 2011 Djokovic is doing the latter a huge disservice. Not only had Djokovic reached the top three in the world by that time, he had also won a Slam – the 2008 Australian Open. But it is his inability to replicate that triumph till three years later that is being put under the focus.

The second he got his mind under control, the day he stopped bouncing the ball 20 and 30 times before a serve, the time he managed to strike a balance between being a court jester and a competitive professional, a new Djokovic emerged. The one we’re used to seeing nowadays – who blasts fearless crosscourt winners down two match points in the semifinal of the US Open against Roger Federer; the one who got under Rafael Nadal‘s skin on clay; the one who at the same time runs as much as David Ferrer, turns defence into attack a la Bjorn Borg, returns serve off both sides like Andre Agassi, and backs up the best double-handed backhand in today’s game with a solid forehand, an ever-improving net presence and crafty, deceptive drops.

If only Troicki can get his mind under control like his compatriot or at least, even as much as Tipsarevic does, he has the potential to crack the top 10, if not go further. If he does manage this, Serbia could be set for a good five-six years of Davis Cup dominance much like Spain’s glory run in the first decade of the century.

India’s Olympic shame

In a way, this had been a long time coming. Embroiled in controversy since one can remember, the mishandling of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) finally resulted in the nation being dumped out of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Ever quick to slam the political wrangling between governing bodies in sports like hockey and vocally demanding that the profitable Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is brought under the auspices of either or both the Sports Ministry and the Right to Information Act, the IOA never cared to set their own house in order.

Exasperated at the lack of will on part of the IOA to ensure zero governmental control in its administration, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) finally ensured that the proud tricolor would not adorn the Games venues in Brazil. If only things changed now.

The Lance Armstrong ‘witch hunt’

Seven years since Lance Armstrong won the last of his seven Tour de France titles, the United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA) launched yet another doping trial against the Texan. Having battled his way through numerous trials earlier, the cancer survivor decided to finally lay down his guard, well into his 40’s. Even while granting USADA jurisdiction over the case, the American judicial system raised a question as to the ‘motives’ behind USADA’s latest case.

Why now after all these years? Weren’t there doping offences going on everyday in numerous sports which the USADA themselves were finding difficult to cope up with? The USADA based their case on ‘new evidence and testimony’ by a string of Armstrong’s former teammates at US Postal Services and the Discovery Channel teams. Despite an initial attempt by Armstrong’s lawyers to get USADA to reveal these testimonies, the agency contentiously refused. If they were indeed serious about attaining justice, why withhold statements which they had on record?

The USADA could only test Armstrong’s urine samples for a period dating back eight years, meaning only the 2004 and 2005 Tour titles of the American were called into question. But Armstrong’s decision to not fight proceedings resulted in calls to strip him off all seven of his Tour titles as well as his Olympic bronze medal in the individual time trial from the 2000 Sydney Olympics. But considering that 10 of the next 12 finishers behind Armstrong in many of his Tour victories, including some of his former teammates who testified against him (according to media reports), had all tested positive for banned substances at various points in their careers, who would be awarded those titles?

Indeed, isn’t it possible that just as Armstrong is rumoured to have bought loyalty from the international cycling federation (UCI) and his trainers and teammates, the USADA could have bought testimony from his former teammates, who themselves are dope tainted, by promising amnesty? A very murky business indeed.

Slow down Schumi

The man who was continuously the fastest man in the world behind the wheels of a Ferrari, ended his second coming with little more than a whimper. Michael Schumacher may have left the rest of the world trailing behind his exhaust fumes during the 90’s and early 2000’s, but his three-year comeback from retirement ended without a single victory or podium finish.

Consistently outdone by his younger German counterpart Nico Rosberg, Schumi managed only a handful of outstanding drives that reminded one and all of the champion he once was. But overall, the notoriously methodical racer, with the characteristic leap on the podium, found out just as another legend in Michael Jordan did before him, that the game changes faster than Steve Slater can say, “the five lights illuminate and they’re off…”

Oz harvest and home Cooking

If the 2011 World Cup success softened the 4-0 Test whitewash in England, there was no corresponding achievement in limited overs cricket to balance the ignominy of the similar roasting Down Under. MS Dhoni’s men headed to Australia in December of that year, dreaming of a historic series victory against a host side adjusting to life under a new captain and the passing of guard from Glen McGrath, Shane Warne and co. to a much younger and inexperienced bowling department.

But while Rahul Dravid’s wall was constantly breached, forcing the legend into retirement, the seeds of discontent in the Indian dressing room were sown and the visitor’s bowling unit ripped to shreds, the Aussies kick started a real revival in fortunes, reminiscent of what was begun by Allan Border’s 1987 World Cup winning side. The Oz harvest campaign, which uses leftover food from hotels to feed the poor, aptly describes India’s plummeting in fortunes – from world champions to whipping boys feeding on scraps.

When Alastair Cook’s England, who had defeated the Aussies in Australia earlier in 2011, beat the Indians 2-1 on their own spinning graveyards of pitches last month, this fall from grace was complete. England became the first country to come back from a deficit to twice win a Test series on India soil. What more is left to be seen? A Test series whitewash by Bangladesh?

Saina’s bronze-sized ego

While India rejoiced as one at Saina Nehwal’s bronze medal winning feat at the London Olympics, the manner of that success was extremely disappointing. While the 22-year-old Hyderabadi lass has the ability to beat any other female singles player in the world, she looked well short of her best in the semifinals against Wang Yihan and the bronze-medal playoff against Wang Xin, both of China.

At the Wembley Arena, Saina had no answer for the reach, movement and power of then world No.1 Yihan in the semis and would surely have returned without a medal had it not been for Xin’s ankle injury that forced her to retire early into the second game, having won the first. The look on Xin’s face when she had to pull out of the game was easily the most endearingly sad moment of the year, whatever your nationality.

China did of course work their devious ways by removing the other Wang, Shixian (against whom Saina has a formidable record), and sending world No.4 Li Xuerui in her place. But when you have four of the best five shuttlers in the world, I guess you are allowed to make that call. Another disgrace from the same venue was the game throwing scandal in the women’s doubles as teams tried to fashion a satisfactory draw for themselves in the quarterfinals.

But the biggest disaster for Indian badminton resulting from Saina’s bronze is the way it has fuelled her ego. While the Badminton Association of India (BAI) is by no means an innocent, model sporting body, they are surely justified in requesting the presence of top stars at the National Championships and the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold event. But Saina’s short-lived appearance, where she retired a point from match point in her opening game of the latter event, having already booked her flight for Hyderabad for the afternoon, is nothing short of sheer impudence. A recurrence of an old ankle injury? Really, who are you trying to fool?

Of course, high profile attackers like Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani can make a mark at any of these teams but prising them away from their current clubs during January may prove too big an ask. All these players mentioned here appear unhappy at their respective clubs and hence a transfer is a real possibility, though whether the clubs suggested here are interested in them is a different matter. So who would/should be on Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Co’s New Year shopping list? Read on.

Wesley Sneijder to Manchester United

From Sir Alex to Sneijder’s wife, everyone has had a say on this protracted transfer saga. What lies in the deal for both club and player and what there is to lose for both those parties and the aforementioned player’s wife, is clear as crystal to see. Sneijder is a midfield visionary, the likes of whom United has not seen since a young Paul Scholes. United is a club filled with talents that could finally unleash the real range of the Dutchman’s game.

Why has the deal stalled the last couple of times? Sneijder’s exorbitant wage demands and Fergie being put off by inflated price quotations for a nearly 29-year-old from his current club Inter Milan. However, with Sneijder frozen out of the first team picture at Inter by current boss Andrea Stramacconi, he may be prepared to lessen his asking price and take the Old Trafford lifeline.

His wife of course wouldn’t like the deal falling through as the model prefers fashionable Milan, Paris or even Los Angeles and London over cold, dreary Manchester. The appeal of the Theatre of Dreams or the charm of the rainy Cotton Capital of the world mean nothing to Sneijder’s Prada and Gucci sporting Mrs. Unfortunately, his wife seems to be the only one Wes listens to! However, the footballing powers that be may still knock some sense into the attacking midfielder with the mean long-range freekick ability.

While United fans salivate about a front six of Michael Carrick, Sneijder, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney and van Persie, it could also mean the final chapter in the legendary career of the soft spoken Scholesy.

Mario Balotelli to Liverpool

Super Mario linking up with Brendan Rodgers isn’t quite like Iron Man joining forces with Hulk, but the possible Balotelli-Luis Suarez combine is worth getting worked up about. With the inventive Steven Gerrard behind them, Balotelli would provide the perfect focal point around whom Suarez can work his magic. Just as the Uruguayan’s partnership with Diego Forlan led his nation’s charge at the 2010 World Cup and Balotelli prospered alongside Antonio Cassano for Italy, this particular combination could prove to be the new Ian Rush-Kenny Dalglish pairing for the Anfield faithful.

Of course, the Italian is a real piece of work and will take Rodgers’ considerable skill to get him to give up his frolicking ways, but this is a real challenge that the Northern Irishman might enjoy. And surely, being away from the father-like mentor-ship of Roberto Mancini should only do good for the volatile Balotelli. This is a deal that could make an immediate difference for the Reds, instead of showing promise for the future like young Thomas Ince.

Nani to Manchester City

With the style Mancini adopts at City, this is not a clear cut move either. However, the prodigious Portuguese winger will definitely be a step up in ability over James Milner or Adam Johnson, the last real wide man City has employed.

Currently, with the Blues depending on Pablo Zabaleta to provide crosses from the right, most of their build up play is worryingly slow, complex and narrow. Nani would provide that pacy, wide option with equal parts trickery and inventiveness with a genuine ability to beat his man, get to the byline and put in a good ball. Nani’s goal scoring traits should also not be ignored by a City side which is not finding goals that easy to come by anymore. His signing could also bring Edin Dzeko into the picture much more.

The only real downside to Nani’s transfer would be that Gareth Barry would be frozen out more and there would be a real pressure on Yaya Toure to go back to his defensive best from his times at Barcelona. While the Ivorian’s forward runs have been a real outlet for City, he is one of the finest tacklers in the game with an uncanny ability to read the game. So this shouldn’t really be a problem and provided it doesn’t work in a particular game, Mancini can always take off one of Nani, David Silva or most probably Samir Nasri and bring Barry on.

Marouane Fellaini to Arsenal

Again, not a match made in heaven as far as Wenger is concerned but the sort of deal the Frenchman has reneged on in the past, leading to his club’s prolonged title drought that will surely continue for another year at least. Fellaini has been instrumental in Everton’s charge to the top six places in the league this year and in similar runs during the last four years. Another crucial thing to remember is that Everton under David Moyes always get stronger in the second half of a season, much like United under Sir Alex.

Fellaini’s improvement in form during after the Christmas period has been a major reason for that in the past and provided he can do the same, would be a master signing for the Gunners. The Belgian would provide a box-to-box, physical element to Arsenal’s game that has not been seen at the Emirates ever. Indeed, not since Patrick Viera’s heydays at the old Highbury stadium, have Arsenal had a player who was just as physically imposing as he was skillful on the ball.

That latter part of Fellaini’s game often goes under-appreciated. While even Andy Carroll provides a good option to hoof the ball upfield and relieve pressure, the Englishman hardly ever manages to hold on to the football. Even if he does hold it up, his passing ability over even five yards is so pathetic as was proven over and over against high quality opposition at the Euros. Fellaini reaches and controls balls that very few people in football today can. His first touch, especially on high balls, is more often comparable to van Persie than Olivier Giroud.

Under Wenger’s tutelage, with Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Giroud playing with him, Fellaini can work wonders at the Emirates. All it takes is for Wenger to stop being the aristocratic snob he is and look beyond his fetish for French speaking and increasingly, British youngsters, and identify talent for what it really is, no matter age or nationality.

Demba Ba to Chelsea

Much has been made of the 7.5mn Pound hole in Ba’s contract. For Roman Abramovich, that represents money spent flying his troop of Ruski dance girls from Moscow to London for John Terry’s birthday party. For interim manager Rafael Benitez, it provides a reliable front option that will let him tweak Chelsea’s formation to one that suits his style, rather than that of his predecessor’s predecessor, Andre Vilas Boas.

Like Fernando Torres benefited playing alongside Sergio Aguero for one season in 2006-07 at Atletico Madrid, the Spaniard would enjoy teaming up with Ba. For the Senegalese striker, he can expect service from four to five players of Yohan Cabaye’s skill, instead of just the Frenchman alone. A proverbial win-win for everybody, except Ba’s current club Newcastle United of course.

Ba’s presence would also allow Benitez to try and find a partner for Ramires in the heart of his midfield, although fellow Brazilian David Luiz is doing a good job as a stop-gap. However, the fact remains that Lampard could be on his way in any of the next two transfer windows and Chelsea need options to replace not just his passing range, but also his goalscoring prowess, which is where Ba comes in.

Cheslea have been scoring for fun over the last month, but just as was proven in the Club World Cup final against Corinthians, their inexperienced attack can come unstuck in crucial games. They certainly do not have a match winner of Didier Drogba’s ilk. While Ba is not the big-match player that Drogba was, he certainly has the ability to be. He just needs a club of the size of Chelsea to show faith in him and while Abramovich has as much faith in his manager’s as Mancini had in Roque Santa Cruz, he certainly sticks by his players. Torres is a 50mn Pound example while Terry’s ‘heroics’ would have seen him frozen out of most other clubs.

And finally, what about the rest of the Premier League? Hope for UEFA’s Financial Fair Play to be implemented forcefully without there being as many loopholes as in the Indian Penal Code! Merry Christmas and a jolly good New Year.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – NOVEMBER 18: Team captain Jaroslav Navratil, Radek Stepanek,Tomas Berdych, Lukas Rosol,Ivo Minar of Czech Republic and 1980 winning team Pavel Korda team captain,Jan Kodes,Pavel Slozil, Tomas Smid and Ivan Lendl pose by the winners trophy after a 3-2 victory against Spain during day three of the final Davis Cup match between Czech Republic and Spain at the 02 Arena on November 18, 2012 in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic pipped the far more illustrious Spanish matadors to bag their second Davis Cup title last week. Led by world number six Tomas Berdych, with Radek Stepanek playing a crucial role by winning two ties including the deciding rubber, the Czech Republic took the tough route in emulating the 1980 Czechoslovakian side led by former world number one Ivan Lendl.

Seeded fifth in the World Group, they started off with a 4-1 mauling of Italy in Ostrava before putting home court advantage to good use to defeat 2010 champions and third seeds Serbia. Playing on indoor clay, the Czechs benefited from the absence of world number one Novak Djokovic, polishing off another 4-1 result.

Things got trickier then as they headed to Buenos Aires for the semifinal tie on outdoor clay against second-seeded Argentina, the runners-up in 2011, 2008, 2006 and 1981. With Juan Martin del Potro fit enough to take part in just one singles rubber, Berdych and co took advantage to wrap up the tie by the fourth rubber. And back on indoor hard courts, the Czech machine got over Stepanek’s and Berdych’s straight-sets losses to David Ferrer to win the remaining three rubbers and bag the overall title.

Are the Czech Republic the number one men’s tennis nation currently in the world? The sheer number of Spanish players in the top 50 – seven, including Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro, Fernando Verdasco, Marcel Granollers, Feliciano Lopez, Pablo Andujar and of course Rafael Nadal (Albert Ramos is #51) – indicates that perhaps it is they who are the real deserving contenders. They have indeed dominated the Davis Cup since the turn of the century, winning five times (2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011) and also reaching the 2003 and 2012 finals.

However, the most number of Davis Cup titles has been won by the USA (32 in all), the last in 2007. Australia is second in the list with 28 titles including one in 2003. Even limiting this listing to the Open Era which started in 1969 and saw the game accepting professional players, the US leads the way with 12 victories, followed by Sweden (7), Australia (6) and Spain (5).

9 Apr 2000: Pete Sampras of the U.S. hits a backhand against Slava Dosedel of the Czech Republic during his straight sets win 6-4, 6-4, 6-6 (6-2) in the quarterfinal matches of the Davis Cup at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California.

Statistically then, a meeting between the American sides of John McEnroe (victors in 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1982) and the Swedish sides of Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg (titles in 1984, 1985 and 1987 – the last without Edberg) should be the pinnacle of team tennis. Even though the US in the 90s had an assortment of stars such as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang, they did not always have the service of these players together for the Davis Cup. Also, while the likes of multiple-time Grand Slam winning Aussies Rod Laver (11 Slams), Roy Emerson (12), John Newcombe (7) and Ken Rosewall (8) all employed their trade in the 60’s and early 70’s, their heydays were before the Open Era as they won 15 out of 17 titles from 1950 to 1967.

If players across generations were to be mixed into one all-star four-man superweight team, again, the choice would be between these three nations and maybe on clay, the Spaniards. The Czech Republic could put out a strong side as would erstwhile Yugoslavia, but their might would vane in comparison to the big three.

The US team would probably be led by the enigmatic McEnroe, simply because of all that he has given to the US Davis Cup cause. Pistol Pete Sampras would be an obvious second choice with Agassi as the extra option. Courier or Jimmy Connors could come in as back up in case of rubbers on clay. The backup doubles player who will partner the leftie McEnroe would be the right-handed twin among the Bryans, Mike. A further backup in singles could be the legendary Arthur Ashe, who himself cornered Davis Cup glory in the 70s.

Australia, to my mind, is the obvious greatest threat. A team of Laver and Emerson, backed up by the greatest doubles team of all time in the Woodies would be really hard to beat. On grass, Lleyton Hewitt could get a look-in in case of an injury and Rosewall and Newcombe are other classy options to hold in reserve, with the latter a shout for one of the doubles slots too.

29 Mar 2002: Lleyton Hewitt of Australia returns a shot to Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Nasdaq-100 Open at The Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Miami, Florida.

The one nation that can spoil the party is Sweden with a possible line-up of Borg, Edberg, Wilander and Jonas Bjorkman. While it might sound ridiculous to suggest, Thomas Johansson could be a viable alternative for Borg on hard courts.

The current Spanish team with the addition of Carlos Moya and of course, the presence of Nadal would be Spain’s best bet. Nadal and Ferrer in the singles with Granollers or Lopez and Moya in the doubles. Yugoslavia would count on current top dog Djokovic with ace machine Goran Ivanisevic playing the second singles. Nenad Zimonjic could partner Janko Tipsarevic in the doubles. The Czechs could have Ivan Lendl and Berdych in the singles with Stepanek partnering Daniel Vacek in the doubles.

To add to this mix, throw in the French represented by Henri Leconte, Guy Forget, Yannick Noah and Jo Wilfried Tsonga and we have seven stong teams. The eighth and final side could be an All-Star Rest of the World outfit which would definitely have Federer as captain. The second singles spot if the tournament is on clay could go to Guillermo Vilas with Gustavo Kuerten as the back-up. The doubles combination would probably be Daniel Nestor and Leander Paes, although Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi would have a shout due to their chemistry playing together on tour. On any other surface, the second singles spot after Federer would go to the German Boris Becker.

What would be the results if these teams were to be pitted together in a World Group style Davis Cup format? USA to knock out the eighth-seeded Czechs (5-0) while number two seeds Australia would steamroll France 5-0 on hard courts. Third seeds Sweden would destroy Yugoslavia on clay (4-1: Djokovic to beat Edberg/Wilander) while the All Stars would get the better of Spain (3-2). The semifinal between the All Stars and USA should go the Americans’ way on any surface other than clay while Australia should edge Sweden on the other half of the draw, both 3-2. The final, if again on clay, would go the Aussie way, while USA should win on grass. It could go either way on hard courts.

When Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson called it quits, there was a new generation waiting to take over from them. But when that group of Glen McGrath, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel and Co decided to give their backs and wrists a rest, it seemed Australia, like the West Indies before them, would struggle to replicate a potent bowling unit.

The Windies, whose famed quartet of the 70′s and early 80′s backed up by a quality spinner like Lance Gibbs rode roughshod over batting line-ups across the world, struggled to stay on top of the cricketing world after that. Despite the likes of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and Ian Bishop coming through the ranks, they never were able to put together a consistent, winning XI.

However the Aussies, who took over from the mantle of cricketing powerhouses from the Caribbean Kings, have really managed the retirement of their stalwarts like McGrath and Warne extremely well. Their rankings did dip, their three-time hold of the 50-over World Cup did give way, T20 internationals remained a mystery for them for a while but amidst all this, they have still managed a very quick turnaround to throes of their past glory.

The triumph of the Sydney Sixers at the just concluded Champions League T20 showed just how fast Australian cricket, domestic or international, has bounced back from a change of guard. Led by veteran Brad Haddin, the team built on the strength of a young, versatile home-grown pace attack, decimated most oppositions en route the victory. Even the unavailability of a maverick game-changer like Shane Watson for most of the tournament did not slow down the Sixers.

Mitchell Starc in action for the Sydney Sixers

Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who swings the ball (though not as pronounced) at pace much like a young Wasim Akram, was sensational throughout. Whether with the new ball, at first change or brought back towards the death for a second spell, Starc always gave Haddin a reliable, wicket-taking option.

Pat Cummins was just as good most of the way, and his energy and sharp pace are attributes any captain would love to have in their team. Josh Hazelwood has come on a lot in the last couple of years and his economy rate of 4.70 in the tournament shows he has the hallmarks of developing into a top international bowler.

Even in other teams at the tournament, the Aussie quick contingent was very visible. Dirk Nannes played the final for the Highveld Lions, Mitchell Johnson at Mumbai Indians, Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus at the Chennai Super Kings all had prominent roles to play for their respective teams.

James Pattinson really came into his own earlier in the Aussie summer, decimating a strong Indian batting lineup in the four Test whitewash Down Under. His partner in crime during that series, Peter Siddle, has been a tremendous go-to guy for the national team whenever fit, especially in Test matches.

Though he’s been missing due to a series of injuries since right after the 2011 World Cup, John Hastings is another strong pacer with accomplished all-round abilities. While he went unused during the World Cup, he had a strong tour of Bangladesh immediately after before an injury picked up on the last match of the series ruled him out of that season’s IPL. But the almost-27-year-old from Penrith, New South Wales, who plies his Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria, will surely be back strongly soon enough.

Clint McKay has been another bowler used in the limited overs matches and sure enough, to back up these eleven bowlers there are the other two all-rounders Shane Watson and Dan Christian. To complement things further, a fine collection of spinning all-rounders add further depth and options to the Kangaroos.

Peter Siddle of Australia running in to bowl

Nathan Lyon may be the best-bet for Test cricket but Nathan Hauritz may make a surprise run at his spot. Xavier Doherty is the other quality option while for the shorter versions, Steven Smith, Steve O’Keefe, Brad Hogg and Glenn Maxwell are all brilliant all-round options that lend versatility. Smith’s efforts with the bat and on the field were crucial for the Sixers’ run in the CL T20 and O’Keefe proved his worth with a brilliant spell in the final.

The upcoming series against South Africa will be enthralling to follow and it remains to be seen which of Starc and Hilfenhaus get the call up for the third pacer spot at the Gabba alongside Pattinson and Siddle.

On current form, Starc may be the way to go though he has gone through a tough ordeal during the CL T20. However, Hilfenhaus was extremely successful in the series against India, but could be a bit jaded after a period of back-to-back games.

Whoever gets the nod, the Proteas are in for a battering with the new ball. As for the 50-over World Cup in three years in Australia-New Zealand, who can bet against Michael Clarke, David Warner, Watson, Pattinson, Starc and company doing a Brazilian football team and walking away with the title for the fifth time?

TOKYO, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 24: Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark competes in the Men’s singles semifinals match against Chong Wei Lee of Malaysia during the day four of the Yonex Open Japan 2011 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on September 24, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan.

Here was a man who exuded confidence, self-belief and a gentlemanly spirit on-court and off it, whether facing rocket smashes from world beaters or answering fiery questions from scribes, and doing it all with an endearing shirk of impudence and a world class level of showboating. To top things off, this man reigned at the summit of one of the most demanding sports in the world for close to two decades before taking his final bow on Friday.

For many, Peter Hoeg Gade was an extraordinary shuttler, one of very few who could go toe-to-toe with the likes of Lin Dan, Ji Xinpeng, Taufik Hidayat and Lee Chong Wei. For others, he was the embodiment of the can-do spirit, a living example that hardwork does pay. For others still, he was a strapping, handsome man who made his strokes on court look like pieces of art. For fans like me, he was all this and much more.

The first time the name Peter Gade registered in my head was while watching a delayed telecast of the 2001 All England final on Television. While the result was well known in India (Pulella Gopichand had downed the world No.1 Dane to become just the second shuttler from the nation to win the tournament) and nationalist sentiments strove to take my loyalties elsewhere, a few points into the match, I had already become enthralled by Gade’s shot-making.

His court-movement during those days of his career was phenomenal and the power of his strokes from the back court could catch the best defensive player out. An uncanny ability to divert the pace of his opponent’s strokes into well placed drops all over court made his defense quite strong as well. Which was the reason that even at the age of 35, when most badminton singles players would have retired twice over, and despite playing much fewer tournaments, Gade had a world ranking of 5 for the most part of 2012, before eventually slipping to 12^th post Olympics.

Ten years on since that All England final of 2001, I finally got to meet and take an interview of Gade while covering the Indian Open Super Series for one of my former employers. Over a freewheeling chat in the stands of the Siri Fort complex, Gade shed light on a range of topics from his best friends in the sport to the ‘special shots’ he has been credited with inventing and even his love for wine, cooking and music. In a little over half an hour, the Dane had given me a complete insight into life on Tour, away from family and friends, dedicated to fine-tuning your skill and ensuring you can give that extra 0.1% on court every time.

Another point of discussion in that meeting, and what could probably now be his greatest regret, is missing out on an Olympic or World Championship gold medal. Despite holding the world No.1 ranking between 1998-2001, and then again in 2006, Gade could never script a dream run in either of these tournaments.

SINGAPORE – JUNE 18: Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark competes in his match against Lin Dan of China during day five of the Li-Ning Singapore Open at Singapore Indoor Stadium on June 18, 2011 in Singapore.

He came close of course, reaching the final of the 2001 World Championships before losing to Indonesia’s Hendrawan 6-15, 17-16. He also claimed four bronze medals, the last two of which came as late as 2010 and 2011. At the Olympics, he was never able to land a medal, losing to the eventual gold medallist in 2000 (Xinpeng), 2004 (Hidayat) and 2008 (Dan) before bowing out to China’s Chen Long in the quarterfinals this time around in London.

One thing both Gade and I did not know then was that we were talking the day ahead of his last major singles final in his career. The Indian Open 2011 was the last Super Series final Gade played (lost to Chong Wei) and it sure was one memorable match, taking his Malaysian world No.1 opponent to the full three games before succumbing 12-21, 21-15, 15-21. The younger, sprightlier Chong Wei had won through and it was a just reflection of a worn out body screaming for respite after years of rigorous toil.

Back then Gade felt he had one last run at a major title left and he did achieve that dream to an extent, helping Denmark get a bronze medal at the 2012 Thomas Cup. His dream of an Olympic medal may have hit a Chinese wall but in China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and all other nations in the badminton world, he will retire a real superstar.

Not often does one of sport’s greatest icons shut shop on his career and move on. When this is happening now, let’s just stand by and applaud.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/28/to-peter-the-great-dane-gade/feed/ 0 02256 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/26/pummelled-by-thunder-burned-by-heat-the-old-lakers-celtic-guard-could-rule/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/10/26/pummelled-by-thunder-burned-by-heat-the-old-lakers-celtic-guard-could-rule/#comments Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:55 +0000 Vineeth Krishnan http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=884454

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 24: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers turns away from Caron Butler #5 and Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on October 24, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

Its almost time once again for hoops to rattle as the NBA comes rolling into town for yet another season. Off-season trades have dominated the headlines for the last few months and it seems the Miami Heat will have their task cut out in defending their title. As always, the biggest threats should come from the Western Conference where the Los Angeles Lakers have undergone a significant facelift, bringing in All Stars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash.

The defending Western Conference champs the Oklahoma City Thunder and the team they beat in the Conference final, the San Antonio Spurs, will also look to build another run at a ring. The Denver Nuggets, for the first time since selling Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks, look like a team that can make some noise, having signed on the explosive Andre Iguodala from Philadelphia. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin’s LA Clippers could be a contender for a Conference final spot while it will be interesting to see whether the No.1 draft pick Anthony Davis can ignite the New Orleans Hornets. Also, once Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio return fully fit, the Minnesota Timberwolves should be primed for a drastic improvement from their previous season and could run the Dallas Mavericks, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Utah Jazz close for a playoff spot.

Over on the East, the Heat are the definite standouts but will once again face stiff competition from the veteran Boston Celtics. The C’s have seen Ray Allen move to South Beach only to have GM Danny Ainge fill that void with Jason Terry and Courtney Lee added to the mix.

A lack of height leading to poor rebounding was the source of most of their worries last term and Ainge and coach Doc Rivers have addressed that issue by bringing in 11-year-veteran centre Jason Collins, the experienced Darko Milicic and rookie forwards Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo. Leandro Barbosa is another good addition to the side and alongside Terry, Lee, Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo provides sizeable depth to the backcourt.

Having seen both Chris Wilcox and Jeff Green spend the last year on the sidelines, the Celtics resigned the duo to further complement the solid starting pieces of captain Paul Pierce and the ‘Big Ticket’ Kevin Garnett. Brandon Bass will look to continue his form from a solid 2011-12 season while Rondo is definitely the ace in the pack in this veteran outfit.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 10: Evan Turner #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers lays up a shot past Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on May 10, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls will look to bounce back from the setback of the previous year when they had to make do without their star point guard Derrick Rose in the playoffs. But once Rose is fit and raring to go, with Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Rip Hamilton, Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich, Nazr Mohammed, Vladimir Radmanovic and Nate Robinson all in to back him up, the Bulls will have one of the strongest overall teams in the League. The frontcourt of Noah, Boozer and Deng will be much more effective once Rose returns and even dead-set shooters like Hamilton, Gibson and Hinrich will profit from playing alongside the All Star.

Meanwhile, the most improved outfit in the League is likely to be the Brooklyn Nets. With point guard Derron Williams having resigned with the outfits, the acquisition of Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks will add another dimension to the side. Williams will have a lot of pressure on the offensive end taken off him by playing alongside a stellar wingman like Johnson while the former Hawk will get a lot of good looks with opponents focusing on shutting down Williams.

The other stand out team in the East is the New York Knicks. With the Heat, Celtics and Bulls, the Knicks should lock up home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs in the East. While it is no secret that Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire have not yet got their partnership in sync, there were some good signs last season on the defensive front with the energy brought by Tyson Chandler.

Linsanity might have packed up and left but with veteran point guard Jason Kidd arriving and Raymond Felton returning, the Knicks should be better off in that department. Also, following a solid rookie season, Iman Shumpert will be out with a point to prove and could, over the season, strike a claim for a regular starting berth.

Andrew Bynum’s arrival has added another notch to the 76ers, who look stronger despite letting go of Iguodala and Elton Brand. The Hawks have broken up their star trio of Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith by letting go of the first, but still have enough options to make a strong regular season run into the playoffs. The Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors should fight it out for the last playoff spot in the East.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 24: Greivis Vasquez #21 of the New Orleans Hornets fights for a ball with Jeremy Lin #7 of the Houston Rockets at New Orleans Arena on October 24, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The likely scenario come April-May next year could be the Heat facing up with the Celtics in the Eastern Conference final, unless Rose’s return towards the end of the season really picks the Bulls up. The only other team that could prove to be a spoiler is the Knicks but they will require their biggest stars, Anthony and Stoudemire to gel.

In the West, the Thunder, led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden should be primed for a return to the Conference final. The Lakers, despite a 0-8 record in the pre-season, will start figuring out their balance over the regular season.

Just like in 2010 when LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh came together at the Heat, their mix of Kobe Bryant, Howard, Pau Gazol, Metta World Peace and Steve Nash should propel them to the top two in the West at the expense of the Spurs. However, like James and co found out, they might need a season of experience under their belts and one or two bad bruises before they finally land a ring – maybe 2013-14 could be the year for them.

The likely scenario for the Finals would be a rematch of last year’s shoot out between the Heat and the Thunder. However, if it were left to matters of the heart, then it would be swell to have the old rivalry of the Celtics-Lakers played out one more time.

During the course of explaining his grounding in tennis, Andre Agassi says in his autobiography Open that his father, Mike, wanted to turn him into tennis’s “ultimate counter-puncher: a returner.” During the entirety of his professional career, Agassi found himself up against giant servers like Pete Sampras and Goran Ivanisevic, and still became one of only five (at that time) players to win all four Grand Slams in the sport.

A decade or so on, another exceptional ‘returner’ nearly matched that feat in a single year, winning three of the four Slams and dominating the game on clay, the only surface in which he failed to win a Major. Indeed, if Novak Djokovic‘s success on grass at Wimbledon in 2011 was a surprise, his loss to Roger Federer (of all people) on clay in the semifinals of the French Open at Roland Garros, was an even greater shock.

The Serb had dominated the Masters 1000 events during the claycourt swing of the season, coming off the back of titles at the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami Masters before beating ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal in both the Madrid and Rome finals. If anyone could have stopped his unbeaten run on all surfaces dating back to the Davis Cup 2010 Serbian success, it seemed it would be world No.1 Nadal who would do so. Especially on clay.

But just as he has made a habit of doing these last two years, Federer stepped in and spoiled the party, stopping what would have been a third Nadal-Djokovic final inside a month. That much anticipated final on the Philippe Chatrier court did happen a year later, but this time when Djokovic had slipped much below his 2011 standards, despite repeating his success Down Under and in Miami.

But after a self-confessed disappointing run following the finals loss at Roland Garros, Djokovic seems to have rediscovered his mojo over the last month, garnering back-to-back titles in Beijing and Shanghai. Even more heartening for his fans was the manner of the victories, which expect for the final in Shanghai against Murray, featured very few heart-stopping moments and even then, saw him claw his way out like the Djokovic of 2011.

Now, the 25-year-old is set to regain the world No.1 title from Federer, unless the Swiss star can somehow recapture his form from a year back on indoor courts. With the 12-month points logging system followed by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Djokovic has far lesser points to defend from now till the end of the season as compared to Federer.

Victories at the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals (1500 points), the Masters 1000 Paris and the World Tour 500 in Basel leaves the Swiss master with a total of 3000 points to defend. Djokovic on the other hand, has just a round robin appearance at the Finals (200 pts), a quarterfinal showing in Paris (180 pts) and a semifinal in Basel (180 pts) to defend or better. With the Djoker’s win in Shaghai on Sunday, all that separates the world No.’s 1 and 2 is just a total of 195 points.

And if you look at the overall efficiency of Djokovic and Federer’s game, especially on return of serve, it only makes sense. Djokovic is second overall in percentage of return games won in the calendar year, winning 35% of all service games faced. The only player ahead of him in that parameter is Nadal at 38%. However, the injury-ridden Spaniard has only taken part in 48 matches throughout the year as compared to Djokovic’s 81.

Even this level of 38% is much lesser than the heights he had hit during his record-breaking year in 2011. While staying unbeaten for 43-odd games in 2011, Djokovic at one time had been recording a phenomenal win percentage of 46% on his opponent’s service games!

In 2012, Juan Monaco and Andy Murray are third at 32%, having played 55 and 65 matches respectively while Federer finds himself down in 12th place, having won just 27% of his opponent’s serves in 73 matches. In fact, in a Grand Slam five-setter, facing on average 24-26 service games, Djokovic would win 8.4 to 9.1 games returning serve, while Federer would win only 6.5 to 7 return games.

Nadal leads the way in break points converted and in points won returning first serve, while Djokovic is second in both these lists. Federer is 16th in break points converted and 15th in points won on his opponent’s first serve. Djokovic is again 4 percentage points better off than Federer when it comes to facing his opponent’s second serve, helping him maintain pressure on his opponent to get his first serve in.

For a television producer looking to do a highlight reel of Djokovic’s career, maybe some 7-10 years from now, there will be plenty of wacky Gangnam-style dance pieces, press conferences wearing blond wigs, amazing tweeners like the one at 30-0, with Murray serving for the match in the second set on Sunday in Shanghai, and unbelievable forehand crosscourt winners off first serve in the fifth set of the 2011 US Open semifinal against Federer, when he was two points away from going out in front of a packed centre-court in Flushing Meadows.

And most probably, they would have clippings from a career when the Serb lifted all four Slams, ATP Finals, all Masters 1000 and the Davis Cup title. An Olympic gold in 2016? Maybe that too.

Didier Deschamps

Back in the 1990′s, flamboyant France and Manchester United star Eric Cantona derisively labelled Didier Deschamps, the captain of the 1998 World Cup winning French team, a ‘water carrier’. The current Les Bleus coach, who used to play as a central defensive midfielder, did not for sure have the skill and panache of a Zinedine Zidane, Cristophe Dugarry or a Youri Djorkaeff. But his importance to the side lay in the fact that his constant presence in front of the back four enabled the likes of Zidane and Djorkaeff to focus on their attacking game, and paved the way for the French team’s first and so far only ever success in the competition. Employed in a similar role at Juventus, Chelsea and Marseille among other clubs during his career, Deschamps is a true success story, maximising his potential for the best of his team.

In today’s world, for every Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney or Sergio Aguero, there is a Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Michael Carrick or Gareth Barry. Specialising in the unspectacular, making consistency their hallmark, these modern-day ‘water carriers’ are- in many ways, adaptations of the Deschamps 2.0 model.

The fast-paced, pass-and-move nature of football today makes it more and more difficult for a pure defensive midfielder to find a spot in top quality sides. The focus is now more on the sort of player who presents a wide range of pin-point passing, capable of sitting in the hole between defense and attack and orchestrating play from that role.

Veterans Andrea Pirlo and Paul Scholes still display masterclass in this role, which ironically enough, is one both of them have adapted to over the course of time. The tactical acumen of both Pirlo and Scholes enabled them to improve their attacking, box-to-box styles into one that suited their age, helping them preserve their legs for a longer time.

Among the younger (comparatively) crop, Yaya Toure is in a class of his own. The major reason behind Manchester City‘s title run last year, the younger Toure is however, not just a classic Deschamps model.

The Ivorian is next to impossible to contain when he has the ball at his feet and has one of the sharpest minds in the game when it comes to reading situations – defensive and offensive. While he is arguably at his most destructive when playing in a deeper role, City’s manager Roberto Mancini has of late shown an inclination to employ him further up the pitch, especially against weaker opposition.

But even at City, Toure depends a lot on the yeoman service provided beside him by the likes of Gareth Barry, Javi Garcia, Jack Rodwell, and in the past, Nigel de Jong. Barry’s contribution to the Blues’ game is particularly important. With the England man out injured early in the season, City struggled to get their game going, as summer signing Rodwell is still taking time to get used to a new setup.

Once the former Aston Villa skipper came back from injury, he provided an immediate boost to the Premier League champions’ style of play. For a former naturally left-sided winger turned defensive midfielder, Barry seems completely at ease in his central role. His range of passing is an added incentive while his defensive work is certainly commendable.

Across Manchester, Carrick provides a step-up in class compared to Barry. Wearing the number 16 made famous by the charismatic Roy Keane, Carrick is certainly not a replacement for the Irishman as he was touted to be when signed from Tottenham in 2006. Indeed, Carrick is his own man, with a range of passing possibly unsurpassed in the Premier League. A true professional you’d love to have in your side, Carrick’s career, especially for England, has been overshadowed by the more attacking options of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. However, had England managers – past and present – employed him alongside one of those two, the national side might have provided better results.

Spain is an example of a national side whose international success has been driven by just that sort of a formula. When they won the Euro in 2008, Marcos Senna provided the muscle down the centre, enabling Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and the rest to do what they do best. Busquets certainly provides a lot more for Spain than Senna and fits seamlessly into the system employed by the La Roja and Barcelona.

The partnership of Alonso and Busquets is critical to Spain’s success, probably even more than the attacking players in front of them. If a Xavi or an Iniesta is out injured, the likes of Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas and others can fill in. But it would be quite a hard task to fill the boots of Alonso or Busquets.

Any successful football team, internationally or at club level, owes a lot to these players. When the Netherlands reached the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, De Jong and Mark van Bommel were two of their most effective players. Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger provide similar options for the Germans while Daniele de Rossi and Pirlo are Italy’s go-to men for these spots.

While the flashy wingers, all-action trequartistas, clinical marksmen and a solid backline are all extremely important to mould a winning combination, the link-up play and multiple options that these world class ‘water carriers’ provide are simply irreplaceable.

For a man who laughed at Americans in the aftermath of 9/11, who allegedly slept with a teammate’s wife and has seen his mother and father convicted of different crimes, it is no surprise that John Terry’s retirement from international football has come in controversial fashion.

While Chelsea fans trash the FA verdict handing him a four-match ban, Liverpool fans cry foul at their man Luis Suarez having received an eight-match ban for a similar incident and former managers and teammates speak out in support of the man known as JT, the larger picture of the English football team’s future is being left out. The way in which Roy Hodgson and the English team lost the services of one of the best centre-backs the country ever had, is quite sad.

However, considering Rio Ferdinand’s age, the emergence of Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott, and the promise of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, this could perhaps have been the best possible time for Terry to step down.

Hodgson no longer needs worry about the Terry-Ferdinand equation. He can focus on moving ahead and forging a stable centre-back partnership from among Cahill, Lescott and Phil Jagielka, with youngsters Jones and Smalling ready to fill in when back from injury. Hodgson could also choose to give a better chance to Micah Richards, who can play in the middle and at right back.

With focus clearly on qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil, Hodgson has a chance to mould a new backline over the course of the qualifying campaign.

Ashley Cole appears to be taking the Ryan Giggs approach of providing a supreme level of consistency with each passing year. Even if Cole were to get injured, Leighton Baines could fill that gap seamlessly. The Everton left-back is probably the unluckiest player of his generation. If it were not for Cole, he would have been an England regular for the best part of the last five-six years.

At right back, Glen Johnson somehow manages to stay in the side despite quite a few lacklustre showings. His ability going forward and his knack of springing up with long-range strikes for goal are quite encouraging at Liverpool, but for the national side, under pressure to defend a lot more, he invariably comes unstuck.

Perhaps he manages to hold onto that spot in the Three Lions side due to the dearth of replacements. Richards and Kyle Walker are probably the only other players capable of stepping in. Of them, Richards is no longer a first-choice at his club Manchester City with Maicon or Pablo Zabaleta preferred ahead of him by Roberto Mancini. Walker does play week in, week out for Tottenham Hotspur but there are still question marks about his defending.

Ryan Bertrand impressed in spells for Chelsea towards the end of last season and could be another candidate for the wide defensive berth. But the 23-year-old needs to put in a lot more work before he can overtake Johnson for the spot in the eleven.

But if he manages that, it could bring us, funnily enough, to a back four comprised of three Chelsea players even after Terry hanging up his boots. Hodgson seems likely to give a decent run to Cahill and Lescott looks like the preferred option to partner him. Cole seems quite capable of fending off Baines’ push for a starting berth and Bertrand has the talent to become an England regular at a spot that has been left largely unplugged after Gary Neville called it a day.

With a mixture of experienced stalwarts in Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Scott Parker and an exciting bunch of youngsters in Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Jack Rodwell and Jack Wilshere ready to step up, England can afford to look ahead to the future with optimism. Despite all the hue and cry made about Terry’s departure, make no mistake, the English game is looking better than it has for a long time in international football.

So then, Chelsea fans, why all the grumbling about Terry’s verdict? Or is it just a case of club over country? It could indeed be, considering the fact that most Chelsea fans outside England do not support the Three Lions at the international stage.

Chelsea will indeed miss their skipper for the four matches he sits out, provided he does not appeal or that the appeal is turned down. But in the longer run, with Terry having called time on his international career, he will be able to give a lot more to the Blues. He can put his feet up and relax during the international breaks without worrying about jet lag or injury and can dedicate more time to his recovery and fitness routines.

A healthier, fitter Terry capable of playing more games per season and with the possibility of adding another year or two to his club career… now, is that not what every Chelsea fan wants as well? So finally, in hindsight, well done FA, well done.

Manchester United sneaked another win on Sunday night, edging arch rivals Liverpool 2-1 in a hotly contested match at Anfield. Despite playing against ten men for a large part of the game, Sir Alex Ferguson’s team never looked in control of the situation and needed a fortuitously awarded penalty to finally seal the win.

However, all this is not a new phenomenon for Ferguson or his players. They are used to winning ugly, winning at all costs and especially at winning when it matters. Last gasp thrillers featuring United have become so popular that commentators have called the second half of stoppage time ‘United time’.

But the one thing different about this 2012 avatar of the Red Devils is the sense of uncertainty hanging around them. In past title-winning years, United were always there or thereabouts right through the season, with a confident swagger about them, making them a dangerous opponent on any day.

To put in simple terms, except for rare occasions like the two Champions League finals against Barcelona, Manchester United never set foot on a football field without feeling they were very much the favourites over 90 minutes. They always had a plan, be it to counter-attack at pace or dictate play through their midfield, and were always focussed on implementing their strategies as opposed to guarding against their opponents strengths.

But having followed their progress so far this season, it seems very much as though the manager, the players and the fans don’t really know what their best eleven to put out on the field is. Making such a statement against arguably the best manager the game has seen is probably brave to the point of being stupid, but the teams Ferguson has put out in his games suggests this.

The addition of Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa over the summer has definitely strengthened the squad but has also thrown up various conundrums regarding team selection. For one, and probably most importantly, how will the van Persie-Wayne Rooney equation work?

For Ferguson, not having been able to pair his best two players for a sizeable amount of time in either pre-season (as a result of the timing of the Dutchman’s signing), training (owing to Rooney’s injury) or matches, has thrown a real spanner in the wheels. The wily Scot has come out in the press and praised the ability of van Persie, Rooney and Danny Welbeck to play in different positions as required, but has as yet left out any suggestions regarding how exactly he plans to fit these three into his formation.

Probably the best way to analyze United’s problem is by doing a simple exercise in jotting down who the club’s best players are without regarding the player’s position or any formations. Van Persie or Rooney would be one and two in that list in whichever order and based on overall impact on the side and consistency, Nemanja Vidic would be third, followed closely by Antonio Valencia, whose form has been sensational over the last year.

Things get tricky from there on. Despite his age, and in spite of having been retired for the first half of last season, Paul Scholes would still come next in my book. Which in turn poses more problems as Scholes will definitely not play every game in a three-tie week and United will for sure be involved in those, especially after January.

Who after that? Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Nani, Ashley Young and Kagawa are all at near the same level and rounding out the eleven would probably be Rio Ferdinand. This leaves us with no goalkeepers, two defenders, three wingers, four central midfielders and two strikers in the top eleven.

If Chicharito, Patrice Evra, Welbeck and Ryan Giggs bring up the next four, we still have no right back or keeper in the side and probably have a straight 4-4-2 formation with a Carrick-Scholes or Carrick-Fletcher central midfield.

Ferguson is already rotating David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard to take care of the keeper problem, and with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones out injured, Rafael da Silva is the only option at right back. The Brazilian has also helped his case and eased Fergie’s worries by putting in a few outstanding attacking performances, even though his defending has left a lot to worry, leaving huge gaps behind him and stretching an ageing central defender in Ferdinand.

But in front of the back four, everything is give and take, including the formation. Going the continental 3-3 style in front of the back four demands Scholes, Carrick and Fletcher in the mid three, with Tom Cleverley or Anderson able to step in when Scholes needs a break. However, if Fletcher is unable to shake off his injury concerns, this setup is largely unlikely to succeed.

The front three will definitely provide for Valencia simply because of the all-action performances he gives. Van Persie and Rooney would probably fill the other two spots with Rooney playing on the left side and RVP down the middle.

That leaves out Kagawa, Nani, Welbeck, Chicharito and Young from the starting lineup.

If Ferguson goes for a 4-4-1-1 formation, Valencia and Young/Nani would play on the wings and Carrick would partner with Scholes, Fletcher, Cleverley or Anderson in turn. Rooney probably plays at his best in the position just behind the centre forward and Van Persie would play up front. Kagawa can always come in for Rooney, who could also play up front with the Japanese behind him.

The other option could be a 4-2-3-1 formation with Carrick and Fletcher/Scholes holding fort and Valencia on the right of the mid three. Kagawa could play down the middle with Rooney on the left and RVP again upfront. Considering that all of Young, Nani, Welbeck and Chicharito are able to fit seamlessly into any of these four spots, this could probably be the most productive of the possible formations in the Premier League.

On the other hand, his preferred formation for most Champions League away ties could once again be the tried and tested 4-3-3, where the side would be capable of playing most of the game in a 4-5-1 style, breaking forward quickly on the counter.

Once Rooney comes back fully fit, we will see what course of action Ferguson employs. However he goes about it, a United fan can rest peacefully with the knowledge that the Scot will always get results. But until he finally gets a formation that clicks, ugly 2-1 wins will probably hold fort.

This could well be the season that Everton finally realise their ambitions of breaking back into the top four bracket in top division of English football. After their first, brief entry into the Champions League in 2005 following a fourth-place finish the season before, David Moyes’ men have always threatened to return to the continental competition without quite managing to do so.

However, the way they have started this campaign is promising. The wily Moyes has pulled off during pre-season what he always does: a miracle. With limited economic resources, Moyes has managed to strengthen an already strong squad.

Even though he let go off a stalwart like Tim Cahill and an upcoming talent in Jack Rodwell, he plugged the lack of creative talent in his midfield by signing back permanently the South African Steven Piennar. Following the acquisition of Nikica Jelavic in January, he further bolstered his frontline by picking up the exciting young Belgian Kevin Mirallas, who was sensational against Swansea on Saturday.

And playing away from home at the Liberty Stadium, a ground where the best of sides come unstuck, Everton showed just how good a team they are. Keeping Swansea penned into their half with a very good ball retention strategy, the Blues dominated for large parts of the first period, eventually taking the lead through Victor Anichebe.

Even though the Swans managed to get back into the game for a brief while, Everton’s experienced backline, led brilliantly by the American Tim Howard, rode out the danger before roaring back with a spectacular counter-punch goal.The defence to attack nature of that goal was a particular testament to the way Everton played on the day.

Following an Everton corner and with Phil Jagielka out of position up the field, captain Phil Neville fell back into defence to plug the gap left by the centre-back. Neville picked a Swansea lofted ball intended for Michu and from near the corner flag looked up to spot Marouane Fellaini near the 18-yard box. Receiving the ball from his skipper, the Belgian turned and jogged into the space in front of him before releasing Pienaar down the right flank with a delightful through ball.

Pienaar raced onto the pass and did not hesitate for a second before playing in Mirallas down the centre. The forward in turn tried to place a first-time effort past Michel Vorm, with the deflection off the Swansea keeper taking the ball onto the bar, with Mirallas making certain of scoring by diving in and heading the ball into the back of the net.

Everton have everything that a side looking to make a push for the Champions League places needs. On any given day, Howard is among the best keepers in the league, and has one of the most experienced defensive backlines in England in front of him. Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are a solid centre-back pairing and they have another sensational defender in Johnny Heitinga ready to fill in, like he did in the Swansea game, if needed.

Barring Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines is the best left-back in the country whether it be at defending or going forward to provide an extra man on attack and whip in delightful crosses. Tony Hibbert or Seamus Coleman provide solid options on the right to complete the backline.

With the guile of Leon Osman and Pienaar, the world class huffing, puffing and muscling of Fellaini and the pace of Anichebe and Mirallas up front, Everton have an immensely efficient outlet ahead of their defence, with an ability to press forward quickly or release pressure by hoofing high balls up front.

With experienced internationals like Darron Gibson, Jelavic, Steven Naismith and others waiting in reserve, Everton do not have to fear too much about attrition levels as well. Keeping in mind that Everton are a club that historically gets stronger in the second half of the season, things should only get better from here on.

Since taking over at Everton in 2001, Moyes had finished 15^th, 7^th and 17^th in the League before a drastic improvement saw them leap up to fourth in 2004-05. A disappointing 11th-placed finish the year later was soon wiped away with a UEFA Cup spot in 2007 achieved by finishing sixth in the table. Two further fifth-placed finishes were then yet again followed by the relative lows of eighth, seventh and seventh the last three years.

However, right through that last period, Everton started the season in tatters, often finding themselves near the relegation zone before seemingly rising from the ashes post-December. This time around, they have made a fabulous start, picking up 10 points from their first five games. And with ties against Southampton and Wigan Athletic coming up, they have a very good chance to keep this strong run going.

If that does turn out to be the case, Moyes’ men, with one of the lowest budgets in the Premier League, could well find themselves in the dizzying heights of Champions League football yet again next year. That would then also mean that their big stars like Fellaini, Baines, and Jagielka would all stay, further allowing Moyes to build an eventual championship-challenging side.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 02: Robin Van Persie of Manchester United celebrates the winning goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary’s.

While the number of direct transfers between top clubs in the same league are a rarity, when one of them does happen, fans of both sides give mixed reactions. When Robin van Persie moved from North London to Manchester, Arsenal fans were understandably upset, as were quite a few Mancunians.

Were they expected to forget all those years they had spent hating the sight of the former Gunner and proclaim him as one of their own? Indeed, in spite of their club splashing a lot of money on the Dutch international and with no regard to his proven goal scoring abilities, many United fans secretly wanted him to fail.

However, in the course of 90 minutes on Sunday night, he proved to his fans, his doubters and the neutrals that he is indeed a true Red Devil.

If a never-say-die attitude, married to a swanky, self-belief driven footballing style that ultimately spawns success has been the trademark of any of Sir Alex Ferguson’s United sides, van Persie showed that he epitomises just that character. On a night when United were once again well below their best, and up against a dogged, determined Southampton side, van Persie made all the difference.

His first goal, cancelling out Rickie Lambert’s early header, was everything we have seen of van Persie during his Arsenal days. Peeling away to the back post, he did extremely well to concentrate on the ball as the defender in front of him slipped. He chested down the cross perfectly and the shot that followed was close to unstoppable.

With Wayne Rooney out injured and United’s new formation focusing very much on getting the ball to the Dutch striker, it was inevitable that van Persie would have more chances to hit the back of the net. Or, as he proceeded to do, miss gilt-edged chances to find the back of the net.

Van Persie should have put United in front early in the second half when a low cross from the right found him completely unmarked in front of goal. However, his attempt to pass the ball into the bottom-right corner went horribly wrong, not for the last time in the day.

Southampton, taking the lead shortly after, would only have piled the pressure on the lanky attacker, but just like many of Sir Alex’s trusted lieutenants over the years, he atoned for his error in emphatic style. But again, not before he gave another scare to United fans.

Having been gifted the opportunity to restore parity following Jas Hooiveld’s rash tackle on him inside the penalty box, van Persie contrived, rather spectacularly, to miss the ensuing penalty. A serial converter of spot kicks, the Dutchman usually thumps balls into the back of the net with power and precision. Instead, maybe in part to prove a point (although to who, is a good question), van Persie went for a paneka over the diving Saints keeper Kelvin Davis, who raised his left hand to swat the ball away with contempt.

The minutes ticked away and despite launching attack after attack into Saints territory, United were not finding a way through. It looked as though this could be ‘one of those days’ when the crucial goals would never come.

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins took off his attacking trio of Lambert, Jason Puncheon and Adam Lallana, who had all put in spectacular performances, and tried to be a bit more on the defensive. After two losses in their first two games, this win and the three points would definitely mean a lot to the newly-promoted home team.

However, as former United star Mark Hughes once said, Fergie’s Red Devils never lose a game, they only run out of time, because they keep fighting till the final whistle blows.

With three minutes of normal time left, van Persie drew them level, doing something his fellow Dutchman, Ruud van Nistelrooy was a master at – being in the right place at the right time. As Rio Ferdinand‘s measured header came off the post, van Persie was on hand to bundle the ball home and ensure United were going to at least return with a point from St Mary’s.

Yet van Persie’s eventful night had just begun and just like the Cantonas, Coles, Solskjaers and Ronaldos of a bygone era, he had to have the last say. Indulging in the glorious United tradition of stealing a win in stoppage time, van Persie got his name on the score-sheet for the third time in the match with a strong header off Nani’s corner and with it, bringing up a personal landmark of 100 goals in the Premer League.

Coming as it did in Ferguson’s 1,000^th Premier League game in charge of United, one can say van Persie also has that other hallmark of United legends past and present – a sense for the dramatic and for occasion.

He may have been your greatest enemy for a while but United fans, van Persie is here to stay and you can’t help but like him.