Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho are widely regarded as the very best in the business.
These two managerial masterminds have won between them 22 top tier domestic titles, 33 domestic cups, and 9 European cups – and for very good reasons, no less – they are the two sharpest tacticians and practitioners in the game.
But, of the two, who has the edge? We won’t have to wait long to find out – Real Madrid will host Manchester United at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Many commentators especially English ones seem to be under the misconception that the best tacticians are all foreign and, subsequently, Sir Alex Ferguson is often overlooked on that basis....
For more on this write up, please see http://hereisthecity.com/2013/02/12/whos-the-better-tactician-ferguson-or-mourinho/
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Carrick: United may need to use three men on Ronaldo
Manchester United midfielder, Michael Carrick has said that his former teammate, C Ronaldo will be a handful for his team on Wednesday. He was speaking with the Sun ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final fixture between United and Real Madrid. “I think we will need two or maybe three to mark him to be honest, he’s been that good for Madrid,” he said. “He’s been sensational, to score so many goals so quickly — it’s been astonishing.
Carrick also believes that the amazing quality that is emboldened with Lionel Messi, is what is preventing the former United Forward from getting as much plaudits as his game deserves.
“Because of Messi, he maybe hasn’t had the pats on the back or the credit he deserves because the other guy has been winning everything there is to win. But that shouldn’t take away from what he has achieved at Madrid. He’s a special player".
Monday, February 11, 2013
Santos joins Gremio on loan till the end of season.
Arsenal FC has announced that defender Andre Santos has joined Gremio on loan until the end of the season.
Santos, 29, joined the Premier League Club from Fenerbahce in August 2011, but has not done enough to command a regular place in the Arsene Wenger tutored side's first team. He was regularly targeted by opponents looking to exploit his error-prone defending.
His erratic performances, the incredible form of Kieran Gibbs and the arrival of Nacho Monreal from Malaga, limited the left-back to just six starts for the Gunners this season.
He also infuriated Gunners manager Arsene Wenger and Arsenal's supporters when he asked former team-mate Robin van Persie to swap shirts at half-time during the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United last November.
He now has a chance to play regular football back in his homeland, Brazil, where he would be entirely in the midst of known faces including an Arsenal player, Denilson who is on loan at Sao Paulo.
Santos, has had spells with Brazilian clubs Corinthians, Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Figueirense, and he has made 36 appearances for Arsenal during his time in north London.
Santos, 29, joined the Premier League Club from Fenerbahce in August 2011, but has not done enough to command a regular place in the Arsene Wenger tutored side's first team. He was regularly targeted by opponents looking to exploit his error-prone defending.
His erratic performances, the incredible form of Kieran Gibbs and the arrival of Nacho Monreal from Malaga, limited the left-back to just six starts for the Gunners this season.
He also infuriated Gunners manager Arsene Wenger and Arsenal's supporters when he asked former team-mate Robin van Persie to swap shirts at half-time during the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United last November.
He now has a chance to play regular football back in his homeland, Brazil, where he would be entirely in the midst of known faces including an Arsenal player, Denilson who is on loan at Sao Paulo.
Santos, has had spells with Brazilian clubs Corinthians, Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Figueirense, and he has made 36 appearances for Arsenal during his time in north London.
SAF: Rooney has a target of 25 goals this season
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has set a target of 25 goals for his team play maker, Wayne Rooney, this season.
Rooney, who already has 13 goals, has hit an impressive striking form, scoring six goals in his last six matches for both Manchester United and England since his return from injury.
Sir Alex said: “If I can get Van Persie, Hernandez and Rooney on 25
goals it will get us in the ball-park position for honours.
“The way they are going, the signs are good. Chicho has 14, Wayne has 13, Robin 22.
Rooney, who already has 13 goals, has hit an impressive striking form, scoring six goals in his last six matches for both Manchester United and England since his return from injury.
“The way they are going, the signs are good. Chicho has 14, Wayne has 13, Robin 22.
Neville: Ronaldo can hurt Manchester United's defence
Gary Neville, in a recent interview, declared Christiano Ronaldo will be tough to handle by the Manchester United’s defence when they meet at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, 13th Feb, 2013, in the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
The former United’s Captain who played with Ronaldo in the entire six years of the Portuguese glorious stay at Manchester United told BBC Radio 5 Live, “Ronaldo is a bully. He bullies the weakest defender. He does it all the time.”
He also said his perception of the modern game was changed by Ronaldo.
“We had a midfield four - Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs - I played with Beckham for seven years. They never had the freedom to decide their position on the pitch. Suddenly I didn't have someone in front of me who would come back and double up on the [opposition's] left-winger”
“He just decided his own position, which was based upon where the space was and who was the weak link. He made me realise you didn't always need to be in your shape.”
Neville, who is now the England’s Assistant Coach and also a TV pundit, warns that Ronaldo has even improved since his move to Real Madrid and this means he will be a big threat to the aspiration of his former team, Manchester United. He believes the Portuguese will exploit a slight weakness in the Red Devils defence.
“Now, he is a monster. I saw him on Saturday evening. He picks the ball up in an innocuous position, 30 yards out, does some type of shimmy I can't even describe let alone do, beats a man and whacks it in from 25 yards,” he said.
"You can't defend against that. Then he scores a counter-attack goal when he chases 80 yards forward, then he preys on the back of the centre-half and scores a hat-trick inside 30 minutes. You literally need to have two men against him. Even then they might both get beaten.”
The former United’s Captain who played with Ronaldo in the entire six years of the Portuguese glorious stay at Manchester United told BBC Radio 5 Live, “Ronaldo is a bully. He bullies the weakest defender. He does it all the time.”
He also said his perception of the modern game was changed by Ronaldo.
“We had a midfield four - Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs - I played with Beckham for seven years. They never had the freedom to decide their position on the pitch. Suddenly I didn't have someone in front of me who would come back and double up on the [opposition's] left-winger”
Neville, who is now the England’s Assistant Coach and also a TV pundit, warns that Ronaldo has even improved since his move to Real Madrid and this means he will be a big threat to the aspiration of his former team, Manchester United. He believes the Portuguese will exploit a slight weakness in the Red Devils defence.
“Now, he is a monster. I saw him on Saturday evening. He picks the ball up in an innocuous position, 30 yards out, does some type of shimmy I can't even describe let alone do, beats a man and whacks it in from 25 yards,” he said.
"You can't defend against that. Then he scores a counter-attack goal when he chases 80 yards forward, then he preys on the back of the centre-half and scores a hat-trick inside 30 minutes. You literally need to have two men against him. Even then they might both get beaten.”
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