FOOTBALL: YOUNG GUNS REVEALED

there has been a display of wat e future holds with e league cups of both spain & england underway. yet, i think my focus go 2 serie a 4 tis particular youngster named valeri bojinov of lecce who forced a draw against inter. i know his name straight away from my CM games, i bought him n he scored tonnes of goals 4 my club. i wonder he will b just as dangerous in real life in years 2 come. but he looks promising. valeriy? sounds like valerie, is it a unisex name? expecially when i get confused with lilian thuram as a female when i 1st heard of him. hehe!



he is currently e top scorer in serie a with adriano & montella. he is onli 18 & is from bulgaria. a bright future indeed 4 tis lad. real madrid should open their eyes! speaking of real, michael owen scored yet again, & so his reputation sores just like how beckham earned his reputation when he 1st came. but how consistent can he score on from here? we shall c. interestingly both barca & valencia were out of e copa del rey competition. valencia should b far more worrying, they have been defeated alot of times 4 e past few matches.

on another matter, fifa had nominated 35 footballers 4 its world player of e year award. again, some of them dun worth 2 b mentioned, they r there just becoz they used 2 b good. or it will lose face 4 not having their supreme names mentioned just 4 e sake of making e list look more cooler. it doesn't 2 me though. lucas ng (goal.com) has provided with this sometimes irreverent guide 2 who’s who among the great & e good of world football....u will c my comments below his.


Adriano (Brazil) - Inter Milan. Phenomenal goal-scorer. Saviour of Inter’s 03/04 (and current) season. In the Copa America displaced Ronaldo as Brazil’s first choice striker and subsequently top scored with 7 goals in 6 games. Arguably the best striker in the world at the moment.
me: yes, tis guy should b nominated, u should c how he dashes into e penalty box, feels like a slower version of e Phenomenon in his prime days. HE IS A HOT CANDIDATE!

Roberto Ayala (Argentina) - Probably the best centre-back in the world. Lead Valencia to UEFA Cup and La Liga honours as well as guiding the Argentine Olympic team to the gold medal. Won’t win because no one knows who he is.
me: he is veli solid, defenders should b given more recognition 4 their contributions 2 e game, but valencia r falling apart rite now. so i dun think he should b there.

Michael Ballack (Germany) - By virture of alphabetical order, the first of the high reputation, low performance (HRLP) ’stars’.
me: was great when he was with leverkusen, now? looks veli ordinary.

Milan Baros (Czech Rep) - Incredible season for the Scousers. Not. In for his Euro ’04 heroics.
me: come on......a few goals n he is nominated? but he is improving, not now. too early still.

David Beckham (England) - In because he generates 1000% more media coverage of any FIFA event. Becks wasn’t HRLP. He’s high reputation and NO performance. Of course, he considers himself back to his best form, just in time for the England qualifiers - scared you’ll lose your position to Wright-Phillips?
me: tis guy is just hardworking, good with crossing & free kicks (not so dependable lately) as well as putting pressure on possessions. he is not a true footballer who can stunt people.

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) - Italian stopper of their ’magnificent’ Euro team. Solid but not spectacular form in Serie A ’justifies’ his inclusion.
me: i think otherwise, he has been a veli consistent goalie 4 e past few years. i c him as a good nomination! but as u know, goalies suffer e same fate as defenders, they have lowest chances 2 win any individual awards.

Cafu (Brazil) - Had a good year for Milan and was handed the captain’s armband for the Brazilian national team which went on to win the Copa America. Another largely unrecognised player like Ayala.
me: he is good, milan r doing fine, he should b there.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Set the football world alight with his play in the Euro Cup and fast becoming the go-to player on United.
me: tis guy put 90% of his efforts in dribblling, trying 2 hard 2 impress, doesn't look natural, dive down as much as his friend, van nistelrooy. lousy nomination.


Deco (Portugal) - Playmaking diver for the UCL winning Porto side and inconsistent player for the Portuguese side that made it to the finals of the Euro Cup.
me: he alwiz look veli bored but he did achieve alot 4 e past season 4 his club n brought portugal into e final of e euro2004. I THINK HE IS THE BEST CANDIDATE!

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) - Had a marvellous 03/04 year for Marseille, scoring in every Champion s League and UEFA Cup game bar the UEFA Cup final. Footballer of the Year in France. His move to Chelski only boosted his profile.
me: we had seen how much he can do in front of goal, pity he is injured. good candidate too, but did not achieve enuf 4 club n country 2 b up there.

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - Smashed in the goals for Mallorca and ended up as African Player of the Year. His high profile move from Mallorca/Madrid to Barca and his subsequent 6 goals in 8 games may have had some bearing on his nomination.
me: real madrid r stupid enuf 2 choose owen instead of him. prove dat marketing strategy is more important than winning trophies 2 perez.

Luis Figo (Portugal) - Actually one of the better outfield players for Real Madrid but still poor by his standards. However the fact that he plays for Portugal and Real Madrid leads to inclusion.
me: 2 me, he was e onli performing galatico when real madrid r going thru a bad spell now. he did bring portugal 2 e euro2004 final n performed greatly in some matches. still, not veli consistent of late, not a good candidate. e old figo was 100 times better.

Steven Gerrard (England) - Stevie G had a strong domestic year but played out of position for England and while Liverpool were out of the race for the Champion s League and UEFA Cups.
me: tis guy has alwiz surprised me with his talents. definitely a legend in e making if he keeps on improving. rite now, he just lack club & country medals 2 prove his worth. had a great start of e season though until e injury hit him 4 now.

Ryan Giggs (Wales) - AWOL in most of United’s games. Poor workrate for the usually industrious winger.
me: he is getting old, not e old ryan giggs which danced thru defences like a piece of cake. not making much impact in games like he used 2. not a good nomination.

Thierry Henry (France) - Easily the form player of the EPL. Didn’t set the Champions League on fire and France disappointed at Euro 04 but his domestic form outpaced every other forward in the EPL by so much that he’s the favourite to win this award.
me: scoring is wat he knows best but not as good 4 his country. i agree, he is still not up there among e best becoz of his lousier performance 4 country. even 4 arsenal, some matches he can b so quiet u wonder he is even playing on e field.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) - Former Ajax striker had one great performance at Euro ’04, knocking out Italy (and benefits from another high profile move to Juventus). A petulant player and temperamental, he injured his club teamate Van Der Vaart in a friendly international and is well known for being a bad sport. A great nomination!
me: bad guy, good footballer. tis 1 is hard, hehe! but he is 1 of e great performing inter players. worth a place.

Oliver Kahn (Germany) - In because he had another stellar year for Bayern Munich, directly responsible for successfully knocking Bayern out of the UCL, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal cup with 3 incredible gaffes against Madrid, Bremen and Alemannia Aachen.
me: not veli consistent nowadays, used 2 b e best in e world! not good candidate.


Kaka (Brazil) - a revelation for Milan. Their best midfielder in a squad that boasted Gattuso, Pirlo, Rui Costa and Seedorf. Won Serie A, won Copa America and like Cafu, in because he’s a natural born winner.
me: another star on e rise. he is good, veli complete, with more experience, he will b unbeatable in years 2 come if he continues 2 work hard. i admire him much! GOOD NOMINEE!

Frank Lampard (England) - the form Chelsea player, in for similar reasons as England midfield cohort Gerrard.
me: e best chelsea player, i dun mind paying money 4 his jersey. another complete player who can fit zidane's shoes. i respect him! good all rounder!

Henrik Larsson (Sweden) - Partly because of his high profile return to Sweden and subsequent move to Barcelona and partly because as the sole (former) representative for Scottish football.
me: not convincing, not really dangerous, nvr really think he is dat good.

Roy Makaay (Holland) - Another striker that is constantly overlooked despite his obvious goal-scoring potency. Despite his 23 goals for Bayern in his first year and with plenty of goals already in his account this season, Makaay is a Dutch striker that seems destined to stand in RVN’s shadow.
me: tis is 1 of those guys who can score hattricks like peanuts, just like hasselbaink. if football r stats crazy like e nba 4 recording triple doubles, we should check e records of hattricks he scored. should b up there among e highest. then again, not consistent.

Paolo Maldini (Italy) - had an another incredible year considering his age, led Milan to another Serie A championship. Retired from international football.
me: he is still dependable, but we saw how deportivo tore apart their defence last season. i dun think he is among e best rite now.

Pavel Nedved (Czech Rep) - Decent year from the Euro Player of the Year accentuated by the Czech Republic’s strong run in the Euro 04.
me: great midfielder, surprised he onli became so popular late in his footballing career. e guy who managed 2 take zidane's shoes in e heart of juventus when he left for real.

Alessandro Nesta (Italy) - with Samuel at Madrid, easily the best Serie A defender hands down despite Milan’s rocky start this season.
me: yes, among e best, i agree, he is veli consistent. but italy did not achieve anything convincing during euro2004.

Michael Owen (England) - awesome form for Liverpool, scintillating for England in Euro 04. Certain starter for Madrid. What more needs to be said?
me: too slow now compare 2 his old self. not consistent, veli dependable on midfielders 2 supply him passes & crosses. too short.

Robert Pires (France) - a justified (shock, horror!) perennial selection.
me: i think he is quite good 4 arsenal, among their top 3 best midfielders among vieira & ljungberg. dat's it though, nothing much 4 france of late.

Raul (Spain) - Had his best year yet. Epitomises HRLP. Only recently broke his seven month goal drought and was horrible for Spain.
me: scoring too little goals 4 his standard. should not b in e nominations. an embarassement 2 his own ability. in pretty bad form i should say.

Roberto Carlos (Brazil) - had a good year but not fantastic year for Madrid. In for raising the publicity of this award, although at least he did win something (Copa America), unlike his Madrid counterparts.
me: i acknowledge him as 1 of e most interesting performers of e game. however, sometimes he forgot he is a defender & open up alot of space behind him 4 opponents 2 attack. he is better off a winger.


Ronaldinho (Brazil) - the hottest form of any player in La Liga. Barca went from mid-table to 2nd on the back of his playmaking.
me: complete attacking midfielder, his dribbles r incredible & exciting 2 watch! nobody mess with him! brazil will depend alot on him & kaka in e future! another player i alwiz admire watching. HE IS ANOTHER BEST CANDIDATE, HE IS THE NEXT LEGEND IN THE MAKING.

Ronaldo (Brazil) - the original bangbus. Bangs in the goals while rapidly approaching the tonnage of a bus.
me: not his old dangerous self in barca. still, can b dangerous at times, but seems 2 get exhausted veli easily in matches. injury proned & slow. i alwiz close my eyes when opponents tackle him, i fear his legs will b broken! hehe!

Wayne Rooney (England) - off the bench for Everton but England star? High profile move to United would have helped too.
me: he has much 2 prove b4 i even think he is nominated. people over rate him. alan smith earns 10 times more respect 2 me than him.


Andrej Shevchenko (Ukraine) - Sheva is another oft overlooked striker-par-excellence. Another superb year for the Serie A winner though his form was overshadowed by Adriano and Gilardino’s exploits.
me: dangerous forward! do wat he does best, scoring goals. dribble & pass just as well. e ex-raul of milan. A SURE CANDIDATE!

Ruud van Nistelrooy (Holland) - Decent year for United punctuated by some good performances in Euro ’04.
me: over rated cheater. scores boring tap in goals....yawn...he dun dribble, dun pass well, alwiz have balls stolen under his feet. i am too ashamed 2 c him play.

Theodoros Zagorakis (Greece) - plays for Serie A heavyweights Bologna after transferring from the mighty AEK Athens but does have the distinction of being the Euro ’04 player of the tournament.
me: honestly, i dun have much impression of who he is! hahaha! all e greeks have long names dat confuse me. i mean during euro2004, if u r gonna add up all e alphabets of e names of ur full squad, i am sure e greeks have e longest count!

Zinedine Zidane (France) - Zizou brings the number of Real Madrid players in the list to seven. Yes, he is the player of our generation but certainly not of last year.
me: past his great form. he is definitely e legend of our time. but did not perform up 2 his own standards of late.