Didier Drogba's best career moments!

Didier Drogba will be remembered!

Didier Drogba will be remembered!

    Chelsea is trailing Bayern Munchen by only one goal and has a corner kick.  The blues have been savagely dominated, but somehow managed to keep the Bavarians to only being able to find the back of Petr Cech’s net once.  The ball soars up into the air as if it were a Soviet rocket leaving the station.  It seems as though the game has been frozen in time and then out of nowhere Didier Drogba heads the ball so hard it could have gone through the net.  The feeling of pure ecstasy is what most Chelsea fans must have been feeling at that moment.  The small glimmer of hope had been brought back to them and now winning the Champions League had become within their grasp, not a hopeless fantasy, but the game was far from over.

    The tides began to change and Chelsea had taken absolute control over the match.  Petr Cech did the impossible by stoning Arjen Robben, who seemed as surprised as an 80 year old walking into his surprise birthday party, after Cech’s incredible dive to keep the Dutchman from scoring.   Unfortunately, for the players, extra time resulted in a stalemate and a penalty shootout was needed.  Players dread penalty shootouts as much as a three year old dreads going for a haircut.  The whole football world watched eagerly to see which squad would prevail.

    After Schweinsteiger’s unlucky miss, where he hit the right post, it was Drogba’s turn.  Drogba faked Bayern’s goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, by blasting the ball into the bottom left corner giving Chelsea the win and the perfect story book ending.  Chelsea’s saviour had once again prevailed for the blues.  Chelsea was judged by football critics as too old for success with their biggest players going through football menopause such as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.  The squad proved critics wrong with veterans Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole being the most important pieces of the puzzle to Chelsea’s win.

    Drogba has scored in every single situation that he needed to.  For instance, in the F.A. cup, Drogba’s unstoppable shot in the 43^rd minute led Chelsea to victory, his goal against Barcelona led Chelsea to victory and of course his penalty shootout goal against Bayern led Chelsea to glory.  Drogba’s timing is remarkably brilliant and performing under pressure is as normal to him as cocaine in Charlie Sheen’s home.

    Drogba’s 6 foot 2 frame and primitive strength have proved to be a nightmare for all defenders and his shot is as accurate as a Sniper in the Navy Seals.  Drogba distributes the ball and brings an altruistic quality to the Chelsea attack.  Drogba’s desire for trophies never seems to extinguish.  Drogba has fought against the threat of other strikers replacing his position at the top of the diamond and has always survived the battle.  For example, when Chelsea brought in Fernando Torres from Liverpool, paying an unheard of 50 million pounds, Drogba managed to turn the Spaniard into Chelsea’s most valuable Bench warmer and kept him out of his hair. 

    Drogba is a great player on the field, but he is also a remarkable person off the field.  He recently signed a three million dollar endorsement deal with beverage giants Pepsi Cola.  He gave 100% of the money toward building a hospital in his native country of Ivory Coast.  Drogba has played a vital role in the introduction of peace into the civil war ravaged haven that was once one of France’s most promising colonies, the Ivory Coast.  Drogba has made pleas to rebel leaders to lay down their arms and was a major reason for the five year ceasefire that came into effect.  In 2010, he was named one of the top 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.

    The blues will certainly miss the Ivorian tower, who will likely make a move to China or the M.L.S.  The good news is his transfer will not prohibit him to continue to do wonders off the field such as his aid to his native country.  Drogba leaves Stamford Bridge on a high note, but I have a feeling that Chelsea will regret letting such a valuable asset go.

   

Didier Drogba holding the Champions League cup!

Champions League highlights!

The Champions League!

The Champions League Final!

The Champions League final has been the most important annual game in soccer since the tournament began in 1955.  The tournament is among the favourite for soccer fans world wide because it is the clash of the most powerful clubs in Europe.  Chelsea will be looking to lift the trophy for the first time and Bayern Munich will want to win the final to secure only its fifth Champions League title, despite being involved almost every single season.

The two clubs have different ways of conducting themselves and have very different reputations.  Chelsea is known as a thief in European football as they lure players with their bulging wallet and steal players from their clubs like Kony kidnaps children from their families.  Bayern is the complete opposite as they try to develop young players or instead of luring players, they do it in a democratic fashion by negotiating with smaller clubs.  The one thing they do have in common is that they are both financially sound teams and their budgets are so well managed you would think Suze Orman is their Chairman.  The clubs have very little debt and invest wisely in players.  They are not like a certain Sheikh Mansour who throws money around as if  it’s going out of fashion to improve his Manchester City squad.

Who will emerge victorious in the final?

The two teams will definitely be playing conservatively because of their players who are sitting out due to suspensions, essentially all of  Bayern’s defence who has the temper of a football player on steroids.  Chelsea’s Captain, John Terry, will be the most missed as he sits out the game for a ridiculously idiotic kick on Alexis Sanchez.  I believe the knee to the back was worthy of a suspension and his childish actions could cost Chelsea the Champions League trophy.  John Terry is the glue that holds together Chelsea’s unorthodoxly yet effective defence and without him they are as good a team unit as Stalin and Trotsky would be.  John Terry has played as the saviour for Chelsea in his few appearances this season and will be missed. 

Bayern’s attack is lethal as Real Madrid found out and any sort of mistake from Chelsea up front creating a counter attack would leave Chelsea as vulnerable as a young boy alone at the alter of a Catholic church.  Phillip Lahm is arguably the most mobile defender in soccer today and has better endurance than an Olympic runner.  Phillip terrorized Fabio Coenthrao and could do the exact same with Chelsea’s midfield.  Bayern’s striker Gomez is as reliable as a Japanese car and rarely falters on the occasions he is needed most.  The two players that are the most dangerous on Bayern are Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery who are hungrier than ever as they are both eager for trophies as they approach the mid points of their career and realize they are not given an opportunity like this one every day.  Arjen Robben is as fast as a Jamaican sprinter and his foot work hypnotises defenders into being as useless as a fish out of water.  Frank Ribery might not possess Arjen Robben’s speed, but he is Bayern’s maestro and his incredible awareness and ability to turn nothing into something amazing is rare.  Frank Ribery is the alchemist of the football world! 

Chelsea would be considered the underdog and if they have any hope of winning, it would be in the feet of Didier Drogba.  Drogba’s contract is expiring soon and if he wishes to stay in the club, he must prove his worth to the blues.  Didier continually shocks as he scores in every important game for Chelsea and has played a vital role on their path to the final.  Drogba uses his muscular frame and is typically a nightmare for any defence to contain, even Barcelona’s.  The one problem with Didier is he has become one of the best actors in football, and I am quite certain Pedro Proenca will be less lenient than English officials concerning dives, especially for such a big game.  I do think that if Chelsea scores, it will be Drogba who finds the back of Neuer’s net.

I strongly agree with most football fans who say that this will be a very exciting game.  The way the two teams play is very entertaining and if you are a Bayern fan, Chelsea’s counter attacks will surely make you grit your teeth.  Chelsea fans will be on the edge of their seats as Chelsea players seem to enjoy worrying their followers with their careless turnovers and conservative play.  No matter what the outcome, it will be an exciting game, but I think Bayern will be able to beat Chelsea in a very close match.

Arjen Robben will be looking to win his first Campions League title!

Andrea Pirlo's best goals!

Andrea Pirlo's rise from the dead!

Andrea Pirlo’s rise from the dead!

As the Italian Serie A progressed to the final stages, A.C. Milan was yet again trophy less.  The club’s woes began to become much more of a problem and players’ attitudes such as Robinho’s were beginning to become more self-centered than a Hollywood diva’s.  A.C. Milan’s fall was as inevitable and as significant as the Roman Empire’s for soccer.  A club that dictated European soccer from the 1970’s to the late 1990’s was now struggling just to qualify into the Champions League. A.C. Milan fans were becoming as impatient as a child waiting to open his presents on Christmas day.  A.C. Milan was lacking a general to command its infantry and lead it back to the glory days A.C. Milan’s ruthless supporters had once witnessed.

One of the biggest reasons for A.C. Milan’s issues was Andrea Pirlo’s failure to regain his god like form in the late 90’s.  The Italian native’s ability to control the midfield was a nightmare for other club’s offenses, and it seemed impossible for some clubs to even touch the ball when playing against the Italian giants.  As the transfer market opened up, no one expected to see Andrea Pirlo leave the team that had kept the midfielder since he was a boy, but ultimately soccer is a business and A.C. Milan had to decide between an aging midfielder or a young Brazilian with infinite potential, Thiago Silva.  It went with the obvious choice and elected to get rid of a player who was as deeply rooted into the club,s history as the San Siro.

As Andrea waited in his manor located on the coast of Italy in Livorno, the midfielder contemplated retirement and maybe a move to the M.L.S. if no one wished to obtain his talents for the upcoming Serie A season. 

Juventus was as desperate to find a midfielder to improve their youthful squad as a divorcee looking for a date.  Alessandro Del Piero’s play on the field was as dirty as Charlie Sheen’s sex life and putting the club on his shoulders was as dangerous as investing in the stock.  Juventus decided to take a risk in the 32 year olds aging legs.  The juventus manager, Antonio Conte’s decision turned out to be revolutionary for the club and one of the biggest factors in their 1^st place finish in Serie A.

At the beginning of the campaign Antonio placed Andrea on the right flank with the purpose of feeding the ball to Italian forward Marco Motta and to re-ignite the strikers hunger for goals and stardom.  Unfortunately, the two Italians did not compliment each other and mananger Antonio Conte’s strategy was not exactly helping the rest of the team.  Antonio had faith in Pirlo and decided he deserved another chance and switched him to a position that no one would expect such a skilled player to play, center defensive midfielder.  After two games Juve fans patience was already scarce and the future seemed dim with a record of two losses in two games, but Andrea Pirlo changed all of this.

The third game Andrea seemed to dictate the midfield and was the main reason for Juventus’s pounding of neighboring club Cagliari.  Juventus exploded on the scoresheet with a 5-0 win over Cagliari.  Juventus’s exploits continued as they stomped on Pirlo’s previous club AC Milan, beating them 3-1 with Pirlo adding to the score sheet with a jaw dropping free kick.  Pirlo seemed like the ingredient in the recipe for success that Juve had lacked for the past two seasons.  Juventus continued to roll by winning eight consecutive matches.  There was no doubt in Antonio Comte’s mind that his decision to erase Andrea Pirlo from the free agency list was a brilliant one.  Juventus earned its 1^st place finish and itsr rise to the top was as quick as Usain Bolt’s 100 metre dash. 

As long as Andrea Pirlo can keep his youthful form, the club’s success is as unavoidable as global warming.  Next year will be a very important year for Juventus as they will hope to continue their success in the Serie A and hopefully have the same success in the Champions League.  I am certain that A.C. Milan,s manager Massimiliano Allegri’s decision has been haunting him and is the biggest reason he has faced such harsh criticism from  fans.

                                         Andrea Pirlo scoring against Catania!

Robin Van Persie's best goals!

Here are Robin Van Persie's ten best goals!

Robin Van Persie

How important Robin Van Persie is to Arsenal!

As the Premier League season approaches its final stages to what has been an eccentrically odd campaign, the second most important part of the soccer season begins.  The transfer market is one of the most difficult and nerve racking times for players and managers.  Football giants become involved in financial warfare to secure their current players or to acquire new weapons for their infantry.  This is the business side of soccer.  It can become very cruel and usually ignites certain feuds between players and managers who disagree on contracts or decisions. 

Loyalty becomes irrelevant as Real Madrid knows with David Beckam.  Before the end of La Ligua, David assured his beloved club he would return to the Bernabeu, but instead a small American team with no history or significant trophies came into a large amount of cash and stole David as if they were experienced Con men.  In the soccer world today, money can buy you anything. 

The less powerful clubs attempt to protect their players from bigger clubs with larger wallets.  For instance, Sunderland tried to keep Englishman Phil Jones, but Manchester United managed to lure Phil into the Old Trafford, despite Phil’s past and development with his childhood club, Sunderland!

Arsene Wenger will have the task of trying to keep the most prolific striker in the English Premier League, Robin Van Persie.  The Dutchman makes scoring seem as easy as 1, 2, 3.  His magnificent chips make goalkeepers seem as useless as a deaf musician, his volleys defy the laws of physics and his ability to run with the ball is second to none.

At the beginning of the season, Arsenal seemed as though they would find themselves in the basement of the Premier League as they stayed in a disappointing 17^th position.  The team had as much chemistry as two complete strangers and mutiny on Arsene Wenger’s tipsy boat seemed as inevitable as Amy Winehouse’s early death.  A team with so much potential seemed to be conforming to critic’s sky high expectations!

One player, Robin Van Persie, managed to glue the squad together into a stellar team with a venomous attack.  The newly appointed Captain, finally injury free, began to score goals as often as alcoholics drink.   Robin ignited the desire for the players to live up to expectations and brought the club back up to third place.  Robin’s 28 goals have been as important as an oasis in the desert.  His achievements have not gone unnoticed by other clubs. 

Manchester City began trying to lure Robin from the early stages of the campaign with contracts that could buy an entire African country.  The bids started at 40 million and quickly went to 55 million.  Fortunately, Robin expressed his willingness to negotiate with Arsenal and his desire to stay with his current club.  The striker has one year left on his contract and now would be the time to seal the deal with the Premier League’s best forward.

Robin has been with Arsenal for almost 8 years and his departure would bring tears to the Gunners’ fans.  Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday “I brought him here a long, long time ago and he has developed fantastically well as a man and as a player.”  “Today he is a world-class player and he deserves great credit.  Hopefully, we can keep him here.”

Arsenal currently sits third in the Premier League, only one point in front of the Spurs who hold the final spot in the Champions League.  One thing is for certain, if Arsenal wishes to aspire to anything greater than a third place finish and would like to finally gain some trophies to put in their West London display, they must sign the Dutchman.  If they manage to keep Van Persie, they will be a force to be reckoned with next season as they will have Lucas Podolski to play with the Dutchman!

Robin Van Persie scoring his 25^th goal against Liverpool!