Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Top 5 goalkeepers of 2011



Top 5 goalkeepers of 2011 

Ask any goalkeeper and he will tell you standing between the sticks is a thankless task. The outfielders always get the credit when goals are scored, but the moment something goes awry at the back, fingers automatically point to the guy tending the goal. 


As such, we try our best to recognise the best shot-stoppers in the world. Though they may get the least credit of all footballers, they are no less deserving of the praise and the accolades.
In no particular order, here are moretension.blogspot.com's five best keepers of 2011.. 


Manuel Neuer (Schalke & Bayern Munich, Germany) 
 


The last twelve months have seen 25-year-old Manuel Neuer establish himself as arguably the best goalkeeper in the world.
Fresh off his exploits at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Neuer was one of the few shining lights as Schalke endured a disappointing Bundesliga campaign. The German international provided a calming influence at the back, and singlehandedly dragged his club to the semi-finals of the Champions League, their best-ever showing in the competition.
His performances earned him a €22million move to Bayern Munich, where he has since proved a worthy acquisition, helping the Bavarian side finish the calendar year at the top of the Bundesliga.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain)
Long regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, Casillas once again showed why he remains so important to Real, providing a formidable last line of defence that allows his side to play their trademark attacking brand of football.
While Real spend most of their matches dominating the opposition, Casillas' experience means he is always able to pull off stunning saves on the few occasions he is called into action. And his inspirational leadership saw him lead Real to their first trophy since 2008, when he guided them to a 1-0 Copa del Rey final win over arch-rivals Barcelona.
Joe Hart (Man City, England)
It is uncontestable that Manchester City are the rising force in English football.
While many have tried to play down City's achievements by pointing to the millions that have been spent to assemble the squad, Joe Hart, who cost them just £1.5million back in 2006, remains one of their most important players.
The likes of Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli are the names on most fans' lips, but opposition players and managers will tell you that Hart remains the most important piece in Roberto Mancini's puzzle.
Only earlier this month, Hart proved the difference between four points and one, as his heroics helped City to a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, followed by a 1-0 win over Arsenal.
Hugo Lloris (Lyon, France)

Following seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 2001 to 2008, Lyon have now gone three seasons without a league victory, finishing third last season behind Lille and Marseille. However, that was by no means Lloris' fault as helped his side to the third-best defensive record in the league.
The 24-year-old also showed exemplary leadership qualities when he blasted his team-mates after they let a two-goal lead against Nice slip in injury time, in a game in which Lloris had already saved a penalty. The following week, Lyon played with renewed vigour and cruised to a 3-0 win over Lens.
Lloris was also a standout for France as they qualified for Euro 2012 by finishing top of qualifying Group D, ensuring his presence at next summer's championship.
Vyacheslav Malafeev (Zenit St Petersburg, Russia)
Malafeev looms as the selection which will raise the most eyebrows, but a closer look at his contributions this season tells the tale of a goalkeeper currently at the top of his game.
The year started in tragedy for the 32-year-old, as his wife was tragically killed in a car crash, but Malafeev showed great resilience in bouncing back from his loss to star for Zenit, who are currently leading the Russian Premier League, two points ahead of CSKA Moscow. His heroics also helped Zenit qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League, finishing second in Group G, ahead of Porto.
But it was on the international front where Malafeev arguably made the most impact. Long having had to settle for a place on the bench behind CSKA's talented shot-stopper Igor Akinfeev, Malafeev was called into action with Euro 2012 qualification on the line after an injury to his counterpart.
And the veteran kept four consecutive clean sheets as Russia sealed their place in next summer's European Championship, finishing top of qualifying Group B ahead of Republic of Ireland.

Top 5 defenders of 2011

Top 5 defenders of 2011 


Some say the best offense is having a good defence, and the five players below are a testament to that statement. 
Their infallibility at the back has provided their teams with the confidence to push forward in attack, safe in the knowledge that should they lose possession, there's someone at the back they can count on to repel opposition attacks.
Some are classy ball-playing defenders, while others hail from the old school of no-nonsense defending.
In no particular order, here are moretension.blogspot.com's top five defenders of 2011.
Nemanja Vidic (Man United, Serbia)
At times, the best way to gauge how important a player is to his side is to assess their performances when he isn't playing. And Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic is an ideal case-study in that regard.
In his first season as club captain, Vidic led the Red Devils to a record 19th league title, before his start to the 2011/12 season was curtailed by injury - his absence most notable when United were humiliated in a 6-1 loss to arch-rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Following that abject display, the Serbian, who is now retired from international football, was hurried back into the starting lineup, and his return coincided with four wins and a draw in United's following five games, during which they conceded just once.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely he will be featuring in this list next year, after another injury ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Thiago Silva (AC Milan, Brazil)
In May, AC Milan claimed their first Serie A title since 2004, finishing six points ahead of city rivals Inter Milan. While they had the second-best strike rate in the land, scoring four goals less than the Nerazzurri, they had the best defensive record, conceding just 24 goals, fifteen less than Napoli and Lazio.
Plenty of credit has to go to Thiago Silva, who formed an outstanding partnership with veteran Alessandro Nesta at the heart of the Rossoneri defence. The Brazilian was strong in the air, sharp in the tackle and hardly afforded his opponents a yard of space. Furthermore, Silva was extremely inventive from the back, regularly initiating Milan attacks from their own half.
With Barcelona reportedly keen on signing him, the Rossoneri face a tough fight keeping him at the San Siro.
Vincent Kompany (Man City, Belgium)
2011 will forever be remembered as the year Manchester City established themselves as a dominant force in European football. But while the Citizens' highlight reel over the last twelve months will mainly feature the likes of David Silva, Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero, all their good attacking work would be for naught if not for a solid defence.
And for that, we give credit to Vincent Kompany, who has been an absolute rock at the back for Roberto Mancini's side. However, it is his leadership qualities that truly make him stand out from the rest, standing in for the injured Tevez early on in the year, helping City to the FA Cup, before taking over on a permanent basis following the Argentinean's indiscretions.
Kompany has led his charges by example, even remonstrating with his team-mates on a number of occasions when they are out of line (like chastising Mario Balotelli after a provocative goal celebration against Villarreal). Still only 25, there's plenty more to come from the towering Belgian centre-back.
Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan, Japan)
At the start of 2011, hardly anyone would have heard of a pint-sized Japanese fullback by the name of Yuto Nagatomo. Then at Cesena, the 25-year-old was still trying to make a name for himself in Italy, having joined from FC Tokyo in the summer of 2010.
However, he impressed Inter scouts sufficiently in his sixteen Serie A appearances for the Nerazzurri to sign him on loan for the rest of the 2010/11 season, sending Davide Santon in the other direction.
And the dynamic defender slotted in seamlessly into Leonardo's starting eleven, scoring two goals in 19 appearances and convincing the Inter hierarchy to sign him on a permanent deal. Since then, he has featured prominently under both Gian Piero Gasperini and Claudio Ranieri.
Nagatomo not only tasted success with Inter, being part of the Coppa Italia-winning squad, but also on the international front, when he helped Japan to the Asian Cup in January, despite missing a penalty in the semi-final shootout victory over Korea Republic.
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany)
The first half of 2011 was a forgettable few months for Bayern, as they were bundled out of the Champions League in the first knockout round by Inter Milan, and finished third in the Bundesliga - embarrassing by their lofty standards.
Throughout that torrid spell, Lahm was a constant shining light for the Bavarian outfit, leading his charges by example and putting in accomplished displays despite regularly being switched between the two flanks.
Six months on, and Lahm's proficient displays and leadership has helped Bayern to the top of the Bundesliga, where they currently lead Borussia Dortmund and Schalke by three points. In addition, Bayern made light work of being drawn in the Champions League's "Group of Death", finishing ahead of Napoli, City and Villarreal.
On the international front, Lahm was part of the Germany side that qualified for Euro 2012 by finishing top of Group A with ten wins from ten, scoring 34 goals in the process and conceding just seven.

Top 5 strikers of 2011

We pick out the five forwards who found the mark, again and again, for their respective sides in 2011. 


Top 5 strikers of 2011 


You've got to love lists. They provide fodder for debate, discussion and a whole lot of pub conversations. We've brought you the top five footballers in 2011 in three categories including goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and now it is time for the strikers.
After that - we'll go on to our 2011 Team of the Year.
Please take these lists in the spirit they are written in i.e. to have a bit of fun and cheer as we usher in the New Year
In no particular order, here are moretension.blogspot.com's top five strikers of 2011.
Robin van Persie (Arsenal, Holland)
Van Persie had been tipped for greatness ever since his arrival at Arsenal from Feyenoord in 2004. Six frustrating, injury-laden years later, the Dutchman finally delivered on that early promise with 34 goals (and counting) in the Premier League this year.
In a year when Arsenal have been unsettled by high-profile departures and some shattering results, Van Persie has provided relief, joy and excitement to Gunners' fans - ensuring they'd have something to cheer about. 
If one were to pick the best out of his 34, it would have to be the volley against Everton where he allowed a chipped pass from Alex Song to drop over his right shoulder before smashing the ball off the post, into the net. Intelligence, technique, power, precision. Suitable adjectives for a world-class striker.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal)
Few players in world football divide opinion as fiercely as the man from Portugal. Some can't stand him for his showboating, perceived selfishness and tendency to go down whenever there's a strong gust of wind. Others swear by him for being the most complete player of his generation. 
Whichever camp one belongs to, it's difficult to argue with the numbers Ronaldo has piled up since his move to Real Madrid. He took the Pichichi Trophy for the 2010/11 season, and has continued to score by the bucketloads this season, having notched up 25 goals in 23 matches in all competitions. 
Love him or hate him, you simply cannot ignore him. If you haven't yet, check out Ronaldo - Tested to the Limit, to get an insight into the workings of this truly remarkable athlete.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina)
La Liga is fortunate to have two of the best players on the planet. Ronaldo may be able to play with both feet, head the ball and take free-kicks, but a combination of supreme balance and perhaps the best left-foot in the history of football makes Messi equally good, if not better. 
The Argentinean was once again at the forefront of it all, as Barcelona won La Liga and the Champions League to continue their domestic and European domination. The only disappointment would have been the failure of the national side to win the Copa America. Despite that though, Messi wowed the world yet again with some breathtaking goals that had pundits, journalists and fans alike scurrying for the Thesaurus. 
Unfortunately, there are not enough words in the English language to describe the diminutive forward. Until someone comes up with more adjectives, genius will have to suffice.
Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich, Germany)
At first glance, his may be an underwhelming name. In a world dominated by the Ronaldos and the Messis, a striker from the Bundesliga, even though he may play for Bayern Munich, has to perform truly exceptionally to be noticed. In 2011, Gomez did just that. 
He finished the 2010/11 season as the top scorer in Germany, even edging out Miroslav Klose in the pecking order, and continued where he had left off in the new campaign. To date, he has smashed in 24 goals in all competitions for the Bavarian giants as they look to wrest back the title that was snatched from them by the young turks from Borussia Dortmund last season. 
A quintessential poacher, the 26-year-old is just about hitting the peak of his career; expect bigger and better things from him next year.
Edinson Cavani (Napoli, Uruguay)
In the space of a year, Cavani has made himself into one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe. With a dominating presence in the opposition penalty area, one that has earned him the moniker El Matador, the 24-year-old helped himself to 26 goals in the 2010-11 campaign, helping Napoli earn a third-place finish and a Champions League place. 
With four Champions League goals and nine Serie A strikes so far this season, the Cavani has been in great form yet again. There was also the small matter of a Copa America winners' medal in July - all of which points to a seminal year for the long-haired marksman from Urugua

Top 5 midfielders of 2011

Five midfielders who ruled the roost for their respective sides in 2011. 


Top 5 midfielders of 2011 


We pay tribute to the men who made us 'ooh and ahh' throughout the year with their bone crushing tackling, sublime passing and, of course, eye for goal as well.
Please take these lists in the spirit they are written in i.e. to have a bit of fun and cheer as we usher in the New Year.
In no particular order, here are moretension.blogspot.com's top five midfielders of 2011.
Scott Parker (West Ham & Tottenham, England)
Every team needs a Scott Parker in their starting XI. We rightly marvel at the majestic midfield skills of Xavi for Barcelona but Parker is - in his own right - a world class midfielder all the same. Played just in front of the defence, there are few better defensive midfielders in world football at the moment than the Englishman.
Parker played the first half of 2011 with West Ham United but despite his best efforts - he was voted 'Footballer of the Year' by the Football Writers' Association - the club was relegated at the end of the 2010/11 season. Parker then moved to Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the current campaign and has been a vital addition to Harry Redknapp's side.
Parker may not score many goals or get you many assists but he does win you games with his ability to stifle the opponent's attack.
Xavi (Barcelona, Spain)
Xavi is the man who puts Barcelona's tiki-taka philosophy into practice on the pitch - and he has the medals and trophies to prove it works.
It was not surprising to see Xavi play an instrumental role in helping Barcelona to titles in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League in 2011.
For so long in his career the midfield maestro never got the recognition he deserved but with Spain's continued dominance of the international game - in contrast to Argentina's failings despite having a certain Lionel Messi at their disposal - Xavi is finally being considered by some as the world's best player currently.
His passing is obviously excellent, but then many players are just as good at that as he is. What actually makes Xavi go a notch above his peers is his intelligence on the football pitch. His movement is second to none and he always gives his team-mates the right passing line - he is prone to making team-mates look better than they really are.
David Silva (Manchester City, Spain)
David Silva is a playmaker of the highest order and his performances for Manchester City in the 2010/11 season earned him high praise from then club captain Carlos Tevez who called the Spaniard "the best signing" the club had made.
Form is temporary and class is permanent, and Silva continued to inspire Roberto Mancini's men well into the current campaign and he is the favourite to land the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 2012.
If Manchester City did nothing else right for the rest of the season, Silva would still be loved by the club's supporters in the years to come. This is because the midfielder orchestrated the single most significant league result in the club's recent history - a 6-1 derby demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2011.
What is it about Spanish football and world class midfielders?
Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
It's scary to think that Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze is only 19 years old. Far from being the finished midfield article, Gotze is already a champion in Germany after playing a pivotal role in Dortmund's run to the Bundesliga title last season.
Blessed with a combination of speed, technical ability and creativity, Gotze is on the watch list of practically every major club in European football. No wonder German legend Matthias Sammer called the attacking midfielder "one of the best talents Germany has ever seen".
Count on him to get even better in 2012.
Juan Mata (Valencia & Chelsea, Spain)
Juan Mata has been called many things - a midfield magician, a creative spark. Here's another description to ponder: Indispensable.
Former Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea are keen to bring the glory days back to Stamford Bridge but with many of the club's stars on the wane, Mata has emerged as the key man for the Blues' title bid.
Equally adept at operating on the flank as he is down the middle, Mata has equaled goals and assists for the Blues this season.

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Lightening Killed An Entire Soccer Team

 


An entire soccer team died after being struck by a lighting during a match in 1998 between Bena Tshadi and visitors Basanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, all 11 members of a football team were killed by a bolt of lightning which left the other team unhurt. Thirty other people received burns at the match. The two sides were drawing 1-1 in the match in eastern Kasai Province when the lightning struck the visiting team. The athletes from the home team curiously came out of the catastrophe unscathed.

Black and White Twins

 


This is a million-to-one survival twins born with different skin and eye colors. Marcia and Millie Biggs, both 4 years old, astounded all doctors, teachers and other people when persuading that they are twins. Marcia, the blonde hair, takes after the mother while Millie, the black one, likes the father.
 

Pakistani leaders laud first-ever Oscar winner

saving face documentary 200x289 


Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday congratulated Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy on winning the first-ever Oscar award for Pakistan for her documentary “Saving Face”.
The president in a message appreciated Obaid Chinoy’s efforts for highlighting the sensitive topic of acid attacks on women with utmost sensibility and creativity, Geo News reported.
“Saving Face”, a 52-minute documentary, won the award for the best documentary (short) at the 84th Academy Awards Sunday.
Zardari said the country’s artists had all the potential to thrive and prove their skills in the field of arts and culture.
The president lauded her for bringing laurels to the country by excelling in film-making and sending a message to the world about Pakistan’s softer image.
Gilani announced a high civil award for Obaid Chinoy on winning the Oscar.
The prime minister in a message felicitated Obaid Chinoy on winning the first-ever Oscar for Pakistan, Geo News cited a Prime Minister House statement as saying.
Gilani appreciated her hard work and creativity to highlight the topic of acid attacks on women.
He said artists could act as a catalyst in bringing positive change in the society.