國際賽

國際賽對部份球迷來說，只是一個叫自己休息的檔期。

沒有每週激戰的聯賽，到了那個國際賽的週末，是一種空虛。

即使是某兩支實力強勁的國家隊對決，仍提不起興趣。可能是因為你不習慣平日的死敵穿著同一件球衣為同一隊球隊爭勝，就像林柏特跟謝拉特到現在都不習慣一樣。

很多球員踢國家隊都沒有打球會般積極，甚至故亂作一個藉口退隊，專心備戰球會級賽事。你覺得那些外圍賽熱身賽的認真程度比不上聯賽的護級大戰，除了世界盃及歐國盃，你不會看得上國際賽。

又或者，這一切都只是因為沒有一支心儀的國家隊，看球賽時太中立，投入不了。

Quintuple

The Football Association Community Shield, the FIFA Club World Cup and the League Cup. What's next? Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League? Is it a mission impossible? Man Utd seems to be making this unprecedent record. I am convinced that this is not a dream any more after they beat Internatzionale last night. Although there are still a few difficult games before they can be the champion, as far as I concern, if they can beat Inter by scoring not just one goal but two and without conceding goals, they are too strong for any team in the last 8 teams in the Champions League. You may say there is Barca. They are just not good enough. Their attack may be good, but just look at their defence. Conceding two goals from a team like Lyon. Their defence is crap. For Premier League, the coming game is the key obviously. If they beat Liverpool, the title chasing will be over. For FA Cup, Everton? They should beat them with ease and then will be facing either Chelsea or Arsenal. Or Hull?
I won't be surprised if they win all the cups. But it's hard to say anything now. As there is still a long way to the end of the season. Maybe, at the end, Arsenal win the Champions League, Chelsea win the FA Cup and Liverpool win the Premier League. Let's wait and see.

如果英超這個球季實行6+5政策…

白禮達(Blatter)指他去年提出的6+5政策得到了費格遜的支持。突然忽發奇想，如果這個對現今球壇影響深遠的政策在今個球季實施，英超Big 5各隊的正選陣容會變成怎樣…

假設一: 6+5最終是指正選陣容必須有至少6個國藉為本土(即英國)球員，及最多5個非本土球員。
假設二: 英超Big 5沒有買人。
假設三: 由於部份球隊一隊本土球員不足夠，迫使他們從青年軍提升本土球員，又或者回收外借了的球員。

有*者指非本土球員

ManUtd
Rooney Berbetov*
Giggs Scholes Carrick Ronaldo*
Evra* Ferdidard Vidic* Brown
Van Der Sar*

Chelsea
Anelka* Sinclair
Kalou* Lampard Essien* JCole
ACole Terry Mancienne Bosingwa*
Cech*

Liverpool
Torres* Lindfield
Riera* Alonso* Gerrard Pennant
Aurelio* Hobbs Carragher Darby
Reina*

Aston Villa
Heskey Agbonlahor
AYoung Barry Reo-Coker Milner
Shorey Davies Knight LYoung
Taylor

Arsenal
Simpson VanPersie*
Wilshere Fabregas* Ramsey Walcott
Gibbs Toure* Gallas* Hoyte
Almunia*

結論一:利物浦的影響較阿仙奴大
結論二:曼聯的平均實力依然最強，因為還有幾個有實力本土球員未進入陣容中
結論三:阿士東維拉可以排出全部十一個都是本土球員的陣容，但實力跟現在正選相差不遠

SIX PLUS FIVE RULE
Blatter claims Fergie support over foreign quota

March 5, 2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter claims he has the support of Sir Alex Ferguson for his six-plus-five principle, which would limit the number of foreign players on a team to five.

Blatter introduced the quota proposal last year, with the Premier League often the subject of his criticism for what he perceives to be a lack of homegrown players.

When the proposal was first introduced it was believed it would flounder on the European Union's insistence on free movement of labour around member states.

But following legal advice, Blatter is confident the system will be implemented to combat what he perceives to be the unhealthy domination of the Premier League.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: ''We do not penalise the Premier League. The Premier League will still be well organised even if they start to have more players. Manchester United have started to have more players. In the starting XI the other day, they had four.

''I spoke with the leadership, including Sir Alex Ferguson, and he said it is a good solution because it will automatically not only give access to young players but it will also bring back a little of the expenses.

''We are now in a economic crisis.'' He added: ''I have my concerns because the PL is the strongest league in the world, definitely, and taking over in such a manner that other leagues have difficulties to match the Premier League.

''There is another factor. Where is the competition when two thirds or three quarters of participants play not to be first? They play not to be relegated.

''There is something wrong there. That's why we had the solution of the FIFA congress. It was always said it is against the European law, the freedom of circulation of workers.

''I feel positive now - more positive than I have been because of this legal advice from specialists in European law.''

Blatter is set to meet Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and added: ''What I want to try if not to persuade him is to influence him that a six-plus-five solution or five-plus-six will enhance the quality of his league.''

Blatter also expressed concern about the proliferation of foreign owners in English football, saying: ''The problem with ownership is definitely a risk. It is not the basis of football, but here we can do nothing.''

He sounded a note of warning to England's 2018 World Cup bid, hinting it may be hampered by a lack of a football figurehead.

''If you look at the technical infrastructure of the stadiums and the organisation of football matches on the level of up to 50,000 people then they are ready - but they are not the only one.

''The bidders will look for some promotion - not only by material but also from personalities. You have Beckham!

''I cannot interfere in this matter. But you know how bidding operations have been turned into success - there was somewhere always identified with a football personality.''

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=624997&cc=4716

榜首的壓力

爭取自1981年以來第二次奪得荷蘭甲組聯賽冠軍的艾爾克馬爾 (AZ Alkmaar)，正選守門員的情緒智商未免低了點吧。

作為一支冠軍球隊，在季中以後能否維持球隊士氣於高水平，以及抵受在榜首的壓力是十分關鍵。只要看看隔著英倫海峽對面的利物浦，你會發現從榜首掉下來速度之快。

羅美路呀羅美路呀，如果我是領隊雲高爾(Louis van Gaal)，我會搧動全體職球員每天都取笑你做了的傻事，因為這樣，至少球隊的士氣可以保持。

AZ keeper breaks wrists after match

Friday 06 March 2009

AZ Alkmaar’s keeper Sergio Romero was so angry after his blunder had lost his club a place in the Dutch Cup semi finals that he slammed his hand against the wall, breaking his wrist, reports the Telegraaf.

Romero will undergo an operation later on Friday. AZ is currently premier league leader.

Breda's NAC beat AZ for the second time this season, and put Louis van Gaal's team out of the Dutch Cup with a 1-2 away win.

It is the third year in a row that NAC has made it through to the final four.

© DutchNews.nl

就是因為這場去年9月以來的首場敗仗，據說，他要休息6個星期。

第四

阿仙奴的球迷，這個多月來失去了耐性。

連續在聯賽打了3場零比零，阿仙奴對主場迎戰富咸一戰期望甚高。一次反擊傳球錯交給對手，一次控球甩了腳，在主場球迷眼中就像是失了球一樣的失望。最後，又是一場零比零。

失望，是因為阿仙奴的球迷仍然活在當年水銀瀉地進攻的歷史中。

如果車路士的皇朝隨摩連奴的離去而瓦解，我相信阿仙奴的盛世是在49場不敗結束的一刻失去了。

企得太高，令人對你的期望變得也太高。可惜球隊陣容上的改變卻使這一切變得不切實際。把當年聯賽盃決賽的陣容草草搬上一年打38場的聯賽上，背負著進攻足球、水銀瀉地的名義打每一場球賽，真的不過份嗎?

支持阿仙奴的球迷，曾經連續創下不知多少場聯場有入球的結錄，不但對零比零的比數陌生，連當年一比零"One-Nil to the Arsenal"的比數也不願意接受。

阿仙奴的球迷需要的不是聯賽第四，需要的是一場精彩多入球的比賽，需要的一次又一次水銀瀉地的反撃，需要的是有質素的進攻。

如果"皮利斯-韋拉-基拔圖-龍格堡"是近年攻力最佳的中場線，"戴亞比-丹尼遜-桑治-伊堡"是近年最差的中場線。

不過，隨著時間，阿仙奴球迷的要求應該要降低。一直要求高，只會像韋斯咸球迷般"We are forever blowing bubbles"。現在的這對阿仙奴，是一支全新的球隊。忘記龍格堡的入楔、亨利的單刀、皮利斯的掃把腳吧，看起球賽時，你會少了點壓力。

見到錯失了無數黃金機會的賓特拿替阿仙奴終結了不入球記錄，你可以幻想一下他會成為新的國王，因為他很快就會回到後備席上，沒有機會去錯失機會。

聯賽冠軍之路

　　步入三月，如果你說英超冠軍還有懸念，如果不算天真，起碼也是極度樂觀。

　　落後十分，要在餘下的約十輪比賽中趕過曼魚，可說是天方夜譚。所以，雖然我不排除奇蹟的可能，但我已經為利浦奪標的相關投資撇賬，正如當年英國某賭博公司提早向阿記投資者派彩一樣。我亦希望，今屆的結果同樣出人意表。

　　利物浦再一次衝擊聯賽錦標失敗，其實也不算令人意外。我一直擔心，球隊不能承受來自球會、球迷或是自己的壓力，畢竟球隊甚少在聯賽榜領先，我也認同因為二十年未嘗奪冠，欠缺「奪標經驗」是不足之處。

　　另一長久以來的問題，無疑是「被睇好」的魔咒。一直以來，不論在盃賽聯賽，只要被睇高一線，紅軍常會大失水準，簡言之就是「海鮮波」，故有賭仔戲謔「若要生活好， 咪買利物浦」。今屆的利物浦，在上半季曾有過起色，不論是勁旅弱隊，要紅軍失分並不容易，這種全取三分的「習慣」，本來就是奪取錦標的重要一環。寧做 underdogs ，是處理壓力的問題，亦是心理素質的問題。

　　欠缺入球能力，是自侯利亞年代以來利物浦的死穴，在三分制的聯賽，根本不可能染指冠軍。費托的加盟無疑改善了把握力問題，但球隊不能永遠依靠一人，而且除射手外，利物浦的整體陣容，例如兩翼側擊，未見有大改善。如果沙比缺陣，或謝拉特狀態不佳，中場的創造力亦同樣缺乏。板凳的深度亦有改進空間。

　　處理壓力，避免高處不勝寒，改善進攻能力及板凳深度是長遠之計，因為當務之急是賓帥的權力及去留問題。(如果歐聯錦標不是問題的話)

參考資料：在歐聯的 underdog


沙比未過半場嘅超遠射，之後俾卡斯拿斯托出。

同樣估唔到嘅係，班拿約頭鎚奠勝。

利物浦打盃賽係好睇啲，因為唔洗佢哋攻。

揸住一粒返主場，形勢大好，不過利記一被睇高就危險。都係嗰句，皇馬入到一粒，要利記進攻就麻煩。