Bafetimbi Gomis

Strong, dangerous, a 12-cap French international, who has netted 56 goals in 120 league appearances in France, Bafetimbi Gomis is just the sort of signing we should be making if we realistically want to climb the Premiership table next season.

It sounds like Gomis is signing a huge 4-year deal, which will take him to 32 years of age, but this kids worth it. He has a great touch (“yes, for a big man”) and looks skilled enough to potentially be able to play up-front alongside/behind Wilfried Bony. With Bony and Gomis marauding up front for us, opposition defences are massively going to be on the back foot, creating space for our widemena and central midfielders to better express themselves. Of course the fear mioght be that a Gomis arrival might make a Bony exit more likely. Let’s hope not, but why not secure an eventual replacement before any sale is made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEiCkrpWUDU

World Cup Diary – Day 7-to-13

The World Cup is well and truly into its second swathe of matches, when both the pressure and excitement traditionally build up. Probably the most impressive team seen, thus far, Netherlands kick off the day with a tough fixture against dogged Australia. A particular gem about this match is that it will be one of the most family-friendly fixtures, as it commences at 5pm which is a good excuse to get out of work early – always a good thing. The talents and pace of Netherlands should be too much for Australia too deal with, with their accurate passing football blended with quick attacks likely to result in plenty of goals. My only concern about this match being that the Netherlands might rest a few of their weary squad, but all the same it should be a good game.

Next up is Spain against Chile, at 8pm, which is the must-watch fixture of the day, as reigning champions Spain desperately need a win (if they are to qualify for the knock-out rounds) but are playing against a very talented team, Chile. Spain will be hoping Athletico Madrid star Diego Costa is fitter than he was against Netherlands, as they desperately need goals to get through.

Finally we have Cameroon against Croatia, at 11pm. I expect Croatia to win this game, as their mercurial midfielder Luca Modric demonstrates the art of creative midfieldership to perfection.

Thursday, June 19^th, then sees Colombia –Ivory Coast, at 5pm, which should be a real attacking corker; followed by Uruguay-England, at 8pm, (expect a hard-fought England win); and Japan-Greece, at 11pm.

Friday, June 20^th, sees Italy-Costa Rica, 5pm, (a game that before Costa Rica’s victory over Uruguay, on June 14^th, we would have been certain of an Italian win, now we’re less sure); France-Switzerland, at 8pm, (a potential stumble-in-the-jungle for the French that they should still win); Honduras-Ecuador, at 11pm

Saturday, June 21^st, its Argentina-Iran, 5pm, another chance to see the player many people think is the best in the world Lionel Mesi; Germany-Ghana, 8pm, (déjà-vu? Don’t they always seem to be playing each other, and don’t they have brothers in either squad – the Boatengs); Nigeria-Bosnia, at 11pm.

Sunday, June 22^nd, starts with Belgium-Russia, 5pm, (a must win for both teams); Korea-Algeria, 8pm; US-Portugal, 11pm, (a game that hopefully will see Ronaldo sparkle).

Monday, June 23^rd, is a 4 gamer (so that’s a staggering 8 teams to enjoy) starting with another must win for the 2010 Champions Spain against Australia, 5pm; Holland-Chile, 5pm, (will Netherlands go easy on Chile potentially messing up Spain’s participation?); the two 9pm kick-offs are Brazil-Cameroon and Mexico-Croatia.

Tuesday, June 24^th, the two 5pm kick-offs are England-Costa Rica (our crystal ball says an England win and qualification for the 3 lions) and Italy-Uruguay; and the two 9 pm games are Colombia-Japan and Ivory Coast-Greece.

Key tip, from June 23^rd, as there are two games running at the same time now you might want to use internet streaming to see your preferred choice of a game if it isn’t on terrestial TV; just search in one of your favourite search engines (e.g. Lycos or Ask-Jeeves…other search engines are available) and change the timeframe to last hour (as otherwise the internet-police remove them).

 

 

 

Samba Beat

Tuesday, 17 June, sees Brazil back in action against long-time rival Mexico (kickoff 8pm) in a game that is sure to be exciting. Both team won their opening fixtures, Brazil in somewhat controversial circumstances as the referee awarded a non-penalty, hence they are battling for the honor of winning Group A. If recent experience is anything to go by Brazil will win, and we think they will and hopefully in style, but do not be at all surprised if this is trickier than it looks on paper.

Earlier in the day (kickoff 5pm) its Belgium versus Algeria. This should also be an excellent game, with Belgium a possible long-shot for the tournament as their young squad is very very talented, particularly Eden Hazard – expect him to dazzle tonight.

Finally its Russia versus South Korea, at 11 pm, in the likely battle for the second-spot (and hence qualifying for the next round of the competition) of Group H. I’m hoping Ki does the business tonight, as I’m personally really hoping he’s back playing for us in the Premiership, making an excellent midfield combination with Leon and Jonjo.

World Cup Preview – Groups G (& F)

On Monday, June 16, World Cup Group G commences with an absolute peach of a game – Germany versus Portugal – the only thing distracting from this being a real gem of a game is the potential absence of Real Madrid star Ronaldo. Germany are one of our favourites to lift the World Cup and I expect them to put up a win in this game today (kickoff 5pm London time).

Next up is Iran – Nigeria, from group F this time, kick-off at 8 pm, a game Nigeria should (on a talent basis win) but Iran are a very well drilled team, so don’t be at all surprised if they spring a surprise draw. This game completes the Argentina/Bosnia group, which on Sunday saw a Lionel Mesi inspired Argentina victory, so Nigeria need to beat Iran to keep up with the South American giants.

The day concludes with the other group G game of the US versus Ghana. I’m hoping for a Ghanaian victory and will likely see it, but the US are a difficult (if boring) opponent.

This Time It’s Not going to Penalties

Its Saturday, June 14^th, and the big-guns are on the clock – its Greece versus Colombia, kicking off at 6pm, ……sorry, I meant England are playing Italy, kicking off at midnight.

So that’s the inventors of the beautiful game, England, playing the European team with the most World Cup titles, Italy. This game should be an absolute corker, expect fireworks, expect emotions, expect skill … expect a draw. Yes sorry we expect a draw, this game is too important for either team, hence don’t be at all surprised if it’s a fairly cautious encounter. This doesn’t mean, however, that it won’t be exciting. Think of two boxers, at the peak of physical perfection slugging it out, neither giving an inch, or two aging Russian grandmasters playing chess as if their nation depended upon it. 

From an Italian perspective the keys will be how the explosive, somewhat crazy, striker Mario Balotelli performs (you’ve got to love this kid, talented but with a proper old-school personality, e.g. having to ring the fire service when at Manchester City because he’d let off fireworks in his house) and if Andrea Pirlo can still dictate the pace of the game at the tender age of 35.

For England the keys will be keeping Pirlo busy, a job I think Wayne Rooney’s hair-piece alone will be instructed to do, and the selection out wide, whether it be the brave selection of Raheem Sterling or the more conservative James Milner. If England want to win they should go for Sterling and Welbeck out wide, with Rooney behind Sturridge, or Sterling and Rooney out wide with Barkley behind Sturridge, but I fear the somewhat cautious England manager will plump for James Milner and Wellbeck out wide, with Rooney behind Sturridge up front. 

Anyway, seriously looking forward to this game, hope the kids let me have at least a bit of a lie in Sunday morning.

Saturday’s other game is Uruguay against Costa Rica, starting at 9 pm Paris time. This shouldn’t be written off too lightly, as Uruguay are likely to put on a veritable footballing feast for us all to enjoy, that I don’t imagine Costa Rica will be able to live with for long. Expect a comfortable win, and a big scoreline.

Then on Sunday, lunch kicks off with the Ivory Coast against the land-of-the-rising-sun, Japan. Sit yourself down on the sofa and digest your Sunday lunch to this corker of a game. If you love football, or simply want to enjoy a couple of hours of top-drawer entertainment, decide you are going to support Cote d’Ivoire and let them entertain you.

In Didier Drogba and Wilfried Bony, the Ivory Coast have one of the best strike forces in the competition, supported ably by the very talented Yaya Toure, Gervinho (“please sort your hair out”) and Tiote. We can’t see this being any other than a convincing win for Cote d’Ivoire, or at least a very entertaining can’t-miss match.

Next up is Switzerland versus Ecuador, at 5pm,….if ever there was an incentive to not watch football its this snooze-fest, sorry.

France kick-off at 8pm with a relatively easy, at least on paper, fixture against Honduras; before the day’s likely second best game (another midnighter) between many people’s potential champion’s Argentina and Bosnia-Hercegovina. Argentina are, of course the home to arguably the world’s best player in Lionel Mesi, and many other very very talent players, whilst Bosnia are a collection of lesser names, such as Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko, Senad Lulic and Vedad Ibisevic. Expect an impressive display by Argentina.

Friday 13th, unlucky for ?

On Day 2 of the World Cup a total of three games are being played – so that’s 6 teams in total to enjoy – so plenty of chances to get the old footballing-juices flowing. The personal favorite of the day (by far) is the reigning World Cup champion’s Spain against the notoriously easy-on-the-eye Dutch. This game kicks off at 8pm Greenwhich meantime and will see the tic-tac geniuses of the Spanish up against the total-football excellence of the Netherlands. Too tricky to call, perhaps, but we are going for a shock upset, the Dutch to beat Spain (but Spain to still go through to the knock-out phase and do very well). Also don’t expect a pure footballing display. We envisage a nasty ultra-competitive match, with lots of play-acting and tempers potentially flaring.

 

The other gem of a game, and for slightly less obvious reasons, is Mexico against Cameroon, kicking-off at 5pm on Friday 13^th. Mexico are always vastly over-rated in the World Cup standings, a consequence of their relative easy qualifying groups, while Cameroon aren’t exactly the footballing entertainers of years gone by. Despite this apparent double-whammy, we can’t get away from the feeling that this battle of wits will be a good one, as two relatively evenly balanced teams go head-to-head. Unfortunately Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o is a doubt for the game, but in Song Cameroon have a midfield controller who should help Cameroon beat Mexico.

 

The final game of the day is Chile-Australia. This is one that really doesn’t jump off the board with me, and with it kicking off at midnight (and England playing the following day at midnight against Italy – a must watch) I imagine the zzzz’s will be on my order-of-service by the time Chile play Australia. All the same I have a sneaky suspicion that this will be an absolute corker, as these sort of games often are.

World Cup Preview

The World Cup kicks-off on Thursday, June 12^th, and I’m thus-far shrugging off the whole experience with little more than a traditional Gallic-shrug to the footballing delights that will likely ensue.

This could all change tonight, however, if Brazil kicks off the competition with a veritable football-feast, or equally if Croatia throws a shock upset by beating the host nation.

The tournament kicks-off at 9pm, UK time, with Brazil playing against 200:1 outsider Croatia. Although this seems like an easy start to the competition for the host nation, Brazil, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Croatia makes life very hard for “everybody’s second favourite team”.

Brazil has always been one of the most fun teams to watch – “you score three and we’ll score 4” – but they haven’t always converted this undoubted style into substance. With more of their players now plying their trade in European football, however, this has changed, with Brazilian football now a cocktail of beauty-and-steel.

Will this be enough to beat Croatia? Quite probably, although with it being the first game of the competition, for a nervy team, desperate to bring some happiness to their disgruntled fans (the tournament reportedly costing $11 billion to stage), do not be at all surprised if Croatia spring a win, or at least a dogged win.

Is Brazil good enough to win this World Cup? On paper I don’t think so. Their best player – Neymar – has had a so-so season at Barcelona, and compared to the likes of Spain and Argentina (my two World Cup favourites) I just don’t think Brazil are good enough on current form. But if they are to win this most prestigious of tournaments, it is Neymar that will have to find his undoubted swagger.

On traditional fall-guys England, I must admit as a Swansea fan I’m increasingly starting to feel some affinity with this England team. More than half the likely starting 11 were homed under the regimes of ex-Swansea managers last season (Brendan and Roberto), and I’m increasingly seeing them as a potential dark-horse for the tournament. I kid you not. In former Swansea target, Sturridge, they have a real lightening striker, with goals in the locker, that could potentially hit a rich vein of form if two or three of Sterling, Rooney, Gerrard and Barkley also come good.

Wales Distover Another Gem – George Williams

The introduction of the much discussed George Williams, for his first full international cap against the Netherlands (Wales 0 – Netherlands 2), brought a smile to Welsh football lovers everywhere. So we have Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, Joe Allen, Collison, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor and apparent Swansea target Johnny Williams, now we can add another potentially top-draw talent to that list in George Williams.

The 18 year old Fulhm midfielder, who hasn’t yet played a full Premiership minute for Fulham (he wont now, at least for another year as they were relegated), attacked at every opportunity, against a top-tier Dutch team. Williams is very direct, has great close control and from what I hear has an eye for goals.

I’d love to see him at Swansea one day – note his contract ends next summer – but for now welcome to the Wales squad, which gets better and better by the minute….France in 2016 might noit be such a stretch for these kids.