Posts Tagged ‘soccer’

The Spanish Soccer League’s Best Players

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

There are plenty of soccer superstars playing in Spain’s top division, and it is with good reason that it is regarded as the number one domestic league in the whole world. Listed below are the players who are currently regarded as being the best in Spain…

Messi : At the forefront of Barcelona’s treble winning team of 2008-09, Argentinean Lionel Messi dazzled Europe with his creativity and flair for goals. Even though he is just 22, he is the current “World Player of the Year” and, if he remains injury free, he is likely to chalk up awards, goals and assists for many years to come.

Cristiano Ronaldo : Explosive power and blistering pace are what led to Ronaldo initially being signed by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.Now playing for the mighty Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo is quickly justifying his reputation as the being the world’s most expensive player.

David Villa : Playing for Valencia, who are not one of the most glamorous teams in the league, David Villa Sanchez (to give him his full name) boasts an absolutely outstanding goals to games ratio. He was the winner of the “Golden Boot” for Spain at Euro 2008 (which means that he scored more goals at the tournament than anyone else) and is expected in the near future to become Spain’s all time highest goal scorer. Villa consistently attracts attention from Europe’s top clubs, who are all eager to sign-up the prolific striker.

Kaka : Brazilian midfield maestro Kaka, is a creative genius. Able to make pinpoint passes across the entire length of the field, or dribble past several players in a row, Kaka was the jewel of the AC Milan team and led them to “Champions League” glory in 2007. Now one Real Madrids so called “Galaticos”, he aims to bring the La Liga title back to the Bernabau (where Real Madrid play their home games) after a few years absence.

This article is brought to you by http://www.carhiremalaga.org.uk, a spanish car hire site with Malaga airport and tourist information.

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Chelsea’s Best Players

Friday, February 5th, 2010

When you have a squad that is so packed with talented individuals, it seems churlish to even suggest that there are around four or five players who generally make the team tick. This article outlines the players that without them Chelsea wouldn’t be able to compete.

1. JOHN TERRY (England, Central defender)

Terry sets the benchmark with which the other players adhere to, captaining both club and country. A tough, uncompromising and brave defender, showing technically sound style and a great amount of skill. Always a danger at set pieces and never afraid to lead by example, you could not find a better player to captain your club and country.

2. ASHLEY COLE  (England, Left back)

He may be booed roundly by Arsenal fans every time he lines up against the Gunners, but despite their bile, Ashley Cole is still, arguably, the best left back in world soccer. His form and confidence has not been consistently great, but at his best his marauding runs down the left and quality balls into the box are only matched by his ability to shut down some of the world’s best players. noone else managers to keep players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo quite during games. That’s no fluke, not many other left backs could do the job.

3. MIKAEL ESSIEN (Ghana, Central midfielder)

Essien’s injury last season showed how sorely he could be missed,even in a team filled with a world class midfield. Essien balances the team perfectly. With first class defensive skill and a high work rate not to mention a great intelligence for the game. He gets forward well and packs a powerful shot from distance. At today’s prices the 24.4 million pounds that it cost to buy him looks like a bargin.

4. FRANK LAMPARD (England, Central Midfielder)

Who wouldn’t want a player like Lampard in the midifled scoring handfuls of goals. This season he has been deployed in a slightly deeper role under Carlo Ancelotti and the result has been a marked return to form for the midfielder and the goals are once again going in. His willingness to join the attack along with his ability to link with other players in the team make him dangerous up the front.

5. DIDIER DROGBA (Ivory Coast, Attacker)

It is hard to dispute the claim that Didier Drogba is the best striker in the world at the moment. Didier Drogba wearing the authentic Chelsea soccer jersey makes all goalkeepers fear the upcoming game. He may argue with officials and opposing players and fall over at the slightest touch but at times he can be unstoppable. His presence, goals and power are a key element of Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea and at times this season, he has carried the team on his back. His skill may give Chelsea what they need to end Manchester United’s recent dominance of the Premier League.

Five world class stars to make up just under half of a world class team.

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All You Need To Know About Soccer Field Dimensions

Monday, February 1st, 2010

When it comes to soccer field measurements, it is worth noting that the dimensions are uniform, regardless of the level of play. According to FIFA, for qualified events involving 11 players for each one team, the soccer field should have a span of 100 to 130 yards and a width between 50 to 100 yards. Soccer fields in United Kingdom are believed to be smaller than that resulting to more physical games. In contrast, in South America, the fields are much bigger which provides more room and time on the ball.

For recreational soccer, playing on a smaller soccer field is recommended. By doing this, players will unquestionably make the game enjoyable and learning is more achievable. The size of the playing field must be proportional to the size of the player. In a outsized field, recreational players would waste their time running and become tired by half time. Thus, the kicks will be much longer.

Another problem of playing recreational soccer in a large field is that teaching strategies and team play is unlikely. Smaller soccer fields are finest for average players who are slower and lack stamina, which is usually common in 50% to 75% of recreational players.

The Penalty Area

This is the area where the goalkeeper usually uses their hands and fouls are punished. It includes the penalty spot, which is 12 yards away from the goal and the six-yard box 6 yards further from the goal. The top portion of this box includes a small arc commonly referred to as “the D.” It has a radius of 10 yards and has no function in the rules of soccer but merely serves as a guide for the players.

The Goal

In spite of of the level of play, the goal has a uniform measurement of 8 feet tall and 24 feet wide.

Center Circle

It divides the soccer field into two areas and is where the kickoff takes place. No player is allowed to cross their area until kickoff commences. It has a 10-yard circle in it and only the two players kicking off is allowed to stand within the inner circle.

Although soccer field measurements stay unchanged regardless of the players competing, the rules of the game allows the dimensions to be smaller for female players, persons with disabilities, or those who are below 16 years old and more than 35 years of age.

related reading:
Dart Board Dimensions
World Cup Trophy Dimensions

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The Most Secure Way To Purchase Manchester United Football Tickets Online

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Purchasing Manchester United football tickets online is actually a pretty safe way to get them, but there are scammers out there and it is important to be aware of how they operate. If you buy tickets from an online vendor who has a good reputation, you can protect yourself when you plan to buy manchester united football tickets. It’s always a good idea to search for customer reviews before you purchase from a particular vendor. Not only do you have to worry about an illegitimate site taking your money, you also do not want to purchase from a vendor who has a reputation for being slow on delivery. Also ascertain if the review you are reading is legitimate and not simply written up by the vendor themselves. If you see a hyperlink at the bottom of the review, that can help determine whether it is true or paid for.

Customers don’t usually have a reason to post a link to the very product they are reviewing and a  legitimate customer reviewing a product is of that kind. Advertisers have found a new way to advertise since most email spam blockers today block their ads, and so they turn to reviews. There is a bigger chance for a review to be legit if a review is link free. Though buying tickets on eBay can often get you cheaper prices, it is probably a good idea to buy tickets from established websites that specialize in tickets alone. There can be issues with EBay sellers not sending tickets on time, or perhaps they will neglect to send them all together. Most people you do business with on eBay are honest but if you decide to purchase this way make sure you read their feedback to get a better idea of how professional they are.

Before you type in ANY purchasing information is the another way to avoid being scammed is to make sure the checkout page is encrypted. The importance of it can not be understated, but this is a feature not many people look for when checking out. So how do you tell if a web page is encrypted or not? You will normally se HTTP at the beginning of all web addresses. If a web page is encrypted the HTTP will change to “HTTPS”. It is important to make sure the page is encrypted even if the company is completely honest,because sometimes it does not show respect for the customers and the security of their personal information. If you find an online ticket vendor that uses encryption and has good reviews, then this must be a site worth buying from.

These guidelines are important to follow in order to avoid being scammed, but it is also important to go with your gut. You shouldn’t buy anything if you get a funny feeling about the vendor. If something seems off then there is a good chance something is. When it comes to avoiding a scam artist, a little scrutiny goes a long way. Your job now is to find a price that is the best! Keep the information contained within this article in mind and you will be able to make your next purchase with confidence.

The next time you buy sporting events tickets, buy from your online concierge for global sporting events.. PremiumTicketHub.com.

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Alex Ferguson To Sign Serie A Star

Monday, December 28th, 2009

It appears that Marek Hamsik has lined up a £25m transfer bid to move to Manchester United come January.

The form of veteran former England midfielder Paul Scholes, plus the fact that Ryan Giggs is not getting any younger has convinced Sir Alex Ferguson of the need to bring in a top notch quality replacement to bolster what is perceived by some critics to be United’s biggest weakness, midfield.

With interest from Liverpool and Chelsea as well, the signing of Hamsik would add attacking ability to Manchester United’s midfield. The Slovakian international started his career with Slovan Bratislava but quickly showed his quality to persuade Brescia to snap him up. He shone in Italy with Brescia scoring a hugely impressive ten goals from midfield and it wasn’t too long before Napoli paid over 5.5m Euros to take the player to the Sao Paolo.

Since 2007, Hamsik has established himself as one of the finest box to box, goalscoring midfielders in Serie A. Managing to score 25 goals in 81 games Hamsik’s form has been some of the best in the league. The Slovakian midfielder has quickly been named the best midfielder in Serie A by experts throughout Italy after his two goals against Juventus.

Hamsik’s efforts for his national team Slovakia have been extremely impressive. His efforts were a major part in Slovakia’s entry into the World Cup in 2010. He may well re-write the history of the soccer World Cup.

Despite interest in the player from Manchester United and Chelsea in recent weeks, Napoli have refused to sanction any idea that the player will be sold. This has been reiterated in recent weeks by sporting director Riccardo Bigon who stated:

“Manchester United are after Hamsik? If we rejected the rumours regarding a friend like [Carlo] Ancelotti and his Chelsea, it is obvious we also reject these rumours.”

These comments have since been substantiated by Napoli chairman Aurielo De Laurentiis who confirmed:

“Many clubs have requested Hamsik, it’s true, but he will stay with us for the long-term”

Whether in Summer, Napoli maintain the same comments is yet to be seen. Napoli’s short budget will defiantly play a factor in their decision to keep Hamsik or to sell him if a good offer is made.

Chelsea’s desperation to buy players may push any deals between the two clubs away. With Carlo Ancelotti given the go ahead to spend £25m on a player by Roman Abramovich in January they might beat Manchester United to the punch

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