On the Fifth Day of Christmas, FIFA gave to me

Five Golden Gooooooooaaaaaallls!

Four Failing Clubs,

Three French Men,

Two Keeper’s Gloves,

And A Whistle Happy Referee

You don’t even have to be a football fan.  If you’ve seen the game in passing, on television, or eavesdropped on a nearby broadcast, you’ve heard the elongated call.  One long syllable, which begins with the rapid inhalation of air, to the announcer’s full lung capacity, and then the long loud exhalation.  Because of the initial intake of oxygen, the beginning actually has an ‘ng’quality and then the sound quickly mounts through the ooOOO, before the long slow fade to the end, OOOooooooaaaaaaallllllll.

nnggGOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllll!

Some announcers then go through a quick series of goal, goal, goal, with perhaps one more, mercifully shorter GooOOOooaaall.  Others insert a Golaso!, name the player, recite the score or add some other personal touch.  Everyone has their favourite pundit, too.  Andres Cantor is the consensus King of the Call in CONCACAF but every region has their own royalty.

Here and there you come across an announcer without the pipes to pull it off and it comes out sounding like a lamb dying a pitifully slow death.  When one of those sounds, you can bet that Rebelo Junior, the Brazilian radio announcer from the 30′s who first let loose with the cry, turns over in his grave.

There is a true socialism in the call, as well, because I’m sure we can all agree that not every tally deserves one.  Some goals you can see coming a mile away and are almost anticlimax.  They don’t deserve the full treatment.  Nor do howlers like Robert Green’s own goal, which are more like punch lines than the exultant culmination of a skilled build-up.  Every goal does get the full treatment, though, whether deserved or not.

Junior may have been the first to give it voice but the call quickly spread.  Nowadays, it is not just indigenous to Portuguese and Spanish-speaking nations.  It can be heard in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe and much of Western Europe, too.  The only place you never hear the call is in the English-speaking leagues.  There, the call is looked upon with scorn by pundits.  It is too undignified for them.  Martin Tyler wouldn’t be caught dead losing his composure in such a manner.  No American or Aussie voice of the game would consider it, either.  Perhaps in that, you have a glimpse of the cultural and philosophical attitudes which may have ultimately cost those countries their World Cup bids.

Here, on the fifth day of Christmas, however, the five goals we’re going to highlight as our favourites from 2010, are all of the golaso pedigree.  Feel free to join in and give them the full treatment, yourself.

“An Incredible Little Man”

If it’s football in 2010, that has to mean Lionel Messi.  Sure enough, back in March, the diminutive Argentine took some time out from his newest Lego project to unleash another brilliant strike.  The one criticism of Messi is that he likes to set up on the right, move across the box and let loose a left-footed volley.  That everyone knows it and no one, other than Germany in the World Cup, seems able to stop him anyway, only speaks further to his greatness.  What I like about this meandering effort, though, is that it all happens on the other side of the field.

Matt Dalton, who nominated this gem, had this to say…

When looking at the best goals of the year, Messi is certain to crop up at some point. Some people will argue that he has scored better and, technically, I am sure he has. This goal, however, showed another side to his game; not only did he beat four men on his way to bambooozling the keeper, he was also the player to win the ball back. Can you imagine Cristiano “Honestly, I am the best in the world, me mum said!” Ronaldo staying on his feet in the vicinity of a physical challenge, let alone tracking back to reclaim a lost ball?

So, for those of you cynics, Messi is not as one-dimensional as you’d have us believe.

♦   ◊   ♦

The Boys, The Boys!

This year, no list of great goals can be complete without contributions from the World Cup and, appropriately, the first of those was the opening goal of the tournament.

Andrew Gibney fills us in…

One of the best goals, this year, has to be Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.  A name unknown to most football fans around the world before the game, he was soon a global water cooler topic.

With the eyes of an expectant nation on the Bafana Bafana, they locked horns with Mexico in the magnificent Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg and refused to give ground.   With the scores level, the Kaizer Chiefs’midfielder began the tournament with a bang.

Hitting on the counter attack, Tshbalala was released down the left.  Only one touch was needed to control the ball and, a few steps later,  the next rocketed it across and beyond an outstretched Oscar Perez and into the top corner, sending the home fans into raptures.

It’s not the best goal you’ll ever see but the World Cup thrives on such vignettes.  All the factors tied together:  the low expectations for the South Africans coming in, the whole world watching the only match scheduled on Match Day One, the opening introductions with Jacob Zuma standing in for the tragically absent Nelson Mandela and a perfect strike from the host nation that shouted to the planet, “Yes, we can!” make this  not just an iconic moment but one of 2010’s outstanding goals.

♦   ◊   ♦

The First Airbender

I’m going to cheat a little, here, and include two goals in one nomination.  You can call me unethical or look at it as a bonus.  It’s up to you.  For me, however, this pair of goals epitomised two essential ingredients of any World Cup:  first, a talented player doing something that has yet to be done and then a little bit of inspired trickery.

Despite Siphiwe Tshabalala’s scintillating tournament opener, there was far too much defense and not enough goals as the competition progressed.  While the reluctance of the coaches had much to do with that, some of the blame was quickly laid on the Official World Cup Ball, the Jabulani.  The ball was seamless and tended to float in the air, bobbing and weaving, rather than following the traditional spinning arc of its ancestors.  At altitude, as most of the venues were, the Jabulani tended to sail, sending cross pitch passes out-of-bounds and long distance shots well over the bar.  No one seemed able to control it in the thinner mountain air.

No one, that is, until Keisuke Honda.

In the third and final round of the group stage, Japan and Denmark were deadlocked at 3 points and met, in Rustenburg, to decide who would join the Netherlands in progressing from Group E.  Just after the quarter-hour, the Asians won a free kick from about 30 metres, well off to the right side of goal.  The world was ready to see yet another ball launched harmlessly into the stands.  CSKA Moscow’s midfielder, Honda had other thoughts.  He drove a beautiful curling drive that dipped perfectly into the far side netting.  Danish keeper Thomas Sørensen raced across and launched himself at full stretch but he was hopelessly beaten.

The Jabulani was tamed and the First Airbender enjoyed far more acclaim than the Last.

Honda’s strike caused the world to sit up but not Denmark to cave in.  Something more would be required for that and the Samurai Blue had that something up their sleeve.

On the half hour, they won another set piece, this time directly in front of goal and from much shorter range.  As the wall formed, Honda stood a few paces behind the ball, in his best Cristiano Ronaldo wide vertical base.  As South African referee Jerome Damon signalled the restart, all Danish eyes, both in the wall and in goal, were on the dangerous midfielder.  They were joined by everyone in the stands and a significant portion of the planet, watching on television and internet.

Honda held his ground as everyone waited.  Suddenly there was a flash of blue movement from the left, as Yasumito Endo stepped into the ball and twisted it around a surprised wall and past an unsuspecting Sørensen.  It was 2-0 Japan and an absolutely brilliant bit of deception!

We would have to wait until the semi-final matches to see another instance of such inspired chicanery.  I’m speaking of Carlos Puyol’s header from a corner, which made the difference for the soon-to-be World Champions against a young but exciting Germany.

As headers go, it was textbook and, when left that open, a player should bury his chance.  The deceit was in the reason Puyol was left so alone:  throughout the entirety of the match to that point, the Spaniards, facing a larger and taller side, had taken every corner short.  Not once had they sent one into the box and the Germans had been conditioned into venturing further and further out to cut off the expected tic-tac-toe from Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, et al.  They were not expecting a far post corner and those defenders in the box were on their heels when it arrived.

There were certainly some brilliant football moments in South Africa.  Just not enough of them.

♦   ◊   ♦

Kick Up Your Heels

Thomas G. Clark, the Argentine mad Yorkshire Enigma, sent me three excellent candidates when I asked his opinion on the best goal from South America, in 2010.  He cheated a bit himself, including the Colombian veteran playing for Porto, Falcao, who unleashed a cheeky back-heel effort in a 5-goal rout of Benfica, in November.   It came off a cross from near the right touchline and was certainly sublime.

It would rank in this set, except for the fact that Matty Burrows of Glentoran struck a back heel that puts Falcao’s to shame.  In a Northern Irish Premiership clash with Portadown, in the 92nd minute of a scoreless match no less, Meadows mule-kicked a floating cross, from 15 yards out, just inside the far post.  I repeat, a back heel from fifteen (15) yards out.

If Falcao has seen it, surely even he will admit that Meadows deserves the title of Der Kommisar.

♦   ◊   ♦

Instant Gratification

Okay, I understand if you’re starting to get slightly peeved.  We’ve shown you 4+ highlights and not a Rebelo Junior goal call among them.  It just goes to show you that YouTube isn’t as ubiquitous as you may have thought.  Our last goal, though, is not only a golaso of the highest order, being culled from the Brazilian Campeonato, it comes replete with a strong, healthy, fully extended goal call.

It comes from the aforementioned Thomas G., whose Futbol, Futbol, Futbol blog is chock full of golasos, Gooooaaaaaals and every other type of spectacular highlight, mainly from South America.  This one, and I have to agree with Tom’s assessment, is “one of the best team goals I’ve ever seen.”  In a match against Internacional (yes, we’re heaping more misery on the Libertadores holders who were just ousted from the Club World Cup by Congolese side TP Mazumbe), Avai won the ball off the opening whistle, worked down the right flank combining for six passes before Patric thundered a volley into the far side, from the top of the box, off the outside of his right foot.  All in 16 seconds.

That, my friends, is how football should be played.

♦   ◊   ♦

If 5+ goals, plus the extra links we provided aren’t enough for you, here are some links to three other sensational strikes and some more exuberant shouts of Goooaaaaallllll …

Lewis McGugan, of Ipswich Town, cannons a Roberto Carlos-esque free kick from distance, with an inverted bend, courtesy of Tapesh Patel.

Falcao’s back heel against Benfica, from Tom Clark.

A stupendous volley from Dinei, of Palmeiras, after a horrible back pass, the Yorkshire Enigma strikes again.

Just in case you missed it, Carlos Puyol’s header versus Germany in the World Cup Semi-Final, from yours truly.

That does it for today.  See you tomorrow, for the halfway mark in the Twelve Days of Christmas:   Six Meals-a-Making, wherein FIFA tries to offload its most blatant charlatans.

Cheers!

Let me think about this for a second... They suspended and sacked the last guy for speaking his mind and now they want ME to step in?

First off, was the desperation of the FPF (Portuguese FA).  Having realised a bit too late that they’d fired an effective, if overly emotional manager, in the person of Carlos Queiroz, they’ve pushed the panic button.  In midweek,  Gilberto Madail, the FPF president, flew to Madrid to beg Real president, Florentino Perez for permission to grovel at the feet of Jose Mourinho.  Their hope is that he will be allowed to manage the national team for their next pair of matches.

In the face of  Queiroz’six month ban, it was speculated his sacking was for monetary reasons.  One has to wonder how much of the FPF’s savings Madail will have to spend to convince first Perez and then the Special One to help them, and how he might sell it?

“Honestly, it’s just for the two matches… or until we find someone else. I swear on it, cross my heart and hope to die?

What’s that?

No, Senor Perez, I won’t stick a needle in my eye but here’s a big briefcase full of euros!

Yes, that is a lot of cash.  So, what do you think, can we borrow Jose?”

Is it okay to park here?

The other big happening, which actually didn’t, was the massive Adidas promotion in London, to have featured Lionel Messi.  How you publicise an event starring the reigning FIFA Footballer of the Year, in the biggest footballing city in the world, and underestimate the turnout is beyond me but Adidas managed it.  Fresh from orchestrating an almost note perfect 5-1 Barcelona symphony against Panathanaikos, in the Champions League, the miniature maestro was helicoptered to Hackney Marshes to participate in a friendly pick up game.

Unfortunately, the shoe giants didn’t account for the powerful reach of Facebook and posted some rather obvious clues as to the location of the Barca player’s cameo.  Naturally, he was mobbed upon landing and had to be whisked away to safety.  Apparently, their promotional department has made a slight change in the acronym we used to repeat as kids.  Now, Adidas would seem to stand for All-Day-I-Dream-About-Screwups.

Speaking of  the Champions League, it was a bit of a mixed bag on its opening week.

On Tuesday, the big clubs were rather pedestrian, except of course, for the aforementioned Catalans and fellow Spaniards Valencia, who journeyed to the Turkish coast to lay a 4-0 thrashing on Bursaspor.  An own goal by Diego Milito almost cost Inter in a big way, until Samuel Eto’o weaved a little magic to recue a point for the holders.  The inauspicious beginning to the Rafa Benitez era in Milan continues.  Tottenham were in Germany, thinking this whole thing was pretty easy, after Peter Crouch had forced an own goal and added a header to stake Spurs to an early lead over Werder Bremen.  The hosts battled back to split the spoils, however, and introduce Harry Redknapp’s bunch to continental realities.

Kirk Broadfoot gestures anxiously for assistance as Valencia lays prostrate on the pitch.

The low point of the day occurred at Old Trafford.  That a second string side couldn’t penetrate a stalwart Rangers defence might have been an acceptable outcome, with the Liverpool match looming, had Antonio Valencia not suffered a horrible break to his ankle as a result of an innocuous looking tackle from Kirk Broadfoot.  United have the troops to cover for the Ecuadorian but the loss is a blow, nonetheless.

Elsewhere, Benfica met some resistance from Hapoel Tel Aviv, mostly in the form of the Israeli club’s Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama.  He did concede two goals but spectacularly stopped nine others.  Expect similar stat lines from him as the group progresses.  In a goalkeeper’s duel, Hugo Lloris outdid Manuel Neuer, as Lyon defeated Schalke 1-0.

The day’s upset, a minor one, was Copenhagen’s victory over Russian champs, Rubin Kazan.   The stingy Kazan defence let up only one time and, as they’ve had trouble scoring all season, were painfully aware it was one time more than they could afford.

On Wednesday, the big clubs made far more definitive statements.  Arsenal stood out as Cesc Fabregas demonstrated why Messi and the rest of Barca want him so badly.  Two goals for himself and impeccable service leading to four others pained Braga manager Domingos Paciencia so much that you could see it on his face as he shook Arsene Wenger’s hand.  Appropriately enough, the Portuguese looked as though he’d just come from a visit to his proctologist.

Madrid and Milan were in control, running out 2-0 wins against Ajax and Auxerre respectively.  Gonzalo Higuain and Zlatan Ibrahimovic did the honours for their clubs.  Bayern did the same against what has been a pathetic AS Roma side, out of the gate.  Sergio Romero kept his side in the match until a sublime volley from Thomas Müller, off the outside of his foot, broke the deadlock.  Miro Klose would seal the deal shortly thereafter.

Lock him up? WFC is all for it!

Chelsea had little trouble with MSK Zilina, running out 4-1 winners, the clean sheet spoiled by a mix-up between Petr Cech and Branoslav Ivanovic.  The victory was further tainted by the handcuff celebration of Nicolas Anelka, a gesture towards the French FA.  The classless Anelka seems hellbent on proving that you can never go home again.

CFR-Cluj looked very good against FC Basel, garnering a 2-1 away victory but Shakhtar Donetsk had to fight a tough battle to find a way past Partizan Belgrade netminder, Vladimir Stojkovic, for a narrow but deseved 1-0 triumph.

The Wednesday shocker was a bit more electric than Tuesday’s.  All match long, Marseilles peppered the Spartak Moscow goal with shot after shot, yet Andrej Dykan made save after tremendous save.  Then, with less than ten minutes remaining, OM keeper Steve Mandanda was wrongfooted by his own defender, Cesar Azpilicueta, and the Muscovites escaped the French city, having committed the perfect crime — a three point heist.

On Thursday it was time for the also-rans, aka the Europa League, to get off the line.  Twenty-four matches is just too many to go into detail but here’s a quick synopsis of the night’s activities.

Thumbs up to Liverpool (4-1 v Steaua Bucharest), Man City (2-0 at Red Bull Salzburg), Bayer Leverkusen (3-0 v Rosenborg), CSKA Moscow (3-0 at Lausanne Sports), Zenit St. Petersburg (3-1 at Anderlecht), Stuttgart (3-0 v Young Boys), Porto (3-0 v Rapid Vienna) and especially Metalist Kharkiv (5-0 at Debrecen).

Thumbs down to Juventus (3-3 at home against minnows Lech Poznan), holders Atletico Madrid (0-1 at Aris Salonika), Villareal (0-2 at Dinamo Zagreb), Palermo (2-3 at Sparta Prague), Sevilla (0-1 at home to Paris St. Germain) and Napoli (0-0 v FC Utrecht).

The jury is still out on Borussia Dortmund (4-3? at Karpaty Lviv) and Dynamo Kiev (2-2 v BATE Borisov?).

As for the weekend, the WFC gang is here, naturally, to get you primed for all the fixtures worthy of your attention.

Solidariata, fratello!

Geoff Edwards

Editor’s note:  Geoff is still on vacation but he sent a picture postcard with his Bundesliga match of the week and sympathies for the oppressed players of the Serie A,who have declared their intent to strike next week.

Schalke 04 v Borussia Dortmund — Bundesliga ..Sunday

It’s another derby, a massive one this time: Schalke v Dortmund, the Ruhr derby. The fans hate each other with a passion. Schalke’s Christophe Metzelder  used to line up for Dortmund but the way he’s been playing recently, it’s unclear which set of fans hate him more.   As well, in one of the games last season, Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer pissed off the Dortmund fans.  If  I remember rightly he celebrated a win by waving a massive Schalke flag right in front of the Dortmund fans!

Eliot Rothwell

Eliot Rothwell

Everton v Newcastle — Premier League..Saturday

Partly through personal selfishness and party through the fact that I believe it will be a great game, I’ve gone for the Toffees against the Magpies.

The personal selfishness comes with the fact that this game sees my debut as a Premier League accredited journalist, making my way into the world of press lounges, post match press conferences and free food!

In pure footballing terms, the match features two classically physical Premier League sides. Everton, fresh from their rousing 3-3 draw with United take on the might of the Geordie giant, Andy Carroll. Tim Cahill and co. will be hoping to secure a win, to ease the temper of fiery manager David Moyes!

Fabricio Presilli

Fab Presilli

Campeonato Brasileiro – 23rd round
Botafogo v Cruzeiro ..Saturday

Both teams are doing quite well over the past few rounds.  Although Botafogo will try to pick up the pieces after a devastating loss to league bottom Goias last time out. Cruzeiro is flying high, especially newly acquired midfielder Walter Montillo.

Palmeiras v São Paulo ..Sunday

One of the derbies of São Paulo, maybe the one with the most passionate and demonstrative fans. Expect plenty of stories about violence in the stands and little about the game itself.

Tapesh Patel

Tapesh Patel

Ligue 1

St. Etienne v Montpellier.. Saturday

At present, Ligue 1 is almost completely upside-down, compared with pre-season predictions. These two sides illustrate this perfectly; St. Etienne narrowly avoided relegation last season, while Montpellier surprisingly managed 5th place (but were widely tipped to move down into mid-table mediocrity this season). With the teams in 3rd and 5th place respectively, this is anything but a relegation six-pointer and could be a thrilling encounter.  Even highly-rated Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren may have problems keeping out current Ligue 1 top scorer Dmitri Payet.

Bordeaux v Lyon ..Sunday

Two seasons ago, this match was vital in terms of the title race. On Sunday, though, Bordeaux and Lyon will meet at the Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas, each desperately needing a victory to kickstart their season, with the sides currently in 18th and 16th place respectively. Lyon are under particular scrutiny, having spent big bucks on the twinkle-toes of Jimmy Briand and Yoann Gourcuff, the latter of whom makes an early return to his former club.

The Championship

Ipswich Town v Cardiff City ..Saturday

This match sees 5th take on 2nd at Portman Road. Ipswich have made a very solid start to the season, but their form has dipped of late. Roy Keane will call upon all of his motivational skills to rally his troops against a rampant attack led by Craig Bellamy and Jay Bothroyd, provided both recover from injury in time, for the Welsh side.

Martin Palazzotto

Martin Palazzotto

Before I get into my picks, I want to cover a couple of the happenings on this side of the Atlantic.

First of all, we’ve got our own little mini-me version of the Champions League, courtesy of CONCACAF.  There’s just four groups of four and, as usual, there’s a Mexican side at the top of every one.  MLS sides aren’t completely without hope, however.  The Columbus Crew sit just a point behind Santos Laguna, having dropped a 1-0 decision to the leaders, with a little help from the officials, and Cruz Azul only lead Real Salt Lake on goal difference.

On the other hand, after having dropped their last two CCL matches and fading in the MLS table, Toronto FC fired their coach, Preki, and general manager, Mo Johnston, this week.  Rumours were that Preki had lost the respect of his star players, with his penchant for strong discipline running contrary to Dwayne DeRosario (especially) and Julian de Guzman’s idea of star treatment.

I’ve been a fan of Preki’s, both as a player and coach, and, at first, sympathised with him, given the short leash he had been on.  Then, unfortunately, he decided to speak to the press, saying,   ”It’s a couple of Canadian guys making those comments. That’s all I have to say about that.”

I’m a realist, so I’m fully aware The Great White North is not exactly a soccer hotbed.  We Canucks have as much chance of winning the World Cup as the Newcastle (UK) Vipers do of winning the Stanley Cup.  Still, it’s not nice to have it rubbed in your face by someone you admire.  It makes me want to serve him up a nice plate of scrambled eggs…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-RO4r68H-8

That’s how Canadians deal with stress.  It’s very therapeutic.

On to my picks, then.

FC Dallas 2 – 2 NY Red Bull — MLS..(16 Sept.)

Technically, I’m breaking the rules here but the MLS game of the week took place on Thursday.  FC Dallas, hosting the New Yorkers, managed to extend their unbeaten streak to seventeen games.  Although they trail LA Galaxy by five points, their two losses are half that of the nearest competitor.

Thierry Henry piled more controversy upon himself, this time putting his foot in it.  Exhilirated by Mehdi Ballouchy’s goal at the half, Henry attempted to volley the ball back into the net. Instead, he drove the ball into the lower leg of Hoops’keeper, Kevin Hartman. The impact caused damage to Hartman’s MCL and he will be out for some time.  Henry does come across as a likeable and intelligent guy but this trend of mishaps is becoming alarming.

Toluca v America — Mexican Apertura..Sunday

With Santos and Monterrey deadlocked at fifteen points atop Group A, a runnersup wildcard spot is virtually out of the question for Toluca,  on ten points.  This is, therefore, a must win match over their Group B rivals, so that they can leapfrog them into the playoff picture.

Bari v Cagliari — Serie A..Sunday

The Serie A table is topsy turvy in the early going.  Many of the big clubs are struggling, most notably Roma, Palermo and Napoli.  This match is between two sides, both sitting on 4 points after two rounds, who aren’t on the bookmakers’lists to be in the same position come May.  Still, Bari look to have improved from their impressive first season back in the top flight and Cagliari will want to enjoy the fresh air at the top of the standings for as long as possible.

Chris Mann

Chris Mann

West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City– Premier League ..Saturday

Roberto Di Matteo’s West Brom play an intelligent and aesthetic brand of football and look stronger than some of the incarnations of the team that have previously graced the Premier League. With Chris Brunt hitting form, Birmingham’s much-vaunted centre back partnership of Roger Johnson and Scott Dann will be in for a stern test in the first West Midlands derby of the season.

Atletico Madrid v Barcelona — La Liga..Sunday

Barca’s confidence may have taken a knock during their surprise 2-0 home defeat to Hercules last week, but their 5-1 win over Panathanaikos in mid-week seems to have brought things back to normal. Sunday’s game at the Vicente Calderon pits the reigning La Liga champions against the division’s early leaders and, with the likes of Diego Forlan, Kun Aguero, Leo Messi and David Villa on show, it should be some spectacle.

..

Eliot Rothwell

Well, that about sums it up for this week.  Before we go, we’d like to congratulate WFC writer, Eliot Rothwell, on receiving his official Premier League press credentials.  We’ll be really impressed, however, if he can wrangle us some match highlights from the world’s most greedily guarded footy archives!

We apologise, too, for the mix up, in photos, which occurred earlier.  The picture to the right is what Eliot actually looks like.  The one above is of some fellow who applied to write for us, a while back.  We had to turn him down, though, as he had some rather strange views on things.  For instance, he thought that the Champions League should return to a pure draw, rather than a weighted one.  Seems he’d rather get that Chelsea/Real Madrid blockbuster out of the way in the fall, instead of waiting until the end of May.

A word to the wise in the press box at Goodison Park, this weekend, as well.  Post a guard next to the luncheon spread.  We put out some powdered donuts before a WFC editorial meeting, once, and, as things turned out, it wasn’t the best idea.  Our security camera recorded what happened when Eliot laid eyes on it…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRuaq_KilzQ

It’s just not a pretty sight, is it?

See you on Monday!

That’s all I remember from his first season; cameo displays in the last twenty minutes where he would make and be given a plethora of chances – he’d take a few of them as well. It was the ease in which he’d beat a player that was so breathtaking – at just 17 people were already starting to talk.

Five years later and Leo Messi is a regular in the Barcelona team and in contention for the Ballon D’Or again. Highlights have included three La Liga titles, two Champions League wins and a Copa del Rey, which completed the treble last season. These titles have come with some unreal performances along the way – especially one night at the Bernabeu.

I wrote about how Del Piero received one of the highest accolades in football – a standing ovation at the Bernabeu for his displays last season, but for a player from Barcelona to receive it is something else – only Ronaldinho had achieved such feat in recent years. The Bernabeu know their football and can accept when they’re in the presence of greatness.

I think Leo Messi is the most gifted footballer currently playing the game. His touch, low centre of gravity and zero back-lift combined with his excellent footballing brain and his confidence in placing his shots instead of hammering them make him one of the most deadly and prolific players in today’s game.

I’m a Manchester United fan and a massive fan of Cristiano Ronaldo – but there is something that Messi offers that draws me in even more so. I’ve always wondered which is better; a player that is unpredictable and therefore unstoppable, or a player like Messi who is slightly more predictable, but nevertheless, unstoppable.

The ‘Maradona’tag has been lambasted around too often. Pablo Aimar, Javier Savola and many others have accrued to this name but after much analysis it’s clear to see Messi comes closer than all of them. He’s even replicated Maradona’s two (in)famous goals. Beating the same amount of players and running roughly the same distance for his wonder goal and for the other, using his hand. Let’s be fair though, Messi is a great player in his own right.

If Maradona is the acid test at International level then Ronaldinho holds that mantle for his time at club level. Comparisons of his impact can be made to Ronaldinho having achieved the same at club level.

Nicknamed the “Messiah” he saved Barcelona a few times last season. The Champions League game against Shaktar the most memorable – 1-0 down with 15 minutes to play – enter Messi.

It has quickly become Messi’s team following the departure of Ronaldinho – and his levels of performance for his club team are not in question here – the ultra critical eye will look towards his tenure with the national team.

Last month in his hometown of Rosario, Messi was frustrated as Argentina lost to Brazil. He showed clear signs of disappointment due to the lack of quality from his team mates. It’s fair to say Argentina aren’t the best side in the world at the moment but would Maradona have acted in the same manner? Something which Messi has to learn when playing for his country is that he has to take on more responsibility.

Messi’s tendency to stay out wide could be considered a limitation. Cristiano Ronaldo for example often swaps flanks, goes down the middle and appears in the box. Messi does sometimes drift but he spends the majority of the game out on the right wing. This limitation may occur due to the nature of his Barcelona team, regardless it does restrict his impact on a game from time to time. It’s not a problem when Xavi and Iniesta are pulling the strings but the boy who moved to Spain at 11 to treat his growth hormone deficiency must adapt all over again because great players pull through no matter the circumstance.

Messi recently said he admired Rooney’s passion for the game.

“When he loses, it hurts and those are the sort of players you want to be playing with.

“I can understand the pressure on him, but to be honest, from what I have seen, Rooney is the sort of player who would thrive playing under pressure.”

That’s built in to Wayne Rooney it’s not something you learn, but something you have and the same could be said about Maradona. The question is, when it goes down to the wire can Messi put in that performance or score that goal that makes the difference on the International scene? Only then will he be considered truly one of the best – but time is on his side.

But you’d have to doubt Messi at your peril as he takes in a good goal scoring record to Argentina on Saturday where lowly Peru will undoubtedly struggle with a player that’s in a different league.