Posts Tagged ‘soccer’

Spanish Soccer : Who Are The Best Players?

Wednesday, February 17th, 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 widely regarded as being the best in Spain…

Messi : At the forefront of Barcelona’s unique treble winning team of 2008-09, Argentinean Lionel Andrs Messi continually dazzles fans and opposing players alike with his creativity and flair for goals. Still only 22, he is FIFA’s current “World Player of the Year” and he is likely to chalk up awards, goals and assists for many years to come.

Cristiano Ronaldo : Blistering pace and explosive power are what led to Ronaldo initially being signed by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.Now playing for the mighty Real Madrid, 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 closing in on Spain’s all time international scorers record. Villa has attracted a host of top clubs, who are all eager to land this prolific striker’s elusive signature.

Kaka : Brazilian midfield maestro Kaka, is a playmaker of the highest calibre. Able to make pinpoint passes across the entire length of the field, or dribble past several players in a row, Kaka was the darling of AC Milan and led them to “Champions League” success 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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Soccer Field Dimensions From A to Z

Friday, January 22nd, 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, the governing body of soccer, for qualified events involving 11 players for each one team, the soccer field ought to have a span of 100 to 130 yards and a width between 50 to 100 yards. Soccer fields in United Kingdom are said to be smaller than that consequential to more physical games. On the other hand, in South America, the fields are much bigger giving more space 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 volume of the playing field should be proportional to the size of the player. In a large field, recreational players would waste their time running and become tired by half time. Consequently, 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 best for average players who are slower and lacks 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 point in the rules of soccer but merely serves as a guide for the players.

The Goal

Not considering 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 zones and is where the kickoff takes place. No player is allowed to cross their area until kickoff commences. It has a 10-yard circle within it and only the two players kicking off is permitted to stand within the inner circle.

Although soccer field measurements remain 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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Chelsea’s Best Players

Friday, January 22nd, 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. Without these players Chelsea just wouldn’t be on the same level.

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, what often gets lost in the plaudits given to Terry is that he is a very technically sound defender. Not afraid to lead by example and always managers to be a danger for teams set pieces, John Terry is the perfect choice to captain Chelsea and England.

2. ASHLEY COLE  (England, Left back)

He may be booed roundly by Arsenal fans every time he lines up against the Gunners, although he is still considered by many to be the best left back in the soccer world. Certainly he has struggled for form and confidence at times, 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. In games against him the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been kept relatively quiet. That’s no fluke, that is because Ashley Cole is a world class left back.

3. MIKAEL ESSIEN (Ghana, Central midfielder)

Last seasons injury made all Chelsea fans realise how important a role Mikael Essien played,despite the team being filled with outstanding midfielders. Essien gives the midfield wonderful balance. He is a technically gifted soccer player with a great work rate and defensive skill. He gets forward well and packs a powerful shot from distance. The 24.4 million pounds Chelsea paid to land the midfielder from Lyon in the summer of 2005 looks to be a bargain at today’s prices.

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. Frank Lampard is a vital source of attacking strength due to his accurate shooting and ability to link play with his strikers.

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 new Chelsea soccer jersey makes all defenders fear the upcoming game. The big striker may have his critics, who lambaste his theatrics when he falls over when tackled, or who bristle at his continual insistence to argue with officials and opposition players, but on his day the Ivorian striker is 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 form is vital for Chelsea if they are to end Manchester United’s dominance of the Premier league.

Five world class stars to make up just under half of a world class team. Click Here for the latest Chelsea Merchandise.

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The Most Secure Way To Purchase Manchester United Football Tickets Online

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Buying Manchester United Football Tickets online is a recommended way of acquiring them, but you should keep in mind that there are a lot of fake ticket dealers, and you should be careful in finding a trusted dealer. 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 is best to read customer reviews prior to making a purchase. 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. The best way to discern if a review is genuine or advertising is to look for a hyperlink towards the end of the review.

A legitimate customer reviewing a product doesn’t usually have a reason to post a link to the very product they are reviewing. 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. Although tickets available on eBay are cheaper, buying from a website which specializes only in tickets is always a better idea. Sometimes ticket sellers on eBay ship the ticket too late, and sometimes not even at all. While you can assume that the majority of people who sell on eBay are above board, it’s still in your best interest to read feedback about them so get a sense of how they operate.

You can also protect yourself by never putting down any information about yourself in a page that is not encrypted. This is a feature not many people look for when checking out, but the importance of it can not be understated. How do you know if a website utilizes ecryption? At the beginning of a website address you will usually see “HTTP”. Web pages which are encrypted contain “HTTPS” in their address, not the usual “HTTP”. 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. You can be pretty certain that the vendor is safe to purchase from if their check out page is encrypted, and if they have good reviews.

These guidelines are important to follow in order to avoid being scammed, but it is also important to go with your gut. If something about a vendor does not seem quite right, do not purchase anything from them. If something doesn’t sit right with you, then there is most likely something wrong with it. A little scrutiny goes a long way when it comes to avoiding a scam artist. Now it just comes down to a matter of finding the best price! You can buy with confidence the next time you shop on the web if you remember the information presented in this article.

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Should Manchester United Have Michael Owen

Monday, December 28th, 2009

One unexpected transfer that took place last Summer was that of Michael Owen, the often injured striker from Newcastle United who made the move to the Red Devils.

Many experts were left confused by the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson. With Cristiano Ronaldo gone, The general consensus was that a star would jump into the Red Devils jersey to replace him. however, Manchester United got Luis Valencia from Wigan and Michael Owen. A player who for the past five years has been beset by injury problem after injury problem and who was not only struggling for fitness, but form too. The fact that he is a former Liverpool player only adds insult to injury. There were a few bemused faces around Old Trafford the day the deal was announced.

When the details of the deal became known along with Ferguson’s intentions for Owen, it became clear that once again, the shrewd Scot had been canny. Owen was on a pay as you play deal at Old Trafford and Ferguson intended to use him sporadically from the bench and in the team. He would be used to assist from the bench when needed, he would not be the lone striker.

A slow start for Owen was not helped by the fact that he hardly featured in many games and if he did, he was a late substitute. However his role in the team seemed apparent when he was called in on the Manchester United derby game against Manchester City scoring the last minute winning goal. It seemed the goal would kick start a greater involvement for Owen and there was talk of him possibly regaining his England place, should he continue to score goals and play more consistently.

However since then, it hasn’t really worked out for Owen. Only managing to score four goals from eighteen games this season (many of which he only appeared as a substitute however), there seems to be a growing feeling that the Owen experiment may not have a long term future.

It seems highly unlikely that Owen will make it back onto the England squad. Fabio Capello has repeatedly reiterated the need for players to be fit and playing regularly in order to play.Owen has not managed to be do either of these over the last few years. However it should be noted here that Capello doesn’t seem to extend this mantra to other England strikers, Emile Heskey looks like a certainty in the team regardless of his performance at Aston Villa.

The high point of the experiment so far has been Owen’s last minute goal against City.It will be highly unlikely for Alex Ferguson to continue the agreement with Michael Owen unless the former English striker can find form and consistency in the remainder of the season, much in the way youngster Darron Gibson is doing. The question remains whether Owen has the ability and fitness to earn a spot in next years team, however it seems likely that Sir Alex Ferguson’s gamble, in the long run, may not pay off.

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