Just-Football

Good Player Guide #7 - Yannick Djalo

2008-11-28T02:46:00.003Z

Yannick Djaló (Sporting Lisbon / Portugal) Sporting Lisbon are a football club with one of the most advanced and well-equipped youth academies in Europe. Over the years, several top names have graduated from the famous Academia Sporting including Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Nani, Ricardo Quaresma and Simao Sabrosa. Top managers like Luiz Felipe Scolari and Jose Pekerman have also gone on

A Year Of Just-Football

2008-11-27T03:16:00.001Z

This past week Just-Football celebrated its first anniversary; an achievement that, though small, we feel is worthy of a mention and maybe even a small pat on the back. It is amazing to sit here now and think that a year has already passed since the first article was published last November in the wake of England's failure to make it to EURO 2008. Back then we tried to assess exactly what the

Goals Like This Are Why I Watch Football

2008-11-17T02:57:00.001Z

The creativity, the inventiveness, the overwhelming intelligence and yet, at the same time, the immense simplicity. Football is a game that can get over-complicated at times. Goals like this one from Lionel Messi in Barcelona's 2-0 victory at Recreativo Huelva however wash away all the dust and grit from the soul of a game which is pure in essence and bring it right back to what it really is: a

Al-Ahly Win 2008 African Champions League

2008-11-17T02:19:00.000Z

Egyptian giants Al-Ahly became outright the most successful club in African Champions League history this weekend, drawing 2-2 in Cameroon against runners up Cotonsport Garoua to emerge 4-2 winners on aggregate. After a 2-0 win over the Cameroonians at the Cairo International Stadium two weeks ago Al-Ahly were overwhelming favourites to win the tie going into the second leg and they did just

Just-Football's Ten Best Goalkeepers In The World 2008

2008-11-10T06:27:00.002Z

Over at the impressive Soccer By Ives, a recent reader email prompted discussion as to the world's ten best goalkeepers. On that list are some of the usual suspects (Cech, Casillas, Buffon etc) and then two names that come as more of a surprise: Brad Friedel and Tim Howard. Now, as anyone who reads SBI will know, the site in question tags itself as 'the world of soccer with an American voice'

Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United - So The Gunners Are Not That Bad After All

2008-11-09T05:00:00.003Z

In the blue corner, a toothless attack. Frequent loss of possession. Careless passing. An all too porous midfield. A suspect goalkeeper. A lead striker who is anything but clinical. And a huge blow to hopes of winning a third straight title. In the red and white corner, relief. Unbridled joy. Renewed hope. Proof that all the sniping and the criticism of the previous week, while not entirely

Al-Ahly vs Cotonsport Garoua - African Champions League Final 2008

2008-11-02T16:47:00.002Z

Cotonsport Garoua were only founded twenty-two years ago but have come on leaps and bounds in African football during that short period and go into the final of the 2008 CAF African Champions League looking to make history by winning their first ever continental trophy. However the task at hand could hardly be more daunting given their opponents. The mighty Al-Ahly of Egypt have won the African

Photo, Shoot - 31.10.2008 - Grassroots Football

2008-10-31T17:32:00.000Z

Sportfreunde Großsachsenheim v TSV Phönix Lomersheim II.Germany, April 2008.Grassroots Football. Photo courtesy of poity_uk on Flickr, in Just-Football's photo pool.

Is Freddie Ljungberg The Man To Raise Major League Soccer's Profile?

2008-10-30T17:40:00.003Z

There were flashbulbs and shiny white corporate grins and glistening company logos. The head of Vulcan Sports and Entertainment spoke confidently about dreams coming true, shaking the epicentre of North American soccer and sold-out stadiums. Famous US showbiz blogs began frantically digging around for semi-nude pictures of the MLS' newest star player modelling Calvin Klein boxer shorts. The red

Two-Faced Redknapp Not Quite The 'onest 'Arry He Likes To Portray

2008-10-28T16:20:00.001Z

Poison words are spokenMy faith in you is brokenBut I’ll make it on my ownOw, ow, twisted and deceitfulAll those two-faced peopleTaking me for some kind of foolOw, ow, they’re so narrow-mindedTruth is so one-sidedBut honey you’re wrong Ow, ow, hot and cold you’re blowingKeep them walls closedAnd who are you trying to kid, ehTwo-faced people are so shallow Put yourself in my place Ow, ow, the

Africa's 2010 World Cup Qualifying And Cup Of Nations Draw Made

2008-10-23T08:14:00.002+01:00

The remaining twenty teams in contention for a spot at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa learnt their fate yesterday, as the final group draw was made in Zurich. The teams were seeded based on their most recent FIFA World rankings and split into five groups of four. Teams will play each other twice, with group winners advancing to the party in South Africa in two years time. The top three from

Thrilling Derby Weekend In Brazil Masks National Team Failures

2008-10-22T06:05:00.004+01:00

Dunga may not have many friends in Brazil right now given his struggle to win the public's affection as national team coach, but last weekend he could at least look back and reflect on the Campeonato Brasileiro's fixture list as an ally of sorts. After accumulating an awful record of just three points from three home games during World Cup qualifiers in 2008, without managing a single goal in the

Quote of the Day, Week And Possibly Year

2008-10-16T23:55:00.003+01:00

´Honestly though, what else should we expect from a starting lineup that contains three Manchester City players?´ Brazilian journalist Roberto Assaf offers his verdict on Brazil´s pitiful performance in the 0-0 draw with Colombia at the Maracana.

Flamengo and the Boo Boys - Should Fans Boo Their Own Team?

2008-10-15T18:56:00.001+01:00

So it appears Ashley Cole was booed by a section of England fans in the recent 5-1 win over Kazakhstan. Big deal. Generally speaking I am not a fan of the boo boys, whose impatience is rarely if ever helpful for the team. Unless it is in circumstances that really warrant it I am of the opinion that, as a supporter of whatever club, fans should try to support and encourage the team at all times,

Just-Football´s Readers Have Spoken

2008-10-01T02:28:00.003+01:00

Its official. According to readers of Just-Football, Manchester United will win the English Premier League this season. Back in August, on the eve of the new football season we opened a poll asking who would win the 2008/2009 Premier League. Over the last month or so voting has been taking place, with United and Chelsea neck-and-neck for long spells of the voting. Eventually though it was

Wayne Rooney Cost United The Three Points At Stamford Bridge

2008-09-23T05:17:00.001+01:00

Given the more than encouraging start Carlos Tevez has made to the 2008/2009 season it was a surprise to read the Manchester United team sheet for the weekend´s game against Chelsea and see the Argentinian relegated to the substitutes bench. Sir Alex Ferguson instead opted to partner Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney upfront. Tevez, looking fit and sharp in each appearance so far this season,

Dynamos FC, Cotonsport Reach African Champions League Semi-Finals

2008-09-22T05:55:00.001+01:00

Dynamos FC of Zimbabwe and Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon made it through to the final four of the 2008 African Champions League this weekend, with crucial wins in their respective final group games. In Harare, Dynamos took on Egyptian giants Zamalek knowing a win would send them through to the semi-finals regardless of results elsewhere. Zamalek for their part had to win and hope that things

African Champions League 2008 Hotting Up - Semis Berths Up For Grabs

2008-09-20T01:30:00.004+01:00

While it was week one in the 2008/2009 European Champions League this week, the CAF African Champions League is steadily building to its crescendo, with this weekend´s fixtures set to determine who qualifies for the semi-finals of Africa´s most prestigious club competition. The tournament is arranged differently to the European version in its current guise. In Africa, the teams involved play

Photo, Shoot - 12.9.2008 - The Liverbird And The Devil

2008-09-12T21:30:00.003+01:00

On the eve of the biggest game in English football a graffiti print near Old Trafford captures wonderfully the level of sheer resentment between Liverpool and Manchester United. Photo courtesy of bitrot on Flickr, in Just-Football´s photo pool.

Photo, Shoot - 11.9.2008 - The Awe, The Dread, The Cataclysm

2008-09-11T18:35:00.001+01:00

Football is a billionaire's playground. Manchester City are going to buy the world and everything in it. Scientists are messing with the equilibrium of the universe. England managed to play well!! For all this and more the above is today's Photo, Shoot. Photo courtesy of erdalito on Flickr, in Just-Football's photo pool.

5 Deadline Day Transfers That Caught The Eye

2008-09-04T20:00:00.001+01:00

You may recall a recent post on Just-Football discussing 5 summer transfers that we considered made good business. Well with the frantic spending that took place on deadline day from clubs around Europe it would almost be rude not to peruse over the goings-on and assess deals that caught the eye, for one reason or other. So here we have it. And where else to start but: 1, Robinho (Real Madrid to

Middle Eastlands - A Manchester City Revolution?

2008-09-02T20:40:00.001+01:00

Harry Redknapp must have been raging. Dunking a Digestive biscuit into his mid-morning tea, the unexpected purchase of Manchester City by a consortium of billionaires from Abu Dhabi can only have left a bitter taste in his mouth. Its bad enough there being a credit crunch, the effects of which have this summer denied him the permission to open up the Portsmouth purse strings as much as he'd have

Flippin' The Bird - Club Nicknames and Bird Symbolism

2008-08-21T16:35:00.001+01:00

What's in a name? Well plenty to be honest. The name of a football club, the colors and emblem they use, the nicknames they're given - all of these can explain a great detail about how the club is seen by its fans (and rivals) and can give insight into local history and culture. While some are rather straightforward, others are absurdly convoluted, others just absurd. It's hard to know where to

Premier League 2008/2009 Preview Part.5 (T-W)

2008-08-16T10:49:00.004+01:00

Just-Football's 2008/2009 English Premier League preview now concludes with a look at the remaining four clubs: Tottenham Hotspur (Last season - 11th) What to say about Tottenham Hotspur? Well, Spurs might finally realise the potential that derives from their large fanbase and years of carefree spending by actually making the top four this season. There, I said it. One of the most overused

Premier League 2008/2009 Preview Part.4 (N-S)

2008-08-15T23:48:00.004+01:00

Just-Football continues its team-by-team preview of the 2008/2009 English Premier League season with a look at: Newcastle United (Last season - 12th) There was a period of time around February last season when Newcastle United were doing so badly it looked as though they might even go down. After the sacking of Sam Allardyce, Kevin Keegan was brought back from his Soccer Circus in Glasgow to