Mikel Obi Stuck with the Blues For another Five Years

This is further good news for all Blues lovers. If you are a fan of the billionaires’ club, or you just love seeing your club scoring points all way round, this might just be another day to smile. Remember Jon Mikel Obi, the Nigerian Pride? Well, he has signed a new five – year deal with our Stamford buddies. He will now join the French player and winger, Florent Malouda. In case it eluded you, Malouda also signed a contract binding him to Chelsea F.C. for another three years. Talk about commitment.

Believe me, nobody’s forcing the young twenty two year old star to put ink to paper, as he was all smiles and good humour as he was announcing to website of the Blues that signing the contract was probably the easiest thing he had done in his life as he was glad to be with the Blues. Yes, he even said that immediately the opportunity came to sign, he grabbed it eagerly after discourse with the club.

He claims that his future with Ancelotti would be a dazzling one – he can foretell that: good! – and that he already has a splendid working relationship with him already. That really is something to desire, if you ask me.
He also had this to say: so far, all the managers who have championed the Blues have had their differences, making changes here and there to the strategies and procedures of the system. He also said that whoever came in as the new manager of the Stamford bridge club would want to make changes to the playing pattern. He also made it clear that it would be very little or infinitesimal changes, nothing drastic, and that the new manager would want to make changes to things like the team’s formation so that they quickly get used to it before the start of the season.
Young Jon Mikel Obi recently featured for the Blues in their friendly against Inter in the Rose Bowl last night. Under the management of Carlos Ancelotti, our recently signed-in Chelsea star is moulding himself back to his optimum sharpness. Might I add, Carlos Ancelotti has already altered the previous tactics of the Blue team, changing it into a four-four-two (4-4-2) formation, giving it a diamond-shaped midfield to boot.
Mikel admitted that getting back to fitness and all is really hard work, but the glory ahead makes it worthwhile. The manager wants them all sharp for the beginning of the season. For that to happen, it obviously goes without saying that they have to train – disregarding the strain and stress it comes along with.
Of course, the new formation also doesn’t affect out Nigerian International. He declares that he has had some experience with it in defensive midfield, so it should not impose some new regimen of learning too many new tricks. But he also agreed that it would make it harder because he would have to cover more ground for his team. Not to fear – Mikel says he is up to the task: he can, and will, do it.

Comments? Please do.

Steven Gerrard Admits Throwing The First Punch

We all know him as one helluva midfielder, and we respect his prowess on the field. Some might even confess that Steven Gerrard is their dream player. Yes, the Liverpool midfielder is well-known.

But I can tell you one thing you didn’t know: our Liverpool star is one hell of a boxer. Yes, you probably heard of the case from December last year. Well, since then some more light have been shed on the issue and it seems like our star was in the wrong. When the case was originally opened, Steven Gerrard didn’t admit throwing the first punch, but now he has come out in the open to say yes, I did it first.

Fighting for music! Sounds like the lyric for a weakly constructed song. I never knew some people could let music rule their lives. Talk about that for defending the food for the soul.

Gerrard, like I said earlier, admits throwing the first punch, but he says this in his defence: “I only threw about three punches. Only connected” The Mohammed Ali of Soccer!

If you are lost as to what started the squabble, let me take you down memory lane, to December 29, 2008 when our jolly star was celebrating Liverpool’s victory in the wee hours of the morning in a lounge. He was in company of some friends. He was also celebrating the victory of Liverpool over Newcastle. Now, you know that during celebrations like this, people don’t drink water. They just don’t. Therefore it would be right judgement to assume that our superstar was enthusiastically guzzling quite a considerable helping of alcohol. That was when he decided to change the music that was playing on the stereo. As he claimed, the manager of the bar had given him such privileges. However, as he was about to exercise his privileges, a certain businessman, Marcus McGee, thirty four years of age, confronted him and refused to grant him access to the card controlling the music. That was when Steven bellowed, allegedly, “who the f*** do you think you are?” (This has been censored for the benefit of young soccer lovers)

Because of this hindrance to the music change, it seems Gerrard, who admitted that on a drunkenness scale of one to ten, he was on a seven, pulled the man’s jumper over his head, so he couldn’t see who was hitting him. Gerrard say otherwise, he declared that the man raised his hands as if to attack, and he, who was used to mither (trouble, or bother) swiftly gave the first punch. It was also confirmed that his friend John Doran, 29, of Huyton, Liverpool, also helped in doling out the punches.

It took the barman, one Nathaniel, to separate the two men who seemed bent on converting the bar into a boxing ring.

All these have been revealed from police interviews with Gerrard and McGee. Marcus said it was not his permission to give over control of the card, but his job, so he just had to say no.

Steven Gerrard, however wants the dispute quickly settled so he can attend to other matters as this court case is making him mithered.

What do you think of this? Please comment.

Drogba Signs with the Blues AGAIN!!

Those fingers that have been nervously and expectantly crossed as to where the fate of our dearly cherished Ivorian, Didier Drogba, lies can now uncross their fingers as all things have now been given better illumination. Finally we can tell you that the Chelsea player still remains a Chelsea Player: he has signed a three year extension contract at his present club, Chelsea FC.

It might bee good news for some, or bad news, depending on which side your bread is buttered, or depending on whether you think Drogba is performing at his best at his present location.

Yes, I know all summer, Drogba’s bearing and future in the Football ring had had a dark and mysterious ring about it, but now it looks as though the Ivorian star is ready to end his career with the billionaires’ club. Seems Stamford bridge is it, then.

Here is something from The Times , the deal has been drawn up for the sum of - wait for this - the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds weekly (120,000). The only thing remaining now is for him to solemnize the deal – sorry for the marriage term, but I think it is fitting – later during this week.

We all know Carlo Ancelotti, the manager. Yes, that’s him – he agreed readily that Drogba himself wanted to stay, and the club was more than happy to have the star on its list of players. Quoting him verbatim: “Drogba is a very Important player for us and we want him to play for Chelsea.”

He also said that the Ivory Coast Player was indispensable because there is no other striker in the world who would be able to do the same things as Didier. Hmm, hear, O hear!

Well, he says that he has spoken with Drogba and that he knows what Drogba wants. This is just to imply that there has not been a breach of contract, I think. Or maybe he is just trying to tell us that he and Drogba have a relationship very much akin to God the Father and the blessed Son.

Frankly, I think Didier Drogba is one fine player, and I am always proud to associate myself with Africa as a result. Well, if he has decided to chart his course with the blues, fine with me (my own personal conviction, not yours). They are not a bad set of people themselves, and I think Drogba himself has proved his mettle in the club in more ways than one.

The fact that he has chosen to continue his tenure and probably end his career with Chelsea might mean that he finds their terms and conditions, remuneration as well as their team spirit and managerial skills well above average and satisfactory enough to endure another three years.

To this I say: Didier, More Power to your Elbow (Or should I say foot?)

Do you think Drogba’s signing with Chelsea again is a wise thing to do? Do you disagree with Drogba’s choice? Maybe you can foretell his career with Chelsea. Any dark signs? Handwritings on the Wall? Feel Free to Drop a Comment.

Nigerians In the Israeli League: Favourable or Not?

As we very well know, most of our Nigerian players are aiming high: joining one of the glamorous and exciting career-building European leagues. It's cool, but some, and overtime, increasing numbers are finding their bearings and are migrating to Israel. Yes, Israel is small, but crazy about soccer.

One may comment that Israel is small, but we should konw that despite its size, it competes quite favourably in european competitions, for example the Champions League as well as the UEFA Cup. These make it suitable for Nigerian players seeking a headway for our upcoming Nigerian talents.

One good thing that scores well in Nigeria's favour is that the Israelis are actually searching for African Players. Yes, you just have to believe that: they are looking up to Nigerian Players. Reason: sheer physical strength and endurace.

Take an example from our next-door neighbour: Ghana. Ghana's midfielder Derek Boateng, after playing for several seasons in Greece and Sweden, suddenly leapt and found himself in Israel. So far, he has signed with the Israeli Club, Betar Jerusalem. His reason: he heard that Betar Jerusalem was about to challenge in the Champions league. The one-time player for AIK Stockholm and Panathinaikos said that since his joining the team, they have won one championship and are on their way to a second one. How about that for career advancement?

One point in favour of our Nigerian teams building up their careers in the Israeli leagues is the relative minimization of competition. What I mean is, our talents have the opportunity of showcasing their prowess without the hassles of the bigger European leagues. More bang for your buck? You could say that, and I would agree totally.

Listen to more good news in our favour: During the last African Cup of Nations' in Ghana, Israeli scouts attended with an ear to the ground, searching for players to conscript to their teams.
Israeli leagues now have players from Rwanda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Zambia and they intend to take more. I candidly this is a welcome approach as it will strenghten the Championship muscles of some of our green boys so they can go out and do greater things. Don't you agree?

So far, Betar (The Israeli team I mentioned earlier) which is owned by a certain billionaire Jew, Arkadi Gaydamak, is now leading the Israeli league by eleven whole points. Now, get this: If Betar Jerusalem wins the title, that would put them at the top rung of the ladder, and give them a chance to attain the group stage of next season's Champion's league. Who says Derek won't feel the breeze, too?

The basic philosophy guiding this recent African player hunt on the part of the Israelis is the fact that for a Nigerian footballer, even though he may not be skilled, he would most of the time be physically fit. Fitness is the watchword: that is what they are looking out for.
Candidly, I believe that the Israeli league would be a satisfactory means of building and strengthening our Nigerian Players. Don't you?


Feel free comment on this piece: either in favour of it, or against, it would be appreciated.

Warri Wolves Instead of Port Harcourt Sharks? Fair Choice??

The chairman of the Delta State Sports Council for the Delta-based football club, the Warri Wolves, Amaju Pinnick declares satisfaction on the recent choice of his team, the Warri wolves for the Confederation ticket by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). “It is an act of God,” he was heard telling reporters when asked about his general opinion.

It has however been gathered that the rival team, Sharks Football club of Port Harcourt, is not pleased with the choice. According to them, the choice was purely political, as they believe that their Deltan rivals were not supposed to be given the ticket; they claim they were the rightful choice. They have even gone a step further to say that the Warri Wolves are not playing fair and are bribing top NFF officials for the prestiged ticket.

Amaju Pinnick vehemently denied these allegations, stating that it was absurd and facetious. He declared that neither the Warri Wolves not the Delta state Sports Commission has had any dealings with any top official regarding manipulation of the team’s placement. He said it would be a dirty deal, as well as political football. He also declared that such statements against the Warri wolves were a stab in the back of the football fanatics and general football lovers of Delta State.

He said that the NFF was governed by various laws, and they have not stepped out side the fringes of the law.

He also went further to state that the Sharks of Port Harcourt were a good team, having the essentials to bag a Confederation ticket of their own, but the Warri Wolves were also magnificent. It was therefore left to the NFF to make a choice between two good and engaging teams, and Warri Wolves FC was it. He considered a lack of professionalism and sportsmanship on the part of the Sharks of Port Harcourt if they could not accept defeat gallantly, but instead resorted to name-calling and bullshitting. He said it was essentially tantamount to throwing stones in a market place: generally hurting people indiscriminately.

The NFF is not quite over this, however it may seem. Various meoves are right now being made to clear up the mess and establish tangible reason for the choices so that these squabbles do not degenerate into a fist fight where mud will be slung on the whole picture of Nigerian football. In the spirit of Professionalism and sportsmanship, I think this is a welcome move.

Personally, If I were to give my opinion on this, I would rather go with the choice of the NFF as the Warri Wolves have played a really refreshing game this period. I am not saying the Sharks of Port Harcourt haven’t, but the fact remains that in a race, there would always be one who come first, and in this case, well, the Warri Wolves have clinched it. The NFF has been a really efficient governing body of Nigerian football: I doubt they were irrational in their selection.

What is your take on this issue? Please drop your comment.

Adebayor Signs For Manchester City> See Picture

Amodu Barred From Venue...as Eyimba FC Lifts Federation Cup! 0-1

It was a rainy morning but the rain suddenly gave way for a beautiful warm afternoon of Federation Cup at the new Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere Lagos.

I made it a point of duty to be among those who will savor all that the rechristened competition has got to offer. Today i will stay with the positives. It was a day Nigerian football league had it rosy from start to finish. Except for some very minor hitches that i prefer to talk about in the next piece, all was well.

The Lagos state Government most be given full credit for this one.
I arrived the stadium about1.30 pm and tried to purchase one VIP ticket but was told its all been bought. I guess i should have made it earlier. I needed a VIP ticket in order to stay away from the usual trouble of the popular side but as i later found out, there really wasn't a need for that as the entire event went smoothly.

I met the chief coach of the Super Eagles at the gate trying to identify himself. The Security man there will not grant Shuaibu Amodu entrance. His reason? He does not know Amodu. I was shocked really that despite his colleges and some of Amodu's entourage and even plea from Amodu himself, the gigantic creature at the gate still refused to allow the super Eagles coach inside the stadium. That is how tight security was! This is not hear say, i saw it with my own eyes.

Well i needed a ticket so i left them and struggled my way to the next gate reserved for ordinary Nigerians so i can't tell if he was later granted entrance. Like i said, i will leave my comment on this till the next post and reserve today for counting the positives.

It was my first time in the Stadium and immediately, after passing through three check points to get to my seat, I realised why Jack warner had eulogized it so much. The picth was perfect and unlike Wembly in England, did not tear off as players kick and tear on it.

The first game wasn't really what i expected but the electrying atmosphere at the stadium can easily make one forget the low standard of play. It was a mamorth crowd; something we have not seen in the league for quite a while. Some spectators were so carried away they started requesting the super Eagles should be brought back to Lagos for their remaining World Cup qualifying matches, as for them, Lagos was the Eagles natural home. The 3rd place match ended 1-3 in favor of Lobi stars. As a matter of fact, many were disappointed with Bayelsa united whom they queried how they managed to win the league with such an abysmal display on a day like this.

Thank God we didn't sleep off! Then it was 4 pm and the teams of the moment were sighted. To cut a long story short, a new order has been created in Nigerian football today. The reign or magic of Kadiri Ikhana refused to work over a more shrewed and purposeful Austin Eguavoen's Eyimba. From start to finish, Sharks displayed excellent skills but always seem lost at the final third, when it matters most. They dominated the play, worked very hard and went very close at about 4 minutes into the first half.

At the opposite end, it was the exact opposite, Eyimba didn't really get into game till in the second half. But whenever, they manage to get to the box of their opponent, they appear more likely to score. They were much more business-like in the box than sharks and i knew that was going to separate the two sides and it did. A single first half goal was all Eyimba needed to lift the Federation cup for the second time as well as leave Sharks of port Harcourt in their trophy drought.

The positives here was that, the standard of play was good enough, officiating was excellent, crowd control was good until the end, and the CROWD. No one could believe that Nigerians can turn out in such numbers to watch a football match that does not involve Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal etc. It shows that with proper organisation and publicity, our league can become very big despite the dearth of big names in the local league.

Thumbs up to the Lagos State Givernement, Super Sports and don't forget our own Brila for Reala.

Micheal Jackson Dies After A Heart Attack

Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50.

The person said Jackson died in a Los Angeles hospital. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album "Thriller" — which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" — remains the biggest-selling album of all time, with more than 26 million copies.

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

By some measures, he ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. In fact, he united two of music's biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie.

As years went by, he became an increasingly freakish figure — a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grownup life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, often wore a germ mask while traveling and kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him. The case took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Jackson was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13. He was in rehearsals in Los Angeles for the concert, an extravaganza that was to capture the classic Jackson magic: showstopping dance moves, elaborate staging and throbbing dance beats.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson's rented home, was roped off with police tape.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died," a woman boarding a Manhattan bus called out, shortly after the news was annunced. Immediately many riders reached for their cell phones.

In New York's Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.

"No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow," Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend sent to his telephone. "It's like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died."

Brasil Will Now Play USA In The Final

I droped a note on my friend blog at Gamegist that i probably wouldn't have watched the final of the confederation cup if Brazil didn't make it to the final. I am sure a lot of people wouldn't too. The thing is having watched USA knocked out Spain shattering a 15 straight wins record and 33 games unbeated since 2006, i wasn't too happy because i had dreamt of a Brazil VS Spain Final.

So when at 88 minutes, Brazil and S0uth Africa were still at 0-0 i wasn't really happy.

It is no body'd fault that we have all come to enjoy the way brazil plays the ball. For me, i love to see teams who play that kind of football win games. Just like Barcelona because it promotes the fact that football should be played that way.

I remember an English journalist once wrote he'd prefer Arsenal winning the league if united fails to. According to him, if Chelsea wins the league again, it will give the wrong impression, the best way to play football, is the way Chelsea plays.

Now i really see from his perspective. Thank Good Brazil made it.
As an African, i am expected to side with my South African brothers. But i am more for the panache put into the game than who exactly is playing. Let's see what USA have got to Offehr. From the way they dealt with Spain, it just might be the kind of match I crave.

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Super Eagles, Don't Make Us Cry!

This photo brings back memories of the sorrows that the super Eagles fans were subjected to after the eagles got knocked out of the last Africa Nations Cup in Ghana. My prayers are that we should not see this kind of emotional turmoil of our fans again as the world cup approaches. In my mind of minds, i know the Eagles will qualify bearing in mind the caliber of players we have got. But there is a limit to individual expression of natural skills and talent. There always come a time in tournaments of these nature when the game is no longer played on the pitch but on the benches. Question is, when that time comes, will the Eagles bench rise up to the occasion?

The current technical crew will be called to question at this point. Everyone is entitled to make mistakes but once in a while not all the time. When mistakes become repeated, it only shows how inept the culprit is and should deserve every form of rebuke at his/her door steps. However, mistakes can be forgiven if the perpetrator accepts fault and immediately traces his or her steps.

Today we have in Nigeria, a football federation that has got it all wrong from the onset and in desperation have been putting the coach under immense pressure to perform. A coach that we all know has already offered the best he's got! The most honorable thing to do at this time is to come out openly to accept blame for employing Amodu Shuaibu, and hand the job over to Sampson Siasia.

We need a coach Nigerians believe in and will support. Siasia has got the support of the fans and that will make his job easier especially when it comes to dealing with the big players ego. Nigerian football fans have never hidden their preference of Siasia for the Super Eagles job, but the NFF in it's lack of wisdom had opted for Amodu.With that decision gone wrong right before us, the NFF is still playing the ostrich, waiting for the big damage to arrive.

Christiano Ronaldo and Gareth Barry: Just typical liars!

Again the love of money has reared its ugly head in football. A few seasons ago, it was the turn of Thiery Henry to face the mouth lashing of fans for telling everyone he would rather die an Arsenal Player only to leave for Barcelona when no body expected it.
His departure had left the fans shattered and was probably the Gunners saddest transfer window in History. While they have lost  some very good players in recent time, the loss of their Legend was just too much.
Then, this summer, despite all that we have heard from Christiano Ronaldo how his future belongs in Old Trafford, we have just been told that he requested a transfer to Real Madrid and is said to have been accepted though the deal has till June 30th to be rounded up. Sir Alex is probably tired of begging him to stay every summer.
The truth is actually that, while he tells the world how much he longed to stay at United, he was secretly listening to offers from Madrid.
The most shameful episode so far is from Villa Park. Barry had earlier on in the season claimed that all the talk about him wanting away from the Park was now over as he was concentrating in doing well with Villa to claim a champions league place. As a matter of fact, the only reason he had wanted to leave was to play in the champions league. At the end, one can't really understand what happened to that Champions league dream. Gareth Barry has since moved to Manchester city, a team that apart from the $$$$$$ oozing from the Sheik, has nothing else to boast of. Not even a champions league place.
It seems at the end, what is more important today is the money. However, in Kaka, football probably still has hope.

Tunis-Super Eagles Last Chance Of Redemtion

Each time i come online to place a post about the super eagles, i can't help hating myself for having so much pessimism about our chances of qualification for the world cup. I know by now many who are frequent readers of my blog may have started hating me already especially for being "so unpatriotic".

You never know. You probably don't want the Super Eagles to have a good outing as much as i do.
From the beginning, my problem has been with the penchant of our NFF to set the bar so low when it should be high and so high when it should be low.

Till tomorrow, i will maintain that the decision to appoint Amodu as the Eagles coach was a blunder. I do not think the eagles should be worrying about qualifying for the world cup but rather, how far they will go at the world cup.
We have failed to plan once again, and now we hear trumpet blowers telling whoever cares to hear that everyone should rally round Amodu. While i have no problem with that, i maintain it wouldn't have been necessary especially at this stage we have done our home work and made the right decisions when we had time on our side.

Our dream should be surpassing our previous records at the world cup and if the NFF had that in mind, they should have known that the current technical crew headed by Amodu Shuaibu has not the technical-know-how to achieve that.
So for me it is painful and derogatory that we are once again at the mercy of another country as far as our world cup campaign is concerned. I am afraid! I don't just want to think it.

May we qualify i hope. At this moment for me, i am already thinking of the next world cup for i know that even if we manage to qualify, this team really has nothing to offer. Amodu dosen't have it. We should all hold the NFF responsible.

Agreed Super Eagles Beat France But ....................Amodu Ain't shit!

I have never supported the choice of Amodu as Super Eagles coach. Not that i have anything against Amodu as a person or as a coach.
My poblem is with Amodu being the Super Eagles coach.
I have watched Amodu as super Eagles coach and have never been confinced is technical know-how or technical-not-know how is for super Eagles stuff.

Just one game, though we ca't take it away from them, is not enough.
Many times i have seen Amodu totally lost and bereft of Ideas when it matters most.
What does he want to do now, that he failed to do in his previous spells?

For now, let's see how we can just scrample out a qualification ticket for 2010.
I have told myself i won't watch the Super Eagles if we qualify for the world cup and Amodu gets to take us there.

DON'T NEED A HEART BREAK!

Edwin Van Der Sar targets Scheichel's Records

Edwin Van der Sar believes if he maintains another clean sheet today it will be a very big warning to all title rivals especially Liverpool. Sir Alex Ferguson has put him on the same goalkeeping pedestal as Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel.

But while their abilities are comparable, Ferguson says the two could not be more different in style and personality. Whereas Schmeichel, who starred for United between 1991 and 1999, was Mr Mad and had frequent bust-ups with his defenders in his pursuit of defensive perfection, Van der Sar is Mr Cool, preferring composure to kicking backsides.

“They’re two different goalkeepers and it’s very difficult to compare,” said Ferguson.

“Peter was a fanatic goalkeeper who let his physical and emotional energies show. Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister [United’s central defenders in the early to mid-Nineties] got a terrible time off him. He would come out and give them a real rollocking and they would say, ‘Get back in goal you Danish so and so.’ When they really didn’t like him they called him German.

“Schmeichel made saves out of this world and his presence was so huge in major games. We never thought we’d get a keeper that would get anywhere near Schmeichel, but with Edwin we see a different type of keeper, a technician. He’s about concentration and composure, calming everyone around him. He never looks under pressure.”

Van der Sar has already broken Petr Cech’s Premier League record, Steve De’Ath’s all-time English league record and Bobby Clark’s all-time British (both the English and Scottish Leagues) record in a shut-out run that has lasted 1,212 minutes, stretching back to Sami Nasr’s goal in the 48th minute of United’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on November 8.

Eduardo Da Silva's First Post Injury Interview: "I will never watch that Video Again;

He is also dissapointed that till date, he is yet to hear from martin taylor who has failed to call him and apologize.

Eduardo Da Silva, Arsenal"s brazillian Born croatian striker returned to reconing after about a year of a gruesome injury courtesy Martin taylor of Birmingham. He has vowed never to see that video of what happened to him on that faithful day.
As Eduardo finished his lunchtime pizza in a homely North London restaurant, he declared: “I’ve never seen it, I don’t want to.
“I will NEVER watch a film of what happened at Birmingham when I was tackled.
“I never read a newspaper, I never watched a sports news bulletin, I never even logged on to the internet. I didn’t want to know anything about how my injury happened. It was a news blackout.”
Some over-the-top fans even sent death threats to Taylor because the injury to Eduardo was one of the worst ever witnessed.
The Brazil-born hitman, 25, added: “When I was discharged from hospital, I’d lay on my bed at home eating popcorn with my leg up in the air, watching film after film.
“I ate lots of popcorn as I watched a LOT of films — but that incident? No, never. I wasn’t even tempted.”

He added: “When I played against Cardiff in the FA Cup and scored twice the other night after so long out, I felt like I was reborn.
"On February 23 it will be exactly a year since my accident. I have gone through a lot of emotions and a lot of hard work but hearing the fans sing my name at The Emirates was a magical moment.
“Lots of people were talking and I heard someone say I could lose my foot. I wondered what they meant.
“I lay there, I didn’t even try to wriggle my toes, I forgot about the pain, I forgot about everything.
“At that moment, I was so uncertain of the future. I was gripped by fear. I was unsure of what would happen. Medics gave me pain relief, so much pain relief — morphine — that my head went a bit dizzy and I can remember holding on to the arm of our physio very tightly during the journey.
"Within an hour of reaching the hospital I was being prepared for my operation. The surgeon was fantastic, I’m told that he had worked a lot with soldiers who were injured during conflict.
“He put a metal plate in to help repair my fibula. That — and the screws holding it in place — will stay inside my leg for ever.
“The first person I saw when I came round after the surgery was my wife, Andreja. It was so good to see her face and at that precise moment I made a decision that I would be back playing football no matter what happened.
“Motivation to beat the injury came from Andreja, my daughter Lorena, my family and everyone who was helping me get over the injury.”
When Eduardo scored against Cardiff on Monday in the FA Cup game, he ran to the touchline and gave Arsenal fitness coach Tony Colbert a big bearhug.
The player explained: “Tony was there doing all the physical recovery work with me. He played a big part.
“But, in truth, when I scored I wanted to give EVERYONE a big hug. I wanted to hug everyone at Arsenal who had helped me. I wanted to hug the doctors who operated on me, the nurses who looked after me and, of course, all my family.
"It was a long haul back to fitness. After weeks in plaster I encased my ankle in a special plastic boot full of air pillows and even then I had to walk with crutches.
“The hardest part was going to training and seeing the rest of the squad running, laughing and joking, kicking a ball. I had to bide my time.
“I’ll never forget when I kicked a ball again for the first time. I was smiling, I really thought I’d be able to play a full match the following day.
“When I made my first tackle, I wasn’t nervous. I behaved as normal, as if nothing had happened to me.
“The boss Arsene Wenger was of course very good to me. And he was patient. I was never rushed.
“Before I played on Monday, I’d only played two reserve games but Mr Wenger knew I was eager and ready. He waited until five o’clock to tell me I’d be starting the match.
“Many things went through my mind but none of my thoughts were negative. When I walked out through the tunnel, it was the best feeling ever.
“And when I heard the crowd sing my name, it was special. The chants of ‘Eduardo, Eduardo’ meant I was back.”
The Croatian international is not also happy that up till this moment Martin Taylor is yet to call him and apologise.
Eduardo said: “Some friends told me he was saying he’d spoken to me — but he never did. I’ve never met him.
"And someone at Arsenal received an email from him when I played for the reserves at Barnet a short while back and it said he was pleased I was playing again.
“I have received lots of mail from other people. I’ve had around 25,000 emails — from Croatia, Brazil and England — wishing me a speedy recovery and I’ve had letters by the sackful.
"But he’s never sent anything directly to me.”
The Croatian star’s nightmare began last February when his leg and ankle were broken by Taylor’s red-card lunge during a league clash at St Andrew’s.
Taylor, 29, has always maintained he never set out to hurt Eduardo and says he was distraught at what happened.
Eduardo added: “I did not see the tackle coming, so there was no way I could ride the challenge because I was not expecting it. When I was tackled I heard a crack.
“All I can say was that I had the ball under control for what seemed like a long time.
“But I don’t want to talk about the incident. It’s probably best left alone now.”