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Stall : Sweet Home Alabama
Soon as oil tycoon Sheikh bought the Man City, he signalled his arrival with a big-money move of Robinho, Chelsea's long target. He also ensured that City is going to challenge for the title and competing in Champions League in 3 years time, and burdened Mark Hughes' shoulder to fulfill his dream. Till January transfer window opened about a month ago, City is competing to survive in Premier League, with fellow strugglers like West Brom, Middlesborough, and others. But what makes City different from others is that how they maximizingly used the windows. Starting with the Kaka, and purchasing of big names, in order to climb the table away from the bottom three. Still, they cannot find the balance of the squad, significantly when they lost to 10-men Stoke. Why is this happening?
When we look at the top of the table, our eyes will directly focus on the new Big Four, Aston Villa. Currently 3rd, a place above Chelsea, they are in the hat of the title for this season. And this definitely is when you look at the depth and the balance of the squad. Luke Young, Zat Knight, Curtis Davies, Nicky Shorey, James Milner, Steve Sidwell, Gareth Barry, Ahley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Martin O'Neil can field a squad of 9 English players! And that is how he found the depth of his squad. Look at Man Utd. Built with a base of Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney, and the future of talented youngsters of Danny Welbeck and others, that is why they are the champion of the planet. Barcelona and Bayern Munich are other examples of local-based clubs that achieved success. And it is possible for Aston Villa to achieve the same. Combination of foreign and local, and experienced and young, they are building team for the future. Man City? They try to buy success, which you never get any price to buy one. Even Chelsea, who did the same technique, used the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole. Money can't buy me love. Ask John Lennon. Or any Chelsea fans. Martin O'Neil are trying to buy Michael Johnson and Daniel Sturridge, in order to have a really strong English-based squad. Are we going to see England-Aston Villa team, where Aston Villa will represent England for 2010 World Cup? Haha. It's the Italian job.
That's why, Arsenal never taste the success, and so do Man City. But there is a situation where 100% is local, but never taste success for the past 20 years.
Stall : Malaysia?
Stall: History is his story.
5-0. Set. The result for last night match against West Brom has several story to tell about. And the greatest is about Man United set up a new record for longest clean sheet in Premier League. They broke Chelsea's 1025 minutes without conceding a single goal during 2004-2005 season, where they claimed the memorable title under new man Jose Mourinho. But that was in the past. And now, Man United, holding the longest clean sheet in 11 successive matches, are favourite to defend their title for the third time.
There is also great story about the man between the post itself. Edwin Van Der Sar is the favourite for golden glove this season with 15 clean sheet, 11 in successive. It is a great for the big man, to have the peakest of his career towards the end. Undoubtfully, he is a fantastic goalkeeper. You are a great one to be consider as successor for legendary giant Danish Peter Schmeichel, as the man himself spoke personally to Sir Alex Ferguson about signing Van Der Sar several times.
It is another great story to hold a record in anything related with clean sheet, as it is harder than goalscoring. You can score a few goals in a match to increase your tally, but for clean sheet, once you conceded any minute in the 90-minute, you have to wait for next match. And to hold on without conceding,(the last man to ever score against Van Der Sar in Premiership was Samir Nasri when Arsenal beat Man United at Emirates,2-1), is something unbelieveable.
Nemanja Vidic is another indispensible member during the record-breaking period. He involved in all 11 matches, and his contribution was amazing. Whether it is Ferdinand, Evans or even Neville, he did the giant works brilliantly. United also holding the record with story about the back four. For several occasions, they are not the first-choice back four, due to injuries and suspension. Rafael, a Brazilian 18-years-old teenager also is a story, until he picked up his injury. The emergence of young Johny Evans also make absence of Rio Ferdinand seems forgotten, and also until his injury.
In a meantime, United created the record with a unique goalscoring. They started their run of clean sheet with 5-0 win over Stoke City, and the record broke with the same score, at West Brom. Amazing? But along the period, they never score more than a single goal! Wins over Manchester rival City, Sunderland, Stoke, Middlesborough, Wigan and Bolton all with single goal. It was only memorable win over Chelsea where Man United won with 3 goals.
And unarguably, Man United are leading for the title chase, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa throwing themselves in the hat for title hunt. Yes, Aston Villa!
Stall: Malaysia?
