ritchboy:

and you are conveniently forgetting A. they play for a bigger/more successful club, B. play inthe local league,  C. do not play the same position as Cesc.

Through the major arteries of Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets and, above all, Andres Iniesta, he circulates the ball with his supernatural sense of the subtle shifts in space unfolding across the whole pitch. Stop him and you stop Spain.

Easier said than done. No player has completed more passes at this World Cup (513: just think about that for a moment) and against Holland at Soccer City this evening he will be at it again, demanding the ball and pinging it one way then another, patiently probing the defensive screen for even the merest crack.

That he does not perform tricks or have the pace and power to burst past players has meant he is often neglected when the subject of the best player in the world is raised. Two years ago, when he took the stage with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres in Geneva at the Fifa World Player of the Year gala, he was considered an afterthought, a choice for the pedant or the self-conscious connoisseur.

Xavi's way has triumphed, though. He may be just 5ft 7in with a curiously hunched gait but no player more influences the way his whole team plays. He doesn't score, doesn't really tackle: he just passes and passes with a precision and wit unmatched by any of his peers. There are many different types of courage on the football field but there is as much bravery in holding your nerve under pressure like this as there is in hurling yourself into a defensive diving header.

toba:

were the duo mensurating when Spain was r.aped by the swiss?

U cant compare the opponents that faced Germany with those of the Spaniards. Germany faced world class teams on the way to the semi.

Thank God schweini won MOTM. 'at all at all na in bad'

ritchboy:

Busquests fit raise 10?  

and Jesus Ritchboy said man midfielders shall not live be judged by bread passing alone  
the funny thing is Iniesta is a pass-master himself. . . + his pace, dribbling, technique & finishing are light-years ahead of Xavi's!!

Iniesta is the best midfielder in the solar system, FACT!!!

Of course Xavi would start ahead of Cesc for Spain cos of all the politics involved in national teams that act as tie-breakers for players of similar ability, namely:

A. Age -  the older players get the nod
B. League - Playing in the local(La Liga) league is a massive advantage
C. Team - Playing for a bigger team

Xavi has all that over Cesc. . . If Cesc is 30 and plays for Barca and Xavi is 23 and plays for Arsenal, it's a no-brainer Xavi would be the one sitting on the bench for Spain!!!

ritchboy:

Iniesta!!!!!!!!!!
come to think of it, is Xavi better than Cesc? Me thinks not.

Without doubt, Xavi is the best deep lying playmaker i have ever seen. . . definitely not the best midfielder overall.

Ibime:

Where were DSTV boys when Baraja and Albelda were sodomising Zidane week in, week out?

Big B1:

General Ibrahim B. Babangida (rtd) is the only aspirant that can solve the problems of this country whether economic, political, social or tribal.

The word IBB has been a misunderstood name for sometime In the political context of Nigeria. This gentleman, the former President and retired General has been vilified in some quarters because he has made known his intention to contest the 2011 general elections as elected President.

But what those who criticize him unfairly do not know is that General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) is mortal. He has never claimed to know all. As mortals, we make mistakes and amend. A close study indicates that the states-man after leaving office seventeen years ago has immersed himself into wide reading. That is symbolical and synonymous with learning all over again.

If we look back with a reasonable mind, when he stepped into office in 1985 and stepped aside in 1993, a period of about nine years, he did so many things that gave the country a good footing. One, he did away with the tyranny and dictatorship before him. General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) is a listener. Any person that is a reader is a leader and listener. He was and still a listener. He carried everyone along and when a member of his cabinet didn’t perform, he was removed. His structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) that was introduced during his administration was not meant to punish the people as some speculated and assumed.

1. On the June 12 election of 1993, he has several times said, it was collective decision of the Army Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) and not individual decision. Many Personalities and those who participated in that Government has spoken in the media of how some meddled and insisted the election be annulled.

To the economic growth and developments measures in all sectors – he introduced short time policies like the establishment of National Directorate of Employment (NDE) which is still existing and skimming the unemployed youth in our midst. When he comes back, this Directorate would be improved upon. There was the Directorate of Food, Road and Rural Infrastructure. This, too has assumed a new name under the present Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Infrastructure of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Peoples and Community Banks were established which helped alleviate problems of finances at the grassroots. Nigeria will certainly improve under a new Leadership of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd). Nigeria will witness a new lease of life. His vast experience will unfold new economic blue print that will salvage Nigeria from economic doldrums. Once bitten, twice shy they say. He is calculative and when he must have assumed Leadership next year, he will be able, like he did before to collect more energetic, virile, sound intellectuals, who can change the course of things.

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) needs forgiveness and understanding from all Nigerians.

As for his comments on the youth, I believe he must have been misquoted. Since he spoke in Hausa on that British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Programme, many thought, he was castigating the youth. No! he said, youth should sit up more than what they are now to take over the Leadership and face the challenges. In Nigerian politics, there is always blackmail, this is one of them. After all, were the youth not those who participated in the IBB regime as Military administrators and ministers and touched the world?

2. Additionally, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) has the right under the Nigerian constitution to contest and be elected for, he has no criminal record, as far as I know and this is my rightful opinion.

Therefore, my view is that Nigerians and all Nigerians should stand up and support him. In old France, USA and Russia, history has it that retired Generals made more impact in governance, when elected into office, because of their training of discipline. Civilians were/ and more loose and Tended to see democracy as Jamboree, extravagance and a way to make money.

Today, our desire as concerned citizens is to see the country move forward. The vast network, the connections, the vast experience, the lessons, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) has gathered are assets, he will use to put the nation on the right path. Nigerians should not be deceived by June 12 and other mistakes made in the past. The man has adjusted and with the tragic blow he suffered, when he lost his life time partner, what a greater lesson, that life is not permanent.

General Ibrahim B. Babangida (rtd) is the only aspirant that can solve the problems of this country whether economic, political, social or tribal. We must fall back on his past to re-adjust the future. Let us mobilize ourselves, galvanize each other for IBB for President. His option A4 and two-party system have been recurring issues for debate in recent times. These two alone show how the man was visionary and focused. Next year, when he elected, he will build on these.


http://www.ngex.com

ritchboy:

How can Xavi be the best central midfielder ever when he's not even the best as we speak??

dayokanu:

You can also say the World champions were assaulted by Switzerland

toba:

Germany had a set back agaist serbia, but all their remaining matches were brilliant. What of spain? swit, paraguay
and chile matches were fluke. Did they score more than one goal in 5 matches? can they match Germany's brilliance against Austrialia, Almighty England and Argentina?

Upon all sneijder didnt match the brilliance of schweini in the just concluded W/C

Thats a lie check your facts before posting

Ibime:

Dem no born some people well to be comparing Schweinsteiger to Xavi.

Iniesta sef go tell you say Xavi na im father.

Xavi is way more effective than Iniesta. Xavi cops 25 assists per season whilst Iniesta cops 3 or 4. He scores 8 goals a season whilst Iniesta scores 3 or 4.

Can Iniesta or Schweini control possession like Xavi? Dem no born them well.

Xavi is the best central midfielder Ive ever seen. . . and that includes Zidane!

Ibime:

What has Zidane done that Xavi hasnt done?

Abegi, make we hear word!

If they face each other in midfield, Zidane would not even get possession of the ball. Xavi is too quick and too fit for him. Xavi level of consistency is beyond Zidane.

Abeg, make una go ask Ruben Baraja and David Albelda who be midfield baba for La Liga. . . . since they always dominated Zidane and co in La Liga.

dayokanu:

Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER
Midfielder
has been elected
MAN OF THE MATCH

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=249718/match=300061505/index.html

GUFFANTI, You don start again

cold:

So I just came across this article on sandrarose.com and I have to say I didn’t see this one coming.Apparently rumors have been swirling that Halle plays for the other team and she has finally come out of the closet.

Here’s what they’re saying:

Halle’s new lady is her “personal assistant” which is a euphemism for lesbian partner or significant other on her payroll. The two ladies were spotted inside Kinkos sitting closerthanthis. Her butch assistant sat with one foot on Halle’s chair in a typical lesbian c**k blocking/possessive posture.

Both ladies were dressed in the usual lesbian gear: grey jeans, black leather biker jackets, hoodies and boots. And they both looked hard so it was difficult to tell who was the top. Although I’m going to guess it’s Halle.

And to think i had such high hopes *smh* lol.

Iyineda:


There.

You just lost all credibility with that one word. Right there.

toba:

Including the nonsense they played against swit, chile and paraguay yet 'they were brilliant since day one' i just cant help but laugh

Is that all? he did just that and hes better than schweinsteiger? schweini was brilliant from day one compare his assists to that of sneijder and lets see who came out tops from the world cup

toba:

Story story
The fact remains they were shorlisted ahead of van bommel& no one during the world cup questioned the decisions of the panel except u that is trying to do so after the w/c. Was it not just in the semi final that spain picked up? did spain played any good football prior to the semi? Even ghana had a better first part of wc than spain winnig one nil in most games

In terms of mid field control, winning balls, passes and distribution etc schweinsteiger was better than sneijder by far. The difference was in goal scoring which gives schweini little edge no?

davidif:

Is there anybody suffering from World Cup withdrawal symptoms yet? One of the reasons i hate the World Cup is that it builds up for over 2 years (when the qualifiers start) then gets to the climax and suddenly just as it started it ends and you have to wait a WHOLE MONTH for the premiership to start again. To make matters worse, the next one feels like an eternity away leaving us football fans feeling so sad, lonely, empty and anxious for the new season.

toba:

why was van bommel not shorlisted for the golden ball like ozil and schweinsteiger?

same qusetion why were the duo shortlisted for the most sort after award in any world cup event if it was only muller that was outstanding out of the entire German squad?

jalether:

You are not alone on the bolded

I have missed those days when you could always bet on fixtures such as Brazil vs Holland to produce a spectacle

sadly those days are virtually over. nowadays, watching paintings on the wall can be more entertaining than some/most football matches

toba:

eya sorry o

The van bommel that u picked was also better than Ozil and Schweini?

And Ramos or Contreao was also better than lahm?

chamotex:

Is it not the same Cesc Fabregas? Or is there another Fabregas I dont know about?
Arsenal cannot finish above United and Chelsea at the end of the season . . . . it's almost impossible!

dayokanu:

1986 was the year of Maradona, Every other person Rummenigge, Mathaus, Voller, laudrup come below him.

1986 was the year Steau Bucharest won the CL and I cant see any name from Steau Bucharest here , Even I only knew Lacatus played for Steau in 1990 world cup while playing Cameroun

chamotex:

What is with all the fuss about Cesc?

Cesc staying or leaving is irrelevant . . . .Arsenal WILL still end up TROPHYLESS!!!
What difference does it make?

Beaf:

^
It can't be so difficult for you to provide references to back up your self flagellating assertions, or is it just because you have none?

toba:

Im sure u know your squad is very faulty

dayokanu:

Imagine all these Haruna Jagbajantis of Red star Belgrade Are those footballers or military dictators?

Kobojunkie:

But but hold up . . . are the pictures really bad? I remember envying kids like these when I was but a wee one myself. I am not saying they have the best time on those things and yes, safety should be made priority. But I doubt it is only in poor regions of the world that kids go to school by boat. Yes, this is not so good . . . but it is sort of cool that they would go this far to get an education.

Beaf:

Botnets are much more dangerous and generate zillions of times more dosh than anything some desperate dan 419er can ever muster from an internet cafe. 80% of spam is sent by botnets. Botnets are owned by organised crime gangs (mainly in the US, Russia), Botnets are used to attack sovereign nations. . . Can you see how you miss the bigger picture to whip yourself raw as the Worlds email fraud capital?
Isn't something missing in you? I think it is a gaping hole were your identity and pride in it should be.

Stop being funny and remember you brought up the email thing to whip yourself with, after calling Nigeria a useless country.
I have simply provided you with facts and figures to prove that, as far as email scams or spamming goes, Nigeria is very far from being the worst country, only to make you so angry and dish out abuse rather than counter-logic. Its the sort of thing massa wants, it frees their whip hand, while some of us do the job ourselves.