It’s Zlatan the great!

By Glezos Alberganti, La Settimana Sportiva

A brace by Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed Inter’s last game at San Siro this year against a lively Atalanta side. Mourinho’s boys played one of the best games of the season, coming back in the second half. The Nerazzurri went ahead after 6 minutes thanks to Muntari, but Atalanta equalized four minutes later with Doni. After Ibra put Inter ahead again, the Orobici first equalized with Cigarini, then Doni turned a free kick into a magnificent goal. The fireworks came between the 79th and 81st minute, when Cambiasso and Ibra (with a sensational back heel) scored for a very entertaining 4-3 victory. It was the last game for Luis Figo: his future seems to be behind the desk at Inter headquarters. Zlatan Ibrahimovic crowned his best season in Italy with the top scorer title (25 goals), ahead of Bologna’s Marco Di Vaio and Genoa’s Diego Milito (both 24).

Rory Delap: One reason why the Euro champs wouldn’t reign in England

One further debate that has emerged since Manchester United “didn’t turn up” in the Stadio Olimpico, and the vertically challenged Spaniards, Iniesta and Xavi, stole the show in Rome, has been to question just how good this treble-winning Barcelona side really are. Not content to question how much they could dominate their own league, pundits have been considering how they would fare in the perceived, ‘best league in the world’ of the Premiership.

Although I won’t be watching it I will be taking a cheeky punt to fuel the flames to this burgeoning betting addiction I have going. I would say that it’s almost a certainty that Chelsea will win Saturday but you never know. Magic of the Cup and all that. Although this will mean much more for Everton and is just a consolation prize for the Chelsea boys but you still expect Chelsea to have too much for them. But its safe to say that I don’t expect a beautiful high technical mano-e-mano, two-men-enters-one-man-leaves match of pass and move and constant end to end sit on the edge of your seats football.

My beloved Everton team are heading to Wembley for the first time since 1995, we were underdogs then and won, let’s hope history repeats itself…

The topic, which is very apt being the end of the season, is transfers, notably the next lot of foreign contingent that will entertain us next season. Manchester City have already been linked to some of Europe’s big names, and that will continue over the coming months. So, I’d like to know who we would like to see grace our Premier League turf next season, it doesn’t matter where they are from. They can be a wonderkid, midfield maestro, defensive rock, or just someone with a personality that will light up our league once more next season. Why not include a manger in there too. Personally I’d like to see Jose back, but after signing his new contract I can’t see that happening…

Barcelona V Manchester United. Stadio Olimpico, Rome. KO 7:45

At last, the final we’ve all been waiting for, excluding Gooners, Kopites and Blues fans. Poor old Chelsea, never mind, you’ve still got the FA Cup on Saturday.

Most neutrals would agree that this is the final the world has waited for and I’m counting down the hours till I can get in the boozer and cheer on England, even though I love Barca. It wasn’t so a couple of weeks back when Chelsea and in particular Drog pi88ed me off so much that I actually cheered when Barca scored (although i was fired up big time for that game, i would have cheered either way).

Forget the Premier League, the Champions League & Britain’s Got Talent. There’s only one competition worth following and that’s Miss UK Football Finder 2009. With 6 of the 8 finalists already named May’s heat promises to be yet another close call.

Who will join the lovely Brandy, Leah, Keely, Sammy, Sarah & Faye in the grand final of the UK’s biggest and best comp on the internet?

Small club syndrome thrives – but Fulham break free

As the final whistle blew at Villa Park on Sunday, consigning Newcastle to the Championship, a familiar epidemic swept across the terraces at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland’s supporters, having just witnessed another pitiful defeat against a Chelsea team playing on autopilot, sung with glee and waved their home-made banners for the television cameras, as the news of their foes’ demise filtered through. What these supporters were suffering from was ‘Small Club Syndrome’. There is just the one symptom; taking pleasure from your rivals’ failure, in an attempt to cover up for your own shortcomings. It is the sister of that other deadly virus that can be found among football supporters, called Sour Grapes. Sunderland have been terrible this season, but no matter. They are the Premier League’s only surviving team in the north east, and for that we can allow them a small party, as they are by no means the worst sufferers.

After a week of speculations about Mourinho’s future, Serie A 2008-09
Champions Inter went to Cagliari for what looked almost like a training
session: the Nerazzurri lost 2-1, Ibrahimovic scored his 23rd goal in his
best season and then let mid table Cagliari run away with three deserved
points. Inter kept their 10-point gap in the table, as Juventus joined AC
Milan at second place. Juve won an easy game at Siena (3-0).

It’s impossible to see Manchester United relegated from the Premier League…well ever, especially if Sir Alex Ferguson can deliver more success and then can pick a worthy successor to take his place once he retires. United have been so thriving so much recently, that it’s difficult to imagine Ferguson letting the club’s owner Malcolm Glazer in having too much of a say in who succeeds him. Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, David Moyes, and Jose Mourinho all remain strong candidates for the coverted job which surely cannot be too far away now. The only reason Fergie strongly hinted at leaving in 2001 was because of United’s poor form in the league (in December 01 they were a lowly ninth in the Premiership) and admitted that his decision to pre- announce his retirement had had a “negative impact on his players.” Possibly one of the biggest mistakes he ever made (not counting signing Juan Sebastian Veron for £28.5 million) you can excuse him, as Sir Alex is a true managerial legend who will always be idolised in the world of football management.

This week we are introducing you to the gorgeous Tanita. Tanita is our favourite sexy South African lady who is a huge Birmingham supporter, and yes, she really is a nice South African! She loves going out and misbehaving. With Tanita…the fun never ends!