₦airaland Forum

Top 50
(1st June 2008 - 31st May 2009)

1 FC Barcelona 315,0
2 Manchester United FC 315,0
3 Chelsea FC London 276,0
4 Liverpool FC 248,0
5 Arsenal FC London 247,0
6 FC Shakhtyor Donetsk 245,5
7 Dinamo Kyiv 234,5
8 Club Estudiantes de La Plata 232,0
9 Hamburger SV 228,0
10 Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto-Alegrense 222,0
11 CA Boca Juniors Buenos Aires 218,0
12 Juventus FC Torino 215,0
13 FC Bayern München 211,0
14 SV Werder Bremen 210,0
15 São Paulo FC 199,0
16 SC Internacional Porto Alegre 198,0
17 Cruzeiro EC Belo Horizonte 193,0
18 FC Internazionale Milano 191,0
19 Manchester City FC 190,0
20 Olympique de Marseille 189,0
21 Udinese Calcio 187,0
22 Club Atlético de Madrid 185,0
23 SE Palmeiras São Paulo 184,0
24 FC do Porto 182,5
25 PFC CSKA Moscow 181,0
26 Gamba Osaka 178,5
27 Sporting Clube de Braga 175,5
28 Paris Saint-Germain FC 174,0
29 AS Roma 172,0
30 Villarreal CF 171,0
31 Panathinaikos AO Athens 169,0
32 Aston Villa FC 168,0
33 VfB Stuttgart 168,0
34 Club Libertad Asunción 165,0
35 Olympique Lyonnais 165,0
36 Milan AC 164,0
37 Stade Rennais FC 164,0
38 Sport Club Recife 163,0
39 Real Madrid CF 162,0
40 VfL Wolfsburg 162,0
41 Defensor Sporting Club Montevideo 162,0
42 Sevilla FC 158,0
43 FK Metalist Charkow 157,0
44 FC København 156,5
45 AC Firenze 156,0
46 Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña 156,0
47 Aalborg BK 156,0
48 Galatasaray SK İstanbul 155,5
49 Al-Ahly Cairo 155,5
50 Hertha BSC Berlin 154,0

what time (GMT) is the men finals

Human Traffic

The story was overshadowed somewhat by the Champions League final, but after the recent furore surrounding efforts to sign Carlos Tevez, attentive Manchester United fans may have been surprised to learn from one British newspaper that the club reached an agreement last month with a Brazilian agency to give them first refusal on any number of young Brazilians who - like Tevez - are registered not by their club, but by a company.


The company in question is already hugely influential in football, and given its line of business it has a very apt name - Traffic.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Tevez's signing was complicated by the fact he wasn't being bought from a club, but later, when it was revealed the club were prepared to pay the player's owner Kia Joorabchian the full asking price, chief executive David Gill said just the opposite.

Most fans, surely, would rather not go through the process again, and there won't be many fans of English sides who'd like to see their club try something similar. Why's this deal been done, then? And what exactly is Traffic?

The short answer to the second question is that Traffic is a football rights agency. It's been around for over 25 years, and has offices in São Paulo, New York and Amsterdam. As well as owning television rights to South America's biggest football events, it also moved into player ownership and set up a youth football club called Desportivo Brasil (it also owns Miami FC in the States). It's with Desportivo Brasil that Manchester United have officially linked up.

To the first question, the answer for Traffic is that it gives the company a guaranteed client to whom it can hawk its wares. It also benefits from the English giants' expertise - a statement written by United and released on both parties' websites says: "The [United] Academy will provide technical support to improve Desportivo's preparation of young players to optimise the chances that players from their club will excel when moving to Europe."

Manchester United have signed the deal ostensibly because they're excited "to be involved with such an innovative partnership that allows each club to glean knowledge from each other and so develop the future of football". Of course, there's something of a sweetener. If you think Anderson, Rodrigo Possebon and the Da Silva twins are going to be the last Brazilian youngsters United will be signing for the foreseeable future, you can think again.

The deal was signed in November 2008 but has gained prominence after reports last month in Brazil that United had agreed a €6m fee for Corinthians' 17-year-old left back Dodô, who's never made a first team appearance but was in the Brazil team which recently won the South American Under-17 championship.

Some in Brazil reckon Dodô will be re-trained to learn a centre back role for the future. He'll travel to Manchester to train for a couple of weeks with United every few months, in between which he'll continue to train with Corinthians' kids, in an effort to help him acclimatise slowly to life in England. Traffic will get 50% of the transfer fee for that deal.

Dodô aside, the agreement gives United first option on Desportivo Brasil's players. The academy is run by Carlos Alberto Parreira, the manager of the Brazil side which won the 1994 World Cup in the USA, and is home to around 120 teenagers. Traffic also owns the registrations of 90-odd players in the Brazilian top flight, and its name is connected with virtually every transfer rumour published in the Brazilian press.

The Desportivo Brasil deal will see United's scouting operations in Brazil become both significantly cheaper and simultaneously far wider-ranging than previously, whilst Traffic will retain a right to a percentage of any future transfer fee should a player later be sold on by United.

It's not only United who have dealings with Traffic - Liverpool goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri was acquired from the business, whilst the Merseysiders were also linked in the winter with Palmeiras striker Keirrison, though they'll have competition from the likes of Real Madrid and Milan if they're still going for him now. Traffic's entire business plan revolves around this; buying players' registrations from the clubs who've brought them up in order to profit from a later transfer to a European club.

To South Americans, this is nothing unusual. The Premier League were caught flat-footed by the issue of who held Carlos Tevez's registration back in 2007, but that was due to the lack of precedent in England. Whilst money going out of the game is undeniably a problem, the argument for the defence is that groups like Traffic and Joorabchian's former associates MSI allow South American clubs to survive by giving an injection of cash up front whilst allowing the players to stay with their current club - though in time, to aid a more lucrative transfer, they're likely to be moved to a more 'visible' team. Keirrison for instance was moved from Coritiba (who retain a stake in his registration) to Palmeiras (who don't) in December.

There's no question of any FIFA rules being broken, though. Desportivo Brasil are a real club, sending sides to youth tournaments around the world - United's deal is specifically with the club rather than with Traffic as the holding company, and Traffic's interest is purely economic. It never tried to exert a 'third party influence' over players.

English football might only just be starting to come to terms with an ownership structure Latin America has been familiar with for some time now, but it's here to stay and, with the current economic climate surrounding the British pound and debts in the Premier League, who's to say it won't one day creep into the English game?

Manchester United youth players one day being sent to economically more powerful clubs in South America or Asia?
Well, maybe not. But in one direction at least, transatlantic Traffic is here to stay.


http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=652757&sec=england&root=england&cc=5901

@ Ogazi,

Pep has done well oh, no doubts but seasons back. . . . . Rjikaard was the best coach on planet earth, where is he now

Do not bring about this man's downfall at this his early age oh. . . . . sometimes, success puts more pressure on a coach than failure oh - the higher the expectations, the higher the likelihood of failure!

The man is yet to face challenges oh - what he saw in the UCL semi-final against chelsea was just a tip of the iceberg. . . . . . in years to come, we'll know if he can take the heat.

@dayo,

In other words, you're insinuating that the Germans have the best attack in club football. . . . . so whats wrong with logic that the French have the best defences

Its pretty annoying. . . . . anyways, Eto'o is a good striker; as long as he doesn't go to Inter, he'll do very well.

dayokanu:
Why is Hamburg in number 8 and why is Bremen or Bayern not in top 10.

Thanks

they certainly haven't done anything to merit being up thats for sure!

I hardly think UTD is in danger of going bankrupt or being crippled by debt anytime soon.

Sauron has put out a lot of salient points that some have simply refused to accept.

The truth is, debts do not in necessarily signify the dearth of a business. What does, most often than not, is the profitability level of that business entity - now ask yourself, why would the banks or financial institutions that sink money into MUFC if they know they don't stand a chance of getting the money back
MUFC is one the world's best selling brands at the moment and thats why the investment money keeps coming in.

MrCrackles:
On Ibrahimovic sounding out Barca, who wont wanna play for Barca?!

Not that. . . . its Eto'o i'm concerned about - if he goes to Inter, i fear for his career under JM.

I'll really be pissed at Pep & the Barca legion - this is no way to repay a man who has given his all to em!
Pretty sure Pep never really liked Eto'o.

Top Ten IFFHS Club World Ranking (June 1, 2008-May 31, 2009)

*Previous ranking in brackets

1. (1.) Manchester United (England) – 315 pts. | (2.) Barcelona (Spain) – 315 points  *tied in first position

3. (3.) Chelsea (England) – 276 pts.

4. (6.) Liverpool (England) – 248 pts.

5. (5.) Arsenal (England) – 247 pts.

6. (10.) Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) – 245.5 pts.

7. (7.) Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine) – 234.5 pts.

8. (11.) Estudiantes (Argentina) – 232 pts.

9. (8.) Hamburger SV (Germany) – 228 pts.

10. (16.) Gremio (Brazil) – 222 pts.

biina:
Juventus Prepare To Sell After Diego, Cannavaro & D'Agostino Arrivals

The Bianconeri have already signed defender Fabio Cannavaro from Real Madrid, midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino from Udinese and playmaker Diego from Werder Bremen.
On the other hand Trezeguet, Tiago, Christian Poulsen and Mauro Camoranesi will all be sold if the right offer comes along,
http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/06/06/1308270/juventus-prepare-to-sell-after-diego-cannavaro-dagostino

Now. . . . . this is a team that means bizness!

biina:
Ibrahimovic keen on Barca move

Internazionale striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic would welcome a move to Barcelona, his agent said following reports the clubs were discussing a deal.
Sweden's Ibrahimovic, Serie A's top scorer last term, has expressed his frustration at champions Inter and would like a new challenge.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05062009/58/la-liga-ibrahimovic-keen-barca-move.html

seems Eto is on his way out!?
[img width=216 height=182]http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/soccer/photos/Ibrahimovic.jpg[/img] [img width=136 height=182]http://goonersworld.files./2008/06/samuel-etoo.jpg[/img]

I'll hate Barca till the day I die if this ever turns out to be true

It was quite a massive s/final performance from all the players - kudos to em all they made it quite a joy for us to watch.

Didn't get to see much of the first but saw quite a lot of the second.

I thot Del Potro just lost some belief in himself latter stages of that game - the guy played brilliantly in the first three sets.
Dunno if it was fatigue, but the way he served towards the tail end of the game was a big part of his undoing - he seemed to straining to hit the ball after tossing it in the air and two consecutive unforced errors gave Fed some easy leeway to a massive advantage.
He was too far deep in his half of the court and never tried to attack the net.

Fed wasn't at his very best, but was good enough - the technique of his shots was a marvel - you could see he played em in such a way that there wouldn't be much of an angle for Del Potro's returns and he wouldn't have to scamper or strain to reach em.

Quite fascinating contest that!

Some glimmer of spark seems to be returning to the men's game again!

Well. . . . since my favorite is out - i put my money on a fairy tale ending!

Swiss vs Swede in Paris

Bizarre mix

But I dare to say i don't think the average goal per game tells an awful lot about the standard of play - the Ligue 1 for instance - i think the stats are a bit harsh on em, they do have fantastic teams that produce eye-catching football.

mukina2:
Eyo
are you high on something?

Hemp take ur time oh
you know me well well

muki do not desecrecate we thread oh. . . . . .

@ toxicguy,

Liverpool improved this season and UTD didn't ----- how so

@ topic,

Torres might, doubtably be the better ball player but when we speak in terms of the primary role of a striker - which happens to be sticking the ball in the back of the opposition's net legitimately as many times as possible in a game - I don't think he or even villa can hold a candle up to Eto'o!

The Daily Mail claims that Chelsea will offer a ridiculous £17m for Liverpool target Glen Johnson.

The biggest banter in today's British newspapers is the potential for a mouth-watering strike partnership at Manchester City. Carlos Tevez and Samuel Eto'o to form a dream £50m strike partnership for Manchester City (The Mirror, The Times).
Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitted: "The market is very dynamic and there could be surprises. (Eto'o) is a wanted man and we know he'll receive offers". Diego Forlan has also been linked with a move to Eastlands.

Alan Smith could join Blackburn from relegated Newcastle for £2.5m (The Sun), while Toon defender Fabricio Coloccini could be offered a route out of Championship hell and into the Champions League with Fiorentina interested (Newcastle Daily Chronicle).

Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura is set for a Bosman move to Espanyol (Scottish Daily Record)

"Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was last night on the verge of sealing a £10 million deal for Ajax star Thomas Vermaelen", according to The Sun. The 23-year-old defender has been with Ajax for his entire professional career, and his signing could free up Kolo Toure for a move to Manchester City.

akinalabi:
He should be applauded for what he has done this season. Whether he
will turn out to be a great manager in years to come is another debate
entirely.

Quite correct. . . . . .

"Honestly I think I lost because of me and not because of anything she did," Serena said.

"In the third I had an opportunity and I got really tight, and I pretty much gave it to her. It was like, Here, do you want to go to the semis? Because I don't. She was like, Okay."

An excerpt from Serena's interview after her loss. . . . . . ridiculous! Just admit it girl, you were out-thought, outfoxed and outclassed - Serena seems to think tennis is all about the muscles.

You should'a seen Kuznetsova - she was brilliant. . . . . stunning crosscourt smashes and good, strong fore-hand shots!