Is the Samba the flavour of the Transfer frenzy?

At the end of every season, teams do a post mortem of some sorts on their team roaster; managers take stock of what went wrong or right about the just concluded season with a view at deciding where they need to add value or get rid of the dead weight within their respective squads.

In some cases, its the board that decides what direction their teams need to take, maybe the team needs a new man at the helm or they need to extend the current manager's contract and how active they intend to be in the market. All in all, the transfer market is filled with intrigues from month to month whilst the transfer window is open.

The transfer market this time around seems to be centered around the crop of young Brazilians lighting up the Brazilian league with some of them looking to seize Brazil its first Olympic Gold medal in football. As it has become the norm Neymar is hardly off the transfer headlines, however; the current transfer pneumonia been suffered by Real Madrid and Barcelona may result in him remaining with Santos for some time. However, a number of Brazilian youngsters have grabbed the headlines with moves to some of Europe's top teams with some of the more experienced lads ensuring they are not left out; we look at the Brazilians that are dominating the transfer talks, rumours and those that have eventually made moves to some of Europe's marquee teams.

Thiago Silva

Who else would I start with but, Thiago Silva arguably the best defender in the world on current form; definitely for him to leave Milan it had to cost an arm and a leg especially with the financial state Milan are in. 


The Arabs are leading the way in the transfer market and it had to be the Qataris at PSG that would be able to stump up the cash for such an accomplished defender. Watch out for PSG in the Champions League.

Dante Bonfim Costa Santos

One of the leading lights in Borussia Monchegladbach's return to previously familiar surroundings, 


qualification for the Champions League has not guaranteed the club will be able to keep its top performers; Dante follows Marco Reus through the Gladbach transfer door to join the most successful club in Germany; Bayern Munich, Dante's move to a big club was only a matter of time.

With the more experienced heads out of the way, we take a look at the youngsters bringing the Samba beat to the big European stage, how they would fare is a major concern.

Mario Fernandes

CSKA Moscow splashed a reported 15 Million Euros on the highly rated defender, tagged the new Lucio, a huge comparism taking into consideration  the achievements of Lucio. 


Fernandes is renowned for his accurate long passes and great aerial ability. 
My major concern for him is his unstable personal life; he was reported missing sometime ago in Brazil and also turned down a call up to the Brazilian National team for personal reasons; he may just get homesick and find Moscow difficult to adapt to, his footballing abilities have never been in doubt, but he needs to sort out his personal life.

Oscar




Chelsea continued their spending frenzy  by signing versatile Brazilian playmaker Oscar, who can play in numerous attacking positions. He is highly rated and it took 25Million reasons for Internacional to let him go, Oscar is in line with Chelsea's desire to freshen up their otherwise aging squad. I think the major worry with this signing is where exactly he fits in in the Chelsea midfield or in attack. As customary, Chelsea will  play 4-3-3; now the front three will interestingly in my opinion be Torres, Mata (if Di Matteo decides to play him that high up), Hazard and Marin; now i know a lot of Chelsea fans would give me stick for this, but then you really cannot blame me because i like most people have seen very little of Oscar and i do not know if he will be able to break the existing midfield trio or quartet of Lampard, Mikel, Ramires and Meirelles (note i did not even mention Essien). Obviously from what i have seen in Brazil's warm games for the Olympics and their first game; Oscar is a great signing; however my concern lies in will he settle down well, will he be willing to bid his time to break into the established Chelsea structure and life in London.

Lucas Piazon



Now this is a player i really like, dubbed the new Kaka; Chelsea splashed £8Million pounds on him a year ago, although he joined the Blues in January; he is expected to make his way into the first team in his first full season. In my opinion, his best position is just behind the striker, in the hole and can also play as a false nine as well; this guy is waiting to explode unto the scene, its now left to see if Chelsea are ready for this young dynamite from Sao Paulo.

After reviewing those Brazilians that have completed moves to Europe, we also look at those that are rumoured to be on their way to Europe or to the bigger European leagues and the likelihood of them happening.

Willian


Chelsea have been interested in the Shaktar Donesk playmaker for quite a while now, but i do not see this deal going through especially with the investments Chelsea have made recently.


 However, Spurs seems to be interested and willing to hijack Chelsea's interest, but a lot will depend on the Modric situation for this deal to go through in my opinion.

Ganso



Arsenal seem keen on Ganso and the Santos President admitted recently that he may leave, now Milan had flirted with Ganso in the past, but now their interest seems to have gone cold. My question is will Arsene Wenger be willing to put down the kind of bid that would attract a young Brazilian talent, more so, there's rumoured interest from Internacional as a replacement for Oscar. I think he will still be in Brazil by the close of the window.

Leandro Damiao


Another from the Internacional conveyor belt, he's been rumoured to be on the radar of Spurs for sometime now; currently in London for the Olympics to showcase his talent. In some quarters he has been tagged the new Ronaldo, living up to that tag is still yet to be seen.

Thiago Moura

Manchester United seem determined to land Thiago, the 19 year old is highly rated and its quite a surprise why United are so keen on him. Yes, United's team needs freshen up, but the consensus view is that it is on other departments and not in attacking midfield. 


The Prices been quoted for this untested youngster is quite alarming considering the experience United have had in the past with players from South America, undoubtedly, he is a great talent, he's transfer to United is more 50/50 than anything as United would want to make a deal at the right price and not at the agent's supposed price. 


Conclusion

Traditionally, Brazilians coming to Europe perform better in the warmer climes of Portugal, Spain and Italy, however the Samba beats have found it a little bit difficult in the cold climes of the British Isles yes there have been some exceptions, but South Americans generally have struggled in England and this is my major worry for those heading for the Premiership especially with the prices been quoted; pretty scary.

Please note

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Adeyemi Adesanya 

Follow @yemimanutd

Tactics IQ Limited

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Born on the Offside trap

Form is temporary, Class is permanent they say; in varying degrees this is true. Many a years have gone bye with the world of football been blessed with different classes and types of forwards or strikers as they are known in some quarters, some teams have even brought about a revolution playing without strikers; Roma under Spaletti are in most quarters credited with this but Spain's Euro 2012 team took it to another level.

All in all the game would not be the same with out strikers; from your inside forwards, to your lone strikers, to your deadly duos, to the leggy speedy strikers, to the low center of gravity type strikers, to the fox in the box types, we have seen them all and come to love them all, they's no greater feeling in the world than when the striker hits it hard into the auld onion bag.

I do not know how many strikers were born in 1973, but i only know one that was born on August 9, 1973; none other than the ever graceful and full of life Filippo Inzaghi, one of the greatest strikers of his generation.

Career Path


The twilight of Filippo Inzaghi was spent at Milan as we all know, it was his ability to adapt to the adversities of numerous younger strikers been signed by the club and been able to remain relevant and part of the first team for eleven years is quite an amazing feat. He had to cope with the signings of Ronaldo de Lima, Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato, Zlatan Ibrahimovic; just approaching all this like a true professional. At Milan, Inzaghi is a demi god, he is 6th on the all time scorer's table for Milan with 126 goals in 300 games; with 73 goals in 202 Serie A matches; he is however Milan's all time leading goalscorer in European competitions with 43 goals in 78 European/international matches.

Pippo, as he is fondly called by all and sundry did not begin his career in the big leagues or the big lights; he had humble beginnings with Piacenza as a youngster and loan spells at Leffe and Verona until the big time came calling by way of  Parma who he scored only twice for with one of such goals against his childhood club Piacenza which made him cry. Atalanta came calling after a season at Parma, where he also spent a season by finishing as the Capocannoniere (which is the Pichichi in Spain or Golden Boot winner in plain english)  scoring  24 goals in  the 96/97 season (scored against every team in the League), before the Old Lady decided to sing at her highest tune for Inzaghi's services.It was at Juventus that I personally fell in love with the great Pippo, his sheer brilliance and finishing qualities fully came to world prominence.


 At the Old Lady, Inzaghi started creating records; becoming the first player to score two hat tricks in the Champions League and lead Juve to a scudetto in his first season. Filippo Inzaghi is definitely a Juventus legend with 58goals in 122games in Serie A and 89goals in 165 games in all competions; this is a very good return of a goal in every 2 games. The rise and signing of David Trezeguet proved to be his Achilles heel and led to his departure to Milan, where his start was somewhat slow, but then formed a very dynamic partnership with Andriy Shevchenko for five productive years. Despite repeated battles with knee injuries, Pippo always came back stronger, installing himself in Milan history and folklore with his two goals in the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2007 with a Serie A record of 10 hat tricks. Impressive? Mos def.


His European Record
If ever there's a striker you would love to be ahead of Pippo Inzaghi on the European scoring record chat, its the great Raul, Inzaghi is only second to Raul with 70 goals whilst Raul leads the table with 77 goals.


Inzaghi is one of only three individuals to have scored three hat tricks in the champions league; the others been Micheal Owen and Lionel Messi. Inzaghi has the privilege of been crowned champion of europe twice with Milan in 2003 and 2007, with the 2007 final his most memorable; he is also the first European to score in all competitions available for Europeans to participate in. At National team level, he is a proud World Cup winner with the Azzurris in 2006 with an enviable record of 25goals in 57 games for his nation.


His Style


 Filippo Inzaghi could be termed as a goal poacher personified, as the long standing argument continues on if  great players are born or made; Pippo Inzaghi was definitely born on August 9, 1973 right there on the offside trap (hence the title of this piece). You sit calmly in you chair watching an attack develop from the defense, progressing gradually across Midfield next thing you know a defense splitting pass is made; what you see is either Pippo Inzaghi one on one with the goalie or the goalie himself picking the ball from the back of his own net and then comes the celebration of a man that had never scored before in his entire career. These are the characteristics if the great Pippo Inzaghi, one minute you see him offside, the next the balls in the net and he goes on celebrating like a mad man just released from the mental home.



His record 10 hat tricks in Serie A are all adjudged (however debately) offside, a master finisher with superb movement off the ball, yes he may have been found offside more often than any other striker in the game and may also have  been offside for a number of his goals; it doesn't take anything away from him as a supremely gifted goal poacher. He wore the jersey of whatever team he played for with pride and always gave a 120%.

Offside or not, his qualities of been able to stand off the shoulder of the last defender are yet to be equalled by anyone, he was quite good in the air and had the knack of been in the right place at the right time always, the Hall mark of a truly Legendary predatory finisher. Lets take nothing away from him, there will never be another striker like the great Pippo Inzaghi.

My best Memory of Pippo Inzaghi

His two well taken goals against Liverpool in the Champions League final of 2007 after a tough time with knee injury to lead Milan to their 7th Champions League title. The celebrations as always was typical Inzaghi.

Conclusion


A lot had been written in the past about the great career of Pippo Inzaghi, upon deciding to pay this tribute, I found a number of other articles written on the Legend in question; I could not have come up with my Ode to Inzaghi without the help of these previously written articles (too numerous to mention) and as always Wikipedia is always on hand to help with the stats. I say a Big Thank you.

Please note


Tactics IQ Soccer Fiesta 4 is just less than a month away, do not miss out on the biggest summer football Party on this side of the world, for team registration,adverts and sponsorship details, please follow @Tacticsiq and contact @tweettimi and @seyimanu on twitter or visit our website www.tacticsiq.com and drop us a line or two or call 08188876613, 08023507006.

Adeyemi Adesanya 

Follow @yemimanutd

Tactics IQ Limited

We appreciate your thoughts and comments on all our blog posts, please keep them coming….

Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/tacticsiq

Like the page on facebook: www.facebook.com/tacticsiqlimited