Welcome to the Shia Sports Blog!

Written by Judge K

 

There have been many moments in sporting history that will remain with us forever. There have been moments that most of us will forget, but with the decade now just a number in the shadow that is the past, we can appreciate just some of the beauty that it has bought us.

There has been a super bowl that had just under 100 million viewers, we had a man who crushed both 100m and 200m using his name to ensure that this phenomenon was seen around the world (Bolt – Lighting?), we have seen an invincible team survive a whole season while playing it beautifully to ensure that we know that sometimes beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder, Argentina then went and did just this on the grandest stage of them all by scoring a great passing team goal and we have seen many underdogs take the sporting world by storm (Greece, FC Porto and the fairy tale story that was Ivanisovic)

The New Year brings with it new sporting celebrations. From the ice of the Winter Olympics to the dance and sound that is the World Cup in South Africa.  For good measure and to keep the peace there is the ashes and a premiership title race that consists of more personal headlines than for the reasons that is the premiership trophy!

This could be a simple introduction to what will hopefully be a different blog which has no space for politics, personal feuds and silly remarks but a blog for all those appreciating that in this world which is sometimes crumbling before our eyes; it is mostly sports that unite us all!

So what better way to start this innovative and different blog by causing controversy in society? Will there be a tabloid carrying my picture with a disgraced headline title under it? Hopefully not! Will there be a revelation or sporting gossip here that will take the sport of curling by storm? One can only wish! Instead we are going to have a debate that will make sure every footballing fan appreciates everybody’s taste and that in this world there are better or greater players/teams than the one you are currently thinking! Think not? Then don’t read below but for all you normal people....

What was the greatest team of the decade? We can hopefully all remember when Jose M crossed the water and came to bridge, he bought with him techniques and tactics that revolutionised the modern game. With the use of wingers and a holding midfielder, he created space and movement that most teams envied but others called boring yet efficient. How is this relevant? A team’s tactic is key to whether or not they win the game. I found Jose M a revolutionary but like Cappello at Milan, his tactics will be long forgotten but his media antics will always be remembered! A 4-4-2 it is! So let us begin ... !!

GOALKEEPER – OLIVER KHAN

No Buffon? No Casillas? No Cech? No Scott Carson? In a game in which trophies is the peak of the game, who better than Oliver Khan? Go into your record books and see how many international, continental and domestic, awards, trophies and finals he has appeared in and then come back to me and complain for not giving Pepe Reina this place!

LEFT BACK – ROBERTO CARLOS

Who else? Are you still thinking a person who controlled the left of the pitch as confidently as RB? There you go then!  Perhaps the immortal Maldini or the petit frame of Lahm? Want me to put Winterburn or Evra in there? A man that never seemed to run out of steam and could perform in both sides of the pitch, he just pipped it from Maldini!

 

RIGHT BACK- LILLIAN THURAM

I dare you to go to him, laugh in his face about his name and then tell him that he is no longer in your team! This man now represents UNICEF and was the meanest looking defender of his generation (Ok Jaap Stam but he is no right back!) Lillian was able to maintain grace and elegance while being comfortable at being able to play at either right back or centre back. When your left back is galloping forward and there is only one holding midfielder perhaps the reliability of a World Cup winning, Euro Cup Winning, Champions League winning player brings confidence and security to the rest of the back line.

 

CENTRE BACKS – FABIO CANNAVARO & CARLOS PUYOL

I did want to put in So Solid Sol Campbell but he has not performed internationally bar one world cup (he was named in the team for that year!) Ask any football fan, ask any person who can appreciate defending, confidence, influence, positioning, tackling, marking, movement, and the ability to show that you don’t have to be a giant to be a centre back and you will see that these guys have won it all and are still winning it!

 

CENTRAL MIDFIELD – HOLDING ROLE – PATRICK VIERA

He was the captain of the only team in modern football to go a whole season without losing a match. Though now he is a former figure of his great reputation, Viera bossed and dictated the play at Arsenal before Cesc was shaving his moustache. I could have played Pirlo or Xavi Alonso, perhaps Nedved or Cambiasso but Viera bought the rough and tough side but also the grace and pace required to be a great player.

 

RIGHT MIDFIELD – LIONEL MESSI

Though he plays a little forward for both club and county, a person of his talents has to be put in there. Relatively young in this decade, no person has been able to keep the ball stuck to his feet as well as Messi. Sure there is Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Beckham but well know that in only what is a few short years away the world will remember and clap that is the name of Lionel Messi. Having already won all domestically and being a star in a great national team, he has Ronaldo beat and though Beckham/Ronaldinho/Figo have sold more shirts and cost more money, Messi makes football look like an art!

 

LEFT MIDFIELD – RYAN GIGGS

GIggs is better than Ronaldo? What? Open YouTube and stream his name! He was doing this while Viera was getting ready to shave his first moustache and Giggs is still doing it today! The most decorated player in premiership football and the only person who has appeared in every season of what is known now as the premiership, find a player with that record and then perhaps they can be his substitute!

 

CENTRAL MIDFIELD – ATTACKING MIDFIELDER – ZINADINE ZIDANE

Forget the head butt for a second! No other name deserves to be in this position! No Gerrard, no Scholes, no Van Persie, no Lamp-deflecteveryshot-pard. He was better than Kaka? He was better than the historic statistic that is Seedorf? No other whispers ZZ is hands down every single time!

 

STRIKERS/FORWARDS – THEIRRY HENRY & ...

Who has the most premiership goals in history? Who has scored over 100 goals for 2 teams? Both times its been Alan Shearer but even he does not deserve to be put into the this team. Henry was gracious, elegant (better than Viera! He had va va voom!) and scored goals that would make most strikers drool at the mouth. Henry was a magician with the greatest of touches and the fastest pace in the league. Who to partner him though? Di Canio and Zola were great creative players. Drogba/Rooney and Torres is the great debate right now! To make this team work perhaps we need a target man or a man who plays on the last shoulder like Owen/Inzaghi but this is my team right?!

 

Well like I said, this is just some fun but to cause a little controversy and a lot more conversation! It is all in good nature and is no way out there to harm or damage anybody. Let me know who you think it is and perhaps we can have a debate about it.

 

But remember I am the Judge and it is my decision when it is all said and done.

 

This court is dismissed!