FC Barcelona Lose and New Contracts.

Barcelona suffered their first loss in La Liga to mid-table side Real Sociedad. Real Sociedad won 3-2. Barcelona scored twice through Lionel Messi and Pedro. Real Sociedad is the third team to beat Barcelona. Real Madrid beat Barca in the Spanish Super Cup and Celtic beat them in Champion League. Barca has 2-0  lead at half-time. Ex-Manchester United defender, Pique, was sent off. Two goals from Uruguayan forward, Gonzalo Castro, meant that they were level at 2-2. An injury-time goal from substitute Imanol Agirrexte was enough to see of Barcelona. This is a big defeat for Barcelona because now they have dropped points and that means Athletico and Real Madrid are getting closer. Now Athletico Madrid is only 11 points behind Barcelona. The title seems to be already in the hands of Barcelona because there is an 18-point gap between 1st place and 3rd place. They are currently unstoppable. Highlights=http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2013/01/19/real-sociedad-vs-barcelona-3-2-highlights-2013-messi-pedro-pique-red-card-agirretxe-castro-goals-video/comment-page-1/  

   Theo Walcott and Ashley Cole have signed new contracts with their clubs. Walcott had 6-months on his contract left. He has signed a 3-year deal earning around $158,640 (100,000 pounds)-per week. He has also been guaranteed the striker role that he has been craving for. There were many clubs such as Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd interested in his signature. He has ended the speculation by committing his future with Arsenal. Ashley Cole is regarded as the best full-back in the world. At the age of 32 some say he is past his prime. I think that he is playing very well. He is experienced and is very attacking and defends very well. He has agreed a one-year contract extension with Chelsea. This is a relief to many fans because Cole is an important part of the club. He joined from Arsenal for $7,932,000 with Chelsea defender Gallas going the other way.
 

Pep Guardiola lands Bayern Munich role

Former Barcelona boss, Pep Guardiola, has agreed to take over German side Bayern Munich at the end of the 2012-2013 campaign. Guardiola stepped down as coach of FC Barcelona at the end of the 2011-2012 campaign. He won 14 trophies during his 4-year reign at FC Barcelona. He is considered one the best manager in the world. Chelsea FC and Manchester City were interested in his signature. Bayern Munich announced in Wednesday evening that Guardiola will replace Jupp Heynckes, who is retiring at the end of this season. The announcement came a day after Guardiola expressed his interest in managing an English team. Guardiola's choice makes sense because Roman Abramovich (Chelsea FC owner) is too unstable. He fires too many managers too often. While the Manchester City's owners are not interested in bringing up players but just spending big money on big players. Guardiola likes to use the club's youth academy to raise young stars. Chelsea and Man City don't have great youth systems. Bayern Munich have a great youth academy and their team is dominated by native German players unlike Chelsea or Man City. I think it is a sensible move from him. Hopefully he will do great for the club and be as success full at Bayern as he was in Barcelona. This is a great deal for Bayern.

Team of the year

FIFA announced World XI of 2012 3 days ago. All the players in the team were from the La Liga (Liga BBVA) Iker Cassilas had a good season but the main contender against him for the position is Chelsea's Petr Cech. He was instrumental in Chelsea's champions league winning campaign. I would choose Cech because of his extraordinary saves in both the BPL and UCL. I think that Pique did not deserve a spot in this team because he was just ordinary. He didn't do anything special in 2012. I think either Kompany (Man City), Cheillini (Juventus) or Thiago Silva (PSG) would have been a better choice. Kompany and Cheillini deserves the spot the most because the both had a great 2012 and achieved a lot sucess with their respective teams. Marcelo should have not been there because he was injured for most of 2012. I think Ashley Cole deserved this spot more than anybody because he was a vital part in Chelsea's defense during 2012 plus he won the UCL. In midfield the only surprise player is Xabi Alonso. There were far many better players in midfield. Likes of Juan Mata, David Silva, Pirlo or even Ozil would have been a better choice. The attack you can't fault because Ronaldo, Messi and Falcao had a great year. RVP might have a shout but I think Falcao was just better.

My team of the year would be:

                                                         Petr Cech
Dani Alves         Sergio Ramos                         Vincent Kompany         Ashley Cole


                           Andrea Pirlo         Xavi Hernandez           Andres Iniesta



                      Lionel Messi                Radamel Falcao               Cristiano Ronaldo

That was my team of the year.

   

Messi wins the Ballon D'Or

Lionel Messi has won his 4th consecutive Ballon D'Or. He has beaten team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo to the award. He is the first player in the history of football to win 4 Ballons D'Or. He won the award in 2009,2010,2011 and 2012. The Ballon D'Or is the award given to the best footballer of the year. Many players had a great 2012. Such as Robin van Persie, Isco and Didier Drogba etc. I think that Messi deserved this award. Although he didn't win the La Liga or Champions League, he still got the award. His Barcelona side won the Copa del Rey. They were knocked out of the champions league by eventual champions Chelsea and finished 9 points behind rivals Real Madrid in La Liga.  Messi is a phenomenal player and 100% deserves the award. He broke Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals in a calender year by scoring 91 goals for club and country.
Ronaldo wasn't very pleased with Messi winning the award.

    

Players most likely to move during January transfer window

Many players are rumored to change clubs during the January transfer window. Some players don't sign new contracts offered by the club because of many reasons. Some times it's because the club doesn't meet their wage demands or the want to get more first team action or even maybe because they want to play another position on the pitch.

Demba Ba: (Newcastle United) The Senegalese striker hasn't signed a new contract with the magpies. He wants to be paid 83,000 a week. Many clubs want him because he is joint top scorer in the premier league with Robin van Persie with 13 goals. It has been said that Arsenal, Chelsea are interested. I think he will join Chelsea because Arsene Wenger recently said that they will not sign Demba Ba. Chelsea have triggered his $12.23 million release-clause and are negotiating his wages. Chelsea are in need of a striker after Sturridge was sold to Liverpool for $19.57 million. Without Sturridge Fernando Torres id the only senior striker.

Darren Bent: (Aston Villa) Aston Villa bought Darren Bent from Sunderland for $29.35 million. Having recently fallen through with manger Paul Lambert he will most likely look for a new club. Many clubs are reported interested in the English forward. QPR and Liverpool are interested but since Liverpool signed Sturridge they will most likely not go for Bent. Qpr are bottom of the league and need a player who can score. I think QPR is his best option. Harry Redknapp worked with him during his reign at Tottenham. A move abroad would not be a good choice.

Fernando Llorente: (Athletic Bilbao) Fernando rejected a contract extension with Bilbao. He is a poacher and can score goals. Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd are all interested. All of these clubs are a good option but very unlikely to happen. Chelsea are close to capturing Ba. Man Utd already have 4 senior strikers. Man City have 4 strikers as well. Arsenal might move for him. His best option to stay in Spain because thats his home country. His best option is to sign a new deal with Bilbao.