Micah Richards

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be tracking Manchester City defender Micah Richards according to Sport.co.uk. The arrival of German international Jerome Boateng at the City of …
Apologies for it being so quiet around here on the Micah Richards blog recently, have been a little busy - a bit like its been at Manchester City.

City are now the richest club in the world and have signed many amazing players, and Micah Richards is still forcing his way into the side - a great compliment to his ability of playing football.

Here is a photograph of Micah Richards tackling Anderson of Manchester United in last season's Munich anniversary game,Here is a photograph from a previous England international match in which Micah Richards became injured, and in the picture he is receiving treatment on the pitch by the England physio.Here is a photograph from a recent Manchester City away match, in which Micah was injured and now his blood running down his face from his mouth.

Lisandro Lopez Lyon

Lisandro scored a hat-trick as Lyon warmed up for their Champions League trip to Real Madrid in style with a 5-0 win against Arles.

The result moves them to within four points of leaders Rennes, and provides them with a much-needed boost ahead of their tricky-looking trip to the Spanish capital.

Lisandro stole the show, opening the scoring early on before wrapping up his hat-trick after the break, with other strikes coming from Miralem Pjanic and Michel Baston.

Lyon were straight at their opponents and Yoann Gourcuff rattled the bar with a thumping 25-yard free-kick with just seven minutes gone.

That set the tone for what was to follow, with Lisandro making it 1-0 five minutes later.

Jimmy Briand broke through and pulled back for the waiting striker who composed himself and finished.

Four minutes later it was 2-0. Briand and Lisandro combined again, this time for the benefit of Pjanic who ran on to Lisandro's cross to score.

Arles were barely in the game but did have a 26th-minute chance, Camel Meriem crashing against the post.

Gourcuff's volley that was easily saved by Vincent Plante was the last action of the first half, but the first action of the second saw Lyon make it three.

A pinpoint cross from Delgado picked out Lisandro and he strolled on the the ball and headed home.

Three minutes later, in the 54th, he made it 3-0. A gap in the Arles defence allowed Bafetimbi Gomis to power through on goal but, with Lisandro in support, he squared for his team-mate to complete his treble.

Michel Bastos Lyon

Manchester United have put Lyon left-back Michel Bastos on their list of possible targets to replace Patrice Evra.

Sportsmail revealed in December that United had made an enquiry for Benfica’s £25m-rated Fabio Coentrao, wary that Evra is destined for either Real Madrid or Barcelona in the summer.

They have also scouted Newcastle’s Jose Enrique who is being monitored by Bayern Munich. Bastos, 27, is a regular in the Brazil squad and was once a a target for Tottenham but Lyon now rate him at a costly £20m.

Kooxda Kubadda Cagta ee Juventus ayaa Hogaanka u heysay awal Tartanka loogu jiray Xiddigaan ku wanaagsan ka Cayaaridda Garabka dambe ee Bidixda, Hase yeeshee Jariiradda La Gazzetta dello Sport ayaa soo sheegeesa in kooxda Inter Milan ay soo dhex gashay Tartankaan, iyadoo waliba Si dar Dar leh kusoo gashay.

Wakiilka Cayaaryahankaan 27 Jirka ah Emmanuel Kerchove ayaa Xaqiijiyay Dalabka kooxda Ku Cayarato San Ciro, isagoo Geesta kale Caddeeyay in kooxda the Old Lady ay soo gudbisay Dalabkii ugu horeeyay ee ku aadanaa Cayaaryahankaan.

“Waxaan idiin Xaqiijinaayaa in kooxda Inter ay Dalab usoo gudbisay Bastos, waxaase ka horeesay kooxda Juventus, Labadaba waxa ay soo gudbiyeen Ballan qaadyo Macquul ah” ayuu u sheegay Wakiilku Calciomercato.it.
Michel Bastos Lyon
Michel Bastos Lyon
Michel Bastos Lyon
Michel Bastos Lyon
Michel Bastos Lyon
Michel Bastos Lyon

Michel Bastos

He earned a move to Lyon last summer after scoring, and creating, a wealth of goals during his final season at Lille from the left wing.

The 26-year-old has continued to be a threat from a more advanced position for Lyon and scored against Anderlecht, Debrecen and Bordeaux in this season's UEFA Champions League.

Having previously struggled to make an impression in Dutch football during his teenage years, Bastos has subsequently become one of the most influential players in France.

Bastos put his career back together at Atletico Paranaense following his time with Feyenoord and returned to Europe in 2006 with Lille.

He earned a move to Lyon last summer after scoring, and creating, a wealth of goals during his final season at Lille from the left wing.

The 26-year-old has continued to be a threat from a more advanced position for Lyon and scored against Anderlecht, Debrecen and Bordeaux in this season's UEFA Champions League.

However, he is making his name on the international scene at left-back after being called up to the Brazil squad for the first time for last November's friendly against England.

Bastos subsequently appeared in the friendlies against Oman and the Republic of Ireland and offers a similar threat on the left as the likes of Maicon do on the right.

Cesar Delgado

Delgado played several matches for the Argentina national football team during its 2006 World Cup Qualifying campaign. However, due to injury Delgado did not make the 23-man roster for the 2006 World Cup. "El Chelito" also played for the team in the Copa América 2004, scoring one goal, and was part of the gold medal winning Argentinian team at the 2004 Summer Olympics.


Cesar Fabian Delgado Godoy born August 18, 1981 in Rosario is an Argentine footballer. He plays for Lyon. His nickname "El Chelito" is derived from that of Marcelo Delgado (known as "El Chelo") because of their same last name.

Delgado started his career in Rosario Central.
Delgado joined Cruz Azul for the 2003 Apertura, where he finished with 16 appearances and eight goals. Delgado made 21 appearances in the subsequent Apertura, again notching eight goals. In the 2004 Apertura, Delgado scored another six goals in 15 games. On 8 January 2008 he was sold to French giants Lyon for 11,000,000 euros. Delgado made his Ligue 1 debut on January 20, 2008 against RC Lens. Delgado came on as a 85th minute substitute for Lyon teammate Lisandro Lopez on October 21, 2009 against Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League group stage week 3 match and scored an important 90th minute winner after only being on the pitch for 5 minutes to help his team comeback from a goal down and settle the score at 2–1 to Lyon. This is an important moment for him and his team because this was Lyon's first win in the UEFA Champions League against English opposition.

Mark Van Bommel

FRANKFURT — Bayern Munich captain Mark van Bommel says the rift between striker Luca Toni and coach Louis van Gaal started when the Italian fell asleep at the table during a team lunch on the Dutchman’s second day on the job.

Van Bommel said Van Gaal was very angry and immediately called Toni to his office. Toni left Bayern in midseason, saying he could not work with Van Gaal. Toni went to AS Roma on loan and still has another season on his contract with Bayern.

“It was not good that, on the second day, Luca Toni sat so casually, half lying on the table. And then his eyes closed. He fell asleep,” Van Bommel said in describing the incident in Wednesday’s edition of Sport Bild magazine. “Normally, the team would take side with the player. But in this case no one supported him.”

Mark Van Bommel
Mark Van Bommel
Mark Van BommelThe Holland coach, Bert van Marwijk, has leapt to the defence of his midfield enforcer Mark van Bommel.

After falling out with the former coach Marco van Basten, Van Bommel was ignored by the Oranje for two years before accepting the request of his father-in-law to come back into the Dutch fold.

The close family tie with Van Marwijk has proved helpful to Holland's World Cup bid and, as they try to find a way of stopping Spain from dominating possession in Sunday's final at Soccer City, many see Van Bommel as the ideal weapon.

Yet the 33-year-old has also developed an unwanted reputation. A number of dubious challenges may have gone unnoticed by the referees, but not the press, opponents and spectators.
Mark Van Bommel
Mark Van Bommel
Mark Van Bommel
Mark Van Bommel
His challenge on Walter Gargano immediately before Giovanni van Bronckhorst brilliantly put Holland ahead in their semi-final with Uruguay on Tuesday was particularly ugly. With Xavi and Andrés Iniesta threatening to dictate the game this weekend, Van Bommel is going to be needed.

And Van Marwijk insists his reputation is unjust. "I don't agree with what people are saying," said the Dutch coach. "The yellow card on Tuesday was his first in the entire competition. He has shown a lot of discipline in his play."

Van Bommel, unsurprisingly, is feted in Holland, to the extent that he has been tipped as the next Dutch captain given that Van Bronckhorst will retire after Sunday's game. However, it seems that the Bayern Munich midfielder is not interested in the job. "I don't want to be the captain," he said. "I didn't make any international appearances for two years and other players deserve it more."

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Despite not making history as a national team as much as people would have liked, the Netherlands is one the greatest footballing countries on the planet, and has brought some of the greatest footballers in history.

Now, why a top 20 list?

Because there were so many good players that needed to be mentioned, and even after making it a top 20, there are still many Dutch legends, and legends in the making that have been left out because of the many talents the Netherlands has, such as Robben, Overmars and Van der Vaart, but that takes nothing away from them.

Considering how the Netherlands didn't win many trophies, and considering the fact that this is an individuals list, some names from weaker Netherlands sides might be above others who excelled in their era, but that is mainly due to the fact that certain individuals, no matter what era they were in, were greater than the rest.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Hugo Lloris

He is the new star in the French football galaxy. Hugo Lloris, goalkeeper with Olympique Lyon, has not only ensured France’s participation at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals in South Africa with his saves against Ireland. By an unbelievable reflex, which reminded of Oliver Kahn at his best, he also ascertained Lyon’s participation in the Champions League semi-finals three minutes from time against Girondins Bordeaux. After winning the first quarter-final leg 3-1 at home, Lyon would have been eliminated if they had lost 2-0 in Bordeaux.

Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris
Hugo LlorisAs conspicuous as the 23-year-old, who had earned nine caps by the beginning of May 2010, is on the pitch, he is shy in public. Prior to the first Champions League semi-final leg at Bayern Munich, he had to appear at the obligatory press conference on the day prior to the match. Level-headed, with well-considered but monotonous, smooth and controlled utterances, he said nothing with just a few words. After the 1-0 defeat at Munich’s Allianz Arena – where he also prevented a second Robben goal for Bayern – he argued with the referees, probably about the sending-off of Toulalan. Lloris speaks Italian. But he skilfully dribbled around the journalists waiting in the mixed zone.

Lloris is not a particularly strong football player, but his goalkeeping coach, former international Joel Bats, is working on that. In return Lloris skilfully avoids any questions about his future. His contract is running until 2012, and currently he does not deem it necessary to enter negotiations for a possible extension. It is known that Tottenham Hotspurs want him. It is also known that the club of his dreams is AC Milan.
Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris
Hugo LlorisHe could have landed there in 2008 if his predecessor in Lyon, then national goalkeeper Grégory Coupet, had not kept on at him. Consequently he moved to the Rhône when “OL” transferred 8.5 million Euros to his first professional club, OGC Nice. Should Lloris move on one day, 15 percent of the transfer sum above 8.5 million must still be paid to the Côte d’Azur. Lloris is the most expensive French goalkeeper of all times. Even Fabien Barthez, the famous “pate”, who was still in the French goal at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, was not as expensive.