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Fair play to Shevchenko for winning top European award

AC Milan's deadly striker Andriy Shevchenko was voted the European Footballer of the Year this week and while I was looking at Barcelona's Ronaldinho or Arsenal's Henry to pick up the award, I can't knock the choice of Shevchenko. He has had an excellent year with AC Milan and last season finished with 24 goals to help his team win their 17th 'scudetto'. He was top scorer in Italy last season and hitting 24 goals in that country where the defences are so tight is a great achievement. Ever since he went to AC Milan in 1999 from Dynamo Kiev, Shevchenko has made a name for himself. His first season there he scored 24 goals and was top scorer and he also scored 24 goals the next season. In 2003 he helped AC Milan win the Champions League. He may not have all the pretty skills of Ronaldinho or Henry but he is deadly and direct. Fair play to him for winning the award.

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Well it was billed as one of the games of the season and it did not disappoint. Last Sunday's match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Highbury was a great advertisement for the game. The 2-2 draw was a fair result although Henry could have sealed the deal midway through the second half on what, for him, was an easy chance. You don't often see Henry hit the ball over the bar from that distance.

Henry's opening goal was beautiful ? and it put the pressure on Chelsea since he scored it after about a minute. It was a stunning shot and the keeper could do nothing about it.

Chelsea's captain John Terry must be having his best season ever. Again we saw him come up for a corner and score with a header ? something he has been doing with regularity this season. I think Arsenal can be hurt by set pieces and this was a perfect example. I believe Sol Campbell should have been on Terry whenever he came up for a corner. You want your best and biggest defender on someone like him. However it was good to see Campbell back playing following time out for an injury ? he was the best player in the game and it makes a big difference for Arsenal when he plays. As for Terry, I think giving him the captaincy has really helped his game overall. It has given the player, who in his younger days had some discipline problems, a lot more responsibility.

As for those who complained about Henry's quickly-taken free kick, the French striker was within his rights to take it after asking the referee. You have to be on your toes in a situation like that.

With Arsenal and Chelsea only getting a point, it looked like Manchester United would take advantage when they played at Fulham on Monday. But they let it slip thinking that they could hold on after they went 1-0 up. But Fulham fired back with a great goal by Papa Bouba Diop. You know United manager Ferguson was unhappy about that but I believe that Ferguson has been chopping and changing his team too much this season.

Everton's 1-0 win over great rivals Liverpool on Saturday morning must have sent their fans into a frenzy. Liverpool's and Everton's fans are some of the best in the world and I can only imagine how happy the fans of the Blues feel. What manager David Moyes is doing with Everton is simply amazing.

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Leaders of the Italian league, Juventus, face a crucial match this weekend when second-place AC Milan come to town. Juv are only four points ahead of AC Milan and this game could be a cracker. Last weekend AC Milan had a 6-0 victory over Fiorentina while Juv has a 1-0 victory over Bologna. Some of the best players on the planet will be on display when these two teams meet and it is a game you do not want to miss.

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Mia Hamm along with Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett from the great US women's World Cup winning team retired last week and I have to tip my hat to them. Those players boosted the game for girls in not just the US but all over the world. I have met some of them before and besides being very good players, they are true ambassadors for the sport. They really loved playing the game and took the responsibilities of being a role model. Hamm especially changed the way people looked at women playing football and I wish them the best.