Anthony Annan

[Fireman451]

Well, two big mistakes defensively and Ghana took advantage. I actually thought as bad as the US started the match, we owned the second half and had our chances to win it in regulation.

The first goal given up was pure shit, a horrible give away by Clark and a weak effort by Tim Howard. The second Ghana goal was a world class shot off balance.

The US played from behind 3 of its 4 games and the nail-biting, majic finally ran out for my US team.

I will now look to support Uruguay to and Brazil in one bracket and Argentina in the other bracket. A Brazil-Argentina final would be awesome!
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[Macha]

The second Ghana-goal was not world-class, a shot just over Howard who should have taken that one.

[Ballahl]

But the balance Gyan showed was world class.

Sorry for you, btw.
Better luck next time, then with a more experienced team.
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- Rune Hauge er ingen kjeltring, men tvert i mot en grepa kar. Han er den ærligste mannen jeg kjenner. Jeg har aldri vært i tvil om at han var uskyldig, jublet Stig Inge Bjørnebye og fulgte opp:

- Rune var forut for sin tid.

[Macha]

Agreed

[Bakklandia]

This US team wil achive great things in international football, I'm sure of it!
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[2mas]

Daily Monitor of Uganda:

Anthony Annan has been the best in the holding role in the entire tournament so far, and has no business playing for Rosenborg.

[2mas]

The Daily Telegraph:

Every football fan should enjoy Ghana's campaign as long Peter Drury's melodramatic histrionics of how a goal for Ghana is a goal for Africa are ignored. The modern game of rolling yellow tickers and YouTube means the average football fan knows too much about the 736 players gracing the world stage.

How refreshing it is to see 23-year-old Anthony Annan of Rosenborg, 20-year-old Andre Ayew of Arles-Avingnon and 24-year old Asamoah Gyan of Rennes star for a young team reminiscent of Roger Milla's Cameroon. A goal for Ghana is a goal for nostalgia.

[2mas]

Sports Illustrated:

He gets plenty of praise for the work he does for Ghana and, to a slightly lesser degree, Rosenborg too but, for whatever reason, the powers that be don't believe he can go to the next level. Or, more accurately, they don't believe in Annan enough to put up the kind of money required to move him from Norway (Rosenberg values him in the $7-million range). Not yet anyway.

The knock on Annan is that -- as one scout put it -- he's "one-dimensional". He's one-paced and at just 5-foot-9, doesn't dominate the middle of the park physically. He's an adequate passer who can keep the ball, but comes up short in terms of both the creativity to spot a pass and the technique to pull it off. And while he's gutsy, plays with gusto and reads the game well, he's not really going to progress.

Read more: Midfielder Annan is Ghana's key

Ghana's real strength, though, is probably the midfield, or at least the defensive aspect of the midfield. Anthony Annan sits very deep, operating almost as an auxiliary center back, and he will pick up a deep-lying forward should Bob Bradley opt not to start with two center forwards. Annan is an odd player, forever being linked with major European clubs, but seemingly doomed -- perhaps by his relative lack of height -- to play forever in Norway (although he is still only 23). He is, though, a disciplined and aggressive figure and, as Australia discovered, he has a pragmatic, cynical streak.

Read more: Ghana a hard team to open up

Genoa are interested in signing Ghana duo Anthony Annan and Kevin-Prince Boateng, according to publication La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Read more: Genoa target Portsmouth's Ghana star Kevin-Prince Boateng

[Kurt Cobainer]

We Love You .
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RBK LOVE

[2mas]

The Sun:

STEPPED into the midfield anchor role of crocked Michael Essien with great assurance. The £10m-rated Rosenborg star, 23, looks certain to clinch a move to one of Europe's big leagues.

[2mas]

Bleacher Report:

Anthony Annan was the subject of mockery by European journalists when it was suggested he could replace Michael Essien on the Ghana team for the World Cup. The Rosenborg man has not replaced the Chelsea star, but instead has supplanted him with tireless defensive midfield coverage, which managed to stop Serbia and Germany. His incisive passing, superb sense of tempo and his tremendous work is inglorious. It almost goes unnoticed, but Annan has been a significant part of Ghana’s success.

Mid Day, India:

Another unexpected star for Ghana here has been their midfield anchorman Anthony Annan. The 24-year-old nephew of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, has more than filled the big boots of Ghana's injured superstar Michael Essien.

Annan, who plays for Norwegian club Rosenborg, is a diminutive player but he has hardly put a foot wrong all tournament, once again demonstrating the power of the World Cup to throw unheralded talent into the limelight.

...Tony's father is Kofi's cousin, so "nephew" is incorrect.

[Skotten]

Annan doing great again, think he'll be sold after the WC. If Ghana reach the final, I guess all their players will be looked at.

The thing is though, should we get a good fee, how much will go to Stabaek?

[Fireman451]

Actually, I don't think Annan has played a great WC to be honest. He's been very serviceable and played a good defensive role; however, he did give up a free kick that led to a goal in the group stage.

Don't get me wrong, he's not playing badly, just not special either. It's been a good cup for Annan.
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[Macha]

Maybe to the untrained eye..

Everyone has seen that Annan is one of this WC's best DM and the biggest surprise. Even the norwegian media, who have hated annan several years due to his many fouls and unfair involvements, do now praise him.

Annan is the second biggest surprise during this WC, the biggest surprise came from u fireman with that last comment

[Fireman451]

Well it seems we either have a big-time homer here . . . or a teenager. Hello Macha!!!

I can understand you looking at the world through RBK-colored glasses, but that's not my fault nor my burden. I said Annan played a good cup, that's a fair statement especially after the Australia game.

Additionally, I belong to everyone and I clearly see it differently. I love when people use universal language to make illogical statements - thank you Macha.

Finally, tell Anthony hello for me when he gets back to Trondheim.
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[Ballahl]

[Macha]

Not hard to understand why europeans think of americans as uncivilized.

When I wrote everyone I thought u would understand that I meant the overwhelming majority. No need to get unfriendly.

Look, I won't bother too much with this, but if u would please just visit the norwegian-version of the Anthony Annan-thread, and then just click on all of the links to newspapers there, u get my point.

Stating that Annan has not been special in this WC is not only wrong. It's insane! I mean come on, have you even looked at him in the championship? Every media from India! to our swedish neighbours and in the USA have been in awe of his skills. Again I referr to countless articles and forum-discussions. Go to the norwegian version of this thread and you'll find it.

I understand that you have a hard time dealing with the fact that Annan and Ghana made you go out of the cup, but claiming Annan's perfomance is not special, but average... well, that's a statement wich everyone
except you think of as ridicolous.

btw, love the way your irony just flows in your last comment.. classy

[Fireman451]

Okay I'll play along Macha . . . I like games!

Did the USNT/Ghana match affect my opinion? Well, let's all check what I wrote just today about the Ghana/Uruguay match right here in the RBK English Forums shall we?

[2mas]

Nelson Mandela was introduced to members of the Black Stars football team and their manager, coach and technical team at his house in Houghton this afternoon:



Read more: Nelson Mandela meets the Black Stars

Annan in background. Bigger version at fifa.com.

[Skotten]

[Macha]

haha, fireman, one could still be angry for getting cut out by Ghana, but praise their play.

Yes, India, nor Norway is a great football-nation, but the fact that he is noticed so far away, is quite remarkable. That was my point! England went out at the same round as u, but in England they praise Annan too...

As to the sarcasm/irony, I concurr.


Games?

I am just as biased in the Annan-matter as any other human that has watched the WC, except u offcourse...

And I must say, putting in that "give-a-dam-processing" thing was really mature, where did u learn that, elementary school?

[Fireman451]

Glad we have some common ground Macha.

I'm happy to see you liked the *.gif image. Truth is the internet wasn't around when I was in elementary school; however, I see "maturity" is a big issue with you so I won't push your buttons anymore.

I'll go ahead and enact a cease and desist order on ruffling your feathers further . . . it's also a good way to avoid reading your terrible spelling.



Annan is a very good DM and I can't wait to see him back in a RBK jersey.

Vamos blanco y negro!!!
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[Ballahl]

[Macha]

I'm doing well enough on the spelling, you clearly understand what I'm writing, but why don't you just point out the flaws for me? Always nice to correct it.

I'm sure you write norwegian like a norwegian does

[Fireman451]

My Norwegian is awful, pero hablo espanol. Puedo escribir y leer la idioma tambien.

Too bad that won't get me too far when I visit Trondheim.

Takk! Or is it, Takk du?

Anyhoo, Annan is a still a very solid player. I hope we can keep him but given the press he's getting in India, he may be on his way to a bigger Euro club for bigger bucks.


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