Ah the Champions League. It's what we all really want anyways isn't it.
Group A
The German revolution is continuing and Leverkusen is not being left behind. Manchester United will win the group, but the Germans will push them for first place.
Group B
Juventus and Madrid will duke it out for first. I can see Juve winning just because Madrid will be putting more focus on la liga this year. But watch out for Madrid in the group stages.
Group C
PSG and Benfica will take this at a canter. I know everyone wants to say
Olympiakos away is a tough fixture, but they have to travel just as
much as everyone else.
Group D
Bayern will dominate as they did last year but Manchester City will have a better showing than last year as well. I could see them making the quarters if they get a decent group of 16 draw.
Group E
I've seen a lot of picks for Basel to reach the round of 16, but I can't see past Schalke to be the runners up to Chelsea here. Basel has a good reputation when it comes to qualifying but they are poor in the group stages.
Group F
This year's group of death will see a surprised Arsenal realize how thin they are. Dortmund's experience will see them through and Napoli seem to have something to prove as they enter the competition for the first time in a while.
Group G
Both Atletico Madrid and Porto have been tough contenders for the last few years. I can see both of them making it to the round of 16 and I'd bet that at least one of them will make the quarters.
Group H
It's hard not to pick Barcelona and Milan to go through but I've heard rumors of Ajax spoiling Milan's party. But with the return of Kaka and the energetic youth they have I can see them being the Italian team to beat.
Winner: Bayern Munich
Madrid will make a good push but they'll lack a bit of creativity in the shape of Mesut Ozil. Bayern are still looking hungry and have some new blood that wants to win as well. Barcelona will have to adapt if they want to get back to their winning ways, Messi is good but he's the type of player that is only as good as the players behind him.
We're coming
Coverage of everything sports. Many different perspectives, many great arguments, but would you have it any other way?
Sports

Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
NFL 2013 Predictions
Just in the nick of time it appears. I had planned to make my NFL predictions a few weeks ago, and before I knew it, it was 9:00a.m. on Sunday September 8th. Kind of sort and sweet, but I do believe I have done enough research to predict most of these games correctly. Enjoy the season! (I just want to say that like last year when I stated that the San Francisco 49ers vs. the New England Patriots would be the game of the year, this year it’s the Broncos visiting the Patriots in week 12. It will be a doozy).
AFC East
#2 Patriots XII 12-4
Jets III 3-13
Bills II 2-14
Dolphins VIII 8-8
AFC South
#4 Texans X 10-6
Colts VIII 8-8
Jaguars IIII 4-12
Titans VI 6-10
AFC North
Steelers VIII 8-8
#6 Ravens X 10-6
#3 Bengals X 10-6
Browns VIII 8-8
AFC West
#1 Broncos XIII 13-3
#5 Chiefs XI 11-5
Raiders IIII 4-12
Chargers IIII 4-12
NFC East
Giants VIIII 9-7
#4 Cowboys VIIII 9-7
Eagles VI 6-10
Redskins VIII 8-8
NFC South
Panthers V 5-11
#6 Falcons XI 11-5
#2 Saints XI 11-5
Buccaneers VIII 8-8
NFC North
Vikings VIII 8-8
#3 Packers VIIII 9-7
Lions VI 6-10
Bears VII 7-9
NFC West
#1 49ers XIII 13-3
Cardinals V 5-11
#5 Seahawks XIII 13-3
Rams VII 7-9
AFC Wild-card
Baltimore at Cincinnati: A rematch of the week before. I have Cincinnati winning that game, which is crucial because it gives them home field for this one. It’s enough to get through and on to the divisional round.
Bengals 23 Ravens 20
Kansas City at Houston: I really like the Chiefs this year. I think Alex Smith will be one of the biggest acquisitions of the off-season and he gets them to the playoffs and beyond.
Chiefs 17 Texans 13
NFC Wild-card
Atlanta at Green Bay: Green Bay is going to have a difficult season with the offensive line as a big question mark. The whole division is tough and no one really stands out. The Falcons start slowly (I had them 4-3 at one point) before turning it on late. They come in and do it at Lambeau in my last season as a Packers fan.
Falcons 31 Packers 24
Seattle at Dallas: I sat on this very same game earlier in the season before giving it to the Seahawks. I think that Dallas matches up really well vs. Seattle, especially if they can get Miles Austin in the slot and therefore avoiding Richard Sherman. In the regular season, I think Seattle makes Dallas one-dimensional, but to Garrett’s credit, maybe he figures it out this time? If Sid Rice and Percy Harvin are back to full health this goes the other way though.
Cowboys 21 Seahawks 14
AFC Divisional Round
Cincinnati at New England: On October 6th, the Bengals should give New England their first loss of the season. This time, I think it’s way more difficult. By then, New England should be back to their balanced best, and I think Danny Amendola sees the field unlike half of the regular season. New England is very difficult at Foxboro.
Patriots 35 Bengals 20
Kansas City at Denver: I think Denver will be played tough by the Chiefs both times they meet in the regular season. I do have Denver winning both games, however, because they don’t have the defensive depth to match up with the Broncos. I’m not quite sure if anyone does, but Peyton remembers last season. And that will make the difference.
Broncos 38 Chiefs 10
NFC Divisional Round
Atlanta at San Francisco: I feel really bad for the 49ers here. They probably enjoy the best regular season of any team in the NFL, but this may turn into a nightmare match-up for them. They were lucky to do it last year, and that’s only because Matt Ryan made the wrong pass late. Atlanta made personnel changes to beat teams like the 49ers (Osi Umenyiora, Desmond Trufant), and at this point, they are the hottest team in the league.
Falcons 27 49ers 24
Dallas at New Orleans: Tony Romo finally gets his second win in the playoffs after all the criticism. This game will be a little tougher for him to win, even though I believe the Seahawks are much more talented than the Saints. New Orleans (when good) is a tough place to play and Drew Brees picks teams apart better than any quarterback I've ever seen. I think they use Darren Sproles frequently, and host the Falcons next week.
Saints 35 Cowboys 24
AFC Championship Game
New England at Denver: Here we go again. In what may be the last Brady vs. Manning game that we will ever get to see in the playoffs, we may have a barn burner. Both these teams realize that the windows are getting smaller, and their quarterbacks are getting older. I believe Denver will challenge New England to keep up offensively, which they are capable of doing. Yet, little does Bill Belichick know that Wes Welker will be the X-factor in this game. I love the Patriots secondary, (Talib, McCourty, Dennard, A. Wilson) but they are going to be one man short in this game. Welker has the biggest day of all, and gets his moment of glory.
Broncos 35 Patriots 31
NFC Championship Game
Atlanta at New Orleans: I keep thinking of ways that will make this game an NFC West showdown. And the talents of Drew Brees and Matt Ryan keep me from putting the other two in this match-up. I appreciate the talents of both Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick, but I think many of the football analysts are correct in saying that the option play will be much less significant as defenses will have gained a full off-season of planning and preparation. The Falcons and the Saints both have defenses to overcome this new phenomenon. The Saints offensive line is one of the best in football if they don’t lose anyone to injury. I know that the losses of Will Smith and Kenyon Coleman will hurt on defense, but the running game will sparkle this year with Ingram taking that next step. The Saints will get to the Super Bowl, but only if we get full seasons from Brees, Ingram, Jabari Greer and Keenan Lewis. I believe they do.
Saints 28 Falcons 21
Super Bowl
Denver vs. New Orleans: I never pick this game. Ever. But if it happens, it should be fantastic.
AFC East
#2 Patriots XII 12-4
Jets III 3-13
Bills II 2-14
Dolphins VIII 8-8
AFC South
#4 Texans X 10-6
Colts VIII 8-8
Jaguars IIII 4-12
Titans VI 6-10
AFC North
Steelers VIII 8-8
#6 Ravens X 10-6
#3 Bengals X 10-6
Browns VIII 8-8
AFC West
#1 Broncos XIII 13-3
#5 Chiefs XI 11-5
Raiders IIII 4-12
Chargers IIII 4-12
NFC East
Giants VIIII 9-7
#4 Cowboys VIIII 9-7
Eagles VI 6-10
Redskins VIII 8-8
NFC South
Panthers V 5-11
#6 Falcons XI 11-5
#2 Saints XI 11-5
Buccaneers VIII 8-8
NFC North
Vikings VIII 8-8
#3 Packers VIIII 9-7
Lions VI 6-10
Bears VII 7-9
NFC West
#1 49ers XIII 13-3
Cardinals V 5-11
#5 Seahawks XIII 13-3
Rams VII 7-9
AFC Wild-card
Baltimore at Cincinnati: A rematch of the week before. I have Cincinnati winning that game, which is crucial because it gives them home field for this one. It’s enough to get through and on to the divisional round.
Bengals 23 Ravens 20
Kansas City at Houston: I really like the Chiefs this year. I think Alex Smith will be one of the biggest acquisitions of the off-season and he gets them to the playoffs and beyond.
Chiefs 17 Texans 13
NFC Wild-card
Atlanta at Green Bay: Green Bay is going to have a difficult season with the offensive line as a big question mark. The whole division is tough and no one really stands out. The Falcons start slowly (I had them 4-3 at one point) before turning it on late. They come in and do it at Lambeau in my last season as a Packers fan.
Falcons 31 Packers 24
Seattle at Dallas: I sat on this very same game earlier in the season before giving it to the Seahawks. I think that Dallas matches up really well vs. Seattle, especially if they can get Miles Austin in the slot and therefore avoiding Richard Sherman. In the regular season, I think Seattle makes Dallas one-dimensional, but to Garrett’s credit, maybe he figures it out this time? If Sid Rice and Percy Harvin are back to full health this goes the other way though.
Cowboys 21 Seahawks 14
AFC Divisional Round
Cincinnati at New England: On October 6th, the Bengals should give New England their first loss of the season. This time, I think it’s way more difficult. By then, New England should be back to their balanced best, and I think Danny Amendola sees the field unlike half of the regular season. New England is very difficult at Foxboro.
Patriots 35 Bengals 20
Kansas City at Denver: I think Denver will be played tough by the Chiefs both times they meet in the regular season. I do have Denver winning both games, however, because they don’t have the defensive depth to match up with the Broncos. I’m not quite sure if anyone does, but Peyton remembers last season. And that will make the difference.
Broncos 38 Chiefs 10
NFC Divisional Round
Atlanta at San Francisco: I feel really bad for the 49ers here. They probably enjoy the best regular season of any team in the NFL, but this may turn into a nightmare match-up for them. They were lucky to do it last year, and that’s only because Matt Ryan made the wrong pass late. Atlanta made personnel changes to beat teams like the 49ers (Osi Umenyiora, Desmond Trufant), and at this point, they are the hottest team in the league.
Falcons 27 49ers 24
Dallas at New Orleans: Tony Romo finally gets his second win in the playoffs after all the criticism. This game will be a little tougher for him to win, even though I believe the Seahawks are much more talented than the Saints. New Orleans (when good) is a tough place to play and Drew Brees picks teams apart better than any quarterback I've ever seen. I think they use Darren Sproles frequently, and host the Falcons next week.
Saints 35 Cowboys 24
AFC Championship Game
New England at Denver: Here we go again. In what may be the last Brady vs. Manning game that we will ever get to see in the playoffs, we may have a barn burner. Both these teams realize that the windows are getting smaller, and their quarterbacks are getting older. I believe Denver will challenge New England to keep up offensively, which they are capable of doing. Yet, little does Bill Belichick know that Wes Welker will be the X-factor in this game. I love the Patriots secondary, (Talib, McCourty, Dennard, A. Wilson) but they are going to be one man short in this game. Welker has the biggest day of all, and gets his moment of glory.
Broncos 35 Patriots 31
NFC Championship Game
Atlanta at New Orleans: I keep thinking of ways that will make this game an NFC West showdown. And the talents of Drew Brees and Matt Ryan keep me from putting the other two in this match-up. I appreciate the talents of both Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick, but I think many of the football analysts are correct in saying that the option play will be much less significant as defenses will have gained a full off-season of planning and preparation. The Falcons and the Saints both have defenses to overcome this new phenomenon. The Saints offensive line is one of the best in football if they don’t lose anyone to injury. I know that the losses of Will Smith and Kenyon Coleman will hurt on defense, but the running game will sparkle this year with Ingram taking that next step. The Saints will get to the Super Bowl, but only if we get full seasons from Brees, Ingram, Jabari Greer and Keenan Lewis. I believe they do.
Saints 28 Falcons 21
Super Bowl
Denver vs. New Orleans: I never pick this game. Ever. But if it happens, it should be fantastic.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Soccer Sense
Just like
we all have favorite positions in baseball, basketball and football, I have
come to love certain positions in soccer.
Some players execute them better than others, and give new meanings to
the defense, mid-field and forward positions.
Just like people now understand what a slot receiver is, or a long
reliever in baseball, or the sixth man off the bench in basketball, I hope to
make aware the meanings of new and all-encompassing positions in soccer. These are my favorite five.
#1. The tactically industrious mid-fielder. (CM; CDM) This
is the type of player that gives full out energy for 90 minutes and is able to
bring it to both the defensive and attacking aspects of the game. Any team that can get a world class player at
this position should automatically challenge for more trophies and higher
places in the table (standings). They
are efficient at breaking up the attacks of the opposing team, not only with
their strength and physical skills, but also through their understanding of
where to line up and when to drop deep and take away the passing lanes. They win a lot of challenges, and are able to
begin the attacks going the other way as well.
They won’t put in for very many goals during the course of a season, but
can still contribute 3-8 goals a season that help make a good team great.
A. Claude Makelele –
The player whom the position is now named. (Makelele role). While at Real
Madrid, he sat back behind the midfield, broke up play, and contributed to the
success of Figo, Raul, etc. After moving
to Chelsea , I believe he was the
catalyst that helped Chelsea win
back-to-back titles during Mourinho’s first campaign at the club. He hardly ever was out of position, and won
enough tackles to make opponents fear coming through the middle of the park.
B. Roy Keane – My favorite player ever to play this position
and one of my favorites of all-time. You
tube some of his highlights to get a true understanding of what this position
means. He was a dangerous player, not
only because he was talented on the ball and could mark any attacking
midfielder, but because he wasn’t afraid of any challenge, and had no fears in
taking a player out. My favorite part of
his game though was the attacks forward and the energy he put into them. There were a number of times when Keane’s 60
yard runs ended up with the ball in the back of the net.
C. Paul Pogba – The evolved version of this role. He’s a player that is just getting started,
but plays the position as well as anyone in the world at the tender age of nineteen. With that being said, there is nothing tender
about his game. He’ll put a foot in,
run around all day, and even take a pop at the goal. Some of his goals have
been simply incredible and he’s continuing to get better. Might be #1 on this list by the end of his
career.
#2. The tracking-back forward (CF, LW, RW) The type of
player that is good for any team. They
work hard, always support the cause, but can score 15-25 goals a season as
well. They are just as committed to
defending the opposing forward on a corner, as they are diving in for a header
on the other end. Fans love them,
coaches need them. If you can get them
on your side, it almost feels like there is a 12th player out on the
field. But, as I have been a fan for
over 15 years now, they are very hard to come by. No forward wants to sacrifice glory for
grit. Just about none, anyway.
A. Wayne Rooney – Even with all of his issues, he is still
my favorite player of all-time. When it
comes to talking about being fully motivated and giving effort, no one in the
world can match the focus and effort that Wayne Rooney brings to the
pitch. One of my great attributes to the
world of sports is my ability to recognize greatness in the youth. The first time I watched Rooney play, I knew
he was headed for that level. He made a
tackle, went on a run, and scored one of the most fantastic game-winners I have
ever seen on any level. This before his
17th birthday. All the things
a world class forward should do.
B. Dirk Kuyt – In his prime, he was one of the most
frustrating players to deal with being a Manchester United fan. Speaking of 12 players on the field, I felt
like there were 2 Kuyt’s out there. He
never appeared tired, and gave the impression that he could play another match
that day. He didn’t score at the highest
level, but was always a threat to finish.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a forward, or many other players for that
matter, that put forth such high effort for 90 minutes. The fact that he did it from the corners of
the pitch made it even more impressive.
C. Thomas Muller – I challenge you the reader to watch him
play. He currently plies his trade for
Bayern Munich who at the time of this blog is arguably the best team in the
world. Now Muller is not pretty. He is not creative. He really isn’t high energy in the way I’ve
described. He isn’t clinical in his
finishing. But by the end of the match,
you will have realized that he made his mark on the game and probably has a
goal to his name as well. I can’t explain
how it was done, only in that he did it.
Perhaps he is the smartest player in the world, but I can say in full
confidence that Munich wouldn’t be
the world’s best without him.
#3. The thundering full-back. (LB, LWB, RB, RWB) These guys are fun to watch. This player plays back in defense, but you
can tell in their heart that they want to be out there either scoring goals, or
helping the forwards finish them off. The
difference between a thundering full-back and just your average full-back is
that they are literally up and down the sidelines for 90 minutes and are
looking to get forward at every opportunity.
They also may not be afraid of taking corners and free kicks for the
team, and some have been known to take a penalty kick as well. A world class player at this position can’t
be considered such unless they are able to dive in and make a tackle and I
believe that all three examples are definitely in that category.
A. Roberto Carlos – Legend.
He is far and away the greatest attacking full-back in the history of
world football. He could do everything
that was required of this role. He took
amazing free kicks, he could SCORE from corners, and he was almost impossible
to mark for the full 90 minutes. I
mentioned before that any teams that have these types of world class players
become instantly better, he made every single team he was on World Class. Brazil
should’ve won more than just 2002, but if you are a great fan of the sport, you
have to believe that Brazil
and Real Madrid will win many titles soon if they just had another Roberto
Carlos.
B. Cafu – Which makes the whole Brazil
thing ridiculous. For a number of years,
they had two of the greatest full-backs in the same side at the same time. They were both more known for their attacking
skills, but the national team kept a surprising number of clean sheets
considering how often they liked to attack.
Cafu wasn’t as great at set pieces as Roberto Carlos, but his tactical
awareness was almost flawless. He was
part of the great Milan team during the mid 2000’s, and a team which many
consider to have one of the greatest back four’s in the history of the game
(Maldini, Costacurta, Nesta).
C. David Alaba – Another star for today’s Bayern
Munich. The position has evolved over
the last ten years, but he almost plays it flawlessly for Munich . He can run down the sideline, cut inside,
defend in open play, defend set pieces and score the odd goal after long
runs. He’s on the young side of his
20’s, and should be a threat for many years to come.
#4. The creative mid-fielder. (CAM ). Most every fan’s favorite position. They can do all of the pleasing aspects of
the game. They can score great goals,
set up great passes, dribble, avoid contact, and generally just make the right
play at the right time. This is the
position that tends to go for the most money on the transfer market (Zidane,
Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo in a way). A
world class one of these can change history; clubs tend to becoming bigger the
minute they get one (Napoli , Villarreal).
A. Zinedine Zidane – For me, the greatest player that ever
played. A smile comes to my face every
time I hear his name. Most people will
remember him for the head butt; I have come to terms with that. But if they could see his elegance, his
tactical shrewdness, his dribbling determination, and his gentle arrogance,
then they would know what type of player he was. He did things on the field, that I could
never dream of. He did things on the
field that no professional would ever think of.
I’m sure Diego Maradona and Pele were fantastic players, but Zidane
deserves every mention of that breath as well.
B. Michael Laudrup – By the time I was getting interested in
the game, Laudrup was well past his prime.
He and his brother were both nearing the end of great careers, and I
didn’t quite understand the impact that they had on the sport. But I mean this as a great compliment when I
say that I have yet to see another rendition of their skill levels. Like Thomas Muller, it is hard to define in
just words. I would say that Laudrup saw
the field very well, and could think 2 or 3 passes ahead of the game. But the effects that he had on the opponents,
and the fact that he was always involved in the big moments of the game, made
me realize that a gem like this doesn’t come around very often. He never had a red card in his career
either.
C. Kevin de Bruyne – Many of you knowledgeable soccer fans
may laugh at this inclusion, but my own confidence in youth had me keep him in
here. There are a number of young
players in the world right now that could fill this particular spot (Özil,
Isco, Bale, Schweinsteiger, Hazard, etc). Yet, we are literally only seeing the
tip of the iceberg with this player. I
was absolutely shocked and appalled when I heard that Chelsea
was spending £14 million pounds on an unknown kid. I take pride in certain things; certainly
following young stars is one of them. I
had never heard of de Bruyne, and when I heard that they loaned him out
immediately after, I knew it was going to be a waste of cash. Now... I think he could be one of the great
players of our generation, and he should be Chelsea ’s
best player in the next few seasons. He
sees the pitch like a chess master, and has no fear. Similar to that of Wayne Rooney. He finishes like a forward, runs like a
mid-fielder and marks like a defender.
Sounds world class to me.
#5. The first attacker (ST). These are the guys that lead
the lines, and are expected to score many goals. The reason that I prefer them to a drifting
striker, a shadow striker or a false nine, is that they are required to only
score goals and to do so often. As a fan
of this sport for 15 years, I have seen a great many “first attacker’s” lose
confidence and start missing the back of the net. It can literally, ruin careers. Andriy Shevchenko will never be remembered
fondly at Chelsea . Zlatan at Barcelona .
Karim Benzema at Real Madrid . But the greats? The truly greats? They can go on to legend status.
A. Andy Cole – Some may think of this as a bizarre
inclusion, but let me share this – United could get goals from just about
anywhere. This team was so talented,
that they did not require a striker on the front lines. Robin van Persie may have been mediocre
during those great teams of the late 90’s.
(Personally, I think he would’ve done well). They got multiple goals
from Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Teddy Sheringham, Dwight Yorke
and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. That’s a lot
of players to share the ball with. Denny
Welbeck had 1 premier league goal last season.
So in Andy’s case, for a guy that was required to score many goals, but
wasn’t really given that many opportunities in which to do so, the fact that he
was able to score 93 goals in 195 appearances with Manchester United makes him
seem like a pretty great attacker to me.
B. Gabriel Batistuta – The guy that just banged them
in. There have been many great attacking
forwards since I have been alive, but not so many that were able to hit them
hard and accurately like Batigol ever did.
He didn’t play with the greatest teams during his career, but he was
still able to score goals like they were being distributed at every
moment. He scored for Argentina
56 times in just under 80 caps, and it seemed like every goal was blasted from
the spot. His style hasn’t really been
duplicated since, and for his uniqueness plus his knack for scoring so often
gets him into this category.
C. Mario Balotelli – A polarizing character to say the
least. As a player on the pitch, he is
probably one of my least favorite players that I have ever watched. He is lazy, selfish, detached and reacts
bizarrely to certain situations. But he
is a genius. He has a 100% penalty
scoring rate, which is absurd considering the amount of penalties that he has
taken over his career so far. (24 for 24
at time of writing) He has great physical size and skills and isn’t afraid of
taking a shot from anywhere on the pitch.
I would never want him to play for my favorite club because I believe
the bad outweighs the good, but damn if the good isn’t spectacular.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
The death of the agent?
With only a few days left in the summer transfer window there seems to be a theme that is prevailing throughout the European leagues, a theme that’s been missing for nearly a decade.
The contract.
In layman’s terms the contract is something that must be fulfilled and can only be broken when both parties agree it would be the best course of action. In football the contract has two different definitions for the two parties. For the team it is something that must be maintained, updated and extended whenever possible in order to get the maximum value out of every player. When you sign a player, you want it to be for its maximum length, baring older players, for the smallest amount possible. For the player you think it would be logical to sign short contracts for the most money possible but in reality it becomes 5 year deals with as much as they can get by threatening to not sign when their current contract gets down to one or two years remaining. With the huge caveat that if they want they can hand in a transfer request, and due to the ridiculous spending that some of the top teams have been accustomed to in the past decade or so, most of the players get what they want.
But it seems that a lot of that has changed this year.
It could possibly be due to financial fair play, possibly due to the major shift in managers that the biggest leagues in Europe have seen this summer, possibly because it’s a world cup year, but it seems the power has shifted back to the clubs for a little while. The biggest leagues have all seen its effects, even if it’s not as much as it should be. Wayne Rooney seemed intent on going to Chelsea but has had his hopes wiped out by a consistent (in this respect) David Moyes. Robert Lewandowski was perhaps the most public about his desire to move and was quickly stifled by Borussia Dortmund. The Luis Suarez affair took a little longer to deal with but in the end Liverpool caged their dog. And even Real Madrid had some caging to do as Fabio Coentrao handed in a transfer request, only to be told to shut up and play, unless he’s a make weight for the Garreth Bale deal.
In the end it seems as though the teams have put the players in their place for once. I do not have a problem with players leaving on a Bosman, that is the nature of a contract, but I do have a problem with them using that threat as leverage for a better contract. Instead the players seem afraid that if they are too obvious about their desire to move they won’t get a lot of playing time and will end up watching the Brazil 2014 from their couch.
I for one couldn’t be happier. The mercenary has become far too common in the European game and there seems to be a lot more players that listen to their agents than to their hearts. They piss and moan when they feel they need to be paid more and then sign 5 year deals for higher wages, only to hand in a transfer request a few months later (see Rooney/ Gerrard).
That’s not to say that I think transferring is bad, sometimes you do have to move in order to fulfill a dream (Cristiano Ronaldo), reach your potential (Anyone who’s left Benfica since 2010), or just avoid bad management (see Rafa Benitez), but if you’ve played for more than 3 teams in your senior career, you’re probably not going to be remembered for much at any of them (see Carlos Tevez).
And while I’m at it, even from a Manchester United fan, the Fellaini/Baines deal from Everton to United is not a classy proposal. If you've agreed to not raid your old team maybe stick to it or else forget about your legacy. Your word should be your word, almost like a verbal agreement or, god forbid, a contract.
The contract.
In layman’s terms the contract is something that must be fulfilled and can only be broken when both parties agree it would be the best course of action. In football the contract has two different definitions for the two parties. For the team it is something that must be maintained, updated and extended whenever possible in order to get the maximum value out of every player. When you sign a player, you want it to be for its maximum length, baring older players, for the smallest amount possible. For the player you think it would be logical to sign short contracts for the most money possible but in reality it becomes 5 year deals with as much as they can get by threatening to not sign when their current contract gets down to one or two years remaining. With the huge caveat that if they want they can hand in a transfer request, and due to the ridiculous spending that some of the top teams have been accustomed to in the past decade or so, most of the players get what they want.
But it seems that a lot of that has changed this year.
It could possibly be due to financial fair play, possibly due to the major shift in managers that the biggest leagues in Europe have seen this summer, possibly because it’s a world cup year, but it seems the power has shifted back to the clubs for a little while. The biggest leagues have all seen its effects, even if it’s not as much as it should be. Wayne Rooney seemed intent on going to Chelsea but has had his hopes wiped out by a consistent (in this respect) David Moyes. Robert Lewandowski was perhaps the most public about his desire to move and was quickly stifled by Borussia Dortmund. The Luis Suarez affair took a little longer to deal with but in the end Liverpool caged their dog. And even Real Madrid had some caging to do as Fabio Coentrao handed in a transfer request, only to be told to shut up and play, unless he’s a make weight for the Garreth Bale deal.
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One of many who were bitch slapped into place. |
I for one couldn’t be happier. The mercenary has become far too common in the European game and there seems to be a lot more players that listen to their agents than to their hearts. They piss and moan when they feel they need to be paid more and then sign 5 year deals for higher wages, only to hand in a transfer request a few months later (see Rooney/ Gerrard).
That’s not to say that I think transferring is bad, sometimes you do have to move in order to fulfill a dream (Cristiano Ronaldo), reach your potential (Anyone who’s left Benfica since 2010), or just avoid bad management (see Rafa Benitez), but if you’ve played for more than 3 teams in your senior career, you’re probably not going to be remembered for much at any of them (see Carlos Tevez).
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Remember these days? Don't feel bad. |
And while I’m at it, even from a Manchester United fan, the Fellaini/Baines deal from Everton to United is not a classy proposal. If you've agreed to not raid your old team maybe stick to it or else forget about your legacy. Your word should be your word, almost like a verbal agreement or, god forbid, a contract.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Predictions for my "Soccer Following"
Back for what should be the best season yet. And I can’t get around to watching it because my life has been overwhelmed by the lives of three young children. What I can offer you is a little glimpse into what I might believe will happen this season, but the likelier story is that I will be wrong about everything. Oh well. I won’t have the time to watch it unravel anyway.
English Premier League:
The three most entertaining stories of the off-season are coming to their conclusion rather soon. It’s amusing how all three of them come from the media gauntlet that is the English Press. Will Wayne Rooney join Chelsea? Will Gareth Bale head over to Spain? Will Luis Suarez find a dentist in London? I honestly think all three will stay with their current clubs for one more season, but I won’t be surprised when they all make moves in 2014. Wayne should have a little more negotiating power when his contract winds down to its last 12 months. Bale probably needs Real Madrid to move out one of their expensive midfielders before the price tag is finally met (Ozil, Di Maria, Modric)? Suarez won’t be sold to London it appears, but Monaco might realize they need just a little more firepower to tackle the best teams in Europe. Well, as I’m sure you are getting tired of these three dilemmas, it should be time to make some guesses.
Champion: Chelsea – Won’t be as easy as last year was for Manchester United, but their midfield could be the world’s best.
Top 4: Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Manchester City – Mancini was really good, and I don’t think they got that much better. Spurs only 3rd if Bale stays, but it’s a deep and talented squad. United looks the same, but the continuity should be enough to get them 2nd. It’s a hungry group.
Rest of Europe: F.A. Cup winner: Chelsea; League Cup winner: Everton; 5th and 6th place spots: Arsenal, Liverpool. - Chelsea was listed at 14/1 to do the domestic league and cup titles, and I seriously would consider taking that bet. Arsenal and Liverpool have the resources to move into those places if they happen to be a bit lower by Christmas, and I think Roberto Martinez’s magic continues in the other cup this time.
Safe mid-table clubs: Southampton, Everton, Swansea City, West Ham, Aston Villa, Norwich City. No one here should be threatened by relegation. Maybe the Hammers, but they look good for a top half position.
Nervous mid-table clubs: Newcastle, Fulham, Stoke City, West Bromwich, Crystal Palace. I think West Brom and Newcastle should have it wrapped up before the final weekends, but neither club really showed ambition to stay mid-table. Stoke, Palace and Fulham all may have to sweat for a little while.
Relegation teams: Cardiff City, Hull City, Sunderland. Cardiff and Sunderland definitely have the financial wherewithal to stay up in the league, but I think both managers are probably a little above their heads to stay around. I don’t think Cardiff fires Mackay, unless they are Derby poor near the end of the season. Sunderland spent, and if Jozy scores a ton, they will be safe. I bet he doesn’t. Hull is managed by Steve Bruce which is a plus, but with the extremely small squad they have, any injury crisis probably knocks them back down for a year.
Promoted teams from the Championship: Bolton, Leeds United, Charlton Athletic
Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid....um... hmm.
France: PSG, Lyon, Monaco, Marseille
Germany: Dortmund, Bayern Munich, VFL Wolfsburg, FC Schalke
Italy: Juventus, Napoli, Fiorentina, Milan
Europa League: Fiorentina v Tottenham
Champions League: Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
5 new stars to watch for:
GK – Simon Mignolet. Could push Liverpool to that 4th spot.
CB – Alvaro Dominiguez. Borussia Monchengladbach are on an up tick, and he’s one of the reasons why.
CM – Paul Pogba. Juventus won’t be able to leave him out soon.
CAM – Jonas Hofmann. Should seamlessly step into Mario Gotze’s shoes for Dortmund.
ST – Diego Costa. Should get the 25 goals that Falcao used to get for Atletico Madrid.
English Premier League:
The three most entertaining stories of the off-season are coming to their conclusion rather soon. It’s amusing how all three of them come from the media gauntlet that is the English Press. Will Wayne Rooney join Chelsea? Will Gareth Bale head over to Spain? Will Luis Suarez find a dentist in London? I honestly think all three will stay with their current clubs for one more season, but I won’t be surprised when they all make moves in 2014. Wayne should have a little more negotiating power when his contract winds down to its last 12 months. Bale probably needs Real Madrid to move out one of their expensive midfielders before the price tag is finally met (Ozil, Di Maria, Modric)? Suarez won’t be sold to London it appears, but Monaco might realize they need just a little more firepower to tackle the best teams in Europe. Well, as I’m sure you are getting tired of these three dilemmas, it should be time to make some guesses.
Champion: Chelsea – Won’t be as easy as last year was for Manchester United, but their midfield could be the world’s best.
Top 4: Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Manchester City – Mancini was really good, and I don’t think they got that much better. Spurs only 3rd if Bale stays, but it’s a deep and talented squad. United looks the same, but the continuity should be enough to get them 2nd. It’s a hungry group.
Rest of Europe: F.A. Cup winner: Chelsea; League Cup winner: Everton; 5th and 6th place spots: Arsenal, Liverpool. - Chelsea was listed at 14/1 to do the domestic league and cup titles, and I seriously would consider taking that bet. Arsenal and Liverpool have the resources to move into those places if they happen to be a bit lower by Christmas, and I think Roberto Martinez’s magic continues in the other cup this time.
Safe mid-table clubs: Southampton, Everton, Swansea City, West Ham, Aston Villa, Norwich City. No one here should be threatened by relegation. Maybe the Hammers, but they look good for a top half position.
Nervous mid-table clubs: Newcastle, Fulham, Stoke City, West Bromwich, Crystal Palace. I think West Brom and Newcastle should have it wrapped up before the final weekends, but neither club really showed ambition to stay mid-table. Stoke, Palace and Fulham all may have to sweat for a little while.
Relegation teams: Cardiff City, Hull City, Sunderland. Cardiff and Sunderland definitely have the financial wherewithal to stay up in the league, but I think both managers are probably a little above their heads to stay around. I don’t think Cardiff fires Mackay, unless they are Derby poor near the end of the season. Sunderland spent, and if Jozy scores a ton, they will be safe. I bet he doesn’t. Hull is managed by Steve Bruce which is a plus, but with the extremely small squad they have, any injury crisis probably knocks them back down for a year.
Promoted teams from the Championship: Bolton, Leeds United, Charlton Athletic
Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid....um... hmm.
France: PSG, Lyon, Monaco, Marseille
Germany: Dortmund, Bayern Munich, VFL Wolfsburg, FC Schalke
Italy: Juventus, Napoli, Fiorentina, Milan
Europa League: Fiorentina v Tottenham
Champions League: Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
5 new stars to watch for:
GK – Simon Mignolet. Could push Liverpool to that 4th spot.
CB – Alvaro Dominiguez. Borussia Monchengladbach are on an up tick, and he’s one of the reasons why.
CM – Paul Pogba. Juventus won’t be able to leave him out soon.
CAM – Jonas Hofmann. Should seamlessly step into Mario Gotze’s shoes for Dortmund.
ST – Diego Costa. Should get the 25 goals that Falcao used to get for Atletico Madrid.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Soccer Season is Near
The season is almost upon us. Lots of changes have come about since the
last few weeks of last season. None
bigger than the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson from the manager position at
Manchester United. Although I do believe
that the success or lack of for David Moyes will be one of the biggest stories
of the 2013-14 season, there are three more stories that have sparked my
interest that I would like to share thoughts about as we approach the
pre-season in European football. First,
I would like to touch on the midfield of Bayern Munich and why they felt the
need to improve what was probably already one of the top two or three best
midfields in the world. Second, I want
to take a look at the youth movement coming out of AC Milan, which is quite
unusual for a club that sees so many player careers push into their mid to late
30’s and still maintain much success.
The final discussion will cover my own reflections and analysis on why
it is so difficult to create all-time elevens, or those of just one season. Let’s welcome in the new season and hopefully
we will get a season to remember from all leagues and competitions!
Most
outsiders believed that midfielder Thiago Alcantara would either join
Manchester United or stay with Barcelona
this summer. Then at the eleventh hour,
(or the first hour, depending on what you believe) Thiago decided to join
Bayern Munich. This is a club that
already has close to ten midfielders of top quality, and one would even
consider that they have three of the world’s best in Müller, Ribery and Schweinsteiger.
Javi Martinez and Arjen Robben could also be considered in that class,
and Mario Götze, Xherdan Shaqiri and Toni Kroos are well on their way to that
level. Luiz Gustavo starts for the
Brazilian national team, and David Alaba is more than capable of covering in
the midfield. So why the luxurious
buy? Perhaps, only Pep Guardiola knows
the answer to that question. It is
rumored that he is going to introduce the 4-1-4-1 system to Bayern. This would mean that they would probably line
up like this: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng,
Dante, Alaba; Martinez ; Ribery, Götze, Schweinsteiger, Müller; Mandzukic. This would leave a bench with Thiago,
Gustavo, Robben and Kroos. Fully healthy
and firing on all cylinders, there are going to be a number of unhappy players
within the squad. Now there are still
six weeks remaining in the transfer window, and a number of clubs around the
world would surely be happy with an addition of Luiz Gustavo or Xherdan
Shaqiri. If Pep truly knows what’s best,
he may loan out one or both of those players.
Shaqiri really is an impressive talent; he demonstrated this while he
played regularly with FC Basel. Time
will tell, but I think Pep is going to have a difficult time replicating the
success of last year’s team, as well as keeping all of his midfielders
happy. And he still has Robert
Lewandowski to consider for!
AC Milan is introducing a wave of
young talent that reminds us of the quality that Manchester United introduced
in the 1990’s and that Barcelona introduced in the 2000’s. It really
shouldn’t be a surprise considering the money and prestige that AC Milan
possess in the world of football. Yet,
many are shocked about the talent coming through. For many years, AC Milan has always purchased
already proven talent, and developed a system and facility that allowed for
those players to succeed late into their careers. Players like Paolo Maldini, Gennaro Gattuso,
Filippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf and many others have benefited from this
system, and there was no reason for AC Milan to change. That is until the Champions League changed
from a technical, slow-tempo chess match to the competition it is today with
brains, brawn and full-out energy. Milan had won two titles in the mid 2000’s and also
lost a title in 2005. Yet, over the past
couple of seasons, they were getting destroyed by the likes of Manchester
United, Tottenham, Barcelona and the like.
Then, in the last couple of seasons did we start to see a change. Players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexandre
Pato and Thiago Silva were moved for large fees even though Milan didn’t buy or have already made
replacements. I, for one, was
concerned. I thought it would be the end
of the AC Milan as we knew it. And in a
way, I was correct. There started to be
a change in both attacking and defensive mindsets at the club. They weren’t afraid to send size out onto the
pitch even if it sacrificed technical ability.
They started playing 3 up front instead of the former 4-4-1-1. They introduced younger, more physical
players to combat the power of European’s top clubs. Adding to this, their purchase of Mario
Balotelli in the last transfer window, really put Milan in a position to succeed.
With a team that should be starting El Sharaawy, Niang, Balotelli, Strasser
and De Ceglie over the next couple of years, Milan has built a solid foundation on which to work
with and a team that can compete with the big, bruising sides of Europe . I
don’t expect them to overtake Juventus in Serie A, or even appear in a Champions
League semi-final, but this new ideology of theirs can get them back to the
elite class of Europe .
I have spent the last couple of months trying to create an all-time eleven
team to satisfy my own needs, and to compare with others. It seems like something easy to do; you just
pick your eleven favorite players at each particular position and then you have
yourself a squad. Except after starting,
it hasn’t been very easy at all. I have
had to take a number of things into consideration. Can I add players that I never saw play? Can I take players whose careers are just
beginning to surface? Should I consider
team chemistry when choosing a team?
Then I got to a point where I couldn’t even whittle the team down to
eleven players. I had about 60 players
that I was trying to squeeze into an eleven person squad, maybe eighteen with
the addition of subs. I began to get
annoyed. It wasn’t this hard for
basketball (Magic, Michael, LeBron, Bird, Olajuwon). My baseball line-up has been perfected (Henderson , Mauer, Ripken Jr, Ruth, Mays, Gehrig, Jackie,
Morgan). Even for football it’s pretty
dang close (Jerry Rice and all the rest).
Yet, soccer I couldn’t finish it off.
To only be able to choose 2-3 players in an attack when the world allows
for Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Romario, Del Piero, Shearer, Henry,
Klose, Batistuta, and Rooney. This is
just from my generation. There are still
plenty of other options in which to choose from. Midfield?
No chance. I had to leave Xavi,
Kaka, Ballack, Rivaldo, Vieira, Gerrard, Scholes, Lampard Figo, Pirlo and
Iniesta off my team just to name a few.
Thank God for the goalkeeper position and the fact that no one will ever
touch the gifts of Peter Schmeichel, at least through my eyes. Then I got to thinking about specific
individual seasons, as that tends to be easier.
Not really. Xavi would probably
walk into most elevens as would Messi/CR7.
After that anything goes. I
couldn’t even find room to consider John Terry, who many would name as the
greatest Chelsea CB of all-time. At
least I get to wear tinted colored glasses while I participate in this
activity. But for all you soccer fans, I
suggest you give it a try. It’s not as
easy as you think.
Schmeichel; R.Carlos,
Vidic, Rio , Thuram; Giggs, Keane, Zidane, Overmars;
Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy. Bench: Scholes, Rooney, VdS, Maldini, Robben,
Desailly, CR7.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The Final
The Final
I hope
I don’t have to say which final it is that I am discussing as there is only one
'big' game that matters in sports in the month of May. I am excited to say that this Saturday brings
us a European Cup Final that I have personally been waiting for since my
exchange experience in Germany back in the 1999-2000 school year. On exchange, I was sent to Dortmund on my
exchange, and my interest in soccer/football went up tenfold. The fans there are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,
maybe outside of the Dortmund-Galatasaray (gala fans) fixture I went to that season. It’s usually 75,000 strong, and it’s loud and
passionate and just an absolutely fantastic atmosphere. It was the first time in my life that I
recognized that being a fan of your favorite team meant more than the simple
pleasure of enjoying the sport. It was a
lifestyle.
That
being said, I can still look at this game from beyond my yellow tinted glasses.
Living in Dortmund it was only natural
to dislike Bayern Munich. For everything
that they stood for, and beyond that. Coming
back to the states and not experiencing that disgust on a weekly basis though, I
really learned to appreciate how Bayern plays and how they manage and react to
organizational success. They don’t care
how fans and the media view their club, and they always do what’s in their
clubs own best interests. They have no
concern for the league, or the country, and certainly not the fan base. For better or worse, it’s what makes them so
successful. And it’s what has put them
in this position today; a third Champions League Final appearance in four
seasons.
This
clash is probably one of the biggest matches in the history of German
football. Dortmund will be hard pressed
to get back to this summit with their current squad; many of the players are
expected to be leaving over the next couple of seasons. Mario Götze is already leaving for Bayern
Munich after the game. Dortmund have
changed their brand significantly over the last couple of seasons; they used to
challenge with Bayern style money. Once
their club’s finances hit the skids and they were close to bankruptcy, did they
decide to build from the ground up and create one of the great youth academies
on the entire continent. Bayern’s legacy
will also be challenged during this affair.
They haven’t won a Champions League Final since 2001; in fact they have
lost in three of their last four final appearances. A lot of their players have made Bayern their
summit, and with their philosophical change after the hire of Pep Guardiola,
the former great Barcelona manager, a number of these current players could be
gone after the season. Arjen Robben is
viewed in most circles as a rather selfish player, and it appears that Götze will
be his direct replacement. Boateng,
Gomez and Pizarro could all be replaced as well. This has been a dominant domestic side this
year, but they wouldn’t have brought in Guardiola if they weren’t prepared for
some change.
I see the game
playing out one of two ways. The first
way is how most domestic clubs continental matchups go, which is boring and
unconnected. No team wants to lose to a
big rival, and no player (or manager) wants to take it upon himself to be the
hero. A la 2003 European final between
Juventus and Milan which was a bore 0-0 draw.
In 2000, Madrid was just superior to Valencia in every way, and the
game was almost an afterthought beyond halftime. The 2008 match between Manchester United and
Chelsea had its moments, but outside of Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational header,
and Drogba’s casual slap, it rather lacked creativity and passion. The other direction this game could go is a barn burner in which both
teams attempt to attack the same way they decided to against the Spanish sides
in the semi-finals, and we get a 4-3 classic. I believe that the
game will attempt to begin in this fashion as both teams sense their own
confidence in being capable of winning the match. Bayern
went this route last year, and just couldn’t get the goals to finish off
Chelsea. But no fan doubted who was the
better side that day. I can't remember specifically, but I think they outshot Chelsea 28-5 on the day. Dortmund knows
that their legacy with these kids is going to soon end, as there is too much
money in the sport now to keep this group of talented players intact. Bayern’s overall dominance is reason enough
to give Dortmund all they can handle. I
think that with Götze officially out of the game, and with Javi Martinez and
Bastian Schweinsteiger playing magnificently during these last few weeks, that
Bayern will get the best of Dortmund in an open match, 3-1.
Borusssia Dortmund player to watch: Robert Lewandowski. Stud. Scored 4 goals in the home leg against Real
Madrid in the semi, and will be in different colors next season. Ideally in Rooney’s #10 shirt.
Bayern Munich player to watch: Javi Martinez. I would’ve picked Philip Lahm, but I have
every round, so it’s time for someone new.
Javi is the defensive-midfield version of Zidane. Elegant on the ball and a great, all-around
understanding of the game.
Probable Lineups:
Dortmund 4-2-3-1
GK –Weidenfeller
LB – Schmelzer
CB – Hummels (if he’s healthy)
CB – Subotic (if he’s healthy)
RB – Piszczek
DM – Gündogan
DM – Bender
LM – Großkruetz
CM – Reus
RM – Blaszczykowski
ST – Lewandowski
LB – Schmelzer
CB – Hummels (if he’s healthy)
CB – Subotic (if he’s healthy)
RB – Piszczek
DM – Gündogan
DM – Bender
LM – Großkruetz
CM – Reus
RM – Blaszczykowski
ST – Lewandowski
Bayern 4-2-3-1
GK – Neuer
LB – Alaba
CB – Boateng
CB – Dante
RB – Lahm
DM – Martinez
DM – Schweinsteiger
LM – Ribery
CF – Müller
RM – Robben
ST – Mandzukic
GK – Neuer
LB – Alaba
CB – Boateng
CB – Dante
RB – Lahm
DM – Martinez
DM – Schweinsteiger
LM – Ribery
CF – Müller
RM – Robben
ST – Mandzukic
It would’ve been interesting to see if Toni Kroos would’ve had a place
in the final before his season ending injury.
I think this is their best line-up even though I rate Kroos very
highly. Mario Gomez will be brought on
if they are down, as will Schieber if Dortmund is in the same situation. Should be pretty straight forward. Dortmund did pass the animal test for those
of you that know the history of Paul and the German obsession with his success.
Enjoy the match, and until next season, goodbye readership!
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