Soccer News & Product Reviews For Football Fanatics

Lukas Podolski Headed to England this Summer?

2012-02-18T14:28:00.000-08:00

The Polish born German international, Lukas Podolski, has largely failed to live up to the hype that encircled him during the 2006 Fifa World Cup. At that time, the powerful striker was 21 and seemed destined for greatness. He had just completed a move to German powerhouse Bayern Munich and played as a starter on the national team. He scored three goals in the tournament, developed a shoe line, and was well poised for stardom.

However, his recent years seem to threaten that he was just another flash in the youth pan. His Munich career began quite well, as he scored 12 goals in 33 appearances, often being used from the bench. But he was never truly ingratiated into the starting lineup, and he missed time because of injuries. Italian giant, Luca Toni was brought to the club, and Podolski became the third wheel behind Toni and Miroslav Klose.

In 2009, Podolski was sent back to F.C. Cologne and has since fallen by the wayside. The club has not been very competitive in the Bundesliga, and Podolski has struggled to accumulate goals. In recent times, he has begun criticizing the club for failing to deliver upon promises about the team’s efforts to attract talent. Now it seems as if the club is going to fine him for the public disapproval. It seems as if his time in Germany is drawing to a close as he wants to move abroad.

The struggling Premier League team, Arsenal, is the team heavily linked to Podolski. They already have a clear-cut #1 striker in Dutchman Robin van Persie, but he could use a partner. Also, talk has emerged that Van Persie is unsettled and could be on the way out. As his contract expires in the summer of 2013, he could be sold elsewhere and leaving the Gunners scrambling for a replacement.

Podolski needs a change of scenery. Cologne has proved to be too small a fish in the turbulent sea of the Bundesliga. The player has spoken of his frustration as year after year, the team repeatedly finds itself in the heart of the relegation battle. Perhaps Arsenal can be the side to reinvigorate the once promising career. Arsene Wenger has been known to pluck talents whose careers have stagnated. One must only look to Thierry Henry as an example.

Perhaps this is the perfect match for the German striker. He has heaps of international experience in the big games on his side. He is still relatively young at 26, and he will be available at a bargain price. There’s no secret he is ready to move, and his stock has fallen tremendously since he was purchased by Bayern Munich in 2006. His rocket of a shot and nose for goal can still spark this career to greatness.

Arsenal Fans Divided over Wenger

2012-02-16T08:05:00.001-08:00

Arsenal’s recent 4-0 loss in the first-round of their Champions League matchup against AC Milan has added more fuel to an already simmering rift between Gunner fans. Ever since the heartbreaking departure of both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal fans have been passionately divided over whether boss Arsene Wenger should remain at the club.

Although there have been a few bright moments, and Arsenal currently holds the valuable fourth position in the EPL table, it has been another dismal season, and fans are becoming furious.

Poor performances from new signings Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, and the especially disastrous Per Mertesacker have put into question Wenger’s ability to find reliable players to fill the huge voids being left throughout Arsenal’s lineup. To make matters worse, Wenger refused to make any significant signings in the most recent transfer window, despite being pitifully shorthanded on defense (among other positions).

Over the years, Arsene Wenger has remained stubbornly defiant against popular media and fan criticism, and he’s failed to acknowledge some of the team’s most obvious deficiencies (remember his unflinching faith in Fabianski?), preaching his philosophy of training young or unheralded talent in the “Arsenal Way.” Unfortunately, once trained, many of these rising stars are simply sold to larger clubs (Henry, Toure, Clichy, Nasri, Fabregas...and now van Persie?).

To compound his problems, Wenger has made a series of unpopular lineup gaffs that have seen Oxlade Chamberlain exit early (to be replaced by the hugely unpopular Arshavin) during the recent Manchester United match, and fielded a very conservative squad against AC Milan.

Wenger’s supporters faithfully back the manager and insist that he’s still the best man for the job despite their recent struggles. They point to his amazing record of keeping the club in the top four ever since joining Arsenal, and they make the good point that the club’s spending purse is drastically smaller than Manchester City’s, Manchester United’s, and Chelsea’s.

Pro-Wenger fans also note that the club’s finances are healthy and that the club steadily gains a profit even while many Premier League clubs are sinking in debt (even some of the “big clubs”). They also suggest that Arsenal’s murky system of administrative leadership often mistakenly paint Wenger as the “bad guy” even though he may not even have the authority to make such decisions. For example, while many of the larger clubs allow their managers to solely make personnel and transfer decisions, Arsenal’s board of directors and unique ownership model may actually restrict Wenger’s freedom to make such moves, and when the ownership fails to make a “big buy” or “transfer move,” the blame often falls to Wenger since he’s the most public face of Arsenal.

Although Wenger’s popularity continues to wane with each passing defeat, one has to wonder what Arsenal would look like under a different manager. If things continue to get worse for the Gunners, we may find out sooner than we think.

Prioritizing the Premier League's Competitions

2012-02-02T10:09:00.001-08:00

It can become painfully obvious a few weeks after opening day that most Premier League teams wont have what it takes to win the title, and by midseason the race has usually dwindled down to just a handful a clubs. Fortunately, the Premier League— like many other international soccer leagues—has an array of competitions still worth competing for.

The league title is every coach’s and fan’s first priority, but here is a ranking of which competitions come next:

1. Champions League

The Champions League is arguably the best and most exclusive competitive soccer tournament in the entire world (including the World Cup). Only the very elite clubs can qualify, and the level of play is breathtaking. Winning the tournament often associates a club with being the world’s best team.

Financial incentives are also lucrative. Making it into the tournament equates to millions of dollars in revenue. If clubs are fortunate enough to reach the latest stages, they can accumulate close to €3 million per match. Last year, runners-up Manchester United earned about €50 million.

2. FA Cup

Within the Premier League, the FA Cup is the most prestigious domestic competition. Open to nearly any professional team in England and Wales, the competition involves hundreds of teams. Started in 1871, it can boast to being one of the world’s first ever soccer tournaments, and is especially famous (and enticing) for having smaller clubs eliminating the league’s “big clubs.” The prize money for the winner nears close to €1 million, and even though this is far less than the Champions League, it’s nearly double that of the Carling Cup.

3. Carling Cup

Although the format is somewhat similar to the FA Cup, the Carling Cup (also called the “Football League Cup”) is smaller than the FA Cup and has a reduced financial prize: €500,000. Over the years—due to Arsene Wenger’s tradition (along with other managers) of benching first-team players—the Carling Cup has lost its prestige and now serves as a tournament that showcases young talent and second-string players.

Top teams still competing for the league title and other more important tournaments will usually rest their top players during the Carling Cup, making the tournament far less appealing to both fans and media alike.

4. Europa League

The UEFA Europa League is essentially a “poor man’s” Champions League. The Europa League is formatted similar to the Champions League, but the qualifying clubs consist of teams not good enough to play in the Champions League.

In the Premier League, the three qualifying spots for the Europa League are determined by the winners of the FA Cup, the Carling Cup, and whoever is in the fifth spot on the league table.

5. Earning a Top Four Finish (and the Fifth Position)

If a team is no longer in the running for any tournaments, they will definitely want to be in the one of the top four spots of the league table when the season ends in order to qualify for the Champions League. Although the fifth position is far less lucrative, it still earns a berth into the Europa League.

6. Avoiding Relegation

For teams having a nightmarish season, a manager’s priorities become focused on survival. The bottom three teams in the Premier League are relegated to the lower Football League Championship. Not only do relegated clubs lose the honor being in one of the world’s top soccer leagues, but they lose close to €20 million in lost television revenue. For most clubs, this financial shortfall is a harsh hit, and it can take years to recoup such losses.

The beauty of the Premier League is that even if your favorite club isn’t competing for the title, they are most likely involved in either one or more of the above scenarios. This multifaceted structure of competition makes watching soccer one of the most unique, entertaining, and popular sporting events in the entire world.

Barcelona Continues To Dominate Real Madrid

2012-01-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is determined to keep fighting on and take it to Barcelona despite his team being down 2-1 heading into their Spanish Copa del Rey second leg clash. Mourinho has tried all kinds of tactics, intimidation, dirty tactics, ref-baiting, but nothing has seemed to work. It seems as if Barcelona gets the better of Real Madrid every single time, no matter what the circumstances are. Athletically Real Madrid boasts some of the greatest footballers on the planet, with players such as Ronaldo, Kaka, and many others, while everyone knows about Barcelona's talent, having talents such as Lionel Messi, or Xavi, but from a technical standpoint it seems as if Barcelona has much more team chemistry, and much more flow to their attack than Barcelona. Perhaps, their talented players compliment each other better, or maybe Messi is really that good at making everyone else around that much better, whatever the case may be, it seems as if Real Madrid cannot beat Barcelona. Jose Mourinho insists his club is just as good, if not better than Barcelona, arguing that Barcelona gets the better treatment from the referees, and that Barcelona puts much more emphasis on their matches. However, all of these are excuses, and if Mourinho truly believes his club is better they better start showing it.

Liverpool's Downfall

2012-01-18T22:37:00.000-08:00

In a world that bombards us with constant media updates, blogs, streaming news, and a litany of memes, it’s hard to remember things that occurred a week ago, let alone a year. So it’s easy for forget the glory days of Liverpool, only about a decade ago, when they were the kings of English soccer.

It was in 2001 that Liverpool won the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Cup, completing the elusive “Treble.” In 2004/05, Liverpool won the Champions League, and during that wonderful span of five years—maybe the only point in history—and even up until 2007, the city of Liverpool was perhaps more famous for its football club than the “Fab Five,” and instead of some Beatles hit, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was the only song locals cared about.

The Reds were known for their distinctively English style of play: rough, technical, and stingy. They tackled hard, were scrappy, and always left opponents with more than a few black and blue bruises to remember them by.

So what happened? Liverpool’s top four status was virtually assured until the team suddenly took a nose dive during the 2009/10 season. There are two theories to the club’s downfall.

The first theory is that poor ownership and financial mismanagement ruined the club. The American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks took over the club in 2007, and foreign ownership was the first sign that the club was already losing some of its signature English identity. To this day, many supporters blame American stewardship as the main reason for Liverpool’s demise.

But in 08/09, Liverpool actually had its highest point total in the Premier League (86), and just barely got edged out for the title by Manchester United (90). Much of the success was due to the stellar play of newcomer Fernando Torres, and suddenly, Liverpool looked like a team heading in the right direction.

But Liverpool’s tactics were slowly changing, and Torres exemplified the new fast-paced, aggressive, and progressive new look that strayed away from Liverpool’s traditional defensive, stingy, and tough English style of football. This new attacking mindset is the second theory of why the team has struggled.

Things quickly started to collapse The ownership changed, and Fenway Sports Group—a distinctly American Investment group, the same group that owns the Boston Red Sox—took over. Suddenly, the Reds were turning into the Red-White-and-Blues. To make matters even worse, Lebron James, who at the time was known as a cocky, arrogant, NBA loser, made a high-profile investment in the club.

Even before the Fenway group takeover, Liverpool looked like a team struggling to find its persona. Torres’ production slipped, he got injured, and Liverpool were dropping points and falling down the table.

In the 2009/10 season, the Reds ended up in 7th place (63 points), and after the 10/11 campaign they finished 6th but with 5 fewer points (58). Instead of shifting strategies, the new American owners continued to reinforce their offensive firepower, signing Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez.

This current season started out great, with Suarez seeming to score at will. Unfortunately, Suarez had a penchant for diving, and his “soft” style of playing seemed to infect the entire squad. Liverpool had come full circle. Once a tough English club that prided itself for being unbreakable, the club was suddenly flopping all over the field.

Then Suarez racially abused Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, and Liverpool’s reputation went from bad to worse. Not only did the club refuse to aggressively investigate the allegations, but they outwardly continued to support Suarez, even after the FA disciplinary committee issued a stern eight game ban.

The racism row turned into a media frenzy, and Liverpool’s front office blundered through the ordeal, refusing to publicly discipline Suarez, denied Evra’s claims, and even allowed fellow teammates to wear t-shirts supporting Suarez despite strong evidence that Suarez did use racist slogans. Somehow, Liverpool failed to comprehend the seriousness of the situation and continued to deny any wrongdoing. Instead of doing damage control, the team’s image took a major hit, and Suarez’s ban hurts their chances of making this year’s top four.

As it stands right now, Liverpool can no longer be considered a powerhouse team in the Premier League. In many ways, Manchester City’s ascension has reworked the top of the table and essentially kicked out Liverpool from being considered elite. The two Manchester sides, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal are now the “Big Clubs” of the Premier League, and it’s looking as if Liverpool’s current 7th spot might be their new long term spot within the league table not only for this season, but for years to come.

Remembering The Great Luis Figo of Portugal

2012-01-17T15:40:00.000-08:00

Luis Figo was a charismatic player who played with a charm that was rarely seen in other players. There was something magnetic about the way Figo played, and the way he captured people's attention. Although, he was not the best, or most talented player ever, he could perhaps, hold the recognition of being the most magnetic. Figo's biggest contributions came to the Spanish League. He was one of the few players who played for both Barcelona, and Real Madrid, and was adored by both fans. Although, Luis Figo never achieved international success while playing for his native Portugal, he is still regarded as a national hero. He came at a time when Portugese football was probably in its heyday, with the likes of Rui Costa, and Joao Pinto, along with Luis Figo, unfortunately, never won any kind of international trophy. He did though, earn over 100 appearances for Portugal, and treated the world to some fantastic goals. Figo ended his career with Inter at the age of 36, leaving on a high note by winning his 4th consecutive Scudetto at Inter. In his playing career, he was named Portugese footballer of the year, an astonishing 6 straight times, and was named Fifa player of the year once. He also won 4 Spanish League titles, 2 with Barca, and 2 with Real Madrid, and a Champions League title with the latter club. Luis Figo was a charismatic talent, and remembering his presence alone brings back so many memories.

Ballon d'Or Preview: Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi

2012-01-16T17:24:00.000-08:00

Ronaldo:

Pros:
Ronaldo is having a magnificent year, and he leads all goal scorers in La Liga with 20 (three more than Messi). Over the last few years, Ronaldo has routinely been considered second best to Messi simply because Barcelona had defeated Real in almost every competition, but the tables are slowly starting to turn, and with Real becoming increasingly competitive, Ronaldo’s stock has also risen.

Statistically, if not yet reputation-wise, Ronaldo is just as good as Messi (sometimes even better), and his national team career with Portugal is slightly more impressive even though he lacks the same star-studded support that Messi has the luxury of having with Argentina.

Cons:
His popularity and media presence is still overshadowed by Messi, and his Portugal team can’t boast of any recent major accomplishments.

Xavi:

Pros:
The Spaniard has the luxury of having a better international record than both Messi and Ronaldo, and Spain is the defending World Cup and European Champion, and is ranked first by FIFA.

Cons:
Few consider Xavi a better player than his Barcelona teammate Messi (and many wouldn’t even consider him Barcelona’s second, third, or fourth best player) or league counterpart Ronaldo. He’s only 13th on La Liga’s scoring list, and 5th in assists—unexceptional numbers. To make matters worse, he lacks the worldwide recognition that both Messi and Ronaldo have.

Conclusion:
Messi is favored to win his third straight Ballon d’Or, but nobody would be surprised if Ronaldo won his second. But FIFA is known for making controversial decisions, so even though Xavi is considered a heavy underdog, anything is possible. Regardless of who wins, this year’s top three finalists all hail from La Liga, which is drawing the ire from critics across the globe...but that is a conversation for another day.

Looking Ahead To Euro 2012

2012-01-12T19:48:00.000-08:00

Looking ahead to Euro 2012 there are many teams which have a decent shot of winning it all, but only three, so far have emerged as the frontrunners. Spain, Germany, and Netherlands have emerged as the early favorites to win it all. Looking first at Spain, winners of the last two major international tournaments, Euro 2008, and the 2010 World Cup, they go into Euro 2012 as the unquestioned odds on favorite to win it all. They had an excellent qualifying campaign, and have extreme depth and talent in all areas of the game. They are led by international superstars Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, and Sergio Ramos. And even though, David Villa recently broke his leg, Spain is still considered the favorite to win it all. Germany is the wildcard, because although, they have gained some steam in the last few years, and had a perfect qualifying campaign, it remains to be seen if they can be counted on. They are still relatively young, led by the dominant striker Miroslav Klose. Another team that has a chance to win it all is the Netherlands, if they can perhaps erase the stigma of their disgraceful performance in the 2010 World Cup final against Spain . Judging by their qualifying tournament which saw them score 37 goals in 10 games, it looks like they have erased that memory. However, the Netherlands are also a bit of a mystery. It is looking like more and more of a Spain repeat.

Football vs. Football: Differences in Fan Intrusions

2012-01-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

In the realm of professional soccer games, there is a constant observance of the two sports, football and soccer. Seemingly, these two games repeatedly are seen as total opposites of each other. One played with feet, one with hands. One demands constant replays and call reviews, while one cherishes the controversial decisions in the heat of the moment. Both sports, to me, are very entertaining. Another difference that has appeared in recent weeks is how they deal with fan interference.

This last December, in a Dutch match between AZ Alkmaar and Ajax, a wild fan leapt onto the field and lunged at the goalie, Esteban Alvarado. In response the goalie attempted a leaping kick and then proceeded to kick the man while he was on the ground. The referee came over and pulled out a red card for the goalie and he was sent off. In a ridiculous turn of events, the manager of Alkmaar pulled his entire team off of the field and the game was cancelled. Nothing like a good moment of controversy, is there?Contrast this to last week, when an overly-excited Green Bay Packer fan ran onto to the field. All the cameras pulled away from the fan and the only video of the incident comes in the form of a shaky hand-held video shot by a fan in the stands. The 15 year old intruder ran around in glee, and as security members struggled to capture him, Packers linebacker, Brad Jones, wrapped his arms around the boy and threw him to the ground. The crowd erupted in cheers and the lad was taken away. The game resumed and no one outside of the stadium even knew the event took place until hours after the game when the video surfaced. Brad Jones was not punished.So why did these events produce such contrasting reactions? Well, in truth, they were entirely different events. In the soccer match, the pitch invader was clearly looking for a fight as he approached the opposition’s goalie. In the football game, the fan was simply enjoying a jolly lap around the field. But why was there punishment for the goalie? He decided to fight back. He kicked the man when he was down, and players simply cannot do that to fans. Brad Jones left the scene immediately after bringing down the fan, as he simply wanted to get the game going again because he was cold.

So what did we learn here? I feel that these events reflect the opposing feelings on moments of debate within the two sports: Was the ref in the right? Maybe the goalie should have strangled the player, I mean, he was an opposing fan. Or maybe the goalie could have been punished with a fine after the game. It is tough, how can an away player who attacked a fan be allowed to stay in a game? Not surprisingly, his one game suspension for the red card was lifted in the wake of the ensuing drama and fans had tons to argue about after the match. Soccer thrives on this stuff.Contrastingly, football is entirely about the sport. Clearly Brad Jones’ assault was much less violent, but it amazes me how the incident wasn’t even covered at all, because in actuality it is a non-event. People don’t watch football to see fans do silly things; they want to see touchdowns and exciting hits. The decisions of controversy are clearly something that instills interest in soccer, and something that the NFL wishes not to deal with.

Should The LA Galaxy Sign David Beckham Again?

2012-01-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

After months of speculation, it appears David Beckham will sign with the L.A. Galaxy and turn down a chance to play elsewhere. Beckham had a few options, such as returning home to England, and finishing his career in his backyard, or playing for Paris Saint-German, a club which wanted him badly. Unfortunately, it appears as he will re-sign with the Galaxy. Although, nothing has been officially announced yet, it appears he will re-sign with the Galaxy, because there are simply no other options for him. Beckham, 36 joined the Galaxy in 2007, after a stint in Real Madrid to a huge contract. The Galaxy signed him to a 5 year, 32.5 million dollar contract, and after 2 disappointing seasons, helped lead the club to two MLS cup appearances, highlighted by them winning the 2011 edition. He has also improved home and road attendance, helped improve Galaxy jersey sales, and slightly raised the value of MLS soccer. However, ultimately his presence in the U.S. has failed to live up to the massive expectations placed upon him. A part of that is the fact that Beckham is simply not a top level player anymore, which is why big clubs shied away from signing him. Although his marketing presence is still large globally, he is on-field performance is no longer on par with the top players. It remains to be seen how much Galaxy are looking to play him this time around, although it seems like it would be far less than the first time around. Either way, we will probably be seeing Beckham in a Galaxy shirt for a few more years.

How Good Could Romario Of Brazil Have Been?

2011-12-21T18:21:00.000-08:00

Although Brazilian soccer legend Romario is often described as one of the greatest players ever, rarely is his name mentioned in the top 5 or even in the top 10 players of all time. However, in his prime Romario was probably a top 5 player of all time. Such was his ability, that the great Johan Cruyff described him as "a genius of the goal area." Romario is probably the best finisher in the goal area of his generation, and that is saying a lot, because players like Roberto Baggio, Hristo Stoichkov, and Rivaldo all played around the same time, but as a pure goal scorer, Romario is probably the best.

The problem is, he did not remain at the top of world football for long enough, out of his own choice. After winning the Dutch League in 1992 and 1992 he moved to FC Barcelona in 1993. His first year in Spain saw him become the top goal scorer with an impressive 30 goals in 33 matches. In 1994, he competed for the winning team Brazil in the World Cup in Atlanta, in which Baggio missed that infamous penalty which eventually resulted in Brazil winning it all; that same Brazil team incidentally had a 17 year old Ronaldo on the team, however he barely played. Romario chose to leave Europe in 1995 after a disappointing season with Barcelona that was marred by injuries and personal issues.

A short and disappointing season with Valencia followed, and Romario was left out of the Brazil World Cup squad in 1998 in a strange and surprise twist. It was rumored that Romario had a falling out with the head coach, but it was never confirmed. He was also left out of the 2002 squad which further speculated that there were some behind the scene issues. Romario finished his career playing for numerous clubs in Brazil, and had a spell in the MLS with Miami FC in 2006, where he set a MLS record with 19 goals in just 25 appearances. Looking back on Romario's career had he played in the 1998 and the 2002 World Cup, he probably would wind up as one of the top 5 players of all time.

Andre Villa-Boas to Retain Job, For This Week

2011-12-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

Chelsea’s rogue owner, Roman Abramovich, has historically shown no mercy to his managers when results don’t meet his satisfaction. Names like Avram Grant, Luis Felipe Scolari and even the self proclaimed special one, Jose Mourinho have all fell prey to the wrath of the ambitious owner. With hard losses to Arsenal, Liverpool, and Bayern Leverkusen, current manager Andre Villa-Boas seemed only destined to be next.
With their Premier League title hopes fading fast and an all or nothing match against Valencia to decide their Champions League fate, Chelsea finally put their right foot forward. The 3-0 victory has restored some sense of order in the West London club, and Villa-Boas has now taken it upon himself to accuse the media of “persecution”.
In some ways he is correct, as his job has been declared by some to be practically over already. The poor recent run of form is unacceptable for a club of such powerful standing, but soccer is a sport of maintaining form, and even the best teams go through struggles during the brutal 60 match season. But if Villa-Boas thinks that this win alone justifies lambasting the media, he is dead wrong.
In our modern world, a victory is only celebrated until the next match. And after that, work begins anew. Chelsea have dug themselves a ten point hole in the EPL table, and will need to quickly remedy their team for the hectic winter fixtures. These fixtures include an all important match against league leaders, Manchester City, and a trip across town to Tottenham. Both teams are ahead in the table, and if Chelsea loses more ground in the race, barely progressing to the knockout phase of the Champions League may not be enough.
Players like Fernando Torres and captain John Terry need to quickly step up their game. They are missing chances left and tackles and right. The players have looked old and lazy, only a shell of the former ruthless powerhouse they once were. Mistakes at the back are costing them points, and could still easily cost Villa-Boas his job.
As we enter the holiday fixture madness, the Chelsea manager can sleep easy for tonight. But if this victory does not lead to a great run of form and a re-introduction into the Premier League title race, his job will be lost before the New Year. I like the man, and think he can be successful at Chelsea, but his team needs to prove it now, or he may never get another shot.

Who Will Win FIFA Player Of The Year Award?

2011-12-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

For this year's Fifa world player of the year award Lionel Messi will be up against his Barcelona teammate Xavi Fernandez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi has won the award the past two years; Messi and Ronaldo have each scored 17 league goals this season and it appears the award has come down to these two men. There are many experts and pundits who are picking Ronaldo to win it this year, because for all of Messi's accomplishments at Barcelona this year, he has far greater help than Ronaldo does. Perhaps, the player of the year trophy will come down to this Saturday when Messi's Barcelona faces Ronaldo's Real Madrid. Maybe, it is time to give Ronaldo the trophy, or maybe Xavi could steal, all we could do is wait and see.

Carlos Tevez: Player/Coach Relationships

2011-12-05T08:15:00.000-08:00

A year ago, Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez was considered one of the greatest soccer players in the world. Along with Dimitar Berbatov, Tevez led the English Premier League with 20 goals, and was made captain of a club that had innumerable wealth and was positioning itself to be the next world superpower.

Then, just as Manchester City seemed to have everything going for them, Tevez’s life started to unravel, and instead of going down quietly, he decided to take the team with him. Eventually, during a pivotal Champions League match against Bayern Munich, Tevez reportedly refused to come off the bench and play when asked by coach Roberto Mancini, and Tevez hit rock bottom.

The story of Tevez should serve as a warning to players, coaches, and team organizations around the world that sometimes even the best talent must be sacrificed for the benefit of the team. Tevez is the perfect example of why professional teams bypass the “Can’t-miss Superstar” during the first round of drafts because the risks outweigh the rewards.

Is Tevez’s career over? I doubt it, but his stock has plummeted, and due to the way he’s interacted with his coach, fellow players, and media, his worth has taken a large hit.

Athletes who are watching this spectacle as it continues to unfold should take note of a valuable lesson that could ultimately help safeguard their sporting careers: respect authority.

History’s best athletes were extremely confident and sometimes egotistic, but they all succeeded to manage their emotions and control themselves enough to follow their coach’s instructions. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant learned the value of trusting Phil Jackson to construct a winning game-plan. Derek Jeter adhered to the signs being given from Joe Torre and Joe Girardi, and Tom Brady in now the NFL’s best quarterback simply because he follows the genius of Bill Bilichick.

Sure, not every coach is perfect, and we all remember the times when our youth basketball coach drew up the game’s final play in order to ensure that his son took the final shot even though he was the worst kid on the team. And we’ve all felt bitter about the third-base coach who frantically waved us home only for us to be thrown out by a mile.

Yes, sometimes athletes do know better than the coach, but overstepping authority is a dangerous game to play. Remember Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees? Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez had a 5-2 lead in the eighth, but he was obviously tired and had already thrown over 120 pitches, so like any good coach, manager Grady Little jogged out of the dugout with the intent of handing the game over to his bullpen. But then the television cameras caught an emotional Martinez passionately arguing with Little, convincing the coach he could still play. Ok, fine, Little concedes, and the Yankees scorch Martinez and end up making a miraculous comeback to win the series.

Sure, Little could have gotten into a heated argument in front of millions of viewers and basically tackled Martinez to the ground and dragged him out of the game, but it was a classic moment of an athlete not trusting his coach, and in the end they both paid the price.

When it comes down to it, most professional athletes will always believe they’re better than somebody else for any given game situation, but in the end, the coach gets paid to make those decisions. Don’t let coaching decisions and game mismanagement unravel you. People can spot talent whether a team is winning or losing, and despite horrible coaching. What people hate to see is someone being disrespectful.

LA Galaxy's David Beckham Is Still A Marketing Bonanza!

2011-12-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

While it is obvious that David Beckham is no longer a top player, he still remains a marketing bonanza, with teams like Paris Saint-Germain's reported offer of 17.9 million to prove it. However, many fans are are left wondering, how does someone who is not even a top 50 payer in the world still remain such a box office draw. The answer is pretty simple, really with a celebrity status that is up there with the Beatles, along with his famous good looks, and along with his wife Victoria Beckham make up one of the most famous couples in the world; The guy is practically a king in England. However, the question remains, with his soccer abilities declining, evidenced by his recent games as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, for how long can teams keep throwing money at Becks, until he's 40? What is the goal of bringing in a guy that has shown that although he remains a marketing bonanza, has yet to sell his sport to the world like Pele, or even Maradona once did. However, like the Galaxy did before, I'm sure someone will take a huge gamble on Beckham again.

Argentina Trying To Match The Past!

2011-12-01T18:37:00.000-08:00

Although the Argentinian national team of today is considered a great, perhaps even one of the contenders for the 2014 World Cup if everything falls into place, however they will always have to compete with the teams of the past, and that is a heavy burden to carry. This Argentinian team relies on Messi's talents, and technical ability along with great teamwork, and precise passing orchestrated by coach Alejandro Sabella. But Argentina has not shown enough football lately to please all the purists, particularly the characters of the past. Cesar Luis Menotti is one of the most recognized voices in Argentinian football, and he has gone on record recently chastising their play, saying how their play is not as aesthetically pleasing as the teams of the past. It is the perfect illustration of how tradition can weigh down like a burden. Comparing this Argentinian team to the ones of the past that featured Diego Maradona is simply unfair, because of eras, styles, and simply that this team can gain an identity of its own. Let's just all give Messi and Argentina a break.

Defining Weeks Ahead For Manchester City

2011-11-24T23:08:00.000-08:00

Manchester City have become a proud club. Their foreign owners, AKA daddies, have invested a multitude of their fortunes into the Blue clad section of Manchester. They have run the club an annual debt of $300 million to restore order in their town. Fancy foreign men from far off lands grace the sidelines of their stands, and the grass field in their stadium.
Everything has gone to plan. Countless teams have crumbled in their mighty presence, Tottenham away (5-1), United away (6-1). Not one team in England has managed to beat them. Champions’ League play has been unspectacular, with losses to Bayern Munich and Napoli, but they still have a chance of progressing to the knockout rounds. Besides, they’re not used to the Champions League. It is only their first year in the tournament and their focus should be towards the Premier League crown.
The coming weeks ahead are daunting. A quick read of the fixtures ahead shows 5 major matches of their next 6. First is a trip to Anfield, followed by a date with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Carling Cup. A home match to Norwich should provide some rest. Manchester City next faces an all or nothing Champions League match with Bayern Munich, a tangle at Stamford Bridge, and a grand finale Premier League home fixture vs. Arsenal.
The matches will take place at a frantic 2 match per week pace and will be over by Dec. 18^th, leaving you plenty of time to pick up a fresh new Balotelli jersey to place under the tree. Or better yet, grab that jersey you already bought, wrap yourself up in that blue and white scarf, and cling on for dear life…If Manchester City stumbles here their entire season is in jeopardy.
With a 5 point cushion atop the table they can barely afford to slip up, and would let everybody well back into the race. Teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool lie 12 points behind Manchester City. A rough run of form could leave these teams a mere 3 points behind the current leaders. With roughly half the season left, the race could truly be on.
It will be difficult going, up in the cold reaches of England. Darkness will prevail overhead, the bright lights, the cold breeze, and the weird spots on everyone’s chests. Winter is upon us and this will make even harder going for the new faces in the side, who are used to the mild winter climates of La Liga and Serie A.
This is the time to be the big boys. This is the time for Manchester City to prove all the doubters wrong. And this will be the time they falter and break. Points will be lost, children will cry, and men will stare in disbelief. Manchester City faces their toughest weeks ahead and will be tested greatly. Enjoy!

Is Barcelona's David Villa the Best Striker in the World?

2011-11-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

David Villa, one of the world's greatest strikers who is the main weapon for reigning world cup champion Spain, as well as Barcelona's weapon remains an enigma, because it remains to be seen how good is he really. There are already those that are calling him the best striker in the world, and few are even calling him the best player in the world, yes even ahead of his teammate and friend Lionel Messi. He has scored more goals over the last decade than anyone except that someone named Messi, yet Villa accomplished this feat despite not playing for one of the country's biggest clubs and beginning the century in the second division. In fact, he has never slipped below 15 goals a season, and usually averages 20 a season. He is considered by many to be the most clever, technical and sound around the goal, often scoring with an ease that is incomparable. He was also the top scorer in Euro 2008, as well as the joint top scorer in World Cup 2010. He remains though somewhat of a mystery, partly because he lacks the explosiveness of Messi or Ronaldo, or even Rooney, and someone like Torres, yet he makes up with his technicality, and precision. He is a throwback to the past where guys like Baggio, Stoichkov, Del Piero made it an art.

Robin Van Persie is the Premier League's Best Player

2011-11-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

Forget Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Luis Suarez, Mario Balotelli, Rafael van Der Vaart, and Chicharito, the soccer league's best player is the vastly underrated Robin Van Persie.

Van Persie has often followed the same pattern as his Arsenal Club: starting strong, showing glimpses of genius, and then inevitably falling apart, getting injured, and never quite fulfilling high expectations...always failing to reach his potential. But now it's hard to imagine Arsenal without him, and he's making a strong case for being the Premier League's best player.

For Arsenal fans, Robin Van Persie’s current form isn’t surprising. The bigger shock is that he’s remained healthy for this long. Van Persie, otherwise known as “The Flying Dutchman” or “RVP”, is famous—or infamous—for being susceptible to injuries. Broken toes, torn ligaments, ankle issues, and fractures have kept Van Persie out for large portions of multiple Premier League campaigns, creating a huge scoring deficit for Arsenal at the most inopportune times.

The injuries have been so frequent that Van Persie has gained a notorious reputation for being “soft” and a player that is easily prone to injuries. Opposing fans have ridiculed him by chanting “Robin Van P***y,” and Youtube videos (such as this one) poke fun at Van Persie’s inability to remain at full fitness.

Even with a litany of injuries, Van Persie is known for being somewhat quirky. He once traveled to Serbia to receive a bizarre placenta-related treatment that many claimed be from a witch doctor—the procedure didn’t work. And recently, he’s come under fire for performing a weird goal celebration that appeared similar to a Nazi salute (video).

Despite these oddities and the ever-present fear that Robin could suffer a season-ending injury at any given moment, Van Persie’s recent display of scoring does reveal that he’s still capable of being a first-class player, and he currently leads the Premier League with 10 goals.

Even more impressive is the fact that he’s scoring without the help of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, and Jack Wilshire. For Van Persie, the departure of Fabregas and Nasri may have been a blessing in disguise, as Arsene Wenger appears to be tactically adjusting his approach to be more striker-friendly.

For years, Arsenal fans have been begging for a world-class striker to provide some sort of attacking threat to compliment Arsenal’s seemingly toothless forwards. But season after season, cross after cross and pass after pass would harmlessly land at Van Persie’s feet as he stood all alone up top, surrounded by three or four defenseman. With no helping options, he would either have to hopelessly try to cut through the entire defense on his own, or more likely, pass the ball back to the midfielders and wait for them to methodically work the ball back and forth, slowly making their way into the attacking zone and waiting for the perfect tic-tac-toe pass that would lead to a quick scoring opportunity.

Arsenal is still a team that uses quick passing and fluid ball control, but their movement is distinctly more aggressive, and Van Persie is reaping the rewards, no longer playing in the shadows of Fabregas and Nasri. With a depleted defense, and a midfield lacking their former superstars, Wenger is shifting the focus of Arsenal onto the strikers, and the club’s recent 5-3 win over Chelsea showcased why Van Persie has 10 goals in 10 EPL games. For Arsenal’s opponents, the scariest fact isn’t that Van Persie scored a hat trick during the game, but rather it was the reality that he probably should’ve scored at least two or three additional times.

For Arsenal and their fans, the biggest worry isn't whether or not Van Persie suffers another devastating injury, instead, it's the increasing fear that Manchester City's will swoop in for another steal during the upcoming transfer window. Because as Van Persie gets better and better, he will become increasingly more lucrative to a Man City Club whose funds are seemingly endless. For special soccer jerseys, visit http://www.SoccerPlus.net today

England Defeats Spain Without the Help of their Brutes

2011-11-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

The stereotype of the English footballer has become that of the pub brawler, a man who can out-drink anyone and can rough you up on the pitch too. Such convictions are repeatedly upheld by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and former captain, John Terry. These three key British stars are always at the center of big victories, but they also grace the front pages of tabloids as their personal lives are awash with questionable activities and high drama.

What is so fascinating to me regarding England’s enthralling 1-0 win over Spain is that none of these men made an appearance on the pitch. England won when their respectable lineup was on the field that included hard working, incident free players like Scott Parker, Joleon Lescott, and Theo Walcott. They played like a team, they fought and defended hard, and they scrapped a game winning goal that enabled England to beat the number one team in the world. It wasn’t anything beautiful, in fact it was far from it, but England got the result.

This England side wasn’t full of prima-donnas (minus Ashley Coles) so they played like a real soccer team. Players were giving their all, chasing Spanish players all over the pitch. They weren’t distracted about how John Terry would respond after weeks of media bombardment about his suspect racism. They didn’t have to calm Wayne Rooney down when he would have berated the referee with curse-filled retort after a harsh tackle. This team had focus, determination, and most importantly, the skill to compete against the world’s best.

It’s not as if scrub players from the lower English leagues started in their wake either. The players on the field all start for great EPL teams like Manchester City and Tottenham. The drop-off in talent was clearly displaced by the honorable heart and unity of the team. Basically what I’m trying to say is that as much as Terry, Gerrard, and Rooney like to believe that England needs them, the reality is that they don’t. Based on this result, I argue that England is much better off without them

Manager Fabio Capello could decently sit from his perch on the sidelines with his elegant boutonniere and actually resemble a man of class embodied by his respectable lads on the pitch. This match will clearly affect his thinking on who to start in Poland next summer for the EURO 2012 competition. His decision on Rooney was already made for him, as the player is banned for the first three matches of the tournament. But with Terry and Gerrard, does the English manager really want some dramatic sex scandal or drunken pub assault to destroy the morale of mother England’s side? His job likely depends on it, and I believe he should use his head and refrain from starting these players in the key matches.

Lionel Messi At 24 Is Already An All Time Great

2011-11-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

Lionel Messi is already considered one of the players of this era, and perhaps of all time, but can he become the all time greatest, sure if you go by the numbers. At only age 24, the baby-faced Argentinian has been piling up individual awards, accolades, and other achievements in record setting pace. His latest achievement is scoring 200 goals in 286 for Barcelona, putting him just a bit behind the all time leader, Cesar Rodrigues.

For comparison, Diego Maradona, the player to whom Messi is often compared to did not nail 200 goals until he was 25 years of age, while the original Ronaldo, the Brazilian who holds two world cups also did not reach 200 goals until age 26. The question remains how does Messi steamroll through opposing players so easy, and the answer is easy, combined with his incredible, speed, natural ability, and a sharp mind, he also happens to play on perhaps, the most dominating team of all time, Barcelona; In 55 games, Pep Guardiola's men have tallied 3 goals or more in 27 of the 55 games, an astonishing number.

Messi is truly this era's greatest player, on the same level as Gretzky in Hockey or Michael Jordan in basketball, at the tender age of 24. It is truly scary to think what might happen in the future if Messi is continuing to play at the pace he is today.

Bosnia vs Portugal leads exciting EURO 2012 Playoff Matches

2011-11-09T14:37:00.000-08:00

Revenge is a dish best served cold. This is the mindset of Bosnia as they make preparations for their EURO 2012 playoff fixture against Portugal. These teams met in the playoffs for the 2010 World Cup two years ago and Portugal was the victorious side. Portugal joined into the World’s greatest soccer tournament while Bosnia was sent home in utter disappointment. Now, Bosnia needs to make amends, and this time they have the firepower to do so.

Back in 2009, Bosnia fell prey to a series of unfortunate near misses in the playoff matches. In the first match, they struck the post three times and ended up losing both matches by a score line of 1-0. It was a terribly unfortunate display for the side rich with emerging talent but now they are more well prepared.

Their attacking forces are maturing. Edin Dzeko, their main striker, is rapidly becoming a world class star at Manchester City. Dzeko was brought to the Midlands in a record breaking deal worth more than 30 million pounds last winter and has fit in like a glove with the side. He and his team are dominating the Premier League with flair and style. Supporting Dzeko will be the young Bosnian sensation, Miralem Pjanic. The 21 year old attacking midfielder is now playing for Roma but had great success on the big stage with Olympic Lyon.

At Lyon, Pjanic scored the crucial goal against Real Madrid in a UEFA Champions League knockout round match that saw the French side into the quarterfinals of the tournament. Portuguese superstar, Christiano Ronaldo will definitely have that goal in his head during the playoffs as his club is Real Madrid. Bosnia also has strength and maturity at the back with their captain and defensive leader, Emir Spahic.

Portugal has been a regular side in major tournaments this past decade and always expect to compete for the title with Ronaldo at the helm. They have a mass of great talent including players like Nani, Raul Meireles, and Pepe. Unfortunately, the side has never really gelled as a single unit, and too often they look towards Ronaldo for creative influence. The time could be ripe for a grand upset.

I expect that to happen this time around. Maybe I simply want to see the underdog rise up against the Portugese because their players look like arrogant prima donnas. Maybe its because Portugese players are the most infamous divers in the game. But really, I think Christiano Ronaldo needs a reality check. If he ever wants to truthfully get on the same level as his rival Lionel Messi, he needs to dominate in a big tournament. I don’t think he should have that opportunity and I think that the energetic Bosnian side has every reason in the world to fight to the bitter end in this one. Edin Dzeko needs a major tournament to elevate to superstar status and once again, Portugal stands in his way. I expect Dzeko to score two goals across the fixtures and for Bosnia to pull the upset with an aggregate score of 4-2. Watch the soccer matches this upcoming this Friday and next Tuesday. It should be an enthralling tie.

New Kappa Roma 2011 to 2012 Home, Away and Third Kits Soccer Jerseys

2011-11-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

For the 11/12 season As Roma, a Serie A club in Italy will be wearing new jerseys. For those not familiar with As Roma (Associazione Sportiva Roma) or commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for almost all of their existence. In the 11/12 season Roma will be wearing new home jerseys, away jerseys and a third strip. All the jerseys have been made by Kappa and were officially unveiled to the public by Giallorossi in July 2011. The Roma home kit will continue to be in the club's traditional yellow and red colors. However, Roma's new away shirt will now be white in color, while the third strip is black in color. Wind will continue to be the sponsor's for Roma's new kits in 11/12. For fans of Roma they cannot wait to catch their favorite team in its brand new jerseys for the upcoming season. These jerseys are now available at Soccerplus.

Arsenal a Force on the Mends in the Premier League

2011-11-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

When the dust had settled on Arsenal’s tragic summer transfer mess, this team became an enigma. Gone were their two best playmaking midfielders. Gone were two fullbacks and a plethora of their team’s depth. As Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, Eboue, Bendtner, and more players departed, the media vultures gathered round and prepared to strike.
Manager Arsene Wenger appeared weak-minded and desperate as he rushed to sign the likes of Arteta, Benayoun, Dos Santos, and Park Chu-Young on deadline day. These were players who initially seemed like the poor man’s replacements of a once great team. Arsenal began the season just as predicted, succumbing to draws and losses against lesser opposition. There was the debacle at Old Trafford.

But oh how the winds have changed. The Arsenal has somehow recovered. On a current streak of 8 wins of their last 9 matches, suddenly this team doesn’t look half as bad. Re-emerging from the depths of the Premier League’s relegation zone, the team now sits at 7^th in the table, only three points off of the revered Champions’ League qualifying 4^th place. After the grand victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal is back!!
The team has finally accepted that Fabregas is gone. Players like Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott have taken his place. Captain Robin van Persie has taken it upon himself to score a brace every match and the masses have ceased calling for Arsene Wenger’s head. All this, while the team still lacks two of its greatest weapons.

Young English star, Jack Wilshire, has yet to make an appearance this season. Arsenal’s player of the year last year was supposed to be the attacking midfielder who would replace El Capitan, but will remain sidelined until January with an ankle problem. Belgian captain, Thomas Vermaelen, is one of the best defenders in the world. His first season at Arsenal, he demonstrated leadership and strength at the back, which the team seemingly always lacks. He has missed the greater part of a year with injury but is just finally breaking back into the team and full fitness.

If Arsenal can get these two players back and in form, the sky is the limit. This team is capable of competing for trophies with the best of them. Perhaps the damage was too great early on in the season, as Arsenal now sits a daunting 12 points behind leaders, Manchester City. But if Van Persie continues to lead this team, trophies will arrive. Everyone misses Nasri and Fabregas, but we all want trophies, and these two players provided none. Their Arsenal side was never great. They had no steel, no heart, no united sense of them against the world. They had their eyes on money and home. Arsenal now has one united purpose, pride. The way this season started will have brought the boys together in the best way possible. Expect this team to have a big say for one of the trophies this year.

A Dying Breed?

2011-10-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

Pep Guardiola, the fantastic trainer of Barcelona, and once their midfielder was asked once a few years ago why he retired, and he felt it was because his role as a passing, deep-lying playmaker role at central midfield was simply a dying breed, and that he was no longer needed at the highest level, "The emphasis, as far as central midfielders are concerned, is all on the defensive work, " he said before adding that "players like me have become extinct." Guardiola went on to say that twenty years ago, players like him were valued, and clubs appreciated a playmaking, distributing central midfielder, but that times have changed, and teams now look for defensive, athletic midfielders that can disrupt an offense. The only player Guardiola mentions as being the exception to the rule, is Andrea Pirlo, who at that time reigned supreme at Milan. The football world is changing again, with the playmaking midfielders are being embraced again, and it is no wonder that Pirlo still reigns supreme in that role. Milan prematurely got rid of Pirlo in the summer, preferring the young, athletic, defensive minded midfielders like Kevin-Prince Boateng or Alberto Aquilani, but Milan is regretting that move already. At Juventus, Pirlo has shown that his passing range is still there, and when needed to be can still disrupt an offense without being overly aggressive, like for example his old partner Rino Gattuso. It's players like Guardiola, Pirlo, and others such as Mazzone that have kept that dream alive, of central midfielders that don't need pace or to be a tackler, and instead can be a creator, a ballplayer, and beautiful. It's so ironic that Pep Guardiola embodied the same characteristics of Andrea Pirlo when he was a player, displaying an incredible mix of vision, calmness, and passing ability, and maybe that is why he speaks so highly of him now.

How Lionel Messi Compares to the World's All-Time Greatest Footballers

2011-10-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Lionel “Leo” Messi is everywhere you look. He’s on television promoting the latest pair of soccer cleats, where a transcendent montage shows him sprinting around hapless defenders and jumping—or flying—through tacklers, arms outstretched, his body suspended in mid-air while the camera zooms in on the shoes.

He’s all over the internet, dominating message boards, fan pages, advertisements, and websites everywhere. Messi’s Facebook page has over 28 million fans, which is more than the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Dallas Cowboys, and LA Lakers combined.

Messi’s Youtube videos have millions of hits, and the endless footage of him striking wonder goals from all over the pitch provides innumerable highlights for teenage mashup artists, who will inevitably create a Messi/Eminem music montage for the billionth time.

Every sports pundit and commentator gushes over his unmatched skills, and whether the game being announced is German, French, or English, Messi is used as the golden standard. The remarks are endless: “He has Messi-like quickness”; “He’s been compared to a young Messi”; “His vision is similar to Messi’s”; “Even Messi would be jealous of that goal!” The proclamations go on and on. Messi this, Messi that, what will Messi eat for dinner?

If you think members of the sports media gush over Messi, just watch and listen to average soccer fans. Babies wear Messi onesies, children wear Messi soccer jerseys even though they have no idea of where (or what) “Argentina” is, and teenagers who wear the classic striped Barcelona scarlet and blue kits swear they’ve been following the team for years, but when asked to name as many players as possible, they can only name one: Lionel Messi.

Messi Fever is at record levels, but popularity and public perception doesn’t automatically equate to greatness (Sorry, David Beckham), so where does Messi actually stand among the world’s all-time best footballers?

First, we need to look at who really was the very best: Pelè. Yes, the Brazilian sensation who could soar over buildings, leap across oceans, and teleport himself (along with the ball) directly in front of the opposing team’s goalkeeper in the blink of an eye. But depending on who you ask, many claim to have seen players do that before.

The British will smartly roll their eyes, then scoffingly remark that George Best was better, the French will say Michel Platini was flashier, the Dutch will swear that Johan Cruyff was more influential, and the Argentinians will religiously worship the superiority of Maradona for eternity.

Legends are full of exaggeration and hype, but Pelè has some impressive stats that are hard to ignore. First, he scored over 1200 career goals, averaging nearly a goal per game. If that weren’t enough, he won the world cup with Brazil a record of three different times. There, enough said. It doesn’t matter who you saw during their prime, how hard their shot was or how fast they ran, if they can’t compare with those stats, then the case is closed.

What made Pelè the best was his ability to perform anywhere and at anytime. He wasn’t a one-dimensional player who just had a good club career, but he was also able to exceed on the biggest stage: during the World Cup Tournament. This is what makes a soccer player one of the best: the ability to win for both club and country.

After Pelè, the list of all-time greats has the usual suspects: Maradona, Cruyff, Zidane, Stefano, Beckenbauer, Platini, Best, and Charlton. Sure, these guys were great, but how does Messi compare?

Right now, Messi is decidedly one of the best current players, but time will tell if he’ll be considered one of the all-time greats. Unfortunately for Messi, he’s part of one of the world’s greatest football systems: Barcelona.

Here’s why playing for Barcelona is such a problem: It’s hard to imagine Messi without Barcelona, the two go hand in hand, but Barcelona was great before Messi. In many ways, Messi is a product of Barca. He’s the centerpiece of their design and strategy, but if you take him out of this design he probably wouldn’t be nearly as successful.

Imagine Messi playing for any other club. He just wouldn’t fit, and defenses would be much more prepared to stop him. At Barca, however, opposing players have to account for numerous attacking forwards besides Messi: Fabregas, Villa, Xavi, and Pedro.

This season, Messi already has 8 goals from 31 shots. The second closest shooter is Villa with 18 shots. This is the way Barca wants it, with Messi shooting as many shots as possible. But would Messi still be considered the world’s best player if he played for a club like Blackburn or Wigan Athletic? Great players shine no matter where they play, but with Messi, his success seems to be contingent to his connection with Barcelona.

Questioning Messi’s ability to function outside of the Barca system is not unwarranted. His international career with Argentina has been characterized as a disappointment, and he’s only scored 18 goals in 63 appearances. Contrarily, Pelè had 643 goals in 656 national team appearances for Brazil, again averaging nearly one goal per game.

Messi has yet to shine outside of Barcelona. What makes a soccer player immortal is his ability to win anywhere, no matter what the venue, situation, or time. But Messi has been a statistical flop for Argentina, and he’s yet to make a significant name for himself during international competitions, and even though Maradona didn’t have exceptional national team stats, he was at least able to score when it counted, and he delivered a World Cup. Winning a World Cup is the key element that will ensure Messi’s future greatness.

Right now Messi only has about 250 career goals, and if he were to play another 10 years, he would have to average about 100 goals per year to match the output that both Pelè and Maradona achieved during their careers. In the end, Messi may go down as one of Barcelona’s greatest players while being one of Argentina’s greatest disappointments.

Sustaining Major League Soccer's Popularity

2011-10-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

Major League Soccer is establishing itself as a viable sporting entity in the United States, but there are still many soccer (and non-soccer) fans who see it as a “minor league,” a place where the not-good-enough's play, a feeder system for the European leagues, and a retirement home where aging superstars end their careers.

But the MLS is growing, and the teams are getting more competitive, but there are still some things that can be done to boost its popularity.
*** Market to Men ***

For years, Major League Soccer has tried to create a family-friendly atmosphere that attracted soccer moms, little kids, local youth teams, and grandparents. It was a wholesome activity for families to enjoy, much like camping or visiting an apple orchard.

And so, MLS teams marketed to audiences that were the complete opposite of the scarf-wearing, beer-drinking, chanting, cursing, young to middle-aged male demographic that actually grew up playing soccer and enjoyed watching “real teams” like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan.

Recently, the trend has started to shift, largely on its own, and mainly within cities that already have MLS teams, and with the addition of real international star power, namely David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Rafael Marquez, Major League Soccer has started to outgrow the stigma of being a league that produces subpar soccer.

But in order to sustain this shift, the league needs to embrace the “masculinity” that creates a party-like atmosphere at the stadiums. The commercials, billboards, magazine ads, and promotions need to stop looking like Target commercials geared towards families and start embracing the hooliganism-insanity that makes following a club exciting, adventurous, and somewhat dangerous. Essentially, male soccer fans in the U.S. are sick of being looked down on as a feminine version of NFL fans.

*** Compete in International Tournaments ***

But a huge number of soccer fans, especially those who don’t have access to a MLS team in their hometown, continue to perceive MLS as a wannabe newcomer. These naysayers will point out that the MLS still only has a handful of world class players, and the few “stars” that it does have joined the league near the end of their careers, at a time when their skills were already spiraling downward. They scoff at the MLS, and they would much rather watch Manchester City take on Arsenal than see the L.A. Galaxy versus the Seattle Sounders...point taken.

They will also point out that the MLS only produced a meager six players for the recent 2010 World Cup: Jonathan Bornstein, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley, Roger Espinoza (Honduras), and Andrew Boyens (New Zealand). Besides Donovan, these are hardly household names...another point taken.

Contrarily, there used to be a time when the best American-born players played in the MLS, but now they’re leaving to play for foreign teams. These sad realities keep a huge number of diehard soccer fans away from the MLS, and it attaches an inferiority complex to a league whose teams struggle to compare themselves with prestigious international clubs.

To help dispel this problem, the MLS would be smart to lobby itself for participation in major international tournaments. The best scenario would be inclusion into the European Champions League, which there has already been rumored talk about.

What American soccer fan wouldn’t want to watch an MLS team take on the likes of Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Man United? Instead, the MLS routinely plays “friendlies,” where half the starters, and nearly all of the big-name players, sit on the bench, and the game has no real meaning.

For years, soccer competitions have been decided through geographic proximity, but money talks, and with sponsorship deals worth hundreds of millions hanging in the balance, European clubs would surely want to include MLS teams into the mix. Now is the time for MLS leaders to work out a deal. The entire structure of international club soccer will change within the next ten years, especially since the creation of a new “Super League” (Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Chelsea—to name just a few) seems increasingly more likely. Now is the time to work out a deal for the MLS to compete globally.

*** Continue to “Buy Big” ***

Even though Henry and Beckham are near the end of their careers, there is little doubt that they could’ve still played for one of Europe’s big clubs (and they still might). That being said, the MLS must still be willing to provide competitive contracts to big name players throughout the world.

Major League Soccer has yet to capture a premier star who is at the prime of their playing career. Imagine if Messi, Ronaldo, or Wayne Rooney decided to play for an MLS team today. Then imagine these players playing for an MLS team and competing against big European clubs during a meaningful tournament. This would be the ultimate dream scenario for the MLS, and if something like this were ever to happen it would cement the league as a legitimate international soccer force, and would unlock an earning potential that is currently restricted by its small and domestically confined reach.

Until that day arrives, the MLS can take pride in its domestic growth, but it should also make bold strides towards making itself more accessible to the average international soccer fan.

Review Of Soccer Jersey - Umbro Peru 2011-13 Home Jersey

2011-10-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

Recently new special football jerseys have been launched for many national teams to be worn for the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualification rounds. One of those teams is Peru which launched their new jerseys a few weeks ago. Officially, the Peru Umbro 2011/2012 home jersey will be used during the first part of the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualification campaign. There are some similarities with the old jerseys and the new jerseys, as well as some differences. For example, the new style will incorporate the traditional white shirt of Peru with a red sash on the shirt depicting the Incan empire of Tawantinsuyo and its flag, and the Unancha on its collar and neckline. The 2011-2012 Peru home jersey made its on field debut on October 7th when Peru met Paraguay in Lima for the first match of their 2014 World Cup qualifying run. These soccer jerseys soon be available at Soccer Plus and other major retailers.

Mario Balotelli Set to Light Premier League Aflame

2011-10-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

The young man knows how to set fires, as evidenced by his recent escapade involving fireworks and his home bathroom. Mario Balotelli also knows how to light up the scoreboard on the pitch. In Manchester City's grand 6-1 thrashing of crosstown rivals United, the Italian netted two goals and also drew a foul that resulted in Jonny Evans' sending off. Clearly he was the man of the match. Please bear in mind that this was probably one of the single greatest matches for any Manchester City fan in their whole history.

The blue side of Manchester has historically received the bulk of defeats in Manchester derbies over the years. The last time Manchester City finished in a higher league position than Manchester United, Mario Balotelli was not even born yet. But since the club was purchased by the infinitely wealthy Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, all is set to change.

In addition to the hundreds of millions of pounds invested into the club for the likes of Carlos Tevez, Samir Nasri, Eden Dzeko, and Yaya Toure, the team has also bought Balotelli. He was controversially shipped out from Inter Milan due to his immature and testy behavior which had resulted in booings from the home fans and him responding by throwing the team jersey to the ground on the field.

His Manchester City career began questionably, however, as "Super Mario" has been repeatedly involved in negative stories. He was chastised for throwing darts at youth players, he was substituted out of a preseason match in America after he attempted and missed an audacious back heel on a simple tap in opportunity. The substitution was followed by a heated exchange of words with coach Roberto Mancini on the sidelines. It seemed as though his act hadn't changed. Most importantly for the team however, is that he rarely made an impact last season, scoring only 6 goals for the club.

This year has told a different tale. He has already netted 5 goals and has drawn respectful remarks from team mate and goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has been impressed with Mario's recent maturity. Hart claims that Balotelli now has the backing of the entire squad.

Since City has recently had to deal with the immaturity levels of another striker by the name of Carlos Tevez, who refused to enter a match and clearly wants out of Manchester, somehow Mario will now be counted on to take the team to the top. Balotelli has so far shown his worth and talent this year and was especially important in the Manchester derby. Blues fans have all the hope in the world that this is going to be their year. It may well be the case, but it will depend in large part on how well Mario Balotelli can control his head. This will be the first time in his career when he is achieving massive praise on a personal level. We all know what absurdities he is capable of, and chances are, we will be sure to hear some more before the dust settles on his turbulent career.

The Road for South America in World Cup 2014!

2011-10-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

World Cup qualification is competitive all over the world, perhaps none greater than South America. So far, two rounds have gone, and of the nine teams in contention, only two have yet to win a game. The other seven teams have a win to their name, but nobody has two wins, showing once again how tough it is to qualify in South America. Even taking facts aside, anyone who has watched the recent qualifiers in South America has mentioned of how competitive and even the teams appear to be. Obviously, Brazil is not in the field this time, qualifying automatically as the 2014 host, but even without Brazil, teams will probably win a trip to the world cup at the end of a long and bumpy road, full of pitfalls, particularly away from home.

Of the eight soccer games played in the first two rounds, six went to the home side. To prove how competitive the qualification rounds have been, Argentina fell victims to a 1-0 defeat visiting Venezuela; History was made as Venezuela has never beaten Argentina before. However, no one should really be surprised, because like Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela is another South American team that is on the rise, and is more than capable of pulling off an upset. As well as being ultra competitive, the continent's World Cup qualifiers also have the potential to provide an outstanding spectacle, as 27 goals have been scored so far in the opening two rounds, a huge difference from the tight, conservative football the teams produced just three months ago in Copa America.

Wayne Rooney Does it Again In Englands Final Qualifying Soccer Game

2011-10-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

Wayne Rooney known for volatile and explosive temper did it again when he was sent off in England's final qualifying game, a 2-2 draw at Montenegro. In the process, FIFA ruled that Rooney will have to sit out the first three game of the 2012 Euro tournament. England's coach Fabio Capello now faces the decision of leaving Rooney out of the squad, given that he could only take part in the quartefinals onward, if England even gets that far. It seems that Rooney has not gotten over his demons yet, considering the fact that he's been down this road before, most notably during the 2006 soccer world cup when he red-carded during the 62nd minute of a quartefinals match against Portugal by stamping on Ricardo Carvalho. That incident, along with many others have hurt Wayne Rooney's reputation among experts, past greats, and even fans when comparing current top players. They often point to Rooney's inability to control his temper as a citing factor in why he cannot be considered among the upper echelon of players. Unfortunately, for Wayne Rooney this incident will likely hurt his national team even more, as England will have to play without its best player for the first three games of the 2012 EURO championship.

Arsene Wenger A Soccer Legacy vs. A Football Reality

2011-10-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

With each new loss, Arsene Wenger faces the humiliating task of denying the weekly rumors of his impending doom. Obviously, with one of Arsenal’s worst starts in ages, Wenger is under an enormous amount of stress and pressure, and his gray hair, furrowed brows, and unchanging tight frown make him appear much older than his actual age of 61. Despite his lanky figure and grandfatherly image, the name Arsene Wenger is synonymous with youth and quickness. This is Wenger’s legacy: developing undiscovered young talent and transforming kids into superstars, implementing them into the Arsenal system that he created, one that features quick passing, fluid movement, and possession control.
In 1996 Arsenal hired the unknown Arsene Wenger from an equally unknown Japanese club named Nagoya Grampus Eight. Wenger would be the first non-English Gunner’s boss in team history. Shortly before officially taking over the team, he requested that the club sign a man named Patrick Vieira.

After his first season, Arsenal ended third in the league. A year later, Arsenal won both the league and the FA Cup (97/98), and already Wenger’s legend was growing. Arsenal would win The Double once again during the 2001/2002 campaign, and follow that up with their Invincible season two years later, not losing a single game during the 03/04 campaign.

These achievements all helped build Wenger’s reputation as being a manager who had an eye for young talent and was capable of developing new players into experienced champions. Soon, as Arsenal’s form continued to grow and the team racked up more wins, his reputation solidified.

Unfortunately, the legacy of Wenger’s success has trumped the reality of what made some of his most successful Arsenal football teams win. For example, Wenger’s early titles with the club were largely credited to his signing the young Patrick Vieira, but a largely forgotten element of those early years is that Arsenal had a veteran team that surrounded the young new signings.

During the 97/98 championship season, Arsenal’s defense was anchored by veterans Nigel Winterburn (age: 34), Lee Dixon (33), Tony Adams (31), and Emmanuel Petit (27). And although Vieira (21) and Anelka (18) were amazingly young to be featuring for such a large club, they were coupled alongside Dennis Bergkamp (28) and Ian Wright (34).

The 01/02 Championship season featured the magnificent Thierry Henry, and although he may have seemed like a youngster at the time, he was 24, two years older than Theo Walcott is currently. The only regular Arsenal starter younger than the age of 24 was defender Ashley Cole (21).

During Arsenal’s famous Invincible season (03/04), most of the team was considered veteran by today’s standards, and the youngest regular starter on the team was once again Ashley Cole (23).

Amazingly, Arsenal’s best teams under the management of Arsene Wenger have been veteran ones. Despite this, Wenger has warmly accepted the youth stereotype that has been attached to him, and he’s based his recent career on a youth-based system.

Unfortunately, this system hasn’t brought Arsenal any trophies, and the club has come frustratingly close, but always short, on numerous occasions. Gunner fans are split between love and hate for Wenger. Many see Wenger as the sole reason for any success they’ve had, while other see his insistence to rely on youth as the primary cause for the team’s recent trophy drought.

Despite the recent uproar surrounding Wenger’s management style and sub-par results, team owners insist that Wenger still has their full confidence. Although a top-four finish seems increasingly unlikely for this season, Wenger will probably have one more chance next year to prove himself capable of producing results. Otherwise, Arsenal may be forced to abandon their Wenger-built youth system. This system has already proved to be incompatible with the new era of big spending, million-dollar contracts, and super-inflated transfer contracts. If Arsene Wenger doesn’t adapt quickly, Arsenal may become irrelevant, and similar to this year, they may transform into a feeder program for the “Big Clubs.”

Is This Barcelona Soccer Team the Best Football Squad Ever?

2011-10-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

I think it would take either a fool or a die hard fan to argue against the fact that the current Barcelona squad is the best soccer team in the world at the moment. They have won the Spanish league three times in a row and have won the Champions League twice in the past three years. Great victories combined with beautiful play have put this side into the history books as one of the legends of the game. But are we witnessing the best team ever? There are at least four other great teams that come to my mind in the discussion, and each can make a strong case for top honors:

1. Arsenal (2003-2004) - The Invincibles - The only team to ever maintain zero losses throughout the entire English Premier League campaign. The team was comprised of perfect mixture of steel an class. Thierry Henry, the most fluid and smooth striker ever, graced many of the highlight reels while the strong presence of Sol Campbell and Patrick Vieira prevented teams from legitimately threatening the home goal. These players are the type that Arsenal currently is missing, and this incredible run is probably the reason Arsene Wenger has been fired yet in recent times. However, this side couldn't maintain this flair for multiple years, and the Premier league title was their only trophy of the year. Thus, they cannot be the best team ever.

2. Santos (1962) - Os Santasticos - The first ever club team to attain a treble. Headed by one of the all time greats, Pele, and including other Brazilian icons such as Coutinho and Pepe, this team dominated Brazilian soccer for the entire decade. 1962 was their most successful season and really became the time when Brazilian soccer was associated with great passes and beautiful flair, coining the term Joga Bonito. International dominance was asserted that year with a victory over Benfica in the Intercontinental Cup. Pele led Brazil to World Cup glory as well that year and was labelled an "official national treasure" by the Brazilian government, who refused potential transfers to Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus the following summer. That's how special this team was.

3. Real Madrid (1950's) - Masters of Europe - This team was the king of Europe, winning the European Cup an increible five years in a row from 1956 to 1960. Between the years of 1954 and 1958 the club won four of the five La Liga crowns. Francisco Gento led the team alongside other greats Di Stefano and Puskas. No other team has had such an extended period of dominance. Today's marvelous Barcelona is coming close, but still has work to do if they want to retain success for such a long period.

4. Liverpool (1970's-1980's) - The Bob Paisley Era - When Bob Paisley took over Liverpool in 1974, the squad went on to win seven of the next nine championships in England. In addition, the club won three European Cups between 1977 and 1981. This golden era of Liverpool lore was led by a man who was a bit of a mumbler but had the keen sense of flattering the opposition before the press before flattening them on the field. Star like Kevin Keegan and Ray Clemence provided the Reds fans a time of success unheralded in the British game.

So which team was the best? Who would win if they were to compete for some sort of inter-time configured tournament? My guess is resoundingly the current Barcelona squad. Their team consists of mainly Spanish players, who won the last World Cup and last Euro tournament. And then factor in that they added Lionel Messi, the world's best player. They dominate every game. Sure there are some fluke losses, but when I watch this team, its like watching a pinball machine. Every pass is perfect, possession is usually around 70%. Watch and enjoy, this is the best team I have ever seen.

Is USA Soccer Coach Jurgen Klinsmann in Trouble?

2011-10-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Jurgen Klinsmann, the enigmatic USA coach has the United States soccer public confused lately as to how good he was advertised. Although, Klinsmann was not brought over here to save U.S soccer, seriously who could, but he was advertised as something of a minor savior, having been a former great player of Germany, and later as the coach that implemented that ferocious attack of team Germany during the 2006 World Cup. However, since taking over there have been three lackluster performances, with one draw and two defeats in three matches, and patience is starting to wear thin. Klinsmann will continue to have an easier ride than someone like Bob Bradley, because there is this feeling among Americans, that Klinsmann, a foreigner understands the sport far better than an American coach would. Klinsmann favors an attacking offensive style, and the plan is to prepare the team that can compete in the 2014 World Cup, and that can manage better than the one Bradley managed in 2010. However, with 3 lackluster performances so far that featured a dismal offensive attack, Klinsmann has started to think. The feeling is Klinsmann is thinking long-term, while thinking of ways how to utilize this soccer team offensively and defensively in better ways than Bradley did, therefore we should not expect short-term results. However, what we do know is that coaches are always the first ones to go when things don't go right, unfortunately.

Eight Great Matches for Euro 2012 Soccer Qualifying Matches

2011-10-04T18:32:00.000-07:00

As the qualifying rounds come to a close in preperation for the Euro 2012 International tournament next summer, prepare for heavy drama to ensue. Most of the big boys are already good to go, including the nations of Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. However, there are a few omissions from powerful nations like France and England, whose troubling campaigns now require perfection in the upcoming week. Most likely, both countries will qualify without too much difficulty, but the battle for the remaining eight nations (Poland and the Ukraine qualified automatically as hosts) will be to the death, and these eight matches will be the most exciting of the upcoming week. National pride and summer trips are all on the line:

1. Turkey vs. Belgium - Two nations battling for second place in their group who aren't actually playing against one another, but both must face the ruthless Germans and then lock up easy matches against Azerbaijan and Kasakhstan respectively. Turkey has a slight two point lead, but if it comes to the final day, the pressure could be too great, and Belgium may sneak in with a result against Germany, who has nothing to play for having already qualified.

2. Slovakia vs. Russia - Group B is the most enthralling group, as 4 nations are only seperated by three points with two matches to go. Russia is currently leading, but if they slip up in this tricky fixture away from home, all bets are off. Slovakia must win this match because their poor goal differential will leave them out in the event of tie breakers. This match is a must win for both countries.

3. Ireland vs. Armenia - The other two potential Group B winners face off on the final matchday, in a similar situation. In all likelihood, the winner will either win the group or claim the playoff spot. The loser will go home. Ireland is under immense pressure after coming so close in the 2010 World Cup playoff against France that resulted in the most unfair loss I've ever seen in any sport. Armenia has never qualified for a major tournament, and after coming so far this time, would rue a sad ending.

4. Slovenia vs. Serbia - Serbia has a slight lead in the race for the playoff spot, but will face Italy and then head to Slovenia for a potential all or nothing showdown. If Serbia loses to Italy, Slovenia will have every opportunity to snatch the spot and could even open the door for Estonia to sneak by both nations. Look for these Slavic nations to tussle in a monumental last day struggle.

5. Sweden vs. Netherlands - The Netherlands are safe and cozy in the tournament, but if Sweden fails to convert away to Finland, this game will have immense importance. Sweden could potentially face an all or nothing match against the Netherlands while Hungary could sneak by when they host Finland. Also consider that the Netherlands have been perfect so far in qualifying and will want to preserve that record heading into next year.

6. Greece vs. Croatia - These two teams will be fighting for to secure top spot of Group F and to avoid a tricky playoff fixture against a decent nation. Croatia currently holds a one point lead, but this match will take place in Greece. Both teams will desperately want to win this match. The winner is likely in. The loser faces two rough November matches where cold weather and a loss could easily crush their warm, summer dreams.

7. Switzerland vs. Montenegro - These countries are fighting for the likely playoff spot in Group G. They would love the opportunity to endure the November cold in order to qualify via playoffs. Both teams have tricky matches against UK countries before their last day showdown, but regardless of how those games go, this match will have it all on the line. Be sure to watch the drama.

8. Denmark vs. Portugal - There are three teams atop of Group H, all with 13 points. After this week, one will qualify, one will have the opportunity to be in the playoffs, and one will be eliminated. The winner of this game is likely the winner of the group as both teams have a game in hand over Norway. But, if either team is defeated here and Norway beats up on Cyprus, the loser of this game is finished.

There you have it. These are the games to watch this weekend. Not all of the soccer stars will play in these games, but soccer is about the passion, and while the Spanish and German greats will ease into Euro 2012 regardless, the lesser nations will be clawing tooth and nail to get a taste of national glory.

Hristo the Great! The Most Underrated Football Scorer of His Time

2011-10-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Of all the great scorers of the past 20 years in soccer, perhaps the most dominating was Hristo Stoichkov. In this single aspect of scoring the ball, Stoichkov was one, if not the most feared player of all time. Combined with his explosive acceleration and speed dribbling, as well as his relentless attitude and unpredictable shots at goal he became one of the greatest football players of all time. For some reason, he is not in the discussion of the top players of last 20 years or so, maybe because comes from a relatively small country, Bulgaria, or for his fiery attitude, but Hristo is not as remembered as people might think he was. Let's face it, during the 1994 World Cup he single handedly led Bulgaria to the brink of the championship match, barely losing to Italy 1-2.

However, for his outstanding play during the 1994 world cup he was awarded the Golden Boot for being the most prolific scorer of the tournament. Already by then ,Stoichkov was gaining steam as one of the top players as he led his club team, Barcelona to win the Champions League in 1992, and the Spanish Primera Division championship four years in a row. After finishing his playing career playing in the United States, Stoichkov returned to Bulgaria to coach the national team, and after that stint did not go so well, he retired from the sport for good. Hristo Stoichkov still remains a very popular figure, throughout the world, particularly in his native Bulgaria where people still remember his heroic run during the 1994 world cup.

The Mathematics of the English Premier Football League

2011-09-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Since the Premier League was reduced from 22 to 20 teams beginning with the 1995/1996 campaign, each season consists of 38 games, with a theoretical possible point total of 114 (a perfect season without any ties or losses). After averaging all of the title winners’ point totals over the last 16 seasons (since 1995/96), the average top finish is 85 points. For clubs hoping to qualify for the Champions League, the average 4th place finisher had a point score of 67.

Obviously, not every season is the same, and these numbers can occasionally be deceptive. For example, the highest point total in the modern EPL era was achieved by Chelsea during their 04/05 run, where they earned a whopping 95 points. Contrarily, Manchester United won the 96/97 title with a mere 75 points. Despite the 20 point difference between these two seasons, the law of averages does provide a clear benchmark and projected path for both fans and teams to follow.
By subtracting points, -3 for a loss, and -2 for a tie, fans can gain a better perspective of how well their teams are doing. By thinking in terms of points lost instead of gained, seasonal progress (or lack thereof) becomes much clearer. Here’s how the numbers get crunched:

85 (the average league title) is 29 points less than the perfect 114, so for all intents and purposes, a -29 is a goal most teams should be shooting for in order to be considered contenders for the title, and a -47 (67 total points) is near where the final Champions League qualifying spot will be.

By the halfway point of the season, teams will want to be around -15, and if you divide the season into fourths, teams will NOT want to have more than -7 points per every ten games played. For those teams who are realistically shooting for a top-four finish, the fourth spot requires no greater than a -12 drop for every ten games played. For teams like Arsenal who are already at -11 after just five games, their title chances are nearly mathematically impossible, and Gunner fans have every right to be upset.

Still confused? To summarize, the EPL is much easier to follow in terms of subtracting points (-3 for a loss; -2 for a tie), with -29 (the average points lost by the title winners) being the goal and -47 (the average lost for the fourth place) being the cut-off point.

Fans of every sport throughout the world have always had a love/hate relationship with stats. While these numbers may seem superficial—they can’t factor in injuries, big signings, and unlucky bounces—years of data have provided a pretty reliable precedent to follow for the future.

The numbers also prove that certain results have greater risks and rewards. For example, the winners of the league have had a total average of 8 draws and only 4 losses. While we all know that it’s much better to draw than it is to lose, four title winners have actually had more than 10 draws, but no team won the league with more than 6 losses. The moral of the story: it’s not necessarily bad to bunker down and park the bus in front of the goal once in a while—especially during away games.

These stats make sense when you consider that four ties equal -8, while four losses equals -12, the -4 point difference equating to more than the point total of one loss (-3). So the next time your favorite team subs out their top goal scorers and replaces them with defensive halfbacks, don’t start calling for the manager’s head—losing a game is much worse than preserving a draw.

What do these numbers mean for this season with five games already in hand? Unfortunately for Arsenal, it means that with three losses already, they will probably not even finish in the top four. For Tottenham (-9) and Liverpool (-8), they’re probably now fighting for a top-four finish at best. Meanwhile, Chelsea (-5) is maintaining a top-four pace, while Manchester City (-2) is still maintaining the title pace alongside of Manchester United (-0). But these are just numbers: -29 for a title; -47 for the fourth spot; no team winning a title with more than 6 losses...and numbers have a tendency to change in a hurry.

Bayern Munich and Manchester City Meet for the Best Matchup in Day 2 of the Champions League

2011-09-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

Manchester City will face their first big test of the season on Tuesday when they travel to Germany to take on European giant, Bayern Munich. So far, the Blues have fared well against the middle tier of the Premier League, defeating the likes of Bolton, Wigan, and even a strong showing against Spurs. Their only slip ups have come in an away match to Fulham, a draw, and in their first ever Champions League match at home to Napoli when they also drew. Quite wonderfully, this team has yet to face defeat this season. All that could well change in the next few hours.

Bayern Munich away is no easy feat. Just ask Sir Alex Ferguson, whose powerful Manchester United side has yet to beat the German beast in Munich. Bayern star, Frank Ribery is licking his chops and has recently declared his side to be the best he has ever seen in his time in Germany. He seems to be correct in his outlook too. Manchester City's record is very good, with four wins and two draws, but Munich has yet to even draw. They have played ten matches, and they have won ten matches. Incredibly, they have yet to concede a goal this season.

Bayern Munich has recently been criticized for their ultra-attacking style that leaves them short at the back but seemingly this weakness has evaporated. Strength at the back with forwards like Ribery, Arjen Robben, and the next great German star, Thomas Muller, rightly give this side a feeling of invincibility.

The manager of Bayern, Jupp Heynckes is saying all the right things, admitting that Manchester City will be the sternest test of the young season. He is right. This Manchester City side is no joke. Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero, Eden Dzeko, and David Silva will contribute to make this an enthralling match. This is world class football, and this is what the Champions League is all about. This matchup could easily be a quarterfinal or semifinal of the tournament. Both teams also have everything to prove in this match. It is a big test for both sides.

However, realistically I cannot envision Manchester City creating a grand European surprise. Munich is too hard of a place to travel to. Their stadium is fierce and wild. The side play so much more incisive and fluid at home. Manchester City's great stars have merely played with each other for a few weeks and months. Bayern's team has been assembled for years now, and each player is perfectly comfortable with the other.

I predict Manchester City will attempt to pack it in and fight for a draw. This plan will last for about 20 minutes and they will go down a goal. Look for the side to inflict Munich's first goal conceded of the season and bring it back on equal terms by the half, but for Bayern to dominate the second period and come away big winners 4-1.

Can Anyone in the Premier League Stop Manchester United?

2011-09-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

This team has started off the year right. Through five EPL matches Manchester United is off to a perfect start, winning each game. Although their attempt at becoming the second "Invincibles" stuttered midway through the season last year, the side looks even stronger this season.

Three of the matches won by the outfit occurred over Tottenham (3-0), Arsenal (8-2), and the most recent victory over Chelsea (3-1). These are no easy games. These teams were all considered contenders at the start of the season but were made to look like lower level English clubs in the recent weeks. Say what you want about their fortunate early season home game advantage over such sides. But with margins of victory such as this, who can argue with the statement that Manchester United looks poised to dominate England?

The "Red Devils" have also shown their worth on the road this year, recording a late victory against West Bromwich on opening weekend (2-1) and a demolition of Bolton (5-0). Road matches are where titles are won, and as it stands Manchester is in charge. Perhaps later in the season Manchester will struggle to contend with the return away matches at the Emirates or Stamford Bridge, and hopefully those sides will have found better form to create some interest in the season's run in.

But when we analyze the stats and the EPL table, we can see further into United's recent prowess. In five matches, they have scored 21 goals, a 4.2 goal average per game. That is on pace for a record-breaking, Earth-shattering final season goal mark of 159.6. Only one team has ever broken 100 goals in the Premier League history (Chelsea in 2010 with 103). Of course we cannot expect a team to keep up such a tally for an entire season but their achievements have been remarkable so far.

In addition, the team's goal differential is now 17. That is five better than cross-town rival, Manchester City's 12 and is 15 better than a few teams tied in third place. All in five matches!!! Manchester United has come off the blocks in a great lead and can finally boast that they alone reside at the top of the table as Man City drew with Fulham in their most recent match. The chase is now on.

Who can possibly catch up with this side? Manchester City looks strong this year, but no one else has looked capable. Arsenal and Liverpool look a mess, Tottenham is inconsistent, and Chelsea looks tired and old at times. Clearly the way things have gone, the title should reside in Manchester, though which club takes the prize between the two remains uncertain. It took Manchester United until February to lose a match last season, how long will we have to wait this year?

The Fall of Fernando Torres AKA "El Nino"

2011-09-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

There was a time when Fernando Torres, commonly known as "El Nino" was considered in the same breath as Cristiano Ronaldo, until he fell back a few years ago. It is hard to pinpoint why Torres simply is not the player he used to be, but many argue the deal Chelsea gave him a few years which was worth 80 million caused his ego to swell, and his play to well, not swell. It's hard to believe that this is the player that won both the Euro Championship and the World Cup with his native Spain, and also the same player that terrorized defenses as a member of Liverpool. However, with Chelsea which features an attack that relies on a trio of Frank Lampard, John Terry, and Didier Drogba that batter the opposition into submission by playing a tough, physical style, a finesse striker like Torres has not fit into the equation for whatever reason. Torres has been on record saying that he feels like his Chelsea teammates are "too old" and "slow" and he has not seen eye-to-eye with Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, just check out his stats at Chelsea, which are well under his marks at Liverpool. Torres is a player that commands attention even when he is not scoring goals, because his speed combined with his incredible technical ability and precision makes him a player that can explode and score a goal at any point, unfortunately that has not happened often this year, and if that continues Torres will probably find himself on a new club next year.

Is David Beckham Moving On From The Galaxy Soccer Team?

2011-09-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

With the David Beckham experiment coming to an end probably very soon, some clubs are lining up to sign him. The MLS season is done in November and it appears the Galaxy will not be looking to sign him for another season or two. Ultimately we will probably look at David Beckham's time in America as a failure since it failed to bring the expected popularity and revenue to the sport people had dreamed of. Why did he not succeed in America as we hoped?Some people say Beckham did not care enough, others say he is and was never the type of player to achieve something like that, and others simply point to him simply being a celebrity mimicking a soccer player, we all have theories, but ultimately they are irrelevant. David Beckham is a good player, there is no question about it, even today at the age of 36 he can still probably produce for any club given the right opportunity. It appears the team most interested in signing him is Tottenham Spurs which is based in London. Beckham trained with Tottenham last MLS offseason and manager Harry Redknapp is interested in signing him, once his contract expires at the end of the year. Redknapp recently said, "He was a top-class professional and he's the kind of lad you would like around the place. He is someone the young lads can look up to and he is a great role model for anybody." However, the question of money comes in and although the Spurs would love to have Beckham it appears to be seen if Beckham would want to go there, as Redknapp admitted that he does not know if the Spurs will be able to afford him. Perhaps, a bigger club team such as Chelsea or even Manchester United can bring Beckham back for bigger money, but what we do know is that Beckham's time in America appears to be over, although the Galaxy could surprise people and offer Beckham a new deal.

UEFA Champions League Power Rankings

2011-09-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

Although there are 32 teams in the Champions League, most of these teams don't have any hope for lifting the trophy. Teams like APOEL FC and KRC Genk would definitely fit into this category. They are in the tournament to legitimize some involvement from all the European Leagues but will merely serve as the whipping boys for the true contenders. In my opinion, only nine teams have any hope of winning in Munich next May, and truth be told, there are only five teams that will actually contend for the title.

The Dreamers - These four teams feel they have every chance in the world at the ultimate club football glory, but they won't win it. Perhaps one will make the final match in May, but the fans of these clubs will unfortunately by disappointed with the end result.

1. Manchester City - The Rich Boys - On paper, this team has over 100 million reasons to believe they can win it as they have purchased superstars like Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero. They have started the EPL in flying colors and sit atop the premier league tied with Manchester United. However, there are some red flags. They are a team of superstar money-grubbers. They may be more focused on their wages than doing the hard work to win. When the going gets rough this will show. Additionally, this is the first experience in the Champions League for the team. It will be hard to endure the pressure of succeeding in both Europe and the EPL. Finally, their group consists of Napoli, Villareal, and Bayern Munich. No whipping boys here. Look for Man City to progress to the knockout phase, but not much further.

2. AC Milan - The Old Guard - The champions of Serie A will feel they can make a repeat of their 2007 European success, but it will be much more difficult this time. Their core of leaders, Gattuso, Seedorf, and Zambrotta and four years older, and young stars Pato and Robinho have often times failed to inspire victories. They benefitted in Italy last year from the troubles of Inter Milan, who changed managers mid-season and from the slow paced Italian game. They could perhaps challenge in their league again, but when they go up against younger, faster men, their old age will show and they will be eliminated before the semifinals of the tournament.

3. Arsenal - A Shadow of Greatness - Oh to think what this team could have accomplished had their best players not departed the club!! With Cesc Fabregas gone and Samir Nasri gone this team simply cannot produce in the Champions League. They have purchased some good players recently to fill the void, but these men lack greatness, which is required to win the trophy. After their recent thrashing to Man U, this team is embarrassed and crippled. Arsene Wenger may inspire this team to make some noise, and they have usually been fairly successful in the tournament, so I expect this team to progress out of their group under the leadership of Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott, but once they face some true class, they will be exposed and beaten.

4. Bayern Munich - Fireworks that Won't Explode - Offensively this team is amazing. Robben and Ribery create havoc for opposing defenses with their crafty runs and skills. But, their defense in not existent and it will cost them. Watch their defensive leader, Daniel Van Buyten get cut up by Diego Milito in the 2009 final (:45) on YouTube. Last year, Robben was worn out from the World Cup and lost his form. Whether he can regain it to that great level is unknown but what they put out defensively is. They will do well at the start of the tournament and will brutally dispose of weak opposition, but once they face a stern test, they will frustrate their fans to death and be exposed to smarter teams.

The Contenders - These are the true members of the competition. I assure you one of these teams will win it all. Behold their greatness.

1. Chelsea - The Rich Men - They are the older version of Man City. They have been buying the best talent for years now and their team can actually click. They have struggled recently though, and always seem to come out on the wrong end in this tournament. Perhaps it is because owner Roman Abromovich wants it so bad, that poetic justice ensues and prevents their glory because of his over-spending ways. Juan Mata should help replace the lessening value of Frank Lampard, but this team must know they are on to their last opportunities in this tournament. Time is running out for stars John Terry, Lampard, and Didier Drogba. I feel the hapless Fernando Torres will rediscover his form at some point this year (He just HAS to) and this team will compete.

2. Real Madrid - Ruthless Class - This team impresses me greatly. The best coach in the world, Jose Mourinho has assembled his team of stars, and I think this is the year we all say "look out". Players such as Christiano Ronaldo, Di Maria, and Ozil are of the highest talent and desire. Also, this team has a massive chip on their shoulder as they are repeatedly outdone by Barcelona. They have shown that they can beat them, as they did in the Spanish Cup final last year, and that should be enough to give them the belief. Mourinho's teams are always built well and now that he has had two full years to tinker the side, they should be ready to dominate Europe as their fans expect them to.

3. Inter Milan - The Recovering Power - How sad must it have been for the team when their coach left them after giving them all the successes they could ask for in just two years? Now they have had to rebuild and lick their wounds and start again. I feel that the purchase of Diego Forlan should create a powerful attack with Sneijder and Milito in the mix too. This team has enough sense at the back to challenge as well. Whether their manager can make this team gel like Mourinho did is the great question. I feel that it is a possibility and we may very well see this team progress far into the tournament.

4. Manchester United - The Powerful Party - Everything seems to be going their way. They have demolished everyone in their path this year, but only have to look to last May to see their weakness as they were beaten well in last year's final. New signing Ashley Young should provide some support, and his goals against Arsenal were incredible in the thrashing. They defend well and attack superbly. Whether or not they can challenge Barcelona is up in the air, but they have all the skills necessary to win it. Expect them to be in the final conversation.

5. Barcelona - The Beauty Pageant - This is the best team in the world. No questions asked, we all know it. But football is football, and winning in every round in a tournament is never easy, no matter how good you are. Additionally, I don't like the spirit of this team. Just look at their antics. Sure they win, but it quite pathetic when you look at the lengths they go to for wins. Now they have their replacement for Xavi in Fabregas. They have Messi, the undisputed best player in the world. They should win, but I feel they will not. Nobody repeats in the Champions League. There are too many factors like injuries and terrible referee calls that will affect everyone at some point. They will factor in this tournament, but I see them crowding around the ref in supreme whining in the semifinal when something doesn't go their way, and they will leave this tournament disappointed. At least that is what I am hoping for.

Final Prediction - Inter Milan 2- 3 Real Madrid. Mourinho and this side are too good not to win the Champions League at some point. I would love to see this final. Mourinho against his old club. Forlan against his old cross-town rival. Drama, passion, and a high scoring final. Enjoy soccer fans alike!!!

Football Player Cristiano Ronaldo Versus Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi

2011-09-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

In the past few years there has been much speculation about who is the better soccer player Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Although, much of the public has argued that Messi is the better player, there appears that there is a large public that believes that Cristiano is the better player. Although, both players are slightly different, Messi is the more complete player, largely because he makes other players around him better. This is not a knock on Ronaldo, because he is a great player, probably top 5 player, depending on who you ask, but he does not provide the total package that Messi provides. Messi has proven over the past few years that he can adapt to any style of playing, wether it is fast paced or a more technical game, and he also has proven that he can adapt to any player, such as David Villa or Zlatan Ibrahimovic before him.Cristiano Ronaldo tends to “showboat” a lot and sometimes forgets about other players around him and his authentic soccer jerseys, however nobody can deny the fact that he is probably the best one on one player in soccer today. His physical strength combined with his speed makes him almost unstoppable.

It almost like comparing Kobe Bryant to Lebron James in basketball, where Kobe Bryant is the great artist and Lebron James is the great physical talent. Messi seems to be revered and respected by everyone, however Cristiano Ronaldo has somewhat of a love/hate relationship with fans, and other players. Both players have somewhat disappointed with their national teams as neither player has ever won a World Cup, even come close to it. When talks come up of comparing either Ronaldo or Messi to the likes of Diego Maradona or Pele, the experts always mention how those all time greats won multiple World Cup’s and neither Messi or Ronaldo have. There are many great players in the world today such as David Villa, Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, and many others, but it always seems as if the two players that grab the most headlines are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Which is why perhaps, that they are often mentioned as the two best players .

Soccer League Upsets?

2011-09-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

Every soccer fan is familiar with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, AC Milan, Liverpool, Arsenal, Internazionale, and now Manchester City, but which league has the best chance of producing a surprise champion from a team that’s not a traditional soccer superpower?

We’ll rank the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, and Serie A with a percentage based on the likelihood that they’ll produce a title winner that is not one of the teams listed above.

Premier League: 0%

No, Manchester City is no longer an underdog team that few people have ever heard of. Yes, the last time Manchester City won the league title was in the late sixties, but dubbing them anything less than a superpower is absurd. Since the club’s takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group back in 2008, they’ve used their seemingly limitless financial reserves to acquire star after star, and they are now destined to compete with United for the league’s top spot.

With United and City currently destroying nearly everyone they play, they are the clear frontrunners. With Chelsea and Liverpool waiting in the wings, the chances of a team like Newcastle or Aston Villa winning the title now seems laughably impossible. At this point, it’s even hard to see Arsenal managing to sneak back into the top four.

Two teams are leading the way, two teams are looking solid, and a few teams are still waiting to wake up to reality. At least it’s not La Liga...

La Liga: 0%

If you think the competition is thin the Premier League, La Liga boasts the most unchanging rivalry in soccer history: Real vs. Barcelona. The rest of the league might as well escape into a black hole. Would the world even notice they were gone? Between Barca and Real, they’ve combined to win a total of 52 league championships, with the next closest team coming in with a distant 9 titles.

This season will be no different. After a convincing Champion’s League campaign last year to go along with the league title, Barcelona is arguably the best team in the universe. With the pickup of Cesc Fabregas in the offseason, the team hasn’t gotten any weaker. Real will always be nipping at their heels, but no other team in the league will come close to competing. Last year, the third place team, Valencia, was a gigantic 21 points behind the second-place, yes, second-place, Real. To put that into perspective, Valencia was 25 points away from first place, but only 28 points from the relegation zone. This year, the bookmakers have put the odds for Valencia winning the league at 40/1. Good luck.

To summarize, Barcelona and Real are at the top, way above everyone else, and then there are a ton of teams below them that nobody really cares about. That pretty much sums up La Liga in a nutshell. At this point, it looks like it’ll be another decade or so until there’s at least one or two teams even capable of competing against Real and Barca. Until that time, we’ll just tune in during the El Clasico and Champions League.

Bundesliga: 50%

Maybe it’s their history and legacy of technical, concise, and fundamental play, but for some reason the Bundesliga is often pinned as the least exciting league to watch. Sure, the Germans don’t have jersey sales similar to Messi, Rooney, and Ronaldo, but they have great players and teams, and unlike other leagues (see above), they actually have some parity.

Bayern Munich is the traditional power, holding 21 total titles. But that’s it, there’s no second dominant team, and if Bayern doesn’t win it all, the title is pretty much open to anybody. That’s especially good news this year, since Bayern ended last season in third place, and the top three soccer teams this season (Bayern, Schalke, and Werder Bremen) each already have one loss.

No team is going to run away with the league or build a substantial lead through points. Therefore, the season should be exciting, dramatic, and entertaining, and here’s to hoping that the world will soon be wearing “Hannover 96” kits.

Serie A: 25%

Juventus, AC Milan, and Internazionale are the Big Three in Italy. These teams are so dominant that over the last 20 years only two teams (Lazio in 99-00, and Roma in 00-01) have managed to steal a title. Recently, with Juventus struggling over the last decade, the modern era can be narrowed down to just AC Milan and Inter, but we don’t think this year will produce any Italian surprises.

Sure, Lazio signed Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse, Inter lost Samuel Et’o, the Udinese did OK in the Champions League qualifying rounds to Arsenal (who is now near the EPL relegation zone), and the league’s financial troubles could keep the top clubs from making big signings, but the chances that either Inter or AC Milan will not be in the top spot at the end are still pretty slim.

Regardless, we still give the league a 25% chance of having an upset, simply due to the fact that Lazio and Roma are getting better, and with the strike upsetting preseason preparation, the season could get off to an abnormal start...and maybe, just maybe, the smaller clubs of the league can take advantage.

Diego Forlan to be the Best Buy of the Summer

2011-09-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

With the departure of Samuel Eto'o, Inter Milan was beginning to look a side rather weakened since its thunderous Champions League success from 2010. The loss of mega-coach Jose Mourinho and the pathetic attempt of continued success under Rafa Benitez has greatly disrupted any hopes for a return to the top of Italian and European soccer. Additional losses to the squad included the talented yet delusional Mario Balotelli and the tricky Ricardo Quaresma.

Now this past summer with Eto'o gone and rampant speculation surrounding Wesley Sneijder's potential exit to Manchester, hope seemed quite dim. That is, until the late deal with Atletico Madrid secured the arrival of Diego Forlan, one of the most decorated players in recent history. What Diego Forlan brings to the table (and what Eto'o often lacked) is the ability to perform on the big day.

Let's go back to the spring of 2010. With Atletico trailing in extra time to Liverpool in the Europa Cup semi-final, Forlan scored the decisive goal to seal their progression. Not to forget his goal in the first leg victory. In the final, his two goal performance against Fulham won the game and he was awarded man of the match.

In the summer, during the 2010 World Cup the Uruguayan hero scored outrageous goals from distance and led his team to the semi-finals where they were simply outclassed by Holland. However, he did all he could scoring a dramatic first half equalizer before his team mates let him down. His five goal effort throughout the tournament was rightly appreciated with the Golden Ball award, marking him the tournament's best player.

Although his following club season was rather disappointing, Forlan returned to top form in the 2011 Copa America tournament. After an enduring draw facing Argentina in the opening playoff round, penalties ensued. Forlan confidently converted his try. The media's favorite transfer gossip boy and homesick whiner, Carlos Tevez, failed to convert for the home team. Thus Uruguay was able to defeat the hosts, whose talented roster included Lionel Messi, considered to the best player of our time.

In the final Forlan again was clinical, firing two goals past the Paraquay side. Diego became the third Forlan generation to lift the Copa America, and he was finally gifted with a dream move to Inter Milan, who will play in the Champions League.

With a talented attack including Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder (who decided to remain at Inter after all), Inter Milan is starting to shape up as a team who could challenge Barcelona for top trophies. Diego Forlan wins the big games. He is one of those odd late bloomers of a footballer who has reached the top of his game at age 32. He likely has at least 3 good years left in him and will prove to be the best signing this summer. Look out for Inter to regain some of its pride that was lost this past season.

Serie A Strike Over, But Troubles Remain

2011-09-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Serie A strike is finally over—at least for now. The players’ union (AIC) and the league (Serie A) agreed upon a short-term deal that will allow the season to begin this Friday, with only a week’s worth of games being missed.

One of the points of contention—the rights of players to participate in first team trainings—is still somewhat unresolved, and a stipulation was added to the deal requiring some sort of closure to the issue within the next 30 days.

The second component of the strike revolved around a new solidarity tax that the Italian government would have applied to the league’s highest salaried players, but that has now been dropped.

The strike was a long time coming, and even though it appears to be temporarily over, both sides could renew their conflict in the future once the current one-year contract ends. It was a similar short-term agreement that was enacted after the main collective agreement expired in June of 2010, and the resulting quick-fix didn’t provide much stability, resulting in the strike.

Both sides also talked about other league-related issues. Specifically, plans that would initiate development programs and add financial assistance towards building new stadiums was postponed. Many of the league’s stadiums are in dire need of updates, and recent financial data has shown that Serie A is losing out on important revenue that could be gained through increased seating capacity, stadium ownership, and facility upgrades.

Counterfeit problems related to sponsorship were also discussed. Since counterfeiting is so prevalent in Italy, both sponsors and teams are losing out on valuable income due to illegal merchandising

Additionally, clubs now want players to be classified under law as self-employed instead of employees of the organization. Once again, this is an issue that would ultimately help the bottom line and save teams from a few additional expenses.

Although a complete catastrophe has been avoided, the averted strike just adds more bad press to a Serie A league struggling with image problems.

Besides the match-fixing scandal that rocked the soccer world back in 2006, the league’s best teams have recently fared poorly in European club competitions, resulting in the loss of a Champion’s League spot that will be transferred to the Bundesliga beginning in the 12/13 season.

To make matters worse, Udinese recently got booted during the qualifying stages of the Champions League by a decrepit Arsenal side that recently got destroyed 8-2 by Manchester United. Also, Napoli, a surprise entrant into the tournament this year, will struggle to overcome their unlucky group stage, being paired with the newly empowered Manchester City and the longtime German power Bayern Munich—and La Liga’s Villareal. The future hope of Serie A remain firmly in two of their most prestigious teams: Internazionale and AC Milan.

Cesare Prandelli, Italy’s head coach, is worried that the recent strike and lack of playing time may adversely impact the national team. The team just narrowly defeated the Faroe Islands by a score of 1-0, and the match showed that Italy has a long way to go before regaining their usual stellar form.

Overall, Italians can breathe a sigh of relief that their national pastime is back on, but they have every right to be worried about what direction the sport is headed.