After the first two weeks of English Premier League action, I have read several articles about some critics claiming that the EPL is "the most lopsided and unfair league in the world." Maybe a year or two ago I would have agreed with this statement, but with the current 20 EPL teams and recent results, I just don't think this argument has much weight behind it.
If we are solely talking about money, then yes, this league is extremely unfair. The spending power of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City is so far off of the spending power of the likes of Blackpool, West Bromwich Albion, Wigan Athletic, and Blackburn Rovers. But even with this huge discrepancy of transfer funds, I firmly believe that any team in the EPL has the ability to get points against any other opponent. Let's just look at some of the "lopsided" match-ups throughout the first two weeks of the season so far:
Chelsea (6) v. West Brom (0): Chelsea completely dominated newly promoted West Brom, and this is one that David Hirshey and all the other columnists can use to prove their point. The Blues did score a few fortunate goal,
Blackpool (4) v. Wigan Athletic (0): There isn't a single psychic, or even die hard Blackpool fan, who could have predicted this outcome. Blackpool was predicted by everyone in the world to finish dead last, and no one expected they had the firepower to score four goals against anyone. Sure, they did score some fortunate goals, but that is what is so exciting and entertaining about the EPL.
Manchester United (3) v. Newcastle (0): Here is another one that will fit the argument of the league being "unfair". The Red Devils handled this game with extreme ease, going up by two at the half, and finishing the game with a vintage Ryan Giggs volley.
Newcastle United (6) v. Aston Villa (0): This has to be considered the most "lopsided" upset in recent memory. Newcastle was coming off a disappointing showing against Man U, and was facing an Aston Villa club which included newly acquired Stephen Ireland. Villa won their first game convincingly over West Ham, but looked atrocious in this game. John Carew missed an early penalty which would have given them the momentum, but after he rocketed his shot over the bar, it was an entirely new game. Joey Barton opened up the scoring with a wonder strike from outside the area, Kevin Nolan added two close range goals, and new #9, Andrew Carroll notched a nice premier league hat-trick. Yes, Aston Villa is a club surrounded by doubt and a care taking manager, but every club is going to have their off-the-field issues. With these off-the-field issues, any result from any game shouldn't be out of consideration.
Manchester United (2) v. Fulham (2): Manchester United looked well in control of this game throughout the first half, after Paul Scholes scored an absolute thunderbolt from 30 yards. But Fulham kept fighting back, as they seemingly always do at Craven Cottage. Nani had the opportunity to put Man U up 3-1 in the 82nd minute from the penalty spot, but his shot was very poor and easily dealt with by Fulham's back up keeper David Stockdale. With the regained hope and momentum switch after the penalty save, sure enough Brede Hangeland equalized in stoppage time to earn a hard fought draw. This was not such an incredibly stunning result on paper, but in a day when Arsenal won 6-0, Chelsea won 6-0, and Newcastle won 6-0, Sir Alex and his men needed the points. Fulham may be able to secure another European birth this season.. but if the league is so incredibly "lopsided and unfair", shouldn't Manchester United be able to soundly take points from lesser opponents, especially so early on in the season?
If you want to see an unfair league, go look at the Greek Superleague where Olympiakos and Panathinaikos dominate every year. Or please see Spanish La Liga, where every single year for the next 20 years it is going to be either Barcelona or Real Madrid at the top. It is completely ridiculous for these columnists to bash the Premier League for reasons that are completely untrue, and could tarnish the vision of newly interested soccer fans looking for a club or league to continue to watch after the World Cup.
The Premier League has literally six potential teams who are fighting for the top four Champion's League spots, and could also possibly contend for the title. The FA (English Football Association) has established some solid rules that will just further continue to bridge the gap between the top and the bottom of the league and make it more fair. These rules include:
-The Home-Grown Rule: This rule simply states that of the eligible 25-man roster for each Premier League team, at least EIGHT of the players must be "home-grown". A player is deemed home-grown if they have spent at least three years living or training in England or Wales before they turned 21 years old. This rule will encourage more teams to bring up more local talent, and any team has the ability to sign any young player, as their wages won't be astronomical at such a young age. Larger clubs also will be more keen to spend money on home-grown players for the reason, allowing smaller clubs to gain extra transfer and operating funds.
-Parachute/Promotion Funds: In order to assist smaller clubs who make the jump to the Premier League, the EPL will provide the new clubs with extra money to obtain new players, make improvements to the stadium, etc. For example, Blackpool, the smallest newly promoted team was given over €90,000,000 (over $140,000,000 US) when they were promoted. Of the €90,000,000 given to the club, €50,000,000 will be paid in 3 installments throughout the year, and the other €40,000,000 will be given to them if they are relegated, which is called a Parachute Fund. The Parachute fund will ensure that they will be able to afford to pay wages of their players if they are relegated, and will also help them stay towards the top of the Championship to hopefully be promoted again in the near future. These extra funds almost certainly narrow the gap between "the rich and the poor".
-Carling Cup/FA Cup Competitions: These are additional competitions played by teams all throughout England and Wales. The additional games and competition provides huge benefits for every single club as they gain strong additional income (especially if they get paired against bigger teams), additional experience against bigger clubs, and a reason and opportunity to field young/non-first team players. These additional contests don't close the gap an incredible amount, but these two tournaments are just extra ways that the "unfairness" of the league is minimized.
I get irritated when journalists who cover the beautiful game get things severely wrong, especially when they say things that could damage the view of English football from an American soccer fan's point of view. I get that Blackpool and West Brom have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the EPL, but without a doubt I guarantee that they will come away with some crucial points and strong results against several clubs at the top of the table.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Premier League Season Review
With the Barclay's English Premier League right around the corner, it is time for the yearly table predictions. Going in to the season, realistcally there are six different clubs who have a fantastic shot of winning the trophy. Here is my projected end of the season table, and the reasons for each team's triumphs and struggles.
1. Chelsea (85 Pts)
2. Manchester United (83 Pts)
3. Manchester City
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Aston Villa
9. Fulham
10. Sunderland
11. Bolton Wanderers
12. Newcastle United
13. Stoke City
14. Wolverhampton Wanderers
15. Birmingham City
16. West Ham United
17. Wigan Athletic
18. Blackburn Rovers
19. West Bromwich Albion
20. Blackpool
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Season explanations for each club, from projected #20 to projected #1:
Blackpool (20th - Relegated): Blackpool is without a doubt considered to be the biggest underdog going into this season. They are rightfully given that tag, as they are also the team with the least amount of talent from top to bottom. If you are one of the many who fell in love with soccer during the World Cup, and are hungry for more quality soccer... do not watch Blackpool. They are really going to struggle against superior competition that they are not used to.
West Bromwich Albion (19th, Relegated): West Brom is widely gaining the reputation of the "yo-yo club" for their new reputation of gaining promotion, and being relegated, and bouncing around between leagues. Unfortunately, for the fans of the "Baggies", it seems as if they are going to continue to live up to their newly acquired nickname. Their roster in which they are bringing with them back to the Premier League is essentially the same as the one they had when they were last in the EPL just two seasons ago, with a few insignificant changes here and there.
Blackburn Rovers (18th, Relegated): Blackburn Rovers are a club in which I have gotten progressively down on over the past year. The Rovers are a club in which is strapped for transfer fees and has gained over $30 million in immediate debt. With the club openly being rumored to be taken over by a number of different owners, it is a shame that they are going to start the season without any major changes. Big Sam Allardyce has a huge task in front of him, as he is going to try to take a team without any big name stars and have them survive and stay afloat another season. They are going to give up A LOT of goals, and I just don't see where their goals are going to come from to earn them any points.
Wigan Athletic (17th): Roberto Martinez and his squad have a long way to go until they can even think about being a top-half side. Wigan is a squad that will continue to be strapped for cash, as they have an owner who is in it for profit, and stands that are never sold out. Until Wigan can get the fan support they need, it is going to be very hard for them to even get an investor who is willing to invest money in the club. If they can hold on to Hugo Rodallega and Charles N'Zogbia, I think they will have enough to avoid the drop.
West Ham United (16th): With the new owners David Sullivan and David Gold taking over the club and just nearly avoiding relegation last season, they will be looking to rebuild and have a strong season. Though the new owners haven't made a large transfer splash yet, they have made some smaller transfer moves in hopes to bring a more exciting, goal scoring team. They have also brought in new manager, Avram Grant, who will be hard pressed to prove himself after he developed a reputation of being an average coach with a great team while at Chelsea.
Birmingham City (15th): With the club having a new owner, and Alex McCleish signing a long term contract to stay as the clubs manager, the team has a lot of promise. But even with a larger kitty of funds offered to McCleish, the club did very little in the transfer market, except for filling up the spots of the players who left the club in the offseason. With the season right around the corner, this team seems to have only one thing in mind... Survival. If the club is able to survive and avoid relegation, and with the new owner willing to spend, they could be a force to be reckoned with down the road. Do not be surprised to see some additions to the club during the January transfer window, especially if the Blues are flirting with the "drop zone".
Wolverhampton Wanderers (14th): Mick McCarthy's men considered their Premier League season last year a success simply because they proved thousands of critics wrong by avoiding relegation. They have made solid transfers for Stephen Fletcher (to replace Sylvain Ebanks-Blake in the lineup), and the experienced Stephen Hunt. I am expecting them to have roughly the same amount of success, as they have not lost any players of significance in the transfer window.
Stoke City (13th): Stoke is a team that plays an extremely unique and exciting style of Soccer. Manager Tony Pulis has really figured out exactly what type of players to bring in, and when and where to play them. This is a team for people who are new to soccer to watch. I mean what other team throughout the world scores 30% of their goals off of massively strong throw in's from midfielder Rory Delap? Besides that, Stoke has a great core of players, including future England international defender Ryan Shawcross. They have strong, powerful defenders and strikers, who won't be bullied or afraid of any other team in the Premiership.
Newcastle United (12th): I have a feeling that most people are going to disagree with me having Newcastle finishing so high up the table in their first year back in the Premiership. But I have to say, in the few games of the championship I did catch, Newcastle absolutely dominated. They have a lot of players who have a lot of experience, a great young striker in Andrew Carroll, some new solid additions (Sol Campbell, Dan Gosling). They are incredibly tough to beat at home too, how many other clubs would draw over 50,000 fans for a home match in the Championship?
Bolton Wanderers (11th): I am a firm believer in Owen Coyle, and love what he has been doing with Bolton. He has brought in a number of great signings (including American Stuart Holden), and is making Bolton fans believers again. Ivan Klasnic, Johan Elmander, and Kevin Davies are all capable goal scorers. Martin Petrov is going to be a great addition from Manchester City, and I believe that South Korean Lee Chung-Yong is going to have his breakout season this year.
Sunderland (10th): Before today, I had Sunderland finishing a few spots lower, but they have continued to make solid moves. Steve Bruce has done wonders at Sunderland, and has made several spot-on transfers. He has brought in Manchester United youngers Danny Welbeck, Ghanaian international John Mensah, Paraguayan playmaker Christian Riveros, and defender Titus Bramble. A lot of their success depends on Darren Bent, and whether or not he can continue his form of the past season.
Fulham (9th): Fulham were a fantastic success last year, especially with their run to the Final of the Europa League. Fulham was a fantastic squad at home last year, but on the road they were absolutely pathetic. They had only ONE win from 19 away games. I think that Mark Hughes is going to be the perfect manager to change the team's mindset and help them pick up more points from their away games. With a healthy Andy Johnson, and bringing in Philippe Senderos to bolster the defense will leave Fulham in the top 10.
Aston Villa (8th): The Villains are coming off of their third straight 6th place finish in the Barclay's Premier League. With their manager of five years, Martin O'Neill shockingly resigning just days before the season, this club seems destined to have a rough 2010/2011 season both in the Premier League and the Europa League. Until they get a new manager in place, who has a long term outlook on helping the club continue to grow, I can't see Aston Villa performing as well as they have over the past 3 season.
Everton (7th): There is a little bit of a bias on this prediction because I fell in love with the club during Landon Donovan's three month loan spell. But David Moyes has always been able to make the best out of what he is given, which is very little funding for new transfers. Tim Howard is easily one of the best keeps in the Premier League, and they have plenty of scoring threats. They have a solid defense, a fantastic midfield, and strikers who can put the ball in the back of the net. I am rooting for them to get to Europe, but I just don't see it with the quality teams in front of them.
Tottenham Hotspur (6th): It is hard not to root for Tottenham, as they finally were able to get back to the Champion's League with their 4th place finish from last season. They have gone an extremely long time without a major trophy, and I feel like they are still just a few players away from seriously contending. It's great to see them do so well and get to the Champion's League, but I think that their involvement in that massive of a competition may cause harm to their Premier League title hopes.
Arsenal (5th): The London based club has an incredible amount of talented players, but the majority of those talented players manager Arsene Wenger has invested in are extremely young. By putting the faith and fortunes of the entire organization on the backs of youngsters, the Gunners seem to always be playing for the future, and not for the current season. With this seemingly being the last year that superstar midfielder Cesc Fabregas spends in London before he moves to La Liga, I think that Wenger and Arsenal's front office have made a huge mistake by not investing in any quality veterans in the off-season. Their all-out attacking style of football and lack of focus on defense hasn't worked for the past few years, and there is no reason for me to believe that it will work this year.
Liverpool (4th): Liverpool missed out on a Champion's League birth after a miserable and frustrating season. Now that Rafa Benitez has left his post as manager, and Roy Hodgson has come in, I can sense that Liverpool is going to be a very rejuvenated club. I am really excited to see newly acquired Joe Cole get a lot of playing time. It's hard not to think about the potential of a midfield consisting of Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, and Dirk Kuyt, and one of the best Strikers in the world, Fernando Torres. It should be an exciting team, and with no need for focus on the Champion's League, Liverpool will be focused on a succesful league season.
Manchester City (3rd): There are many critics who think that Manchester City has an incredible amount of talented players, but that their chemistry alone is not enough to push them over the top. I agree with that, and that is why I don't believe that they are going to win the title just yet. But they have to be a top four side without a doubt, their talent is undeniable. Especially if rumors of Mario Balotelli making the move to the Citizens, they simply will not be denied their spot in the Champion's League.
Manchester United (2nd): I fully expect Manchester United to make a serious push at the title, but they just aren't improved. They are essentially the same 2nd place team from last season, and I don't have any reason to change my mind. Rooney is coming off of a miserable World Cup, and he should fully expect to be booed even more from away fans. I was expected Sir Alex to make some serious changes or transfers this off season, as their key position players just continue to get older and older. Chicharito is a great signing, but I don't think that he will get the minutes over Rooney or Berbatov just quite yet. There will be some Man U fans that disagree, but their is absolutely no way they can talk me into believing that they will be champions.
Feel free to post your thoughts and your tables as well, I am anxious to see what everyone else thinks. I can't wait until Saturday, when the next 10 months their will be real soccer every weekend.
1. Chelsea (85 Pts)
2. Manchester United (83 Pts)
3. Manchester City
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Aston Villa
9. Fulham
10. Sunderland
11. Bolton Wanderers
12. Newcastle United
13. Stoke City
14. Wolverhampton Wanderers
15. Birmingham City
16. West Ham United
17. Wigan Athletic
18. Blackburn Rovers
19. West Bromwich Albion
20. Blackpool
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Season explanations for each club, from projected #20 to projected #1:
Blackpool (20th - Relegated): Blackpool is without a doubt considered to be the biggest underdog going into this season. They are rightfully given that tag, as they are also the team with the least amount of talent from top to bottom. If you are one of the many who fell in love with soccer during the World Cup, and are hungry for more quality soccer... do not watch Blackpool. They are really going to struggle against superior competition that they are not used to.
West Bromwich Albion (19th, Relegated): West Brom is widely gaining the reputation of the "yo-yo club" for their new reputation of gaining promotion, and being relegated, and bouncing around between leagues. Unfortunately, for the fans of the "Baggies", it seems as if they are going to continue to live up to their newly acquired nickname. Their roster in which they are bringing with them back to the Premier League is essentially the same as the one they had when they were last in the EPL just two seasons ago, with a few insignificant changes here and there.
Blackburn Rovers (18th, Relegated): Blackburn Rovers are a club in which I have gotten progressively down on over the past year. The Rovers are a club in which is strapped for transfer fees and has gained over $30 million in immediate debt. With the club openly being rumored to be taken over by a number of different owners, it is a shame that they are going to start the season without any major changes. Big Sam Allardyce has a huge task in front of him, as he is going to try to take a team without any big name stars and have them survive and stay afloat another season. They are going to give up A LOT of goals, and I just don't see where their goals are going to come from to earn them any points.
Wigan Athletic (17th): Roberto Martinez and his squad have a long way to go until they can even think about being a top-half side. Wigan is a squad that will continue to be strapped for cash, as they have an owner who is in it for profit, and stands that are never sold out. Until Wigan can get the fan support they need, it is going to be very hard for them to even get an investor who is willing to invest money in the club. If they can hold on to Hugo Rodallega and Charles N'Zogbia, I think they will have enough to avoid the drop.
West Ham United (16th): With the new owners David Sullivan and David Gold taking over the club and just nearly avoiding relegation last season, they will be looking to rebuild and have a strong season. Though the new owners haven't made a large transfer splash yet, they have made some smaller transfer moves in hopes to bring a more exciting, goal scoring team. They have also brought in new manager, Avram Grant, who will be hard pressed to prove himself after he developed a reputation of being an average coach with a great team while at Chelsea.
Birmingham City (15th): With the club having a new owner, and Alex McCleish signing a long term contract to stay as the clubs manager, the team has a lot of promise. But even with a larger kitty of funds offered to McCleish, the club did very little in the transfer market, except for filling up the spots of the players who left the club in the offseason. With the season right around the corner, this team seems to have only one thing in mind... Survival. If the club is able to survive and avoid relegation, and with the new owner willing to spend, they could be a force to be reckoned with down the road. Do not be surprised to see some additions to the club during the January transfer window, especially if the Blues are flirting with the "drop zone".
Wolverhampton Wanderers (14th): Mick McCarthy's men considered their Premier League season last year a success simply because they proved thousands of critics wrong by avoiding relegation. They have made solid transfers for Stephen Fletcher (to replace Sylvain Ebanks-Blake in the lineup), and the experienced Stephen Hunt. I am expecting them to have roughly the same amount of success, as they have not lost any players of significance in the transfer window.
Stoke City (13th): Stoke is a team that plays an extremely unique and exciting style of Soccer. Manager Tony Pulis has really figured out exactly what type of players to bring in, and when and where to play them. This is a team for people who are new to soccer to watch. I mean what other team throughout the world scores 30% of their goals off of massively strong throw in's from midfielder Rory Delap? Besides that, Stoke has a great core of players, including future England international defender Ryan Shawcross. They have strong, powerful defenders and strikers, who won't be bullied or afraid of any other team in the Premiership.
Newcastle United (12th): I have a feeling that most people are going to disagree with me having Newcastle finishing so high up the table in their first year back in the Premiership. But I have to say, in the few games of the championship I did catch, Newcastle absolutely dominated. They have a lot of players who have a lot of experience, a great young striker in Andrew Carroll, some new solid additions (Sol Campbell, Dan Gosling). They are incredibly tough to beat at home too, how many other clubs would draw over 50,000 fans for a home match in the Championship?
Bolton Wanderers (11th): I am a firm believer in Owen Coyle, and love what he has been doing with Bolton. He has brought in a number of great signings (including American Stuart Holden), and is making Bolton fans believers again. Ivan Klasnic, Johan Elmander, and Kevin Davies are all capable goal scorers. Martin Petrov is going to be a great addition from Manchester City, and I believe that South Korean Lee Chung-Yong is going to have his breakout season this year.
Sunderland (10th): Before today, I had Sunderland finishing a few spots lower, but they have continued to make solid moves. Steve Bruce has done wonders at Sunderland, and has made several spot-on transfers. He has brought in Manchester United youngers Danny Welbeck, Ghanaian international John Mensah, Paraguayan playmaker Christian Riveros, and defender Titus Bramble. A lot of their success depends on Darren Bent, and whether or not he can continue his form of the past season.
Fulham (9th): Fulham were a fantastic success last year, especially with their run to the Final of the Europa League. Fulham was a fantastic squad at home last year, but on the road they were absolutely pathetic. They had only ONE win from 19 away games. I think that Mark Hughes is going to be the perfect manager to change the team's mindset and help them pick up more points from their away games. With a healthy Andy Johnson, and bringing in Philippe Senderos to bolster the defense will leave Fulham in the top 10.
Aston Villa (8th): The Villains are coming off of their third straight 6th place finish in the Barclay's Premier League. With their manager of five years, Martin O'Neill shockingly resigning just days before the season, this club seems destined to have a rough 2010/2011 season both in the Premier League and the Europa League. Until they get a new manager in place, who has a long term outlook on helping the club continue to grow, I can't see Aston Villa performing as well as they have over the past 3 season.
Everton (7th): There is a little bit of a bias on this prediction because I fell in love with the club during Landon Donovan's three month loan spell. But David Moyes has always been able to make the best out of what he is given, which is very little funding for new transfers. Tim Howard is easily one of the best keeps in the Premier League, and they have plenty of scoring threats. They have a solid defense, a fantastic midfield, and strikers who can put the ball in the back of the net. I am rooting for them to get to Europe, but I just don't see it with the quality teams in front of them.
Tottenham Hotspur (6th): It is hard not to root for Tottenham, as they finally were able to get back to the Champion's League with their 4th place finish from last season. They have gone an extremely long time without a major trophy, and I feel like they are still just a few players away from seriously contending. It's great to see them do so well and get to the Champion's League, but I think that their involvement in that massive of a competition may cause harm to their Premier League title hopes.
Arsenal (5th): The London based club has an incredible amount of talented players, but the majority of those talented players manager Arsene Wenger has invested in are extremely young. By putting the faith and fortunes of the entire organization on the backs of youngsters, the Gunners seem to always be playing for the future, and not for the current season. With this seemingly being the last year that superstar midfielder Cesc Fabregas spends in London before he moves to La Liga, I think that Wenger and Arsenal's front office have made a huge mistake by not investing in any quality veterans in the off-season. Their all-out attacking style of football and lack of focus on defense hasn't worked for the past few years, and there is no reason for me to believe that it will work this year.
Liverpool (4th): Liverpool missed out on a Champion's League birth after a miserable and frustrating season. Now that Rafa Benitez has left his post as manager, and Roy Hodgson has come in, I can sense that Liverpool is going to be a very rejuvenated club. I am really excited to see newly acquired Joe Cole get a lot of playing time. It's hard not to think about the potential of a midfield consisting of Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, and Dirk Kuyt, and one of the best Strikers in the world, Fernando Torres. It should be an exciting team, and with no need for focus on the Champion's League, Liverpool will be focused on a succesful league season.
Manchester City (3rd): There are many critics who think that Manchester City has an incredible amount of talented players, but that their chemistry alone is not enough to push them over the top. I agree with that, and that is why I don't believe that they are going to win the title just yet. But they have to be a top four side without a doubt, their talent is undeniable. Especially if rumors of Mario Balotelli making the move to the Citizens, they simply will not be denied their spot in the Champion's League.
Manchester United (2nd): I fully expect Manchester United to make a serious push at the title, but they just aren't improved. They are essentially the same 2nd place team from last season, and I don't have any reason to change my mind. Rooney is coming off of a miserable World Cup, and he should fully expect to be booed even more from away fans. I was expected Sir Alex to make some serious changes or transfers this off season, as their key position players just continue to get older and older. Chicharito is a great signing, but I don't think that he will get the minutes over Rooney or Berbatov just quite yet. There will be some Man U fans that disagree, but their is absolutely no way they can talk me into believing that they will be champions.
Chelsea (1st): Chelsea is just like Manchester United, seemingly the same team. They were the champions of the Premier League last year, and I am 100% convinced that they will not be dethroned. They have too much talent from top to bottom, and all of their star players are still in their prime. With Ancelotti at the helm, I am a firm believer that he is going to keep Chelsea's head on straight no matter what off the field distractions occur.
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Feel free to post your thoughts and your tables as well, I am anxious to see what everyone else thinks. I can't wait until Saturday, when the next 10 months their will be real soccer every weekend.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
August 10th, 2010 -- USA v. Brazil
Only 1,401 more days until the world will turn their eyes towards the kickoff of World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
This is my first blog post, and I would like to make it clear that I am not doing this to get attention. I am using this blog for simply one reason; I am creating it to provide a place for American fans, like myself, to discuss anything and everything involving the beautiful game. Though the popularity of soccer has recently grown to it's highest point ever in the United States, it is still not nearly as respected and represented in the way it should. There is no other sport in the world that has players who are more dedicated, fans who are more passionate, and a game that is more exciting than soccer. This blog will keep American fans of all types informed about not only the United States Men's National Team or the MLS, but it will also cover scores, news, and rumors from leagues all throughout the world. If you agree with what I say, feel free to let me know. If you completely disagree with what I say, feel free to let me know. This blog is an outlet for us "yanks" to discuss and argue about the sport that we love most.
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The USA v. Brazil friendly this evening ended with a result that seemingly everyone expected. Going into the game, I am sure that if FIFA asked both teams whether or not they would have liked to play this game, both federations would have replied, "No." There were simply far to many off-the-field distractions for both nations heading into this game, that it was seemingly impossible to fully put a fans heart and interest in this game.
Brazil had an almost completely remodeled squad for tonight's game, partly because they wanted to give some of their younger players some international experience against a strong side, but mainly because the rest of their first-team squad is training with their club teams in preparation of the European seasons which are about to start or have already started. Their were plenty of bright spots for the Brazilians:
- Neymar. An 18-year old phenom who needed only 28 minutes to notch his first international goal.
- Robinho. The Manchester City owned star looked great on the ball, and would have scored if not for the post. He definitely looked as if his uncertain future of where he will play his club football had no effect on his on the field performances.
- David Luiz. The Benfica defender looked as solid as anyone on the field, even though this was his first international "cap". He drew comparisons to Spanish defender Carles Puyol, and made it clear why European powerhouses like Chelsea FC and Manchester City are lining up transfer bids for the 23-year old.
The Red, White and Blue played a dull and uninspired 90 minutes as a whole, and it seemed to be a fitting result with the timing of this game. The few bright spots for the USMNT were:
-Omar Gonzalez. Barring injury, Omar Gonzalez is going to be the Center Back for the USMNT of the future. He was solid in the back, especially defending set-pieces. Though he had a few shaky moments early on, he was not responsible for either goals, and put in a great effort for his first of many "caps" to come.
-Sacha Kljestan. Though he only played the 2nd half, he seemed like he was finally returning back to his form of old. He looked strong on the ball, put in a solid effort, and put a number of quality balls into the box. Believe it or not, he is still only 24-years old. Hopefully his recent move to Anderlecht was what he needed to further progress.
There were also some obvious negatives:
- Jonathan Bornstein. Can anyone please tell me why this guy continues to get called up to the USMNT? He completely gave away the first goal to the Brazilians, as he completely left Neymar unmarked for a free header. He was caught ball watching again, and had only one quality push on the flank throughout the entire game.
- Robbie Findley. I think that this might possibly have been his last experience with the first team. I completely understand that Bob Bradley likes his speed, but he fails to show up and provide every time his name is called upon. Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle both looked much, much better than Findley.
- Alejandro Bedoya. This was one of my only experiences watching him play, as I am unable to watch much Swedish League football. For this being his first international "cap" this was a perfect stage for him to display his talents. He didn't do much with the ball at his feet, and was eventually subbed out in the 60th minute for simply being exhausted. If he is going to try and become a regular with this club, he needs to do more with his opportunities.
Whether the final result ended with the USA winning 5-0, or Brazil winning 5-0, it would have had little impact on the future of American soccer. The future of American soccer is entirely up in the air, as several players and manager Bob Bradley don't know where their next destination lies. No one knows whether Bob Bradley will renew his contract with the USMNT and be their coach during Brazil 2014, or whether the rumors of him being linked to European club manager positions like Aston Villa are true. Several players also have to figure out which club kit they will be wearing in the next few years as well.
Jozy Altidore needs to find a club where he will be playing against strong competion and playing time, as Villarreal has openly said that he his excess to their current needs. Michael Bradley needs to figure out if he is staying with Moenchengladbach in the German Bundesliga, a team which is destined to be fighting another relegation battle. Though Landon Donovan is more than likely going to finish the rest of the season with MLS League Leader's LA Galaxy, his future is up in the air as several Premier League teams have been vying for his talents. Defender Jay Demerit missed tonight's game due to him currently being in Europe trying to make his decision on where he will sign. DaMarcus Beasley is available on a free transfer after Rangers declined to renew his contract. Freddy Adu is without a club, as his loan spell with Greek side Aris recently ended. It is simply ridiculous how many players could be unsigned at the start of the major European club leagues. Players with uncertain club futures is definitely a problem, but there are hundreds of other question marks that surround this club as well.
Will Charlie Davies be fully fit and return to his form after his car crash? Will Onyewu get fully fit and recieve playing time with AC Milan? Who will be able to solidify the central midfield position next to Michael Bradley? Is Jermaine Jones a viable solution? Will Jozy Altidore grow and blossom into the player we know he can be? Will Tim Howard fully commit to the next four year international cycle, when he is already 31 years old? The list of questions go on and on, and a majority of them could be more easily solved if Sunil Gulati and the rest of the United States Soccer Federation put an end to the speculation and either hire a new manager or renew Bob Bradley's contract. I am completely fine with either result, but the future will not get bright for this team anytime soon until we have a gaffer in place to lead this country from now until Brazil 2014.
Check the blog back on Thursday, August 12th, as I preview the 20 Premier League clubs and give my predictions on the final table standings as well.
This is my first blog post, and I would like to make it clear that I am not doing this to get attention. I am using this blog for simply one reason; I am creating it to provide a place for American fans, like myself, to discuss anything and everything involving the beautiful game. Though the popularity of soccer has recently grown to it's highest point ever in the United States, it is still not nearly as respected and represented in the way it should. There is no other sport in the world that has players who are more dedicated, fans who are more passionate, and a game that is more exciting than soccer. This blog will keep American fans of all types informed about not only the United States Men's National Team or the MLS, but it will also cover scores, news, and rumors from leagues all throughout the world. If you agree with what I say, feel free to let me know. If you completely disagree with what I say, feel free to let me know. This blog is an outlet for us "yanks" to discuss and argue about the sport that we love most.
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The USA v. Brazil friendly this evening ended with a result that seemingly everyone expected. Going into the game, I am sure that if FIFA asked both teams whether or not they would have liked to play this game, both federations would have replied, "No." There were simply far to many off-the-field distractions for both nations heading into this game, that it was seemingly impossible to fully put a fans heart and interest in this game.
Brazil had an almost completely remodeled squad for tonight's game, partly because they wanted to give some of their younger players some international experience against a strong side, but mainly because the rest of their first-team squad is training with their club teams in preparation of the European seasons which are about to start or have already started. Their were plenty of bright spots for the Brazilians:
- Neymar. An 18-year old phenom who needed only 28 minutes to notch his first international goal.
- Robinho. The Manchester City owned star looked great on the ball, and would have scored if not for the post. He definitely looked as if his uncertain future of where he will play his club football had no effect on his on the field performances.
- David Luiz. The Benfica defender looked as solid as anyone on the field, even though this was his first international "cap". He drew comparisons to Spanish defender Carles Puyol, and made it clear why European powerhouses like Chelsea FC and Manchester City are lining up transfer bids for the 23-year old.
The Red, White and Blue played a dull and uninspired 90 minutes as a whole, and it seemed to be a fitting result with the timing of this game. The few bright spots for the USMNT were:
-Omar Gonzalez. Barring injury, Omar Gonzalez is going to be the Center Back for the USMNT of the future. He was solid in the back, especially defending set-pieces. Though he had a few shaky moments early on, he was not responsible for either goals, and put in a great effort for his first of many "caps" to come.
-Sacha Kljestan. Though he only played the 2nd half, he seemed like he was finally returning back to his form of old. He looked strong on the ball, put in a solid effort, and put a number of quality balls into the box. Believe it or not, he is still only 24-years old. Hopefully his recent move to Anderlecht was what he needed to further progress.
There were also some obvious negatives:
- Jonathan Bornstein. Can anyone please tell me why this guy continues to get called up to the USMNT? He completely gave away the first goal to the Brazilians, as he completely left Neymar unmarked for a free header. He was caught ball watching again, and had only one quality push on the flank throughout the entire game.
- Robbie Findley. I think that this might possibly have been his last experience with the first team. I completely understand that Bob Bradley likes his speed, but he fails to show up and provide every time his name is called upon. Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle both looked much, much better than Findley.
- Alejandro Bedoya. This was one of my only experiences watching him play, as I am unable to watch much Swedish League football. For this being his first international "cap" this was a perfect stage for him to display his talents. He didn't do much with the ball at his feet, and was eventually subbed out in the 60th minute for simply being exhausted. If he is going to try and become a regular with this club, he needs to do more with his opportunities.
Whether the final result ended with the USA winning 5-0, or Brazil winning 5-0, it would have had little impact on the future of American soccer. The future of American soccer is entirely up in the air, as several players and manager Bob Bradley don't know where their next destination lies. No one knows whether Bob Bradley will renew his contract with the USMNT and be their coach during Brazil 2014, or whether the rumors of him being linked to European club manager positions like Aston Villa are true. Several players also have to figure out which club kit they will be wearing in the next few years as well.
Jozy Altidore needs to find a club where he will be playing against strong competion and playing time, as Villarreal has openly said that he his excess to their current needs. Michael Bradley needs to figure out if he is staying with Moenchengladbach in the German Bundesliga, a team which is destined to be fighting another relegation battle. Though Landon Donovan is more than likely going to finish the rest of the season with MLS League Leader's LA Galaxy, his future is up in the air as several Premier League teams have been vying for his talents. Defender Jay Demerit missed tonight's game due to him currently being in Europe trying to make his decision on where he will sign. DaMarcus Beasley is available on a free transfer after Rangers declined to renew his contract. Freddy Adu is without a club, as his loan spell with Greek side Aris recently ended. It is simply ridiculous how many players could be unsigned at the start of the major European club leagues. Players with uncertain club futures is definitely a problem, but there are hundreds of other question marks that surround this club as well.
Will Charlie Davies be fully fit and return to his form after his car crash? Will Onyewu get fully fit and recieve playing time with AC Milan? Who will be able to solidify the central midfield position next to Michael Bradley? Is Jermaine Jones a viable solution? Will Jozy Altidore grow and blossom into the player we know he can be? Will Tim Howard fully commit to the next four year international cycle, when he is already 31 years old? The list of questions go on and on, and a majority of them could be more easily solved if Sunil Gulati and the rest of the United States Soccer Federation put an end to the speculation and either hire a new manager or renew Bob Bradley's contract. I am completely fine with either result, but the future will not get bright for this team anytime soon until we have a gaffer in place to lead this country from now until Brazil 2014.
Check the blog back on Thursday, August 12th, as I preview the 20 Premier League clubs and give my predictions on the final table standings as well.
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