Soccer Europe |
- Can Joe Allen be the next Xabi Alonso for Liverpool?
- Geoff Cameron does MLS proud with ‘Man of the Match’ debut for Stoke City
- What happened to Jordan Henderson?
- WAG Alex Gerrard spotted in tiger striped bikini
- Stadium Experiences: The Emirates
| Can Joe Allen be the next Xabi Alonso for Liverpool? Posted: 27 Aug 2012 02:00 AM PDT  (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Liverpool new-boy Joe Allen started against Manchester City on Sunday as one of two attacking midfielders in Brendan Rodger’s new scheme. However, five minutes in he was moved to a deep holding midfield role thanks to the unfortunate departure of Lucas Leiva from the match. That proved to be the catalyst that saw Allen become potentially something that the Kop has been missing since 2009, a replacement for Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 and his place has never truly been filled. Alberto Aquilani, Charlie Adam, Lucas, Jordan Henderson and Jay Spearing have all tried and failed to make the midfield distributor and playmaker role their own to no avail. The fact that all the previously mentioned have either been sold or look set to be sold or sent on-loan is statement to that fact. Allen showed poise, patience and pure class on the ball and if he continues to display that skill he looks to prove the best passer and distributor of the ball since the departure of the fans beloved Spaniard. The young player may only be 5'6" but he plays as though he is huge according to manager Brendan Rodgers when he was discussing his new signing just a few weeks ago as quoted by the Daily Mail:
There is no doubt that the Reds fans have been waiting for the next player to finally arrive that was worthy of being loved and supported like Alonso was when he first arrived at the age of 22 in the summer prior to the 2004-05 season. Allen has all the tools to be the playmaker that the Red's so desperately need. If he can make 100 appearances that are half as good as the 210 that Alonso made for the Merseysiders, the young Welshman will endear himself to the Kop forever. You can also follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz, Facebook and Pinterest. |
| Geoff Cameron does MLS proud with ‘Man of the Match’ debut for Stoke City Posted: 27 Aug 2012 01:30 AM PDT
The former Houston Dynamo standout was forced to wait for his work permit to be finalized in England for him to star training and participating with the club. Before the match, Cameron was interviewed by the Stoke City media team for inclusion in the Potters Matchday Magazine:
However, Stoke manager Tony Pulis had little time to wait before throwing his new man onto the pitch to see what he was made of. The 27-year-old Massachusetts native was sent into action in the normal holding midfield place of Dean Whitehead with Arsenal coming to town.
In his 90 minute display, Cameron did all that was asked of him and more as he was awarded the "Man of the Match" award in only his first English Premier League appearance according to NESN and the match aired on Fox Soccer Channel. If there were questions left to be answered by the talented United States international before the match, there were none left to be asked following his excellent performance. You can also follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz, Facebook and Pinterest. |
| What happened to Jordan Henderson? Posted: 26 Aug 2012 05:24 PM PDT A changing of the managerial guard inevitably affects some players more so than others. In the case of Liverpool, things are no different. Some have seen their respective stocks rise since Brendan Rodgers' arrival. For example, both Raheem Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey have seen their playing time significantly increase under the Northern Irishman. Conversely, others that were used to seeing the pitch are now seen skulking along the sidelines. Charlie Adam is among this group. There has also been a considerable amount of press devoted to Andy Carroll's fall from favor under the new regime. Yet, comparatively little heed has gone to Jordan Henderson. The former Sunderland man has gone from rising star to total afterthought. What's even more surprising is that the change has taken place with little word from anyone. Just one month ago, the young English international seemed the odds on favorite to win the coveted third midfield slot, beside Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard. If anything the preseason only further confirmed that notion. Henderson featured heavily throughout the summer. However, things have changed considerably since then. Two matches into the Premier League campaign and Henderson has yet to lace up his cleats. Anfield's new boss has been quoted as saying that he needs five good midfielders to sustain a full season, given the strain his 4-3-3 puts on that area of the pitch. We already knew that Lucas and Gerrard would be staples within the system. Next, the club signed Joe Allen and Nuri Sahin to give the franchise additional creativity. And finally, there is the rise of Jonjo Shelvey and his increase in playing time. So where does that leave Henderson? Apparently, he is the sixth fiddle in a five-man band. An optimist, in that case, would claim that he is just taking a bit longer to adjust to the new system. But is it perhaps deeper than that? Is Henderson, like Carroll, simply not a fit for the new system? Let's consider the three midfield positions. Gerrard is the de facto attacking player with Shelvey serving as his understudy. Allen and, now foreseeably, Sahin will vie for the holding spot. Lucas is the best defensive option; and behind him both Allen and Jay Spearing crop up as superior alternatives to Henderson. Thus, it would appear Kenny Dalglish's major investment from a year ago is now a man without a home. Perhaps this is wrong thinking. Maybe Henderson will prove the doubters wrong and adapt. On the other hand, perhaps I am right. Maybe Henderson is best suited for a traditional 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 as commonly seen elsewhere throughout the Premier League. In that case, the once promising signing could be the next casualty of regime change. That much does not surprise me; it is a part of footballing life. However, what is strange is the total lack of press devoted to the subject. For whatever reason, this story seems set to end with a whimper and not a bang. |
| WAG Alex Gerrard spotted in tiger striped bikini Posted: 26 Aug 2012 03:15 PM PDT
Alex Gerrard strut her stuff on the beaches of Portugal earlier this week. She looked fantastic and fit playing in the ocean waves. One would never know that she has had three children. The 29 year-old glowed and turned heads in her two-piece strapless bikini. The wife of, England and Liverpool midfielder, Steven Gerrard was enjoying time on the beach with a friend. Both were wearing revealing swimwear and favored one another. Onlookers couldn't help but look as Alex showed her fun side in a tiger print bikini. One onlooker told the Daily Star that 'Alex looked stunning. She's a Premier League babe'. And who doesn't love two blonde babes frolicking in the ocean waves?
However, she did leave her hubby back in Liverpool in preparation for the weekend's game. Perhaps the WAG should've stayed home as Liverpool tied in a 2-2 draw against Manchester City. Maybe Steven Gerrard was missing his good luck charm. Instead of her WAG duties, Alex was soaking up the sun and having a good time away from home. |
| Stadium Experiences: The Emirates Posted: 26 Aug 2012 10:14 AM PDT Not every Arsenal fan will get the chance to visit London and specifically The Emirates Stadium in their lifetime. For those lucky enough to have visited Arsenal’s new home, we salute you. For those of you that may never get the chance to see your favorite team in action at home, we’ve put together a little montage of the Emirates for a start to finish experience. Many fans (and Londoners) will agree the easiest way to get around the city is by tube. This is generally the case for many Arsenal supporters that live further than walking distance away from the ground. The nearest tube station was once named “Gillespie Road” but was changed simply to “Arsenal” in the 1930′s and faithfully served Highbury for years until the club opened the Emirates in 2006. The station is unique throughout all of London’s underground system in that it has a ‘tidal’ separation system seen in the above picture that assists people going against the flow of traffic on matchdays. Upon moving to the Emirates in 2006, Arsenal fans used to taking the tube to matches experienced their first distinct change after exiting the tube. After exiting the station, most fans would would head left then take a right down Avenall Road. Here they could wait for the team coach to pull up in front of the fabled Marble Halls and catch a quick glimpse of their favorite stars. Nowadays, after exiting the station, most Arsenal fans will turn right and make their way to the Emirates. Formerly known as “The North Bridge”, the newly named “Ken Friar Bridge” connects the Emirates to Drayton Park and allows easy access for Arsenal fans to get themselves over to the stadium. Lined with pictures of historical players, the bridge was named after current director Ken Friar. After crossing that bridge, Arsenal fans can’t help but notice the towering figure of Tony Adams in his famous celebratory pose. Die hard fans will remember that iconic celebration after Adams got on the end of a Steve Bould pass in a 4-0 victory over Everton at Highbury that clinched the 97-98 Premiership trophy. Wrapping their away around the stadium, fans will see the club’s efforts to Arsenalize the stadium with massive banners, historical inscriptions, and heros of the past plastered on the stadium’s concrete base. Before heading down to the Armoury to buy whatever any Arsenal fan can dream of, every fan should stop by Thierry Henry’s statue placed just in front of the “Spirit of Highbury”, a mural displaying every first team player that ever graced the pitch at Highbury. From there, fans will have to be sure to check out the Armoury to purchase shirts, shorts, framed prints, memorabilia, and everything else in between. The store is massive and is always guaranteed to be packed on match days. Finally, fans can get themselves into the ground and enjoy the match. Every seat in the Emirates provides an incredible vantage point and an opportunity to watch one of the world’s greatest clubs. Below, you’ll find an amazing video one Arsenal fan made several years back highlighting his journey to the Emirates. [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.] Video by @RohanBM Do you have an experience with pictures you want to share of a certain stadium? Feel free to create an account and submit your piece to be published today. |
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