Fan Reaction to USMNT 1-2 loss against Jamaica |
- Fan Reaction to USMNT 1-2 loss against Jamaica
- Fernando Torres vacations with family after 4-1 loss to Atletico Madrid
- Visiting Belgians defeat Wales in opening World Cup Qualifying match
- The Lowry Lowdown: Partying in MLS
- Why Arsenal should win the 2012-2013 English Premier League
- Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero takes his talents down under
- FC Porto – Are THEY Football’s Best Run Club?
| Fan Reaction to USMNT 1-2 loss against Jamaica Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:11 PM PDT  (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) The United States traveled to Jamaica as the heavy favorites to take a full three points from the nation’s World Cup qualification match. A victory against the Jamaicans would put the US back on track in their campaign to reach Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the summer of 2014. Fans showed up with their ticket stubs out and ready to go as the United States were thought almost guaranteed victors. But, as fortune had her say, the United States suffered another unfortunate wake up call. A poor performance by Jurgan Klinsmann’s side cost the nation a valuable three point haul and has them thrown into the mix of fighting for a qualification place in the months to come. |
| Fernando Torres vacations with family after 4-1 loss to Atletico Madrid Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:44 PM PDT
The four of them were spotted soaking up the sun in Ibiza. His wife Olalla and two children Nora and Leo adorned big smiles, obviously happy to be spending time together as a family. Torres also was cheerful, a different kind of bliss than that of winning a big game. His wife and children always make the footballer glow in happiness. Besides the sheer joy from the Torres family, beachgoers were graced by Torres' athletic build and his WAG's amazing figure. They are definitely a couple to envy. This was a much needed break for Torres as his team fell short of victory against his beloved first club, Atletico Madrid. Torres was the youngest captain in Atletico's history at the age of 19, and although he would eventually leave for Liverpool in 2007, the club will always be near and dear to his heart. Torres was disappointed that his newest club, Chelsea were flogged 4-1 at the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco by his youth side, but it was a night of individual class and team effort that saw Atletico defeat the Champions League winners and make the Europa League look more than a second tier competition in Europe. Despite the loss to Atletico, Chelsea looks to be strong this season. As they are undefeated, thus far, in the English Premier League. With a loving and supportive family by his side, regardless of win or loss, it will be hard to wipe the smile off Torres’ face. |
| Visiting Belgians defeat Wales in opening World Cup Qualifying match Posted: 07 Sep 2012 03:39 PM PDT  Jan Vertonghen (front) celebrates his goal against Wales. Mike Hewitt / Getty Images. In what could have been a far worse scoreline for the hosts, Wales were soundly beaten by a strong Belgian outfit Friday evening. The hosts began the game in good spirits, despite their underdog label, and began the fixture more than happy to let their guests have the ball, while they concentrated on the counter. Predictably, Gareth Bale provided Chris Coleman with some of the more promising attacking chances but the likes of Steve Morison and Simon Church failed to really threaten the goal of Thibaut Courtois. However, things took a despairing turn before 25 minutes had passed when James Collins was shown a straight red card. The West Ham centre-back lunged in on Guillaume Gillet with his studs raised high on his Belgian opponent. Replays showed that referee Stefan Johannesson was indeed justified in giving the defender his marching orders, and making Wales' chances of success even slimmer. Up until that dismissal, Coleman's men had looked comfortable preying on the counter, but with Collins out of the picture that became a rare sight. After getting off to such a promising start with Everton this season, Marouane Fellaini carried his form onto the international stage and was impressive in possession for the visitors, probing the Welsh backline with many precise through balls. Then, 15 minutes after Collins' red card, Vincent Kompany rose higher than all others to head home a Dries Mertens corner, giving Belgium the lead that Wales had worked so hard to prevent. With Joe Allen out through injury, Ashley Williams was forced into a holding midfield role and looked out of depth at times, failing to maintain any decent amount of possession. The Welsh continued to attack, with Bale as their main target, but found it hard to maneuver past an astute Belgian back line. In the second half, Belgium were more than happy to keep the ball, teasing the Welsh defense in front of their of their own area for minutes at a time. Eden Hazard was unsurprisingly slick at times, given his early season form at Stamford Bridge, and acted as keen creator for his side, although with little end product. However, with ten minutes left on the clock, Jan Vertonghen hit a piledriver of a free-kick low and hard, edging his attempt past Boaz Myhill and into the back of the Welsh net. While defending may be his first priority, Tottenham certainly have a capable set-piece taker on their hands in Vertonghen. Overall, Coleman can be pleased that his side stood up to the challenge as sternly as they did. Belgium will rue a lack of finishing, and will need to put away their chances more often if they are to make it to Brazil 2014. |
| The Lowry Lowdown: Partying in MLS Posted: 07 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT
When professional athletes get together we tend to do everything competitively and at 100 miles-an-hour. There can be anything from games, challenges and pranks along the way. During a season, MLS players find themselves in an unpredictable schedule of traveling, playing and resting. Within those brief restful moments players have the availability to enjoy choice social endeavors. And while some players didn't have the desire to engage in revelry, others had a knack for it. I can remember many practices where I could smell the alcohol seeping through the perspiration of a teammate and wondering what he was up to the night before. One former teammate wouldn't drink but he would stay out at clubs all night during the week, coming straight to practice from the club only to return home and sleep the rest of the day so he could party again that night. I've played with many great professionals but there are always a few wild guys on each team. I remember one of the first times I went out as a poor pro athlete in Chicago. We went to a trendy club and one of the older wealthier guys on the team supplied us with alcohol and entry. I felt like Farva at the open bar in Super Troopers. I still tell people there is nothing like being young and enjoying the glitz and glamor of a big city. But it is easy to get lost in the lights and buzz and lose your perspective on your goals. I am sure we all have our stories about crazy nights, but when you live life in the public eye and are under pressure to perform- the risks are a bit higher. If we got caught doing anything we wound up in the papers and on SportsCenter, while our careers were put in peril. I realize we aren't as high profile as most professional athletes and that provided us some slack; but there are always guys who test those boundaries and pushed their luck. While playing in MLS I was able to travel the country, attend some amazing fundraisers and parties with celebrities and athletes alike; living the dream I worked so hard for growing up. I've seen it all from hookups to hoedowns -there really isn't anything like a night out with some of the boys. And while I always tried to make sure my social activities took a back seat to my career, I'm thankful I have some good stories to share with all of you. |
| Why Arsenal should win the 2012-2013 English Premier League Posted: 07 Sep 2012 12:38 PM PDT
Arsenal fans around the world are now living in the post-Robin van Persie era, where the Flying Dutchman 2.0 has skived off to the north of England to play with the Red Devils. However, with van Persie’s move, Arsenal may actually be better off. Everyone knew that he wanted leave the club. Arsenal fans just held out hope that loyalty to the club would overcome, but that was not the case. A, now infamous, little boy inside the Dutch striker screamed to join Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. He will now get the pay he had been asking for the past few years and be synonymous with Samir Nasri for seeking out money over loyalty. Enough about that. Pat Rice retired at the end of last season, ending a life-long stay at the Arsenal club. He moved from player to manager and became one of the most successful club coaches and tacticians in Arsenal’s storied history. Steve Bould, a former Arsenal player has taken over his duties now. This defensive master has suddenly transformed a notoriously leaky Gunner defense into an impenetrable wall that teams can just not manage around. And to think, after three games and zero conceded goals, they still haven’t played Sagna nor Koscielny- two players who are amazingly talented defenders. And then second-string keeper, Vito Mannone, is in between the sticks for the Gunners, leading the league in clean sheets. No one would have guessed that Arsenal would have the only defense to not concede at the beginning of the season. It has been absolutely unheard of in recent seasons. Abou Diaby has been introduced to the side, after an extended leave from the game to recover from various injuries. There were many fans of the Gunners, who groaned when Diaby was included in the lineup against Liverpool this past weekend. Oh, how wrong were they. Diaby put in a performance of the ages, winning the ball, creating attacking movement and dominating the physical game in the midfield. He seemingly filled in those massive boots left long-unfilled by former Arsenal big man, Patrick Vieira. With the inclusion of Diaby next to Arteta in the middle of the park, Arsenal looked very dynamic and dangerous going forward, being able to change out these players with Ramsey and Coquelin, with ease. The midfield is also without Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky. Arsenal can only get stronger as these players come back into the fold, recovering from bouts of injuries. Let’s get down to the meat of it though. The diminutive Spaniard, Sanri Cazorla, has been an absolute sensation in the four games he has featured for Arsenal, if you include the match against Cologne in Germany. He has dictated the pace of the attack, cutting and weaving through opposing defensive lines and wreaking havoc upon teams not ready for the mind-blowing abilities of the Spanish international. Becoming an Arsenal hero overnight is no easy task, but it is safe to say that this attacking midfield presence has revolutionized Arsenal’s attacking threat, by sliding into a transitory role behind the Arsenal forward line and ahead of the dual-center midfield threat. He has to be seen as the key to Arsenal’s success this season. His performances are bound to improve upon their already lofty quality; having finally gotten off the mark against Liverpool this past weekend, sealing the win for the Gunners. The attacking threats of Podolski, Giroud, Walcott, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and even Gibbs from the left-back position is far too much to overlook from Arsenal. These players have been coming into form since the season started. Podolski is finally getting to play out on the left-side of the field, his more natural position, and tracking back with Oxlade-Chamberlain, adding to the already-insurmountable Arsenal defense. Giroud, with his aerial ability and his aptitude to play off the shoulder of the last defender, can be seen as a huge threat from the Gunners in the future, as soon as he gets his first goal in the Arsenal red. Gervinho and Walcott can be seen as natural winging options for Arsenal when they need to spread out the back line of their opposition. If they can get their crosses in and on target, or cut inside and attack the defense. There is little stopping Arsenal from dominating this season. There are simply too many threats going forward and a sturdy defense backing that attack up. Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea-the usual threats to Arsenal’s dominance- have not shown any of the dominance that has been ‘expected’ of such teams in past seasons, with very nervy games against much weaker opposition. Sure, they pulled out the win, in some instances, but this could be a sign of the changing tides in English football. Injuries can hamper the strongest teams and money lacks the staying power that true talent combined with amazing coaching and tutelage can provide. Arsenal’s year is this year. They can silence every single one of their critics. They have all of the pieces necessary. All they have to do is just put it all together in one beautiful, flowing example of how a footballing team should play. |
| Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero takes his talents down under Posted: 07 Sep 2012 11:36 AM PDT
Italian football, perhaps more than any other major footballing countries, has a tendency to produce indomitable players that often transcend what they could achieve as a footballer and become cultural icons. Paolo Maldini, Francesco Totti, Javier Zanetti and the aforementioned Del Piero are players that have spurned interest from top clubs all across the globe, clubs that would have offered them more money, in order to stay with the team they’ve established themselves with. Maldini has gone down as one of the best defenders to ever grace a pitch. Totti and Zanetti, despite their advanced ages, are still integral pieces for Roma and Inter Milan respectively. However, none of these players have played for Italy’s most successful team, Juventus. Alessandro Del Piero reached the pinnacle of Italian football with the most widely supported team across Italy, making him a true national treasure. It will be a bittersweet sight seeing Del Piero don another jersey aside from the classic black and white stripes of La Vecchia Signora. He will be missed but it’s a shame to see such a player waste away on the bench, and I guarantee that you could not find one Juve supporter that would not give the diminutive forward a standing ovation should he ever grace Juventus Stadium again. Here’s some of the accolades the man known as Pinturicchio has achieved: Juventus’ all-time most-capped player with 513 appearances, Juventus’ all-time leading scorer with 290 goals, 6 Serie A titles, UEFA Champion’s League Winner, member of the FIFA 100, and elected to the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll both times. While Del Piero never won a Ballon d’Or, the player’s accomplishments cannot be overlooked. There are few players who become synonymous with the teams they represent: Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls of the NBA, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, Joe Montana with the San Francisco 49ers; Del Piero is certainly amongst that company. I challenge you to find an Italian soccer fan under the age of 50 that will not name Alessandro Del Piero as the first player that pops into their mind when thinking about Juventus. The apotheosis of a consummate professional, what Del Piero gave Italian soccer can’t be quantified and not seeing his name just above the number 10 he made so famous will be surreal. He was one of the last remnants of the recent glory days of Serie A when the Italian clubs were best in the world. When I talk to my grandchildren, I’ll nostalgically reflect on how I saw the great Alessandro Del Piero combine skill, grace and professionalism to become one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time. |
| FC Porto – Are THEY Football’s Best Run Club? Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT
Millions of viewers watched on Friday, August 31st as Colombian Radamel Falcao absolutely destroyed billionaire Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea FC in the UEFA Super Cup. Falcao, currently under contract for Los Colchoneros of Atlético Madrid, scored a brilliant hat trick, further adding to his 36 goal haul last season. The season previous, Falcao netted a stunning 38 goals in all competitions for Porto, earning a landmark €40 million transfer to Atlético, with the possibility of the fee rising to €47 million based on performance. Falcao’s feat was made even more impressive given that it came against Chelsea, whose starting XI cost approximately €250 million (via Transfer League). Considering the fact that Porto paid a paltry €3.93 million for the Colombian hitman’s services just three years prior, the mind boggles even further. Porto has a long history of cashing in on their players at just the right time. Most recently, Brazilian Givanildo Vieira de Souza, most commonly known as Hulk, was most recently purchased by Gazprom-funded Zenit St. Petersburg in a deal worth nearly €50 million. Hulk, who joined Porto for a total fee of around €19 million, scored 55 goals for Porto in all competitions before moving on for that massive fee. In fact, Os Dragões of Porto have turned a profit of nearly €300 million in transfers just since their Champions League victory in 2004. The mastermind behind that win, José Mourinho, departed to Chelsea, taking with him Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira for a combined €79 million. Since then, the club has sold a host of international stars: Maniche, Pepe, Anderson, José Bosingwa, Ricardo Quaresma, Lisandro López, Lucho González, Aly Cissokho, Bruno Alves, Raúl Meireles, and of course, Radamel Falcao. Since 2004 Porto has netted a whopping €586 million in transfer fees, with a further €294 million reinvested into the team for reinforcements. Far from being just a selling club, Porto has seen much success with their transfer policy. After being crowned champions of Europe in 2004, they have won a further 6 Portuguese Primeira Liga titles, the UEFA Europa League, 6 Portuguese Super Cups, and the Intercontinental Cup. Much like Udinese, Porto employs a huge scouting network. Especially in South America, where they are able to snap up burgeoning talent for meager transfer fees. Often, to help allay the initial cost of these players, Porto will share players’ rights with an agency. While significantly reducing the risk of such transfers, it also means that any future profits are shared with that agency, unless, as in the case of Hulk, Porto buys the player’s rights fully after an initial partial purchase. Additionally, in order to help create revenue, Porto will often sell partial ownership of players already on the books, such as in the case of current midfielders João Moutinho and James Rodríguez. Porto’s record for developing and selling on players for profit is nearly unmatched. Just as with Udinese, each big-name departure has a ready-made replacement waiting in the wings, simply biding his time until he is given the chance to shine. Currently on the books now are such bright talents as Moutinho, Rodríguez, Danilo, Jackson Martínez, Alex Sandro and more, who will surely command impressive transfer fees as they continue to impress both in a Porto shirt, and for their respective national teams. Most recently, it was Moutinho who was the subject of a rejected bid for approximately €30 million from Tottenham Hotspur, coached by former Porto boss André Villas Boas. With a stellar record in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and a solid European pedigree, Porto’s claim to the throne is arguably stronger than Udinese’s own strong shout. Their track record of producing big-name talent is well-documented, with no end in sight. Hulk’s recent departure may prove telling for the Dragons, but if history is any indicator, Porto will be just fine without their not-so-green superhero. The king will stay the king. |
Arsenal is long overdue for a successful cup run. The closest they have come in recent years is the 2011 League Cup final against Birmingham City. They notoriously imploded upon themselves and began a long streak of sup-par performances, which ultimately lead to their dismantling, at the hands of Manchester United in August of last year. This year is a new year, however.
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