Ibrahimovic Return to Form

            An interesting game for Paris Saint-Germain took place tonight, with a 2-0 victory against FC Nantes marking the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after his three game suspension. With an exciting and fun to watch first half shifting to a lengthy and uneventful second half, PSG takes the lead of the French Ligue 1 once again. Also continuing was Matuidi’s top form, scoring a crucial goal just moments after taking a hit from Papy Mison Djilobodji. He kept the intensity up the entire time he was out on the field, and it decreased undoubtedly due to his substitution just after the half.  Cavani scored the other goal of the night, and his performance played out as usual. He scored a goal early, but then continued on to miss plenty more opportunities later in the game. Cavani’s performance of late has just not been acceptable, especially with Ibrahimovic coming back into the equation, and for his and the team’s sake, he can’t rely on scoring an easy opportunity and then not really caring much.

            As for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his return, there is some good and some bad to be said. First, he was deeply involved in both goals scored, creating space and then making important plays to set up his teammates. It is good to see that he at least still has the form that he left with and is expected of him. On the other hand, we will have to see how he fits back in with his teammates that have grown accustomed to him on the sidelines. While he was effective in creating opportunities with his team and they worked together to score twice, there were some instances where it looked as if there may be some tensions. One of these times was where Cavani was denied a goal when he could have passed to an open Ibrahimovic. At this, Zlatan got after his teammate, criticizing him for going to goal. Later, Ibrahimovic was guilty of the same thing, selfishly looking to score when Pastore was definitely a more viable option. While his actual form and ability to play the game has not diminished, it will be interesting to see how Zlatan integrates into the form that the rest of his team has settled in during his absence. Either way, the victory was important and well deserved for the French team and I have to think that Ibrahimovic’s return will be beneficial for the most part.

Chelsea Win League

            The race is finally over. The Premier League title has been taken by Chelsea following a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace. While there are still games left in the season, Chelsea has taken the championship by its sheer number of points over the competition. Currently seven points ahead of its closest rival, Manchester City, Chelsea has been heads above the competition. This winning game was representative of the entire season for the team. In the beginning of the game, Chelsea was playing nervously and couldn’t seem to make up their minds on how to play: either attacking or just waiting the game out. A header by Hazard before the break brought some calm to the team, and they were able to hold Crystal Palace off for the rest of the game to win the title. This is very much like how the rest of their season has gone, with Chelsea sitting miles ahead of the league. This leaves them caught between a team that wants to attack and play the game, but also one that wants to do anything it can to win, even if that means sitting back and accepting minor victories. They have often, especially more recently, just held their opponents, scoring on a counter, and then just sitting on a 1-0 lead until the end. Obviously, this tactic has proved useful, and although it is less fun to watch, I think most fans would take the league title over the team playing fancy football.

            The success of the club, although a team victory, can most definitely be attributed to the success of two individuals: manager Jose Mourinho and midfielder Eden Hazard. Taking part in player growth and honing in on key players and their roles, Mourinho has really helped the team become, well, a team. Also, he has managed to get along with (for the most part) the people around him at Chelsea, something that was not the case at previous clubs. As for Eden Hazard, he will no doubt be winning player of the year awards from multiple places, and he has been crucial to everything Chelsea has done this season. With 14 goals and 8 assists, Hazard has been a part of most every attack that Chelsea staged. Considered by many to be the best player of the Premier League, it is no question that he has been valuable to Chelsea in their efforts. Hazard has been a key player in their attack and overall play, and his, along with Mourinho’s, role in the team have been very important to their success. 

Ostrich-Gate Controversy

            As the Premier League comes to a close, and along with a team winning the title, teams are trying to avoid relegation. Along with this, pressure is building up, and one of the teams feeling this pressure is Leicester City. Having won many of their previous games and actually moving out of the relegation zone, Leicester has been looking good in their avoidance of relegation. However, going up against Chelsea, who are almost guaranteed to win the league this season, Leicester lost 3-1, leaving them out of relegation but not by as much as they previously were. The controversy comes outside the game, however, during a press conference with Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson. Basically, after getting annoyed by a journalist, Pearson asked him if he was an ostrich because he had his head in the sand. This continued, and he shortly walked out of the interview. Then, during the pregame conference for their next game, Pearson apologized to him, but was later called out for being a bully by yet another reporter. So now, other managers are either supporting Pearson or saying that what he did was wrong.

            One argument is that, as a manager of a team near relegation, he is obviously under a lot of pressure and that built up and led to what happened. Also, some say that this is how the whole reporter thing works, with them constantly coming at the managers with questions and then this leads to the managers reacting sometimes. Others say that Pearson’s was an act of bullying and he wasn’t able to manage his anger well. I think that, while not the best, Pearson’s actions were definitely well justified and he handled the situation well. First, I believe that the reporter was making Pearson repeat himself, and he felt that the questions were simply stupid. Also, to Pearson being criticized for his lack of anger management, I think that if he was angry, he handled it quite well. He never raised his voice, and he appeared relatively calm even when addressing the second reporter calling him a bully. I feel that most people are making too big of a deal out of the whole thing, and that it is just the relationship that reporters and managers will always have. 

City Struggle for Win

            At the other end of composure comes a game from the weekend that was chaos at best. Manchester City went up against Aston Villa and took a not-so-pretty victory, but a victory nonetheless. Defensive plights were followed by goalkeeping errors, and goals for each team followed. At just three minutes, Villa goalkeeper Guzan played an uncomfortable pass out of the back right to Aguero’s feet, and he wasted no time putting City one goal up. Similar things happened on the other end of the field, however, as a mixup in City’s defense gave Villa a comparably easy goal. Nearing the end of the game, Villa looked like they were making a viable comeback. Then, City substitute Fernandinho came through for his team and put in a late winner, giving City a scrappy win to put them in second.

            Manchester City really needs to get their game together if they want any shot at reaching Chelsea (however slim). Chelsea still sits comfortably at the top of the table with fewer games played, and they have looked much more composed than City did today. Even to stay in second place ahead of Arsenal, Manchester City will have little luck playing like they did today. Looking ahead, there is much to be done for the team during the summer, and they are by no means without need of a few players.

Barca Stay Composed

            Despite a relatively hard struggle for the top of the Spanish league table between Real Madrid and Barcelona, the latter seems to have no thoughts of giving that place up. In a Catalan derby today against Espanyol, there seemed to be some doubt going into the game today, at least for us viewers. Espanyol has been having a fairly good run recently and Barcelona surely has other matches on their minds, so most saw some chance at an upset. The Barcelona squad apparently had no notion of this, and their focus never strayed from the game at hand. In just the opening minutes, the Barcelona attacking end had already tested the keeper, and took just 17 minutes for them to open the game with a goal. The game was not all lopsided, but the team had few difficulties pulling off the 2-0 victory. Let’s take a second to look at Barcelona’s three up top. They have been nothing short of phenomenal lately, and it seems no defense can withstand their power. When Neymar came in last season, him and Messi definitely had a disconnect for a while, but this season the pair has been inseparable. I can’t tell you how many goals a scored between these two, and it seems like it’s assist after assist for either of them. Then, when Suarez came in this season, it took some time before he was well integrated with the two. Now, there is no question of their group performance, let alone their individual.

            Also, it is quite reassuring to see that the team was able to keep their focus at such an important time. Luis Enrique must have been able to convince the team to forget about anything besides this game, and it definitely worked. When fans and analysts alike doubted their ability to bring their top performance to this game, Barcelona just played their game as always. Barcelona has never lost away to Espanyol, and they were not able to continue this, but to further reinforce their table standings. It is nice to see at least one team keep their cool as the season approaches a close, and this type of composure is one that wins leagues.

Relegation and Newcastle

            It is truly a bad time to be a Newcastle United fan, and it would definitely be hard to support a team going on a 7 game losing streak; which is their worst Premier League performance yet. It seems as if they are trying to put themselves in a bad position, as they are seemingly toying with the reach of the Premier League relegation. For those of you who don’t know, the English football system is based on promotion and relegation, and as the end of the season is arriving, I figured I might as well talk about it. There are four tiers of league football, and below that is considered non-league. The top two tiers are the well-known Premier League and then The Championship coming in at second tier. I will only explain the relationship between these two leagues, but just know that the rest of the system follows the same principles for the most part. At the end of the regular season, the bottom three teams of the Premier League (based on points accumulated throughout the season: 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie, and none for a loss) are relegated, meaning they move down to the Championship league, not to be confused with the Champions League, for the next season. The top end of the Championship league is promoted, although in a slightly different fashion. The number 1 and 2 teams are guaranteed promotion to the Premier league, and then the third through the sixth have playoffs to secure the final position to be promoted.

            This system has many implications for the league, and it is very influential for some teams much more than others. The system leaves some teams that are being promoted and relegated year after year, sitting at the top of one league and the bottom of another. For others, mostly in the mid-table of the Premier League, relegation is something to be feared, and for obvious reason. I can guarantee that there are plenty of people that have heard of the Premier League and can name a few popular teams, and it is often on TV here in the U.S. On the other hand, if many of those people read this post, it would contain completely new information, and this would be the first time that they had heard of the Championship, and, to be honest, it was the first time that I completely understood how some of the lower ends worked, such as the non-league play. For a club, the difference is night and day. How many people want to buy apparel from a team in the Championship that very few people talk about? Compare that with the popularity and publicity of the Premier League, and at least financially wise, relegation could seem like the end of the world.

            All this, yet Newcastle still aren’t showing any signs of desperation or a desire to stay in the Premier League. Just today against Swansea, a team that had nothing to play for, Newcastle scored early and fans were hoping the end to the nonsense had finally ended. They were nothing but wrong, as Swansea came out of halftime flying; scoring three goals to take the win at 3-2. Next week, Newcastle look to take on Leicester City, a team that has been fighting off relegation all season and, for now, has overcome the bottom three. Leicester has been doing exactly what they needed to the last few games, and Newcastle really should learn something from them. If Newcastle continues this run, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go to the dreaded relegation, and I can’t say that they won’t have deserved it. To be fair, I am not saying anything about the legitimacy of the lower leagues and their competitiveness, but the Premier League is obviously where a team would rather be.

            

Easy Win for Aston Villa

            Today marked another sad day for Liverpool fans, the kind that has not been lacking in the slightest this season. Following lost Champions League dreams due to a Manchester City win, Liverpool took on Aston Villa in an attempt to continue their FA Cup efforts. Unfortunately, these fell apart today as well, leaving Liverpool, and its manager, in a poor position. The loss was not undeserved, however, as the team remained in a lack of formation and played with little creativity. When given a chance to go up with a free kick just outside the box, it was wasted with a sorry attempt that was easily taken by Villa goalkeeper Shay Given. Liverpool’s Gerrard also had a sad performance, and the team lacked any competitive edge overall.

            Aston Villa, on the other hand, played with an attitude quite the opposite of Liverpool’s. They came out and played with excitement, using their energy to blow past a slow Liverpool side. Even 19 year old Jack Grealish made one of his few competitive debuts, fighting just as the rest of his team, looking better than many of Liverpool’s players. At one point Liverpool did seem to still be in the game, as Sterling’s assist for Coutinho’s goal in the 30^th minute gave them a slight boost to their energy, but it did not last. Villa simply outfought the Reds, and the win was easily deserved and won.

            This game shows that Sherwood obviously got his tactics right and Rodgers still is not able to control and organize his team. Sherwood employed simple tactics and stuck to his lineup from the start, and it beat out Liverpool in the end. Rodgers, on the other hand, tried switching things around, but he was unable to find anything to bring success to the already failing team. Many are questioning Rodgers capability as manager already, and this game only solidifies those claims.

Spurs Out of Slump?

            Across the past few games, the Tottenham Hotspurs have been under the weather to say the least. They have seemed to be very uninterested in staying in the competition, and that is what was expected again from fans as they took on Newcastle. Shockingly to everyone, the Spurs came out flying with a seemingly new excitement and rejuvenation. In the end, the Spurs took home a 3-1 victory, hopefully reinforcing their performance against Newcastle. Throughout the beginning of the game, the Spurs controlled all of the chances, holding the game to their liking. Then, they went ahead in the first half following a long range effort put in by Chadli. Then, they came out of the break slow, and they were punished when Colback scored within the first minute back. Following this, the game’s future looked grim, as both teams seemed content with a draw and took little initiative. Finally, Eriksen’s free kick went through the entire team and put the Spurs ahead again, reinstating the confidence they needed. After this, they controlled the game confidently and went on to score one more final goal.

            As for the meanings and implications of this outcome; they are kind of mixed results. First, it is good that the Spurs are (currently) back to some kind of form and are capable of winning a game and scoring goals. Manager Pochettino was able to organize his team, for this game at least, to focus and defeat their opponent. This also gives them a sure chance at qualifying for the Europa League. These results do come with another side, however, and not all is good in Tottenham. While they were able to beat Newcastle, that is barely worth mentioning in light of their recent performance. Newcastle has been playing with few expectations recently, rarely hoping for even a draw. They are even on the edge of relegation, and fans have definitely shown their dislike for recent performance. As to the Europa league, the Spurs have had mixed results in this as well. While they may qualify for the Europa, they then lose focus on any domestic league play, drawing away from what arguably matters more. They have had little luck balancing attention to both in the past.

            Although not all that can be taken away from this game is good, it was definitely helpful in the long run for Tottenham. This was a much needed win for the Spurs, and one can only hope that they can continue the performance that they showed tonight. 

City Still Fighting

            In another Premier League match, Manchester City took on West Ham United at home. City were coming in to the game in need of a boost in confidence following a slump of sorts for the past few games. The final score of 2-0 should serve to that purpose quite well, especially considering the means by which it came. For City’s first goal against West Ham, the visitors even went so far as to score for them, bringing energy to the team. The second goal came from a successful counter attack and put the game far enough out of West Ham’s reach to ruin any hope of a comeback.

            The game also held some controversial playing and calling by both the players and the officials. To start, Silva was booked for his arm brushing up against West Ham’s Winston Reid who was quick to dramatically fall to the ground holding his nose. Then, David Silva had to be treated on the field for a face injury caused by, you guessed it, Winston Reid. Not only was this the same offense (except actually real) committed opposite earlier, but it led to a lengthy treatment that added 7 minutes of stoppage time to the already stretched out game. The 7 minutes gave no more hope to West Ham as the game was already way beyond reach.

            Now for some player overviews throughout the game, the center back position held some hope and confidence for one player but inactivity for another. Martin Demichelis started the game well, but fell into a slump later in the game, losing concentration (and the ball) during important times and even becoming injured due to silly errors later in the game. However, Eliaquim Mangala took the game a different direction; playing confidently and efficiently, he took care of things in the center back position and proved himself well. As for City’s attacking end, play was quite efficient for the most part and players took care of business. Aguero took to excelling as usual, and was able to be involved in the buildup and even scored the second goal. Frank Lampard was involved, but not majorly, and just did things as he needed to: nothing outstanding but was not lacking in any way. Jesus Navas was one City player that stood out among the team, and for good reason. The entire game, Navas was all over the place in the midfield, taking advantage of West Ham’s lazy defending. He was involved in both goals, and was able to make passes when he needed to.

            The main goal for Manchester City from this game was obviously to get themselves back into the title race. With Chelsea far above the pack and the season coming to an end, City needs to do all they can to stay in the race. A 2-0 win against West Ham should get the job done, and it hopefully serves as a good confidence boost for the team.

Changes for Borussia

            Bignews for Borussia Dortmund followers and soccer fans in general came about this week, as it was announced that current manager Jurgen Klopp would not return next season. Instead, Thomas Tuchel will take the reins starting July 1 with a three year contract. That is all that is known now, and it will be interesting to see how things pan out. At Borussia currently, Klopp is truly the team’s leader in all aspects, emotionally and also tactically minded. Klopp acts as a sort of father figure to the squad, and this would definitely be a hard role for Tuchel to fill.

            However, I do not believe that this is the role that Borussia brought Tuchel in to fill. Dortmund’s off the pitch side may be taken care of by Klopp’s leadership and support of the team, but their issues on the field are evident. Too many mistakes have been made this season by Borussia, and especially against smaller sides that should be easily beaten by Dortmund’s dominance. I believe that Tuchel will bring in fresh ideas and tactics that should give the team the edge that they have been missing as of late. At Tuchel’s previous clubs, like Mainz, he has been known to lead tough, demanding practices that should help to improve a stagnant team like Borussia. He focuses on the details and is a supporter of coaching styles brought about by the likes of Pep Guardiola. I think that he will be strict enough to make a change at Dortmund, and hopefully it is for the better, as things have not been the best this season, especially for a team of their caliber.

            As for the way that the club is going about this process, I don’t think that they could have done it any better way. First, it is important that they let fans, players, etc. to know that this is going on, which they did very openly. Also, they gave the most basic, yet important details to help people make the best decisions, such as who is coming in to replace and when. Also, I really admire their decision to hold any further discussion of the situation until the end of the season. I feel that this is the best way for them to let the team focus on this season still, but have enough information to know what lies ahead for the club and to stay out of the dark.

Title Race Over?

            Looking again at the very top of the Premier League table, Chelsea faced Manchester United most recently, and this league really has been all about Chelsea this season. Comfortably sitting atop the entire table currently, they are 10 points ahead of the pack. Against United, they definitely looked like a team that knew how far ahead they were and how little they could really lose. For the most part, Chelsea just sat back and held off Manchester United relatively easily, not trying anything too daring. Aside from the one goal by Eden Hazard, Chelsea did not look for any great number of attacks, but rather contained United and controlled the game. They showed their qualities, capitalizing on a counter attack, and really just proved their elite status. Now, Chelsea only needs two more victories to take home the league title, and it would be hard to argue that they won’t.

            On the Manchester United side, this game marked the end of their seven game winning streak. A recent number of injuries hurt Louis Van Gaal’s  options, and rearranging of the United squad hurt their chances from the start. Herrera moved to Carrick’s (injured) position, leaving Rooney to move to the right midfield position. Rooney attempted to attack from the side, but it was not enough to compete against Chelsea, and his role as a forward was missed from United’s attack. United had a few attempts overall, but they were easily dealt with by Chelsea, and if United can’t give Chelsea a fight, than I don’t know if anyone in the league can.

            The match also seemed to serve to seal a few players positions as finished: Radamel Falcao and Didier Drogba. As Robin Van Persie stayed out for the game due to coming off of an injury, Falcao was given a chance to prove his worth. He definitely played excitedly, and the effort was there, but he failed to work with the team and be successful. It was his loss of the ball that ended up with Hazard scoring against United. Drogba, on the other hand, showed his age. His speed and attacking capabilities were obviously diminished, and one chance he had on goal was easily dealt with by defenders. This game was to be a chance to earn himself a new contract, but he hardly showed anything deserving of such a deal. Still, he was slightly more active on the field than Falcao, but neither gave anything in terms of attacking or goals.

A Look at the Premier League

            Most of the time, I, and most other people, talk about what’s going on with the best teams in the world, and that’s what people care about, right? Well, these teams do have the most supporters and almost everyone knows of them, but there are so many more teams in every league that still have strong followings. Hopefully this post will give a good idea of how things are going further down in the Premier League.

            Starting near the bottom, we have Leicester City. Sitting in or near last place throughout the season, they have been looking for a comeback of sorts, or at least out of the relegation zone. Now, they have won all three of their last three games, making their way into a safer position in the table. While they are only safe by goal differential, they are looking much better now than they have all season. In their most recent game, they were able to beat Swansea City 2-0, a team much higher in the league than they are. Things are looking hopeful at least for the Foxes, and I would really like the team to continue their time in the Premier League for much longer.

            In the middle of the table, West Brom took on Crystal Palace. Recently, Crystal Palace has been doing well and is coming off of a good run. However, West Brom did not seem to care about Palace’s recent form, and they went ahead early and took control of the game. West Brom was able to keep themselves towards the middle of the table, beating Palace 2-0.

            Now, a little higher in the table, Southampton and Stoke City fought to gain position higher in the league. Southampton took the early lead, capitalizing on a corner. However, Stoke came out of halftime fighting, and brought the game to a draw just two minutes after the break. It took until the very end to find a winner, and Stoke took home the win after Charlie Adam put away a scramble in the box. While these teams may not be as talked about as teams like Manchester United or Chelsea, they are very much in the fighting for the same position. Southampton was looking to overtake Liverpool for fifth place with this game, but they remain in sixth. Stoke now sits in ninth place, which is definitely not bad for one of the most competitive leagues.                  

Real Madrid Show Form

            As most would know, today Real Madrid were coming off of a loss against Barcelona, a questionable form of Ronaldo, and an ever-slimming chance at the league title. Today against Granada, the team seemed to prove quite the opposite. A 9-1 absolute mockery of Granada should be enough to put Real back into gear, especially with 5 goals coming from Ronaldo. Coming into the game under top form and being scrutinized over, Ronaldo seemed to shake it all off and disprove any claims that he was on the downhill. There can be no doubt of his unrivaled finishing ability.

            As for Real Madrid’s updated standing, this game shouldn’t bring any false hope to fans, even though it definitely will. Real struggled to get started early in the game and weren’t really doing much to separate themselves from their opponents. Granada, on the other hand, have much more important games approaching, ones they know they have a chance at winning, and obviously came into the game not really expecting much. Fans will undoubtedly allow this to fuel their desire for a Real comeback to beat Barcelona out for the title, but it was a game that they should have easily won, and they didn’t really prove much besides that they are playing at a fair level and still have a chance. Again, this by no means gives much support for a major comeback by Real Madrid, just that they are still in it.

            Something that should be exciting for all Real Madrid fans is that Gareth Bale seems to be returning to his top level. Lacking in confidence and goal-scoring potential earlier this season, Bale seems to be getting his act together recently. He has been able to score 5 goals in his last 4 games despite struggling to score at all in just a few weeks earlier. Bale looked to be beyond any criticism that has been coming his way, taking shots when he needed to and supporting other players also at the right time. Hopefully he is able to continue this trend, as it would be helpful to Real Madrid when they need it most.

iven. Rogers stated his reasons for Sterling’s place at the club, saying that it is good playing time for him in the Premier League. Also, he felt that the team’s improvement over the season has been good, saying "This summer was very difficult. Losing Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge being injured, the integration of so many new players. It was like starting again. It was like my first six months. The reaction after losing 3-1 at Crystal Palace was positive. The reaction and commitment of the players has been first class since then." (ESPN). Providing no answers for going forward, the placement of some players (including Sterling) may be questioned soon. 

Liverpool Falls Short

            In a Champions League game today, Liverpool took on Arsenal looking to keep their tournament chance alive. Unfortunately, it has become obvious that their hopes have been lost, and even manager Rogers has admitted that their focus has switched towards the FA Cup. Despite rising back up through the Premier League table recently, two defeats to big teams have put them back in their place and effectively ruined their Champions League hopes. Against Arsenal, Liverpool lost 4-1. Opponents have easily seen weaknesses in their defensive side, and any pressure by Arsenal today led to mistakes in the back for Liverpool. They left themselves vulnerable and Arsenal made them pay, and against such a great opponent, Liverpool could not have expected to succeed the way that they were playing.

            It didn’t help the Reds that they had off-field problems that were equally (if not more) detrimental to their play on Saturday. Just prior to the game, Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling was found talking to the press about his refusal to sign a new contract with the team and how they didn’t provide the ambition that he displays as a player. While Sterling can have his reasons to sign or not sign a contract and that is just fine, it is not the sort of thing that he should be focused on and bringing attention to before such a game. Going against Arsenal shortly after, Sterling definitely brought conflict to the team and set himself and the team up to be disorganized. Then, after the game, Liverpool’s manager Brenden Rogers dismissed any blame on Sterling. He instead went so far as to call him Liverpool’s best player and to shift any blame for the lost onto the rest of the team, protecting Sterling. While Sterling was not the worst in the game, he certainly wasn’t playing well by any means. He missed a chance early in the game and didn’t help (or hurt) much in the following minutes. A player shouldn’t be praised for not being as bad as the rest.

            As for Brenden Rogers and the future and reflection of Liverpool, there were no real answers given. Rogers stated his reasons for Sterling’s place at the club, saying that it is good playing time for him in the Premier League. Also, he felt that the team’s improvement over the season has been good, saying "This summer was very difficult. Losing Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge being injured, the integration of so many new players. It was like starting again. It was like my first six months. The reaction after losing 3-1 at Crystal Palace was positive. The reaction and commitment of the players has been first class since then." (ESPN). Providing no answers for going forward, the placement of some players (including Sterling) may be questioned soon. 

Chelsea Stays Strong

            Today, another Premier League matchup entertained many, and gives insight to the title race. It was Chelsea against Stoke City, and despite Chelsea sitting comfortably at the top of the table and Stoke much further below, the game was by no means a blowout. Chelsea opened up the game and was moving steadily against their opponents, taking the lead towards halftime. Then, just before the break, an amazing 59 meter strike by Charlie Adam put Stoke back in the game. The hope didn’t last, however, and Chelsea was able to put another one away at 60 minutes, and the game was pretty well over. Although the final score was fairly close, Chelsea were in no way at their best, and really only matched Stoke to secure the win. They played the way they needed to, which seemed to work out for the team in the end. A large part of Chelsea’s success is due to Eden Hazard who took part in both goals for the team. Hazard was a game changer for Chelsea and will no doubt play a large role in their title run. On the negative side, an injury for Diego Costa is news that no Chelsea fan wants to hear. Coming on the field for 10 minutes before being forced off, Costa looks to be out of club play for a little while to come. Costa was brought on the team to increase the creativity in the attacking third that they lacked, and it will continue to be a problem with him sitting out. With this being such a crucial time in the season, Costa’s injury may prove to be vital (or detrimental, rather) to Chelsea’s season end.

            On the Stoke side, things were much different, but not necessarily bad. For one, they were able to hold the leaders of the league to a 2-1 loss. Also, Adam’s goal goes to show for their perseverance when the game looks bad. Chelsea had just scored and were at full speed, and Adam had the vision to see Courtois off his line and to drop one in at such a distance. While they weren’t able to defeat Chelsea, they put up a fight and held them off from scoring more. Even though Chelsea were not at their finest, Stoke was able to make a good game out of it. While Stoke City is never near the top of the Premier League, they return year after year and remain fairly successful, and this game was a good showing of that ability.

El Clasico: Deciding Factor?

            The next big game for the weekend took place in Barcelona’s Camp Nou, and the La Liga leaders took on Real Madrid in El Clasico. Right now, it’s a very close race for the title, and a win for either team would have been a major boost to the top of the table. It’s later in the season, and a win against the other title contender could be potentially decisive in the long run. To begin, Suarez truly showed his value today, scoring a decisive goal in a game that holds a lot of weight in the league. While he has had good performances throughout the season and has been a good player for Barcelona, he has only recently began to become a key role in the team’s attack, and this game begins to seal this position. His goal against Real Madrid gave a glimpse at his confidence and scoring ability that Barcelona bought him for, and if he can continue this growth, Barcelona will benefit greatly.

            The game also was a show of the contrast (and conflict) between the two teams relative superstars. Messi has proven to be at his best this season in all parts of the game, reaffirming this by adding another assist to his record through one of his famous free kicks. Ronaldo, criticized as being old and losing his edge, again proved his finishing skills with a goal for Real Madrid. I would agree that Messi is playing his finest soccer to date, and Barcelona really has something going for them in the attacking third. However, no matter what kind of criticism Ronaldo receives, he obviously is still an amazing footballer and he gets the job done.

            Despite recent weeks for Real Madrid, they were finally able to show some of their skill and efficiency. Losing 3 games recently and falling behind to Barcelona in the table, Real Madrid needed to regain confidence and show a good performance to get back on their feet. This is exactly what they did, playing confidently and working the ball throughout. There were times when Real Madrid took complete control over the game, and it looked as if they could still be in the game until the final whistle. Even with the game’s outcome giving Barcelona a four point lead in the table, I don’t think that this decides the league winner. Real Madrid showed strength today, and Barcelona will have to work to keep up their performances and stay ahead of Madrid.

Premier League Match-Up

            Big games happened across Europe today as Manchester United took on Liverpool and Barcelona faced Real Madrid. To start, it was an important battle in the Premier League, and two top teams were looking to better each other and get a leg up in the league. From the very beginning, United looked to be the better team, taking the lead early at just 14 minutes. Juan Mata was able to capitalize on a precise through ball by Ander Herrera. Also on the United side, Mata again scored off of a fine scissor kick from a ball played by Angel Di Maria. Overall, Manchester United proved to be proficient in their attacking, making use of their opportunities.

            Things were much different on the Liverpool side of the game, and it showed in the final score. Shortly before halftime, Adam Lallana found the ball inside the box and was given the opportunity to bring his team level with United, but he failed to convert and Liverpool went into the half down a point. Things didn’t brighten up much after the break either. Halftime substitute Gerrard lasted less than a minute before being sent off with a straight red card for stomping on United’s Ander Herrera. They were able to make a small, final fight back at United as Daniel Sturridge snuck one in late in the game.

            United played a good game, and they were the obvious winners. Going forward, this game may prove to be very important to the title race, putting Manchester United ahead and dropping Liverpool. As to Liverpool’s performance, they hurt themselves and could’ve (and should’ve) played much better. They were not able to finish opportunities that they were given, and frustration definitely built up and impacted their performance. It is impossible for Gerrard’s sending off to not have any influence on the team, and his actions were very poor. I can understand getting carried away with a tackle and getting a yellow card, and that’s all part of the game. Getting sent off for violent conduct against another player is much different, however, and it really just makes you and your team look and play much worse. Gerrard lost his professional legitimacy on that occasion in my opinion, and it may have sealed the deal of his team’s loss. Either way, it certainly didn’t help, and United were by far more professional and better in every way. 

National Team Improvements

            Although the World Cup is long gone and with it have gone the teams, the games, and the hype that surrounded the tournament, it has still left a legacy, and some teams are trying to use that as motivation to improve. With friendlies approaching and World Cup results lingering, the England national team is making major improvements. Leaving the tournament at just the group stage last summer, England was definitely at a low point when it came to the national team. However, more recently, the team have been looking to do better by playing aggressively and making other teams struggle to beat them. Winning what could be eight straight games after playing Italy next week, England has obviously stepped their game up. Captain Wayne Rooney believes that this is because of the work of the players and their ability to keep the ball and win it back. "You want teams to look at England and think, 'we know we have a tough game, it is going to physically hard against them, we are going to have to defend and we are going to have to be good on the ball to keep the ball'.” Rooney said when discussing the work the team has put in (ESPN). The team is trying, and succeeding, to make a move towards becoming a feared team.

            England is not the only team trying to improve post-World Cup, and if any team has a lot to prove following the tournament, it’s Brazil. After losing 7-1 against Germany in the semi-finals last summer, Brazil was probably at the lowest point in their national team history. Now, with Dunga at the reigns, the team seems to be swinging back into shape. Just following the World Cup, Brazil has beaten teams such as Argentina and France, and the new system seems to be working. For one, team captain Neymar has been fulfilling that role much better, formulating an attack that seems to score goals to no end. Also, Dunga has arranged a strong back as well, one that has only conceded two goals since he took charge. Obviously, despite being controversial at first, the idea to bring in Dunga has proven to be successful. This shows that although the World Cup has long since ended, many national teams are still using it as a reason to improve and grow.

Change of Luck for the Foxes

            Ever since Leicester City beat Manchester United at the beginning of the season, I have sort of been in support of them. Moving up to the Premier League just this season, they were a fun underdog team to support, despite what has been a rather unlucky season. In many games, the Foxes have lost by just a point, and they continue to sit at the bottom of the table. In an FA cup game against Tottenham, Leicester seemed to finally have the break that they deserved. City player Jeff Schlupp, who is known to sail the ball over the bar, stole the show in Leicester’s favor. In response to an early goal down in the first half, Schlupp sent one across the box to be finished by Ulloa and later scored the winning goal by sneaking one by the Spurs’ goalkeeper.

            While Tottenham may have played sloppily due to fatigue and it was just an FA cup game in the first place, it could prove to be a confidence boost that could turn around Leicester City’s luck in the league. This also brings up another point; that the FA cup shouldn’t be taken seriously and no effort should be put into it. Wigan was relegated after winning the cup in 2013, and plenty of other teams that went far in the tournament have been relegated. So as to whether or not Leicester should put any focus on the cup or not, I would suggest that they don’t lose any of their focus on the league. For finances and overall club affairs, its most important that they are successful in the Premier League.

Real Madrid Needs Changes

            Today Real Madrid faced off against Cordoba, and with Carlo Ancelotti insisting that his team doesn’t require rotation, nearly came up short. Cordoba played against a disconnected Real Madrid, staying composed in their attacks and being the first to every ball. Going into halftime, Cordoba had plenty of momentum and it seemed almost certain that they would come away with at least one point from the match. Of all things to give Cordoba hope and ruin Real Madrid, Ronaldo getting sent off for violent conduct would be at the top of the list, and Cordoba was sitting pretty well. Then finally, a late penalty for Real Madrid gave Bale his chance at goal which he put away, giving Real Madrid a close 2-1 victory. With a slow start to 2015 for Madrid, Ancelotti may want to reconsider changing the team up more often, especially with greater opponents coming in the future. With games against Sevilla and Atletico ahead and Ronaldo facing suspension time, Madrid needs to regroup and look at what they can change.

            First, a look at the good for Real Madrid in the game. To start, Iker Casillas continued to prove why he remains their top goalkeeper despite some of his poorer performances. While his defense failed him repeatedly, Casillas was able to shut down clear opportunities by Cordoba on goal. Madrid really have their keeper to thank for the three points they earned from the game. While some of Real Madrid’s attacking side was active and lively, they were ineffective a lot of the time. The effort was there, but they were lacking a connection needed to be an effective attacking force. Bale was able to step up and take the winning penalty kick, showing responsibility while the rest of his team lacked.

            As shown by Real Madrid, a team can have some of the best players around on paper but still struggle against a team like Cordoba. This year’s recent Ballon d’Or winner Christiano Ronaldo got so frustrated in the game that he took it out on an opponent, getting a straight red card. Obviously there was a disjointed team playing today, and the world’s best player made a poor choice when dealing with it. Instead of taking responsibility for his team, Ronaldo let it get to him and he hurt his team even further. Maybe the starting team needs some rest, or the players need some rotation, but either way, something needs to be changed for Real Madrid. Ancelotti needs to be more open to changes in lineups and play styles if he wants the team to be successful going forward. Otherwise, in their current state and progression, stronger teams will beat them and they could move down in the league standings. All is not lost by any means, and I have no doubt that Real Madrid will continue to win games, but not without any changes.

2015 Adizero F50

            As both a fan and player of the game, I always enjoy looking into new gear released by all brands, cleats especially. One that I have experienced in the past and still like to look at is the Adidas Adizero F50. Just recently, Adidas has revealed the 2015 model of the shoe along with their “There will be haters” campaign. The boot is set to release in February with leather and take down versions that are typical to the cleat.

Like always, the adizero will be compared to Nike’s Mercurial Vapor, with both being speed boots. Throughout the years, the Mercurial has had a few things that put it somewhat above the F50. First, it featured a bladed stud pattern that gave sharper cuts and turns, and while this may not seem very important, it does give that speed element that previous adizeros lacked with their conical studs. Mercurials also have always had a narrow shape that fit well on smaller feet but somewhat excluded larger ones. This is more of a personal preference, as people with smaller feet will want cleats to be narrower, but this doesn’t apply to all people. Previously, F50s have been known for a wider fit which left many users having a loose fit. Now, they have improved their fit, giving a sort of medium size that should be able to stretch and fit well on most.

To address these issues and beat Nike at its own game, Adidas has changed the boot dramatically to improve it over the past couple of years. For its outsole, last year’s F50 gave a completely new pattern for Adidas, keeping triangle studs in the back but opting for skinnier, almost bladed, triangles in the forefoot. The 2015 model keeps this idea but adds in notches in the outsole between studs giving added traction. Also, it uses only three studs in the heel of the cleat. The cleat features Adidas’ Dribbletex around the entire surface of the shoe, offering performance and control in wet conditions. Surprisingly, the new F50 changes in the opposite direction that it has been over the past few years in the weight area. If the listing is the correct weight that the boot will release at, it will come in at 7.0 ounces compared to a smaller 5.3 ounces on the last model. To some, this may be a disappointment as they like the minimal feel of the adizero. However, for me, this could be a great improvement on previous shoes. Some of the weight is in the added traction in the outsole, but I have to assume that the rest is going into the upper. This could add comfort and protection that the line has lacked in the past, which I think would help with the feel on the ball. While this could be a controversial release, I think that all of the changes are for the better.

Big Win for Arsenal

            The season has not been the most sensational for Arsenal to date, but the game today against Manchester City is sure to bring their hopes up and could drive a turnaround. With their previous trip to Manchester City holding a 6-3 defeat, the Arsenal team that played today had shown no signs of continued scars and instead looked to have learned from their past mistakes. They played a much more disciplined and collected game, not staying as open during their attacking like they were. Despite most of their defensive players of the game having few league starts, they were able to shut down an attacking Manchester City side and remain collected. Cazorla played what was probably the most important role for Arsenal, scoring the first goal and creating the second. This leads to wondering as to whether or not Ozil will make it back into the regular team with Cazorla playing so well. Such a talented, and expensive, player as Ozil will most likely end up somewhere on the field, and if that means Cazorla loses his spot, then that may be the case. While this may not happen so long as Cazorla keeps this up, I think that Ozil will get his chance again at the least, as Arsene Wenger has too much put into him to sit him on the bench.

            As to Manchester City, one thing is not looking the brightest for sure, and that is the return of Sergio Aguero. He has come off the bench during the last few games, and I guess Pellegrini felt that it was his time to have another start for his team. While Aguero was involved in attacks and had a few chances at goal, he failed to convert what seemed to be a few good chances and played at the same level as the rest of his team. Manchester City as a whole seemed disconnected and failed to be successful. If this is a true testament to Aguero’s current state, then there will be much more work for him and his team to put in if he should reach the form he was in before injury.

            Finally, the game proved to be a win for a team not even involved in the actual playing: Chelsea. After crushing Swansea by 5 goals on Saturday, Chelsea is given even more luck during this game. Arsenal’s victory brings an end to Manchester City’s 14 game undefeated streak, helping Chelsea’s lead in the title run. This game puts Chelsea 5 points ahead at the top of the league, all due to their old rivals at Arsenal. This game was truly a big influence on all teams in the league and put the odds in Chelsea’s favor in the long run. 

The Future of Ronaldo

            Christiano Ronaldo is definitely one of the best soccer players in the world right now, with his recent winning of the Ballon d’Or being current proof of that. The Ballon d’Or could also be called the player of the year, and the top player is chosen to receive the award based on the last year’s performance. Playing for Real Madrid, Ronaldo is a key player for the team, playing an important role in almost any attack by the team. Quite often he will score multiple goals per game, and the number of hat tricks that he has is astounding. Unlike his club performance, Ronaldo was not able to have the same success with the Portuguese national team in the world cup this summer, and many, myself included, felt like that had an effect on the success of the year. The other two candidates in the top three shortlist included Messi and Neuer, two players on opposing sides of the World Cup final. Still, I felt that Ronaldo was as deserving as any player to win the award this year, and I would’ve had trouble setting a winner apart from the three.

            However, all doesn't seem to be well in the world of Ronaldo, as many will recall that he had a knee issue going into the World Cup this summer. I would say around a week before the World Cup that Ronaldo was showing signs of injury and it was even questioned as to whether he would play or not. He played, but the tournament was unsuccessful for him, and 6 months later, the problem seems to persist. While he can play through it and still be successful, I don’t think that he will ever fully recover from the issue and he will remain to have a bad knee. While little information is released to keep his full condition confidential, it looks like the problem will ensue. However, Ronaldo is obviously able to play better than most, and I don’t see his standing as a top player to go down any time soon.

Transfers: Behind the Scenes

            When most people see or hear about transfers, they think about who was traded, where they were traded to, and for how much. Most of the time, people don’t realize the time and effort that has gone into making the switch from all parties. First of all, the team that is looking to take in the player has most likely been researching the move for over a year in many cases. The club sends scouts that will watch practices and games of the player for a long time before even the player knows of their intentions. An individual club will often have a set list of target players based on their needs in certain positions or areas. These players are then watched and the list gets modified.

            Once a club has decided to pursue a certain player, they often will hire a middleman, or an agent that will approach the player and let them know that the club is interested. This isn’t really the negotiation stage, just a point where the player will tell if he has any real interest in the move or not, as clubs don’t want to negotiate and bid for a player that will just turn them down. Next, the clubs (agents) will negotiate along with the player to fit the needs of all three parties. What the player wants out of the move, what the selling club wants for him, and what the pursuing club is able to do to fulfill both of those needs is discussed. Once the negotiation stage is reached, the transfer will most likely continue through all the way and few end beyond here. So really, if a player shows enough of an interest and has reasonable needs, clubs will often do what they need to in order to get the player if they have pursued him this far.

Most of what happens from there is just finalization, and the only real reason for the process to end before the trade would be an avoidance of fees or medical issues. First, the receiving club will have the player have a medical to check on his physical condition and hopefully weed out any problems that could be worse in the future. Unfortunately, the medical aspect is not in the control of the buying club which could be a problem should there be any medical issues. Finally, if everything checks out, the player will sign onto the new team for the negotiated price. Typically, this entire process could have taken a few years to complete, and only a couple players will be transferred out of one hundred that were initially scouted. There is obviously a lot of work and planning that goes into a transfer, which makes sense considering that these deals are potentially for millions of dollars.

Offside: Good or Bad?

            One thing that is hard for many people that don’t know a lot about soccer but like to watch it sometimes to understand is offsides. While I don’t want to discuss the rule or how it works, I do want to look at how it changes the game. Often, people talk about how soccer takes a long time and moves slowly, with a low goal count per game and little action. While I disagree with the slow and low action part of it, I do understand that more goals could be more exciting. They go on to say that they believe that offsides is what slows the game down and creates a lack of goals. I have had friends suggest that removing the rule of offsides and decreasing the size of the field would create a much more intense game that would catch on faster in places like the United States and become more popular. I can see where they are coming from with this belief, but I can’t say that I fully agree with them and their suggestions.

            First of all, there is a sport that is soccer without offsides and a much smaller field, or court, which is often referred to by indoor soccer or is truly called futsal. With five players on a side including a goalkeeper, futsal is played on a basketball-sized court and lacks an offside rule. Generally, this is a faster paced game based on creativity and skills which is what many want out of soccer. However, futsal is a completely different game than soccer, with different tactics, rules, and most importantly, fans. Later, I will discuss the importance of fans to a sport and their role in shaping it.

            In defense of the offside rule, it does what it is said to be meant to do, by stopping the attacking team from cherry-picking, or leaving someone down at the other side of the field waiting to receive a ball dumped from his own defender. Without this rule, defenders would just get the ball in their half and play long balls down the field to a waiting player. It would just go back and forth like this, and any beauty or old tactics in the game would be lost. You might ask why this would matter, and if it makes a better and more action-packed game then why it would be a bad thing. This leads me back to the fans. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world with around 3.5 billion fans around the world. These fans are accustomed to offsides, and they love the game they support. Fans are the ones who go home and play the sport after the game. Fans are what make the game, because they play the game, and the game they play is soccer. Anyone who has been to a soccer game, or even watched one with some other fans, knows the excitement that a goal brings, or the disappointment that the lack of one brings. The fact is that the reason that they are fans is because they love the game and all of its parts, and the reason that people aren't fans is because they don’t love it, and there’s no way of changing that besides creating a completely different sport.

Disappointing City Draw

            Despite any confidence or momentum built up throughout the entire season, Manchester City still managed to fall apart away at Everton. Even against a not very successful Everton, City looked as if it was the start of the season and the players were just playing as a team for the first time. They struggled to connect and create many attacking opportunities, and any opportunities that were created were not capitalized on. Fernandinho managed to head in a scrambling attempt to give City the lead, but it was quickly countered by Naismith, and the score held even at 1-1 to the final whistle.

            Through the game, one player seemed to be leading the team, at least away from a greater loss, but even he had his shortcomings. David Silva was a part and leader in any chances created by Manchester City, including the one that gave them the draw. Had his team been with him, it could have been a very different game, and Silva had the potential to punish an Everton team that was weak following recent games. Even Silva was below his best game, and his final touch showed, but he still stood way above his teammates. This was not the case, and the final score showed it.

            One player that was the opposite of Silva in the match, Eliaquim Mangala, was punished for his poor defensive work throughout the majority of the game. Replacing Vincent Kompany in the game, Mangala was repeatedly beaten by Everton forward Lukaku. This often placed the responsibility for defense on goalkeeper Joe Hart and other defenders, leading to a weakened back all around. Mangala wasn’t the only problem for City, and weakness was throughout the team, but he was one main point where the team really struggled. Manchester City would have most likely been better off with Vincent Kompany in the back, even at his weakest. They lacked a defensive leadership that was needed to bring the team together. The lack of leadership hurt the team all the way up to the strikers, as it made it difficult to start play and organize an attack involving the entire team.

            Recently, Manchester City goalie Joe Hart has been looking impressive, showing leadership for his team. Against Everton, Hart was still able to make a few important saves to keep his team in the game, but he was not anywhere near where he has been throughout the season. His team needed him to step up and lead them, and while he did make a few saves, he could not stop it when he needed to. When he came off his line to get the ball from Naismith, he was not able to win it, and he and his team were punished. Like his team, despite the progress they have made throughout the season, he showed signs of his old self, lacking the confidence that City needed. Throughout the game, City lacked confidence and leadership all around. Going forward, Manchester City needs to regroup. They need to look at what went wrong in this game without completely putting it out of their mind. Its players can’t let this game get to them, but they need to learn from it. They need to build back the confidence that they had before this game, not falling into a slump of losses. Also, they need to establish or reestablish a leader for the team, which they were very much lacking in this game. Whether that is Hart or Silva or a defensive player, it doesn’t really matter, just that the team has someone to follow and depend on. 

Messi Transfer Talk

            When it comes to transfers, it seems there is always something to talk about, and when there is none, as in this case, it is made up. Rumors of Messi having disputes with manager Luis Enrique have been floating around, and there has even been talk of the star looking to move to Chelsea or Manchester City next summer. Despite these claims, Messi shot them down, and he stated his loyalty to his club, manager, and teammates. Following the 3-1 win against Atletico, Messi praised his teammates Suarez and Neymar. Obviously, the three are coming together as a team and form a very strong attacking side. Going forward, Messi is on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or along with Neuer and Ronaldo. Anyways, it seems like fans, against Barcelona in this case, wanted to disrupt the flow at Barcelona, but Messi looks to be ignoring it all.