For me, Group B was the most difficult group to make predictions for. I have done numerous different “drafts” of my predictions, and at one point or another I have had all four teams advance at different stages of the process. Why? I see each team as being extremely high quality for varying reasons, as well as being extremely flawed in certain areas. This is a group that I do not see being settled until the last day, being potentially the most competitive group in the entire competition.
Argentina is the seeded team heading into the competition, and therefore have to be favorites to advance into the knockout rounds. They are among the top of my list of most interesting teams to watch at the World Cup, possessing an unfair amount of talent up front and in the midfield, along with potentially the craziest manager to ever manage at a Finals event. Manic manager Diego Maradona, already a legend in Argentina for his exploits as a player, will have a plethora of players to choose from up top. All six of his forwards could start for at least ¾ of the rest of the teams at the tournament. They are his son-in-law Sergio Aguero, Diego Milito, Martin Palermo, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and the reigning player of the year Lionel Messi. It really will be interesting to see what tactics Maradona will use in South Africa. The two weaker forwards are Aguero and Palermo, who will almost definitely not see the pitch, but the other four are truly world class. Messi will obviously start, but who will partner with him? The bullish Carlos Tevez, who is coming off a major year with Manchester City, the star striker from one of the biggest clubs in the world (Real Madrid) Gonzalo Higuain, or the player who just netted twice in the Champions League Final for Inter Milan, Diego Milito. It truly is not fair how many options he has. My guess is that Maradona will use a 4-2-1-3 formation, with Juan Sebastion Veron being the creater behind the forwards. Messi will start on his favored right side, Carlos Tevez will take the left and either Higuain or Milito will take the center forward spot. Although I think Maradona favors Higuain, I would start Milito who has been in great form the past few months. In defense, Maradona favors starting four center backs across the backline for size, while midfielders Angel di Maria and Javier Mascherano will stand in front of them. Despite all this talent, Argentina is anything but a stable team. Maradona is very inexperienced as a coach, and the team struggled during the qualifying campaign. In Maradona’s defense he was not manager the entire campaign, but the club is still not the most consistent in the field, despite possibly being the most talented. Argentina is a dangerous team, but one that should be able to navigate this group.
Nigeria also resides in this group. They are a stereotypical African team, extremely athletic with fantastic options up front in Obifemi Martins and Yakubu, as well as aged legend Nwankwo Kanu coming off the bench. Martins’ speed, pace and control couples well with Yakubu’s power and size, leaving the Nigerians with possibly the best duo up front. They will have to provide goals if the Nigerians have any hope of getting through this group. In defense is where the Africans could have trouble though, since they do not have a single, well-tested goalie on their roster and few talented defenders. One bright spot will be Joseph Yobo, a talented and experienced center back who will be expected to lead the defense. He is a physically imposing character, and will be given the tough assignment of stopping other teams’ best forwards. His play will be crucial to the Africans advancing, as well as the play of John Obi Mikel. The Chelsea defensive midfielder has won the race to become healthy in time for the finals, and should be able to start against Argentina on the 12th of June. He will most likely be partnered with Dickson Etuhu in the center of the midfield, and it will be their job to break up play going forward for their opponents. Etuhu and Mikel are also physically imposing, as well as quick, so expect big things from the center of the park for Nigeria. All in all, Nigeria are one of the better all around teams from Africa, and will be tough to beat.
The third team in the group is South Korea. A well organized team, led by Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park, Korea will be very difficult to beat. They are extremely quick and hard working. The main problem that I see with South Korea is where the goals are going to come from, especially with striker Lee Dong-Gook, who started all through qualification, injured for at least the opener in South Africa. But even with Gook on the field, I still see problems for the Koreans in that they do not have a proven goal scorer who is not past his prime. They do have the heroic striker from the 2002 World Cup, Ahn Jung-Hwan, but he is far past his prime and many in South Korea think his inclusion smacks of desperation for inspiration up top by coach Huh Jung-Moo. That said, the midfield should be difficult with Park running the show and promising talent Lee Chung Yong playing on the right wing. They also have an experienced goalkeeper in Lee Woon Jae, who will be called upon to make big saves in order for success in South Africa. On defense, the Koreans feature many unknown players who apply their trade in Asia, but the apparent drawback to them is their lack of size in the middle, making them susceptible to giving up goals on headers from set pieces. At the end of the day, I believe Korea’s success will come down to if their talented midfield can control the pace of the game and provide goals, along with Jae having another big World Cup.
The last team in Group B is Greece. Many are favoring the Greeks because of their extremely defensive style of play; the Greeks only allowed 10 goals in 12 games, including an impressive shut out at Ukraine in the second leg of their playoff series that resulted in Greece gaining a berth. They also have a reputation for being very physical, not being afraid of injuring an opponent in order to stifle them. Up front, they will rely on Theofanis Gekas, who led Europe in 10 goals scored during qualification. A major asterisk that one can put next to Gekas’ impressive record though, is that six of those came against Latvia, who were strong in a very weak qualification group. I do not question Greece’s defense as it is well known as being extremely physical and tough to break down, a trait that most teams managed by Otto Rehhagel possess, but they don’t have any real leaders in the middle of the park or in attack. The Greeks won’t concede many goals, but they won’t score many either, making them a tough team beat but an easy team to at least gain a tie from. People will say this team is similar to the side that won Euro 2004 in Portugal who played a similar style, but one could also look at the team in Euro 2008 and the incompetency they showed in the offensive side of the field. That incompetency will eventually lead to the Greeks downfall.
Conclusion
My teams to advance through are Argentina and Nigeria. Although I have many doubts about Maradona’s competency as a manager, I believe Argentina have far too much talent to not advance. I see them having a pretty easy time of it too, easily beating Nigeria and South Korea, before a draw against Greece on the last day. I have Nigeria advancing too, with their speed and power up front being too much for the Koreans in the biggest game in the group. Expect Yakubu to score on a header from a set piece in this tie, as the Nigerians prove too athletic for the disciplined Koreans. It’s tough for me to not put South Korea through because I do like them as a team, but I don’t see enough fire power up front for them to advance. I do think they will beat the Greeks on Matchday 1 from a Ji Sung Park penalty late in the game, but that will be their only win as Argentina’s fire power up front will be too much for their defense and Nigeria’s athleticism will overpower them. Greece will confirm how tough their defense is by allowing only two goals, but the problem will be that they score one, I’m predicting against Nigeria. Here is how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: Argentina 3 vs. 1 Nigeria
Game 2: Korea Republic 1 vs. 0 Greece
Game 3: Greece 1 vs. 1 Nigeria
Game 4: Argentina 2 vs. 0 Korea Republic
Game 5: Nigeria 3 vs. 1 Korea Republic
Game 6: Greece 0 vs. 0 Argentina
Final Standings:
Argentina 7 pts
Nigeria 4 pts
South Korea 3 pts
Greece 2 pts
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thoughts on What Will Happen in Group A
My next few updates are going to be my predictions for what will happen at the World Cup. I intend to go through every group, pick what will happen game by game, and explain why I think certain teams will advance and why some won't. After the group stages, I will do one for each round, as I slowly reveal who I think will win the tournament. I begin with Group A, which features the hosts South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France.
World Cup Group A is not as simple as people are making it out to be. Many experts and fans are putting Uruguay and France through simply on the roster the two teams have along with them being big name countries who have won the tournament. They also have South Africa not advancing and Mexico not having enough fire power to get through. I however, do not see this group as straightforward as people is making it out to be.
Firstly, it is absolutely foolish to write off the Mexicans. Many within Mexico feel this may be the best team to go to the World Cup in a long time and that is saying a lot considering the Mexicans have made it to the round of 16 the last four tournaments. Although they are considered perennial underachievers with disappointing exits in 1994 to Bulgaria on penalty kicks and the USA in 2002, one safe bet would be the Mexicans scraping their way through the group stages. Exciting players like Giovanni dos Santos, Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela are expected to provide the offensive power, while experienced defenders like Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez are going to hold down the defense. Oh and don’t count out their fat, overweight, 37 year old captain Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who is still a crafty player despite how humorous he looks as he runs around the field.
As hosts of the tournament, it would also be foolish to not have the South Africans break through the group stage. The host of the tournament has never failed to get out of the group stage and while the Bafana Bafana are the lowest rated host team ever, they still have history on their side. The one major thing South Africa has going for them is that they will have much of the crowds at their games cheering for them. One could also expect these stadiums to be the loudest ever at a World Cup final, not because South Africans are known for being loud, but because they will possess the extremely annoying vuvuzelas, hornlike instruments that are blared in unison during local games. They are a staple part of South African soccer, and while foreign teams have made efforts to have them banned from stadiums, they will be present. In a recent friendly which South Africa won over Colombia, the Colombian head coach said after the game that the stadium was the loudest he’d ever stepped in, and teams will have trouble communicating on the pitch because of the horns. The South Africans shouldn’t though because they will be used to the horns as they have heard them and are used to them. I believe the vuvuzelas’ impact on the goings on at the cup have been underrated by many pundits, and the South Africans will take advantage of that.
The French enter the tournament with tons of controversy swirling around them ranging from the players’ and country’s dislike for coach Raymond Domenech, the apparent arguments amongst players in the locker room, the coach not selecting certain players (Patrick Viera, Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema come to mind), the Thierry Henry handball that led to the deciding goal that gave France their berth to the tournament at Ireland's expense and that little issue involving some of the players and underage prostitutes that happened in Paris. Despite all this, on paper this team should be contending for the title, featuring world class players like Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, Florent Malouda, Yoann Gourcuff, Patrice Evra, Nicholas Anelka, William Gallas and Hugo Lloris. Unfortunately for France though, the tournament is not played on paper. This dislike amongst the players for Domenech can, and will affect how the team performs on the field. Supporters of France will disagree, citing the 2006 World Cup when Domenech fielded a team that didn’t believe in his tactics that eventually lost in the finals to Italy. The big difference between that squad and this one though is the lack of leadership amongst the players. The 2006 edition had two players in Patrick Viera and Zinedine Zidane who provided leadership and charisma that the players rallied around. Current captain Henry does not appear to be that player, the one who can motivate his teammates to perform for their country to the best of their ability and not care about Domenech. This lack of leadership results in inconsistent play from a truly talented squad, making them anything but a safe bet to advance from this tricky group.
Uruguay rounds out this group. They are expected to advance along with France because of their talent up top, with strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez expected to net multiple goals in South Africa en route to a successful campaign for the Uruguayans. I don’t doubt the talent of Uruguay, just the spottiness of their qualifying campaign. There is a lot expected of a team who had to go through a playoff with Costa Rica to make the field, not doing well enough to earn an automatic bid like Chile and Paraguay, despite those two teams having less fire power. I do not know a whole lot about the Uruguayans, but a loss to last place Peru, and only managing two draws from lowly Venezuela show me a team that can be extremely inconsistent no matter how talented they are. They were only able to take 24 points from an 18 game world cup qualifying campaign, anything but impressive for a team who is favored by many to be the dark horse team to make a run in the knockout stages.
Conclusion
My writing is pretty biased, I bet you can tell where I stand on this group: I see Mexico winning it, with South Africa nipping the second place on the last day by tying France. The French have proven they can underachieve when expectations are high (ex: 2002 World Cup where they didn’t score a goal as defending champs), and I think this team is set up to do so. With Uruguay, I think they are simply overrated as a team and I don’t see them getting a single point in the group stage. I really like Mexico though, and think they will do enough to win the group. I see them drawing with South Africa on the first day, but barely beating the French and Uruguayans to sneak into the Round of 16 like they always seem to do. Here is the table, schedule and how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: South Africa 1 vs. 1 Mexico
Game 2: Uruguay 0 vs. 2 France
Game 3: South Africa 2 vs. 1 Uruguay
Game 4: France 0 vs. 1 Mexico
Game 5: Mexico 3 vs. 2 Uruguay
Game 6: France 2 vs. 2 South Africa
Final Standings:
Mexico 7 pts
South Africa 5 pts
France 4 pts
Uruguay 0 pts
World Cup Group A is not as simple as people are making it out to be. Many experts and fans are putting Uruguay and France through simply on the roster the two teams have along with them being big name countries who have won the tournament. They also have South Africa not advancing and Mexico not having enough fire power to get through. I however, do not see this group as straightforward as people is making it out to be.
Firstly, it is absolutely foolish to write off the Mexicans. Many within Mexico feel this may be the best team to go to the World Cup in a long time and that is saying a lot considering the Mexicans have made it to the round of 16 the last four tournaments. Although they are considered perennial underachievers with disappointing exits in 1994 to Bulgaria on penalty kicks and the USA in 2002, one safe bet would be the Mexicans scraping their way through the group stages. Exciting players like Giovanni dos Santos, Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela are expected to provide the offensive power, while experienced defenders like Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez are going to hold down the defense. Oh and don’t count out their fat, overweight, 37 year old captain Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who is still a crafty player despite how humorous he looks as he runs around the field.
As hosts of the tournament, it would also be foolish to not have the South Africans break through the group stage. The host of the tournament has never failed to get out of the group stage and while the Bafana Bafana are the lowest rated host team ever, they still have history on their side. The one major thing South Africa has going for them is that they will have much of the crowds at their games cheering for them. One could also expect these stadiums to be the loudest ever at a World Cup final, not because South Africans are known for being loud, but because they will possess the extremely annoying vuvuzelas, hornlike instruments that are blared in unison during local games. They are a staple part of South African soccer, and while foreign teams have made efforts to have them banned from stadiums, they will be present. In a recent friendly which South Africa won over Colombia, the Colombian head coach said after the game that the stadium was the loudest he’d ever stepped in, and teams will have trouble communicating on the pitch because of the horns. The South Africans shouldn’t though because they will be used to the horns as they have heard them and are used to them. I believe the vuvuzelas’ impact on the goings on at the cup have been underrated by many pundits, and the South Africans will take advantage of that.
The French enter the tournament with tons of controversy swirling around them ranging from the players’ and country’s dislike for coach Raymond Domenech, the apparent arguments amongst players in the locker room, the coach not selecting certain players (Patrick Viera, Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema come to mind), the Thierry Henry handball that led to the deciding goal that gave France their berth to the tournament at Ireland's expense and that little issue involving some of the players and underage prostitutes that happened in Paris. Despite all this, on paper this team should be contending for the title, featuring world class players like Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, Florent Malouda, Yoann Gourcuff, Patrice Evra, Nicholas Anelka, William Gallas and Hugo Lloris. Unfortunately for France though, the tournament is not played on paper. This dislike amongst the players for Domenech can, and will affect how the team performs on the field. Supporters of France will disagree, citing the 2006 World Cup when Domenech fielded a team that didn’t believe in his tactics that eventually lost in the finals to Italy. The big difference between that squad and this one though is the lack of leadership amongst the players. The 2006 edition had two players in Patrick Viera and Zinedine Zidane who provided leadership and charisma that the players rallied around. Current captain Henry does not appear to be that player, the one who can motivate his teammates to perform for their country to the best of their ability and not care about Domenech. This lack of leadership results in inconsistent play from a truly talented squad, making them anything but a safe bet to advance from this tricky group.
Uruguay rounds out this group. They are expected to advance along with France because of their talent up top, with strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez expected to net multiple goals in South Africa en route to a successful campaign for the Uruguayans. I don’t doubt the talent of Uruguay, just the spottiness of their qualifying campaign. There is a lot expected of a team who had to go through a playoff with Costa Rica to make the field, not doing well enough to earn an automatic bid like Chile and Paraguay, despite those two teams having less fire power. I do not know a whole lot about the Uruguayans, but a loss to last place Peru, and only managing two draws from lowly Venezuela show me a team that can be extremely inconsistent no matter how talented they are. They were only able to take 24 points from an 18 game world cup qualifying campaign, anything but impressive for a team who is favored by many to be the dark horse team to make a run in the knockout stages.
Conclusion
My writing is pretty biased, I bet you can tell where I stand on this group: I see Mexico winning it, with South Africa nipping the second place on the last day by tying France. The French have proven they can underachieve when expectations are high (ex: 2002 World Cup where they didn’t score a goal as defending champs), and I think this team is set up to do so. With Uruguay, I think they are simply overrated as a team and I don’t see them getting a single point in the group stage. I really like Mexico though, and think they will do enough to win the group. I see them drawing with South Africa on the first day, but barely beating the French and Uruguayans to sneak into the Round of 16 like they always seem to do. Here is the table, schedule and how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: South Africa 1 vs. 1 Mexico
Game 2: Uruguay 0 vs. 2 France
Game 3: South Africa 2 vs. 1 Uruguay
Game 4: France 0 vs. 1 Mexico
Game 5: Mexico 3 vs. 2 Uruguay
Game 6: France 2 vs. 2 South Africa
Final Standings:
Mexico 7 pts
South Africa 5 pts
France 4 pts
Uruguay 0 pts
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thoughts on Five Young Stars to Watch at the World Cup
In this post, I am highlighting 5 young stars who I think people should be watching at this World Cup. They are the future of the sport, and could easily have a break out tournament that thrusts them from up and coming talent to elite world superstar. Any players either 23 or younger were deemed young enough to be mentioned.
Yoann Gourcuff (France)- It’s tough to be expected to step into Zinedine Zidane’s shoes and have the same impact as him at your first World Cup, but that is what the French expect from this talented 23 year old midfielder. After having a great year for underachieving Bordeaux, Yoann Gourcuff is expected to be on everyone’s transfer lists after a superb World Cup. An attacking midfielder with a knack for scoring eye popping goals, Gourcuff is expected to run the show for France, orchestrating the attack going forward and organizing the defense behind him.
Carlos Vela (Mexico)- It’s hard to imagine this explosive Mexican forward as younger than 23, since he’s been a well-known commodity for six years already. Carlos Vela was thrust into the limelight when he signed from his hometown club of Guadalajara to London giants Arsenal Football Club, a club known for plucking young talent and building their teams around them. He went on loan for the first two years of being Arsenal’s property, returning in 2008. Since returning though, Vela has had trouble breaking into the first team, making only twenty five total appearances for the Gunners, scoring twice. This is different for the Mexican national team though, where Vela, despite only being 21 years old, is expected to be a starter. His play against England in a recent friendly was encouraging though, as his link up play with Giovanni dos Santos is anticipated as being a crucial part of Mexico’s attack.
Lee Chung Yong (South Korea)- Despite only being 21 years of age, Yong was an important player during South Korea’s qualifying process. Playing on the right side of midfield, he had the explosiveness and speed that many young wingers use to attack opposing defenders, but also the decision making of what to do once they beat the defense that many players should have once they have more experience. Lee Chung Yong is currently applying his trade his England for Bolton Wanderers, where he did fantastically this year, and is expected to sign for a big club. A big World Cup for this youngster could lead to more interest in having his signature on a contract from big name clubs.
Michael Bradley (USA)- The hard man in the middle of the midfield for the USA, Michael Bradley’s tenacity and intensity easily stick out when one watches him play. A deeply passionate player, whose only drawback may be his possibility of receiving red cards for caring a little too much, Bradley is extremely important to the USA. An injury ridden defense behind him, the 22 year old native from New Jersey has the job of ensuring that the backline does not have much to do. He will most likely partner with Maurice Edu in the center of the midfield, another defensive player, which will allow Bradley to fly forward occasionally and show off his attacking prowess as well. Bradley is a vital player to the USA’s cause, and a big showing from him is necessary in order for his team to do well. Currently playing for Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, playing well could secure a transfer to a club with a higher profile this summer.
Gervinho (Ivory Coast)- Another player who is expected to step into a national star’s boots, Gervinho will have many eyes watching him at this tournament. Expected to one day replace Ivorian captain and icon Didier Drogba, Gervinho will want to showcase his talent which has made him a standout player with his club team Lille in France. He netted 13 times for Lille this year, enough to put him in the top ten of scorers in Ligue 1 this year. A player with pace and a killer knack for scoring big goals, a big tournament from Gervinho will give Ivory Coast fans a little bit of reassurance for the future after Drogba’s retirement that the team will still be in reliable hands. A good showing would also be highly beneficial for Gervinho, already on the radar of many of Europe’s elite clubs, who could secure a big transfer this summer.
Yoann Gourcuff (France)- It’s tough to be expected to step into Zinedine Zidane’s shoes and have the same impact as him at your first World Cup, but that is what the French expect from this talented 23 year old midfielder. After having a great year for underachieving Bordeaux, Yoann Gourcuff is expected to be on everyone’s transfer lists after a superb World Cup. An attacking midfielder with a knack for scoring eye popping goals, Gourcuff is expected to run the show for France, orchestrating the attack going forward and organizing the defense behind him.
Carlos Vela (Mexico)- It’s hard to imagine this explosive Mexican forward as younger than 23, since he’s been a well-known commodity for six years already. Carlos Vela was thrust into the limelight when he signed from his hometown club of Guadalajara to London giants Arsenal Football Club, a club known for plucking young talent and building their teams around them. He went on loan for the first two years of being Arsenal’s property, returning in 2008. Since returning though, Vela has had trouble breaking into the first team, making only twenty five total appearances for the Gunners, scoring twice. This is different for the Mexican national team though, where Vela, despite only being 21 years old, is expected to be a starter. His play against England in a recent friendly was encouraging though, as his link up play with Giovanni dos Santos is anticipated as being a crucial part of Mexico’s attack.
Lee Chung Yong (South Korea)- Despite only being 21 years of age, Yong was an important player during South Korea’s qualifying process. Playing on the right side of midfield, he had the explosiveness and speed that many young wingers use to attack opposing defenders, but also the decision making of what to do once they beat the defense that many players should have once they have more experience. Lee Chung Yong is currently applying his trade his England for Bolton Wanderers, where he did fantastically this year, and is expected to sign for a big club. A big World Cup for this youngster could lead to more interest in having his signature on a contract from big name clubs.
Michael Bradley (USA)- The hard man in the middle of the midfield for the USA, Michael Bradley’s tenacity and intensity easily stick out when one watches him play. A deeply passionate player, whose only drawback may be his possibility of receiving red cards for caring a little too much, Bradley is extremely important to the USA. An injury ridden defense behind him, the 22 year old native from New Jersey has the job of ensuring that the backline does not have much to do. He will most likely partner with Maurice Edu in the center of the midfield, another defensive player, which will allow Bradley to fly forward occasionally and show off his attacking prowess as well. Bradley is a vital player to the USA’s cause, and a big showing from him is necessary in order for his team to do well. Currently playing for Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, playing well could secure a transfer to a club with a higher profile this summer.
Gervinho (Ivory Coast)- Another player who is expected to step into a national star’s boots, Gervinho will have many eyes watching him at this tournament. Expected to one day replace Ivorian captain and icon Didier Drogba, Gervinho will want to showcase his talent which has made him a standout player with his club team Lille in France. He netted 13 times for Lille this year, enough to put him in the top ten of scorers in Ligue 1 this year. A player with pace and a killer knack for scoring big goals, a big tournament from Gervinho will give Ivory Coast fans a little bit of reassurance for the future after Drogba’s retirement that the team will still be in reliable hands. A good showing would also be highly beneficial for Gervinho, already on the radar of many of Europe’s elite clubs, who could secure a big transfer this summer.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thoughts on the USA World Cup Squad
So Bob Bradley and I agree pretty much with who should be representing the United States at the World Cup in South Africa; my team had 21 of the 23 players who will board the plane for Johannesburg on Sunday. I also predicted one of my players who would not make Bradley’s squad. Unfortunately there was no place for Robbie Rogers, who simply put should be on the team instead of defender Jonathon Bornstein. Bornstein is benefiting from Bradley’s defensive mentality, along with the apparent necessity of a seventh defender on the squad. It also doesn’t hurt when your competition is Heath Pearce who I’m pretty sure could’ve been beaten consistently by the lesser players in the travel soccer League I participated in when I was 12. Oh well, it isn’t the worst thing in the world. It’s not like Bornstein is expected to get any sort of playing time in South Africa, it’s just unfortunate that a player of Rogers’ quality has to miss out on an excellent opportunity because of the position he plays.
The major shock of the squad was the absence of forward Brian Ching, and the inclusion of speedster Robbie Findley. I thought Findley’s chances were dead and buried after not playing last night, but a second look at that game shows me that he may have benefited from not playing. Eddie Johnson, his rival for a spot, was unable to get involved in the game enough to make the plane. I interpreted Findley’s absence as not impressing in the camp prior to the game, but apparently Findley was much safer than I thought. It looks as if Bob Bradley had made up his mind when he named the 30-man provisional roster that he was going to take one forward who is a speedster, clearly a replacement for the injured Charlie Davies. Although skill wise I would take Ching over Findley, Findley offers something and I think that’s why he will be going to South Africa while Ching watches from home.
Ching’s absence was good news though for forwards Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle, who are on the team despite having two International caps between them both going into last night’s match. Gomez scoring against the Czechs I thought guaranteed him a spot on the roster, along with his impressive scoring record for his club. Buddle I thought performed well enough to make the roster, same as Ching, but apparently Ching wasn’t up to snuff. Something that may have made Buddle stand out was his desire. After having his lip busted open in the leadup to the Maurice Edu goal, Buddle had to step off the pitch for a few minutes to be stitched up while his teammates had to carry on without him. Upon his return to the pitch, Buddle made sure to make up for lost time, battling consistently with the Czech defenders and doing a good job of getting involved in the flow of play. His heart and desire might’ve carried him through, along with his impressive linkup play with Landon Donovan at the LA Galaxy, which Bob Bradley may hope to exploit at some point during the tournament. No matter the reason, it is a sad blow for the flyin’ Hawaiian Brian Ching, as this was most likely his last chance to play at the World Cup.
The major shock of the squad was the absence of forward Brian Ching, and the inclusion of speedster Robbie Findley. I thought Findley’s chances were dead and buried after not playing last night, but a second look at that game shows me that he may have benefited from not playing. Eddie Johnson, his rival for a spot, was unable to get involved in the game enough to make the plane. I interpreted Findley’s absence as not impressing in the camp prior to the game, but apparently Findley was much safer than I thought. It looks as if Bob Bradley had made up his mind when he named the 30-man provisional roster that he was going to take one forward who is a speedster, clearly a replacement for the injured Charlie Davies. Although skill wise I would take Ching over Findley, Findley offers something and I think that’s why he will be going to South Africa while Ching watches from home.
Ching’s absence was good news though for forwards Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle, who are on the team despite having two International caps between them both going into last night’s match. Gomez scoring against the Czechs I thought guaranteed him a spot on the roster, along with his impressive scoring record for his club. Buddle I thought performed well enough to make the roster, same as Ching, but apparently Ching wasn’t up to snuff. Something that may have made Buddle stand out was his desire. After having his lip busted open in the leadup to the Maurice Edu goal, Buddle had to step off the pitch for a few minutes to be stitched up while his teammates had to carry on without him. Upon his return to the pitch, Buddle made sure to make up for lost time, battling consistently with the Czech defenders and doing a good job of getting involved in the flow of play. His heart and desire might’ve carried him through, along with his impressive linkup play with Landon Donovan at the LA Galaxy, which Bob Bradley may hope to exploit at some point during the tournament. No matter the reason, it is a sad blow for the flyin’ Hawaiian Brian Ching, as this was most likely his last chance to play at the World Cup.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thoughts on the USA vs Czech Republic match and the USA World Cup Squad
Wednesday’s game between the United States and Czech Republic, which saw the Czechs win 4-2, proved one major flaw about the United States national team: they have absolutely no depth, especially at the back. First of all, the best solution to the Jonathon Bornstein vs. Heath Pearce debate is simply to take neither, as both proved tonight why the United States should be terrified if they step on the pitch in South Africa. I think Bradley should take Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathon Spector and Clarence Goodson. Taking Bornstein or Pearce is simply a waste of a roster spot, especially Pearce who was responsible for the second and third Czech goals. I’m hoping that takes Pearce out of the running, and while Bornstein wasn’t as bad, I don’t see what he can contribute at the World Cup. I would feel much more comfortable with Maurice Edu slotting in at the back if necessary, but I doubt that will ever be the case. I know seven defenders would be favorable to six, but I would much rather see the USA have to revert to playing a 3-5-1, a formation they never play, instead of having a cancer like Jonathon Bornstein or Heath Pearce on the field.
The other concern at the back is Oguchi Onyewu. I’ve never been Onyewu’s biggest fan, feeling he has always been physically gifted, but not a tough enough player mentally. With his physical abilities limited, as shown by his performance last night, his value as a player dips heavily. It is tough to be critical of Onyewu, who has done a great job in rehab to even be considered to be on the roster, but this is the World Cup and if a player isn’t able to perform as well as another then the less talented one should not play. I will reserve total judgment on Gooch though, waiting to see how he does against the remaining games with Turkey and Australia before the tournament, but what he showed me tonight was a player not physically ready to perform at the World Cup. At this moment, my starting back four would be Cherundolo at right back, Jay DeMerit and Carlos Bocanegra at the center back positions and Jonathon Spector starting at left back. If Gooch proves he is physically fit by then, I would put him at center back, move Bocanegra to left back and have Cherundolo and Spector battle it out for the starting right back spot. Until then though, Onyewu has to sit.
In the midfield, I was impressed with the play of Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden and Jose Torres. Torres really did his hopes of making the team a favor with his performance tonight, doing a good job of spraying passes around to a variety of teammates and setting up the offense well. I think he will be announced in Bradley’s squad tomorrow, probably at the expense of Sacha Kljestan who was absent for much of his time on the pitch. I think Edu made a strong claim to be the central midfielder next to Michael Bradley in the starting lineup, while Holden’s play on the right side was encouraging as he could easily be asked to start there at some point during the World Cup so Clint Dempsey can move up to forward. DaMarcus Beasley, a player I have been critical of, also had a solid game and I think earned a spot in the World Cup roster. The midfielders I would select would be Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, DaMarcus Beasley and Robbie Rogers.
Up front, I was encouraged by the play of Herculez Gomez. I believe he has a role for the USA at South Africa, probably coming off the bench with the expectation of finding the back of the net. His goal proved that he can obtain favorable positioning for goals, but I think he will be more productive coming off the bench than starting. However, I would still love to see him start alongside Jozy Altidore against Turkey, seeing how well the two work together. If they appear to have chemistry, than he may start in South Africa. I also think Brian Ching had a typical solid game. I’ve never been Ching’s biggest fan, likening him to a poor man’s Emile Heskey, but he is a physical presence on the pitch that could prove to be a handful against certain teams. The final roster spot would come down to either Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson or Robbie Findley. Findley appears to not have made the cut, not getting a minute of playing time tonight. It’s probably for the best; Findley is a little too raw for International football at this point in his career. So it’s down to Johnson or Buddle. If I had to pick I would take Buddle, who did a good job tonight of holding up the ball and getting involved in the game. He is an individual who could perform better as the talent around him gets better, particularly when Donovan is on the field. The two have great chemistry for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and while the MLS is nowhere near the quality of the soccer they will face in South Africa, it is a bond the United States could benefit from. Johnson however, offers a different skill set then the other forwards being considered. This is because of Johnson’s speed, who would be the most natural fit to replace Charlie Davies at the starting forward position in terms of skill set. Johnson was unable to get involved in the game tonight though, as well as being extremely inconsistent over the past four years, I would take Buddle who has had fantastic form of late over him. Thus, the four forwards I would take to South Africa would be Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Brian Ching and Herculez Gomez.
My 23-man roster would then look like this: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathon Spector, Clarence Goodson, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, DaMarcus Beasley, Robbie Rogers, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Brian Ching and Herculez Gomez. I don’t expect to get the roster completely correct though; I bet Bornstein makes the team at the expense of Rogers, Johnson could easily be taken over Buddle and I have a sneaky suspicion (although I pray to God I am wrong) that Sacha Kljestan could be selected over Jose Torres. No matter what happens tomorrow though when Bob Bradley selects his roster for South Africa, I hope he plays a better side against Turkey. This is not because I will be in attendance in Philly for the match, but because I think the United States needs a little momentum going into South Africa. Last night was good for experimenting; Saturday will be good for setting the tone for the tournament ahead.
The other concern at the back is Oguchi Onyewu. I’ve never been Onyewu’s biggest fan, feeling he has always been physically gifted, but not a tough enough player mentally. With his physical abilities limited, as shown by his performance last night, his value as a player dips heavily. It is tough to be critical of Onyewu, who has done a great job in rehab to even be considered to be on the roster, but this is the World Cup and if a player isn’t able to perform as well as another then the less talented one should not play. I will reserve total judgment on Gooch though, waiting to see how he does against the remaining games with Turkey and Australia before the tournament, but what he showed me tonight was a player not physically ready to perform at the World Cup. At this moment, my starting back four would be Cherundolo at right back, Jay DeMerit and Carlos Bocanegra at the center back positions and Jonathon Spector starting at left back. If Gooch proves he is physically fit by then, I would put him at center back, move Bocanegra to left back and have Cherundolo and Spector battle it out for the starting right back spot. Until then though, Onyewu has to sit.
In the midfield, I was impressed with the play of Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden and Jose Torres. Torres really did his hopes of making the team a favor with his performance tonight, doing a good job of spraying passes around to a variety of teammates and setting up the offense well. I think he will be announced in Bradley’s squad tomorrow, probably at the expense of Sacha Kljestan who was absent for much of his time on the pitch. I think Edu made a strong claim to be the central midfielder next to Michael Bradley in the starting lineup, while Holden’s play on the right side was encouraging as he could easily be asked to start there at some point during the World Cup so Clint Dempsey can move up to forward. DaMarcus Beasley, a player I have been critical of, also had a solid game and I think earned a spot in the World Cup roster. The midfielders I would select would be Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, DaMarcus Beasley and Robbie Rogers.
Up front, I was encouraged by the play of Herculez Gomez. I believe he has a role for the USA at South Africa, probably coming off the bench with the expectation of finding the back of the net. His goal proved that he can obtain favorable positioning for goals, but I think he will be more productive coming off the bench than starting. However, I would still love to see him start alongside Jozy Altidore against Turkey, seeing how well the two work together. If they appear to have chemistry, than he may start in South Africa. I also think Brian Ching had a typical solid game. I’ve never been Ching’s biggest fan, likening him to a poor man’s Emile Heskey, but he is a physical presence on the pitch that could prove to be a handful against certain teams. The final roster spot would come down to either Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson or Robbie Findley. Findley appears to not have made the cut, not getting a minute of playing time tonight. It’s probably for the best; Findley is a little too raw for International football at this point in his career. So it’s down to Johnson or Buddle. If I had to pick I would take Buddle, who did a good job tonight of holding up the ball and getting involved in the game. He is an individual who could perform better as the talent around him gets better, particularly when Donovan is on the field. The two have great chemistry for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and while the MLS is nowhere near the quality of the soccer they will face in South Africa, it is a bond the United States could benefit from. Johnson however, offers a different skill set then the other forwards being considered. This is because of Johnson’s speed, who would be the most natural fit to replace Charlie Davies at the starting forward position in terms of skill set. Johnson was unable to get involved in the game tonight though, as well as being extremely inconsistent over the past four years, I would take Buddle who has had fantastic form of late over him. Thus, the four forwards I would take to South Africa would be Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Brian Ching and Herculez Gomez.
My 23-man roster would then look like this: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathon Spector, Clarence Goodson, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, DaMarcus Beasley, Robbie Rogers, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Brian Ching and Herculez Gomez. I don’t expect to get the roster completely correct though; I bet Bornstein makes the team at the expense of Rogers, Johnson could easily be taken over Buddle and I have a sneaky suspicion (although I pray to God I am wrong) that Sacha Kljestan could be selected over Jose Torres. No matter what happens tomorrow though when Bob Bradley selects his roster for South Africa, I hope he plays a better side against Turkey. This is not because I will be in attendance in Philly for the match, but because I think the United States needs a little momentum going into South Africa. Last night was good for experimenting; Saturday will be good for setting the tone for the tournament ahead.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Thoughts on the Premier League Team of the Year
Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina, Liverpool- Liverpool’s disastrous year could’ve been a lot worse had Pepe Reina not been standing between the pipes for them. The Spaniard consistently made eye-popping saves, making the already apparent problems Liverpool has at the back less concerning. He finished the year tied for first with Petr Cech of Chelsea with 17 clean sheets, doing so once again with a much worse defense in front of him than Cech. Reina’s signing of a new deal gives Liverpool supporters a little bit of hope for the future, as he seems emotionally invested in the club’s future.
Right Back: Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea- Ivanovic was the most consistent force in the back for Chelsea’s defense, which was the backbone of this team. His sturdy and quick runs down the right flank, followed by a beautiful cross were also a reliable aspect of Chelsea’s attack going forward. Also capable of playing center back, Ivanovic displayed an aspect of versatility that makes him one of the elite defenders in the world today.
Center Back 1: Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal- Arguably the best signing of the year in the Premier League, Vermaelen provided ferocity at the back that Arsenal had been lacking for years. With not much depth behind them, Vermaelen and partner William Gallas provided Arsenal with a more than competent nucleus at the back, despite being one of the physically smaller duos in the league. He also proved to be a dangerous force in the offensive sector of the pitch, finishing with seven league goals, just behind Cesc Fabregas, Andrei Arshavin and Robin Van Persie for Arsenal. A very good year, especially for his first in the league, Vermaelen has exceeded many’s expectations for him.
Center Back 2: Roger Johnson, Birmingham City- One of the quieter seasons for those on this team, Birmingham City would not have finished in the top half of the table without Roger Johnson. His partnership with Scott Dann provided stability in the center of defense that was vital for City’s unbeaten run of 12 games that played a huge part in their overachieving season. At the back, Johnson was the leader, constantly organizing his teammates for another wave of attack from their opponents. Birmingham would not have had half the success they did without Johnson, making him the most valuable center back in the league this year to his team.
Left Back: Patrice Evra, Manchester United- This year really tested this world-class fullback’s versatility, as well as his composure. Manchester United’s backline was really injury prone this year, resulting in Evra having to play center back on a few occasions, despite being physically not nearly big enough. Despite this, he performed more than adequately. When playing at his natural position, he provided his usual wide attack for the Red Devils, along with using his lightning-quick speed to track back and defend.
Right Midfield: James Milner, Aston Villa- The Young Player Award Winner, Milner had a breakout season at Villa Park. Despite making this team as a midfielder on the right side, Milner truly excelled at the center of the park, creating Villa’s attacks and establishing a tough defensive line in the midfield. His versatility is truly impressive though, as he can also play wide on either side of the pitch, something he will probably doing in England’s starting XI in South Africa this summer. He netted a crucial seven goals for Villa, as well as twelve assists, the third most in the league.
Center Midfield: Frank Lampard,Chelsea – My Premier League Player of the Year, Lampard had one of the best seasons of his career. At the center of Chelsea’s midfield, he created much of their attack going forward and is hugely responsible for their breaking of the century goal mark in the league. He provided fourteen assists, which led the league, and twenty-two goals, fifth in the league (first among non-forward players). One could make a serious argument that without Lampard, Chelsea would not have won the league.
Center Midfield: Darren Fletcher, Manchester United- Fletcher had another underrated, absolutely fantastic year for the Red Devils. In the center of the midfield, he was asked to perform a similar role to that of Frank Lampard’s with Chelsea, organizing the attack going forward as well as providing a solid line of defense before the center backs and fullbacks. Fletcher was asked to do this with, simply put, a team around him that was more lacking in talent than ever. Despite this setback, the Scottish International did his job with great aplomb
Left Midfield: Florent Malouda, Chelsea- Malouda had a fantastic year playing wide left in the Chelsea midfield, netting twelve goals and setting up eight. He truly benefited from the arrival of Coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose diamond formation truly allowed for Malouda to roam the left side of the field. He had fantastic link up play all year with defender Ashley Cole, as well as forwards Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka. A true threat going forward, Malouda’s sensational play was crucial to Chelsea’s success.
Forward: Didier Drogba, Chelsea- The player with the most goals in the Premier League this season, Drogba had a sensational year for Chelsea, netting twenty-nine times. His ability to bully defenders and force mistakes made him a vital player for Chelsea even when he wasn’t scoring goals (which weren’t often). Drogba won his battle against Wayne Rooney for top goal scorer, as well as leading Chelsea over Rooney’s Manchester United for the league title. His season has proven to be one of his best, proven by being voted Chelsea Player of the Year by his teammates and others within the club, the first time he has received this title.
Forward: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United- Netting twenty-six times and winning the Premier League Player of the Year Award, Wayne Rooney had a fantastic year for the Red Devils. After losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the transfer window, Manchester United’s attack looked bleak as they only returned Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, along with bringing in the often injured Michael Owen. Rooney took up the challenge honorably though, taking United to second place, an overachievement one could argue. Without him in the lineup, Manchester United looked lost and confused up front and their quality of play showed it. Rooney definitely wins Most Valuable Player in that United would not have had nearly the season they did without his presence on the pitch.
Coach: Harry Redknapp, Tottenham Hotspur- Redknapp did a fantastic job navigating the Premier League season with Spurs, leading them to fourth place, guaranteeing Champions League football for the 2010/11 campaign. Coaching a team with a true English core and no true stars, Redknapp got his team to play attractive football that truly warranted a fourth place finish. A season sweep of fifth place Manchester City proved to be the key to their season, as they ended up finishing just three points ahead of them. Molding a backline around the center back pairing of Ledley King, the talented but oft-injured individual and the notorious under-achieving Michael Dawson too guts, but proved to be crucial to the team’s success. Up front, Redknapp got fantastic years from Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, as well as manage to work the over-emotional Russian Roman Pavlyuchenko into a consistant attacking role. Good seasons from Tom Huddlestone and Luka Modric helped as well. Looking forward, Redknapp has a tough but enjoyable task ahead of him in trying to give Spurs fans Champions League glory in their first appearance in the competition.
Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina, Liverpool- Liverpool’s disastrous year could’ve been a lot worse had Pepe Reina not been standing between the pipes for them. The Spaniard consistently made eye-popping saves, making the already apparent problems Liverpool has at the back less concerning. He finished the year tied for first with Petr Cech of Chelsea with 17 clean sheets, doing so once again with a much worse defense in front of him than Cech. Reina’s signing of a new deal gives Liverpool supporters a little bit of hope for the future, as he seems emotionally invested in the club’s future.
Right Back: Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea- Ivanovic was the most consistent force in the back for Chelsea’s defense, which was the backbone of this team. His sturdy and quick runs down the right flank, followed by a beautiful cross were also a reliable aspect of Chelsea’s attack going forward. Also capable of playing center back, Ivanovic displayed an aspect of versatility that makes him one of the elite defenders in the world today.
Center Back 1: Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal- Arguably the best signing of the year in the Premier League, Vermaelen provided ferocity at the back that Arsenal had been lacking for years. With not much depth behind them, Vermaelen and partner William Gallas provided Arsenal with a more than competent nucleus at the back, despite being one of the physically smaller duos in the league. He also proved to be a dangerous force in the offensive sector of the pitch, finishing with seven league goals, just behind Cesc Fabregas, Andrei Arshavin and Robin Van Persie for Arsenal. A very good year, especially for his first in the league, Vermaelen has exceeded many’s expectations for him.
Center Back 2: Roger Johnson, Birmingham City- One of the quieter seasons for those on this team, Birmingham City would not have finished in the top half of the table without Roger Johnson. His partnership with Scott Dann provided stability in the center of defense that was vital for City’s unbeaten run of 12 games that played a huge part in their overachieving season. At the back, Johnson was the leader, constantly organizing his teammates for another wave of attack from their opponents. Birmingham would not have had half the success they did without Johnson, making him the most valuable center back in the league this year to his team.
Left Back: Patrice Evra, Manchester United- This year really tested this world-class fullback’s versatility, as well as his composure. Manchester United’s backline was really injury prone this year, resulting in Evra having to play center back on a few occasions, despite being physically not nearly big enough. Despite this, he performed more than adequately. When playing at his natural position, he provided his usual wide attack for the Red Devils, along with using his lightning-quick speed to track back and defend.
Right Midfield: James Milner, Aston Villa- The Young Player Award Winner, Milner had a breakout season at Villa Park. Despite making this team as a midfielder on the right side, Milner truly excelled at the center of the park, creating Villa’s attacks and establishing a tough defensive line in the midfield. His versatility is truly impressive though, as he can also play wide on either side of the pitch, something he will probably doing in England’s starting XI in South Africa this summer. He netted a crucial seven goals for Villa, as well as twelve assists, the third most in the league.
Center Midfield: Frank Lampard,Chelsea – My Premier League Player of the Year, Lampard had one of the best seasons of his career. At the center of Chelsea’s midfield, he created much of their attack going forward and is hugely responsible for their breaking of the century goal mark in the league. He provided fourteen assists, which led the league, and twenty-two goals, fifth in the league (first among non-forward players). One could make a serious argument that without Lampard, Chelsea would not have won the league.
Center Midfield: Darren Fletcher, Manchester United- Fletcher had another underrated, absolutely fantastic year for the Red Devils. In the center of the midfield, he was asked to perform a similar role to that of Frank Lampard’s with Chelsea, organizing the attack going forward as well as providing a solid line of defense before the center backs and fullbacks. Fletcher was asked to do this with, simply put, a team around him that was more lacking in talent than ever. Despite this setback, the Scottish International did his job with great aplomb
Left Midfield: Florent Malouda, Chelsea- Malouda had a fantastic year playing wide left in the Chelsea midfield, netting twelve goals and setting up eight. He truly benefited from the arrival of Coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose diamond formation truly allowed for Malouda to roam the left side of the field. He had fantastic link up play all year with defender Ashley Cole, as well as forwards Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka. A true threat going forward, Malouda’s sensational play was crucial to Chelsea’s success.
Forward: Didier Drogba, Chelsea- The player with the most goals in the Premier League this season, Drogba had a sensational year for Chelsea, netting twenty-nine times. His ability to bully defenders and force mistakes made him a vital player for Chelsea even when he wasn’t scoring goals (which weren’t often). Drogba won his battle against Wayne Rooney for top goal scorer, as well as leading Chelsea over Rooney’s Manchester United for the league title. His season has proven to be one of his best, proven by being voted Chelsea Player of the Year by his teammates and others within the club, the first time he has received this title.
Forward: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United- Netting twenty-six times and winning the Premier League Player of the Year Award, Wayne Rooney had a fantastic year for the Red Devils. After losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the transfer window, Manchester United’s attack looked bleak as they only returned Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, along with bringing in the often injured Michael Owen. Rooney took up the challenge honorably though, taking United to second place, an overachievement one could argue. Without him in the lineup, Manchester United looked lost and confused up front and their quality of play showed it. Rooney definitely wins Most Valuable Player in that United would not have had nearly the season they did without his presence on the pitch.
Coach: Harry Redknapp, Tottenham Hotspur- Redknapp did a fantastic job navigating the Premier League season with Spurs, leading them to fourth place, guaranteeing Champions League football for the 2010/11 campaign. Coaching a team with a true English core and no true stars, Redknapp got his team to play attractive football that truly warranted a fourth place finish. A season sweep of fifth place Manchester City proved to be the key to their season, as they ended up finishing just three points ahead of them. Molding a backline around the center back pairing of Ledley King, the talented but oft-injured individual and the notorious under-achieving Michael Dawson too guts, but proved to be crucial to the team’s success. Up front, Redknapp got fantastic years from Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, as well as manage to work the over-emotional Russian Roman Pavlyuchenko into a consistant attacking role. Good seasons from Tom Huddlestone and Luka Modric helped as well. Looking forward, Redknapp has a tough but enjoyable task ahead of him in trying to give Spurs fans Champions League glory in their first appearance in the competition.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thoughts on What Happened in the Champions League Final
Ok, I couldn’t write this with a clear mind right after what happened in the final yesterday. The game was one where it really makes me question why I am a sports fan; an event that I took no part in, that has no bearing on my current or future well-being affected me to the point where I had to sit in my bed moping for a couple hours afterwards. That aside, even though my team did not win I still thought it was a very entertaining final. Bayern had all the possession and field position, but were unable to break down Inter’s last line of defense, while Inter Milan’s counter attack ended up being rare but extremely opportunistic. In the end, one of my predictions ended up being blatantly wrong: Munich desperately missed Franck Ribery. Lack of Ribery allowed Inter to focus on Arjen Robben, who I still thought had a good game, but didn’t have the usual freedom he does when the defense also has to worry about the scarred Frenchman on the left. Bayern spent much of the time in Inter’s territory, but only were able to get behind Inter’s defense once (when Mueller missed that golden chance in the first minute of the second half). This resulted in long range efforts mostly, and other than a beautiful Robben chip where Julio Cesar had to make a fantastic acrobatic save, they were mostly not on target.
The difference in quality at the center back position also was huge. Bayern was never going to beat Inter’s counter attacking game plan with Daniel Van Buyten and Martic Demichellis at the heart of defense. Diego Milito, Goran Pandev and Samuel Eto’o always looked threatening because of the lack of speed and athleticism of the two center backs for Bayern. At the other end there was Walter Samuel and Lucio (who Bayern got rid of this past summer), who Bayern probably couldn’t have consistently gotten behind if the two teams played ten times. Those two have done this all season, especially against Barcelona, making Inter more than worthy champions. The only way to combat a defense like that is to have an effective, big, strong striker who could physically bully those two around (ex: Edin Dzeko, who Bayern are heavily linked with at the moment). While Thomas Mueller has a bright future ahead of him, in order for him to be taken to the next level I believe he needs that strong striker, something Ivica Olic isn’t. Not taking anything away from Olic, who has exceeded all expectations, but he was extremely ineffective yesterday, simply not being big, quick or good enough to deal with the elite defending of Inter’s center backs, despite putting in his usual incredible and admirable amount of effort. Olic definitely has a role for next year, but it may be the role of super sub or the third striker, behind Thomas Mueller and (hopefully) Edin Dzeko.
Up front, Diego Milito truly epitomized Inter’s whole style of play; barely having the ball but being extremely opportunistic. Milito had two shots on target, both of which ended up in the back of the net. His winning of the header on Julio Cesar’s long goal kick against Demichellis was crucial. His finish was also a class act, pausing an extra second to throw off a charging Hans Jorg Butt before coolly chipping it passed him. The second was also great, taking advantage of the space as a result of a too offensive run by Philipp Lahm at right fullback, to run at Daniel Van Buyten, who Milito simply made looked foolish as he side stepped him and beat Butt with a great far post shot. That was it; those were the two times Milito shot the ball. But could Jose Mourinho as more of his center forward? He also did a great job of holding the ball up, waiting for the rest of Inter’s attack to move forward. Milito put in a class act performance on the biggest stage of his career. The unfortunate thing is that I don’t see a way Milito gets playing time with Argentina at the World Cup, being behind other forwards like the electric Lionel Messi, the bullish Carlos Tevez and the deadly Gonzalo Higuain on Diego Maradona’s depth chart. He will probably end up being on the bench for much of his time in South Africa, but if Maradona is in anyway a competent coach (which I’m not sure he is), he will find a role for the fantastic Milito, who showed yesterday why he should be an integral part of any team’s strategy. He, along with Walter Samuel and Lucio, were Inter’s MVPs yesterday.
Yesterday’s result also legitimized Jose Mourinho’s claim to be the best coach in the world. Mourinho basically out managed Bayern’s Louis Van Gaal, his mentor while the two were at Barcelona. Van Gaal’s attacking style played right into Mourinho’s hands, who has never claimed to play attractive football, but wins. When Milito scored his second goal, you knew Bayern were dead and buried; Mourinho sides never yield results when the score is 2-0. Mourinho now joins the company of Ernst Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld as managers to win two Champions League titles with two different teams. It is an elite status that Mourinho deserves, who steals headlines for his amusing bravado as much as he does for his teams’ success on the pitch. After the win, Mourinho proclaimed his work at inter was done and it appears he will be going to Real Madrid. Despite all of the hilarious headlines Mourinho have provided since he first came to prominence with Porto, we may be entering the time period soccer historians will look back on as the most significant during his career. If one were looking at a map of where soccer talent resides in Europe, one would see that most are in two rival cities: Madrid and Barcelona. The Real Madrid vs. Barcelona rivalry will take on a whole new dimension when Mourinho joins it, especially with the star power of both teams. It will be Madrid’s money versus Barcelona’s system, the brash Mourinho versus the calm and collected Pep Guardiola. The rivalry is sure to be truly amazing over the next few years, with Mourinho being at the center of it the whole way.
The difference in quality at the center back position also was huge. Bayern was never going to beat Inter’s counter attacking game plan with Daniel Van Buyten and Martic Demichellis at the heart of defense. Diego Milito, Goran Pandev and Samuel Eto’o always looked threatening because of the lack of speed and athleticism of the two center backs for Bayern. At the other end there was Walter Samuel and Lucio (who Bayern got rid of this past summer), who Bayern probably couldn’t have consistently gotten behind if the two teams played ten times. Those two have done this all season, especially against Barcelona, making Inter more than worthy champions. The only way to combat a defense like that is to have an effective, big, strong striker who could physically bully those two around (ex: Edin Dzeko, who Bayern are heavily linked with at the moment). While Thomas Mueller has a bright future ahead of him, in order for him to be taken to the next level I believe he needs that strong striker, something Ivica Olic isn’t. Not taking anything away from Olic, who has exceeded all expectations, but he was extremely ineffective yesterday, simply not being big, quick or good enough to deal with the elite defending of Inter’s center backs, despite putting in his usual incredible and admirable amount of effort. Olic definitely has a role for next year, but it may be the role of super sub or the third striker, behind Thomas Mueller and (hopefully) Edin Dzeko.
Up front, Diego Milito truly epitomized Inter’s whole style of play; barely having the ball but being extremely opportunistic. Milito had two shots on target, both of which ended up in the back of the net. His winning of the header on Julio Cesar’s long goal kick against Demichellis was crucial. His finish was also a class act, pausing an extra second to throw off a charging Hans Jorg Butt before coolly chipping it passed him. The second was also great, taking advantage of the space as a result of a too offensive run by Philipp Lahm at right fullback, to run at Daniel Van Buyten, who Milito simply made looked foolish as he side stepped him and beat Butt with a great far post shot. That was it; those were the two times Milito shot the ball. But could Jose Mourinho as more of his center forward? He also did a great job of holding the ball up, waiting for the rest of Inter’s attack to move forward. Milito put in a class act performance on the biggest stage of his career. The unfortunate thing is that I don’t see a way Milito gets playing time with Argentina at the World Cup, being behind other forwards like the electric Lionel Messi, the bullish Carlos Tevez and the deadly Gonzalo Higuain on Diego Maradona’s depth chart. He will probably end up being on the bench for much of his time in South Africa, but if Maradona is in anyway a competent coach (which I’m not sure he is), he will find a role for the fantastic Milito, who showed yesterday why he should be an integral part of any team’s strategy. He, along with Walter Samuel and Lucio, were Inter’s MVPs yesterday.
Yesterday’s result also legitimized Jose Mourinho’s claim to be the best coach in the world. Mourinho basically out managed Bayern’s Louis Van Gaal, his mentor while the two were at Barcelona. Van Gaal’s attacking style played right into Mourinho’s hands, who has never claimed to play attractive football, but wins. When Milito scored his second goal, you knew Bayern were dead and buried; Mourinho sides never yield results when the score is 2-0. Mourinho now joins the company of Ernst Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld as managers to win two Champions League titles with two different teams. It is an elite status that Mourinho deserves, who steals headlines for his amusing bravado as much as he does for his teams’ success on the pitch. After the win, Mourinho proclaimed his work at inter was done and it appears he will be going to Real Madrid. Despite all of the hilarious headlines Mourinho have provided since he first came to prominence with Porto, we may be entering the time period soccer historians will look back on as the most significant during his career. If one were looking at a map of where soccer talent resides in Europe, one would see that most are in two rival cities: Madrid and Barcelona. The Real Madrid vs. Barcelona rivalry will take on a whole new dimension when Mourinho joins it, especially with the star power of both teams. It will be Madrid’s money versus Barcelona’s system, the brash Mourinho versus the calm and collected Pep Guardiola. The rivalry is sure to be truly amazing over the next few years, with Mourinho being at the center of it the whole way.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thoughts on What Will Happen at the Champions League Final
Before you read anymore of this, let me state this: I am totally biased here. I am a diehard Bayern Munich fan: if you are looking for a neutral perspective on this fantastic match, please look elsewhere. I will try my hardest to be neutral, but keep in mind that I plan on wearing my Bayern jersey tomorrow and cheering my heart out for them. Now that that totally necessary disclaimer is over with, I will continue with my preview. I have my keys to the game, predictions on what I think will happen and prediction as to what the final score will be.
Keys
Wesley Sneijder vs. Bastian Schweinsteiger: The two midfield maestros for their respective teams, whichever one is able to control the middle of the park will surely win it for their side. Sneijder has been vital to Inter during this run, contributing in five of their eight goals. He has been their inspiration and if Bayern has any hope of winning, they have to make sure Sneijder touches the ball as little as possible. The same can be said for Inter when it comes to Bastian Schweinsteiger. While his teammate Arjen Robben has been stealing much of the plaudits for his fantastic moments during Bayern’s run, Schweinsteiger has been quietly doing a fantastic job in the middle of the park. His passing has been superb, as well as his defense, making him a vital part of Bayern’s game plan, and if Inter Milan want to win, taking Schweinsteiger off his game will be crucial
Arjen Robben and Philipp Lahm vs. Inter defense: Lahm’s and Robben’s connection have been extremely vital to Bayern’s offense, providing many awe-inspiring moments that have been crucial in the knockout stages. While Robben has been the one providing the crucial goals, Lahm has been absolutely fantastic going forward from the right fullback position and providing neat and dangerous crosses for the forwards. Lahm’s presence is vital to Robben’s game because the left side of defense for opposing teams cannot just focus on the Dutch winger, because Lahm himself is so dangerous. The Inter Milan defense has to be aware at all times when the Bayern has possession on the right side of the field because that is where much of Bayern’s offensive inspiration comes from.
Maicon vs. Holger Badstuber: Holger Badstuber has been a fantastic find for Bayern Munich this year, providing a calm and cool presence at the back despite his young age. However, he will have his hands full tomorrow with the dangerous and physical Brazilian right back Maicon. Maicon has been absolutely ferocious this year going forward, providing extremely dangerous crosses for Inter’s forwards, as well as bagging a few goals for himself. Badstuber is going to have to be much more defensive than Bayern would like him to be, but that is so he can have any hope of shutting down the Brazilian’s majestic forays forward. If Badstuber is able to shut down Maicon, that is one less weapon that Inter will have at their disposal.
Predictions
Robben will get shut down: I see a tough night for Arjen Robben. Inter is coached by his former coach while at Chelsea Football Club, Jose Mourinho, who is more than aware of Robben’s tendencies. If a defense gets physical with the fantastic Dutch winger, then he is prone to leaving games for large chunks of time. Mourinho will exploit this, and while I’m not saying that Mourinho is going to send his Inter players out to hurt Robben, I definitely expect one of them to receive a yellow card for a challenge that is a little too physical.
Samuel Eto’o will score: Samuel Eto’o has been in two Champions League finals, and he has scored the opening goal for his team in both of those. While no player has ever scored in three Champions League finals, I expect Eto’o to be the first. I think he has had a chip on his shoulder all season (even more than he usually does) and he hasn’t really proven that Barcelona were foolish for getting rid of him. It also doesn’t hurt that Bayern’s center of defense is definitely their weak point; Daniel Van Buyten and Martin Demichellis will not be able to shut down Eto’o for an entire match. Samuel Eto’o will score.
Bayern will not miss Franck Ribery: I believe that Munich will not miss Franck Ribery. I am not taking anything away from the Frenchman, I just think they have a perfectly adequate replacement in Hamit Altintop. Altintop, a Turkish International, had to step into Ribery’s shoes at Lyon in the semifinals and had an absolutely fantastic game. Now I am aware Altintop will be closely marked by Maicon, the best fullback in the world in my opinion, but I think Altintop will still have a good game. Champions League finals always have players who play above their normal ability because of the grand stage, and I think Altintop will do just that.
And the Final Score Will Be…
Bayern 2 – Inter Milan 1: Inter will control this game. Sneijder will control the midfield over Schweinsteiger, Robben will not have a great game and Eto’o will score. Basically Inter will do everyting that I have stated will be necessary for them to win. But one thing has not been taken into account: that one moment where Arjen Robben does something spectacular, where he does something that many did not think was physically possible. He had these moments against Fiorentina, Manchester United and Lyon. I believe in Arjen Robben, and while I think he is going to be nonexistent for large portions of the game, I still think he will provide one moment of sheer brilliance that will make up for it. That moment will be the difference betweent the two sides. Where does the other Bayern goal come from? Beautiful link up play between Thomas Mueller and Ivica Olic results in a goal for Olic. This happens before halftime, giving Bayern the 1-0 lead at the half. Samuel Eto’o responds in the second half for Inter, who will control much of the play in that half but will be unable to take advantage of opportunities and per usual, Arjen Robben will take advantage of this. Robben scores a wonder goal in the last half hour of the match, and Bayern withstands the waves of Inter pressure to hold on and win the title.
Keys
Wesley Sneijder vs. Bastian Schweinsteiger: The two midfield maestros for their respective teams, whichever one is able to control the middle of the park will surely win it for their side. Sneijder has been vital to Inter during this run, contributing in five of their eight goals. He has been their inspiration and if Bayern has any hope of winning, they have to make sure Sneijder touches the ball as little as possible. The same can be said for Inter when it comes to Bastian Schweinsteiger. While his teammate Arjen Robben has been stealing much of the plaudits for his fantastic moments during Bayern’s run, Schweinsteiger has been quietly doing a fantastic job in the middle of the park. His passing has been superb, as well as his defense, making him a vital part of Bayern’s game plan, and if Inter Milan want to win, taking Schweinsteiger off his game will be crucial
Arjen Robben and Philipp Lahm vs. Inter defense: Lahm’s and Robben’s connection have been extremely vital to Bayern’s offense, providing many awe-inspiring moments that have been crucial in the knockout stages. While Robben has been the one providing the crucial goals, Lahm has been absolutely fantastic going forward from the right fullback position and providing neat and dangerous crosses for the forwards. Lahm’s presence is vital to Robben’s game because the left side of defense for opposing teams cannot just focus on the Dutch winger, because Lahm himself is so dangerous. The Inter Milan defense has to be aware at all times when the Bayern has possession on the right side of the field because that is where much of Bayern’s offensive inspiration comes from.
Maicon vs. Holger Badstuber: Holger Badstuber has been a fantastic find for Bayern Munich this year, providing a calm and cool presence at the back despite his young age. However, he will have his hands full tomorrow with the dangerous and physical Brazilian right back Maicon. Maicon has been absolutely ferocious this year going forward, providing extremely dangerous crosses for Inter’s forwards, as well as bagging a few goals for himself. Badstuber is going to have to be much more defensive than Bayern would like him to be, but that is so he can have any hope of shutting down the Brazilian’s majestic forays forward. If Badstuber is able to shut down Maicon, that is one less weapon that Inter will have at their disposal.
Predictions
Robben will get shut down: I see a tough night for Arjen Robben. Inter is coached by his former coach while at Chelsea Football Club, Jose Mourinho, who is more than aware of Robben’s tendencies. If a defense gets physical with the fantastic Dutch winger, then he is prone to leaving games for large chunks of time. Mourinho will exploit this, and while I’m not saying that Mourinho is going to send his Inter players out to hurt Robben, I definitely expect one of them to receive a yellow card for a challenge that is a little too physical.
Samuel Eto’o will score: Samuel Eto’o has been in two Champions League finals, and he has scored the opening goal for his team in both of those. While no player has ever scored in three Champions League finals, I expect Eto’o to be the first. I think he has had a chip on his shoulder all season (even more than he usually does) and he hasn’t really proven that Barcelona were foolish for getting rid of him. It also doesn’t hurt that Bayern’s center of defense is definitely their weak point; Daniel Van Buyten and Martin Demichellis will not be able to shut down Eto’o for an entire match. Samuel Eto’o will score.
Bayern will not miss Franck Ribery: I believe that Munich will not miss Franck Ribery. I am not taking anything away from the Frenchman, I just think they have a perfectly adequate replacement in Hamit Altintop. Altintop, a Turkish International, had to step into Ribery’s shoes at Lyon in the semifinals and had an absolutely fantastic game. Now I am aware Altintop will be closely marked by Maicon, the best fullback in the world in my opinion, but I think Altintop will still have a good game. Champions League finals always have players who play above their normal ability because of the grand stage, and I think Altintop will do just that.
And the Final Score Will Be…
Bayern 2 – Inter Milan 1: Inter will control this game. Sneijder will control the midfield over Schweinsteiger, Robben will not have a great game and Eto’o will score. Basically Inter will do everyting that I have stated will be necessary for them to win. But one thing has not been taken into account: that one moment where Arjen Robben does something spectacular, where he does something that many did not think was physically possible. He had these moments against Fiorentina, Manchester United and Lyon. I believe in Arjen Robben, and while I think he is going to be nonexistent for large portions of the game, I still think he will provide one moment of sheer brilliance that will make up for it. That moment will be the difference betweent the two sides. Where does the other Bayern goal come from? Beautiful link up play between Thomas Mueller and Ivica Olic results in a goal for Olic. This happens before halftime, giving Bayern the 1-0 lead at the half. Samuel Eto’o responds in the second half for Inter, who will control much of the play in that half but will be unable to take advantage of opportunities and per usual, Arjen Robben will take advantage of this. Robben scores a wonder goal in the last half hour of the match, and Bayern withstands the waves of Inter pressure to hold on and win the title.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thoughts on David Villa Signing with Barcelona
David Villa is signing a four year contract to join Barcelona from Valencia. His signature is thought to have cost the Catalan club around 40 million Euros. This is a good signing for the two clubs involved: Barcelona get an elite forward and Valencia gets a large sum of money, something they desperately need with their current horrendous financial situation. The signing is obviously also good for Villa, who joins one of the top clubs in the world. Who doesn't benefit from this is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose first season with Barcelona has fa
iled to live up to expectations. Many could argue that Villa will be competing to play on the left forward position, with Ibrahimovic in the center and Lionel Messi playing on the right. This would leave out wonderkid Pedro though, who has had a much better season than Ibrahimovic and is much younger, thus making it more likely Villa has been signed to replace the big Swede instead.
iled to live up to expectations. Many could argue that Villa will be competing to play on the left forward position, with Ibrahimovic in the center and Lionel Messi playing on the right. This would leave out wonderkid Pedro though, who has had a much better season than Ibrahimovic and is much younger, thus making it more likely Villa has been signed to replace the big Swede instead. What has always intrigued me about David Villa's constant connection to Barcelona (which has been really gathered steam since Euro 2008) has been Barcelona appearing to think they desperately need him. Barcelona has the best youth system of any club in the world, I'm assuming there are fantastic forwards coming through their ranks, why was Villa ever necessary? They just shelled out 40 million Euros for a player whose skills could easily be duplicated by someone coming out of their successful system. The success of this academy is shown by how many players in their starting lineup participated in it: Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Victor Valdes, Carlos Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Pedro and of course, the fantastic Lionel Messi. Pedro and Busquets were only consistantly brought into the first team this year, and they have already displaced seasoned veterans at their positions for starts (Busquets replacing Yaya Toure, and Pedro replacing Thierry Henry). Are you telling me that Barcelona don't already have some young 19 year-old waiting in the wings to take over the center forward position? It would be foolish to bet against it. That makes this signing seem very unlike something Barcelona would normally do, along with signing Ibrahimovic last year and sending away Samuel Eto'o (absolutely foolish to think Ibrahimovic would be as good as Eto'o by the way). So while the signing of Villa is good in that it brings in a world class player at the center forward position, something Barcelona lacked this past year, I see it as a truly unnecessary signing. Barcelona's youth system will produce the next Messi or Pedro within the next couple of years, leaving David Villa not being vital to their set up. Which current Barcelona player does that sound like? Thierry Henry, who now spends much of his time sitting on the bench, watching Pedro's beautiful career begin.
So to tie this all together, the David Villa signing is good for Barcelona, although will be completely unnecessary within the next two to three years.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
What I'm About
Hello... internet? Not really sure how to begin this. I guess I'll start with why I am here: I am an obsessive soccer fan. Based upon what I have called the Beautiful Game it wouldn't be a bad guess that my nationality is American, which is correct. My name is Wick Eisenberg and I am from Baltimore, MD. I found the beautiful game after the 2002 World Cup, obviously with the USA's run to the quarterfinals being the reason. After Brazil lifted the trophy, I was hooked but really didn't have much access to watching soccer overseas. I mostly followed it loosely through espn soccernet and other websites. Going into the 2006 World Cup I decided I wanted to find my favorite player and adopt his team as MY team. It didn't take me long to find him; in the sixth minute of the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica, German fullback Philipp Lahm picked up a loose ball, made a dramatic cut that caused the Costa Rican defender to fall to the ground, and promptly fired an unstoppable bullet against the far post and into the net. Further research told me that he was Bayern Munich's property, thus beginning my beautiful obsession with the Munich club and their diminuitive fullback. I bought the Fox Soccer Channel and Goal TV after the finals, helping me watch the sport I love on a more consistant basis. Despite Munich being my team, I would probably say that I watch the English Premier League more. However, I like to think I'm fairly knowledgeable on the major European Leagues: England, Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as much of what is going on with most national teams.
On a final note, I feel its important to state this: I am going to the World Cup this year in South Africa. I am seeing three games: USA vs Slovenia, USA vs Algeria and Netherlands vs Cameroon. It should be the experience of a lifetime, and I intend to report on the local goings on there on this blog. Until then, I plan on updating on a fairly regular basis, whenever I feel compelled to write my opinions (which will happen often). That is why I am doing this: to express some of my opinions through writing, hoping for any form of conversation with fans of the beautiful game
On a final note, I feel its important to state this: I am going to the World Cup this year in South Africa. I am seeing three games: USA vs Slovenia, USA vs Algeria and Netherlands vs Cameroon. It should be the experience of a lifetime, and I intend to report on the local goings on there on this blog. Until then, I plan on updating on a fairly regular basis, whenever I feel compelled to write my opinions (which will happen often). That is why I am doing this: to express some of my opinions through writing, hoping for any form of conversation with fans of the beautiful game
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