With the new Premier League season just around the corner, in fact even closer than that - just 4 days away - pundits and fans alike have been commenting on the upcoming footballing marathon and trying to predict results based on the summer transfer window's deals.
The biggest transfer of the summer was Luis Suarez's £75m move from Liverpool to Barcelona in the wake of his third biting scandal. Liverpool's successful 2013/14 season led to Champions League qualification for the first time since 2009, mainly thanks to Suarez's scintillating form and goal tally of 31.
Liverpool have dipped, or rather plunged, into the market over the past few months, buying a number of players in an attempt to counteract Suarez's departure and manager Brendan Rogers has signalled his intent to attract a few more names before the transfer window closes.
How will they cope with extra midweek games without their star performer and with an ageing captain who clearly won't play every match? Only time will tell, but the pressure will be on the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Stirling to up their game, and the need for the newbies to fit in quickly is evident.
Tottenham had a similar situation with Gareth Bale at the start of last season. 7 new big names couldn't help Tottenham last season, as they scored fewer goals than Bale did in 2012/13. Liverpool must get it right where Spurs got it wrong or the recent success might be undone all thanks to one massive transfer.
On a separate note, Barcelona's strike force of Messi, Neymar and Suarez looks unmatchable. With the big names at Real Madrid too, the Premier League's recent domination of European football and its tag as the most exciting league in the world might well be lost to the Spanish upsurge.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28421516
What We Learnt Today
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
Suarez - dentally unstable!
Can football forgive Luis Suarez for the third time?
In case you missed it, the mischievous Uruguayan striker took a bite out of Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder. And he has history: once for Ajax in November 2010, again in April 2013 when playing for Liverpool and then once more today.
Let me state that I am a Liverpool fan and a huge admirer of Suarez. I think, like many others, that he is a hugely talented player, one of the best in the world, and who is capable of propelling a side to Champions League qualification and almost to winning the Premier League.
Many footballers have issues, and often the best ones are the most scrutinised which certainly doesn't help. Take, for example, Paul Gascoigne, John Terry, Joey Barton. The list could go on. The footballing world is shocked by their behaviour both on and off the field, yet they have all had differing misdemeanours pardoned.
Suarez's problem is the simple fact that he hasn't learnt from his mistakes and has repeated his offense.
So where does he go from here?
Well, to start with a huge ban will be facing him. Some have called for him never to play international football again but this seems exaggerated. And Fifa couldn't impose a ban that would affect his club career - that would unjustly punish Liverpool who have had no hand in this. A large fine won't solve much considering he earns a six-figure salary each week! A rehabilitation programme might. Potential moves to Barcelona or Real Madrid may now have been scuppered, with these top sides not wanting their brands tarnished by his murky past.
What will be harder to put right is the inevitable lack of respect for him that will ensue. No longer will on-field actions suffice to earn fans' and other players' appreciation and reverence.
After his 10 match ban which spanned the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, Suarez won the PFA Player's Player of the Year award. Even if he nets 40 goals and Liverpool win the title, I can't see that being repeated after this evening's incident.
Maybe he should have his teeth taken out, and get a sturdy set of dentures for use only off the pitch!
In case you missed it, the mischievous Uruguayan striker took a bite out of Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder. And he has history: once for Ajax in November 2010, again in April 2013 when playing for Liverpool and then once more today.
Let me state that I am a Liverpool fan and a huge admirer of Suarez. I think, like many others, that he is a hugely talented player, one of the best in the world, and who is capable of propelling a side to Champions League qualification and almost to winning the Premier League.
Many footballers have issues, and often the best ones are the most scrutinised which certainly doesn't help. Take, for example, Paul Gascoigne, John Terry, Joey Barton. The list could go on. The footballing world is shocked by their behaviour both on and off the field, yet they have all had differing misdemeanours pardoned.
Suarez's problem is the simple fact that he hasn't learnt from his mistakes and has repeated his offense.
So where does he go from here?
Well, to start with a huge ban will be facing him. Some have called for him never to play international football again but this seems exaggerated. And Fifa couldn't impose a ban that would affect his club career - that would unjustly punish Liverpool who have had no hand in this. A large fine won't solve much considering he earns a six-figure salary each week! A rehabilitation programme might. Potential moves to Barcelona or Real Madrid may now have been scuppered, with these top sides not wanting their brands tarnished by his murky past.
What will be harder to put right is the inevitable lack of respect for him that will ensue. No longer will on-field actions suffice to earn fans' and other players' appreciation and reverence.
After his 10 match ban which spanned the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, Suarez won the PFA Player's Player of the Year award. Even if he nets 40 goals and Liverpool win the title, I can't see that being repeated after this evening's incident.
Maybe he should have his teeth taken out, and get a sturdy set of dentures for use only off the pitch!
Monday, 23 June 2014
Fifa World Cup - Superstars, Messi, Ronaldo and last minute wonders
This fascinating World Cup just keeps on giving and giving and giving!
With big upsets, close encounters, heavy thrashings and underdog stories, what more could you ask for?
Recent games have shown two things: the old adage that giving 110% really does make a difference and take you far, however you can't underestimate the value of having a world-beating superstar in your lineup.
Let's look at the Argentina v Iran and USA v Portugal games.
Argentina's glittering side of match winners, millionaires and household names was expected to crush the hardworking but less talented Iran team. The Middle Eastern side fought until the end, but faced with three-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, they could not stop a final moment of brilliance from him in added time.
Pundits were predicting a more evenly matched tie between the States and Portugal. It's fair to say, though, that few thought that the Americans would be winning with 90 seconds of additional time left on the clock. The USA in this situation did not bargain for last gasp heroics from the world's second most expensive player. Cometh the hour (or rather the 94th minute) cometh the man. An ineffectual and demonstrably unfit Ronaldo stepped up to deliver a wonderful, pinpoint cross which Silvestre Varela duly converted to keep his country alive in the group.
USA gave everything and produced a fabulous display that rightly made manager Jurgen Klinsmann proud, but their immense effort and togetherness was undone at the end by their naivety in possession and inspiration from the genius right boot of Portugal's number 7.
Maybe a superstar is what England lack, despite their strong squad of players, and would have made a difference between 2-1 losses and progressing further in Brazil.
With big upsets, close encounters, heavy thrashings and underdog stories, what more could you ask for?
Recent games have shown two things: the old adage that giving 110% really does make a difference and take you far, however you can't underestimate the value of having a world-beating superstar in your lineup.
Let's look at the Argentina v Iran and USA v Portugal games.
Argentina's glittering side of match winners, millionaires and household names was expected to crush the hardworking but less talented Iran team. The Middle Eastern side fought until the end, but faced with three-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, they could not stop a final moment of brilliance from him in added time.
Pundits were predicting a more evenly matched tie between the States and Portugal. It's fair to say, though, that few thought that the Americans would be winning with 90 seconds of additional time left on the clock. The USA in this situation did not bargain for last gasp heroics from the world's second most expensive player. Cometh the hour (or rather the 94th minute) cometh the man. An ineffectual and demonstrably unfit Ronaldo stepped up to deliver a wonderful, pinpoint cross which Silvestre Varela duly converted to keep his country alive in the group.
USA gave everything and produced a fabulous display that rightly made manager Jurgen Klinsmann proud, but their immense effort and togetherness was undone at the end by their naivety in possession and inspiration from the genius right boot of Portugal's number 7.
Maybe a superstar is what England lack, despite their strong squad of players, and would have made a difference between 2-1 losses and progressing further in Brazil.
Monday, 17 March 2014
Why We Love Losing
The intriguing thing about sport is not the winning, nor the taking part, but rather the witnessing of teams rise and fall and fight back to the top again. There are copious examples over the years in all types of sport, whether it be individual, team, man and machine or even man and beast.
I mention this in the light of the North West football derby over the weekend. Manchester United's comprehensive defeat to Liverpool yesterday is a case in point. Since their Premiership title win last May, the descent of one of the world's most famous clubs has been more rapid and surprising than even the most pessimistic of pundits could have predicted. And yet it's nothing new. Liverpool themselves went into decline in the 90s after repeatedly trouncing teams across Europe for two decades previously. The odd purple patch did occur thereafter, (the so-called 'mickey-mouse' treble in 2001, the 2005 Champion's League victory and a closely fought second place finish in the league in 2009 - and we all know who came first that year!)
Whilst I'm not saying that United fans should anticipate 20 years of intermittent results, the reversal in fortunes of these two teams couldn't be more stark, albeit that Liverpool are yet to win anything this season. Only time will tell how the future of these two great rivals will pan out, but it is these sorts of ups and downs that fascinate football followers across the globe.
What's more, the phenomenon is not only limited to this one sport. Take Formula One for example, where for years Michael Schumacher dominated proceedings, and then Sebastian Vettel, who almost paralleled his countryman's feat of dominance more recently. Thankfully for this sport these great competitors were or will be overthrown - the booing of Vettel last year tells you all you need to know about how fans don't like to see one individual or team dictate results season after season.
It might be a bitter pill for United fans to swallow at present, but the real, lifelong, hardy supporters will stick by their team and manager until fortunes change. And that's the thrilling thing about sport, it's what make people turn up to stadiums and switch on their TVs week after week.
It is often said that losing is a bigger test of character than winning, not just for the players and club staff, but also for the supporters. Periods of drought are what separate the true, loyal devotees from the champagne sipping, prawn sandwich eating ones.
Liverpool fans will be hoping that United undergo a lot of character building in the near future. But they should be wary, United will bounce back.
I mention this in the light of the North West football derby over the weekend. Manchester United's comprehensive defeat to Liverpool yesterday is a case in point. Since their Premiership title win last May, the descent of one of the world's most famous clubs has been more rapid and surprising than even the most pessimistic of pundits could have predicted. And yet it's nothing new. Liverpool themselves went into decline in the 90s after repeatedly trouncing teams across Europe for two decades previously. The odd purple patch did occur thereafter, (the so-called 'mickey-mouse' treble in 2001, the 2005 Champion's League victory and a closely fought second place finish in the league in 2009 - and we all know who came first that year!)
Whilst I'm not saying that United fans should anticipate 20 years of intermittent results, the reversal in fortunes of these two teams couldn't be more stark, albeit that Liverpool are yet to win anything this season. Only time will tell how the future of these two great rivals will pan out, but it is these sorts of ups and downs that fascinate football followers across the globe.
What's more, the phenomenon is not only limited to this one sport. Take Formula One for example, where for years Michael Schumacher dominated proceedings, and then Sebastian Vettel, who almost paralleled his countryman's feat of dominance more recently. Thankfully for this sport these great competitors were or will be overthrown - the booing of Vettel last year tells you all you need to know about how fans don't like to see one individual or team dictate results season after season.
It might be a bitter pill for United fans to swallow at present, but the real, lifelong, hardy supporters will stick by their team and manager until fortunes change. And that's the thrilling thing about sport, it's what make people turn up to stadiums and switch on their TVs week after week.
It is often said that losing is a bigger test of character than winning, not just for the players and club staff, but also for the supporters. Periods of drought are what separate the true, loyal devotees from the champagne sipping, prawn sandwich eating ones.
Liverpool fans will be hoping that United undergo a lot of character building in the near future. But they should be wary, United will bounce back.
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