Wednesday March 19 two games would decide the final two teams to the round of 8. At the beginning of the day Borussia Dortmund led Zenit St. Petersburg 4-2 on aggregate. Manchester United trailed 2-0 to Greek Champions Olympiakos. Dortmund was in the drivers seat with a 2 goal lead going into the Signal Iduna Park.
Zenit opened the game with a long knuckled shot from Hulk which Roman Weidenfeller was unable to coral. About 15 minutes later Sebastian Kehl would answer with a goal of his own for Dortmund. At this point the game score was 1-1 but aggregate was 5-3. In the second half at around the 73rd minute Jose Rondon would strike for Zenit, trying to keep their hopes alive. At that point of the game I believe it was too late even though the aggregate ended at 5-4. The Black and Yellows of Dortmund earned their spot in the last 8 and Zenit were eliminated.
The second game on Wednesday was Manchester United and Olympiakos. United had a different look in their eyes while walking out to the crowd at Old Trafford. David Moyes and the boys had an uphill battle being down 2-0 before the whistle even blew. Plenty of chances were squandered by both teams early. Manchester United were at a pace that their Greek opponents couldn't keep up with. At the 24th minute Ryan Giggs sent in a beautiful pass to Robin Van Persie which was defended all wrong. The only defense for Olympiakos was a penalty in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and RVP took complete advantage. Just before halftime Robin Van Persie would be heard again with a great setup by Giggs and Rooney. Van Persie's second was the easiest of them all. At half time the aggregate read 2-2.
The final half was an all out fight. Both teams with questionable fouls. On tired legs Olympiakos had begun to show some holes. While it seemed DeGea of Manchester United got better and better in goal. The 50th minute would prove to be the big mistake by Olympiakos. A possible goal saving foul outside the box setup Rooney and Van Persie from about 20 yards out. Rooney stepped over and RVP buzzed a rope with bend through the wall and into the back of the net. United were able to score the 3 goals they needed to advance and the round was officially over.
On Friday the drawing for the Round of 8 in Champions League will take place. Lets take a look at the 8 squads who will be represented. The teams will be representing four countries. From England you have Chelsea who defeated Galatasaray and Manchester United who defeated Olympiakos. From Spain you have 3 teams. Atletico Madrid who defeated A.C. Milan. Real Madrid who blew passed Schalke 04 and Barcelona who defeated Manchester City. France has one representative in the defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain. PSG defeated Bayer Leverkusen. The last two teams represent Germany and were both in the 2013 Champions League final. Borussia Dortmund defeated Zenit St. Petersburg and Bayern Munich defeated Arsenal in a great clash between the Gunners and Bavarian champions.
Many questions have to be asked with these great squads advancing. Is Bayern still the favorite and will they repeat? Will Real Madrid continue to score at will against any side? Can Manchester United who was written off be a legit contender in this tournament? The 3 big time players right now in this tournament have to be Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Obviously it won't happen but i'd love to see Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Dortmund vs Bayern , Manchester United vs Chelsea, and Paris St Germain vs Atletico Madrid. Any way you look at it there will be plenty of action. Is there a diamond in the rough that hasn't shown through yet? Who do you want to see drawn in the round of 8? Let us know here or at our twitter @OTPSoccerblog. Or on our Facebook On The Pitch Soccer Blog.
All Things Soccer All The Time
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
The Rise and Fall of the Arsenal FC
Tomorrow Arsenal play their neighbors Tottenham in the North London Derby. As of late the Gunners have been up and down. At the start of the season Arsenal jumped out to a commanding lead in the Barclays Premier League. Players like Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey were on fire scoring most of the teams goals. The addition of German Midfielder Mesut Ozil opened up plenty of opportunities for his teammates. For the first time in a while Arsenal's higher ups decided to open their purse and make the team better instead of letting their top players get away like Robin Van Persie and Samir Nasri.
Looking at the what seemed to be a dominant roster, I noticed the striker position was a weakness. In England with all the tournaments whether it be the FA Cup, Capital One Cup, or the BPL, lots of minutes have to be covered. I felt relying on Nicholaus Bendtner and Yaya Sanogo didn't quite add up to back Giroud. Even the best goal scores would tire out with the demanding schedule.
When the winter transfer window opened I thought for sure Arsene Wenger would bring in a talented Striker to the Emirates. Two deals that were on the table that fell through was acquiring Lazio's German Striker Miroslav Klose and Schalke's Julian Draxler. Maybe the numbers didn't add up or the other teams didn't want to part ways with their players. This definitely hurt the Gunners squad.
Another weakness was the Centerback position. Per Mertesacker while being a solid defender would have to endure the rough schedule and i believe his fatigue has slowed him down as of late. Laurant Koscielny is a great defender and if Arsenal would have went out and picked up another Centerback to rotate with Mertesacker and Vermaelen the defense would stay fresh.
The biggest downfall of the Arsenal Gunners has been health. Ar the start of the season Podolski and Oxelade-Chaimberlain went down early. Then a big knock on their goal scorer Aaron Ramsey who to this day is still out. More recent injuries occurred during an England friendly where Jack Wilshere fractured a bone and during a Champions League battle with Bayern Munich, Mesut Ozil pulled his quad. Placing him on the long list of injuries for a few weeks.
If Arsenal win tomorrow they can keep pace with the other top of the table teams. That in itself is a positive outlook for a team with such bad luck this season. It is time for the secondary players like Lukas Podolski and Matthieu Flamini to rise to the occasion and keep the London based club in the race. Only time will tell when the game begins from White Hart Lane.
Looking at the what seemed to be a dominant roster, I noticed the striker position was a weakness. In England with all the tournaments whether it be the FA Cup, Capital One Cup, or the BPL, lots of minutes have to be covered. I felt relying on Nicholaus Bendtner and Yaya Sanogo didn't quite add up to back Giroud. Even the best goal scores would tire out with the demanding schedule.
When the winter transfer window opened I thought for sure Arsene Wenger would bring in a talented Striker to the Emirates. Two deals that were on the table that fell through was acquiring Lazio's German Striker Miroslav Klose and Schalke's Julian Draxler. Maybe the numbers didn't add up or the other teams didn't want to part ways with their players. This definitely hurt the Gunners squad.
Another weakness was the Centerback position. Per Mertesacker while being a solid defender would have to endure the rough schedule and i believe his fatigue has slowed him down as of late. Laurant Koscielny is a great defender and if Arsenal would have went out and picked up another Centerback to rotate with Mertesacker and Vermaelen the defense would stay fresh.
The biggest downfall of the Arsenal Gunners has been health. Ar the start of the season Podolski and Oxelade-Chaimberlain went down early. Then a big knock on their goal scorer Aaron Ramsey who to this day is still out. More recent injuries occurred during an England friendly where Jack Wilshere fractured a bone and during a Champions League battle with Bayern Munich, Mesut Ozil pulled his quad. Placing him on the long list of injuries for a few weeks.
If Arsenal win tomorrow they can keep pace with the other top of the table teams. That in itself is a positive outlook for a team with such bad luck this season. It is time for the secondary players like Lukas Podolski and Matthieu Flamini to rise to the occasion and keep the London based club in the race. Only time will tell when the game begins from White Hart Lane.
Friday, March 14, 2014
New York City FC and the Supporters 3/14/14
Last night on Facebook I found a group of people with the same passion as mine. Being a resident of New York, people think we have an MLS team. Yes the Red Bulls are called the New York Red Bulls, but their location is in Harrison, New Jersey. The North American Soccer League brought back the fan favorite New York Cosmos which is definitely appreciated. As you all know they won the league last season. Living on Long Island our Cosmos are great but we want a team in the big league. We want Major League Soccer to have a team in New York.
We then received the announcement that made a dream begin to come true. The merger of Manchester City FC in England and the New York Yankees put their funds together to start the expansion team New York City Football Club which will debut in the 2015 MLS season. On May 22,2013, New York City FC signed Claudio Reyna as the DFO. Reyna a New Yorker and former Captain of the United States Men's National Team was a great choice. We feel he's one of our own and understands what we have missed in New York.
On December 11,2013 our Head Coach was named. The selection was former Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis. In 2009, Kreis Led Real Salt Lake to its first MLS championship. I believe with the right formula of players Coach Kreis will be the answer to positive results for City. Then comes the question, who will be the players chosen for the 2015 season?
Looking at some of the rumor sites, a few veteran names come to mind. A strong defender from Barcelona Carlos Puyol gave his team the notice that he wouldn't be returning next season. Sticking with the defensive side of the pitch another name which doesn't seem too popular with the NYCFC fans is John Terry. Although a solid defender, Terry has baggage off the pitch that turns people away from him. Along with top players, we want class as well. Midfielder Frank Lampard is nearing the end of his career at Stamford Bridge and has been linked with a move to the MLS. Could Lamps be the answer to the squad representing the city?
Myself and a few other of the NYCFC Supporters believe Garreth Barry is the strong answer because of his affiliation with Manchester City FC. Barry is still young enough to put in some positive years in the 5 boroughs. In my opinion the Manchester City FC coaches should loan New York City FC some of their younger upstarts to get them playing time. Only time will tell what direction the City squad will go.
The excitement is unbearable when it comes to the supporters wanting their football. Get the scarves ready. Put together the lyrics to the chants and songs. Band together like a family and lets carry the boys into 2015 and our ultimate goal of raising the MLS trophy. Let's go City!!!! Let's go City!!!!
We then received the announcement that made a dream begin to come true. The merger of Manchester City FC in England and the New York Yankees put their funds together to start the expansion team New York City Football Club which will debut in the 2015 MLS season. On May 22,2013, New York City FC signed Claudio Reyna as the DFO. Reyna a New Yorker and former Captain of the United States Men's National Team was a great choice. We feel he's one of our own and understands what we have missed in New York.
On December 11,2013 our Head Coach was named. The selection was former Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis. In 2009, Kreis Led Real Salt Lake to its first MLS championship. I believe with the right formula of players Coach Kreis will be the answer to positive results for City. Then comes the question, who will be the players chosen for the 2015 season?
Looking at some of the rumor sites, a few veteran names come to mind. A strong defender from Barcelona Carlos Puyol gave his team the notice that he wouldn't be returning next season. Sticking with the defensive side of the pitch another name which doesn't seem too popular with the NYCFC fans is John Terry. Although a solid defender, Terry has baggage off the pitch that turns people away from him. Along with top players, we want class as well. Midfielder Frank Lampard is nearing the end of his career at Stamford Bridge and has been linked with a move to the MLS. Could Lamps be the answer to the squad representing the city?
Myself and a few other of the NYCFC Supporters believe Garreth Barry is the strong answer because of his affiliation with Manchester City FC. Barry is still young enough to put in some positive years in the 5 boroughs. In my opinion the Manchester City FC coaches should loan New York City FC some of their younger upstarts to get them playing time. Only time will tell what direction the City squad will go.
The excitement is unbearable when it comes to the supporters wanting their football. Get the scarves ready. Put together the lyrics to the chants and songs. Band together like a family and lets carry the boys into 2015 and our ultimate goal of raising the MLS trophy. Let's go City!!!! Let's go City!!!!
Monday, November 25, 2013
The week of November 18-24
This week in November had a lot of action. The International Friendlies to the World Cup playoffs. From Der Klassiker in Germany to the Merseyside derby in England. During this week of greatness two headliners of football would face off on the pitch in their country's final chances at the World Cup.
At the start of the week the International break left us with some delicious tie ups. To start with the friendlies in Europe Germany and England competed. In my opinion, lots of action but also lots of missed chances for both squads. Germany by far had the upper hand but couldn't capitalize on more of the chances. Until a corner kick set piece came along. After the first cross was deflected a second was sent in where the big man and captain Per Mertesacker rose above the rest to send a header passed English Goalkeeper Joe Hart. That one goal would be the only score in the game as Germany defeated England 1-0.
Another fixture in the week of friendlies was Japan taking on Belgium. On paper you would think Belgium would take control and win the match. Japan came through with a 3-2 victory. The other interesting match up placed Austria against the United States. The U.S. has been on a roll as of late as Jurgen Klinsmann's guy are believing in the German coach's system. Austria is another qualifier with young talent like Marko Arnautovic and David Alaba that come Cup time can turn some heads in Brasil. This games final would be 1-0 in favor of Austria after Marc Janko scored off of a David Alaba gem of a pass. Both teams showed some brilliance though the U.S. lacked a finisher.
Although Tuesday hosted many friendlies, there were also two games in particular that held some meaning. The first game placed Ukraine against France in their second leg with The Ukraine leading 2-0 on aggregate. Les Bleu's would take advantage of the home field and score 3 goals. Two goals from Mamadou Sakho and one from Karim Benzema. This victory keeps France's World Cup hopes alive.
The "Main Stage" battle was the second leg between Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal versus Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sweden. Portugal came into the battle with a one goal aggregate. In the forty ninth minute Ronaldo struck again for a 2-0 aggregate. The sixty seventh minute had a different tune when Zlatan decided to add a goal of his own. But Ibrahimovic wasn't done. Around the seventy first minute Ibra struck again which made it look like the Swedes were going to the World Cup. But the Portuguese goalscorer would have something to say about that. Ronaldo would score two goals before the end of the game which meant Sweden were out and Portugal were in.
This past weekend there were two games that intrigued me. Starting with the Merseyside derby Liverpool and Everton. Everton hosted the event and early in the game the hosts were silenced by a goal from Phillippe Coutinho. Three minutes after that Belgian Kevin Mirallas had an answer to tie the score at 1-1. In the 18th minute Luis Suarez would add a goal for the reds to make it 2-1. Going into halftime the Reds were in the driver's seat and looked to be taking the derby win. In the 71st minute Romelu Lukaku made the score all square at 2-2. But the Chelsea striker on loan at Everton still had a taste for goal as he'd score another in the 81st minute which looked to lock the game at 3-2 for the royal blues. In the 88th minute Daniel Sturridge would take the stage and score the equalizer. The final score at Goodison Park 3-3.
The final game took place at the Signal Iduna Park and placed first place Bayern Munich against Borrussia Dortmund. This game now known as the Der Klassiker or the German Classico held more water than usual. As if the two teams didn't have enough heat between each other. A former Dortmund fan favorite was now playing for the enemy. Though Mario Gotze didn't start, the crowd were waiting for him.
The first half was really just the two teams feeling each other out. A few chances for both teams but no answers. After halftime Manuel Neuer goalkeeper for Bayern was welcomed by the Dortmund fans with garbage being thrown onto the field. The time had come early in the second half for Mario Gotze to take the field where he was a hero a year before. The crowd in Dortmund was already loud cheering for their team but the volume when Gotze came on was deafening. Every touch Gotze had made the fans scream louder. Then came the 65th minute where a deflection came back to Gotze and he kicked the ball into the back of the net. The crowd had loads of emotion while the Bayern players surrounded the goalscorer. Gotze showed his old team respect by not celebrating the goal but it did make the game 1-0 Bayern and Dortmund wouldn't catch up. Arjen Robben would add to the Bayern lead with a cheeky flick over Weidenfeller. Followed by another Bayern goal scored by Thomas Muller. This loss put Dortmund 7 points behind Bayern and also let Bayer Leverkusen pull ahead of them. Great football week and Champions League coming this week.
-Justin
At the start of the week the International break left us with some delicious tie ups. To start with the friendlies in Europe Germany and England competed. In my opinion, lots of action but also lots of missed chances for both squads. Germany by far had the upper hand but couldn't capitalize on more of the chances. Until a corner kick set piece came along. After the first cross was deflected a second was sent in where the big man and captain Per Mertesacker rose above the rest to send a header passed English Goalkeeper Joe Hart. That one goal would be the only score in the game as Germany defeated England 1-0.
Another fixture in the week of friendlies was Japan taking on Belgium. On paper you would think Belgium would take control and win the match. Japan came through with a 3-2 victory. The other interesting match up placed Austria against the United States. The U.S. has been on a roll as of late as Jurgen Klinsmann's guy are believing in the German coach's system. Austria is another qualifier with young talent like Marko Arnautovic and David Alaba that come Cup time can turn some heads in Brasil. This games final would be 1-0 in favor of Austria after Marc Janko scored off of a David Alaba gem of a pass. Both teams showed some brilliance though the U.S. lacked a finisher.
Although Tuesday hosted many friendlies, there were also two games in particular that held some meaning. The first game placed Ukraine against France in their second leg with The Ukraine leading 2-0 on aggregate. Les Bleu's would take advantage of the home field and score 3 goals. Two goals from Mamadou Sakho and one from Karim Benzema. This victory keeps France's World Cup hopes alive.
The "Main Stage" battle was the second leg between Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal versus Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sweden. Portugal came into the battle with a one goal aggregate. In the forty ninth minute Ronaldo struck again for a 2-0 aggregate. The sixty seventh minute had a different tune when Zlatan decided to add a goal of his own. But Ibrahimovic wasn't done. Around the seventy first minute Ibra struck again which made it look like the Swedes were going to the World Cup. But the Portuguese goalscorer would have something to say about that. Ronaldo would score two goals before the end of the game which meant Sweden were out and Portugal were in.
This past weekend there were two games that intrigued me. Starting with the Merseyside derby Liverpool and Everton. Everton hosted the event and early in the game the hosts were silenced by a goal from Phillippe Coutinho. Three minutes after that Belgian Kevin Mirallas had an answer to tie the score at 1-1. In the 18th minute Luis Suarez would add a goal for the reds to make it 2-1. Going into halftime the Reds were in the driver's seat and looked to be taking the derby win. In the 71st minute Romelu Lukaku made the score all square at 2-2. But the Chelsea striker on loan at Everton still had a taste for goal as he'd score another in the 81st minute which looked to lock the game at 3-2 for the royal blues. In the 88th minute Daniel Sturridge would take the stage and score the equalizer. The final score at Goodison Park 3-3.
The final game took place at the Signal Iduna Park and placed first place Bayern Munich against Borrussia Dortmund. This game now known as the Der Klassiker or the German Classico held more water than usual. As if the two teams didn't have enough heat between each other. A former Dortmund fan favorite was now playing for the enemy. Though Mario Gotze didn't start, the crowd were waiting for him.
The first half was really just the two teams feeling each other out. A few chances for both teams but no answers. After halftime Manuel Neuer goalkeeper for Bayern was welcomed by the Dortmund fans with garbage being thrown onto the field. The time had come early in the second half for Mario Gotze to take the field where he was a hero a year before. The crowd in Dortmund was already loud cheering for their team but the volume when Gotze came on was deafening. Every touch Gotze had made the fans scream louder. Then came the 65th minute where a deflection came back to Gotze and he kicked the ball into the back of the net. The crowd had loads of emotion while the Bayern players surrounded the goalscorer. Gotze showed his old team respect by not celebrating the goal but it did make the game 1-0 Bayern and Dortmund wouldn't catch up. Arjen Robben would add to the Bayern lead with a cheeky flick over Weidenfeller. Followed by another Bayern goal scored by Thomas Muller. This loss put Dortmund 7 points behind Bayern and also let Bayer Leverkusen pull ahead of them. Great football week and Champions League coming this week.
-Justin
Sunday, October 13, 2013
An Update in Football 10/13/13
This is a rough weekend for club football fans. The International break is in full force with the number of qualifiers for Brazil increasing. The three most recent being Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany. A lot of reporters and followers of German football were surprised how long it took for the team to qualify. The German's rank near the top of the world rankings.
On the other side of the Atlantic the United States soccer team sit atop the CONCACAF standings. The surprise in this division this qualification period is the lack of talent shown by the Mexican squad. Usually a top qualifier for World Cup, the Mexicans sit in the fourth place spot on the outside looking in. With one remaining qualifier to go, it will be interesting to see what Mexico's future will tell.
Prior to the International break there has been plenty of football action. The club football standings in lots of the countries are heating up. Champions League is back as well. We'll see if the defending European champs Bayern Munich can defend their title with all of the other European club powerhouses.
To me one of the most intriguing leagues in Europe is the Barclay's Premier League. Three of the four top teams from last year have new managers. Manchester United for the first time in a long time does not have Sir Alex Ferguson to guide them to victory. The Red Devils have acquired David Moyes former manager of the Everton Football Club. So far it's been a rocky road for the new manager as he is still getting comfortable with his surroundings. Moyes has so far dealt with an unhappy Wayne Rooney at the beginning of the season and an underachieving Marouane Fellaini. David Moyes acquired Fellaini from his former team Everton where the Belgian was a positive scoring force. With the talent on the squad of Manchester United, I see no reason they will finish less than fourth in the standings.
Another new face to the Barclay's Premier League is Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini. Pellegrini came to Manchester City after leaving La Liga side Malaga. In my opinion the new boss will bring more to the table for City then former manager Roberto Mancini. For City I believe they need to look for a new Goalkeeper. Joe Hart has been very shaky as of late and costs the team some decisions. Manchester City is loaded on the Offensive side of the ball with Aguero, Silva, Dzeko, and Toure returning.
The final managerial change happened in London. The "Blues" of Chelsea brought back "The Special One" Jose Mourinho. Mourinho's unorthodox decisions and comments can push other teams away from his signing but his managerial record and achievements are what make him a great acquisition. During his first stint with the London based team Mourinho took Chelsea to the top of the league and deep into the European Championship as well. Chelsea brought in good talent as well for this years campaign. The Blues acquired Andre Schurrle, Willian, Samual Et'o, Kevin DeBruyne, and a few other youngsters. The negative part of Chelsea is the hole in their eleven in the Striker spot. In my opinion Demba Ba and Fernando Torres have been disappointments. Mourinho brought in a striker from a former club of his Samual Et'o who played under Jose at Inter. Another surprise is the lack of playing time Juan Mata has had this year even though he set the pace for Chelsea last season.
Before I end this blog entry I will give my top ten transfers of the summer period in Europe. These are not in order just a list.
1. Edinson Cavani signing with Paris Saint Germain
2.Radamal Falcao signing with Monacco
3.Neymar signing with Barcelona
4.Mario Gotze signing with Bayern Munich
5.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang signing with Borussia Dortmund
6.Kevin Prince Boatang signing with Schalke 04
7.Mesut Ozil signing with Arsenal
8.Andre Schurrle signing with Chelsea
9.Mario Gomez signing with Fiorentina (even though at this time he is injured)
10.Fernandinho signing with Tottenham
-Justin
On the other side of the Atlantic the United States soccer team sit atop the CONCACAF standings. The surprise in this division this qualification period is the lack of talent shown by the Mexican squad. Usually a top qualifier for World Cup, the Mexicans sit in the fourth place spot on the outside looking in. With one remaining qualifier to go, it will be interesting to see what Mexico's future will tell.
Prior to the International break there has been plenty of football action. The club football standings in lots of the countries are heating up. Champions League is back as well. We'll see if the defending European champs Bayern Munich can defend their title with all of the other European club powerhouses.
To me one of the most intriguing leagues in Europe is the Barclay's Premier League. Three of the four top teams from last year have new managers. Manchester United for the first time in a long time does not have Sir Alex Ferguson to guide them to victory. The Red Devils have acquired David Moyes former manager of the Everton Football Club. So far it's been a rocky road for the new manager as he is still getting comfortable with his surroundings. Moyes has so far dealt with an unhappy Wayne Rooney at the beginning of the season and an underachieving Marouane Fellaini. David Moyes acquired Fellaini from his former team Everton where the Belgian was a positive scoring force. With the talent on the squad of Manchester United, I see no reason they will finish less than fourth in the standings.
Another new face to the Barclay's Premier League is Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini. Pellegrini came to Manchester City after leaving La Liga side Malaga. In my opinion the new boss will bring more to the table for City then former manager Roberto Mancini. For City I believe they need to look for a new Goalkeeper. Joe Hart has been very shaky as of late and costs the team some decisions. Manchester City is loaded on the Offensive side of the ball with Aguero, Silva, Dzeko, and Toure returning.
The final managerial change happened in London. The "Blues" of Chelsea brought back "The Special One" Jose Mourinho. Mourinho's unorthodox decisions and comments can push other teams away from his signing but his managerial record and achievements are what make him a great acquisition. During his first stint with the London based team Mourinho took Chelsea to the top of the league and deep into the European Championship as well. Chelsea brought in good talent as well for this years campaign. The Blues acquired Andre Schurrle, Willian, Samual Et'o, Kevin DeBruyne, and a few other youngsters. The negative part of Chelsea is the hole in their eleven in the Striker spot. In my opinion Demba Ba and Fernando Torres have been disappointments. Mourinho brought in a striker from a former club of his Samual Et'o who played under Jose at Inter. Another surprise is the lack of playing time Juan Mata has had this year even though he set the pace for Chelsea last season.
Before I end this blog entry I will give my top ten transfers of the summer period in Europe. These are not in order just a list.
1. Edinson Cavani signing with Paris Saint Germain
2.Radamal Falcao signing with Monacco
3.Neymar signing with Barcelona
4.Mario Gotze signing with Bayern Munich
5.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang signing with Borussia Dortmund
6.Kevin Prince Boatang signing with Schalke 04
7.Mesut Ozil signing with Arsenal
8.Andre Schurrle signing with Chelsea
9.Mario Gomez signing with Fiorentina (even though at this time he is injured)
10.Fernandinho signing with Tottenham
-Justin
Friday, March 15, 2013
Round of 8 in UEFA Champions League
A few hours after the eight teams were picked for the Champions League we can see matches that will keep us on the edge of our seats. We have lucked out so far this year with some of the tight fixtures whether it was AC Milan versus Barcelona or Arsenal verses Bayern Munich. These two second legs of the round of 16 were intriguing. Milan held a 2-0 lead in aggregate against Barcelona going into the second meeting at Camp Nou. Lionel Messi showed the world why he is the best player in the sport today and possible of all time striking for two goals. This was followed up by goals from David Villa and Jordi Alba that pushed Barcelona to the next round over Milan.
Bayern Munich in the first leg traveled to London and beat Arsenal 3-1. The return fixture took place in Munich at the Allianz Arena. Arsene Wenger and the Gunners struck early in the game with an Olivier Giroud goal in the third minute. The game went back and forth with Bayern not capitalizing on their chances. In the eighty fifth minute Laurent Koscielny would make it 2-0 and Arsenal could see a little light at the end of the tunnel but time wouldnt be on their side. Though the aggregate score read 3-3, Bayern move on to the next round due to away goals.
Taking a look at the fixtures picked today all the games look to be close. La Liga team Malaga will tie up with the Bundesliga Champs Borussia Dortmund. Malaga have yet to give up a home goal in the Champions League this year. Dortmund on the other hand have their young guns Robert Lawandowski, Marco Reus, and Mario Gotze playing well. Sure to be a high energy clash in both of their meetings.
The next match places Real Madrid against Galatasaray. Madrid loaded with talent from Cristiano Ronaldo to Mesut Ozil to one of the top goalies in the game Iker Casillas will try and slow down the high pressure offense of the Turkish squad Galatasaray. With two great transfers Galatasaray score early and often. Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder have been solid for their team but the goal scorer is Burak Yilmaz. I expect alot of goals from these two teams.
The third match consists of probably the top team in the world Barcelona verse French giants Paris Saint Germain. You can't say enough about Barcelona, raw talent in all eleven positions on the pitch. Messi, Iniesta, and Pique just to name a few will carry this squad. On the other side you have PSG who made lots of moves in the off season including the signings of Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, and most recently acquired David Beckham who in his thirties still has juice in the tank to provide for his squad. I expect another action filled high scoring game.
The final fixture is near and dear to myself and my co blogger Victor. The match between Bayern Munich and Juventus. Juventus the Serie A champs with Pirlo and Gigi Buffon play solid defense, and have a passing game that not many teams can duplicate. They also have Marchisio and Matri up front and Chiellini and Bonucci in the back defending. Juventus score early and then put up a defensive wall the takes the hopes away from their opponents. Victor will have his black and white scarf on cheering them on.
Juventus' opponents are my favorite team Bayern Munich lead by skipper Phillip Lahm and Goalie Manuel Neuer. Bayern have set all kinds of records in the Bundesliga this year and have played solid in the Champions League as well. Up front look for strikers Mario Mandzukic and Mario Gomez to score goals along with Thomas Muller a player who has been unstoppable. The defense has new comer Dante and young Left Back David Alaba trying to cover their lines. I can't wait to see Bayern's offense clash with Juve's defense.
This years Champions League is getting interesting and we'll be following the action here at On The Pitch Soccer Blog right up to the last whistle in Wembley London for the Championship.
-Written by Justin Zydor
Bayern Munich in the first leg traveled to London and beat Arsenal 3-1. The return fixture took place in Munich at the Allianz Arena. Arsene Wenger and the Gunners struck early in the game with an Olivier Giroud goal in the third minute. The game went back and forth with Bayern not capitalizing on their chances. In the eighty fifth minute Laurent Koscielny would make it 2-0 and Arsenal could see a little light at the end of the tunnel but time wouldnt be on their side. Though the aggregate score read 3-3, Bayern move on to the next round due to away goals.
Taking a look at the fixtures picked today all the games look to be close. La Liga team Malaga will tie up with the Bundesliga Champs Borussia Dortmund. Malaga have yet to give up a home goal in the Champions League this year. Dortmund on the other hand have their young guns Robert Lawandowski, Marco Reus, and Mario Gotze playing well. Sure to be a high energy clash in both of their meetings.
The next match places Real Madrid against Galatasaray. Madrid loaded with talent from Cristiano Ronaldo to Mesut Ozil to one of the top goalies in the game Iker Casillas will try and slow down the high pressure offense of the Turkish squad Galatasaray. With two great transfers Galatasaray score early and often. Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder have been solid for their team but the goal scorer is Burak Yilmaz. I expect alot of goals from these two teams.
The third match consists of probably the top team in the world Barcelona verse French giants Paris Saint Germain. You can't say enough about Barcelona, raw talent in all eleven positions on the pitch. Messi, Iniesta, and Pique just to name a few will carry this squad. On the other side you have PSG who made lots of moves in the off season including the signings of Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, and most recently acquired David Beckham who in his thirties still has juice in the tank to provide for his squad. I expect another action filled high scoring game.
The final fixture is near and dear to myself and my co blogger Victor. The match between Bayern Munich and Juventus. Juventus the Serie A champs with Pirlo and Gigi Buffon play solid defense, and have a passing game that not many teams can duplicate. They also have Marchisio and Matri up front and Chiellini and Bonucci in the back defending. Juventus score early and then put up a defensive wall the takes the hopes away from their opponents. Victor will have his black and white scarf on cheering them on.
Juventus' opponents are my favorite team Bayern Munich lead by skipper Phillip Lahm and Goalie Manuel Neuer. Bayern have set all kinds of records in the Bundesliga this year and have played solid in the Champions League as well. Up front look for strikers Mario Mandzukic and Mario Gomez to score goals along with Thomas Muller a player who has been unstoppable. The defense has new comer Dante and young Left Back David Alaba trying to cover their lines. I can't wait to see Bayern's offense clash with Juve's defense.
This years Champions League is getting interesting and we'll be following the action here at On The Pitch Soccer Blog right up to the last whistle in Wembley London for the Championship.
-Written by Justin Zydor
Monday, March 4, 2013
The Rivalry
When you think soccer rivalries, what teams come to mind? There are many rivalries in the world of soccer that range from club to international. In the past, an international meeting between Argentina and Uruguay was as heated as they come. Both teams fought tooth and nail for victory and would stop at no expense to get it. Another international rivalry happens in my country when the United States take on Mexico. When these two teams step on the pitch you never know what can happen. There could be good soccer played or the violent side of the sport can come out. It always seems the clashes between the US and Mexico have important meaning whether its qualifying for the World Cup or just a "friendly fixture".
In club soccer there are many rivalries. One of my favorites take place in Italy at the San Siro. The Milan derby is a great rivalry that pins Inter verse Milan. The red and black verse the blue and black. Both of these teams play in the same stadium and the fans are from the same backyards. Some of the greatest players in the world have been involved making this pairing of rivals historic. This rivalry is for bragging rights whether the two teams are at the top or the bottom of the standings in the Serie A.
Another more recent rivalry pins the "Bavarian Giants" Bayern Munchen against the defending champions Borussia Dortmund. Bayern have always been the most decorated team in Germany but with the impact of the group in Dortmund a rivalry has been born. Whether its a Bundesliga game, German Cup game, or any other game these two table toppers in the Bundesliga put on a show not duplicated by many.
The next rivalry we will speak of is Manchester City and Manchester United. Arguably the most competitive league in the world the English Premier League have talent from top to bottom. Among the top of the table are the two Manchester teams. The Red Devils of United have been the elite for years. Sir Alex Ferguson and the boys make the UEFA Champions League every year by finishing in the top 4 of the EPL(English Premier League). In present day the two top names are Rooney and Van Persie. For the "Light Blues" or Manchester City, it wasn't as easy to reach the top. For years City lived in the shadow of "ManU". With the birth of wealth and great transfers the City side of Manchester climbed the tables to the top. Last year they capitalized on a Premier League Title by triumphing over Manchester United.
The Final Rivalry may be the top rivalry in the world better known as "El Clasico". In Spain's La Liga there are two teams to talk about and they are Real Madrid and Barcelona. The storied rivalry known throughout the world is like watching a piece of artwork come to life. The white kits of Madrid and Barca's blue and red mesh like paint to a canvas to tell the story of the match. As if the rivalry wasn't strong enough, these two teams also have two of the top players in soccer today. Lionel Messi an Argentine that was taught the soccer trade in Barcelona like most of their talent and Cristiano Ronaldo a Portuguese winger with athletic attributes like no other. Both venues also setup a great atmosphere. In Barcelona there is the Camp Nou and in Madrid they have the Santiago Bernabeu.
I think the rivalry is the gem in all sports. Two teams that just don't get along and the fiery chants of their fans can create echoes in stadiums heard round the world. These rivalries could be from multiple clashes between two teams or a local foe like a derby between two neighboring teams. I hope we can see more rivalries made in soccer to further enhance the competitive drive.
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