Why Soccer Is Flourishing In The USA

Posted: November 10, 2015 in Football, MLS, Opinion, USA
Tags: , ,
3

image

Soccer really took off in America in 1989 when Paul Caligiuri scored what became known as the ‘billion dollar goal’ to beat  Trinidad 1-0 and qualify for the 1990 World Cup. There is a particularly good article in the Guardian, which can be found here.

In fact, the game has been around in America since about 1884. This may come as a surprise to some, but it shouldn’t do. When you think of the ethnicity of the USA, the only real surprise should be that it has taken this long to gain in popularity. Read the rest of this entry »

Manchester United First Term Report

Posted: November 10, 2015 in Football, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
Tags: , , , , , ,
1

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Crystal Palace v Manchester United - Selhurst Park

(Louis has just realised he was supposed to buy a striker during the transfer window, and didn’t!)

So, after nearly one third of the season who has been a success at United, who hasn’t, and who hasn’t been given a chance?

Of the players brought in by van Gaal in the summer, I would say they have all been given a reasonable chance to stake a claim for regular first team football, (or as regular as you can expect with rotation these days).

Firstly, Daley Blind. A sensible signing as he is a very versatile player shown by his willingness, (and ability), to play at left back, centre back and in midfield. Known by van Gaal from his days with the national team of Holland he has already proven to be a shrewd acquisition. Read the rest of this entry »

England And The Meaningless Friendlies

Posted: November 9, 2015 in England, International Football, Opinion
Tags: , , , , , , ,
2

 

image

(Mr Roy in pensive mood having just been told there is no game this week, it’s next week!)

“AS I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP, I PRAY OH LORD, MY PLAYERS TO KEEP.”

The prayer of the Premier league manager just before every meaningless international break. The questions spinning in his head such as, “should I say he is injured?” How about, “he’s been kidnapped by men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas.” What about, “he has had to go and see his sick mother in Matabele Land.” Will I get away with any of these or have they all been tried before?

Will Mr Roy fall for the old, “he’s just twisted his ankle and will have to pull out, sorry and all that, maybe next time,” or will he insist on the player being seen by the England doctor?

Can I really risk an injury to a star player which may cost us points, which may cost us the league title, which may cost me my job? Read the rest of this entry »

Should Manchester United Fans Be Worried?

Posted: November 7, 2015 in Football, Louis van Gaal, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
Tags: , , , , ,
1

image

Manchester United show no sign of relenting in their quest to both concede and score as few goals as possible this season.

In their game against West Bromwich Albion, they appeared to be quite happy to accept another 1-0 victory, secured by Jesse Lingard when taking the team’s second shot at goal. The first had been by Anthony Martial who, from a promising position, had shot straight into the arms of Myhill.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon your point of view, Martial was tripped in the penalty area, not long afterwards, by McAuley when through on goal and, as he only had the goalkeeper to beat, McAuley was dismissed. This gave Juan Mata the chance to score from the spot, which he duly did, unlike three England internationals in a previous match. Read the rest of this entry »

Van Gaal Wants To Rename Manchester United

Posted: November 5, 2015 in Football, Louis van Gaal, Managers, Manchester United, Opinion
Tags: , , ,
1

image

(Chris Smalling signs a contract handing his naming rights to Louis van Gaal)

Well, not quite rename United, but he is looking at improving individual performances with a surprising move.

Louis van Gaal, or as he is affectionately known, Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal, had every reason to change his name, but didn’t. He decided, quite wisely, to drop the Maria bit, not advertise too much the Paulus bit and shorten the Aloysius bit to Louis.

So, in much the same way that the other James Stewart became Stewart Granger, by just tweaking his name, Aloysius became Louis.

Wholesale changes weren’t required here. This was not a case of being christened Marion, for example. Any male christened Marion should immediately, (or as soon as they are old enough, at least), change his name to John. Why he should then feel the need to change his surname from Morrison to Wayne is beyond me, but it worked out OK for him. Read the rest of this entry »

Manchester Unity, Manchester’s United

Posted: November 5, 2015 in Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion
Tags: ,
0

image

For anybody who hasn’t read any of my articles before, particularly the pre-blog ones in HITC and Pundit Arena, the above fictitious team is a blend of players from Manchester United and Manchester City.

In order not to upset any United fans, the name is made up of the first three letters of United and the last two of City. In order not to upset any City fans the name is made up of the first two letters of United and the last three of City. I hope that is clear.

I think this is the article in which this team first appeared:
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2013/09/23/how-many-of-manchester-uniteds-players-would-have-got-into-the-c/

As I write on Thursday 5th of November, 2015, Manchester City sit top of the Premier league on goal difference from Arsenal and Manchester United sit in 4th position, four points behind. Read the rest of this entry »

Arsenal & Chelsea Can Only Make It Three Out Of Four

Posted: November 4, 2015 in Champions League, European Football, Football, Opinion
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
1

image

Poor old Arsene Wenger. Nobody loves him, except the Arsenal fans.

Even the Welsh national team conspired against him. Aaron Ramsey suffered a delayed injury whilst playing for Wales against Andorra. Nobody really noticed until he had played ninety minutes against Watford, then another seventy against Bayern Munich then crack!! the injury he definitely suffered whilst playing for Wales two games previously, suddenly kicked in. Why oh why didn’t that nasty Chris Coleman tell Arsene Wenger all about it?

The fact that Gareth Bale was also injured in the same match for Wales almost threatened another panic attack for Arsene until he realised that Bale doesn’t play for Arsenal.

So to the game against Bayern which Arsenal needed to take something from if they were to, realistically, have a chance of progressing to the knockout stage. All they ended up taking from it was the realisation that they had met Bayern on an off night at the Emirates two weeks previously. Read the rest of this entry »

Manchester’s European Winners

Posted: November 4, 2015 in Champions League, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
5

image

Well, that was better! United actually attacked at Old Trafford and won a game by scoring one more than the opposition. They also managed to win by scoring one more than zero so no need to get too carried away. Being quietly optimistic I would say that the garden has one more rose than it did before.

Louis van Gaal’s theory was proved to be spot on. No one really believed him when he said that, to win a football match, you just had to score one more than the team you were playing against, but tonight his genius was demonstrated emphatically.

His decision to replace Martial with Fellaini was also inspired. Mere mortals, at this stage, thought that if a forward was to be taken off it should be Rooney, who had done very little, rather than Martial who had caused one or two problems to the CSKA defence. In fact, mere mortals wondered why, when a goal was needed, a striker was taken off for a midfielder at all! Worry not, King Louis had everything under control. Read the rest of this entry »

Jose Mourinho, The Friendless One

Posted: November 1, 2015 in Chelsea, Football, Jose Mourinho, Managers, Opinion
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
3

image

Jose Mourinho is a winner, (usually). He is not in the football business to win friends, admirers or even fans. He is in the business to win trophies. In achieving this he may attract some of the aforementioned but, if he doesn’t, he isn’t the type of person to lose any sleep over it.

Having been very successful at every club he has managed, he is now finding out what it is like to be below average. Yes, Chelsea have not only descended from the top of the pile to being average, they have stayed on the elevator for one more downward level to become below average.

What is responsible for this sudden and dramatic downturn? It is not only a collective loss of form, confidence and cohesion, it appears to be a loss of faith and/or trust in the manager. How else can the loss of form of a whole team be explained? Read the rest of this entry »

Manuel Pellegrini’s Perfect World

Posted: October 30, 2015 in Football, Managers, Manchester City, Opinion
Tags: , , , , , , ,
0

image

Manuel Pellegrini has a fully fit squad. How does he know? Because his trusty Argentinian valet, Ruben Cousillas, has just told him so.
“Sergio Aguero is fit?” asks an incredulous Pellegrini. “Yes,” says Ruben, “Would you like your toast buttered against the grain or with the grain?”
Manuel turns over to face Ruben and, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, tries to come to terms with this startling piece of news.
“You bring me breakfast in bed and tell me that I have a fully fit squad, what’s the catch?” Manuel is starting to get a little suspicious now, too many good things are happening in one day, and he’s only been awake for two minutes.
“There is no catch, just like the toilet doors at the Etihad.” soothes Ruben, for he knows his boss of old. All this good news is likely to have a very negative effect on Manuel. Read the rest of this entry »

Older Entries
Newer Entries