I just realized that by had a video with Lionel Messi and not including Ronaldo, I was disrespecting the immense talent which Ronaldo has. His goal scoring rate since transferring from Manchester United (BOOOOO) to Real Madrid has been unbelievable. He has an incredible 117 goals in 121 competitive matches. Here’s a video of some of […]
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Arsenal has become a feeder club
In the past week, Arsenal has sold their captain, Robin Van Persie, and one of their most consistent players, Alex Song. This continues the trend of Arsenal selling their best players. Most of Arsenal’s big sales were to Barcelona or Manchester City, but during Arsene Wenger‘s time at Arsenal there has never been an Arsenal player sold to Manchester United.
What makes the sale of Van Persie to Manchester United so different? Simply Manchester United is one of Arsenal’s most hated rivals (Tottenham is right up there as well). There was a period not too long ago, way too long ago if you are an Arsenal fan, where Arsenal and Manchester United the two top dogs in England and fighting each other tooth and nail for major domestic trophies. So, that Arsenal was willing to sell their captain to Manchester says a lot about how far down the totem pole Arsenal has fallen.
If you are a team who is truly competing for trophies, you don’t sell your best player to one of your chief domestic rivals, especially one who has had your number in recent seasons. Arsenal has not won a major trophy since the 2005 FA Cup– if Arsenal keep on selling their top players to the teams who are finishing ahead of them in the table, it’ll be another seven years until they win another major trophy.
It’s nice that Arsenal has good economic sense in these rough financial times, but fans want trophies. 8-2 defeats to Manchester United cannot happen again.
Related articles
- What Robin van Persie’s move to Manchester United will mean for Arsenal (telegraph.co.uk)
- Robin van Persie has already been replaced, says Arsene Wenger (thesun.co.uk)
- Arsenal had ‘no choice’ over sale of Robin van Persie to Manchester United, says Arsene Wenger (telegraph.co.uk)
- Song may leave Arsenal – Wenger (bbc.co.uk)
- Arsenal Transfer News: Why Song’s Departure Should Serve as Catalyst for Change (bleacherreport.com)
- Robin van Persie secures £22m move after Manchester United and Arsenal agree on a fee (telegraph.co.uk)
My EURO 2012 quarterfinal predictions
Will this finally be Ronaldo and Portugal’s time? (Ronaldo7.net)
It’s time for my EURO 2012 quarterfinal predictions. After looking at my pre-tournament predictions, I don’t know what to think after the group stage. Going 3 for 8 picking teams to advance to the quarterfinals is simply awful.
Time to make amends!
Portugal v. Czech Republic
This is a matchup between a Group of Death survivor against a Group of Life survivor. I think death has the advantage here.
Portugal was the second best team in their immensely difficult group while the Czechs won their much weaker group. Portugal is getting stronger as the tournament is progressing while the Czechs have been labeled as one of the weaker teams in the tournament and their captain is injured. However, the Czechs have also made significant progress in this tournament after their 4-1 loss in their opener.
The team which the Czechs faced in this tournament which is most like the Portuguese is Russia. The Czechs were thoroughly destroyed by Russia, this could be an ominous sign for the Czechs.
Ronaldo finally scored which could be a start of good things to come for Portugal. Portugal will dominate the proceedings in this match.
If Portugal puts away their chances they will advance. I believe that they will and will advance to their third semifinal in their last four EURO appearances.
Portugal 2 Czech Republic 0
Match Odds
Portugal 4/5, Czech Republic 4/1, Draw 5/2
Germany vs. Greece
This is a matchup between the weakest team left in the tournament, Greece, against a pre-tournament favorite, Germany.
The Group of Life survivor, Greece, is fortunate to be in the knockout stage. However, they escaped with a victory against Russia so all power to them.
The winner of the Group of Death, Germany, won all of their group stage matches but haven’t reached their top stride yet.
The Germans are by far the better side here and will dominate proceedings throughout this match. I see the Greeks having 10 people behind the ball for long periods of time in this match.
This match will come down to whether the Germans will be able to put away their chances. The Germans will of course put away enough of their chances, they are German which synonymous in football with ruthless and efficient.
Germany 3 Greece 1
Match Odds
Germany 4/11, Greece 9/1, Draw 15/4
Spain vs. France
This is the first heavyweight fight of the knockout stage with the defending EURO and World Cup champions facing off against the last side to knock them out of a major international tournament (2006 World Cup).
France looked to be the favorite in Group D until they collapsed in the second half against Sweden in their final match. Spain definitely hasn’t played their best up to this point in the tournament, but still finished at the top of a pretty difficult group which included Italy and Croatia.
If France isn’t at their best, Spain will win simple as that. France’s back four looked shaky in their first true test against Sweden plus Philippe Mexes will be missing out due to picking up his second yellow card against Sweden.
Spain in this match, as always, will dominate possession. If Spain is able to finish their chances, they will go through. However, they are missing their best finisher in David Villa and Fernando Torres is not in the best form at the moment, so it isn’t a given that Spain will go through
Karim Benzema needs to play like a number 9 in this match and stay up front. If he continuously drops into the midfield, something he does regularly, France will struggle to keep possession against the Spain.
France will perform better against Spain than they did against Sweden, but it won’t be enough. Spain as they’ve done the past two major tournaments will do enough to reach their third consecutive major semifinal.
Spain 1 France 0
Match Odds
Spain 17/20, France 15/4, Draw 12/5
England vs. Italy
This is the most intriguing of all the quarterfinals for me. The English performed admirably without Wayne Rooney in their first two matches, but then were disappointing in their 1-0 win against Ukraine. The Italians performed very well in their opening two matches against Spain and Croatia and finished with a very Italian performance in their final match to progress to the knockout stages.
Both teams are quite capable of scoring a goal and sitting on a 1-0 lead. This is why the first goal, if there is one, is key in this match. Whoever scores first in this match will advance.
I really don’t know which way to go here, I see these sides as being evenly matched. Since I have to pick though, I think Italy deserve the nod due to their past successes.
Italy 2 England 1 (a.e.t)
Match Odds
Italy 17/10, England 15/8, Draw 21/10
And the blue half of Manchester scores a vital win over their red neighbors
Manchester City earned a vital and well-deserved 1-0 win over Manchester United. Manchester United came out with their typical away European formation the 4-5-1. However, unlike in past seasons United hasn’t had much success in Europe, being knocked out in the Champions League group stage and getting knocked in the last 16 in the Europa League.
Just like their failures in Europe, their 4-5-1 led them to being outplayed throughout the match and by not starting Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia they suffered from a severe lack of pace. With this lack of pace City was able to use their fullbacks to overlap and ping in crosses from out wide which enabled them to space out the United defense.
Even with City’s overall domination throughout the match, United didn’t have a shot on goal, City’s only goal came from header by Vincent Kompany on a corner at the stroke of halftime.
This victory has now made Man City the title favorites with two games to go.
So Much For Respect Says the FA…
So, the FA’s “Respect” campaign is a joke. I stated in a post after Luis Suarez of Liverpool refused to shake the hand of Patrice Evra of Manchester United that hopefully there would be a punishment for Suarez’s action. The FA in a statement said that the refusal to shake hands was not a disciplinary issue. What kind of issue is it? I am seriously confused.
Prior to the match the FA could have scrapped the “obligatory” handshake, but they refused to stating that doing so would negate the point of handshakes. Does anyone else find something seriously wrong with this?
The FA forces players to shake hands before the match to show ‘respect‘ to their opponents and then say that this Luis Suarez/Patrice Evra situation is basically the principal purpose for the pre-match handshake. So, Suarez who was found guilty of racial abuse, something which shows a lack of respect, on Saturday refuses to shake the hand of the man who he was found guilty of racially abusing thus disrespecting Evra yet again and the ‘respect’ campaign is not charged with anything by the FA because ‘it’s not a disciplinary issue’. What’s the purpose of this ‘respect’ campaign?
Why does the FA mandate the pre-match handshake? It’s obviously a complete joke.
Note: I had to write this about 15 times to drop the curse words which I initially had in the post.
Related articles
- “No, no, no,” say Liverpool, “you’ve got the wrong end of the stick” (themorningbabel.wordpress.com)
- Suarez-Evra Saga: FA to Take No Action Against Either Club, but Should They? (bleacherreport.com)
- Suárez misled us over Evra handshake, say angry Liverpool (guardian.co.uk)
- Gordon Taylor calls for FA to step in following Luis Suárez snub (guardian.co.uk)
The Game Before the Game…
Today there is a huge match in the Barclays Premier League between Manchester United and Chelsea. I am excited for it not only because, football (soccer), is my favorite sport, but it’s the perfect prelude to the Superbowl.
Chelsea this year have been as weak as they’ve been in a few years, and somehow against all odds United are still in the thick of the title race.
Chelsea according to the bookies are a slight favorite which is understandable although they’ve already lost three times a home this season. On the other hand, United have the best away record in the league.
Prediction: This reeks of a 1-1 draw which both teams wouldn’t be too upset about prior to kickoff. Bring on the snow!
Goals for Torres (yea I said that!) and Rooney.
Bring on Super Sunday!
Related articles
- Chelsea vs. Manchester United: Live Blog, Commentary, Goals as They Happen (bleacherreport.com)
- National Sport: Chelsea game on (coventrytelegraph.net)
- Chelsea Manchester United Odds : Hernandez and Berbatov to fire Reds (footybunker.com)
- Chelsea Vs. Manchester United, 2012 Premier League: Despite Snowy Conditions, Match Is On (sbnation.com)
- 2012 Chelsea Vs. Manchester United WAG War [PHOTOS, POLL] (coedmagazine.com)
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