One of my favorite, but most emotionally taxing fixtures of the year is Stoke vs. Arsenal. My sensitive, cosmopolitan artists vs. a bunch of southie dockworkers. The long throw vs. short, shifting triangles. This article! http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/aug/24/stoke-city-arsenal-tactics
This game is a prism that displays many of the facets of why we watch the premier league. It is a philosophical and usually dramatic battle for one goal. Tony Pulis wears a baseball cap and allegedly attacked one of his former players while naked, Arsene Wenger wears a fat tie and allegedly shares french existential poetry with Abou Diaby.
Aaron Ramsey vs. Ryan Shawcross.
I respect both of these teams and absolutely hate one of them.
I hate Stoke City. I'm pretty sure they're going to beat arsenal or at least severely injure one the gunners. This game typically makes for good watching so I am going to wake up at 5:30 pacific to watch it. The early wake up is probably the biggest downside to my LA move.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Man U Preview and other musings:
I have to start by saying that I feel extremely. . . weird about the whole RVP to United thing. I haven't paid much attention to the whole saga throughout the summer as I assumed he would be headed, like so many of his previous teammates, to the other Manchester club. He will have only had a few days of full training so I don't expect him to play much of a role in the game tomorrow (or will he start, SAF? Who knows what that man is thinking!). Undoubtedly, his passing, vision, and creativity will lessen the pressure on Berbatov, I mean Rooney, and open up more space on the wings for Nani, Valencia (heretofore referred to as TONY V), and Welbeck to attack defenses from wide. I look forward to watching Rooney and RVP playing together, their respective hairstyles battling for the title of 'oldest looking EPL striker'. (If this is confusing, please see: http://www.funkyhead.co.uk/trends/hair-transplants/ and this one: http://www.trulyreds.com/20120818/in-fergie-we-will-always-trust/).
United's problem this season will be in the midfield (assuming Rio can coax another year of running out of his creaky back and assuming Vidic comes back healthy and somewhat close to his 100% best). United has lacked a focal central midfielder for a few years now- someone who played like Cesc Fabregas for Arsenal or like Xavi continues to do so for Barcelona. Paul Scholes, a legend no doubt, has an amazing ability to deliver 60+ yard balls to the feet of players unlike any other player in today's game. Yet he doesn't strike fear into opponents defenders because his game is about speed of play and switching the ball- it's easy to keep these plays in front of defenses and much easier to predict where the ball will go. Scholes, that beautiful gingy with a penchant for terribly timed slide tackles, will never conform (nor should he) to the tiki-taka style of Barcelona and the Spanish National Team. I predict 9 goals in all competitions, 7 yellow cards, 1 straight red, and consistently red hair for Scholesy this season.
United's other central midfielders- Anderson, Cleverly, Carrick, Fletcher, Phil Jones (don't even get me started on his hair), and I'll toss in Ryan Giggs for good measure- have been inconsistent to say the least over the last 3 years. Anderson has all the athletic attributes you want in a hounding midfielder- he's fast, can run the whole game, tracks back on defense well, and distracts people with his dreadlocks while running. Unfortunately his poor first touch and penchant for lengthy stays on the injured list have limited his contribution the last few years. Cleverly, one of the few young English players in the United team, showed great vision and maturity at the start of last season. He's got the quality, the only question is whether he can stay fit and stand up to the pressure of performing at a club like United weak in and weak out. Michael Carrick is consistently inconsistent. His passing is great when he's on. When he's misfiring he appears to be in an almost catatonic face- expressionless and stiff bodied. Phil Jones is a defender who had bleached tips at one point last year so I will not discuss his midfield pedigree further. That brings us to my favorite adulterer, Ryan Giggs. I'm taking the over on 38.5 times a commentator will call Giggsy "evergreen" this season. The man seems to want to play footy until he dies- and I can't blame him. Hopefully one of the young guns (Anderson and Cleverly, I'm staring directly at YOU) can step up and take some of the pressure (and minutes) off of Giggs. His playing time will be significantly decreased this year but he is a benefit to the team for his experience and amazingly trimmed permanent 5 o'clock shadow. I would love to have a beer with him one day.
Now, predictions:
Champion: United- SAF will refuse to lose this year after squandering the title last year.
Player of the Year: Aguero (if healthy). Could also see Rooney, Silva, or Hazard (assuming he plays enough at Chelsea).
Better Season- Post vs Crossbar: I'm taking post over crossbar in a narrow decision. Post started off strong last year but crossbar made a great comeback during the second half of the season.
Craziest thing Balotelli will do this year: Demand a transfer to the New York Red Bulls of An MLS
IN SAF WE TRUST.
United's problem this season will be in the midfield (assuming Rio can coax another year of running out of his creaky back and assuming Vidic comes back healthy and somewhat close to his 100% best). United has lacked a focal central midfielder for a few years now- someone who played like Cesc Fabregas for Arsenal or like Xavi continues to do so for Barcelona. Paul Scholes, a legend no doubt, has an amazing ability to deliver 60+ yard balls to the feet of players unlike any other player in today's game. Yet he doesn't strike fear into opponents defenders because his game is about speed of play and switching the ball- it's easy to keep these plays in front of defenses and much easier to predict where the ball will go. Scholes, that beautiful gingy with a penchant for terribly timed slide tackles, will never conform (nor should he) to the tiki-taka style of Barcelona and the Spanish National Team. I predict 9 goals in all competitions, 7 yellow cards, 1 straight red, and consistently red hair for Scholesy this season.
United's other central midfielders- Anderson, Cleverly, Carrick, Fletcher, Phil Jones (don't even get me started on his hair), and I'll toss in Ryan Giggs for good measure- have been inconsistent to say the least over the last 3 years. Anderson has all the athletic attributes you want in a hounding midfielder- he's fast, can run the whole game, tracks back on defense well, and distracts people with his dreadlocks while running. Unfortunately his poor first touch and penchant for lengthy stays on the injured list have limited his contribution the last few years. Cleverly, one of the few young English players in the United team, showed great vision and maturity at the start of last season. He's got the quality, the only question is whether he can stay fit and stand up to the pressure of performing at a club like United weak in and weak out. Michael Carrick is consistently inconsistent. His passing is great when he's on. When he's misfiring he appears to be in an almost catatonic face- expressionless and stiff bodied. Phil Jones is a defender who had bleached tips at one point last year so I will not discuss his midfield pedigree further. That brings us to my favorite adulterer, Ryan Giggs. I'm taking the over on 38.5 times a commentator will call Giggsy "evergreen" this season. The man seems to want to play footy until he dies- and I can't blame him. Hopefully one of the young guns (Anderson and Cleverly, I'm staring directly at YOU) can step up and take some of the pressure (and minutes) off of Giggs. His playing time will be significantly decreased this year but he is a benefit to the team for his experience and amazingly trimmed permanent 5 o'clock shadow. I would love to have a beer with him one day.
Now, predictions:
Champion: United- SAF will refuse to lose this year after squandering the title last year.
Player of the Year: Aguero (if healthy). Could also see Rooney, Silva, or Hazard (assuming he plays enough at Chelsea).
Better Season- Post vs Crossbar: I'm taking post over crossbar in a narrow decision. Post started off strong last year but crossbar made a great comeback during the second half of the season.
Craziest thing Balotelli will do this year: Demand a transfer to the New York Red Bulls of An MLS
IN SAF WE TRUST.
Friday, August 17, 2012
My condolences for Scottie's loss... and my EPL picks for the upcoming season
Ahhh, the eve of this season's kickoff. To begin, my condolences go to F. Scott Fitzchandler, for his loss. For those non-soccer readers out there, Robin Van Persie, Arsenal's Captain and lead goal scorer, was recently sold for a pretty serious chuck of change to rivals Manchester United, devastating the Arsenal dinosaur, Arsene Wenger, Scottie, and the rest of the Gunner Nation. RVP, the son of a trash sculptor/artist, was the centerpiece of the Arsenal attack, and the captain of the squad, however it certainly seems as though the squad made some crucial pickups with Oliver Giroud, and the Polish (ehhh, German, but born Polish) Lucas Podolski. Giroud is the target man (AKA 6'4") the squad needs with RVP now gone, and Podolski is capable of playing both centrally, and wide on the left for the Gunners. Although Scottie can speak to this better than I can, I certainly think that Arsenal, who generally pinch pennies when the transfer windows rolls around, have made some solid acquisitions/ depth where they are/were lacking. Anyway, I know it's a tough loss (and an awful gain from the LFC perspective, with RVP going to Manchester United), but it could have been worse, right? RVP could have ended up at Manchester City, like half of Manchester City's starting 11 who came from their feeder academy, I mean Arsenal... Kidding.
Anyway, on to more important matters. My prediction for this year's EPL season? I don't much care to make predictions like this (I'm a little superstitious), but at the insistence of my co-authors, here we go... 1) Manchester City 2) Liverpool (I can't put United ahead... Sorry, Matt) 3) Manchester United 4) Chelsea. Bubble: Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle.
Although City hasn't done much over the summer to improve their side, they were just about as good a side a team could field this past year, week in and week out. Additionally, playing three holding midfielders in De Jong, Yaya Toure, and Gareth Barry, with the potent attack of some combination of the three of Aguero, Tevez, Silva, Nasri, Balotelli, Dzeko, Johnson, gives the squad a front 6 that any team in the world would be more than happy to field... Therefore, they merit #1. Liverpool look much, much, much, much better under Rodgers already. The boys aren't booting the ball upfield and hoping for the best. Instead they're playing some variation of the beautiful game, involving pass and move, and are generating quite a few more chances than those of us LFC fans are used to. If the squad can stay healthy, there isn't any reason they should be able to contend for a spot at the top. The boys have a rock in the midfield in Lucas which allows Stevie G to move forward a bit more to help facilitate the attack, which is certainly something to be optimistic about. I, further, love the idea of having two stout central defenders that want to/plan on playing for LFC for the foreseeable future, in Agger and Skrtel... What? You don't believe me? Why don't you go get "YNWA" tattooed on your knuckles... Also, Clintinho, Clint Dempsey, has refused to suit up and play for Ful-HAM this weekend, telling his teammates he wishes and plans to play for Liverpool instead... With Dempsey and the versatility he brings, given his ability to play both centrally and wide, as well as in the midfield or more in a more forward position, Liverpool can do (very) well this upcoming year. As far as United and Chelsea are concerned, I'll leave the United authoring up to Matt, and Chelsea speak for themselves bringing in Hazard, Oscar, et al. Russian (oil) money gets you awfully far, especially with the kicker of winning the champions league on top of it... But, I digress.
Here's to hoping for an LFC win tomorrow morning. I unfortunately I will not be able to watch, as I'm away for the weekend for a wedding... without FSC... You should watch for me, though. A win tomorrow is also important as Liverpool's next three home matches are against City, United, and Arsenal, respectively, so winning every match possible early, is certainly of the utmost importance, as we don't want the boys, or the English press, for that matter, to start cooking eggs in anyone's kitchen. Anyhow, enjoy tomorrow, as it (and the willful ignorance which is, for now, and hopefully the foreseeable future, bliss) only comes once a year. Champions League matches, and relegation picks to come soon too, I promise...
Like a kid before Christmas, sleep well, and enjoy the matches tomorrow.
Ryan
Anyway, on to more important matters. My prediction for this year's EPL season? I don't much care to make predictions like this (I'm a little superstitious), but at the insistence of my co-authors, here we go... 1) Manchester City 2) Liverpool (I can't put United ahead... Sorry, Matt) 3) Manchester United 4) Chelsea. Bubble: Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle.
Although City hasn't done much over the summer to improve their side, they were just about as good a side a team could field this past year, week in and week out. Additionally, playing three holding midfielders in De Jong, Yaya Toure, and Gareth Barry, with the potent attack of some combination of the three of Aguero, Tevez, Silva, Nasri, Balotelli, Dzeko, Johnson, gives the squad a front 6 that any team in the world would be more than happy to field... Therefore, they merit #1. Liverpool look much, much, much, much better under Rodgers already. The boys aren't booting the ball upfield and hoping for the best. Instead they're playing some variation of the beautiful game, involving pass and move, and are generating quite a few more chances than those of us LFC fans are used to. If the squad can stay healthy, there isn't any reason they should be able to contend for a spot at the top. The boys have a rock in the midfield in Lucas which allows Stevie G to move forward a bit more to help facilitate the attack, which is certainly something to be optimistic about. I, further, love the idea of having two stout central defenders that want to/plan on playing for LFC for the foreseeable future, in Agger and Skrtel... What? You don't believe me? Why don't you go get "YNWA" tattooed on your knuckles... Also, Clintinho, Clint Dempsey, has refused to suit up and play for Ful-HAM this weekend, telling his teammates he wishes and plans to play for Liverpool instead... With Dempsey and the versatility he brings, given his ability to play both centrally and wide, as well as in the midfield or more in a more forward position, Liverpool can do (very) well this upcoming year. As far as United and Chelsea are concerned, I'll leave the United authoring up to Matt, and Chelsea speak for themselves bringing in Hazard, Oscar, et al. Russian (oil) money gets you awfully far, especially with the kicker of winning the champions league on top of it... But, I digress.
Here's to hoping for an LFC win tomorrow morning. I unfortunately I will not be able to watch, as I'm away for the weekend for a wedding... without FSC... You should watch for me, though. A win tomorrow is also important as Liverpool's next three home matches are against City, United, and Arsenal, respectively, so winning every match possible early, is certainly of the utmost importance, as we don't want the boys, or the English press, for that matter, to start cooking eggs in anyone's kitchen. Anyhow, enjoy tomorrow, as it (and the willful ignorance which is, for now, and hopefully the foreseeable future, bliss) only comes once a year. Champions League matches, and relegation picks to come soon too, I promise...
Like a kid before Christmas, sleep well, and enjoy the matches tomorrow.
Ryan
Predictions: Some bold, all moderately uninformed!
I wanted to go on-record here with some predictions. Maybe it's my gambling nature, or maybe it will just be funny to look back on these in nine months.
Premier League Table come 5/19/13
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Man Utd.
4. Arsenal
5. Newcastle
6. Liverpool
7. Tottenham
8. Everton
9. Sunderland
10. Fulham
11. West Brom
12. West Ham
13. Swansea
14. Stoke
15. Reading
16. Wigan
17. Norwich
18. Aston Villa
19. Southampton
20. QPR
Player of the season: Yaya Toure
Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero (24 prem goals)
Best signing: Gylfi Sigurdsson
Most surprising team at christmas time: Sunderland
Favorite Balotelli T-shirt: I am the walrus
Week of season RVP misses first game: 4th
Champions League Final: Barcelona over Man United
Europa League Final: Shaktar Donetsky over Galatasaray (I have no idea if these teams are in or will be in the europa league, because really who cares?)
Premier League Table come 5/19/13
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Man Utd.
4. Arsenal
5. Newcastle
6. Liverpool
7. Tottenham
8. Everton
9. Sunderland
10. Fulham
11. West Brom
12. West Ham
13. Swansea
14. Stoke
15. Reading
16. Wigan
17. Norwich
18. Aston Villa
19. Southampton
20. QPR
Player of the season: Yaya Toure
Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero (24 prem goals)
Best signing: Gylfi Sigurdsson
Most surprising team at christmas time: Sunderland
Favorite Balotelli T-shirt: I am the walrus
Week of season RVP misses first game: 4th
Champions League Final: Barcelona over Man United
Europa League Final: Shaktar Donetsky over Galatasaray (I have no idea if these teams are in or will be in the europa league, because really who cares?)
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