UEFA Champions League: Quarterfinal Review

With the completion of the all the Champions League quarter final second leg games this week, there was a lot of hype and buzz following the results and what transpired. It was a very thrilling week of soccer, and ended with some very surprising results.

In the first match up, Paris St. Germain against Chelsea, Chelsea barely squeaked by and into the semi-finals. They were down 3-1 on aggregate after the first leg, and needed to win 2-0 in order to advance. It was an intense game and when Chelsea's best player went off in the 15th minute with a leg injury, the task looked daunting. Never fear though, Andre Schurrle came on and scored almost instantly to give some hope to the home team. This game came right down to the closing stages. Just as everyone thought all chances of winning were gone, Demba Ba scored in the 89th minute to send Chelsea into the next round.

The second match, Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund, was another nail biter of a game. Real Madrid had won the previous game 3-0 at home and all they needed to do was hold of a Borussia Dortmund team that had been plagued by injuries, and wasn't even playing their best players. In what was almost the comeback of the century, Marco Reus scored two goals for Dortmund in the first half, making the aggregate 3-2 in favor of Real Madrid. Unfortunately the comeback couldn't be completed as Real Madrid held on by a sliver to escape into the semis.

The third game was played yesterday and it featured Manchester United against Bayern Munich. In this game Manchester United were the heavy underdogs from the very beginning and that's why everyone was surprised that they managed to get a 1-1 tie in the first leg at home. They had their backs up against the wall though, as they had to play at the Allianz Arena. United shocked everyone when they scored in the second half to take a 1-0 lead, which would have sent them through, but Bayern responded just 22 seconds later to tie it at 1-1. Then, 2 minutes after that Thomas Muller sealed the deal with another goal, and later on Arjen Robben put the icing on the cake when he put Bayern up 3-1 and into the semi-finals.

The fourth, and final game was probably the biggest upset of the entire tournament. FC Barcelona, the heavy favorite, had tied Athletico Madrid, their Spanish rivals at home in their previous game, but was looking for revenge in this final game. In just the fifth minute, Koke scored for Athletico, and that goal would see them into the Semi-finals. Athletico completely outplayed Barcelona and deserved to win for sure. This is the first time ever that Athletico Madrid has made it to the UEFA Champions League Semi-final, and for the past 5 years, the team that knocks out Barcelona has gone on to win the entire tournament. Lets see if Athletico has what it takes!

So that wraps up what has been a very exciting two weeks of UEFA Champions League quarter-final action. As the fans, we can only hope that the Semis carry as much action and great soccer as we've seen so far. The draw to see who will play each other will be taking place this Friday, so make sure to tune in for that.

The Art of Buying Low and Selling High: FIFA 14

In the ever popular video game FIFA 14, which I did a review on when the game was released in September, the goal is to start from scratch with some of the worst soccer players in the world, and build up the best possible team. Each soccer player in the world has a card on the game. The card has an overall rating and stats for six different categories, like dribbling, shooting, and defense for example. Depending on how good the player is in real life determines how good there card in FIFA 14 will be. As you can guess the better the card the more it will be worth in the game. Now the way the game works is you start out with zero coins. As you play games you gain coins, and what you can do with those coins is buy players to start building a better team. Now there are millions of players playing FUT (Fifa Ultimate Team), and therefore lots of players on the market to buy. People originally get these players from spending actual money to buy fifa points, which is a form of FUT currency used to buy fifa packs. In the packs you can get players, and if you're lucky enough to get a really good player you can sell him for a lot of money. Now as players flood the market this is when you can purchase players for your teams, or even better to make a profit.

The art of buying low and selling high is an age old tactic in the game of FIFA. How it works is you want to make sure you buy a player when they are at a low point in their price, and then wait for the market to rise again in order to sell the player and make a profit. This works exactly like the stock market in the real world. Now as for when players prices will drop. This usually happens when a really good TOTW is out or when there are going to be very good players released in packs, like TOTY or TOTS (Team of the Year and Team of the Season). When these kinds of players are out, you can only get them in packs, meaning that tons of people will be opening loads of packs hoping to get these new players. What they'll do is flood the market with all the regular players at this time and the mass amount of the players will cause their price to go down in the market. This is when you want to capitalize and buy the players for cheap, and then just wait for the market to return to normal and sell the cards for a bunch of profit! This works like a charm and is a great way to make lots of money on FUT!

Can Chelsea Recover?

Was Chelsea burning out during this season? As a fan of the team I follow them religiously, and I have begun to notice that players seem to be tiring and the team is lacking that extra spice they had in previous times during the season. I feel like the wear of the season has taken a toll on the players and they have begun to perform at less than the standards that us Chelsea fans are used to seeing. It's obvious with the shocking results that the team has been getting and if they don't get focused soon they are going to find themselves sliding out of contention for the Barclays Premier League Title. Here are a few reasons why I think they will soon be out of this slump though.

For one the blues have the one and only Jose Mourinho. The man is a legend among soccer managers and if anyone can get chelsea out of their slump he's the man for the job. He has won countless titles with countless different teams, and really knows how to get what he wants out of his players. With him at the helm I don't see Chelsea skidding for much longer.

Second, the new signings that just were made for chelsea. The team recently released Juan Mata to Manchester United, a shocking transfer to say the least. But at the same time they brought in two new very solid players that will be sure to have an impact on the field. The first player is Nemanija Matic. They signed him from benfica, and he used to be a Chelsea player back when he was young. This is a good signing because it gives some depth at the holding mid position, something that chelsea need with an aging frank Lampard. The second signing was a young star by the name of Mohammad Salah. He is egyptian and played for the swiss team FC Basel. He had scored numerous goals on chelsea when they had played back in previous meetings and he is a great signing for someone who can play on the wing and in the midfield.

These are just some of the reasons why I don't think Chelsea Fans should be worried at all about what's to come from their team. They still have plenty of fuel left in the tank and I hope to see a late push to win the title this year.

The Key to Success

Without a doubt Manchester United is having one of there worst seasons in the history of club. They have dropped into 7th place in the Barclays Premier League this season and if you ask anyone they will say that the team is terrible this year. Under the management of David Moyes the team has tanked from the best team in the Premier League to a mid table contender. I feel like David Moyes has not run things well since taking over the helm from Sir Alex Fergusen. If I were in charge I would do things a lot different and I think this is what David Moyes has to do in order to find success at a pivotal point in his career.

For one he needs to fix the midfield problem that Manchester United has this year. I have to applaud him for actually going out and getting Juan Mata from Chelsea. That was a very good move and you have to give credit where credit is due, but there is still much that needs to change in order for Manchester United to get back to winning ways. There are numerous players that I think they should try to go out and get in order to make them a title contending team. The top player at this list is Ikay Gundogen from Borussia Dortmund. He is the all around package player for a midfielder and is exactly what Manchester United needs to replace Carrick and some of the older guys in the middle of the park. Gundogen's contract is running out in 18 months and the summer transfer window would be a great time for manchester United to snatch up this star player. As well as Gundogen, Manchester United should also think about going after his teammate Marco Reus, the German winger/midfielder from Borussia Dortmund. Reus is one of the best players in the world and he's only 24 years old to boot. He would be exactly the kind of player that would be needed to strengthen this wilting United team. 

These are just a few things that need to change in order for Manchester United to even start to take a step in the right direction, and if they fail to do this, then who knows what might happen with David Moyes job.

What Separates the Good From the Great?

Throughout the history of soccer there always comes along a team/s that turn the game around for the next decade to come. For the latest decade it has been the revolution of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. By investigating what these teams do or have done to reach these next levels, we can also see how the game of soccer has taken on a new shade of color over these last few years and reveal the secrets to success in the ever growing game of soccer.

For the longest time soccer has been a game of play down the sideline and cross. This style is evident from the English soccer still present today. Eventually a new era began to arise. This was brought along by the Brazilians and the Spanish when they began to establish their own style of play. The term for this style is "tiki-taka" and was coined by a Spanish reporter after having watched the Spanish team Barcelona in action. This changed from the kick and run way of play to a very more controlled, possession oriented style of soccer. Not only is this new way to play more effective, but it also requires a level of difficulty that hasn't been seen in any other area of the game. This is the main reason why so many teams fail to achieve this, and this is what makes the good teams great. So why is this style of soccer so much better than anything else that has graced the game? Well, it requires a level of discipline that is only seen in the best of teams. The entire team needs to move as a unit and work together, and nothing can ever be forced. Every pass is simple and carefully calculated and the soccer ball has to always be moving. One of the best ways to beat a team is to never let them touch the ball, and that's exactly what this style attempts to do. By being patient and keeping the ball for 75% of the game, it greatly limits what the other team can do with it.

This style of soccer has been ushered in by some of the world's greatest teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. It is because of this distinct style that they came, they saw, and they conquered. They will remain dominate for years to come, until the next genius mastermind of the game comes along and introduces the next unbeatable strategy that outshines the old and makes them succumb to the next revolution.

Why Messi is the World's Legend

Lionel Messi has left a mark on the game of soccer ever since he stepped foot on a pitch for the first time in his famous number 10 Barcelona uniform. He has left people speechless at the feats he accomplished, the dazzling ball skills, uncanny free kicks, and curling goals that are all produced from this 5"6 soccer wizard. It is for his world class soccer ability, and his sheer brilliance he displays in the game of soccer, that he is the best soccer player in the world.

Now I understand what you must be saying. There are so many other players out there who could be in contention for this title. You might even be saying that someone else outright deserves this more than Messi. But after looking at the facts there is no way you can't take the side of this legend. He has won more Ballon D'or's then any other soccer player in history, and for those who don't know what this is, it is an award that is voted on and given to the world's best player each season. He has scored a whopping total of 377 goals for his Club and Country teams, and he is only 26 years old, meaning he still has many good years to come. His list of numerous other awards goes on and on, and he is one of the most well respected footballers of this day.

Know the one thing that many people discuss when they have this debate is how much Lionel Messi has struggled on the International stage. He scored one measly goal in the last world cup in 2010, a year when many people expected a whole lot out of the youngster, who was only 22 at the time. Now at this World Cup the spotlight will be even brighter on the Worlds best player as he looks to erase the past, and show everyone who's doubted him that he has what it takes to shine not only in domestic leagues, but in the World stage as well.

To this day there will always be the controversy over who is the better soccer player. Some might argue that it should be Ronaldo. Others might argue it should be Ribery. As for me, I will always stick to the side of the greatest footballer of his time, the one and only, Lionel Messi. The story of his life and what he has gone through to be where he is today is so moving and touching, and to see the skill that he's amassed makes you wonder why anyone would ever question the young starlet.

Soccer in Hollywood

Many criticisms have been raised against soccer movies in general. For starters, in the US the sport has never achieved the high status it has achieved in the rest of the world; this has, unfortunately, affected how soccer movies have fared to American audiences.

The two other problematic areas are the fact that soccer movies often have difficulty defining themselves as a documentary or a movie; secondly, some people find that soccer movies either have too much soccer or not enough of it (of the high quality usually expected).

In spite of the criticisms, some excellent films have been produced about soccer. Although whether these films are the best ever produced is a matter of opinion, there is enough good material in each of these to merit the highest grades possible.

Once in a Lifetime—the Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos

This film details the true story of the risky and daring move to popularize soccer with American audiences in the 1970’s. In an attempt to get Americans to like soccer as much as the rest of the world, some investors put together a new team, The New York Cosmos. Bringing the greatest soccer player of all time out of retirement, Pele, gave the team visibility and helped draw in a fan base. Unfortunately, the team disbanded in 1985 due to lack of interest. Matt Damon narrates this documentary that interviews the players and tells the story of how soccer almost became a mainstream sport in North America.

Green Street

It’s no secret that soccer fans are some of the most devoted fans in the world of sports, but how far would you go for your favorite team? This film follows a group of soccer hooligans, the Green Street Elite, as they fight rival hooligan firms for bragging rights. The theme of this movie is the exploration of loyalty and standing up for yourself in the face of adversity. Which team actually plays better isn’t as important as the desire to defend their name.

 Escape to Victory

Taking place in Nazi Germany during WWII, this film follows a group of POW’s as they plan an escape from their Nazi captors. The POWs form a football club to play against the German team. Eventually they hatch a plan to use an upcoming match as cover to escape. As true fans of the sport however, the POWs want to play out their match against the Germans rather than run and escape.

Looking for Eric

Many soccer fans turn to the sport as a means of escaping the doldrums of everyday life. For one fan this goes to a whole different level when he begins imagining he is talking to Eric Cantona, one of Manchester United’s greatest players ever. Cantona offers advice to the protagonist about how to improve his relationship with his family as well as deal with a drug lord who is threatening his son. Indeed, soccer can inspire its fans to greatness, even if it’s all in their head.

Luke Shaw Latest

Whilst Southhampton have caught the eye this season with their free-flowing attacking football, the club’s top brass will be well aware that there’s a tough summer ahead. This is an exciting group of players, who are likely to attract a fair amount of attention from bigger clubs when the transfer window re-opens.

Unfortunately the Saints have neither the money, nor the promise of regular silverware with which to tempt their players to stay.

One of the players who is drawing the most attention is young left back, Luke Shaw, The 18-year-old has been so impressive this season, that some have suggested he should be a part of the England squad that goes to Brazil this summer, despite both Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines being available.

What’s most impressive about Shaw is his confidence on the ball at such a young age. He never looks over-awed by the situation, always seems to be in charge, isn’t afraid to carry the ball forward, take players on or cut inside. This combined with his passing ability and his stinging crosses make him a real threat.

It’s the attacking part of his game that has caught the most attention, but he’s no defensive slouch either.

As a result, he’s attracted attention from Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.

There have also been rumors that he’s a boyhood Chelsea fan and could favour a move to Stamford Bridge. That’s all well and good, but I’m not sure this would be the best move for his career. After all, the Blues do have a habit of chewing up young talent and spitting it out. The same can be said of Manchester City.

Manchester United, on the other hand, have a rather pressing need. It looks like the club will face a defensive exodus over the summer, so signing a left-back with as much talent as Luke Shaw could prove to be a necessity.

Having slipped down the Premier League table, it’ll be interesting to see whether The Red Devils can still compete with the big boys in the transfer market. When it comes to Luke Shaw, I certainly hope that David Moyes pulls out all the stops.

Take it Easy On Him!

I’ve been so disappointed to see Mesut Özil come under heavy criticism over the past few weeks. You expect it from pundits and fans of other teams, but never from your own fans. A lot of people are saying he is off-form and the criticism is deserved, but I just don’t agree with that.

Because we spent so much on Özil there is a level of expectancy and I can understand that for some people he just hasn’t lived up to what they were hoping to see from him. Statistically he isn’t actually doing that bad: he covers a lot of ground during games and his contribution to most matches is evident.

He has scored 5 goals and assisted 11 and that is only half of what he scored and assisted last season for Real Madrid, so he’s still on course for achieving or even beating that. He is not a lazy player. He is working hard and trying his best to fit within an established team and when things go wrong his frustrations are laid bare for all of us to see.

When he first joined it’s fair to say his first few months, leading up to December, was when we saw him at his best. But that was also when Arsenal were playing better football. The standard has dropped slightly since then and whether that is due to the loss of Ramsey and Walcott or injury or a lack of physical energy after a run of tough games is unclear.

But, it has affected the whole team and not just Ozil. His penalty miss last week was an obvious sign that he just needs to take a break, it’s a lot of pressure when you are playing against national team mates.

Sometimes you can only be as good as the team around you and despite the fact that Arsenal have made some major improvement this season, there are still lots of issues within the team that need tweaking. The fact is, we simply don’t have the same quality of players as Real Madrid in every position. We are still in desperate need of strengthening up and that is imperative, so players like Özil can fulfil their true ability.

I think there is still so much to see from our new German this year. He has already added to the team and few off games doesn’t make him a bad player. If we invest in an new striker in the summer then I can honestly see Özil thriving and becoming a very important player for us.

United Comeback

Manchester United have just returned back to Manchester from their warm weather training camp in Dubai. The Red Devils of Manchester are in action this weekend once again attempting to fight their way up the Premier League table. According to the current points tally Manchester United trail Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in their quest for the coveted champions league spot.

It is only a matter of time before Manchester United overtake Everton and Tottenham and start threatening Liverpool intently for the fourth spot in the table.

Both Everton and Tottenham have scored fewer goals than the reigning champions and conceded more or marginally fewer goals. Tottenham are riding on the sparkling form of Emmanuel Adebayor whereas Everton are grinding out results to stay in the top half of the table.

It is interesting to note that Manchester United have not played the football they are capable of and their star players Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have all returned recently from injuries. Furthermore the likes of Phil Jones and Maraoun Fellaini  resumed training and the latter even made it to the bench against Arsenal. Finally, David Moyes will have his full squad at this disposal, something which has been a rarity this season for him.

Once all the aforementioned factors are considered it really seems rational to suggest that Manchester United will edge out Tottenham and Everton. This is because they have kept themselves in the hunt without their best players and the best football they are capable of. Their squad has been stretched to the maximum and the injuries have taken their toll already. The club, the manager and the players have been crucified (read criticized) intensely by the media. The pressure of defending the title is no longer there. All that is required is a string of wins and the belief will be back.