Well since the b9 is already updated, i am now going to post my plans. This kid is going to go through hell, I will do everything in my power to mold this child into a superstar. Endurance training from 3 minutes old. Learning to be ambidextrous by 5. My own little Beckham. Hopefully it all pays off and i get an appreciation check in a 20 years.
Bredred
Monday, February 25, 2008
How do other's share their love of the beautiful game with their wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend?
To be honest, i don't really. I go to the games alone, and i don't really mind it. I'm so obsessed with PSG that i would turn down money or Sex or weed just to enjoy my game. My mom and her Boyfriend/fiancé/husband whatever he is (lol) never really understood why i was so much into it. My mom though doesn't give me too much shit about it. My dad on the other hand does care. I don't think he's necessarily a PSG fan, but more just a football fan. In the past i had a girlfriend who was into football but i don't think she really was. But now since i've been in france i think i've landed more on girls who don't care that i watch it or obsess about it. All in all, i don't think i share it. I mean if the girl or friend or family member wants to get into it, then by all means i'd be the first to introduce them to football. But besides that, I'm pretty selfish about the game (then again i am a striker ;) )
No excuses for Rijkaard: Barca need a title
I still remember the first La Liga match I ever watched. Real Madrid, and the great Hugo Sanchez (who was a billion times better as a player than he is as the national team coach, but that's another story) were playing Barcelona. Pretty much everyone I watched it with were Madrid fans, so of course I backed Barca. I was the type of kid who always had to go against whatever was popular (I also rooted for the bad guys in wrestling) so when I learned that Real were the richest, most powerful, and most successful club in Europe, I had to root for their arch rivals.
I've followed Barcelona ever since. Through the good times (Champions of Europe in 1992 and 2006) and the bad times (the title drought to begin this decade, the departure of Figo for hated Real, their collapse last season). They got off to a slow start this season, but appear to be turning things around. However, if they come up empty and don't take home any silverware this year, something must be done.
There is plenty of blame to go around for Barca's early struggles. Injuries, national team commitments, and age certainly haven't helped, but I think the main scapegoat has to be the manager, Frank Rijkaard.
Now, many Barca fans will think I'm crazy to question Rijkaard. In fact, I'm sure that if Ray Hudson is somehow reading this blog he's frantically trying to trace my IP so that he can hunt me down and "edit-face" me Go_Outside_Nurd style. Rijkaard certainly has taken the club to great heights, and I definitely don't want Barca to turn into Real Madrid where the manager is fired every single year, but I think that his style of play and his influence on the players has grown stale.
Rijkaard has relied too much on Messi (one of the best players in the world, but injury prone due to overuse), Xavi, Deco, and Iniesta (all far too inconsistent), and youngsters like Dos Santos and Bojan (great talents who still aren't quite ready for the main stage). Veterans like Ronaldinho, Henry, and Marquez still have a lot to offer, but are no longer among the elite players in the world and can no longer be counted on to win games single handedly.
This isn't meant as some sort of eulogy for Barca's 2007-2008 season. Actually, I'm very optimistic going forward. Madrid's lead in the league, which was 9 points just a few weeks back, has slipped to 2, thanks to a crazy few weeks including Barca being handed a win against Zaragoza on a bogus penalty last week, and Madrid losing to Getafe on a bizarre goal yesterday. In addition, the team looked phenomenal (and Messi proved that he's back to his pre-injury form) in a 3-2 road win against Celtic in the opening leg of their Champions League round of sixteen matchup. They also have to be considered favorites to win their 25th Copa del Rey title.
Things could go either way for Barca at this point. They may very well win the treble. But, if for whatever reason they don't win anything, injuries can no longer be used as an excuse. Changes will have to be made and it should start with the manager.
-Dizzer
I've followed Barcelona ever since. Through the good times (Champions of Europe in 1992 and 2006) and the bad times (the title drought to begin this decade, the departure of Figo for hated Real, their collapse last season). They got off to a slow start this season, but appear to be turning things around. However, if they come up empty and don't take home any silverware this year, something must be done.
There is plenty of blame to go around for Barca's early struggles. Injuries, national team commitments, and age certainly haven't helped, but I think the main scapegoat has to be the manager, Frank Rijkaard.
Now, many Barca fans will think I'm crazy to question Rijkaard. In fact, I'm sure that if Ray Hudson is somehow reading this blog he's frantically trying to trace my IP so that he can hunt me down and "edit-face" me Go_Outside_Nurd style. Rijkaard certainly has taken the club to great heights, and I definitely don't want Barca to turn into Real Madrid where the manager is fired every single year, but I think that his style of play and his influence on the players has grown stale.
Rijkaard has relied too much on Messi (one of the best players in the world, but injury prone due to overuse), Xavi, Deco, and Iniesta (all far too inconsistent), and youngsters like Dos Santos and Bojan (great talents who still aren't quite ready for the main stage). Veterans like Ronaldinho, Henry, and Marquez still have a lot to offer, but are no longer among the elite players in the world and can no longer be counted on to win games single handedly.
This isn't meant as some sort of eulogy for Barca's 2007-2008 season. Actually, I'm very optimistic going forward. Madrid's lead in the league, which was 9 points just a few weeks back, has slipped to 2, thanks to a crazy few weeks including Barca being handed a win against Zaragoza on a bogus penalty last week, and Madrid losing to Getafe on a bizarre goal yesterday. In addition, the team looked phenomenal (and Messi proved that he's back to his pre-injury form) in a 3-2 road win against Celtic in the opening leg of their Champions League round of sixteen matchup. They also have to be considered favorites to win their 25th Copa del Rey title.
Things could go either way for Barca at this point. They may very well win the treble. But, if for whatever reason they don't win anything, injuries can no longer be used as an excuse. Changes will have to be made and it should start with the manager.
-Dizzer
Love and Football
I wonder about this everyday. How do other's share their love of the beautiful game with their wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend?
I know its a little off topic, but as I explained the Eduardo injury to my girlfriend she seemed to be like "oh that sucks" even when I told her how much it made my stomach turn and how in all reality it affected my whole day. I kind of felt the same way when Bryce Florie (Red Sox Pitcher) took that ball to the face. It made me think as to how other's share the sport they love with their significant others.
-Rory
I know its a little off topic, but as I explained the Eduardo injury to my girlfriend she seemed to be like "oh that sucks" even when I told her how much it made my stomach turn and how in all reality it affected my whole day. I kind of felt the same way when Bryce Florie (Red Sox Pitcher) took that ball to the face. It made me think as to how other's share the sport they love with their significant others.
-Rory
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Mommy, Can I Go Out and Sing Tonight?
Every year, I forget about Mother's Day until the week before. To be honest, I don't think I ever really knew when it was. I've always lumped it together with those other "holidays," such as Veteran's Day and President's Day etc. You know, days that are only really significant if everyone gets a day off work. Not to say that I don't love my Mother. Of course I do. But this past year was a special Mother's Day. It was unlike any previous one because, well, I remember it.
Approximately five months prior to that day, I had started a band with three of my best friends. After pouring many hours into the band in those first few months, we were six songs deep and ready to start playing shows. In April, my friend Rich was doing a show in DC and wanted to know if we would like to play. I asked him who else was playing. He said "Blacklisted," and the conversation ended. Of course we wanted to fucking play.
The show was scheduled for May 13th, which was a little over a month away. Excellent. I was fairly positive there wasn't shit going on that day.
It's important to stress that 2006-2007 was a serious period of my life. I was fresh out of college, which can be, from what I've heard, the most confusing time for some young people. The job market was not as accommodating as I had hoped, and in return I was jobless for several months, slowly eating my pockets thin. In addition, the girl that I had previously loved was long gone out of my world, and my love life was non-existent. It was a new stage of limbo that I was not quite ready to deal with. All I had was this band and my friends. And Carlos Tevez.
I'm no different than all of you here in the fact that my football club has a certain hold on my heart that is tough to break, especially when we don't want that hold broken. Having followed West Ham for several years now, last season's campaign was by far the one experience I've had watching a sports team where I felt I was one with the club. The Championship years were a bit of a downer due to so many of our beloved faces leaving the squad (Di Canio, J. Cole etc.), and the struggle to get back into the top flight was apparent. And as if getting back to the Premiership in 2005 wasn't enough emotion for club supporters, the Gods had to break our hearts in the FA Cup final by sending the Angel of Death (Gerrard) down to Sodom & Gomorrah (Cardiff) to slay the wrong-doers (Scaloni). How could a faithful Hammer go back to watching his club after such heartbreak? I don't know, but we all did.
The optimism at the start of the 06-07 season was a little scary. We had taken Liverpool the distance in May, in a game that we felt we should have won. And that was our first year back in the top flight. Dare I say that some of our supporters became a little cocky about the whole Cup run? Well it's the truth. And that cockiness turned to straight unruly arrogance on August 31st, when it was announced that we had signed Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Brazilian club Corinthians.
Two of the brightest young prospects in the world coming to Upton Park. The FA Cup is ours! Fuck that, the UEFA Cup as well! Hell, we could win the league!..............Or we could end up in a relegation battle until the last day of the season, that would coincidentally fall on Mother's Day. I'll let you guys guess which of these outcomes happened.
By May 19th, I was convinced that West Ham's luck had run it's course. Six wins in eight games was a phenomenal accomplishment, but let's be honest, we're not beating the League leaders at Old Trafford. It looked pretty likely that Sheffield United would be the ones to stay up, having to only beat Wigan at Brambell Lane. All the signs were pointing to the Irons joining Charlton and Watford in the Fizzy-Pop.
I sat down at 10 a.m. to watch our last match in the Premiership on FSC. I watch our guys come out of the locker room in those shitty Reebok away kits that had abdominal muscles printed on them. As they walked out, I remembered the line from one of the kids in the movie Little Giants as they were presented with their new uniforms: "Death shrouds."
Now, most of us know what it's like for our teams to lose big games. I won't act like we Hammers are the most deprived football supporters in the world. I'm sure you Rossoneri fans had your summer's ruined after the 05 CL, just as you Bayern supporters probably cried for weeks after Ole Gunnar spoiled your party in 99. The Cup final was bad for us, but to submit to another relegation would be a new low, especially after such high expectations for the season.
It is a sad realization to know that your life had been simplified to a game played by some men across the Atlantic, who don't even know you exist. I'm far from Nick Hornby. I am no fanatic. I'm a guy who can step back and look at things for what their worth. Every time I've been enthralled in a West Ham game, I've been able to stop and ask myself, "Why do I care this much?" However, the answer has never been easy to find. And as I watched James Collins and Anton Ferdinand kill themselves to connect with every single ball that came into the box that day, I thought to myself "maybe I care because they care." And as they showed the visiting supporters holding radios to their ears to hear the ongoings in Sheffield, I saw that they too cared as much as I did. Who cares why we care? Sometimes in life, it's the trivial things that we cling onto when there's nothing else to grab. It's not phony, and it's not insincere. It's real, and often it keeps us from killing ourselves.
At around 10:43, my best friend Mike called me to arrange carpooling plans for our show, which was set for 3:00. I reluctantly answered as the first half was winding down. He was well aware of my Hammer fever and swore to make it quick:
Mike: "Yo, what time should I be at your house?"
Me: "Umm, whenever...like 1:00...or someth..."
Mike: "Ok, so I'll jus..."
(Carlos slips the go-ahead goal passed Van der Sar)
Me: "FUUUUUUUUCK YEESSSSSSSS! TEVEZ YOU BEAUTIFUL FUCKIN' BEAUTY!!!!!"
Mike: "Haha, what? Tevez scored, I assume?"
Me: "YESSSSSSSSS!...I'LL CALL YOU BACK!"
The next hour was as stressed as I have ever felt watching a television set. Man United were on constant attack. Robert Green was brilliant, as were the back four of Neill, Ferdinand, Collins and Spector. I recall a specific moment in injury time, where a ball fell to Paul Scholes about 30 yards out, and visions of his miracle volley earlier that year at Villa Park ran through my head. As his rocket of a right leg sent the ball into our back line, ricocheting back towards their goal, I said "Holy shit, they're gonna do it." I always expected things to go awry somewhere, whether it was Ronaldo embarrassing us in the second half or Dave Whelan's men sending us down at Brambell Lane. And while the latter was happening, the former was not. We weren't being embarrassed. In fact, we were somewhat embarrassing the Champs on their trophy day. But as the whistle blew, and I saw Yossi throw his hands into the air in ecstasy, it was clear that this was our day.
The guts that those fourteen men showed on that day is a memory I will treasure. People will speculate for years about whether or not the Hammers should have been able to stay up due to the shady MSI dealings. I hope one day football fans can take a step back and truly behold what an achievement this relegation escape was. We were "done and dusted," as they say. Even I thought so. It took a well defended Paul Scholes strike to finally change my mind.
After the match, I gave my Mother her gift (don't recall what it was) and told her that I loved her. My band met at my house, and we all left for the District.
We played to about twenty-five people in a basement. It ruled. That whole day ruled.
I have since dug my way out of the rut I was in. I have found a new job, and even new love interests that are not inanimate. I still watch every West Ham United game that does not fall on a weekday (new job, remember). I watch every week because I love football, and I love the club. I don't need them like I once did. But I'm confident that if and when I do need them, they will be there for me. That's why I love them.
-Matt R. a.k.a. One Man Jam
Approximately five months prior to that day, I had started a band with three of my best friends. After pouring many hours into the band in those first few months, we were six songs deep and ready to start playing shows. In April, my friend Rich was doing a show in DC and wanted to know if we would like to play. I asked him who else was playing. He said "Blacklisted," and the conversation ended. Of course we wanted to fucking play.
The show was scheduled for May 13th, which was a little over a month away. Excellent. I was fairly positive there wasn't shit going on that day.
It's important to stress that 2006-2007 was a serious period of my life. I was fresh out of college, which can be, from what I've heard, the most confusing time for some young people. The job market was not as accommodating as I had hoped, and in return I was jobless for several months, slowly eating my pockets thin. In addition, the girl that I had previously loved was long gone out of my world, and my love life was non-existent. It was a new stage of limbo that I was not quite ready to deal with. All I had was this band and my friends. And Carlos Tevez.
I'm no different than all of you here in the fact that my football club has a certain hold on my heart that is tough to break, especially when we don't want that hold broken. Having followed West Ham for several years now, last season's campaign was by far the one experience I've had watching a sports team where I felt I was one with the club. The Championship years were a bit of a downer due to so many of our beloved faces leaving the squad (Di Canio, J. Cole etc.), and the struggle to get back into the top flight was apparent. And as if getting back to the Premiership in 2005 wasn't enough emotion for club supporters, the Gods had to break our hearts in the FA Cup final by sending the Angel of Death (Gerrard) down to Sodom & Gomorrah (Cardiff) to slay the wrong-doers (Scaloni). How could a faithful Hammer go back to watching his club after such heartbreak? I don't know, but we all did.
The optimism at the start of the 06-07 season was a little scary. We had taken Liverpool the distance in May, in a game that we felt we should have won. And that was our first year back in the top flight. Dare I say that some of our supporters became a little cocky about the whole Cup run? Well it's the truth. And that cockiness turned to straight unruly arrogance on August 31st, when it was announced that we had signed Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Brazilian club Corinthians.
Two of the brightest young prospects in the world coming to Upton Park. The FA Cup is ours! Fuck that, the UEFA Cup as well! Hell, we could win the league!..............Or we could end up in a relegation battle until the last day of the season, that would coincidentally fall on Mother's Day. I'll let you guys guess which of these outcomes happened.
By May 19th, I was convinced that West Ham's luck had run it's course. Six wins in eight games was a phenomenal accomplishment, but let's be honest, we're not beating the League leaders at Old Trafford. It looked pretty likely that Sheffield United would be the ones to stay up, having to only beat Wigan at Brambell Lane. All the signs were pointing to the Irons joining Charlton and Watford in the Fizzy-Pop.
I sat down at 10 a.m. to watch our last match in the Premiership on FSC. I watch our guys come out of the locker room in those shitty Reebok away kits that had abdominal muscles printed on them. As they walked out, I remembered the line from one of the kids in the movie Little Giants as they were presented with their new uniforms: "Death shrouds."
Now, most of us know what it's like for our teams to lose big games. I won't act like we Hammers are the most deprived football supporters in the world. I'm sure you Rossoneri fans had your summer's ruined after the 05 CL, just as you Bayern supporters probably cried for weeks after Ole Gunnar spoiled your party in 99. The Cup final was bad for us, but to submit to another relegation would be a new low, especially after such high expectations for the season.
It is a sad realization to know that your life had been simplified to a game played by some men across the Atlantic, who don't even know you exist. I'm far from Nick Hornby. I am no fanatic. I'm a guy who can step back and look at things for what their worth. Every time I've been enthralled in a West Ham game, I've been able to stop and ask myself, "Why do I care this much?" However, the answer has never been easy to find. And as I watched James Collins and Anton Ferdinand kill themselves to connect with every single ball that came into the box that day, I thought to myself "maybe I care because they care." And as they showed the visiting supporters holding radios to their ears to hear the ongoings in Sheffield, I saw that they too cared as much as I did. Who cares why we care? Sometimes in life, it's the trivial things that we cling onto when there's nothing else to grab. It's not phony, and it's not insincere. It's real, and often it keeps us from killing ourselves.
At around 10:43, my best friend Mike called me to arrange carpooling plans for our show, which was set for 3:00. I reluctantly answered as the first half was winding down. He was well aware of my Hammer fever and swore to make it quick:
Mike: "Yo, what time should I be at your house?"
Me: "Umm, whenever...like 1:00...or someth..."
Mike: "Ok, so I'll jus..."
(Carlos slips the go-ahead goal passed Van der Sar)
Me: "FUUUUUUUUCK YEESSSSSSSS! TEVEZ YOU BEAUTIFUL FUCKIN' BEAUTY!!!!!"
Mike: "Haha, what? Tevez scored, I assume?"
Me: "YESSSSSSSSS!...I'LL CALL YOU BACK!"
The next hour was as stressed as I have ever felt watching a television set. Man United were on constant attack. Robert Green was brilliant, as were the back four of Neill, Ferdinand, Collins and Spector. I recall a specific moment in injury time, where a ball fell to Paul Scholes about 30 yards out, and visions of his miracle volley earlier that year at Villa Park ran through my head. As his rocket of a right leg sent the ball into our back line, ricocheting back towards their goal, I said "Holy shit, they're gonna do it." I always expected things to go awry somewhere, whether it was Ronaldo embarrassing us in the second half or Dave Whelan's men sending us down at Brambell Lane. And while the latter was happening, the former was not. We weren't being embarrassed. In fact, we were somewhat embarrassing the Champs on their trophy day. But as the whistle blew, and I saw Yossi throw his hands into the air in ecstasy, it was clear that this was our day.
The guts that those fourteen men showed on that day is a memory I will treasure. People will speculate for years about whether or not the Hammers should have been able to stay up due to the shady MSI dealings. I hope one day football fans can take a step back and truly behold what an achievement this relegation escape was. We were "done and dusted," as they say. Even I thought so. It took a well defended Paul Scholes strike to finally change my mind.
After the match, I gave my Mother her gift (don't recall what it was) and told her that I loved her. My band met at my house, and we all left for the District.
We played to about twenty-five people in a basement. It ruled. That whole day ruled.
I have since dug my way out of the rut I was in. I have found a new job, and even new love interests that are not inanimate. I still watch every West Ham United game that does not fall on a weekday (new job, remember). I watch every week because I love football, and I love the club. I don't need them like I once did. But I'm confident that if and when I do need them, they will be there for me. That's why I love them.
-Matt R. a.k.a. One Man Jam
Avram Grant's dilemma or the Avram Grant dilemma?
When Jose Mourinho parted ways with Chelsea and Avram Grant was appointed as the new manager i couldnt believe it. completely wrong decision in my eyes. nothing has changed since. the way i saw it was would Roman Abramovich hire a 16 year old kid who just got his license to drive him around in his Bentley? would you hire a high school kid who made a 5 minute "movie" and put it on his myspace to direct a film with a Oceans 11 type cast? of course not. so the decision to place Grant in charge of one of the greatest collections of footballing talent in the world is deplorable.
Heading into today's Carling Cup final Grant has said that with players returning from injury and the ACN that he was facing one of the toughest decisions of his life in regards to lineup selections. i dont want to hear that from my manager. a manager at a top club must be ballsy and confident. they cant complain about the difficulty of having too many good players. make the starting XI selection with confidence and conviction. dont give in to pressure from players declaring that they have to start. you are in charge. make that known. but i guess he knows he's not in charge. that much is clear.
Since Grant took over the club the results have been pretty good with many people saying he is doing a good job. but results like the 6-0 win against Manchester City mean nothing. matches like that are a anomaly. overall Grant has not brought the promised attacking football. he has brought no results against the top clubs. defeats to Man United and Arsenal and a draw against Liverpool in league play. and today a loss in the Carling Cup final against Tottenham. Jose Mourinho had that ability to pull out results against the top clubs. something Grant clearly does not have. he has neither the top level experience or the tactically ability to lead this club. Mourinho would constantly make quick decisions to affect matches. changes in formation, early subs, etc. whatever it took. with Grant we have hardly seen a sub enter the match before the 70th minute, regardless of whats happening on the pitch. today's final was a perfect example of his tactically inability.
Having both Drogba and Anelka available is a major problem for Grant. he seems completely unsure of how to use them both. today he sent Chelsea out in the usual 433 with both of them in the lineup. horrible decision. neither Drogba or Anelka are wide players. so the choice is either to start both of them in a 442 or leave out Anelka and play the 433. as the match unfolded it was cleart that his approach was not working. a change had to be made but predictably it didnt come. the first change finally came in the 72nd minute. but it was a straight swap of Kalou on for SWP. still no change in tactics. 88th minute we saw Ballack on for Essien. still more of the same. finally in the 98th minute we saw Joe Cole come on for Mikel, bringing upon a switch to a 442. with the offense providing nothing Cole was the player that had to come on atleast 30-40 minutes earlier. he has his downside but also is one of the few players in the Chelsea squad that has an attacking flair that can change a match. it's as though Grants footballing brain moves in slow motion, if at all. any attempts at affecting the match always come far to late while Mourinho was always very proactive and aggressive in his changes. i guess Grant's tactics, and the speed at which he uses them, reflects his personality, as did Mourinho's.
At this point in the season i wouldnt be suprised at all if Chelsea ended up with no silverware at all. of course this would be a complete and utter failure. even if we do manage a trophy or two i hope Grant finds himself where he belongs, in an office as a technical director or advisor. if he continues to lead this club as the manager Chelsea will be unable to take that next step in their evolution as a club. there should be no doubt that Grant should not manage this club next season. If Abramovich doesnt make that decision for next season i think i'll end up completely losing it. there is no dilemma here. the choice is simple. send Grant packing. end of story.
-jim (tender branson)
Heading into today's Carling Cup final Grant has said that with players returning from injury and the ACN that he was facing one of the toughest decisions of his life in regards to lineup selections. i dont want to hear that from my manager. a manager at a top club must be ballsy and confident. they cant complain about the difficulty of having too many good players. make the starting XI selection with confidence and conviction. dont give in to pressure from players declaring that they have to start. you are in charge. make that known. but i guess he knows he's not in charge. that much is clear.
Since Grant took over the club the results have been pretty good with many people saying he is doing a good job. but results like the 6-0 win against Manchester City mean nothing. matches like that are a anomaly. overall Grant has not brought the promised attacking football. he has brought no results against the top clubs. defeats to Man United and Arsenal and a draw against Liverpool in league play. and today a loss in the Carling Cup final against Tottenham. Jose Mourinho had that ability to pull out results against the top clubs. something Grant clearly does not have. he has neither the top level experience or the tactically ability to lead this club. Mourinho would constantly make quick decisions to affect matches. changes in formation, early subs, etc. whatever it took. with Grant we have hardly seen a sub enter the match before the 70th minute, regardless of whats happening on the pitch. today's final was a perfect example of his tactically inability.
Having both Drogba and Anelka available is a major problem for Grant. he seems completely unsure of how to use them both. today he sent Chelsea out in the usual 433 with both of them in the lineup. horrible decision. neither Drogba or Anelka are wide players. so the choice is either to start both of them in a 442 or leave out Anelka and play the 433. as the match unfolded it was cleart that his approach was not working. a change had to be made but predictably it didnt come. the first change finally came in the 72nd minute. but it was a straight swap of Kalou on for SWP. still no change in tactics. 88th minute we saw Ballack on for Essien. still more of the same. finally in the 98th minute we saw Joe Cole come on for Mikel, bringing upon a switch to a 442. with the offense providing nothing Cole was the player that had to come on atleast 30-40 minutes earlier. he has his downside but also is one of the few players in the Chelsea squad that has an attacking flair that can change a match. it's as though Grants footballing brain moves in slow motion, if at all. any attempts at affecting the match always come far to late while Mourinho was always very proactive and aggressive in his changes. i guess Grant's tactics, and the speed at which he uses them, reflects his personality, as did Mourinho's.
At this point in the season i wouldnt be suprised at all if Chelsea ended up with no silverware at all. of course this would be a complete and utter failure. even if we do manage a trophy or two i hope Grant finds himself where he belongs, in an office as a technical director or advisor. if he continues to lead this club as the manager Chelsea will be unable to take that next step in their evolution as a club. there should be no doubt that Grant should not manage this club next season. If Abramovich doesnt make that decision for next season i think i'll end up completely losing it. there is no dilemma here. the choice is simple. send Grant packing. end of story.
-jim (tender branson)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Goal Keeping Dilemma
I'll tell you what... I would not want to be Arsene Wenger when it comes to choosing a keeper.
A) Jens Lehmann aka "Mad Jens"
The face of experienced goalkeeping at Arsenal. He's seen the ups and downs of the club, including the disappointment of last season. Though older and entering the final stage of his career, he says he remains committed to the club, even passing up a potential move to Borussia Dortmund. With the exception of two large blunders in the early parts of the season, he has more or less returned to his old ways of dependability. It should be noted that he is looking a bit slower since coming back from an injury this season.
B) Manuel Almunia aka "Inspector Gadget"
The potential new face of goalkeeping. Aside from a few performances in the past, Manuel had some proving to do coming into this season. After Mad Jens went out with an injury, Manuel was given his chance to step between the woodwork. He strung together a great set of performances, including the win against Chelsea at Ashburton Grove, and good number of clean sheets. He has proven himself a worthy keeper, putting aside notions of inconsistency and liability. He has more than challenged for first team positioning.
Tomorrow at St. Andrews will prove a large turning point for both keepers. Should le boss take Jens, and Almunia may be left waiting for his next chance to shine. Take Almunia, and Jens may have to see himself out much like what Gilberto Silva will most likely do at the end of the season.
Personally, I'd have to go with Almunia. He has his best days ahead of him, and his youth puts him more in line with the vibe of the squad and what the team is all about right now. He is passionate, hard-working, and does not take his chances for granted. Plus, Fabianski is still a good deal away from being match ready, so Manuel can really prove his valor.
C. Tech
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C. Tech
Gloria Ajax!
Marco Van Basten as manager, Johan Cruyff as a technical director. i agree with the second part. Cruyff might be a fairly controversial figure in the football world at times but AFC Ajax need him. but as much as i loved Van Basten as a player, his time in charge of the national team has been a disappointment. player selection problems, tactical and lineup disputes and an overall underwhelming team performance. a case of someone with no experience being given a job he simple wasnt ready for. and now with no experience managing at the club level he is taking over my beloved Ajax on July 1st.
June 2, 1971. Wembley Stadium. the first of three straight European Cups. a period of complete domination. in 1972 they won all five competitions they were in. one of the greatest squads ever. unfortunetely i wasnt around for it but i was for their great mid 90s team, including the Champions League win of 1995. this was the team that made me love club football. beforehand i had already fallen in love with the national team game. on June 8, 1990 i pretended to be sick so that i could stay home from school and watch Cameroon upset Argentina in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup. by the end of the tournament i was completely in love. Paul Caligiuri's goal against T&T had sparked the lust, but the 1990 World Cup turned it into love. but my exposure to the club game was still limited to tapes and watching serie a games on the italian channel we got. eventually it became slightly easier to follow european football leagues, in great part to the fact that i was getting older. as 1992 came and i was able to drive i started buying up every football magazine i could find. i would go to every little shop in my area to try and find them. for whatever reason it is that we choose a club, i chose Ajax and began to love them. i now had a club. then espn did the greatest thing and started showing eredivisie games. now i was able to watch them too. and as this was the mid 90s and they were the dominate dutch club, it was natural for them to show Ajax almost every week. so for years all i knew was success at Ajax. times have changed.
Ajax havent won anything in europe since. its become almost commonplace to not even be in the Champions League. there have been only 2 eredivisie titles since 1998. PSV has taken over as the best club in holland. there have been huge problems with the board running the team. power struggles between the coaches and directors. poor scouting leading to poor buys. even the once renowned youth academy is failing to produce world class players. but now there finally appears to be a change happening. the board that has been running the team (into the ground some might say) is apparently stepping down once a proper management team and structure is in place. the appointment of Cruyff as a technical director of sorts is a step in the right direction. he does polarize with many of his opinions. but he knows the game and is still seen as nearly a god in holland. but Van Basten isnt the man to lead Ajax to glory again. i question his ablility as a coach having watched all but one or two of the Dutch NT matches since he has taken over. the team has not put in good performances. with all the talented attacking players at his disposal the team still struggled to score goals, scoring only 15 in 12 Euro 08 qualifying matches, despite being in a group with luxembourg, albania, slovenia and belarus. i never saw the tactical acumen as a coach that i saw in him as a player. hopefully i'll be wrong in questioning his appointment as coach. somehow i dont see Ajax reliving their glory days of the 70s and 90s anytime soon. but a team that consistantly wins the eredivisie and de Klassieker against the f-word would be a step in the right direction.
-jimxdfa (tender branson)
June 2, 1971. Wembley Stadium. the first of three straight European Cups. a period of complete domination. in 1972 they won all five competitions they were in. one of the greatest squads ever. unfortunetely i wasnt around for it but i was for their great mid 90s team, including the Champions League win of 1995. this was the team that made me love club football. beforehand i had already fallen in love with the national team game. on June 8, 1990 i pretended to be sick so that i could stay home from school and watch Cameroon upset Argentina in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup. by the end of the tournament i was completely in love. Paul Caligiuri's goal against T&T had sparked the lust, but the 1990 World Cup turned it into love. but my exposure to the club game was still limited to tapes and watching serie a games on the italian channel we got. eventually it became slightly easier to follow european football leagues, in great part to the fact that i was getting older. as 1992 came and i was able to drive i started buying up every football magazine i could find. i would go to every little shop in my area to try and find them. for whatever reason it is that we choose a club, i chose Ajax and began to love them. i now had a club. then espn did the greatest thing and started showing eredivisie games. now i was able to watch them too. and as this was the mid 90s and they were the dominate dutch club, it was natural for them to show Ajax almost every week. so for years all i knew was success at Ajax. times have changed.
Ajax havent won anything in europe since. its become almost commonplace to not even be in the Champions League. there have been only 2 eredivisie titles since 1998. PSV has taken over as the best club in holland. there have been huge problems with the board running the team. power struggles between the coaches and directors. poor scouting leading to poor buys. even the once renowned youth academy is failing to produce world class players. but now there finally appears to be a change happening. the board that has been running the team (into the ground some might say) is apparently stepping down once a proper management team and structure is in place. the appointment of Cruyff as a technical director of sorts is a step in the right direction. he does polarize with many of his opinions. but he knows the game and is still seen as nearly a god in holland. but Van Basten isnt the man to lead Ajax to glory again. i question his ablility as a coach having watched all but one or two of the Dutch NT matches since he has taken over. the team has not put in good performances. with all the talented attacking players at his disposal the team still struggled to score goals, scoring only 15 in 12 Euro 08 qualifying matches, despite being in a group with luxembourg, albania, slovenia and belarus. i never saw the tactical acumen as a coach that i saw in him as a player. hopefully i'll be wrong in questioning his appointment as coach. somehow i dont see Ajax reliving their glory days of the 70s and 90s anytime soon. but a team that consistantly wins the eredivisie and de Klassieker against the f-word would be a step in the right direction.
-jimxdfa (tender branson)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
what a long strange trip it's been
Every Saturday I find myself glued to my television hoping to watch my reds defeat whomever they are chosen to play. Whether it be a league or cup match, I stand behind them as that 12th man on the pitch. From 6000+ miles away I'm draped in my Liverpool jersey and scarf singing along with the KOP as if I am 5 feet from the pitch. Sure, this year has gone the complete polar opposite of what I had hoped for but I have faith. I sit back and watch these moments where at that time, I was on cloud 9. I was on the highest of highs. Sitting in my friends apartment watching Liverpool play West Ham in the FA cup final. Typically it is a fun cup, however my good buddy loves West Ham so it was me vs. him. There is no way to describe what it feels like when Gerrard drove in that last gasp strike as seen here -
but my god, he did it! Liverpool won
Or even better, and this one still brings tears to my eyes and shivers to my spine. I still get choked up. Once Maureen took over the helm at Chelsea, there was a rivalry born, and it grew! To the point where I was more excited to see Liverpool play Chelski than I was for them to play Man U! When they met in that champions league semi final match and they drew at the bridge, I knew my almighty reds could bring it home at Anfield. The atmosphere was perfect. Luis Garcia snuck the ball past the line only for it to be knocked back out, but guess what? It was called a goal and rightfully so! That would be the only goal scored the entire match. That would secure Liverpool to the champions league final. I don't know which game was more important, winning to get to the final, or the final? If I ever want to describe the atmosphere which draws me to this beautiful game, this is it -
This is why I am here. This is why I love the game with all of my heart. This is Anfield.
but my god, he did it! Liverpool won
Or even better, and this one still brings tears to my eyes and shivers to my spine. I still get choked up. Once Maureen took over the helm at Chelsea, there was a rivalry born, and it grew! To the point where I was more excited to see Liverpool play Chelski than I was for them to play Man U! When they met in that champions league semi final match and they drew at the bridge, I knew my almighty reds could bring it home at Anfield. The atmosphere was perfect. Luis Garcia snuck the ball past the line only for it to be knocked back out, but guess what? It was called a goal and rightfully so! That would be the only goal scored the entire match. That would secure Liverpool to the champions league final. I don't know which game was more important, winning to get to the final, or the final? If I ever want to describe the atmosphere which draws me to this beautiful game, this is it -
This is why I am here. This is why I love the game with all of my heart. This is Anfield.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Hope for the best, expect the worst
Ok, I'm quickly writing this as i wait for today's Champions League games to start. i'm always so excited about the CL. it should be the best football we get to see each season. especially when you get to the second round and beyond. but it is so often a huge disappointment. the games are often very defensive and played at a slow pace. managers are so worried about conceding goals, especially an away goal, that attacking football plays a backseat to a tight defensive strategy. the games end up being Chelsea-Liverpool type snoozefests even when neither of those clubs are involved.
This same problem seems to take hold in all big international competitions as well. recent World Cups havent exactly been the most thrilling things in the world. sure there are some great matches here and there, but a cautious approach often leads to less than exciting matches. the occasional quality of the players seems to be the only thing that saves us at times from managers sending out boring 451s that bog down the midfield. and of course the final often ends up as the most boring match of the whole tournament since the managers are more scared of failure than actually trying to win the match.
now that i totally lost the ideas i had when i sat down to write this i'll wrap this up as the games are about to start. maybe arsenal and/or milan will prove me wrong today. i certainly hope so. and if not i'll still get excited in two weeks when the second legs approach. i guess the hope of a classic match outways the all too often disappointing reality.
-shitty rant by Jim.
This same problem seems to take hold in all big international competitions as well. recent World Cups havent exactly been the most thrilling things in the world. sure there are some great matches here and there, but a cautious approach often leads to less than exciting matches. the occasional quality of the players seems to be the only thing that saves us at times from managers sending out boring 451s that bog down the midfield. and of course the final often ends up as the most boring match of the whole tournament since the managers are more scared of failure than actually trying to win the match.
now that i totally lost the ideas i had when i sat down to write this i'll wrap this up as the games are about to start. maybe arsenal and/or milan will prove me wrong today. i certainly hope so. and if not i'll still get excited in two weeks when the second legs approach. i guess the hope of a classic match outways the all too often disappointing reality.
-shitty rant by Jim.
Hey coach lemme play striker
As a young kid i used to play left back. I think it was because i didn't really know what i was capable of. Not that being left back is a position for incapables, but i was just content with playing and basically playing at any position was good for me. As i grew though, i gained weight, got taller and stronger (and slower ^_^). It was too easy for me to get smoked by Ludovic Giuly type players who just dragged me around the pitch. So i was then moved up to defensive midfield. i really liked this spot because i always thought i had a really good vision of the game. I'm that player that thinks ahead before making the pass or the little technical move, but it never ends working out because i'm not technically good enough. So after a couple of games i kept losing balls an wasn't aggressive enough in bringing up the ball (i was also 14 at the time). So one match, we had our three strikers injured and i said "hey coach lemme play striker". They all laughed at little and said fine. I laughed too it was really just for fun. What's funny is that my style of play didn't fit our team at all. at the time i lived in Miami where there were a bunch of Venezuelans, Colombians, Brazilian and Argentinian players... and then a French guy. Needless to say they were much more quick and had WAY better ball control then i did. But i guess i could protect the ball good enough. Well anyways coach Beymar let me play striker and in that game i scored 3 goals, and hit two posts. I'll never forget that game because right when i scored i ate it really hard celebrating (funny because last year i did the same thing), and my breath got cut out. Well anyways, ever since striker has been my favorite position in football. I honestly don't think anyone can become a striker. You have to have the need to destroy the nets, to celebrate a goal, to change a game by yourself. Something that isn't really available in other positions. So that's how i became a striker. Later on tonight i have a game with Paris FC -18s against Courbevoie. I'm gonna score.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Missing a match/Background
For those of us that love our clubs, and all of us do, we know the power of a match.
I admit that I'm a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to following football, but the lovedrug is flowing through my veins. I came to know Arsenal Football Club about 2 seasons ago. It's been non-stop since then. We all know the tricks, spending hours on Wikipedia looking up everything about everything about every club in every league. You memorize cheers, songs, and traditions that you may never even get the chance to do. Immersing yourself in a culture that I would pay dearly to have Stateside. All other sports have taken a back seat. There are clubs that I will watch in other countries, but for me, I am a fan of football, and a lover of Arsenal.
I'd be lying if I said that I didn't fall asleep thinking about the match and how it would fall into place. Which players will do well? Who's going to deserve a sacking?
For weekend matches, I wake up about 5 minutes before kick-off, drag my pillows and comforter to the television and plop on the couch. I live with 12 other guys, and it's always just me, out on the couch alone. I swear heartily underneath my breath so as not to wake anyone, and I take my victories with a confident composure as I fall back asleep on the couch for another few hours as the next two clubs get underway.
But I love the mid-week matches. Another great excuse to go to the pub, have a few laughs with the rando's like me who show up, and usually a few ex-pats who don't mind tellin' the tales of how they got booted from Shite Hart Lane for pissing on the walls in the visitor's section. I yell at the screen and I try to have something witty to say for each of the opponents. And when those delightful moments when the Gunners put one into the net, I'm on my feet yelling as loud as I can, much like the rest of the room wearing red and white.
But every so often, those days come when I can't make it to the television or the pub. I've been known to throw arms up in triumph in class thanks to the beauty of ESPN Gamecast, but everyone knows it's not the same. The worst part about missing a match is that one instant when you realize that you won't be able to watch. It sinks my day.
When the day of the match rolls around, I'll still be walkin' around in my jersey, doing whatever it is that I have to do. If I find out it's a win, you'll see me with arms raised high the rest of the day. A loss might dampen my spirits, but you'll never find me removing the jersey. And you couldn't pay me to stop takin' so much pride in the Kings of North London.
Here's to those of us in it for the long-haul.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
C. Tech
I admit that I'm a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to following football, but the lovedrug is flowing through my veins. I came to know Arsenal Football Club about 2 seasons ago. It's been non-stop since then. We all know the tricks, spending hours on Wikipedia looking up everything about everything about every club in every league. You memorize cheers, songs, and traditions that you may never even get the chance to do. Immersing yourself in a culture that I would pay dearly to have Stateside. All other sports have taken a back seat. There are clubs that I will watch in other countries, but for me, I am a fan of football, and a lover of Arsenal.
I'd be lying if I said that I didn't fall asleep thinking about the match and how it would fall into place. Which players will do well? Who's going to deserve a sacking?
For weekend matches, I wake up about 5 minutes before kick-off, drag my pillows and comforter to the television and plop on the couch. I live with 12 other guys, and it's always just me, out on the couch alone. I swear heartily underneath my breath so as not to wake anyone, and I take my victories with a confident composure as I fall back asleep on the couch for another few hours as the next two clubs get underway.
But I love the mid-week matches. Another great excuse to go to the pub, have a few laughs with the rando's like me who show up, and usually a few ex-pats who don't mind tellin' the tales of how they got booted from Shite Hart Lane for pissing on the walls in the visitor's section. I yell at the screen and I try to have something witty to say for each of the opponents. And when those delightful moments when the Gunners put one into the net, I'm on my feet yelling as loud as I can, much like the rest of the room wearing red and white.
But every so often, those days come when I can't make it to the television or the pub. I've been known to throw arms up in triumph in class thanks to the beauty of ESPN Gamecast, but everyone knows it's not the same. The worst part about missing a match is that one instant when you realize that you won't be able to watch. It sinks my day.
When the day of the match rolls around, I'll still be walkin' around in my jersey, doing whatever it is that I have to do. If I find out it's a win, you'll see me with arms raised high the rest of the day. A loss might dampen my spirits, but you'll never find me removing the jersey. And you couldn't pay me to stop takin' so much pride in the Kings of North London.
Here's to those of us in it for the long-haul.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
C. Tech
Oh to be a red
My story begins during the FA Cup draw between Manchester United and Arsenal. To many this is the game that many die for, the day in which name's are taken and players are forever forsaken. But to me, this day just showed the disgust that I have always secretly had for my team. The showboating, the ego's, the swag. Is that what being a red is all about? Many of our players (the foreign ones) tend to just try and act like they are the definition of football, that they are simply the best and you cannot touch a finger on them. WELL FUCK YOU TOO YOU PORTUGUESE CUNTS. I'd much rather have a mid table team with players who appreciate the game such as Ji-Sung Park, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Carlos Tevez. So, quit disgracing my club.
/rant
/rant
So please don't take my Arsenal away
We love you Arsenal, We do, We love you Arsenal, We do, We love you Arsenal...
Since I first saw Arsenal I was in love. The Red The White, I needed nothing more. I've always had one love, baseball. I lived and died by the Boston Red Sox. I looked forward to the BC v. Red Sox game every spring, and to the Sunday double headers (when I was real young), to the last game of the season. I now have a competitor with that love. The Mistress who has brought me as much heartache and joy as my beloved. Arsenal Football Club. I'm 25 and have been a fan for a good eight years, and can say that the beautiful game has taken root. I fiend like an addict for Match Day. During the summer I watch my Red Sox and check BBC and SkySports for latest transfer news, search message boards, and shoot the shit on the 9'er. My Arsenal has brought something new, something exciting, and something long lasting into my life. I love the football I love this club, I love Arsene Wenger, and most of all I love this club.
-Rory
Editors Note: that's probably the least sarcastic post that will ever come from me.
Since I first saw Arsenal I was in love. The Red The White, I needed nothing more. I've always had one love, baseball. I lived and died by the Boston Red Sox. I looked forward to the BC v. Red Sox game every spring, and to the Sunday double headers (when I was real young), to the last game of the season. I now have a competitor with that love. The Mistress who has brought me as much heartache and joy as my beloved. Arsenal Football Club. I'm 25 and have been a fan for a good eight years, and can say that the beautiful game has taken root. I fiend like an addict for Match Day. During the summer I watch my Red Sox and check BBC and SkySports for latest transfer news, search message boards, and shoot the shit on the 9'er. My Arsenal has brought something new, something exciting, and something long lasting into my life. I love the football I love this club, I love Arsene Wenger, and most of all I love this club.
-Rory
Editors Note: that's probably the least sarcastic post that will ever come from me.
Paris SG
In my first topic, i want to talk about my team, Paris Saint-Germain. PSG is a relatively new team (created in 1970) compared to all of the other great teams in European football, but it's already marked history. PSG has only been champions of the French Ligue1 (D1 included) twice, in 1986 and 1994. From the early 80's all the way to the late 90's, PSG was a dominant team in France and Europe. They've reached the Semi Finals of the CCC, UEFA cup, and have won the C3.
All history aside, what i want to talk about is the players that have made PSG such a great and magical side, and why it's not longer as great and magical. PSG throughout history have had some of the best players in the world: Djorkaeff, Luis Fernandez, RaÏ, Weah, Le Guen, Ginola, Anelka, and Ronaldinho, just to name some. Today, it's no longer the case. Though PSG are equipped with very respectable players (Rothen, Pauleta, Landreau, Yepes), they no longer have the stars that made the great days of the most beautiful city in the world. We haven't finished in top3 in over 4 years now, and haven't played a significant role in any of the euro cups in over 6. What could the reason be? PSG play in a stadium where every two Saturdays over 40,000 fans come and cheer them on. The best fans in France sing their hearts out every two weeks hoping for a PSG win. But the results still don't come in. Is it that the Era Canal + has completely destroyed PSG's finances? It could be, but after Canal +, many investors and presidents have come with plans of a revival of PSG have come through and all have failed (with the exception of one year where the tandem Graille-Halilodzic got PSG to second place 3 points behind Lyon and into the champions league). Could it be the pressure the players suffer from the Media and fans? Could it be the financial situation of PSG that doesn't allow them to recruit big players? Or could it be that the club has lost all hopes of being the best team in France, and is the new St Etienne, or Reims (to name some)?
Canal + was the great PSG era. For those of you who may not be aware, Canal + is a private television channel that once owned PSG and financed the team. Canal + brought in all of the Raï's, Djorkaeff's, Ronaldinho's. Canal + is what made PSG's great history. While making PSG a team of stars, and making it competitive enough to beat Barcelona, Milan AC, etc... Canal + also left PSG in a great amount of Debt. PSG up to now still hasn't been able to pay back all of the debts because they are still 20 million euros in debt accord to the DNCG (detection nationale de controle de gestion). The DNCG are useless anyways and in my opinion are ruining french football because of their strict handling of finances, but that's just my opinion (aka fuck you DNCG). So all in all, could it be the DNCG and Canal + that are ruining/ruined PSG? It's hard to say but i think if this was a three way pie chart with other two options i gave in the introduction paragraph, it would make over 4/6ths.
Fans, fans, fans. Oh how great are the PSG fans. All of us show up to games every Saturday, whether it's home or away. PSG has one of the highest attendances in France. PSG has one of the nicest stadiums in Europe (Parc des Princes). So could it possibly be that the fans expect too much from PSG? Could it be that us fans, put too much pressure on PSG to get us results that are rightfully deserved? Maybe. But if that's the case, then PSG should get players capable of handling pressure, and aren't afraid to give 100 percent of themselves on the field. PSG needs warriors. Players that are aggressive, in the correct way (not violent way). The media? Could it possibly be that the media is putting too much shine on PSG, and therefore putting too much pressure on our players? I couldn't possibly believe this. The pressure isn't possibly as big as it was in the 90s, and in any case, our players should be able to take on the pressure. As i said before, if you can't take the heat, then hand over the PSG jersey on the way out.
PSG, is the 2nd most supported club behind Marseilles in france, with over 7 million fans in the Ile-de-France region alone. Each year, we have high expectations for such a powerful team, with such high capitol, and so many fans. But what if the investors of Paris SG simply did not have the same ambitions that the fans do? What if they just wanted to make PSG a money making machine and nothing else? They could careless about the results as long as there fans who come to the stadium (as there will always be so long as PSG stays in Ligue1), and the jerseys of those "star" players get sold? I would like to think that this is impossible. Because even if this was their mentality, in order to make the club a rich one, they'd have to invest in players that would bring back results and trophies. So this third option isn't really it.
Finally, I'd like to remind you readers that this club, Paris SG means the world to me. And I strongly believe that it'll only be a matter of years until PSG becomes a great and admired club all over the world again. PSG recently bought two Brazilian players, Souza and Everton Santos, who are supposed to be really good players who could bring a lot to the squad. I'd love for them to bring back memories of the Raï's, Leonardo's, and Ronaldinho's. There's nothing better than seeing Brazilian flags flowing through the virage Auteuil of the Parc des Pricnes. I can only hope for the best. And that's all I'll ever do when it comes to PSG!
-Adrian
All history aside, what i want to talk about is the players that have made PSG such a great and magical side, and why it's not longer as great and magical. PSG throughout history have had some of the best players in the world: Djorkaeff, Luis Fernandez, RaÏ, Weah, Le Guen, Ginola, Anelka, and Ronaldinho, just to name some. Today, it's no longer the case. Though PSG are equipped with very respectable players (Rothen, Pauleta, Landreau, Yepes), they no longer have the stars that made the great days of the most beautiful city in the world. We haven't finished in top3 in over 4 years now, and haven't played a significant role in any of the euro cups in over 6. What could the reason be? PSG play in a stadium where every two Saturdays over 40,000 fans come and cheer them on. The best fans in France sing their hearts out every two weeks hoping for a PSG win. But the results still don't come in. Is it that the Era Canal + has completely destroyed PSG's finances? It could be, but after Canal +, many investors and presidents have come with plans of a revival of PSG have come through and all have failed (with the exception of one year where the tandem Graille-Halilodzic got PSG to second place 3 points behind Lyon and into the champions league). Could it be the pressure the players suffer from the Media and fans? Could it be the financial situation of PSG that doesn't allow them to recruit big players? Or could it be that the club has lost all hopes of being the best team in France, and is the new St Etienne, or Reims (to name some)?
Canal + was the great PSG era. For those of you who may not be aware, Canal + is a private television channel that once owned PSG and financed the team. Canal + brought in all of the Raï's, Djorkaeff's, Ronaldinho's. Canal + is what made PSG's great history. While making PSG a team of stars, and making it competitive enough to beat Barcelona, Milan AC, etc... Canal + also left PSG in a great amount of Debt. PSG up to now still hasn't been able to pay back all of the debts because they are still 20 million euros in debt accord to the DNCG (detection nationale de controle de gestion). The DNCG are useless anyways and in my opinion are ruining french football because of their strict handling of finances, but that's just my opinion (aka fuck you DNCG). So all in all, could it be the DNCG and Canal + that are ruining/ruined PSG? It's hard to say but i think if this was a three way pie chart with other two options i gave in the introduction paragraph, it would make over 4/6ths.
Fans, fans, fans. Oh how great are the PSG fans. All of us show up to games every Saturday, whether it's home or away. PSG has one of the highest attendances in France. PSG has one of the nicest stadiums in Europe (Parc des Princes). So could it possibly be that the fans expect too much from PSG? Could it be that us fans, put too much pressure on PSG to get us results that are rightfully deserved? Maybe. But if that's the case, then PSG should get players capable of handling pressure, and aren't afraid to give 100 percent of themselves on the field. PSG needs warriors. Players that are aggressive, in the correct way (not violent way). The media? Could it possibly be that the media is putting too much shine on PSG, and therefore putting too much pressure on our players? I couldn't possibly believe this. The pressure isn't possibly as big as it was in the 90s, and in any case, our players should be able to take on the pressure. As i said before, if you can't take the heat, then hand over the PSG jersey on the way out.
PSG, is the 2nd most supported club behind Marseilles in france, with over 7 million fans in the Ile-de-France region alone. Each year, we have high expectations for such a powerful team, with such high capitol, and so many fans. But what if the investors of Paris SG simply did not have the same ambitions that the fans do? What if they just wanted to make PSG a money making machine and nothing else? They could careless about the results as long as there fans who come to the stadium (as there will always be so long as PSG stays in Ligue1), and the jerseys of those "star" players get sold? I would like to think that this is impossible. Because even if this was their mentality, in order to make the club a rich one, they'd have to invest in players that would bring back results and trophies. So this third option isn't really it.
Finally, I'd like to remind you readers that this club, Paris SG means the world to me. And I strongly believe that it'll only be a matter of years until PSG becomes a great and admired club all over the world again. PSG recently bought two Brazilian players, Souza and Everton Santos, who are supposed to be really good players who could bring a lot to the squad. I'd love for them to bring back memories of the Raï's, Leonardo's, and Ronaldinho's. There's nothing better than seeing Brazilian flags flowing through the virage Auteuil of the Parc des Pricnes. I can only hope for the best. And that's all I'll ever do when it comes to PSG!
-Adrian
Match day
Write about what football means to you.
Leagues, players, managers, stadiums, transfers, songs.
Everyone has something to say, so say it.
Make sure you put your name somewhere in your entry so we know who wrote it, whether at the end or in the title.
Let's make this as good as it gets.
C. Tech
Leagues, players, managers, stadiums, transfers, songs.
Everyone has something to say, so say it.
Make sure you put your name somewhere in your entry so we know who wrote it, whether at the end or in the title.
Let's make this as good as it gets.
C. Tech
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