Archive for August, 2012

UEFA Best Player Award goes to Barcelona…Again

The 2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe was announced. To the surprise of many the recipient was neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi. No, Andres Iniesta won the 2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. UEFA’s 53 member nations voted live at the Champions League draw. It was a surprise for all. One of the [...]

Serie A’s Troubles - Can the league turn it around before it’s too late?

Once home of international stars such as France’s Zinedine Zidane, Brazil’s Ronaldo, Argentine Hernán Crespo, Ukraine’s Andriy Shevchenko, Dutchman Marco van Basten and more; Serie A has seen an alarming exodus of it’s top players in recent years. Gone are Italian legends Alessandro Del Piero, Alessandro Nesta, Pippo Inzaghi and Fabio Cannavaro; as well as recent [...]

Will Dimitar Berbatov go down as a Manchester United success?

After months of speculation and transfer gossip, it’s Fulham who have finally won the race to sign Manchester United wantaway striker, Dimitar Berbatov. The £30.75m marquee signing is moving on for a paltry sum of £4m, but does the difference in transfer fees really tell the story of Berbatov’s time with the Red Devils? In his [...]

The Lowry Lowdown: MLS WAGS

For those of you who don’t know, WAGS means wives and girlfriends, and you have to be crazy to be one in MLS. Most Major League Soccer players aren’t millionaires. The vast majority of us don’t get paid enough to spoil you like WAGS in Europe, where contracts are guaranteed and wages are much higher. [...]

By August 31, 2012 0 Comments Read More →

Champions League Draw Highlights: City to face Madrid

Of the eight quartets decided at the Champions League Group Stage draw today in Monaco, there is one that clearly stands out: Group D. The group has already been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ and consists of the champions of England, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. Real Madrid and Manchester City will be favored to [...]

Liverpool-Hearts: Home Is Where The Heart Is

Two men that have achieved a lot in football once said: They seemed unstoppable. Even experienced players can have a bad start because of the excitement of playing in such a stadium. –Fabio Capello I felt the power, it was magnificent. –Jose Mourinho These men may have accomplished a lot but there was one thing [...]

Dimitar Berbatov - fabulous, frustrated and Fulham bound

When trying to assess Dimitar Berbatov’s time as a Manchester United player, quite a few F’s come to mind (and no, not that one). Signed from Tottenham on transfer deadline day in 2008, despite a late bid from Manchester City - whose takeover by billionaires from Abu Dhabi had been confirmed just hours earlier - [...]

Inter Milan set to lose two Brazilian internationals before transfer deadline

After being linked with a move away from the San Siro since the transfer window opened, it looks like goalkeeper Julio Cesar has finally completed his move away from the Nerazzurri. The Brazilian will finalize his move to London side Queens Park Rangers shortly and its rumored to be a four year deal worth 2.5 million [...]

By August 30, 2012 0 Comments Read More →

Javi Martinez joins Bayern Munich in German history’s biggest transfer deal

After nearly a month of negotiations between FC Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga and Athletic Bilbao of Spanish La Liga BBVA, the terms and completion of Javi Martinez’s transfer to the capital of Bavaria has been completed. According to the Telegraph the deal is worth a German transfer record fee of £31.6 million which [...]

Borussia Monchengladbach Falls To Dynamo Kiev in Champions League qualifiers

Borussia Monchengladbach were the club that surprised everyone in the German Bundesliga last season. Their final position in the league table saw then earn a place in the UEFA Champions League qualification round this late summer, and it was anticipated by many of their fans for it to be a season to remember. However, after [...]

The Evolution of the Game

The Evolution of the Game

Many may recognize the game football, or soccer, but few know the origin, history and meaning behind the game. Many cultures have played some form of the sport for over 3000 years, though the initial birth of the game remains uncertain. One of the earliest known appearances has been dated back to around 1004 B.C. [...]

The Steve Bould effect is kicking in at Arsenal

When Steve Bould was confirmed as Arsenal’s new assistant manager, replacing the long-serving Pat Rice, the fans were optimistic. While everyone was grateful for Rice’s contribution to the club, there was a sense that a fresh approach was needed, and the perceived wisdom was that Bould would bring that. After pre-season, few were convinced. That [...]

By August 29, 2012 1 Comments Read More →

Luka Modric Deal is Just What Tottenham Need

Let’s not play games on this one—you know just as well as I do that the Tottenham Hotspurs haven’t started the season well. Despite all their off-season moves and transfers, they simply have not delivered in the first two rounds of the 2012-13 English Premier League season. Maybe there was too much hype on Andre [...]

Stade de Reims: Back From The Dead

Picture the scene: On Sunday afternoon, an old man sits quietly enjoying a glass of wine somewhere in the north east of France, there’s a spring in the step of all those around him and a quiet satisfaction from the man. A lot has changed over the years, but what happened just one day prior [...]

Tottenham land Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembele for £23 million

With just less than 24 hours having past since the finalizing of the £27 million deal to send Luka Modric to Real Madrid, Tottenham have already turned around and splashed £23 million of it right back out. BBC Sports announced that the club has raided fellow London side Fulham for the services of Belgian midfield [...]

Inter flying high after win over Pescara

Inter began their Serie A campaign last Sunday, away to newcomers Pescara. Looking to improve upon their baffling 6th place finish last season, Inter came out of the gate firing and beat Pescara by a score of 3-0. Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni favored a 4-3-2-1, as opposed to his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, which saw new [...]

By August 28, 2012 0 Comments Read More →