Vein of Form

Forever, Michael

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:55:00 +0000

The most famous football player in Fulham FC's history has finally been given the proper tribute. Michael Jackson - one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders to ever grace a pitch - has been honored with a statue outside of Craven Cottage. For those that are not aware of Jackson's heroics, Craven Cottage is the home ground of Fulham. A place that visiting teams feared while Jackson was a mainstay in the starting IX.

Over the course of an eleven year career - cut short due to a recurring knee injury - Jackson averaged 19.2 goals a season. During the famous 1986 season, Jackson scored 33 goals and was named Player of the Year.

Fulham were relegated to the English Third Division.

Gary, Indiana - The Dream Begins

As a child growing up in Gary, Indiana USA Jackson learned he had a gift. He could do things with balls at his feet that no other player in the Midwest of the US could dream of. Jackson led his local high school to 4 straight state championships. His coach would often start 9 players just to make the matches competitive. A local reporter once asked Jackson how he became the most famous high school soccer player in the country. Jackson responded, "I have no idea".

As a senior the Gary High School stands were filled with scouts, managers and team owners from world renowned clubs. Liverpool, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Boca Juniors and the Milwaukee Wave all came armed with professional contracts and the promise of fortune, fame and women.

Jackson said he had no interest in women. He just loved playing the game.

The player would shock the world by spurning the advances of all the top clubs by signing with one of the worst clubs in London. When asked why he chose Fulham over the likes of Madrid, Milan and Liverpool Jackson responded, "They speak English in London".

The number of people Jackson inspired cannot be underestimated. Although, in a recent study some think it is in the thousands. Youngsters that never thought they could play the game at its highest level now believed they could because of Jackson. Most failed miserably.

Jackson talking to aspiring Fulham players

Despite being an American, Jackson never featured for the US National Team. He claimed to be a "player of the world". And that he didn't feel comfortable in the colors of any country - especially one that was as atrocious as the US.

This only endeared him to the Fulham fans. This only endeared him to the fans of the greatest game in the world. Jackson's jersey is still the #1 seller at the Fulham club shop. In fact, so beloved is Jackson in England that his name is adorned on more club jerseys than any other player. That is how adored this man remains.

I was just getting into the game when Jackson was in his prime. His later years were marred by injury, questionable decision on and off the pitch and financial troubles. I try not to let this cloud the grainy video footage I watch on my laptop of the Great Man. Without Jackson there would be no Zidane. There would be no Xavi. There would be no Joey Barton.

God bless Fulham for this statue. This is a monument that fans around the globe will flock to for decades.

Is Michael Jackson the greatest of all time? This will be debated long after I am gone. Long after the internet has faded into the sunset and some new fad has taken its place. But football will always be here.

And where football is played - where little kids run free playing the game - Michael Jackson's presence will always be felt.

Failed States

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 02:24:00 +0000

Looking Back at the 2007 U20 FIFA World Cup

Vein of Form recently lashed out at the development (or lack thereof) of the youth players in the US Soccer system. There is a serious cause for concern when you look at the current squad and see very few young, exciting and talented players working their way into the squad. Juan Agudelo has looked great in a handful of performances. But beyond the youngster from NYRB, you could imagine if the World Cup were held this summer, Bob Bradley would take a near identical squad to what was fielded in South Africa.

Quite simply, the national team system has failed and I would go so far as to say the domestic league - MLS - has done an equally poor job producing homegrown players.

Where did it all go wrong?

I'd ask that you think back to 2007. For US Soccer fans this was a very exciting year. The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was something of a showcase for the a promising collection of players that you'll recall topped their group by drawing South Korea (1-1), crushing Poland (6-1) and beating Brazil (2-1). The topped Uruguay in the Round of 16 before falling to Austria in the quarterfinals.

Allow me to throw some names out at you that were top performers for the US during this competition: Michael Bradley, Danny Szetela, Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Sal Zizzo, Gabriel Ferrari.

Stick with me here. Now, take a glance at some of the other players in this competition that you may have heard of: Alexis Sanchez (Chile), Gerard Pique (Spain), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Javier Hernandez (Mexico), David Luiz (Brazil), Sergio Aguero (Argentina).

Where Has All The Promise Gone?

See where I am going with this? The non-USA players I listed were part of squads that have many players that now make the starting lineups of massive clubs all over the world. None of the players from that promising USA team are even on the radar of top clubs. Michael Bradley has not featured much since his move to Aston Villa. And even then he has never been able to capture the magic he displayed for Heerenveen while in Holland which earned him a move to Germany to play for Borussia Monchengladbach. He is a regular starter for the US - and deservedly so given his performances for the national team - but he has not reclaimed that box-to-box form that made him so impressive in Holland.

I'll talk about Adu and Altidore shortly, but great teams are made up of a collection of very talented players. Danny Szetela went from Columbus Crew to Racing Santander after that great 2007 World Cup. Then, he was loaned to Italian side Brescia (then in Serie B) before being sent to DC United in MLS only to be subsequently released.

Sal Zizzo went to Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga in '07, failed to make a dent and was loaned out to a German second division side called Fortuna Dusseldorf. Poor performances and injury sent him back to MLS where he is now playing for the expansion team Portland Timbers.

Gabriel Ferrari has had more clubs than a pro golfer has in his bag. He was on the books for Serie A club Sampdoria before bouncing around with Perugia, Foggia, Temana, Wohlen and now back to MLS trying to build a career with Chicago Fire.

Luis Suarez - Still Scoring

Patience - I will get to Adu and Altidore - but think about the Chilean Sanchez and how he is lighting it up with Udinese right now in Italy. Pique is a rock for reigning World and European champion Spain while starting for the best club in the world - Barcelona. Suarez made a huge move this winter to Liverpool, Luiz to Chelsea and Hernandez is possibly the best signing of the year in England scoring huge goals for potential champions Manchester United. Aguero is admittedly having a down year with Atletico Madrid but has been considered one of the best young strikers in the world for the last 3 seasons.

Adu and Altidore - The Dream is Over

US Soccer has failed to develop a world class player from that 2007 squad and it is simply unacceptable. It is an embarrassment and unfathomable that our national team's system is so devoid of coaching talent right now. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. Just a long dark road ahead - particularly when you focus in on Adu and Altidore.

Adu is without question the biggest fraud in the history of professional soccer. Not just American soccer - world football. You can argue he was a media creation that was never going to emerge as a star. Or you could look at how MLS clubs DC United and Real Salt Lake could not develop his talents nor could US Soccer. Stints with AS Monaco and Benfica before moving on to Aris in Greece were all fruitless and produced zero moments that made you think Adu was coming good.

He is playing for Rizespor in the Turkish second division right now. Second division Turkish football. I would argue Adu couldn't make the squad of most MLS clubs. That is how far gone he is and whatever his true age may be he is finished at the international level and possibly at club level come season's end. Adu has shown zero reason for any club to want to pay him to play football.

Altidore is a very worrisome case. I honestly felt when he was playing for New York in MLS that he was going to be the first international superstar from the US that was a scoring threat at all times. It is evident now that he moved way too soon and that his lack of match play and coaching from US Soccer has stunted his development. Watching him against Argentina on Saturday was depressing. Watching him in most matches is depressing as his touch is heavy, his finishing non-existent and his inability to beat defenders reason to think he should no longer be first choice up top.

Think about this: The US National Team's striker has scored 2 goals at top club level since 2008. He scored early in his brief stint with Villareal in Spain and again with Hull City during a loan spell in England. Altidore is toiling away in Turkey right now with Bursaspor. He should swallow his pride and return to MLS. As it stands, his dream to play at a top club in Europe is finished.

Not So Fast, Juan

I stand by what I wrote in the MLS preview - that I want major clubs showing interest in Agudelo come season's end. I just don't want him to leave yet. If he continues to rapid ascent it would be thrilling for MLS and for the national side. But 18 is clearly too young of an age for an American player to move abroad. Their skills are nowhere near the development of their South American or European counterparts. The fact is American soccer players do not come into their prime until their mid-20s or late 20s.

Think of Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey at Fulham. Landon Donovan's brief stint with Everton when he finally impressed in Europe after a failed move to Germany.

Steve Cherundolo can make a case that he is the best outfield American player of all time given his length at German club Hannover 96 and the fact he has been a long serving captain. Maurice Edu is 24 and having success with Scottish giant Rangers. The bulk of Coach Bob Bradley's squad are aging players that are toiling away at clubs near the bottom of their respective leagues or in MLS.

No internationally recognized names featuring for big clubs. No one that is currently setting American fans' hearts on fire thinking of what may come in 2014 and beyond.

At the risk of sounding like an arrogant American, the USA should be dominating the game. Because of the vast array of sports our youth can participate in the country produces more natural athletes than any other country on Earth. Our 13 year olds are better athletes than those in any other country. They just don't get the proper coaching to combine that athletic prowess with the technical ability found in Spain, Brazil or Germany.

The 2007 U20 squad is the prime example of the failure of the USA's development of the world's game. Until someone within US Soccer steps up and stops this rot immediately there will continue to be disappointments such as Adu and Altidore. There will continue to be a mediocre at best US Men's National Team.

We'll Make It I Swear

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:28:00 +0000

It is hard to imagine things more soul-sucking than a week that is dedicated to international fixtures. The domestic leagues are reaching a boiling point and all the excitement is killed by these FIFA dates for friendlies and Euro qualifiers.

For example, the English media are so devoid of interesting topics they are harping on the fact Gareth Bale may miss the upcoming Wales v. England qualifier. And that it serves as some kind of boost for the England squad. Seriously, dudes.

If England cannot easily handle a Welsh side with or without Bale then there are far more glaring problems than previously thought.

One of these is not like the other.

Moving right along, there are some good things to check out this week. MLS doesn't stop for anything. Not a World Cup and certainly not some ridiculous FIFA date. Even though The Nats are playing Argentina and Paraguay this week, the domestic league just keeps rolling on. There are some interesting matches this week: Columbus v. New York, New England v. DC United and Real Salt Lake v. LA Galaxy.

Both USMNT matches are televised. The Argentina match is on ESPN2 at 7PM EST on Saturday and the Paraguay match is on the shitty Fox Soccer Channel at 8PM EST the following Tuesday. These are friendlies and I'd rather see them play these teams in say, the Copa America, but remember that won't happen anytime soon because the US sent a C squad to the competition last time and pissed off the confederation. Thus, probably never getting an invited to the second best regional competition on Earth. USA! USA! USA!

Off the top of my head these things are worse than international breaks: music by Jack Johnson, any TV show about doctors, women's college basketball and freezing temperatures in March.

Now watch this video:

Dream Big

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:37:00 +0000

The National Football League is currently in meltdown as the owners have locked out the players, the players are going to take these owners to court and the season starting on time / actually happening is in jeopardy. This is a situation where billionaires are having an argument with millionaires over how to distribute billions of dollars amongst them. Oh by the way the MLS season kicked off last weekend and there were some cracking matches.

One more thing, superstar NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco for the Cincinnati Bengals wants to try out for the franchise Sporting KC. Manager Peter Vermes has spoken with Ochocinco and claims the player is dead serious. This has some fans of the sport concerned that it makes a mockery of the league. That some dude thinks he can just walk onto the pitch of a sport he has zero professional or collegiate experience playing and act like it is no big thing.

I think just the opposite. I think this is proof that fans of the US Soccer should be pissed off that we are not consistently killing it at the international level and that our development system is losing its best athletes to other sports. Ochocinco can probably make this squad. He is too fast, too strong and too great an athlete to embarrass himself out there. He will probably look off the pace and positioned wrong but I'm not suggesting KC throws him into a starting role against Real Salt Lake.

Football Players

Maybe they get a favorable draw in the US Open Cup and go for an early lead in the first half to kill the match. Put Ochocinco on for 30-40 minutes and see what he does against mediocre competition. Then, go ask the people in charge of development why players of such tremendous athletic ability are escaping them at a young age and it requires a work stoppage to get them interested in playing professionally.

Find out from USMNT development what they are doing to drive prospects away, fail to attract them in the first place and cripple our progress in the game. Are they showing prospects on the fence matches played by Barcelona, Manchester United, and Real Madrid? Wait, are they flying them to these matches so they can soak up the atmosphere at major club matches? Or are they hoping their parents plop down the extra $35 a month for FSC and FSC Plus and suggesting they watch on their own?

Anyway, my hope is that Ochocinco looks terrific and turns out to be a player of value.

Look, this is what makes American sports great and what makes sports in the country a Land of Opportunity. We have athletes that can play soccer, football, baseball, basketball or track & field all within the same year and turn pro in any of them. We've got players that forgo multi-million dollar contracts in the NFL so they can pursue their passion for baseball and toil in the minor leagues for 3 or 4 years. We've got players that turn down pro contracts to represent their country in the Olympic Games. That is heart, commitment and love for sport that other countries simply cannot provide.

Football Fan

The fact that Ochocinco can even have this option is what our forefathers had in mind from the beginning. I'd love to go back in time and tell John Adams that it is all worth it because his heroics and love of country will benefit a sport that a majority of his fellow citizens don't care about in 2011. And when J.A. looks at me all confused I'll tell him 2011 is just the start. That young kids will tune into MLS because of Ochocinco (and who knows what other NFL players eventually) and thus the league prospers over the next decade and becomes not nearly as good as La Liga or the Premier League but certainly more entertaining than the dire Serie A.

See, Ochocinco even considering the MLS is the perfect representation of The American Dream. I'm writing a soccer blog that 20 people read - if that - and think I know more than 90% of the soccer commentators in America. Ochocinco inspires me too!

This is the furthest thing from a mockery or a stunt. This is a millionaire athlete saying he would rather play a sport that excites him, that he sees passion in and that is played all over the globe than get in a fracas with a bunch of greedy shits over whether they can even play a game. I hope more join him. I hope the league gets an influx of NFL stars in the coming weeks, months or whenever.

Let the NFL stay locked out forever while MLS benefits. Just don't bring your labor union hissy fits to our game.

Going Through Changes

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:33:00 +0000

It has been announced that the groundbreaking podcast, World Football Daily, will be going through a massive change. Co-host, show founder and quite frankly one of the biggest influences on the game in North America - Steven Cohen - will be stepping away from the mic in two weeks time.

The show was started nearly a decade ago by Cohen and Nick Geber. It has easily attracted more Americans to the World's Game than a David Beckham publicity stunt ever could. Geber resigned from the show several years ago and Kenny Hassan assumed the official co-host role shortly thereafter. Hassan will continue as a solo host for the time being. Ensuring that one of the most robust, engaging and thought provoking sport podcasts in the world will go on...daily.

Cohen is a controversial figure to say the least. As a Liverpool fan I feel I need to address the fact he has in the past been offensive, insulting and had a completely obnoxious attitude towards the club I support. His comments regarding tragedies that have involved Liverpool Football Club got Cohen in hot water while a co-host on Fox Soccer Channel's Fox Football Phone-In and more recently incited a global protest against World Football Daily (known at the time as World Soccer Daily).

Essentially, the Liverpool supporters at the heart of the protest forced the show off satellite radio, drove sponsors away in droves and brought unnecessary (and illegal) threats against Cohen and his family. The abuse that Cohen and his family endured are acts no moral and decent human could ever support or engage in.

Cohen persistently raged against Liverpool and its millions of fans. Many of whom are paying WFD subscribers. His rants have rendered Liverpool supporters extinct from participating in the show. While the actions of many were (and continue to be ) reprehensible, Cohen often seemed to suggest that the entire fanbase were scum and not welcome to participate on his show.

While it is disappointing that supporters of one of the biggest clubs in the English Premier League - the primary focus of the show - are largely kept in the shadows, the show attracts world class journalists, players and managers. It is without question that Cohen's vision has taken the show to the next level.

Five days a week listeners get insights, tactics and often times segments of sheer comedy that make whatever fee they charge a bargain. Throughout the years regular callers and emailers have become like close friends to fans of this show.

And I am happy to call myself a fan.

Cohen has stated he has other interests to pursue and after 9 years you cannot blame him. Yet, I don't for a second believe we will not be seeing him in some capacity contributing to the sport either through radio, television or social media.

I enjoy listening to Steven and thought the early incarnation of Fox Football Friday when he and Gerber sat on a couch in a dingy basement talking for an hour was one of the most entertaining and under appreciated shows in recent memory to air on a sports network.

The man is a pioneer - no question. The man is controversial and that will never change. His ego will not allow it. The show will go on but will never be the same. The sport will continue to grow in North America and more fans will adopt European clubs to support.

Call me melodramatic or over estimating a guy who started a podcast and his importance on the game in this country. But I hope years from now when I see fields filled with kids playing soccer matches on the weekend, their parents know Steven Cohen by name, are still listening to World Football Daily and feel in some way his influence helped encourage their children to play the greatest game in the world.

Breaking News: Fernando Torres Sucks

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:01:00 +0000

Since departing Anfield at the end of the January transfer window, Fernando Torres has been talking more about Liverpool Football Club than some of the current players seem to. Torres has spoken of turmoil at the club, his desire to win trophies and play in the Champions League.

Fair enough, this is a player that scored the winning goal for Spain at Euro 2008 and was part of the World Cup winning squad in South Africa. Part of the squad meaning his poor form and nagging injuries kept him from being a contributor. In 2008 Torres was a player in the ascent. Possibly the best striker in the world at the

time, he bagged 33 goals in all competitions and made 46 appearances. That return proved the money Liverpool spent was well worth it. Some considered it a steal and the Anfield faithful were in love.

Happy days indeed. The following season his appearances dropped to 38 and his goal tally to 17. In 2009-2010 his appearances again declined to 32 while his goals trended upwards - 22 in total - but still well off that magical 2007-2008 run of form. You know where I am going with this. 2010-2011 the injuries limited Torres to 26 appearances and 9 goals for Liverpool. This was a player some felt was priceless at one point and now was highly injury prone, clearly not enjoying his football and regularly the focus of leaked reports that a move was imminent.

Where am I going with this? You still have ask?

Torres was sulking on the pitch during the early part of this season with Liverpool (and some would say he is doing the same at Stamford Bridge). He was blatantly using the ownership situation at Anfield to cover up his poor form. Torres knows he is no longer the player from 2008. We've seen this happen to young players before. Brazilians seem most prone to flaming out by their late 20s as the matches pile up, the travel for domestic league takes its toll, Champions League matches and international appearances wears on them and next thing you know they are an afterthought. A "could have been amongst the best" type of story.

Wayne Rooney has been dealing with these accusations throughout the season but I think it is more obvious with Torres. He is not just out of form but looks like he does not want to be playing football. He got the move he supposedly desired most - to Chelsea Football Club where he will have the owner's finances to buy any support he needs, Champions League football and the global city to showcase his skill.

He is off the pace whenever he plays. Has been that way for some time. Torres is probably still nowhere near 100% fit but even if he were the attitude he displays proves Liverpool were right in selling when they did. Bringing in a hungry Luis Suarez and the emerging Andy Carroll to replace a pissy Spaniard for a small cost to them was brilliant business. Let Chelsea figure out what is wrong with Torres. Let "role models" like Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka lead him back to his '08 form.

And there he was on the bench against FC Copenhagen midweek being "rested" for Chelsea's fixture against Manchester City this weekend. The striker made an appearance in the 68th minute, plodded around the pitch for the remainder of the match and once again failed to score. Should he bag a goal against City this weekend it does not mean he has turned a corner and regained form.

Should he come up with a massive goal against Manchester United in the Champions League quarter finals it would go some way to restoring his confidence. Perhaps even his reputation. But I don't see that happening. Torres may be too far gone to re-emerge as one of the world's best. David Villa has eclipsed him by a country mile as the best Spanish striker of this generation.

Torres may not be first choice at club or for country any longer. This is his own doing. He is not mentally strong enough to rehab from injuries. He is not mentally strong enough to shake off poor form and put the ball in the back of the net. 2008 was not so long ago in the hearts of Spanish football fans.

2008 is ancient times when you try to remember the last time Fernando Torres simply could not be defended.

MLS 2011 Preview

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:13:00 +0000

Vein of Form will not be negative about our 2011 MLS season forecast. While we fully expect there to be slow build ups from the back, shoddy passing, periods of the match where it looks like no one wants to be out there and a ridiculous playoff format there is plenty to be excited about!

Friday Night Football. MLS will be featuring a Friday night match on Fox Soccer Channel throughout the season. This is fantastic. The matches will probably get shitty ratings but fans are going to tune in for this. What a better way to start off the footballing weekend? A quick glance and these Friday fixtures look like the match-ups of the weekend in MLS. Just look at these:

March 25 - Seattle at Houston
April 1 - Columbus at FC Dallas
April 8 - FC Dallas at Colorado
April 22 - Colorado at Seattle

Not kidding - I am so looking forward this change in the schedule and plan on tuning in to Fox Soccer Channel with the television on mute.

Red Bull New York need a big season. I want this to happen so bad. The league needs a true beast to emerge from the East and create a super rivalry of sorts with Galaxy or Real Salt Lake. A dream scenario would be for Thierry Henry to lead that charge. Imagine Henry banging in 30 or more goals and terrorizing MLS defenses like back in his days roaming the Highbury pitch. He remains my favorite all time Premier League player and is only 33 years old. A fit Henry approaching his mid-30s should still be unstoppable in this league. And hopefully he forms an explosive partnership with Juan Agudelo.

Agudelo is Vein of Form's MLS Player Whose Name You Should Get on the Back of Your Jersey. In my dream world by season's end Agudelo will have MLS bricking because a handful of European clubs are bidding on his services. The spurts we've seen of him - particularly at the international level with the US - reveal a raw talent that with a mix of coaching and guidance (read: Thierry Henry) could emerge as the new face of United States soccer.

The Henry / Agudelo duo has the potential to lead RBNY to MLS Cup and for the good of the league all fans should want to see this fulfilled.

Jason Kreis is a leader of men. It is crazy that the manager is the star of a franchise featuring Kyle Beckerman, Fabian Espindola and Javier Morales. People like to compare him to Jose Mourinho but Kreis hasn't won near enough...yet. I do like this whole mythology being built around him though. He drills his players hard, makes them believe they can achieve great things and allows them to sort it out on the pitch while he conducts from the sideline. I think he needs to upgrade his wardrobe a bit but that is another discussion.

He has one MLS Cup but need 3 or 4 more. Serious. He needs to lead RLS not out of a CONCACAF Champions League group but to a final. Then, he needs to win the CONCACAF Champions League. RLS are an exciting team that could very well be in contention for a Supporter's Shield and make a run at the cup final. But I will watch them every chance I get because of Kreis. I want to see a genuine managing prodigy grow into someone that eventually takes a job overseas. That experiences success in a more popular league and then takes control of the US National Team.

MLS expansion is working but shouldn't get out of hand. I don't want a league already struggling to prove its quality top to bottom becoming more diluted. The choices of cities have been astute in recent years. Toronto has fabulous fans that will become even more rabid once the product on the pitch improves. Seattle has blown away all expectations. They have the support and a squad that is pushing to be amongst the elite in the league. Philadelphia looked very much like an expansion team last season but the city is soccer mad and will support a winner.

This year we get the Portland Timbers - a city with a rich soccer tradition - and a roster that includes Kenny Cooper, Jack Jewsbury, Troy Perkins and the promising Darlington Nagbe. Essentially, a team of guys that have historically been good MLS players that could not cut it in Europe and are now hoping they gel in time to make some kind of impact in 2011.

Also, Vancouver Whitecaps are added and let's be honest, will not be very good. In fact, they may set a new standard for bad. Jay DeMerit is somehow an impact signing. I liked John Thorington when he was with Chicago Fire but he is not someone that can do it alone. And he is going to be expected to do so at times.

There you have it. Plenty to be optimistic about going into this MLS season. You can't claim this site is down on MLS in 2011.

Headed For A Heartbreak

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:32:00 +0000

Morning came and I was on my way, when you reminded me I had too soon forgotten, it was you who set me free -- Kip Winger

Something has gone in us, not in our attitude, but in our confidence -- Arsene Wenger

Another season that began with Arsenal amongst the favorites for a trophy haul in England and another season that looks to end in heartbreak. While the idea that this club - or any club in this footballing era - could think of a quadruple (Barcelona aside) was a creation by the English media that placed a phenomenal amount of pressure on this squad.

Over the past several weeks we've witnessed them lose to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final, suffer a men against boys defeat in the Champions League against Barcelona and now they have been eliminated by Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinals.

Their only hope remains catching that same United squad in the Premier league and overtaking them for a first league title since the 2004-2005 campaign. This is not impossible given the apparent shakiness of United. Yet, this could very well be impossible given the injuries that have piled up at Arsenal and there is without question a crisis of confidence.

The players are doubting themselves. They are doubting whether they have the resilience and the fitness. Questions should be asked of the physio room come the end of this campaign as to why there is such fragility up and down this squad every year.

But the physios are not currently under fire the way Arsene Wenger is. This is the man that has made his ethos the guiding force of a rich London club rather than get
sucked into the big spending that the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and now Manchester City are accustomed to.

That is not how Wenger believes you build a squad. He nutures players from a young age. He teaches them to play expansive football. Attacking football that can at times be so flowing and beautiful it is like they are alone on the pitch. Cesc Fabrega, Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Robin Van Persi and their cohorts ghost around the pitch with such grace and elegance that they deserve being dubbed the Barcelona of England.

But then they play the real Barcelona and are exposed. Or they play a team fighting relegation and are exposed. Exposed as being weak at the back, and unable to win ugly. Unable to scratch and claw to pull out the desperation winner like Manchester United have done so well over the past several years. Like Chelsea have done recently under Jose Mourinho and last season under Carlo Ancellotti.

Pundits, fans and journalists are calling for Wenger to be fired. The manager is in danger of going a sixth season without a trophy. What these critics fail to see is that if you remove Wenger the entire House of Gunner falls to the ground. To replace Wenger means bringing in a new manager that will require new players to fit his philosophy. It will mean mixing these players that have known only Wenger with someone that is not Wenger.

It means taking what he has been building and admitting defeat - admitting the system and players failed and telling them they need to start over. Make no mistake that is exactly what this would be. A relegation of sorts.

Wenger cannot go another season without winning something and yet Arsenal cannot function without him. This is quite the conundrum a giant club is staring at. Their current campaign looks destined to be headed for a heartbreak. If this turns out to be their fate it may be time to surrender.

Arsene Wenger has been a revelation for English football. He is an icon. But at some point the Gunner fans may be singing "I won't play your game and I won't play your fool."

The FA Cup is So Over

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:09:00 +0000

The FA Cup has ruined my weekend. Rather than have a full slate of Premiership matches that mean something we are stuck with Saturday fixtures of Birmingham v. Bolton and Manchester United v. Arsenal.

Sunday's lineup has the raging fixtures of Stoke City v. West Ham United and Manchester City v. Reading.

Go Reading go! The magic of the Cup! Feel it...

Feel it suck the life out of me. So, I'm actually going to watch the West Ham match because Avram Grant needs all the support he can get and I'm pulling for them to fight off relegation and for Grant to get another Premier League club to a final. Plus, Scott Parker is my Player of the Year and is having a special season that is worth tuning in for alone.

Think about that for a moment: I'm going to watch the FA Cup this weekend - the most famous cup competition in the world - because I've become an Avram Grant Super Fan. I don't care about Arsenal's quest to bomb out of another competition and I don't care about watching Manchester United anymore than I absolutely have to.

As a quick aside, does anyone want to have a competition where we predict whether total attendance for the US Open Cup will equal or exceed the attendance at this weekend's English League One fixture between Yeovil Town v. Walsall? Consider that for a second and get back to me. I'm talking every match during the US Open Cup.

I'm not suggesting to do away completely with the FA Cup. That would be ridiculous as I know every major football league in the world has a cup competition in conjunction with it's league competition. What I would suggest is to contest these fixtures during the week and only play the final on a weekend. Maybe even the semi-finals if the FA are worried about viewing or attendance being down at Wembley.

But the ebb and flow of the Premier League reaches a climax at this point in the season. The matches really matter now.

For one thing, I doubt whether Arsenal or United even care if they get knocked out at this point with injuries piling up and bigger prizes to worry about. But there are places in Europe being contested and the relegation fight is fantastic once again. And rather than carry the momentum that football fans got midweek during the Champions League we're given a kick in the nuts with ho-hum FA Cup ties. Not much fun if you ask me.

Let me put it this way: The only thing less enticing than watching the FA Cup on a weekend would be watching a full slate of Serie A matches. Watching Stoke is probably more gripping than watching a Milan Derby.

Throw some love Avram Grant's way this weekend. The man deserves credit for what he has done with Chelsea, Portsmouth and now West Ham. He'll never get that credit of course but he would have been a better appointment at the start of the season than Roy Hodgson was - I will tell you that much!

Wait, I think VoF just endorsed the West Ham manager and midfielder as the best of the year at their respective jobs. Please return for our next post!

Oh, Braga

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:50:00 +0000

What we learned by watching Liverpool fail to extend their 14-match unbeaten run in Europe is that Kenny Dalglish still has a long way to go in rebuilding this squad. Liverpool have played so much better under Dalglish that our expectations are such that losing to a ragtag side like Portugal's Braga does not seem conceivable.

And yet, not even Dalglish can motivate Joe Cole or Christian Poulsen to put in a shift - not even in Europe! Jay Spearing is a good local kid, but he is not going to be playing in the Premiership in a couple seasons. He is a Championship player. Luis Suarez is the Liverpool attack right now and Dirk Kuyt was lost without the cup-tied Uruguayan. Andy Carroll is not match fit, but shows glimpses of why in a few years Liverpool will be proven right for spending such a ludicrous amount on him.

Steven Gerrard may be seriously injured and did not play. Which is a concern because it seems Dalglish is the first manager he will listen to and the side has benefited greatly from his new found discipline.

I reckon that Liverpool will score the required amount to advance when the return leg is played at Anfield and I don't expect Braga to score again in the tie unless another penalty is gifted them by a lumbering Greek.

Reds fans will be disappointed to have a nice unbeaten run come to an end, but pleased at what Carroll showed upon entering the match. His goals will come and there will be plenty of them. And hopefully this helps push Cole even further out the door during the summer. I remember really liking Cole when he played at West Ham and first arrived at Chelsea. But injuries and ego have rendered him a shell of the promising player that England thought they were going to have as a mainstay in the national squad.

The Europa League is still there for Liverpool's taking. Dalglish will figure it out and deploy a much more inspired starting IX at Anfield.

We All Live in a Leo Messi World

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Four teams have booked their spot in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Below I break down of those four, who is the most appealing and least appealing to match up against.

Schalke 04
Assuming that FC Copenhagen does not get past Chelsea, I think Schalke are the side most clubs would hope to draw. They are struggling in the German Bundesliga, and have a manager in Felix Magath that is on the hot seat. While topping their group - that included Lyon - and having a mighty home crowd that would intimidate any visiting club I cannot see how they get past any club likely to progress.

I have always been a fan of Raul and think it is terrific that he has found form in Gelsenkirchen. And Jefferson Farfan is an exciting player. Both would need to have phenomenal performances over two legs and hope to find a goal because their defense is not going to shut out any of the remaining clubs.

Shakhtar Donetsk
There are dozens of world famous, very rich professional athletes hoping their company hands them an all expenses paid trip to the Ukrainian city of Donetsk - the deepest outpost in UEFA - to take on FC Shakhtar Donetsk. So they topped a group that included Arsenal and thrashed AS Roma in the Round of 16. Arsenal treat the Group Stages of the Champions League with the same level of urgency they show the early rounds of the Carling Cup. And Roma are in shambles - which is pretty much par for the course lately at the Italian club.

Shakhtar have a collection of exciting players - Douglas Costa, Luiz Adriano, Eduardo - and are steady at the back. Their only loss in the Group Stages a 5-1 defeat against Arsenal. Managed by Mircea Lucescu they have as quality of a leader as any team left in the competition. He did lead this relative unknown, yet very wealthy club to the then UEFA Cup title in 2009.

And yet, I don't see them worrying the giants of European football that could draw them in the quarters. Make no mistake, this is a club that will regularly be making knock-out stage appearances moving forward. My opinion is that a lack of experience in 2011 will keep them from moving on.

Tottenham Hotspur
I love that this English club knocked out the Italian giants AC Milan. And not just because I think Italian football is boring and a quick way to put me to sleep on a Sunday afternoon. I love that some new English blood is moving on, that their North London rival Arsenal will be watching on TV and because it means seeing Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale and the maturing before our eyes Sandro play deeper into the greatest competition known to man. van der Vaart has been one of the best signings in the Premier League in the past 5 or 6 seasons. He has done wonders for the Spurs' attack and it is a shame he was wasted in Madrid when he could have been knocking them in for a club that knows how to use strikers of immense talent.

No club in Europe will want Spurs right now. The prospect of going to White Hart Lane and hearing how those supporters get behind the players on the pitch is why I love football. The rousing "COME ON YOU SPURS" that rang out all night against Milan had the hairs on my neck standing up. While they've not been anywhere near consistent at the back in domestic play, the club defended like true brave hearts in the home leg to shut out a Milan side that was deploying Ibrahimovic, Pato and Robinho in all out attack for 90+ minutes.

I have zero clue if this run can go on. But Spurs topped a group that included Inter Milan - reigning European champions - and are the prototype of the "can match up with anyone in the world on any given night" side. They may not even qualify for the competition next year so expect Spurs to go all out in the quarters. If they stay fit and get a good draw (meaning not Barcelona) this is a side that I would bet on booking a semi-final spot.

Barcelona

LOL - Best team I've ever seen in my life. Messi is God.

A Return To Form

noreply@blogger.com (NickL) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Warning: This post is not about Fernando Torres. VoF believes that boy is a lost cause and his best days are well behind him. This blog on the other hand is making a dramatic comeback in 2011.

Yes! Nearly two years after our last post we've emerged from the shadows in Kenny Dalglish style to right this ship and deliver unrivaled footballing content.

Well, we don't exactly get player/manager interviews or asked to appear on podcasts...yet.

But these are exciting times to be a football fan and writer.

Negative-Land

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:54:00 +0000

If you have paid any attention to football over the past 5 years you saw this coming. Barcelona being the most attacking side the last half decade against Chelsea, arguably the most negative footballing club to have climbed the ranks to become a “big club”. You laughed at people predicting a blow-out and you contemplated what it will be like sitting through a choppy 90-minutes of scoreless football.

Chelsea’s two EPL titles trump Barca’s two La Liga titles on the basis that the EPL is the superior and more watched league. That being said, Barca has the European Championship that Chelsea so desperately crave. They have gone about collecting their trophy haul the latter half of the decade in very different ways.

Chelsea has bored their own fans, billionaire owner and neutrals to tears while filling their cabinet with silverware under Jose Mourinho. The only difference between Mourinho’s Chelsea and the Sam Allardyce managed Bolton sides were Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba (sorry Kevin Davies and Kevin Nolan). What I am saying is that Chelsea were and continue to be a highly unattractive side that wins.

When someone tries to tinker with that formula – Scolari – the squad falls down the table and people lose their jobs. Hiddink is very much an older version of Mourinho. I am certain he explained very plainly to Drogba that he will get 2-3 chances at the Nou Camp. That if he is to score it will be due his ability to finish one of those chances or create something out of nothing. Drogba failed to finish his one clear opportunity while Chelsea spent the rest of the 90 minutes ignoring him as they fouled Barca and clogged the mid-field.

VoF NOTE: Drogba is a monster. A physical freak and one of the best 3 strikers on the planet when hitting form and not pouting / injured. It is incredibly disheartening to watch a player of this magnitude wasted in that Chelsea lineup. Especially on a European night in the Nou Camp.

Barca meanwhile has given the world a true treat whenever they take the pitch for the last several years. Frank Rikjaard presented us a Ronaldinho in his prime, a young Leo Messi and the likes of Ludovic Giuli and Henrik Larrson. When Ronaldinho lost form, Larrson went back to Sweden, Guili returned to Paris and the club failed to continue dominance over Real Madrid they looked to Pep Guardiola.

And under the ex-Barca captain we’ve witnessed Messi emerge as the co-greatest player alive we all thought he could become. We’ve witnessed Xavi and Andres Inesta become mid-field sensations while Thierry Henry has shown that he can still call upon that legendary form he so regularly displayed with Arsenal. Tune into Gol TV and on any given weekend you can see Barca knock in 4-6 goals and string together passing sequences that make you scrap your jaw off the floor.

But Barca has not overwhelmed their fans with such a trophy haul that they can be described as the “Best Side La Liga Has Witnessed This Decade”. You cannot overlook Real Madrid’s back-to-back domestic titles Valencia’s streak that landed Rafa Benitez a gig at Anfield and Sevilla’s 2 UEFA Cups. Barca have attacked, attacked and attacked but Liverpool and Chelsea have also eliminated them in the Champions League in recent years.

So for all they hype, is being the best in La Liga really only roughly a UEFA Cup qualifying spot in the EPL table? Does negative football trump an actual attempt to construct The Beautiful Game over a 90-minute period?

The first leg of this year’s Champions League semi-final would indicate so. And when these two sides turn up for the second leg at Stamford Bridge Guus Hiddink will gladly take a 0-0 scoreline into a penalty shoot out.

Vein of Form's MLS Preview Extravaganza!

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:57:00 +0000

Inspired by the Seattle crowd in attendance tonight for the MLS season opener I just had to write an MLS preview and share some thoughts on the league. My thoughts are this league still has a long way to go.

Would you dare disagree? They are opening the season on the same night the NCAA college basketball tournament starts.

I'm sure just as many people are hanging on every Juan Pablo Angel touch of the ball as New York Red Bulls take on expansion side Seattle Sounders as there are monitoring their office pool tourney brackets.

The Seattle crowd tonight is fantastic. But that doesn't change the fact several of the MLS teams are playing in NFL stadiums that suck all atmosphere from the match and during the NFL season have to play with the grid iron lines on the pitch. The schedule does not fall in line with the rest of the footballing world and refusing to go to a single table seems a bit ridiculous at this point.

I think the hardcore soccer fan in America could overlook the lack of quality on the pitch if the MLS would try a bit harder to resemble a top league. By that I mean raise the salary cap, stop expanding the league and let some real depth and talent start to infiltrate the rosters and revamp the playoffs.

I get that in America you have to have playoffs. But why not go to the single table and let the top 4 teams at the end of the season have a home and away semi-final round and then a championship match?

The crowds in Toronto, Chicago, DC and maybe now Seattle show that there is a hunger for soccer and a possible strong culture developing. But until the league gets over the idea that a David Beckham type celebrity is more important than an entertaining and talented league they will never draw more viewers than Gonzaga vs. Akron.

Spittin' Mad?

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Check out this picture of an angry Cesc Fabregas:

One of the top midfielders in the world stalking around in his designer jacket looking to get into some shit with anyone on the Hull squad and coaching staff. And all of this on a bum knee! Cesc is itching so bad to get the feel of the pitch under his feet he is willing to risk an FA fine and suspension because he didn't want the Hull assistant manager to get the last word.

LOL @ that.

This is the dude that Barca or Real Madrid are reportedly willing to spend their summer transfer kitty! Can you imagine how pissed he must get when he sees Nicky B. pulling on the pink boots and pissing and moaning about how much playing time he should be getting?

I have no tolerance for spitting. I think it is a vile and disgusting reaction. If Fabregas did act out like this I hope the FA suspends him not just through the end of this season but through the first few weeks of the next. He's injured as it is so what good will suspending him now do?

But damn, the Vein of Form staff cannot get over the angry little midfielder in the leather coat.

Do You Have A Flag?

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:51:00 +0000

If you are from Spain it is flying at half-mast.

If you are from Italy the answer is no.

Tonight the English Premier League confirmed once again that it is the dominant league in the world. Serie A and La Liga have a huge distance to make up.

Do not let the Barcelona result at Camp Nou over French champion Lyon fool you. The Catalan club is the best of an average bunch. Real Madrid were thrashed by the "Red Hurricane" at Anfield while Atletico Madrid could not get past Porto. Only Villareal will go forward along with Barca to the quarterfinal draw.

And every team will be hoping they draw the Yellow Submarines.

Inter Milan were outclassed over two legs against Manchester United. The gulf in talent was so obvious that Jose Mourinho must have been toasting Sir Alex after the match for not drubbing them by 5 or 6 goals. The supposed "best player in the world" Zlatan Ibrahimovic was invisible. The Inter defense were in shambles for most of the match as Ryan Giggs ran through them. Not Ronaldo or Rooney - both were excellent as well - but the 36 year old Giggs!

Chelsea are reborn under Guus Hiddink and Juventus looked a side that knew it was a matter of time before the wheels came off. Even when Del Piero netted the penalty you never believed Juve were going to pull it off. Chelsea looked like the squad of a few years ago when they could just turn on the championship form whenever it was needed. They did so again on Tuesday and earned their spot.

Finally, Arsenal knocked off Roma in Rome on penalties. Vein of Form felt the most likely of the English sides to go would be Arsenal. This was an even match-up. Both sides in a fight to qualify for next season's Champions League right now and not a great deal between them after the first leg. But the English came through again when needed.

And there is the difference. When the English clubs saw the moment called for a bit of greatness they were capable of rising to the occasion. The Italian clubs could not. They wilted under the pressure and it was evident they don't have the talent or the coaching to overcome the Big 4 from England.

Detractors will say the Champions League is boring. I think the best football teams on the planet are still in the competition so it is anything but boring.

Throw in Bayern Munich, Porto and Barcelona and you have a very interesting mix. Even Villareal could surprise someone in the quarters. We just don't know who will be healthy when the next matches kick off.

We do know that after tonight no one can doubt where the best football in Europe is being played.

Sporting in for Another Bruising?

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:01:00 +0000

I will argue that the Bayern Munich thumping of Sporting Lisbon in Lisbon is the most unbelievable result from the first leg of the Round of 16. Five away goals from a Bayern Munich club that hasn't exactly overwhelmed in the Bundesliga this season. In fact, they've been an overwhelming disappointment.

In the Champions League group stage, if a team goes to a minnow country like Denmark, Belgium or Ukraine and puts 5 goals away it is a big story for the day. But to do that in the final 16 is insane!

I look at it this way: Had Liverpool put away a quarter of their chances over the previous 7 or 8 matches they would be on level points with Manchester United. So, for Bayern Munich to have been so lethal and taken advantage of all their chances is truly amazing.

But how great would it be in Sporting Lisbon came back? What an amazing story this could be. I won't watch this match. However, I'd be lying if I said I would not be thinking throughout the day how much I would love to see a comeback of that magnitude. It could happen. It probably won't happen. But I am not going to write it off entirely.

Vein of Form predictions to go through: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Chelsea, Villareal, Porto, Arsenal, Barcelona, Inter Milan

Designated Player on a Whlole New Level

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:39:00 +0000

The problem with Major League Soccer could well be their lack of vision. They don't see a brilliant marketing opportunity when it is right in front of them. The Designated Player gimmick has been a failure. I mean, no one outside of the hardcore fan realizes that Guillermo Schelotto or Juan Pablo Angel qualify as DPs. And even fewer people understand that the chubby and grouchy looking Cuauhtemoc Blanco that stomps around the pitch is a total fucking legend in Mexico.

And David Beckham! I mean, Beckham...

No, my dear readers, MLS has not gone gimmicky enough in this case. To fix this I suggest allowing anyone in the entire world to qualify as a DP.

Think about Daniel Radcliffe pulling on a Kansas City Wizards uniform! The movie wizard becomes a KC Wizard. Now that is a true Designated Player. Couldn't the Houston Rockets center Yao Ming split his time between the NBA and playing for the Houston Dynamo? What an opportunity to grow the MLS brand in Asia!

The dude from the movie Goal! The Dream Begins could play for Chivas USA. Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarrett could get a run out with the league champs Columbus Crew. Once his prison sentence is over of course.

Endless possiblities.

MLS doesn't need to bring their season schedule in line with the European season or go to a single table with relegation. The need to embrace the complete marketing whore and gimmick overdrive that all the major American sports leagues have come to love.

Take that Euro Snobs!

Only when the league stops trying to take itself serious will the casual fan begin to take it serious.

I know how these things work. I'm a world renowned blogger.

Wandering Welshman

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Of all the injury concerns today Manchester City have the two biggest: Robinho and Craig Bellamy. I find Bellamy to be a fascinating player. Every transfer window his name comes up as being able to fill some club's "need". Which in most cases tends to mean a proven goal scorer.

And while Bellamy has scored in the Premier League for every club he's played for I would hardly consider him a prolific scorer. You would have to go back to his time with Norwich City in the old First Division to find a strike rate that is considered close to prolific.

At Newcastle he was consistent. Here are those numbers:

01-02: 27 appearances / 9 goals
02-03: 29 appearances / 7 goals
03-04: 16 appearances / 5 goals
04-05: 21 appearances / 7 goals

He leaves to go play for Celtic (04-05: 12 appearances / 7 goals) and returns to Blackburn where he has an outstanding season under Mark Hughes. By outstanding I mean 27 appearances and 13 goals. Along comes a transfer window and Liverpool felt he could fill their lack of goals need and they sign him.

A "dream move" for Bellamy at the time he was given plenty of chances (27 appearances) but did not continue the form he was in with Blackburn (7 goals). He featured in 12 matches in Europe and netted twice.

He will forever be remembered at Liverpool for taking a golf club to John Arne Riise while the squad was off on holiday/training. This incident made it impossible for Bellamy to stay with the team as he was eventually for the off to West Ham. I maintain to this day that Riise was responsible for Liverpool losing the Champions League semi-final clash to Chelsea because of his own goal. So, in that regard Bellamy was quite right to tee off on the Norwegian.

FYI: I'm getting all this from Wikipedia (except the taking of golf club to Riise). I don't have some bizarre storage of knowledge regarding Craig Bellamy.

Moving right along, over 21 appearances with West Ham he scored 7 times. Another transfer window and another club in need of scoring. Add to that the fact that West Ham are in dire need of cash. This time the richest club in the world - Man City - comes calling and through 5 appearances he has 3 goals. An impressive early return.

I'm only writing about this because I want to avoid writing about Manchester United's inevitable pummeling of Newcastle and moving 7 points clear.

Hughes was able to get the best out of Bellamy during their time together at Blackburn and the hope will be a healthy Bellamy will produce the same at City. Some people will argue his goals per season is impressive and that he is more than just an average striker. I would certainly be open to hearing those arguments.

I totally expect Hughes to be fired after the season. And the owners of the club plan on spending on big names. Which means Bellamy will move on once again.

Hiddink and Dunk

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:44:00 +0000

I hate to push down my terrific post on Beckham / AC Milan vs. MLS but I feel the need to point out when a Vein of Form prediction comes good: Chelsea won 1-0 against Portsmouth. A few days ago I wrote that Chelsea would win out in the league with 1-0 or 2-1 scorelines.

I call this Dink & Dunk Football. That is the type of squad they are. They can't play the exciting, epic football that Roman was demanding. Guus Hiddink realizes this and will keep putting the team in a position to sneak a goal and defend solidly.

It is not going to be pretty. In fact, watching Chelsea is going to be pretty fucking boring. But it was that way under Mourinho and they won 2 titles.

On a final note: More like David Ngoal!!! Am I right?!?!?

Beckham is Burning

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Major League Soccer cannot win this fight with David Beckham. They have every right to demand fair compensation but at a certain point they need to accept an offer and let Beckham remain in Milan.

Beckham is not going to be pleased with having to return to LA Galaxy. Any move back to the United Stated effectively ends his chances of getting in the England squad. You want to see a media savvy, fan friendly and all around terrific professional morph into Terrell Owens? Just wait until Becks has to board a flight to LA.

MLS are going to lose Beckham when his contract expires. Even if he cannot get a contract with a top European club he is going to blow out of LA even if it means taking an offer to play in the Championship. I am kidding of course. On principle alone he has to leave MLS if they force his return.

The Beckham Experiment has failed. He didn't play well. He hasn't ensured long-term viability for the league (MLS had that already before he signed). He hasn't brought traditionally non-soccer fans to the game. But MLS is still expanding into Seattle with plans to add 2-3 more cities in the coming years.

Given the economic climate and the cost of attending a sporting event in America, it could be argued that taking in an MLS game is the best value for your entertainment dollar. I would gladly pay to see Chicago Fire play Kansas City Wizards over watching the Chicago Cubs play anyone.

Were Beckham to leave now it would fly under the radar in America. Baseball spring training is beginning, the NFL draft is around the corner, the NBA season is reaching its climax and NCAA basketball's March Madness is set to begin. No one will pay any attention to this story.

I say let Beckham stay in Milan. Take whatever money AC Milan will offer. Rebuild the Galaxy and come up with an alternative means to promote the league.

Another underwear model is going to be playing for Seattle Sounders - Freddie Ljungberg.

The MLS at least has that. Now just improve the quality on the pitch and do away with this ridiculous playoff system and we can get serious.

Barca Bottling, Benitez Conceding, Benzema Brilliant

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:41:00 +0000

I have to tell you by Sunday afternoon I was exhausted from all the football I watched beginning Saturday morning. As planned, I took in the second half of the Everton vs. West Brom match and was pleasantly surprised to see an entertaining half of football by an Everton side that by all accounts looks to have a stranglehold on a UEFA Cup spot.

After that I watched the Middlesbrough thumping of title pretenders Liverpool. How does a squad travel to Madrid and thoroughly dominate for 90 minutes of Champions League football and then look so inept against a relegation fighting Middlesbrough? This blog came out strong in defense of Rafa Benitez last week. That post was written out of love and sincerity for Rafa. But the dude does not know how to compete in the EPL. Liverpool will finish 3rd or 4th and I believe they will watch Chelsea come within 5 points of winning the title.

Guus Hiddink has that team humming right now. Had Wigan equalized under Scolari that team would have folded and accepted another draw or worse given up all 3 points. Instead, they battled to the end and moved up to 2nd in the table. I can picture Chelsea winning the rest of their matches with 1-0 or 2-1 scorelines. Hiddink makes them the most likely English side to win the CL.

Think about it: He was able to take a less talented PSV Eindhoven side to the semi-finals. Now all he has to do is motivate a bunch of over-paid aging players that think they will revitalize their careers in Italy next season. What better way to prove to AC Milan that 32 is the new 24 than to win the CL?

Look at what is going on in Spain right now: Barcelona are bottling it. Just over a month ago I thought they were the surest thing in Europe to win a league and CL double. Scoring at will, controlling the midfield, keeping attackers as far away from Victor Valdez as possible (the weakest link on the team). And now they're only 4 points clear of Real Madrid!

What a match on Sunday. At 2-0 I was certain this was going to be a 4-1 or 5-1 Barca thrashing. And then the match really heated up and by the final whistle I was standing in front of the TV with nervousness watching two clubs I could care less about. That is what is great about football.

And I still had the Inter Milan vs. Roma match to soak up. Hernan Crespo and Luis Figo look like two players that could go forever. Crespo has never been a Mourinho favorite but I thought he was wonderful at Chelsea during his brief stint there. We all know how devastating he was for AC Milan and now at Inter when he gets a chance he seizes it. Not that long ago you could have made the argument that he was one of the top 4-5 strikers in the world. Kind of a shame this guy's career will come to a close and not many people will appreciate how terrific he was.

Manchester United won the Carling Cup on a penalty shoot-out and I couldn't care less.

The player that impressed me most this weekend was Karim Benzema. Slumped on my coach, spent from all the weekend's action I still managed to take in Lyon vs. Rennes. Benzema was great fun to watch. He is so clearly a class above everyone in that league. His pass that led to the Lyon goal was brilliant. He was all over the pitch. I think he'll end up at Real Madrid.

If Real Madrid do not sign Ronaldo - and I don't think he's leaving Man United - they will bring in Benzema to partner with Huntelaar. This will be the start of officially phasing out Raul - still and effective player but the club needs to start thinking beyond this legendary player.

I'm not totally sold on Huntelaar yet but he's scored some goals and looking more comfortable. If Benzema can make a smooth transition to Spain that partnership could be the future of football.

Weekend Football Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Couple of things that I feel the need to point out: First, the Carling Cup is a more important trophy than the UEFA Cup. This only supports my post from yesterday that the UEFA Cup is a meaningless competition that would take years of white-boarding from the footballing world's finest think takes to reimagine in a meaningful way. Don't agree? Take a look at the lineup Harry Redknapp put out yesterday and tell me he was not terrified of suffering an injury going into Sunday's final against Man United.

I fully expect Man United to thump Spurs on Sunday. Sir Alex Ferguson is seeing his career coming to an end in the next 3-4 seasons. If he wins the league this year and the following year and collects another Champions League trophy during that time - all highly reasonable predictions - he could leave even sooner. So, he wants to collect as many trophies in the coming years and will put out a side well capable of beating a Spurs side that should at this point be more focused on remaining in the Premier League rather than winning the Carling Cup.

Second, Rick Parry is resigning his post at Liverpool Football Club. This is either because the club approached Parry and stated that they will fire him if it means keeping Rafa Benitez so he could save face and resign before it comes to that.

Or Parry actually loves the club so much that he was willing to give up this fight, reflect on his career and accept he has been an abject failure. Either way, I see this as the groundwork - in combination with the win at Madrid - to giving Benitez the control he wants over transfers and the youth system and a contract to keep him at the club for the next 10 seasons. To give Benitez that type of control is a bit dangerous. I don't think he has been correct on enough of his transfers to deserve that much control. But his record in Europe is undeniable. His trophy haul with Liverpool and Valencia this decade is top class.

To be fair, were Liverpool to award him the deal he wants, it could be said it is as forward looking and progressive a contract as President Barack Obama's recently announced budget. Not even joking.

Now, to the weekend's football which is not offering up mouth watering fixtures in England. On Saturday I could see myself tuning into the early match of Everton vs. West Brom. But more than likely I'll choose to only watch the second half. I'll of course tune into relegation battling Middlesbrough taking on Liverpool. Liverpool will know that over the next few days they will gain two games on Man United and can close the gap to a single point. The league leaders will have two games in hand, true, but psychologically they will know they must win those games.

I think the best match in England this weekend is Hull City against Blackburn. I don't believe Blackburn will go down. Not with Sam Allardyce in charge. And I don't believe Hull are as good as their early season form indicated. All three promoted sides will be relegated. I firmly believe that.

And interesting match in Germany this weekend: Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen. Both sides had great victories in Europe this week (Bayern Munich scoring 5 away goals against Sporting Lisbon & Bremen knocking out AC Milan in the UEFA Cup).

I don't think Bayern Munich can win the Bundesliga. A league that is the most exciting in Europe this season. When sixth place Wolfsburg are only seven points behind leader Hamburg you know we're set for an exciting finish.

I also find it amazing that the loan of Landon Donovan could lead to the end of Jurgen Klinsmann as manager at Bayern. Donovan hasn't a great deal of minutes but he's gotten enough where it should be proof enough that he just isn't a good enough player for Europe. He's the best player in CONCACAF region. Which means he is maybe good enough to get a game with a mid-table Dutch club or a club in Serie B.

Sunday features Inter Milan vs. Roma in Serie A. I think Roma believe they can get something out of this match. Both clubs had terrible mid-week Champions League performances. The difference being Roma get to play host to Arsenal in the return leg and Inter know they must score at Old Trafford. I don't think either will go through. But what I am saying is that Roma will feel better about the mid-week result and know they need these points more than Inter.

Finally, it will be extremely interesting to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona on Sunday. The reason being Barca have slipped - just slightly - in the league and did not boss Lyon the way many expected in the Champions League. Atletico meanwhile played well enough for a draw against Porto. Lots of pressure on Barca to right the ship this week. Atletico have zero defense. This could get ugly if Barca are in the mood.

UEFA Cup: Should We Care?

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:35:00 +0000

Watching the UEFA Cup matches this afternoon with a non-football fan it was asked of me why these matches matter. After all, the importance of the Tuesday and Wednesday Champions League matches far outweighed any significance today's matches carried. This is a common question my non-football fans ask. And while I am not only an extraordinary blogger of football, an immense recreational league talent (were I actually on a recrational side) I am also viewed as a footballing fountain of knowledge. So, it is understood why I would be looked to for an explanation of why the UEFA Cup matters.

I told my friend that this is another competition that the clubs must qualify for. It serves as a goal for mid-table sides to strive for on their way to never becoming financially stable enough to compete for a Champions League spot. The UEFA Cup provides an extra means of generating revenue, fan enthusiasm and exposure for clubs from smaller footballing countries (Belgium, Russia, Scotland, etc.).

My friend - who happens to love American football - said, "So it is a second rate competition".

Well sort of. I told him that football has so many layers to it and that going into great detail about each layer so he would no longer ask me questions about such silly things like the UEFA Cup would exert more frustration on my end than would be worth the trouble.

I suggested he imagine the NFL set up another post-season competition where the 6-8 teams that were not good enough to make the playoffs were allowed in. And that in the actual playoff competition, the teams that lose in the "Wild Card Round" were allowed to play back into this second competition. The NFL could give the championship game a title such as the American Bowl or the Almost-Super Bowl.

We both agreed that this would be terribly lame and that no one would give a shit. So, why do people care about the UEFA Cup? I don't know that there is any overhaul this competition could be given that would raise its profile or make anyone outside of the fans of the competing clubs care.

By the looks of the lineup Aston Villa paraded out in their loss to CSKA Moscow not even a team fighting for a top 4 spot in the English Premier league cares.

Would Sevilla trade their back-to-back UEFA Cup trophies for a single Champions League trophy? Of course.

Do the players on St. Entienne and Olympiakos realize this blogger is struggling to continue watching their match because it has no contexual relevance in my life? A life that revolves around following The Beautiful Game? Of course they do.

I ask you dear reader, please tell me why the UEFA Cup - soon to be Europa Cup - matters?

Yossi Good-Bye & I Say Goal

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:15:00 +0000

I am glad that Rafa Benitez does not have an ear piece that links him to a direct feed to my soul during matches. Because that would mean during last night's epic triumph in Madrid, he would have heard my soul demanding that Yossi Benayoun be taken off at half-time.

The reason I wanted Benayoun taken off is that I could not endure another poorly weighted pass in the area that killed another Liverpool attack. I was losing a piece of my soul with each Benayoun touch of the ball. And I could not endure much more.

Benayoun would make my Top 3 Least Liked Liverpool Players list right now. I don't believe he is a player that belongs in the squad of a club that has ambitions of winning a league title. I don't believe Benayoun would make the bench on any of the following: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa.

For the record, my Top 3 LLLP are: 1. Ryan Babel 2. Benayoun 3. Andrea Dossena

This list is posted for all to observe at my desk at the Vein of Form offices and I could make a long post backing up my argument for each of these players.

But this post is about last night's victory. And about the genius of Rafa Benitez. Not about Benayoun's 82nd minute header that he drove past Iker Casillas - whom I believe is the best 'keeper in the world.

Yes, Benitez is a genius and a manager with a heart of oak. During his time at Liverpool he has won a Champions League trophy with possibly the worst squad to ever win the Champions League. He has gotten to another CL final and lost in a semi-final that were it not for a John Arne Riise own goal in the first leg would have seen him manage the club in 3 CL finals. In addition, he has won an FA Cup trophy and currently has Liverpool second in the table. They are 7 points behind Manchester United as I write this. They will probably not win the league but are as close to re-claiming that trophy as they have ever been in the past 19 years.

That being said, I cannot get over the disappointment of home draws with Hull, Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Manchester City. Those results are the reason Liverpool are not going to get their hands on the league trophy.

But Benitez has still managed to overcome off-the-pitch distractions from his no-nothing owners and the How-Do-I-Still-Have-A-Job Rick Parry.

Without him in charge last night Liverpool would have suffered a defeat. I believe this. He was without Steven Gerrard - the best box-to-box player in the world - and Fernando Torres could have come off at half-time as his injured ankle rendered him ineffective (So dangerous is Torres that he was left on because playing on one good ankle makes him better than most strikers in the world).

Benitez got a Man of the Match performance out of Fabio Aurelio, his back line defended like lions (again) and he left Benayoun on the pitch when most would have gotten irritated with his inability to produce the end product: a quality pass or a pre-82nd minute strike.

And now Liverpool will take an away goal lead to Anfield and Real Madrid will know they are up against all odds. Were this Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal or a Mourinho led Inter Milan I would be worried. But this is a staggering Real Madrid side that can claim Arjen Robben as their most gutty player (HA!). Not to mention a manager in Juande Ramos that is merely a caretaker at this point.

Benitez sent a message to the owners: You cannot win this competition without me with this squad.

Benitez sent a message to Real Madrid's board: You cannot beat me so you might as well pay me.

A glorious European night for Liverpool and their manager. A manager that is 2-3 quality players away from returning Liverpool to the top of the English Premier League. Any owners with the slightest football knowledge can see that and will give him the contract and funding he so deserves.

Oh, Knowledeable Owners, where are you?