Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Why's Everyone Hatin' on Bottles?


First, Wenger when Tottenham scored the winner against the Gunners in the league.


And now, Pep Guardiola when Barca allow Internacional to get an equalizer (It was a friendly, and Barca still won). Someone needs anger management.

Why's everyone hatin' on bottles?

Barca's Tiki-Taka is Boring


People call Barcelona's play beautiful. I find it... Meh. While they do create the occasional wonderful play that leads to a great goal, the rest of the time is a snooze-fest. When they're just trying to maintain possession, their defenders or midfielders just exchange four or five passes between each other. And simple passes, not some creative, over the top through balls. 

People act like they're the only team who is able to create a beautiful play. I can recall a play that Blackpool of all teams made (Can't remember against who), that if Barcelona had done, people would be talking about it for ages. If they played in the English Premier League, I can guarantee that they wouldn't be as successful. They would get battered and bruised against a team like Stoke, who definitely wouldn't be happy with Eric Abidal and Gerard Pique "tiki-taka'ing" between eachother. And Ryan Shawcross would murder Lionel Messi. Literally. Murder. 

Yeah, this is a bit untimely, but I was watching Barcelona v. Internacional (The Brazilian one), and I fell asleep. It wasn't exciting. Or mesmerizing. Or beautiful.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Paraguay v. Venezuela Ends in a Huge Brawl


When the Paraguayan and Venezuelan footballers aren't playing football, turns out, they're kickboxers, or ninjas (what ever suits you). After the match was decided on penalties, with Paraguay going through to the final, the teams decided that it wasn't the end of things.

During the match, Venezuela hit the woodwork twice, had a goal (stupidly) called for offside, and had numerous chances that looked like they were going in spectacularly saved. I can understand the frustration of the Venezuelans came from. It's hard to tell who started the whole ordeal, so I'll just assume it was the Venezuelans in the maroon. 

At least they're passionate. Or dicks. Both?

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Manchester Clubs are Milan Wannabes

No, not football wise. Who would want to be those two? AC Milan got knocked out by Tottenham in the Champions' League and Inter by Schalke. So no. Not football wise. But, it seems like the representatives of the clubs said to their kitmakers, Umbro for City and Nike for United, "See the Milan clubs? Change it up a little and make it our away kit." Don't believe me? Here's Man City's away kit for this year:


Eerily similar to the typical AC Milan kits of recent years. Granted, this year the stripes are more numerous on the Milan shirt, but still recognizable and similar. And City couldn't get a better player to advertise their kit than Edin Dzeko?



United's new away kit, I will admit, is pretty classy. Just a simple blue with black hoops. But again, very similar to the other Milan club, Inter. They basically just rotated the stripes 90 degrees. In this case though both are made by Nike so it's kind of excusable (not really).


And Inter's new kit. What do you think?



Sunday, July 17, 2011

Argentina Defies Logic


How can a team with Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Diego Milito, Gonzalo Higuain, Javier Pastore, and Javier Mascherano lose to a Uruguayan side that was a man down?!? I know that it was on penalties, but when you have so much firepower, how can you be held to 1-1? The Uruguayans played fantastically to hold them through extra time, and I believe that they thoroughly deserve to go through.  And it doesn't help that Messi decides to disappear on the pitch when playing outside of Europe. I bet he regrets he didn't choose to play for Spain now. 


Brazil also lost to Paraguay today on penalties. Now, if you thought that the US Women's Team missing their first 3 penalties, Brazil one-upped them, missing FOUR. FOUR PENALTIES. Insane. But like before, in this match, the underdogs deserve to go through. And what happened to the Brazilian squad? This team used to have legends like Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho. Now, their star is Neymar, a self-centered 19-year old who I believe is totally overrated. It was shown today.

Japan Defeats USA in World Cup Final, Hope Solo is Still Hot


Today, Japan defeated the United States in the Final of the Women's World Cup. Despite Abby Wambach scoring in the 102nd minute during extra time, the US couldn't hold on to their lead. Homare Sawa equalized in the 116th, and the game went to penalties. Somehow, the Americans managed to miss their first three penalties, basically insuring that the Japanese would win. And so they did, and became Women's Champions of the World.

Yes, it's sad for the Americans, but when you think of everything that the Japanese went through in the last few months, they truly deserve it. And when I was watching this game, I couldn't help but notice how much women's soccer has improved. A few years ago, barely anybody care, and Andy Gray was laughing at their highlights (YouTube that). Now, quality players like Marta and Abby Wambach are becoming symbols of football around the world. 

Oh, and the fact that the USA lost, doesn't really change the fact that some of the American women are, pardon me, hot. Especially Hope Solo. Woot. And I regret not putting more coverage of the WWC in my blog recently.