What I’m Thankful for in Soccer

 It’s a few days before my favorite holiday of the year, Thanksgiving! Many of us have memories of going around the dinner table and saying what we are thankful for. While I am thankful for a lot of people and things in my life, I would like to take a few moments to talk about what I loved about the last year in soccer.

I am thankful for… Sunil Gulati, president of US Soccer, coming to his senses and hiring Jügen Klinsmann as head coach of the US Men’s National Team. This was a hiring that had been looming for years. While it was unfair to put former coach Bob Bradley in a tough spot, this is the change the US needed. Though they won’t be a top 10 or 15 team right away, this move will pay off in the long run. This hiring (hopefully) will be looked as the starting point in a paradigm shift to a new American approach to the beautiful game.

I am thankful for… the MLS Cup on Sunday evening, which promises to be an exciting game. David Beckham is in his last year of a ballyhooed contract with the LA Galaxy. The Houston Dynamo have some awesome orange jerseys and a team that is on fire. The Galaxy’s Landon Donovan missed the last two US international friendlies so he could rest up for the game, showing how important the MLS has become in the eyes of both national and international players. Another interesting note is that Beckham has won a championship in his final season with his last two clubs. Let’s see what happens!

I am thankful for… what is shaping up to be an interesting winter in the English Premier League. While both Manchester squads have jumped out to a big lead, a couple new teams are fighting for top spots in Newcastle and Tottenham. Even Arsenal has rebounded after a dismal start and Liverpool look a threat again. Another surprising note is that all three teams new to the top level are in the middle of the table. The January transfer window will prove to be a key factor in the title run.

I am thankful for… the high amount of goals that have been scored so far in the EPL. As we head for winter, where goals go down and games are won on brute defense and strong team play, we should appreciate that the fall has given us 43 matches with 4+ goals scored! If teams shore up weaknesses in the transfer windows, then the spring will again show a plethora of goals and great soccer action.

I am thankful for… an upcoming year in which we should see a fierce battle for the Champions League crown, the European Championship, and World Cup Qualifying. World Cup Qualifying won’t really get underway until the summer, but the Champions League will get hot and heavy in early 2012. It may end up being a clash between Spanish and English clubs, but German and Italian clubs will definitely have something to say before all is decided. We have to wait until August for Euro 2012 in Poland/Ukraine, but the build-up will be great as we experts (just run with it) debate over whether a favorite or upstart will take the crown.

I hope you are as thankful for this beautiful sport and for all the family and friends in your life. We have a great year ahead of us and the excitement is just beginning! I wish you safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!

What if City Won? (November 2011)

As we near the winter third of the season, we are provided an opportunity to review the English Premier League standings thus far. Right now, Manchester City leads the table with Manchester United and a host of others, in chase. However, it looks like a two team race with City the clear favorites.

So you ask, why should I care if City wins? If you’re not a strong fan a particular team, you should take note that since the induction of the Premier League in the early 90s, only one team (Blackburn) outside of Manchester United, Arsenal, or Chelsea has won. One of the beauties of this sport is keeping every team competitive through relegation; one of the blemishes is that parity is still tough to come by because money is such a factor.

Over the summer, Manchester City continued its buying ways by acquiring talents like Samir Nasri and Sergio Agüero to add to its already mounting artillery of talent. These moves have helped them overcome past obstacles that stopped them from truly challenging the title. They have not only gelled into a top team but one that has embarrassed respectable teams. This was capped off by a 6-2 humiliation of a befuddled Manchester United squad at Old Trafford a couple weeks ago.

Now, after this break is over, winter comes and teams must adjust for this crucial run. Teams tend to stumble during this period for various reasons. Last winter saw defending champions Chelsea stumble from a strong start to an unsuccessful chase of a stronger Manchester United side. Both City and United started this season by obliterating teams, but United has faltered because of a mysterious decline in team cohesion.

Nevertheless, Sir Alex Ferguson will find a way to re-energize his players in his 25^th season as manager. Whether Roberto Mancini is able to keep his team motivated at a high level all season remains to be seen. What we do know is that if they do take the title, City will break a longstanding run of championships from the almighty three.

Will it really mean all that much though? Yes, it will break a streak of Yankees-like squads from winning, but when you break it down, City has simply joined the ranks of these high-spending clubs. If they win, it will be refreshing for some fans to see a different face on the podium of champions, but it will only strengthen the notion that money is the key to success in professional sports.

This idea transcends almost all professional sports leagues around the world, and has proven to be the reason that so many leagues have lockouts, greedy owners, and disgruntled players. If anything, the ever-growing financial gap in sports is a representation of the financial gap in society. We have come to a crossroads in both, and future actions will decide if money or sport will prevail.

While it would be great for the EPL to have City as champions for a change, I am hoping for a different result. If it can’t be my beloved Red Devils, then I hope and root for a team on the lower rungs to surprise. This is currently too rare an occurrence, and owners and executives of all professional leagues must realize that money is not as important as true competition. For the sake of all athletes and fans, let’s hope they make changes to preserve the love of the game.

A World Without Relegation (October 2011)

Recently, a story came out about American owners in the English Premier League and how they may want to get rid of relegation. One anonymous source thought that one or two more American owners would cause a vote to create solid leagues that do not relegate or promote teams between themselves.

This got me thinking. First, are the Americans who own teams in this league that selfish that they would change a tradition that has been occurring since well before the formation of the EPL? Second, how would this change the competitiveness of the league? These are two scary questions that I am going to answer in honor of Halloween.

The idea that a few American owners would propose such a change is pretty huge. Relegation is the idea that the bottom three teams are demoted to the league below while the top three teams from that league are brought up to the EPL. The FA, which is in charge of the English soccer leagues, would have to decide who stays in which league. Furthermore, other incentives would be necessary to keep teams at the bottom of the table competitive at the end of the season. Usually, teams in the top half are still fighting for spots in European competitions, but with nothing available for the bottom half, competition may go stale.

Just because this is a foreign concept to US sports fans does not mean it is wrong or ineffective. In fact, relegation should be considered by leagues like MLB and the NBA to make every season even more exciting. Bottom feeders are encouraged to compete through the end of the season and lower league teams are encouraged to finish in the top three so they can face better competition the following season. There is no such thing as an easy game for any team. In fact, facing a team fighting relegation at the end of a season is just as dangerous as facing a team at the top.

Without the concept of relegation in the EPL and its associated leagues, English soccer would suffer immensely. Fewer players would be able to enjoy the spotlight of the Premier League because their teams would remain in lower leagues. Financially, teams could not afford to stay afloat if they did not receive the fiscal benefits of playing at a higher level. Teams in the bottom half would have nothing to really fight for and would suffer lower game energy and confidence. Pillow fight matches would mean lower fan attendance and those games would not be televised. League play would become stale and players would fight to transfer to top-flight teams. There would be no “middle class” of teams. Finally, the EPL would struggle financially from lack of table-wide competition and be forced to either shut down or have fewer teams.

Basically, getting rid of relegation would be the biggest buzzkill to English club soccer history. It would benefit us to consider relegation for American sports; the lack of an open mind to new ideas has become evident in professional sports leagues in this country with lockouts and rifts between owners and players. Instead of trying to imperialize other leagues around the world, we should be receptive to other ideas for keeping competition at its highest level. Viva la relegation!

The Dual Quarterback Conundrum (October 2011)

If you have watched “Sportscenter” over the last year, you will know that the state of college football is not great. Ohio State and Miami (Fl), among others, have had major issues with compliance and players have been suspended and coaches terminated. While the repetitiveness of offences suggests a flaw in the system, I am here to focus on another flaw in the system: dual quarterbacks.

As a native of Ohio, I grew up rooting for (the) Ohio State University football team. I floated along through the Cooper era until Tressel returned OSU to football glory. One constant on the teams that competed for a BCS bid every year was the presence of a capable quarterback. Troy Smith, Craig Krenzel, and Terrelle Pryor come to mind.

Now, Tressel and Pryor are gone, having been inked out for NCAA violations (tattoo pun). With Pryor’s exit, the quarterback battle was left wide open between 26-year old former minor league baseball player Joe Bauserman and much-hyped dual threat freshman Braxton Miller. Interim coach Luke Fickell decided from the first game that he would start Bauserman but bring in Miller for a few series at a time.

If you are reading this as either an OSU fan or the fan of a team that has been in this situation, you probably just cringed. While we do not see this in the NFL, we see it all too much at the college level. A program has just lost its incumbent starter, and has a freshman or unproven upperclassmen in the wings. Instead of just having them battle it out and declare a starter in the spring, the coach lets it linger and it becomes a dual quarterback system.

The quarterback position is probably the most important in football because the mistakes of the signal caller are magnified and the pressure to perform is more immense. When being put in a new situation, mistakes are expected, but adding to that the idea of another quarterback coming in is just plain silly. It does not allow for one quarterback to become comfortable in the face of adversity, nor does it allow for him to get in a flow, get loose, and get up to speed.

This is obviously not the recipe for success or building confidence. Neither quarterback feels comfortable and the bad performance by one adds pressure on the coach. This negative energy trickles down to all members of the team and hurts confidence for the next game. Many times, the fan base and media are calling for the young prospect, but the coach feels he is not ready, as in the case of Ohio State this year.

Once Bauserman struggled, fans called for his head. It had already been the roughest offseason in Ohio State history, so this was a throw-away season anyway and there was no reason not to play Braxton Miller. Now that coach Fickell has declared Miller the full-time starter (after Ohio State struggled under Bauserman), the Buckeyes are playing a little better. Though they are 3-3, Ohio State had a big lead on Nebraska before Miller got hurt and Bauserman came in and failed to keep the lead, showing that Miller was the right choice.

So, as an OSU fan, I can say that I have been frustrated with this season. Sure, the offseason drama did not help, but that was more digestible than a “Fickell” decision on the quarterback position at the beginning of the fall (I’m on a roll!).

Coaches beware: take heed of history when thinking that a dual quarterback situation is a good idea, or will benefit either player. Psychologically, this is a position that needs the backing of the coach, team, and fans, and trying to share that with someone else does not work. Make a strong decision, but evaluate constantly and then if a change is needed, stick with that. Your fans will thank you.

At a Crossroads: The Story of US Soccer (October 2011)

As we head into another international break from club soccer, I wanted to discuss a few players who are bound to excite and raise hopes for American soccer fans. Sam’s Army already received a jolt with the hiring of Jürgen Klinsmann earlier this year, but some young players will certainly get our hearts racing. If the Americans are to be taken seriously in Brazil in three years, several things must happen. Klinsmann must develop a cohesive system of play that emphasizes passing, unity, and smart decisions. Furthermore, the following players will have to play at their top level to help the Americans move deep into the tournament.

Juan Agudelo, F: Agudelo is not new on the scene, but he is the possibly dominant forward that Americans have been waiting for (and dreaming about). He has excellent finishing abilities and instincts, while his ball skills are rather impressive. Only 18 years old, he could develop into the face of US Soccer for the next decade or so.

Jozy Altidore, F: Jozy’s success may go hand-in-hand with how Agudelo performs on the international stage. Altidore has been the lone ranger at the top of the formation and has been inconsistent. He has shown the ability to finish, but can disappear in games and will not win a lot of 50-50 balls. With Agudelo alongside at the top, he may start to show his true ability and become one of the better strikers in recent memory.

Clint Dempsey, M: Dempsey has been probably the most fun and frustrating to watch for American soccer fans. He has had the most success of all US players on the club scene, as he is a star player for Fulham in England. However, on the international stage, Dempsey has left something to be desired. He has the talent to be a star, but tends to fall into the European mindset of diving to draw a foul and will spend too much time complaining to the referee. For the Americans to save face on the international scene, Dempsey needs to become the much-needed leader of this team and start creating opportunities for the goal-scorers around him.

Brek Shea, M: While out with some friends for Klinsmann’s debut against Mexico, we were very impressed by Shea’s ability to create scoring opportunities. Given his tall stature and bright hair, we nicknamed him, “Big Bird”. He has been just as helpful to this team as the actual Big Bird was to me when I was learning the alphabet as a child. If he can continue to develop and take some pressure off Dempsey, the Yanks can start building a strong, respectable midfield.

Gale Agbossoumonde, D: Though he may not play as large a part in the next World Cup as the other players I mentioned, he has by the far the best name. His development has been slowed not by injuries, but by a stupid contract signed with a greedy sports agency. Thus, he has had rare opportunities to play and hone his skills, but his potential is very promising. If he can impress Klinsmann, he could provide some support to Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra to, at the very least, form the best-named back line in soccer history. Oh, and by the way, that’s Gah-lay Og-BOSS-ooh-mon-day.

There are obviously a lot of other factors that come into play besides the players mentioned above. Others must step up, and Klinsmann must unite this team to mimic the best in the world: Spain, Netherlands, Germany, etc. The 2014 World Cup will most likely be the last for legends Tim Howard and Landon Donovan. Moreover, it could set the program back or could put the Americans on the international scene for a long time. There is a plethora of developable young talent and US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati finally has his head coach in Klinsmann. The pieces are finally falling into place and I can say, on behalf of other American soccer fans, let’s hope this is it.

A Tale of Two Manchesters (September 2011)

It has been a good start for several teams to this 2011-2012 Premier League season: Stoke, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Newcastle United all have multiple wins under their respective belts. But no two teams have come out flying at a faster pace than the two squads from Manchester. Both City and United have enjoyed lots of goals and wins to make this an early two-horse race for the title.

Because the home stadiums of these two teams lie a mere four miles apart, the Manchester derby has always been heavily contested. There is a long and storied history of the meetings between the two, and recent years have done nothing to take away from this. As much as United have been at the top of the league, the overall series is only just in the Red Devils’ favor.

More than just wins and losses, the crossover between the teams has added kindling to the fire of this rivalry. Recently, transfers between the teams have been almost non-existent. One move of note is the signing of Carlos Tevez by City after he had two very successful and prolific seasons at United. After Tevez helped United win the Champions and Premier Leagues, he traveled the short distance from Old Trafford to City of Manchester Stadium in what was considered utter betrayal by some United fans. However, no one from the Red Army will admit that they weren’t somewhat happy when Tevez gave City troubles about wanting to transfer home to Argentina.

Another case of loyalty-switching occurred earlier in the 1900s with Sir Matt Busby. Busby played for two United rivals: City and Liverpool, but may be most well-known for how he revived United and brought them to the forefront of English soccer. Even more, after the tragedy of the Munich Air Disaster, he reassembled the team and united the Manchester faithful. The work done by Sir Busby on behalf of United must have sent daggers into the hearts of City fans, as most of them have passed on.

Since the creation of the Premier League, Manchester United have been at the top of the table almost every season. Thanks to the purchase of City by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, City have seen a flurry of spending in the last three years to bring in high profile players. Though the derby is always intense, it has not carried the implications that it does this season.

While City come out blazing every week, United seem to not only match but also surpass the efforts of those in the light blue jerseys. After City beat Tottenham 5-1 to take the top spot, United came back to beat Arsenal 8-2 later in the day. After City drew against Fulham this past weekend, United held on to beat Chelsea in their toughest, but most controversial, match to date. As you can see, this season’s race promises to bring us a new battle between two teams who have been long-time rivals because of geography; now they’ll be duking it out with more than just pride on the line.

Rivalry Not New, But Fierce As Ever (September 2011)

While each team has historic rivalries with other teams that are considered more bitter than this one, fans and players of both teams will tell you that no other rival has come close to bringing the intensity that Manchester United and Chelsea have brought against each other over the past several years. In sports, history weighs heavily on every team; it brings undue pressures, lofty expectations, and lots of media attention.

Over the last decade in the Premier League, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal have been at or near the top consistently. Recently, the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City have peeked their heads while Liverpool and Arsenal have dealt with bumps in the road. Chelsea and United, however, have stayed strong by way of big acquisitions and youth development to stay neck-and-neck. Since Arsenal won the league in 2004 by going undefeated, the trophy has traveled back and forth between Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, where it currently resides.

While some have argued that the lack of variation in champions has shown a plateau in the EPL, there is no lack of excellent soccer. Chelsea and United were so dominant that in 2008, after a hard fought battle in the Premier League race, they both reached the Champions League Final as the two best teams in Europe, with United giving Chelsea the blues in penalty kicks to take the title. Furthermore, during Chelsea’s title defense last season, United were able to start the season with a prolonged stretch without a loss to see saw the momentum of this rivalry back to northern England.

This Sunday’s matchup, to take place at Old Trafford, is the first of two games that will prove pivotal in deciding this season’s champion. Both teams reloaded for this year’s title race. Chelsea added forward Juan Mata, young phenom Romelu Lukaku, midfielder Raul Meireles, and new manager André Villas-Boas. Meanwhile, Manchester United somehow strengthened a squad that went to the Champions League Final with winger Ashley Young, defender Phil Jones, and an infusion of promising young talent.

Not only will both teams be fighting it out until the end (with the likes of Manchester City by their sides), but they could be on a collision course in the Champions League as well. There is no doubt that fantastic soccer will be played any time these two meet up, but a healthy display of yellow cards and a busy referee are sure to be at Sunday’s match as well. Yours truly will be taking in the match with a pint at his local soccer pub, and he recommends you do the same. This is not one to miss!

Serena Not So Serene—So What? (September 2011)

If you watched the US Open the last couple weeks and are just a casual fan, the biggest story you may have heard was of the Serena Williams “debacle” during the Women’s Final. In short, she screamed (nothing new) after hitting a forehand winner but the umpire gave the point to her opponent, Samantha Stosur, on grounds that Williams yelled too early and this distracted Stosur. Now, I am not here to argue whether Williams did wrong or not; I have read conflicting views on this. However, what followed has caused all the stir. Serena proceeded to yell at the chair umpire then had more choice words for her in between games. By giving the point to Stosur, Williams was broken in the first game of the second set, and there was really no coming back from it.

I am not taking anything away from Stosur; she definitely outplayed Serena and deserves the title she won. Serena has a bad history with US Open officials; in 2009, she berated a line judge for calling a foot fault and ended up being fined $82,500 and placed on probation for two years. In comparison, for her “incident” this year, she was fined a whopping total of $2,000 (don’t worry, I refused to lend her the money).

So, what is my point, you ask? The official in Sunday’s match made a questionable call in the US Open Final. This is the highest level of sports in the world, and these are the best athletes in the world. Anytime any athlete yells at an official, the athlete is forced to apologize and pay a fine; on the other hand, when an official makes a mistake, he is simply just banned for the tournament or makes an apology through the respective referee association. After all, referees are human beings; like players, they can and will make mistakes. Taking the passion away takes away the ability to be a complete competitor.

Sports associations (i.e. MLB, NFL, USTA) have gone so far to regulate athletes for various reasons; they are considered role models, etc. but they are not allowed to be themselves. And in a country that strives to promote individuality, limiting how an athlete can behave and react only suffocates this notion. By fining athletes/coaches whenever they “talk back” to referees or even league officials, children are being taught not to question authority whatsoever and to abandon all spirit. If these athletes are allowed to shine, we can only hope that professional sports in this country, which have taken such a hard hit over the last decade or so, can finally help us make a return to normalcy.

Transfer Windows Provide Endless Drama (September 2011)

Earlier this summer, I wrote about how transfers affect different teams. Mainly, the rich tend to get richer and the teams at the bottom of the table struggle to find talent to compete with the Big Dogs—Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, etc. Now that the transfer window has closed, we can look forward to the season without constant rumors about who will wind up where. This also provides some relief to managers who can start to focus on making the best lineup possible with the players available.

If you are an American sports fan, and you think that ESPN is overly dramatic about every rumor or tweet, then you have no idea how much like high school the European soccer scene is during the transfer window. If you multiplied TMZ by ESPN and take that to the Real Housewives degree (or whatever passes for “reality” TV these days), you may begin to understand the gossip world of soccer. Because soccer is so popular everywhere else in the world, and since it really doesn’t have other sports to compete against, all tabloids, TV news programs and newspapers focus on the lives of players and where they may end up if sold or traded to another club.

What makes this more interesting is that players can be sold to teams outside of their current professional sports league. Teams do not have to deal with commissioners approving trades or fees, and temporary loans allow for players to transfer without permanently leaving their home club. Thus, there is a constant web of player transfers between the Spanish, English, Italian, French, Dutch and other leagues; it becomes nearly impossible to keep track of where everyone is going. Throw in the tabloids that come up with mysterious “sources” on latest news, and you may see a player rumored to go to five different teams in three different countries in the same day!

Just this past offseason (if you can even call it that), some of the biggest names were being tossed around as possible transfer candidates; Wesley Sneijder, Luka Modric, Cesc Fabregas, and Samir Nasri were just a few of the players involved in rumors. Some ended up staying put, and others moved on to improve their new teams. I must admit, the two months (June and July) that the Premier League is in its offseason, the transfer rumors keep me constantly excited about the next season. Sure, American professional leagues have their share of trade rumors, but because of all the red tape involved in actually making a trade (see: the annual NBA Trade Machine that ESPN provides), most trades never pan out or end up being anti-climactic.

Now, if you missed out on this summer’s transfer window drama, have no worries! The transfer window will open up again for the month of January. This allows for teams to assess the talent they have, fill in for injured players, and create a second wind to provide for exciting finishes every season! Comparable to the secondary Waiver Wire trades in Major League Baseball, this additional transfer month will allow for some relief to your annual Seasonal Affective Disorder and will give soccer fans an additional fix of drama so that they do not have to watch Jersey Shore. I can’t wait!

The Going, Going Gooners (August 2011)

In a recent conversation with a friend, we happened upon the debacle that is known as Arsenal. As he is a Chelsea fan and I a Manchester United fan, this was an easy and enjoyable topic to discuss. However, I felt that Arsenal’s misery is something that must be addressed, because it affects those fans who follow the English Premier League year in and year out.

Now, if you are not familiar with the recent history of the Arsenal Gunners, let me refresh you. In short, they have a history of having big-name players and building a lot of hype, then falling short of any silverware.  If this story sounds familiar to you, it is. As a fan of baseball, Arsenal reminds me of the one and only Chicago Cubs. The Cubs, as you may or may not know, have not won a World Series since 1908 and continually disappoint their disillusioned fans. They sign big-name free agents thinking they will reverse the Billy Goat Curse, but every season they fall further and further into the depths of the NL Central standings.

While Arsenal have remained near the top of the EPL table, they still fail to produce based on their budget and expectations. While their trophy-less streak doesn’t go back as far as 1908, it has been since 2005 since Arsenal won anything of significance. This six-going-on-seven year drought is unacceptable in a “What have you won for me lately” league. As a fan of this league, I always wonder how such a talented team on paper seems to fall so far short of winning; whether it be the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League or even the Carling Cup. Even though I root for a rival team, I wish that such talent would somehow mold itself into a championship contender out of pity for those who root for the Gooners.

Furthermore, recent events continue to put a damper on the hopes of Arsenal fans. Arsene Wenger (whose name, you would think, fits perfectly for this club) has fallen into a lose-lose situation. As a well-respected manager, he brought Arsenal to the position they are in now through his “trust in the youth” policy; however, he has not quite taken them to the promised land over the last few seasons. No matter what lineup he assembles or what he says in the media to motivate his squad, nothing seems to work. I was one of many who said that Arsenal needed to rid themselves from Wenger after last season’s latest fiasco. My reasons were unique; I thought that he had fallen into a place where nothing he said would change the losing mindset, but he was not (entirely) to blame for the follies of his team. From a psychological standpoint, bringing in a fresh face may help to ease tensions and to put the team back on pace to seriously compete in this league again.

The Cubs have similarly fallen into a cycle where no manager or front office personnel are safe from scrutiny and criticism. The “curse” of losing has taken the forefront of everyone associated with this club, all the way from the ever-annoying fans all the way to ownership. Both the Cubs and Gunners will have to find a tabula rasa; erasing recent and long-standing history may be the only way back to glory for both franchises. And unless this clean slate is found, fans of these storied squads are in for a long and bumpy ride.

Settling The Debate of Best Ever—Or Not (August 2011)

Over the last couple seasons, many soccer analysts and so-called “experts” have stated that the current Barcelona team could be the best ever assembled. Across all sports, it seems that we hear “Best Ever” thrown around like a seal during Shark Week. The 18-1 2008 Patriots were regarded as Best Ever until they weren’t even best in the NFL that season. Individual players such as Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan have been called the best to ever play their individual sports as well. 

The only problem with these statements is the one thing that matters most—time. Sports are ever-evolving; there is no definitive way to compare athletes or teams that competed in different eras. Were the ’27 Yankees better than the ’75 Reds (as a native Cincinnatian, which way do you think I lean?). Or how does one know that Jordan was better than Oscar Robertson when they never played against one another or against the same competition?

While we will never definitively know who the best team or athlete of an individual sport is, at least in the “Ever” sense, it is a mighty good time to talk about it and watch YouTube videos to “research” the subject. Regarding Barcelona, it is possible that they may be the best ever-assembled soccer team on the club level, but there must be a player that stands out to make this team so great. That individual is Lionel Messi. While we cannot definitively state he is the best player to play this beautiful game, we can argue that he is amongst the greatest to touch a soccer ball.

Now if for some reason you have been living under a rock, get on a computer and watch some highlight footage right away (also, Geico can save you 15%). Now, one thing you should know is that I am a fan of English soccer; I think the style of play is more exciting, there is less (though still too much) diving, and the competition is higher throughout the standings. But watching Lionel Messi and Barcelona play is a joy. Sure, they are a possession team that frustrates their opponents by keeping the ball for hours, but they always have a purpose and the offense runs through perhaps the best soccer player on the planet right now. Messi seemingly keeps the ball glued to his feet and weaves in and out of defenders, making the world’s best athletes look like kids wearing Rec-Specs (see: Chris Sabo).

And if you’re not convinced that he is the best player in the world right now, watch some video of Barcelona and imagine if he did not play for that team. They would still be pretty good, but the gel that makes them the best in the world would be absent. Furthermore, any Barcelona game will feature a Lionel Messi at the top of his game; he’s not error-free, but he plays as flawless as anyone else in the world.

While we may never know if he is better than fellow Argentinian Diego Maradona, or Brazilian Pelé, or even American Michael Bradley (kidding!), we do know he is definitely in the hypothetical conversation for “Best Player to Ever Touch a Soccer Ball.” If Lionel Messi is able to lead Argentina to World Cup glory, we may be able to put him in to the Michael Jordan/Wayne Gretzky category of possibly Greatest Ever!

The Klinsmann Reaction (August 2011)

If you haven’t already read the Gab 4’s discussion on the hiring of Jürgen Klinsmann as the new head coach of the US Men’s National Team, you should go ahead and do that. As a US Soccer fan, I was very excited when US Soccer Federation head Sunil Gulati announced that Bob Bradley’s replacement would be the German soccer legend. A few years back, Bradley was put into a tough spot when it was announced that Klinsmann was close to becoming coach before he turned down the offer, making Bradley a dead man walking. However, Coach Bradley performed admirably, though failed to make the US into an international power so many hoped to see. Losing a 2-0 lead to rival Mexico in the Gold Cup Final seemed to be the last straw and led to the much-anticipated hire of the Klinsmann-ator.

Personally, I think this is a great hire for several reasons. I thought one of Bradley’s biggest weaknesses was sticking with players who seemed to underperform. Furthermore, second half collapses due to a failure to adjust became commonplace under the Bradley regime. Coach Klinsmann will not only bring a fresh perspective to a program that has seemingly hit a wall, but will ignite a fan base who has longed for a European influence on the American team.

I do not expect Jürgen Klinsmann to bring a World Cup title to America (at least not in 2014); while that would be awesome, I know that it is a tall order when one looks at the talent in Europe and South America. However, if Klinsmann is able to successfully change the mindset of this country’s attitude toward soccer by having teams that attack, defend and play consistently, he will have done his job well. Furthermore, if he fortifies the youth soccer system, US Soccer will be well off for a long time. Ideally, if Jürgen Klinsmann is successful in these areas and the worldview of US Soccer improves, then players will benefit and the success will be sustainable. For me, the biggest benefit of this hire is that more European clubs will give American players a chance to play in the top leagues, and players will be ready for top competition by playing against it every week.

As you may tell by the tone of this article, I am slightly stoked about this hire. It is a pleasure watching Spain, Netherlands, Brazil and the like play beautiful soccer, and I hope to see it for a long time going forward here in America. (Not to set the bar too high or anything). Get your popcorn ready; this should be a great ride!

English Premier League Preview 2011-2012 (August 2011)

The NFL Lockout is over. The NBA Lockout is at least a few months from being over. However, the best professional league in the world, the Barclay’s Premier League, is about to get underway! While visions of Wesley Sneijder to Manchester United dance merrily in the heads of Red Devil fans (mine included), we look forward to the season that lies ahead.

Chelsea won the EPL in 2010 and started strong last season before collapsing to let Manchester United and others back into the race late last year. United stayed strong and were able to capture the title, giving Sir Alex Ferguson his fourth championship in the last five seasons. There have been several interesting changes this offseason and this season proves to be as exciting as any!

While a carousel of Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, and Luka Modric rumors abound, we are less than a week away from the start of the season. The Community Shield (between the FA Cup Winner and the EPL Champion) was played between Mancester United and Manchester City. If that game shows us anything about this season, then we are in store one awesome ride! United came back from two goals down to win it in stoppage time, showing that they are still the team to beat.

There will be several teams vying for the title this season, and in addition to Manchester United, teams that will compete include Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal (but probably not). While these teams seem to be at the top every year, there are two teams who could surprise: Tottenham and Everton. The Spurs competed for a top spot all season and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Champions League, while Tim Howard will keep Everton in games and if the offense can score goals, they will compete in the top half of the table.

As far as teams who are new to the top level of English soccer, you should expect some good underdog competition from all three newly promoted clubs. Queens Park, Swansea City, and Norwich will all have a tough time avoiding relegation but will look to take the EPL by storm. However, some teams who were lucky to survive last year have lost key players and may be at the bottom of the league looking up. A couple teams who may not be so fortunate include Wolverhampton and Wigan.

No matter who wins the league, who qualifies for Champions League, and who is relegated, this season will prove to be very exciting to watch for fans all over the world. It should be interesting to see players on new teams and how they fare under the pressure of expectation. Stay tuned to MyBriefs.com and follow us on twitter @Ankursbriefs to stay up-to-date on everything going on in the most exciting soccer league in the world!

MLS not quite there yet but future is bright (July 2011)

In lieu of the recent dismantling of MLS’s Seattle Sounders by Manchester United, I decided to analyze the ever-narrowing (or widening?) gap between European club soccer and America’s Major League Soccer.

One of the biggest hindrances to soccer’s popularity in the United States is the lack of a high quality professional league to rival the NFL, MLB or even the NBA. Because it is truly the world’s game, this is the one sport where America’s professional league doesn’t dominate in competition, revenue, or popularity.

In addition, the fact that the MLS does not compete in the UEFA Champions League hurts American soccer as well. The only time European clubs interact with MLS teams is in events like the currently on-going World Football Challenge. This competition has brought teams over from England and Spain (Manchester United, Manchester City, and Real Madrid to name a few) to compete against MLS teams that are in mid-season form.

However, fans that are rooting for the MLS to close the competition gap with European teams continue to be disappointed. In recent matches, the European teams have shown superior technical skills, organization, finishing ability and depth. Even in games such as Manchester City-Vancouver, where the game was close throughout, City showed that they could finish when it mattered most and won a tight game even though they are in pre-season mode.

The most disappointing game thus far was the match between my beloved Manchester United squad and one of the best MLS teams this season, the Seattle Sounders. Now, I’m not trying to throw salt on an open wound, but that was a total embarrassment. The first half was fun to watch; Seattle actually dominated possession and United only took a 1-0 lead on a great counterstrike and finish. The second half was a different story. With a handful of substitutions for both teams, Manchester United opened up and scored six (yes, 6) second half goals to make it seem like more of a clinic than a match between two professional squads.

Sure, one can argue that United added Wayne Rooney, but for a team who is still in pre-season mode to play one of the best MLS teams at their home stadium and to win 7-0 is unfortunate. United showed superior depth, and even though they are going through some changes at several positions, showed better teamwork than Seattle.

I do believe, contrary to what these games have suggested, that Major League Soccer is closing the gap. It is unfortunate for them that they don’t have the revenue to bring in and keep world-class players, but there are a couple teams who could fend for themselves at the world stage, even if they aren’t at the levels of a Manchester United or Barcelona. Maybe the embarrassing status of professional sports in America will turn kids to playing soccer and the game will develop here in the United States.

While I am a huge fan of the English Premier League and European soccer in general, I wish only the best for Major League Soccer. It has the ability to bring a clean, fresh perspective to professional sports in a country that has to deal with money-centered lockouts in the NBA and NFL, steroid-use in Major League Baseball, and whatever that mess is called in the NCAA. This is the time for the MLS to step up and finally take a step in the right direction. One only knows we need it.

MLS All-Star Game Gab (July 2011)

The MLS All-Star game is upon us. Manchester United is playing the fourth game of their five game USA tour with and tonight is their first chance to pick up some silverware. Last year ManUtd became the first team to beat the MLS All-Stars in regulation after outscoring the home team 5-2 in 90 minutes. This year the MLS looks to right the ship against the Premier League Champions, when the teams take the field at the Red Bulls Arena in New York City, or at least in New Jersey, which is basically the same thing anyways. There is no limit on substitutions, which means that unlike league play, every player on the bench can take the field. This rule is more likely to affect the All-Stars since their side consists of players specifically elected to play in this game. Also, if the score is tied after 90 minutes there will be no 2009 MLB All-Star draw. It will go to the most exciting tiebreaker in sports-the Penalty Kick Shootout.

The MLS has seen unprecedented growth in the last few years. In 2009 they added a new franchise, the Seattle Sounders, who quickly became the most popular club in the league. The MLS followed this up by adding the Philadelphia Union in 2010 and creating the Cascadia rivalry by adding the Portland Timbers and Vancouver (B.C) Whitecaps this season. They supplemented this expansion by continuing to recruit some of the biggest soccer names on earth; namely, David Beckham in 2007 (a former Red Devil) and Thierry Henry in 2010 (a former Arsenal/Barcelona striker).   

Tyler- The MLS All-Stars will be led by Red Bulls coach Hans Backe, who was named as the head coach, mostly out of convenience, since the game is taking place in his home stadium. The fans, the commissioner, Backe, and MLS players selected the team. Selected by the fans to the All-Star team, Seattle Sounders GK Kasey Keller was flown to New York after playing a CONCACAF Champions League game in Panama. Even though he was selected to the First XI he will be listed as the third GK tonight behind Tally Hall, a Seattle native, and Colombian Faryd Mondragon. United States international Tim Ream will have his work cut out for him, as he must keep English superstar Wayne Rooney out of the penalty area. This is even more important because Chicharito Hernandez will not make an appearance after spending last night in the hospital with a concussion. Other notable absences include Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso who many believe to be the leagues MVP at moment. He was selected to fill the roster but will not be in New Jersey. Canadian standout Dwayne De Rosario, Eric Hassli, who scored a wonder-goal in Seattle in June, and USMNT star Landon Donovan will be held out due to injury. Starting XI Mondragon-Convey, Ream, Olave, Franklin-Davis, Beckham, Joseph,-Henry, Wondolowski.

Ankur--Well, here we are. The most anticipated match-up of this whole Europe vs. MLS mini-season is by far the MLS All-Stars vs. Manchester United. I have been increasingly more interested in these exhibition matches every year as I feel that MLS teams are slowly closing the gap between American and European soccer. However, there's still a long way to go. First of all, the European teams that have been playing are at the top of the class: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Manchester City and others are some of the best teams in the world. While some of the games have been pretty close, others have been lopsided; clinics put on by individuals (Cristiano Ronaldo) and teams (United) show that the MLS still has a ways to go. Hopefully, tonight we'll see better competition than what was witnessed in Manchester United's 5-2 shellacking of the MLS All-Stars last summer.

Tyler- The MLS came out nervous, a couple soft back passes, almost let Rooney get in the back. They looked in awe of the giants they were playing, but seem to have settled down a bit.

Ankur- Manchester United are coming off another great season. Though they lost to Barcelona in the Champions League Final, they put forth a brilliant Premier League season and proved to be the most consistent, talented team in England. They’ve filled some holes through transfers and have played well in America so far, having outscored their opponents 14-2 in three games. So far in the first few minutes, the MLS All-Stars have played well and kept their attack up! Usually when All-Star teams play together, especially after only one or two practices, their defense struggles because of miscommunications and misunderstandings between players. They're hoping to keep United out of the net long enough to steal a goal.

Tyler- Other than lots of disappointed Mexicans in the stands, what kind of impact do you think not having Chicharito will have on ManUtd?

Ankur- Well, Chicharito was probably the biggest surprise and the best rookie to arrive on the soccer stage this past season. Not having him means United may lack that extra goal-scoring minded player if the MLS concentrate on shutting down Rooney and Berbatov. However, one of the reasons a team like United differ from an MLS team is that they have access to multiple star players and have more depth than almost any team in the world.

Tyler- The depth showed for United in Seattle, when Sigi Schmid's team held them to one goal in the first half but hemorrhaged goals in the second half, giving up six more. All of that without their "Little Pea". The depth shouldn't be a problem in tonight's game with most of the league's best players taking part in the show.

Ankur- The abundance of depth for the MLS squad is exactly why I am most intrigued by this match. I fully expect United to win, but only because they have played a lot as a team and that will prevail over the 90 minutes. And with that, the first goal! Beautiful passing by United, which was no match for the MLS defense. I hope that the MLS stay composed and push forward with more chances to equalize. 1-0 Manchester United.

Tyler- United exposed the biggest difference between a club team and an All-star team, communication. The All-Stars had a chance at the other end before the goal but Davis was unable to find anyone available inside of the box. The lack of communication could be the downfall of this team.

Ankur-Exactly. While the MLS All-Stars are individually in mid-season form, United is practically in mid-season form already. Their season just ended at the beginning of June and they've now played three games in the Herbalife World Football Challenge. So United have a distinct advantage in a couple aspects.

Tyler- The MLS is content with taking shots from distance. While I understand that the lack of communication is keeping them from linking together enough passes to warrant Ole's, they have to realize that this isn't an MLS keeper and their strikes aren't doing much but giving Lindegaard an opportunity to make brilliant saves. Now Olave the only person who really has the speed to keep up with Rooney is down and probably out.

Ankur- I agree, but give some credit to the MLS. Lindegaard is fighting for a spot, so he may have some nerves and might make an error. Brad Davis and David Beckham had great shots stopped and they've had a few corners as well. They should continue to pressure, but need to be wary of the counter-attack that Rooney, Park, and Berbatov run so well.

The MLS seems to finally have found their possession. Unfortunately, unlike United they HAVE to make changes to the line up. Similarly unfortunate, Ji-Sung Park expanded the gap between the two teams with an outstanding example of individual skill, rattling the bravado of the Americans and the inside netting with a single strike just before the break. Manchester United lead 2-0 at halftime.

Ankur-That video montage of top plays from the MLS season reminds me. Who are your favorites for Goal of the Year? My top three currently stand as the Rooney bicycle, the Hassli volley bomb, and the dos Santos floater. Any to add? We're seeing some beautiful soccer this year, and I think the rest of the year will lead us smoothly into Euro 2012!

Tyler- I know we can definitely forget about Balotelli's back heel. I'm stuck between whose goal I would put on top. Rooney's goal was great and every child old enough to kick a ball dreams about a bicycle goal. On the other hand, Hassli's goal was pure brilliance, a no looker from the corner of the box. I'm not sure we are going to see a goal like that for a long time. The second half is underway with 5 new players on the field 3 field players for the MLS (LaBrocca, Beckerman, Pierce) and a keeper change for each side (Hall-MLS/Amos-ManU).

Ankur- I was hoping the MLS would keep the same players for the most part for some of this half, but I guess they want everyone to get some minutes. Berbatov tries to imitate Rooney with a chip over the goalie which hits off the crossbar; but Berbs is there with a chest and slam home to give United a 3-0 lead. United have had huge advantages over the MLS squad and while the MLS have shown some flashes, they have been dominated overall by a team hitting its stride.

Tyler- The All-Stars just had their first real chance this half; their passing has been more fluid and it's only a matter of time before their balls find the netting. It should be a game then, because according to a poorly quoted Ronaldo, "Goals are like ketchup, they either all come at once or not at all."

Ankur- Good run of chances by the MLS All-Stars, but again, unable to finish. Still better, more organized play by Manchester United, but the subs for the MLS have come to prove that they belong on the same field. And I must say, David Beckham can still pass the ball with the best of them!

Tyler- Becks can still play with the best of them but not at a holding midfield position like Hans Backe wants him to. An outstanding strike by Danny Welbeck from outside the box makes it 4-nil in United's favor in the 68'. The Red Devils have completely dominated the MLS on every stop of this tour. It makes me wonder if it's a lack of skill on the part of the MLS or if United has become unstoppable. They haven't been this dominant before; this year has been something else.

Ankur- I touched on this a bit in my last article. The ugly thing about this sport and almost all professional sports is that money truly brings sustainable success. Sure, you may have a flash-in-the-pan team here and there, but the Manchester United's and Real Madrid's are going to be successful almost every season because they can afford more top-tier talent up and down their starting lineups and benches. The MLS can't afford multiple stars, and will lack in their level of play because of this bankroll deficiency. It sounds like a long time from now, but I think in 10 years the MLS will be able to truly compete with the rest of the world. Their time is coming!

Tyler- The biggest hurdle for the individual teams is the Salary cap. Each team is allotted $2.675 million with each of the 3 Designated Players counting as 335k of that cap with the rest of the salary coming out of the owners’ pockets.

In the 81st minute a legend enters the field. Kasey Keller has officially made his last professional appearance both as an All-Star and against ManU, magical. He was my hero growing up and I watched his game tape online to make me a better keeper.

Tyler- That's all she wrote. After 90 minutes, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils have proven once again that they are the most dominant teams in the world by beating the MLS's Best by a score of 4 goals to zero, zilch, nil, nada. The MLS started off rough and didn't ever really find their stride. Manchester United dominated the game from the first touch to the last. The All-Stars are all in midseason form and will return to their clubs tomorrow to begin the fight for other silverware, while United will head to America's capital to face off against Barcelona in a UEFA Champions League final rematch. The showdown in DC will not be quite what the fans bargained for since both teams will be missing key pieces of their team.

The atmosphere was magical. Between the soccer legends Ferguson, Beckham, Henry, Rooney, and Keller, America got its fix tonight. The most magical moment came in the 81' when the original American soccer legend Kasey Keller entered the game in what is his last year of professional soccer. The country’s respect for this man forced the MLS to fly Keller in to play.

While I would have liked to see the MLS hand United their horns in a bucket, I, like the rest of the country, have to remember that it was only an exhibition match that doesn't reflect how the league performs. Alex Ferguson has said he believes his team will enter the Premier League winning games 4 or 5 to zero. So far, I would have to say I agree with that prediction. The MLS may not have the money to work deals with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Petr Cech, Nnamdi Asom..., but the point is that with such a small salary cap the MLS can't attract top notch talent. However, that doesn't stop them from growing and becoming stronger. It's only a matter of time before the US Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League draw comparisons to the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

Ankur- You said it. Money is the biggest difference between the teams that have continued success and the teams that don't. It's a shame that professional sports are marred by something that should have very little influence over the competition, but sadly it does. We are still drawn to the beautiful aspects of the sport: the goal-scoring, the physical ability, the ball skills, and the overall love of the world's game. While I mostly follow European soccer, I hope that one day there is a Champions League-type competition that includes the MLS and South American teams that is as highly regarded as the UEFA version. Being able to see the Seattle Sounders take on Manchester United in a World Football Challenge that actually matters and is more evenly matched would be amazing. That would mean that America has finally embraced the most beautiful sport in the world and that money has taken a backseat to the pride and athleticism that make soccer so fun to watch and play.

Until next time, this is your Soccer Briefs guys signing off. We look forward to your comments! Let us know how we did on our facebook page MyBriefs.com, or @MyOwnProdigy (MLS News, Rumors and more) and @AnkursBriefs (Premier League) on twitter!

Why you should be watching the Women’s World Cup (July 2011)

As many of you know, the Women’s World Cup is going on right now in Germany. Sixteen of the best teams in the world gathered in four groups and now have been whittled down to eight for the quarterfinals. If you haven’t already been tuning in, here are six reasons you will want to watch the rest of the matches:

1.     No Diving—Unlike last year’s Men’s World Cup, the women have been playing soccer and not the referee. There have been very few appeals for fouls and no embellishing the contact. This is truly the joga bonita.

2.     Marta—The Brazilian is the best player in women’s soccer right now. While some say that the United States and Germany may be the best two teams in the world, Marta is women’s soccer answer to Lionel Messi. With her high level of ball skills and jaw-dropping plays, she will provide a huge challenge to Hope Solo and the United States defense in Sunday’s quarterfinal matchup.

3.     Bad Officiating—Where the prevalence of diving is different between the men’s and women’s games, subpar officiating has made it’s way into this World Cup as well. The biggest example occurred in the Australia-Equitorial Guinea game when a player caught and held onto the ball for several seconds and dropped it to her goalie without the referee or line judge noticing. Minutes later Equitorial Guinea evened the score at 1-1 when Australia should have had the chance to take a 2-0 lead.

4.     USA Women’s National Team—Nothing brings fans to a new sport like national pride. Millions of non-hockey fans rallied together when the US Men’s Hockey team went for Olympic gold last year and the same can be true this year. While the US Men’s team continues to break our hearts, the Women’s team has been a top three team for a long time and has a good chance to challenge the Germans and Brazilians for the title.  Uncle Sam demands that you tune in.

5.     No Vuvuzelas—Last year, the World Cup travelled to Africa for the first time in history. While South Africa did a great job at hosting the competition and it was an overall success, the Vuvuzelas seemed to take over the world and created the biggest buzz (pun intended) last summer. There is none of that this year; just good old-fashioned soccer and commentary.

6.     It’s the only thing on—Many sports fans will be forced to watch the Women’s World Cup because honestly, not much else is going on in the sports world. Wimbledon just ended, golf is without Tiger Woods, baseball is at the All-Star Break, and hockey’s season is over. Furthermore, the NBA and NFL are stuck in ugly lockouts that will only serve to alienate fans (poor billionaires). 

What better than to watch world-class athletes play their hearts out not for reasons other than money? Make sure to tune in to watch these women play for the love of the world’s game and the pride of their countries.

Offseason offers room for improvement (June 2011)

The Offseason. Fans usually either hate this time for their favorite sport or love it because this is the time that championship teams are built. The English Premier League is similar to sports leagues we have here in America when it comes to the offseason. While we always hear about offseason incidents involving athletes (see: Wayne Rooney and Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones), the most exciting part of any offseason is the moves. Whether it involves a trade or simply a free agent signing, new players on new teams creates a buzz among fans of any team involved. For the most part, the moves are over-hyped and do not come to fruition (see: Lebron James), but they can change the dynamic of a team and of the entire league.

There is however, a downfall to transfers that occur in the offseason. This unfortunate aspect of the Premier League offseason is that usually the top teams add players and the bottom teams lose players who would undoubtedly make them better the next season. The most plausible comparison is Major League Baseball, where teams like the Yankees and Red Sox are able to add the highest ranked free agents because their bankrolls are seemingly bottomless.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and the like, continually add new players to fill gaps and strengthen weaknesses. However, for teams who are consistently involved in relegation battles, two factors seem to keep them in a never-ending cycle. Because these teams are not always in the EPL, they do not have the budget to buy star players; and any stars they do have usually leave because these clubs are in a relegation battle. So, it is tough to compete or even get into the top half of the table when a club's best players are consistently leaving for greener pastures and a lack of star players leads to less in-coming revenue. Even more, these teams cannot afford to turn down the massive offers they receive from the top clubs because they need the money just to stay afloat in the Premier League. The only chance, it seems, that these clubs have is to get into the middle of the table after a surprising season and keep players for a couple extra seasons; in addition, they may even have a chance at signing some desired free agents.

In the end, the teams in the top five are pretty consistent. Of course, there are always feel-good stories of teams avoiding relegation and even competing for a top spot. I hope that the EPL, and MLB too for that matter, recognize that their leagues will only stand to gain by making changes to allow for parity throughout the league.

One can argue that it may be too late for salary caps, and it probably is. However, putting monetary limits on acquisitions in an offseason, or giving some sort of arbitration protection to clubs may help lower end teams keep their young, rising stars. This will provide for a more balanced competition every season.

While I love watching Manchester United finish at or near the top of the league every season, I would love to see teams like Wolverhampton and Wigan play games that were not only to survive relegation. Hopefully, like replay technology, the people in charge will take a step back and accept suggestions for improving the top leagues of the world to make the beautiful game even more bonita.

European Club League Rankings (June 2011)

1.    English Premier League (England)—Manchester United, the English champion, and Barcelona, the Spanish champions, battled in the Champions League Final with Barca taking the title as best team in Europe (and the world). However, from top to bottom, England has the highest level of competition, with a fierce relegation battle ever season. The battle at the top of the league was exciting all year with any of five teams fighting for the championship at some point. Many top-level players from around the world call the Premier League home and for good reason.

2.     La Liga (Spain)—Though Barcelona was easily crowned the best team in the world, the Spanish league did not offer much after the top few teams. Real Madrid had a great season and finished with the coveted (but not held onto) Copa del Rey. There was a vast drop to the teams after second place and bottom of the table teams fared very poorly against the top of the table.

3.    Serie A (Italy)—In the past, Italian football has competed strongly in European competitions, but wasn’t very strong this year. Both Milan-based teams boast very strong lineups but strength is measured by the weakest teams and Italy has some bad ones. Last season, Inter won the Champions League and hopefully, less diving and more football play will help bring Italy back into the forefront.

4.    Bundesliga (Germany)—Last year, Bayern Munich reached the Champions League Final, but no other German teams had strong showings against the other leagues. With two new top teams this season, the Bundesliga looks to improve and throw more German teams into the European competition fire.

5.    Ligue 1 (France)—While the other top four leagues have had Champions or contenders in Europe the last few years, the French Ligue 1 has showed up to the Champions League knockout rounds as heavy underdogs and performed just that way. With a new champion this year in Lille, and with perennial contenders Marseilles and Lyon, the French league looks to start improving against the other European teams.

Other leagues in contention for this ranking included the leagues in Netherlands, Russia, Portugal, and Scotland. While these leagues occasionally have teams in the knockout rounds of European competition, they have not been consistent enough in playing up to par with the powerhouses of late. Ideally, soccer fans would like to see more parity not only up and down the tables of these leagues, but across the countries. Maybe one day there will be a serious Club World Cup that includes the likes of the MLS and other non-European leagues. This will allow for a true globalization of the beautiful game and for my dreams to become reality.