Top Soccer Moments of 2011

As we close out another year and chapter in our lives, I am taking a few moments to reflect back on the most significant memories of 2011 in the world of soccer—both at the club and international levels. It has been quite an interesting year on and off the field and though this year is ending, we have much to look forward to in 2012.

7. Fernando Torres to Chelsea There were many significant transfers this year, including Samir Nasri to Manchester City and Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, but the one that got the most press was the star Spanish striker moving to Stamford Bridge for a fee of £50 million (yes, that is pounds), only to disappoint by not scoring his first goal for over 900 minutes of action.

6. Barcelona Dominance This seems to be a common trend the last few years, but again, we cannot ignore the greatness of Lionel Messi and his crew of Spanish stars. They once again dominated the Champions League when they dismantled a very good Manchester United squad in the final. They also won La Liga and even though Real Madrid won the coveted Copa del Rey, Barca still managed to win that battle.

5. FIFA Scandals 2011 started off with a scandal for FIFA in both the presidential election process and the picking of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup sights. There were accusations that choosing Qatar for 2022 was not clean. In the past few months, FIFA President Sepp Blatter attracted criticism when he denied the presence of racism in soccer. This was followed up by serious allegations against prominent EPL players Luis Suarez and John Terry that they used racial abuse during matches. Hopefully, 2012 will be a better year for FIFA with World Cup qualifying and the Euro Cup.

4. Manchester City’s Rise to Prominence City flirted with the top of the table during last season’s campaign, only falling when United smacked them down with the goal of a lifetime (see below) and recaptured the title. City was not deterred and acquired Samir Nasri over the summer and came out on fire this season, culminating in a 6-2 shellacking of hated cross-town rivals Manchester United. Both teams are currently tied atop the table, so 2012 should bring much drama in the EPL. City’s talent, however, is not to be doubted any longer.

3. Hiring of Jürgen Klinsmann At the end of July, after much speculation, the US Soccer Federation fired embattled coach Bob Bradley and hired fan-favorite Klinsmann. This was a move that many thought was going to happen a few years ago, but finally came to fruition in 2011. Klinsmann’s start to the US era has been slightly disappointing, but with a few months to go until World Cup qualifying, he still has time to measure the talent available and create a side that will be somewhat respected on the international scene.

2. Wayne Rooney Bicycle Kick If you have not seen this play yet, please do so now. This was one of the best goals I have ever seen and came near the end of the crucial aforementioned match against a surging Manchester City squad. It is also synonymous with the growth in Rooney’s career as a professional soccer player and will be replayed on top ten lists for centuries to come.

1. Women’s World Cup In any other year, Rooney’s goal would have taken the top spot. However, for anyone who watched the WWC this summer, you will agree that this was the soccer event of the year. Women’s soccer has never been considered on the same level as the men’s game, but the women proved they are no joke. The feel-good story was the US Women’s team, which was the favorite going in, but did not win their group, then had some amazing matches against Brazil and Japan in the knockout round. In the end, even though the US, Brazilian, and German teams got all the coverage, an underdog Japanese team took the title by showing that heart can win out over talent. The sportsmanship displayed during the tournament left a good taste in everyone’s mouths, a refreshing turn from the embarrassing antics by some of the men’s national teams in the recent World Cup.

As you can see, this has been a fantastic year of soccer at all levels. This year was also big for me personally, as I joined the ranks of soccer journalism with MyBriefs.com, and it has been a wonderful ride. I hope you stick with us into the New Year, as we get ready for the great goals, moments, and competitions of 2012!

Resisting Temptation

Last week, Matt Barkley surprised the world of college football by announcing that he was returning to the University of Southern California for his senior season. Barkley had been projected as a top-10 pick in next April’s NFL draft as one of the best quarterback prospects behind Stanford’s Andrew Luck. Luck actually surprised everyone last year when he announced his intentions to return to college for his senior year instead of jumping to the NFL where he would have most likely been the top pick.

Both quarterbacks resisted the temptations of a huge paycheck to finish their college experiences, even if it meant risking injury. This is a nice change from athletes who are not mature enough athletically or mentally to make the jump, resulting in ever-disappointing busts (see: Vince Young and Ryan Leaf). Because the jump from college to the pros is so unpredictable, the correct formula for predicting an athlete’s future has yet to be found. From Wonderlic tests, to workouts, to combine interviews, the decision to stay or go has huge implications.

Many times, the mental maturity is overlooked in these decisions and the state of sports has taken a turn for the worse as we have seen a spike in arrests, scandals, and unsportsmanlike conduct. Respect for mental health needs to increase so that athletes can be viewed as role models again, whether that is their responsibility or not. Only then will college athletics begin to move away from an emphasis on money to one on a balanced education and love of the game.

I do have to admit that the money available can be extremely tempting, and without some of restrictions by the NCAA and professional leagues, athletes would jump to the pros at even earlier ages. But there is no extensive support system that teaches athletes, sometimes from dismal backgrounds, to deal with societal, financial, and social pressures that come with this business. Maybe these problems trace themselves back to bigger root causes: the failing educational system and the priorities of American society. But seeing a small trend of athletes hold back for an extra year to complete their education or take time to mature has been refreshing.

There are still two quarterbacks, Robert Griffin III and Landry Jones, who are yet to decide on their NFL draft statuses for 2012, but either way, they are doing their homework to make an educated decision. The new NFL rookie pay scale, implemented starting this year, limits ridiculous bonuses for new players, and this change will keep more athletes from making premature jumps. As fans of all sports, we can only hope that money does not continue to persuade athletes to become professionals when they will be better served in the long-run by waiting an extra season. Instead of rushing to criticize athletes for not taking the leap, the media should realize that enjoying life is actually more important than sports.

Disaster in Manchester

Are you a tool-wielding person? If so, go ahead and throw your wrench into both the Champions League and Premier League races. After both Manchester clubs failed to qualify for the knockout round of the Champions League, the whole European soccer scene has shifted. England and Spain have been recent perennial powerhouses in the Champions League scene but only Barcelona and Real Madrid have advanced out of the arguably best four teams in Europe.

On Wednesday, Manchester United needed a draw at FC Basel to advance to the round of 16 while Manchester City needed a win or a Napoli loss to stay afloat. Neither happened and now both will sit back while other European club teams strive for one of the most prestigious titles in the world. This will not only alter the course of Champions League soccer come February, but will change how the English Premier League race will play out.

As a United fan, this loss to Basel was admittedly devastating. Competing for the Champions League title has been a given for United for 14 of the last 16 seasons, and now they find themselves on the outside looking in. United started the season on a tear that was normal of a Sir Alex squad, but have stumbled mightily since their embarrassing loss at the hands of City. With news that captain Nemanja Vidic is out for the season with a knee injury, the United faithful will certainly be in a state of pain that they have not experienced for quite some time.

For City, this loss is tough but not as crushing. They needed a win and a loss by Napoli, and by beating Bayern Munich 2-0 they did their part but Napoli did not lose and thus advanced ahead of City. However, critics of the newly successful Manchester City squad will say their path to the Premier League title will be easier now that they do not have to deal with the pressures of the Champions League. This is true to some extent. Playing against Europe’s best while also being targeted by every other team in the EPL can be tough and may be the reason that few teams have been able to win both. Chelsea and Arsenal, who both advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League, will certainly feel that they have more obstacles along the road to catching City in the EPL.

The city of Manchester had certainly been flying high this season and the events of the past week have brought both squads down to earth. It should still be an interesting race for the EPL title, with the perils of winter and the January transfer window yet to come. But it will be in the back of the minds of fans, players, and managers alike that both Manchester clubs were not able to stave off the pressure and stay in the Champions League. Winning the EPL without participating in this top-level competition will not be quite as sweet if either City or United take home the championship and while we can hope that the race stays exciting, it certainly has lost some its luster.

A Season To Remember

Welcome to December! The malls are crazed, school and work have become places to daydream about Christmas, and every snowflake is magical. This is also the beginning of a treacherous trek through the winter months of the Premier League. We are finally through the part of the season where managers blame mistakes on rust and into the segment where Carling Cup, Champions League, and other competitions intertwine with EPL pressures to ensure that only the fittest survive.

Right now, Manchester City have built a comfortable lead with a monster goal differential, so it seems that if they can make it through the coming months with few blemishes, then springtime will be all flowers and no showers. But the teams behind them are in a scrum that may not be sorted out until the final matchday. I am going to do my best to get to the bottom of this to see who will survive and take the four Champions League spots and EPL title.

1.     Manchester City—This may seem like the easy pick, but here’s why they will stay at the top. With Chelsea experiencing a surprising freefall, and Liverpool having to settle for draws when it deserved to beat both Manchester squads, Manchester United remain the top challenger to the title. Tottenham and Newcastle have had great starts to the season, but sadly, they do not have the budget or depth to keep up with City. I think City finally keep their heads on straight (if they can avoid Balotellitis) and take home their first Premier League crown.

2.     Manchester United—In the past, I may have predicted Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad to come out and snatch back the title from City, but they seem a little off this year. The second spot comes down to United and Liverpool, as they are the two teams who have looked most impressive behind City. Their first match resulted in a draw at Anfield, but United was lucky to escape with the point. The second match, in February, could very well decide who challenges City for the title.

3.     Liverpool—Kenny Dalglish has done a wonderful job of reinvigorating the Reds after two disappointing seasons. They are playing aggressive, team soccer and if not for a somewhat groggy start, they may have been right next to City at the top of the table. If they can get over the unlucky breaks that have weighed on them early this season, they will be lying in wait should City or United slip up.

4.     Tottenham—I have a feeling Spurs fans will take this as a sign of disrespect. Currently, Tottenham sit in third place, only two points out of second with a game in hand. However, it is hard to overlook the shellackings they took from both Manchester teams at the start of the season. They have rebounded nicely and are on a 10-game unbeaten streak, including a beat down of Liverpool. They have more staying power than Newcastle and even Arsenal, and could very well take a top three spot. I gave the edge to United and Liverpool because, unfortunately, money still means something in this league and they have more of it. While Hotspur is my favorite nickname for any club, they may have to settle for a Champions League spot when May rolls around.

Now, don’t discount Arsenal, Chelsea, or Newcastle, who are all within seven points of second place. But they haven’t shown just yet that they can compete at the top level of the table this season. With so many teams in contention, this season is turning out to be one for the ages. City would be wise not to take their foot off the pedal, as many teams will be eager to trip them up.

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!