football

Kick around about all things soccer; explore football's storied history, current events in the soccer sphere, the intricacies of the game and more.

Finding Value in the Transfer Window
However, with the transfer window still open, there are many more deals to be done. In this inflated transfer market, with players going for tens of millions of pounds, it can be hard for some clubs to strike a good deal and get value for money. So what can clubs do to avoid paying extortionate fees?
By Craig House7 years ago in Cleats
Restarting the Rebuilding of Manchester United
Six years and counting; that is the number of years since we last won the title. It appears that the league left with the old gaffer, and so has the identity of Manchester United. Gone are the days of Stratford End goals that secured titles, gone are the players who truly played for the pride of the shirts on their backs. In this new era of footballers, social media fame is dominant, dodgy agents are prominent, and outrageous transfer fees have crippled the modern market. Has United fallen prey to this millennial madness? It unfortunately has. After Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, United have become a mid-class club battling for fourth place against Arsenal, and the fans have to travel to unknown European cities due to the Europa League. The downfall began when the greatest football manager hung up his coaching boots. David Moyes was Sir Alex's first successor, but he did not exceed expectations. The club was too big for his mentality, even Di Maria's standards dropped at his time at the club. Then came the Dutch dragon, Louis Van Gaal. He was as stubborn as an ox, too critical of his players, and very dutch-football based. Lastly, was the special one, Jose Mourinho. He brought some stability, but he also brought defending tactics that were outdated, and made Man United very boring to watch. He was your 'draw rather than score' type of manager, and although he did manage to get us two trophies, it only painted over the cracks that were deeply felt due to the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Who were the cracks you might ask? it was the old players left by the previous managers, and the greed of the club investors, the Glazers. This was only adding to United's woes.
By Mel7 years ago in Cleats
Footballers Who Have Hidden Talents We Don't Know About
Many footballers are seen as brainless one-dimensional people with no other talents than when the ball is at their feet. Here are some examples of professional football players who have abilities beyond the green grass of the field.
By Football Nerd7 years ago in Cleats
A Guide to Common Soccer Injuries
Soccer is one of the most popular sports all around the world. It is loved by people of all ages, and it requires very little equipment to be able to actually play it. Just like any other sport, there are bound to be some injuries. These injuries are usually classified as acute or cumulative. Acute injuries are traumatic, and are caused by a hit or fall, while cumulative injuries are from putting repetitive stress on a muscle, joint, or tendon. It is important to know what the beginning of these injuries look like, and be able to treat them before they become a life long problem. Here are a few of the most common injuries you will run into while playing soccer.
By Craig Middleton7 years ago in Cleats
The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team Is Underachieving
The United States men's national soccer team is probably one of the most underachieving soccer teams globally in FIFA. When you look at the demographics for soccer in the United States, you clearly see a lot of soccer fields and kids playing on travel clubs and attending some kind of soccer camps. In the U.S., there are over 12 million kids playing outdoor soccer and almost 5.5 million playing indoor soccer as of 2017. In the high school ranks, there are 456,362 boys playing soccer in high school and 390,482 girls playing in high school.
By A.J. Jones7 years ago in Cleats
Liverpool vs. Tottenham UCL 2019 Final
It has been 11 years since two English clubs met in UEFA Champions League final when Manchester United beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the regular time in 2008. The stage is set again as the world will witness the dominance of English football when Liverpool takes on Spurs in UEFA champions league final in Madrid.
By Football Nerd7 years ago in Cleats
Grass Roots Football: The Ups and Downs
Saturdays are the most stressful day of the week for me. Coordinating all of our club teams, hoping everything goes well without any headaches, hoping the teams behave themselves and don’t bring the club into disrepute, and commuting all over the place to put out the little fires that burn up. All to sit down at the end of the day and start worrying about next week all over again. Do I love it? Of course! Why else would I do it? Would I give it up? Maybe... the temptation of peace, straightforward weeks... a day off! So why do I do it?
By Joshua Lino-da Costa7 years ago in Cleats
Top Most Promising University Football Teams
University football is followed by millions of avid fans. As such, it only makes sense that these fans would want to stay up-to-date on their teams, as well as other top teams. That’s exactly what we’re going to look at here: university football teams to keep an eye on in coming games.
By Donald Jefferson7 years ago in Cleats
Best Summer Signings 2018-19 (Outside of the Premier League)
Giovani Lo Celso (PSG →Real Betis) Many were surprised to the news that Lo Celso was going to be loaned. He was coming off a good season with PSG, and people were expecting him to have an even better one this year. Nevertheless, the Betis loan seems to have worked in his favor. He has become a key part of the Betis attack and is one of the main reasons for the Los Verdiblancos’s great season, which explains why they recently signed him on a permanent basis. Personally, I think staying at Betis will allow him to continue his development. He’s playing consistently in a club with big ambitions and with other quality players (Canales, Joaquin, Carvalho). He’s currently in a great situation and with constant progression, he’ll become a starter in the Argentinian national team.
By Yannis Kanga7 years ago in Cleats
Champions League or Bust:
On the heels of FC Barcelona's Champions League disaster to Liverpool at Anfield, it is pertinent to talk about how Champions League results can define or derail an entire season for big clubs outside the Premier League.
By Space Zebra7 years ago in Cleats
Was Manchester United's Season Successful?
When Jose Mourinho took over Manchester United, there was a sense of optimism, and it made sense. Jose is a man with a winning mentality, and has demonstrated it through his time with the likes of Porto, Chelsea, inter Milan, and Real Madrid.
By Dexroy Brooks7 years ago in Cleats
Arsenal FC
The 2018/19 season has been a whirlwind of emotions for Arsenal fans and players alike. With impressive wins against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspurs, and Chelsea, alongside draws against Man U, Spurs, and Liverpool, there's been a lot to celebrate. Unai Emery's arrival saw Arsenal playing free-flowing football week in and week out, and a more motivated squad than that of which we saw during the latter end of the Wenger period. However, the poor away form has put a dampener on things all season, causing fury among Arsenal fans and disappointment among the players and manager as well.
By Karl Hoscik7 years ago in Cleats