Let me preface this by saying that I am by no means a pro at this, and unfortunately my ability to watch Spanish and German football is very limited, but here are my picks for the best XI of 2011. This is surely the highest honor these players will ever receive.
GK--Iker Casillas, Real Madrid
RB--Dani Alves, Barcelona
CB--Vincent Kompany, Manchester City
CB--Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United
LB--Philipp Lahm, Bayern Munich
MF--Yaya Toure, Manchester City
MF--Andres Iniesta, Barcelona
MF--Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern Munich
F--Robin Van Persie, Arsenal
F--Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
F--Lionel Messi, Barcelona
No surprise, my player of the year is Lionel Messi.
I'd like to thank everyone who takes any time to read my little blog. I have a good time writing it, and I hope maybe it at least stimulates some of you to think more and write about the Beautiful Game we all know and love.
I hope the end of 2011 has been good to you all, and that 2012 is better than you can even imagine.
Peace be upon you, good luck in 2012!
--Brandon
Saturday, December 31, 2011
EPL: Norwich vs. Tottenham
About this time last season, those of us that watch the Barclay's Premier League were witnessing the curious case of Blackpool, newly promoted from the Championship and still hanging around the top half of the table come the festive period. Well, we all know how that turned out, unfortunately for the Tangerines.
This season all three of the promoted squads have done alright. QPR has the money a their disposal to try to buy the players to stay up. Swansea has been junk on the road but in very good form at home in Wales. Norwich has played pretty much everybody tough and has garnered my respect as an EPL fan.
This match against Tottenham was always going to be tough though. You'd really be hard pressed to find an EPL side in better form coming than Spurs, and they certainly flexed their muscles against the Canaries, or at least Gareth Bale did. To say that the Spurs really controlled the match would not really be an understatement, they had the possession and the chances.
Norwich fought hard, but really had a hard time getting chances from what possession they did get. Their best chance of the first half came on 16 minutes as David Fox smacked a line drive on goal, only to be easily corralled by Brad Friedel.
The two sides emerged from the half time break still level at nil-nil. That's when Gareth Bale took over. His first goal came on 55 minutes as he took a ball from Adebayor in the center of the area and slotted it home to give Spurs the 0-1 lead. Then in the 67th minute, he put the final nail in the coffin, breaking away after a through ball from Modric and outrunning everyone on the pitch. He beat the 'keeper and put in the back of the Canary net to make it 0-2.
That was more than enough for Spurs. Norwich just could not fashion a real quality chance to save their lives and Tottenham held on for the 0-2 win, giving them an even bigger hold on one of the Champions League spots.
This season all three of the promoted squads have done alright. QPR has the money a their disposal to try to buy the players to stay up. Swansea has been junk on the road but in very good form at home in Wales. Norwich has played pretty much everybody tough and has garnered my respect as an EPL fan.
This match against Tottenham was always going to be tough though. You'd really be hard pressed to find an EPL side in better form coming than Spurs, and they certainly flexed their muscles against the Canaries, or at least Gareth Bale did. To say that the Spurs really controlled the match would not really be an understatement, they had the possession and the chances.
Norwich fought hard, but really had a hard time getting chances from what possession they did get. Their best chance of the first half came on 16 minutes as David Fox smacked a line drive on goal, only to be easily corralled by Brad Friedel.
The two sides emerged from the half time break still level at nil-nil. That's when Gareth Bale took over. His first goal came on 55 minutes as he took a ball from Adebayor in the center of the area and slotted it home to give Spurs the 0-1 lead. Then in the 67th minute, he put the final nail in the coffin, breaking away after a through ball from Modric and outrunning everyone on the pitch. He beat the 'keeper and put in the back of the Canary net to make it 0-2.
That was more than enough for Spurs. Norwich just could not fashion a real quality chance to save their lives and Tottenham held on for the 0-2 win, giving them an even bigger hold on one of the Champions League spots.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Ancelotti Now In Charge at PSG
One of the long expected moves at free spending Paris St. Germain has now come to pass. Today the French side officially named former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager. The deal runs for 2 and half years.
Ancelotti takes over from Antoine Kombouare, who left the job despite the fact that PSG is at the top of the table in France. Ancelotti stated that he wanted to help the Paris club become one of the big clubs in Europe.
Ancelotti has guided both Ac Milan and Chelsea in the Champions League, and won the domestic double in England two years ago with the Blues. PSG has not won Ligue Un since 1994 and has not been in the Champions League in 7 years.
Ancelotti takes over from Antoine Kombouare, who left the job despite the fact that PSG is at the top of the table in France. Ancelotti stated that he wanted to help the Paris club become one of the big clubs in Europe.
Ancelotti has guided both Ac Milan and Chelsea in the Champions League, and won the domestic double in England two years ago with the Blues. PSG has not won Ligue Un since 1994 and has not been in the Champions League in 7 years.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Columbus Crew 2012 Home Jersey
PHOTO: Worldsoccershop.com
Columbus Crew 2012 Authentic Home Soccer Jersey - WorldSoccerShop.com
Looks like the Columbus Crew are going with the collar on their new 2012 Home Jersey. I like. Looks sharp. Check it out at World Soccer Shop.
Central Coast Mariners Losing Matt Simon
Some fairly big transfer news for the Hyundai A-League coming out of Australia tonight, or tomorrow morning local time.
Central Coast Mariners striker Matt Simon has announced that he will be leaving for the K-League side Chunnam Dragons on a 3 year deal. Simon announced that he's always wanted to ply his trade overseas and that he sees this as the next step in his career. His last game in Mariners colors is expected to be January 4 against the Victory.
Simon played on the 2008 Australian Olympic team and has been capped twice for Socceroos. The 25 year old striker has 5 goals in the campaign for Central Coast, good enough for first on the team and 5th overall in the Hyundai A-League.
Best of luck to him as he tries to further his career.
Central Coast Mariners striker Matt Simon has announced that he will be leaving for the K-League side Chunnam Dragons on a 3 year deal. Simon announced that he's always wanted to ply his trade overseas and that he sees this as the next step in his career. His last game in Mariners colors is expected to be January 4 against the Victory.
Simon played on the 2008 Australian Olympic team and has been capped twice for Socceroos. The 25 year old striker has 5 goals in the campaign for Central Coast, good enough for first on the team and 5th overall in the Hyundai A-League.
Best of luck to him as he tries to further his career.
EPL: Liverpool vs. Blackburn
I can't imagine what it's like to be a Liverpool supporter right now. The season got underway with a lot of promise and some high expectations. There's no doubt that since the new owners took over they've put out money into the club in order to get it back to it's former place at the summit of European soccer.
It hasn't quite worked out that way for Reds though, at least not yet. While the results have been better than those of the short and tension filled reign of Roy Hodgson, they haven't been great. Sure, they're unbeaten at Anfield, but even that is tempered by the fact that they've left a whole lot of points on the table with home draws.
Ultimately this fixture against Rovers was no different. It would be more than fair to say that Liverpool dominated the EPL's cellar dwellers, but it didn't translate into goals. Indeed, the Reds held 65 percent possession, out shot Blackburn 27 to 6, and created many more chances. However in the end, the Reds downfall came off of one of their own men.
The soon to be sitting Luis Suarez got Liverpool off to a hot start, getting a trio of chances in the opening minutes. The best of which was probably a free kick that he sent just wide. None of the three found the target however, leaving the Uruguay international frustrated.
Much maligned Liverpool striker Andy Carroll started for the Reds for the first time in several matches and tried to make an impact. He found the back of the net on 30 minutes, but it was ruled no good for offside. Liverpool then tried to claim a penalty as Maxi Rodriguez was brought down in the box, but the offside flag foiled them again.
Blackburn didn't do much all match long, yet they had the lead at half time. Unfortunately for Liverpool, it was from an own goal. Blackburn's Morten Pedersen set up for a corner right before the half, and it found it's way into the Liverpool net off of Charlie Adam to give Rovers the 0-1 lead at half time.
The second half saw more of the same with Liverpool holding the possession and attacking. Liverpool found the equalizer in the 53rd minute as Martin Skrtel put in a cross that was clinically headed in by Maxi Rodriguez to make it 1-1.
That was the way the score would stay until full time, as Liverpool could not capitalize on anymore chances and dropped yet more points at Anfield. The positive for Liverpool is this: Steven Gerrard checking in on 69 minutes and playing well. Unfortunately for the Reds, with a long absence probably upcoming for Suarez, they're going to have find some more goals.
It hasn't quite worked out that way for Reds though, at least not yet. While the results have been better than those of the short and tension filled reign of Roy Hodgson, they haven't been great. Sure, they're unbeaten at Anfield, but even that is tempered by the fact that they've left a whole lot of points on the table with home draws.
Ultimately this fixture against Rovers was no different. It would be more than fair to say that Liverpool dominated the EPL's cellar dwellers, but it didn't translate into goals. Indeed, the Reds held 65 percent possession, out shot Blackburn 27 to 6, and created many more chances. However in the end, the Reds downfall came off of one of their own men.
The soon to be sitting Luis Suarez got Liverpool off to a hot start, getting a trio of chances in the opening minutes. The best of which was probably a free kick that he sent just wide. None of the three found the target however, leaving the Uruguay international frustrated.
Much maligned Liverpool striker Andy Carroll started for the Reds for the first time in several matches and tried to make an impact. He found the back of the net on 30 minutes, but it was ruled no good for offside. Liverpool then tried to claim a penalty as Maxi Rodriguez was brought down in the box, but the offside flag foiled them again.
Blackburn didn't do much all match long, yet they had the lead at half time. Unfortunately for Liverpool, it was from an own goal. Blackburn's Morten Pedersen set up for a corner right before the half, and it found it's way into the Liverpool net off of Charlie Adam to give Rovers the 0-1 lead at half time.
The second half saw more of the same with Liverpool holding the possession and attacking. Liverpool found the equalizer in the 53rd minute as Martin Skrtel put in a cross that was clinically headed in by Maxi Rodriguez to make it 1-1.
That was the way the score would stay until full time, as Liverpool could not capitalize on anymore chances and dropped yet more points at Anfield. The positive for Liverpool is this: Steven Gerrard checking in on 69 minutes and playing well. Unfortunately for the Reds, with a long absence probably upcoming for Suarez, they're going to have find some more goals.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Celtic's Joe Ledley's Goal vs. Rangers
So those of us here in the states got skunked on seeing the Old Firm Derby, which is up there with the best rivalries in football. Here is the only goal of the game, a stunning header from Celtic's Joe Ledley. Celtic won the match 1-0 over Rangers.
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