Despite the scoreline, the USA showed some encouraging signs in their 4-1 defeat against Brazil in Washington D.C. last night.
Regardless as to how well the USA played against Scotland over the weekend, you knew that they would be under signifcantly more pressure on both sides of the ball versus Brazil. The same midfield that dominated the game for long stretches against Scotland had challenges being able to grab a hold of the game and dictate tempo. Saying that, Michael Bradley once again shown positively that he can play a key role as a playmaker and fulcrum in the US midfield. He continues shows poise in possession, as well as the ability to break things up in midfield. Jose Torres and Jermaine Jones - two players who were standouts against Scotland - were up against it quite a bit in this match. Inconsistent performances during the week present that they were maybe not as good as they appeared over the weekend, but also not as poor as they had shown last night.
I wouldn't jump off the US midifield bandwagon just yet - I remember a couple of years ago when the US played Spain in an exhibition and struggled, and a friend criticized how poor Bradley and Co. looked. I reminded him that they were playing against SPAIN, and that any midfielders would have challenges agains the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. I like what the US offers in midfield, and if Klinsmann can find the right compliments for Bradley, we could have the makings of something special.
Fabian Johnson appears to be a revelation to the US team at left back, and the US have sorely lacked a key contributor in that role for some time. His ability to bomb down the left flank added combination to a Bradley through ball at the end of the first half, which resulted in a great cross to Hercules Gomez on his goal.
Tim Howard was called on to put out fires on numerous occasions, which is to be expected when playing against the top teams in the world. US coach Jurgen Klinsmann refered to him as 'one of the top 5 goalkeepers in the world' in pre-game, and performances like last night continues to show why that is the case.
Gomez was a bright spot for the US, and created numerous chances all night. A poacher in front of the goal at the domestic level in Mexico, he appears to be a perfect vice for Jozy Altidore in the #9 shirt. He was dangerous throughout the match, and if we can get Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Altidore played in as compliments to him, the US attack could be in good shape.
The biggest holes in the US team appear to be in the heart of the defense - Gooch Onyewu really struggled, and Carlos Bocanegra didn't show much better. I was hoping that Klinsmann would give Geoff Cameron, Michael Parkhurst and Clarence Goodson more of a run to measure them against a top opponent, and hope that we'll see more of that prior to the start of qualifying.
This has been an encouraging week for the US, and hopefully they can build off some of these strong signs as we head into World Cup qualifying.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Houston leads MLS big attendance this week
Mike Woitalla of Soccer America reports on the continued rise of MLS attendance. After the 12th week, the MLS average of 18,596 is starting to compare favorably with some of the top leagues in the world.
Week 12 featured 13 games that averaged 18,000-plus as Houston sold out its new stadium for the third straight game and Seattle packed them in for a midweek game. For MLS team attendance rankings ...
* The Portland Timbers sold out their 23rd straight game at their Jed-Wen Field -- a 1-1 tie with Vancouver.
* Houston's third game at its new BBVA Compass Stadium, a 2-1 win over defending champ Los Angeles, was a third straight sellout (22,039).
* Seattle drew 38,311 for last Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Columbus.
* Fireworks helped Columbus draw well above its average -- 16,024 for a 2-1 win over Chicago.
* The league-wide attendance after 120 games is 18,596, an increase of 6.4 percent from last year's average of 17,425 after Week 12.
Week 12 featured 13 games that averaged 18,000-plus as Houston sold out its new stadium for the third straight game and Seattle packed them in for a midweek game. For MLS team attendance rankings ...
* The Portland Timbers sold out their 23rd straight game at their Jed-Wen Field -- a 1-1 tie with Vancouver.
* Houston's third game at its new BBVA Compass Stadium, a 2-1 win over defending champ Los Angeles, was a third straight sellout (22,039).
* Seattle drew 38,311 for last Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Columbus.
* Fireworks helped Columbus draw well above its average -- 16,024 for a 2-1 win over Chicago.
* The league-wide attendance after 120 games is 18,596, an increase of 6.4 percent from last year's average of 17,425 after Week 12.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
USA 5, Scotland 1
The US national team gave a thorough beating to Scotland on Saturday in Jacksonville, FL, and despite the match being only an exhibition, US fans came away with a tremendous amount of optimism heading into qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.
Fresh off exhibition victories over Italy and Scotland, the US now take on Brazil on Wednesday before starting qualifying in the CONCACAF region.
A combination of US pressure and warm temperatures had the Scots back on their heels right from the get-go, and before they could blink, the US had scored twice.
Whether you considered the US alignmen a 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1 or the 'Christmas tree' 4-3-2-1, the idea of having versatile midfielders to combine with center forward Terrence Boyd created a lot of movement and combination play that the US were able to exploit. Landon Donovan and Jose Torres were constantly involved in the attacking third of the field, and Donovan was a one-man strike force as he recorded a hat trick; Michael Bradley scored a scorching blast from 25 yards out for the US 2nd goal; Jermaine Jones shed his destroying midfield role, to put in a performance of a true two-way midfielder - scoring once and setting up two others; Fabian Johnson combined well with Torres, and was able to get forward and penetrate down the US left flank - something that hasn't been seen to regularly or often in previous US teams.
US manager Jurgen Klinsmann will have more key attacking players at his disposal this week for final exhibition tune-ups against Brazil (Wednesday) and Canada (Sunday). Clint Dempsey recovers from a groin injury and Jozy Altidore joing the squad.
Fresh off exhibition victories over Italy and Scotland, the US now take on Brazil on Wednesday before starting qualifying in the CONCACAF region.
A combination of US pressure and warm temperatures had the Scots back on their heels right from the get-go, and before they could blink, the US had scored twice.
Whether you considered the US alignmen a 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1 or the 'Christmas tree' 4-3-2-1, the idea of having versatile midfielders to combine with center forward Terrence Boyd created a lot of movement and combination play that the US were able to exploit. Landon Donovan and Jose Torres were constantly involved in the attacking third of the field, and Donovan was a one-man strike force as he recorded a hat trick; Michael Bradley scored a scorching blast from 25 yards out for the US 2nd goal; Jermaine Jones shed his destroying midfield role, to put in a performance of a true two-way midfielder - scoring once and setting up two others; Fabian Johnson combined well with Torres, and was able to get forward and penetrate down the US left flank - something that hasn't been seen to regularly or often in previous US teams.
US manager Jurgen Klinsmann will have more key attacking players at his disposal this week for final exhibition tune-ups against Brazil (Wednesday) and Canada (Sunday). Clint Dempsey recovers from a groin injury and Jozy Altidore joing the squad.
Guardiola leads Barcelona to gold standard of football
Pep Guardiola led not only a dominant era of football for Barcelona, but also a revolution of the 'total football' that was preached by his mentor, Johan Cruyff.
As he steps away from his post at Barcelona at the ripe age of 41, Rob Hughes of the New York Times writes of how Guardiola had transformed Barca into the gold standard in world football.
The statistics do not lie. In the four years of Pep Guardiola’s short but unrivalled era as its coach, Barcelona accumulated 14 of the 19 trophies open to it at the highest level of soccer.
And now he is taking a sabbatical.
Few seem able to understand why a relatively young man, at 41, should walk away from the team that he has shared so much with. Even as Barça returned home over the weekend with the Copa del Rey, the King’s Cup, for the 30,000 fans at the stadium Camp Nou, there were telephone calls from the Chelsea owner, Roman A. Abramovich.
Just a week before, Chelsea took away Barcelona’s most treasured possession, the Champions League trophy. But the persistent oligarch wants to know if there is a price that could change Guardiola’s mind and persuade him to change his colors to Chelsea blue — and start the process of making the London club play like Barcelona.
In a way, it speaks volumes for Abramovich. He has what he always wanted, the “trophy with the big ears,” but he is willing to tear everything apart to turn pragmatism into perfection.
Abramovich wants not only to win but also to win with style.
With that, the Russian shows a real appreciation of Guardiola. It is the winning, the flow of the team, the entertainment and the expression of joy that Guardiola’s Barcelona stands for.
Beyond that, we saw just how human this story has been during the celebration on the field after Barcelona easily and elegantly beat Athletic Bilbao, 3-0, in the King’s Cup final on Friday.
One by one, and for one last time, the players who had earned the victory tried to persuade their coach, their boss, to lead them up the stairs to receive the trophy. One by one, Guardiola embraced them, but told them to go pick up their medals and bring the Cup down to the field, where he would party with them.
The stars are players, not the coach, players like: Lionel Messi, who Guardiola said was simply the best player he had ever seen or ever expected to see; Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta, the masters of passing on this team; and Sergio Busquets, the midfield defensive player who plays the role closest to the one that Guardiola did during his 11 years with Barcelona’s senior club.
The walking wounded — the captain Carles Puyol and Daniel Alves and David Villa — shared the 14th celebration under his reign as coach. There was one missing, though he still was in Guardiola’s heart — Eric Abidal, the French defender who is continuing his recovery after a liver transplant about a month ago.
Whatever else is said, whatever accolades or criticisms are thrown at Barça, this human bond is the clearest definition of what Guardiola’s coaching is all about. He said he was exhausted after four years of it, and outsiders who have seen Alex Ferguson build and rebuild teams at Manchester United over 26 years are baffled by that explanation.
Abramovich, clearly, cannot comprehend the burnout theory.
But others, much closer to Guardiola, can. Johan Cruyff, the Dutchman who built a large part of the Barcelona philosophy that Guardiola was inculcated into as a boy, said last week: “With Guardiola, one cycle ends and another begins, and I don’t mean that in a negative sense. Exhaustion? Yes, of course. Terrible exhaustion.”
Cruyff, who coached the team on which Guardiola became a leader back in the 1990s, has become estranged from the Barcelona boardroom since Sandro Rosell ousted Joan Laporta as club president two years ago.
Laporta appointed Guardiola as coach; Rosell inherited him. But in the changed presidency, predominantly a change driven by commercialism, Cruyff said Guardiola’s situation became more pressured. “Previously,” Cruyff told El Periódico, a Barcelona newspaper, last Thursday, “he was surrounded by people with weight, who disappeared.
“He was more alone. Those who came in after the election had criticized the previous management. It creates conflict. From then on, the problem was all Pep’s. He had to deal with problems other than football. It exhausts you much more than you can imagine.” Guardiola will not say these things. He has handed over the team to Tito Vilanova, a boyhood friend since their days at the Barça academy, La Masia, and his trusted assistant throughout the success of the last four years.
Moments before the final whistle Friday, Guardiola hugged his friend in the dugout. It was the personal handover before the Champagne flowed and the goodbyes were said on the field. Vilanova, a quiet man, bore the look of an animal caught in the spotlight.
Invited to pick up the baton with arguably the most gifted team ever, how could he refuse? Like Guardiola, he is a Catalan. But even if Vilanova succeeds, anything he wins can only replicate what his friend achieved.
The fans would have the final say. Many have written on a mural at the Camp Nou stadium. One accolade from a couple from Mexico simply reads: “Pep, thank you for returning football to its essence.”
As he steps away from his post at Barcelona at the ripe age of 41, Rob Hughes of the New York Times writes of how Guardiola had transformed Barca into the gold standard in world football.
The statistics do not lie. In the four years of Pep Guardiola’s short but unrivalled era as its coach, Barcelona accumulated 14 of the 19 trophies open to it at the highest level of soccer.
And now he is taking a sabbatical.
Few seem able to understand why a relatively young man, at 41, should walk away from the team that he has shared so much with. Even as Barça returned home over the weekend with the Copa del Rey, the King’s Cup, for the 30,000 fans at the stadium Camp Nou, there were telephone calls from the Chelsea owner, Roman A. Abramovich.
Just a week before, Chelsea took away Barcelona’s most treasured possession, the Champions League trophy. But the persistent oligarch wants to know if there is a price that could change Guardiola’s mind and persuade him to change his colors to Chelsea blue — and start the process of making the London club play like Barcelona.
In a way, it speaks volumes for Abramovich. He has what he always wanted, the “trophy with the big ears,” but he is willing to tear everything apart to turn pragmatism into perfection.
Abramovich wants not only to win but also to win with style.
With that, the Russian shows a real appreciation of Guardiola. It is the winning, the flow of the team, the entertainment and the expression of joy that Guardiola’s Barcelona stands for.
Beyond that, we saw just how human this story has been during the celebration on the field after Barcelona easily and elegantly beat Athletic Bilbao, 3-0, in the King’s Cup final on Friday.
One by one, and for one last time, the players who had earned the victory tried to persuade their coach, their boss, to lead them up the stairs to receive the trophy. One by one, Guardiola embraced them, but told them to go pick up their medals and bring the Cup down to the field, where he would party with them.
The stars are players, not the coach, players like: Lionel Messi, who Guardiola said was simply the best player he had ever seen or ever expected to see; Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta, the masters of passing on this team; and Sergio Busquets, the midfield defensive player who plays the role closest to the one that Guardiola did during his 11 years with Barcelona’s senior club.
The walking wounded — the captain Carles Puyol and Daniel Alves and David Villa — shared the 14th celebration under his reign as coach. There was one missing, though he still was in Guardiola’s heart — Eric Abidal, the French defender who is continuing his recovery after a liver transplant about a month ago.
Whatever else is said, whatever accolades or criticisms are thrown at Barça, this human bond is the clearest definition of what Guardiola’s coaching is all about. He said he was exhausted after four years of it, and outsiders who have seen Alex Ferguson build and rebuild teams at Manchester United over 26 years are baffled by that explanation.
Abramovich, clearly, cannot comprehend the burnout theory.
But others, much closer to Guardiola, can. Johan Cruyff, the Dutchman who built a large part of the Barcelona philosophy that Guardiola was inculcated into as a boy, said last week: “With Guardiola, one cycle ends and another begins, and I don’t mean that in a negative sense. Exhaustion? Yes, of course. Terrible exhaustion.”
Cruyff, who coached the team on which Guardiola became a leader back in the 1990s, has become estranged from the Barcelona boardroom since Sandro Rosell ousted Joan Laporta as club president two years ago.
Laporta appointed Guardiola as coach; Rosell inherited him. But in the changed presidency, predominantly a change driven by commercialism, Cruyff said Guardiola’s situation became more pressured. “Previously,” Cruyff told El Periódico, a Barcelona newspaper, last Thursday, “he was surrounded by people with weight, who disappeared.
“He was more alone. Those who came in after the election had criticized the previous management. It creates conflict. From then on, the problem was all Pep’s. He had to deal with problems other than football. It exhausts you much more than you can imagine.” Guardiola will not say these things. He has handed over the team to Tito Vilanova, a boyhood friend since their days at the Barça academy, La Masia, and his trusted assistant throughout the success of the last four years.
Moments before the final whistle Friday, Guardiola hugged his friend in the dugout. It was the personal handover before the Champagne flowed and the goodbyes were said on the field. Vilanova, a quiet man, bore the look of an animal caught in the spotlight.
Invited to pick up the baton with arguably the most gifted team ever, how could he refuse? Like Guardiola, he is a Catalan. But even if Vilanova succeeds, anything he wins can only replicate what his friend achieved.
The fans would have the final say. Many have written on a mural at the Camp Nou stadium. One accolade from a couple from Mexico simply reads: “Pep, thank you for returning football to its essence.”
Sunday, May 20, 2012
2012 England EURO preview - How will Roy line up?
With the 2012 EUROS around the corner,
"I personally think it will discipline the players a bit more and make them a bit more mentally stronger. You only have four or five days to work with players to get your points across, but the players will understand him. He makes things very simple, but he does make you think."
A reliance on a specific system may fill the shortage in confidence suffered by the players that puzzled Capello during his reign.
But the biggest question, with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp in mind and a track record which includes fallow periods at Inter Milan and Liverpool, is whether Hodgson is a galvaniser of good players rather than a motivator of top-level ones?
His successes at club level in Sweden, the Swiss and Finland national teams, and more recently with Fulham and West Brom, point to a manager who can create a framework where players know their jobs and can complete them with distinction.
When more liberty or creativity is needed by players who perform best free from the shackles, however, will the 64-year-old allow them that privilege?
Gallacher says in his experience, Hodgson never curbed attacking players' instincts. But former Swiss and Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz, who also played under Hodgson with Switzerland, says there is a question mark over his handling of big-name players.
"He was manager at Inter Milan and at Liverpool, two big clubs, and he didn't have massive success," the 37-year-old said. "But one thing I'm sure about is he knows the English mentality, which is very important. As a foreign manager they don't really know how to deal with English players, you have to know the English mentality and so for Roy it's a big plus."
Much of the answer will also boil down to what England need and who is available as they approach Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine this summer.
Capello qualified for the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship with a group of players, who were largely disciplined and, once he figured out a system which was less rigid, swift on the counter attack. Now it is hoped that Hodgson can do a similar job in moulding a collection of promising talents with some of the more senior figures in the squad.
My prediction is that based on the players that Hodgson has at his disposal, that he will prefer to play a 4-2-3-1 to start the tournament. Very few teams will play in this tournament without a crowded midfield to offer tactical flexibility, and I would expect to see Lampard and potentially Barry sitting in front of the back four. Lampard has been an attacking midfielder for most of his career, but his ability to evolve from a #10 into a #8 this past season for Chelsea shows his versatility and flexibility. That will allow the opportunity to play both Lampard and Gerrard on the field together - at least until Rooney comes back for the third match.
When Rooney comes back into the team, the challenge will be whether he will be deployed as a #9 in front of Gerrard, or his traditional role as a withdrawn striker off a central striker - as he plays with Manchester United (perhaps in a 4-4-1-1). I like the idea of using combinations of players that know how to play together and have developed partnerships, so having Welbeck and Rooney along with Ashley Young would create a pretty potent attacking unit. Whether Gerrard, Walcott, or someone else joins up with them on the right, this could be a good option for England. A lot will also depend on how England has fared in those first two matches. I am not a fan of trying to play Gerrard as a winger, but also know that his influence in the team might be cemented in those first two matches, and might be hard to take him off to make way for a lineup or alignment switch. Conventional wisdom probably will see Rooney playing as the #9, which will unfortunately either leave him up high on his own, or see him drop back really deep or wide left - neither of those scenarios would put England in a desired shape.
Along the same lines of having that level of cohesion in attack, my prediction is that Hodgson will go with a Chelsea nucleus in his back line - using a partnership of Cahill and Terry together, with Ashley Cole on the left. I am not a fan of Terry, but know that he wouldn't have been selected if they didn't see him in the team. Expect to see those three play with either Glen Johnson or Phil Jones at right back, with Joe Hart as the #1.
Managing a national side is much different than a domestic club - less time to prepare, coach and teach. My guess is that with Hodgson's experience managing internationally, that he will go for a group and alignment that will create the highest level of comfort for his players to put them in the best possible position to succeed.
"I personally think it will discipline the players a bit more and make them a bit more mentally stronger. You only have four or five days to work with players to get your points across, but the players will understand him. He makes things very simple, but he does make you think."
A reliance on a specific system may fill the shortage in confidence suffered by the players that puzzled Capello during his reign.
But the biggest question, with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp in mind and a track record which includes fallow periods at Inter Milan and Liverpool, is whether Hodgson is a galvaniser of good players rather than a motivator of top-level ones?
His successes at club level in Sweden, the Swiss and Finland national teams, and more recently with Fulham and West Brom, point to a manager who can create a framework where players know their jobs and can complete them with distinction.
When more liberty or creativity is needed by players who perform best free from the shackles, however, will the 64-year-old allow them that privilege?
Gallacher says in his experience, Hodgson never curbed attacking players' instincts. But former Swiss and Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz, who also played under Hodgson with Switzerland, says there is a question mark over his handling of big-name players.
"He was manager at Inter Milan and at Liverpool, two big clubs, and he didn't have massive success," the 37-year-old said. "But one thing I'm sure about is he knows the English mentality, which is very important. As a foreign manager they don't really know how to deal with English players, you have to know the English mentality and so for Roy it's a big plus."
Much of the answer will also boil down to what England need and who is available as they approach Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine this summer.
Capello qualified for the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship with a group of players, who were largely disciplined and, once he figured out a system which was less rigid, swift on the counter attack. Now it is hoped that Hodgson can do a similar job in moulding a collection of promising talents with some of the more senior figures in the squad.
My prediction is that based on the players that Hodgson has at his disposal, that he will prefer to play a 4-2-3-1 to start the tournament. Very few teams will play in this tournament without a crowded midfield to offer tactical flexibility, and I would expect to see Lampard and potentially Barry sitting in front of the back four. Lampard has been an attacking midfielder for most of his career, but his ability to evolve from a #10 into a #8 this past season for Chelsea shows his versatility and flexibility. That will allow the opportunity to play both Lampard and Gerrard on the field together - at least until Rooney comes back for the third match.
When Rooney comes back into the team, the challenge will be whether he will be deployed as a #9 in front of Gerrard, or his traditional role as a withdrawn striker off a central striker - as he plays with Manchester United (perhaps in a 4-4-1-1). I like the idea of using combinations of players that know how to play together and have developed partnerships, so having Welbeck and Rooney along with Ashley Young would create a pretty potent attacking unit. Whether Gerrard, Walcott, or someone else joins up with them on the right, this could be a good option for England. A lot will also depend on how England has fared in those first two matches. I am not a fan of trying to play Gerrard as a winger, but also know that his influence in the team might be cemented in those first two matches, and might be hard to take him off to make way for a lineup or alignment switch. Conventional wisdom probably will see Rooney playing as the #9, which will unfortunately either leave him up high on his own, or see him drop back really deep or wide left - neither of those scenarios would put England in a desired shape.
Along the same lines of having that level of cohesion in attack, my prediction is that Hodgson will go with a Chelsea nucleus in his back line - using a partnership of Cahill and Terry together, with Ashley Cole on the left. I am not a fan of Terry, but know that he wouldn't have been selected if they didn't see him in the team. Expect to see those three play with either Glen Johnson or Phil Jones at right back, with Joe Hart as the #1.
Managing a national side is much different than a domestic club - less time to prepare, coach and teach. My guess is that with Hodgson's experience managing internationally, that he will go for a group and alignment that will create the highest level of comfort for his players to put them in the best possible position to succeed.
2012 Champions League Recap
Chelsea's 2012 UEFA Champions League title was a storybook finish, and after looking back on the epic instant classic, the result seems even more Disney-esque.
Looking at the teams on paper, you would figure that it would be a contrast of two very different styles - knowing that Bayern Munich would come out and press Chelsea offensively, while Chelsea would have to absorb pressure and play off the counter.
Yellow and red card suspensions figured to have an influence on the teams on the field, as Chelsea were without several key contributors in Ramires, Meireles, Ivanovic and Terry. Where Bayern was also missing a few starters to suspension, their lineup was more influenced by who was in the team as replacements.
Their defense was constructed with Tymoshchuk moving back and playing centerback and with Toni Kroos deeper in midfield. This allowed Thomas Muller to start in Kroos' role, giving Bayern a pretty potent attack with Muller, Robben and Ribery sitting underneath Gomez.
Chelsea opted to counter Lahm and Robben on Bayern's right flank by using Ryan Bertrand on the left flank - hoping that the combination of Bertrand (making his first UCL appearance) and Ashley Cole would neutralize the potent Bayern right flank.
Bayern came out of the gates as the aggressors, seeing more of the possession as well as scoring chances. The fact that Bayern was able to create a lot of pressure without committing numbers forward also minimized Chelsea's ability to counter attack. Bayern's front four created a lot of pressure with the ball, and not only did that keep Chelsea on their back foot, but it also minimized the number of counter opportunities through Drogba - who was often up front on his own. Chelsea's alignment resembled more of a 4-4-1-1, and Mata was heavily outnumbered by Kroos and Schweinsteiger - which made it difficult for him to link up with Drogba.
Very similar to the Manchester United vs. Liverpool match that I had attended earlier this season, Kroos and Schweinsteiger were able to boss the midfield in much the same way that Scholes and Carrick were able to versus Liverpool. Playing with their two best passers in tandem in front of Bayern's back four, they were able to keep a great rhythm and flow - keeping their dangerous attacking players involved by moving the ball and switching things out, while also joining up at the right time.
The combination of Schweinsteiger and Kroos making Mata and Co. chase in midfield, as well as the addition of the dynamic Muller, saw Bayern own the midfield battle for most of the match. They were very unlucky to not have scored in the first half, with both Robben and Gomez missing genuine scoring chances. Bayern's ability to take advantage of their numerical advantage in midfield - playing in the gaps and finding 2 v. 1 combinations - saw them dictate the tempo for most of the match.
Muller's attacking pressure that saw him initiate 4-5 scoring chances in the final 20 minutes of regulation was eventually rewarded, as he got on the end of a cross to score what appeared to be the eventual game-winner.
Muller eventually was substituted to bring on more steel in midfield with the inclusion of van Buyten, and without both Muller and an injured Ribery, and where defensive cover appeared were used to counter Chelsea's introduction of Torres and Malouda, Chelesa lost some of their momentum as well.
Even with less attacking pressure and Chelsea chasing the game, you didn't think Chelsea would be able to even things until their corner kick in the 88th minute, where Didier Drogba became the star with his cracker of a header to put the match into extra time.
Drogba's dramatic goal, coupled with Cech's dramatic saves of PKs during the extra time and in PKs, saw perhaps the last stand of Mourinho's Chelsea - Drogba, Cech and Ashley Cole all were key contributors to their tremendous result. Not only did several members of Chelsea's old guard stand out, but the central defending pairing of Gary Cahill and David Luiz continued to put out fires and snuff out scoring chances - providing a lynchpin for Chelsea's spin for years to come.
The 2012 UCL final will go straight to 'instant classic' level, and had all the things you want to see in a match of this caliber - great goals, tremendous PK saves, and a tactical chess match that allowed tacticians to appreciate the challenges that go with managing a game of this magnitude.
Looking at the teams on paper, you would figure that it would be a contrast of two very different styles - knowing that Bayern Munich would come out and press Chelsea offensively, while Chelsea would have to absorb pressure and play off the counter.
Yellow and red card suspensions figured to have an influence on the teams on the field, as Chelsea were without several key contributors in Ramires, Meireles, Ivanovic and Terry. Where Bayern was also missing a few starters to suspension, their lineup was more influenced by who was in the team as replacements.
Their defense was constructed with Tymoshchuk moving back and playing centerback and with Toni Kroos deeper in midfield. This allowed Thomas Muller to start in Kroos' role, giving Bayern a pretty potent attack with Muller, Robben and Ribery sitting underneath Gomez.
Chelsea opted to counter Lahm and Robben on Bayern's right flank by using Ryan Bertrand on the left flank - hoping that the combination of Bertrand (making his first UCL appearance) and Ashley Cole would neutralize the potent Bayern right flank.
Bayern came out of the gates as the aggressors, seeing more of the possession as well as scoring chances. The fact that Bayern was able to create a lot of pressure without committing numbers forward also minimized Chelsea's ability to counter attack. Bayern's front four created a lot of pressure with the ball, and not only did that keep Chelsea on their back foot, but it also minimized the number of counter opportunities through Drogba - who was often up front on his own. Chelsea's alignment resembled more of a 4-4-1-1, and Mata was heavily outnumbered by Kroos and Schweinsteiger - which made it difficult for him to link up with Drogba.
Very similar to the Manchester United vs. Liverpool match that I had attended earlier this season, Kroos and Schweinsteiger were able to boss the midfield in much the same way that Scholes and Carrick were able to versus Liverpool. Playing with their two best passers in tandem in front of Bayern's back four, they were able to keep a great rhythm and flow - keeping their dangerous attacking players involved by moving the ball and switching things out, while also joining up at the right time.
The combination of Schweinsteiger and Kroos making Mata and Co. chase in midfield, as well as the addition of the dynamic Muller, saw Bayern own the midfield battle for most of the match. They were very unlucky to not have scored in the first half, with both Robben and Gomez missing genuine scoring chances. Bayern's ability to take advantage of their numerical advantage in midfield - playing in the gaps and finding 2 v. 1 combinations - saw them dictate the tempo for most of the match.
Muller's attacking pressure that saw him initiate 4-5 scoring chances in the final 20 minutes of regulation was eventually rewarded, as he got on the end of a cross to score what appeared to be the eventual game-winner.
Muller eventually was substituted to bring on more steel in midfield with the inclusion of van Buyten, and without both Muller and an injured Ribery, and where defensive cover appeared were used to counter Chelsea's introduction of Torres and Malouda, Chelesa lost some of their momentum as well.
Even with less attacking pressure and Chelsea chasing the game, you didn't think Chelsea would be able to even things until their corner kick in the 88th minute, where Didier Drogba became the star with his cracker of a header to put the match into extra time.
Drogba's dramatic goal, coupled with Cech's dramatic saves of PKs during the extra time and in PKs, saw perhaps the last stand of Mourinho's Chelsea - Drogba, Cech and Ashley Cole all were key contributors to their tremendous result. Not only did several members of Chelsea's old guard stand out, but the central defending pairing of Gary Cahill and David Luiz continued to put out fires and snuff out scoring chances - providing a lynchpin for Chelsea's spin for years to come.
The 2012 UCL final will go straight to 'instant classic' level, and had all the things you want to see in a match of this caliber - great goals, tremendous PK saves, and a tactical chess match that allowed tacticians to appreciate the challenges that go with managing a game of this magnitude.
MIKE JACOBS COLUMN/Manchester City title highlights special EPL season
Courtesy of the Evansville Courier Press, May 20, 2012
As we come off perhaps the most exciting weekend in the history of the English Premier League a week ago, we need to look back on the Cinderella story and tremendous ascension of Manchester City.
Professional soccer – and specifically the EPL - continues to rise in popularity here in the United States, and the drama last weekend only added to that. Manchester City and Manchester United were tied on points heading into their final games, and with the tie breaker (goal differential) going to City, it meant the results from their games in the final weekend would ultimately determine the EPL champions. Both games being played at exactly the same time would add to this virtual game of Russian Roulette.
Paul Kennedy of Soccer America reported that a total of 1,348,000 viewers tuned in for the U.S. television coverage of the final day of the English Premier League season, a jump of 72 percent over 2011 final day viewing. The audience climbed to 987,000 on ESPN2 for the final 15 minutes, when City came back from 2-1 down to score twice in the final five minutes and finish ahead of Manchester United on goal difference for its first title in 44 years.
Regarded as ‘the noisy neighbors’, by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, City was able to position themselves as not only worth champions for this 2011-12 season, but as potential long-term rivals for years to come.
Manchester City’s rise to English Premier League supremacy this year, as well as their potential to maintain hold on that pole position, came down to several keys-
Spending spree – In 2008, Manchester City were bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group, which enabled the club the ability to spend millions of pounds on top class players. Since the arrival of new ownership, City has been able to add the likes of dynamic goal scorers in Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko; creative midfielders in Yaya Toure, David Silva and Samir Nasri; and defensive lynchpins in Vincent Kompany, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott.
Success soon followed. In 2011, Manchester City qualified for the European Champions League and won the FA Cup, and went on to eventually win the Premier League this season.
Managing egos – when this kind of spending goes on, the expectations are naturally going to rise. After a record amount of money spent during the 2008-09 season saw City unable to rise to higher than 10th place, notice was served to manager Mark Hughes. After spending over 100 million pounds that off-season and a slow start to the 2009-10 season, a coaching change was made with Hughes being replaced by Roberto Mancini. The Italian had a reputation for building clubs in Italy by taking Inter Milan to three consecutive league titles, and was able to lead City to 5th place (2009-10) and 3rd place (2010-11) finishes before winning the title this season.
Leading a star-studded cast is a more difficult job than it seems. As often as basketball coach Phil Jackson has been discredited by some for having the opportunity to coach the likes of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant throughout his career, he receives twice as many plaudits for being able to develop a level of buy-in from players with large pedigrees and potential large egos.
Mancini did a great job of finding the right combination of players to mesh together throughout the season. Despite the temporary exodus of Tevez and the magnified disciplinary challenges that went along with the volatile Balotelli, Mancini was able to integrate this star-studded cast into a cohesive unit that appeared to buy into the idea of being a part of something bigger than themselves. He deserves a lot of credit for being able to mold this group into champions.
Manchester derby – a ‘derby’ is a match-up of two teams in relative proximity to each other, and no derby has been more contested over the past two seasons as the Manchester derby. City served notice by knocking out United in the FA Cup semifinals in 2011 en route to their FA Cup title, and defeating them twice in head to head matchups during the 2011-12 season signaled a changing of the guard in the north of England. City’s 6-1 victory over United this season at United’s home stadium, Old Trafford, was the worst defeat United had taken since 1955.
Manchester City’s 2011-12 English Premier League title served notice that they are deserving champions, and perhaps has the potential to sustain long-term success as well.
As we come off perhaps the most exciting weekend in the history of the English Premier League a week ago, we need to look back on the Cinderella story and tremendous ascension of Manchester City.
Professional soccer – and specifically the EPL - continues to rise in popularity here in the United States, and the drama last weekend only added to that. Manchester City and Manchester United were tied on points heading into their final games, and with the tie breaker (goal differential) going to City, it meant the results from their games in the final weekend would ultimately determine the EPL champions. Both games being played at exactly the same time would add to this virtual game of Russian Roulette.
Paul Kennedy of Soccer America reported that a total of 1,348,000 viewers tuned in for the U.S. television coverage of the final day of the English Premier League season, a jump of 72 percent over 2011 final day viewing. The audience climbed to 987,000 on ESPN2 for the final 15 minutes, when City came back from 2-1 down to score twice in the final five minutes and finish ahead of Manchester United on goal difference for its first title in 44 years.
Regarded as ‘the noisy neighbors’, by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, City was able to position themselves as not only worth champions for this 2011-12 season, but as potential long-term rivals for years to come.
Manchester City’s rise to English Premier League supremacy this year, as well as their potential to maintain hold on that pole position, came down to several keys-
Spending spree – In 2008, Manchester City were bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group, which enabled the club the ability to spend millions of pounds on top class players. Since the arrival of new ownership, City has been able to add the likes of dynamic goal scorers in Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko; creative midfielders in Yaya Toure, David Silva and Samir Nasri; and defensive lynchpins in Vincent Kompany, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott.
Success soon followed. In 2011, Manchester City qualified for the European Champions League and won the FA Cup, and went on to eventually win the Premier League this season.
Managing egos – when this kind of spending goes on, the expectations are naturally going to rise. After a record amount of money spent during the 2008-09 season saw City unable to rise to higher than 10th place, notice was served to manager Mark Hughes. After spending over 100 million pounds that off-season and a slow start to the 2009-10 season, a coaching change was made with Hughes being replaced by Roberto Mancini. The Italian had a reputation for building clubs in Italy by taking Inter Milan to three consecutive league titles, and was able to lead City to 5th place (2009-10) and 3rd place (2010-11) finishes before winning the title this season.
Leading a star-studded cast is a more difficult job than it seems. As often as basketball coach Phil Jackson has been discredited by some for having the opportunity to coach the likes of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant throughout his career, he receives twice as many plaudits for being able to develop a level of buy-in from players with large pedigrees and potential large egos.
Mancini did a great job of finding the right combination of players to mesh together throughout the season. Despite the temporary exodus of Tevez and the magnified disciplinary challenges that went along with the volatile Balotelli, Mancini was able to integrate this star-studded cast into a cohesive unit that appeared to buy into the idea of being a part of something bigger than themselves. He deserves a lot of credit for being able to mold this group into champions.
Manchester derby – a ‘derby’ is a match-up of two teams in relative proximity to each other, and no derby has been more contested over the past two seasons as the Manchester derby. City served notice by knocking out United in the FA Cup semifinals in 2011 en route to their FA Cup title, and defeating them twice in head to head matchups during the 2011-12 season signaled a changing of the guard in the north of England. City’s 6-1 victory over United this season at United’s home stadium, Old Trafford, was the worst defeat United had taken since 1955.
Manchester City’s 2011-12 English Premier League title served notice that they are deserving champions, and perhaps has the potential to sustain long-term success as well.
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