Last time, we talked about the World Cup and England's shortcomings. Now we turn our attention to the transition as a fan from the international game to the club game -- how did nate do it? Who might he recommend following at the club level from this World Cup? And yeah, we get into whatever Liverpool's become, as well. Join the conversation after the jump!
Friday, July 09, 2010
Interview: nate from Oh You Beauty, part deux
• World Cup
• Everton
• Liverpool
• Manchester City
• Barcelona
• Inter
• England
• Netherlands
• Spain
Boy, Thursday came and went, dinnit? I blame my staycation, which has sapped my Kuyt-esque work ethic and left me a Diet-Coked-up FIFA 10 addict. But enough about me, let's get back to the insights of Liverpool's least hated American associate, nate!
Last time, we talked about the World Cup and England's shortcomings. Now we turn our attention to the transition as a fan from the international game to the club game -- how did nate do it? Who might he recommend following at the club level from this World Cup? And yeah, we get into whatever Liverpool's become, as well. Join the conversation after the jump!
Last time, we talked about the World Cup and England's shortcomings. Now we turn our attention to the transition as a fan from the international game to the club game -- how did nate do it? Who might he recommend following at the club level from this World Cup? And yeah, we get into whatever Liverpool's become, as well. Join the conversation after the jump!
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Friday, May 14, 2010
Playing with other people’s money
Some Random Website says that Man City will spend up to £150m this summer to transfer their squad, so it must be true. But even if the number was made up for a few extra hits (heresy, I know), there can be little doubt that Man City and Mancini will spend whatever they want. The limitations will have more to do with who would say yes than whatever their price tag would be.
Last year, everyone made fun of them for going striker-crazy with Santa-Cruz, Tevez, and Adebayor. And who have they supposedly been targeting this year? David Villa. And Torres.
I get it; Craig Bellamy was brutal down the stretch this year. But adding another target man up front doesn't seem like the solution to their woes. Playing a front line of Tevez, Adebayor, and World Class Striker X seems like overkill on the finishing front while lacking playmaking, crossing and creativity. Wasn't that the problem this year? Even when Mancini ran out an attacking lineup, they would sometimes struggle to score because, frankly, the link-ups moving the ball from back to front seemed totally absent at times.
Shouldn't City be pursuing a great winger on the right to mimic the rampaging runs and calm in-the-box creativity of LW Adam Johnson? Shouldn't they be looking for the next Fabregas or Xavi to pull the strings from midfield? Why does everyone (including them, apparently) just assume they should buy all the strikers in the world?
Adam Johnson was a fantastic signing for them -- he's young, pacey, creative, and already worth at least £10m more than they paid. City ought to grab a few more players like him and then let them grow together with their already world-class pairing of Tevez and Adebayor up front.
If City went after Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao for midfield playmaking, Rodrigo Palacio from Genoa to run down the right and create chances, and maybe a great LB to replace overrated Wayne Bridge -- Capdevila, maybe? -- then they could field an 11 of:
Goal: Hart/Given
Defense: Zabeleta Kompany Toure Capdevila
Midfield: Palacio Martinez Barry Johnson
Strikers: Adebayor Tevez
Bench: Lescott, de Jong, Wright-Phillips, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bridge, Vieira, etc.
Looks like a title winner to me -- and probably at the cost of just one elite striker to boot.
Last year, everyone made fun of them for going striker-crazy with Santa-Cruz, Tevez, and Adebayor. And who have they supposedly been targeting this year? David Villa. And Torres.
I get it; Craig Bellamy was brutal down the stretch this year. But adding another target man up front doesn't seem like the solution to their woes. Playing a front line of Tevez, Adebayor, and World Class Striker X seems like overkill on the finishing front while lacking playmaking, crossing and creativity. Wasn't that the problem this year? Even when Mancini ran out an attacking lineup, they would sometimes struggle to score because, frankly, the link-ups moving the ball from back to front seemed totally absent at times.
Shouldn't City be pursuing a great winger on the right to mimic the rampaging runs and calm in-the-box creativity of LW Adam Johnson? Shouldn't they be looking for the next Fabregas or Xavi to pull the strings from midfield? Why does everyone (including them, apparently) just assume they should buy all the strikers in the world?
Adam Johnson was a fantastic signing for them -- he's young, pacey, creative, and already worth at least £10m more than they paid. City ought to grab a few more players like him and then let them grow together with their already world-class pairing of Tevez and Adebayor up front.
If City went after Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao for midfield playmaking, Rodrigo Palacio from Genoa to run down the right and create chances, and maybe a great LB to replace overrated Wayne Bridge -- Capdevila, maybe? -- then they could field an 11 of:
Goal: Hart/Given
Defense: Zabeleta Kompany Toure Capdevila
Midfield: Palacio Martinez Barry Johnson
Strikers: Adebayor Tevez
Bench: Lescott, de Jong, Wright-Phillips, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bridge, Vieira, etc.
Looks like a title winner to me -- and probably at the cost of just one elite striker to boot.
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Sunday, September 20, 2009
Take that, City
Quick thoughts on the Manchester derby:
--United's midfield dominated the second half. After a lackluster first period, Anderson and Fletcher were possessed in the second. They alternated between providing needed steel on defense and keeping the offensive pressure on City's defense. For the first 20 minutes of the second half, it seemed that the ball never left City's half as either Fletch or Anderson retained possession every time City attempted to clear.
--Shay Given was tremendous. Normally, four in the net does not yield compliments for the keeper. But Given kept City in the match with two point blank saves on Berbatov and a third on a classic Giggs volley from the top of the area. Given probably should have come out on Fletcher's second header, but he had no chance on Rooney's opener or on Fletcher's unmarked first and second headers.
--Ben Foster was the opposite of tremendous. Although he had no chance to save Bellamy's wonder-strike, Foster was at fault for City's first goal and he should have stood up longer and cut the angle on Bellamy's break-away. In fact, I don't know that Foster made a single save in the match.
--City missed Adebayor more than Robinho. Without Adebayor, City had no aerial presence and were unable to hold at the top. Bellamy --even aside from his two goals -- ably provided Robinho's pace and creativity.
--City are a top 4 team.
--Welcome to the derby, Michael Owen.
Posted by joy division at 12:12 PM •
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Sunday, August 09, 2009
The “Big Four”? – A look at Manchester City
The transfer market has outdone itself again this summer, and we all know it’s not over yet. There is one burning question for an Arsenal fan as we look to the start of a new season; Are the big four still the big four?
To answer this we have to look at what it takes to be a top four team. Talent is obvious, but the real key is consistency. Can a team produce results throughout a thirty-eight game Premier League season lasting from August through May? This is the first installment in a series in which I look at some of the top teams in the Premier League and make the case as to whether they’ll have a spot in the top four after May 9, 2010.
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