Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

From Riches to Rags

A club in shambles
Out of Europe, out of sorts and out of money, Valencia is slowly but surely running out of luck. It’s been a decade of highs and lows for Valencia. From the early decade triumphs in Spain and Europe to its recent managerial go-round and battle with relegation, Valencia is headed down a [...]

Debt in the Beautiful Game - Part 2

Part 1 laid its focus on the EPL , specifically Manchester United, the league’s largest team by revenue.  For Part 1 please click here
Part 2 continues the exploration of debt in football with a focus on the Spanish League.
Fernando Torres celebrating Spain's Euro 2008 title
When Fernando Torres pounced to fire in what would be the winner at the [...]

Bundesliga Review : Another Weekend, Another Leader

Voronin - all smiles!
Four weeks, three different league leaders. That’s the story of this year’s Bundesliga season.
It was a case of double trouble for the second weekend in a row as a resurgent Wolfsburg once again downed the league’s top team. After defeating Hertha Berlin 2-1 in round 21, Felix Magath’s men whipped Martin Jol’s [...]

The UEFA Champions League Preview - Part 1

After a two-and-a-half month hiatus, the UEFA Champions League returns this midweek. It’s down to the wire as the last 16 battle for a berth at the Stadio Olimpico on May 27.
Will bookie favorites Barcelona stroll to its second European title in 4 years? Will nine time winners Real Madrid reclaim past glory as they [...]

Hertha Berlin : Punching Above its Weight

And the Old Lady sits atop the Bundesliga.
Following league leader’s Hoffenheim’s 4-1 loss to 5th place Bayer Leverkusen, all eyes were on the weekend match up between Hertha Berlin and Bayern Munich. A win for either team would secure them the top spot, a place held by Hoffenheim since round 14. Hertha Berlin hoped to [...]

Maradona on Song

Could Maradona be onto something?
It’s probably a bit to early to start singing the praise of Diego Maradona, but after a 2-0 win against France, his tenure as Argentina’s manager might be a success after all. The shock appointment of Maradona as national team coach by the AFA was risky, as he had little experience [...]

The Weekend Preview

And we’re off to the races again!
After a 1-0 loss to a Stoke-less Rory Delap, Mark Hughes hopes 42 million pound Robinho, along with clubber (as in golf clubs and bar fights) Craig Bellamy, can inspire the world’s richest team to glory against a free falling Middlesborough with un-sackable Gareth Southgate at the helm.
Speaking of [...]

A Necessary Evil

Thank you?
Dressed in a Barça shirt and scarf, I applauded with all my heart as the game drew to a close. Barcelona had just stuttered to a disappointing draw with Espanyol, and in all fairness, should have lost. I was completely sincere in my heaping praise on Espanyol, even if confused onlookers seemed to think [...]