All posts by h79snht.top

One of my earliest sports memories is watching John Elway and the Denver Broncos beat the Cleveland Browns to make it to the Super Bowl.

I then recall watching that Super Bowl at my cousin’s house and being very disappointed when the Broncos got spanked by that football team from Washington. I grew up loving football. I played football in junior high and high school. I devoted full weekends to watching hours and hours of football on television. Thankfully, those days are over.

Futbol, soccer, has supplanted football in my heart and on my TV. I first started to watch soccer around 2008 when I studied abroad in The Netherlands. The local pub I frequented is where I watched the games. I started following Tottenham a few years later and slowly soccer made more sense and became way more entertaining.

I started to see football as a less interesting and less entertaining alternative. Now it is rare that I sit down to watch a football game. I could talk about the problems with college athletics, or the incompetence in the NFL front-office, or safety issues with football as reasons why I have lost interest in the sport. These issues have certainly contributed to my indifference, but that is not the whole story.

A big part of the switch for me has been how much better the soccer fan experience is. Thus, here are three reasons why being a soccer fan is better than a being a football fan…

Soccer is a year-round sport

This has been a most pleasant and unexpected development in my soccer fandom. There is just so much soccer to watch. I follow the English Premier League (EPL) and Major League Soccer (MLS). The EPL season runs from August to May. Concurrently, there is Champions League and Europa League games during the week at various points in the season, as well as cup competitions.

The MLS season starts in March and ends in late October, so when EPL season ends, MLS is in full-gear over the summer months. And then there is international soccer. The World Cup happens every four years for both men and women, but they are staggered (men played last year, our women won it all this year).

In between cups, there are continental competitions, World Cup qualifying matches, and friendlies. So. Much. Soccer.

As for football, you got August through January. That’s it.

Commercial-free fandom

I realise that these days fans who record sporting events can fast forward through those pesky commercials. But most die-hards watch games live or at a sports bar, so sitting through commercials is a part of the experience. And if you watch a lot of football, you will spend most of that time watching commercials instead of actual game action.

Not so with soccer. A soccer game is two total hours of your time if there is a 15 minute pre or post game segment. Ninety minutes of that time is beautiful soccer action. There is no need to fast-forward through commercials because there aren’t any. There is a 15 minute half-time with at least half of it spent in the studio with the analysts breaking down the first 45. So you are left with about eight minutes of commercials during a soccer broadcast (not including those in any post/pre-game if there is such a segment).

The idea that many football fans have of soccer being so “boring” is silly when you consider that most of a football game is spent watching players and coaches stand around.

Not Just One Game In Town

If you like football, there are only two outlets for your fandom: the college and professional games. But in soccer, there are so many leagues that it is almost overwhelming and intimidating to get started as a fan. But this is a good thing, because choice is good. Especially when the options are of such quality.

The most watched league in the United States is the EPL. It is fast, physical and competitive. But there are other leagues with tremendous talent and arguably, better teams (though probably not as competitive as leagues). Germany has the Bundesliga, Spain La Liga, France Ligue 1, and so on and so forth.

And soccer coverage in America has gotten so good that you can now watch these leagues on one of numerous cable channels. For example, NBC Sports’s coverage of the EPL is fantastic and you can watch every single game online at no extra cost with your cable subscription login.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

For football fans, you’re stuck with regional coverage and the only way you can watch out-of-market games is by forking over a lot of extra cash for the privilege.

I will admit that I sometimes get sucked into a big football game, or will check the scores to see how the Broncos and the Longhorns are doing. But I have no regrets about not spending anywhere from 3–9 hours on Saturdays and Sundays watching football.

EPL games start early and I am done by noon, which I am grateful for. This means I have the rest of the day to spend with the family or doing other things. I am grateful for that, too.

This article was submitted via our new Write For Us feature. Think you can do better? Submit your own article via the link below, and make sure you follow @FFC_WFU on Twitter for #RealOpinions…

[ad_pod id=’writeforus’ align=’center’]

Manchester United are eyeing up a summer move for rumoured Liverpool transfer target Fabio Carvalho, according to a fresh transfer claim.

The Lowdown: Liverpool keen on Carvalho

The Reds and manager Jurgen Klopp brought in Luis Diaz during the January transfer window and they were also strongly linked with a move for Carvalho.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/liverpool-latest-developments/” title=”Liverpool latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The 19-year-old has been a star performer for Championship leaders Fulham this season, scoring seven goals and registering five assists.

Pundit Kevin Phillips has even branded Carvalho as ‘exciting’ whilst Fabrizio Romano says the teenage talent is someone ‘Klopp wants’ at Anfield personally.

While Liverpool are expected to return for him at the end of the campaign, a new update suggests acquiring his signature may not be easy.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

The Latest: Man United join the race

According to The Daily Star, United are also keen on signing the Englishman, having sent scouts to watch him against Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Red Devils are ‘planning a hijack bid’ to sign Liverpool’s target this summer as they eye a ‘last-ditch attempt to stop him heading to Anfield’.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-20/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Why join United over Reds?

While this is a worrying claim from a Liverpool perspective, the Reds would likely be the more appealing proposition at the moment, with their bitter rivals seemingly in turmoil on and off the pitch, by their past standards.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Carvalho would surely jump at the chance to work under Jurgen Klopp and the fact that he is an advocate of youth means he would likely get a chance to shine, as has been the case with his former Fulham teammate Harvey Elliott.

There was a time when it was United who the young English players wanted to join but the current situation is now very different, which is a testament to the job Klopp has done.

In other news, a foreign source has made a Liverpool transfer claim. Read more here.

In the aftermath of Fabio Capello’s announcement everybody has their views and opinions about the players that missed out, with  Theo Walcott’s omission dominating the focus of the English press.

But what about the likes of Adam Johnson, Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and Darren Bent, who were all left out in favour of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Matthew Upson, Michael Carrick and Emile Heskey? Surely some of those players should feel hard done by?

For this article I will be making a case for Huddlestone, who I think is being wasted at international level and at least deserved to make the final 23-man squad off the back of an impressive season for Tottenham. The 23-year-old midfielder played in the majority of games in the Premier League for Harry Redknapp’s side and helped the north London club qualify for the Champions League after finishing the top four.

With his passing abilities Huddlestone has the ability to unlock a defence and if deployed in a three man midfield he could let the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard (both are being wasted at international level in a laboured 442) do what they do best. It looks as though Gareth Barry will get over his recent injury troubles, so England can play this way if they still wished to. But why is Carrick going to South Africa?

Manchester United’s Carrick has had an awful season at Old Trafford and has spent far too much time on the bench, but he has still miraculously made his way into Capello’s squad. Admittedly Carrick is a good passer of the ball but he doesn’t offer a whole lot else in my opinion. Whereas, Huddlestone has been described by his manager Redknapp as the best passer of a ball at Tottenham and they have the likes of Croatia’s Luka Modric amongst their ranks. As well as having great passing ability and vision he also boasts a great physical presence, which Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail suggests makes him as imposing as any centre-back. Physicality is important and we don’t want to see players getting pushed off the ball, so our deep lying midfielders should have been Barry and Huddlestone, not Carrick. West Ham’s Scott Parker could also have done a good job for England as a tough tackling midfielder, but his lack of England caps counted against him in the same way as it went against Huddlestone.

Like many other England fans I have an opinion on Capello’s selection and the optimism is starting to wane a little for me. For me the whole day was farcical as we got updates every half an hour or so about the latest player who was/wasn’t going.

Oh well, Capello’s a good manager and it seems as though we are in winning ways (even if it is winning ugly) and the Three Lions have a good chance as long as the Italian keeps those troublesome WAGs away, we avoid any penalty shootouts and every other nation has a few bad days.

Tom Huddlestone screamer against Bolton:

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[youtube 20GqBDapIOs]

To follow me on Twitter click here: ajwilliams1987

[youtube IEu_5sP9F0Q]

Now Argentina have kicked off their World Cup campaign with two fairly convincing wins over both Nigeria and South Korea, can we finally start to talk about them as potential winners?

Their coach Diego Maradona, attracts a disproportionate amount of attention, obviously due to his status in the game as a player. As manager so far, he has overseen a mixed qualifying campaign that required some last ditch moments to get them over the finishing line and has put forward some bizarre team selections, but with the strength of talent that they possess in the forward line, possibly one of the greatest for any World Cup side in history, will that outweigh the relative weakness of their backline?

A lot has been made of Maradona’s quite frankly barmy selection policy for the World Cup, with the ridiculous exclusions of Zanetti, Cambiasso, Lucho Gonzalez and Gabriel Milito only adding fuel to the fire, but based off their opening two performances at least, they deserve to be ranked as serious contenders, something which the scapegoat management of Maradona has stopped them from being until now.

Before the tournament, I personally believed that this side were capable of reaching the semi-finals such was the embarrassment of riches that they possess even though there is a worry about their defence. Names such as Messi, Higuain, Diego Milito, Aguero, Tevez and Di Maria are not to be taken lightly and when on form are a match for any side. So it has proved to be, with Maradona’s charges helping turn a nervy 2-1 lead at halftime against South Korea, into a resounding 4-1 victory, despite a wobbly period at the start of the second-half. I just that it’s this ability to call on the aforementioned talents above and the strength in depth that Maradona has on the bench, that has the ability to come on and change a game, that marks them as being really threatening and they’ve been written off all too easily up until now.

But, and this has remained a major but against their candidacy for World Cup supremacy, their defence remains a tad shaky to say the least. It’s clear for all to see that they don’t have the best back four – they have a left winger playing at right back, a holding man playing at centre back, an ageing Heinze at left back and an inexperienced keeper’ between the sticks. Of course they do have the hulking and somewhat maniacal presence of Walter Samuel to help marshal the back four, yet the feeling remains that if you get at this defence, it may crumble under the pressure.

It would be hard to disagree with that view based on the evidence and most people predict as soon as they face a serious test that the sides shaky defence will be found wanting. But I still feel that no matter how bad their defence is, the forward line might just be able to bail them out in a ‘we’re gonna score one more than you’ mentality.

Against South Korea, Lee Chung-Yong managed to finish with a deft flick towards the goal just before half-time after catching the cumbersome Demichellis in possession, and all of a sudden Argentina’s Jekyll and Hyde character resurfaced and turned what was a routine win into a challenging one. The second half, South Korea as you would imagine, started brightly and with more purpose and the result was anything but assured. But then, and this is crucial to note, the strength in depth of talent up top managed to drag them out of a hole, with Messi instrumental in laying on chance after chance for his side. I fear that with an on-song frontline finally beginning to gel after years of underachievement, a degree of mental resilience in evidence and a siege mentality based around their coach Maradona, the signs are ominous and they look like a serious threat.

It’s worth remembering that out of their much-criticised back four, their two centre halves contested a Champions league final and their left back won the Lique 1 title this term, so they’re not quite the hopeless bunch of buffoons as some people would have you believe. Granted, Gutierrez does still remain a concern in an unfamiliar role at right back but they’re not the mugs they’re being made out to be by the ignorant press.

It’s fair to say that bigger tests await this side, but with Messi in form, the ubiquitous Javier Mascherano patrolling the middle of the pitch with barely controlled menace and the tournament’s top scorer up front, despite his poor finishing in the opening game against Nigeria in Gonzalo Higuain, then you have the basic ingredients for a decent tournament side. In 2006 Argentina looked to be the frontrunner for the tournament after displaying an intelligence of movement and control until they were knocked out in the quarter-finals to a decent Germany side, and is often the case as happened in 2006 with Italy, it’s often the unfancied giant that pulls through.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

It doesn’t take a great team to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup. England in Italia 90 reached that same stage with 2 wins and 4 draws and Terry Venables much-vaunted Euro 96 team reached the semis with 2 wins and 3 draws, so consistency is the name of the game. But with a side managed by Diego Maradona anything but reliable, it may just be in their unpredictable nature that they find their salvation, and as the saying goes ‘expect the unexpected’.

What does everyone else think – are Maradona’s team a serious threat? Or is it simply just  bit of good form going into the knockout phases?

Written By James McManus

The return of Martin Jol to the Premier League would have been one welcomed by many neutral fans. The amiable Dutchman hasn’t been seen on these shores since he was sacked by Tottenham back in 2007, and a return to England with Fulham would have given him the chance to cut his teeth in the Premiership once more. The 54-year-old was being lined up to replace Roy Hodgson at Craven Cottage, which would have given him the unenviable task of building on a 12th placed finish and a Europa League cup final enjoyed by the Cottagers last season. On the face of it, it looked like an impossible task, and is this why Fulham wasn’t the right club to prove the Tottenham board wrong?

Since he’s been away Jol has plied his trade in Germany with Hamburg, where the Dutchman achieved some success, before returning to his homeland and taking the prestigious job of Ajax manager after just one season. Despite an impressive points tally, Ajax were pipped to the Eredivisie by one point by Steve McLaren’s FC Twente and once again Jol is on the move after just one season in the job. If he had of left Amsterdam he would have left behind the most high profile job in Holland, surely a move to Fulham wouldn’t have been the right way to go?

Martin Jol enjoyed three years at White Hart Lane in charge of Tottenham, during which time he built a good rapport with the Spurs fans. After finding his feet at the club, Jol led Tottenham to consecutive 5th placed finished in the league and back-to-back European qualification. In the summer of 2007 Jol spent big money on bringing the likes of Darren Bent, Younes Kaboul and Gareth Bale to the club, spending in the region of £40m and thus big things were expected. But a dismal start to the season immediately put the Dutchman under pressure and it wasn’t long until the Tottenham board gave him his marching orders.

You feel that since Jol’s been away he’s always kept one eye on the Premier League and was waiting patiently for his chance to return. The way he was dismissed at Spurs will stick in the back of his throat and it will also irk him that Harry Redknapp has achieved the Champions League qualification that he was chasing, something Jol will feel he would have achieved if left to finish what he started. Jol has to look at the bigger picture though, a return to the Premier League is desperately what he wants, but with Fulham he would not have been able to achieve his goals.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

It would be disrespectful to Fulham to say that Jol was considering returning to the Premier League in a bid to prove a point to the Spurs board but it was a major reason and the fact that he considered leaving a high-profile club in the form of Ajax shows this. It seems as though proving the Tottenham board wrong is at the top of Jol’s to-do list in the near future, Fulham simply wasn’t the club to do that at, but which Premier League clubs would provide the Dutchman the springboard he needed? The answer is not many, so maybe Jol would be better leaving the past firmly in the past, where it should be kept.

A solid start to Arsenal’s campaign and most supporters would have taken 4pts at the start of the week. There is still work for Wenger to do in order to ensure that the Gunners are title contenders, starting with bringing in a new keeper to replace the hapless Almunia.

This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of blogs that include…£26m deal vindicates Wenger; last minute dealings at the Emirates and will the real Samir Nasri finally stand up.

Plus we have taken a look at the best Arsenal stories on the Web this week.

Has Wenger’s loyalty to duo subsequently been Arsenal’s undoing?

£26m transfer a vindication of Wenger’s approach?

Are Arsenal star’s moans really vindicated?

Will the REAL Samir Nasri finally stand up?

Why Wenger’s doubts forecast a worrying reality

Last minute deals at the Emirates?

Why football supporters feel the need to defend their corner

FIVE Things we learnt about Arsenal this weekend

*

Best of Web

*

Fanshare: Too good to be true? – Online Gooner

Almunia not happy with the uncertainty regarding the number 1 spot! Nor are we Manuel, nor are we. – Le Grove

Arsenal Fanshare + some football stuff too – Arseblogger

There’s Only One Arsene Wenger – A Cultured Left Foot

How to combat injuries – Online Gooner

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Fascinating Tales From The Arsenal Kitchen – A Cultured Left Foot

Yesterday saw us linked with Ben Arfa and Honda, I got a little excited… – Le Grove

*

Click on image below to see the gallery of Mario Balotelli’s stunning girlfriend

Fulham have completed the signing of Belgium international forward Moussa Dembele for an undisclosed fee from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.

The 23-year-old has signed a three-year contract at Craven Cottage, having previously been a target for Birmingham City.

Dembele had spent the last four seasons with AZ, having previously played in the Netherlands with Willem II after starting his career in his homeland with Germinal Beerschot.

Cottagers boss Mark Hughes told the club’s official website:“I’m glad that we have finalised the deal with Moussa Dembele and I would like to welcome him to the club.

“It is important that we go into the season with some additions to the squad who will add strength and depth to enable us to compete at a consistently high level throughout the season.

“Moussa is strong and quick and will add another dimension to our attacking options, which is important for us.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“I look forward to working with him and to, hopefully, a few more additions before the window closes.”

Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Ghana head coach Milovan Rajevac says that Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has decided to take a break from international football to concentrate on regaining top fitness.

The 27-year-old missed the World Cup finals earlier this year due to a serious knee injury, but has returned to the fold for the Blues at the start of the new domestic season.

However, he asked Rajevac to omit him from the Black Stars' plans for the opening games of their 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Rajevac told reporters:"He contacted me and wanted to ask for permission to be excused for a while.

"I understood his thoughts and, of course, I wanted to help him to get into his old form, to start playing regularly and I gave that permission.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

"I'm sure that after some time he will come back to the national team."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs is set to be sidelined for around a fortnight after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers.

Giggs was forced from the field early on in the second half at the Reebok Stadium, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirming a minor setback after the final whistle.

He told ESPN: "It is a hamstring and I am afraid he will be out for a couple of weeks."

Better news about Wayne Rooney came from number two Mike Phelan, with the England striker's ankle knock nothing to worry about.

Phelan added:"Wayne Rooney had a bit of a knock. He has a little issue with his ankle, we don't know how serious.

"We will have a look in the morning but we think he will be okay for Wednesday.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

"He has been playing with it for a couple of weeks now and during the game we decided he wasn't getting into the areas we wanted and he wasn't getting chances, so we had to change it."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

The sale of Liverpool Football Club to New England Sports Ventures is "nearly there" according to chairman Martin Broughton.

American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett lost a High Court battle to block the sale of the club to the owners of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday evening.

Hicks and Gillett are scheduled to have another court hearing in Texas at 1300 BST on Friday, but Broughton is optimistic that the drawn out takeover saga is beginning to move to a conclusion.

Judge Christopher Floyd ruled that the US injunction obtained by Hicks and Gillett attempting to block the sale to NESV held no validity in England.

"We're nearly there," said Broughton. "We've still got to take away the restraining order."

A statement issued on behalf of the board following the decision read:"The independent directors of Liverpool Football Club are delighted with the verdict of Mr Justice Floyd in the High Court which now requires Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett to withdraw their Texas restraining order by 1600 BST on Friday.

"We are glad to have taken another important step towards completing the sale process."

Broughton now believes that NESV frontman John W Henry could be in attendance at Sunday's Merseyside derby with Everton.

"Mr Henry is very committed," he added. "My guess is we'll have it done and he'll be there, but we've got to get rid of this order first."

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Broughton and NESV are now hoping the deal can be concluded before Friday's deadline with major creditor the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Liverpool could still be placed into administration and would be docked nine Premier League points should they fail to meet the bank's deadline to repay a £200million loan.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email