Time for Neymar to Show Up and Shine for Barca

There is a saying that  “what is bad luck for one man is good luck for another”. Not sure where it came from but it is certainly true.

Leonel Messi has gotten a thigh injury that will put him off the pitch for about three weeks. Well this is a big blow for the Catalans because it is Messi that appears to make the difference in difficult games.

But now is the chance for Neymar to shine! Many may say that he is not like Messi. That is true, but also it is true that Messi was not Ronaldinho when he was starting his career with Barca’s first team. Having said that, Neymar has the opportunity to play more minutes and to show more of his unique talent.

Neymar is not a little kid without experience. Quite the contrary. He has shown up in numerous matches for his previous club, Santos, and his national team, Brazil.

FC Barcelona is full of talent with world-class players that have different roles on the pitch. Heck! Even the defenders become attackers on this team. For that reason, it is a very competitive team for a newcomer like Neymar and to earn a permanent starting spot becomes a bit of a challenge.

There is no doubt that Messi is Barcelona’s super star who has followers all over the world due to his impressive career with his club. And for that reason he is greatly missed whenever he is off the pitch due to some injury.

But Barca has been through this in the past, and now with Messi missing a few weeks there is a clear chance for Neymar. The young Brazilian has amazing dribbling skills, is fast, and is capable of taking long-range shots with both feet.        

Barca’s boss, Tata Martino, should be able to give Neymar more time on the pitch. That way the young Brazilian would be able to earn the trust and respect of those who doubt him.

La Liga Better Check on Those Referees

Create a deck of cards featuring exercise routines, and sell it online for $18.95. Sounds like a disaster idea to me. But former Navy SEAL and fitness instructor Phil Black reported last year sales of $4.7 million. Surely beats what military paysForget the referee and the controversial calls made at the clash of Real Madrid and Elche.

Forget the tweets between Pigue and Arbeloa. How about La Liga itself? The credibility of La Liga is something that could be questioned when referees seem to favor well-established clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona.

What are the chances of the rise of another strong contender in La Liga? Atletico Madrid has taken off in the right direction with 6 consecutive victories and 18 points; positioning itself as a tough contender this season. But unfortunately at a certain point in the season Atletico chokes and starts dropping points.

And referees frequently make controversial calls that ruin the chances of smaller teams to compete and as a result La Liga becomes predictable. Real Madrid and Barcelona should not get a break from referees as they have enough talent on the pitch.

It is definitely much fun to watch matches where the underdog who is expected to lose actually puts a lot of effort to turn things around in a match.  As it was the case of Elche who handle the pressure from Real Madrid but what could have been a 1-1 draw turned into a controversy as referee Muñiz Fernandez gave a penalty kick to Madrid on stoppage time.

It was definitely a sad ending for Elche and fans that went home with a bitter taste. For a team such Elche that has been recently promoted to first division would have been such a great victory to draw against Real Madrid.

La Liga definitely needs to take a closer look at the officials on the pitch to make sure they do an ethical job. This would guarantee fair competition and encouragement to those teams that lack funds to buy expensive players. In turn, La Liga would be much more exciting and fun to watch when competition is tough among various teams.

Tata is More than Tiki Taka

To Tiki TaKa or Not to Tiki Taka?

FC Barcelona has played its sixth campaign and its dominance with or without its Tiki Taka has been questioned. Even if Barca wins and adds points to stay on top of La Liga finds its fans difficult to please. Barca followers have started to questions the tactics of the new Coach Tata Martino. In reality who cares! The team is winning and that’s what matters! It is clearly difficult to delight everyone especially demanding Barca fans.

It is true that Tata Martino’s tactics have been a bit unpredictable lately. In their Match against Rayo Vallecano Barca’s finesse with their Tiki Taka was missing, yet they walked away with an victory of 0-4. On their next campaign; playing at home in Camp Nou, their Tiki Taka and possession game was flawless and the score ended favorably 4-1. Actually, it is better for this Barca team to be unpredictable as some teams have previously figure something out when playing against the Catalan Giants.

Not all coaches apply the same tactics equally. Tata Martino will definitely add something or change a few things that traditionally have been kept in previous seasons of Barca’s playing style. Whatever the case may be, Barca is leading La Liga and fans should know that at the end of the day that is what really matters!

It should be known that with the arrival of a new boss the style of play could vary in comparison to previous coaches. Tata is doing a fantastic job in my book. He is currently applying an attacking style that Barca needs. Possession is great too, but when the opponents just park the bus in front of their goalie it is necessary to have a plan B.  Tata seems to be the man with that plan.

It’s still too early in La Liga to predict a successful run for the Catalans. But so far; based on current results, Barca could possibly escape and leave behind everybody else as they did last season.

Also the rotation of players seems to work really well. Everyone who plays for a top-flight team in La Liga must be a competitive player. Tata Martino has great players to choose from for his starting line up. But also having  great talent could bring a bit of a challenge for the coach to manage.

So far, the new Barca boss is coming through with great victories and fans should support him and get used to his tactics.  

Özil Showing his 'Greattitude' at Arsenal

Özil and Arsenal Looking down on everyone

Mesut Özil might just be the weapon that Arse Wenger needed for his Arsenal. There is no doubt that since the arrival of the German playmaker the Gunners have geared towards a positive outlook. They are currently on top of the table of the EPL standings and most likely they will be sharper this season than previous years because Özil is just that good.

It is just the beginning and there is so much to see about Özil. The 24-year-old has yet to adapt to his new club and the English Premier League but for a world-class player of his caliber it should not take that long. Undoubtedly, the services of the German playmaker will be greatly appreciated by the Gunners' fans.

It was a great move by Arsenal to snatch this magnificent player on the last day of the summer transfer window. As mentioned, Özil possesses the unique quality found in a few footballers. He has an amazing ball control and his passing skills are unquestionable, his game may have been lacking lately when he was at Madrid but it was probably because he was not getting enough playing time. Özil is an experienced World Cup player that belongs on the pitch not on the bench.

The Gunners 3-1 victory over Stoke City is clearly a statement that the team not only is heading in the right direction but also that they’re moving upward. Many fans of the beautiful game knew that Özil  was a great fit for Arsenal’s game style when it was revealed that he has transferred to
Emirates Football Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club.

Look at Me Now!
Özil impact in the premier league has already been disclosed. He has assisted the team who now has taken the driver’s seat. Without doubt there is much more to come from this great playmaker. 

Ronaldo and Messi Sharing the Spotlight

La Liga Standings

Fascinating Stuff by Ronaldo and Messi!

The Champions League has taken off! And Ronaldo and Messi had a hat trick each for their respective clubs. Every decade presents incredible soccer stars that leave their mark in the hall of fame of the beautiful game. Fans get the satisfaction they seek from watching the UEFA Champions League, as it is the most competitive soccer tournament held yearly.

What else could fans possibly ask from Ronaldo and Messi? Practically these guys just keep pulling tricks off their hats that amaze even the worst critics. Every year, It seems as if one or the other is highlighted as breaking a record that was set by a legendary player a couple of decades ago.

Some say that Ronaldo is more complete, some say that Messi's left foot is more complete than Ronaldo. So there is no ending to this argument. Both are great!

It is great to witness two footballers that at this time definitely share the spotlight of the beautiful game. They compliment each other because competition keeps them sharp and gives them that willingness to fight for their respective teams. Also, it is incredible that the two iconic teams with worldwide followers as Barcelona and Real Madrid who are the eternal rivals of world football have these amazing players in their particular squads.

There is no doubt that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have entered their campaign in the Champions League with strong foot. This means that at some point there is a possibility for multiple clasicos, just like it happened a few years ago. The clasicos are expected every year not only because of the history that tangles these matches but also for the quality on the pitch. 

Though, it is fascinating to watch what Ronaldo and Messi can do on the pitch, it would be even better if there were a few more players that could be consistent with their game at a highest level. Because many players climb to the top for one year or two; and then they crumble faster than expected. But Ronaldo and Messi just keep on keeping on.

There is no doubt these guys have set the bar really high for future generations that will follow their footsteps. And fans; seeing the attribute of these two monsters of football, usually demand more and more from new athletes that integrate their respective clubs. Unfortunately for them, the likes of Ronaldo and Messi don’t show up too often.

Talented Players To Watch in Brazil 2014

Brazil make some room because here we come...

The World Cup of Brazil 2014 will be upon us sooner than expected and some of the national teams will bring familiar faces that will shine on the pitch. These familiar athletes will lift their level of talent a bit higher since they will be performing in the world stage of the beautiful game.

Most of the soccer players that make it to the World Cup are without question competitive individuals. However, some have become household names whereas others have yet to be discovered. Soccer players reach stardom when they put their name on the score sheet while representing their country in the world’s game.

The following players are leaders and game changers in their respective leagues. They have important roles in the pitch and fans look forward to watching them in action.

The following list of players to watch in Brazil 2014 is not in any ranking order.

Lionel Messi known as ‘Messi” is a gifted player, a natural score machine that will be leading Argentina and company in search for glory in Brazil. Messi is one of the best players the world has seen. He is quick with amazing dribbling skills and sharp free kicks. He is definitely a fan’s favorite to watch but not so much for his opponents. 

Another great player that will showcase his fantastic skills in next year’s World Cup is Cristiano Ronaldo. The captain of the Portuguese national team is a phenomenon! His long-range shots are a goalkeeper’s nightmare and his speed is like that of a sprinter. Ronaldo is definitely a fabulous and talented player that most fans look forward to see in the world stage.

In the last Euro Cup we got to know a character named Mario Balloteli; the son of Ghana immigrants who was adopted by the Ballotelis at age three has become a prolific striker for the Italian squad. Next summer Mario will undoubtedly give fans something to talk about whether he is on or off the pitch as his behavior is that of a troublemaker.

A different Mario from Germany will also make his appearance with his national team as well. Mario Götze is a 21 year old that has become one of the most sought-after soccer players in recent seasons. The German winger possesses great dribbling skills as well as speed. He has become one of the best young talents to watch in the Bundesliga and for his national team.

The Belgium national team is the leader of the group A of UEFA standings for Brazil 2014. Belgium is going through a fascinating phase with their soccer talent. One of their players to watch next summer is Eden Hazard. The 22-year-old midfielder has great creativity and speed. Hazard is definitely a hazard against opposite teams.

Another bad boy of the beautiful game that undoubtedly will take part of the highlights in next year’s World Cup is Zlatan Ibrahimovic,.The striker of the Swedish national team is 31 years old but his presence in the pitch is always a threat and a nightmare for opposite defenders. Ibra is a tall player, yet he can easily score goals with a bicycle kick, he is just that good.

The Netherlands is a country that has produced legendary soccer stars. In Brazil 2014 we’ll see the return of familiar faces such as Wesley Sneijder, Robin Van Persie, and the prolific left foot forward Arjen Robben.

A fabulous squad that has stolen the show in recent international tournaments is the Spanish national team. The current world champions will come back to defend their title with well-know talented players like Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas and one up-and-coming star named Francisco Roman known as Isco. Spain is still the team to beat in the world stage.

The USMNT has already qualified for the World Cup and still has two games left. Captain America Landon Donovan will return to the international spot inspired by coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The US national team is currently 13^th in FIFA rankings and with players like Jozi Altidore, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey on the pitch; the US will be a very competitive team and entertaining to watch.

The English national team is traditionally a football power. Among their pool of talent of players to watch are Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Michael Carrick. However, England has yet to reappear in a World Cup final as they have only done that in 1966 when they won that tournament in their home turf. England is England and they are always a tough team to beat.

Radamadel Falcao from Colombia is among the best strikers in the world. He is a very skillful and agile player that manages to put his name on the scoreboard. Falcao will delight his fans in Brazil.

Brazil is the factory of great soccer legends ( too many to mention) and as they prepare to host the 2014 World Cup one player that has climbed up in recent years is Neymar da Silva Santos Junior. At age 21 he is already among the best players in the world and next year Neymar will have the challenge as well as the pleasure to defend the colors of his national team in front of his fans. Brazil has mastered the beautiful game and next year they will be a very competitive and entertain team to watch.

A Winning Strategy Must Include Extra Motivation

Do professional teams need to spend so much money on players, transfer fees and all that?

There is no need for clubs at a certain level to splash so much cash for one player in particular. Cough! cough! Real Ma!!

The leadership of a club should look into other ways to improve their situation. The success of a club does not have to start with the eleven men in the pitch.  In reality a club president needs to invest some of that cash in bringing the best motivational speaker.

Motivation is key in every aspect of life in order to be successful. Motivating a professional soccer team should be a priority and part of the strategy of teams, especially, teams that do not have the funds to invest on bringing expensive talent.

When there is a match between a giant club and a not-so-good club one can see the difference in talent among players. But there are times when the story of David and Goliath is repeated in particular games. The least expected team walks away with a victory that stuns everyone. But this story does not happen too often as most mediocre teams have already lost the battle before stepping into the pitch.

It is eleven against eleven but why is it that one team easily beats the other one? It’s simple; not only one team has the talent to go all the way but also has the motivation to get there.





There is no question that talent alone plays a big roll in winning games, however; that not-so-good teams need to be drilled in their heads that the opposite team IS NOT invincible.

A not-so-good team practice their physical strength, endurance and tactics all week for a game on the weekend. Why should they underperform in game day against their opponents? The reason for that is the lack of motivation. The underdog needs to go out beat, put pressure, and challenge their opponents like there is no tomorrow.

Teams do not need to break their bank to climb up the ladder and become a successful team. They just need the MOTIVATION; they need to know that they are eleven warriors against eleven invaders.

The Spanish ‘La Liga’ often is seen as a two horse race because it is so predictable that either Barcelona or Madrid will be crowned champions at the end of the season. If the other teams can’t have star players they should hire an exceptional motivational speaker.

Motivation does make a big difference!

Dos a Cero - The Yanks are Coming!

Dos a Cero is a tradition...

The 12^th man in Columbus, Ohio, showed up with their passion of steel for the red, white and blue last night as the USMNT booked their ticket to Brazil 2014. It was a spectacular game to watch not only because of the rivalry of these two teams but also the significance of the match. Both teams were wounded from their previous match and El Tri needed to win badly to be back in track to qualify, and the Yanks were at home with their fans and a win would be the stamp needed for next year’s World Cup.

Dos a Cero again!

Traditionally it was a familiar score that is well known to the US fans in Columbus. The Crew Stadium, a specific soccer stadium, witnessed another Dos a cero victory for the USMNT. The home of he Columbus Crew has become the home field advantage for The Yanks where they have beaten Mexico 2-0 in previous World Cup qualifiers (2001, 2005 and 2009) where the presence of the 12^th man has been memorable and incredibly significant in support of their national team.

At the beginning of the match El Tri was pushing forward and they looked desperate to put it on the net first. Mexico’s eleven looked very dangerous, they kept the pressure up and Tim Howard was obligated to make a couple of spectacular saves to keep a clean sheet for the night.

In the second half the roaring crowd of the American Outlaws and company witnessed a much better USMNT. In the 48^th minute Eddie Johnson put it on the net via a corner kick in which he towered the Mexican players for a magnificent header. Then, Landon Donovan also known as captain America sealed the deal and made his appearance in the 77^th minute by scoring the second goal of the night after a sweet ball control and a pass across the box by Diskerud. The goal and the timing were highly significant because it would give The Yanks less pressure on the pitch and a chance to concentrate on ball control to kill the clock.

Dos a cero has become a scripted score at Crew Stadium in World Cup qualifiers matches between US and Mexico. The fans of the Columbus Crew and USMNT are fantastic! They are always there with their red, white and blue to support their national team.




Seeing an enthusiastic crowd with their colors; supporting, screaming, chanting is just part of the beautiful game.

Congratulations USA! You have come a long way! And you’ll shine in Brazil 2014.

Mexico's El Tri is in a Complicated Spot

El Tri is in serious trouble!

Mexico’s devastating loss against Honduras has placed them on fourth place of the CONCACAF standings.  El Tri is in a very complicated situation given they always have it much easier at this stage of the hexagonal. It was another day in the office for El Tri playing against a Honduras or so they thought; La ‘H’ turned the table around in the second half, they came from behind scoring two goals in less than three minutes. This was definitely not the result Mexico had expected as they were commanding Honduras in every play in the first half. El Tri are in danger of not qualifying for Brazil 2014.

Honduras shock Mexico because it was not part of the script to walk away with three points from Estadio Azteca. Historically, El Tri is untouchable at his home turf, especially when playing against teams from the CONCACAF. But on September 6, 2013, the table was turned against Chepo’s men because they dug a hole for themselves and they are in deep trouble now. Their situation could get even worse as they will face the US on Sept 10^th, and Klinsmann’s eleven are not an easy team to beat at the moment. Mexico could possibly be on fifth place on Wednesday morning.

Honduras’ next meeting is against Panama on Tuesday. The result from the different matches that night could either benefit or sink El Tri. If Panama manages to walk away with a victory against Honduras and the US beats Mexico that means that El Tri could end up on fifth place, something that could possibly happen. Though fourth place at this point in the competition is enough of trouble for a nation that loves the beautiful game such as Mexico.

The pressure is definitely on, El Tri will be different against the Yanks. But given that the USMNT bitterly lost their last match against Costa Rica 3-1, they will be looking for redemption in front of their fans and that will only make the match a little more spicy and interesting. A victory for the Yanks would give them the ticket for Brazil.

The Yanks are coming!

El Tri might have to go to New Zealand to try to get a ticket for Brazil 2014. If El Tri ends up in fourth place of the hexagonal they will have to face the All Whites. The New Zealand national soccer team is eagerly waiting for the CONCACAF fourth-place finisher and will try to snatch that ticket to Brazil.

The road to Brazil is not simple, El Tri usually has it much easier but this time they have to climb out of the hole they got themselves into. 

Soccernomics and Globalization

Soccer Does Tell Us Something about Globalization

In the world of sports the economic players are not the athletes themselves but the businessmen in the stands. For a long time soccer has transcended nations, cultures and languages. It is the most popular sport that motivates and unifies sectors in the most remotes corners of the world. The sport, the recruiting and the marketing that goes with it tell us something about globalization.

Its governing body, FIFA, started its roots in May 1904 and the first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. Though; not many countries participated then, it was a giant step for the sport to initiate its global dominance. This process led the way to the formation of soccer clubs and associations in many parts of the world. Europe and the rise of rich soccer clubs became a hot market for aspiring footballers. Today clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, F.C Barcelona among others have acquired the most skilled ones. These celebrated clubs keep winning titles; keep their stadiums full of fans as well as selling their merchandise through different outlets. However, the strategy for the return of investment of these elite European clubs is their global recruitment.

European clubs have agents in countries where there is a booming of rising soccer stars. In the economic aspect of the sport, the athlete becomes a commodity of high demand and supply. European clubs, especially the ones with the most funds have recruited players from all over the world bringing the supply and demand to a higher level.

Then, the relationship of soccer to globalization is based on money. The trends that keep this movement going is the investment throughout the world by the big soccer clubs as well as companies such as Nike and Adidas. The footballers (or merchandise) are bought as imports to create big profits for whatever place they get sold or transferred to.

Traffic and Grupo Sonda are companies from Brazil that are in charge of finding young talent. They are third parties who acquire the right of footballers for profits. However, FIFA the soccer’s governing body does not allow for third parties to be involved in the contracts of professional soccer players. But apparently in Brazil, investment groups such as Traffic work within the law and had also dodged FIFA’s rule by signing young players to their own small soccer club. Companies such as Traffic and Grupo Sonda have emerged from marketing managers who had a good eye for the demand and supply of talent. In his book “How Soccer Explains the World” Franklin Foer tells stories on how investors come to Brazil to empower teams, and how the corrupt managers sale rising stars to the big clubs in Europe.  

Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA, wrote an article titled “Football must be saved from the greedy few”. Interestingly the article starts with the phrase “The process of globalization, that affects all our lives” Mr. Blatter is addressing the conflict of big bidders recruiting so many foreign players and opening soccer schools for big clubs in foreign lands because the costs are at lot less than in Europe. Basically what Mr Blatter is telling us that the value of local young talent as well as association with a local clubs could lose its importance if most of the players are from different countries. And the few greedy are those who only care about the money, deals and transactions that can be made by recruiting from the global south. Mr. Blatter also mentions that big clubs when “creating international appeal they inevitably abandon local social responsibility.”

People have pride when they see their countryman being recruited to play for an elite team in Europe or other parts of the world. But they fail to see that this concept, when it is practiced and done to an extreme, it actually hurts a community or an entire nation and with the rise of transfer fees every year, the magic of the beautiful game is diminished as well.  

The Transfer Window is Done, It's Showtime!

The transfer window is done, now let’s play.

Now all the talk is over and the time has come to see what the changes will bring to the different clubs with their respective transfers. It is definitely exciting to see some interesting moves such as Arsenal signing Mezut Ozil, Kaka happily moving back to AC Milan, and Neymar getting used to his new challenge with Barca and the wait is over for Real Madrid fans as Gareth Bales has arrived. Now it’s time to buckle up and see the modification of these teams tell their story on the pitch.

This transfer window was indeed exciting for many teams all over Europe.  Some of the moves have come as a surprise but it will be a game changer for these teams, and the Champions League has gotten event better.

Mesut Ozil will be a great fit in his new club and Arse Wenger may have found in him the winning piece he needed for his Arsenal. Ozil ball control and passing skills are unquestionable, his game may have been lacking lately at Madrid but it was probably not his fault. A player of his class belongs on the pitch not on the bench, Ozil definitely did the right thing by moving to a club where he will get more playing time than he did lately with Los Blancos ; Also, the World Cup will soon be upon us and the German playmaker needs to be fit for that event. Real Madrid may not have done the right move by letting him go because he created great passes to Ronaldo, but it was a great move by Arsenal to sign someone with the quality of Ozil, now the Gunners will be loaded and ready to pull that trigger.

Kaka moves back to his previous home with AC Milan. It will be great to watch this talented player do his magic on the pitch for the Rossoneri, he truly belongs on his feet and off the bench. He is a world-class player that will find his fitness to help Milan in the Champions League as well as with Serie A. It was a great move for Kaka, the funs and the club will appreciate him and he will do the same when he starts showing what he can do.

Neymar is adapting really well with Barcelona. He already helped them win the first trophy. As the weeks go by, Neymar will be connecting with his new teammates, especially with Messi, and will help Barca to keep on top of La Liga. He is a player of his own kind, a crack that moves quickly and can instantly change the face of a game.

Real Madrid will finally stop chasing Gareth Bale. The Welshman has already arrived to the Spanish capital at record transfer fee. Now, it will be his time to shine at the Bernabeu. This is a great player, he is strong, fast, and can put it on the net with his accurate long range shots. It will be interesting to see how he copes in La Liga because his honeymoon with demanding fans will soon be over.