The Return of the Galacticos

Well, the presidency of Florentino Perez has officially begun (again), and Madridistas are looking forward to seeing what is in store for Los Blancos. Already, the team has announced Manuel Pellegrini, who coached Villareal, as the team’s new coach. Jorge Valdano is the new sporting director and Zinedine Zidane was hired as an advisor to the president.

Perez has been very aggressive in the past in landing the best players in the world and selling millions of Real kits. Players like Ronaldo, Figo, Zidane and Beckham came in with lots of flair, but also each won at least a La Liga title for Real. Who is Perez thinking of bringing in this time? The list is long and dynamic: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ribery, Kaká, David Villa, David Silva, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta, possibly Cazorla, Xabi Alonso, Mata, Tevez, Negredo, Albiol and Maicón. This is a ton of players, but if he gets even half of them this team could really take flight. Ronaldo, Kaká and Ribery are clearly Perez’s top 3 targets, and chances are he can land at least 2 of them. Already there are reports that Kaká will be introduced on Thursday, that Xabi Alonso has already agreed personal terms, and that Ronaldo will eventually come towards the end of the summer. Also, with Valencia’s financial problems and AC Milan’s players reportedly being very upset at the departure of former coach Carlo Ancelotti, maybe some of their players will be ripe for the picking. Beckham in a return, perhaps? Alexandre Pato, the 19-year-old Brazilian striker, who I think is one of the great young strikers in the world? Zambrotta or Nesta on defense? It’s not outside the realm of possibility.

But, to get these players, a lot of the current players will be transferred out. Rumor has it that Perez is willing to let all of the Dutch players save Huntelaar leave (Robben, van Nistelrooy, Sneijder, Drenthe, Van der Vaart). Huntelaar may also leave, as he has been rumored (as told on GolTV) to be headed to Man U in exchange for Carlos Tevez. Perez is also targeting many Spanish players to come in. With La Furia Roja at the top of the world rankings, many of the starters of the #1 team in the world could soon put on the Real Madrid white shirt. Raul, the golden boy of Madrid and the captain, may be relegated to the bench. It is been made clear that the only players guaranteed of staying in the starting 11 next season are Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Lass Diarra, Gonzalo Higuain and Pepe. This would mean that the mentioned Dutch players as well as Javi García, Heinze, Saviola, Mahamadou Diarra, Marcelo, De La Red, Guti, Salgado, Metzelder and even Gago.

In spite of the glitz and glamor that Perez brings to the table, it is clear what the team needs. They need tons of defense. The defense this year let Real down big time, forcing Iker Casillas to make numerous saves. Casillas is, in my mind, the best keeper in the world, but with such a lagging defense, he gets hung out to dry many times. Defense should be key, and I think players like Philip Lahm, Vidic, Clichy, Fabio Grosso, and Maicón should be brought in to shore up the defense. In the midfield, with Lass or Xabi Alonso in the fold, we should definitely find a center attack mid that can direct the offense like Zidane used to do. That player is most likely Kaká. Ronaldo would be brought in as the replacement for Beckham on the right wing, which has been sorely missed since his departure two years ago.

Up front, I love Ruud and Raul and Higuain. But it’s clear that with David Villa or Ibrahimovic possibly coming in, and Huntelaar and Saviola already in the fold, some of them will have to go. Ruud, Saviola and Huntelaar would probably get clipped, with the captain being sent to the bench. Needless to say, Raul and Higuain scored a ton this year, Ruud won the Pichichi in 2007-08, and Huntelaar was hot, scoring 9 goals in his first 8 games.

As for who to keep and get rid of on the current squad, here’s what I think will happen:

Keep – Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Raul, Higuain, Pepe, Lass

50/50 – Metzelder, Marcelo, de la Red, Huntelaar, Miguel Torres, Guti

Loan Out – Gago, Drenthe

Sell/Leave – Salgado, Cannavaro, Saviola, van Nistelrooy, Heinze, Parejo, Faubert (back to West Ham), Van der Vaart, Javi Garcia, Sneijder

Also, here’s my list of who I think should be on Perez’s list to bring in: Kaká, Maicón, Lahm, Ronaldo or Ribery, David Villa, Alexandre Pato, Albiol, Vidic, Fabio Grosso or Mertesacker, Xabi Alonso, David Silva. Again, defense is the key. We shore up our defense, everything else will fall into place.

Almost assuredly, this will be a summer full of transfers for Real Madrid. Lots of players in, lots of players out. Will Perez rebuild Los Galacticos to try and conquer Europe next season? Will he get every player on his list? Will he build a capable defense, something that has been missing the past few seasons? Will he bring in the players necessary to win La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Champions League? Only time will tell.

My EPL Decision

So, it has been a while since I updated…it’s been quite hectic in life the past few weeks. However, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been keeping up with the beautiful game, especially the EPL. First off, congrats to Manchester United on winning the title. They played well this year and it is truly deserved. Since the season is over, it is time for me to make a decision on the EPL team that I will be supporting next season. It was definitely a close call between a couple of teams, but in the end, I let my heart and my gut do the choosing. I think it’s a good one. First, a recap of the teams in the mix:

-Manchester United
-Manchester City
-Arsenal
-Chelsea
-Newcastle United
-Fulham
-Everton

After looking at the team’s histories again and comparing the success of the clubs and what I liked and disliked about each, I crossed off Everton, Arsenal and Man U from my list. That left Newcastle, Fulham, Chelsea and Man City. Then, I looked at play. Newcastle being relegated did not cross them off my list, as I had eliminated them from consideration before the final weekend. Their fans are very passionate and they have a rich history in the top flight of English football. Yet, their players played as if they were resigned to making the drop. With about 6 weeks left in the season, when they desperately needed to step up and make some plays to keep their position in the Premiership, they phoned it in. Even on the last day, with Hull’s loss they needed just 1 goal to stay up and send Hull City back to the Championship. They scored…into their own net. That own goal by Duff sent Newcastle packing for life in the 2nd tier next season. It was the players that eliminated Newcastle…lack of heart when they needed it the most.

So now I had 3 teams on my list: Fulham, Chelsea and Man City. I liked everything about these teams, liked their rich past, their wonderful future…but like I said, in the end it came down to my gut and my heart. I like a ton of players on each team, and with Man City’s owners deciding to spend whatever it takes to make them a top-4 squad next year, their future is very bright. However, I have made my decision and I am quite at peace with it. My EPL team is:









In the end, my great friend, a lifelong Chelsea fan, put me on to the team that I liked the most. Following the Blues is something that I feel at home with, and the games I saw with Chelsea were very exciting, win or lose. I found myself, in a similar way that I do with my all-time favorite Real Madrid, riding the wave of excitement and heartbreak with every game. But, come next season, I will be fully following Chelsea Football Club as they try to reclaim the Barclay’s Premiership title.

In the next few weeks, I hope to buy a Chelsea jersey with one of my favorite players in all of English football, Frank Lampard. If I buy a second one ( c’mon you know me), skipper John Terry will get the nod. And I look forward to seeing Chelsea for the first time in person July 24th at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore as they play a preseason tournament game against AC Milan. Come on you Blues!

Champions League Semifinal 2nd Leg

Well, over the course of the next two days, the UEFA Champions League Semifinal 2nd legs will be played, and we will find out who will square off in the Final in Rome on May 27th. Today sees Arsenal try to overcome a 1-0 aggregate deficit against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium, while Wednesday will see an all-square Chelsea and Barcelona face off across town at Stamford Bridge. The first leg at the Camp Nou saw a 0-0 draw between the Blues and the Blaugrana, while a John O’Shea goal is the only tally in the Man U-Arsenal tie.

Once again, there is a chance for an all-England final…but will it be? Will Arsenal be geared on by their fans to overtake Man U, who still have a chance for the double? Will Chelsea beat able to beat Barca, who is fresh from their pounding of my favorite team, Real Madrid, and head back to try for redemption in the Champions League final?

Nothing really left to do except play the matches. In today’s match, I see a 2-1 victory by Arsenal, with Man U moving through on the away goals rule. Tomorrow, I see Chelsea coming up with something magical, winning 3-1 at the Bridge and sending them through to a rematch against Man U in Rome. In less than 30 hours, we will know who will move on for a chance to raise the finest silverware in club football.

Picking An EPL Team: Update

So, my quest to select an EPL team has progressed quite smoothly. I have watched quite a few games involving all the teams that I am considering. I’ve even looked at their histories, former players and (yes) even their kits. After considering all this, I’m set to whittle down the list. Eliminated from consideration are West Ham, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. Now, the list consists of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Fulham, Manchester City and Everton.

Some things I will be paying close attention to will be:

-Newcastle’s bid to avoid relegation: Newcastle is having a tough time, and with their remaining schedule, I think they’re in serious trouble. Let’s see how much fight they have left in them, because it would be real sad to see them drop.

-The race for the title is down to Man U, Liverpool and Chelsea, with Man U starting to pull away.

-Chelsea will meet Everton in the FA Cup Final after Chelsea dispatched Arsenal and Everton upset Man U.

-Chelsea, Arsenal and Man U are also 3 of the 4 teams in the semis of the Champions League. With Arsenal and Man U playing each other, the EPL is guaranteed to be represented in Rome for the final.

-Fulham still has an outside shot (although it’s a huge mountain to climb) at getting a place in next year’s UEFA Cup. Currently, Aston Villa and Everton hold those spots.

Well, in a week or so, I will whittle the list down to 4 teams, then 2, with my team being selected before the last game of the regular season. Until then, stay tuned…

Dream Stadium Sites for World Cup '18 or '22

Today, the USSF released a preliminary list of about 70 stadia that could possibly be used if the U.S. won the right to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022, which they have bid for. The list ranges from old NFL stadiums to new NFL stadiums to iconic college stadiums.

That got me thinking: which stadia would make the cut in my ideal list for another World Cup in the U.S.? Well, let's take a look:

1. Ford Field or Michigan Stadium, Detroit, MI: Michigan Stadium would have to be widened to host a World Cup match, but if it was able, you'd easily have one of the largest attendances ever. Michigan Stadium will once again become the largest stadium in the U.S. in 2010 and the 4th largest in the world that's not a racetrack. To cram 114,000 people into Michigan Stadium for a match would be incredible. If not Michigan Stadium, Ford Field would be a great alternative for the Detroit area. An international city, and a stadium that has a history of hosting big-time events in style (Super Bowl, Final Four, biggest Wrestlemania ever)

2. New Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX: This is a no-brainer. The best new stadium out there, "JerryWorld", as some people call it, can seat up to 100,000 for games. It hasn't even opened yet, and the list of major events that will occur in the stadium already runs the length of the Red River. The final would probably be here.

3. New RFK Stadium, Washington, DC: Since FedEx Field's field is too small, unless it is widened, a renovated or rebuilt RFK should host some games. Great atmosphere, great soccer fans, and our nation's capital...can't get better than that.

4. Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX: Hosted several soccer matches and major events (Super Bowl, Final Four). The stadium would be full, and it's one of the world class stadiums in the U.S.

5. Qwest Field, Seattle, WA: Natural grass would have to be laid down for this, but if so, a great place to host a match. Rabid soccer fans up there, and by 2018 or 2022, the Pacific Northwest will be a major hotbed for soccer in this country.

6. Lucas Oil Field, Indianapolis, IN: Another brand new stadium that is earning rave reviews for its game experience. Indianapolis is kind of a random place to have a major event like the World Cup, but it is two hours from Chicago and it's an amazing stadium.

7. Soldier Field, Chicago, IL: Has hosted many soccer matches, and has undergone a major renovation to make it one of the world class stadiums in this country. Plus, it's in Chicago, a great tourist city and a city that can host major events

8. Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA: I think the Rose Bowl would have to undergo major renovations, but if it does, it would probably host a quarterfinal match. Great for the LA area, a great tourist area and also an area that has hosted many a world event, including a World Cup final and 2 Womens World Cup finals.

9. Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA: Beaver Stadium...one of the biggest stadiums and best stadiums in America. 4th biggest stadium in the world (until it is overtaken by Michigan Stadium once again in 2010), and would be extremely loud. It's in the middle of nowhere, but for a fantastic atmosphere, what better place to play than there?

10. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL: Again, tremendous atmosphere...some rate it among the best in sports. It would definitely be a great place for people in the south to head to. Close to Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando, and about 5.5-6 hours from Miami for tons of attractions.

11. University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ: Another new stadium that has hosted many major events, including many soccer matches (a couple U.S.-Mexico matches as well). It would be a great place to have a semifinal match.

12. New Giants Stadium, E. Rutherford, NJ: Will service the NYC area, but also get people traveling to all the major cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic corridor...NYC, Philly, DC, Boston. Will be an 80,000 seat stadium that will probably host a quarterfinal or a semifinal match.

13. Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA: See Giants Stadium.

Picking An EPL Team

I’ve been watching the English Premier League for several years, ever since I can remember them coming on TV back in the early 90s. I can remember watching Champions League soccer and seeing the likes of Manchester United, Leeds United, Arsenal and other teams battle on the European stage. Then, as the EPL became bigger and more popular, I started watching it more and more. I love the style of play, I love the passion of the fans and I love the intensity of every match. Over time, despite Real Madrid being my favorite soccer team in the world, the EPL has been my favorite league to watch.

Yet, I have never had a team that I really follow in the EPL. I’ve followed players for the most part. Recently, since one of my great friends is a huge Chelsea fan, I’ve found myself following them a bit. But, I’ve never had a team that I can say is my favorite English team. This year, I’m about to change that.

My goal is to pick a team that will be my English team by the end of this season. Over that time, I’m going to watch as many games as possible, as many teams as possible. I’m going to look at the history of teams, the players and how I think they fit with me, and try to finally settle the debate of who is my English team.

So, here’s a look at the choices that I have. I have whittled down some of the teams. I have no problem cheering for one of the Big 4…of course, I’m a Real Madrid fan. But, I will support a winner for the right reasons, not just because they are good. Again, I’m going off history as well as present, former players as well as current players. The only team in the Big 4 that did not make the cut is Liverpool, because I’ve never really liked them (outside of Steven Gerrard), and despite their fruitful history, they’re just a team I don’t think I can get behind. So, the teams I’m looking at are:

Manchester United
Chelsea
Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United
Fulham
Aston Villa
Manchester City
Everton
West Ham United

Like I said, by the end of the season, I will have a team picked. How they’re doing in the league this year is not the only factor, as I said. It’s merely one of the factors. I will update you all on my progress of choosing a team as it occurs.

Real Madrid will always be my favorite team. That will never change. If my new English team will ever face Real Madrid, I hope they catch a whipping. But, it will be cool to tune in to games in the EPL week in and week out and have a team to follow. So, get ready, Premiership. One of your teams will have a new supporter.

The Future of DCU/Choosing A New MLS Team?

The future of DC United’s new stadium deal (and, some think, the future of the team itself in the DC area) is in doubt after lawmakers have questioned a bill covering the new stadium proposal for DC United in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In an email sent to supporters a few weeks ago, DC United President Kevin Payne urged support of the stadium proposal, and indicated that this was the only real possibility left to continue to have a soccer team in the DC area. What this has led supporters (myself included) to believe is that if the stadium deal falls through, the ownership would consider selling the team to a group that would bring DC United to a city (St. Louis being the most popular assumption) that would give a stadium deal to a team. That, combined with shaky attendance numbers at the first two DCU home games this season, has the future of MLS’ most successful franchise in limbo.

Thinking about this the other day, I started asking myself…what would I do if DCU moved to another city? Well, I consulted an article from Bill Simmons entitled “Rules for being a true fan” that lays out ground rules for which team you are supposed to support and when you can enter the free agency of teams. For me, Rule 19 really comes into play. The first thing that people that know me will probably ask is, “You lived in Dallas…you should be a Dallas Burn/FC Dallas fan, per Rule 18.” However, at the time I moved from Dallas, they had not yet started play. In fact, I believe the first game for the Dallas Burn was the weekend after I moved back to Michigan. So, when MLS started, I was technically in Michigan and thus a MLS fan free agent. I didn’t pick a team and just followed MLS in general until I moved to DC a couple years ago. In DC, DC United is my home team…I don’t really pay attention to the Wizards or Nationals or Capitals, and I hate the Redskins (per my days in Dallas). DCU is my home squad. The only team that would usurp them would be if Detroit (my real home) got a franchise (See Simmons Article, Rule 19).

So who would I choose? It would probably be FC Dallas since I used to live there and have a connection with the area. However, besides Detroit, a new franchise in Raleigh/Durham would open up the bidding war for my MLS fandom. The other teams in the league, for some reason, just don’t do it for me either because of my lack of connection to the city or region or that the city is a traditional rival of other teams I like.

But, above all, there’s nothing more I would want than for the new stadium deal to get approved and for DC United to prosper here in the Capital Beltway area for many years to come. I really don’t want them to leave, and I hope the Maryland legislature will make the stadium deal happen. Otherwise, the most successful franchise in American soccer history will be gone, and there will be quite a few MLS fan free agents out there without a team to call their own.