football

Kick around about all things soccer; explore football's storied history, current events in the soccer sphere, the intricacies of the game and more.

Old dudes playing Soccer
In the past, the Bay Olympic Clowns on the grass has always been a tough game for us. Away from our natural nest of artificial turf at Seddon where the ball just doesn't roll the same. The Clowns are usually always well up for a physical and psychological battle, the lovable bunch of balding carpet-layers that they are. Despite rumours of new signings, it was the same old BO Clowns from previous seasons that rocked up to Walker Park on a beautiful warm Saturday afternoon. Nudger and Todger were there, straight from work at the carpet factory. Biffa and Boffa bacon too, and a gaggle of supporters guzzling Lion Reds under a tree. The Clowns came up against a Go Feet side stung by two losses in a row, determined to get back to winning ways. We had a good intense warm-up, doing the fifa-11 like a proper team, and we were into it from the kickoff with a goal after a couple of minutes! Great work from Dazza down the left putting it on a plate for Stefan in the box. Excellent start and Go Feet could smell the pungent odour of Clown fear, or it could have been their BO. Anyway, we were all over them and they couldn't live with our intensity. Joe got hacked down in the box for an obvious penalty and Nando stepped up to smash it home. The Clowns had a few forays into our half with Yoji always a danger. His zen-like dribbling skills had me entranced a few times but after winning the after-training sprints on Wednesday night I knew I could keep up with him. Ultimately the Clowns could only muster a couple of long-range shots and corners and the Go Feet defence was determined not to concede. Dazza was tearing them apart down the left and scored a great individual goal to go 3-0 up. Near the end of the half, Bodger got a yellow card for a wild hack then talked himself into a red by questioning the sanity of the ref who happened to be an official official. Silly boy, BO down to 10!
By Denis Camden3 years ago in Cleats
Old dudes playing soccer
The high plains of Seddon #3 was the battleground for an epic encounter between two over 35 heavyweights. Both teams looked heavier than usual. Diets had obviously been cast aside in favour of beer, chips and steak. More to love. Glenfield looked a bit hairier and heavier than Go Feet to be fair, a midfield consisting of some Game of Thrones extras, a big bad bald tattooed striker that looked like he should be playing bass for Metallica, and a defensive four of fearsome looking Uruk-hai Orcs. Go Feet tried not to be intimidated. There was a tangible atmosphere of determination in the changing room, the sweaty scent of anticipation. Or maybe that was just nervous flatulence. It was a must-win game for Go Feet whose season had been underwhelming so far. The star-studded side had been playing like one-legged Mongol zombies from the icy wastelands of Laurasialand where football is frowned upon as being a decadent whimsy. And Glenfield were top of the table. Could Go Feet vanquish the Northern vagabonds and claw their way back up the table? Or would the hairy troglodytes beat these handsome heroes on their own patch.
By Denis Camden3 years ago in Cleats
Old dudes playing soccer
The manicured green carpet of Seddon #4 was in pristine condition for the over35s heavyweight clash between Go Feet and Lynn Avon. A fixture steeped in history, drama, controversy and betrayal. Allegations of unregistered players, first team ring-ins, match fixing and performance enhancing substances. News helicopters hovered overhead, furtive looking men in long coats and dark glasses talked hurriedly into their cell phones. The howler monkeys at the zoo next door could sense the tension building. The scene was set for an epic encounter. If old dudes football is a little fantasy world, a fictitious analogy where dreams can be realised - or shattered, then Go Feet's relationship with Lynn Avon would play like a B grade action movie of old friends turned into mortal enemies. Go Feet are the clean-cut heroes. Made of strong moral fibre, honest, virtuous and handsome. Lynn Avon are the forces of darkness. Cunning, mischievous and swarthy. On Saturday, the friction and animosity between these two old creaky warhorses would be played out on the honest open field instead of the courtroom or battlefield. The good guys always win in these movies, don't they?
By Denis Camden3 years ago in Cleats
The Historic sextuple season of Barcelona 2008/09
INTRODUCTION: It is true that in 2007-08, Rijkaard had one of the most-talented squads in history. And that increasingly in that final season they looked a hopeless bunch of leaderless layabouts. The Catalonians had enough of “CRUYFFISIMO”. Vice-President ROSSELL told that every decision of Barcelona was overlooked by Cruyff in his resignation press conference. Majority of the Catalans lead by the new Vice-President JOSEP MARIA BARTOMEU wanted Cruyff to stay out of Barcelona’s plans and wanted a fresh start with the Talented- JOSE MOURINHO as Barcelona coach. But Laporta announced that he would ONLY TRUST CRUYFF.
By Kushal Sharma3 years ago in Cleats
Messi left out of 30 candidates for Ballon d 'Or, Argentina reporter: It's a disservice to the game
Lionel Messi, the reigning winner of the UEFA Ballon d 'Or, was not included in either the 15-man shortlist for the award or the 30-man shortlist for the France Football Ballon d 'Or, which favoured him.
By 田强3 years ago in Cleats
Abu Dhabi becomes the largest soccer investor in the world (written in Fxstreet)
The City Football Group (CFG) is a holding company founded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, who with the Abu Dhabi United Group owns the majority shares (77%). CFG is an increasingly assertive financial leader, which owns 12 football clubs and is about to expand its acquisitions to Brazil and to Holland. From England, to France, from Japan to Uruguay and to Italy, CFG is becoming a force of nature across the football world. In July of 2022, CFG finalized the acquisition of Palermo, the Italian soccer team playing in Serie B (the second most important league) and it is rumored to be finalizing the term sheet (financial papers) to acquire the Dutch team Breda. With these acquisitions, Abu Dhabi is now playing a leading role in the top Italian, Spanish, English and possibly Dutch football leagues.
By Andrea Zanon3 years ago in Cleats
Juventus Ferociously Mangled by Chelsea (A Review & Player Ratings)
11/23/21 It's a horrifying afternoon here in The US where supporters saw McKennie and his Juve being savagely beaten with no remorse. On a long awaited European night with an air of it's usual magic in the wind, this wasn't a playoff round, but there was still much to play for as the clout of a First Place finish and in theory the chance for a "weaker" opponent in the next round hung in the balance. If you have been following Juventus closely this season, you may have seen a scoreline like this coming. I for one expected it in the playoff rounds vs the likes of maybe Bayern Munchen or Liverpool, and actually having it be more brutal. Chelsea showed us some semblance of mercy for the scoreline could have been far worse, a good 5 - 6 - 7 goals to mil, had it been for some more clinical finishing or a good save or two less from Szczesny who was surprisingly on form. For all his hype till this point Manuel Locatelli did little to gel together the midfield and attack with proper ball distribution and visionary passing; and did very little in ball recovery and possession to help create a base in midfield. This is a problem because it allowed Chelsea to run rampant. The only standout performer in midfield for most of the game was Mc Kennie tirelessly chasing down Chelsea players and looking lively throughout the whole match. Next came Arthur (Too little too late) and albeit for the wrong player, while I just finished criticizing Locatelli, Arthur for Locatelli was the wrong move in my opinion, We had a worse midfielder on the pitch in Rabiot, it is he who should have been subbed. Anyways, Arthur came on and did his job well, he held possession and distributed the ball nicely in his 30 min or so on the pitch.
By Gery Quin3 years ago in Cleats
Who is stronger Messi or Ronaldo?
In the era of Pele and Maradona, because there is no world number two who can compete with them, he is the undisputed king of the world. But in Messi's era, Ronaldo forcibly seized half of the position, making Messi unable to monopolize the throne. That's probably how it is in this era.
By Derasom3 years ago in Cleats
English women's soccer in the ascendant
Soccer sensationalism (or football fever as us Brits would call it) is hitting Britain at the moment, or England at least, with the final of the UEFA Euro 2022 Football Championship being won by England after they beat Germany 2-1 at Wembley on Sunday July 31st.
By Rachel Deeming3 years ago in Cleats
The Growth of Performance Tracking in British Sports
From heart rate monitors to headgear that can measure the impact of head injuries, wearable technology has allowed sports teams and individual athletes to measure and improve performance. Much of the study in sports science degrees is dedicated to using technology and science to enhance sporting performance. Many graduates even go on to work in performance-tracking roles at the highest levels.
By Owen Marshall3 years ago in Cleats
Is Paul Pogba A Muslim
Football is a thing that causes joy and celebration among the youths and old alike. One of the world's favorite wingers of all time Paul Pogba has recently caused a stir among his fans in 2019 during the holy month of Ramadan. He changed his religion to be a Muslim. Paul Pogba had been an interesting footballer both on the pitch and off the pitch. Recently he shot a video where he was soliciting support for poor people all around the world. The Frenchman who plays for Manchester United is born in March 1993, he's a midfielder and a winger at the same time. Among his achievement was in 2018 when he lifted the world cup with France, followed by the UEFA nations league in 2021. He has paid his dues as one of the best footballers in history. He started his career at Le Harvey, where he then moved to Juventus on a free transfer before finally making a debut at Manchester United. Pogba is a devout Muslim. Since 2019, he has been married to Bolivian model Mara Zulay, with whom he has two children. Pogba is also multilingual, speaking English, Italian, and Spanish in addition to his native French. Football has been a game of joy among all specs of supporters, and also a game that brings smiles to the faces of fans all over the globe. Taking care of children, the needy, and the poor is one of the most greatest works to embark on as a celebrity. Manchester United is one of the only English teams to win the UEFA simultaneously during 1998 and 1999. Holding up on the midfield is a quite difficult task to do, a midfielder is a playmaker in any football match, this has been a ball in the leg for Pogba who plays as the 6 on the pitch a tough challenger to defenders on the pitch. His early career to0 was a success on the French side of Le Harvey. Paul Pogba is enjoying a beautiful and blissful career.
By Eyitemi Nurain4 years ago in Cleats
The Door God who never falls
This is a football match, only 40 seconds into the game, the opposing team's ball was passed to him, as a goalkeeper, he did not have time to think, accustomed to the most suitable way, fell down to save, the ball was saved in the other direction. The opponent did not give up, kick to the rolling football, hurriedly, kick in his head, he immediately fell to the ground. The stadium Medical Center immediately contacted an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Arriving at the hospital, he was diagnosed with a fracture in his skull that would require immediate surgery. The operation lasted more than three hours. Doctors inserted two metal plates into his skull to relieve pressure on his brain from the fracture.
By Marya Sch4 years ago in Cleats