No he didn’t — 2/17/2011
By Joe P Hasler — It’s about time we wake up and start collectively gasping at the revived brilliance of Robin Van Persie. He sputtered into 2011—leaving a cursed, whiff- and injury-filled 2010 behind him—and slowly resuscitated his once-magical left foot back to its previous condition as a defensive nightmare. In the month leading to the … Continue reading
Breaking Pace – 2/17/11
By A.C. Mullins-Khatib — Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola’s teams have yet to win a Champions League knockout round match away from home. Guardiola’s post-game interview saw him ruing the missed opportunities: “We just need to convert those chances. It’s the most difficult thing to do. In general I’m happy with the performance. The result is … Continue reading
There Will Be Diagrams No.4 — 2/17/2011
By Joe P Hasler — You could not pray to the various soccer deities—yes, there are many; a dozen or so that we know of—for a more exhilarating first wave of games in the Champions League Round of 16. Admittedly, I simply could not carve out the time to watch the 10th-place team in Germany (Schalke 04) play … Continue reading
There Will Be Diagrams: no.3 — 2/13/2011
By Joe P Hasler — For his first trick on English soil, following his $9.6 million move from Paris St. Germain to Sunderland, Stéphane Sessègnon attempted to disgrace a national icon. Not more than 30 minutes into his debut against Chelsea, the Beninese bedazzler nutmegged English hero Frank Lampard. Humiliated, the helpless Lampard’s only recourse … Continue reading
Another bald man insults gravity — 2/12/2004
By Joe P Hasler — Just days ago I wrote on the subject of bicycle kicks. Specifically, goals from overhead kicks, and how they never happen. That’s why I spazzed out about Moussa Sow’s bike last weekend. It felt like it’d be some time before we saw another one equal to it. Leave it to … Continue reading
You Can’t Go Home Again — 2/11/2011
By A.C. Mullins-Khatib — They’ve could’ve been our boys in Europe. Instead, they’re European boys. The recent international games bring about some woulda, coulda, shoulda moments for a couple of talented youngsters lost to the ‘States. Giuseppe Rossi “An ‘American’ who frees us from the Germans (in a sense a story we’ve seen before),” writes … Continue reading
Sow So Def — 2/7/2011
By Joe P Hasler — This is not the first time we’ve been inclined to doff our caps to Ligue 1’s top goalscorer Moussa Sow. Twenty-two weeks into the season, and the Lille striker already has 17 goals. Not a bad return for a guy who cost Lille exactly ZERO dollars when they signed him … Continue reading
The Power 22 – 2/4/2011
Here is a more detailed explanation of the thinking behind the Power 22, our weekly European club power ranking. In the spirit of the regular season AP and Coaches polls in NCAA football and basketball, the Power 22 is an experiment in rank speculation and informed conjecture. We stress informed because we use the list … Continue reading
More About That Hair — 2/4/2011
By Joe P Hasler — More bad news emanates from the Arsenal camp in London. Already reeling from Samir Nasri’s hamstring injury, now the Gunners must deal with life without Alex Song. According to the manager, Arsene Wenger, the 24-year old from Douala can’t even walk. Reports from the club suggest he somehow injured his … Continue reading
That Hair — 2/3/2011
By Joe P Hasler — Rough, rangy and practically impossible to knock off the ball, Everton’s Marouane Felliani and Arsenal’s Alex Song, are two of the English game’s most dominant midfield figures. Typically cast as enforcer-type players—bruisers with bad attitudes and little faculty for the game’s more delicate arts—both players actually possess advanced skillsets that … Continue reading
This Is Not A Pitch 