Upgrading Equipment

Before we get into stuff all about me, this weekend the Premier League had plenty of exciting matches taking place. It's the famous "Winter Period" in England which calls for a jam packed schedule for all Premier League teams. The teams with  depth deeper than the Atlantic ocean will definitely have the upper hand during this montage of games. The wonderful Arsenal traveled to Newcastle, the North East is never an easy place to travel. The game was kind of sloppy, but in the end Arsenal pulled out the 1-0 win on a free kick taken by Walcott to the French head of Olivier Giroud. Manchester United has really had a disappointing season in terms of Man U, but lately they've been pulling out results. Not beautiful results, but for them 3 points is all they need right now. Their game in Norwich showed how desperate they were for those valuable mid-table 3 points. It was sloppy but Welbeck scored the only goal sending United back to Manchester with a win. Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 and Hull beat Fulham 6-0. I don't know why I like Fulham a little, maybe its because of their awesome stadium (even though they took down the statue of Michael Jackson), but they need to get it together or regulation could be on the horizon.

So I made the High School soccer team which is a pretty big deal for me. Now I'm thinking, "Hey maybe its time for an equipment upgrade." I'm not talking like hundreds of dollars worth but maybe just a few things to help with my training. I was shopping at tj max and saw a nice pair of puma sweat pants (my favorite brand) so I thought why not pick these up, I don't even have to order them online! So as I continue my online shopping I'm thinking about buying some Nike Elite soccer socks. They look pretty nice and they're supposed to feel great too, but they're around the $20 mark. That's expensive for any kind of sock. If I do get a pair it will be interesting to see if their better than my Bayern Munich socks. They were kind of pricey too, but they have proved to be very good.

Other things I've been looking at are Nike Elite running socks, Adidas/Puma training pants, and maybe even some new cleats. They are so many things to buy out on the soccer market, but unfortunately my funds are not that high haha. If they are recommendations that y'all have for me please comment: At the moment I'm more interested in more training like equipment (socks, running shoes, pants, jackets, clothes, and etc). But I'll take any suggestions. Come back and read... Share this on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Webkinz, and Myspace (haha nobody gets on myspace anymore).

Straighting Out the MLS

Ah yes, Christmas has just taken place and it was nice to get tons of gifts. Of course a few of them soccer related. Most notably a Confederations Cup official match ball which I was filled with joy to receive. It adds to my match ball collection. Although I still cant tell which is the best between it and my champions league match ball, I will definitely find out soon (a report might come out on that). Anyways besides the match balls the rest of my holidays have been great.

The MLS just cant get itself together for me. I think it could be a pretty good league if it keeps improving in the next 3-5 years, but there are some major steps it will need to take. Some like allowing more foreign and high dollar players into the league instead of just focusing on mainly American's and lower quality foreign players. Also, teams need to get sorted out what their style of play will be and if they really want to keep players they have. At least the league is expanding in the coming years.

During half time of the MLS Finals the announcer guys interviewed the MLS Commissioner who said that the MLS would not start letting in more high dollar players and foreign players, that the MLS is focused on improving the American game. Now maybe he meant the MLS, but it sounded like the MLS was a farm system for the USA National team. To be honest Mr. Head Enchilada, your league will not get better if you don't allow more players in. American players might get better and better down the road, but that could be like 10 years from now. I understand we want to make home grown soccer produce, but most great leagues around the world don't just have their home players on the pitches. Alexi Lalas tried to tell the commissioner this, but whether he listens or not we will have to see.

So far since the MLS Finals in Kansas City, a lot of transfers have been made. Some of them are pretty disappointing to me. Eddie Johnson leaving Seattle was a big blow to me since I like Johnson and the Seattle Sounders. I think that if the Sounders would have kept Eddie Johnson and kept building a good team around him (bringing in players like Dempsey) they could win the MLS Championship. Instead of keeping Johnson, they elected to bring in Kenny Cooper. Being an FC Dallas fan and all I like Cooper, but he had a horrible season and I don't really think he's what Seattle needs. But then again, at Dallas the players around Cooper didn't do that good this season either.

DC United's coach Ben Olsen is going to have to step it up this season or his career at DC could be over. United had a horrible year in the MLS after coming off a previous season where they finished
2nd in the Eastern Conference table. Olsen has been there a while and this season United didn't really look like they new what a soccer ball was, "Football...whats a football?" Luckily for them Eddie Johnson will now play for them and maybe he's the spark that they need!

Come back and read more!

England finally starting to shape up? Maybe not...

Woo, finally back to write again. My club season ended for me a few weeks ago with me scoring 4 goals and my team winning the match 7-2. It was a good way for me, and the team to end the season, after a season that did not really meet our tremendous standards. In the end, it was still a great season and I was happy to go out on a quad trick, I don't know what you call it when you score 4 goals in a game haha. I'm excited because its Christmas time, which is usually when I stalk up on soccer gear. But more on that later, in a later post. 

A big week for football all around the world. Everything ranging from a World Cup Draw, an MLS final, and an interesting weekend in the premier league. As I write this, Fulham is thrashing Aston Villa at the cottage 2-0. Then in North London Arsenal is warming up preparing to take on Everton in what should be a great match. In action that happened yesterday, David Moyes took another bad result at home to Newcastle, losing 1-0. Manchester United needs to get it together real quick if they want even a 1% chance at the title. Yes, I know I predicted Man U to win the title at the beginning of the season, but they aren't helping me out any. I'm scared they'll finish at best 3rd. Other notable matches in England's highest division yesterday included Manchester City continuing their horrible away form and tying Southampton 1-1. Southampton's goal was spectacular from Osvaldo. Chelsea lost to Stoke 3-2 in a pretty exciting match. With so many top teams losing, if the gunners pull out the win today, they will extend their lead at the top.

The World Cup draw took place on Friday and drew some pretty interesting groups. Unfortunately for USA fans, their group is probably one of the worst possible outcomes they could have had. Germany is one of the favorites for the world cup, Portugal doesn't always perform in big stages but they do have Ronaldo, and Ghana has eliminated USA from the past 2 world cups. Expect a World Cup Special issue by at least January about who I think will win, and what interesting things will happen. There is still a long time before Brazil.

The MLS Finals took place last night and I thought even though the game was kind of sloppy, it was very entertaining. It went all the way to penalties and lasted till the 10th kicker. I'm working on an MLS season review. Could come out in a few weeks, or a few days.

Bayern Munich continues to destroy everyone in Germany. Meanwhile I'm about to watch Arsenal beat Everton. Come back for more.

Meat Pies, Pumpkin Pies, and Egg Nog

Yes, the wonderful Thanksgiving break is upon us, or well for me anyways. A full week off from school! That's just as long as Spring Break, which is pretty crazy. Although meat pies will not be on the table on our Thanksgiving feast, tons of good food will be! Wayne Rooney isn't just hungry for goals, he's also hungry for a tremendously plump turkey.

The end of fall and all of winter is usually a big time for the Premier League. The title can be lost and won in these months. Yesterday Arsenal convincingly beat an on form Southampton team 2-0 at the Emirates. The first goal in the game was a major disappointment for Southampton fans considering that their goalie thought he was Lionel Messi. Dribbling the ball in your own box with Olivier Giroud on you is not a good strategy in the Premier League... OR ANY LEAGUE! The next goal came later in the game with the Frenchman scoring again, but this time from the penalty spot.

Although Saturday was an okay day in England's highest division, today was even more exciting. Manchester City took on Spurs at home in what was an important match for both teams. Tottenham finally had a chance to show if they really were top 4 material this year (HA! Spurs are never top 4 material). For Man City, they needed to prove they were still a challenger for the title after spending loads of money on their team. The score finished 6-0... in favor of the Citizens. Manchester City is unstoppable at home, their attacking football is magical. Their passing flows more like you would expect Arsenal's to do. Spurs seemed to stand there wondering what this object rolling around on this strange green surface was. They looked slow and they looked like they had no team chemistry. More teams look threating this year than usual in the Premier League, if the North London team wants to have a chance in Europe next year, they have to improve their offense (yes I know their defense just gave up 6 goals) and their chemistry, or it could be a sad season for the blue side of North London. Manchester City on the other hand can take a lot of good things out of this game, but they need to focus on their away form. If they want to be successful in terms of a title, they need to know how to win on the road. They played counter attacking style at home, why don't they try that on the road? By the way, Kun Aguero has more goals by himself than the whole Tottenham team does as a whole.

After Manchester United beat league leading Arsenal 2 weekends ago, they could only muster a point in Wales today at Cardiff. Congratulations to Cardiff for looking like the best newly promoted team this season. They have impressed me way more than I expected them to do.

That's all for today. Start making your list for Black Friday shopping and Moyes, make sure Rooney doesn't eat too much turkey.

A break... No way!

Yes tonight I have miraculously finished my homework and I don't have any other activities going on tonight so I come back to this foreign thing called, wait what was it, oh yeah a blog. Sorry I forgot the name, I haven't been back in so long I just forgot what a thing like this was. So while I am on a temporary break, so is the rest of the soccer world. The international break is taking place while we speak, but nothing real exciting has happened in terms of World Cup Qualifying. Mexico beat New Zealand and now thinks they are the best team in the world. Unfortunately for the Mexican fans, this is not the case as a 5-1 win over New Zealand is like being in the 10th grade and getting a 100% on a 3rd grade test. A few African teams booked their ticket to the world cup yesterday. Many league matches around the world have been played now and Arsenal is at the top of the Premier League, woo hoo! Here are some other key points

- Adidas has started releasing new National team jerseys for the world cup next year (a feature could come out in the next weeks on these)
- Arsenal are still top of the EPL after 11 games but lost to Man U 1-0 two weekends ago
- FC Bayern's squad drank some beer and ate a couple of pretzels
- Cristiano Ronaldo released his new version of his CR7 cleats. They have a galaxy look to them with stars and stuff like that (I bet Messi didn't see his hamstring injury in the stars)
- QPR, at the moment, look like a team that could be returning to the premier league next year as they are in second in the championship right now
- Hereford United are looking sad in the Skrill Premier
- Arjen Robben threw a fit
- ESPN FC can only talk about how every things a dive and how Sepp Blatter insulted Ronaldo by calling him a general on the field and Messi a good school boy

Although those aren't all the big points, that's mostly what's been covered lately around the world. If I ever get time again some interesting features could be released on "Just Plain Football" like:
Review of World Cup Jerseys
A look at the Lower, Lower leagues around the world
and maybe a few others.

For now tell people about this blog and there is plenty of posts composed in the past that should be entertaining.

Banana Phone

So surfing the wonderful World Wide Web I happened upon a phone case that would change my life. If you've never hear the song Banana Phone click that link and it will most likely change your life. Well I saw a phone case that is a giant plastic banana. There are two major problems with it: It is bigger than a real banana so fitting in your pocket would be a problem, and the bigger problem is, you can only find it in knock off stores in China, so the case probably wont be in my hands, and definitely my pocket anytime soon. Gareth Bale might have a better chance of securing the case (implying that he doesn't already have a whole stash hidden in Ozil's old locker at the Bernabeu). Anyways while I'm typing this wonderful masterpiece USA is getting beat by Costa Rica and a few European World Cup Qualifiers were played earlier today.

England had looked shaky in their past friendlies against FA foes, so a good win against Moldova should put them right back on track. They got the win at Wembley, and from what I've heard it was pretty impressive. Don't get me wrong though, it is Moldova, but an England team that's had trouble with Scotland and Ireland definitely needs any good result they can get. England's skipper, Steven Gerrard got England on the board with a goal in the 12th minute. Talks about Gerrard and Lampard getting old are true, but their play still makes you think they are young and in their prime. My good friend Rickie Lambert got another goal for his home nation in the 26th minute. Lambert has been on excellent form lately and the world better watch out for him. That Southhampton relegation prediction I had might not happen...oops. Then the Man U man, Danny Welbeck added 2 goals later in the game. England pretty much dominated the game having 68% of the ball and 25 shots compared to Moldova's 5 shots. Seeing England in person this summer made me like them more, although they're not my favorite national team in Europe, I still hope they do good and qualify for the World Cup. A few of their players play for Arsenal, and of course I wish them well.

Ukraine won their game 9-0. No that was not a typo. Yes you read it right. Even though their match was against a nation whose footballers are just part timers and are firefighters and sandwich makers, they still beat San Marino 9-0!!! If I'm not mistaken, England only beat San Marino 6-1 last time the two teams met, which was not long ago. Ukraine happens to play England in their next WCQ and it should be an interesting game. England will be the favorites, but I don't think it will be anywhere near an easy win.

Right now as I type this blog there are a couple of North American WCQ's going on and they are pretty good matches. The biggest upset is probably the United States losing 2-1 at the moment. But if you smart people remember, I stated that it would be very hard playing Costa Rica in conditions other than a blizzard. Clearly the USMNT did not read my blog like they should have! The Honduras vs Mexico is kind of an upset at the moment, but after all, Mexico's been sucking lately, so the 2-1 score line is not super surprising.

P.S. in case you didn't notice, Arsenal actually signed a big name player!

Marco Reus: Player Special Edition 1

Yes this is the next new feature of Just Plain Football....our weekly player special! We've had occasional player special's through out my Just Plain Football career and usually they are pretty popular so why not bring them back? If you haven't, go check out Oh Arjen Robben. Probably my most famous player special ever composed and the fifth most popular post of all time.

Borussia Dortmund and the German National team is where Marco Reus shows off his amazing skill on the ball and his wonderful vision. Reus is one of my favorite non-arsenal players and one day I hope he plays for Arsenal, but with Arsenal's buying record we all know that wont happen.....even when he's 55. At the moment Reus is only 24 being born in Dortmund, Germany in 1989. So I guess he's Dortmund grown. That's pretty cool because not many players can say they play for their hometown team. I don't know if Carl Jenkinson was from North London, but he supported Arsenal all his life and ended up playing for them. Reus still has a big career infront of him and has already played in a Champions League Final. He did not join Borussia Dortmund till the 2012/13 season having played at Borussia Mochengladbach before then. Rues has many good qualities and plays kind of like Santi Cazorla for Arsenal. They both know how to pass, and pass very well, but if they have to they can take on members of the opposing team. He has the speed and quickness to play in the Premier League but he might get "Brek Shea-ed" a little. Not only are the guys in the Premier League quick, but they are very strong too. The Bundesliga is a good league and all, but at the moment nothing competes with the Premier League (in overall talent, not certain teams).

Between the start of the 2010/2011 season and the end of the 2012/13 season he has racked up 26 assists which is about 8-9 assists a season for 3 seasons. That's just in the Bundesliga games and not counting other competions. So you can see that he has the vision. In that same time period he has 42 goals which is not a bad tally for a player in his role. His best season was probably the 2011/2012 season when he scored 18 goals and had 9 assists at B. Mochengladbach. In that same time Santi Cazorla has only achieved 26 goals. But he has the same amount of assists as Rues at 26. You do have to remember though that Cazorla plays a true midfielder rule while Rues plays an attacking wing position, which could explain the bigger goal tally. How about we compare his stats to Arjen Robben (2010-2013). Robben has played at Bayern that whole time period and has not switched teams unlike Rues. Robben totaled 29 goals and ONLY 18 assists. A person would have to note that in the season that Robben got the best combination of goals/assists (12/8) when he only started 13 games and came off the bench once, so he did a lot for when he played.

Still the main focus of this post is Rues and he is truly exciting. Being one of the younger players that I will do a special on, he still has a lot to improve. I expect that if he keeps starting and has at least okay players around him, he will score even more goals and make more assists. A Bundesliga title may be hard for him to achieve, but a Champions League title will be even harder. He will probably have to move clubs, although Dortmund did travel to Wembley last season for the Finals of the Champions League!