FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona has always been my favorite pro soccer team. The players who made me love FC Barcelona are Messi, Ronaldinho, and Neymar, but none of them play for Barcelona anymore. The players that keep me loving Barca are Yammal, Frankie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Lewandowski, Raphina, Cubarsi, Kounde, Balde, and Eric. I also really like the coach Hansi Flick, who has been making Barcelona one of the best teams in the world. I have 12 Barcelona jerseys and they’re all hanging up on my wall. I also have a Barcelona flag, hat, sweatshirt, and scarf. Barcelona makes the best players in the world. I got to go to one Barca game in 2023. It was so fun and cool, even though they lost. The game wasn’t very serious because it was a preseason game, but I still had a lot of fun, and it was so cool to see. Barcelona forever!!!

pc – google

Neymar

My favorite player of all time is Neymar Junior. I grew up watching and idolizing Neymar even though he played for a team called Santos which was not my hometown team, I still loved him. When he made his significant transfer to Barcelona in 2013, people began to catch onto his skill and Brazillian flair. He’s one of the most fun players to watch with his flashy skills and funny dances when he scores, he’s one of the best dribblers to ever touch the ball. The way he controls the ball is beautiful and he has solidified himself as the 3rd best player of our generation. Even though he’s been criticized for things and has had a few scandals in the past he’s a great player and a great person and has his own charity organization based in his hometown of Sao Paulo. I love him as a person and a player, and I’m so glad I grew up watching and idolizing him.

Neymar

Photo Credit=PSGTalk

Champions!!! (sort of)

Today Manchester United beat Chelsea FC, almost certainly giving them their 19th Premier League title.

Javier Hernandez, Petr Cech

While I was busy taking an AP Statistics final, Manchester United was pulling off a 2-1 victory. United looked the better team by far (I recorded the game) and throughly deserved the win. Chelsea fans may complain about the refereeing of Howard Webb but I do not think those complaints are valid. United created many more chances, finished well and defended even better.

Now United are six points clear with two games left. All they need is a tie in one of those games (which are against Blackpool and Blackburn) and they will go home with the trophy.

It has been a very interesting season. At the beginning I will admit I had little hope. Chelsea started so strongly that I wondered if we had a chance.

I credit Sir Alex for his genius in leading United to their 19th League title, which will be a record.

I am now looking forward to the Champions League Final against Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on May 28th. That will certainly be United’s biggest challenge of the year.

Final Bound

Today Manchester United clinched itself a place in the Champions League Final. They will face Barcelona on May 28th at Wembley Stadium.

United pulled off a 4-1 win which is an incredible feat. What makes it even more impressive is that United started many of its bench players. Sir Alex Ferguson decided that it would be best to rest some of his key players for the season deciding game against Chelsea this Saturday.

Schalke had won 5-2 against last years champions, Inter Milan. For United to win 6-1 on aggregate goals…well to be honest it is shocking. I believe in United’s quality but this was something else.

Ferguson made 9 changes from his original squad that beat Schalke in the first leg. After the game he said that the team, “Did me proud.”

The win sets up a rematch from 2009 where United lost to Barca. Although I am hopeful that United can beat Barca, I am very unsure. Barca moves the ball so well and has so much talent that they are virtually impossible to stop.

If United wants to beat Barca they need to play very tight in the midfield as well as in the defence. They cannot allow Barca to dictate the tempo of the game by holding the ball. Whoever is playing out on the left must also find a way to shut down Messi, and I wish them the best of luck. I do not envy any footballer who has to face that man.

United has the talent to win the final but they will have to pull out a performance of the ages to do so. Glory Glory!

Should Players be Fined for Their Opinions?

After the Barcelona vs. Arsenal game, Robin Van Persie made some comments that are sure to get him fined or suspended.

Robin van Persie receives his marching orders after kicking the ball away

They included calling the official, Massimo Busacca, a joke. I have been on both sides of the spectrum because I am both a soccer player and a certified referee.

I know from the side of the official that it is not fun to be criticized. This poor official was insulted on a public scale. Although he did have a horrible day at the office, it should not matter what is performance went.

In my mind the right of free speech carries over to soccer players. The players have opinions and they should be able to express their opinions without facing fines or suspensions. However, my feeling is that refs should have every right to have a rebuttal about what a tool the player in question is.Read More »

Favorite Players

If I had to pick my favorite team sport, that would be easy; it’s basketball. But if I had to pick my favorite athletes, that would be harder.  I have a lot of favorite athletes, but most of them are basketball players. Right now, I really like the Washington Wizards‘ point guard, John Wall.  John Wall is a rookie this year, but has all ready proven himself to be one of the better players in the NBA, and he can only get better. In just his second game in the NBA, he was one steal away from getting a triple  double. In my opinion, he deserves the rookie of the year trophy over Blake Griffin.

Switching to soccer, my favorite player is Carles Puyol. Puyol is an aggressive, long haired defender for Barcelona. He is most famous for his incident with the Queen of Spain in which he was unaware of the fact that she was in their locker room, and came out in his towel.  He is the best defender on any soccer team in the world.

But above all, my favorite player in any sport is Joakim Noah. Noah plays as the center for the Chicago Bulls. Noah may not have the most talent in the NBA, but he defenetly has the most heart. He will never give up until he can’t play anymore (which is what he has been doing recently due to an injury).