At the end of another fast paced counter attack in the dying moments of the game, Lionel Messi found Ousmane Dembele, but the young Frenchman couldn't connect neatly and sent a weak shot that hardly troubled Allison Becker before the whistle finally blew. This was not at Anfield, where Barcelona faced Liverpool in the second … Continue reading Barcelona, another European exit, and questions of identity
Guardiola’s wizardry, some Premier League history, and Klopp’s nearly men
And breathe. The Premier League title race this season has been a wrestling contest on the mat between Liverpool and Manchester City; the one in red trying its best to get the blue one in a headlock and pin it down while the other squeezes through some marvelously executed moves that makes it seem that … Continue reading Guardiola’s wizardry, some Premier League history, and Klopp’s nearly men
Johan Cruyff Arena, beautiful Ajax, and an incredible Spurs comeback
Spurs don't like the easy way. This was a team that barely made out of a group that contained Barcelona, Inter Milan, and PSV Eindhoven. They had a solitary point after three games at the group stage, and escaped their group by the finest of margins to then scrape past the quarter finals against Manchester … Continue reading Johan Cruyff Arena, beautiful Ajax, and an incredible Spurs comeback
Lads, its Ajax!
After the first 30 minutes of this semi final first leg between Ajax and Tottenham Hotspurs, if one could have been a fly on the wall in Pep Guardiola's living room, maybe one would see a smile slowly spread across his face; head bobbing in slow motion in approval of what he saw. The lads … Continue reading Lads, its Ajax!
Luis Suarez- origins, journey, and a return to familiar grounds
“He struggled with himself, too. I saw it, I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself.” – Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness Is there a player more provocative, more talented, and more capable of dividing opinions as neatly … Continue reading Luis Suarez- origins, journey, and a return to familiar grounds
Liverpool await Nou Camp journey as a test of their Champions League credentials
There was a predictable electricity in the air when the Champions League balls threw up what could potentially be an explosive match up between teams that are trained to go for the jugular from the word go. Barcelona v Liverpool. It would be a bit unsophisticated, and incorrect, to characterize this as possession versus counterattacking … Continue reading Liverpool await Nou Camp journey as a test of their Champions League credentials
Thriller at the Etihad!
There is a reason why Champions League football holds such pull and grandeur at the rarefied level of this sport, and much of it is down to the sheer unpredictability and reduced margin of error which teams have, and that means upsets are galore. The best laid plans can go awry, and as Mike Tyson … Continue reading Thriller at the Etihad!
Pass and Move 