Two Halves

pitchinvasion: It’s true, Americans really like to watch soccer...

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:09:35 -0500

It’s true, Americans really like to watch soccer on TV.

Via Gilt Edge Soccer.

"I’ll take the tube around the city, I have an Oyster card, I’ll be ‘normal’ and, when you travel..."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:29:32 -0500

“I’ll take the tube around the city, I have an Oyster card, I’ll be ‘normal’ and, when you travel round, you see how people live, the stresses in their lives. Some footballers might not realise what’s going on around them but there are others like me who know they’re privileged and lucky to be living this life. I’m benefiting from a difficult past, a good grounding. That has formed my attitude on the pitch. I give everything, I try all the time, because I realise I have an opportunity. Life’s simple as a footballer.”

- QPR midfielder Stéphane Mbia speaking some sense, pretty rare for a Premier League player. The rest of his interview is well worth reading for some insight into his background in Cameroon and sensible take on adjusting to life in the glitz of England’s top division. (via pitchinvasion)

Very good read indeed.

Some tips for surviving the transfer window.

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:16:00 -0500

—

If you’re reading this, congratulations: it’s 2013 and you’re still alive. However, the next month might be hazardous to your health if you insist upon being swept up in the vagaries and hysteria of the transfer window.

Much prose has been spilled about the window itself, but I thought it useful to offer some advice on how to exist with good health and spirit well into February, 2013. And maybe, if you’re lucky, until the summer transfer window!

1. YOUR TEAM IS NOT SIGNING LIONEL MESSI

This is fairly obvious but also important to remember: whoever your team needs most, it likely won’t sign. If the incredible does happen and Falcao/Gary Lineker jr/Neymar/Pele’s ghost does turn up, sign up and score 20 goals next weekend, it’s also important to consider that it might not be enough. Teams are, in theory, carefully curated collections of talent that complement one another and work selflessly in pursuit of shared goals, all while being overseen by managers that might resemble equal parts tactician, psychologist and effortless dictator. Yet that rarely ever happens, leaving us with 24 overfed scoundrels and a world-class talent keeping the illusion of progress on track.

2. CONSIDER THE SOURCE

The hyper-information era makes for lots of misinformation. Twitter accounts with “ITK” in the name are a cursory red flag. Equally, your friend’s uncle’s best man’s wife’s colleague’s paperboy might be slightly inaccurate when “spotting” Edinson Cavani at a North London Pret a Manger, if that elusive observer is even a real person.

While there are lots of “hacks” in the world working hard to fill your face with footballing stuff, few truly hack it when it comes to accurate reporting of rumors-that-will-soon-become-actual-things. When steadily fantasizing over all the amazing stars that are landing at the local airport — right now! I promise! — bear in mind the above point. Your team is not signing Lionel Messi, even if you’re run by a shadowy fossil fuel magnate from far, far away.

3. THE SECOND TAKE COUNTS

This is a note that applies to a lot of analysis. The rush to be first isn’t always wise — though it’s not always unproductive, either — and as such, the more measured opinion will almost always resonate longer and more deeply.

Analysis of what a player *might* do at a new club is a decent start point; how they actually perform at that new club clearly holds more weight. That and most scouting reports blur together eventually. Every player invariably ends up with superb passing range, excellent vision, divine ball skill and amazing instincts around goal.

Whether any of it is true ceases to matter though if you’re Charlie Wyett, the bold, knee-jerk reactions end up being hilarious.

So when judging players in their new environs, it might be best (though not smart from a career, look-at-what-I-know point of view) to wait a while before giving that strong evaluation — in some cases, a year might do it, but the long game is fast becoming anachronism. EXCEPT if the player is Fernando Torres. Because he’s irreparably rubbish.

4. USING “X PLAYER IS THE NEXT Y” MUST STOP — UNLESS YOU’RE JOKING

Every player cannot be the next other player because every player is the next that player. Oscar isn’t the next Kaka; he’s the first Oscar. Individualism still counts in this world. The rush to forcibly lump a player in with one of a prior generation is great but only if you’re making a funny.

5. MAINTAIN PERSPECTIVE

This is a good life rule but one that’s never easy to self-apply. I can never quite manage it, but the act of grappling it daily is fulfillment enough. I think.

In the transfer window, it matters most of all. The above four things are merely guides to surviving a period that can be every bit as traumatizing — and ultimately, not permanently scarring — as your worst Christmas. You know, the one where you wanted a new bike but got socks. Yeah, that holiday really wasn’t awful — you still got gift cards, dinner was nice and you didn’t have to do homework — but it felt it at the time.

"Few players genuinely have the ball under complete control during a sinuous run. Unless you are..."

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:33:24 -0500

“

Few players genuinely have the ball under complete control during a sinuous run. Unless you are Maradona or Lionel Messi (you aren’t), it is 61% control, 20% adrenaline, 15% luck and 4% “I’m faster than the wind, I’m the greatest” going through your head.

Coaches are aware of this. To them dribbling presents a high chance of losing possession. Would you expect the gaffer to champion something offering opponents the possibility to nick the ball?

”

- Fantastic stuff by Sheridan Bird on the “trouble” with dribbling.

pitchinvasion: thrace-: Well played, Reign. Well played....

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:18:55 -0500

pitchinvasion:

thrace-:

Well played, Reign. Well played. (x)

Seattle’s National Women’s Soccer League team unveiled its name and icon today - strong identity.

pitchinvasion: thrace-: The 2013 league will be the National...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 20:57:47 -0500

pitchinvasion:

thrace-:

The 2013 league will be the National Women’s Soccer League.

So now we at least know what to call it and how to tag it.

Name’s a bit of a mouthful, logo uninspiring…but it’s a league!

explore-blog: “Don’t play everything (or every time); let some...

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:18:48 -0400

explore-blog:

“Don’t play everything (or every time); let some things go by. Some music just imagined. What you don’t play can be more important than what you do.”

Tips for playing a gig from Thelonious Monk, a fine complement to David Byrne’s recent How Music Works.

Pair with some tips on how to listen to music.

WORDS.

Grantland takes plenty of shots for its self-indulgent prose and...

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:54:47 -0400

Grantland takes plenty of shots for its self-indulgent prose and insulated appeal, but the documentary about NBA prospect Royce White on draft day was absorbing from start to finish.

Athletes are expected to be perfect. All flaws, when shown, are derided or praised on a case-by-case basis. Where Mario Balotelli grows his appeal with prankish behavior, Joey Barton is marginalized as a faux-intellectual lout.

But most of that is showmanship or personality. More serious things like suicidal tendencies or more deep-seated psychological issues are rare in the sporting world. Which makes White’s openness about his generalized anxiety disorder so laudable. These things don’t get easier by being shut away or hidden. His honesty shines through.

: What is American Soccer?

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:30:45 -0400

: What is American Soccer?:

whatahowler:

For Howler’s debut issue, Matthew Doyle (MLSsoccer.com’s Armchair Analyst) watched more than 50 hours of USMNT tape (going all the way back to Italia ‘90) to discern what—if anything—characterizes the American style of play. With tomorrow night’s WCQ against Jamaica looming, we thought…

VERY EXCITED for this release (and not just because I know one of its editors and had the privilege of contributing a piece to the debut issue).

1. Counting Crows still tours? A fleeting look at their...

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:07:29 -0400

1. Counting Crows still tours? A fleeting look at their Wikipedia page shows they’ve recorded three albums since 1998, the most recent being all covers. Aka, the reason they’re probably touring. Covers of Teenage Fanclub, Dawes, Fairport Convention, Bob Dylan (of course), Gram Parsons and Travis.

2. Since when did Counting Crows become a seven-piece band? Must be the Wilco Rule: the more gracefully you age, the more multi-instrument performers you add to fill out the sound.

3. Are those perhaps the worst opening act band names in history? One evoking a tween-lit book title, the other inspiring thoughts of other emotions that could be paired with bodies of water. Irritated Brook. Melancholic Estuary. Coy Pond.

Irvine Welsh (@WelshIrvine), author of Trainspotting, getting...

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:59:12 -0400

Irvine Welsh (@WelshIrvine), author of Trainspotting, getting excited about the US Open men’s tennis final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

"At the top level, the very best players are overburdened with the number of matches, and the amount..."

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:34:00 -0400

“At the top level, the very best players are overburdened with the number of matches, and the amount of travelling, expected of them. Is it really that surprising that most players, if they were able to speak truthfully about it, would struggle for enthusiasm for the slog of qualifying? Low-key matches in far-flung destinations are often seen as a bit of a nuisance. Outside the 90 minutes, it is not a lot of fun. Hands up who looks forward to the journey, some light training, killing time in a hotel lobby, and a late flight home to arrive bleary eyed in the early hours of the morning after? Don’t expect a massive show of hands from the elite.”

- (The above by Amy Lawrence, Guardian.co.uk)

Is this really the crux of the argument? Big-name players don’t like traveling to, say, Moldova? I bet if it were for the actual World Cup or a Champions League final, the above couldn’t be more wrong.

Really, I think the issue here is that players care a lot less for international soccer than for their clubs. After all, the clubs provide health insurance, popularity, image rights and, most importantly, big salaries. Playing for country can’t possibly compete, unless it’s offering the kind of global drama that can make for a tasty chapter in a forthcoming memoir.

So really, let’s think of the emotionally drained, well-paid players and figure out a way to cut their international requirements to a tournament every two years. You know, the way it’s meant to be.

Unprofessional Foul: UF Fantasy Soccer Leagues Open

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:45:24 -0400

Unprofessional Foul: UF Fantasy Soccer Leagues Open:

unprofessionalfoul:

With the Premier League season starting this weekend, we here at UF have opened up our annual fantasy soccer leagues. Even though we don’t have a blog anymore (but we do have this micro-blog fwiw) we are still doing the fantasy soccer thing for the fifth year.

What do you win? Bragging rights….

Join up today! Win mild satisfaction!

explore-blog: 10 Rules for Students and Teachers (and Life) by...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:06:37 -0400

explore-blog:

10 Rules for Students and Teachers (and Life) by John Cage and Sister Corita Kent

laphamsquarterly: usnatarchives: It’s time to play Hooverball!...

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:36:40 -0400

laphamsquarterly:

usnatarchives:

It’s time to play Hooverball! Hooverball was played each morning on the White House lawn during President Hoover’s administration.

The game was created by Hoover’s doctor to help the President slim down and keep fit.

“It is more strenuous than either boxing, wrestling or football,” wrote Will Irwin, a friend of Hoover’s, in a 1931 article “The President Watches His Waistline” in Physical Culture magazine. “It has the virtue of getting at nearly every muscle in the body.”

Every year, eager Hooverball enthusiasts compete in a tournament during Hoover’s Hometown Days. This year is the 25th Annual National Hoover-Ball Championships.

Learn more about the history of Hooverball on the Hoover Presidential Library web page.

Who wants to start a Hooverball league?

rwohan: These are basically the same exact stories. Adventures...

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 14:15:21 -0400

rwohan:

These are basically the same exact stories.

Adventures in sub-editing.

Tame Impala - “Alter Ego” Yeah, I’d like to...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:23:00 -0400

Tame Impala - “Alter Ego”

Yeah, I’d like to see this in a soccer highlights video. Won’t lie.

Newcastle United 3 (Asprilla 22’ (pen), 31’,...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:03:00 -0400

Newcastle United 3 (Asprilla 22’ (pen), 31’, 49’)
Barcelona 2 (Luis Enrique 73’, Luis Figo, 89’)

Champions League (Group C), 17 September 1997

The 1990s threw up some wild and wacky European nights, most of which exist in some Swiss cheese brain void I can’t quite remember.

But this one — Newcastle United 3, Barcelona 2 — from 1997 has lingered. Not just because this was the Magpies’ first-ever game in the Champions League group stages, nor that they trumped what we now know to be the impenetrable trophy hoarders of the Camp Nou. Rather, because it was arguably Faustino Asprilla’s best-ever game for Newcastle.

(As the commentator notes about :30 in after Tino’s first, a coolly taken penalty, he “looks like he’s in the mood.”)

Asprilla will be remembered mainly for his volatility and boundless energy, but on a good day, he thrived. Of course, neither Newcastle nor Barca escaped the group — Dynamo Kiev rode their two-headed strike beast of Sergei “Flopped at Tottenham” Rebrov and Andrei “Flopped at Chelsea” Shevchenko to a group-topping triumph — which rendered the thrilling night at St. james’s Park rather moot in the final analysis.

(Another great commentator moment: about 3 1/2 minutes in, as Asprilla nods in goal number 2, we get the gem that he “leaps like a gazelle” for the ball.)

But no matter. Enjoy Tino, the wild wing wonder of Keith “Coulda Been Amazing” Gillespie, WARREN BARTON HAIR!, Sergi Barjuan looking entirely fallible as Barca right-back, and a hideous Bologna-esque hodgepodge of a Blaugrana kit that looks as bad as any kit they have worn over the last two decades.

Video!

futbolintellect: Have 2 hours to kill? Why not relieve...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:42:00 -0400

futbolintellect:

Have 2 hours to kill? Why not relieve Senegal’s upset of France in the 2002 WC?

Especially great for those of us that remember staying up until 2am on a balmy night in college to catch this, sitting on a friend’s couch while everyone else was sleep, and periodically drifting in and out of slumber but vividly recalling the goal during a lucid moment.

Or if you just like watching old games.

footballandnietzche: Sir Alex Ferguson practicing for...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:39:18 -0400

footballandnietzche:

Sir Alex Ferguson practicing for Rangers.

Even in training, you can *see* the mind games at play.