MY DEAR MANIACS!!!!
Welcome back to your favorite hub for honest/wishful/cruel/biased and always exciting takes from the world of soccer!!! Anybody catch the Euros this season? What a shock that the winner was Spain right?(not really) Congratulations to the "Furio de Rojo," who won their second consecutive European Championship.
Catch the Olympics anyone? Congratulations Mexico on your first gold medal in the history of your country. Too bad it didn't happen in time for Cinco de Mayo. I'm sure many victorious Coronas were hoisted on that fine evening.....deservedly. Way to go Mexico!!! I rocked my blanco Mexico jersey on the following day to celebrate their victory... Am I a Mexico fan, not really... but I do appreciate when a team balls out to claim victory... :-) Tip your cap everyone.
What about MLS (Major League Soccer, USA brand) you say??? Consider it a retirement home for European stars. I can't yet put it on par with the best of European soccer, however, we are making strides. The evidence that we are not yet ready to compete with the best was the beating that the LA Galaxy(MLS Champ) took from Real Madrid, 5-1 in a summer time friendly. But let us not lose heart, Real Madrid is one of the best in the world. They've done it to many teams. But here in America, we are trained and groomed to be the best or be quickly swept aside. Who won the silver medal in the 2012 100m dash? EXACTLY. I've admittedly swept the MLS aside. Additionally our national team didn't even QUALIFY for the Olympics. (intolerable)
No disrespect to MLS, but we simply are not yet on par with the best of Europe here in the states....yet... give us about 10-15 years, while raising the interest level among US citizens. Even more of a problem than lack of interest in US soccer is the disparity of salaries between the MLS and the European Clubs. We have seen stars such as Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan rise to the likes of the Premier League and do well. Meaning: we have the athletic capability and prowess to compete and win on the world's largest stage. The problem is that our mainstream sports here in the states revolve around commercials and corporate advertising in the middle of the games. Commercial time outs. TV time outs. Commercials for this, commercials during the game. Commercials for commercial sake. One of the things that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE about the beautiful game is that there are no interruptions from half to half. Uninterrupted sports time that never leaves the timing of games to a variable equation based on the number of time outs that we have and commercial breaks. 45 minutes, halftime. 15 minute break, 45 minutes, game over. Goodnight. The end. There is something awesome about the beauty of efficiency and the execution of a brilliant plan. Perhaps we as Americans NEED commercial breaks. I personally don't, and hate them with a passion. So many times, a network will cut to commercial, and when you come back, a play has happend, or you come back in the middle of another play. THAT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! But money money money means that theses corporations spend for that airtime. Greed. Who suffers you ask? WE, the true sports fans. I'd love to hear from you about your love of commercials.....
At any rate, we here in the maniac lab are awful excited about the upcoming season. While the English Premier, as well as the French Lige 1 are already underway, the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, and Spanish La Liga campaigns have yet to begin. Lots of off season action to discuss, but again, preseason talk means absolutely nothing. For all we know, an early season injury to someone like world class striker David Villa cost Barcelona the La Liga tittle, as well as another Champion's League tittle. I know its debatable, but in my opinion, with Villa on the field, the Catalans were an entirely different squad. While Barcelona were definitely competitive, and did advance deep into the tournament, the absence of one world class player does make that much of a difference.
Again, for the record of all the soccer maniacs out there, let me restate my intent on winning six championships this season. One in each of my favorite leagues, as well as a champion's league tournament trophy. A false hope? Lofty expectations? Perhaps in some cases. In others, failure is not an option, as change is eminent. So lets look at my five teams once more and my predictions:
PSG (Paris Saint-Germain, Lige 1) Prediction: Champs. Good off season aquistitons prove to pay off.
Juventus (Serie A) Prediction: Champs. 2 in a row baby, thanks Mirko, and Pirlo!!
Arsenal FC (Premier League) Prediction: Champs. Order out of chaos (stiffer competition) will
hopefully leave a space for us to sneak into first place by season's end
Sevilla FC (La Liga) Prediction: Champs. Rested players will prove to be healthy as
juggernaut teams suffer injuries and losses
Bayern Munich (Bundes Liga) Prediction: Champs. Bayern is primed after two Champion's League
finals in a row to complete the triple(German Cup, Bundes Liga Title,
and Champion's League Trophy) after overcoming the Borussia
Dortmond hurdle.
While only one of my teams claimed league hardware last season, I easily stand behind the others, with a raised eyebrow and an emphatic "BRING ME MY TROPHIES....." When a scenario presents itself where two of my teams face off, many people wonder who I stay loyal to.... Well, that's easy. THE WINNER. Who ever earns it is who I'm ok with, and there's nothing more I enjoy than seeing two of my favorites square off. So, if you love the beautiful game like I do, select a squad from a few different countries, and increase your chance of becoming a champion at the end of the season....
Before I go I've got to send a special shout out to a team that did the undoable last season, CONGRATULATIONS JUVENTUS on the record 28th Italian title !!!! Serie A Champs!!!! (EAT IT MILAN FANS!!!!)
I did have a bitter sweet taste in my mouth about Juve not winning the the double, the Coppa Italia, and the Serie A. We lost to Napoli in the finals, only loss of the season I'll add. But at least we stand as champions of the league....*UNDEFEATED* in league play.... no other team in any other country can say that for sure.In parting, I'd like to leave you with a song to commemorate the start to anther beautiful season of the beautiful game... I cant wait to see what happens and how it all unfolds... Tune in Maniacs for more, and watch how it all goes down...
Welcome back maniacs,
-Phantom the Friendly
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