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Friday, January 4, 2013

Liverpool v. United ~ #DrivenBy: The Manifesto | Chevrolet FC

The Fixture Of The Season ~ 2013


The Reds play the Red Devils January 13th at Old Trafford. What makes this fixture different than ones in recent years is that they come into the game  two of the hottests teams in the league. Liverpool are recently making giant strides up the table winning by 2, 3 goal margins and United sitting pretty on the top of the heap in number 1. Liverpool will com into  the game with a league form of 2 losses out of 4, and United with only a draw in the last 6.

Both teams have the hottest strikers in the league. Liverpool's Luis Suarez has taken this season by storm single handily taking up the scoring mantle at Liverpool,  second behind Robin Van Persie with 15 goals in the EPL's top scorer list. Van Persie with one more at 16 has been a revelation at United since moving from Arsenal, and will look to separate himself further from Suarez by scoring on the 13th.

Who will do it for their team?



~ Or ~
                                                                     
                                                           



Wednesday, January 2, 2013

"Out The Blocks," And It's Sturridge, Daniel Sturridge.

Welcome back to Liver n' Onions


I'am pleased to welcome 23 year old, England International Daniel Sturridge to the Liverpool ranks. Pending his signature on a long tem contract Sturridge states he's committed to the Liverpool/ Rodgers cause for time to come,

"Brendan Rodgers said he sees me here for a long time - and I also see myself here for a long time. I've not signed here to play for a couple of years and then move on.

Recently a quite couple of seasons has kept Sturridge's name out of the spotlight, but this move to Liverpool has built upon Sturridge's meteoric rise to relevance. Sturridge began his professional career at Manchester City, where he finished top-scorer as City lifted the FA Youth Cup in 2008. In 2009 he signed for Chelsea where he established himself as one of the best young forwards in the country, firing 24 times during his stay at Stamford Bridge.His form at Chelsea led to full international recognition at the age of just 22.
Having scored 21 goals in 34 appearances for England at youth level, Fabio Capello handed him a senior bow in a friendly against Sweden in November 2011.
Having played a multitude of forward positions for various clubs, Sturridge will likely  play upfront with Luis Suarez at Liverpool, either behind the Uruguayan or as a front two. Very much a Brendan Rodgers player, Sturridge is quick, tricky and makes insightful and incisive runs as a forward. He's adaptable to many forward positions, as a wide right attacker, or through the middle. To add he's young and English. 
Excited to see what he can do.
Thoughts?

Thanks to Liverpoolfc.com



Friday, December 7, 2012

Who Needs What Pt.1


With Christmas emerging thick and fast upon the horizon, giddy children will be making their wish list's across the globe, as will the fans of the beautiful game.  Want's are want's - Man City, and needs are needs - see the 18 teams below them. Some team's in the Premier League have gaps needing filled. Realistic goals taken into account every teams got a space in the XI needing an injection of talent but their are a few who need it more than the rest.

Liverpool and the Hunt For A Red Striker.

They may have the hottest forward in the land in Luis Suarez tied top scorer but without the Uruguayan's fire power Liverpool have only scored 6 other goals, not good enough. Having no notable striker in their ranks besides Fabio Borini, who has managed a whopping 0 goals this season, Liverpool are crying out for a No.9 ( Not Andy Carroll).

Talk has been circling about a move for Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge, a talented front man but not an out-out striker that is required. Perhaps that No.9 forward is not what Manager Brendan Rodgers wants, opting for a fluid,  false No.9 forward line- see Barcelona. In that case Sturridge could slot in well, but would the link up be effective?  A major problem for Liverpool is their lack of option in the box on crossing situations. Liverpool break quick with pacey wingers like Raheem Sterling and Jose Enrique but when it comes time to play a telling ball, often they are bereft of a target.  The rumored  move for deadly Klass Jan Huntelaar last summer seemed a definite possibility, and would hope them to emerge once again in January.

Another team hurting for a striker is Chelsea and the debacle of:

The Miss Firing Fernando Torres.

Owner Roman Abramovich had no problem sacrificing Champions League winning manager Roberto Di Matteo to the cause in his plight to get Torres on the goal sheet. Springing for Premier League old timer Rafa Benitez,  former coach of Torres at Liverpool were his best stuff was on display -see Peaches & Herb: Reunited And It Feels So Good.  Yet to be fruitful in the three matchs that Rafa has overseen it's pretty evident that Chelsea needs a new striker.



Saturday, August 25, 2012

Liverpool Secure Sahin On Loan


Barring the passing of a medical, Liverpool look to have secured Nuri Sahin from Real Madrid on a year long loan. The 23 year old has 31 international caps for Turkey to his name as well as helping German side Borussia Dortmund secure the Bundesliga title. 

A tidy acquisition by Rodgers I must say. Sahin had practically negative chances to impress at Real Madrid albeit injured for the bulk of the season. I'am extremely interested to see how he bounces back and if he can regain effectiveness in the heart of Liverpool's midfield. My question is does he start along with Gerrard and Lucas or will he operate from off the bench, time will tell. Also does this suggest Rodgers surrender in the Clint Dempsey deal, or does he look to pair up both midfielders in a new look Liverpool, we will see.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Tell Your Story & Win A Jersey With Footy-Kit Connections




Spot Kick Journal is pleased to announce a competition that could see you win a Jersey of your choice. Read below and see how you could do so. 

What makes being a being a soccer fan in the United States different than anyway else in the world is a sense of camaraderie. When you are a fan, it feels like you’re a part of a little secret, almost like being a member of the Masons or a Rotary club — you are part for a group of people who support a sport that is often overlooked by the mass media in the U.S. 

That's how I feel when I catch a glance of someone in a soccer kit. Even if it’s the jersey of the team I most desperately despise, I want to give him or her a nod and say, "Nice kit." 

I call it a Footy-kit connection.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that soccer is not big in America, because it is — not from watching or reading whatever the media’s spinning but because of Footy-kit Connections. Footy-kit Connections happen every day everywhere; at the grocery store, at the bar, in a park, at a bus stop. You’ll never know where or when, but you’ll absolutely know why. Soccer fans in the U.S. are just crying out for a platform to express their love of the beautiful game. I've seen it, I’ve felt it, I’ve lived it. You probably have, too.

This is not the same as an interaction that, say, a San Jose Earthquakes fan would get from wearing his team’s kit at an opposing team’s stadium. I'm talking about soccer fans as they go about their everyday life experiencing a sense of camaraderie with someone else all because of a shirt.

I come from a suburb just outside of San Francisco, a place blessed with natural beauty. I was exercising the right to experience such beauty by going on a hike up the mountain known as Mt. Tamalpais wearing the necessary hiking equipment for a casual trek with my dog and my Ibrahimovic Sweden national team kit from the 2006 World Cup in Germany. 

On my descent I noticed a man in his 30s looking at me with an excited gleam in his eye. As I approached him he stopped me and asked if I was Swedish. No, I told him, I’m of Norwegian origin — treasonous, I know. Regardless, he told me he liked my jersey and then asked if I played. Without even waiting for an answer, he graciously invited me to play in a tournament called the Scandinavian Consulate Cup. The Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Danish consulates of San Francisco put on an annual tournament in which players from the aforementioned countries get together to play a pick-up tournament in a park. 

The tournament happens every September; and now that I know of Its existence I can't wait to lace up my boots. 

This is a perfect example of how kit connections happen. All you have to do is slip on a soccer jersey and bam — you’ll find yourself interacting with another fan of the beautiful game. In my case, it led to being enlightened on a tournament I never knew existed. 

This Footy-kit connection represents the torch-b    earer for a new feature on Spot Kick Journal. Every time I have an experience that qualifies as one, I will breakdown the events that transpired and touch on the importance of said events. 

This is how you can win the kit of your choice. Comment on the blog, Facebook,  send me an email, or link to twitter telling a Footy- kit connection that you have experienced. The most creative will be selected and to the victor will a brand spanking new kit be awarded.


Stay tuned for the next edition of Footy-kit connections, only on spotkickjournalism.blogspot.com. 

All emails sent to SpotKickJournal@gmail.com

Arsenal Land Themselves Some Quality


Arsenal has added diminutive playmaker Santi Cazorla to their list of summer transfers. Jumping off the wage-withholding ship of Malaga, the Spanish international joins Lucas Podolski and Olivier Giroud as the newest players entrusted with showing their stuff at the Emirates. What a signing for the Gooners, seriously. He's such a tidy player, whether outside, in the middle, or supporting a striker, which most likely will be Giroud. 

It shows major intent, and in the done in the wake of Robin Van Persie's decision to not sign a new contract, saves Arsenal from looking like a feeble can't-hackit club. 


Think Arsenal will set up like this next season? Assuming RVP is gone.

Giroud

      Podolski         Cazorla         Oxlade-Chamberlain 

Arteta   Song 

   Vermaelen  Koscielny  Mertesacker    Sagna

Scezney 






Sunday, August 5, 2012

Liver n' Onions: Andy Carroll, better with us than against us


With reports still somewhat swirling around the possible departure of Andy Carroll from Liverpool, I have been forced to ponder the fallout that would occur if actually leaves. Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers has made it  crystal that Carroll does not fit into his system, and that he is willing to ship the big lad out by any means necessary. Ok fair enough he dosen't fit into the style of play your trying to cultivate, yet here is the problem that occurs if you dump him. 


This is the same problem that occurred when Fernando Torres was firing for Liverpool, that is with Carroll gone Liverpools attack will be resting solely on the shoulders of Luis Suarez. What happens if god forbid he gets hurt?...Or more likely suspended. What happens then?  Looking at Liverpool's roster the lack of experienced or semi-experienced strikers is astounding. The newly acquired Fabio Borini is by nature a striker but I have my doubts on his ability to lead a line, when I have watched him he looks more suited to play off of a number 9 type. After that their is nothing that Liverpool could feel confidant putting out against the Premier League's elite. Carroll may not be first choice but what is the harm of having backup. Looking currently at Liverpool's squad I foresee the starting XI looking something like this:


4-1-3-2 or 4-4-2
Reina

Johnson  Skrtel   Agger  Enrique

Lucas

   Downing  Gerrard     Cole 

  Borini  Suarez 

A fluid forward line full of movement and interchanging of postions, which is not conducive to hitting Carroll's strong points. If that's not working Carroll is plan B. If new signings such as Clint Dempsey or Gaston Ramirez enter the fray, this shall change, but keeping Andy Carroll at the club can only help not hinder. I would also say that I'd rather have him with us than against us. 

Recollecting on the days of old, back when Torres walked Merseyside I remember the issue the team had in his absence relying on David N'gog for goals due to a lack of recognized strikers on the books. I don't want to see this happen again. 


Keep Carroll and get rid of the chaff i.e. Charlie Adam.