Arsenal out of Champions League but still in trophy hunt!

There are a few talking points in relation to Arsenal's disastrous 2014-15 Champions League campaign, with their collapse to French giants Monaco being the biggest of all. The gunners did their best to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit when they defeated Monaco away from home 2-0, but alas the gunners were once again victims of the away-goals rule and saw themselves exited from the tournament in as early as the round of 16 for fifth successive year! The harsh reality is as simple as this, Arsenal were never going to win Europe's premier prize, thus the pill wasn't as hard to swallow as it should have been. but being in a tournament for 17 consecutive seasons does suggest however that a lot needs to be done to fix this team.

Per Mertesacker, the vice-captain who at times seems clueless on the pitch, should be reprimanded a million times over for his at times chaotic contributions that have seen Arsenal suffer defeat due to defensive complexities! Per, at one point, was the ideal signing that Arsenal needed just a few seasons ago when he signed for the team, but that slowly has converted into a mistake that should have never happened, and now it's time maybe for Mertesacker to finally go! Koscielny has been the rock of defense over the past few games, and he's not only been tasked with the job of covering his half, but also at times covering the gaping hole left by Mertesacker on more than one occasion. Arsenal are in dire need of a new CB, and this has to be on Arsene Wenger's to-do list come this summer! Something simple as defensive complacency will once again prove to be the club's Achilles heel, as it has been for many seasons.

Olivier Giroud must be commended for his effort as the main striker, as he scored against West Ham this past weekend, and on Tuesday night against Monaco in scintillating fashion! Giroud was again on target in Arsenal's 2-1 win at Newcastle, scoring both goals to increase the Gunner's chances for Champions League qualification. The team is once again ready and fully prepared for an epic end of season, as Wenger and his men aim for a second successive FA Cup victory! Will we however see some fantastic summer signings after the season wraps up?

In reality, good performances will take Arsenal so far, but a fantastic performance and some superb additions to the club will make a better team become the best! Wenger will need to recapture his glory days, or what's left of it, by signing the players he need, and releasing the players that need to finally go, but Gunner fans, march on, up up Gunners!

'Dat Guy' Welbeck is Arsenal's man of the week!

Danny Welbeck's sublime finish proved vital in Arsenal's 2-1 away victory over arch-rivals Manchester United, and what a heck of a show it was! Despite valiant efforts from Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young, United weren't strong enough to see off the Gunners who staked their claim to being favorites to retain their FA Cup title. The atmosphere in Manchester was far from hostile, as match-winner and former United boy Danny Welbeck received mainly cheers with a few jeers on the side from the home supporters, but that didn't change the outcome of a fantastic evening for Arsenal!

Back in August, Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal made it clear that Welbeck wasn't good enough to feature in his team, that he wasn't a requirement that suited his standards, thus replacing the United native with the superb loan capture of Colombian hitman Radamel Falcao, a player many perceived to have been more than a fantastic upgrade to Welbeck's talents! Today, Van Gaal's gamble not only costed him the respect of his fans and the media, but more importantly it costed him any chance of winning a single trophy this season! Danny Welbeck has seen to it that this was the case, as his celebration after his brilliant goal was the highlight of sports tabloids and also proved to be another nail in the coffin of Van Gaal.

Welbeck has finally provided hope to Arsenal supporters, that there may finally be something special about this young lad after all! Welbeck has often come under intense scrutiny regarding his performances, which at times proved his inability to perform as a top-class striker many have been hoping he would become, thus often leading to questions about him being the right fit for Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger. On Monday night, any such feelings may have been quelled for the time being, as Arsenal and its fans can finally parade down the streets of London and give themselves a pat on the back for finally breaking the 'United' curse over the last twelve games, a curse that has so long taken a toll on the pride and egos of Arsenal fans! The team should be applauded for their valiant effort, as it proved successful; and the time for Arsenal to rise more than ever, is now.

Aside from the fact that Falcao was demoted to the United under-21's on Tuesday, Van Gaal's arrogance proves the point that he has destroyed the United philosophy left by Sir Alex Ferguson, by failing to get the best out of his own players, a visible sign of imminent failure, and to top it off, having the player he so rejected and shipped off to his very own rivals kick him out of the FA Cup! Danny Welbeck should consider himself extremely blessed to have escaped United at a time when the club is in shambles, even worse because of a manager who is oblivious to the English game. The celebrations will be ringing right through until weekend as Arsenal once again prepare for a big test when they face West Ham at home, a game they need to win in order to maintain any hopes of Champions League football next season. Danny Welbeck should now use this opportunity to continue the momentum of Monday night, and evoke his brilliance, and prove to the world that he is indeed deserving of his place at Arsenal, and that he is ready to one day be considered among the world's best! We've had our doubts about Danny, we all have, but after such display against Van Gaal's men, he more than deserves a second chance at glory, he has earned his spot, and he will need to make toe most of his opportunity and send a message to United, the fans that even jeered him, and to Van Gaal, that he isn't finished just yet!

Arsenal will then face their biggest task come next week in their Champions League away game to Monaco, hoping to overturn a 3-1 deficit and see themselves through to the quarterfinal stage for the first time in five seasons. There's finally renewed confidence injected in this team, something they needed for a long time. Will Danny Welbeck prove his worth once again and deliver?

FC Barcelona back on top... the Catalans are finally home!

After their merciless 6-1 drubbing of Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, FC Barcelona are finally back on top of La Liga for the first time in 2015, and they have finally raised their flags! It's no surprise that the Catalans were tipped as hot favorites in their clash with Rayo Vallecano, as they strolled through the pitch at Camp Nou, leaving bodies on the floor in utter despair and desperation, as Vallecano should indeed consider themselves lucky to not have been further embarrassed than they were today.  Star player Neymar was the most notable absentee, as he picked up a one-match suspension for accumulating quite a few yellow cards in his previous games, however, he was far from needed in today's fixture! 

The beauty of Barcelona's hunger and desire for success lies within it's core, their fans! Week after week, coach Luis Enrique and his team have been hit with constant pressure from their supporters who show their passion like no other, urging the Spanish giants to get it together and fight! Lionel Messi has shown the world why he is notably one of the best players to grace the game, as his hat-trick today signaled yet another phenomenal performance from the Argentine maestro! Luis Suarez was none too shy of goals, as he himself netted a brace which all but sealed Barca's dominant win. The message again is clear, the titans are here to stay!

With 12 games remaining in the 2014-15 season, it's everything but easy for Messi and company, as they will have a daunting task of holding on to first place, with the wittiness of Diego Simeone and defending champions Atletico Madrid, and the aggression and desperation of Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid, Barcelona now have their work cut out for them more than ever! The beauty of the La Liga has spread more rapidly over the past two seasons, as it is finally no longer a two horse race competition. Everyone is now twice as hungry, which means the likes of Barca, Real and Atletico will have more ships attacking their turf, but at this moment no ship may be big enough to sink the Catalans! Team MSN (Messi, Suarez, Neymar) have been the talking point of the football world, record European scorers, world warriors in their own right! Safe to say, they have finally eclipsed the juggernauts of Real Madrid and their triple-threat trio of  BBC (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) that have been  causing nothing but panic in the hearts of their opposition; but now there's finally a new spin to the tale! Should Messi and friends keep this momentum going, Barcelona are safe in their title hunt, and its going to take more than a sulky Ronaldo and a lingering Gareth Bale to take that away from them! The aim of the game is to win them all, and at this stage, the winner of this year's La Liga will be the team that has it in them to win the remainder of their 12 games, convincingly or not! Atletico's hustle all of last season was the key to their previous success, capitalizing on the errors of their rivals, but it's safe to say that this season, there may very well be no such luck!

King Messi has claimed his throne today, and today alone, as he will have a few more months left to prove to the world that his rightful place is indeed number one, and it's his job to prove to his doubters and fans that he's indeed no fluke. This surely wont be the last time that we'll hear the age-old discussion of Ronaldo vs Messi, this wont be the last time we hear the trembling fans of Madrid blasting their coach Carlo Ancelotti, and this most definitely wont be the last time we get a 'bite' out of a rejuvenated Luis Suarez, as this has proved to be one of the best seasons in La Liga, one of epic drama, action, and most certainly, one that we will most definitely dare to remember!

Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Madrid: Have the Galacticos crashed?

The San Mames Stadium erupted with jubilee as Athletic Bilbao pulled off one of the most unexpected upsets this season, defeating World & European Champions, Real Madrid! After an explosive first half for Real, they were unable to transfer that level of charisma into to the second half, which eventually saw them drop an all-important three points at this stage. The fans are now blaming Carlo Ancelotti, claiming the Italian is a bit too soft on his approach when facing fierce opposition, and this all started back at the Copa Dey Rey clash where Real were hammered 4-0 by derby rivals Atletico Madrid. A lot of fans seemingly have blamed it on the fact that Carlo has always had success handed to him, because after all, he managed a juggernaut AC Milan back in the days, then Chelsea, a heavily invested PSG, and now he's home in Madrid! Needless to say, Ancelotti is a man familiar with the big scene, unlike such managers like David Moyes or even Andre Villas-Boas.

The problem Real Madrid seem to face at this moment are the injuries that have plagued them this season. James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos, and the notorious Luka Modric have been big stars for the club, and undoubtedly a star-studded club such as Real are easily able to replace said players right off the bat in no time, or so we thought! Real's struggles haven't just emerged this Saturday, it's been an ongoing crisis they have faced ever since their unbeaten run was ended just a little after their World Club Cup victory. The momentum has somehow taken a hit, but don't expect that to be the case for too long! Their golden egg, Gareth Bale, has failed to impress the fans and also seemingly, his teammates, as he's had to endure strenuous pressure time and time again, because of expectations that have somehow been wearing him down. Madrid will need to find a solution to their small delay, as now their mega-rivals Barcelona lurk within the shadows, hoping to steal three points in tomorrow's clash at home to 11th place Rayo Vallecano, which seems quite an easy task on paper.

The biggest elephant in the room out of all the other elephants is simply the form of three time FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese has lost his touch shortly after claiming his most recent award, but that's not to say he's down and out for the count! Ronaldo will have to muster up his confidence and help inject it in this team if Real are going to have a successful season similar to last season. Karim Benzema has always been a questionable player, who should be considered lucky that he hasn't already been sold by Real, but his luck may soon run out at a moment's notice. Ancelotti will find it a difficult task to call on the powers of Angel Di Maria, now at Manchester United, who has been tremendously missed for his gift of flamboyant assists and goal-scoring abilities, and in my mind, has not yet been successfully replaced. The laugh of the matter emerged when Barcelona's Assistant Director of Football, Carles Rexach, claimed that Real Madrid only sold Di Maria because he was too ugly! How can that not be considered an audacious claim? Then again, come to think of it, Di Maria was replaced by Colombian playboy James Rodriguez just last summer! The question then begs to be asked, is this club somehow too caught up with the glamour and the glitz of their own prestige that they have forgotten their 'Real' purpose?

It's best said that there's a darkness that now looms over this historical club, as the La Liga title race has now gotten even hotter, the question is, who will take the title? Atletico, Barcelona, or Real Madrid?

Manchester United vs Arsenal: FA Cup Quarter Final Analysis

The FA Cup has been for a while, the dominant KO competition in England, and safe to say, in all of Europe too! The quarterfinal clash between Manchester United and Arsenal will prove to be nothing short of mouthwatering! The tale of two rivals will once again prove to deliver the inevitable drama we have all come to love in the game of Football!

Radamel Falcao, once the most coveted striker in World Football, will be available and ready to go, after a lengthy injury layoff which has seen him on the bench for most of this season for United. The big question remains, however, as to whether or not coach Louis Van Gaal will actually feature Falcao in his starting eleven for this match. As of late, evidently so too, Falcao hasn't featured half as much as expected in Van Gaal's plans, and this has caused a huge strain between fans and the coaching staff for some time now regarding how much United's formation fails to suit the South American hitman! Ashley Young will be fresh in form after a string of decent performances for the Red Devils, as he will surely remain a goal threat against the Gunners.

Olivier Giroud, Santi, Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, and Alexis Sanchez will all be ready and loaded for the big game! Arsenal boast an attack that has the ability to be one of the most deadliest teams, on a good day that is. They lack consistency, and proper structure especially when they face bigger oppositions, but it's no doubt that Arsenal have continually produced some of the most entertaining football in Europe! Arsene Wenger will no doubt have his hands full as he knows the progress of his club hangs in the balance of this match, as he looks to defend his FA Cup title, with success. 

Arsenal's track record vs Manchester United hasn't been the best of the best, as they haven't only beaten Man. United once in the last 12 games, and this is perhaps to their advantage if Wenger's men are able to spin the 'psychology game' correctly! Arsenal will no doubt be bringing the bang come Monday, but they need to play on United's possible overconfidence, and strike where they least expect it, by pressing in United's box and exposing their vulnerability in midfield, making sure the likes of Di Maria is completely marked out of the game! Their biggest task, however, will be preparing for the likes of Wayne Rooney, who has always been Arsenal's kryptonite for over a decade! Arsenal's main priorities will be to preserve their back four, and ensure that they keep majority of their possession in the midfield with the likes of Coquelin leading the defensive charge, to ensure that they are able to release the likes of Alexis and Giroud to create damage in the United box!

Manchester United will play under another one of Van Gaal's horrendous formations, which may end up being their ticket out of the FA Cup, and yet result in another trophy-less season for the Devils. Manchester United will be without Robin Van Persie, but they do have Falcao and Fellaini to push on for United, but will that even be enough? Ryan Giggs' stare at Van Gaal during United's previous win over Newcastle suggests that all isn't right at the camp, and it's pretty evident, no matter how much Van Gaal tries to play it off, that even his assistant is infuriated with United's style of play!

What can we expect come Monday? There will be goals for sure, as both teams will put it all on the line, and play for it all! This isn't a Premier League match, where both teams would've taken calculated measures, this one is for the FA Cup, where it will be 'all guns blazing!'


Please remember to subscribe!

Welbeck, Giroud, Ozil = Arsenal Disaster! #AFCvsMON

First off, it hasn't been a pleasant afternoon for fellow gunners fans worldwide on Wednesday, as the fantastic Arsenal were left picking up the pieces of dignity they had shattered on the grounds of Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. As you may all know, Arsenal were kicked in the nuts 3-1 at home to Monaco, a team that on paper only would've been considered inferior to the Gunners! The indignity suffered wasn't the cause of one or two players, as the entire team were shockingly horrible on a night that should have been a moment of celebrating our first success in five years of 'round of 16' Champions League football. 

Danny Welbeck, is well, #thatGuy... He proves to be 'that guy' who repeatedly provides clear cut chances in the box that eventually becomes nothing but a squandered opportunity as per usual! It pains any fan to see the likes of Theo Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain rusting on the bench on a night where they should have been granted the green-light to spear-head the Arsenal attack! There is no hate whatsoever towards Welbeck, but the truth of the matter is simple, he just isn't good enough! When Welbeck was purchased for as cheap as he was, I'm surprised that it never dawned on Wenger and party that United were too quick to give away a striker they no longer needed, so with this being the case, why have we happily received this riff-raff? 

On to Giroud, good ole Oli Giroud, the man who was quickly becoming a legend among the Arsenal fans, but once again showed that he just isn't up to scratch for the big games yet again! While he had numerous chances to change the complexion of the game, Giroud failed when it mattered most, and thus was easily one of, if not, the worst performer of a night to forget. A top striker has been on the lips of the fans for quite some time now, pleading with Wenger to make this signing for the betterment of a club that desperately yearns success, only to have it fall on deaf ears, as usual. The inclusion of a player such as Cavani, or Gonzalo Huguain would have solved the problems in attack, but based on the manager's preference, struggles seem to the be the only thing he seems happy to relate to over and over again! While on the topic of struggles, enter Mesut Ozil! With big bright bulby eyes, and a heck of a track record to go along with them, Ozil has once again proved to the world that he isn't what Arsenal needs! Wednesday night surely did Mesut no favors, as he was practically invisible throughout the game! As a World Cup winner and a former Real Madrid star, Ozil was to be the promise that the fans were dying for, only to have that seemingly dashed in the garbage heap! When will this club once again taste glory?

The thought of the second leg in Monaco already sends chills down our spines, as this has already emitted doubts of a comeback by Arsenal. With the likes of Dimitar Berbatov once again revved up to take on his 'back in the day' rivals, I can't help but feel even more concerned when during an interview after Wednesday's game, he stated that Arsenal wanted this, but Monaco simply wanted it more! Where is the aggression from Wenger's men? Have they already thrown in the towel? There is further need to speculate that this may indeed be Wenger's final season, but then again, that's highly doubtful. I must however, give credit to Alexis Sanchez for his display, though not one of his best. The Chilean forward did as much as he possibly could to provide chances for his strikers, only to see them all wasted. One can't help but imagine Alexis' frustration in the side, as he seems to be miles apart from the rest in terms of hunger and sheer aggression. 

The essence of it is this, Welbeck needs to be benched, he should be given the Sanogo treatment and stay put! Giroud should never have been the main striker to begin with, as he is good, but just not good enough; and as for Ozil, it's no doubt that his career is losing its breath as the games go by, and this lad just seems as though he doesn't want to be at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger should shoulder some of that blame, as he is known to be a bit too 'chill' with his players, and that's whats lacking in the dressing room, that fire! The invincibles of 2003-04 had sheer poise, hunger, and power when they successfully overturned a 3-0 1st leg deficit and inflicted a 5-1 hammering to Inter Milan that year in the round of 16 Champions League stage! What Arsenal lack, is the leadership and fight to achieve such a result, which further cements the indigestible fact that Wenger's time is maybe just about up!

Is Louis Van Gaal rubbish for Manchester United? Falcao OUT??

The burden and torture as of late to actually tune in to a Manchester United match has become somewhat unbearable, as not only have they tanked at Swansea, but the seem to be slipping further and further away to the amusement of the other top teams in the Barclay's Premier League! Their main flaw is this: their tactics are all wrong! How can you deploy a formation that counter attacks every thing that the club has stood for for decades? When Sir Alex left United, he believed he left it in the capable hands of David Moyes, his then successor, but all went crashing like a meat van on bicycle wheels! Soon after around just nine months, Moyes was fired as the manager, thus making way for the present manager, Van Gaal! Rival clubs were shaking in their good ol' boots as the Dutch Manager made his way to the club in rather fine style! He was ready and rearing to go and lift Manchester United out of the slumps! or, so we thought...

Mind you, United are in a much better position than where they were last season, in regards to their table position! Sure they currently sit in 4th place, looking to cement their spot in next season's Champions League tournament to say the least, but it's not all glamour for the Red Devils at all! They have not only been carded as long-ball flunkies, but also their passion as a team has been in question too. What happened to the Wayne Rooney just a couple years ago, or the ever clinical Robin Van Persie who was their savior in his first season at the club? Keep in mind that along with his 'Judas' tag, he's now seen as the clown of London as Arsenal fans everywhere are stoning the legacy of their former prized prince of the club! Van Persie's performance as main striker has proved to be abysmal to say the least, suggesting he's clearly seen his better days finally behind him. Angel Di Maria is certainly not the proud young chap he was back in September when he was reveling in the start of his debut season for the club, and to put it mildly, the Angel has clipped his own wings! To make matters worse for LVG, what on earth has he done to poor Radamel Falcao? That man was brought in to make the goals rain, not to be keeping his bench warm for the team! It's sufficient to say, however, that Falcao still hasn't fully recovered from his injuries sustained while representing AS Monaco, but is that the excuse that may save him from being sent back to France? In all honesty, I believe this kid still has talent, but he may just as well end up like Fernando Torres and Andriy Shevchenko should he be signed permanently to LVG's tragic team. Funny, but true, while Falcao is only on loan, he secures up to 265,000 British Pounds per week, but yet he's no better than Chris Smalling in attack! The big question is, who is to blame? Falcao, or LVG?

Making space to accommodate Van Persie has proven to be rather costly for Van Gaal, but sadly, the Dutch magician fails to listen to the fans, especially on the topic of formations and updated tactics. Van Gaal is a bit too proud as a coach, which eventually could result in his own self-destruction and be whisked away into nothingness just like Moyes (God bless Real Sociedad tho).... If Van Gaal was able to splash over $150 million shouldn't he be producing even better results than David Moyes did during his spell? He simply has failed, and he continues to fail because of his own selfish desires and pride, the two traits United do not need at the moment. 

The question isn't about who needs to leave, it's about who needs to come in, and to add to that list, a coach is needed! Van Gaal has accounted for one success story thus far, proving to be a greater pig-headed gaffer than Arsene Wenger, but at the end of the day, Van Gaal commands so much authority, he's never going to receive the Moyes treatment any time soon from neither the fans, the players, nor the media. United need more than money for a new squad, they need that sense of belief once again that the world feared, they need a manager that not only models Sir Alex, but to surpass him at all levels, to upgrade the level of United's football!

We're currently halfway into the 2014-15 season, and the #SACKLVG fliers are nowhere in sight at the moment, so it's safe to say that the Manchester United faithful will be waiting this one out before they call for the Dutch's head! In the end, it's all up to the board as to what's really the best direction for the club, and if they do believe in LVG, best believe that this club is no better than when Moyes was in charge and never will be, unless Van Gaal finally listens to his fans!

Arsene Wenger's reasons to stick around! or not?

Arsenal FC have faced some challenging times this season that can be summed up as 'bittersweet' to say the very least... but what are we as their fans doing about it? After what I witnessed as a horrid display in tactics when Arsenal lost to Tottenham 2-1 last week, I literally threw my crockery out the window, thankfully, no one was hurt by this ordeal of mine! Arsene Wenger has time and time proven to himself that he is the master manipulator, a magician of old, and a football genius, but has he proven that to everyone else?

Taking a look back at last season, we managed to barely scrape the surface and managed to come out on top with the much coveted FA Cup trophy, our first trophy in nearly nine years of despair and frustration, but nonetheless we had a reason to finally celebrate the end of an era! Full of strength and filled with pride once again, Arsenal were back on cloud nine, or so it seemed. Before the opening of the Premier League season on 2014-15, we went ahead once again and won ourselves another trophy, the Community Shield, after we rightfully thrashed a poor Manchester City 3-0 to end their nightmares! Oh how things started to finally look up for the Arsenal supporters! Where then did we go wrong? A season that looked promising has so far resulted yet in another desperate attempt to salvage fourth place once again just like every other season for the past ten years and counting. Is Wenger really the problem, or are we expecting way too much from the gaffer?

In an article I previously posted, I was clear on the fact that Wenger should pack up and leave, for the sake of the club, after nine barren years of depression! After watching a few of Arsenal's last games, I somehow found a glimmer of hope that would allow me to accept the possibility of Arsene sticking around a little bit more, but only for the sake of our players and fans finding the courage to believe in Wenger once again. We defeated Man. City yet again, but this time in the Premier League, in their backyard! BOOM BOOM POW! Madness and jubilation filled the skies of North London, but of course Chelsea were just as much celebrating as we were, all for the obvious reasons of course! Wenger pulled out that ol' book of tactics he seemed to have returned to his local library nine years ago, finally putting it back to good use! Sure we didn't play the most attractive football, but it was football nonetheless and we were back to beating the big teams yet again! Fast forward to the Tottenham match, Wenger brought back the exact tactics he used against City, to a team that were never as superior as Arsenal to begin with, only to see it backfire in his face.  It doesn't take a simple man or woman who knows Arsenal's history with Spurs, to realize that Wenger was doing nothing but crap from the moment the kick-off whistle blew! The scary thing is this, not only did we face defeat to our London rivals, but now we are yet again scratching our way hoping to make it back in the top four for a Champions League tournament that we seem destined to 'not' win any time soon.

Wenger however, will have defended his claim that he is indeed the right man to see us through our difficult times, and especially with the implementation of Financial Fair Play, he sees himself as savior, which to some extent, rightly so. Wenger also believes he's able to continue to nurture the young stars such as Chamberlain, Walcott, Alexis, Ramsey, Ozil and even Coquelin to become world-class under his watchful eye! Who would argue about his determination to see the likes of Yaya Sanogo and Danny Welbeck blossom into two of the deadliest strikers in world football, only to eventually come to terms with that failure? Arsene Wenger is a man of chances, a man who sees the potential in even a rock, who/what he believes can be converted to the next Thierry Henry, but has so often ended up unsuccessful in his venture to do so.  The ruthlessness possessed by such managers like Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola, and even Van Gaal, is what it takes to succeed in this Game of Thrones, which is our game of football.

Should Arsenal see better years, it will take a lot more than just hopes and dreams and WengerIn/WengerOut tweets and banners, we need the fans to voice whats truly in their heart and finally be heard! Arsene Wenger has been a significant contributor to the team, but how can we continue to overlook the big mistakes such as the refusal to re-sign Fabregas from Barcelona, who now has put his new club Chelsea on top of their football rivals? That alone in itself is considered a sackable offense! How can we afford to watch a manager who places feelings and favoritism above the game itself? I'd be the most disappointed fan if we do fail to qualify for a the Champions League next season, but I'd be even more disappointed if Wenger did stick around just the same after that, because the reason is simple, we need to grow, we need a leader who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, afraid to embark upon new challenges, afraid to make decisions that's best for business, even if that means sacrificing French pride to do so!

Arsenal are in need of a successful season, a season where we the fans, can once again say In Wenger we Trust, let's get the ball rolling in the meantime, support our club, and get behind the team to the very end! 

P.S.: Wenger, we're watching you!   -_-     -_-       -_- 

EPIC WORLD CUP so far! COSTA RICA, ITALY & COLOMBIA on fire! #2014 #BRASIL #FIFAWORLDCUP

Hats off to Costa Rica! They defied the odds of overcoming Uruguay almost effortlessly today with a 3-1 score! Some can debate that Luis Suarez was the key factor in the defeat as the Liverpool star was on Uruguay's injured list to begin with. The effectiveness of Edinson Cavani was almost non existent as the PSG frontman was nowhere to be found im pretty much most of the game to the delight of Costa Rican fans! Arsenal's on-loan striker Joel Campbell was the star of the game providing a goal and the crucial assist for Costa Rica's third and final goal of the game, STUNNING!

A great dominant performance from Colombia as they put Greece to sleep after that emphatic 3-0 hammering of the 2004 EURO Champions! Despite the absence of Falcao, Colombia seem to be not at all dejected as an inspired James Rodriguez did his part on leading a solid attacking lineup, and that wraps up three solid points folks!

Italy pushed, and pushed, and just knocked England right off their perch in the Amazon tonight! Stunning goals on both end, especially that screamer from Marchisio and a very precise header from Super Mario Balotelli sealed the deal 2-1 for the Azzurri! Roy Hodgson may yet find a reason to be dejected, England will still have a shot at the round of 16, but more than likely their greatest fear now may just well be Costa Rica...

Be sure to watch the Ivory Coast vs Japan game that begins at 9pm EST.  

Be sure to let us all know, what do you think of the 2014 World Cup so far???

Spain 1-5 Netherlands... What on earth did I just see??? #worldcup

Spain got the hell kicked out of them thanks to some fine display from Netherlands! Ladies and gentlemen, all I can say is this, Spain's days as the world's best are more than numbered, it's obliterated!

Spain were embarrassed to the core, this wasn't what the world expected, nor what the betting companies saw coming, either way, that Robin Van Persie header along with some fantastic display from Arjen Robben has destroyed Spain to the core, and we're so far loving it!

We are in for perhaps the most unpredictable World Cup to date folks, get ready!

Check your cable providers and tune in to live coverage of the greatest show on earth, the World Cup 2014!

The REAL DEAL? #realmadrid #atleticomadrid

photo by Getty Images

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid in the Champions League Final next month! This will be fantastic! The first time a final has been contested between two clubs from the same city?? MADNESS in a good way! Real will have to prove their doubters wrong by sealing a title which has left their grasp since 2002, but easier said than done right? I'm ranting on about the fact that Real are gonna be the REAL DEAL come next month, because simply so, Ronaldo and Bale are on fire, real time fire! They haven't stopped blowing their opposition in pieces simply because they are completely unstoppable at this moment. Atletico however will prove to be their rightful challenge this year as they also are sitting atop the La Liga division as we speak! Showdown in Lisbon 2014 will prove to be one heck of an unfolding, and Diego Costa will look over to Simeone as to what to do next to create more levels of destruction for their rivals!

Off the glorious topic, where did Bayern and Chelsea go wrong?  On paper. you'd perhaps believe these two teams were the favorites to contest the finals instead, but it didn't work out quite as expected.  Mourinho didn't get his tactics wrong for Chelsea, Atletico were simply just better. Torres was the best that Chelsea had up front, a man who oftentimes cuts a dejected figure of a star that once was, and this was one of the reason why Chelsea didn't deserve a finals appearance. If Abramovich is wise, he'd cut his losses and let Torres go as it is, as his value depreciates drastically from season to season. Chelsea also missed Oscar in the heart of the midfield to provide some range creativity alongside Eden Hazard. Simply put, Chelsea lacks creative energy, and they looked a hot mess out there without excuse! Mourinho should take comfort in the fact that they ousted Liverpool on Sunday with their depleted squad, or he would've been widely ridiculed after his shock loss to Atletico at the Bridge.

Bayern Munich were just plain disgraceful! Chelsea gave a fight, Bayern gave up goals after goals, even worse, Cristiano Ronaldo broke the champs league scoring record against them, in their own home turf! Where has Bayern gone wrong? Pep Guardiola is the problem. Make no mistake, this guy has around maybe 16 or so titles as a former Barca manager, and already has the Bundesliga and the UEFA Super Cup, but that just isn't enough. Jupp Heynckes was the mastermind behind Bayern's ruthless domination in club football last season, and it was so great it was ridiculous! He handed Pep a gift, a team of champions, but maybe that was too much pressure on Pep. He didn't adopt well enough to duplicate the success of Bayern in their recent season, thus limiting himself to less achievements. Pep first of all got it all wrong with his methods, his outdated tiki-taka football wasn't what Bayern needed. Why did he even dare change this?? Stupid I must say! Heynckes and Van Gaal developed the winning formula for Munich, it proved to be a bullet for all who opposed them, but now Pep has lessened the effect of the gun. What Guardiola did wasn't a bad thing, after all every manager has his style of play, but to constantly rotate the squad and the formation is simply a call for disaster at this stage. Real Madrid were more than ready and they took Bayern to school, destroying them 5-0 in aaggregate, with 4 of those goals coming from Allianz Arena in Munich! As a Bayern fan, this is distasteful! If losing to Dortmund wasn't bad enough, then imagine this crap?

Pep has earned one more season at the helm, but this will be maybe his last chance, and this may be worse should he lose the German Cup Final. Mourinho may end up trophy-less this season, but he has only re-acquired a mediocre Chelsea side for just under a season, give him time. He has proven his track record once again as a very dangerous man on the touchline, and he is still my pick for world's greatest coach, only perhaps second to Jupp Heynckes...

The final should be a hell of a lot of fun!

EA SPORTS FIFA WORLD CUP 2014; hit or miss???

In previous posts and articles, we do this strictly out of pure harmless fun, well we try!

In this reiteration of another attempt to recreate the ever prized World Cup magic from EA SPORTS, is this doing much more harm than good to gamers and our oftentimes 'unsizable' wallets? The new FIFA World Cup 14 game is going be the new rave of the town! Why?? Because this is simply FIFA! No matter how hard EA Sports try at this time, this project won't fail... yet.

Here's a few reasons why FIFA are the triumphant kings in this one way street of football gaming battle:

• Konami never had the resources nor the power to compete with a global powerhouse like EA Sports and judging from the looks of this, they never will, not by a long shot.

• Despite the lack of licensing of FIFA 14 tournaments such as the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Europa League, EA Sports managed to get everything well put together, and besides the proper licensing of major Leagues, they managed to also get every single club and player details pound for pound in comparison to their real life details/features, which Konami has failed to achieve holistically time and time again!

• Who is FIFA's competition? MADDEN? NBA 2K14? Doubt that! This time around EA Sports have pushed the envelope to the limit of their gem, and surrounded it with a massive wave of promotions annually, some which even have featured Leo Messi and rap genius himself Snoop Dogg from previous commercial installments, this is simply awesome if you ask me!

• EA Sports have allowed Americans to actually care more about 'soccer' as it's affectionately called, because, let's be real, the gameplay leaves one intrigued about picking up a copy of all FIFA games since the first installment of FIFA 97 just to relive the epic generational transformation from title to title.

• Most importantly, it's World Cup baby! EA Sports have done it again!! They have created a huge new bank account strictly for the sales to be further earned from their WORLD CUP 2014 game, because of course, World Cup is only a matter of just mere weeks away! Who wouldn't want to represent their favorite country on the road to success? I would! 

• Finally, EA Sports created the opportunity for players to relive their dream, and begin the journey in their World Cup qualifying mode, so no more riding off into the sunset without ever wondering how the hell you got there first! Now you have the option to work your butt off till it hurts to participate in the greatest show on earth, even if it's powered by only a simple controller with DualShock 3 capabilities! Amazing!

Check out this FIFA WORLD CUP game clip below... The graphics are fantastic!

If I may stray off topic for a second here, I only wish EA had put in more time in perfecting Battlefield 4 the way EA Sports have nearly perfected their FIFA games, if only...!  The question begs to ask, should I acquire FIFA WORLD CUP 2014? I mean the demo was red hot, spectacular improvement on physics and a slight tweak on the game's engine, especially regarding off the ball movements which has been something EA has been quietly struggling with for a while, the one thing maybe Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer has mastered really well. My answer to the question, 'NO'! Reason being, FIFA 15 will be out in only a couple of months, just a couple, maybe September. Splashing USD $60 is way too much for what seems like only an expansion to FIFA 14, something that should've been definitely made as a DLC for way less than $30 bucks. FIFA World Cup 2014 is an amazing experience, no doubt, but I think for now I'll stay put with FIFA 14 and be extremely satisfied with my decision as it stands.

FIFA World Cup 2014 is in stores now! Will you back down? Or will you get up and 'play'?

Real Madrid Copa del Rey Champions +major Scores across Europe

photo courtesy of BBC Sport

Congratulations to REAL MADRID for winning the Copa del Rey 2014!!

Top European games for 4/16/2014:

Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid


Barclay's Premier League

Everton 2-3 Crystal Palace

Manchester City 2-2 Sunderland


German DFB Pokal Semi Final

Bayern Munich 5-1 Kaiserslautern

Go Bale or Go Home! - (Barcelona vs Real Madrid Copa del Rey Final)

As the clock winds down for today's massive Copa del Rey showdown between Barcelona and Real Madrid, all eyes will be on the man with the biggest number on his back, Gareth Bale. And no, I'm not referring to his number 11 print, I'm definitely pointing to the $130 million transfer price tag that's still sticking out of his well pressed Madrid jersey. Bale has taken no prisoners during his illustrious career in England, where the former Tottenham Hotspur playmaker wasted no time setting himself apart from the rest of his competitors during his last 3 seasons at White Hart Lane. Gareth has done the talking with his feet to justify that he's is among the world's best, but is he yet to prove that point at the Santiago Bernabeu?

Bale has so far netted in 14 goals in 25 appearances this season for Real Madrid, with this of course being his first season with the Los Merengues. He has so far enjoyed a pretty decent season with the club, but unfortunately, the 24 year old forward from Wales, has yet to justify his bank-buster price-tag. With the absence of Real Madrid's top  player, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale must now more than ever step up to the plate in tonight's clash with long-time rivals Barcelona if he is to prove that his world record signing was indeed not a bust. Bale will be elated knowing that Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique are most likely among the list of absentees due to injuries, but that won't be enough to cover the fact that standing across the other end of the field will be the magician himself, Leo Messi and his notorious partners in crime which also includes Neymar and Iniesta! Bale will not be without proper reinforcements as the ever improving Luka Modric won't be too far from sight and Angel Di Maria will also offer some comfort as the Argentinian has simply been on fire this season! It's going to be a warfare tonight, as Bale will be the man to lead his team to battle, against a rival that aren't too keen on losing in el clasico!

The factor that will be in Bale and Madrid's favor, no doubt, will be the recent slump in Barca's season so far, as they currently sit third place in the La Liga table, four points behind leaders Atletico, with only four games remaining; also the grueling fact that they were convincingly knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals also by high-flying Atletico! If there is ever a time for Bale to shine, it has to be now! Bale thankfully is far from becoming a Madrid flop like Brazil's Kaka, but he has still yet to justify that title as the World's most expensive player. He has to bring that A-game in tonight's showdown, and this will finally prove to the world that he's either a hit or miss acquisition.

As for this season, Bale's goals have come only when his team have hitherto sealed their victory. He is yet to score a goal that changes the course of the game for Real, with the exception of his debut goal against Villarreal where the match ended 2-2 at the Estadio El Madrigal back in September 2013. He needs to also perform in the big games, where so far he has been all but invisible. Bale was signed to bring more trophies to the club, and stand out from the rest; and while he hasn't been in bad form this year, he has to eventually step it up if he's planning to stick around the Bernabeu for a long time, and most importantly, making the fans happy!

With that being said, I'm predicting a 3-2 Real Madrid victory, and I'm ready to bet my bottom dollar that Bale will unleash in tonight's game to answer his critics, that the price tag on his back is no heavier weight than his coveted number 11.

Jamaican football will rise again, but only if....

Who could forget that glorious moment when the Jamaican Football team was once on top of the World? Yes I admit, there wasn't a trophy to show for it, but at this point you football enthusiasts and historians reading this should by now figure out I'm speaking of the coveted FIFA World Cup in France of '98! What began as a routine series of qualifiers that started with Jamaica's humble 1-0 victory over Suriname back on April 21, 1996, ended in quite the fairy tale fashion that quickly swept the sports universe off it's feet! November 16, 1997, will forever be remembered, and rightfully so! Jamaica 0-0 Mexico was the final song that the fat lady sang all throughout the National Stadium in Kingston Jamaica that day, all the way through to the final whistle! The capacity crowd of 35,700 at  'The Office' erupted like never before, as they united with the rest of the nation to bear witness to the Nation's glory of booking their tickets to the World Cup Finals, a fete that has never be repeated even up to this very day. 'WE  MEK IT, WE FINALLY REACH!' were the cries of a 71 year old local male shopkeeper from the city of Montego Bay that echoed throughout the nation's euphoria, along with pot covers of all shapes & sounds that went banging from one house to another, while even the skies paid tribute in its own way, emitting Black, Green & Gold for the world to know, the Reggae Boyz were coming!!!

A once renowned national achievement has now become nothing but a jaded memory that a nation has ultimately hoped to one day regain for the past 16 years and counting. Let's be real, Jamaica has produced some of the greatest athletes in the world... period! Names like; Merlene Ottey, Juliet Cuthbert, Herb McKenley, Deon Hemmings, Veronica Campbell, Shelly-ann Fraser, Theodore Whitmore, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell and the legend himself, Usain Bolt, have all made the headlines that have all been impactful in placing Jamaica on the map with the occasional 'big-ups' to go along with it. This is a really proud country that shows no fear, and this goes to show to the world that in this case, size doesn't matter, but results may vary!

I believe over the years the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has lost sight of one of the main product that a country needs in order to grow wholistically, maintaining its youth program. The Manning Cup and DaCosta Cup have been for decades, providing the public with some fantastic piece of entertainment, not to mention when one side of the football stand jumps to their feet and in unison shout 'GOOOAAALLLL!!' There's no greater feeling than following your alma mater on their journey to hoisting their respective cup in the air and blocking roads as the unlucky ongoing motorists then realize in sudden time that they are stuck in the celebrations as well! Now to the flip-side of the coin, when all's said and done, and graduation day finally emerges for these young and promising athletes, most of them are nowhere to be found! Is this true or am I just rambling incessantly? Answer, TRUE. Not everyone these days get as lucky as the 16 year old Jamaican wonderkid Leon Butler who got that scintillating deal with sports giants Nike earlier this year, congratulations to Mr. Butler by the way. Jamaican Football needs a hero, it needs help, but that can be done? The suggestion is simple, commercialize the National Premier League! There are leagues across the Caribbean, namely the TT Pro League in Trinidad and Tobago which has even adopted its very own professional transfer policy and the 'no salary cap restrictions' policy, which is a step in the right direction of enticing high school graduates into the professional world of football. What we fail to recognize, I believe, is that football isn't just a game, its business, a job that requires full-time attention. We can go back and make reference to prominent leagues such as the Barclay's Premier League, the La Liga in Spain and of course the German Bundesliga just to name a few, but that won't solve the problem, will it? Our recent partnership with the MLS is a glimmer of hope, but that won't suffice my friend. Jamaica needs to establish a more active program that caters to our youth and recruit them right after high school, utilizing their talent even after their stints representing the Reggae Boyz at the under-17/20 level. Much of our well established high school star players have gone to be an unfortunate has-been who can only reminisce on the days when they were once stars back when it mattered. Sad to say, superstar players such as Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge have both been enjoying all of their success in professional football, representing a stellar club that is Liverpool FC and a country currently on the hunt for their second World Cup title, England. I have no doubt that had these guys been included in Jamaica's National team, the Reggae Boyz would've been in a different position today, maybe even packing their bags for Brazil as we speak! There's a lot more of the Sterlings and the Sturridges in this country, we need to find them and mold them into national sensations at any cost! 

Jamaican Football needs effective leadership, and strict requisites put in place in order for one to be appointed Technical Director of the National Team. It needs the proper financial backing to see the country's dream take wings once again. I implore the JFF, and the organizations responsible for the domestic league, to take heed of what's happening, and cease to allow our talented young stars to keep drifting away in the wind, but instead utilize them to their full potential so they can finally aid in the rebuilding process of the National team. Gone are the days of having half the national players being 'english based', that is now long in the past; this country needs to focus more on developing the fresh products from home, right here in Jamaica! Explore extensive partnerships than what is currently in place, not only the Digicel Foundation, etc., but also the possibility of additional scholarships for these talented young and upcoming athletes, give them hope that all isn't lost, that their talent isn't only for show, but a reward isn't too far from sight. Football is not just a game, its life; it's what brings unity to a population of 3 million. Men and women, boys and girls gather to salute their national heroes on the big stage. I am 100% certain Jamaican football can once again rise to even greater heights than it did in '98, and be on par with the US Soccer team, and even Mexico, but it's what will be done from here on in that will prove what happens next. Jamaica! Are we finally ready to fight?

Time's up Wenger! (Part 1)

'Here's to greatness and new beginnings'! The much anticipated toast from Arsenal fans to their fellow compatriots around the world on the 30th of September 1996, after the dismissal of 'then' Gunners manager Bruce Rioch and the famous appointment of Arsene Wenger. This period was definitely the beginning of the road to the 'Invincibles', a stalwart image that has now faded into distant memory of what once was. During the 1996 to 2004 period, football bore witness to some of the most magnificent players to have ever graced the football field such as: Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Tony Adams, the ill tempered but rock solid Patrick Vieira, the controversial but talented Nicolas Anelka, the iceman Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and of course Mr. Arsenal himself, Thierry Henry. Iconic images of pure greatness under Wenger rewarded the happy gooners fans with coveted titles such as the English Premier League (now the Barclays Premier League) 1997-98, 2001-02 & 2003-04 and the FA Cup in 1998, 2002, 2003 & 2005! 

Let's fast-forward to now! Since 2005, Arsenal FC has won approximately 0 (ZERO) trophies to date! If this isn't a heck of a reversal, I don't know what is. Their collapse, believe it or not, began at the end of the Invincibles era, in 2003-2004. At the end of that dream team season, the nightmare began! Yes oh yes, our worst fears came to life, and that was relayed the moment Arsene Wenger lost sight of why he was brought to the club in the first place! Lovely that the manager chose to seek out new ways and means to develop his team, but quite simply, he's failed to accept that his attacking tactics that back in the good ole' days, would simply leave his opponents in awe of Arsenal's tremendous display, has now proved to the the cause of their failure! Wenger over the years grew with the club, but somehow, not mentally. His philosophy has often left the much committed fans on the verge of oblivion and total anger with a side order of frustration to add to the mix. Wenger today, simply has no tactics nor an answer to his team's decline! To put it quite frankly, he's lost his cutting edge. Since the departure of David Dein, then the inevitable tragic acquisition of Arsenal FC by the 'great' Stan Kroenke, the club's woes got worse, plummeting to the verge of obscurity! 

Track back to the January transfer window of this current season (2013-14), since Theo Walcott's injury back in January vs Spurs in the FA Cup tie, Wenger was urged numerous times to sign sign sign! Let's not get carried away by my implications, we don't expect him to make a City or Chelsea shopping list, just the necessary signings to bolster the cracks in the squad. Arsenal urgently needed a striker, yes! a striker! Who did they opt for you might ask? Kim Kallstrom?! Who is he might you ask? A Swedish international who was once valuable back in his days at Olympique Lyon in France 2006-2012 when French Ligue 1 was once exciting before PSG purchased it (obviously). Kallstrom is nearing 32, and is currently on loan, is this the answer to the Gunners' attacking problem? Maybe Wenger surely knows something we aren't aware of because the last time I checked, talent wins games and proper direction wins trophies! Wenger hasn't provided this since 2005, thanks to his lack of the obvious regarding making major signings. Arsenal's current top strikers are as follows: Olivier Giroud, and Yaya Sanogo, and I still can't figure out how Gunners have barely managed to score goals as of late?! Maybe because the Higuain summer deal was botched? Or did Arsene spend too much time trying to put together that extra £1 in the audacious £40,000,001 Luis Suarez summer bid that he put together from his car wash savings that would eventually prove a big joke and failure for the North London club? In the words of Andy Hunter from the Guardian, he described it as "the most insulting pound thrown at Liverpool by Arsenal since Jamie Carragher was struck by a coin at Highbury in 2002." OUCH! The audacity of Arsenal and Wenger to take advantage of Liverpool during their seemingly fragile period leading up to the start of their 2013-14 season, the moment that Luis Suarez was dying for a move away from Anfield to feature in Champions League football! Arsene Wenger was defended by the fact that Liverpool were unwilling to sell Suarez, but the truth is, no one truly knows what the outcome would've been had Wenger made a serious bid for the man who has now proven to be the best striker in England today. This incident has somehow brought Liverpool and Suarez closer to a realized dream, while Wenger and Arsenal have been brought closer to a trophy cabinet that may require dusting for a ninth straight year.

Make no mistake about it, yes Arsenal signed Mesut Ozil, that proved positive leading up to January-February where the German maestro maybe finally realized he's no longer at Real Madrid, and the guy up front is actually Giroud not Cristiano Ronaldo! No one can blame Ozil for his decline in his attitude, after all, a champion only desires to play in a team of champions, and sadly, Arsenal currently don't fit this bill. Wenger has once again failed to uplift his team, employ new tactics, and has now fallen to the bottom of the top four, and maybe at the end of this 2013-14 season, he'll take his place at the bottom of the top five. A team can't be successful if they've allowed for all their top players to keep on leaving (Nasri, RVP,Fabregas, Kolo Toure, etc.) and have failed time and time again to sign the proper reinforcements! 

Wenger, you will be greatly appreciated for your past achievements, but you wont be missed... When you finally decide it's time to leave, your bags would have already been packed and a first class plane ticket would have been booked by nearly every single Arsenal fan alive... Your time's up gaffer, and you know it!

Part 2 coming soon!