Manchester City spent their pre season tour in the United States and to say I found their entire set-up impressive is an understatement. Coolest thing of all was the time they spent with fans. Definitely flew the flag proudly for the Premier League!
Tag: Pep Guardiola
Premier League Friday Night Lights
The Premier League goes Friday Night Lights on everyone! We love it and think fans we love it too. We also chat all things Pep and look at whether or not Pep is getting used to the league or does the league need to get used to Pep’s genius? Should Man Utd panic? Have Spurs bitten off more than they can choose playing at Wembley? Get stuck in. Join the conversation.
Liverpool Legend Steve Nicol Talks Klopp, Dalglish & More
We have Liverpool legend Stevie Nicol talking all things scouse house. Over 56,000 listens as we cover the entire pitch talking a little Klopp, Dalglish and more! Who in today’s Liverpool side makes the team Stevie played in?
Oh and be sure to look out for @SteveNicol61 book “5 Titles & a Bag of Crisps” on sale September 8th! Put the kettle on. Put your feet up. Join the conversation! Get stuck in.
The One with Neymar to Barcelona…
La Liga Lounge returns with a Brazilian blend, dedicating the entire show to one man…Neymar!
The most talked about transfer in football over the last two seasons is finally done. Neymar joins Barcelona from Santos and we look at how this deal could work out.
Will Neymar complement Messi or will he try to compete with him? Can these two superstars co-exist? Or are there too many cooks in the Camp Nou kitchen?
Neymar is also slight and doesn’t carry too much weight. Can he bulk up and also change his style of football to adapt playing in Europe? Will he be a huge success like Ronaldinho or will he end up a high-profile flop? Remember Keirrison?
We dissect this subject like a frog and are also joined by Brazil legend and 1970’s World Cup winner and captain Carlos Alberto. The scorer of the greatest goal ever seen in the World Cup doesn’t hold back when talking about Brazil’s current football starlet.
Sit back. Relax. Grab a chair in the lounge. It’s happy hour. It’s a special. It’s “The One with Neymar to Barcelona.”
The One with the Spanish Inquisition…
You didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition?
Ben and Sophie return to the Lounge to discuss where it all went wrong for Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Champions League this week.
Was Messi selfish to start? Who is helping Ronaldo? Is it time these teams looked beyond their individual icons in favour of collective choreography? Did Mourinho mess up? Why didn’t Tito react? Is a miracle comeback possible for either side? Just where do they go from here?
Let’s credit Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund for their beautiful performances. They certainly shocked Spanish football to its core and have started a debate about the rise of German football. Is it premature? Is everyone getting carried away with their claims that Spanish football is dead?
Sophie and Ben discuss it all in La Liga Lounge. And if you agree or disagree with any of their opinions, let them have it volley style @LaLigaLounge. It’s always happy hour here.
The One with El Clasico Special…
Two Clásico clashes in five days and both were won by Real Madrid. We haven’t seen that for a while. Sophie and Ben discuss the two latest installments of the famous fixture in an hour-long special not to be missed!
What is wrong with Barcelona? Qué pasa con Messi? We also talk Tito and Roura, Pique and Alves, the penalty incident and much more!
And then there’s Madrid, of course. Is Mourinho having the last laugh? Is Ronaldo the world’s best player right now? We look ahead to the Champions League clashes, talk Milan and Manchester United and even made some predictions for our respective teams in the North London Derby!
It’s an epic! So join us for our Happy Hour special!!
The One with the Ballon d’Or…
Sophie and Ben’s laid-back look at the game in Spain has been very laid-back of late, but they return to discuss Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and the fight for the Ballon d’Or. How would Ronaldo cope if he lost out to Messi again? What would it mean if Messi won for a fourth time at the age of 25?
The Lounge staff continue the Messi dialogue and chat about his pursuit of Gerd Muller’s single season scoring record. How would Barcelona cope if he were injured? And it wouldn’t be a fulfilling show without a little Mourinho at Madrid and the possible destination for both he and his great rival Pep Guardiola next season.
There’s also some weekend picks and much, much more. Join us in the Lounge for our laid-back look at the game in Spain.
The One Where Ronaldo is Sad…
La Liga Lounge is an exciting new project I’m working on with Ben Hayward from Goal.com. We take a laid-back look at the game in Spain. Join us in the La Liga Lounge for happy hour each week! Drinks are on us.
In this episode, we tackle Ronaldo and his sadness. What could possibly be bringing one of the world’s best footballers down? He has a hot job, a hot car, a hot girlfriend! What is there to be sad about CR7?
It doesn’t seem Ronaldo is alone in the sad department either. Cesc Fabregas is having a rough ole’ ride at Barcelona and the La Liga Lounge bar staff delve into why! There’s even a little room to talk Falcao, Javi Martinez, Pep Guardiola and Catalan independence.
Don’t miss Ben and Sophie’s predictions for some of the top fixtures in La Liga this weekend. Join in the banter and fun. Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLounge and you can also join our Facebook community too.
Euro 2012 Crystal Football…
One of the most exciting football tournaments in the world is upon us and we’ve only had to wait four years.
Euro 2012 is about to kick-off and co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, together with the rest of Europe, carry the dreams of millions of fans in their kit bag!
Who will be victorious? Is there a team primed for a Denmark or Greece type Cinderella story? Can one of the host nations win? Can Spain create European history and win another title? Who will shine the brightest on the biggest stage?
The wait is over. It’s time for us to channel our inner Nostradamus. It’s time for us to look deep into our crystal football. How right or how wrong will we be?
Let’s hope it’s a thrilling tournament without any trouble and that for a few weeks, the beautiful game can make a tough old world feel a little good about itself right now.
Group A
Winner = Poland
Runner-up = Russia
Group B
Winner = Holland
Runner-up = Germany
Group C
Winner = Spain
Runner-up = Italy
Group D
Winner = France
Runner-up = Sweden
The quarter-finals could be a time for justice or vengeance!
Quarter Final #1
Poland v Germany
These teams drew 2-2 last September in a friendly. Germany coach Joachim Loew said that result was a “wake-up call” for his country. It was the first time Poland got close to beating the Germans in 17 previous attempts. Poland have been unable to defeat Germany in 78 years. What better way to break the cycle than a sweet victory in front of your own people! Football always serves up story lines that take us beyond the game and it’s almost written in the stars these two teams will meet. You can almost feel it in the air.
Quarter Final #2
Holland v Russia
This is a match-up that would excite any football fan. Russia were the surprise team of Euro 2008 and very few thought they could beat Holland in the quarter-finals. The Dutch were piping hot favourites in that game and as we’ve seen in tournament’s past, they tend to break under the pressure. The Russians on the other hand played fearless football and solidified their place as one of the tournament’s most exciting teams. They could meet again at Euro 2012 and this would be a wonderful opportunity for Holland to turn the tables and exert revenge on the Russian’s who trampled all over their Euro 2008 dream.
Quarter Final #3
Spain v Sweden
In the past, we’ve seen some of the supposed European giants of football get an easy path in the knockout stages. Some would say Germany were lucky to face Turkey in the semi-final of Euro 2008. No matter who you get in the knockout phase, it’s never an easy game, but the luck of the draw could mean it’s just easier than other match-ups. This year, Spain could find themselves a little lucky when they face Sweden in the quarter-final. Sweden may have done well getting out of their group, but they are reminded of who the real Royal family of European football is in this match!
Quarter Final #4
France v Italy
Who wouldn’t want to see these two European powers battle it out in a quarter-final? There is so much recent history between France and Italy, it would almost be wrong for them not to meet again. Italian hearts were smashed into tiny pieces at Euro 2000 after Trezeguet’s golden goal sealed glory for France. And at the 2006 World Cup, the football boot was firmly on the other foot as Zinedine Zidane’s moment of headbutt madness cost the French another world title. Old scores must be settled and this match would truly be a treat for fans everywhere.
Semi Final #1
Poland v Spain
Semi Final #2
Holland v France
European Championship Final
Spain v France
Champions
France
Storylines…
1. Debuchy comes of age.
2. Ben Arfa grows to superstar status.
3. Benzema solidifies spot as European scoring machine.
4. Laurent Blanc the heroic winning player turns winning coach.
5. Laurent Blanc restores pride to French flag and French international football.
6. Hugo Lloris finally recognized as one of world’s best goalkeepers.
7. Arsenal have to pay double for M’Vila.
8. Spain’s rule ends and questions are asked about Xavi and Iniesta.
9. Less questions about Torres as he has a great tournament
10. Del Bosque retires. Pep Guardiola pressured to take over the national team. Luis Enrique joins as his assistant
The Old Lady Lives…
Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom and fighting through adversity in order to rebuild character and achieve greatness.
The Calciopoli match fixing scandal destroyed the hearts and souls of Juventus fans across the universe. It was a dark period for the Bianconeri. They were stripped of their 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles won under Fabio Capello and were sent to Serie B as further punishment for their involvement in Italy’s biggest ever football scandal.
Since that shameful chapter in their history and for all those who remained at the club, the one common goal was to resurrect the good name of Juventus and restore some pride and respect to one of the most famous football teams the world has ever seen.
On Sunday night, after winning their first Serie A title since 2003, Juventus restored more than just pride. They proved the Old Lady lives on. And this time, the Old Lady might just be stronger than ever before.
Following the capture of the Scudetto, Club President Andrea Agnelli perfectly described the emotions of fans as he tweeted “from heaven to hell and back to heaven again.” Despite the despair and pain, Juventus fans always hoped their team would be restored to greatness. Andrea Agnelli finally has them back on the right track, but not without some help from his friends!
For players like Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Marchisio and legends Gigi Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero, capturing the title is even sweeter as these players remained loyal to the club and stuck with the team when they were relegated to Serie B. And for Del Piero, as he prepares to leave the Old Lady he loves, what a better way to exit than as a champion. It’s only fitting for one of Italy’s finest ever footballers to bow out of the game in this style.
Talking to Sky Sports Italia after the game, Del Piero shared how this could be the most satisfying of all the trophies he has won at Juventus. “This Scudetto has a special taste after some difficult years and I’d go as far as to say that this Scudetto is even better than the one we achieved in Rimini (to win Serie B). I start every season with the hope of winning something, and sometimes it doesn’t happen, but what has happened to me tonight makes up for many years of failing to win a trophy. Tonight we are celebrating a championship that we all deserve and I’m glad to have contributed.”
It’s also an incredible achievement for manager Antonio Conte. From legendary ex-Juventus player to coach of the team now, together with Alessandro Del Piero, he represents everything that is the Bianconeri. He’s experienced the elation. He’s felt the pain. He understands the agony Calciopoli caused. He is family and he was the perfect man to bring Juventus back from the dead. Conte created a dynamic team who have dazzled at times in Serie A and overall, have dominated Italian football without losing a game. The exclamation mark on their season will be if they could win their last game against Atalanta. This would make Juventus unbeaten in all 38 league games and is something that hasn’t been achieved in Italy since Fabio Capello’s AC Milan won the title back in 1992.
Many say Pep Guardiola changed football during his managerial spell at Barcelona. On World Football Daily, I’ve suggested many times that Juventus could be the new Barcelona. Granted they do not play Barcelona’s tiki-taka style of football, but what Juventus do have is a legendary ex-player as coach who is beloved by their fans. They have a special player in Marchisio who has been compared to Tardelli by the Italian media. They have solid ownership in the Agnelli family. They have a brand new stadium that is beautifully set for future years of glory and they have money to spend so they can build on the success they have achieved this year. Some might think the Barcelona comparisons are over-the-top. Even Pep had to start somewhere with the Catalan giants. If Andrea Agnelli keeps faith with the 42-year old Conte, there’s no reason why he can’t duplicate the same type of success Pep had at Barcelona.
Winning a league title in any country is difficult. It is especially difficult in Europe’s most competitive leagues. People will discuss, debate and argue over whether or not this is Juventus 28th or 30th title. Regardless of the Calciopoli scandal, there is so much to be excited about if you are a Juventus fan. When asked by the Italian media about the subject of titles won, Antonio Conte clearly wanted to look towards the present and the future and not the past. “It’s the first for me. It’s the first that I’ve won as a coach.” A classy answer that illustrates the man in charge of the team is clearly focused on the years ahead.
Antonio Conte and Juventus also have the Coppa Italia Final against Napoli to come. They could achieve the double in his first season as coach and they could also go unbeaten in the league. Is anyone still asking if The Old Lady is back?