Liverpool – Page 2 – BRITISH SOCCER {DIVA}

Happy New Year…

Happy New Year fellow football fans. It’s around this time of year we reflect on how our team has played thus far in the first act of the season and pray to the football Gods they put in a performance of a lifetime as we approach the final act!

It’s so close at the top and undoubtedly one of the most thrilling Premier League season’s in years. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all the ones to chase, with Everton and a few others still sniffing around. Manchester United are in an unlikely position. Not sure anyone has seem them adrift at the top since the late 80’s!

Buckle-up folks. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. If the title race goes to the wire, I’m not sure I can watch with both eyes open.

Enjoy and may your year be filled with health, happiness and sexy football!

Your Crystal Football & Inner Footydamus…

The return of the greatest game in the world is upon us. The hope. The dreams. The anticipation. The love. The hate. The rivalry. The passion. The despair. The elation. The sweet smell of victory. The bitter taste of defeat. Football is back. How did we make it through the summer?

With every new season come changes. New managers. New players. New tactics. New style. New kits. New boots. New everything. But the one thing that remains the same is what every team is fighting for. To be crowned champions. To win trophies. To be the best of the best.

Who will win it all? Who will disappoint? Who will rise as a new star? Who will fade into the football wilderness?

Join in the fun and share your predictions. From Premier League champions, to relegation, the golden boot, Champions League places and more, British Soccer Diva leaves no stone unturned. You too can look into your crystal football, channel your inner footydamus and give us your predictions for the season ahead.

The transfer market is still open. Who knows where Suarez will end up? Who knows if Rooney will be wearing blue next season? And who knows if Gareth Bale will be living in Madrid? These predictions are based on how each team is made up right now.

This is how we see the Premier League Table at the end of the season…
Chelsea
Manchester United
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
——————-
Arsenal
Liverpool
Everton
Swansea City
West Ham
Sunderland
Southampton
West Brom
Aston Villa
Norwich City
Newcastle United
Fulham
Cardiff City
——————-
Stoke City
Hull City
Crystal Palace

Premier League Accolades…
Golden Boot = Sergio Aguero
Golden Glove = David de Gea
Player of the Year = Juan Mata
Young Player of the Year = Romelu Lukaku
Manager of the Year = Jose Mourinho

Miscellaneous…
Steal of the Summer = Etienne Capoue
Comeback Player of the Year = Andy Carroll
Most Hat-Tricks = Luis Suarez
Manager to be Sacked First = Alan Pardew
Most Yellow Cards = Stoke City
Most Red Cards = Sunderland

Other Trophies…
F.A. Cup Winners = Chelsea
Carling Cup Winners = West Ham United

The End of an Era…

It’s that time of the week where I send my weekly verbal memo to the lads over @TheFootyShowKCC. In a nutshell…

Twas the season where everyone retired. Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and of course David Beckham. All legends in their own right. All have had signature moments in football. Sir Alex the best at his craft in England. He’s won it all. He’s managed great players. He leaves a legacy like no other.

This week’s memo however is all about Mr.Beckham. Father. Footballer. Global sports icon. Beckham has had an illustrious career and leads a dazzling life. A phenomenal ambassador for his country and for his sport, he leaves the game having cemented his name in the football history books.

If you agree or disagree with anything outlined in this week’s memo, lob or header us @soccerdiva.
Football, soccer, call it what you want. It’s just like being down the pub with your mates.

Verbal Memo | The Bite, the Bale & the Special One…

There’s no biting in football…unless you are Luis Suarez of course! Liverpool’s star player is in hot water once again and the biggest question is what will this legendary and historical club do with him?

Unless you’ve been living under a gigantic rock, Suarez took a healthy bite out of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a game at Anfield over the weekend. It’s not the first time Suarez has done this to an opponent. In April 2011 while playing for Ajax, he sunk his teeth into PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal. He received a seven-match ban and it was the last time he ever played for Ajax, a club with as much rich football history as Liverpool. This is unacceptable behaviour from a player who doesn’t even need to act like Mike Tyson on the football pitch.

Suarez is undoubtedly one of the best players in Europe, let alone the Premier League. His continual bad decision making however leads you to believe he is definitely a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. Where do Liverpool go from here? They will probably support him because without his thirty goals this season, they’d be languishing below mid-table and Brendan Rodgers would probably be standing in the football unemployment line.

In this week’s verbal memo you can also catch soundbites about Tottenham, Jose Mourinho and there’s even a mention about my chat with Brazil football legend Carlos Alberto. There will be more of that interview posted in the coming days.

Sit back. Relax. Rant. Rave. If you agree or disagree with anything you hear, lob me @soccerdiva and let me have it.

Verbal Memo | Manchester City’s Gift For United…

Manchester City’s attempt at defending their title has been nothing short of pathetic.

The players have played with apathy and haven’t been consistent enough. In fact, it seems as though winning the title last season was proof enough in their eyes that they’d arrived as one of the big boys in England, and Europe! The bottom line is something just hasn’t been right this season.

From the distractions of Mario Balotelli and Roberto Mancini’s tactical tinkering early on in the season, to missing out on signing Robin van Persie and stinking up the Champions League, the blue side of Manchester has stuttered and faltered with a lack of identity and a shortage of passion.

What is Manchester City’s identity? What is their club culture? It takes more than winning the F.A.Cup and Premier League to be considered a big club. Remember Blackburn Rovers? They too won the Premier League. Have a listen and let me have it whether you agree or disagree.

Lob me a header or volley @soccerdiva. Football, soccer, call it what you want. It’s just like being down the pub with your mates.

Soccerdiva | Footy Show | Manchester City Red Card

Verbal Memo | F.A. Cup & more…

This weekend was a vintage one in the F.A. Cup. Giant killings. Upsets. Call them what you want. The small guns came out fighting and crushed the big guns hearts. The Fairy Tale Cup is alive and well.

Brentford, MK Dons, Luton Town, Leeds United and Oldham played a little throwback F.A. Cup football, much to the delight of fans across the football universe. This is exactly what the F.A. Cup needed. An exciting, thrilling weekend peppered with results as shocking as the ending of The Crying Game!

Our verbal memo congratulates the so-called small fry teams and their incredible achievements. We all dissect Brendan Rodgers decision to make Luis Suarez captain of Liverpool in the game against Oldham. And there’s even time for a few quick fire football thoughts at the end.

Kick back. Put your hard working feet up. Grab a brew and enjoy the listen. Feel free to laud or abuse me on Twitter with your thoughts. @soccerdiva.

Soccerdiva | Footy Show | Magic of Cup

Verbal Memo | Robin van Persie & more…

In my weekly memo to fellow football fans there’s a fair bit of passion. Some folks have irked me.

Firstly, Luis Suarez got the football universe all riled up because of his handball in the F.A. Cup against wee Mansfield Town. Suarez certainly had lots of darts thrown at him after his unsportsmanlike action, but are the referees just as guilty as Liverpool’s bad boy?

Robin van Persie is having another phenomenal season. He is a world class player who has elevated Manchester United to impressive heights. The delicious Dutchman has been prolific since joining the Red Devils in the summer. Can Robin van Persie play in any team in the world right now? And should someone at Arsenal pay with their blood for selling him?

Finally, Rio Ferdinand declared he would like to be the first black James Bond. Rio is definitely suave enough to be a special agent for the British government. What if footballer’s were movie genres? From comedy, to musicals, we cast the lot!

Grab a brew and enjoy this week’s verbal memo. Connect with me @soccerdiva if you want to rant about anything. I’m here for you.

Verbal Memo | Robin van Persie & more

Soccerdiva Soundbite…David Beckham

Football superstar and pop culture icon David Beckham has provided the world with much to savour throughout his career. As he enters the twilight of his profession and faces the realization his playing days are inching their way towards the rear view mirror, his desire to win remains as fresh as it was all those years ago when he emerged as a youngster at Manchester United.

From Real Madrid, to AC Milan and now LA Galaxy, Beckham has given his all not only for the clubs he has played for but also for his beloved England. When he finally won the MLS Cup with LA last season, many thought he would walk off into the sunset, satisfied the American dream was finally achieved.

But David Beckham loves to play. He loves his football. And after deciding to re-sign with Los Angeles after spurning the advances of Paris St. Germain earlier this year, Beckham finds himself with yet another opportunity to win a championship.

I had the opportunity to talk with one of England’s finest exports following LA’s tough loss against San Jose in the first leg of their MLS Cup playoff. San Jose Earthquakes grabbed a controversial winner in injury time, despite LA dominating possession.

It’s not the first time San Jose have done that this season. They have become the masters of the last gasp goal! David Beckham spent a few minutes with us post game and despite the loss, he is definitely optimistic about the 2nd leg. There was even time to ask David Beckham about Luis Suarez and his amazing goal against Newcastle United at Anfield. Does Suarez make the Premier League history books? Does he join Beckham among the list of legendary Premier League goals?

Hear what the ex Manchester United superstar had to say about Liverpool’s current striking superstar!

A Conversation With…Eoin O’Callaghan

We dive into a pool of football happenings In A Conversation With Eoin O’Callaghan.

The former host of Fox Soccer Report discusses attacking, defending, buying and selling in the Premier League. We look at the exciting debut of Eden Hazard for Chelsea and how Sir Alex Ferguson might regret not signing him for Manchester United. Does Nuri Sahin fit best with Liverpool or Arsenal? Is Andre Villas Boas changing too much too soon at Spurs? Can Everton burst into the top tier of the league like Newcastle United did last season? We dissect all of this and much more from an English football perspective.

There’s even a little time to touch on some Italian madness and in particular the Antonio Conte situation at Juventus and the heartbreak of AC Milan fans as Antonio Cassano defects to the enemy Inter Milan. Grab a tipple of your choice and enjoy the conversation.

Channel Your Inner Footydamus…

What does your crystal football say about the forthcoming Premier League season? Who do you see standing at the peak of the mountain? Who will be raising something heavy, silver and shiny above their head?

Will Manchester City do it all again? Or will their arch nemesis Manchester United reclaim their crown as Kings of England? Can Arsenal really challenge for top spot? Will Chelsea and their new crop of stars take the league by storm? Can Andre Villas Boas and Tottenham Hotspur surprise everyone by winning it all? Do Newcastle United have any hope of repeating their wonderful form from last season? And will Brendan Rodgers tiki-taka revolution at Liverpool be tikitastic?

The battle for supremacy begins tomorrow. The joy. The tears. The elation. The sorrow. We kick every ball. Let the mayhem begin.

Channel your inner Footydamus. I’ve looked deep into my soul and have come up with these monumental choices.

1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham Hotspur
6. Newcastle United
7. Liverpool
______________________
18. Q.P.R.
19. Reading
20. Southampton

Pick your top 7 and your bottom 3. Who will be crowned King or Queen of the British Soccer Diva prediction competition? Bragging rights are up for grabs. Who knows…it could well be you!