The 2010 MLS Season is done and dusted, in 6 short weeks training camps will start (Sounders are going to be training in Arizona & Turkey). Players will get drafted, players will be traded, and players will be bought and sold. My question to those of you in the know?
What do the Sounders really need to take it to the next level? Attacking Midfield? Left back with speed? A forward who works well with Montero? A tactical change to a 2-5-3 in order to push possession further up the field (Because all year they looked great knocking it around back but as the ball moved forward the breakdown began)
Sigi has a history of turning teams around, he did a great job with LA, in 3 years with Columbus he won the Cup, we are going into the Sounders 3rd year of existence and each year so far has been an improvement. Will the players buy into Sigi's strategy and produce in 2011?
Lets looks at what Sigi says about the season and future, and lets look at Seattle's best and worst from 2010.
Our first chance to get a look at the 2011 team will be March 9th when they play the Colorado Rapids in the Community Shield Match!
Juventus vs. Catania (Serie A) 3-1
The Ballon d'or narrowed it's list to 3 on Monday Xavi, Iniensta, and Messi were named finalist. 3 players from Barcelona, 2 from World Cup Winning Spain, all 3 players came up through the Barcelona youth academy. Something to be said for starting early and being taught the right way to play!!
Barcelona vs. Osasuna (La Liga) 3-0
In honor of the Ballon d'Or lets look at how the Dutch took Soccer to the next level with "Total Football" it was then transported from Netherlands and more namely Ajax to Spain and more namely Barcelona. The Dutch invented the interchanging movement of total football and used it to almost perfection in two World Cup Finals (1974, 1978) Rinus Michel turned it into a passion at Ajax and the first generation to see it to fruition included a boy named Johan Cruyff, he lead the dutch in those world cups, he also lead Ajax to Dutch and European Championships.
Michel later took total football to Barcelona as a manager winning La Liga in 1974, Cruyff continued total football as a manager of Ajax, Barcelona, and Netherlands. The Ajax current director of Football is Danny Blind 1 of only 5 professionals ever to win all 5 prestigious Cups (European Cup, European Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Cup, Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup)all while playing total football for Ajax. Barcelona's current Manager Josep Guardiola was taught total football by Cruyff when Guardiola played under him at Barcelona (In his first week at Barcelona as a coach Cruyff hand picked 15 year old Guardiola to play the deep lying center mid position while watching a youth game, 2 years later he would become the fulcrum of Barcelona's "Dream Team" at 18)
Guardiola used his knowledge and experience of total futbol as a manager of Barcelona and won "The Sextuplet" in 2009. I think the thing to understand is that the players and coaches who have passed this passion on, grew up in it, played in it, and coached in "Total Football" Today you can see the style of play made famous in various leagues around the world, with Arsenal, Barcelona, and Ajax at the forefront of "Total Football 21st Century Style" When the Ballon d'Or is announced you can beat the winner owes something to the dutch!
Real Madrid vs. Valencia (La Liga) 2-0
Growing up I was a big fan of Liverpool, Kevin Keegan and all his hair! But my favorite player was Ian Rush, he may not have been the flashiest but the man just scored goals. Averaging 30 a season for almost 8 season!
AC Milan vs. Brescia (Serie A) 3-0
I think anyone growing up now adays playing soccer has some aspirations of being a pro or maybe representing their country? Dan Wollak moved countries for work and accidentally became an "International Soccer Player"
Sampadoria vs. Bari (Serie A) 3-0
Could we see an American player move in the Transfer window for $15 Million dollars? No it's not Donovan or Altidore, it's the guy who actually holds his own week in and week out in the best league in the world!
Genoa vs. Lecce (Serie A) 3-1
The Club World Cup kicks off this week in Abu Dhabi, Inter Milan are the Favorites but I wouldn't rule out Internacional from Brazil, but my dark horse is the team from Papa New Guinea!!
Bayern Leverkusen vs. Cologne (Bundesliga) 3-2
We used to see players disappear from the MLS without explanation, now the new MLS re-entry draft will allow players in certain situations an opportunity to continue playing.
Lille vs. Lorient (Ligue 1) 6-3
Newcastle sacks their manager, Martin Jol resigns from Ajax, all on the same day. Will we read sometime this week, Martin Jol hired by Newcastle?
Club Brugge vs. Westerlo (Jupiler League) 4-3
Australia spent $45 Million dollars on their World Cup Bid, the problem is they spent it the wrong way according to their World Cup Consultant!!
Chievo vs. Roma (Serie A) 2-2
Champions League play today has some critical match-ups, ManU vs. Valencia, Tottenham vs. Twente, Inter vs. Weder Bremen, Benfica vs. Schalke spots are up for grabs in the next round.
PSV vs. Heracles (Eredivisie) 5-2
Lack of a starting role for AC Milan had lead to a lot of speculation in the media that Ronaldihno may look to move in the January transfer window, the rumor has been out there for a while that he could move to LA and play for the Galaxy, now the new Rumor is that Liverpool is interested in hopes of resurrecting their season and team.
Odense vs. Aalborg (SAS Ligaen) 6-0
The annual January USMNT camp held at the Home Depot Center has always been a trial and error camp. The players brought in are usually on the fringe or on break from league play. We will see the usual MLS players and players from the Nordic countries, but will we see any really new or unexpected faces?
Lazio vs. Inter Milan (Serie A) 3-1
No comments:
Post a Comment