March Madness in Belgium: a revolutionary challenger to your run-of-the-mill league format

Belgian football has received a lot of attention for its youth movement in recent years with the likes of Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, and others becoming household names, but the Jupiler Pro League is also redefining the very concept of playoffs in professional sports.

Competitive formats throughout world football are all basically the same minus the odd nuance or two.

Domestic leagues usually include a home and an away fixture against each opponent where the champion is determined by whoever has the most points at the end of the season. Cup competitions are often single-elimination knockout tournaments or, in the case of the Champions League for example, are decided on aggregate from after a home and away leg for each team.

That is, until Belgium delivered a game-changer.

The Jupiler Pro League, Belgium’s highest domestic league, instituted the most wonderfully chaotic and confusing playoff format that the world has ever seen after undergoing sweeping changes to its system prior to the 2009-2010 season.

This radical new format was adopted after members of the Belgian FA presumably locked themselves away in a cabin in the middle of the woods for 48 hours and engaged in heated debates over endless pints of Stella.

Okay, so that may or may not have happened, but the Belgian FA implemented changes in order to improve the quality of play (the field of teams dropped from 18 to 16), increase the amount of games played (which equates to more TV revenue earned), and generate more interest by eliminating pointless matches between non-contenders at the end of the season.

Their solution was whacky, unorthodox, and meticulously complex, but it also checked all of the boxes and provided a modern, alternative take on determining the domestic champion and who gets to play in Europe the following season.

Trying to understand the most complex league format in world football

Understanding the Jupiler Pro League format is difficult. In fact, you almost have to be a rocket scientist to fully comprehend it…almost.

As a 20-something American who grew up following leagues that virtually all feature playoffs (and despising the never-ending gauntlet that has become the MLS playoffs in recent years), I was intrigued as to what it was and how it worked.

I tried researching it on the internet, I had no less than 5 Belgian nationals explain the finer details to me in person, and I even went so far as to spend my own money on the latest Football Manager to experience a domestic campaign in the hopes of better understanding it.

I can safely say that, after all of that, I get it…kind of. I tried to explain how the JPL works to a friend last week and he just stared at with me with glazed over eyes before showing me this clip and telling me, “this is what you sound like.”

I would like to think I can do a better job explaining it by putting it in writing so here it goes.

Club Brugge, the current Jupiler Pro League title favorites

The Jupiler Pro League consists of 16 teams that each play 30 games, or one home and one away match against every opponent in the league. At the end of the regular season, teams are placed in three different playoffs depending on their final position.

• Playoff I consists of the top 6 teams in the league
• Playoff II consists of teams 7-14 split into two different groups: 7th, 9th,
12th and 14th are placed into group A while 8th, 10th, 11th, and 13th are placed in group B
• Playoff III consists of the bottom 2 teams

Simple enough, right?

The 6 teams in Playoff I each play 10 games – a home and away match against each of the other 5 PI sides. Prior to those 10 matches, each team has its point total from the end of the 30 regular season games cut in half. For example, if Lokeren finished the season with 70 points, they would start the playoffs with 35 points.

If Club Brugge finished with an odd number of points (say, 69), the halved number would be rounded up (34.5 would round up to 35). This rounded number can be used as a tiebreaker if two teams are tied on points at the end of the playoffs (i.e. if Lokeren and Brugge finished level, Brugge would be deducted one point because their regular season total was rounded up).

Confused yet? Don’t worry, this is only the beginning.

Playoffs II and III

Lokeren wonderkid Hans Vanaken is a player worth keeping an eye on for the future

Playoff II, as previously stated, is composed of the teams that finished 7th-14th. While none of these teams can win the championship, they do have the possibility of still qualifying for European football.

Unlike Playoff I, everybody starts with a clean slate and there are no point carryovers. The fixtures are similar to PIayoff I in that each team plays a home and away fixture against every other team in its group. After the completion of these matches, the winners of group A and group B play a home and away fixture against each other to determine the winner of Playoff II.

Unfortunately, the winner of Playoff II still doesn’t qualify for European competition Instead, it has to beat the 4th-placed team from Playoff I in another two-legged tie in order to clinch the final spot (or the 5th placed team if the Belgian Cup winner, who automatically qualifies for Europe, finishes in the top 4).

Meanwhile, the two bottom feeders are entered into a sort of football purgatory where they are forced to face each other an outrageous 5 times in their bid to stay up. The 15th placed side gets a couple of noteworthy benefits such as home-field advantage for 3 out of the 5 matches in addition to beginning the competition with 3 points.

The winner of the tête-à-tête Playoff III isn’t guaranteed to stay up, however, and is entered into another playoff with the clubs that placed 2nd-4th in the 2nd division. Each team plays a home and away fixture against each other, and all teams start on an equal footing. The winner of this playoff receives the final spot in next season’s Jupiler Pro League.

Nonsense or the wave of the future?

If you’re still reading after all of that, I’m impressed if not slightly relieved that I didn’t bore you to death.

As you can see, the Jupiler Pro League is something else. It’s not perfect (you probably shouldn’t expect Don Garber to bullishly install a similar system in MLS), but it is revolutionary and facilitates fresh ideas.

The biggest issue facing Belgian football on a domestic level is staying relevant. Belgium has to compete with the likes of the EPL, La Liga, and Bundesliga in its own backyard (not mention the Dutch Eredivisie). It might have turned itself into an exciting provider of talent, but it doesn’t possess nearly the same quality or star power of its more illustrious European neighbors (although I must contend that the level is still very high – much higher than that of the MLS if you’re looking for a point of reference).

17-year-old phenom Youri Tielemans, who has already appeared 49 times for Anderlecht, is undoubtedly the league’s hottest commodity

If nothing else, the Jupiler Pro League format is a good-natured attempt to spice things up with the locals and keep the supporters of middling teams interested longer.

I would be remiss if I didn’t offer the other side of the coin, here: this model hasn’t been welcomed with an open heart by many Belgian supporters or clubs and one could argue that it supports and breeds elitism in the Belgian game.

The Belgian FA adopted the system after pandering to the big 4’s call for a more competitive domestic league to better prepare them for European competition (the biggest 5 clubs include Anderlecht, Genk, Club Brugge, Gent, and Standard Liege – Standard Liege is the only team opposed to this system). Anderlecht originally proposed a 14 team league before the Belgian FA decided on the current format, which would have effectively eliminated 4 teams from the top tier of Belgian football instead of 2.

Yes, less teams in the top flight means more money to go around for everybody, but it also breaks the hearts of minnows everywhere by leaving them out of the competition altogether and starving them of vital funds to grow and elevate their stature.

The Jupiler Pro League’s current format needs to be simplified and could do without so many match ups that pit the same teams together – especially the 5 match marathon series between both basement dwellers – but it does offer some intriguing ideas.

For starters, offering sides that have already been eliminated from winning the league the opportunity to play in Europe isn’t such a bad idea to keep things competitive.

Additionally, placing the top 6 clubs into a sort of mini-league to decide the title is interesting. Instead of sorting them into a knockout format where a team can essentially eliminate itself by having one bad game, the JPL takes results against every team into account in addition to a club’s results from the regular season.

The Jupiler Pro League playoffs kick off April 3rd.

Falcao not living up to Manchester United’s lofty expectations

“I’m convinced ‘Falcao’ is Spanish for black hole”.

The above statement was the Facebook status I posted midway through Manchester United’s uninspiring FA Cup performance against Preston North End on Monday, and I’m sure it sums up a lot of people’s sentiments towards the Colombian’s atrocious play this past month.

Falcao arrived at Old Trafford in a shock £6 million loan on Deadline Day with a pricey £43.5 million option to make the move permanent after one year.

In my mind, that deal still represents great business for the club and should be considered a masterstroke for Ed Woodward, the often under-fire executive vice-chairman who is still growing into his role as United’s transfer czar.

Falcao to United seemed like a win-win scenario for everybody: Woodward looked like a genius, Falcao got to play for a world-class club with a packed house, Jorge Mendes (Falcao’s agent) got to cash in on his asset for the 2nd time in as many years, and Van Gaal was handed another shiny new toy to compliment his embarrassment of riches up front.

Unfortunately, the Falcao experiment is coming to an agonizing and painful conclusion for all parties involved as Falcao’s performance on Monday was a testament to his struggles since joining the Red Devils.

“Another night of nothing from Falcao,” BBC commentator Martin Keown noted as the striker was yanked in the 60th minute with United facing a 1-0 deficit.

It was another lifeless display from United’s attack (an all-too-common theme under the Van Gaal regime), and Falcao was the most ineffectual component. HIs movement was languid and failed to cause any real threat to Preston North End’s back line, he failed to hold up the ball and was dispossessed far too easily, and his poor anticipation caused several scoring opportunities to go begging. He was the worst player on the pitch by a fair distance.

Falcao’s numbers have been equally as bleak this year; 4 goals in 19 games from a striker isn’t good enough (even if he has also added 4 assists).

Contrary to my initial statement, I actually like Falcao. Up until the middle of January, I didn’t have a bad thing to say about him.

He isn’t adverse to rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty, he really seems to enjoy pulling on the shirt, and his humbleness and gratefulness towards the supporters is a real breath of fresh air in modern football. The Colombian hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire at United, but he has contributed some great moments since joining the club such as his winner against Everton and his point-saving header versus Aston Villa.

Part of me still clings to hope that El Tigre will rediscover his form and come roaring back, but the realist in me doesn’t see it happening before the end of his tenure with United.

Will the real Falcao please stand up?

There’s no doubting that Falcao was a world-class striker prior to his move to Manchester. This was a player who, up until a couple of seasons ago, was arguably one of the top 3 players in La Liga alongside Messi and Ronaldo. Just look at the dearth of quality goals this man has scored throughout his career – screamers from distance, flying headers, acrobatic scissor kicks, etc.

However, it’s no secret that the Colombian superstar has had his fair share of serious injuries in his career. He sustained serious damage to his right knee ligaments that halted his progress with River Plate in late 2005 and 2006.

His injury record was clean up until November of 2013 when he was afflicted with a thigh injury. Less than two months later, it was reported than he damaged his ACL in that same leg.

Since recovering from injury and moving to United, Falcao hasn’t resembled the same player. He lacks the explosion and quickness that made him such a force to be reckoned with, his predatory instincts seem to be dulled from his lack of playing time in the past year, and his touch has disintegrated at an alarming rate (although there might be hope in this facet as Wayne Rooney’s touch has experienced quite the renaissance in recent times).

The Mirror’s Nooruddean Choudry offers an intriguing theory about how Van Gaal’s philosophy directly conflicts with the way Falcao plays football, but even if that is the case (it’s probably a factor given Van Gaal’s philosophy seems to defy many of the practices ingrained at United), it can’t account for the Colombian’s disappointing play.

Falcao’s biggest issue right now (apart from his lack of confidence) is that he can’t hold onto the ball. According to Squawka, Falcao hasn’t produced a positive possession score in a match since late December.

While Falcao’s first touch may play a part in this, I also believe that Falcao is complicating things by trying to do too much with the ball after receiving a pass.

Next time you’re watching Falcao, notice how he tends to take 3,4, or 5 touches in situations where he should be taking 1 or 2. By taking those extra touches, Falcao allows defenders more time to close him down and make a tackle.

Perhaps the unnecessary touches are a product of the lack of service he has received from United’s perpetually out-of-sync midfielder, but his inability to keep possession has quickly turned him into the team’s weak link.

What’s next for El Tigre?

There is only one cure for Falcao’s maladies: more playing time. Van Gaal remarked earlier in the season that Falcao lacked the fitness to complete even 20 minutes. That may no longer be the case necessarily, but Falcao still lacks match sharpness and, as Kevin Davies pointed out after Monday’s match, probably needs a cuddle.

On Falcao’s recent form in addition to the clamor for Rooney to return to forward, you’d have to guess that Van Gaal can’t afford to give it to him in the thick of the Champions League qualification race.

Falcao and Jorge Mendes may not like it, but Falcao might be best served by returning to Monaco and playing in that depressing, half-empty stadium that he so loathes. Returning to match sharpness and rediscovering any semblance of his former goalscoring exploits will make him a valuable commodity for the big boys come January or the following summer.

Yes, he is 29, but even with his blighted injury record, I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t be serviceable to a big club for at least 4 more years.

I still believe that El Tigre is still fully capable of returning to prominence, but I just don’t see it happening for him in a Manchester United jersey.

January Transfer Extravaganza 2015

Mats Hummels is the defender that every major club has their eye on, but can Dortmund be persuaded to sell?

Tis the season, and we’ve got you covered on all of the hottest transfer rumors going into the January transfer window.

Silly Season is back.

With the dawn of a new year comes the highly anticipated mid-season January transfer window for Europe’s domestic leagues.

The January transfer window is generally one of the most overrated events on the European soccer calendar as far-fetched rumors and unlikely transfer scenarios that have gained steam since the close of the summer transfer window often give way to a number of low key deals.

Clubs often use the window to make minor adjustments to their squads, such as adding depth or upgrading at a particular position, if they decide to deal at all.  Few players are made available as managers don’t want to risk losing a player without signing an adequate replacement before the window slams shut as Newcastle United experienced last season when nobody was bought to fill the sizable boots of the outgoing Yohan Cabaye.

Crucial signings will be made at this juncture that could ultimately alter cup competitions and league standings by year’s end, but they most likely won’t be the marquee names that are tossed around daily by the press.

Rumors have been categorized based on the likelihood that the player will actually move in January and have been classified as follows: not happening, unlikely, and possible.  It is impossible to account for every rumor in the past four or five months so only the most discussed rumors have made the cut.

Not Happening

Gareth Bale
It’s just too soon.  He likes Spain, and he’s still got a role to play even if Isco and James Rodriguez are the preferred options of the moment.  A transfer to United seems inevitable in a few years, but not right now.

Mario Balotelli
His Twitter post last month was more ignorant and stupid than blatant in its racism, but the goals aren’t coming for this guy who seemingly can’t find a home anywhere.  My money says Rodgers pushes on with him for the rest of the season.  If ll else fails, maybe Roberto Mancini takes him back to Inter.

Asmir Begovic
The most under-appreciated goalkeeper in the EPL today, Stoke will not sell now and probably shouldn’t sell ever if they can help themselves.  I’m honestly shocked he’s still a Potter.

Ilkay Gundogan
A hot commodity this time last season, Gundogan has just returned after a lengthy injury layoff.  Too much money, too much risk, and he looks a little overweight at the moment.

Eden Hazard
He’s becoming more consistent each season and is flirting with becoming a superstar in the next few years.  Real Madrid will come a-calling at some point, but not in this window.

Mats Hummels
Frustrated but not exactly doing much to lift Dortmund, it’s been a rough 6 months for Hummels who has seen all of his weaknesses (lack of pace, concentration lapses) come to the fore.  He won’t be available at any price in January so you best forget about this pipe dream.

Ilkay Gundogan – out of shape, out of form, and not headed anywhere this January

Christoph Kramer
His name gets thrown around a lot by journalists, but Christoph Kramer will not be leaving Germany.  He’s become a full-fledged German international while on loan at Monchengladbach and still hasn’t played a single match for Bayer Leverkusen.  However, he recently penned an extension with Leverkusen after they informed him he would return from his loan at the conclusion of this season.

Javi Martinez
Wonderfully adept at playing both defensive midfielder and center back, his place at Bayern Munich has been a constant question mark since Pep Guardiola took the reins.  Still recovering from ligament damage and not worth the investment now.

Paul Pogba
Another day, another Pogba rumor – can’t these people find another prodigy to write about?

Sergio Ramos
Real Madrid haven’t signed him to a new contract yet which is probably where the transfer links come from.  He won’t be leaving Madrid in January or anytime soon for that matter.

Winston Reid
The Hammers had a great first half, and he’s become an integral part to their back line…only stupid money would nab him from the London outfit.

Ricardo Rodriguez
If you’re looking for a ready-made world-beater at left back, look no further.  His positioning needs work, but he’s the complete package and he’s only 22.  Wolfsburg is 2nd in the Bundesliga so no deal will be struck in January.

Morgan Schneiderlin
You think the Saints fended off all of that interest in the summer just to let their best player/most underrated asset leave in January?  You’re delusional.

Morgan Schneiderlin (r) will not be signing with your club this January.

Raheem Sterling
Do I see Raheem leaving Liverpool someday?  Perhaps – Real Madrid are thought to be watching him.  Do I see anything happening in January?  Not a chance.

Kevin Strootman
The Dutch midfielder just returned from injury.  United won’t make a play until next year, probably so they can evaluate where he’s at.

Jan Vertonghen
A decent player on a team that epitomizes overpaid decency, I don’t see where he’d go in January or why Spurs would sell their first-choice center back.

Unlikely

Ikechi Anya
Not a bad option if your club decides to go the Championship route.  Developing, pacy winger with a good physique that would be a perfect fit for Aston Villa.  Only problem is Watford is in a playoff spot in the Championship and may not sell at a reasonable price.

Wilfried Bony
Swansea’s best player this season alongside Gylfi Sigurdsson, Bony continues to be linked with a move to a big club.  City is the latest suitor, Liverpool was mentioned earlier in December, and Chelsea and Madrid have seen their interest mentioned in recent weeks as well.  I can’t see the Swans pulling the trigger on this deal now, but crazier things have happened.

Edinson Cavani
Rumors revolving around Cavani leaving the Parc des Princes have seemingly been ripe ever since he joined PSG.  His absences from a number of midseason training sessions leave his long-term future in doubt.  Cavani is cup-tied, however, and it remains to be seen if PSG would allow him to leave if somebody like, say, Arsenal made a serious offer.

Petr Cech
He’s respectful about his situation, but he’s too good to be a #2…something has got to give.  Liverpool, Arsenal, and Real Madrid have all been touted as potential lifelines, but there really haven’t been any concrete leads.  Unless something materializes late, Cech appears unlikely to move this window.

Wilfried Bony will be a hot topic of conversation for many clubs seeking a striker in January

Seamus Coleman
Roberto Martinez is in the process of turning Everton into Wigan (albeit with his glimmering reputation taking a hit), but the Irishman won’t be allowed to leave in this month.  It might be interesting to see if anyone makes a serious play for him next year as he’s one of the most respected right backs in the league and will still have 4 or 5 years left in his prime.

Nathaniel Clyne
Transfer chatter surrounding Clyne has surprisingly quieted since the beginning of December.  Maybe the best right back in England in the first half of this season and he’s still remarkably only 23.  Liverpool and United are obvious destinations if his rise continues.

Juan Cuadrado
A hot commodity after the World Cup, of course journalists are going to have a field day when he gets yanked from a game in December after 24 minutes as he was against Dinamo Minsk in the Europa League.  His price is steep, but he’s a talent and as much as Serie A fans don’t want to hear it, probably too talented to be stuck in the league considering its current state.  Fiorentina is still contending with Lazio for 3rd in Serie A so probably won’t let the Colombian go anywhere until the summer.

Troy Deeney
Another coveted Watford player, the striker is wanted by Burnley, Crystal Palace, and a slew of other lower table clubs.  Watford spurned Brunley’s advances in the summer and will probably look the other way this month.

Robbie Keane
Two outstanding seasons in a row in MLS, so why wouldn’t a team like Tottenham or QPR be interested?  Keane has already distanced himself from any possible loan moves in January but he won’t be short on options if he changes his mind

Ezequiel Lavezzi
Transfer speculation is rife with Lavezzi and Cavani having reportedly missed PSG’s midseason training camp in Morocco and then turning up late for their first session back in France.  It’s not clear where the Argentine would land if PSG decided to cut ties with him, but he appears the more likely of the two to go.  Napoli have already denied interest while Arsenal, Liverpool, and Inter Milan could all be potential bidders.

Joao Moutinho
All of his friends are gone, and all he’s left with is Dimitar Berbatov and a depressing, half-empty stadium on the southern coast of France.  “When” rather than “if” is the question and while January is probably out of the question with Monaco in the CL last 16, stranger things have happened.

Moutinho would favor a move away from the Stade Louis II, but Monaco most likely won’t part with him this transfer window

Marco Reus
In theory, it makes sense with his remarkably cheap release clause (as conveniently revealed to the public by Bayern Munich) becoming a factor after the season, but recent history (Lewy) dictates this won’t happen.  Klopp probably isn’t interested and the Dortmund brass will probably back him up on this.

Juan Roman Riquelme
The 36-year-old, currently playing for Argentinos Juniors, is thought to be a target for the Montreal Impact.  No offer is on the table yet, and a source claiming that the Impact have made an offer to Alberto Gilardino went on to claim that the club did not, in fact, have any interest in Riquelme.

Lucas Silva
Carlo Ancelotti has already expressed a profound interest in the Brazilian starlet, who could make the move to the Bernabeu in January provided the Galacticos can agree a fee with Cruzeiro.  Both Madrid and Cruzeiro have recently remarked that the deal will not be done in January and, while that may be true, they could be dancing around the subject until a fee has been agreed.

Nemanja Vidic
Sensationalism or realism?  Vidic has had a rough start to life at Inter, but would he give up so soon?  Spartak Moscow are understood to have interest in bringing him back, but his agent has already moved to quash those rumblings.  Unlikely that the Serbian goes anywhere this winter.

Ron Vlaar
Villa’s captain might not be needed, and he will figure to fetch some value in the market.  The likes of Arsenal and United might inquire, although he may have sustained a knee injury that would put the kibosh on any potential transfer.

Possible

Yohan Cabaye
Not as sexy of a topic as this time last year, but he rarely gets a game at PSG (although he has seen more time recently) and is too valuable to be collecting dust.  Figured Pardew would be interested in bringing him back and a quick Google search confirmed that notion when I first started researching this.

Newcastle would be an obvious candidate, but Mike Ashley is frugal and Pardew is out as manager, as would Arsenal because he’s exactly the type of player they don’t need.  Spurs and Crystal Palace could be in play here as well.

Jermain Defoe
You mean playing for a team in cold, desolate Canada in a league where you’re a bonafide superstar isn’t everything you thought it would be?  Well, maybe ol’ ‘Arry will ‘ave ya.  Leicester City have shockingly become the favorites to land the former Spurs striker and could have a deal wrapped up in the coming days.

Mix Diskerud
According to MLSSoccer.com, the out-of-contract midfielder is still in talks with four parties, including his last club Rosenborg.  Mexican side Tijuana were strongly rumored to have his signature, but Diskerud has maintained that he is still undecided.  Aside from returning to Rosenborg, New York City FC and the Columbus Crew are both thought to be interested.

Will Mix Diskerud come to the MLS or will he become a Tijuana Xolo?

Alberto Gilardino
The Italian striker was thought to have a verbal agreement with Toronto FC last year before the club opted to go with Defoe and Bradley as its DPs instead.  Gilardino is a target for the Montreal Impact this time around and, according to a Goal.com source, the Impact have already extended an offer for Gilardino to replace the retiring Marco Di Vaio.

Glen Johnson
Gradually falling out of favor after becoming a scapegoat alongside Simon Mignolet for Liverpool’s defensive deficiencies this season.  Calciomercato.com recently reported that Johnson is in advanced talks to join up with Ashley Cole at AS Roma.

Sami Khedira
When’s the last time he played?  Someone should save him from Madrid, who probably wouldn’t mind getting something for him before he leaves on a free transfer at the end of the season.  Rumors that Khedira had signed for Arsenal have been quashed by Carlo Ancelotti, while the German midfielder has admitted he wouldn’t mind signing an extension even though Madrid was convinced he was leaving.  Odd situation.

Andrej Kramaric
The Croatian striker has been on fire at Rijeka and is the ultimate poacher, but I have my doubts over how he will handle the physicality and tighter marking of more elite defenders right away (notice how much space he is given by defenders in this video here). Regardless of my doubts, this guy is worth pursuing based on his technique and composure in front of goal alone.

Chelsea loves to sign promising, young talent and flip it for a decent profit later, so Kramaric looks like a perfect fit.  Smaller clubs in desperate need of a striker, such as a Leicester City, might also stump up the cash.

Martin Odegaard
This kid is like 16 and not Cristiano Ronaldo so what’s all the fuss about?  He’ll end up at Munich where he’ll never ever play or Liverpool where he’ll probably blend into mediocrity when he’s finally old enough.  The English papers have most recently linked with a shock transfer to Southampton, but nothing concrete has come through the grapevine.

All joking aside, Odegaard is a special talent if his Youtube compilation is anything to go by and would be an exciting signing for the future.

Lukas Podolski
You mean he wants to go back to Cologne again?  Well, maybe not. More recent chatter has the German international headed to Inter Milan instead provided the Italian giants can come to terms with Arsenal.  A number of credible sources, including BBC and The Guardian, have reported that he is currently in Milan to undergo a medical.

Mohamed Salah
Surely seeing the field is better than warming Chelsea’s bench?  Salah appears to agree as a loan move to Inter Milan could be on the cards here in the very near future, although David Moyes is a known admirer and may make an 11th hour bid to bring him to Real Sociedad.

Andre Schurrle
Much like the maligned Juan Mata last season, Jose Mourinho doesn’t appear to care much for Schurrle due to this lack of defensive prowess.  No obvious suitors have materialized for the German international as of yet, but Schurrle is sure to draw interest from at least a plethora of Bundesliga clubs.

Xherdan Shaqiri
The supremely talented Swiss international appears likely to leave Bayern Munich in the coming weeks with Liverpool, Inter Milan, and Juventus all circling.  Juventus was thought to be the front runner, but Liverpool is rumored to have placed a €14m bid.

Shaqiri is expected to leave Munich this January

Wesley Sneijder
Sometimes I wonder why he’s still there, and then I remember he’s not the same player that he was when he first moved to Turkey.  Wage issues and new tax laws could see him leave Galatasaray.  Juventus appear to be the front runners after Ronald Koeman revealed Southampton couldn’t afford his wages, but Massimiliano Allegri has likened Sneijder to an expensive villa that he would like to have if the situation is right.  Sneijder’s price may be too steep for everyone.

Roberto Soldado
A huge flop for Tottenham, the silver lining is that they don’t need him anymore becauset Harry Kane has blossomed into a promising top flight striker.  Soldado won’t be without interested parties as he had a fine career up until joining Spurs.  AC Milan are linked to the beleaguered Spanish striker.

Victor Valdes
He should be at Monaco now, but he’s still without a club after that strange transfer debacle.  United are the likeliest destination at this point because Van Gaal has allowed him to train at Carrington.  It might be a matter of time before other potential suitors come out of the woodwork.

Virgil van Dijk
People need defenders, too, and there aren’t many on the market.  He plays in Scotland for a team that couldn’t lose the SPL if they tried and regardless of his quality or form, he’s going to draw interest because of the soft market for CBs.  Time to cash in your chips, Celtic.

That said, Celtic manager Ronny Deila remains confident Van Dijk will stay put after Forster was sold for £10m last summer, but money talks louder than words.  Might be right in Everton’s wheelhouse, while Spurs, Arsenal, and Sunderland have all been reported to have varying levels of interest.

Abdul Majeed Waris
Yes, Waris is talented although he isn’t the next Lionel Messi as his meek strike rate for Trabzonspor will demonstrate.  He’ll end up on an above average club at some point but almost certainly not a giant like Manchester United.  Might be in play if the price is right although he suffered an injury last week that might bring any move of his to a screeching halt.

Disgraceful, Miserable Manchester United Defeats Southampton at St. Mary’s

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good and, in Manchester United’s case, they were very lucky.

Gary Neville remarked the team had “got away with murder,” and while his words are undoubtedly overdramatic, he’s not far off the mark. The Reds’ performance against was miserable, lifeless, and utterly hopeless but somehow earned them 3 points and extended their wining streak to 5.

Southampton was the better team: they had more chances, they played with more energy, and they dictated the play. Looking at the numbers, Southampton managed 15 shots as compared to United’s piddly 3 and controlled 53% of possession.

Fortunately for United, the only thing that counts is goals, and that’s about the only statistical category in which they were superior when the referee blew the final whistle.

Van Persie puts the team on his back

“Ohh Robin van Persie” could be heard echoing around the terraces Monday night to the tune of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.”

United fans love Robin van Persie through thick and thin, and why shouldn’t they? This is the man that willed his new club to their 20th league title back in 2013.

One of my favorite Van Persie moments from his debut season was his outrageous hat trick at St. Mary’s that unbelievably snatched 3 points from the jaws of defeat. It was a microcosm of how RVP would continuously put the team on his back for the remainder of the season, and he conjured up memories of that match with his inspired finishing.

Against the run of play, Van Persie scored an opportunistic goal after getting on the end of an errant Jose Fonte back pass and slotting it under Fraser Forster. Van Persie never would have kept running a month ago when Fonte played that ball and even if he did, he might not have finished it off.

His effort to get onto the end of Rooney’s free kick to put his club back on top for good was fantastic, and his technique and concentration to steer it under the onrushing Forster were simply sublime.

No one is suggesting that RVP is the same player that he was two years ago, but his finishing in this game was a testament to his undeniable class.

It also demonstrates the knee-jerk mentality of football journalists everywhere who claimed he could be on his way out of Old Trafford next summer following a string of bad performances. 6 goals in 14 league appearances this season probably isn’t a ratio that the Dutchman is proud of, but it isn’t bad and he’s now scored 3 goals in his last 3 appearances.

Write off Van Persie at your own peril.

Van Gaal gets it wrong

Even great coaches get it wrong sometimes.

From United’s point of view, everything was bad minus the result. The players will bear most of the blame – probably due in large part to their inability to string more than 3 or 4 passes together – but Louis van Gaal was silently one of United’s biggest underachievers against the Saints.

The contentious personal rivalry between Van Gaal and Koeman was played up in the buildup to this fixture, and while Van Gaal’s side might walk away with the result, it was Koeman who ultimately won this battle of wits.

LVG lined his men up in a 5-3-2 (3-4-1-2, 3-4-3, whatever…) for the away trip, and Koeman was ready for it.

The Saints pressed extremely high, often pushing four players forward to pressure United’s wobbly back five. If Jonny Evans, Marcos Rojo, and co. weren’t losing the ball in their own half or attempting low-percentage long balls to Rooney and Van Persie, they were passing it out wide to Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, who would generally be forced to dump it because of the pressure.

The lack of wide options in midfield due to the formation’s narrowness in addition to the ineptness of the players to keep the ball and find good outlets meant that United was often times giving possession right back to Southampton. Additionally, the long balls essentially bypassed the midfield, meaning Juan Mata’s influence on the game was essentially nullified.

Even when United’s defenders could pick out one of their midfielders dropping deep (Fellaini, Carrick, and Herrera all at different intervals), the latter would dally on the ball too long or pass the ball right to the opposition.

Lucky for LVG, Southampton didn’t really play well either; they might have created a plethora of chances, but they very rarely threatened to score.

Old Trafford’s Revolving Door

Aaaaaaaand down goes Chris Smalling.

It felt inevitable that Smalling was going to get injured sooner or later – he’s played too well for too many games in a row. United’s trio of Smalling, Evans, and Jones are always banged up, and it’s starting to become a major problem.

Continuity is important when developing chemistry between players in a team, so how is Manchester United supposed to do that when they can never field the same center back pairing for more than a few weeks at a time?

It’s obvious that something is wrong with how the aforementioned defenders look after their bodies. Some injuries are unlucky, yes, but you have to question their preparation leading up to matches when they keep getting injured.

One thing that stuck out to me when it became apparent that Smalling was struggling with injury was how Jonny Evans didn’t even attempt to warmup. Instead of getting loose on the touch line, Evans was lackadaisically pulling his training bottoms off as if he had just fallen out of bed.

I recently had the privilege of accompanying a former European professional player to an open tryout. You could tell he was the only serious candidate from his session just by watching his preparation in contrast to the other amateur players: he was the only player who put any real effort into his warmup.

Needless to say, he moved onto the next day, and he’s already had positive discussions with management about training with the first team.

This is such a silly concept to discuss when writing about a club as massive as Manchester United, but many injuries (and poor performances for that matter) are preventable through taking warmups seriously. Evans looked stiff (especially when he first entered the fray) and probably was lucky not to come away with an injury based on his bleak medical record.

LVG will no doubt draw some criticism, but this trio has been perpetually injured going back to when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge. Smalling and Jones have both shown some real quality when fit recently (I still can’t say the same for Evans), but maybe it’s time to move them on if they can’t keep themselves healthy.

I’m not suggesting that United will bring in any center backs in January (with a lack of top defenders in the game right now, there is virtually no chance that anybody will be available when the midseason transfer window opens), but they should start developing a list of suitable replacements to bring in for the next season if they haven’t already started doing so.

Man of the Match: Robin van Persie

From zero to hero in a matter of weeks, Van Persie was one of the very few players who actually had a decent game. He was strong on the ball, found good outlets with his passing, tracked back well, and was brimming with confidence from the outset. His two goals were the difference.

Flop of the Match: Wayne Rooney

While Van Persie was the star of the show, his partner in attack couldn’t seem to do much right. Ineffective, devoid of energy, and otherwise invisible for long stretches, Rooney did almost nothing to impact this game. His body language was reminiscent of Van Persie’s earlier in the season as he let his frustrations get the best of him, and he even failed to put in his usual work on defense. One should expect much more out of the man wearing the captain’s armband.

Injury-Ravaged United Outlasts/Outthinks Arsenal

Saturday’s match between Manchester United and Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium was widely used to illustrate the changing EPL landscape: a decade ago, this was the pinnacle of English football. The 2004 contest pitted Ferguson and Wenger, two of the greatest coaching minds of that era, against each other; saw worldly talents such as Van Nistelrooy, Scholes, Henry, and Bergkamp on the same field; and featured a brutal all-out war waged between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira that has since become the stuff of legends.

Unfortunately for fans of both clubs, time has transformed the storied rivalry into something of an afterthought. One can safely assume that the result will have little impact on the title race this year as the one-sided struggle at the top between Chelsea and Manchester City drags on.

Speaking of one-sided, the once evenly-matched affair has turned into the bane of Arsene Wenger’s existence (as if winning 1 major trophy in the previous 8 seasons wasn’t enough) with Manchester United having only lost 1 of the previous 12 meetings.

Here are four talking points from Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Arsenal

Van Gaal: mad genius or sensible bloke?

After David de Gea, you could make the case that Louis van Gaal was Manchester United’s standout performer against Arsenal.

Despite having only two experienced senior defenders at his disposal for the trip to the Emirates (and only one after Shaw left injured), he managed to put together a unit that only conceded 1 goal after nearly 100 minutes of football – a ferocious strike from Olivier Giroud. They bent and wobbled for much of the match, but they did not break.

Louis van Gaal, like many other top managers in world football, is often construed as a mastermind in some circles. The Dutchman is a bright man, yes, but sometimes he is more sensible than ingenious.

Playing on the road against a pretty good attacking side in Arsenal, Van Gaal elected to reinstate the 5-3-2 that worked so effectively on his team’s U.S. tour but floundered in the early stages of the season.

Changing formations was a gamble, but a calculated one.

Arsenal only knows one way play under Wenger: press high up the pitch, control possession, and attack with fluidity. With a shortage of quality defenders, he decided to play with 5 at the back to ensure more cover and less space for the opposition.

Additionally, the 5-3-2 allowed Manchester United to expose Arsenal on the counter – a classic recipe for defeating the London outfit. Manchester United was never going to dictate the proceedings with the players they had available and their current form, but giving world-class attacking talents like Rooney and Di Maria space to run into with the ball against ineffective defenders such as Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal was always going to yield great scoring opportunities.

Following a fortuitous own goal that gifted United the lead, Arsenal pushed even further up the pitch in order to get something out of the match and – much like in Spain’s calamitous 5-1 World Cup defeat at the hands of the Netherlands – United piled on the misery with Rooney’s goal on the counter and a gilt-edged chance for Di Maria that he should have converted.

De Gea stands on his head

David de Gea has been absolutely incredible this season, so it was no surprise that the young Spaniard produced another magnificent display in goal on Saturday.

With a young, inexperienced backline in front of him, De Gea was a pillar of confidence once again. He spared his defenders’ blushes by coming up with an extraordinary save on Wilshere’s breakaway opportunity that should be considered yet another candidate for his best save of the year (although it should be noted that his poor clearance helped create the chance).

He was equal to several other good goal scoring chances throughout and kept Alexis Sanchez, arguably the EPL’s most in-form player this past month, from adding to his tallies. Additionally, his handling of Santi Cazorla’s thunderous volley prevented Danny Welbeck from latching onto any rebounds inside of the area.

David de Gea, in my mind, has easily been the EPL’s best goalie so far this term. Virtually every single one of the EPL’s elite goalies – Courtois, Begovic, Lloris, Howard, and Hart – has either struggled or been decidedly average this season, meaning De Gea could be a shoe-in for both the PFA Team of the Year and the Premier League Golden Glove if his current form persists.

Another defender headed for the treatment room…no shock there

As if it on cue, Luke Shaw sprained his ankle and had to be subbed off early on for the perpetually broken Ashley Young. Shaw’s sprained ankle marked the 40th injury United has experienced this season.

If Van Gaal got anything wrong in this match, it might have been trying to rush the 19-year-old back too soon.

Going into the last international break, Shaw was reportedly experiencing a groin issue and was subsequently dropped from the England squad for their qualifier against Slovenia. Therefore, Roy Hodgson’s decision to call him into his side for a meaningless friendly against Scotland, which saw Shaw limp off at halftime with a pulled hamstring, was a curious one.

Pulled hamstrings often create muscle imbalances and lead to an unnatural running technique if not fully treated, meaning there is a better chance than not that it probably was a factor in Shaw spraining his ankle.

The injury crisis at United may have forced Van Gaal’s hand, but the decision to start Shaw could prove costly as he could be lost for several weeks now. It’s a real shame for Shaw, who has really made some great strides at left back in the past month and a half.

Who says you can’t win anything with kids?

Of the eleven players who lined up for Manchester United at the start of Saturday’s game, two were recent graduates of the club’s esteemed academy.

Paddy McNair has really become a tremendous story. McNair couldn’t get a game in Nicky Butt’s reserve side last season, but now finds himself firmly in the mix for a spot on the team sheet each week. In the 4 games that McNair has started in the heart of defense, United has claimed 12 out of 12 points.

McNair might not be a physical specimen or even a natural center back, but he continues to flourish under immense pressure. It’s too early to say whether he will wind up in midfield or stay at center back long-term, but he will continue to play a role in this team regardless if he continues to demonstrate his quality.

Tyler Blackett was abysmal against Leicester City, but he acquitted himself fairly well in this match despite a torrid start. Blackett’s decision-making, positional awareness, and communication still have a ways to go before he is ready to start challenging for a starting job at the senior level, but he is learning and his confidence will only grow after this performance at the Emirates.

James Wilson also got a chance late on after Van Persie’s withdrawal, and while he caused some issues with his running, he really hasn’t threatened to bulge the back of the net since his breakout two-goal outing against Hull City last season. The best of James Wilson has yet to come at the senior level, but it should come in time.

Man of the Match: David de Gea

The Spaniard continued his inspired form at the Emirates with another heroic performance. His save on Jack Wilshere was tremendous and kept his manager from having to rip up the entire game plan. The 3 points can be credited to this man, who was unlucky not to get the shutout.

Honorable Mention: Wayne Rooney

In a game where no outfield player really sparkled, Rooney gets the nod. Solid work rate without the ball throughout and snatched the eventual winner on the counter just before setting up Di Maria, who should have put the game beyond all doubt.

Flop of the Match: Robin van Persie

Van Persie was a ghost. The Dutchman usually performs well against his old club and his movement had looked much sharper in the last couple matches, but he only registered 13 touches in this one. Opportunity knocks for James Wilson, whose cameos continue to get longer and longer.

Dishonorable Mention: Tyler Blackett

A lot of bland individual performances to choose from, but Blackett is the dishonorable mention for nearly allowing Arsenal to draw first blood. His lack of positional awareness played a part in Jack Wilshere’s breakaway opportunity and he allowed Alexis Sanchez to latch onto a dangerous ball behind him, but De Gea bailed him out. Grew into his role and did an adequate job after the first 20 minutes.

Johnny on the Spot and Rooney’s Howler – 4 Thoughts from Manchester United v. Crystal Palace

After a pair of hotly contested fixtures against title contenders Chelsea and Manchester City, Manchester United fans must have been relieved to see Crystal Palace at home on the docket.

After 90 minutes, however, those same fans were probably just relieved to get 3 points. Here are 4 points from a rather forgettable affair where United’s pedestrian attack nearly saw the Mancunians drop points to an inferior side:

1. Juan Mata grabs the headlines 

Remember last month when Wayne Rooney got suspended, leading the sensationalist English media to claim Juan Mata only had 3 matches to save his Manchester United career? That notion was finally put to bed on Saturday.

Juan Mata might have disappointed during that aforementioned 3 game stretch, but he played Johnny on the spot moments after replacing Adnan Januzaj (who was abysmal), collecting a short pass outside of the box after interchanges with Fellaini and Di Maria before smashing it past Julian Speroni. Speroni should have saved it, but the keeper’s gaffe is a testament to why you should always put your shots on frame.

Minutes later, Juan Mata was inches away from a brace and sealing the result after his left-footed volley fizzled against the post.

Mata’s introduction instantly added more verve and inspiration to United’s dogged attack. He brought creativity and that velvety, golden touch of his to midfield, where he actually sped up the tempo of United’s attack (despite recent criticism to the contrary) and produced several moments of real quality.

For Mata, the glittering performance will come as redemption after a frustrating spell on the sidelines – he certainly celebrated his goal in front of the supporters with extra vigor. Hopefully this will kick start Juan’s season.

2. Service, please

It’s easy to point the finger at your team’s star striker if they aren’t producing the goods on offense.

Robin van Persie might not be exhibiting the otherworldly form that carried Manchester United to its 20th league title and his 3 goals in 10 appearances this term aren’t good enough for a player of his caliber, but he’s hardly the problem up front.

Gary Neville labeled Van Persie “a burglar” for the way he lives off the back shoulders of his markers, sneaking in behind them to collect through balls and steal goals. There isn’t a truer (or more colorful) description of the Dutchman out there: Van Persie gets into dangerous scoring positions due to his darting runs, meaning his game is largely dependent on the service he receives.

Aside from the occasional whipped-in cross from Di Maria, Van Persie isn’t seeing much service. Gary Neville chastised Daley Blind for being too lateral with his passing last week, and he might have a point: Van Persie rarely gets any through balls to run onto from his midfielders. He only really received one ball into space during the match – a late 2nd half pass from Wayne Rooney – and while he was closed down before he could get his shot away, the deflection ultimately led to a good scoring opportunity for Mata.

Fellaini and Rooney aren’t the Scholes and Carrick of yesteryear, which is probably why Van Persie didn’t run rampant against Crystal Palace. Louis van Gaal also conceded that neither Fellaini nor Rooney managed to follow his pre-match instructions.

“I said at half-time to Rooney and Fellaini that you have to play higher [up the field] in the supporting of Van Persie,” Van Gaal told reporters. “That was not our gameplan – they were doing that and I had to correct them at half-time. Then they were playing higher [after the break].”

While United continues to dominate the possession statistics (they controlled an absurd 71% of the possession), their attack hasn’t been generating nearly as many prime scoring chances as it should be (United only had 5 shots on target). Carrick’s underrated yet highly effective forward passing needs to be better utilized in Van Gaal’s system, while Herrera and Mata could see recalls if United’s attack continues to stall.Van Persie needs to be better, but there is only so much he can do without proper support.

3. Well, that was curious…

Minus the breakdown in communication that nearly saw Frazier Campbell put Crystal Palace in front in the 1st half, Paddy McNair and Daley Blind were both solid in defense. Neither defender really had much to do as Crystal Palace provided little impetus on the counter, but both Blind and McNair exuded class with their ball circulation and dribbling out of the back.

Therefore, it was a bit odd when Michael Carrick and Daley Blind swapped roles in the middle of the 2nd half. Carrick, who has served as an emergency center half on many occasions (including last match against Manchester City after Smalling got sent off), may have been lacking the fitness required to carry out the rest of the match in midfield…or, at least, that’s the only plausible explanation I could come up with.

It was also a curious decision when Louis van Gaal decided to pull Paddy McNair in favor of vice-captain Darren Fletcher in stoppage time. According to Van Gaal, McNair was struggling with a touch of the cramp in the game’s dying stages.

You would think that athletes at this level would have learned by now how to hydrate before a game, but that doesn’t seem to be the case as the cramp epidemic continues to wreak havoc across soccer and all of professional sports for that matter.

4. The Drifter

Angel di Maria was invisible for long stretches against Crystal Palace. The Argentine popped up on several occasions to whip in some delicious balls per usual and got an assist on Mata’s goal, but against a bottom half side with a leaky defense like Palace, he should have had a field day.

Di Maria hasn’t really looked as effective (or comfortable for that matter) since Van Gaal decided to switch from the looser, more dynamic 4-3-3 to a sturdier, more stagnant 4-5-1. In the 4-5-1, Di Maria has been pushed wide left where he has found it harder to stretch the field with his lung-busting runs on the ball.

If Van Gaal wants to make most of Di Maria’s talents in this team and unleash the Red Devils’ counterattack, the Dutch manager needs to give him free license to roam and find a way to position him more centrally.

With an overabundance of central attacking players at Old Trafford, that is probably easier said than done.

Man of the Match: Juan Mata

In a match perpetually stuck in 2nd gear, Mata’s brilliant half hour cameo was the creative spark that turned the tide in United’s favor. Scored the winner and was unlucky not to snatch a second.

Honorable Mention: Luke Shaw

Those hasty early conclusions look more foolhardy by the game. Produced a number of his trademark galloping runs and was unlucky not to score from his best one in the 1st half. For me, he projects as the next Leighton Baines with better dribbling albeit a less impressive range of passing.

Flop of the Match: Wayne Rooney

Plenty of candidates, but the captain’s clunker at the heart of midfield stuck out. The work he put in defensively was great, but his dallying slowed the tempo of United’s attack and he provided little innovation.

Dishonorable Mention: Adnan Januzaj

It’s good to see he’s been taking more initiative with the ball lately but was rightly yanked in favor of Mata early in the second half. Still getting caught in possession too easily and lacking any quality with his final ball.

Catalonia: The Referendum that Threatens to Tear Spain, La Liga Apart

With a referendum on the horizon that could see Catalonia declare its independence from Spain, Barcelona’s immediate and long-term future in La Liga appears uncertain.

For many, football is a way of life. It is a microcosm, an active reflection of our ever-changing societal values, beliefs, and conflicts that characterize who we are for better or for worse. It is a primitive and uncompromising medium that never fails to reveal the true character behind those who partake in it. Football might seem like a simple game, but it is so much more: it can inspire us, unite us, and divide us unlike anything else in this world.

Political undertones often play a significant role in football, at both international and club level, and serious issues are often amplified by the emotional intensity and competitive nature of the sport itself. Football has been at the root of wars and riots such as the “Football War” involving El Salvador and Honduras in 1969 and, more recently, the violent outbreak set off by a drone carrying an Albanian flag into a stadium in Belgrade that ultimately led to the abandonment of a 2016 Euro Qualifier between Serbia and Albania. Alternatively, football has also been shown to pacify violence as demonstrated by the First Ivorian Civil War’s two week ceasefire during the 2006 World Cup and the Biafra War’s infamous 48 hour ceasefire in Nigeria that occurred so combatants could watch Pele in 1967.

Political duress at home is often played out through heated rivalries in domestic leagues where political ties and the club you support go hand in hand. The Old Firm rivalry between Celtic and Rangers in Scotland, for example, is an extension of long-standing tensions between Catholic Republicans and Protestant Loyalists. Numerous other contests, such as the Derby della Madonnina held between Internazionale and AC Milan, are fuelled by divisions between the bourgeoisie (Inter) and working class (Milan).

Perhaps the sport’s most prestigious club rivalry is El Clasico, the hotly-contested grudge match between Barcelona and Real Madrid. The conflict has long been steeped in Spanish political turmoil and can trace its origins back to the Franco dictatorship in the mid-1930s when Barça president and Catalan political leader Josep Sunyol was executed by Franco’s troops, and Catalans were outlawed from speaking their native tongue while their regional culture and identity were brutally suppressed by fascist rule. Real Madrid, conversely, became the glorious vehicle that Franco’s centralist regime aligned itself with.

Franco may be dead and gone, but bad blood remains between the two clubs, and the rivalry has never seemed as relevant to Spanish politics as it does now in the face of a possible Catalan secession.

“Més Que Un Club” and Barca’s Active Role in Catalonia’s Push for Self-Autonomy

On November 9th, Catalonia could declare independence from Spain. Unlike the Scotland referendum, this one has a very good chance of becoming a reality.

Barcelona is central to the issue at hand because of its greater meaning to the Catalan people.

“All societies need spaces where they can express their identity. That’s what Barça is. Its symbols have merged with the symbols of Catalan identity,” claims Jordi Josep Salvador, a Spanish anthropologist who specializes in symbols as they relate to the beautiful game.

There is no greater proof of Barcelona’s symbolic meaning than the club’s official motto, “més que un club” (“more than a club”), which is explained on Barça’s official website.

“The slogan ‘more than a club’ expresses the commitment that Futbol Club Barcelona has maintained and still maintains beyond what belongs in the realm of sport. For many years, this commitment specifically referred to Catalan society, which for many decades of the 20th century lived under dictatorships that persecuted its language and culture. Under these circumstances, Barça always supported Catalan sentiments, and the defence of its own language and culture. It was because of this that, even though Catalan was not an official language, in 1921 the club drafted its statutes in the language of Catalonia. It was also in this era that in 1918 the club adhered to a petition for a statute of autonomy for Catalonia, which was being demanded from all sectors of the catalanista movement.”

FC Barcelona is representative of the regional language, ideals, and culture and has always served as a rallying point for those who have called for an independent Catalonia. Roaring chants of “Independència” have echoed around the terraces at the Camp Nou for years, and Barça hasn’t exactly shied away from the issue with president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently penning a letter to a local politician pledging the club’s support for the Catalan National Pact for Self-Determination.

Additionally, several of Barça’s homegrown superstars, such as Xavi and Gerard Pique, have publicly voiced their opinions and have been spotted at rallies for the Catalan nationalist movement.

“We have all the right in the world to vote. We need to vote, we need the people to show their opinions and I am in favor of the referendum obviously,” Xavi told reporters at a news conference last week.

Many Catalans (and non-Catalans for that matter) quite rightly argue that there is a certain air of negativity or arrogance that can be attributed to Barça’s motto. Bernard Niven captures this sentiment in his article “Club Versus Franchise And Some Real World Implications” for Beyond the Pitch.

“It’s a grandiose assertion that, despite having some truth in it, is liable to exasperate many other European football fans. Because those factors – culture, identity, history, a state of mind – are integral to the very idea of a football club. Barcelona may possess them on a greater scale than most, but their motto wrongly suggests that other, implicitly lesser clubs don’t possess them at all.”

Barça might tower over everybody else in Catalonia, but there are plenty of other clubs that are symbolic of the region. Still, that hasn’t stopped Barcelona from bullishly asserting itself as the equivalent of the Catalan National Team.

Prolific Catalan writer and rabid Barcelona supporter Manuel Vazquez Montalban once wrote, “The epic weapon of a country without a state or army, el Barça’s victories were like those of Athens over Sparta.”

In many ways, Barcelona has always symbolized the plight of a semi-autonomous region waging constant war against Spanish city-states.

La Liga’s Stance: Genuine or a Form of Posturing?

The possibility of an independent Catalonia is gaining so much traction that the president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, felt the need to release a statement.

“Barcelona and Espanyol would not play in the Spanish league if Catalonia split from Spain.”

“They wouldn’t do so for the following reasons: the current legislation on sport dictates that there is only one non-Spanish state that may play in La Liga or in official Spanish competitions and that is Andorra. To change this, changes would have to be made in parliament and we would have to see if the affected party were in agreement or not.”

Interpreting the meaning behind Tebas’s statement is tricky. Was he trying to be matter-of-fact or is this supposed to be some sort of thinly-veiled political threat?

It’s difficult to say. He might be bluffing and, then again, he might be entirely powerless to prevent the expulsion of Barcelona and Espanyol in the midst of bitter civil conflict. Laws can be amended, but trying to amend them after the fallout of such an emotionally-charged political drama might be next to impossible.

One thing is for certain: if Barcelona leaves, La Liga will suffer.

For starters, the duopoly that has defined Spanish football for decades would become a one horse race (even with last season’s emergence of surprise title-winners Athletico Madrid), and that’s a lose-lose for everybody.

Real Madrid’s identity would be ripped to shreds without the presence of its greatest adversary. Much like Captain Ahab and Moby Dick, the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona defines both clubs. Their coexistence as a duopoly is what makes La Liga so appealing as a competition, and while it would be grossly short-sighted to suggest that the league has little else to offer in terms of talent, it would certainly lose its luster with the absence of El Clasico.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez certainly recognizes Barça’s importance as his quote infers his club’s need for its arch-nemesis.

“If Barcelona didn’t exist, we’d have to invent them.”

Without Barcelona and their Tiki-Taka, Real Madrid would lack a worthy foe to give weight to their domestic triumphs. Perez seems to suggest that Barcelona can be replaced with time, but that feat is highly unlikely given La Liga’s dire financial outlook and the implication of Spanish sides negotiating TV deals without the Blaugrana on their schedules.

Barcelona and Espanyol wouldn’t stand to gain anything either. If the Catalan clubs were kicked to the curb, would they band together and establish their own domestic league or would they attempt to join forces with France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel?

A Catalan professional league probably wouldn’t be deep enough or competitive enough for Espanyol, let alone Barça, leaving Ligue 1 as the only viable option. Regardless, Ligue 1 is easily the least prestigious of the big 5 in Europe, mainly serving as a feeder league for the wealthier clubs in Spain and England. Ligue 1 would also run into the problem of how to incorporate the new clubs into their competitive structure – would Barcelona and Espanyol be able to jump right into Ligue 1 or would they have to languish in Ligue 2 for a season?

Ligue 1 would undoubtedly welcome Barça with open arms as it searches for a real domestic challenger to megabucks Paris Saint-Germain, but the French are the only ones who would benefit from the proposed switch.

La Liga might not crumble without its Catalan clubs, but its credible reputation as one of the top leagues in the world would take a major hit. Barcelona is an irreplaceable institution of footballing prowess that is a fundamental component of La Liga’s modern DNA, while Espanyol’s overall importance shouldn’t be overlooked here either. Repercussions would be felt all over Spanish football, and decades would be required to financially and emotionally recover from the devastating loss.

La Liga would move past it eventually, but its claim to being Europe’s finest league alongside the EPL would be null and void. Whatever happens in the coming months, here’s to hoping common sense prevails in Spanish football.

-Ryan Donahue

Di Maria is a bonafide superstar, McNair is one for the future, and other thoughts from Manchester United v. Everton

It’s still early-goings, but Angel Di Maria is proving to be a real superstar. Overshadowed by the likes of Ronaldo and Bale at Real Madrid, he has become the center of attention since moving to Old Trafford and has flourished under the circumstances, contributing 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 matches. He took his goal well against Everton with his weaker foot and, whether he meant to or not, helped Radamel Falcao open his Manchester United account by supplying him with the match winner. He has a tendency to over-hit crosses and could be more disciplined when in possession of the ball in his team’s half, but that’s nitpicking. With the likes of Rooney, Van Persie, Mata and Falcao all stuttering with inconsistent early-season form, Di Maria has hauled United into the top 4 for the first time in over a year. Expect to see United’s new #7 continue his rich vein of form.

Rafael actually turned in an all-around solid performance against Everton on Sunday. Usually only a rash tackle away from an early bath, Rafael turned in a mature display. He looked composed on and off of the ball and seemed to be more in control than his usual, reckless self (and Luke Shaw for that matter, who conceded a 1st half penalty after switching off). He’ll probably need to string together a few more of those outings to save his position as the undisputed starting right back under Louis van Gaal as Brazilian compatriot Dani Alves openly contemplates a move to English shores (and one last payday from a club that has shown no qualms about getting its checkbook out).

Paddy McNair might be the real deal. Thrown into the fire last weekend against West Ham as an emergency debutant, McNair turned his first senior outing into an audition and received a callback against Everton. The 19-year-old Northern Irishman rarely put a foot wrong all game, keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet and exuding remarkable calmness with the ball at his feet – surprisingly more so than his £16 million partner at the back, Marcos Rojo – that defies his age. His positioning and ability to read the game could use some work and he might not be physically ready to handle the pounding of the EPL every week (translation: hit the weight room, kid), but he’s not a bad short-term solution against the middling and lower table clubs and his emergence has turned a defensive crisis at Manchester United into a seemingly less dire situation.

Juan Mata set up Di Maria’s goal against Everton with a finely weighted pass, but added very little to the game and was hugely disappointing in his recall to the starting lineup. Mata always looked comfortable in possession, but he also appeared gun shy after passing up several opportunities to shoot and never really posed much of a threat to the opposition with his passing. Luckily for Juan, none of United’s forwards have appeared very sharp in front of goal, but he is still the odd man out in the attacking triumvirate. With Wayne Rooney out for the next two games, Mata will need to perform much better after the international break if he wants to give Van Gaal something to think about. He’s entirely capable of defying the critics who say that he slows down United’s attack, but he needs to impose his will on matches and pull the trigger when in shooting positions.

David De Gea probably delivered the Premier League’s finest goalkeeping performance so far this season against Everton. De Gea was in impeccable form, becoming the first EPL goalkeeper to deny Leighton Baines from the spot before making a succession of impressive stops on Leon Osman and Bryan Oviedo late in the 2nd half to preserve 3 points for United. Watching the Spaniard return to top form was a welcome sight for all as he has admittedly looked shaky between the posts this term. He also upstaged former United keeper Tim Howard, who has also been lacking in form since his heroic display for the U.S. against Belgium at the World Cup.

-Ryan Donahue

UEFA Champions League Power Rankings after Matchday 2

The UEFA Champions League gets a lot of stick for being a predictable competition (some of which justifiably stems from group drawings that seem conspicuously similar to those of years past), but this edition has the potential to be a little more open. Manchester United and the Milans are no longer staples of the competition having performed poorly in their domestic leagues last year, and while many of the familiar superpowers will be vying for the title, there are no clear-cut favorites to win it all. Here are the top 5 teams after Champions League Matchday 2:

5. Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund’s erratic early-season form compounded by a lengthy injury list will probably see Bayern effectively wrap up the Bundesliga before Christmas is here once again, but this is a club that still possesses enough world-class talent for a deep European campaign. Kevin Grosskreutz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang provide graft and creativity down the wings, Ciro Immobile and Adrian Ramos are both settling in nicely up top as replacements for Robert Lewandowski (especially Immobile), and Shinji Kagawa is quickly awakening from his Manchester United slumber as his impressive night against Anderlecht demonstrated.

Borussia Dortmund is far from the safest choice to reach even the semi-finals, but they are a sexy pick to go all of the way for 2 reasons. Reason #1: they’ve looked lively in their first 2 matches without most of their key players in tow. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Ilkay Gundogan, Nuri Sahin, and crown jewel Marco Reus are all on the mend and should return to the field shortly while defensive rock Mats Hummels is still finding his feet at the back after sitting out the beginning of this term.

Reason #2: they’ve never been a deeper unit. Nobody can deny that Dortmund is one of the most exciting sides in Europe when going forward with the ball, but they’ve been their own worst enemy in the recent past, succumbing to defensive frailties and a depleted squad that can’t weather major injuries. As long as one of Matthias Ginter, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, or Neven Subotic can cement their place in the backline next to Hummels, the sky is the limit for die Schwarzgelben.

4. Chelsea

Jose Mourinho’s days of parking the bus probably aren’t over, but his summer recruits finally give the Londoners some much needed potency in the final third. Cesc Fabregas was a steal from Barcelona (it still amazes me that Arsenal did nothing), and Diego Costa is the latest and greatest attacking talent to come off of the Athletic Madrid production line.

With Costa’s Athletico Madrid teammate Thibault Courtois taking over as the last line of defense from Petr Cech and the loss of Ashley Cole the only other real significant change in the back, Chelsea has an enviable side that should make a deep Champions League run. Questions remain over what to expect from Eden Hazard (mainly, can he develop the consistency to develop from a great player into a superstar) and Diego Costa’s health and fitness over the duration of a rigorous EPL season with a flurry of cup competitions sprinkled in, but this is a Chelsea side brimming with talent.

Whether that talent can take the next step and beat European elites like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich over a 2-legged knockout stage will probably keep Mourinho up at night.

3. Barcelona

Barcelona’s window of supremacy in the Champions League ended a couple of seasons ago when they were humbled by Jupp Heynckes’s marauding Bayern Munich (a truly magnificent team to behold when firing on all cylinders), and they were second best against PSG at the Par des Princes on matchday 2 as they fell 3-2. That said, never count out a team that Lionel Messi plays for.

Barca is a team in flux, still carving out a new identity under new coach Luis Enrique as it copes with the loss of loyal servants Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol while simultaneously adjusting to a world where rivals Real Madrid are the cream of the European crop. There are a lot of questions surrounding how Neymar will fair in year 2 at the Camp Nou in addition to how the team will perform over the course of the season with Xavi no longer a fixture in the starting XI, but Barca holds the biggest trump card of all: Luis Suarez.

Suarez might be the devil incarnate, a buck-toothed ingrate with a dark streak that will never truly be reined in no matter how severely he is punished. He possesses neither the eccentric charms of a Mario Balotelli nor the mystic witticism of an Eric Cantona to make himself even remotely likeable to the neutrals, but what he does possess is a remarkable footballing ability that can turn any game on its head. Like him or not, he was the best player in England last season (although ex-Barca man Yaya Toure may have a thing or two to say about that) and carried an unproven, unbalanced Liverpool side to the brink of an improbable EPL title. Provided his 3 month layover hasn’t dulled his razor-sharp finishing or his incisive dribbling, the full fury of Suarez unleashed next to Messi and Neymar could be a scary thing for teams facing Barca in Europe.

2. Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich finds itself in a strange predicament: Bayern and Pep Guardiola perhaps aren’t the match made in heaven that everyone thought they would be. Expectations were always going to be unreasonably high given what Guardiola achieved during his tenure at Barca and what Bayern had achieved under Heynckes in 2013. Still, an air of cynicism surrounds this Bayern-Guardiola marriage (particularly surrounding his possession-obsessed system), and some casual observation from their last match against CSKA would reveal that they are beatable in Europe.

Critics aside, this team won the Bundesliga handily last season and might have more talent front-to-back than anybody in the Champions League. Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Mario Gotze, and Thomas Muller can overwhelm any defensive unit in the world, and the acquisition of Robert Lewandoski should only make Bayern more unstoppable in the final third. Manuel Neuer can still lay claim to being the best goalkeeper in the world, and he anchors a stout backline that was only strengthened with the addition of Mehdi Benatia near the deadline.

Will Bayern Munich ever return to the swashbuckling, free-flowing buccaneers that devastated even the finest of European clubs just a couple of seasons ago? Difficult to say. Guardiola is a man of principles, and his principles have only ever resulted in success of the highest order (which people too soon forget). Whether Bayern wants to possess the ball for 90 minutes or run at opponents with unbridled fervor, they will get results. Whether they will be good enough to wrangle the European crown away from Real Madrid remains to be seen.

1. Real Madrid

The current batch of Galacticos might not be quite as glamorous as the old Zidane-Figo-Beckham-Ronaldo contingent, but they will always be remembered for delivering Real Madrid the much sought after “La Decima.” Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world, and his supporting cast is pretty good too with Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Luka Modric still his main foils.

However, Florentino Perez’s Galactico approach was perhaps more destructive than constructive this summer as vital cogs Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso were flogged to Manchester United and Bayern Munich respectively to pave the way for World Cup superstars Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez. Perez had better pray that Alonso in particular isn’t the new Claude Makelele as Madrid continues to adapt to the personnel changes.

Madrid may have thrashed notorious giant-killers FC Basel 5-1 on the opening matchday , but they had their hands full (and were probably a little bit fortunate to escape with 3 points) against Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets and were relatively disappointing in their first few La Liga encounters.

There is plenty of time for Carlo Ancelotti to figure out how to prevent opponents from carving his team to shreds on the counter (I smell a Sami Khedira recall on the horizon) and for King James to feel his way into this side so Madrid fans shouldn’t fret about their European prospects quite yet. As it stands, they are still the reigning champs and should be treated as such.

Other clubs to keep an eye on…

Paris Saint-Germain

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, and a number of other highly-paid South Americans on their stacked roster, PSG is the sleeping giant of European football. The glamour club of France has more money than your club, and they’re not afraid to spend it. PSG has never been better poised to make a deep Champions League run since the Qatari government began pouring oil money into it – and mercenary Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn’t getting any younger or any less flirtatious with his post-PSG suitors. With James Rodriguez and Falcao gone from AS Monaco, they don’t really have too much to worry about back home in Ligue 1 and should be able to fully concentrate on the CL. They convincingly beat Barcelona 3-2 on matchday 2 without Ibra, and while that could be nothing more than a red herring, it instantly makes them the team outside of the top 5 to keep the closest eye on.

AS Roma

They probably won’t win the competition. Heck, they might not even get out of their group, but definitely keep an eye on AS Roma. Young bloods like Miralem Pjanic, Juan Manuel Iturbe and – gasp – a revived Gervinho combine with that wise, old fox Francesco Totti to spearhead a noteworthy Roma force. The biggest question for this bunch is if they can take the next step by undoing the Juventus monopoly atop Serie A and transform Roma from an above-average Italian side that never really challenges for major trophies into a perennial European superpower. It’s a giant step, but manager Rudi Garcia is the right man for the job.

Don’t hold your breath on…

Liverpool

They’re just not good enough to hold their own in Europe’s premier club competition, and their first two matches against Ludogorets and FC Basel offered abundant proof of that. It hurts not having Daniel Sturridge available, yes, but the best clubs should be able to overcome the loss of a key player or two (just look at Dortmund). It’s too early to label them the new Spurs for their reckless spending in the wake of the Suarez deal, but they have an uphill battle on their hands now and will be lucky to get out of Group B.

Juventus

They have a stranglehold on all things Serie A, but they didn’t get out of their group last season after falling victims to Galatasaray in a match that maybe should have been halted due to the treacherous field conditions. Still, there are no excuses for clubs as big and as prestigious as Juventus, and they have failed to impress in the Champions League since their return to prominence. Now, Juve finds itself in a worse position without Antonio Conte at the helm and, even if they manage to advance to the knockout stage, will get bounced right away.

Manchester City

This easily could have been Arsenal, but the Gooners will have a much easier time getting out of their group as exhibited by Galatasaray’s inept performance at the Emirates. City might be the only team from Manchester in the Champions League, but unlike their esteemed neighbors, they haven’t figured out how to win in Europe yet. Additionally, their ability to grind out results that has propelled them to success in England in recent years has seemingly deserted them in the early-going in all competitions, and they can’t afford to keep dropping points in Group E when both Bayern Munich and AS Roma are capable of advancing.

-Ryan Donahue

Best Way to Cure a Post-World Cup Hangover? It’s Not With International Friendlies

Lewandowski vs. Gibraltar…is Gibraltar even a real country?

Could anyone have asked for a better World Cup (okay, besides maybe the gracious hosts) this past summer? Brazil 2014 had it all: goals galore, shocking upsets, samba, vibrant atmospheres, emerging superstars, etc. International football played on such a grand scale truly is a spectacle to cherish.

It’s a pity when international friendlies seem to do the opposite and suck the life right out of world football, especially when La Liga, the EPL, and other top European domestics are shifting into high gear.

Less than 2 months have passed since Germany hoisted the Jules Rimet Trophy at the Maracana, but international football is back with a long, resounding sigh. Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but an international break this early after the World Cup seems relatively pointless.

In England, the Three Lions set a record low for attendance when only 40,181 (over 8,000 less than their previous low) showed up to watch a brutal 1-0 victory over Norway. Whether a half-empty Wembley indicates how fans feel about international friendlies or how they feel about their national team at the moment is open to your interpretation, but it does indicate that nobody cares.

Many were probably surprised to learn that Gibraltar is a country (it’s really not) when it played its first competitive friendly as a “nation” against Poland during the break. The Gibraltarians were unceremoniously thrashed 7-0 at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal, which will serve as its unofficial base until a proper stadium can be erected in Gibraltar. Nothing quite peaks the interest like watching a newly-formed team representing a territory of 30,000 people get pummeled by Robert Lewandowski and 10 other guys in a meaningless Euro qualifier.

UEFA might argue that it needs to start its qualifiers for Euro 2016 pronto, but it can afford to push everything back considering that the final playoff legs are scheduled to take place in the middle of November 2015. Besides, pretty much everybody qualifies for the finals now with the field expanding to 24 teams (by my estimations, that means everybody in Europe will qualify for Euro 2024).

Okay, so there were some highlights. Argentina really caught the eye in their World Cup final rematch against Germany, even if Joachim Loew felt the need to remind us that the 4-2 result didn’t matter much.

“It can’t be revenge. You can’t bring the final back,” Loew told reporters almost stoically.

The electric atmosphere inside of the Westfalenstadion prior to Germany’s encounter with Scotland was a sight to behold too, even if the unpleasant affair that followed was a struggle to watch.

International friendlies are easy to pick on, especially when top players are always pulling out of their respective squads and meaningless games are sometimes played at walking pace, but they are a necessary evil. They give managers a chance to evaluate talent, allow players from different clubs to train together as a cohesive unit, and keep international football somewhat relevant throughout the year.

Still, that doesn’t mean that FIFA should cram a host of exhibitions down our throats like foie gras, particularly after something as glorious and addicting as the World Cup. We had fun this summer FIFA but, please, give us some space.

The solution here is simple: place a moratorium on international football for the remainder of the year following a World Cup. It would do managers, players, and fans alike a world of good, and it is an entirely feasible proposition.

Players, especially those whose teams went deep in the tournament, would benefit by receiving more recovery time which, in turn, would leave them less prone to burnout. The modern professional footballer plays year round with very little down time. To put things into perspective, Lionel Messi has played 48 matches for Barcelona in the past year accompanied by 10 appearances for Argentina in 2014. That’s a staggering 1 match played in every 6 days, and that doesn’t include the matches that Messi played for Argentina at the backend of 2013.

Philipp Lahm (30), Per Mertesacker (29), and Franck Ribery (31) have all decided to retire from international duty when it could be said that they still have something to offer their national teams, while Tim Howard recently decided to take a break from the USMNT so that he can spend more time with his family. Landon Donovan took a sabbatical from soccer that lasted almost 6 months after he described feeling exhausted and burnt out from nonstop playing.

Instead of flying them halfway around the globe, why not let players stay with their clubs to regain match fitness following a protracted offseason? Any manager worth his salt will tell you that long-distance travel and trying to regain fitness aren’t a very good mix.

“…having to fly a lot and the jet lag, it is not very positive for a good preparation,” Louis van Gaal told reporters during Manchester United’s grueling preseason tour across the United States.

Club managers would benefit by being able to build on their teams’ early season momentum. Garry Monk is probably alone in his office right now cursing up a storm as the 2 week break arrests the momentum created by Swansea City’s phenomenal start. On the other hand, newer managers such as Louis van Gaal and Mauricio Pochettino would probably like to have their starting XI’s present as they try to integrate them into their new systems.

Above all, fans would benefit by being spared the doldrums of boring post-World Cup friendlies. Having to choose between watching heavyweights Luxembourg and Belarus slug it out or watching Macedonia defend against Spain for 90 minutes when the memory of Brazil 2014 is still fresh in the back of your head is akin to Chinese water torture.

Of course, proposing a moratorium and instituting a moratorium are two different things. Asking FIFA – an organization that still hasn’t figured out how to relocate the 2022 World Cup after erroneously gifting it to Qatar despite the continued mistreatment of migrant workers, climate concerns, and numerous other red flags – to put a halt to international breaks in the direct aftermath of a World Cup is probably unrealistic. Pity that the world’s greatest sporting event is organized by such incompetent criminals.

On the bright side, the English Premier League returns this Saturday.