Bleacher Report - Articles by sam langley

Euro 2008 Best European Championship Ever?

sam langley — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:35:37 -0400

As this summer's Euros draws to a climax for another four years, the majority of Europe and possibly those outside, have definitely been entertained by the football on show and it most certainly isn't over yet.

With casualties being the likes of the reigning (or were reigning) European Champions and ever talented France, these Euros have not been one to miss.

Helping this fact was that surprise packages Turkey and Russia have progressed to the last four, which have made the bookies change their odds on a numerous amount of occasions.

The semi finals line up as Germany vs Turkey and Russia vs Spain/Italy. Many will write off the teams as they please, but could we possibly see a Turkey vs Russia final?

So as we head into the penultimate rounds of this years championships, who is your money on? Which team has stood out the most and will have the biggest chance of lifting the trophy next Sunday in Vienna?

Germany: From being firm favourites at the very start of the tournament, the Germans head into the semi final with Turkey still in pole position.

After a 66% win record in the group stage, followed by a quarter-final win over Portugal, Germany will be hopeful of progressing to the final and winning the tournament.

Star man so far: Lukas Podolski.
Odds: Runners up.

Turkey: Starting as one of the less likely teams to progress out of the group stages, Turkey have surprised many by making it to the semi finals. After a last minute goal against the Czech Republic to keep there hopes alive, Turkey have gained a lot of followers and are not to be written off just yet.

Star man so far: Nihat, but will be truly missed in the semis.
Odds: Lose to Germany in the semis.

Russia: The other surprise outfit in this year's tournament. Their for ever travelling manager Guus Hiddink managed to out-think and outplay the shining lights of Holland and outclass Sweden, leaving an interesting end to the tournament. Again another side not to be written off.

Star man so far: Roman Pavlyuchenko
Odds: Won't progress to the final.

Spain/Italy: The last quarter final line up has the promising Spaniards battle for a semi final place against the under-performing World champions. Spain have had a great start to the tournament so far, finishing top of the group with nine points, whilst Italy haven't had a compromising start, after losing against Holland and scraping past France to the quarters.

Star men so far: Spain: David Villa. Italy: Gianluigi Buffon
Odds: Spain to progress to the semis and will end up eventual winners.

After looking at the favourites for the tournament, be sure to stay tuned into any electrical device possible as the Euros aren't over yet and there is sure to be more entertaining games that will be keen to keep you on the edge of your sofas, no matter what country you are rooting for!

Have West Brom's, Hull's and Stoke's Promotion Parties Come To a Premature End?

sam langley — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:50:02 -0400

Europe conquerors Manchester United, passing genius's Arsenal and always surprising Everton and Aston Villa are just a few of the names that the new boys for the 2008—2009 season will be pitted against.

West Brom, Stoke City and newly promoted Hull City are the so called "newbies" to England's top flight. After mixed seasons for all three, with so many plus points throughout the ten month ordeal of the Championship, all three clubs have ended up where they wanted to be—starting the 08/09 season trying their luck against the worlds finest players.

But after all the hard work of promotion, can they maintain themselves in the English Premier League? The answer—most probably not!

West Brom are a tad more established amongst the big boys, playing in the top league between 2004 and 2006, before they were bitterly relegated after an amazing escape the season before.

Stoke and Hull, however, are less likely to know how to survive in the Premier League due to lack of appearances, having to go back a couple of decades since Stoke's last emergence and well, Hull have never been there before.

The gap between the top flight and the second division in English football is becoming increasingly bigger, and with time, sides will struggle to close the perforation between the Premier League and the Championship, leading to a complete isolation of the top flight.

Money, ownership, players, experience, and stamina are only a few things that the three clubs will have to build their foundation on if they want to thrive in the Premier League.

Also, they will have to improve on their latest results against top flight teams. Newcastle, Chelsea, and Portsmouth have all been opponents for at least one of the promoted sides in the 2007/08 season, with the Premier League teams running out overall winners on each occasion.

West Brom may have a shadow of a chance, as they have experience of previous players, but will have to spend big and look for ownership if they hope to avoid the drop to the Championship once again.

As for Hull and Stoke, there is an infinitive amount of needs and requirements that they just don't have to survive in the Premier League.

It will be an adventure for fans, as there are already many stories that they can tell in years to come. But fans will have to prepare themselves for a different sort of season as they may be conceding more goals than they will be scoring, and their games being scheduled first on match of the day for all the wrong reasons.

So, as for the upcoming season, the newly promoted sides will have to fight extra hard and will have to take each day as a cup final, if they want to even take a glimpse at maintaining their status in the top division for another season.

Tom Hicks, George Gillett: Are Liverpool Co-Owners Broke?

sam langley — Sun, 25 May 2008 10:19:22 -0400

Multi-million pound owners would normally suggest that there's cash in the attic as far as the saying goes, but is Liverpool's attic full of has-beens in the money situation?

In today's footballing world, let alone the whole of society, money happens to be one of the main ways to success and happiness. No matter who you were or what you believed, you would admit that money does make the world go around. Right? However is this the case for Rafael Benitez and the whole of the Anfield board?

Back in January 07, the plans were nearing finalisation, when Tom Hicks and George Gillett announced that they were to become the new owners of Liverpool FC with a takeover bid in the range of £300-£400 million.

Liverpool fans were in dreamland; With a great spine to the team, a tactical genius in the eyes of Rafael Benitez and a promising youth team, the final piece in Rafa's revolution was beginning to fit into place-the will to spend, and spend big.

Chelsea here we come?

Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Early preparation, interviews and background work would begin to surpass showing two American tycoons, both with a lot of money, with one owning the Texas Rangers baseball team and the Dallas Stars ice hockey club.

But as time went on and transfer day deadlines approached, Liverpool realised that maybe this wasn't the greatest of moves by Rick Parry and co.

Come summer 2007, and the £21 million transfer of Fernando Torres plus others, surely this was it, Liverpool could establish themselves as title competitors because they have spent so much money! Or have they?

Take Fernando Torres's transfer, plus transfers of other players bought in the summer transfer window of 2007. A total of around £40 million was spent. Or that was how it was portrayed to the public. If you consider transfers out plus the appearance in last years Champions league final, the total comes to around £35 million.

So here already we can see that only £5 million was out of the owners pockets, if that!

And as for this season, for the rumours that have been speculated in the press, the money doesn't seem to spreading either. Swap deals, ridiculous asking prices on players and the deliberate employment of free workers:

Did the new owners leave there money behind when they sailed over the pond?

How do the NBA, NFL and MLB Compare With European Football and Cricket?

sam langley — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:40:19 -0400

Five different sports, numerous countries, and varied skill demands—what could possibly be so similar about European football, cricket, American football, basketball, and baseball?

And it isn’t the fact that each sport contains the use of a ball in the game.

Think about what is needed to entice top-quality athletes to join and play a sport at the highest level, what is needed within a club or a team so it can run. I can guarantee you are right—it's the money!

Have you ever actually thought about the ridiculous amount of money that sport has played around with over the recent years? Money is a necessity in life. Every person hoping to survive in today’s world will need a sufficient income, enough to live on and be happy with.

Yet sport sees money as more of a monopoly game, throwing it around when it seems applicable!

Obviously money and its demand have increased over the years, and needs have risen in cost, but there is a barrier. Sport in general has overstepped that line.

One of the first blatant sports to show a real enormity in money usage is European football. In the modern world, you’d be lucky enough to attend a premiership football game for less than £30.

As for the charge for footballers to play at the top quality clubs, the rates are despicable. The latest big money signing was Fernando Torres’ move to Liverpool last summer. It would unveil as £21m plus another footballer in order for the Spanish star to make his “destined” move.

David Beckham, now at American MLS side LA Galaxy, made one of the most expensive moves ever. A footballer at heart, but a “celebrity” in the public eye, Beckham managed to complete another media focused deal worth £128m over a period of five years.

The sort of money that a whole street couldn’t earn in a lifetime, let alone five years.

The examples of extortionate money use don’t just lie within European football. There are definitions lying all over the world of this extravagant money consumption. In America, basketball, American football, and baseball have all taken an interest in spending high amounts of money to recruit desired players.

In basketball, the prices paid for players aren’t a pretty reading. Players such as Shaquille O’ Neal and Kevin Garnett are on contracts worth $20m+ per year. In American football, top players such as Dwight Freeney and Marc Bulger are also earning more than $20m a year, with Freeney earning an awesome amount of $30m.

American businessman Tom Hicks, well known in America for his multi-million pound status, and known in England, or more specifically on Merseyside, for his bad co-ownership of Liverpool FC, spent a whopping amount in running his American baseball side, the Texas Rangers.

He put forward $252m to buy one player and have his services at the club on a 10 year deal. This was, and still is, equivalent to around $21m per year, with an extra $10m signing bonus.

The latest phenomenon of extreme spending to hit our sporting world was in cricket and the introduction of the IPL (Indian Premier League). This type of game is 20twenty cricket, which involves players from all top domestic teams playing in India and receiving fees of around £1.5m for a total of four weeks—£400,000 a week.

All for what? Playing two days of sport a week and then lounging in the pub or in front of the TV for the rest of the week.

This fault in today’s sporting world can clearly be seen, and something should be done. Yet there is always going to be an increase in money and social wealth, leading to even further increases in money paid to players.

The question is, when will it stop? And how far will it rise?

EPL: Fernando Torres and Liverpool: Was It Destined To Be?

sam langley — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:20:46 -0400

When you hear the extreme roar of "You'll never walk alone," you usually relate it towards the Kop faithful at Anfield, imagining 40,000 die hard Liverpool fans flying their flags and scarves proud.

You wouldn't usually affiliate it within the armband of a Spanish footballer.

However, this was the case for Kop hero Fernando Torres before his summer transfer to Liverpool.

During a game at Real Sociedad, Torres' armband came loose and revealed the print "You'll never walk alone" on the inside.

This sparked controversy and was the starting gun for journalists, as Liverpool instantly became linked with the Athletico star.

Was this a match made in heaven? Did Fernando Torres always dream of playing for Liverpool FC? Was Rafa Benitez's missing link in the Rafa-revolution staring him right in the eyes?

After two months of grueling connections in the press, the deal was finally done and Fernando Torres was unveiled at Melwood.

Nearly a year down the line since the coveted Spanish ace was first referred to as Liverpool's destiny, the Anfield faithful will certainly not complain, nor would the former Athleticos' "El Niño!"

Torres had a tough decision. Would he leave the adoring fans that have been left dribbling by his every move and lose the chance to join one of Europe's elite, or lose the chance altogether?

He certainly chose the Scouse pies of Liverpool over the Spanish paella in Madrid; the cold, wintery winds rather than the hot summery skies; and the hard-to-understand accent over the exotic Spanish tongue.

Still, it wasn't a decision that not only Liverpool FC wouldn't regret, but the whole of the footballing nation.

Amid the speculation of Liverpool's boardroom and their need to challenge for the title this season, a lot of criticism headed Fernando's way on if he would be a success in the English League.

With the English game having higher demands, for strength and mental ability, would Torres become another Morientes, or would he surpass what hardly any foreign player has done previously and have an impressive first season in English football?

Drogba and Ronaldo didn't show their abilities in their first season, so El Niño has a lot to live up to. And live up to it he has.

After scoring in his home league debut against Chelsea, the Spanish ace did not take long to settle in.

After recording three hat tricks already this season, and scoring in seven consecutive home games, Fernando Torres notched up 30 goals in 44 games. He is the first player since Robbie Fowler to do so.

So with his first season in English football proving to be a great success, and already having a song named after him from the adoring Liverpool fans, Fernando Torres has already set his "hero" status foundations into Merseyside.

If only Torres had come the season before, Liverpool fans could have been singing "We won it six times, and will be seven in Moscow!"

Champions League: The Biggest Set of SemifInals the World Has Ever Seen?

sam langley — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:15:08 -0400

As the battles in the Premier League continue, with Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils level pegging with a re-vitalised Chelsea side and Liverpool having more or less secured 4th spot and Champions League football next season, one date remains completely blank in all of their pocket diaries...

With the date being the 21st May 2008, and the Luhzniki Stadium in Moscow being the venue: Sir Alex Ferguson, Avram Grant and Rafael Benitez get set for their biggest challenge to date:- Guiding their sides to a Champions League Final.

With the first of the semi-finals ending 1-1 between Liverpool and Chelsea, Avram Grant will feel that John Arne Riise's 95th minute own goal would have given Chelsea the premature flight bookings for Russia.

As for the other semifinal, Christiano Ronaldo's 2nd minute penalty miss has made the second leg at Old Trafford not one to miss, as both Barcelona and Manchester United take no advantages back to the north west of England.

The first of the semifinal 2nd legs will take place at the theatre of dreams, or as recently dubbed, "The Theatre Of Nightmares" by the opposing Barcelona team, which has the potential of being one of the greatest European nights ever. As the 1st leg ended on a knife edge, at 0-0, the current Manchester United side have the chance to really prove that they are the best United side under the 22 year reign of Sir Alex.

With stars such as Tevez, Ronaldo and Nani in the starting line-up, the Old Trafford faithful will be expecting big results come Tuesday night. However their opponents wont be pushed over too easily. After coming out and saying that Tuesday night could be the Manchester United's worst nightmare, the Barcelona camp are determined to progress in this years Champions league, after domestic hopes were all but over after losing 2-0 to Spanish outfit Deportivo, trailing Real Madrid by 11 valuable points, with having played a game more. The boy wonder Lional Messi could really be a pivotal factor and could be the key to unlock a potential historically bound night.

The other semi final is also a game not to be missed. After gaining a lucky away goal in the first leg at Anfield, and having come off the back of a very important league win against Manchester United, Chelsea will be brimming in confidence come kick off on Wednesday night.

As for Liverpool, their hopes are very much in the balance. With 4th spot in the league the only domestic achievement so far this season, Rafael Benitez will be anxious to pick his perfect starting team to line up against Chelsea. For all those Liverpool fans who looked for omens in chasing their European crown in 2005, lady luck does not seem to be on their side.

After 8 attempts at Stamford bridge, Rafa Benitez has not recorded a win, let alone actually seen his team score a goal. So the history books will have to be re-written which would end Chelsea's unbeaten 4 year home record, not saying that Liverpool wouldn't be capable of producing yet another great European night.

This years Champions League has been thrilling already, but in terms of crucial games and vital goals, there will never have been two games within the space of as many days as there is about to be on the 29/30th April.

Get prepared to witness THE most blood thirsty semi finals football has ever seen, as Europe awaits to reveal the possibility of the first ever all English Champions League Final.