Bleacher Report - Articles by blake kraft

Manchester United: Set to Struggle Next Season?

blake kraft — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:55:25 -0400

While pondering the upcoming Premier League season I came to a very delightful and exciting conclusion:

Manchester United are in a world of trouble.

Lets just start with Cristiano Ronaldo. He was hands down the best player on Manchester United's squad, he is only 24-years-old, and has a very very bright future. I personally do not like Ronaldo one bit. He is arrogant, cocky, he dives, he cries.

He's just plain annoying.

But I cant knock his talent. He, Messi, and Kaka are the best.

He is now gone. How are Manchester United going to make up all those 25-45 goals a season from him. He could have added those numbers to their squad for eight more years!

Now for Tevez. Manchester United really messed up. He was treated horribly by the club, gives his heart and soul every game, and will be missed. Man United fans cannot be happy with having Berbatov as their #2 striker.

That is a lot of talent gone from their team.

Man United have another big problem: AGE.

Ryan Giggs - 35

Paul Scholes - 34

Ferdinand - 30 (Although still very effective)

Van Der Sar - 38

Gary Neville - 34

Berbatov, Park, and Evra are each 28 as well.

This squad isn't getting any younger.

Anderson, Rooney, Nani, and Rafael are good prospects though.

They are all great players with potential but they are not a squad that will make it to the Champions league final next year.

Manchester United are in trouble my friends, and I love it.

They MUST, I repeat, MUST sign either Ribery or Benzema.

I would take Benzema if I were Fergie. He is young, talented, quick, and will be the next world superstar. One of these signings would be good, but they need both to contend in my opinion.

Manchester United are aging, in huge financial debt, lost two of their top five players, and are in big big trouble. I have my money on them not winning the Premier League or Champions league next year. What are your thoughts?

Manchester United Vs. Porto On ESPN—Ridiculous!

blake kraft — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:34:30 -0400

So I live in the United States. Soccer is very low on people's agendas and few people watch, care, or actually have knowledge of the game. If anyone is wearing a soccer jersey on my campus, it's most likely a Manchester United jersey, with either Rooney or Ronaldo on the back. They couldn't tell me about how they got spanked 2-0 by Fulham, but they could tell me that they won the Champions League last year. They don't even know who Roy Keane is.

The point is, the United States doesn't know anything about soccer, and ESPN plays two matches during the Champions League. One on Tuesdays at 11:30 and Wednesday at 11:30.

Always Manchester United. Always. I am very frustrated that they will, in fact, be on again Thursday, April 7.

A thrilling match indeed. Manchester United vs. Porto.

The part that makes me the most upset is that Chelsea vs. Liverpool and Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich are much better matches, that should be televised. The problem is the TV ratings. If ESPN really cared about promoting soccer, then they would play to real soccer fans, not just Man U fans waiting in line for Ronaldo when he gets out of the shower.

Chelsea and Liverpool will be shown, But Barcelona vs Bayern Munich wont be. That's an outrage!!!

The Heaters: A Pitching-Dominated Team—Let's See How We Do

blake kraft — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:33:12 -0400

So I decided that I am pretty bad at fantasy baseball. Making bad trades is my specialty, so I decided to try something new this year. Heavy, Heavy Pitching. What could go wrong? I figure all the categories count the same, why go for players that hit the long bomb and strike out?

It seems like one giant fish pool of pirahnnas going for A-rod, Pujols, and David Wright. I decided Im going to try and sweep most of my pitching categories, and go for a fast team that picks up triples, stolen bases, drawn walks, and runs. Here how my draft turned out

C) Napoli

1B) Carlos Guillen

2B) Rickie Weeks - 19sb

SS) Cesar Izturis - 24sb

3B) Felipe Lopez

OF) Johnny Damon -29sb

OF) Jacoby Ellsbury -50sb

OF) Michael Bourn -41sb

UTL) Carlos Gomez -33sb

UTL) Willie Taveras -68sb

SP) CC Sabathia ..................................17-10 251k

SP) Timmy "The Tool Man" Lincecum.......18-5 265k

SP) Cliff Lee .......................................22-3 170k

SP) Cole Hamels.................................14-10 196k

RP) Joe Nathan ..................................39SV

RP) Brad Lidge ...................................41 SV

RP) Mariano Rivera ..............................39SV

P) Scott Shields .................................31Hlds

P) Kyle McClellan .................................30Hlds

I hope it works out well, even though everyone has told me it wont. I know pitchers are more risky, but you gotta have a little creativity to get ahead. For $20 amongst high school buddies I think this gamble is worth it.

What do you think?

Fantasy Baseball: A Team Dominated by Pitching

blake kraft — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:33:09 -0400

I decided that I am pretty bad at fantasy baseball. Making bad trades is my specialty, so I decided to try something new this year: heavy, heavy pitching. What could go wrong?

I figure all the categories count the same, so why go for players that hit the long bomb and strike out? It seems like one giant fish pool of pirahnas going for A-Rod, Pujols, and David Wright.

I decided I am going to try and sweep most of my pitching categories, and go for a fast team that picks up triples, stolen bases, walks, and runs. Here is how my draft turned out.

C) Mike Napoli

1B) Carlos Guillen

2B) Rickie Weeks (19 SB)

SS) Cesar Izturis (24 SB)

3B) Felipe Lopez

OF) Johnny Damon (29 SB)

OF) Jacoby Ellsbury (50 SB)

OF) Michael Bourn (41 SB)

UTL) Carlos Gomez (33 SB)

UTL) Willie Taveras (68 SB)

SP) CC Sabathia (17-10, 251 Ks)

SP) Timmy "The Tool Man" Lincecum (18-5, 265 Ks)

SP) Cliff Lee (22-3, 170 Ks)

SP) Cole Hamels (14-10, 196 Ks)

RP) Joe Nathan (39 saves)

RP) Brad Lidge (41 saves)

RP) Mariano Rivera (39 saves)

P) Scott Shields (31 holds)

P) Kyle McClellan (30 holds)

I hope it works out, even though everyone has told me it won't. I know pitchers are more risky, but you've got to have a little creativity to get ahead. For $20 amongst high school buddies I think this gamble is worth it.

What do you think?

Arsenal Fans—Wake Up

blake kraft — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:16:02 -0500

Arsenal fans,

What are you all doing? I mean seriously, bashing Wenger and abandoning ship?

This is ridiculous. You all know last season we were No. 1 in the league for quite some time and had just defeated Italian giants AC Milan, at the San Rio!

I mean, come on guys. It's crazy that we saw it all crumble in the end after a few injuries and a bad run. None of you can tell me that you weren't going nuts when Fabregas cracked a 35-yard shot past Kalac.

This year, we have beaten Chelsea at home and Manchester United at the Emirates. Not many teams can say that. Wenger is also the coach that bought Adebayor from Monaco for £5 million. Also, he bought Henry from Juventes and turned him into the best player we have ever had.

Arshavin may turn out to be a sensation. There is a reason Wenger pulls these players out of nowhere—he has a great eye for the game. A better eye than any of you fly by night, crappy Arsenal fans. This is also the man to lead a team through 49 games unbeaten.

Ok, so now for the bad. Denilson, Eboue, and Song are trash. I admit it, there is no way they can stay in this squad and compete. Let's also be honest with ourselves—behind Villa and Fabregas, Walcott, Rosicky, and Silvestre are out. Villa will not hang on and everyone but Villa fans know it. We won't win the champions league or EPL this year. We have a shot at the F.A. Cup, but it's a small shot.

Arshavin is not the entire answer, but it's a start. We need quality players on the team that will make other players fight for their spots and not feel entitled to their position. For example, Adebayor has no competition without Eduardo.

Be patient everyone. We may not be Manchester United yet, but we can beat them. We aren't crappy Liverpool fans, or a Chelsea team with no character and whiney, overpaid, heartless players like Cole or Drogba.

Hang in there people. We are gonna take fourth place and spend a little more over the summer. Let's support our team and hope for the best. Trust Wenger—he hasn't let us down yet.

C'mon you gonnaz!!