Suggested Lineups & Formations for United v Arsenal

This first lineup is probably not realistic because it doesn't seem like Rooney is willing to play wide. (or Moyes isnt willing to play him there) However, If Moyes were to utilize a free flowing  system where the front three rotated to the likes of the Dutch total football style, it theoretically would work perfectly and hopefully keep everyone happy. Some of the best football United have played was back in February when Ferguson basically had rotating/free flowing front 4. I for one could see United becoming very successful using this tactic because it gets our best players on the field and allows for adaptability. We would have a much stronger 3 man midfield. Jones could help shield the back 4 while carrick acts as the central hub and Kagawa or Cleverly would be able to linke up with the front 3. However it is important to stress that with this formation that Valencia must be on the bench. This is because there must be a plan B. If we get overrun in the wide areas and fail to create chances, Tony V will need to come on and try to provide cover and crosses from out wide. But unfortunately. we are unlikely to see it.



This 2nd option is probably closer to what we will see on Moyes' team sheet on Sunday. Jones might come as a surprise to some. However, Jones was left out during the midweek fixture against Real Sociedad. This could likely mean that Moyes may want to utilize Jones' energy and tenacity to battle Arsenal's Formidable midfield similarly to how Fergie utilized Jones against Real Madrid last season. Other than that there are really no surprises. Januzaj is Moyes' new favorite man so it is likely he will get the nod of Kagawa but this is not certain. Rafael will be at right back unless he is ruled unfit. This may be the more probable lineup that Moyes fields on Sunday but it has some major weaknesses. A midfield pair will struggle against big opposition like Arsenal as United have so far this season. Even if Moyes does not use a 3 man midfield against Arsenal as I suggested in the first option, it would be really exciting to see him experiment with the idea sometime soon.

Where does United go from here?

 It was always going to be a difficult start for the first United side to begin a season with out Sir Alex. It is clear that it has been a hard kick off for Moyes and co. But it is a long season and while there is work to be done this season can be still be successful one for the Reds. This is a rebuilding year and that means Moyes and his staff should not only be looking to win the league this year but they should be looking to build a team that will win in the seasons to come. The first things that need to be addressed (since they weren't during the summer) is the midfield and defense. It has been clear for sometime now that United need a to bring in a top quality midfielder. There is some debate about whether this player should be a a creative type or more defensive minded or maybe even both. However, this needs to be done as soon as possible. The defense must also be sorted out. With Rio and Vidic on the wain, it is time to give Smalling, Jones and Evans significantly more playing time. For these players to have a chance of developing into United quality starters they must get more experience. If this proves to be unsuccessful then United will have to look elsewhere for Rio and Vida's replacements. It is clear that this process needs to begin now!
   Finally, and possibly the most important thing that needs to happen is that Moyes must get the "United Atmosphere" back at Old Trafford. Moyes, his staff and Ed Woodward have failed to create a sense of confidence at the club so far during their tenure. Moyes' dealings with the media have been disastrous in my opinion. Manchester United is a massive club and someone should be helping David Moyes prepare for press conferences in the same way that the POTUS staff helps him prepare for the press. Whether he believes it or not, Moyes should not be making statements implying we cant win the league or whatever other competition he is discussing. The club should always be presenting a positive and confident face to the world. The same goes for his discussion of transfers. Moyes discussion of "improvement and transfer dealings" etc have been a complete failure. The only outcome has been to show he hasnt been able to get his man and possibly deteriorate his current players confidence. Just get me in the room with the man before a press conference! Ill do it for free.
   Moyes and his staff will figure it out it will just take time but hopefully they will do this sooner than later.

FIFA'S 2022 WORLD CUP FIASCO

      Controversy has followed Sepp Blatter around constantly of late. There were rumors of a scandal during his last re-election. In fact,  The Council of Europe assembly committee has called for FIFA to investigate Blatter's 2011 re-election for whether he used his position to create an unfair advantage against an opponent. Sepp Blatter was again involved in controversy when Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid was accepted. Many people in the world soccer were upset at this decision because of Qatar being chosen over countries such as the U.K. and U.S. Again, there were allegations of underhandedness and implications that Qatar had paid to have their World Cup Bid become successful.
      Sepp Blatter is now calling for the Qatari World Cup to be held during the winter instead of the summer due to avoid the region's extreme heat. The Problem is that Europe's biggest leagues are active during this time of year. The English Premier League, in particular, does not include a winter break during their season as the Spanish league does. Supposedly, when the Qatari bid was accepted, it was stipulated that Qatar would ensure the extreme hear would cause problems for the tournament. As the World Cup is always held in the summer, it was assumed the solution would not be to move the tournament.
     This bid was going to be a problem from the moment it was made. First of all, there was the bid from Britain. The World Cup has not been held in the UK since 1966. So as soon as they were not chosen there was always going to be trouble. However, if Qatar did "purchase" their bid then the English FA do have legitimate complaints against FIFA's handling of this ordeal. US Soccer also has reason to be frustrated. While it was not so long ago that the World Cup came stateside, US Soccer is at a crucial point in its development. The sport is at its most popular point in the nation's history and a successful World Cup bid could propel the sport to the next level domestically. Australia and Japan were also considered but alas the bid was given to Qatar. Qatar is a tiny nation with a population of less than 250,000. Foreign workers actually outnumber native Qataris. It is one of the Arab oil nations and tops the list of the world's richest countries constructed by Forbes Magazine. Soccer or Football is the popular sport. Mr. Blatter argues that the ability to hold the World Cup should not be restricted to European Nations. This is not exactly relevant as the World Cup has been held in Asia, South America, Central America and North America. Still that is not the problem with holing the biggest sporting event in the world in Qatar. While Qatar certainly has the funds to support the tournament, its climate and size raise serious problems to bringing the tournament to its soil. FIFA's solution of moving the tournament will only cause more problems.
       It was just announced today that that UEFA (The governing body of Soccer in Europe) officially voted to move the 2022 World Cup to the winter. This is the only solution if FIFA plan to go ahead with a World Cup in Qatar. However, these issues provide much cause for FIFA's leadership and decision making to be examined. All I can say is that it is probably good that Sir Alex Ferguson has retired because it would not have surprised me to see him attempt to keep his players out of the tournament.


Committee Calls for Blatter investigations - http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/committee-calls-for-investigation-into-sepp-blatters-unopposed-fifa-reelection-7543693.html

United Line up vs. City

United have a big game against rivals Manchester City this weekend! Derby matches are always fantastic to watch and the atmosphere at the Ethiad should be electric! After United's success against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday it is likely that David Moyes will go with a similar line up against the citizens at the weekend.

DeGea is a guarantee. While his loss of focus against Leverkusen may have helped the latter to earn a consolation goal, rest assure the the young spaniard will be ready to make up for it on Sunday. 

The defense is pretty straightforward. The only real question is who will be in at right back. Rafael and Jones are supposedly back in training this week. However, Moyes may still choose to go with Fabio as he rested him last night against the Germans. His performance against Palace was noteworthy and he could get the nod.

There is a slight chance Moyes could play Smalling or Evans in the place of Rio because the United veteran has already played 2 matches this week. But it seems more likely that Moyes will want to keep the Ferdinand - Vidic partnership against the blues and rest Rio the week after.

The obvious choices for the two center midfield spots are Carrick and Felaini and the reasons are obvious. Both looked strong on Tuesday night

Valencia showed glimpses of his old form against Leverkusen on Tuesday which will have United fans hoping he will have run of good form. The other choice might be Nani, although the Portugeese winger has not gotten must playing time under the Scottsman. 

Rooney will stay as the #10 and hopeful continue his wonderful form from the last two matches. I have decided to go with Shinji on the left. This is not for certain. But, fingers crossed, Moyes goes with the Japanese playmaker instead of Ashley Young, Kagawa provides a much needed creative spark whether on the left or through the middle. Finally, RVP will of course be in the striker role up top. 

The Reds have a great shot of going out and grabbing 3 points. But the Ethiad is not an easy place to play at and it will be a tough match. Lets hope the continue on their current form!

DOES AS MONACO HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN LIGUE 1?

Most soccer fans across the globe are aware of the impact that big money owners such as Roman Abramovich and the Oil tycoons from the Middle East have made on the game. While deep pocket owners such as these have definitely distanced their clubs from the rest of the pack, Ligue 1 faces a different problem.

New money has been injected into clubs Paris Saint Germain and AS Monaco. AS Monaco was recently purchased by Dmitry Rybolovlev a Russian Oligarch. Now in it's first season back in the French first division, AS Monaco join fellow big money club PSG there and have spent over 115 million Euros this summer attempting to secure a Ligue 1 title this season. Monaco does retain one advantage that PSG does not have. AS Monaco may play in the French first division but the team is from the small independent city state of Monaco. Monaco has long been considered a tax haven. While Monaco has a population of just over 35,000 it has 0% unemployment and no income tax. Sound great? The world's best players might agree with you. It has become a refuge for some of the worlds wealthiest.

France on the other hand boasts taxes on the wealthy that can exceed 100%. AS Monaco has seen plenty of success in the past. They even progressed to the Champions League final a few years back. Still the tax issue has never been seen as overly serious. That is, until now. Now that Monaco boasts not only no taxes on it's players wages but also seemingly limitless spending ability, the rest of Ligue 1 is speaking up. Who can blame them? With the money, tax advantages and beautiful beaches, who wouldn't want to play there?

The story does not end there. With the coming of Rybolovlev's deep pockets the rest of Ligue 1 decided they had had enough. The New York Times quotes Frédéric Thiriez as saying "It is therefore all the more important that the club adheres to French rules, especially in relation to tax, so that every club in the league is on a level playing field.”. AS Monaco haven't seemed to like this idea and have been strongly averse to any other compromises mentioned. So, it looks as though this issue will continue to be a problem for awhile. But Monaco face other problems such as small stadium and fan base. With so many big name players such as Falcao, Carvahllo, Abidal, Moutinho and Rodriguez, It will be interesting to see what AS Monaco and their big spending owner do to cope with these mounting problems.

Of course AS Monaco's return to Ligue 1 doesn't only bring problems. There are upsides to the former Champions League finalist returning to Frances top division. Monaco's newly purchased superstars and money to spend will attract attention to the French league. Along with PSG, Monaco could help French soccer to succeed in the Champions League (PSG made it to the quarter finals last season.) and gain important exposure.

Regardless of the team's success it is an interesting conundrum. One that you probably wont be able to find anywhere else in world sport. Overall, I think the perks of tax free wages do provide AS Monaco with an unfair advantage over the other Ligue 1 teams. Although, with all of its advantages, Monaco's tiny stadium and fan base cause cause major obstacles on the road to success. Either way a solution will be hard to find. We will all just have to wait and see.






http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/10250930/Money-cant-buy-Monaco-love-as-tax-battle-looms.html


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/sports/soccer/the-tax-haven-team-in-monaco.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

GLOBALIZATION AND SOCCER'S EMERGENCE IN THE U.S.

            Soccer has only recently become popular with fans in the United States. While the sport has had its die hards, it is only in recent years that the sport has had wide spread popularity. A recent poll stated that Soccer was the 2nd most popular sport for people between the ages 12 and 24. The first being the NFL.[i] There has been a giant leap forward in the sports’ exposure in the US over the last 5 to 10 years. Soccer has journeyed from never being seen on television to having special soccer channels and sometimes games being shown on network channels like NBC and FOX. Why has it taken so long for soccer to grab a foot hold among American sports and why is it suddenly happening now?

        Through out its history, soccer has always thrived through the exchange of culture. This is why the sport has flourished in Europe. The relative size of these countries and their proximity to other nations caused or even forced plenty of exchanges between different cultures. This is not thee case for the United States. As we know the US is a relatively large country. Because of its size and amount of resources, this type of exchange has not been as essential for America.

   Even though the organized sport is said to have come out of England, during the latter half of the 19th century it was not English coaches who developed the sport’s most successful style of play. It wasn’t until men like Jimmy Murphy began to look to the continent and utilize the methods of coaches from Spain and Hungary that English soccer began to grow and become competitive with other programs across the European continent. This “osmosis” in soccer is no different than any other aspect of cultures mixing with one another. Just as with food or art, this mixing has allowed for many different styles as well as more accessibility to develop in regards to this sport.

      The United States has always been a very independent nation. From its very inception with the writing of the Declaration of Independence, it possessed a determination to set its self apart.  Others have rarely dictated both US culture and policy. So, from the very beginning, it was going to be difficult for soccer to spread to the US the way it did through out Europe. Simply the nation’s size allows for it to be less dependent. The smaller countries of Europe actually formed the European Union, in part, to emulate the US’s economic capabilities. Just as the smaller European nations were forced to interact because of their size and close proximity, The United States was allowed to be more isolated because of its larger size.

       The internet has changed all of this. The emergence of technology that connected us all has figuratively shrunk the globe to a much smaller size. New media technology has a history of popularizing sports with in the United States. With the emergence of the radio came America’s past time. Baseball exploded. Families gathered around their radio sets (which were more of a piece of furniture at the time) to listen to their team every night or each week. For the first time fans did not have to go to the game to become a spectator. People could witness the game from the comfort of their own homes at minimal cost. This also allowed for the sport to gain fans that it might not have had. Women and children who might not or could not have traveled to the stadium could now follow their team from home.

       Then mid way through the century the television arrived and with it American Football. Football was able to excite sports fans with intense action they could watch from home. The television became the perfect vessel to popularize football to the American masses. Football was a game that needed to be watched. It existed before the television became a house hold item but it wasn’t until then that the sport really blew up. While baseball continued to be called America’s past time and continued to be a popular sport. Football slowly became what it is today: the number one sport in the country.

            Finally at the end of the 20^th century came the Internet and with it a whole new world. It was 1997 when my family first had the Internet in our home. In the decade and a half since then, the world has become a different place. I am not sure that there is another time in history where the world has changed so much in such a short amount of time. In that time we have seen the sport of soccer finally gain a place among America’s most popular sports. Soccer did have a run in the 70’s with big stars being drawn by massive amounts of money but this did not last. It was the Internet that lured American fans to the sport. In 2005 you could very rarely find a game of soccer on TV. Sometimes ESPN would show Champions League matches or some of the world cup. Now every game of every major international tournament is shown on cable. NBC has bought the rights to the EPL in the states and has pledged to display every game. Back in 2005 if you wanted to watch soccer regularly, you had to find a grainy and blurry stream online that would almost always cut out right as someone scored! It has only been 8 years since. Now most MLS and EPL games are televised. Major League Soccer has 19 teams with 14 soccer specific stadiums. We have come along way since the league’s inception in 1996.
        Of course, this goes both ways! While the internet has been popularizing "the world's
sport" in the United States, it has been doing the same thing for American football in other parts of the world. The NFL has never been more popular in places like the United Kingdom than it is now. Games are being shown on television and the sport is developing a fan base. They are even staging games in London for the sports promotion abroad. This just shows again how much the internet and globalization has changed the way American culture interacts with the rest of the world. 

            The national team should get a lot of credit. There is nothing Americans like more than to cheer for the nation in a sporting competition regardless of the sport. However, the US men’s team’s performance in the 2002 world cup showed that an American team could be successful and began drawing attention to the sport. Once again though it is likely that the success national team saw was because of the spread of coaching and development philosophy spread more easily in a now much smaller world.

            Soccer became available to Americans via the Internet. Even though America never had the close proximity relationships with other nations as European nations did, the Internet allowed these cultural exchanges to occur any way. It is simple globalization. As more technology becomes available, the world becomes more connected and more culture is diffused into new places through out the world. The United States is now a top 20 team international, the MLS is drawing more and more stars and there is a soccer game on TV every day. It is safe to say that Soccer is now a force to be reckoned with and will only become bigger and more successful in the years to come.

This is a very short very rough draft of a longer paper that would include more research. Hopefully, sometime soon I will get around to finishing it. For now I would love to hear any feed back that is offered!

Title Signed Sealed Delivered...

With seven matches left, United have all but won the league. Its not wrapped up yet but we are in the home stretch. This has been a different season. United bost a 12 point lead at the top of the table. While this looks to be an encouraging way to finish the season, there have been moments where United have looked less than convincing.

The team has seemed to reverse poles in the second half of the season. During the Fall, United's defense struggled and conceded plenty of goals. However the Reds' attack compensated and accumulated more points from losing positions than any other club in the league. Eventually the defense became settled and have done a very good job of keeping clean sheets. However the team has not been near as lethal in front of goal.

With all of these issues and the season all but wrapped up its hard not to begin thinking about the possible moves the club will make over the summer. SAF has slowly been building a new team filled with youth and new talent. United's going out of Europe in the round of 16 will spur Fergie to look for new options to bolster his side for next season. The depth, youth and success of the current points to exciting things in the future. Still some additions could be made that might jettison this United team to the next level.

It has become fairly obvious that even with all of his talent, Nani's time at Old Trafford has come to an end. He has just not been consistent enough and with the potential cash in from his sale, it would seem a good time to part ways. Anderson, who arrived from Portugal with Nani, has never truly lived up to his potential and seems destined for the same fate. With both of these players probably departing, you will be likely to see some additions to the midfield or out wide. There are still some definite questions about the performances of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia. Both of whom have had poor seasons. I think SAF is unlikely to sell Young so soon and Valencia will (regardless of his form) still be in favor with the him.

The rumors have already started flying concerning arrivals at Old Trafford. The priority should be the MF and a goal scoring wide player. Obviously a return for Ronaldo would be the best option but money is still an issue. Bale would be a wonderful addition but once again Spurs may want too high of a sum for the Welsh winger. It would be very nice to see a box to box midfielder come in. Some one similar to YaYa Toure. Several players have been mentioned including Victor Wanyama and Kevin Strootman. The noise surrounding Lampard seems farfetched. It would be a mistake mostly because of his age. Defensive additions have been mentioned but this should give way to the additions mentioned above. We have a depth there with the exception of left back. With the return of Fabio we should have sufficient players in Defense to perform well. Although, I wouldnt say no to Matt Hummells.

Next season should be an exciting one for United. With the right additions, this side could truly become world beaters on the same level as Barcelona and Real Madrid.