football

Kick around about all things soccer; explore football's storied history, current events in the soccer sphere, the intricacies of the game and more.

The 11 Most Amazing Champions League Facts
The UEFA Champions League is an annual club football tournament, and it's one of the most prestigious club competitions in the world. It was first held in 1955, known then as the European Cup—and in 1992 became known as the Champions League as it is today.
By Hannah McSorley6 years ago in Cleats
The Downfall of Bury
Sport, at the very top, can be a lucrative business, earning athletes hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds. However, you don’t have to look that far down, to the places the big TV money forgot, to see just how quickly sporting endeavors can be financially unsustainable. Recently, Bury FC have been kicked out of the English Football League (EFL) for failing to satisfy the suits in charge that they had enough money to pay off their debts and keep the club running for the next season. But they’re not the only club who’ve been in trouble. Bolton Wanderers were set to follow them but were saved when the club was recently bought by a company called Football Ventures from the administrators, and Coventry were threatened with expulsion last season if they couldn’t find a new ground for the next season. Clubs up and down the country regularly run at a loss, only being bailed out by benevolent owners. So what can be done to stop more clubs going the way of Bury?
By Tom Sharp6 years ago in Cleats
EFL: Clubs on the Brink
A topic that’s appeared all too frequently in football headlines in recent years: clubs on the brink. It goes without saying that this is particularly relevant at this current point in time. This doesn’t relate exclusively to Bury and Bolton; to Orient, Coventry and Portsmouth to name a few. As you will all know, these teams all share a common factor —they were members of the EFL when trouble occurred. In this series of articles, I will be: looking at the stories of individual clubs, taking fans perspectives, hoping to uncover how so many clubs have been left to suffer and exploring the root causes behind these issues.
By Frank Beavis6 years ago in Cleats
10 Interesting Facts About Soccer
Although the exact date that soccer was created is not known and early versions date back to over 3,000 years old, England is credited with being the nation that gave birth to the game as we know it today by FIFA, football’s governing body, in 1863. This may come as a surprise, considering the game’s popularity, but there are actually a number of other interesting facts about soccer that even those that love the game don’t know. Lesser known facts about soccer will no doubt surprise even the biggest soccer fans!
By Connor Brighton7 years ago in Cleats
Barcelona's Relentless Transfer Strategy
After penning Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong, it would seem as if Barcelona has all they need to contend for a treble this coming season. So why are they going after Neymar to add to an already loaded attack? There are probably many factors that go into their pursuit of Neymar, but with current looming questions about how the lineup will work out with the current roster and the amount of talent they already possess, a potential move may seem unnecessary to some.
By Space Zebra7 years ago in Cleats
Finding Value in the Transfer Window
However, with the transfer window still open, there are many more deals to be done. In this inflated transfer market, with players going for tens of millions of pounds, it can be hard for some clubs to strike a good deal and get value for money. So what can clubs do to avoid paying extortionate fees?
By Craig House7 years ago in Cleats
Restarting the Rebuilding of Manchester United
Six years and counting; that is the number of years since we last won the title. It appears that the league left with the old gaffer, and so has the identity of Manchester United. Gone are the days of Stratford End goals that secured titles, gone are the players who truly played for the pride of the shirts on their backs. In this new era of footballers, social media fame is dominant, dodgy agents are prominent, and outrageous transfer fees have crippled the modern market. Has United fallen prey to this millennial madness? It unfortunately has. After Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, United have become a mid-class club battling for fourth place against Arsenal, and the fans have to travel to unknown European cities due to the Europa League. The downfall began when the greatest football manager hung up his coaching boots. David Moyes was Sir Alex's first successor, but he did not exceed expectations. The club was too big for his mentality, even Di Maria's standards dropped at his time at the club. Then came the Dutch dragon, Louis Van Gaal. He was as stubborn as an ox, too critical of his players, and very dutch-football based. Lastly, was the special one, Jose Mourinho. He brought some stability, but he also brought defending tactics that were outdated, and made Man United very boring to watch. He was your 'draw rather than score' type of manager, and although he did manage to get us two trophies, it only painted over the cracks that were deeply felt due to the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Who were the cracks you might ask? it was the old players left by the previous managers, and the greed of the club investors, the Glazers. This was only adding to United's woes.
By Mel7 years ago in Cleats
Footballers Who Have Hidden Talents We Don't Know About
Many footballers are seen as brainless one-dimensional people with no other talents than when the ball is at their feet. Here are some examples of professional football players who have abilities beyond the green grass of the field.
By Football Nerd7 years ago in Cleats
A Guide to Common Soccer Injuries
Soccer is one of the most popular sports all around the world. It is loved by people of all ages, and it requires very little equipment to be able to actually play it. Just like any other sport, there are bound to be some injuries. These injuries are usually classified as acute or cumulative. Acute injuries are traumatic, and are caused by a hit or fall, while cumulative injuries are from putting repetitive stress on a muscle, joint, or tendon. It is important to know what the beginning of these injuries look like, and be able to treat them before they become a life long problem. Here are a few of the most common injuries you will run into while playing soccer.
By Craig Middleton7 years ago in Cleats
The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team Is Underachieving
The United States men's national soccer team is probably one of the most underachieving soccer teams globally in FIFA. When you look at the demographics for soccer in the United States, you clearly see a lot of soccer fields and kids playing on travel clubs and attending some kind of soccer camps. In the U.S., there are over 12 million kids playing outdoor soccer and almost 5.5 million playing indoor soccer as of 2017. In the high school ranks, there are 456,362 boys playing soccer in high school and 390,482 girls playing in high school.
By A.J. Jones7 years ago in Cleats
Liverpool vs. Tottenham UCL 2019 Final
It has been 11 years since two English clubs met in UEFA Champions League final when Manchester United beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the regular time in 2008. The stage is set again as the world will witness the dominance of English football when Liverpool takes on Spurs in UEFA champions league final in Madrid.
By Football Nerd7 years ago in Cleats
Grass Roots Football: The Ups and Downs
Saturdays are the most stressful day of the week for me. Coordinating all of our club teams, hoping everything goes well without any headaches, hoping the teams behave themselves and don’t bring the club into disrepute, and commuting all over the place to put out the little fires that burn up. All to sit down at the end of the day and start worrying about next week all over again. Do I love it? Of course! Why else would I do it? Would I give it up? Maybe... the temptation of peace, straightforward weeks... a day off! So why do I do it?
By Joshua Lino-da Costa7 years ago in Cleats