A soccer blog for soccer players, fans, parents and coaches.
Box Fort vs. Uncle Sam
Nov 8th
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Our friends over at soccerpro.com recently moved to a new warehouse and sent us a video of the insanity that results from a 450-box “box fort”, 6 bored employees, Halloween costumes, and a few other things.
Posted by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Cristiano Ronaldo Passes with His Butt….
Nov 8th
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There are no words to describe this….either genius or madness…
Posted by: Matthew Wall, soccerprose.com
Landon Donovan Gets Away with It
Nov 5th
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Check out Landon Donovan’s rugby tackle on a poor FC Dallas defender. This why the MLS is viewed as the village idiot of domestic soccer leagues.
Credit to thedirtytackle for this one
Posted by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Villarreal Home Jersey Review
Nov 4th
Currently a contending for a La Liga title, El Submarino Amarillo are currently sporting a new Home jersey that is turning heads.
The Villarreal Home Jersey is made by Puma and the 100% polyester material is a testament to that. Putting on the jersey, I felt quite comfortable. The jersey has a similar feel to that of a mesh material. The back of the jersey supports this view, as intricate patterns line the material. At a closer look, the design looks similar to a spine, which is quite eye-catching too and a bold decision from Puma. However, the mesh feel makes the jersey quite breathable for torrid game time conditions, a definitive plus for the shirt. Some will knock the bright yellow colors, but the tradition of the club and the players who play for the Yellow Submarine will testify they are proud to wear the bright colors (players like Giuseppe Rossi, Marcos Senna, and our very own Jozy Altidore). Remember, Jozy Altidore notched his first goal for the storied club recently? He’ll start hitting his stride in this styling jersey and he’s leading the US attack to in his USA Home Jersey.
The team’s crest is nested in the upper right hand corner of the jersey, as is tradition with most soccer jerseys out there. A Puma logo is stitched into the upper left hand corner and looks nice and clean. One noticeable missing feature of the jersey is the lack of a sponsorship. This makes the feel a bit plain, however the layout of the two front pieces looks professional and subtle. I’m personally a fan of teams not selling shirt space to failing insurance companies or firms you’ve simply never have heard.
Many will be deterred by the bright yellow colors, but in all honesty, the trend in jerseys and soccer gear is to have others look at you in your noticeable threads. The Villarreal Home Jersey is certainly noticeable, flashy, yet simple and professional thanks to its lack of sponsorship. Puma built a jersey that will last thanks to the 100% polyester fabric. The jersey has some unique features, such as the mesh back design and the vibrant colorway. Overall, a solid jersey.
Written by Chris Behrens, writer for soccerprose.com
Matty Burrows Goal Shortlisted for FIFA Goal of the Year
Nov 3rd
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So it seems the lone ranger from Glentoran FC, Matty Burrows, has had his brilliant injury time back-heel winner short listed for the FIFA goal of the year award. According to the BBC, Fifa contacted the Irish FA on Tuesday to confirm the goal would be in the running for the Ballon d’Or Puskas award, which was launched last year in memory of the great Hungarian footballer Ferenc Puskas.
Burrows told BBC Radio Ulster that he found out about his nomination from a team-mate at training on Tuesday night. Watch him interviewed here.
He said: “The whole thing is unreal and it’s only just sinking in,” said the Glens striker.
“I could maybe try to do that 100 times and it would only come off once – I just caught it perfectly.”
When reached for further comment by the BBC the Irish FA had the following statement:
“This is a tremendous achievement for Matty Burrows, Glentoran and the Carling Premiership to be catapulted onto the world stage.”
Here at soccerprose.com we wish Matty Burrows all the best and we’re happy we could help to spread the knowledge of his exceptional talent to the world. Have a look for other video of his exceptional finishing on our site.
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Valdes’ Karate Kick Nearly Takes N’Doye Dame’s Head Off
Nov 3rd
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Barcelona’s Victor Valdes pole-axes Copenhagen’s N’Doye Dame as he gets past Puyol. He didn’t get a card, Dame was penalized, but stayed on the pitch for the rest of the match.
Posted by: Chris Behrens, soccerprose.com
All Hail Gareth Bale, the new Ryan Giggs
Nov 3rd
This past January, a 20 year-old Welshman was fighting his way to stay with the a reinvigorated Tottenham squad that secured a Champions League spot a few months later. Now, Gareth Bale is the go-to player that catalyzes a now potent attack that can terrorize any defense. Including last year’s European champions, Inter Milan. Bale ran rampant at former world-class right back Maicon for the second time in group play and made him look like semi-professional player with his bold runs down the wing. Get to know that ridiculous haircut now. You may be witnessing the birth of the new Ryan Giggs.
The kid seems to have seemingly limitless amounts of stamina and speed. And get this. I think he’s just starting to find his feet. One clear fault in his game is his occasional heavy touches and his ability to lose possession with relative ease. His youth and inexperience at the top level will teach him to get this under control in a heartbeat. Even if he doesn’t in the near future, he can still obliterate the world’s best backs with ease, as evidenced by his hat-trick performance in the 1st leg versus Inter Milan and his man-of-the-match performance in the 2nd leg, setting up the second and third goals on the night. Bale will certainly become the most highly touted prospect in the upcoming winter transfer period if he keeps up these delightful performances, with huge clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid monitoring Welshman’s progress closely. Sir Alex Ferguson, meet your future left winger aka Ryan Giggs of the 90′s. Don’t believe me? Let’s do a quick comparison:
Bale: Seething pace, play-maker, utility player, Welsh
Giggs: Pace, play-making ability, can play in most midfield positions, Welsh.
Both have also been described as “boy-wonders” and have come to make a huge impact at a very young age. Sir Alex Ferguson will now (as evidenced by Rooney signing a new contract) be looking to go big in the transfer market and what better way to go into January then expressing interest in replacing an absolute legend of the club with a potential new superstar. He has all the qualities to become an absolute monster in the EPL and he clearly has the strength and speed to annihilate the best right backs around. As long as he keeps his stamina and develops a better touch on the ball, it’s official: I’m crowning Gareth Bale the new Ryan Giggs. Fight all you want. Let me know in 6 months if you agree. Until then, take in the magic of the goofy-haired Welshman at Tottenham. He may be gone in January.
Wazza and Gazza…Disturbing Parallel’s
Nov 2nd
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Much has been written of Wayne Rooney and his saga with Manchester United in the last few weeks, most have focused on his contract, or his lack of goals, and have chalked it up to difficulties in his personal life. However, no one has attempted to go further and discuss the taboo topic of the mental health of England and the Red Devils talismanic player.
Rooney is often compared to the greatest players in football, Ronaldo, Messi, Zidane, but I can think of another former England talisman player who parallels his life, both personal and professional; Paul Gascoigne.
Rarely spoken of these days, Gazza, as he is known, mostly because the tabloids are too lazy to learn to spell anything French, has led a life marker by soaring highs, and shocking lows. He was one of the greatest players of his generation, and had the potential to be one of the best ever, but was cut down by the slow progression of his own mental illness. For Gazza, football was life, he poured everything into it, and when he wasn’t playing or training he got bored or depressed and chaos ensued. For along time, everyone in the press, and probably Gazza himself, assumed it was the pressure of the popularity that was getting to him, or he needed some time off. In fact, it was the time off that was slowly killing him.
In 2004, his autobiography Gazza: My Story, written with Hunter Davies,was published along with a follow-up book Being Gazza: Tackling My Demons in 2006, also with Davies. In it, he details undergoing therapy for bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and alcoholism. You see, as an obsessive compulsive, he was obsessed with soccer, and when he couldn’t play, he couldn’t cope, and as a result turned to the red lights, alcohol, and drugs.
Today, he remains addicted to alcohol, and despite several tints in rehab. Most recently he appeared at the scene of the tense stand-off between the police and Britain’s most wanted man Raoul Moat. He gave several apparently drunken and barely-coherent radio interviews in which he claimed to be a friend of the fugitive and stated that he had brought him ‘a can of lager and some chicken’. Such is the sad fate of man destroyed my a pathological love of the game.
Unfortunately, Wayne Rooney’s recent meltdown mirrors Gazza’s early career, and he shows some of the same disturbing signs. Now I’m not saying Wayne Rooney will be drunkenly giving interviews to the BBC, but his obsession with is own form, and intensity on the pitch may mean that these few weeks off in Dubai are not going to be good for him. I honestly think that Rooney didn’t mean to offend the fans wearing Manchester United jersey, or care as much about the money as some have claimed. He wants to be sure he is on a team where he can play top flight football because that’s his life, and like Gazza he can’t live without it. His spat with Ferguson over not playing for two weeks, in which he responded to the questions about why he is not playing with “I don’t know,” seems to fit the picture of a man a bit off his head.
As for his personal meltdown, it seems another worrying coincidence as his dalliance with Roxanne’s of London came during a period where he wasn’t playing football, just like Gascoigne. And going for a slash against the wall of a building when your a top flight footballer seems to fit with Gazza’s story as well.
For the moment, he seems to be getting things back on track with his wife, and will be back playing soon, but I hope for his sake Fergie has a stern eye on Rooney’s mental health as well as his physical condition. If not, he has a very long way to fall.
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
Heurelho Gomes in the Wrong: Bottom Line
Nov 1st
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One of the most bizarre and controversial goals in English Premiere League history occurred on Saturday in a match between Manchester United and Tottenham. If you haven’t already seen or heard about it, I’ll give you a quick recap: With six minutes left in the game and United leading by a goal, Nani fell to the ground after a challenge by Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul. 
As he did, Nani intentionally handled the ball, which prompted Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to pick it up and place it on the ground in front of him in anticipation of a free-kick. The linesman signaled for a free kick, however the main referee, Mark Clattenburg, did not. With Gomes lined up to take a free kick that was non-existent, Nani looked to the Clattenburg, who signaled to “play on”. Nani quickly turned and pounded the ball into the net, igniting his best Michael Jordan tongue impression.
There are two schools of thought in this controversy:
1). Clattenburg was in the wrong for not realizing the intentional Nani handball. Although this is true and the handball was clearly intentional, a referee is only human. Clattenburg did not realize the infraction and had no reason to from the angle he stood. Clattenburg could have clearly looked to his linesman to see if a call needed to occur. However, he may have had in his mind that Nani was trying to buy a penalty kick from the Kaboul challenge. Clattenburg saw no wrong-doing from the Kaboul challenge and let play resume, much to the dissatisfaction of United players. Some will use this case as a further need for instant replay. I say nay. Players are always taught to play until the whistle sounds. No whistle was sounded, making the fault to be made on Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes
2). Gomes should have not assumed the call would be made. At a very young age, players are (or should be) instilled by coaches to play the game until the referee sounds the whistle. This basic fundamental thought slipped Gomes mind, and as a veteran keeper, is unacceptable. He ultimately let down his teammates by an assumption. Don’t get me wrong; a hold a bit of sympathy for the Brazilian international keeper. IF he had heard a whistle. Video only indicates his assumption that an infraction occurred, however. I could see a mistake occurring like this with a young goalkeeper with a mediocre team; not one in a Tottenham jersey. Clattenburg may have missed the call, but ultimately several calls are missed a game, and this was one of many in the match. Sir Alex Ferguson perhaps said it best: ““You can look at the referee and look at the linesmen and blame them, but the goalkeeper should know better. He’s an experienced goalkeeper.” “The referee played on because the goalkeeper had possession of the ball. So the goalkeeper has made an error. It was bizarre.” Bizarre indeed. But in reality, the goalkeeper’s fault.
Written by Chris Behrens, writer for soccerprose.com
