Fern Mc Costigan: January 2015

Friday, January 30, 2015

A New Campaign in the Works and Renewed Hopes for Toronto!

Back to the drawing board again and hopefully this time pays off, one with an outstanding campaign, second that this club doesn’t experience another meltdown like 2014 and third none of its players leaving this entity.

That was the case of Jermain Defoe that didn’t adapt his style and game to the MLS as well Julio Cesar the famed Brazilian goalkeeper for the TFC, which left to join his old Premiership squad after its promotion.

For their new Boss Greg Vanney a former All American surged from UCLA and played in different squad’s in the MLS, this chap after taking over at the middle of the campaign and rescuing them from disaster.

It looks like this skipper once again will have an overall challenge and an opportunity to shine with the TFC in order to take them to the promised land of the league postseason.

Something that this club never been or qualified since their inception in 2007 and in comparison to its cross country foes in the Vancouver Whitecaps appearing twice and their I-99 rival’s the Montreal Impact with one.

Still this club front office really went out of its way and to put another contender in the works as in last campaign- that they made all sorts of headlines with a couple Premiership players and one American International from Serie A Roma.

Unfortunately the campaign went from good to worst and by then leveling by their interim Manager- suddenly hopes were envisioned in the horizon and this squad missed the postseason by just a few points.

Leaving a bitter taste in this club directives and followers that saw in disbelief how another campaign went in disarray and without any chance of seeing their squad out of the league playoffs.

That’s in the past and now the way this squad is getting reinforced from A to Z, is something that its league foes are looking very seriously in the Toronto chaps- determined to win it all this time!

With an original roster kept and some faces coming from many European theaters, BMO Field will see a new and renewed squad determined to win it all and maybe be in the league finals- still time will be in TFC side.

As current squad leader and experienced midfielder in Team USA top rated players in Michael Bradley, that so far is excited to a reunion with his old chap in the national squad in Jozy Altidore which promises to be a one two attack.

Then the TFC will see in its attack in Sebastian Giovinco from Italian giant Juventus a new weapon alongside midfielder Benoit Cheyrou from French side Marseille that will make a dynamic game of the Reds.

Also the TFC reinforced its backfield with guns in Eric Zavaleta and Polish international Damien Perquis alongside Steve Caldwell will reinforce what was the Aquilae Tendon for the Toronto chap’s last campaign.

Wheeling and dealing is what GM Tim Bezbatchenko is doing on the eve of another contested edition of Major League Soccer where every squad in the league is reinforcing all of its positions and looking like an all-around armada.

At the end Toronto will look once again like an overall contender as well a heavy favorite to finish atop its group, still with a new rivalry in the horizon in NYFC, interesting is the word for a new series of challenges ahead.

Toronto Football Club is one serious entity that’s looking ahead as top rated contender and this indeed, can be its year that they can soar to new heights, with that squad, I do think this club can do it!

Crest Credit and Property of Toronto Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Telegraph Media Group 2015

Saturday, January 24, 2015

The Day that Two Premiership Giants were Shocked in FA!

Here we go again with another version of David versus Goliath- in the football arena of the English Premier League, when two of the so called giants, perished in what many thought that were going to play an easy afternoon of football.

Indeed, doubting these last words, as I always said it with a certain tone of reality, that there is no such thing as an easy foe and whatever the circumstance of the so called big guns- that can yield to the littlest of foes!

Ask that to Premiership giants Chelsea Blues and Manchester City Citizens that saw blue in today’s presentation and disputing a place in the always reputable FA Cup competition.

With a couple of little entities in Bradford City Association Football Club and situated in the always avoidable League One or better known as a third division below the Championship League.

For the other group of high achievers situated for some time in the Championship League a step closer to Premiership, Middlesbrough FC was in its best forms and with an inspired afternoon, doing the ultimate of feats.

Let me start with the boys from West Yorkshire and go by the name of Bantams, Citizens and Paraders- something that they did today as a visiting squad and disputing in what it seem a tough foe in the Stamford Bridge boys.

Going to this central London venue isn’t a walk in the park or a picnic, whatever you want to call it- still the chaps directed and put in the field by a determined Boss in Phil Parkinson, who somehow came filled with inspiration and lots of wisdom.

You may say why? By just defeating the current leader of Premiership or the top league, in Chelsea a dominant entity so far in this campaign and possible league champions, seeing this as feat like no other and something to be spoken in many days!

A nice 4-2 score after the home squad was dominating the match and had a comfortable lead and then everything fell down for Jose Mourinho boys and looking at the feat performed by the Bantams for the win!

Then going to Etihad were the Citizens are a bit invincible and tough to beat, not today of course with a fifth round in the FA Cup in play- the Sky Blues bit the dust shockingly with another inspired boss in Boro Boss Aitor Karanka, looking for his club to return to its old Premiership glories.

And who they made pay, the last edition of Premiership and defending champions the Manchester City Citizens managed by Manuel Pellegrini, who saw a non-fighting entity in his chaps and overconfident as well.

Here a stoic and upsetting 2-1 score was sufficient for the visitors to earn a precious victory of gold as well eliminate the home field advantage Citizens from FA competition as well became the talk of the league.

I hail these competition as the so called little teams or entities can claim a piece of glory and show a promising future for their clubs and young players alike, bravo once again for the achiever’s!

As Bradford City AFC and Middlesbrough did the ultimate of feats and ridiculed and upset a couple of giants that could have an easy afternoon or practice- there is no such thing as an easy ride, no such thing boys.

Crest Credit and Property of Bradford City AFC and Middlesbrough Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Telegraph Media Group 2015

Monday, January 19, 2015

Does Someone Care of Your Newcastle Magpies Woes Lately Mr. Ashley!

“I Pity the Fool”, but not this one that goes by the name of Mike Ashley- yes that indifferent owner that for a fact doesn’t give a hoot about his squad latest performances.

Very well unaware or acting very cold hearted in reference to his squad sudden slip in the overall table and losing streak.

We can state by losing your skipper or letting him depart without any persistence and in the middle of the Championship, isn’t something to be proud of!

As the case of Alan Pardew sudden move to Crystal Palace after leveling a bit the squad after a slow start and sudden revival, that at the end was just publicity or being feed up with the lack of attention from the front office.

The man that took the Magpies into a fighting stance in its first year and next thing was of getting the Magpies in UEFA Europa League tournament, after a long absence.

It doesn’t make any sense at all, maybe for the Geordies owner it does as his lack of a passion towards his club is seen only as a tax write off, right old chap!

Or you want to accumulate participation in other clubs such as the Glasgow Rangers to have a nice hefty pardon in tax time from her Majesty tax collectors.

Wow, Mister Ashley please be a bit involved and give a bit for your squad, that for many has been so respected through the years as well been a part of the English League history annals.

After all this club has written its name in gold in league play, after many years of glories past and so far hasn’t been any attention to details so far in landing a respectable chap to manage it.

Not only being seated at the helm but make it an all-around contender and try to salvage this campaign in an effort to scale to the league top and at least land a European position.

It can be done, don’t tell me it cannot be done, and is up to Newcastle United top brass to decide when is the right time to name a serious chap, soon if not possible.

For caretaker Manager in John Carver, he is not the solution for the problem that the Magpies should avoided a longtime ago after seeing a certain struggle with their former Boss Pardew.

Owning a team isn’t just being in the special seats but caring for it and maintaining a winning tradition once lost for this Tyne- Daly club in need of wins as well shields to its halls at Saint James Park.

When will this club decide on who will take over its reigns as Boss very well the arrival of new blood that can inject some fight to the current roster of this entity Mr. Ashley.

Hopefully your decision won’t be a little late and see the Newcastle United entity struggling to keep afloat as well fighting for its permanency in the big circuit of Premiership, your Toon Army and your hard core follower’s don’t deserve it!

Crest Credit and Property of Newcastle United Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Patience and Faith will End the Villains Scoring Woes

Villa Park saw a desperate Boss trying in vain to rally his strikers to make at least a dent into the visiting goals posts, something that prove useless.

Unfortunately the Villains couldn’t capitalize as well decipher an excellent match played by an inspired Anfield squad, that suddenly are looking like contenders.

A hard to swallow 2-0 loss to Liverpool exposed how the Lions are in desperate need of a striker of a new dynamic in their strategy to counter a not so easy schedule and keep away from the no descent zones.

So far 42 minutes and counting is the toll that the Claret and Blue are lacking and with no signs of progress seen anywhere, still hope is alive and a positive mood reigns at Villa Park.

With players so far making count of their achievements and progress seen in this match and although the score wasn’t on their side, their hopes are deposited in newcomer in the midfield Spaniard Carles Gil.

The Valencia prodigy and newcomer to Birmingham considered a vital piece in the overall attack for Manager Paul Lambert who so far is living a certain pressure to stop this negative streak.

Very well start delivering positive results to this squad faithful that so far are showing off their discontent in several empty seats seen lately at Villa Park.

Still nothing is lost with a club having a low budget and with £3 million pounds left to purchase players which seems impossible in this day and age after the giants throwing millions to reinforce their core!

Aston Villa has an excellent initial eleven as well its skipper Lambert doing a fine job at the helm, impossible for him is to make miracles with all the levels of competitiveness from all of the Premiership squads.

Every campaign in the English Premier league has become a sort of a contested entity with all its squad’s looking to win the ultimate of trophies alongside their permanency in the big circuit.

Something that Lambert and company must take seriously and start netting some much needed goals for the sake of this club as well trying to start adding points in their cause and try to make a move in the overall table.

Looking ahead with a schedule not so comforting where the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea are among the next rivals, the Villa boys can make some noise by netting important wins as nothing is impossible.

Very well not to underestimate you rival as the Claret and Blue can really play the role of spoiler for both of these so called giants of Premiership.

Paul Lambert in the next weeks is in need of making some moves with his initial eleven as well create a certain game plan that can stop its foes cold in its offensive attack as well get off that negative drought.

By showing some much needed patience and faith in his players the Villains can see a revival as soon you can say bob’s your uncle and net important wins as this club faithful and Boss much desires, Villa can do it!

Crest Credit and Property of Aston Villa Football Club and Wikipedia 2015