Fern Mc Costigan: November 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

It Never Stops for the Mighty PTFC

Indeed, one club that is determined for everything is the almighty Portland Timbers Football Club, one serious candidate to win it all in this 2015 edition of Major League Soccer.

So far, a club that has demonstrated its persistence and perseverance, that at the end they are seeing their efforts paying off.

After a brilliant match played at Frisco, Texas- the mighty PTFC initial eleven did the ultimate of feats of netting its pass into their first ever-grand finale of the MLS Cup.

Once again, a feat that brings all around memories of that final played in 1975 after their first year inception in that North American Soccer League.

As history repeats itself, but now in a different time and association, that possibly the shield can make its way to the halls of Providence Park.

After a tough and fought off campaign, the Timbers had to endure; suddenly this club sealed the deal on the Texans who had the label of favorites, after displaying an outstanding campaign.

Overall this Dallas FC squad that finished first in the Western Conference table and almost captured its first ever Supporters Shield, had its chance to make it into an interesting outing with a couple of scores.

Still the pure defiance displayed by the Timbers initial eleven that in every minute really played with such hunger and ambition- by not allowing any liberties to the locals, despite their constant pressure on their goalposts.

Very well making their lead count after a nice 3-1 rout at Providence Park, the Timbers Manager Caleb Porter as always making his accurate moves in his lineup, this at the end became the key to their overall success.

Oh, yes all campaign long this man looked like a Cheesmaster with his signature moves in his lineup at the start of ever match the Portland Timbers played, that lauded him the results shown so far and with top notch check mate on his opponents.

Even though the Timbers front man is in his third year, this constitute his second semifinal played after his first year that took over the Rose City Boys to the grand fete and succumb to a belligerent Real Salt Lake squad.

In addition, missing the postseason last campaign by just a mingy point, the attitude of the Timbers Boss was a forward one and like nothing ever happened.

By seeing his Cascadia rivals every campaign netting a shield or two, by far this time the PTFC will have all around bragging rights, by being the first ones to be in the league final and winning the big cup.

Forget about the parade of luminaries and big name players the other so called big guns of MLS had in their arsenals, this club played with such a brethren that we can state that as the sole responsible of their success.

By finishing second at the end of the campaign, this club had to fight his way up the Western Conference table to get above the red line, at the end this club showed off its poised and winning mettle.

Not bad for a club with no stellar names, they just simply delivered as well paying a tribute and becoming an inspiration to those so-called little teams or budget limited.

This squad played as a Band of Brother’s, delivering so far, these Portland Timbers have silenced many of their critics and detractors, by booking a spot in the grand fete of the league final with an experienced Columbus Crew.

Nothing is written so far and no favorites for the upcoming Sunday match, were two squads really did the feat of eliminating the favorites as a sort of a David versus Goliath kind of thing, here we will see both colossus fighting till the end!

One already with experience and a shield under its sleeves, the other is the new kid looking to net the league silverware and rewrite history in the annals of Major League Soccer as an all-around underdog that made it all the way!

RCTID!

Photos Credit and Property of © Portland Timbers Football Club and Craig Mitchelldyer 2015

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Labeled for Ripley, Leicester City in Premiership Top

Wow, who in the world could predict such an outcome, from a club that last campaign after its promotion, suddenly was fighting for its permanency at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

The Foxes really did the ultimate and their efforts prevailed and rewarded for another shoot in the always-competitive Premiership League and playing with the big guns once again.

As many saw a new face in this club helm, still for Leicester City to make a stand, not to fight the demons of relegation, originally, that was a part of the plan, to move along in the competition, and get the best results possible.

Not like the way this club is playing a brilliant and awesomely out of this world football!

Seeing their fortunes suddenly taking a turn for the best and look, we are seeing a display of ambition and extraordinary technique from a club not even to be in these predicaments.

Not even a fighting chance to see this club looking over for one of those so called coveted spots in European competitions or seeing them holding dearly the Barclays table in first place.

I mean no one could predict such outcome and maybe make a recommendation to “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”, after seeing such a display of a club not even a holder of such a prolific budget to net extraordinary players.

In this case, there is only one to point the fingers and, make him responsible for the revival seen at King Power Stadium and for the surge of this squad in this edition of the EPL.

Yes, let us blame first year man in Italian Claudio Ranieri, who took over the reins of this squad despite the efforts and salvation that its predecessor did and was let go at the end of the campaign citing differences.

That was then and now the future is looking a bit brighter for the Blue Army going into the end of the first half and by holding their ground, maybe they will finish as the champs and going maybe for more.

Still with 2016 and with internal competitions such as the FA and Capital One Cups, as many expect a continuance of this club positive streak going.

So far with eighteen points in play City, has a one-point lead over Manu who are their next match and a stand that includes rivals of the likes of Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Everton and Swansea.

For the Foxes Boss will be a test of endurance going against the so-called Armada’s of Premiership and maybe there is a miracle ahead for the City chaps.

By far a club of the likes of Leicester City can make anything happen as well shake off the upcoming pressures and endure with lots of perseverance as already seen throughout this campaign.

This club is to be taken seriously not only in 2015 seen as favorable year but in the league second half were the anxiety in the last months can become a bit stressful and if this squad holds it, the possibilities of a Barclays Shield can be enormous.

Crest Credit and Property of Leicester City Football Club, Telegraph Media and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2015

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Its Moving on up for the Liverpool Boys

They are indeed- as well looking like all around contenders, making a bold approach to the league top spots, and challenging the always-repetitive squads for the top!

This squad is for real and playing a one of a kind football like there was no tomorrow!

That is how I see it and with the arrival of a genius at this Merseyside club helm, maybe we can start seeing some shields flying into its Halls down at Anfield.

Maybe, as Liverpool’s new Boss is really causing a revolution and suddenly his players a bit forgotten in the Reds initial eleven are suddenly resurgent and delivering much needed results in a positive way.

Making many of its faithful dreamed once again of the much coveted and dreamed Barclays Shield that a few years ago slipped through their gasps, as many disappointed Liverpool fans remembered vividly.

That was then and with Jürgen Kloop since taking over this club suddenly has become more ambitious and more dynamic on the field, call it intercepting, running and tackling the opposition, which those factors making a big difference.

Very well moving on up on the overall table and seeing a revival in some of its players getting their lost confidence back and now showing off a new form that has become a successful one at home and now looking to improve on the road.

This will be one of the German new objectives as well goals to have this squad play with such confidence in away venues as well display a one of a kind football as a visiting entity that will impose and authority like no other seen in many years past.

Still we have quite a ways for Premiership and with an always-difficult second half coming in the horizon, what Manager Kloop will need to reinforce some weak spots already noted in the Reds initial eleven that will be the question.

So far, we have seen a new man in Dejan Louvren returning to his old form alongside Emre Can, Martin Skrtel, Adam Lallana, Phillippe Couthino and Alberto Moreno who are shining on since the arrival of the former Borussia man.

Alongside James Milner, Firminho and Nathaniel Clyne who become crucial in this club starting lineup as well contributions in the field and to their new manager this club is moving slowly but surely to the top spots.

At the end, this club can provide to its fans another series of spectacular performances as the one recently performed and displayed as a sort of a lesson to across Merseyside rivals Man City and defending champions Chelsea.

Along with an upcoming schedule that many will dub as an easy one, but remember there is no such thing than an easy foe, with Swansea, West Brom, Newcastle and Watford as their upcoming compromises.

The Liverpool Boys can do a lot of noise in their upcoming matches and seen in the top as a possibility by just taking that winning drive alive and seriousness in the field were lately have really contributed to their success.

Undoubtedly, this club is moving on up to the top spots and looking very much like a champion, as they say in the Kop, “You Never Walk Alone”.

Crest Credit and Property of Liverpool Football Club, Telegraph Media and Wikipedia 2015

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Round One for the PTFC with Style

Very well a one of a kind performance from its initial eleven, despite not having Diego Valeri and Rodney Wallace their utmost play-makers due to accumulation of yellow cards.

At the end that did not matter last night, as this squad are playing one possessed and a one a kind football.

As the final showdown between the Portland Timbers and Dallas FC will be the definitive one to decide in not so easy and always-difficult Frisco, Texas- the home of the FC- to decide the Western Conference title.

Still last night Providence Park and its more than its 20, 000 faithful in attendance, got a taste of an ambitious and wonderful football of their PTFC, that is playing lately with a certain brethren seen in its initial eleven as a “Band of Brothers”.

Hence the results so far, these Timbers do not run they play and with a certain fury and belief in each one of them, making them an unstoppable force not to be mess in the field.

Ask that to a persistent Liam Ridgewell that opened the initial score and converting the venue at SW Morrison into a total madhouse and giving the word hope a new meaning and his squad gaining control of the actions.

Even though the visiting squads played one, devilish and aggressive match throughout the night- the sluggishness in those few minutes by the locals, gave Teixera the right to score the away and fatidic goal for the Texans.

The Timbers had a goal advantage before that play, after a wonderful display of technique and initiative by a resurgent Dairon Aspirilla showing off his skills by netting a wonderful shoot from outside the area for the go-ahead goal.

At times, the Portland Boys started getting their guards down, the motivation and push from chants coming from the Rose City faithful is in the stands, were enough to ignite new life to the family in the Timbers Boys.

Making every play count and derailing the visiting Texans opportunities as well not giving their frontal attack any liberties for more dangerous they were, the PTFC backfield prevailed and persevered.

As always, the yellow cards were a bit unjust- but the work of the collegiate in the field was indeed to be approved, as the official stopped the Dallas squad cold in its tracks after getting into a sort of dirty game and was all over the field when needed.

For the Portland Timbers the buck did not stopped there as both Managers made their respective changes and for the visiting FC Boss Oscar Pareja, his substitutions were to start some havoc.

It is when the Timbers man at the helm sent his response with Urruti starting in the whole stands the traditional chant’s allusive to him and Will Johnson making his appearance again and earlier Papparatto doing it for an injured Ridgewell.

The PTFC really did the ultimate of efforts when a corner kick in favor of the Rose City didn’t went unappreciated when the big man Pappa hit putting it into Nat Borcher’s path and voila he push it for the third goal.

As the last match of the campaign ended at Providence, hopes for the big date for December 6 are very high as well looking forward to next week’s match at Dallas and seal the deal.

Nothing is written so far, but nothing is impossible as the Band of Brother’s and its Boss seen as a Cheesmaster can do the ultimate of feats and deliver a final to Rose City, with his magic and ultimate of moves.

RCTID!