Fern Mc Costigan

Saturday, February 7, 2015

A Very Contested Edition of the North London Derby

Score one for the local Boss Mauricio Pochettino, who in every match at the helm of his Hotspurs, he’s showing off his mettle and readiness for prime-time- alongside his chaps.

A nice afternoon for football and with a nice venue to witness it, in White Hart Lane, were both squads being ready for the ultimate of tests.

It was a visiting Arsenal Gunner squad looking to net another win under their sleeves and three points that could give them a nice tie at second with Manchester City, who drew with a modest and weak Hull City.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, things didn’t worked that way as Arsene Wegner chaps saw a brilliant formation in the Lilywhites initial eleven- that wasn’t going to disappoint their followers and win it with style.

And although Arsenal opened the hostilities by an early Mesut Özil score at the eleventh minute, it was the local chaps that deciphered the French skipper strategy.

This was a day were the Spurs showed a certain resilience and determination to win this match and Derby that went into its 174^th edition and with a one side advantage going to the Arsenal Gunners.

Still this match belonged to one man in the Spurs eleven, showing a certain transition from his U-21 form and a certain readiness to play with the big guns of the English National Team.

That man was Spurs Harry Kane- after showing his all-around skills of a top rated striker and sending a message to England’s skipper Roy Hodgson on hand at White Hart Lane, showing off a couple of goals that sealed the deal for his Boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Something that every week, the Spurs are making a certain move to the top of the league positions and currently on fifth place tied currently with Manu, as these latter ones have a match pending.

So far Tottenham seeded in fifth place with 43 points and netting thirteen points out of eighteen in play and a three match winning streak, this London based club is on the rise in its game and looking a bit confident in its upcoming matches.

Currently this squad with its points spread, is assuring a Europa Cup position, that can change, if this club continues with its ascent in the overall league table, they can be looking to book a Champions League ticket.

finally the top brass of the Spurs are showing some signs of positives, as well seeing in their current skipper Mauricio Pochettino a certain level of maturity and making this club return to its old glory days.

At the end, today's Spurs win showed this club emergence as a contender and that its current Boss philosophy of getting in the field players with a conviction to win.

As many of us witness a very competed and heated edition of the North London Derby, were the fans from both squads in the stands, came as the overall winners of this edition of this traditional match.

Crest Credit and Property of Sunderland Association Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Telegraph Media Group 2015

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

Friday, February 6, 2015

The Montreal Impact Seriously Eyeing the League Shield

Indeed, it’s what Joey Saputo has put between his eyes and mind, to make his squad a top notch contender, as well contend for the overall league shield in this 2015 edition.

After finishing in its third year with another debacle and in the horrendous cellar of the Eastern Conference, this squad front office really has been on the task of assembling a top notch entity.

As Major League Soccer, entering its twentieth edition and with a couple of new kids on the block making their presentation in this edition- as well seeing in what promises to be another competed edition.

Owner Joey Saputo and its second year Manager Frank Klopas, didn’t wanted to repeat another mediocre performance of last campaign and make them ready to contend and win every shield as possible.

Starting with the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship, where they open in semifinals with their highway 99 cross rivals the Toronto Reds.

So far representing Major League Soccer, The Impact seeded in Quarterfinals of the region CONCACHAMPIONS- where they played in Mexico with powerhouse Pachuca FC in the first leg and returning to Montreal’s State Olympique for the final and deciding match.

Dealing is the name of the game for Impact owner Joey Saputo, getting into his club roster several players with international experience and European playing resume under their experience.

This club faithful and front office are hopeful that Le Gars can repeat in the league postseason as they did on 2013 after their second year when they made it to the Promised Land.

Still for skipper Klopas, is more than making the league playoffs, but overall he would like to contend in the final as well be the first Canadian squad in MLS to win the coveted league shield.

After trading their midfield orchestrator in Felipe to the New York Red Bulls for defenders Ambroise Oyongo and Eric Alexander, the Impact so far has signed TFC forward Dominic Oduro and former Chivas USA midfielder Nigel Reo Cocker and defender Donny Foia.

Montreal is looking good in many areas with the addition of international players in the likes of Argentinian defender Victor Cabrera, Belgian international midfielder in Laurent Ciman and Italian midfielder Marco Donadel.

Looking good indeed, is what this club top brass is looking forward to contend and become a squad not to be mess with in this edition of Major League Soccer.

Recently in a press conference the Impact owner calm speculations about the arrival of Italian forward in Antonio Di Natall from Udinese, still he assured everyone that there’s a possibility of seeing legendary Fiorentina forward Alberto Gilardino playing at Saputo Stadium.

I do respect the way this club owner is working hard in assembling a competitor on the eve of another disputed championship in Major League Soccer, that promises to be an spectacular campaign by many of its clubs so far armed to the teeth.

Aller Impact de Montréal, tout gagner!

Crest Credit and Property of Montreal Impact Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit and Property of © Montreal Impacts 2015

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Vancouver Whitecaps Ready for League Primetime and Top Notch Dominance

It looks like the BC Place chaps are up in arms in this edition of Major league Soccer, one that promises to be another contested edition from start to finish.

That’s why those hardened Caps are making the most of it to reinforce all of its spots and to counter a number of challenges thrown at them in this upcoming campaign.

Here were its second year Boss Carl Robinson, has set his sights in assembling another contender and with the help of this club front office, the machine looks ready to charge this 2015!

These Vancouver Whitecaps, by far have been more successful than its two Canadian counterparts, with a couple of postseason appearances and being the Cascadia Cup winner with back to back titles over its Portland and Seattle foes.

A club that had a lot of spectacular matches in last edition and all South American attack headed by its superstar Chilean Pedro Morales and its midfield headed by Argentinians Mauro Rosales and Matias Laba.

The Caps don’t stop here until perfection reaches its maximum and recently added to its roster there great in a couple of Uruguayans in Diego Rodriguez and Octavio Moreno to reinforce its midfield and create a more spectacular any dynamic game.

Alongside getting the services from its southern foes the Timbers in big man and defender in Pa- Madou Kah along Steve Beitashour, Kendall Watson and Jordan Harvey will make one tough and impenetrable wall.

Very well assure a quiet and relaxing afternoon under the Caps posts for their goalie David Ousted who has put some amazing performances for the Caps and denying any liberties for opposing strikers.

Talking about goal scorers and feared buy opposing goalies in Erick Hurtado and Darren Mattocks, these two will have a good group of orchestrators that will enable them to score more goals and continue their mastery and intimidation of opposing defenses.

Something that Manager Robinson is looking forward to make out of his squad into a contender and to make his squad into one of the most respected and the most feared.

Looking good indeed, this squad really has the elements to succeed in this upcoming edition of MLS, which will debut two squads in the NYFC and Orlando City SC who these chaps will be playing.

at the end this club can and will outperform many of its rival and with their Manager winning attitude and focus in the game this club can fly very high and be one nightmarish squad to pay with on a one to one basis.

If everything goes as planned by Manager Carl Robinson, this club won’t be an easy foe to mess with and can redeemed itself as one tough customer to mess with, as well make its way to the league postseason if not final, they can do it!

Crest Credit and Property of Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Monday, February 2, 2015

A Defiant Orlando City Ready to Roar in MLS with Style

Hail to the Purple Lions of Orlando City Football Club, our new chaps to make their son awaited debut in the ranks of Major League Soccer.

As many state, that soccer is back in Florida and soon will see his chaps roar in what many will witness a very heated and competed campaign this 2015.

These Lions are for real and looking ahead with many promising challenges, especially from its first ever designated player in international Brazilian sensation Kaka, already making promises of a championship run!

Very well the club getting reinforcements from left to right as well hearing rumors of a possible arrival of another top star in Ronaldinho, something not confirmed by this club and just being speculated.

Still the club did its moves and getting top class players in American Brek Shea from English Championship side Birmingham City as well the newly arrival of Colombian Cristian Higuita and Carlos Rivas.

Another great addition was North Ireland National and Huddersfield Town striker in Martin Paterson and Honduran international Bryan Rochez as their second Designated Player.

Defensively this club will have former Portland Timbers sensation in Donovan Ricketts under its posts alongside internationals Aurelien Collin both of these coming under the expansion draft and English defender and Northampton backfield in Luke Boden.

Wow and the beat goes on as this club front office is really moving pieces like in a chess match to get the best to its roster and become an all around contender and assemble a winner for top Boss Adrian Heath.

Not only in the field the OCSC is making headlines but in the ticket sales that already surpassed the 11,000 mark and among one of those important ticket holders were among former MLB slugger Ken Griffey Jr.

Another plus that this club has is in its two support groups in the Ruckus and the Iron Lion Firm ready to make history in the stands and try to be among the elite of league supporters.

With their own stadium in the works in downtown Orlando City, the Lions will have a place to call home on 2016 with a nice state of the art venue that will seat more than 19,000 fans.

For now the OCSC will play at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando with a capacity of 65,000 and maybe the Lions followers can make all sorts of record attendances with their new squad in its temporary venue as the Seattle Sounders did in their first year of inception.

Hopes are high as well optimism reigns in the Lions squad and its followers for a prime time debut and campaign overall performance to contend hopefully in the league postseason as an expansion squad.

Maybe this club can make a lot of headlines in their first campaign of inception in MLS and be a hardened squad to deal with and be as competitive as its current roster hopefully works wonders!

Welcome aboard Orlando City Soccer Club to Major league Soccer!

Crest Credit and Property of Orlando City Soccer Club Football Club and Wikipedia 2015