Fern Mc Costigan

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Dundalk looking forward to their new adventure in Europa League

After their Champions League upset by Legia Warsaw, the Dundalk Lilywhites journey did not stop cold and the flamboyant League of Ireland back-to-back champions- are in for a new adventure to start once again in European soils.

Coming short 180 minutes, Dundalk first leg loss of 2-0 and then going to Poland for the second round after drawing at one goal apiece, the Lilywhites came short of their objective to get to play with the big guns. Still the disappointment was visible but not completely, as the news of their new challenge announced.

As suddenly, the Loth County chaps are to start a new chapter in the always contested and prestigious too- Europa League competition.

With the traditional Group draws that number a total of eleven and forty-eight squads from all the confines of Europe, the UEFA governing body suddenly placed Stephen Kenny and his chaps, with not so easy company.

Seeded in Group D, the Lilywhites will compete with the likes of top gun and Russian Premier League Zenith St. Petersburg, Holland Eredivisie’s AZ Alkmar and Israeli Premier League Tel Aviv Macabbi.

By the looks of it, the Boys from Eire will continue to sort their Airtricity compromises alongside their new European adventure, sorting both leagues challenge and seeking to move into the next rounds in the European one.

Despite not competing in the always prestigious Champions League and its top rated clubs of the Likes of Barcelona, Man City, Paris St. Germaine and defending champions Real Madrid to name a few.

Still the Europa League known to be one amazing, spectacular contest filled with lots of excitement, and one of kind matches that have to be decided via the always-infamous penalty kicks.

In the case of Dundalk to play its Europa League matches will be at Dublin’s Tallaght Stadium, here the Lilywhites with a new endeavor, these better take advantage of their situation of playing a s home team and making the best of netting positive results.

This time the Eire Boys will be experiencing again the not hospitable crowds at Siberia and after their Bate Borisov experience, Zenith and its crowds will not become an easy affair for Kenny and his chaps playing at always-tough Krestovsky Stadium.

So far, manager Kenny knows of the caliber of this club once managed by former Chelsea and Tottenham Boss Andre Villa- Boas and now under the direction of Rumanian Micea Lucescu, the Lilywhites will be going against an unknown system.

Another not so easy but not mysterious rival the Irish squad will have to face off will be Hollands AZ Alkmar, a squad that has always been in the Dutch football league Eredivisie spotlights for its dynamic and top notch football.

For the Cheese heads Manager John Van Der Brom being in this type of competitions and the experience this squad has alongside its crowds will be a sort of challenge for the Dundalk squad to play at AFAS Stadion at Alkmar.

Lastly, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Yellows will be a rival to play carefully and lots of tact and not underestimate their power as one of Israel’s top league winner and most successful since its foundation.

Something that their Boss Shota Arveladze will try to get atop the Irish side to make its run towards the next rounds, so far this club can be a very dangerous one in these types of competitions.

Still for the Dundalk squad going after their third league of Ireland shield consecutively, in this edition of the UEFA Europa League will indeed a new challenge as well a prolific one if they have a successful run in the first stage as well they continue into the next rounds.

Looking forward to much successful filled afternoons of football in the Europa League after their failed intent to make it into the Champions final stage, but their new adventure in Europe can yield to this club coffers much needed monies.

With prizes, ranging around € 360,000 for a win and € 120,000 for a draw the Lilywhites can capitalize for their coffers as well their reputation in this European tournament and becoming an all-around headliner.

With the majority of marches scheduled on a Thursday, the Europa League schedule for Dundalk FC will be: September 15 against AZ Alkmar (away), September 29 Maccabi Tel Aviv (home), October 20 Zenith St. Petersburg (home), Zenith St. Petersburg (away), November 24 AZ Alkmar (home)and December 8 Maccabi Tel Aviv (away).

Good Luck Cumann Peile Dhún Dealgan!

Photos Credit and Property of © Dundalk Football Club 2016

Monday, August 29, 2016

Staying above the red line are the PTFC aims

With seven matches left for this campaign, the need to be above the red line is a must for all squads, still to stay firm and above it is a difficult task in this time of the campaign. Still for the PTFC with their brilliant offensive and arsenal displayed in yesterday’s match, netting them a much needed win and assurance in the Promised Land.

Just temporarily as the PTFC scheduled shows off a tough and contested campaign ahead for the Rose City Boys, here is the ideal time when they have to show off their might and all around winning spirit.

As yesterday match, I really saw a very determined and inspired Portland initial eleven displaying all sorts of amazing football with lots of offensive touches and seeing their creators crowning it with a four-goal match that could yield more.

Still there is some work by the Timbers Boss Caleb Porter to implement in order to front in what seems a very challenging and contested rest of the campaign ahead of them, very well testing the waters in what seems another tough CCL campaign.

For now, the Rose City squad should continue to have memorable afternoons like the one they did in yesterday’s match, showing off a lot of greatness in their football and putting on a show of consistency in both defense and offense. With a total harmony seen all afternoon long, the Timbers really put on a show and stopped a resurgent Seattle Sounders squad cold in its feet.

What a match and very contrary to last week poor performance and display of football the Rose City squad showed off at Century Link Park back at Seattle- exposing a very disoriented and lacked of ambition squad.

Suddenly an attacking and more openly displayed eleven that hit the grounds at the colossus of Morrison Street, saw how the Portland Boys did it with style and over a decimated and uninspired Seattle squad. That after a second half revival in its first minutes, suddenly it crumbled and their drive to beat Jake Gleeson posts became into just a simple set of intentions.

Even though the Sounders came a bit strong and put, two goals in the back posts of Jake Gleeson, in the rest of this match- the PTFC held its ground and persevere to hold the win despite the frustrating and aggressive advances the Seattle players shown for the 4-2win.

Still this initial eleven sent by its Boss Caleb Porter, for sure, they demonstrated their might and considered the ideal one to front their upcoming compromises with lots of confidence and finish the campaign in the positive side in their away matches.

Something that this team will be put on a test in next week match when they visit Frisco, Texas to play the Western Conference leaders in Dallas FC squad whom the Portland Boys has not been able to beat in this campaign.

Very well, this game will be a challenge to shake off the road blues and a win indeed will become a much needed shoot in the arm of optimism and confidence ahead in difficult matches at Dallas and returning home to face RSL and a streaking Philadelphia Union.

Great match indeed, still the need to correct mistakes and off focus, moments were the ones when the Seattle squad capitalized seeing a certain easiness and looseness in the early minutes when they scored back-to-back goals within five minutes of each other.

Very well in the offensive side the PTFC could capitalize in several opportunities that their keeper Stefan Frei put on the vest of hero and stop the offensive momentum the local Timbers were putting on for what could been a rout.

This squad needs are to make some adjustments in this game and correct some of those ugly details as the Portland Timbers seeing its completion as good these need to be much better and all around defiant in order to prevail over the contested pack.

The PTFC and Caleb Porter redeemed themselves in front of their faithful, but there is still more to do by this squad in their drive to the promised land of the postseason!

Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property of © Portland Timbers Football Club and Craig Mitchelldyer 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Major League Soccer. com 2016

Saturday, August 27, 2016

The Leicester Boys are back

King Power Stadium should been dubbed as water world, after the defending Premiership champions celebrated their first win of the campaign with a dominant 2-1 final score over a hardened visiting entity the Swans became.

Once again the Foxes initial eleven proved its might and demonstrated their value of being last campaign champions and their one of a kind football all afternoon long despite the torrential rain that reign all afternoon in the pitch.

As seeing how a Jamie Vardy opened the score thanks to a long volley courtesy of Danny Drinkwater and from midfield and he converted without any inhibitions and being escorted too closely by a Swan defender, he managed to beat the visitors keeper in the 32^nd minute.

This win enables the City chaos to start their ascent to the top of the EPL table and seeking to defend their title successfully in this campaign in spite of the heated competition these will get from the so-called giants of this league.

Marching on with a surprising loss at the beginning of this championship by Hull City at home and an away draw against at Arsenal at Emirates and of course today's win, the Lancashire Blues are back and running to find their rightful place in the top.

Still today’s match did not prove to be the winner of this campaign with a lot of ground to cover and this in its starting stages and with a lot of football to be played until we can decide to call it quits and crown a winner.

In the case of Leicester City Boss Claudio Rainieri his strategy now is not to pressure his chaps and take it easy and one match at a time in order to persevere in front the likes of renovated squads of the likes of Liverpool, Man City, Man United and Chelsea to mention a few.

Very well, to survive in what seems a much-contested campaign in the works once gain but you have to recall in how Premiership works.

As the first half ended with a dominant Leicester City leading the Swans, the second half-started with a bang and in the 52^nd a rebound well taken advantage by Wes Morgan to push the ball for what proved to be the game winner and go ahead goal.

The 4-4-2formation of the Emperor Rainieri proved to be the winner as well using his favorite formation to send his top two strikers in Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki to make their usual damages and destabilized the opposing defenses.

With the tale of the tape showing a dominant Leicester City outperforming their guests with a 51.8 possession and out shooting on target 2-1 were key for the City first win of the campaign, still the monarchs have some flaws to fix.

Being one of them its defense and its looseness in the end that almost could cost them the game with a draw or even suffer an embarrassing loss at home as well the miss penal by Ryad Mahrez, still the chap he’s only human.

In the rest, the Leicester City chaps are poised to make a run in the upcoming matches seen as a keen test to see how their last campaign miracle run was just a touch of luck or this club has it with them in what they call mettle.

With upcoming matches and being their next one against a difficult and tough Liverpool Reds squad to play at Anfield and seeing their first test with one of those so called giants of Premiership and mano a mano between Claudio Rainieri and Jürgen Klopp.

At the end, Leicester City is back and running and despite their ninth place position and four points, these can make their move with style and once again surprise everyone in the confines of the English Premier League.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Can Arsenal prove its grit?

This 2016 marks eleven years since the Gunners have not won a league title, still the tenacity that this club has, never diminishes in every campaign as its top four finishes shows off this club mettle.

Despite the club top rated and winningest Boss in Arsene Wegner, the relationship between him and these club followers considered as a love- hate one. Every campaign the signs asking for his resignation numbers not one but hundreds if not thousands, still their thankfulness for such wonderful years of Arsenal does not condone that his time in North London has ended.

Still the return of Wegner once again is welcome thanks to his winning ways and making this club a competitor, year after year.

So far, in this campaign, the Frenchman had a wish list of several key players, still the man has a right to dream, as the reality was that many squads do not desire to let go of its top rated playmakers.

In comparison to its other Premiership foes, Wegner became a bit criticized for juts signing four players so far and with the transfer deadline getting near.

The arrival early in summer with Borussia Mochengladbach Granit Xhaka, Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers, Takuma Asano from Hiroshima Sanfrecce and prospect Kelechi Nwakali from Diamond Prospect Academy.

As many feared that after seeing an array of injuries to key players in the Gunners initial eleven, and so far in the transfers market, little the Londoners did to lure the wish players its Boss desired. Suddenly a glimpse of hoe became visible with the arrival of Valencia Centre back Shkodran Mustafi and Deportivo La Coruña striker Lucas Perez.

Arsene Wegner may have the players he much desired and needed in the last minute to plug its defense holes as well address its needs, the Arsenal squad may be on route to another stellar but not spectacular campaign.

With the probabilities of lifting the much-coveted Barclays Premier League shield and the UEFA Champions League trophies are a long shoot but not an impossible ones as this club has a stash of talent in its ranks to outlast any of this league opponents.

The Gunners seeded in thirteenth place after losing to Liverpool in a stunning match and drawing with the defending champions Leicester City at King Power Stadium and closing august with another road match at Vicarage Park against Watford.

This squad prospects look very positive, a win can uplift Wegner, and his Boys towards the league top dominated once again by Manchester’s pride in Man City and United accompanied by Hull City and Chelsea.

Once again, this squad is to fight its way up the table and with hopes of making a run for the league shield as well making a decorous set of performances in the always-competed Champions League.

In the case of Arsene Wegner always, bitter and disputed battles with its foe Jose Mourinho now with Manu, as well front a Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte. Here he has to prove why he can be the best and prevail over these big guns Bosses to outperform them in the field.

The only minus he has with his club is that many of his European players after this past EURO we can see a sort of fatigue or possibly some injuries after the strenuous work exposed during this event as well the Gunners return from their North America tour.

Still the Gunners have a top rated Academy and its prospects ready to make the big jump with many young guns looking forward to make the big jump into the big squad and prove how valuable their game is, something that Wegner must take advantage now!

The road to the top highlights many obstacles and challenges ahead for Wegner and his Arsenal Boys, looking forward to break long drought of league titles and despite winning back-to-back shields in the FA and FA Community Cups, still their followers insist on seeing a Barclay’s Premiership Shield ASAP.

Many will ask themselves is this will be the year of the Gunners or just another finish among the top four as always, the question may be answered at the end of this campaign, one thing this club has a lot to show off and meet its opposition with a good standing.