Fern Mc Costigan

Saturday, November 26, 2016

A goal frenzy afternoon lived at Liberty Stadium

Is Manager Bob Bradley finally getting it right at Liberty Stadium, it sure looks like it, in today’s match in front of their faithful, his Swans connected in what seemed to be a goal crazy match.

Nine goals was the toll in this match between the Swans and the Eagles, with the outcome of the home squad netting an important and valuable win, worth of gold!

Finally, the Swans cannons awakened after an early Wilfred Zaha goal in the 19^th minute to out the Crystal Palace Boys that put the London squad up in the score for a few minutes, putting a venue in complete silence.

Still this game was not over for the Swans Boss looking forward to net his first win of the campaign and continue making history in the annals of American soccer as the first ever Yank to manage in one of the world’s utmost and top rated league in the world.

The English Premier League considered as one tough group to perform as a player very well as a Manager.

As today’s match saw a sort of see saw between two titans looking forward to put this game in their favor and accumulate points and make their move in the overall table, for the Palace Boys this match meant a move up the table.

For the local Swans, a win would be a breather and a way to inject optimisms in their struggling campaign, move out of the relegation spots, and make their move towards the upper spots in the table.

Suddenly we have a game when the locals via their main man Gilfy Sigurdsson with the equalizer via a play in the 36^th minute with an opportune free kick puts the score even at one goal and sending the whole of Liberty Stadium into a frenzy.

Despite the many intents from both squads of getting another goal and look for the lead going into halftime, the score stayed the same in the end of the 45^th minute.

As the second half started, the Swans all of a sudden midfielder Leroy Fer taking an initiative and seeing with a keen eye the appropriate moment to shine, he puts the second of the afternoon in favor of his Swans for the 2-1 in the 66^th minute.

Two minutes later on a corner kick once again Leroy Fer takes his chances to the best and scores the go ahead goal in the 68^th for the advantage and once again pandemonium sparked at the colossus of Normandy street at Swansea.

All of a sudden we have a game and in favor of the locals, as these were going for the win that could mean a sort of light out of the tunnel and the infamous relegation spots.

With a momentum going in favor of the locals all of a sudden, the Palace Boys that never gave up in any moment, scored via a corner kick play and with an accurate and timely situated definitive back in James Tomkins he cut the Swans lead to just one goal.

As both squads Bosses making their usual substitutions to turn the game around for the Londoners and for the locals extend their lead, the outcome became at the end a mad dash for both of these titans.

When the game became once again heated and disputed in every minute it transcended, it’s when disaster hits the Swans with an accidental volley by Swans midfielder Jack Cork hit and for his keeper Luckazs Fabianski being out of reach.

The game took a dive for the worst for the Swans and with the score tied at three goals.

It is when the visiting Glaziers forward Christian Benteke put the game in favor of Palace with a sort of strange and crazy play hitting the posts for the 4-3 and for the Swans Manager Bob Bradley felt like everything was crumbling down for him and his Boys.

As the game progressed, the moves made by the Yank in Fernando Llorrente in the 66^th minute paid off with the equalizer via a shoot from Sigy Sigurdsson that hit the Spaniard and once gain we had a tie game going into injury time.

With eight goals scored in this match, the Swans were going for the win and never let their guard down despite losing their two goals lead and surrendering it, to come back and with another well time play where Llorente once again shine in the 92^nd to deliver the game winner.

For nine goals scored by both squad in what seemed to be a wild and contested affair between these two squads, as for Alan Pardew Eagles looking to add points and away from the relegation, this loss for sure hurts them.

Putting the Swans within two points behind them and with the prospects of moving on up and out of the danger zone with another win, for now Bob Bradley will not forget his first as this win gives him and the Swans the much needed push for their salvation.

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2016

Friday, November 25, 2016

Relegation is not the answer in MLS

In America, we have a thing of being different, as in the case of calling the beautiful game of football soccer and so far with three professional leagues and Major League Soccer being its main one and seen as its first division.

The league that started in 1996, so far has grown from ten squads to 23 and with many suitors waiting for the yay from its league commissioner.

The North American Soccer League follows it as a second division and the third division considered as a formative association in the United Soccer League, and the NPSL as a sort of fourth tier, completes the pyramid of professional leagues in the United States.

However, the prospects of creating a system similar to other European and Latin American leagues for now are considering this idea as a long time project not feasible to implement to MLS for now!

However, despite the existence of these three entities, in the States, the system of promotion and relegation is nonexistent.

As the question arises in many USL and NASL squads not having their own venues to call home and using college or other parks to play their matches, this will constitute a certain risk for Major league Soccer.

Whenever Don Garber announces the arrival of a new franchise, these coming from the NASL or USL, these new squads, have to pay a 100 million fee to the league and with the compromise of building their own venue to play.

If a relegation system is implemented this could mean disaster to Americas top soccer association and its prospective parties interested in bringing a new franchise to their city, will deterred them in doing such an endeavor.

With the LACFC building its own stadium to present itself in 2017, these squads do not waste anytime already marketing their season passes and generating a demand, thanks to the growing interest of the game in America.

Alongside newcomers Atlanta and Minnesota United as the first one already has a place to call home for its sister team the NFL Atlanta Falcons and for the Minnesota squad already planning to build in Saint Paul a place to call home.

One day before a match here in Portland’s Providence Park, I spoke to a local TV sportscaster and he told me his negative and the minuses of this crazy idea of seeing this relegation- promotion nonsense in his mind.

Very well, he stated that if the Carolina Railhawks or Charlotte Battery get lucky and get the nod for first division, how they would compete with 5000 seating capacity stadiums against 20,000 plus stadiums already in place in MLS.

In addition, another expert expresses it as a crazy idea and completely dismissing it.

On the other hand, in the case of USL FC Cincinnati already breaking all sorts of attendance records, currently considered by MLS as a possible incorporation into its ranks, as well St. Louis, San Antonio and Sacramento these two with their own venues.

Making room to an expansion if these get the call from MLS top operate Don Garber, they can make modifications to their venues of making serious expansions to its seating capacity.

Still for NASL top man Bill Peterson and NPSL Joe Barone have publicly expressed their desires of putting this system in place, in the case of MLS commissioner Don Garber his silence says a lot.

With the game growing in an accelerated pace and seeing its acceptance in many parts of the US as the case of the Pacific Northwest in Seattle- breaking all sorts of attendance records and since its inception has held this title uninterruptedly.

As well the Portland Timbers constant sellouts as well Vancouver these considered the Cascadia three, very well NYCFC, Orlando FC and SKC have shown their passion for the game too with impressive numbers in their parks.

Being this game in its formative stages and for many newcomer followers of several MLS squads, how will they understand the prospects of seeing a relegation and promotion for their squads? As for Chicago these with back to back not so positive campaigns, they would be top candidates to make it into the abyss.

Alongside what once was a powerhouse and a hardened squad in the Houston Dynamo, their fan base would turn their back to their squad if these would become relegated, after all Houston and Dallas are known to post not so positive and notable attendances.

As both the Fire and Dynamo having not so stellar campaigns, as well Colorado and others finishing in the bottom, they would be in the chop block and not welcome by their fan base.

For now leave it like it is and see this possibility as a long-term project, for now Soccer has already caught the eye of many Americans in love with their traditional sports in football, basketball and baseball.

In addition, some of these turning their backs to the game will be in part disastrous.

The ball is on the table and for a long time this debate will continue and become a heated piece in the center of US Soccer federation and its professional leagues, will it work, maybe but why not institute it with the NASL, USL and that unofficial NPSL.

In the case of Major League Soccer, let’s leave this association out of this and let it grow as it has plan and institute in its Managers the culture of using the academies in these leagues to promote and develop future players.

The coin is in the air!

Do you think MLS will be up to the challenge along its squads of a promotion and relegation method, is this debatable subject and to place in a matter of time, what is your intake for such a risky endeavor?

Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property of © MLS, USL and NASL 2016

DÚN DEALGAN Gcinniúint ar feitheamh

Ní chuireann sé teacht éasca do thaobh Stephen Kenny, i ndiaidh thóg a taobh caillteanas coscrach ó stailc tráthúil ó AZ Alkmar Wout Weghorst sa nóiméad naoú, a chur ar an destinies Lilywhites ar feitheamh.

Fós Breathnaíonn an feat le beagán diana ach ní dodhéanta, mar bua tseachtain seo chugainn ag Tel Aviv agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar an iomaíocht cheana féin Maccabi FC, is féidir a imirt ar an ról atá ag spoiler aghaidh na Buachaillí Dhún Dealgan, toisc gur gá Israelis aon rud le cailliúint ach rudaí a praiseach suas an taobh hÉireann.

Le bua, is féidir iad seo a chur le dóchas beag nuair a bheadh an dá Zenit agus AZ showdown, toradh corr le haghaidh an taobh Rúise a bheith tubaisteach don scuad Chontae Lú.

Mar an taobh Éireannach tá an deis chun é a dhéanamh isteach sa chéad chéim eile, ar na babhtaí knockout fós.

Go dtí seo, sa chomórtas, tá Dundalk FC i láthair é féin tá grúpa cruaite agus athléimneach gan a bheith messing leis chomh maith go bhfuil a chuid caillteanais bhí ag díreach difríocht sprioc, ní dona nuair a imirt tú i gcoinne roinnt de na dronga mionlach na hEorpa.

Mar sin féin, an Lilywhites nach bhfaca aon ghníomh i ndiaidh a gcuid feidhmíochta FAI Cup, bhí a gcuid feidhmíochta na gnéithe ar fad a bhuaigh an cluiche, go dtí an sprioc infamous tar éis an header ag an bhuailteoir Ollainnis, d'fhéadfadh coimeádaí Gary Rogers stop a chur leis an sprioc aonair.

Le fainiciúil Stephen Kenny ag cur fhoirmiú 4-2-3-1 agus sheoladh bhuailteoir aonair i Ciaran Kilduf upfront, cheap sé, ar a laghad d'fhéadfadh sé salvage pointe le tarraingt nó ag dul do na trí pointí ar fad, ag baint tairbhe as a riocht de mhuintir na háite.

Ag seoladh Triúr de aces ina ionsaí tosaigh a dhéanamh sé ag obair agus havoc a chruthú ar AZ backfield, le Darryl Horgan, Patrick McEleney agus Ronan Finn a threorú agus a orchestrate an cion agus a chomhordú le Robbie Benson agus Captaen Stephen O'Connell.

Bainisteoir Stephen Kenny shíl go raibh sé an foirmiú idéalach chun stop a chur taobh Ollainnis fuar agus b'fhéidir bua nó ar a laghad an comhionannas vótaí a sheachadadh.

In ainneoin an áitiúil Dhún Dealgan Buachaillí marthanachta i dtreo na poist Sergio Rochet, tháinig an toradh do na hÉireannaigh a ceann ghruama nach bhfuil aon spriocanna ag an deireadh agus nach bhfuil a tharrtháil ar a laghad an tarraingt, a d'fhéadfadh a éascóidh a pas.

Mar aon leis an mbogann, nach bhféadfaí Bainisteoir raibh Kenny le linn an chluiche dul ar an taoide i bhfabhar a haon déag tosaigh agus anois tá siad iad féin a ullmhú chun a chéad dúshlán eile in Iosrael agus é a dhéanamh tarlú le bua a glan ar a pas.

Chun anois leis an deiridh na spriocanna maidir le bunch Stephen Kenny é a ithe an feat na cinn isteach sa ghrúpa Knockout agus leanúint ar aghaidh ag déanamh staire do pheil na hÉireann agus elevating a cháil ar fud an domhain.

Mar a scríobh mé uair amháin, síos ach ní amach, do na Lilywhites leanúnach, de réir an choinníll de beagán cabhrach óna gcairde ó Zenit, ag an deireadh tá siad a gcuid cinniúint ina lámha, do Kenny agus a chaps níl aon amárach.

Iar Ábhair agus Maoin na Raithneach Fern Mc Costigan © Cóipcheart Gach Ceart ar Cosaint

Grianghrafanna Creidmheasa, Cúirtéis agus Maoin na © Associated Newspapers TEO, Dún Dealgan FC agus EPA 2016

Grianghrafanna Creidmheasa agus Maoin © Cóipcheart 1998-2016 UEFA. Gach ceart ar cosaint

Dundalk’s decisive moment in Europa League

It does not come easy for Stephen Kenny’s side, after his side took a hurtful loss from an opportune strike from AZ Alkmar Wout Weghorst in the ninth minute, to put the Lilywhites destinies on hold.

Still the feat looks a bit tough but not impossible, as a win next week at Tel Aviv and face an already eliminated Maccabi FC, that can play the role of spoiler against the Dundalk Boys, as the Israelis have nothing to lose but mess things up for the Irish side.

With a win, these can put a little hope when both Zenit and AZ showdown, an odd result for the Russian side would be catastrophic for the Louth County squad.

As the Irish side still has the opportunity to make it into the next phase, of the knockout rounds.

So far, in the tournament, Dundalk FC has presented itself has a hardened and resilient group not to be messing with as well its losses have been by just a goal difference, not bad when you play against some of Europe’s elite squads.

However, the Lilywhites not seeing any action after their FAI Cup performance, their performance had the entire elements to win the match, until that infamous goal after that header by the Dutch striker, that keeper Gary Rogers could stop it for the lone goal.

With a wary Stephen Kenny putting a 4-2-3-1 formation and sending a lone striker in Ciaran Kilduf upfront, he thought at least he could salvage a point with a draw or going for the whole three points, taking advantage of their condition of locals.

Sending a trio of aces in his frontal attack to make it work and create havoc on AZ backfield, with Darryl Horgan, Patrick MCEleney and Ronan Finn to lead and orchestrate the offense and coordinate with Robbie Benson and Captain Stephen O’ Connell.

Manager Stephen Kenny thought he had the ideal formation to stop the Dutch side cold and maybe deliver a win or at least the tie.

Despite the local Dundalk Boys persistence towards the posts of Sergio Rochet, the outcome for the Irish became a grim one with no goals at the end and not rescuing at least the draw, which could facilitate their pass.

Alongside the moves, that Manager Kenny did during the course of the match could not turn the tide in favor of his initial eleven and now they have to prepare themselves to their next challenge in Israel and make it happen with a win to net their pass.

For now the ultimate of goals for Stephen Kenny’s bunch is to consume the feat of advancing into the Knockout group and continue making history for Irish football and elevating its reputation in the world.

As I wrote once, down but not out, for the persistent Lilywhites, with the condition of a little help from their friends from Zenit, at the end they have their destiny in their hands, for Kenny and his chaps there is no tomorrow.