Burn out.
We've all felt it at one time in our lives.
Now, we're not talking a Lebowski-style, 'Burnout'. Instead, the kind of feeling you get when you're overworked, under-slept and out-and-out blahhed.
Currently, as you can probably guess by the lack of new postings, I'm in a bit of a burnt out period of life. However, realizing this actually helped snap me out of the malaise.
Thinking of how I wish there was at least some break in the world of soccer gave me some inspiration. If it's bad enough for me, to occasionally move my fingers on a keyboard, fire off a few brain synapses and cobble together a couple dick-jokes -- how hard is it to be a professional football/soccer player on the big time level?
Perhaps this was jarred by the recent SI.com interview with Thierry Henry where the Frenchman talks about taking in NBA action during La Liga's winter break. Oh right, he also hints about coming to play in MLS one day. (Wonder how that would play out? All you really need to do is type in his name on YouTube and you could market him in an instant. Too bad most Americans only know him as Roger Federer and Tiger Wood's lifemate from those slightly homo erotic Gillette ads.)
Getting back to burn out.
Consider that there's not much as grueling as playing 90 minutes of soccer at the highest level. Usually teams get a game a week, roughly 38-45 in the league spread out over a couple months. When you start to factor in midweek competitions, be it Cups, Champions League, etc. It adds up. Throw in flying all over the place for International games and a top level player might play upward of 60 games in a calendar year.
Not terrible, until you factor the offseason for soccer players lasts about as long as most comedies on the FOX Network. (Actually, about three weeks in June before resuming training in July.)
There was some stat from a couple years ago that Frank Lampard, Steve Gerrard, etc. played in like 4,000 games in two years. (Is it any wonder the English National Team can't get out of its own way?)
Obviously it boils down to money. Why should the Premier League shut down for a couple weeks in December and January when there is pounds and pounds to be made? Why put players health and well-being before selling 60,000 seats for an exhibition in Thailand?
You wonder if the quality of the games suffer when these top level teams play so often and chew up the health of the players. You'll never see less games, naturally, but there has to be some kind of sanity.
Maybe Rafa's rotation policy isn't that loco after all.
Then again, I'm not making untold thousands per week to play a game. If that was the case I'll take all I can get. Burnt out or not.
Champions beleaguered -- Other than Cristiano Ronaldo's smug, 'what-me-worry' face after his brilliant freekick sunk Sporting, not much blew me away in the midweek.
Jesus, did he learn that smirk from Jose Mourinho?
Otherwise, the drama of Liverpool is sort of interesting (Torres worth all that cash, huh?), but frankly I'm waiting for the competition 'proper', when there's some life-or-death scenarios at play.
Chelsea 4, Rosenborg 0...wake me when it's over, though those plucky Norwegians are alive in their trip to Gelsenkirchen with Schalke next week. The winner of that match goes through at the expense of UNDERwhelming Valencia.
One MLS note -- That rumored Pan-Pacific thingamabob...well it's going to be the Galaxy (surprise), Dynamo (soon to be owned by Oscar 'Fishnets' De La Hoya?), Gamab Osaka (I am disrespectful to dirt) and an A-League team (Oi!) in a four-team challenge in Hawaii on Feb. 20, 23. It's a good guess FSC picks up the rights. Not as big as it could have been, but with the travel involved probably the best the league could do.
OK I lied -- One more thing from MLS. Got a fax at the office about a redesign on Red Bull Park -- the Spruce Goose of North American stadias. (Does anyone know if it actually exists.) If the release is accurate, it'll be enclosed, Euro-style, aka good for noise and rain. Plus seats will be as close as 21-feet from the touchline. And in a shock, there will be less luxury suites.
If it's as nice as advertised guess it will be worth the wait...in 2017.
Onto this weeks games.
Saturday
Chelsea v. West Ham United -- (Live, Setanta 7:45 a.m.) Was Jose holding the Blues Express back? Maybe its just timing? This could be a pretty tricky one for the Blues after everyone, including moi, is once again singing their praises. Perhaps the best explanation for Chelsea's resurgence -- the schedule. Since drawing Fulham 0-0 on Sept. 29, here's who've they've beaten in the league: Bolton, Middlesbrough, Manchester City, Wigan, Derby and drawn Everton on Tim Cahill's bicycle kick. Other than the City win, 6-0, not that impressive. Those wins represent 15th, 17th, 3rd, 19th and 20th in the team. So, naturally a West Ham team sitting 10th might show us who the real Chelsea are. ... Chelsea 1, West Ham 1
Blackburn Rovers v. Newcastle United -- Well, I pimp Rovers and what do they do? Fall back to earth, including a 4-0 thumping at Ewood. Hey, at least they locked up Mark Hughes for the next couple years. On the plus side, Rovers get Newcastle -- the Brittany Spears of the Premier League. Also, can't wait, underline that, to read the Joey Barton interview in my new FourFourTwo. Does he get the Pacman Jones treatment in the British Press? Guess I'll never know, because a guy like Barton would seemingly 'makes it rain' or whatever the English version of that slang would be. ... Rovers 2, Newcastle 1
Liverpool v. Bolton -- The Pool ought to have their ears pinned up seeing how Bolton upset Manchester United last weekend. As much as I'm apathetic toward Bolton, they're not bad enough to get the drop...which speaks to how dreadful and listless some of the bottom teams are. It'll really be who gets hot in March/April/May. Back to Liverpool, I might say this every week, but if they drop points here it's back to European being focus No. 1. ... Liverpool 2, Bolton 0
Portsmouth v. Everton -- (Delayed, Setanta 2:45 p.m.) So, 'Arry Redknapp was arrested on corruption charges. I'm not even going to begin to fathom what that entails. All I know of British justice is it involves guys in whigs...and probably some yelling...maybe a giant boot. Instead of rational analysis, why not just look at that Redknapp mug. You know how you can tell a tree's age by its rings, you can tell each bottle of whiskey guzzled by the wrinkles on Redknapp. Oh right, the game. Pretty important match for two teams three points apart that have Champions League ambitions. Considering the average footballer is dumber than a tree, they won't even know old 'Arry was arrested. ... Portsmouth 2, Everton 0
Sunderland v. Derby -- (Setanta Broadband, 9:30 a.m.) Wow. What is there nice to say here? Guess the paycheck must be pretty legit to lure Paul Jewell -- an affable chap -- into the wasteland that is Derby. Ok, that's too simplistic. He'll take the drop, which is a given. But starting in January he'll begin to assemble a squad that can win in the Championship -- a league he owns -- and get back up with the thought of staying up. At the very least, give Benny Feilhaber some burn. ... Sunderland 1, Derby 0
Wigan Athletic v. Manchester City -- (Live on FSC, 10 a.m.) Woof, woof. Get FSC get some NBC flex-schedule abilities, pronto? Get ready for some empty seats at the JJB. No Elano for City makes this game near unwatchable. ... Wigan 1, City 1
Aston Villa v. Arsenal -- (Live on FSC, noon) You know how it'll be a race for who gets hot in the last month or two for relegation. Consider the same thing for the European spots among Everton, Blackburn, Portsmouth, West Ham, Aston Villa and if they get their shit right, Spurs. Villa might just have enough speed on the outside to trouble Arsenal, who might be without Cesc. I smell upset. ... Aston Villa 1, Arsenal 0
Sunday
Tottenham v. Birmingham City -- (Live on FSC, 11 a.m.) Repetition Alert! If Spurs are a serious team, they win this one. 'Nuff said. ... Spurs 2, City 1
Monday
Manchester United v. Fulham -- (Live on Setanta, 2:30 p.m.) Steam roller meet egg. ... United 3, Fulham 1
Last week: 6-4
Season: 69-68 (over .500!!!)
ESPN may or may not be airing the live draw for the 2008 Euro at 6 a.m. Saturday. Set the DVRs. Derek Rae and Tommy Smythe are involved...at least it's not you-know-who. The draw could be good, since Switzerland, Austria and Greece got top 'seeds' along with the Netherlands. There could be a group of the Dutch, Italy, Germany and France...but with the funny business, we know that won't happy, right?
We've all felt it at one time in our lives.
Now, we're not talking a Lebowski-style, 'Burnout'. Instead, the kind of feeling you get when you're overworked, under-slept and out-and-out blahhed.
Currently, as you can probably guess by the lack of new postings, I'm in a bit of a burnt out period of life. However, realizing this actually helped snap me out of the malaise.
Thinking of how I wish there was at least some break in the world of soccer gave me some inspiration. If it's bad enough for me, to occasionally move my fingers on a keyboard, fire off a few brain synapses and cobble together a couple dick-jokes -- how hard is it to be a professional football/soccer player on the big time level?
Perhaps this was jarred by the recent SI.com interview with Thierry Henry where the Frenchman talks about taking in NBA action during La Liga's winter break. Oh right, he also hints about coming to play in MLS one day. (Wonder how that would play out? All you really need to do is type in his name on YouTube and you could market him in an instant. Too bad most Americans only know him as Roger Federer and Tiger Wood's lifemate from those slightly homo erotic Gillette ads.)
Getting back to burn out.
Consider that there's not much as grueling as playing 90 minutes of soccer at the highest level. Usually teams get a game a week, roughly 38-45 in the league spread out over a couple months. When you start to factor in midweek competitions, be it Cups, Champions League, etc. It adds up. Throw in flying all over the place for International games and a top level player might play upward of 60 games in a calendar year.
Not terrible, until you factor the offseason for soccer players lasts about as long as most comedies on the FOX Network. (Actually, about three weeks in June before resuming training in July.)
There was some stat from a couple years ago that Frank Lampard, Steve Gerrard, etc. played in like 4,000 games in two years. (Is it any wonder the English National Team can't get out of its own way?)
Obviously it boils down to money. Why should the Premier League shut down for a couple weeks in December and January when there is pounds and pounds to be made? Why put players health and well-being before selling 60,000 seats for an exhibition in Thailand?
You wonder if the quality of the games suffer when these top level teams play so often and chew up the health of the players. You'll never see less games, naturally, but there has to be some kind of sanity.
Maybe Rafa's rotation policy isn't that loco after all.
Then again, I'm not making untold thousands per week to play a game. If that was the case I'll take all I can get. Burnt out or not.
Champions beleaguered -- Other than Cristiano Ronaldo's smug, 'what-me-worry' face after his brilliant freekick sunk Sporting, not much blew me away in the midweek.
Jesus, did he learn that smirk from Jose Mourinho?
Otherwise, the drama of Liverpool is sort of interesting (Torres worth all that cash, huh?), but frankly I'm waiting for the competition 'proper', when there's some life-or-death scenarios at play.
Chelsea 4, Rosenborg 0...wake me when it's over, though those plucky Norwegians are alive in their trip to Gelsenkirchen with Schalke next week. The winner of that match goes through at the expense of UNDERwhelming Valencia.
One MLS note -- That rumored Pan-Pacific thingamabob...well it's going to be the Galaxy (surprise), Dynamo (soon to be owned by Oscar 'Fishnets' De La Hoya?), Gamab Osaka (I am disrespectful to dirt) and an A-League team (Oi!) in a four-team challenge in Hawaii on Feb. 20, 23. It's a good guess FSC picks up the rights. Not as big as it could have been, but with the travel involved probably the best the league could do.
OK I lied -- One more thing from MLS. Got a fax at the office about a redesign on Red Bull Park -- the Spruce Goose of North American stadias. (Does anyone know if it actually exists.) If the release is accurate, it'll be enclosed, Euro-style, aka good for noise and rain. Plus seats will be as close as 21-feet from the touchline. And in a shock, there will be less luxury suites.
If it's as nice as advertised guess it will be worth the wait...in 2017.
Onto this weeks games.
Saturday
Chelsea v. West Ham United -- (Live, Setanta 7:45 a.m.) Was Jose holding the Blues Express back? Maybe its just timing? This could be a pretty tricky one for the Blues after everyone, including moi, is once again singing their praises. Perhaps the best explanation for Chelsea's resurgence -- the schedule. Since drawing Fulham 0-0 on Sept. 29, here's who've they've beaten in the league: Bolton, Middlesbrough, Manchester City, Wigan, Derby and drawn Everton on Tim Cahill's bicycle kick. Other than the City win, 6-0, not that impressive. Those wins represent 15th, 17th, 3rd, 19th and 20th in the team. So, naturally a West Ham team sitting 10th might show us who the real Chelsea are. ... Chelsea 1, West Ham 1
Blackburn Rovers v. Newcastle United -- Well, I pimp Rovers and what do they do? Fall back to earth, including a 4-0 thumping at Ewood. Hey, at least they locked up Mark Hughes for the next couple years. On the plus side, Rovers get Newcastle -- the Brittany Spears of the Premier League. Also, can't wait, underline that, to read the Joey Barton interview in my new FourFourTwo. Does he get the Pacman Jones treatment in the British Press? Guess I'll never know, because a guy like Barton would seemingly 'makes it rain' or whatever the English version of that slang would be. ... Rovers 2, Newcastle 1
Liverpool v. Bolton -- The Pool ought to have their ears pinned up seeing how Bolton upset Manchester United last weekend. As much as I'm apathetic toward Bolton, they're not bad enough to get the drop...which speaks to how dreadful and listless some of the bottom teams are. It'll really be who gets hot in March/April/May. Back to Liverpool, I might say this every week, but if they drop points here it's back to European being focus No. 1. ... Liverpool 2, Bolton 0
Portsmouth v. Everton -- (Delayed, Setanta 2:45 p.m.) So, 'Arry Redknapp was arrested on corruption charges. I'm not even going to begin to fathom what that entails. All I know of British justice is it involves guys in whigs...and probably some yelling...maybe a giant boot. Instead of rational analysis, why not just look at that Redknapp mug. You know how you can tell a tree's age by its rings, you can tell each bottle of whiskey guzzled by the wrinkles on Redknapp. Oh right, the game. Pretty important match for two teams three points apart that have Champions League ambitions. Considering the average footballer is dumber than a tree, they won't even know old 'Arry was arrested. ... Portsmouth 2, Everton 0
Sunderland v. Derby -- (Setanta Broadband, 9:30 a.m.) Wow. What is there nice to say here? Guess the paycheck must be pretty legit to lure Paul Jewell -- an affable chap -- into the wasteland that is Derby. Ok, that's too simplistic. He'll take the drop, which is a given. But starting in January he'll begin to assemble a squad that can win in the Championship -- a league he owns -- and get back up with the thought of staying up. At the very least, give Benny Feilhaber some burn. ... Sunderland 1, Derby 0
Wigan Athletic v. Manchester City -- (Live on FSC, 10 a.m.) Woof, woof. Get FSC get some NBC flex-schedule abilities, pronto? Get ready for some empty seats at the JJB. No Elano for City makes this game near unwatchable. ... Wigan 1, City 1
Aston Villa v. Arsenal -- (Live on FSC, noon) You know how it'll be a race for who gets hot in the last month or two for relegation. Consider the same thing for the European spots among Everton, Blackburn, Portsmouth, West Ham, Aston Villa and if they get their shit right, Spurs. Villa might just have enough speed on the outside to trouble Arsenal, who might be without Cesc. I smell upset. ... Aston Villa 1, Arsenal 0
Sunday
Tottenham v. Birmingham City -- (Live on FSC, 11 a.m.) Repetition Alert! If Spurs are a serious team, they win this one. 'Nuff said. ... Spurs 2, City 1
Monday
Manchester United v. Fulham -- (Live on Setanta, 2:30 p.m.) Steam roller meet egg. ... United 3, Fulham 1
Last week: 6-4
Season: 69-68 (over .500!!!)
ESPN may or may not be airing the live draw for the 2008 Euro at 6 a.m. Saturday. Set the DVRs. Derek Rae and Tommy Smythe are involved...at least it's not you-know-who. The draw could be good, since Switzerland, Austria and Greece got top 'seeds' along with the Netherlands. There could be a group of the Dutch, Italy, Germany and France...but with the funny business, we know that won't happy, right?
Labels: blah, MLS, Prem Picks, Premier League, Pro Evo Soccer
Hang in there, bud...consider this your Liverpool doldrums, and you'll break out of it with the equivalent of a Besiktas drubbing.
ESPNTV.com shows the Euro 08 draw will be on Sunday at 6am.
Hosted by The Hoff?