Citius, Altius, Fortius: Olympique Lyon 5-5 Olympique Marseille
By: Jan |
1 Comment
Ligue 1’s much hyped Clasico did not produce much, except for a few H1N1 antibodies. Meanwhile, the yet unnamed battle of the Olympienes (Olympico maybe?) only needed about 12 minutes to turn from a hotly anticipated into a great game. Another 12 minutes on the other end, turned what was then already a fantastic game into The Game of the Century! – and Ligue 1’s lawyers will make sure bloggers never forget the exclamation mark, when referring to it in the future. This match singlehandedly upped the goals per game ratio of Ligue 1 for this season and temporarily reduced the vocabulary of the participants of our live-blog over at the Ligue 1 Offside to: amazing, wow, wowow, nononon, lololol, whoa, yessss and what a game. Which, judging by the highlights, sums up the game quite well.
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Category: French Ligue 1Philipp Lahm’s Damning Verdict on Bayern Munich
By: Jan | 5 Comments
Asking players or club officials during times of crisis about the reasons for their misery may be part of a journalist’s due diligence, but nobody ever expects to get an answer, that wasn’t taken straight out of the club’s prescribed dictionary: try harder, work harder, need a bit of luck, the team fully backs the coach, the new players just need a bit of time etc. We’re used to it by now and it allows for a whole striving punditry micro-economy to form alongside the clubs. The one surrounding Bayern Munich is widely expected to announce a record turnover for the first half of the 2009/2010 season. The club just can’t seem to kick into gear and has dropped to 8th place in the Bundesliga, while their Champions League campaign hangs by a thread, despite pumping €75m into the transfer market in the summer.
With the pressure mounting on Louis van Gaal, Philipp Lahm decided to back his coach and give a different type of interview for a change – dumping the diplomacy of empty phrases, reseting the preset and being blunt and honest for a change. In the unauthorized interview with German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, published just before Bayern’s home game against Schalke (1-1) on Saturday, Lahm attacked the club’s ruling aristocracy and their recent royally screwed up Real Madrid-esque transfer policy – while wielding a rhetoric chainsaw that accidentally cut off a couple of limbs of his team mates and his coach as well.
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Category: BundesligaTP Mazembe End 40 Years of Hurt
By: Jan | 4 Comments
Imitation is the highest form of flattery and UEFA will know they’ve done something truly remarkable, when football federations around the globe start naming competitions Europa League. For the time being though, the Champions League remains the blue print for glamorous international club competitions. On Saturday the African Champions League final second leg was contested between Nigeria’s Heartland FC and DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, ending the stranglehold Tunisian and Egyptian clubs had on the competition in previous seasons.
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Category: AfricaWe Can Be Heroes, Just For One Day
By: Rob | 21 Comments
This weekend, is a magical weekend in English Football, it’s the first round of the FA Cup. While in other countries knockout cup trophies don’t seem to have the same romance, or weight, there is something genuinely special about the FA Cup.
Over the last few years, as English Football has grown and grown, talk comes that the Romance of the Cup is gone, and indeed, that it just isn’t as important in the Champions League age as it was years ago.
But as I stood watching my team lose yesterday, I realised that is all wrong. The FA Cup is still incredibly exciting, and gives small teams a chance to put themselves up against absolutely anybody.
Besides, try telling Bath City, Barrow or Kettering Town fans that the Cup has lost its magic – they’re all into the next round and ready to face up against even bigger teams.
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Category: World FootballThe Appeal of Hating a Great Footballer
By: Rob | 8 Comments
Albert Camus, the philosopher, author and football fanatic, was once asked that if he had to choose between football and the theatre, which he would choose. He replied “Football, without hesitation.”
And it’s little surprise, football has everything theatre has, and more. It has a story, but is unwritten. It has all the characters, the protagonists, and antagonists. It has the good guys, and the bad guys.
Footballers have to take some kind of role. Some players are loved – regardless of the club they play for. Think of Maldini, of Pele, or of Messi. People like them.
Very few of the great players take the role of the pantomime villain. Diego Maradona is the most obvious one, and Cristiano Ronaldo has joined him on that list. What is the appeal of the bad boy we love to hate?
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Category: World FootballThe Offside 100: 2000-09, THE RESULTS!
By: Rob | 17 Comments
Last week, I asked you to vote for you favourite 20 players of the decade, here in this very post, are the Top 100 players of the last 10 years, voted for by you, the readers and bloggers of the offside.
First thing I want to say is thank you, everyone for the absolutely amazing response to this. It’s been absolutely overwhelming. Over 50 votes in the thread and then probably double that sent to my inbox. The response has been brilliant.
And, I’ve enjoyed very much the reminders of the great players across the decade, the outrage at the forgotten, and the insight into what you guys think makes a great player. It has been an absolute pleasure to compile.
A final thank you to the players themselves, it has been a wonderful decade for football, and this my celebration of you.
On with the list then, and after the jump you get the full 100, in reverse order. Not a huge surprise about the winner, but some nice quirks and things elsewhere.
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Category: World Football
Tags: Anelka, Ballack, Barcelona, Beckham, Buffon, C-Ron, Cafu, Champions League, Chelsea, Del Piero, Fabregas, Forlan, Gattuso, Giggs, Gourcuff, Iniesta, Inzaghi, Juventus, Kaka, Keane, LA Gaaxy, Lampard, Legends, List Offside 100, Makelele, Man United, Marta, Messi, Milan, Mutu, Nesta, Owen, Real Madrid, Ribery, Robben, Roma, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rooney, Scholes, Seedorf, Shevchenko, Top 100, Totti, World Football, Xavi, zidane, ZolaOffside Rewind: Let’s Be Friends
By: Daryl | Add Comments
Seven stories from The Offside and World Cup Blog this week:
- Nominate your player/manager football ubermen
- Gigi’s Buffon’s incredible Champions League save
- Ballon d’Or or FIFA World Player of the Year: Which is shinier?
- Norwegian homage to Brazilian airport ad
- The return of Johan Cruyff. To Catalonia.
- Stephen Appiah: No longer just an international footballer
- Hatem Ben Arfa is an impostor!
Did I mention our Facebook fan page? I did? Well, I’m going to do it again anyway. Fan us on Facebook, where you’ll find extra Offside/WCB content, and you can also get involved and add your own.
That’s enough from me. Thanks to all who’ve read and/or commented this week. Rob and Jan will be along to keep us all informed and entertained this weekend.
Category: World FootballDaily Dose: November 6th, 2009
By: Daryl | Add Comments
Links to click after you vote for one of TVGolo’s goals of the week…
(my vote went to Didier Drogba and that Chelsea keepy-uppy goal)
- This can’t possibly be true. (Unprofessional Foul)
- Katy Perry in a West Ham basque, plus other Friday photos (The Beautiful Game)
- Click this one just for the philosophical question in the comments (Pies)
- Handbag-gate! (England WCB)
- Some Spanish nurse satire (Back of the Net)
- Preparing for El Derbi madrileño (Atletico Madrid Offside)
- Best t-shirt ever? (Sport is a TV Show)
Category: Daily Dose
Sounders Poetry: The End, Yet Not the End
Dear Sounders: A Season Ends But Love Goes On Through all these games, roastin' and freezin', We've loved this team far beyond reason Through so many starts you captured our hearts Thanks, guys, for a wonderful season.
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Fortress Ewood: 3 More points at home v Pompey + PODCAST?!
Hello and welcome back to, what should be stable service one more, The Blackburn Offside. After my month long hell (aka internship) I am back with a vengeance, and now Podcast equipped. Over the next few days, I'll be posting write ups or podcast episodes of a review of the month
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid A Game Of Passion
Atletico Madrid 2-3 Real Madrid El Derbi Madrileno Jornada 10 Vicente Calderon Stadium 11/07/2009 Another classic derbi encounter at the Calderon preserved Real Madrid's winning streak at Atletico's ground in a 3-2 win. But despite dominating play for most of the match, a nervous final 20 minutes meant that Real made the scoreline flattering for
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Goal of the Week: Round 13
Congrats to last week's winner Fahid Ben Khalfallah, who won for his goal against Rennes. There were plenty of goals to choose from this weekend, with 30 scored (10 of them in the OL-OM match). Abdoul Razak Boukari (Lens), 85th minute, against Teddy Richert. (second goal, 1:50) Miralem Pjanic (Lyon), 3rd minute, against
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Palermo Pink, the same color of p....
Peaches, Pink Flamingos, Pomegranate Bellinis...I just want to make a stand here, this is a clean blog, god fearing, Pope German Shepherd Ratzinger supportive, Thanksgiving is everyday type of blog so if you were drawn by the innocent headline to fill your rotten jar with perverted notions or actions there
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
PSG: The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with One Step
'Twas the night before the season began, and I had visions of trophies dancing in my head. OK, so that's not exactly how it goes, but I don't claim to be a poet. And if you looked at our friendly results, you might think I was crazy. First, you'll notice
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...Week 13: Grenoble Nolonger Pointless, Several Suffer Strokes Over OL-OM
One of the most exciting weekends in memory culminates with "The Match of the Century" (That last part of the title is a joke, in case you were worried) Le Mans UC 72 0 - 1 AJ Auxerre AJA pushed into the top three, at least temporarily, as they eked out a
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
OM v Lyon : Halftime Report
This has been a physical game to say the least. Our defense has been shaky and we certainly are having some trouble penetrating the Lyon midfield. Niang quiet for the first thirty minutes began to make incursions into but it doesn't look like he is playing at a hundred percent.
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Furiously Flowing River
Days: 20-27 July. Currently Managing: Villareal Status: Preseason, with transfer (hopefully) coming around. In-game Ass.Man: Aspiazu. In-blog Ass.Men: Weston, Sam, Dhaw, Thomas, Stefan, Will, Zizou, Lord Quas, Vlad. (Everyone who will submit a comment about the game will automatically be an ass.man.) Next game: Friendly against Taranto in four days, away. 20 July 2009. Training has been
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...Gameday! Houston vs. Seattle, 2nd Leg
First thing: I never drink alcohol during the day. Today I am making an exception. (Is drinking at noon to settle your nerves an indication of a problem? And who the hell made up that rule anyway? Obviously not a footy fan. And certainly
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Toulouse wins again, movin' on up!
Along with Auxerre, Toulouse are the hottest team in Ligue 1. And it isn't a moment too soon, with the top teams falling like flies in recent weeks. Today, Toulouse hosted Rennes at Stadium Municipal and defeated the Brittany side by a score of 3-2. In recent weeks, Andre-Pierre Gignac has been
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Galaxy vs. Chivas Playoff 2nd Leg Preview
First off, I apologize to everyone for not being able to get a post-game analysis together for last week. It was one of those times when life bitch-slapped my futbol blogging time. In the future, I will, at a minimum, create posts where you all can share your own reactions
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
100 Best Players of the Decade
The Offside's Main Page decided to compile a list of the "100 Best Players of the Decade." I thought it might be of some interest to you, especially since Arsenal is out of action for a couple of weeks. It was voted on by all of the Offside's bloggers, as
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Jonny "Cobra Kai" Evans
Regarding refereeing decisions: I don't want to hear it... Equals...
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Review: Barcelona's lethargy, Mallorca's misfortune, and how Ibrahimovic is "Il Magnifico"
A solitary flag, claret and blue, stands where two lines meet. When it comes to Barcelona, a few keywords are in constant rotation: possession, eminence, Lionel Messi, brilliant, short (and yet the likes of Piqué, Chygrynskiy, Touré, Busquets, and Ibrahimovic tower over most), tiki-taka, Real Madrid, set-pieces (I can't include
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...Liveblog: The Battle of the Olympiens
At the request of those at the Lyon Offside, the Ligue 1 page is hosting a liveblog for today's match at the Gerland. Lyon vs. Marseille Liveblog
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...Ligue 1: Matchday 13 (Sunday only)
Sorry for the late previews this week. My boyfriend found out that he passed the NY State Bar this week so the past few days have been a blur of celebrations and hangovers. But, now on to the action we can look forward to this afternoon. Sunday, November 8, 2009 Lille vs.
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Leeds march on through, but I'm not bothered about the FA Cup.
Leeds comfortably strode through to round two of the FA cup with a 2-0 away win at Oldham Athletic. Something which will delight most Leeds fans. But if i'm being honest I wasn't too fussed. Controversial maybe as once again someone is downgrading the finest cup competition in the world. And
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Greek Superleague, 10th Fixture Preview ; Levadeiakos vs Panathinaikos
Hello all. Unfortunately I was a little busy lately (lots of work for school, plus some other things) so I couldn't post. We defeated PAOK, Panionios and Sturm Graz, and now we have to play against Levadeiakos, at their pitch. Yesterday, Olympiakos drew at home against Iraklis (1-1), which means that
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
LYON vs. MARSEILLE
November 8, 2009 Stade de Gerland, Lyon 3:00 EST (21:00CET, 20:00GMT) Sunday evening it's back to work. But hopefully, it's not one of those usual Monday morning, sloping, sluggish, I need a liter of coffee to get through the day, back to works, because aside from the heart wrenching matches against Cesspool
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Frustration Mounts as City Toss Points Away, Again
Many City fans I know were quite please to see Burnley, a team committed to passing and attacking, promoted this past season. Back when City and Burnley were last in the same division--the First Division during the 2001-02 campaign--the two clubs had some classic, Keegan-inspired goalfests. City won both contests
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Glory Hold Sheepshaggers
Perth Glory will head back from the long trip to New Zealand relatively happy after a 1-1 draw with the Wellington Phoenix on Sunday. The Phoenix are pretty sh1t hot at home and haven't lost there for something like 14 matches. Obviously, coming into the game with that record, Glory (on
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...
Smeltz Sinks Sydney with Spot-on Header
Sydney have been defeated by the Gold Coast United side on Saturday in front of 5,000 fans at Skilled Park. A Smeltz header from a great Culina cross made the difference, however Melbourne's heavy loss keeps Sydney on top of the A-League ladder. Bleiberg has reverted back to his original 4-2-2-2
Nov 08, 2009 | Read this article...Email tips[at]theoffside[dot]com
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