Shoe Wars: Champions League Style

Around the world shoe companies are battling to grab attention of consumers. One way that they do that is by supplying uniforms to teams and in soccer that is no different. The Champions League Round  of 16 is a who's who of shoe companies.

A breakdown below: 

Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea: Nike vs. Adidas

Manchester City vs Barcelona: Nike vs. Nike

Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid: Adidas vs. Nike

Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund: Nike vs. Puma

Schalke 04 vs Real Madrid: Adidas vs. Adidas

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich: Nike vs. Adidas

Arsenal vs Monaco: Puma vs. Nike

Basle vs Porto: Adidas vs. Warrior  

Nike has seven  of the 16 teams including an all Nike game in  Barca vs. Manchester City.  Adidas has six including an all Adidas match up of Schalke vs. Real Madrid. Also this years Round of 16 marks the first time that Warrior has had a club make the knock out round.

The power of TV

There used to a time when I would have to watch the Premier League on an illegal box at my then girlfriend's, current wife, parents house. Fast forward 15 years and you can watch a variety of different leagues on your tv. This week that is what I did.

Friday:
French League: Stade Rennais vs. AS Saint Etienne

Saturday:
FA Cup: Wigan vs. Everton
Premier League: Aston Villas vs. Reading
League Championship: Crystal Palace vs. Leeds United
MLS: New England at Chicago
Spain: Barcelona vs. Deportivo La Coruna
Mexican League: Cruz Azul vs. Jaguares

Sunday
FA Cup: Millwall vs. Blackburn
FA Cup: Manchester United vs Chelsea
Premier League: Spurs vs. Liverpool

Now I'm not saying I watched all of these games in their entirety, but I did flip between all of them. It's amazing to know that soccer fans in this country have more options than people in Europe or even South American. Isn't cable great.

Manchester United Academy Still Tops in England

For all of the talk of Manchester United youth system not producing talent, that is simply not true, according to a report from Sporting Intelligence. According the report, United lead the Premier League in developing talent, yes more than famed youth policy at Arsenal.  According to the report, Barcelona No1 for producing players for clubs in Europe’s elite leagues. Now that is not surprising at all, considering the players that have come out of La Masia over the last decade.

The $pecial One and $ir Alex

It reads like a who's who of managers: Sir Alex, The Special One, and Carlo.  The group heads the  best-paid football managers in the world, list according to a Brazilian sports marketing group.  The interesting thing about the list is some of the out of way clubs that employee these high priced managers, from Anzhi to Guangzhou to Swiss National Team. The list shows the impact that new money is having on the game.

OTWT All Transfer team

With the transfer windowing now finally shutting around Europe. Here is the OTWT ALL Transfer Team. This team may have cost a ton, but I bet I can could coach them to a league title in any country.

Goalie: Hugo Lloris from Lyon to Tottenham Hotspurs
Defenders: Thiago Silva from AC Milan to PSG
Defender: Jordi Alba from Valencia to Barcelona
Defender:Javier Martineze from Athletic Club to Munich (I know he players in midfield but he has played 22 times in defense last year with Athletic Club)
Defender: Jan Vertonghen from Ajax to Tottenham Hotspur
Midfielder: Marco Reus from M'Gladbach to Dortmond.
Midfielder: Eden Hazard from Lillie to Chelsea
Midfielder: Luka Modric from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid
Midfielder: Alex Witsel from Benfica to Zenit St. Petersburg
Forward: Robin van Persie from Arsenal to Manchester United
Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic from AC Milan to PSG

Bench: Lucas Mora from Sao Paulo to PSG, Hulk from Porto to Zenit St. Petersburg, Oscar from Sao Paulo to Chelsea. Gregory van der Wiel from Ajax to PSG.

Find your favorite club

Awesome photo of soccer crest from all over the world. Where is your favorite.

Pirlo for Ballon d'Or

The race for European Footballer of the year appears to be a two horse race: Messi and Ronaldo, but maybe there is a third player that deserves a look.

Last season Andrea Pirlo left AC Milan to sign with fellow Italian League superpower Juventus. The move paid off for the Old Lady and Pirlo. During the league season Pirlo was the midfield anchor that helped lead Juve to an undefeated season. That alone should put him near the top of the list for the European player of the year. People have to remember this was not a classic Juve team, which means he had to carry more of the load.

Now Pirlo is leading his beloved Italian national to team to success at Euro 2012. An average Italian team has made the semifinals with Pirlo leading the way. Pirlo has been their best player and his penalty against England will be remembered for years to come.



I know he has no chance but Pirlo should be considered. Anytime a player leads his team to an undefeated league season should be considered for this award.

These kids are valuable

An interesting list of the 30 best young players in the world of soccer, put together by Futebol Finance. Very interesting to see the value of some of the players.

Start Spending Like Crazy

A list put together by BBC Sport on the top 50 players from around the world that could be on the move during the month ahead.

OTWT Starting 11 for 2011

Everyone is doing it, so I thought we would too. Here is the OTWT starting 11 for 2011

• Goalkeeper: Joe Hart, Manchester City
• Left Back: Ashley Cole, Chelsea
• Center back: Vincent Kompany, Manchester City
• Center back: Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United
• Right Back:  Gregory van der Wiel, Ajax
• Left side: Eden Hazard, Lille
• Central Midfielder: Javier Mascherano, Barcelona 
• Central Midfielder: Xavi, Barcelona
• Right side:Mario Goetze, Borussia Dortmund
• Striker: Ronaldo, Real Madrid
• Striker: Lionel Messi, Barcelona

I know everyone does not agree with my starting 11, so let the trashing begin. 

A year in Tailgating: Video Edition

Its been a long year for the OTWT Tailgating crew. There have been trips to Buffalo to see the Eagles, to Harrisburg for a minor league baseball game and to Washington DC to see Manchester United. Here are some of my favorite videos from our 25 events that we attended.


Nats super prospect Bryce Harper comes to Lakewood
 Manchester United take the field in Washington DC vs Barcelona

 Rutgers Eric LeGrand leads his team out before the West Virginia game
 Philly fans turn on Andy Reid during the Eagles Patriots game

Champions League by the Numbers

A breakdown of the Champions League by the CIES Football Observatory. The report states Ajax are young, Barcelona are short & France are well represented

What could be

With talk of Real Madrid and Barca destroying Spanish soccer and leaving for a European Super League, I talk you back to a post I did two years ago on what a European Soccer League would look like. The League would feature 24 teams and could be really interesting. It could work, but I would hate to see the current structure destroyed.

Kobe shows his skills

Kobe Bryant, an avid soccer fan, takes a PK during half time of Manchester United vs. Barcelona game on Saturday in Washington DC.

Professional Tailgating: Wembley Revenge

It might not have been the Champions League Final but Manchester United and Barcelona faced off in Washington DC on Saturday as part of the World Football Challenge. Manchester United won the game, here are some of the sites and sounds from the game. 

The scarfs are hung 

All types of jerseys where on display, even Afellay 

 Game was part of the World Football Challenge

Manchester United and Barcelona take the field

Teams ready for battle

Not the Greatest way to earn respect

While European teams look at the World Football Challenge as a way to get ready for upcoming season, Major League Soccer have looked at it as a way to show Europeans how far the league has come. This year the league has done nothing but embarrass itself. Through the first six games that have featured MLS teams vs. top European clubs, MLS teams have been outscored 16-6 and lost all five games.

Here the list of results

• Manchester United 4-1 New England Revs
• Real Madrid 4-1 LA Galaxy
• Manchester City 2-1 Vancouver
• Manchester United 3-1 Chicago
• Real Madrid 2-1 Philadelphia Union 
• Manchester City 1-1 LA Galaxy

After a couple of years of closing the gap, MLS has appeared to fallen behind again. Something needs to be done so this does not continue. 

This sums it up

Barca are the kings of Europe again and maybe a team of a generation.This is the front page of a Spanish delay and its sums it up.

One Word: Believe

While the book makers have Barcelona the favorites, I for one "believe" that United will make us proud in the Champions League final. This is the mosaic from the 2008 Champions League in Moscow and it brings back good memory for any United fan. Glory Glory Man United.

Will Sir Alex go 4-4-1-1

The countdown is on until Saturday epic battle between Manchester United and Barcelona in the Champions League Final. While Barcelona formation appears to be set, Manchester United's formation appears to be up for debate. Will United play two up front, will Giggs make the starting 11. So here is what I would do if I was Sir Alex

Van de Sar

Rafeal                    Vidic                             Rio         Evra

Valencia             Carrick                      Fletcher             Park

Rooney

Hernandez

By going with this formation, Carrick and Fletcher could be supported in the middle by Park Ji Sung if its need and Rooney could then move out the wing. The bench would feature: Berba, Smalling, Giggs, O'Shea, Nani, Scholes, and Kuszcak. I would go with 4-4-1-1. This would be the formation that gives United the best chance to lift Mr. Big Ears again.

Special 1TV: The end of the season

The Special One puts all of his chips on red for the Champions League Final.