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.

Which clubs NFL fans support in the BPL

The first full Sunday of the NFL season is here. To honor that event, the Daily Mail has given NFL fans a guide to which Barclays Premier League team that they should support. Its an interesting list, for Eagles fans out there they said we should pick West Brom. 

NBCSN already have a big impact on EPL ratings

This past weekend kick off the start of the Premier League on NBCSN and it has been a success at least from a ratings point of view. According to Richard Deitsch, the media reporter for Sports Illustrated, NBCSN saw a 67 percent increase in ratings over last years opening weekend, which was broadcast on ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel. That is an amazing number and shows the continued growth of the sport in this country.

Premier League Coverage is No Longer a Joke

For years American fans of the Premier League have had to deal with low budget Fox Soccer Channel, now that has all changed.  Premier League is making inroads into American culture and that is expected to continue as NBC Sports Network takes over coverage of the League in America.

Maybe Gus Johnson is not that bad; I'm just a Euro Snob

Its been three months Fox unveiled Gus Johnson as its voice of soccer and it has come with mixed reviews. Some say he is ok, while other say he is terrible. I think that I sit somewhere in the middle between disaster and good start.

Here is my question, is the issue with Gus Johnson tied to the fact that most American soccer fans are Euro Snobs and I include my self in that. Will any American voice be treated with the respect that we give people like Ian Darke or Martin Tyler. The answer is simply no. Hey look the voice of American soccer is Ian Darke, not exactly your typical American. American soccer fans don't want Dick Vitale on the call and that is exactly what Gus is doing. We like announcers to take it slow and allow the game to breath because most American soccer fans are just Euro Snobs.

I listened to Gus's call of Ben Watson 91st minute winner in the FA Cup final vs Manchester City and it was a good call. It was not your typical English call with flowing pros, it was a call full of emotion and gave you an idea of how much of an upset it was.

While Gus has some work to do, he is getting better. Maybe us Euro Snobs who love European soccer should maybe give Gus a chance.

Cover Story: #champions2013

The race for the Barclays Premier League title is over and the title is coming home as Manchester United cliched its 20th league title. Here is how papers in England covered it.

Premier League Playoffs?

The Premier League Title race looks like its over and all that is left to play for Champions League, Europa League and relegation spots. Will this be enough to hold the interest of the avid soccer fan around the world. 

The idea that every season is going to come down to the final minutes like it did last year, is just nuts. Last year was a once and a lifetime type thing. 

Would the Premier League be suited to moved to a NFL type model to crown their champion. Daily Columnist Adrian Durham makes the case for moving in that direction.  

"It’s flexible but you could have the top four involved – fourth plays third, winner plays second and winner of that plays the 'champions' after 38 games in a huge Grand Final at Wembley,'' Durham wrote. "It would generate more money from TV and sponsorship and it would mean more football and extra excitement for fans."

As an American, I'm very familiar with the playoff system and for one I'm not the biggest fan. When you move to the type of system you don't always get the best team as your champions. The best example is the when New York Giants beating the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. 

As the old saying goes "The Table Never Lies" and that is true the way Premier League stands now, if playoffs are introduced to determine the champion, that statement would ring hollow. I would hate to see them change the current format of the league. 

The Premier League Fashion Runway

From track suits to baseball caps to suits. The touchline fashion in the Barclays Premier League is something that is up for debate from Wenger's puffy coat to Sir Alex and Harry suits to Jol's track suit. Recently the NY Times took at the fashion in this great story:  Premier League Soccer Coaches Struggle With Fashion. I wish more coaches would wear suits, I understand that weather can be an issue,  but at least try to look professional.

Mid-Term Team of the Season

The Barclay's Premier League season is halfway over. Most of the teams have played 19 games, marking the half way point of the 38 games season. Here is a look at The OTWT All Mid-Season Team.I'm sure people will complain about it, if you have a different view post your team in the comment section.

Goalie: Asmir Begovic, Stoke City
Defender: Vincent Kompany, Manchester City
Defender: Jan Vertonghen, Spurs
Defender: Ryan Shawcross, Stoke City
Defender: Leighton Baines, Everton
MF: Micheal Carrick, Manchester United
MF: Juan Matta, Chelsea
MF: Marouane Fellaini, Everton
MF:Michu, Sweansea City (pictured above)
Striker: Luis Suarez, LFC
Strick: RVP, Manchester United

Boxing Day Drama

Could Boxing Day become the day the Braclays Premier League title race came into focus. This British Tabloid thinks it could be and I hope they are right.

Manchester Madness

Today's Manchester Derby had it all. Great goals, great drama and some terrible incidents involving fans. Here are some tweets from around the world describing United's 3-2 win over City.

Could the Premier League turn into the SPL

The Guardians' David Lacey makes that the case that the Premier League title race could turn into a two horse race between City and United or one long Manchester derby for year to come. If this happens it will basically turn into the Scottish Premier League, where Rangers and Celtic have dominated the league for the last two decades. Which will not be a good thing.

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.

The Premier League is Printing Money

So Burma is one of the poorest countries in the world and they have the money to show Premier League. Around the world, £5.5bn was spent by channels to show the Premier League. Shows how incredible a TV asset it is and how popular it is, even if the quality of the league is down over the last couple of years.

Comcast Fail

I know soccer in the United States is not at the level of other sports but the least Comcast could do is get the names of the teams playing right. On Sunday, Comcast put on their guide Manchester United vs. Tottenham. Small problem it was not United playing but rather their arch rivals Manchester City. How could you mess that up. It would be like putting the Cowboys when the Eagles are playing the Packers. Lets hope Comcast sorts this type of stuff out.

EPL Super Sunday

Fox Soccer Fail

First it was ESPN.com screwing up now it's Fox Soccer. During the Spurs Newcastle game, FSC said that Emmanuel Adebayor was coming on to replace Gylfi Sigurosson. Small problem Adebayor is still a Manchester City player even though he spent last season on loan at Spurs. I know it's the first week of the season but this can't happen.

Weekend Soccer Notes

With most leagues a week away from starting. There was still plenty going on around the soccer world from the Olympic Gold Medal game to the FA Community Shield to the German Super Cup. Here are some thoughts on each game.

Olympic Gold Medal Game
• As a United fan, not surprised by the mistake by Rafael. Great talent but he makes a ton of mistakes and some can be costly. I remember him being sent off against Munich in the Champions League and it cost us the tie.
• I wonder if making a sub at the 40 minute mark is a panic move looks like it to me for Brazil
• Shocked by how little urgency Brazil have shown in this match. It's like they don't care.
• it just seems like Brazil is never going to win an Olympic gold in soccer. It just seems it never will happen.

FA Community Shield
• Lots of empty seats at Villa Park. I guess people in the area don't care about the game.

German Super Cup
• Dortmund looked lost. Like they are missing something.
• Meanwhile Bayern look like they could have a special year.

Eden Hazard = Lebron James

For the last couple of week Eden Hazard has keep the soccer world waiting. Everyone wants to know where he is going to be playing next season, is it going to be Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea. Hazard has drug this out over the last couple of weeks and there seems to be no end in sight. Hazard is turning into Lebron of soccer world, all that is missing is the "Decision Special."

Keep Calm, Win Titles

As the soccer worlds celebrates the new kings of Manchester, just remember this is not the first time that people have questions the future of Manchester United.

When Sir Alex took over in 1986, he said that the club would surpass Liverpool when it came to league titles. People laughed at him and people said it would never be done, fast forward to today and Sir Alex has seen off Liverpool.

Next up people said that Arsenal was passing Sir Alex by after the Invincibles in 2003-2004, that was not the case, Sir Alex saw off their challenge and pushed them aside.

Fast foward to 2003 and people said Fergie and United could not compete with The Special One and Roman's billions at Chelsea. After a couple of years, Sir Alex saw off that challenge and chased a number of managers out of the Premier League.

Today its Manchester City and their billions. Sure Sunday hurt, but lets be honest this United team was not classic and we came with 90 seconds of a title. Just remember Sir Alex has taken on all comers and he is usually the last one standing, which is exactly what is going to happen.