The 2014 Baltimore Ravens: The Story So Far

Six games in to the NFL regular season, and the Baltimore Ravens sit at 4-2. (That's 4 wins, 2 losses for those counting). All 4 wins have been impressive, grinding out a last-minute win against Cleveland, and dominating games against Pittsburgh, Carolina, and most recently, Tampa Bay. The two losses came against perennial Superbowl contenders; Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

One noticeable difference from the Ravens of last year is the offensive efficiency exhibited week in, week out. With the exception of the Indianapolis game, where the O-Line was terrorized by an in-form defensive line lead by Bjoern Werner, the Ravens have churned out impressive performances with the ball in their hands. Joe Flacco ranks 10th in Quarterback Rating and 5th in yards and touchdowns. Justin Forsett ranks 2nd behind Darren Sproles in Yards Per Carry (6.4), and Steve Smith Sr. ranks 6th in receiving yards and first in tenacity.

Meanwhile, the defense looks to be returning to its former "elite" status, ranking 3rd in points conceded per game (16.2) and first in RedZone scoring percentage (31.2%). Defensive lineman Haloti Ngata has 2 interceptions this season, which is more than some of the most famous cornerbacks in the league combined. Rookie CJ Mosley, an early frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, ranks 5th in tackles with 57, and is tied for 1st amongst linebackers in passes defended. First round pick Mosley has been an absolute revelation this year, putting up better stats in his first six games than future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, and looks to be a key player for the
defense for years to come.

Week on week, the Ravens performances have been fairly consistent, the likes of which haven't been seen in my time as a fan, Each Sunday I come into games thinking that we have a genuine chance of beating equal or lesser teams, and pushing better teams right to their limits (as with Cincinnati in Week 1). With the exception of Indianapolis, I have been proven right. I even worried about the Carolina game, but the Ravens dominated all 3 aspects of the game and ran out easy winners.

For the coming weeks, I forsee wins against the Falcons, Saints, Titans and Steelers, and losses against Cincinnati and San Diego, which would take the Ravens to an 8-4 record, and within shouting distance of a playoff berth for the 6th time in 7 years. January football could well return to the purple and black, that's for sure.

Highlight of the Season: Steve Smith Sr. had a coming out party against Carolina, where he played
for 13 years. The 35-year old hauled in 7 catches for 139 yards and 2TDs, and had his wicked way with the Carolina defense, which was last year considered to be one of the best around.



Low Point of the Season: I tried my best, but I couldn't go a whole article without mentioning Ray Rice. Rice spent his first 6 years in the league with Baltimore, and was a huge part of the community in and around the city, helping out needy children, and becoming the face of anti-bullying programs up and down the East Coast. Everything changed in February, though, when he remorselessly battered his then fiancée in and Atlantic City lift. Since then, Rice has been released by the Ravens, and indefinitely suspended from the NFL. And to think, I was considering buying his shirt...

Preseason Musings: Everton - Man City

Everton
Key Player: Leighton Baines - I actually took a long time deciding who to pick here, because Everton are not a team where one man regularly outshines the others, but rather a team of well-gelled individuals. Baines gets the nod here because of his solidity in defence, as well as his attacking prowess and ability from set pieces. Baines is a fantasy football must-buy, and it was no surprise to see him start for England during the summer, having cemented his place as one of the best left backs, certainly in England, if not the world.

Big man, bigger expectations.

Best Signing: Romelu Lukaku - Some might say that because Lukaku spent last term on loan at the Toffees, he shouldn't be included in this bit. To those people, I say "poppycock!" Lukaku's signing represented a massive outlay of £28m for a team who usually keep their egg-basket-throwing to a minimum. Teaming up with fellow Belgian Kevin Mirallas, Lukaku will be looking to spearhead a monster Everton attack with the likes of Barkley, Pienaar, and McGeady in reserve, ready to unleash hell on teams coming to Goodison Park this season. At least, that's the plan.

Season Predictions: Roberto Martinez has settled in well in the blue corner of Liverpool, and will no doubt be looking for his team to push on from their impressive campaign last season which saw them finish 5th. With relatively good squad depth, and some shrewd investment from Mr. Kenwright in the offseason, Everton not only have a team that can push for Champions League places, but also a team capable of reaching the latter stages of the Europa League. Surely though, for Toffees the world over, the most important thing is to finish above rivals Liverpool.
Last Season - 5th
This Season - 5th

Hull City
Key Player: Tom Huddlestone - The former Tottenham fatboy has turned into Hull's midfield muscleman in the last couple of years, shedding that baby fat he was carrying at the Lane, and turning into a mature and sensible holding midfielder. Like any footballer, though, Huddlestone is keen to be amongst the goals, and regularly steams forward, leaving best mate Jake Livermore to cover. The two have a good understanding, and Huddlestone's range of passing is something that is a real asset to a team such as Hull.

Huddlestone will want to avoid this.

Best Signing: Thomas Ince - Son of "The Guv'nor", Tom Ince is a pacey winger with quick feet, who is capable of beating his man both inside and out. With a great final ball, and a fierce shot, Ince isn't far away from being the finished article. Some argue that he was better than Zaha when the two played in the Championship, and this year, the general public may well get a chance to find out why, as Ince adds some bite to this Hull City attack.

Season Predictions: A steady if unspectacular campaign last year, Hull managed to get to the FA Cup Final, and avoid relegation. With potential Europa League football looming for the Tigers, it could well be a season where they simply consolidate their place in the top flight. I can see them losing points after European games, as well as having injury problems if fixture congestion becomes an issue. That said, there are worse team than Hull this year, so they should stay safe.
Last Season - 16th
This Season - 16th

Leicester City
Key Player: Wes Morgan - The big man at the back for Leicester was key for them last season, as they steamrolled their way through the Championship. However, this time around, the emphasis is more likely to be on damage limitation. Morgan is a good man manager who conducts his troops well and knows his weaknesses. Expect him to get physical with opposing strikers all year, and although his disciplinary record come May may not be sparkling clean, he'll have done everything in his power to make sure Leicester stay up.

Obligatory "new-team-shirt-pose" Classic.

Best Signing: Leo Ulloa - Whilst I think spending £8.5m on a Championship striker is absurd, Ulloa has proven himself in the league below, and is ready to make the step up to the Premier League. With Vardy and Nugent already on Leicester's books, it will be interesting to see just where Ulloa fits into Nigel Pearson's strategy, but Leicester should have enough firepower to make them competitive in their first season back in the top flight.

Season Predictions: Pearson brings a well-drilled side devoid of any divas. A team that plays for one another normally does pretty well in the Premier League, but I fear that this may be a step too far for Leicester, as squad depth looks to be an issue, and a number of players are the wrong side of their prime, including Morgan, Paul Konchesky, and Matthew Upson, 3 of the likely starting back 4. They'll put up a fight, no doubt, but I fear they'll fall at the last.
Last Season - 1st (Champ)
This Season - 18th

Liverpool
Key Player: Daniel Sturridge - With the departure of Luis Suarez still looming large over Anfield, the pressure will fall on the shoulders of the former Man City and Chelsea man to carry the expectations of the Liverpool faithful. We all saw what he was capable of last year, and with Lallana, Sterling, Coutinho and the like behind him, there's no reason Studge can't rack up 25+ goals if he stays healthy.

More of the same, please.

Best Signing: Dejan Lovren - The Croatian will no doubt be a massive boon to Liverpool's defence. Much as I like Martin Skrtel, he really is the Premier League equivalent of Pepe, capable of kicking off at any moment. With doubts over the futures of Kolo Toure and Daniel Agger, as well, Lovren may well see himself thrust into the limelight in front of the Kop, but he'll do well, as any experienced player should.

Season Predictions: Juggling the Champions League and 3 other competitions could prove tough for the Reds this season, but the additions of Lallana, Lambert, Lovren and Can give Liverpool more strength in depth than they had last year. However, were Sturridge to go down for any period of time, I can't see Lambert picking up the slack and being as prolific. Midweek hangovers surely won't help either.
Last Season - 2nd
This Season - 4th

Manchester City
Key Player: Sergio Agüero - When the Argentine went down through injury for large chunks of the beck end of last season, City's attack looked far less threatening. Agüero's style of play allows larger, less mobile forwards like Dzeko, and to some extent Negredo, to fill gaps between the defence and midfield to latch onto the end of balls pulled back by Sergio. Agüero's health will be key to City's title challenge this year, as well as how far they go in Europe.

Will he be smiling come May?

Best Signing: Eliaquim Mangala - The former Porto man rejoins teammate Fernando as a new boy in sky blue this season. Fans at the Etihad will be glad to have picked up a strong centre back to play alongside Kompany, Nastasic, or Demichelis. Mangala scored more goals than any other defender in European competitions last year, so City have not only brought in a defensively sound player, but also one who knows where the back of the net is.

Season Predictions: Of course City are major players in the race for the title, however, I think they won the title with the help of a stroke or two of luck, and a slip or two of Gerrard. Chelsea have simply outshone their title-chasing rivals this summer, spending very wisely in areas that needed strengthening, and whilst City still have a strong squad, they will no doubt be looking to go far in Europe this season, leaving them potentially exposed in the domestic campaign.
Last Season - Champions
This Season - 2nd

Preseason Musings: Arsenal - Crystal Palace

Arsenal

Key Player: Aaron Ramsey - If the Welshman can continue his form from last season over into this, he'll likely be pushing for PFA Player of the Year awards. Far eclipsing his midfield counterpart Jack Wilshire, for whom this season will likely be make or break, Ramsey is a threat going fowards, as well as being a steady head defensively.

The future of Arsenal's defence?

Best Signing: Calum Chambers - Signed from Southampton in July, heads spun at the £16m fee paid for the youngster. However, his preseason performances at centre back for the Gunners have proved that he could well be a reliable backup to Mertesacker and Koscielny, as well as at his more natural right back position behind fellow new boy Mathieu Debuchy. This spot would have gone to Alexis Sanchez, but for the fact that Arsenal are spoilt for choice in attacking midfield.

Season Prediction: I see them getting past Besiktas with relative ease in the Champions League, and having won the Community Shield yesterday against a below-par Manchester City, I can see Arsenal's winning mentality returning. With many hungry young players in the squad, and a spine of players key to their success, Arsenal have all the makings of a very strong team, who could push for the title a long way into the season.

Last Season - 4th

This Season - 3rd

Aston Villla

Key Player: Christian Benteke - Having stormed onto the Premier League scene in 2012/13, the big-bodied Belgian managed only 11 goals in an injury-shortened campaign last year. He will no doubt be looking to bounce back this year and continue his partnership with Austrian Andi Weimann. When those two are on form, Aston Villa look more dangerous than a club that seems almost destined to flirt with relegation.

More of the same, please, Mr. Benteke

Best Signing: Kieran Richardson - Having not made many signings, Villa seem to be relying mostly on the squad they had last season. Richardson, however, is a player with experience who will bring versatility to a relatively young squad. Playing anywhere down the left side, he has a great left foot, and could provide assists from free kicks and corners.

Season Prediction: 15th last season will have disappointed many Villa fans who hoped to kick on from the previous campaign and push for top half finishes. Having not added much to the squad, Villa could again be looking at a scrap with relegation, although I imagine there will be a number of teams worse off than the Villans come the end of the season.

Last Season - 15th

This Season - 15th

Burnley

Key Player: Danny Ings - The Winchester-born frontman has had his fair share of injuries in his short career thus far, but he'll be hoping to put all that behind him as he starts in the top flight alongside Sam Vokes in what was one of the most potent partnerships in the Championship last season. The two strikers both have a well rounded game, and compliment each other very well. Burnley will need goals early and often from these two to have any chance of staying up.

Ings - an all round good egg

Best Signing: Matt Taylor - Having left West Ham after his contract expired at the end of last year, Taylor signed on with Burnley, and looks to be a shrewd piece of business by Eddie Howe and his team. Capable of playing left-back, holding midfield, or in a left wing role, Taylor is always full of running and is never afraid to put a foot in, not to mention the fact that he still has the ability to score from 40+ yards.

Season Prediction: In a similar vein to Blackpool a few years ago, I think Burnley will be the most entertaining team to watch from the promoted sides. Eddie Howe will set them up well, and they'll no doubt be well drilled. That said, they have a fairly young squad with players like Trippier, Ings, Vokes and Heaton who are all capable of playing for bigger clubs, and I fear they may lose one or two of those names in January. Even so, squad depth is an issue, and I can see Burnley just falling short in the last few weeks of the season.

Last Season - 2nd (Champ)

This Season - 19th

Chelsea

Key Player: Eden Hazard - As we all know, Chelsea are stacked full of talent. So much so, that they have over 40 players out on loan at any onetime. This makes it difficult to choose one single player to highlight, however, Eden Hazard showed for large portions of last year why he will be a superstar for years to come. On occasion last season, Hazard would take the game by the scruff of the neck, and not let go until he'd wrung the life out of the opposition with his pace and trickery. Look for more this season from the little Belgian wizard as he continues to shine.

Ooft, take that!

Best Signing: Diego Costa - Ever since Dider Drogba left Chelsea, the Blues have lacked a certain je ne sais quoi up front. They tried with Torres, but bless him, he can't hit a barn door with a banjo. They kind of gave Demba Ba a go, before giving up on him far too early. They never even gave Romelu Lukaku a sniff. Costa could well be the missing link for Mourinho in his search for the Premier League. I have no doubt that his form will far exceed his showing from the World Cup and he will fast become a favourite at the Bridge.

Season Prediction: Costa and Fabregas bring quality and depth to a classy Chelsea team, now devoid of defensive liabilities after cashing in on David Luiz, and Thibaut Courtois will continue to push Manuel Neuer for the title of "World's Greatest Goalkeeper". With the majority of the team staying on from last season, and some quality new players being brought in, Chelsea could well be the real deal this season.

Last Season - 2nd
This Season - Champions

Crystal Palace

Key Player: Mile Jedinak - When looking for the definition of the word "talisman", you need search no further than the Australian captain nestled in South London. Jedinak's work rate and desire saw him often pull the team through tough games on his own last season. His steel will and determination is something that the fans at Selhurst Park admire, and unsurprisingly, he's a firm favourite. A gritty player who would benefit any side outside the Top 6, Jedinak seems to have found his spiritual home.

Jedinak. Enjoying life south of the river.

Best Signing: Brede Hangeland - While much has been made about the signing of Frazier Campbell from Cardiff, teams like Palace must always ensure they are strong at the back. Getting hold of Hangeland on a free is a magnificent piece of business by Tony Pulis. The 6'5" Norse god is only a couple of years removed from being in the conversation as one of the best in the league, and will add much needed depth and quality to a backline which until recently boasted Danny Gabbidon as one of it's members. Hangeland should be able to ensure that Palace legend Julian Speroni is not as busy as last year.

Season Prediction: It's well documented that I am not a fan of Crystal Palace. Nor am I a fan of Tony Pulis. That said, I have to admire the way the two work together, scrapping away and coming out of games with points where points should not be got (Liverpool at home, anyone?). This year, having maintained much the same squad, Palace will be looking to consolidate their position in the league by keeping it tight at the back, and pouncing when given the chance. They may have a touch of second season syndrome, but should still have enough to stay up with room to spare.

Last Season - 11th

This Season - 13th

Purple Rain: This Year's Baltimore Ravens, Offense

With the arrival of both football seasons imminent, combined with the fact that I haven't written a blog in over a month, I have decided to take it upon myself to predict the 53 men who, injury permitting, will stand on the sideline for the AFC North divisional battle with the Cincinnati Bengals on September 4th. Upcoming blogs will have my predictions for each team in the Premier League, but predicting 53 takes a bit more time than 20, so I'll start right here.

Quarterbacks:
Joe Flacco: 18 months removed from a Superbowl MVP award, and coming into the second year of his monster contract, this is possibly the biggest no-brainer on the team. Needs to step up in the new West Coast system employed by newly-hired OC Gary Kubiak, though. Could put up huge numbers, with the right direction.
Tyrod Taylor: The 4th year backup from Virginia Tech looked sharp in the preseason game against the 49ers on Thursday night. Unlikely to see much game time due to Flacco's unnerving durability, but a good man to have as a backup, who could thrive in the new system, if the time comes.

Running Backs:
Ray Rice: Suspended for the first 2 games of the season for...an altercation with his wife in an Atlantic City casino, Rice has trimmed down to 206lbs, and looks more like the man we knew during his first 4 seasons in the league, rather than the overweight human cannonball of last season.
Bernard Pierce: The man who will pick up the slack left by Rice against Cincy and Pittsburgh, Pierce has the potential to thrive in Kubiak's zone spread run game. A more bruising RB at 6'0", 230lbs, BP can run between the tackles, or stretch it to the outside, and could even see more carries than Rice after Ray comes back from suspension.
Justin Forsett: A veteran who knows Kubiak's scheme, having played under him last season in Houston, Forsett will fill the role of backup during Rice's suspension.
Lorenzo Taliaferro: A 4th-round draft pick from Coastal Carolina, Taliaferro will likely spend a lot of this season on special teams, seeing the occasional carry in blowout wins for the Ravens. Looks like he could be a steal in years to come, though.

JUICE!

Kyle Juszczyk: Pronouned "juice-check", or simply Juice, the Harvard graduate will play the role vacated by Vonta Leach, laying down leading blocks for the other RBs. Occasionally, Kubiak will flex him out wide, or use him as another tight end in jumbo packages. A very versatile player who is sure to become a fan favourite at M&T Bank for a while to come.


Wide Receivers:
Torrey Smith: In this, his contract year, expect to see Torrey rack up yards and touchdowns like never before. With teams having to cover more dangerous receivers this year, the former Maryland Terp will see a lot more single coverage, and could haul in 8 or 9 touchdowns for 1,300-ish yards. He'll get paid next year, too, he's too good to let go, and he'll only improve.
Steve Smith, Sr.: The Carolina Panthers' all-time leading receiver joined the Ravens this year on a 3-year, $11m deal. He's in the twilight of his career, but, like Ravens legend Ray Lewis, still trains and practices as if it's his first year. He'll bring a lot of fire and passion to the locker room and the offense, as well as providing Joe Flacco with the slot receiver he's so sorely missed since Anquan Boldin left town.

Ravens fans hope to see more of this

Jacoby Jones: Arguably the best player on the field in Super Bowl XLVII, Jones is a dangerman of the highest order. Primarily a kick/punt returner, he's also a useful target for Flacco, stretching the field, and giving players like Smith Sr. and Pitta a chance to produce underneath. Another man familiar with Kubiak's system, Jones could post career high number this year.
Marlon Brown: Last year's rookie sensation is a big target with strong hands who runs good routes, so it's no surprise then that Brown is a favourite target of Flacco's in the red zone, not least in that see-saw game in the snow against Minnesota last year, when Brown caught the winning touchdown with 10 seconds left. Could well see less of the ball, but is still a tremendous player to watch in years to come.
Michael Campanaro: A 7th-round draft pick out of nearby Wake Forest, Campanaro is a small slot receiver in the mould of Wes Welker and Danny Amendola. Drawing rave reviews from those present at training camp, Campanaro also has return abilities which could see him force his way onto the roster for the opening day.
Kamar Aiken: Another man receiving the plaudits of those at camp, Aiken spent his first few years in the league bouncing around practice squads in Green Bay and New York, among others. He sees this as his last opportunity to make a roster, and like any good receiver, he's grabbing it with both hands. A taller, faster slot receiver, Aiken seems to play in a similar way to Marlon Brown. He's likely to make the team on special teams, but injuries could see him land playing time on offense.

Tight Ends:
Dennis Pitta: Joe Flacco's best friend, and favourite target missed the majority of last season with a dislocated hip, but came back with a vengeance in the last couple of weeks. With a full preseason under his belt, and a new 5-year, $32 million contract behind him, Pitta will once again be Flacco's safety blanket. In a new-look offense that favours receiving tight ends, Pitta could well end the season as one of the Top 5 TE's in the league. A Ravens fan favourite, we'll all be hoping for him to stay fit to increase our chances of making the postseason.
Owen Daniels: Yet another man familiar with Gary Kubiak's offense, Daniels signed a 1 year deal and immediately jumped to second on the depth chart below Pitta. A well-known name around the league, Daniels is a dependable receiver and a decent blocker, so will be useful in Kubiak's regular 2 TE sets on the field, and could shape up to be a decent leader.
Crockett Gilmore: This year's 3rd-round pick from Colorado State, Gilmore is a blocking tight end with receiving potential who could well jump above Daniels towards the end of the season. Additionally, Juszczyk could be used as a TE in some looks, so the Ravens will only keep 3 traditional TE's for this season.

Offensive Line:
Eugene Monroe: One of the top tackles in the league last year according to ProFootballFocus, Monroe is an absolute workhorse who is just entering his prime, and should be able to keep even the best pass rushers at bay for a lot of the season.
Kelechi Osemele: Coming off a season-ending back injury from last year, the explosive and physical KO will be looking to recreate his form from his rookie season, which ended with a Super Bowl ring. He has the ability to get upfield and make second level blocks on screens and run plays, and Kubiak will be looking to exploit this as much as possible.
Jeremy Zuttah: An offseason acquisition from Tampa Bay, Zuttah is a slightly above average center in the league, but is a massive upgrade on the turnstile that was Gino Gradkowski. Someone who should be able to make calls at the line of scrimmage, Zuttah should bring some security to the O-Line, especially with the players either side of him helping out.
Marshal Yanda: The hard-nosed guard from Iowa is entering his 9th NFL season with the Ravens, and shows no signs of slowing down, as he is well-known as one of the toughest players out there. Similar to KO, he can make blocks all over the field, and always has his teammates' backs.
Ricky Wagner: Not much is known about this second year player, but after Michael Oher moved on to pastures new in Tennessee, Wagner has stepped up over other players jostling to start at right tackle, and looks destined to start in Week 1. He hasn't been highlighted very much during game time or practice, which can only be a good thing for an O-Lineman.
Other O-Linemen: Gino Gradkowski, Jah Reid, John Urschel, James Hurst, Ryan Jensen.

Why France are Quite Good, Really.

From the beginning of May, I've been telling anyone that would listen that France would be a surprise package at the World Cup. While people were considering Courtois, I was admiring Lloris. While people were excited about Hazard, I was buzzing for Valbuena. And while people were complimenting Benteke and Lukaku, I was fawning over Giroud and Benzema.

Since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1998, France have been knocked out at the Group Stage twice in 2002 and 2010, and reached the Final in 2006. To say that France are a "boom or bust" team would be the most accurate description since the last time England were described as underachievers.

This time, it's business.

However, France are a team set up to go far in this competition. At the helm, they have a man in Didier Deschamps who knows what it takes to win the World Cup. Decisions taken by the manager have lead to a harmonious camp, including leaving out Samir Nasri, a volatile character to say the least. Of course, Nasri's girlfriend wasn't massively impressed by this decision, launching a personal attack on the FFF on every social networking site at her fingertips. How mature.

Yes, Olivier. Five.

As well as having what seems to be the right man for the job, France also have one of the deepest squads at the World Cup, boasting cover in a number of positions. Sagna and Debuchy at RB were arguably the two best at their position in the Premier League this season, Giroud is hardly a terrible replacement, should Benzema go down injured, Laurent Koscielny was, in my opinon, Arsenal's most consistent CB this season, and he only makes the bench behind Sakho and Varane, and Moussa Sissoko is more than capable of replacing Cabaye, Pogba or Matuidi. The only question mark I would have over the squad is the selection of Lucas Digne over Gael Clichy as a back-up for Patrice Evra at LB. Sure, Digne is young, and plays in a successful system at PSG, but can you really argue against the experience and pedigree of Clichy, were Evra to be rendered unavailable?

Naturally, the injury to Franck Ribery just a week before the start of the tournament was a blow the Les Bleus, but the way they have dealt with the situation has been really positive. Antoine Griezmann looks more than capable of filling that role, and if needed, they can switch to a 4-4-2 Diamond formation, with Valbuena supporting both Giroud and Benzema up front, which we saw work to devastating effect against Switzerland.

Majestic.

Indeed, in some ways, Ribery's injury has forced France together as a team, as there have been few reports of unrest in the camp, unlike in 2010. Back in South Africa, France were under the tutelage of Raymond Domenech, a man so absurdly power hungry, he made Kim Jong-Il look like a liberal. Now, with Deschamps in charge, and a harmonious squad without the personality of Nasri in there, France are beginning to play to their potential. They're playing with each other and for each other, rather than as shoddily glued-together individuals. No longer are we seeing arguments amongst one another. There is no more rolling about on the floor, or calling for an opponent to be carded.

These Frenchmen mean business, and I, for one, am right behind them.

The Kit World Cup: Group E&F

Group E:

France: Honestly, I've rarely wanted to buy a kit as much as I do France's new home shirt. The cut, the colour, the detail. Everything about it screams French sophistication and you can imagine the France teams of old wearing both these shirts. Imagine how much better Zidane, Petit, Pires, and Henry would have looked in these shirts. I'm not sure the world would be able to cope.

Ecuador: Lesser-known manufacturer Marathon will have done themselves a favour with these kits for the Ecuador team. Good colour combinations, and decent detailing on the shoulders make these kits quite appealing. All in all, a relatively good offering from the Ecuadorians.

Switzerland: The Swiss kits, predictably red and white, are relatively plain, but still look good on the players. Personally, I'm not a massive fan of the detailing down the sides of the shirts, but I do like the embossed cross on the home shirt. The detailing on the sleeves also looks very impressive, as does the collar piping on the away kit.

Honduras: Unsurprisingly, the Hondurans come into both the football tournament, and this fictional tournament, looking pretty average. The piping on the white home shirt looks very nice, but the unsightly badge on both kits really does nothing to help the look. Personally, I think the plain white is a little too plain, and could do with some detailing somewhere other than the shoulders and arms.




Group F:

Argentina: The classic Argentinian look of light blue and white stripes continues with this good looking Adidas shirt, nothing too radical about the home kit. The black Adidas stripes on the shoulders contrast well with the other colours. However, I'm not so keen on the away kit, the hoops all the way through the kit should be the same colour, rather than every single hoop being different. Big fan of the home kit, not so much the away kit.

Nigeria: The Nigerian kits for this World Cup are in stark contrast to the Argentinians. I really like the white away kit, but really dislike the green home kit. The green on the arms should carry through onto the shirt, and the very thin pinstripes on the shirt are really quite ugly. In fact, the only thing I can really praise from this kit is the numbers and letters on the back, but that's scant consolation for the terrible kit. The away shirt, however, is very nice. The detailing is not over the top, and, as opposed to the home shirt, the light green works quite well.

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Two nice looking Bosnian kits from Adidas. Unlike the white Honduran kit, the white offering from the Bosnians doesn't look so plain due to the detailing and the Adidas stripes on the arms. Similarly, the blue away kit looks good because of the detailing Adidas have put on it. I would, however, have liked to see some difference in the two shirts.

Iran: These two Iranian kits from Uhlsport look surprisingly nice, considering they are for one of the lesser nations, manufactured by a relative unknown in the world of kits. One thing I particularly like about the away kit is the detailing of the cheetah on the shirt, which only really shows up if you look carefully. Also, the white kit looks really nice with the green collar and red stripe across the chest.



Round of 16 Matches:
France v Iran
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Switzerland

Chile Throw España in the Works

Are We Seeing the Death of Tiki-Taka?

It's 5 past 12, and barely ninety minutes ago, reigning World and European champions Spain were knocked out of the World Cup after just two games. My mind hasn't come to terms with it yet, but I'm sure it will, given time. I, amongst many of my friends, am pleased to see the back of Spain and I'll tell you why.

For far too long now, Vicente del Bosque and his band of merry compadres have waltzed through competitions, laying waste in the most nonchalant of fashions to any lesser team who dared to have the temerity to challenge their superiority. Racking up thousands of passes a game, the Spain of 2010 would wait for their opponents to have a lapse in concentration before stringing together 3 or 4 perfectly placed one-touch passes, resulting in David Villa or Fernando Torres walking the ball into the back of the net.

Sure, in 2008, tiki-taka football at both Barcelona and Spain was great to watch. It was new, it was exciting. Like anything, though, after 6 years, it all becomes a bit same-old same-old. By the Euros two years ago, I was shouting at the screen as Spain tried and failed to find a way past the mighty John O'Shea for them to give it to Xabi Alonso to just "have a pop". Admittedly they eventually won 4-0, but still...variation is nice.

The only man I feel sorry for. Plus Xabi Alonso.

So 2014 rolls around. I finish my university exams, and become increasingly excited for the impending World Cup. No matter how hard I try, though, I can't help but get a feeling that I want Spain to fall flat on their faces. Having won so often, you could see the swagger in their step from space. Their demeanour was similar to that of Roger Federer at Wimbledon, when he came onto Centre Court wearing a blazer pre-empting his own victory.

The way Holland went through Spain like a hot knife through butter, exposing their questionable defence, was a joy to behold. One of my friends even tweeted "As a semi-professional despiser of Spain, this is porn to me.", and I find it hard to disagree. Ramos has never been the most disciplined centre-back, Pique isn't the player he was two or three years ago, and Jordi Alba is the Spanish Kyle Walker, using blazing speed to make up for defensive incapabilities. Seemingly, the only solid defensive muchacho is César "Dave" Azpilicueta.

"Yeah, ok Vicente. Good luck without me!"

Up front, Fernando Torres is the biggest joke on the internet since John Terry missed that penalty in Moscow. The thought of Torres getting into the squad ahead of Alvaro Negredo, and on the pitch ahead of David Villa, is upsetting. Sure, Negredo dropped off the second half of last season, but he's still more willing
to work for the team than Torres is, and he'll get physical with whoever he's up against, which is more than Diego Costa or Torres seem to do.



Tactically, del Bosque seems at a loss to explain what's been happening. Understandably, against Holland, damage limitation was the order of the day. However, against Chile, and 2-0 just before half time, you'd have thought that the Spaniard at the helm of the footballing armada would have sacrificed a defensive player for the sake of an attacking threat, but no. Here are the subs he made:
Alonso -> Koke
Costa -> Torres
Pedro -> Cazorla
I don't know about you, but they don't look like game changing substitutions. Not only that, but as the game wore on, so did Spain's boring tactics. Their willingness to take potshots and test the Chilean keeper never grew, and their insistence on a passing game that so clearly didn't work was embarrassing to watch. Del Boy should have thrown on an extra forward and started pumping the ball long against the CB pairing of Jara and Medel, neither of whom are taller than 5'9". But he didn't. And I, for one, am glad.

Adios Spain, and RIP tiki-taka, and good riddance!

The Inaugural Kit World Cup: Groups C&D

Group C:

Colombia: The Colombians bring to the table two very different kits for this World Cup. The home kit looks very nice. From a distance. The unsightly blue diagonal stripes across the shirt are ugly, aside from the bold one across the shoulder. As for the away kit, the fact that I'm not a huge fan of red isn't a great help, but there's nothing offensive about the shirt. In all, the away kit looks nicer than the home, but neither are particularly stunning.

Japan: This home kit actually looks really good, especially on the players. The contrast of the blue from the bright pink piping on the arms and across the shoulders looks so nice when the kit is on, and the colour of the away kit, although aggressive, is also good when combined with the piping. The use of lighter blue on the home kit around the badge represent the "rising sun" of the Japanese flag.

Côte d'Ivoire: Similar to the Cameroon kits showcased in yesterdays blog, the Ivory Coast team come in to the tournament boasting kits with tribal patterns. Both the home and away kits have the patterning on the shoulders, as well as under the arms. I assume this is made of a mesh kind of material to allow sweat to be wicked away on the warm Brazilian afternoons. The colours of orange and green are what we've come to expect from les éléphants, and they look quite good. A nice pair of kits.

Greece: Two very nice, clean kits from the Greek team at this World Cup. There's no messing about with these shirts. Blue and white, and white and blue. Watching Georgios Samaras light up Group C in these kits will be more of a pleasure than usual when he's wearing these kits.


Group D:

Italy: The Azzurri come into the tournament with a relatively un-Italian pair of shirts. Generally, the Italians arrive wearing sharp suits (which they did) and sporting even sharper kits (which they don't). The home kit looks ok, but the overall design isn't quite what we have come to expect. I think the away kit is really quite bland. The stripes down the middle of the shirt look dated, and there's nothing exciting about the way the shirt is cut, or the features of the piping. Overall, a pretty poor showing, especially after the high they hit in 2006 with both their kits, and their performances.

Uruguay: These Uruguayan shirts are nice and simple, and all respect to them for that. The blue in the collar of the away shirt looks really good, and the cut out collar on the home shirt is equally nice. Uncomplicated shirts and nice designs make these quite appealing.

Costa Rica: Nope. Don't like these shirts at all. The design across the shirt combined with the badge makes it look like a goalkeeper diving despairingly for a ball, which is something that, in this group, he could well be doing often. The collar looks nice, but the design on the shoulders is unsightly. In all, not a particularly good showing from the Costa Ricans.

England: Once again, Nike show why they are the manufacturer to beat when it comes to World Cup kits. This England pairing is much better than almost anything they ever had under Umbro. The cut of the kit looks great on the players, and the red is an ideal shade to represent the English fighting spirit. The lack of piping and detail on the shirts is also a throwback to England's more famous kits. Anyone remember anything happening in the summer of '66?

Round of 16 Matches:

Greece v Uruguay
England v Côte d'Ivoire

NFL Draft Review

Well, it's been about 3 weeks since I last published anything about the NFL, so I guess now is as good a time as any to get back to business having finished my second year university exams.

Better late than never, I'll be reviewing the first round of the NFL Draft. You know, that blog I did aaaaages ago, of which you only understood about 40%? Yeah, a follow-up on that. Like I said; better late than never!

Best Value Pick: HaHa Clinton-Dix
When Clinton-Dix dropped past the Ravens at 17, and then the Jets took Calvin Pryor at 18, the obvious landing spot for him was Green Bay at 21. In the former Alabama man, the Packers are getting an NFL-ready Free Safety who can cover the field quickly, which will be key in the pass-happy NFC North, especially with the Lions receiving corps now boasting Eric Ebron as well as All-Pro WR Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. Not only that, but check out his get up on the night of the Draft. This is one sharp-dressed man.
Special Mention: CJ Mosley to Baltimore. (Ozzie Newsome hinted that Mosley was a Top 10 player on the Ravens' draft boards, maybe even Top 5. To pick him up at 17 is, quite frankly, a steal.)


                                                     Worst Value Pick: Kyle Fuller
Although no doubt a very good CB, Kyle Fuller was not a Top 15 pick. Darqueze Dennard and Justin Gilbert were the top 2 cornerbacks in this class, and Fuller should realistically have been taken nearer the bottom of the first round. Chicago would have got good value in a trade in this draft class, with a lot of teams eager to jump up the board to grab their man. They could have traded back to the mid-20 range and still picked him up.
Special Mention: Sammy Watkins to Buffalo. (Undoubtedly a Top 5 pick, but the Bills were thinking of trading up to no.1 to grab him. Just stop, Buffalo.)

The "How Did He Fall THAT Far" Pick: Teddy Bridgewater
Not even a week from the draft, people were talking about the former Louisville QB as a potential 1st overall pick, but Bridgewater showed how badly a sub-par Pro Day can affect draft position. He eventually fell to no.32 and the Minnesota Vikings, who had traded back up into the first round to grab him. He should perform well in the NFL under Mike Zimmer's tutelage, and with Adrian Peterson as his RB to take some pressure off.
Special Mention: Johnny Manziel to Cleveland. (The most hyped player coming into the draft falling to no.22? Come on.)

The Inaugural Kit World Cup: Groups A&B

Inspired by a certain Mr Tom Perkins doing the National Anthem World Cup, I decided to turn my hand to a similarly themed knockout tournament by looking at the kits of each team and ranking them by group, and forming a competition around the kits. Early favourites include France, Holland, and Brazil's efforts put forward by Nike, but we'll see as the tournament progresses.

Group A:

Brazil: Produced by Nike, this offering is the classic yellow with green trim that we have come to expect. Very smart and clean cut, the green collar looks great on the players. I'm marginally less impressed with the blue away kit, but the dark green alternate kit really pleases me. The kit's colour contrasts beautifully with the Brazilian crest, and would look great on the pitch. Unfortunately, Brazil will probably only wear yellow or blue.

Croatia: It's hard to extol the virtues of a kit that looks even more like a tablecloth than Man Utd's 2012/13 home kit, but I'm gonna have to give it a go, aren't I? Well, the plain red sleeves on the home kit are a nice change from previous versions, and the way the numbers fit perfectly into a 4 square section is appealing to the eye. The white shorts, blue socks combo also works really well with the red on the shirt. As for the away kit, the checked trim is surprisingly nice, and the red collar also looks good against the all-blue kit. Not much bad to say about the away kit, but the home kit leaves a lot to be desired. I realise it's a traditional design, but please, Croatia, stop.


Mexico: A really poor effort from the Mexican FA and Adidas here. The striped green below the crest doesn't look good at all, and the electric look of the red and white across the chest would probably look better if it were solid colour. The green above the crest would be more appealing as a block colour all over, but overall this is a terrible showing from Mexico. The away kit isn't much better, with a reddy-orange shade covering the majority of the kit, and black stripey mountains ranging across the chest. Terrible. I think we can safely say that Mexico won't be progressing in this tournament.

Cameroon: A typically Cameroonian approach from the African giants, the tribal patterns on the kits are surprisingly pleasing to the eye, and from what I saw against Mexico the other day, the yellow tribal patterns don't show that much on the pitch, so this kit is actually pretty nice and will battle it out with the Croatian kit for a place in the last 16.




Group B:

Spain: Another classic look for Spain's home kit is hard to bash, although the red could be slightly lighter to give a more traditional look. That said, the away kit A) doesn't look very nice and B) is black, and will make the team sweat buckets. Realistically, not a great showing from the reigning World Champions.

Holland: A universally recognisable kit with regards to international football, the Dutch always provide great kits, normally in orange and blue. This year is no exception. The orange home kit is a brilliant look, and the subtlety of the badge really brings the shirt full circle. As for the away shirt, the blue look is good, although I would prefer the same colour throughout, rather than the change from blue to navy from the chest out to the shoulders. Overall, though, a great look for the Dutch this summer.

Chile: Two good looking kits representing Chile's charge through the competition, the contrasting collar on the home kit looks really nice, and the trim on both kits is appealing. The fact that the design is practically the same for both is, however, a little disappointing.

Australia: Another classic home kit, Australia's green and gold is traditional for all their sports teams, and this offering is no exception. The collar sets it apart from the Brazil kit. The away kit is also nice, with a nice colour combo between the deep blue representing the sea, and the gold representing the outback. A good combination from the Aussies rounds off a very strong Group B.

Round of 16 Matches:

Brazil v Australia
Holland v Croatia

World Cup Round Up: 12th-16th June

This series will feature the ups and downs every few days throughout the World Cup, highlighting all that is good, and all that needs improvement to make the greatest show on turf exactly that. Considering I've been glued to the television for all but 45 minutes of the games so far, I think I'm fairly well qualified to give my two centavos.

GOOD:

The Games: So far in Brazil, we've seen 3.41 goals per game (as of the end of Germany v Portugal), which I'm sure many of you will agree sounds like a festival of football worthy of the name. In particular, games involving lesser known countries such as Switzerland v Ecuador, and Costa Rica upsetting Uruguay, have
really brought the tournament to life. Even larger teams are going out on the sun-kissed pitches of Brazil's largest cities and playing football that is pleasing to everyone. Long may it continue!

The Minnows: Teams like Ecuador and Costa Rica, and even to some extent Australia have really shown some great flashes of football. Costa Rica's surprise victory over Uruguay delighted England fans across the
world, and no doubt relieved the pain of a defeat to Italy, as well as blowing Group D wide open. Look out for Matthew Leckie in Group B to cause Spain and Holland some trouble in Australia's next two games, he could be a real bright spark.

The Biggest Players: All the talk before the World Cup was about Messi, Neymar et al. being able to perform on the biggest stage of them all, and they have not let their many admirers down. Neymar showed up in the first game of the tournament with a penalty and well placed, albeit scuffed, shot past "The Octopus" Stipe Pletikosa in the Croatia goal. Not to be outdone, Andrea Pirlo completed 103 out of 108 passes, and ran the entire show in Manaus in Italy's victory over England. Then, last night, in the Maracana, one of the most famous stadia in the world, Messi came alive in the second half. Jinking past a number of Bosnian defenders, Messi knocked the ball with consummate ease past a hapless Asmir Begovic. Let's hope these guys keep it up.

England: As a "neutral" supporter, this England team has the potential to be really exciting. With the likes of Sterling, Barkley, Sturridge and Lallana, the Three Lions have a group of young playmakers who have the potential to light up the world for years to come. Whether Roy Hodgson uses them wisely or not remains to be seen, but I believe that England should make it at least as far as the Quarter Finals, although I think the Final would be a massive over-achievement. However, we all know how prone England are to choking in the big games.


BAD

The Referees: The first few days of the World Cup saw numerous bad refereeing decisions. The Brazilian penalty on the first night, as well as the "foul" on Diego Costa against Holland were both poor decisions. The game that stands out for me, though is the Mexico-Cameroon match, which saw two genuine goals clocked off for various reasons. Those decision, had they gone the other way, could have seen the game well and truly over before the 61st minute winner that eventually saw Cameroon off. With 2 extra goals under their belts, Mexico could have rested key players before tomorrow's game against the hosts.

The Coverage: For the most part, the commentary teams have been relatively good. Lawrenson's sparkling wit often pulls his partner along, but over on ITV, Tyldesley and Townsend provide commentary so banal that I'm surprised I haven't fallen asleep listening to them. The BBC's coverage team includes Thierry Henry and Clarence Seedorf, two world class footballers in their time. Meanwhile, ITV have gone closer to home with the likes of Lee Dixon and Ian Wright, both of whom provide little insight outside of the obvious, whereas the team on the BBC, including Shearer and Ferdinand, give viewers a taste of life in the camp, and indeed explain the complexities of international football to a far greater extent than the ITV crew ever have.

Anti-Government Protesters: Brazil has been a melting pot of political and social problems for years now, and no more so than the last 6 months in the build-up to the World Cup. Whilst I believe that there are problems that need sorting in one of the most financially diverse countries in the world, I don't think that violent protests during the World Cup is the way to do it. Keep the protests until after the tournament, when the government can see that FIFA have stripped away any possible revenue outside tourism, and they can begin to restore parity before the Olympics arrive in Rio in 2016. That said, if a stray missile hit Adrian Chiles, I probably wouldn't shed a tear.