j.arango's blog

Football at this point in history is extremely  dependent on statistics.  Let's not doubt that for one moment.  We use stats to be able to quantify performances and why teams win or lose.  Still these formulas and monitors do not tell the entire story.  If there is one thing that it still cannot show is the actual importance of a player on the pitch. Of course, we are just fresh off some of the most impressive individual performances in world football so there is a reason why his contribution to Juve's latest triumph is overshadowed.   Read more about Andrea Pirlo deserves some Ballon D'Or love

We constantly hear from many people on the outside that the US is not a "footballing nation". Ok, I can give many that. Yet if there is one thing that we cannot deny is that the sport has really been able to gather steam in the past decade. If there was ever one instance that is etched in my memory was the time I looked to write about the US-Argentina match in East Rutherford, New Jersey for The Hartford Courant. This paper is known to be the oldest paper in the United States and is the source of information for many soccer fans in and around the state capital. "We don't cover that stuff. Read more about The Futile Last Stand Of The American Mainstream Media

The news of Manolo Preciado's passing was one that shocked the football community in Spain and abroad.   His demeanor as well as his ability to fight for people made him a favorite of many.  Players fought for him and played for him without any doubt.  He was just that type of coach, he was also that type of person.  He was a man that always wanted to be happy; but he knew when he had to put his foot down to assert himself.   Read more about Preciado was a champion in the game of life

Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer of all-time.  Period. Stop.

Since embarking on this sacrificial journey into the annuls of writing and media, I've come to realize that the incessant banging of keyboards has a profound effect in the process of venting.

It's definitely an easy outlet, there's no doubt about it. 

A colleague of mine quoted the great historian Eduardo Galeano and that, in and of itself, made a great deal of sense.  In fact, you could say it summed it all up in one neat package.

There is one unanimity in football.  Everyone hates the ref.- Eduardo Galeano

 It is a reasonable excuse.  From that excuse, the defects of 90 or 180 minutes or even a season can be easily covered up to the masses.  They also get you more hits on your website as well as comments.   Read more about Stop Blaming Refs For Everything

This US elimination was just one that had a great deal of sting to it.  

Such was the effect that the mainstream media in the United States, a collective group that made the national team job here the cushiest in the world because of their disinterest, awaken. 

On my drive to work the day after, I listened to sports talk radio and a local host was shocked at the fact that the US weren't going to the Olympics in London.  

"Damn, the US got eliminated and aren't going to the Olympics.  Hey didn't we just hire Jürgen Klinsmann?"  Read more about US Soccer: A Series Of Incidents And Not Coincidences

Pep Guardiola mentioned that Marcelo Bielsa is the best coach in the world.  Although there might be people that might think that Pep as well as the gatekeeper at Valdebebas would be the top two, there is a significant case for the Argentine to be earning that distinction. Read more about The Case For Bielsa

Ok, I got your attention.  

Guilty as charged. As I did something that many SEO's want to do in an effort to bring you in.  

I have been hearing that Lionel Messi has to win a World Cup in order to become one of the greatest players in history.  To me that is not an insult to Messi, what we're doing is looking to put the period in the middle of the sentence.   Read more about World Cup Titles Seem To Be Overrated

Cesc Fábregas.  Alexis Sánchez.  Nuri Sahin.  Hamit Altintop.  Radamel Falcao García.
Read more about Michu Is The Revelation Of The Season