Tyler’s 2010/2011 Predictions

What I can’t wait to see:

1. How well Jose Mourinho will do in his first season at Real Madrid? I have been overwhelmed by the success of Mourinho. He couldn’t win the Champions League with Chelsea (basically unlimited funds) but did with FC Porto and Inter Milan (not unlimited funds). He has won league titles in the top flights of Portugal, England and Italy with Spain on the table. With Kaka out for 3-4 months and not landing the signings he was hoping, how will the first season go with a team and fans that expect hardware?
2. Manchester City unloaded a bank on the transfer market, will it get them in a Champions League spot? Or even a league title? Really interested to see if all the new players will mesh and how they play against the big boys of the Prem….I’m not putting any money on them.
3. How will the Americans do in Europe this season? Outside of the usuals (Howard, Dempsey), I want to see Holden get some good time in at Bolton, Jozy and Adu find some where to get REGULAR playing time and some of the less known players get recognized and called-up to the national team. To say the WC and following transfer market activity was disappointing is an understatement.
4. Can Tottenham handle the Prem season and make it past the group stage of the Champions League? While I would like to see the first time CL team play well, I don’t know if they have the depth.

Predictions:

• Spanish La Liga Champions: Barcelona – With a large contingent of the World Cup winning Spanish team and Real Madrid with a new coach, I don’t see Barcelona being dethroned this season
• German Bundesliga Champions: Bayern Munich – Even with Robben injured for the start of the season I believe that Bayern have the depth to win the league again
• Italian Serie A Champions: AC Milan – The easy choice would be Inter but I don’t believe Rafa can do the same as Mourinho even though the team is relatively unchanged. I believe AC Milan will pull it out in a tight campaign
• English Premier League Champions: Manchester United – Sir Alex Ferguson has been rebuilding with younger players and has started to create a solid team. This season is Chelsea’s turn to start to mix in some younger players and I don’t believe Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City or Tottenham have the depth to keep up
• Champions League Champion: Barcelona – The English teams will come up empty handed again as the Barcelona outfit wins the Champions League

Gabes’s 2010/2011 Predictions

What I can’t wait to see:

1. Like Tyler, I am most excited by Stuart Holden’s great chance at seeing regular time at Bolton. If everything goes well, he could be one of USA’s most important players in 2014.
2. With Jozy Altidore’s recent net for Villareal in a friendly, I’m anxious to see where he lands. Rumors are flying but is Villareal AND playing time for the lad too much to ask?
3. Will LA Galaxy grab a third DP from Europe? Ronaldinho and Freddy Adu rumors are circulating.
4. Can Arsenal live up to the hype, finally? The fans of this team are as incredulous as ever, and chanting “title!” already. I still see an inconsistent, young squad with a marquee player who would rather be elsewhere.

Predictions:

• Spanish La Liga Champions: Real Madrid – How can I write off the Special One? He may have bought himself a season’s worth of wiggle room with recent talk but I’m not convinced he will need it. He knows how to beat Barcelona. What else matters?
• German Bundesliga Champions: Bayern Munich – Easy. Just look what their players did in the World Cup.
• Italian Serie A Champions: Inter Milan – Not at all easy. Tyler makes a good argument against Inter, although AC Milan hasn’t looked solid in my eyes in a season or more. In fact, I believe AS Roma have a good shot given the uncertainty in Milan clubs. My choice of Inter to win comes down to my affinity for Wesley Sneijder. Yeah, he’s that good. I guess.
• English Premier League Champions: Chelsea – Community Shield be damned. Chelsea rightfully won the title last season, and I will expect them to carry their dominating play through another year. Manchester United’s new guys would need a consistently focused effort to find traction for the slipping club, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them fall to third.
• Champions League Champion: Real Madrid – The Spanish league is currently the best in the world. If it’s not Madrid, it’s Barca. Expect Bayern Munich, Inter, Chelsea to compete as well. Sorry Manchester, I don’t see much for you this time around.

Two things caught my attention in this story. One, that “More Iraqis are turning out for sports events now that security is improving…” which begs the tasteless joke, “I’d hate to see what their bad security is like!” And two, the sheer Bruckheimerness of the scene: In the final minute of a close game, an attacking player was shot in the head by his assassin, presumably at range in the stands, in the moment before a crucial tying attempt at goal. Tragedy, Hollywood-style. Unfortunately, there is no Nicolas Cage to avenge his death.

Ah, the old Pretend-to-be-a-hot-mistress-when-you-are-really-two-Liverpool-fans-who-are-also-cage-fighters trick. I have to give them respect for the quality of this prank, but I’m afraid it’s a few steps out of touch, so to speak. I mean, they broke the guy’s ankle and got him divorced? For supporting Manchester United? You must read this cautionary tale of a life lived in the shadow of widespread EPL hysteria.

Ahem.

A more interesting aspect of this game was the behavior of the Crew Massive, Hudson Street Hooligans, Nordecke, Local 614—whatever they want to be called. The crazy fans in the corner. They’re the ones I’m so glad to have at every game, and so glad to have on the other side of the stadium at every game. The whole north corner was packed for this playoff match, and these dudes were louder and rowdier than ever.

In the past, Crew fans have been accused of racism, instigating fights with opposing fans, attempts to harm opposing players (throwing batteries?!), and attempts to put a lot of decoration on opposing players. While I can only claim witness to one of these (the decoration), I can say that we’ve definitely gained a reputation for taking both the “kid” and the “friendly” out of “kid-friendly event”. So what we have is an “event”… for adults who aren’t easily offended.

In fact, the most impressing behavior the crazy fans exhibit every game is their expertly synchronized foul language. It’s usually louder than the announcer, and with a packed house, it’s clear as a bell. I’ll admit, I’m a fan of the brazen attitude, but as I told a friend Saturday, a lot of kids are growing up tonight.

Some catchy chants I heard