#449 | Chelsea Building Chase for 3rd After BEATING Man City #CFC by London Is Blue - Chelsea FC Soccer Podcast
Appeared as a guest on the London Is Blue Podcast
Atlantic City FC Roll the Open Cup Dice
Atlantic City FC host 2019 National Amateur Champions Newtown Pride FC in the Open Cup First Round in late March, and there’s a sense that this is a major milestone in the Jersey club’s development. “I think it’s an indication that we’re doing the right things and that our process is working,” Goldstein added ahead of the game with the Connecticut side, based near Danbury, and the cream of the crop in the Connecticut Soccer League (CSL). “It’s not a box to check off, it’s a result of us going ab...
MLS tries to straddle the line on athlete protests – Howler Magazine
It’s been a challenging time for Major League Soccer, as issues of race have recently dominated the national sports discussion. In a recent statement, MLS said, “Though we encourage our players to stand during the national anthem, we respect and support their right to express their personal beliefs.” The league’s statement stands in stark contrast to that of the United States Soccer Federation, who reiterated their support for Policy 604-1 on the same day.
Passed by the USSF’s board of directors...
Passed by the USSF’s board of directors...
Spurs should adopt Chelsea’s strong stance on anti-Semitic chants – Howler Magazine
During Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, members of the traveling fans sang a song about new striker Álvaro Morata which contains the term ‘Yid,’ a derogatory slur for Jewish people. The club was quick to denounce the chants, and Morata followed suit, tweeting out his disapproval following the match.
Chelsea communications director Steve Atkins had strong words for those engaging in this despicable behavior. “People should know that the police will be investig...
Chelsea communications director Steve Atkins had strong words for those engaging in this despicable behavior. “People should know that the police will be investig...
Efforts to curb online abuse in English football are failing miserably – Howler Magazine
During the Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea match, Michy Batshuayi scored an own goal, gifting the hosts an equalizer with minutes left. Though they went on to win the match, Batshuayi’s own goal nearly ruined Chelsea’s chances of taking all three points from Wembley Stadium. As I turned to Tweetdeck to see how others were responding to the events in the game, I did a double take after reading a racist fan’s views on the Belgian forward.
“Fucking Twitter nigger hahahaha @mbatshuayi,” was what one Che...
“Fucking Twitter nigger hahahaha @mbatshuayi,” was what one Che...
Target’s move from NASCAR to soccer could change the face of the youth game in the US – Howler Magazine
When Target decided that it would end its 16-year NASCAR sponsorship of Chip Ganassi Racing and announced that it would be shifting its focus to soccer, there were probably more than a few people left scratching their heads. NASCAR is immensely popular in the United States—as it’s been for some time—while soccer has been steadily gaining in popularity year by year. But while it’s become more desirable in America, it hasn’t become more accessible to all Americans.
Though the Minneapolis-based bra...
Though the Minneapolis-based bra...
Russian football needs to take firmer position against rampant racism ahead of 2018 World Cup – Howler Magazine
The regularity with which reports citing racism emerge from within Russian football is not only anomalous by comparison to other countries, but also shocking. From chants by fans to on-field altercations, you needn’t do much research to find proof of such incidents.
They happen with such frequency that several prominent figures in the world’s game have spoken out against it. Manchester City’s Yaya Touré chose to speak out against racism in Russian football after he was greeted by vile monkey cha...
They happen with such frequency that several prominent figures in the world’s game have spoken out against it. Manchester City’s Yaya Touré chose to speak out against racism in Russian football after he was greeted by vile monkey cha...
Roma-Juventus game brings out 33,000 fans at Foxborough
Of all of the matches I covered during this summer’s International Champions Cup, AS Roma against Juventus from Gillette Stadium was perhaps the most unique. Neither club has the star power and recognizable branding of a team like Barcelona or Manchester United. Instead, this matchup drew fans with a strong connection to their team. While the strictly Serie A fixture from Gillette Stadium hosted the second lowest amount of fans of any match I covered during the tournament, this one felt as if th...
80,000 attend Barcelona-Manchester United game in Maryland
A total of 80,162 fans descended on FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland to witness Barcelona take on Manchester United in the International Champions Cup. As expected, both teams had thousands of supporters show up to cheer them on, and the lineups at kickoff did not disappoint. Ernesto Valverde deployed Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar in their familiar trident, while José Mourinho opted to start Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford in an unconventional 4–4–2.Unsurprisingly, much...
5 goal Spurs-Roma thriller entertains full house at Red Bull Arena
Walking into Red Bull Arena, I was surprised to see how many random soccer jerseys were being worn. I’d come to watch Tottenham Hotspur play AS Roma after all, but if you’d told someone with no knowledge of the fixture to come, they’d have had a hard time telling you exactly who was playing whom. Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United — I even saw an RSL kit — were just a few of the clubs whose colors were on display as I made my way from the parking lot to the press entrance.Unlike Barcelona vs...
82,000 fans attend Barcelona-Juventus ICC game
In front of a record-breaking 82,104 fans — the most ever for a soccer game in New Jersey, Barcelona saw off Juventus 2–1 in an exciting International Champions Cup match at MetLife Stadium Saturday night featuring two quality first-half goals from Neymar. Veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini scored a towering header to halve the lead for Juventus but Barcelona’s Brazilian superstar stole the show. Neymar was electrifying and, considering he’s been at the center of the media storm surrounding the...
Bayern Munich's Julian Green upbeat despite defeat to Real Madrid
In one of the most highly billed matches of the fourth annual International Champions Cup, Real Madrid defeated Bayern Munich in the final ten minutes of an exciting affair Wednesday night. Despite several second half substitutions by both sides, the game was engaging and well appreciated by the 82,012 fans who packed MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.It’s easy to write off preseason matches as meaningless endeavors meant to promote the team in a foreign market – especially one as p...
USA awaits Argentina defeating Venezuela in Copa America
Even before the droves of Argentina and Venezuela fans descended upon Foxborough, Massachusetts Saturday night for the Copa America Centenario quarter-final, many people were expecting a comfortable victory for Argentina. So, when Gonzalo Higuain scored the game’s opening goal after just eight minutes, things seemed to be going according to plan.The Napoli frontman doubled Argentina’s lead a mere twenty minutes later after a lapse of judgment in the Venezuela defense allowed him to intercept an...
Peru deserved to advance to Copa America quarterfinal says coach
Before Brazil faced Peru at Gillette Stadium in the final match of the group stage during the 2016 Copa America Centenario, many considered Dunga’s men reaching the quarter-finals a foregone conclusion. And while their failure to reach the knockout rounds was one of the major shocks of the tournament so far, the writing was on the wall.After the South American powerhouse blew out Haiti 7-1 in their previous match, pundits and fans were raving about their quality and how they’d likely make a deep...
Klinsmann wants US not to be habitual underdogs
Against Paraguay, when Jürgen Klinsmann announced the same lineup for the third consecutive match, many people were bewildered. It was the first time in his history as US manager that he’d done so, and the starting XI from the previous two games had produced mixed results. Sure, they’d blown out Costa Rica, but there were times they looked vulnerable, particularly in defense and transition.After their loss to Colombia in the opening match of the tournament, Klinsmann defiantly suggested that the...
Analyzing Chelsea's defensive cover to replace injured Kurt Zouma
Kurt Zouma suffered an unsettling injury during Chelsea’s Premier League match against Manchester United in last week’s fixture at Stamford Bridge. His fall was so awkward and his pain so obvious that United’s Juan Mata immediately called for a stoppage of play, frantically signaling to the bench that his opponent needed treatment.Following the match, the young Frenchman left the stadium headed for an MRI scan and a complete examination by the Chelsea FC medical team. Their diagnosis wasn’t po...
Winter forecast: What Chelsea can (and should) do before the January window
To say that Chelsea have had a lackluster start to their season would be generous. The Premier League champions are 16th in the league, have been knocked out of the League Cup, have lost a staggering seven matches and have looked an altogether different team than the one which took the league by storm in 2014-2015. A month ago it was said as a joke, but more and more people have legitimately asked the question about the West Londoners: Will they be relegated?Though their form has perplexed fans...
Chelsea’s best starting XI of all-time
Since Roman Abramovich bought the club in July of 2003, Chelsea have become a different club than they were in decades past, both in stature and in the eyes of global fans of the game. With the exception of Manchester City’s likely progression over the next few years, Chelsea are rather unique in the Premier League. Since the introduction of new ownership, they’ve enjoyed success like never before, especially with such frequency.That’s why I chose to focus a ‘historical’ best Chelsea XI on the...
Chelsea desperately needs leader Jose Mourinho
José Mourinho is a fantastic coach. His record speaks for itself. He’s a winner. He’s won all over Europe, in many competitions, with several different teams. Everywhere he’s gone, titles and trophies have followed.His time managing in the Premier League has been no different. In his first spell as Chelsea manager, he won back-to-back titles (the only manager besides Sir Alex Ferguson to do so) and went on to win several domestic cup trophies. Reaching the semifinal of the Champions League becam...
Chelsea’s first four games of 2015 Premier League season
To say that Chelsea have started slowly this season would be a rather generous understatement. The reality is their first month has been poor, especially when held to the standard of the previous season’s impressive performances.Last year, Chelsea hit the ground running, winning all four opening matches and doing so with a dominant form that had pundits dubbing them this generation’s ‘Invincibles.’ More importantly, the Blues exhibited a cohesiveness which was the result of a short holiday, ea...
Chelsea aren't in crisis mode, but this season will be a tougher test than last
There are losses and, then, there are losses. Some hurt more than others. Some happen in preseason and come with a certain luxury of avoidance and denial. Others happen during the season and can demoralize or inspire fans. As a Chelsea fan, I know that watching them lose to a major rival like Manchester City earlier at the Etihad Stadium was by far one of the worst feelings I’ll experience all season.Last week, Chelsea surrendered two leads to Swansea City in their season opening match at St...
Chelsea vs. Barcelona: Adventures on the road with the International Champions Cup
In what was to be the final International Champions Cup (ICC) match I covered, I traveled to Washington D.C. to watch Chelsea play against Barcelona. Having spent the majority of my time covering the ICC in the New York/New Jersey area, I made the trek south a day early in order to reduce travel stress and to use the opportunity to check out the nation’s capital.Thankfully, my brother is a local resident and he offered to accommodate me (I threatened to call mom and rat him out) so I graciously...
Benfica vs. New York Red Bulls: Adventures on the road with the International Champions Cup
Harrison, New Jersey played host to yet another International Champions Cup match last night, as New York Red Bulls took on SL Benfica at Red Bull Arena. I’d seen Red Bulls defeat Chelsea 4-2 in the most recent match there, and watched Benfica lose to ACF Fiorentina on penalty kicks in East Hartford Friday night. East Hartford’s Rentschler Field was packed to capacity with Benfica fans of all ages, but I was completely unprepared for the support displayed Sunday.Immediately upon entering Newar...
Benfica-Fiorentina: Adventures in the International Champions Cup
After covering the International Champions Cup matches at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, I made the three hour trek north to Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. Not usually a fan of driving on Friday afternoons, especially from a major transit area like New York and New Jersey, I was unsurprised to find that my GPS showed a good amount of traffic between me and my destination.Luckily, I’d given myself plenty of time so my thoughts shifted to the evening’s matchup. Benfica wa...
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