Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-1 to win the first big game of the new 2014/15 Premier league season.  There are a few observations made that can turn things around for Liverpool.

1. A good goalkeeper could save a team 10 points.

Aguero's goal at Mignolet's near post, will definitely not calm the critics who believe that the Belgian is simply not good enough to be the Reds Number one goal-keeper.  Mignolet surely needs competition for his shirt. Sturridge and Jovetic both had similar chances. Hart easily blocked Sturridge's effort while Jovetic's blot went through Mignolet's legs. Sometimes Mignolet makes great saves but his mistakes are more costly that his stops.  If there is a reason why Liverpool won't win the league this year, goalkeeping will be it.

2. Sakho is easily Liverpool's best defender.

$20 million Lovren might be the talkative defensive leader that 

Brenden Rogers seeks but some players lead by example. A defense featuring, Sakho and Lovren would be a lot stronger than it is now. It feels weird keeping the French national soccer team captain on bench.A man once described by Rogers as a defensive monster can not be pushed to the sidelines especially when his stats suggests that he is a better defender than Skrtel.

3.  Gerrard is no defensive midfielder

The defensive midfield role is a controversial one. There are players like Pirlo and Xavi who make the role, that of a deep-lying schemer dictating the pace of the game while the other school of thought likens it to one of a brute, marshaling and protecting the back four. Either way, Steven Gerrard, Captain fantastic is neither. In the world cup, he showed he lacked the ability the control the tempo of games and for Liverpool, he has lost the much needed yard of pace to defend the back four. Emre Can have been brought in to help but further reinforcements in this area is needed if Liverpool is to achieve top four.

4. You bought big, now let them play.

One gets this feeling that Rogers is protecting the big buys and putting  lot of faith in the old guard. There is no better way of budding the English league's new entrants  (Markovic, Can)  in the team than playing them straight away.

5. Goals are everything.

Liverpool controlled most the first half and even had more chances  than Mancity but the difference between the two sides was the finishing and decision making in the final third. This was further reinforced in the pre-season game between Liverpool and Manchester United: with Liverpool controlling the game and ManUnited doing the scoring.

The FIFA World Cup may have come and gone but its memories will reverberate forever. In a cagey match that lasted the whole 90 minutes plus extra-time, Germany defeated Argentina by a lone goal; scored by substitute Mario Gotze in the 112th minute. 

The World cup is a showcase of some of the best talents, the world has to offer. Some shine more brighter than others. The team of tournament usually comprises of players of teams that made it further in the tournament.  Without further ado, SweatBuzz World Cup 2014 IX. The formation will be a 4-3-3. p.s We correctly predicted at the start of the tournament, that Argentina will be finalists and an European team will win the world cup in South-America for the first time.

Tim Howard (Goal-Keeper) 

Had a tournament to remember. After making 16 saves against Belgium, he deserves to the best goal keeper on anyone's list.

Boateng (Defender)

He would be patting himself on the back for choosing to play for Germany over Ghana. His pace and good recovery were crucial at key moments in the World cup.








Blind (Defender)

Two assists against Spain and a goal against Brazil capped a good performance.









Demicheles (Defender)

Although his performance in this world cup was a sharp contrast with his displays at his club, Demicheles proved to be a pillar of strength that helped Argentina progress to the finale.








Gamboa (Defender)

Gamboa of Costa-rica, embodies the fight and grit, the surprise team of the tournament showed throughout the tourney.









Khedira (Midfielder)

His marauding runs were missed in the finale.Had he played, we might not have waited so long for the winning goal.









Mascherano (Midfielder)

Shielded his back-four like a hen protecting her young. His block against Robben in the semis put Argentina one foot in the finale.









Rodriguez (Midfielder)

Unlucky to be on the loosing side against a poor Brazillian team. The Golden shoe winner with 5 goals might be enough compensation for the lack of silver-ware.










Messi (Forward)

The four-time Footballer of the year, shone brightly at the group stages scoring four goals. Although he ran into a drought in the knock-out stages, the commensurate improvement of the team overall, especially the defense, helped propel Argentina to the finale.







Robben(Forward)

The skillful forward deserves a major international trophy having won everything at club level. Had Holland reached the finale maybe the winner might have been a different team.











Muller (Forward)

5 goals in the World cup. Muller's superb movement and guile sperates him from typical No 9s.

 Argentina Vs. Germany 

After nearly a month of intense competition, the FIFA World Cup reaches its climax in the finale between Germany and Argentina.

The Germans trashed hosts, Brazil 7-1 in a very one-sided semi-final match to earn their place in the finale. Germany looks like a team without a single weakness or are they? Surely there has to be a weakness in this German side. Their assets include a devastating counter-attack and armed with a clear height advantage, are very dangerous in set-plays. The goal-keeper, Manuel Neuer is amongst the best in this tournament, although Ghana put two past him.  The midfield of Bastian Schweinsteiger,Kroos and Ozil have been dominant throughout the World Cup. Germany's main strength is their team-work. They are surely favorites to take the trophy, if Messi will allow it.

Argentina have steadily improved their defense. In fact, throughout the knockout stage, it has been impregnable. The back-line led by Demichiles and Mascherano will look to continue their good run and while they look to Messi, Higuian to nick something at the break. 

In order to win, Argentina like they did against Belgium, must  NOT allow a fluid game and most especially not allow Germany to score first. Because if they concede the first goal then it will be extremely hard to get back into the game. 

Argentina will also study their last game against the Germans in South Africa 2010 where they were whipped 0-4 and ensure that they do not make the same mistakes. 

That should not be hard since this Argentina team has a different approach than the Maradona led one. It is hard to underestimate a team with Messi in it. 

The match will be tense and cagey. If it goes to penalty shoot-outs then the Germans have a "natural" edge.

Prediction: The match will be decided in penalty shootout. Argentina 0 (2) Vs. Germany 0 (3)

The words that explained it all came straight from the man himself, by way of the Sports Illustratedexclusive in which LeBron James explained his decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers: "bigger than basketball."

James going home again is about humanity more than anything else, about a 29-year-old from Akron, Ohio, who always loved the place that lost so much love for him four years ago and was willing to do the seemingly unthinkable to right the wrong of his summer 2010. Anyone who was there Dec. 2, 2010, when James went to Cleveland for the first time in a Miami Heat uniform would have bet their mortgage that he could never return.

Source and Read more here

Wed. Jul, 09 2014 World Cup Match

Argentina Vs. Holland

Argentina have been steadily improving as the tournaments progresses but they are still a team heavily reliant on Messi. Take Messi out the equation and one would have an average team that could barely get to this stage of the competition. The good thing is their opponents,Holland, have the same problem or advantage; whichever way one wants to look at it. 

If Argentina have been over-reliant on Messi, Holland as well , if the match against Costa-Rica is anything to go by, also have a Robben dependency. His trickery and "swimming" skills bailed them out against Mexico and most their attacks are initiated by him. 

Both players are immensely instrumental to their teams and are blessed with a deadly left foot.

Against the Belgians, Argentina seems to have discovered a coherent style that allows other players to express themselves alongside their dominant No. 10. What was so impressive about that performance, was the way, a talented team of Belgium's calibre was neutralized and stopped from playing. 

Many have said that Messi needs to win the World Cup to be on par with Diego Maradona. I disagree. Even though, the fourth time World Footballer of the year has won everything else but the world cup, it does not diminished his accomplishments in anyway. The team that win the mundial is usually one, that finds good form at the right time and in reality, no one individual can single-handedly deliver the trophy for his country.

This match will setup the finale, purists want. The finale that gives Messi the chance to lay claim to the same divinity that Maradona enjoys.

Prediction: Argentina 2 Vs. Holland 1

Man to watch: Messi Of course

Tues. Jul, 08 2014 World Cup Matches

Brazil Vs. Germany

The hosts, Brazil will be without their mercurial star, Neymar, who suffered a vertebrae fracture in their last match against Columbia. It will be a test to see how they cope. Not just without Neymar but also Thiago Silva as well who has been one of the best defenders in the tournament so far. Dante  should come in place of Silva while Scolari will shuffle the forward line by bringing in  Willian to play the "Neymar" role.

On Tuesday, Germany will be playing her fourth consecutive World Cup semi-final. They have become the Bond villains of international football. So good, everyone expects them to win. Their other role when they don't win, is to turn their victors into Demi-gods. Case in point Maradona in '86, Ronaldo in 2002. 

Someone mentioned that if Brazil win the world cup, they will be the worst team ever to win it. That might a harsh assessment but it's a sad reflection of a once dominant team,

a five-time championship winning team.

The vociferous crowds will cheer Brazil to a hilt and may even overcompensate for the lack of Neymar but this German side is well schooled and very cold blooded. The Germans have the edge and they will use it.

Prediction: Brazil 0 Vs. Germany 1

Man to watch: Klose

Saturday Jul, 05 2014 World Cup Matches

Argentina Vs. Belgium

Yesterday's round of quarter-final matches saw two great stars of the competition so far, leaving the tournament; i.e Rodriguez and Neymar on a stretcher. One more could be on their way home as well. The Belgian's superior tactical organization will give them an edge over Argentina. While Argentina have the might of Messi, the likes of Lukuka, Origi, Hazard and Mirallas will prove too much for Argentina to contain.

Prediction: Argentina 1 Vs. Belgium 3

Man to watch: Lukaku

Holland  Vs Costa-Rica  

The diving antecedents of Robben isn't why the Dutch are nicknamed the "Flying" Dutchmen. However, it does bring an extra-dimension in the game that the Costa-Ricans have to  be very wary of. The Costa ricans have out-done themselves by coming this far. But in order to progress further, they must not be satisfied with just being in the quarter-finals. The Dutch are favorites and will live up to the tag.

Prediction: Holland 2 Vs Costa-Rica 1