If you are an ardent fan of my work and have followed me throughout the years you would've known I was all in for a "reptilian theme." Heck! I even named my own website Green Lizard. Over the years however I've scaled back (great pun) from doing that sort of thing. I don't think I'm going to change the name of the site simply because I am a bit of a softy...I don't want to change my core and origins. That being said, I am becoming a littler older and some maturity is starting to set it in. I am throwing away childish things. I know longer sit on my Xbox for 10 hours a day I'm down to a respectable 7.5 and with that extra two hours or so I've really started a healthy appreciation for more adult activities. For example, laundry! Which I find to be very therapeutic. Now I'm a master of washing soft Moroccan linens! This segment "Quick View," is replacing by "Random Bite," series. It is a nod to my evolution and maturity and with that its creeping into my writing. A lot of soccer players don't show their absolute best in the autumns and winters of their careers and this post is about a guy who bucks that trend and who has been lighting up in La Liga with his play last season and I couldn't remain silent anymore, I had to at least try to push out a tentative article about this seasoned vet. Basque forward Aritz Aduriz scored an impressive 20 goals in 34 appearances in La Liga last term finishing 7th on the scoring charts. Only bested by the usual suspects in the forms of Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Neymar and a one Antoine Greizmann. Suarez scored 40 goals in campaign which is a dizzying feat but he does play for Barcelona.His compatriots Messi and Neymar chipped in with 26 and 24 goals alongside him respectively. Thirdly Luis Suarez isn't 35 he is a more lubricated 29 to date.So when you go down the tale of the tape for the Uruguayan that makes what Aduriz has done even more remarkable and I'm not alone in my estimation, others do feel the same. I was tuned into one of my favorite late night football shows the other night and one of the pundits on view said Aduriz is the only center forward he knows that scores more goals when he turned 30 than anyone else. I don't know if that was true or if it was off the cuff but what I will say is the dexterity and durability of this 35 year-old is refreshing. My views of Athletic Bilbao and Aduriz's are limited! To the point I don't think I'm really qualified to speak on him but I believe in numbers and stats and this guy's are through the roof. Especially with stints with his hometown club Bilbao. People like to credit the Serie A with prolonging the careers of older players, just take a look at the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti. The Totti angle I particularly like because like Aduriz he has been awarded by his side a contract extension at the end of this past season. Unlike Totti however he has somehow added to his game at such an advanced age and it is a marvelous thing to see. Aduriz started his career with Athletic Bilbao and found his way to Mallorca as well as Valencia but it's his second go around of Bilbao that started back in 2012 we have to really take ponderous look at. The guy has logged so far 68 goals in 132 appearances to date and we are talking about a 30 plus year old here. These performances has forced the hand of Vincente del Bosque, the Spanish national team coach. The Euros are here and Aduriz has booked his own ticket on the plane. This isn't a joke, Aduriz was selected above a Fernando Torres who has had a great year for Atletico Madrid and Diego Costa who despite being a controversial figure is a super footballer when focused. I look forward to seeing the Basque in France no matter what capacity he plays.
As leagues all over western Europe begin to get back in to it so will the bloggers, writers and pundits. As for me I had the Gold Cup, Copa America, Copa Libertadores and Major league Soccer so I have been fine don't worry. Some great action throughout this summer with a fantastic type of player on view. Gold Cup saw Javier Hernandez stamp himself as the premier forward in North American soccer, in the Copa America, Uruguay introduced me to Sebastian Coates and confirmed about I already knew about the golden locked Diego Forlan. In the Copa Libertadores Ganso and Neymar held my interest and States side Brek Shea was the guy to watch. So they have been the odd player I have been keeping an eye on. A guy who has been on my radar not to sound cliche' is a promising young talent from Ligue1 in France. I mean there is a glut of talent in France. Jordan Ayew, Kevin Gameiro, Hugo Lloris and Miralem Pjanic and now add Javier Pastore and you have an exciting young league so they are in good stead. Despite that, one man who has left the conveyer belt that is France is Gervinho. Who ironically is part of the center piece of this whole article. The Ivorian made his switch from Ligue 1, 2010-11 champs Lille Metropole over this summer transfer window to Arsenal with a fee of around 10.5 million pounds agreed between the two parties. Here is where I chime in. Did Arsenal get the wrong Lille man? Now say what you want but Gervinho is a champion. He won the league and cup with "the Mastiffs." He shimmies and shakes and he has what I think quite possibly the best weave on a man I have ever seen. His hair is absolutely ridiculous... but weave aside he is quick and forceful and Arsenal will help him along until he wants out. With Nasri and the Spaniard who shall not be named set to leave and they will I won't to see Gervinho orchestrating the bulk of Arsenal attacks I'm sure he won't but if it comes to that I would ask for my money back if I was a season ticket holder at the Emirates. When I heard the Arsenal were in for a Lille forward this summer I must admit Gerry wasn't the first one I thunk of. In fact I was about to save my hard earn money to go buy an Eden Hazard Arsenal jersey but no they got Gervinho. Eden Hazard is one of the most dynamic prospects in world football. I don't have to say how great he is there is YouTube for that and comparing him to Gervinho is tough because they are not the same player and it would be unfair to the Ivorian. It's like Arsenal are trying to be terrible. I don't know if its a money thing or Wegner needs his spectacles I don't know or maybe Lille aren't willing to part with their diamond. All I'm saying is why make a bid for the number two man at a club when the ace is right there. Wrong man Arsenal should have bet on the Belgian.
Well, it is over. The marquee, grandstand, larger than life, the collage of awesomeness that is the CONCACAF Gold cup is done. I maybe a bit cynical but honestly all the group and knock out matches played was an absolute waste of time. Why? I would like to begin this sentence with because but I can't due to my formality to proper grammar but that aside all those matches from Grenada's besmirching at the hand's of Jamaica to Canada's poor attempt at a victory against Guadeloupe, we all can just really say we were just waiting on the Americans and Mexicans to show up in Pasadena on the 25th of June. They did meet it was quite the game. The men from Mexico City toppled their host 4-2 in California. It was no doubt the best game the federation can offer. That is why I will forever say I don't see the point of the Gold Cup. Point number one. As seen in some of the score lines in this installment of the competition CONCACAF has a serious problem. Its just not competitive enough. Jamaica 4 Grenada 0, Costa Rica 5 Cuba 0, Honduras 7 Grenada 1. I mean Grenada all respects to them are as good as my little brother when he gets drowsy of Robitussin when he comes down with a cold but the fact of the matter is Caribbean members of the federation outside Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago (who didn't even make the tournament) are flimsy all while the mainland contingents outside USA and Mexico are good amongst themselves but really aren't well equipped to take on the better teams of the world. Just look at Honduras at the 2010 World Cup. Three games played and not one single goal scored. This is a problem and what hurts the region is the lack of another or a few other strong nations. Canada may not have the populous but they surely have the finances and if Costa Rica or Honduras are able to ship more of their players abroad they really do have a chance to upset the order. Forget the quality of team but lets give look to the cup itself. Where can it actually be successfully held? United States, we have seen that this time around, but getting the Americans to embrace it, is difficult you just have to look at their attendance throughout the tournament and they were absolutely eclipsed by the Mexican support in the final. Mexico is very capable of hosting and Canada has wonderful infrastructure and would probably be the best but who else? You know the answer, no one else. They are 40 member states in CONCACAF and they are only three that I can see that can host this tournament. Now it has a lot to with finance and tradition and a hold bunch of things but only three countries? That gives an awful lot favor to the trio and let's be honest FIFA is shady and the North American market is where the bulk of revenue for the federation lies so who can blame them. As a fan even if another country or a duo like Costa Rica Guatemala tried to host, I wouldn't go anywhere near there. I just know the experience will be awful. Europe has multiple nations that can host grand football events as to the Asians and to a lesser extent the Africans. So in fact CONCACAF officials bank that their two largest cash cows USA and Mexico making it to the final but what do I know. What I do know something has to be done about it by FIFA and CONCACAF if they are not too busy siphoning off and conniving each other they need to bring some parity to the region. It is not easy, resources are spread so unevenly that one wonders if parity can ever be achieved but they have to try. They have to enrich the Gold Cup with teams worthy of lifting it but as it stands they are only two you can claim that right I don't have to mention them I think you have an idea who they are. With that I sign off the CONCACAF Goldfish... sorry Gold Cup can't wait for the next one. Congrats Mexico on hosting that massive trophy. I wonder if the cup is actually made of pure gold?
If you are an ardent fan of my work and have followed me throughout the years you would've known
