So this week’s Pic of the Week is several pictures, so I’m kind of cheating. But honestly, it would be pretty hard to deny any of the members of England’s so-called “Golden Generation” the opportunity to grace this sacred space on the week they all called time on their (mostly) glittering careers. I mean, could you really pick just one?

Take for instance Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher (top right), who ended his 17 years at Anfield in front of a Kop that’s long sung his name. Across the channel, David Beckham’s PSG teammates (bottom left) gave him a proper sending off by quite literally tossing him off the pitch at the conclusion of the penultimate match of globe-trotting career. Michael Owen (top left) completed his five-year fade into footballing obscurity as he made a late cameo bow at the end of Stoke City’s 1-1 draw with Southampton. And Paul Scholes (bottom right) capped his final appearance in Manchester United red by receiving a yellow card for one last trademark horror tackle… making for possibly the most poetic retirement moment of all time.

So while they all had varying degrees of success as their careers intertwined and went their separate directions, one things is for certain: the world of football will be a very different place without them on the pitch.

how will spurs make me feel today? only time will tell.

On one hand, the last matchday of the season can be a bit sad. After the day is done, we’ll all have to wait another three months before the next opportunity to watch another match of importance. Sure, there will be plenty of friendlies featuring England’s most famous sides — some as early as next freaking weekend — but there’s a big difference between those watered down affairs and the intensity of a league game that actually means something.

On the other hand, round 38 can also be exhilarating. Last year’s final day saw Manchester City crowned champions and Bolton Wanderers relegated instead of QPR all within the dying moments of the season, making for a conclusion to the season that many consider to be greatest of all time. Of course for those teams relegated on the last day, maybe I should have placed them in the sad paragraph above, but I digress.

This year, things won’t be quite as dramatic as they were last year: the champions have already be decided and the losers relegated. But all 20 sides are still active today at the same time. And while the most that’s at stake today are a few Champions League places and pride, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t expect a full range of emotions.

For me at least, the highlight of the day has to be the tussle between North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal for fourth place.

If the Gunners win away to Newcastle, they’re in. If they win with a scoreline of  2-1 and Chelsea ties 0-0, then the two will have to play a 39th game to settle who get’s third. And while that may be exciting and unprecedented (at least in the modern era), I would very much not like to see that scenario play out… because if it does, it means Spurs have no shot at fourth place. Instead, I’m hoping for a Spurs win and for the Gunners to drop some points to the Geordies, which would be enough to mathematically put Tottenham through and lift Spurs to a finishing place above Arsenal for the first time in my memory. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has even promised his staff a £1 million bonus if they’re able to knock off the Gunners today, providing some extra motivation to a team that technically has nothing to play for since they secured their safety from relegation last week. Though given recent form of all the teams involved, it seems unlikely that Arsenal fans won’t get to celebrate their precious St. Totteringham’s Day… but what’s life without hope, right?

So what emotions will I be feeling today? A lot of that depends on things sift out. But no matter how they do, it’s important to remember that this is just the end of a season and not existence itself. Just trust that I’ll be watching through my fingers and cursing at the television like it is.

Tomorrow begins another season, and it may be even greater than this one.

Having wrapped up the Bundesliga title ages ago, Bayern Munich finally got around to celebrating the title this weekend after yet another merciless slaughter of an opponent at the Allianz Arena. And as is the tradition in Germany, everyone celebrated by pouring copious amounts of beer on one another… and somewhere, I’m sure the Free Beer Movement is crying because of it. And while it’s customary for the players to drench one another, the coaches or even the team officials in beer, everyone else is usually safe from a sudsy shower.

Well, apparently that’s not the case when Manuel Neuer is on the scene.

The Germany number one — who has become something of a pot-stirrer since making his controversial move from Schalke — decided that the dirndl-dressed girls bringing them the beer to toss at one another would look better if they too were drenched in lager. So the noticeably dry goalkeeper waited for one of the young ladies to pass by, before sneaking up and dousing her with the full load from his giant stein. What a prick. And for those of you who thought that second to last sentence was worded a bit naughty? Get your minds out of the gutter, or your no better than Neuer himself.

while i’m not really the reporter interviewing indy eleven president and GM peter wilt in this picture, i did speak with him on a variety of topics.

So when you see clubs that actively engage with their fans, asking them their opinions and looking for input on a variety of club matters, it’s usually applauded far and wide. The close relationships that exist between club and fans in Orlando, Seattle and Philadelphia are well-known, but until rather recently, were far from the norm. But the lessons learned in those markets isn’t falling on deaf ears, and more and more clubs are slowly starting to reap the benefits of working closely with their most ardent fans to help grow the team’s popularity and stature. But where did the idea come from in the fist place?

The man many would pin as the pioneer of this emerging trend in American soccer: Peter J. Wilt.

Best known as former president and general manager of the Chicago Fire, Wilt has attained legendary status for the transparency with which he runs his clubs and the open communication channels he holds with supporters. A frequent participant in discussions on fan message boards and an ardent Tweet-a-holic, there’s arguably no other executive in American soccer that the average fan has an easier time gaining an audience with.

Case in point? After recently launching the successful bid to make Indy Eleven the latest franchise to join the rapidly growing NASL, I reached out to Peter to see if he might be interested in an interview. He accepted my request in less than five minutes.

So with the Milwaukee native’s ear at my disposal, I asked Peter to dish on his plans for the newly formed Indy Eleven, the state of the game in North America, and even on his hopes for the beer that will be available at the club’s future matches.

D.J. @ WSOTP: You’ve helped to launch and run professional sports teams in Chicago, you’ve run a another in Milwaukee, and you’re now launching and running yet another in Indianapolis. All of these were soccer teams. Could you ever see yourself working in another sport, or is soccer your cowbell?

Peter Wilt: Most of what I learned about managing a professional soccer teams I learned in professional hockey during my first post-college position with the Milwaukee Admirals. The general leadership and management skills I implement in soccer are transferable to any sport – and frankly most are transferable to any business, organization or situation. That being said, at this point in my career, it’s unlikely the ownership of a baseball, basketball or even kabaddi team would risk hiring someone with my soccer-heavy resume.

D.J. @ WSOTP: In your experience, what have been some of the major similarities and differences between the launching of the Fire in Chicago to your getting Indy Eleven up and off the ground in Indianapolis?

Peter Wilt: The process is very similar – outreach to potential stakeholders, secure their support and enable them as advocates and evangelists. The market similarities include the pent up demand for pro soccer, strong desire of the soccer community to see the teams succeed and strong support from ownership. Prevalence of social media, soccer industry experienced staff and increased general awareness of professional soccer is all different – and better – now than in 1997.

the brickyard battalion themselves were a major deciding factor in wilt’s decisoin to take on the indy eleven project in the first place.

D.J. @ WSOTP: The demand for professional soccer in the United States seems at an all-time high, and cities with strong traditions in the sport like St. Louis, Milwaukee and Detroit have all expressed interest in landing a coveted franchise. What factors convinced you that Indianapolis was the city to throw your efforts behind? 

Peter Wilt: [Indy Eleven owner] Ersal Ozdemir and the Brickyard Battalion.

D.J. @ WSOTP: I’ve mentioned a few already, but are there any other cities that you think are primed and ready for professional soccer in the country?

Peter Wilt: I believe lower division leagues should look seriously at the largest markets in the US and Canada that have neither MLB or MLS. There are dozens of top 100 US and Canadian markets I think should be considered including, San Diego, Sacramento, Austin, Nashville, Omaha and Louisville.

While there may be a natural inclination to seek out the largest markets, evidence shows that the smaller markets with less entertainment clutter are doing better in attendance. Attendance success in Portland, Vancouver, Montreal, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and our early success in Indianapolis is all evidence that lack of MLB in a market provides a void in the sports landscape that can be filled with professional soccer. Demographics, ownership, venue and management obviously also play into the opportunity for success.

This recent article written by Tom Dunmore regarding potential growth in 2nd and 3rd division soccer in the US and Canada is enlightening on this subject

D.J. @ WSOTP: I know that you like to immerse yourself in local culture, and as a former non-native Indianapolis resident, I can assure you that you that Indiana residents take their games of Euchre very, very seriously. How would rate your ability at the card game, and have you had the privilege of “milking the cow” yet?

Peter Wilt: Sadly, I am not much of a card player- euchre or any other form. Despite three plus decades of residency in Milwaukee and looking over the shoulders of older card playing Milwaukee County Stadium ushers prior to hundreds of Brewers games in the early ’80s, I never was able to pick up on the rules of Sheepshead either.

D.J. @ WSOTP: In Chicago you were known to frequent the Italian spot Club Lago, and in Milwaukee you’re the Patron Saint of the Highbury Pub (which can be found in my WSOTP Soccer Pub Atlas). Have you found a spot in Indy yet where you think you might become a regular?

Peter Wilt: SEVERAL! My favorite though is McGinley’s Golden Ace Inn, the oldest family run pub in Indianapolis. It’s one of the few places in Indy that serves the basic ingredients of Schlabst, Milwaukee’s Black & Tan. Golden Ace also has a great atmosphere with genuine Irish hospitality from the all the generations of the McGinley clan that operate this fine establishment.

D.J. @ WSOTP: Clear and open communication with fans has been a main tenant of your philosophy over the course of your career, and you’ve built up a great reputation among supporters by engaging with them on Twitter and message boards like Big Soccer and Reddit. However, you remain in the minority when it comes to this kind of interaction with front office officials. Why do you think other clubs have been reluctant to embrace this ideology?

Peter Wilt: It can be distracting and if not done effectively, it can even be destructive.

connecting with the fans has it’s risks, but wilt firmly believes that the positives outweigh the negatives.

D.J. @ WSOTP: On that same front, has there ever been a time where you felt that being open with fans has backfired, or that you learned an important lesson about how to communicate with the fans? 

Peter Wilt: I’m sure there are times open communication has had unintended ramifications, but generally it’s all been good. The biggest negative reaction I ever received from a public interaction with fans came from a public letter that also elicited the most positive reaction from a public reaction. This explanation to my trade of Piotr Nowak in 2003 was appreciated by most, but the last paragraph was polarizing and resulted in many angry missives directed my way.

D.J. @ WSOTP: It would seem like the ultimate extension of this kind of fan-club relationship fostering is to allow supporters to have a greater say in the club’s affairs. Are there any plans to allow the fans any say in the running of Indy Eleven, similar to the way that the Seattle Sounders’s Supporters Alliance votes on the board? 

Peter Wilt: We have not instituted anything along those lines formally, but our daily interactions with fans play an instrumental role in the development and direction of the organization. We plan to have an advisory board that will include representation from the Brickyard Battalion and other Indy Eleven stake holders.

D.J. @ WSOTP: Developing homegrown talent has become increasingly important to both clubs and the national team, and many believe it’s an excellent way to build loyalty to the club within the market. Are there plans to develop an Indy Eleven academy, or do you see the club partnering with existing youth clubs in the area?

Peter Wilt: We believe it’s important to support all the existing development initiatives locally. We will support the Indiana Soccer Association’s Olympic Development Program and any other umbrella development initiatives that benefit the soccer community as a whole. We do not have plans to create a team specific academy.

D.J. @ WSOTP: Professional soccer has been in expansion mode within the US and Canada over the last few years, and will continue to be for at least the next few as well. Where do you see the game in ten years’ time? Plateaued out or still expanding? Still three separate professional leagues, or a more unified structure? Producing most of it’s own players, or bringing in bigger-named foreign talent?

just to make sure their opinions were always heard, wilt has regularly held open conversations with fans of the game both prior to and after the NASL granted indianpolis the franchise.

Peter Wilt: My prediction track record is not exactly spot on, but it’s pretty safe to suggest that the professional footprint will continue to expand at all levels over the next decade in the US and Canada. This article I wrote last year does a better job explaining why professional soccer will continue to grow here over the next decade and beyond. Professional soccer leagues have a deep record of instability over the last century, but I believe the relative stability of the last decade will continue over the next ten years. There may be some consolidation, but I can’t predict that with any level of certainty. Development of “domestic” players will continue, but many of the best will be foreign-born players who immigrate to the US and Canada at a young age and bring their passion for the sport with them to their new world.

D.J. @ WSOTP: While it appears that Indy Eleven are off to a flying start when it comes to things like pre-sales of season tickets, what else have you identified as major hurdles to the success of the new team, and what do you plan to do to overcome them??

Peter Wilt: The two biggest challenges will be developing a soccer centric venue and creating a great experience for fans. Working closely with supporters, vendors and IUPUI staff and holding a “soft opening” exhibition game will all be critical to the latter. The former requires thoughtful and consistent efforts to create a situation that will be beneficial to all constituencies.

D.J. @ WSOTP: And lastly, should we expect to see Schlabst served at home matches, and can we expect another Peter Wilt concoction based on Indiana beverages?

Peter Wilt: Indianapolis has a fantastic craft beer and brew pub culture. I’d love to see eleven different beers served at home games. I’ve retired from the beer creation business. After Schlabst there’s nowhere to go, but down!

D.J. @ WSOTP: Well Peter, many thanks for your time and for the opportunity to pick your brain!

as we say goodbye to one of the legends of the game, i can’t help but hope the door hits him on the way out.

Ever since the rumors of his imminent retirement in the early portion of the week, I’ve toiled in vain to write the perfect opus for Sir Alex’s career. Yet with all that is being penned on the great Scotsman in the time since, it’s been hard to find not only a unique angle… but also an appropriate way to express my feelings towards Ol’ Red Nose. On one hand, I have mountains of respect for a man that’s won more titles than entire leagues of clubs combined, has managed to adapt his game several times over to match the prevailing playing styles of the time, and has corralled egos larger than your average Walmart Super Center. On the other hand, I hate Fergie for his influence over the FA, the fear he invokes in referees, and the times he’s pried away Tottenham’s best players.

So since I’ve been unable to tap out an appropriate homage to the greatest manager I’ll likely ever see, I’ll do the next best thing and link to the best piece I’ve read about him so far. And that’s how I’m starting off the latest edition of TWOL.

Fair well, Fergie. Here’s hoping you have a long and lovely retirement… and that Moyes drives United to hell in you absence.

Even receiving a hairdrying invokes respect for Fergie. – sportsjournalists.co.uk

Hey… this looks familiar! - theoriginalwinger.com

Kobe Bryant’s new kicks looked to on-pitch inspiration. – thebeautifulgear.com

The Vatican not only has a league, Americans boss it. – wsj.com

Despite erratic form, I still love me some Benny Assoun-Ekotto. – guardian.co.uk

American soccer re-imagined… a familiar design for Over-the-Rhine.
- pcgdstudios.com

Nike’s updated R9′s will hit you right in the 90′s. – nikeinc.com

Stellar MLS art: For Cub and Country. – behance.net

Cool… until they use it to buy Bale next year. – theoriginalwinger.com

One of the most important debates in American soccer. – mlssoccer.com

dayton might not be much to shake a stick at, but it has one thing that most cities don’t.

Ask anyone familiar with Dayton, Ohio — even those that live there — what they think of the city, and you’re likely to get a response ranging from indifference to straight up loathing. “There’s not much to do”, “Not much going on”, or simply “Meh” aren’t uncommon descriptions either. And for the most part, they’re accurate. Dayton just doesn’t have much to brag about.

Sure, there are some bright spots: there’s the stellar National Museum of the US Air Force, a so-so arts and entertainment hub in the Oregon District, and having the honor of recently being named as the most affordable city in the country. But negative perceptions remain due in large part to the city’s poor job market. Like other cities in the rust belt, the great recession practically evaporated Dayton’s key automotive manufacturing sector and the city has taken a dive because of it. And adding insult to injury, North Carolina continues to wage a campaign to steal the only thunder the Dayton has ever really had: the birth of flight.

But despite all of that, Dayton does have one thing going for it: an incredibly vibrant soccer community. While only 841,000 residents call the Miami Valley region home, that’s more than enough to sustain over 500 youth teams. There’s also a thriving amateur adult league, boasting co-ed, women’s and two men’s divisions, something that the larger, near-by Cincinnati-metro area hasn’t been able to regularly maintain. All five of the city’s indoor soccer facilities are packed year round with youth and adult leagues. There’s even a fully professional side in the USL-Pro’s Dayton Dutch Lions… some else the neighbors to the South can’t boast.

Now most of those are things that probably half a dozen other cities in the Midwest can claim, if not more. But there is one thing that Dayton offers the soccer community that very few — if any — other city can.

Continue reading “Enter the Hagdome” on IBWM. →

Have you ever had one of those moments during one of your Sunday League matches where you realize that you’re taking things far too seriously for an amateur game? You know, where you get way too caught up in the moment and you feel like you’re playing under the bright lights of a Champions League final or in a massive World Cup match… but you’re really just playing at a park 40 yards a way from an under-12 match up.

That must have been exactly the way this unnamed Internacional coach must feel after choking referee Edésio Weber in the amateur Copa Sul dos Campeões tournament final in Brazil. As video of the incident explains (WARNING: Portuguese), Inter’s coach became incised with Weber when one of his players was punched by an opposing player from São Defende, but was shown also shown a red along with his assailant. A perfectly good reason to choke a bitch, right?

No kids. No it isn’t.

But, there is a lesson to be learned by all those referees who think I give them too much stick while playing: just be happy that I’m not taking out my frustrations on you like they do it in Brazil. Punks.

want a free digital subscription to your favorite soccer magazine? read on to find out how!

If you’re anything like me, reading about soccer is one of your favorite past times. Whether its online news stories, browsing through footie-specific tweets, or my own website’s content — don’t worry, you won’t be the first to call me a narcissist – I will read it. Probably twice.

And though the advent of the internet has undoubtedly made reading about the beautiful game significantly easier, the dawn of easy-access soccer news means that I often overlook the old guard of football reporting… printed media. And that can suck, because some of the best writing out there comes packaged in the neatly printed pages of magazines such as FourFourTwo, World Soccer and Soccer America. However, the good folks at Zinio are trying to change all of that.

Missing out on the fantastic writing in your favorite magazines is now a thing of the past thanks to Zinio and their ultimate magazine experience for the digital age. Featuring award-winning apps for all of your favorite mobile operating platforms, Zinio allows you to read  your favorite magazines and sync your place across multiple devices, all while on the go with just a few swipes of your finger.

And to celebrate the resumption of the Champions League semifinals, Zinio have partnered with WSOTP to offer nine lucky readers the chance to test out their apps with a FREE digital subscription to their magazine of choice! That means if you’re selected as a winner, you’ll have the opportunity to select a subscription from one of thousands of fine publications such as:

• FourFourTwo (1 year / 12 issues / $39.28 value)
• Howler (1 year / 4 issues / $50.00 value)
• Soccer America (1 year / 4 issues / $39.00 value)
• World Soccer (1 year / 13 issues / $48.11 value)
• XI Quarterly (1 year / 4 issues / $34.99 value)
• UEFA Champions League Matchday (1 year / 12 issues / $30.38 value)

So, how exactly do you register for a chance to win your free, no-strings-attached subscription? As with the last give away, it’s as simple as taking three easy steps:

1. If you’re not already, make sure that you follow WSOTP on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
2. On Facebook, be sure to both Like AND Share this post.
3. And/Or on Twitter, be sure to Retweet this tweet.
4. You can register using both social media channels, meaning a maximum of two registrations per entrant.

I’ll announce the winners of this competition next Monday, May 6th, after I complete a random drawing. Sorry, you can only win a single subscription, so make sure you’ve got your favorite picked out ahead of time. Winners will then have one week to let me know of their subscription choice, and then Zinio will be in touch to show you how to get started. In the mean time, be sure to download the Zinio app from your favorite app store and check out their free articles, or check them out on your desktop at www.zinio.com. They hooked me up with a subscription just to try it out too, and I can tell you that it’s well worth the effort!

Can’t manage to wait and see if you’ve won? Zinio are also offering soccer fans up to 40% off on subscriptions through the end of May.

it was such a scintillating week of soccer that it literally caused the crew’s scoreboard to burst into flames.

Spain, long the kings of European club and international soccer, was humbled over the course of two nights in Germany. The shock waves of the thorough beatings received by Barcelona and Real Madrid are still reverberating a week later as we head into the return ties in Spain. Meanwhile, the Premier League saw not only a champion named, but also two sides doomed to relegation. The race for the top four in England also remains interesting, with Spurs and Arsenal seemingly trying to trip out of each others’ way nail down the last slot. The Columbus Crew’s scoreboard caught on fire shortly before its team did in a 3 goal victory over DC United for the Black and Gold. And the biggest news? I scored a hat trick in my coed indoor match midweek. Earth-shattering stuff, right?

So with all of the madness that went down last week, it would have been easy to miss an interesting story or two along the way. As we edge our way towards yet another week guaranteed to be full of even more twists and turns, have a read through some of the best content I gleaned from the web over the last week that might have gone under the radar.

An infographic explaining the NASL’s new Indy Eleven‘s name. – indyeleven.com

One small step for Pittsburgh, one giant leap for USSoccer. – theshinguardian.com

Meanwhile in Sweden, they’re paving over pitches. – whoateallthepies.tv

So Blackburn should be in the Champions League final, right? - espnfc.com

My future child will have a ball in its crib. – si.com

Honestly, I’d have a hard time fairly judging a Gooner. – guardian.co.uk

Nike have something crazy in store for us. – soccerbible.com

Bravo, Dirty Tackle: a marvelous bit on the Suárez bite. – dirtytackle.net

College athletics losing it’s luster… and not just in soccer. – sbnation.com

Though he’s bat shit crazy these days, nothing but respect. – youtube.com

after a 4-0 dismantling of one of europe’s best sides in a major tournament semifinal, you would hardly expect bayern to explode things in the offseason.

For the side on the receiving end of the pummeling, the humiliation suffered on such a public stage can often have long-lasting effects. Managerial changes, playing staff overhauls and even a shift in playing ethos are all frequent effects of the fallout. Conversely for the side that administers the pummeling, a sense of joy that can only be had by embarrassing an elite opponent usually sweeps over the players, the club and their fans. And often the smashing performance serves as a stepping stone to even greater joy and achievement.

Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal between Bayern Munich and Barcelona –which ended in a crushing 4-0 win for the German hosts — seems to fit those descriptions. At least on the surface.

I wrote back in early March about what I perceived to be the rapid decline of Barcelona after their 2-0 loss away to Milan in the first Champions League knockout stage. And though a commanding 4-0 win back at the Camp Nou salvaged that tie for the Catalunyans, this week’s 0-4 demolition in Munich shows that all that win really did was paper over the cracks. A pair of draws against PSG in the quarterfinals further reinforced my suspicions, as most will attest that Parisians were the better side over most of the round. Personally, I don’t think the Barça of 2010-2011 wouldn’t have struggled in the way this edition has. And though many might argue that the Spaniards were disadvantaged by a less-than-100%-fit Messi, I doubt a fully-fit one would have made much of a difference. Bayern were just that good.

With a leg yet to go in the tie, its still far too early too early to start assessing the damage control Barcelona will need to undertake to right the ship. But even if that is putting the cart before the horse, barring a miracle back in Spain, Barcelona will again crash out of the semifinal stage and adjustments will need to be made. Questions will need to be asked of manager Tito Vilanova’s tactical approach and substitutions, and reinforcements for their leaky backline (who were simply awful against Bayern) will need to be brought in. And while ditching their tiki-taka ethos altogether would be ridiculous overreaction, I wouldn’t be shocked if they at least looked at it with a critical eye to make improvements. And all of that seems quite odd, considering that as little as six months ago we were talking about how Barcelona still had a stranglehold on European supremacy

heynckes has to wonder what more he would have had to have done to keep his job in munich.

Meanwhile, Bayern look to have all but booked their ticket to the final at Wembley with the 4-0 win. If achieved it will be their second straight Finals appearance, meaning they’re also on track to making my prediction that the Bavarian outfit would be this year’s Champions League medalists come good. For the second year on the bounce, they’ve knocked the Barça from the tournament. Having wrapped up the Bundesliga title a record six rounds remaining, Die Bayern haven’t just trounced the soon-to-be-crowned Spanish champions, they’ve done the same to pretty much everyone. I mean, they’ve only conceded 23 goals in 42 matches in all competitions this year. That is insane.

Not only that, but in the Final, they’re likely to square off against their neighbors Borussia Dortmund… a club they’ve already beaten twice and drawn with once this season. So the odds seemed stacked in their favor for capping off their season and heading into the summer with a historic fifth European Cup.

And that’s where things get weird.

While we don’t know what Barcelona’s plans are in the aftermath of the blowout loss, we very much do know what Bayern Munich have up their sleeves. Change. And it’s the kind of change associated with a blowout loss, not a win.

See this summer, to much fanfare, Bayern will unseat their highly successful manager Jupp Heynckes and replace him with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola. You know, the guy who popularized tiki-taka and “made” Barça into the juggernaut that they are today. The one manager that every team in the world — except for probably Real Madrid — wants guiding its team to glory. He’s already been fingered as the main motivation behind Bayern’s recent €37 million poaching of Dortmund midfield maestro Mario Götze, and will clearly serve as the first indicator of the style that Pep will aim to mold Bayern into using.

But with so much currently going right at Bayern, why would they feel the need to do this?

If the last two years are any indicator at all, it appears that Heynckes has been one of the extreme few to “solve” the problem of how to beat Barcelona. Wait to apply high pressure until Barça have crossed over midfield, and then once they concede possession, quickly break using the width of the field to avoid the planned-congestion in Barcelona’s midfield. Throw in height advantage, and Heynckes’ methods have proven nothing short of tiki-taka kryptonite. Not only that, but being a more direct approach, Bayern’s methods are much more enjoyable to watch (in my opinion at least).

But instead of celebrating this approach and persevering with it, they’re abandoning it and bringing in the Dali Lama of tiki-taka instead. That seems like a giant step backwards if you ask me. It’s like a hacker cracking a complex firewall, and then the hacker protecting his own systems implementing that same firewall even though he knows it’s broken. You wouldn’t do that with your company’s internet firewall, so why would you do that with your team strategy? They’ve effectively created and broadcasted a template for beating the tiki-taka ethos for other clubs to follow, thus providing them a means for how to beat Bayern in the future.

guardiola will certainly have his work cut out for him in germany.

Now, maybe I’m not giving Guardiola enough credit. He’s obviously an incredibly intelligent and talented manager, and who’s to say he isn’t planning to revamp the playing style that’s been ingrained in him since his days at La Masia. It just seems unlikely. And maybe Barcelona will pull off the seemingly impossible and will win the tie, rendering my entire argument null and void. Though if you ask me, the chances of that are about as good as Ronaldo being Barcelona’s solution if they do crash out. Fat Ronaldo.

Are Bayern making a huge mistake? We won’t really know until next season. Their decision to hire Guardiola has always seemed a little odd, at least as far as the timing was concerned. Though I understand their time frame to land Pep was a small one, and I can sympathize with their want to not miss such an opportunity.

But when it looks like Bayern have finally unlocked the mystery of how to beat Barcelona, the Germans’ decision to become the new Barcelona seems a little like backwards evolution.

Short of the (future) children of the royals, Brooklyn, Cruz and Romeo Beckham (L-R) are most likely the most famous children in England along with their sister Harper. And given their parents’ fame, it’s not so infrequent that the little rascals show up in the news. But are Beckham’s kids really so important that they should get to buzz about a PSG training session and have kick abouts with some of Europe’s most elite footballers? Come to think of it, the little bastards also took the pitch in LA and Madrid, too. Does David make sure there’s a provision in his contracts where his kids can enter the field of play at any time they please?

Now maybe I haven’t been to enough professional level training sessions; maybe it’s pretty normal to see the players’ offspring wandering around the grounds. And it’s possible that I’m just slightly jealous of the access given to Golden Balls’ progeny. But that doesn’t change the fact that it seems just a little unsafe to have your children anywhere near so close to the Zlatan.

This week’s “Pic of the Week” brought to you by… privilege.

i held a virtual version of the champions league draw to electronically select the winner of the latest WSOTP giveaway!

Opening a webstore is a lot work. Not only do you have to come up with desirable products, select an online vendor (if you’re not savvy enough to build one yourself, like me), design the layout, and set up online payments… but you also have to get the word out. And that’s part of the reason I wanted to do a giveaway to celebrate the opening of the brand new WSOTP Shop.

Over the last week, social-network registrations have poured in from regular readers, friends of the blog and newbies a like. And thanks to your shares on Facebook and retweets on Twitter, over 2000 new faces were exposed to the store and WSOTP in general. So mission accomplished on getting the word out, and I thank you all very much for your help.

So with that said, you’re probably wondering which one of those registrants actually one their choice of a shirt from the shop. Having compiled them all in an electronic hopper, I randomly selected the following entrant as the winner of the WSOTP Shop Grand Opening Giveaway…

A hearty congrats goes out to Dale, who now has the next week to select his shirt design and size. Though judging by the fact that Dale is a Cincinnati native — and big time supporter of all of Cincy’s sports teams — I’d be willing to wager that I already know what design he’s going to pick.

Many thanks again to all those who participated in the competition but didn’t win. Be sure to swing by the WSOTP Shop and order the shirt you would have picked out had you won, and remember $5 from your purchase will go to the US Soccer Foundation to help develop the game here in the States, so you won’t just be donating my weekly meal fund. Also be sure to stay tuned for additional designs being added to the shop in the coming weeks!

And Dale… next time I see you, you best be wearing that shirt, son!

isn’t the rule that if gareth looks this forlorn, the rest of us should too?

A month ago, I and my fellow Spurs supporters were ready to celebrate the club’s best season in the modern era. Tottenham were on pace for a third place finish, were arguably the favorite’s in the Europa League and we were trying not to talk about the points gap that seemed to be widening weekly between ourselves and the Goons. But now, we were bumped out of Europe by the measly FC Basel, we languish in fifth place in the league, and could be four points behind the scum before the end of the night.

Where did it all go wrong? What can Spurs do to save their season? And most importantly, who can we blame?

First and foremost, fire AVB. He’s supposedly leaving in the summer anyway. The club should sack him because he’s not blowing Redknapp’s results from last season out of the water, despite no longer having two of the club’s best players from last season and implementing a new system. #AVBout, right?

And how about that putrid Emmanuel Adebayor: he’s a lazy son of a bitch, isn’t he? Now that the Togolese “striker” has secured his permanent move to White Hart Lane, there’s no need to work any longer. He did the same thing at Arsenal and City, you know. It might be different if he contributed more goals than he has, but he’s basically contributed nothing aside from a paltry six goals this season. That’s why I boo him when everyone else does.

Sure, Bale has been great. A revelation even. And while the Welshman is burying goals at an elite pace, it drives me crazy that Bale is always playing through the middle. Isn’t that what we bought Gylfi/Dempsey/Holtby for? Not that it really matters. He’ll be off in the summer, auctioned for a ludicrous sum that chairman Daniel Levy will do nothing more than add to the massive pile of cash that doubles as the throne in his N17 office.

Speaking of Levy, that guy is clearly running this club into the floor. How else can you explain the lack of signings even though we’ve desperately needed a striker? Who cares if we’re trying to build a new stadium and compete with clubs with vastly larger resources than our own, he should have broken the wage ceiling and paid through the nose to sign a difference-maker like Loïc Rémy/Fernando Llorente/Lionel Messi.

I can’t believe they loaned out Andros Townsend when they knew we were thin on the wings. That guy Clint Dempsey: he’s shit. Kyle Walker seems like he’s nothing more than a one-season wonder. Stephen Freund doesn’t seem like he could beat up as many people as Joe Jordan. And yeah, the season isn’t over yet, but it might as well be. We may as well start planning for Thursday Eruopa League match nights next season, because there’s no way we’ll be playing on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in the Champions League. The physios can’t keep anyone fit (Ex: Kaboul, Sandro, Lennon, Bale, Gallas). In short: this was little more than disastrous season.

…at least that’s what everyone seems to be shouting.

even though we know adebayor’s play is affected by his confidence, let’s boo him anyway.

Why don’t all of you just calm down out there in murky depths of Twitter and the message boards. This situation isn’t quite as dire as you’re painting it.

Thank God Spurs had the weekend off. Depending on how the now-rescheduled Chelsea match would have gone, it’s entirely possible that a significant portion of the support would have gone into full meltdown mode. They would have burnt down White Hart Lane and driven Levy from his castle so they could lynch him up at Seven Sisters for everyone to see. It might still happen this weekend after the City match, so don’t hold your breath quite yet.

Yes, the run in is difficult. Yes, Spurs are short cover in a number of key spots on the field. Yes, they should have strengthened more than they did in January. And yes, a few of the complaints above can hold some water.

That said, the season’s not nearly over yet. Arsenal could drop some points, and so could Chelsea. Our strikers could find form. Bale and Lennon seems like they’re recovering well from their injuries. AVB is a resourceful manager, who has done a marvelous job almost completely retooling the side after summer departures and arrivals.

This may seem like the same old Spurs — faltering in the final stretch — but time and time again this year, they’ve proven that they’re not. They’ve shown an ability to claw their way back to victory, or at least take a point from losing positions, something Tottenham don’t normally do. We’ve shown a steely resolve on the road, another trait that’s very uncharacteristic in Lillywhite. This could just be a dip in form, and we may yet return to firing on full cylinders.

There’s time to turn this thing around, and all this negativity is doing nothing to help the situation. Hell, a little bit of hope may even shoot some karma in the team’s direction.

In the mean time, save your bitching, booing and brawling for when things are truly done and dusted. In time, you may find you won’t even need to do so.

In a weekend where fan hooliganism made headlines on both sides of the pond, this week’s not-exactly-HD  ”Pic of the Week” comes to us from the aftermath of the Tyne-Wear Derby in Newcastle. Northeastern rivals Sunderland traveled to Newcastle to face the Magpies at St. James Park, and came out of the match surprise 3-0 winners. Unsurprisingly, this didn’t sit well with home support, who then spilled into the street surrounding the stadium and threw a temper tantrum of epic proportions.

The highlight of the scenery captured though has to be footage of the man above, who thought it best to not only provoke the policemen attempting to keep the peace… but also punch one of their horses in the face. Caught on camera several times before obscuring his face with his scarf, the lug wasn’t exactly able to land a solid blow to the equestrian guardian before gesturing “Come at me, bro” several times and then being tackled by the police. However, that likely won’t stop him from having picketers from PETA marching outside his house, or avoid a date with the Newcastle magistrate sometime in the next fortnight.

And for those animal-friendly readers concerned about the horse? Don’t worry, “Bud” as he’s called, has recovered well and will live to face drunken Geordies another day.

believe it or not, the reason dortmund fans put up this awesome tifo was to use the dude’s giant binoculars to see when my last TWOL post was.

It’s been weeks since I put out my last Ten Words or Less, which I suppose is a good thing for you readers considering that means I’ve been dropping original content for you instead of shoveling you content from other sources. But that doesn’t change the fact that I feel like I’m neglecting the long-running links post. Or the fact that some of the links I had originally collected for this have since become irrelevant.

So now that you’re done buying a shirt from the brand new WSOTP Shop, I figured I’d get things back to normal with a freshly updated edition. And if you’re looking for original content, I’ll probably have something else for you before the weekend. In the mean time, enjoy some of my favorite links from around the world of football from the last week or so.

Terrible April Fools joke, but a great idea for real. – qatarliving

A refreshing dose of clarity from Spurs’ wordsmith, Spooky. – dearmrlevy.co.uk

Sexiest Puma shirt they’ve put out in quite a while. – football-shirts.co.uk

The first supporters to ever fly to an away match. – inbedwithmaradona.com

Abou Diaby: the man-made of glass. – talksport.co.uk

Chelsea’s creepy blue man group kit launch. – youtube.com

A very well executed dead horse beating. – regista-blog.com

Those poor globe-trotting scouts have it awful. – guardian.co.uk

One designer’s line inspired by retro soccer design. – hypebeast.com

So, bicycle soccer actually exists. – kckrs.com

its virtual doors now open, don’t miss out on your chance to win a free shirt from the new WSOTP Shop!

I’ve been writing Wrong Side of the Pond for just short of four years now, and it really is a marvel to see how far the site has come along. No longer just a basic soccer blog, it has slowly morphed into a site where fans of the beautiful game can come to find and watch games with like-minded supporters all across the country. Partnerships with other sites, exclusive scoops and giveaways for readers are just a few of the highlights in WSOTP’s expansion across the web that I could barely have fathomed four years ago.

And today, I’m pleased to announce the next milestone in the site’s evolution: the opening of the WSOTP Shop.

That’s right kids, you can finally get your hands on official blog and soccer culture ‘merch. Not only that, but to celebrate the opening of the shop, I’m giving one lucky reader a chance to win a FREE item from the shop of their choosing!

So, what is it exactly that am I offering in this new store?

the first designs on offer in the WSOTP Shop. (Click the image for a slightly closer look)

Well, to start things off we’re keeping it simple with two t-shirt offerings. The first is a long-requested and reader-suggested official WSOTP Logo Shirt. The second is a design that pays homage to my hometown of Cincinnati’s love of soccer — even though we lack a fully professional club — with a design based off of the city’s official flag. Each design is screen-printed on American Apparel’s Fine Jersey Tee, meaning you’ll be pulling on a high quality shirt with a classic look and feel. And as an added bonus, $5 from the purchase of each shirt will go to the US Soccer Foundation to help develop the game around the country… so you don’t have to feel guilty about buying yourself one!

Pre-orders are now open with delivery expected in early May.

Now, the details and instructions about the giveaway you’ve all been scanning for:

1. There’s a posting on both the official site Facebook and Twitter feeds about this post. You’ll need to either “Share” this post or “Retweet” this tweet to register yourself. And while you’re there, if you haven’t already, give me a like and/or a follow.
2. Clever readers will want to know if they’re able to register through both Facebook and Twitter. And I’m feeling benevolent, so yes, you can. That means you’ll be able to register a grand total of twice.
3. The deadline for registering will be Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 at 10:00pm EST.
4. One winner will be selected at random from the total list of entries that evening, and will be notified by Private/Direct Message through their social media channel.
5. The winner will have one week to select a design of their choosing in whatever size they like and notify Wrong Side of the Pond of their selection by email.
6. Delivery of the shirt will coincide with the first batch from the current pre-order period.

However, if you don’t want to tempt chance and want to score one or both of the shirts — and why not another for your kid/friend/neighbor/girlfriend too?! — you can enter the WSOTP Shop with the link below or in the sidebar to pre-order your shirt today. That’s what I would do at least.

ENTER THE WSOTP SHOP HERE.

the latest player i’ve coerced to answer my questions: the rapids’ clint irwin.

Goalkeepers: they always make for such interesting individuals. If nothing else, there’s something intriguing about a guy that willingly places himself in the line of fire for 90 minutes week in and week out. Diving and throwing himself, sometimes blindly, about through the air, clattering into players and the ground, sacrificing one’s body all just to keep a sphere from going between a pair of sticks. It takes a, umm, special kind of person to be such a glutton for punishment.

Not only that, but often times many goalkeepers do all of that week in and week out in training without much hope of actually getting to see the pitch during the next game. After all, only one keeper per team gets to play each match. Veteran backups and youngsters alike patiently await their opportunity, and for some it never comes.

But every once in a while, an opportunity does come to pass where a new face is given a chance to shine. And it just so happens that such an opportunity just arose for Colorado Rapids rookie Clint Irwin. A surprise starter in the last few matches for the Rapids, Irwin and I had a conversation about his gradual rise to the big time and his breakthrough into MLS.

And as you might expect from a goal keeper, it was definitely an interesting talk.

D.J. @ WSOTP: First off, congratulations on breaking through into MLS this season! I know it’s been a long journey from your days growing up in Charlotte. Speaking of which, where did you get your start playing club soccer while growing up?

Clint Irwin: Thanks DJ. Definitely a long journey. I’ve probably had ten different teams at USL, NASL and MLS levels say I wasn’t good enough, so it’s a great feeling to be where I am.

I grew up playing for Charlotte United FC in Charlotte but didn’t really have any success until U16, U17 and U18. In addition, I was part of the North Carolina ODP team (somehow we won the National ODP Championship for the ’89 age group in 2007) and Region III Team. I went on and played four seasons at Elon University of the Southern Conference which was also in North Carolina.

clint was already thinking big while at elon university.

D.J. @ WSOTP: Most of us have day dreamed at some point about getting paid to play, but few ever actually try or are even capable of making a run at making that dream a reality. When did you know decide that you were actually going to try to make it to the big time?

Clint Irwin: My Region team and college experiences helped me realize that I could compete and hold my own with the best players from around the country. At Elon, we regularly played against the best of the ACC (UNC, Duke, Wake Forest) and got positive results against them. I knew that I was on a track, if I kept progressing, to possibly play at the professional level. During my freshman year, I really decided to do everything I could to make myself the best player I could in that time.

In my first professional experiences, while it wasn’t where I wanted to be or where I thought I should be at the time, it allowed me to really figure out who I was as a player. It hasn’t come easy for me, but I’m glad it hasn’t. Without those initial setbacks, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.

D.J. @ WSOTP: When not doing the professional soccer thing, what’s been your favorite part about living in Colorado to this point? 

Clint Irwin: I think the best part is just waking up and seeing the spectacular Rocky Mountains every day. I’ve only gotten up there once, but I’m looking forward to getting in some camping and hiking this summer.

D.J. @ WSOTP: What three things would you want to bring to Denver that you can’t currently get from back home in North Carolina? (I will be disappointed if your answers are anything other than Bojangles, sweet tea and seersucker suits.) 

Clint Irwin: Well, since you’ve named two of my top choices (Bojangles and sweet tea) and I’ve brought my seersucker with me, I’ll have to go in a different direction. Three things I wish I could bring to Denver would be the Carolina beaches, Southern accents and our golden retriever, Xabi Alonso. Conversely, the three things I’m glad have not followed me to Denver include humidity, transplanted Northerners and the general panic that occurs during snowfall.

D.J. @ WSOTP: Having played at every levels in the North American soccer pyramid — spending time the CSA’s Capital City FC, the PDL’s Carolina Dynamo and USL Pro’s Charlotte Eagles — what have been some of the biggest differences between playing for the lower league sides, and a first division club like the Colorado Rapids? 

Clint Irwin: I’ve probably spent time on trial or elsewhere with nearly half of the USL and NASL, so I feel like I’m well-qualified to answer this question. The biggest difference has to be the speed of play. Each league is physical but in MLS the ball moves quicker. Your decision making and reactions have to be quicker and it certainly takes some time to adjust. But at the same time, that speed of play makes it really fun to play.

D.J. @ WSOTP: What was it like playing in Canada? I’ve heard rumors that players are only given maple syrup to drink during games up there.

Clint Irwin: Canada was a difficult experience. I lived with 7 other guys in a 4 bedroom/1 bathroom house, slept on bunk beds and generally tried to stretch our dollar as far as possible, which, if you’ve ever been to Canada, you’ll know is difficult in a place where everything seems to be marked up 20% (somehow Canada got the short straw in that NAFTA deal). I can neither confirm nor deny the maple syrup rumors, but in the world’s leading producer of maple syrup, it somehow wasn’t any cheaper.

Playing wise it was difficult, my team had a lot of young talent, some Canadian youth internationals and other players from the college system who were overlooked and hungry to prove themselves. The league itself had plenty of quality at the top and a dearth of quality at the bottom. Some teams had players who had played in the Champions League with clubs like Red Star Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb, who had come to finish their careers in Canada. I’d classify it as a semi-pro league.

Looking back though, I’m glad I faced these hardships. It’s made me so much more thankful to be where I am now and ultimately made me mentally stronger as a player.

clint had to raise his game to new heights to scale the american soccer pyramid.

D.J. @ WSOTP: You made your league debut at Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium in week three after starter Matt Pickens broke his arm. Do you, or do you not, have a Pickens-shaped voodoo doll… also how did it feel making your first appearance?

Clint Irwin: No voodoo doll but I have been bending spoons to speed up his recovery. It’s been disappointing not to see him out on the pitch with us. I like to learn through observation and the time I’ve been able to spend training with Matt has been invaluable in my development. I hope he’s back soon.

My first appearance was certainly an experience I’ll never forget. The circumstances were unique but I felt prepared by the coaching staff here to step in when called on. It was the opportunity I’d been waiting for a long time and one in which I knew I could excel. Once you get out there, the job doesn’t change. You’re trying to stop the other team from scoring. The only thing that’s different from when you’re 14 is the number of people watching.

D.J. @ WSOTP: Things certainly didn’t get any easier for you in your first start the following week at two-time defending MLS Cup holders LA at the Home Depot Center. Tell me a little about your first experience going into the match as a starter against such stiff competition. Were you at all shocked to be starting so soon in your young career?

Clint Irwin: It didn’t really feel like a first start after the match in RSL. I had played 85 minutes in Salt Lake in a really difficult atmosphere, a derby match, so I knew I could handle it. I was actually disappointed to be playing LA during an international break. You want to test yourself against the best, the guys you grew up watching, so the absence of Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez was a bit of a letdown.

We weren’t able to get the result, but after the game Carlo Cudicini, the EPL vet, told me in the tunnel that I played well. I thought that was pretty cool, and something I’ll definitely remember (#GKUnion).

D.J. @ WSOTP: Speaking of the Home Depot Center, you’ve now played at three of MLS’ “soccer specific stadiums” including Rio Tinto and Dick Sporting Goods Park. How would you compare the crowd atmosphere and facilities of each? 

Clint Irwin: Each one has its own characteristics that you appreciate. At the HDC, at least in my first appearance, I don’t know if it’s the way the lights are or what but you get the feeling it’s a big-time venue. I remember thinking, “This looks exactly like the Nike commercials they film here.”

What I remember about Rio Tinto was just the noise. It was opening day so the place was packed and it was a great atmosphere to play in. Of course, you’re trying to silence your biggest rival so it was great to hear them go quiet on our goal.

At home, it’s great to be in front of your supporters. The Centennial 38 (our supporters group) has really shown me a lot of support. It’s certainly helped me settle in much quicker. When other clubs visit, they always talk about the altitude, and while I’ve adjusted, I can definitely remember my first week training it felt like you had 400 lbs sitting on your chest. It’s a great home field advantage.

D.J. @ WSOTP: Are there any teams or players that you’re really hoping to get to face this season? Or is that putting the cart before the horse?

Clint Irwin: You’re always focused on the next game but you know the teams in your conference and how important those games are. I look forward to each road trip as it’s likely a new city and stadium I haven’t played in before. I think most players would say the Portland and Seattle matches are ones you look forward to, just based on the atmosphere at those stadiums.  Players wise, I’m looking forward to Robbie Keane, Chris Wondolowski and Landon Donovan. I got a chance to play with Thierry Henry when I was on trial with the Red Bulls so those three are now at the top of the list.

D.J. @ WSOTP: Now while you were still down in Charlotte, you worked at soccer social media service KYCK. As a long-standing member of that community, I thought they would like the opportunity to ask you some questions too. My favorites came in the form the back-to-back requests of “Was [KYCK teammate] Reid Phillips ever good at soccer?” and “What was it like to get megged by Reid?” Together, those questions seem to call your ability into question. Care to comment?

Clint Irwin: First off, shout out to the KYCK crew. I really enjoyed my other employment while I was playing in Charlotte and learned a lot from some really smart people. Be sure to check out KYCK.com if you’re a big soccer fan.

the goalkeeper proves a bright interviewee, seeing right through my ruse of trying to use this interview to draft him in to my amateur side.

As for Reid, he was an underrated member of our 2-time State Championship club team. He wasn’t especially fast or strong in the tackle, but he could find that half-yard and deliver an exceptional ball with his right foot from the wing and on set pieces. You always need that type of player in any successful team and Reid certainly contributed his share of assists.

Finally, Reid never megged me. I don’t know where that notion came from. 

D.J. @ WSOTP: So knowing that competition for playing time at goalkeeper is steep, I’ve got a proposal for you: should you ever find regular minutes lacking this season, my men’s amateur team in Ohio is short a goalkeeper this season, and we’d be happy to take you on a short loan with to get you some minutes. What do we need do to make this happen?

Clint Irwin: I appreciate the offer. Unfortunately, I’ve been contracted by my buddy Ben’s co-ed adult league team in the offseason. It’s a good social opportunity. My contract stipulations are that I only play in the field as a target forward. I’m sure some sort of transfer fee can be arranged though (I’ll give you my routing number later).

D.J. @ WSOTP: Well Clint, thanks for the opportunity to get up close and personal. Best of luck in the games ahead and keep up  the good work!

Clint Irwin: I appreciate the offer. Unfortunately, I’ve been contracted by my buddy Ben’s co-ed adult league team in the offseason. It’s a good social opportunity. My contract stipulations are that I only play in the field as a target forward. I’m sure some sort of transfer fee can be arranged though (I’ll give you my routing number later).

D.J. @ WSOTP: Well Clint, thanks for the opportunity to get up close and personal. Best of luck in the games ahead and keep up the good work!

Clint Irwin: Thank you for having me DJ! See you in Columbus?

D.J. @ WSOTP: You know, Clint… I think that can be arranged.

Though I’m a few days late in getting last week’s Pic of the Week up on the blog, you might be even more confused that to the picture I’ve selected because it most certainly wasn’t taken last week. In fact, the picture above was taken in 2006 during one of Paolo Di Canio’s final matches with Lazio before he retired. So why, then, did I pick this as this week’s picture?

Di Canio, a self-professed Fascist sympathizer, was named the successor to Martin O’Neil as manager at Sunderland at the weekend. And though the Italian lightening rod earned the opportunity to try to save the Black Cats from relegation thanks to a very fruitful two year spell in charge at League One Swindon Town, most of the rhetoric surrounding his appointment has concerned this six year old picture. Though a few of the punditry chosen to overlook the political leanings of a potentially very talented manager and debate his merits as as a manager — a novel idea, right? — many have decided to attack Sunderland and Di Canio for the decision by calling them “racists” and “unethical”. And while Paolo can be accused of having a fiery personality and is probably guilty of some poor decision-making in his past, that doesn’t mean he’s not qualified for the job.  By all accounts, he’s a very intelligent man and a promising managerial talent.

So my selection for this week’s Pic of the Week is meant to convey this simple message: let’s let current news and future results dictate our perceptions of someone, not their past indiscretions. Otherwise, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

it’s that time of year again!

Anyway, one of my favorite spots to visit regularly is The Football Attic. Based out of the UK, they catalog football nostalgia ranging from football games (Subbuteo) and collectors items (panini stickers) and retro-kits. Their blog is a virtual treasure trove for soccer hipsters the world over, and I can’t recommend them highly enough if you’re into what some consider the nerdy side of the game.

Last year, the guys at The Football Attic were even able to draw me out of my comfort zone to interact with my fellow soccer bloggers to participate in their inaugural “League of Blogs” project. Their aim: to get as many bloggers from our industry to design their own Subbuteo figure kit to represent their blog. A staggering 92 different kit designs were submitted from around the blogosphere, spanning a wide array of looks. An funnily enough, they even selected mine as their favorite of the batch… an honor I’m very proud of, as you might expect.

So when they announced that the 2013 edition of the “League of Blogs” was set to kick off yesterday, I was ready for them. The weight of expectation from last year’s high marks had me working on this year’s designs (I’m also including an away kit this year) the moment they hinted about it on their Twitter account last week. And for me, this raised a series of interesting debates.

Firstly, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t change my look too much. I wanted to pay homage to the first design, but also be sure not to butcher it or try to force through a design that wasn’t working. Secondly, what would I do for an away kit this time around? Should I go with an inverse of the home kit, or something completely different? And lastly, how can I make the designs better represent WSOTP and myself?

None of those were easy decisions, but as you can see from the designs below, I think I did a pretty decent job.

the new 2013 home kit (left) and away kit (right).

First, I stuck with a sash design this time around on both kits, though two stripes have given way to three for a slightly different feel. The addition of the WSOTP logo to the socks helped tie in the design a bit better, and the player number on the leg gives it a slightly more authentic look. I also added functional and aesthetically-minded venting to the jersey’s underarms and neckline, as well as the shorts for more realism. And lastly, you’ll also notice the wavy-C emblem on the left chest, which is a version of the flag of Cincinnati… my home town.

The home kit design largely stayed the same outside of the changes noted above. However, after trying both the light blue and orange from the blog’s official colors as an away kit, neither offered the look I really wanted. So instead, I reverted to an all-navy affair for the aways for the very scientific reason of it’s my favorite color. A feint inlay of the sash ties it together with the home kit to keep a clean unified look.

All in all, I’m not ashamed to say that I would most definitely be down to wear either kit. The Cincinnati-tie even has my head spinning about a potential shirt that we could put together here on the blog for public consumption, so stay tuned on that front. But I’m intrigued to know your thoughts on the designs. What would you have done differently? Feel free to rip them apart in the comments below.

And in the mean time, be sure to check out the good folks over at The Football Attic, and maybe even submit your own design if you’ve got your own blog. Just know that it’s going to lose to mine!

While the hole developing in the toe of my current pair attest I should really be looking to score some new indoor/court shoes, these fresh kicks from Cristiano Ronaldo’s upcoming 2013 Summer Collection now sit atop of my list of wants instead. I haven’t been able to find any information on them at all aside from the brief aside in Nike’s press release on them:

“vintage-inspired Nike Tennis Classic, Cristiano’s favorite sneaker, complete the summer range”.

So in absence of further details, I’ll speculate. the casual shoes look like they feature a perforated all-white leather upper on top of an all-white vulcanized rubber outsole. The only splash of color comes from a burnt orange accent on the heal that adds a touch of vintage class. And while they’d be cool to sport both with a pair of jeans or when wearing shorts, I’m almost certain one should never be caught wearing socks in them… just my 2 cents at least. You’ll be able to pick up a pair of your own on May 11.

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