Mattlichtenstadter

I will forever be biased against Tim Sherwood. It’s understandable considering the circus Tottenham Hotspur became last season under his watch. His claims of greatness despite his winning percentage were unfounded, and Spurs felt like they were at their lowest ebb in years. Moreover, Sherwood struggled to put his Spurs tenure in the past and […]

The best news for a US Men’s National Team desperate for good news is that the biggest story emerging from their friendly encounter with Mexico was not the disaster that was the Alamodome turf. Instead, the story can be how the US beat Mexico once again by that famous scoreline, and how the problems that […]

Derbies can often times be the culmination of trends; the apex of stories bubbling up waiting to explode. The Manchester Derby today was no exception. Watching Manchester United simple tear Manchester City to shreds after Sergio Aguero’s early opener confirmed two trends that had been emerging slowly since the calendar turned to March: Manchester United are […]

If it wasn’t for the Manchester Derby on Sunday, Tim Sherwood’s return to White Hart Lane would be getting even more play than it already has. Sherwood’s Aston Villa are in a relegation dogfight, where Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs feel resigned to another season without Champions League soccer. But for Tim Sherwood, it’s time to focus […]

The Montreal Impact exercised some long held demons last night by advancing to the CONCACAF Champions League final, becoming the first Major League Soccer team to do so since Real Salt Lake in 2011 and only the second since the competition changed formats in 2008-09. Support came pouring in from around MLS for the new […]

With the Euros expanded to 24 for the next tournament in France, this was the cue for many to call out qualifying for the tournament, with some calling it “academic” and “boring”. To the surprise of so many, not only has it not been boring, it’s been intensely captivating. The stories emerging as Europe’s middle […]

Every Nicklas Bendtner joke aside (and there are a cavalcade of them to be made), it’s another game for the United States that has brought up more questions than answers. It’s still early in a World Cup cycle, and the USMNT is now consistently playing difficult European away games, but when trends continue to play […]

It cost Manchester United £37.1 million to buy Juan Mata from Chelsea in January of last year. He didn’t fit in well in the tactical system of David Moyes, and he has mainly been on the periphery of Louis Van Gaal’s team for Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, and lately even Marouane Fellaini. He was […]

It seems as if it was eons ago when Liverpool lost 3-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford back in December. Manchester United (as has been the story of their season), were clinical with their chances, while Liverpool had large segments of the game when they dominated play, but could not put anything past David […]

Recently, Manchester United had done nothing to inspire confidence. They had been winning games, but winning games in spite of themselves. They were lethargic, slow, lacking ideas in the final third, and the elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Arsenal seemed to confirm that. Tensions began to rise at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, […]

Chelsea were supposed to be the great English hope for lifting the Champions League trophy in Berlin in June. Now, they’ve crashed out spectacularly at the hands of the team they sucker punched last year in the quarter-finals. A trophy so many thought was theirs is now further away than it ever has been, and […]

When Manchester United hired Louis Van Gaal, it seemed like just the right man at just the right time was being brought in to right the rudderless ship that was Manchester United last season. Now more than six months into his Old Trafford stewardship, it seems the rudder is still in cold storage. United are […]

Barely 48 hours before Chicago takes on the LA Galaxy in Carson, MLS and the Major League Soccer Players Association have agreed to a five-year long Collective Bargaining Agreement. Just two days ago, it looked like this deal would never materialize, and the spin being leaked to the media was that a strike was imminent. […]

The last time Tottenham hoisted a trophy, it was just a shade more than 7 years ago. Their opponent: Chelsea. A 2-1 win in extra time in the 2008 League Cup Final was a crowning moment for Juande Ramos (who would have few others at the Lane), and turned out to be the club’s only […]

When Manuel Pellegrini was hired by Manchester City, he was charged with bringing stability to a squad that had little of it, and take the Etihad club to new heights. In his first season, he won a double, which included his team’s amazing comeback from a substantial deficit to win the Premier League title and […]