English Clubs

105,826 crowded into Michigan Stadium, better known as “The Big House”, to get a glimpse of Real Madrid and Chelsea stars like Marcelo, Oscar, Eden Hazard and James Rodriguez. At the end of they day, they were all talking about Real Madrid’s 22-year-old Dominican forward Mariano Diaz Mejia, simply known as Mariano.

Marcelo put in a man of the match performance, and Eden Hazard scored two wonderful late goals for the Blues, but Mariano’s goal was absolutely world-class.

Through the first 30 minutes of the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, there was an interesting contrast between the midfields of Arsenal and the MLS All-Stars. Andrea Pirlo anchored the setup for MLS, in tandem with Kyle Beckerman and Kaka, while Arsenal chose the strength of Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny to support Jack Wilshere.

The average age of the duel was 24 for Arsenal and 35 for MLS, but one couldn’t help but be in awe of the play of MLS’s old guard — particularly the sumptuous, metronomic style of Pirlo.

As much as the people in charge would like for it to be a competitive tournament, the International Champions Cup is a collection of friendlies between big teams trying to grow their fan-bases in new, previously untapped markets. The players will run around a little, the coaches will evaluate some youth academy players and everyone will be nice before heading home. They're just friendlies. No one is taking them seriously. Except for Cesc Fabregas.

Look what happened when Cesc and Liverpool center back Ragnar Klavan go after the same ball.

The story arcs that football provides us with are both fascinating and absurd. Who could’ve guessed that, come 2016, Brad Guzan would be doing battle with Victor Valdes to be named the starting goalkeeper for Middlesbrough?

Guzan, the 31-year-old Illinois native with 50 USA appearances to his name, is expected to join the newly promoted Premier League club on a free transfer following Aston Villa’s relegation. 

The prevailing wisdom is to never look too far into preseason matches, but when those matches are repeatedly beating you over the head with the obvious, you should probably take notice.

Last year, under the guidance of Steve McClaren, Newcastle recorded just two victories in seven matches. They were defeated by Club Atlas, the Portland Timbers reserve squad and League Two side York City F.C. 

That disastrous preseason form led to an opening run of eight Premier League games without a victory. In hindsight, the club was doomed for relegation as early as October 3rd. 

It's over and done. Kolo Toure has left Liverpool, and he isn't coming back. He's gone to Celtic, where he will presumably get way more playing time and become the most entertaining player in green and white since Thomas Gravesen left.

I'm trying to not be sad, because Kolo wouldn't want me to be sad.

Wayne Rooney’s preseason has been priceless. After captaining England to a disastrous showing at Euro 2016, Rooney took a brief vacation before joining Manchester United’s preseason training under new manager Jose Mourinho. His first viral sensation of the new campaign occurred after he was double nutmegged by Memphis Depay and Daley Blind. 

Wayne Rooney gets megged twice in training, by Depay and Blind.pic.twitter.com/qmFT5XYevY

The headlines of 2016 continue to amaze and bewilder in equal measure. Now, we’ve reached peak-2016 with the announcement of Jose Mourinho banning Pokemon Go before matches.

That’s right. A “source” has informed the Daily Star that Mourinho is determined to have his players focused on the task at hand and not on triumphing at the Old Trafford gym.