The Midfield Battle

The Midfield Battle

Today, I would like to further analyze the soccer/football game played last week between Chelsea FC & Galatasaray AS, in UEFA Champions League. 

The game was played in Istanbul and the result was a deadlock tie score of 1 - 1. 

          Jose Mourinho & Roberto Mancini

The game did not look as close as the final score, in the first 30 minutes of play Chelsea FC was all over Galatasaray AS.  The reason for this, in my opinion was that Gala's manager Roberto Mancini had the wrong formation on the field.  He choose a 4-4-2 formation. This means that there were 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 2 strikers.  

This kind of formation against a very good dribbling and passing team like Chelsea FC is not very smart, since it gives the Londoners plenty of room and space in the midfield area.  And in turn, plenty of passes to the strikers for goal scoring opportunities.  Luckily for Gala, Chelsea FC only scored on one of the attacks, instead of 3 or 4.  

          Jose Mourinho in the Bench

Being a good Manager, Roberto Mancini saw this (loosing) battle between the two teams midfielders, and he therefore completed a substitution in the 33 minute to bring in a defensive-midfielder named 'Yekta Kurtulus', and also changed the formation to a 4-5-1.  

This tactic payed-off as Gala started plenty of attacks on Chelsea net, while clearly winning the midfield battle.  

Surely, a goal would come, and it came in the 68 minute, to make it 1 - 1.  

This was an entertaining, well played game by both clubs. 

          Gala Bench

I'm looking forward to watching the 'return leg' of the game between these two clubs on March 18, 2014.  It will be another 'chase match' of a game between Jose Mourinho of Chelsea FC and Roberto Mancini of Galatasaray AS. 

May the better team make it to the last 8 of this competition.  

Thank you for visiting. 

The Movie 'Grey Wolf'

The Movie 'Grey Wolf' 

Here is a partial review of the movie 'The Grey'.  

First of all, I thought this was a very well made, good, entertaining movie. 

The movie is about a plane crashing into an isolated area in northern Alaska, where wolfs occupy; and the 'oil field workers' who survive the plane crash, will 'now' need to stay alive. 

The poem shown in the movie, and recited by the actor Liam Neeson, caught my attention.  And I would like to focus on this poem for my review of the movie. 

At the ending of the movie, Mr Neeson is confronted by a 'Grey' Alpha Male Wolf and he will need to battle this animal to live.  This is when he recites the poem.  

I have written the poem below.  

Once more into the fray. 

Into the last good fight I'll ever know. 

Live and die on this day. 

Live and die on this day. 

The poem is written by director, Joe Carnahan

I will make a 'General' meaning of what I believe the poem means to the actor of the movie, and even to 'us' viewers.  

The message is very clear.

I believe that the poem means that everyday we must give it our all, give our absolute best effort at whatever challenge comes ahead of us; to survive and prosper in today's world. 

Basically, that is the meaning.  

Have you watched this movie yet? If not, make time to watch this 'emotional' movie, you will be glad you did. 

Thank-you. 

Scourge of God

Scourge of God

I heard the quote 'Scourge of God' and wondered why such a comment could be made, and for 'who' it was said; therefore decided to do some research.  

Do you know what 'Scourge' means?

Scourge means 'a person that causes great deal of trouble or suffering'. 

This quote was used first for 'Attila the Hun'. 

Attila the Hun and his faithful Warriors developed the skills of 'Battle' at the territories once called 'Scythia'.  Today, Scythia is the areas within the countries of Kazakhstan and south-east Russia. 

Attila the Hun and his Troops scared the citizens of the Roman Empire, since these Warriors would attack the borders of the Empire.  

The fear was evident with citizens when they came into contact with these Warriors, who had tattooed bodies and knotted long hair; and the Romans would wonder and try to comprehend how God could allow these Pagans to destroy their once-mighty Empire.  

Therefore, the citizens of the Empire called Attila the Hun, the 'Scourge of God'. 

Attila the Hun conquered vast lands in Asia and Europe from the Roman and other empires, over a thousand years ago. 

You might be wondering who was Atilla, the Hun. 

The Huns were a Nomadic tribe from the territories of modern day Mongolia; with ancestor ties to the Turk-manic tribes. 

I thought it was an interesting story and I decided to share this today. 

Thank you,

Ben