Tuesday 12 June 2012

The Chargers Soccer Team



With Euro 2012 beginning and much of the world watching the tournament I thought to myself what would a Chargers Soccer team look like? As a Football and Soccer fan I decided to make a Charger Soccer team with a 4-4-2 system (1 Goal Keeper, 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2
attackers)


Goalkeeper- Malcom Floyd: The 6ft 5in WR would fill up most of the goal just with his arm span! He would catch nearrly every ball kicked at him and he's also great at diving (see photo). All together, Floyd would be a dominant goalkeeper in this squad.



Right Back- Shaun Phillips: Phillips is the perfect build for a right back. He can run a 4.69 40 yard dash and is a strong guy. He would be able to out muscle attackers and keep up with the wingers as the run down the sidelines. Phillips would provide Veteran leadership to the team.

Centre Back- Melvin Ingram: Being 6ft 1in and 264lb, Ingram would provide a physical presence in the middle of the field. He would out muscle strikers and and using his athleticism, out jump opposing players to header the ball out the box. He would be the mean defender who dominates opposition and show exactly why he is called #SuperMelvinCharged

Centre Back- Antonio Gates: Like Ingram, Gates is a tall physical guy who will provide all those things listed above which Melvin would provide. Gates would also give the team winning experience and knowledge. Only problem is that in England it is known as football and the foot part for Gates might be a little tricky if he so much as kicks the ball (due to previous foot injuries)... Oh well he's Gates he can do anything!




Left Back- Robert Meacham: Meacham would act more like a wing back providing speed and skill to run down the touch line and put in some decent crosses. Although not as big or physical as the other defenders, he has quick feet so would get in some good tackles on the ground and reacting fast to the opposing teams attackers.

Central Midfielder- Nate Kaeding: Although not the most athletic player on the squad there is no denying his kicking ability. He would play a holding midfielder role making long passes around the park and making one or two powerful strikes from outside the box (that is assuming he doesn't tear his ACL on his first kick of the season!)

Central Midfielder- Eric Weddle: Weddle would be the playmaker from the midfield. His vision and awareness would allow him to find passes and then execute them. He would be a dominating central midfielder, so long as there aren't any offensive lineman around to juke him! (see link) http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d824c8dfe/With-a-Whimper

Right Wing- Marcus Gilchrist: One of the teams many playmakers, Gilchrist would be a speedy winger after running a 4.45 in his 40 yard dash. I can also imagine Gilchrist having some nifty footwork and some impressive dribbling skills.

Left Wing- Eddie Royal: Royal would be the small nippy player who jukes and jinks around players causing havoc on the defence. He would provide pace and be a spark on the offensive part on the team. Hopefully he can show the skills from this FOR the Chargers rather than against them! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfqFSFd4rTE

Centre Forward- Ryan Mathews: Mathews is my favourite soccer player on the team. He has everything a forward needs; Speed, Strength, Agility, Elusiveness, and vision. He would be a perfect fit at centre forward playing just off the striker.

Striker- Mike Schifres: The Chargers punter is one of the best in the league and combines accuracy and power to provide pin point punts inside the 20. This is all a striker needs if surrounded by physical talent as players will just get the ball to his feet and he can do the rest!

Friday 8 June 2012

Chargers add Ronnie Brown

The latest of the San Diego Chargers' Free Agency additions was RB Ronnie Brown who was acquisition was announced Friday afternoon. This in my opinion was a very strong pickup from the bolts as we lacked an experienced backup to Ryan Mathews.

Brown, who has played in the NFL for seven years, will provide the Chargers with key experience. He is a sound all round player who can block, catch, rush and even take snaps in the wildcat. This large range of skills should make him a very ideal third down back and takes some pressure off of Ryan Mathews who will be used a lot by the Chargers this year.

Before the addition, the Chargers were lacking experienced backups. Curtis Brinkley and the two rookies Hayes and Baker were the other options who all have a lot of potential but are not yet ready to be effective in the NFL. If Brown is retained however it will bring on the tough choice of cutting one or two of the previously mentioned players. However this is a business and you have to make tough decisions to fulfil Championship ambitions.

Overall Ronnie Brown was a very important pickup and should now really complete our offense. His average of 4.2 yards per gain should help out the Chargers but most importantly his versatility at the position will be extremely important.

Tuesday 5 June 2012

How Norv Turner can keep his job

Norv Turner was hired by the Chargers in February 2007. The appointment was some what of a surprise as Turner had been disappointing as head coach of the Raiders a few years back and was fired two years into his job. Turner is renowned as one of the best offensive minds in the game and transformed the Dallas Cowboys offense of the late 1900s from last in the league to 9th the next year. He was considered one of the main reasons for Dallas' back to back superbowl victories and has been similarly impressive for the Chargers' offense. Last year however, Turner disappointed yet again as head coach with a very talented squad. He and probably AJ Smith are on their final chance and must succeed this year to keep their jobs. The question is: How well does he need to do to keep his title as head coach?

Firstly the Chargers need to achieve a winning season. After finishing 8-8 last season alongside Denver and Oakland, the Chargers will have to improve on this record. With Denver acquiring Peyton Manning and the Chiefs looking stronger than last year the Chargers will need a winning season to reach the top of the AFC West. AJ Smith added key components mainly on defence to help the Chargers out in the offseason and should hopefully help give Rivers the ball more often. It's really now all down to Turner to get out there and win some games!

If the Chargers get to the post season lets say on a 10-6 or 9-7 record it is simply not good enough to go out in their first playoff game, especially if it's one of the wildcard games. San Diego fans are bursting to see a deep postseason run and I think Turner needs to get the Chargers to the AFC Championship game to truly earn his right to stay in San Diego for another year. This is a difficult task with many tough teams in the AFC, but Charger fans need to see some proper success from Turner's Chargers as the likes of Antonio Gates, Philip Rivers and Shaun Phillips wont last forever. Luckily, many of the Free Agent acquisitions who were brought in know what it is like to be in a successful playoff team. The likes of Robert Meacham from the Saints and Jarrett Johnson from the Ravens should provide key knowledge and understanding in what it takes to win big games.

Putting all other things to a side, all Turner really needs to do is get a superbowl victory. If he scrapes into the playoffs at 8-8 and makes a run similar to that of the Giants or Packers of previous years he will be the hero of San Diego. Nobody will care how he did it or whether he deserved it, they just want that trophy! If it requires luck or making some unpopular decisions it doesn't matter, all that matters is getting the Chargers franchise that trophy they have prayed for for so many years.

Monday 4 June 2012

Never forget

Now that the media have moved on from the tragic death of Junior Seau it is important for Charger, NFL and sport fans to never forget Junior Seau. I won't write about how great a player he was or how important he was to the San Diego community as we all already understand what he meant to everyone who knew him. This really is just to remind fans to never forget what Seau meant to everyone in San Diego and the football world. Although Junior's life may have passed, his soul and memory will be in everyone's hearts. This short clip sums up what Seau was like as a player and a person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DVRbOP7pes