This week, we had some huge soccer news that we are accustomed to at this time of year, but it's always nice when they happen. We had a big change atop the Portuguese League standings. We also had a massive upset (perhaps the biggest of all time) in Champions League. It's March, it's the time of year where all of the attention turns to knockout stages of Champions League, and where we all appreciate the beautiful game. More on the footy week below.
Also happening this week was the recovery from the disappointment in the island for the Maple Leafs. The Leafs had their worst performance of the season, and the reaction is going to be crucial in order to get a read on how the post-season will go for this team. Additionally, comments were made by Brad Marchand.
The Raptors also had a very big week. From defeating the Trail Blazers to losing to the Pistons and Rockets back-to-back. Some flaws are definitely appearing down the stretch run.
And more sports action to recap the week. We are in March, meaning we are getting close to playoff time in both the NHL and NBA. Lebron and the Lakers are on the outside, the Blue Jackets are on the cusp after their big deadline moves. March also means Jays are coming back soon! Clay Buchholz joined the team, and the news around Vladdy Jr. is intriguing. Also this week, TFC started with a massive win in Philly. All this to segue back to the beginning: let's start with soccer!
Personally, even though there were many big moments in the soccer week, the correct place to start is Real Madrid. The merengues are in BIG BIG trouble. I capitalize the word BIG because this team is just a mess. Sergio Ramos was filming a documentary DURING the Champions League home match; this after he purposely collected a yellow to prepare himself for the next round. The defeat to Ajax was great because we got to see the youth and excitement of one of Europe's best young squads. Madrid had no answers at home once again, after losing twice in the same week and falling far back of the championship hunt and bowing out of the Copa del Rey. The fans keep chanting for Ronaldo to come back. And Zidane. And Mourinho. Heck they may even start screaming for David Beckham the way things are going. But truth be told I doubt any of them would solve their problems. Their problems are much, much deeper, and getting any of those players are just trying to hide the real issues. Real Madrid's problems start right at the top. Their president is only interested in getting the big names, and not getting a proper squad together. Florentino Perez should be putting a team out there capable of defeating Barcelona every year. This has nothing to do with Messi and Barca's talents, but Real is a mess of an organization that really aren't giving them the fight they should be having. For me, Real Madrid need to clear out the veterans. Ramos, Benzema, Bale, Marcelo, Modric all need to go elsewhere and recover their careers. There comes a time when a team have been together and their best time as a cohesive unit is behind them. Zidane and Ronaldo hopefully started a cleaning up of the old guard, and a changing to new ideals. The perfect coach for next season isn't a Mourinho or a Zidane, but rather a Pochettino. In Mauricio Pochettino, I see a head coach who has been at the head of a club for many seasons and been consistent. Real Madrid needs this stability from their head coach. Then, by ridding themselves of the veterans, Real could look at getting younger. I say make a play for Mbappe, and not a Neymar. Not only is Neymar not as young as he once was, but he comes with some baggage from his time at Barca and of course his famous antics (the diving). Mbappe would come with an incredible speed, and if you put some nice pieces around him (some are already in house), the team could really grow. The point is to make a shift in strategy, there is too much ego on this squad and guys who appear fed up of working together. Take a lesson from Ajax: it's time to start over and get another strategy to get to the top. The issue though is at the top, and for Madrid to do this they need Florentino Perez to lift his ego and change it up. Will be tough.
Outside of the Champions League Ajax shocker, there were some pretty phenomenal results. Starting with Manchester United, who overcame a 2-0 home defeat to beat PSG 3-1 on the road. Solskjaer has done an absolutely phenomenal job and put United back on the map. It's incredible to see a team that was at one of its lowest points with Mourinho to in two months getting to the quarters and a 4th place battle in the league. Heck, I think Solskjaer is the right guy for this job, and he should keep it beyond this season. The players like him, management likes him and fans like him. What more do you want from a coach? I think Mourinho's time was up, and when a team gets tired of a coach it becomes very apparent. This is a lesson to not keep a coach longer than you should. Man United need to be one of the favourites to win the whole Champions League the way they're playing.
Porto and Tottenham also advanced to the next round of the Champions League. Tottenham is doing their best performance yet at this stage in what will most likely be the last season for Pochettino there. Porto had a huge recovery win to get by Roma in extra time. This game had everything, including two clubs looking to make something of their season. Roma will no doubt fire Eusebio De Francesco after this one. Porto, on the other hand, need to take this and put it to good use for the Portuguese League. The team just got a second life after losing at home to Benfica on the weekend. What an incredible gutty performance to put the team to the final 8! And truth be told, they can beat any of the teams left if given the right circumstances.
Porto is now 2 points down in the league. They can't let the Champions League distract them from the real important task of winning the championship. Marega, Danilo and Soares look to be in incredible form. The issue has come on the back end, where Porto should have improved in getting Pepe. Pepe has not fit in quite well as of yet. Militao moved from the centre to the right side, and I feel this was a mistake. The D had some great chemistry going, and it feels like since the change this have been a bit off. Even in this match today against Roma, Militao made the error of making a tackle in the penalty area. This has been consistently occurring for many weeks now. Pepe has destabilized the back end as Militao had to change positions in order to stay on the team. Pepe has been pretty inconsistent, and if Porto is able to figure out their trouble on D, they will still contend with Benfica for the championship and go deeper in Champions League. Herrera is still without a contract, and he being the captain this could be a source of trouble still. Benfica has been in top form with Joao Felix being dominant, but nothing has been won yet. It's been a great recovery but the team is still far away from where they want to be. Benfica is investing in their youth, and that will go a long way for many seasons to come.
In back-to-back games, the Leafs got big wins over the Sabres and Flames. Even though the Leafs won easily, their problems on the back end have become quite apparent. The Leafs are down Gardiner and Dermott at this moment. Ozhiganov, Holl and Marincin are temporary and less impact defenders who show there is a gaping hole on this team. Night after night, Freddie Andersen has to be the best player. In order for the Leafs to go far, they need a very healthy D-core to go far. They need it if they have any chance of beating Boston. Andersen needs to be above and beyond the Leafs best player even if the team has a healthy team in front of him. The Leafs are deep on the front end, but it may not be enough to get them past the hump. Brad Marchand mentioned Mitch Marner deserved $12 million a year. He's doing that out of interest to boost his price tag up and make it impossible for the Leafs to keep all their players.More of this is to come, stay tuned! Leaf talk is just starting!
Raptors, on the other hand, put quite a show one night and come out flat the next. The way this team is playing, even when Kawhi is on, look like they're not going to make it to the finals. This team seems to be lacking a certain depth from the bench, and they don't seem to be strong enough to win. There are better teams out there, including Golden State and Milwaukee. Kawhi has been playing limited minutes, my thinking is the Raps only hope is we see a Kawhi in the playoffs that is able to perform at a level we haven't seen from him during the season. Same with Gasol. If we see these players elevate their performance, they have a chance. Otherwise, this is going to be just like every other year until now.
As for the rest. The NBA has Lebron James outside the playoffs. I don't think this is going to be a big deal once the playoffs start, but certainly a no Lebron playoffs is news. The Lakers are struggling, and Lebron at this moment appears to have made a wrong career choice. I don't really think he cares about what other people think, but it's not good for recruiting to see that the Lakers are never going to be top dogs in the West. Over in the NHL, we have Pittsburgh, Montreal, Carolina and Columbus fighting for the playoff spots. If Columbus doesn't make it, that's a massive disappointment after the investments the team made, not to mention letting Panarin and Bobrovsky walk for nothing. Still some games left to play to see who makes it, the playoff picture will change.
The Blue Jays are being investigated for their treatment of Vladdy Guerrero Jr. It's completely unfair for this to be an investigation, as the Jays are doing whatever they need to do to have an extra year of Vladdy Jr. It's stupid that the rule is like this, but the Jays are doing the right thing. They should get Vladdy Jr. for as long as possible. I say let the team be, they're picking up players like Buccholz they can trade mid-season for prospects. This is great asset management, and I'm impressed with the way management is thinking. Haven't said that much from these guys, but pretty much it's been the right decisions.
Finally, Toronto FC got a victory in Philadelphia. TFC needed that after the disappointment in Champions League. Michael Bradley looks in top form, and Alejandro Pozuelo is coming in from Europe. Management promised we would have heard of him and said wow. I've never heard of him or said wow. But I'm hoping I get to know the guy and he shows me at least some of what Giovinco had. Hopefully this helps TFC make the playoffs, and from there we never know!
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