It's a common refrain: footballers are all overpaid pre-maradona's and they should have their exorbitant salaries corrected to reflect their actual value to society. This claim is simply not true, for a few reasons that I'll explain.

Disclaimers: The first assumption someone might make in my presenting of this argument on this platform, is that I think that all people who enjoy reading and writing articles in their spare time are not sports fans. That is of course ridiculous beyond stereotype (and a huge insult to the incredible amount of talented sports journalists in the world). I would however make some assumption, which I hope will be forgiven if need be, that there may be a lot of people like me who do enjoy reading and writing in their spare time who also hate sports for similar reasons that I did. These reasons will soon be apparent. I would also like to add an additional disclaimer to any American readers that when I say football, I mean soccer. I would never in a million years at any part of my life have summoned a level of bravery to take part in something as physical as American football. This too will become very apparent in the article. Thank you.

An FA Cup loss on penalties to Norwich City, a tame draw to Burnley in the Premier League (Matchday 29) and now having been dealt a knock-out punch by RB Leipzig has put the Londoners in a foul mood. A mood that Spurs fans thought couldn’t get worse after Eric Dier’s reaction to his brother being insulted. Dier inexplicably entered the stands and dealt with the abuse in a manner that cannot be condoned (video attached). The England international is seen assaulting one of the fans after the Norwich City FA Cup tie and has only heaped more pressure on his teammates and worst of all his manager.

It was supposed to be a straight forward conclusion to an incredible performance by the German record champions. They surprisingly scored six goals away against TSG Hoffenheim and that despite Robert Lewandowski not starting because of a fracture in his tibia. After all, TSG Hoffenheim had beaten the mighty Bavarian side on match day seven (2-1) and while their form wasn't great of late, no one expected this Munich side to score with such ease.

Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain looked to be heading towards a rather unexpected draw, when Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland thumped a long range effort into the back of the net to send the Westfalenstadion into ecstasy. Even experienced campaigners such as the likes of Paul Scholes would have been proud of a strike like that and it brought to the fore just how incredibly gifted this young man really is. 2-1 it would end to the German side, who looked to have the better of the Parisians for large segments of the much anticipated tie.

No one can deny that the team this year, on paper is leaps and bounds better than the year before as far as depth and new talent. The team has done amazingly well in the summer transfer period. Bringing in world talent and rising stars alike to bolster their previous years lack luster roster. Names like Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez highlight the well traveled additions to the squad. But the real genius pickups are the Stefano Sensi's and Nicolo Brella's. These players have proved themselves capable with their respective previous teams of turning a game on its head without a moments notice.

Still fresh from that feast served by Spurs and Boro I thought to put my ideas on paper, (screen) while my memory of the event is as clear as it will ever be.

As of earlier in the afternoon today, former FC Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has been sacked. The club’s administration has announced the replacing manager for Valverde as former Real Betis coach, Quique Setien Solar. Setien has been chosen by the FC Barcelona administration and as of now signed a two-and-a-half year managerial contract with the Spanish Fútbol club officially ending in June of 2022. Tomorrow is when he will be formally announced as the club’s new manager and will be shown to the public formally in a news press conference and at a managerial presentation on the field.

I was born in Portugal and from a very young age had an inexplicable passion for football in general and for S.L.Benfica in particular; born in F.C.Porto heartland with a family of their supporters there was no reason for my affiliation, much less the crying and refusal to feed myself when results weren't what I desired, thankfully I was young maybe not as young as you would like but young nevertheless.

If time of possession counted toward the final score in soccer, Saturday afternoon’s Girls Class A meeting between Somers and John Jay would have been a blowout. But the Tuskers will still take the narrow 3-2 victory they held on for, and as long they keep the handy work with their feet going forward, the success should continue.

UEFA Champions League is an annual Football Club Championship established in 1955. The tournament was named as the European Cup, and after the 1991/92 season, it was renamed as UEFA Champions League.

If you're a soccer fan, you know there's nothing quite as thrilling as attending a live game. There's an unparalleled kind of energy—you, suited up in your favorite player's jersey; the stadium's light blinding your eyes; the stands erupting with support for the home team, or rage against the rivals.