Deja vu We Can Live With - Steins;Gate: Deja vu of Load Field Review

Anime films that follow a series, especially successful ones, are a difficult breed. Many times the film ends up feeling like a tacked on extra of fanservice. Your favorite characters are there but the plot doesn't tie in to the series or pales in comparison. For example, I reviewed Trigun: Badlands Rumble last month and gave it a 2/5 while I gave the parent series a 5/5. Other times the film is highly successful and can be considered essential to enjoy the series as a whole (End of Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie). Steins;Gate: Deja Vu of Load Field falls into the latter category. It's a film that is able to tie up all of the few loose ends that remained at the end of the series (and it's mediocre add-on OVA episode). A quick disclaimer before I start the review: Since the film takes place after the conclusion of the series, spoilers will be very difficult to keep out.  You have been warned.

Deja vu picks up a year after the OVA ended and the gang at Future Gadget Laborotory are up to their regular shenanigans of dicking around. Of course, the ringleader in all of this is still the lovable and eccentric protagonist, Okabe Rintaro (or HOUOUIN KYOUMA). Having successfully prevented the deaths of both Mayuri and Makise Kurisu at the conclusion of the series, Okabe's life has been pretty peaceful since. However, all isn't exactly well in the life of the mad scientist as it's shown that he's having 'flashbacks' to the world lines he crossed while trying to save Mayuri's life. Regardless, Okabe carries on and continues his dicking around. Things pick up when Makise returns to the Future Gadget lab after a year to reunite with her friends. Of course, things between her and Okabe are still strange since he can remember their romantic and close interactions across the world lines he visited while she cannot. As a result she isn't really sure about how she feels about Okabe, leading to some classic Steins;Gate banter. Meanwhile, Okabe's 'flashbacks' are getting worse and worse, threatening to erase him from time altogether. When it eventually does happen, Makise is the only one who has any faint recollection of him. This brings us the the main plot of the movie which is Makise leaping through time like Okabe did in order to save him.

Makise Kurisu is the main protagonist which allows for the film to sort out the loose ends left at the series end

However, this isn't just a rehash of the original series' plot with Makise as the protagonist instead. No, Deja vu has created a new plot which finally brings closure to Okabe and Makise's relationship. Once again Steins;Gate makes us consider the pros and cons of time travel and at the same time provides character development for Makise. The film plays out much like the series did, the beginning is slow and has a lot of the same goofy elements that made the series so great. Everything you loved about these characters is back in the film. The action picks up in the latter half, after Okabe disappears from the timeline. However, this is a much more introspective work than the series was. The original series was more of a thriller while Deja vu plays out more like a character drama. Makise and Okabe's relationship is the main plot point of the film. The original series was able to expertly balance the drama with the pulse pounding time travel plot and while Deja vu is set more towards the drama, it's a great work in it's own right. The runtime of about 90 minutes is the perfect amount to tell the story and there isn't a single wasted scene. In addition, the wacky science that made Steins;Gate unique is back. Once again, the plot doesn't get overly convoluted when the time travel kicks in. Any time travel work is bound have one or two weird moments when it gets stuck up it's own ass but like in the original series Steins;Gate, through it's own established rules of time travel, remains constant. The ideas of world lines and the "Butterfly Effect" are still present and analyzed once again.

Some might complain that there isn't enough of Okabe in the film but in a way, this is a good thing. After all, the original series was entirely from Okabe's perspective and he's the only one who has clear memories of the world lines he visited. Meanwhile, the only loose end that remained in the show's conclusion was the matter of Makise and Okabe's relationship. While Okabe remembers all of it, Makise only has extremely faint recollections. Whether or not she felt the same way about him was never really resolved. I personally thought that the original ending to Steins;Gate was fine and despite leaving that part of the plot up to speculation, I didn't think the series really needed to provide closure. However, Deja vu made me realize that closure really was needed. So having the film take place from Makise's perspective was a welcome change as it allows for film to provide final closure to her and Okabe's story. Like the original series, the plot requires a lot of emotional investment and it ended up being really touching story. The best part about Deja vu is that it fits seamlessly into the Steins;Gate canon and doesn't just feel like tacked on fanservice.

Okabe is out of the picture for most of the film, which enables Makise to take center stage as the main protagonist. As said before, having the film from her perspective ties up the few loose ends of the series. The regular crew of Mayuri, Daru, Ruka, Faris, Moeka, and Suzuha all return as well. This being the film after the series, you would expect them to have reduced roles, however, this is hardly the case. Mayuri actually factors in heavily in the plot and the rest are hardly pushed to the side. Suzuha, being my favorite character from the series, was a welcome sight to see back, even if her characterization felt a bit off. Everyone else is largely the same, the only downside is that we never get to meet Daru's girlfriend. In fact, I feel like that the only missed opportunity here. After all, the revelation that Daru was Suzuha's father in the future was one of the big reveals of the series. If Steins;Gate decides to continue the storyline further, that should be the main focus. In spite of this however, I can't really complain about the characters. I loved them in the original series and they're fantastic here as well.

Visually, Deja vu appears to have been given a bump in animation quality but overall it's not noticeably different. It really depends on what medium you're watching it on. The film actually hasn't been released in the States yet. The version I watched was actually very high quality, perhaps Blu-Ray quality. Regardless, the visuals are great and are capable of some really beautiful moments. The environments are nice but the real credit goes to the animation of the characters. They move and act realistically and that's a testament to the great work done here. From an audio standpoint, it is fantastic once again. The film hasn't been dubbed yet but I got to experience the original Okabe voice, certainly a treat. The audio isn't unlike the original series and sets the tone perfectly. Credit is also due to the voice actors who do a great job.

In reality, Steins;Gate really didn't need this movie. The original series had one of my favorite endings and it didn't feel like the series really needed to be expanded upon. However, I'm sure glad that this was made. It manages to top the original ending and I can't think of a more perfect way for the storyline to conclude. Most of the time, anime movies are unwelcome additions to the storyline but this is not the case here. Steins;Gate: Deja vu of Load Field is the perfect ending to a perfect series.

My Score: 5/5

You Know What? I'm Over You Robin Van Persie

There are times when I can be quite the bitter person. When I hold a grudge against someone it usually sticks. I have a doghouse with five-star security systems and a large abundance of electric fences. So then why all of a sudden can I just let go of my grudge against the traitor, Robin Van Persie, the only athlete who's departure from my team actually brought me to tears? Let's make one thing clear however; I'm not forgiving Robin Van Persie. In fact, I don't think I ever will, nothing will ever change what he did. However, I think I've finally come to terms with it and it doesn't bother me the way it used to.

The summer of 2012 was a tumultuous one for Arsenal Football Club. Robin Van Persie had just pumped in 37 goals across all competitions for Arsenal during a rather disappointing campaign. Arsenal started the season incredibly poorly, including an 8-2 loss to Manchester United which followed the losses of star players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. However, thanks to Van Persie's heroics, Arsenal mounted a vicious campaign in the later half of the season and took third place in the league, nowhere close to the top two teams however. The elephant in the room was that Van Persie's contract was running to it's end following the 2012-2013 season. After losing Fabregas and Nasri, the Van Persie contract situation represented a crossroads for Arsenal; could they retain their best players or had they become a selling club? Arsenal fans were cautiously optimistic after all Van Persie was the team captain, he seemed at home at Arsenal. He had a great manager who had remained loyal to him despite his history of injuries (the 2011-2012 season was the first in which Van Persie was healthy throughout). Arsenal even sealed deals with players like Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud before the opening of the transfer window to ease the scoring burden on him. However, on July 4th, Van Persie delivered the shocking news that he would not be resigning with Arsenal citing the club's "lack of ambition" as his reason. In other words, Van Persie thought the ship was sinking and was looking to get off as soon as he could. Arsenal fans were crushed, all the faith that they had placed in Van Persie turned out to be for nothing; he felt no loyalty back to the fans who had stuck with him all those years when he was out with injuries. Despite this, Arsenal fans tried to stay optimistic, we thought that Wenger would keep Van Persie around for the last year of his contract. If the campaign went well, perhaps Van Persie could be convinced to stay. Such assumptions were hopeful at best and on the 17th of August, Van Persie left the club for Manchester United.

In the back of our minds, us Arsenal fans knew that we weren't hanging on to Van Persie, any beliefs otherwise were hopeful at best. However, we never thought he'd leave for Man U, a hated rival. It was a slap in the face to Arsenal fans everywhere. The rest, as we know, is history. Van Persie had yet another magical campaign, leading the league in scoring and finally winning the Premier League title he wanted. He even scored in both meetings against Arsenal. Man U's guard of honor for winning the title happened to fall on the fixture at the Emirates, the ultimate slap in the face. Holding a guard of honor for Van Persie was like breaking up with your girlfriend during her birthday party. However, it was an empty triumph since he had just left his old team for dead for their rivals. I place a lot of value in loyalty. The pain of Van Persie leaving wasn't just the fact that he left for United but it was that he left the club that had stuck with him for all those years. Arsene Wenger was loyal to him in the same way that he has been with the oft-injured Abou Diaby. Van Persie finally paid off Wenger's loyalty with his last two seasons with the club and then left to cash in on his individual success. He betrayed the fans who had done nothing but shower love upon him in all his years at Arsenal. We were told it was a business decision but that was a lie. The club had shown him nothing but love and loyalty and Van Persie left it for dead to find glory with Manchester United, hollow glory at best. Had Van Persie stayed at Arsenal, he could have become a legend as it's captain. A league title with Arsenal would have brought him incredible respect. However, he decided to take the easy way out. However, I've finally come to terms with his leaving. It probably took his celebration of his goal against Arsenal this season to help me get over it. It's an unwritten rule that you don't celebrate goals against your former team out of respect. Hell, Theo Walcott hasn't played for Southampton in about 9 years and refused to celebrate his goal against them last season. Aaron Ramsey didn't celebrate either of his two goals at Cardiff this season. Van Persie's celebration put us Arsenal fans over the edge; we don't respect you Van Persie and you just eliminated any sentimentality any Arsenal fan had left for you.

Van Persie's celebration against Arsenal officially cut any ties he still had at the club

I still hold true to my belief that Arsenal could have won the league last season had Van Persie stayed. However, I think the time for such things has come to an end. I won't forgive Van Persie for what he did but it no longer bothers me the way it once did. Van Persie showed his true colors when arrived at United and frankly, I prefer the current Arsenal team to one with Van Persie. It doesn't have to do with Arsenal's current success in relation to Man U's this season. Van Persie's departure forced more personal responsibility on to the other players in the squad and every player has embraced it. I can let go of Robin Van Persie because I simply don't respect him as a player anymore. I will still remember the goals he scored with Arsenal and his final season with the club was a joy to watch but I no longer long for those moments anymore. Maybe it's the Christmas spirit that's allowing me to be this way and yes it has taken me over a year to get over this. I'll never respect the way Van Persie acted on his way out but I've gotten over his actual leaving. Arsenal are better off fielding a team of classy players who will fight for the club, they don't need glory hunters like Van Persie.

The 2013 Favorites List

It's the end of the year which means that everyone and their mother are coming out with lists about what they liked best about the year. However mine is different since I don't have the media's luxury of being to see every movie, play every video game, watch every run of every TV show. These are my personal favorites from the year 2013 and nobody else's. Sure, there will be a couple of things that anybody could see coming but this is a list of things that I experienced. Everybody got it? Alright, let's go.

Favorite Movie of 2013: Silver Linings Playbook

Oh, so Silver Linings Playbook came out in 2012? Ok yea sure it did but I didn't see it until March of 2013 which is a testament to how good it is considering that it came out in November of 2012. This film didn't hit it's stride until 2013 so let's count it as that. No movie before this one has given me the same feeling of upliftedness (yes a new word) that this one did. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence have incredible on-screen chemistry and it's impossible not to love Lawrence after this movie. Excellently filmed, well written comedy about how enough crazy can actually help people heal. Really unique film that you really need to check out.

Favorite Video Game of 2013: Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V is the most ambitious game of all time. It boasts a massive map, loads and loads of things to do, and three engaging main characters. What you ask from a sequel is that it moves the franchise forward and refines the gameplay from previous games. GTA V is an improvement over GTA IV in every way possible; from gameplay, to user interface, to the missions. It is quite simply a classic and landmark game.

Favorite International Athlete of the Year: Gareth Bale

It's here where once again I feel the need to remind people that this is my list and just because Americans are ignorant of soccer doesn't mean I can't place a soccer player on this list. Also, let's be honest here, did any other athlete in the world have a better year than Gareth Bale? For the better part of 2013, Bale was a highlight machine, scoring highlight goals for fun. Sure, his team didn't win anything, but individually Bale was a defining athlete in the world of sports this year. This also includes one of the highest profile transfer sagas in the world ending with Bale departing Tottenham for Real Madrid for a record fee of over 100 million. Sure, Bale won't win the Ballon D'Or, but there's no denying that 2013 was the year of Gareth Bale.

Favorite Domestic Athlete of 2013: David Ortiz

2004 was a cool year and I'll always remember David Ortiz's contribution to that team. However, this year really was the year of Big Papi. From his giant F-bomb following the Boston Marathon bombings to his postseason heroics en route to his third World Series title. Ortiz went from being a Boston great to being a Boston legend. As Bill Simmons put it, there's a special club where only the most special of Boston athletes are let in. Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, Ted Williams all sit there together and have drinks together and now they're joined by another; David Ortiz

Favorite Album of 2013: The 20/20 Experience, Justin Timberlake

Sometimes I joke that Justin Timberlake could sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and still sell millions of albums. That's probably true but that would be disrespectful to the fact that The 20/20 Experience is a fantastic album, Timberlake's best yet. There's way more to this album than "Mirrors" or "Suit & Tie". It's a great album that you can listen to over and over again without getting bored. I found this album before the summer and still listen to it regularly. Also, nobody else is better at appearing out of nowhere than Timberlake. Sure glad he did with this one.

Favorite Song of 2013: "Blurred Lines", Robin Thicke

Say what you want about the video for the song or what you think of the lyrics but Robin Thicke had the song of the summer. It's an excellent party song and let's be honest, it's really well produced and you really do like it don't you?

Favorite Breakout Artist of 2013: Ylvis

"What The Fox Say?" was the year's most catchy song and everyone's guilty pleasure. Whether or not you understood it or not was irrelevant, it's just too much fun to sing a long to. However, it's a disservice to the Ylvis to only point out one song from their hilarious catalogue of songs. Check out "Stonehenge" or "Jane Egeland" and get lost in the zaniness.

Favorite Music Video of 2013: "Hopeless Wanderer", Mumford & Sons

Jason Sudeikis, Ed Helms, Will Forte, and Jason Bateman might be even more entertaining than the actual Mumford & Sons.

Favorite "Old" Anime of 2013: Steins;Gate

I am not ignorant to the fact that Steins;Gate came out in 2011. However, it took me until this past summer to watch it and it really deserves all the hype it gets. It's an anime that anyone could enjoy. Awesome time travel storyline? Check. Excellent characters? Check. Creative writing? Check. It really is the perfect anime; finding a flaw with it is nearly impossible. If you are like me and it's taken you until now to watch the show: WATCH IT NOW!!!!

Favorite "New" Anime of 2013: RWBY

RWBY is what it is. It doesn't try to subvert any tropes that we've already seen and it doesn't really do much different from most anime series. But did it ever have to? Because it's damn good at what it does. The first season of RWBY received a lot of hype this year for something created by a YouTube group. For what it is though, it's very impressive with lovable characters and fantastic animation. You can really tell that Rooster Teeth put in a great deal of effort to make RWBY awesome and for that I'm certainly grateful.

Favorite Can't Miss Late Thing in 2013: American Hustle

Does this really need any explanation other than that the cast above is in it? No, didn't think so

Favorite Sports Team of 2013: The World Champion Red Sox

The late Nelson Mandela believed that sports have the power to unite and heal wounds after tragedies. There are few better examples than the improbably Boston Red Sox. Following a tragedy that nobody saw coming, the Boston Bombings, the city rallied behind a rag-tag group of bearded men who defied all the odds and prevailed. Sometimes it's a mistake to place such faith in athletes because they tend to let us down from time to time. However, the Boston Red Sox of this calendar year were something different altogether, we may never see anything like it again.

Favorite TV Event of 2013: The Roast of James Franco

Say what you want about the typical nature of Comedy Central roasts. They've grabbed some pretty cheap celebrities over the year that, let's be honest, nobody really cares about. In James Franco however, Comedy Central had a gold mind. They were able to gather some hilarious talent on the stage for a relevant celebrity who is nearly impossible to dislike. Whether roasts are your thing or not, The Roast of James Franco succeeded because it was what we always wanted from a roast; a celebrity we actually cared about. Not to mention that the thing was hysterical and features some highly quotable material which, for this sort of thing, is a marker of how good it was.

Favorite TV Episode of 2013: "The Rehearsal Dinner", How I Met Your Mother

I'll just disclaim that maybe this is a bit of a spoiler and all you Breaking Bad fans can shut up about your overrated show. I love me some HIMYM. Anyways, I have been pretty mum in my thoughts about the final season of the show on this blog for good reason. On the whole, the season has been pretty average with a couple highlights thrown in there. A few weeks ago, the season hit a huge high with this episode. The whole thing finally felt like the classic HIMYM that seemed to be missing in the previous episodes. Not to mention that the end of the episode is absolutely adorable for Barney and Robin. Also, Ted dresses up as Liberace during this whole thing, that alone is worth five stars.

Favorite Thing to Look Forward to 2014 For of 2013: The Third Season of Sherlock

TV's best show is coming back bitches...

A Premier League Christmas

It's Christmas time and what better Christmas gifts than the prospect of the January transfer window, the most frustrating and overly dramatic part of the Premier League season. The rumors will be numerous, the substance will be little, and I guarantee Alan Pardew will get his feelings hurt again because a team enquired on one of his players (check the rules pal, it's legal). Anyways, Christmas time usually marks an unofficial halfway point for every team, a chance to evaluate their chances for this season. Never has the league been this wide-open. A few weeks ago, league leaders Arsenal could claim to be at least the league's most consistent team. However, a draw against Everton and a mauling at the hands of Manchester City has dampened their luster. They're still league leaders but their confidence definitely took a hit after the weekend. So now the title race is a wide open competition between Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. It should be a riveting rest of the season. However, it is also Christmas time, a time to be in the spirit of giving and I'm feeling generous. Let's take a look at the Premier League's contenders and see what they want and need most this Christmas.

Arsenal
Current League Position: 1st
Gift: A new striker

After a hot start, fatigue has lead to bad form for Olivier Giroud.

Everybody knows about Arsenal's failed pursuits of Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez over the summer. However, Olivier Giroud quieted such concerns by playing out of his mind in the first few games of the season. However, he league leaders have had a massive question to answer at the same: what happens when Olivier Giroud gets hurt or suffers a run of bad form? The nightmare has finally come true for the Gunners who lack any other option better than Nicklas Bendtner off the bench. Giroud's form has tailed off, he has disappeared in big games. His last two goals were gifted to him by Southampton's defense and could hardly be considered the marks of a world class forward. Fatigue is the typical excuse used in Giroud's defense and such a thing is fair. He's played the full 90 minutes in just about every game the Gunners have played this season. This was fine when he was putting the ball in the back of the net at a healthy rate but now Giroud has become somewhat of a liability for the Gunners who can't afford such a thing in the race for the title. A new striker of quality is needed, not necessarily to replace Giroud, but someone who's presence on the field doesn't cause Arsenal fans to faceplam like they do for Bendtner. They need a player who can take some of the scoring load off Giroud's back and push him for his spot. Names like Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata and former AC Milan man Alexandre Pato have been mentioned as possibilities but nothing is ever for sure with Arsene Wenger.

Liverpool
Current League Position: 2nd
Gift: Midfield help

New deal for Suarez was an early present for Liverpool.

 Liverpool already got the number one thing on their wish list this Christmas; a new deal for Luis Suarez. I already sang Suarez's praises in an earlier article for this blog so theres not much more I can say about it other then the rest of the league better watch out. Liverpool keeping Suarez is a sign that they mean business and even more important, Suarez believes that they mean business. Suarez re-signing for Liverpool could have the same transformative effect that Arsenal signing Mesut Ozil. It's a sign that Liverpool truly want to contend, the first real sign they've sent in years (unless you count Damien Comoli's ill-fated spending spree in 2011). If Suarez is here to stay, then even bigger things could be in store for Liverpool. So that brings us to Liverpool's gift, a new midfielder, preferably one of the strong, defensive variety. The Reds have a glut of midfielders on the wings who all play very similar roles, meanwhile their midfield lacks a strong defensive presence. Lucas Leiva is more of a distributor than enforcer, same goes for Stevan Gerrard when healthy. All the other contenders have hard tackling defensive midfielders in their arsenal. Manchester City has the lethal duo of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, Chelsea has Ramires, and Arsenal has Mathieu Flamini. Liverpool have a great deal of style and attacking flair, Suarez may be capable of dragging Liverpool to the top of the table in the same manner Robin Van Persie did for Manchester United last season, but games are won in the midfield, especially games between title contenders. Liverpool destroying Spurs was impressive but can they do the same against the other contenders? After all Arsenal bossed their midfield in early November en route to a 2-0 win that felt exactly the way the scoreline looked. A strong midfield presence could change that. Liverpool would be wise to look in such a direction.

Chelsea
Current League Position: 3rd
Gift: A hold on Roman Abromavich's transfer account

Fredy Guarin is a good player but Chelsea don't need him.

Transfer windows are always fun times for Chelsea, they're never exactly shy about making big deals in the middle of the year; Fernando Torres, for example. However, they've reached a certain point where spending more just seems even more excessive than ever. Owner Roman Abromavich has no hesitations about opening up the chequebook in order to sign big name players but for this January, he should really think about keeping it closed. Chelsea has arguably the most talented side in the league with a luxurious glut of midfielders who all seem to do pretty much the same thing. Willian was infamously bought after a medical with Spurs and has only appeared in 7 league games. The whole thing reeks of luxury signing. Now rumors are swirling that Chelsea is going to add Inter's Fredy Guarin to the fold. Oh joy, another central attacking midfielder who can also play wide! Chelsea has enough midfielders and not just midfielders, quality ones. Jose Mourinho knows what his best combination of midfielders is (some combo of Hazard, Mata, Oscar, and Schurrle...however that works). Sure, these aren't players that Mourinho hand-picked but they're more than talented enough to usher Chelsea to the title. Chelsea has all they need; if Abromavich wants to spend money maybe he should look at Chelsea's uncharacteristically leaky defense.

Manchester City
Current League Position: 4th
Gift: Better road form

Scenes like this are commonplace at the Etihad but the road is a much different story.

City can probably call themselves the favorites in the title race following their demolition of Arsenal over the weekend. However, one piece in the puzzle needs to be fixed, their road form. The Etihad has been a major fortress for the Citizens this seasons, the wins over Norwich, Spurs, Man U, and Arsenal all come to mind. However, the road tells a different story. The road tells us this team was beaten by Aston Villa, Cardiff, and Sunderland. Nobody should be so quick to anoint City as champions just yet considering the team just lost it's in-form striker, Sergio Aguero, to injuries. Man City is in good shape all things considered and sit just three points behind the leaders, whom they ran riot on last Saturday. However, looking closer at that game shows us that City's defense still let in three goals. Defense is another area that needs to improve, especially if the offense goes missing at some point. Either way you spin it, City has questions of their own as well.

Everton
Current League Position: 5th
Gift: Respect

Shrewd loan signings such as Romelu Lukaku have Everton flying high

Please allow the blue boys from Merceyside to cast their lots into the fray as well. It's Christmas time, Everton is only four points off the pace from the leaders and they're still getting doubted. They went into Old Trafford and won, an achievement even if Man U isn't what it used to be. Roberto Martinez's men are for real, that can certainly be assured, so can they finally earn some respect? Everton have the talent on paper that most years would guarantee them a spot in next year's Champions League. Romelu Lukaku is showing that the Drogba comparisons aren't for nothing, Gerard Deulofeu has bigger clubs purring, and the whole team has just come together. Roberto Martinez has really harnessed Everton's abilities. They've gotten the results before the New Year. The time has now come for them to keep on trucking. Besides, when the current top 4 are done beating each other up; Everton could be lying in wait to snag a spot in Europe.

Tottenham
Current League Position: 7th
Gift: Offensive competence

Erik Lamela is the poster child of a failed summer spending spree

Tottenham really thought that they were so smart. They believed that they could overcome the loss of Gareth Bale by spending his transfer fee money to make the entire team better. In theory, such thoughts aren't stupid by any means. However, this is Spurs and fate seems to have a thing for mucking up everything for Spurs whenever they feel they've started to make forward progress. What's wrong? Everything is wrong! The manager has just been sacked, the team struggles to score, and the summer signings have just not panned out. Look at Erik Lamela, the 30 million man. He's been nigh incompetent for Spurs since joining. The biggest gem the team received over the summer was Christian Eriksen who seems to be the only one who understands the basic nuances of creative midfield. Meanwhile, another big summer signing, striker Roberto Soldado, grows lonely from lack of service up at the top. The team's form in the Europa League has been much better but of course, this team wasn't brought together to win the Europa League. These players were bought to get to Champions League and make noise in Europe. Instead, all Spurs got was several square pegs to fill the giant round hole that was Gareth Bale.

Manchester United
Current League Position: 8th
Gift: A fresh start

David Moyes, ruiner of worlds

I couldn't not include Man U in the holiday cheer, after all it is great time to laugh at their continued anguish. However, it's time that Man U really got to hear the words that everybody should be telling them right now: it's alright. The later half of 2013 since Fergie's retirement has been rough but help is on the way! It's a new year, a new start, a chance for David Moyes to make something good out of what is, at this point, a lost season. A hot finish to the season after the new year and suddenly, Man U doesn't look so bad anymore. A signing in January, a return to form for some players, more time for David Moyes to find his sea legs, and all of a sudden Man U will look more like themselves. Believe me, I was ready to give them nothing but coal. However, it's the holiday season, might as well give the Man U fans something to look forward to. After all, that's what they told us Arsenal fans for years.

90's Movie Double Header - Face/Off and Glengarry Glen Ross

The business of school has generally kept me away from writing here once again. However, I was lucky to be blessed with a pretty low stress exam period. With only two written exams during this period (followed by two written papers) I found myself with a little more time on my hands than usual so I decided to indulge myself in some good classic 90's movies. Little did I know that this would turn into a double header of two of the classic movies from the decade. First was the John Woo directed action flick Face/Off starring both John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. Obviously, we all love to make fun of Nicolas Cage. His insistence on playing simply obscene, vulgar, and downright insane characters has made him a gem in the viral video/social media era where his expressions are converted into memes at lightspeed rates. However, I had always heard that Cage's performance in Face/Off is actually one of his best roles. What resulted was one of the best action films of the decade.

John Travolta plays an FBI agent named Sean Archer, who for the past 6 years has been tracking the terrorist Castor Troy, played by Cage. Archer's six year obsession with Troy stems from the death of his son, by Troy's hand, by sniper fire. Archer's obsession to bring the man to justice causes him to become a hardened man who works long hours and rarely spends time with his wife and daughter. Finally, one day, Archer is able to capture Troy (detailed in a classic over the top action sequence that only the mind of John Woo could think up). However, before being captured and falling into a coma, Troy planted a bomb in the middle of LA. The only person who now knows where it is would be Castor's brother, Pollux, who refuses to talk. Because of this, the FBI comes up with the absurd scheme to switch Archer's and Troy's faces, as well as their body types, in order to get Pollux to spill where the bomb is. The surgery works and Archer, under the guise of Castor Troy, enters prison and quickly finds the bomb's location. However, during this time, Troy wakes up from his coma, steals Archer's face, and torches all the evidence of the mission, even the individuals involved. To Archer's horror, Castor Troy uses his new identity to steal Archer's whole life, including his family, all while the real Archer is locked up in a cell looking like Castor Troy. Archer-As-Troy then escapes the prison and then engages in a riveting battle of cat and mouse with Troy-As-Archer to get his identity back.

I won't try to pretend that this is a coherent and sensible plot; it's actually completely ridiculous. The whole point is to set up a mistaken identity plot and get the two main actors to essentially play each other's role. However, the results of it are pretty damn awesome. Since the actor's characters essentially switch bodies we're given the awesome scenario of Nicolas Cage playing John Travolta while John Travolta plays Nicolas Cage. It's pretty damn awesome to watch considering that Cage actually turns in one of the best performances of his career and proves that when he wants, he's perfectly capable of playing serious roles well. That being said, he finds himself right at home at the beginning of the movie as the insane Castor Troy, so those looking for some hammy Nicolas Cage action won't be disappointed. Travolta meanwhile seems to relish his role as the villain and has the excuse that he's essentially playing Nicolas Cage to act like the biggest ham in the room the whole time. However, simply writing Travolta's performance off as such would be a disservice to just how damn good he plays the villain here. Both actors convey well the whole struggle of the movie, the loss of identity. Cage does a fantastic job conveying Archer's pain, the fact that he is trapped in the body of his worst enemy while that same man is running around in his body and has stolen his family away from him. Face/Off is full of over the top action but there's some interesting stuff to be found underneath that as well. Speaking of action, this was also the first movie where director John Woo was given full creative control and it shows. Right from the start we have FBI agents flying through the air, shooting guns in slo-mo. The action scenes are brilliantly filmed and there's enough of it to offset the slower parts if action is more your speed. Every action scene is over the top and ridiculous, to the point where you might start giggling at the absurdity of it all. However, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't awesome. Woo's writing isn't exactly the strongest out there but it's an action movie so you shouldn't go in expecting anything ground-breaking. The only time the writing really seemed to be a problem was whenever Margaret Cho, playing another FBI agent here, opened her mouth. Cho, even in her limited screentime, turns in one of the worst performances of all time. Luckily for us, the focus is on the awesomeness of Cage and Travolta, who carry the whole film on their own. The biggest downside I can point out is that the film is a bit long at 134 minutes as Woo sometimes lets some scenes drag on too long. However, the other side of the coin on that is that it's over two hours of awesome action and a pretty damn good film to boot.

The Good: Travolta and Cage put in fantastic performances, John Woo's action is incredible, the slower scenes aren't just filler between action scenes

The Bad: The plot is pretty flimsy, Woo lets some scenes run a few seconds too long

My Score: 4/5, seriously, if you're in the mood for a good action film you can't go wrong with this one.

I wasn't quite done after Face/Off. I really wanted another movie to watch and luckily for me, Netflix delivered. I had actually found out about Glengarry Glen Ross through a Bill Simmons article on his site Grantland. In the article, Simmons referenced the iconic opening scene of the film. Ever since seeing that scene, I had wanted to watch the film for months and finally I had my chance. The film depicts the lives of four real estate salesmen and how desperate they become when their parent company sends in a trainer to motivate them to do better work. The result is a competition in which the top two salesmen of the month stay on and the rest are fired. The whole film is a treatise on the depths that humans will sink when their ass is on the line. The film is based off of the 1984 play of the same name by David Mamet. The only difference between the two is that the film made a whole new character for Alec Baldwin, resulting in one of the most iconic speeches in cinema. The film is driven by it's all-star cast as Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Baldwin, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, and Kevin Spacey all have enough charisma to carry any film on their own. The film is at it's best when it simply lets the characters interact with each other.

Alec Baldwin is only in the film for about ten minutes and manages to outdo everyone else in a superb cast

The sales competition forces each salesman to try and take down the others in very sly ways. There's no real hero in the film, the only one we might be able to call a hero is Jack Lemmon's character, Shelley Levane, an old salesman who has lost his mojo. Counteracting him is Pacino's character, who's the hotshot of the office. Ed Harris shows up as Dennis Moss, a man who frequently laments the cons of being on the low end of the totem pole. Alan Arkin shows up as Aaronow, a soft spoken salesman who has trouble standing up for himself. Finally, there's Kevin Spacey, the manager of the office who plays his role as villain so well. Alec Baldwin is in the film for all of ten minutes (at the film's start nonetheless) and manages to upstage them all with classic Baldwin arrogance. Regardless of the plot, I think I would have watched this film even if it was just the actor's talking between themselves in character; which actually isn't far from what the film actually is like. The actors themselves describes the film as "The Death of a Fuckin' Salesman" which is very accurate, a modern day interpretation of the famous play. It's a way different film than the one I watched up above, but a certainly gripping one at that. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see five great actors do what they do best.

Pros: Fantastic cast, great writing and film work.

Cons: For anyone who hasn't seen the play they might miss out on a few things

My Score: 5/5

So...What's Wrong With Manchester United?

Let's get this out of the way...I'm an Arsenal fan. Being an Arsenal fan, I am required to hate Manchester United with a burning passion. So when Manchester United loses at home twice in one week, I am required to laugh at them. So yes, I have done my fair share of that this year. But beyond laughing at Man U, beyond laughing at their poor form just because the lose, there are some questions that need to be asked. Isn't this the same cast of players that comfortably won the league last year? David Moyes was a successful manager at Everton so why is the team's form so bad? Most importantly though is simply: why is Man U playing so poorly; what's wrong with them? Let's start with the big one.

1.) David Moyes is not Sir Alex Ferguson

Moyes had quality players at Everton but never ambitious expectations

Let's be honest, everybody knew that Man U was going to slip this year. You don't simply replace the most successful manager in the history of the sport and expect everything to just continue along the same track. This is a whole new ballgame for David Moyes, a manager who's expectations for himself had never been set above "qualify for Europe" during his managerial career. All things considered, Moyes was a successful manager at Everton, given what he had to work with. However, success at Everton is measured differently than it is at Man U, for team success and for player success. For example, David Moyes was an expert at buying under the radar players for low prices and having them perform well in relation to what Moyes paid for them. In fact, during his tenure, Moyes paid more than 10 million for a player twice. This didn't mean that Moyes didn't have good players at Everton, after all he brought in Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Mirallas, Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, and a whole host of other quality players. However, this is besides the point, Man U expects that their world class players will perform like world class players that will go on to win the league. Everton expects that their very good players exceed expectations. It's a whole new world for David Moyes out there. Sir Alex Ferguson would never play for a draw, especially not at home. In fact, Fergie made a habit out of trusting his gut and making a risky sub that had the potential to lose the game as well as win it. More often than not, Fergie would be right and his teams would eke out victories. He always had his finger on the pulse of his players. No manager is better at understanding player personalities and how they mesh with each other better than Fergie. Not to mention that it was almost unthinkable for a Ferguson coached team to lose at Old Trafford. This isn't to say that Moyes doesn't have the potential to be a success at United, he's proven in the past that he can he can be successful with a smaller talent pool than United's. However, the early returns have not been promising.

2.) Maybe United Simply Aren't as Good as We Think

This next point feeds off my last one more than anything. It's a general consensus that Manchester United's title winning team from the last campaign was hardly Ferguson's best. I find it hard to argue that United were vastly more talented than Chelsea, Manchester City, or Arsenal. If anything, they were simply the most consistent of those sides. All three of those sides battled major inconsistency issues all during the season, meanwhile Man U simply ground out results. The title race was really decided back when Man U won the Manchester Derby over City a year ago today. It wasn't talent, no, it was classic Ferguson consistency which won them those games. Fergie's ability to get the most out of his players paid massive dividends. Building of my last points, no other manager knew his players like Ferguson did. He always knew which combinations of players worked best together.  Last year, Ferguson's skillful managing made up for United's weaknesses in midfield. This year, those weaknesses have become glaring. Everton and Newcastle came into Old Trafford knowing that they matched up player for player with Manchester United. This never happened under Fergie. Teams were beaten in the tunnel often at Old Trafford and now that the fear factor is gone.

The partnership between Rooney and Van Persie, such a success last season, has been more of a detriment this year, causing a selection problem.

David Moyes' insistence on playing Wayne Rooney and Van Persie in the same time has become a detriment. Ferguson could handle Rooney's attitude and wasn't afraid to bench him if he felt the situation required it. Under Moyes, Rooney is picked every week, regardless of form. Rooney has had several brilliant moments this season but there's been plenty of bad as well. Shinji Kagawa meanwhile continues to waste his creative talents on the wings while United fans long for him to finally play centrally. Similarly, Rio Ferdinand's form has been poor this season but retains his spot due to his seniority despite the superior form of Jonny Evans. Van Persie's injury problems have also popped up again this year and he's been in and out of the team, struggling to score at the same rate as last season. The midfield lacks a pure defensive midfielder; Phil Jones can fill in and play well there, but it's clear that United need him in another weak area of the pitch, the back four. Michael Carrick, whose steady presence was invaluable for United has been missed. New signing Marouane Fellaini has yet to fully fit in with his new teammates and suddenly seems out of his depth now that he's no longer the big fish in a small pond he was at Everton. Ordinarily, United could rely on their depth however, this season that depth comes in the form of a whole host of underperforming players. Picking from a long list consisting of Tom Cleverley, Anderson, Ashley Young, and Alexander Buttner is hardly enviable. Arsenal's lack of depth was criticized at the beginning of the season and now their bench appears exceptionally strong; strange how perceptions change. None of those players listed above are good enough to grace United's starting eleven or bench and yet Moyes continues to call on them.

3.) So does this get turned around?

The simple answer would be that the team starts playing better, but that would be ignorant and dismissive of the larger problems at hand. It would be ignorant of United's weak midfield, lack of presence and lack of form. To be honest, this is how last season could have gone without Ferguson's guile and genius. The simple solution is for Moyes to buy in January to reinforce the team and cover their weaknesses. Of course, buying in January is typically tricky business as prices are generally higher than they are in the summer. Moyes' failings over the summer window also bring up the question as to whether he's capable of bringing in top class players. Second, squad selection must improve. A creative player like Shinji Kagawa should be played centrally as a No. 10. Kagawa is United's most creative player and not playing him in the center, where creative players should be. Lastly, they need a better play from their deep lying midfielders. Fellaini's form should improve as the season goes on but Phil Jones is likely the better option. His dominant performance against Arsenal is just one example of his potential. His future may lie as a centre-back but right now United need his strength and creativity in the midfield. This also can't go without mention of Adnan Januzaj, the wonder kid who wowed all of England with some fantastic early performances. While his recent form has hardly matched those heights, the potential is still there and one can only assume with more time he'll only get better. At his best, it seems he can be a match winner.

At this point, United have their work cut out for them. In the 2001-2002 season, Sir Alex Ferguson was able to bring United back to third place after a similar start to this year's team. However, such an outcome seems unlikely with Moyes in charge. Teams no longer fear United the way they did under Ferguson. That never say die spirit saved them on so many occasions. This is the same group of players that won the title last season so there's still a chance that things will turn around. However, based on the form of the league leaders (Arsenal) and their slightly more erratic but still strong rivals, Man U will have a tough time doing so.

2014 World Cup Draw Reaction

Oh boy, this next World Cup is going to be the best one yet. I can't remember a time where the field was so strong. There really isn't a weak team in this summer's tournament. So without further ado, let's go take a look at these groups. Here's how I judge each group: each group has The Favorite, the team which should make it out of the group with relatively little trouble, generally these are the main contenders in the tournament. The Enigma can go both ways, either they're a sure thing or they have the potential to slip up. Some Enigmas are more to one way than the other. There is then The Sleeper, the team likely to give The Favorite and The Enigma unexpected trouble. Often times, The Sleeper ends up topping The Enigma. Finally, there's the Thanks for Playing category. This is the team least likely to make it out of the group. Also, a quick disclaimer, a lot can happen between now and the World Cup and the squads that each country brings to Brazil is still mostly unknown. Knowing this, I'll hold off picking a winner until just before the cup kicks off.

Group A

The Favorite: Brazil
The Enigma: Mexico
The Sleeper: Croatia
Thanks for Playing: Cameroon

2013 has been good to Neymar, could 2014 bring even greater returns?

Brazil are the favorites not just in their group but likely the entire tournament. After all, the tourney is on their home soil, the same home soil where they whipped Spain in the Confederations Cup final last summer. This tournament will also give Brazil's new golden boy, Neymar, another chance to prove that he truly belongs among the world's best. The rest of the group aren't exactly pushovers however. This group really hinges on which Mexico team decides to show up. They have a few months to sort out the issues that have plagued them throughout 2013 and perhaps we'll finally see the real Mexico show up in Brazil. Croatia are definitely the real sleepers of the group however, an attacking front of Mario Mandzukic, Nikica Jelavic, Luka Modric, and Mateo Kovacic can play with anyone. Cameroon is no pushover either, having a history of making into the knockout stages before. This is also likely the last World Cup for their star striker Samuel Eto'o. No country in this group will be an easy out for Brazil

Prediction: Brazil, Croatia

Group B

The Favorite: Spain
The Enigma: Holland
The Sleeper: Chile
Thanks for Playing: Australia

Diego Costa's decision to play for Spain over Brazil could be a deciding factor

This tournament is likely the last hurrah for the core that won the last World Cup and the last two Euro Cups. Spain really couldn't be happier with their draw. Aiding them in their fight will likely be controversial Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa who's been the subject of a tug of war between his two nationalities Spain and Brazil. Despite having already appearing twice for the Brazilian national team, Costa chose to represent Spain for the rest of his international career. Costa has been playing at an exceptional level for Atletico this year and could be a huge boost for Spain, who have been in need of a productive striker for the past two tournaments (sorry Fernando Torres). Their biggest test in this group will be the side they beat to win it all in 2010, Holland, who will likely be out to prove their disastrous Euro 2012 campaign was simply an aberration. Their outstanding collection of attackers will give any team fits. However, their lack of a strong defense could make them susceptible to an upset, perhaps by dark horse, Chile, who may boast the world's best midfielder in Arturo Vidal. Meanwhile, Australia looks to be a punching bag for this group.

Prediction: Spain, Holland

Group C

The Favorite: Colombia
The Enigma: Japan
The Sleeper: Ivory Coast
Thanks for Playing: Greece

Radamel Falcao and Colombia were brilliant in qualifying, could bigger things be in store?

Colombia has been listed as a World Cup dark horse for so long that at this point they are hardly even dark horses any more. By this point it wouldn't be unreasonable to put them on the favorites list, after all their wealth of talent is hard to ignore. Their qualifying campaign was magnificent but the biggest test of how far they've come will be in this tournament and while their draw is favorable, perhaps they might find themselves wishing they had a Germany or Spain to test their strength against. Japan and Ivory Coast might have something to say about that however, both squads feature their fair share of talents. Japan is another team that has been on the radar of the soccer world for the past year, being one of the first teams to qualify certainly helps your standing in that area. However, they found themselves out of their depth against top teams at the Confederations Cup last summer.  Greece may be capable of getting a result against one of the teams in the group but it should prove to be no easy task.

Prediction: Colombia, Japan

Group D

The Favorite: Italy
The Enigma: Uruguay
The Sleeper: Costa Rica
Thanks for Playing: England

It's been nothing but negative press for England the past few years, could they change perceptions in Brazil?

It's really been a tough year for England. Despite topping their group in qualifying, they were hardly convincing against competition that didn't even make it to Brazil. Not to mention several unimpressive performances against top level teams. Then came the news today that they were drawn into a group against powers Italy and Uruguay. Things never come easy for these guys do they? England still remains one of the more talented teams in the competition but face an uphill battle in their group. Italy retains the core that got them to the Euro 2012 final but coach Cesar Prandelli went on record saying that was going to bring his "top 24 athletes" to Brazil after being outmatched in the Confederations Cup last summer. Uruguay meanwhile boasts two of the world's best striker, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani and were semi-finalists in 2010. However, defensively they're not always the most sound team. Costa Rica proved that they have plenty of skill in qualifying, including a 3-1 win over the US on their home turf. They're more than capable of giving one of the other three teams here fits. Even so, the likely outcome is that Italy and Uruguay outclass the rest here.

Prediction: Italy and Uruguay

Group E

The Favorite: Switzerland
The Enigma: France
The Sleeper: Honduras
Thanks for Playing: Ecuador

Switzerland was one of Europe's best teams in qualifying; can they translate that to cup success?

Switzerland, of those teams in Pot 1 for the draw, was considered to be the more favorable opponent one could get from that pot. However, the Swiss might have a few things to say about that. They crushed all opposition in qualifying, finishing 7 points ahead of second place Iceland. The real tests will come in Brazil, but it's not as if the Swiss aren't a talented side. France is capable of winning it all when their talent comes together but were hardly convincing during qualifying. The team has loads of talent in it's midfield, especially Juventus' Paul Pogba, if it all comes together France will shock everybody. However, their last two major tournaments have been weak at best. France will need to show up otherwise they could be caught by sneaky good Honduras.

Prediction: Switzerland, France

Group F

The Favorite: Argentina
The Enigma: Nigeria
The Sleeper: Bosnia & Herzegovina
Thanks for Playing: Iran

Lionel Messi and Argentina have their best team in his tenure; can they capitalize?

The next team on the group of title contenders belongs to the world's reigning best player (until the next Ballon D'Or is announced at least). This is the best team that Argentina has ever fielded since Lionel Messi joined their ranks, with an almost unfair amount of world class attacking talent. Not only that but Messi's legacy could also be on the line, as his critics say he'll never be known as the greatest ever until he finds success in the World Cup. The group Argentina has been drawn into should only help that cause as it's most likely the weakest. Nigeria shouldn't simply be tossed to the side however, they are the reigning African Cup of Nations winners and are Africa's most complete side. Bosnia was one of the most surprising names in the draw having practically been dragged there by Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko. The Bosnians could also give the Argentinian's trouble with their physicality. However, their flaws could be exposed by more complete and skilled teams like Argentina or Nigeria. Iran was the first team to qualify for the tournament but it's unlikely that they'll get beyond any of the teams they've been drawn with.

Prediction: Argentina, Nigeria

Group G

The Favorite: Germany
The Enigma: Portugal
The Sleeper: Ghana
Thanks for Playing: United States

Mesut Ozil and Germany will be gunning for Spain this World Cup

Similar to England, the United States really got the short end of the stick when it comes to their group. European superpowers Germany and Portugal will loom large over them making their first game against Ghana, the team that knocked them out of the last World Cup, all the more important. There are several tough groups in this World Cup but none compares to this one which features four solid teams. The U.S. has the potential to give any team fits with the style they play, if Jozy Altidore is in form for the competition, the U.S. could surprise. However, the lack the deep pool of talent that Germany has, the gamebreaking potential Portugal has with Cristiano Ronaldo, or the athleticism and speed of Ghana. To put things bluntly, a lot of things will need to go right for the Americans to even make it out of this group. The Germans have their sights on the title and are known for blitzing their opponents in the group stages. It's rare that an opposing team is able to catch the Germans off balance. Portugal was shaky in qualifying, needing a superhuman performance from Ronaldo just to see off Sweden in a playoff. Regardless, they're a team to be feared now that they're in the competition. To go far however, they'll need their supporting players to help Ronaldo out. Ghana was one of the darlings of the 2010 World Cup, being a victims of a Luis Suarez 'hand of god'. This is a tough group that could go one of several ways. I do believe that the U.S. is good enough to sneak a win against Ghana or Portugal. However, Germany might be a little too tough for them.

Prediction: Germany, Portugal

Group H

The Favorite: Belgium
The Enigma: Russia
The Sleeper: South Korea
Thanks for Playing: Algeria

The Belgians are loaded with talent; can they live up to the hype?

Like Colombia, the Belgians are hardly dark horses anymore. Being able to field an all-star starting eleven chock full of Premier League talent hardly ever goes under the radar. The football world has been bristling with anticipation to see what these guys can do in a major tournament. They have their chance this World Cup and the draw was more than favorable to them. The Belgians should cruise through the group with little difficulty. The later rounds should be a better barometer of just how good these guys are. The one thing the team is lacking at this point is experience, the last time Belgium was in a World Cup was 2002. On a similar note, the Russians are back in the World Cup under the leadership of Fabio Capello. The Russians won their group in qualifying and seem to have developed some consistency under their new manager. The South Koreans are a consistently good team in this competition, having made it out of group stages two out of the last three World Cups. It's safe to say the Koreans won't be an easy out. Algeria is back in their second straight World Cup, however it's hard to see them getting past the other three teams here.

Prediction: Belgium, Russia

It's Time We Started Appreciating Luis Suarez

For those of you who don't know, Luis Suarez had the game of the season last night. In the fourth game of his career that he's played against Norwich City, he scored his third career hat-trick against them in as many seasons. Suarez has always had the quality of one of the world's best players but a checkered past has frequently overshadowed his skill. A biting incident while playing for Ajax, a 'Hand of God' against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup, accusations of racial abuse by Man U right back Patrice Evra, and a second biting incident on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. That list is daunting, it's undeniable that Suarez hasn't always behaved himself in the past. However, after last night's display, it might be high time for us to start recognizing Suarez as the great player he truly is, rather than focus on his past.

There's a special list of athletes who have the ability to win games singlehandely for their teams. It's an elite list that's only meant for the highest quality of athletes. Sure, there are several players that can do this for their teams, but being able to do it on a consistent basis is a different thing entirely. LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi are the only athletes in the world that I think fit this distinction. I think it's high time that Luis Suarez is recognized as one of these special athletes. What he did against Norwich defies any explanation: a goal from 40 yards out, a brilliantly taken header, expertly skilling his way through three defenders for a third, and the capping it off with a brilliant 30 yard free kick that would have stolen all the headlines if not for his 40 yard stunner earlier. Liverpool had had a difficult weekend, a loss against Hull City brought up questions whether they'd be good enough to survive without their other elite striker, Daniel Sturridge. The loss exposed the team's flaws, the panic was setting in, and Liverpool fans started to think that maybe their slide out of the top 4 had begun. Suarez meanwhile refused to have any of this and delivered against Norwich because that's what big players do. Big players make big plays in big games, it's an overused saying but an apt one in this scenario. Sure it was Norwich, sure it was one game, but Luis Suarez reminded Liverpool fans of his brilliance. It's not like this is a new revelation either, Suarez has been ripping up defenses for the past two seasons with expert skill, worthy of greater credit than he's given. Last season, when Liverpool came to the Emirates to play Arsenal, I was wowed by Suarez's performance. His work rate is incredible, chasing the ball up and down the pitch with tireless enthusiasm. He ran Arsenal's centre-back's into the ground that day and made a strong case for Man of the Match, even in a 2-2 draw. Every week, we are treated to Suarez's brilliance, he's a truly special player. There's not another forward player in the world who can do things Suarez can do (with the exception of Cristiano Ronaldo): skills, speed, headers, freekicks. Each game is a new opportunity for him to show off another tool from his constantly growing toolbox.

Shame on the English fans who tried to chase him out of England, shame on those who let these incidents obscure the player's brilliance or had they forgotten that the great Eric Cantona once karate kicked a fan? At this point, it's more of a question of whether England is really deserving of his talents. It would have been a real shame if the Premier League was without Luis Suarez this season. I'm hardly condoning his past behavior, by no means were those actions acceptable. But I think it's finally time that we see Luis Suarez for who he really is, a fantastic player and one that we should consider ourselves lucky to watch.