Weekend Preview

Big weekend in the Prem, as all leagues will shut down for two weeks for the international break on Monday. The marquee matchup must be Scolari's Chelsea vs. Ramos' Tottenham. The two teams have enjoyed very different starts to the season, and both will want to win the London derby.
Bolton v. WBA: The Reebok is always a hard place to play, and West Brom have endured a difficult start to the season. Bolton have a number of injuries to contend with, and I imagine an ugly game ending in a 1-1 draw.
Everton v. Portsmouth: Two teams that thought they'd be doing a lot better, and two teams that are extremely thin at the moment. Jacobsen should feature for Everton, and hopefully shore up their backline. They should make the Goodison faithful happy, and continue Portsmouth's woes with a 2-0 victory.
Hull v. Wigan: A big game for Hull, they need points at home. Wigan have had a tough start, but have looked solid. With King forced to sit out due to his loan deal, I think Wigan could grab this 1-0.
Middlesbrough v. Stoke: Boro have also impressed early on, and the best you could say about Stoke is they've been lucky. Look for Boro to cruise 3-1 at home.
West Ham v. Blackburn: A win would go a long way to saving Curbishley's job, and if he is outmanaged by Ince it could be the end of his East London career. West Ham still have a number of injuries, and Blackburn looks like an attacking force, I think Blackburn in a 2-1 road upset.
Arsenal v. Newcastle: Both teams are welcoming back stars from injury, with Fabregas and Owen expected to start. Arsenal have looked stale, and Newcastle have shown some life. Class hould win out, Arsenal should prevail at home 2-1.
Chelsea v. Tottenham: In this week's London derby(there always seems to be one), the undefeated play the winless. It will be interesting to see what role Pavlyuchenko plays, and where Berbatov starts the game. Chelsea have looked strong, and should continue their home streak with a 2-0 win.
Sunderland v. Man City: Roy Keane's team has really been one of the surprises of the season. City will be tired from their midweek match, but SWP should have plenty of energy. This game could go either way, if Cisse scores Sunderland should expect to get something, 1-1 final.
Aston Villa v. Liverpool: Awwwwwkward. Barry plays against the team that wanted him, and that he wanted. Both teams had midweek games, but O'Neill will definitely want to avenge the Stoke defeat. Rafa will want to keep his side perfect, but without Gerrard that will be hard. A draw is the safe bet, 2-2.

The big news is the transfer of Louis Saha to Everton. Saha is definitely an underrated striker, and a foolish yellow card in the World Cup meant he was suspended for the final(what would have happened if he took that pk instead of Trezeguet?). He's also injured quite often, so it's an interesting choice for Moyes. That does make three signings in the past few days, and look for them to try and lock up one or two more players before the window closes. In a deal that didn't surprise anyone, Milner has moved to Aston Villa, also known as the England youth team, for £10 million. Portsmouth and Everton also made bids, but Milner has expressed his desire to play for O'Neill. With Young and Agbonlahor beside him, they an offensive force. Stoke also made a move, signing Sonko from Reading. This shouldn't surprise anyone given the fallout between Sonko and Coppell. It is also likely they will sell Doyle before the window closes.

One Liners

• Man U loses to Russians, somewhere Abramovich is laugh/crying
• Nobody knows what is happening to Robinho, agent now considered as reliable as Baghdad Bob
• Director Danny Fiszman says Wenger has £30 million to spend, Wenger expected to bid on 2 year old octuplets from Suriname
• The American owners of Liverpool are having financing difficulties that will delay stadium, scousers are not capable of getting any redder in anger

THE DRAW

With the qualifiers done with, that can only mean one thing(other than Rafa still has a job): It's time for the Champions League draw. It all unfolded at 17:00 BST, and as usual there are a few easy groups, a few mediocre groups, and then a couple dicey ones.


Group A: Chelsea, AS Roma, Bordeaux, CFR 1907 Cluj
This one should be a lock(knock on wood). Bordeaux are a good French side, but the French don't do well in Europe. Cluj won the Romanian league, but the only other thing I know about them is they have a number of Argentinians(really?). Chelsea and Roma go through.


Group B: Inter, Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis Famagusta
This group seems much the same. Famagusta won the Cypriot League, and that's all you need to know. Panathinakos finished third in the Greek League, and they should parachute into the UEFA Cup. Inter should win handily, and a healthy Bremen should have no problems with second.


Group C: Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, FC Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk
Barcelona should be able to run riot in this group, with Sporting the only team likely to take points off them. Basel can't seem to hold on to any of their good Swiss players, and should battle Ukrainian champions Shakhtar for the UEFA Cup spot.


Group D: Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille, Atletico Madrid
This would be your group of death. Liverpool are off to a shaky start, but Europe is their specialty. Eindhoven are a good team who also seem to specialize in Europe. Marseille were able to take points off Liverpool last year. Then there is Atletico, who have one of the best strike partnerships in Aguero and Forlan. I would predict Liverpool and Madrid, but any two teams could find their way to the knockout stages.


Group E: Man U, Villareal, Celtic, Aalborg BK
Celtic won't be happy with this draw, as they have to play the reigning champions and an exciting Spanish side. The hoops were able to win against Man U last year, and they will need points off Villareal if they want to progress. I expect Man U to be joined by the yellow submarine as they go on another run in Europe behind Rossi, Santi Cazorla, Senna, Pires and new boy Altidore.


Group F: Lyon, Bayern Munich, Steaua Bucharest, Fiorentina
Many people are wondering if this is the year for Lyon to make a run, but I think that Bayern, even though they're struggling, could start clicking and go places. Fiorentina's Romanian striker Mutu will try to send his countrymen home, and alongside Gilardino he could make the Viola a spoiler


Group G: Arsenal, FC Porto, Fenerbahce, Dynamo Kiev
This group is harder than it seems. Arsenal should progress, but Porto, Istanbul and Kiev are all very difficult grounds to play at. Aragones has brought Guiza and Josico with him, and Fenderbahce should pip Porto for second place.


Group H: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit St. Petersburg, BATE Borisov
If this group had the Zenit of six months ago it would be something to be feared, but with the whole Arshavin saga they have fallen off. The big boys should progress, though it will be fun to see them play in Borisov's 5,500 seat ground.


As you can see from their faces, Man City narrowly beat FC Midtjylland in penalty kicks to progress. Somebody must have sacrificed a rather large animal, as the only reason it went to penalty kicks was an own goal by Midtjylland player Danny Califf. Hart made two big saves during the pk's, and Corluka's make made up for Johnson's earlier miss. Jo did look exciting and the City faithful must be anxious to see him in action this weekend. Aston Villa tied FH Hafnarfjordur(seriously these Scandinavian names are like the inverse of Hawaiian names) to progress to the next round. O'Neill rested a number of players for their big clash with Liverpool this weekend. This marks the first time in seven years that Villa will compete in the UEFA Cup.

One Liners

• Romanian team sells player for 15kg of meat, they have last laugh as player retires but meat still delicious
• Robinho's agent says he could start for Chelsea against Tottenham, then again Robinho's agent says a lot of things
• Gerrard undergoing groin operation that will make him miss World Cup qualifiers, Capello to look for a new way to mess up the midfield
• Toffees sign Segundo Castillo on loan, apparently when Moyes asked for 7 bodies they took him literally
• Ferguson looking to win Super Cup to avenge loss to Lazio, but if he loses he says the game won't matter

Dirk Diggler saves the day

Is it just me or does Dirk Kuyt have this porn star quality about him(it's probably just me)? He has received a lot of flack, been shunted out to the wing, and mocked for his endless energy when running around the pitch after a ball. However tonight, the Liverpool faithful are chanting his name as he put them into the group stage of the Champions League with an extra-time goal. The match was lackluster by all accounts, yet much like their Premiership form they found a way to win. The backline of Liverpool looks very solid, having conceded only one goal in their first four matches. Torres is something special, but they are still having trouble finding him a strike partner. Keane hasn't worked out(because we can pass judgement from only four games), while Kuyt and Crouch also have been deemed unsuccesful. It's no wonder that Benitez has been working so hard to add Villa to his squad, who today signed an extended deal with Valencia. In the other Champions League qualifier, Arsenal beat FC Twente 4-0. Atletico Madrid also beat Schalke 4-0 to clinch their spot.

A day after denying he was going anywhere, it looks like Sean Wright-Phillips is moving to Manchester City. It is reported that he will undergo a medical while his new club play FC Consonant(Scandinavia needs to buy some vowels), and then transfer for a fee of around £9 million. This is quite the bargain considering Chelsea signed him for £21 million. Everton had also been interested(obviously they couldn't sign him). The big shock is why SWP didn't make this move earlier, as he has never been a regular feature in the Chelsea squad and it has hurt his England hopes. A return to the large pitch at City should be just what he needs. Another shock(if both of these moves end up happening) was James Milner's decision to hand in a transfer request. It looked like he had been talked out of a move by coach Kevin Keegan, but seeing how he just forfeited his loyalty bonus he must be intent on one now. It is expected that he'll join Martin O'Neill at Villa, where he had a good loan spell two years ago, but David Moyes and Everton will also be interested. It is definitely a blow for the Geordies, who were hoping that the England U-21 would be a part of their future.

One Liners

• Vidic says he doesn't like weather and lifestyle of Manchester, English faithful shocked that he doesn't like pouring rain and batter on everything
• Oddo moves to Lyon from Milan, is he really worse than Senderos?
• Lee leaves Tottenham, if Ramos can just sell himself he'll have nobody left from last year
• Roy Keane wins at Forrest, all Premiership teams survive Wednesday's Carling Cup matches
• Thaksin doesn't want to sell majority stake, wants to find someone to join him while ship slowly sinks

Expect a busy week

With the transfer window closing at midnight on September 1st, expect a flurry of activity as teams try to finalize their squads for the season. Tottenham will be especially busy, and Roman Pavlyuchenko has said that he is joining Spurs and will be flying to London this week to sign a contract. Tottenham are saying they will keep Berbatov in the reserves(not likely) if their valuation for Berbatov, which is said to be £30 million, is not met. United have offered £25 million, but given their start they may want to raise it up. This also brings into question a possible move for Arshavin, whose asking price has been cut. Anyone who has watched Tottenham knows they need help between the midfield and striker position, and Arshavin looks like he could fit the bill. With the natives of North London getting restless, there could be a number of Monday panic buys after this weekend's results come in.

AC Milan has been very busy this week, acquiring Shevchenko and Senderos. Everyone seems unsure whether these are loan deals or permanent, though the way Shevchenko was talking it seemed like he'll never step foot in London again. Senderos is a player who may be too slow for the British league, but his hard head and strong frame could play well in Serie A. There are also rumors that some sort of option on Kaka might be part of the Shevchenko deal between Chelsea and Milan. It's no secret that Chelsea desire Kaka, and now that Scolari is coaching this desire has turned to lust. Kaka's knee injury seems to be more serious than first thought, and he has yet to come back to training. Milan has denied any Kaka option, but with Berlusconi's feelings towards Shevchenko he might have offered to rig an election or two in order to bring back the Ukrainian.

One Liners

• Baros set to move to Galatasary, not allowed to be at a team for more than two seasons
• Man City said to be eyeing Bellamy, Hughes seems to be the only one who can make him behave and be fit
• Riera to Liverpool move has 72 hours, Espanyol deadline worth the paper its printed on
• Doyle looking to move from Reading to Villa, Coppel willing to sell the pitch as well
• Ferdinand undergoes Sunderland medical, you know have to pay the bookies even Curbishley is fired

What a weekend

Football(soccer) has a way of taking what you think you know and turning it on its ear. Stoke City's victory over Aston Villa was the game of the weekend, and showed that the experts(and the roustabout) may have written off some teams, but they're still playing. Stoke's first goal stirred a bit of controversy as Agbonlahor had been bundled over at the other end of the pitch(though replays showed an obscured veiw for the ref) and Laursen's foul in the box was weak. Stoke converted the pen and was ahead for half an hour, until John Carew used his skill to pull them even. In the 80th minute Ricardo Fuller displayed an incredible touch, and even better shot, to put Stoke ahead. But then the Jolean Lescott(defensive goalscorer) of Birmingham came through, when Laursen found his way onto an Ashley Young corner to tie the game. This rollercoaster ride wasn't over, as a long throw in and a skillful(see lucky) header by Sidibe was the injury time winner. This game showcased Villa's attacking prowess, but also showed that their defenders are a step slow. On to the rest.

Liverpool 2 - Middlesbrough 1: Middlesbrough deserved a point, but a terrible deflection and wonder strike by Steven Gerrard saw Liverpool take all three. They are showing a lot of grit and determination, and will need to take that spirit to Belgium if they want to play in Europe.
Newcaste 1 - Bolton 0: In a truly ugly game, it was a touch of class from Michael Owen that proved the difference. Capello would be happy with what he saw, as Owen looked in fine poaching form, and you would think he had an invisibility cloak the way he lost his marker.
Sunderland 2 - Tottenham 1: Tottenham's failure threatens to overshadow Sunderland's class. Roy Keane's men have looked a tough side to break down in their first two games, and if Cisse and Healy can add some goals they will be staying up for sure. Tottenham looked lost, with Jenas, Bentley and Modric all in the center of the pitch. Long balls to Bent won't do anything, and they need a studs up player in midfield to release all their other players forward.
Everton 2 - WBA 1: Everton have an anorexic thin squad, but as long as it includes players like Yakubu and Arteta they will have a chance. West Brom has to be worried that they are already three points behind the other promoted teams.
Blackburn 1 - Hull 1: Santa Cruz was a foot away from giving Blackburn all three points, but this result was probably deserved.
Fulham 1 - Arsenal 0: It's a testament to Stoke that this isn't the game grabbing the headlines. Arsenal looked terrible in midfield, and Eboue needs to be put out to pasture. Denilson is squandering this opportunity, and Walcott still needs to prove why he keeps being called up to the national side. They need the service of Fabregas and another central midfielder to get the balls to their offensive players, currently they look impotent.
Chelsea 1 - Wigan 0: Wigan continue to be that thorn in Chelsea's side, and it was only Deco's free kick and Cech's hands that kept these teams apart. An injury to Joe Cole is worrying, but grabbing the points away from home is all that matters to Scolari.
Manchester City 3 - West Ham 0: This game was close until Noble received his second yellow card. After that the class of City's midfield shown, with Petrove, Ireland, Johnson and Elano all in top form. Richards sustained a scary injury, but with Kompany, Dunne and Ben-Haim all in the squad City will be hard to break down. Curbs has to be disappointed with the yo-yo form of his club, and Hughes won the battle between the two managers facing the sack.
Man U 1 - Portsmouth 0: Neither team looked impressive, but a Darren Fletcher goal(that tells you about United's injuries) was the difference. Portsmouth are looking disjointed, and Papa Bouba Diop is no Muntari. They have played the top two teams, and will look forward to easier opposition.

One Liners

• Shevchenko going back to Milan, Senderos likely to follow in worst loan move ever
• Schuster wants to keep Robinho, Calderon wants to sell him, Madrid display world famous Spanish unity
• Everton sign Danish defender Lars Jacobsen, only six more players needed by the end of the week
• Rivaldo leaves Greece to play in Uzbekistan, most feared attacker on the steppe since Genghis Khan
• Scolari to give final answer to question, is this your Chelsea squad for the year?

Big weekend

Lets start with Robinho, because he hasn't gotten any coverage(can you see the sarcasm dripping off that statement). Robinho now says that his objective is to play in the Premiership, to play for Chelsea, and Madrid are standing in the way of this. Apparently he watched their game against Portsmouth and then looked at the Barca roster. Or it could be that Chelsea are said to be offering a contract that will double his wages. Madrid wants £32 million for the striker/winger. The question is weather Abramovich will dip into his pocket for a team that already has Malouda, Cole, Wright-Phillips and Kalou, not to mention Drogba(injured I know), Anelka and Shevchenko. If they can move one of those players, I would not be surprised if Robinho becomes a Blue. Also today Zenit dropped their asking price for Arshavin after saying they would not sell him. Apparently the tough tactics have crumbled like the Eastern front. Also Berbatov is set to meet with Ramos, and we should be able to gauge his future by whether or not he starts for Tottenham this weekend.

In fantasy news, I am currently in second place in the ESPN Soccernet fantasy podcast. I will resist the temptation to change this week. I do have my eye on a couple bargain basement strikers: Zaki for Wigan and Alves for Middlesbrough. I'm also looking to see when Bosingwa will be fully fit.

Liverpool v. Middlesbrough: Liverpool will not want to disappoint in their home debut, but will also have to worry about a mid-week Champions League qualifier. Look for a Rafa special(rejiggered lineup), but they should still take care of business 3-1.
Newcastle v. Bolton: Both teams got good results last weekend, but this time Bolton isn't playing a Championship side(sorry Stoke). Newcastle should win at home 2-1.
Stoke v. Aston Villa: It's times like these I wish I had Agbonlahor in my team. Villa 2-0.
Tottenham v. Sunderland: Tottenham are back home, but they need some offense. A lot will depend on whether or not Berbatov plays, but this be a good game. I see a 2-2 draw.
WBA v. Everton: West Brom are at home, Everton are all over the place. The Baggies gave Arsenal a run for their money, and they could do the same with an Everton side. Everton 2-1.
Blackburn v. Hull: Some would have thought this to be a relegation battle, but each club has 3 points next to their name. Hull should find life more difficult away from home. Blackburn 2-1.
Fulham v. Arsenal: Arsenal has injuries, but it's Fulham that's looked hamstrung. Arsenal 2-0.
Wigan v. Chelsea: This team has been a thorn in Chelsea's side, and Bruce will hope to continue the tradition. That being said, Chelsea should be able to pick the thorn out and score some goals. Chelsea 3-0.
Man City v. West Ham: It will be interesting to see the response City get from their fans, and they have a crucial game against the no vowel team in mid-week. With Ashton recovering and City's lack of strikers, this could be a tight one. City 1-0.

One Liners

• Brazil take the bronze with 3-0 win, Hughes wishes Jo could score two goals for him this weekend
• Santa Cruz signs new deal, does anyone believe he'll be at Ewood until 2012?
• Zenit drop Arshavin for the weekend, at this rate they'll just give him to Tottenham
• Kaka to miss start of season with lingering knee problems, Ronaldo ahead of schedule
• Senna could leave Villareal over money, desire more Turkish Delight
  

USA goes into the lion's den(come out with some scratches and a win)

The United States men's soccer team went to Guatemala and secured a 1-0 victory in the first game of the group stages. Yes they are in the group stages after a home/away knockout stage, but that doesn't even begin to clue you into the confusion that is CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. This was the first USA win in Guatemala since 1988, and anybody who saw the poorly lit, incredibly soggy pitch(field) surrounded by tens of thousands screaming Guatemalans can understand why. However it was a good sign for a team that wants to be much more than a regional power. The game was defined by fouls, as two yellows saw Cherundolo dismissed early and the second half and a Guatemalan player was ejected for an elbow to Eddie Lewis. The Guatemalans seemed more comfortable diving and kicking than they did playing football(soccer). Bocanegra scored on a wide open header from a Beasley free kick when Ching used his wide frame to pick his marker. The US did a good job to batten down the hatches and hold the lead for the final 25 minutes.

Coach Bradley's squad selection hinted at a draw. Neither Adu or Altidore made the squad, though they were probably tired from the Olympics, while Ching, Mastroeni and Lewis all started. This may have been an attempt by the Americans to control the ball and slow down the pace of the game against a speedy, but disorganized Guatemalan side. The question remains whether Bradley considers these players to be part of the future of side. Beasley was on the field for only two minutes before setting up Bocanegra with his corner, and personally this team looks better with speed. While they may be able to outclass a Guatemala, they don't have the technical ability to beat a top side with four in the midfield. With players like Adu, Beasley, Dempsey, Altidore, Johnson and even Donovan, the national team has pace and width. They also have youth, with Donovan the oldest of those players at 26. It's understandable that Bradley would want to send out an experienced side for their first match of the group stage, but in order for the young players to get experience they will need to get in the game.

Congratulations go out the the United States women's soccer team, which grabbed the goal in the Olympics. In a tight battle, the US beat Brazil 1-0 in extra time. Hope Solo was a wall in goal, and must feel vindicated after her problems with the coach and team last year. The US had to come back from an injury to Abby Wombach, their leading scorer, who broke her leg in a friendly against Brazil leading up to this.

One Liners

• Peace breaks out in Liverpool, Benitez and Hicks bury the hatchet and somewhere Martin O'Neill is hiding under the table
• Tiago rebuffs Everton, somewhere David Moyes is under the table calling Zigic and his mommy
• Shevchenko's loan move to Milan is frozen, apparently his wages are higher than Berlusconi's
• Sunderland grab David Healy and Cisse, with Anton Ferdinand expected soon Roy Keane has mandated all players to wear name tags

Cole to the rescue

Joe Cole's goal in the 90th minute saved Fabio Capello from a bit of embarassment, as England drew 2-2 with the Czech Republic. England looked very sloppy, and while Wes Brown's header from a David Beckham cross looked well worked, Cole's equalizer came off half the team before going in. The Rooney/Defoe and Rooney/Heskey strike partnerships did not yield results. Heskey's physical presence might have worked well with Owen, but Ashton, Crouch, Bent, Agbonlahor, Young and Owen are all waiting for a place. Gerrard played on the left, and after the game Harry Redknapp commented on how his talent was waisted out there. England has some of the best midfielders in the world, so it seems that a 4-5-1 would be able to accomodate them best. Gerrard keeps getting moved all around the pitch, and nobody is willing to say that maybe he and Lampard can't play together. The fact that Cole came in for Gerrard shows Capello's preference.

During the game it was announced that Brian Barwick, chief executive of the FA, would be resigning at the end of the year. He has not gotten along well with Lord Triesman, who is chairman. Triesman is the first independent chairman of the FA, and did not think that Barwick had the business skills to take the FA forward. Barwick caught flack for being unable to complete a deal for Scolari to coach England and then lying about it, and many people blame him for Steve McClaren's failures. Their performance under Capello will not make fans shed a tear upon hearing of his departure. It's pretty clear that England is in trouble right now, and they desperately need someone to right the ship.

The other big news is Mikael Silvestre's move to Arsenal. That's correct, for the first time in decades a player has moved from Man U to Arsenal. This could be due to warmer relations between Ferguson and Wenger, or just a sign of how little Ferguson values Silvestre. Arsenal fans are hoping that the 31 year old defender who is injury prone is not their promised big signing.

One Liners

• Drogba said to be out until October, Abramovich checking couch cushions of his yacht for Kaka's £70 million
• Zenit close door on Arshavin move, will Tottenham find the key?
• Cisse says he rejected Man City move, he must be able to see the future
• Shevchenko close to Milan return, Chelsea's policy of loaning strikers to Milan seems dumb
• France beats Sweden, Holland and Russia draw, Georgia takes their anger out on Wales
  

A semi-final final(least sensical title so far)

In a draw worthy of a World Cup Final, Argentina and Brazil played in the semi-finals of the Olympics. Both teams want to win the gold, as evidenced by the inclusion of veterans like Riquelme and Ronaldinho, and Dunga(coach of Brazil's senior side) even coached the Brazil team. However that was not enough, and Argentina beat the Brazilians 3-0 with a flurry of second half goals. After their third the game quickly turned ugly, with Lucas and Thiago Neves of Brazil getting red carded for tackles(I use the term loosely) of Javier Mascherano. The Brazilians will now face Belgium in the Bronze medal game after a 4-1 demolition at the hands of Nigeria. It was a shock to many(the roustabout included) that the Belgians made it this far. However the potent offense of the Super Eagles was too much for a Belgian defense missing their first choice center backs. The Nigerians could have put a few more in the net, and only a late strike from Laurent Ciman spoiled a perfect day.

While Messi put on his usual show, the real star of the Argentina-Brazil game was Sergio Aguero. It should be remembered that it was the presence of Aguero that allowed Atletico Madrid to sell Torres(that and a bundle of money from Liverpool that now seems too little). He didn't partner well with the Spaniard, but alongside Diego Forlan last year he scored 19 goals in La Liga. He got his goals against Brazil in poacher's fashion, chesting one shot in, directing another with his foot, and was the player fouled for a penalty kick that Riquelme converted. He is a prototypical Argentinian striker: short, quick, a great dribbler, and always making runs. He was a teammate of Messi and Gago as a kid, and with a FIFA World Youth Championship under their belts, it seems that they have their sights set on a gold medal, and next a World Cup.

The other big news of the day was the announcement that John Terry will be the permanent captain of England. Capello has gotten a bit of criticism for preferring Terry over Rio Ferdinand, but he made it clear that Terry's outspoken personality won him the arm band. As Capello is a soft spoken man this seems a good choice to me. Rio is a great player, but there was talk before the last World Cup that he might not even start, and he has always seemed to complain more than lead.

One Liners

• Man City takes out £30 million loan against tv deal, just how you want to start off a new season
• Sunderland and Ferdinand quiet on £8 million bid, Anton trying to decide if he would rather have Keane yell at him or whoever will replace Curbishley
• Mutu dislocates elbow, no word if it was while lifting very heavy bad of drugs
• Toronto FC accept $5 million for youngster Edu from Rangers, will he get a pesky work permit?
• Mbia asks Rennes to accept Everton deal, Moyes shocked that he might sign somebody this transfer season

Season starts with a bang

And we're off. The Prem opened up this weekend and it did not disappoint. Well there were some disappointments, but not if you're a True Blue. Chelsea came out on fire, while the rest of the Big 4 seemed to have molasses stuck to their feet. There were definitely some surprises, and a few games that will have the pundits scratching their heads. Below is the Monday recap:

Chelsea 4 - Portsmouth 0: This game was a statement by Scolari and the Blues. Portsmouth won the FA Cup and gave up the 6th fewest goals last season, so the final score was a bit of a shocker. Crouch and Defoe continue to struggle, and being outnumbered in the midfield saw little service come their way. Defensively they looked at sixes and sevens(piss poor) and David James has come back to earth. With Man U next, it looks to be a rough start for Portsmouth. With Deco, Ballack and Lampard all playing, who said you can have too many cooks in a kitchen?

Man U 1 - Newcastle 1: Another shocker, though with Man U's injury problems maybe it shouldn't have been. With Tevez, Ronaldo, Saha, Nani, Anderson and Hargreaves out, it was not an easy day at Old Trafford. Campbell impressed, but Man U lacked the free flowing football(soccer) that won them the title last year. Obafemi Martins proved he is the best, and fittest, striker on Newcastle. New signing Coloccini and Gutierrez give hope to the black and white faithful.

Arsenal 1 - WBA 0: A good result, but disappointing game for Arsenal. Walcott continues to underachieve, and Adebayor was uninspiring. Nasri marked his debut with a goal and looks to fit in well, but Fabregas and Van Persie were missed at the start. This team needs a driving force, and right now there are a lot of diamonds in the rough, but no jeweler. Credit to West Brom, they were unlucky not to get a point, and Almunia did well to keep a clean sheet.

Liverpool 1 - Sunderland 0: Liverpool's performance must have been the most disappointing of the top tier. They were stifled creatively, with almost no presence on the wings. It took a Torres moment for them to grab the points, but he and Keane still look uncomfortable together. Sunderland looked impressive, and were just missing the final product. Malbranque and Chimbona shone, while their back line and Gordon showed they will be hard to break down.

Blackburn 3 - Everton 2: Probably the big shock of the weekend. Everton looked terrible in the first half, a stunning strike from Arteta not withstanding. Jagielka was all over the place, and they need a holding midfielder in the Carsley/Gravesen vein. Their bench showcased a lack of depth, and they will need a few new players and a much better defensive performance if they want to crack the Big 4. Credit to Ince, Blackburn looked good. They converted their chances, but Robinson already looks a poor buy.

Aston Villa 4 - Man City 2: Things are not going well for Marc Hughes. Bojinov was off before he even got on the pitch, and he'll be counting the days until Jo returns. Elano impressed, but this was Villa's day. Agbonlahor showed why he should be in the senior squad for England. Along with Carew and Young, he forms one of the deadliest attacking combinations in the Prem. Barry may have his heart elsewhere, but he put in a solid performance.

Middlesbrough 2 - Tottenham 1: The Ramos revolution did not start with a bang. They were obviously missing Bale at left back, and a Huth own goal was their only consolation. With Berbatov starting on the bench, he should be gone by the weekend. They will need to be more creative, or find a way to deal with the physicality of the Prem. Mido got revenge on his former team, and the meteoric rise of David Wheater continues to rise(shoot?).

West Ham 2 - Wigan 1: Giving up a goal in the first few minutes was not how Steve Bruce wanted to start his season. But scoring two in the first ten was how Ashton wanted to start his. He went off injured(it is Dean Ashton after all), but he looks to be ok. Wigan came back after that, and the Zaki/Heskey partnership looks like it will bear fruit. If they can convince Figueroa not to shoot so often(there's a reason he was left open) they should do well.

Bolton 3 - Stoke 1: And the Derby award for worst team in the Premiership goes to...Stoke. It looks to be a long performance when the newcomers were shown a lesson in the art of the longball. Stoke may try to play Bolton's style, but they will need a lot more muscle and aerial ability if they are to succeed in it.

Hull 2 - Fulham 1: This was a shock for Fulham and Roy Hodgson, as Hull celebrated their first appearance in top flight football(soccer) with a win. Geovani looks to be a star, and Man City could sure use his magic. Fulham's defense led by the shaky Paul Konchesky(wasn't he supposed to be fighting for a place in the England squad) who gifted them the winner. Hull will be a tough place for teams to go this season, and if they can stay up it will be thanks to their home form. The less said about this Fulham performance the better.

So an exciting weekend, I haven't even gotten a chance to talk about the Olympics, but that will come tomorrow.

One Liners

• Arshavin looks set to move from Russia with love, to Tottenham with money
• Rovers linked to Joaquin, a world class player joining Blackburn instead of leaving?
• Berbatov wants to make dream move, still doesn't want to hand in transfer request and lose loyalty bonus
• Ivanovic moves from Chelsea to Milan, who?
• Arena hired to coach Galaxy, Beckham and Bruce sounds like a great sitcom

Fantasy Football(the real one)

I really like this picture. Tomorrow is the open of the Premiership season, which means today I will offer my opinions for fantasy football(soccer). Much like the game itself, fantasy football(soccer) is a pragmatic game of fewer categories and points than other fantasy sports. With a limited number of transfers, you can change your team, but you have to be prepared for injuries. Now it's harder to play this in America, yes that is where the roustabout resides, because our local papers don't let us know who is injured and healthy. This means checking a number of websites and setting your teams the night before. Pricing will vary, as will number of players, so you can choose where you want to spend your money.

GK: Difficult position, some sites ask for two players and others only one. Since you can lose points here, it's very important to choose a keeper from a top side.
Obvious: Cech, Van Der Sar, Almunia- these boys are the stingiest
Thrifty: Howard- had a great season last year, will Everton's thin squad hurt him
Risky: Friedel- may lose his place to Guzan, but Villa has a rock of a defense
Final thoughts: There are questions about David James' age and that of his defense, Almunia has an easy start, but I'd stick with the big boys

Defender: Again, you can lose points at this position so you must be careful. Goals are worth a lot, so you can look for a prolific defender, but you definitely want top half of the table.
Obvious: Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool- again, they keep clean sheets
Thrifty: Johnson, Hreidarsson will get you some good points for a lower price
Risky: Leighton Baines- love this kid, hell of a left foot, just question whether Everton will be as tight at the back
Final thoughts: Lescott and Laursen can't be expected to have the high scoring seasons they did last season, but with Everton's thin squad, Villa's rebuilt defense and Portsmouth age issues it's a gamble

Midfielder: You can't lose points here, so feel free to pluck from the bottom half of the table. Ronaldo was huge last year, but lightning doesn't strike twice.
Obvious: Gerrard, Barry, Fabregas, Lampard, Bentley- all obvious
Thrifty: Taylor, Elano, Milner, Kapo, Geovanni- all are cheaper than the big boys, but midfield leaders for their team and should give you solid points
Risky: Nasri, Nani, Malbranque, Richardson, Deco- They are all in new situations(Nani should play more and Richardson is healthy) so they could score big or disappoint
Final thoughts: This is where I think you should take risks because they can pay off. Gerrard and Lampard will cost more than three of the thrifty players so decide how you want to spend your money. Someone else to watch is Ashley Young, who can be listed as mf or striker. I definitely like to pull from middle of the table in this category

Strikers: These guys are the most expensive, they grab the goals and the glory, but be careful about spending too much on them. A lone striker on a relegated team can often score as many as someone who's part of a pair at the top.
Obvious: Torres, Tevez, Van Persie, Agbonlahor- They will all grab you a bunch
Thrifty: Owen, Jo, Yakubu, Alves- Owen and Jo need to prove themselves, Yakubu and Alves need to keep doing what they do
Risky: Ashton, Kitson, Bent- They have all performed in the Premiership before, but can they this season?
Final thoughts: Berbatov, Santa Cruz and Keane are all big scorers who I didn't include. They would definitely be a risk, where will they be playing and how will they fit in?

My squad: Reina, Van Der Sar, Vidic, Evra, Carvalho, Clichy, Gallas, Elano, Taylor, Kapo, Arteta, Barry, Yakubu, Bent, Van Persie

One Liners

• Zenit to cut Arshavin price, now accepting rubles
• Hamburg ties Bayern 2-2 in opener, Kompany spends first half on bench for poorly behaved
• Mendes moves to Rangers, Redknapp needs more funds and less police raids
• King and Woodgate healthy for opener, that's not a joke
• Pizarro loaned to Bremen, that's a step above Hull right

Blue side of Manchester is red in the face(clever)

That is a picture of Midtjylland(no that is not me smashing the keyboard) players celebrating Danny Olsen's goal against Manchester City. It was also the only goal, and now Manchester City have to win in Denmark if they want a place in Europe. City hit the crossbar a couple times, and even though they played poorly they were unlucky not to score. This has truly been a horrid week for Manchester City(sorry I'm listening to a British podcast as I write this) and they have to turn things around quickly. A 1-0 win in Denmark will mean extra time, but victory with any other scoreline and they'll progress. With Vassell injured and Jo at the Olympics they are light on strikers, and hopefully two weeks will bring better fitness, chemistry and goals(possibly Santa Cruz).

The other big European game was Aston Villa's 4-1 victory over FH Hafnarfjordur(seriously, is there a shortage of vowels in Scandinavia). Martin O'Neill started Gareth Barry meaning that the Villa captain is now cup tied and would not be able to appear in the Champions League for Europe if he were transferred. This would bring down Barry's value to Liverpool, and shows that O'Neill does not want to sell him. Barry showed his value to the club, scoring in the fourth minute and the club never looked back. Young, Agbonlahor and Laursen all contributed goals as well. Tomorrow I will go over my fantasy picks. Most people would do a Premier League preview, but I like to give it a couple weeks before I give my thoughts. Some may think this is cheating, but it's my blog.

One Liners

• Blackburn reject £12 million City bid for Santa Cruz, does anybody want to play for Ince?
• Mutu ordered to pay £13.68 million to Chelsea, sets record for world's most expensive line
• Berbatov move still in balance, Barcelona may put their two cents(or 50 million euros) in
• Wenger certain of a new signing, Hoyte to join Boro
• AC Milan loan Kaka's brother to Standard Liege, create the term "vengeance loan"

Another saga done with

Lampard will be kissing the crest of Chelsea for a few more seasons after he signed a new five year deal. Lampard had wanted the fifth year, but Chelsea had only been willing to give him a four year deal originally. It was expected he would join former coach Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, but Chelsea rejected Inter's one £7.95 million bid and decided to sign him to a new contract. Chelsea now have an embarassment of riches in midfield, and it will be interesting to see how Scolari deals with it. With Essien, Ballack, Lampard and Deco he has players who star for their national team, but they won't all be able to start for Chelsea. The Brazilian will have a bit of nannying in addition to tactics to work on.

The group stage of the Olympics finished today, and things went mostly according to plans. One of the major disappointments was America's loss to Nigeria. Michael Orozco was red carded in the third minute for an elbow, and the United States was forced to play the rest of the match with 10 men. The Nigerians used their pace to run the Americans ragged, and ended up winning 2-1. Sacha Kljestan converted a penalty for the Americans. The US team had to play without Adu or Bradley because of suspension due to yellow cards, and it makes the last few minutes of the Netherlands game that much more painful. Nigeria's win sees them top the group, meaning they face Ivory Coast in the next round. Finishing second, Holland will face Argentina. The rest of the groups finished according to my predictions. Cameroon secured a draw against Italy, even though they played with ten men for the final hour, and will face Brazil. The Italians will face Belgium.

One Liners

• Reina earns Liverpool a draw with penalty save, Rafa "Mr. Europe" Benitez not off to a good start
• Arsenal win 2-0, Steve McLaren's dreams for stealing Rafa's nickname put on hold
• Chelsea still interested in Robinho, I am not interested in this story
• Finnan back to playing for Ireland, at least they haven't tried to swap him for Barry
• Stoke reveal their failure in signing Cuellar, you mean he didn't want to be in the Prem one season and then relegated?

Thaksin Shina-Uh-Oh

In world/sports news Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife flew to England, skipping bail in Thailand. There are questions whether he and his wife will apply for asylum in England, with Thaksin saying that he cannot get a fair trial in Thailand. Thailand and Britain do have an extradition agreement going back to 1911. His wife Pojaman was recently sentenced to three years in prison for fraud, and he has corruption charges pending. It is now questionable if he will ever get back £1 billion in frozen assets. This news quickly caused chaos in the blue half of Manchester. Rumors spread that Thaksin has been borrowing money to pay wages and other costs, and that a number of players like Corluka and Ireland would be sold to balance the club's books. There were also reports that coach Mark Hughes would be leaving the club. Finally there was news from Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore that he would be monitoring the situation to make sure that Shinawatra meets the "fit and proper persons" qualification for ownership. It's hard to separate speculation from fact right now, but it has to be hard for all the City faithful who just bought new Jo kits(jerseys) and were buying away packages in Europe.

Any other day this would be the top story, but today the news that Dimitar Berbatov is close to signing with Manchester United is number two. There has been speculation for weeks, Tottenham filed a complaint with FIFA over interest in Keane and Berbatov, but it appears that a deal will be worked out shortly. Tottenham had been asking £38 million for the Bulgarian, and considering what they got for Keane you can't blame them. However Ferguson is not the kind of man to be held hostage, and it looks like he will become a Manc for £28 million. Man U gains a proven scorer at a time when Ronaldo, Rooney and Saha are injured. He should play well with Rooney or Tevez, and provide a presence up top to allow their speed shine on the wings. Tottenham gets money to add to their team, and with Bent performing spectacularly in pre-season Ramos' transformation to a small, quick ticky-tacky side is nearing completion. He does have cojones(no translation needed) to sell his leading scorers and strike duo.

One Liners

• Aston Villa sign Cuellar for £7.8, most expensive signing ever for a player with braces
• Ashton told to lose weight if he wants to be on national team, seen crying as he walked by a fish and chips shop
• Boro bid on Arsenal's Hoyte, apparently Titus Bramble was unavailable
• Arsenal have small squad for game against Twente, may field first 12 year old in history

Olympic fever

I have caught Olympic fever and it nearly made me sick when the US gave up a late lead and were forced to settle for a draw. The Dutch dominated the opening 25 minutes, but were only able to get one goal. The Americans went on to dominate the next hour and scored twice, but a bad foul by Holden in extra-time saw all their good work unravel. When the wall jumped, Gibbon put the ball right under them(a la Ronaldinho from the Champions League a couple years ago) and secured them a draw. The Dutch did have some problems, as the pitch was in horrible shape(thanks to those Chinese weather rockets) and the Dutch weren't able to play their free flowing passing game. Makaay was also supposed to be injured, but he came on at the end and looked fine.
The Dutch came out in a 3-5-2, and Marcelo Balboa pointed out that they were dominating the midfield against the America's 4-4-2. They also seemed to have an easy time moving down the right side of the pitch, and Drenthe missed a couple chances to open the scoring before Babel put them on the scoreboard. Rather than move another player into the midfield, which would have exposed the defense or left McBride alone up front, the Americans started to do their own work on the flanks. Whenever the Americans were able to get the ball past midfield, Holland's three defenders meant they were exposed on the touch lines. Wynne and Orozco did a great job getting up the field, with Holden and Rogers also pushing forward well. Adu was great cutting inside, and his passing set up Kljestan's goal. It was Orozco's cross that banged off Altidore for America's second. Nowak's one mistake might have been waiting to put in Altidore, as McBride never seemed to get involved.
The hardest thing will be the yellow cards to Adu and Bradley, which will see them miss the game against Nigeria. America only needs a draw to qualify, and could even make it through with a loss, but they will have a tough battle. Nigeria is a good team, and have a number of offensive threats. Edu had some problems in center back, and with a clean sheet the priority, he may be moved. Altidore should start, and America will need a strong performance from him to go through.

One Liners

• Gullit and Lalas quit Galaxy, Beckham feeling pressure?
• Kaboul signs with Pompey, Harry Redknapp probably says something like "I just hope he works out better than the Maginot Line"
• Mourinho sees two horse race, I wonder if he'd bet his cashmere coat on that
• Pienaar out for start of season, I would not want to be David Moyes' cardiologist
• Thaksin Shiniwatra misses court date, call him mint jelly cause he's on the lamb

Olympics preview

The Olympics start today(I know that football(soccer) already started, but I do have to sleep some time). Below is my 16 team preview(or postview now that it's started), in order of how they will finish.

GROUP A

Argentina: The favorites in the tournament, and they should be. They have young players like Messi, Mascherano, Gago and Aguero who could start for most senior sides. They also used one of their over-23 roster spots on the mercurial Riquelme. It seems the footballing(soccering) world is divided over the playmaker, but anybody who saw him in Villareal's Champions League run or in the World Cup knows what he is capable of. He is one of the slowest players in the world, but he has a vision on the pitch that makes him a great distributor. This may have been the summer of Spain, but Argentina should go home with the gold.

Ivory Coast: They have come on strong and look for them to be a dark horse at South Africa in 2010, assuming they qualify. Their youth side is very similar, with a strong attack and a whole lot of pace. Salomon Kalou is their best known player, but Gervinho and Sekou Cisse should contribute goals as well. It will be interesting to see if they can go back as well as forward.

Serbia: Runners up to Holland at the UEFA U-21 in 2007, they are in a tough group. They will need a victory over Argentina(unlikely) or Ivory Coast(possible) to get out of the group stage.

Australia: Enjoy the sights boys. It's going to be a short trip.

GROUP B

Netherlands: They are the reigning U-21 champions of Europe and one of the pre-tournament favorites. Players like Babel, Drenthe, Maduro, Makaay and Sno bring top flight experience and are ready for the big stage. The question with the Netherlands is how to accomodate all the forwards, and this team has a plethora of talented left sided talent that they'll have to work in. At their best they can challenge Argentina, but don't be surprised by a Dutch collapse at some point.

USA: Trying not to be an early casualty, America has brought a strong squad to the Olympics. Led by veteran Brian McBride, the squad also includes Michael Bradley, Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore. All three have experience with the senior side, and will be the core of the US team for years to come. An injury to Jonathan Spector hurts, but they will have Brad Guzan in goal. If Peter Nowak's team can play strong defense and take points from Nigeria or the Netherlands, they will have a chance. A chance to take on Argentina(yikes).

Nigeria: It's a bold(or stupid) move to put this team third in the group, when many think they will bring home a medal. Included in their side is the veteran Peter Odimwingie, who will terrify teenage defenses, and Victor Anichebe. Anichebe has impressed at Everton, and will have to be watched closely. If they struggle in defense, they may not make it out of the group stage.

Japan: Don't worry, it's a quick flight home.

GROUP C

Brazil: With all the talk of Argentina and the Netherlands, Brazil seems to have flown under the radar, which is shocking considering they have Ronaldinho on the team. He is joined by Milan teammate Pato, and Premiership boys Jo, Anderson and Lucas Leiva. Whether Ronaldinho can gel with the rest of the team is a question, but if he's at his best then it may not even matter.

Belgium: It's not that the Belgians are that good, the rest of the group is that bad. They have fallen from grace on the international scene, and it will be interesting to see if this generation can bring them back.

China: 1.3 billion people.

New Zealand: 4.3 million people.

GROUP D

Italy: Since only senior citizens were allowed to play at Euro Cup, it will be interesting to see their youth. Two players to watch will be Rocchi and Rossi, as they should be netting the goals for the Azzurrini. Both are prolific in Serie A, and with the stoic Italian defense supporting them they should move on.

Cameroon: They won the gold in 2000, and while they should advance don't expect them to do it again. Unlike the other African teams they will rely on their defense and players like Andre Bikey and Alexandre Song. I'm sure they wished that they could call on Eto'o, but hopefully Gustave Mbangue and Stephane Mbia will be able to provide the offense.

South Korea: Again, a short flight home.

Honduras: Sorry, you have a much longer flight.

Gold: Argentina

Silver: Brazil

Bronze: Netherlands to defeat Italy.

Ruud-tirement(that doesn't work really)

The leading news today is the retirement of Ruud Van Nistelrooy from international football(soccer). I should preface this by saying retirements are never final, and players often find the energy to unretire when the World Cup is close. Van Nistelrooy is 32 years old, but he was the focal point of the Dutch attack in their 4-2-3-1 system this past Euro Cup. It's interesting the amount of publicity this has garnered, especially since Van Basten had dropped Van Nistelrooy from the squad a couple of times. Van Basten focused on youth with his squad, and since the Dutch won the U-21 UEFA titles in 2006 and 2007 you cannot blame him. Those wins helped them qualify for the Olympics, where they are one of the favorites. This leaves new coach Bert Van Marwijk with an interesting decision to start his reign. Many question whether he will continue with the system Van Basten used, which succeded brilliantly and then failed miserably. The Dutch have a number of incredible offensive players; Kuyt, Van Persie, Robben, Huntelaar, Van Der Vaart and Sneijder to name some. The question is how you many of these players can be on the pitch at the same time. The Dutch have never been timid: Their greatest defense is their offense. That is what failed them in the Russia game, when they allowed the Russian to dictate the tempo and played on the back foot the entire game. Van Nistelrooy's retirement offers a chance to reformulate the Dutch squad. Robben, Van Persie and Sneijder have to be automatic selections. Kuyt and Van Der Vaart have been very consistent. That leaves Huntelaar and the class of players who don't have experience at the top level. Van Marwijk has to build on the success of Euro Cup, but try to figure out how to take the next step forward. The Dutch have consistently underperformed and he must choose a squad that won't do that. But first he must qualify for the World Cup.

One Liners

• Robinho weighing Blues offer, expect an answer any millenium now


• Sneijder injures knee in loss to Arsenal, could be out three months


• Drogba expected to be out until end of August, Blues expected to bid on 100 new forwards


• Wenger supposedly has offer for Alonso, Barry wishes on a star this is true


• Zenit stand firm on Arshavin fee, by stand firm I mean still dreaming

The draw

The draws for the Champions League and UEFA Cup qualifiers were announced today. Arsenal was handed an interesting draws in the Champs and will play the Dutch club FC Twente, who are now managed by Steve McClaren(yes that Steve McClaren). He has some great luck. He has done well in Europe, at least at the club level, but in a battle of wits against Arsene Wenger he is unarmed. Liverpool drew Standard Liege of Belgium. Seeing as this is in Europe, Rafa shouldn't have any problems. Rangers will have an easy game, but they are currently 0-0 against FBK Kaunas, and the second leg is away for them. Barcelona and Juventus both have rather easy draws, but the big match is Schalke 04 vs. Atletico Madrid. Both challenge in their respective leagues, and will need the money that comes from Europe to improve their squads. In the UEFA Cup Manchester City and Aston Villa have an easy road to the group stages. Man City will be playing Danish side FC Midtjylland and Villa will be playing the Icelandic side FH Hafnarfjordur(try to say that three times fast). The only issue will be the first leg occuring on August 14th, just two days before the open of the Premiership season.

Good news for Aston Villa is that they finally obtained a work permit for Brad Guzan. Clubs have been lining up to sign Guzan for a couple of years, but with the depth at keeper for the US squad he hadn't been able to make the number of appearances necessary to qualify for an EU work permit. Now Villa will have two American stoppers. At this pace Fulham should start worrying about their "Team America" nickname.

One Liners

• Bentley and Bent score in Tottenham win, the 'bent' boys should go over well in North London
• Adebayor says he will stay at Arsenal, Wenger plans one more 'veteran' signing and has been spotted at kindergarten games
• Zenit stalling on Arshavin move, Tottenham getting antsy
• Chelsea lose in Moscow on penalty kicks, it's deja vu all over again for Shevchenko
• Clubs lining up to sign Eto'o says Begiristain, sounds like a case of 'being more attractive when you have a gf' to me