Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Champions League Preview

As Bordeaux and Marseille play the top two teams in England today, the question must be asked if this is their Waterloo(really just an excuse to put up a cool Napoleon picture)? Given the boring displays of yesterday, we can only hope that the goals come poring in today.

Chelsea at Bordeaux- Chelsea were wildly disappointing over the weekend, and they have started to play better on the road then at Stamford Bridge. With Group A so tight(all four teams are within three points of each other), Chelsea knows that they need a victory tonight to assure them a place in the next round. Deco is suspended, and with rumors of a meeting between Drogba and Inter Milan on Monday, nobody is sure of the role he'll play. Chelsea 2-0

Roma at CFR-Cluj-Napoca- Cluj have been a surprise so far, and they defeated Roma when the teams met earlier. A win would be huge, as they would probably face a second string Chelsea team in their last match of the group phase. Roma is struggling domestically, but progression to the knockout round would definitely help Luciano Spalletti keep his job. Roma 2-1

Panathinaikos at Inter Milan- Inter have yet to lose in Group B, and there is no reason to believe that will change. They have momentum coming off their victory over Juventus, and this should be an easy win that clinches the group for them. Inter 3-0

Werder Bremen at Anorthosis Famagusta- I don't think anyone would have imagined that Anorthosis would be in second and Werder would be in fourth when these two teams met. Werder suffered a tough defeat to Hamburg over the weekend, and they need a win on the road if they want to continue European play this season. These two teams drew 0-0 in their first match, but expect a lot more attacking in this game. Werder 3-2

Barcelona at Sporting Lisbon- With both these teams qualified, it will be an interesting match. Lisbon are only a point behind Barcelona, and a victory at home would put them in a great position to win the group. Barcelona is not a team that usually sits back, and while I'm not bold enough to predict a chippy game, it should be pleasing on the eye. Barcelona 1-0

FC Basel at Shakhtar Donetsk- This match should decide third place in Group C, and who will get into the UEFA Cup. Basel have looked horrible, they have the worst goal differential in the tournement, and have only picked up one point so far. Shakhtar's only points came from their victory against Basel, and that should happen again. Shakhtar 1-0

PSV Eindhoven at Atletico Madrid- PSV were expected to challenge in this group, but currently sit in last place. Atletico has impressed thanks to Sergio Aguero, and beat PSV 3-0 in their first match. Atletico know they have to keep pace with Liverpool, who are tied with them at the top of the group, and should come away with the points. Atletico 2-1

Marseille at Liverpool- Rafa Benitez is set to become the most experienced Liverpool manager in their European history, as he leads them to their 66th game. Gerrard is expected to be in the team after his groin problem, and Xabi Alonso could start as well. Liverpool won their first matchup 2-1 thanks to a Gerrard brace, though playing at Anfield should give them a boost. Liverpool 2-0

One Liners

  • West Ham appeal decision not to let them appeal decision, this could take a while
  • Everton cut ticket prices by £1 after gov't lowers VAT, fans can now enjoy a quarter of a beer
  • Seedorf still plans to play in Prem, hopefully before he turns 40

Champions League Match Day Five(part 1)

Apparently this baby was watching Manchester United tie Villareal 0-0. I apologize for saying that the game might be chippy, because it was the exact opposite of chippy. Ronaldo did play, but with Evans, O'Shea, Nani and Anderson all starting it was a second rate United side. United still dominated possession, and each side had a few chances, but it was a horrible example of how two great teams can decide to come out and play for a tie. Capdevilla earned a late red card for a high tackle on Ronaldo, but United couldn't make anything of it. Aalborg defeated Celtic 2-1 to clinch the UEFA Cup place in Group E. Celtic have a truly horrid away record in the Champions League, and they need to make some serious changes if they want to become a presence in Europe.

Bayern Munich defeated Steaua Bucharest 3-0 to move into the knockout round. Klose hit a brace, with Toni scoring the other goal. Podolski did not even make it to the bench, and it looks like he will move on in January. Lyon defeated Fiorentina 2-1 to clinch their progression into the knockout round. Lyon is tied with Bayern on 11 points, so their game in Lyon in two weeks time will decide who wins Group F. Fiorentina needs a win or a draw against Steaua to make it into the UEFA Cup.

Arsenal defeated Dynamo Kiev 1-0 thanks to a late Bendtner goal. The Gunners dominated possession and controlled the game, but didn't score until the 86th minute. It was a very young Arsenal squad, with Aaron Ramsey, Carlos Vela, Song and Djourou all starting. Gallas performed well at the back, and it was Fabregas' quick free quick that led to the goal, and saw Arsenal progress to the next round. FC Porto defeated Fenerbahce 2-1, thanks to a Lisandro Lopez double. Former Sheffield United player Colin Kazim-Richards scored for Fenerbahce, who are likely to be dumped out of all competitions. Porto play Arsenal in the final match of the group, and if they defeat the Gunners they will top Group G.

Zenit St. Petersburg and Juventus tied 0-0, in a game Juve looked the more likely to win. Juve have now progressed to the knockout round and Zenit have all but clinched a spot in the UEFA Cup. Real Madrid defeated BATE Borisov 1-0 to book their own spot in the knockout round. They still have a shot at winning the group, but Juve should make easy work of BATE.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Champions League Preview

It's matchday five(part 1) in the Champions League, and because some of us forgot to DVR the games we will be forced to watch them in Spanish when we get home(I need to learn Spanish). There are a number of mouth watering games, and a bunch of teams can punch their ticket into the next round with a result today.

Manchester United at Villareal- The first leg at Old Trafford was rather boring, with both teams content to settle for a point. A tie in this match would see both teams through to the knockout round, and there are rumors of Ronaldo getting a rest. However, with the winner likely to top the group and avoid some big clubs in the next round, don't be surprised if this game is a bit more chippy. Man U 2-1

Celtic at Aalborg- This game is really a battle for the parachute place into the UEFA Cup, and both teams could use the revenue from that. Celtic have been terrible on their travels, and given their injuries there is no reason to believe this game will be any different. Aalborg 1-0

Steaua Bucharest at Bayern Munich- Bayern have been hitting their stride as of late, and playing at home they are the heavy favorites. Steaua have only secured a single point in their first four games, and that's all Bayern needs to qualify for the next round. Look for the Germans to push early, as they are tied with Lyon on points and goal differential and will want a cushion going into their match at Lyon in two weeks. Bayern 3-0

Lyon at Fiorentina- This is a big game for Fiorentina, who need a win to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive. Gilardino scored a brace the first time these two met, and Lyon was lucky to come away with a point thanks to a Karim Benzema goal in the 86th minute. For all their success in France, Lyon has yet to make any impact on the Champions League and this is their time to do it. Fiorentina 2-1

FC Porto at Fenerbahce- Fenerbahce have been wildly disappointing this season, and currently sit in last place in Group G with two points. Porto are only a point above surprise package Dynamo Kiev, and will want a bigger cushion going into their match in two weeks. Istanbul is a hard place for teams to play, and I think Fenerbahce will want a shot at the UEFA Cup spot. Fenerbahce 2-1

Dynamo Kiev at Arsenal- With Cesc Fabregas starting what should be a long reign as Arsenal captain, this game will be very important for the Gunners. They do better in Europe than the Premier League, thanks to the speed and style of the continental game. I think they will force the game early, and a win will see them enter the knockout stage. Arsenal 3-1

Juve at Zenit St. Petersburg- Zenit have not impressed this season, after winning the UEFA Cup last year. Juve tops Group H with ten points, while Zenit is third with four points. At the very least they want another shot at the UEFA Cup, and if Real Madrid don't win they'll have a shot to leapfrog them when the two teams meet. Tie 0-0

Real Madrid at BATE Borisov- This is a big match for a sliding Madrid side. If Zenit don't win, Madrid can guarantee their place in the next round with a victory over BATE. BATE held Juve to a 1-1 draw, and will hope that they can get something out of this game to give them a shot at third place. Real Madrid 2-0

Monday, November 24, 2008

Columbus Takes Anschutz Trophy

In case you didn't know, the Columbus Crew played the New York Redbull for the MLS Cup on Sunday. Soccer(soccer) in America is a strange sport: in addition to the regular season, the eight teams with the best records make the playoffs. The Crew had the best record in the regular season, while New York finished in eighth. Because of the miracles of scheduling these two teams didn't meet in the first round, rather in the final.

The Crew won the game 3-1, and it was a well deserved victory. New York Redbull came out with a wide open style that was contrary to how they played in the regular season. They played with a lot of width, and tried to let Juan Pablo Angel run at players. When Dave Van den Bergh was caught out on the touch line, a Crew counter attack saw Alejandro Moreno dribble past a number of defenders and find the far post. Redbull's young goaltender, Danny Cepero should have covered the angle, but it squeezed by. John Wolyniec equalized with a left footed shot from close range, but the lead didn't last for long. Two minutes later a Scheletto corner kick found a hard charging Chad Marshall, who headed in the winner. In the 82nd minute Scheletto, league and MLS Cup MVP, lobbed a ball for Frankie Hejduk, who headed it over the onrushing Cepero.

I was very much impressed with the level of play in the game. Quite often MLS games can be full of mistakes that will lead to a number of goals, or a lack of skill that leads to no goals. This game was a great advertisement for the league, and the fast paced counter attacking style definitely pleased the fans. Scheletto definitely impressed, and his passing is what unlocked the game for the Crew. There are many questions whether the MLS can continue to grow, or if this will just be a springboard for players to go on to other leagues. With rumors that Angel and Scheletto might leave after this season, hopefully the MLS can continue to retain their veterans as long as the domestic youth. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if a number of players from this game are snatched up by big clubs in January.

Weekend Review

This had to be one of the most surprising weekends in Premiership history. It was the first time in Premiership history that the Big 4 all failed to score on the same day, which tells you how exciting the weekend was.

Man City defeated Arsenal 3-0 in a strange match. Gallas did not make it to the bench, and Almunia came out wearing the captain's armband. Arsenal's back line of Hoyte, Djorou, Silvestre and Clichy were not up to the task, and they sorely missed Fabregas, Walcott and Adebayor. The Gunners were unlucky when Clichy and Silvestre got in each other's way during injury time at the end of the first half, and Stephen Ireland chipped it over Almunia. RVP, Bendtner and Nasri had some chances, but Joe Hart(who apparently has the healing powers of Wolverine) protected the City goal. This loss sees Arsenal drop to fifth place, and they are now ten points behind Chelsea and Liverpool. Their focus must now be on a Champions League place, as they will be hard pressed to make up ten points on two clubs. Wenger announced that Gallas still has a place in the team, and that Fabregas will be captain henceforth. Look for the Spaniard to rise to the challenge(my fantasy team is counting on it).

Chelsea tied Newcastle 0-0 in a game that Scolari correctly characterized as two points lost. Chelsea has a number of chances, and a combination of Shay Given saves and terrible Chelsea misses helped Newcastle keep the clean sheet. Chelsea are missing something in attack right now, and often seem to be scoring the perfect goal, otherwise known as 'Arsenal Syndrome.' Liverpool and Fulham drew 0-0, and squandered a chance to go top of the league. Gerrard was out with a groin, while Kuyt, Torres and Keane were unable to find the net. Reina made a few nice saves, but the Reds would have felt hard done by to lose this game. It is really a sign at the dept in the Premier League, not to mention the lack of clear frontrunner, that these teams drew.

Manchester United and Aston Villa tied 0-0 in the most exciting scoreless match of the weekend. This match was end to end, and it was incredible to watch the momentum shift back and forth. United were clearly missing Berbatov,and his ability to play with his back to the goal and his excellent touch. Tevez made a rare start, and his shots held more danger for supporters behind the goal than Brad Friedel. Carew started on the bench for Villa, and the pace and width that Agbonlahor, Young and Milner brought definitely worried the United defense. Rooney missed the game's best chance, while Friedel and Van Der Saar each made a couple of key saves. The big talking point was Vidic's tackle on Agbonlhaor, where he got the ball, but also a lot of Agbonlahor's shirt. Since the shirt pulling started outside of the box, I think the referee would have been right to give a yellow and free kick, but a penalty would have been harsh. Ronaldo was class as usual, and let Villa fans know that he was number one.

Bolton defeated Middlesbrough 3-1 in their most impressive performance of the season. Davies got credit for the first goal that took a lucky bounce of his head, while Matthew Taylor showed some real class in netting the second. Elmander executed an incredible knockdown and strike, while Jaaskelainen only let in a thundering Pogatetz strike. Portsmouth and Hull tied 2-2, with Pompey unlucky to get all three points. Crouch had a great game, and used his head to open up the scoring. Michael Turner used his own head on a set piece, before Glen Johnson's 40 yard left footed wunderstrike(goal of the year). Geovanni nearly equalized, before 39 year old Dean Windass used his head(and then Noe Pamarot's) in the 87th minute to equalize. Stoke defeated West Brom 1-0, in a game where the Beast defeated Beauty. WBA controlled possession, but Stoke had the majority of chances and Sidibe buried a cross with his head in the 84th minute. Mowbray said it was a pretty dross(crappy) game of football(soccer), and it's a shame that they find themselves at the bottom of the table.
Tottenham's 1-0 defeat of Blackburn means they are no longer in the bottom three, as 'Ansome 'Arry 'Oudini worked his magic on Blackburn. Lennon ran Rover ragged(say that three times fast), and in the ninth minute slid a ball into the box that Pavlyuchenko side footed home. It was only a few minutes later when Pavlyuchenko rose up and hit the crossbar with a header. Rovers were taken out of the contest in the 39th minute, when Olsson got his second yellow and was sent walking. Gomes nearly gifted Rovers an equalizer, but the day belonged to the home side. West Ham defeated Sunderland 1-0, and the smile returned to Gianfranco Zola's face. It was interesting that the Hammers played a more old fashioned 4-4-2 game, and that abandoning the free flowing style that Zola brought with him led to their win. Sunderland will feel unlucky to drop points at home, but they didn't create enough chances in the first place.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Weekend Preview

That is the photo of William Gallas with a cigarette in his mouth(which if you didn't know, isn't allowed when you make £100,000 a week). Gallas has an autobiography coming out, and he made comments about how fractious the dressing room at Arsenal is. Now comes word that Arsene Wenger has stripped him of his captaincy, and that he might be dropped to the bench for the game with Man City. We'll know if this is true tomorrow.

Saturday

Newcastle at Chelsea- Between giving up three goals in Ireland's midweek friendly, and this game at Stamford Bridge, I just hope Shay Given doesn't injure his back picking up all those balls. Lampard is doubtful, and Drogba begins serving his ban, but Joe Cole and Petr Cech should return. I don't have the space to list Newcastle injury concerns, but Ameobi/Owen/Martins will have a tough time breaking the Chelsea defense. Chelsea 3-0

Fulham at Liverpool- Torres is supposed to start, and Gerrard will miss this game with a groin injury. To call Fulham's away record awful is an insult to awful, and I think if they score a goal it will be a moral victory. Liverpool 3-0

Arsenal at Man City- Fabregas is suspended, Walcott is injured, Toure is doubtful and Gallas is being shunned. The only good news is the return of RVP, and he'll be delighted that Dunne and Gelson Fernandes are suspended, while Kasper Schmeichel is set to replace the injured Joe Hart. The Brazilians of City will be tired from their trip to South America, so it will be interesting to see what kind of pace this game has. Arsenal 3-2

Bolton at Middlesbrough- Two teams that manage to survive relegation year after year, this game will not be friendly on the eyes. Bolton's defense has been tough lately, but the Riverside is where Boro collect their points. Tuncay will try to keep the ball rolling. Boro 1-0

Hull at Portsmouth- Fratton Park was a fortress under Harry Redknapp's reign, and Tony Adams will want to see a return to that mentality. Many teams have taken Hull lightly, and this has helped them garner four away wins. Portsmouth have a number of injuries to contend with, but will hope that the Crouch-Defoe partnership can get back on track. Tie 1-1

West Brom at Stoke- A classic six-pointer, two newly promoted that was to stay in the Prem. It's a classic battle between the long ball tactics of Stoke, and the quick paced counter attack of WBA. Fuller is out for Stoke, and Morrison is out for WBA. If West Brom wins, they will find themselves level with Stoke, and Mowbray will be able to walk out with his sizable chin held high. West Brom 2-1

Man U at Aston Villa- Last week's defeat of Arsenal showed Villa to be a serious threat to the Big 4, and at Old Trafford they'll attempt to show how serious they are. A win would see Villa leap frog over the defending champions, but the red devils have the best home record this season. The Portuguese and Brazilians will be tired from their South American exertions, and Berbatov will be out with an injury. Agbonlahor and Young will want to show Capello that their inclusion in the England squad shouldn't be a temporary measure. Man U 2-0

Sunday

Blackburn at Tottenham- Two teams going in opposite directions, with 'Andsome 'Arry 'Oudini the king of North London, while Paul Ince may soon be on the dole. Modric will be out with an injury, while Emerton and Grella won't feature for Rovers. Santa Cruz and McCarthy will fancy their chances against the Tottenham defense, but Fraizer Campbell will want to continue his fine run of form and impress a certain northern club. Tottenham 3-2

West Ham at Sunderland- Things are not looking good for Zola, and it seems likely that he will be forced to sell everything that's not nailed down in the January transfer window. Sunderland have gone up and down the table, and will hope their T&T trio are not tired from their WCQ exertions. Tie 1-1

Monday

Everton at Wigan- Everton have started to look like the team that has been nipping at the heels of the Big 4 the last few years, and have excelled on the road. Steve Bruce's side have not looked good at home, and will be worried about a number of players dealing with knocks(minor injuries). By the time this game is played they could be in the drop zone, as if they need any more incentive to win. Everton 2-1

One Liners

  • Ramos wants a return to the Premiership, I wonder how he feels about Newcastle
  • Tony Adams says that his club could have signed Geovanni, he would have done better to actually put his foot in his mouth
  • Schuster says he has no reason to think about resigning going into this weekend's match against Recreativo, I guess he can't read the Spanish papers
  • Thiago Silva accuses Ronaldo of trying to break his leg, I can't even imagine Ronaldo doing anything untoward
  • Scolari wants a new deal for Ballack, Abramovich waiting to see the price of oil

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Youth Triumphs

Team USA bounced back from their last defeat against T&T, and defeated Guatemala 2-0 in Colorado. This was not the usual Team USA, with a number of players starting their first WCQ for the USA. The lineup went: Guzan, Bornstein, Goodson, Thorrington, Parkhurst, Adu, Mastroeni, Clark, Kljestan, Altidore, Cooper. The one downside of the game was the attendance, which was a paltry 9,303 in Commerce City, Colorado. They may have been put off by the cold, the fact that Team USA had already qualified for "the hex," or the fact that it's soccer, but it didn't seem like much of a home match.

Guatemala did not look like the same side that lost 1-0 to Team USA at home(in front of 28,195 fans). They didn't have the same pace, and it seemed like there was a force field protecting the 18 yard box in front of Team USA's goal. Guzan spent most of the game as a spectator, but did make one diving save when called upon. He did well to start counter attacks, but there wasn't a lot to judge him on. I must say I was impressed by the Guatemala keeper, who kept this game close. Goodson and Thorrington looked good in central defense, but they were also not tested. Of the two wingbacks, Bornstein made more progress upfield. Playing behind Adu for much the of the match, he often got behind the Guatemala defense. However, the crosses he played in were rather weak. Parkhurst looked solid, and played a couple good balls.
The midfield of Team USA performed well, and definitely dominated the center of the pitch(field). Mastroeni did a great job of patrolling the space in front of the back line. His hard tackles, and steady passing show why he's still relied upon at 32. He did pickup a yellow, and will miss the next match. Ricardo Clark floated in and out of the game, but sent a number of pinpoint diagonal balls forward. Kljestan impressed, and did well pushing forward. I would like to see him track back some more, but I think he has a good future in the center of midfield. Freddy Adu was the most impressive player in midfield, and scored his first goal for Team USA. He curled a free kick into the top left corner, and the Guatemala keeper had no chance. His runs created plenty of space for the rest of his team, and he's starting to fulfill his potential.
The strike tandem of Altidore and Cooper was the most impressive thing. Altidore looked incredibly comfortable, and made a case for a starting place in "the hex." He plays a Wayne Rooney role, coming back to get the ball, going out to the wing to put in crosses and even mixing it up in the box. He supplied Cooper's goal with a curling ball in that Cooper slid for and put in the back of the net. Cooper is the kind of player who is comfortable with his back to the goal, holding up the ball for the rest of the team. He is almost a younger version of Ching, and after scoring 18 goals for Dallas this season, he's pushing for a spot on the team.
After the disastrous performance against T&T, this was what Bob Bradley wanted to see. The United States has a weird system for developing players. Adu and Altidore, having a more international background, were developed in a more international style. They signed for professional clubs, and were scoring goals before their 18th birthday. Players like Guzan, Bornstein and Kljestan went to college to play soccer. So while Kljestan is four years older than Altidore, they have roughly the same amount of professional and national team experience. The MLS clubs are starting to set up academies and recruit from their regions, which should lead to the development of younger players. A college diploma is great, but a World Cup trophy would be even better.

One Liners
  • Terry makes up for gaffe against Germans with late winner, his head is like a soccer ball magnet
  • Lippi breaks record for most games without a loss, he usually retires after something good like this
  • Gallas says there is a rift in the dressing room, younger players keep whipping people with their towels
  • League says that City can sign a temporary keeper, David Seaman tries to fit into jersey

Wilkommen Landon

Landon Donovan's training with Bayern Munich paid off(look at him jump), as he will join the German club on loan starting January 1st. It will last at least until the middle of March, but if he impresses it is sure to go through the end of the season. Donovan has played in Germany before, for Bayer Leverkusen. That stint didn't go too well, and he was loaned back to the MLS. He is the five time winner of the Honda Player of the Year, given to the best American player. Much like Clint Dempsey, Donovan is one of those players without a set position. He can play striker, winger or as an attacking midfielder. His attitude has been questioned, and when he doesn't play he tends to sulk. This is probably Landon's last chance to make it in Europe. Most of the players on the US National team play in Europe, and with Beckham going on loan to Milan, he wants to show that he is up to their level. It will be interesting to see what kind of playing time he gets at Bayern, or if he will just return to America at the end of the loan.

Comments on last night's USA vs. Guatemala match to follow.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Sousa in at QPR

QPR announced that Paulo Manuel Carvalho Sousa, a member of Portugal’s “Golden Generation”, will be taking over as their new First Team Coach. Gareth Ainsworth had been Caretaker Manager at the club, and will become part of Sousa’s backroom staff. QPR’s Chairman Flavio Briatore said that “Paulo is a very good appointment for this football club” and that Sousa is “the right man for our project.” Sousa will take over in time for Saturday’s match at Watford.

There has been a lot of speculation about QPR’s next manager ever since Iain Dowie was sacked in late October. Former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini was linked with the club, and given the wealth behind QPR and his friendship with Briatore, some thought he might take the opportunity to coach in England. However Mancini’s recent comments about his desire to coach at Real Madrid show that the Italian is probably out of reach for a Championship side. Gareth Ainsworth has done well during his time at charge, grabbing seven points from five matches in the Championship. Four of those matches were against top six sides, and they fought bravely in their 1-0 Carling Cup loss to Manchester United. Briatore was right to keep him at the club, but wanted someone with more experience and a higher profile to lead the team.

Sousa’s comments at taking over show the club’s direction: “I believe in playing positive, attacking football. To achieve positive results you have to maintain a focused outlook and my team will aim to do this, both for ourselves and for the fans.” He has the credentials to back this up, having been an assistant manager for Portugal’s national team the last five years. He is expected to employ a similar attacking style and width as his London neighbor, Phil Scolari. If Sousa is half as successful as Scolari has been, QPR fans will be in for a treat. This doesn’t mean Rangers will go soft at the back, as Sousa will draw on his own experience as a defensive midfielder for Benfica and Portugal. Dowie and Ainsworth have built a strong backbone, and the club has conceded only sixteen goals in seventeen matches.

With Sousa signing a two and a half year contract, QPR seem ready to make some moves. They are only three points out of a playoff spot, though Championship leading Wolves have opened a fifteen point lead on Rangers. Briatore has been frugal so far, using free transfers and loans to bolster the squad. If QPR are within striking distance in January, don’t be surprised to see Briatore finally tap into the club’s wealth. A number of sides have been hurt by the economic downturn, and will be looking to sell players in order to balance their books. Briatore might use this opportunity to buy Premiership quality players at discount prices, and give Sousa the tools he needs to fight for promotion. He would do well to buy a veteran striker to supplement youngsters Dexter Blackstock and Samuel Di Carmine. Rangers could also use some more creativity in midfield, and don’t be surprised if some wingers with Portuguese names become part of the squad. Sousa might be able to use his own connections, and it would be a major coup if he could lure Pauleta out of retirement. If the right moves are made, Sousa could be coaching against Scolari in the Premiership next year.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Odds and Ends

As if Arsene Wenger wasn't mad enought after reading my blog yesterday(he's a fan), Theo Walcott dislocated his shoulder while training with England. Walcott was taken to hospital(the English don't say a/the hospital, just hospital), and his shoulder was put back in place. This means Walcott will now be out of the Arsenal lineup for a number of weeks. Wenger has always been critical at the number of international breaks, and he will be livid to lose Walcott to training for a game that's only a friendly. It's about time FIFA did something to fix the club vs. country row(if FIFA weren't useless). This is the third international break since the Premiership season bega, and with global football(soccer) players are jetting to Africa, South America and Australia for matches. The international breaks definitely interrupt the rhythym of the season, and is a disadvantage to those clubs with international players from different parts of the world. One solution would be for fewer international breaks, that are longer in length. Many leagues have a winter break, and during this month they could play a number of matches. Also, instead of having qualifiers for the World Cup and the federation cups(Euro/African Cup of Nations/Gold Cup), why not make this into one long rolling qualifier. Four years to qualify for the World Cup seems a lot fairer than two. I'm sure Wenger will have some comments.

Alex Ferguson has been given a two-match ban from the touchline, and a £10,000 fine from the FA over his argument with Mike Dean during the Hull game. The FA made a big deal about the whole respect campaign, and it's impressive that they've taken this kind of action against the most well known coach in the game. Coaches have not been respecting the refs, and it will take a lot more bans like this in order to make them. As usual the FA undercut themselves, this time by starting the ban December 2nd. Ferguson misses a Carling Cup match against Blackburn(easy win), and then a Prem match against Sunderland. If Roy Keane and Ferguson had both been on the sidelines of Old Trafford, there would have been Rodney Dangerfield(no respect).

Didier Drogba was given a three match ban for hurling a missile(coin), in Chelsea's Carling Cup match against Burnley. Never mind that the coin had been hurled at by Drogba after he scored the goal. With Anelka in top form, the Blues won't miss him too much, but they are said to be unhappy and are likely to fine him £180,000(2 weeks wages). The ban was expected, after Carragher received the same ban years ago for throwing something into the crowd. Drogba has not had a great season with Chelsea, and there have been rumors linking him with Inter Milan and a return with Mourinho. Given that he couldn't play for them in the Champions League it is unlikely, but I doubt he has a long future at Chelsea.


One Liners
  • Frazier Campbell scores for England U-21, is figuratively on fire
  • Maradona won't apologize for Hand of God, says that England won World Cup on goal that didn't cross the line so they shouldn't be so proud
  • Mourinho bemoans image of Serie A abroad, a boring game of thugs isn't a good image?
  • Manicini says Real Madrid would be his dream job, Schuster already in talks to break lease on his flat in Madrid
  • Doctor blames Madrid for not handling Robben correctly, the man is more fragile than a dozen eggs

Monday, November 17, 2008

Arsenal's long slide

Aston Villa's 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates was definitely the game of the weekend, and brought to mind how far the Gunners have fallen. I don't want it to seem like I'm hopping on the anti-Arsenal bandwagon(it's pretty crowded). Their critics say that they emphasize style over substance, but I think there's also a certain degree of xenophobia involved. Arsenal became the first team in the Premiership to pick a match-day squad without an Englishman. This is more a credit to their squad than an indictment of their academy, with Muamba, Sidwell, Bentley and Pennant all unable to make the grade in North London. While other teams were relying on the long ball, Arsenal's quick passing, fluid style saw them become the first, and only, undefeated team in Premiership history in 2004. However, it's pretty clear that this squad is not of the same caliber.

Jen Lehmann was never the steadiest of keepers(understatement). He seemed to think he was wearing boxing gloves, and never passed up the opportunity to use them. When he stayed out of trouble he was a fine keeper, and he didn't miss a match in the 2003-2004. The fact that Manuel Almunia is being mentioned as an England keeper says more about the state of English goalkeeping than it does about Almunia. He is definitely the worst keeper among the Big 4, and while he has a good save record on pk's, he's unconvincing when coming to the ball. One can only wonder how Arsenal would be doing with Shay Given or Jussi Jaaskelainen between the sticks.

Arsenal have been inconsistent at the back this year, especially their central defenders. Injuries to Toure and Gallas have seen Silvestre come in the side, and the fact that Man U were willing to sell him to the Gunners shows what they rated him. Clichy and Sagna have been much better, but neither are very offensive and they have had their own injury problems. The Invincibles had Toure and Campbell in the center of defense, and they only missed 5 games between them. Ashley Cole and Lauren played on the wings, while Pascal Cygan and Clichy provided cover for the back line. Communication is very important among the back line, and Invincibles had all four defenders start 30 or more games. The constant shuffling this year, combined with Almunia have seen a softer defense.

The Arsenal midfield this year has talent, but it's quite raw. Fabregas is one of the best midfielders in the world, but he's only 21. Walcott and Nasri are great on the wings, but are second rate at tracking back and can easily disappear from games. The inexperience of Denilson, Song and Diaby shows. The loss of Rosicky to injury, the sale of Hleb and the departure of Flamini are being felt. They don't have a player that can win the ball in the middle of the field, and give Fabregas license to go upfield like Flamini did last year. The Invincibles midfield had a lot more grit. Viera and Gilberto could both put in a hard tackle, and then start the counter attack with a quick pass. Pires and Ljungberg were great on the wings, but weren't afraid to use their studs. Parlour, Edu, Wiltord and Jose Antonio Reyes filled any gaps in the midfield. They may not have had the same pace as the current team, but with they covered their defenders well and made hard tackles that started the classic Arsenal counter attack.

One place Arsenal have more talent is up front, but it's quality not quantity that matters. With Adebayor, Van Persie, Bendtner and Vela there is plenty of skill. There are also plenty of injuries and suspensions. It seems to take two strikers to replace one Henry, and that is felt throughout the side. Henry netted 30 goals in 37 games during Arsenal's undefeated season. Bergkamp was a great provider, and Aliadiere and Kanu also lined up alongside him. Henry had nearly half the goals, but everyone else in the side chipped in. Not only did they give up the fewest goals, they also scored the most.

It's hard to imagine that we'll ever see another undefeated season. The competition at the top of the table is better, and even the easy sides put up a fight. The team that Arsenal put on the pitch on Saturday couldn't hold a candle to that 2003-2004 side. Wenger would agree, and say that he is building a young squad for the future. The question is, will the future ever come? Players want to win, and they also want top pay. At Arsenal, both are a few years away. Watching the young Gunners beat Wigan in the Carling Cup gave a lot of Arsenal fans hope for the future. Arsenal fans hope they'll be a great addition to the squad in a few years, not wholesale replacements for players that have been sold for the bottom line or moved on for higher wages.
One Liners
  • Capello looks at Gerrard's groin, doesn't like what he sees and sends him home
  • Schuster gets vote of confidence, that's the good news
  • Drogba admits missile charge, apparently 2 pence is what goes for a missile in England these days
  • Barton out for 2 months, tears fall in jail cells throughout England
  • Bent said he struggled to communicate with Ramos, apparently Ramos sucked at Pictionary

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Weekend Review

No, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young are not celebrating the legalization of gay marriage(Is it legal in England?). Rather Aston Villa showed that they can do it when it counts(look at the sad people in the background).

Liverpool defeated Bolton 2-0, in a game that had more bars hit than a Dublin pub crawl. Bolton had an equalizer disallowed, even though Pepe Reina seemed to be the one doing the fouling. Gerrard, Torres, Keane and Kuyt all squandered chances, while Ricardo Gardner should have bagged a couple for Bolton. Liverpool are playing like title contenders, and Bolton are playing like they should be in the Championship. Fulham defeated Tottenham 2-1, as 'Ansome 'Arry 'Oudini failed to produce magic. Fulham have secured all their points save one at Craven Cottage, and this seems them tenth in the table. AJ and Bobby Zamora are doing a good job up front, and with Bullard pulling the strings they look like they'll be able to stay up. Fraizer Campbell got his first Premiership goal, but Gomes continues to look lost in goal. Luckily they have Blackburn next, and that should be an easy three. Aston Villa defeated Arsenal 2-0, and the Emirates has gone from a fortress to a hotel for visiting teams. Villa dominated possession, and even squandered a pk before finally scoring. With Rosicky and Eduardo out, RVP suspended and Adebayor coming back to fitness, Arsenal are lack their usual attacking threat. Sagna went out with an injury, and with Denilson not providing the defensive cover of Gilberto or Flamini, they are also lacking at the back. Unless they make some serious movies, or their youngster age overnight, they don't look like a title contender. Villa look like they'll be nipping at the Gunners' heels all season for the fourth Champions League spot.

Manchester United crushed Stoke 5-0, in a game that saw 17 year old Danny Welbeck score his first Premiership goal. Welbeck impressed in the Carling Cup as a sub, and has now been called up to the U-19 squad for England. Ronaldo put in a couple on free kicks, and the only thing that swerves more than his free kicks are the heads of women when he walks by. Man U are currently off the pace, but will be waiting for Liverpool or Chelsea to slip up. Newcastle and Wigan drew 2-2, in a wild game. Ryan Taylor gave Wigan the lead after three minutes, but Emerson Boyce was given a second yellow for a Fugitive foul(a foul he didn't commit), and Wigan had to play the last 35 minutes with ten men. In the last ten minutes Owen and Martins scored for Newcastle, before a Titus Bramble tied up the game in the 89th minute. Both teams have 13 points from 13 games, and will feel aggrieved that they didn't get all three points.

Sunderland defeated Blackburn 2-1, in a reversal of Wednesday's scoreline. Cisse and Jones look a good partnership, with Jones providing the strength and Cisse the speed. Paul Robinson has played his way out of the England squad, and after an impressive start Blackburn find themselves in the drop zone thanks to their terrible goal differential. It would be interesting to see where the team would be under Mark Hughes, and Paul Ince may not be there much longer. Portsmouth and West Ham drew 0-0, as Zola's smile begins to fade. The good news was the Hammers keeping a clean sheet for the first time in ages, as Robert Green tried impress Capello and play his way into the Germany game(didn't work). Jermain Defoe should have scored for Pompey, but Green was up to the challenge. Chelsea defeated WBA 3-0, to keep Chelsea top and Albion bottom. West Brom played well, and were undone by a wunderstrike from Bosingwa(fantasy points). Anelka added a brace before the half, and that was enough to effectively end the game. West Brom face Stoke, Wigan, Portsmouth and Sunderland in their next four matches, and will need to grab some points from these games.

Man City and Hull tied 2-2, and Mark Hughes may not have a chance to spend that oil money in January. Joe Hart went off early with an injury, and Ben-Haim and Zayate each gifted the other team a goal. Ireland used his skill to score his second, curling a beauty past Boaz Myhill. Geovanni had a number of bites at the cherry(chances) in the second half, and his deflected free kick grabbed a point for Hull. Robinho was wearing the captain's armband with Dunne out, but was unable to work his magic. Elano was absent, which is not surprising given his recent comments about the manager. Everton and Middlesbrough tied 1-1, as both teams continued their unbeaten run. Yakubu finally scored for Everton(fantasy points), and should have had another. Boro squandered a couple of chances, so the tie was a fair result. Everton are now in seventh place, and with gravity(reality) pulling Hull back down, they should take up their position outside the Big 4 shortly. 

One Liners
  • Capello names young squad for Germany match, asks to see Gerrard's groin(scan)
  • Barca win and Real lose, the Catalans are not missing Ronaldinho's two front teeth
  • Almunia calls for changes in squad, even Wenger cannot explain poor form and he has a whole bag full of explanations
  • Tony Adams says he'll walk away if best players are sold at Portsmouth, I hope he owns a good pair of hiking boots
  • Kaka penalty brings AC Milan to within a point of Inter, be prepared for Mourinho rant

Friday, November 14, 2008

Weekend Preview

The matchups in the Premiership this weekend look pretty uneven, and you know what that means. GOALS. I'd put a tenner(that's a fiver for those of you in the UK) that Man U comes out the high scorer, if gambling were legal.

Saturday

Liverpool at Bolton- Bolton's victory last weekend saw them shoot all the way up to eleventh in the table, but this weekend they should get a serving of humble pie(which is actually a meat based dish in England). Bolton are stingy at home, but with a rested Gerrard and Torres coming back to full fitness, we'll find if they really are a Scrooge. Kevin Nolan returns for Bolton, who will use elbows, kicks and set pieces to upset their coastal rivals. Liverpool 3-0

Tottenham at Fulham- Fulham's home form is what keeps them in the Premiership every year, and all their wins this year have come at Craven Cottage. Tottenham are undefeated since 'Ansome 'Arry took over, and have a lot of confidence after their Carling Cup win over Liverpool. It will be interesting to see if Harry uses Pavlyuchenko or Campbell after they each hit a brace in midweek, but it would be a silly man to bet against a hot team. Tottenham 2-1

Stoke at Manchester United- Stoke have done a good job of using their size to intimidate teams this year, but its rare that anyone goes to Old Trafford and intimidates the red devils. Rooney is fighting off a bit of a cold, but that shouldn't slow them down. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few bookings to come out of this match. Man U 4-0

Wigan at Newcastle- This game is a classic six-pointer, with both teams tied at 12 points from 12 games. Both teams have injury doubts for their strikers, with Heskey trying to recover from a hamstring strain, and Michael Owen working his way back to match fitness. Newcastle have relied on their home form, and will hope that Wigan continue to get unlucky. Newcastle 2-1

Aston Villa at Arsenal- Villa have shown themselves the side most likely to crack the Big 4, but have choked at every opportunity to do so. A win at the Emirates would be a signal of intent, but will be made more difficult by an injury to John Carew. After last weekend's victory over Man U, Arsenal will want to show that the Emirates is indeed a fortress. Van Persie is still suspended, and Adebayor may not be fit in time for this match. Fabregas and the midfield will have to step up and provide the goals again. Arsenal 2-1

Sunderland at Blackburn- These two played at Sunderland on Wednesday, and Blackburn came away with the win. If Roque Santa Cruz can get decent minutes, Blackburn should win. If El-Hadji Diouf plays, Blackburn should win. In my crystal ball I see Roy Keane doing a lot of swearing(you don't need a crystal ball to see that actually). Blackburn 1-0

Portsmouth at West Ham- The battle of the embattled managers. Zola has a smile on his face no matter how many goals they lose by, while Tony Adams seems like a guy who could use a couple more hours of sleep. Behrami is fit and Carlton Cole is back from suspension, so the Hammers have a fighting shot. Tie 2-2

Chelsea at West Brom- West Brom started off the season with a bang, but now it seems like the team has imploded. They've had a tough string of games recently, and their open style has seen them carved up by top class opposition. Tony Mowbray has shown an Arsene Wenger like resistance to changing his style, but given their position at the bottom of the table they might have to. It's a shame when physical, route 1 football(soccer) is more successful than slick passing, but that seems to be the case. Drogba might get a chance to start, and it's likely he'll receive a suspension from the FA for the coin throwing incident after this weekend. Scolari has a number of injuries to deal with, but should be able to cope. Chelsea 3-0

Sunday

Middlesbrough at Everton- Boro's continued presence in the Premiership is a testament to their grit, never say die attitude, and pure luck. They find themselves in eighth place, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would consider them one of the top eight sides in England. They face a resurgent Everton side, who have won three on the trot(in a row). Yakubu should be fit and with Saha looking deadly, no UEFA or Carling Cup commitments, they are making their way up the table. They should pick up their second home win, as long as Boro don't get lucky again. Everton 2-0

Man City at Hull- Marc Hughes has the full backing of the board, Elano is unhappy, and there are rumors of a January spending spree. It's hard to know what to expect from the (Middle)Eastlands, and City have looked terrible on the road. Surprisingly, Hull have more points from their travels this season, but have only lost at home once. As long as nobody gets sent off for City, this should be Hull's second loss. City 3-1

One Liners

  • Ferguson says United are playing better than last year, somebody should check his prescription
  • Cech will miss San Marino qualifier through injury, luckily San Marino has never gotten near the opposition's goal
  • Real Madrid looking for striker to replace Van Nistelrooy, looking for a little (Wagner) Love
  • Steve Bennet says managers and players are acting like ravenous animals smelling blood, and that's what happens in a country where they serve blood pudding
  • Comolli says his time at Spurs helped cause their current success, can he spell delusional

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Carling Cup results

After yesterday's discussion of how many teams use the Carling Cup to trot out their youngsters, it's not really a shock that there were a number of upsets. The biggest was Burnley defeating Chelsea 5-4 on penalty kicks, after tying 1-1. Drogba opened the scoring for Chelsea, and after taunting the visiting Burnley supporters, a coin was thrown at him. Drogba threw the coin back in the crowd, and now the police have launched an investigation(in a country without guns, throwing metal is a crime). Chelsea's side wasn't exactly second rate, with Deco, Drogba, Malouda and Kalou all starting and Lampard coming on early after an injury to Belletti. Ade Akinbiyi pounced on a rebound to score the equalizer for Burnley. Chelsea squandered a number of opportunities, and had problems in extra time when Franco Di Santo had to leave with an injury. Burnley were also reduced to ten men, when Steven Caldwell picked up his second yellow. Wade Elliott put Burnley's first chance to win in pk's over the bar, but Brian Jensen's second save on John Obi Mikel sent them through. It has been a tough couple of weeks for Chelsea, losing at home to Liverpool, away to Roma and now on pk's to Burnley. This match probably means the least, but it definitely damages their champions persona and Drogba might be facing a suspension.

England's other top team also went down, as defending champions Tottenham defeated Liverpool 4-2. Fraizer(his misspelling, not mine) Campbell and Roman Pavlyuchenko made a case for their strike partnership as each netted a brace. Torres, in an attempt to get match fit, was Liverpool's only consistent starter. Rafa won't be too upset, as this means his side won't have to play more games than Chelsea. Manchester United defeated QPR 1-0, thanks to a late Carlos Tevez penalty. QPR had knocked off Aston Villa in the previous round, but couldn't even muster a shot on goal against a second string United side. Arsenal defeated Wigan 3-0, as the 'Young Guns' kept a clean sheet against a first choice Wigan side. Jay Simpson and Carlos Vela did the scoring, and with Adebayor and Van Persie out, Vela may see some minutes this weekend. Blackburn defeated Sunderland 2-1, thanks to Bardsley own goal. Santa Cruz scored within minutes of being subbed in, and the teams will play again in the Premiership this weekend. Derby defeated Leeds 2-1, as Paul Jewell finally gave supporters something to smile about. Stoke defeated Rotherham 2-0, and were able to trot out their own second string side against the League Two outfit. Watford defeated Swansea 1-0, to start life without Aidy Boothroyd on a good note.
One Liners
  • Drogba throws coin at fans, says he was just trying to give his 2 pence
  • Kinnear regrets calling ref Mickey Mouse, says he was much more of a Donald Duck
  • Maradona set to quit over choice of coaches, lasted 10 more days than I thought he would
  • Van Nistelrooy out for the season, coming to Colorado where all the great knee surgeons live
  • Celtic fined £42,430 for pitch invasion, as UEFA shows that running naked on the pitch(field) is much worse than racist chants

Carling Cup

With all the cup competitions out there, it can be difficult figuring out who's involved in what, and whether you should care. The Carling Cup(insultingly named after a Canadian beer), is the ugly step-sister to the FA Cup in England. It is made up of 92 teams, 20 teams from the Premiership, and 24 each from the Championship, League One and League Two. The first five rounds are single match, with extra time and penalty shootout if necessary, and the matchups and home side are decided by random draw. The first round consists of the three lower leagues, with Premiership clubs joining in the second round. Any clubs competing in the Intertoto Cup(don't ask), UEFA Cup or Champions League are exempt from the first two rounds, and join in the third round for a total of 32 clubs(a system of byes is used to ensure that there are exactly 32 teams in the third round). The sixth round(semi-finals), is made up of a home and away leg, with total goals determining the winner, and away goals the tiebreaker, and penalty shootout as the second tiebreaker. The Carling Cup Final is played at Wembley, with extra time and a penalty shootout if necessary. Other than an ugly trophy, the winner of the Carling Cup gets an automatic berth into the UEFA Cup(soon to be Europe League). This doesn't mean much to the Big 4, who usually qualify for the Champions League thanks to their stranglehold in the Premiership. Arsene Wenger has used the competition to groom players like Flamini, Clichy, Almunia, Song, Walcott, Bendtner and Vela. This has injected a new life into the competition, as players who usually don't get a chance to feature try to use the opportunity to impress their manager. The 'Young Guns' practice has led other top sides to use the competition to test their youth.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Weekend Review

It was a wet weekend in England, but the sun was shining on Samir Nasri and the Gunners in North London. The bad weather kept things close across England, with only two games being decided by more than a goal.

Arsenal defeated Manchester United 2-1, in a match that vindicated Arsene Wenger's once again. With Bendtner as the lone striker, Arsenal's five man midfield helped the Gunners control the center of the pitch(field). Man U still had a good number of chances, with Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov all unable to finish their chances. Samir Nasri was able to finish, with his first goal took a serious deflection off Gary Neville, and the second an easy finish from a Fabregas through ball. Gary Neville struggled to cope with the pace of Arsenal, and it looks like his best days are behind him. It was Neville's substitute, Rafael, who scored United's only goal on a wonderful strike from the edge of the box. Almunia was injured and had to leave, and Fabianski did not look as sure in goal. Arsenal's defending has been their major weakness, and they will need Almunia to be fit straight away.

Wigan and Stoke tied 0-0, in a game that was even uglier than I had thought it would be. Wigan looked the better side, but with Heskey getting injured and Sorensen playing like a Great Dane, they had to settle for a point. Class doesn't equal results, and Wigan find themselves in the drop zone. Bolton defeated Hull 1-0, in a game the second ugliest game of the weekend. Jussi Jaaskelainen made a number of acrobatic saves, and bailed out his defense on a number of occassions. Matthew Taylor used the outside of his left foot to give Bolton the points, and the win gets them out of the drop zone. Portsmouth defeated Sunderland 2-1, in a game that was more a Sunderland loss than a Portsmouth win. Cisse put Sunderland ahead in the fourth minute, and Richardson again hit the post. A Belhadj wunderstrike tied things, before El-Hadji Diouf committed an idiotic foul in the box in the 90th minute, and Defoe buried the penalty. Why Roy Keane ever signed Diouf, we'll never know.

Liverpool defeated WBA 3-0, as Roy Keane broke his Premiership duck(scoring drought). Keane hit a brace, with Arbeloa putting the nail in the coffin. Torres came off the bench and looked sharp, but West Brom are now propping up the table and look like they might go right back down. Everton defeated West Ham 3-1, as Zola's job looks in trouble. The Hammers took the lead on a Collison goal in the 63rd minute, but Everton scored three in the final ten minutes. Lescott scored his first of the season before Saha fired in a brace. West Ham's attacking style means that they are open to counter attacks and giving up late goals. When they do grab a lead, they aren't able to switch gears and run out the clock. Zola's team may look good going forward, but right now they're going backwards down the table.

Sunday saw the Blues top the table, as Chelsea defeated Blackburn 2-0. It looked like this game might get called off for Biblical rain, but around halftime the downpour stopped. Both keepers impressed, but Robinson was unable to stop an Anelka deflection and then a chip from Le Sulk. Middlesbrough defeated Aston Villa 2-1, as Villa continue to squander their chances to break into the Big 4. Tuncay put in a junkyard dog performance(feeding on the scraps), scoring the opener when Nicky Shorey failed to deal with a cross in the Villa box. Steve Sidwell equalized for Villa, but was caught in two minds at the end of the game and Tuncay latched onto a horrible back pass and buried it. Villa probably deserved a point, but they continue to put in subpar performances at crucial moments. Tottenham defeated Man City 2-1, as 'Ansome 'Arry continues to work his magic. City looked to be cruising after an early Robinho goal, but Gelson Fernandes was sent off for his second yellow a couple minutes later. Darren Bent continued his hot streak with a brace of his own, and Richard Dunne received a straight red card for his last man challenge on Bent. Things got a little nervy at the end when Assou-Ekotto was sent off for his second yellow, but City were spent. Mark Hughes has not been able to get a consistent response out of his club, and received the dreaded vote of confidence after the game. Fulham defeated Newcastle 2-1, got themselves out of the drop zone in the process. AJ got the opener, before Shola Ameobi scored a goal that looked to be offsides. Coloccini committed a foul in the box, and captain Danny Murphy stepped up and put away the penalty and the game. Fabio Capello was in the stands to see Michael Owen miss from close range, which won't help his chances of an England recall.

One Liners
  • Mascherano accepts Argentina captain position although he says he isn't ready, Maradona says that's ok because he's not ready either
  • Fabregas says United scalp was for Wenger, Wenger to fashion a belt out of it
  • Lampard says United cannot lose again, United say Lampard needs to lose weight
  • FA asks Kinnear what he meant by Mickey Mouse comment, apparently Kinnear watches too much childrens television

Friday, November 7, 2008

Weekend Preview

There's no doubt over what this weekend's big match is, with defending champions Manchester United going to the Emirates to face Arsenal. When these two teams face off the battle extends off the pitch and onto the touchline. Wenger and Ferguson are the two longest serving managers in the Premiership, and you can bet a victory tastes a little sweeter when coming against the other.

Saturday

Manchester United at Arsenal- United sit in third with a game in hand, while Arsenal are tied with two other teams, a point behind the champions. Arsenal have been strong at the Emirates, but they are a bit short on numbers right now. RVP is suspended, Adebayor and Eboue are injured, while Walcott, Gallas, Silvestre and Sagna are all around 50-50. With both their front and back lines decimated by injuries, this could be Arsenal's first home loss at the Emirates to one of the Big 4. Ronaldo and Rooney have been in top form, but their back line can't fall asleep like they did against Hull. This game will be a huge test for Fabregas and the youngsters of Arsenal, and decide whether they are contenders or pretenders. Man U 2-1

Stoke at Wigan- Wigan have looked good all year, but have not gotten the results. Stoke have looked quite ugly, but gotten some good results. Zaki and Heskey should be able to cope with Stoke's physical play, and Brucie's boys should get themselves out of the drop zone with a win. Wigan 3-1

Bolton at Hull- A Hull game is a lot like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get and you just feel ugly afterwards. Bolton's defeat of Man City last weekend showed that they can score goals, and if Elmander and Taylor are fit this could be a match. However I wouldn't watch it with my worst enemy's eyes. Hull 1-0

Portsmouth at Sunderland- Tony Adams needs to get some points or he will shortly find himself on the dole(unemployment). Redknapp's exit seems to have sapped all the confidence out of the side, while Keane's FA charge and their 5-0 loss at Chelsea sees them on a low. Portsmouth have not done well on the road, but with Kranjcar fit and Craig Gordon injured for Sunderland, they should get the points. Portsmouth 2-1

Everton at West Ham- Two teams going in opposite directions, an Everton win could put them in touching distance of the big boys while a West Ham loss could see them drop closer to the relegation zone. Fellaini is suspended for picking up five bookings(in what seems like five games), and have Yakubu and Pienaar recovering from knocks. Scott Parker is fit again, but Zola will have problems with his offensive style with Noble, Behrami and Cole out. Everton 3-2

WBA at Liverpool- Fernando Torres is supposed to make his return(and my fantasy team is hoping he does), but regardless this should be a win for Liverpool. West Brom are missing their first choice central defenders, and their open style of play invites the kind of counter attacks that Torres thrives on. Expect goals. Liverpool 4-1

Saturday

Chelsea at Blackburn- The rumor is that Didier Drogba might get the start for Chelsea(If I told you how many hours I spent deciding between Drogba and Torres you would laugh, except for my mother who would probably cry), while Ashley Cole and Carvalho are out with injuries. On the other side, Benni McCarthy is suspended while Roque Santa Cruz is probably going to miss the match through injury. With Liverpool playing on Saturday, Chelsea will know exactly what they have to do to stay ahead of the reds. I would expect whatever the goal differential of the Liverpool-WBA game, add a goal for the Chelsea result. Chelsea 4-0

Middlesbrough at Aston Villa- This is a big game for Villa, and if they win they'll be able to leapfrog over Arsenal or Man U(or both) depending on Saturday's result. Villa have looked good this season, but have choked at every opportunity to crack into the Big 4. Having rested a number of players in midweek, O'Neill showed that he plans to make the most of this opportunity. Boro are a threat to score with Mido, Alves and Tuncay, but with their backline they are in trouble if this turns into a firefight. Villa 3-1

Tottenham at Man City- Tottenham have won three of four matches since 'Ansome 'Arry became their coach, and now they face the streakiest team in the Prem. City are the highest scoring team at home, and Tottenham have given up the third most goals on the road. This translates into a City victory, and should be easy on the eyes. City 3-2

Newcastle at Fulham- Newcastle has gotten themselves out of the relegation zone, while Fulham is in a four team tie in the drop zone, so this is a classic six-pointer. Fulham's saving grace has been their home form, and they will need Zamora and AJ to bag some goals. Owen might make an appearance as a sub, and a win on the road would go a long way towards giving Kinnear a permanent contract. Tie 1-1

One Liners
  • Arshavin says he won't play for Zenit next season, but says he isn't holding team hostage
  • Benitez to get new contract at Liverpool, that's what happens when you don't make fun of your owners for two months
  • Ferguson says FA were dying to charge him, somebody's become a conspiracy theorist in his old age
  • Kinnear says Owen won't be moving to Chelsea, because obviously he's rather play for a team in turmoil in the rainy Northeast
  • Terry says Chelsea will bounce back, sorry Blackburn but it looks like you're going to be the trampoline

Thursday, November 6, 2008

UEFA Cup Results

Harry Redknapp must be sacrificing animals by the truckload with the change in luck Tottenham has experienced. It seems unfair to me that Corluka and Pavlyuchenko are cup-tied, but 'Andsome 'Arry is allowed to coach. All told it was a good night for English teams, with all three winning while Portsmouth was idle.

Aston Villa defeated Slavia Prague 1-0, as they took another step towards securing silverware. Due to the crunch of fixtures, O'Neill started Guzan, Knight and Sidwell were among the changes from Monday's game against Newcastle. Villa had a number of chances, but it was Carew who found the net in the 28th minute. Villa have a home fixture against bottom feeders MSK Zilina, which should see them clinch a top two spot, and then will have a test away at Hamburg. O'Neill has done well to build on last year's success, and with a deeper squad they should avoid the second half problems they had last year.

Man City defeated FC Twente(Steve McClaren's club) 3-2, in a typical see saw game for City. City started quickly with a Sean Wright-Phillips goal in the second minute, before Twente equalized. Robinho put them back in the lead with a beautiful strike in the 57th minute, and Benjani was only in the game for three minutes before he scored. Rob Wielaert struck back for Twente to make for a nervy final 25 minutes. With Benjani fit, City have the offensive power to mount a challenge. However their defense seems to concede often, and there is some doubt whether they can grind out results when they need them. Unless City can tighten up at the back, they'll just cotinue to seesaw.

Tottenham crushed Dinamo Zagreb 4-0, as Darren Bent hit a hat trick. Bent is their only experienced striker in the UEFA Cup, with Pavlyuchenko cup tied and Fraizer Campbell yet to score in the higher leagues. Luka Modric did well against his former side, and it looks like Harry is figuring out how to get the best out of his players. Much will depend on the Tottenham midfield, and Harry will need production from Huddlestone, Zokora, Bentley, Lennon, Modric, O'Hara and Jenas when he is fit. Harry will do well with the back line, and if those players supplement the strikers production they should rocket up the table and have an eye on some silverware in Europe.

One Liners
  • FA serves Ferguson with improper conduct change, Fergie will find a way to slither out of it
  • West Ham invites Obama to match at Upton Park, Hammers fans hoping that "new leader of the free world" might bail them out
  • FA won't pursue racism claim against Joey Barton, showing that while a broken clock is right twice a day it's wrong a lot more often
  • Ronaldo wants victory at Emirates, expects 14-1 win, with a Wes Brown own goal the one
  • Current odds at 25-1 that Arsene Wenger will run onto the pitch and kick someone in the shins, that's a tenner if i ever heard one

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Champions League Match Day Four(part 2)

Yesterday Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States of America. What does this have to do with football(soccer)? President-elect Obama is a huge fan of football(American football) and the rumors are that he might make referring to soccer(football) as football(soccer) a crime punishable by death. However I always fancied myself as a Thomas More, and I will not bow to this (fictitious)tyranny. On with the football(soccer), I mean soccer(football).

Manchester United tied Celtic 1-1, thanks to a Ryan Giggs header in the second half. Celtic have had some success against their rivals to the South, and will be disappointed that they didn't get the win. Villareal tied Aalborg 2-2, waisting the opportunity to grab sole possession of first place. Rossi scored for Villareal, leaving American fans shaking their fists at his decision to play for the fascismo(Italians) instead of the freedom loving Americans. Man U are in first place in Group E through goal differential, making their final match all the more important.

Bayern Munich tied Fiorentina 1-1 thanks to a late Tim Borowski goal. The home side struck early through Mutu, but Borowski's strike in the 78th minute puts the Germans in a tie for first place. Lyon defeated Steau Bucuresti 2-0 thanks to a classic Juninho free kick and a Reveillere counter attack goal. Lyon and Fiorentina each have eight points and are tied on goal differential. This could mean an exciting last day in Group F, when Bayern come to Lyon.

Arsenal tied Fenerbahce 0-0, as they continued their poor form. Wenger made significant changes, putting Djorou in at center back and starting Aaron Ramsey in midfield. Van Persie had a number of opportunities, but is not playing his best at the moment. FC Porto defeated Dynamo Kiev 2-1 thanks to two second half goals, including a winner in the 90th minute by Lucho Gonzalez. Lucho was then booked for the celebration, and sent off for his second yellow card of the match. Porto will miss Lucho in their match at Fenerbahce, and with Kiev a point behind them and Arsenal two points ahead of them, they have little room for error if they want to progress out of Group G.

Juventus defeated Real Madrid 2-0, a humbling loss for the Spanish side at the Bernabeu. Juve now has a stranglehold on the group, and only need a point from their next two matches to progress. Madrid are not looking like the best team in Europe, and are having trouble in Spain as well. Zenit St. Petersburg defeated BATE Borisov 2-0 to pull into third place in Group H. Zenit had a terrible start to the campaign, and with Juve at home and away at Madrid, they may not have the time to make it into the knockout stages. They do look set for the parachute place into the UEFA Cup, and as reigning UEFA Cup Champions they would appreciate the chance to defend their title.

One Liners
  • Pulis says Wenger is trying to fool the public with his comments, claims that he isn't even French
  • Martin O'Neill says he will speak to FA about racial slur used by Barton, somebody needs to go Pete Rose on his ass and ban him from the sport
  • Inzaghi signs new deal with Milan, figures if Maldini is still playing then he has another decade in him
  • Iniesta out for eight weeks, Barca look for another pale talisman to creep out opposing players
  • Adebayor out for three weeks, Wenger repeatedly uses the word merde

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Champions League Match Day Four(part 1)

Given the results in the Champions League, it appears most players were focused on the elections in America(If you don't know that today is election day in the USA, you must be Amish). Liverpool found their magic, Chelsea sputtered, and Barcelona bored.

Group A got a lot tighter when Roma defeated Chelsea 3-1. Panucci started off the scoring, and Vucinic added a brace. John Terry struck back(with his hand), but Chelsea seemed toothless. They definitely need Drogba to get match fit, and Deco continued his slump in form when he received a second yellow for taking a free kick too early. Bordeaux defeated Cluj 2-1, as the Transylvanians have gone from first to worst in two games. Gourcuff and Wendel scored for the visitors, with Dani netting for the bloodsuckers. Chelsea are now only a point ahead of Roma and Bordeaux, and suddenly have a lot more work to win the group.

Anorthosis Famagusta tied Inter Milan 3-3, as the Cypriots were denied the victory by a late goal from Julio Cruz. Inter has not looked dominant, but still top the group, while Famagusta is in second. Panthanaikos shocked Werder 3-0 in Germany. The Greek side scored all their goals in the second half, and Werder is now at the bottom of the table with three points. It has been a horror year for the German side, and they have a tough battle just to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Barcelona tied FC Basel 1-1 in a moral victory for the Swiss side. It was Basel's second goal and first points of the Champions League, and means that there are no more perfect teams in the Champions League. Barcelona have looked like the best team in Europe at times, but if they lack consistency and one could see them blowing one leg of a knockout match. Sporting Lisbon defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 to put a stranglehold on second place in Group C. Derlei's 73rd minutes puts them six points up on the Ukrainians, and within striking distance of Barcelona.

Liverpool tied Atletico Madrid 1-1 on Steven Gerrard penalty in injury time. The penalty was softer than fresh towels, and a number of Madrid players were booked for their protestations. Atletico remain in first place on goal differential, but a win would have made it difficult for Liverpool to catch up. Marseille defeated PSV Eindhoven 3-0 in the battle for third place in Group D. Both teams are sitting on three points, and will have tough games with Liverpool and Atletico ahead. Marseille do have the lead in goal differential, and that may be enough to get them into the UEFA Cup. PSV have only scored three goals so far, and their back line has been giving up goals by the handful.

One Liners
  • Scolari says Chelsea deserved to lose, he also said yes he deserves to die and I hope he burns in hell
  • Maradona officially takes over as Argentina head coach, team drops 14 spots in FIFA rankings immediately
  • Keane charged with improper conduct, sounds like something lewd happened in the tunnel, which also sounds lewd
  • Wenger calls Stoke cowards and says they fouled intentionally, Pulis says "And...."?
  • Barton will not face FA charge for slapping at Agbonlahor, FA shows how wise they are again