George Weah asks “With Anelka possibly linking up with Diouf at Bolton the Trotters could have the most combustible strike force in the EPL. What are the odds on one of these two being dropped by December?”
Bobby – Or how long until Anelka’s first sulk? What a fantastic talent, what a moaner.
Reggae_Boy_23 – What’s your opinion on Jens Lehmann.
Bobby – Up until last season my opinion of Lehmann was not great. However, being dropped for a spell the season before seems to have made a ton of difference. He was fantastic last season and although he did have his little tantrums now and again he really did come into his own.
JohnQuinn – Frank Lampard and deflected goals.
Bobby – I’m not aware of any statistic being kept on deflected goals but it is an interesting point. It seems to me that there are a lot more than there was a decade ago – but there again I don’t have anything to prove that. Maybe it has something to do the ball?
TheFishingWidow – Sheva and Drogba
Bobby – Shevchenko will bring out the best in Drogba. Not only is he a great striker but he also works hard to create chances for others as well. Sheva will create space for Drogba and if they both stay fit I can see them scoring 40 between them in the Premiership.
thedream “Why was Pascal Chimbonda not in Wigan's line-up this past weekend?”
Bobby – Because Paul Jewell and Wigan are royally pissed off at him for wanting a transfer. Next he is going to be sent to his room early, without supper, and no internet privileges.
Bobby – What I have seen of Kuyt has not been all that impressive but I don’t think Benitez has bought a dud – although he did sign Crouch. I can see Crouch becoming a role player who is brought off the bench to give the opposition a different look. I just don’t think Crouch is up to what is needed week in and week out.
Looneyrooney14 - Does Man U's performance today make you want to edit your prediction? Especially since Liverpool were disappointing on Saturday.+ I am the only Tottenham fan in my family, everyone else is a Man U fan, so I was teased pretty bad this weekend, do you think my team can turn it around?
Bobby – Not after one game I am not. United were great on Sunday but it is far too early tell. Mind you drawing conclusions after every team has played one game is not as bad as what we saw on Sportsnet in Canada after the Sheffield United and Liverpool game on Saturday. As you all know this game was the first of the season and finished before the others kicked off. Sportsnet put up the league standings with Liverpool and Sheffield United top and all the other 18 teams showing zero records. Talk about pointless! For a comment on Spurs see below.
milanfan – Lack of action from Milan in the transfer market.
Bobby – I find this surprising as well. Could the rumour of a Ronaldo bid be true?
djnima – 1. Your prediction for Spurs not challenging for the top four this season surprised me. The front 6 line up for them looks quite dangerous. If Zokora succeeds in the EPL, and I think he will, then Tottenham's midfield and striking options surely look promising. They only seem to lack quality in defense which would seem to be their only weakness. Chimbonda was the answer to some of those questions. Since Tottenham failed to signhim, do you think their lack of spending at the back will lead to their demise?
2. I joined the Fox EPL fantasy so I could see your picks. I can't seem to be able to view your team. How can I do so?
Bobby – 1. Taken from another blog response to a similar question. My take is that few teams have been able to produce back to back seasons that have moved them into the top four. Spurs will also have the UEFA Cup and are unlikely to be knocked out at the first attempt in the Carling and FA Cups. Finally (a) Spurs had a fantastic record against teams that finished in the bottom half of the table while (b) they had a poor record against the top four and (c) they had a great home record. I can't see them doing much better against the top four while I don't think that they will be able to replicate the record against poorer sides and it will be difficult to match the home record from last season.
2. This is my rookie year in the Fantasy League so I will be happy to avoid relegation. I have made some four transfers all ready but this is what I have at the moment under Tayport. Van der Sar; Carr, Ferdinand Rio, Gabbidon, Hunt: Parker, Nolan (captain), Arteta, Benayoun; Johnson Andy, Henry; Sub Solskjaer.
travel_coach - What can be done about the disparity in cash? I watched Chelski beat my Man. City side handily, despite that Chelski were missing 3 starters. The Prem. really has split into super teams and the rest of the lot. Is that really what we want? EU labour laws to the side for a minute would instituting a "4 non-U.K. player maximum in the Prem. help restore a reasonable level of parity? How about a salary cap like we have in the Fantasy league? Or, given the Sheffield United game, are such efforts really unnecessary?
Bobby – There has always been a disparity of cash, the only difference is that now it is greater than ever and Chelsea has more money than anyone can reasonably dream of. Unfortunately any discussion has to involve European Union Laws. UEFA and FIFA chose to ignore that reality so when the Bosman decision came down they were totally ill-equipped to respond. The fact that UEFA and the European Union cooperated in the report tabled in May was very important and a sign that UEFA now sees the EU has part of a long term solution rather than the problem.
Keane16 - dmanufan07: I believe the addition of Hargreaves would be excellent as it would give an added option in the midfield(if we can get him for 6 to 8 million), but what I would prefer is the addition of more young players who can fill gaps and do a good job there. Such as a younger Quinton Fortune or Phil Neville type player who can be put anywhere on the field and do an above average job and doesn't complain if he doesn’t get to start every week but when called upon puts the shirt on and plays for his place. John O'Shea is an excellent example of this even if you wince every time he needs to control a ball.
Bobby – I can’t believe that United are willing to fork out $30M plus for a player who they could have had on a Bosman pre-contract last season given that his deal was up in June of 2006. Hargreaves is a competent and energetic ball winner and that is all. He is a younger Philip Neville. He plays a couple of good games for England and suddenly Fergie is willing to pay silly money for him.
henry 14 - bobby l am now getting confused l heard that arsenal bid for Gallas and Chelsea refuse at the same time Mourinho is prepared to trade him with Cole +money, to be honest l feel Chelsea have money to spend and can afford to pay A PLAYER WHILIST IN THE RESERVES which tells me that the coming of cannibal does not affect the Gallas issue, l still feel that they will be no deal, l le boss just said if nothing happens till Friday he closes his door and Cole will stay. At the same time they are rumours that Cole does not want to leave arsenal until December because he wants a 2m pound loyalty bonus so he might be dragging his feet for the deal, he gets me sick. What do you feel about the sudden twist of events?
Bobby – Patrick Barclay in his Jose Mourinho biography put it very well. When a manager or a coach speaks publicly, he his only out to achieve one thing – an advantage. If the truth is also spoken then it is just a fortunate side effect.
davard - Actually my real question involves South American futbol. I have enjoyed watching some of the Argentina league on FSC, and I was wondering about the Copa Libertadores. Do the South / Central American clubs view it as the Euro clubs view the Champions League? Is it as prestigious? I just like to know what I'm watching, since I wouldn't know if the teams were fielding weakened sides as I don't know any of the players that well.
Also, what is the possibility of MLS teams participating? Do they already? That would be excellent to see them in a cup like that.
Bobby – The Copa Libertadores is the most important club tournament for South Americans but a country mile. Clubs will play weakened sides in their domestic competitions in order to have their best available for the Copa Libertadores. Mexican clubs participate by invite and have done so for a few years. MLS clubs being invited might a few years away yet.
Re: Copa libertadores, I read recently that MLS and The Mex league were discussing an FA Cup style knock out tournament each year, and also the plan was to appeal to copa lib for a spot for the champions. No idea how realistic or feasible this idea is, just something i read as being discussed
So would you say that Hargreaves is just a smoother around the edges and more experienced Alan Smith in the sense of energetic ball winner?
I have also noticed Frank Lampard's remarkable ability of getting deflections to go his way take Sunday match he turned with his head down and blasted it straight at the keeper but it deflected into the net and against Greece last week he blasts it straight at the keeper with his head down and it deflects over the keeper and in. Safe to assume Frank Lampard = second rate Paul Scholes?
Bobby:
Great job with the blog. It looks like it has turned into another full-time job!!
I think Milan will make a couple of big signings yet. They were waiting to qualify for the UCL for obvious bugdet reasons. They will tussle with ManU over Teves especially if they don't get Ronaldo, who, believe it or not, is younger than Sheva (barely; both turn 30 next month!)They still desparately need a defender, and also may yet sign Buffon.
I think Lampard scores so many deflected goals simply because he has far more attempts on goal than any other player in the EPL. Most attempts (as displayed in Germany) seem to be improbable shots through crowded penalty areas.
Bobby:
I have a Juventus question, just in case we're not sick of talking about them this summer.
Their current squad is: Buffon, Chiellini, Kovac, Boumsong, Nedved, C.Zanetti, Camoranesi, Marchionni, Del Piero, Bojinov and Trezeguet, and probably 11 more internationals on the bench.
Also Nike and most of their other sponsors continued to honor their committments. Are you surprised, do you think they will continue to sell, and do you think they will win the UEFA Cup next year!!??
Last edited by Venti_vidi_vici on August 22nd at 5:17 PM.
Without knowing how deep the pockets are it is impossible to say. Certainly the money they picked up from Zambrotta, Thuram, Emerson, Cannavaro, and Ibrahimovic plus the wages they will have saved will have helped significantly. I can only guess that the game plan would be to take the transfer fees and use that to fill the hole left in the budget for 2006/07 and hope to return to Serie A next season. Maybe things might change by the January transfer window but there doesn't seem to be a lot of speculation about other players moving permanently.
--
Thanks for taking the time to interact with us.
An inform Ronaldo is probably the only possible replacement for Scheva at this point. Problem is the in form part which he might not be. Plus he will bring a commerical appeal that Don Silvio wants.
They need an immediate impact. They lost 20+ goals with Scheva gone. Ronaldo could work and get Sobis, Torres, or Tevez.
I think the link maybe another way that Madrid can negociate with Milan for Kaka. Trying to say yeah, we will give you Ronaldo and cash for Kaka. I hope Kaka doesn't come out and say Spanish is the language of love for his family and he's leaving for family reasons. Such a trade won't happen.
Are there any players in the transfer market that you think would be great tactically to come play for Milan?
Last edited by milanfan on August 22nd at 10:50 PM.
I'm trying not to make this blog space into one large question and answer segment but I have a question I have been stewing over for some time. How on earth has Miroslav Klose not been bought by one of the big European clubs? His movement is fantastic and he has good vision for a striker, not to mention the fact that he led the Bundesliga in goals last year. Yet he is still "stuck" at Werder, although they are a big German club. He seems to have a good attitude and definetly is not a primadonna. I thought he would have fit in great behind Sammy Eto'o at Barca but cost may have been prohibitive.
-Keane16- right on about scholesy and Lampard. Scholes was/is ten times the passer Lampard is and scored just as many goals.
I disagree with your assessment of Hargreaves. There's obviously a reason why Bayern want to keep him. Maybe that he's good at what he does?Also, he's pretty decent going forward. Much more so than Makelele. True though MU should have signed him on the Bosman.
Just a comment. Milan swapping Kaka for Renaldo is crazy. Although I respect Renaldo, Kaka is just to important to Milan's midfield. Renaldo is near the end of his playing days and Kaka is in his prime. Renaldo will not fill the void left by Shevy's departure. Milan should look elseware... Shure Milan needs a striker but not at that price.
I to want to thank you Bobby for taking the time to banter with us.
Just a quick couple of thoughts\questions.
1. Growing talk that Man Utd having been tapping up Hargreaves. Do you think the FA has ignored it to this point due in part to their poor handling of the Rooney\Scholes 3 game ban?
2. Now that Tevez has openly asked for a transfer to European, do Man Utd drop Hargreaves in order to secure Tevez? My thought is as much as I like Hargreaves we need a replacement for Ruud more. Plus we can always look at seeing if Bayer has softened their view of letting Hargreaves go in January.
Theres no way Milan would trade Kaka for Ronaldo.
-Im just saying that thats why Madrid are opening
talks, maybe. They want Kaka or want to keep
moving for him in the future.
Above all no one could replace Scheva completely in this transfer market.
There are strikers who could fill a similar forward role that Scheva plays.
Milan have poachers with inzaghi and gila, they need a scheva like forward, and I think an in form Ronaldo could fill the void.
Last edited by milanfan on August 22nd at 10:55 PM.
After watching Spurs in such a depressed state against Bolton, I cannot even begin to explain the delight in their perfomrance yesterday against Sheff.Utd. The boy Lennon was magnificent, as was keane. Simply outstanding. I think Warnock said it best when he said "In spurts, Lennon was unplayable" For a guy who usually wants to simply punch and scream at any opposition, praise indeed. regardless of whatever happens this season, if Spurs continue to perform this way we will all be in for a treat.
Thanks Bobby. You definately have the best blog out there. It would be incredible to have a Champions league of sorts on the North American cont. Speaking of the CL--
Bobby, I've watched Barcelona play a few friendlies and the whoop'n they put on Espanyol. I just can't see another Euro club beating them. If one of their strikers/attacking midi's goes down they can still throw more talent at you than most teams can handel. In your opinion, is there another team that can posses the ball in the attacking 1/3 longer or better than Barca? What do you think of Villarreal's chances of competing for La Liga championship and returning to the CL?
Oh yeah, Tevez over Hargreaves any day.
Last edited by neophyte on August 23rd at 8:24 AM.
crapshoot: Quinton Fortune had Lennon in his backpocket all sunday afternoon, You're singing Lennon's praises after a display against Sheffield United. Great talent he may be but I have yet to see him get a sniff on an above average defender. I do like your assessment of Robbie though I feel when he is in the spurs team they have a creative spark, hopefully he is in that kind of form for Ireland against germany next Weekend
Last edited by Keane16 on August 23rd at 10:39 AM.
Here's another question which may be for a further date / blog posting. I watched a lot of the World Cup on Espn's 360, which streamed all the games directly onto my computer at work, and with excellent video/sound quality. They had trial memberships for the W.C., but since they don't have any more soccer games I did not subscribe.
I looked online today for something similiar to watch Prem games, and found a whole slew of them - premiershiplive.net, etc - but they don't seem, well, legal. I love watching the Prem on FSC on the weekends, but knowing I can check it out during the workday online would be excellent. Are these sites legal, and if not, does the Premier League offer licensed streaming content in any form? If not, they should - they'd certainly make some money from it.
More of a business/media question, but as you work in said medium, I'd be curious to get your thoughts on this aspect of the beautiful game.
Bobby l have to say that l am not buying the fact that wenger is after kaladze , as l have a feeling that it is one of those rumours created by the media after wenger said he is also looking at some other players.they are going to link wenger to every defender who wants a club with champions leauge football and probably with circumstances that he has not yet featured for the competion for his respective club.what is your take on the rumour, because l have to say it has no credibility
Bobby - I'm curious to know your views regarding Inter-Milan. It seems that Moratti never trusted the managers before Mancini. Why all of a sudden does he listen to Mancini? I’m not a fan of Mancini as he tends to bring in and support thuggish players like Mihalovic, Cesar and Materazzi. Regardless, I think the bigger problem is that the chosen coaches can't bring out the best of the players. For example, Adriano, Recoba, Baggio, C. Zanetti, Pirlo, Silvestre, Kanu, Mutu. Then the questionable sale of good players (i.e. Pirlo, C. Zanetti, Canavarro, Ronaldo, Crespo (back in 03) and now Martins). We tend to keep the older players versus nurturing younger talent while thinking of long term objectives. Ibrahimovic is an immense talent and therefore is a great acquisition –I think he will do very well. However, I question moves for Viera, Cesar and Dacourt. Inter should be building a team that can compete together with long term objectives in mind, especially now while Juve is out of the picture and Milan with minus points. They had the opportunity of bringing some Italians to the team over the last year or so. They should purchase players like Brighi, Casanno, Oddo, Tavano, Micolli, Chiellini, De Rossi, Rossi (ManU) and many more. It was said more Italian players will be added to the roster too –only Grosso was added. Being the biggest team in Italy that was not involved with the scandal, I believe a great opportunity was missed to overhaul the team with a larger percentage of Italian players. Promoting Mihalovic to be an assistant coach, is this the final joke?
I think Mourinho's post match comments about Chelsea being on cruise control for most of the game should have included himself. Having put the completely "Not ready for prime time" Kalu on the pitch, he compound it by not subbing Drogba and others at half time. As it was when he finally made a change he put on the embarrassing SWP at the end.
Bobby if you had 8 days and unlimited funds to buy a right winger, who would you buy, that might be available? Chelsea can't continue without a right side attack.
P.S. It was interesting to hear JM reply to a post match Gallas/Cole question with:
"Bridge is playing very well and I don't think it's right to talk about Cole when Bridge is playing so well." Maybe just more negotiation talk, but it's about time he recognized Brisge's efforts.
I don't think Chelsea has anything to panic about. You can't go about out and buy someone on the basis of one perceived weakness. Chelsea didn't lose to Boro because they didn't have a right sided midfield player.
Just because Chelsea has an unlimited budget doesn't translate into an entitlement to win every game. Every team - even the most expensive - is going to lose now and again.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on August 23rd at 3:53 PM.
Baggio - There were times over the last two seasons that I thought Inter and Mancini had finally got it right. Unfortunately I was wrong. Inter is the a great example of how you can't just buy success - you need some players who have come through the youth ranks as well. Inter seemed to lose that a long time ago.
First, thanks for the effort to respond. With all do respect I disagree about Crouch. Here is a player who the Real Betis defenders said they could not defend and who gave Rio and the Man U. defense such a torrid time in the Anfield fixture last season that Ferdinand was reduced to a screaming tirade.
He had initial problems scoring but since last December 1 he has scored 23 goals in 41 appearances for club and country, some of which were substitute appearances. When he came on for Rooney against Portugal he was marvelous doing a much better job as a lone striker than Wayne was capable of.
The irony is that his poorest quality is finishing with his head. Reminds me of Tore Andre Flo who always, despite his stature, claimed to be better with his feet. On the other hand, he has an ability to play with his back to goal (a rare commodity), control with his chest, hold up play and produce flick-ons that are deft sometimes bordering on brilliant. He works extremely hard defending from the front and falling deep to bring continuity into the attack and puts himself in good positions in the box and even though he is not the most forceful header of the ball he commands enough attention to always be a nuisance on set pieces. Combine that with a better than a goal every two games average this year and he seems a bargain signing, especially for an English player.
I controversially pick him to be Liverpool’s top scorer this campaign and he is already in the lead with two goals in their first three competitive matches. I guess time will tell.
Bobby perlease! Crouchy a dud! Define dud, while Crouch has scored 8 for England and will probably score 20 plus for Liverpool this season.
Morientes was a nice guy but worse than Crouchy. Cisse must be Anelka's cousin for all the sulking he did.
Crouch is many things and I totally agree with SLRED above, but a failure he is not and better he will get at what he does, which is to make and score goals.
Stop reading the English press, as a Scot you should know better anyhow, but You will find it easier to praise Crouch in analysis of his career, than to blag him.........IMHO!
Yours truly from another sassenach in Canuckland.
Last edited by redfan4ever on August 24th at 7:36 AM.
Bobby, thanks for the frank interaction here. I agree with Pam's sentiment and, as said already, Rafa's and SLRED's view of Crouch, not yours, lol.
The Foxsportsworld report is ALWAYS better for your presence and observations, and, this blog Q & A is a good idea if you have the time to keep up with us?
How about two 'strengths and weaknesses' threads to back up this seasons predictions for the
Championship and Premiership? A brief critique on your predicted top 3 in each league.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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