It is official - Newcastle are the winners of the Intertoto Cup.
Neil Warnock the manager of one of the Premiership’s hottest clubs Sheffield United, has been writing a regular column for the Independent.
Stewart Robson on the pros and cons of Chelsea’s current midfield set-up.
Daniel Finkelstein and “The Fink Tank” takes a look at the Champions League draw.
Another clear indication that UEFA is willing – or must – align with the European Union in order to control the G-14. The article may point to Chelsea, but this is only because they are an easy target.
Rob Hughes provides more details on the FIFA-Mastercard-Visa court case. The article includes the following comment from the Judge on Jack Warner’s right-hand man Chuck Blazer. “Mr. Blazer’s testimony was generally without credibility based on his attitude and evasive answers on cross examination.”
After this week Speakers’ Corner will be taking a break over the holiday season. However, I will continue to post during that time and create open forums for discussion over the next few weeks.
Thank you to all the regular blog readers and contributors and a happy holiday season to you all and a guid New Year.
Bobby wanted to hear your thoughts on your fellow Fox Football Pundit Nick "get the beers in" Webster.
Here is the link to his latest post http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/sto ry/6284562
I do admit that his prediction does look set to come true, but who knows who else fergie can bring to the team in january. I hope for the leagues sake that it does go down to the wire. I think chelsea need to reinforce the back four and bringing cech back will help. I do think Utd were unlucky to come away with a result. They don't seem to "go for the jugular" as fergie puts it. Thoughts?
GOne are the days that you would look at the leauge fixture as an arsenal fan and predict a win.on saturday l noticed something that l never thought would happen.anew all time low was recorderd in the gunners team.surely the young team have made the standards of the arsenal team fall.l could not believe that drawing with porthmouth is now seen as symbol of character, something that was unheard of a few seasons ago.arsenal built their reputation on thrashing all the teams they have drawn with at home.half the season have gone one has come to a conclusion that surely some of the players are highly overated.l watched the portsmouth game twice and suddenly saw that they is nolonger any pride in pulling the arsenal jersey.rvp, clichy, eboue, hleb, toure,djouru have all been a disgrace this season.l could not believe that we can not have a two match winning streak.these players has been living in the glory of pires,bergkamp,henry, viera.ashelycole , sol,lauren to such an extend that they are happy to have the ego that comes with it but not the perfomance.these palyer has not steped up and to show how their ego affects them after a perfomance like that some of them go to the media and claims their can still win the leauge which is disrespectful to the fans.they are young but so are 11 of the 20 teams in the premieship and if they are not careful they are staring at uefa cup football in the face and an empty stadium.the reality that wenger hides from is that he should sign two or three good expirienced players in midfield and attack.
Last edited by henry14 on December 18th at 6:01 AM.
Bobby do you think there is any better country at producing strikers like italy, if you look at their goal scoring chart over the seasons it is amazing.and what do you think about sheffield united.Bobby did you see a corner beimg swung in and fabregas and rvp running out of the box, it was commical
Bobby do you see adebayor being a young version of a drogba bearing in mind that he is 21
Last edited by henry14 on December 19th at 10:14 AM.
Doe anyone watch the FIFA World Club thingy? I thought the final wa sinteresting in that it once again showed up Barca's lack of scoring punch without Eto'o. Re Man. Utd. / Chelsea -- West Ham played over their heads, but once again we had no-one to bring on late to change a game; Solskjaer was invisible, and O'Shea isn't a match-turner. That's what will keep us behind Chelsea in the end if we can't make another pickup or two in January.
"rvp, clichy, eboue, hleb, toure,djouru" are a disgrace?
What the fook have you been watching? Really, comments like these do my head in. Now, rvp has saved us many times and his passing and distribution are getteing better and better. Hleb and Kolo, players of the season so far. Kolo has been a rock in defence for many years now, and is only 26. Ebous lacks concentration, but he's been playing RB for less than a year now. Djourou, despite being....19, has been very impressive. Do you actually watch games? Looky here, we've got Diaby, Henry, Tomas, Gallas, Lauren coming back. If Chelsea had lost 4 1st team players, how would they fare, desptie having the best bench on the world? We also could recall Bendtner and Stokes. This team is in transition and Arsene is building a third succesive team, we need to be patient.
To quote another poster on gunnerblog.com "We should break the bank and buy john terry,ballack,makelele,lampard,roon ey and ca$hley and we will win every PL game and next year’s CL because at the moment they are all cup tied.Then all the moaners and the win it now brigade will be happy again."
And...
"Most people on this blog wanted to buy Tevez & Mascherano. Who do you want to buy now?"
All this team lacks is better finishing and at times, more motivation.
I am dissapointed with several results, but, again, MUST HAVE PATIENCE.
Arsene Knows.
PS, Last winter, we played a different Portsmouth, a team that was about to be relegated. Now they are in the top 6.
Arsenal have a great young team and the only position I think they need to put some money into is for the player between the posts because Lehmann is close to retirement and I don't see Alumnia or Poom as long term replacements.
There was a lot of talk about Chelsea winning the quadruple two years ago when they were winning games 4-0. They ended up winning two, which they'll do well to do this season despite what Nick Webster thinks.
Anyway, at what point does "Chelsea haven't played their best yet" turn into "Chelsea aren't as good a team as they've been in the last couple of seasons? My opinion all along has been they have too many superstars for their own good now and it was signing Ballack as the point of over-saturation.
Just a not of thanks to you for your diligent work amd wishing you and all the bloggers on here a happy holiday whatever you celebrate!
I was first turned onto you thru Ticket to Germany and then on here and I must say you, and all the bloggers, make following both the World Cup and the EPL that much more of an enjoyable experience.
If only Brasil and Arsenal had played to the form youve exhibited Id be in hog heaven! But as 2006 ends Arsenal still is inconsistent, brasil produces the best players, Man U still sucks, Tottenham still blows, and the Argies, well the Argies are trash!! :)
Bobby - what do you think are the chances that tottenham will win a trophy this year? they've been in great form lately, looks like they are coming together very well as a team. they'll have to win some big games obviously to have a chance at winning something, but i think they could pull it off this year.
Hi Bobby, Arsene Wenger has been having some emotional control issues lately. Given his fantastic success over the past 10 years, is he displacing some frustration over the play of his young team onto opposing managers and match officials?
Bobby
With Keanes injury do you think he is done at white hart lane? I hope not because I believe that Spurs increased level of play cannot be credited to the matching of Berbatov and Defoe but rather to the play of Huddlestone who just gets better with every match.
Did anyone notice Rooney giving up on the play that Ronaldo almost scored on looking like he was going to hit the west ham player that almost tripped him?
"It would be disrespectful to consider it a lesser tournament, as some managers do."--Glenn Roeder's extraordinary ability to maintain a straight face must have been tested to the limit by that one.
Still, the Intertoto's *slightly* better than nothing, us Magpie supporters will take what we can get....
Bennet is a Man Utd referee. Last season he sent off Gilberto against the Barcodes for two soft tackles. had Rooney done that he'd get a pat on the back. Arsene protested a free kick that wasn't, and was sent into the stands. Now, next day. Jose pranced around Gooddison like a deranged fairy, incited the fans with his celebrations, but yet the FA do nothing about this or his imaginary cards and spats with the 4th official.
1. What do you think of the FIFA rankings that FIFA re-jigged after the World Cup? They make no sense at all! How does the United States end up 30th at this ranking, Canada 82nd, Trinidad & Tobago 91st, Guinea 23rd and Cuba 46th? This new formula that FIFA has come up with is pretty dumb.
2. Out of all the EPL managers right now, which club get's their money's worth in terms of getting the most out of their players and the financial resources (or lack their of) that the club has?
3. Who do you think is the most under-rated and over-rated goalkeeper in Spain's La Liga right now?
Bobby, as Riocharlie said, thanks for the great blog, insights and especially the time you put into this. I especially like the international perspectives that you and all the contributors bring. The coverage with all the channels has been incredible this season. (Bobby, is it better anywhere else?) I'd also like to thank everyone else who contributes too, so much better than the trash talk sites elsewhere.
For Christmas I've asked for Mourinho-cancelling headphones, Neil Warnock Radio to be added to XM Satellite Radio, a restraining order stopping Wayne Rooney going within 30 yard of the ref (applies to a few others too) and a transfer window trip to the ATM machine by Roman.
Bobby, I agree 100% with your Summary on Chelsea on FSWR tonight (Chelsea not as good as last year’s 4-3-3 team, Boularouz being a disaster, risky tactics, Drogba getting more space, etc.).
I really don’t get the claim by the media that Chelsea has a deep squad to get them through while others may not last. They’ve been running on fumes and 30 yard strikes recently. We had this discussion earlier but they have no right winger, they only play well when they take Geremi off the pitch, there’s no CB coverage and we all know the Ballack/Sheva issues. Terry’s injury may not be trivial and explains his pretty passive displays of the last month or so. Kalou, Mikel are high risk.
It was interesting that JM today said that he wouldn’t have played the midfield diamond if Terry had been fit. I guess they can’t just dump Sheva, and I guess Ballack will be in the picture till they have someone better or they switch formations.
Do you have any thoughts about who Chelsea could get in the transfer window?
Maybe there’s a swap on the way. Have you heard any rumors?
Who do you think Man U should/could get?
Thanks
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on December 19th at 12:26 AM.
Bobby, With Fergie being 65 soon i can see him pushing for a title, and at this point any title will do, and then hangin it up at the end of the term. I can see another scot in Celtics Gordon Strachan gettin the call. I know he and Sir Alex havent seen eye to eye, but how would you rate Strachan's chances of his succeeding SAF at Man U and his general over all abilities as a manager?
you know all this talk of chelsea having an advantage is #### manu are better two point ahead of chelsea than two points behind , and chelsea also have tricky away games so manu still have an advantage
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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