verbal97 - Is there any chance that Platini's plan to limit the number of Champions League places to the big leagues comes to fruition? I think it's one of those ideas that sounds nice in theory and when campaigning, but is not practical because if implemented perhaps the talk of a Super League gets more traction.
realmadridcffan - Now that Platini is the President of UEFA and he has said on record that he wants to limit the amount of UEFA Champions League spots from 4 to three for the big countries (Spain, England, Italy) and spread them around to the smaller countries, what do you think this will do if it does go through, de-value the UEFA Champions League at it's current format of 32 teams? Also do you see any ramifications for the UEFA Cup because of this (i.e.: possible format change)
Bobby – This is definitely the question of the week after Platini’s election. Just like any other politician who has just been elected Platini’s political capital is at its maximum. Unfortunately for him the TV deal does not come up for renewal until after the 2009 Champions League. This almost certainly means that there will be no tampering with the Champions League until a new TV contract is agreed. In the meantime the big clubs in Europe will muster their forces in an effort to make sure that Platini's plan is not implemented. And remember he is only one man with one vote in an executive of 15. In the end, it will probably finish up with some sort of compromise and already there are a number of ideas floating around. One suggestion I have here heard is that the top three countries will keep their four spots but only one team will be guaranteed a spot in the group stage. This would leave the other 3 teams to go through the various qualifying rounds.
Another suggestion is that the group stage be expanded to include more teams. This could be done by increasing the number of groups or by increasing the number of teams in eight groups. Either way it is difficult to see how either option could work without teams having to play more games or without the present knockout rounds being dismantled. As for talk of a European Super League I don't think the big clubs are really interested. What they really want is a competition limited to the likes of England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.
The UEFA Cup - the competition is already a dog's breakfast and needs a complete revamp. Platini, at one point, did talk about reactivating the European Cup Winners Cup which I think is a good idea if it was restricted to only one club from each country and operated on a straight knockout basis.
Gunner 44 - My question to you is can't Wenger call up one of those players on loan (Stokes, Larsson etc.) instead of buying a new player if injuries become too many?
Bobby – It would depend on the deal that was made. Some loan deals include the rate of recall at any point, while others are for a set period of time. However, Wenger would have difficulty recalling Anthony Stokes as the Irishman was sold to Sunderland.
Bigdavedisaster – I’ve been in a bit of an argument with a few friends. Who do you think are the 5 biggest clubs currently outside of the premiership? Big as in history and large fan support as in clubs that probably should be in the EPL.
Bobby – What a great question and probably not as easy to figure out as it sounds. I think you would to have separate history over the last 40-50 years from the early stages of the English league. Here are my 5 pics; Sunderland, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, and West Brom. Birmingham supporters will be after me but they lost out because they have never won the League or FA Cup. Derby County also came very close to making the top five. I am waiting to see your and your mate’s picks.
Djnima - After Rooney scored his goal against Arsenal and his double against Pompey (I love it when he chips the keeper especially calamity James) commentators said that he had "broken his scoring duck"
I understand that it means he ended his goal drought but I was wondering if there is any significance to the word 'duck' and if there is a story behind it.
Also, how's your fantasy team doing? Do you think it would be a good idea to incorporate the fantasy league more into FSR?
Bobby – “Duck” is a cricket expression and is used when a batsman is “out” before scoring a run. When the batsmen scored his first run is sometimes said that he is off his “duck”. When a batsman is out to the first ball he faces it is referred to in some cricket playing countries as a “royal duck”. As far as Fantasy Football is concerned as of tonight (Tuesday) I am just over 5,000 points and in 300th place – safely above the relegation zone so far. The idea of incorporating a FF feature into FSR has been talked about and it is something you might see next season.
gregz - Recently coach Bora Milutinovic was named as national coach of Jamaica. I know a little about him and his accomplishments of taking 5 different teams to the World Cup, but what else can you tell me about him as a coach and how do you rate him Bobby?
Bobby – Bora has managed 5 countries at the World Cup but I think he may have only seen one of them (Costa Rica) through the qualifying stages. He seems to have fallen a bit out of favour since the 2002 World Cup and although he was linked with the Serbia national team job after last summer’s World Cup nothing came of it. His critics would point to his relatively poor record as a club coach while his supporters will quickly point out that he's taken for countries to the second round at four World Cups - no mean feat. No matter how he does with Jamaica, there will probably be a country out there willing to hire him given his record. As a sidebar if Carlos Alberto Parreira manages to stick around with South Africa for the next three years he will also have managed five different countries at the World Cup.
Napier22 - I enjoy your analyses on FSR. You obviously have a good eye for the game and pick up lots of things I don't see. I was just wondering if you have ever done any coaching?
Bobby – Thank you. I coached for a number of years. I got certified a few years after arriving in Canada and followed the usual route taken by most parents - coaching my stepson’s teams while still playing. I then moved on to player/coach for a local senior team and as the legs began to give in that became reduced to coach. Work then intervened and I haven’t coached a team for the last seven years. However, I should add that after attending the NSCAA convention in Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago I sent in a membership application and registration fee.
Bobby, do you not think that Nottingham Forest should be considered among your top five outside the Premiership, afterall they were a strong force in the 60's and 70's winning the league and the European Cup (the old champioship league)- twice- which very few British clubs have done. Also I understand they still have a good fan base and support
Last edited by ancanada on January 31st at 7:34 AM.
Arrh I tell you, the curse of Gallas be upon us. I'm beginning to wonder if the departure of unlucky number 13 has left us with the black spot.
It's all beginning to feel like a rerun of "Dream Team"
Carlton, Ashley and Joe
Why did they all have to go?
Without a Cole
To score a goal
All we're left with is Shevchenko
(Or as they say in England, Ballacks)
BTW
Djnima
No matter how expert Scotsmen are on football, never ask them questions about cricket. Out first ball is a "golden duck."
Rio: you're right, I just found out that "Bon Jovi" Mikel is the league's youngest ever player at 12 years old.
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on February 1st at 2:14 AM.
Nottigham Forest are certainly a contender but their "glory days" were really down to one man. Although they are attracting good crowds my sense is that the other five clubs I mentioned have greater potential as far as support is concerned.
As for a 'royal duck" - I stand corrected. A "royal duck" is when a batsman is out to the first ball of an innings.
Great win for Arsenal and looking forward to playing Chelsea in the final. Traore, Denilison and Diaby were fantastic and are players to watch for the future. Philip Sendorous or however you spell his name has been fantastic in the past few weeks, his partnership with Kolo has been amazing but what happens when Gallas comes back? But big ups to Sendorous for his great defending.
Simple answer: Senderos to the bench, Gallas to the middle. Or maybe left back. Or right back. Hell, maybe even striker? I wouldn't put it past him to play well anywhere.
With the injury to Ashley Cole, which looks long term , why can't Chelsea recall Glen Johnson from Portsmouth to further boost their defensive options?
l just wanted to know how you guys view the reds takeover talks.l have not had a big insight into how their accounts look like but l do not think that it being done for any real good reason.they seem to want to take anyone with money & with benitez have spend 86m pounds in his two and half years in england you are tempted to say,that the Liverpool board is surely looking for a abromovich type of takeover.l honestly can not see why they seem to want a take over like a bunch of school kids .l am not a big fun of the takeover because of primarily what we hear is happening behind closed doors.l really can see westham also going the same road, l just feel eggy seems to have too much of a say in things that curbs should say.l felt that the glazers were never going to make the interference because their minds are set on repaying the debt , we are yet to see what they will do after the debts are cleared.l honestly can not believe that someone would pump $100m and not have a say in the club just sounds crazy in any language you put it.l do not remember hearing of david dien. or danny fizman or the guys in the liverpool board before so it puzzles me why clubs not is such a debt that can make them crumble jump on to takeovers.the next thing you know Liverpool will be paying over the odds.l do not believe that Ashely young is worth $20m and although he is young l just feel villa were held at ransom.l also feel that west ham are overpaying for some players and can not believe a defender would cost $15m and this is what makes the owners want to intervene because not all the big n
money signing will succeed all it does is inflate the transfer market price.l do not think bale is worth $20m
apart from takeovers l will throw my eye towards some of the transfer business in january.clearly united and Portsmouth got the best deal all window with lauren and larson and with a lot of other deals either you doubt the talent or the money paid for it so clearly, the two clubs stand head and shoulders above the rest.the most interesting signing of the window was for Liverpool was mashcerano, whom l highly rate, but after six months and having two managers and failing to take a place away from an average holding player like mullins makes doubt clearly not his talent but is he a player for a league like the premiership.going to Liverpool might just be a as bad a move as l feel he has made, clearly benitez won't drop Alonso or Gerrard, and sissoko in my opinion is the closest thing to a viera in all of world football and l just feel can play in any midfield of any of the big four clubs.to be honest l can not see him displacing sissoko, because the guy is a midfield monster and he is also young which makes and flings doubt into mascherano's move
Last edited by henry14 on February 2nd at 4:55 AM.
Henry, I'm a liverpool fan, so i'll do my best to answer your questions. From what i've heard, the takeover's first and foremost function would be to fund a 60000 seat stadium. Also, the club isn't in the black (though not in too terrible a shape), so some of the money would go to pay down the debt. There would be a spike in the transfer budget, but nothing like as seen at Chelsea (i.e. they wouldn't pay $35 mil+ for a Shaun Wright-Phillips).
Your point on inflated prices is a good one. Although I think it's ironic that a fan of the team that overpaid for Theo Walcott would complain that Villa would pay so much for Ashley Young. I think good, young English players are at a premium these days (I've read a few articles this month about the decline of English players and potential reasons why), and like it or not, most team's fans want to see at least an English spine to their teams.
wenger himself admitted to overpaying and taking a gamble with walcott.what do you think about mascherano's signing , will he really play.he is signing an 18 month contract for a player of his age show that benitez thinks it a gamble
Simba9, Bobby,
I don't think these loan agreements have a recall clause because of potential abuse. (Probably the league doesn't allow it).
In any event, they probably loaned GJ out to get playing time until he learned to stop diving in to challenges (A Carvalho weakness). There's no doubt that he is the most attack minded of the right backs. Defensively he's probably is no better option than Geremi. Also, I assume you saw that GJ was up on a charge for fraudulently switching a cheap for expensive toilet seat in a hardware store (unbelieveable).
I wouldn't be surprised if Chelsea just got shot of him at the end of the season. They showed with Mutu and Gallas that they have little tolerance for any problem players.
I don't know what to make of the Mascherano deal. I think Rafa likes what he saw when he was in S. America. I believe that the deal would be a loan deal (with possible permanent deal at the end?).
Anyway, Liverpool's official website runs a weekly interview with him on Fridays and asked about Mascherano. Rafa admitted that he would not be game fit from the start (of the deal), so seeing him play would be a time off. That said, with Sissoko and Zenden coming off injuries and Alonso suspended for the Newcastle game next week, perhaps he comes into contention in that game (if the premier league approves the deal by then that is).
To answer your question, I was and still am confused to his signing. I agree with you completely about Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko all being ahead of him. Perhaps theres something in the summer we don't know, but Rafa does (i.e., Alonso going back to Spain or something). I really hope not though!
Enjoy the weekend's games.
Last edited by verbal97 on February 2nd at 2:06 PM.
Bobby
Your killin me! You hit my one friends 5 perfectly. My five were in no order Leeds, Shef Wed, West Brom, Wolves, Forrest. Sunderland was really close and Derby, Birm were not far off.
The other two lads in the argument had that mix of that 8 except for one addition of Norwich hes a supporter and he broke out into "On The Ball" as he was shot down, regarded as the oldest song in football he'll let you know you might also now that we were at the pub during this argument. When he began to sing you could see in his eyes that he thought another canary would join in, didnt happen.
This becomes a tough question because of the years. You can simply count Top flight wins FA and League cups but if one is in 1920 is it too long ago? Then when you throw in size of and quality of fan support many more teams start to leak in and you start to relize that trophies mean nothing to success in the top flight. Look what reading is doing this year and sunderland cant buy a point when they come up. Its a great conversation though especially with a few pints and people just butchering and quite frankly simply making up stats and trophies.
Last edited by bigdavedisaster on February 2nd at 2:31 PM.
LosAngelesChelseaFan - I think the rule is that a Premiership team cannot recall a loan player from another Premiership team but a player can be recalled from a team in another division if the loan-deal allows.
l have to say that the Liverpool game was poor and their three forward approach came to bite them in the ####.l feel that the system works against an ineffective watford, and out of sorts west ham, but once you come against organized opposition like everton were the system tends to affect the range of passing of the midfilders, as they had three different strikers with all different strength they were caught in three minds whether to go long into crouch, or ball to feet into kuyt or try to use pace of bellamy and to day they paid the price
Just heard that the MSL Colorado Rapids were considering a possible name change in keeping with their new ####'s Sporting Goods Stadium. Hmmmm ... Sporting Colorado or Colorado Sporting could be possibilities ... but if they had thr brass ... the Colorado #### must be at the top of the possibilities list!
It seems that Chelsea’s problems have made them mentally stronger. It starting to show up throughout the team and particularly in the way Lampard has returned to confidently hitting through the ball again - something missing from February through November of last year. Today's goal was very well taken. I think that for Man U to win the EPL they can't afford a single slip. Even a draw tomorrow would put them under a lot of pressure.
after watching my beloved gunners l just feel like we were robbed, as l felt that senderos had minimal contact and it was outside the box, having said that you can see the development in th young squad because this was the kind of game we lost last year and l thought before that we were really getting among the boro and loved like we were always going to score.3 games in 7 days and one with 10 men surely we are right on track
A disjointed and #### first half against a #### Boro side.
Then Senderos takes a siesta and with the help of that wanker in black Riley; Boro pinch a dubious goal. - I told Lehmann, if I was him, I would have thundered the ball off the back of Riley’s thick head.
And as you would expect; the mindless, ever so middling Middlesbrough supporters wet their trousers as part of the goal celebration.
Credit to us; once again playing ten men we come back with my pin point strike.
However this is becoming an altogether too frequent situation.
And, I’m a bit peeved as Viduka somehow got into my kit bag and nicked my favorite pair of gloves.
i also agree that the penalty call on senderos was way harsh. the only contact he made was on yakubu's shoulder and he went down like a sack of potatoes. although i do believe that being a defender in the EPL one should know better than to give the striker a chance to dive that like.
great finish by henry. even though RVP is likely out for the season i think that it will give adebayor and aliyadihoweveryouspellit a chance to prove themselves. i'd also like to see walcott get some playing time.
M. Riley does it again this is why I celebrated before the Man U game more than after when I had that he had pulled out and wasn't going to ref the game.
Anyways as much as we were robbed Arsenal weren't all that good especially in the 1st half but then again the players have played alot of games in the past few weeks especially Cesc Fabulous and today he was terrible, gave away the ball away alot but lets hope it's only one game. Looking at the bright side, The team showed great team spirit, character, and fighting spirit again, and Henry continues to score oh so important goals like he is suppose to.
All Gunners out there I ask you to pray that Mike Riley doesn't ref any other Arsenal games because he will dish out a red and give a penalty and 90% of the time it will be against us.
what ever happens this year l just feel we and liverpool are bound to fight for theird and fourth but having said that we will be around next year with some impact.when l saw the spurs game it just showed me how much we have grown andtry to turn adversuty
the dive wasn't as bad as his other dives. but in all fairness berbatov had a bad dive as well. the fact of the matter is everyone dives from time to time. frogba, henry, everyone. it's just part of the game
Was into the Guinness last night with a few friends and conversation turned to football including the recent World Cup and refereeing of dubious quality which did affect match outcome and credible Cup results.
The Russian, Ivanov; the English, Poll; were both given a basting.
Due to the high profile and $$ importance of all EPL/SPL matches and resultant final league positions along with the fact that referee’s are, arguably, only partially blind:
What is to be done regarding some of their not so accurate decisions which directly affect the outcome of the match?
Is goal line video justified?
Is some form of instant replay inevitable?
Why don’t the linesmen get more proactively involved similar to American football?
Our boozy consensus was not advocating a replay of every contentious call but perhaps allowing each team manager one replay per half?
Critics’ of the replay process frequently argue the interruption of play as a reason for not instituting video replay. Our counter arguments include there is more delay caused by feigning of injury to eat up the clock and both play acting and video replay should/could be added to stoppage time.
Bobby: What are your feelings and reasoning on match video?
On a somewhat related topic regarding referee performance: Do you know of a EPL, SPL or FIFA web site or regularly published document where active referee rankings are available to the public?
The only thing worse than west ham this weekend was the officating, truly awfull in more than one match. Having said that, im still not a fan of the replay, and not really for the delay it causes. Mainly for 2 reasons, it makes poor officating poorer as they get lazier knowing replay is there, and 2 video isnt 100% conclusive either, so id rather live with the human error,
I would like to see Ivan "the Hack" Klichkoff on the bench, so when blatant dives or wild elbows r swung about he is available to come on in the last 10 minutes to police a few knee caps. A couple of wrecked stars out for the season would clearly deter future opponents from this blatant cheating. You may need Ivan's 2 nd cousin too as hed probably be out a few games serving some bizarre FA suspension.
Oy Rio:
If live match video replay is not your cup of tea then can we at least get a ball and goal posts with appropriate transmitter and receivers to put an end to these erroneous not a goal rulings?
The miniaturized digital technology is available to do so. The course and possible outcome of two recent EPL matches would have been affected for the better.
Perhaps when we have a few more American hockey club owners purchasing EPL teams this technology will become a reality. After all; the Montreal Canadians and Dallas Stars are all used to seeing that wee red light flash when a goal is scored.
However, upon further recollection, my childhood visits to Maple Leaf Gardens once established the wee red light was flicked on by a man very necessarily secured in a glass booth who appeared to be into his third Molsens!
I'm a busy old bloger tonight; thank you Super Bowel and the #### you represent.
Hello Djmina-
Your comment that everyone dives and it is just part of the game:
Are you saying that is acceptable or is it just a personal perception that you believe to be of fact?
The perception that everyone supposedly does it in no way makes it acceptable.
A dive is a dive and it is deception or in plain terms; cheating. Despite the chaos that may ensue the diver/player should be shown an automatic red card even if the ref is only slightly su####ious. Resultant apoplexy and cardiac arrest to managers and rabid supporters is acknowledged.
I am of the opinion that diving and the theatrics of catastrophic but instant healing injuries reflect poorly on the game. Unfortunately the player or team intent on gaining the advantage could care less.
A legitimate injury is not a player barely touched and then found rolling around and grimacing in agony and it is certainly not healed with a squirt from a Lucozade bottle and a cuddle from the physio.
If you note; a legitimately injured player is barely moving even when he takes one to the smalls or tears ligaments. See recent video of Ashley Cole or earlier Michael Owen.
Given the quality of acting these days I have the perception that some teams and well known players include drama and diving lessons in their daily training regime. It stinks!
Let’s just call it athletic entertainment and hand out yearly awards in Hollywood.
azbhoy - I'm not convinced that introducing video replays would enhance the game - goaline technology perhaps but so far no one seems to have made it work.
I did an article of referees in November 2005 and referenced an interesting website where fans can rate the refs. You can find it at www.ratetheref.co.uk
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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