In a number of provinces in Canada we can bet legally on sports courtesy of the government. The down side is the Russian Mob would probably give better odds than we can get on what is known as Pro Line. Included on Pro Line is the Premiership. Over the couple of years I have got into the habit of dropping by the local store on the way home from doing the Friday Fox Soccer Report.
My weekly wager is very small but it does add something extra to the weekend's soccer action. I try to avoid the early Saturday game because if you get that one wrong then your are screwed. Luckily this weekend was one of the few occasions when the govermment gets to return some of that money to me. I picked six games and all came good. The picks (all to win) were Bolton, Charlton, Manchester City, Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham.
Here are some articles that caught my eye over the weekend.
Stewart Fisher with a piece on Paul Dalglish of The Houston Dynamo. Apparently Paul’s father was quite a good player. Unfortunately Mr. Fisher can’t get the name of the Dynamo’s coach correct!
Gabriele Marcotti takes a look at how Roma have changed under the very underrated Luciano Spalletti. Totti has never been rated by the English media. I wonder if that will still be the case in a few weeks time.
Patrick Barclay takes a look at a player born just miles from Old Trafford who is out to stop Manchester United.
Steve Tongue points out that seven of the eight remaining Champions league teams are skippered by home-town players.
A little piece on Northern Ireland hero David Healey.
Finally a piece from Hugh McIlvanney on the behaviour of some England fans in Barcelona last Wednesday. It includes this stiletto - “All their efforts to masquerade as passionate patriots driven to condemnatory fury by the inadequacies of McClaren and his men could not begin to conceal the revolting truth that most of the snarling, bellowing viciousness came from look-at-me exhibitionists so absorbed in masturbation of their emotions that their favourite insult had an autobiographical ring.”
A big week coming up with the Champions League and UEFA Cup taking centre stage.
I told the Man U fan that I know that of all the Epl teams they had the toughest task. I've watched Roma on a few games(Inter & Milan games included) and they really impressed me especially their techniqual formations are amazing very hard to defend, my only worry is their defense is not all that but offensively especially without Vidic Man U will have to be very sharp.
Totti has been one of my top 5 best players since 2000. The guy is simple amazing when he plays at his best. And he is the King of Chipping the ball.
Things to look out for as the season comes to an end:
1. Race between Man U and Chelsea will come down to the wire. Arsenal might play the biggest part in deciding who gets to lift that title with that game just before Chelsea faces Man U.
2. Race for Player of the Year will come down to what Drogba and C. Ronaldo do in these last games. Right now Ronaldo has the upper hand.
3. Arsenal better wake up or they will be competing for 4th with The Coldspurs again, who will finish 5 above Bolton.
4. Relagation battle might also come down to the last games also. Charlton have a chance of surviving but I don's see West Ham surviving.
5. If Cesc doesn't win Young player of the year, it will confirm that the Fa has or the whole Enlgish media has something against Arsenal.
Bobby what do you think of this 5 issues? the last one you can ignore.
Gunner44: Not sure now if Arsenal/Chelsea game can decide the title with still many games to play. However, things look like the fight for the 4th will be between Arsenal and Spurs. Will Spurs get their revenge? On #5, Cesc has not played well for a long time now, otherwise it'd have been Iniesta sitting on the bench.
If Arsenal beat Chelsea which is quite a bit more likely than Spurs beating Chelsea next week then the race is decided. So, Foxcube good luck with your prediction about spurs taking Arsenal when it is just as likely that Arsenal finish 3rd, I mean have you looked at the table, spurs are basically 10 points off.
-I've said it before, say what you will about Mourinho, his players seem to love playing for him and they are tough, tough to beat.Roman would be a fool to get rid of him, or a megalomaniac (likely).
-Sheva doesn't look too bad to me.
-I am tellin' you Carlitos could stay at West Ham even if they go down. With that weird situation surrounding his transfer that consortium that owns him may just want to let him go w/o a scene. West Ham have the money. He seems to be that type of guy who would want stay and the supporters just love him. It won't happen but it'd make a nice story.
Is it just me or do others view England's quest for a second WC as the greatest, longest running soap opera in sports? I know that Scotland must be enjoying it. Fergie defended McClaren but then added he wished they were playing Scotland next. From an objective point of view, do you think McClaren has what it takes? If not, would you run off McClaren now and give it to Venables for the Estonia game?
Bobby, who is 1. your pick, 2. who you think will win PFA young player of the year.
Was going to post this yesterday, but waited for SC, and now someone has brought it up.
re: gunner; "5. If Cesc doesn't win Young player of the year, it will confirm that the Fa has or the whole Enlgish media has something against Arsenal."
At first I might have thought Cest was a shoe in, except for a couple things. First, I thought it was a 21- award when infact it's 23-. Second, in yesterday's game it was said that Cesc has 0 goals in 56 goal attempts, a rather poor return for an offensive midfielder. His contribution in assists and overall play is not to be denied, but his competition is greater than it seems...
Martins, Rooney, Doyle, even Kalou for what little he plays, all having pretty big impacts on their teams this year.
l really have to say that there is some work to be done with the arsenal team, and surely they are some players who are not contributing, freedy, baptista, surely have done nothing to help the cause.with the way spurs are playing l can see them getting fourth , because l can not see us beating portsmouth, chelsea , bolton and newcastle, two at home and two away.our biggest problem this season has been scoring goals and surely patience is running out because we need a striker, a winger and another central defender.people are relaxed and most have no competion hence they just do not perfom.l have been a great wenger fan over the years , but if we do not win anything next season which is highly likely, surely they comes a time even the great have to go because over the last two season we have not competed and l would rather have mourinho over him just because of the winning mentality he has.Bobby do you know how many goals baptista score from open play from his 38 in 50 appearances, l would want to belive 95% were set plays?
as for pfa young player of the year l would go with agger who has been far more consistent and kept hypia out than cesc
Bobby, regarding the booing fans, I don't think there is anything wrong with booing itself since I believe fans are bigger than clubs and teams and players so they are entitled to their actions. Have the England fans not suffered enough?
Mas, it was a question not prediction.
Everyone, time to forecast your score lines for tomorrow's CL games!
I wonder why the English media don't rate Totti. Any ideas anyone?
I think Valencia and Roma have the star quality and potential to halt Chelsea and Man Utd dreams of European glory. Proceed with caution!
Since Blackburn lost to ManU 4-1, I think they will go on the defensive for the FA Cup Semifinal, in the same way that they did against Arsenal in the previous round.
Also, I hope that Atletico Madrid don't sack Aguirre at the end of the season. I think that, given the circumstances (key players injured), he has done the best that he can. I feel that the players haven't given it their all, and they go on cruise control once they are up a goal. In terms of Maniche, I think Atleti will sell him at the end of the season after his disrespectful comment to the press.
I'd like to hear Bobby's apparently he is not too bad at this, although he mentioned way back he wasn't any good, it seems he has grown into his ability.
Ringo- enlighten us a little on the back story of Gretna FC.
Atleti- I just recently got GolTV again so I havent seen Atletico at all this season, I watched them 5-6 times last year. I watched them yesterday- they did not look good, they have not improved, although w/o Petrov and Rodriguez it is hard to say. What did Maniche say?
-Totti, I can only guess about the English media in which for the most part I put little stock, there was a great article about this during the world cup. Totti is extremely slow he needs time on the ball and with the tenacious pace of the english game he just wouldn't get that time, one or two tough tackles and he will dissappear. That in conjuncton with his typical Italian mama's boy attitude put the english and much of the world off. The world is not here to serve him because he is fabulously good looking and can play some football, that is just the impression I get, he may in fact have a far reaching mind, a philanthropic spirit and a grand capacity for self-reflection. I rate him, but only in Italy, one need only look at his international career. That said no one in united's midfield really matches well with him they could sure use Keano on wed., look for a few typical late crunches from the Ginger Ninja, even so Totti isn't the danger man. I gather the fear comes from Mancini and Perrotta.
-Roma's home shirts(w/o Pepsi logo) are quite stylish. Maybe the best in world.
Atleti had such an excellent start to the season (before Maxi and Petrov got injured) and now they are just getting by, but barely, which is frustrating their fans immensely. They talk endlessly about how they want European football, but you'd never guess that by their displays on the pitch.
Maniche basically said, 'Atleti are great, but are far from the best.' To many the comment seemed unnecessary and insulting: we already know that Atleti are underachieving at the moment, was it necessary for him to say this to the press though? No. I just hope the boys wake up from this rotten funk they're in.
In terms of Totti, your explanation makes sense. Thanks.
I also agree that Totti's attitude sucks and makes him not to be considered as an all time great, but when he shows up and plays to his full ability few can match up with him. And someone made a great point in saying Utd don't have someone to match up with him and might end up been destroyed by him. He knows this is chance doesn't come very often.
As for Arsenal honestly I've no clue what will happen all I know is they need to get their act together. Gilberto needs to get back, for me he is the captain, more than Henry and Kolo who by the way is the assistant captain, Henry is just our superstar.
Cesc has been probably the most consistent player in Arsenal and one of the most consistent in the Epl, the guy has played has played 45 games and I guess they are starting to catch up to him and also he hasn't played with Gilberto in the last few games that has hurt him. But if the award goes from 23 and below then C. Ronaldo should win that one too.
Henry14 your problem is that you look at only the present. The team right now is clearly tired and hopeless because they feel they have nothing to play for and also liverpool were clearly the better team on sat. You are talking like a frustrated fun who is only looking at the negative. Try and look at the positives like the wins against, Man U, the fighting spirit that we've seen in this team, the beautiful style of play that this team has produced and the depth this team has shown in all the injuries we have had, then you will realize it's not time to kick Wengerman out. And for you to come out and say that you'd rather have Jose Mourinho as your head coach in a world wide blog that just ain't right my friend. True fans never look to their rivals to save their ####. JOIN CHELSEA IF YOU THINK MOURINHO IS THE BETTER COACH AND PUT A PICTURE OF HIM ON YOU BLOG.
Gunner44: you blame the coach for not doing well and wenger is no exception to that rule .in the past three years jose has been a better manger than wenger and the results clearly show that it is being honest.you will have a tough time watching this year's dvd as it has nothing to be really happy about.the team is not playing well and something has to change in our style , because it has not worked.l feel wenger is under pressure because if there is no trophy he will be put into question if he is the man to lead arsenal into a brighter future.mind you we are favourites not to win anything next year so it will be easy to replicate this season.our position now shows that they are few positives and you have to look at our position and is there a big difference firom last y year
-I agree Gunner, Henry14 is fairweather. They were calling for SAF's head also. This is a re-building period. 2 seasons w/o silver big deal, Champs final last year. I think Mourinho is a great manager, I am believer, is he better than Wenger who can say? Unlimited budget and all. And when you look at the talent he had at Porto its not like he won with nobody.
-Arsenal need to buy an all around midfielder with some eye for goal.(Deco-like) Maybe sell Fab4 for a good profit to Madrid, he can't score in the Prem. Too bad.
-Lose Reyes & Baptista, if you gotta keep one keep Baptista.
-Somehow, someway get Eto'o, he and Henry are buddies, imagine that. If not then Klose.
Henry14 I understand what you are saying but been a football fan of one club is like been in a family you just never talk crup about you bro, siz mom or dad just because he messed up. In 00-01 season Arsenal lost 6-1 to united crushing our dreams of winning any title and then lost one of the toughest losses to this day I've ever experienced to liverpool 1-0 up with 10mins left and then Owen struck twice still have nightmares about that game. Houiller won a treble that year Sir Alex picked up his 3rd Epl in a row. All we had was a 3rd straight season trophyless, but you didn't here Arsenal fans crying we want Ferguson or we want Hollier the next season WengerMan delivered a double, so if you are just a beginner in this being a fan thing then you have to learn to be patient, other wise you'll end up eating your words. Look at the West Ham situation, they let Pardew go and look at what he is doing now. Also I arge you to look at Fergusons first 10 years with Utd and see whether there is any big difference from wenger upart from age.
Wenger has done so much for this club it would be a shame to let him go coz of one or two bad seasons. When you mention that we are the same from last year you forgot to check the points difference and also you forgot to mention that last year we made the C.L final.
MasMaz selling Cesc would be the dumbest move in football history. I wouldn't mind getting Eto or Klose though. As for Baptista I'd rather we keep him than keep that trader called Reyes at least he wants to stay and fight for a position which unless he goes and finds a better touch over the summer will never happen though. Maybe he's just one of those players that need time. Besides if not for Henry, RVP and maybe even Theo's injuries he wouldn't be playing.
Bobby
Q1 now that tevez seems to havesettled in the prem do you change your mind to see one of the big four going for him
Q2 l am a big lampard fan, l feel for the past three season he has been the outstanding midfilder in the prem bar none, and still feel this season as no exception how woild you solve the gerrard lampard colludrum
Gunner44:l do not care how good wenger has if he subjects us to as much pain as we are having now he has to go.it is his fault he send all expirience packing in viers, edu,campbell so he is to blame big time for the problems.l am glad flamini wants to leave because he is just a younger version of hargreaves, very limited players.l think song,denilson, diaby and gilberto and cesc are enough cover in central areas.freddy and baptista should be on their way.we really need to buy because a 60000 seater stadium and not competing just does not cut it.he deliberately goes out of his way not to spend to trust thugs like freedy, flamini and baptista , senderos so he should face the chop if they do not perfom
I'm a little upset by the fact it is come out that Rafa has been given 40 million. It's a great total, but I would have hoped that it would have been kept silent. Now that team's know how much he can spend, they'll certainly hold out for a better price when any interest is shown in a player. Isn't it counter-productive to state how much you can spend on transfers?
I think some of the reasons the English media don't rate Totti is because they have always been consistantly delusional and arrogant about the talent of their home grown players, they can't bear to give props when it is due and it doesn't sell broadsheets. Totti is a fantastic player, mercurial and petulant at times (just like the ManU muppet) but he does have one thing that no current player for England has, a WC ring. Can he break down MU? It should be fun to watch, there are several players to watch out for in Roma's exciting attack.
May the best team win.
Bobby- How silly is it that people are calling for Wenger's head? Why would he leave Arsenal? IMHO he has done a fantastic job (this year, they have slipped, it happens to the best sides) and arguably one of the architetcts of why the EPL has become an exciting league.
My head is about to EXPLODE. Henry14 stop this ranting about Wenger. If it wasn't for him, Arsenal would be lucky to make UEFA with the injuries they have had. And there problem this year is not scoring goals, it has been allowing too many. Which is because we haven't played our best XI all year. Without the injuries I truly believe Arsenal would have picked up at least a double. Remember that this is basically Arsenal Reserves vs. the EPL.
Masmaz,on the rise of Gretna.
Just five years ago Gretna finished in seventh place in the english northern league div.1,(the eighth tier of english football).
Although just over the scottish border,they had never played in the scottish league until Clydebank went bust and the league took applications for their replacement.
Gretna were accepted and in their second year they where run away winners of div.3,the following year ,they walked away with div.2,and this year they are 2 or 3 wins away from winning div.1 and taking their place alongside Rangers and Celtic in the Spl!
I`m sure Bobby can fill in more details!
The only other team to rise through the ranks that I can think of ,is Wimbledon in the 70`s and 80`s,but it took them twenty years to do it.
RINGO...look at Wigan Athletic's rise from non-league status 30 years ago to a top half EPL finish last season as such a rise...though Gretna has the potential to better that. You also forgot to mention that Gretna played in the UEFA Cup this season thanks to their runner-up finish in the Scottish Cup to Hearts (on penalties) last season.
Verbal,your quite right,I forgot about Wigan,but having been there,it`s a really easy place to forget!
There`s more I could say about Gretna,I think their`s is a great story,but I thought I would leave something for Bobby!
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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