Another interesting weekend of football. The "Dream Final" will have to be an unbelievable match to beat out the Chelsea-Blackburn game. How many times do you think Morten Gamst Pedersen has replayed in his mind the header that went inches wide with 8 minutes left?
With the Everton-Charlton game on delay I was sorely tempted to check the score on the internet. Fortunately, I resisted the temptation and an amazing finish was the reward.
In Italy it was like old times with Inter coming back from two goals down to Palermo to draw. Parma have sufferred only one loss in their last 8 games although five other games have finished as draws. Although Ascoli pulled of####ood result against Lazio (2-2) it wil be awfully tough to make up the lost ground. Messina are in free fall so it may come down to Parma, Reggina or Chievo joining the other two.
Barcelona scraped through courtesy of a last minute own goal to extend their lead at the top of La Liga. The schedule favours Barcelona with only three (Atletico, Getafe and Espanyol) of the eight games against top half teams. Of the 31 points dropped by Barcelona this year only 8 have come against bottom half of the table teams and they have yet to lose to a team from #11 down.
Levante became the latest team to drop into the bottom three in Spain. Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo under new coach Hristo Stoichkov both won. There is a full schedule of games in Italy this week and a partial schedule in England.
Coming off a 3-0 loss to Sheffield United another loss to Chelsea would leave West Ham at least 5 points from safety and with a much poorer goal difference. Sheffield United faces Manchester United before another 6 point encounter on Saturday - this time against Charlton.
Here are a few articles that have caught my eye recently.
Q1 what do you make of knonke guy's increase in stake, what do think are his intentions?
Q2l saw milan and they are really catching form at the right moment do you see them having a shout out red hot united because l feel inzaghi and giladino are not good enough for milan .do you feel that the second leg being at milan can be a disadvantage for united
Q3 what do you make the kissing and hugs of roman and jose
Q4l do not feel the primierleague is the best leauge because they are four teams that really and this season two that are in the tittle hunt were as in germany and spain the race is intresting which do you think is the best leauge and what does it take for the primiership to have a four way race
Last week`s trivia question.
The biggest aggregate win in european football-
Chelsea 21-0 Jeunesse Hautcharage(Luxembourg)
8-0 away,13-0 home(8 goals by Ossie).
1971 cup-winners-cup.
Thanks for all the dozens of replies!
(OK,one,verbal97).
This week`s question.
How many non-league teams have won the FA Cup?
I had forgoten how it feels to win but finally Arsenal won. And Cesc scored to, good to see him nominated for both pfa player of the year and young player of the year although I don't see him winning either.
I wanted to say this about Mourinho though, after looking at what he has done this season even if he doesn't win any trophy which I think he will win at least one the guy has done incredibly well to be in EPL contention still and win a final against Arsenal, play an Fa cup final and mybe even a Cl final I hope not though is an amazing fit. But then again I still don't like the way his team plays and so does Waddle. Read BBC, especially you RINGO pretty sure you won't like what he has to say. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foo tball/6559625.stm, if this doesn't work go to the bbc sports website.
P.s. I hope Chelsea win the FA. Cup, Man U win the League, and A.C. Milan win the C.L.
Last edited by Gunner44 on April 16th at 10:18 AM.
As for the EPL been the best league. I personally like it coz of the speed the games are played at and the atmosphere that are at the grounds. But when it comes to watching for entertainment apart from Arsenal, Man U, and a couple of other teams maybe like Reading and Spurs, I'd rather watch La Liga. Sometimes even the German leg, and French leg. are more entertaining coz there more C. Ronaldo type of players.
I`m not complaining,and I don`t think you will find any Chelsea supporters who are!
As for Chris Waddle,he was an OK player,but as a journalist all you need to know about him is he writes for The Sun "newspaper"! It always makes me laugh when someone says"that was worth the entrance fee alone",only people who don`t actually pay say that!
I bet your a lot happier now!
I was just listening to the Thursday podcast of Worldsoccerdaily and they played another Mourinho parody,could you please post the address like last time?
-Sell Cesc now while he is worth something in a few years he will be a great 5 goal a year midfielder who controls the ball w/o creating the final chance and mediocre defender. Use the money to get Eto'o and another central defender.
-I am confused RINGO is Bobby using an alias
-I love the way Chelsea play, they batter teams into submission. It is just so intense.
-I believe the adavantage goes to the team playing away in the 2nd leg b/c of the importance of the away goals. If you win 1-0 at home then go away and get an early goal the tie is basically over b/c the home team then needs 3 goals. Basically as the away team in the final leg you are never out of it unless facing a massive deficit.
Bobby, there's a little controversy brewing among Reading supporters over whether we should be trying to secure a place in European competition this year or not. Some are disappointed that it seems we've given up on it, while others thing trying to get there would be too much too soon. Which way do you think Reading should be going? Knowing of course that Coppell is too smart to pull an Ipswich even if we were to qualify.
Kudos to David James, even though his Village People remark can be construed as insensitive. Personally, I think the reason why ####, pro athletes don't come out has to do with the "macho" sub-culture of sports, in general. I'm sure that in my lifetime (I'm relatively young) it will happen, but it would be an interesting case study to see how fans, teammates, opponents, officials, front office people, etc. conduct themselves when it does.
Anyway, the rumors over which striker Liverpool should sign are at a fever pitch already with Eto'o, Berbatov and Villa the most loudly named. Why are people so impatient?
Gamst Pederson was by far the best player on the field in the semi yesterday. Will he move to a "bigger" club? And if Marcotti uses retainment of players as a reason for English CL success, what does it say about the EPL if mid-table teams can't keep their best players? I think there is a lot of salt to the argument that the EPL top 4 benefits from being miles ahead of the rest of the competition.
MazMas - I have to register like everyone does. For some reason when I use my PC it gets posted as my monicker while when I use my laptop it comes up as me.
Thank you Bobby, great article on Roy Keane. Being American I follow players more than teams mostly, I don't really have a geographic stake in the league so it is the players and managers who I am drawn to. My favorite player now is Henry, but my first favorite and possibly most favorite was Keane, he is one of the reasons I become entranced by the game. I cannot wait to see him toe to toe on the touchline with all four of the big four managers, especially Jose. That is entertainment. He certainly is a more reflective man than most would have figured.
Verbal
You can answer anyway you want to.
Bobby will reveal the corect answer tomorrow night,if he knows it!!
On the David James piece,did you get the feeling he is testing the water before coming out?
He,or anyone else would be very brave to do so,knowing the abuse they would recieve at every away game,and probably from some of his own supporters.
It was England that came out and finally admitted that they were a bunch of overrated whingers in WC '06.
Oh yeah I forgot, Italy are World Champions for 3 more years.
I had no time for Roy keane when he was a player(he was just a thug)and I have no time for him now.
I will take great pleasure seeing him and Sunderland at the bottom of the EPL next season!
Although Niall Quinn is a class act!
The Softball/Soccer story was funny,it reminded me of my schooldays,many moons ago.In the summer during PE,all the cool kids got to play Cricket,while the rest of us were made to play rounders/softball with the girls!
Have you noticed there are no Man U readers on Bobby`s blog?,another reason I like it!
Good article by Marcotti who correctly points out that, success in a knockout competition doesn't mean anything else. Italy were not the best in world last year, they didn't dominate anybody,they just won the cup. Man Utd have beaten Lille and Roma, and are in the UCL semis for the first time in eight years. Arsenal reached the final last year for the first time ever, and Chelsea have never even gotten there, ever (yet!). Liverpool made a great run in 2005, but if this adds up to domination, then they should've stopped even having the competition during the last decade. I understand the excitment among EPL fans after finally having a claim at being an elite league, but the word dominate shouldn't even enter the discussion.
I also hate seeing references to the fact that UEFA did not sanction Milan after the scandal in Italy. A club employee acted inappropriately and the club was more than adequately punished. If anything UEFA still owes Milan a title from 1993, when it was proven that Marseille bribed a Ligue 1 opponent to, not only concede a match but also to not injure any OM players ahead of the UCL final. Milan lost 0-1, and after the scandal broke, not once did they question the validity of the result or lodge a complaint, even though Milan represented UEFA in the intercontinental Cup final that year (and lost!).
Marcotti's article misrepresents the Sheva transfer. Milan didn't sell Sheva because they couldn't keep him, but when a 30-year-old requests a transfer and a club still offers US$60M for him, you take the money. Even Chelsea would do the same this year.
Last edited by Venti_vidi_vici on April 16th at 3:40 PM.
Ah RINGO, we begin to have a disagreement, but you likely know more about Keane than I, I try to keep my interest in the game only. For example Henry is my favorite player b/c of the grace with which he plays. I am big, former american footballer and so I can only dream to float around the pitch as he does. And with Roy you just got the sense that he would run until his heart exploded, he was always open to play the ball to and his exquisite short passing, apparently a lost art. I would put money on Roy in a fight against almost anyone(McCarthy and Quinn at the same time). Agreed about the ManU fans they are usually very shortsighted.
-Gongatore, true enough about the England team, they are my 2nd favorite national side and are a huge dissappointment. It was just a joke, I am a fan of the French national team. I am of Italian descent, I dont want you thinking I am anti-Italian, but I still wonder why my boy Gattuso took his pants off and why the guys were making out. To each his own, I say.
Bobby-
Thanks for the links.
Can you chat a bit about what makes a player like Keano be able to lead a side like Sunderland to succcess so quickly? Does being coached by Sir Alex for all those years and his influence have much sway here?
Also how much has Sheva contributed to making Drogba a better player this year?
VVV- everyone is jumping off the Sheva ship. I remember a pretty heated conversation between Sheva and Ancelotti where it certainly looked like he was trying to convince Sheva of something and some bitter comments from Berlesconi about Sheva's american wife. Seemed like they wanted to keep him.
MasMaz-
You are of Italian descent and France is your # side!
quel scandalle!
Don't remember GG dropping his trough but I do remember the lads kissing on the cheek but if you are of Italian descent like me then seeing grown men celebrate like that is the norm.
Italy was by far the best "team" in WC '06. The may not have had all the best players but they were coached the best and again IMHO played as a "team" the best.
Chris Twaddle's on the BBC site is just idiotic. I can only assume that he just gotten released from a mental institution the had no access to TV since September. Presumably he didn't know what Chelsea had to go through to make do and mend for the majority of the season, during the time that United were injury free.
BTW, in a story similar to the Mourinho/Roman make up, following the Chelsea game I passed my wife in the hallway and she gave me a hug. "Glad your team won." said 'the boss'. I was going to ask if it meant that I could go out and buy the new car that "we" had agreed not to get in January, but I think I'll see how I stand with her after I get my rebate at the end of the season. (Tax season that is)
Bobby what do you think about the new arsenal kit for 2007 which has pertions for rejection
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pab27/ 445159616/in/photostream/
is the site were the photos are.
MasMaz:
Without a doubt, Milan would've loved to keep Sheva. After his slow start in England I was among the majority of Milan fans, along with Berlusconi, who were hoping he was on his was back in January. My only point was that his transfer was not caused by financial inability on Milan's part to keep him, as the Marcotti article implies.
Gong:
My point on the Italy's win last summer, is that merely winning a knockout competition doesn't mean you are the dominant force or the undisputed best team in the world (let alone just reaching the semis). Italy, just like the 3 EPL teams in the UCL, performed better on the day, had more heart, and won the spoils, no more no less. Roma could travel to Old Trafford next week and come away with a victory, I wouldn't bet on it, but my point is that there isn't a deeper meaning to simply winning a few matches.
Last edited by Venti_vidi_vici on April 16th at 5:38 PM.
VVV- I know exactly what you mean re: Italy yet I am of the conviction that whomever wins a tournament like the WC which is in such a compact amount of time deserves it, fullstop. Italy came to play every match. Most of us knowledagble fans really thought that Brazil was just miles ahead of any side.
I also thought that Italy had arguably 5 or 6 world class players on their side last summer.
Your point with the UCL is well taken as since it's played over such a long stretch, there are many more variables that come into play. By the way, is Roma that bad or Manu that good? I think the match was an anomaly.
Good luck with your lads at Milan. They could very well beat Manu. Let's hope we see a cracker.
Cheers
Last edited by gongatore on April 16th at 6:07 PM.
I have a great deal of respect for the job Martin Jol has done at Spurs given his relative inexperience, especially the record performance last year when they pushed Arsenal all the way in the battle for fourth place. Is his job in jeopardy, especially if he misses out on Europe in a season where the goal was fourth place?
Do you think there is any possibility that the FA Cup final will be moved back a week, particularly if the same two teams are in the UCL final? Unfortunately having the FA Cup final a few days before the UCL final could force one or both of the managers to keep key players out of the Wembley showdown. Furthermore England don't play a qualifier on 2-June, then visit Estonia on 6-June.
Speaking of average players making bad journalists, after reading David James' article; is it true that 1 in 10 people are ####?
Do you think Henry will leave Arsenal at the end of the season? .... just kidding!!
Last edited by Venti_vidi_vici on April 16th at 6:32 PM.
Gong:
Italy definately deserved the World Cup title, they were the only team in the field capable of beating the hosts and they did it in style. Their every department was as good as anybody's, and they showed more heart and desire than anyone at that tournament. I also don't want to take anything away from the EPL trio in the UCL, they all deserve to be there and along with Milan are arguably the best teams in Europe at the moment, but that's as far as it goes. I'm sure Barca, Real, Inter, etc will have something to say about their "domination" next season.
One thing I forgot to mention, Marcotti was wrong in saying that only Sissoko was a long term injury. As I'm sure the Chelsea fans are aware of, Liverpool has been without a certain dimunitive Spaniard that is capable of the greatest and worst plays you'll ever see.
Italy is/was NOT the best team. They drew with the US even though the ref (incorrectly) sent off two American players, and don't get me started with Grosso's dive in stoppage time against Australia. As a person of half Italian descent, I still was for France in the final because I can't support serial divers.
Bobby, where do you think Michael Owen will be getting treatment next year - Newcastle or is there a chance he'll go to Old Toilet. If he goes to Man U, he might as well burn down Anfield.
RINGO, my guess is that there has been only one team whose current manager's initials are MJ.
MasMaz, I hope you are kiddin about selling Cesc Fabulous, coz right now I wouldn't sell Cesc for even C. Ronaldo let alone Eto. Reason been Cesc is only 19 he has certainly proved he can play in the Epl, he loves and adores the club and has great character maybe of a future captain, Arsenal is built around him when Henry is not there and even sometimes when Henry is there. Please name me another 19 year old central mid who plays as good & consistant as Cesc does. Eto is hell of a player having followed the African game for a long time he's probably one of the best African players ever. But I wouldn't take a risk knowing how players from la liga ve' struggle in the Epl, especially considering the pressure Wenger knows he will be in nxt season. I believe the key to Arsenal this summer is to keep this squad together especially the original starting line-up or Kolo, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Helb, Rosisky, Cesc, Silva, R.V.P and of course Henry who I believe nxt season will be back to his best.
Notice I didn't mention Jens by the way coz I think if Wenger is going to make a big move it should be for a quality goalie like maybe Buffon.
Bobby my question to you is do you think Giggs deserves to be nominated or should Vidic be the one nominated or even Essien?
Also who would you pick if you starting a team nxt season C. Ronaldo or Kaka if given the choice at the end of this season? Explain why? Anyone else who wants to answer can answer.
Henry 14 from what I had read about the new kit was that the white and red were suppose to be used as away jerseys and the whites as the 3rd kit. Personally I hate them and really hope we don't switch to them.
VVV - 3 EPL teams in this year CL semis could be the start of a new European dominance, much like it was in the late '70s early '80s.
I hope this is not the case, since I am an AC milan fan myself, but as Gabriele Marcotti points out in his article, "the Premiership is the best run league in the world..." and has the financial power to widen the gap with the other European Leagues. The so called Superleague is highly au####able at this point: at least, the biggest European teams would be at the same level, from a commercial standpoint.
verbal97 - About Italy and "serial divers": ok, Grosso drew the penalty, but so did Malouda in the final and Ballack went down in the semi, crying for a penalty. More recently Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of diving several times and you can say the same about Drogba, Messi ecc.
Diving and cheating in general is a big problem in football, but you can't say that it's peculiar of a specific country: it happens all over the globe.
Bobby,
Last week I heard Steve Cohen and Nick Geber (your fellow pundits at FSC) call for Italian clubs as well as the national team to be banned from all UEFA matches for a couple of years due to the violenence from ultras, lax match fixing, and corruption. He noted that juve are well back on their way to serie a, and that one of the execs at juve who resigned now sits on the Italian FA. Do you believe something that harsh is justified and if enforced, would it improve serie A in the long run? He mentioned the England ban and how it improved the league.
I can't remember a season I've enjoyed so much. I loved neil warnock's comments " What cracking goals. You don't usually get goals like that at Brammal Lane..." I think I speak for everyone when i say, - I'd love to share a pint with that lad innit? CHEERS!
Carneade
Grosso did not "draw"the penalty it was a flat out DIVE,but your`e right,he wasn`t the only one,you have also left Sheva`s fine effort for the Ukraine off your list!
As for Ronaldo,he still takes the occasional tumble,along with Rooney(do you think they practice at Man U)?
However I have to disagree with you on Drogba,last year yes,but this year he has cut it out completely,although Robben is sometimes a victim of the second sniper!
G44
I haven`t seen the new Arsenal kit,but I hear it makes you look like Tottenham!!!
Back to the falling down stuff.Have you noticed when it`s Rooney or Owen for England,it seems to be OK?
And how was Essien left off the PFA list?
Although the outcome is a foregone conclusion,Ronaldo!
Most Footballers not being over qualified in the brains department,will just do what they are told by the press!
Ringo:
Just to make sure I understand: In the case of Grosso, it was a flat out dive, but Ronaldo and Rooney just take the occasional tumble. That's good, that's really good. I wonder how you'll feel about it after that take the "occasional tumble" next month against your Blues??
Bobby what do you make of the claim that the prem is becoming an old firm with united and chelsea dominating an liverpool to a certain extent , but there is a feeling that arsenal are surely the club that could easily lose their top 4 status which to some extent l painfully agree with
While true that players from most nations dive, it seems that it happens more with Italy. The 7-8 times I've seen them play the past two-three years have contained at least one dive per game...including the final. I know Zidane must have a hard head, but come on!
h14: Cheer up, they were saying the same thing about Liverpool losing "top 4 status" two years ago at this time and a European Cup, an FA Cup and new investment has changed some of that.
H14- please stop worrying about the Arsenal. we just got the 2nd biggest park which they sell out every game, please relax.
G44- why would you go from Jens an aging world class goalie to Buffon another aging world class goalie, Jens is a great keeper, he is a crazy wild card, but a great keeper.
-I am torn between Kaka and Ronaldo, I am starting to lean towrds Ronaldo b/c of his one on one ability, but Kaka is more of a team player, and as of yet we must not forget Ron has won nothing as a player, nothing. I actually would probably take Essien, the new Roy Keane- penalty box to penalty box dynamo.
-I am not kidding about Cesc, he is fantastic, but limited unless he develops a shot b/c his nshot now is weaker than my grandma's. The time is now to cash in. Sell Eboue, Hleb, Cesc and get a forward and a Central defender move Kolo to right back or any where you need him. Cesc will never develop into what people think he will, but if they keep him I won't be too disappointed.
-Henry will be back to his best next year, guaranteed.
-Italy are the worst divers, they are the worst overacters, somethimes when they go down you can see them looking sideways at the ref to see if it is working, I mean really it is disgusting, at least totally commit to the act. But they were the best team, until the final when France looked the better side. Italy's defnse was so well organized it was impressive.
-Malouda did not dive, he was running top speed and his heel was clipped, maybe he could have stayed up, maybe, but his run was stopped, so why not go over. I love France, b/c of Henry, Zidane, Veiera, Sagnol, Maka, Thuram, Gallas, Ribery, Saha, Malouda, Abidal are some of my favorite players. Domenech is an ####, Barthez sucks and not including Giuly and Pires, who would make any W.C. team likely cost them the cup. That along with the combination of flair, beautiful ball control, attacking prowess and defensive steel. Italy were the best defensive team, France were 2nd, something people forget.
-Thats enough of that, bringing up bad memories.
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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