Recently retired FIFA Vice President David Will gives his view on the world governing body. I remember when Will was the chairman of Brechin City - at that time Brechin were usually battling out with East Stirlingshire as the worst team in Scotland. Even then when I played against Brechin in a mid-season friendly - our ground was one of the few playable in the area - we lost 5-2. There was a noticeable gulf between a very good amateur team and a poor professional team.
Rangers fans are frustrated at the lack of transfer activity. However, DaMarcus Beasley is noted as a possible Ibrox target.
Graham Hunter believes that Fabio Capello’s fitness regime has given Real Madrid the edge in the chase for La Liga title.
Jonathan Northcroft on Sam Allardyce’s first efforts to turn Newcastle around.
Hugh McIlvanney on the resurrection of David Beckham and England’s Euro 2008 hopes.
Simon Turnbull with a look at the man who won the FA Cup for Sunderland in 1974, Ian Porterfield. Porterfield is currently in charge of Armenia and is battling cancer. He spent time at Chelsea as well as ####mp;T.
Nick Harris with a very un-English view of MLS albeit with some factual errors.
Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions on the blog last week. Please do not hesitate to post links to your own blogs when you post something.
Bobby, since Owen seems to be set to leave Newcastle where do you see him going since the top 4 all seem to not be interested? And how much is he worth?
Oh Canada
Can Fox get together an invitation to Coach Steven Hart to be on FSR tomorrow night – even by phone in? I’m sure you have a big influence on Soccer in the Canada and you can get some live answers to the points you made. It would give a new twist to the program too.
.
Ramon Calderon
With one game (and one slip up) away from a much needed title, why would this guy risk disrupting Beckham and the team by running off at the mouth about getting Beckham to change his mind? The answer is presumably a massive ego that had him invent the nonsense about Arjen Robben over the weekend, when he obviously no contact was made and Robben isn’t going anywhere. Presumably he is still trying to patch over his election promises. It could really tick Beckham off and suddenly his injury “won’t recover in time.”
Feedback
Lastly, you know that was not just feedback you got. Take a 10 sec time-out from being Scottish and give yourself a big pat on the back!!
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on June 11th at 1:16 AM.
La Liga/Messi
Bobby:
1. You saw all our comments on the blog. Assuming you watched La Liga on Saturday, how did you rate what you saw?
2. How will you view Messi in the future?
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on June 11th at 1:27 AM.
LACF
Finally got to hear Ray Hudson doing some commentary ,on some highlights atleti posted. As amusing as he is ,don`t think I could take 90 mins. of him!
Bobby - any thoughts on tyrone marshall's tackle late in the game that broke Kenny Cooper's leg? do you think he deserves any suspension over the 1-game for the red card?
. Bobby l was thinking that instead of the mls looking for star names why can't they look for quality players between 26 to 32 form the prem,laliga and top leauge not exactly the star players.you look at angekl he is probably the best player in the mls but he is a proffesional who does not go about markerting but ensures victory
the likes of marlom king,djemba djemba will help in real quality on the pitch, you look at andy cole and probably a fowler what is your take
what do you make on the restriction of funds by the liverpool board, fistly l thught they would spend 70m pounds but l think the new contracts will exapand their wage bill from 61m to around 90m pounds a season and if they were to bring eto'o tevez, malouda and milito they would have to break the 100m pound mark and they owe 470m pounds what do you think will be the transfer policy at liverpool this season
for the record l am aginst kroenke of the arab guy wanting to buy arsenal because it is a poor investment and the story on my opinion is a lie as a week of painting a black picture at the emirates, because how can the guy use rick parry as his adviser on english football then fail to take over liverpool and then parry advises him to go to arsenal.gilberto can go , if he wants consuder his option , he should feel free because he is not important, he has only popped up with a few headed goals and 7 pens and now he think he that good what a ####
I worry about you. You don't seem to enjoy football that much. How can you say Gilberto isn't important to Arsenal? He's a great holding midfielder in my opinion and any goals he scores should be seen as a bonus?
Also, I'd love to know where you get your "inside" Liverpool info. The owners, team president and Rafa have all said that there will be a good transfer kitty to purchase the few players that Rafa feels he needs. I have heard nothing about Liverpool's board saying anything to the contrary, but then again, I don't read rags.
As to the one rumor that has made it to the more reputable sources, I don't think Forlan is a good fit for Liverpool (or any other English team). Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Forlan already tried England and failed, went to Spain and does well. Some players (cough cough Villa cough cough) are better suited for the Spanish game (and vice versa).
Once Liga is completed next week, I expect the transfer talk (and actual deals) to start coming fast and heavy. What surprise and/or blockbuster do people see happening in the coming weeks?
verbal l am not picking on you the people had the liverpool article and if you are an honest fan you have to look at the financial repecations of improving contracts and buying stars, there is an article in the daily telegraph about how manu season ticket holder is bounb to pay $1000 dollars more for a season ticket if they have a decent cup run and intest rates on wall street increased sharply onn thursday from 4.06 to 5.8 the biggest increase in two years which means when they refiance their loans they will pay more for intrest
Without Gilberto Arsenal go from a physically weak and uninspired side to the weakest most untough team in the prem.
My god we need to add toughness not lose it.
As far as I am concerned Fabregas can go, 2 goals,3 or 4 assists and a whole lot of possesion in the middle 40, no thanks, sell him now while he has value. In 2 years Arsenal will be lucky to get 10M pounds for him.
Listen I like Fabregas, but he is limited, a smaller weaker version of Riquelme. He's Scholes without a shot. If I had my druthers I would replace him with Deco.
The thing about Fabregas is he needs a defensive mid behind him and an all-rounder next to him, so to have him in the line-up for his admittedly often beautiful plays you have to sacrifice a winger or a striker or be weak in midfield as Arsenal were all last year.
I don't doubt the ManU supporters being afraid of all the finance stuff, but the Liverpool takeover isn't the same (according to Tom Hicks himself). I still think Liverpool will end up spending anywhere from 40-60 million pounds (the net spending will probably be closer to 40 than 60). And if I'm wrong and you're right, feel free to completely rub it in my face.
Sad times at Arsenal. They can't even afford a youth player from the Norwegian league.
England 0-0 Czech Rep.
If you didn`t see it ,you didn`t miss a thing ,unlike Leroy Lita ,who missed a penalty with three mins. to play.
Three games into the tournament and a grand total of ONE goal has been scored!
And getting back to the Messi "goal" ,Gabriel Marcotti on Talksport is dissecting it and other cases of cheating.
Apparently ,Italy has a video panel that reviews such incidents after games ,and in a similar case in a Serie B game earlier this season a player was given a three game ban.
Guess Italy is leading the way in that area.
No mention of that ,they are waiting for Guillem Balague to come on air with any details ,they are saying Henry has agreed to terms in principal for a fee of around 17m euros.
Okay ,NOW they saying Henry`s agent has told them off mic ,he`s had no contact with Barca whatsoever and he is threating legal action.
So why did they say anything in the first place?..... and why did I pass it on?
The top story about Henry on this site should be taken down. Henry's agent is threatening to sue the French magazine that's reported as a "done deal" Henry's signing on with Barca. Both his agent and Henry are denying the story strenuously:
Goshdarnit I am thinking about legal action, this is B.S., who runs this website? who do I complain to? Someone is trying to force this issue and its Barca, they must think they are losing Eto'o.
-I can handle Milan or even Madrid, but to Barca, please no.
MasMaz and Henry I thought the agenda was to keep the Arsenal team together for one more season and see what happens. Losing Gilberto would be a big loss for me especially after the season he has just had. He is currently one of the best holding midfilders in the game and has about 4yrs left in top form.
Losing Cesc would be an even bigger loss. You don't sell young players just because you have looked at their stats and seen that they are not as good as you would want them to be. Instead look at the impact the kid has on arsenal games. Ask your self why he has been involved in every game this season. There many goals that Arsenal scored and Cesc didn't get the assist but you go back to the play it was him who started the whole play. What would you've said if Man U had sold C. Ronaldo before this season just because he hadn't realized that it's the final ball that matters most.
And to add to my above comments! Selling Cesc would also be restarting the rebuilding process all over again because the team is very much built arround Cesc. I'm tired of rebuilding I say keep the same team for another year if it doesn't work next year then I don't know what will happen... so lets hope they win something next year.
thierry should be the one who should #### off he gives interviews and says ridicolous things, throws insults at the board, the young and thenwhen rumours come out threatens legal action, l think he should just go he wants to make himself the news every time
G44- you are right, lets keep the team together but add at least one quality player. If only one I say a big central defender.
H14- I've read Henry's remarks. Maybe I am missing something. For him to express his dissappointment that the top management of the club he just signed a long term deal with is changing and that his beloved coach is also disconcerted enough about the shake-up to not commit beyond next season, is perfectly within the range of acceptable behavior. Add the fact that they promised him that they would bring quality players in.
-I myself am pretty close with my boss, he hired me. If he were to be fired I would be a little upset and I would probably leave the company.
-In fact it can be argued in principal that by Dein leaving it changes the conditions of the contract Henry thought he was entering. It wouldn't hold up in court but theoretically he could be justified.
-Somebody explain to me w/o hyperbole and citing his language, exactly what he said that is so distasteful. Please!
Bobby,
Do you think anything will come of Ronaldinho's comments about being tired? He was voted the best player in Europe last year, this year everyone says he's washed up. Why isn't the fatigue caused by the ridiculous schedule these guys are forced to keep by FIFA, UEFA, domestic leagues and their own national federations, discussed and changed? It seems to me that the demands on the players have increased. This will only diminish the product on the pitch as the best players are carried off due to injury.
Bobby,
Any thoughts on the USMNT? Bradley and Failhauber (sp?) seem like a tough combination in the middle and if Beasley, Dempsey, Ching, and Donovan can keep those defenders streched with their speed it might make for a fun Copa America. I have also been impressed by Mapp and his attacking ability on the left. What do you think...anyone?
Lots of people are speaking on my behalf. It’s impossible to stop the rumours - it’s not the first or the last time that people are speaking for me. In my head I’m still an Arsenal player and my departure is not a current issue.
Who does he mean is speaking on his behalf? Newspapers? Agents? He went on to again talk about David Dein’s departure, saying:
David Dein’s exit should not have happened; if there was one person who shouldn’t have left Arsenal it’s David Dein. I’m saying it now and I’ll say the same thing in 20 years.
And again I have to make the point that what happens at board level should not be a topic for discussion for Thierry Henry or any player. Given Henry’s close connections to the Dein family though it’s hard to think he’s not coming at this with an agenda to promote and that, to me, is very disappointing. Is he being used to destabilise Arsenal ahead of a triumphant Dein return which would see him stay at the club? Whatever his motivation for talking constantly about David Dein it is out of order for the captain of Arsenal Football Club to get involved when things are so delicate in the boardroom - and if he hadn’t noticed it was entirely down to David Dein that things are like that.
sounds like atletico might be ready to accept offers for fernando torres...where do you think he might end up? any thoughts on whose system he might fit well into? i feel he's a very versatile player, but that he would fit in perfectly at Man United and flourish under SAF's guidance. thoughts?
I recently read that David Gill said United are looking for a striker. It would be a great buy for United but if they buy him, I bet they'll overspend.
Neophyte-
I concur re:USMNT. Bradley certainly has a lot to choose from but it's obvious whom he should play including all that you mentioned. As dysfunctional as their play has been they need to and should win the GC.
Bobby- Why do you think FR should be fired at Barca? And who should replace him?
Have the new American owners delivered at their respective clubs in the EPL?
A belated congrats to your countryman Franchetti for winning the Indy.
For those who care Arsenal have a new Away kit you can check it out on Arsenal Website. I personally didn't like it that much.
H14 Thierry was probably asked about the depature of David Dein and he gave his honest answer. You have to understand Henry has stayed at Arsenal in Arsenal the longest in the current squad so he was probably closer to David Dein than the other lads. I read Cesc interview recently and he also said the same thing that it was wrong for Dein to leave.
I personally don't rate Torres that high, I think he is very talented but if asked I would pick David Villa over him on any day. Man U or Milan are 2 of the likeliest destinations. I think Milan would be a better option. Him and Kaka would cause havoc on defenses.
I just saw it, the new away kit. It is awful. I can't believe they are planing to use those. It won't last the year. They will never win anything in those, they look like girls.
The club is steadily creeping downward.
I hear Wenger is even bringing back the famous Arsenal offside trap.
Gogongatore,
I haven't been impressed with Spector and Simik lately. I think Borenstien played better than Spector on the left. That is definately going to be an issue against the tougher competition in the Copa America. Do you see any combination that looks good on the back line?
gongatore,
The only reason why Americans are involved in buying EPL teams is because of the big TV contract. They're looking to cash in on the TV profits.
It seems to me that many of the top players seem to reach a level of performance and then taper a bit or suffer injury, often at the age when they should be in their playing prime. Is this due to the increased games and traveling that comes with reaching that level where a player is needed in every game for club and country? I would assume that as a player improves in talent and stature he begins to get over worked by his managers and this has to result in eventual decline in performance and health. It's a shame, but neither the leagues, UEFA or FIFA is likely to volentarily give up income for the sake of either the player or the game itself. Thoughts?
I get what you are saying atleti but that open's up a whole ugly can of worms regarding a club not wanting certain underperforming players to get healthy, or players playing before they have fully recovered,etc.
Along with the loafers, delicate flowers, and general money wasting lemons this is intended to discourage, clubs/federations would be punishing good and dedicated players who break down from the overworking these same clubs/federations are demanding of them.
I like 'pay as you play' when it's concerning a player who continues to suffer injuries repeatedly-- not for everyone. I recall a BBC article a few years back about Manchester United wanting to use that sort of approach for players like O'SHEA and RYAN GIGGS. I don't know if they actually went through with that though-- anyone know?
neophyte-
You make a very valid observation about the unimpressive performance by our back line. One could say that will all the combos employed by Bradley so far it will take time for them to mix properly and you're right at present they will get shredded by a good SA side in CA.
Spector did not look very good on saturday but remember he was playing out of position. He started a lot of matches for West Ham this past season and I think he has tremendous potential. Simek looked okay on saturday. I never knew that he attacked so much as I saw him play once this past season for SW. His dribbling skills are okay but he doesn't seem to possess a good shot. Bornstein has looked good. I like his positional awareness.
As far as a back line for CA? Very good question. It depends partly on if Gooch can regain some semblance of form. I think you'll agree that he has been woeful in NT matches. He looks very unfit and slow. Perhaps he isn't match fit for some reason. I don't know how much he played at NU this past season, do you? Also some players have a difficult time making the transistion from Continental European football to the EPL.
What about a backline of JB, JD, CB and JS or FS. Left to right.
I think that you just nailed down the backline of the near future for the US. Bocanegra will probably need to be replaced with someone younger and with better skills. I don't know who that is at this point. I like Bocanegra, but many don't.
I believe the Bradley has put all of the young veterans (Gooch, EJ, Donovan, and Beasley in particular) on notice and that they need to be consistently in form to play. What is interesting to me is that Bradley had been giving the captain's armband to several people while he had the interim tag, but he seemingly has given it to Bocanegra for the Gold Cup at least. I'm just glad that he didn't just give the band back to Donovan.
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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