LosAngelesChelseaFan - Your thoughts on Denis Law?
Meanwhile, what's your take on our premiership champions pick? I can't begin to figure why JM played 3 holding midfielders against Villa and left Joe Cole on the bench. It was hardly the all out attack we saw at Reading. No-one looked sharp. Maybe it's not surprising when the manager looks so bored/resigned. I'd rather have "bad, angry Mourinho" back. I get the feeling that Abramovich actually didn't have money to spend right now and has asked Mourinho to make do with "adequate" for a while. Do you detect something missing at Chelsea in all of this?
Bobby – Denis Law was simply one of the most explosive and exciting players you could ever hope to see. He was brave and lightning quick and fantastic in the air. He also inspired a generation of young footballers to stretch the sleeves of their jerseys so they could grab on to them with their fingers! I still find myself doing it if I am out running or playing in long sleeves. Chelsea midfield was absolutely pedestrian and cried out for Joe Cole. The game has passed Makelele me thinks.
Leche010 - Is it just me, or is the Premiership just filled, from top to bottom, with more quality than it ever has before?I mean even the bottom club (and all but sure to remain there) Derby has Kenny Miller as a striker.
Bobby – Having Kenny Miller as your striker in the Premiership is more a sign of weakness than strength I am afraid. Miller has his strengths but putting the ball in the back of the net regularly is not one of them. However, I think a number of sides have made good acquisitions – Everton, Portsmouth, Manchester City, Liverpool as examples.
Henry14 - 1 Do you think Diarra's addition can help Arsenal with the bullies up north and maybe there is a chance for a real title challenge? 2 th14 is looking doggy for Barca for the past or so games l have seen him do you see him being a great player as he was or he will be another Sheva or Ballack? 3 Do you still think Arsenal will be under Hill Wood come start of next season?
Bobby –1. From what I have seen of Diarra he can’t be described as the second coming of Patrick Vieira – not so far anyway. He certainly is not going to be the difference between a league challenge and no league challenge. 2. Thierry Henry has looked fine to me. 3. I think the question is really will they be under the same regime at the start of next season? If so my answer is yes.
Foxcube - Re: Robson article. I feel it's unfair to match Pires/Ljunberg with Rosicky/Hleb head to head, toe to toe. This is because Arsenal has changed their way of playing since the 2005 and new players were bought for this new style. Bobby would you please give some analysis of their change?
Bobby – What new style? Bergkamp’s gone and can’t be replaced but the wide players are still being asked to do what they were two or three years ago as far as I can see.
Foxcube - Do you see the foreign investments will go on forever? Will the top teams break FA's restrictions and getting their TV deals individually?
Bobby – No tree grows to the sky. The question is how much upside is left in terms of increased revenues. That comes back to TV and internet deals and I’m guessing that there is a big upside left. Unfortunately most of the clubs have shown that can spend the money as quickly as it is given to them so the foreign investments will continue until someone realizes that soccer in Europe has never been a moneymaker. In fact the only people to have made money the last few years are the folks who have sold out to foreign buyers. What does that tell you? Remember apart from Abramovich most of the deals are being done with other people’s money not the names that hit the newspapers. Relatively little of their money is at risk.
The fallacy is that “new owners” bring new transfer money. Normally they increase the club’s debt load to pay for new transfers. Further to the TV deals I don’t believe that there are FA restrictions – it is a Premiership rule.
Foxcube - Re: players' sudden death. Nobody mentioned their insurance situation. Any insights?
Bobby – No different than any other worker dropping dead or being injured at work. If fault can be shown then the employer faces the possibility of legal and civil action. Otherwise you will probably find that depending on the professional players association in each country that the club and/or player carry some form of death benefit.
Craigyf - Your comments on the US MNT squad? Any USA v Brazil predictions? So far only two teams remain on maximum points in Serie A, does that surprise you. What has stood out in Serie A so far? Any thoughts on who might be favourites for the MLS Cup yet?
Bobby – A couple of minor surprise in Bradley’s selections but nothing stunning. Far too early to read anything into Serie A results – check in again around week 10. MLS Cup – I’ve been very impressed with DC United the last few weeks. However, MLS teams are very prone to streaks and there is still 2 plus months of the season left. You have to factor in New England given Steve Nicol’s record in the play offs. Houston still has time to find there feet again and Chivas as flown under the radar. Chivas’ record at home is outstanding.
Ringo - Now that we’re a month into the EPL season, would you like to take a mulligan on any of your picks?
Bobby – I’ll stick. It is a long season – lots of drama to come.
CIAO - What do you make of the final day transfers? Or lack there of in the case of Riquelme, Adriano and Ballack? Maybe Inter and Chelsea should just swap the 2 players. Inter has much better luck with German players than Brazilian strikers.
Bobby – As I said on the show - the transfer deadline had Super Bowl hype and Super Bowl excitement.
Bigdavedisaster - Why the need for the lack of a better word "lies" in the handling of Graversen and Miller transfers by Gordon? Is he simply covering incase the transfers don’t go through and then don’t the players already know that he was willing to let them go?
Whenever I read something on George Best I’m always reminded of my Uncle talking about what a shame it was that he never played in a World Cup for a United Ireland team (if they could have made it?) so that the world might see him on its biggest stage.
Bobby – The manager’s job is to do his up most to win games and that comes before being honest with the press. In the case of George Best my understanding is that he was asked to join the 1982 Northern Ireland squad for the World Cup in Spain but he said no. Can anyone else confirm that story?
I saw a match between Northern Ireland and Scotland at Windsor Park in '81 or '82. It was a friendly to lead up to the World Cup. I don't remember much of the game except the crowds and the excitement but I still have my programme at my folks' house. I saw it, not too long ago, and there is an article or forward about George and him not playing that game. The sentiment was along the lines of knowing everyone would love to see him play but it was best to remember him as he was, not have him as less, just for the sake of having him. The way it was written does sound as though the decision was George's and seems to be explaining it on his behalf. I can't imagine he would have been denied a spot, even blocked and past his prime, had he wanted one, so it may not have been much more than a ceremonial offer, already knowing he would never accept. Next time I go out home I'll reread it and see if I missed anything or I'll call my uncle, he'd know. Not exactly confirmation, but.
Last edited by ulsterson on September 5th at 1:14 AM.
I'm assuming Schuster is on a high when he called Liverpool ugly, after his team spanked Villarial 5-0. The only problem is did he see the Liverpool score from the day before?
Everyone check the blog, tonight the show goes on...
LGB - Liverpool has looked great so far this season. But I agree with Schuster that attractive is not a word I would use to describe their style of play.
I don't know why that comment annoys you, LGB, you were the one who said (not too long ago) that it doesn't matter how to team plays so long as they get the win. That's how Liverpool plays in Europe during the tough games- ugly, but effective.
I think "ugly" and "attractive" are like arguing "best". I've said it many times, but I don't think trying to pass the ball into the goal is "attractive" (cougharsenalcough). Liverpool certainly look "attractive" this season thus far. And if you bring up Europe, look at how the very "attractive" Milan team played Liverpool in the final.
The influx of $$ into the Prem has clearly led to an uptick (but that is all it is) in imported talent population on some of the teams. I think there is upside on the revenue side of the sport, more so in the USA than in Europe, where some of the teams may already be overvalued from a strictly business point of view, but there is always the celebrity and vanity factor in being an owner. If one is subject to football madness, as well as being willing to invest, so much the better for the sport.
And now for a different subject. Giving thought to Mr. Beckham's complaint about artificial playing surfaces, and being aware of some of the recent achievements of the materials engineering wizards, as well as the difficulties of keeping a natural pitch in form in different (and often difficult) climates, I wonder if some reseaarch is being done on an artificial surface that wouuld have the resilience of natural turf, durability of the current artificial surfaces, but without the abrasive tendencies. The world market for such a material would be immense, it wouuld improve consistency of play, and possibly decrease injury potential. Perhaps you could make some discrete inquiries of your, ahem, more technologically inclined football acquaintances (and I will do so myself). Also, at times I wonder if a little added protective gear would decrease injuries, which have sidelined too many elite players of late.
Last edited by stujonesmd on September 5th at 8:59 AM.
I would also love your take on SAF's commments about the uphill battle to add popularity to football in the USA (obviously increased, or we wouldn't be having this little conversation!).
First on artificial surfaces, this is a totally unresearched view, but I would be very surpised if companies that produce artifical playing fields weren't doing everything in their power to make a surface as close to the real stuff as possible. Because the first company to do so, and get the patent would have the potential to replace fields the world over, in everything from football, to lacrosse, field hockey, and of course soccer.
As far as Sir Alex, I totally disagree with his view, he trys to compare it to NASL and there is no comparison. First off soccer wasn't even a sport when NASL started, now it easily can be considered as popular as basketball and baseball. To clarify though, I don't think it brings in as much money as those to sports nor does it pack the seats, at least in our domestic league, but the popularity is there, it is just spread out through so many different leagues.
Next about young players leaving, it is a catch-22, we need some of our players to leave for Europe to get better, so that our national team can compete with the best, but it takes away from our league. The only way we can solve this is to continue to develop young talent. Argentina and Brazil deal with this every year, and thier leagues don't suffer because of it, well neither does ours.
People are so quick to say things about the MLS, I mean it is a 10 year old league. In Europe these leagues have been around for over 100 years, or at least the teams. This is going to take time, look at how long it took the NBA to become popular.
Not until the 80's did the NBA truly take off. Not only that but we haven't even had a really good generation of soccer players play yet. I think the test will be in 5 years when the u-20 team is at or around the age of 25, because I believe this is our first truly great generation of soccer players.
And of final note i don't think it takes much to get on Fergies bad side, he falls out of favor with great players very quickly, Keane, Ruud. It is evident he didn't approve of Beckhams marriage to Posh, but i don't see how that affected his play, regardless of what you think of Beckham he is a class act through and through.
Verbal, you are wrong. W-R-O-N-G. Wrong as in blind.
Are you trying to tell me you don't know the difference between an ugly game and a beautiful game?
Are you trying to say that there are people who actually think the Boltons of the world play attractive football? Would anyone dare argue that Barcelona, Arsenal, or even Roma have played hideous football?
I think Lalas aquitted himself well last night on Fox Football Fone-in. He basically said he had no say in whether Beckham plays for England. And he admitted their was significant pressure from many sources for Becks to play vs. Chelsea(ESP####s). He did not fully address the idiocy of Beckham starting and playing the full 90 vs. Chivas, there was no excuse for that.
-Cohen and Webster let the callers tear into him, I was a little bothered by them letting these questioners have at Lalas so much and I am not a huge Lalas fan.
I am glad that Lalas got a bollicking on that show. He deserves it. What an empty suit.
FYI, those two stooges Webster and Cohen had very little control over the content and I am glad that the producer of the show let the calls air no matter how vitriolic they may have seemed.
I think the ugly vs attractive debate can be summed up in a EPL perspective with this simple example. As a neutral what would you rather watch for entertainment value. Chelsea vs Liverpool or ManU vs Arsenal. This weekend alone Chelsea vs Aston Villa was almost unwatchable if besides the play of some individual players and of Aston Villa when they went ahead and started counter attacking. Compare that game to Portsmouth vs Arsenal which really didn't even have amazing goal out of 4 scored and it was a very entertaining back and forth game. I will concede Babel, Torres and Voronin now give Liverpool the options to play more positive football.
Well, take last season's FA Cup final. Chelsea v Manchester United, I believe. On paper, it sounded like it would be an interesting game to watch. Unfortunately, it fell flat.
I guess I should point out that by 'beautiful football' I'm talking specifically about style of play and not so much specific clubs.
hey even robbie savage thinks rovers play the beautiful game hahahahaha. i imagine liverpool fans are thinking this is the best their team has looked since the back pass to the goalie was outlawed. the scousers are just incredibly insecure and envious of the plaudits thrown the arsenal way.
-if i have to suffer thru another liverpool-chelsea matchup i may need a painkilling injection ;)
Atleti you are exactly right. I have said that and I still believe it! Although I don't think I've ever, and will never, say that Liverpool plays "ugly" football. I'd call it precise or direct football more than anything else.
What makes me laugh is where it is coming from...The club being Real Madrid who just fired their manager for not playing beautifully enough and from Bernd Schuster who's teams are known not for the attacking flair but their tactical prowess. Funnily enough, just like Rafa's teams are known.
Bobby, love the context you provide on FSC. Always good to hear from someone who has actually played. Denis Law was top drawer. Met him at Maine Road in chief scout's office (Ken Barnes) with my dad. He was kind enough to stop, tell me something very complimentary about my father and introduce himself....as if I did not worship the ground he walked on! Anyway, class act, even down to the non-celebration after the back heel sent Man U into the old second division. Much as I was ecstatic about them going down, it was hard to see that game, which was being played so Man U could stay up, end so dramatically for the King.
Anyway, glad to heqr you are finally saying some good stuff about Man City. As a long suffering True Blue, I spend WAY too much time and money going over to see them. Saw the Derby and Man U games earlier in the year and it was INCREDIBLE to see them win twice in one week. When was the last time that happened? (Literally!)
Sven has been a bresth of fresh air, but I am not sure Petrov will ever make it in the Prem. He is a blagger who plays to the crowd, is far too petulant to do the work needed for a left midfielder/winger and has done nothing to fill that difficult role for City. Garrido has been good and Elano and Giovanni will be better when they can put in a full shift.
Michael Johnson is the real deal and plays like Michael Carrick, but more importantly Colin Bell!!! Being compared to Nijinsky by City fans is even better than being compared to Denis Law.
Anyway, comfortabl mid-table position for City this year IF they make it through the winter
If my team wins in the ugliest, most physical way possible I don't care; three points is ALL that matters!
They have stayed in the Premier League with an anti-beautiful brand of football, although we seem to have seen the last of those days. DOGS OF WAR!
Any match that doesn't involve my team I like to see a something that gets me going. Something that'll have me involved in the match.
Plenty of goals doesn't always equal a great match either. Galaxy v Toronto
Three weekend games;
Man U v Sunderland - dull, plain old dull
Liverpool - Derby - dull, too one sided, a game you'd be better off just seeing the highlights of
Milan v Fiorentina - good, 90 minutes of back and forth football, skill and goals
I like what Lalas has done, grande cohones to bring over the beckhams. He/Yallop have mismanaged his playing time though.
Callers being negative and cacky with a guest makes good TV, apparently!
Just saw that article that Becks may move back to England in Jauary? Question, where do you see him going?
I mean, United seems the obvious choice, but do they really need or want him? I, personally, would be fine with the move, but SAF and I don't always think alike... They're out... I can't see him moving to any other of the BIG clubs, so Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool are out, for obvious reasons... Can't see him moving to anyone in London, actually, so Spurs, Fulham, and West Ham are out... Not any of United's rivals, so Man City is out... Bolton's out... He's going to need to get paid his wages, so Derby, Reading, and Wigan are out... Can't see him going to Birmingham, so they're out with Aston Villa
So who's that leave?
Blackburn
Everton
Boro
Newcastle
Portsmouth
Sunderland
So who out of those are actually plausable?
Sunderland, because of Roy Keane... Portsmouth because of the other ex-England stars... Boro, he'll get regular first team action... Newcastle are good enough, would pay him enough, and he'd play... Looks to be his best shot...
Any ideas? (I know this is just premliminary thinking, just throwing it out there)
I hate anti-beautiful & negative football with every fiber of my being! Unfortunately, I had to spend nearly all of last season watching it because of my club's manager's tactics and limitations of particular players.
Here's hoping for a better footballing season for the club. Praying and begging, even...
I was waiting to see a better shot of that Sebastian Frey save in the Fiorentina-Milan game from mon nite on this evenings FSR. Saves of the week didn't have it included. What gives? Next week?
Leche-If Becks comes back to England(which I don't think will happen) there will be very few takers like you said. The only problem is...Why wouldn't you see him playing in London? Besides playing for United that is the only place that is big enough for him to go.
Also if you are going to rule out United's rival clubs then you have to make sure that you rule out Everton.
The main factor in this whole thing is which clubs can and will meet his wage demands and there are only three clubs that can do both: United, Chelsea and West Ham.
I don't see him going back to play under SAF so really its down to two London clubs and if Chelsea offer enough in guaranteed money, don't be surprised to see him there. But I think West Ham would be the club to look out for...Remember its only a loan deal, nothing permanant.
leche and LGB, you neglect to remember one crucial fact...who Beckham is married to. There is no way that he'd ever play for (read: she'll ever live near) any team outside of London or Manchester. In fact, perhaps Man City would be a good place given that Sven has had his nose up Beckham's #### so much that Beckham won't have need for a colonoscopy anytime soon.
and Wow!...atleti and Arsenal supporters disagreeing with my opinion. I'm shocked! Perhaps the accurate way of putting it is Arsenal USED to play beautiful football when they had players to finish their moves (e.g., Vieira's goal at Liverpool in 04-05), and Liverpool used to play negative football when they still had Houllier's misfits in the squad. However, even as far back as Rafa's first season there was plenty of small tastes of flowing moves resulting in goals (e.g., Alonso's goal from the same 04-05 game). Goals and shooting are necessities to playing attractive football. Without which "attractive" teams are playing glorified keep-away.
And two more tidbits...I'm sure Roma can take solice in the fact that their 7-1 spanking in a CL semi because someone in NYC thinks they play attractively. And I've never said that Bolton or the like play attractive football.
I don't like the fact that Liverpool could get screwed by Gerrard's inclusion in the national team. Because McLaren doesn't have the gonads to try out other CM options (of which England has plenty) in friendlies, he's basically forcing* a player to play with a broken toe. Liverpool tried the painkilling injection for a big game (and it was their right as they pay Gerrard's wages) and didn't like the recovery time so hasn't forced the issue since. McLaren doesn't seem at all perturbed with the situation, just as long as Gerrard is able to play for England. Actually I blame the English media for turning each friendly into a WC final and dumb FA for cowtowing to them making each game a must win for McLaren to keep his job. In fact, if not for the English press, Scolari would be in charge of England.
*NB: by "forcing" I mean McLaren forcing the situation on Liverpool. Gerrard, as a player, wants to play in every game possible, even when injured.
verbal, im not sure you undertsand what is meant by the beautiful game. it doesnt necessarily mean goals, although it often does. a high scoring game came be quite ugly in fact, see galaxy-red bulls. dont be so obssessed with arsenal, it just diminishes u.
you would be in very small company to think arsenal used to play the beautiful game but no longer. the attacking, passing build up play and the opportunities they create are there for everyone to see and enjoy, so just enjoy and try not to be too envious that it isnt your team.
ohbleep, nowhere did I say that all high-scoring games feature quality. I may be in small company, but in my short life, I've always would rather be right than popular. I just hate the way that past reputations are being touted as current fact, which, I suppose, derives from laziness. I don't blame you though, you're just admirably standing up for your team. The "neutral" people though, they have yet given me an explanation from recent results that refutes my opinion.
Last edited by verbal97 on September 6th at 7:56 AM.
The truth is, Gerrard probably wants to play for England. If he didn't, wouldn't he have made it perfectly clear to the press that he was sitting out this game already?
verbal man relax. your side is on top of the league after the opening set of fixtures, top scoring side, by a wide margin 35% greater scoring effiency than the next. you lose the plot so to speak when u talk about the gunners as not playing the attractive game they have become renowned for. its not arsneal or their supporters saying that, its the neutrals, the match commentators, and the other teams as well, so not so sure you are as right as u might think you are.
I'd also like to point out that in Spain, a big deal is made if a club is playing ugly. Sports journalists have absolutely no problem calling clubs out on that sort of playing style. They'll often times write, literally, 'such-and-such a team play ugly' or something to that effect. It's not completely uncommon to see clubs play negatively, but it's very much frowned upon. I'm aware that in England it's a completely different situation.
Last edited by atleti on September 6th at 9:35 AM.
It shouldn't be up to Gerrard because a player will always want to play even if they're injured. In any event, McLaren has no other recourse, because as I mentioned, he wastes friendlies trying to get the right results rather than trying to find people who are capable to step in if this situation were to occur. It's not just at CM, too. Rooney is out, Owen isn't 100% match fit and Crouch hasn't played much (plus he's suspended for the first game). This all leads to Emile Heskey of all people being recalled. Emile #### Heskey, can you believe it?!?! Maybe if Nugent, D. Bent, A. Johnson, Agbonlahor, etc. were given a real chance in a friendly (rather than a few minutes here and there), someone would rise to the occasion. In the end, I don't care about the international game (being an American who can blame me), so I'm always going to side with the club and watch in amazement how team selections are really just popularity contests and making "safe" choices.
Not necessarily. David Bentley refused to play for the the U-21 team because he wanted to rest. Same goes for Gonzalo Higuain, who turned down an opportunity to play for Argentina this summer.
ohbleep, yes it's the neutrals, but I doubt they're really watching, hence my calling them lazy. Perhaps I value different things. I played keep-away last night, and while fun for a little while, there was something clearly missing.
And yes, Liverpool have made an impressive start, but still you have some #### coach of a team that hasn't done well in Europe calling Liverpool ugly. And having people here that are too willing to agree without making much of a supporting argument gets under my skin to say the least.
as far as stevie gee, i dont think it is all down to him. the medical people weigh in, the coaches too. id put him on the bench and see if you cant beat the israaelis without him and save him for russia. if need be he can come in if the situation dictates. verbal is right that england should have enough strength in depth to run out others to beat a pretty low ranked team at home.
i took shusters comments more of a reflection of liverpools play last year, as he specifically cited the barca tie, and complimented liverpool as he thought they along with milan were the main threats for the cl trophy. i doubt hes even seen them play this year. so go ahead and get wound up by a comment from someone whose probably never seen them play, i wouldnt though.
Good point Mas, they really haven't missed a beat. All of Rafa's offseason moves are great, I am especially liking Voronin.
Here is my two cents on beautiful football, the only teams in England that really play it are Arsenal and Man U in my opinion. Liverpool is beginning to play it this year, and I thought Chelsea played it the first year they won the league.
That being said Arsenal's run to the champs league final wasn't exactly awe inspiring. They played a very defensive way, and it was effective. Regardless though who the hell cares, if you enjoy watching them you enjoy watching them.
As I said before its hilarious where the quote comes from, coach and club.
Arsenal, to me, still plays the most attractive football in the world. I love watching them play.(Don't even know why they are being discussed and I noticed that Verbal never brought them into the argument. But thats ok, someone always needs to talk about his team when the Reds are brought up. Jealousy some will call it...)
Liverpool, to me, plays the most responsible football in the world. Its why they have made it to the champions league final twice in three years(and winning it with players such as Bambi, Smicer, Baros and so on and so forth...)
And finally, as for the Barca-Liverpool second round match-up. Anyone who says Liverpool played "ugly" football in that tie obviously didn't watch those games. It was Liverpool who created the bulk of the chances, and the best chances at that. Barca was lucky to have it at 2-2.
The whole Gerrard situation is simple...Liverpool pay his wages, they own his rights and its not like they have ever kept him out before. He must have some serious injury or this debate wouldn't be going on. If Liverpool say he shouldn't be playing, he shouldn't be playing. End of story.
Actually for those who can read Arsenal were brought into the discussion on September the 5th at 3:54 PM when a certain tool said, "the scousers are just incredibly insecure and envious of the plaudits thrown the arsenal way."
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