Rod Liddle's take on the Hedonist United Christmas Party. And for those with some extra time on your hands FIFA.com has a interactive trivia quiz that can help kill a few hours.
And for those with some extra time on your hands FIFA.com has a interactive trivia quiz that can help kill a few hours.
As an Oakland A's and Everton fan I was hoping that Fisher would invest in Everton. I'd love to see what David Moyes could do with the money Rafa has available. Fisher also owns the San Jose Earthquakes but I think that was just a toy to keep Billy Beane happy ;-) Is the new manager of the Quakes the same Frank Yallop who played for Ipswich? If so he was on the wrong side of a 9-0 thrashing to Man Utd shown recently on FSC Classic EPL.
Interesting that Mark McGhee says the English Championship has the fourth best attendance of any league.
On Fox Sunday+ today Keith Costigan was sounding off about the owner of Fulham not knowing anything about the game ... he also included Dave Whelan of Wigan as a chairman in that category ... oops ... Dave Whelan played for Blackburn Rovers in the 1960 FA Cup Final - a game in which he broke his leg - . He bought Wigan when they were in the old Third Division, a small town team now in the EPL whilst much larger cities are in lower divisions (Leeds, Sheff U + Wed, Bristol, Notts etc). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_W helan
Question for Bobby on the best player for each team ... Steve Bull for Wolves ??? Surely some of those guys on the Championship/European Cup teams from the 50's are more fitting ... Billy Wright etc.
No christmas bonus for the South African, he was responsible for two goals though and overall is developing into a player DM will probably buy.
Sixth at Christmas is still good!
RON_W IMWT! IKWT! COYB! - check out the game summary in my blog - if only for a couple of magical pictures!
The CL draw. RM v Roma - people will discount Roma, they have played one of the toughest (first half of he season) schedules in recent serie a memory and are still second. Deceptively tough and they have stopped shipping goals. La liga devotees may be able to shed more light on how RM wil lhandle the kind of football Roma are capable off.
Don't write off Fenerbache
Arse v AC is too close to call really
Barcelona have to go to the strongest European Fortress in recent years - tough to do
Chelsea have a plum draw - nada problemo!
Ditto MAn U
Porto an Schalke both have what it takes to win that tie
Think floyd Merryweather v Ricky Hatton - the last time Inter got ko's out of europe they didn't actually lose - they have strentghtened their squad - they haven't lost since sept - the next game is against siena on 13.1.08 - oh and yesterday they came from behind to beat Milan (yes ag the goals were soft - but they still counted and they dominated the second half)
LGB - the tie at anffield may be 'cracking' but I can't see that rs can beat an Italian(south American) version of man u. (the bookies have lengthened the odds on rs)
UEFA CUP
Florence in march would be nice
Atleti - tough one (no really) Bolton are on the upswing under Megson and can be tough to play - then prob
- then probably sporting
Spurs could make it to the QFs
probably not the Dons
bordeaux v bm would be good.
Plenty of odds and comment on my blog about the CL draw and eventually the uefa cup draw! I particulalry wanna hear from Madridista's on what they think of Roma
Depending on how hectic things get today I may or may not post again.
WHATEVER!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL! IT'S BEEN A HOOT, PARTICULARLY THE BONHOMIE & FABULOUSLY ENGROSSING EXCHANGES AMONGST THE REGULARS!
il gioco del calcio è la cosa più importante di tutte quelle cose che non sono realmente importanti.
Ron, if you're really an A's fan, do you think their owner would spend money...Zito, Hudson, Mulder, Tejada, Giambi. It seems they lose at least one player per season because they can't afford to keep them.
RonW - It is the same Frank Yallop - former Galaxy coach - who is again the San Jose coach. I am only speculating but the Wolves pick of Steve Bull was possibly down to the two things -1. to many voters Billy Wright would only be a name 2. Steve Bull stuck with the team even though he was a much souught after player. I think he might have been the last 2nd division (old system) to have been capped by England.
Dave Whelan would be one of the few chairman who actually has any background in the game. Whelan's ability to turn his injury settlement into a fortune is worthy of a movie. He was a victim of the Wembley hoodoo. Especially in the 50s and 60s they was a series of bad injuries at Cup Finals and international games.
There was the Manchester United keeper (Ray Wood I think) in the 1958 Cup Final - although it was a case of McParland's challenge being bad rather than the surface. Bert Trautmann's broken neck. Eric Caldow and Bobby Smith both sufferred badly broken legs in 63 I think (Scotland and England). And lots more. There use to be speculation that it was because the grass was cut longer but I don't know if that was ever shown to be the case.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on December 24th at 6:16 AM.
Damn you Bobby! I have too much to do but I couldn't resist the trivia thing. Anyway, I echo the sentiments of others. Have a nice and safe Chrismahanakwanzukah (yes, I know hanukkah was a couple weeks ago, but still...).
...Oh yes!
Starting with a veritable smorgasbord on Boxing Day! 6am start followed by nine games - ALL of which I will watch (even Wigan!) - then it's snowfun in the sangre de christos until a must see game on the 29th
Last edited by craigy_f on December 24th at 10:37 AM.
Bobby, I didn't know about the Wembley jinx. I remember the Whelan injury and the Trautman injuries from an old soccer book. I seem to recall that players frequently suffered cramps in the Cup Finals. Souness said he was interested in the Wigan job because Dave Whelan was a football man.
Verbal97, it was the previous owners Schott and Hoffman who let the Big 3, Tejada and Giambi
leave. When Fisher/Wolff purchased the team (2005) the A's ranked third richest among baseball ownership groups
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic le.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/31/MNGRKC1 3PJ1.DTL
The A's last season were 16th out of 30 in payroll, considerably more than AZ and the Rockies who made the NLCS. Unfortunately the A's wasted a large percentage of payroll on woeful under performers like Jason Kendall and Mark Kotsay. I've been an A's fan since Billy Ball in the early 80s. I've been there for the 90+ loss seasons and the three World Series in the 80s.
Craig, great photos I was up at 4:00am to watch the game. Shame that Pienaar had the "moment of madness" at the end.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to everyone!
Last edited by Ron_W on December 24th at 12:23 PM.
I was amused...but saddened...by the coverage of the Man. U. Xmas Party in the articles cited. It appears that American athletes have no corner (e.g. Michael Vick) on wretched excess. However, I am also angered by the attitude that the elite footballers involved in this '#### off' (as it was called) should be characterized as 'stupid' by the commentators. After seeing the lads in interviews on TV I am inclined to say 'uneducated' instead...and I must add that I find this appalling, and unnecessary, since it points up a system that teaches these fellows football and little else. (Excesses like this were common in American sports before 1950, when (in part due to the GI bill opportunities) a way was opened for prospective athletic pros to get an education while adding playing experience. Though the US system is full of abuses, and still manages to produce players who know nothing but sport (sometimes in spite of or regardless of college enrollment) the opportunity is there and is often taken. I would love to see just how 'classy' a Wayne Rooney or Rio Ferdinand would be if he had been able to letter in football at U. of London (let alone Oxford or Cambridge), or at least encouraged to pursue education on subjects other than drinking, fighting, and... you know. Probably at least somewhat more....
Stujonesmd, the opportunities are there for pro footballers in the UK. As the saying goes, you may well be able to get the horse to water..........
Steve Coppell for one, is a grad and it shows. Many have studied to cover their post pro football lives but many more have not and still do not.
Bobby, I read the Gillete artical and it makes a whole lot of sense in some ways when reading the crass codswallop that has been running in the UK tabloids this past week. However, as the artical confirms, getting inside Melwood for a journalist is a little akin to a home run from Colditz, which leads me to believe that the timing was more than little coincidental.
Time will tell. If things do go pair shaped, just how wise will it be for Messrs Gillette to go out and eat in Liverpool.
Anyways, a very merry Christmas to one and all and a very properous 2008!
Bobby, i have some disappointment about you especially when you give comment about Arsenal club. you are always have take side against with them. I mean you should be more fare when you talk about them.otherwise believe me you will lose your viewers fun. For example, last Monday you said Eboye had to get red card for his tackle on JT but you didn't say about JT what he did on Fabrgas. I like always to watch your comment on fsc but some time you make some...any how marry Christmas!
Last edited by gephoenix on December 24th at 11:24 PM.
gephoenix - It's not my job to make friends. My job is to give my honest opinion - wheteher viewers and readers agree or not is their choice. However, in relation to the Eboue/Terry incident you have it very wrong. What I said was I was surprised that Eboue even got a yellow card.
And a Merry Christmas to all FSR viewers and FSC bloggers and readers. Play safe.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on December 25th at 8:04 AM.
I am shocked to login today, and see that no one has made any comments about the game. I am at work, but it looks like it was an exciting day in the premier league.
The Portsmouth back four impressed, especially Sol Campbell. Bouba - Dioup was excellent in cutting off most of the Arsenal central midfield passes and shutting down Fabregas in the process. I don't understand as to why Harry substituted Benjani. The latter worked hard and looked dangerous throughout the game. Meanwhile, Bobby you gave an excellent analysis on the Portsmouth team last Friday. Other than Kranjcar, Portsmouth truly lack the creative midfield talent required to win the crucial games at home. That is why I got a scare seeing Kranjcar getting hurt. Hopefully it was just a knock. Porstmouth could ill afford to lose him for a longer part of the season. The one player who is looking for a move in January and would fit in well in the central midfield of Porstmouth would be Kranjcar's Croatian team mate Luka Modric. However, the latter has a high price tag and Portsmouth wouldn't be able afford him.
Clichy looked good. Also, Hleb looked dangerous every time he got the ball. Rosicky should've scored late in the stopage time. Adebayor was nowhere to be seen which once again proves my earlier comments that he's not a big game player.
I really do not understand as to why Wenger is not even placing Eduardo on the bench. He's the kind of player who can come in and score goals in those types of games. If Wenger gives opportunities to players who score a goal when given a chance like Bendtner, why not give Eduardo an opportunity to score? The guy practically scores every time he's allowed to play. Wenger clearly missed Eduardo's "coolness" today.
Bobby, what is your take on the Arsenal - Portsmouth game?
Bobby,
What do you think of Derby of late? They almost won against Newcastle. They almost drew with Liverpool. Only to let it slip away at the end in both games. Do you see them turning around and getting into the relegation fight?
L am honestly playing for someone to break eboue's leg the guy is a ####ken ####, he is praying in the middle of the firld and he is hugging pompey players at every opportunuty, without doubt the player l hate the most in the premier leauge
Henry14 I understand you are passionate about our beloved Arsenal but I don't think you have to go all personal with them players. It's not Eboue's fault that we didn't win today. Cesc was useless, Ade was useless, Wenger was useless for not making changes early and for not playing Eduardo, all our subs were useless but I'll blame Wenger for that, only players who deserves some credit is Rosisky and Flamstar. Clichy was ok but he couldn't pass the ball for his life offensively. Anyway Wenger said we can't play like we did on Sunday and excpect to win and we came and played worse than we played on Sunday.
The 4-5-1 system works when Helb and Cesc play well. they struggle the system doesn't work. Wenger should have seen that and switched early in the 2nd half.
Anyways it sucks been number 2 just when we are about to enter into the new year but it could be worse so I'll take 2nd spot 1pt behind the best team in the Epl for now but come May......
How about that Chelsea Villa game: 8 goals, 3 red cards and Sheva's and Ballacks resurrection it sure was a Boxing day Special and Cech countinues his rare mistakes. Even the best do struggle sometime.
Last edited by Gunner44 on December 26th at 5:12 PM.
wow - nine games - massive ammounts of beer, food and snow
three toffees and two reds
a manc and a mackem
a MAD Don fan - he says his shirt still has Alex Ferguson's phlegm on it!
three broncos fans - who still don't get it.
and a brazilian
definitely one of the best football crowds of the decade.
Didn't we look good!
The entire Premier League was stunned when a Pantomime Dame put one in the back of the Trotter net.
Shoot! SHoot! shooot!
To see the abuse hurled at Premier League players just check out the replays of the tirade Diouf endured as he took two last minute corners at Goodison.
The referee at Stamford Bridge wasn't that good now was he!?
Paul Jewell's side underlined Liverpool's title form.
Sunderland are on a wobble, oaahhh Keano!
Robinson is still a spazz in goal? Make that mistake when it's nil-nil you cabbage.
Boro gift wrap two soft goals to Brum, how could so many players just stand around and watch the second Birmingham goal go in?
Another home game at Fratton Park with no goals! Harry'll take that point though!
Brucey Stevie Bruce! Howay the lads!
Dean Ashton, England form, you must be joking?
NODDY HOLDER! BRILLIANT!
more snow tomorrow, so it's out with the lard tonight!
Arsenal on Saturday looks like it'll be a cracker, two free scoring (36 & 34 goals) sides in form!
We've got 21 & 7 at home they've got 13 & 8 away.
Hey Craig that was funny that the crowd were yelling shoot when Neville had the ball within a minute of the goal. I believe he has now scored as many goals (two) as own goals in his career at Everton.
Next Saturday Neil Warnock returns to Sheffield United with Palace ... should be fun. Palace are within 3pts of a playoff place.
Yeah, Noddy Holder video was great. Who was in the other video? Roy Wood/Move/ELO ?
the techie geeks at fsc need to put their xmas bottles down - they've denied you the chance of seeing only the second ever ugly sister everton goal celebration -
we have won only 3 times playing 4-5-1 and remember when henry was playing 4-5-1.eboue must be sold, l hate the ####.he is the reason w are not laying well he is not a goal threat
What is your take on Dempsey? Do you think he will stay with Fulham next year, or do you think a larger club will come in and swoop him up? I don't see him going to a top 4 team, but a team challenging for a UEFA spot I feel would be a great move for him.
Only was able to watch the pompey-arsenal game. From what I saw Wenger seemed to have expected Pompey to attack but got the opposite. However, Arsenal's failure to win can't be blamed on 4-5-1 or opponents' defensive tactics, which Wenger often employed to cover his real headache. Simply their stars were not performing, incl. Fabregas, Hleb, and Adebayor. When they can get out of the slump of form must be an interesting question. If they aren't able to improve on saturday, even with possible return of Van Persie, I think they'd be happy to take a point from Goodison park.
Also saw the highlights of other games. ManU looked the strongest team in EPL no doubt. Their attacks are lethal and more importantly, they have players that can score a goal and win games when the team don't play well. Chelsea has Drogba but don't think Liverpool and Arsenal have any atm although they've got potential ones.
rico - West Ham / Charlton / Crystal Palace / a promoted Championship team for dempsey if fulham go down - if not they'll keep him - certainly at home he's one of their performers but he isn't alone in failing to perform away from Craven cottage.
The new managerial appointment (unfortunately for Fulham now NOT Martin Jol) will have a big impact - media tout Collins and Coleman as possible successors, neither of which I actually buy that much.
Mohammed El Fayd is a canny businessman and likley not to rush into anything media generated.
The questions about how he'd fit in at a boro, toon, spurs, liverpool, villa remain though!
Now Arsenal have to rely on Man Utd slip ups (unlikley given current form) or they have to keep up with the mancs and go and beat them at old trafford in april!
chelsea and city will be unable to catch the top two.
Rico-I like Dempsey a lot and want him to be successful but it just seems he lacks that pace the best of the best have. I really can't see him going to any "bigger" club unless its out of England.
Foxcube-Liverpool doesn't have anyone who can win a game on their own? Have you seen Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres?
I agree with the pace thing, but you don't need pace to be succesful, Fabregas, Hleb, Zidane, Seedorf. I wouldn't rate any of those players as pacey.
I see Dempsey having a combination of the qualities of Fabregas and Hleb, although with his own style. I think he could fit into the Arsenal system, but doubt he will ever get the chance. Even if Wenger did get Dempsey, I have a hard time picturing him cracking the top 11, or even being a super sub.
Rico- I hate to bust your bubble, but the players you named w/o pace are number 1 not strikers meaning it is their speed with the ball that is important and they are all fast with the ball. Number 2 those players are world class skill players.
Dempsey is a solid pro. Someday he might score 12 goals in a season.
RonW - The two best that I remember were Jan Molby and Eric Cantona. Best rookie penalty taker? Jim Baxter at Wembley in 1963. Scotland's captain and normal penalty taker Eric Caldow had been carried off with a broken leg when Scotland was awarded a penalty. Baxter who claimed he had never taken a penalty in his life just picked up the ball, placed and stroked it into the corner. Scotland won 2-1 and he scored both the goals. Game finished 10 vs. 9 in England's favour with all three players seriously injured.
MasMaz I don't consider Dempsey a striker, more of an attacking mid. And the guys I mentioned I didnt't think Dempsey was in their league, I was just using them as examples of great players who weren't fast. Another two I just thought of Riquelme and Veron.
I love the edit button and the ability to correct my horrible english. Henry14 take note ;-)
Last edited by therealrico on December 27th at 8:38 AM.
I agree with your Dempsey appreciation. He is better than just a "skillful American." He has ball skills, he has a good shot, can finish, and his most important characteristic, HUGE heart and competitive fire. Plus, he can take on 90% of the Prem's best one on one and beat them.
I always thought he would be a great Man U type player, to be honest - I think if you put him in an environment with quality holding players like Hargreaves/Anderson behind him, gave him quality service, he'd raise his game to another level. I think he's as skillful as Rooney, but not as fast.
Remember Alan Smith, scored some goals for Man U? Now starting for Newcastle? I think Alan Smith is garbage in comparison to Dempsey. How about James Beattie or Dempsey? (sorry to Alan and James' moms/fans viewing this)
Truthfully, Man U is a bit out of his range to consistently start, but not that much out of his range. I say perhaps Aston Villa, maybe an Everton type club. UEFA cup. Love to see him in Man City, and learn a good tactical/continental approach to further his football IQ.
Remember, this is his first full year in English football. I think he really has a lot of "upside," as they say. A move to a bigger club and you'd see him become even better. I think he is a unique talent. And a Yank!
Last edited by davard on December 27th at 8:48 AM.
Matt le Tissier scored 48 out of 49 penalties during his career.
Don't know if that's the record or not ,but I can't imagine anyone with a better record.
Ron W - The second video was by Wizard ,the band Roy Wood formed after quitting Marc Bolan's T-Rex.
And I'm not ready to concede the league yet ,but it won't be too much longer.
First, Arsenal is really still feeling the effects of injuries to RVP, Fabregas, Hleb, Flamini. to me it looks like they are playing at 50% of the skill they did prior to injuries. This is significant.
Despite a few flashes, I thought Fabregas played poorly. This may have been due to the Port defense, I'll leave this analysis to those more technical than myself.
I'm not sure Adebayor knows what offside is?
The biggest problem though, imo, is that it looks like Arsenal have turned their minds off and just expect quick passes to happen flawlessly. Too many times in the past 3 weeks I've seen them try quick short passes that are no-where even close to finding a target. They are getting ahead of themselves. Adebayor's return passes are perfect examples.
I thought both goalkeepers played well, although they didn't have a lot to do. Port defense was solid, I guess their midfield was kind of like ManU: no O but all D.
I like Eboue's speed but in the end it was very ineffective. I can't help think that Bendtner would have changed the game if he was on sooner. Adebayor, although not at his best, was probably still needed on the pitch because he adds options or another dimension to the attack.
arsenal have won 3 epl games in 8 since eboue came and 4-5-1, the thing is if you play 4-5-1 then the other guy who suports the striker should not be deep as hleb plays and because of the attacking full backs you end up having cesc, eboue,rosicky,hleb,flamini,sanga,cl ichy and adebayor when he drifts out with no one up front, you do not stretch the oppossition, l think with eboue on the right wenger is playing not to lose games but not to win games.my epl predictio for the to 4 is
man u 1 westham 1
arsenal 0 everton 1
man city 2 liverpool 0
chelsea 1 newcastle 1
H14- I agree 100%. If the opposing team packs 6 or 7 inside or around the area Arsenal cannot score. They are easy to defend.
They have 1 outside shooter they have to respect(Rosicky) and the crossing is so terrible even if there was a striker in the box it would never get near him.
Without any shooters or crossers the whole one touch passing thing is very easy to clog up, as we have seen over the last couple of years.
I'd like to see Eduardo or Bendtner at CF. I don't know how many times I ask myself why there is no one prowling around the goal.
However it is a dangerous game for opponents, b/c Arse can still counter at any time.
Haven't read it yet Djinima, but I just printed it out, and am saving it for reading material when I go to the bathroom tomorrow. Phil Ball is one of the few guys I read with any regularity.
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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