It is midnight in Baltimore and I have a ridiculously early flight tomorrow morning. The weekend preview is truncated for that reason.
There are a number of questions that have been posted that I cannot answer given time constraints. I try to keep up and contribute during the week but the bottom line is that the only questions that I can guarantee you an answer to are the ones posted on Speakers' Corner on Monday.
Ian Plenderleith on the debate over whether or US players should or should not head overseas.
A man who went on to make his mark in international sport remembers Tommy Taylor who lost his life in the Munich air disaster.
Saturday will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of Garrincha. Here is some you tube video of him.
The Newcastle vs. Bolton game has taken on a great more relevance with the eturn of wee Kev. Liverpool and Aston Villa could be a pivotal clash for these teams.
In Spain the Madrid derby takes pride of place. An Atletico win or even a draw will provide a boost as the second half of the season gets underway while it would also provide an opportunity for Barcelona to close the present seven-point gap.
The top Italian game is Udinse hosting Milan. The 5-2 win over Napoli has invigerated Milan fans and with Udinese one of theams positioned to push for a top four place the stage is set for an excellent match.
Bring back Dickie Bird ,he wouldn't stand for all this sledging #### ,he'd put the aussies in their place.
To be completely honest about the ACoN ,the only interest I have in it is hoping that Ivory Coast ,Ghana and Nigeria all get knocked out in the first round and our four players come back uninjured.
Other than that ,I really couldn't care less.
Does that make me a bad person?
Ringo you aint a bad person. Sepp Blatter is delusional. Who DOES watch qualifying games that do not involve teams other than those of our nationality? Judging by some of the commentary we are subjected to, not even the professional pundits do, so why should we worry? I would rather play football with my boys.
I was a thinking of you last Ringo the nostalgic memories conjured up by Bobby's meet with Charlie Cooke. Remember the silky feet of Alan Hudson? The midfield, rock steady, John Hollins? Mind you I remember watching Kev play for England at the old Wemb-er-ley before seats covered the terraces.
Liverpool villa? 3-2 to us in a tight game with too many errors, if recent past performances are anything to go by. Monday night kick off might prove to be a bonus, if the Liverpool psyche can be tuned into a European type frenzy. I reckon Crouch could do well in this game against the Villa defence.
Actually, I believe the first use was when one caveman grunted to another caveman that all that was out in the plain were woolly mammoth steers and queers.
Also, it's very clear that Bramble/Boumsong was much better than Carragher/Hyypia. I'd also take the much heralded American cbs of Berhalter, Hobbs, Onyewu and Bocanegra over Carragher. Not to mention the cbs that Havant and Waterlooville have on their bench. In seriousness, is it really a coincidence that Liverpool led the league in clean sheets and had (at least a share of) the second best overall defense in the last two seasons, and could very well repeat that feat again this season. Could Carra have better ball skills? Yes, but that's not his primary (or even secondary) task. That's like saying that Henry is a #### striker because he doesn't track back and defend.
Finally, I always thought that a "kuyt" was when you were through on goal and blazed the ball over the goal or wide. Silly me.
The Rafa will be fired stories wont start as something cant start if its already going! Have to say I'm pretty happy with Arsenals ownership situation right now especially compared to Pool. Never ending rumors about the manager or if the new owners are going to sell to the team already are hardly the kind of news I would want my club to be making.
Way too much negativity around a team who's supposed to be in the top 4 but is currently in a 4 way tie for the 4th CL spot albeit with a game in hand. If they dont sort themselves quick this season will end as the big 3 and Pool will need to win the CL again to re-qualify.
I can't find any ACN games on any of the traditional channels, which really annoys me. I guess we'll have to be satisfied with highlights scrounged up. Oh, and having it patronized as "sandlot soccer" by that fat prat Brian Budd on The Score.
MasMaz
You'll be hard pressed to find any club outside of Barcelona who has a striker like Henry. Players with his kind of pace, vision, technique and finishing ability don't come along very often so Arsenal were very, very lucky to have him as long as we did.
Really the last player of a similar mould would be George Weah during his Milan days and that's going back to the mid-90s. Cristiano Ronaldo displays many similar traits to Henry in terms of his pace, technique and vision because even though they play different positions on paper, both of them have broken the traditional constraints on their respective roles.
Bobby, I heard Dominic Kinnear hint that "some" of the Dynamo strikers may be headed overseas. I could see both Ching and Ngwenya shipping out, much to my chagrin.
Were you able to talk with Coach K off-camera and maybe suss out a little more information?
Mas, I don't disagree with you. I was just trying to illustrate my point that you can't judge a player based on something that isn't their primary responsibility on the field. I was just trying to think o####reat striker and Henry was first to my mind.
Verbal I agree with you..... I think. On a serious note just in case I misunderstood you, I stand full square on 30 plus years of following my beloved reds when I say that anyone who says Bramble and Buomsong are or ever were better that Hyppia and Carragher have clearly never seen either pair play.
The latter have a string of trophies to their credit while the only thing you could ever say about the Newcy pair is that they will turn up in at least 6 of the top ten in any show that feature the worst defensive aberations in the history of the premiership.
I am old enough to have seen Jamie Carragher make his debut in the first team. He is an excellent right back and one of the top three CBs in England end off.
The only thing wrong with Sami Hyppia these days is that he has lost his pace. His positional sense and presence however continue to make him a sought after powerhouse and still way better than any of Liverpool's reserves.
Last edited by redfan2000 on January 18th at 10:23 AM.
Bless you Bobby for putting up that Garrincha link and reminding everyone about this great, great player. I can assure you that he is not forgotten in Brazil, and that many of us consider him to be greater than Pele. Interesting note: whenever Garrincha and Pele played together, they never lost. My father was lucky enuf to have seen him play in person many times - he always said there was no one like Garrincha.
I for one would dearly love to see the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament, it's a disgrace that it's not being televised. It's an extraordinarily exciting competition, those of you who dismiss it out of hand never having seen don't know what you're missing. I was studying in Egypt in 1988 and went to Morocco to watch some of it. I was also visiting friends in South Africa in 1996 during the tournament and managed to get tickets to 4 games. The skill and talent on offer is remarkable, the passionate hussle and tussle, the free flowing football, the total commitment and creativity by the players -- sorry, but the Euros pale in comparison UTTERLY in terms of atmosphere, improvisational play and sheer guts. I was at Euro 2000 and while I had a great time, the ACN blew it away completely. For Africans this tournament is like the world cup and it takes place in the world's 2nd largest populated continent. There simply is nothing like it.
alberta is entirely right about Henry, there aren't many strikers like him in the world, there's no way Wenger could ever replace him. It's no wonder MU have put such a high price on C. Ronaldo, he's just as unique.
Have you noticed King Kev’s sh** eating grin? He is over the moon.
Last week he is ring master of a circus in Glasgow on maybe $1000.00 a week.
This week he is ring master of a circus in Newcastle on maybe $2 million a year.
He is beside himself. Who wouldn’t be?
Speaking of beside himself… Now “talk” of that nyaf Shearer working alongside the King.
It would appear the OBE whinger is finally going to get what he wants; the easy way.
Meanwhile the pundits are busy churning out rapid fire quotes of a pairing made in heaven.
Shades of Mutt and Jeff.
Note Keegan’s blinkered bit of wisdom today: “We are a club who can get big players if they are the right players”. Brilliant !!
What kind of football stars are going to want to come to St. James Park?
Answer: Essentially the same second raters that are Keegan and Shearer.
It’s déjà vu all over again; Northeast style.
Mass hysteria over the dramatic finding and signing of the new savior. (Great hindsight)
Patience urged by the messiah. (Again..)
Salivating prospects of “entertaining” football. (Give it a rest!)
Owner splashes untold sums for “big” players. (Chancer’s all)
A few entertaining wins for the Toon army. (Mass sigh of relief.)
Jump a few places in the table. (European bound)
Inexorably start of the sinking of the ship. (Finger pointing commences)
A still grinning Keegan and shirking Shearer are first into the lifeboats with pockets bulging.
(Aloha oe..)
I think I will start supporting Everton or Villa; they actually have a legitimate chance at getting it right.
Last edited by Mags4Me on January 18th at 12:14 PM.
LGB;
As Jay sez’s regarding the Rafa stories: It has already started and flamed by the Klinsmann disclosure.
Just do a fast rewind to White Hart Lane and Martin Jol a month ago.
Despite Humpty and Dumptys’ recent claims: If Liverpool / Rafa so much as f**t twice in the wrong direction he will be gone and all the Gerrard’s and Torres’s in the world will not save him.
And that my friends will be yet another very sad song on this years literally speaking EPL hit parade.
Last edited by Mags4Me on January 18th at 12:29 PM.
RACIST MUTHA F****** FOX? TELL ME WHY FOXSOCCER IS NOT FREAKING RACIST and tell me why im not asking a legitimate question? The 2008 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS gets underway in Ghana on January 20th...i may not have had justifiable reasons to convince FOXSOCCER, patronised by a lot of folks from the motherland, to broadcast live games from the African Nations Soccer Championship two yrs ago, but not this year...its so pathetic that the European, North & South American Championships are given full coverage which i enjoy watching, but a turned blind eye is shown an electrifying fiesta that showcases galaticos like CHELSEA's Michael Essien & Didier Drogba, BARCELONA's Samuel Eto'o & Yaya Toure, ARSENAL's Kolo Toure & Emmanuel Eboue, REAL MADRID's Mamadou Diarra, Sevilla's Fredi Kanoute & Keita among many others...Remember, ACTION SPEAKS WAY LOUDER THAN WORDS, FOX! This is ridiculous because u guys are acting like there is nothing going on beginning JANUARY 20th
Umm... they would have to buy the rights to broadcast. It isn't free. And then they have to convince advertisers to buy advertising so they could make their money back.
Apparently, it wasn't profitable for any broadcaster or cable network in the US to do so. If it was, they would be all over it. Believe me. My wife works the business and programming that sells gets picked up.
I would like to watch it, but I doubt it would fill pubs in the US like the EPL does.
Some harsh words from DBo... but FOX SPORTS WORLD CANADA, at least, is no longer a sports channel for that matter.
the only REASON is still have it in my package, is Bobby's insight view of the EPL round ups Monday and Fridays. other than that, I would have cut it. Setanta & Goal TV will just do fine. so, don't expect anything real from them.
Hey, GUY STUFF WITH JON MACROE, is now the best show on FOX SPORTS. A show that include feminist women telling men how to behave. that's sport for you on FOX SPORTS.
Laurel and Hardy, not to mention Rafa, are ducking under the Keegan circus. I doubt Skrtel will play against Villa unless Carra or Sami is injured but we will only know when we see the team sheet.
TH, I agree Fox schedules are abysmal and much is totally unsuitable to a 10 yr old soccer nut. It is not on my tv much now and we might well dump it.
redfan - No matter how many trophies the new Chelsea might win ,that '69-'72 team under Dave Sexton will always be the best team we ever had ,as far as I'm concerned.
SERIE A
Top Italian Game - er not really.
Although that is the only game between two teams who both won last week.
I got this one covered on my blog - a good preview of all the games and a review of transfers.
It'll be posted tonight sometime.
CLARET AND BLUE STUFF
Tough one this - as a rival team I'd like Villa to lose but couldn't have the rs winning - so let's have a 3-3 draw and a Hat Trick for Torres!
VERBAL
:P beautiful riposte.
I have one for you, flopping theatrically in the penalty area - often called a 'gerrard' or a 'johnson'
Another one - foolishly clinging to the past and praying for a bright future without any idea what the hell you are doing - "an Ashley"
Oh go on then - Talking loudly with little knowledge of your subject matter or blathering on about Coiffure - "a Smythe"
AFRICA CA CA CA! - ULRIKA KA KA KA!
I'd love to see the ACoN on US TV - did any channel show all of the Asian Cup? Market forces rule in TV though some of the players in Ghana are playing at Teams with a worldwide fanbase. This is looking to be an exciting and hotly contested tournament which will be as good if not better than the Copa in 07 (maybe the CAF will invite the US to play next time around forcing the US TV moguls to take notice).
I think the networks are very sloppy if they fail to show any of it live.
Keep in mind that one or more of Eto'o, Drogba, Essien and Toure would make many All-World XIs.
That starting XI leaves a lot of talent on the bench, particularly in the centre of the park (Yaya Toure, Obi Mikel, Appiah, Keita) and up front (Yakubu, Kanoute). I'd also find a spot on the bench for John Mensah, a central defender with Ghana and Stade Rennes. I'm amazed nobody in England or Spain went for him after a very impressive World Cup.
Keep in mind that one or more of Eto'o, Drogba, Essien and Toure would make many All-World XIs.
That starting XI leaves a lot of talent on the bench, particularly in the centre of the park (Yaya Toure, Obi Mikel, Appiah, Keita) and up front (Yakubu, Kanoute). I'd also find a spot on the bench for John Mensah, a central defender with Ghana and Stade Rennes. I'm amazed nobody in England or Spain went for him after a very impressive World Cup.
Ringo: I was a leavin school about then and still recall A geezer called Webb popping up and nutting and winning goal in the FA cup final replay against Leeds. Osgood got the other I think.
OMG AG, eerily similar! You seem to have gone for club form more than country form.
How do think the players would fare if Toure and Yobo swapped teams for half a season?
DELUSIONAL DRUG CRAZED MADMAN ON THE LOOSE
He's dirty but has a good head on his shoulders - and he's light years ahead of Bramble.
But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can I have some of those drugs! It'd be like Ringo and Yellow Submarine!
STEERS AND QUEERS
I'm so asheamed MAz! That one didn't pop up on my (admitteldy short) interweb search!
Anybody following the MLS SuperDraft? Billy Beane did something he's unable to do with the A's ... he traded his first round draft pick ... for Nick Garcia of KC MLS Draft Tracker
RON_W
It really is kind of hard to keep track of the MLS off-season.
That trade is a pretty good one for a new franchise though.
I will check it out this weekend though. I'd like to see how DC have done.
I don't like drafts - kinda rewarding a team for being smeg.
Your thoughts on Faddy's exit and the game Sunday.
Ah, If you speak french, then you will be able to follow ACN from the 1/4 finals on TV5. Most canadians have TV5 as part of the basic package. I don't know in US.
Craigy, I'm just stoked to get some soccer back in the Bay Area again. I'd like to see the US national team play some games here again. I've seen the US play Canada in a World Cup qualifier in 96 and friendlies against Macedonia and China in the late 90s. I like the field at Stanford for soccer. At Stanford I saw Brazil vs Germany in the Olympics in 84 and Russia vs Cameroon in the World Cup in 94. Oleg Salenko scored five goals for Russia in the 6-1 victory. Roger Milla scored for Cameroon but he was no longer king of the road.
I would have liked them to hang on to McFadden but I guess he wanted *guaranteed* first team football. Apparently they're interested in Arshavin who played for Zenit at Goodison.
Looking at the the draft there is a 6'5" defender named Andy Iro born in Liverpool and a Patrick Nyarko, wonder if he's a relation of the infamous one.
AFRICA
Blatter is a smeg - as are all the other ACoN moaners.
The CAF maintains that June in much of Africa isn't ideal weather for football - surely a few weeks every two years isn't that big of a deal. (there are about 40 players in the PL absent for this year's ACoN)
The slimy Swiss smeg has called for the ACoN to change dates by 2016
Yeah, Beavis (sans the Grecian 2000) and Butthead (the one sookin’ on his dummy), it’s a perfect fit.
Ringo; Aye, but It’s just my opinion not necessarily making me “right”.
A poll from the Beeb shows over 50% thinking Keegans’ return is not the answer. However that said, we could all be “wrong” in which case after two years I’ll bare me bum on You Tube if Newcastle reaches the EPL top four. And to acknowledge your insight I’ll send you a case of Brownies to be shared by the rest of the blog.
However didn’t Keegan once say “if I got it wrong there is a bullet out there with my name on it”? Never more true than in today's football world.
I just don’t believe in the long run these two will bring anything of value or a solid run at any silverware.
NUFC have done an Ashley and the circus honeymoon period starts tomorrow.
God help us.
Last edited by Mags4Me on January 18th at 9:17 PM.
Yeah, we've got some great players from Africa now. There is a segment of Evertonia who think Pienaar has played better than Arteta this year ... blasphemy I know ... Pienaar has played well. Talking about RSA how come Benni McCarthy played for Blackburn on Sunday? Not in the ANC squad?
Back on Beane, there are quite a few A's fans who think he's spending too much time with the soccer and has handed over control of the A's to David Forst... The A's have their first losing season in nine years and all kinds of wild #### get tossed around
Good to see pple focus on my beautiful continent of Africa. It's a big tourny for as Africans and I do think FSC would get alot of viewers where they to show it coz the soccer fan base has grown and there are alot of African immigrants in the U.S. I know pubs around my Uni would be packed where they to show the AFC.
Suprise team to watch are Mali and Angola. Especially Angola they have a very talented unkown squad they might do what Senegal did in 02 and suprise everyone.
But Ivory and Ghana are my favourites. Cameroon won't do well you can quote me on that one. Furthest I see them going is Quaters.
African Team: Don't know any quality ones for Goalie, Def: Taiwo, Kolo, Eboue, Mids: Muntari, Essein, Kieta, Angola's midfilder I don't know his name. Strikers: Eto, Drogba and Kanoute.
Still on Africa how great would it be to see Sudan progress and do another Iran. With all the negativity going on in Darfur, Sudan it would be a miracle for the people of Sudan and maybe it might bring them together. I'm secreatly routing for them, shhh don't tell anyone.
Onto this wknd: My beloved Arsenal better comeback strong or I'm going to start getting worried. Van P. we still love you, but u seriously need to get healthy. And Yes I miss Henry like crazy watching him in an Arsenal shirt was not only a joy but a honor. C. Ronaldo is not Henry just yet!!!!
Hopefully Reading can help us go top again like Westham did.
Hoping Atleti beat Real to make the title race even more heated. But at the end I'm hoping its Real who take the trophy. Sorry atleti i'm kind of a disguised Real fan, they won my heart back in the Galactico days. Especially when they whooped ManUre Ronaldo scoring a couple, and Beckham coming of the bench......
Would someone beat Inter for Christ sake I can't stand them been un-beaten, and I want Roma to win the Scudetto, Totti deserves it for his loyalty, I know his won 1 already but a 2nd couldn't hurt.
BLUESTUFF
WALLY FIELDING RIP - 88 a good innings and a great Evertonian
Pienaar doesn't have quite as much talent as Arteta but has a tad more grit and tackling and an excellent work rate. I'd hope to see him permanent in the summer
SA
I was suprised Benni didn't travel to Ghana, a gaol every two for the national side
handbags between the striker and Perreira perhaps.
Here's to an early exit due to a lack of goals!
SERIE A
INTER MAY GET BEASTEN IN THE COPPA ITALIA WHEN THEY FACE JUVE - UNTIL THEN NO CHANCE!
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.
Thank you to all who take time to visit this blog and especially to those of you who post your comments and thoughts.
PS - If you have questions please post them on the regular Monday blog. I am unable to answer e mails posted to the inbox on this site.
And one more thing. If you have questions or complaints or compliments about programming please contact Fox Soccer Channel or Fox Sports World Canada directly. I have no control over what the stations televise.
