Ringo - An easy one for you this week. Dundee can win the FA Cup or Tayport can win the Junior cup. Which one do you take?
Bobby – Dundee has a slightly better chance of winning the Scottish Cup this season than Scotland does of winning the European Championship this summer. A trip to Motherwell in the next round might have the making of a wee surprise but the focus of the team must be on promotion back to the SPL.
Tayport drew at home to perennial contender Pollok (viewer discretion is advised) last Saturday and they travel to the west of Scotland for the replay this weekend. The Scottish Junior Cup is a tough nut to crack
Carljamaica - Greetings from Jamaica. Do you think this Manchester United team is as good as people are saying? Do you think they are serious contenders for the Champions League meaning do you think they have what it takes? If not where do you think they are short. Is Ronaldo just going through a purple patch or is he really the real deal? Awaiting your thoughts.
Bobby – Much warmer than where I am! United deserve to be considered as one of the favourites to win the Champions League. They have been given a decent draw (not easy but Lyon are a side that United can beat) but often a bit of good fortune is also needed along the way.
There is still a month to go before the first leg of the first knock out round and things can change very quickly. Injuries, suspensions and key players losing form can all hit at an inopportune moment. In terms of their most significant weakness it is probably a lack of height and power up front.
You can see in some of the league games this season that without that option it gives the opposition one less thing to worry about. Having a big strong forward on the bench that could go on just to mix things up a bit would provide that additional alternative.
Since Ronaldo joined United he has improved every season. If you look back at his play when he joined United in 2003 the raw talent was there for everyone to see. Four and a bit years on and every aspect of his game has improved – some parts by leaps and bounds.
Craigy_f – 1. Was Probert correct to book Arteta? Has a card ever been used in that situation that you are aware of? 2. Does the lack of ACoN on any American network show the ignorance of the American networks as to the value of the tournament in Ghana? 3. Was it omitted for the same reasons that the Asia tournament was omitted? 4. What’s your impression of Lord Coe? 5. What’s your:- Goal of the week, Save of the week, Game of the week, Referee of the moment. 6. Favourite clip from Flash Gordon 7. What was your take on the teams and the result for the USMNT against a Sweden B team? 8. Will you and the boys try some colour this week?
Bobby – 1. It seemed to be a strange decision. The only way that I could see the referee having a valid cause would be if he had told Arteta to wait for the whistle.
2. The value is set by the number of people who would watch the tournament and despite what we think soccer on English language stations in North America do not regularly draw big numbers. A tournament that has games scheduled during the work day is an obvious problem.
3. I don’t know the reason why the Asia tournament was omitted so I can’t answer the question.
4. He used to be a very fast runner and was able to turn left? You can’t hang-out at the upper echelons of global sport without being forced to hold your nose at the goings-on. If you decide to hold true to your principles at that level it means you will have a short and largely ineffective career in the political world of sport.
5. Sully Muntari’s winner against Guinea, can’t think of one, poor weekend nothing stood out, oops the moment just went.
6. The End
7. Meaningless friendly for all except for the players and coaches.
8. Probably not.
GSfromWinnipeg - How about opinions on possible rule changes? You can certainly throw in your two cents, as well as everyone else.Here are some of my thoughts: 1. Why do we need to get so fancy with goal-line technology. Chips in the ball? Come on. If you want to position cameras along the line, fine. But, why can't they just add a back-line official who is in charge of watching for balls crossing the line? He could also assist with fouls in the box. It seems to me this would satisfy the purists and be at least as effective as technology that often still doesn't answer the question 100%.
2. Get rid of this passive offside rule. It just adds to the confusion. Vassell's goal on Sunday was a perfect example. Since the ball does not go to him, is that the end of Phase 1? Then he is back onside by the time the ball ricochets to him, so that makes it a good goal. But this must be a nightmare for the linesmen. Especially when it seems standard practise for players to line up offside on deadball situations to try and confuse the defense. By the way, since you are supposed to play to the whistle, and, as a defender, a man is behind you heading for goal, therefore you have to make an attempt to catch him, pulling yourself out of position. But the ball never goes to that attacker so he is "passive" while the onside attacker takes advantage of the space left by the defender to score. How is this helping the game.
KEEP IT SIMPLE (which offside will never be). If anyone is offside, play is dead. Period.
3. NO TO SIN BINS. As Harry Redknapp says, that will just encourage 10 minutes of time-wasting and defensive play. Just what football needs, 10 more minutes of 10 men behind the ball.
4. 3 YELLOW CARDS BEFORE YOU GET A RED. Encourage the refs to hand out a yellow every time a foul deserves it. I think they often don't give a yellow, because they know how serious the ramifications a second yellow is. This leads to inconsistency. The good refs talk to a player first and warn him a yellow is coming next time, but we can get rid of that need. The "talking" will be the first yellow. This would especially be of use in internationals where language is often a problem.
Also, get rid of suspensions for accumulated yellows (or at least increase the number of yellows before suspension). This almost always ends up excluding the best players from the biggest games due to some idiotic decision by the player or the ref, three games ago. I am thinking of Roy Keane missing the Champions League final in 99, Ballack missing the 2002 World Cup final, Zidane missing a key match in the 98 Cup, etc.
5. GOLDEN GOAL IN TOURNAMENTS AND ENDLESS OVERTIME. I know, this is a pipe dream. But how about giving it a try. I agree with Bobby, penalty kicks is dramatic and a test of mettle and skill, but it isn't the game that was intended. I think overtime rarely works as is because at least one team plays for the penalty kicks, and both teams are so afraid of conceding, they hang back and trust to fate in the kicks. If there is no promise of penalty kicks,
Bobby – 1. Sign me up for that position. Six officials for a game of football? Don’t like that idea.
2. That’s fine make it simple but just wait and hear the cries when someone slots one home into the top corner from 35 yards out and the goal is disallowed because one of his team mates stopped to tie his bootlace and was offside on the other side of the park alone on the touchline.
3. Sin bins are one of the stupidest ideas to come out and until you brought it up again I thought it had died.
4. The language problem was the exact reason that coloured cards were brought in so now to have a mandatory “talking to” being a warning before a yellow card only compounds the problem. Players will just claim that they didn’t know they were on a warning.
Idiotic decisions - Zidane missed games in 1998 because he stomped on a Saudi player. Your basic argument is that players should be given more leeway to foul. I don’t think that is going to encourage anyone to think twice about sliding in late.
5. I####ame goes to overtime the least that both teams deserve is the opportunity to fight back should they go behind. With the Golden Goal rule we would never had the likes of West Germany and Italy sharing five extra time goals in 1970 or France and West Germany playing an epic extra time in 1982.
Mts2284 -1. Recently, a reader asked you about commentators and which ones you liked. What’s your take on BBC’s John Motson? I live in the States and don’t get BBC but I’m a huge fan. Just wanted your opinion on the matter. 2. Why have Thierry Henry or Premiership players like Cristiano Ronaldo not won the FIFA Player of the Year award? Its always players from Serie A and La Liga, like Messi, or Ronaldinho. 3. Why does Ryan Babel not feature more in Liverpool’s starting 11? He’s a fantastic talent with loads of potential.
Bobby –1. His biggest break came when Ronnie Radford thumped the 30 yard winner for Hereford against Newcastle in the FA Cup. I was never a huge fan (although there were many who were aweful) when I lived in the UK – my preference would be for Martin Tyler.
2. I think basically because although they may have good domestic seasons they fail to make a real impact in the Champions League, European Championships or World Cup. Like Ronaldo I don’t think Messi has ever won a senior world or European individual award. 3. You probably nailed it with “loads of potential.” There are few teams willing to commit a regular spot to a player who is not considered the finished article although he may have potential. Having said that I’m also a bit mystified given that a couple of Liverpool players are having poor seasons so far.
Gregz - I was just wondering how much have you seen of Angel di Maria. How goes his development at Benfica and why would he choose to go to Benfica over Arsenal?
Bobby – Not very much since his move to Benfica. Di Maria has yet to score a league goal although the statistics show him with three yellow cards. He has been called up for the Argentina Olympic squad that has a friendly against Guatemala on February 6. Javier Mascherano is in the squad as an overage player. Benfica over Arsenal – probably thought there was a chance to play more at Benfica.
4Everton - Chris Coleman just left Real Sociedad after new management/ownership took over despite getting the team to within three points of promotion on the table. Coleman kept Fulham up even though he was not given a war chest of funds (see Sunderland) last year. Do you see him coming back to the Prem anytime soon?
Bobby – Managers that leave English football for some continental adventures take two routes. If you are the likes of John Toshack or Gordon Milne you don’t come back and instead you make a career of it in foreign lands.
On the other hand there are the likes of Howard Kendall and Graeme Souness who were adventurous enough to try their hand but returned after a relatively short time. I think Coleman will be like the latter.
Ollofan - Did Jeremy St. Louis leave the FSR?
Bobby – He is using up his vacation time.
Redfan2000 - While you are all watching Spurs spank Arse, I just found this on Aunty Beeb and you gotta laugh at Mark McGhee. George Burley is to be offered the Scotland job and Mark McGhee said after he found out: "If George does not win the World Cup then it opens it up for me to be one who does" Thoughts on this one?
Bobby – If it is George Burley then I like the choice. Understated but a very competent manager who has a good track record of getting the best out of his players.
Henry14 - q1 What is your assessment of Adebayor as player bearing in mind you thought he would be on the bench if rvp and da silva were firing?
q2 If you were Liverpool owner would you stick with Rafa?
Bobby – 1. If you said I said that then I guess I must have although I don’t recall that particular statement. I do remember defending Adebayor last season when you wanted him punted out the Emirates. 2. If I was the Liverpool owner I would be focused on whether or not I wanted to remain as owner rather than worrying about the manager.
And finally the resurrection of Chelsea. I may have missed it and apologize if someone got there first. But it seems to me that Glenn Hoddle was the catalyst for the Chelsea revival.
Do you have any idea who Bolton might sign to replace Anelka? Diouf will be back soon, but he is really more of a setup man than a scorer. And I can't believe Kevin Davies is the answer if they are to avoid the drop.
I'm sick and tired of people complaining about the inconsistency and uselessness of many refs. No one likes a bad call, especially me, but I believe that players are actually allowed to get away with too many petty things. When I say that, I don't mean that the game is too physical or players foul too much. I believe that players too often get away with flopping and faking of injuries. It's a disgrace to the game, and it is extremely difficult for me as a fan to watch. To the death of me, you'll have to strap me into a chair to watch an entire Serie A match where there isn't at least 20 flops/fake injuries and the ref doesn't call a foul for someone breathing on another player.
Anyones' thoughts?
Last edited by WeNeedMoreFreidel on January 22nd at 9:27 PM.
Bobby: Are the sightlines for managers really bad at White Hart Lane? Do the managers have trouble accessing their players after a game? After Adebayor headbutted Bendtner late in the 5-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, there was a post-game altercation on the sideline and Adebayor needed restraining. Yet at the post-game media conference,
Wenger claimed: "I don't know anything about it. Really I don't know."
And, Bobby, I wondered about the sightlines because Wenger clearly was seeing things going on out there when he said this:
"It is a disappointment of course. I feel that everythinig went against us. We had to take many risks and we were open to counterattacks."
"We were not mature enough to stop it. The score is brutal and high, but it does not reflect what happened on the pitch. With the first shot they scored, the second was an own goal and then they scored again straight after half time. The rest of the game had no meaning."
So if it had no meaning at 3-0, why was he keeping his squad strength up, or risking senior player's health, by bringing in Eduardo and Adebayor, or continuing to play senior players like Fabregas, Hleb, Gallas, Gilberto or Sagna? Shouldn't he have left Walcott out there to figure out what he was doing wrong? Shouldn't they have put out more of those great kids you guys keep talking about?
Last edited by flashman on January 22nd at 10:35 PM.
Bobby: Thank you for linking the Guardian article setting out what is publicly known of the Liverpool financial situation (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/ 2008/01/23/prospectors_for_gold_lea ve_liv.html).
One of the most interesting figures is the £185m part of the total debt related to the acquisition costs of the club by the new owners- and whether that debt will be (indirectly) financed by the club through dividends to the "Kop Investment" holding company. This figure is a lot less than the £525m debt quoted for the United acquisition by the Glazers (for which the club is responsible for the interest payments, as Bobby has explained on FSR), but consider this: according to the 2007 Deloitte Football Money League report (the most recent one fully available- see: http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc /content/UK_PressRelease_DeloitteFM L07(1).pdf), for the 2005-06 season LFC had gross revenues of just under £122m. If we assume annual interest on the to-be-refinanced debt at 6%, for example (not unreasonable), then the annual interest expense on the £185m will be £11.1m, or ALMOST 10% OF ANNUAL REVENUES.
Given that Hicks is quoted in the article as saying: "Hopefully the club will have extra cash flow so they can pay us a dividend to [use to pay the loan interest] ... If they don't, then it will come from our pockets. But the club will have to have profits sufficient to pay those dividends."- one can reasonably assume that LFC will certainly, if indirectly (through dividends to the holding company) end up servicing the £185m debt on behalf of the owners.
Last edited by Ursusarctos on January 22nd at 10:49 PM.
Oh, and another thing, Bobby:
Don't you think the media are being a little unfair to Arsenal after this game. Sure, they haven't beaten Tottenham Hotspur this calendar year and this latest 5-1 setback came after Wenger said he would only play his reserve players.
I mean, here's some scribbler named Henry Winter in the London Telegraph saying that Spurs "marvellous counter-attacking football ripped Arsenal to little pieces."
Come on, is that a fair comment?
Then he says, after Bendtner's own goal - he really is good in the air, isn't he? - that "Arsenal were stunned, a far from callow team embarrassed by the movement and quick tempo of their hosts...".
Hey, who's this Winter guy to challenge reality, calling Arsenal "far from callow"? Didn't Wenger say before the tie even began he was playing his kids? Wasn't that actually reported last night by the Fox Soccer Channel that Arsenal were playing their "callow" kids?
And then he says about the crowd at the game: "The noise was deafening...". Yeah, right. If it was so loud, they how did Adebayor hear what Bendtner said to him before he head-butted him?
Honestly, don't you wish reporters would get their facts straight?
So, Reds supporters, there it is: about 1 out of every 10 pounds generated every year by the club- money that should be used to improve the club by, for example, acquiring quality players- will most likely be diverted instead to pay the interest on the money borrowed by the Dynamic Duo to buy the club, so that we may have the ongoing privilege of having them around.
Ah, ain't life grand in the new and improved Premiership ...
(and spare a thought for United supporters, whose club is facing an even larger debt burden for the privilege of having the Glazers as owners, as Bobby has explained ...)
Please STOP USING PK and OG.. for Penalty and Own goal. There is no time to be saved cause it takes just as long to say it. At the same time it sounds wrong... Just something made up in the studio by the Canadian supporters.
Maybe this Liverpool crisis is the first stage in seeing the proper order of things being restored.
After all, there was a time when Everton were not only the big club on Mersey, but one of England's giants.
They seem like a stable, well-run club nowadays with bright prospects ahead, a realistically-priced new stadium in the works, lots of patience shown to the manager as well.
Here's a good article by Martin Samuel of The Times about Everton: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sp ort/columnists/martin_samuel/articl e3234481.ece
Last edited by flashman on January 22nd at 11:35 PM.
As impressive as Tottenham where ,they missed out on a big opportunity.
They should have put six past The Arsenal for the first time ,and could have been the first to bag seven in a N London derby.
Like the video clips Bobby ,especially Tayport's picturesque? ground ,grassroots at it's best.
And you have to love the silver-tongued manager on the sideline.
Could have done without seeing the first goal in the Hoddle bit though ,2-3 loss and the nearest I saw us get(in person)to an FA Cup final.
I wouldn't read too much into the Reds' "debt" situation. Aren't these the same people who have been saying United are doomed to bankruptcy and such and would effect their on-field performances?
I don't trust the numbers too much.
Redfan I think you said to me previously that the owners are at fault for some of the performances...In what way do they effect the way Stevie kicks a ball or the way Pepe Reina goes to make a save? Perhaps they were the reason Aurelio deflected the ball by Reinga?
Come on lets not go out on wild goose chases. The players and Rafa have been poor this season. I hate to admit this but Craigy is right, why would you play a 4-5-1 formation at home against Wigan? What was that 4-3-3 formation against Reading? How does your team lose to 2-1 one week and then three weeks later beat the same team 8-0? Remember that happened before this whole owners spat was going on.
Everyone knows how much I love Stevie but he has been extremely poor to the play we have come to expect from him.
This whole owner thing is the fans trying to make excuses for the players(and manager) they love for the many poor performances. Oh and its a little bit of Hicks just talking too much instead of being diplomatic like he should be.
Confidence and team morale DO play a MAJOR role in how a team performs, and they most certainly have been effected here. How can a team be expected to play and a manager expected to plan for games when the loud-mouth, #### owner says things that take the legs out from under the manager. Every team goes through cold periods of form, but since Tom Hicks decided to open up his ignorant mouth it's been an extended period of poor play and poor results. Even the wins are #### performances (e.g., Derby). I do agree that the players and Rafa should act as professional as possible and do their best, but they're human, not machines. LGB, I wonder if you've ever played competitive sports. Off-field matters make a difference.
"He's just a Spanish manager who's good at knockout tournaments but doesn't get the English game. His policy x and system y just flat-out don't work and he should go back to the generally accepted, English way of doing things. After all, England has the best league and the international side is the best in the world. If we don't succeed it's the manager's fault not the youth development system in place or the players' fault."
This will be seen in an article about Juande Ramos within the next two years.
Bear: Interesting to think about the refinancing but do we through the press ever really have all the facts? What we cannot see are things like the securities that underpin the loans, not to mention cash that forms the basis for the loan. There is much to speculate about, but unless we are dealing with a public company who have to publish their accounts, most of what we read or see will be pure guesswork and speculation. One thing is for sure, until the new Liverpool stadium is built there will be several bouts of refinancing as inflation, supply of materials and building costs move or escalate. I just hope the Liverpool project runs smoother than the new Wembley project did.
As for the owner not affecting the team LGB? If you think that the antics of Hicks have not affected Benitez and Gerrard, you are dreaming and have little idea about management and business dynamics. The relatonship John Smith had with Peter Robinson and Bob Paisley, made Paisley the best manager English football has ever seen. In any organisation the head honcho will affect the people below and there is no doubt right now Rafa does not look happy. The players see that every day and have to live with the uncertainty that the manager might leave or be fired.
Spurs domination of Arsenal in recent years began after former manager Arsene Wenger inexplicably allowed Spurs to inflict a crushing defeat in Carling Cup play. The humiliation was compounded that day by an inter-squad brawl that spilled over onto the training ground and soon led to the transfer request of Cesc Fabregas. Tottenham are now looking forward to their fifth consecutive season in Champions League play, although it's conceded that, with Fabregas pulling the strings in midfield and nothing getting past ageless wonder Jens Lehmann, the clear favorites to retain the cup are Barcenal. Caretaker manager Paul Merson says Arsenal will definitely put in a bid for InterToto Cup play.
lol flash you must be having a really busy day. Try Martin Jol as caretaker.
I am wondering if the management merry-go-round is finished for this season?
Could Chris Coleman wind up at Soton or back in the prem? Will Rafa, Roy Hodgson, Megson last the season? Much could happen yet.
'Glenn Hoddle as the spark that kick started the Chelsea revival'. Mmmm interesting thought.
Well done Spurs -- and while Henry Winter's article was good, The Guardian's Fiver put things into perspective a little better.
"What now for the supporters of this once proud club? Having seen their reserve team humbled by the marauding warriors of their fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Rumbelows Cup last night, they must now survey the wreckage of a smouldering season in ruins, with only the paltry consolation of wars on three infinitely less prestigious fronts - Premier League, Big Cup and FA Cup - to get them through the cold wintry nights ahead. These are desperate times to be an Arsenal fan."
It's a nice change to read flash celebrating a Spurs' victory rather than his usual whinging about Arsenal. He had the chance to fete them on the weekend after their first clean sheet in, oh, about six years but chose to complain about the cyber support for the Gunners.
One last point -- they look a much fitter, more tactically astute side under Juande Ramos. As long as Ledley King can stay healthy, Spurs may actually bother the top half of the table.
Good win for Tottenham, I am glad that their 1st win 8-9 years was in a much less meaningful cup game. An FA Cup or league loss would be significant. It had to happen sometime and this was the best scenario.
Arsenal are not a complete team and will probably not win anything this year. They lack bench depth, width, crossing ability and a commanding CB. They have no real midfield goal threat (maybe Rosicky if they play him centrally) And without Hleb they have no playmaker.
And I take back my recapitulation where I apologized for knocking Fabregas. In fact I was right all along and he is overrated an he should be sold to Madrid ASAP before his value drops further. They could have sold him for 30M now they will be lucky to get 25 and in 2 years maybe 15-20.
LGB: "I wouldn't read too much into the Reds' "debt" situation. Aren't these the same people who have been saying United are doomed to bankruptcy and such and would effect their on-field performances?"
The issue is not the debt as such- I have no problem at all with borrowing to fund a new stadium that will generate additional revenue, for example (so long as the terms of the loan and the projections behind the project are reasonable).
The issue is the implication of saddling the club with the burden of loans contracted for the sole benefit of the owners. The £185m portion of the loan refinancing was used to pay for the transfer of ownership of LFC to the Dynamic Duo- it was not used to improve LFC or aid its operations in any way. That is why- in the article Bobby linked- both Rick Parry and David Moores are referred to as having "argued vehemently" that the refinanced £350m loan (which includes that £185m) should not fall entirely on the club.
As for United: what if, due to series of unlucky events (injuries happen), United found itself out of the Champions League early, finishing lower in the League table than usual, etc. The result would be lower revenues than expected for that year. Since the interest payments on the Glazers' debt have to be met by the club no matter what, that means less money for player acquisition and retention. A slightly less talented and deep squad for the next year might not be able to regain its former heights, putting further pressure on the finances, and so on. All because of debt that served no productive purpose for the club what
redfan 2000: "Interesting to think about the refinancing but do we through the press ever really have all the facts? ... most of what we read or see will be pure guesswork and speculation."
Yes, I agree completely. Without the LFC financials, the refinancing loan agreement, and the revenue projections underlying the acquisition, we have no way of really judging the situation.
My point was simply to raise the issue for LFC- through a very general, "fudged" scenario- of being saddled with interest payments on debt that was not to its benefit, and the possible effects that might have on the club.
I don't claim any originality to these thoughts at all- Bobby has explained very clearly his views of the United financial situation several times, and I have just extrapolated my understanding of his points (hopefully correctly, Bobby!) to the developing LFC story.
ACoN:
Tunisia 2 Senegal 2
According to one report, Senegal will be kicking themselves for not taking their chances better.
South Africa v Angola now.
Meanwhile, Deportivo's Uruguayan goalkeeper Munúa has been sentenced to six months in jail after his assault on Aouate, the Israeli keeper who has been a regular starter for the team until the incident.
Bear or should we call you Griz? My one concern, that Gillette may prevent Hicks from doing, is the moving of profits however small from LFC to other corporate interests, as Hicks is reported to have suggested recently.
I really like what I see in the Montreal Canadians under George Gillette's ownership. If he can inject and effect that kind of ethos at Liverpool, we will do well. Gillette has been very noticeably silent this past little while, unlike his partner and could actually take LFC forward if Hicks does not spoil the ground.
It really needs Mssrs Gillette and Hicks to heal the ground with the club and supporters. They could do this best by going on the LFC TV show and doing a phone in, though after they have affirmed Rafa Benitez (or not) as manager. OK they get an ear bashing but it might be the quickest way forward.
The situation as is cannot be allowed to fester any longer becuase it is damaging the club, the management and the performances. Like you Bear I hope for the long term stability and success of the club. Here's hoping peace reigns!
Last edited by redfan2000 on January 23rd at 11:46 AM.
What's up with Fulham slowing becomming the USMNT-Europe.
Eddie Johnson signed with them today, which is great for him, he needs to get out of MLS and on to bigger and better things, and for the USMNT for the same reason...
The question though, do you see this as a good thing or a bad thing for the USMNT that we are having a descent number of players playing on the same, bottom of the table team in England, as opposed to spread out around the league? Or do you think it really doesn't matter?
Leche isn't Brad Guzan heading that way as well? It seems like it is not a good thing, but I can't really give a good reason why, just a hunch. Can anyone else think of another club team that had as many national team members of the same country? And I don't mean same country, I mean full internationals. The only ones I can think of off the top of my head are the Ajax team from the early 90's, the recent Milan team before right before the World Cup, and maybe the Olympique Lyon team.
leche010 - i dont c it as a bad thing really. i mean look at EJs play in MLS. not much is what it adds up to. he just doesnt look like he is into the game. maybe he needs more pressure and playing in the EPL no matter for what team is a good pressre filled exp.
I think it will make or break him. He has the qualities to be a good striker. he hits the ball well, has good pace, and he is very athletic. i dont know how good in the air he is.
i saw Hodgson saying how he is a good replacement for Mcbride and i couldnt disagree more. EJ is a totally different type of striker than Mcbride.
i hope Guzan goes over to Euro. as well. its good for the players and its good for the MLS.
the MLS problems are not that the players are going to Euro but that the player pool is so low. They need to cast the net out farther than just the college game and start getting scouts out to other areas as well. also im surprise not to see more players coming over from the lower division. whats it called soccer leagues of america or something.
It looks like I was mistaken about Guzan, there is interest in him from Europe, but from what I found not Fulham. I could have sworn I saw a headline on either soccernet, or foxsoccer linking him to that club.
Just received my eurosport catalog in the mail today. I thought it was funny that on the cover they had Arjen Robben in a Madrid jersey considering how little he plays.
Not sure if I agree with your valuation of Cesc at all Mas. The most frustrating player for me in that game was easily Diaby. Great skill no footballing sense. He's the type of player you could expect to dribble with the ball in circles and through crowds but never be able to see the open man. There was numerous times in the game where Cesc was in a central position asking for the ball from him to you know start a rotation and atleast attempt to stretch the defense and Diaby had the blinders on and would attempt some complicated dribbling sequence that would result in him being on the right flank when he was supposed to be on the left.
With that said Cesc is a passing mastermind. This is all limited by how much of the ball he sees at his feet and the quality of the players hes passing to. If hes sending through balls to strikers on bad form you wont get results. If hes making simple passes to fellow players in midfield and they lose the ball with horrible decisions hes not going to look very bright. He really truly misses RvP.
BLUESTUFF
SMEG!
Well beaten by a better team.
Moyes should take the blame for this loss, the 4 4 1 1 (or 451) wasn't working, fling on Vaughn at the half, he's shown he's a physical and annoying prescence to defenders.
AJ has his good points, without help Carvalho and Alex ate him alive.
Petr Cech did make three good saves (and one drop which he got given a free pass with - a foul - never in a million years).
Why when Makalele was trying to swap shirts with Arteta did Bennet NOT give a free kick? Right on the egde of the box, #### decision.
You need more than being dangerous at set pieces to beat an in form Chelsea side. Fair play to the lads, they played well but didn't have enough to win.
BLACK AND RED AND BLUE STUFF
Quack Quack your not it! The new Brazilian cost his team the win with some smeg finishing, nice one Del Neri! AHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHncelotti!
THANKS TO ALL AT THE PUB! GREAT NIGHT OUT! THE CHELSEA HAIRDRESSERS WERE NICE ENOUGH TO BUY ME BEER! ME AND THE GUNNER SHARED OUR GRIEF! BARELY ANYONE TALKED TO THE MANC! I HAD A GOOD REMINIICSE WITH THE RS! I NOW KNOW SEVERAL BRAZILIAN CURSES!
Commiserations to Spurs!
REDFAN ;(
We'll be at full strength by the time we take on La Viola and wander across the park!
GOONERS
When AC Mialn visit teh EMirateS it would be funny to hvae 30 odd thousand yellow plastic ducks to throw onto the piych when they announce Pato's name over the tannoy!
Arsenal where a horror show at the back. Gallas had a game to for get.
Berbatov is simply brillent when he feels like playing.
But the only reason I watched the game was to see that Ade,Benter altracation. Ade seemed to have walked towards him and just hit him I wonder why? He must have said something bad.
Hey Bobby I asked a question and never got an answer.
Last edited by Gunner44 on January 23rd at 9:41 PM.
rico, apad... It doesn't look very promising for us, when a team of a bunch of our internationals is gonna end up relegated behind teams like Wigan and Reading, that are primarily made up of English players who have almost no hope at playing for their senior international team...
That, and I just don't think it'll come as helpful for the US team to have our players not getting that diverstiy they would if they played for different clubs...
I guess, I'd be more comfortable about the situation if McBride was with Fulham, Dempsey was with Bolton, EJ was with Wigan, Bocanegra was with Boro... Or whatever... You know, spread around more...
"A brief story. At the Chelsea versus Arsenal FA Cup final in 2002, both sets of fans are gathered at the coach entry point to the Millennium Stadium. The Chelsea coach arrives and the Chelsea fans cheer and sing. The Arsenal fans politely applaud. The Arsenal coach arrives and the same happens in reverse. Ten seconds behind the Arsenal coach is a dust cart with four hairy-arsed, beer bellied, tattooed bin men hanging off the back and another three in the driver’s cab. Cue both sets of fans, spontaneously and in unison.
“Are you Tottenham in disguise? Are you Tottenham in disguise?”
Well… I guess you had to be there, but it’s Chelsea versus the Bin Men, ironically the very day after we were scheduled to take three points off them at Three Point Lane. Bring it on."
From one of the Chelsea blogs ,and that sets up the sequel forty one years in the making.
Redfan-The inconsistent results started in September, well before the incident between Rafa and the owners. And they haven't improved much since then. Perhaps thats why morale is low.
In fact, when Rafa and the owners fued started Liverpool started and continued five game winning streak and were absolutely destroying teams.
You're analyzing the situation too much...The results are the same now as they were in September for the same reasons.
Ursus-I'm not really going to touch the financial side because as you even admitted, we know very little and most of its probably just press speculation.
leche- i see ur point of having so many players from the nat. team on the same club and it might be better if they were spread around the league but at the same time it is giving these guys an experience and familiarity with each other by playing on the same team that when they play for the nat. team they will know each others play and where they want the ball.
Bobby - 1) what do you think? is having so many players from one national team on the same league team a bad thing or good thing?
2) do you thing that EJ will do well in the EPL? doesnt he look, while he was in MLS, like he isnt paying attention or is passionate about playing football?
3) with all the strikers team america is purchasing where are they going to put all these players and who is on the way out?
4) where do you think they will put Dempsey and Mcbride when he gets back? does he get put into the starting lineup or sits on the bench?
What is so mysterious about the financial aspects of these private takeovers. We know the price. We know the estimated net worth of the owners. We have a basic understanding of how much debt burden they are undertaking. We know the range of percentage rates. It really isn't too complicated.
There are only 2 reasons for leveraged buy-out. 1- undervalued assets, 2- some huge growth opportunity.
The Liverpool take over makes much better sense than the Man Utd b/c they have growth potential. Bobby has pointed out many times the problems with Utd. It isn't the near future when SAF will have them going deep in 4 competitions, b/c that is what they need to maintain revenue to cover debt service. It is in 5 yrs unless there is a seamless transition to a new awesome manger.
Mazmaz a third reason for forced buy out, or sell off, is debt which is an all to common occurrence these days.
LGB, doubtless Rafa has made some boo-boos, and these have been discussed. New players and squad dynamics, coaching mistakes, players off form, are part of life in football and any team sport really. Every team blips each season. The communications shambles at Liverpool has been festering for a good long while and we won't know the half of it until the biographies come out in ten or fifteen years, to tell us about what has really gone on.
Last edited by redfan2000 on January 24th at 8:30 AM.
The wonders of the FA cup! Only two days until little Havant and Waterlooville walk out in front of the Kop and a packed Anfield. I hope the Kop gives them a great welcome and while I want us to win I hope it is not 10 nil.
Where else could you see such a match up in the fourth round of a cup competition? I hope the sun shines and the lads from Hants have a great day.
Last edited by redfan2000 on January 24th at 8:55 AM.
