Tim Vickery on the start of theCopa Libertadorestogether with comments on Chelsea and Birmingham City’s new Argentine recruits.
For all the complaining we have heard about the African Cup of Nations it does not appear to have stopped the majority of Premier clubs from intensely scouting the tournament.
A decision with significant implications for players looking to walk away fromlong term contracts has finally been made.
And Sepp Blatter’s response to the rule that he helped to bring in.
The African Cup of Nations is down to the last eight and fans in Canada will be glad to know that French language broadcaster TV5 will be televising games from the quarter finals on. For others in North America there are internet options including All Soccer Africa.
My viewing to date has been limited to the highlights of each game delivered over the internet so take the predictions with plenty of salt. However, there has been some cracking goals and a couple of good matches. Now that we have reached the last eight here is hoping that the quality is maintained. Two games are scheduled for Sunday and the others on Monday.
Ghana vs. Nigeria Former MLS (Chicago, Colorado and San Jose) striker Junior Agogo has become a bit of a folk hero during this tournament. The consummate journeyman player looks to have finally settled at Nottingham Forest and despite being left out of the 2006 World Cup he seems to have established himself as a regular member of the Ghanaian international squad.
Ghana needed two very late goals (one from Agogo against Namibia) to secure wins in the first two matches before a straight forward 2-0 win over Morocco sealed a quarter final spot.
Although Nigeria could be considered slightly fortunate to qualify from group B they should not be underestimated. A stunning goal from Salomon Kalou was the difference in their opener against Ivory Coast and although a scoreless draw versus Mali was a disappointing result it did leave the door slightly ajar for Nigeria.
Goals finally came Nigeria’s way as Mikel and Yakubu notched second half markers to beat a Benin side that was far out of their depth. Ivory Coast did the rest by refusing the rest on the fact that they had already secured passage to the knock stage and beat Mali 3-0.
Nigeria has a terrific record in the African Cup of Nations since 1984. Out of the thirteen tournaments Nigeria has made it to the final five times while wining once in 1994. On four other occasions they have reached the semi final stage and taken 3rd place each time.
Prediction – Ghana 1-0 Nigeria
Ivory Coast vs. Guinea The FIFA rankings may be suspect at the best of times but even so few soccer fans outside of Africa would be able to name Guinea as the third ranked side on the continent. They may have never made it to the World Cup Finals to date but 2010 may become their first.
This is the third straight time that Guinea has made the last eight in this tournament but any hope of progressing further this time has been severely damaged by the suspension handed to Pascal Feindouno of St. Etienne.
Between qualification games and the first two of the finals the attacking midfielder has scored eight goals in 10 games. However, his double over Morocco was overshadowed by a sending off for violent conduct. A two game ban meant he missed the final group game (a 1-1 draw) against Namibia but more importantly he will also miss the quarter final against Ivory Coast.
The Ivorians can score goals (8 so far) and give little away in defense – only one goal conceded in seven games at the qualifying and finals stages.
Prediction – Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea
Egypt vs. Angola This might very well be the time of the round with the reigning African Champions facing a 2006 World Cup qualifier that proved tough to break down. Despite winning at home two years ago Egypt was less than impressive during the qualification phase for this edition.
But you would hardly know it based on their opening two games that saw them blow away Cameroon 4-2 and Sudan 3-0. The opportunity to rest Mohamed Zidan was taken in the final game and the resulting 1-1 draw with Zambia was more than enough to see the Champions through as group C winners.
This is the 22nd time that Egypt has appeared in the African finals and five times they have gone on to win the tournament. For a country that has historically done so well regionally only two World Cup appearances in 1934 and 1990 seems meager.
On the other hand their quarter final opponents Angola will be making a first appearance in the last eight and are looking to build on some fine displays in Germany in 2006. At World Cup 2006 the Angolans proved to be exceedingly tough to break down although they were missing a cutting edge up front.
This problem may have now been solved with the emergence of Manucho, a recent Manchester United signing. A converted winger Manucho entered the tournament with two goals in 10 international appearances but has since scored three more. With veteran Flavio also available up front Angola now have a legitimate scoring threat from their front pairing. Angola will also be eager to move deeper into the tournament as they are scheduled to host in 2010.
Prediction – Egypt 2-1 Angola
Tunisia vs. Cameroon Cameroon has bounced back from a first game loss to Egypt and with Samuel Eto’o (5 goals and an African Cup of Nations scoring record) in the side they present a potent threat. With ten goals so far Cameroon is the top scorers in the tournament and a defense record of five conceded has to be placed in the context of four goals lost to Egypt.
Tunisia won the tournament when they hosted four years ago and they have also reached the quarter finals twice and a semi final in their last six tournament appearances. Tunisia is unbeaten with a win over a bitterly disappointing South Africa side and two draws with Angola and Senegal.
Prediction – Tunisia 1-3 Cameroon
For my money the best game of the weekend in Europe is set for Florence where Fiorentina faces a Milan side that desperately want to dislodge the Viola from the fourth spot that they currently occupy. Both clubs are enjoying a fine run of form with Fiorentina having won four straight and Milan with four wins in their last five games.
Milan sits in sixth spot seven points behind Fiorentina but with a game fewer played. While Brazilian teenager Pato has been capturing the headlines with three goals since his debut against Napoli three weeks ago, the much maligned Gilardino has quietly gone about his business and has scored two vital away goals against Udinese and Reggina. Both were game winners and in all Gilardino has scored seven Serie A goals and all have come away from home.
Fiorentina’s game breaker has been Romanian Adrian Mutu. Mutu has rediscovered the form that made him one of the most sought after players in the world and it is surely no coincidence that it has coincided with him reuniting with his old boss from the Parma days Cesare Prandelli.
After being sacked by Chelsea Mutu signed on at Juventus but failed to make a signicant impact. Fiorentina moved in and last season brought 16 goals in 33 Serie A games. This season Mutu has been responsible for close to 40% of Fiorentina’s goal production with thirteen goals in his twenty appearances.
I'm gonna kick this one off by first, stating Sepp Blatter is a complete #### (or maybe it's just the fact that he's Swiss... Hmmmm), so his criticism of anything should be taken with a grain of salt and a shot of scotch... I am actually appalled that he's been in charge of FIFA for so long, and moreso that his last election went un-challenged.
He's just this crippled, decripit, pompous old man, who's time has long ago, come and gone...
Hiya Bobby,
How about some weekend EPL predictions.
i am thinking Arsenal will hand Man City their first home defeat, Tottenham can get a draw at home against Man U., Liverpool will dominate the Black Cats (as the Reds struggle for 4th place), Chelsea will show up strong against Portsmouth (even though Avram Grant looks like a deer in headlights in the technical area) but as long as Ballack is healthy and Anleka isn't having cheese with his whine they should squueze out a win.
Additionally, how about the Fulham v. Villa, Blackburn v. Everton and Wigan v. West Ham matches?
Last edited by HatrickVieira on February 1st at 4:50 AM.
As a longtime City fan, I am disappointed to say that I'd be very surprised, and happy, if City could come away from the Arsenal game with any points. City's midfield is decent, and their defense--particularly Richard Dunn--strong, but they struggle to find the net. Petrov delivers the ball well, but seems not to be a finisher, and nobody else comes closer. City's defense will only hold out for so long against a deep and talented Arsenal side. Plus, as evidenced by City's loss to the Blades and their horrific draw with a dismal Derby side, City's form has been in decline for weeks. Perhaps, 0-3 Arsenal? Ugh.
Ursus, I picked Kuyt to have a good season this year. I don't know whether it's temporary, but right now he plays like he has zero confidence. Some strikers are streaky, but he hasn't done a whole lot from open play at all this season. I expect more changes up front come summer.
AG, speaking of changes up front, Babel is a striker being played out of position (much like Henry in his early days). Now that Liverpool can officially kill any pipe dreams at challenging the top 3, maybe trying out Torres/Babel will be a good thing. As for starting, Rafa seems to want to bring in Babel slowly in his first season. I'm not sure if this is good or bad, but anything different would be better at the moment. A whole month without a league win, time to wake up.
If they secure a top 4 with a few games left (extremely tall order right now), then I would hope they give Nemeth and others a shot to see if he can step up to the plate. But that's doubtful.
video of all 34 goals by Afonso Alves maybe my distant relative? last year in the Dutch Eredivisie. Only two are from penalties and a bunch from very nicely taken freekick's. Seems like the same as when I saw the Eduardo video. Obvious the guy has skill and ability but the amount of goals that are purely bad marking makes it suspect if he will be able to reproduce anything close in the Prem. At 12m and a lawsuit by AZ saying they had a deal also Boro better pray hes worth the price assuming Fifa don't make him sit the rest of the season which doesn't look like it will happen though.
Either FIFA doesn't recognise the Charity Shield as a competitive game ,or someone has slipped up.
Lassana Diarra came on for the last 23 minutes in the Shield game for chelsea before moving to Arsenal ,making Portsmouth his third team this season ,against FIFA rules ,the same rules that prevented Daniel Cousin moving from Rangers to Fulham.
Firstly,
Bobby you are the reason why I watch the FSC Report religiously. My wife can't stand you which means you're a great football commentator.
Jeremy and the lads are great but you take the show to a different level.
Secondly, Sepp Blatter and his ilk are just as corrupt and pretentious as the lot that runs the Olympic Committee. Too much money at stake to stay honest.
FIFA needs a governing body but no life appointments whether codified or not. Term limits and required independent auditing managed by a panel from the world court.
Football is too global, too important to billions of people for a small group of corrupt cronies to run the organization.
I am all for players getting whatever money they can out of the game. After all, it wouldn't be terribly interesting watching Hicks, Gillette, the Glazers, et al running (waddling) around the pitch scuffing a ball. However, if a player now does not have to honour a contract after 2 or 3 years, it seems to me the club should have the same right. How many players these days seem to be quite content to pocket a salary and sit on the bench or play in the reserves? How many players (Kewell for one) seem to suddenly find new energy and drive when their contract is coming up for renewal, and then retire to the treatment table before the ink is dry?
I know, you can say a team can buy out a player's contract, so this new ruling creates an even playing field, but I still think this has swung the pendulum a bit too far in the player's favour.
I could also see a potential backfire in this. This could mean teams won't bother offerring anything more than 3-year contracts since there is no guarantee the player will stay longer than that anyway. Now, fringe and middle players will probably be looking at signing 1-year contracts most of the time with no guarantee of a job at all next season. Of course, that means they will have to produce or be out, which is good for the team, but spells a lot of stress and hardship for the vast majority of players, and even more team-switching.
Last edited by GSfromWinnipeg on February 1st at 12:44 PM.
All in all, I see this as something that will make the elite players even richer as clubs will be forced to pay exhorbitant salaries and offer very long-term contracts to discourage buy-outs. Then those elites will have yet another temptation to slack off and lose their edge (could you imagine players like Ronaldinho and fat Ronaldo sitting in year 3 of an 8-year contract guaranteeing them millions). The journeyman players will have even less security, and possibly even less money. (As we know Bosman wasn't the beneficiary of the Bosman ruling.)
I'm rambling, and it could be said that it is the elites that deserve the lion's share of the wages, but, just as 4 rich teams in a league doesn't do much for competitiveness, 4 rich players can't do much for team harmony.
As you can tell, I am still pondering all the ramifications of this, so please excuse my stream of consciousness post.
GS, a nice contrast to all this is to see a group of the sport's journeymen slog through a howling ten-inch (and continuing) snowfall today to take the first day of MLS training for Toronto FC.
Mind you, they're playing under an inflatable dome over their plastic pitch at BMO Field. I bet they could sell seats just to watch this.
At the game's lower levels, even honest-effort players who work hard for every penny they earn, don't operate with much security. We certainly saw that in Toronto last year as bodies came and went.
Given the movement we see each transfer window, it's not like fans of most clubs can feel secure anymore about seeing any player on their team's roster stay for long.
This ruling certainly doesn't do anything to improve that circumstance for a fan. You have to wonder whether we'll be likely to see someone spend an entire career with one club like, say, Giggs or Scholes have at ManU.
10-inches? The poor darlings -- isn't T.O. shut down for a snow day?
@verbal
That's a good idea to pair Babel and Torres up top together -- they are both intelligent footballers with great technique who would cause real problems with their blistering pace and movement. It'd be tough to play a high line against that duo.
I hope your prediction about ivory coast is wrong, I want Drogba back asap. However, i wonder what kind of a mood he will be in should he lose the game. !
Its all headwork for these strikers, if he comes back a winner he may have lots of confidence, he comes back aloser, who knows.
LGB
Rafa said the CL is HARDER to win than the PL, you said the same thing.
I asked you to explain it.
Seems pretty simple.
Your simplistic response was,
“The reason is simple: BETTER teams mean a BETTER AND HARDER competition to win”
Then you backed up your initial argument using the word ridiculous and some basic research.
Then you bring in International football to back up your argument and then have a go at Everton.
The key thing here is the use of the words, ‘BETTER’ and ‘HARDER’. Certainly in a pub discussion you’d get a whole range of arguments which would back either the Premier League or the Champions League. That may be fun but HARDly definitive.
BETTER –
Individual games may actually be HARDER, sure. In the group stages though teams are seeded which keeps Man United from playing Chelsea (which they have to do twice each season in the Premier League). Chelsea certainly hasn’t had to play anyone really good so far.
Then in the first KO stages seeds are used again, keeping the top teams from playing one another. Sevilla haven’t had to face either Barcelona or Real Madrid, (they play each other as they do in La Liga – to add some international perspective).
West Ham is perhaps not as good as Porto, maybe BETTER than Marseille though.
UEFA weights its leagues. Thus the Premier League is weighted alongside Italy and Spain. Any other league is weighted less. Thus whilst the teams who win the Greek or Danish leagues are in the Champions League they aren’t rated as highly as some Premier League teams that aren’t represen
verbal97: "I don't know whether it's temporary, but right now [Kuyt] plays like he has zero confidence. Some strikers are streaky, but he hasn't done a whole lot from open play at all this season."
The "funny" thing is, on a season over season basis Kuyt has not been streaky at all- remarkably consistent, actually, at least during his time in the Eredivisie: four straight seasons (02-03 through 05-06) of 20+ goals in league play for Utrecht and Feyenoord, plus several more in domestic cup and European play. Last year at LFC the league total dropped to 12 in the same number of matches- but one could claim that was the result of playing in a tougher league.
I've wondered since the start of the season whether Kuyt was (unconsciously?) put out of sorts by the arrival of Torres. I've no evidence for this at all- just an idle thought. But I agree his confidence appears to have completely deserted him.
verbal97: "I expect more changes up front come summer."
If the financial situation permits it ...
verbal97: "Babel is a striker being played out of position ... Now that Liverpool can officially kill any pipe dreams at challenging the top 3, maybe trying out Torres/Babel will be a good thing."
In light of our Kuyt discussion, I note that he had experience on the wing with Feyenoord and the Dutch NT- so the front pairing you suggest could allow Kuyt to contribute from a less high-profile position as a confidence builder.
UEFA adopts ‘coefficients’ to rank the Champions League competitors. For 2006/07 AC Milan are top with 133.808, yet didn’t win Serie A. Liverpool was third with 112.618 yet finished only third in the Premier League. A mathematical version of BEST.
Pretty much, BEST can be decided by how you look at it. Trophies may be a good indication but no measure is definitive.
HARDer – (this one I liked)
Individual games may be in fact HARDER. Although given what we’ve explored about how shaky; calling something other than George; BEST is.
Logically it would follow that a less than definitive BEST can’t in fact lead to a definitive HARDER.
Going to Turkey was tough, certainly it was about as tough as going to Upton Park. The results were the same.
Even if we stretch things and say that Champions League Games are BETTER than Premier League games we have to think of these things.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are Premier League teams. Is playing them not HARD or not as HARD as playing Porto or Internaz ionale.
Given the approximate ratio of three Premier League games to one Champions League game it could be argued that games against Wigan, Bolton and Derby are HARDER than one game against Roma or one against Rosenborg.
If nothing the chances of an injury to a key player could be triple.
HARDER and BETTER – not easily defined. Thus any argument which uses the two terms is an opinion.
I do disagree with you. The Champions League is NOT HARDER to win than the Premier League.
If Benitez had managed Atletico to two Primera wins in three seasons, and not Valencia, he would be the greatest manager in the world ... (right atleti?!)
MULTIPLES
Mancs can certainly do a double, a treble is worth a fiver @ Ladbrokes.
Chelsea can win two cups, three would be a push
Arsenal could go home empty handed or do a treble
Everton top 4 and the UEFA cup would a 'double' of immense
proportions
Liverpool could possibly win two cups
Spurs can do a double unless they have many more games such as that howler at Goodison
ACoN
Thankyou South AFrica!
BLACK STARS for the win, not that I'm a Ghana supporter but I want my players back.
The home nation has won the competition 11 times
(Twice this was Ghana)
When in West Africa(according to Doring Kindersly) a West African team has won the competition 4 times.
Egypt are the holder and have won it five times.
A North African side has never won the competition in West Africa.
SERIE A
Viola V Pato - should be quite a game, two other clashes which may suprise are Napoli V Udinese & Reggina V Torino.
Not only is Trezeguet the leader for the cappocannoniere plaudit but he's also managed to do it with only one penalty, the closet player (without penalties is Cruz. Pandev is the only ine of the top ten scorers not to need penalties.
AG
Balotelli is good and will be used primarily in the Coppa. If he fulfills his u17 and U20 promise he will be a stunner for Inter and may feature in the 2010 world cup (although for whom remains to be seen)
This season the Ghanaian will certainly get some chances to shine - Mancini's squad has some real depth.
They should contest the Copa with Roma.
They should win the Scudetto
I've picked them to beat an English or Spanish side in the CL final.
Currently though they've been playing some poor football - and yet still winning.
KUYT
Second season slump, nothing more. Not helped by an unsettled club.
He'll be used to playing with players of a much higher claibre than he is (RVN).
He has Winger or Trequartista written all over him.
Babel and Torres sounds pretty decent - I do think Torres needs a CF alongside him - Babel isn't that CF
ATLETI
What formation did Atletico mostly play Torres in (and with whom)
What would you suggest (given what's on offer) a good partner for Fernando for the rest of the season?
Did he play much up front on his own at Atletico?
My theory about Kuyt is he has been distracted by his father's serious illness. I don't know for sure, but I certainly remember hearing his dad was stricken with cancer. (I have not heard whether he passed away or not.) That could certainly cause someone to lose their focus as Kuyt certainly has. Kuyt certainly hasn't shown the same energy as he did last season.
The Champions League is harder to win because it is an elimination tournament. Consequently, bad luck, bad timing for injuries, etc. could see you knocked out. Thus, you not only have to be talented, but you have to be lucky. That, in my book, means it is a harder competition. In league play, quality will always win out, because luck will (with rare exceptions) even out over the course of a season.
That's why most players and managers still consider winning the League the best achievement.
That being said, when you are down to the final 8 in the Champions League, you are looking at some pretty tough teams, all who have pretensions to win their domestic leagues. I think a league that contained all of them would be one tough league.
As an aside, that's why I think a European Super League would be crazy. Could you imagine teams that are used to competing for top spot in their league having to settle for mid-table mediocrity because only one of Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter, etc. can win. Would they owners of those teams really want that? Isn't better to be at the top of your domestic league and leave it to people like us to argue who is really the best among the different leagues?
altadragoon: I know how proud you are to be able to master snow shovelling. It's what passes for culture out there this time of year.
Or if you're down by The Hat, maybe happy hour - 4 a day - in the Ralph Klein Room at the Brooks Gun Club.
So with the snow still piling in, it's the perfect excuse for some top skiving from work Saturday and I shall be sat on my customary stool enjoying Spurs slip a whoopee cushion on SAF's throne.
Third time lucky. COYS. And win or lose, we'll be snowbound in a cracking pub with wall-to-wall tellys, awaiting rescue helicopters or dogsleds. No rush, chaps.
ursus: How much are you personally pledging towards the Liverpool fan buyout?
Last edited by flashman on February 1st at 9:58 PM.
This year's Libertadores should be a great one. A lot of have loaded up with talented players. As the article said there is always a dark horse that makes it to latter stages.
The main favorites are:
Boca Juniors with Riquelme leading them again and Sao Paulo with Adriano up front.
River Plate and San Lorenzo have very strong teams.
Any of the four Brazilian teams could go all the way (Flamengo, Fluminense, Santos and Cruzeiro)
Mexican teams America and Chivas will be there fighting toe to toe.
The best of the rest: Lanus, Arsenal de Sarandi, Colo Colo, Nacional, Libertad, LDUQ, Atletico Nacional and Atlas.
Players that may break out into stardom and head to Europe:
Rodrigo Palacios - forward - Boca Juniors
Radamel Falcao and Alexis Sanchez - forwards - River Plate
Renato Augusto - midfielder - Flamengo
Carmelo Valencia - striker - Atletico Nacional
Renatinho - forward - Santos
Hugo - midfielder - Sao Paulo
Diego Valeri - midfielder - Lanus
Johny Magallon - defender - Chivas
Francisco Ochoa - keeper - America
Luis Bolanoz - midfielder - LDUQ
Alejandro Gomez - forward - Arsenal de Sarandi
Could Balotelli qualify for Italy? I'm sure Donadoni will be lobbying hard for him! If not, he'd definitely be an upgrade on Agogo and Gyan. That was a stunning goal against Juve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3d3 nWCk5iY
Salieri,
Yes, us uncouth folk clearly lack the polish of you big-city sophisticates in world-class Toronto. Having spent time at the Toronto Star early in my career, it was awed by the polish of North York Mayor Mel Lastman as well as the cultural amenities of Jane-Finch and Markham. Truly a new Jerusalem!
I try to avoid the Big Toque -- my wife's family are there. Plus it's cowboy country, where red meets neck and white links with bread. While there is a couple of football-mad pubs owing to the presence of a British Army training group at nearby Suffield, the conversation rarely progresses about whinging about foreigners ruining the game, innit? You'd fit right in, although prepare to be barracked about Ramos!
Whenever a Scottish unit happens to be in town, there are some fairly spirited debates that generally wind up in conflict resolution processes in the parking lot.
At any rate, I'm just thankful Togo managed to miss out on qualifying -- we'd probably sit 10 points behind Fergie's boys. I'm not expecting anything other than a good game between Spurs and United. It would be nice if King and Woodgate were healthy to give the Mancs a real test.
One pet peeve from the first game. Why do commentators refer to Adebayor as "being in the form of his life" rather than assign him the world-class designation that they freely give to English strikers who don't deserve it?
A great game with a tough result for Spurs, as it looked like the sub O'Hara was out of position for Tevez's equalizer. Still, I gotta say Ramos definitely has them ready to bother the Champions League places. And Huddlestone was fantastic, looking far better than Carrick.
I don't know why they'd want to get rid of Chimbonda, MOTM in my opinion.
Congratulations>> Thank you! Very happy and, football-related, I've been learning quite a bit about FC Basel & the 'Schweizer Nati'.
Copa Liberatadores: I'll be watching it too, gabemar.
Albicelestes in the EPL: Emanuel Villa scores for Derby!! :)
Torres: Atletico always played a 4-4-2 formation with him. He needs a strong midfield & strike partner (doesn't play well as a lone striker). Ironically, he & Kun would make a great partnership this season because Kun is playing some of his best football in Liga. His first season with the club was a disappointment.
The most frustrating bit about Torres is that-- even though he has oodles of pace, creativity, strength & vision-- his finishing is 50/50. When he's on target, it's a thing of a beauty. When he's not, you're left scratching your head, asking yourself, "How the hell did he miss THAT?"
Kanoute thoroughly deserved to be African Player for 2007.
Not only has he won silverware with the club (with the help of his goals), but he's put on some incredibly inspiring performances. A goal-scoring talisman & gentleman footballer. Class act.
Another disjointed performance by Liverpool but a win is a win. They may struggle to finish fourth playing like that. While I've defended Benitez on these forums, some of his team selection is puzzling to say the least. While I don't know the dressing room dynamics, I'm left wondering by his decision not to include Babel on the pitch. I can only assume the kid has some kind of knock.
Do you guys get the same commercials we do on Setanta? Because one of the most unintentionally funny one is the "British soccer camps" advert that describes how "top British coaches" will teach you how to be a better player. Of course, they cut to b-roll of some very non-British players -- Ronaldo, Drogba and Nakamura -- to make that point!
The Chelsea : Portsmouth match was very entertaning to watch. Niko Kranjcar was once again a joy to watch. The Croatian international posesses tremendous passing abilities, fantastic shooting prowess (watch the goal against Birmingham) and his dribbling and general skill are second to none.
Diarra is quickly proving to be a fantastic signing for Portsmouth.
Portsmouth were robbed a penalty and Makelele should have been redcarded for the chalenge aganist Baros.
Last edited by Sleeper000 on February 2nd at 5:10 PM.
2. Ronaldo. Is he from another planet? The best player in the premiership this year.
3. Corluka. Assisted for City's only goal against Arsenal. City would not be the same team without this player. One of the best defenders/midfielders in the league.
Atleti I guess you are right Kanoute does deserve it cozs he also led Mali to A.C. but Drogba was amazing to last year for Chelsea. He carried them for long periods of the season and even this season when Mourinho left he might have brought controversy about leaving but he still has helped keep Chelsea in the position they are in today still chasing the title.
p.s. did anyone see Rooney's dive today well according to a report I read that Yellow he got will cost him to miss the Manchester derby next wk as it was his 5th.
Last edited by Gunner44 on February 2nd at 9:49 PM.
Yes, I saw rooney's dive and wondered what a great tribute that was to Matt Busby and all the victims of the Munich air disaster.
I also saw Nani's studs-up challenge on Jenas that would have earned a red card had it been performed by a player from any team other than MancU, Ar5ena1, Chelski or Livinpoor.
Yes, I saw MancU play filthy, cynical soccer today, and saw a referee too frightened to stand up and deal with things like Patrice Evra's blatant hand ball. And wondered what a great tribute THAT was to Matt Busby and all the victims of the Munich air disaster.
Mostly, I saw MancU get played off the park by a strong, confident Spurs side. Matt Busby would have related better to what Spurs did on Saturday than what MancU did. He would have taken pleasure in seeing a sleeping giant being properly awoken.
Must say, though, Busby would have been more decisive in getting Anderson into games for a full 90 mins. He is going to be a great player very soon. Busby would have probably already dropped or sold the player formerly known as Mickey Carrick.
And he certainly would have taken Tourettes Syndrom poster boy Wayne Rooney out to the wood shed and sorted him out. Maybe they're leaving that chore to Fabio Capello.
How come Ronaldo didn't play?
Last edited by flashman on February 3rd at 1:02 AM.
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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