Dundee United owner Eddie Thompson has cancer right through his body but his commitment to the team and the game will leave a legacy for years to come.
If there is one Lyon player that stands between Manchester United and a place in the last eight then it is Karim Benzema.
The Times is asking readers to dig up the worst club merchandising idea that they have ever come across.
James Lawton assesses the progress of David Moyes and also finds time to recount an old Bill Shankly-Chris Lawlor story.
A trivia question for Monday morning. There is one club in MLS that is unique amongst all the other teams in MLS, NBA, NFL , MLB and the NHL. What’s the team and why are they unique?
I understand that The Gaffer over at EPL Talk is not enjoying the best of health at the moment. From all the regulars at this blog all the best for a speedy recovery.
POSTING HERE AS WELL IN CASE THE RELEVENT PERSONS MISSED IT(Bobby, JayAlves)
As for as the ronaldo thing goes. I read an Article by Phil Ball this morning And I think He sums it up perfectly here is an excerpt. PAY ATTENTION TO THE LAST SENTENCE.
"We all know about Messi now, and it seems less and less absurd to call him the best player in the world or the new Maradona. He is simply sensational. But how good is Agüero? Well, the first thing to say here is that both players share an ability to shine on the big occasion. Agüero was never going to really join the Atlético pantheon if all he did were score hat-tricks against Levante, with all due respect. So the way that he took Barça apart almost single-handedly on Saturday night suggests that he is here to stay. The great players all do it against the great teams. It's an immutable law of football."
I could not have said it better . THE BEST PLAYERS SHOW UP AGAINST THE BEST TEAMS. By the way if u want to read the whole article go to ESPNSOCCERNET
I am really hoping Benzema shows up again against ManU he is one of the players to watch along with Ben Arfa although the two of them dont seem to get along.
Maybe u can help me with this or maybe u can find out who can. Its driving me crazy.
Ok I have a really big f.ucking problem. for the last 2 weeks I have cleared my schedule so I can get to watch the games on FSC. So I sit down put my TV to the appropriate channel kick up my feet and get ready to be entertained then Lo and behold something named Fuel TV cuts into the FSC broadcast what the #### is Fuel TV I never subscrribed to this #### and I dont bloody want it I have been trying to call fox and I get nothing. This is an outrage I was on the verge of destroying everything in my damn house because I couldn't see the f.ucking game. Has anybody else experienced this #### and does anybody know what the #### is FUEL TV. I swear to god if this #### happens again I am going to string somebody up. This was one of the worst weekends I have ever endured I got to watch no football All because of FUEL TV What the #### is FUEL TV. Can somebody please help me with this.
Sorry about the expletives I dont usually use them but I needed to convey my anger with this situation.
aldoray, I would contact your cable provider with this question. I have both channels as part of a second tier sports package through Comcast, though I never watch Fuel TV.
Aldoray - Ever come across the expression beating a dead horse? And your cable or satellite provider seems to be the one who would be in the best position to fix your FSC problem.
I have found out that FUEL TV is part of the fox family So my cable provider is not to blame its fox that iterrupts the broadcast to put that #### on. I wish someone at fox could explain this to me. Bobby use your powers to find out for me please.
As for as ronaldo. Yeah lets put it 2 bed we will return to this at the end of the season and after euros
I have beaten the dead horse in exclaiming that he is a very skilled but limited player. Wenger is making a huge mistake in building his team around him. He was terrible on Saturday. I realize he is young but he shows me nothing of a player who could become a match winner or tempo controller. His crossing, corners and free kicks are the worst in the league. Arsenal is supposed be a top class side yet, corner after corner and free kick after free kick is poor. These are fundamentals. I think Arsenal will miss Eduardo most on corners.
I have just found out that FUEL TV is part of the Fox family. So my cable provider is not to blame. Fox is the one that is cutting out the broadcast to play that #### Could u please use what ever clout u have at fox studios to find out what is going on please.
If this is a repeat post i am sorry but the blog seems to be acting up
What has Messi ever won since he has been a go to player and what big time goals has he scored?
I think he is awesome but by my count he has won nothing while he was in the spotlight. So any argument that makes him better than Ronaldo based on big time performances is specious.
Mas - Fabregas was looking like a world beater earlier in the season ,good enough to wear a blue shirt ,so he can do it ,what has changed so much since then?
Aldoray - I am in Canada not in the US so I have no idea what is broadcast. I have a tough time understanding how you are the only person having your service interuppted by Fuel TV instead of FSC. PS - I have no clout...I am completely cloutless.
RINGO- Fabregas scored many fairly lucky goals while he was unmarked. His passing over 15 yards is sub-par and he along with the timidity of Hleb are the reason for the whole pass,pass,pass,pass to nothing.
If Chelsea want him hopefully they will make a huge offer for him. I used to figure that Barca and RM would come get him, but they won't he is not good enough. Fabregas will be gone in 3 years likely to a Villareal or Valencia.
What is it that he does so well? I am dying to know.
I thought the goalkeeper, defence, midfield as well as Benzema might just stand between the Mancs and the next CL round.
Seriously, I do not think Lyon under Perrin will put up much of a fight. Lyon might well be looking for a new gaffer come summer especially if Bordeaux win Ligue 1.
Are, the question remains, Inter on a meltdown?
Moyes rates LFC as favourites for 4th so Craigy what thinks you? Moyes also said this week he would like to manage Rangers or Celtic before he retires. How long do you (Bobby/Craigy) all think he has at Everton and has he taken Everton as far as he can?
If this season is not a scrap to the finish next season could be. With just 15 points between 5th and top right now, a few more draws could really make life interesting and goal difference may well be a deciding factor for the European places.
I have been coming to that issue as well Mas. Fabregas free kicks and corners are a bit poor there is no zip to his free kicks slow pace so it is pretty hard to get a good header behind his free kicks and DUDU looks like the one to take pretty decent corners unlike Fabregas. This tie at Milan is going to be a huge challenge for Arsenal Tuesday. They need to take more quality shots at the goal, they don't take enough shots at the goal.
l think you know l feel arsenal can win in milan, historically l do think wins in europe when you are in an iffy period tend to help in the leauge and the opposite is not true , as how arsenal consolidated 4th and got to the final , l think a win in milan is what the gunners need right now
I agree someone should tell Hleb he has to shoot at least 5 times a match.
I don't want to sound like I have something against Cesc, he is fine a solid role player. Holds the ball well and plays passable defence. But if he is Arsenal's star worldclass playmaker while Man Utd has Ron, Roon, Nani and Tevez it could be a tough few years.
I'm not giving up on Cesc yet especially since hes a whole 20 years old. My worst fear for him though is because of his limited physical traits his potential might cap out at a Rui Costa level player. Which isn't the end of the world but Rui Costa wasn't Figo. Cesc isn't exactly the fastest , strongest or out leaping anyone. I also find his free kicks and corners lacking but the more confusing thing about them is that is a very technical ability. You can stand at the corner flag in practice and take 100 corners and improve your skill at it. Its not like corner taking is a born genetic trait like height speed so I have no excuse for why he has been so poor at them. I disagree about his passing over 15 yards as in the Milan game he had some amazing deep balls to Ade that were perfectly weighted but were getting cut out because of the strength of the Milan defense and Ade misjudging them.
Walcott crosses are actually much better I find. They are the teasing type right on th edge of the 6 yard box with nice backspin that make them just hang there for someone to smash. Very similar to the type of balls Nani was playing vs Arsenal that tore them apart in the FA cup game. Also why I think the Fletcher praise was over done as the crosses coming in that day were just asking to be tapped in.
With that said I'm fairly calm going into the Milan game. I just don't see them being able to dominate Arsenal to score 2-3 and put the game out of reach. I wouldn't be surprised if Milan take a 2nd half 1-0 lead and Arsenal score in the last 5 to win on aggregate. Maybe Cesc will have a moment of brilliance and spring someone for a tap in. That would just be too perfect ;P
Here we go again. I did not put in the excerpt to suggest that Messi was the best in the world I put it in to show that I am not the only person saying that for someone to be classed as the best in the world they have to show up in the big games against the big teams. I AM NOT SAYING MESSI IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. Lets wait till the end of the season and euros to continue this debate. by the way I am 26 (and I think u r being a bit to hasty about Fabregas any body can have a slump in form)
Bobby
The reason I am the only one on her having the problem is because I am the only one on here posting from antigua (I am assuming) I think it has something to do with the region I am in with that said, the region I am in should have no bearing on th issue because I am paying the same fees as everybody else thats what tiks me off the most. I dont know, I figured since u do work for FSC (unless you are a mercenary analyst lol)u would be able to at least find somebody that knows something about the situation-just looking for some help from the inside
Hows is it that Senderos allows these players to bully him what I saw Senderos did at the World Cup was tremendous if he can get back to that form again he is good to go. We are really missing Rosicky and Van Persie they tend to shoot alot at the goal. Will Toure be playing in the match at Milan Tuesday?
I noticed u mentioned Rosicky as one of the players missed by the team. But dont u think Rosicky's finishing is quite poor. He just seems to be an excellent player until he decides to shoot then he suddenly becomes ####. I am baffled. As far as Toure, Yeah I think they really need him in that Milan match
I just read the article and that is just unacceptable those fans should be banned for life for something like that heartless pieces of #### Wenger was right "there are no limits to intelligence or stupidity"
Chelsea are appealing Frank Lampard's red card at West Ham.
After all the noise Middlesbrough made last week over Aliadiere getting an extra games ban for a frivolous appeal ,how can the FA not do the same here?
verbal - I couldn't possibly comment on whether that was funny or not.
Bobby,
just want to say i'm so thrilled about your new collaboration with world soccer daily. look forward to hearing your SPL analysis with kenny hassan.
bobbby in my world you'll always have clout.
my question is, 70 million quid for lyon? i don't think united would be willing to drop that much dough for the kid. that's real madrid and chelsea money. when fergie signed nani and anderson it was very hush hush. in contrast with heargraves he was very vocal. do you think this is fergie's way of calling dibs on benzema? do u think it will work?
RINGO- we quit seeing eye to eye when I found out you were a short sighted, Imperialist, fascist nut job Texan who blames fuzzy foreigners for every problem facing your birth and adopted nations.
What is wrong with u today u seem to be wanting to cuss everyone out. I hate to be negative but u r bordering on rude. And r u saying that my country of birth (antgua) is somehow inferior to everywhere else? I am going to give u the benefit of the doubt on your last post to me
Ringo the canon is in some need of maintenance after that backup of gun powder at the match with Manchester United in the FA Cup. I'm pretty sure after the Milan game it will be sounding trust me.
Last edited by ReggaeGunner on March 3rd at 11:29 AM.
"How come Argentina produces so many professional level elite players? Is it the diet, the climate, the training methods?"
I think it's the same reason that Africa is producing a large number of great players for europe right now.
in these developing countries, kids are allowed to wonder around and play on their own. without supervision of their parent giving them instructions. the kids will then develop the passion that is needed to succeed. In the west, kids are always accompanied by their parents, who think they know better how a child should play. the kid then starts thinking of football as something you have to do when under pressure from the parents. and when they escape that, they play video games. :)
The working & poverty class aspect certainly has a lot to do with a lot of kids getting involved in sports in Argentina, Brazil, et al. It's an escape out of a rough life.
I still think the mate has something to do with it, though! :)
Aldo, I was paying your country a compliment by implying that we should not feel sorry for you missing a few football games because where you live is so beautiful.
Ringo is a big boy and he understands what I said.
I have insulted no one, I have not even insulted Fabregas and he was my target for the day.
I am sorry I asked you your age, but you were asking Bobby to fix your cable and I wanted him to comment on how limited Fabregas is.
I consider myself hilarious but it never seems to work when I blog or email. I'll have to work on that.
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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