Although much of the attention will be on friendly internationals this Wednesday there are CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. However, do not expect Anguilla to move on at the expense of El Salvador…..given the first leg score.
After the weekend’s play and as an update to the British bookies odds posted on Friday here is how they now stand.
To win the Premiership – Manchester United 2/7, Chelsea 7/2, Arsenal 9/1, Liverpool 500/1.
l do not think the tittle is as shoe in as the media would suggest, l still feel that united will lose more than 6 points so will chelsea and probably.
united still have the toughest run in in my opinion
and have villa, arsenal, chelsea, boro away were there usually drop points and blackburn away and possibly barca and roma
the same can be said of chelsea and l do not expect arsenal to go further in the champions leauge so probably the easiest game as you would expect benitez to rest players, l do not think arsenal will win the leauge but they are far from out of the race
l do not buy the mental strength theory and that united have better players than arsenal.l do think it just lack of depth and l think wenger should address that in the summer a couple of wingers,a solid midfilder, and a defender because gilberto has shown nothing to show that you can rest flamini for him.l do think walcott and bendtener an score goals, but l reall expect them to try and win matches without pressure
Not that disappointed with the Arsenal game. They played well and were on their way to win the game until Drogba the top 5 player in the world he can be woke up. Will be interesting to see if Chelsea are able to keep him in the summer. I'm getting very mixed messages on whether he wants to be there or not. You keep hearing reports hes fighting with the coaches but then he comes out and has a game like this which suggests he wants to play and stay. Jose will obviously take a run at him once he lands it might depend on what manager Chelsea counters with this summer. I just cant see Drogba staying under Grant/Cate.
As for the title it is truly ManU's to lose and I don't see them falling apart under Ronaldo's form and Sir Alex's willingness to park 5 in midfield and grind out games no matter the style. I will be crushed if Ronaldo leads them to the title and is a ghost at the Euro and for some reason I wouldn't be surprised if hes exhausted by the time the tournament rolls around.
Also it was great for the Chelsea fans to chant "YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING!!" and "JOSE MOURINHO" and then for the subs to be part of the 2 goals. Avram might not be as big of a dope as we thought but I still don't rate his consistency over the long haul.
Nice of you, Bobby, to acknowledge Colin Jose. He is just a great, great guy. I got to knock around with him a bit years ago. An amazing knowledge of the game, not just the Canadian side of it.
Avram Grant should be given an immediate contract extension. Spurs fans can be heard quietly praying...
"FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!..."
Many of you would know actor Joseph Marcel from his role in the hit TV series Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He played Geoffrey the butler. Wonderful to see how well he's handling his current demanding role as Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele.
Could Fresh Prince of Belgravia be in the works? Theo Walcott would be perfect in the 'Carlton' role.
As for the intentions of Sir Alex in structuring his midfield/attacking formations, all I can do is quote the immortal words of Oakland Raiders' renegade sports exec Al Davis: "Just Win, Baby!"
Don't think I have the stomach to see the title gifted to United on a silver platter, again. When will people wake up and realize that the Prem is as rigged as the serie A or the NBA.
How can you be upset Chelsea beating Arsenal at home? Wenger shouldn't be sacked but someone should tell him that spending a little money isn't a sin. Although if he doesn't win something this year and next he is gone.
And even though Masch did nothing that I can see to deserve to be sent off, where was captain fantastic? shouldn't he be there telling him to shut-up and pull him away, by force.
What ,no Easter Monday?
Bring back the good old days ,three games in four days ,that would give today's managers something to complain about.
And speaking of the good old days , The Gaffer on EPL Talk (thanks Bobby)has linked to an old ITV documentary from the '80/'81 season filmed behind the scenes at Manchester City. Worth seeing ,especially if you remember Malcolm Allison.
And for the record ,I thought Grand Slam Sunday lived up to the billing.
Arsenal fans should blame Webster, he jinxed them:
"You may wonder how I can predict with such certainty what will happen — it's called 'genius' and when you look at all the available information plus the knowledge of twenty-plus years, you too will come up with exactly the same conclusion. That's if, and only if, you follow your brain and not your heart." (Webster: http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/sto ry/7922346/The-fate-of-the-Premier- League%27s-%27Big-Four%27)
I don't what is rigged and what isn't. Possibly they are just incompetent. Anything can happen, Arsenal could win despite the officiating. Does that mean that it is not rigged? No.
What I do know is another big game was gifted to Man Utd. Would they have won anyway? probably. Does it mean it was fair? no.
I thought Almunia played great. Adebayor was awful again, he should have been subbed.
The difference between Arsenal and Chelsea: depth. Look what Chelsea could bring in and what options Arsenal had.
Easy Arsenal fans. You lost at Chelsea, who have a 70+ game undefeated streak, and that's ground for sacking Wenger? Hell, you almost won the game, but like Mas said, Drogba remembered he was world class and decided to play like it was, oh, one year ago.
Flash, good comparison to Makelele and the butler from Fresh prince - I knew he reminded me of someone. Berbatov will rate a nice comparison to Vlad the Impaler in his United Red next year.
Henry14 - what happened in the three hours between your first post and your second post? A bludgeoning? Meds wear off? Uppercase letters lose their importance? Come on, friend. Are you an elaborate hoax perpetrated by Fox Sports to increase commenting?
If Wenger doesn't win anything in the next two years, he's gone? Seriously? Maybe by his own accord, but not by anyone else's hand.
Yeah, the title is probably gone now - but it ain't over 'til it's over. Is it rigged? No. Are decisions by referees swayed by big clubs and big money? Absolutely, but not by direct contact/bribing/what have you, but by Intimidation. Sir Alex, Jose et al know this, and exploit(ed) this, and it's the way it is. I'm good with it.
And Fulham - come on. Newcastle was due, but damn. You're good enough to stay up, and I wouldn't say there is cancerous chemistry. Why, dear Fulham, dost thou suckest so?
Let's not forget how far Arsenal have come this season, given how their lineup is full of children. I did not even expect them to finish in the top four, but here they are still in the battle for the title at the end. I agree they should have added some players for depth though. We don't have anyone on the bench just when we need them.
Cool Canadian Soccer History site, Bobby. I liked the hockey connection part. I remember playing against Peter Zezel in U-16....dude was a great centre-back.
Bobby, Croatia are to play Scotland on Wednesday.
This is Scotland's first international match with a new coach. However, the stadium will probably be half full. Do you think this is due to lack of interest in international friendlies or perhaps that Scotland are not playing a more popular opponent like France or Germany?
I for one never take friendlies seriously, other than taking a look at some talented up and coming players.
What is your take on the fixture?
I hope that FIFA makes other "day" for internationals friendlies before EURO 2008.
Oh, and here are my "predictions".
Scotland 2-1 Croatia
Switzerland 0-3 Germany
France 1-1 England
Spain 1-2 Italy
Portugal 1-0 Greece
Bosnia 3-1 FYR Macedonia
Sweden 0-2 Brazil
Poland 2-1 U.S.A
I'm convinced Arsenal's slump has to do with Adebayor's hair. Since he took the braids out and went for the mini-afro, he's only scored once and Arsenal has only won once (against Milan)...Ade needs to bring the braids back and get the Gunners back on track!
Fire Wenger? Sell the whole team and restart at the conference level we are not worthy!
Still not buying the depth arguments and spending would of won us the title. Arsenal is a world class club and last time I checked the talent needed at that level isn't found in some magical player well where you throw money into it and it spits back up wide players.
People are also acting like no depth was added what so ever. Besides the youth players being promoted and players coming back from loan Arsenal signed two great players in Sagna and Eduardo to counter the balance of the loss of two players who really didn't feature much the previous season in Henry and Ljunberg. Eduardo was lost to the worst injury possible just as he was proving his worth and Sagna is proving to be the signing of the season at all clubs considering he walked into the first team and could easily be the best RB of the big 4 now. The only knock on him is really the position he plays is deemed one of those un-sexy un-exciting positions in the game so a guy like Torres will continue to get the headlines.
I said it before I'll say it again save the knives if Flamini walks away because of wage disputes and obvious players we need and linked for this summer are not brought in because Wenger refuses to spend.
This season is over. Maintain hope of a miracle if that gives you comfort, but the season is over. We have no confidence, no form and zero momentum. In a twisted way I hope we get knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool, because getting knocked out by Chelsea would literally make me vomit uncontrollably. A lot. And anyone who honestly thinks we can beat Liverpool and Chelsea over 2 legs, and then beat either Man Utd or Barca is IMO delusional.
It infuriates me to think that Wenger has (apparently) £70m available to him in transfer funds should he want to make use of it, but he simply refuses to make the additions that seem all too obvious to the rest of us
It infuriates me to think that Wenger has (apparently) £70m available to him in transfer funds should he want to make use of it, but he simply refuses to make the additions that seem all too obvious to the rest of us
TH14, you seem to know so much about football. I agree, let's fire Wenger, and put you in charge. I think we could win a treble next season if we do that.
Bobby, I love the articles you link in your posts. Along with your knowing comments, they make great reading. I subscribe to FSC, Setanta, and that other footy channel that broadcasts La Liga. Are there any other options for watching European soccer in North America? I know you don't control FSC programming, but you often talk about watching games that weren't broadcast to the masses and I was wondering what mechanism allowed you to view those fixtures. Satellite? Online streaming? Secret handshake with the cable guy?
As a huge Gunners fan, I can accept that Wenger may be sacrificing short-term success by blooding and sticking with his youngsters in the name of building a long-term dynasty. We read that the board makes millions of pounds available to him, yet he chooses not to spend it. Especially with niggling injuries to the likes of Rosicky and Hleb (both fantastic players), Ryan Babel might have come in handy. If you were technical director, who would you bring in to strengthen the squad while not upsetting the current team's balance?
As a part time viewer of the Premier League, I think that the sending off of Mascherano was ABSOLUTELY influenced by Sir Alex ####SON and MANURE since the referees in the league have NEVER had a spine against MANURE ARSENAL OR CHELSEA players dissent in the past and find it easy to implement any new policy against Liverpool. Disgraceful. The remier League has just lost me as a fan. #### YOU ALL.
Bobby, can Arenal's poor run of form be attributed to a lack of steel in defence? The first choice back line are individually very good defenders, however, especially in central defence we really lack height and strength. We really miss a player like Sol Campbell don't we? Also, how much is Arsene's insistence to not add to his squad harming arsenal choices of winning trophies?
Henry14, I understand your frustration, but why do you constantly give Bobby ammunition against you. The lure of a cup competition is that anything can happen. Arsenal can definately win the champions league and how would you feel about Wenger then. But as has been said wait and see waht Wenger does in the summer. Hatem ben Arfa, Luka Modric, Ibrahim Afellay, Tresor Mputu are jus some of the names Arsenal have been linked with. He should make an efoort to get some of them. Blooding players from the academy in the new season over young players used to CL football will certainly #### me off.
With all the misery expressed by moaning, despondent, obsessed, depressed, and pedantic gooners, I've never enjoyed this blog more.
While it's tempting to wish for this to go on for ages and ages - I've no doubt it will come close - wouldn't it be more appropriate for you Ar5ena1 fans to simply move yourselves into a blog about your own club and sop up each other's tears.
You know it's only going to get worse once Flamini's imminent departure starts tipping dominoes that will end with Fabregas back at Barca.
The Persons of Quality who would normally represent the club's domestic fan base would certainly tend to keep the impending anguish and anger and accusations a private spectacle amongst themselves.
man l feel sorry for you although they are qoutes from wenger on ben harfa its just sounds like a joke
in the pat 11 summers no one knew what wenger was going to buy and l do not expect that to change.he will get a 17 year old.at the end of the day its all about winning and wenger has poorly managed the side, he of all people should have known of his depth and now he looks like an ####
I'm sorry. Someone smarter than me will have to explain how Wayne Rooney can swear at a referee 20 times in a game, John Terry can literally take a card out of a refs hand and Ferguson can make comments about a referee before a match, yet Mascherano gets sent off for asking a question. And a good question at that. Apparently the only way to stop Torres is to kick him. But where was the protection of players that Ferguson himself called for...oh wait, I forgot, he only meant Ronaldo et al and not any opponent. Also, no united players were booked for their best Blackburn impersonations, but Mascherano was booked for his first foul.
While, technically, I have no problem with the sending off (he really should have known better than to go up to the referee while already on a yellow), there does seem to be obvious evidence of a double-edged sword. Rafa has asked to speak with Keith Hackett for a clarification, interesting to see if he gets it.
Verbal I am with you. I am deeply dissappointed in Bobby's response to this issue. I expected low brow comentary from the clowns on FFF, but Bobby, say it aint so. Masch's behavior is only relevant if the standard reponse to it is to be sent off. At this time it is not, and Liverpool at Old Crapford in March is not the time to create the standard.
A journalist's job is to be critical when necessary. Bennett made a decision that taints a season. Another foreigner was singled out and made an example of, while worse English offenders are let off.
Steve Nicol put it best on FFF. Bennett didn't even warn him. Sure his behavior was erratic and insupportable, but he should have pulled Gerrard aside and said keep him quiet or he is out.
I agree that this type of behavior needs to stop. That is the beauty of this injustice from the corrupt FA. They can point to Macherano and say he is to blame, that no one but he is at fault. BS. Another year handed to United.
You don't make these type of statements in the final stretch of the season. This was selective enforcement and a travesty. Who will say that an Englishman would have seen red. I have seen Terry, Gerrard, ACole, Barton, Bowyer etc, do worse for years.
Bobby you pointed out that Drogba and ANelka were offside... and then you said so what. What is going on over there. Red Devil mania is sweeping through Canada like the plague.
Can you imagine the outcry if Man Utd lost a game on a call like that?
St. Louis should be managing an Applebee's. Yeah Arsenal lost the game... on a clear offside goal. Were you paying attention to your own show?
So a 4th place team loses to the 1st place team at home. The 2nd place team struggling with injuries loses to the third place team at home. Both visiting teams were fighting not just the teams they were playing but history as well (Chelsea's home streak and United's dominance over LFC at Old Trafford) and that some how equals "another year handed to United"? Come on.
Cloughie was the original Special One ,on and off the pitch.
The greatest manager England never had.
Although he never seemed to be the same after splitting with Peter Taylor ,and there brief spell at Brighton never seems to get mentioned.
It's still a three horse race as far as I'm concerned ,although both Chelsea and Arsenal need to beat Man Utd for either to have a chance.
Here's an interesting question about the surnames (not the "nicknames or mascots) of the UK-based teams. Poring through FourFourTwo magazine's annual preview issue, I found four common surnames: Rovers (Blackburn, Bristol), Wanderers (Bolton, Wolverhampton), Albion (West bromwich, Brighton and Hove), and of course, United (Manchester...need i say more?). Oh, and Rangers (Queens Park, Glasgow). By any chance can you provide some insight or history on why some teams chose those surnames? Thanks.
And as for the whole players/referees debate ,I'll say it again...
All players ,including captains ,should be told "under no circumstances whatsoever do you talk to the officials ,unless approached by the referee first".
It doesn't need any new rules ,it doesn't have to wait until next season ,it doesn't need to be tried first at a lower level.
Just do it!!
Ar5ena1 started the season with a very cushy schedule. Before playing their first game against ManU, they played 10 games, including the current bottom three teams and Spurs in turmoil, but only one against any of the current top five.
The ManU game was their 7th home game out of the first 11 and only two matches were outside of the city of London, both draws at Blackbum and Liverpool. Sure they did well, 8 wins, three draws, but any top four side wouuld have and if you were putting out a young side, you couldn't have asked for a more supportive schedule. Given their old-boy, old-money political connections, they probably did.
Since then they are 11-7-2, hardly the stuff to set the engraver's phone ringing. The embalmer, however, is standing by.
Last edited by flashman on March 25th at 10:41 AM.
I just watched Monday night's FSR that I had saved on my DVR.
Derek made mention of me-- the person on the blog that every so often brings up Racing Santander! One correction, Derek: I'm not a fan of theirs, just pointing out that they're having a surprisingly good season!
Mascherano has only himself to blame. He was on a yellow, ran across the pitch to see Torres get a yellow for talking back, ignored a teammate's attempt to restrain him, and proceeded to follow Torres to a yellow, which meant red.
Was the first yellow soft? Maybe. But he got it. Was aware he had it. And, others have gotten yellow in similar circumstances. Should the ref have given more of a warning before the second yellow? Maybe. But maybe the yellow to Torres was a warning, or a clue?
As much as I wanted Liverpool to beat United, Liverpool weren't in it. And, Mascherano was an ####.
The only thing that is hurting Arsenal is the amount of games that we have drawn this season, that's it full stop. It has nothing to do with team depth. Just think if we had win 5 out of the 10 matches that were drawn we would be ok. I respect what the gaffer is doing, the team has a good chemistry. The only thing I see Arsenal missing is a good traditional CB nothing else. We need some height around the back.
Ringo, too bad nothing happened to Terry or ever would. That is the point.
Ringo I am excited for MLS as a Galaxy fan. I saw you like Houston 1836, and you say you are not a right wing technofascist. The 60's are over bro, you have changed my friend.
I admit the smile Masch wore when talkng with Bennett was similar to the wagging tail of a biting dog.
Consistency is the most important thing in officiating. Once again people will fail to acknowledge that Masch's behavior happens all the time, but it is not until a monster game at OT do they decide to make a stand.
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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