ZUCO2 - Do you agree with me that the title race in the Serie A is officially open?
Bobby – Serie A is like Liga this season – it seems that every time the leader has built a substantial lead they seem to find away to drop points and to cast new doubts on the eventual winner ……again.
Inter will finish with way less points than last season (97 points) as they have already dropped 22 points while Roma are heading for a big improvement (last season 75 points and they already have 64 points with 8 games left). They look like they are both heading for a points total in the mid-80s.
Flashman - 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.
Bobby – Mr. Jose was kind enough to contact me a couple of years ago. It was a real thrill for me because I remember when he wrote for World Soccer years ago when I was growing up and the magazine seemed very exotic. These were the days when the world was a much bigger place and World Soccer was the only reliable source of information from around the globe.
MasMaz – 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………..
I am deeply disappointed in Bobby's response to this issue. I expected low brow commentary from the clowns on FFF, but Bobby, say it aint so. Masch's behavior is only relevant if the standard response 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 – This is a bouncing ball.
“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,” – “Bennett didn't even warn him” - “sure his behavior was erratic and insupportable, 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.”
So we have a player Mascherano that did nothing but was sent off even though his captain should have told him to shut up and pull him away …if he was doing nothing why would Gerrard have to tell him to shut up and pull him away?
Bennett didn’t warn him? What’s a yellow card an indication of? Most sane people realize that it is a clear indication that you are one indiscretion away from being sent off.
But of course Mascherano was doing nothing according to you. But then we find out that Mascherano’s “behavior was erratic and insupportable” – that's all very well except you spent the rest of your post claiming he was hard done by.
And to cap it all off you agree that “this type of behavior needs to stop” – would that be the bad behavior or the not doing anything behavior?
Arsewatcher - 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 – There have been a number of very good hockey players that played were also decent soccer players.
Bonmot - Might you have some information on how Nate Jaqua and Joseph Ngwenya are doing in Austria?
Bobby – From this account it seems that Nate Jaqua has made a good start in Austria. If you are looking to stay current on his progress then the Yanks Abroad website is excellent. The last piece I read on Joseph Ngwenya was that he has been having trouble settling down and there is speculation that he may return to MLS.
Sleeper000 - 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?
Bobby – I’m surprised that they have sold half the tickets. There is so much soccer at this time of year that I don’t think friendly internationals mean enough to really catch many people’s interest. If it was England it might be different but I don’t think the opposition is really the issue. I’m sure it will be a useful exercise for George Burley but that is about it.
TNGooner - 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!
Bobby – I have a similar theory but it relates to players who decide to go blonde. I cannot think of a player who has played better after having a run-in with a bottle of peroxide. The Romanians started it when they all went blonde at the 1998 World Cup and it did not do them any good.
Thewobegonboy - 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?
Bobby – It probably has more to do with what is available in Canada rather than anything untoward. We sometimes get different games from the ones offered in the USA and we also get games on stations called the Score, TLN and TV5. During MLS season there is also HDNet, TFC games on multiple Canadian broadcasters and depending on where you reside you may be lucky enough to get additional MLS games – in Winnipeg I watch the NER on a station out of Boston.
Vang60 - As a part time viewer of the Premier League, I think that the sending off of Mascherano was ABSOLUTELY influenced by Sir Alex BLEEP 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 Premier League has just lost me as a fan. BLEEP YOU ALL.
Bobby – Lost another half a BLEEP fan.
Gregz - Can Arsenal'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?
Bobby – You nailed it and it isn't just lately. I think it is a case that lately it has cost them points. Tony Adams was the rock for so many years and then it was Sol Campbell. I think it is why Wenger perseveres with Senderos. Overall he is a poorer defender than Gallas or Toure he is better in the air. I just don’t think you can win the Premiership without a centre half that is dominant in the air.
Regarding Wenger’s reluctance to add to his squad there is another angle to it I think. Because Arsenal is slumping the knee-jerk reaction is he should have signed players with the automatic implication that such signings would have meant a guarantee of silverware. There are more than enough examples of god team signing players and they have had the opposite effect. It’s interesting that there are a number of Arsenal fans criticizing Wenger but are quick to point out the bad signing other teams have made. Signing players does not come with a guarantee of success.
MasMaz - 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?
Bobby – Drogba was marginally offside coming back from a ball that was knocked forward 40 yards and was still well outside the penalty area. The Arsenal central defenders didn’t win the ball and then they didn’t clear it.
If you prefer to focus on a marginal offside call rather than accepting that Arsenal lost because they were unable to defend against the most basic of attacks – a thump up the park and down the middle – then good for you. Others might think you are missing the point.
DVXPrime - 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.
Bobby – I think some others have done a pretty good job of answering this one. Names are a bit like uniforms ..easily copied.
Ursusarctos - Verbal's comments were not phrased as a question, but accounting for some rhetorical excess-- which I also indulged in in my previous reply to RINGO-- the two paragraphs sum up my views fairly well also. How would you characterize these views-- is there some justice in LFC feeling hard done by (even accepting the stupidity of Masch's actions) in light of ALL the circumstances verbal mentions? The Masch episode appears inconsistent with precedent (Terry et al) -- do you agree or not, and should precedent even matter?
Bobby – Mascherano was not sent off for dissent he was given a second yellow card for dissent which meant he was off. A more accurate description might have been a second yellow card for crass stupidity.
Do you not think it was obvious after the Cole incident on Wednesday that there were going to be ramifications is there was to be close to a repeat of the incident? Anyone who watches the Premiership on even a semi-regular basis knows what Bennett is like. Players know the officials they can intimidate and the ones that are card happy.
What came over Mascherano goodness only knows. You talk precedent and others who may have got away with it but timing is everything and Mascherano's decision to chirp and get involved in something that had nothing to do with him cost his team a chance at a comeback.
Neophyte - As far as Mascherano goes, he was the only one who had any passion for LFC. Too bad he went out of his way to get that red. You can put any excuse you want on it but it was aggressive, excessive and plain stupid. It wasn't why they lost. They simply didn't match United's tenacity (foul for foul) or desire. They looked flat...then gave into blaming the official.
Bobby – That wasn’t passion that was stupidity. Passion is not running around chirping at a referee and leaving your team with only ten men. Passion is about applying yourself to winning the game. What Mascherano did was the opposite.
Chad876 - I think refs treat ManU players differently than they do other teams if you think its a lie how many penalties have been awarded to United and each time Ronaldo is touch the refs blow.
Bobby – If you are going to make a statement like that you need to back it up. And from the stats I’ve read you are way off the mark. So Chad let’s have your facts?
According to German Bild (it pays of being quadrilingual), Juventus is interested in BVB star Mladen Petric. He has scored 12 goals this season and is third behind Toni and Gomez. Juventus are looking for a replacement for Pavel Nedved and Petric has impressed them. According to Bild, Juventus are prepared to spend 20 mil. Euros for the Croatia star.
[Reply to my question from verbal's comments] "... You talk precedent and others who may have got away with it but timing is everything and Mascherano's decision to chirp and get involved in something that had nothing to do with him cost his team a chance at a comeback. [emphasis added]"
It was certainly not Mascherano's place to speak up, and even less so sitting on a yellow. So what about Torres?
Masch's brain-dead "dissent" came just after Torres was booked by Bennett for questioning the way United defenders were being allowed to manhandle him with (practical) impunity.
Now Torres is doubtful for the midweek Spain friendly due to injury (no bad thing) and possibly for the Merseyside Derby next weekend as well ... as a result of the treatment from United defenders that Mr. Bennett ignored, but which Torres was not allowed to question.
So there was certainly a team interest in what was happening to Torres, including the card. Masch should NOT have tried to act on behalf of the team- we all agree- but what was the correct action in the context? Suffer the consequences of knee-jerk reaction to past refereeing spinelessness and let Torres be battered, or complain about it and be carded?
The lesson- manhandling star players to the point of injury rates at most free kicks, but protest against same rates cards. Good to see the PL now has its refereeing priorities in order.
And- one wonders- what if anything will happen the next time Fergie opens his trap to voice dissent with a referee's decisions ...?
Last edited by Ursusarctos on March 25th at 10:22 PM.
"I think refs treat ManU players differently than they do other teams if you think its a lie how many penalties have been awarded to United and each time Ronaldo is touch the refs blow."
Bobby:
"If you are going to make a statement like that you need to back it up. And from the stats I’ve read you are way off the mark."
Well now, that sounds interesting.
One certainly often hears voiced the perception that United is treated differently by the referees, particularly at OT.
And Fergie certainly seems to have something to say about or to the referees before every match- one could assume he would not do it unless he expected some return on the effort.
Instead of assumptions, let's have facts. So, Bobby, what stats have you read, and what conclusions tend to follow (you seem to imply that United players are not treated differently by referees)?
Last edited by Ursusarctos on March 25th at 10:41 PM.
Bobby, I used to think World Soccer editor Keir Radnedge(sp?) should be the logical successor to Joao de Havelange. Geez, how I envied his itinerary.
The guys who really inspired envy in me were the photographers at Onze Magazine, the French monthly. They would get fantastic photo spreads because they went everywhere important games were being played, whether it was Paraguay-Brazil, England-Scotland, or even at that cozy bandbox o####round, King George V park, in St. John's, Nfld., where Canada beat Honduras 2-1 to qualify for the 1986 World Cup.
A fond memory of Colin Jose in action came at that tournament, riding on a shuttle bus to a game out of town (Mex. City) with the esteemed Brian Glanville as our chatty, and too often, lecturing, companion. He is, after all, an Ar5ena1 fan. Colin absolutely held his own in debate with him about a number of subjects, even correcting him, to the amusement of Brian's UK colleagues.
Me, I just quietly listened and polished my lenses.
I must confess to admiring Bilic's philosophy. He's got a great sense of perspective about the game and what it means to have a life away from it.
Leche: The US may only have three MLS players currently on their senior roster, but their Olympic roster has some great MLS players, especially the duo that play here for Toronto - midfielder Maurice Edu and rambling right back Marvell Wynne, my favorite TFC player.
Both will be big stars someday for the States.
Davard: If you think Flamini is that easy to replace, why are so many gooners fretting about his departure? Why are Juve fans rubbing their hands in glee about his impending arrival?
Mind you, he was on the field for both the 5-1 loss to Spurs, the 4-0 drubbing to ManU and the 2-1 kick in the teeth from Chelsea. Your right, he's probably rubbish. Anyone else play those games as well? Oh, Fabregas. Didn't even notice him in the Chelsea game.
And I was watching closely. I've found them eminently watchable in 2008.
Flash- I know the Olympic team will. But it'd be awesome to see those guys finding their way to bigger and better things than the MLS...
Although it'd be even better to see the MLS become that bigger and better thing, that's not going to happen just producing our own stars and building them up. The main problem the Internationals that play in the MLS have is a lack of competition. For their place on the team, the teams they're playing against every game, everything.
Say what you want but the experience gained from playing against the Manchester Uniteds, Chelseas, Arsenals, Liverpools, AC Milans, Inter Milans, Romas, Juventus', Real Madrids, Barcelonas, Bayern Munichs, Schalkes, Werder Bremens, Lyons, Portos is just priceless and can't be duplicated anywhere in in the MLS...
I mean, our league all stars compete with teams like them... We need teams in our league to be able to compete with them (in more than just a friendly) consistantly. Which is why the best thing for the players on our national team is to go over there and experience that first hand...
Bobby - Are you planning on doing a MLS preview and or predictions for the upcoming year?
Who do you think will be the biggest impact DP player this year? Does Becks have a better year than last?
Also on the Inter front, what are the chances of a major overhaul this offseason? I hear that Ronaldinho is supposedly going to Inter after the season and the Special One is coming, but how much of this is smoke and how much is accurate?
AND
What is the problem with Zlatan? Is he just a big baby or what, he seems to have a problem with everyone, everywhere he goes. Such a shame because he is an incredible talent.
Here's a cheer for the Old Firm being shown Tape Delayed on FSC this weekend. Wish it were Live!
I know most of you are fans of the Southern leagues, but there's something about SPL that brings back fond memories of changing to borrowed long studs with soaking wet and half numb hands. The memories of youth.
Ringo...I miss The Special One. SAF has to carry the Boogey Man title in the Prem all by himself now. Not only is he responsible for the refs decisions but now his super mind powers (a la Aqua Man) have been exposed...see Mascherano's melt down. Without TSO there is no balance in the PL. Its all Yang and no Ying!! I wonder who will fall under his control next? Terry, Fabregas, Howard Web?
Liverpool were playing like ####, and so on, but the bottom line is, the game was O V E R when Bennett flashed Red.
Glad I did not pay $3K going to England for the week to watch a week's worth on EPL games and such like I have been considering for years with PSG or whoever that outfit is. I may have jumped of a bridge.
the point is, Bennett ruined the game, no matter which side of the fence you are on vs respect to ref's and did he or didn't he deserve it.
To quote Flash (forgive me, I can't figure out how to Italicize quotes)-
>> If you think Flamini is that easy to replace, why are so many gooners fretting about his departure? Why are Juve fans rubbing their hands in glee about his impending arrival?
First of all, he's not gone yet. I haven't seen very many fretting about his departure - even the crazed ones on this board. If I had to guess why they would theoretically fret, I would say it's due to their ignorance of past transactions regarding selling midfielders. (Viera, Petit, etc) Or, if they are fretting, perhaps they are just like Henry14, fans which defy definition.
As far as Juve fans rubbing their hands in glee, well, maybe they're psyched about getting Gilberto. Or perhaps hand rubbing is big in Turin.
>> Mind you, he was on the field for both the 5-1 loss to Spurs, the 4-0 drubbing to ManU and the 2-1 kick in the teeth from Chelsea. Your right, he's probably rubbish. Anyone else play those games as well? Oh, Fabregas. Didn't even notice him in the Chelsea game.
Never said he was rubbish, just replaceable. He's the french Owen Hargreaves. Only, of course, not as overhyped. Or Overpaid for.
Never thought I'd agree with Jeremy but he was entirely correct when he said that it wasn't Grant who won the game v. Arsenal, it was Arsenal that lost it. And it was indeed entirely due to the continuing problems in defense that AW has never fully resolved since Campbell left. Doesn't help that Senderos is actually in better form right now than Kolo but AW insists on starting Kolo now that he's fit.
Re the whole Mascherano hysteria:
Yes, the guy was a complete #### and deserves absolutely no sympathy. I'll never understand why players keep arguing with officials once they've made their decision. But as Bobby said on the FSR, it's the adrenaline pumping.
However, all that said, so far only one pundit I know has mentioned one significant point that puts the whole incident in context, and surprisingly it is skysports' Andy Gray, who rarely if ever sees any wrong in Man United or Ferguson.
No one mentions the fact that Mascherano was outraged at Bennett's continual refusal to do something about the repeated hacking down of Torres by Ferguson's bully boys. Bennett just let Torres get hacked down constantly throughout the game. When Bennett booked Torres--whose indiscipline came from the fact that he'd had enuf of the repeated thuggery--Mascherano flew off the handle. Torres now has injuries to his ribs and ankle, forcing him to bow out of Spain's friendly v. Italy.
Pundits and fans pontificate about how football should adopt rugby-style refereeing, where players show the refs respect and are heavily disciplined when they don't. What never gets mentio
What never gets mentioned, however, is the other side of the rugby analogy: in rugby, there is video replay, play is stopped while refs confer with the video ref who replays a particular foul or attempted try on his monitor, who then gives his decision to the ref on the pitch, calls the correct decision and then re-starts the game.
In other words, rugby has adopted technology to make the game more fair, to have fewer contentious calls. As a result, there is comparatively less controversey in the sport. Referees EARN their respect, their judgment is not automatically considered infallible because they have technology to help them.
So by all means adopt the dicipline and respect to refs present in rugby -- but that can only work if football finally adopts technology to help refs to their job. Otherwise, player indiscipline will continue as long as ref decisions are judged infallible by football authorities when video replays so easily and quickly contradict their decisions.
Wow, a fellow goes away for a little holiday and look what happens to this blog! lol
A couple of quick comments. Like Maz, I'm looking forward to referees enforcing the new "respect" guidelines, whether the players in question happen to be English internationals or Liverpool midfielders at Old Trafford. If we witnessed the enforcement of a new standard of conduct -- which I happen to think is a good thing as a parent, coach and somebody who loves the game -- I'm willing to wager Sweary Wayne and John "the card grabber" Terry will be getting their fair share of enforced rest on the sidelines.
Oh and well done to United and Chelsea, particularly Didier Drogba, on this weekend. He happens to be a player that has earned that world-class tag based on performances against many defenders, including, I believe, one Phillipe Senderos, among plenty of other big, strapping lads. Suggesting that Gallas and Toure can't play together based on the fact that Drogba torched them is rubbish.
Plenty of words -- intemperate and otherwise -- noted and marked, gents. Gotta run and catch my flight.
You have to separate out the fact that Mascherano was wrong and focus on the fact that he's being scapegoated here. If he gets an additional ban, then I will know that the FA has lost it. Mascherano shouldn't be excused from his one match ban, but if he gets banned more then it disproportionally hurts Liverpool because of the lack of punishment for worse offenders such as A. Cole, Terry and Rooney.
Also, I agree with danielgregg and gulp, Andy Gray. It's incredibly ironic (or su####ious) that SAF railed on the perceived lack of protection that flair players like his Cristiano Ronaldo were getting from the refs and then he orders his defenders to kick and hack at Torres. This goes back to the double standard concept. There SEEMS to be a different set of standards and rules for Man U and the rest of the league.
John Eustace of Watford has had a three game suspension for a straight red card two weeks ago increased by an extra game for failing to leave the pitch in a timely manner ,expect the same to happen to Mascherano.
daniel - The only time the Television Match Official is used in Rugby is to determine if a try has been scored ,and then only if the referee requests help.
neo - I just hope TSO doesn't end up at Anfield next season ,though it would be really ironic seeing how much the scousers seemed to hate him.
Is it true that Keith Hackett is just a puppet ,with Fergie pulling the strings?
Well, the discipline statistics are not hard to find, for both the Prem as a whole and for individual players.
The stats show what one would expect. Teams which have a reputation for physical play, say, Blackburn, show up on the table for most fouls, most yellows, most reds.
United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all in the top five of least disciplined teams in the league. Interestingly, Chelsea is, I believe, only better than Blackburn and one other team.
Basically, there are so few red cards handed out, that it does not look like you can draw any conclusions.
None of this will end the "debate" if you can call it that, but even if you assume Pool were hard done by on the Masch call, isn't it just payback for the Carragher (was in Carra?) foul in the box earlier in the season that was not called?
In any event, the standard for winning the Prem these days is so high that (a) whichever team wins cannot be "unlucky" in that particular year, and (b) my definition of "luck" includes last minute goals for and against. A couple of years ago it seemed that no matter what, Chelsea always scored in the last minute. Before that, Arsenal could not lose.
I don't think the refs have anything to do with it.
Ukraine 2-0 Serbia
Montenegro 3-1 Norway
Bosnia 2-2 Macedonia
Portugal 1-2 Greece
Denmark 1-1 Czech Republiv
Romania 3-0 Russia
Israel 1-0 Chile
Hungary 0-1 Slovenia
Bulgaria 2-1 Finlabd
Belarus 2-2 Turkey
doing my henry14 imitation if he was a england supporter!
Flash if Flamini leaves the only way I would be upset if it surfaces that Wenger wanted to keep him but they couldn't reach financial terms. Personally I doubt this will happen as I'm pretty sure it was Wengers plan to force the player to show and prove his worth and now he will be rewarded. I think you should be more concerned with your own clubs transfers this summer as the DIMITAR DIMITAR! (as they say) rumors continue to grow. Pretty sure Spurs will try to drive his price up and sell him off to help finance their own transfer moves. I'm still not convinced they have as much money as you believe they do after last years splurges and the nice wages Ramos commanded.
Speaking of which is there any official site that has the salaries of every club and player. I know the numbers exist in the NBA for fans to mull over would be interesting to find out what a guy like Bent is being payed.
Mr. Mascherano's act was astonishingly stupid even by football stupidity standards (and we have seen a fair bit of that around the world in football this season--I hope we will see less in MLS this summer!), and my sympathies are entirely with Mr. Bennett. He does, and should, brook no nonsense, and he had the added incentive of seeing the Cole incident close up and personal as the 4th official. This is unsportsmanlike conduct and is ridiculous. Yes, the refereeing sometimes misses things (YOU try refereeing a chess match at 90 mph, as Pele says), but by and large the refs clearly try to do the right thing and most often succeed in EPL. However, there are so many tough calls in the current games in EPL that some sort of challenge or instant replay system may really help add a greater sense of fairness and veracity to the proceedings (as well as cut down on the away-from-the-ball mugging that sometimes occurs, especially in international games).
Chad876 never got back to us after posting this - “ I think refs treat ManU players differently than they do other teams if you think its a lie how many penalties have been awarded to United and each time Ronaldo is touch the refs blow.”
So here is what I have been able to dig up from various sources. The first is courtesy of the daily e mail from the Times AOTG. A reader wrote in to state that since 1998/99 Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all had eight penalties awarded against them at home.
Second from premiersoccerstats.com the penalties scored and conceded by the ever presents in the Premiership – that’s for 15 full seasons plus this one to date. I couldn’t track down penalties awarded information but I reckon the successful penalties is pretty close. The first is scored, the second conceded. Liverpool 70/48, Arsenal 67/31, Chelsea 60/34, Manchester United 58/24, Everton 57/55, Spurs 49/62, Aston Villa 43/53.
Last season Arsenal scored from 10 penalties, Everton 8, Liverpool 7, and Villa, Bolton, Manchester United, and Spurs all had 6. This season so far Aston Villa & Chelsea have scored from 6, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs all have 4. Derby, Everton and Manchester City have 0.
The only Premiership season I can see in which United finished top of the penalty scoring chart was 2002/03 when they finished with 9.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on March 26th at 6:47 PM.
continued - As far as this seasons disciplinary league I went to 4thGame.com. Based on one point for a yellow and three for a red Blackburn and Boro are tops with 79 points.
Then it is Chelsea 71, Fulham 67, Sunderland 65, Bolton 62, Derby 61, Aston Villa, Reading & Wigan 60, Birmingham and Portsmouth 58, West Ham 57, Newcastle 55, Arsenal 54, Manchester City 53, Spurs 50, Liverpool 43, Manchester United 42, and Everton 39.
Chelsea & Fulham lead in red cards with 6 each; Bolton have yet to lose a man. Boro have the most yellows with 73; Everton the least with 30.
Apad03 – Sorry no MLS preview from me. Too much other stuff going on and there are more than enough previews out there at the moment from people who seem to follow the MLS winter moves and draft far more than I do. I am always astounded that so much is written at about players who are drafted even though only a tiny percentage ever make any kind of impact.
I am curious to see Montegro's performances now that they are a separate country.
Sometimething tells me, they could become a force to be reckoned with.
I am happy that Fox Soccer will show the Croatia - Scotland match tonight. Bobby, do you have any saying in terms of what team gets shown on TV?
Bobby - Do me a favour and help me prove I am not going mad as well as helping me save face. I have a debate going on right now with a mate about the term "wooden spoon" (booby prize), which as you almost certainly know originated from coming last in the Six Nations rugby. In the UK then the term is used quite loosely used and not just connected to Rugby, for any kind of last place finish in a League format. Now I know I have heard it used on TV in Canada I was 110% certain it was by one (or more) of the Anchors/Presenters on Fox Sports Report, perhaps when talking about South American Cup groups, or UEFA Cup groups my mate won't have it and I have already sent Jeremey St Louis a note, he replied saying he polled Carlos, Mitch and Derek and none of them believe they have used it on air. I am not calling Jeremy a liar, I just don't think they realised when they did use the phrase/saying. Please, please put me out of my misery and tell me I wasn't hearing things and you have heard one of them say it!!!
WHU647580 - I don't think the term is uncommon and I would not be surprised if Max had even used it given his rugby connection. I might even have said it.
Does anybody know where on the Internet I can watch the Champions Lge final of 2005 for free. Uefa.com hasd it but u have to pay, and I am not about to put any money in the pocket of that t.wat Platini
Sagna set to be sidelined for 'three weeks at least'. So he'll definitely be out of the CL quarter-final matches. I guess The Professor will play Senderos at CB to partner Gallas and play Toure at RB.
Last edited by ReggaeGunner on March 27th at 9:33 AM.
Oh, I love how everyone asks Bobby questions to their hearts' delight. Then, when I do, on a very rare occasion I might add, someone directs me to a Wikipedia article.
I hope you're happy because now I'm crying...A LOT!
Comparing Mascherano's sending off to other players/teams is a fair question, but you need to draw similar comparisons. So, what's the breakdown of bookings for dissent? For fans who can see Wayne Rooney curse a blue streak at refs every game, or Ronaldo visibly show up refs after every unsuccessful play, there's room to wonder if refs are applying a consistent standard in a professional manner.
Making an example of an Argentinean player seems convenient and evokes images of 1966. The FA would have a lot more credibility if Rooney were sent off for dissent at Old Trafford.
BOBB-EH! Will you be giving us your thoughts on the new three-team Canadian competetion to get into the Concacaf champions cup competition?
Montreal really looks to have their ducks lined up to soon gain MLS admittance. I like the addition of Gillett to the Saputo group. Liverpool fans might dislike him, but Gillett has come out looking like the classier of the two partners there and his handling of the Habs has been nothing short of exemplary. Think they're in with a shout for MLS anytime soon?
And continuing Canadian corner, there's a whole flap-doodle brewing in the often soccer-negative Toronto media about Mo Johnston's handling of TFC so far. They think fans are becoming grouchy because Mo hasn't made any big-name signings. As some one who hold eight of their 16,000 season tickets, I'm just fine with proceedings thus far.
Johnston acquired San Jose's 2009 first-round draft pic in a trade for gimpy-kneed Ronnie O'Brian. They're an expansion team not expected to do well. Any further damage to O'Brian's bad knee will only hasten San Jose's slide in the standings.
Next year's MLS draft should include current NCAA player of the year O'Brian White, a Toronto resident, and UAB and Canadian U-23 midfielder Dejan Jakovic, another Toronto boy.
If these two players can live up to expectations, TFC would have two local products at the heart of their lineup for many years to come. Great for marketing, too.
Isn't this a good year for a two-year-old team to tank and pick up two good local prospects?
Last edited by flashman on March 27th at 11:05 AM.
Now I am not a football coach, never was and never will be, but I dont understand how Mr. Capello could ignore Jermaine defoe. Granted they were not playing a formation that suited him, but Capello should have used a formation that did, prefarablly a 4-4-2 Defoe is obviously the most in form english striker right now and to omit him just baffles me, he played crouch in the second half, I am a fan of crouchy but he has not played for liverpool in what seems like ages so I dont understand how he got on the pitch let alone how he got a call up. I Hope Don Capello is not going down the same road as Mclaren by giving in to the media and picking players based on their name and not their performances. I will excuse him giving Beckham the start over bentley who has been playing competitive games because of the whole Hundreth Cap fiasco but to leave out Defoe is unexcusable to me. he said he wanted to get a look at different players, well his actions did not really show that last night. Its decisions like that, that made Carragher tell the national team to kiss his arse
I predict Atleti will be remarking how bad Heitinga stinks this time next year.
Bobby, you did your due diligence as an EPL fan and a Man Utd apologist. However those (all) statistics are misleading. Any meaningful analysis has to account for league positions of the teams, score, opponents, actual penalties denied, false penalties given. Arsenal getting two valid penalties away to Boro to win 0-4 is not the same as the away team at Old Trafford having a stonewall penalty ignored that would have given the draw.
This type of analysis while not impossible is nearly impossible. However without it those stats are minimally useful.
I agree that one striker being left out is no big deal but Capello did say he wanted to examine other players. So why not Defoe who is the most in form? No other player or striker last night deserved to be there more than Defoe NONE. Furthermore what is this going to do for Defoe's Confidence? He is probably thinkin what on earth does he have 2 do to get a call up omiiting him is not sending a good signal and is going down the same road as the previous manager. I dont think england want a Italian Mclaren. Anyway this is an experimental phase for him but he needs to reward the good players with call ups to make them feel that they are at least being considered
Any US poster, or anyone who happened to see the game, I was busy all day yesterday and was unable to. I saw the scoreline at 3-0 and am just curious if the score is a good representation of how the game went, or if it should have been more, or if we were outplayed but happened to get a few cheeky goals on corner kicks, or what. Because Bocanegra, Onyewu, and Lewis aren't exactly the first three players I think of when I think of the US scoring goals.
Well the game was not pretty at all and those two commentators were not making it any better. However the USA did seem like the more in tune team and I would say they deserved the win. there was some real quality being shown but in spurts and the US did get very luck on a couple of occasions in there own half. All in all Bradley Snr. can be proud of his team they went on the road against a Euro qualified team(without some of their first choice players)and got an excellent result. the best play for me was eddie lewis' freekick-quality
