A Times article on the reality of playing football abroad for three African players. Pele is often quoted as saying that an African country would win the World Cup by the turn of the century – 2000 that is – but it was the former England manager Walter Winterbottom who first said it many years before.
Stewart Fisher questions the wisdom of Celtic captain Stephen McManus playing against Benfica only four days after being knocked unconscious against Rangers.
I just have to had two more. Gabriele Marcotti and Nick Webster chime in with thoughts on the BPL in the USA in light of the NFL circus arriving in London.
I’ll start off with a couple of questions that made it on to other blogs but were never answered.
Nnogomes21 - I was wondering if you know/ have any idea's why Portugal's S.L. Benfica is struggling so far in the Liga Portuguesa and in the UEFA champions league, they have a lot of great players like...Nuno Gomes [C], Rui Costa, Silva ####, Fabio Coentrao, Oscar Cardozo... they have more but, they have a lot of great players, is it their chemistry that’s hurting them or is it a technical problem.. Explain please.
Bobby – I haven’t seen Benfica play this season so I may not be the best source of information. However, there are unbeaten in the league although the problem is that they’ve drawn four of their seven games. Probably the biggest disappointment has been the two defeats in the Champions League – away to Milan and at home to Shakhtar.
The goals have not been flowing freely – only 10 in 9 games and they’ve been shut out four times. Gomes is in his thirties and Rui Costa is well into his 30’s so there may be an issue - although I have read that he is playing well. In terms of player turnover fom last season Fabrizio Miccoli has returned to Italy and he seemed to have been a very important player from Benfica over the last two seasons.
The thing that stands out for me is the managerial turnover – nine in the last seven years. Jose Antonio Camacho is back for his second spell at the club after stepping in again this summer. Benfica needs to beat Celtic tomorrow in order to get back into contention in the Champions League. That might be easier done than trying to catch Porto.
Benfica is already 8 points behind Porto (100% record) after seven games and it is only a 30-game season in Portugal. Benfica plays third place Maritimo this weekend. In the meantime here is an article from Ben Lyttleton on the Wednesday’s Champions League game.
Jaredlampard - I'm a huge Celtic fan. 1. I really want to know on what you think of their poor performances away from home and if they really are one of Europe's top clubs. Two years ago, I drove 195 miles to a game to see them get thrashed 4-0 by D.C. United. This year, I went to two of their games which were against the MLS all-star team which they lost 2-0 and a game against Chicago which they drew 1-1. 2. I also want to know based on these results if you think that American clubs could perform well against Europe's best or it's just that the Uefa clubs are just in pre-season from.
Bobby – You have to define what constitutes a top club in Europe. If it is based on fan support, then Celtic are one of Europe’s top clubs. Based on performances in Europe over the last thirty years and the answer is no. I would not read too much in pre-season results in terms of the relative strength of European sides version the MLS. Here is an article by Andrew Smith on Celtic’s away performances.
There was also a very good article in the October/November issue of Champions magazine that dealt with home advantage – it had Celtic top in terms of home performances over the last three or four seasons.
Dasayev - I've been puzzled by the team selections and tactics of Sven Goran Eriksson and Mini-Sven, Steve McLaren. In terms of selection, they both seem desperate to curry the favor of "star" players and are reluctant to withdraw them whether they are in-form or not. So...we get the Gerrard/Lampard combination when it clearly doesn't work and the strange devotion to Paul Robinson when the likes of Robert Green and David James are clearly in better form. Wouldn't everyone be better served if Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Bentley, etc. were fighting for these spots? Pushing each other to greater heights?
Of course, it would be benefit club and country for these places--and all others--to be up for grabs, so to speak. If you are doing the business for your club then you'll see time on the pitch. If England would have a stable pool of 30 or so players, all of whom were in contention and knew that their form would be a key to squad selection it would also give the team stability as you wouldn't have people constantly coming and going.
England has so many potential performers that I would think keeping an England "B" squad would be a great way for the manager to see players under pressure. For example, I can only think Lescott would have benefitted from such an experience while the more accomplished left-backs Shorey and Bridge deputized for Ashley Cole.
Bobby – An interesting theory but I would wager that the most successful countries have been the ones that have kept the most stable sides. It’s difficult enough to get players used to playing with each other let alone magnifying the problem by constantly changing based on club form. You often hear international managers talk of the need to generate a club spirit at the international level.
Although it is a different generation England’s most successful manager Sir Alf Ramsey was exceptional loyal to his players and was known on occasion to field a player in an international game who was struggling to get a game for his club.
As for having a stable pool of 30 international players to choose from – is that not an oxymoron? There just isn’t 30 English players capable of playing at the highest international level and if there was how could the team by stable?
Craigy_f – Q1. Do you have any impressions of Warner you’d share Bobby? Q2. Will FSC be showing any ACN games? Q3. Will Yallop stay or go? Q4. Which games tickle your fancy in the play offs? Q5. Who is a team you think would slip up or be surprised in this weeks, UEFA Champions League or UEFA Cup?
Bobby – 1. I met Warner in 1999 during the Pan American Games in Winnipeg and he was pleasant enough. However, his track record shows him to be anything but. 2. I have no idea – that’s a question for the FSC programmers. 3. I would bet on him leaving. 4. In the first round Houston vs. Dallas because of the rivalry. 5. Slavia Prague – I think Arsenal may score 7.
LParker - How long do you think it's going to take for Mourinho to surface at AC Milan? They looked awful this weekend against Empoli, haven't won a home fixture, and are now in the bottom half of the table. It's like they're moving in slow motion. If they lose or draw to Shakhtar on Wednesday, will Ancelotti be sent packing? Also, what does AC need in January (player/position wise) to find resurgence in Serie A and the Champions League?
Bobby – After 7 games last season they had twelve points – this season 10. Without the points deduction last season they would have finished on 69 points. Take Kaka (and Gattuso) out of the team and it is a very different side.
Even so I don’t think you will see Milan making too many moves in January – their hoping Ronaldo is back soon, and Pato will be available in the New Year. There has been a discussion on the blog about the importance of domestic league vs. Champions League. Milan may just think the scudetto is a route to the Champions League. As for Ancelotti I have predicted his demise for the last three seasons so I’m probably not a good judge in this case.
Henry14 - q1 What is the deal with Gerrard clear the air, do you mean he cannot be subbed, if Fergie or Wenger sub a Rooney or Ronaldo or Cesc there will not be any clear the air talks what’s your take? q2 l think Wenger is probably more ruthless than Fergie but less confrontational do you agree? q3 How do you rate Keane' signing this season, the likes of Halford, Cole.
Bobby – Q1. I think I answered that question both on the blog and on Monday’s FSR. Benitez made a gutsy call and a correct call.
Q2 I would try telling that to Beckham, Stam, Van Nistelrooy, Ince, Kancheskis to name only a few.
Q3 – Keane has made some signings that I think will work out very well – Kenwyne Jones may not be everyone’s idea of a silky striker but he will cause defenses a lot of trouble in years to come. Craig Gordon will repay his transfer fee many times over. I only saw Halford play once for Reading this season and I think once this season so I can’t really comment.
Cole was signed for cover and to contribute as a late substitute. You have to take into consideration that Keane made around 10 signings last season and they were more geared to getting them out of the Championship. Now he is finding out who can play in the Premiership.
Bayareasoccerfan - It seems like West Ham and Sunderland have spent comparable sums of money to Man City, but have been less successful. Do you think it is because British managers make poor signings? I do not see a playmaker (like Elano) in these sides. Are they trying to build a high-tempo English long ball squad which does not require a playmaker?
Bobby – If success is judged after 10 games then you are correct. But there are another 28 games to go. I’m not sure that the comparison is necessarily a fair one. You have to consider the number of players signed and to an extent their age.
According the numbers (they are imprecise as transfer fees tend to be nowadays) Keane has spent around 37m pounds, Sven 29M pounds and Curbishley 23M – all net numbers. Keane has signed 12 players at an average net cost of 3M pounds and the players are almost all exclusively young and with room to improve. Sven has signed five players (he has some on loan or on a Bosman) at an average cost of a little under 6M pounds.
Curbishley seems to average around $3M with a greater emphasis on “proven” players. I would not go along with the argument that because a manager is British that he makes bad signings anymore than I would offer up Gerard Houllier as proof of the opposite.
Yohann - What do you think is the source of England's problems on the international stage? England hasn't won anything even when Eriksson was there. It’s the whole program that should be analyzed. But I do think McClaren should be sacked... especially because he tried to make the players fit in a mold, instead of shaping the formation to suit the type of players he had.
Some players are overrated... like (I know you guys won’t like it..haha) Lampard and Joe Cole, Gary Neville, Ashley Cole. Some players are injury prone like M. Owen, O.Hargreaves, Lennon and J.Terry. Some players are underrated and should get a bigger share of playing time... Carragher, Sidwell and even Pennant come to mind.
Bobby – I have tried to find a way to answer your question but I can’t. You mention McClaren fitting players into a mold – what mold was that? When McClaren moved to a 3-5-2 from a 4-4-2 it failed so where was the mold in that case.
Just because players are “overrated” it doesn’t mean that “underrated” players are better. Sidwell is an effective journeyman and Pennant is generally a very poor crosser of the ball. I just can’t see myself dropping Joe Cole in favour of either of them. Maybe you can give us your England starting line-up and the formation and then we might have something more meaty to discuss.
Chinaski - Berbatov looks ecstatic, anyone think he'll ask to move in January? If so where?
Bobby – A lot can happen between now and January.
Gregz - Do you see Wenger letting Gilberto move on in the January transfer window, especially with Flamini playing so well and Diarra and Denilson bidding for a spot?
Bobby – I would be very surprised if he did. For a start there is no benefit to letting him go. He can play at centre back at a push and I think you will find him getting more game time once the next round of WC qualifiers are passed in November. Flamini is laying well but it is a long season. Diarra is largely untested at the top level at that position and Denilson is more of a cover for Fabregas than as a defensive midfielder.
MasMaz - Is there any mention of intent in the rule book when the last defender prevents a goal scoring opportunity? I believe there is an intent clause for handballs, but is there one for honest but mistaken defending so that only a yellow and a penalty is given?
If there isn't there should be, I just can't see how Hibbert tried to intentionally prevent a goal scoring opportunity, I still don't think it was a foul. Anyone could stop running any time to create contact with the defender.
Bobby – As others have pointed out there is no mention of intent. The wording on hand ball is “handles the ball deliberately”. In terms of yellow or red card the wording is “denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick.”
I know there has been discussion on goalkeepers getting yellows as opposed to red cards. It would suggest that the difference is based on the referee’s judgment of “moving towards” the goal. I would add that I don’t think moving towards the goal is necessarily meant to be limited to a straight line to the goal. As for the theory of a player stopping running to create contact – that would then be obstruction on the attacking player. I think it would be a bit obvious.
Henry 14 - l thought your defense of Gerrard was ridiculous, every time we talk of poor officiating there are people who feel it is a good or a bad decision and one of them will be correct. If players go and tell referees and then seen to change their mind then we have a problem. We are not saying Hibbert should not be sent off but the precedence of a player going to the ref and then appears to change his mind is wrong.
Bobby – I have come to the conclusion that you watch and hear a completely different show than I appear on every Monday and Friday. How the hell do you come up with “defense of Gerrard?” You and I do not know what was in the referee’s mind nor what Gerrard said – the bottom line is that Clattenburg got the call right. It seems that you would prefer he got it wrong.
Victoriakevin - I emailed this to the MLS: What is the point of the season, it ends and nobody wins anything and then some of the teams play on in "the playoffs"?? Why have a season? Why not just play the playoffs? I don't get this. What do you think about the farce of the MLS season?
Bobby – As others have pointed out it is a North American thing. But given your thoughts, are you intending to e mail the Football League and the Dutch League as well? Most people in England love the play offs and hockey seems to have a good following in Canada with a format that involves 80 meaningless games before the play offs. What’s your solution?
LetsGoBuffalo - In today's football, do you think European clubs would rather win the Champions League or the home league? Or do you think its a club-by-club basis?
Bobby – Obviously club by club. It would be hard to convince me that winning a 7th straight Ligue Une title would mean more to Lyon than winning the Champions League. Question though – how many teams rest players before a league game by putting out a weaker side in the Champions league? It does happen but the opposite is more often the case is it not?
Finally, thank you to everyone who visits the blog and especially to those who participate.
Scotland may be sitting top of their group in Euro qualifying but there is an anthem problem.
Paul Wilson asks the question that if Manchester United fans have to buy tickets to Carling Cup games then shouldn’t United field a top class team. Buried in the piece Wilson also takes to task people who quote Bill Shankly’s “matter of life and death” comment. Wilson’s right – the vast majority of people quote Shankly as if he was serious which he clearly was not.
My favourite Shankly quote was from the late Emlyn Hughes. Hughes told a story that Shanks loved training and joined in all the time. One day Shankly turned round to Hughes and says to him "When I die I want to be the fittest man to ever die."
An interesting and informative website created by a regular blog visitor www.billsportsmaps.com Something obviously close to his heart. Check it out.
I received an e mail last week taking me to task. Apparently I have yet to publish my Champions league picks. So here goes – Group A, Liverpool and Porto; Group B, Valencia and Chelsea; Group C, Real Madrid and Werder Bremen (would not be surprised if Lazio qualified); Group D, Milan and Benfica; Group E Barcelona and Rangers (bring on the “are you on crack McMahon” e mails); Group F, Manchester United and Roma; Group G, Inter Milan and PSV; Group H, Arsenal and Sevilla.
Just a reminder that if you have questions you would like my take on, then the best idea is to post them on Monday’s Speakers’ Corner Blog. If they are posted any other time then there is a very good chance that I will miss them. I try my best to keep up but sometimes questions slip through the cracks.
And finally Winnipeg Thistle lost their Winnipeg Old Timers crown after losing 2-1 to Portuguese in the final on Sunday. A lack of polish in front of goal cost us dearly. It was a great game and I am glad to say that I am at the stage in life that I prefer to play in a good game and lose, than play in a bad one and win. To all the players and officials that make it possible for old guys like me to continue to kick a ball and love it a massive THANK YOU.
If you are a fan of a team in a top tier European League it is no longer good enough to just keep track of your team’s fortunes but also the Championship races in other countries.
Particularly at this time of year – the reason? Welcome to the wonderful world of UEFA Coefficients. For it is country and club coefficients that will dictate what rounds clubs will be dropped into (country coefficients) and the seeding that the club will attract when the various draws are made – the club coefficients. for the two European competitions next season
So if you are a Celtic fan for example you are checking the results from Germany this week in the hope that Stuttgart can maintain a lead on Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and eventually take one of the three CL spots to the exclusion of Bayern.
If Bayern usurp Stuttgart them Celtic will be more likely not to be seeded in pot 2 which means when they enter the third round of Champions League they are more likely to face a strong team such as the likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Arsenal or AC Milan. The site that I linked to is maintained by Bert Kassie who does an incredible job of staying on top of the constant changes in the UEFA Coefficients.
Last weekend we saw Celtic, Inter Milan and Lyon wrap up their respective titles and all by the proverbial country mile. The Dutch title will be decided this weekend but the contrast with the title processions in Scotland, Italy and France could not be more marked.
A few weeks ago it looked as if PSV were going to stroll to the title but over the last six games they have stumbled badly with only one win and three draws. Even going into the final few minutes of the game last week against Utrecht it looked as if they would at least enter the last round of play with a two point lead over AZ Alkmaar and Ajax.
But, with four minutes left Utrecht equalized and AZ Alkmaar took over top spot on goal difference with Ajax second and PSV trailing in third. All the teams have 72 points but AZ have a goal difference of 53, Ajax 47 and PSV 46. If AZ take the title it will be only their second all time – that last was in 1981 – and they will be the first time that a side outside of the big three in Holland (PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord) has one the championship in 26 years.
For the second and third place sides a play off for the other Champions League spot. awaits. AZ plays Excelsior who are currently 16th, Ajax plays 15th placed Willem II and for PSV it will be Vitesse who are sitting in 12th spot. AZ and Ajax are both going for the domestic double and will face each other in the Dutch Cup Final.
In France, Italy and Portugal it is a case of the second place team playing the team right behind them in the table.
At stake in both France and Portugal are automatic group spots for the league runners up and in the case of Portugal there remains a faint hope that Porto might still be caught. Lens still leads Bordeaux by a point in France even though a win last week was their first in six matches. Bordeaux are riding a crest at the moment and are unbeaten in their last eight games (four wins and four draws). They have also scored five goals in their last two wins which constitutes an attacking explosion for a side that has only hit the back of the net 35 times in 33 games.
Benfica and Sporting Lisbon could both be considered in-form teams with the Eagles unbeaten in 17 games (12 wins and 5 draws) and Sporting have not tasted defeat in their last 14 games (9 wins and 5 draws). Benfica’s last loss was back on November 18 while Sporting’s last loss was to their great city rivals by a score of 2-0 when they last met. Porto enters the weekend with a four point lead and also face a derby encounter against Boavista who are struggling in a lower mid-table position.
The Rome derby is the match of the weekend in Italy with Lazio looking to complete the double over Roma. After falling one game short of matching a club record on nine straight wins Lazio fans will be concerned that the team is running out of gas with two draws and a loss in their last three games. It could be a more noteable occasion than normal for Roma’s Francesco Totti and Lazio keeper Angelo Peruzzi. If Totti plays he will set a new record of 23 appearances in this derby rivalry while for Angelo Peruzzi it may be his last as he contemplates a season’s end retirement.
In the UK the battle at the top and bottom of the Premiership will demand attention but in the Championship and Scottish League there will be some compelling match ups. In Scotland, Gretna needs to beat bottom of the table Ross County in the last game of the season to secure promotion to the SPL for next season. They currently lead St. Johnstone by a single point and what makes this remarkable is that it will mean that Gretna will have achieved three successive promotions.
In the second tier of English football two of Sunderland, Derby and Birmingham will gain automatic promotion and a massive payday to the Premiership. The side that misses out will have another chance together with three other teams in the play offs. The problem is that is far from clear who the other three teams will be. With two games left only three points separate seven teams. Fans of Preston, West Brom, Wolves, Southampton, Stoke, Colchester and Sheffield Wednesday will be sweating ever moment this weekend.
The FSC MLS Game of the Week is the LA derby with Chivas playing LA Galaxy. You would think that if any team can use the media attention showered on the Galaxy the last few months to their own advantage it would be Chivas. I have yet to see Galaxy this season but have watched Chivas twice. They were well in control of the game against Toronto FC and thought that were unlucky to lose to Houston Dynamo. Maykel Galindo’s seering pace is going to create a lot of chances for him this season and I could see him making a big impact during his first year in the league.
Toronto FC opens their new stadium (BMO) this weekend against the Kansas City Wizards the team that convincingly beat them 3-0 on Wednesday night. The trades that Mo Johnston made to acquire Kevin Goldthwaite and Marvell Wynne looked to have improved the defense although the central pairing of Jim Brennan and Marco Reda didn’t inspire confidence. Centre back is not the position for Brennan who was probably Toronto’s best player over the first two games when he occupied the left side of the defense in a 3-5-2 formation.
Toronto desperately needs a player with presence in the centre of the defense and there is no indication that such a player is presently on the roster. The midfield is struggling to string more than two passes together and rarely get into positions to support the two strikers. Up front Alecko Eskandarian is constantly tearing down blind alleys but at least he is giving honest effort. We will see if home support of 20,000 can help Toronto to their first goal and win.
Dundee's run to the European Cup semi final in 1963 was fairytale stuff.
Dundee won the league the previous year on the final day of the season. I saw every home league game that season (I was young!) and was taken to Perth to see the last game of the season against St. Johnstone. Dundee needed to win to guarantee themselves the title – if not Rangers could overtake them – and St. Johnstone needed a win to avoid relegation. Dundee won 3-1, took the league title for the first and only time in their history while St Johnstone and a young centre forward called Alex Ferguson (yes the same one) were relegated.
The following year West German Champions Cologne (a pre-tournament favourite) were drawn in the first round and Dundee thrashed them 8-1 in the first leg. The Cologne keeper had to leave the game with an injury at half time but even so Dundee were already 5-0 up. In the return league – surprise, surprise – the Dundee goalie Bert Slater was kicked in the head and left the game in the first half injured. He eventually returned to play in the goal in the second half although Cologne won 4-0.
Next up was Sporting Lisbon and the first league was won by the Portuguese champions 1-0. Dundee won the second league 4-1. In the quarter finals Dundee was drawn against Anderlecht who had become only the second team in European Cup history to beat Real Madrid over two legs. The first league was in Brussels and Dundee won 4-1 – I think Alan Gilzean may have scored a hat trick. The second leg was foregone conclusion and Dundee won 2-1. The other teams in the draw for the semi final were reigning champions Benfica (61 and 62), AC Milan and Feyenoord who were as big a surprise as Dundee at the time.
The first leg was in the San Siro and was evenly balanced at half time with the score 1-1. The roof fell in the second half and Milan won 5-1. Dundee won the return league 1-0. Milan went on to win their first European Cup when they beat Benfica 2-1 at Wembley. It was an odd final in that it was played on a Wednesday afternoon.
Jose Altafini, Rivera, Maldini (Paolo’s Dad), Trapattoni were all part of that Milan team. The next year the Dundee team began to break up with Ian Ure moving to Arsenal, Gordon Smith retiring and Alan Gilzean signing for Spurs. Gilzean’s replacement was Charlie Cooke who was fantastic for the year or so he was at Dens and then Tommy Docherty signed him for Chelsea.
Noted Scottish football historian Bob Crampsey is on record as considering the early 60's Dundee side as the finest footballing side Scotland has ever produced, superior even to the Celtic side that did win the European Cup in 1967.
Five years later Dundee also made it to the semi final round of the UEFA Cup (called the Fairs Cities Cup at that time) and lost to a great Leeds side 2-1 on aggregate.
I would be amiss not to include Dundee United’s European Cup adventure in 1984 when they also reached the semi final and were even closer to reaching the final. They drew Roma – a team with the likes of Falcao, Cerezo and World Cup winner Bruno Conti. United won the first leg 2-0 before losing the second leg 3-0. I was in Canada by that time and communication was difficult. I remember having to call Dundee in order to get the scores. Roma also hosted the final that year but lost on penalties to Liverpool.
I can’t think of a smaller city in Europe that has provided two different European Cup/Champions League semi finalists – but I stand to be corrected if anyone else can come up an example.
The most important league game of the weekend is in Portugal with Benfica against Porto. Sporting Lisbon blew the league race open when they went to Oporto almost two weeks ago and beat the home team 1-0. Benfica have the best home record in Portugal with a draw in ten games the only blemish and they currently trail Porto by one point. Benfica have to play Sporting once more in the league this season – April 29. Portugal cut the league back to sixteen teams this season so although each team has only played 22 games they are only eight left to play.
Lyon are looking to for the first half of a league and league cup double – something they never accomplished – when they face Bordeaux in the League Cup Final. Lyon won the trophy in 2001 which was the year before they set off on their run of consecutive league wins. Bordeaux won the Cup the following season and it remains their last piece of silverware. Interestingly Juninho of Lyon has never scored a goal in a game against Bordeaux.
It looks as if Bayern Munich needs to beat Schalke in order to retain any interest in the Bundesliga title. With only eight games to go and trailing Schalke by nine points and Werder Bremen by six, three points would appear to be mandatory. The good news for Bayern fans is that in thirty-six Bundesliga visits Schalke have only five wins and five draws to show for their efforts.
With both teams facing Champions League action this coming week it will be interesting to see how Milan and Roma line up in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday. Roma are sitting with a comfortable nine point lead on rivals Lazio – surely one of the over achievers in the European leagues this season – who are in third place. Milan have slowly but surely worked their up Serie A and are now within four points of a slumping Palermo side for the last Champions League spot and Milan has a game in hand.
The Barcelona versus Deportivo La Coruna game would be more interesting if the game wasn’t in the Nou Camp. Deportivo La Coruna have an abysmal away record having won only twice on their travels this season although both came relatively recently. Goal scoring has been Deportivo’s problem with only 20 goals in the “for” column – only seven have come away from the Riazor. Barcelona have yet to lose to any opposition in the bottom half of the table.
The best in the premiership would look to be Liverpool vs. Arsenal in the early Saturday game while free scoring Tottenham and Reading on Sunday also looks promising. In the battle to avoid relegation Charlton have the opportunity to pull Wigan into the battle and reduce the gap between the two teams to three points. Some things to note going into this game are that Wigan has yet to come back and win a game in which they have conceded the first goal and they have lost 19 points this season from winning positions – the worst in the Premiership
Sheffield United could give themselves a massive lift if they can beat a slumping Bolton side which has lost their last three games. The bad news is United last picked up a point on the road over three months ago. Here is Sheffield United run-in which at least gives them control of their fate - Newcastle (h), Manchester United (a), West Ham (h), Charlton (a), Watford (h), Aston Villa (a) and Wigan (h).
realmadridcffan - 1. Do you know how the aggregate away rule to decide two legged ties started and what do you think of it? I kind of like it because it rewards good road play and punishes sloppy home play.
2. What did you think of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup draw? Do you see any surprises coming up for this edition of the 2007 Gold Cup?
3. What do you think has been the key to Manchester United's excellent form this year? Manchester United has actually been quite a surprise this year in the EPL, considering not that many people where picking them to be leading the premiership at this time.
Bobby – 1. In 1967/68 the away goals rule was used to decide first round ties only in the European Cup. The away goals rule was brought into full use for the 1968/69 European Cup and from there it was extended to other tournaments. Real Madrid were the first team that season to go out of the competition because of the rule – they lost to Rapid Vienna. Before that replays had been used and then a coin toss was brought in. The coin toss remained an option for a number of seasons when the away goals rule was not a factor. In one famous game Celtic and Benfica exchanged 3-0 results and Celtic won the coin toss twice – the first to decide who got to call and the second the actual deciding toss. Celtic went on the European Cup Final that season but lost to Feyenoord in extra time.
2. I like the fact that guest teams are no longer involved. If you are going to have a regional tournament then that is what it should be. Having said that I still dream that the day will come when we will be able to enjoy a full blown Copa America with CONCACAF and COMNEBOL teams involved – however, I am not holding my breath on that one. With three teams qualifying from two of the groups it reduces the chances of a surprise. A couple of countries I will be watching for. ####mp;T – can they build on their WC showing or will they go into decline ala Jamaica post 98 given that the team is quite old. The other is Panama. They’ve turned out a couple of good age group sides in the last few years and they did push the USA all the way two years ago.
3. A number of factors have combined to make it a great season for United. The four I would pick out would be the reemergence of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes – absolutely outstanding performances - and Ronaldo becoming a world class player. The other the drive and single mindedness of Alex Ferguson.
Henry14 - 1. What happens if Watford lose in the FA final or win it and then relegated, will they play in Europe
2. ESPN pundits seem to feel Eto'o will move where do you see him going and why?
3. What are Wenger's chances of getting N'Zogbia from Newcastle
4. What do you think were Arsenal's problems and what do you think can be the solution so that they are (up with?) United and Chelsea next season.
Bobby – 1. Either way they will compete in the UEFA Cup as long as the team they lose to – if they lose – have already qualified for either the Champions League or UEFA Cup.
2. I don’t think Eto’o will move. Take into consideration that the manager will likely leave and the new boss isn't going to want to dump Eto'o - in my opinion.
3. Arsenal have been linked with N’Zogbia for a while but I thought I read that he signed a new contract with Newcastle. Of course, that doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t move but it would certainly cast some doubt over a possibile transfer.
4. Arsenal are not experiencing anything that a bit more experience will not fix. I said at the start of the season that this was a transition year. Third or fourth place in the Premiership will make a relatively successful season.
Buffytvs - Re the last but one comment on Woodgate: when we did our picks before the EPL season started, I called Middlesbrough for the drop. That was before the tfr window closed, and they brought in Woodgate, who has made am enormous difference. Without him, I think they would be in deep trouble. So... this coming year, can we make the deadline for the picks AFTER the tfr window?
Bobby – I will consider a change in timing for next season’s picks. I looked up everyone’s picks and only two of 70 picked Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool as a 1-2-3 finish – no one is sitting with 1-4 right let alone 1-5. As far as relegation is concerned 6 from 70 have picked two of the three teams presently occupying the bottom three slots. No one picked all three. Interestingly only two people picked WHU to finish in the bottom three and nobody picked them as the season’s potentially biggest disappointment.
Venti Vidi Vici - Whatever happened to all the Man Utd fans/shareholders who so fiercely opposed the Glazier takeover, and I think even established a new non-league MU team?? Has the club's recent performances on and off the field temporarily shut them up, or have they given up and apologized?
Bobby – The team is growing and prospering. Here is their website. Time will tell whether they are right or wrong but from my vantage point I still cannot see how the Glazer family is going to be able to have the club service the debt level without affecting the on field product. And before someone jumps in with the Arsenal example it is something very different. United is the equivalent of consumption debt – non productive debt – while Arsenal is investment debt where an asset has been purchased that increases revenue.
Verbal 97 - Anyway, do you think that the replays for Man United and Chelsea hurt their chances in the quarterfinal matches against Roma and Valencia? It certainly isn't ideal. Also, can Man United cope without Larsson with Saha and Solksjaer injured?
Bobby – I think the replays are more likely to hurt England (game against Israel on March 24 in Euro qualifiers) than Chelsea and Manchester United. It will however be interesting to see the teams that United and Chelsea put out against Bolton and Sheffield United this weekend. United have got goals from 15 different players in the Premiership this year so I think they can overcome the problem until Saha returns at the end of this month – supposedly.
Gunner 44 - Do you think it will be smart of Barcelona to sell Eto'o, I mean the guy has been amazing for them and he has one bad season and now they want to sell him? For me this is the problem with football nowadays too many rushed decisions are been made, even Ferguson mentioned this in an article I read a couple of weeks ago that managers and players need to be given time to build themselves before they are sacked.
Bobby – I would be very surprised if Barcelona decides to sell Eto’o. I would agree that fans patience seems to be getting less and less. It seems to me that years ago supporters understood that it took time for a player to adapt to a new team. Now a player has to be an instant success even though they may be experiencing a new culture and having to learn a new language. It took Drogba two seasons to show his real stuff . How many Chelsea fans are willing to admit that they wrote him off as a bad investment during the first 18 months or so.
Gongatore - Last week you thought that if it was down to Barca selling Ronaldinho or Eto'o, you thought they would not get rid of Eto'o. That is kind of interesting. Do you think R is burned out from last season or do you really think he is losing steps and defenders read him better? Also what do you think of Roma's chances against Manu in the CL? Wouldn't it be nice to see a different side win? Let's face it Roma plays a terrific style of ball.
Bobby – If it was down to Ronaldinho or Eto’o I would sell Ronaldinho. That doesn’t mean that he is burnt out or finished just that I think Eto’o would be more difficult to replace. Ronaldinho is just about to turn 27 and he will be a great player for some years to come. Roma worry me in that they have terrific players who have largely underperformed in Europe for years - I wonder if they might be the CL surprise team this year.
Henry14 - My list of the best strikers in the world when fit are 1 Eto’o 2 Klose 3 Henry 4 Drogba 5 lmbrahimovich My top 5 defenders are 1 Cannavaro 2 Nesta 3 Chivhu 4 Calvhahlio 5 Gallas What is your list of five best strikers and defenders?
Bobby – Strikers when fit 1. Eto’o, 2. Drogba 3. Henry 4. Villa 5. Klose.
HatrickVieira - Considering the injuries at Arsenal, do you think a tactical O'Neil and an inspired Carew can silence the Gunners? Additionally, how 'bout posting your predictions for weekly EPL fixtures, I am sure we would all enjoy a comparison and don't mind your "overanalyzation".. regardless of what Jeremy thinks!
Bobby – I would be picking a draw for Aston Villa and Arsenal. With Villa’s record this season it is hardly a outrageous pick. As for ongoing predictions I explained before that I don’t want it to become a prediction blog. However, the weekend preview blog last Friday seemed to fairly well received so I will try to post something every Friday – and maybe make a prediction now again for big games and/or possible surprises – so everyone has a chance to post pre and post game thoughts.
Bigdave disaster - You didn’t talk about the Celtic Milan game on the show and I was wondering what your thoughts were? (and not just if you think it was a penalty on Naka because your sane and you would have to think so, still bitter I thought we stole it from a better side with grit hard work and a bit of luck and a goal post or two)
Bobby – A brave show from Celtic but in the end just not up to the standard needed to get the better of Milan. It looked like a penalty to me and here was also the Maldini handball. But by all accounts Milan were clearly the better side.
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