I said on Monday that I would not post a seperate blog with responses but I could not keep out over the last two days so here it is in one shot.
Henry14 - Q1 Where do you think Man Utd. is getting all this money given their debt and, will this affect their spending in the next two seasons or so? Q2 How do you fit Tevez and Rooney in the same team? Q3 What is your take on Gallas’ comments and do you see him in an Arsenal shirt come August? Q4 Who do you think has made the best deals or gains in the transfer market and who are the losers so far?
Bobby – A1. It depends on how they budgeted within their business plan in terms of revenue from runs in the various competitions. I would have thought that the Glazer business plan was not predicated on winning the Premiership, making it to the FA Cup Final and reaching the semi final of the Champions League. You also have to appreciate the increase in TV money. Without knowing all these things know can say. A2. The last time I checked Tevez played for West Ham and Rooney for Manchester United. Has Rooney signed for West Ham? A3 – I don’t place too much weight on what a player says in an media interview. A4 – With over seven weeks left before the transfer window closes I would estimate that less than a third of the deals that will be done, have been done. Tagging winners and losers at this stage is like analyzing a marathon after five miles of a 26 mile race.
CIAO - Can you please shed some light on the situation that Inter and Milan are in. What are the investigations about? Is the investigation also the reason why neither of the Milan sides have been making moves in the transfer market? Is there a chance either team could be relegated to Serie B?
Bobby – The sporting sanctions were imposed last summer and as far as I understand they are final. What is going on just now is charges from a criminal investigation that may lead to a number of punishments – including jail time. I don’t see why the either of the Milan sides are delaying transfer moves. It has probably more to do with fact that the Spanish season has been over for less than a month plus many of the South American players are involved in the Copa America. There are seven weeks still to go – that is a long time.
ummufan - On the Brookings article-no mention of youth development in Italy or Spain-can you shed light on that? Also any thoughts on the US and whether we stick with ODP or encourage MLS teams to create academies or go another direction (outsource to Europe).
Bobby – The best book I have read that contrasts attitudes in Italy and England towards the game and in particular player development is “The Italian Job” by Gianluca Vialli and Gabriele Marcotti. I think the most critical element at play is that in England there is an underlying distrust of coaching and coaching as a profession. The idea that if you played the game at a high level you can teach the game still pervades in the media and with fans.
In terms of the route to follow in the US I don’t see it as one or another. There is a role to be played by every level from the grassroots up to the national team. The secret is – I think – is to make sure that everything is focused on developing the correct qualities and in turn that each segment knows and understands how they fir into the overall plan.
Ulsterson - Regarding the Brooking/Jackson article and with the understanding you have done some coaching, I was wondering if you had some suggestions on reference material for coaching youth teams. I and some other ageing players in my area are starting to "make the transition into management" that our knees, lungs, speed and waning reaction/recovery time have begun demanding of us. We feel this will be a fun way to give back to the sport while preparing us for our own future kids. Also, we need something to help the ego bruising (if one of these 24yr old punks calls me “sir” one more time . . . !!) march of age while waiting to reach renewed youth in the masters league!
While I feel more than confident (especially from the stool in my favorite watering hole, or on this blog!) in my expert armchair analysis and ability to guide, both technically and tactically, the top adult players and clubs in the world... ahem, cough... I have no idea how to go about passing on our vast and valuable knowledge to the youth. All advice on the subject is welcome, as four of us (with the usual act, then think mentality - hey, at least we still act young) have signed up to coach this fall.
Bobby – I have three books that I would recommend. (There are a lot more out there but these three are ones that I have read a few times.) The first one was published originally in 1969 and might be out of print. The version I have is from 1975 and is called “Soccer Coaching the Modern Way” by Eric Batty.
The other two are from the “Dutch School”. “The Coaching Philosophies of Louis van Gaal and the Ajax Coaches” by Henny Kormelink and Tjeu Seeverens published in 1997. The last one was published in 2001 “Teambuilding – the road to success” by Rinus Michels. Michels is more focused on senior sides.
When you are ready to jump in a coach a youth team I would recommend insisting on having some one appointed as manager to run the administrative and off field organizational side of it. The other recommendation is to develop your “philosophy” before you get involved. Are you there to help kids develop skills, win trophies, be better little people? It would great if these pieces were all linked but they rarely are.
It is almost one year since my first blog entry just before the start of last summer’s World Cup. Here is your opportunity to share your thoughts. Is their anything you would change, add, dump, change the frequency of? For those of you who read but don’t post you can forward your suggestions to fsr@mts.net .
Thank you all again for taking the time to visit the blog.
The Times says that Wenger has been given more transfer money than he says he needs this summer.
Alan Campbell describes an outbreak of sanity at Tynecastle. Unfortunately for Hearts' fans it didn't help them to qualify for the UEFA Cup as Aberdeen ensured their spot on the final day of the Scottish season.
Patrick Barclay on Chelsea’s debt to the late Boris Yeltsin.
Duncan Castles on one of the world’s great players – in a number of positions – Michael Essien.
David Lacey asks why defenders are so often overlooked when it comes the time to dish out awards.
Stephen Brunt describes Toronto FC’s biggest star – BMO Field.
From a regular blog contributor Flashman – the arrival of Toronto FC.
A regular corresponder Michael Carlson brought up an interesting idea last week. He pointed out that a lot of fans record games to watch later but often don’t really know if the game is worth watching or a real dog. The blog community constitutes a wide range of soccer tastes and hours of game watching each week.
So if you have seen a game this week that you consider a “must-see” let’s hear about and conversely if you suffered through ninety minutes of tedium here is your chance to issue a consumer warning.
On a weekend when Lyon, Celtic and Inter sew up their respective league championships, PSV and Barcelona decide to make what looked to be straight forward tasks much more difficult.
A late equalizer by Utrecht against PSV means that a win for AZ Alkmaar next week against Excelsior will give AZ their first title since 1981. It could be the first time in 26 seasons that the big three of Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord have failed to lift the title. Quite the triumph for Louis Van Gaal.
Robert Pires gains a measure of revenge for being substituted in last season’s Champions League Final against Barcelona after Jens (short for Jennifer I understand) Lehmann was sent off. Pires scores the first goal and Barcelona’s miserable away form continues. They still lead Seville by a point and Real Madrid by two (and Sevilla and Real Madrid have still to play each other) but you have to think that Barca’s inability to kill off the chasing pack only gives the likes of Sevilla and Real Madrid more hope and confidence.
Cristaino Ronaldo and Shunsuke Nakamura pick up player of the year awards in England and Scotland.
And finally the last word goes to Nigel Winterburn the former Arsenal full back and colour commentator for Saturday's Manchester United vs. Boro match. "Rio touches his groin and shakes his head."
In a number of provinces in Canada we can bet legally on sports courtesy of the government. The down side is the Russian Mob would probably give better odds than we can get on what is known as Pro Line. Included on Pro Line is the Premiership. Over the couple of years I have got into the habit of dropping by the local store on the way home from doing the Friday Fox Soccer Report.
My weekly wager is very small but it does add something extra to the weekend's soccer action. I try to avoid the early Saturday game because if you get that one wrong then your are screwed. Luckily this weekend was one of the few occasions when the govermment gets to return some of that money to me. I picked six games and all came good. The picks (all to win) were Bolton, Charlton, Manchester City, Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham.
Here are some articles that caught my eye over the weekend.
Stewart Fisher with a piece on Paul Dalglish of The Houston Dynamo. Apparently Paul’s father was quite a good player. Unfortunately Mr. Fisher can’t get the name of the Dynamo’s coach correct!
Gabriele Marcotti takes a look at how Roma have changed under the very underrated Luciano Spalletti. Totti has never been rated by the English media. I wonder if that will still be the case in a few weeks time.
Patrick Barclay takes a look at a player born just miles from Old Trafford who is out to stop Manchester United.
Steve Tongue points out that seven of the eight remaining Champions league teams are skippered by home-town players.
A little piece on Northern Ireland hero David Healey.
Finally a piece from Hugh McIlvanney on the behaviour of some England fans in Barcelona last Wednesday. It includes this stiletto - “All their efforts to masquerade as passionate patriots driven to condemnatory fury by the inadequacies of McClaren and his men could not begin to conceal the revolting truth that most of the snarling, bellowing viciousness came from look-at-me exhibitionists so absorbed in masturbation of their emotions that their favourite insult had an autobiographical ring.”
A big week coming up with the Champions League and UEFA Cup taking centre stage.
Gordon McQueen’s chalkboard is no more sympathetic to the embattled Steve.
James Lawton has had enough and calls time on second-choice Steve.
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been kicked off the Togo national team. The last time Adebayor went head-to-head with coach Stephen Keshi the coach was fired. Keshi has returned and this time Adebayor has gone.
Gabriele Marcotti on the long road that is Euro 2008 qualifying.
It looks as if Marseille will not be sold after all.
Rob Hughes on the next Argentine superstar – this one is only eleven years old!
Paul Gardner on the marked absence of star signings post-Beckham.
David Conn on the paradox of Manchester City and Premiership riches.
Robert Philip on former Ipswich great Kevin Beattie.
Trevor Brocking bemoans the lack of investment by Premiership clubs in English youngsters.
Gabriele Marcotti sees similarities between Helen Mirren and Milan – honestly! You read it right - Helen Mirren not St. Mirren.
And Marcotti again, this time on Ivan Klasnic’s need for a second kidney transplant.
The youtube goal - Yuri Zhirkov’s goal for CSKA Moscow against Hamburg wasn’t bad.
The blog was fizzing last week – thank you Flashman!! It was however, getting a bit personal at times and if we can keep it to opinions it would be appreciated.
And seeing that we have the Champions League this week here is something to consider. Since the second group stage was scrapped and replaced by a knock out round only 6 out of 24 ties have been won by the team playing at home first.
Given that I have never read a book by Ashley Cole, David Beckham or Frank Lampard, I can safely say that I have never read a soccer book that I didn't like. With the holidays approaching and the possibility of some free time being available here is a list of the books that I've acquired over last twelve months.
Any of you have other books that you might want to recommend?
“Foul”, By Andrew Jennings, published by HarperCollins.
“The Italian Job”, by Gianluca Vialli and Gabriele Marcotti, published by Random House.
“Behind the Curtain:Football in Eastern Europe”, by Jonathan Wilson, published by McArthur & Co.
“The Bonnie Prince-My Football Life”, by Charlie Cooke and Mark Knight, published by Mainstream Publishing Company.
"Best and Edwards,” by Gordon Burns, published by Faber and Faber Ltd.
"The Best of Charlie Buchan's Football Monthly,” edited by Simon Inglis, published by English Heritage.
"Forza Italia", by Paddy Agnew, published by Random House.
"’78 How a nation lost the World Cup," by Graham McColl, published by Headline Book Publishing.
"Morbo-the story of Spanish football," by Phil Ball, published by W.S.C. Books Ltd.
"The Leaguers -the making of professional football in England, 1900 – 1939," by Matthew Taylor, published by Liverpool University Press.
"Once in a Lifetime-the extraordinary story of the New York Cosmos," by Gavin Newsham, published by Atlantic books.
"tor!-the story of German football," by Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenberger, published by W. S.C. Books Ltd.
"The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup," edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey, published by HarperCollins books.
"The Lost Babes-Manchester United and the forgotten victims of Munich," by Jeff Connor, published by HarperSport.
"Sir Alf," by Leo McKinstry, published by HarperSport.
"Football and Fascism-the national game under Mussolini," by Simon Martin, published by Berg Publishers.
"Jackie Milburn-a man of two halves," by Jack Milburn, published by Mainstream Sport.
"Colin Bell-reluctant hero," by Colin Bell with Ian Cheeseman, published by Mainstream Publishing.
"My Father and other Working-Class Football Heroes," by Gary Imlach, published by Yellow Jersey Press.
"Garrincha,” by Ruy Castro, published by Yellow Jersey Press.
"Highbury - The Story of Arsenal in N. 5", by Jon Spurling, published by Orion Books.
Excerpts from the Ference Puskas biography published in 1999.
As an aside, many of the obituaries that ran after the great man’s death contained an error or two. A number referenced his part in winning five consecutive European Cups with Real Madrid when in fact he did not sign for Madrid until the 1958/59 season. He was suspended for almost two years by UEFA after failing to return to Hungary after the 1956 Uprising. The other often misreported item was the reference to Hungary as the first foreign team to beat England at home. Hungary was the first foreign team to beat England at Wembley but the Republic of Ireland beat England in 1949 in an international game held in Liverpool at Goodison Park.
Alan Campbell on the debacle that is Heart of Midlothian and the de####able treatment of Captain Steven Pressley.
Gabriele Marcotti suggests a major revamp of domestic leagues outside of the present big 5.
David Bond says that a new owner for West Ham will be confirmed very soon.
Steven Morris writes about the smallest league in the world.
This is going to some week what with round 5 of the Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday followed by a weekend that includes top-of-the-table action in Italy and England. Palermo plays Inter Milan and Chelsea will go to Old Trafford next Sunday for the biggest game of the Premiership season so far. More on Manchester United and Chelsea later this week.
We will start off with a few articles that caught my eye over the weekend.
Paul Kelso on the mechanics of the Burns recommendations.
Kevin McCarra on acceptance of the Burns Report by the FA.
John Carlin reckons that David Beckham’s time at Real Madrid is drawing to an end despite talk of a new contract.
Meanwhile Roddy Forsyth believes that Beckham could be Parkhead bound.
Gabriele Marcotti tells us why the reduction in the suspensions of three Italian teams was “inevitable”. His point about this being only the tip of an iceberg is well taken. Governance – FIFA, the Federations, the Associations, the Clubs – is going to be one of the most contentious issues of the next ten years and the relationship of international sport – not just football – and domestic legal systems is going to provide a lot of lawyers with a lot of work.
The Milan derby was an incredible game of football. Inter played Milan off the park in the first half and by the time Materazzi put Inter 4-1 ahead it looked as if Inter was on easy street. However, the Matrix and controversy are closely acquainted and his second yellow card for excessive celebration meant Inter was reduced to 10 men. Milan then piled forward and came ever so close to pulling level.
Before the FSWR on Friday we started messing around with unlikely book or DVD titles and the authors, or other improbable associations. Some examples might be: “The Jack Warner School for Ethics and Transparency in Football.” Landon Donovan – “How to Land a Job in Europe and Prosper.” “The Kieron Dyer Book of Fitness” Filippo Inzaghe “Balancing in the Penalty Box – I Can Show You How.” “The North, South, East and West Beach Diet” by Ronaldo. Sam and Craig Allardyce – “Family Business – the Secret of Our Success.’
Andrew Warshaw has an article on Just Fontaine who scored 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup.
Ewan Murray talks to ex-Scottish international and scorer of one of football's great World Cup goals Archie Gemmill. Gemmill sees parallels with Scotland's 1978 disaster and England's recent endeavour.
Writers from the Observer combine to produce their best and worst of the 2006 World Cup.
“United we stand, divided we fall” – England players begin to rip into Sven.
Denis Campbell writes about the task South Africa faces in meeting the standards set by Germany.
Gabriele Marcotti looks at one of the stories that will dominate soccer post-World Cup.
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.
Thank you to all who take time to visit this blog and especially to those of you who post your comments and thoughts.
PS - If you have questions please post them on the regular Monday blog. I am unable to answer e mails posted to the inbox on this site.
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