Best performances…..

Last weekend Arsenal dismantled Bolton at the Reebok and Arsene Wenger left some notes in a hotel room. The notes related to the importance of the team ethic. Perhaps Wenger should have had the Hull City hotel of choice searched on Sunday. Any any wisdom from Hull manager Phil Brown on the importance of taking chances when they are presented might be worthwhile. Hull City showed incredible resilience, took their opportunities when they arose and rode some breaks to pull off a win that will long be recounted.


Columbus Crew played like a team at the top of its game in beating nearest Eastern Conference rivals New England Revolution 1-0 on Saturday evening. The Crew did not allow the Revolution to settle and develop a rhythm to their game. The winner came from a well-rehearsed corner kick and even after Frankie Hejduk was sent off for incurring a second yellow card the Crew maintained a grip on the game.

The Crew now has an eight point lead with four games left in the race for the Supporters Shield which is awarded to the team with the best regular season record. Could we not just call them the League Champions?


Best forgotten…..

Arsenal should have had the game against Hull signed, sealed and delivered in the first half.  But after failing to take their chances they paid a three point price for their lack of urgency and lost for only the second time at the Emirates.  

Consecutive losses for Bayern Munich will increase the pressure on Jurgen Klinsmann at Bayern Munich. This weekend’s loss at Hannover was their first loss there since the spring of 1988. Klinsmann chose to rest a number of starters and faces a big match against Lyon in Champions League on Tuesday.

All you need to know about Spurs’ abysmal defending was clearly illustrated on the opening goal of the game against Portsmouth.  A Pompey free kick was lazily handled by Jermaine Jenas in the penalty area and Jermain Defoe scored from the spot kick.

However, before the free kick  Jonathan Woodgate and Jamie O’Hara both had time to clear the ball (twice) and made a right dogs breakfast of it. The ball finally broke to a Portsmouth player who O’Hara needlessly fouled and that set up the free kick.

Inter Milan may have only lost 1-0 to city rivals Milan but for almost all the derby on Sunday they were second best and could have been third best if it was possible. Outplayed and outfought on the field and out-thought in the dugout.


Best goals….

Arsenal paid the price for backing off Geovanni and allowing a free shot from 25 yards out. The Brazilian hit the ball sweetly and with great power leaving Almunia absolutely helpless. He may not score at lot of goals but when he does they are generally in the memorable category.

Since signing for Fiorentina from Milan during the summer Alberto Gilardino has five goals with three coming in league play. All three goals have been clutch ones helping to deliver wins over Bologna, Genoa and a draw against Juventus. Saturday’s winner against Genoa was a classic piece of finishing with the Italian international striker creating half a yard of space so he could swivel and hook the ball into the far corner.

Luis Antonio Valencia does not get a lot of recognition playing in Wigan’s midfield. However, the Ecuador international rarely gives the ball up, he has good speed, is very comfortable on the ball and drops back when needed. And he has a terrific shot on him. The opening goal against City was a blistering drive that left City keeper Joe Hart rooted to the spot.


Best Players….

During his time in the Premiership George Boateng has had a habit of reserving his best performances for underdog and back-against-the-wall situations. He added another on Saturday for Hull against Arsenal at the Emirates. Now well into his 30s Boateng covered acres of space and was a constant barrier to Arsenal’s attacks.

A hat trick is always something to savor but when it comes when your team is in desperate need then it is even better. Colorado Rapids striker Conor Casey helped his team to only their third away win of the season and inflicted on New York Red Bulls their second home defeat. Casey scored twice in the first half – one a penalty kick – and with the score tied at 4-4 Casey notched a delightful and dramatic last minute winner.  

On Sunday in the Milan derby the midfield trio of Ambrossini, Seedorf and Gattuso provided the platform for Milan’s best performance of the season to date (yes better than beating Lazio 4-1). The #### never allowed Inter to settle and Seedorf in particular was outstanding.  
   

Goal feast……

Werder Bremen went nap for the second straight week – this time against newly promoted Hoffenheim. Last week Bremen beat Bayern Munich 5-2 but Saturday’s win was even more dramatic. Bremen led 4-1 but the visitors fought back to 4—4 and in the process Bremen’s centre back Mertesaker was sent off. Ten-man Bremen then got a late winner through Mesut Ozil.

Colorado Rapids and New York Red Bulls scored seven in a goal filled first half that saw the visiting Rapids holding a single goal edge after 45 minutes. The Red Bulls equalized with around fifteen minutes left only for the Rapids to score a 90th minute winner.


North Americans in Europe….

Canadian international Rhian Dodds moved from Kilmarnock to Dundee on loan late last week and made his debut in a 2-0 loss to St. Johnstone.

Celtic are ready to sign 6ft 6in American goalkeeper Dominic Cervi to a three year deal. Final paperwork is pending.


Biggest Howlers……

The award of a penalty to Manchester United by an ideally positioned Rob Styles was a real stunner. My first reaction was shock that he was going to book Ronaldo for “diving.” The penalty against Jlloyd Samuel (correction from originally named) Ricardo Gardner was an even bigger shock. It was a regular tackle with the defender playing the ball and the attacker falling over the out stretched leg of the defender.


A comment from Toronto FC GM Mo Johnston about signing a designated player ("preferably I'd like him to be Canadian") next season set off a flurry of Julian de Guzman to TFC from Deportivo La Coruna stories north of the border.

De Guzman is at the top of his game, playing regularly in midfield for Deportivo La Coruna and is surely drawing a sizeable wage packet each week. Although he has solid all round talent his strength is the defensive side of the game and goals have never come easily for him. Hardly the type of player you would sign to the designated category to start with. What’s more a move to TFC from Liga while in his prime would hardly constitute ambition.

Goodness knows who started the ludicrous rumour but it says a lot for the sorry state of the Canadian soccer media that the story grew legs rather than being dismissed with a chuckle.


Stat facts…..

Fernando Torres’ double on Saturday against Everton at Goodison was only his fifth and sixth Premiership goals scored away from Anfield out of his 27 goals in total. It also constituted his first Premiership double away from Anfield and gives him three goals in two appearances against Everton. 

West Brom’s win at Boro was their first in over 56 years. During that spell Boro had recorded 14 wins and 6 draws.

Saturday’s win over Arsenal was not the first time that Hull have finished on top – but it has not happened for a while. The last time? It was April 2, 1915 in front of a crowd of 8,000 with Hull winning 1-0  in a Division 2 game. For Arsenal it was a third straight loss after losing to Grimsby Town (1-0) and Huddersfield Town (3-0).  Arsenal finished in 5th spot that season. The game took place just two years after Arsenal opened Highbury and four years before the club was elected to the First Division ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester City’s poor run of form against Wigan in the Premiership continued on Sunday. In seven Premiership encounters Wigan have won five and drawn the other two.


What was said….

David Conn believes that Premiership clubs can avoid the financial ill-effects of the current crisis because of the long-term television rights deals and season ticket money. We will see.

David Hytner dissects the West Ham/Sheffield United affair.

George Caulkin looks at the appointment of Joe Kinnear as “interim” Newcastle manager.

John Giles reckons that Roy Keane should look for other other work if abuse from fans is getting to him.

Simon Kuper tells us that thirty-two years ago and within seven days of each other four outstanding players came into the world.

News here that UEFA is taking the issue of gambling and match fixing more seriously by creating a monitoring unit. Has anyone read "The Fix" by Declan Hill yet?

Ian Plenderleith believes that MLS needs a team to dominate and therefore become truly detested.


Coming up this week…..

Match day 2 for the Champions League and the second leg of the UEFA Cup first round. Now with the arrival of the Europa Cup this is the last time you will get to enjoy a UEFA Cup first round. And to think that I have just stopped referring to it as the Fairs Cup.


 

Henry14 - Q1 if you were Wenger would you buy Baptista for $20m for what he has done this season?

Q2 -  What do you make of Southgate playing a week side because personally l never fancy them at Old Trafford and they are not safe from Charlton

Q3 - l see Bendtner going ahead of Adebayor in the ranks because he is by far a better player than Adebayor. He has been likened to Ibrahimovic but my question to you is Ibrahimovic probably the best player in Serie A.

Q 4 - What do you think about Alessandro Rossina of Torino?

Bobby – Q1 – I would not. Even though I believe players need time to settle down I don't think Baptista hasn’t shown enough to be worth that kind of money.

Q2 – I think Southgate did the right thing. Charlton will not catch them and even if they did three clubs will still finish below Boro. They have been playing well and they have to play West Ham, Watford, Villa, Wigan and Fulham out of the 8 games left. They only have to get two more wins and they will be safe. There are a lot of potential six pointers between teams in the bottom half and they will take points off each other.

Q3 – How many goals to you think Adebayor would have scored in the Championship this season? More than Bendtner I would wager. Adebayor has proven himself in the Premiership; something that Bendtner has yet to do. I wouldn’t consider Ibrahimovic the best player in Serie A until he manages to play consistently well two seasons in a row.

Q4 – In the Torino games I have watched this season (only a couple) he has not stood out.

Verbal97 - Rafa Benitez thinks that the larger teams should be able to have a reserve team play competitvely in the Championship so that the younger players can get first team experience (like they do in Spain). Do you think this is a good idea? Do you think there is any chance that this will ever be implemented?

Bobby – It would require a major shift of opinion in England and I don’t think it has a hope in hell of happening. You can look to the continent but it is not a fair comparison. No other second flight league on the continent attracts the size of crowds that we see in the Championship. Such a move would complete devalue the Championship – which of course might be what the Premiership is interested in doing!

Venti_Vidi_Vici - I find the refereeing in England to be very inconsistent. As this particular incident clearly illustrates, if a defender makes a sliding tackle in the penalty area, he absolutely has to get the ball. If he misses, which Woodgate and Carvalho both did yesterday, it’s going to be a penalty whether there is much contact or not, because the striker is going to go down – it is just how football is played. I don’t understand why neither was booked for taking down a player who was through on goal.
I make a distinction between diving and accentuating. Ronaldo basically accentuated minor contact; in other words, took advantage of a mistimed amateurish tackle by Woodgate. I don’t blame Ronaldo; he did what any other striker should do in that situation. In both cases IMO penalties were correctly awarded.

Buffytvs - Why is it that suddenly every penalty call is labeled 'controversial'? Woodgate fouled Ronaldo in the area -- penalty. Tevez was brought down in the area -- penalty. Boateng handled in the area -- penalty. What the *&%$ is controversial about any of these decisions? I've seen far more clear penalties NOT called this season than soft ones given (although no-one seems to be calling the call against Vidic on Saturday 'controversial', I still don't know what he's supposed to have done).

MasMaz - I love Ronaldo, but he starts and stops in his run-up taking penalties and more takers are doing it, unfair for keepers and they should crack down on this, and they will when some minnow does it against one of the big four.

Venti_Vidi_Vici - The rule of the law with regards to taking a penalty is once the ref blows the whistle, and the player starts his run to the ball, he may not stop. Some try to stutter step or slow down, to try and get the goal to commit one way. I've only ever seen a ref order a retake once, but I really did think the Ronaldo penalty should've been retaken because he did stop and start.

Gongatore - I find all this nonsense about "the rule of law" quite amusing. Keepers aren't supposed to do jumping jacks on the goal line whilst awaiting a PK yet a lot of them do including PC yesterday. CR does what many PK takers do. Enough with the rule of law rubbish. What I believe this is ultimately all about is what several posters already stated, a hatred of CR and perhaps even Manu and just sour grapes. And for all you whinging England fans Wayne Rooney alone is responsible for his red card in WC 2006.

In the end, hate is such a powerful and useless word and emotion. Reserve it for really evil things in life or people that truly deserve it not athletes of any creed or color. Let's stick to respectful debate with humor and reason.

Bobby – As you can see a ton of comments on penalty kicks this week. I agree with Buffytvs – anytime a penalty is given  it seems to become a controversial decision. Both penalties on Monday were dead certs as was the one given against Boateng a week past Saturday. I thought the only element of controversy was the fact that Ricardo Carvalho was not sent off.

As for the stutter step – it is completely legal from what I understand. I cannot see anything in the rules that outlaws it - or stopping for that matter. Goalkeepers are entitled to do anything on and along their goal line as long as they are facing the kicker – so mooning is definitely illegal.

As a final note on Ronaldo - Rooney situation. As Jeremy pointed out on Monday who was the first player over to confront Morrison after he whacked Ronaldo on Monday? It was Wayne Rooney.

Henry14 - You get the feeling that the new date for Chelsea and Man Utd on May 9 there is a high chance that Chelsea will start with a guard of honour against Man. U. because if the gape is still six points and the goal difference then United can afford to play a second string. Chelsea will need to go to the Emirates on a Saturday and if they do not win united are already popping the champagne. Do you think this is a physiological blow for Chelsea since Mourinho is always saying it’s a pity they do not play now?

Bobby – A potentially killer blow I would say. Chelsea wants to get at United ASAP in the hope that they can beat them, reduce the gap to three (really four because of goal difference) and hope that United folds.

Henry14 - What do you make of David Navarro 7 month ban from all football? l feel it a ridiculous ban, because there is no parity. You look at the Betis and Seville fight and it was not given such a harsh ban, Kolo 's fight , the Schalke guy who punched Schneider, do you think that UEFA and FIFA run some weird dictatorship on the way they had bans because it is unnecessary.

Bobby – Navarro is lucky that he will be allowed to play before 2009. I can’t see how the Navarro incident can be compared to the others. He was a substitute who didn’t even play. Of course that doesn’t mean that UEFA and FIFA are not some weird dictatorship!

realmadridccfan - Q1. Out of all the big European teams in Euro 2008 qualifying that are in trouble (Italy, Spain, England, Portugal), which do you think will be under the gun to get results as well as which do you see gaining/losing the most in this round of qualifiers?

Q2. While I like Inter Milan's incredible form in the Italian Serie A, as they will likely win the title, when they eventually win the title, how legitimate of a title win will this be for Inter? Would you but a big asterisk beside this one considering the match fixing scandal from last season affected this season's play?

Q3. What do you think needs to be done to fix the constant "crises" at Real Madrid? Is it time that Real Madrid stopped the idea of buying a "galaticos" per season and focused on their youth academy to build their team?

Bobby – Q1 – All are under great pressure. It would say Spain is in the worst position. I still see Italy qualifying as well as England and Portugal.
Q2 – Inter’s forthcoming scudetto will be well earned. Even after accounting for points deducted they will finish comfortably ahead of anyone else.
Q3 – The era of buying "galaticos" was gone the moment that Capello took over. The plan this season was to shore up the side with signings such as Cannavaro, Emerson and Van Nistelrooy – the short term plan. The longer term plan you can see with the likes of Gago and Higuain. The mess that Perez created is not going to fixed in a season or perhaps even two.

Gongatore - Do you think it's time that FIFA really starts to assess the amount of matches clubs play as I believe the sport is suffering (primarily in Europe) as a result of too many competitions? Or will FIFA just run to the bank and disregard the integrity of the game?

Bobby – I think you have to consider that it has been Sepp Blatter and FIFA that have been pushing for 16 team leagues – although on the other hand they have also “created” the FIFA Club World Cup. If the ruling bodies and the clubs were serious about reducing the number of games then I think it could be easily done. Sixteen team leagues, a straight knock out format for the Champions League/UEFA Cup along with smaller European and World Cup qualifying groups could knock 12-15 games a season off the schedule for top teams. Unfortunately both sides (FIFA/UEFA on one side – the clubs on the other) have insatiable appetites for cash and they expect the other side to reduce the games under their control. Bottom line is don’t expect changes anytime soon. 

djnima - Was wondering if you have any lesser known young talent that you see making an impact next season. Are there any South American or European young players you see making a big impact on FSC?

Also, though there has been speculation that Henry would leave Arsenal soon, you have stated that you don't see Henry leaving anytime soon. With the amount of money Arsenal are shelling out for his contract, when do you see him finally leaving Arsenal?

Bobby – I’m looking forward to the Under-20 World Championship in Canada this summer. The last edition gave us our first good look at Lionel Messi and it has over the years provided a stage for some great players to emerge. As far as the EPL is concerned there is a player called Giles Barnes at Derby County (they have a great chance to move up from the Championship) who has been garnering rave reviews. I have seen very little of him but I have heard from a mate in the UK that he is going to be a star.

If Henry is to leave Arsenal it will be with a year left on his existing deal which is up I believe in 2010.