I am going to start working on a Euro 2008 preview and so their will be no formal Speakers' Corner. In the meantime here are some outstanding questions from the weekend preview blog.

Zuco2 - Could you please say a big "Thanks" to Machado and Peacock for mentioning the protests against the Bosnian football federation in Sarajevo, yesterday on the FSR. Being Bosnian, this news really affects me and I hope UEFA takes action against the people who sacked Bosnian coach : Meho Kodro.

Do you have any opinion on this story?

Bobby – The FSR crew read the blog from time to time so they will pick up your thanks. However, I would not hold my breath waiting for UEFA to intervene at take action against the Bosnian FA. That will not happen. The best that might happen is UEFA offering to help mediate but that would be as deep as they would get into it.

LosAngelesChelseaFan -  I really enjoyed all the league playoffs. What a contrast between the teams and how great for the minnows to be at Wembley. Doncaster was a revelation and played some classy football in their win against Leeds. 5 years ago Leeds were 114 places ahead of them. Amazing. The Stockport County semi final on other hand was the most antiquated long ball garbage that would be beaten by any 10 or 9 kids from a Sao Paolo back street. 'ull really won against the run of play for me.

Bobby, others, did you watch? What did you make of it and the promoted teams?

Speaking of other channels... I was changing channels and hit the usually unwatchable Galaxy on HDNet (DirecTV) just as Xavier's usual garbage defending allowed the first goal. If you haven't seen it yet, Beckham scored the final goal from 60 yards into an empty net and generally played pretty well. The 16x9 format more than the quality HD makes such a difference to watching the play unfold. If only we had it for the European leagues.

Bobby – I watched both Saturday and Sunday play-off games. I thought it was great that after 30 minutes on Sunday the teams realized that they were also permitted to kick the spherical object that had found a way on to the field….not just the players who were wearing a different coloured shirt. Hull will struggle to survive unless a miracle happens. Doncaster has a better chance but will still need a few breaks. They might be the sort of team that get off to a flyer and then fall back.

As for the LAG –Wizards game I did watch it on Saturday night and thought the first half rarely rose above the level of putrid.  The second half however was very entertaining. The LAG lifted the pace of their game (Donovan and Beckham worked very hard) and overall it was worthwhile sticking it out. The result was in doubt until the last minute. Watching the HD Net games on a Saturday night is something I look forward to.

Craigy_f – DC Utd and Moreno taking penalties.


Bobby - DC United. A very different style from last season and even ta difference from the start of this season. It looks to me that allowing Gomez to go has meant the close passing-constantly playing in little triangles all over the park style has gone and they are playing a more pressing game. If I had my life dependant on a penalty taker in MLS I would choose Jaime Moreno without a doubt.

 gregZ - Just something that’s been bothering me a little Bobby. How do you rate the commentating styles of John Helm and Martin Tyler? I could have sworn Helm was the number 1 guy or something. He got to oversee the opening and closing games at WC 2006. Apparently Tyler is rated best though.

Bobby – I enjoy listening to both Tyler and Helm. I believe that Tyler has a deal with Sky but also freelances while I believe that John Helm (internationally anyway) is entirely freelance.

John Helm does a lot of host broadcaster work at the major tournaments. By that I mean he is the English play by play voice that the host broadcaster will provide to international rights holders who do not have their own play by play voice or want to have a voice from the stadium rather than someone sitting in the studio back home.

Tyler’s pacing of comments and knowledge is fantastic while I appreciate John Helm’s style that is often understated. Another voice I enjoy is Steve Barnyard who pops up covering various leagues and World Cups.

Wiscoleeds – Gutted about Leeds...the Donny end was very empty. But we will be back next season...no admin, no -15 points, a decent manager, a true pre-season to prepare, 28,000 supporters a week, look for Leeds to have the best record in the football league next year.
Good luck to Doncaster and Hull...what a great strike from Windass.

Bobby - Another year may not be a bad thing. It will give Gary McAllister a full season to work with the team and I would not bet against successive promotions.

I will be back later this week with the first part of the Euro 2008 preview.

Henry14 - Q1. l think an arsenal take over is really on the cards, it might not happen as early as some reports suggest but rumours that some Russian guy and a whole lot of Dubai guys will not go unchallenged. With the money the share holders want and all the stadium liabilities, l really can not see the American guy as a possible bidder, because anyone to take over Arsenal should be prepared to lose and then gain in the long run. What is your take on that?
Q2 l think Ade is made to look like a villain, but l think the guys who run African soccer embezzle quite a large sum of money and to have players not paid for two years is a shame. l think the problem would occur even with England but because they take care of that it’s under control. If any civil servant can go on strike why can't footballers. l really think African football really has to change in administrations.

Bobby – Q1. All clubs are sold eventually but I don’t see Arsenal being sold in the near term.
Q2 A total lack of organization has been major drawback for a lot of African countries and until it is fixed an African country will never win the World Cup.

Bigdave disaster - I’m late in writing this but your comment about Portuguese reporters "falling down" was amazing and I'm curious if you got a letter from the Portuguese associated press? or were you simply fined by FSCFA for disparaging remarks?

With the television contract now signed by the EPL and the mess in Italy do you see the EPL becoming the highest paying league in Europe? and is that why we began to here all the rumors about a weekly player salary cap?

Bobby – Carlos did threaten to send me to the stands. As far as I know the Ppremiership is the highest paid league in the soccer world. You will find some players in other leagues getting higher salaries but I doubt that the average salary would be higher.

Mistafantastic – What's your opinion of one, Landon Donovan? It frustrates me to the core that he can play as brilliantly as he did Sunday, but when he's needed most he folds up. His lack of heart & commitment to stick it out in Europe is another sore subject & NOW comes the news that he doesn't want to play in either the Gold Cup or Copa America this summer so he can stay & help the Galaxy! With all the great young talent the US has now, why must they continue to force him down our throats as the "Golden Boy" of US footy? Any opinions? Thanks!

Bobby – Donovan on his day can be a match-winner at any level. However, because he has done it in the past then many expect him to do it everytime and he is never going to be a player of that caliber. He has fantastic pace, he is a good finisher and tactically he appears to be sound. Inconsistency will be the hallmark of his career but because he is a potential game breaker he will always be a first choice for the USA. “Mercurial” might be a good description of him which is a lot better than being an “enigma.” A Scottish commentator once described former internationalist Jim Bett as an enigma and went on to say that it was just a nice way of saying that Bett had played a good game about five years before and everyone was waiting for him to have another.

Realmadridccfan - 1. What is your favourite and least favorite play by play soccer commentator right now? 2. With the Copa America this summer, what do you think are the best hopes for Mexico and the United States at this tournament? 3. Do you think that Jose Mourinho is actually done like dinner at Chelsea and move in years end to Real Madrid CF?

Bobby – 1. Favourite is Martin Tyler by a country mile. Another I enjoy listening to because he has a very understated delivery is John Helm. As for the least favourite it would have to be Ian Darke – the man must wake up each morning in mid-sentence, he never shuts-up.

2. I am assuming Mexico will send a full team and will qualify for the knock out stage. It looks as if the USA will be hampered by sending a squad without any MLS players but with up to three teams qualifying then one win can almost put you through. in passing I did hear that Argentina will be taken a squad made up completely of home based players to Copa America.

3. My money is on a Mourinho move during the summer but on the other hand I would not be surprised if he stayed either. When he moved to Chelsea he made mention of coaching in Italy one day and I think that is a more likely destination for him than Spain.  

The British Sport Book Awards were announced yesterday. In the Best Autobiography category Paul McGrath, Back from the Brink was the winner. Leo McKinstry's Sir Alf won the  
Best Football Book.

Under 20 update from Tuesday evening - Hyundai Under 20 men's national team presented by Yahoo! Canada 1-2 Scotland. And we wonder why the European media make fun of North American soccer!!