I really do not know what to make of this. On a weekend when I don’t write a preview the blog gets two hundred plus postings!!! I don’t ever remember hitting a number as high as that even during the World Cup. Am I really needed? Thanks for all the contributions over the last three days – fantastic stuff.
The Gretna fairytale has turned into something much darker as reality set in.
Before step-overs in English football there were comb-overs and Ralph Coates had one of the most famous.
Spurs had some of their legendary players in attendance at the Carling Cup Final. But one legend was tragically struck down in his prime. As a youngster John White’s death was a “Kennedy moment” for me only months after the original “Kennedy moment.”
A piece on Sky’s Jeff Stelling who we see from time to time in North America.
Monday Topic This goes back to the sending off of Marco Materazzi on Tuesday for Inter against Liverpool after receiving two yellow cards. There seems to be a general consensus that by the rules the referee was probably correct but that the eventual punishment seemed harsh.
The “two soft yellow cards and you are off” predicament has been bothering me for a while. On one level tugging on a shirt or holding a player back is cheating and robbing the fans of excitement and entertainment. Same thing goes for time wasting. On another level does the punishment really fit the crime?
And then I found myself reading the latest copy of Champions. The final article is an interview with 1970 World Cup winner Tostao. One of the questions that he was asked was whether he saw the need for drastic rule changes in the game.
He suggested three areas. The first was am electronic chip in the ball to indicate whether or not the ball crossed the line. The second was that it should be forbidden to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper – not just with the feet.
The third suggestion I thought was the most interesting. He said, “I would limit the number of fouls by a player and by a team with a light punishment – perhaps forcing the offending player to be substituted.”
Perhaps that is an option in the case of “two soft yellow cards and you are off” predicament. Why not have the offending player substituted? He’s out of the game and the coach loses a possible substitution – but the team still has 11 men on the field.
If all the substitutions have been made then the team is forced to play with one less player. What do you think or do you have some other creative options?
Cup football dominates in Britain this weekend with semi finals of the FA Cup and Scottish Cup being played on Saturday and Sunday. Watford’s chances of putting one over on United might come down to United suffering a hangover from the 7-1 annihilation of Roma. The news that Ronaldo has signed a five year contract extension is great but not unexpected news for United fans.
Watford and Manchester United have only met three times in the FA Cup, with Watford winning the last meeting 1-0 in 1982. While United have faced Premiership sides each step of the way, Watford have only come across top flight opposition once and that was West Ham. Three of Watford’s four wins have been 1-0’s.
The other semi has Chelsea facing rugged Blackburn Rovers. On the face of it Chelsea have a more difficult task than Manchester United although Rovers’ form since reaching the last four has been pretty awful. However, Blackburn have only conceded one goal in five Cup games and in Brad Friedel they have a goalkeeper who is capable on the day of stymieing the best of teams. Chelsea can look to three wins over Blackburn this season, all achieved without a goal being conceded.
In Scotland Celtic are looking to make it to their 4th final in 6 years. First Division St. Johnstone (currently trailing last season’s Cup runners-up Gretna) are the opposition. These teams have met 5 times in the Scottish Cup with St Johnstone’s only win coming 71 years ago. St Johnstone have never appeared in a Scottish Cup Final and if they are to cause an upset it will likely be on account of ####mp;T international Jason Scotland who has scored 25 goals this season.
Hibs fans don’t need reminding that they last won the Scottish Cup in 1902 and are looking to make their second trip to Hampden Park for a final this season – they beat Kilmarnock in the CIS Cup Final a few weeks ago. The opposition is Dunfermline who finds themselves in a similar position to Watford although there are signs that the Pars may conspire to escape the clutches of relegation. Dunfermline beat Hibs 2-0 in the 1965 semi and went on and lost to Celtic in the final.
With United and Chelsea on Cup duty it is relegation match-ups front and centre in the Premiership. The biggest game is West Ham playing Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. West Ham are on a roll although it may still turn out to be too late. They have won their last three Premiership game including two away from home against Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal. On the other hand Sheffield United have lost three league games in a row, have only picked up one point in their last five games and face Manchester United and Charlton after this game. Without Rob Hulse who has contributed nearly one third of United’s goals it is difficult to see where United’s goals are going to come from.
Everton and Charlton are two of the hottest team sin the Premiership at the moment and are both unbeaten in their last six games. Charlton have had four consecutive clean sheets – 5 in their last 6 - and have reached a position where by they no longer have to hope that other results go there way in order to avoid the dreaded drop. However, remember that Charlton still have only one away win this season at that came at Portsmouth.
Other matches with relegation implications have Wigan at home to Spurs and Reading at home to Fulham who will have new manager Lawrie Sanchez in charge.
In MLS Kansas City make their 2007 league debut at DC United who lost their season opener last weekend in chilly (this is coming from someone in Winnipeg!!) Denver. DC looked very uninspired and perhaps suffering from their Champions League exertions against Chivas Guadalajara.
KC Wizards signed former Boro midfielder Carlos Marinelli although he is unlikely to see action for a couple of weeks because of fitness concerns. Marinelli, who is now 25, made his Premiership debut as a 17-year-old against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day 1999. In 43 starting and substitute appearance in the Premiership the Argentine midfielder scored three goals.
Other notable games include Toronto FC away to New England, and two teams that won their seasons openers play in Denver – Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire. For Toronto fans it will be a second look at their new team and particular attention will be paid to the effort over the full ninety minutes. The promise of last weekend’s first thirty minutes against Chivas only flattered to deceive as the side wilted badly in the last 2/3rds of the game.
Inter Milan are looking to continue their march to a second straight Serie A title when they face a badly slumping Palermo. Palermo are struggling with the loss of striker Amauri through injury and have taken only ten points from a possible thirty-six. A win over Palermo, and another against second-placed AS Roma next Wednesday, would bring the title for Inter with six games left.
Spain has some mouth watering encounters this weekend. After rolling over and dying in midweek against Chelsea, Valencia desperately needs to beat Sevilla in order to stay in contention for the title. A loss for Valencia would leave them at least 8 points behind the leaders with 8 games to go. Valencia have taken just four points from a possible 12 and will face Real Madrid away next week. In turn Sevilla must play Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on May 6.
Racing Santander versus Real Madrid has two of Spain’s form teams going head-to-head. Santander are coached by former Real Madrid reserve team coach Miguel Angel Portugal and are on a seven-match unbeaten streak with ex-Real player Pedro Munitis (4 goals) and giant Serbian Nikola Zigic (10 goals) proving to be a handful for opposition defenses. Santander have also moved into contention for a UEFA Cup spot
Real Madrid, despite so many drab performances, are very much in contention and continue to apply heat to league leaders Barcelona who find themselves 11 points off of last season’s pace. Barcelona leads Sevilla by a single point with Real Madrid a point further behind. Of the top three teams Barcelona looks to have the easiest run-in with a trip to Atletico Madrid (their bogey team) the most difficult challenge.
Enjoy the weekend action and feel free to comment!
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.
And one more thing. If you have questions or complaints or compliments about programming please contact Fox Soccer Channel or Fox Sports World Canada directly. I have no control over what the stations televise.
