Even though the Champions League Final on Wednesday is commonly regarded as the conclusion to the European season there are still games of some importance this weekend. The French and Scottish Cup Finals are scheduled and final promotion spots will be decided in England.
The league play offs go off in rapid succession Saturday, Sunday and Monday with the the last promotion spot to the Premiership being decided first.
Hull City and Bristol City will play the biggest game in their club histories for the right to be showered with vast amounts of money, and to be installed as next season’s Premiership relegation favourites.
No matter the outcome history in one form or another will be made.
Should Bristol win out then the father and son combo of Gary and Lee Johnson will have won promotion from all four divisions. Manager Gary will match Neil Warnock’s having initially helped Yeovil gain promotion from the Conference and then the former Division 3. Last season it was Bristol stepping up from League One and now a very real possibility of the biggest step of all.
If Bristol do win then son Lee will actually go one better than his Dad. He will be the first player ever to gain promotion through the four divisions all the way to the top.
On the other hand Hull City have been around for over a century but have never made it to the top flight. What’s more on Saturday this will be the team’s first ever appearance at Wembley – old or new.
On Sunday either Doncaster Rovers or Leeds United will join Swansea and Nottingham Forest in next season’s Championship. Both games this season finished in 1-0 wins for the away side so goals may be in short supply.
Doncaster may have been formed nearly 130 years ago but there has not been a lot to celebrate in that time. A few lower league titles and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy two years ago has been about it. When relegated a decade ago they did set a high water mark for league losses – 34.
Just after the relegation chairman Ken Richardson decided that there was a way out of the club’s financial difficulties. It involved an attempt to set fire to the club’s ground and to collect the insurance money. Just like the club Richardson went down – to prison rather than to the Conference.
Zuco2 - Seriously Bobby, you're pretty good at predictions.
Bobby – Well if you mean I was seriously out to lunch on the relegated teams then you are right! My La Liga predictions were not much better.
Thierry Henry - 1. Whose career do you think has sunken lower? Beckham playing an exhibition game somewhere in Alberta against the Vancouver Whitecaps, or Ronaldo trying to pick up a tran-prostitute in Rio de Janeiro?
2. I've heard there is an exhibition match between CANADA v. BRAZIL on May 31st. But to my amazement, the game is set to be played in Seattle! Did I hear it correctly? What do you make of it? Shouldn't the game be played somewhere in Canada?
3. Your predictions for Euro 2008 would be appreciated.
Bobby – 1. I never really considered picking up transvestites to be a career but if you say so. And give Ronaldo some credit he did avoid some late tackles.
2. Or Brazil. It is a US based promotion.
3. I have a Euro preview planned – now all I have to do is actually write it.
Heterotopian - Can we have your proper Premiership XI, allowing for multiple selections per club?
Bobby – (4-2-3-1); James (Portsmouth); Sango (Arsenal), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Vidic (Man Utd), Evra (Man Utd); Mascherano (Liverpool), Barry (Aston Villa); Young (Aston Villa), Fabregas (Arsenal), Ronaldo (Man Utd); Torres (Liverpool).
Albertagooner -Given Diarra's performance in the FA Cup, I'm wondering whether Wenger may have inserted a clause giving first refusal rights on repurchasing him. I'd put him in the same bracket with Flamini. Any thoughts on this?
Bobby – I am sure that if there had been such a clause something would have leaked out by now. I can’t think of one player that Wenger has signed again after letting go so I would be surprised if he starts now. Not his style, particularly after Diarra wanting to leave. What I find interesting is Diarra wanted away from Chelsea, wanted away from Arsenal and now we hear stories that he is interested in moving to a bigger club than Portsmouth.
Wiscoleeds - Leeds best 3 players since 1960's 1. Billy Bremner 2. Jackie Charlton 3. Johnny Giles (although Gordon Strachan comes close)
Bobby – No place for Eddie Gray?
Redfan4ever - The season is done and dusted and a long summer awaits with two months of transfer wheeling and dealing to watch over while we find some sun somewhere. What's your off the cuff, gut feeling for the Premiership next season? I will qualify the question somewhat by adding the following: Which of this seasons survivors will struggle next term and do you think any of the three teams coming up will survive against those that have struggled this year? Do you think the top will change much?
Obviously we will have slightly altered opinions in August when we know who has been bought and sold, but most of us must be wondering already how next season will go so I thought I would ask you here.
Bobby – I thought at the beginning of the season that there were a lot of poor teams in the Premiership and I don’t see that really changing next season. Look for six or seven teams to permanently hover around the relegation zone.
At the top I am hopeful that it might actually become a little tighter especially if Moyes and O’Neill are given money to spend and if they spend it wisely. Same goes for Ramos except I think it may take a season for him to sort Spurs out and to start looking to challenge the top 6.
Liverpoolfc73 - Are you for real? You couldn’t find a place for Torres in your team of the season? Santa Cruz? and Berbatov? Fernando Torres is hands down a better player with one foot tied behind his back !!
Bobby – I’m for real and you get a red card for a badly timed two footed assumption. If you read the piece you would have seen that it was a maximum of one player per team and so if you have an issue it is Mascherano over Torres and has nothing to do with Santa Cruz and Berbatov.
Gorn - Aight, been gone 2 weeks (not that anyone noticed!), gone fer another 2 Sat., so not trolling, just throwing quarters around belatedly. (c: Here goes:
Bobby: "I defy gravity by jumping and losing height" You watching a lot of Brian Budd lately? That's his favourite quip regarding Crouch (c: Thanks for the great wrap-ups. Can you tell us why you'll no be covering Euro08? Other business commitments? Love to tune in to you during the media circus for some straight dope.
Bobby - Who is Brian Budd? During Euro 2008 it will be the usual Monday and Friday shows and maybe a bit of extra blogging if time allows.
Redfan4ever - Do you fish? The miracle mile north of Lockport is full of large pickeral right now. Folks is a catching them off the shore on pickeral rigs. See you got some sun so maybe you found the fish?
Bobby – I’ve fished twice in my life and I have to say that it was twice too many. Just not my thing. Enjoyed a great run on Sunday around lunchtime and got a Scottish tan.
Henry14 - Here is a site which shows were every club would be in the table had they not be a bad call by the ref.
Q 1 What do you make of the table? Q2 Is Luca Toni the best striker in the world at the moment? Q3 Who is the not so popular name that you expect to have a good Euro tournament? Q4 Your prediction for final 4 in the tournament?
Bobby – 1. The worst call would be taking to time to read it. The premise is ridiculous – what constitutes a bad call and how can it be isolated and not impact the rest of the game?
2. Define best.
3 and 4. I haven’t put a great deal of thought to it yet.
Foxcube - Will Blatter's quota proposal have any chance on May 29? I read from the Guardian? That Rafa is "wary" of it and determined to recruit more English players like Barry Bentley with money from selling Pennant and Crouch. Not very sensible to me.
In the transfer market, which players' move interests you the most? Where would it be their ideal destination respectively?
Bobby – Blatter is looking to get some backing for his proposal but a FIFA vote in favour will only show he has support and nothing much else. FIFA could vote in favour every day for the next century but it depends on EU law and there is no indication that it is about to be changed.
Sorry but there is a large element of logic lacking if someone from the Guardian is trying to make such a point. Shifting two English born players and replacing them with two other English players would leave him in exactly the same position vis a vis English players would it not?
If such a “law” was put into practice I have no doubt that there would be a period whereby players and clubs would be grandfathered and allowed to adjust gradually. Implementing a rule immediately would throw the transfer market into utter chaos.
Transfer market – all we have is rumours and few will come to pass. I think you might see most of the transfer action post Euro 2008. Three things have to fall into place for a transfer to happen – a team willing to pay money; a team willing to accept the offer; a player wanting to move. I’m sorry but ideal destinations don’t come into it – that is why we have Fantasy Football and video games. For players an ideal destination is likely to be where they will be paid more.
Henry Winter reminisces about Heriot Watt University's Celtic Supporters Club annual Tommy Burns Night.
The legend and tragedy of Hughie Ferguson who scored the winning goal for Cardiff in the 1927 final.
We may argue about them until we are blue in the face but the reality is that the referee’s decision is final.
The Aussies are going to bid the right to host the 2009 and 10 the FIFA Club World Cup. I would have thought that a US proposal would be a natural for this tournament.
MF – Ronaldo (Manchester United) MF – Mascherano (Liverpool) MF – Barry (Aston Villa) MF – Downing (Middlesbrough)
FW – Cruz FW – Berbatov
Best Three’s – 60s and beyond Manchester United • Best • Law • Keane
Chelsea • Zola • Cooke • Osgood
Liverpool • Dalglish • Callaghan • Barnes
Arsenal • Bergkamp • Pires • Henry
Spurs • Ardiles • Hoddle • Gilzean
Everton • Lineker • Young • Ball (Alan not Michael)
Manchester City • Bell • Kinkladze • Lee
Rangers • Baxter • Gascoigne • McCoist
Celtic • Jimmy Johnstone • Henrik Larsson • Danny McGrain
Serie A Predictions Revisited (Actual – Prediction)
Inter 1-1 Staggered to another title rather than cruised.
Roma 2-4 Refused to give up despite a squad that lacked the depth of others and pushed Inter to the last round.
Juventus 3-3 A surprise for many that Juventus managed to finish so high. Fiorentina 4-5 There is a lot to admire about Cesare Prandelli’s charges as the coach showed again an ability to extract maximum effort and results from the squad he is given. Looked as if they had blown a Champions League but Milan’s round 37 loss to Napoli opened a door that looked to have been bolted shut.
Milan 5-2 A stumbling start – particularly at home – put Milan behind the eight ball. A late season run seemed to have almost guaranteed Champions League football next season until a crucial 3-1 loss to Napoli. It will be an interesting summer as Milan must now rebuild.
Sampdoria 6-8 While Antonio Cassano provided the spark an impressive home record (only two losses) saw Samp finish in a very credible spot in Serie A.
Udinese 7-7 Eleven points and three positions better than last season. If Udinese can keep this team together and hold on to coach Pasquale Marino (former Catania) next season may bring further improvement.
Napoli 8-15 A tremendous return to Serie A for the Neapolitans who beat Milan, Inter, Udinese, Juventus, Fiorentina and Sampdoria at the Stadio San Paolo. Of the teams that finished above them only Roma left with anything to show for their efforts.
Atalanta 9-12 Little difference from last season – two fewer points and one position lower than a year ago.
Genoa 10-16 The third of the promoted sides and none finished lower than 10th. Only four consecutive losses at season’s end clouded a fantastic performance from Genoa.
Palermo 11-9 Poor away form and a failure to win more than two consecutive games saw Palermo drop back a top six position last season.
Lazio 12-6 A team that has punched above their weight for the last few seasons but limited resources caught up with them this season.
Siena 13-20 The frequent coaching changes in Italy are often a source of mirth but Siena was another team that turned their fortunes around after making a change in the front office. Up until the firing of Andrea Mandorlini in mid-November Siena had picked a single win and nine points from a possible thirty six on offer. Former coach Mario Beretta who had been cut loose last summer after just escaping relation by beating Lazio in the last game of the season returned and with thirty-five over the remaining twenty-six games Siena were safe with games in hand. Seventeen draws made Siena this season’s Serie A draw specialists.
Cagliari 14-18 The Sardinian side looked dead and buried but the appointment of Coach Davide Ballardini just before the New Year saw a spectacular turnaround in fortune. Thirty-two of their forty-two points were earned post- Ballardini and only suffered two losses in their last eleven league games. Home form was key with twenty-four points out of a possible thirty-three coming with the new coach in charge.
Torino 15-17 Turin’s other team finished on the same points as last season but that was enough to move up two places. In 2006/07 Torino only scored 27 goals – this season 36 so it has been slightly more interesting for the fans, particularly at home. Despite a home record of only five home wins, seven draws and another seven losses only two of the games were decided by more than one goal and both in Torino’s favour.
Reggina 16-13 Last May it took a win against Milan in round 38 to ensure another season in Serie A for Reggina; this time they made sure of another Serie A season in round 37. Thirteen points from a possible last 18 did the trick.
Catania 17-19 As they did last season it took Catania until the last round of play to escape demotion. They finished tied with Parma with the worst away record (7 points and no wins) but a respectable thirty points at home (one one fewer than Milan) was pivotal to their top-flight survival.
Empoli 18-10 Fifty-four points and seventh position last season; relegation this season and an attack that scored only 29 times must bear the responsibility.
Parma 19-14 No escape this season after sailing close to the relegation rocks for a few seasons. Winless away from home and defence not let in more goals than any other brought a long-avoided demotion to Serie B.
Livorno 20-11 Last season’s 11th place finish was slightly deceiving in that Livorno was only four points out of the last relegation spot. This season only four points in their last twelve games had Livorno in a death-spiral that they could not escape from.
Redfan2000 - Time seemed to stop you commenting on the Inter vs Liverpool game, so what was your summation of the two legs?
Bobby – Liverpool was the better team and won it through perseverance and patience. Against ten men and with around five minutes to go in the first leg Liverpool could have easily panicked but they stuck to it.
There were only perhaps two moments when Inter threatened in Milan and the Reina save low to his left was probably the pivotal moment. If that deflection had gone in then Inter might have made a real go of it.
But as it turned out, Reina saved, Burdisso gets a second yellow and Torres scores a terrific goal. We could argue about Inter playing most of the time with ten men and the impact it had on the outcome but you can only play against what is in front of you and Liverpool won without ever really being tested by the Inter attack.
Weah11 - Do you see a clear out (coaches + some players) if Chelsea fail to pass Fenerbahce? I read that Lippi is interested in coming to the EPL.
Bobby – Can I see coaches and players moving on if Chelsea fails to pass Fenerbahce? I can see coaches and players moving on even if they go on to win the Champions League and the Premiership. It is part of the normal process.
By the same token you will not see a clear out (I would define a clear out as six or seven legitimate members of the first team squad leaving). In fact I can’t think of the last time a big club had a real clear out of staff.
It’s down to the fact that players at top clubs are making incredible money and there are very few clubs outside maybe a dozen or so in Europe that are willing to match their wage demands. The fans response to failure is to call for a clear out but the reality is that there has to be another club willing to pay a transfer fee and to pay the salary demands.
Without that other side of the equation most players are more than willing to sit tight and allow their bank balances to grow. Lippi is just one of a number of high profile managers who will be available this summer. It’s a summer of a major final and so that means we will also see national team managers resigning or getting fired.
Don’t be surprised if most of the media interest is around managerial appointments rather than player signings this summer.
Thierry_Henry - Some Arsenal fans are starting to tell Wenger what he should do. As if he doesn't see what's wrong with the team. Just because we've drawn 4 matches in the last few weeks...
Look, at the beginning of the season Bobby suggested we will not be in the top 4. If it wasn't for injury to Eduardo, we would be first. So, relax and keep faith in the magin man, Wenger.
Bobby – As MasMaz pointed out I picked Arsenal to finish third. I have the article from last August archived and hopefully it will be rolled out at the end of the Premiership season for the benefit of all.
Foxcube - Perhaps you did in on TV but I'd love to hear your comments on Mancini's U-turn (or anyone could share?). Another question is why the top 4 in England don't break away from the league and have their own TV deals. Thanks!
Bobby – Mancini has a reputation for being overly emotional at times and speaking before thinking. I think that was one of the moments. The big four don’t breakaway and do their own tv deals because they are not allowed to.
My understanding is that centralized TV broadcast sales is part of the Premier League regulations and to be changed 75% of the 20 teams have to vote to change. As turkeys very rarely vote for Christmas you are not likely a change anytime soon.
ReggaeGunner -I watched the Roma vs Milan match and I was very impressed by the player Vucinic. Why doesn't Spalletti play him in the starting 11 and let Totti play off him or is he more effective coming off the bench. Whenever I see him play he seems to be the difference when he's on the pitch. Always a threat to the other teams when on the pitch. Another to mention is Aquillani, he shoots the ball well.
Bobby – You would think that Spaletti is going to find it more difficult to keep Vucinic out of the starting line-up based on his scoring record off the bench. He’s scored in the three games in the last few weeks when he has come as substitute; there again he failed to score in the game he started.
He’s not overly quick but seems very composed when a chance comes his way. Maybe we will see him in the Rome derby on Wednesday as he scored against Lazio earlier this season.
Venti_Vidi_Vici - Platini was quoted today encouraging English fans to oppose foreign ownership in the EPL. He seems to jump at every opportunity to criticize the EPL and the FA. He disapproves of foreign ownership, lack of English players, the foreign national team coach, the violent play and the 39th match, just in the few months he’s been at the helm. Does he have some anti-English agenda, or is he just concerned with the state of English football, and the effects it has, and could have, on European football?
Bobby – I would suggest that Platini’s issue is more about money than it is about the nationality of the league. The Premiership has the largest TV contract, the largest crowds and has become a magnet for international businessmen looking to make money.
However I don’t think you will see President Platini turning down Sky’s bid for the Champions League rights even though it is English money.
Flashman - Nice move by your network to get the Canada-US U-23 game on this week. The way Toronto FC look to be deliberately not improving their roster, I'm convinced they're looking to tank deliberately and get a high draft pick. One of whom could be playing for Canada in that game. Should be interesting to see what's he's like.
Now, can we expect any changes in Champions League telecasts here in Canada now that Sky has snagged the bulk of future broadcast rights? We've got certain games now for free on basic cable with TSN. Though they act like they can barely stand showing them, with the total lack of support for soccer shown on that network. Will this new deal mean that FOXSWC will be taking games away from them, showing other games concurrent with those that might remain on TSN or will nothing change?
Flashman - What do you make of Amaudo Guevara, like? New York soccer journalist Ives Galarcep is reporting tonight that Mo Johnson is on the verge of re-connecting with the Honduran midfielder he coached in New York by signing him for Toronto FC. Guevara ticked off Toronto fans last year by refusing to come to the team with a deal for him already worked out. Now we're supposed to get over it and welcome this talented but flaky guy back in. Should we? Can we? Will we? And if he does join TFC, what can we expect from him on and off the field.
Bobby – I think there is a general concern that Toronto has done little so far to improve their roster. Based on the moves to date they have gone backwards since the end of last season. It seems to me that the fans gave them unbelievable backing during the first year and expected little but good effort in return from the first year team.
A year on and they expect a lot more. These fans do not strike me as the gullible Maple Leaf types who are willing to sit back and accept any rubbish put their way while MLSE milks fans dry. Without a good start I can see the vociferous support turning ugly.
In terms of Guevara nothing has been announced yet. If he signs for Toronto then you can expect to see a Riquelme-type player (I said type) who the team has to be built around and to get the most out of him all the plays have to go through him. Guevara fell out with Preki in no time at all last season and I have a great deal of admiration for the Chivas coach so I have my doubts that Mo and John Carver will have more success with him.
The Sky deal is for the UK only. Although Fox Soccer Channel in the US and Sky are both News Corp. companies it is my understanding that they operate completely independently. Fox Sports World Canada is owned by Can West Global and has deal with that is limited to the provision of certain games.
ESPN is the current North American rights holder for Champions League and I believe they have at least two seasons left but I stand to be corrected on that. ESPN owns 32% of TSN and TSN and Setanta sub license Champions League games from ESPN.
RonW - When Inverness Caley was promoted to the SPL I think there was talk of them playing home games in Aberdeen. Where are they playing now? One of the best sports headlines ever was about ten years ago when Caley were in the lower leagues (maybe even non-league) and they beat Celtic ... "Super Caley Went Ballistic Celtic Were Atrocious"
Bobby – Inverness Caley Thistle did opt to play their home games at Pittodrie during their first season in the SPL but finished up being able to move back to their own stadium around the half way point in the season after renovations were completed in super quick time. That was in early 2005 and they have played out of their own stadium since. The Sun’s headline was an all-time great when ITC beat Celtic in 2000. I think at that time ITC was in the first division.
22justin -We all know you are a closet Serie A lover, just admit it. Serie A is the TRUE BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD. YOU KNOW IT AND I KNOW IT.
Bobby – A closet has nothing to do with it. I've watched Serie A for years. Best is subjective so I will let you argue that one out with others.
RINGO – Have to agree with Bobby, that 1970 cup final was the best one I remember, the '75 Fulham/West Ham game is right up there also, not for the game itself but because it was the first time I went to Wembley. Sad to say that the first three goalscorers for Chelsea have all since died, and in the order they scored, Ian Hutchinson died in 2002, if I where David Webb I might be slightly concerned.
That final could have become the first time no-one won the cup. If David Webb had not 'cheeked' in the winner at Old Trafford the second replay was to have been played at Highfield Road, Coventry three days later ,and if that had ended in a draw both teams would have held the cup for six months each. The England world cup squad where leaving for the Mexico WC five days later ,leaving no more time for another game.
Bobby – There was also the story that might be of interest to those that think the game nowadays is a bit rough. A few years ago a newspaper (or the Beeb) asked then Premiership referee David Elleray to review the 1970 Cup Final from a disciplinary point of view and to judge the game against then current standards.
By the end of the first game at Wembley which finished 2-2 Elleray said that both sides would have finished with eight men each with the first sending red card coming in the 13th minute. What’s more Chelsea would have got 13 yellow cards and Leeds seven.
Henry14 - Last week somebody asked you if Arsenal should sell RVP and rightfully said no now l do think Rosicky who will be 28 needs to go and we can built our left hand side on a younger and not so much injury prone guy and Vela will be a good player + a new winger l feel should he be sold.
Bobby – What makes Rosicky injury prone? One season? Rosicky has played in two-thirds of Arsenal’s Premiership games since he joined the club which puts him ahead of the Freddie Ljungberg and I don’t remember a clamour for Freddie to be sold because he was “injury prone.” Rosicky’s scoring record is very close to the Swede’s so it seems like a fair comparison.
Why you would get rid of a player who is in his prime years and suggest that he should be replaced by another youngster - it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Or is it a case that what you haven’t seen is better than what you have?
Sleeper000- The English FA denied FIFA's request to increase Martin Taylor' punishment due to their belief that it was only a single isolated incident and they did not want to set a "horrible" precedent by extending Taylor's suspension. Question, what could FIFA do to enforce their request other than placing sanctions on the English FA which let's face it, will never happen? I am not trying to argue what should be done, I am simply curious as to what is the extent of FIFA's power in this scenario.
Bobby – FIFA has no real interest in extending Taylor’s punishment. It is pure posturing and Blatter playing to the masses knowing that he would be guaranteed media coverage if he raised the subject.
Does anyone really belief that FIFA has any interest in questioning the suspensions dished out every week because once they cross that line that is what it leads to. There are worse challenges than Taylor’s every week in leagues around the world and the precedent of FIFA issuing or mandating additional suspensions over and above those assessed by the national associations would grind the system to a standstill.
It’s also a quick way to finish up in court and FIFA has a very poor court record! The press release can be found here but I read nothing of a “horrible” precedent.
Finally, regarding the Arsenal goal that was disallowed for offside. It was not discussed on Monday’s show. However, a player cannot be played “onside” by a deflection off an opponent. To be played onside in such a situation the opponent must be judged by the referee to have full control of the ball. Otherwise the referee’s decision is based upon the position of the attacking player when the ball is last played by a teammate.
A look at Chelsea’s Champions league opponents Fenerbahce.
Rod Liddle on Gretna’s implosion and with a wonderful
description ….”the artificial club kept afloat by a man’s ludicrous,
market-distorting largesse, trampling over those whose existence is down to
hard-core support”……that applies to more than Gretna.
Tony Cascarino on how to take penalty kicks. It seems to me
that we are seeing more gutsy penalties – scooped down the middle or just
waiting for the keeper to blink. How many of you have taken a penalty in a shoot out, how did you approach it and did you score? Or any goalkeepers with secrets?
I read this article a few weeks ago and now seems an
appropriate time to post the link. Israeli researcher Ofer H. Azar compares the action bias of goalkeepers on
penalties with business decisions.
Two decades after Wimbledon pulled off one of the greatest
surprises in the FA Cup Final two related teams are off to Wembley.
It’s only mid-March but East Fife became the UK’s first championship
winning side of the 07/08 season. Anyone else ever been to Methil? There has been a lot of chatter about lower flight teams winning the FA Cup. East Fife is the answer to the trivia question - which is only second tier team in Scotland the win the SFA Cup?
The Sunday Times takes a trip back to the Chelsea–Leeds FA
Cup Final of 1970.
Bobby – Dundee lost to Fraserbough in the 50s in the Scottish Cup so they should not be counting their sheep just because they are playing a Highland League side.
Craigy_f - Best and worst of the FA Cup 3rd Round for you? Which is your favourite CUP? Did you check out Mario Kempes' Perfect XI? Read something about EFC working with some soccer organization in Canada - Is this still going on? What will be your next live football match? Any ties that leap out at you for the fourth round?
Bobby – Best game was the Stoke vs. Newcastle match. Worst display was probably Sunderland going down 3-0 at home to Wigan. Favourite Cup – probably the World Cup, mainly due to the build-up even though it normally disappoints.
Kempes XI – yes I saw it in Four Four Two, it was close to the Dirty Dozen. I know the Argentina victory in 1978 is tainted somewhat but I thought they were a fantastic team. I remember watching Ardiles run the midfield and just being blowing away with how intelligent he was with the ball. Passarella was a rock at the back and good going forward. Tarantini (never worked out at Birmingham) bombing forward as well. Up front Kempes and Luque and then a year after came Maradona. Menotti was intriguing as well.
Everton are/were doing some stuff with the Ontario Soccer Association and GolTV.
Next live match – don’t know. It looks as if I will be busy through the spring and so maybe a trip to Toronto for an early MLS game might have to do.
Fourth round ties – nothing that others have not pointed out. The only thing I might add is that there will be a maximum of nine Premiership sides in the last 16 so it opens up a descent chance again for a “minnow” to sneak into the final..
The RealRico - As the conversation of commentators and brown nosing Bobby continues, I have to ask Bobby, how come you don't do any commentating on FSC? I know you have been asked this before, but I couldn't remember the answer.
Bobby – I have never been asked. I did some Canadian Soccer League stuff twenty years ago and that was what set the ball rolling and that led to radio, magazines, newspaper, FSR and the blog. To be honest I am quite happy doing what I am doing. It all fits nicely together with my other stuff and maybe sometime in the future the opportunity might arise but there again maybe not.
As an aside I have found myself watching games more as a colour commentator over the last few years. When we started off in 2001 I think I watched the games with the perspective of telling viewers what happened. It then dawned on me that the viewers knew what happened - what was needed was comments on why it happened – the job of a colour commentator.
I’m not sure that too many colour commentators in North America actually get that. Even though I might be accused of bias I think Christopher Sullivan does an outstanding job of telling the viewers why it happened not what happened.
I hear far too many colour guys in North America (particularly in Canada) acting as ancillary play-by-play guys. I think the other issue is that the more you hear from some of them the more you realize that there is very little depth e.g. no names but the guy that constantly second guesses the referees decision after viewing slow motion replays and then tells us if the official was right or wrong.
As far as the UK colour men are concerned I really enjoy listening to Robbie Earle and Paul Walsh.
In Canada as far as analysts are concerned Paul James gets a check mark from me – solid comments.
AlbertaGooner - Does anybody else remember Danny Blanchflower? He was a wonderful analyst back in the 1970s.
Bobby – He made the News of the World a worthwhile read beyond the stories of dirty vicars in sex scandals. Blanchflower was certainly one of the more intelligent players and analysts – and a wit as well. Unfortunately I think he suffered from Alzheimers for years before his death.
MrMoore - Blackburn are now in a poor run of form, but surely you can now mea culpa on your "dissing" of Roque Santa Cruz? The man is toward the top of the premier league goal scorers and in all competitions looks a pretty decent goal scorer.
Bobby – One season – or part of a season – does not a successful career make. Let’s see him do it for a couple of seasons and that way he can prove Bayern Munich and me wrong. You are in good company so far – Mitch Peacock passed on a message from Steve Nicol telling me I would rue my opinion of Santa Cruz.
Medpanton - Bibby, U have bin tlking abt the gud and sweet football arsenal are playing. do u see them as a team to win the title this season? I wil b listening ur program tonight.
Bibby – I think I get the question. I think Arsenal’s defense may cost them the league. Am I close?
Verbal97 - Anyway, I actually have a question this week. Aside from Arsenal, it seems that no players come up from youth levels in "the big 4", and even then its players Wenger bought from another club at a young age. Where's the next Robbie Fowler or David Beckham?
Someone from a Liverpool message board made a good point about Benitez in particular, in that if he were in charge at the time he would have NEVER given Fowler, Owen or Gerrard a chance. My questions are 1) is the pressure to get results at the top prevent the managers from giving youth players a try, 2) is the issue the managers or that the players aren't as good as before and 3) what effects, if any, is this having on the national team.
Bobby –1. There has always been pressure on managers – that is not new. And frankly managers at the top are so well paid that it is not as if they face ruin if they get fired. I just can’t believe that any manager cannot find a place for a promising player if they want to.
2. I would suggest a third option which is that with the money that they have available many of the top Premiership teams find it easier to sign what they consider to be a ready-made answer rather than living through the growing pains of a younger player.
3. Marginal – the national team is the supposed to be the cream of the crop so I don’t think that a potential national team player is going to be missed.
A more general comment on Premiership youth development - Paul Hart who developed some good talent at Leeds and Nottingham Forest is now in charge of youth players at Portsmouth. It might take a few years but if Portsmouth sticks with Hart then it should produce great dividends.
Getz76 - I know EU trade laws would forbid it as written now, but do you think there will ever be a salary cap in European soccer (ala NFL, NBA)? Do you think it would be beneficial? It seems to have done something in those leagues; while the NFL doesn't have relegation and some teams are insanely mismanaged (Cardinals, Bengals); in general every 4 or 5 years there are new teams that dominate or do well.
Bobby – You are right, as it currently stands EU laws will not permit salary caps. Under the just approved Treaty of Lisbon there is – in theory - always a chance that might change. But I would not hold my breath.
It may work in North America (and in Rugby League in England) but that is not a like for like comparison. Would it still work in North America if there was15 NBAs, 15 NFLs and 15 MLBs? A nightmare is what it would be.
What’s more you have to look at who would be the winners and losers if salary caps where imposed. Prices would not go down, salaries would as well, and so who makes a killing – the owners. Owners then make more money which leads to clubs being sold for ever higher prices.
The owners are the only winners, not the fans and not the players. It is interesting that players are criticized for their salaries but how many people questioned the $100M + made by Martin Edwards when he sold his United shares?
TijuanaTim - I sit back and smile about your regular opinions. However tonight you have excelled yourself. Running down Peter Crouch, where do I start? Firstly you would give your left testicle not only to have him playing for one of low level Dundee jokes let alone Scotland.
His goal scoring rate at international level exceeds both of your heroes...Kenny Dalglish (twice as good) and Dennis Law also. Both of whom scored some of their goals against poorer, less accomplished, less fit and amateur oppositions.
Crouch is loved by top coaches (with more 'soccer' knowledge than you could ever dream of having) and fans globally, especially at major clubs like Liverpool, Southampton and Portsmouth.
Where next, oh yeah 'Richard Cresswell was causing Newcastle problems', Bobby no he was not - he was completely ineffective.
Next 'Kevin Phillips was no threat in the Prem', he was his club's top scorer on repeated occasions and was the last player to hit an amazing 30 Prem goals in one season.
Then James Beattie (same comment as Phillips)...er Bob, he scored almost 100 Prem goals less than 300 games. He joined Southampton as a raw young forward and by the time he had played the same amount of games as Alan Shearer (who also started as a raw young forward at Saints) he had netted over twice as many goals - same league - same level of opponent etc
Bobby, try and be a little more professional and a shade less ill-informed and opinionated without an ounce of analytical back-up.
A bit about me so that you just don't blow me off. I am in my 30th competitive season of coaching, I have coached/managed at all levels. One of my former players won six full England caps and played for your countries greatest club, another was involved in million pound transfers and scored winning goals at Wembley....I am not sure whether this was before or during the time you have been an 'expert' or have been an author of a 'blog'.
Otherwise keep up the good work, it would be cool if you could interview or meet some football people 'in the know', it would add to your insights. BTW, your team Carlos - Jeremy etc are awesome. Happy New Year
Bobby – Oh I am so embarrassed. How could I ever have got it so wrong? Tim, you are of course right on all counts. Please accept my humblest apologies and feel free to correct me in the future.
Verbal97 - "Crouch is not horrible, but he is nowhere near world class" Getz gets it. Can't the haters at least concede that (yes, you too Bobby)?
Bobby – Verbal 97 after an ill-advised comment about Crouch during the World Cup (I think I used the word flop or something close) I retracted soon after. However, his numerous limitations are there for all to see.
Redfan2000 – This whole Crouch debate is nonsensical. Bobby raised it yet again because he failed to impress in the Luton game, in Bobby's estimation. Liverpool have four of five strike options and Crouch is by no means the least able of those available, period.
What failed to come out of the FSR was that Crouch got no little or no service or support. The much vaunted Kuyt and Babel did not get close to providing the kind of support Crouch thrives on. Torres would have fared no better.
If you are left alone up front which is what happened on Sunday, you have little to play with, boxed in by two backs and the CBs. The FSR analysis was more or less just a plain old character assassination, much as some of the comments on here.
A tactical analysis of why Liverpool failed to play well or create many scoring chances would have been far more worthy of the FSR. Luton played ok, but they were allowed to. At least Crouchy poached the goal that saved us a fate, with blushes, as bad as Everton's. It is not like he squandered fifteen attempts because he did not.
Peter Crouch has a role to play at Liverpool which is to score goals, but unless Rafa plays players who will give Crouch (or Torres for that matter) better supply he will not score goals. The focus of Liverpool's woes needs to be on the tactics and team performance, rather than on one striker or any single player.
Bobby – Just one comment, well ok two. If you really believe that Fernando Torres would not have fared better against Luton Town why the hell did Liverpool pay over $50M for him?
Torres can turn a defense and exploit the space behind the back four something which Crouch is largely incapable of doing. Character assassination? Come on.
Wiegs9 -Simon Barnes' opinion on Alan Shearer as manager seems at least partially based on Shearer having no managerial experience. I'm fine if this is pure opinion from Barnes, but I'm curious if there is any factual basis. In other words, are players (esp. star players) who don't apprentice at a top division club/nation or start managing at lower-level club/smaller nation before becoming a top division manager generally failures?
Bobby – I stand to be corrected but I cannot think on one manager in the modern era that has moved directly from the role of player to that of a successful manager and succeeded over an extended period of time. Dave MacKay did it for a season or two at Derby post-Clough.
We have had the likes of Gullit and Vialli but they flamed out. The nearest might be Kenny Dalglish and I think it fair to say that Heysel and Hillsborough took away any chance that there might have been to succeed in the long run ala Ferguson and Wenger.
I don’t think you can compare international to club managers given that there is a very different dynamic at play. When you look at the last two decades a major trend has been towards managers who have learned the trade as opposed to the old fashioned view that if you were a player then you could manage.
I think there is a much broader acceptance that teaching and coaching are skills much different than playing while man-management skills and leadership are probably more important than anything else. As Arrigo Sacchi said "you don't have to be a horse to be a jockey."
Djnima -1. What is your opinion of Karim Benzema? He looks to be the hottest property in European football. Do you think he is over hyped due to the fact that he plays in Ligue 1 (a step down for BPL, Serie A, and La Liga I’m sure you would concur)? 2. Do you see Alan Hutton signing for United in the summer? Would you rate him as a long term replacement for Gary Neville? 3. Have you heard of this Skrtel fellow?
Bobby –1. He looks to be the real deal to me. 2. I would not discount Spurs as a final destination yet. 3. No.
And finally…….
TijuanaTim I was only kidding I just wanted to keep you to last. Where do I start?
“Bobby, try and be a little more professional and a shade less ill-informed and opinionated without an ounce of analytical back-up.” TT practice what you preach perhaps. Or does the comment “you would give your left testicle not only to have him playing for one of low level Dundee jokes let alone Scotland” pass as striking insight and wisdom from 30 years of experience at all levels? If it came to watching Peter Crouch week in and week out I wouldn’t give your left and right ones for that privilege.
“His goal scoring rate at international level exceeds both of your heroes...Kenny Dalglish (twice as good) and Dennis Law also”. Your comparison of Peter Crouch to Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law? I’ll let that one stand without comment. Liverpool and Manchester United fans please feel free to chip in. (Crouch’s scoring rate at the international level is better than Fernando Torres as well so I can only assume that you also rate Crouch higher than Torres).
“Crouch is loved by top coaches….. and fans globally, especially at major clubs like Liverpool, Southampton and Portsmouth.”
Pity he isn’t loved by the Liverpool manager. Once again if you are going to call me on lack of analytical back-up then I expect more than grandiose statements from you.
How about some insightful comment about Crouch’s skills and how he compares to the likes of Adebayor, Drogba, Torres or Berbatov? How many times in his career has Crouch actually turned a defender and created a chance let alone scored?
Strength, mobility, movement, power in the air, finishing on the deck (the only thing I would give him close to a pass mark for), pace, touch, creativity?
No let’s just dismiss all that stuff because Crouch supposedly has a good touch for a big man - as if big players should not be able to control a ball. Crouch is a starter at a mid-table Premiership side – nothing more. He is, as I have said repeatedly, a very limited player and certainly not one that should be playing for a side like Liverpool.
“Where next, oh yeah 'Richard Cresswell was causing Newcastle problems', Bobby no he was not - he was completely ineffective” Stoke had Newcastle on the rack for most of the second half and Cresswell was part of it stretching the Newcastle defence on their right side and forcing saving tackles and saves. He was so ineffective Tony Pulis kept him on for the full game. Maybe it had something to do with the two great last ditch saves he forced.
“Next 'Kevin Phillips was no threat in the Prem', he was his club's top scorer on repeated occasions and was the last player to hit an amazing 30 Prem goals in one season” If you going to quote me please quote me correctly and in context. Phillips scored 30 goals in the Premiership…………over 8 seasons ago. His last scoring season in the Premiership was 2005/06 and he scored 4 goals in 23 appearances. (As an aside Phillips was not the last player to score 30 goals in the Premiership.)
The question related to the Coventry striker Michael Mifsud and whether or not he could step up to the Premiership. The point I was making was that there is a large gap between the two leagues and you only have to look at the top scorers in the Championship (Beattie and Phillips) and compare how they were doing in the Premiership before dropping down a division. Phillips last scoring season in the Premiership I have noted above; Beattie has scored 13 goals in 20 plus Championship matches this season. He took him 76 games in the Premiership to score his last 13 Premiership goals.
“He (Beattie) scored almost 100 Prem goals less than 300 games. He joined Southampton as a raw young forward and by the time he had played the same amount of games as Alan Shearer (who also started as a raw young forward at Saints) he had netted over twice as many goals - same league - same level of opponent etc” If 81 goals are almost 100 then you are correct. I wasn’t aware that Alan Shearer had ever played for Southampton in the Premiership. I thought he joined Blackburn from Southampton just before the Premiership kicked-off. There was almost a decade between Beattie starting for Southampton after his move from Blackburn and Shearer but if you are going to compare Crouch with Dalglish and Law then why not compare Beattie with Alan Shearer?
If you consider me an “expert” then that is your word but it is not something I have ever called myself and it is not something I would be comfortable with. I learn something new about the game every week and only wish that when I was younger I had been more observant and would have had more access to how other countries played the game.
There are a lot more people with far greater insight than me but there is also a lot of rubbish and clichés that comes out of the mouths of ex players and coaches. To put forward the notion that only people “in the know” can intelligently comment on the game is elitist and wrong.
I find that intelligent comment and analysis comes largely from what you would probably consider outside of the game rather from within it. Or maybe you can provide a list of sources of intelligent comment on the game that you approve of?
There was a lengthy post on Crouch on November 6 2007.
Over the next few weeks I will be looking to develop a weekend preview piece. A few games will be highlighted and there is of course the opportuntity for readers to provide comments as they see fit.
Manchester United vs. Bolton and Chelsea vs. Sheffield United.........obviously United and Chelsea start as favourites. Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to battle it out for the Player of the Year Award.
At the over end the table Manchester City faces Middlesbrough. Based on their past record things don't look good for Stuart Pearce and City. City have lost 5 straight Premiership games have not won in 7 visits to Middlesbrough with 5 losses and 2 draws. In the Premiership City have only beaten Boro once in 15 games. These games are generally low scoring with only 4 goals in their last 4 games.
Watford are the latest team to try and tame the Tottenham Hotspur scoring machine and in particular Dimitar Berbetov. Watford with a win and two draws in their last four have equaled their best run of the season. Spurs appear to have given up stopping goals going in and have reverted to scoring more than the opposition - an interesting idea. The last time Spurs earned a shut out in the Premiership was back at the end of October against Watford in a scoreless draw.
In the Championship the race for promotion continues to be tighter than a Scotsman. At the bottom of the table it is the same thing. Luton have dropped into the relegation zone and Mike Newell was fired this week. Two teams trying to save thenmselves from slipping into League One clash this weekend when Southend United plays Leeds United. Oh how the once mighty have fallen.
Schalke 04 v VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga), Lazio v Empoli (Serie A), Recreativo Huelva v Barcelona (La Liga), and Porto vs. Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) appear to be the pick of games on the continent.
LosAngelesChelseaFan - I can see why seeding wouldn't work. For logistics reasons alone the draw has to be made before the replays are resolved. I can remember when second replays occurred just days before the next round.
Bobby – And as someone else pointed out there is a form of seeding that goes on given that the Championship and Premiership teams don’t enter the competition until the 3rd round. It should also be remembered that the Manchester United – Liverpool final of 1996 and the Arsenal – United final in 2005 were awful matches to watch.
Bigdavedisaster - Do you think we will begin to see lower level teams like a Leeds being bought by foreign investors? It seems almost a better investment to buy a team for 25 mil as opposed to 100 mil and use the 75 you saved to bring the club up.
Bobby – I don’t think “foreign” investors are sophisticated enough to understand that the bargains may lie with teams like Leeds and Sunderland. When I say foreign I am referring to buyers who have not been involved in the game previously or don’t come from a football culture.
But you notice that with Mandaric’s move to Leicester (new stadium, decent base of support) and to an extent Bates’ purchase of Leeds that some people are searching for bargains. The problem with Leeds is that they have nearly really escaped the financial mess that Risdale and his living the dream era got them into to.
When you consider that the bottom club next season in the Premiership is going to pocket close to $60M there is a definite incentive to do what you are suggesting.
Henry14-Q1. l have had my reservation on Walcott, because l feel that for all his pace and glorified talent l feel that he is very poor technically. when l look at the type of player he will compete with next season like Carlos Vela and Bendtner who have decent pace but are right up there technically l do not see him making the grade. How do you rate him regarding that he is called the biggest thing since Wayne Rooney?
Q2 Do you think Bellamy and Pennant really have a future at Liverpool given that they have both been linked with booze this week?
Q3.What is your opinion on negative support for football in the UK like the glorification of having 10 men behind the ball. l have seen that a draw is glorified. l was just looking at how pundits glorify such performances do you feel it is these kinds of performances that cause the gulf between big and small clubs increase. Do you think negative tactics are good for the game?
Q4. How do you rate managers and what do you think are the components required to be the best coach in the world? Who do you rate as the best?
Bobby – A1 - Consider the following - Walcott is 17; Arsene Wenger thought highly enough of him to pay Southampton a lot of money; Wenger is giving him a decent amount of time; Wenger has a “fairly good” nose for talent. Based on that I don’t see how you could write him off. I have seen very little of Carlos Vela so I not sure I can comment intelligently except to point out that his playing in the Spanish Second Division not the Premiership.
Bendtner is two years older and also playing at a level below the Premiership. When Walcott played in the Championship he had a strike rate of something like 5 goals in 12 games and Harry Rednapp was playing him through the middle. So with all that said I think when you compare Walcott to Vela and Bendtner you are not comparing like to like so it is an unfair comparison.
I’m not sure who has said he is the next biggest thing to Wayne Rooney – labels like that are hung on lots of players – but I don’t see how that impacts how good Walcott is or will be. When you use that label you are pre-judging a player based on whether or not he is as good as Wayne Rooney as opposed posing the question to is he a good player which is different matter.
Walcott’s style reminds me of Marc Overmars so it will be interesting if Wenger continues to play him wide or moves him to a more central position.
A2 – If every player in England who was linked with booze and misbehavior was dumped there would be even fewer English players in the Premiership than there is now. At the end of the day players can get away with a significant level of repeated bad behavior as long as they are doing the job on the park.
Only occasionally do you see managers move players because of discipline problems – far more players are moved because of poor performances. People remember that Ferguson and Wenger moved McGrath and Merson but they sometimes forget that they held on to Robson and Adams.
A3 – I don’t think draws are glorified (in the UK) but when a team with less skill and talent finds a way to get a point or three of a better team I think they deserve credit for it – no matter how it achieved. The alternative is to go and attack with abandon and get stuffed – that is not going to keep the team’s fans very happy. The job of a coach is to provide his team with the best possible chance to win the game. You have a much better chance of winning the game if the game is scoreless or you are only down by a goal than if you 3-0 down after 20 minutes because you started four up front at Old Trafford. The manager’s obligation to his team and its fans – he is not obliged to send out a sacrificial lamb that provides highlight reel goals for the opposition.
A4 – Rating a manager – 1. Player development 2. Winning trophies 3. Success in the transfer market 4. The team being greater than the sum of the pieces 5. Tactically astute and flexible. 6. Lucky.
For the last few years I have considered Capello to be one of the best if not the best but Real Madrid looks to have proved to be too much for even him.
Luiz Felipe Scolari would certainly be close to the top. Lippi and Ferguson are there as well.
Blueblades - Having witnessed Ronaldo score two goals and provide an assist for Milan in their thrilling 4-3 victory over Siena at the weekend I couldn’t help but wonder why Real Madrid were so eager to sell him, especially considering their lack o####oal threat in recent games.
Do you think that Ronaldo's sale could result in Real finishing 3rd or 4th rather than 1st or even 2nd since the rest of the challenging teams all seem to have consistent goal scorers?
Also which sale of a player in recent years do you think proved most detrimental to the success of the selling side's post sale success?
Bobby – I think it might be one of those situations that Ronaldo will make a big difference to Milan but if he had stayed at Real Madrid he wouldn’t have.
As for a player that moved on – good question. I might go for Fernando Hierro when he left Real Madrid. He may have been nearing the end of his career but he represented something that was very different than the Galacaticos syndrome that was fully embraced post-Fernando.
And finally the draw for the quarter finals of the FA Cup…..
Middlesbrough or West Brom vs. Manchester United or Reading. Arsenal or Blackburn vs. Manchester City Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur Plymouth vs. Watford
Plymouth lost to Watford in the semi final in 1984 and narrowly missed out on becoming the only Third Division side to make it to the Final.
I am a bit behind this morning. We went to see country music legend Don Williams last night and so I am going to have to watch the EPL highlights show and the FSWR on tape.
Another wild and woolly weekend. It could not have turned out better for SAF (my thoughts on Fergie the greatest ever can be read tomorrow). Meanwhile we are still waiting to hear why Terry got sent off. Watching the replays of the incident during the match there is something very untoward about it. Terry and a Spurs player (King?) get tangled in the penalty box but there is nothing unusual about that. Then when Terry gets up and starts to move away some of the Spurs players are livid. A ruckus ensues then Terry gets called over and sent off – he says nothing which given what is becoming Chelsea’s natural reaction to referee’s decisions is surprising. Terry did something (I have read elsewhere that he threw a punch but I have yet to see it) otherwise he and the other Chelsea players would surely have reacted. Maybe Terry can come clean and tell Jose.
Anyway on to some weekend articles.
Anthony Stokes is on loan from Arsenal at Falkirk and he is currently the hottest player in Scotland.
Michael Grant on the club that the then Alex Ferguson left twenty years ago. It was a move that all but brought to an end an era when the Old Firm was firmly second class citizen in Scotland.
One of the British games great characters Tommy Docherty (the original man who has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus) has just released on new book “The Doc, Hallowed Be Thy Game.”
Some interesting observations from Stewart Robson on the ability of Jens Lehmann and Edwin van der Sar to start attacks with excellent distribution.
Steve Tongue makes some astute observations about Chelsea. I find it interesting that on a number of occasions since he took over at Stamford Bridge Mourinho has been compared to Brian Clough. It seems to me that Mourinho has more in common with Don Revie. Revie’s Leeds team of the 60’s and early 70’s, although widely admired for the football that they were capable of playing, was widely despised for the cynical win-at-all-costs approach.
…….and now that I have brought up Leeds. After losing on Saturday to Barnsley, Leeds now sit 23rd in the 24-team Championship. Six years after playing in the Champions League semi-final. Leeds and new boss Dennis Wise are facing a relegation battle to avoid what is really Division Three.
Peter Risdale may have lived the dream, but he has the left Leeds to face the nightmare.
