Ringo - And go Huntly.... Dundee?

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. 

It must be difficult to convince supporters of the three Premiership teams located in the north-east of England that it is the season of good cheer. As it currently stands Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland have played six games over the holiday period and have the sum total of one point to show for it. Even then it required a late equalizer from Mark Viduka to earn the single point against foot-of-the-table Derby County.

A stirring performance against Arsenal in the first week of December seemed to have set Newcastle on the right path as they followed the draw up with wins against Birmingham and Fulham. But the scrambled draw with Derby and an anemic loss to Wigan had Sam Allardyce publically questioning his players.

Full points from these very-winnable four games would have earned Newcastle more breathing space and moved them into a top eight position. As it is, they sit just below mid-table with 26 points with the definite possibility that come the beginning of March that they will not have too many more.

Starting on Saturday with a trip to Stamford Bridge Newcastle will play eight Premiership games with six of them against top half opposition (Manchester City h,  Manchester United h and a, Arsenal a, Aston Villa a), and the other two against Bolton and Middlesbrough at St. James’ Park. There is also a tricky FA Cup third round match in two weeks time away to Stoke City who are currently in the top four of the Championship.

With the team again taking two steps forward and three back Allardyce’s position is again the subject of speculation. You get the feeling that if Big Sam is going to survive then Newcastle has to pull off some big results and pick up a few points over the next two months.  But there again if you are going to be labeled unpredictable then there has to be good times as well as bad – will this weekend be one of the good times?

Only two weeks after losing their unbeaten home record to Manchester United, Liverpool faces the other Manchester side this Sunday. City’s form over the first eight home games this season was nothing short of spectacular with eight wins, thirteen goals scored and only three conceded. The streak extended to nine with a win over Bolton although it took three second half goals to overturn a 2-1 half time lead for Bolton.

Three days later Spurs came to City of Manchester Stadium and pulled off a 2-0 Carling Cup win while playing for almost an hour with ten-men and Blackburn became the first team to leave with a point in the Premiership when they drew on Thursday.

All the signs seem to be pointing to City’s home streak running short on steam. Liverpool needs to keep winning in order to maintain their title aspirations while if City are to remain in the six more home points are crucial. All things point to a cracking good game.

Everton and Arsenal is another good game in prospect. Out of the top four clubs Arsenal drew the toughest holiday schedule. So far the Gunners have mimicked results from last season with a win over Tottenham and a draw at Portsmouth.

They will be hoping that results against Everton (Saturday) and West Ham (Tuesday) are not replicated as they lost both games last season by the same score - 1-0. Goodison has not being a profitable venue for Arsenal with Everton winning three and drawing one of their last five meetings. 

No doubt the Everton coaching staff will have taken notice of Portsmouth’s display on Wednesday in holding Arsenal off the score sheet for the first time this season in the Premiership.

The centre-back partnership of Campbell and Distan were outstanding and the Portsmouth midfield gave Arsenal very little time and space to operate. Everton seem to have similar types of players and with Yakubu and Cahill carrying a scoring threat it could be another tough ninety minutes for Arsenal.

Quick free kicks
Manchester United toyed with Sunderland in midweek cutting their defence to ribbons. Roy Keane has to find an experienced centre back to plug the Sunderland defence – and not one from the Championship.

Scoring streaks - Marcus Bent has scored 7 goals in his last 13 Prem appearances - that was over three months. It took him 90 games and over three years to score his previous seven Premiership goals.

Pity Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz.  He’s scored seven goals in his last four games but during that spell Rovers have lost three games and tied the other.

Henry14 - 1 Bobby what do you learn about United's attack today (Sunday), and l remember you talking about how Samuel Eto'o is probably the most valuable player in the planet because he is so difficult to replace and we saw how it affected Barca, using your same argument do you feel than Tevez and Rooney will complement that well in against deep defending teams and good solid teams with good defenders?
2 Bobby what did you make of the three promoted teams and their performance and especially Birmingham? l thought they look better than people think of them
3 Can you help me about how Wenger is 13/2 to get fired and do you think martin Jol will be at spurs next season if they do not win a trophy or break into the top four?
4 Do you think Ronaldo looks fat or there is something wrong with my TV
5 There is talk of Alves going to Chelsea and l do not think he is a good defender he is just like Evra and Eboue , not good defenders but excellent going forward, how would you describe Mr. Alves

Bobby 1. Rooney and Tevez will work fine together when the chance presents itself and they get a few games together under their belts. Even if they don't it is a gamble well worth taking.
2. If a newly promoted team stinks in the first couple of games then they generally have no chance of staying up. This is particularly true at home. Even then there are a good number of examples of promoted teams that flew out of the blocks only to be relegated.
3. My error – should have read 13/1. It was corrected in last week’s blog response and in the preview.
4. I don’t know I haven’t seen your TV. He might be big boned.
5. He’s really more of a wingback than a full back – the heir to Cafu (although Maicon looks pretty good as well).

Ohphuque – I’m surprised more folks aren’t in for the Portuguese fullback Miguel; he seems perfect for the EPL. I didn’t see much of Valencia last term so I don’t know how his club season went, maybe atleti can fill us in, but he looked a real menace at the World Cup. How do you rate this player?

Bobby – Excellent player and he had an excellent Euro 2004 when he replaced Ferreira.

Venti_vidi_vici - 1. What to you make of the incredible number of foreigners in the EPL this season? At last count there were 330 from 66 different countries; 50 more than last season, and for the first time ever they outnumber their English counterparts. In the inaugural EPL season in 1992 there were a total of 11 foreigners in the league. Arsenal has 22 foreigners and 2 locals; Liverpool's ratio is 18 and 5. This without mentioning that all the major managers and owners are also foreign.

2. What is the British Government trying to do about this? What can they do and why are they considering intervening? Is this because they fear that this is a short term phenomenon which could leave the English game in ruins, or are they just trying to help the national team?

Bobby – 1. The EPL is caught in their own marketing hype. To match what they claim about being the best league in the world the teams are “forced” to buy foreign players – mostly because they are better than the home-bred variety – and foreign clubs know that EPL teams will overpay. Having said that the league is infinitely better than it was 15 years ago. It will come at a price and the price is performances at the international level. If you go back and read about the formation of the EPL one of aims was to improve performances at the international level. The FA got sucked in on that one!
2. The government is limited to granting or not granting work permits to foreign players. You have to differentiate between players with an European Union passport (that entitles them to sign and play for any UK team) and non EU passport holders such as South Americans and Americans. Because of EU rules concerning freedom of movement for workers the “foreign player” numbers are somewhat distorted. What you really need in numbers by English players, other UK, other EU and foreign players. In addition any government that starts to stick a nose too deeply into the affairs of a national association runs the real risk of FIFA withdrawing sanction for the teams to participate in club and international competition.

Bigdavedisaster - I believe you said last year that you believed Berbatov was the transfer that made the biggest impact. Who will it be this year? Along the same lines who will be the bust?

Bobby – I will go for Malouda as the player to make the biggest impact and Roque Santa Cruz as one of the biggest busts. Santa Cruz’s goals coring in Germany has averaged around a goal every five games (in a league in which more goals are scored than the EPL) and I don’t see Bayern Munich selling a 25-year-old striker who looks to have all the tools if they didn’t have good reason to doubt his consistency.

Usa2010 - What really stuck out in the first round of the EPL was the value o####ood GK. While we all know that a good GK is invaluable, it was painfully obvious when you look at the Man Utd/Reading game and the Chelsea/Birm game. Put average keepers in goal for Reading and Birm, and Man Utd wins easily and Birm ties, or even wins. Also, with all the goal keeping woes at Man Utd, why don't you think SAF never looked at Friedel a few years back? I was always surprised his name was never mentioned. The guy is consistent in goal at a very, very high level.

Bobby – I’m assuming you mean when he signed Van der Sar. As for why SAF didn’t go after him – I have no idea.

Neophyte - I hope you read all the way down here. I have a question for you. Of the American goalkeepers in the EPL, who do you rate #1, 2 and 3? Do you think Chris Seitz (the US U-20 keeper) will get his turn to keep for a European club anytime soon?

Is there another midfielder from England as skilled as Gerrard in your opinion? (I officially don't like Liverpool but I will watch them play anytime Stevie G is playing. That free kick was incredible)

Bobby – GK Friedel, Howard, Hahnemann. Goalkeepers mature a lot later than outfield players so I don’t think there is any rush to get to Europe. He would be just as well getting experience and playing time – waiting a few years doesn’t seem to have hurt the other US keepers.
If you are meaning an English midfielder rather than a midfielder playing in England then I would have to say that nobody can match Gerrard in my opinion.

George11Best - What is your take on Cagliari and Mallorca?

Bobby – Nice places to visit? As far as their fooball teams are concerned - the upside is mid table with a relegation fight in their respective leagues a possibility.

This game may have only produced a single goal but it was entertaining throughout as both sides contributed to an excellent game of football. Austria settled more quickly into the game and it took Chile fifteen minutes or so to establish their usual pattern to the game.

Both goalkeepers were forced into some excellent saves in the first half but when the goal came it was from an unlikely source. As the first half moved into injury time a Chile cross was swung into the penalty area where centre back Hans Martinez connected from about ten yards out. Hit with accuracy more than power it was still enough to give Chile a half-time lead. A defender on the left post would have cleared the ball but there was none to be found.  

The start of the second half mirrored that of the first with Austria out of the gate more quickly. Okotie cracked one of Chile’s crossbar and when the rebound fell to Harnik his shot forced a great toe save out of Toselli.

Five minutes later Austrian centre back Madl was sent off for a second yellow card but Austria continued to press forward. However, with a more predictable and slow build up they did not create as many clear-cut chances as they should have.

In turn Chile looked to the counter attack and on more than one occasion they should have put the game beyond any shadow of doubt. Peralta was particularly at fault when he was clean through with only Lukse in the goal to beat. After pushing the ball wide Peralta was about to pull the trigger when the Austrian keeper picked the ball of his toe.

But there was still more drama left in this one. With only two minutes to go Austrian substitute Martin Harnik finally beat Toselli only for Martinez to save the day. He was able to block the ball on the ball and as it spun in the air back towards the goal line Toselli recovered to paw the ball away.

This was an unexpectedly good game with some excellent defending from both sides. Goalkeepers Lukse and Toselli produced some top-drawer saves while at the heart of the Chile defense the underrated Martinez and Larrondo were again outstanding. Both come from the Carlos Gamarra School of Defending that emphasizes the minimum of fuss and desperation. And finally a mention to Austrian captain Sebastian Proedl. The Sturm Graz centre back has already been capped for the full national team and we can be certain that will see more of him next summer as Austria co-host Euro 2008.

Oh and Padraig Harrington just beat Sergio Garcia in a play off at the British Open.   

I am watching the first half of the game but I have to leave to tape the FSR for Monday. I know that there are a good number of fans looking to post comments so here you are.

Bornstein was badly caught out on the Paraguay opener. Clark struck the equalizer very well.

 You find out very quickly that there is no group quite as quick as the David Beckham Fan Club to react to any slight to their hero. Some months ago, when I wrote that Beckham would be unlikely to make the 2008 European Championship let alone the next World Cup I received some “enlightened feedback.” 

The more “sensible” comments ranged from “Beckham would still be the same player in four years time” to “he would have a new role in the centre of the England midfield as a defensive midfield player.” The other comments – you don’t want to know.

However, earlier today Steve McClaren effectively ended Beckham’s England career at age 31 and after 94 caps, by omitting him from the squad to play Greece in a friendly. By acting now McClaren has made an astute decision. McClaren knows that he would have had to make this decision sooner rather than later and by opting for sooner he has sent a message that he is not Sven II.

The call to drop Beckham during the World Cup was, in my opinion, undeserved given that he was essentially the major difference in three games between a win and a draw – Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador. The clamour to replace him with Aaron Lennon appeared to be more of a knee-jerk reaction to a couple of impressive substitute appearances by Lennon. After all coming off the bench and playing well against tiring sides is a different challenge than starting a game.

Perhaps Beckham became the lightning rod for criticism that should have been placed at Sven-Goran Eriksson’s door given his bizarre squad selection. However, the feelings engendered by Beckham with English fans have always been a bit fickle – no not fickle, extreme.

The highs – the winning free kick against Greece to take England to the 2002 World Cup and the penalty he dispatched to beat Argentina at the tournament. The lows – the petulant flick that earned him a red card against Argentina in 1998 and, as some would have it, his performance this past summer.

At the core of England’s fluctuating and seemingly inconsistent views on Beckham is his endless self-promotion and seeking of headlines. Even his tearful announcement at the World Cup that he would be stepping down as England captain was not his announcement to make. The captain is appointed by the manager and no player should think that he has the privilege to resign the position any more than he does to appoint himself captain.

With his international career now at an end, Beckham can now concentrate on his club football with Real Madrid. However, at the moment he is about to enter the last year of his contract at the Bernabeu and the self assured announcements from the end of last year of a contract extension are ringing rather hollow. How long before the MLS seriously beckons Beckham?

McClaren’s first squad is as follows. Goalkeeper - Robinson (Tottenham), Kirkland (Liverpool), Foster (Man Utd); Defenders - Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), A Cole (Arsenal), Dawson (Tottenham), Ferdinand (Man Utd), G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Everton), Terry (capt, Chelsea), Young (Charlton); Midfield - Downing (Middlesbrough), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Richardson (Man Utd), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea); Strikers - Ashton (West Ham), Bent (Charlton), Crouch (Liverpool), Defoe (Tottenham).

However, as the smoke clears on the Beckham decision we can surely expect to hear praise for the recall of Philip Neville can’t we?  

Allback has certainly had his share of chances but he seems to be snakebitten.

One od Freddie Ljunberg's strengths is arriving in penalty box late. He does it again and finishes off a well constructed  move with a header.

Whistle goes and ####mp;T has now suffered twice from late goals today.

Paraguay is out. ####mp;T hopes have been hit hard but still have a chance.  Sweden is favourite to join England and with a win they could lead the group.

On the other hand Sweden could qualify while only scoring 1 goal. From what I can discover that scenario has only happened once before when two teams have qualified from group play.

Can anyone guess what country and when?

Did I mention Sweden hasn't lost to England since 1968? I should make sure I e mail Nick W on that one.

Man of the Match - Freddie Ljunberg - tireless.

Ibrahomovic is off and Allback is on. A groin injury is supposedly the problem.

Allback has added some ####e to the Swedish attack. He beats the offside trap only to have his chip over the keeper cleared off the line by Denis Caniza. A great defensive play and still no score.

Paraguay give us the first look at Julio dos Santos (Bayern Munich). Dos Santos is a rumoured to be a Riquelme type playmaker.

You can't question Sweden's drive but it is all a bit frantic. Perhaps the weather is too cool, if it was warmer maybe they would settle down?

By the way I wasn't serious there.

Sweden has come out looking to score goals but to date they have only fired blanks.

Paraguay look uncomfortable with the pace of the game but they have still created a half chance or two.

Another tie here and England will be guaranteed top place but it sure would mean an interesting last round of games.

It was a bad day for....

Paraguay's captain Carlos Gamarra put through his own goal with the game just underway and it turned out to be the only goal England needed.

English fans who expected a win and an entertaining performance. (Historical note - when England won the World Cup in 1966 Alf Ramsay was absolutely slaughtered for England's performance in the their first game a 0-0 draw with Uruguay).

Anyone Swedish and in particular Lars Lagerback the Swedish coach. Lagerback makes Sven look like a maverick.

It was a good day for....

English fans who were happy just to win and to start the World Cup on the right foot.

All of Trinidad and Tobago who pulled off a stunning draw against Sweden despite playing almost all of the second half with 10 men after left back Avery John collected a second yellow card.

Leo Beenhakker the ####mp;T coach who reacted to John sending off by pulling off an attacking player (Collin Samuel) and replacing him with Cornell Glen, another attacker. Glen then proceeded to rattle the crossbar and almost win the game.

Juan Roman Riquelme who set up both Argentine goals in their win over the Ivory Coast.

And the most overstated fact of the day...

Trinidad and Tobago is the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup.

Lagerback has left it late before taking off his holding midfield player Linderoth. What is with conservative Swedish coaches? Kallstrom is on in his place. Another chance drops to Allback and Hislop (former Baltimore Blast player) pulls off another great save!

If Ecuador's win was an earth tremor a ####mp;T-Sweden draw would be an earthquake - on second thoughts I'm in LA and perhaps I shouldn't be mentioning the big E word!

Another chance for Sweden as the ball is played across an open goal and then Edwards again makes a great saving tackle.

The Swedish pressure is constant but the####mp;T defense is bending but so far they have not broken.

Last five minutes - England and Paraguay fans are rooting for ####mp;T. Come to think of it everyone except Sweden are hoping ####mp;T hold on.

Well that was a pretty dire second half. Paraguay was able to hold the ball in the middle of the park but they created virtually nothing. England, rather than putting this one away, sat back hoping that Paraguay might open the game up and throw players forward.

Three valuable points for England over what might turn out to be their toughest group opposition. Crouch picked up a yellow card so he had better behave in the next game against ####mp;T. We await Sven's comments on Owen's substitution.

Man of the Match - David Beckham, his contribution was limited but highly effective.

Only a few minutes in and England go into the lead. Perfecctly flighted fre kick from David Beckham curled in from the left side and Gamarra deflects it passed his own keeper. Almost a replica of a free kick from Beckham against Hungary 10 days away in a friendly. Paraguay did not do their home work.

Things have just got worse for Paraguay - keeper Villar injures himself and has to leave the game. The way things look England could kill this game in the next 20 minutes.