Patrick Barclay on Chelsea’s debt to the late Boris Yeltsin.
Duncan Castles on one of the world’s great players – in a number of positions – Michael Essien.
David Lacey asks why defenders are so often overlooked when it comes the time to dish out awards.
Stephen Brunt describes Toronto FC’s biggest star – BMO Field.
From a regular blog contributor Flashman – the arrival of Toronto FC.
A regular corresponder Michael Carlson brought up an interesting idea last week. He pointed out that a lot of fans record games to watch later but often don’t really know if the game is worth watching or a real dog. The blog community constitutes a wide range of soccer tastes and hours of game watching each week.
So if you have seen a game this week that you consider a “must-see” let’s hear about and conversely if you suffered through ninety minutes of tedium here is your chance to issue a consumer warning.
On a weekend when Lyon, Celtic and Inter sew up their respective league championships, PSV and Barcelona decide to make what looked to be straight forward tasks much more difficult.
A late equalizer by Utrecht against PSV means that a win for AZ Alkmaar next week against Excelsior will give AZ their first title since 1981. It could be the first time in 26 seasons that the big three of Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord have failed to lift the title. Quite the triumph for Louis Van Gaal.
Robert Pires gains a measure of revenge for being substituted in last season’s Champions League Final against Barcelona after Jens (short for Jennifer I understand) Lehmann was sent off. Pires scores the first goal and Barcelona’s miserable away form continues. They still lead Seville by a point and Real Madrid by two (and Sevilla and Real Madrid have still to play each other) but you have to think that Barca’s inability to kill off the chasing pack only gives the likes of Sevilla and Real Madrid more hope and confidence.
Cristaino Ronaldo and Shunsuke Nakamura pick up player of the year awards in England and Scotland.
And finally the last word goes to Nigel Winterburn the former Arsenal full back and colour commentator for Saturday's Manchester United vs. Boro match. "Rio touches his groin and shakes his head."
Stephen Brunt is Canada's best sportswriter by a considerable length. He is also one of the few Canadians in the mainstream media that knows and understands the game. Here is a piece he did just prior to Toronto FC's debut on Saturday against Chivas. Brunt also appears regularly on radio with Canada's version of Jim Rome - a man called Bob McCowan. However, to date no one has asked McCowan to do anything that would be deemed illegal in some US states.
A nostalgia piece in the Dundee Evening Telegraph and a look at a much younger yours truly.
Ian Bell senses that the trouble we have seen this season at Champions League and UEFA Cup matches has the game, one more, on an ugly path.
Jonathon Northcott on a player who may turn out to be one of the bargains of this season.
Patrick Barclay says that it is “Athens or bust” for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.
Antonio Rattin has been invited to the opening of New Wembley.
An Iranian movie about a group of women willing to sacrifice a lot in an attempt to watch a game of football.
It was a very good weekend of football. The Premiership tightened at both ends. Real Madrid drew closer to Spanish leaders after Barcelonma lost and Sevilla drew. Valencia opted to rest players before the Champions League second leg and that helped Athletic Bilbao out the bottom three in La Liga.
The top four in Germany all won but Borussia Monchengladbach seem to be running of of games at the other end of the table.
MLS got underway and I took in the Colorado Rapids - DC United and Chivas - Toronto FC matches.
Coming up this week - Monday league games in England, plus Champions League and UEFA Cup between Tuesday and Thursday. And finally in anticipation of a couple of questions (a) no Arsenal should not fire Arene Wenger, (b) Arsenal will not sell Thierry Henry this summer and (c) I still believe Arsenal will finish no lower than fourth in the Premiership this season!!
And finally, finally - I've noticed some new names posting comments the last couple of weeks - welcome to all of you and thank you to all the regular contributors and readers.
In a number of provinces in Canada we can bet legally on sports courtesy of the government. The down side is the Russian Mob would probably give better odds than we can get on what is known as Pro Line. Included on Pro Line is the Premiership. Over the couple of years I have got into the habit of dropping by the local store on the way home from doing the Friday Fox Soccer Report.
My weekly wager is very small but it does add something extra to the weekend's soccer action. I try to avoid the early Saturday game because if you get that one wrong then your are screwed. Luckily this weekend was one of the few occasions when the govermment gets to return some of that money to me. I picked six games and all came good. The picks (all to win) were Bolton, Charlton, Manchester City, Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham.
Here are some articles that caught my eye over the weekend.
Stewart Fisher with a piece on Paul Dalglish of The Houston Dynamo. Apparently Paul’s father was quite a good player. Unfortunately Mr. Fisher can’t get the name of the Dynamo’s coach correct!
Gabriele Marcotti takes a look at how Roma have changed under the very underrated Luciano Spalletti. Totti has never been rated by the English media. I wonder if that will still be the case in a few weeks time.
Patrick Barclay takes a look at a player born just miles from Old Trafford who is out to stop Manchester United.
Steve Tongue points out that seven of the eight remaining Champions league teams are skippered by home-town players.
A little piece on Northern Ireland hero David Healey.
Finally a piece from Hugh McIlvanney on the behaviour of some England fans in Barcelona last Wednesday. It includes this stiletto - “All their efforts to masquerade as passionate patriots driven to condemnatory fury by the inadequacies of McClaren and his men could not begin to conceal the revolting truth that most of the snarling, bellowing viciousness came from look-at-me exhibitionists so absorbed in masturbation of their emotions that their favourite insult had an autobiographical ring.”
A big week coming up with the Champions League and UEFA Cup taking centre stage.
David Lacey comments on some of the moves during the transfer window in England.
Stuart James with a feature on Derby County manager Billy Davies who has taken them to the top of Championship.
A look at the situation in Italy after Friday’s rioting and the death of a policeman. The article draws comparisons to England’s crisis of twenty years ago. Ironically the current situation may mean that Italy will not win the right to host the 2012 European Championships. The influx of government funding and improved stadia that would flow from a successful bid seems to be one of the things that is desperately needed.
Patrick Barclay – another Dundee supporter – discusses the move by the likes of Brazil to play international games at neutral venues in England.
Jason Burt looks at the pursuit of Javier Mascherano by Rafa Benitez.
Stewart Fisher suggests that a push from the Celtic countries may lead to the Home International Championships being resurrected – even if it is in a modified version.
Another great article from David James – this one on why we need to love our referees. Nigel Martyn’s habit of shaking hands with the referee after the game is one that should be passed on to all young players.
If you are to read one article this week then try this one by David Runciman.
Gabriele Marcotti measures Wayne Rooney against various definitions of greatness.
Michael Grant debates whether the Celtic win over Benfica may have just moved Gordon Strachan up a notch or two in the managerial rankings and Celtic folklore.
Patrick Barclay considers Michel Platini’s run at the top job in Europe. This is a story that will build over the next few months until the election in January. Part of Platini's agenda appears interesting and worthwhile but his history of supporting Blatter means that his candidacy has a distinctive and unpleasant odour hanging over it.
Finally, after a weekend when we had Manchester United vs. Liverpool and Real Madrid vs. Barcelona and with the Milan derby scheduled for this coming Saturday, a question to ponder. If you had to choose one match to attend over all others, what would it be? It has to be two clubs or countries facing each other and nothing as nebulous as the World Cup Final or the FA Cup Final.
The injuries to Cudicini and esppecially Petr Cech is top of mind. Tony Cascarino still considers the position between the posts to be the safest on the park. There is also a list of severe injuries suffered by goalkeepers. When I started to watch football there were no substitutes and teams would always have their designated outfield player ready to take over if the goalkeeper went down injured.
Rod Little on the subject of what does Steve McClaren write in his notebook. As an aside most fans would have noticed Jose Mourinho scribbling away during a game. But according to the excellent biography by Patrick Barclay it is something that only happens in the first half and is for his use at halftime. In the second half Mourinho considers it a pointless exercise.
Brian Glanville looks at the acquisition of Tomas Rosicky and a historical perspective of other Arsenal playmakers.
Mark Hodkinson on something that is bound to resonate with nostalgia buffs. A book is to be published this week on the late Peter Adolph – the inventor of Subbuteo.
And last and certainly least - is the strip that Bolton’s wore on Sunday the ugliest in the Premiership and if not which one is worst? Which team has the worst strip in the Premiership. For those that missed it it is the clour of something you find hardened on a pavement on Sunday morning.
Gabriele Marcotti takes a look at Jose Pekerman, Coach of Argentina, and the play of Javier Mascherano. Mascherano shone at the 2004 Copa America and it looks as if he has only improved.
Michael Grant looks at England's progress so far and includes a comment from former England star Trevor Steven on ####mp;T's Chris Birchall outplaying Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
A piece on Guus Hiddink and his Australian charges.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Thank you to all who take time to visit this blog and especially to those of you who post your comments and thoughts.
PS - If you have questions please post them on the regular Monday blog. I am unable to answer e mails posted to the inbox on this site.
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