Foolishmoose - I have a tough one for you. Since the majority of my TV time is spent watching FSC, Setanta, GOL and ESPN Soccer programming, and with to my knowledge only ESPN carrying HD, but the minimum amount of soccer programming, my question is, do you have any inside info on when FSC may go HD?

Bobby – Sorry, I do not have a clue what is planned. What’s more I am not looking forward to that day. My imperfections will show up!!!


JayAlves – It’s going to be an interesting transfer season. Kudos to Spurs for firing the first shot and setting the tone as the season isn't even over and teams are going to have to line up their targets quicker or be left in the cold.

Bobby – I find it interesting that the move was made before the European Championships. A good summer tournament would have boosted the price considerably you would have thought.


RonW - Next year I believe they're increasing the number of substitutes who can suit up in the EPL... what effect do you think it will have on the games(if any, besides being better for the big spending/squad teams)?

Bobby – As long as the number that can be used sticks at three I really can’t see how will make much of an impact. Coaches who have been tempted not to name a goalkeeper will no longer have an excuse. Maybe the Premiership missed an opportunity to encourage a little bit more youth development by insisting that at least two of the seven named substitutes be under-21.


Gregz - 1. Bobby, what do you think of Fernando Gago? In recent weeks he has been putting on some remarkable performances for Real Madrid
2. Lots have been said about Hatem Ben Arfa maybe going to Arsenal. If it were to happen do U think he would make it? I'm thinking he is a bit light weight and every summer Arsenal's midfield players get smaller.

Bobby – 1. I have not watched Real Madrid the last two weekends so I can’t really comment on Gago’s recent performances. From what I have seen of him previously I would have said his performances have been underwhelming.

2. How many times has Arsenal been linked with a player they have actually signed? Eduardo, Adebayor, Rosicky, Hleb, Sango? I don’t remember of any of these being on the radar screen prior to signing so I would not put too much reliance on reports of Arsenal’s supposed transfer targets until a deal is actually done.  

As for being light weight – he’s played as a striker (and on the left side) so he can’t be that soft can he? As for summer transfer targets I’ll throw out the name of Luis Suarez as someone one of the big clubs might move for this summer.


Thierry_Henry - I don't know if you watched Liverpool v. Birmingham on the weekend. But the 2nd Birmingham goal should never have counted.  Jahidi was in between the wall and the goal keeper wanting to make it difficult for the keeper to view where the ball is headed. In that case I think he was interfering with play, even if the free kick went right in. Therefore he was offside. What's your take on it?

Bobby – I did watch the game and the referee’s decision was correct. First of all you have to consider the meaning of “interfering” and the regulations provide a clear definition. In terms of interfering with play a player is judged as such if he plays or touches the ball “passed or touched by a team-mate”. As Jahidi did not receive the ball then he cannot have been interfering with play.

Then it is a case of whether or not he was interfering with an opponent. “Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.”

Larsson hit the ball from well outside the penalty box. Reina’s view of Larsson was never hindered or obstructed – you can see that clearly from the camera view from behind the net. The Birmingham player didn’t make a gesture or movement. The goal was rightfully given.


Jahmikes - 1. I think Arsenal's main weak spot is defense and have my opinions, can you give an analysis of our starting defenders and the bench ones, mine is we have a good starting 4 but on the bench we look awful sparse from Traore who was underutilized.

2. Do you think the recall of Vela will become Wenger's answer to his wing problems? I see him and Walcott becoming our version of Nani and Ronaldo.

3. I felt that Torres should have received player of the year due to the many external and internal challenges he faced in his season. Ronaldo's ability is without question but being in a stable team made it much easier for him to shine, wouldn’t you agree?

4. What’s your verdict for tomorrow? I think Ferguson is playing a risky game. He used similar tactics against Roma in the semi's and was able to go through because Roma had no real strike force up front to capitalize on their attacks, Barcelona is a team built to score goals, and if Ferguson plays an open game they will score, if he plays defense it will be a stale mate with Barca going through.

Bobby – 1. Biggest problem is dealing with crosses and high balls down the middle. I don’t see much wrong at full back except perhaps trying to cut down on the balls getting into the box. I don’t see the problem as a lack of depth if your central two are not dominant enough. Fix the first problem before you consider depth.

2. What wing problem and with the exception of Marc Overmars when has Arsène Wenger ever played wingers? Arsenal looks to get width from full backs not wingers. Pinning your hopes on a 19 year-old who has not kicked a ball in English football sounds desperate to me. There is nothing to indicate that Wenger is suddenly going to dump his system to incorporate two rampaging teenage wingers. (I’m not even convinced that Vela and Walcott are going to be wingers in the long-term.)

3. No I wouldn’t agree. The award is supposed to go the best player not the best player in an on-going transatlantic soap opera.

4. I have looked into the crystal ball and I can see United winning 1-0 with Paul Scholes scoring a scorching goal around the 14th minute after Zambrotta makes a hash of a pass. As for Barcelona being built to score goals – this version must have been built on a Monday after a boozy weekend.


LGB -1. Which team (in any top league) has been the most disappointing this season?
2. Do you believe Mourinho will end up in Barca, Madrid or Milan (blue or red)?
3. What do you make of Ballack and Drogba's on-the-field spat? Not much has been made of it because of United's antics and, of course, Chelsea won but is this kind of competitive edge what you need in a game like this, especially at such a crucial time?
4. What do you make of seedings in tournaments such as World Cup, Euro Championships and Euro Cup? Worth it or worthless?
5. How many goals do you see Liverpool needing to score at the Bridge for them to progress? How many for Barca at OT?
6. Final question: Why in the world is the PFA player of the year award handed out before the season is over?

Bobby –1. Barcelona.

2. Yes……or some other team.

3. I thought it was very funny. It was playground stuff.

4. It makes sense to me for a number of reasons. There are also different sort of seedings – there is rankings and also the system that makes sure you don’t draw three CONCACAF teams in the same World Cup Final group.

5. Two for Liverpool. And one for Barcelona!!!!

6. I don’t know and neither do I know why the voting takes place around February.



Jahmikes - How many goals has Arsenal conceded from set plays? And what’s their rank in this statistic?

Bobby – Arsenal 11 of 31. I don’t know how they rank but here are the others from the top six. Aston Villa 14/47; Chelsea 11/25; Everton 12/31; Liverpool 18/27; Manchester United 6/21.


ReggaeGunner - Who's been the best RB for the 07/08 season throughout Europe? I've seen quite a lot of matches still trying to come to a final conclusion.

Bobby – How about Maicon?


Redfan4ever – 1. As the season draws to a close and we all reflect on what has been, I was a wondering what for you have been the best, say top three, highlights of season from the various leagues (not cups) you watch around the world?
2. Norman Hunter was related to Ron Harris and Tommy Smith in some weird way was he not?

Bobby – 1. I will go with these three. Chelsea and Spurs sharing 8 goals in the Premiership. Fiorentina’s 3-2 win over Juventus. Villarreal’s 4-3 away win against Atletico Madrid.

2. Chiseled from the same piece of granite.


Redfan4ever – 1. If Chelsea fork out 55 million for Kaka, who would you see them using as a holding midfielder?
2. Also, do you think they would be able keep Lampard and Ballack happy if Kaka arrives?
3. Do you think Drogba is on the way out this summer especially after his temperamental attitude with Ballack over a free kick and his general demeanor against the Mancs last weekend? I do not think he is happy at all.

Bobby – 1. The same one they were going to use anyway – Mikel.

2. Neither appears to have been particularly happy since Ballack arrived so adding Kaka to mix will not improve the situation.

3. Drogba has been unhappy since Mourinho left so I would not read too much into the Drogba/Ballack tantrums as being some sort of turning point.



LGB - I like the offside rule that is going on right now. If we go back to the other way then we'll get goals like Roy Keane's getting ruled out in the 99 FA Cup semifinal.

Keep the rule the same as it is now. I like the fact that goalies can be "distracted". They are protected way too much as it is.

Bobby - You make a good point. Confusing a keeper is not the same as distracting him.


AlbertaGooner – Who was your team of the season?

Bobby – I’ll wait for the post season to list mine I think.


thewobengonboy - Recently Martin Samuel asked the punters to put forward selection recommendations for Fabio Capello. I was slightly surprised that no one went to bat for Tom Huddlestone. I have seen performances where, on his day, he looks like a poor man's Andrea Pirlo with his range of passing, and seems worthy of a look in an England squad where Beckham is clearly past his best. How do you rate him? Additionally, has Juande Ramos done him any favors by trying him out in defense?

Bobby – He has a great touch and is a very good passer of the ball. His lack of pace and mobility is a problem and that would be a bigger problem at the international level. Huddlestone played a good number of games at Derby in central defense before he moved to Spurs and it might well become his accepted position.


Thierry_Henry - 1 - Given the British malaise of not finishing project in timely manner, i.e.: Wembley stadium, London airport terminal death row, sorry, Heathrow... are you surprised on how smooth the construction of the Emirates stadium went?

2 - Do you think Tottenham Hotspurs will avoid relegation next season?

Bobby – 1. Amazed. Just wait for the Daddy of them all – the 2012 Summer Olympics. It will make the costs overruns for Montreal 1976 look like petty cash.
2. Yes – along with Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United…….


Roseboy64 - Eriksson to be sacked.....What are your opinions?

Bobby – Thirteen points up on last season’s position with two games left - difficult to justify him being fired. Only explanation is Sven becoming another victim of an egomaniac owner.

No doubt Sven will walk away with another big cheque and he does have his new TV career to fall back on this time. However, I think he does have to work on his camera presence – he seems a bit “wooden” – almost puppet-like - at times.


Ringo - Will Hamilton be allowed to play home games at home next season?
I see their ground holds 5,400 will that be enough to keep the SPL happy?

Bobby – They have a Field turf artificial surface at the moment and it is being replaced this summer with under soil heating and a proper grass surface. I don’t know what the situation is with the capacity but my understanding is that the SPL has signed off on Hamilton’s plans.


MasMaz - When do we get your team of the season?

Bobby – At the end of the season and probably with a twist.


Thierry_Henry - Is Rijkaard done? He did not show any desire to win today. Starting Henry on the bench was fatal from what I believe. What's your take?

Bobby – His time was up well before today. He has come to the end of the normal life-cycle of a manager.


Zuco2 - Looking at the recent "achievement" of Zenit in the UEFA cup, does it mean that the Russian League is perhaps a stronger league then we might think?

Bobby – It depends on who “we” are. When CSKA Moscow was on route to their UEFA Cup win of 2005 I suggested that Russian clubs would soon be making their mark in Champions League.

To date that hasn’t happened so from my perspective the Russian teams have been disappointing over the last three seasons in Europe. There is money behind the teams and they have brought in some excellent talent. At the moment they are punching below their weight.

verbal97 - Is there any chance that Platini's plan to limit the number of Champions League places to the big leagues comes to fruition?  I think it's one of those ideas that sounds nice in theory and when campaigning, but is not practical because if implemented perhaps the talk of a Super League gets more traction.

 

realmadridcffan - Now that Platini is the President of UEFA and he has said on record that he wants to limit the amount of UEFA Champions League spots from 4 to three for the big countries (Spain, England, Italy) and spread them around to the smaller countries, what do you think this will do if it does go through, de-value the UEFA Champions League at it's current format of 32 teams? Also do you see any ramifications for the UEFA Cup because of this (i.e.: possible format change)

 

Bobby – This is definitely the question of the week after Platini’s election. Just like any other politician who has just been elected Platini’s political capital is at its maximum. Unfortunately for him the TV deal does not come up for renewal until after the 2009 Champions League.  This almost certainly means that there will be no tampering with the Champions League until a new TV contract is agreed. In the meantime the big clubs in Europe will muster their forces in an effort to make sure that Platini's plan is not implemented. And remember he is only one man with one vote in an executive of 15. In the end, it will probably finish up with some sort of compromise and already there are a number of ideas floating around.  One suggestion I have here heard is that the top three countries will keep their four spots but only one team will be guaranteed a spot in the group stage.  This would leave the other 3 teams to go through the various qualifying rounds.

Another suggestion is that the group stage be expanded to include more teams.  This could be done by increasing the number of groups or by increasing the number of teams in eight groups. Either way it is difficult to see how either option could work without teams having to play more games or without the present knockout rounds being dismantled. As for talk of a European Super League I don't think the big clubs are really interested.  What they really want is a competition limited to the likes of England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.

The UEFA Cup - the competition is already a dog's breakfast and needs a complete revamp. Platini, at one point, did talk about reactivating the European Cup Winners Cup which I think is a good idea if it was restricted to only one club from each country and operated on a straight knockout basis.

Gunner 44 - My question to you is can't Wenger call up one of those players on loan (Stokes, Larsson etc.) instead of buying a new player if injuries become too many?

Bobby – It would depend on the deal that was made.  Some loan deals include the rate of recall at any point, while others are for a set period of time. However, Wenger would have difficulty recalling Anthony Stokes as the Irishman was sold to Sunderland.

Bigdavedisaster – I’ve been in a bit of an argument with a few friends. Who do you think are the 5 biggest clubs currently outside of the premiership? Big as in history and large fan support as in clubs that probably should be in the EPL.

Bobby – What a great question and probably not as easy to figure out as it sounds. I think you would to have separate history over the last 40-50 years from the early stages of the English league.  Here are my 5 pics; Sunderland, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, and West Brom. Birmingham supporters will be after me but they lost out because they have never won the League or FA Cup. Derby County also came very close to making the top five. I am waiting to see your and your mate’s picks.   

Djnima - After Rooney scored his goal against Arsenal and his double against Pompey (I love it when he chips the keeper especially calamity James) commentators said that he had "broken his scoring duck"

I understand that it means he ended his goal drought but I was wondering if there is any significance to the word 'duck' and if there is a story behind it.

Also, how's your fantasy team doing? Do you think it would be a good idea to incorporate the fantasy league more into FSR?

Bobby – “Duck” is a cricket expression and is used when a batsman is “out” before scoring a run. When the batsmen scored his first run is sometimes said that he is off his “duck”. When a batsman is out to the first ball he faces it is referred to in some cricket playing countries as a “royal duck”. As far as Fantasy Football is concerned as of tonight (Tuesday) I am just over 5,000 points and in 300th place – safely above the relegation zone so far. The idea of incorporating a FF feature into FSR has been talked about and it is something you might see next season.

gregz - Recently coach Bora Milutinovic was named as national coach of Jamaica. I know a little about him and his accomplishments of taking 5 different teams to the World Cup, but what else can you tell me about him as a coach and how do you rate him Bobby?

Bobby – Bora has managed 5 countries at the World Cup but I think he may have only seen one of them (Costa Rica) through the qualifying stages. He seems to have fallen a bit out of favour since the 2002 World Cup and although he was linked with the Serbia national team job after last summer’s World Cup nothing came of it. His critics would point to his relatively poor record as a club coach while his supporters will quickly point out that he's taken for countries to the second round at four World Cups - no mean feat.  No matter how he does with Jamaica, there will probably be a country out there willing to hire him given his record. As a sidebar if Carlos Alberto Parreira manages to stick around with South Africa for the next three years he will also have managed five different countries at the World Cup.

 Napier22 - I enjoy your analyses on FSR. You obviously have a good eye for the game and pick up lots of things I don't see. I was just wondering if you have ever done any coaching?

Bobby – Thank you. I coached for a number of years. I got certified a few years after arriving in Canada and followed the usual route taken by most parents - coaching my stepson’s teams while still playing. I then moved on to player/coach for a local senior team and as the legs began to give in that became reduced to coach. Work then intervened and I haven’t coached a team for the last seven years. However, I should add that after attending the NSCAA convention in Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago I sent in a membership application and registration fee.