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.

Venti_vidi_vici asks about the foul on John Terry versus Blackburn that led to a penalty kick.

Bobby – I did not see the penalty as a dive at all. If Ooijer is going to wrap his arms around Terry then the only way Terry is going to remain on his feet is if he stands still. As soon as he moves, he is bound to fall, which he did. For anyone to claim that it was not a penalty then they will have to explain how wrapping arms around someone is not a foul.

 Eponymous - Any chance you can make any extended comments on the Tottenham-Everton match and whether it bodes well for Everton (and/or ill for Tottenham) for the rest of the season?

Bobby – I thought that after Kilbane went off Everton were terrific. Howard had very little to do until Everton tired in the last 10 minutes or so. The central defensive pairing looked very good and quick and the full backs hardly put a foot wrong. Carsley was immense in front of the back four and Arteta and Osman dictated the game for large periods of time. Tottenham just could not handle the pace and mobility of Johnson (his goal was as good as any I have seen this season so far) and he looked as if he was enjoying himself. As for Spurs – they need Ledley King back sooner rather than later and in midfield, they need to sort out who the playmaker is. No one seemed to want to take that responsibility. It looks as if Spurs are adding to their squad before the transfer window. Mido signed on Tuesday and there are reports that Chimbonda will arrive from Wigan and Steed Malbranque from Fulham. Wayne Routledge is supposed to moving on to Fulham while Lee Young-pyo will  join Roma. And Eponymous we expect nothing less than a detailed account of your first Merseyside derby on September 9.

Hoodedclaw – Please see below my recent email to FIFA regarding the Oscar nominees that have found their way into the beautiful game.
I was going to wait until the middle of the season to see if there has been any improvement in the officiating, but after the weekend’s ludicrous penalty decisions at Charlton and the sending off of Kevin Kilbane, as a result of the quite spectacular theatrics of Young-Pyo Lee, I feel it worth mentioning now.
I am also happy to report that Chelsea’s Drogba had a perfect opportunity to hit the dirt on Sunday, but the ‘new’ Drogba decided on this occasion to persevere and score a gem o####oal.
I am a Chelsea fan (since 1966) and have been recently embarrassed by his (Drogba) and Robbens antics. Hopefully together we can put enough pressure on FIFA to do something about this?
Dear Sir/Madam
I have no doubt that you have received many emails on this subject, some perhaps offering a solution. Here is mine. I understand that most games now have a TV monitor, which is or can be watched by the 4th Official. Your reluctance to use this facility for instant replays is, I believe, based on the fact that these replays will slow the game down. I disagree with this. In the time, it would take for the 4th Official to replay the contended incident, even in slow motion, more often than not, the players will still be arguing with the Referee! In any situation, whether it is a penalty, foul, violent conduct or even players vying for an Oscar, the incident can be viewed and a decision made and transmitted to the referee.

Bobby – But isn’t this predicated on the belief that a replay will make it clear what the right decision should be? The problem is that a video replay usually only goes to support the viewer / fans original opinion so you will be no further forward. I watched the Everton – Tottenham game and did not see any theatrics from Lee nor have I seen anything to indicate that the referee felt he made a wrong decision. So are you saying that if there had been a video replay capability and the referee had still sent Kilbane off that you would have accepted it - not because you thought it was right but because a video replay was used?

 Laguna22 - Bobby, when a player goes down and writhes on the floor in agony, only to go off and return again next whistle, the game is brought into disrepute. Why can't FIFA institute a "minimum out" period -- if you are in such agony that you must leave the pitch for the magic spray from the physio, you cannot return to the pitch for three minutes minimum? This would put the diver's club at almost a hockey-esque power play disadvantage; obviously if the player was legitimately hurt, his substitute could come on immediately.

Bobby – You view seems to be based on the premise that anyone who goes down in agony and recovers within a short period of time (say a minute for arguments sake) is a diver. I do not agree with that. Anyone who has had a set of studs rip across almost bare bone or has been on the receiving end of knees cracking together in a tackle knows that the pain is intense for a short time and then disappears very quickly. From what I have seen in the Premiership so far, the directive to the players that referees are responsible for stopping the game and not the players, has worked very well. Under your proposal, a player could get his teeth knocked out but he if the trainer was called on then he would be required to stay off for three minutes – that hardly seems fair.

 GeorgeWeah - I'm having a hard time finding the US national team. Are you guys stashing them up in the hinterlands of Canada?
Seriously, the absolute drop in news that has taken place re: US squad is frustrating. I understand they won't be playing anytime soon but it would be nice to know what is going on with the coaching search and the timetable. Then again, that would mean we need someone in the media to step up and ask that question.
Couple questions: not going to ask you who the US Federation should hire, rather, I want to ask you what kind of coach (and style) they should be looking at? Also, is there a player or 2 players that you think deserves a look for a call-up that got overlooked by Bruce Arena (not someone like Twellman, rather, more under the radar).
Thanks a lot, Bobby!

Bobby – Jamie Trecker is working a story so keep checking his blog for an update before the end of the week. Players will come and go as part of the natural cycle but I do not think Arena made a mistake in his choice of players to take to Germany.

djnima - Do you believe that Hargreaves is worth all of this fuss from SAF? Where would he fit in the midfield? With Carrick and Scholes? Surely all 3 cannot be on the field at the same time. Thoughts?
Also, where do you think Tevez is going? It doesn't sound like he's going to Man U which will probably mean he's going to Chelsea and being loaned out. Thoughts?

Bobby – Hargreaves is not worth the money that is being suggested in the media. Anything over $10M and someone would be overpaying in my opinion. However, I do not think you can question it on the basis that United already Scoles and Carrick particularly given that they are quite different players. Scoles plays much further forward and although Carrick plays deep, he is very much a playmaker while Hargreaves is a defensive midfield player with very little attacking flair. As for Tevez – I really do not know but I doubt Chelsea.

 Los Angeles Chelsea Fan - Bobby thanks for continuing with this. I'm going to re-ask a question I asked last week since it seems to be getting coverage in the media.
If Chelsea's "Wingless Wonders" (as even Chelsea's own website is now referring to themselves), bought a wide right sided player this week who might that be? Bobby or anyone have an idea?
Thanks
FYI. This morning Boularouz admitted on TV that it's 4 years since he played at right back and it was not in the same attacking mould as Wayne Bridge.

Bobby – Mauro Camoranesi. I do not think anyone who saw Boularouz at the WC would be surprised that he is not an attacking full back – with the ball anyway.

 The Gaffer - Bobby, the question I have for you is whether you would ever be interested in becoming a full-time football analyst.
Bobby – I think it would be difficult to make a decent living as a full time soccer analyst in North America no matter how much the game is growing. At the moment, I probably have the best of both worlds. I operate my own business – I work with organizations that are hosting major sporting events – and that provides me with flexibility in terms of watching games and keeping up to date. When I travel on business, I can generally make it midweek so not to miss the FSWR. 

 Reggae Boy 23 - What on earth was up with Arsenal this weekend? I know it's early in the season and I'm not about to panic yet BUT watching that game was like a slow and painful torture. I mean seriously is there some law that you can't take a shot unless you're standing directly in front of and empty net? Believe me I love to watch the beautiful one touch, give and go, crisp passing football and short of Barcelona and an in form Real Madrid no club team on earth plays a more beautiful brand of football than Arsenal, BUT there comes a time when you have to take a crack Right?!
Personally I blame Henry. As the captain of such a young squad, I feel that he needed to set the tempo for the game and although he found himself in space on a number of occasions and timed his runs well. His demeanor around the penalty area was very laxed and uninspiring. His touch let him down on a number of occasions and he generally seemed to lack that sharpness we've grown accustomed too. All in all, though our general play throughout the game was positive and we were extremely unlucky not to score, denied by the post twice and a few brilliant saves by the keeper, but there was a serious lack of composure in front of goal and a certain lack of toughness in the midfield I feel.
And finally your thoughts on Justin Hoyte (*SIGH*). I really don't even want to get into what I thought of his performance (there may be children reading this) but let’s just say not his best performance (possibly the understatement of the millennium). Defensively I think we'll need a bit more strengthening up to compete with the better squads, but for the most part I thought they were ok except for the aforementioned player who's name I shall not speaketh again Let me know what you think.

Bobby – It went beyond Henry – there were a number of guilty parties who either passed the ball off to someone in a poorer position or took too long to get the shot away. I did not think Justin Hoyte’s performance was dreadful by any means. When you create a dozen or more chances and do not score, I do not think the left back is the logical player to criticize. He is still a young player and I think it is premature to write him off.  

Coreydan - Didn't get to see the FSW Report last night; how do you rate Zambrotta's debut with Barcelona?

Bobby – Sorry I cannot help you as I did not see the game.

 Redfan4ever - Bobby, last week's speaker's corner you were calling Crouchy a dud and then he up and scored again this weekend! Any further observations?
Also, Dirk Kuyt started and his first 40 minutes were fiery. Rafael Bentitez has real striker options for the first time in 3 years. Do you see this change likely to improve Liverpool's fortunes?
What price Portsmouth's chance of European footy next year?

Bobby – Ah yes. I think I have to put my hand up and admit that describing Crouch as a dud was overkill. However, using Crouch’s scoring statistics for England is a perfect example of how statistics can lie. My contention is that he is a role player and nothing more. His height obviously bothers defenders but I don’t think he is particularly good in the air. He scores a goal about every four Premiership games and last season he only completed 7 out of the 32 Premiership games he played in. Even though it was only 40 minutes, Kuyt looked to be a much better long-term option. I suspect that Liverpool fans will quickly take to Kuyt at Crouch’s expense if he can maintain his debut performance. As for Portsmouth and European football – I would still consider that a very long shot.

Kopper - In today's Guardian Kevin McCarra makes the argument the small nations such as Andorra and San Marino devalue international soccer. It is suggested later in the article that there should be a qualifying round similar to the champions’ league to remove some of the weaker nations. What is your opinion of this? It could certainly go some way to relieving fixture congestion.

Bobby – Kevin McCarra makes some very good points in the article. There are also some good comments from readers. In terms of fixture congestion caused by padding the groups with “smaller” countries, the simple solution is to move to a qualifying system in which only the winner goes through. I believe Africa and UEFA are of similar size and African World Cup qualifying is reserved for the winner only. On average, it would make a massive difference in the number of games that would be needed in order to qualify from UEFA. However, that radical a solution is unlikely. I can see were McCarra’s idea could actually add something to the competition given that the smaller countries would have something to strive for – even if it was only the right to be mauled in World Cup qualifying proper.

 Henry 14 - Bobby l wanted to know what you feel about the Senna issue that Man Utd will sign players who are English alone due to sponsors because l have to say it makes little sense to me as they have made a bid for Trezeguet who is a French man, he wanted Vieira .l feel he was put off by the age factor and that he was not willing to risk a big fee for someone who needed to adjust to the Prem and in Owen and Vieira he would had gambled with higher fees because they understand the Premiership .what do you think about this?

Bobby – Well you have me on that one because it is certainly news to me that United has an English only policy. It probably comes a bit of a surprise to the legion of non-English players that United currently have on their books as well. As an aside, my understanding was Senna’s fee was not big. As for Owen, United were never serious bidders and Vieira was more speculation than any real interest.

Only one of the teams that finished 11th through 15th last season showed an improvement on the previous season. Even then, Fulham could only look to an improvement of one place from 13th to 12th and that was not a true reflection of a season where the relegation zone was a constant threat.

Everton fans will be hoping that the pattern of David Moyes’ four full seasons in charge continue. It has been a yo-yo existence 2003 – 7th, 2004 - 17th, 2005 – 4th and last season 11th. Moreover, given a much-improved second half to last season the indications are that it could mean that Everton is again challenging for a top 10 spot. Last season the goal-scoring department at Goodison was simply woeful with only 34 goals – a record club low – in the 38 Premiership games. It would have been substantially less if James Beattie had not started hitting the target in December. He finished with ten goals and finally showed why David Moyes had splashed out a club record fee to sign him in January 2005.

Now Beattie will be partnered with the club’s new record signing Andy Johnson. For $17m, Everton has a lightning quick main striker who should be good for 15 goals this season. Over the last decade, the best has been Kevin Campbell’s even dozen in the 1999/2000 season.

After arriving on loan from Manchester United Tim Howard will be looking to take Nigel Martyn’s starting position between the sticks although the sometimes-bumbling Richard Wright will be hoping for the same thing. The signing of Joleon Lescott from Wolves will bolster the back four with the biggest doubt being Lescott’s dodgy knees. If he avoids injury, Lescott could turn out to be a snip at $9m.

Fulham’s manager Chris Coleman will again be one of the favourites to be the first manager sacked once the season is underway. He came under severe pressure last season as the Cottagers spend much of the season flirting with relegation. For the second straight season, it was Fulham’s inability to keep the ball out of their net that caused a problem.

Over their first three seasons in the Premiership Fulham conceded 44, 50, and 46 goals. Over the last two seasons, the total has grown to 60 and last season 58. To date is difficult to see how Coleman intends to plug his leaky back four. Twenty-year-old central defender Gabriel Zakuani has been signed from Leyton Orient while last week Frank Queudre arrived from Boro to compete for the left back position. Jimmy Bullard will add something to the Fulham midfield but without a solid defense, it might be another season spent eyeing the Premiership trap door.

Alan Curbishley has moved on from the Valley leaving Ian Dowie the challenge of getting more out a Charlton squad that seems stuck in mid-table purgatory. The last six seasons have seen league placings of 9, 14, 12, 7, 11, and 13. Relegation rarely a concern; Europe a win or two too far.

Dowie might be able to coax some exceptional performances out of the squad early on but at the end of the day, it is likely to be the same old mid-table finish. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink continues his multi-season run to retirement after being released by Boro while American Cory Gibbs will get a chance to improve a defense that tended at times to fall apart last season. Eleven times Charlton conceded three or more goals in a game.

Middlesbrough is another club under new management as Gareth Southgate moves from the centre of the defense to the manager’s office. On the face of it Southgate would appear to have the makings o####ood manager – articulate, knowledgeable, and with solid international experience. The problem with throwing him into the deep end is if he falters early on, it may prove to be terminal. Boro continue to be linked with central defenders and it seems certain that at least one will arrive before the kick off to the season.

Chairman Steve Gibson has invested millions in the youth academy and there are signs that the investment is ready to pay off with a steady stream of youngsters ready to make the next big step. It is interesting to note that in the last game of the 2005/06 season Boro fielded the first all-English Premiership starting line-up since Bradford in December 1999 and the first all-English squad since Villa the season previous.

It will not have escaped the notice of City fans that the form exhibited by the blue team of Manchester from Christmas onwards was horrible. In fact, if the season had started at Christmas Manchester City would have been relegated. Over the close season, the City of Manchester Stadium has seen 16 players either arrive or leave. As well, manager Stuart Pearce has been able to sign youngsters Joey Barton and Micah Richards to long-term deals.

The arrival of Didi Hamann on a multi-year deal will help solidify the midfield and probably allow Pearce to rotate the German with Claudio Reyna. The much-traveled French midfielder Ousmane Dabo is another addition although City fans have a right to be skeptical of foreign signings given their relatively poor track record of the years. Bernardo Corradi also fits that bill although the former Lazio and Valencia man is a big powerful forward who has in the past, worked his butt off.