Gunner44 - Since Owen seems to be set to leave Newcastle where do you see him going since the top 4 all seem to not be interested? And how much is he worth?

Bobby – I’m not convinced that Owen will leave mainly because I can’t come up with a reason why the big four would be interested in him now when they weren’t before he moved from Real Madrid to Newcastle and before his injury. I think big Sam will fight tooth and nail to hold on to him if there is a chance of him leaving. If he goes I think the release figure in his contract is 12 milion pounds.

Mr. Red Devil - I think that Group E is definitely one of the 2 or 3 most difficult groups in Euro 2008 qualifying. I know that England has some very big matches at Wembley coming up. Do you think their qualification is a lock? Does Israel have any chance at qualification? What do you think the final standings will be in that group (just the top 4 spots)?

Bobby – It is certainly one of the three toughest groups. I would have to award the toughest title to Group B with Italy, France and Ukraine (WC winners, runners-up, last eight). I am still confident that England will qualify. They have Russia, Israel, Estonia and Croatia at Wembley while the only away game is in Moscow. England also may have the added advantage that by the time Croatia visits Wembley for the last game on November 21, Croatia may have already sealed a place in the finals and will have nothing to play for.

If Israel is to qualify then they need to find a way to make up for the 4-3 home loss to Croatia. That was a big blow to Israel. If I assume – for sake of argument – that Israel wins their two home games against Russia and Macedonia then the September 8 meeting with England at Wembley becomes the pivotal match. If Israel wins that one then an upset could be on the books. But if they lose then they are likely to find themselves six points behind Croatia with three games left, a point behind Russia with a game more played and tied with England with a game more played. Croatia would only need a draw to kill off the Israeli challenge while Russia and/or England would have likely gained points in their games.

Whichever way it goes it will be exciting. My placing prediction is Croatia, England, Russia and Israel.

LosAngelesChelseaFan - Can Fox get together an invitation to Coach Stephen Hart to be on FSR tomorrow night – even by phone in?
With one game (and one slip up) away from a much needed title, why would this guy (Ramon Calderon) risk disrupting Beckham and the team by running off at the mouth about getting Beckham to change his mind? The answer is presumably a massive ego that had him invent the nonsense about Arjen Robben over the weekend, when he obviously no contact was made and Robben isn’t going anywhere. Presumably he is still trying to patch over his election promises. It could really tick Beckham off and suddenly his injury “won’t recover in time.”
Assuming you watched La Liga on Saturday, how did you rate what you saw? How will you view Messi in the future?

Bobby – A smashing idea but interim Coach Hart had a pre-arranged appointment with Haiti on Monday.

On the question of Calderon’s motive - ego or a complete imbecile, or both. 

With the last minute dramatics over the last few rounds of La Liga and in particular last weekend it really puts another spin on the best league question. Given what we have seen who cares if La Liga is no longer “the best” – the last minute dramatics at the Nou Camp and Zaragoza were incredible. I really can’t see how Barcelona can recover from the two stakes in the heart – unbelievable stuff. As for Messi – I think it will be a cloud over him for a little while. I think it would have been worse if it had given Barcelona a lead going into the final weekend. I was listening to Sid Lowe on the Guardian Unlimited Podcast and he brought up an interesting point. He said in the Messi case and others like it the public blame the officials for not catching it but don’t take the player to task. It set of an interesting few comments about what different countries regard as cheating. One example was that in England nudging the centre half just as he is jumping is looked upon as part of the game while others might consider it just another form of cheating.

Jeffers77 - Any thoughts on Tyrone Marshall's tackle late in the game that broke Kenny Cooper's leg? Do you think he deserves any suspension over the 1-game for the red card?

Bobby – Late, high but I don’t think he meant to injure Kenny Cooper. I would be surprised if he was suspended beyond the standard punishment.

Henry14 - l was thinking that instead of MLS looking for star names why can't they look for quality players between 26 to 32 from the Prem, La Liga and top league not exactly the star players. You look at Angel he is probably the best player in MLS but he is a professional who does not go about marketing but ensures victory.
The likes of Marlon King, Djemba Djemba will help in real quality on the pitch, you look at Andy Cole and probably a Fowler what is your take.
What do you make on the restriction of funds by the Liverpool board, firstly l thought they would spend 70m pounds but l think the new contracts will expand their wage bill from 61m to around 90m pounds a season and if they were to bring Eto’o Tevez, Malouda and Milito they would have to break the 100m pound mark and they owe 470m pounds what do you think will be the transfer policy at Liverpool this season.

Bobby – When you are a star your name is recognized and therefore of greater value and is more likely to attract people to watch. I think you underestimate Angel’s standing as a star – given his career with River Plate and Colombia I would say he is qualified. As for Djemba Djemba – I don’t think he qualifies under star, or quality. The last I heard of him he was with Burnley on loan. On problem with the proposal is that it would in most cases involve paying significant transfer fees.

We are the stage in the summer break when the papers are struggling for stories. That’s why we are hearing so much about possible club takeovers and who has what to spend and who doesn’t. The vast majority of stuff that is being printed and reported just now is absolute rubbish. The Spanish season finishes this weekend and after a brief break the real moves with real money will start to happen. Then we will see who has what to spend and on who.

Neophyte - Do you think anything will come of Ronaldinho's comments about being tired? He was voted the best player in Europe last year, this year everyone says he's washed up. Why isn't the fatigue caused by the ridiculous schedule these guys are forced to keep by FIFA, UEFA, domestic leagues and their own national federations, discussed and changed? It seems to me that the demands on the players have increased. This will only diminish the product on the pitch as the best players are carried off due to injury.

Any thoughts on the USMNT? Bradley and Failhauber (sp?) seem like a tough combination in the middle and if Beasley, Dempsey, Ching, and Donovan can keep those defenders stretched with their speed it might make for a fun Copa America. I have also been impressed by Mapp and his attacking ability on the left. What do you think...anyone?

Bobby – I think everyone knows the solution (fewer games) but the powers that be can’t or won’t make the tough decisions. To some extent we are also the problem. The fans have an almost limitless appetite for the game and so as long as we are watching then I can’t see anything changing.

I’m not sure that all the players you mentioned will be at the Copa America. The last thing I heard was that you could expect a Copa America squad heavy with Euro-based players. Mapp has the ability to go past defenders although his final ball into the box is a bit inconsistent I think.

Digity - Sounds like Atletico might be ready to accept offers for Fernando Torres...where do you think he might end up? Any thoughts on whose system he might fit well into? I feel he's a very versatile player, but that he would fit in perfectly at Man United and flourish under SAF's guidance. thoughts?

Bobby – I know that there is a lot of talk of England but I don’t think you can discount an Italian move. You have to also factor in where David Villa might go and who goes first. Torres or Villa might turn into a very good “consolation” price for someone. I don’t think Torres will go to Old Trafford. Sixty million dollars is a lot of extra money to come up and then there is the wages.

Gongatore - Why do you think FR should be fired at Barca? And who should replace him?
Have the new American owners delivered at their respective clubs in the EPL?

Bobby – It’s not the case that I think Rijkaard should be fired it is a case that I think he will be fired. At the end of 2006 things looked great for Barcelona – one season on and it looks like they will finish with no major trophies. To me that looks like a recipe for a dismissal. As for a replacement – perhaps Quique Flores or Juande Ramos.
It is far too early to come to any conclusion as to the success or otherwise on ownership changes. The timeline on that one is probably a decade or so.

The focus was Euro qualifying this weekend and now we have another batch of game this Wednesday.

Group A
I thought Serbia created the better chances and looked much brighter than a Belgian side that lacked pace – particularly in the midfield. A Wednesday tilt against Armenia who nicked a draw off of Finland should mean that Serbia will retain their top spot. Portugal travels to Poland and it is a must win for the Poles given that they have already dropped points at home to rivals Serbia and Finland.

Group B
This group provided the shocker of the weekend, Scotland beating World Cup runners-up France. In my opinion the biggest result for Scotland since they went to Wembley and beat the reigning World Champions 3-2 in 1967. I would also say that this is the best result Scotland has ever achieved at Hampden Park.

As a footnote back in 1967 after Scotland beat England some Scottish supporters used the result to claim that it made Scotland World Champions. Some years later that spawned a website that takes a different view of who might be considered the World Champions using a boxing title holder and challenger format rather than the Sepp Blatter World Cup (Jack Warner and Sons. official ticketing agents).

You can check out past winners and I doubt you can guess who the current "alternative" World Champions actually are.

Thierry Henry believes that France will qualify and finish above Scotland – and the odds are very much in his favour. The win is of greater significance to Scotland than it is a blow to France. There is a long way to go but Walter Smith has achieved job 1 which is to make a small county like Scotland, one that can worry the big boys again.

Italy and France are poised to take advantage of Scotland’s very difficult trip to Kiev in two days time. Only two countries have ever beaten Ukraine in Kiev so even a split of the points would be considered a point gained.

Group C
Excellent homes win for Greece over Norway and likewise for Turkey away to Hungary. The historic rivals have an opportunity to leapfrog Norway who is not scheduled to play this Wednesday. Turkey is “at home” to Moldova while Greece has a tricky fixture away to Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Bosnians have stumbled badly and largely failed to take advantage of what should have been a relatively easy start against Malta, Hungary and Moldova. A four point return is less than they would have expected.

Group D
The worst tip of the weekend – Wales to beat Slovakia. – Oouuch! Wales may not be dead and buried but let us just say that the body is laid out, the top is on and the hammer and nails have been called for. A 5-1 loss at home to Slovakia was their worst result since 1908. They now face a Cypriot side that has lost 6-1 and won 5-2 so who knows what Wednesday’s match might hold.

Talking of dead and buried – Steve Staunton is under heavy attack by the Irish press after a horrible result against a country they had beaten in their last six competitive matches. It is looking bleak for the Irish who now have the most successful all-time European Championship “country” the Czech Republic, arriving next.

Simply put, the Republic of Ireland must win or they will be looking at the monumental task of 24 points from the remaining nine matches to qualify and that, quite frankly, is just not on. Germany is back in business when they travel to play Slovakia. A German win and it will be a sign that the top two are going to runaway with this group.

Group E
Here we go again. European Champions in waiting after beating the might of Andorra 5-0 and then winning 1-0 away to Macedonia, now wailing and moaning sounds are coming from England fans after drawing 0-0 at home against a Macedonia side that might even have nicked the three points.

You would have thought that the World Cup performance would have been a lesson – one in a long line of lessons – that a couple of results, particularly against weaker opposition do not a champion make. Can you imagine England’s response if they had beaten San Marino 13-0 as Germany did last month?

Viewing results in some sort of realistic context is not something that comes easily to the English media – or fans for that matter. But if England had returned from Macedonia with a draw and then won at Old Trafford would it have been a disaster? It would not have been the best set of results but it would not have been a disaster either.

The first acid test for Steve McClaren comes when they face a very tough Croatian side in Zagreb. If England does win no doubt the bandwagon will kick into gear again.

Meanwhile two home draws was not the sort of start that Guus Hiddink was looking for and three home points versus Estonia is now a must for Russia.

Group F
Spain is another country that has made an inau####ious start with back-to-back away losses to Northern Ireland and Sweden. To compound the problem Spain sits out this time around while Sweden looks to extend their 100% record when they are away to Iceland and Denmark hopes to consolidate their present second place standing against little Liechtenstein. Northern Ireland and Latvia link up in Belfast in a pivotal game.

Group G
In group G it looks like a case of perm any two from three with Romania and the Netherlands tied at the top (Romania leads on goal difference) with Bulgaria two points behind but still unbeaten. Romania can watch the others on television as the Netherlands (home to Albania) and Bulgaria (away to Luxembourg) should pocket three points each. Slovenia and Belarus both need a win if they hope to keep within striking distance of the “big three”.
 

Later in the week I will take a look at the next round of the FA Cup and look at the Premiership so far.

Well it was a much better second half and a well deserved win for Italy. Buffon bailed Italy out with a couple of great saves early in the second half.

Ukraine was a much more enjoyable team to watch when they opened up in the second half - unfortunately for them it left them open at the back and Toni finally got on the score sheet.

This game is so far without any redeeming qualities from a neutral point of view.

The Ukraine gave Zambrotta far too much space on the goal and it is difficult to see how they are going to find a way back into this game.

Can the Ukraine pull a Greece at this World Cup or will the Italians prevail?

Who has been the most impressive player for each country so far?

Preview link.

Keir Radnedge apportions the blame for card happy referees to where it belongs - FIFA.

Larry Rohter writes in the New York Times about Brazil’s politics and football.

This Globe and Mail article takes up the issue of a two referee system.

The UEFA website takes a look at Ukraine's Artem Milevskiy, the cheeky chappy who took the second penalty kick. The first player I remember pulling this stunt was Antonín Panenka with the winning penalty for Czechoslovakia against West Germany in the1976 European Championship Final.

Tony Cascarino writes about his first-hand experience of taking peanlties in a penalty shoot out at the World Cup Finals for the Republic of Ireland.  

With the excetion of Shevchenko and Frei hitting the respective crossbars it has been a bit of a non-descript game.

The Swiss are perhaps just ahead on points but there is little between the teams at half time.

Both Frei and Shevchenko hit the bar off of free kicks and it seems to be the most likely route to a goal.

....all Australia (well the non-Italian part) must be absolutely stunned. I can't ever remember a game at a World Cup Final being decided with what was literally the last kick o####ame and a penalty kick at that.

What was Lucas Neill thinking about? That was just bad defending at that stage in the game, or at any stage in a game I suppose.

No disrespect to the Swiss or the Ukraine but Italy is eyeing a semi final and has yet to play well.

The Swiss deserved their win they controlled the tempo of the game and even though South Korea threatened on occassion they never built any momentum in this game.

The Swiss defense was solid even after Senderos went off injured.

It certainly sets up a dark horse quarter in one part of the last sixteen draw with Australia, Ukraine and Switzerland, all joining Italy.

The tournament will miss South Korea and its fans.

Apparently we will not have Tommy Smyth from here on in. It's a pity as I thought he was making good progress in his attempt to read to us almost word for word the entire World Cup 2006 Special Edition issued by World Soccer.

This is as poor a first half as we have seen so far - only Japan vs. Croatia is close.

Ukraine looked content to sit back early on but as the half wore on they did begin to come forward.

The second yellow card for Jaziri was another soft decision.

I'm hearing again that the Tunisian full back Trabelsi is a world class player. I haven't seen any evidence yet.

Shevchenko setrs up Kalinichenko who scores and it is well deserved. The Spartak Moscow midfielder has been simply brilliant today.

The Ukraine can now write the Spain game off as a bad day at the office. Shevchenko looked fit today - he didn't against Spain.

Man of the Match - Maksim Kalinichenko was outstanding. He delivered the corner for the first goal, took the free kick that set up Shevchenko's goal, hit the bar with a rocket and finished it all with a goal.

World Soccer describes him as "an inspirational player who has good pace and skill, but is inconsistent". We saw the best from him today - he was great!

The Saudi's are now winless in their last 9 World Cup games.

I know I've used this one before but if this was boxing the fight would be stopped.

The Ukraine is just too big and too strong for the Saudis.

Shevchenko gets the third and it is a cakewalk for the Ukraine.

Time to saddle up that dark horse again!

The Ukraine is dominating this one and the thrashing they received from Spain is but a distant memory.

A cracking goal from Rebrov - here's hoping that this signifies a change in his fortunes.

I had read someplace that he had turned down Arsenal before moving to Spurs.