Ok - a day behind this week due to - well, being rather busy (ie: away for the weekend).
No shortage of stuff to address though so let's stop wasting time shall we?

Maybe it was the 'Topic of the Week' but right after we discuss the Arsene Wenger situation at Arsenal, the Gunners go and get blanked by Aston Villa.  I don't know about you, but I can't figure this team out.  One minute they look brilliant and the next - well, they look like shite.  Full credit to Aston Villa though - they continue to show that they DO have the talent to be a top-four side.  It's beating the little teams - the teams they SHOULD beat - that seems to hamper their progress.  Same goes for Arsenal *cough* Stoke City *cough*.

Speaking of Stoke - how about that beating they took at Old Trafford this weekend?  A good article in one of the English papers said it best - the way to beat Stoke is to score early and get them to come out and play.  Then just pick them off - which is what United did.  Cristiano Ronaldo bagging his 100th for the club.  Here's hoping he's got another 100 coming in a United uniform!  Not to take anything away from the other nominees for the Ballon D'Or - but I don't see any of them beating Ronaldo this year.

New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew will face off for the MLS Cup (Yes!  It finally IS a Cup!!) this coming Sunday in Carson, CA.  Congrats to both sides for getting there.  Having been to Columbus a few times (and NY too!), I have to say I like the Crew to win.  Last season they came this close (thumb and forefinger within a millimeter) to axing coach Sigi Schmid and thank goodness they didn't!  Schmid told me at the end of last season the team was not that far from being a challenger - and I'm glad to see he was right!  And how about Red Bulls?  One road win all regular season and they rattle off two to get to the Final!  And if they win it in LA, I'm sure some of those players will hoist that Cup nice and high for Galaxy boss (and former NY coach) Bruce Arena to see.  Should be a good match!

We'll also get to hear about Expansion soon enough.  Not that I really want to.  I'm one of the guys that believes MLS is growing way too fast.  Maybe it's the Canadian in me having watched the NHL balloon quickly and then lose me as a fan with a diluted talent pool.  Smarter guys than me though are making these decisions and while we give them the benefit of the doubt, I just hope they are taking into consideration that there IS a tipping point - and they are getting VERY close to it.

The NCAA College Soccer season is winding down - and while everyone is focused on what's going on in Division I, I want to send out some kudos to a good friend of mine in Division III.  Greg Holker is the coach of the Augsburg College Auggies and for the first time in the school's history, Holker has taken the team into the NCAA tournament!  Sure, it's not a unique story but having come to know Greg, I know it wasn't easy.  He took a program with a horrid track record and has turned them into a winner.  He's one of the most dedicated coaches I know and no matter how the season ends for the Auggies, they have every reason to be proud of themselves.  They play Loras College in Dubuque, IA this weekend - should be a good game!

And finally this week - some of you may have heard through the grapevine (and Big Soccer) that FSR is losing Mitch Peacock at the end of this month.  Mitch has decided to take a position with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation station here in Winnipeg as their supper sports anchor.  The good news for Canadian footie fans is that Mitch will continue to do sideline reporting for the CBC during Toronto FC matches next season.  I know deciding to go wasn't an easy decision for Mitch but we here at FSR wish him all the best and are genuinely happy for him and his family.  Having known Mitch since we were in college together, I can say he is a top-notch journalist and a top-notch individual.  There are very few people more knowledgeable about what's going on in the game than Mitch.  It's my belief that the best compliment a person can receive is that they've made the people around them better - and Mitch has certainly done that here at FSR.  He will be missed.

That's all for now - talk at ya next week!  And as usual, your comments are welcome and appreciated.