The Soccer Thread

[SirFozzie]

Figured the EPL thread had drifted away enough that it was time for a new thread. ;)

Yup, another Real Madrid coach. Talk about coaching roulette..

MADRID, Spain Dec 30, 2004 — Wanderley Luxemburgo was hired as coach of Real Madrid on Thursday, the third coach the soccer team has had this year.

"It is a very great personal satisfaction to coach the world's best team," Luxemburgo said at a news conference.

It has been far from the world's best team this year. Real Madrid is languishing in fifth place in the Spanish league despite a lineup that boasts players such as Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham and it struggled to qualify for the second round of the Champions League.

Luxemburgo replaces Mariano Garcia Remon, who had taken over from Jose Antonio Camacho just three weeks into the season. Garcia Remon will remain with the team in a management position.
Luxemburgo led Santos to its second Brazilian championship in three years earlier this month. He has won a record five Brazilian titles as a coach two with Palmeiras and one each with Corinthians, Cruzeiro and Santos.

He was the Brazilian national coach from 1998-00 and coached Ronaldo at Cruzeiro.

[Critch]

I watched the game where Luxemburgo's team Santos clinched the Brazilian championship a couple of weeks ago. During it they mentioned that a couple of Brazilian top division teams were on their 4th manager of the season and one (Gremio, I think) was on their fifth. So if he lasts a few months at Real Madrid, he'll be hitting average.

Things can only get better for Real Madrid, you'd think. Can't get much worse. I'd guess Luxemburgo's success will come down to patience. Will Real Madrid give him the time, and will Luxemburgo stick around (he's got a record of not lasting long despite success)?

Already looks like Barcelona have got the league sewn up this season.

[Ryan S]

There have been rumors that the AC Milan coach might join Real Madrid in the summer, so Luxemburgo could be another temporary manager.

[SirFozzie]

Sheesh. Sounds like the gaffer's office at Real Madrid needs a "Take a number and wait" sign :)

[MrBug708]

I wonder how long til they hire Pumas coach

[MIJB#19]

There have been rumors that the AC Milan coach might join Real Madrid in the summer, so Luxemburgo could be another temporary manager.You mean Arrigo Sacchi?

From what I heard/read, it's Sacchi as GM-type and Luxemburgo as coach.

[Ryan S]

You mean Arrigo Sacchi?

From what I heard/read, it's Sacchi as GM-type and Luxemburgo as coach.
The rumor I heard was that Sacchi had been hired as GM to try and tempt Carlo Ancelotti to join them in the summer.

[SirFozzie]

And Luxemburgo's first game at Real Madrid will last seven whole minutes.

Real Madrid will finish a game versus Real Sociedad today, that was abandoned 3 minutes before the end of the game due to a bomb threat.

Players, fans and officials were forced to evacuate the Bernabeu three minutes from time with the scores at 1-1 after police received a warning that a bomb would explode at the stadium.

With the referee deciding to add four minutes of extra time the two teams will now play the remainder of the match in what promises to be a one of the briefest encounters in footballing history.

It is not the first time that a game at the Bernabeu has had to be abandoned and then completed at a later date and judging by past events neither side can take anything for granted.

The King's Cup final between Deportivo Coruna and Valencia was abandoned in the 79th minute with the scores at 1-1 after torrential rain flooded the Real Madrid stadium in 1995.

The game was restarted 72 hours later with Deportivo midfielder Alfredo scoring in the opening minute to ensure the Galicians of a first major trophy in the history of the club.

For Wednesday's game both clubs will be permitted to make changes to the teams that had to leave the pitch on December 12, but Real's Luis Figo will be unavailable because he was replaced by Michael Owen in the original match.

Sociedad winger Valery Karpin is expected to play after missing the original game through injury and Mikel Alonso is likely to be drafted in to replace Mikel Arteta in midfield.

Luxemburgo's appointment as Real Madrid coach was prompted by the team's miserable performance in their 1-0 home defeat by Sevilla in the final match of last year.

His side now trail leaders Barcelona by 13 points with two games to go before the halfway point in the season.

'I don't think any coach has made a debut like this before,' he told sports daily Marca on Tuesday. 'There is still time to win the game and there are lot of things that we can do, although I'm not going to let on what they are.'

Sociedad forward Nihat Kahveci, who scored the equaliser in the first game, also believes there is time for his side to grab all three points.

'Real are going to come out with all guns firing in the hope of scoring a goal but we are going to be doing the same,' he said on Monday. 'There are bound to be some chances and it is just a case of making the most of any opportunity that comes our way.'

[tanglewood]

Luxembergo's hiring means Robinho is almost certainly going to Real now. There were strong rumors before, but with the hiring of his old boss I think it's virtually a done deal. Just a matter of if he wants him now or to wait until the summer.

[tanglewood]

dola

What does everyone think of Beattie going to Everton? £6m seems a lot for someone who's only had 1 good season and 1 decent one. I think that Bent has played well enough to stay their first choice up front, so unless Moyes moves to a 4-4-2 (I don't think he will, 4-5-1 has been too successful to switch it now) I think he should sit on the bench. Of course Moyes will probably put him straight in.

[MIJB#19]

The rumor I heard was that Sacchi had been hired as GM to try and tempt Carlo Ancelotti to join them in the summer.Wow, that's indeed a bold one. Haven't heard/read that one.

But after the start Luxemburgo made, screaming for discipline and all, it's doubtful he'll finish the season in Madrid anyway. :)

[klayman]

dola

What does everyone think of Beattie going to Everton? £6m seems a lot for someone who's only had 1 good season and 1 decent one. I think that Bent has played well enough to stay their first choice up front, so unless Moyes moves to a 4-4-2 (I don't think he will, 4-5-1 has been too successful to switch it now) I think he should sit on the bench. Of course Moyes will probably put him straight in.
As long as they finish somewhere behind the Reds in the standings, I'm all for it http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif

[moriarty]

As long as they finish somewhere behind the Reds in the standings, I'm all for it http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif

... with the Reds in the top 4 of course.


Back to Real Madrid ... does this mean Owen actually gets to start some matches now?

[condors]

well i may be in the minority but when healthy James Beattie is as good a target man as there is in the EPL. He has a good workrate can get long balls to teamates or can finish himself. He scores with his back to the keeper or on the break. I think his service at Southampton was less than what RVN or Henry gets. I would give 6 million for him in a heartbeat compare that to the 20 million paid for woodgate who i don't rate as highly as Beattie but than Owen only garnered 8.5 million so maybe strikers don't warrant the same transfer fees as a top defender. (although i believe England suffers when Sol and Rio are not on the backline). Personally if i was at Southampton i wouldn't let him leave for less than 12 million but if he wants to go that would change his price tag. Southampton sold Wayne Bridge which was very stupid imho. They could be this year's Everton if they kept bridge and added a winger of quality. I think they have a good keeper and their backline isn't that bad although its not great either. Beattie & Crouch could create problems for teams in the box but they need someone who can make a decent cross on a consistant basis(dunlap may be their best currently but i think he is best suited to play the central holding role, Svensson may be the most inconsistant guy i have ever watched looks great one game and then dissapears for the next 4 or 5)

[Crapshoot]

I think given Everton's style of play, this is a bad idea- BEattie is a finisher and target man, but he is not a guy who will run up there all day and chase balls like Bent, who doesnt score much but does all the dirty work up front. Personally, I thought a Savage type to provide cover for that midfield (Carsley in particular could be improved upon) and a winger (like Simon Davies, who they have been linked too) are the things Everton should have gone for, and perhaps a cheaper striker type to back up Bent and provide something of the bench late. But as someone who's fast becoming a Liverpool fan, Im all for them using the money on a guy who will require them changing their style...

[MikeVick7]

I'm relatively new to soccer...but when is the management at Real Madrid going to learn that you actually need to put together a "team" of players rather than a group of individual players to succeed? All I hear about is how great they are every year...but yet they play sub-par soccer.

[Crapshoot]

I'm relatively new to soccer...but when is the management at Real Madrid going to learn that you actually need to put together a "team" of players rather than a group of individual players to succeed? All I hear about is how great they are every year...but yet they play sub-par soccer.

The thing- is they win usually. More so, their marketing income has shot through the roof, which was Perez's plan with the Beckham and galictico signings anyway.

[klayman]

... with the Reds in the top 4 of course.

That goes without saying :)

[moriarty]

That goes without saying :)


Along those lines, Wanderley Luxemburgo's first order of business should be to unload Morientes to Liverpool at the lowest possible price. :)

[tanglewood]

I am a Spurs fan who has just watched the Man Utd match.

Oh.

My.

GOD!!!!

[Crapshoot]

bastards! No spoilers! Im watchin em when I get home!

[klayman]

I am a Spurs fan who has just watched the Man Utd match.

Oh.

My.

GOD!!!!
Holy shit. No spoilers, but can you imagine the hell that would have been unleashed if the teams were reversed?

[Mac Howard]

The one good thing that could come from this is that Alex may now convince the board that he must get a quality 'keeper.

[ISiddiqui]

And there is now discussion to have some sort of quick video review (like 30 seconds for really botched calls like that on in the Spurs-ManU game) for should-have-been-goals.

[Critch]

Luxemburgo off to a winning start. Real Madrid got a last minute penalty to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 when they played the last few minutes of the previously abandoned game.

[daedalus]

The one good thing that could come from this is that Alex may now convince the board that he must get a quality 'keeper.But are any available, though? I know Toldo is suppose to be on the move as is Vander Sar. I'm sure Norwich is fielding tons of calls for inquiry on Green. At least the one good news is Chelsea won't be in this market.

Well, most likely won't.

Maybe. :D

[Chief Rum]

United, overspend for Schwarzer. :)

Then we'll go get some other unerrated keeper on Teeside and be doing fine.

Ugh, though, it has been an ugly holiday stretch. :(

CR

[Sharpieman]

I'm an Everton fan and I'm mildly happy that they signed James Beattie. I thought Yakubu would be a better fit but Beattie should do.

[Desnudo]

I would have signed Tevez or Robinho. Spice it up a bit. Everton needs a little creativity. If they really have CL ambitions, it's time they looked outside of England for some help.

[Sharpieman]

I doubt that they would be able to get Tevez or Robinho...the Toffee's profile isn't high enough. Beattie, Yakubu and possibly Robbie Keane would be the only realistic choices.

[Desnudo]

I doubt that they would be able to get Tevez or Robinho...the Toffee's profile isn't high enough. Beattie, Yakubu and possibly Robbie Keane would be the only realistic choices.

You're probably right, but I would have liked to have seen them try and get someone with a little more spice. I think Beattie will have a positive impact, but I don't see how he makes them much better than they already are. You would hope that for that kind of money you'd get someone who's really a game changer. For example, Porto signed Diego last summer for around 5 million pounds. Granted they have a special relationship with Brazil, but you get my drift.

Of course I'm biased towards creative, attacking play and that doesn't necessarily mean that's what's best for Everton.

[Sharpieman]

You're probably right, but I would have liked to have seen them try and get someone with a little more spice. I think Beattie will have a positive impact, but I don't see how he makes them much better than they already are. You would hope that for that kind of money you'd get someone who's really a game changer. For example, Porto signed Diego last summer for around 5 million pounds. Granted they have a special relationship with Brazil, but you get my drift.

Of course I'm biased towards creative, attacking play and that doesn't necessarily mean that's what's best for Everton.
Yea, Everton have been playing a 4-5-1 so it will be interesting to see if they change or maybe even disrupt that success with Beattie. Maybe they'll bench Bent and just put Beattie up there, but I don't think that would be the best option. Beattie plays better with someone up in the box with him. I don't think he's the type of player who can play alone. But we'll see, hopefully Beattie doesn't disrupt the magic Everton are experiencing.

[BreizhManu]

For example, Porto signed Diego last summer for around 5 million pounds. Granted they have a special relationship with Brazil, but you get my drift.
Oh yeah and don't forget they are European Champions...http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[MIJB#19]

But are any available, though? I know Toldo is suppose to be on the move as is Vander Sar. I'm sure Norwich is fielding tons of calls for inquiry on Green. At least the one good news is Chelsea won't be in this market.

Well, most likely won't.

Maybe. :DVan der Sar at Manchester United, that would be awesome, for him. Maybe Arsenal should quickly get in the market, somehow I'd rather have the best goalkeeper in the world (yes, I'm not objective here) with the Gunners than with the Ruud Devils.

[Mac Howard]

Van der Sar is certainly a possibility though his 33 years means he may not be around for too many more years. He's certainly better than anything Utd have had since Schmeichel left. But I think you're right daedalus - there are not too many first rate 'keepers available at the moment.

[Critch]

I like the Beattie signing, I think he'll do well at Everton and fit into their style well. A good powerful forward who can win in the air or hold up the ball when playing as a single striker.

Bent's done pretty well this season, but Beattie is definitely an upgrade. With so many games it's important they've got cover and Beattie backed up by Bent looks a whole lot better than Bent backed up by Campbell and/or Ferguson to me. Campbell and Drunken Duncan may have been good 5 years ago (well, Ferguson was anyway), but an injury to Bent would have wrecked Everton's European hopes before the Beattie signing.

Now they just have to hope that the Martyn/Stubbs/Weir geriatric crew at the back can hold it together for a whole season.

Saw Carrolls blunder last night, I was surprised as he'd looked steady but unspectacular in the games I'd seen him in. Pretty much forces Sir Alex to make some move in the trasfer window, I guess.

Five games from the FA Cup 3rd Round on FSW next week, starting saturday morning. Happy days.

[SirFozzie]

Once again, I heart my TiVo, all five games are set up to be TiVod :)

[Critch]

Once again, I heart my TiVo, all five games are set up to be TiVod :)

Oh yes, TiVo is the greatest invention since penicillin or the wheel or something. Set it to record the early starting weekend games, get 15 minutes extra sleep and fast-forward through half-time. Beat that, penicillin.

Just realized that the last two of the 5 FA Cup games (Everton v Plymouth and Newcastle v Yeading) are the weekend ppv games on delay, so not as good as I originally thought. I'd assumed 2 of Man Utd v Exeter/Chelsea v Scunthorpe/Arsenal v Stoke would have been the ppv line-up.

Disappointed the Tottenham v Brighton and the Birmingham v Leeds games aren't being covered live.

[SirFozzie]

SPOILER WARNING..





HOLY SHIT.

Exeter City (conference) not only gets PAIIIIIID with the trip to Old Trafford, but actually forces the Replay at home?

Oldham over Man City???

Sheffield United over Aston Villa?

Damn. what a wacky round.

[Critch]

Great string of games this afternoon, Sheff Utd looked good for the win over a Villa team who's confidence seemed to desert them as soon as Utd equalized. The last 20 minutes of the Oldham v Man City game were what cup football is all about, grim determination seeing them through. I'm always happy to see any team Keegan is involved with getting humped, I wish City would fire him so I could get back to quite liking them.

I gave in and paid for the Plymouth v Everton game on ppv this afternoon, another good cup game.

[Sharpieman]

I'll be watching the Everton v Plymouth game on Tuesday...hopefully Everton come out with the win.
BTW, whats the main difference between the FA cup and the Carling Cup?

[Ragone]

I watched that oldham game this afternoon.. That game was nuts.. oldham played without the ball for nearly 39 minutes of the 2nd half.. and steve mcmanananaman got booed :)

[SirFozzie]

The FA Cup is the main cup. It's theoretically open to every amateur, semi-pro, and professional team in England (you'll hear a lot about the "romance of the cup" since quite possibly, a team could come out of nowhere and win it all.) Any team that meets FA standards as to mininum talent level (Ie, you can actually play 90 minutes without having half your team give it up for a lark at the pub) and stadium can enter the tournament

660 teams entered the FA Cup tournament this year (there are only about 150 or so teams in the four major leagues+ the Conference and the Conference North and South

Here's a copy of the Giant Killing section from the FA Cup entry on Wikipedia (an open-source online Encyclopedia)

The FA Cup has a long tradition of lower-division and non-league teams becoming "giant-killers" by defeating highly-ranked opponents. Yeovil Town F.C. reached the fifth round in 1948-49 while in the Southern League, and defeated League opposition many other times before winning promotion to the Football League in 2003. In 1956-57 Bournemouth beat Wolves and Spurs before a controversial quarter-final defeat by Manchester United. Non-league Hereford United F.C. famously beat Newcastle United in 1972. A fifth-round tie in 1977-78 pitched two giant-killers together: Third Division Wrexham, who had beaten Bristol City and Newcastle, and non-league Blyth Spartans A.F.C. who had beaten Stoke. Wrexham won the replay in front of a huge crowd at St James' Park in Newcastle, but were beaten by Arsenal in the next round. Wrexham did get some revenge a few years later when they beat Arsenal in a 1992 third round tie in north Wales. The achievement was especially notable as the previous year Arsenal had been league champions and Wrexham had finished bottom of the league. In 1988-89 Coventry, the winners two seasons previously, lost away 2-1 to Sutton United of the Conference.

The FA Cup is also unique that if the two teams tie, they play another game (at the other team's stadium). It used to be that the two teams would switch back and forth until there was a clear winner (one memorable cup game needed FIVE replays to settle it), but now if the score is tied at the end of the 2nd game, they go to extra time and penalty kicks.

The Carling Cup used to be known as the League Cup and is just that, a tournament for teams from the four major divisions of English football. (Premier League, Championship, Leagues 1 and 2). It still places the winner of the Cup into Europe, but it's definitely the poorer sister compared to the FA Cup. Many big teams will play a 2nd team in the League Cup.

[SirFozzie]

I should really send some of the matches I've gotten off BitTorrent to some of the folks here :) (although the site I use has been overwhelmed with leeches, and went private for a bit)

[Ragone]

That reminds me of the time i beat Man utd at old trafford in a cup match with Rushden and diamonds outta the conference league in a earlier cm game :)

[SirFozzie]

Following up on the Spurs-ManUre game.


LONDON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - In a move almost as bizarre as the incident
itself, bookmakers William Hill will pay out on Pedro Mendes's
controversial "goal" in Tuesday's 0-0 draw between Manchester United
and Tottenham Hotspur.

In the last minute of the Premier League match at Old Trafford, with
the score at 0-0, the midfielder's 45-metre shot was fumbled by United
goalkeeper Roy Carroll before bouncing at least a metre over the
goalline.

Neither referee Mark Clattenburg nor linesman Ray Lewis saw the
incident clearly and they failed to signal the goal.

Hill's said they would honour the bets of those punters who backed
Mendes at 20-1 to score the first goal and at any time in the match at
11-2.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said on Wednesday: "This is
probably the most bizarre incident ever to occur in the Premier League
and we feel that anyone who bet on Mendes to score first, or to score
at all, is entitled to feel hard done by because clearly both the
referee and linesman were unsighted by a one in a million fluke
situation."

Mendes, who joined Spurs from Porto at the start of the season, scored
his first goal for Spurs in the 5-2 win over Everton on Saturday.

(probably no one bet it, but still, a nice gesture :D)

[McSweeny]

Nottingham Forest took care of QPR 3-0 today. Andy Reid bagged a goal and had two assists. Probably only a matter of time before some Premiership team snaps him up as he's been playing great for Forest and for Ireland. It's too bad to, because Forest sure as hell need him to stay up in the Championship

[Critch]

During one of the games today the commentator mentioned that Andy Reid would likely be joining Spurs during this transfer window, so Forest could be losing him seriously soon.

[McSweeny]

i know

it's a shame, i've become a huge fan of Reid over the last few seasons. I do hope that he goes on to become the star that many think he will. He's already become a big part of the Ireland squad. Reid and Robbie Keane playing together for Spurs would make them hard not to root for.

[SirFozzie]

Weekend News Update:

Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest have appointed Gary Megson as their new manager. Megson, who succeeds Joe Kinnear, was relieved of his duties by West Brom in October hours after revealing he intended to leave the club at the end of his contract in summer 2005

Cash-strapped Exeter City have landed another £150,000 windfall following confirmation that their FA Cup replay with Manchester United will be screened live on BBC.

The tie has now been put back to Wednesday, January 19, with a 7.45pm kick-off, allowing the nation a chance to see whether the non-League minnows can dump Sir Alex Ferguson's side out of the competition.

The extra cash means Exeter will have generated over £750,000 through their two meetings with United, enough to wipe out their entire debt.

And that may not be the end of the story either as the ecstatic Grecians supporters await this afternoon's fourth round draw.

Alex Inglethorpe's side got themselves into the hat courtesy of Saturday's amazing 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, a result that prompted a public apology from Ferguson to the Red Devils fans.

Exeter were today finalising ticket arrangements for the St James Park return, knowing their 9,000-capacity ground cannot even accommodate the number of visiting fans who travelled to Manchester to cheer on their team at the weekend.

Despite this, club officials have vowed not to increase prices above normal Conference levels, meaning those lucky enough to get in will have the chance to watch a far stronger United side at the cost of just £11.

The match has been moved to the Wednesday from the originally scheduled replay date of Tuesday, January 18 as Sky will televise Burnley's rearranged tie with Liverpool that evening.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is likely to investigate the racist chanting during Sunday's derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid after the referee mentioned it in his match report.

'I asked the match delegate to make an announcement on the public address system to ask the fans to stop making monkey noises when certain players had the ball,' said referee Alfonso Perez Burrull. 'As a result... the noises grew louder.'

Real Madrid's Brazilian fullback Roberto Carlos was particularly singled out by the crowd for the abuse at certain points during the game at the Calderon which Real won 3-0.

The Spanish Federation only investigates such incidents if the referee notes them in his match report.

Racist abuse at black players has been on the rise in Spain in recent months, but not always mentioned in referees' reports.

Roberto Carlos was also abused during Real's league match against Barcelona but the incidents were not included in the report so no action was taken against the Catalan club.

The last time an incident was investigated the RFEF fined two Albacete fans £4,000 each and banned them from stadiums for five months for racial taunts directed at Barcelona's Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto'o during a league match in December.

European soccer's governing body UEFA fined Real Madrid £6,500 after racist abuse by some of the club's fans during a Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in November.

Inter Milan scored three late goals against Sampdoria to come back for an incredible 3-2 win in Serie A on Sunday and extend their unbeaten run to 18 games.

Celtic won the Old Firm derby in the Tennet's Scottish Cup, defeating Rangers 2-1.

[Desnudo]

Manchester United haters or dislikers, I'd suggest watching the Norwich v. Man U match for an uplifting experience. Replay on FSC at 2 AM EST.

Spoiler:

Don't get Cocky (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=154971&cc=5901)

[SirFozzie]

3-0 Revs over the Crew.

Man, reading the Columbus board, there are some very VERY bitter people there.

I love it :D

[Eaglesfan27]

The Chivas - San Jose game today was one of the more entertaining MLS soccer games I've ever seen.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Manchester United haters or dislikers, I'd suggest watching the Norwich v. Man U match for an uplifting experience. Replay on FSC at 2 AM EST.

I actually saw the final 10 mins or so of this today, just happened across it & decided to watch just to see the end.

[Mac Howard]

I watched it all but without any pleasure. If you want to see how a manager can screw up his team then this has to be for you ;)

How's this for an idiotic lineup:

...........................................Saha

........Fortune......Scholes......Neville.......Kleberson....Smith
.....(mediocre).....(quality)...(mediocre)....(mediocre)...(striker)

Heinze.............Silvestre.........................Ferdinand...........Neville

..........................................Howard

when you have van Nistelrooy (world class), Rooney (world class), Ronaldo (quality) and Keane (fading world class) on the bench? That's five players strung across a narrow midfield - one quality midfielder, three mediocre midfielders and a striker - and just one striker with two world class strikers and two first class midfielder on the bench.

And this against a team that has conceded 25 goals in the last 9 games.

Any wonder the first half stats read: possession 68%, shots on goal nil! The complacency was astonishing and reaped a just reward :mad:

[Desnudo]

I think it was pure hubris, trying to get away with that weak lineup, and Fergie got paid back for it.

[daedalus]

Just reading the recap on Sky, I got the impression that Van Nistelrooij was not fully fit. Is that true?

Fortune on the wing seems an odd choice. I thought he was fairly solid as a left back (maybe not at Heinze's level but, y'know, solid) and probably solid as well as an inside left midfielder. He doesn't seem to me to be the attacking option on the left wing.

In the recap, I also got the impression that when Saha was hurt, he was replaced by C. Ronaldo instead of one of the strikers. That seems odd.

Did y'all think this was arrogance by Ferguson? That he felt Arsenal was able to beat them easily last time (albeit with mostly first teamers) so he should be able to beat them easily as well? Or was it change out of necessity?

[MrBug708]

If Donovan keeps playing like he played tonight, coming back to the MLS was pointless unless he's planning on setting every MLS record for the heck of it...

[Desnudo]

Just reading the recap on Sky, I got the impression that Van Nistelrooij was not fully fit. Is that true?

Fortune on the wing seems an odd choice. I thought he was fairly solid as a left back (maybe not at Heinze's level but, y'know, solid) and probably solid as well as an inside left midfielder. He doesn't seem to me to be the attacking option on the left wing.

In the recap, I also got the impression that when Saha was hurt, he was replaced by C. Ronaldo instead of one of the strikers. That seems odd.

Did y'all think this was arrogance by Ferguson? That he felt Arsenal was able to beat them easily last time (albeit with mostly first teamers) so he should be able to beat them easily as well? Or was it change out of necessity?

I think it was definitely overconfidence, and the players picked up on it. The next match is on April 17, so resting players was a luxury, not a necesity.

[daedalus]

Harsh. I, of course, root for the Gooners but I would have preferred to beat the Evil Empire (to 2nd place, blech) because we finished the season strong and not because they fubar'ed.

[MIJB#19]

Ruud van Nistelrooij is heavily out of form after rushing back form injury.

[ice4277]

I watched the whole Man U/Norwich game and for long stretches of it you would have had a problem telling which team was in the top 3 and which was bottom of the league. It seems like the players, at least those on the field, had already packed it in by kickoff.

[Mac Howard]

Just reading the recap on Sky, I got the impression that Van Nistelrooij was not fully fit. Is that true?

He was out for about three months and came back about three weeks ago. I think he's had about five matches since and should be back to fitness now. I saw him playing for Holland and looked sharp in that match but international football is played at a slower pace than the Premiership and teams don't tend to play with the eight defenders that deny strikers any space that Utd often meet.

Fortune on the wing seems an odd choice. I thought he was fairly solid as a left back (maybe not at Heinze's level but, y'know, solid) and probably solid as well as an inside left midfielder. He doesn't seem to me to be the attacking option on the left wing.

He is a midfielder by experience - he played left back at the beginning of the season when Utd had 8 or 9 injuries and Heinze was at the Argentinian team in the Olympics. He fills in sometimes at left back.

He's been at Utd now for a number of seasons but doesn't seem to have improved much. He is merely a competent player.

That's Utd's trouble - the moment you move away from the first 12/13 players then the quality drops dramatically.

In the recap, I also got the impression that when Saha was hurt, he was replaced by C. Ronaldo instead of one of the strikers. That seems odd.

Yes, Ronaldo replaced Saha. But Smith moved from right midfield to striker and Ronaldo went to right midfield. It improved the shape a little but Smith isn't a quality striker - all effort, little skill - and Ronaldo shows signs of being over-coached for me.The coaching staff have taken out the excessive stepovers but seem to have taken much of his flair and enthusiasm out as well.

Did y'all think this was arrogance by Ferguson? That he felt Arsenal was able to beat them easily last time (albeit with mostly first teamers) so he should be able to beat them easily as well? Or was it change out of necessity?

Arrogant? Complacent for sure and I think also in not accepting his own culpability for Utd's recent failure against Blackburn.

I don't think there's any doubt he believed that the team he put out would be capable of taking care of Norwich. They are a poor team - last in the Premiership and leak goals like a sieve. It's seven months since they've kept a clean sheet and have conceded 63 goals so far - the nearest is only 51. I think they've lost eight of their last nine matchs. Something like that.

Doubtless he had next week's FA Cup semi-final in mind - he left out Keane because he's on eight yellow cards and another one will see him automatically banned and therefore out of the semi-final if he picked up a yellow card here. So that was understandable.

But Utd haven't been scoring goals - to a degree because they've continued to suffer injuries and particularly to strikers. Van Nistelrooy is merely the latest and this was Saha first match for some time. There's little cohesion in their attacking play despite the qualitiy of their strikers when fit.

But cohesion only comes with playing together and leaving out Ronaldo (initially), Rooney and RvN was never going to improve that. What's more, van Nistelrooy needs the playing time to reach full match fitness.

So, he may have felt that he was getting something over to the players for their performance against Blackburn (he ranted that he was going to drop a few players in the immediate aftermath) but it was really something of a fit of pique and not something a manager of his experience should do.

In the end he had all these players on the pitch anyway playing a pretty desperate game and, as far as I can see, merely succeeded in knocking confidence down another notch :rolleyes:

[ice4277]

Changing leagues for a second, anybody going to be watching the Madrid-Barca match today? Should be a good one.

[ice4277]

Oh yes, TiVo set for Real Madrid v Barcelona later on, looking forward to it.

Just finished watching Udinese v Roma, if any of you can catch it later in the week replayed on GolTV, I'd recommend it. Great game.
I wanted to watch it but just got home. Definitely will record it later in the week. I just got GolTV yesterday actually, and am very glad to be able to watch Serie A and Primera Liga games again.

[Critch]

Oh yes, TiVo set for Real Madrid v Barcelona later on, looking forward to it.

Just finished watching Udinese v Roma, if any of you can catch it later in the week replayed on GolTV, I'd recommend it. Great game.

[SirFozzie]

I wanted to watch it but just got home. Definitely will record it later in the week. I just got GolTV yesterday actually, and am very glad to be able to watch Serie A and Primera Liga games again.

it's a 1 o clock start here on GolTV

[ice4277]

Right, I meant the Udinese-Roma match, sorry.

[ISiddiqui]

I'm shocked that Newcastle was even able to field a full squad with all the players who were red carded against Villa and the injuries. Didn't help 'em fielding one anyway :(.

[ice4277]

Well the Madrid-Barca match was compelling stuff to watch. Not the most technically precise display by any means, but the end-to-end action, especially in the first half, was incredible.

***SPOILERS***








Barcelona was WAY too sloppy in their own area. Madrid got at least half a dozen free headers and other chances, especially off set pieces. I don't know if I've ever seen a free kick played so poorly at that level as the one where Ronaldo scored. Full credit to Madrid though, they came to play, and showed just how damn tough they can be to beat when they are giving it their all. Should be a great final few rounds to end the season.

[condors]

anyone watch the Aston Villa vs WBA match?

I am not sure WBA is going to avoid the drop but they sure are playing so much better than at the start of the season.

The race at the bottom of the table is interesting. I am not sure that Portsmouth and Fulham are as safe as i thought they were a few weeks ago.

[ice4277]

anyone watch the Aston Villa vs WBA match?

I am not sure WBA is going to avoid the drop but they sure are playing so much better than at the start of the season.

The race at the bottom of the table is interesting. I am not sure that Portsmouth and Fulham are as safe as i thought they were a few weeks ago.
Didn't catch much of that one but West Brom has done a 180 since Robson took over. Its definitely much more interesting at the bottom now, even Norwich can't be counted out after their win this weekend.

[PilotMan]

I saw this headline pop up on my yahoo! page and I gotta say I chuckled as Marc was the first person I thought of.

Unfair to compare Vaughan with Rooney, say Everton (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mymod/hdln/z/afss/sty/SIG=13a0jkiq5/EXP=1113307433;_ylt=AtyF7EDM3Ae7_iEma19jKSYE1vAI/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-evertonvaughan&prov=reuters&type=lgns)<SMALL class=dtxt> - </SMALL>

[Critch]

Well the Madrid-Barca match was compelling stuff to watch. Not the most technically precise display by any means, but the end-to-end action, especially in the first half, was incredible.

***SPOILERS***








Barcelona was WAY too sloppy in their own area. Madrid got at least half a dozen free headers and other chances, especially off set pieces. I don't know if I've ever seen a free kick played so poorly at that level as the one where Ronaldo scored.

Got to agree with that, if Ronaldo hadn't been there, Zidane would have scored. When your defense is leaving Ronaldo and Zidane unmarked in the middle of your penalty area from a free kick, you're doing something wrong.

A good game though the commentary was horrible due to the technical difficulties. Sounded like Max Bretos, one of the worst commentators for any sport, though I'm not sure why he'd be popping up on GolTV. Usually one of the plus points for GolTV over FSC is the standard of the commentary, whether it's taking the UK tv feed (the two guys doing the Italian soccer are great) or with their own guys (especially Lindsey Dean). They are generally way more able than whoever FSC has plucked out of the local college with a communications degree and no soccer knowledge.

[daedalus]

I don't know if I've ever seen a free kick played so poorly at that level as the one where Ronaldo scored.Have you by chance seen Arsenal's dead-ball defense this season? Were they as bad as the Gunners?

[RPI-Fan]

Got to agree with that, if Ronaldo hadn't been there, Zidane would have scored. When your defense is leaving Ronaldo and Zidane unmarked in the middle of your penalty area from a free kick, you're doing something wrong.

A good game though the commentary was horrible due to the technical difficulties. Sounded like Max Bretos, one of the worst commentators for any sport, though I'm not sure why he'd be popping up on GolTV. Usually one of the plus points for GolTV over FSC is the standard of the commentary, whether it's taking the UK tv feed (the two guys doing the Italian soccer are great) or with their own guys (especially Lindsey Dean). They are generally way more able than whoever FSC has plucked out of the local college with a communications degree and no soccer knowledge.

I like Bretos (and Hopkins).

Miles, I don't like, but the guys he's done MLS with the past two weeks have been absolutely horendous! Did anyone watch the MLS game on FSC and notice how bad the guy this week (Derk Droze) was?!?!?!?!

[ice4277]

Have you by chance seen Arsenal's dead-ball defense this season? Were they as bad as the Gunners?
Yes, and yes, if not worse.

[ice4277]

dola

Although I must say, generally speaking, Barca's defense is better than Arsenal's. This seems to have been a one-time deal.

[daedalus]

Wow. I can't say much but wow. Hopefully, it is a one-time deal as you say. It's nice to have Barca a foil for Real.

[andy m]

only relevant story from the weekend:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnet/4429867.stm

[DaddyTorgo]

mmmmn....Bayern vs. Chelsea! yummy!!

[Desnudo]

Too bad Chelsea scored first. I think we're going to see some serious negative football in the second half.

[Critch]

Too bad Chelsea scored first. I think we're going to see some serious negative football in the second half.

Argh!!! I'm TiVo-ing!! :)

[Desnudo]

Sorry, I meant Bayern Munich scored four unanswered, actually. :)




*Spoiler*





TBH, I'd fast forward to the second half. The first half was boring.

[SirFozzie]

Spoiler:

In case you're wondering, Bayern need three unanswered goals to go through.

AC Milan scored against Inter, which basically puts it away, thanks to the away goal, Inter need FOUR to advance

[ice4277]

Spoiler:

In case you're wondering, Bayern need three unanswered goals to go through.

AC Milan scored against Inter, which basically puts it away, thanks to the away goal, Inter need FOUR to advance

****SPOILER**** (Sort Of)




I think Milan basically but that tie away last week. Inter gave no indications of being able to beat them over two legs.

[3ric]

The Milan - Inter appears to be stopped at 76 minutes after Inter fans threw in Bengal Fires at Milan keeper Dida. Referee Markus Merk had ruled out a goal by Cambiasso only minutes earlier.

[ice4277]

dola ****SPOILER**** Sort of





Was I the only person who had the FM commentary line "The Bayern Munich fans are leaving the stadium early!!!" go through my head when ESPN showed the picture of the crowd in about the 82nd minute :D

[Desnudo]

Not really close though.

[DaddyTorgo]

so close. so close. damn Lucio! It's all his fault!

[SirFozzie]

Interesting, Rangers lost to Dundee in the Scottish Premier League

[SirFozzie]

Bayern get another in stoppage time to make it 6-5.

Inter-AC abandoned due to idiot fans pelting the field

Holy shit..

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41026000/jpg/_41026869_newdidad203.jpg

AC Milan's semi-final against Inter Milan had to be abandoned amid scenes of ugly crowd trouble by Inter's fans.

The game was halted after Inter supporters threw flares and bottles in the Milan area after Esteban Cambiasso had a header ruled out late on.

Inter were already heading out of the competition after Andriy Shevchenko's stunning first-half strike gave Milan an unassailable 3-0 aggregate lead.

Inter are likely to face severe sanctions after a flare hit Dida.

The Brazilian was lucky to be hit on the shoulder by the firework, which missed his head by a matter of inches.

The flares and projectiles continued to rain down onto the pitch as referee Markus Merk waved both sets of players to the halfway line.

Merk then instructed the players to leave the pitch, which was fraught with danger as the tunnel was situated where Inter fans were causing the trouble.

It was a dreadful way for the game, which had otherwise been conducted in a friendly fashion, to end.

But the orchestrated manner of the attacks suggests that the trouble may well have been premeditated.

In any case, Uefa is likely to come down hard on Inter for failing to control their fans at a time when European football has been remembering the Heysel disaster 20 years ago.

Fears over crowd trouble at the Juventus-Liverpool quarter-final in Turin on Wednesday will no doubt surface.

The game had got off to a controversial start after Shevchenko appeared to headbutt Marco Materazzi.

[SirFozzie]

They are now saying it looks like a premeditated group effort. I don't think you'll see Inter Milan in Europe next year...

[SirFozzie]

(in response to DaddyTorgo's comment below)

They actively work around security. There's limited things they can do to fear of stampedes/crush type situations.

Rumors are flying that A) Italian teams will see some kind of restriction next year due to all the incidents about their fans, and B) Inter Milan will be barred from European play for at least one year.

[DaddyTorgo]

psycho inter fans. They ought to face serious sanctions after this. I've always wondered though, how is it that these stadiums don't have like...zero-tolerance policies and people getting patted down at the gates and stuff like we do here in the US? I remember being patted down before going to a national team game at Foxboro and told I couldn't bring anything in, not even a bottle of water. How is it these European stadiums people get in with flares and shit?

[DaddyTorgo]

you don't see these types of things at college football games here in the US though, where there are comprable numbers of fans. Or at NFL games. I just don't get how crowd-control which is so advanced and understood there is so misunderstood there with such ridiculous results. I mean I know they work around security, but my point is that security has to allow itself to be worked around really. It's difficult to control yes, but it's by no means impossible.

[Desnudo]

you don't see these types of things at college football games here in the US though, where there are comprable numbers of fans. Or at NFL games. I just don't get how crowd-control which is so advanced and understood there is so misunderstood there with such ridiculous results. I mean I know they work around security, but my point is that security has to allow itself to be worked around really. It's difficult to control yes, but it's by no means impossible.

It seems like Italy is where England was 20 years ago. Although you still have random incidents in England, like that flare thrower at Old Trafford, they stand out for their rarity. The drive to change must come from the national FA and filter down from team management. Zero tolerance, lifetime bans for fans, assigned seating, increased security. Pretty easy to implement. FIFA can only do so much.

[MIJB#19]

Feyenoord got penalised with 1 game without public after seeing their fans attacking a visiting goal keeper with fire works in an UEFA Cup matches about a month or two ago. I'm expecting the same penalty or something less, as Inter 'fans' don't have the reputation Feyenoord's have.

[Galaxy]

What was the Heysel incident 20 years ago? Was before my time. England improved with the assigned seating, correct?

It's kinda interesting. Their, the fans go pyscho, here it's usually we got the dumb players.

How is the status of Dida?

Also, any games on ESPN2 tomarrow?

[Desnudo]

Liverpool v. Juve

[ice4277]

Liverpool/Juventus on ESPN2 tomorrow.

You think crowd control is bad in Europe, check out some of the stuff that has happened in Africa over the last few years. Pretty appalling, about 75 years behind in terms of their organization/crowd control. I'm still surprised they were awarded the 2010 World Cup.

[SirFozzie]

The Wikipedia article on the Heysel Disaster:

The Heysel Stadium disaster was an event that took place at the 1985 football European Cup final at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.

On May 29, 1985, Liverpool played Juventus in the European Cup final. In a widely criticized move, the Belgian authorities had allocated a section of the ground to neutral fans. This was an idea opposed by Liverpool and Juventus, as it would easily provide an arena for fans of both clubs to obtain tickets from Belgian ticket touts outside the ground and evade the segregation measures.

A flimsy wire fence had been erected to segregate the Liverpool fans from the neutral area. A contingent of Liverpool fans began to stampede towards the Juventus fans—some Liverpool fans alleged that this was a response to the act of throwing rocks and other missiles by Juventus fans—leading to the collapse of a retaining wall. In the panic that ensued many people were trampled or crushed resulting in the death of 39 people (1 Belgian and 38 Italian).

It was felt that to abandon the game would incite further trouble, and the match eventually kicked off. Juventus won 1-0 with a penalty from Michel Platini.

There has never been an inquiry into the causes of the disaster. It is widely suspected that the root cause of the disaster was the events of the 1984 final, when Liverpool had played AS Roma in Rome (the venue for the Final was picked months in advance, before it was known who would be playing). The English club had won the match, but their supporters were attacked afterwards by violent elements of Italian ultras: many others were locked out of hotels and abandoned by their coach drivers who were supposed to be taking them to the airport. The police were reportedly unwilling to help and the Liverpool fans had to seek refuge in the British embassy. This treatment had led to various hooligan firms setting aside their differences for the chance to collectively settle the score with another Italian club, and their presence could easily have combined with poor police tactics.

As a direct result of this event, The Football League banned Liverpool from participating in European competitions indefinitely, and all other English clubs for five years [1] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/768142.stm) - a move which UEFA ratified (many believe that The Football League acted first to avoid a heavier punishment from UEFA). The length of Liverpool's ban was eventually set at ten years, though this was later reduced to seven. Juventus were also banned from European competition for one year for their fans' part in the events that led to the disaster. The Heysel stadium itself has since been completely rebuilt, and is now called the King Baudouin Stadium.

Juventus and Liverpool were drawn together in the quarterfinals of the 2005 Champions League, in the 20th anniversary year of the tragedy. This will be the first time the clubs have met in a competitive match since Heysel, although they have played several friendly matches in the meantime. Liverpool won the first leg of the encounter 2-1 with goals by Sami Hyypiä and Luis Garcia.

[SirFozzie]

The backlash against the idiots has begun

ROME -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi urged a crackdown on soccer violence on Wednesday after the latest outbreak of hooliganism left Inter Milan facing heavy punishment from the game's ruling body in Europe.

UEFA's disciplinary body will meet on Friday to decide Inter's fate after a barrage of flares and other projectiles forced the referee to abandon their Champions League game with city rivals AC Milan on Tuesday.

The shameful scenes were an ominous warning for the authorities in Turin where Juventus face Liverpool in a high-risk Champions League tie on Wednesday, overshadowed by memories of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985.

A minority of Juventus supporters are threatening revenge at the Stadio Delle Alpi after 39 mainly Italian spectators were killed in Brussels following a charge by Liverpool fans before the European Cup final almost exactly 20 years ago.

Tuesday's scenes in Milan were only the latest this season to tarnish the reputation of Italian football which is campaigning to host the European championship in 2012.

Clashes with police at several grounds last weekend, the waving of swastikas and fascist banners by Lazio fans and a seemingly endemic racism among the hard-core "ultras" proved too much for the country's premier on Wednesday.

Berlusconi, who owns AC Milan, told Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu that he could use "drastic measures" to curb the spate of violence and counter "the risk of even more serious incidents" in the future.

Pisanu had warned Italian clubs earlier this week he might force them to play potentially troublesome games behind closed doors -- a measure which Berlusconi now looks to have endorsed.

UEFA will be quicker in dealing with Inter, who can expect little mercy after being banned from San Siro for two matches after crowd trouble during a UEFA Cup game against Spanish club Alaves four years ago.

Inter were also banished from San Siro -- which it shares with AC Milan -- for two games by Italian officials later in the same season after their supporters threw a motor scooter from the second tier during a league game against Atalanta.

On Tuesday, their team were losing 1-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate when the projectiles rained down, with one of the flares hitting Milan's Brazilian goalkeeper Dida.

UEFA are likely to opt for a closed-doors ban, with all fans excluded from several home games, matching the punishment meted out to Inter's Serie A rivals AS Roma after their Champions League game with Dynamo Kiev was called off last September.

Swedish referee Anders Frisk abandoned that game after he was hit by an object thrown from the Stadio Olimpico crowd.

Attempts are being made to improve the situation in Italy, notably with an experiment later this year at Udinese's ground to have a reduced police presence but plenty of safety stewards.

Barriers separating fans from the pitch will also be removed and there will be tighter monitoring of tickets, which officials hope will eventually bear the holder's name.

Such measures will not come soon enough for Wednesday's game in Turin where the police presence has been strengthened in the run-up to a tinder-box encounter.

Tension is already running high in a city where one Liverpool fan was attacked overnight by a group of Juventus supporters apparently on a concerted midnight hunt for trouble.

Turin authorities, who host the Winter Olympics next year, will clearly want to show they can deal with a potentially volatile situation.

[Desnudo]

Liverpool/Juventus on ESPN2 tomorrow.

You think crowd control is bad in Europe, check out some of the stuff that has happened in Africa over the last few years. Pretty appalling, about 75 years behind in terms of their organization/crowd control. I'm still surprised they were awarded the 2010 World Cup.

It wasn't "Africa" that was awarded the World Cup, it was South Africa.

[ice4277]

It wasn't "Africa" that was awarded the World Cup, it was South Africa.
Well, with the rotation cycle that FIFA has put in place for all future World Cups, it was a certainty that the continent would be awarded the 2010 WC. It was just a matter of which country at that point.

[Desnudo]

True, but there are very few stable countries in Africa, so it was basically Egypt or South Africa.

[Crapshoot]

True, but there are very few stable countries in Africa, so it was basically Egypt or South Africa.

actually, there are a lot more than that - there are 50 countries on the continent. Egypt and South Africa are the only one's with the infrastructure to support it however- big difference.

On topic, Liverpool Juventus- how I wish I could be watching it, instead of sitting at work. If Liverpool pull this off, it will be up there amongst their greatest victories.

[SirFozzie]

On topic, Liverpool Juventus- how I wish I could be watching it, instead of sitting at work. If Liverpool pull this off, it will be up there amongst their greatest victories.

And 30 minutes later, Turin would be a smoking crater.

[Crapshoot]

And 30 minutes later, Turin would be a smoking crater.

that too.. :D

Short of Liverpool scoring twice in the first 15 minutes, I don't see how Juventus doesn't win this.

[Desnudo]

Well, well.

Spoilers below:





Man U lost to Everton 0-1 in an enjoyable, if not exactly thrilling, match. More importantly for Man U, they lost Scholes and Neville to red cards. With Arsenal drawing with Chelsea, it looks like 3rd is more and more likely for Man U. The Everton goal came on a free kick off a Duncan Ferguson header. Nothing Tim Howard could do about it. Howard played a solid match, although he was probably more challenged by the poor back passes from his defense than any threat Everton mounted.

Norwich beat Newcastle 2-1, while CP lost. The relegation battle is really turning into a dog fight.

[ISiddiqui]

Egypt and South Africa are the only one's with the infrastructure to support it however
I think Morocco was in it as well... I think they may be able to support a WC. Though it may have had to be a shared WC with another country if Morocco is too small.

[SirFozzie]

Heheheh.

Ping: DC United...

REVENGE! REVENGE! REVENGEE!!!

[SirFozzie]

Dola:

Um.. ok DC United.. you can go back to sleep now. K?

3-0 to 3-2. eep

[FrogMan]

LUTON TOWN CLINCHED THE LEAGUE ONE TITLE!!!!!

Okay, I know I'm the only one to care, so I'll stop now :D

FM

PS: that's in real life btw, not in any of my dynasties ;)

[SirFozzie]

4-3 final wow.

Worst referee ever, but the Revs win.

The GoatF*ckers of Chivas are next!

[SirFozzie]

Oh.. and sad day for Cambridge Utd, the english team I follow, as a 0-0 draw against Rochdale condemns them to the Conference next year. :(

[tucker342]

A player from my High School (left during sophmore year to play for Birmingham City) is a starter on the Scotland U-19 national team. His name is Tom Parratt.

[PilotMan]

I thought that the quality of soccer that the LA Galaxy played in the first half was as good as any soccer that you would see anywhere. They were on fire. The second half was a let down, but when you're up 3-0 after 34 minutes you're bound to have a let down.

[GoldenEagle]

A player from my High School (left during sophmore year to play for Birmingham City) is a starter on the Scotland U-19 national team. His name is Tom Parratt.
Is he an American as well?

[OldGiants]

Oh.. and sad day for Cambridge Utd, the english team I follow, as a 0-0 draw against Rochdale condemns them to the Conference next year. :(
Sorry for Cambridge, but I've been following Rushden and Diamonds for a few years now and this means they only need to eek out Kidderminster to stay up.
They worked they're way up to what is now League One from the Conference in less than 10 seasons, but the owner, Max Griggs, lost interest and decided to retire (from all business concerns). The team struggled without his bucks. A cool team in CM 01/02, I took them to the Premiership and Europe, so its a sentimental thing.

[ice4277]

Sorry for Cambridge, but I've been following Rushden and Diamonds for a few years now and this means they only need to eek out Kidderminster to stay up.
They worked they're way up to what is now League One from the Conference in less than 10 seasons, but the owner, Max Griggs, lost interest and decided to retire (from all business concerns). The team struggled without his bucks. A cool team in CM 01/02, I took them to the Premiership and Europe, so its a sentimental thing.
Yeah, they were always the 'easiest' lower league team to get to reach the higher divisions in that era of CM. Funnily enough, Cambridge was also a good one to try to move up the divisions, in 99/00 or 00/01.

[Katon]

No suprises in the PFA awards. I think everyone saw Terry's win coming, and Rooney was the obvious candidate for the Young Player of the Year considering that the only other person on the ballot with his level of talent spent half the year out injured. The Premiership Team of the Season is pretty predictable too:

Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Gary Neville (Man Utd)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd)
Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Arjen Robben (Chelsea)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man C)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
Andrew Johnson (C Palace)

That's not a bad team. I can only think of three changes I'd make and two of those are pretty much toss-ups. Makelele in for Gerrard is the non-trivial one; Ferreira and Heinze in for Neville and Cole are the ones that could go either way. You could also make a case for Rooney over Johnson, I suppose, but Johnson's hit twice as many goals with significantly less talent around him.

[daedalus]

I thought the choices were good until you mentioned Makelele-Gerrard. I think Makelele may have been the better choice on account of Gerrard being in and out of the lineup. Don't know about Heinze's season but I had the impression that Cole had a fairly strong season. Don't know much about the Neville-Ferreira choice either.

At least it wasn't as bad as having Lauren in as the right back last year.

[Desnudo]

No suprises in the PFA awards. I think everyone saw Terry's win coming, and Rooney was the obvious candidate for the Young Player of the Year considering that the only other person on the ballot with his level of talent spent half the year out injured. The Premiership Team of the Season is pretty predictable too:

Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Gary Neville (Man Utd)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd)
Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Arjen Robben (Chelsea)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man C)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
Andrew Johnson (C Palace)

That's not a bad team. I can only think of three changes I'd make and two of those are pretty much toss-ups. Makelele in for Gerrard is the non-trivial one; Ferreira and Heinze in for Neville and Cole are the ones that could go either way. You could also make a case for Rooney over Johnson, I suppose, but Johnson's hit twice as many goals with significantly less talent around him.

I would swap Gerrard out as well. I would also take Andrew Johnson out. There should be a seperate award for penalty kick accuracy. Possibly take Robben off, just because he didn't get all that many games. It would have been nice to see someoone from Everton or Bolton on the list. Surely there are deserving players.

[Crapshoot]

aye- Gravensen might have a reasonable claim for that list. As for GK- good as Cech is, how about Neimi, who's had to play behind the group of guys milling around the goal occasionaly and call themselves the Southampton defense...

[RPI-Fan]

aye- Gravensen might have a reasonable claim for that list. As for GK- good as Cech is, how about Neimi, who's had to play behind the group of guys milling around the goal occasionaly and call themselves the Southampton defense...

Huh????????????

He's an avereage or good goalkeeper behind a bad defense. Cech is a great goalkeeper behidn a great defense.

[Sharpieman]

Cahill should swap with Gerrard ;)

[ISiddiqui]

Eh... I'd keep Gerrard in there. Without him, Liverpool wouldn't be so high up the table. Johnson did have a lot of PKs, but he was a force for a sad team. Though Defoe and Rooney have an argument.

Robben deserves to be on because he sparked that Chelsea team. If you think he played too little, then maybe Pires or Cahill deserves a look.

[condors]

I think you could make a case for Pistonne from Everton at right back (and i am a manutd fan)

Neimi is a class keeper behind the worst defenders in the league. Put him at Liverpool, Arsenal or Manutd and there would be no "keeper" issues at any of those clubs. Shay Given may have been the most impressive this season for my money though. Stewart Downing should also get some mention although i don't have a problem with Robben, Downing scored or the ball was played through him on almost all of Middlesbourgh goals this season. Without him i don't think they could do anything but play long balls forward or lose possession.

That being said i honestly don't have a problem with anyone who was named to the squad i feel they all have a case to be made for them.

ps The relagation battle is awsome this season. I can see a different group going down almost any weekend. Norwich, Southampton, WBA, and Crystal Palace i wrote them all off at one point in the season(thought pompey was going down when redknapp left shows you how much i know)

[Desnudo]

Eh... I'd keep Gerrard in there. Without him, Liverpool wouldn't be so high up the table. Johnson did have a lot of PKs, but he was a force for a sad team. Though Defoe and Rooney have an argument.

Robben deserves to be on because he sparked that Chelsea team. If you think he played too little, then maybe Pires or Cahill deserves a look.

I think Gerrard had a good, solid season, but you could argue that on his own team, Garcia has been more valuable in key situations. And Liverpool is only in 6th. With all the injuries, you could argue that is solid accomplishment, but they have more talent on paper than Everton or Bolton. I think Cahill was more instrumental in Everton's success and Everton's current position of 4th is a much greater accomplishment.

On this season's merits alone, I don't think Gerrard deserved consideration.

[Huckleberry]

In the most important news on this thread to date, Torquay passed MK Dons for the last safe position in League One. They are 3 points clear with 2 to play, but they will finish behind in goal differential.

[Crapshoot]

Huh????????????

He's an avereage or good goalkeeper behind a bad defense. Cech is a great goalkeeper behidn a great defense.

I think Neimi's a damn good keeper behind a porous defense. Southampton are losing in spite of him.

[RPI-Fan]

I think Neimi's a damn good keeper behind a porous defense. Southampton are losing in spite of him.

This reasoning just makes ABSOLUTELY no sense to me. If Niemi was a damn good keeper he would steal them results. In no way does he do that -- he gets them wins they deserve, draws they deserve, and losses they deserve.

His effect on the team is unnoticeable (in both a good and bad way).

~rpi-fan

[RPI-Fan]

Eh... I'd keep Gerrard in there. Without him, Liverpool wouldn't be so high up the table. Johnson did have a lot of PKs, but he was a force for a sad team. Though Defoe and Rooney have an argument.

Robben deserves to be on because he sparked that Chelsea team. If you think he played too little, then maybe Pires or Cahill deserves a look.

Anybody see the comedy in someone is backing 'Pool and at the same time damning Palace (who by all quantitative and qualitative measures badly outplayed Liverpool heads-up this season)?

:D

[Desnudo]

This reasoning just makes ABSOLUTELY no sense to me. If Niemi was a damn good keeper he would steal them results. In no way does he do that -- he gets them wins they deserve, draws they deserve, and losses they deserve.

His effect on the team is unnoticeable (in both a good and bad way).

~rpi-fan

Have you had a look at Southampton's roster, or watched them play their brand of listless, passionless soccer and walk-on-in defense? It's hard for a keeper to steal wins when the saves required to do so mean stopping wide open shots and headers from 6 yards out.

[ISiddiqui]

Anybody see the comedy in someone is backing 'Pool and at the same time damning Palace (who by all quantitative and qualitative measures badly outplayed Liverpool heads-up this season)?

:D
"You are what your record says you are"
-Bill Parcells

[FrogMan]

In the most important news on this thread to date, Torquay passed MK Dons for the last safe position in League One. They are 3 points clear with 2 to play, but they will finish behind in goal differential.
err, did you miss my announcement about Luton? I'm sure I beat you right there... ;) :p

FM

[Desnudo]

"DaMarcus Beasley started and played until the 61st minute for PSV Eindhoven, becoming the first American to appear in a semifinal of European's top club competition. No American has played in a final."

[marshall881]

eindhoven deserved a goal in that second half.

Their work is cut out for them now going back home for the return leg.

[RPI-Fan]

Have you had a look at Southampton's roster, or watched them play their brand of listless, passionless soccer and walk-on-in defense? It's hard for a keeper to steal wins when the saves required to do so mean stopping wide open shots and headers from 6 yards out.

If he can't steal wins, what makes him deserving of the EPL keeper of the year? Seems like somebody who is talented but doesn't have the intensity and desire to make his team better.

[Crapshoot]

If he can't steal wins, what makes him deserving of the EPL keeper of the year? Seems like somebody who is talented but doesn't have the intensity and desire to make his team better.

Roffle. A keeper who faces 99 shots and stops 98 (and yes, that's an exagguration) lacks "intensity" and "desire" ? I think you're falling in love with cliches. This is the baseball equivalent of "knowing how to win" or "veteran experience." :D ?

[ISiddiqui]

I think, in context, it's like Randy Johnson last year. Did all he possibly could, but get nothing from his teammates.

[Desnudo]

If he can't steal wins, what makes him deserving of the EPL keeper of the year? Seems like somebody who is talented but doesn't have the intensity and desire to make his team better.

I always thought making the team better was the manager's job. Niemi keeps his team in games, which his job. Winning it is the strikers' job. Southampton wouldn't even have a chance at avoiding relegation without his play. So you could argue that nearly all their wins have been "stolen" due to the keeper's form. Robert Green is another keeper who's been outstanding for a very poor team, despite letting in a number of goals.

[MIJB#19]

eindhoven deserved a goal in that second half.

Their work is cut out for them now going back home for the return leg.Nitpicking alert!

It's PSV (PSV Eindhoven could work too, to avoid confusion with other PSVs), but definately not Eindhoven. There's another soccer team in Eindhoven which name is simply "Eindhoven", but they're like the L.A. Lakers and L.A. Clippers.

And the Philips company wouldn't like to see their P in the name left out. ;)

[ice4277]

Nitpicking alert!

It's PSV (PSV Eindhoven could work too, to avoid confusion with other PSVs), but definately not Eindhoven. There's another soccer team in Eindhoven which name is simply "Eindhoven", but they're like the L.A. Lakers and L.A. Clippers.

And the Philips company wouldn't like to see their P in the name left out. ;)
A lot of people in the States do that with European team names. It especially happens with Real Madrid, people just calling them "Real".

[ice4277]

ps The relagation battle is awsome this season. I can see a different group going down almost any weekend. Norwich, Southampton, WBA, and Crystal Palace i wrote them all off at one point in the season(thought pompey was going down when redknapp left shows you how much i know)
I don't recall a relegation battle quite like this in the last few years; usually at least one team is doomed by now.

[Katon]

I always thought making the team better was the manager's job. Niemi keeps his team in games, which his job. Winning it is the strikers' job. Southampton wouldn't even have a chance at avoiding relegation without his play. So you could argue that nearly all their wins have been "stolen" due to the keeper's form. Robert Green is another keeper who's been outstanding for a very poor team, despite letting in a number of goals.

It's certainly silly to blame Niemi for the fact that Southampton's midfield and back four have been completely useless all season. Just look at what happened on Sunday when he finally had an off day to see what a difference he normally makes. The thing is, though, he's missed ten matches this season. Petr Cech's been ever-present. I think Cech's been clearly the best in the league even apart from his durability, but certainly there's no way Niemi's been better enough to offset the massive difference in their playing time.

[Critch]

Cech's record breaking run without conceding a goal earlier this season, along with his high standard all year, makes it difficult to argue with the choice. He's obviously got a top class defence in front of him, but he's still been great.

I'd still put Niemi in the top handful in the league though, better than anything Liverpool, Man Utd or Arsenal have. I'd guess if Southampton go down he'll be linked with a number of the top teams over the summer, I'd like to see him go to Liverpool. Dudek is too erratic and Kirkland/Carson don't look ready yet.

[condors]

can somebody please tell me what the heck happened to Patrick Vieria this season?

for the last couple seasons he has been almost other worldly on the pitch.

This season you hardly notice him at all(some game much worse than others)

I find it shocking from a guy who was so very conistantly good the last couple seasons (he isn't old or anything) is it a year long in bad form? I am wondering if he wants to go to Real Madrid ? Is he carrying an injury that i am unaware of? aliens kidknapped him and replaced him with a uninspired clone?

[marshall881]

There was a nice article in the USA Today yesterday about DeMarcus Beasley if you can still find one laying around.

It was the main story in the Sports section.

[Butter]

Anyone with DirecTV notice new channel 615... Setanta Sports? I checked their website, and apparently this channel is like HBO or some such... you have to pay $11.95 a month just to subscribe to that channel. A bit steep for me, especially considering the European football season is nearly over, but it looks like they have some good stuff for those interested.

Also, to chime in on this Niemi = good or bad? debate, I think Niemi is a fine keeper, but he pretty much single handedly cost Saints any chance at the Portsmouth game on Sunday. Maybe he'll rally and help keep them in it... but I'd be surprised. They're lucky they don't have WBA's schedule left, they still have a chance to pull themselves out of relegation if they win their next 2.

[Critch]

Setanta is the company that bought all the rights to Scottish Soccer and set up Rangers TV and Celtic TV. They specialize in broadcasting live games to bars for huge fees (or so the guy that runs our local supporters club says). They also snap up a lot of international matches to broadcast to bars here and in Europe. The home version doesn't seem to show the top live games they have, just re-runs. Looks like it'd be a good buy for Rugby fans though.

$12 a month is going to be a hard sell to wifey. Wish me luck.

[Critch]

Dola

Or maybe they do show them live, who can tell. The Rangers and the celtic game this weekend are listed as being live in one place, but they're not on the schedule.

I want this channel so bad I may bargain away my WoW subscription. It's that serious.

[Katon]

Also, to chime in on this Niemi = good or bad? debate, I think Niemi is a fine keeper, but he pretty much single handedly cost Saints any chance at the Portsmouth game on Sunday. Maybe he'll rally and help keep them in it... but I'd be surprised. They're lucky they don't have WBA's schedule left, they still have a chance to pull themselves out of relegation if they win their next 2.

Well, be fair. He had plenty of help blowing that one. The entire team seems to have pretty much stopped playing recently.

I'd still put Niemi in the top handful in the league though, better than anything Liverpool, Man Utd or Arsenal have. I'd guess if Southampton go down he'll be linked with a number of the top teams over the summer, I'd like to see him go to Liverpool. Dudek is too erratic and Kirkland/Carson don't look ready yet.

Agreed. Cech's the best in the league, but Niemi's in the group right behind him with Van der Sar and Cudicini.

[SirFozzie]

BTW.. The New England Revolution sends Neuqua and other Chicago Fire fans home unhappy, laying down a 3-0 whompin on em. Next up, Chivas!

[Desnudo]

Some video of the "seal" technique:

http://www.aftonbladet.se/atv/player.html?catID=26&clipID=557

I figure he'll have so many broken ribs and concussions, that he'll retire the move within a year.

[MIJB#19]

A lot of people in the States do that with European team names. It especially happens with Real Madrid, people just calling them "Real".Oh, don't get me wrong here, it's something most of the sports media do, not just those in the States. Just count all the versions of Milan, AC Milano, Milan AC, AC Milan and their rivals Inter, Internazionale, Inter Milan, Inter Milano, Internazionale Milano. Last night there was Sporting, Sporting Portugal, Sporting Lisbon, Sporting Lisboa, Sporting Club de Portugal, Sporting CP, Lissabon or whatever they are called playing against the European sensation of 2004/2005, being AZ from Alkmaar in the Netherlands.

It's traditional to go with short abbrevations for names in the Netherlands, yet in countries around us they don't appreciate it and call them just after their city name. Even if it means they start using the name of a defunct club (Alkmaar in stead of AZ, the A even stands for Alkmaar as being one of two parties involved in a merger, Zaanstreek being the other half) or a still living club (the Eindhoven and PSV example I gave, as FC Eindhoven plays in the second level of pro soccer, the level below where PSV Eindhoven plays).

[Critch]

Paid up for Setanta yesterday, early impressions are that it's not very good unless you are a Rugby Union or GAA fan. For the soccer fan it seems the $12 a month is fairly pricey. For example this weeks live soccer is two live English Championship games (the level below the Premier), a tape delayed German game, and a number of old games. At least the Championship games are the top games of the weekend (Sunderland v West Ham tonight, Wigan v Preston tomorrow, both important promotion battles). No sign of the Scottish Premier games being shown, either live or on tape delay, this week. Seems that anything they make money selling to bars won't be turning up on this channel.

I'll be keeping it and hoping for improvement, but if this is worth $12 a month, FSC and Gol TV are worth a billion squillion dollars each.

I guess with DirecTV talking about adding 1500 tv stations in the next year or so, they'll be letting any station with minority appeal on, good news for the Rugby/GAA fans.

[Desnudo]

Also, to chime in on this Niemi = good or bad? debate, I think Niemi is a fine keeper, but he pretty much single handedly cost Saints any chance at the Portsmouth game on Sunday. Maybe he'll rally and help keep them in it... but I'd be surprised. They're lucky they don't have WBA's schedule left, they still have a chance to pull themselves out of relegation if they win their next 2.

He let in a couple of bad ones, although one was off the unluckiest bounce I've ever seen, where the ball landed and spun backwards away from him. According to the announcers, those were the first two mistakes he'd made all season long. Having pylon cones for defenders didn't help his cause either.

[moriarty]

I guess with DirecTV talking about adding 1500 tv stations in the next year or so, they'll be letting any station with minority appeal on, good news for the Rugby/GAA fans.

Not to dampen your spirits, but the 1500 or so stations Directv is referring to is mainly providing local stations to those markets that cannot currently access it. It's not like you're going to be seeing 1500 new channels in the near future.

[condors]

Niemi has 5 clean sheets in 25 appearances which may not seem like all that with that defense its kinda impressive, add in he has only let in 41 goals with the amount of shots he has faced, that is much better than i would have thought.

[SirFozzie]

Just got home from the MLS game. God I'm cold and soaked to the bone. We had an inch and a half of rain fall in Foxboro DURING the game. Revs finally scored in the 89th minute (they had dominated all game) to take the 1-0 win :)

[McSweeny]

sad, sad day

Nottingham Forest has been relegated. I think i read that it is the first time that a team that has won the European Championship has been relegated to a third tear league. Bleh

[Huckleberry]

In better news, the only way Torquay can be relegated now is if they lose and both Oldham and MK Dons win next week.

[Desnudo]

Anyone catch the FA Cup Final? I read the recap and it sounds like I didn't miss much.

[Critch]

Anyone catch the FA Cup Final? I read the recap and it sounds like I didn't miss much.

Wasnt a bad game, considering the final result. Man Utd threw it away, countless chances squandered. Van Nistelrooy missed an open header, then one that looked like a tap-in where he tried to get fancy and back heel it but missed the ball completly. He looked past his best since returning from injury. I think the final shots total was about 24-7 in Man Utds favor, Arsenal only had one shot on target the whole game. Reyes can have no complaints about being sent off, he should have went earlier.

A great advert for letting FA Cup finals go to replays instead of penalties.

[ice4277]

I thought it was a pretty exciting match. Man U was unlucky to lose considering all the pressure they applied. But you have to finish, and they blew a couple of golden opportunities.

[Katon]

Hopelessly one-sided, but probably the most exciting match of any of the recent FA Cup finals - basically because the team that was dominating didn't actually manage to score.

[MIJB#19]

Anyone catch the FA Cup Final? I read the recap and it sounds like I didn't miss much.Paul Scholes missed something...

(I know, I know, technically his shot was stopped.)

[Critch]

Last day of the Scottish League season, Celtic went in 2 points clear of Rangers with Celtic visiting Motherwell and Rangers at Hibernian. With two minutes to go both Celtic and Rangers were 1-0 up, so it looked like Celtic would win the league. Two Motherwell goals in the last two minutes and Rangers win the league.

Stunning end to a season that's been close, but not very impressive. Neither Rangers nor Celtic have looked very good this year, Rangers plagued by financial problems have tried to rebuild through the year and the Rangers manager had the Scottish press and some fans calling for him to be fired earlier. Celtic tried to patch together an aging good team for one more championship by bringing in a couple of expensive loan players.

At least the right team won in the end :)

[B & B]

Scottish league this season had some of the most unexpected upsets while teams like Celtic were continually overrated and overpriced. Celtic's meltdown was quite fitting alongside the Hearts laydown.

[SirFozzie]

God I'm still tired, we had a 4 1/2 hour bus ride to NY, a 4 hour tailgate, and a 5 hour trip home, and I still was 2 1/2 hours from my bed. (Had to ride the T and then drive home at 1:30 in the morning :))

But a good game, we shoulda beat the Mutt-roScum and they should've beaten us, a draw is a good result

[Critch]

Maybe good news for Tim Howard, Man Utd have released Roy Carroll and Ricardo. Maybe the American owner has told them to play the American in goals so he can sell soccer shirts in the US and pay down that debt? :)

Incidentally, the Setanta/FSC combo is going to make next weekend a World Cup Qualifier bonanza, Russia v Latvia, Scotland v Moldova, Sweden v Malta, Serbia v Belgium, Norway v Italy, Portugal v Slovakia, Denmark v Albania, Azerbaijan v Poland, Ireland v Israel all live or on tape delay. Followed by another full list on Wednesday June 8th.

[BreizhManu]

Looks like Manchester United made a 6M€ for GK Andreas Isaksson from Rennes http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif

I don't want to see him go, we could not replace him...

Anyway if it happens he would be the 2nd consecutive goalie from Rennes (BTW we're playing the UEFA next season http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif wohoo !) leaving for the premiership, the previous one being Petr Cech.

[MIJB#19]

Rennes (BTW we're playing the UEFA next season :cool: wohoo !)Awesome, congrats!

(FC Utrecht failed to reach the Cup Final 4 years in a row and thus missed out on a UEFA Cup ticket.)

[Mac Howard]

Looks like Manchester United made a 6M€ for GK Andreas Isaksson from Rennes http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif

I don't want to see him go, we could not replace him...

Anyway if it happens he would be the 2nd consecutive goalie from Rennes (BTW we're playing the UEFA next season http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif wohoo !) leaving for the premiership, the previous one being Petr Cech.

How does he compare with Cech?

[BreizhManu]

Cech is better (In my opinion Cech is fantastic so...) but he is a fine GK, I still think he is not ready for the big show yet. One more year playing with Rennes and in the UEFA and he would be ready to make the jump to a big club.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, did anyone think that releasing Carroll was so Howard could get more chances between the posts? ;)

[AlexB]

The theory over here is that Ferguson sees Howard as the future #1, but not yet. So he's released Carroll and Ricardo (who never got a look in over the last couple of years anyway) to cement Howard's squad position, but he'll make a move for another keeper. Shay Given of Newcastle is heavily linked with United at the minute - he's an excellent keeper: probably the best active UK/Irish keeper

[Crapshoot]

Meh- I think Anti Neimmi, at 2 million pounds, would be a nice, cheap steal - he was one of the best keepers in the premiership last year. At 32, he's good 3-4 years- especially since he's a goalkeeper.

[AlexB]

Meh- I think Anti Neimmi, at 2 million pounds, would be a nice, cheap steal - he was one of the best keepers in the premiership last year. At 32, he's good 3-4 years- especially since he's a goalkeeper.

He was linked with Utd until he dropped a couple of clangers towards the end of the year - (not sure but I think it was aginst Utd) for example he made a mad rush out of his area and conceded a goal

Niemi's now being majorly linked with Celtic, especially as Strachan is now there (and we're about to nick their keeper - don;t think Rab Douglas is comparable though unfortunately!). But I agree with your idea: Niemi is a good keeper, and would be good value (Redknapp has said today he wanys £2m for him) - the Utd link has gone quiet though.

[Critch]

Niemi's now being majorly linked with Celtic.

It's not all good news for Celtic though, they're being linked with Klaus Lundekvam too. Not even Niemi on a good day can save a team with that big carthorse in the middle, as last season at Southampton showed.

From what I've read the main reason that Roy Carroll got released was that he was playing hardball for a huge pay increase. Apparently everybody thought Roy Carroll was lucky to be Man Utd's keeper, except Carroll himself. He thinks he's great and deserves a whole lot more cash and a longterm contract.

[AlexB]

That also did play a factor by all accounts, although just a few dys before his release it was widely reported he had signed a contract extension (he had turned down an offer a few months ago). Then all quiet, next thing you hear is he's gone. Was all a bit strange: what I've posted above is what has come from the football press in the last couple of days

[ISiddiqui]

Interesting... there are rumors that Scott Parker may be involved in a bidding war between Charlton, Everton, and Newcastle. Charlton are going to offer 4 million pounds, but Souness said they are going to get in the race. If they can do it, it'll be easier to sell Bowyer to West Ham (who apparently want him).

[AlexB]

Interesting... there are rumors that Scott Parker may be involved in a bidding war between Charlton and Newcastle. Charlton are going to offer 4 million pounds, but Souness said they are going to get in the race. If they can do it, it'll be easier to sell Bowyer to West Ham (who apparently want him).

hxxp://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1772_503014,00.html

Makes sense about the Bowyer angle though: with him and Dyer not exactly being best buddies, Parker may be an ideal option. And Everton have been linked with Parker as well...

[Galaxy]

Man,
I love the soccer transfer market. Quite exciting. What is up with Real Madrid this off-season? I've read they plan on a major shakeup? Will they look to lay off in getting the top stars, and rebuild/retool with fewer "name stars" with more quality, lesser-known players.

[MIJB#19]

Good luck on the bench, Howard.
Latest news from Manchester: Edwin van der Sar signed to a two-year contract.
My prediction: Howard riding the bench until after WC2006.

[Katon]

Not a long-term solution, but he'll be a good player for the length of the contract.

[Desnudo]

Man,
I love the soccer transfer market. Quite exciting. What is up with Real Madrid this off-season? I've read they plan on a major shakeup? Will they look to lay off in getting the top stars, and rebuild/retool with fewer "name stars" with more quality, lesser-known players.

I think they'll get rid of Ronaldo (Version Fat), Figo, some other players, and retool by buying younger, overpriced "name stars."

[Mac Howard]

Good luck on the bench, Howard.
Latest news from Manchester: Edwin van der Sar signed to a two-year contract.
My prediction: Howard riding the bench until after WC2006.

Should have happened in the January transfer window. Ferguson is getting cautious as he moves through his sixties :)

[ISiddiqui]

Weee... now Arsenal needs to buy a Continental goalkeeper and they can keep their grubby mitts of Given ;).

[MIJB#19]

Should have happened in the January transfer window. Ferguson is getting cautious as he moves through his sixties :)Cautious? This is almost the opposite concerning money, I'd say. :D

Van der Sar was up for a free transfer this summer, yet ManU (and Arsenal) didn't offer him a contract. VDSar then signed a contract extension with Fulham, and now Fulham get's >3M Euro out of him.

[Mac Howard]

Cautious? This is almost the opposite concerning money, I'd say. :D

Van der Sar was up for a free transfer this summer, yet ManU (and Arsenal) didn't offer him a contract. VDSar then signed a contract extension with Fulham, and now Fulham get's >3M Euro out of him.

Oh yes. Alex is now paying (through the nose) for his caution.

[moriarty]

For those interested in the Liverpool transfer wire:

Liverpool has been linked with several names, most notably in the midfield:

GK - Jose Reina (Villareal) he's already claiming the #1 spot. That would give us Dudek, Reina, and two England Internationals (Kirkland and Carson) ... overkill anyone? Looks like Dudek's heroic performance in the CL was his last.

Def - Matthew Upson (Birmingham) , John O'Shea, Franck Queudrue , MIquel Roque (16 year old), Olivier Kapo, Ryan Taylor, Patrice EvraAge.
Would love to see a young future replacement for Hyypia (O'shea or EvraAge would be nice), but I'd be content with anyone who can play the left side ahead of Traore.

Mid - Pablo Aimar, Ruben Baraja, Albert Luque, Jermaine Pennant, Luis Figo, Bolo Zenden, Marek Mintal, Mark Gonzalez, Scott Parker
Pablo Aimar would be awesome ... at least based on my FM experience :D, Scott Parker would be a good signing just to stop the Spanish invasion. Please stay away from Figo and Pennant (don't trust his drinking). Zenden has been the most persisitant rumor so far.

Fwd - Raul, Peter Crouch, Walter Pandiani
Not much here to replace Baros who is almost assuredly gone. Crouch rumors are strong ... I just can't believe we'd pick him up after we finally just got rid of Heskey, but I have to admit I have been reluctantly impressed in several of the matches I've seen of his.

[Crapshoot]

Reina is supposedly a god send - but its an extreme lack of faith in Kirkland ever being Healty, since he's generally regard as the top or 2nd best gk when (if ever) healthy. Should be interesting- I think that you sell Dudek, and go with Kirkland, Carson, and a schlub- if the latter is good enough to play for England, he's good enough for Liverpool..

[Crapshoot]

http://www.footballrumours.info/

Very useful site.

[Critch]

It's the close season in the UK, so it's time for all the strange stories to come out. Robin van Persie, Arsenal's Dutch (not as good as Robben) Wonderkid has been arrested for rape, Liverpool's fullback Steve Finnan has been arrested for causing a death due to dangerous driving.

On the transfer front Chelsea are throwing round the cash, Man Utd have signed a player to help them sell shirts in SE Asia (Park Ji-Sung from PSV), Arsenal linked with Guti.

But the strangest story of the offseason has got to be this:

Stefan Postma in sex DVD

ASTON Villa keeper Stefan Postma is ready to quit the Premiership and move to Spain - after embarrassing details of his kinky sex life were exposed.
Postma was in line for a move to Ipswich, but is now likely to go overseas to avoid further humiliation.

The Dutch keeper's former girlfriend revealed last weekend the bizarre sexual antics the pair enjoyed during their three-year relationship. And Postma knows he would become the target of taunting from opposition fans if he remained in England.

Postma's agent Pietr Buter said: "This would not happen in Holland, but in England it is different. Stefan had a girlfriend who was not the right choice but we hope it is all behind us now.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Stefan Postma has spent the week in a bidding war with a Sunday tabloid to buy up a DVD which allegedly shows him being anally penetrated by a girlfriend wearing a strap-on"

[MIJB#19]

Robin van Persie, Arsenal's Dutch (not as good as Robben) Wonderkid has been arrested for rapeIt's a weird case and I've heard some strange 'eye-witness' stories of what could have been going on. My more reliable sources around Van Persie were unavailable. Good thing people are innocent until proven differently, but you can bet he'll forever be tagged a 'rapist'. He's already been the 'cheap joke of the day' all over the Dutch radio stations the past week.

I have no comment on the Postma story, I haven't heard about it until Critch posted it.

[Critch]

I have no comment on the Postma story, I haven't heard about it until Critch posted it.

So his line about "this would not happen in Holland" kind of implies that the act he was involved in is common and wouldn't raise any eyebrows in Holland? Is this what you all get up to over there? :)

[MIJB#19]

So his line about "this would not happen in Holland" kind of implies that the act he was involved in is common and wouldn't raise any eyebrows in Holland? Is this what you all get up to over there? :)I'd love to defend Postma, but, "this would not happen in Holland" is not entirely true. Well, maybe it is, nobody would be interested in seeing a sex dvd with Stefan Postma, he never built up a big reputation here. He was a backup with Utrecht before they got into UEFA Cup tickets mode and battled against relegation with De Graafschap.

Part of his statement is true, there's less of a media attention for soccer players here, but only because the media only care about the big names (Van Persie is an example of a big name, Postma is byfor not interesting). For example, the marriage of bigname Rafael van der Vaart with 'tv babe' Sylvie Meis warranted live tv coverage.

If you're referring to the actions itself, it raises an eyebrow of what part of the Netherlands he comes from. He's not from the Holland part anyway, so it's easy for him to say that. :D

[Critch]

He's only a backup in England as well, it's more the action itself that's getting him in the newspapers. He's also my keeper in FM (he's very good in FM and easy to sign cheap), I may have to sell him after this revelation :)

New Arsenal kit has been released, complete change to mark their last season at Highbury. They've gone back to the colors they wore 100 years ago for one season, the red with white sleeves will return next year when they move to their new stadium. More of a Roma look now.

hxxp://www.arsenal.com/images/splash/redcurrant2.jpg

[MIJB#19]

Nice! It looks like a 1960's picture to me. I didn't realize Bergkamp had been around that long with Arsenal. :D

[ice4277]

Note to SI Games: Please change Stefan Postma's "Eccentricity" rating to 20 in FM2006.

[moriarty]

Note to SI Games: Please change Stefan Postma's "Eccentricity" rating to 20 in FM2006.

Might as well jack up his 'positioning' and ability to take a 'set piece' as well.

[Klinglerware]

For anybody following Feyenoord or Dutch soccer: how is Cory Gibbs performing?

[Critch]

Round of applause to FSC for their Copa Libertadores coverage on Friday night.

The game had actually taken place on Thursday evening, but Fox en Espanol was the only place to have it on live. I managed to avoid the result to watch the second leg tape delayed on FSC friday evening at 10.30pm. Very last ad break before the game FSC runs a "FSC would like to congratulate Sao Paulo on their Copa Libertadores victory". Well done, right before they show the game on tape delay, they announce who wins. Idiots.

No idea about Corey Gibbs, but I saw Guiseppe Rossi (who is from New Jersey) playing for Man Utd v Clyde (my hometown team) yesterday, and he looked pretty lively. May see him get a few appearances for Man Utd next season, though they've got so many forwards he may miss out.

[moriarty]

Round of applause to FSC for their Copa Libertadores coverage on Friday night.

The game had actually taken place on Thursday evening, but Fox en Espanol was the only place to have it on live. I managed to avoid the result to watch the second leg tape delayed on FSC friday evening at 10.30pm. Very last ad break before the game FSC runs a "FSC would like to congratulate Sao Paulo on their Copa Libertadores victory". Well done, right before they show the game on tape delay, they announce who wins. Idiots.

No idea about Corey Gibbs, but I saw Guiseppe Rossi (who is from New Jersey) playing for Man Utd v Clyde (my hometown team) yesterday, and he looked pretty lively. May see him get a few appearances for Man Utd next season, though they've got so many forwards he may miss out.

Hey Critch, sorry to threadjack but do you know any place around Herndon to watch the games? The nearest place I've found so far is Summers restaurant down in Arlington, but that's a bit of a haul.

[Critch]

Hey Critch, sorry to threadjack but do you know any place around Herndon to watch the games? The nearest place I've found so far is Summers restaurant down in Arlington, but that's a bit of a haul.

There's nothing like Summers out here, I've heard that Ned Devine's shows English games at the weekends, but I've never been out for it. Other than that Jimmy's on Elden Street will turn the a tv over for you if you ask and there's no football/hockey on.

I've got Gol TV/FSC/Setanta at chez critch, so I rarely leave the house.

edit to avoid a dola - it seems that Guiseppe Rossi has declared for Italy and is playing for their under 19 team despite being from new Jersey, so don't get excited about another American at a big club.

[moriarty]

There's nothing like Summers out here, I've heard that Ned Devine's shows English games at the weekends, but I've never been out for it. Other than that Jimmy's on Elden Street will turn the a tv over for you if you ask and there's no football/hockey on.

I've got Gol TV/FSC/Setanta at chez critch, so I rarely leave the house.

I haven't picked up Setana yet ... but I might drop Sunday ticket and get it instead. I'll have to go by Ned Devines and see if they're showing games sometime. Thanks.

[SirFozzie]

Fair warning: Right now, Sentanta is hip deep into reruns (of Lions tour matches, WCQ from several months ago, and matches from the just completed Premier League and Bundesliga seasons.)

But it's still worth it.

[Critch]

Yeah, Setanta isn't too great just now unless you're a fan of GAA, South African rugby, or want to see the Ireland v Israel World Cup Qualifier for about the 100th time. But they are starting to pick up with the pre-season friendlies, they covered Wycombe v Chelsea and Clyde v Man Utd last week, they've got Olympiakos v Liverpool on Saturday.

Outside their Champions League and World Cup Qualifier coverage, it's not great. But the Champions League and World Cup Qualifier coverage is great.

[MIJB#19]

For anybody following Feyenoord or Dutch soccer: how is Cory Gibbs performing?Might as well have called it Ping MIJB: how's Cory Gibbs doing? ;)

He picked up a knee injury at the end of he 2004/2005 season in a friendly versus England and there hasn't been much news since then. He's probably still recovering from the surgery.

Also, with the hiring of a new coach Feyenoord is heading to an All-Dutch center of the defense. Gibbs isn't fluent Dutch yet, so his chances to play there are slim at the season start, especially with him coming off injury and thus having to catch up with the rest of the team in the season preperation, which starts August 14th for Feyenoord.

Edit:
I might add that Gibbs was part of the most critized defense in years which may have been caused by having a weird set of nationalities represented. Still, with not so much true defenders on the team, the competition is mostly from converted midfielders, Gibbs may be the left central defender by mid-September again, providing his recovery goes well.

[Klinglerware]

Thanks MIJB for the update.

An interesting point about fluency--just how important is it, in general, to be fluent in the prodiminant language of the team?

[daedalus]

edit to avoid a dola - it seems that Guiseppe Rossi has declared for Italy and is playing for their under 19 team despite being from new Jersey, so don't get excited about another American at a big club.If it's the Rossi I'm thinking of (who signed with United from an Italian club last year), he's been in the Italian U-* squads for a few years now. I believe that, under new FIFA rules, he could STILL turn out for the US senior side as long as he has not picked up a full cap with Italy. If he chooses to.

Apparently, he's very, very talented. If I understand correctly, United fans are far more excited about him now, after having had a chance to see him in a full season in the reserves, than when he signed. Supposedly, a creative type who still needs to develop physically. If he turns out as they say, he could form an impressive trio with Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo (without even mentioning Fletcher and Richardson - I don't understand why people were so down on United last year).

[Critch]

If it's the Rossi I'm thinking of (who signed with United from an Italian club last year), he's been in the Italian U-* squads for a few years now.

Yeah, that's the one. He looked pretty good, a deep lying forward. The commentator mentioned a few times that he was from New Jersey, it wasn't til i read about him this morning that I realized he'd opted for Italy. He will still be able to turn out for the US eventually, but I'd guess that'd only be if he turns out not to be good enough for the Italians. He can take over from Christian Vieri as the Italian international that all the English language reporters head for :)

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Anyone know what channel I can watch Beckham paly tonite?

[Critch]

Anyone know what channel I can watch Beckham paly tonite?

It's on FSC at 10.30 eastern time tonight.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

It's on FSC at 10.30 eastern time tonight.
Fox Soccer Channel! Blah! Should be on ESPN or ESPN 2 to gain a small portion of the cable viewership.

[Critch]

It's also on the FSN West 2, if that's any good.

It's only a friendly anyway. Real will be playing at half speed making sure they avoid injury, and they'll probably use about 9 subs. I wouldn't be surprised if they lose.

[MIJB#19]

Thanks MIJB for the update.

An interesting point about fluency--just how important is it, in general, to be fluent in the prodiminant language of the team?Speaking English does the trick usually. Will, at least it does in the Netherlands. But usually it's concidered a 'pre' to be able to speak the language that most teammates think in. If you have to translate what others say, you may be a split-second late to pick up the open attacker and give him no space to make his action.

The problem with Feyenoord was mainly the multi-nationality issue. All seemed to be decent defenders, but if they can't communicate, there's no defense possible.

[Critch]

Wasn't a bad game last night, Real Madrid looked good for the first 30 minutes til they started taking it easy and in the last 25 minutes when they'd brought on the new signings and young guys who were trying to impress. Not bad for a pre-season friendly though.