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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
YCJ on BigSoccer: 2010 MLS Cup Weekend
Exclusive BigSoccer photos from Andy Mead/YCJ and Wade Jackson/YCJ
Image:...
Image:...
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Oh Oh Den Haag... At Long Last!
ADO hooligans fighting and wrestling in their little ADO outfits! Pathetic...
Goose prompted me to write about ADO Den Haag and he is right. They deserve it! This is a club in a city that should be calling the shots in football in Holland, alongside Ajax and Feyenoord... Eindhoven? Nah... Alkmaar?? Tssss.... Enschede? No way!
Den Haag!
It has working class neighbourhoods, growing streetwise talents. Multicultural clubs, with heaps of athletic and ball-loving youngsters. A real city mentality allowing for that typical big city arrogance, so lacking in PSV and Twente (...).
Over the years, many a great player was born in Den
Goose prompted me to write about ADO Den Haag and he is right. They deserve it! This is a club in a city that should be calling the shots in football in Holland, alongside Ajax and Feyenoord... Eindhoven? Nah... Alkmaar?? Tssss.... Enschede? No way!
Den Haag!
It has working class neighbourhoods, growing streetwise talents. Multicultural clubs, with heaps of athletic and ball-loving youngsters. A real city mentality allowing for that typical big city arrogance, so lacking in PSV and Twente (...).
Over the years, many a great player was born in Den
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Martin Kelly to ink new Liverpool deal this week
Chelsea
Liverpool
Martin Kelly is ready to commit his future to Liverpool.
The Daily Star says England Under-21 defender Kelly will this week sign a new contract to keep him at Anfield until 2014.
Kelly was out of contract at the end of the season, but has impressed manager Roy Hodgson since making his full Premier League debut in the 2-0 win over Chelsea on November 7.
Click here for the best Liverpool coverage on the 'net. All your Reds news and gossip in one spot.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Oh Oh Den Haag... At Long Last!
ADO hooligans fighting and wrestling in their little ADO outfits! Pathetic...
Goose prompted me to write about ADO Den Haag and he is right. They deserve it! This is a club in a city that should be calling the shots in football in Holland, alongside Ajax and Feyenoord... Eindhoven? Nah... Alkmaar?? Tssss.... Enschede? No way!
Den Haag!
It has working class neighbourhoods, growing streetwise talents. Multicultural clubs, with heaps of athletic and ball-loving youngsters. A real city mentality allowing for that typical big city arrogance, so lacking in PSV and Twente (...).
Over the years, many a great player was born in Den
Goose prompted me to write about ADO Den Haag and he is right. They deserve it! This is a club in a city that should be calling the shots in football in Holland, alongside Ajax and Feyenoord... Eindhoven? Nah... Alkmaar?? Tssss.... Enschede? No way!
Den Haag!
It has working class neighbourhoods, growing streetwise talents. Multicultural clubs, with heaps of athletic and ball-loving youngsters. A real city mentality allowing for that typical big city arrogance, so lacking in PSV and Twente (...).
Over the years, many a great player was born in Den
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The Doc's Diagnosis: Aston Villa v Arsenal
This, to me, was a tale of two strikers. One who wasn't playing, and one who was.
I make no bones about the fact that I am a huge Gabby fan. His pace has always terrified even the best defences (he won't be getting a Christmas card from Nemanja Vidic), but he's learned to hold the ball up, he now works the channels brilliantly, he's added power to his pace and he works hard to harry an opposing back four when they have possession in their own third. But he wasn't available today - and how we missed him.
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Football League bets to follow this weekend, plus our tipping contest | James Dart
Make your predictions in our ongoing competition, plus take a look at the best betting suggestions in the lower divisions
Welcome to our weekly Friday tipping round-up. Most of you know the drill by now, but for those that don't, every week I will post my betting suggestions for the weekend, as well as our predictions contest.
Brentford to beat MK Dons at 11-8
OK, so we've backed against the Dons on the road before this season, but nothing's changed: since that preview, they lost 3-2 at Bournemouth and 4-2 at 21st-placed Tranmere. Granted, they've won each of their home games since (against bottom-third pair Exeter and Yeovil), but Saturday's trip to the rapidly-improving Bees represents another chance to get up against them. After the most sluggish of starts, Brentford are four games unbeaten (winning 3-0 at Tranmere, 2-1 at home to Peterborough and 4-2 at Exeter, while drawing last week at home to Bournemouth), enough to earn boss Andy Scott the manager of the month award. "We are starting to reap the benefit from the fitness work we did in pre-season is starting to and the players are still pretty fresh," said Scott, who is still waiting on the fitness of Gary Alexander for the Dons' visit. Their boss Karl Robinson has more pressing worries, having only been able to field four subs in his last two games.
Derby to beat Leicester at 3-1
Having opposed the Rams last week, they responded with mightily impressive wins over Portsmouth and Ipswich in the space of four days. On Saturday they visit the Walkers Stadium at an even longer price to the one at which they won away at Portman Road. Only five points separate the Foxes and Ipswich, but in the tight confines of the Championship, that represents 10 positions. Put simply, Leicester aren't as good as Ipswich, even with just the one defeat in seven, and the Rams (one defeat in 10, five wins in six): 3-1 is too big. Should Leicester drift any shorter towards Evens, you may want to just lay them.
NB: prices with Betfair and correct at the time of publication
Tipping contest
As you'll note from the scoring, late starters have been awarded one point for every week they have missed.
The top of the table so far (I'll post the full table in the comments section below) ...
markier 27
PiggyPingoPiglet 24
Bobby142 22
Thewalthamstowone 22
MrMondypops 20
captainmorganrum 20
fmgazette 20
josedinho 19
zaragozaram 19
Theloneraver 19
richardw 19
As for this week: make your result (not scoreline) prediction for each of the following games below, with one point per correct result:
Leicester v Derby
Scunthorpe v Cardiff
Brentford v MK Dons
Oldham v Huddersfield
Chesterfield v Burton Albion
Wycombe v Bradford
I'm tipping Derby, Cardiff, Brentford, Huddersfield, Chesterfield and draw. You can also follow me on Twitter if you want more money-losing tips/predictions through the week.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Relieved Arsenal banish spectre of Tottenham defeat
Relieved Arsenal banish spectre of Tottenham defeat
LONDON, Nov 27 ((Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his team had stopped a syndrome developing after a 4-2 win at Aston Villa soothed the mental scars of two successive defeats.
For the second weekend in a row, Arsenal went in 2-0 ahead at the break in the Premier League but this time they held on to all three points at Villa Park despite a strong comeback by their opponents.
Last Saturday, they had allowed North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at the Emirates. They then conceded two late goals in a 2-0 midweek Champions League defeat to Braga in Portugal.
Wenger, whose team took over at the top of the Premier League pending Manchester United's later kickoff at home to Blackburn Rovers, told Sky Sports TV that the recent defeats had played on his mind.
"I think it was a very strong performance against a Villa side which was very dangerous and is a good team," he said.
"Unfortunately at 2-0 at half time we had a little bit of a syndrome in our head of last week and it happened again that it came quickly back to 2-1," he added.
"But this time we managed to find the resources to keep scoring goals."
Wenger agreed another defeat would have been hard to deal with. "Repeated things happening negatively become a syndrome and that's what you don't want," he said.
Arsenal dominated the first half but Ciaran Clark pulled one back shortly after the break.
Although Marouane Chamakh then restored the advantage, Clark's second goal again had Arsenal under pressure for the last 20 minutes until Jack Wilshere restored a more representative scoreline with Arsenal's fourth goal deep into stoppage time.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Blackburn fans wait to count their chickens
Blackburn fans wait to count their chickens
BLACKBURN, England, Nov 26 (Reuters) - When Nowaz Khan started watching Blackburn Rovers, he was one of the only Asians in both the ground and the small Lancashire mill town.
Forty-four years later, the Premier League club has Indian owners and a mission to tap into the huge Asian market, while the northwestern English town itself is home to a thriving Asian community that makes up almost a quarter of its population.
Blackburn, who struggle to pull in fans in an area saturated by top clubs such as Manchester United and Manchester City, have long sought to attract fans from different backgrounds, installing a multi-faith prayer room at their Ewood Park ground in 2008.
With its shops selling brightly-coloured fabrics and Asian groceries, the Whalley Range area of the town offers new owners, Indian poultry giant Venky's, a home-from-home feeling.
Fans welcomed their arrival last week to end three years of uncertainty while the club was up for sale but are cautious while they wait to hear more details of their investment plans.
"Show us your money and we'll count our chickens," bus driver Khan, who has supported Rovers since moving to Blackburn from Pakistan as child in the mid-1960s, urged the owners.
Venky's, which makes products such as chicken nuggets, sealed a 54-million-pound ($85.40-million) deal to become the first Indian owners of a Premier League club but, apart from saying Rovers need a striker, have not told manager Sam Allardyce how much money he can spend.
"I'm looking for a player who would improve the squad dramatically," Allardyce said last week. "But I'm not really looking for a player to develop at this moment in time. We've had enough of those recently."
CRYSTAL HEIRLOOM
Much of the owners' talk has been about improving the Blackburn Rovers brand but some fans have questioned whether they really have the club's interests at heart after saying they wanted to rename Ewood Park after Venky's or another sponsor.
"Blackburn Rovers is a very traditional club with a rich history and any tampering for 'quick' business reasons is on a par with tampering with the family heirloom," Nazir Musa, who writes a column in the Asian Image newspaper, told Reuters.
"It's not the done thing and naming the ground...will not be seen well by the fans at all. Blackburn folk are traditional, working-class, down-to-earth people set in their ways when it comes to their football club.
"If Venky's were to catapult us too fast and too soon they may find such get-rich schemes will fall flat as fast as they came.
"Rovers is a crystal heirloom which deserves to be handled with care, consideration and understanding. The fans would rather the club stable and mid-table than a one-season wonder."
Blackburn have, after all, already won the Premier League to achieve the seemingly impossible for a club from a small town.
Their 1995 title came after tens of millions of pounds of investment from Jack Walker, the steel tycoon with a big passion for his home town and football club who, many fans feel, set an example that no new owners will ever live up to.
Walker left a legacy of a redeveloped stadium and top-class training facilities as well as a trust to own the club when he died 10 years ago.
Transfer fees and wages have since spiralled. Blackburn have been unable to keep up with the Premier League's big spenders -- many of whom have foreign owners -- and the Jack Walker Trust put the club up for sale three years ago.
Fans are excited by the new era and hope the takeover will mean the club can stop having to sell its best players.
"We know we are not going to get ridiculous amounts to spend like Manchester United and Manchester City," fan Simon Fish said after coming out of the club shop in central Blackburn.
He said he fully supported the club's decision to sell because investment was needed but added that Walker would be "turning in his grave" at the idea of renaming Ewood Park.
FAN BASE
Directors of Venky's, Venkateshwara and Balaji Rao, watched their new club beat Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday in front of 21,848 at home, the weekend's second-lowest Premier League attendance after promoted Blackpool and the club's lowest of the season.
The owners have spoken about wanting to add "a huge Indian and Asian fan base" and although they emphasise attracting an international following, they may want to look closer to home to fill their more than 31,000-capacity stadium.
Season ticket prices are the lowest in the Premier League at 209 pounds, two-and-a-half times cheaper than at champions Chelsea, yet the ground is on average only three-quarters full.
Fans who regularly attend say the number of Asians in the crowd has grown over the past five years but is still "small".
"There is an untapped market in Blackburn," said Fish, who added the takeover might bring more Asians through the turnstiles.
Those like Khan, who remember when there were only a handful of Asians in Blackburn, know how quickly things can change.
"There weren't many Asians at matches, one or two people maybe," he said of his experiences as a fan in the 1960s. "I wasn't just the only Asian in the class, I was the only Asian in the school. Things have changed now."
Ferreira rubbishes claims of Chelsea crisis
Carlo Ancelotti
Chelsea
Chelsea defender Paulo Ferreira has dismissed talk of a crisis at Stamford Bridge.
Carlo Ancelotti's future has been the subject of speculation since his assistant Ray Wilkins was sacked two weeks ago.
But Ferreira insists: "Last season we had a lot of talk about a crisis, and in the end Chelsea were champions.
"It is true, though, that people aren't used to seeing us like we have been in our last few games.
"Everyone started talking about a crisis, but I think that sometimes things like this happen in football.
"We are missing important players and we have to deal with that, and we have to make sure we win our games."
Click here for the best Chelsea coverage on the 'net. All your Blues news and gossip in one spot.
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This Clasico will be very even - Barcelona captain Carles Puyol
Defender reckons clash with Real Madrid is finely balanced
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wenger praises Arshavin in Arsenal win
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger
Aston Villa
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was pleased with Andrey Asrhavin's performance in victory over Aston Villa.
Arshavin impressed in the absence of Cesc Fabregas.
"He has been very sharp today I feel. I felt he was always dangerous. A good test is when you like a player to have the ball and you always like him to have the ball because you feet he could make the difference," said Wenger.
"I feel we want ideally Cesc to be there but I was confident before the game. We have a way we want to play football. Of course Cesc has his special talent but I still feel that no matter who plays we can have good team play.:
Click here for the best Arsenal coverage on the 'net. All your Gunners news and gossip in one spot.
Charlton hint at return to former glories after years of decline | Jeremy Alexander
Charlton have struggled since the departure of Alan Curbishley in 2006 but they are ready to put their recent toils behind them
"Doing a Charlton" has fallen into abeyance. For a while it was the aspiration of every club entering the Premier League. Then, in May 2006, Alan Curbishley left, having settled the club comfortably in the top tier for six years between seventh and 14th places, and 12 months and three managers later Charlton were relegated. In another two years they were in League One. Doing a Charlton had lost its cachet.
That may be about to change again. Peterborough are not quite Manchester City or Everton, whom Charlton beat and drew with in November 2006, but they were fourth in the table to Charlton's fifth on Saturday morning and were rolled over 5-1 at home. Not for nothing is a sword at the heart of the Addicks' crest.
Before the game Peterborough topped the charts in "goals against" as well as "for" in the division. But Charlton, arriving on a tight-lipped run, departed in smiles. "To win so convincingly away, obviously you never expect that, but we are pleased," said their manager, Phil Parkinson. His feet have never knowingly left the ground.
In retrospect the result was a formality. In defence The Posh were tosh and Charlton, never pausing on the break, when so often opportunities are lost, tore them apart with the zippy, slippy play of Paul Benson and Lee Martin, an early substitute for Joe Anyinsah. Those front two were helped by the acute promptings of Therry Racon and Jos� Semedo and when, after three half-time substitutions, Peterborough responded with a degree of purpose and a free-kick goal, Christian Dailly and Gary Doherty brought the experience of 67 years to bear in central defence.
Charlton had been four up after 38 minutes, which is exactly what Cardiff City were last season here before drawing 4-4. Their fans are not yet so sure of the current team as to rest easy at any score but, having passed seven hours in all games without conceding, Charlton were annoyed to see the spell broken, betraying a steely new mentality. Martin's second goal, to go with two from Johnnie Jackson and one from Racon, ensured they scored five away from home in the league for the first time since a 5-2 win at Grimsby in 1999.
Peterborough's manager, Gary Johnson, did not mince words afterwards. "There is going to be a lot of soul-searching and some of the lads have big decisions to make over whether they want to be part of what we are trying to achieve," he said.
There are no such doubts with Charlton. Parachute payments are history; TV money is a tenth of the �6m it was even in the Championship; 20 players left in the summer (plus Jonjo Shelvey to Liverpool in April for �1.7m from their prized academy before they got much out of him) and only 12 came in. Crowds, though impressive for League One, are more than 10,000 short of those they had in the Premier League, so cloth is being cut according to reduced means. But smaller squads have a virtue in core spirit that Manchester City may not understand. Core spirit is strong.
Richard Murray, who became chairman in 1995, admitted in his last annual report to boardroom mistakes, markedly in managerial appointments after Curbishley's departure. Parkinson, given the job after eight games as caretaker without a win, does not seem to have been one of them. There is a feeling now, born of stability, that the club is ready to go forward. They have known worse than League One ? in March 1984 they were within 25 minutes of liquidation ? but nothing as bad as the spectre of Peter Ridsdale, of Leeds and Cardiff notoriety, reportedly sniffing around The Valley. Murray was quick to dismiss the story, as did Ridsdale, and deny other takeover talk while admitting he is "open to investment or even a buy- out if it is in the club's best interests".
Those best interests will be served in the short term by promotion. Only Brighton, who inflicted a wake-up 4-0 defeat last month, are above them. Murray believes Charlton should be "a top Championship team". Johnson thought "the two teams looked a couple of leagues apart", which would put Charlton back in the top tier were it not for his own side's poverty.
The Valley is one of the best old-style grounds in the country since Charlton spent �37m on it while lodging at Selhurst and Upton Parks for eight years. In 2004 they gained permission to extend the East Stand, pushing total capacity to 40,000; that is on hold. The 2012 Olympics have produced regeneration around Greenwich that will enhance their catchment potential. And last month Charlton reiterated full commitment to their academy.
Ultimately attraction of investment is related to quality of performance and vice versa. It is a chicken-and-egg situation. Such a victory is a serious egg. They will not be counting them but doing a Charlton may soon be worthwhile again.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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Arsenal at Villa Park, Pires to play, question of the day and the banker bet
Not a rumour in site today, it is just football and that is just the way I like it on a Saturday morning and seeing as I want to keep the day interesting, I'll be having a bet on the 3pm matches and my banker bet for the day will be below.
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Friday, November 26, 2010
Shaolin Soccer [DVD] [2001]
Shaolin Soccer [DVD] [2001] Computer generated special effects have seldom been so giddy as in Shaolin Soccer, a gleeful fusion of kung fu and a classic Bad News Bears sports story. A former soccer star–whose “golden leg” was broken by a hired mob–assembles a team of former students of Shaolin martial arts, whose assorted skills [...]
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Am I allowed to take a camera into the Soccer World cup 2010 games?
Do they ban spectators from taking photographs at the Soccer World cup games?
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Braga keep hopes alive with win over Arsenal
Braga keep hopes alive with win over Arsenal
BRAGA, Portugal, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Two late goals by Brazilian forward Matheus gave Braga a 2-O win over Arsenal in Champions League Group H on Tuesday to deny the London team the satisfaction of sealing their progress into the second round.
Substitute Elton created Matheus's first goal moments after coming on by supplying a delightful pass from his own half. Matheus ran into the box and put the ball over Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski on 83 minutes.
Matheus's second came deep into injury time, also from a counter-attack, with the forward surrounded by three Arsenal defenders but still managing to fire in a shot that went in after hitting the bar.
Braga had conceded six goals in their group-stage debut at Arsenal in September but were much improved at home, giving the English side little room to deploy their smooth passing game.
Arsenal lost the Group H lead to Shakhtar Donetsk, 3-0 winners over bottom team Partizan Belgrade.
In a largely uneventful and low-tempo first half, clear chances were rare for either side.
The Londoners' best opportunity came when Cesc Fabregas led a counter-attack and sent Theo Walcott racing through into the box on 35 minutes, but keeper Filipe rushed out to block the forward's shot.
Braga's finest effort came just moments later, with Brazilian striker Lima sending a powerful drive from 25 metres just wide of Fabianski's right post.
Walcott posed a danger again five minutes after halftime with a free kick that went just over the Portuguese bar.
Failing to penetrate the Arsenal box, Braga opted for long-distance efforts, but Lima's diagonal shot on 58 minutes and a powerful drive by Luis Aguiar two minutes later both went just wide.
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger then substituted his three forwards and Carlos Vela was unlucky not to have earned a penalty when he was fouled by Alberto Rodriguez in the 78th minute.
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The Best Headline You?ll See This Week
At first, while rubbing the disbelief from the ol’ baby blues, it looked to read “mean” instead of “men”, which I thought to be the next evolution in the desalination of society.
Turns out it’s a lot better than that.
The story is equally ridiculous, and seemingly without “foundation”…or blush.
Feguifoot media officer David Monsuy explained to [...]
Turns out it’s a lot better than that.
The story is equally ridiculous, and seemingly without “foundation”…or blush.
Feguifoot media officer David Monsuy explained to [...]
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Thursday, November 25, 2010
MLS Cup: Over the falls
*TO DALLAS*:
You poor bastards. Figures you couldn't just lose in the final - you had to lose in...
You poor bastards. Figures you couldn't just lose in the final - you had to lose in...
Pearce reveals C'ship plan
Stuart Pearce wants his England Under-21 side to play in the Championship to help develop promising players.
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Arsenal captain Fabregas out for 2-3 weeks - Wenger
Arsenal captain Fabregas out for 2-3 weeks - Wenger
LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas could be out of action for upto three weeks after injuring his hamstring in Tuesday's Champions League defeat by Braga, manager Arsene Wenger has said.
Fabregas was substituted in the 69th minute of the 2-0 loss in Portugal with his team mate Emmanuel Eboue also suffering a knee injury.
"Eboue will be out for a while and we will have to asses Fabregas tomorrow (Wednesday)," Wenger told the club's website (www.arsenal.com) after the match.
"It could be two to three weeks. It is very disappointing because I had a hesitation to play him (Fabregas) before the match started. I took the gamble and it backfired on us."
Arsenal face Aston Villa in a Premier League clash on Saturday and Wigan Athletic in the League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
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EPL Round-Up: Money Talks
Guest blogger Mark Briggs returns with his monthly look at the English top flight. October saw Liverpool win in the law courts but struggle on the football pitch. One Manchester millionaire got even richer and Chelsea carried on regardless.
Early season form is beginning to develop into season defining starts.
Liverpool, far from having a season to rebound or consolidate, are only a few bad results away from bringing into use one of the classic clich� of modern football, being ?too big to go down.? Having said that, one of the biggest milestones of the season happened off the field. New England Sports Ventures battled the owners and, bizarrely, a Texan court, to finally take control of Liverpool. To highlight that off the field problems weren?t the only thing hanging over the club, the following weekend the team lost 2-0 to fierce rivals Everton and put in a damp performance.
In all likelihood, if Roy Hogson?s men still find themselves in this mess come January there will be money to spend, although potentially by a different manager. Another striker and an attacking midfielder seem to be a must.
The Reds traditional big rivals are also struggling and have also had their start to the season overshadowed by peripheral matters. Manchester United have struggled to hold on to leads, something that would have been unthinkable two years ago, when Ferdinand andd Vidic looked like the preverbal brick wall and Jonny Evans looked a natural fit as a replacement for either. Rio Ferdinand has been injured and Evans is looking vulnerable against the high ball. In what is rumoured to be his final year, Edwin Van der Sar has unfortunately also suffered a dip in form. But being an Alex Ferguson team ?struggling? means they are still third.
The top of the table has a familiar look to it, with Manchester City occupying the 4th spot ahead of Spurs this time round.
Spurs are playing well, with their usual swashbuckling style, but it seems to be more of an effort this year. Modric has not hit his best form, but this has been tempered by the arrival of Rafael Van der Vaart who has come out of the blocks flying and seems determined to score or create a goal every time he gets the ball.
West Ham have been unable to push on from last year, not helped by a loss of form by Carlton Cole. There were rumours that Liverpool failed with an 11th hour bid for the England striker before the last transfer window closed - if he doesn?t have his head in the game, they are likely to continue to struggle.
Chelsea are surging forward, they have to be favourites to win the league this year. They have looked very impressive, lots of goals and a solid back line.
Much was made of Arsenal?s showing at Manchester City, and while it was impressive, the sending off of Deryk Boyata less than 5 minutes in made the process a lot easier. Having said that Almunia will now surely not walk back into this team, and they pulled of this feat without Jack Wilshere, their star performer this year.
Arsenal?s inability to beat the top teams has been the major factor behind those 4 trophyless seasons. But how often has the Arsenal first team been involved? They are not a team who picks up a knock and misses a couple of games. If an Arsenal player gets injured they seem to miss months. Even this week the first choice centre backs were missing.
City have not responded to that loss, going down at Wolves. As soon as their form dipped questions surrounding the temperament, the egos, the wages etc were bound to follow. But on field arguments, coupled with rumours of some behind closed doors incidents will have the blue half of Manchester a little worried.
Special mention has to be reserved for West Brom, who until a few days ago sat fourth. There is still long way to go, but they look more like a Premiership team, rather than a championship outfit hanging on. There are a number of clubs looking over their shoulder and this season looks to be two tiered. Anyone in the top half seems capable of beating any of the others, and everyone in the bottom half is more than capable of getting relegated.
Hopefully next month the back page headlines will not be dominated by money issues.
Early season form is beginning to develop into season defining starts.
Liverpool, far from having a season to rebound or consolidate, are only a few bad results away from bringing into use one of the classic clich� of modern football, being ?too big to go down.? Having said that, one of the biggest milestones of the season happened off the field. New England Sports Ventures battled the owners and, bizarrely, a Texan court, to finally take control of Liverpool. To highlight that off the field problems weren?t the only thing hanging over the club, the following weekend the team lost 2-0 to fierce rivals Everton and put in a damp performance.
In all likelihood, if Roy Hogson?s men still find themselves in this mess come January there will be money to spend, although potentially by a different manager. Another striker and an attacking midfielder seem to be a must.
The Reds traditional big rivals are also struggling and have also had their start to the season overshadowed by peripheral matters. Manchester United have struggled to hold on to leads, something that would have been unthinkable two years ago, when Ferdinand andd Vidic looked like the preverbal brick wall and Jonny Evans looked a natural fit as a replacement for either. Rio Ferdinand has been injured and Evans is looking vulnerable against the high ball. In what is rumoured to be his final year, Edwin Van der Sar has unfortunately also suffered a dip in form. But being an Alex Ferguson team ?struggling? means they are still third.
The top of the table has a familiar look to it, with Manchester City occupying the 4th spot ahead of Spurs this time round.
Spurs are playing well, with their usual swashbuckling style, but it seems to be more of an effort this year. Modric has not hit his best form, but this has been tempered by the arrival of Rafael Van der Vaart who has come out of the blocks flying and seems determined to score or create a goal every time he gets the ball.
West Ham have been unable to push on from last year, not helped by a loss of form by Carlton Cole. There were rumours that Liverpool failed with an 11th hour bid for the England striker before the last transfer window closed - if he doesn?t have his head in the game, they are likely to continue to struggle.
Chelsea are surging forward, they have to be favourites to win the league this year. They have looked very impressive, lots of goals and a solid back line.
Much was made of Arsenal?s showing at Manchester City, and while it was impressive, the sending off of Deryk Boyata less than 5 minutes in made the process a lot easier. Having said that Almunia will now surely not walk back into this team, and they pulled of this feat without Jack Wilshere, their star performer this year.
Arsenal?s inability to beat the top teams has been the major factor behind those 4 trophyless seasons. But how often has the Arsenal first team been involved? They are not a team who picks up a knock and misses a couple of games. If an Arsenal player gets injured they seem to miss months. Even this week the first choice centre backs were missing.
City have not responded to that loss, going down at Wolves. As soon as their form dipped questions surrounding the temperament, the egos, the wages etc were bound to follow. But on field arguments, coupled with rumours of some behind closed doors incidents will have the blue half of Manchester a little worried.
Special mention has to be reserved for West Brom, who until a few days ago sat fourth. There is still long way to go, but they look more like a Premiership team, rather than a championship outfit hanging on. There are a number of clubs looking over their shoulder and this season looks to be two tiered. Anyone in the top half seems capable of beating any of the others, and everyone in the bottom half is more than capable of getting relegated.
Hopefully next month the back page headlines will not be dominated by money issues.
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Lucas Radebe: From Soweto to Soccer Superstar
Lucas Radebe: From Soweto to Soccer Superstar New Mint Condition Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon Guaranteed packaging No quibbles returns Lucas Radebe is one of the few players whose name is mentioned in the same breath as the club legends like Don Revie, Billy Bremner, John Charles, Eddie Gray, Peter Lorimer, [...]
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Pardew fears time running out for West Ham
Blackpool
West Ham United
Former West Ham United boss Alan Pardew fears time is running out for his old club in their relegation battle.
The Hammers are bottom of the Premier League and six points from safety already as they have terrible goal difference.
Pardew, boss for three years until 2006, said: ?The points total they?ve got is going to make it very difficult, they?ve got a lot of catch-up to do.
?The one difficult thing in the Premier League is catch-up - when I was at Charlton we had 10 points midway through the season.
?We had a brilliant second half of the season but that still wasn?t enough, so you need to get in touching distance of the other teams before halfway.?
Pardew, 49, believes the tight Premier League this season at least gives West Ham the chance for survival.
Pards said: ?As Stoke have proved, with straight wins you can move up to the top 10, and you?ve got to focus on keeping that positive feeling within the group that you?re going to escape.
?Being an ex-West Ham manager I know that fight is at the club and I hope they make it.?
He added on Sky Sports News: ?I do feel West Brom and Blackpool will be involved and there will be four or five teams fighting for their lives.?
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Football, Blogs and Newspapers Unite? Part Three
Richard Whittall continues his series on football blogs and the future of online news media with a look at what a blog/newspaper cooperative might look like.
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Blues fight back for welcome win
Chelsea had to come from behind to claim a morale-boosting win over Zilina and maintain their 100% record.
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George Peat "Embarrassed And Extremely Disappointed"
Unfortunately, it wasn't the Scotland performance that Mr Peat was referring to:
"I was embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful behaviour of some of our supporters during the Liechtenstein national anthem at Hampden Park.
"The Scotland fans have worked hard to earn their reputation throughout the world as fun-loving and respectful followers of football.
"Those who chose to boo our opponents' anthem only served to tarnish that reputation.
"I apologise unreservedly to our visitors for the crass reaction to their anthem, just as I did in private to the Liechtenstein delegation.
"It must not be forgotten that all nations must abide by Fifa's Fair Play policy and the behaviour does nothing to help Scotland's image."
Yes, George Peat is apparently pretty annoyed that the Scotland fans, or sections of them, were booing the Liechtenstein national anthem at Hampden last.
The pain of agreeing with For Peat?s Sake. But booing an anthem because it?s got the same tune as God Save The Queen? That seems pretty mindless.
Still, I was ?embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful? performance of the national team last night.
For some time I have been ?embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful? mess George Peat has made of his tenure at the SFA. I could almost accept his ineptitude if he covered for it in some way with honest endeavour. He doesn?t.
He?s a sham who continues to damage the game by remaining in his post and through his own ?crass reaction? to any criticism.
This attack on the fans might be justified but it's being used to distract from the myriad of issue that last night's performance raised.
Here?s Moira Gordon?s take on it during today?s Scotsman live chat:
?George Peat is not a man I will ever be singing the praises of as he has been one of those who have sat on their backsides doing very little but having anarchic self-preservation committee and sub-committee meetings while Scottish football fell into ruin around them. But I do agree with the idea that we should be grown up and respectful enough to not to boo our way through the opposition's national anthem. I just wish he had reacted this quickly to things that are wrong with our game as he has to this.?
Quite. George and his cronies aren?t blameless in what we saw last night. The fans were maybe just joining the SFA in doing ?nothing to help Scotland?s image.?
* Incidentally, these are the fairly innocuous words to the Liechtenstein anthem:
High above the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland,
This dear fatherland
Was chosen for us by
God's wise hand.
Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,
Happy and faithful!
Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
United by brotherly bonds and free!
"I was embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful behaviour of some of our supporters during the Liechtenstein national anthem at Hampden Park.
"The Scotland fans have worked hard to earn their reputation throughout the world as fun-loving and respectful followers of football.
"Those who chose to boo our opponents' anthem only served to tarnish that reputation.
"I apologise unreservedly to our visitors for the crass reaction to their anthem, just as I did in private to the Liechtenstein delegation.
"It must not be forgotten that all nations must abide by Fifa's Fair Play policy and the behaviour does nothing to help Scotland's image."
Yes, George Peat is apparently pretty annoyed that the Scotland fans, or sections of them, were booing the Liechtenstein national anthem at Hampden last.
The pain of agreeing with For Peat?s Sake. But booing an anthem because it?s got the same tune as God Save The Queen? That seems pretty mindless.
Still, I was ?embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful? performance of the national team last night.
For some time I have been ?embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful? mess George Peat has made of his tenure at the SFA. I could almost accept his ineptitude if he covered for it in some way with honest endeavour. He doesn?t.
He?s a sham who continues to damage the game by remaining in his post and through his own ?crass reaction? to any criticism.
This attack on the fans might be justified but it's being used to distract from the myriad of issue that last night's performance raised.
Here?s Moira Gordon?s take on it during today?s Scotsman live chat:
?George Peat is not a man I will ever be singing the praises of as he has been one of those who have sat on their backsides doing very little but having anarchic self-preservation committee and sub-committee meetings while Scottish football fell into ruin around them. But I do agree with the idea that we should be grown up and respectful enough to not to boo our way through the opposition's national anthem. I just wish he had reacted this quickly to things that are wrong with our game as he has to this.?
Quite. George and his cronies aren?t blameless in what we saw last night. The fans were maybe just joining the SFA in doing ?nothing to help Scotland?s image.?
* Incidentally, these are the fairly innocuous words to the Liechtenstein anthem:
High above the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland,
This dear fatherland
Was chosen for us by
God's wise hand.
Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,
Happy and faithful!
Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
United by brotherly bonds and free!
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The SPL's Saturday Superstore
Not sure which nation but there must be one somewhere.
On a more serious note I think the international breaks that have topped and tailed the first three league games of the season have been badly timed. I know the calendar is crowded but the last three rounds of fixtures in the SPL have felt a bit phoney war-ish to me.
Hopefully now we can get down to some proper business.
And, jings, crivvens, it?s a Saturday sixsome for us this week. Unusual but reassuring in a traditional kind of way.
Hamilton v Rangers
We?ll start here. It seems the chronologically sound thing to do. I?ve heard a rumour that ESPN is offering viewers free access this weekend. So what better way to kick it off than sitting back, looking up your favourite pizza delivery service and enjoying the game.
Obviously it might not be a classic game. But it won?t be like suffering a Scotland game. And right now that?s a positive.
We?re still waiting for an Old Firm slip up in the SPL this season. Unfortunately for Hamilton I can?s see it happening here. Away win.
Celtic v Hearts
?Ooh la la? sang The Faces, possibly inspired by this fixture, which has always seemed to throw up the odd cracker and a few moments of controversy over the past few years.
How equipped are Hearts for what looks to be a wide open race for third? Can Celtic stand up to a real domestic challenge in these home games?
It?s likely to a clash of styles, a new look Celtic fielding attacking players out to prove their reputation at home and Jim Jefferies looking for Hearts to defend doughtily and quick and incisive on the break. Intriguing.
I?d not be massively surprised if Hearts nicked a point here but I think Celtic will edge it. Home win.
Dundee United v Aberdeen
The New Firm. Is it really that long ago that these two sides weren?t only jousting with the Old Firm for pre-eminence but actually looked set to build a dominance of their own?
Yes, it was that long ago.
Are United and Aberdeen passing each other on very different trajectories this season? Maybe not very different, but United are likely to struggle to replicate last year?s success while Aberdeen should enjoy a more pleasant few months than they did last time out.
It would certainly be a statement of intent if Aberdeen were to take something here. And I suspect they might. Away win.
Hibs v Inverness
With six home defeats on the bounce the last team Hibs will want to face is an Inverness side that has had often had the better of these clashes.
If this leads to a nervousness at Easter Road then Terry Butcher will be looking for his players to feed off and take advantage.
John Hughes will be looking for his players to bounce back from the bad, bad performance against St Mirren a fortnight ago.
I?ve a feeling this won?t be a classic. A draw might just leave both sides feeling a touch unsatisfied.
Kilmarnock v St Mirren
Both dressing rooms will be ringing to cries of ?more of the same? after both pulled off big wins last time out.
Neither of these teams were, and I mean no disrespect, particularly fancied in the pre-season build up. So perhaps against Aberdeen and St Mirren they were able to bring an element of surprise to the game.
I suppose more of the same might mean that they cancel each out. But I?m not so sure. Winning home games is a must for both. And I fancy Killie for the home win in this one.
St Johnstone v Motherwell
I?d like to think this one will fly under the radar a bit and turn into one of the games of the weekend.
Two closely matched teams and plenty to admire in both. Not, perhaps, earth shattering starts to the season but a two week lay off might have done both, particularly, Motherwell a bit of time to regroup and focus on the challenge ahead.
So I?m looking for a close contest, a good few goals and, at the end of it all, a draw.
So far: 6 out of 18. It?s already looking like a long hard road to respectability.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Ancelotti looks on bright side after Chelsea's bleak week
Ancelotti looks on bright side after Chelsea's bleak week
LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Carlo Ancelotti preferred to look on the bright side on Saturday as a miserable week for Chelsea ended with a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City.
It was the first time for more than four years that Chelsea had lost consecutive Premier League matches and the Birmingham defeat came on the day that former assistant manager Ray Wilkins said he was taking legal advice over his recent exit from the club.
With skipper John Terry sidelined with nerve problems in his leg, Ancelotti is experiencing his most testing time since he took over at Stamford Bridge, although Arsenal's defeat by Tottenham at least meant his side remained top.
After last Sunday's 3-0 home reverse against Sunderland Ancelotti was scathing about his players, but he said the performance against Birmingham, who scored from their only effort on target, was a huge improvement for the champions.
"I think that when you deserve to lose you have to lose, as against Sunderland," the manager told Chelsea's website (www.chelseafc.co.uk). "When you deserve to win you have to win. We didn't win because I think we were unlucky.
"I have to say nothing to my team because everyone showed good spirit, good attitude, everyone wants to win, we played good football, had a lot of chances but we lost. It is a difficult moment but we don't have to lose confidence.
"I was really disappointed with the performance against Sunderland but this is different, just with the result. We have to know this is football and it's important to maintain confidence in our play and our ability.
"It is difficult to explain this defeat. Chelsea played a fantastic game and deserved to win."
DROGBA UNLUCKY
Whatever Ancelotti says in public, he will be worried that his side's goal-blazing form of earlier in the season has evaporated. They have managed just one goal in their last four games which also included a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.
They scored 17 goals in their opening four league games.
Striker Didier Drogba, so often Chelsea's match-winner, has managed just two league goals in the last two months while the side are clearly missing the midfield goal threat of Frank Lampard who has been out since August.
"Didier had a lot of opportunities but at the moment he is not so lucky," Ancelotti said. "We have to know that in one season it can happen to have this moment but I already said to my players don't lose confidence. We have to worry when we don't play good football.
"If we are able to play like today every game using this attitude I think we can win (the title). The problem is to play every game like today."
Chelsea have the chance to snap out of their slump at home to Champions League lightweights MSK Zilina in midweek when they will again be without Terry and Lampard.
"We have to wait day by day (on Terry)," Ancelotti said, adding that Brazil central defender Alex, who played at Birmingham, could delay knee surgery.
"He played without a problem on his knee and we have to wait for the reaction tomorrow; I think we can postpone surgery."
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SFA draws up contingency plans
The SFA is drawing up contingency plans in response to the planned referees' strike this weekend.
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On Sky Soccer Saturday, do the team logos rotate at the same speed or different speeds?
On Sky’s Gillette Soccer Saturday programme, during a sound-only report from a match, a graphic is displayed showing the score with the club badges as rotating logos. Do both teams’ logos rotate at the same speed, or does the logo of the winning team rotate faster?
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Sunderland's Jordan Henderson doesn't want to be a one cap wonder for England
Youngster making no excuses for his under-par showing against France
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Sunday, November 21, 2010
SPL Restructuring: Numbers Game
Another day, another meeting.
Another debate on the structure of the Scottish Premier League.
And still no conclusions. It seems now that we?re not going to get any kind of vote on the issue until the end of the year. This being Scottish football we can probably add at least two months to that.
The upshot, in my opinion, is that we?re unlikely to see anything new for a while yet. Even that?s dependent on any proposal carrying 11 of the 12 votes on the SPL ? a voting system that might work well if you want to ensure that Kim Jong-un becomes Supreme Leader but ain?t any way to run a league that is collapsing under the weight of its own mediocrity.
The Scotsman reports:
An SPL spokeswoman said today: "It's one in a very long, long line of meetings on this subject.
"There have been many meetings on potential changes over the past year or so.
"In terms of decisions being made, we are still quite a bit off anything being brought in front of the clubs to vote on.
"Neil has said previously that he hopes a decision can be made by the end of the calendar year and that's still the timeframe."
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain issued a stark warning to his SPL colleagues this week that Scottish football is in dire need of change.
He told shareholders at the club's annual general meeting: "I do believe that change will come, but we are probably only at the start of the process.
"For the overall growth of our national game, there really has to be radical change but the complexities of numerous clubs, stakeholders, governing bodies and our footballing structure make this extremely difficult and challenging.
"In saying that, there have been many constructive and balanced discussions of late and I fervently hope these will ultimately produce findings and recommendations for radical solutions rather than a tinkering around the edges."
Bain added: "In the past, the footballing authorities in Scotland have perhaps taken too much of a parochial attitude to such initiatives as domestic league and competition structures, but we cannot afford to do that now.
So is a change gonna come?
I think there will be a restructuring now. Probably some sort of compromise around a 14 team league with a split in place rather than an immediate leap to 16 teams.
I don?t know when it will happen though and I won?t be holding my breath.
Another debate on the structure of the Scottish Premier League.
And still no conclusions. It seems now that we?re not going to get any kind of vote on the issue until the end of the year. This being Scottish football we can probably add at least two months to that.
The upshot, in my opinion, is that we?re unlikely to see anything new for a while yet. Even that?s dependent on any proposal carrying 11 of the 12 votes on the SPL ? a voting system that might work well if you want to ensure that Kim Jong-un becomes Supreme Leader but ain?t any way to run a league that is collapsing under the weight of its own mediocrity.
The Scotsman reports:
An SPL spokeswoman said today: "It's one in a very long, long line of meetings on this subject.
"There have been many meetings on potential changes over the past year or so.
"In terms of decisions being made, we are still quite a bit off anything being brought in front of the clubs to vote on.
"Neil has said previously that he hopes a decision can be made by the end of the calendar year and that's still the timeframe."
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain issued a stark warning to his SPL colleagues this week that Scottish football is in dire need of change.
He told shareholders at the club's annual general meeting: "I do believe that change will come, but we are probably only at the start of the process.
"For the overall growth of our national game, there really has to be radical change but the complexities of numerous clubs, stakeholders, governing bodies and our footballing structure make this extremely difficult and challenging.
"In saying that, there have been many constructive and balanced discussions of late and I fervently hope these will ultimately produce findings and recommendations for radical solutions rather than a tinkering around the edges."
Bain added: "In the past, the footballing authorities in Scotland have perhaps taken too much of a parochial attitude to such initiatives as domestic league and competition structures, but we cannot afford to do that now.
So is a change gonna come?
I think there will be a restructuring now. Probably some sort of compromise around a 14 team league with a split in place rather than an immediate leap to 16 teams.
I don?t know when it will happen though and I won?t be holding my breath.
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Miller sees Killie win as ideal preparation for Man Utd clash
Kilmarnock
Manchester United
Rangers
Wayne Rooney
According to Kenny Miller, Rangers' battling victory over Kilmarnock is the perfect tonic for a vital Champions League clash with Manchester United.
The Scottish champions fought back from behind for the sixth time this season to claim all three points in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, with Miller netting a hat-trick in the 3-2 win on Saturday.
The striker said: "Of course this win sets us up nicely.
"We will have to soak up a lot of pressure and we will have to win the game if we are to have a chance of qualification so we are going to have to create a few chances.
"We were disappointed with how we played on Saturday but we've got to be positive going into the game on Wednesday night."
Wayne Rooney is set to be unleashed in Glasgow after returning from injury as a substitute in Saturday's 2-0 win against Wigan.
Miller added: "He is a fantastic player but he is one of many they've got.
"It's not Wayne Rooney we will have to worry about, it will be the whole team, whether it be Berbatov, Nani, Scholes or Giggs.
"It's going to be a tough night for us and we are going to have to ride our luck and play well and hopefully take the chances when they come along."
Need your Rangers news fix? Click here for all Gers news and transfer rumours.
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Genoa v. Juventus: ?Battle Royale?
As news of Amauri?s left knee ligament damage broke, pardon the pun, its impact on the starting line-up ahead of Sunday?s lunchtime away match against Genoa was non-existent, much like the forward?s Serie A goals record this season. On the other end of the spectrum lies the wonderfully tanned Fabio Quagliarella who perhaps has already [...]
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Football League bets to follow this weekend, plus our tipping contest | James Dart
Make your predictions in our ongoing competition, plus take a look at the best betting suggestions in the lower divisions
Welcome to our weekly Friday tipping round-up. Most of you know the drill by now, but for those that don't, every week I will post my betting suggestions for the weekend, as well as our predictions contest.
Brentford to beat MK Dons at 11-8
OK, so we've backed against the Dons on the road before this season, but nothing's changed: since that preview, they lost 3-2 at Bournemouth and 4-2 at 21st-placed Tranmere. Granted, they've won each of their home games since (against bottom-third pair Exeter and Yeovil), but Saturday's trip to the rapidly-improving Bees represents another chance to get up against them. After the most sluggish of starts, Brentford are four games unbeaten (winning 3-0 at Tranmere, 2-1 at home to Peterborough and 4-2 at Exeter, while drawing last week at home to Bournemouth), enough to earn boss Andy Scott the manager of the month award. "We are starting to reap the benefit from the fitness work we did in pre-season is starting to and the players are still pretty fresh," said Scott, who is still waiting on the fitness of Gary Alexander for the Dons' visit. Their boss Karl Robinson has more pressing worries, having only been able to field four subs in his last two games.
Derby to beat Leicester at 3-1
Having opposed the Rams last week, they responded with mightily impressive wins over Portsmouth and Ipswich in the space of four days. On Saturday they visit the Walkers Stadium at an even longer price to the one at which they won away at Portman Road. Only five points separate the Foxes and Ipswich, but in the tight confines of the Championship, that represents 10 positions. Put simply, Leicester aren't as good as Ipswich, even with just the one defeat in seven, and the Rams (one defeat in 10, five wins in six): 3-1 is too big. Should Leicester drift any shorter towards Evens, you may want to just lay them.
NB: prices with Betfair and correct at the time of publication
Tipping contest
As you'll note from the scoring, late starters have been awarded one point for every week they have missed.
The top of the table so far (I'll post the full table in the comments section below) ...
markier 27
PiggyPingoPiglet 24
Bobby142 22
Thewalthamstowone 22
MrMondypops 20
captainmorganrum 20
fmgazette 20
josedinho 19
zaragozaram 19
Theloneraver 19
richardw 19
As for this week: make your result (not scoreline) prediction for each of the following games below, with one point per correct result:
Leicester v Derby
Scunthorpe v Cardiff
Brentford v MK Dons
Oldham v Huddersfield
Chesterfield v Burton Albion
Wycombe v Bradford
I'm tipping Derby, Cardiff, Brentford, Huddersfield, Chesterfield and draw. You can also follow me on Twitter if you want more money-losing tips/predictions through the week.
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Saturday, November 20, 2010
Evra eyeing top spot with Man Utd
Arsenal
Manchester United
Chelsea
Wigan Athletic
Manchester United fullback Patrice Evra is eyeing the Premier League leadership after victory over Wigan Athletic.
The weekend panned out rather well for the Reds, with Arsenal and Chelsea both suffering defeats, which has given United great incentive for the weeks ahead.
?I remember saying before the game that if we beat Wigan and Blackburn we would be top of the league, and I am still confident of that,? Evra told MUTV.
?But I think the team can give much more than we are giving right now. We are still at the top of the league, but against Blackburn we need to play from the first minute, not just at the end of the game. We have looked like we have lots of chances in the last 20 minutes of games. But we are Manchester United and we need to be more aggressive and score more goals ? and to bring back the way United play always.?
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Italy coach Prandelli stands by his multi-ethnic squad
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has hit out at the nation's racist fans.
A small group of fans in the crowd for this week?s 1-1 draw with Romania protested against the inclusion of Mario Balotelli and Argentine-born Cristian Ledesma.
They held up banners that read: ?Italy is for Italians? and ?No to a multi-ethnic Italy.?
?It?s hard to find the words. These incidents leave you sad, disappointed and angry. So much is said, but we are unable to do anything about it,? said Coach Prandelli.
?At times I?d like to see and to say something really attention-grabbing, but perhaps it?s better to just ignore some people.
?In any case, everyone must know that my Italy will always be multi-ethnic and open to everyone with Italian citizenship, regardless of the colour of their skin.
?Mario should also know he has the affection and respect of everybody. I don?t think it?s true that it all slides off him like water off a duck?s back. How can it?
?In fact, if at times it seems as if he loses focus on the field, perhaps in the light of certain things it?s easier to understand why.
?I would like to see some more gestures to support him. Maybe next time we should all step on to the pitch to embrace him.?
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Scotland v Spain: Help!
***UPDATE***
The Scotland team that we've all be waiting for: McGregor, Bardsley, McManus, Weir, Whittaker, Fletcher, McCulloch, Morrison, Dorrans, Naismith, Miller.
A 4-5-1. Or a 4-1-4-1. Unless Craig Levein really is planning to spring another surprise.
Still waiting for the final team news.
Craig Levein?s reinvention as one of football?s most revolutionary tacticians means the eyes of the world will be on the formation he chooses to field tonight.
Maybe a reversal of Friday night with Scotland lining up in a stuffy 6-4-0. Or, heaven forfend, the inclusion of a striker tasked with actually playing up front.
The condemnation of the manager?s tactics in the wake of the 1-0 defeat to the Czech Republic has been near universal. The players that have spoken from the camp have supported the manager but it might not be until the Levein reign is over that we hear their true feelings.
To hear a player of David Weir?s experience denying that we?d set out for a goalless draw when the whole nation could see that?s what we were trying to do was just insulting - and no doubt embarrassing for him.
All weekend and again at Easter Road last night everyone was talking about Friday night as a new nadir in Scottish football. And there are some strong challengers in that particular race.
Certainly nothing that has happened since Friday evening has given much hope as we look forward to hosting Spain at Hampden tonight.
I?d love to think differently but I can?t see this being anything other than a hide-behind-the-couch demolition of a Scottish side that looks more ill equipped than ever at this level.
The Swedish friendly, the limp stalemate in Lithuania, the flirtation with disaster against Liechtenstein and the Friday farce in Prague. This is not the form of serious contenders for qualification.
I was interested reading Slide Rule Pass earlier:
I wouldn?t mind a Scotland manager that come and said ?forget the Euros, I?m building a team that will make it to the World Cup in 4 years.? Give the young guys a shot. I?d rather they be pitched into a qualification campaign where failure isn?t a disaster so that they can build up experience of playing at this level. However, mid-twenty-something Englishmen get a call-up before young Scottish talent under this regime. That?s progress for you.
An interpretation at odds with Levein?s statement that he was here to get to Euro 2012 by hook or by desperately ill judged decision to play without a striker against the team many saw as the main rival for a play-off place.
Now might have been the time to take that four year approach with the added safety net of an expanded European Championships from 2016. Too late now, of course. If, as it surely must, tonight ends in defeat we have four points from three games and we?re going nowhere in the summer of 2012.
So we might as well just sit back and enjoy watching the world champions tonight. A night for taking our punishment like men. If nothing else we can hope that Spain's performance will remind our management team that football can still be the beautiful game.
* No chance of a glorious Scottish performance? A win against Spain giving us the hope and belief to reignite this campaign (before tripping cruelly at the last?). I can't see it. A last minute escape against Liechtenstein at home looks like the most heroic thing we can muster in this qualifying group.
The Scotland team that we've all be waiting for: McGregor, Bardsley, McManus, Weir, Whittaker, Fletcher, McCulloch, Morrison, Dorrans, Naismith, Miller.
A 4-5-1. Or a 4-1-4-1. Unless Craig Levein really is planning to spring another surprise.
Still waiting for the final team news.
Craig Levein?s reinvention as one of football?s most revolutionary tacticians means the eyes of the world will be on the formation he chooses to field tonight.
Maybe a reversal of Friday night with Scotland lining up in a stuffy 6-4-0. Or, heaven forfend, the inclusion of a striker tasked with actually playing up front.
The condemnation of the manager?s tactics in the wake of the 1-0 defeat to the Czech Republic has been near universal. The players that have spoken from the camp have supported the manager but it might not be until the Levein reign is over that we hear their true feelings.
To hear a player of David Weir?s experience denying that we?d set out for a goalless draw when the whole nation could see that?s what we were trying to do was just insulting - and no doubt embarrassing for him.
All weekend and again at Easter Road last night everyone was talking about Friday night as a new nadir in Scottish football. And there are some strong challengers in that particular race.
Certainly nothing that has happened since Friday evening has given much hope as we look forward to hosting Spain at Hampden tonight.
I?d love to think differently but I can?t see this being anything other than a hide-behind-the-couch demolition of a Scottish side that looks more ill equipped than ever at this level.
The Swedish friendly, the limp stalemate in Lithuania, the flirtation with disaster against Liechtenstein and the Friday farce in Prague. This is not the form of serious contenders for qualification.
I was interested reading Slide Rule Pass earlier:
I wouldn?t mind a Scotland manager that come and said ?forget the Euros, I?m building a team that will make it to the World Cup in 4 years.? Give the young guys a shot. I?d rather they be pitched into a qualification campaign where failure isn?t a disaster so that they can build up experience of playing at this level. However, mid-twenty-something Englishmen get a call-up before young Scottish talent under this regime. That?s progress for you.
An interpretation at odds with Levein?s statement that he was here to get to Euro 2012 by hook or by desperately ill judged decision to play without a striker against the team many saw as the main rival for a play-off place.
Now might have been the time to take that four year approach with the added safety net of an expanded European Championships from 2016. Too late now, of course. If, as it surely must, tonight ends in defeat we have four points from three games and we?re going nowhere in the summer of 2012.
So we might as well just sit back and enjoy watching the world champions tonight. A night for taking our punishment like men. If nothing else we can hope that Spain's performance will remind our management team that football can still be the beautiful game.
* No chance of a glorious Scottish performance? A win against Spain giving us the hope and belief to reignite this campaign (before tripping cruelly at the last?). I can't see it. A last minute escape against Liechtenstein at home looks like the most heroic thing we can muster in this qualifying group.
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Friday, November 19, 2010
George Peat "Embarrassed And Extremely Disappointed"
Unfortunately, it wasn't the Scotland performance that Mr Peat was referring to:
"I was embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful behaviour of some of our supporters during the Liechtenstein national anthem at Hampden Park.
"The Scotland fans have worked hard to earn their reputation throughout the world as fun-loving and respectful followers of football.
"Those who chose to boo our opponents' anthem only served to tarnish that reputation.
"I apologise unreservedly to our visitors for the crass reaction to their anthem, just as I did in private to the Liechtenstein delegation.
"It must not be forgotten that all nations must abide by Fifa's Fair Play policy and the behaviour does nothing to help Scotland's image."
Yes, George Peat is apparently pretty annoyed that the Scotland fans, or sections of them, were booing the Liechtenstein national anthem at Hampden last.
The pain of agreeing with For Peat?s Sake. But booing an anthem because it?s got the same tune as God Save The Queen? That seems pretty mindless.
Still, I was ?embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful? performance of the national team last night.
For some time I have been ?embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful? mess George Peat has made of his tenure at the SFA. I could almost accept his ineptitude if he covered for it in some way with honest endeavour. He doesn?t.
He?s a sham who continues to damage the game by remaining in his post and through his own ?crass reaction? to any criticism.
This attack on the fans might be justified but it's being used to distract from the myriad of issue that last night's performance raised.
Here?s Moira Gordon?s take on it during today?s Scotsman live chat:
?George Peat is not a man I will ever be singing the praises of as he has been one of those who have sat on their backsides doing very little but having anarchic self-preservation committee and sub-committee meetings while Scottish football fell into ruin around them. But I do agree with the idea that we should be grown up and respectful enough to not to boo our way through the opposition's national anthem. I just wish he had reacted this quickly to things that are wrong with our game as he has to this.?
Quite. George and his cronies aren?t blameless in what we saw last night. The fans were maybe just joining the SFA in doing ?nothing to help Scotland?s image.?
* Incidentally, these are the fairly innocuous words to the Liechtenstein anthem:
High above the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland,
This dear fatherland
Was chosen for us by
God's wise hand.
Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,
Happy and faithful!
Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
United by brotherly bonds and free!
"I was embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful behaviour of some of our supporters during the Liechtenstein national anthem at Hampden Park.
"The Scotland fans have worked hard to earn their reputation throughout the world as fun-loving and respectful followers of football.
"Those who chose to boo our opponents' anthem only served to tarnish that reputation.
"I apologise unreservedly to our visitors for the crass reaction to their anthem, just as I did in private to the Liechtenstein delegation.
"It must not be forgotten that all nations must abide by Fifa's Fair Play policy and the behaviour does nothing to help Scotland's image."
Yes, George Peat is apparently pretty annoyed that the Scotland fans, or sections of them, were booing the Liechtenstein national anthem at Hampden last.
The pain of agreeing with For Peat?s Sake. But booing an anthem because it?s got the same tune as God Save The Queen? That seems pretty mindless.
Still, I was ?embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful? performance of the national team last night.
For some time I have been ?embarrassed and extremely disappointed by the disgraceful? mess George Peat has made of his tenure at the SFA. I could almost accept his ineptitude if he covered for it in some way with honest endeavour. He doesn?t.
He?s a sham who continues to damage the game by remaining in his post and through his own ?crass reaction? to any criticism.
This attack on the fans might be justified but it's being used to distract from the myriad of issue that last night's performance raised.
Here?s Moira Gordon?s take on it during today?s Scotsman live chat:
?George Peat is not a man I will ever be singing the praises of as he has been one of those who have sat on their backsides doing very little but having anarchic self-preservation committee and sub-committee meetings while Scottish football fell into ruin around them. But I do agree with the idea that we should be grown up and respectful enough to not to boo our way through the opposition's national anthem. I just wish he had reacted this quickly to things that are wrong with our game as he has to this.?
Quite. George and his cronies aren?t blameless in what we saw last night. The fans were maybe just joining the SFA in doing ?nothing to help Scotland?s image.?
* Incidentally, these are the fairly innocuous words to the Liechtenstein anthem:
High above the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland,
This dear fatherland
Was chosen for us by
God's wise hand.
Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,
Happy and faithful!
Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
United by brotherly bonds and free!
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Soy un Perdador...
Soy un Perdador...
...I'm a loser, baby, so why don't you kill me?
(Offer not valid in...
...I'm a loser, baby, so why don't you kill me?
(Offer not valid in...
Platini: British media putting England's World Cup bid at risk
World Cup
UEFA president Michel Platini has warned that England's 2018 World Cup bid is at risk from the British media's years of criticising FIFA.
There have been fears that the Sunday Times and BBC Panorama probes into the world governing body have damaged England's bid but Platini, UEFA president and a FIFA vice-president, said the problem is a long-standing one.
Platini told The Independent: "I don't think it's a problem. These investigations are just people doing their job, no?
"If they [the England bid] do not have a good feeling about FIFA, that's nothing to do with these investigations, but that comes from what the English press have been writing about FIFA for very many years. That could be a problem for the bid. But this? No.
"Anyway, I think people have already decided which way they are voting."
Six officials have been banned for between one and four years for a number of offences resulting out of the Sunday Times investigation.
Nigeria's Amos Adamu became the first FIFA member ever to be banned for bribery - he was suspended for three years.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is due to make a public statement following a meeting of FIFA's executive committee that has been called to discuss the outcome of Thursday's ethics committee bans and the technical reports on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidders.
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Persuading children of the joys of the Football League | Steve Busfield
Port Vale may have had yet another scoreless draw at Northampton, but there's still plenty of fun in League Two
Two passing conversational pieces really struck home as my daughter and I left Sixfields on Saturday following Port Vale's 0-0 draw with Northampton.
As we climbed into the car and turned on Radio 5 Live, a presenter complained it was a day of "nil-nil-itis". "We're suffering from that," said my daughter. A wise head on young shoulders. Vale have had four 0-0s in our last five league games. We have the third best defence in the whole Football League. Sadly we currently have a strike-rate worthy of the drop-zone. The scoring production line that was the Richards boys - Marc and Justin - has dried up of late.
The other conversation was being had by a Northampton supporter with his two young sons, also leaving early. One was complaining that the game had been "boring", while the other had wanted to leave at half-time.
Now some folk have suggested that if I really want my daughter to like football I should take her to watch Arsenal, a mile away from where we live. And there's a little bit of me that thinks that if she suggested doing that then it would be a good excuse to watch top-quality football on the doorstep.
But, what would be the fun in that? For a start, at glamour spots like Millwall, Brentford, Orient, Barnet, Yeovil, QPR, I can pay for an adult and a kids ticket, burger, chips and a packet of fruit pastilles at about the price of a single ticket at the Emirates. And of course there's Vale Park, although frankly, she thinks the confectionary selection is lacking at the Wembley of the North.
And we sing the Wonder of You better than Wagner.
She doesn't want to go every week; I still play 20-odd games a season, so away games in and around London are as often as she will be prepared to go. And it's good quality time. In a 50-mile car journey on Saturday we covered evolution, dinosaurs, religion, and listened to some top tunes on the way home (after the final score round-up).
You even get used to leaving early because you don't want to test their patience with a car park jam.
Just a pity we can't score at the moment.
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