Sunday, May 15, 2011
Wayne Rooney shaves 19 into his chest hair as Man Utd celebrate title
Should have gone to Shrek shavers Wayne Rooney proved he is, in fact, absolutely mental by not only shaving the number 19 into his chest hair but then posting a photograph of his stylish new look on Twitter. The Manchester United star uploaded the picture shortly after his side wrapped up their 19th league title [...]
Rangers v Celtic: Destiny Calls
Old Firm matchday number seven. Rangers v Celtic. Old friends never get tired of meeting up.
By any footballing standards today?s Easter clash provides drama enough. To the winner, it looks, goes the league title and a tilt at the Champions League.
Sadly Scotland in 2011 relies not on footballing drama alone.
We had already seen the cranking up of the rancour surrounding Old Firm games this season. We had seen the police raise their concerns.
We had seen protagonists fail to acknowledge that increased pressure, that heightened scrutiny, and lose their heads in the heat of the moment.
We had seen the furrowed brows of politicians, of Rangers and Celtic along with the great and the good of Scottish football being summoned to an Edinburgh summit.
But none of that prepared us for the news that Neil Lennon was among those being targeted in a letter bomb campaign.
So today the SPL hosts the one fixture in its calendar that garners some attention outside our borders. But the world, unaware of subtleties and fed only headlines, will now associate this game, this showpiece match, with an attempt to kill the Celtic manager.
There better be lot of people, in a lot of roles, in a lot of organisations asking themselves how it has ever come to this.
In the immediate aftermath of the story breaking I saw a few muted comments about cancelling today?s game or playing it behind closed doors.
The glib answer is that not playing today would be to allow this madman and his twisted hatred to win.
The truth is football is a remarkably resilient beast, unerringly able to march on in the face of outside interference, adept at turning a blind eye to situations it would rather ignore.
There was never any doubt that this game would go ahead today.
But it will go ahead under quite unparalled scrutiny. I suspect that the rational reaction to the week?s events ? to adopt a position of reconciliatory calm ? will pass certain elements by. Instead I fear some will see today as an even better excuse to display their defiance, indulge their more hysterical tendencies.
We?ll do well to get through this game with people commenting only on the football.
That?s a shame because this is one of the climatic events of the season, a season where both Celtic and Rangers have wobbled, recovered, impressed at times and simply got the job done at times.
Different seasons, different distractions, different styles. But they?ve stayed knotted together in the race for the title. Today one of them will take a massive step towards glory.
A point behind and a game in hand, Celtic have a slight advantage. The widely held view is that Celtic have the harder run in, with more away games.
That argument doesn?t always hold in Scottish football though, as evidenced in a week when both Rangers and Celtic converted potentially tricky away ties into 4-0 routs.
Even being visitors today is not a hammer blow. Both sides have felt the pain of Old Firm defeats at home this season. But Celtic are yet to lose a match at Ibrox.
Yet it was Rangers, so chastened in being tactically trumped at New Year, so off the pace in the league at Parkhead and so snarlingly impotent in being knocked out of the Scottish Cup, who took the first silverware of the season.
That day at Hampden Rangers got a lot right and Celtic barely even got started. It proved again, if proof was ever needed, that Rangers have a dogged resistance to being reduced to the role of also rans.
Proof also that this exciting Celtic side, very impressive when playing and attacking with pace and stuffed full of performers who can make the opposition squirm, are not without weaknesses and still lack the gritty experience of some of this Rangers squad.
And how Rangers would relish it if their own attacking force was to perform today. Nikika Jelavic seems to be hitting form and his presence should at least partially soothe feelings of attacking inadequacy when Rangers eye up Celtic?s abundance of options.
Celtic can afford to draw and win their remaining games to take the title.
A draw for Rangers will leave them reliant on Celtic slipping up.
That, along with their strength in depth and their greater ability to relentlessly turn the screw when they get ahead or begin to dominate, makes me consider Celtic favourites.
But the league table shows how little there is between them over the course of a long season.
Will Rangers greater need to win tempt then into a gameplan that suits Celtic by giving them space to exploit?
Will the league cup final performance haunt Celtic or inspire them to guard against complacency?
There?s an interesting ninety minutes ahead. Whoever wins, whatever the result it would be nice if it was the football that people are talking about this evening.
Prediction: Always hard to call these games. Celtic to win 2-1. Might happen. Might not.
By any footballing standards today?s Easter clash provides drama enough. To the winner, it looks, goes the league title and a tilt at the Champions League.
Sadly Scotland in 2011 relies not on footballing drama alone.
We had already seen the cranking up of the rancour surrounding Old Firm games this season. We had seen the police raise their concerns.
We had seen protagonists fail to acknowledge that increased pressure, that heightened scrutiny, and lose their heads in the heat of the moment.
We had seen the furrowed brows of politicians, of Rangers and Celtic along with the great and the good of Scottish football being summoned to an Edinburgh summit.
But none of that prepared us for the news that Neil Lennon was among those being targeted in a letter bomb campaign.
So today the SPL hosts the one fixture in its calendar that garners some attention outside our borders. But the world, unaware of subtleties and fed only headlines, will now associate this game, this showpiece match, with an attempt to kill the Celtic manager.
There better be lot of people, in a lot of roles, in a lot of organisations asking themselves how it has ever come to this.
In the immediate aftermath of the story breaking I saw a few muted comments about cancelling today?s game or playing it behind closed doors.
The glib answer is that not playing today would be to allow this madman and his twisted hatred to win.
The truth is football is a remarkably resilient beast, unerringly able to march on in the face of outside interference, adept at turning a blind eye to situations it would rather ignore.
There was never any doubt that this game would go ahead today.
But it will go ahead under quite unparalled scrutiny. I suspect that the rational reaction to the week?s events ? to adopt a position of reconciliatory calm ? will pass certain elements by. Instead I fear some will see today as an even better excuse to display their defiance, indulge their more hysterical tendencies.
We?ll do well to get through this game with people commenting only on the football.
That?s a shame because this is one of the climatic events of the season, a season where both Celtic and Rangers have wobbled, recovered, impressed at times and simply got the job done at times.
Different seasons, different distractions, different styles. But they?ve stayed knotted together in the race for the title. Today one of them will take a massive step towards glory.
A point behind and a game in hand, Celtic have a slight advantage. The widely held view is that Celtic have the harder run in, with more away games.
That argument doesn?t always hold in Scottish football though, as evidenced in a week when both Rangers and Celtic converted potentially tricky away ties into 4-0 routs.
Even being visitors today is not a hammer blow. Both sides have felt the pain of Old Firm defeats at home this season. But Celtic are yet to lose a match at Ibrox.
Yet it was Rangers, so chastened in being tactically trumped at New Year, so off the pace in the league at Parkhead and so snarlingly impotent in being knocked out of the Scottish Cup, who took the first silverware of the season.
That day at Hampden Rangers got a lot right and Celtic barely even got started. It proved again, if proof was ever needed, that Rangers have a dogged resistance to being reduced to the role of also rans.
Proof also that this exciting Celtic side, very impressive when playing and attacking with pace and stuffed full of performers who can make the opposition squirm, are not without weaknesses and still lack the gritty experience of some of this Rangers squad.
And how Rangers would relish it if their own attacking force was to perform today. Nikika Jelavic seems to be hitting form and his presence should at least partially soothe feelings of attacking inadequacy when Rangers eye up Celtic?s abundance of options.
Celtic can afford to draw and win their remaining games to take the title.
A draw for Rangers will leave them reliant on Celtic slipping up.
That, along with their strength in depth and their greater ability to relentlessly turn the screw when they get ahead or begin to dominate, makes me consider Celtic favourites.
But the league table shows how little there is between them over the course of a long season.
Will Rangers greater need to win tempt then into a gameplan that suits Celtic by giving them space to exploit?
Will the league cup final performance haunt Celtic or inspire them to guard against complacency?
There?s an interesting ninety minutes ahead. Whoever wins, whatever the result it would be nice if it was the football that people are talking about this evening.
Prediction: Always hard to call these games. Celtic to win 2-1. Might happen. Might not.
history of soccer timeline interesting soccer facts mexican soccer pictures
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Ancelotti: Chelsea squad was good enough to win title
Carlo Ancelotti
Chelsea
Fernando Torres
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says his current squad was good enough to win the title.
The only major summer arrivals at Stamford Bridge were Ramires and Yossi Benayoun, although Ancelotti admitted yesterday the club had failed in bids to sign Fernando Torres and David Luiz, who eventually joined in January.
He said: "Ramires may not have started so well but, after that, he played fantastic games. David Luiz as well.
"Torres had more problems but he came in January and needed to have time.
"The squad, the power of the squad, was enough to win the title."
It's kicking off again! Click here for your No1 source for Chelsea transfer market news and gossip.
highest scoring college football game history of soccer iowa football
Newcastle tracking Bordeaux centre-forward Diabate
Bordeaux
Liverpool
Newcastle United
Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew may have found his replacement for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.
Newcastle are monitoring Bordeaux?s 6ft 5in striker Cheikh Diabate, says the Daily Mail.
The Mali international has two years remaining on his contract but Toon manager Pardew should be handed sufficient funds.
Pardew has spent much of this week in France on a scouting mission.
Soccer-Barcelona are favourites to win final, says Vidic
Soccer-Barcelona are favourites to win final, says Vidic
BELGRADE, May 10 (Reuters) - Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic reckons Barcelona will start as favourites to win the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28.
United lost to Barca in the 2009 final and are out for revenge on English turf.
"There will be no surprises because they haven't changed their style in years but they will be a tough prospect and definitely the favourites in the final," the Serbia centre back told Belgarde's B92 television website (www.b92.net).
"Maybe we have a little bit of an advantage in logistics because we are closer to the venue, but we know that their fans will turn up in numbers just like our own."
Vidic, who scored in Sunday's 2-1 win over Chelsea which all but secured United the Premier League title, said his side were still completely focused on a record 19th domestic crown.
"We haven't had time to think about Barcelona yet because we have to concentrate on our next game away to Blackburn and make mathematically sure that we've won it," he said.
"Only when we have done that can we turn our attention to Barcelona, I've seen them several times this season including their semi-final tie against Real Madrid."
United, who are six points ahead of Chelsea with two matches left in the Premier League, need only one point from their last two games against Blackburn and at home to Blackpool to secure their 12th league title under manager Alex Ferguson.
Vidic, who was named captain this season, revealed anxiety had crept into United's dressing room after Chelsea were able to cut a 15-point deficit with nine wins in 10 games prior to their visit to Old Trafford.
"The pressure was immense after they whittled down our big advantage to just three points before the showdown, but it makes the victory that much sweeter because we are on the verge of winning the title after beating our closest rivals," he said.
"It means a lot to me that I scored but the team comes first and the most important thing is that we are now in a commanding position to cross the finish line first.
"As the team's captain I just try to do the same things I've always done and be at my best all the time, because being the United captain is a great honour and I know I have to repay the faith vested in me by the club."
(Reporting by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; editing by Mark Meadows; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Stoke boss Pulis hopes to win FA Cup for Mum
Aston Villa
Stoke City
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis would love to win the FA Cup today for his Mum.
Jean Pulis passed away in September.
The Potters boss said: "She would be so proud of me, so I'm happy about that.
"FA Cup final day was always a huge day for my family back home in Newport and mum would spend the morning making the food for us all.
"Then we'd all sit down together to watch the build-up. Mind you, the girls might disappear once the game started!"
Pulis' mum died on the day Stoke played Aston Villa in a league match.
But the boss still arrived at half-time to inspire his side to a 2-1 win.
Pulis said: "It's what mum would've wanted."
It's kicking off again! Click here for your No1 source for Stoke transfer market news and gossip.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Football League bets to follow this weekend, plus our tipping contest | James Dart
Make your predictions in our ongoing competition and take a look at the best betting suggestions in the lower divisions
Welcome to our tipping round-up. If you don't know the drill by now, every week I post my betting suggestions for the weekend (which you may well wish to steer clear of), as well as our predictions contest. The blog can also act as a talkboard for any Football League-related discussions over the weekend.
Oxford to beat Lincoln at 11-10
The scratchy end of the season from a punting perspective, when most of the teams with something left to play for find themselves heavily fancied, no matter their position in the table, and value is thin on the ground. No matter, we head to the Kassam Stadium first up, where 12th-placed Oxford host Lincoln, themselves very much in the relegation mire, and one of the few whose miserable form ranks them as value to oppose. Seven defeats in eight have left them just two points clear of Barnet in 23rd, capped by the 2-0 home loss to a slumping Cheltenham side last time out. For Oxford, a top-half finish is the limit of their ambitions, but four consecutive draws against Wycombe, Accrington, Chesterfield and Barnet is a fair form line to take into this home encounter. Credit to the Imps, who are laying on free coach travel for their fans (350 of them, the supporters not coaches), but the relative low take-up hints at an understandable lack of faith.
Charlton to beat Walsall at 11-4
A longer-shot option for the second bet, with the Saddlers in the midst of a desperate battle for League One survival. Not that their form ? one win in six ? suggests that this perilous state of affairs is having much of an impact upon their performances. Granted, in the realistic fight for 20th place they sit in the box seat and the Addicks have little to play for, but Charlton didn't care about that when denting Rochdale's play-off hopes last weekend. And in the game prior to that, when leading 2-0 they conspired to get two men sent off, enabling the hosts Bristol Rovers to battle back and grab a late point. Opt for smaller stakes.
NB: prices with Betfair and correct at the time of publication
Tipping contest
Into the penultimate round of matches and it couldn't be much tighter at the top after a tricky set of fixtures last weekend ...
The top of the table so far (The full table will be posted in the comments section below) ?
markier 86
PiggyPingoPiglet 85
captainmorganrum 80
Bobby142 76
horne94 71
stevegrant 70
TheRealRingo 69
Thewalthamstowone 68
richardw 68
Me 68
As for this week: make your result (not scoreline) prediction for each of the games below, with one point per correct result. Note the deadline is MIDDAY BST on Saturday.
Leeds v Burnley (12.45pm)
Watford v QPR
Exeter v Plymouth (Midday)
Walsall v Charlton
Accrington v Barnet
Oxford v Lincoln
I'm tipping draw, QPR, Exeter (sigh), Charlton, Accrington and Oxford. 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 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
college football college football lines college football picks
Real Madrid: It was Uefa's choice to start disciplinary proceedings against Barcelona's Sergio Busquets
The La Liga giants have released an official statement to explain the disciplinary proceedings regarding Sergio Busquets and Marcelo following Champions League incident
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Manchester United 2011: Grading the United Players in the Champions League
In 1974, Manchester United were relegated from the first division, and lost Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best. Since 1974, Manchester United have won 30 trophies.
1,974 days ago, Manchester United failed to progress past the UEFA Champions League group stages, having lost 2-1 to Benfica. Last night, Manchester United progressed to their third Champions League final in four seasons.
This slideshow will grade Manchester United* players on their contributions during the Champions League.
* Only Manchester United players who have played five or more Champions Leagues matches this season will be graded.
interesting soccer facts mexican soccer pictures origin of soccer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
SPL: Attack On Neil Lennon Overshadows Celtic Win
"It could be a stoater."
That's how I signed off my preview of tonight's Hearts v Celtic game.
We got a rather one sided 3-0 win for Celtic. We got two red cards as the referee stuck rigidly to the letter of the law.
And, above it all, we got someone from a home section of Tynecastle trying to attack Neil Lennon.
Other reports suggest trouble breaking out in elsewhere in the ground in an atmosphere widely described as "poisonous."
Jim Jefferies, who has seen more than most at Tynecastle over the years, said there "was something in the air, ready to kick off from the start."
A poisonous atmosphere is one thing. Disliking an opposing manager is part of the game. Combining that into a platform to try and assault someone? Well, I suppose that's just beyond my ken.
This season of woe and despair takes another lurch towards abject misery.
A lone attacker. An eejit. A lunatic. Whatever.
It seems too many of these idiots are currently feeding off a footballing atmosphere that is becoming more hysterically putrid with every passing week.
Given all that's happened this season I suppose we should be thankful that the assailant seemed to be held up as he approached Lennon. And that he didn't have any kind of weapon except his own brainless bampottery.
Again we ask ourselves how much of this Neil Lennon can possibly take before he walks away for his own safety?
Imagine that. Scottish football in 2011. And we might be looking at a man hounded from a job he loves because his personal safety is being compromised.
What does that say about Scottish football?
You don't have to pretend to be a fan of Lennon to realise that something is going horribly wrong here.
How can we persuade people back to the game, bring families to our stadiums, when a manager no longer seems to be safe inside or outside the ground.
Hearts, the SPL, the SFA and the police will launch investigations. Hearts, I suspect, will face severe censure.
But Lennon was only a leap and a sprint away from his attacker. Difficult to see what clubs can really do to stop people who see that intimacy - which should enhance the atmosphere at the game - as an invitation to go crazy.
Celtic's win set up another title deciding helicopter Sunday this weekend. But the front and back pages of the newspapers, the news and sport bulletins, won't be talking about that.
Instead we'll be reliving another disgraceful chapter in this toxic season.
Most of us just want it to end now. It stopped being anything like fun a long time ago. And amidst talk of the severity of the incident, of investigations and concern, the authorities don't seem to have any real sense of how they can prevent it.
Somehow Scottish football has descended into a morass where a minority - and thankfully it is a tiny minority that seems to either go to these extremes or condone them - think they are entitled to act like this.
Most of us are sickened by this kind of thing. Most of us love the game despite everything that's been thrown at us over the seasons and this new level of madness that we're being subjected to at the moment.
But how much longer can Scottish football be dragged through the gutter before we decide that this really isn't worth the hassle?
And where does the game go from there?
Clint Dempsey / Sources confirm Paris Saint-Germain's interest in Clint Dempsey
Sources have confirmed to Goal.com that if PSG is taken over by a group led by Qatari investors, one of its main targets will be American star Clint Dempsey.
Read more Clint Dempsey news
Read more Clint Dempsey news
Juventus : un mercato "so british" pour Felipe Melo ?
En 2009, les d�cisionnaires de la Juventus Turin n'avaient pas h�sit� � d�bourser vingt-cinq millions d'euros pour recruter, au nez et � la barbe d
SPL Tonight: Dundee United v Rangers
Rangers fit in their first, and only, trundle to Tannadice of this much chopped and changed season just before the SPL-it.
Making hay while the sun shone on Celtic at Hampden, Rangers went top on Saturday with a 2-1 win over St Mirren. They can extend that lead to four points this evening, although Celtic will have two games in hand.
Dundee United, of course, gave this title run in added drama when David Goodwillie's last minute goal gave them a 3-2 win at Ibrox.
That win continued a rich vein of form for United but it was sandwiched between two defeats to Motherwell that provided further confirmation that the SPL's "other" clubs are strangers to sustained consistency this year.
But this is hardly a game that Rangers will relish. That Ibrox defeat has been followed by a 2-0 win at St Johnstone, a 1-0 win at Hamilton and Saturday's 2-1 home win over St Mirren.
At this stage winning is all that matters and a certain trepidation is understandable. But it's not emphatic. And that might lead to more fear tonight, so soon after Dundee United's richly talented attacking players gave Ibrox a potent display of their ability.
A win tonight though means Rangers take an SPL lead into Sunday's Old Firm clash. That could prove priceless.
United too have their motivations this evening. Not only would back to back wins over Rangers prove a notable scalp but it would further strengthen their grip on fourth place.
And fourth place could still carry a European spot. Conversely though that Europa League berth might be dependent on Rangers winning the title.
I suppose we should be grateful that we still have these subplots to mull over at this stage of the season.
I fancy Rangers to get another win here. It might be another tight win though.
And it took only the intervention of the Ibrox crossbar, Goodwillie's composure and United's season long habit of scoring late goals to show that anything can happen in a finely balanced game, in a finely poised title run in.
There might be more gnawed fingernails before tonight is out.
> It's not over 'till it's over: I make it 23 goals that United have scored in the last 15 minutes of games across all competitions this season. Impressive, game changing, point garnering stuff.
Making hay while the sun shone on Celtic at Hampden, Rangers went top on Saturday with a 2-1 win over St Mirren. They can extend that lead to four points this evening, although Celtic will have two games in hand.
Dundee United, of course, gave this title run in added drama when David Goodwillie's last minute goal gave them a 3-2 win at Ibrox.
That win continued a rich vein of form for United but it was sandwiched between two defeats to Motherwell that provided further confirmation that the SPL's "other" clubs are strangers to sustained consistency this year.
But this is hardly a game that Rangers will relish. That Ibrox defeat has been followed by a 2-0 win at St Johnstone, a 1-0 win at Hamilton and Saturday's 2-1 home win over St Mirren.
At this stage winning is all that matters and a certain trepidation is understandable. But it's not emphatic. And that might lead to more fear tonight, so soon after Dundee United's richly talented attacking players gave Ibrox a potent display of their ability.
A win tonight though means Rangers take an SPL lead into Sunday's Old Firm clash. That could prove priceless.
United too have their motivations this evening. Not only would back to back wins over Rangers prove a notable scalp but it would further strengthen their grip on fourth place.
And fourth place could still carry a European spot. Conversely though that Europa League berth might be dependent on Rangers winning the title.
I suppose we should be grateful that we still have these subplots to mull over at this stage of the season.
I fancy Rangers to get another win here. It might be another tight win though.
And it took only the intervention of the Ibrox crossbar, Goodwillie's composure and United's season long habit of scoring late goals to show that anything can happen in a finely balanced game, in a finely poised title run in.
There might be more gnawed fingernails before tonight is out.
> It's not over 'till it's over: I make it 23 goals that United have scored in the last 15 minutes of games across all competitions this season. Impressive, game changing, point garnering stuff.
college football college football lines college football picks
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Rangers, UEFA, Martin Bain. And Me.
Just when we thought we'd had controversy enough this week, up pop UEFA again.
The governing body of European football have now indicated that far from content with threatening to sanction Rangers over their fans behaviour in their away game against PSV Eindhoven they also want a pound of meat over the behaviour of fans at the home game.
Martin Bain is astounded. And, manna from heaven this for the internet conspirators, has indicated that favourable reports from UEFA's delegates have been ignored in favour of reports from FARE - Football Against Racism in Europe.
Indeed Bain went on:
"We have never said that sectarian singing is not a problem, but this now has all the hallmarks of a deliberate and targeted campaign against the club." (BBC)
Let's leave aside the default descent into victim status that is an increasing blight on modern society.
What is Bain actually saying here?
"It's a problem we admit that. But it's big bullies coming along and pointing out that it's a problem that is the real problem."
Is that a defence?
UEFA also need to clarify the role of outside or partner organisations. But that is not Bain's problem right now. The way Bain's reaction will be seen is of the club - backed by the conspiracies flooding the internet - trying to silence not the bigots but an agency set up to tackle bigotry. That is not something Rangers should feel comfortable with.
There is, I foresee, going to be a problem with UEFA's consistency in excercising this new hardline attitude across the continent. Again though that's a problem UEFA themselves will need to address not Martin Bain.
But, again, "what about..." is not an excuse. In fact it's becoming the scourge of Scottish football where the natural reaction is not to accept blame and solve problems but to find somebody whose crimes are worse or comparable to your own.
As for Bain's claim that the club "could not have done more" to stamp out this behaviour? Fair enough. If that's what he truly believes then he's entitled to his opinion. But UEFA are also within their rights to disagree and sanction the club if they think they have failed.
The clearest message Bain could send out, the ultimate proof that "the club could not have done more" would be to take the punishment on the chin and then lay the blame at the feet of those fans who have arrogantly refused to moderate their behaviour.
> I write this with blood on my hands after my own brush with sectarianism earlier today. Please allow me to indulge in a spot of navel gazing.
I woke up to read the following in my Twitter timeline:
"Rumours that Gary O'Connor has been invited to train with huns."
My immediate reaction was "blimey, that's interesting." Without giving it any more thought I re-tweeted.
I've been talking about O'Connor quite a lot since he was released by Barnsley. I've followed his career closely both because I saw him come through the ranks at Hibs and because he was a couple of years below me at school.
So I retweeted the original message.
Only to get this reply from a Rangers fan:
"@ScotFootBlog Why retweet a message containing a sectarian slur? Disappointing."
I actually had to check what retweet it referred to. When I realised I immediately unretweeted and apologised.
Was I, by spreading that one sentence, unmasking my own sectarianism?
The truth actually is I barely noticed the tweet beyond the O'Connor reference. Perhaps it was because I had just woken up, perhaps it's because 25 years of following Scottish football has left me immune to such language.
I'm certainly not sectarian. If we are to take a religous view of sectarianism then I don't have much time for any religion and absolutely no ill will towards anyone who does.
I suppose, and this must have been the inference, I was being accused of sectarianism towards Protestants. In which case I was being bigoted towards the church I was christened in and brought up in. Maybe I'm a case for a Freudian therapist.
Is the use of the word "hun" sectarian in any event? Maybe there is a legal precedent. Certainly dictionary definitions don't seem to refer to it. The etymology of the word is hardly conclusive.
Its widespread usage in Britain during the wars was derogatory towards Germans so it is clearly a slur. But even then it was introduced as a description of the German army by their own kaiser.
Further back, of course, the word refers to Attila the Hun. Clearly that's not a positive association but Attila's religion seems unclear. It was perhaps an amalgam of "shamanism, animism, totemism and ancestor worship" called tengriism, a creed that carries little association with Scottish football.
None of that is really the point. Because it is clear that during its association with Scottish football the word has derived meanings that go beyond traditional etymology. In this debate context is all.
Perhaps I am protesting too much but I present this mea culpa for a couple of reasons.
One, I think it illustrates the atmosphere surrounding our game at the moment. Even being innocently unthinking I was causing offence. The Rangers fan who took me to task was reasonable and accepted my apology. Others, I fear, would have used it with a stick to beat me over a non existent sympathy for Celtic.
And also because I was in the wrong and I deleted the tweet and apologised. This isn't language I normally use so it shouldn't be language I'm prepared to even absent mindedly or thoughtlessly endorse in others.
The point of this blog and accompanying Tweets is not to offend. Unless you're an employee of the SFA, SPL. Or a politician. Or John Hughes. Or, in the interests of full disclosure, Ronnie Corbett.
Could I have argued against the technicality of sectarianism? I could have. But Scottish football is going round in circles arguing about definitions of sectarianism. Sometimes we just have to accept we're in the wrong.
Could I have stated my own right to freedom of speech? I could have. Others do to the point of obsession.
But freedom of speech as it is commonly defined, my vague recollections of first year politics suggest this has at least been the case since John Stuart Mill's On Liberty in 1869, carries with it limitations.
In this case I'd mistakenly, ignorantly, foolishly or whatever used a word that obviously caused someone else offence. In deference to that I made amends. That was hardly a stinging denial of my own freedoms.
A tiny, miniscule, inconsequential example of course.
But is that not all we're asking fans who shout and scream and sing slogans and songs that cause offence to do? To show some respect to the feelings of others?
Anyway, chest fully cleared I'm off to teach the world to sing. In perfect harmony.
The governing body of European football have now indicated that far from content with threatening to sanction Rangers over their fans behaviour in their away game against PSV Eindhoven they also want a pound of meat over the behaviour of fans at the home game.
Martin Bain is astounded. And, manna from heaven this for the internet conspirators, has indicated that favourable reports from UEFA's delegates have been ignored in favour of reports from FARE - Football Against Racism in Europe.
Indeed Bain went on:
"We have never said that sectarian singing is not a problem, but this now has all the hallmarks of a deliberate and targeted campaign against the club." (BBC)
Let's leave aside the default descent into victim status that is an increasing blight on modern society.
What is Bain actually saying here?
"It's a problem we admit that. But it's big bullies coming along and pointing out that it's a problem that is the real problem."
Is that a defence?
UEFA also need to clarify the role of outside or partner organisations. But that is not Bain's problem right now. The way Bain's reaction will be seen is of the club - backed by the conspiracies flooding the internet - trying to silence not the bigots but an agency set up to tackle bigotry. That is not something Rangers should feel comfortable with.
There is, I foresee, going to be a problem with UEFA's consistency in excercising this new hardline attitude across the continent. Again though that's a problem UEFA themselves will need to address not Martin Bain.
But, again, "what about..." is not an excuse. In fact it's becoming the scourge of Scottish football where the natural reaction is not to accept blame and solve problems but to find somebody whose crimes are worse or comparable to your own.
As for Bain's claim that the club "could not have done more" to stamp out this behaviour? Fair enough. If that's what he truly believes then he's entitled to his opinion. But UEFA are also within their rights to disagree and sanction the club if they think they have failed.
The clearest message Bain could send out, the ultimate proof that "the club could not have done more" would be to take the punishment on the chin and then lay the blame at the feet of those fans who have arrogantly refused to moderate their behaviour.
> I write this with blood on my hands after my own brush with sectarianism earlier today. Please allow me to indulge in a spot of navel gazing.
I woke up to read the following in my Twitter timeline:
"Rumours that Gary O'Connor has been invited to train with huns."
My immediate reaction was "blimey, that's interesting." Without giving it any more thought I re-tweeted.
I've been talking about O'Connor quite a lot since he was released by Barnsley. I've followed his career closely both because I saw him come through the ranks at Hibs and because he was a couple of years below me at school.
So I retweeted the original message.
Only to get this reply from a Rangers fan:
"@ScotFootBlog Why retweet a message containing a sectarian slur? Disappointing."
I actually had to check what retweet it referred to. When I realised I immediately unretweeted and apologised.
Was I, by spreading that one sentence, unmasking my own sectarianism?
The truth actually is I barely noticed the tweet beyond the O'Connor reference. Perhaps it was because I had just woken up, perhaps it's because 25 years of following Scottish football has left me immune to such language.
I'm certainly not sectarian. If we are to take a religous view of sectarianism then I don't have much time for any religion and absolutely no ill will towards anyone who does.
I suppose, and this must have been the inference, I was being accused of sectarianism towards Protestants. In which case I was being bigoted towards the church I was christened in and brought up in. Maybe I'm a case for a Freudian therapist.
Is the use of the word "hun" sectarian in any event? Maybe there is a legal precedent. Certainly dictionary definitions don't seem to refer to it. The etymology of the word is hardly conclusive.
Its widespread usage in Britain during the wars was derogatory towards Germans so it is clearly a slur. But even then it was introduced as a description of the German army by their own kaiser.
Further back, of course, the word refers to Attila the Hun. Clearly that's not a positive association but Attila's religion seems unclear. It was perhaps an amalgam of "shamanism, animism, totemism and ancestor worship" called tengriism, a creed that carries little association with Scottish football.
None of that is really the point. Because it is clear that during its association with Scottish football the word has derived meanings that go beyond traditional etymology. In this debate context is all.
Perhaps I am protesting too much but I present this mea culpa for a couple of reasons.
One, I think it illustrates the atmosphere surrounding our game at the moment. Even being innocently unthinking I was causing offence. The Rangers fan who took me to task was reasonable and accepted my apology. Others, I fear, would have used it with a stick to beat me over a non existent sympathy for Celtic.
And also because I was in the wrong and I deleted the tweet and apologised. This isn't language I normally use so it shouldn't be language I'm prepared to even absent mindedly or thoughtlessly endorse in others.
The point of this blog and accompanying Tweets is not to offend. Unless you're an employee of the SFA, SPL. Or a politician. Or John Hughes. Or, in the interests of full disclosure, Ronnie Corbett.
Could I have argued against the technicality of sectarianism? I could have. But Scottish football is going round in circles arguing about definitions of sectarianism. Sometimes we just have to accept we're in the wrong.
Could I have stated my own right to freedom of speech? I could have. Others do to the point of obsession.
But freedom of speech as it is commonly defined, my vague recollections of first year politics suggest this has at least been the case since John Stuart Mill's On Liberty in 1869, carries with it limitations.
In this case I'd mistakenly, ignorantly, foolishly or whatever used a word that obviously caused someone else offence. In deference to that I made amends. That was hardly a stinging denial of my own freedoms.
A tiny, miniscule, inconsequential example of course.
But is that not all we're asking fans who shout and scream and sing slogans and songs that cause offence to do? To show some respect to the feelings of others?
Anyway, chest fully cleared I'm off to teach the world to sing. In perfect harmony.
Marseille playmaker Valbuena would love Man Utd move
Manchester United
Marseille
Sir Alex Ferguson
Olympique Marseille playmaker Mathieu Valbuena would welcome a summer move to Manchester United.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson knows all about Valbuena after this season's Champions League games and rates the midfielder highly.
Valbuena has been considered as a replacement for Paul Scholes, should the veteran retire at the end of this season.
Asked about joining United, he said last night: "Manchester [United]? I would cycle there."
Sports News: New Gloucester deal for Redpath
Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath has signed a new contract with the Aviva Premiership title challengers.
SPL Today: Celtic Demand Bouncebackabilty
The picture of Neil Lennon booting a bottle of water during Celtic's defeat to Inverness spoke volumes.
Which of his underperforming players was he metaphorically kicking up the backside?
Was this Celtic's bottle crashing?
Football teams often play badly. They often choose the worst game to show themselves at their worst.
That's what Celtic did on Wednesday night. The water bottle bore the brunt of the manager's understandable frustration.
From a position of strength it is now Celtic who can only win and hope for a slip-up elsewhere.
It's an uncomfortable place to be. And it was self inflicted as they surrendered their game in hand. Inverness is a tricky place to visit. But Celtic made it too hard for themselves and too easy for their opponents.
Onwards then to Kilmarnock this afternoon.
A third visit to Rugby Park for Celtic. A 2-1 in September followed by a 4-0 stroll last month. Sandwiched between the two a 1-1 draw in Glasgow in December.
That draw came in a run when Celtic won only two games out of six. It was the frailties of that sequence that resurfaced against Inverness.
The challenge for Celtic is to ensure that Wednesday night was an isolated stumble. They have to recover from it.
Even a full recovery might not be enough. But right now it's difficult to see how anything less than three wins from the remaining three games will be enough to win the title.
The consensus among Scottish football's pundits was that having more away games gave Celtic the trickier run in.
To get this in perspective Celtic have won a dozen games on their travels this season. They've drawn two and lost three. It's not a shoddy record.
But they've not been as emphatic on the road as they might have been. Only 29 goals scored in those 17 games.
Again that's hardly a poor return. But it compares poorly to the 40 goals Rangers have scored away from Ibrox. Kilmarnock have scored 26 away goals and Hearts 25.
Celtic's travelling success is down to a miserly defence. The three goals scored by Inverness on Wednesday make up more than a quarter of the away goals Celtic have conceded this season.
None of which means that Celtic, who have won 38 points away from Celtic Park, are travelling chumps.
But it does hint at a reliance on a stingy defence. Inverness brought into sharp focus what can happen if that defence goes awol.
In preparation for today's game Lennon will have had to strike a balance between the bollocking his defenders deserved and working on their confidence.
Kenny Shiels will have been impressing on his players the need to guard against the trap of playing nice football without any real thrust. That's left them attractively ineffective against the Old Firm at times this season.
If Celtic's defence are at all rocked by their experience on Wednesday then Kilmarnock have to capitalise on that by, as they say, "getting in their faces."
If they can get enough of the ball. It wasn't just the defenders who underperformed against Inverness. Celtic's midfield need to reassert their authority.
How to impose yourself in midfield when the going gets tough?
The manager should be able to help them out there, a DVD of Neil Lennon's career should do the trick.
Celtic lose games and bounce right back. That's what Old Firm teams do.
Will today be any different? Probably not. But that was a big, big game to lose on Wednesday night. A glance at the league table shows the psychological impact that could have.
If that adds to the nerves then Kilmarnock could benefit.
An away win. But it could be an uncomfortable one.
Which of his underperforming players was he metaphorically kicking up the backside?
Was this Celtic's bottle crashing?
Football teams often play badly. They often choose the worst game to show themselves at their worst.
That's what Celtic did on Wednesday night. The water bottle bore the brunt of the manager's understandable frustration.
From a position of strength it is now Celtic who can only win and hope for a slip-up elsewhere.
It's an uncomfortable place to be. And it was self inflicted as they surrendered their game in hand. Inverness is a tricky place to visit. But Celtic made it too hard for themselves and too easy for their opponents.
Onwards then to Kilmarnock this afternoon.
A third visit to Rugby Park for Celtic. A 2-1 in September followed by a 4-0 stroll last month. Sandwiched between the two a 1-1 draw in Glasgow in December.
That draw came in a run when Celtic won only two games out of six. It was the frailties of that sequence that resurfaced against Inverness.
The challenge for Celtic is to ensure that Wednesday night was an isolated stumble. They have to recover from it.
Even a full recovery might not be enough. But right now it's difficult to see how anything less than three wins from the remaining three games will be enough to win the title.
The consensus among Scottish football's pundits was that having more away games gave Celtic the trickier run in.
To get this in perspective Celtic have won a dozen games on their travels this season. They've drawn two and lost three. It's not a shoddy record.
But they've not been as emphatic on the road as they might have been. Only 29 goals scored in those 17 games.
Again that's hardly a poor return. But it compares poorly to the 40 goals Rangers have scored away from Ibrox. Kilmarnock have scored 26 away goals and Hearts 25.
Celtic's travelling success is down to a miserly defence. The three goals scored by Inverness on Wednesday make up more than a quarter of the away goals Celtic have conceded this season.
None of which means that Celtic, who have won 38 points away from Celtic Park, are travelling chumps.
But it does hint at a reliance on a stingy defence. Inverness brought into sharp focus what can happen if that defence goes awol.
In preparation for today's game Lennon will have had to strike a balance between the bollocking his defenders deserved and working on their confidence.
Kenny Shiels will have been impressing on his players the need to guard against the trap of playing nice football without any real thrust. That's left them attractively ineffective against the Old Firm at times this season.
If Celtic's defence are at all rocked by their experience on Wednesday then Kilmarnock have to capitalise on that by, as they say, "getting in their faces."
If they can get enough of the ball. It wasn't just the defenders who underperformed against Inverness. Celtic's midfield need to reassert their authority.
How to impose yourself in midfield when the going gets tough?
The manager should be able to help them out there, a DVD of Neil Lennon's career should do the trick.
Celtic lose games and bounce right back. That's what Old Firm teams do.
Will today be any different? Probably not. But that was a big, big game to lose on Wednesday night. A glance at the league table shows the psychological impact that could have.
If that adds to the nerves then Kilmarnock could benefit.
An away win. But it could be an uncomfortable one.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Randy for a day: Transitional season nearly over, so who should be the next manager of Aston Villa
Transition. Damian?s been banging this drum all season long. And you can?t deny the guy has a point. This season has been a topsy-turvy fun fare attraction as far as Aston Villa football club has been concerned.
Riccardo Montolivo /
Montolivo is once again being linked with a move to Inter for next season, Goal.com reports.
Analysis: Montolivo should be in higher demand to AC Milan as it is in need of younger midfielders more than Inter.
Read more Riccardo Montolivo news
Analysis: Montolivo should be in higher demand to AC Milan as it is in need of younger midfielders more than Inter.
Read more Riccardo Montolivo news
Milan : Allegri confirme pour Taiwo et Mex�s !
Fraichement sacr� champion d'Italie, le Milan AC a r�v�l� ce lundi avoir conclu les transferts de deux d�fenseurs bien connus en France. Ce matin, nou
Man City directors make personal check on Udinese dazzler Sanchez
Barcelona
Inter Milan
Lazio
Manchester City
Manchester United
Real Madrid
Udinese
Manchester City are closing in on Udinese dazzler Alexis Sanchez.
The Daily Mail says City chief executive Garry Cook watched transfer target Sanchez figure prominently in Udinese's 2-1 victory over Lazio on Sunday.
City's European scout Barry Hunter and football administrator Brian Marwood were also present.
City want to negotiate a deal for the �32million-rated Chile winger ahead of possible moves by Manchester United, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Another transitional season to come, the secret plan and Stoke
In seventeen different posts since October last year I've mentioned that this season was a transitional one. By the sixteenth time I mentioned it I know some were getting fed up, so you're going to hate this next statement; next season is quite probably another transitional season.
I don't need to explain why this is probably the case, but I'm going to cover the basics, but I should tell you now, it isn't all bad and actually, it could be seen as quite positive. This might also turn into a fairly lengthy post.
Manchester United Rumors: 10 Candidates to Replace Alex Ferguson, If He Retires
Sir Alex Ferguson has become an institution at Manchester United and across British football. The thought of the great man not walking out at Old Trafford, not facing recurring FA charges for criticising referees and not constantly harassing the fourth official and squeezing out every minute of injury time possible.
Ferguson's legacy will be one of perpetual success and whenever he finally hangs up his suit and gives his vocal cords a rest his successor will face a monumental task in attempting to replicate his longevity and success.
Whether it's this year and going out on a potential Champions League triumph or whether the old man's got 10 more years in him, there are a number of high profile, highly successful managers who would be lined up to step into Ferguson's shoes.
So here are 10 potential candidates the Old Trafford hierarchy may be considering to replace their 20+ year veteran.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Arsenal beat United to keep title race alive
Arsenal beat United to keep title race alive
LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - Arsenal beat Manchester United 1-0 to keep the Premier League title race wide open on Sunday with Aaron Ramsey's second-half winner cheered almost as loudly by Chelsea fans.
United stayed top of the table with 73 points from 35 matches but, with three games left, remained just three points clear of champions Chelsea who they play at Old Trafford next Sunday.
Chelsea, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Saturday, trailed United by 15 points two months ago but if they win next week they would go top on goal difference.
Arsenal, who maintain a slim mathematical chance of winning the title, are third with 67 points while Manchester City strengthened their grip on the fourth Champions League spot with a 2-1 win over bottom-of-the-table West Ham United at Eastlands.
City moved on to 62 points, seven clear of Liverpool who moved up to fifth by beating Newcastle United 3-0. Tottenham Hotspur dropped to sixth after losing 2-1 at Chelsea on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded that his team's title challenge was over last week but he was delighted with a win that kept alive their hopes of finishing third.
"We had a good performance, disciplined with fighting spirit," Wenger told reporters. "Until we scored, I think we controlled it completely, then we came under more pressure.
"I still make United favourites, they are at home. For us to have a small chance it's in our interest for Chelsea to win."
SECOND START
The only goal of a match Arsenal largely dominated at a sun-drenched Emirates Stadium came after Robin van Persie cut the ball back to Ramsey who found the corner of Edwin van der Sar's net after 56 minutes.
Ramsey, making only his second Premier League start of the season because captain Cesc Fabregas was injured, scored his first league goal since before he broke his leg 14 months ago.
Arsenal, who had lost six of their previous seven matches to United, could have made the breakthrough earlier when referee Chris Foy missed a clear handball by defender Nemanja Vidic as Van Persie was poised to head in a cross.
United could also have had a penalty late in the game when Gael Clichy appeared to rake his studs down substitute Michael Owen's leg and sent him sprawling in the area.
"It's too big a game not to get the decisions right," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. "It balances out in that respect but I think it was difficult to see that one (Vidic's handball) but the one at the end, Clichy knew, he put his hands up in horror.
"Obviously, it gives Chelsea a major chance now and that's what happens when you get these decisions. They got one at Old Trafford last season so that's the worry now.
"But in terms of ability -- a game at Old Trafford, the supporters will be ready for it -- and so will our players."
LIVERPOOL CLIMB
Earlier, Liverpool, who share the record of 18 championships with United, beat Newcastle United 3-0 to move into fifth place, maintaining their climb up the table under manager Kenny Dalglish.
A goal from Maxi Rodriguez after 10 minutes, a Dirk Kuyt penalty after 59 minutes and a strike from Luis Suarez lifted Liverpool into the Europa League qualifying berth.
City look set to finish fourth while Liverpool and Spurs, who meet at Anfield, are now in a battle for the consolation prize of a Europa League place.
City beat the Hammers thanks to early goals from Nigel de Jong and Pablo Zabaleta.
Demba Ba pulled one back for the Hammers but it was not enough to save them from a fifth straight defeat, leaving them bottom and favourites to go down.
Birmingham City drew 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Andrews to put Wolves deep in relegation trouble. They remain second bottom on 34 points, a point from safety.
UEFA Champions League Preview: Barcelona Vs. Real Madrid
By Geoff Reid Barcelona vs Real Madrid from the Camp Nou, Barcelona (Barcelona leads 2-0 on agg.) Well this the last installment of el classico for this season, and maybe these two sides have faced each other too much in the last few weeks. After last week?s first leg in the Spanish capital which was definitely not the best game [...]
LOSC : Frau �vacue la pression
Alors que Lille occupe la place de leader juste devant l'OM, Pierre-Alain Frau n'a pas envie de paniquer � seulement cinq journ�es de la fin du championnat. L'attaquant nordiste, qui a d�j� remport� la Ligue sous le maillot de l'OL, insiste sur le fait que les Dogues jouent mieux que l'OM cette saison. Il s'exprime � ce sujet dans les colonnes de L'Equipe : � L'OM est moins beau que nous mais ses joueurs ne l�chent rien, on doit se mettre � leur niveau mental. Si on perd un match, il ne faudra pas �tre (...) Lire la suite.
QPR to be handed Championship trophy today
QPR
Queens Park Rangers
Rangers
Leeds United
QPR have been told they will be given the Championship trophy today.
Rangers are at the centre of an independent FA inquiry over the transfer of midfielder Alejandro Faurlin from Argentine club Instituto in 2009.
But there was still no decision last night by the inquiry into alleged breaches of third-party ownership rules.
Rangers deny all seven charges against them.
The Hoops face the ridiculous prospect of celebrating then having to return the cup if they are found guilty and docked points.
A spokesman said: "The Football League can confirm it intends to present the npower Championship trophy to Queens Park Rangers at the conclusion of the fixture with Leeds United, in line with custom and practice.
"This decision will only be reviewed if the verdict of the ongoing FA tribunal affects standings in the Championship table before that time."
Friday, May 6, 2011
Alberto Aquilani's agent hopes Juventus reach deal with Liverpool over permanent transfer
The Italian midfielder's representative says the player wants to stay in his homeland but excludes all talk regarding a potential move to Serie A league leaders AC Milan
Sports News: Harris rules out Powell move
Crusaders coach Iestyn Harris has ruled out a move to sign controversial Wales rugby union forward Andy Powell following his departure from Wasps.
Scottish Cup: Motherwell v St Johnstone
That was the week that was.
Although, at times, we've been sadly beyond satire.
Time now to concentrate on the football, to celebrate the game's rich heritage with the first Scottish Cup semi final today.
Concentrate as much as possible anyway, doing our best to ignore that our most venerable cup competition is without a sponsor.
And doing our best to ignore the empty seats. The odd diktat that all Scottish Cup semi finals must be played at Hampden - while allowing two TV companies to show it live - will mean a ground that is less than a fifth full, carrying with it all the allure of ninety minutes spent in a wind tunnel.
The laughing stock of the world? Aye right. There's not even enough people here who care.
All of which is a shame.
A shame because the loss of magic on Scottish Cup semi finals weekend is indicative of the loss of magic throughout Scottish football.
And a shame because for Motherwell and St Johnstone this is a huge, huge game carrying the tantalising prospect of a cup final and European football.
They arrive at Hampden tomorrow on the back of different seasons.
Motherwell's campaign kicked off on the 15th of July last year with a European qualifying game.
Since then they've lost a manager in Craig Brown, found a manager in Stuart McCall, lost form, given up any pretence of consistency, lost a final and now, suddenly, clicked.
Their recent run has included putting to an end to Dundee United's cup pretensions and excellent run of league form. In their last game they emerged from Tynecastle with a draw.
Along the way they've confirmed their place in the top six and won plaudits for their reinvigorated approach.
Compare and contrast. St Johnstone might not have fully succumbed to the cliche of a difficult second season. But it's hardly been one of unadulterated joy.
Although never looking likely to drop out of the league this has been a year of frustration. A lack of goals has hamstrung them. They remain more than capable of holding their own. But they do so with a butter knife of a cutting edge.
Only Hamilton in the league and Partick Thistle and Brechin - at the second attempt - have been beaten since the start of February.
The Colin Samuel strike that finally saw off Brechin was their only goal in the last six games.
That goals are the big problem for Derek McInnes is shown by the league table. Their 18 goals mean they share with Hamilton the distinction of being the SPL's lowest scorers. Yet they're a full 18 points clear of the bottom side.
St Johnstone have plenty to offer the league. But at the moment they're too impotent to make their other strenghts count.
All of which must make Motherwell favourites today.
But semi finals have been known to shock us. Hampden's atmosphere is often odd, the wide open spaces will make it positively eery this afternoon. The pitch is taking a lot of criticism although both these clubs can lay claim to recent experience on decidedly dodgy surfaces.
It could be a strange old affair.
And maybe that will suit St Johnstone as they strive towards a first ever Scottish Cup final.
Prediction: If St Johnstone can contain and frustrate early on then it could be very tight. Motherwell in the 90 minutes. St Johnstone if it goes beyond that.
Although, at times, we've been sadly beyond satire.
Time now to concentrate on the football, to celebrate the game's rich heritage with the first Scottish Cup semi final today.
Concentrate as much as possible anyway, doing our best to ignore that our most venerable cup competition is without a sponsor.
And doing our best to ignore the empty seats. The odd diktat that all Scottish Cup semi finals must be played at Hampden - while allowing two TV companies to show it live - will mean a ground that is less than a fifth full, carrying with it all the allure of ninety minutes spent in a wind tunnel.
The laughing stock of the world? Aye right. There's not even enough people here who care.
All of which is a shame.
A shame because the loss of magic on Scottish Cup semi finals weekend is indicative of the loss of magic throughout Scottish football.
And a shame because for Motherwell and St Johnstone this is a huge, huge game carrying the tantalising prospect of a cup final and European football.
They arrive at Hampden tomorrow on the back of different seasons.
Motherwell's campaign kicked off on the 15th of July last year with a European qualifying game.
Since then they've lost a manager in Craig Brown, found a manager in Stuart McCall, lost form, given up any pretence of consistency, lost a final and now, suddenly, clicked.
Their recent run has included putting to an end to Dundee United's cup pretensions and excellent run of league form. In their last game they emerged from Tynecastle with a draw.
Along the way they've confirmed their place in the top six and won plaudits for their reinvigorated approach.
Compare and contrast. St Johnstone might not have fully succumbed to the cliche of a difficult second season. But it's hardly been one of unadulterated joy.
Although never looking likely to drop out of the league this has been a year of frustration. A lack of goals has hamstrung them. They remain more than capable of holding their own. But they do so with a butter knife of a cutting edge.
Only Hamilton in the league and Partick Thistle and Brechin - at the second attempt - have been beaten since the start of February.
The Colin Samuel strike that finally saw off Brechin was their only goal in the last six games.
That goals are the big problem for Derek McInnes is shown by the league table. Their 18 goals mean they share with Hamilton the distinction of being the SPL's lowest scorers. Yet they're a full 18 points clear of the bottom side.
St Johnstone have plenty to offer the league. But at the moment they're too impotent to make their other strenghts count.
All of which must make Motherwell favourites today.
But semi finals have been known to shock us. Hampden's atmosphere is often odd, the wide open spaces will make it positively eery this afternoon. The pitch is taking a lot of criticism although both these clubs can lay claim to recent experience on decidedly dodgy surfaces.
It could be a strange old affair.
And maybe that will suit St Johnstone as they strive towards a first ever Scottish Cup final.
Prediction: If St Johnstone can contain and frustrate early on then it could be very tight. Motherwell in the 90 minutes. St Johnstone if it goes beyond that.
Aston Villa suffer first ever Premier League defeat to West Brom
I tweeted something at half time that West Brom looked up for it more and were the better side in this game. Some disagreed, but I stand by that tweet.
I stand by it and I think the result backs it up, just a bit. We didn't score today - that one goal for us above was an own goal. I'm not sure how many actual shots we had, but it wasn't overwhelming and when I talk about the better team, I talk about the football.
michigan football blog michigan football recruiting michigan football roster
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Fulham?s Duff sidelined for up to six weeks
Fulham
Mark Hughes
Fulham midfielder Damien Duff has been sidelined for about six weeks after having Achilles surgery.
The Republic of Ireland winger has missed the past four Cottagers matches with the problem and it was deemed necessary for him to undergo surgery in a bid to fix the issue before next season.
"It just got to the point where one course of treatment was compromising another course of treatment,? manager Mark Hughes said.
"We made a decision that the best route was to get it sorted."
Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around Fulham.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini rates Carlos Tevez's chances of playing in the FA Cup final as '50-50'
City boss positive over Argentine's involvement, but also brushes aside any talk of the striker leaving Eastlands in the summer to concentrate on end of season run-in
Kenny Dalglish v Arsene Wenger
In a weekend of one sided cup semi finals, a dose of massive drama at the Emirates.
Two converted injury time penalties meant a 1-1 draw. Liverpool's came with the last kick of the ball.
Arsene Wenger, unsuprisingly unchuffed, seemed to remonstrate with Kenny Dalglish. Kenny, it seems, told him to piss off.
I know that we're not supposed to be in the business of condoning touchline spats. But to me this seemed to me nothing more than a spot of handbags in a moment of high drama.
Conclusive proof though that Kenny is back. And getting right into it.
Wenger will have been understandably annoyed at the loss of yet another opportunity to exert real pressure on Manchester United. He's already claimed that it wasn't a penalty and that too much time had been played.
His frustration might also stem from how comprehensively his side have been the architects of their own downfall this season.
Two converted injury time penalties meant a 1-1 draw. Liverpool's came with the last kick of the ball.
Arsene Wenger, unsuprisingly unchuffed, seemed to remonstrate with Kenny Dalglish. Kenny, it seems, told him to piss off.
I know that we're not supposed to be in the business of condoning touchline spats. But to me this seemed to me nothing more than a spot of handbags in a moment of high drama.
Conclusive proof though that Kenny is back. And getting right into it.
Wenger will have been understandably annoyed at the loss of yet another opportunity to exert real pressure on Manchester United. He's already claimed that it wasn't a penalty and that too much time had been played.
His frustration might also stem from how comprehensively his side have been the architects of their own downfall this season.
football visors highest scoring college football game history of soccer
Real Madrid GM Valdano: There was no conspiracy
Barcelona
Jose Mourinho
Real Madrid
Real Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano admits the board were frustrated by the manner of their Champions League elimination by Barcelona.
Valdano denied the club believed there was a conspiracy against them, something clearly hinted at by coach Jose Mourinho.
"Both teams tried every which way to go through to the final," he said. "Barcelona came out on top and we congratulate them, but this tie was influenced by the officiating. We hope we are luckier in the future.
"The tie was very even until Madrid were left a man down. The play in the third minute of the second half (last night) tarnished the tie, just as is the case of those referee decisions that weren't harmful.
"Cristiano is knocked off balance by (Gerard) Pique, he falls, the referee rules play on and Cristiano unintentionally makes Mascherano fall.
"I have never seen a foul committed with a player's back; perhaps the goal would have changed the course of the match. It's a true fact.
"The mistake was made and it hurt us, but we are not suggesting any conspiracy theory.
"Real Madrid is accustomed to always fighting until the very end. We had faith in our chances and we played four matches; one that we won, two that we drew and one that we lost.
"The team is improving. It is a young squad with a lot of room for improvement."
Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around Real Madrid.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Polkraine 2012: Standing Atop Special Stands
Of all the many things accounted for in the bid for Polkraine 2012, they probably didn’t include having to consider, or being asked for, a stand exclusively for gay and lesbian football fans.
That’s changing. A movement of sorts has erupted in Poland to allow a gay fan club their own special stand at Polkraine [...]
That’s changing. A movement of sorts has erupted in Poland to allow a gay fan club their own special stand at Polkraine [...]
funny soccer pictures high school soccer rules history of football
Brian Mullan Suspended 10 Games
It should come to no surprise to many of you that saw the reckless tackle by Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan on Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Steve Zakuani last week. Today, Major League Soccer handed out it’s punishment that will see Mullan sidelined for 10 games. The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee today suspended Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan for [...]
What We Learned: MLS Week 7
After the tough week Major League Soccer had to endure in week six, this past week was a big of a change, well in some ways at least. We did however see more of the same as Philadelphia won yet another 1-0 game, D.C. United began looking like their 2010 self again, and New York continued their dominate ways. Either [...]
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Football Wag of the Week: Daniela Martins, Wag of Manchester United Winger Nani
Manchester United winger Nani has enjoyed a brilliant season at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese winger has been banging in the goals and laying on the assists for his teammates all season—prompting some to suggest he's finally filling the boots of his countryman Cristiano Ronaldo.
He's also been grabbing some plaudits for his Wag choice, Daniela Martins.
Martins is now bedded in nicely with fellow Manchester United Wags like Coleen Rooney, and has become a firm favorite with the Wagerati.
Nani and Daniela have been together for three years, and she recently came talked about how much in love the pair are.
Who said Wag life was shallow?
Read more Manchester United news on BleacherReport.com
Manchester Utd: Is 2011 Ferguson's Best Champions League Coaching Performance?
Sir Alex Ferguson has done it all over his 35 year managerial career.
In addition to his two existing Champions League victories in 1999 and 2008, he has also added 11 Premier League titles, nine domestic cups, a UEFA Cup, a Cup winners Cup and has even been knighted by Her Majesty the Queen for his services to football.
One could argue he is the greatest manager of all time.
Yet if the Scotsman goes on to lead Manchester United to his third Champions League trophy at 69 years of age, it will probably be his greatest managerial performance of his career.
Nothing will ever beat the sweetness of his first Champions League success in 1999, being the first United manager to lift the trophy since Sir Matt Busby in 1968 was something special. But he did have a special group of players to work with.
Granted, the comeback he helped orchestrate against Juventus was outstanding, and he did have to deal with the loss of suspended midfield duo Roy Keane and Paul Scholes in the final which saw arguably the most dramatic ending to a football match ever with Teddy Sherringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both scoring in injury time.
2008 saw the all English final with United facing Chelsea, with Ferguson's men coming out on top via a penalty shootout.
Many of that squad are still at Sir Alex's disposal today, but there has been some key losses to that Champions League winning team since 2008.
Of the team that started that night, Christiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez are no longer with the club, Owen Hargreaves has been perennially injured and barely played since, plus Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Saar are three years older and bordering on retirement.
It's fair to say, in terms of player personal, Ferguson's current squad is not as good as the one that he has three years ago.
So what is the reason for the success so far in the competition?
The resurgent form of van der Saar, Giggs or Carrick? The emergence of Javier Hernandez? The formidable partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic at the back? Wayne Rooney hitting top form at the right time?
All of the above.
And the man responsible for all of the above is Alex Ferguson.
He has managed to cope with key injuries, specifically one to Rio Ferdinand, while being able to adjust his formation, positioning and tactics to perfection in each game to not only ensure success in the Champions League, but also to keep his players fresh for other competitions too.
Tuesday's semi-final dominance of Schalke is concrete evidence of a man completely out coaching his opposite number.
The movement of Chicharito and Rooney pulled the German defense all over the place exploiting space for Giggs, Park, Valencia and even Evra to exploit.
It was as dominating a 2-0 victory as there could have been, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was the only reason United didn't rack up six or seven against the out-classed Bundesliger side.
The smile on Sir Alex's face on the touchline showed the sheer satisfaction that comes with the knowledge that he did his job of preparing the team to perfection and he can start to entertain thought's of whether it will be Barcelona or Real Madrid he will be facing in the final.
Not that Schalke are completely out of it, but with Ferguson's track record, only the greatest Champions League collapse separates him from another final. In addition, the task of beating either of the La Liga giants in the other semi-final is by no means an easy one.
That said, United have already done more with less than perhaps any other season during Ferguson's reign, why shouldn't it continue?
And would a double this season give Sir Alex the piece of mind to retire on top?
Probably not, there's is always a chance to win more next year.
But there is still this year to be played, and so far, Ferguson has played it better than ever.
Read more Manchester United news on BleacherReport.com
Sports News: UEFA reject Real and Barca protests
UEFA have rejected both protests lodged by Real Madrid and the complaint made by Barcelona following last Wednesday's ill-tempered Champions League semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu.
Nantes : encore une r�volution de palais ?
Sauf catastrophe, le FC Nantes devrait se maintenir en Ligue 2. Actuellement, les Canaris occupent la quinzi�me place du classement avec quarante-e
Monday, May 2, 2011
Hernanes / Lazio preparing offer for QPR dazzler Taarabt
Lazio are preparing to test QPR's resolve for Adel Taarabt.
The former Tottenham midfielder has been a revelation in the R's Championship promotion-winning campaign this season.
Corriere dello Sport says Lazio have been monitoring the 21-year-old's development for some time now and are said to be preparing an offer.
The one stumbling block may be whether Taarabt is interested in playing second fiddle to Hernanes at Lazio
Read more Hernanes news
The former Tottenham midfielder has been a revelation in the R's Championship promotion-winning campaign this season.
Corriere dello Sport says Lazio have been monitoring the 21-year-old's development for some time now and are said to be preparing an offer.
The one stumbling block may be whether Taarabt is interested in playing second fiddle to Hernanes at Lazio
Read more Hernanes news
Manchester United's Paul Scholes a Red "Card" Devil?
It’s been two weeks since Manchester City defeated Manchester United in the heated Manchester derby down at Wembley, and I still can’t understand how such a gifted professional like Paul Scholes loses his head and lets the red mist descend over him when the game isn’t going his way.
Without a doubt, Paul is one of the most talented, gifted midfielders of our generation, and it has been a privilege to watch him play, but since his debut in September '94, he has never been able to escape the fact that many people see him as a dirty player. Here’s a quote from Arsene Wenger in 2010:
"Who wouldn't want a quality player like Paul Scholes in his team? But ask me if he's been a fair player, I say no. I'm sorry, for me, he's not been fair. There's a little bit of a darker side in him. I don't like some things he does. It's not because you are older suddenly that you are a saint.”
Is it an amazing will to win for Scholes that he has to throw himself 110 percent into every challenge? Does he feel too pressured to deliver in the biggest games? Or is it a nasty streak that comes out when things just aren’t going his way? After a debate about the matter with friends, we thought that he seems to lose it when we could do with his brilliance on the field and not sat in the dressing room because of five seconds of stupidity. Does he just have a dirty side? Or is he a dirty player full stop?
I decided to research into every red card Schools has received for Manchester United and England to determine the outcome and the importance of the games in which they happened. (Only red cards in competitive games were checked. He has red cards in preseason games before and been suspended for the start of the season)
Rooney says newspaper may have hacked his phone
Rooney says newspaper may have hacked his phone
LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - England striker Wayne Rooney said on Thursday police had shown him documents indicating his phone may have been hacked.
Newspapers have reported that the Manchester United player is the latest of several public figures whose voicemail messages may have been intercepted by journalists at the News of the World. The tabloid wrote several exclusive stories about him in 2005 and 2006.
"Scotland Yard detectives came to see me earlier and showed me some documents, looks like a newspaper have hacked into my phone #Bigsurprise," Rooney said on his Twitter feed Wazzaroon08.
"Gonna get my lawyers to deal with phone hacking until end of season," he said in a subsequent message.
Rooney's spokesman Ian Monk confirmed that Wazzaroon08 was Rooney's genuine Twitter feed but declined to comment further.
Earlier this month the newspaper, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, apologised to eight people including actress Sienna Miller for hacking into their voicemail messages in search of stories.
college football rankings college football schedule college football scores
Paul Robinson / Redknapp expects Jones to quit Blackburn if relegated
Former Tottenham star Jamie Redknapp believes Phil Jones will leave Blackburn Rovers this summer if they're relegated.
He wrote in his column for the Daily Mail: "I predict the talented Phil Jones will continue to play Premier League football next season, regardless of the outcome of the relegation battle.
"Blackburn don't score enough goals and so defensively, with Jones and Chris Samba in front of Paul Robinson, they have to be solid.
"Jones is attracting interest, with Arsenal and Liverpool liking what they see."
Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around Blackburn Rovers.
Read more Paul Robinson news
He wrote in his column for the Daily Mail: "I predict the talented Phil Jones will continue to play Premier League football next season, regardless of the outcome of the relegation battle.
"Blackburn don't score enough goals and so defensively, with Jones and Chris Samba in front of Paul Robinson, they have to be solid.
"Jones is attracting interest, with Arsenal and Liverpool liking what they see."
Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around Blackburn Rovers.
Read more Paul Robinson news
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Santos insist no AC Milan agreement for Ganso
AC Milan
Santos
Santos insist there's no agreement with AC Milan for Paulo Henrique Ganso.
There were reportedly negotiations for Milan with his agent and the company that owns part of his contract.
?Santos have nothing to say with regards to the transfer speculation,? declared director of sport Pedro Luis Nunes Conceicao to newspaper O Globo.
?That is because we have no intention of selling Ganso and have received no offer from Milan or any other clubs recently linked with our player.?
Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around AC Milan.
EPL: 10 Critical Matches That Will Shape the Remainder of the Season
Hello again everyone, I hope you're all enjoying your Easter break.
As the Premier League nears its conclusion for another season, things are shaping up to be one of the most exciting campaigns of all time. There are three teams still chasing the League crown, a further three gunning for fourth and a Champions League spot whilst any team from a list of six will be looking around nervously as the threat of relegation looms.
In this slideshow, I'll be looking ahead to what I feel will be the ten most important fixtures that will determine who wins, who survives and those who will end the season heartbroken.
So without further ado...
Are Norwich City the Manchester United of the Championship? | David Bevan
As the Canaries close in on a second successive promotion, there are parallels to be drawn with the Premier League leaders
Norwich City are breaking all the rules. Long gone is the point in the season where sides automatically promoted from League One traditionally fall by the wayside in their next promotion push. And yet the Canaries are still chirping enthusiastically about the prospect of Premier League football next season. Carrow Road is abuzz with anticipation.
It has been over 20 years since a team gained successive automatic promotions from the third tier to the top flight. The last to achieve it were Sheffield United, whose fans stripped their manager Dave Bassett to his underpants in celebration. If Norwich take three points from Portsmouth next Monday evening, Paul Lambert might be well advised to don his best boxers for their final-day home game against Coventry City.
And while it is hard to imagine Sir Alex Ferguson being rendered semi-naked by supporters should United, as expected, win a record 19th league title, there are a few parallels that can be drawn between Ferguson's United and Lambert's City.
Ferguson and Lambert were born five miles and 28 years apart in the suburbs of Glasgow. While Ferguson has seen and done it all before, Lambert is only 41 and is heralded as one of the best young managers in the country.
Carrow Road has become accustomed to going bananas at around 5pm on a Saturday, given the high number of late goals Norwich score. Simeon Jackson's 95th-minute winner against Derby County on Monday also stopped thousands of Queen's Park Rangers supporters in their tracks. QPR thought they had won the title. Not quite yet. And that Norwich are still in with a chance of snatching the trophy at this stage of the season is remarkable. In much the same way as opponents wait for the inevitable late United winner, Cardiff City fans greeted Jackson's strike with a resigned sigh.
Norwich are coming good at the right time, with their canny manager having rotated his players to keep key performers fresh for the run-in. As other sides run out of steam, they have more energy than before and their attacking ambition, best shown by the right-back Russell Martin's goal in the 5-1 victory over Ipswich Town, is arguably the Championship's stand-out attribute. They even have a bargain buy from the Americas who has come good at the right time, snatching vital goals. For Javier Hern�ndez, read the aforementioned Canadian striker Jackson (even if he did arrive at Carrow Road via Rushden & Diamonds and then Gillingham). It all sounds rather familiar, and that's before you mention the green and gold scarves.
Yet there are also some differences between the stories unfolding at Old Trafford and Carrow Road. While United were attacking on three fronts, until their FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester City, and look set to stroll back to Wembley for the Champions League final, Norwich's cup exploits were less impressive. Indeed, the Canaries were knocked out in the third round of both domestic cup competitions ? including an FA Cup defeat at home to Leyton Orient. As the clich� goes, Norwich have been able to concentrate on the league.
They have also had the full weight of their support to call upon; no FC United-style splinter groups here. No large-scale demonstrations against the running of the club. Carrow Road is full to the brim every other weekend in fervent anticipation of promotion.
One helping hand Norwich have had, according to the QPR manager Neil Warnock and his Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones, is the fixture scheduling that saw Lambert's men travel to Ipswich two days before their own sides met in Wales. This meant vital extra time to recover and Jones was quick to attribute Norwich's late winner to their ability to prepare more thoroughly for the second fixture of the Easter weekend.
Unlike the old master from Govan, Lambert has no time for mind games. With six points left to play for and the box seat in his possession, the Norwich manager can afford to keep his mouth shut and his eyes on the prize. Norwich may not have the budget of United, the experience of Ferguson, Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes, nor the advantage of leading the Championship table outright, but comparisons can still be drawn. At this stage of the season, perhaps that is the greatest compliment of all.
? David Bevan is the editor of theseventytwo.com, one of the blogs featured in our Football League blogosphere.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Football Hotline: Sunderland eye �15m-rated striker Negredo
SUNDERLAND want £15million-rated Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo to replace Darren Bent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)