The F.A.Thread

[SangareeCrew]

www.soccernet.com


Tottenham sack manger Jol - Report



Tottenham Hotspur are reported to have sacked Martin Jol and agreed a deal with FC Sevilla manager Juande Ramos to replace him.

The as yet unsubstantiated reports from the UK's Sun newspaper, which have yet to be confirmed by Spurs, claim the decision to axe Jol was taken this evening ahead of the UEFA Cup tie at White Hart Lane against Getafe.

However with Spurs 2-1 down in the second half, Jol remained on the Spurs bench.
The Sun claims that Spurs agreed severance terms with Jol on Thursday and that Clive Allen is likely to take caretaker charge of the club for Sunday's game against Blackburn Rovers with Ramos to take permanent charge at White Hart Lane at a later date.

News of Jol's predicament had filtered through to fans and they chanted 'stand up for Martin Jol', and also sang in protest against chairman Daniel Levy.

More to follow...

[SangareeCrew]

I don't think this is a good move by Spurs. Jol is a great manager.....they have had it tough so far this year, but I think he could have gotten things back on track for them. What a shame.

[bhall]

Dang. Well, I saw it coming eventually...not this early on though. What about Liverpool facing elimnation in the Group Stages of the CL?? Crazy!!!

[mickeyrivers]

curious move... on the other hand, they have been spending a lot of money the last year or so and aren't getting it done on the field. although i guess you could ask how many center forwards does a team actually need? ...and also there are the reports that jol does get along with berbatov and wants him gone. if spurs can get the sevilla manager i think it'd be a good move for them.

[bhall]

Chelsea murders ManCity 6-nil!!!! Sittin 4th in the table now!

Way to find the fighting spirit again, Blues!!!

The title chase is back on!!! I'm on freakin cloud nine!!!



KEEP THE BLUE FLAG FLYING HIGH!!!!

[mickeyrivers]

lol, even schevchenko's sorry ass scored yesterday. that's how you know things were going well.

[bhall]

Liverpool and Arsenal was one hell of a game yesterday. 1-1 draw for the teams.

[SangareeCrew]

Liverpool had the match won, then gave it away. The season started with such promise now it seems to be crumbling just that fast.......however, the Reds are still unbeaten in League play.

[bhall]

Liverpool fixing to suffer some losses due to injury. Torres being out is major.

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1154272,00.html

[SangareeCrew]

:thumbs:Not looking good for the Anfield faithful.


Hopefully Rafa can get things back together soon.

[mickeyrivers]

i don't understand why crouch and babel don't play more for liverpool. i think a player like babel could have helped them this past weekend vs arsenal.

[bhall]

i don't understand why crouch and babel don't play more for liverpool. i think a player like babel could have helped them this past weekend vs arsenal.


Exactly. It blows my mind that Peter Crouch is not their target man. I know he can get his share of yellows, but good Lord the man towers above everyone. Crouch should play lone striker. He's too good to have his arse sitting on the bench.

[mickeyrivers]

Exactly. It blows my mind that Peter Crouch is not their target man. I know he can get his share of yellows, but good Lord the man towers above everyone. Crouch should play lone striker. He's too good to have his arse sitting on the bench.
yeah, i would have him as a lone striker with gerrard right behind him.

also, kuyt and voronin need to be on the bench. they both suck.

edit- and babel needs to play more... they've gone and spent all this money on him. why not see what he can do? i know he's young but look at fabregas at arsenal. he's, what, 19? and he's tearing it up.

[SangareeCrew]

I agree that Babel needs to play more, but I disagree about Kuyt. He has done pretty well this season, at least in the games I have been able to see. And as far as Crouch goes....he's like an enigma......very up and down. When he is on, he is one of the best....but when he isn't 100%, you can really tell. I used to be a lot higher on Crouch than I am right now...... But I agree 100% about Babel, he needs to start getting the experience now.

The Xabi Alonso injury HURTS......good things always seem to happen when he is in the game. I hate he re injured his foot. Hopefully Alonso and Torres will be back soon......before we get knocked totally out of the title race.

[SangareeCrew]

And if that F'ing IDIOT Sami Hyypia scores another f'ing own goal I am officially going to puke.

[bhall]

I agree that Babel needs to play more, but I disagree about Kuyt. He has done pretty well this season, at least in the games I have been able to see. And as far as Crouch goes....he's like an enigma......very up and down. When he is on, he is one of the best....but when he isn't 100%, you can really tell. I used to be a lot higher on Crouch than I am right now...... But I agree 100% about Babel, he needs to start getting the experience now.

The Xabi Alonso injury HURTS......good things always seem to happen when he is in the game. I hate he re injured his foot. Hopefully Alonso and Torres will be back soon......before we get knocked totally out of the title race.

Rafa won't let that happen nor Gerrard. Liverpool will have it's say on who is champ by seasons end.

[SangareeCrew]

I sure hope you're right. We will see.

[mickeyrivers]

big weekend in the prem: arsenal-manu.... also chelsea on the road vs wigan. if arsenal and manu draw, then chelsea beats wigan... look out. that's all i'm saying!

[SangareeCrew]

Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool at anfield.........1 PM on FSC!!!

GO REDS!!!!!!!


The Arsenal-Man U match should be very interesting!!!!

[bhall]

2-2 draw on that Arsenal-ManU match.

[bhall]

Chelsea and Liverpool are set for a Carling Cup quarterfinals match at Stamfod Bridge after the draw yesterday.

[SangareeCrew]

tough draw for the Reds.

[bhall]

tough draw for the Reds.


Likewise for the Blues. Hopefully we can get the match before you guys get your injured players back.

[SangareeCrew]

Liverpool complete rout
http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/design05/images/crouch1106412.jpg GettyImages

Peter Crouch gives Liverpool the lead over Besiktas


Liverpool were imperious at Anfield on Tuesday night as they despatched of Besiktas 8-0 in what is the biggest winning margin in the history of the Champions League. Elsewhere, Chelsea were extremely lucky to escape with a point in their 0-0 draw against Schalke who dominated the game in Gelsenkirchen. [+] (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/scoreboard?league=uefa.champions&date=20071106&cc=%)

[SangareeCrew]

Now that's how to get the Champions League campaign back on track!!!!

GO REDS!!!!!!!

[Mecklenburg Cock]

I saw in the London Times today that Liverpool has been given the approval needed to build their new stadium.

[bhall]

...Liverpool were imperious at Anfield on Tuesday night as they despatched of Besiktas 8-0 in what is the biggest winning margin in the history of the Champions League...


DAMNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!

[SangareeCrew]

I saw in the London Times today that Liverpool has been given the approval needed to build their new stadium.

Awesome......the new Anfield is going to kick some major azz!!:thumbsup:

[SangareeCrew]

Looks like the England national team still has a shot at Euro 2008, thanks to Israel's victory over Russia.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnfro118.xml



England's prayers answered as Israel triumph


By Roy Collins


Last Updated: 1:21am GMT 18/11/2007




http://www.telegraph.co.uk/stylesheets/portal/images/yourview/form.gif Have your say (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnfro118.xml&site=2&page=0#form) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/stylesheets/portal/images/yourview/comments.gif Read comments (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnfro118.xml&site=2&page=0#comments)
England's prayers for a miracle in the Holy Land that would resurrect their Euro 2008 qualifying hopes were answered in spectacular style last night. Indignant and hurt by all the conspiracy theories, of which there were more swirling around in the Tel Aviv night than in the Paris courtroom where the inquest into Princess Diana's death drags on, Israel raised themselves to post a historic win against Russia in the Ramat Gan Stadium that handed England a reprieve.
England will lose at Wembley maintains Hiddink (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfgisr118.xml)
Patrick Barclay: Countdown to clash with Croatia (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnpat118.xml)
In pics: Israel offer England reprieve (http://javascript<b></b>:var newWin=window.open('/core/Slideshow/slideshowContentFrameFragXL.jhtml?xml=/sport/gallery/football/euro2008/match9/upixeuro.xml&site=Sport','Slideshow','height=570,width=750,resi zable')) | Croatia to regroup (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfncro118.xml) It means qualification for next summer's jamboree in the Austrian and Swiss mountains is not only back in England hands but also, having stared at elimination only 24 hours earlier, they can now confirm their safe passage with just a draw against group leaders Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday. Croatia, with their qualification guaranteed by Russia's defeat, lost 2-0 in Macedonia.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/2007/11/18/sfnfro118.jpgUnited in victory: fans raise English and Israeli flags to salute the home side's win over Russia in Tel AvivEngland manager Steve McClaren expressed his gratitude to Israel for their battling performance, and said he was confident England would grab the opportunity to confirm their place in the Euro 2008 finals.
"It will be difficult, but I am convinced we will get the result we need and we will qualify," he said.
"I have said several times in the last few weeks, the campaign was not over until it was over. I always believed it would come down to the Croatia game, and thankfully it has.
"I watched the match with my family at the team hotel in Watford. All the coaching staff were also in the hotel and, as you can imagine, we are all delighted qualification is back in our own hands.
advertisement

"It is fantastic news for us all and I would like to pay tribute to Israel for the professional way they went about their job. They showed what a proud nation they are, and they deserve a lot of praise for their efforts."
Israel, whose own dreams of making the finals had already evaporated, may have had nothing to play for in competitive terms but their pride was wounded by all the stories that they would lie down like lambs. Their performances shamed all who believed that a Russia victory here was pre-ordained, however it was achieved.
After England's 2-1 defeat in Moscow last month, it looked as though the Russian Bear, not the Three Lions, would be heading to next summer's finals. Now McClaren, who had been ridiculed for his team selection and tactics and seemed certain to be sacked this week, can become a hero with a result against Croatia.
As usual with England, it may not be straightforward, especially now that they will be without Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, the latter injured in that meaningless friendly against Austria in Vienna on Friday.
Without the team's leading strike pair it could still go wrong, though England have won all three of their competitive matches at the new Wembley without conceding a goal.
Last night's result in Tel Aviv was a remarkable stroke of good fortune for McClaren, just as it proved a painful night for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who had reportedly offered the Russian players £40,000 in bonuses to qualify.
For much of the night their young team froze like England had done so many times in qualifying, struggling to find any cohesion and to impose any dominance on an Israel team who played without any inhibitions or fear. Had Russia won, McClaren would have faced 90 minutes of abuse in what would have been a meaningless final fixture at Wembley. While he may still not find the supporters chanting his name, he will settle for them cheering his team to the rafters.
Roy Collins: McClaren's roller-coaster ride (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnroy118.xml)
Lawrie Sanchez: Media pressure goes too far (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnsan118.xml)
Stewart Robson: Crouch can win it (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnrob118.xml) | Allardyce furious over Owen (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnowe118.xml) McClaren had not dared to believe that Israel could beat Guus Hiddink's Russia side, hoping only that they could hold out for a courageous point. But Russia's defence had already been left dangerously exposed before Israel's 10th-minute opening goal, with Barak Itzhaki providing an opportunity which Elyaniv Barda put away with the outside of his boot.
Russia finally roused themselves to find an equaliser on the hour from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. But, despite dominating from then on, they left themselves open to Omer Golan's breakaway winner.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/stylesheets/portal/images/yourview/form.gif Have your say (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/18/sfnfro118.xml&site=2&page=0#form)
Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence. For the full copyright statement see Copyright (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?view=COPYRIGHT&grid=P9)

[bhall]

Some scores from the weekend:

Chelsea 2 Derby 0
Arsenal 2 Wigan 0
ManU 0 Bolton 1 (we all like to see ManU get, plus SAF got sent off)
Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0
ManCity 2 Reading 1

Rafa and the Yanks owners are not seeing eye to eye right now.
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7483688

[bhall]

Harry Redknapp was arrested along with others in a corruption scandal. Looks like he was try to lure under-contract players from their club and maybe some match-fixing also.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7498596

[mickeyrivers]

Some scores from the weekend:

Chelsea 2 Derby 0
Arsenal 2 Wigan 0
ManU 0 Bolton 1 (we all like to see ManU get, plus SAF got sent off)
Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0
ManCity 2 Reading 1

Rafa and the Yanks owners are not seeing eye to eye right now.
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7483688
i was actually able to catch the chelsea/derby game since it was on fsc... total yawner. wtf... why was mourinho let go again? i mean they won but wow, boring stuff. it looked like they all just met in the parking lot the morning of the game.

bolton game = hahaha

newcastle is horrible.

[SangareeCrew]

www.soccernet.com (http://www.soccernet.com)

http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/design05/images/jb2/gererarda_get41222.jpg GettyImages
Steven Gerrard's penalty made him Liverpool's record Euro scorer.

Liverpool kept their Champions League qualification hopes alive with a 4-1 win over Porto that flattered last season's finalists. Two goals from Fernando Torres were followed by a Steven Gerrard penalty and a Peter Crouch tap-in. An equaliser from Lisandro Lopez had set scouse hearts aflutter but Rafa Benitez's side held their nerve and must now beat Marseille in France to make the knock-out stages. [+] (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=228822&cc=%)

[bhall]

Oh yeah, Chelsea fries Rosenborg 4-0 in that dame ice pit they played in.

[SangareeCrew]

www.telegraph.co.uk (http://www.telegraph.co.uk)

FA must break bank to land Jose Mourinho


By Giles Mole


The Football Association will need to dig deep if Jose Mourinho is to become the new England manager, with the Special One likely to demand a £4 million-a-year salary.
According to reports, Mourinho's wages will have to match those paid to Sven-Goran Eriksson if fans are to get the man they want to lead England to the next World Cup.




http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/2007/11/29/mourinho.jpg
Fans favourite: Jose Mourinho is the man most fans want to be appointed England manager



Steve McClaren, sacked after England's failure to reach the Euro 2008 finals, was on £2.5m a year for his disappointing 16 months in charge, with the FA wary of paying wages as high as Eriksson's ever again due to the large pay-off involved if the coach is unsuccessful.
However, in Mourinho's case, supporters are likely to demand Soho Square make an exception and break the bank to land the former Chelsea manager.
The Portuguese has already told the FA to get in touch. Chief executive Brian Barwick has been given a mandate to find the man he wants, and more importantly the country wants, with the choice only needing to be rubber-stamped by the FA board.
Barcelona and AC Milan have both been linked with Mourinho, but neither club could match the size of deal the FA would be able to put on the table.
When asked last night about the job, Mourinho said: "I cannot say what I think until they (the FA) say they are interested.
"Tell the FA to come and get me. We'll have to wait and see, but I rule nothing out."



I am pleased at how this is progressing so far. Let's hope the FA does the right thing and hires Jose. I am not sure anyone else can revive the three lions.

[SangareeCrew]

I kind of think that Jose is also enjoying spending more time at home with the family.........I think he is much more open to the idea of international soccer than he was in the recent past. Coaching on the international level is much less time intensive than club soccer, and he has already coached half the players on the England team.

[bhall]

I kind of think that Jose is also enjoying spending more time at home with the family.........I think he is much more open to the idea of international soccer than he was in the recent past. Coaching on the international level is much less time intensive than club soccer, and he has already coached half the players on the England team.

This is true. I think the Jose will feel right at home with the ENT.

[SangareeCrew]

This is true. I think the Jose will feel right at home with the ENT.

As long as the FA doesn't drop the ball on this, it looks like there is a good chance this will happen. But the FA has a history of stupid decisions over the years. :thumbs:

[bhall]

As long as the FA doesn't drop the ball on this, it looks like there is a good chance this will happen. But the FA has a history of stupid decisions over the years. :thumbs:


By the way, one name mentioned early for the ENT job...Harry Redknapp!

The FA had him in mind in the beginning. Now the corruption charges are out and he's in hot water.This just shows how dumb The FA can really be. They knew before this hit the papers he was in trouble!

[mickeyrivers]

paul robinson as a kid:
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee99/stattobeaver/image001-1.gif

[mickeyrivers]

By the way, one name mentioned early for the ENT job...Harry Redknapp!

The FA had him in mind in the beginning. Now the corruption charges are out and he's in hot water.This just shows how dumb The FA can really be. They knew before this hit the papers he was in trouble!
lol, yeah i remember him being mentioned a while back as a possible candidate.

personally, i think mourinho would be insane to take the england job. for one thing, ac milan and barcelona are about to open up and he would be #1 on the list for either of them. secondly... while that job is definitely a glamorous job in world football, it's a bit like the notre dame job in college football. the fans expect SOOO much but the squad is not what the media blows it up to be and neither have done much since the 60's. he should wait and take the portugal job someday down the road.

don't get me wrong, it'd be a great hire for england. he would be able to make them relevant again... but for jose i just really don't see it. maybe later in his career but not now. he still has a lot to do in the game at the club level.

[mickeyrivers]

Oh yeah, Chelsea fries Rosenborg 4-0 in that dame ice pit they played in.
highight of the game definitely drogba doing the cold shiver dance after that first goal :lol:

also, i dunno if you saw the highlights, but sean wright phillips made an absolutely amazing play that lead to the 2nd goal. i give him a hard time a lot of the time but he made a great play there.

[GotSpurrier82]

played it my whole life.
Me too.

golf isn't american either man. wake up.
Nope. It's Scottish, I believe.
GOLF = Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.

And I'm gonna go with Manchester United on this.

[bhall]

highight of the game definitely drogba doing the cold shiver dance after that first goal :lol:

also, i dunno if you saw the highlights, but sean wright phillips made an absolutely amazing play that lead to the 2nd goal. i give him a hard time a lot of the time but he made a great play there.


"The Shiver" was brilliant! And SWP should have been given the point anyway for fighting for that 2nd goal. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

[SangareeCrew]

lol, yeah i remember him being mentioned a while back as a possible candidate.

personally, i think mourinho would be insane to take the england job. for one thing, ac milan and barcelona are about to open up and he would be #1 on the list for either of them. secondly... while that job is definitely a glamorous job in world football, it's a bit like the notre dame job in college football. the fans expect SOOO much but the squad is not what the media blows it up to be and neither have done much since the 60's. he should wait and take the portugal job someday down the road.

don't get me wrong, it'd be a great hire for england. he would be able to make them relevant again... but for jose i just really don't see it. maybe later in his career but not now. he still has a lot to do in the game at the club level.

I think you are mostly right, but I think he also likes living in England and I think that he has a big enough ego to try to make England a winner again. I still think he takes the job, mainly to do what people around the world think he can't do.

[bhall]

I think you are mostly right, but I think he also likes living in England and I think that he has a big enough ego to try to make England a winner again. I still think he takes the job, mainly to do what people around the world think he can't do.

He's lifted every major title in soccer except the World Cup. He will led England to their second World Cup.


He isn't the the "Special One" for nothin!!!!

[mickeyrivers]

I think you are mostly right, but I think he also likes living in England and I think that he has a big enough ego to try to make England a winner again. I still think he takes the job, mainly to do what people around the world think he can't do.
he does have a big ego. i would love it if he decided to do that. he knows most of the players already anyway.

i think he may do it... but someday down the line. england is not even in the euros. what is he going to do? play latvia and faroe islands in friendly matches for 2 years until the w/c qualifying gets cranked up?

i do think like you said he likes living in england b/c of his family mainly. who knows?

[SangareeCrew]

www.telegraph.co.uk (http://www.telegraph.co.uk)

Liverpool thrash Bolton


By Patrick Nathanson


Liverpool 4 Bolton Wanderers 0

Liverpool surged to their fifth successive victory - scoring 21 goals in the process - and moved into third place in the Premier League with a 4-0 drubbing of Bolton.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/2007/12/02/hyppia.jpgGoal: Sami Hyypia celebrates the opener

Sami Hyypia's early glancing header set Liverpool on their way but Bolton's response was spirited and defiant until Fernando Torres grabbed his 11th goal of the season a minute from half-time.
Steven Gerrard scored the third from the penalty spot after Peter Crouch had been fouled after 54 minutes and Ryan Babel tapped in the fourth with six minutes left.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said: "The team is playing well, we are making plenty of chances and scored four, but it could have been many more. I must be pleased with form like this.
"It is important for us to see the goals shared around, if one player can get 20 and nobody else scores, it is easier for teams to stop a team.
"But we are making it very difficult for our opponents now, we are in good form and I am very confident that we can maintain this in the second half of the season.
"But we can still improve, I believe that. We have quality, plenty of options and the opportunity to bring on fresh legs late in matches."


Liverpool now moves to 3rd in the table with a huge win over Bolton. Looks like Rafa has gotten the squad back on track!:thumbsup:

[bhall]

It's official...Shaun Wright-Phillips is one of the best wingers in the world. This kid is a wizard on the ball and can pinpoint a cross that rivals Becks!!
I'm glad they let Arjen Robben go now, because SWP is crucial to this squad.
Man, I love SWP!!! GO CHELSEA!!!!

[Mecklenburg Cock]

Chelsea looked really solid today. It seemed they were attacking the goal 70% of the time today. Very nice match!

[bhall]

Reading beat Liverpool today 3-1. That's crazy!!!

[mickeyrivers]

It's official...Shaun Wright-Phillips is one of the best wingers in the world. This kid is a wizard on the ball and can pinpoint a cross that rivals Becks!!
I'm glad they let Arjen Robben go now, because SWP is crucial to this squad.
Man, I love SWP!!! GO CHELSEA!!!!
man that game was harder to watch than 2girls1cup, but a win is a win!

how do you feel about grant? he hasn't done anything wrong, exactly, but i would like to see chelsea go out and get a world class manager as soon as possible. they play the ugliest soccer. i thought the whole point of getting rid of mourinho was so they would play more appealing soccer. i still think that was a terrible decision. i'll never understand it... well, actually, i do understand it i think. i guess at the end of the day roman and jose just didn't get along at all and jose refused to put in roman's little lover-boy scheva. you see how much pt schevchenko is getting now.

all that said, i think chelsea is only 3 points or so back of arsenal now... and arsenal has a tough run of games coming up. my money is on manu to win the title at this point but we're starting to look like a solid "big 4" side again. i think manu/liverpool/arsenal are a cut above still though, at least this season.

[SangareeCrew]

Reading beat Liverpool today 3-1. That's crazy!!!

we had only given up 1 goal in the 5 games before today. Horrible showing by the reds that really puts us behind the 8 ball as far as the title race goes. :thumbs:

[bhall]

Well, Arsenal went down to Middlesbrough 2-1 today.

The top four in the table is now:
Arsenal 37
ManU 36
Chelsea 34
Liverpool 30

This coming weeks game: Chelsea vs Arsenal, L'pool vs ManU.
Should be interesting!!!!

[SangareeCrew]

Hopefully Liverpool and Chelsea will be victorious this week. That would help out a lot.

[mickeyrivers]

i can't believe liverpool lost 3-1 to reading. WOW... and that was only the second biggest upset of the week with arsenal somehow losing to middlesbrough. i think arsenal's injuries are catching up with them but that's still no excuse for LOSING to boro. wow.

[SangareeCrew]

It looks as if Jose Mourinho is now out of the running for the England job.....that sucks.......what do you guys think of Fabio Capello? Can he get the job done?

[SangareeCrew]

Big win for Liverpool today in the Champions League today, 4-0 over Marseille.

www.soccernet.com



Reds secure easy progress
http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/design05/images/jb2/kuyt_emspsps41222.jpgEmpics
Dirk Kuyt scores to seal Liverpool's win in the Stade Velodrome.

The tension of Liverpool's build-up to their final Champions League group match in Marseille did not last long. Rafa Benitez's side were two goals clear twelve minutes in, with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres easing scouse nerves. And second half strikes by Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel followed. Porto's win over Besiktas, however, means that Liverpool will face a group winner in the last 16. [+] (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=228778&cc=%)

[bhall]

It looks as if Jose Mourinho is now out of the running for the England job.....that sucks.......what do you guys think of Fabio Capello? Can he get the job done?


Capello is good, but the man for the job now is Jurgen Klinsman. He's awesome!!


Sangaree, saw where your Reds busted on Marseille today to advance in the CL!!! Way to get back in the hunt!!

[carolinathru&thru]

Capello is good, but the man for the job now is Jurgen Klinsman. He's awesome!!Y


Sangaree, saw where your Reds busted on Marseille today to advance in the CL!!! Way to get back in the hunt!!

Yeah, I guess I wouldn't mind Klinsman getting the job now that it is apparent he is not going to coach the US National Team (although, bob bradley's done a pretty good job so far. Besides Copa America that is......)

[SangareeCrew]

I would love to see Klinsman coaching team USA someday.

but you are right, that won't be happening anytime soon. Bradley deserves his shot and he's still doing an alright job.

[mickeyrivers]

Big win for Liverpool today in the Champions League today, 4-0 over Marseille.

lol, you know it's going well when kuyt is scoring.

[mickeyrivers]

i think capello would do a nice job with the england team because #1 he is not going to fold under the pressure of the english media and players. he will play who he sees fit to play, not on who has the reputation as the best player. #2 he has a resume that demands the players' respect.

i still don't think the englad team is good enough to win any major tournaments, but with capello they should be able to qualify for the world cup at least... maybe make it to the knockout stage.

[mickeyrivers]

I would love to see Klinsman coaching team USA someday.

but you are right, that won't be happening anytime soon. Bradley deserves his shot and he's still doing an alright job.

me too... but i think for where the program is right now, bradley is the perfect fit.

i think that arena was good for his time and for the players he had to use... now we are in a transitional period and bradley is the man who can manage the program. he is doing a wonderful job getting loads of players good experience in all kinds of different environments. by the time wc qualifying rolls around he will have a handle on what his best team will look like.

the next coach for the usa will come after the 2010 world cup and he will be the one who takes america from a burgeoning team to a legitimate world power. the young players in this country are as good as anywhere in the world. it's exciting to think about the future of us soccer. maybe klinnsman would be the guy to take the reigns at that point.

[SangareeCrew]

the next coach for the usa will come after the 2010 world cup and he will be the one who takes america from a burgeoning team to a legitimate world power. the young players in this country are as good as anywhere in the world. it's exciting to think about the future of us soccer. maybe klinnsman would be the guy to take the reigns at that point.

I agree with your line of thinking. I think Bradley should have the chance to take the team as far as he can up through WC 2010.......then hopefully at that time Klinnsman could take over. It is exciting to think about the future of Team USA. :thumbsup:

[mickeyrivers]

I agree with your line of thinking. I think Bradley should have the chance to take the team as far as he can up through WC 2010.......then hopefully at that time Klinnsman could take over. It is exciting to think about the future of Team USA. :thumbsup:
and who knows, with players like bradley, altidore, adu, etc all peaking, the usa could have a good showing in 2010 and may actually raise the profile of us soccer. we may be able to land a different big name coach from somewhere else. (like, REALLY big name) that would be awesome.

[bhall]

Who's fired up for a weekend of hellacious fixtures?!!

The Big Four swinging on each other:
Chelsea v Gooners
Reds v The team everyone loves to hate (ManU)

Damn, I can't wait. Let's do it, Chels!!! We need 3!!

[bhall]

and who knows, with players like bradley, altidore, adu, etc all peaking, the usa could have a good showing in 2010 and may actually raise the profile of us soccer. we may be able to land a different big name coach from somewhere else. (like, REALLY big name) that would be awesome.


By that time, the US will be really working with something and remember...Mourinho said he wanted to coach in the US one day.


How about that?! "The Special One" leading us to glory on the pitch!!

[mickeyrivers]

Who's fired up for a weekend of hellacious fixtures?!!

The Big Four swinging on each other:
Chelsea v Gooners
Reds v The team everyone loves to hate (ManU)

Damn, I can't wait. Let's do it, Chels!!! We need 3!!
pretty pumped...

predictions?

chelsea - 1
arsenal - 1.... will probably be a boring game, which is the way chelsea likes it.

liverpool - 1
manu - 2.... manu begins to seperate themselves a little bit from the pack.

i think chelsea/arsenal is on fsc at 11:00 am sunday.

[bhall]

I say Kalou or SWP get the game winner for Chelsea. A young squad versus a lions defense. 3-2 Chelsea.

[SangareeCrew]

I say Liverpool salvages a draw w Man U..........1-1.

[bhall]

Looks like Capello is gonna get the ENT job. Been watchin Sky Sports News and he seems eager to lead the Union Jack to glory.

Sven Goran-Erikkson(former ENT coach) backs him 100%, but the English coaches are ptichin a bitch fit cause he's not English.

[mickeyrivers]

Looks like Capello is gonna get the ENT job. Been watchin Sky Sports News and he seems eager to lead the Union Jack to glory.

Sven Goran-Erikkson(former ENT coach) backs him 100%, but the English coaches are ptichin a bitch fit cause he's not English.

well, i can see why they're mad with the great success of english managers all over the world. there were so many qualified english coaches to choose from! ...not to mention the raging success of the last english national team coach! (that's sarcasm, btw)

imo capello is the best possible hire they could have made. the guy has a great resume. he's not going to put up with bullsh*t. he will pick his teams on form not reputation... and he is strong tactically (or so i have read). so... really they could not have asked for a better manager.

[SangareeCrew]

I'm not stoked about it, but I will be curious to see how the side responds to him. I'll take the wait and see approach...........I don't trust anyone named "Fabio".

[mickeyrivers]

have you guys seen the hot toy sweeping the globe this christmas? the #17 portugese action figure?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vajsMmodOI&eurl=http://www.ncaastrategies.com/utopia/showthread.php?t=48880&page=34

[mickeyrivers]

I'm not stoked about it, but I will be curious to see how the side responds to him. I'll take the wait and see approach...........I don't trust anyone named "Fabio".
well, let's see (glancing at his bio) he took ac milan to 4 titles in 5 years as manager and a champions league title as well with milan.

then he went to real madrid for 1 year and won la liga.

then he went to roma and in his 3rd year won the scudetto, the first trophy of any kind the club had won in 10 years.

went to juventes and won the scudetto in 04-05 and 05-06.

then last year he went back to real madrid and won la liga again.

i mean, what more do you need to see? who else out there has a resume like that? imo england should be thrilled that someone like capello has fallen into their laps. good managers have failed with england in the past. the expectations are unrealistic. look at sven-goran eriksson tearing it up with manchester city out of nowhere and he couldn't win crap with england. it's not an easy job and imo if capello can't succeed there it can't be done.

[bhall]

Looks like United grabbed 3 points at Anfield. 1-0 nil, ManU.

[mickeyrivers]

1-0 arsenal at halftime... terry out. not looking good.

game was going great until cech misplayed a corner that gallas put in... over ben haim. you wonder if john terry had been standing there instead of ben haim if gallas would have been able to go up over him so easily for the header. oh well.

[bhall]

After "Grand Slam Sunday", the top 5 in the table are

Arsenal 40
ManU 39
Chelsea 34
ManCity 33
L'pool 30

I read where SAF said he knows who his competition is by Christmas each year and that the title is now a two-horse race between ManU and Arsenal. I just don't agree with that.

With over 5 months of soccer left, a 10 point gap, much less 6 points, is nothin to come back from. I can see where you bank on winning the 2nd leg of your big matches, if you beat them the first time but I'm sure ManU didn't plan on getting swept by West Ham last season.

Maybe it's me being a Chelsea fan, but I just don't think the title is down to only 2 teams at this point.

[Mecklenburg Cock]

After "Grand Slam Sunday", the top 5 in the table are

Arsenal 40
ManU 39
Chelsea 34
ManCity 33
L'pool 30

I read where SAF said he knows who his competition is by Christmas each year and that the title is now a two-horse race between ManU and Arsenal. I just don't agree with that.

With over 5 months of soccer left, a 10 point gap, much less 6 points, is nothin to come back from. I can see where you bank on winning the 2nd leg of your big matches, if you beat them the first time but I'm sure ManU didn't plan on getting swept by West Ham last season.

Maybe it's me being a Chelsea fan, but I just don't think the title is down to only 2 teams at this point.

I heard that during the broadcast yesterday. I agree with you. There's still a lot of games to play.

[mickeyrivers]

After "Grand Slam Sunday", the top 5 in the table are

Arsenal 40
ManU 39
Chelsea 34
ManCity 33
L'pool 30

I read where SAF said he knows who his competition is by Christmas each year and that the title is now a two-horse race between ManU and Arsenal. I just don't agree with that.

With over 5 months of soccer left, a 10 point gap, much less 6 points, is nothin to come back from. I can see where you bank on winning the 2nd leg of your big matches, if you beat them the first time but I'm sure ManU didn't plan on getting swept by West Ham last season.

Maybe it's me being a Chelsea fan, but I just don't think the title is down to only 2 teams at this point.

wow... look at liverpool.

i'm kind of pulling for mancity to break through and get a champions league spot at least.

as for chelsea, well, i believe it will depend on the january transfer window. if we can pick up someone like anelka to bolster the scoring threat we will be in the mix. if not, we won't. i'm sorry, but schevchenko, kalou, wright-phillips, etc are just not going to produce enough goals to seriously challenge for anything. we need someone to help out with drogba out and even partner with him when he gets back.

[Mecklenburg Cock]

wow... look at liverpool.

i'm kind of pulling for mancity to break through and get a champions league spot at least.

as for chelsea, well, i believe it will depend on the january transfer window. if we can pick up someone like anelka to bolster the scoring threat we will be in the mix. if not, we won't. i'm sorry, but schevchenko, kalou, wright-phillips, etc are just not going to produce enough goals to seriously challenge for anything. we need someone to help out with drogba out and even partner with him when he gets back.

What's the report on Terry. They said yesterday that he may be out for three months.

[bhall]

What's the report on Terry. They said yesterday that he may be out for three months.


They're saying it's ligament damage in his ankle. I sure hope not.

[Mecklenburg Cock]

They're saying it's ligament damage in his ankle. I sure hope not.

From today's London Times:

December 17, 2007


John Terry faces new injury ordeal



Matt Hughes and Oliver Kay


Fabio Capello will follow in the footsteps of many of his predecessors when he flies into London to be presented as England’s new manager today and is greeted by an injured captain. John Terry suffered ankle ligament damage under a challenge from Emmanuel Eboué during Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal yesterday and will be out for several weeks.
Terry will hope to have recovered in time to play in Capello’s first match in charge against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6, although his latest injury will deal a severe blow to his side’s title aspirations. Chelsea could be hit further in the likely event of Ashley Cole being charged by the Football Association after photographs showed him flicking a V-sign at the home fans as he left the pitch after his first return to Arsenal.
Avram Grant, the Chelsea first-team coach, was more concerned with losing his captain for the critical Christmas period and was unhappy that Eboué was not sent off. “I don’t think he’s broken anything, but we’ll know tomorrow,” Grant said. “I need to see it, but people who saw it on TV said it was a red card.”
Arsenal’s win, secured by a goal from William Gallas against his former club, took them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League — after Manchester United had beaten Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield — and opened a six-point gap on Chelsea, but Arsène Wenger thinks all four clubs can still win the championship

[bhall]

From today's London Times:

December 17, 2007


John Terry faces new injury ordeal



Matt Hughes and Oliver Kay


Fabio Capello will follow in the footsteps of many of his predecessors when he flies into London to be presented as England’s new manager today and is greeted by an injured captain. John Terry suffered ankle ligament damage under a challenge from Emmanuel Eboué during Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal yesterday and will be out for several weeks.
Terry will hope to have recovered in time to play in Capello’s first match in charge against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6, although his latest injury will deal a severe blow to his side’s title aspirations. Chelsea could be hit further in the likely event of Ashley Cole being charged by the Football Association after photographs showed him flicking a V-sign at the home fans as he left the pitch after his first return to Arsenal.
Avram Grant, the Chelsea first-team coach, was more concerned with losing his captain for the critical Christmas period and was unhappy that Eboué was not sent off. “I don’t think he’s broken anything, but we’ll know tomorrow,” Grant said. “I need to see it, but people who saw it on TV said it was a red card.”
Arsenal’s win, secured by a goal from William Gallas against his former club, took them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League — after Manchester United had beaten Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield — and opened a six-point gap on Chelsea, but Arsène Wenger thinks all four clubs can still win the championship


They don't call him "The Professor" for nothing. He knows the race is still wide-open.

[SangareeCrew]

I don't think Liverpool still has a shot at winning the league this season. You can't depend on teams like Man U and Arsenal dropping that many points. Liverpool needs to get their crap together and start playing decent in the league again and make sure they qualify for next years Champions League. After all the buildup to the season, it sure as hell sucks to be a Liverpool fan right now.

[SangareeCrew]

well, let's see (glancing at his bio) he took ac milan to 4 titles in 5 years as manager and a champions league title as well with milan.

then he went to real madrid for 1 year and won la liga.

then he went to roma and in his 3rd year won the scudetto, the first trophy of any kind the club had won in 10 years.

went to juventes and won the scudetto in 04-05 and 05-06.

then last year he went back to real madrid and won la liga again.

i mean, what more do you need to see? who else out there has a resume like that? imo england should be thrilled that someone like capello has fallen into their laps. good managers have failed with england in the past. the expectations are unrealistic. look at sven-goran eriksson tearing it up with manchester city out of nowhere and he couldn't win crap with england. it's not an easy job and imo if capello can't succeed there it can't be done.

I was half joking about his name....And you are right, he has one heck of an impressive bio. I also agree that if Capello can't at least get this team to a WC semi final, then maybe no one is going to be able to do it.

I think the best thing is that he won't give a dang who used to be Englands best players....he will play the players that are playing the best now, and put the best 11 on the field. I think if anyone can do it he can.

[mickeyrivers]

I think the best thing is that he won't give a dang who used to be Englands best players....he will play the players that are playing the best now, and put the best 11 on the field. I think if anyone can do it he can.
completely agree... i think that was part of england's problem under mcclaren.

[bhall]

wow... look at liverpool.

i'm kind of pulling for mancity to break through and get a champions league spot at least.

as for chelsea, well, i believe it will depend on the january transfer window. if we can pick up someone like anelka to bolster the scoring threat we will be in the mix. if not, we won't. i'm sorry, but schevchenko, kalou, wright-phillips, etc are just not going to produce enough goals to seriously challenge for anything. we need someone to help out with drogba out and even partner with him when he gets back.


One of the brighter spots of the game, I believe, is when Grant subbed Pizarro in. He created the best chances Chelsea had all afternoon. He was quick and very creative in his touches. Grant should sub him in earlier into the 2nd half.

Sheva is not gonna get the job done. One of the annoucers said, "He's a great player, but he's just past his prime to make an impact in the EPL." This is so true. How can a 31 year-old forward expect to out-run a 19 year old defender? I know he's experienced , but that doesn't replace the speed needed for the fast-pace English style of football.

[mickeyrivers]

One of the brighter spots of the game, I believe, is when Grant subbed Pizarro in. He created the best chances Chelsea had all afternoon. He was quick and very creative in his touches. Grant should sub him in earlier into the 2nd half.

Sheva is not gonna get the job done. One of the annoucers said, "He's a great player, but he's just past his prime to make an impact in the EPL." This is so true. How can a 31 year-old forward expect to out-run a 19 year old defender? I know he's experienced , but that doesn't replace the speed needed for the fast-pace English style of football.
very true about pizarro... he is a useful/crafty player. even still i don't think he really scares anyone. we need to bring in a serious lethal striker who can make something out of nothing and makes other defenses respect him. i am holding out for nicolas anelka. he scores goals for freaking bolton. i bet he could really do some damage on a good team.

i have heard that sheva may be headed for mls sometime soon, maybe even this summer. imo that is probably what he needs to do. i don't see a future for him at chelsea at all. i think even roman can see sheva isn't working out. he's slow and weak. he's got a good strike but he has to be set up perfectly to score. it's just not working.

[bhall]

Mick, Merry Christmas!!!!

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7581596

[SNEEZ]

theres still alot of futbol left to play.

i don't comment much during the season, but I have ben pretty entiertained thus far.

[mickeyrivers]

yes! i really hope this happens.

i hope that he and drogba hit it off and become great friends. basically all i've heard about drogba is that he will almost certainly be heading out this summer. maybe once anelka comes in they will form a great partnership (when drogba comes back from injury that is).

as for the on-field affect, i think this will help a LOT. it is by no means a fix-all, but defenses will have to respect this guy.

i don't believe chelsea is done either. more players could be on the way in january.

[bhall]

theres still alot of futbol left to play.

i don't comment much during the season, but I have ben pretty entiertained thus far.

Sneez, you think it's down to ManU/Arsenal for the title this early into the season? You think Liverpool, Chelsea, ManCity are out of the running?

[SNEEZ]

Oh no! I've learned to never cont it out unless mathematically its impossible!

I don't think Manchester Shitty, Quiverpool and Chelsea are out by any means.

that being said ManU and arsenal are the better all around teams I've seen lately, but it aint over till its over.

Why don't we piss everyone off and refer to Futbol as Football and confuse eevryone on the site...HAHA

I think thatd be great.

[bhall]

Oh no! I've learned to never cont it out unless mathematically its impossible!

I don't think Manchester Shitty, Quiverpool and Chelsea are out by any means.

that being said ManU and arsenal are the better all around teams I've seen lately, but it aint over till its over.

Why don't we piss everyone off and refer to Futbol as Football and confuse eevryone on the site...HAHA

I think thatd be great.


Dude, I will ride with you on this idea. I call it that anyway except on here.

[SNEEZ]

HAHA, I'll wait until some big time futbol news that very well could apply to us football pops up and then BAM!

[bhall]

The Blues advance in the Carling Cup over Liverpool, 2-nil!!!

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7568020

[mickeyrivers]

wow, wtf, liverpool... they're out of the league (pretty much)... they're out of the carling cup... still alive in the fa cup and champions league but i believe they have the possibility of drawing one of the milans or barca in the champions league (i think), which would be a tall order.

mourinho to liverpool next year? i can't see it happening but i've read/heard other places that it is a possibility. (even though i personally see jm at ac milan next year providing they qualify for the champ league) either way i think benitez is on thin ice over there.

[SangareeCrew]

We did take Barca out last year in the Champions League. Europe is the only place where the Reds play their best.

[bhall]

We did take Barca out last year in the Champions League. Europe is the only place where the Reds play their best.


No joke. Liverpool always steps it up for European competition.

[bhall]

wow, wtf, liverpool... they're out of the league (pretty much)... they're out of the carling cup... still alive in the fa cup and champions league but i believe they have the possibility of drawing one of the milans or barca in the champions league (i think), which would be a tall order.

mourinho to liverpool next year? i can't see it happening but i've read/heard other places that it is a possibility. (even though i personally see jm at ac milan next year providing they qualify for the champ league) either way i think benitez is on thin ice over there.

You know, Mourinho wanted to go to Liverpool when he was first recruited for the EPL. This will be interesting to watch develop with the recent and public fallout b/t Rafa and his Yank owners.

Mark it down. I will not be surpised to see Mourinho at Merseyside.

[SangareeCrew]

^interesting thought.

[mickeyrivers]

my line of thinking, though, is that if benitez can't get along with gilette and hicks then what are they going to do with jose "i am fantastic" mourinho? i am really wondering what is going to happen with liverpool. they seem to be in a little bit of a shakey patch right now. imo there is a pretty decent possibility that they won't qualify for the champions league next year. it's looking very much like man city and everton are not going away. the "big 4" is not an automatic this year.

[garnet812]

If Man U gets Berbatov from Tottenham (a rumor I heard could happen), the Premiership should just go ahead and award them champions.

[SNEEZ]

no way. ManU already has some of the best talent in the world
too much of a good thing is exactly that

[bhall]

If Man U gets Berbatov from Tottenham (a rumor I heard could happen), the Premiership should just go ahead and award them champions.



People talk about Chelsea buying up talent...damn you Manchester United.

[mickeyrivers]

spurs need to hang on to berbatov. i heard manu was after him too. they talk about it often on wsd. if that happens, shit, it's over. it's probably already over.

[bhall]

Here are the matches for the second round of the CL. Chelsea and Barca managed easy draws. Inter-Liverpool, AC Milan-Arsenal, and Manu-Lyon should be interesting!!

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7591068

[mickeyrivers]

manu is going to rip lyon a fresh a-hole.

inter-liverpool will be really interesting... as will arsenal-milan.

i love watching inter. they're my favorite italian team to watch. ibrahimovic is a total beast. that will be a great 2 legs of soccer.

[carolinathru&thru]

Clint Dempsey scored a goal for Fulham today in their draw with Wigan. He's lightin' it up there in the EPL. I just wish Fulham could win a game....

[bhall]

Clint Dempsey scored a goal for Fulham today in their draw with Wigan. He's lightin' it up there in the EPL. I just wish Fulham could win a game....


No joke. They suck right now.

[SangareeCrew]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=219937&cc=5901



Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth: Torres tonic for Rafa

Rafael Benitez has good reason to go into Christmas in a positive frame of mind as Liverpool returned to winning ways with a 4-1 home rout of Portsmouth.



Good to see the Reds finally get a league win! And also a nice 2 goals for Fernando Torres.

[mickeyrivers]

unfortunately for liverpool... chelsea, arsenal, and man united all won this weekend as well so they didn't get any help in the league... although with man city drawing, and everton and portsmouth losing, they at least get those teams off their backs a little bit.

...and by the way, someone please take shevchenko. he's brutal. anelka scored 2 goals today for bolton. he needs to get here immediately!

[bhall]

unfortunately for liverpool... chelsea, arsenal, and man united all won this weekend as well so they didn't get any help in the league... although with man city drawing, and everton and portsmouth losing, they at least get those teams off their backs a little bit.

...and by the way, someone please take shevchenko. he's brutal. anelka scored 2 goals today for bolton. he needs to get here immediately!


Chelsea played the ugliest game I've ever seen them play today against Blackburn. I guess all that matters is the "W".

[mickeyrivers]

Chelsea played the ugliest game I've ever seen them play today against Blackburn. I guess all that matters is the "W".
just please make it to january and we can bring in help!

i am getting tired of seeing sheva and swp in there though... and lampard. i don't know what his problem is but he goes invisible for loooong stretches of games.

it was ugly, but yeah, 3 points on the road is 3 points on the road.

have you heard/read anything about cech's injury? is he supposed to be alright?

[bhall]

just please make it to january and we can bring in help!

i am getting tired of seeing sheva and swp in there though... and lampard. i don't know what his problem is but he goes invisible for loooong stretches of games.

it was ugly, but yeah, 3 points on the road is 3 points on the road.

have you heard/read anything about cech's injury? is he supposed to be alright?


They say he pulled a side muscle, but they're gonna do a scan on him. I hope he's not out for any extended period...God knows we need him. Drogba and Terry are out for a while. Hopefully Cech won't be.

[SangareeCrew]

How do you Chelsea fans feel about that win today? It looked as if Chelsea was CLEARLY offsides on the go ahead goal......and Newcastle looked really good in stretches but couldn't keep it together for very long.....I thought Chelsea was very lucky today and Newcastle got VERY unlucky.

[SangareeCrew]

The guy on Fox Soccer Channel just said Chelsea was "at least 5 yards offside".............you Blues got luck on your side today!

[mickeyrivers]

chelsea deserved to lose today but won because of a combination of over-cautious managing and a terrible non-call on an offsides play that led to the second chelsea goal put in by kalou.

newcastle looked good up through the first half then began to dominate the game starting from about the 50th minute on... tied it up and stayed on the attack for a while. it really looked like they were about to score the go ahead goal at any minute... then around the 80th minute they decided to just fall back into a shell and it ended up costing them. i don't understand the decision at all. the goal that cost them was illegal and should not have counted but really they were begging for it by sitting back like that.

i do have a question... what the hell does pizzaro do? what would be a "strength" of pizzaro? has he ever been good before? surely he has... i mean for chelsea to go after him he has had to have done something at some point but every time i see him trot out there for chelsea he looks like total shyte.

january needs to hurry up and get here soon... very lucky to get out with a win today.

...btw, i just saw on fsc highlights that manu lost to west ham... damn... that's 3 league losses in a row to west ham. what is it about the hammers?

looks like arsenal has wrapped up a win @ everton... huge win for them.

[SangareeCrew]

I thought arsenal were also very lucky today......Everton looked like the better team in stretches. I don't know what has happened to Man U......when Ronaldo misses a PK you know you are cursed against west ham.

Liverpool can do themselves a HUGE favor by getting all 3 points against Sven City tomorrow. With Man U losing that helps to tighten things back up, but we all need Arsenal to drop some points in the league, and hopefully soon.

[bhall]

We got so lucky on the Kalou goal. A win is a win even if the ref gives the game to you.

I hope that January transfer window is the size of f'in Texas because we need it.

[mickeyrivers]

liverpool needs all 3 vs human rights fc tomorrow.

[mickeyrivers]

i know this isn't specifically related to the english f.a., but i didn't want to start a new thread just for this and most of the soccer fans read this thread anyway, so...

found a portugese article online about freddy adu, with translation at the bottom:


Adu is on the "team of the day"

http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/notici...83&div_id=1676 (http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=884883&div_id=1676)

Also I think this article is comparing him to Andy Warhol

Fredy Adu, «Pop Art»

Chamam-lhe a «Terra das Oportunidades». Mais do que um país, os Estados Unidos da América são um micro cosmos do Mundo, babilónia dos tempos modernos. Como a pop-art de Warhol espelhou. Marilyn, Brando, Elvis, Nixon e Mao. Todos, lado a lado com a comida enlatada, a sopa Campbell, as novas Giocondas, a cadeira eléctrica e os acidentes de trânsito, o banal, o poético e as flores. Qualquer tema é passível de ser assimilado, reduzido, ilustrado, colorido, multiplicado.
Em toda esta encenação nunca entrou o futebol, o soccer, um ser menor na sua dimensão europeia dentro da sociedade americana de caricaturas, insensível a lado multiétnico que o domina na «Grande Maça». Foi dele que emergiu dele um miúdo ganês que aos 18 anos já jogou três Mundiais Sub-20. Freddy Addu.
Muitos fizeram dele, quase desde o berço, um novo Pele. O próprio Pele entrou nesse jogo lunático. Mas, apesar disso, ninguém com alta patente futebolística europeia viu nele essa reencarnação mágica. Só poderia ser o país dos descobrimentos, claro, a fazê-lo. E o «kid» ganês rumou a Lisboa.
Para um espanhol gordo que «sale a ganar» nada disto o comove. O miúdo ainda não é um jogador de futebol, disse aos ver os primeiros treinos. Poderá vir a ser, mas ainda não é.
E, de repente, Adu entra em campo. Quase sempre quando a equipa está na cadeira eléctrica. Com o seu jogo simples (vê-se que nunca leu muitos livros de táctica) agarra nele como um miúdo num livro para colorir. A cada passo ou passe, estremece com o lado banal do jogo. E faz golos.
Não digo que se ainda fosse vivo, Warhol lhe fizesse um desenho, mas há algo nos seus gestos e olhares que me faz gostar dele. Quando tiver a certeza do que é, volto a escrever sobre isso. Até lá, sigam as suas pegadas. É o destino de Adu. Entre a «pop art» e uma bola de futebol.


TRANSLATION:
by Luís Freitas Lobo
They call it the “land of opportunity”. More than a country, the United States of America is a microcosm of the world, Babylon of the modern era. Like Warhol’s pop-art it glows. Marilyn, Brando, Elvis, Nixon, and Mao. All, side by side with canned food, Campbell’s soup, the new Giaconda’s, the electric chair and the traffic accidents, the banal, the poetic and the flowers. Every theme is fair game to be assimilated, reduced, illustrated, colored, multiplied.

In all of this scene football never entered, soccer, a minor inside of the American society of caricatures, insensitive to the multiethnic side that dominates in the “Great (Axel)” . From this emerged the tiny Ghanaian that at 18 has already played in three Under-20 World Cups. Freddy Adu.

Many declared him, almost from the cradle, the new Pele. Even Pele entered into this lunatic game. But, even still, nobody with a high European football patent saw in him this magical reincarnation. It could only be the discoverers (of football), of course, who could make him this. And the Ghanaian “kid” went on to Lisbon. None of this moves the fat Spaniard (José Antonio Camacho) that “only wants to win[not sure it’s in Spanish]”. Tiny still isn’t a football player, Camacho said after watching (Adu’s first trainings). He could turn into one, but he still isn’t (according to Camacho).

And, all of a sudden, Adu enters the field. Almost always when the team is in the electric chair. With his simple game (you can see that he never read a lot of books on tactics) he grabs hold of the game like a child with a coloring book. At each step or pass, he tremors with the banal side of the game. And marks goals.
Don’t say that if he were still alive, Warhol would make a picture of him, but there is still something in his gestures and look that makes me like him. When I have more certainty what it is, I’ll be back to write about it. Until then, follow his steps. It’s Adu’s destiny. Between pop art and a football.

he's doing some good things out there... still not getting the pt. apparently he is 3rd on the team in goals scored but 25th in minutes played, averaging about 1.5 goals per 90 min, wow!

[carolinathru&thru]

i know this isn't specifically related to the english f.a., but i didn't want to start a new thread just for this and most of the soccer fans read this thread anyway, so...

found a portugese article online about freddy adu, with translation at the bottom:



he's doing some good things out there... still not getting the pt. apparently he is 3rd on the team in goals scored but 25th in minutes played, averaging about 1.5 goals per 90 min, wow!

That really is an AMAZING statistic. I'm excited for Freddy. I hate he had to leave DC (even though he had a short stint at Salt Lake), but I'm still really happy that he is getting to play over there. Slowly, but surely, he has seen more playing time. Unfortunately, he's come into a few situations in his professional career in which he has had a coach with skeptical/resentful view of him. Nowak at DC, and now this guy in Portugal. But, as he continues to progress (remember, he's ONLY 18) he will see more playing time.....

I think a lot of people here in America who follow MLS closely or even from a distance were dissapointed with Freddy's performance here. But, this kid at the age of 14 had more pressure on him than most adults have ever had. Before Beckham, HE was supposed to be the guy that would draw fans to the MLS (which it did work on a smaller scale, IMO. Because Freddy is what got ME, not only into MLS, but soccer in general. A sport that everyone I knew hated, and a sport that I had mocked in the past). Believe it or not, I think Freddy is actually under LESS pressure over in Portugal than he was here (obviously this might change as he gets more pt, but still). I think having less focus on him has/will allow him to fully blossom as a player. Many people have already written him off as a dissappointment over here. But, I agree with the article. Don't write him off just yet.

[bhall]

Chelsea beat Fulham 2-1 earlier this morning. ManU is up 1-il to Birmingham City but look like shyte.

[bhall]

Liverpool drew Wigan 1-1 today AT Anfield. WTF????

[bhall]

I hope Christmas comes late for the Chelsea.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7627500

[bhall]

Massive FA Cup action this weekend.

I know Chelsea host Queens Park at the Bridge and Pompey are fixing to play Ipswich Town on FSC.

I bet this would be an awesome weekend to be in England and experience this much football.

[mickeyrivers]

That really is an AMAZING statistic. I'm excited for Freddy. I hate he had to leave DC (even though he had a short stint at Salt Lake), but I'm still really happy that he is getting to play over there. Slowly, but surely, he has seen more playing time. Unfortunately, he's come into a few situations in his professional career in which he has had a coach with skeptical/resentful view of him. Nowak at DC, and now this guy in Portugal. But, as he continues to progress (remember, he's ONLY 18) he will see more playing time.....

I think a lot of people here in America who follow MLS closely or even from a distance were dissapointed with Freddy's performance here. But, this kid at the age of 14 had more pressure on him than most adults have ever had. Before Beckham, HE was supposed to be the guy that would draw fans to the MLS (which it did work on a smaller scale, IMO. Because Freddy is what got ME, not only into MLS, but soccer in general. A sport that everyone I knew hated, and a sport that I had mocked in the past). Believe it or not, I think Freddy is actually under LESS pressure over in Portugal than he was here (obviously this might change as he gets more pt, but still). I think having less focus on him has/will allow him to fully blossom as a player. Many people have already written him off as a dissappointment over here. But, I agree with the article. Don't write him off just yet.

i agree with you... he is progressing nicely and yes he is under less pressure in portugal. why? because in portugal he is not the next pele. he is just a promising 18 y/o player and a sub. that has to be a load off his shoulders.

between him, altidore, michael bradley, and others, we will be something to deal with in int'l soccer going forward.

[mickeyrivers]

I hope Christmas comes late for the Chelsea.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7627500
that's going to help... the guy is a proven scorer in this league which we need.

i heard on world soccer daily that the asking price for berbatov is 31 mil... so in other words he's staying at spurs at least until next summer. no one is going to pay that.

i also heard wayne bridge could be going to liverpool on loan.

[SangareeCrew]

i also heard wayne bridge could be going to liverpool on loan.

interesting.:thumbsup:

[bhall]

Chelsea wins 1-nil over QPR, but the story of the day is Championship side Coventry beating the dog mess outta Blackburn 4-1. WTF???

[bhall]

Fugg!!!!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=496351&cc=5901

Hopefully we can get another bid in that those bastards will accept.

[bhall]

Chelsea topped Everton 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to move to the Carling Cup final where they will likely play the Gooners...AGAIN.

[mickeyrivers]

Chelsea topped Everton 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to move to the Carling Cup final where they will likely play the Gooners...AGAIN.
bring it on... maybe we can at least win some kind of hardware this year!

[bhall]

bring it on... maybe we can at least win some kind of hardware this year!


I take that back. They have a 2nd leg to play at Goodison Park before the final.

[bhall]

Sam Allardyce leaves the Toon after only 8 months in charge. Sucks for him.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7655150

[bhall]

Anelka is a done deal. This leads me to think Drgoba will be gone at seasons end. They signed him for 4 & 1/2 years.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7662768

[SNEEZ]

I think Drogba is outta here.

unfortunately.

I also think that Man Utd will be making s push for Berbatov...which with Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs and Tevez is...SCARY

[garnet812]

I think Drogba is outta here.

unfortunately.

I also think that Man Utd will be making s push for Berbatov...which with Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs and Tevez is...SCARY
The only thing I'll be mad about is that they all can't play at the same time. But goodness, I can't imagine us getting any better than we already are.

[woodscock]

:thumbsup:

[carolinathru&thru]

I think Drogba is outta here.


DC United anyone?

[mickeyrivers]

Anelka is a done deal. This leads me to think Drgoba will be gone at seasons end. They signed him for 4 & 1/2 years.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7662768

yeah, drogs is probably gone... really sucks but it's almost a certainty at this point. i just hope he doesn't take essien when him when he leaves.

oh well, on the bright side i think anelka is going to flourish at chelsea, especially with the way ballack is playing right now.

i don't know how much more chelsea is planning on doing this january, but i think a berbatov/anelka pairing in a 4-4-2 would work well if berbs lasts until the summer which i think he will. manu is not going to pay 30 million pounds for him imo. a midfield of malouda, ballack, essien, and joe cole with anelka and berbatov up front would be quite scary!

[bhall]

Fulham (aka Team America) is it again...

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7676994

[SNEEZ]

Fulham must have some SERIOUS financial interests in the US

[SNEEZ]

who thinks Essien departs with Drogba

[bhall]

who thinks Essien departs with Drogba


Nah. I think Essien will stay. He's a beast in midfield and they let him play there. I doubt he would leave a champiohsip-caliber team that lets him play where he wants for something else.


This is not mean to be racial in anyway, but Essien reminds me a of a silverback gorilla. His present is massive and his hits with the force of a silverback. In his tackles and fighting for the ball. I love his play on the field.

[SNEEZ]

I enjoy watchign Essien play and hope he stays.
I'm REALLY glad Terry wants to stay for good though. I'd HATE to lose him.

Anelka and Kalou...hmmm

[bhall]

I enjoy watchign Essien play and hope he stays.
I'm REALLY glad Terry wants to stay for good though. I'd HATE to lose him.

Anelka and Kalou...hmmm


Anelka has already said he can't wait to partner up front with Drogba. I would like to see how that would work out. Terry called Anelka the "complete centre-forward".

Drogba is most likely gone at seasons end. Kalou has improved tons since last season. I remember watching him last season and was like "WTF is he doin?". Now, he is making great runs and passes and his strikes are almost always on point. I'm beginning to like me some Kalou!!!

[SNEEZ]

Kalou and Anelka wil be fine. I think we need some YOUNG talented Backs to LEARN from Terry.

[bhall]

Kalou and Anelka wil be fine. I think we need some YOUNG talented Backs to LEARN from Terry.


What do you think about Carvalho? He's a hell of a back. He's such a presence even when Terry is gone.

[SNEEZ]

I like him, but its takes more than 2 to makeup a premiership quality team year in and out. constant rotation. hold onto the vets as long as possible and keep filtering in young talent to learn from and emulate teh vets. if teh youthful talent isn't what you 'd expected or liked, sell them to another lower tier team.

I'm immersing myself totally in mental and phsical world of futbol b/c my GOAL GOAL GOAL GOAL GOAL is to be a head coach somewhere, someday...The Bridge would be excellent, but whatever...

Strategems in futbol haven't changed much since inception. its been don't play and don't let them play and rely on fixed plays too much...this makes for low scoring and BORING games.

I want hih paced offensive shows. 5-3, 7-5 BIG TIME games with big time scored, let the players showcase their talents and skills!
but I digress.

he's excellent, but I'd like to see a youg...17-19 stud enter the ranks and start gaining experience.

[SNEEZ]

Chelsea has agreed to terms with Branislov Ivanovic from Lokomotiv!!!!!!

The Premier League club did not say how much it would pay, but British papers have speculated that Ivanovic would cost about $7.9 million.
Ivanovic is Chelsea's second signing of the January transfer window after France striker Nicolas Anelka, who joined from Bolton for $29.4 million.
Terry has played half of Chelsea's 11 Premier League matches this season and has been out of action since a 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Dec. 16, when he broke three bones in his foot.

THATS WHAT I'm TALKING ABOUT!!!

23-years old but still...althoght he plays middle back he s most comfortable at left back!

[bhall]

Chelsea has agreed to terms with Branislov Ivanovic from Lokomotiv!!!!!!

The Premier League club did not say how much it would pay, but British papers have speculated that Ivanovic would cost about $7.9 million.
Ivanovic is Chelsea's second signing of the January transfer window after France striker Nicolas Anelka, who joined from Bolton for $29.4 million.
Terry has played half of Chelsea's 11 Premier League matches this season and has been out of action since a 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Dec. 16, when he broke three bones in his foot.

THATS WHAT I'm TALKING ABOUT!!!

23-years old but still...althoght he plays middle back he s most comfortable at left back!


That's awesome. Chelsea catches hell for playing so defensively, but defense creates offense...and who is 4 points outta first in the Top Flight...CHELSEA!!!!!

[mickeyrivers]

What do you think about Carvalho? He's a hell of a back. He's such a presence even when Terry is gone.
he's a guy i would worry about going to reunite with mourinho when he takes his next job.

[carolinathru&thru]

Looks like Brian McBride is nearing a comeback from his dislocated knee:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=498707&cc=5901

[carolinathru&thru]

SWEET MOTHER OF PEARL!

Fulham is No Longer LIKE the US National Team. They ARE the US National Team.

Eddie Johnson to sign with Fulham.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2240978,00.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AneV8aVzQ1tdpT.PczXtcvUmw7YF?slug=ap-fulham-johnson&prov=ap&type=lgns

[bhall]

EJ will be better than Dempsey at Fulham. He is so fast and his footwork is stunning. He will be one of the best forwards in the EPL.

He is the future of American football.

[ClemU912]

I love it seeing all these Americans making the move over seas. Is this move 100% done or is he still waiting on a work permit or something.

[mickeyrivers]

EJ will be better than Dempsey at Fulham. He is so fast and his footwork is stunning. He will be one of the best forwards in the EPL.

He is the future of American football.
woah, hold your horses there... one of the best forwards in the epl? he's not even the best forward in mls. as a matter of fact, i would take jozy altidore over him and he's only 18!

i am just glad to see eddie johnson out of his comfort zone. i just hope it's not too late. i don't want to see him become another taylor twelman... promising young player who plateaus and never fulfills his early promise. going to england will be a good test for him. he had to get out of kansas city.

that said, i am going to be pulling hard for fulham the rest of the way. for the sake of american soccer i want them to stay up. i'm not worried about dempsey so much. if fulham gets relegated i'm pretty sure he'll be able to catch on somewhere... but bocanegra hasn't had the greatest year this year and mcbride is getting old and coming off a serious injury... if fulham goes down i'm not sure what happens with those guys.

back to johnson, this type of move could have the same type of affect going to mancity had on demarcus beasley. even though he struggled to adapt at first he is now a much better player for it and they love him at rangers now (unfortunately he is hurt right now).

[carolinathru&thru]

I love it seeing all these Americans making the move over seas. Is this move 100% done or is he still waiting on a work permit or something.

They haven't officially announced it yet. But, it seems like pretty much a done deal.

I'm sure he'll have to wait like three weeks on the friggin' work permit like Dempsey did, though. (I don't know why they make it so difficult to get one over there)

[bhall]

I hope Fulham can stay in the top flight. They pretty much suck right now.

[SNEEZ]

aren't they bottom of the table or very close?

[SNEEZ]

Portsmouth lands Diarra
Barton lands Keegan
Chelsea lands Anelka
Liverpool gets Skrtel
Villa gets Laursen

how gets the best of the deal?
and do any compare with Man Utd getting Tevez?!


BTW FYI Derby keeps Feilhaber...good for benny!

[SNEEZ]

Dempsey, Twellman, McBride, even good ol loveable Pope all let us down in terms of potential vs reality

even Donovan isn't up to snuff...

media spin...turns Beckham into the best soccer player of all time...whatta hoot

[SNEEZ]

RUMORS!!!

Cristiano Ronaldo to REAL Madrid for 45 million lbs

Gilberto, Berbatov and Huntelsaar to man utd...

scary thought

[bhall]

If Berbatov went to ManU, he would destroy defenses.



Sidenote, does anyone else dislike C. Ronaldo? I'm not denying his skills, but he seems to be a bit of a diving bee-otch.

[SNEEZ]

yeah he does takes some dive...but nothing like Tevez IMHO.

But you can not deny c ROnaldo is a superstar and I would not complain about him being on my team...unless he is as arrogant as some of those other Balkan players

[SNEEZ]

http://a712.g.akamai.net/7/712/225/v20061013eb/www.eastbay.com/images/products/zoom/019997_z.jpg

THEY CAME THEY CAME!!!

adidas Men's Predator Powerswerve TRX FG

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!

[bhall]

^^^^Nice!!

[SNEEZ]

had to get them I'm assisting Dr Connolly at ASU in a soccer class he has to see the training methods he used in Scotland(where he's from)

plus I'm assisting the coach of Westminster Prep. a top notch soccer school in GISA located in augusta

[bhall]

Sneez, do you prefer a lone striker or having two up-top in formation while playing??

I prefer the lone if you have a big, agile, quick striker who can handle the lone spot himself. Drop that second striker back in a more attacking-midfield position. It's hard to find that type of player.

Chelsea are able to when they have Drogba in the game.

[mickeyrivers]

Dempsey, Twellman, McBride, even good ol loveable Pope all let us down in terms of potential vs reality

even Donovan isn't up to snuff...

media spin...turns Beckham into the best soccer player of all time...whatta hoot
i disagree about mcbride and dempsey. mcbride was a stud for years in england and lead us to the 2nd round of the knockout stage of the 2002 world cup, our best finish ever. the guy is a us soccer legend.

dempsey is lighting it up at fulham this year, and he's only going to get better. i believe that by the time he is done he could be the best american non-goalie ever at least until adu or altidore supplants him.

twellman and pope, though... yeah... i like both those guys but they never turned out to be what everyone thought they would when they were younger, especially pope.

[carolinathru&thru]

i disagree about mcbride and dempsey. mcbride was a stud for years in england and lead us to the 2nd round of the knockout stage of the 2002 world cup, our best finish ever. the guy is a us soccer legend.

dempsey is lighting it up at fulham this year, and he's only going to get better. i believe that by the time he is done he could be the best american non-goalie ever at least until adu or altidore supplants him.
.

Took the words right out of my mouth. McBride is arguably the best player that Fulham have. Any English Fulham fan will tell you that. He has either shared or solely led the team in goals the best two years. He was great in MLS, for the USMNT (third all-time in goals), and in the EPL. Clint's also tearing it up in the EPL, scored the only goal for us in the last World Cup (though he's been somewhat inconsistent), and lit it up in MLS when he was here.

I would even disagree with Pope because he was a GREAT defender for us at the National level and was one of the league's best Defenders at DC for MANY years.

[mickeyrivers]

I would even disagree with Pope because he was a GREAT defender for us at the National level and was one of the league's best Defenders at DC for MANY years.
the reason i would call pope a disappointment is that he broke in big around the late 90's iirc, just in time for the '98 disaster of a world cup... and i just remember all the adidas ads surrounding him and he was supposed to usher in a new era of us soccer and be this great player and it just never happened. he had a good career, but never became the player he looked like he was going to become. at least that is my take on pope... with that said he is probably in anyones all-time mls 11.

[bhall]

Does anyone know if Fulham plans on having EJ on the roster/see playing time this saturday against Arsenal? I can't find anything on it.

If he does play, talk about baptism by fire.

[SNEEZ]

Sneez, do you prefer a lone striker or having two up-top in formation while playing??

I prefer the lone if you have a big, agile, quick striker who can handle the lone spot himself. Drop that second striker back in a more attacking-midfield position. It's hard to find that type of player.

Chelsea are able to when they have Drogba in the game.

I'm different. I hate 4-3-2, 4-4-1, 3-5-2 etc. I believe in: 1-3-3-3
1-Sweeper
3-LB, CB, RB
3-LDM, CAM, RDM
3-LAM, ST, RAM

I like sweepers. I sweaqr by having a great goalkeeper, a fast, tough and skillful player who can play Sweeper, and fullbacks with lots of endurance to push them to the mid-line when we're attacking I also allow them to yield the outside lanes to LDM & RDM so the middle is packed tight and the oputsides are limited. the outside strikers are my wings, and are more of an Attacking midfielder, they hang back around the corner of the 18 to either feed it into the ST or back to the CAM. the outside midflds ore Defending midfielders and player defense, so at the midline I have 5 defenders, and the sweeper midway between the 18 and the mid-arc with the keeper stanfing at the PK line. This eliminates threat of a "clear and score" offense from the other team and in all probability can control possession for 60-80%.

too many teams have a don't play, don't let them play attitude and rely on set pieces to score...screw that.

granted anyone that has one set scheme and formation for all games is an idiot and will struggle to win more than 5 games.

you must adapt and have adaptive players in order to be well rounded enough to win!

[mickeyrivers]

Does anyone know if Fulham plans on having EJ on the roster/see playing time this saturday against Arsenal? I can't find anything on it.

If he does play, talk about baptism by fire.
he's not on the roster... he's not even at the club yet, is he? fulham ended up signing a striker from watford. i'm not sure they're going after johnson anymore. (i mean they may well be but i'm just not sure).

btw, fulham getting waxed 2-0 at home by arsenal at the half right now.

[carolinathru&thru]

he's not on the roster... he's not even at the club yet, is he? fulham ended up signing a striker from watford. i'm not sure they're going after johnson anymore. (i mean they may well be but i'm just not sure).

btw, fulham getting waxed 2-0 at home by arsenal at the half right now.


They're still signing Johnson according to what they said at the MLS Superdraft yesterday. But it may be a month before he actually plays with the team (still trying to strike the right deal and trying to obtain a work permit)

[bhall]

Fulham got waxed, 3-nil to day by Arsenal, Chelsea beat Birmingham 1-nil, and ManU topped Reading to keep the title race hot.

[SNEEZ]

Kegans erturn to Newcastle Utd was shocked by a resoundingly pathetic offensive performane. o shots on goal and 4 off goal...bolton had 4 on goal at least.

Newcastle 0-0 Bolton


man what a great long day of futbol after football after football. No patriots talk, no clemens, no HGH, no vick, no nothing but great Premier football followed by an invigorating USA Sweden matchup thats should be a very entertaining matchup.

Bhall, whats your formation strategy and theory?

[bhall]

Bhall, whats your formation strategy and theory?


I usually like to play 2 up top with 1-2 attacking midfielders pushing up hard. I'm used to be hardcore attacking, but I had to play center back in one of my leagues and gained a new appreciation for a solid backline. 4 on the back can hold well with good size and speed.



Also, looks like the Yank owners are about to plunge Liverpool into financial turmoil. I've been reading the articles concerning the team and this looks like its coming to a head.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7704796


We think the world hates us now, let some Yanks destroy one the most storied clubs in the world...we'll never have another ally.

[SNEEZ]

On one hand
You don't buy what you can't sell.

on the other hand
you SHOULDN'T buy what you odn't appreciate or want

[SNEEZ]

so whos thinking about what?

Keegans "big splash turning to a big flop?"

should the african Cup be moved?!

[SNEEZ]

EJs work permit was approved and he is now with Fulham FC joining Brian McBride (who is recently back off injury into the first squad) Carlos Bocanegro and Clint Dempsey!

[SNEEZ]

Bradley assisted on the third goal, and then got on the scoresheet himself to cap Heerenveen’s win on Saturday. The three points push Heerenveen into 6th place, as they look to qualify for Europe next year. For Bradley, it was his twelfth goal on the season, and eighth in the Eredivisie.
4-1 over AZ Alkmaar
http://www.soep-r.nl/uploads/1200830365.gif (http://www.soep-r.nl/uploads/1200830365.gif)Michael's assist...
http://www.soep-r.nl/uploads/1200792409.gif (http://www.soep-r.nl/uploads/1200792409.gif)Michael's goal, Heerenveen's fourth...

[bhall]

Nice post, sneez. Bradley's a beast!!!

[bhall]

Champions League 2.0

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7730774/CONCACAF-to-launch-its-own-Champions-League

[carolinathru&thru]

Champions League 2.0

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7730774/CONCACAF-to-launch-its-own-Champions-League

It's basically just a re-tuning/replacement of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

But, I like the format of this better.

[ClemU912]

i won't lie, i'm looking forward to this. I've always wanted a larger pool of teams in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and now i've got it in the form of the CONCACAF Champions League.

[mickeyrivers]

who is the best non-goalie american player right now? dempsey? altidore? donovan? bradley?

no.

giuseppe rossi. the guy is a stud. scored for villareal over the weekend coming off an injury... 20 years old and a stud in la liga. i don't get it. why does he refuse to play for america? he's holding out for a chance to play for italy. he can play striker. he would walk into our starting lineup and turn us into a contender immediately. he can't get a game for italy. he's not going to as long as luca toni, gilardino, de rossi, totti, etc are on the squad... and as many italians are coming up through the youth squads... i know he loves his heritage, but come on man. you're american.

[SNEEZ]

if they don't want to play for America I don't want them here anyways.

[carolinathru&thru]

if they don't want to play for America I don't want them here anyways.

Ditto

[bhall]

Yep. If he isn't gonna play hard for the Red, White and Blue he can keep his arse where it's at.

[garnet812]

who is the best non-goalie american player right now? dempsey? altidore? donovan? bradley?

no.

giuseppe rossi. the guy is a stud. scored for villareal over the weekend coming off an injury... 20 years old and a stud in la liga. i don't get it. why does he refuse to play for america? he's holding out for a chance to play for italy. he can play striker. he would walk into our starting lineup and turn us into a contender immediately. he can't get a game for italy. he's not going to as long as luca toni, gilardino, de rossi, totti, etc are on the squad... and as many italians are coming up through the youth squads... i know he loves his heritage, but come on man. you're american.
Toni and Totti are both 30+ years old, De Rossi isn't even a striker. If he continues to develop at his current pace he'll break into the Italian squad sooner rather than later.

[mickeyrivers]

de rossi's played up front for italy before, no?

regardless... i wish he'd come to his senses and play for his own country. it's not like italy needs any help and everyone knows we need help up front.

[SangareeCrew]

Yep. If he isn't gonna play hard for the Red, White and Blue he can keep his arse where it's at.

:bow: Amen Brother!

[ClemU912]

On totally unrelated news, word on the street is Aston Villa is making a 4 million dollar move for Guzan.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=502902&cc=5901
Love to see this guy in the premiership.