American Clint Dempsey chipped his English club Fulham past Italian club Juventus and into the quarterfinals of the Europa League. The goals have been coming few and far between for Dempsey, but hopefully this will turn his luck in time for his club and country to benefit.
In last weekends FA Cup game between Championship side Crystal Palace and Premiership side Aston Villa, Darren Ambrose struck a 37 yard dinger to rival the best in the game. The goal pulled Palace ahead of Villa 2-1 only to be done in by a late controversial goal. The draw forces a replay on Wednesday 2/24/10 and over shadows a huge goal by Ambrose which American veteran keeper Brad Friedel really had no hope in stopping. The gaffer loved it too.
A rarity occurred this past Saturday. I had the day off, there were a slew of World Cup Qualifiers on TV and the internet and I was able to actually watch some. I prepared my day and planned to watch the dreaded Mexicans and the United States hopefully qualify of South Africa 2010. Before those games were played I was able to catch Portugal inch closer to a possible qualification playoff by defeating Hungary 3 nil. The Mexico-El Salvador game was televised first and of course Mexico managed to out play and out score the mighty team from El Salvador and secure a spot in South Africa. Mexico once again relied on the previous generation to get them through as Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Francisco Palencia provided the goals. At this point the day took a downturn. First, let me say soccer in the past decade has exploded here in the States. I’m talking the ability to watch games from England, Germany and Spain on a regular bases. With the internet and cable, one has the ability to watch any game, anytime. While I was watching the Mexico/El Salvador game, I also was keeping an eye on the Argentina/Peru game on my laptop, live. This is huge. I remember the days when the only soccer I saw on television was “Soccer Made in Germany” on PBS hosted by Toby Charles on Saturdays! Taking that into consideration, I was extremely pissed when I learned the USA/Honduras game was not on television, cable, satellite, or TV Pay Per View. The only feed available was a couple of extremely unreliable streams from Ustream and JustinTV. This was absolutely ridiculous. If the US won this game, they would stamp their ticket to South Africa and no US Network was carrying the game. Word later filtered down the Honduran Federation sold the rights to the game to some miniscule Closed Circuit company which only was providing the feed to businesses. OMG, what a disservice. So, I made the best of what I had. The feed was off more than on, I along with everyone else who was chasing the game on the internet saw small blocks of the game. The first half ended 0-0. By the time the feed came back on, the game was tied 1-1. I did see Conner Casey score his second from a masterful pass from Landon Donovan. The best play of the whole game. Donovan later scored his own on a free kick outside the box catching the Honduran keeper leaning the other direction. The feed at that point went off and on as Honduras pounded the US goal eventually scoring a chaotic goal which should not have counted because of an missed offside call. The Honduran Carlos Pavón missed two chances to tie with a failed penalty and point blank header. I didn’t see the end of the game but assumed the US held on. I had to wait a while to confirm the final on the internet, and didn’t even try to follow up on TV cause the lack of interest of the US media has pissed me off in the past. Moral of the story is, who saw this? I was able to watch Mexico secure their ticket, but I am embarrassed as an American I did not have that option as a follower of the US team. Its a real shame this has to be like this.
While in Oregon wine tasting, we took time out to drive into Portland to check out the USL Portland Timbers play. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Timbers back when I was in high school. I use to support my local San Diego Sockers, but I followed Portland when I could. I was jazzed earlier this year to learn the Portland Timbers had been allocated a spot in Major League Soccer in 2011. They will join the Seattle Sounders and the Vancouver White Caps to revive the Pacific Northwest rivalries of the old NASL. I have always known of the level of support the Timbers had, but when we had a chance to actually attend a game at PGE Park we were treated to a rare treat. The atmosphere was electric. Flags, banners, chants, smoke bombs, scarves and genuine knowledgeable football fans. It was great. Add to the fact Portland is top of the league and beat the visiting Miami F.C. 3-2 for their 23rd consecutive win. I later found an article USAToday ran on the Timbers and their fans. The article was written on the very game we attended. So, come 2011, I will don my Timbers shirt and support the new MLS team. Thats up until San Diego is awarded a franchise, if ever.
With Spain winning the European Cup 2008, thus shedding the underachiever monkey off their back it did bring a great injustice to light. With all the Spanish talent in La Liga as well as playing abroad, it has made picking the Spanish squad a difficult task. This past Sunday though, the Spanish playmaker applying his trade in the EPL at Everton F.C., Mikel Arteta proved one more time he either deserves a shot at the Spanish National team or he needs to become a English citizen. Disfrute!
Like most non-Red Devil worshippers, I agree Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the worlds best players but he is a fucking royal pain in the ass. Arrogance, crybaby and diving are some of most annoying traits, but you cannot deny his quality of play. His little skip hop run is faster than many defenders. His spread eagle stance before taking another magically placed free kick. His improved heading ability, until recently his weakness. All these are what sets this son of a bitch apart from many great footballers applying theirs trade in the top leagues in Europe. So a couple of days after Ronaldo got sent off in the Manchester Derby, he is awarded the Ballon d’Or. In the Derby, Ronaldo was sent off after second yellow card for handling the ball in the Man City box. Alex Ferguson and Ronaldo spent the next couple of days crying about it. I don’t deny his talent, but when this guy who dates models and draws fouls left and right gets his due, he whimpers and pouts and gets awards. He’s gotta a hell of a right foot too. Damn it.
This year I’ve got my moneys worth of my subscriptions to Setanta and Fox Soccer Channel. I’ve seen Barnsley, Tottenham and Chelsea turn in some real great performances. In what had to be the best game I’ve seen all year, my team from Serie A, Palermo dramatically defeated Juventus in a 3-2 Italian thriller. It was a game where Amauri from Palermo and Del Piero from Juventus each scored a brace, and where four players went down with serious head clashes. Amauri took on the Juventus defense by himself on his first goal and bent the esferico past Buffon. He top his effort with a world class header past Buffon and two Juventus defenders. Del Piero took the stage in the second half with two trash picker goals to bring Juventus even. The best goal of this dramatic encounter was an outstanding effort from Palermo’s number 18 Cassani, who in the 89th minute hit a shot from 26 meters to win the game. Buffon could only watch as the goal gave Palermo a well deserved win.
Last year it was then Sevilla F.C. and now Tottenham Hotspur Manager Juande Ramos who was hit and knocked out cold by a projectile bottle while playing at Real Betis’ Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium in Sevilla. Saturday 3/15/08 while visiting Real Betis, Athletic Bilbao’s keeper Armando was hit in the eye by another bottle from the stands. Real Betis fans immediately detained the non-season ticket holder and turned him over police. As he was escorted away, fellow Real Betis fans could be seen taking punches and slaps at the guilty outcast. Did I mention I’m a Betis fan. I recycle though.
but this is a great goal. Give credit where credit is due. Take a close look at the dip of the ball. It happened Wednesday 1/30/08 versus Portsmouth. There is no way Kaká is the legitmate 2007 World Player of Year.
The FA Cup games have not been all that exciting. Especially since Newcastle got turned inside out by Arsenal 3-0. Sunday’s game between Championship side Sheffield United and BPL team Manchester City was one for the record books. I partially watched the game and ended up missing the FA Cup Tournaments most memorable moment. Turns out, the visiting Man City fans brought their arsenal of lite blue and white balloons in force. So many balloons were released by the supporters, they eventually found their way onto the pitch. The ref was ask to stop the game to clear the stray balloons but he decided to continue, so far as to instruct the Man City keeper to clear the balloons while the game went on. What ensued was quite comical.
On a Champions League Tuesday when clashes such as Manchester United v. Sporting Lisbon, Stuttgart v. Rangers and Dynamo Kiev v. Roma were being contested, the news and worlds attention was on Sydney, Australia instead. Not really. Yes David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy supporting cast members took to the pitch in Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, home of world soccer power Sydney F.C.. The game had the usual Galaxy drama. The Galaxy outplayed. The Galaxy mucky mucks gasp as Beckham goes down clutching his ankle. The Galaxy’s star player ponders if its worth the money as he realizes the shit hole he signed up to play for. The Galaxy lose 5-3. The Galaxy’s GM Alexi Lalas is not fired. The Galaxy suck. Normal day at the office. Never the less, America’s Team and it’s star Spice Boy attracted 80,295 Beckham loving fans who got a taste of the best American soccer has to offer. The Los Angeles Galaxy. ¡Auxilio, auxilio, Mauricio Cienfuegos donde estas!
What not to do if you find yourself in a final of a regional club championship on the oppositions pitch. Leave the dramatics clips reminiscent of Maradona clutching the 1986 World Cup trophy up to Maradona on a neutral pitch. Ignore the memorable scenes of Romario and Dunga lifting the same trophy in Pasadena, California in USA 1994 while Al Gore and other mild mannered “soccer moms” and pops look curiously on. Today, Tunisia’s Etoile Sahel club traveled to Egyptian club Al-Ahly’s home pitch and had the balls enough to not only win second leg final football match 3-1, but also the African Champions League title. So what does the Tunisian club do? Climb the stands to collect the trophy and essentially shit on a stadium full of Egyptians. Hell, I’d of thrown bottles of piss on them as well.
Roman Ambramovich has done it. He has chived Chelsea Football Club by coming to an agreement with José Mourinho and thus ripping a whole in the fabric of the the club. Chelsea has 11 points after 6 games and Ambramovich wasn’t having it. Mourinho’s resignation has caused ill feeling in the club including a weeping Didier Drogba and adverse reactions from Frank Lampard and Captian John Terry. This all comes days before Chelsea’s date with ManU at Old Trafford. Don’t feel sorry for Mourinho though, before the day was over he had received an offer to manage Tottenham Hot Spur. I myself feel Mourinho should kick back and try his magic with the Portuguese National Team. Read the Open letter Chelsea F.C. posted on their web site later in the day 10/20/07.
The Chelsea FC plc board and everyone at the club has appreciated your patience and understanding during what has been a difficult time. It is only right that we explain the reasons behind José Mourinho leaving Chelsea and also recognise the immense contribution he has made to the club and to English football. Early this morning we announced that Chelsea and José Mourinho had agreed to part company by mutual consent. The key phrase here is that there was mutual agreement. José did not resign and he was not sacked. What is clear, though, is we had all reached a point where the relationship between the club and José had broken down. This was despite genuine attempts over several months by all parties to resolve certain differences. The reason the decision has been taken is that we believed the breakdown started to impact on the performance of the team and recent results supported this view. We did not want this to continue or affect the club further. Chelsea’s long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and the appointment of Avram Grant and Steve Clarke is aimed at continuing to achieve those goals. We also must pay tribute to the great job José did for Chelsea. He has been the most successful manager the club has known and he rightly deserves that place in our history. José has been instrumental in putting Chelsea where it is today, among the leading clubs in European and world football. He will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge, whether as the guest of Chelsea or as the manager of another club, and he will be given the reception and respect his position in our history deserves.
Chelsea Football Club
In what turned out to be a thriller in New York/New Jersey, 66,000 bandwagon fans came out to see their New York Red Bulls out last the Los Angeles Galaxy and David Beckham on Saturday 8/18/07. Becks didn’t score but he managed to assist on 2 of the Galaxy 4 goals. The Red Bulls however managed to score the fifth and final goal in the 88th minute. Besides the 9 goals, the back and forth action and the obvious lack of world class goal keeping the game showcased the draw the MLS had hoped when they signed Becks. It was Beckham’s first game on Field Turf and by evidence of his swollen ankle, Beckham will have to baby it if he really wants to fly over the pond and get some playing time in the England-Germany Friendly scheduled for Wednesday 8/22/07. Besides Beckham, the game did highlight the Red Bulls Jozy Altidore and Juan Pablo Angel. Both have proven to be quite a tandem. See the collection of goals scored during the memorable defenseless game.
Carlos Tevez is a Red Devil. Shit. I detest ManU, but Carlitos Tevez is one of my favorite players. So yesterday a week after all the mess with West Ham United was ironed out, Tevez finally suited up and played his first game for the evil side. He looked good. He was all over the right flank and with a precision pass while being covered by at least 4 Portsmouth defenders, he assisted on the first goal. I will not get myself to root for a side with the Metro Sexual Cristiano Ronaldo though. I will however keep it on the channel to see how the diminutive Gaucho does.
Also yesterday, David Beckham finally started a game for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Hondureño Carlos Pavon was fould by a D.C. United defender at the top of the box 24 minutes in and Becks lined up the ball like a surgeon setting up his patient. With one swing of his golden boot, Beckham validated his $250 Million dollar contract. Check it out below.
Hours remain before the start of the Barclays Premiere League. I’m really look to this season as being a break out season for my boys from the Toon, Newcastle United. After the resignation of Glenn Roeder, Newcaslte hired Sam “Big Sam” Allardyce to get the Magpies back on track. Big Sam as been busy cleaning house and acquiring fresh faces such as veterans Australian Mark Veduka from Middlesbrough, Alan Smith from Manchester United, Geremi from Chelsea, Joey Barton from Manchester City and Czech David Rozehnal from PSG. Hopefully these guys will provide the spark needed for Newcastle to play to the potential of the amount of talent on the squad including Nolberto Solano, Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Irishmen Shay Given and Damien Duff. Hopefully in 2007-08 Big Sam can help rally this group bring silverware for the underachiveing squad from the north of England. In addition to Newcastle, other teams have been active getting ready for the new season. Most notably, Argentine Carlito Tevez has finally left West Ham and has been cleared to play for and join Portuguses Nani at the dreaded Manchester United. Spanish wonder boy Fernando Torres signed for Liverpool and Florent Malouda from Lyons, Claudio Pizarro from Bayern Munich and Brazilian Alex from PSV Eindhoven will don Chelsea blue in 2007-08. My predictions for how it will end up are:
1) Liverpool will finish strong and take the title from…
2) ManU who sputter at the end with key players out
3) Chelsea will finish third in Mourinho’s last year at the Bridge
4) Arsenal will not recover from their first Henry-less season
5) The Toon! Newcastle United will be the most improved side of the year
At the other end Birmingham, Derby County and Wigan will fall into the Championship. Check out World Soccer Daily’s predictions and tune in after the games on Monday for good insight from at least Steven. Howard sucks cuz he’s ManU. Enjoy the season.
Incase you haven’t heard, Manchester United just signed nine year old Rhain Davis from an Australian youth team. What is so bizarre, yet incrediable is the manner how they found out about this kid. There is no denying the boy has skills. ManU became aware of the lad when the grandfather of the footballer who lives in England, sent ManU a link to a four minute video he had uploaded on YouTube. ManU saw the video, and in turned signed the youngster to their development Under 10 Team. Check out the kid below. BTW, I can’t stand ManU and that fucking song drives me nuts!
He’s been here for a couple of weeks now. Posh’s show was on TV, and we found out just how much his ankle has not healed. David Beckham visited the MLS All Star Game versus Celtic F.C. last night and was interviewed on ESPN. He eluded the his ankle injury lingering to a point to where he was hoping to get some playing time in the much anticipated exhibition against Chelsea F.C.. Well, guess what, Alexi Lalas, the former maned star of the 1994 USA World Cup and current President of the Los Angeles Galaxy announced this morning Becks will not play. Wow. What a let down. Just what MLS didn’t need. We’ll see how the British like American media will react to Becks missing the bus. One good thing has come out of Beckham’s first days. He loves In-N-Out! I’d buy this guy a Boddies just for that. Welcome to America Becks, but you gotta have a Carne Asada burrito from Roberto’s.
When you boil it down, Mexico did not play good throughout the Gold Cup. They played unorganized and besides Nery Castillo, no one had a good tournament. Now you wont hear from the Mexicans “outplayed”, “outclassed”, or “no match” in describing their loss to the U.S.A. They never admit the Americans are a better team. The Mexican press will say it, but the players will cry foul and blame everyone else but themselves, led by head wanker Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Truth be told, the U.S. at this point in history is better than Mexico. In the game, Castillo and keeper Osvaldo Sanchez were the best players for Mexico as they outplayed the U.S. in the first half. Mexico scored on a cross by Castillo who turned Oguchi Onyewu inside out. The second half was another story. The U.S. made adjustments by bringing in Ricardo Clark. Clark zested up the attack and had the Mexicans on their heels. The U.S. hit the post twice and Sanchez stopped two for sure goals. Landon “Landycakes” Donovan treated the world with his fucking wrist kissing ritual after Brian Ching was brought down in the box. The highlight of the game was Benny Feilhaber’s cracking volley goal from 25 yards out. The game ended and the U.S. was crowned Champs despite chants from the pro-Mexican crowd of “Mexico” and “Si Se Puede”. That’s so 1994. Face it Mexico, even though it hurts to hear it, the Gringos are better than you in Futból. “USA, USA, USA”.
