Just checking in with a few soccer odds and ends.
First, praise for ESPN for actually showing the two juicest final day Champions League matches live in America on ESPN2. Today (Tuesday) it's Barcelona v. Werder Bremenm, with the holders needing a win to avoid relegation into the UEFA Cup. Tomorrow (Wednesday) it's Manchester United v. Benfica, with United needing a point to advance into the knockout stages. I'm considering live-blogging one or both of these games, so if you're interested in that sort of thing, stop by at gametime and see if my lazy-ass decided to do it. Otherwise, if you're stuck, you can track them at Soccernet.
Personally I have no love for Barca and it would be fantastic to see Bremen get through -- which they can with a draw. Yet, the German's strength is attack so it's hard to figure they'll hunker down and let Ronaldinho run rampant. Then again, Barca clearly misses Eto'o and Messi, so it may be easier said than done. Bremen does have some quality defenders -- Nadlo and Per Mertesacker -- but these guys are more of the lumbering brute type center halfs. Can't see them advancing too far away from Tim Wiese's net. Don't forget, Wiese wears a pink shirt and committed this world-class gaffe in the knockout stage vs. Juventus last season.
Will they gain attonement?
Hard to say. This looks like a 3-2 game either way, and I'll go on record calling a Bremen upset eventhough in all likelihood Barca will probably romp 4-0. It's very very very hard to see them putting up a stinker at Camp Nou.
UPDATE -- Yeah, good thing I hedged my bets. It's 2-0 Barca after 15 minutes and I've flicked over to Blackburn/Charlton. There is only one word to describe Ronaldihno's freekick for the first goal -- cheeky. Squirted it right under the leaping Bremen wall. The second Barca goal, pretty academic. Guily to Gujohnsen behind the sleeping Bremen defense. Perhaps there is a reason Pierre Wome has already been on 11 teams AND was the guy that missed a penalty for Cameroon that kept them out of the 2006 World Cup. So much for upsets. If its any consolation, Bremen should be the strongest team in the UEFA Cup, but since they are such a thin squad -- and likely to sell off Miroslav Klose -- they'll probably focus their attention on winning the Bundesliga. Check back tomorrow for a possible ManU/Benfica liveblog.
I'll keep this short, Manchester United will not lose to Benfica. End of story.
Another English team coule be in some trouble -- Arsenal, depending how they fare at Porto. Everything is in play in that group. Maybe CSKA loses at Hamburg to save the Gooners bacon.
Also, couple midweek EPL game, so I'll make some quick picks. (Last week, 4-6.)
Tuesday: Charlton v. Blackburn -- Rovers are awful on the road. Charlton is pretty much awful everywhere. ... Charlton 1, Blackburn 1 ... Tottenham v. Middlesbrough -- Spurs' rectums are still sore from Arsenal, but 'Boro probably won't put up much on an effort here after Saturday's tough-luck loss to ManU. .. Spurs 2, 'Boro 1
Wednesday: Newcastle v. Reading -- Reading is on a big-time roll and hasn't conceeded a goal in something like over 400 minutes. Considering Newcastle's striking options, that streak should continue. Newcastle 0, Reading 1 ... West Ham United v. Wigan Athletic -- Umm....yeah... West Ham 1, Wigan 0
In closing, enjoy this goal. Top notch, from a middling EPL player.
Oh right one more thing. Everyone's favorite American soccer writer -- Jamie Trecker, of Fox Sports is breaking the news that Klinsmann is the next USMNT boss. The only reason I mention this is that the ESPN2 botton line actually posted that "Fox Sports is reporting..." which I found mildly shocking. Good to see Trecker is still finding ways to bash Bruce Arena. Give it a rest already.
First, praise for ESPN for actually showing the two juicest final day Champions League matches live in America on ESPN2. Today (Tuesday) it's Barcelona v. Werder Bremenm, with the holders needing a win to avoid relegation into the UEFA Cup. Tomorrow (Wednesday) it's Manchester United v. Benfica, with United needing a point to advance into the knockout stages. I'm considering live-blogging one or both of these games, so if you're interested in that sort of thing, stop by at gametime and see if my lazy-ass decided to do it. Otherwise, if you're stuck, you can track them at Soccernet.
Personally I have no love for Barca and it would be fantastic to see Bremen get through -- which they can with a draw. Yet, the German's strength is attack so it's hard to figure they'll hunker down and let Ronaldinho run rampant. Then again, Barca clearly misses Eto'o and Messi, so it may be easier said than done. Bremen does have some quality defenders -- Nadlo and Per Mertesacker -- but these guys are more of the lumbering brute type center halfs. Can't see them advancing too far away from Tim Wiese's net. Don't forget, Wiese wears a pink shirt and committed this world-class gaffe in the knockout stage vs. Juventus last season.
Will they gain attonement?
Hard to say. This looks like a 3-2 game either way, and I'll go on record calling a Bremen upset eventhough in all likelihood Barca will probably romp 4-0. It's very very very hard to see them putting up a stinker at Camp Nou.
UPDATE -- Yeah, good thing I hedged my bets. It's 2-0 Barca after 15 minutes and I've flicked over to Blackburn/Charlton. There is only one word to describe Ronaldihno's freekick for the first goal -- cheeky. Squirted it right under the leaping Bremen wall. The second Barca goal, pretty academic. Guily to Gujohnsen behind the sleeping Bremen defense. Perhaps there is a reason Pierre Wome has already been on 11 teams AND was the guy that missed a penalty for Cameroon that kept them out of the 2006 World Cup. So much for upsets. If its any consolation, Bremen should be the strongest team in the UEFA Cup, but since they are such a thin squad -- and likely to sell off Miroslav Klose -- they'll probably focus their attention on winning the Bundesliga. Check back tomorrow for a possible ManU/Benfica liveblog.
I'll keep this short, Manchester United will not lose to Benfica. End of story.
Another English team coule be in some trouble -- Arsenal, depending how they fare at Porto. Everything is in play in that group. Maybe CSKA loses at Hamburg to save the Gooners bacon.
Also, couple midweek EPL game, so I'll make some quick picks. (Last week, 4-6.)
Tuesday: Charlton v. Blackburn -- Rovers are awful on the road. Charlton is pretty much awful everywhere. ... Charlton 1, Blackburn 1 ... Tottenham v. Middlesbrough -- Spurs' rectums are still sore from Arsenal, but 'Boro probably won't put up much on an effort here after Saturday's tough-luck loss to ManU. .. Spurs 2, 'Boro 1
Wednesday: Newcastle v. Reading -- Reading is on a big-time roll and hasn't conceeded a goal in something like over 400 minutes. Considering Newcastle's striking options, that streak should continue. Newcastle 0, Reading 1 ... West Ham United v. Wigan Athletic -- Umm....yeah... West Ham 1, Wigan 0
In closing, enjoy this goal. Top notch, from a middling EPL player.
Oh right one more thing. Everyone's favorite American soccer writer -- Jamie Trecker, of Fox Sports is breaking the news that Klinsmann is the next USMNT boss. The only reason I mention this is that the ESPN2 botton line actually posted that "Fox Sports is reporting..." which I found mildly shocking. Good to see Trecker is still finding ways to bash Bruce Arena. Give it a rest already.
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