Memo to the programmers at Fox Soccer Channel -- put Tottenham on each weekend.
It's that simple. Every game Spurs play turns into an absolute thrill ride.
Sunday we all saw it again in their shocking 3-2 loss at home to Birmingham City, the first game mind you under Alex McLeish for the visitors.
Falling behind 1-0, Spurs rally behind Robbie Keane to get up 2-1 in the second half only to be undone by a pair of awesome goals on individual displays from Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson.
Again, the same old story for Spurs. No defense. None. (Why not resort to some Wile E. Coyote tactics and install some trapdoors and such in front of goal. It couldn't be much worse?)
It'll probably happen in a month when the transfer window opens, but it's time to tear it down, completely. Sell everything that isn't bolted down other than Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone. In its current incarnation it simply isn't going to work.
For some reason this analogy has been kicking around my head as to Spurs and Arsenal. Spurs are like Microsoft's Zune media player. They can pump as much money and marketing into the thing, but it'll never, ever be the iPod -- the Arsenal, if you will of North London.
In the interim, enjoy the rollercoaster. It's always fun, even if it makes Steve Nash cry.
On target, again -- Speaking of Arsenal, are they ever going to lose? Seriously?
Down 0-1 at Villa Park was hardly reason for concern for Arsene's boys.
Though the Gunners overall unbeaten string was snapped by Sevilla in a meaningless Champions League game during the midweek, is Arsenal is a pretty good bet to finish the 2007 calendar season without a loss in the league?
Witness the upcoming fixture list:
Wednesday: at Newcastle
Sunday: at Middlesbrough
Dec. 16: v. Chelsea
Dec. 22: v. Spurs
Dec. 26: at Portsmouth
Dec. 29: at Everton
It starts soft but gets rather challenging. It might take until the trip to Fratton Park against a slew of ex-Gunners to end the run.
For those keeping track at home, the fixtures for Manchester United to close out the year are: v. Derby; at Liverpool; v. Everton; at Sunderland; at West Ham.
No. 1 with a bullet -- Better blast? Larsson's 92nd minute winner for Brum or Mathieu Flamini's leveler against Villa? I'll go with the Danish dy-no-mite! Then again, David Bentley's worm-burner was sick in its own right. (Not to beat a thoroughly dead and bloated horse, but why didn't the Blackburn standout get any consideration for England? Just because he skipped that U-23 game? Enjoy your summer.)
Group della Morte So much for my theory of Romania surprising at Euro 2008. The Lions of Carpathians were drawn with the Netherlands, France and Italy in Group C. This will simply be must see television. Only two get through, so I'll stick with Romania (my heart pick) and France (my head pick).
All thiscould will change in the coming months.
Other groups (advance guesses in bold, don't hold me to it):
Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey -- Nearly as tough as Group C, seriously. Usually you give the host nation at advantage, but I'm guessing they'll be as many Turks at St. Jakob Park in Basel on June 11 as Swiss nationals. Both the Czechs and Portuguese enter as tournament hopefuls. This one should be fun.
Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland -- Call this one your WWI/Great War Special. Germany are instantly, in my mind, tournament favorites playing essentially on home soil in Austria...or at least it once was. (Anschluss anyone?) Croatia is taking bows for knocking off England, but my thought is up-and-coming Poland in its debut in the competition becomes the surprise team.
Group D: Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia -- Consider this the most unpredictable. How good are the holders Greece? Same for Russia? Can you ever count on Spain to make it easy? Sweden, not flashy but usually gets through group stages.
Housekeeping: I'll be doing some sort of Euro 2008 preview as the event approaches. The tough part will be coming up with an idea to keep it fresh since the new Futurama DVD stole all my good Charles de Gaulle jokes. Any contributions are welcome, as are suggestions.
Overall, the way these groups broke I'm infinitely more excited about the tournament than I was 24 hours ago.
Get me a Scotch, make a double -- If you wondered why on the Friday preview post I omitted anything about DaMarcus Beasley's knee surgery, well it's because it was frankly way too depressing to think about. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but 2008 seemed prime to be the year DMB could have turned the USMNT into his own. Now, facing a lengthy time on a shelf, who knows?
One big knock on the pacey left footer is his frailty.
It's unfortunate his deputy (at least in theory) on the USMNT on the left has bones of glass himself -- Bobby Convey.
Beasley will be out a couple months, ruling him out for at least the first round of CONCACAF qualifiers.
Coach Bob Bradley might have to rethink his tactics and formation some.
Christ, who would have thought Eddie Lewis might still be useful?
In case you weren't paying attention -- Werder Bremen has crept within a point of Bayern in the Bundesliga.
PL Fantasy teams of the week -- Three, count 'em three teams hit for 73 points this week. The common denominator -- Steven Gerrard. Honored in this spot are: John Knapp's NancyBoys; Jason Freitag's Raketemensch FC; and drum roll, the best name...ever C B's Flux Capacitors.
1.21 gigawatts? 1.21 gigawatts? Great Scott!
Adios.
It's that simple. Every game Spurs play turns into an absolute thrill ride.
Sunday we all saw it again in their shocking 3-2 loss at home to Birmingham City, the first game mind you under Alex McLeish for the visitors.
Falling behind 1-0, Spurs rally behind Robbie Keane to get up 2-1 in the second half only to be undone by a pair of awesome goals on individual displays from Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson.
Again, the same old story for Spurs. No defense. None. (Why not resort to some Wile E. Coyote tactics and install some trapdoors and such in front of goal. It couldn't be much worse?)
It'll probably happen in a month when the transfer window opens, but it's time to tear it down, completely. Sell everything that isn't bolted down other than Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone. In its current incarnation it simply isn't going to work.
For some reason this analogy has been kicking around my head as to Spurs and Arsenal. Spurs are like Microsoft's Zune media player. They can pump as much money and marketing into the thing, but it'll never, ever be the iPod -- the Arsenal, if you will of North London.
In the interim, enjoy the rollercoaster. It's always fun, even if it makes Steve Nash cry.
On target, again -- Speaking of Arsenal, are they ever going to lose? Seriously?
Down 0-1 at Villa Park was hardly reason for concern for Arsene's boys.
Though the Gunners overall unbeaten string was snapped by Sevilla in a meaningless Champions League game during the midweek, is Arsenal is a pretty good bet to finish the 2007 calendar season without a loss in the league?
Witness the upcoming fixture list:
Wednesday: at Newcastle
Sunday: at Middlesbrough
Dec. 16: v. Chelsea
Dec. 22: v. Spurs
Dec. 26: at Portsmouth
Dec. 29: at Everton
It starts soft but gets rather challenging. It might take until the trip to Fratton Park against a slew of ex-Gunners to end the run.
For those keeping track at home, the fixtures for Manchester United to close out the year are: v. Derby; at Liverpool; v. Everton; at Sunderland; at West Ham.
No. 1 with a bullet -- Better blast? Larsson's 92nd minute winner for Brum or Mathieu Flamini's leveler against Villa? I'll go with the Danish dy-no-mite! Then again, David Bentley's worm-burner was sick in its own right. (Not to beat a thoroughly dead and bloated horse, but why didn't the Blackburn standout get any consideration for England? Just because he skipped that U-23 game? Enjoy your summer.)
Group della Morte So much for my theory of Romania surprising at Euro 2008. The Lions of Carpathians were drawn with the Netherlands, France and Italy in Group C. This will simply be must see television. Only two get through, so I'll stick with Romania (my heart pick) and France (my head pick).
All this
Other groups (advance guesses in bold, don't hold me to it):
Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey -- Nearly as tough as Group C, seriously. Usually you give the host nation at advantage, but I'm guessing they'll be as many Turks at St. Jakob Park in Basel on June 11 as Swiss nationals. Both the Czechs and Portuguese enter as tournament hopefuls. This one should be fun.
Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland -- Call this one your WWI/Great War Special. Germany are instantly, in my mind, tournament favorites playing essentially on home soil in Austria...or at least it once was. (Anschluss anyone?) Croatia is taking bows for knocking off England, but my thought is up-and-coming Poland in its debut in the competition becomes the surprise team.
Group D: Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia -- Consider this the most unpredictable. How good are the holders Greece? Same for Russia? Can you ever count on Spain to make it easy? Sweden, not flashy but usually gets through group stages.
Housekeeping: I'll be doing some sort of Euro 2008 preview as the event approaches. The tough part will be coming up with an idea to keep it fresh since the new Futurama DVD stole all my good Charles de Gaulle jokes. Any contributions are welcome, as are suggestions.
Overall, the way these groups broke I'm infinitely more excited about the tournament than I was 24 hours ago.
Get me a Scotch, make a double -- If you wondered why on the Friday preview post I omitted anything about DaMarcus Beasley's knee surgery, well it's because it was frankly way too depressing to think about. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but 2008 seemed prime to be the year DMB could have turned the USMNT into his own. Now, facing a lengthy time on a shelf, who knows?
One big knock on the pacey left footer is his frailty.
It's unfortunate his deputy (at least in theory) on the USMNT on the left has bones of glass himself -- Bobby Convey.
Beasley will be out a couple months, ruling him out for at least the first round of CONCACAF qualifiers.
Coach Bob Bradley might have to rethink his tactics and formation some.
Christ, who would have thought Eddie Lewis might still be useful?
In case you weren't paying attention -- Werder Bremen has crept within a point of Bayern in the Bundesliga.
PL Fantasy teams of the week -- Three, count 'em three teams hit for 73 points this week. The common denominator -- Steven Gerrard. Honored in this spot are: John Knapp's NancyBoys; Jason Freitag's Raketemensch FC; and drum roll, the best name...ever C B's Flux Capacitors.
1.21 gigawatts? 1.21 gigawatts? Great Scott!
Adios.
Labels: DaMarcus Beasley, Premier League, Soccer
As a Spurs supporter, I'd welcome them being on FSC every weekend, although I don't know how much longer I can take this. Disagree with your opinion of blowing the whole team up, however. Don't know how we're going to get much better than Berbs and Keane up top, and Bent is an excellent substitute. Selling Defoe (almost expired contract) for defense makes sense, however. Also, the team has to get stronger in the midfield. You can tell that, while they finished in 5th last year, they have never recovered from losing Carrick two years ago. I was against that transfer then, and I am even more against it now.
As for my Euro predictions, I am higher on Greece than most, but can't argue w/ your choices. As always, a very challenging tournament.
>>> Christ, who would have thought Eddie Lewis might still be useful?
It seems like Bob Bradley did, which is probably why he's been calling him lately to the dismay of nats fans everywhere (myself included). I guess I may have to call that foresight.
A good friend of mine, who is an Arsenal fan, said the same thing to me on Sunday ... put Spurs on tv every week. Their games are awesome.
Not so much for a Spurs fan though.