Rafa Benitez.
Even if you follow the Premier League with the most passing of interests, chances are you have an opinion on the goatee-d Spanish coach of Liverpool, who has seemingly been at the hot seat at Anfield since before the world knew who Hannah Montana was.
Just the other night I was chatting with a friend over XBox Live during a game of "FIFA 10" (shameless plug, review/thoughts coming Tuesday) and Benitez's name came up and even without prompting he mentioned how he can't stand him.
Maybe the heat is off Benitez a little bit following Sunday's 2-0 Liverpool win at home over Manchester United. Now the Red are "only" six points off the pace of first-place Chelsea, as opposed to seven or eight.
Yet the goodwill toward Benitez -- mainly thanks to, depending how you want to look at it a) a moment of brilliance from a less-than-100 percent Fernando Torres or b) Rio Ferdinand's continued slide into the "Bramble Zone" -- probably only lasts a couple of days, depending how much stock you put in Wednesday's Carling Cup match against the Arsenal pseudo-reserves. If it lasts that long it probably won't extend past next week's match at Craven Cottage or the following week's trip to central France for a Champions League match with Lyon.
I'd be shocked if in a week or two, we're right back to where we were prior to Sunday's game. Excuse me if I don't get all warm and fuzzy about Liverpool, because frankly we've seen this charade time and time again. To Benitez and the squad's credit, they usually tend to rise to the occasion against the bigger teams and in the big moments, yet in the end there are simply too many dropped points against the midtable teams and also-rans.
Admittedly, I've been wrong before -- looooooads of times. Perhaps this is the year that Liverpool finally breaks through its two-decade league hoodoo. It could happen.
One thing I will say positive toward the Reds, any reports of their demise in the Champions League is premature. Sure they're in third place, but only three points behind Fiorentina for second-pace with three matches to go. Not all that dire.
To me, though, Sunday's result by the Reds is a temporary reprieve. It's like playing Tetris toward a higher level. The pieces are flying in, you're doing your best to clear them, even though you realize eventually its going to catch up with you. Sunday was Liverpool clearing away a few lines and letting off the immediate pressure on Rafa. But just watch, as I said before, it'll creep back, probably sooner as opposed to later.
All that said, the underlying issue continues to puzzle me -- why do people tend to hate Rafa Benitez?
He doesn't openly mock or taunt the opponent like Mourinho in his heyday.
He doesn't exactly engage in Sir Alex Ferguson mindgames.
He, to my knowledge, has never killed anyone or done anything else untoward like that.
To my best guess, he just looks so damn smug on the touchline, that he consistently thinks he's the smartest man in the ground at all times. It's his way or the highway, which isn't a brand new style of management, but infuriating when you don't win the trophy all the fans want -- the league.
You can point to his extreme hit-or-miss record in the transfer market, which overall is not as terrible as it might seem. Yes, the revolving door second-striker scenario, highlighted by Robbie Keane was bad, but overall plucking the likes of Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoung, Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger, etc. probably outweigh the bad, if only because Rafa has made so many damned transfers.
No matter what, outside of his failure to finish atop the Premier League and stop Liverpool's two-decade long drought, there isn't a concrete, tangible reason to loathe Benitez.
For some Liverpool supporters, Benitez will get a lifetime pass for the Miracle in Istanbul, whether he actually is worthy of the credit for the win in the 2005 Champions League Final or if he's simply lived off Steven Gerrard's coattails is open to debate.
It is remarkable, for a guy who's jobs been in "question" for the better part of two years -- or at least since the American ownership took over -- that he's stuck around. Club football manager rates in just above elephant wrangler in terms of job safety.
Maybe Sunday kickstarts a special run for Liverpool, maybe it's another false start.
However it plays out, with Liverpool's ownership in a state of flux, the black clouds will never be too far out of range for Rafa.
In the end, that just might be the normalcy we've been searching for a quarter-way through the season -- no matter what, at the slightest wobble Benitez's head inches closer to the axe blade, even if it never ends up falling.
That, and that Liverpool will inevitably fall short once again in May.
A thought on Manchester United:
Not trying to break any new ground. If you read this every week you know I don't think the Red Devils are all that special this season.
Losing to Liverpool only highlights this. In fact, Manchester United were spotty vs. the 'Big Four' last season, and I don't see its record improving this year. This will only spell trouble as the season progresses.
Last season in six matches vs. Liverpool, Cheslea and Arsenal, Manchester United went 1-2-3, the only with vs. Chelsea in January. Yes, Manchester United did beat Arsenal already this year. Again, last year, Manchester United made its bread vs. the chafe of the league, with the squad not as good, they could struggle to keep up.
Manchester United does get a some nice rebound bounce-back "action" with Blackburn next weekend, before going to the Bridge on Nov. 8.
The fact, down a goal and 25-odd minutes still to play, the best United could muster was Luis Valencia hitting the post from a sheer angle is pretty sad.
Expecting Rooney to pull the wonder-goal out of his back pocket every match isn't the soundest strategy, well, unless you're playing "FIFA 10" online.
And, the Ferdinand/Nemanja Vidic pairing went from being 1980s Hall & Oates, to 1990s Hall & Oates seemingly overnight.
Twitter-gate
Maybe you heard about this, maybe you didn't.
Here's the Cliffs Notes version, Jozy Altidore was out of the Hull City lineup. At first he twittered an apology for being late. Then, mysteriously, the apology was deleted.
Later, Hull manager Phil Brown responsded and he's not chalking it up to a 19-year-old being a 19-year-old. "It's going to cost him a lot of money, unfortunately. That for me is information that stays in house. The reason he wasn't on the bench was our business."
Ouch.
To say Jozy is in the doghouse might be an understatement. How about the outhouse?
As it currently stands, this Jozy thing isn't looking good. He was already in a fight for a place in the starting lineup, and that was before Hull's season to a left turn at the crapper. Now, he'll be lucky to find some time in Cup duty.
Not to sound crankier than usual, but perhaps Altidore ought to put down the Twitter and focus on playing. It'd be a shame to waste so much god-given talent.
And if Altidore doesn't care that a legion of, quite frankly, possibly insane people like myself are pinning a mountain of unrealistic expectations on him come June 2010, so be it, he can chose how he wants to live his life.
On the other hand, there is the outside chance this incident serves as the proverbial wake up call and forces Altidore to work even harder. It's cliched, but nobody is going to give him a place in the starting XI. He has to earn it and show he's worthy of a start. Put up, or shut up. Pass. Fail.
That's the way she goes.
The only upside, at least if you're a U.S. fan, is that Jozy looked pretty good in spots at June's Confederations Cup, coming off a season of sporadic play and injuries in Spain. So maybe, even with spotty playing time, Altidore can make something happen in 2010. At this point, the U.S. doesn't have any other options. Just because he comes off a sporadic season at Hull doesn't 100 percent equal a poor World Cup.
The hits just keep a'coming for American players. Ugh.
At least Clint Dempsey scored the equalizer for Fulham in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Hammer into Anvil
Sam Allardyce called Blackburn's second half performance in a 5-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge "pathetic." Thanks for the honesty, Big Sam, because nobody is going to argue with you.
As I said last week, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates are the two home grounds right now where the opponents legs turn into pudding, for Rovers I think it was fig. If there was ever a match where the option to throw in the towel was allowed, this was it.
At least we did get to see a trademarked rocket from Michael Essien that not even a robot with Lev Yashin's brain implanted inside of it could have stopped.
The collective lack of any fire by Blackburn almost made the effort by the Tennesse Titans in their 59 shellacking by the New England Patriots seem inspired by comparison.
Is there any surprise that was pretty much the only game I picked correct on Friday? (2-and-8 weekend? Ew, bogey.)
Double surprise of the weekend:
After the Liverpool/Manchester United match I needed to hit Dunkin' Donuts for a coffee. It was going to be a long day and I had to work in the office that night.
I left my house just as the Arsenal/West Ham game started. I got back with 16 minutes transpired. I was floored it was still 0-0, of course seconds later Robert Green makes a mistake and Robin van Persie taps in to open the floodgates...or so it appeared.
I then made the decision to flip over to Vikings/Packers and start writing. Think I was safe to do so.
Then I click on a site to see the score and it's 2-1. And then I finally decide to tune back in and its 2-2.
Just when you thought it was safe to trust Arsenal. I don't get it, this result floored me. Those could end up being two huge dropped points for the Gunners, who failed to keep the pace with Chelsea, still having a game in hand.
Credit to West Ham, which could have rolled over down two goals at the half, but fought back, but this is more of a stunner for Arsenal, because now all the old doubts creep back into the picture. Unreal.
Duds of the week:
Just when we thought there were close to eight legit teams in the league, all this happens:
* Aston Villa concedes a late penalty and draws Wolves 1-1.
* Spurs get stunned by a nice shot by Glen Whelan and Stoke 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
* Sunderland gets picked off 2-1 away to Birmingham.
* Manchester City plays to a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham.
So yeah, maybe this means these teams aren't ready to make the leap forward, or it means there is less separation than I thought. Or, another theory, the only real "stinkers" right now are Portsmouth, Hull, West Ham and possibly Blackburn.
Other stuff:
Time for another hat tip to part-time ESPN studio pundit Roberto Martinez and Wigan. The Latics ended Burnley's perfect home record with a 3-1 win Saturday, behind a brace from Hugo Rolledgea. To think, Steve Bruce plucked this guy out of the Mexican league. I used this metaphor a while back, but it's true. Wigan really are George Costanza at Play Now Sports, like "weed in Hitler's bunker." ... Jonathan Woodgate got hurt again for Spurs. Yeah, I'm stunned too. ... Weird situation when Aaron Lennon pulled himself out of the game, as Spurs ended with 10. He was still the Setanta commentator's man-of-the-match. Go figure. ... Birmingham City probably won't lead the league in anything, except highest amount of tattoos per player. ... Underrated player of the weekend, Stoke backup keeper Steve Simonsen, who made numerous fine saves to deny Spurs. ... How about that weather during Birmingham/Sunderland. Sunny and torrential rain at the same time? What's next? Dogs and Cats living together? ... Just saw an ad for the Champions League during a FOX NFL game. Never saw that kind of synergy with ESPN.
Fantasy Team O' the Week:
Top spot this week with 77 point its Michael Goldenberg's Черноморец pulling a Rubin Kazan-like performance thanks to Frank Lampard's 28 points and nine apiece from Abdoulaye Faye and Carlton cole.
One Other Thing:
Take my recommendations for what they're worth, but I can't say enough good things about FX's 'Sons of Anarchy.' I can't believe I slept on this show and just starting catching up with Season 1 through Blu Ray on Netflix, if you have such a player, you're doing a disservice not watching because it looks incredible if you have a nice set up. On top of that, the show is downright awesome, especially if you liked "The Shield", which creator Kurt Stutter was a major writer for during its seven-year run. (At some point I may have to write about 'The Shield', because it's largely ignored in the conversation of great shows, and the trials and tribulations of Vic Mackey was most certainly great television.)
Anyway, my highest compliment to "Sons" is that I never once thought Katey Sagal = Peg Bundy.
Up next:
Quiet week, unless you're a Carling Cup guy. Next week, North London Derby.
Even if you follow the Premier League with the most passing of interests, chances are you have an opinion on the goatee-d Spanish coach of Liverpool, who has seemingly been at the hot seat at Anfield since before the world knew who Hannah Montana was.
Just the other night I was chatting with a friend over XBox Live during a game of "FIFA 10" (shameless plug, review/thoughts coming Tuesday) and Benitez's name came up and even without prompting he mentioned how he can't stand him.
Maybe the heat is off Benitez a little bit following Sunday's 2-0 Liverpool win at home over Manchester United. Now the Red are "only" six points off the pace of first-place Chelsea, as opposed to seven or eight.
Yet the goodwill toward Benitez -- mainly thanks to, depending how you want to look at it a) a moment of brilliance from a less-than-100 percent Fernando Torres or b) Rio Ferdinand's continued slide into the "Bramble Zone" -- probably only lasts a couple of days, depending how much stock you put in Wednesday's Carling Cup match against the Arsenal pseudo-reserves. If it lasts that long it probably won't extend past next week's match at Craven Cottage or the following week's trip to central France for a Champions League match with Lyon.
I'd be shocked if in a week or two, we're right back to where we were prior to Sunday's game. Excuse me if I don't get all warm and fuzzy about Liverpool, because frankly we've seen this charade time and time again. To Benitez and the squad's credit, they usually tend to rise to the occasion against the bigger teams and in the big moments, yet in the end there are simply too many dropped points against the midtable teams and also-rans.
Admittedly, I've been wrong before -- looooooads of times. Perhaps this is the year that Liverpool finally breaks through its two-decade league hoodoo. It could happen.
One thing I will say positive toward the Reds, any reports of their demise in the Champions League is premature. Sure they're in third place, but only three points behind Fiorentina for second-pace with three matches to go. Not all that dire.
To me, though, Sunday's result by the Reds is a temporary reprieve. It's like playing Tetris toward a higher level. The pieces are flying in, you're doing your best to clear them, even though you realize eventually its going to catch up with you. Sunday was Liverpool clearing away a few lines and letting off the immediate pressure on Rafa. But just watch, as I said before, it'll creep back, probably sooner as opposed to later.
All that said, the underlying issue continues to puzzle me -- why do people tend to hate Rafa Benitez?
He doesn't openly mock or taunt the opponent like Mourinho in his heyday.
He doesn't exactly engage in Sir Alex Ferguson mindgames.
He, to my knowledge, has never killed anyone or done anything else untoward like that.
To my best guess, he just looks so damn smug on the touchline, that he consistently thinks he's the smartest man in the ground at all times. It's his way or the highway, which isn't a brand new style of management, but infuriating when you don't win the trophy all the fans want -- the league.
You can point to his extreme hit-or-miss record in the transfer market, which overall is not as terrible as it might seem. Yes, the revolving door second-striker scenario, highlighted by Robbie Keane was bad, but overall plucking the likes of Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoung, Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger, etc. probably outweigh the bad, if only because Rafa has made so many damned transfers.
No matter what, outside of his failure to finish atop the Premier League and stop Liverpool's two-decade long drought, there isn't a concrete, tangible reason to loathe Benitez.
For some Liverpool supporters, Benitez will get a lifetime pass for the Miracle in Istanbul, whether he actually is worthy of the credit for the win in the 2005 Champions League Final or if he's simply lived off Steven Gerrard's coattails is open to debate.
It is remarkable, for a guy who's jobs been in "question" for the better part of two years -- or at least since the American ownership took over -- that he's stuck around. Club football manager rates in just above elephant wrangler in terms of job safety.
Maybe Sunday kickstarts a special run for Liverpool, maybe it's another false start.
However it plays out, with Liverpool's ownership in a state of flux, the black clouds will never be too far out of range for Rafa.
In the end, that just might be the normalcy we've been searching for a quarter-way through the season -- no matter what, at the slightest wobble Benitez's head inches closer to the axe blade, even if it never ends up falling.
That, and that Liverpool will inevitably fall short once again in May.
A thought on Manchester United:
Not trying to break any new ground. If you read this every week you know I don't think the Red Devils are all that special this season.
Losing to Liverpool only highlights this. In fact, Manchester United were spotty vs. the 'Big Four' last season, and I don't see its record improving this year. This will only spell trouble as the season progresses.
Last season in six matches vs. Liverpool, Cheslea and Arsenal, Manchester United went 1-2-3, the only with vs. Chelsea in January. Yes, Manchester United did beat Arsenal already this year. Again, last year, Manchester United made its bread vs. the chafe of the league, with the squad not as good, they could struggle to keep up.
Manchester United does get a some nice rebound bounce-back "action" with Blackburn next weekend, before going to the Bridge on Nov. 8.
The fact, down a goal and 25-odd minutes still to play, the best United could muster was Luis Valencia hitting the post from a sheer angle is pretty sad.
Expecting Rooney to pull the wonder-goal out of his back pocket every match isn't the soundest strategy, well, unless you're playing "FIFA 10" online.
And, the Ferdinand/Nemanja Vidic pairing went from being 1980s Hall & Oates, to 1990s Hall & Oates seemingly overnight.
Twitter-gate
Maybe you heard about this, maybe you didn't.
Here's the Cliffs Notes version, Jozy Altidore was out of the Hull City lineup. At first he twittered an apology for being late. Then, mysteriously, the apology was deleted.
Later, Hull manager Phil Brown responsded and he's not chalking it up to a 19-year-old being a 19-year-old. "It's going to cost him a lot of money, unfortunately. That for me is information that stays in house. The reason he wasn't on the bench was our business."
Ouch.
To say Jozy is in the doghouse might be an understatement. How about the outhouse?
As it currently stands, this Jozy thing isn't looking good. He was already in a fight for a place in the starting lineup, and that was before Hull's season to a left turn at the crapper. Now, he'll be lucky to find some time in Cup duty.
Not to sound crankier than usual, but perhaps Altidore ought to put down the Twitter and focus on playing. It'd be a shame to waste so much god-given talent.
And if Altidore doesn't care that a legion of, quite frankly, possibly insane people like myself are pinning a mountain of unrealistic expectations on him come June 2010, so be it, he can chose how he wants to live his life.
On the other hand, there is the outside chance this incident serves as the proverbial wake up call and forces Altidore to work even harder. It's cliched, but nobody is going to give him a place in the starting XI. He has to earn it and show he's worthy of a start. Put up, or shut up. Pass. Fail.
That's the way she goes.
The only upside, at least if you're a U.S. fan, is that Jozy looked pretty good in spots at June's Confederations Cup, coming off a season of sporadic play and injuries in Spain. So maybe, even with spotty playing time, Altidore can make something happen in 2010. At this point, the U.S. doesn't have any other options. Just because he comes off a sporadic season at Hull doesn't 100 percent equal a poor World Cup.
The hits just keep a'coming for American players. Ugh.
At least Clint Dempsey scored the equalizer for Fulham in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Hammer into Anvil
Sam Allardyce called Blackburn's second half performance in a 5-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge "pathetic." Thanks for the honesty, Big Sam, because nobody is going to argue with you.
As I said last week, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates are the two home grounds right now where the opponents legs turn into pudding, for Rovers I think it was fig. If there was ever a match where the option to throw in the towel was allowed, this was it.
At least we did get to see a trademarked rocket from Michael Essien that not even a robot with Lev Yashin's brain implanted inside of it could have stopped.
The collective lack of any fire by Blackburn almost made the effort by the Tennesse Titans in their 59 shellacking by the New England Patriots seem inspired by comparison.
Is there any surprise that was pretty much the only game I picked correct on Friday? (2-and-8 weekend? Ew, bogey.)
Double surprise of the weekend:
After the Liverpool/Manchester United match I needed to hit Dunkin' Donuts for a coffee. It was going to be a long day and I had to work in the office that night.
I left my house just as the Arsenal/West Ham game started. I got back with 16 minutes transpired. I was floored it was still 0-0, of course seconds later Robert Green makes a mistake and Robin van Persie taps in to open the floodgates...or so it appeared.
I then made the decision to flip over to Vikings/Packers and start writing. Think I was safe to do so.
Then I click on a site to see the score and it's 2-1. And then I finally decide to tune back in and its 2-2.
Just when you thought it was safe to trust Arsenal. I don't get it, this result floored me. Those could end up being two huge dropped points for the Gunners, who failed to keep the pace with Chelsea, still having a game in hand.
Credit to West Ham, which could have rolled over down two goals at the half, but fought back, but this is more of a stunner for Arsenal, because now all the old doubts creep back into the picture. Unreal.
Duds of the week:
Just when we thought there were close to eight legit teams in the league, all this happens:
* Aston Villa concedes a late penalty and draws Wolves 1-1.
* Spurs get stunned by a nice shot by Glen Whelan and Stoke 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
* Sunderland gets picked off 2-1 away to Birmingham.
* Manchester City plays to a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham.
So yeah, maybe this means these teams aren't ready to make the leap forward, or it means there is less separation than I thought. Or, another theory, the only real "stinkers" right now are Portsmouth, Hull, West Ham and possibly Blackburn.
Other stuff:
Time for another hat tip to part-time ESPN studio pundit Roberto Martinez and Wigan. The Latics ended Burnley's perfect home record with a 3-1 win Saturday, behind a brace from Hugo Rolledgea. To think, Steve Bruce plucked this guy out of the Mexican league. I used this metaphor a while back, but it's true. Wigan really are George Costanza at Play Now Sports, like "weed in Hitler's bunker." ... Jonathan Woodgate got hurt again for Spurs. Yeah, I'm stunned too. ... Weird situation when Aaron Lennon pulled himself out of the game, as Spurs ended with 10. He was still the Setanta commentator's man-of-the-match. Go figure. ... Birmingham City probably won't lead the league in anything, except highest amount of tattoos per player. ... Underrated player of the weekend, Stoke backup keeper Steve Simonsen, who made numerous fine saves to deny Spurs. ... How about that weather during Birmingham/Sunderland. Sunny and torrential rain at the same time? What's next? Dogs and Cats living together? ... Just saw an ad for the Champions League during a FOX NFL game. Never saw that kind of synergy with ESPN.
Fantasy Team O' the Week:
Top spot this week with 77 point its Michael Goldenberg's Черноморец pulling a Rubin Kazan-like performance thanks to Frank Lampard's 28 points and nine apiece from Abdoulaye Faye and Carlton cole.
One Other Thing:
Take my recommendations for what they're worth, but I can't say enough good things about FX's 'Sons of Anarchy.' I can't believe I slept on this show and just starting catching up with Season 1 through Blu Ray on Netflix, if you have such a player, you're doing a disservice not watching because it looks incredible if you have a nice set up. On top of that, the show is downright awesome, especially if you liked "The Shield", which creator Kurt Stutter was a major writer for during its seven-year run. (At some point I may have to write about 'The Shield', because it's largely ignored in the conversation of great shows, and the trials and tribulations of Vic Mackey was most certainly great television.)
Anyway, my highest compliment to "Sons" is that I never once thought Katey Sagal = Peg Bundy.
Up next:
Quiet week, unless you're a Carling Cup guy. Next week, North London Derby.
Labels: English Premier League, fernando torres, Liverpool, manchester United, Premier League, rafa benitez, Soccer
Liverpool Man U - I loved that this extremely nerve racking and well played game was hours before the Patriots/Bucs snoozer at Wembley. I'm sure Londoners are pumped for Jacksonville playing 1 game there every year(Peter King) when they have a game of that quality to watch.
Liverpool has the strongest 1-8 in the EPL which allows them to beat the top 3 when its head to head, but their lack of depth hurts them and allows them to drop points to the Fulhams/Burnleys. Same reason Liverpool has had more success in Champs League...when the lights are brightest their top 11 shine. I want to know if Gillette and Hicks have given Benitez the money to go get a better backup striker than Ngog(bad), a better center mid than Lucas, and another attacking mid besides Yossi Benayoung( top 5 attacking outside mid right now?).
SOA - Your completly right that it somehow filled Shields huuuge footprints in 2 seasons, and it is a beast in the ratings... lot of articles written last week because it finished behiend only CBS's crime drama... it beat ABC and Leno that night to finish 2nd for the night.
re: Jozy, I wonder if we don't have a professionalism gap with the European leagues? Does the MLS still have a bit too much of the orange slices at halftime aura about it? Because we keep sending guys over there who obviously have the physical ability to compete, like Landy, Jozy, Bradley, Edu, and maybe even Eddie Johnson, and they keep screwing up and underperforming, often for teams that aren't exactly bursting with talent who could definitely use them if they were in form and up for it week-in-week-out.
Meanwhile, the guys who went over there to start with and worked their way up, like Cherundolo, DeMerit, Davies, Gooch, and Spector have generally gotten more time and performed better, though obviously Gooch was dreaming when he thought he could play for Milan.
The three real success stories out of MLS(Beasley, McBride, Boca) all came from the Fire, which maybe speaks well of their coaching and professionalism, if not the rest of the league's. The one anomaly is Dempsey, but he's just weird. He acts like a prima donna on this side of the pond, but over there he works his ass off and is a consummate professional.
re: Rafa, I don't really get the hate. He's just kind of an inert blob as far as managers go, seems to keep a relatively drama free dressing room and have the loyalty of his players. Liverpool's problems are higher up, both in ownership and youth development. A team with those resources shouldn't have to rely entirely on the fitness of two players to be competitive, but that's where they are now. If Gerrard and Torres stay fit 75% of the time or more, they'll probably finish in the top 4. If not, they're screwed. Rafa doesn't have much to do with that.
What is Jozy doing? One of his best friends was almost killed and may never play soccer again. If that doesn't wake him up I don't know what will. I thought for sure Jozy would be playing his heart out after something like that.