Untitled Premier League Monday Post
6 Comments Published by Cardillo on August 31, 2009 at 12:01 PM.
Bear in mind I tried to squeeze this post betwixt a Saturday wedding and a Sunday afternoon fantasy football draft. So apologies up front if this is sloppier and crummier than you've come to expect.
That said, cue up the late 1980s Vince McMahon voice.
"Anything can happen here in the World Wrestling Federation."
Maybe we ought to amend that to the Barclay's Premier League, since this was a weekend which why we all remember why it's the most popular sporting competition in the world. Excitement be thy name.
Saturday morning we got three televised thrillers, preceded by Chelsea's by-the-numbers 3-0 win over Burnley in the early morning ESPN2 scenario.
Let's start with Steven Gerrard, again, bailing out Liverpool.
For the last couple years I've convinced myself that Rafa Benitez is a smart guy. You know, organized, tactical, astute. Probably spends 15 minutes a day immaculately grooming his goatee even if he still ends up sharing the shame look as Chumlee on the History Channel's "Pawn Stars."
Yet again, on another weekend, Liverpool's success comes down to Gerrard doing something spectacular -- this time with a patented rocket tucked right under the crossbar to give the Reds a 3-2 win at Bolton. Credit the King of the Scouse since he is absolutely lethal with shots from inside the penalty area straight on goal, regardless of the goal mouth traffic.
In the short term, Gerrard and his running mate Fernando Torres can mask a lot of Liverpool's problems. Right now, the defense is a total mess. Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos proved to be a disaster, or as Ace Cowboy told me in an email, "He should just get it over with and wear a toga and drink strained feta cheese out of the water bottle."
In the NBA we've seen that two superstars and a smart coach -- say the Shaq/Kobe Lakers -- can win a title. Doubt that can happen in the Premier League in 2009-10, especially while trying to mount a run in the Champions League. (You can only ask Dirk Kuyt to huff-and-puff so many times before his legs give out. As Lou Brown might say, "these are professional ballplayers, they get strains." Oh and Kuyt, what a chest pass to Torres.)
Liverpool will find a way to sort itself out, but long term? What's the upside of this team? Sometimes you think with its collective body language they simply expect somebody to hand them over the title, as if it's their divine right.
Moving on, our next thriller came at White Hart Lane, where Spurs made it 12-for-12 in typical heart-attack-inducing fashion.
Realistically, I was about 30 seconds from writing the line, "That's why Spurs is Spurs" until Aaron Lennon converted a gift goal triggered when Birmingham defender Stephen Carr tripped over the ball at midfield. Thankfully blogs and typewriters don't mesh.
And if Roman Pavlychenko doesn't do another thing in a Spurs uniform before moving to Siberian pastures, at least he threaded the needle to Lennon with one of the best, under-pressure passes you'll see all season. Long, diagonal, through three defenders? Safe to say, he'll never do it again, but it shouldn't matter since it happened when Tottenham needed it.
This was Spurs being Spurs.
They absolutely dominated the first half and could have had about four goals and should have had at least one. I'm half surprised Harry Redknapp didn't put up an lawn chair inside the Brum box.
Finally through hard work they go ahead 1-0 on Peter Crouch's header, only to cough it up minutes later in a comical display of miscommunication between Alan Hutton and Carlo Cudicini allowing Lee Bowyer to tap it in. Funny thing is, since Spurs won its not a big deal. However, if they lost, would Cudicini have been racked over the coals like Gomes or some other keeper with a bad reputation? Doubt it.
Still, Spurs found a way and sit top of the league. I'm pretty certain Spurs is a talented team? Good enough to sustain a push for the league title and or Champions League spot? We'll get a good sense when play resumes on September 12 when Manchester United descends on North London.
When you're good you make your own breaks and get away it on time-to-time. Nobody knows this better than a certain Sir Alex Ferguson.
We could triple that statement for Manchester United's 2-1 win over Arsenal.
Really though, above all this game made me feel sorry for Arsene Wenger. (Yeah, I know hard to do.)
Here's Wenger. His long-term, no-mega-money buy, believe in youth system is finally bearing fruit. The Gunners are scoring goals and looking incredible doing it.
For about 50-odd minutes -- without Cesc Fabregas no less -- they were running Manchester United off Old Trafford, leading 1-0 thanks to a brilliant strike from Andrei/y Arshavin. (One note, they dominated clearly, but didn't have that many outright chances that should have been goals.)
Then, like the final act of "District 9" is all fell apart.
The Manuel Almunia/Wayne Rooney penalty decision clearly changed the game. In full speed it looked like the Spanish keeper/adult film actor took down the striker and a clear penalty. On replay, not so much. Considering the hubbub over the Eduardo dive vs. Celtic only days earlier, this was scripted straight from a Gooner nightmare. (By comparison, on Sunday Emmerson Boyce pulled down Jo in the Everton/Wigan match and it was indefensible.)
For conspiracy theorists, take into consideration that Rooney is Rooney and he's not a diver. It probably could have gone either way, but Rooney's rep may have pushed it over in United's favor. Yeah, not a good answer, but it wasn't the most blatant example of United's favor with the refs, but it'll go in the scrapbook of those that are convinced there is an agenda.
If all that wasn't bad enough for Wenger, five minutes later Ryan Giggs fires in an innocuous freekick that Abou Diaby flicks backward into his own net.
Sacre bleu! Is there a way to translate "fart in the mouth" to French?
The final insult for Wenger is that after he reacts -- normally I might add -- by kicking a water bottle after a stoppage time goal for Arsenal was waved off by the offside flag, he's sent off by the fourth official. Wenger tried to walk out of the coach's box and up the stairs, finally standing at a platform with his hands out incredulously.
At that point, what neutral didn't feel like Wenger? He's certainly easy to mock due to his inherent Frenchy-ness, but what unfurled at Old Trafford was cruel and unusual.
Arsenal did everything it should have to win the match and declare it's serious intentions as a realistic title contender only to be snakebitten in two incidents across the run of play.
How much this effects the rest of the season remains to be seen. For the time being it keeps Manchester United in the Top Four conversation. Don't forget how poor the Red Devils were against the top clubs last season.
For Arsenal this match could galvanize the team? In the big picture, losing at Old Trafford isn't the end of the world. When the season starts you pencil in maybe one point and would be considered happy. Gooners fans, however, must wait until Jan. 30 for another chance to even the score with United.
Rising:
* Emmanuel Adebayor -- Three goals in three games. Nobody owns the bad teams like him. City's next opponent? Arsenal. Methinks that might be a big game at Eastlands.
Falling:
* Fulham -- Let's just say at this point, like milk on a hot day, the Europa League is a bad choice.
Broadcast zone:
* ESPN's Saturday morning show regressed a little bit this week. Georgie Bingham, god bless her, could use some polish as a studio host as the interplay between her and Robbie Mustoe was painful at times.
One other grip, ESPN, if you're going to show the league standing, you may want to consider adding the point totals to the graphic. It's kind of a big deal.
And for every single, Premier League lead play-by-play man, please don't speculate that a match is over until the final whistle. With five stoppage minutes for Arsenal on Saturday, a lot could have happened. If not for a William Gallas offside, it was 2-2. I know they want to add drama, but the late goal happens far too often when the big teams play each other.
British Lion Zone:
* Since last year's Champions League, commentator extraordinaire 30f and I have gone back and forth about Derek Rae's Brett Favre-like fawning over Ryan Giggs.
That sort of fanaticism has oozed into the broadcast booths during these Premier League matches this season. Any time an English player does anything you're about two steps away from a squeegee crew needed to wipe down the booth.
This weekend when Ashley Cole scored for Chelsea vs. Burnley, the announcers went ga-ga how he's the best left back in the world. (Really?)
That was nothing compared to the lionizing of Wayne Rooney against Arsenal, at one point they declared how lucky they were that he plays for England. I love Rooney Tunes as much as the next guy, but let's not forgot that this is a global broadcast.
Miscellany:
* Don't look now, but slowly and surely Tony Pulis is building a rather competent team at Stoke City. The additions of ex-Middlesborough charges Robert Huth and Tuncay should only help the Potters.
* Eddie Johnson made the actual game-day squad for Fulham in the absence of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora.
* Speaking of Americans, Tim Howard made a great kick save to deny Wigan's Scott Sinclair late in their rainy match at Goodison Park. Of course, had Sinclair simply passed to his four wide-open teammates, it's another story.
* Everton? Johnny Heitinga? Why would Atletico Madrid be so quick to sell? They are in the Champions League. Interesting.
* What to make of Ben Foster? One second he's totally lost, flapping away at crosses, yet manages to make a perfect reaction save to deny Robin van Persie early in the second half vs. Arsenal.
* Per its Wikipedia page, Liverpool has six -- SIX -- goalkeepers on its first team roster.
* Luka Modric out for up to six weeks and the rumors have Tottenham pulling some business as usual, linking Spurs to Rafael van der Vaart. Is Martin Jol back at White Hart Lane?
I reserve the right to retract that statement should Modric's shattered leg keep him out for a longer spell. Then again, anything that involves more Sylvie van der Vaart is a good thing.
* We'll have to get into this a little more as the season progresses, but I was blown away by the story of Burnley super-fan George Bunrley, who legally changed his name in support of the club. Here's a story written about him. Honestly, this might be the best story of the season. (Clocking in as the anti-George Burnley? My father who decided this weekend to support the Clarets. Why? "Because I've never had a team and they're scrappy.")
If anyone knows how to get into contact with him, I'd love to throw him on the site. Really, the more about this guy the better. Amazon.co.uk, you'll be hearing from my credit card soon.
* On the subject of George Burnley, open question -- which team in North American pro sports would be the funniest if a fan changed his name in honor of them?
* Birmingham's Christian Benitiz is taking the whole shaving patterns in your hair to levels that might make even Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer blush. Too bad for him, his artwork makes me think of Beetlejuice of Howard Stern fame.
* And yeah, it might have been proven this weekend that Birmingham's Lee Carsley also played McGloin in "Gangs of New York."
* It's safe to say there's not a player hated more by his own supporters currently than Liverpool fans and Lucas.
* Wigan, about those neon tangerine away strips? Barcelona can pull that off. You're not Barcelona.
* David Moyes can exhale, slightly. That was a little too close for comfort.
Fantasy team o' the week:
* A possible newcomer, Piaras O'Sullivan's Happy Campers takes top spot with 77 points thanks to defenders Leighton Baines and Ashley Cole.
Closing Thought:
* So, did Dynamo Kiev play Pearl Jam's "Life Wasted" at the press conference to announce it was bringing back Andriy Shevchenko?
That said, cue up the late 1980s Vince McMahon voice.
"Anything can happen here in the World Wrestling Federation."
Maybe we ought to amend that to the Barclay's Premier League, since this was a weekend which why we all remember why it's the most popular sporting competition in the world. Excitement be thy name.
Saturday morning we got three televised thrillers, preceded by Chelsea's by-the-numbers 3-0 win over Burnley in the early morning ESPN2 scenario.
Let's start with Steven Gerrard, again, bailing out Liverpool.
For the last couple years I've convinced myself that Rafa Benitez is a smart guy. You know, organized, tactical, astute. Probably spends 15 minutes a day immaculately grooming his goatee even if he still ends up sharing the shame look as Chumlee on the History Channel's "Pawn Stars."
Yet again, on another weekend, Liverpool's success comes down to Gerrard doing something spectacular -- this time with a patented rocket tucked right under the crossbar to give the Reds a 3-2 win at Bolton. Credit the King of the Scouse since he is absolutely lethal with shots from inside the penalty area straight on goal, regardless of the goal mouth traffic.
In the short term, Gerrard and his running mate Fernando Torres can mask a lot of Liverpool's problems. Right now, the defense is a total mess. Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos proved to be a disaster, or as Ace Cowboy told me in an email, "He should just get it over with and wear a toga and drink strained feta cheese out of the water bottle."
In the NBA we've seen that two superstars and a smart coach -- say the Shaq/Kobe Lakers -- can win a title. Doubt that can happen in the Premier League in 2009-10, especially while trying to mount a run in the Champions League. (You can only ask Dirk Kuyt to huff-and-puff so many times before his legs give out. As Lou Brown might say, "these are professional ballplayers, they get strains." Oh and Kuyt, what a chest pass to Torres.)
Liverpool will find a way to sort itself out, but long term? What's the upside of this team? Sometimes you think with its collective body language they simply expect somebody to hand them over the title, as if it's their divine right.
Moving on, our next thriller came at White Hart Lane, where Spurs made it 12-for-12 in typical heart-attack-inducing fashion.
Realistically, I was about 30 seconds from writing the line, "That's why Spurs is Spurs" until Aaron Lennon converted a gift goal triggered when Birmingham defender Stephen Carr tripped over the ball at midfield. Thankfully blogs and typewriters don't mesh.
And if Roman Pavlychenko doesn't do another thing in a Spurs uniform before moving to Siberian pastures, at least he threaded the needle to Lennon with one of the best, under-pressure passes you'll see all season. Long, diagonal, through three defenders? Safe to say, he'll never do it again, but it shouldn't matter since it happened when Tottenham needed it.
This was Spurs being Spurs.
They absolutely dominated the first half and could have had about four goals and should have had at least one. I'm half surprised Harry Redknapp didn't put up an lawn chair inside the Brum box.
Finally through hard work they go ahead 1-0 on Peter Crouch's header, only to cough it up minutes later in a comical display of miscommunication between Alan Hutton and Carlo Cudicini allowing Lee Bowyer to tap it in. Funny thing is, since Spurs won its not a big deal. However, if they lost, would Cudicini have been racked over the coals like Gomes or some other keeper with a bad reputation? Doubt it.
Still, Spurs found a way and sit top of the league. I'm pretty certain Spurs is a talented team? Good enough to sustain a push for the league title and or Champions League spot? We'll get a good sense when play resumes on September 12 when Manchester United descends on North London.
When you're good you make your own breaks and get away it on time-to-time. Nobody knows this better than a certain Sir Alex Ferguson.
We could triple that statement for Manchester United's 2-1 win over Arsenal.
Really though, above all this game made me feel sorry for Arsene Wenger. (Yeah, I know hard to do.)
Here's Wenger. His long-term, no-mega-money buy, believe in youth system is finally bearing fruit. The Gunners are scoring goals and looking incredible doing it.
For about 50-odd minutes -- without Cesc Fabregas no less -- they were running Manchester United off Old Trafford, leading 1-0 thanks to a brilliant strike from Andrei/y Arshavin. (One note, they dominated clearly, but didn't have that many outright chances that should have been goals.)
Then, like the final act of "District 9" is all fell apart.
The Manuel Almunia/Wayne Rooney penalty decision clearly changed the game. In full speed it looked like the Spanish keeper/adult film actor took down the striker and a clear penalty. On replay, not so much. Considering the hubbub over the Eduardo dive vs. Celtic only days earlier, this was scripted straight from a Gooner nightmare. (By comparison, on Sunday Emmerson Boyce pulled down Jo in the Everton/Wigan match and it was indefensible.)
For conspiracy theorists, take into consideration that Rooney is Rooney and he's not a diver. It probably could have gone either way, but Rooney's rep may have pushed it over in United's favor. Yeah, not a good answer, but it wasn't the most blatant example of United's favor with the refs, but it'll go in the scrapbook of those that are convinced there is an agenda.
If all that wasn't bad enough for Wenger, five minutes later Ryan Giggs fires in an innocuous freekick that Abou Diaby flicks backward into his own net.
Sacre bleu! Is there a way to translate "fart in the mouth" to French?
The final insult for Wenger is that after he reacts -- normally I might add -- by kicking a water bottle after a stoppage time goal for Arsenal was waved off by the offside flag, he's sent off by the fourth official. Wenger tried to walk out of the coach's box and up the stairs, finally standing at a platform with his hands out incredulously.
At that point, what neutral didn't feel like Wenger? He's certainly easy to mock due to his inherent Frenchy-ness, but what unfurled at Old Trafford was cruel and unusual.
Arsenal did everything it should have to win the match and declare it's serious intentions as a realistic title contender only to be snakebitten in two incidents across the run of play.
How much this effects the rest of the season remains to be seen. For the time being it keeps Manchester United in the Top Four conversation. Don't forget how poor the Red Devils were against the top clubs last season.
For Arsenal this match could galvanize the team? In the big picture, losing at Old Trafford isn't the end of the world. When the season starts you pencil in maybe one point and would be considered happy. Gooners fans, however, must wait until Jan. 30 for another chance to even the score with United.
Rising:
* Emmanuel Adebayor -- Three goals in three games. Nobody owns the bad teams like him. City's next opponent? Arsenal. Methinks that might be a big game at Eastlands.
Falling:
* Fulham -- Let's just say at this point, like milk on a hot day, the Europa League is a bad choice.
Broadcast zone:
* ESPN's Saturday morning show regressed a little bit this week. Georgie Bingham, god bless her, could use some polish as a studio host as the interplay between her and Robbie Mustoe was painful at times.
One other grip, ESPN, if you're going to show the league standing, you may want to consider adding the point totals to the graphic. It's kind of a big deal.
And for every single, Premier League lead play-by-play man, please don't speculate that a match is over until the final whistle. With five stoppage minutes for Arsenal on Saturday, a lot could have happened. If not for a William Gallas offside, it was 2-2. I know they want to add drama, but the late goal happens far too often when the big teams play each other.
British Lion Zone:
* Since last year's Champions League, commentator extraordinaire 30f and I have gone back and forth about Derek Rae's Brett Favre-like fawning over Ryan Giggs.
That sort of fanaticism has oozed into the broadcast booths during these Premier League matches this season. Any time an English player does anything you're about two steps away from a squeegee crew needed to wipe down the booth.
This weekend when Ashley Cole scored for Chelsea vs. Burnley, the announcers went ga-ga how he's the best left back in the world. (Really?)
That was nothing compared to the lionizing of Wayne Rooney against Arsenal, at one point they declared how lucky they were that he plays for England. I love Rooney Tunes as much as the next guy, but let's not forgot that this is a global broadcast.
Miscellany:
* Don't look now, but slowly and surely Tony Pulis is building a rather competent team at Stoke City. The additions of ex-Middlesborough charges Robert Huth and Tuncay should only help the Potters.
* Eddie Johnson made the actual game-day squad for Fulham in the absence of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora.
* Speaking of Americans, Tim Howard made a great kick save to deny Wigan's Scott Sinclair late in their rainy match at Goodison Park. Of course, had Sinclair simply passed to his four wide-open teammates, it's another story.
* Everton? Johnny Heitinga? Why would Atletico Madrid be so quick to sell? They are in the Champions League. Interesting.
* What to make of Ben Foster? One second he's totally lost, flapping away at crosses, yet manages to make a perfect reaction save to deny Robin van Persie early in the second half vs. Arsenal.
* Per its Wikipedia page, Liverpool has six -- SIX -- goalkeepers on its first team roster.
* Luka Modric out for up to six weeks and the rumors have Tottenham pulling some business as usual, linking Spurs to Rafael van der Vaart. Is Martin Jol back at White Hart Lane?
I reserve the right to retract that statement should Modric's shattered leg keep him out for a longer spell. Then again, anything that involves more Sylvie van der Vaart is a good thing.
* We'll have to get into this a little more as the season progresses, but I was blown away by the story of Burnley super-fan George Bunrley, who legally changed his name in support of the club. Here's a story written about him. Honestly, this might be the best story of the season. (Clocking in as the anti-George Burnley? My father who decided this weekend to support the Clarets. Why? "Because I've never had a team and they're scrappy.")
If anyone knows how to get into contact with him, I'd love to throw him on the site. Really, the more about this guy the better. Amazon.co.uk, you'll be hearing from my credit card soon.
* On the subject of George Burnley, open question -- which team in North American pro sports would be the funniest if a fan changed his name in honor of them?
* Birmingham's Christian Benitiz is taking the whole shaving patterns in your hair to levels that might make even Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer blush. Too bad for him, his artwork makes me think of Beetlejuice of Howard Stern fame.
* And yeah, it might have been proven this weekend that Birmingham's Lee Carsley also played McGloin in "Gangs of New York."
* It's safe to say there's not a player hated more by his own supporters currently than Liverpool fans and Lucas.
* Wigan, about those neon tangerine away strips? Barcelona can pull that off. You're not Barcelona.
* David Moyes can exhale, slightly. That was a little too close for comfort.
Fantasy team o' the week:
* A possible newcomer, Piaras O'Sullivan's Happy Campers takes top spot with 77 points thanks to defenders Leighton Baines and Ashley Cole.
Closing Thought:
* So, did Dynamo Kiev play Pearl Jam's "Life Wasted" at the press conference to announce it was bringing back Andriy Shevchenko?
Labels: Arsenal, English Premier League, everton, manchester United, Premier League, Soccer, tottenham hotspur
Is it too early in the Premier League season for a signpost weekend?
By the end of Sunday everyone will have played three games and some four, which metes out to eight percent and 10 percent of the entire 38-game schedule. In the same vein, the average point total to win the league over the last five seasons is 90.4.
So, if Tottenham beats Birmingham City on Saturday and sits on 12 points with an International break coming, does it or should it mean anything?
It would be only 13 percent of the way to the mythical 90 points. Yet, as the saying goes in Major League Baseball, you can't win World Series in April, but you sure can lose them. (Not that Everton, Bolton, Blackburn or Portsmouth were winning the title, but zero points is now way to go through life.)
Maybe people don't put too much stock in these sort of things, but after matches this week there's nearly two weeks between the next whistle on Sept. 12. And over that time, the transfer window shuts until January.
That's what makes the first truly bellwether match of the season so important when Arsenal goes to Old Trafford to play Manchester United Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal, arguably the most impressive team through its two matches, can validate that it's the real deal by going to Old Trafford and mashing Sir Alex's boys around the field. Arsene Wenger has preached patience with his youth movement and it would seem the seeds are finally about ready to yield fruit.
For me, what I'd like to see with Arsenal is a look in their eyes. A sense that,
"yeah, we're kind of a big deal -- so deal with it."
If Arsenal can go up to Old Trafford Saturday and layeth the smack down (sorry for the WWF talk), it certainly will send shivers down the spines of the rest of the league. It's a statement game, plain and simple. A notice of intent, as it were.
On its absolute best, when the weather's nice it's hard to see many teams being strong enough to match the Gunners toe-to-toe. Yes, Cheslea has the brute strength to do so and Spurs have the pace, plus the North London Derby extra-juice, but overall, if Arsenal turns it on and clicks it'll be tough to stop.
So long as Robin van Persie and Eduardo stay on the field, coupled with the raw Danish viking strength of Niclas Bendtner, Arsenal has enough firepower up top to replace Emmanuel Adebayor. And again, with health, as long as Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin stay on the field, the midfield with be a handful.
Yes, questions remain about guys like Denilson and Abou Diaby having enough grit against the grinding, physical teams and the defense is clearly suspect, but when you can score two or three goals in a manner of seconds, it pretties up a lot of pigs, not that the Arsenal defense is all that porous.
Granted the jury is still out when the Gunners go to places like the Brittianna Stadium or St. Andrews and the opponents still all 10 men behind the line, bury strategically placed landmines and park the bus in front of the net.
Still, even with some defensive question marks, Arsenal are a red Ferrari in the fast lane with a full tank of gas.
Now on the other side, can three-time defending league champion Manchester United keep up? If either Chelsea or Tottenham win and move to 12 points and United lose, they're already trying to make up six. (Yay math!) Yeah, it's still a long season, but trying to catch up for so long takes its toll.
There are more questions right now at Old Trafford than a game of Trivial Pursuit.
Is Michael Owen worth a damn?
Do Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have anything left in the decade nearing the end of two decades of service with the club?
Can Nani consistently provide offensive flashes from the flank?
Will guys like Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Ji-Sung Park be able to step up their games without Cristiano Ronaldo, or will they be exposed?
Can the Continental Dmitar Berbatov successfully conduct the ballet inside his mind AND score goals at the same time?
Right now about the only givens at United are Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic.
Some loyalist Brit columnists would rather jump off London Bridge than say a cross word about Sir Alex Ferguson. Yet, you have to wonder if he still knows what he's doing in light of the Ronaldo/Carlos Tevez exodus. (I'll question him, but never bet against him.)
United can silence most of these doubts with an inspired performance on Saturday. It won't define a season, but it'll signal intent that four-straight titles, though, unlikely is possible.
Bottom line, if you're reading this here slice of the Internets, you don't need me to tell you how important, though early, this match is.
Saturday:
* Chelsea v. Burnley -- (Live, ESPN2, 7:45 a.m.) Burnley is immediately the feel-good story of the season. Too bad Chelsea eats feel-good stories for breakfast. Lots of riboflavin in there. ... Chelsea 3, Burnley 0
* Tottenham v. Birmingham City -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Really no excuses here for Spurs not to get to 12 points. Birmingham is competent overall, but impotent offensively at the same time. Ruud von Nistelrooy for Big Pavs? That's a win for Spurs if it happens. ... Spurs 2, Birmingham 0
* Blackburn Rovers v. West Ham United -- A couple weeks in and the first game I'd label for potential gamblers -- STAY AWAY. Really, do yourself a favor and pick another match. Blackburn is desperate for a result and probably should get it at Ewood Park, but West Ham is surprisingly decent. Carlton Cole, horrific back-pass and all, was almost in the mythic realm of 'Beast Mode' Sunday vs. Spurs. I forgot how tall he was. I'll go with desperation winning out here. Speaking of desperation, that's another way to say you just signed Pascal Chimbonda. Him and El Hadj Diouf on the same team? Will teams ever learn? ... Blackburn 1, West Ham 0
* Wolves v. Hull City -- The Mustard Bowl! ... Wolves 1, Hull 1
* Bolton v. Liverpool -- (Live, 10 a.m., Setanta) Admittedly, I haven't seen Bolton play this year. And admittedly, I'm not too broken up about that fact either. This match is about pure desperation. Bolton doesn't want to see a big fat zero next to its name for two weeks, but Liverpool doesn't want to be lumped in with the Wigans of the world, either. Quality should win out, but it won't be easy. ... Bolton 0, Liverpool 1
* Stoke City v. Sunderland -- If you play the official Premier League fantasy, are you able to tell the jersey icons apart from these two clubs? I certainly can't. ... Stoke City 1, Sunderland 1
* Manchester United v. Arsenal -- (Live, FSC, 12:15 p.m.) Every inkling says Arsenal goes up and stomps confidence waving United. From whatever angle you like, the tea leaves read Arsenal, whether its United's shaky defense and goalkeeping or suddenly suspect midfield. Arsenal should, in theory, be able to pass United to death. If there's one reason for United to have hope its obviously Wayne Rooney. Perhaps he and Berbatov can expose an Arsenal defense that's yet to see the quality of attacking players United has at its disposal. From experience, I don't think this particular match will be a beauty to watch, but expect plenty of incidents. It may go back and forth, but Arsenal grabs it late through Nic Bendtner. ... Manchester United 1, Arsenal 2
Sunday:
* Portsmouth v. Manchester City -- (Live, 8:30, Setanta) Let's see, City Bucks open at Blackburn, home to Wolves and travel to Fratton Park. What, Glass Joe and Von Kaiser weren't available? ... Portsmouth 1, City 2
* Everton v. Wigan Athletic -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) For sanity's sake, I'll always take Everton when its backed into a corner, even if I think the Sylvan Distin signing reeks of desperation, and onions too. ... Everton 1, Wigan 0
* Aston Villa v. Fulham -- If history has taught us anything, never back teams returning from the Russian front. Sorry Fulham. ... Aston Villa 2, Fulham 0
Last week: 7-3
Season: 14-12
By the end of Sunday everyone will have played three games and some four, which metes out to eight percent and 10 percent of the entire 38-game schedule. In the same vein, the average point total to win the league over the last five seasons is 90.4.
So, if Tottenham beats Birmingham City on Saturday and sits on 12 points with an International break coming, does it or should it mean anything?
It would be only 13 percent of the way to the mythical 90 points. Yet, as the saying goes in Major League Baseball, you can't win World Series in April, but you sure can lose them. (Not that Everton, Bolton, Blackburn or Portsmouth were winning the title, but zero points is now way to go through life.)
Maybe people don't put too much stock in these sort of things, but after matches this week there's nearly two weeks between the next whistle on Sept. 12. And over that time, the transfer window shuts until January.
That's what makes the first truly bellwether match of the season so important when Arsenal goes to Old Trafford to play Manchester United Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal, arguably the most impressive team through its two matches, can validate that it's the real deal by going to Old Trafford and mashing Sir Alex's boys around the field. Arsene Wenger has preached patience with his youth movement and it would seem the seeds are finally about ready to yield fruit.
For me, what I'd like to see with Arsenal is a look in their eyes. A sense that,
"yeah, we're kind of a big deal -- so deal with it."
If Arsenal can go up to Old Trafford Saturday and layeth the smack down (sorry for the WWF talk), it certainly will send shivers down the spines of the rest of the league. It's a statement game, plain and simple. A notice of intent, as it were.
On its absolute best, when the weather's nice it's hard to see many teams being strong enough to match the Gunners toe-to-toe. Yes, Cheslea has the brute strength to do so and Spurs have the pace, plus the North London Derby extra-juice, but overall, if Arsenal turns it on and clicks it'll be tough to stop.
So long as Robin van Persie and Eduardo stay on the field, coupled with the raw Danish viking strength of Niclas Bendtner, Arsenal has enough firepower up top to replace Emmanuel Adebayor. And again, with health, as long as Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin stay on the field, the midfield with be a handful.
Yes, questions remain about guys like Denilson and Abou Diaby having enough grit against the grinding, physical teams and the defense is clearly suspect, but when you can score two or three goals in a manner of seconds, it pretties up a lot of pigs, not that the Arsenal defense is all that porous.
Granted the jury is still out when the Gunners go to places like the Brittianna Stadium or St. Andrews and the opponents still all 10 men behind the line, bury strategically placed landmines and park the bus in front of the net.
Still, even with some defensive question marks, Arsenal are a red Ferrari in the fast lane with a full tank of gas.
Now on the other side, can three-time defending league champion Manchester United keep up? If either Chelsea or Tottenham win and move to 12 points and United lose, they're already trying to make up six. (Yay math!) Yeah, it's still a long season, but trying to catch up for so long takes its toll.
There are more questions right now at Old Trafford than a game of Trivial Pursuit.
Is Michael Owen worth a damn?
Do Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have anything left in the decade nearing the end of two decades of service with the club?
Can Nani consistently provide offensive flashes from the flank?
Will guys like Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Ji-Sung Park be able to step up their games without Cristiano Ronaldo, or will they be exposed?
Can the Continental Dmitar Berbatov successfully conduct the ballet inside his mind AND score goals at the same time?
Right now about the only givens at United are Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic.
Some loyalist Brit columnists would rather jump off London Bridge than say a cross word about Sir Alex Ferguson. Yet, you have to wonder if he still knows what he's doing in light of the Ronaldo/Carlos Tevez exodus. (I'll question him, but never bet against him.)
United can silence most of these doubts with an inspired performance on Saturday. It won't define a season, but it'll signal intent that four-straight titles, though, unlikely is possible.
Bottom line, if you're reading this here slice of the Internets, you don't need me to tell you how important, though early, this match is.
Saturday:
* Chelsea v. Burnley -- (Live, ESPN2, 7:45 a.m.) Burnley is immediately the feel-good story of the season. Too bad Chelsea eats feel-good stories for breakfast. Lots of riboflavin in there. ... Chelsea 3, Burnley 0
* Tottenham v. Birmingham City -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Really no excuses here for Spurs not to get to 12 points. Birmingham is competent overall, but impotent offensively at the same time. Ruud von Nistelrooy for Big Pavs? That's a win for Spurs if it happens. ... Spurs 2, Birmingham 0
* Blackburn Rovers v. West Ham United -- A couple weeks in and the first game I'd label for potential gamblers -- STAY AWAY. Really, do yourself a favor and pick another match. Blackburn is desperate for a result and probably should get it at Ewood Park, but West Ham is surprisingly decent. Carlton Cole, horrific back-pass and all, was almost in the mythic realm of 'Beast Mode' Sunday vs. Spurs. I forgot how tall he was. I'll go with desperation winning out here. Speaking of desperation, that's another way to say you just signed Pascal Chimbonda. Him and El Hadj Diouf on the same team? Will teams ever learn? ... Blackburn 1, West Ham 0
* Wolves v. Hull City -- The Mustard Bowl! ... Wolves 1, Hull 1
* Bolton v. Liverpool -- (Live, 10 a.m., Setanta) Admittedly, I haven't seen Bolton play this year. And admittedly, I'm not too broken up about that fact either. This match is about pure desperation. Bolton doesn't want to see a big fat zero next to its name for two weeks, but Liverpool doesn't want to be lumped in with the Wigans of the world, either. Quality should win out, but it won't be easy. ... Bolton 0, Liverpool 1
* Stoke City v. Sunderland -- If you play the official Premier League fantasy, are you able to tell the jersey icons apart from these two clubs? I certainly can't. ... Stoke City 1, Sunderland 1
* Manchester United v. Arsenal -- (Live, FSC, 12:15 p.m.) Every inkling says Arsenal goes up and stomps confidence waving United. From whatever angle you like, the tea leaves read Arsenal, whether its United's shaky defense and goalkeeping or suddenly suspect midfield. Arsenal should, in theory, be able to pass United to death. If there's one reason for United to have hope its obviously Wayne Rooney. Perhaps he and Berbatov can expose an Arsenal defense that's yet to see the quality of attacking players United has at its disposal. From experience, I don't think this particular match will be a beauty to watch, but expect plenty of incidents. It may go back and forth, but Arsenal grabs it late through Nic Bendtner. ... Manchester United 1, Arsenal 2
Sunday:
* Portsmouth v. Manchester City -- (Live, 8:30, Setanta) Let's see, City Bucks open at Blackburn, home to Wolves and travel to Fratton Park. What, Glass Joe and Von Kaiser weren't available? ... Portsmouth 1, City 2
* Everton v. Wigan Athletic -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) For sanity's sake, I'll always take Everton when its backed into a corner, even if I think the Sylvan Distin signing reeks of desperation, and onions too. ... Everton 1, Wigan 0
* Aston Villa v. Fulham -- If history has taught us anything, never back teams returning from the Russian front. Sorry Fulham. ... Aston Villa 2, Fulham 0
Last week: 7-3
Season: 14-12
Labels: English Premier League, Premier League, Soccer
Everybody dance now! (Figure out the reference now, or it's revealed later in the post.)
Since I'm off to work, I'll make this quick and to the point.
Bob Bradley picked his roster for the crucial U.S. qualifiers next week at home against El Salvador in Utah and later at Trinidad. Again, these are, for emphasis MUST...WIN...GAMES.
If the U.S. somehow slips up here and doesn't take all six tantalizingly tasty points, well, then Sunil Gulati and friends might end up needing to place a booking in either Quito or Montevideo for either November 14 or 18.
All that said, there's nothing too earth shattering about this roster, aside from the mixing in of a couple of the guys from the Gold Cup team.
* Oguchi Onyewu is out for the El Salvador game via yellow cards.
* Even with Onyewu out for a match and the U.S. hurting for outside defenders, pending where Carlos Bocanegra starts, Heath Pearce was left off the roster. Guess rumors of signing with FC Dallas aren't enough to get you on the team. Your only real outside options are Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Bornstein and Jonathan Spector. Awesome.
* Jose Torres gets recalled again, chances of him seeing the field? Over/Under five percent.
* It's always funny, to me, how this release list Landon Donovan as a forward, when he's almost played exclusively in the midfield this year. Splitting hairs, but I digress.
* So it's come to this Brian Ching AND Conor Casey in the same lineup, hence the title to this post. And to think, this isn't even the MLS All-Star Game!
Note to Bob, you don't need to hold the ball up against these two teams. Please unleash Jozy. He's playing ... and scoring. Thanks.
* Kenny Cooper is playing, and scoring for 1860 Munich. The only reason I can think he was left in Europe was to help him establish himself since he's only just transfered, but even that's a weak argument.
* Robbie Findley? Meh. Doubt he even makes the gameday squads.
GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
PS -- EPL stuff, as usual, tomorrow. Maybe some Champions League rigamaroll over the weekend. Full U.S. previews next week.
Since I'm off to work, I'll make this quick and to the point.
Bob Bradley picked his roster for the crucial U.S. qualifiers next week at home against El Salvador in Utah and later at Trinidad. Again, these are, for emphasis MUST...WIN...GAMES.
If the U.S. somehow slips up here and doesn't take all six tantalizingly tasty points, well, then Sunil Gulati and friends might end up needing to place a booking in either Quito or Montevideo for either November 14 or 18.
All that said, there's nothing too earth shattering about this roster, aside from the mixing in of a couple of the guys from the Gold Cup team.
* Oguchi Onyewu is out for the El Salvador game via yellow cards.
* Even with Onyewu out for a match and the U.S. hurting for outside defenders, pending where Carlos Bocanegra starts, Heath Pearce was left off the roster. Guess rumors of signing with FC Dallas aren't enough to get you on the team. Your only real outside options are Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Bornstein and Jonathan Spector. Awesome.
* Jose Torres gets recalled again, chances of him seeing the field? Over/Under five percent.
* It's always funny, to me, how this release list Landon Donovan as a forward, when he's almost played exclusively in the midfield this year. Splitting hairs, but I digress.
* So it's come to this Brian Ching AND Conor Casey in the same lineup, hence the title to this post. And to think, this isn't even the MLS All-Star Game!
Note to Bob, you don't need to hold the ball up against these two teams. Please unleash Jozy. He's playing ... and scoring. Thanks.
* Kenny Cooper is playing, and scoring for 1860 Munich. The only reason I can think he was left in Europe was to help him establish himself since he's only just transfered, but even that's a weak argument.
* Robbie Findley? Meh. Doubt he even makes the gameday squads.
GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
PS -- EPL stuff, as usual, tomorrow. Maybe some Champions League rigamaroll over the weekend. Full U.S. previews next week.
Labels: bob bradley, concacaf, Jozy Altidore, Soccer, USMNT, world cup qualifying
About that Liverpool/Aston Villa match
3 Comments Published by Cardillo on August 24, 2009 at 4:58 PM.
It's not going out on a limb to say ESPN2 picked a great match, or more accurately, lucked into a great match Monday afternoon with a 3 p.m. Eastern kickoff between Liverpool taking on Aston Villa at ultra high-definition Anfield.
Obviously up front you got the "big" upset, with Villa snapping Liverpool's lengthy unbeaten run at Anfield via an earned 3-1 result.
This game, especially the final 45 minutes, were constantly full of incident. It must be the night time air on Merseyside. (Maybe Derek Rae was right.)
It didn't hurt that Jon Champion's voice was in the mix either. By the god's honest truth, he used the word "Lilly-livered" to describe Liverpool's effort.
If you were some random American Joe Sports fan, you had to have been somewhat entertained. What are you expecting on a sports network at 3 p.m. on a Monday afternoon? Bass fishing? Nascar Now?
Exactly.
A couple little thoughts, until I run out.
* Brad Friedel is still thoroughly "The Man." There are likely more artful ways to put it, but it's simple fact.
If by some unfortunate tragedy Tim Howard gets hurt for next summer's World Cup, Bob Bradley has to pick up the phone and call Friedel out of retirement if only for the tournament in South Africa. This shouldn't even be an issue. You're telling me Brad Guzen -- Friedel's understundy at Villa -- is ready?
Un-retirements from international duty happen all the time in the world, except seemingly America. Maybe Brett Favre has the trademark on it.
* My reports of Aston Villa's imminent demise, for today at least, we far off target. James Milner and Ashley Young were excellent up each wing today. Yes, they got two semi-gift goals on set pieces, but Villa made those standup.
* If you're a Liverpool fan, there is no way on earth humanely possible not to love Jamie Carragher. The ever-present defender was in a full "Fallout 3" headwrap with a face looking like bruised meat.
Was he auditioning for the sequel to 'Inglorious Basterds'? Rugged.
The old-timey Brit pundits must go to sleep dreaming about Carragher.
* And on that note, Fernando Torres' shiner was one of the most balant I've seen in a soccer match, that is assuming it wasn't purple tinted eye-liner from the A-Rod endorsed "Purple Lips QVC Collection."
* If this match was produced by ESPN in England, which it clearly was, we here in the States seem to be in good hands. The halftime bit with a thoroughly disinterested Kevin Keegan and an insightful Matt Holland was adequate.
Somehow there wasn't an ESPN2 Bottom Line running through Little League World Series results on repeat. I cannot overstate how great this is.
The whole screen to watch a game? Who would have thought!
* Liverpool fans ... Andriy Voronin is on your team, luscious golden ponytail included ... and he's expected to contribute.
Let that sink in for a little bit and stay away from sharp objects.
* Did I mention Brad Friedel is amazing? He has hands of stone, like the Kung Fu variety, you'd hear in a Wu-Tang sample.
* Oh right, Liverpool? Two losses in the first three matches? Nothing beats having a must-win game four games into the season. Those are always fun. Good thing a trip to the Reebok for Bolton is a perfect tonic.
This team looks a little lost. Rafa Benitiz seems to have a system that works, at least in Europe, but when you boil down the games Liverpool needs its players to play great or make things happen to succeed.
* A guy like Nigel Reo-Coker, he's a fifth starter in baseball -- he gives you innings. Monday he even won a late penalty after Liverpool pulled it to 2-1. Hard worker, but limited.
* Biggest turn off from this match? Liverpool really bitched throughout the duration in this game like it was 1997 Serie A.
Obviously up front you got the "big" upset, with Villa snapping Liverpool's lengthy unbeaten run at Anfield via an earned 3-1 result.
This game, especially the final 45 minutes, were constantly full of incident. It must be the night time air on Merseyside. (Maybe Derek Rae was right.)
It didn't hurt that Jon Champion's voice was in the mix either. By the god's honest truth, he used the word "Lilly-livered" to describe Liverpool's effort.
If you were some random American Joe Sports fan, you had to have been somewhat entertained. What are you expecting on a sports network at 3 p.m. on a Monday afternoon? Bass fishing? Nascar Now?
Exactly.
A couple little thoughts, until I run out.
* Brad Friedel is still thoroughly "The Man." There are likely more artful ways to put it, but it's simple fact.
If by some unfortunate tragedy Tim Howard gets hurt for next summer's World Cup, Bob Bradley has to pick up the phone and call Friedel out of retirement if only for the tournament in South Africa. This shouldn't even be an issue. You're telling me Brad Guzen -- Friedel's understundy at Villa -- is ready?
Un-retirements from international duty happen all the time in the world, except seemingly America. Maybe Brett Favre has the trademark on it.
* My reports of Aston Villa's imminent demise, for today at least, we far off target. James Milner and Ashley Young were excellent up each wing today. Yes, they got two semi-gift goals on set pieces, but Villa made those standup.
* If you're a Liverpool fan, there is no way on earth humanely possible not to love Jamie Carragher. The ever-present defender was in a full "Fallout 3" headwrap with a face looking like bruised meat.
Was he auditioning for the sequel to 'Inglorious Basterds'? Rugged.
The old-timey Brit pundits must go to sleep dreaming about Carragher.
* And on that note, Fernando Torres' shiner was one of the most balant I've seen in a soccer match, that is assuming it wasn't purple tinted eye-liner from the A-Rod endorsed "Purple Lips QVC Collection."
* If this match was produced by ESPN in England, which it clearly was, we here in the States seem to be in good hands. The halftime bit with a thoroughly disinterested Kevin Keegan and an insightful Matt Holland was adequate.
Somehow there wasn't an ESPN2 Bottom Line running through Little League World Series results on repeat. I cannot overstate how great this is.
The whole screen to watch a game? Who would have thought!
* Liverpool fans ... Andriy Voronin is on your team, luscious golden ponytail included ... and he's expected to contribute.
Let that sink in for a little bit and stay away from sharp objects.
* Did I mention Brad Friedel is amazing? He has hands of stone, like the Kung Fu variety, you'd hear in a Wu-Tang sample.
* Oh right, Liverpool? Two losses in the first three matches? Nothing beats having a must-win game four games into the season. Those are always fun. Good thing a trip to the Reebok for Bolton is a perfect tonic.
This team looks a little lost. Rafa Benitiz seems to have a system that works, at least in Europe, but when you boil down the games Liverpool needs its players to play great or make things happen to succeed.
* A guy like Nigel Reo-Coker, he's a fifth starter in baseball -- he gives you innings. Monday he even won a late penalty after Liverpool pulled it to 2-1. Hard worker, but limited.
* Biggest turn off from this match? Liverpool really bitched throughout the duration in this game like it was 1997 Serie A.
Labels: aston villa, Liverpool, Premier League, Premier League on ESPN, Soccer
Saturday night after work I met up with some friends for a bachelor-party-o-rama.
Long story short, I was hanging with my friend Nick strolling around this outdoor patio of a bar. He was stopped by some random girl, or maybe not so random, who apparently knew him. Somehow she thought he was a soccer player or that she went to school in Liverpool.
The details are fuzzy.
Should I mention Nick was wearing an Everton jersey? And instead of making usual small talk he wanted to discuss the Joleon Lescott scenario with this girl.
Needless to say, it wasn't a long conversation and he's got a girlfriend anyway.
The funny thing was at least three or four times during the course of the night Nick mentioned how upset he was about the Lescott-to-Man City dalliance. As long as I've known him Nick's been a rabid sports fan, but never to this extent.
So I can only imagine how he felt Sunday morning waking up and looking at -- Burnley 1, Everton 0. Not even sticking in a stalk of celery helps that result go down.
So anyway, let's talk about Everton, why not?
We can get into Tottenham and Arsenal later on.
Losing to Arsenal 6-1 is bad enough, but at least it can be justified since the Gunners have the capacity to pull that kind of sublime display against anybody, regardless of which foreign beer company's ad is splashed across the front of the team's shirt. (Chang, Carling ... Carlsburg? Liverpool, I'd be worried.)
Losing to Burnley? Less justifiable. You'd figure Burnley would be in for a letdown only a few days removed from its shock 1-0 win over Manchester United in the midweek. Any way you want to slice this one, it's a turd you can't polish up.
Everton, you're the 2009 MLS All-Star Game Champions, you have a standard to uphold!
It's sufficiently clear at this point that David Moyes botched the Lescott scenario, even if they came to a resolution Sunday night for the GDP of a small Asian country.
Look I like Everton more than most clubs. It's the People's Club, right?
That said, Goodison Park isn't exactly Camp Nou. Lionel Messi or Kaka can spurn the Man City megabucks due to their respective situations at the biggest clubs in the world.
And in that regard, can you really blame Lescott for wanting to get paid? The Premier League, perhaps more than any sports league in the entire world, is drive by the C.R.E.A.M. philosophy. Once Everton lost 6-1 to Arsenal and Man City won on the opening weekend, the situation should have been over. Yet it it lingered and cast a real lousy shadow over the Toffees season. (Yes, it's only two games into the year and Everton will certainly recover, but it's a bad seed to have been planted in the backs Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta's minds.)
More than all this, Moyes seemed to have lost the big picture in regard to Lescott. Yes, as Everton you want to purport yourself as a "big club", but it's simply not the reality of the situation. The Toffees were great last season, and it took every drop of guts and guile to coax fifth place from a team that was ravaged by injuries. In light of what happened over the summer, especially at Manchester City, how did Everton decrease the gap between itself and the "Big Four"?
It didn't, and more importantly couldn't.
Herein lies my biggest beef with the English game. It's a self-perpetuating problem, like the drunk who drinks because he's unhappy he's a drunk.
In the Premier League you need to spend money to make money, and to really make that sweet, sweet money cake, you need to crack the Top Four and make the Champions League. Yet if you overspend and fail, you're setting the club up for financial ruin or possibly the abyss of relegation. There isn't a safety net.
So you have a club like Everton that seems to do things the "right way." Yet the right way doesn't and can't compete with billions upon untold billions of Arabian oil bucks.
It's sad to say, but last year's fifth place finish was an end to a means for Everton, a ceiling.
For Moyes to enter the 2009-10 season thinking a repeat of 2008-09 was possible is be proven to be foolish. In fact, selling off Lescott is the best decision the club can make in the big picture, as painful as it might be to sell of the uber-defender with head scars only a professional wrestler could appreciate.
Look at it this way, Everton bought Lescott for around $5 million before the 2006-07 season. It's gotten 114 appearances and 13 goals -- many important -- from him. Manchester City is offering perhaps five times as much as Everton paid for him. It's simple business, make the deal.
And again, to begrudge Lescott for wanting to ride off with sacks in a race car with bags marked with the British equivalent of "$$$" is petty. To be sentimental and believe there is a whiff of loyalty or sentimentality or that it can trump business is sad but true reality of the situation. Players are loyal to the names signing their checks, not the crest on their chests, regardless of post goal kisses that say otherwise.
What will City's money buy? Clearly not a player that will instantly transform Everton into a top four team -- there's only a handful of those players anyway and they're all in Spain. For the short term, Everton can save that money for a rainy day. In the long term it ought to consider reinvesting it into the club and trying to unearth the next Wayne Rooney through its ranks.
Like in Major League Baseball, where the "have-nots" have found a way to compete against the mega-payroll teams like the Red Sox and Yankees is through smarter scouting and developing their own young talent that they can keep before free agency for at least five or six years.
Football clubs around the world need to realize the way to health as a long-term sporting entity is building from the ground up.
At least, it's being reported that late Sunday, the two sides finally made a deal.
In closing, Everton's club crest reads "Nil Satis Nisi Optimum", meaning "Nothing but the best is good enough".
In 2009, that simply isn't the reality anymore.
Hier Kommt Jozy:
To borrow a quote from 'The Wire', "He fierce."
Jozy Altidore was about three or so of the King's inches away from the perfect debut for Hull City. Still, fans of the Mustard Tigers can take heed that the 19-year-old is the talented kid with upside that might allow them to stick around the Premiership another season.
Altidore's first touch really was a thing of legend, basically falling down and flicking the ball over his head just on the edge of the penalty box, allowing Kamel Ghilas to run onto it and score the game winner vs. Bolton.
Later, Altidore should have probably scored when he collected a long diagonal ball from Geovanni and chipped Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Usually I like to take the Larry David approach to most things, as in CYE, but the sky truly does seem to be the limit for Altidore. Over the summer I worried Altidore wasn't strong enough, but he looked like an ox on Saturday. (And any other worries, when he was stuck in limbo at Villareal, seem to be quashed.)
Hope Bob Bradley wasn't too busy unwinding Saturday with a glass of wine and Brian Ching "holding the ball up" highlights.
Rising:
* North London -- Arsenal and Spurs. Everything is super-amazing in North London these days. Do you need me to tell you that?
When Abou Diaby is scoring twice in two minutes, you know it's good to be a Gunner. (The first set up on a beautiful run-and-pass by Eduardo.)
And Spurs? Thank Carlton Cole for a horrific back pass, but it was certainly a deserved win by Tottenham.
* Wayne Rooney -- And not just because of the shoulder hairs creeping out the neckline of his jersey in HD!
For Manchester United to have any realistic shot at the top spot, Rooney Tunes needs to be a superstar, who more specifically scores goals. Throughout most of United's first three games Rooney collected a lot of passes at the top of the penalty area and looked to lay it off to a teammate, well, specifically a teammate who now calls Estadio Bernabeau home.
Rooney starter the scoring against Wigan with a nifty header in the second half, which the floodgates in the eventual 5-0 win where both Dmitar Berbatov! and Michael Owen!! each scored.
In short, Rooney needs to be an alpha dog this season, even if that dog is a squat little bulldog.
One other Rooney note, via his alleged Twitter. And not it's not that he's able to use a computer. His bio reads: "I'm Wayne Rooney! Footballer, Husband,"
Fantastic.
Falling:
* Wigan Athletic -- There's a very thin line between stupid and clever and Wigan.
* Bolton -- Let the Gary Megson watch begin, for all three people that care about such matters.
Television Zone:
* Week Two wasn't as kind to ESPN. The match from Wigan clearly wasn't on the same level of HD as the previous week from Stamford Bridge. My guess, the big stadiums -- Old Trafford, the Emirates, etc. -- probably already have HD cameras from the Champions League, but stadiums on the fringe like the JJBDW probably don't. This week the ESPN2 HD feed was a tinge better than the FSC normal feed. Not a big deal.
A bigger deal? The feed cutting out consistently for the first ten or so minutes.
Georgie Bingham did use the word, "soc-ball" when going to break. I only bring up this slip-up for the reason if ESPN is carrying the Premier League and using British talent, then you have to expect they'll call it football, not soccer. I'd figure anyone watching knows what's what. It does bear watching down the road.
Overall the best thing about the television scenario is that FSC and the Ghost of Setanta are listing which other channels the weekends matches are airing on in the States. A little cooperation never killed anyone.
Wonder what kind of rating today's Liverpool/Aston Villa match gets at 3 p.m. on ESPN2. For soccer's sake I hope it beats the usual cheerleading competition/World Series of Poker reruns.
Fantasy Team O' the Week:
* With one game remaining, two teams tied on 59 points -- Colin Sebastian's Hargreaves' Hair and Ben Kopsa's Olympique Mayonnais. Each had Wayne Rooney as a captain for 26 points.
Miscellany:
* Titus Bramble must have secretly killed somebody. He actually played pretty good Saturday against Manchester United, even diving to block a point-blank shot by Darren Fletcher.
Of course, he'll never shake his calamity reputation in England, unless by some stroke of fate he kicked the winning-penalty in next year's World Cup Final ... and even then, he'd still be a punchline.
* Clint Dempsey was a straight-up forward for Fulham vs. Chelsea. It'll probably stay that way with Andy Johnson out injured. Wonder if it open the door one last time for Eddie Johnson to do something at Craven Cottage.
* As for Chelsea? Simply dominated Fulham without having to break a sweat.
* If I had a bunch of money laying around, I'd consider lodging a bid at West Ham United. Great history, great/loyal fans and a decent enough stadium inside the English capital. You could do worse.
* Note to FSC, I know there's a relationship with DirecTV, but about eight commercials of LL Cool J yelling, "Philip Rivers" is enough for one weekend.
* Intrigued to see if Aston Villa is going to go to Anfield and show some guts this afternoon. I've said this a couple times, but this team is teetering more than we think. Losing Gareth Barry as a player hurts, but he can be replaced. The leadership void on and off the field left by him and the retired Martin Laursen? These are things that must be considered. I don't see Villa having too much fun any more.
One other thing:
* Not sure if this will be a recurring item or too Peter King-y, but definitely go see "Inglourious Basterds." Yeah, it's long and dense. And yeah, there's a King James Bible amount of on-screen reading. Whatever. It's a movie you only need to see once. It's hard to imagine a more engrossing 220 minutes.
I left the theater on the fence, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. Yeah, it was full of dialogue and would have been more suited for a August 1969 release than an August 2009 release. Insignificant, Quentin Tarantino's got it.
Two things to consider: 1) Christoph Walz is, in fact, the balls in the movie. (That's a bingo!) 2) any time a film uses a snuff box, I'm sold.
Enjoy Anfield this afternoon.
And I'll have a glass of milk, please.
Long story short, I was hanging with my friend Nick strolling around this outdoor patio of a bar. He was stopped by some random girl, or maybe not so random, who apparently knew him. Somehow she thought he was a soccer player or that she went to school in Liverpool.
The details are fuzzy.
Should I mention Nick was wearing an Everton jersey? And instead of making usual small talk he wanted to discuss the Joleon Lescott scenario with this girl.
Needless to say, it wasn't a long conversation and he's got a girlfriend anyway.
The funny thing was at least three or four times during the course of the night Nick mentioned how upset he was about the Lescott-to-Man City dalliance. As long as I've known him Nick's been a rabid sports fan, but never to this extent.
So I can only imagine how he felt Sunday morning waking up and looking at -- Burnley 1, Everton 0. Not even sticking in a stalk of celery helps that result go down.
So anyway, let's talk about Everton, why not?
We can get into Tottenham and Arsenal later on.
Losing to Arsenal 6-1 is bad enough, but at least it can be justified since the Gunners have the capacity to pull that kind of sublime display against anybody, regardless of which foreign beer company's ad is splashed across the front of the team's shirt. (Chang, Carling ... Carlsburg? Liverpool, I'd be worried.)
Losing to Burnley? Less justifiable. You'd figure Burnley would be in for a letdown only a few days removed from its shock 1-0 win over Manchester United in the midweek. Any way you want to slice this one, it's a turd you can't polish up.
Everton, you're the 2009 MLS All-Star Game Champions, you have a standard to uphold!
It's sufficiently clear at this point that David Moyes botched the Lescott scenario, even if they came to a resolution Sunday night for the GDP of a small Asian country.
Look I like Everton more than most clubs. It's the People's Club, right?
That said, Goodison Park isn't exactly Camp Nou. Lionel Messi or Kaka can spurn the Man City megabucks due to their respective situations at the biggest clubs in the world.
And in that regard, can you really blame Lescott for wanting to get paid? The Premier League, perhaps more than any sports league in the entire world, is drive by the C.R.E.A.M. philosophy. Once Everton lost 6-1 to Arsenal and Man City won on the opening weekend, the situation should have been over. Yet it it lingered and cast a real lousy shadow over the Toffees season. (Yes, it's only two games into the year and Everton will certainly recover, but it's a bad seed to have been planted in the backs Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta's minds.)
More than all this, Moyes seemed to have lost the big picture in regard to Lescott. Yes, as Everton you want to purport yourself as a "big club", but it's simply not the reality of the situation. The Toffees were great last season, and it took every drop of guts and guile to coax fifth place from a team that was ravaged by injuries. In light of what happened over the summer, especially at Manchester City, how did Everton decrease the gap between itself and the "Big Four"?
It didn't, and more importantly couldn't.
Herein lies my biggest beef with the English game. It's a self-perpetuating problem, like the drunk who drinks because he's unhappy he's a drunk.
In the Premier League you need to spend money to make money, and to really make that sweet, sweet money cake, you need to crack the Top Four and make the Champions League. Yet if you overspend and fail, you're setting the club up for financial ruin or possibly the abyss of relegation. There isn't a safety net.
So you have a club like Everton that seems to do things the "right way." Yet the right way doesn't and can't compete with billions upon untold billions of Arabian oil bucks.
It's sad to say, but last year's fifth place finish was an end to a means for Everton, a ceiling.
For Moyes to enter the 2009-10 season thinking a repeat of 2008-09 was possible is be proven to be foolish. In fact, selling off Lescott is the best decision the club can make in the big picture, as painful as it might be to sell of the uber-defender with head scars only a professional wrestler could appreciate.
Look at it this way, Everton bought Lescott for around $5 million before the 2006-07 season. It's gotten 114 appearances and 13 goals -- many important -- from him. Manchester City is offering perhaps five times as much as Everton paid for him. It's simple business, make the deal.
And again, to begrudge Lescott for wanting to ride off with sacks in a race car with bags marked with the British equivalent of "$$$" is petty. To be sentimental and believe there is a whiff of loyalty or sentimentality or that it can trump business is sad but true reality of the situation. Players are loyal to the names signing their checks, not the crest on their chests, regardless of post goal kisses that say otherwise.
What will City's money buy? Clearly not a player that will instantly transform Everton into a top four team -- there's only a handful of those players anyway and they're all in Spain. For the short term, Everton can save that money for a rainy day. In the long term it ought to consider reinvesting it into the club and trying to unearth the next Wayne Rooney through its ranks.
Like in Major League Baseball, where the "have-nots" have found a way to compete against the mega-payroll teams like the Red Sox and Yankees is through smarter scouting and developing their own young talent that they can keep before free agency for at least five or six years.
Football clubs around the world need to realize the way to health as a long-term sporting entity is building from the ground up.
At least, it's being reported that late Sunday, the two sides finally made a deal.
In closing, Everton's club crest reads "Nil Satis Nisi Optimum", meaning "Nothing but the best is good enough".
In 2009, that simply isn't the reality anymore.
Hier Kommt Jozy:
To borrow a quote from 'The Wire', "He fierce."
Jozy Altidore was about three or so of the King's inches away from the perfect debut for Hull City. Still, fans of the Mustard Tigers can take heed that the 19-year-old is the talented kid with upside that might allow them to stick around the Premiership another season.
Altidore's first touch really was a thing of legend, basically falling down and flicking the ball over his head just on the edge of the penalty box, allowing Kamel Ghilas to run onto it and score the game winner vs. Bolton.
Later, Altidore should have probably scored when he collected a long diagonal ball from Geovanni and chipped Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Usually I like to take the Larry David approach to most things, as in CYE, but the sky truly does seem to be the limit for Altidore. Over the summer I worried Altidore wasn't strong enough, but he looked like an ox on Saturday. (And any other worries, when he was stuck in limbo at Villareal, seem to be quashed.)
Hope Bob Bradley wasn't too busy unwinding Saturday with a glass of wine and Brian Ching "holding the ball up" highlights.
Rising:
* North London -- Arsenal and Spurs. Everything is super-amazing in North London these days. Do you need me to tell you that?
When Abou Diaby is scoring twice in two minutes, you know it's good to be a Gunner. (The first set up on a beautiful run-and-pass by Eduardo.)
And Spurs? Thank Carlton Cole for a horrific back pass, but it was certainly a deserved win by Tottenham.
* Wayne Rooney -- And not just because of the shoulder hairs creeping out the neckline of his jersey in HD!
For Manchester United to have any realistic shot at the top spot, Rooney Tunes needs to be a superstar, who more specifically scores goals. Throughout most of United's first three games Rooney collected a lot of passes at the top of the penalty area and looked to lay it off to a teammate, well, specifically a teammate who now calls Estadio Bernabeau home.
Rooney starter the scoring against Wigan with a nifty header in the second half, which the floodgates in the eventual 5-0 win where both Dmitar Berbatov! and Michael Owen!! each scored.
In short, Rooney needs to be an alpha dog this season, even if that dog is a squat little bulldog.
One other Rooney note, via his alleged Twitter. And not it's not that he's able to use a computer. His bio reads: "I'm Wayne Rooney! Footballer, Husband,"
Fantastic.
Falling:
* Wigan Athletic -- There's a very thin line between stupid and clever and Wigan.
* Bolton -- Let the Gary Megson watch begin, for all three people that care about such matters.
Television Zone:
* Week Two wasn't as kind to ESPN. The match from Wigan clearly wasn't on the same level of HD as the previous week from Stamford Bridge. My guess, the big stadiums -- Old Trafford, the Emirates, etc. -- probably already have HD cameras from the Champions League, but stadiums on the fringe like the JJBDW probably don't. This week the ESPN2 HD feed was a tinge better than the FSC normal feed. Not a big deal.
A bigger deal? The feed cutting out consistently for the first ten or so minutes.
Georgie Bingham did use the word, "soc-ball" when going to break. I only bring up this slip-up for the reason if ESPN is carrying the Premier League and using British talent, then you have to expect they'll call it football, not soccer. I'd figure anyone watching knows what's what. It does bear watching down the road.
Overall the best thing about the television scenario is that FSC and the Ghost of Setanta are listing which other channels the weekends matches are airing on in the States. A little cooperation never killed anyone.
Wonder what kind of rating today's Liverpool/Aston Villa match gets at 3 p.m. on ESPN2. For soccer's sake I hope it beats the usual cheerleading competition/World Series of Poker reruns.
Fantasy Team O' the Week:
* With one game remaining, two teams tied on 59 points -- Colin Sebastian's Hargreaves' Hair and Ben Kopsa's Olympique Mayonnais. Each had Wayne Rooney as a captain for 26 points.
Miscellany:
* Titus Bramble must have secretly killed somebody. He actually played pretty good Saturday against Manchester United, even diving to block a point-blank shot by Darren Fletcher.
Of course, he'll never shake his calamity reputation in England, unless by some stroke of fate he kicked the winning-penalty in next year's World Cup Final ... and even then, he'd still be a punchline.
* Clint Dempsey was a straight-up forward for Fulham vs. Chelsea. It'll probably stay that way with Andy Johnson out injured. Wonder if it open the door one last time for Eddie Johnson to do something at Craven Cottage.
* As for Chelsea? Simply dominated Fulham without having to break a sweat.
* If I had a bunch of money laying around, I'd consider lodging a bid at West Ham United. Great history, great/loyal fans and a decent enough stadium inside the English capital. You could do worse.
* Note to FSC, I know there's a relationship with DirecTV, but about eight commercials of LL Cool J yelling, "Philip Rivers" is enough for one weekend.
* Intrigued to see if Aston Villa is going to go to Anfield and show some guts this afternoon. I've said this a couple times, but this team is teetering more than we think. Losing Gareth Barry as a player hurts, but he can be replaced. The leadership void on and off the field left by him and the retired Martin Laursen? These are things that must be considered. I don't see Villa having too much fun any more.
One other thing:
* Not sure if this will be a recurring item or too Peter King-y, but definitely go see "Inglourious Basterds." Yeah, it's long and dense. And yeah, there's a King James Bible amount of on-screen reading. Whatever. It's a movie you only need to see once. It's hard to imagine a more engrossing 220 minutes.
I left the theater on the fence, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. Yeah, it was full of dialogue and would have been more suited for a August 1969 release than an August 2009 release. Insignificant, Quentin Tarantino's got it.
Two things to consider: 1) Christoph Walz is, in fact, the balls in the movie. (That's a bingo!) 2) any time a film uses a snuff box, I'm sold.
Enjoy Anfield this afternoon.
And I'll have a glass of milk, please.
Labels: david moyes, everton, fox soccer channel, joleon lescott, Premier League, Premier League on ESPN, Soccer, Wayne Rooney
For today, at least, it's good to be Steve Nash (even more so than usual), Jeff Beck, (suddenly) Bill Simmons, my buddy Suppe and yes, even according to this website Andrew Ridgley.
Granted it's a mere two games into the marathon that is the 2009-10 Premier League season, but there is reason to be excited about the heady days at White Hart Lane as Tottenham -- the classic tease if there ever was one -- is 2-0-0 with six points in the bank with seven goals scored in those matches. Yes, it seems like Spurs fans celebrate ever August until drifting falling back into the ether, but there's a decent chance this season could be different.
The other day I was talking to Suppe on the phone and the topic of Spurs came up and he wondered why Alan Hutton didn't start vs. Liverpool? I speculated he wasn't that good. Of course, Hutton -- purchased from Rangers for around $18 million -- is a quality player. Is he a difference maker game-to-game? Absolutely not, but it's a testament to the overall depth at the club where Benoît Assou-Ekotto and Vedran Corluka started outside on defense.
Look at last Sunday's game home to Liverpool for an example.
True, this particular match its a bit of an outlier since how often do you see Liverpool lose essentially its entire central defense and have to call on an 18-year-old Argentine late because Martin Skrtel had to limp off with a possible broken jaw? Yet don't dismiss the quality Tottenham had on the bench for the match -- Peter Crouch, David Bentley, Hutton, Jamie O'Hara, Manu Ginobli, Kyle Naughton and from Russia with Love, Roman Pavlyuchenko.
None too shabby.
Also not of the shabby variety? A proven Premier League difference maker in the form of Bentley as surplus requirements. (Yeah, I slipped Ginobli in there just to make sure you're paying attention.)
Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe's joint insistence on trying to bring back, as Suppe put it, "the lines shaved in the dome like Anthony Mason."? The jury is out on this alarming trend, which makes me want to go down to the local video store bargain bin and mine for some old Kin 'N Play tapes.
Back to the topic at hand, sometimes we forget how managers need the ability to mix-and-match during a game and have options to inject some life into a team or take a difference approach. Spurs have a little bit of everything, it seems, and its spread across the field. You have midfielder crushers in Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone, who can also chip in with the occasional goal. You've got a pair of forward with speed to burn in Defoe and a pesky, getting older Robbie Keane. (If worst came to worse, Spurs could attempt to play Gio Dos Santos, the club did play Barcelona for around $10 million.)
Maybe most important, Spurs have reserve in defense. Jonathon Woodgate (surprise) is out with injured, Michael Dawson might be too. No matter, Spurs still had Sebastien "Just Forget I played at Newcastle" Bassong to pair with Ledley King on Sunday and then Vedran Corluka in the midweek 5-1 win over Hull City.
And then there is Luka Modric. How I went so far into a puff piece on Tottenham without mentioning the club's version of a teen idol. He makes Spurs fans swoon. For as talented at the Croatian international is, he more than anyone at the club, needs to remember a season isn't defined by two games in August.
Regardless, it's a lot of players. Most importantly, it's a lot of varied players at different positions. Comparatively, which other Premier League club can match that depth? Manchester City probably has as many attacking players, but lacks on defense untill they beam up Jolean Lescott to the Klingon mothership. Chelsea has a stacked midfield, but a derth of wide players. Arsenal and Liverpool have a lot of players, period, but how many can be counted on? And Manchester United? The Red Devils remain a work in progress.
For certain, if you select Tottenham in 'FIFA 10' you'll probably spend a few good minutes trying to shoehorn every player onto the field at once. It's only a video game, but it's a good problem to have, and in real life Redknapp has shown a keen enough eye to get the right combinations for the right opponents.
One thing I thought about over last weekend with depth and injuries.
Every club, almost to a man, suffers at least one or two "key" players being sidelined during the course of the season. Yes, the big clubs all have reserve and youth teams to pull from, but it's not like this week when the Texas Rangers needed a catcher and traded for Pudge Rodriguez. Once the transfer window closes, teams are pretty much on their own, unless they can finagle a loan or pick up a free agent.
But getting back to Spurs, the question is can they maintain this kind of pace through the thick and thin of the season? Impossible to say at this point. Spurs' track record says this is simply another example of the club teasing its fans, like a Hollywood starlet doing a nude scene and only later it's revealed she used a body double.
One things for certain, there's a chance one of the 'Big Four' might scuffle this season. Manchester United is clearly in a sea change season as it adjusts to life A.R. (After Ronaldo). Odds are that Sir Alex Ferguson rights the ship and salvages at least fourth place, but maybe that doesn't happen, especially if the defensive situation never stabilizes. And what if Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard spend time on the sidelines for Liverpool? (Sorry Ace)
Spurs should put themselves in position to pounce, assuming they can fend off Manchester City.
Yes, to once again reitorate, with Spurs the other shoe usually drops. And matches with Manchester United and Chelsea loom in September.
Something could conceivably happen. And right now there is hope with Tottenham.
That's why we play and watch sports, right?
Saturday:
* Arsenal v. Portsmouth -- (Live, Setanta USA, 10 a.m.) Could you possibly find more of an extreme entering this match? The Gunners are still taking bows for the 6-1 demolition of Everton, while Portsmouth enters off a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham on a 90th+ minute penalty kick. Ouch. Arsenal supporters might need a little alone time to calm themselves after this one. It's going to be a lot of Sexy, err, Cescy Football. ... Arsenal 4, Portsmouth 0
* Sunderland v. Blackburn -- Darren Bent is one player clearly playing with a chip on his shoulder. Even with him in the fold, though, Sunderland remains one of the league's most anonymous teams. As for Blackburn, good luck with the Miguel Salgado signing. Yeah, Sam Allardyce has a track record with ancient veterans players on free transfers (Fernando Hierro, Youri Djorkaeff, etc.) here's one thing to consider, last I saw of Salgado he was posing for a FourFourTwo feature about his love of surfing. Lanchashire doesn't strike me as a place to hang ten. ... Sunderland 1, Blackburn 0
* Birmingham City v. Stoke City -- Without looking, what are the odds this one finishes 0-0? 50/50? Higher? ... Birmingham 0, Stoke City 0
* Hull City v. Bolton -- If Hull can get Stephen Hunt, Jimmy Bullard and that Altidore kid (work permit/swine flu permitting) on the field together, maybe the Mustard Tigers might be downright frisky. That might be some time down the road. ... Hull 1, Bolton 1
* Manchester City v. Wolves -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) If City were a stock, it'd be creating a fury right now on the trading floor. If they thrash Wolves, it'll only add to that, especially in Manchester United stumbles a bit. If it were me, I'd sell high. Then again, I'm a blogger, not a trader. ... City 2, Wolves 0
* Wigan Athletic v. Manchester United -- (Live, ESPN2, 9:30 a.m.) The JJB in High-Def? Probably not the most ringing endorsement for the technology. United at least get their version of the Jose Cancesco slump-buster, because to say the Red Devils own Wigan is an understatement. Whether its a dubious penalty and or offside call, no way Sir Alex walks away from this match pointless, right conspiracy theorists?... Wigan 0, Manchester United 1
Sunday:
* West Ham United v. Tottenham -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Absolutely a litmus test for both clubs. Is West Ham going to be sneaky good once again this season? Are Spurs for real? West Ham does have a deceptively crafty defense and the homeless man's Gerrard/Lampard type in Scott Parker, but Tottenham is rolling. Maybe I'll buy into the hype this time. ... West Ham 1, Tottenham 2
* Burnley v. Everton -- Now here's a true test for the mettle of Burnley. Winning against Manchester United is one thing, but that's a match full of adrenaline both with the team and perhaps more importantly, the stands. That was a night game, this is a mid-afternoon affair. You're not going to be as up for Everton as Manchester United, it's fact. Can Owen Coyle's team manage to get a result against a suddenly in turmoil Everton side that can't afford to stutter out of the gates. Watching both teams, I give Burnley a puncher's chance. It's a team that isn't reliant on one player and will be tough for Everton to break down in the run of play. ... Burnley 1, Everton 1
* Fulham v. Chelsea -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) What's with Fulham adding Damien Duff and Jonathon Greening? Are these good moves? One trend to eye with Chelsea is the Blues have let in goals in their first two matches. And unless they pay Bayern's ransom for Franck Ribery, Chelsea's width will remain an issue. (Wait, that sounds a little too sexual.) ... Fulham 1, Chelsea 2
Monday:
* Liverpool v. Aston Villa -- (Live, ESPN2, 3 p.m.) Is anyone, at least stateside, a fan of these Monday afternoon games? Anyway, at least it looks like Rafa Benetiz made a transfer from within the league who can make an immediate impact in the form of Glenn Johnson. The ex-Portsmouth player is a perfect player for these type of matches where he can worry more about getting forward into the attack, as opposed to defending. (In other words, don't expect too much of him on big European night.) Villa, if it doesn't get back on track, there could be a lot of player discontent and follow Gareth Barry out the door. ... Liverpool 3, Aston Villa 1
* Finally, here's an interesting nugget, through the first three matches in the English Championship, how many of the 22 teams went 3-0-0? ... That's right, zero.
Midweek: 3-3
Season: 7-9
Granted it's a mere two games into the marathon that is the 2009-10 Premier League season, but there is reason to be excited about the heady days at White Hart Lane as Tottenham -- the classic tease if there ever was one -- is 2-0-0 with six points in the bank with seven goals scored in those matches. Yes, it seems like Spurs fans celebrate ever August until drifting falling back into the ether, but there's a decent chance this season could be different.
The other day I was talking to Suppe on the phone and the topic of Spurs came up and he wondered why Alan Hutton didn't start vs. Liverpool? I speculated he wasn't that good. Of course, Hutton -- purchased from Rangers for around $18 million -- is a quality player. Is he a difference maker game-to-game? Absolutely not, but it's a testament to the overall depth at the club where Benoît Assou-Ekotto and Vedran Corluka started outside on defense.
Look at last Sunday's game home to Liverpool for an example.
True, this particular match its a bit of an outlier since how often do you see Liverpool lose essentially its entire central defense and have to call on an 18-year-old Argentine late because Martin Skrtel had to limp off with a possible broken jaw? Yet don't dismiss the quality Tottenham had on the bench for the match -- Peter Crouch, David Bentley, Hutton, Jamie O'Hara, Manu Ginobli, Kyle Naughton and from Russia with Love, Roman Pavlyuchenko.
None too shabby.
Also not of the shabby variety? A proven Premier League difference maker in the form of Bentley as surplus requirements. (Yeah, I slipped Ginobli in there just to make sure you're paying attention.)
Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe's joint insistence on trying to bring back, as Suppe put it, "the lines shaved in the dome like Anthony Mason."? The jury is out on this alarming trend, which makes me want to go down to the local video store bargain bin and mine for some old Kin 'N Play tapes.
Back to the topic at hand, sometimes we forget how managers need the ability to mix-and-match during a game and have options to inject some life into a team or take a difference approach. Spurs have a little bit of everything, it seems, and its spread across the field. You have midfielder crushers in Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone, who can also chip in with the occasional goal. You've got a pair of forward with speed to burn in Defoe and a pesky, getting older Robbie Keane. (If worst came to worse, Spurs could attempt to play Gio Dos Santos, the club did play Barcelona for around $10 million.)
Maybe most important, Spurs have reserve in defense. Jonathon Woodgate (surprise) is out with injured, Michael Dawson might be too. No matter, Spurs still had Sebastien "Just Forget I played at Newcastle" Bassong to pair with Ledley King on Sunday and then Vedran Corluka in the midweek 5-1 win over Hull City.
And then there is Luka Modric. How I went so far into a puff piece on Tottenham without mentioning the club's version of a teen idol. He makes Spurs fans swoon. For as talented at the Croatian international is, he more than anyone at the club, needs to remember a season isn't defined by two games in August.
Regardless, it's a lot of players. Most importantly, it's a lot of varied players at different positions. Comparatively, which other Premier League club can match that depth? Manchester City probably has as many attacking players, but lacks on defense untill they beam up Jolean Lescott to the Klingon mothership. Chelsea has a stacked midfield, but a derth of wide players. Arsenal and Liverpool have a lot of players, period, but how many can be counted on? And Manchester United? The Red Devils remain a work in progress.
For certain, if you select Tottenham in 'FIFA 10' you'll probably spend a few good minutes trying to shoehorn every player onto the field at once. It's only a video game, but it's a good problem to have, and in real life Redknapp has shown a keen enough eye to get the right combinations for the right opponents.
One thing I thought about over last weekend with depth and injuries.
Every club, almost to a man, suffers at least one or two "key" players being sidelined during the course of the season. Yes, the big clubs all have reserve and youth teams to pull from, but it's not like this week when the Texas Rangers needed a catcher and traded for Pudge Rodriguez. Once the transfer window closes, teams are pretty much on their own, unless they can finagle a loan or pick up a free agent.
But getting back to Spurs, the question is can they maintain this kind of pace through the thick and thin of the season? Impossible to say at this point. Spurs' track record says this is simply another example of the club teasing its fans, like a Hollywood starlet doing a nude scene and only later it's revealed she used a body double.
One things for certain, there's a chance one of the 'Big Four' might scuffle this season. Manchester United is clearly in a sea change season as it adjusts to life A.R. (After Ronaldo). Odds are that Sir Alex Ferguson rights the ship and salvages at least fourth place, but maybe that doesn't happen, especially if the defensive situation never stabilizes. And what if Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard spend time on the sidelines for Liverpool? (Sorry Ace)
Spurs should put themselves in position to pounce, assuming they can fend off Manchester City.
Yes, to once again reitorate, with Spurs the other shoe usually drops. And matches with Manchester United and Chelsea loom in September.
Something could conceivably happen. And right now there is hope with Tottenham.
That's why we play and watch sports, right?
Saturday:
* Arsenal v. Portsmouth -- (Live, Setanta USA, 10 a.m.) Could you possibly find more of an extreme entering this match? The Gunners are still taking bows for the 6-1 demolition of Everton, while Portsmouth enters off a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham on a 90th+ minute penalty kick. Ouch. Arsenal supporters might need a little alone time to calm themselves after this one. It's going to be a lot of Sexy, err, Cescy Football. ... Arsenal 4, Portsmouth 0
* Sunderland v. Blackburn -- Darren Bent is one player clearly playing with a chip on his shoulder. Even with him in the fold, though, Sunderland remains one of the league's most anonymous teams. As for Blackburn, good luck with the Miguel Salgado signing. Yeah, Sam Allardyce has a track record with ancient veterans players on free transfers (Fernando Hierro, Youri Djorkaeff, etc.) here's one thing to consider, last I saw of Salgado he was posing for a FourFourTwo feature about his love of surfing. Lanchashire doesn't strike me as a place to hang ten. ... Sunderland 1, Blackburn 0
* Birmingham City v. Stoke City -- Without looking, what are the odds this one finishes 0-0? 50/50? Higher? ... Birmingham 0, Stoke City 0
* Hull City v. Bolton -- If Hull can get Stephen Hunt, Jimmy Bullard and that Altidore kid (work permit/swine flu permitting) on the field together, maybe the Mustard Tigers might be downright frisky. That might be some time down the road. ... Hull 1, Bolton 1
* Manchester City v. Wolves -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) If City were a stock, it'd be creating a fury right now on the trading floor. If they thrash Wolves, it'll only add to that, especially in Manchester United stumbles a bit. If it were me, I'd sell high. Then again, I'm a blogger, not a trader. ... City 2, Wolves 0
* Wigan Athletic v. Manchester United -- (Live, ESPN2, 9:30 a.m.) The JJB in High-Def? Probably not the most ringing endorsement for the technology. United at least get their version of the Jose Cancesco slump-buster, because to say the Red Devils own Wigan is an understatement. Whether its a dubious penalty and or offside call, no way Sir Alex walks away from this match pointless, right conspiracy theorists?... Wigan 0, Manchester United 1
Sunday:
* West Ham United v. Tottenham -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Absolutely a litmus test for both clubs. Is West Ham going to be sneaky good once again this season? Are Spurs for real? West Ham does have a deceptively crafty defense and the homeless man's Gerrard/Lampard type in Scott Parker, but Tottenham is rolling. Maybe I'll buy into the hype this time. ... West Ham 1, Tottenham 2
* Burnley v. Everton -- Now here's a true test for the mettle of Burnley. Winning against Manchester United is one thing, but that's a match full of adrenaline both with the team and perhaps more importantly, the stands. That was a night game, this is a mid-afternoon affair. You're not going to be as up for Everton as Manchester United, it's fact. Can Owen Coyle's team manage to get a result against a suddenly in turmoil Everton side that can't afford to stutter out of the gates. Watching both teams, I give Burnley a puncher's chance. It's a team that isn't reliant on one player and will be tough for Everton to break down in the run of play. ... Burnley 1, Everton 1
* Fulham v. Chelsea -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) What's with Fulham adding Damien Duff and Jonathon Greening? Are these good moves? One trend to eye with Chelsea is the Blues have let in goals in their first two matches. And unless they pay Bayern's ransom for Franck Ribery, Chelsea's width will remain an issue. (Wait, that sounds a little too sexual.) ... Fulham 1, Chelsea 2
Monday:
* Liverpool v. Aston Villa -- (Live, ESPN2, 3 p.m.) Is anyone, at least stateside, a fan of these Monday afternoon games? Anyway, at least it looks like Rafa Benetiz made a transfer from within the league who can make an immediate impact in the form of Glenn Johnson. The ex-Portsmouth player is a perfect player for these type of matches where he can worry more about getting forward into the attack, as opposed to defending. (In other words, don't expect too much of him on big European night.) Villa, if it doesn't get back on track, there could be a lot of player discontent and follow Gareth Barry out the door. ... Liverpool 3, Aston Villa 1
* Finally, here's an interesting nugget, through the first three matches in the English Championship, how many of the 22 teams went 3-0-0? ... That's right, zero.
Midweek: 3-3
Season: 7-9
Labels: Premier League, premier league fantasy, Premier League on ESPN, Soccer, tottenham hotspur
Sorry for the quickie, but I have to run out after watching Burnley pull an all-time shocker, beating Manchester United 1-0 Wednesday.
Really, really quick.
1. File this statement right next to Sir Isaac Newtown having the apple fall onto his head and discovering gravity -- Manchester United misses Ronaldo.
Aside from Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Ryan 'The British Brett Favre' Giggs, there wasn't a ton of out-and-out quality on the field for United in this particular match.
2. Burnley keeper Brian "The Beast" Jensen, is officially on my top five favorite players list, especially after saving a first half penalty.
3. Robbie Blake, take a bow.
4. The population of the entire town of Burnley could fit inside Old Trafford. Chew on that for a second or two.
5. When you have Rooney and the corpse of Michael Owen on the field, why on earth is Michael Carrick taking a penalty when you're Manchester United?
Even though I have to go run out, at least I'll have the Burnley's theme song pumping through my head while I go run this errand -- "Tom Hark" by the Piranhas.
Really, really quick.
1. File this statement right next to Sir Isaac Newtown having the apple fall onto his head and discovering gravity -- Manchester United misses Ronaldo.
Aside from Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Ryan 'The British Brett Favre' Giggs, there wasn't a ton of out-and-out quality on the field for United in this particular match.
2. Burnley keeper Brian "The Beast" Jensen, is officially on my top five favorite players list, especially after saving a first half penalty.
3. Robbie Blake, take a bow.
4. The population of the entire town of Burnley could fit inside Old Trafford. Chew on that for a second or two.
5. When you have Rooney and the corpse of Michael Owen on the field, why on earth is Michael Carrick taking a penalty when you're Manchester United?
Even though I have to go run out, at least I'll have the Burnley's theme song pumping through my head while I go run this errand -- "Tom Hark" by the Piranhas.
Labels: burnley, manchester United, Premier League, Soccer
A couple months ago when the news broke that ESPN lost the UEFA Champions League rights to Fox, most of the responses I read here and elsewhere were negative and somewhere along the lines of, "there's no HD and Max Bretos sucks."
This was surprising.
I figured the less Tommy Symth in your life -- the better.
Of course, as always, what do I know?
Tuesday afternoon I made sure to be tuned in at 2 p.m. for Fox Soccer Channel's first crack at the most prestigious club competition in the world. It was worth checking out how FSC would handle it.
Would the typical cable-access level production, not to mention 'Wayne's World' feel, of the network sully the good name of the Champions League?
Would, on cue, the first time the UEFA Anthem was supposed to be played would it cut away to a cheaply produced ad for an online flea market?
Through the first Match Day (Tuesday's final stage of qualifying), at least, so far so good.
First off, it's hard to screw up anything when Bobby McMahon is involved. Even as he's shed his glasses and tried to get a more polished television persona, the Scot remains an absolute encyclopedia of soccer knowledge. He doesn't bring schtick, just honest information and opinion, which seems rather rare in television sports analysts. McMahon isn't beholden to any players or teams, which is part of what makes his insight great. He looks at the games like a banker (his day job) and we're all better for it.
Warren Barton? Eh. Inimitably forgettable.
Hell, even Bretos kept himself in check and even admitted he knew nothing about Moldovian soccer instead of cooking up some bad metaphor. (Okay, at the end of the game on FSC he couldn't resist saying there's, "a new sheriff in town.")
Here's the biggest upside for Fox acquiring the Champions League rights. It's not Fox Soccer, it's Fox Sports in general.
Tuesday afternoon on my cable system there were three, yes, three live matchups airing all at once. Arsenal/Celtic was on MSG+, FC Sheriff/Olympiacos on FSC and Stuttgart/God Only Knows How to Produce Cypriot FC on Fox Sports Espanol. Allegedly Setanta had Sporting/Fiorentina, too, but it wasn't on broadband. (Hey, Setanta-i, thanks for cutting off at halftime of Sunderland/Chelsea mysteriously. Was there an MLB blackout that needed to be enforced?)
On the plus side, too, the Arsenal/Celtic match was in HD, or at least upscaled 480p resolution. It wasn't nearly as sharp as Cheslea/Hull City Sunday on ESPN2, but better than your usual FSC telecast, widescreen to boot.
As for the broadcasts themselves? Fox stuck with the English/British announcing feeds and the standard UEFA graphics. The Arsenal/Celtic match went about 15 minutes before the actual announcing feed was picked up, so yes, there was a hiccup.
So overall, so long as Fox continues to spread the Champions League across all its platforms, we the viewers look to be clear winners as there won't be anymore waiting for ESPN to re-play at match on ESPN Classic after the fact.
Once FSC goes HD in February, all bets are off.
As for Arsenal/Celtic. Impressive win by Arsenal to walk away from Parkhead with a 2-0 lead going back to the Emirates.
The Gunners weren't as pacey or tricksy as the weekend at Goodison Park, but they got a result. Yes, the first goal just before the half was about as fluky a deflection as you'll ever see -- William Gallas was diving to get out of the way and it went off his back -- but it was a result on the road against a team on par with the Premier League midtablers. (The second Arsenal goal was a Celtic own-goal.)
As the match progressed, it made me wonder, who would have thought during that whole Ashely Cole-to-Chelsea imbroglio a couple years ago, that Arsenal might have gotten the better of the deal with Gallas moving to the Emirates. Yes, the Frenchman had his famous pouting incident, but that's in the past. With a couple of the Arsenal big personalities -- namely Emmanuel Adebayor -- out the door, Gallas' personality quirks might not be such an issue. He still remains the club's best defensive minded player, even if he (like everyone at the Emirates) likes to go forward into the attack.
What is an issue, should anything happen to Gallas or the newest Gunner import Thomas Vermaelen, then Arsenal is severely boned. (Assuming Arsene Wenger can't pry Breda Hangeland away from Fulham in the next 12 days.) We all saw how the Keiran Gibbs scenario worked out last season.
Arsenal can score a ton of goals, but still need to keep some out. That central defense is looking razor thin at the moment.
For Celtic this is a stinging defeat since the Bhoys are all but Europa League bound. For most of the first half they more than held their own against the Young Gunners. Celtic passed and possessed, but had no finishing touch in the final third. Guess that's what happens when you have Georgios Samaras as your lone striker.
And on top of that, it's why you don't blow a seven-point lead to Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. (How Arsenal and Celtic drew together in light of the other playoff games seems very, very fishy, no?)
It was only one day, but so far the Champions League moving to Fox doesn't seem like such an issue. In fact, it was downright pleasurable.
This overall shifting paradigm of soccer on television in the U.S. is reminiscent of what happened in the early 1990s when Fox threw its hat into the NFL broadcasting ring acquiring the rights to the NFC, which caused a major carousel to spin around the dial. Everyone figured it would be chaotic and Fox would ruin the NFL. A decade or so later, it's hardly an issue, so long as you like robots morphing out from the scoreboard graphics.
In a couple weeks, maybe, we'll have this soccer situation all figured out.
One thing's for certain, there's an absolute metric ton of soccer on television these days. Who'd have thunk it?
This was surprising.
I figured the less Tommy Symth in your life -- the better.
Of course, as always, what do I know?
Tuesday afternoon I made sure to be tuned in at 2 p.m. for Fox Soccer Channel's first crack at the most prestigious club competition in the world. It was worth checking out how FSC would handle it.
Would the typical cable-access level production, not to mention 'Wayne's World' feel, of the network sully the good name of the Champions League?
Would, on cue, the first time the UEFA Anthem was supposed to be played would it cut away to a cheaply produced ad for an online flea market?
Through the first Match Day (Tuesday's final stage of qualifying), at least, so far so good.
First off, it's hard to screw up anything when Bobby McMahon is involved. Even as he's shed his glasses and tried to get a more polished television persona, the Scot remains an absolute encyclopedia of soccer knowledge. He doesn't bring schtick, just honest information and opinion, which seems rather rare in television sports analysts. McMahon isn't beholden to any players or teams, which is part of what makes his insight great. He looks at the games like a banker (his day job) and we're all better for it.
Warren Barton? Eh. Inimitably forgettable.
Hell, even Bretos kept himself in check and even admitted he knew nothing about Moldovian soccer instead of cooking up some bad metaphor. (Okay, at the end of the game on FSC he couldn't resist saying there's, "a new sheriff in town.")
Here's the biggest upside for Fox acquiring the Champions League rights. It's not Fox Soccer, it's Fox Sports in general.
Tuesday afternoon on my cable system there were three, yes, three live matchups airing all at once. Arsenal/Celtic was on MSG+, FC Sheriff/Olympiacos on FSC and Stuttgart/God Only Knows How to Produce Cypriot FC on Fox Sports Espanol. Allegedly Setanta had Sporting/Fiorentina, too, but it wasn't on broadband. (Hey, Setanta-i, thanks for cutting off at halftime of Sunderland/Chelsea mysteriously. Was there an MLB blackout that needed to be enforced?)
On the plus side, too, the Arsenal/Celtic match was in HD, or at least upscaled 480p resolution. It wasn't nearly as sharp as Cheslea/Hull City Sunday on ESPN2, but better than your usual FSC telecast, widescreen to boot.
As for the broadcasts themselves? Fox stuck with the English/British announcing feeds and the standard UEFA graphics. The Arsenal/Celtic match went about 15 minutes before the actual announcing feed was picked up, so yes, there was a hiccup.
So overall, so long as Fox continues to spread the Champions League across all its platforms, we the viewers look to be clear winners as there won't be anymore waiting for ESPN to re-play at match on ESPN Classic after the fact.
Once FSC goes HD in February, all bets are off.
As for Arsenal/Celtic. Impressive win by Arsenal to walk away from Parkhead with a 2-0 lead going back to the Emirates.
The Gunners weren't as pacey or tricksy as the weekend at Goodison Park, but they got a result. Yes, the first goal just before the half was about as fluky a deflection as you'll ever see -- William Gallas was diving to get out of the way and it went off his back -- but it was a result on the road against a team on par with the Premier League midtablers. (The second Arsenal goal was a Celtic own-goal.)
As the match progressed, it made me wonder, who would have thought during that whole Ashely Cole-to-Chelsea imbroglio a couple years ago, that Arsenal might have gotten the better of the deal with Gallas moving to the Emirates. Yes, the Frenchman had his famous pouting incident, but that's in the past. With a couple of the Arsenal big personalities -- namely Emmanuel Adebayor -- out the door, Gallas' personality quirks might not be such an issue. He still remains the club's best defensive minded player, even if he (like everyone at the Emirates) likes to go forward into the attack.
What is an issue, should anything happen to Gallas or the newest Gunner import Thomas Vermaelen, then Arsenal is severely boned. (Assuming Arsene Wenger can't pry Breda Hangeland away from Fulham in the next 12 days.) We all saw how the Keiran Gibbs scenario worked out last season.
Arsenal can score a ton of goals, but still need to keep some out. That central defense is looking razor thin at the moment.
For Celtic this is a stinging defeat since the Bhoys are all but Europa League bound. For most of the first half they more than held their own against the Young Gunners. Celtic passed and possessed, but had no finishing touch in the final third. Guess that's what happens when you have Georgios Samaras as your lone striker.
And on top of that, it's why you don't blow a seven-point lead to Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. (How Arsenal and Celtic drew together in light of the other playoff games seems very, very fishy, no?)
It was only one day, but so far the Champions League moving to Fox doesn't seem like such an issue. In fact, it was downright pleasurable.
This overall shifting paradigm of soccer on television in the U.S. is reminiscent of what happened in the early 1990s when Fox threw its hat into the NFL broadcasting ring acquiring the rights to the NFC, which caused a major carousel to spin around the dial. Everyone figured it would be chaotic and Fox would ruin the NFL. A decade or so later, it's hardly an issue, so long as you like robots morphing out from the scoreboard graphics.
In a couple weeks, maybe, we'll have this soccer situation all figured out.
One thing's for certain, there's an absolute metric ton of soccer on television these days. Who'd have thunk it?
Labels: bobby mcmahon, champions league, fox soccer channel, max bretos, Soccer
Maybe you know this, maybe you don't but 95 percent of the time I have to work Friday nights. This makes getting up for that early Saturday morning match a chore, well, so much as getting up to watching a sporting event in your pajamas can actually be a chore.
Saturday, after rising to my alarm with sand in my eyes and truding down the stairs of my condo to fire up Chelsea/Hull City, this paradigm has been changed, not just changed but shattered by two letters -- H & D.
The Premier League in High Def? I was like my cat after giving her a whiff of catnip -- thoroughly memorized. Who cares if it was a place as loathsome as Stamford Bridge, I couldn't take my eyes off it.
Frank Lampard face never looked so pale.
Didier Droga's frizzy mane never looked greasier.
Roman Abramovich never looked more indifferent.
And Hull City never looked more mustardy.
Let's face it, we've all be leery of ESPN sinking its claws on the Premier League. Part of the attraction to the Premier League is that the actual game presentation is the anti-ESPN -- no sideline reporters, no inane banter about other shows in the booth, no Stuart Scott. Living in England, I can imagine it would just as tedious, but in the States it's been a welcome breath of fresh air to our sports and sports media lives.
HD alone does a lot to brush over any of those fears. 720p resolution does a lot to dull out the "boo-yahs." Tommy Smyth, on the other hand? That might not even mask his reek of four day old onions.
Let's simply pray that as the season progresses ESPN leaves well enough alone. That means the normal Premier League graphics and announcers. Nothing added to make it more ESPN-y. I fear, though, this is too naive and it'll only be a matter of time before the Worldwide sullies yet another sports entity.
At the utter least, it'll look pretty in HD.
Rising:
* Arsenal -- Six goals on the road, thoroughly chumpatizing Everton in the process? Yeah, I'd say, like Larry David, that's pretty good, pretty, pretty good. Is that enough? Am I required to go ga-ga over Arsenal? A season isn't won on opening day, no matter what signals of intent were fired. It's not always going to be that easy.
* Roberto Martinez -- Well, if we only count one week Fernando Torres may have been replaced on the top of England's 'Spanish Idol' charts. Joking aside, Martinez did instill an attacking style with Wigan. How long it holds up as the weather gets poor is another story.
* Tottenham -- Kept up its is nice record vs. Liverpool with an opening day win at White Hart Lane. Spurs even survived Gomes conceding a penalty. Biggest positive for Spurs was that they didn't wilt in the final 10 minutes. When Sebestien Bassong nets the winner, you know it's your day.
Falling:
* Aston Villa -- Thumped 2-0 at home and dissed by Bill Simmons for ugly uniforms in the process. Not good.
* Dmitar Berbatov -- Its only a matter of time before the commentators will stop using the word "languid" to describe and instead start saying things like "Diego Forlan" and "Eric Djemba-Djemba". (Forlan is obviously a great player, but flopped at Old Trafford. Djemba-Djemba? He does play at Odense, who was linked with Freddy Adu last week.)
* Setanta Sports -- More later, but no new episode of Special 1 TV in Week 1? Did you have to sell the puppets to pay off the creditors? Even the usually biting Pat Dolan seemed a little lacking Saturday morning, except for his digs at Martin O'Neill.
(Overall, it's one week. Perspective, folks, perspective.)
What we learned:
* The middle class, like the real world, is dying. Aston Villa and Everton were each embarrassed at home after summers that saw them do little to improve their clubs. At least Tottenham posted a 2-1 home upset of Liverpool, to shake things up a bit.
In the past two or three seasons we've seen these teams do everything they can to try to crack the 'Big Four' on comparative shoestring budgets. Perhaps this season will be the breaking point since neither club has been able to make the Champions League and bank the money it generates to further improve the club.
Of the two, Everton and Aston Villa, the Toffees loss looks worse since it was afterall six goals at home. At least it came against a rampant Arsenal team, though the lack of marking on set pieces would be troubling and the Jolean Lescott-to-City saga is taking a toll. A one-goal loss and a five-goal loss net the same amount of points -- zero.
You know what, though, Everton we've come to expect a lot more from you guys. Hey, didn't Phil Neville lift the MLS All-Star-O-Rama trophy a couple weeks ago?
Aston Villa, at home to Wigan and losing 2-0? This team might have reached its peak and when it needed the reinforcements, it didn't get any. Sometimes you reach a point and it you're not able to crack into the next level you simply fall back and have to regroup with a new plan. Maybe Randy Lerner can hire Romeo Crennel to teach the Villa defense the 3-4 scheme.
In my preview I mentioned a lot of lousy, indistinguishable teams. Maybe I'm wrong about this. There's probably about a dozen or so, "meh-worthy" teams. They're not out-and-out horrible, but they're not that thrilling either. On any week they'll just beat up on each other.
If we want to lump teams together, it's still 'The Big Four', Man City as an outlier near the top and Spurs looking frisky. At the other end, Burnley until further notice is adrift of everyone else and possibly Portsmouth due to its utter lack of direction.
The majority of the mid-to-bottom table seemed to have realized, let's play it safe and conservative. Let's not spend $20 million on a suspect foreign striker when we can dole the money around to three or four other players in the midfield and defense to consolidate things. It might not to fun to watch, but it'll keep the team alive in the league and more importantly financially.
About that television scenario:
* This is going to get confusing. Looks like ESPN2 will have the early morning Saturday matches and select Monday afternooners. Fox Soccer will continue its 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. Sundays, while wheezing corpse of Setanta chips in at 10 a.m. Saturday and early Sunday.
Best goal I saw:
* Hugo Rolladega's beautiful half-volley for Wigan's opening goal vs. Aston Villa was a Werner von Braun approved rocket. Yet for my money, Stephen Ireland's nifty bit of individual skill inside the box in injury time to finish off Blackburn takes it for me, simply because he was so composed and collected and make sure to get the job done from an acute angle.
Fantasy-o-rama:
* Jake Green of the aptly named "Green Street Hooligans" takes top honors thanks to 44 points from captain Cesc Fabregas. Guess Arsenal might want to keep him around this season, maybe?
Other stuff:
* Manchester City got off to a flier, with a great goal by Emmanuel Adebayor set up on a break by Shaun Wright-Phillips inside of two minutes at Blackburn. Then for about the next 88 minutes Rovers took it to City, I mean really took it to them, and if not for a better scoring touch around goal should have leveled the game. Instead, City got a stoppage time goal and won 2-0.
Consider City a work in progress with limitless potential.
* Good, insightful read from David James about Pompey's finances.
* Good stuff over the weekend, right here if you missed it from some damned good previews of Liverpool and Tottenham.
* Via his Twitter, Jozy Altidore's work permit hit some type of snag.
* Charlie Davies scored twice over the weekend as a sub for Sochaux.
* Great, albeit weird, goal from Didier Drogba in the waning moments vs. Hull City. It was probably lofted in for a cross, but it went in from such a sheer angle that it was truly dazzling, even from an unrepentant jerk.
* At one point during Spurs/Liverpool Jon Champion referred to Tom Huddlestone having fire in his boots. Does it make his feet taste like timber in a crackling fire?
* Birmingham's Gary O'Connor might now me the king of the forearm tattoos in the Premier League. The guy could give the Nuggets J.R. Smith a run for his money, though I doubt O'Connor has any hardcore gang affiliations. (This pic doesn't do O'Connor justice, but it's the best I could find. Guess that's what happens when you spend part of your career in Moscow. We've all seen 'Eastern Promises.')
* Speaking of Birmingham, they have this dude Christian Benítez that goes by Chucho from Ecuador (the new Ivory Coast?). Beside the funny nickname, he came off the bench in the second half vs. Manchester United and nearly scored right on his debut.
* At one point in the second half, Micah Ricards pulled his best Javier Aguirre on Morten Gamst Pederson. Perhaps Gamst can call Adrian Beltre for some advice. (How can you play third base in the Majors without a cup?! It's called the hot corner for Christ sakes!)
* Benoit Assou-Ekotto scored a cracker in the first half for Spurs vs. Liverpool. His best play might have been trucking over Andriy Voronin in the penalty box late in the second half and magically avoided a penalty. Spurs spend all this money on strikers and Sunday both goals are from defenders ... howdayalikethat?
* In case you missed it, Wes Brown is actually alive and played this season. Still no word on Gary Neville.
* Consider me happy to see Stephen Hunt back in the Premier League. Not sure Petr Cech would feel the same way.
* One trend to follow, six away wins this weekend and zero draws.
* Heading into the weekend I was a little less pumped up for the return of the Premier League, but then I saw Chris Kirkland wearing his baseball cap and all was forgiven.
* Simmons column on U.S./Mexico, better than expected.
Midweek Predictions:
This never makes sense, no games for a couple months then two back-to-back, which inevitably get rescheduled due to European commitments, i.e. Arsenal/Celtic. Oh, and since FSC has Champions League matches, it won't air any matches live. Fantastic.
Tuesday:
* Sunderland v. Chelsea -- (Live, Setanta, 2:45 p.m.) Maybe I was wrong about Sunderland. Steve Bruce might actually give the team some kind of identity. Don't think that'll actually matter -- even at home -- against Chelsea. ... Sunderland 0, Chelsea 2
* Wigan Athletic v. Wolves -- Will Saturday's start and the possibility of six points from two matches make fans turn out at the JJB? ... Wigan 2, Wolves 1
Wednesday:
* Birmingham City v. Portsmouth -- If Birmingham only had to play defense, they'd be okay. I hope the 4-5-1 was a product of playing at Old Trafford in the opener. Let's face it for Brum to stick around, it has to get three points vs. a nearly dead Pompey. ... Birmingham 1, Portsmouth 0
* Hull City v. Tottenham -- Spurs under Redknapp seem to have a system and style finally figured out. Can it translate to results on the road? ... Hull City 1, Spurs 1
* Burnley v. Manchester United -- Maybe the league really is afraid of Sir Alex. Back-to-back matches vs. promoted teams is a nice way to open a season. ... Burnley 0, Manchester United 2
* Liverpool v. Stoke City -- Liverpool can exorcise a demon early. ... Liverpool 3, Stoke City 0
Last round: 4-6
Season: 4-6
Saturday, after rising to my alarm with sand in my eyes and truding down the stairs of my condo to fire up Chelsea/Hull City, this paradigm has been changed, not just changed but shattered by two letters -- H & D.
The Premier League in High Def? I was like my cat after giving her a whiff of catnip -- thoroughly memorized. Who cares if it was a place as loathsome as Stamford Bridge, I couldn't take my eyes off it.
Frank Lampard face never looked so pale.
Didier Droga's frizzy mane never looked greasier.
Roman Abramovich never looked more indifferent.
And Hull City never looked more mustardy.
Let's face it, we've all be leery of ESPN sinking its claws on the Premier League. Part of the attraction to the Premier League is that the actual game presentation is the anti-ESPN -- no sideline reporters, no inane banter about other shows in the booth, no Stuart Scott. Living in England, I can imagine it would just as tedious, but in the States it's been a welcome breath of fresh air to our sports and sports media lives.
HD alone does a lot to brush over any of those fears. 720p resolution does a lot to dull out the "boo-yahs." Tommy Smyth, on the other hand? That might not even mask his reek of four day old onions.
Let's simply pray that as the season progresses ESPN leaves well enough alone. That means the normal Premier League graphics and announcers. Nothing added to make it more ESPN-y. I fear, though, this is too naive and it'll only be a matter of time before the Worldwide sullies yet another sports entity.
At the utter least, it'll look pretty in HD.
Rising:
* Arsenal -- Six goals on the road, thoroughly chumpatizing Everton in the process? Yeah, I'd say, like Larry David, that's pretty good, pretty, pretty good. Is that enough? Am I required to go ga-ga over Arsenal? A season isn't won on opening day, no matter what signals of intent were fired. It's not always going to be that easy.
* Roberto Martinez -- Well, if we only count one week Fernando Torres may have been replaced on the top of England's 'Spanish Idol' charts. Joking aside, Martinez did instill an attacking style with Wigan. How long it holds up as the weather gets poor is another story.
* Tottenham -- Kept up its is nice record vs. Liverpool with an opening day win at White Hart Lane. Spurs even survived Gomes conceding a penalty. Biggest positive for Spurs was that they didn't wilt in the final 10 minutes. When Sebestien Bassong nets the winner, you know it's your day.
Falling:
* Aston Villa -- Thumped 2-0 at home and dissed by Bill Simmons for ugly uniforms in the process. Not good.
* Dmitar Berbatov -- Its only a matter of time before the commentators will stop using the word "languid" to describe and instead start saying things like "Diego Forlan" and "Eric Djemba-Djemba". (Forlan is obviously a great player, but flopped at Old Trafford. Djemba-Djemba? He does play at Odense, who was linked with Freddy Adu last week.)
* Setanta Sports -- More later, but no new episode of Special 1 TV in Week 1? Did you have to sell the puppets to pay off the creditors? Even the usually biting Pat Dolan seemed a little lacking Saturday morning, except for his digs at Martin O'Neill.
(Overall, it's one week. Perspective, folks, perspective.)
What we learned:
* The middle class, like the real world, is dying. Aston Villa and Everton were each embarrassed at home after summers that saw them do little to improve their clubs. At least Tottenham posted a 2-1 home upset of Liverpool, to shake things up a bit.
In the past two or three seasons we've seen these teams do everything they can to try to crack the 'Big Four' on comparative shoestring budgets. Perhaps this season will be the breaking point since neither club has been able to make the Champions League and bank the money it generates to further improve the club.
Of the two, Everton and Aston Villa, the Toffees loss looks worse since it was afterall six goals at home. At least it came against a rampant Arsenal team, though the lack of marking on set pieces would be troubling and the Jolean Lescott-to-City saga is taking a toll. A one-goal loss and a five-goal loss net the same amount of points -- zero.
You know what, though, Everton we've come to expect a lot more from you guys. Hey, didn't Phil Neville lift the MLS All-Star-O-Rama trophy a couple weeks ago?
Aston Villa, at home to Wigan and losing 2-0? This team might have reached its peak and when it needed the reinforcements, it didn't get any. Sometimes you reach a point and it you're not able to crack into the next level you simply fall back and have to regroup with a new plan. Maybe Randy Lerner can hire Romeo Crennel to teach the Villa defense the 3-4 scheme.
In my preview I mentioned a lot of lousy, indistinguishable teams. Maybe I'm wrong about this. There's probably about a dozen or so, "meh-worthy" teams. They're not out-and-out horrible, but they're not that thrilling either. On any week they'll just beat up on each other.
If we want to lump teams together, it's still 'The Big Four', Man City as an outlier near the top and Spurs looking frisky. At the other end, Burnley until further notice is adrift of everyone else and possibly Portsmouth due to its utter lack of direction.
The majority of the mid-to-bottom table seemed to have realized, let's play it safe and conservative. Let's not spend $20 million on a suspect foreign striker when we can dole the money around to three or four other players in the midfield and defense to consolidate things. It might not to fun to watch, but it'll keep the team alive in the league and more importantly financially.
About that television scenario:
* This is going to get confusing. Looks like ESPN2 will have the early morning Saturday matches and select Monday afternooners. Fox Soccer will continue its 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. Sundays, while wheezing corpse of Setanta chips in at 10 a.m. Saturday and early Sunday.
Best goal I saw:
* Hugo Rolladega's beautiful half-volley for Wigan's opening goal vs. Aston Villa was a Werner von Braun approved rocket. Yet for my money, Stephen Ireland's nifty bit of individual skill inside the box in injury time to finish off Blackburn takes it for me, simply because he was so composed and collected and make sure to get the job done from an acute angle.
Fantasy-o-rama:
* Jake Green of the aptly named "Green Street Hooligans" takes top honors thanks to 44 points from captain Cesc Fabregas. Guess Arsenal might want to keep him around this season, maybe?
Other stuff:
* Manchester City got off to a flier, with a great goal by Emmanuel Adebayor set up on a break by Shaun Wright-Phillips inside of two minutes at Blackburn. Then for about the next 88 minutes Rovers took it to City, I mean really took it to them, and if not for a better scoring touch around goal should have leveled the game. Instead, City got a stoppage time goal and won 2-0.
Consider City a work in progress with limitless potential.
* Good, insightful read from David James about Pompey's finances.
* Good stuff over the weekend, right here if you missed it from some damned good previews of Liverpool and Tottenham.
* Via his Twitter, Jozy Altidore's work permit hit some type of snag.
* Charlie Davies scored twice over the weekend as a sub for Sochaux.
* Great, albeit weird, goal from Didier Drogba in the waning moments vs. Hull City. It was probably lofted in for a cross, but it went in from such a sheer angle that it was truly dazzling, even from an unrepentant jerk.
* At one point during Spurs/Liverpool Jon Champion referred to Tom Huddlestone having fire in his boots. Does it make his feet taste like timber in a crackling fire?
* Birmingham's Gary O'Connor might now me the king of the forearm tattoos in the Premier League. The guy could give the Nuggets J.R. Smith a run for his money, though I doubt O'Connor has any hardcore gang affiliations. (This pic doesn't do O'Connor justice, but it's the best I could find. Guess that's what happens when you spend part of your career in Moscow. We've all seen 'Eastern Promises.')
* Speaking of Birmingham, they have this dude Christian Benítez that goes by Chucho from Ecuador (the new Ivory Coast?). Beside the funny nickname, he came off the bench in the second half vs. Manchester United and nearly scored right on his debut.
* At one point in the second half, Micah Ricards pulled his best Javier Aguirre on Morten Gamst Pederson. Perhaps Gamst can call Adrian Beltre for some advice. (How can you play third base in the Majors without a cup?! It's called the hot corner for Christ sakes!)
* Benoit Assou-Ekotto scored a cracker in the first half for Spurs vs. Liverpool. His best play might have been trucking over Andriy Voronin in the penalty box late in the second half and magically avoided a penalty. Spurs spend all this money on strikers and Sunday both goals are from defenders ... howdayalikethat?
* In case you missed it, Wes Brown is actually alive and played this season. Still no word on Gary Neville.
* Consider me happy to see Stephen Hunt back in the Premier League. Not sure Petr Cech would feel the same way.
* One trend to follow, six away wins this weekend and zero draws.
* Heading into the weekend I was a little less pumped up for the return of the Premier League, but then I saw Chris Kirkland wearing his baseball cap and all was forgiven.
* Simmons column on U.S./Mexico, better than expected.
Midweek Predictions:
This never makes sense, no games for a couple months then two back-to-back, which inevitably get rescheduled due to European commitments, i.e. Arsenal/Celtic. Oh, and since FSC has Champions League matches, it won't air any matches live. Fantastic.
Tuesday:
* Sunderland v. Chelsea -- (Live, Setanta, 2:45 p.m.) Maybe I was wrong about Sunderland. Steve Bruce might actually give the team some kind of identity. Don't think that'll actually matter -- even at home -- against Chelsea. ... Sunderland 0, Chelsea 2
* Wigan Athletic v. Wolves -- Will Saturday's start and the possibility of six points from two matches make fans turn out at the JJB? ... Wigan 2, Wolves 1
Wednesday:
* Birmingham City v. Portsmouth -- If Birmingham only had to play defense, they'd be okay. I hope the 4-5-1 was a product of playing at Old Trafford in the opener. Let's face it for Brum to stick around, it has to get three points vs. a nearly dead Pompey. ... Birmingham 1, Portsmouth 0
* Hull City v. Tottenham -- Spurs under Redknapp seem to have a system and style finally figured out. Can it translate to results on the road? ... Hull City 1, Spurs 1
* Burnley v. Manchester United -- Maybe the league really is afraid of Sir Alex. Back-to-back matches vs. promoted teams is a nice way to open a season. ... Burnley 0, Manchester United 2
* Liverpool v. Stoke City -- Liverpool can exorcise a demon early. ... Liverpool 3, Stoke City 0
Last round: 4-6
Season: 4-6
Labels: Arsenal, English Premier League, ESPN, Monday recaps, Premier League, Premier League on ESPN, Soccer, tottenham hotspur
Here we are, the last of my semi-soliciated Premier League team previews. Sorry Bolton supporters, nobody stepped up to tout Gary Megson's traveling circus.
Last but not least is my buddy Suppe yakking about Tottenham. I had Steve Nash in line to write something, but ceded to Suppe.
* * *
By Suppe
Heading into their Match Day 1 tilt with Liverpool, Spurs will be looking for a radically different open to their 2009-10 campaign.
Last year under Juande Ramos, Tottenham endured a nightmarishly brutal start of Lovecraftian proportions.
After the prolonged Berbatov transfer saga and their endless pursuit of Andrei Arshavin, Spurs stumbled out of the gates and, like Stevie Ray Vaughan, were living life by the drop for a good portion of the early docket.
Gone were the pie-in-the-sky CL aspirations, as Tottenham lost games in every possible cruel manner -- up to and including embarrassing home defeats to Sunderland and Hull at White Hart Lane.
And that’s where the new season begins, with Spurs seeking a middle ground between ambition and reality.
Frankly, for a club that envision itself big, Tottenham hasn’t won very often. In fact, its last top-flight title came when all four Beatles were still alive and doing Quaaludes in Hamburg.
But, that’s not necessarily a bag thing. Fancying themselves challengers to the throne, Spurs were left to mix it up with the Fulhams, West Hams and Man Cities of the world and scraped for some character-building victories down the stretch once Harry Redknapp came to rescue.
Falling to live up to the brass’s lofty ambitions despite a hamstrung squad, Ramos was ousted in late October and in parachuted Redknapp from Portsmouth, possibly one of the few clubs with a more unstable front office than Tottenham’s.
A string of great footy followed, with Spurs notching a rousing win over Liverpool and a salvaging a memorable draw with blood rivals Arsenal.
When the dust settled, Tottenham had pulled itself up by the bootstraps and finished in eighth place. A nice feat, but once again with its nose pressed up against he window of the Champion’s League football.
So with an intriguing amalgamation of English and foreign talent, notorious wheeler-and-dealer Redknapp opted to tighten up the purse strings (ever so slightly) during the offseason.
After bringing back Hero Man Robbie Keane, Jermaine Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda (arguably my least favorite Spur ever, outside of Younes Kaboul) in an in-with-the-old movement, ’Arry brought Crouch-a-tron and Sebastien Bassong into the fold.
Crouch is Crouch, ostensibly replacing the unfairly maligned Darren Bent. This further solidifies the forward rotation, which was in shambles at times last year.
Bassong was the ultimate winner-and-loser in 08-09, earning Player of the Year honors for comically bad Newcastle side.
Personally, I see Crouch, Defoe and Keane combining into a strike force straight out of “Shaolin Soccer.” Possibly in a Voltron-type scenario, with the smaller forwards latching on Crouch’s leg. Actually that’s more of an “Akira” scenario, but I digress.
So the $50,000 question is will the reinforcements, along with full seasons out of the trio of new old-boys be enough?
Your guess is as good as mine, but a good deal of Tottenham’s fortunes will hinge of Euro 2008 sweethearts Luca Modric and Roman Pavlyuchenko and their further acclimation to English football.
Modric never really caught fire early on, with Ramos stranding him out in the defensive midfield and wrecking his early-season form. A knee injury further hampered the diminutive Croatian maestro, but once Redknapp brought in Honduran hard-man Wilson Palacios to lockdown the midfield, Modric’s play skyrocketed. Expect a markedly-improved campaign, with inevitable rumors of a transfer to Manchester City-United at some point.
Pav also stumbled after coming to North London in September. His form also improved once Redknapp took the reigns, though he only finished with five goals.
The question remains if, in the end, Tottenham has enough talent to hang with the Big Boys.
I don’t think Spurs are sniffing top four but a return to Europe would be good start.
* * *
That should do it.
If you missed it: Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and my big dumb preview.
Should I cave to the dark side and Twitter, I'm seriously teetering. Weekend recap will probably go up Sunday afternoons this year.
Last but not least is my buddy Suppe yakking about Tottenham. I had Steve Nash in line to write something, but ceded to Suppe.
By Suppe
Heading into their Match Day 1 tilt with Liverpool, Spurs will be looking for a radically different open to their 2009-10 campaign.
Last year under Juande Ramos, Tottenham endured a nightmarishly brutal start of Lovecraftian proportions.
After the prolonged Berbatov transfer saga and their endless pursuit of Andrei Arshavin, Spurs stumbled out of the gates and, like Stevie Ray Vaughan, were living life by the drop for a good portion of the early docket.
Gone were the pie-in-the-sky CL aspirations, as Tottenham lost games in every possible cruel manner -- up to and including embarrassing home defeats to Sunderland and Hull at White Hart Lane.
And that’s where the new season begins, with Spurs seeking a middle ground between ambition and reality.
Frankly, for a club that envision itself big, Tottenham hasn’t won very often. In fact, its last top-flight title came when all four Beatles were still alive and doing Quaaludes in Hamburg.
But, that’s not necessarily a bag thing. Fancying themselves challengers to the throne, Spurs were left to mix it up with the Fulhams, West Hams and Man Cities of the world and scraped for some character-building victories down the stretch once Harry Redknapp came to rescue.
Falling to live up to the brass’s lofty ambitions despite a hamstrung squad, Ramos was ousted in late October and in parachuted Redknapp from Portsmouth, possibly one of the few clubs with a more unstable front office than Tottenham’s.
A string of great footy followed, with Spurs notching a rousing win over Liverpool and a salvaging a memorable draw with blood rivals Arsenal.
When the dust settled, Tottenham had pulled itself up by the bootstraps and finished in eighth place. A nice feat, but once again with its nose pressed up against he window of the Champion’s League football.
So with an intriguing amalgamation of English and foreign talent, notorious wheeler-and-dealer Redknapp opted to tighten up the purse strings (ever so slightly) during the offseason.
After bringing back Hero Man Robbie Keane, Jermaine Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda (arguably my least favorite Spur ever, outside of Younes Kaboul) in an in-with-the-old movement, ’Arry brought Crouch-a-tron and Sebastien Bassong into the fold.
Crouch is Crouch, ostensibly replacing the unfairly maligned Darren Bent. This further solidifies the forward rotation, which was in shambles at times last year.
Bassong was the ultimate winner-and-loser in 08-09, earning Player of the Year honors for comically bad Newcastle side.
Personally, I see Crouch, Defoe and Keane combining into a strike force straight out of “Shaolin Soccer.” Possibly in a Voltron-type scenario, with the smaller forwards latching on Crouch’s leg. Actually that’s more of an “Akira” scenario, but I digress.
So the $50,000 question is will the reinforcements, along with full seasons out of the trio of new old-boys be enough?
Your guess is as good as mine, but a good deal of Tottenham’s fortunes will hinge of Euro 2008 sweethearts Luca Modric and Roman Pavlyuchenko and their further acclimation to English football.
Modric never really caught fire early on, with Ramos stranding him out in the defensive midfield and wrecking his early-season form. A knee injury further hampered the diminutive Croatian maestro, but once Redknapp brought in Honduran hard-man Wilson Palacios to lockdown the midfield, Modric’s play skyrocketed. Expect a markedly-improved campaign, with inevitable rumors of a transfer to Manchester City-United at some point.
Pav also stumbled after coming to North London in September. His form also improved once Redknapp took the reigns, though he only finished with five goals.
The question remains if, in the end, Tottenham has enough talent to hang with the Big Boys.
I don’t think Spurs are sniffing top four but a return to Europe would be good start.
That should do it.
If you missed it: Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and my big dumb preview.
Should I cave to the dark side and Twitter, I'm seriously teetering. Weekend recap will probably go up Sunday afternoons this year.
Labels: Premier League, Soccer, tottenham hotspur
As I try to wrap my head around this morning watching Chelsea beat Hull City 2-1 on ESPN2 ... in HD, why not read a great take on Liverpool by the one, the only Ace Cowboy. And while you're at it, check out his Twitter. (Should I be on Twitter, at least on match day? Speaking of Twitter, Jozy Altidore via the service says his work permit still has issues.)
* * *
By Ace Cowboy
Xabi Alonso is the new Chuck Norris. You'd think, given the melodramatic manner in which his homeward-bound transfer to Madrid has been covered in the professional press and on the interwebs of amateur punditry, that the Handsome Basque once ate an entire ream of rice paper and shat out some origami swans and Shunsuke Nakamura. You'd think he could withstand a lethal dose of Napalm in his Lucozade. You'd think the Taliban requested peace talks after watching highlights of the Spanish midfielder’s long-range bombs against Luton Town and Newcastle.
Everyone wants to be the first(!) and LOUDEST to declare that Xabi’s loss spells an immediate end to Liverpool's hopes for a first-ever Premier League trophy. It's been even more hyperbolic than that, though. Xabi's almost been bizarrely eulogized this past fortnight, especially by the club's supporters. Well, like Billy Mays, Xabi will
be missed. But like Michael Jackson, Liverpool's got some boys behind him. (And like Patrick Swayze, the guy's actually still alive...soooo, buck up, Kop.)
I've long been a fan of what Xabi brings to la mesa. He's not a destroyer, nor an attacker -- he's the ultimate switchboard operator, a man of all fields, of vision, of poise, of intangibles. He's been a key to Liverpool's success in that he more than anyone else allows Steven Gerrard to be Steven Fucking Gerrard: His adept passing and control of the midfield freed up the skipper to roam consequence-free.
Item #1 on the shared agenda of Lucas, Jay Spearing, Damien Plessis and Dopey Eyes Aqualungi (aka Guido Rosicky?) should be "Figure out how best to let Stevie do whatever the fuck he wants to do out there." Everything else will be gravy.
But let’s be honest: Losing Gerrard, Torres, Mascherano, Reina or either starting central defender would be far greater blows to the squad. Xabi’s not entirely irreplaceable; despite recent revisionism, he wasn't the one holding up the sky from falling. Liverpool will eventually make the transition from Rafa and Torres’ favored 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-1-4-1 (or, technically a 4-1-3-1-1, with Gerrard playing that sub-striker role), and they'll get by without the Spanish midfielder. Besides, Lucas is far better than he’s given credit for, and he’s still only 22. He’s popular in the locker room, and in many ways, Lucas actually adds to the attack through the middle. Anyway, that discussion is over, and moot.
That drawn-out introduction leads me to this point: Do not let anyone cajole you into thinking that Xabi's loss and his replacements'performances will be the key to Liverpool's season. The title all hinges on one thing: the combined health of Gerrard and Torres. If El Fantastico Partners Ltd. can stay healthy for a majority of the campaign and link up like they have in their first two seasons, the season's over right now for every other club. Finito. Last-minute transfers are important, but Rafa should be much more worried about Torres’ gimpy ankle and Stevie’s tight groin (though I’m sure the ladies, the gays and the bi-curious would like to focus more on Torres’ groin).
Liverpool finished just four points off the pace last year, despite the fact that Gerrard and Torres started only 14 matches together. Just 14! And they were, well, decent in those matches: 11 wins, three draws: 36 points from a possible 42. If the pair started even half the campaign together, this would be a preview of the "defending champions.”
The sustained health of Liverpool’s central defenders is also paramount to the success of the season. Jamie Carragher limped off the pitch in a “precautionary move” during the last friendly against Atletico Madrid, Martin Skrtel’s 50/50 for the first match at Spurs (though he did come through a full practice match unscathed this week) and Danny Agger hasn’t passed a fitness test or a Double Dare physical
challenge in about two years. All of a sudden Sami Hyypia’s free transfer looks monumental. Will Rafa pay Phil Brown’s ridiculous valuation for Hull’s Michael Turner, or is Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross in the (shaw)crosshairs? Jeez, that’s a lame pun.
The back line has been a constant for years, a taken-for-granted defending force that’s allowed Pepe Reina to record the most clean sheets for three of the past four years. And it’s more important than ever that the center halves stay fit now that Rafa’s got the wingbacks he’s coveted for years. Glen Johnson may have been expensive – there’s no denying that – but he’ll prove himself worth every penny before the year’s out. Solid, English, attacking right backs aren’t exactly a Johnson and a suddenly world-class Dirk Kuyt (or Yossi Benayoun) should link up expertly on that right side, providing much more width than at any point in Rafa’s tenure. Kuyt dropped the Golden Retriever act, and I can’t imagine this club without his quality play last season.
As for the left, mark these palabras: This is Emiliano Insua’s year. This is the season he makes the leap from “Who’s the swarthy young dude?” to “Insua’s pretty nasty, eh?” Señor Glass Aurelio and Dossena will likely see time back there, but come the holiday period, if not before, Insua will be the left back of choice for the next half-decade. It’ll be exciting to watch the youngster play 1-2s with Riera, Babel or Yossi on the left wing. Albert Riera is a year more experienced in England and in incredible form, scoring the match winner for Spain this week, while Ryan Babel looks to finally be playing finding his skis in the preseason friendlies. And all that width on both sides – something dramatically absent from Liverpool’s offense since the Rafalution – will more than make up for the loss of Xabi in the center.
Championship or not come May, Liverpool’s also transformed rather quickly from one of the most boring, tactical squads in the Premier League to the most exciting, both in tight matches and overpowering exhibitions. By far. Fantastic wins over Chelsea and Manchester United, twice each in the league, the 4-4 draw with Arsenal, the 4-4 Champions League exit to Chelsea, the 5-0 drubbing of Real Madrid, the 5-0 dominance over Aston Villa, the 5-1 win over Newcastle that preceded Gerrard’s nightclub fisticuffs…last season’s highlights easily erased several years of uninspired mediocrity. And there’s no reason that shouldn’t continue.
The last three seasons have seen drastic improvement in quality of play and results: In 2006-07 Rafa’s boys put up 68 points with a 30 goal differential; the next year, eight more points, nine more in the goal differential column. And last year? Liverpool tallied 86 points with a league-leading 50 GD. They’re improved at every single position on the pitch, save Xabi, and they’ve got depth all over the pitch. You’ll notice that when Liverpool was in the hunt there wasn’t much talk of “rotation.” They’ve got one of the best strikers in the world, one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, one of the best holding midfielders, one of the best goalkeepers, a cast of supporting characters that are more than just squad players, and they’re ready to treat Anfield to a double. Liverpool may have lost Xabi, but hey, at least Andriy Voronin’s back at Anfield! YNWA.
(Oh, and one last note: There are many places to read Liverpool news
and notes, but for my money the best in the business is a yank called
Nate who posts regularly at Oh You Beauty. Outside of Cardillo’s
wondrous shop, it’s my first soccer stop every day.)
* * *
Coming later this weekend, Spurs. If you missed it: Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal and my big dumb preview.
By Ace Cowboy
Xabi Alonso is the new Chuck Norris. You'd think, given the melodramatic manner in which his homeward-bound transfer to Madrid has been covered in the professional press and on the interwebs of amateur punditry, that the Handsome Basque once ate an entire ream of rice paper and shat out some origami swans and Shunsuke Nakamura. You'd think he could withstand a lethal dose of Napalm in his Lucozade. You'd think the Taliban requested peace talks after watching highlights of the Spanish midfielder’s long-range bombs against Luton Town and Newcastle.
Everyone wants to be the first(!) and LOUDEST to declare that Xabi’s loss spells an immediate end to Liverpool's hopes for a first-ever Premier League trophy. It's been even more hyperbolic than that, though. Xabi's almost been bizarrely eulogized this past fortnight, especially by the club's supporters. Well, like Billy Mays, Xabi will
be missed. But like Michael Jackson, Liverpool's got some boys behind him. (And like Patrick Swayze, the guy's actually still alive...soooo, buck up, Kop.)
I've long been a fan of what Xabi brings to la mesa. He's not a destroyer, nor an attacker -- he's the ultimate switchboard operator, a man of all fields, of vision, of poise, of intangibles. He's been a key to Liverpool's success in that he more than anyone else allows Steven Gerrard to be Steven Fucking Gerrard: His adept passing and control of the midfield freed up the skipper to roam consequence-free.
Item #1 on the shared agenda of Lucas, Jay Spearing, Damien Plessis and Dopey Eyes Aqualungi (aka Guido Rosicky?) should be "Figure out how best to let Stevie do whatever the fuck he wants to do out there." Everything else will be gravy.
But let’s be honest: Losing Gerrard, Torres, Mascherano, Reina or either starting central defender would be far greater blows to the squad. Xabi’s not entirely irreplaceable; despite recent revisionism, he wasn't the one holding up the sky from falling. Liverpool will eventually make the transition from Rafa and Torres’ favored 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-1-4-1 (or, technically a 4-1-3-1-1, with Gerrard playing that sub-striker role), and they'll get by without the Spanish midfielder. Besides, Lucas is far better than he’s given credit for, and he’s still only 22. He’s popular in the locker room, and in many ways, Lucas actually adds to the attack through the middle. Anyway, that discussion is over, and moot.
That drawn-out introduction leads me to this point: Do not let anyone cajole you into thinking that Xabi's loss and his replacements'performances will be the key to Liverpool's season. The title all hinges on one thing: the combined health of Gerrard and Torres. If El Fantastico Partners Ltd. can stay healthy for a majority of the campaign and link up like they have in their first two seasons, the season's over right now for every other club. Finito. Last-minute transfers are important, but Rafa should be much more worried about Torres’ gimpy ankle and Stevie’s tight groin (though I’m sure the ladies, the gays and the bi-curious would like to focus more on Torres’ groin).
Liverpool finished just four points off the pace last year, despite the fact that Gerrard and Torres started only 14 matches together. Just 14! And they were, well, decent in those matches: 11 wins, three draws: 36 points from a possible 42. If the pair started even half the campaign together, this would be a preview of the "defending champions.”
The sustained health of Liverpool’s central defenders is also paramount to the success of the season. Jamie Carragher limped off the pitch in a “precautionary move” during the last friendly against Atletico Madrid, Martin Skrtel’s 50/50 for the first match at Spurs (though he did come through a full practice match unscathed this week) and Danny Agger hasn’t passed a fitness test or a Double Dare physical
challenge in about two years. All of a sudden Sami Hyypia’s free transfer looks monumental. Will Rafa pay Phil Brown’s ridiculous valuation for Hull’s Michael Turner, or is Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross in the (shaw)crosshairs? Jeez, that’s a lame pun.
The back line has been a constant for years, a taken-for-granted defending force that’s allowed Pepe Reina to record the most clean sheets for three of the past four years. And it’s more important than ever that the center halves stay fit now that Rafa’s got the wingbacks he’s coveted for years. Glen Johnson may have been expensive – there’s no denying that – but he’ll prove himself worth every penny before the year’s out. Solid, English, attacking right backs aren’t exactly a Johnson and a suddenly world-class Dirk Kuyt (or Yossi Benayoun) should link up expertly on that right side, providing much more width than at any point in Rafa’s tenure. Kuyt dropped the Golden Retriever act, and I can’t imagine this club without his quality play last season.
As for the left, mark these palabras: This is Emiliano Insua’s year. This is the season he makes the leap from “Who’s the swarthy young dude?” to “Insua’s pretty nasty, eh?” Señor Glass Aurelio and Dossena will likely see time back there, but come the holiday period, if not before, Insua will be the left back of choice for the next half-decade. It’ll be exciting to watch the youngster play 1-2s with Riera, Babel or Yossi on the left wing. Albert Riera is a year more experienced in England and in incredible form, scoring the match winner for Spain this week, while Ryan Babel looks to finally be playing finding his skis in the preseason friendlies. And all that width on both sides – something dramatically absent from Liverpool’s offense since the Rafalution – will more than make up for the loss of Xabi in the center.
Championship or not come May, Liverpool’s also transformed rather quickly from one of the most boring, tactical squads in the Premier League to the most exciting, both in tight matches and overpowering exhibitions. By far. Fantastic wins over Chelsea and Manchester United, twice each in the league, the 4-4 draw with Arsenal, the 4-4 Champions League exit to Chelsea, the 5-0 drubbing of Real Madrid, the 5-0 dominance over Aston Villa, the 5-1 win over Newcastle that preceded Gerrard’s nightclub fisticuffs…last season’s highlights easily erased several years of uninspired mediocrity. And there’s no reason that shouldn’t continue.
The last three seasons have seen drastic improvement in quality of play and results: In 2006-07 Rafa’s boys put up 68 points with a 30 goal differential; the next year, eight more points, nine more in the goal differential column. And last year? Liverpool tallied 86 points with a league-leading 50 GD. They’re improved at every single position on the pitch, save Xabi, and they’ve got depth all over the pitch. You’ll notice that when Liverpool was in the hunt there wasn’t much talk of “rotation.” They’ve got one of the best strikers in the world, one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, one of the best holding midfielders, one of the best goalkeepers, a cast of supporting characters that are more than just squad players, and they’re ready to treat Anfield to a double. Liverpool may have lost Xabi, but hey, at least Andriy Voronin’s back at Anfield! YNWA.
(Oh, and one last note: There are many places to read Liverpool news
and notes, but for my money the best in the business is a yank called
Nate who posts regularly at Oh You Beauty. Outside of Cardillo’s
wondrous shop, it’s my first soccer stop every day.)
Coming later this weekend, Spurs. If you missed it: Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal and my big dumb preview.
Labels: ESPN2, fernando torres, Liverpool, Premier League, Premier League on ESPN, Soccer
Every year I like to draw up the Premier League as a system of tiers. This year I didn't do it, but the caste system is about as pronounced as its ever been. In an scenario eerily similar to the actual world, the small group of elites (The Big Four) are growing richer, the middle class is getting squeezed and the poor unwashed masses continue to grow.
This year the only outlier is Manchester City. Can the Oil-bucks and a cast of thousands be enough to shake up the top of the Premier League for the first time since 2004-05 when Everton shook up the top four? The odds would say no.
Anyway, let's take a guess at how the final table shakes out. It's always fun to look back and laugh at later.
1. Chelsea -- Maybe the only team without any questions, aside from Carlo Ancelotti which isn't all that much of a risk.
2. Liverpool -- Nothing holding them back ... except themselves.
3. Arsenal -- A full season of Arshavin gives the Gunners the little kickstart and edge they need, assuming the defense can hold up.
4. Manchester United -- Too many questions. Unquestioning faith in Sir Alex doesn't necessarily mean results. If in May I look back and rue this pick, so be it.
5. Manchester City -- The smart thing City did was bring in PL vets. Mark Hughes should figure out a way to make it work, if they don't kill each other first.
6. Tottenham -- Call it the Harry Houdini effect. Another manager that should be able to put the puzzle pieces together.
7. Everton -- The only thing separating David Moyes from MacGyver is a mullet. I'm hedging my bets here if City finally pry Jolean Lescott away.
8. Aston Villa -- Due for a backslide, teams are figuring them out. Brad Freidel will need a huge season playing behind that defense.
9. West Ham -- Surprisingly crafty.
10. Fulham -- Is there anyone Roy Hodgson can coax a season as good as last year? Keeping everyone happy on the Good Ship Lollipop can only last so long, right?
11. Bolton -- Unfancied, but seem to have figured out a system that is at least effective to some degree.
12. Blackburn Rovers -- Here's hoping for a bounce back season for Morten Gamst Pederson.
13. Stoke City -- In Rory's Arms we trust.
14. Sunderland -- Potential to move up if things click with Steve Bruce and the tandem of Frazier Campbell (a tease) and Darren Bent works out.
15. Birmingham City -- Won't be flashy, but Alex McLeish is smart enough to guide Brum to safety, assuming they find a goal-scorer. Let's try not to break any legs this time around, though.
16. Wigan Athletic -- New manager plus lack of leader on the field isn't a good combination.
17. Wolves -- Mick McCarthy, borderline incomprehensible to North Americans with his thick Irish brogue, yet he translate well at Wolves.
18. Portsmouth -- Dead team walking.
19. Hull City -- Phil Brown has to be the odds-on favorite to be the first manager fired, right? At least he can get work at a "Rocky Horror Picture Show" midnight showing, assuming people still do that sort of thing.
20. Burnley -- Take the money and put it in a nice, low risk mutual fund.
Top Scorer: Fernando Torres. If he stay healthy nobody is in his class now that Ronaldo's flown the coup.
Best signing: Daniel Sturridge, Chelsea. Yeah, I know, weird pick. From what I saw of the kid at City, he had potential to be a pretty effective top flight striker. Chelsea hasn't yet paid a fee for the 24-year-old, who provides a ready-made replacement when Anelka and Drogba eventually get old and leave. ... Really, were there any other good signings over the summer yet?
Worst signing: Tie: Kolo Toure to Manchester City/Stewart Downing to Aston Villa. ... Toure? Is he a defensive bedrock for a team already full of offense? The Ivorian seemed to be at his best with Arsenal in a libero role, which seems a little unnecessary at City. ... As for Downing, who was first rumored to be transfered away from Middlesbrough in the Dead Sea Scrolls, it finally happens and he goes to Villa, which already has Ashley Young? On top of that he's hurt.
Best overall player: I mentioned this in my preview, but I think Andrei Arshavin is in store for a huge season.
Best American: Not a huge pool of candidates and I hate to pick a keeper, so let's go with Clint Dempsey. He did just get a new contract and ought to serious run at Fulham. As for Jozy Altidore, let's call it cautiously optimistic. At least Giuseppe Rossi is in his corner.
First manager fired: It's only a matter of time before Paul Hart gets the axe at Portsmouth. The only other two early season candidates to be fired -- not quit -- are Brown and Bolton's Gary Megson. Every other position seems, by PL standards, safe.
Saturday:
Let me just say this, these are guesses and weird things happen in the opening weekend.
CONFIRMED -- ESPN2 will air matches, beginning with Hull City Saturday. More once I wrap my brain around it. If it's HD, it's fine with me.
* Chelsea v. Hull City -- (Live, Setanta? ESPN2, 7:45 a.m.) Since this is the first kickoff, Chelsea could conceiveably go wire-to-wire in first place if they put three points in the bank over Jozy and the Tigers. ... Chelsea 3, Hull City 0
* Aston Villa v. Wigan Athletic -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) At this point we know what Villa is, a for Wigan? What a strange collection. You have a team Steve Bruce assembled into a solid mid-rung squad now taken over by neophyte Spaniard Roberto Martinez. Anywhere from 10th to 20th could be in the cards. ... Villa 2, Wigan 1
* Blackburn Rovers v. Manchester City -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) One club is eating off the McDonald's Dollar Menu -- okay, it's British counterpart -- and the other is munching on Kobe Beef skewers. This is a statement game of sorts for City. It'll be interesting to see if they think they can walk off their gold-plated bus and step onto the Ewood Park grass in their diamond encrusted boots and expect a win. Rovers will be up for a fight. ... Blackburn 1, Manchester City 1
* Bolton v. Sunderland -- Glad we can get this juicy fixture right on opening day. ... Bolton 1, Sunderland 0
* Portsmouth v. Fulham -- Fulham can make it's road bugaboos a thing of the past with three points on opening day.. ... Portsmouth 0, Fulham 1
* Stoke City v. Burnley -- Is it just me or every time you hear the Britannia Stadium mentioned it makes you think of casino pitches during 'The Simpsons' episode '$pringfield'? Fresh ya drink guv'nah? ... Stoke City 2, Burnley 0
* Wolves v. West Ham -- I'm high on Wolves. I love being able to write a team name like that without an article in front of it.. ... Wolves 2, West Ham 1
* Everton v. Arsenal -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) Not to overreact after one match, but a pretty important opener for both clubs. Everton needs to assure its fans it has the grit and guts to build off last season. More importantly, the Toffees need to show they can get three points off the big clubs, at least at home. As for Arsenal, we all know how they're up-and-down away from home. Winning at Goodison nullifies that theory. ... Everton 2, Arsenal 2
Sunday:
* Manchester United v. Birmingham City -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) There are doubts about United, but its not going to lose at Old Trafford on opening day to a promoted team, right conspiracy theorists? ... United 2, Birmingham City 0
* Tottenham v. Liverpool -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Probably the weekend's most fun fixture on paper. Will anyone play any semblance of defense? This will be high octane stuff. Spurs, if memory serves, have been a thorn in Liverpool's side lately. Plus, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch might want to serve some revenge to their old mates. Then again, Liverpool seems much more on the same page. ... Spurs 1, Liverpool 2
This year the only outlier is Manchester City. Can the Oil-bucks and a cast of thousands be enough to shake up the top of the Premier League for the first time since 2004-05 when Everton shook up the top four? The odds would say no.
Anyway, let's take a guess at how the final table shakes out. It's always fun to look back and laugh at later.
1. Chelsea -- Maybe the only team without any questions, aside from Carlo Ancelotti which isn't all that much of a risk.
2. Liverpool -- Nothing holding them back ... except themselves.
3. Arsenal -- A full season of Arshavin gives the Gunners the little kickstart and edge they need, assuming the defense can hold up.
4. Manchester United -- Too many questions. Unquestioning faith in Sir Alex doesn't necessarily mean results. If in May I look back and rue this pick, so be it.
5. Manchester City -- The smart thing City did was bring in PL vets. Mark Hughes should figure out a way to make it work, if they don't kill each other first.
6. Tottenham -- Call it the Harry Houdini effect. Another manager that should be able to put the puzzle pieces together.
7. Everton -- The only thing separating David Moyes from MacGyver is a mullet. I'm hedging my bets here if City finally pry Jolean Lescott away.
8. Aston Villa -- Due for a backslide, teams are figuring them out. Brad Freidel will need a huge season playing behind that defense.
9. West Ham -- Surprisingly crafty.
10. Fulham -- Is there anyone Roy Hodgson can coax a season as good as last year? Keeping everyone happy on the Good Ship Lollipop can only last so long, right?
11. Bolton -- Unfancied, but seem to have figured out a system that is at least effective to some degree.
12. Blackburn Rovers -- Here's hoping for a bounce back season for Morten Gamst Pederson.
13. Stoke City -- In Rory's Arms we trust.
14. Sunderland -- Potential to move up if things click with Steve Bruce and the tandem of Frazier Campbell (a tease) and Darren Bent works out.
15. Birmingham City -- Won't be flashy, but Alex McLeish is smart enough to guide Brum to safety, assuming they find a goal-scorer. Let's try not to break any legs this time around, though.
16. Wigan Athletic -- New manager plus lack of leader on the field isn't a good combination.
17. Wolves -- Mick McCarthy, borderline incomprehensible to North Americans with his thick Irish brogue, yet he translate well at Wolves.
18. Portsmouth -- Dead team walking.
19. Hull City -- Phil Brown has to be the odds-on favorite to be the first manager fired, right? At least he can get work at a "Rocky Horror Picture Show" midnight showing, assuming people still do that sort of thing.
20. Burnley -- Take the money and put it in a nice, low risk mutual fund.
Top Scorer: Fernando Torres. If he stay healthy nobody is in his class now that Ronaldo's flown the coup.
Best signing: Daniel Sturridge, Chelsea. Yeah, I know, weird pick. From what I saw of the kid at City, he had potential to be a pretty effective top flight striker. Chelsea hasn't yet paid a fee for the 24-year-old, who provides a ready-made replacement when Anelka and Drogba eventually get old and leave. ... Really, were there any other good signings over the summer yet?
Worst signing: Tie: Kolo Toure to Manchester City/Stewart Downing to Aston Villa. ... Toure? Is he a defensive bedrock for a team already full of offense? The Ivorian seemed to be at his best with Arsenal in a libero role, which seems a little unnecessary at City. ... As for Downing, who was first rumored to be transfered away from Middlesbrough in the Dead Sea Scrolls, it finally happens and he goes to Villa, which already has Ashley Young? On top of that he's hurt.
Best overall player: I mentioned this in my preview, but I think Andrei Arshavin is in store for a huge season.
Best American: Not a huge pool of candidates and I hate to pick a keeper, so let's go with Clint Dempsey. He did just get a new contract and ought to serious run at Fulham. As for Jozy Altidore, let's call it cautiously optimistic. At least Giuseppe Rossi is in his corner.
First manager fired: It's only a matter of time before Paul Hart gets the axe at Portsmouth. The only other two early season candidates to be fired -- not quit -- are Brown and Bolton's Gary Megson. Every other position seems, by PL standards, safe.
Saturday:
Let me just say this, these are guesses and weird things happen in the opening weekend.
CONFIRMED -- ESPN2 will air matches, beginning with Hull City Saturday. More once I wrap my brain around it. If it's HD, it's fine with me.
* Chelsea v. Hull City -- (Live, Setanta? ESPN2, 7:45 a.m.) Since this is the first kickoff, Chelsea could conceiveably go wire-to-wire in first place if they put three points in the bank over Jozy and the Tigers. ... Chelsea 3, Hull City 0
* Aston Villa v. Wigan Athletic -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) At this point we know what Villa is, a for Wigan? What a strange collection. You have a team Steve Bruce assembled into a solid mid-rung squad now taken over by neophyte Spaniard Roberto Martinez. Anywhere from 10th to 20th could be in the cards. ... Villa 2, Wigan 1
* Blackburn Rovers v. Manchester City -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) One club is eating off the McDonald's Dollar Menu -- okay, it's British counterpart -- and the other is munching on Kobe Beef skewers. This is a statement game of sorts for City. It'll be interesting to see if they think they can walk off their gold-plated bus and step onto the Ewood Park grass in their diamond encrusted boots and expect a win. Rovers will be up for a fight. ... Blackburn 1, Manchester City 1
* Bolton v. Sunderland -- Glad we can get this juicy fixture right on opening day. ... Bolton 1, Sunderland 0
* Portsmouth v. Fulham -- Fulham can make it's road bugaboos a thing of the past with three points on opening day.. ... Portsmouth 0, Fulham 1
* Stoke City v. Burnley -- Is it just me or every time you hear the Britannia Stadium mentioned it makes you think of casino pitches during 'The Simpsons' episode '$pringfield'? Fresh ya drink guv'nah? ... Stoke City 2, Burnley 0
* Wolves v. West Ham -- I'm high on Wolves. I love being able to write a team name like that without an article in front of it.. ... Wolves 2, West Ham 1
* Everton v. Arsenal -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) Not to overreact after one match, but a pretty important opener for both clubs. Everton needs to assure its fans it has the grit and guts to build off last season. More importantly, the Toffees need to show they can get three points off the big clubs, at least at home. As for Arsenal, we all know how they're up-and-down away from home. Winning at Goodison nullifies that theory. ... Everton 2, Arsenal 2
Sunday:
* Manchester United v. Birmingham City -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) There are doubts about United, but its not going to lose at Old Trafford on opening day to a promoted team, right conspiracy theorists? ... United 2, Birmingham City 0
* Tottenham v. Liverpool -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Probably the weekend's most fun fixture on paper. Will anyone play any semblance of defense? This will be high octane stuff. Spurs, if memory serves, have been a thorn in Liverpool's side lately. Plus, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch might want to serve some revenge to their old mates. Then again, Liverpool seems much more on the same page. ... Spurs 1, Liverpool 2
Labels: Prem Picks, Premier League, Soccer
Hey all, got another tasty Premier League team preview for you all to guzzle down. This time it's Arsenal and it's a nice take other than my tiresome cracks at Arsene Wenger.
Please read and enjoy.
* * *
By Travis Clark
The past few summers under Arsene Wenger have become eerily similar—some team (Tottenham, Everton, Manchester City) has spent loads of cash, bringing in better players. This year's version is Man City, and several pundits like them to supplant Arsenal in the vaunted top four.
Add to that Wenger sold two of his own players to City and it makes you wonder if these rags are accurate with their predictions. Through in the fact Wenger only brought in Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen and most fans find themselves in similar position.
Though for all the "Arsenal doesn't win trophies" talk, many forget that the last time Liverpool won the league was 1990. Yes, they have a Champions League win and an FA Cup or two, but Rafa Benitez surely doesn't face the kind of scrutiny Wenger does.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Gunners fans at this point is the how wide open the playing field seems—at least amongst the top four. Manchester United is the defending champs, but the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez is obviously significant. Liverpool lost Xabi Alonso, and his replacement is the oft-injured
There's one thousand and one ways to do a preview, but I'll keep the rest of this short and sweet, going position by position of what Arsenal looks like—and inject some fan opinions I've seen on the Interwebs.
Goalie
Ever since the departure of in-house lunatic Jens Lehman, Manuel Almunia has donned the number one jersey and handled it well enough. Perhaps the two biggest talking points have been his hairstyle and whether or not he'll ever play goalie for England. Because, let's face it, there's no better man for the job than Almunia, who is Spanish by birth but has played in England long enough to trade passports.
Toiling behind Almunia are a trio of unproven youngsters—it would be Arsenal if each position didn't have a "promising youngster" or two—Lukasz Fabianski, Vito Mannone, and Wojciech Szczesny. Any last name that has just one (perhaps two) vowels is certainly awesome. Back on track, if Almunia goes down the majority of Arsenal fans would be either extremely nervous with Fabianski or downright terrified with Mannone.
Bottom line: Almunia isn't the best keeper in the world but he makes big saves when they count. He must stay healthy, however.
Defense
Perhaps the center of defense is the weakest link. Johan Djourou, William Gallas, and Thomas Vermaelen seem to be the three favored players at the back. The departure of Toure will likely soothe Gallas, who apparently didn't get along too well with Toure. Alex Song provides some depth, though he's tailored more as a midfielder than a defender. If Vermaelen proves to have the right game for the Premier League, they'll do just well. Anything less and it's trouble.
Arsenal's biggest problem last season was conceding too many goals, and it's the same problem they'll likely have this year. There are rumors dancing around that Brede Hangeland might be brought in from Fulham, but likely not until after the first game against Everton.
This is where the league is going to be won or lost for the Gunners—it's that simple.
Bottom line: If any team is an injury or two away from starting Mikael Silvestre, it's a bad sign. They need another defender.
Midfield
It's a talented bunch for Arsenal in this part of the park—that's for sure. What's nagged them in the past, and is already a problem are injuries. Already Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, and Abou Diaby are set to miss the opener with injuries suffered during the preseason.
A healthy Cesc Fabregas is key here. His passing and skill on the ball can be a huge difference maker, especially if him and Andrey Arshavin pick up where they left off last year.
What this team still lacks is a central midfielder in the Patrick Vieria or Mathieu Flamini mold. Someone who gets stuck in and does the dirty work while Fabregas picks apart the opposition.
Then there's the young talent: Denilson, the Brazilian who took a step back last year, Aaron Ramsey, the over-hyped Welsh kid, and everyone's new favorite Jack Wilshere. The latter is a kid to watch out for: a left-footed midfield with a nose for the goal who scored a brace against Rangers in the Emirates Cup. If he gets his chance with the first team he may not disappoint.
Bottom line: Plenty of skill here but in need of a veteran leader who can pick the kids up when they're down.
Forward
How can you not love Niklas Bendtner? The psychotic Dane was near the top in goals scored for Arsenal, yet seemed to attract negative press whenever he opened his mouth. His latest move was switching his jersey number from 26 to 52—because he's going to be twice the player this year. That isn't his reason, but Bendtner can build on a positive 2008/09 campaign. He'll need to with the departure of Adebayor.
Theo Walcott is yet another young talent who we're all waiting to blossom into a superstar. He's shown some flashes, but mainly remains inconsistent and injury prone. Speaking of injuries, Robin Van Persie found someone to take his glass legs and made it through the majority of the campaign last year, saving Arsenal's hide during one of their low points. He'll need to be back and better than ever.
The recovery of Eduardo is an impressive one, and while he only managed a handful of appearances, he showed a nose for a goal. He'll hit double digits if he stays on the pitch.
Bottom line: This side shouldn't have a trouble scoring goals, despite the loss of Adebayor.
Outlook
It's hard to say what's going to happen. Barring an epic collapse, Arsenal should maintain status in the top four. They seem unusually susceptible to injury, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the problem crop up again. Without a defensive reinforcement addition and someone to lineup in a defensive midfield role, it's hard to see them mount a legitimate title challenge. Crazier things, I might add, have happened.
-Travis Clark
Arsenal Offside
Soccer By Ives
Covering the Pitch
* * *
Be sure to check back over the weekend for Liverpool and Spurs.
In case you missed it, Fulham, Chelsea and my big fat pseudo-preview.
Please read and enjoy.
By Travis Clark
The past few summers under Arsene Wenger have become eerily similar—some team (Tottenham, Everton, Manchester City) has spent loads of cash, bringing in better players. This year's version is Man City, and several pundits like them to supplant Arsenal in the vaunted top four.
Add to that Wenger sold two of his own players to City and it makes you wonder if these rags are accurate with their predictions. Through in the fact Wenger only brought in Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen and most fans find themselves in similar position.
Though for all the "Arsenal doesn't win trophies" talk, many forget that the last time Liverpool won the league was 1990. Yes, they have a Champions League win and an FA Cup or two, but Rafa Benitez surely doesn't face the kind of scrutiny Wenger does.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Gunners fans at this point is the how wide open the playing field seems—at least amongst the top four. Manchester United is the defending champs, but the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez is obviously significant. Liverpool lost Xabi Alonso, and his replacement is the oft-injured
There's one thousand and one ways to do a preview, but I'll keep the rest of this short and sweet, going position by position of what Arsenal looks like—and inject some fan opinions I've seen on the Interwebs.
Goalie
Ever since the departure of in-house lunatic Jens Lehman, Manuel Almunia has donned the number one jersey and handled it well enough. Perhaps the two biggest talking points have been his hairstyle and whether or not he'll ever play goalie for England. Because, let's face it, there's no better man for the job than Almunia, who is Spanish by birth but has played in England long enough to trade passports.
Toiling behind Almunia are a trio of unproven youngsters—it would be Arsenal if each position didn't have a "promising youngster" or two—Lukasz Fabianski, Vito Mannone, and Wojciech Szczesny. Any last name that has just one (perhaps two) vowels is certainly awesome. Back on track, if Almunia goes down the majority of Arsenal fans would be either extremely nervous with Fabianski or downright terrified with Mannone.
Bottom line: Almunia isn't the best keeper in the world but he makes big saves when they count. He must stay healthy, however.
Defense
Perhaps the center of defense is the weakest link. Johan Djourou, William Gallas, and Thomas Vermaelen seem to be the three favored players at the back. The departure of Toure will likely soothe Gallas, who apparently didn't get along too well with Toure. Alex Song provides some depth, though he's tailored more as a midfielder than a defender. If Vermaelen proves to have the right game for the Premier League, they'll do just well. Anything less and it's trouble.
Arsenal's biggest problem last season was conceding too many goals, and it's the same problem they'll likely have this year. There are rumors dancing around that Brede Hangeland might be brought in from Fulham, but likely not until after the first game against Everton.
This is where the league is going to be won or lost for the Gunners—it's that simple.
Bottom line: If any team is an injury or two away from starting Mikael Silvestre, it's a bad sign. They need another defender.
Midfield
It's a talented bunch for Arsenal in this part of the park—that's for sure. What's nagged them in the past, and is already a problem are injuries. Already Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, and Abou Diaby are set to miss the opener with injuries suffered during the preseason.
A healthy Cesc Fabregas is key here. His passing and skill on the ball can be a huge difference maker, especially if him and Andrey Arshavin pick up where they left off last year.
What this team still lacks is a central midfielder in the Patrick Vieria or Mathieu Flamini mold. Someone who gets stuck in and does the dirty work while Fabregas picks apart the opposition.
Then there's the young talent: Denilson, the Brazilian who took a step back last year, Aaron Ramsey, the over-hyped Welsh kid, and everyone's new favorite Jack Wilshere. The latter is a kid to watch out for: a left-footed midfield with a nose for the goal who scored a brace against Rangers in the Emirates Cup. If he gets his chance with the first team he may not disappoint.
Bottom line: Plenty of skill here but in need of a veteran leader who can pick the kids up when they're down.
Forward
How can you not love Niklas Bendtner? The psychotic Dane was near the top in goals scored for Arsenal, yet seemed to attract negative press whenever he opened his mouth. His latest move was switching his jersey number from 26 to 52—because he's going to be twice the player this year. That isn't his reason, but Bendtner can build on a positive 2008/09 campaign. He'll need to with the departure of Adebayor.
Theo Walcott is yet another young talent who we're all waiting to blossom into a superstar. He's shown some flashes, but mainly remains inconsistent and injury prone. Speaking of injuries, Robin Van Persie found someone to take his glass legs and made it through the majority of the campaign last year, saving Arsenal's hide during one of their low points. He'll need to be back and better than ever.
The recovery of Eduardo is an impressive one, and while he only managed a handful of appearances, he showed a nose for a goal. He'll hit double digits if he stays on the pitch.
Bottom line: This side shouldn't have a trouble scoring goals, despite the loss of Adebayor.
Outlook
It's hard to say what's going to happen. Barring an epic collapse, Arsenal should maintain status in the top four. They seem unusually susceptible to injury, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the problem crop up again. Without a defensive reinforcement addition and someone to lineup in a defensive midfield role, it's hard to see them mount a legitimate title challenge. Crazier things, I might add, have happened.
-Travis Clark
Arsenal Offside
Soccer By Ives
Covering the Pitch
Be sure to check back over the weekend for Liverpool and Spurs.
In case you missed it, Fulham, Chelsea and my big fat pseudo-preview.
Labels: Arsenal, Premier League, Soccer
