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November 20, 2009
February 3, 2009
Law and Order meets Chelsea and Arsenal
Saw this on FFF: ontd_football: “Law and Order” loves football…
Half of the names you hear in sit-coms or TV dramas are actually lifted from guys the writers went to high school with. Or sometime they get cute. So when last night’s ‘Law and Order’ needed some Russian mobsters, they went EPL on their likely unsuspecting cast: Abramovich, Pavlyuchenko, and Arshavin. That’s as in Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, and Arsenal transfer target Andrei Arshavin. The only clever part was that they made the latter a loan shark, which, if he’s holding up the Arse for more cash, ain’t all that far off.
But someone on that staff clearly likes his London footie. Still, seeing how crime shows lift 90% of their story lines from actual real-life crimes, they’re still kinda hacky.
Very hacky. According to Stephen Cohen on FFF, they also threw in a Mr. Walcott later in the script. Nice.
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January 11, 2009
Wayne Rooney: Howard Webb’s Illegitimate Son
That has to be the explanation. The only explanation for why Rooney continues his one man disrespect campaign unabated by his manager, the FA, or referees – even those as respected as Howard Webb. At one point during the game Wayne Rooney was completely out of control, kicking out at Carvalho trying to shepherd a ball into touch, then launching into a tirade at another challenge which a foul was called. It made Ashley Cole’s display last season look like child’s play and the fact that he wasn’t given a yellow card is an abomination.
He later launched into another unwarranted tirade at the linesman for an improperly taken corner (as video confirmed) right before United’s first goal. At this point, not at least giving him a yellow card showed me (and probably Chelsea) that the outcome of this game was to be predetermined. Wayne Rooney Webb and his diving teammate Ronaldo were free to roam. The game was over at that point and Chelsea were running uphill.
Benitez claims that Ferguson is “the only manager who will not be punished” for verbally attacking referees.
Rafa Benitez was right, but he didn’t go far enough. Well, he probably shouldn’t have said all this himself – especially in light of their meltdown at Stoke, but it needed to be said. Hopefully he tries even harder and succeeds at winding up Ferguson.
I don’t know what it will take before someone finally brings Shrek to justice. Perhaps he’ll have to go Joey Barton on some unsuspecting clubgoer. I suppose it’s to his credit he isn’t that type of a knucklehead. But I’m tired of the enabling that goes on with Rooney’s petulance – it just detracts from the integrity of the game. I suppose there’s only one man who can stop Rooney:
Anyways, enough of that. There was another game going on today …
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December 19, 2008
The Roundup from 2008-12-19
- http://tr.im/2gjm Bash trickery #
- Chinese Car Maker Begins Selling the F3DM, the World’s First Mass Produced, Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle http://tr.im/2gk5 Take that, GM #
- Mourinho hid in laundry basket to beat ban | Apr 24, 2007 http://tr.im/2gw5 I never knew about this #
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May 23, 2008
John Terry Jokes
I can’t imagine what the jokes about Ronaldo would be like if Terry would have made his kick.
One plane ticket to Moscow…£239.
One night accommodation in Moscow…£159.
Watching John Terry throw it all away…priceless
Samaritans are offering counseling to all Chelsea fans. Call 0800 101010 – that’s 0800 won nothing won nothing won nothing.
Police this morning reported to Avram Grant that there had been a break in at the Bridge. Avram asked “were there any cups stolen?” “No Sir,” the policeman replied. “They didn’t make it to the kitchen!”
Frank Lampard and Joe Cole were allegedly spotted out in Red Square last night, having clearly had one or two drinks. They were reportedly singing: “We’re forever blowing Doubles.”
Did you hear about the new ‘Chelsea Bra’? Lots of support but no cups.
Ryan Giggs speaking about the Champions League cup: “It’s like a Chocolate Orange – It’s not Terry’s, it’s mine!”
The Verve have released a tribute song to John Terry after his penalty blunder. It’s called ‘The Studs Don’t Work’.
Its lashing it down with rain in Moscow, poor old Avram Grant is soaked… mainly from John Terry’s tears.
John Terry is going to start making is own brand of vodka – made in England but bottled in Russia.
Stamford bridge a European Cup free zone.
Missing: 1 x Bottle
Last Seen: 21st May, Moscow
If found please return to: John Terry, Stamford Bridge, London.
Heard about the John Terry tyre? Excellent durability but not so good in the wet!
Good news: Josef Fritzel, the Austrian cellar rapist will be given the death penalty.
Bad news: John Terry is going to take it!
Why can’t you get a cup of tea at the Bridge? All the mugs are on the field and all the cups are at Old Trafford.
John Terry always listens to the same song before a game – Born Slippy.
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May 22, 2008
The Roundup from 2008-05-22
- Chelsea fans riot after match | The Sun http://tinyurl.com/4kv87z … riot in London! Tremendous! At least they kept the hooliganism at home #
- Jim Webb Speaks Out On Race, Addresses Grievances Of White America – Politics on The Huffington Post http://tinyurl.com/5aqhuw interesting #
- “Black America and Scots-Irish America are like tortured siblings. There’s a saying: ‘if you’re poor and white, you’re out of sight.’” #
- “If this cultural group could get at the same table as black America you could rechange populist American politics.” #
- This carnival of the senses is why they all want more http://tinyurl.com/6rlhop hilarious quote in this article about Moscow’s residents … #
- re: the Champions League Final – “At an hour when football should be tucked up in bed, a city of endless frowns pulled a grateful smile.” #
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May 21, 2008
They Must Be Punished
It’s the Cold War Final. An English team with a Russian owner and an English team with an American owner playing in Moscow a week after a Russian fan was stabbed in Manchester and 18 months after a Russian defector at odds with Vladimir Putin was poisoned (allegedly) in London … with Polonium. Throw in an Israeli coach, a distant cousin of Mariah Carey, the no-tolerance police, rat infested jails, traditionally binge-drinking English fans and Russian hooligans bent on revenge and you have all the makings of a grand spectacle!
Sie sind die besten, indeed!
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April 8, 2008
Wenger’s Done
If you don’t believe me – look at his body language. He’s been increasingly visibly upset in recent games as Arsenal’s Premier League season has unraveled, and once again in Liverpool as their Champions League campaign fizzled. Even before Adebayor’s supposed away-goal winner went in and especially after the Toure penalty on Babel, Wenger looked like he wanted to wrestle anyone in his immediate path. Why would he be behaving like this?
My only answer is that he knows this is his last year in North London. Even before this past off-season started, David Dien left the club. Dein was Wenger’s biggest supporter and the one that brought him to Arsenal 10+ years ago. And the ensuing few months were filled with wild speculation over takeovers from Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov. And even though Wenger signed an extension earlier this season, one wonders that there isn’t an easily triggered out clause.
With many apparent openings in top European sides this summer (Madrid, Barcelona, the Milans, etc.) no doubt they’d love to have Wenger’s coaching talents and his beautiful free-flowing style of football. And without an uncertain transfer budget to worry about, he could build a team with the depth that he couldn’t afford at Arsenal.
Of course, I could be reading way too much into this. Maybe he was just upset that a 5 point lead in the Premiership evaporated just as soon as Eduardo’s broke his leg and now with the domestic cups gone and the European Cup run teetering, the only thing to look forward to was a slim chance of passing both Manchester United and Chelsea in the league.
But I don’t have a good feeling about this.
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March 11, 2008
Mancini Is Done
He can win all the Scudettos he wants, but the club expects more. That’s why Mancini resigned:
Roberto Mancini has revealed he intends to quit Internazionale at the end of the season.
Speaking after Inter were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Liverpool, Mancini told reporters of his desire to move on in the summer.
The former Italy international has been in charge at Giuseppe Meazza since 2004 and has enjoyed success at the helm.
Inter are on course for a third consecutive Serie A title this season, but it will not be enough to tempt Mancini into staying.
Insisting his decision was not a knee-jerk reaction to losing to Liverpool, Mancini confirmed he does not intend to fulfil his contract.
Aside from Zanetti, that team looked like they were in a crisis. Rumors of infighting showed on 2 chances in front of goal where Julio Cruz and Zlatan Ibrahimovi? attempted difficult shots instead of squaring to an unmarked man. Zlatan, again, not showing up in the big games and Mancini took forever to bring on his subs. You can see why Roma feel they can catch Inter in the league tables, only 8 points behind now.
You won’t stay at a glamour club for long without winning in Europe. It’s what Madridistas are used to and what has saved Rafa Benitez at Liverpool and Carlo Ancelotti at AC Milan. But now with Inter, Real Madrid, and AC Milan out of the last 8, and with Rikjaard’s time looking short, it appears there will be a bidding war for Jose Mourinho’s services. And if Avram Grant doesn’t win something this year, Mourinho’s old job could be vacant as well.
England’s Big 4 are in Europe’s Elite 8 but out of the FA Cup’s Final 4. With the foreigners outnumbering the Englishmen, that sounds about right, don’t you think?
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February 13, 2008
Arsenal: The Soul Of English Football
You know – I see a lot written and said about how Arsenal with their foreign manager and lack of English talent are ruining the Premier League and the soul of English football. Similar comments were made when Fabio Capello was hired as England manager – xenophobic, to be sure. Then when the Premier League unveiled their plan to go International, the same complaints came up yet again. But why? Sue Mott wrote an interesting article in the Telegraph proclaiming that while Premier League boss Richard Scudamore was a blight on the soul of the game for the average fan, he was no idiot, and that there must be something afoot. Something on the order of stemming a breakaway league or an individual TV rights:
There is no doubt that Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool would find a lucrative market abroad. With their glossy foreign players and three out of four foreign managers, the next logical step would be to have training bases and matches abroad, perhaps one day soon? in a global Super League which invites the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan and, if money is the only language, LA Galaxy to join in.
Perhaps this is the vision that terrifies the Premier League stragglers, all 16 of them. They fear the day that the supreme artists of domestic football, the money-makers and rakers of the Premier League, move on to a more natural habitat on the French Riviera or a purposely-bought Caribbean Island. Anything to cling on to the coattails of that little goldmine. Anything is better than languishing in the remnants of decapitated, land-locked English football.
Look at it. Manchester United have record revenues but profits only enough to cover their enormous debt. Chelsea is seemingly never going to balance the books and keep winning titles. Liverpool is as mortgaged as the entire west coast of California. Then you have Alex Ferguson ducking out after his city came to a standstill to honor their fallen so he could promote a tour in South Africa or wherever it was … only a few weeks after taking his team to play a testimonial in Saudi Arabia in the middle of a week of a busy season. These new foreign owners are not about breaking even. They’re about making a profit, and doing it in whatever way possible. Including an integrity-compromised 39th fixture.
As an Arsenal supporter, it would be nice to have more access to my team here in the US, but I understand. However, it should be noted that of the Big 4, Arsenal are the only ones with majority English ownership and direction, a solid business and operating structure, and with an Academy producing English talent that aren’t hemorrhaging cash and chasing dollars 4 and 5 timezones away. As Obi Wan in Star Wars would say, “These are not the droids you are looking for.”
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