I'm sure most everyone has heard about the sacking of the (former) Chelski boss, Jose Mourinho, and
his two-headed replacement thats keeping the seat warm for Guus Hiddink (as Jose lines up for a
potential job with his homelands national team) so I want to bring light to a story that might get
lost in the media firestorm that has folllowed the shocking news.
First off -- a breakdown of Saturday and Sunday's premier league action -- and shame on the Toons
for losing to cellar-dwellar's Derby - Michael Owen might have injured himself in the embarrassing
result.
Here's the Best XI:
TEAM OF THE WEEK GK: Pepe Reina (Liverpool)
LCB: Stephen Kelly (Birmingham)
CB: Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
RCB: Nemanja Vidic (Man United)
LM: Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham)
CM: Michael Johnson (Man City)
CM: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
RM: Lee Bowyer (West Ham)
ST: Dean Ashton (West Ham)
ST: Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland)
ST: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal)
Manager: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
My star of the weekend was Cesc Fabregas, who was absolutley brilliant and is quickly making people
forget about Thierry Henry.
Some quick hits to start out:
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney will both be back in SAF's squad but SAF isn't sure yet if
Rooney will be unleashed.
Chelski tells Real Madrid to back off of Michael Ballack.
Micah Richards named the Barclay's Premier League player of the month. Well done lad, your star is
certainly on the rise.
Two minutes after a controversial red-card Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored in the 91st minute to give
the Dutch a one nil victory. An Albanian hooligan promptly takes out his frustration on Wigan
defender Mario Melchiot:
Google Mario Melchiot and you'll see the highlight. Netherlands was beating Albania
1-nil as they say, and someone in the stands decided this would be a good time to throw a firework
right at one of the Dutch players.
Chelski owner Roman Abramovich is denying that he has offered Russian footballers a bonus for
beating England -- color me skeptical since he spends money like its burning and is known to fund
his homeland's national team:
The two nations meet in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday.
And reports claimed the Russian players would receive £40,000 if they were to defeat Steve
McClaren's men.
Apologies for the delayed posting -- American football has diverted my attention during the PL
off-week -- a las, here are some quick hits:
US loses to Brazil 4-2 but Ives says there are positives to take away from the match but Gooch
needs to be replaced according to just about everyone (good analysis in the link therein).
Arsenal chairman says the club isn't up for sale, especially to Russian gangsters.
From CNNSI.com -- South American and Mexican clubs were omitted:
1. AC Milan (prev. 1)
Fiorentina slowed Milan down last weekend, but the Rossoneri are still red-hot, undefeated in Serie
A so far and adding the European Super Cup to their haul in a magical 2007. Most impressive was how
Milan became a different team against No.
Can David Beckham change the attitude of an entire country? Fergie doesn't think so and makes some
valid points:
Manchester United boss Ferguson says his former superstar can't hope to succeed where
legends like Pele and Johan Cruyff have already failed.
"David Beckham himself can't change the whole country," was Ferguson's blunt verdict on the injured
England star's £128m move to Los Angeles Galaxy.
Another excellent piece from David Warner at AOL:
While the English press seems focused on Cristiano Ronaldo's partying habits -- and
really, who wouldn't want to know more about a poolside orgy with hookers from Leeds -- a former
ambassador is focusing on a very different matter: Alisher Usmanov, the Russian steel magnate who's
attempting to purchase Arsenal.
From Yanks Abroad -- once again, no Altidore or Adu:
Goalkeepers
Howard, Tim Everton (England)
Seitz, Chris Salt Lake (MLS)
Defenders
Bocanegra, Carlos Fulham (England)
Cherundolo, Steve Hannover 96 (Germany)
DeMerit, Jay Watford (England)
Onyewu, Oguchi Standard Liege (Belgium)
Pearce, Heath Hansa Rostock (Germany)
Simek, Frank Sheffield Wednesday (England)
Spector, Jonathan West Ham United (England)
Midfielders
Beasley, DaMarcus Rangers (Scotland)
Bradley, Michael Heerenveen (Holland)
Convey, Bobby Reading (England)
Dempsey, Clint Fulham (England)
Feilhaber, Benny Derby County (England)
Mastroeni, Pablo Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Forwards
Arnaud, Davy Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Donovan, Landon Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Johnson, Eddie Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Wolff, Josh 1860 Munich (Germany)
David Warner at AOL Sportshouse with another entertaining break down of Saturday and Sunday's
fixtures.
The best XI from ESPN:
GK: Robert Green (West Ham)
LCB: Joleon Lescott (Everton)
CB: Zat Knight (Aston Villa)
RCB: David Wheater (Boro)
LM: Matt Etherington (West Ham)
CM: Xabi Alonso (Liverpool)
CM: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
RM: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
ST: Craig Bellamy (West Ham)
ST: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
ST: Michael Owen (Newcastle)
Manager: Martin O'Neill (Villa)
Don't have too many problems with that line-up but I would have to offer up Clint Dempsey who was
all over the pitch over the weekend, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists allowing Fulham to salvage a
point.
Steve McLaren was not greeted with good news today as Frank Lampard tore a thigh tendon and will
miss a few weeks of action, which will likely rule him out of England's first two Euro 2008
qualifiers:
The Chelsea midfielder suffered the injury at the end of Friday's training session and was sent
to hospital where a scan revealed the full extent of the problem.
Courtesy of the former Liverpudlian and BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson:
THIS WEEK'S PREDICTIONS
SATURDAY
Bolton v Everton
It's an improving Bolton side against difficult-to-beat Everton.
This time from Chris Klein of the LA Galaxy in the SuperLiga finals. Unfortunately the bike kick
didn't pay off as the Galaxy and Beckham lost (the $1 million match) in penalties.
