You think you're beaten up now Ryan? Just wait.  When the Ryan Nelsen to Toronto FC rumours began floating around last week, the direction it would take was unclear. Potential player acquisition turned into player/coach turned into assistant coach turned into the downright shocking. 　 Harry Redknapp told the press a few days ago that his defender Nelsen was going to return to "America" because he wants to be a manager - most thought it was just 'Arry at his self-proclaimed illiterate best.
"The Teflon Tom"
There was a great temptation today to go back and simply re-post whatever it was that we wrote when
Mo Johnston "moved upstairs", John Carver "stepped down", Chris Cummins was axed, Preki was sacked
and Nick Dasovic was tossed aside. We could have done that - but pressing "Ignore" in spellcheck
every time "Anselmi" popped up would have been exhausting.
Goodbye sweet pun-maker.As a warning, this article will leave you with far more
questions than answers but a day after Aron Winter's "mutually agreed" departure from Toronto FC -
we can't help but being left with many queries. The Dutchman's tenure, which started with such
excitement upon his arrival, never gained enough momentum to build upon the small successes until
it reached a point where the club's record made his dismissal inevitable.
Ex-Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson. de los Cobos is out of a job after Fire axe.
We're barely a third of the way through the season but already poor form is drawing consequences.
Two head coaches were let go from their positions yesterday as their clubs seek an immediate
turnaround in fortunes.
The playoffs may be in full gear right now but it is also a good time to discuss which MLS coach
will be fired for not getting his club to the post-season dance. Out of the five coaches, who's
teams failed to reach the playoffs I really see two getting the boot in the coming months [...]
We are playing like shit. Every one of us is waiting for the shit to stop. Some are suggesting
that the shit stops with Andre Villas-Boas. I, as you know, am not of this opinion. However, seeing
as there are many that would like to see the suave Portuguese vacate the premises, I thought I'd
gauge just how many are leaning toward this resolution.
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In addition to our weekly football phrases, we sometimes feature football language that appears
in the media and today we look at some of the language connected to Roy Hodgson's dismissal from
his position as Liverpool's boss.
I wasn't aware of this bit of news until The Fiver broke it to me, and I then spent the next 10
minutes staring at the Soccernet main screen in slack jawed disbelief. Chelsea announced earlier
today that manager Luis Felipe Scolari has been shown the door at Stamford Bridge, bringing the
Brazilian's tenure to just over half of one season (a feat only former Pompey manager Tony Adams
could look up to).
Carling Cup Semi-Finals
Pride Park Stadium
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
KO : 19:45 GMT (2:45 EST)
Recent Results – United
January 4 – United 3 – Southampton 0 @ St. Mary's Stadium
December 29 – United 1 – Boro 0 @ Old Trafford
December 26 – United 1 – Stoke 0 @ Britannia Stadium
December 21 – United 1 – LDU Quito 0 @ FIFA Club World Cup
December 18 – United 5 – Gamba Osaka 3 @ FIFA Club World Cup
Recent Results – Derby
January 3 – Derby 4 – Forest Green Rovers 3 @ The New Lawn
December 28 – Ipswich Town 1 – Derby 0 @ Pride Park
December 26 – Preston North End 2 – Derby 0 @ Deepdale
December 20 – Derby 1 – Watford 0 @ Pride Park
December 15 – Charlton 2 – Derby 2 @ The Valley
Points To Ponder Prior to Semi-Formulaic Derby Beating
With a looming Blue giant waiting at the weekend, Fergie will look to play a weakened squad in the
first leg on Wednesday.
Remember this summer when Bernd Schuster was singing the praises of the "biggest club in
the world"? Remember when Schuster said (of Ronaldo) that "some day hewill be with
us"? Remember when the mustachioed German was fired for being incompetent? I certainly do.
The current situation in the Spanish Primera really makes one wonder what the hell goes on in
the mind of modern footballers.
Like a few other American players this past weekend, Hansa Rostock defender Heath Pearce had to
watch from the bench as his team drew a home match with VFL Osnabruck 2-2 in Second Bundesliga
play. The Hansa board and fans, after years spent in the First Bundesliga expected to be further
along by now in their quest for promotion back to the top flight, not languishing in 12th place
with only three wins in 12 matches.
James Milner and Theo Walcott fired England Under-21s to victory against the Republic of Ireland.
Milner scored the deflected opener just before the hour mark, and added a second with a low drive
that went in off the post.
James Milner and Theo Walcott fired England Under-21s to victory against the Republic of Ireland.
Milner scored the deflected opener just before the hour mark, and added a second with a low drive
that went in off the post.
If there was a popularity between Roy Hodgson and Claudio Ranieri today who would lose? Both
managers leading teams with talented players, yet struggling to lift them out of relegation zones.Â
Liverpool sit 18th with 6 points. Roma occupy the bottom slot in Serie A with 3 points.
Just coming out at Behind the Badge, Tom Soehn will not be back next year as DC United's
manager. This was the move you knew would happen, as two years out of the playoffs is just not
acceptable to anyone involved.
The harder decisions (roster) are forthcoming, and hopefully, a good search can be conducted and
the best possible candidate can be hired.
The Los Angeles Times, in a story by Grahame Jones, reports that AEG has axed BOTH Alexi
Lalas and Ruud Gullit in a meeting held today.
Jones reports,
In a pair of sweeping changes brought about by a Major League Soccer season in meltdown, the Los
Angeles Galaxy today removed Alexi Lalas as team president and general manager and Ruud Gullit as
coach.
Hugo Sanchez has been fired as head coach of the Mexican national team.
The greatest player in Mexican soccer history lasted barely more than a year before three failed
attempts to beat the United States and a disastrous Olympic Qualifying campaign did him in before
he even had a chance to coach a World Cup qualifier.
