The Wrecking Ball: Player Ratings -- Manchester City 4 - Manchester United 1

Manchester City's attacking troika of Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Alvaro Negredo conspired to give Manchester United well more than they could handle on Sunday, easily dispatching last year's Premier League champions in an emphatic 4-1 derby day victory on Sunday afternoon.  Although the pregame questions may have concerned the severity of Robin Van Persie's injury situation, post-game questioning will shine a more difficult spotlight on the lineup selection of United's new manager, David Moyes.  United were outplayed, outhustled and outscored during a 60 minute battering by their cross-town rivals, who turned the atmosphere at the Etihad into a Sunday carnival of sorts for their fans.   Although the visitors performed better over the game's final half hour, the turnaround was much too little, too late to reverse the three goals by City scored within minutes of either side of the interval.

Herewith our player ratings for individual performances in what was a damaging and demoralizing team loss:

De Gea: Little he could have done on City's goals, but his spill of Dzeko's long-range strike showed how badly his confidence was shaken by conceding four times. 5.0

Smalling:  Struggled mightily to handle the left side of City's attack  and went missing in the first ten minutes of the second half. Tellingly, was often the United player furthest forward on attack. 4.0

Ferdinand: Never saw Aguero coast in behind him for the fourth of the afternoon.  May need a rest -- what ever happened to that Jonny Evans guy? 4.0

Vidic: Key first half interception kept the scoreline from being even worse for the visitors. 4.5

Evra: Had a close-up view of Aguero's stunning 16th minute strike that set City on their way,  and was unable to keep up with a rampaging Jesus Navas at the start of the second half.  Was unfortunate not to score with his 80th minute header that hit the woodwork. 4.5

Valencia: Lost his man to allow City's first goal, and played Toure onside for the second from his position on the post. A shadow of the player we saw in the second half against Leverkusen. 4.0

Fellaini:  Worked hard in a vain attempt to contain City in the middle of the park, but lost Toure when it mattered most just before the interval.  His lack of pace in the middle of the park was exposed badly today. 4.5 

Heart-less: Manchester City 2 - Manchester United 1

Photo by haven't the slightest on Flickr

 

Manchester United continued their late spring swoon, falling at home for only the second time this season in a 2-1 derby day loss to cross-town rivals Manchester City.  Although the Citizens' win moved them three points closer to the top-of-the-table Reds, more concerning for Sir Alex will be the heartless display turned in by his side, who have been seemingly unable to recover from the defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinal over a month ago.  Although United showed a brief bit of fighting spirit to pull back level early in the game's second half, the home side  were largely complacent for much of the contest, and few of those watching will deny that City produced much of the game's attacking thrust and -- on the balance of play -- deserved the three points. City's most spectacular effort came from one of the game's smallest combatants, as Sergio Aguero's late wonder strike sealed the derby victory.

 

United began the game with a makeshift defensive lineup, and were almost made to pay for it in the game's early going, but both David Silva's and Carlos Tevez's early efforts were blocked before they were able to inflict permanent damage. It was a wild and wooly opening five minutes, with both teams bursting forward in a veritable track meet of a football match.

Robin Van Persie pulled just wide after being fed the ball by Wayne Rooney inside the box, as the home signaled their own attacking intent. Fifteen minutes in and the scoreboard showed each side with 50% possession -- an accurate indication of the evenhanded nature of the proceedings to that point in time, but one that quickly began to change.

It was City looking the more fluid of the Manchester clubs after the game's first quarter hour, and they were unlucky not to grab the lead near the 20 minute mark, when only Phil Jones' last ditch sliding clearance saved the home side's blushes. The Citizens had their ears -- not to mention the United defense -- pinned back as they pinged the ball around and through the home side's 18 YTD box on multiple occasions, gaining loads of joy on the left hand side of the pitch and looking for a goal to complement their growing advantage in possession -- but while Samir Nasri's shot sailed wide, James Milner's effort contained little venom and was handled easily by United 'keeper David De Gea.

While City maintained possession, it was Silva who caused the most problems with his jitterbugging style of attack. For their part, the home side relied on relatively infrequent opportunities to spring the counterattack during a first half in which they were unable to create any real opportunities -- bar a late Rafael toe poke which clanged off the goal's upper corner. What the game lacked in scoring as the teams went to the locker rooms, though, it made up for in intensity, as referee Mike Dean was forced to go frequently to his pocket -- showing a yellow card to Silva, Rooney, Giggs and Kompany -- during a feisty 45 minutes of action.

Give That Man a Hand: Week 12 in the BPL

photo by miss pupik	via PhotoRee

o Spurs fans: after watching the Gunners smash five past your team on Saturday, we have a suggestion for your Manager's new theme song.... Let us know your thoughts:



o Sign o' the Times: Juan Mata created more real chances in his first five minutes on the pitch than Fernando Torres created in over an hour.

o Chelsea with Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard are lacking only one thing: a real live striker who can put the ball in the net. If the Blues can persuade Radamel Falcao to sign on the dotted line, watch out.

o Carlos Tevez and Player of the Week Sergio Aguero manhandled an Aston Villa club that had given the Citizens' cross-twin rivals all they could handle the week prior. And ominously for future opponents, David Silva looked fairly good, as well.... But City's best player by far was wearing black: Linesman Adrian Holmes saw hand balls the way some actors see dead people -- imagining things that don't exist. With one fail swoop City were literally handed a game that not only gave them first place, but the resulting five goals they put past the hapless Villans also allowed the Sky Blues to take the lead on goal differential for the first time all season.

o And speaking of handing a result to the other side, Referee Martin Atkinson somehow managed to fluff yet another in a long career of missed penalties and imagined infractions. Atkinson's generous interpretation of Sean Morrison's arm save overlooked the act that the Reading player who stopped Nikica Jelavic's goal bound shot was not their 'keeper, and gave the Royals their very first win of the season.

Hanging by a Thread: Manchester City 2 - Ajax 2

photo by chefranden	via PhotoRee

 

 

o The hot seat beginning to warm up, Roberto Mancini left little to chance, playing an attacking triangle that included Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure up front against the men from Amsterdam. Bearing in mind that his City side will play Spurs at home this weekend, the Italian likely gambled -- correctly or not, still to be determined -- that five days rest would be enough when playing their next game at home.

 

o Coming as it did against the run of play, the double deflection for the Ajax opener was likely not what Mancini envisioned in his pre-game planning. Nor was De Jong’s uncontested header that made the scorline 2-nil a short six minutes later. On defense City look disorganized, demoralized and generally out of sorts – the same way they’ve appeared for much of the Champions League this season.

 

o Yaya Toure’s fantastic takedown and sidewinding goal which cut the deficit to one showcased the Ivorian’s game in one flowing move: the brute strength of an NBA power forward, combined with the finesse and footwork of a petite midfielder.

 

o Mancini doubled down at halftime, replacing Javi Garica with Mario Balotelli. While the move paid off with initial pressure, the ultimate dividend Mancini was hoping for was not immediately apparent.

 

o Kun Aguero reminded us a bit of Evan Lysacek. Playing as if he had ice skates on, the Argentine hit the deck and slid repeatedly…. Just askin’, but shouldn’t a player know which boots to wear on his home pitch…?

 

o Not content to use only three of his strikers, Mancini took one last chance at the 65 minute mark to throw in a fourth with the addition of Edin Dzeko – although he took off Tevez in order to do so. But it wasn’t super sub Dzeko who evened the scoreline – as was often the case last year, it was none other than El Kun who pulled the Citizens back to level terms with just over 25 minutes to play.

 

o Even when moving forward, City looked less like a team than a collection of individual superstars. Each offensive move was less a flow from one player to another than it was a piece of individual brilliance.

 

o When the winner came, it came from an offside position – and was rightly denied. The resulting 2-2 draw succinctly summed up Manchester City’s season to date – there is no “I” in team -- and left the Citizens and their Manager right where they were when the game kicked off: hanging by a thread.

 

This is farlieonfootie for November 7.

Week 1 in the BPL: Where the Storylines Never Change

A Behind the Scenes Look into Columnist Ed's Office
photo by Nesster	via PhotoRee

The Barclay's Premier League is back, and a new season is well and truly underway, which can only mean one thing: new names and new kits, but the same old crazy outcomes. Some observations forthwith on a weekend that was predictably uncommon, and left Swansea and Fulham in unfamiliar territory at the top of the League:

o For once I found myself agreeing with Steve McMananman, who pointed out while Arsenal have brought in a bunch of firepower to replace Robin Van Persie, they've chosen to stand pat on a defense that includes the wobbly Per Mertesacker, the shaky Kieran Gibbs and the bumbling Wojciech Sczcesny.  We've pointed it out before on these pages, Arsene, but you can't expect to win in this league without a rock solid defense. Not that you were thinking of doing that this campaign.... 

o Of course, Arsenal did manage to shut out Sunderland on Saturday, but let's remember that this was a Black Cats squad that found the net impossibly small during their run in last season....

o With all the fuss about Joey Barton, someone forgot to tell Mark Hughes and QPR that the season kicked off this past weekend. Although somehow we imagine that 5-0 home thrashings will have a way of grabbing your attention.

o It was strange to see Fabio all decked out in his natty sailor boy QPR kit. Same for Parky, as well. After Saturday's thrashing, I'm pretty certain they've figured out their newest stop is a bit closer to Siberia than it is to Manchester. And while Parky's move is sadly permanent, Sir Alex may want to re-think the Fabio loan deal: it now appears as if the only defensive experience the Brazilian will pick up at QPR is learning how to pick the ball out of the back of the net.

o I'll say it now, so you can't accuse me of an unsubtle bias later in the season: I don't like QPR after the way they handed the title to City last season -- not even one little bit -- and I hope they get relegated.

o Gylffi who?  Welcome to the Premier Leage, Michu....  It looks as if Swansea may have found a goodun'.

o Another season, another shutout for Villa, and this to a newly promoted side.  Welcome to the hot seat, Mr. Lambert. You're not in Norwich anymore....

o Just sayin', but I'm not certain that Adam Federici, Reading's goalkeeper, is ready for prime time.

o Granted it was against Wigan, but if Eden Hazard continues to look as good as he did on Sunday,  the rest of the League had better stand up and pay attention. Juan Mata may have made a decent impact on the Blues last season, but Hazard's not just about the pretty stepovers and a pass -- he seems to have a genuine knack for finding the open man in front of net. Playing largely from the right, Hazard gave Chelsea not only an extra offensive gear, but more importantly the width that the Blues have lacked the last couple of campaigns.

The Late Late Show: Dramatic Endings in Sport

With one final kick of the ball, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero changed the course of football history on Sunday, and brought to a close one of the most gripping Barclay's Premier League seasons ever.  In fact, to find a comparable finish in English football history, one has to go back to the era before the Premier League existed, to 1989, when Arsenal needed a two goal victory on the season's final day to win the title over Liverpool.  As fate would have it, Michael Thomas scored the Gunners' second goal that day in the last minute of regulation time at Anfield. 

Although Sunday afternoon's goal was a stab through the heart of a true United fan such as me, one would be hard pressed to deny that it was dramatic; it may have been dramatically tragic, but it was dramatic nonetheless.

It got me to thinking about other dramatic endings in sport -- they are relatively few and far between.  In fact, I can think of only a very few endings in sport that I've personally witnessed that matched the gripping nature of this year's "Survival Sunday."

The first that springs to mind is the 1986 World Series, Mookie Wilson's spinning ball rolling right through Bill Buckner's legs and into Major League Baseball history, leading the New York Mets to a dramatic come from behind victory over the Boston Red Sox.  I was at the Big Shea that night, and I can still remember the upper deck bouncing underneath the delirious jumping, screaming and stomping of the Game Six crowd.



Christian Laettner's last second overtime buzzer-beater, which allowed Duke to knock of Kentucky in the 1992 NCAA Quarter Finals, is up there, too.  I was actually supposed to be at that game, too, but family obligations meant that I ended up watching it on television. 



Princeton University's near upset of Georgetown University in the 1989 NCAA Basketball Tournament also ranks right up there in my book.  The Tigers, a lightly regarded #16 seed, nearly pulled off the greatest upset in College basketball history against the #1 seeded Hoyas; only a non-call by the referee right at the buzzer handed the victory to the heavy favorites.  I was at the game in Providence, and the misery I felt at the end was similar to how I felt Sunday night -- except Sunday night was even worse.

Mood Ring: My Minute-by-Minute Account of Round 38 in the BPL

Photo by Half Alive -- Soo ZZZ on Flickr

10:00 am EST/3:00 pm BST   Ring Color: GOLD – UNSETTLED/ MIXED EMOTIONS

As Survival Sunday kicks off, I’m a bundle of emotions – Sad, because it’s the last day of the season; Upset, because it appears as if Manchester United have thrown away the title after being up by eight points with only six games left; and Nervous -- Could this be the day of another stunning comeback from the Champions, who can never be truly counted out?  Only time will tell.

10:10am EST / 3:10pm BST   Ring Color: BROWN – RESTLESS

Stealing a page out of his mentor’s playbook, Sparky appears to have ordered his troops to play “Park the Bus” today at the Etihad.  But can they do it for 90 minutes?  It looks highly doubtful.  Actually, to this point in the match, it looks highly doubtful that QPR can even string two passes together.

10:12am EST / 3:12pm BST   Ring Color: PINK – FEAR / UNCERTAIN

Jonathan Walters has scored for Stoke.  Crap!  Now QPR don’t even need a result today to stay up.  What little bit of hope was there to begin with has been cast aside.

10:14am EST / 3:14pm BST

West Brom have scored for the second time in four minutes, and Arsenal have thrown away a one goal cushion.  Could Spurs really finish third…?!  I might crack a beer and settle in for the long haul….  It’s not too early, is it?

10:20am EST / 3:20pm BST     Ring Color: RED – ENERGY / EXCITED / ADVENTUROUS

Wazza’s got United on the board with a header past Mignolet to give the Once and Future Champions a 1-nil lead at Sunderland.  It’s good news, got me a bit excited, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  There’s a lot of football still to be played.  And let’s not forget -- it’s QPR on the pitch at the Etihad.  I’m definitely cracking a beer, though.

10:25am EST / 3:25pm BST 

An easy giveaway by Sean Wright-Phillips, gifting the ball to Ya Ya Toure, followed by a near hand ball just outside the box.  Once again, Wright-Phillips is the donor. Is he literally trying to hand the title to City?

10:30am EST / 3:30pm BST   Ring Color: BROWN – RESTLESS

QPR appear to be growing into the game, although you know City will still create their chances.  To borrow a trite phrase, QPR are defending like lions, but they’re draining my mental energy.  Come to think of it, they’re draining my beer, too.  Better get another.

The Fast Five

photo by desomurchu archive gallery	via PhotoRee

Ed has some thoughts on last weekend.  Unfortunately, it took him until Thursday to verbalize them:

Just when you think you’ve got the EPL all figured out there’s a week like this.

First there’s United against Chelsea.  Wayne Rooney, averaging three goals a game his last two games, falls down on his way to his second goal against the Blues.  Huh?  No, it’s true.  And while United ultimately put in three, Chelsea for the most part saw the better of the play.  Torres' first goal after the half was a as shocking as it was merciless, almost nonchalantly flicking it over De Gea on a quick through ball. 

His sec . . . . oops, of course there was no second, but instead there was that complete “Doh!” that we’ve all seen countless times, where after beating De Gea with a quick stepover, he nearly missed the entire stadium on a kick in that should have been a layup.  But let’s face it, it was the first time in a long time that Torres looked dangerous.  And it was the first time that United seemed to be on the defensive most of the game.  Does this mean United is vulnerable?  Well, it was just one game.  But their lack of dominance against the speed lineup of Chelsea – that is, the lineup they went to after pulling Lampard – has got to put some concern in United fans when they think of what Barca might do to them if it all comes to that again.  Hmmm.

Second there’s Spurszzz.  Someone clearly put the jumper cables right on the left and right . . . . well, let’s keep this above board, and say that Adebayor and Scott Parker, the smartest looking holding midfielder in the EPL, absolutely transmogrified (wait, is that a word?) the team.  Spurs went from a demoralized last place team to a team that looked downright dangerous, taking advantage of a Liverpool team that looked predicatable and slow and, well, slow. 

Reflecting on the EPL Week That Was

photo by Andréia	via PhotoRee

Before we begin this week's EPL action, let's take a look back at some of the events from the season's opening weekend:

o Is there anyone out there who still thinks Kun Aguero isn't going to cut it in the EPL? I've been dreading his signing ever since it was first announced. I heard some doubters say that El Kun liked to linger on the ball too long, or take too many touches, and would never adapt to the "speed" of the EPL. I think that particular critique has been exposed as faulty, given his perofmance last Monday. Granted, this was Swansea who he and City were facing, but let's give credit where credit is due: El Kun is no Edin Dzeko. And there are now two words I'm sure were being bantered around Eastlands this week: Carlos Who?

o So, has AVB decided in favor of El Niño over El Drogbo at Chelsea? It certainly seems that way based on week one.... While Torres did look slightly better than last season, how could he not? That isn't a very high bar by which to judge.... But in the one area on which you can judge, it's easy to count the number of goals scored by the Spanish striker last weekend: none. Meanwhile, I have to say that John Terry looked very creaky indeed at the back for the Blues.  Couldn't happen to a nicer guy....

o I laughed my @ss off when I heard Gervinho's hairdo referred to as an "updated street version of a comb-over," or the comb-over "re-booted," on the Guardian EPL podcast this past week. Great description, guys.

Baby, it's Cold Outside, and Potentially Suspect Crocked Ankles, The Sequel

photo by woodleywonderworks	via PhotoRee

Before we turn our (fleeting) attention toward a feast of Spanish football, let's at least touch on the latest Wayne Rooney conspiracy theory:  anyone else thinking it's slightly strange that Manchester United have chosen to send our formerly beloved striker all the way to Beaverton, Oregon to undergo physical therapy on his damaged ankle?  First, Rooney's rehab included a week of poolside cocktailing in Dubai.  Next, his suggested routine includes flying 10 hours to the west coast of America, and spending Saturday to Saturday (missing two more game days) in splendid isolation.  Does this remind anyone of trying to keep the crazy uncle locked in the closet upstairs when entertaining guests?  Okay, maybe that's just my family, but I think you get my point....  Can it be that Roo is on his way out, and that they are trying to keep him out of sight until the deed is done?  Who knows, but it's an awfully suspicious therapy routine he's undergoing at present -- just sayin'.


Let's move onto bigger and better things, as La Liga giants (okay, that may be a slight exaggeration)  and farlieonfootie favorites Atletico Madrid take on Norwegian worldbeaters (okay, that's a definite exaggeration) Rosenborg in Europa League action.   Welcome to autumn football in Norway, where even the hardy Norwegian fans are bundled up and shivering in pre-game crowd shots. I did take particular pleasure in seeing one fan attempting to keep warm by wearing a NY Mets ski cap -- that would be a collector's item even in Queens these days, but due to it's one-of-a-kind status here in Norway, would fetch a eye-popping value estimate on Trondheim's version of Antiques Road Show.

Atleti in their blue and red outfits look slightly Superman-ish tonight, which may or may not be a fitting description depending on which version of the Madrilleños decide to turn up. 

Coming Soon to a Theater (of Dreams) Near You: The Replacements

photo by Diane S Murphy	via PhotoRee

Has it really come to this?  Is the love affair well and truly over?  With a press conference held at 2pm BST today, Sir Alex took the moral high ground and wiped Wayne Rooney and his agent Paul Stretford right off the pitch.  Halftime score?   Fergie 1 - Rooney Nil.  Game on, and let the competition begin....

With his straightforward and candid admissions today the wily Scot managed to turn the tide of the press well against his young striker.  We learned today that Rooney told Sir Alex over two months ago that he had no intention of re-signing with Manchester United, despite his prior promise that this was the club where he wanted to spend the rest of his career (interestingly, Fergie's response was to tell Rooney that if he really wished to leave, he should at least remember to "respect the club." That advice obviously fell on deaf ears). 

By unequivocally stating that he had never had an argument with Rooney, had only tried to do the right thing for Rooney's career, and was as disappointed and bemused as anyone else about the situation, Sir Alex effectively painted Rooney into a figurative corner and forced him to show his true colors (which may, in fact, be a putrid shade of Sky Blue).  He also ensured that the vitriolic anger of a Red United nation would be firmly directed on Rooney rather than the manager or the club.  I don't know percentages, but I think one would be hard pressed to find much twitter traffic today backing Rooney's decision.

I have a strong feeling that lines have been drawn in the sand, and that although SAF has offered his hand to Rooney one last time, there is now no way back home for the United hitman.  In fact, I think there's a better than decent chance that the West Brom game on Saturday was the last time we will see Rooney in the famous #10 United jersey. The news that he rolled his ankle (once again) during practice earlier today and was stretchered off the pitch can only be viewed as an intermediate step to buy all parties some time - surely Wayne Rooney can't come out on the pitch at Old Trafford once again, except to a merciless hounding from the Theater of Dreams faithful...

So, if it has indeed come to this, how will United replace Rooney?  Although I've already written that no like-for-like replacement exists for Wayne Rooney, surely there are others who will take his position for a United team in the future....  Just for fun, let's examine some of the possible candidates:

 -          Fernando Torres, Age 26.  Gotta be the favorite right now. Sure he's a Red of a different color, and the two clubs generally don't do business.  But rumors abound of a huge locker room bust-up between Torres and his mates Gerrard and Carragher, and he may well want out of a side that is unlikely to play Champions League football again in the near future.

-          Carlos Tevez, Age 26.  Nah. [Actually, as pointed out by my friend Mike, Tevez is probably the one player in the world whose game resembles Rooney's: a fan favorite, willing to run his socks off in pursuit of nothing, and a bad temperament to boot.]

-          Wesley Sneijder, Age 26.  Interesting.   Obviously plays a different position than Rooney, but a proven goal scorer and a midfield maestro.  Could fill a number of holes in the current United lineup. Is he available?

-          Luka Modric, Age 25. Okay, I'll admit I'm hopeful here (see Column #2), but much like Sneijder above, and already a proven commodity in the EPL.  Modric plus a big bagful of cash could unlock the door for Rooney in my estimation, especially if that bag of cash is used to buy another striker.

-          Karim Benzema, Age 22.  Apparently he's been wanted by Fergie for a long time.  This one really doesn't do anything for me, and would feel strongly like taking a set of hand-me-down clothes.  Can't cut it at the Bernabeu = not good enough for United, either, in my estimation.

-          Diego Forlan, age 30.  Once a Red, always a Red (Remember that catchy tune "Who put the ball in the Scousers' net?") Taking from my second favorite team to help my first.  Sorry Atleti, but I'm selfish when it comes to Manchester United.

-          Sergio "El Kun" Aguero,  Age 21. Ditto Forlan, except without the prior EPL experience and a decade younger. Built like his father-in-law Diego Forlan, and possibly with the moves to match.  Young and getting better.

-          Luis Suarez, Age 23. Great World Cup until he got red carded against Ghana.  A top scorer is still a top scorer, even if he's doing it in Holland.  I think.

-          Luis Fabiano, Age 29.  Has already expressed his desire to play for United, and is an out and out goal scorer, something United have lacked ever since Ruud Van Nistelrooy's departure in my estimation.  My enthusiasm is tempered by the fact that Brazilians don't tend to translate well in the EPL.

-           Kaka, Age 28. I'll admit, this is a longshot, but he's looking more and more like the odd man out at Real Madrid. Again, a very different player than Wayne Rooney, but do you really go from World Player of the Year to benchwarmer in just three years, all while still in your 20s?

-           Alexandre Pato, Age 20. I know the Duck almost moved to Chelsea last season, so he's at least thought about a move to the EPL. Could he cut it?  Lots of promise, but for me the jury's still out.

-           Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Age 28. Please. Signing football's version of the man without a country could be the one thing that would cause me to renounce my United fan membership. I just don't get the attraction to this guy.

-            Edin Dzeko, Age 24. The big Bosnian is another name that I hear linked with United a lot, but this signing wouldn't really float my boat.

-            Freddy Adu, Age 20. Just kidding.  Threw that in to check if you're still reading.

All the names mentioned above assume there will be ample money to spend, and that Rooney will command an impressive transfer fee from wherever he ends up. These are both assumptions that are debatable, at the least, right now. The Glazers' ownership, and David Gill and Sir Alex's leadership will be put to the sternest test yet by this unexpected crisis. If big names are not signed to fill the void left by Rooney, the anger currently directed at United's #10 and his agent will boomerang on others. This is not the last act, but rather the first move in a massive game of chess to be played at the highest level.

I'm sure there are other names that will circulate in the coming weeks and months. The British press will have a field day with their transfer rumors, but I don't see any of the big names mentioned above donning a United shirt before this summer.

In that case, I have four last thoughts: (i) I hope Dimi can handle the pressure of being "the man" this season; (ii) I pray Michael Owen's hamstrings hold up; today could be his lifeline back.  (iii) We're going to figure out just how good Chicha and Macheda actually are. In a hurry. And (iv) I'm farlieonfootie for October 20.

Woody's Round Up Redux

Hmmm....  You Don't Think He Has Ulterior Motives Here, Do You?  England Goalkeeper Coach Ray Clemence has apparently stated that all three goalies called up for England's games this coming week should become number one in the squad, and all in the same day.  It's a wonder he's intellgible at all speaking out of both sides of his mouth.  Shortly after seeing a comment attributable to Clemence that West Ham 'keeper Robert Green could regain his starting position I was startled to see an article from the same day quoting the same Ray Clemence tipping Birmingham 'keeper Ben Foster to challenge Joe Hart for the starting spot in the England lineup.  I guess I didn't realize that a team could start three goalkeepers, although I'm pretty certain it would affect their offensive output if they chose to do so.

I Don't Think This Gesture Means You're Number One.  Maybe this means he will be moving to Old Trafford after all....  One can only hope that this recent sign of Harry Redknapp's displeasure with Luka Modric may tempt the Croatian to begin to look elsewhere for gainful employment.  Although he once described Modric as "our only world class player," I'm guessing Uncle Harry might put Rafael Van der Vaart in that category for Spurs now, as well.

Welcome News.  Atleti just aren't the same team without El Kun, Sergio Aguero, in the starting eleven, so it's nice to see that Los Colchoneros are trying to re-sign him rather than using him for trade bait.  So much for all the rumors of Aguero being shipped out of Madrid.

photo by dhyasama	via PhotoRee

A Fish Rots at the Head.  Great to see Bolivian President Evo Morales setting an example for the youth of his nation by kneeing an opposing player in the groin during a recent "friendly" match in La Paz.  Just goes to show you that politics truly is a contact sport.

Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain.  I've had a good chuckle reading all the laudatory articles about what John Henry would do for Liverpool as New England Sports Ventures looks to buy the reds (note the small "r").  Henry may be a good guy (or not), but I'll give him credit for one thing: he knows how to hire.  Although articles such as this one give Henry credit for thinking outside the box while hiring the youngest GM in baseball history and bringing a fan-friendly approach to the fan experience, true insiders know that its NESV President Larry Lucchino who is the brains behind the operation.  Lucchino oversaw the masterful construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards while President of that team, and was also responsible for finding and hiring young Theo Epstein at the Sox.  Liverpool fans should hope that John Henry sticks to counting his money and leaves the sporting decisions in Lucchino's more-than-capable hands.

And that's farlieonfootie for October 7th.