16 games have already been played in the Premier League this season, and we've already seen some eye-catching score lines (Arsenal winning 6-1 against Everton, Tottenham winning 5-1 today, Man Utd losing to Burnley). But out of these 16 games, three amazing (I think at least) statistics have popped out for me:
0 draws
9 away wins (including Fulham of all teams)
41 goals scored, which averages out to 2.56 goals a game
Not only that, but Spurs are presently leading the league (come again?)
August 17, 2009
August 4, 2009
RIP Sir Bobby Robson
After defeating cancer four previous times and pushing his life well into extra time, Sir Bobby Robson could not overcome a fifth bout, passing away on Friday.
Robson had a successful playing career spanning 18 years where he earned 20 England caps, but he will be remembered more for his coaching achievements. He spent 13 seasons at Ipswich Town and coached England to two fabulous World Cup performances in 1986 and 1990 before going abroad to Holland, Portugal and Spain. He concluded his decorated career at Newcastle United. He was the last great coach at both Newcastle and England (although Capello at this pace is on track to take England to new heights I think), which should prove how great of a coach he was.
Above all that, however, Robson was a true gentleman. Respected by everyone in England regardless of the club they supported, he is being mourned across the entire country, which truly shows beloved he is by everyone.
This sport has lost a legend and a great man. May he rest in peace.
July 29, 2009
Zlatan and Eto'o Switch Clubs, Inter Milan better off
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto'o have switched clubs, to FC Barcelona and Inter Milan respectively. Zlatan scored 25 goals with Inter, leading Serie A while Eto'o scored 30 and finished second in La Liga.
When considering this move at first, it just seems the two clubs swapped their most prolific strikers so they each could have a change of scenery. They scored similar amounts of goals, and the two players are only a year apart in age.
And then you realize that Inter Milan will get 46 million on top of receiving Eto'o (or so I've heard, I haven't been able to confirm this. I apologize if this is completely wrong). I consider Eto'o to be the more prolific scorer of the two. He also scored six times last year for the title winners in the Champions League, Zlatan scored only once. I also think Eto'o is the better all around player. So why Inter is getting money in addition to the better player (in my opinion) is beyond me.
Also, I see that Manchester City have finally had the sense to invest in their defense. They bought Kolo Toure from Arsenal today for a cool 16 million pounds.
When considering this move at first, it just seems the two clubs swapped their most prolific strikers so they each could have a change of scenery. They scored similar amounts of goals, and the two players are only a year apart in age.
And then you realize that Inter Milan will get 46 million on top of receiving Eto'o (or so I've heard, I haven't been able to confirm this. I apologize if this is completely wrong). I consider Eto'o to be the more prolific scorer of the two. He also scored six times last year for the title winners in the Champions League, Zlatan scored only once. I also think Eto'o is the better all around player. So why Inter is getting money in addition to the better player (in my opinion) is beyond me.
Also, I see that Manchester City have finally had the sense to invest in their defense. They bought Kolo Toure from Arsenal today for a cool 16 million pounds.
Getafe Win Competition for Ugliest Kit
(Taken from footballshirtculture.com. I wish I could fix the blog so it doesn't cut off the pictures, but the guy on the right is wearing the same shirt as the guy in blue, only it's in red.)Wow, words cannot even begin to describe how ugly these shirts are. The multi-colored stripe running across the top is atrocious, and the Burger King sponsorship simply looks terrible.
And it gets even worse. Former striker Fabrizio Ravanelli used to celebrate his goals by pulling his shirt over his head and running around as such:
So what does Burger King then decide to do? If any Getafe player decides to celebrate in the Ravanelli style, the Burger King himself will be present as well:
Burger King should really be ashamed of themselves for this. Tell everyone you know to boycott eating there simply because of this mess. Joma (the kit manufacturer) should also be ashamed.
MLS All-Stars Lose First Game to International Competition
I've always been torn about the what the MLS should do for it's All-Star game. An East vs. West game, like they've done in the past, is rather boring and doesn't draw in an audience outside of the cult followers of the league. This is probably the main reason why the league scrapped this format.
For the last five years (I believe), the MLS All-Stars have played teams from international leagues, most commonly from the EPL (Fulham, Chelsea, West Ham and now Everton). This format attracts a much larger audience to the game and promotes the MLS by showboating their best players against some of the best teams in the world. But this current format also sets the league up for potential failure. If a group of all-stars from the 15 MLS teams can't contend or beat these teams, most of whom aren't champions of their respective leagues and aren't even regular competitors for the title, then what does that say for the rest of the league and the players who aren't "all-stars?"
MLS is certainly walking a tightrope here. If they lose, it shows just how much further we have to go to become a respectable league on the world stage. If they win, however, then the national sports media will rave how a bunch of (mostly) American players just beat Chelsea or Celtic and claim that we're on our way up in the soccer world.
Another thing the MLS All-Stars have going against them is that these players must come together and jell on the pitch in a matter or days. The teams they play have settled squads with players who know the system and understand what their teammates are and aren't capable of. Even though the game is part of their preseason training, that doesn't mean they've forgotten how to play with each other after a month or two apart.
For these past five years, the MLS All-Stars have pulled through and won. This year's game really shouldn't have been any different. The boys have nothing to hang their heads about besides all the missed chances they had in the second half. To lose on penalty kicks...that's really just a crap shoot anyway.
Except for when you're shooting against Tim Howard. He's damn good. It's bittersweet - I feel better for the USMNT after seeing him perform so admirably between the sticks.
For the last five years (I believe), the MLS All-Stars have played teams from international leagues, most commonly from the EPL (Fulham, Chelsea, West Ham and now Everton). This format attracts a much larger audience to the game and promotes the MLS by showboating their best players against some of the best teams in the world. But this current format also sets the league up for potential failure. If a group of all-stars from the 15 MLS teams can't contend or beat these teams, most of whom aren't champions of their respective leagues and aren't even regular competitors for the title, then what does that say for the rest of the league and the players who aren't "all-stars?"
MLS is certainly walking a tightrope here. If they lose, it shows just how much further we have to go to become a respectable league on the world stage. If they win, however, then the national sports media will rave how a bunch of (mostly) American players just beat Chelsea or Celtic and claim that we're on our way up in the soccer world.
Another thing the MLS All-Stars have going against them is that these players must come together and jell on the pitch in a matter or days. The teams they play have settled squads with players who know the system and understand what their teammates are and aren't capable of. Even though the game is part of their preseason training, that doesn't mean they've forgotten how to play with each other after a month or two apart.
For these past five years, the MLS All-Stars have pulled through and won. This year's game really shouldn't have been any different. The boys have nothing to hang their heads about besides all the missed chances they had in the second half. To lose on penalty kicks...that's really just a crap shoot anyway.
Except for when you're shooting against Tim Howard. He's damn good. It's bittersweet - I feel better for the USMNT after seeing him perform so admirably between the sticks.
July 26, 2009
Gold Cup Fiasco
I don't want to talk about it.
By the way, how freaky does Guillermo Franco (10) look?
July 25, 2009
Leyton Orient 6-1 Newcastle United
Yes, you read that correctly - Leyton Orient beat Newcastle United 6-1 in a preseason friendly today.
Yes, Newcastle United are now in the Football League Championship and Leyton Orient reside in League One, but that score is shocking for any Newcastle fan with hopes of getting back into the EPL. Yes, it's a friendly, but that is ridiculous.
It only took Orient 4 minutes to open the scoring. And they sure didn't let up after that. It gets even worse for Newcastle - their only goal came from a Joey Barton penalty! They couldn't score a goal in open play, yet they conceded six to a lower league side.
Oh dear.
Their first match of the season is only two weeks away. And isn't Mike Ashley still their owner?
Yes, Newcastle United are now in the Football League Championship and Leyton Orient reside in League One, but that score is shocking for any Newcastle fan with hopes of getting back into the EPL. Yes, it's a friendly, but that is ridiculous.
It only took Orient 4 minutes to open the scoring. And they sure didn't let up after that. It gets even worse for Newcastle - their only goal came from a Joey Barton penalty! They couldn't score a goal in open play, yet they conceded six to a lower league side.
Oh dear.
Their first match of the season is only two weeks away. And isn't Mike Ashley still their owner?
July 23, 2009
Everton signs another obscure American
Soccer by Ives brought this story (and the above picture) to my attention - Everton have signed another American player who I've never heard of. This time, it is Wake Forest striker Cody Arnoux, who just finished his junior year.
Apparently, he had a trial with the club in March and signed a contract today. He was projected to be a top three prospect in the MLS draft next year, according to SBI.
Arnoux is so obscure at this point that he doesn't have his own Wikipedia page, nor is he listed as an Everton player on that team's Wikipedia page. That will surely change in the next day or two, if not sooner.
Everton is quickly overtaking Fulham as the American team in England. If they end up signing Clint Dempsey as well, then they surely will have claimed that title away from the London club.
Book Club: "The Beckham Experiment"
My copy of "The Beckham Experiment" by SI's soccer writer Grant Wahl came today from amazon.com. I have a bunch of stuff that I want to read, but this will be put near the top of my list.
Consider this the first edition of the "11 players, 1 team book club."
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