With Authority!
by Jimmy Stagger
It is decidedly not easy to be a fan of Newcastle United. In the last decade or so (and some older hands would argue, far before that) they have seemingly gone out of their way to ensure their fans would desert them. However Geordies are a stubborn lot and even after dropping out of the Premier League (for the first time ever) and the top flight (for the first time in 16 years) the Toon Army remained loyal. Gallows humor abounds with a fanbase who’s spiritual center is a place at St. James Park called the Gallowgate End.
Every ounce of that spirit (and a few pints more) were needed after the Powers That Be at the Premier League made our first game back in the top rank a visit with Manchester United. A 3-nil backhanding was our welcoming gift from Sir Alex & Co.
However Sunday’s home opener at SJP was a very rewarding, and quite unbelievable, 6-nil pummeling of Bob Bradley’s potential future employers the Cleveland Browns…er, Aston Villa. I’ve watched the highlights about 6 times myself.
There are still many questions to be answered and problems to be solved concerning my beloved Magpies but until the next match (against the astonishingly also-promoted Blackpool September 11th) we of the black-and-white persuasion can revel in this.
Best. Friendly. Ever.
by tedski
Years ago, the Arizona Wildcats basketball team, then near its zenith, had an exhibition scheduled with a Russian Team, Dynamo Moscow. Dynamo had flight delays and only landed hours before they were scheduled to play one of the best teams in the country.
Needless to say, tovarich, it did not go well for the white and blue.
U of A fans, like fans in a lot of places, have a tradition (habit? I dunno) of standing at the begining of the game and remaining standing until the other team scores. Being basketball, this usually means at most, two minutes. Fans remained standing for nearly ten minutes before most of them sat down despite the fact that Dynamo still hadn’t managed to keep possession long enough to score.
After the game, Dynamo coaching staff asked if there was another team they could scrimage in town. Catalina High School was suggested. After this performance, Lute Olson vowed never to schedule a game with Dynamo again.
In case you don’t know why I would be talking about a basketball game that happened over a decade ago, you obviously didn’t hear about DC United’s game with probably-about-to-go-into-recievership Portsmouth FC. Four Four Two had the best warts and all account of the match. At least Dynamo brought their jerseys.
Hey! David Villa,
by MalenaBear
Do me a favor, will ya? Shut up!
Villa: I will do the maximum to get Cesc here
Time And Thierry
by Jimmy Stagger
Here’s the theme song for our European “friends” in the media regarding Thierry Henry’s signing with New York (from henceforth to be known as “The Worst Kept MLS Secret Since Ever”). The usual half-witted, poorly-researched, blatantly anti-American “pieces” having been making the rounds despite all evidence to prove them wrong. The usual point-and-laugh line is “Oh LOL MLS is teh retirement league, m8, Yanks don’t kno footie!”
That was as painful for me to type as it was for you to read. And I mean the article as well. Is Henry past his prime? Of course he is. He was when he left North London for Barcelona in 2007 as a replacement, more or less, for Henrik Larsson who had left the Nou Camp at the end of 2006 to return home to play for Helsingborg. Oh my Lord, you know when you read that…La Liga is a retirement league! You heard it here first kids. They replaced one striker with his best days behind him with another one. But of course seeing as this all happened amongst the biggest clubs in Europe, everything is OK. Just another day on the Continent.
Somehow though when these movements involve an Atlantic crossing our league is suddenly neighbors with the Running Back Rest Home Emmitt Smith lives in on those Just For Men ads. Nonsense of course. If we’re on the same level as the famous (and undisputed) retirement leagues of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, how is it that there’s a decent amount of MLS-trained Americans plying their trade in the vaunted Barclay’s English Premier League? Haven’t really seen much movement from Dubai Club or Al-Ittihad to Jolly Old England, have you?
At 32 Henry is 2 years younger than Roy Keane was when he left Manchester United for an obvious final paycheck and farewell tour on the Irish Nationalist side of Glasgow. If you’d like to say the Scottish Premier League is a retirement league please join me on Saturday mornings at The Banshee in Dorchester, MA. First make sure your insurance covers dental work. Henry is only slightly older (3 years) than Jaap Stam was when he left Manchester United for Lazio and younger than Jaap was when he wrapped up his career with a final cash-in with AC Milan and a final homestand with Ajax. Juan Sebastián Verón wasn’t exactly his old self when left his loan at Inter to go home and play for Estudiantes de La Plata in 2006. How much hate mail (in 2, if not 3, languages) do you think I’d get if I wrote a mocking post here about how the Argentinian Primera División is just a rest home for washed-up old players with their Euro glory days behind them?
While we’re down in the Southern Hempishere let’s look at a situation the BBC’s Tim Vickery describes in his South American soccer blog. Seems like the Brazilian league isn’t precisely up to snuff anymore and the main playmaker is 38 year old Dejan Petkovic. Promising home-grown star Robinho has gone to Europe and failed, returning home with his tail between his legs. Oh my. Shades of Landon Donovan post-Leverkusen anybody?
I shouldn’t say that too loud for fear of being branded a know-nothing Yank by the European & Latin American Real Football/Futbol Writers Association (Luis Bueno, North American representative)…but you see what I’m saying. Yeah, Thierry’s past it. So what. He’s got plenty left in the tank and tickets are going fast which might the first time in the sad history of the New York MLS franchise you can say something like that. MLS is a young, growing league that needs some help at this stage in its development from established stars in the second half of their careers. It isn’t a sin. If you think it is, take off that Beckham AC Milan shirt.
P.S. I actually like Luis Bueno’s work.
Henry–lly?
by MalenaBear
This past Monday, it was widely reported that Thierry Henry would be coming to the MLS to play with the New York Red Bulls; however, there has yet to be an official announcement. Henry says he is still a Barcelona player, and that he is currently focused on representing France in World Cup this summer.
I should be excited about this, mainly because Henry was a Gunner, but I can’t help but to be less than enthusiastic. And, given the results of the Beckham Experiment, I’m not so sure I can be excited that this potential move is going to be a game changer for football in the US. Just sayin’.
Also, I have some Henry beef (which is really Barcelona and France beef).
Beef #1: I have not yet recovered from Messi’s 22-minute hat trick against my boys during the April 6 European Champion’s League game where he ultimately scored Barcelona’s four goals against Arsenal. I realize it has been months. The loss still haunts my dreams. So, for the time being: I hate Barcelona, and, therefore, Henry.
Beef #2: We all know it: Ireland should be in the World Cup, not France. I’m looking at you, Henry.
So, really? I’m supposed to be excited? I mean, really?
Posted Just for Jim
by tedski
Dedicated to Magpies fan Jim Powers. Of course, this win was over Paul Mariner’s squad, so Jim is torn a bit.
NB: Yes, I put the “Newcastle United FC” category under English Premier League. Hope springs eternal.
I’ll be in my room
by MalenaBear
(Thanks to Tedski for inviting me to contribute.)
Yesterday, I finally had to force myself to come to terms with the fact that Arsenal’s season is over. Arsenal is third on the EPL table with 71 points, behind Chelsea (77) and Manchester United (73).
Yesterday’s 2-1 loss against Tottenham was like an intervention. I couldn’t even watch the whole second half. I saw Van Persie come out in the 67th minute, but I had already decided to tune out. I missed Bendtner’s goal in the 85th.
I can only hope next season’s buzz isn’t killed by injuries, like this year’s has been. And, I don’t want to hear anymore of this Fabregas will return to Barcelona stuff. Not now. I need a little time to mourn.
Department of Ouch
by tedski
From the Guardian, regarding Liverpool coaching speculation:
Not to worry: Messers Hicks and Gillett have a cunning back-up plan, one sure to endear to the Kop at last – if Blanc turns them down, they will instead enthrone Liverpool legend Steve Nicol, currently masterminding untold success at New England Revoluton. And by ‘untold’ we mean ‘hardly worth mentioning’.
Watching the Contoversy
by tedski
The game everyone seems to be going on about in the Twitterverse is Man United’s downing by Chelsea. I find it hard to feel for either team.
Also, it turns out a lot of people named their cat Toonces
by Hoover Dam
FOLLOWING IS A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE FRIEDEL TO VILLA TRANSFER MEANS TO ME AND, INDEED, IMPLIES FOR THE WHOLE OF THE 2008-2009 BLACKBURN ROVERS CAMPAIGN
