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Soccer Banter

Extra Time with Dave Clarke

9/29/2011

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When Fernando Torres moved from Liverpool to Chelsea the deal triggered other transfers including Andy Carroll replacing Torres at Anfield.  In turn, Alan Pardew replaced Carroll at Newcastle United with Demba Ba.  Torres cost Chelsea $78m; Carroll cost Liverpool $55m while Demba Ba signed for Newcastle on a free transfer.  Who got the best of those deals?

Alan Pardew was not a popular appointment in Geordieland, but he is slowly winning over the fans of the Northeast club.  Newcastle are unbeaten so far this season and against the teams they were expected to compete against at the foot of the table.  The Geordies will not stay in the top four and will slowly slide back into the pack, but their long suffering fans are enjoying the start to the season and may just accept Pardew as one of their own.

Their bitter rivals down the road are enduring at best a mediocre start to the EPL campaign.  Sunderland lost at promoted Norwich City to heap more pressure on their overrated manager, Steve Bruce.  It is now a two horse race between Bruce and Steve Kean to see who will be the first manager sacked this season.  My money is on Bruce. 



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Owen Hargreaves made his debut for Man City ’08 in the recent Carling Cup game against Birmingham City.  The Canadian-Englishman has been well coached by Gary Cook’s acolytes in the art of sticking it to City’s real noisy neighbor.  Hargreaves made some critical statements about his former club Man United and in particular its medical staff.  I wonder why he was not more critical of the accounting department at Old Trafford?  It was they after all who paid Hargreaves millions of pounds to do nothing for three years. 

Two signs that football in general and Scottish football in particular has lost its soul.  Scott Allan is a 19-year-old Scotland Under 21 midfielder who plays for Dundee United in the SPL.  He has played 272 first team minutes for United, but has now demanded to be one of the top three earners at Tannadice.   Islam Feruz is a 16-year-old phenom who plays for Celtic.  The club sponsored his visa, signed him, developed him, housed his family and gave him and them a great start in life.  He has now fulfilled his ‘life dream’ to sign for Chelsea ’03 for more money than he would ever have received at Parkhead.  The two players will be lost to the Scottish game and one can only hope that the advice they received from their respective agents doesn’t come back to haunt them.



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Man United went to Elland Road and convincingly beat Leeds United in the Carling Cup last week.  The rivalry between the two sets of supporters is one of the most vitriolic in British football.  The game was marred by banners and singing referencing Istanbul and Munich among other tragic events in the two clubs’ histories.  Sky has taken the EPL up market in the last 20 years, but there is still an undercurrent of hatred that exists in the game and it will never go away.    

Ally McCoist was heralded last Sunday for the manner with which his Rangers side dispatched of Celtic in the first Glasgow derby of the season.  Big Sally was brought down to earth with a crashing bang 48 hours later when his defending champions were dumped unceremoniously out of the League Cup by Falkirk.  Rangers were 0-2 down and came back to tie it in injury time, but Mark Millar thumped home a free kick to dump Rangers out of the cup.  It is the third cup they have been eliminated from in McCoists’s first months in charge.  He is lucky he beat Celtic when he did or his managerial career would be over before it even got started.



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Stoke City under Tony Pulis has been a much maligned club.  They have survived in the Premier League against all the predictions of those who supposedly know best.  They played some good football against Man United at the weekend and were worthy of the draw they earned.  Stoke and Pulis deserve more credit than they are currently receiving.

It went unnoticed by most in the soccer media, but Tottenham Hotspur received planning permission to begin developing their new state of the art 60,000 seat stadium.  The facility will be built close to the current site of White Hart Lane and will provide Spurs with the revenue to compete with the Sky Four.  Spurs will join Arsenal in being financially secure, living within its means and in compliance with the soon to be introduced Financial Fair Play rules. 

If Carlos Tevez refused to come on as a substitute in Man City ‘08’s Champions League loss at Bayern Munich then he deserves to be criticized and transferred.  He has conveniently become the story which has provided Roberto Mancini with a nice little smokescreen.  Had Tevez not refused to play, Mancini would have had to explain his tactics in Munich, his decision to play two forwards at a respected and powerful European team, his team’s defending at set plays, its lack of game management in the first couple of minutes of the half and his decision to send on a defensive midfield instead of a forward when trailing 0-2.  Tevez is the story right now, but Mancini should come under a lot more scrutiny.  



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The New York Red Bulls are struggling to make the MLS play offs despite having a lot of investment in recent years.  Thierry Henry flattered to deceive at first, but has had a decent season.  Tim Ream has struggled to live up to the promise that saw him play for the US National team.  Rafa Marquez has taken to blaming everyone, but himself for the level of his play.  He needs to accept a bit more responsibility.  Hans Bakke fired two of his asstant coaches, Richie Williams and Des McAleenan mid season, but the moves have not paid off.  If the Red Bulls don’t make the playoffs Bakke will be following them out the door.   

The United States women beat Canada 3-0 in their latest post World Cup exhibition game.  It was a decent performance by the US, but the team is still in need of some fresh blood.  Judinging by some recent college games shown on television there is a dearth of real talent at the high end of the college ranks.  It might be another 12 years before the US wins the World Cup again.



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Extra Time with Dave Clarke

9/21/2011

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What a week of football!  Where do I start?  There is so much to discuss especially as a Spurs and Celtic fan.  Or better still as a Rangers and Arsenal hater.  The Spurs ‘C’ team went on a school trip to Greece and got a draw.  The ‘A’ team spanked Liverpool.  Harry Redknapp should have reversed the squads. 

Celtic went to Madrid and lost convincingly to Atletico.  They returned to the dark side of Glasgow and lost even more convincingly.  Arsenal fans thought they had turned the corner with that lucky win over Swansea.  Borussia Dortmund’s Ivan Perisic did his best Danny Rose impersonation and curtailed their return to form.  Blackburn then beat them on Saturday in what could have been the first relegation six pointer of the season. 

Rangers laughed at Celtic on Thursday night.  They laughed even more in coming back to win 4-2 in Sunday’s battle of Glasgow.  Celtic fans may have the last laugh though, when Rangers assets are sold to pay Queen Elizabeth’s tax man.  Irony FC!   

Steve Kean and Steve Bruce entered the weekend as two managers under pressure to get results.  Sunderland caused a mini upset by beating Stoke City, but Blackburn shocked Arsenal and Arsene Wenger with their 4-3 victory at Ewood Park.  The pressure has now shifted back to Wenger while Kenny Dalglish is coming under increased scrutiny after his side’s ill-disciplined performance at Spurs. 



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King Kenny, as the Liverpool fans loving refer to him is now only two points better off than Roy Hodgson at the same stage last season.  He has also spent, wasted perhaps, the better part of $120 million.  Liverpool played like a relegation team of the early 90’s at White Hart Lane.  The team selection was baffling, the tactics, or lack of were baffling, Kenny’s lack of substitutions was baffling and the decision to play Andy Carroll and not Dirk Kuyt was one of the worst decisions of this young season.  One more loss and John W. Henry might just be questioning his appointment of Dalglish. 

The Liverpool fans on the forums and the call in shows have resolutely defended Dalglish as they should one of their own.  They tried to apportion blame for the loss on referee Mike Jones, he of awarding a beach ball a goal at Sunderland last year.  Liverpool were overrun from the kick-off and there was nothing to suggest the 11 players on the field would have held on even without the two sendings off.  The referee was not at fault for the loss.  Charlie Adam’s second offense could have been a straight red card.  If I believe in the idea of karma then he receiving his marching orders would be it.  Adam should have been sent off for Blackpool at White Hart Lane in May for a horror tackle on Gareth Bale.  Luis Suarez goal was offside and Skertel’s tackle on Bale was reckless, if not malicious.  Suarez might receive a trial by video for his elbow to the face of Scott Parker.  Liverpool had better hope he doesn’t because that will mean Andy Carroll leading the line for three games. 



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Liverpool entered the final game of the 2010-11 season at home to Spurs with most pundits predicting a comfortable Reds win and a place in the Europa Cup.  The Scouse apologists on the BBC were salivating at the thought of Kenny Dalglish leading their beloved Liverpool back to the summit.  Spurs took them apart 2-0 and yet the result did nothing to dampen the spirits around Anfield Road.  Spurs spent the summer transfer window in disarray while Liverpool just spent.  Just over four months after their win at Anfield, Spurs followed it up with an even more comprehensive win at White Hart Lane.  Liverpool’s wage bill is 81% higher than Spurs, they did not have the distraction of the Europa Cup and they spent millions on players that were going to ensure a top four place.  Read into that what you may.

And speaking of teams’ lavishly spending money.  Roberto Mancini has an unlimited budget at Man City ‘08.  He can buy any player in the world, can pay them what they want and has collected players like some fans collect Panini stickers.  Two draws against Napoli and Fulham have suddenly raised question marks in Mancini’s mind about the strength and depth of his squad.  This a week after some were pronouncing City as the pretenders to Barcelona’s throne.  Does anyone at City live in the real world anymore? 



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Interesting observation from this past weekend.  Manchester United and Spurs rested players for away trips to Europe and came away with credible draws before winning two big games at the weekend against Chelsea and Liverpool respectively.  Chelsea’03, Stoke City, Birmingham City, Arsenal and Celtic all selected strong teams in Europe lost at the weekend while Man City ‘08 conceded two late goals to draw at Fulham.

Jose Mourinho went the opposite way with Real Madrid and decided to rest some players for Sunday’s trip to Levante.  With Cristiano Ronaldo sitting on the bench Madrid had yet another player, Sami Khedira sent off and the 10 men were duly punished in what was a stunning loss.  With Barcelona overpowering Osasuna 8-0 to move above Real on goal difference the pressure is back on the Special One.

Since the dawn of the Sky English Premier League the pundits on British television have mocked the Scottish Premier League as a two team competition.  The EPL has already turned into a two team race.  Spain is the same while Germany is not far off.  The top teams are consolidating their wealth and power and a European Super League is on the horizon.  Money is talking right now and it will be positively screaming in a couple of years when the UEFA Financial Fair Play rules come into effect.



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Former US boss, Bob Bradley was appointed national team coach of Egypt last week.  For Eurocentric fans it is a prestigious appointment for any coach let alone an American one, because Egypt is an African power.  If he leads his new team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil it would be very interesting to see them drawn in the same group as the USA.

Ashley Cole was racially abused in Sofia two weeks ago when playing for England against Bulgaria.  The behavior of the fans was despicable and no player in this day and age should be abused for his color or creed.  The Bulgarian fans would have been justified in booing Cole for the fact that he is a NED.  His horrendous tackle on Javier Hernandez for Chelsea against Man United is the latest example of why Cole is one of the most despised players in the game.  The fact he had his apologist John Terry remonstrating with the referee made the whole incident even more nauseating.

Robbie Keane was on the mark to help the LA Galaxy beat the Vancouver Whitecaps in front of 22,959 fans in California.  Keane has taken to MLS like he was playing for Ireland against the likes of Malta and Cyprus.  So far so good for the Irishman.  The move has been good for him and MLS and good too for Spurs.  However, the game of the weekend in MLS was Portland’s 3-0 trouncing of the New England Revolution.  The atmosphere in the stadium was excellent and the partisan crowd of 20,323 spurred the Timbers on to victory.


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Extra Time with Dave Clarke

9/13/2011

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I like Scotland.  I have cheered them on in every major tournament since the 1974 World Cup in Germany out of some allegiance to my Edinburgh born grandfather.  They tend not to do things the easy way and have made life difficult for their long suffering fans.  Zaire (‘74), Iran (’78), Uruguay (’86) and Costa Rica (’98) are some names and dates to send shivers down the collective spines of the Tartan Army.  They even had the temerity to take the lead against Brazil in 1982 before being outclassed 4-1.  The game against the Czech Republic last Saturday has been added to their long list of glorious failures.  With seven minutes remaining Darren Fletcher gave Scotland a 2-1 lead.  A win would have kept them in contention for qualification for next summer’s finals.  It was not to be.  The Scots conceded a last minute penalty which the Czechs subsequently scored. 

That the penalty should not have been awarded added to the Scots sense of injustice.  Yes, Dutch referee, Kevin Blom was wrong to award the penalty, but the real culprit was Jan Rezek.  It was Rezek who dived to con Blom.  He is a cheat.  His blatant dive deserves a rebuke from UEFA/FIFA, and warrants some sort of suspension.  Under the current laws of the game none will be forthcoming.   The world governing body needs to introduce retroactive punishment for any player like Rezak, who quite clearly, was found to have benefited by cheating. 



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The Daily Record, that bastion of Scottish media integrity vilified Blom in its match reports.  The paper even declared Blom as “the most hated man in Scotland.”  Strong words for sure and ones that will make Neil Lennon a relieved man, at least until the next Celtic-Rangers game.  Blom made a mistake in awarding the Czech Republic the late penalty just as he made a mistake in not awarding them an earlier one for a Charlie Adam foul.  The criticism of the ref was over the top and a bit of perspective was needed by the Daily Record.

Gary Cook had it all.  He was Chief Executive of Manchester City ‘08, the world’s richest club.  He got to spend other people’s money, when signing the world’s best players, as he helped build City’s global brand.  He was able to run a club with the stated goal of becoming the best in the world.  Cook was the epitome of a Premier League executive in an era when money talked, especially lots of it.  Cook was arrogant, was hated by most City fans and despised by the real football fans who knew of him.  He resigned in shame this week, for allegedly sending an email mocking the cancer stricken mother of City’s Nedum Onuoha.  Good riddance!

     

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The transfer window slammed shut last week with Man United, Man City ‘08, Liverpool, and Stoke City the big winners in terms of who they signed.  The biggest winner of all?  Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy.  From day one of the transfer window he told Chelsea ’03 and other would be suitors that Luka Modric was not for sale, for any price.  Despite a media campaign to undermine Levy’s position, he and Spurs held on to Modric.  He may yet leave White Hart Lane, but will do so on the club’s terms.  The fact that Spurs held on to Modric was good for football itself and Levy went some way to reigning in the player and agent power.  

For once I feel sorry for Arsene Wenger.  He took over Arsenal Football Club in the aftermath of the George Graham era.  He changed the philosophy of the club from “lucky” and “boring” to one that all but those in London N17 admire.  He overhauled the club’s youth development and scouting network.  He oversaw the move from antiquated Highbury to the brand new Emirates.  Wenger laid what he thought were the foundations that would allow Arsenal to dominate football for many years.  They didn’t and won’t.  He did not foresee Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan taking over failing clubs, wiping out their debts and making Chelsea ’03 and Man City ’08 respectively, the two richest clubs in the world.  They changed the EPL overnight and despite Arsenal being a well run club they find themselves as also-rans behind the two lottery winners.  UEFA and FIFA financial fair play rules cannot be implemented soon enough.



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Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea ‘03 and Man City ‘08 spent big in the transfer window as they all chase the Premier League title, or a place in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League.  At least one of the five teams will not make it.  What cost will that failure be for the team that misses out? 

Two weeks ago MLS had crowds of 36,000 (Seattle), 20,000 (Vancouver), 21,000 (Toronto), 20,000 (Kansas) and 15,000 (Chicago) watch games in those cities.  This past weekend four teams had attendances over 20,000.  In fact, Seattle’s home crowd of 36,000 was more than the combined attendances of five games in the Scottish Premier League.  The attendances compare favorably and in many cases are higher, than all but the top teams in England, Italy and Spain.  Once again, it is a demonstration that soccer has a legitimate fan base in North America.    

Asamoah Gyan left Sunderland to go on loan to play for Al Ain in the UAE.  Fans on the radio and forums in the UK are livid with the player for daring to leave the EPL for more money to play in the Middle East.  Apparently it is okay to move from North London to Manchester or West London to double and triple one’s wages, but not to move from Wearside to Dubai.  Hypocrites!



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The English media would be better served venting their disgust at someone like Wayne Bridge.  Bridge is supposedly being paid 90,000 pounds per week by Man City ’08 to do nothing.  He refused to go out on loan to teams in Scotland, Turkey and the Championship.  He may be honoring his contract by remaining at City, but he has no chance of playing on a regular basis and seems not to be interested in the possibility of doing so.  Wayne Bridge is the new poster child for the greedy players who ply their trade in the EPL.

And while the English media are at it, why are they not more critical of Steve Bruce?  He is a poor manager, with a poor record of loyalty, a poor record for success relative to the money he has spent and questions need to be asked why players like Darren Bent and Gyan wanted out of the Stadium of Light.  Of course, the fact he is English and the fact he is a former captain of Man United has nothing to do with the kid gloves treatment he receives from the English media.

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Extra Time with Dave Clarke

9/4/2011

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I would 8-2 be an Arsenal fan this week!

If Scottish football was on life support then it finally died last week when Celtic, Rangers and Hearts all exited the Europa Cup on the same night.  Hearts put up a credible fight in the second leg against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, but having lost 0-5 at home they were only playing for pride.  Celtic lost to FC Sion (who I hear you say) and Rangers went out to Slovenian side Maribor.  In the last 10 years both Celtic and Rangers have played in European Finals and made it through to the last 16 of the Champions League.  The current state of the SPL means it will be a long time before either club, or any Scottish side for that matter, ever reach those heights again.



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One aspect of the game where the Scots have done well is in the development of coaches and managers.  Alex Ferguson is the leading example of what Scottish football has brought to the game in England.  Fergie is a European Cup or two away from being the greatest manager of all time, but his pedigree in the EPL will never be questioned.  He has built and rebuilt Man United so many times in his time in charge that this skill set has been overlooked.  When Arsenal won the title in 2005 it was supposed to usher in a new era of North London domination.  Since then United have won 4 titles, 3 League Cups and one Champions League.  In Arsene we trust indeed!    


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Jurgen Klinsmann’s reign as US coach started well with a credible draw against Mexico in last month’s friendly.  He and his team were brought back to earth with last night’s 0-1 loss at home to Costa Rica.  The US played some excellent football in the first half and deserved to have had the game won and done by half-time.  The American’s profligacy came back to haunt them when they were duly punished, ironically enough by Rodney Wallace, who grew up in Maryland and scored the winning goal.  There were a lot of positives in the first half, but more negatives in the second.  Herr Klinsmann has a job on his hands. 

Thomas DiBenedetto, a Boston native finally completed his purchase of Italian club Roma last week.  He joins the growing list of American investors who have purchased or bought into European soccer clubs.  How long before we see a summer series involving all the clubs which have American owners?  Expect to see Roma, Liverpool, Man United, Aston Villa and Arsenal in a city near you next summer.



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MLS received some good news from the domestic media when it signed a deal with the league to show live coverage of games on NBC Sport Network.  The league has come a long way in its 16 years and this deal is another sign that the league is a viable one.  

At the end of the 2010-11 English Premier League season there was a sense that this year’s campaign would see six teams compete for the title and the four Champions League places on offer.  That is no longer the case.  Only two teams, Man United and Man City ’08 will fight it out for the title.  Both laid down big markers of intent last weekend with emphatic wins against Arsenal and Spurs respectively.  Chelsea ’03 might think they can remain in contention, but are a team that looks like an aging boxer who has gone one round too many.  They will probably finish in the top four, but will be closer to Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal than the new big two.  


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Spurs were outplayed, outclassed and well beaten by Man City ’08 on Sunday and yet Harry Redknapp, not for the first time, survived without receiving any serious criticism.  Harry used his media skill to deflect attention away from him and used the ongoing Luka Modric transfer saga as an excuse for Spurs’ woes.  Please Harry, for once accept some responsibility.  It was you who picked a team that was unbalanced and so open that your tactics bordered on the naïve.  What made you think Modric and Kranjcar in midfield, two players who can’t tackle were going to overpower City’s?  And what made you believe that playing Peter Crouch as a lone forward was going to cause City any problems?   

Samir Nasri is an idiot if he thinks that fans of every club, other than Man City ’08, believe he joined Oil Money FC, because they are bigger than Arsenal.  Samir, you joined City for the money, pure and simple.  You may win something along the way, but at the end of the day you are just as greedy as everyone else that pulls on a blue shirt.  Even this Spurs fan will admit that Arsenal are a bigger and better club than City.

However, I think Nasri was spot on when he said that Arsenal fans lacked passion.  It wasn’t called ‘Highbury the Library’ for nothing.



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There is life in the old Scottish patient yet.  FIFA had warned FC Sion in the summer that some of the players the club had signed were done so in breach of international regulations.  UEFA agreed with the ruling of their senior partner and kicked FC Sion out of the Europa Cup.  Celtic were reinstated in the group stage in Sion’s place.  The Glasgow club were awarded a 3-0 win for the home and away legs of their tie. 

How in God’s name did John Wilson, the Hearts fan who assaulted Celtic manager Neil Lennon, walk from court with a ‘not proven’ verdict?  The incident, when Wilson ran on to the field and attacked Lennon during last season’s game at Tynecastle, was shown on live television, was shown and re-shown on sports and news programs all around the world.  Somehow Wilson walked free despite the evidence against him. Were the jury members all Rangers supporters?



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Speaking of which.  Rangers Football Club is proud of its Scottish heritage, its standing in Scottish society, its British heritage, its standing in British society and the Britishness (loyal, royal and proud) of the fans it represents.  So why then would one of Queen Elizabeth II’s loyal businesses not pay the crown the taxes it is owed?  H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.S.Y.

The WPS Final was played in Rochester last week.  If anyone watched the game live on television can they please email me the score?



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    Dave Clarke

    Head Women's Soccer Coach at Quinnipiac University and US National Staff Coach who received a Masters in Journalism from QU.  A Spurs and Celtic supporter.


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