Congratulations to Rangers, Ajax, Barcelona and Manchester United for winning the Scottish, Dutch, Spanish and English titles respectively. Despite what the fans of Celtic, Twente, Real Madrid and Chelsea might believe, the four teams are worthy champions.
Manchester United’s draw against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park confirmed United as the English league champions for a record 19th time. Once Phil Dowd awarded the Red Devils a 71st minute penalty there was no doubt they would get the point needed to secure the title. However, the last five minutes of ‘play’ brought back the bad memories of West Germany and Austria at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. The two neighbors contrived to see out a 1-0 win that saw both qualify while eliminating Algeria. Blackburn was content to let United have possession in the hope that the point that was good enough to see their opponents crowned champions would also help Rovers in its relegation fight. If there is such a thing as karma in soccer, Rovers will be relegated next week and one of Wigan, Wolves or Blackpool, three attacking teams will stay up.
West Ham United was relegated following a 2-3 loss at Wigan. The club owned by David Sullivan and David Gold with Karren Brady as managing director deserves to go down. The treatment of Gianfranco Zola, who last season kept the team in the Premier League and Avram Grant when pursuing Martin O’Neill as his replacement, was despicable. If ever a club owners’ and executive’s arrogance deserved to be rewarded with relegation it is them.
Manchester United’s draw against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park confirmed United as the English league champions for a record 19th time. Once Phil Dowd awarded the Red Devils a 71st minute penalty there was no doubt they would get the point needed to secure the title. However, the last five minutes of ‘play’ brought back the bad memories of West Germany and Austria at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. The two neighbors contrived to see out a 1-0 win that saw both qualify while eliminating Algeria. Blackburn was content to let United have possession in the hope that the point that was good enough to see their opponents crowned champions would also help Rovers in its relegation fight. If there is such a thing as karma in soccer, Rovers will be relegated next week and one of Wigan, Wolves or Blackpool, three attacking teams will stay up.
West Ham United was relegated following a 2-3 loss at Wigan. The club owned by David Sullivan and David Gold with Karren Brady as managing director deserves to go down. The treatment of Gianfranco Zola, who last season kept the team in the Premier League and Avram Grant when pursuing Martin O’Neill as his replacement, was despicable. If ever a club owners’ and executive’s arrogance deserved to be rewarded with relegation it is them.
The feel good factor at Anfield Road ended on Sunday when a depleted Spurs team outplayed Liverpool to win 2-0. The football forums and blogs have been inundated with Liverpool fans and experts predicting the reds as title winners next year. They may well compete for a top four spot, but not the title. Kenny Dalglish has turned around the club’s fortunes, but his team has played without pressure, unlike Spurs, Man City and Arsenal since his interim appointment. Pool fans should keep in mind that the three biggest games Dalglish faced in that time against Man United (FA Cup), Sporting Braga (Europa Cup) and Spurs were all lost.
There has been a lot of discussion this week about the merits of Spurs, or Liverpool playing in next year’s Europa Cup. Harry Redknapp bemoaned qualification for the competition and the possibility of Spurs playing Thursday in Europe then Sunday in England. Harry, can you please explain how the Europa Cup schedule would be that much different to the Champions League schedule of a game in Europe on a Wednesday followed by a Premier League game on the Saturday?
There has been a lot of discussion this week about the merits of Spurs, or Liverpool playing in next year’s Europa Cup. Harry Redknapp bemoaned qualification for the competition and the possibility of Spurs playing Thursday in Europe then Sunday in England. Harry, can you please explain how the Europa Cup schedule would be that much different to the Champions League schedule of a game in Europe on a Wednesday followed by a Premier League game on the Saturday?
FA Cup Final day used to be the highlight of the football calendar. Sadly, that is no longer the case. The FA has prostituted itself to the television companies, the Champions League and UEFA and as a result the Cup Final has lost its glamour. Man City and Stoke City deserved to play the game as a stand alone fixture as has been done for most of the competition’s history. Playing the game on a premier league weekend will not take away from the sense of joy felt by City’s supporters at winning the cup. However, it has taken away the sense of occasion that fans world wide used to love about the FA Cup Final.
The 1953 FA Cup Final remains one of the greatest games ever played. At 1-3 down, Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen inspired Blackpool to a 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers in what was to become known as the Mathews Final. How appropriate that on Cup Final Day the same two teams would repeat the scoreline in one of the games of the 2010-11 season. Matthews was one of the most attacking players ever to have graced a football field. The current Blackpool team plays in the tradition of Sir Stanley and the Premier League is all the better for them being in it.
The 1953 FA Cup Final remains one of the greatest games ever played. At 1-3 down, Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen inspired Blackpool to a 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers in what was to become known as the Mathews Final. How appropriate that on Cup Final Day the same two teams would repeat the scoreline in one of the games of the 2010-11 season. Matthews was one of the most attacking players ever to have graced a football field. The current Blackpool team plays in the tradition of Sir Stanley and the Premier League is all the better for them being in it.
Neil Lennon deserves some credit for his debut season as Celtic manager, despite his team finishing second to bitter rivals, Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. Lennon led Celtic to a League Cup Final where they lost to Rangers; to a total of 92 points, a tally that would have won every title since 2005; and to a place in next week’s Scottish Cup Final where they will play Motherwell. Not bad for a rookie manager who received death threats, bullets in the mail, a parcel bomb addressed to him which was intercepted by Scottish police, was attacked by a deranged Hearts fan during a game and endured the fans in the main stand at Ibrox Stadium serenade him to the tune of “what’s it like to live in fear.” What has now been conveniently forgotten is that Rangers were the preseason favorite for the title; had the more experienced manager in Walter Smith; had a more experienced team, one which contained players who had won the two previous titles; and spent more money on one player, Nikica Jelavic than Celtic did on most of its team. Lennon made some ill advised comments throughout the season, but considering the level of vitriol to which he was subjected he did well to help Celtic run Rangers as close as they did.
The US women beat Japan 2-0 in an international friendly in Ohio on Saturday. For twenty minutes the US was made to look very ordinary by the 4th ranked team in the world. Arsene Wenger once coached in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight and the Japanese women played Wengeresque football as they tried to pass the ball into the US goal. They paid for their profligacy when the American’s strength and power led to two excellent goals, the first of which was against the run of play. The US might yet win this summer’s World Cup in Germany, but coach Pia Sundhage is experienced enough to know that on the basis of this performance her team is not assured of being crowned world champions.
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