Archive for January, 2010
De Futebol
Chelsea took care of the business at hand. Yes, the Blues escaped with 2-1 win over Burnley.
Thanks to my sponsors for supporting my blog. Please check them out and buy some great products. Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority-the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
Once again, Chelsea gave an easy breakaway goal to the Clarets. The trumpets sounded the charge. John Terry to the rescue with a late goal in the 82nd minute to give Chelsea the needed three points.
The Blues were in control of the match from the outset.
Chelsea applied a ton of pressure throughout the entire match.
At one point in the second half, the pitch looked like it was tilted on 90-degree angle towards the Clarets end.
Anelka gave the Blues the early in the 27th minute.
Steven Fletcher nailed the equalizer in the 50th minute.
Mate Robbie Blake forced a TO in the Blues end. Alex lost the ball and thus gave Fletcher the easy goal.
Enter John Terry and his brilliant header goal to kill the Clarets dreams of salvaging a point.
Malouda set this baby up with a well-placed corner kick directly in front of the goalmouth.
Chelsea is atop the table with 54 points.
This solely places a ton of pressure on Arsenal and Man U to win on Sunday.
Neither side can afford a loss or a draw.
Both the Gunners and the Red Devils need to go balls to the wall and get the “W”.
Right now Man U has 50 points.
Arsenal has 49.
So once again, this epic battle between the Gunners and the Red Devils at Emirates will have a huge say on who will win the EPL this season.
Spurs were on the verge of a huge win over Birmingham but Liam Ridgewell scored the equalizer in the dying moments of injury to give Blues a heart thumping one all draw.
Jermain Defoe thought he scored the match winner in the 69th minute.
Bale’s centering pass was flicked on goal by Crouch. Block. Kick out. Goal.
Then the dagger to the heart in the 90th minute may have killed Tottenham’s chances of staying in touch with league leaders Chelsea.
Liverpool defeated Bolton 2-0.
Aston Villa creamed Fulham 2-0.
The race for the final Champions Leagues spot looks like this.
Spurs are in fourth place with 42 points.
Liverpool is in fifth place with 41 points.
Aston Villa is in sixth place 40 points and Man City is in the seventh place with 38 points. City has three games in hand.
Four points separate Spurs, Reds, Villa, and City for the final Champions League spot.
My final parting shot is this. The Gunners will win 3-1.
Fabregas and Ramsey will play lights out.
Rooney will be wrapped in a blanket all match. He won’t score.
Nasri will have a big game as well.
Sol Campbell’s “D’ will surprise the entire EPL.
Campbell has a point to prove.
De Futebol
This is nut cutting time week in the EPL. Chelsea goes on the road to take on giant killer Burnley. Arsenal and Man U will duke it out on Sunday. Oh, yes, baby, you gotta love it.
Please get some great deals from my sponsors. They are Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority-the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
Chelsea is not the consummate road warrior. The Blues have struggled on the road even though Chelsea have won their last two road matches.
The Blues have five wins, three losses, and two ties on the road.
It is even money Chelsea could either win, lose or draw.
The Blues are perched on high in the EPL with 51 points. Two points separate the top three clubs Chelsea, Man U, and Arsenal.
This is a must win for the Blues. If they stumble, Chelsea could sink as low as second or wind up in a two-way tie for the top spot.
Drogba and Kalou will not play for the Blues in today’s encounter with the Clarets.
Man U and Arsenal battle it out at Emirates on Sunday. The stakes are huge.
Depending on what happens Saturday either Man U or Arsenal could be in the catbird seat.
I want to see an Arsenal win. This is whom I am pulling for. The winner of this match could be a deciding factor on who wins the EPL title.
Man U is not very good on the road. The Red Devils are 6-1-4. This is only two games above over .500
These are the keys to the match. First of all, shut down Wayne Rooney. Do not give him room to operate. Force Man U to become on dimensional by taking Rooney out. This will force Berbatov and Nani to become the bread winners.
The soft spot in the “D’ is the back line. Ferdinand will not play due to a four-match suspension. Spread the attack out and force Man U into unfavorable match-ups. Arshavin and Fabregas need room to roam and create scoring opportunities. When this happens the Gunners can score big.
The Gunners need to attack and play smart “D”. This means Fabregas must be at his best. Attacking and creating scoring opportunities for Arshavin, Eduardo and Ramsey.
When the final whistle blows it will be a 3-1 win for the Gunners nation.
I know this is very simple explanation but when it is all said and done the team that dictates the tempo and forces the other team to get away from their game will win.
Go Gunners.
De Futebol
Mengao took care of business against Americano. Flamengo jumped out to a huge 2-0 lead before giving two goals in the final ten minutes of the match. Rubro-Negro squeaked out a 3-2 win.
Please check out my sponsors and buy some really great products. My sponsors are Sports memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority- the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
Whew, that was close.
Adriano and Vagner Love both scored for Mengao in the win. Fernando added the other Flamengo goal.
Adriano drew first blood for Mengao when he was literally tackled in the box. I guess the Americano defender thought he was playing in the NFL.
The Emperor nailed the PK in the 40th minute to Rubro-Negro a 1-0 lead.
Petkovic nailed a well-placed corner kick. The ball went Bamo into the box. Fernando gathered the ball and nailed a wicked strike in the 48th minute for a 2-0 Flamengo lead.
Vagner Love scored a break away goal in the 81st minute to salt this puppy away for Flamengo.
This break away goal was set up by a great dribble drive down center of the pitch by Adriano. The Emperor’s pass spilt the seam in the “D”.
Vagner Love took the ball in full stride and fired a pass back to Adriano. Adriano took two steps and returned the ball back to Love.
This was a classic example of the give and go or a two-man game that leaves the “D” as helpless as a baby.
This was all she wrote baby.
The three headed attack of The Emperor Adriano, Love, and Petkovic is working out really well in the Copa Rio.
Lets see how this puppy will work when we get into Campeonato.
Rumor has it that Sao Paulo has sent a representative to Manchester City to see about taking Brasilian star Robinho off their hands.
I don’t know what it is about the EPL but many Brasilian futebol players have a hard time adjusting to life and futebol in merry old England.
The latest causality is Man U’s Anderson. It has been reported by www.uol.com.br that he will be heading back to Brasil.
Anderson showed lots of promise but his stay at Man U just didn’t work out.
My question is this. Brasilian futebol stars flourish in Italy and Spain and not in England why?
Is it the style of play?
EPL futebol is very rough while the Spanish and Italian futebol is very wide-open affair.
Kaka, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho all have had great careers in Italy and Spain.
Maybe someone can answer this question for me.
De Futebol
It is all over but the shouting. Chelsea took it to Birmingham. The Blues kicked some major butt winning 3-0.
Please check out my sponsors and see what great deals they have to offer. My sponsors are Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority-the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
This sucker wasn’t even close.
Chelsea drew first blood in the 5th minute. Florent Malouda nailed the perfect winner for a 1-0 Blues lead.
Chelsea never looked back. The rout was on.
Frank Lampard hit the daily double. He struck for gold in the 32nd and 90th minutes for the Blues.
Chelsea is now hitting on all cylinders.
The Blues looked really good in this total whitewash of a very good Birmingham squad.
My team Arsenal and Aston Villa tied at nil-nil.
I am not happy but a tie will suffice. For a tie is better than a loss.
This still keeps the Gunners in the top three.
Both sides had their chances but neither could find the back of the net.
Tomas Rosicky had a great shot at giving the Gunners the win but his shot went clang right off the cross bar in the 61st minute.
Arshavin had a near miss as well too in the 61st minute. Fabregas set it up with a drive into the box. Villa’s Brad Friedel made a great save.
Fabregas had a great scoring chance as well in the 45th minute. Damn the left post got in the way. Bonk off the left post.
This is the John Madden in me.
Villa’s best defense was the hardware. The extra defender proved deadly for the Gunners. The left post and cross bar denied us twice.
I don’t care what anyone says one point is better than none.
Fox Soccer Channel broadcasted the Chelsea-Birmingham match so I kept track of the Gunners-Villa match via ESPN play-by-play live game cast.
Chelsea is a top the EPL with 51 points. Man U is in second place with 50. Arsenal is third with 49 points.
The race is on baby.
Do you want to talk about a crazy match? Lets examine the City-United Carlin Cup Semi-Final.
This baby had it all. An in your face celebration by Tevez after his daily double at City, harsh words between Tevez and Neville, Sir Alex and Tevez huge resentment against each other all came into play in Wednesday’s second leg.
Manchester United advanced to the Carling Cup finals with a crazy 3-1 win over hated rival City.
Paybacks are a bitch Tevez.
Tevez scored in the 76th minute to level the match on aggregate at three all.
Enter Superman Wayne Rooney. Rooney nailed the header off the rebound in the 90th minute to seal the deal for Man U.
Paul Scholes (52nd minute) and Michael Carrick (71st minute) scored the other two goals for the Red Devils.
You gotta love this. Yes, folks the EPL race is just warming up.
I don’t care what anyone says. Arsenal will lift the trophy at the end of the season.
Lets start a new tradition. We are now Gunners nation.
I am nuts but this is who I am.
Or as the English would say, I am a bit daft.
This weekends matches will be wild and crazy.
This is called nut cutting time.
De Futebol
The EPL is back in action on Tuesday. Tottenham took it to Fulham 2-0. Liverpool escaped with nil-nil tie with just above the drop zone Wolverhampton.
Please visit my sponsor’s websites and buy some great stuff. Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority-the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
The friendly confines of White Hart Lane proved to be too much for Fulham to handle.
This was a great all round effort by Spurs.
Peter Crouch provided the opening salvo when connected on a gimmie ball right in front of the Cottagers net in the 27th minute.
A great deep ball fired by Bentley set up this goal. Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer went high to punch the ball out. The ball went flying backwards to the end line. Spurs attacker Modric didn’t give up on the play. He chased it down and flicked the ball back into play.
Crouch went high and tapped in the easy winner.
This goal took the sails out of the Cottagers.
David Bentley sealed the deal in the 60th minute for Tottenham.
He nailed a wicked free kick to put to the Cottagers out of their misery.
Liverpool on the other hand couldn’t find the back of the net with a cannon.
Wolves held the Reds at bay.
This tie may have driven the final stake in Liverpool’s chances of securing a Champions League spot.
We will see
Liverpool moved ahead of City on goal difference but remember City has two games in hand.
The Fat Lady is warming up on the death of Liverpool’s season.
Portsmouth and West Ham tied at one all.
Bolton defeated Burnley 1-0.
Chung-yong Lee scored the only goal of the match in the 35th minute.
This was the first win for the new Wanderers manager Owen Coyle.
Arsenal has a hot date with Aston Villa on Wednesday at Villa Park.
This is one of those all-important key road matches.
Titles are won on the road.
Arsenal needs to play balls to the wall futebol. Attack and play great “D” is a must.
The Gunners need to punish Villa and pick up the all-important three points to put us a top the table once again.
Chelsea battles Birmingham.
Man U is in first place with 50 points. Arsenal is in second with 48. Chelsea is third with 48. Tottenham is fourth with 41.
This will all change once the results are in from Wednesday.
Lets hope for upset city at Chelsea and the Gunners clean Villa’s clock.
De Futebol
Vagner Love hit the daily double to lead Flamengo past Bangu 2-1 in the Copa de Rio on Saturday. Mengao has struggled a lot in their first three matches. Sure, we won but the team has given up some really cheap goals.
Please get some really get products fro the sponsors of my blog- Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority-the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
Am I concerned? Yes! Sure, this is only Flamengo’s third week of training but guys we need to have better concentration and kick these smaller teams in the backside. Rubro- Negro can’t let them hang around for this will surely bite us in the butt.
This match marked the first time Adriano and Love played together on the pitch. The Emperor had two really good chances to score but Adriano missed by that much.
Adriano will be the central attacker while Love will be the off striker. This will give Love more room to roam and create a ton of scoring chances for both men.
This will really open up the pitch thus will force the opposition to cover more than one man.
This strategy will create many mismatches for Flamengo and this will lead to many easy goals.
Imagine Love, Adriano, and Petkovic firing on all cylinders.
This will result in goals galore for us Flamenguistas.
Love struck in the 18th minute. Fernando fired a wicked salvo from 30 yards out. Block. Rebound. Love nailed the rebound winner to give Mengao a 1-0 lead.
In the 45th minute, Bruno let fly with a long kick. Adriano flicked the header to Wagner Love. Love spilt the two Bangu defenders. Love gathered ball. He deeked right and then left. The Bangu keeper fell to the ground. Bamo. This was an easy walk in goal for Love.
Mengao gave up a second half goal to Bangu.
Flamengo fell asleep on the “D”. Mengao allowed an easy ball into the goal area. There were three Flamengo players surrounding one Bangu player. The Bangu player snared the ball. He attacked but a Rubro-Negro defender stripped him of the ball. The ref said no-no.
A PK was awarded in the 49th minute. Bangu nailed the PK to make 2-1 Mengao.
This was not a penalty.
It was a boneheaded defensive play by the three Mengao defenders.
We are now undefeated in the Copa Rio.
This is good but Mengao needs to improve a lot if we are to go for the two-peat.
De Futebol
The FA Cup once again is full of surprises. Stoke City ruffed up the Gunners in 3-1 win. Man City took it Scunthorpe 4-2.
Thanks to my sponsors Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority- the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
Arsenal rested most of their regulars while the Potters threw the kitchen sink at the Gunners.
The FA Cup may be the only chance at a trophy the Potters have. For Stoke City is firmly entrenched in the middle of the pack in the EPL.
The Potters are in eleventh place with 25 points.
This match marked the return of Sol Campbell. He last played for the Gunners in 2006 Champions League final.
The Potters decided to play goon soccer. This was designed to take advantage of the younger Gunners squad.
Cesc Fabregas and Denilson were the only Arsenal regulars who played.
Sure. everyone had a hissy fit because Wenger decided to start the young guns however my question is this. Why risk playing Cesc Fabregas and Denilson in this contest when you have huge matches in the EPL coming up in the next two weeks.
Give the guy a break. Wenger knows what he is doing. His focus is on the bigger prize the EPL and Champions League.
The Gunner will win the EPL crown and this is why Wenger won’t risk getting his star players hurt.
City took it to Scunthorpe 4-2.
This match may have marked the swan song for City’s Robinho.
Robinho scored in the 84th minute. He let fly with smash from 35 yards out. This sucker ripped the twines and torn off the back of the net.
If this is his last match for City, at least Robinho went out on a high note.
De Futebol
Can lightening strike in the same place? We will surely find out. Leeds United and Tottenham tied one all in the fourth round FA Cup. Who would have thunk it. Surely not me.
Thanks to my sponsors for supporting my blog. Please check them out and buy some great futebol products. My sponsors are Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority- the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
This is one of those feel good stories. Leeds is in the process of a long slow climb back into the EPL.
I love stories like this. Leeds was dropped from the EPL in 2003-04. Then the Whites hit the skids and went belly up.
Now Leeds is top dog in League One.
Leeds knocked off mighty Manchester United in third round FA Cup action.
Now Leeds is in position to knock off another EPL giant Spurs.
Tottenham had a real chance to put the Whites away but Jermain Defoe missed a PK in the 9th minute.
This wasn’t the real killer.
Jermaine Beckford nailed a PK in the 90th minute to tie this sucker up at two all.
Tottenham’s Michael Dawson committed the unpardonable sin when he fouled Beckford in the dying moments of injury time.
The run up. The shot. Just inside the post. GOAL. Now it’s on to Leeds House Elland Road.
Spurs had their chances in their house White Hart Lane.
This was no cigar this time.
Can you say Upset City baby.
We will find out.
Chelsea breezed to a 2-0 win over Preston North End.
The pitch looked like a mud bog.
The match was played at Preston North End’s house.
Reading defeated Burnley 1-0. This gives Reading another notch on their gun belt. First Liverpool now Burnley.
West Brom stopped Newcastle dead in their tracks with a 4-2 win.
The Magpies are currently top dogs in League Championship.
When the dust settled after Saturdays fourth round FA cup play there were only two upsets. Reading won but I will also call the two all tie between Leeds and Spurs an upset.
This is what makes the FA Cup so much fun.
Surprises always happen.
Manchester United and Hull City was the only clubs to play in the EPL. The Red Devils took the Tigers to the woodshed 4-0.
The Rooney man Wayne Rooney hit for the quadruple.
Was Rooney’s quadruple a warning shot fired at Manchester City?
The crowd at Old Trafford screamed the Glazers must go. They also screamed some other things that I will not print.
It looks like the Philly mentality has hit Man U as well too.
So, be it. But, all real Eagles fans root and cheer for Arsenal.
Gunners fans and Philly fans are kindred spirits.
De Futebol
There is only one EPL match on tap for Saturday. Manchester United has a hot date with Hull City at Old Trafford. This is a must win for the mighty men of Old Trafford. They have to win.
Thanks to my sponsors for supporting my blog. Please check them out and buy some great soccer and futebol jerseys and caps. The sponsors are Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-e cigarettes, and the Sports Authority- the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
If not you can almost surely stick a fork in their chances for a historic four-peat.
The Tigers are bottom feeders. Hull City needs to win to avoid sinking further into the abyss of getting the heave-hoe.
The huge news coming out the Man U camp is that super defender Rio Ferdinand will make his debut this Saturday.
Man U must put the pedal to the medal. Rooney and his buds need to strike early and often if not it could be a long day.
Berbatov needs to come up big too.
For that matter the entire squad needs to step up their level of play.
The “D” better play well too. If the Red Devils give up a cheap early goal this will be a long Saturday at Old Trafford.
A Red Devils win will put them in first place in the EPL.
Please remember both Chelsea and Arsenal are playing in FA Cup fourth round matches this weekend.
I just hope the Gunners get out their FA Cup scrap without anyone biting the injury bug.
The Gunners have a hot date with Stoke City on Sunday in fourth round play of the FA Cup.
Chelsea battles Preston North End in FA Cup action Saturday.
Tottenham takes on Man U killer Leeds.
Leeds is a very dangerous club so the Spurs better watch out.
So, this is it from world of Bobby Gee.
Here is one more parting shot.
I know why I am an Arsenal fan. Beings a Gunners fan is so much like being a Philadelphia Eagles fan
We always hope for the best but we expect the worst. We always expect the Eagles and Gunners to break our hearts.
The sad fact is they always do.
We are like the little sisters of the poor. Clubs like Liverpool and Man U in the EPL and Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants get all the respect while we are looked at as second-class citizens.
Go figure the Philly sports mentality is alive and well in merry old England.
You gotta love the Gunner mascot. If you look very closely, the mascot is the spitting image of the Philly fanatic.
I was born an Eagles fan. My dad took me to my first game in 1960. I was eight years old.
The same can be said for Gunners fans as well too.
In reality Gunners and Eagles fan are kindred souls.
Here is one thing we Eagles fans are known for BOO. We boo everybody. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and even our players unmercifully.
We are even known to throw snowballs and other crazy objects at opposing teams such as the hated Dallas Cowboy, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins.
We are fickle just like Gunners fans.
Yet, we always show up to support our team.
We tell it like it is. If they stink, they stink. We never sugar coat anything. This is who we are.
De Futebol
Flamengo picked up their second win of the Campeonato de Rio. Mengao blasted Volta Redonda 3-1.
Thanks to my fine sponsors who support my blog. Please check out their sites and buy some great soccer jerseys and other great sports gear. Thanks to Sports Memorabilia, Luci Now Com-E cigarettes, and the Sports Authority- the nation’s preeminent full-line sporting goods chain. Shop online or in-store for your favorite brands – Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, Bowflex, Schwinn, Lifetime and more.
Bruno Mezenga hit the daily double for Mengao. Superman Petkovic added a goal to put Volta Redonda out of their misery.
Mezenga’s first goal was the result of a well-placed free kick into the box. Mezenga used his noggin to knock home the winner to give Mengao a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute.
Mezenga found the magic touch again in the 43rd minute. Mezenga was camped near the left post. A dribble drive by Obina into the right side of the box forced the “D’ to stop him. Obina made a great centering pass that skidded right through the crease into the waiting feet of Mezenga. Bruno Mezenga nailed the gift to give Mengao a 2-0 lead.
Volta Redonda cut the lead to 2-1 in the 56th minute. Tassio hit the easy winner to give Volta Redonda a glimmer of hope.
The Mengao “D’ missed played an easy through ball. Flamengo should have stopped this first entry pass but they didn’t. This allowed a great drive to the net by Guido. Guido laid the ball off to Tassio who headed home the winner.
Petkovic put this baby out of reach in the 73rd minute. He did a little side step shuffle to the right. Petkovic stopped. He popped. Goal.
Game, set and match to Mengao.
This was a good win but the Mengao “D” needs lots of work. If we don’t Mengao will not hit the two peat.
I have to keep telling myself this is only the second match of the season. The guys have only been training for about two weeks.
Adriano is out with a blister on his heel.
After the match, Obina was sent packing to Atletico-MG.
In the Campeonato Paulista, Sao Paulo rebounded from their first round loss to Portuguesa with a halfhearted one all tie with Mirassol.
Portuguesa defeated Sertaozinho 2-0.
Goals by Domingos and Fabricio propelled Lusa to the win.
Santos had a chance to move into a first place tie with Portuguesa but Peixe had to settle for a one all tie with Ponte Preta.
Andre put Santos ahead in the 48th minute. His header off the rebound ripped the twines to give Peixe a 1-0 lead but Santos could not hold the lead. Ponte Preta hit for the equalizer in the 70th minute. Jean nailed the head flick to tie this baby up.
Bad “D” caused both of these goals.
Each side misplayed easy balls. These mistakes were converted into goals.
So, be it.
I know I am hard but this is who I am.
I am a Philly kid.
I expect perfection.
