Hicks: Biggest Ass.

Q: Are UK'ers up on the ########### that is the Texas Rangers auction/bankruptcy, etc.? If so, you have to think they'd be a hell of a lot more upset than they already seem to be (and they seem to be plenty upset as it is).

It's exceedingly funny to me that Bud Selig approves of Hicks being an owner of a MLB team, but not Cuban. Goes to show you, I suppose, how dumb Vampire Selig is.

Hicks: Biggest Ass.

Ooh, sorry, the answer we were looking for was "Yes."

So I see that Stuart Holden is getting some pretty big-time play at Bolton. Most of the box scores of Bolton games I've seen have him a pretty consistent 90-minute player this season, so he must be doing something right. Anyone catch the Man-U/Bolton game this morning? If so, how did he look? I'm also thinking in terms of the USMNT set-up. At this point, the front six pretty much has to be:

Jones-Holden
Donovan-Bradley-Dempsey
Altidore

doesn't it?

EDIT: The formation above wouldn't necessarily have to be 4-2-3-1. It could be more of a 4-2-2-2, or a 4-2-1-2-1. The main points are that Holden and Jones are sitting deep in the midfield, with the latter as a true defensive mid and the former spraying passes all over the place. This gives Bradley some freedom to push up the field. Dempsey doesn't seem like a true winger, so he probably sits somewhere behind Altidore, while LanDo is given freedom to go where he wants.

Reposting my reply to BFFB from the end of the previous thread...

I'm surprised that VdV isn't making more runs forward, he would usually do it quite a bit. It's his best attribute. Could he be insructed to stay deeper to help Spurs keep the ball with no Modric (he's out isn't he?)

Modric has been out but was back in action yesterday. VdV was dangerous in the first half when he got in between West Ham's two banks of four. Couldn't quite find his shooting touch, though, and one on occasion probably should've put Modric through instead of having a pop himself from 25 yards.

From memory last season much of the pressing high up the field came from Defoe. If nobody else is doing it then I can see why maybe they aren't now.

In the stronger performances last season, they really pressed as a unit and "hunted in packs" in the midfield. If I had to single out individuals, I'd say Lennon was especially good before he got hurt, Modric was and is underrated as a harrying defensive player (when he's deployed centrally, less so on the wing), and Palacios was phenomenal before losing his mojo. To be fair, the start of Wilson's decline coincided with his kidnapped brother being found dead so it's more than understandable that he's suffered a loss of form.

English players always seem to have trouble with movement off the ball, it just isn't coached that well in this country. Jenas at Newcastle only ran in straight lines and Hudd has never been very mobile.

Those two are the main culprits, definitely. I'm more willing to forgive it in Thud because he is a big guy and has more of a disciplined quasi-DM/quarterback role in the team. Jenas is supposed to be this ultra mobile midfield dynamo, so it sends me into fits when he plays a good ball and then fails to push on for the one-two or just get into space moving forward. You are right about the straight lines thing, too. He is just such an infuriatingly cautious player.

Lennon is big, big problem at the moment. He's looked desperately average since his long injury layoff and seems to me to have lost half a yard of pace. Whatever the reason, he does not have the confidence to go past the fullback anymore nor the nous to get his head up and whip the ball in early, and he needs to do both to be as dangerous as he was at this time last year. At present, he looks like the same feckless Walcott/SWP clone he's been for most of his career prior to last season's spell of absolute dominance. This has allowed defenses to devote more attention to dealing with Bale or Modric coming down the left without having to worry much about leaving Lennon in space on the opposite flank.

At this point, the front six pretty much has to be:

Jones-Holden
Donovan-Bradley-Dempsey
Altidore

doesn't it?

If Altidore can develop, that looks pretty strong. Now we just need to develop some defenders...

Ooh, sorry, the answer we were looking for was "Yes."

Zing! I saw RBS is investigating methods of seizing control of the club that don't involve administration. What a dreadful situation.

Q: Are UK'ers up on the ########### that is the Texas Rangers auction/bankruptcy, etc.? If so, you have to think they'd be a hell of a lot more upset than they already seem to be (and they seem to be plenty upset as it is).

The answer to this one is No.

There has been no reports in the UK press I've noticed about his other, um, troubles.

In the stronger performances last season, they really pressed as a unit and "hunted in packs" in the midfield. If I had to single out individuals, I'd say Lennon was especially good before he got hurt, Modric was and is underrated as a harrying defensive player (when he's deployed centrally, less so on the wing), and Palacios was phenomenal before losing his mojo. To be fair, the start of Wilson's decline coincided with his kidnapped brother being found dead so it's more than understandable that he's suffered a loss of form.

He did do that in midfield very well, but was often deeper than Huddlestone at the end of last year. Didn't see many spurs games before Christmas (or I just can't remember them!). But high up the field it still seemed to be Defoe that was the key.

Jenas is supposed to be this ultra mobile midfield dynamo

To be honest when he was sold most of Newcastle couldn't believe how much Spurs paid for him. He really is still exactly the same footballer he was at 19, just hasn't kicked on at all and if anything has regressed. When he first was in the side at Newcastle he was a dynamo and covered huge amounts of space, albeit with zero horizontal movement and a tendency towards ball chasing. But starting around 18 months before he was sold he just suddenly turned into a lazy arse.

Poor Jenas. For years he was told he ran around too much, that he needed to just hold his position. "Don't just do something, stand there!" So he changed his game, and what appreciation does he get for it? Does it make him a better player? It's why I laugh at the Jonathan Wilsons of this world.

What is funny is that nobody's talked about the Rangers, yet the Bucs and their troubles receive a fair amount of scrutiny. I suppose you could attribute that to a decent number of UK sports fans following the NFL but very few following baseball.

One wonders how Hicks ever made money in the first place, he's such an idiot. Maybe Daddy just left him some...

One wonders how Hicks ever made money in the first place, he's such an idiot. Maybe Daddy just left him some...

Didn't he start out in finance? He probably stole it.

The answer to this one is No.

There has been no reports in the UK press I've noticed about his other, um, troubles.

The Guardian has run at least one article on the Rangers and Hicks in the last few months, and it's sometimes mentioned as an aside in articles concerning Liverpool appearing in that paper.

World Juve continues unsettled. Even at 4-1 their lead seemed a bit shaky, after giving up the easiest goal of the weekend and looking altogether lost at the back. Okay, "shaky" might be a bit strong, but 4-2 was no surprise and I wouldn't have been surprised by 4-3 either.

Krasic, otoh, is putting Nedved to shame right now. If only Amauri and Iaquinta would wake up this team could score 6-7 a game. Which they may need to do when the competition improves.

Hicks made a great deal of money in private equity when it was fairly easy to do so with borrowed money. That said, it appear that he was not as bright as his partners and literally had no idea what he was getting into when he bought LFC.

This team violates all of Juve's fundamental principles. They are at once first in the league in goals scored and goals allowed, which is now doubt causing great psychic pain to Lippi, Capello, Trappatoni et al.

I saw RBS is investigating methods of seizing control of the club that don't involve administration. What a dreadful situation.

I get the impresssion--and this is from very limited reading of media from across an ocean, so I'm perfectly willing to admit I could be wrong--that the FA is trying to make it as easy as possible for Liverpool to avoid administration, seemingly having decided their problems aren't of their own making.

Antonio Alvarez wins the 2010-2011 La Liga sack race.

I get the impresssion--and this is from very limited reading of media from across an ocean, so I'm perfectly willing to admit I could be wrong--that the FA is trying to make it as easy as possible for Liverpool to avoid administration, seemingly having decided their problems aren't of their own making.

Any consequence of Liverpool going into administration has nothing to do with the FA, it's entirely down to the Premier League. They are very lenient because they don't want to damage their "product", the fact that Liverpool Football Club is not under threat of administration rather Holding Company (Kop Football Ltd. or whatever it's called) makes this decision easier for them. Christ, you only have to look at Pompey where it took them actually going to the wall multiple times before the Premier League did anything.

That said, it appear that he was not as bright as his partners and literally had no idea what he was getting into when he bought LFC.

That's an understatement! At one point he was attempting to lobby the local authority to pay for a new stadium!

That's actually my favourite bit of Hicks' cluelessness in this context.

I would have loved for him to try it when the Liverpool City Council was controlled by Militant Tendency. He would have risked ending up like the monkey in Hartlepool.

I missed that. Does anybody have an article for it? How priceless if he thought he could get away with it.

Any consequence of Liverpool going into administration has nothing to do with the FA, it's entirely down to the Premier League.

D'oh! Well, my reading comprehension is top notch. In any case, I'm not sure what I think of this. On the one hand, it was basically Hicks' greed(/stupidity) which put LFC in the spot they are in, and it seems odd to give a team a break from owner greed simply because the guy is such a ####.

On the other hand, the man is just such a ####. So it seems unfair to punish the current team for the action of Hicks and the previous ownership.

I'd probably take a billion point deduction if it meant replacing Hicks with a decent owner. Though the year of Championship football would be hard to stomach.

Flynn, I can't find a cite right now, but looking to local government for subsidies/financing was definitely part of Hicks and Gillet's original business plan for the new stadium.

I missed that. Does anybody have an article for it? How priceless if he thought he could get away with it.

To be fair, literally every sports owner in America gets the local municipality to give them vast amounts of money and usually gets them to build a stadium, except some of the teams in California. Someone had to be the fall guy to find out that wasn't the case everywhere.

Someone had to be the fall guy to find out that wasn't the case everywhere.

He should have done his homework. The English might be a nation of homely alcoholics coasting on the nearly spent momentum of an empire built primarily by provincial Scots, but they aren't suckers like us Americans.

The English might be a nation of homely alcoholics coasting on the nearly spent momentum of an empire built primarily by provincial Scots, but they aren't suckers like us Americans.

...except when it comes to building a stadium for the national team.

Or the Olympics . . .

Someone had to be the fall guy to find out that wasn't the case everywhere.

Really? Does he use the same method to work out which side of the road to drive on in any given country - assume that everything works the same way as it does at home, and then hope to learn lessons?

Mind, it is possible to get a subsidised stadium - Man City got one, West Ham might - but you have to glom on to some other project. Man City got theirs because the government was building a new stadium to host the Commonwealth Games, and the club got a sweetheart deal so the politicians could claim "continuing use." West Ham are trying to do the same thing with the Olympics. It's possible the scumbags misunderstood.

The thing is, as ursus points out, this is Liverpool we're talking about, not Manchester or London. Even if we were in a time when the government was making capital investment projects, and even if you were connected/crooked enough to get in with LCC and Sport England (perhaps as part of the World Cup bid), and even if you could keep Everton out of the project, you are still talking about the poorest and most socialist large city in England. And we're talking proper socialist, none of your namby-pamby "Obama is a socialist" nonsense. The city won't even let Everton build a new stadium - not kick in funds, just give them planning permission - because they don't like Tesco. Yeah right they're going to give LFC a hundred million.

[By the way, RB, taxpayers didn't contribute to Wembley. That was paid for by the FA. Originally we were going to kick in some money in exchange for them making the stadium usable for athletics also. But then the FA changed their minds on that and so they footed the full bill.]

[By the way, RB, taxpayers didn't contribute to Wembley. That was paid for by the FA. Originally we were going to kick in some money in exchange for them making the stadium usable for athletics also. But then the FA changed their minds on that and so they footed the full bill.]

I did know that one, it was just too easy a shot not to take, even if misaimed. I remember fondly the days when you literally could not log on to BBC Sport without seeing "Wembly Cost Overruns Continue" or whatever as a headline.

[By the way, RB, taxpayers didn't contribute to Wembley. That was paid for by the FA.

Perhaps a basic question, but are English clubs the FA's main/only source of funding?

Perhaps a basic question, but are English clubs the FA's main/only source of funding?

The national team is a goldmine for the FA.

The FA gets no money from the clubs. They get their money from the national team, as SC points out, and the FA Cup.

They also pay for Wembley by whoring it out to anyone who wants to use it as a venue, which is why the pitch is crap. It is constantly being relayed and has no time to bed in.

Is this where you go to talk about soccer?

I'm back from Europe and a bit jet-lagged and worn out from navigating Paris' weird rail system but a few observations about my soccer experiences in England.

First, I had a great time with Alou and Mattbert though we gabbed so much I'm not sure how much soccer we watched which was fine since the games were ridiculous. Too bad English pubs close so damn early and that I was the only one on holiday. The next morning my girl informed me I probably weirded everyone out with my passionate dinosaur rant, but my excuse will be that I'd had a lot more to drink than anyone else that night. (Crystal Palace was pretty fantastic, by the way. It even had a hedge maze!)

As for White Hart Lane...well, there's a lot to say but I'll keep it brief. As I was there as a corporate guest it started with lunch and drinks in the Bill Nicholson suite where we were seated with a Norwegian cognac club, whatever the #### that is. After lunch they take you on a tour of the locker room or training room which is much smaller than I imagined it would be. Evidently it was designed to be small by Martin Jol so he could give everyone the evil eye in a convenient fashion. This tour is narrated by Michael Dawson, Peter Crouch and 'Arry on strategically placed tv's. You haven't lived until you've had the vagaries of pitch maintenance explained to you by Peter Crouch and a half asleep Michael Dawson. Anyway, after seeing the training room you head back to the suite and the parade of legends begins which caused me to remark to my host from Citibank that Spurs better win something soon before they run out of codgers. My favorite codger was the center forward from the 1971-2 team who, in response to a table of Chinese tourists gabbing during his presentation, said that it didn't matter anyway since they can't understand English anyway.

After that it was game time. You guys know how the game played out so I'll just mention that the biggest surprise for me was how subdued it was. The crowd at the eastern end of the stadium was very lively but the other 3/4 of the crowd was pretty tame. For some reason I assumed we would stand the entire game but that wasn't the case at all. The best part was I sat next to what I thought was a little girl who kept calling the Spurs "shite" until they went ahead at which point I gave him/her a high five.

After the game they give you a whiskey and then Rafael Van Der Vaart came out to give a string of banalities and sign autographs and take pictures. Two middle-aged guys behaved exactly like 13 year old girls at a Justin Bieber concert after having their picture taken with Van Der Vaart. On the one hand, I enjoyed their naked pleasure in meeting Van Der Vaart--screw being too cool for school and all that--but on the other hand, it was embarrassing. Really. They jumped up and down together holding hands and then hugged in a way I can only describe as creepily joy-tastic.

After that there was a lot of drinking it the area near Liverpool Street station etc etc etc.

You haven't lived until you've had the vagaries of pitch maintenance explained to you by Peter Crouch and a half asleep Michael Dawson.

That is laugh out loud funny.

EDIT: Also, dinosaur rant?

EDIT: Also, dinosaur rant?

A long story I don't remember 100% of. I think my girl tries to get me to quit drinking by replaying all the stupid things I say when I've had a few. My standard response is, "Yeah, but remember everything I said sober!"

On the one hand, I enjoyed their naked pleasure in meeting Van Der Vaart

This would be far more interesting if you were talking about Sylvie van der Vaart.

This would be far more interesting if you were talking about Sylvie van der Vaart.

Maybe, but I don't think it would alter the joy-creepiness ratio.

Clearly I need to get you more liquored up when we hang out, everything you've ever said to me has seemed reasonable and not at all crazy. Of course, in all of those cases, I've also had a few--possibly a few more than you--so maybe I'm the one talking nonsense.

One of my English friends did the Old Trafford tour and then did a tour of somewhere in the US--Madison Square Garden, maybe?--and said he was stunned at how much more impressive than Old Trafford the US facilities were for players.

Sorry to be a Buttinski. Why is this thread getting refreshed every 2 weeks? I must have missed that.

Clearly I need to get you more liquored up when we hang out, everything you've ever said to me has seemed reasonable and not at all crazy. Of course, in all of those cases, I've also had a few--possibly a few more than you--so maybe I'm the one talking nonsense.

We need Lassus out with us as he doesn't drink and so can tell us the next day if we were full of crap or not.

Why is this thread getting refreshed every 2 weeks? I must have missed that.

Jim asked that rather than having one huge thread, we do a new one every 2-3 weeks, I assume for technical reasons.

EDIT: Also, dinosaur rant?

Let's just say the Shooty Rex handle is appropriate. An update to 'Jurassic Shooty' might not be out of order, either.

Actually, I reacted to that soliloquy with what might have been perceived as awkward silence because I was slightly taken aback to encounter that level of enthusiasm for dinosaurs in someone other than Kidbert. I had thought she could only be matched by, perhaps, my 6-year-old self (okay, and my 31-year-old self) but apparently...not so. I was also mildly irritated about not knowing the Crystal Palace story. But basically, yeah, I was trying to restrain myself because if we got started on dinosaurs I would've been out even later than I was. I think I may have overcompensated and blown straight past the balance point between childish glee and polite disinterest and gone directly to STONEWALL.

Sorry to be a Buttinski. Why is this thread getting refreshed every 2 weeks? I must have missed that.

Because it's not about basketball?

Actually, I reacted to that soliloquy with what might have been perceived as awkward silence because I was slightly taken aback to encounter that level of enthusiasm for dinosaurs in someone other than Kidbert.

I think probably the only thing Primates have universally in common is that if we have an interest in something, we have an INTEREST in something. I think this site basically caters to our inner nerd which is how you get long threads about obscure beer, low-fi indy pop, fantasy novels, war tactics and Libertarianism.

My favorite codger was the center forward from the 1971-2 team who, in response to a table of Chinese tourists gabbing during his presentation, said that it didn't matter anyway since they can't understand English anyway.

Was that Big Chiv? I was just flipping through Wikipedia to see if they had a roster for that team (they don't), and apparently Spurs beat some Icelandic club 15-1 on aggregate in the first round of the UEFA Cup that season. That's a good old fashioned hiding right there. Sha-zam.

You guys know how the game played out so I'll just mention that the biggest surprise for me was how subdued it was. The crowd at the eastern end of the stadium was very lively but the other 3/4 of the crowd was pretty tame. For some reason I assumed we would stand the entire game but that wasn't the case at all. The best part was I sat next to what I thought was a little girl who kept calling the Spurs "shite" until they went ahead at which point I gave him/her a high five.

Struggling against and/or trailing to Wolves for an hour or so can have that affect on morale. It's a shame Gomes was hurt; the interplay between him and the fans behind the goal (and the "We Love You Gomes" song) is supposedly a major highlight of the home fixtures.

I think probably the only thing Primates have universally in common is that if we have an interest in something, we have an INTEREST in something.

I've met probably 15 or so Primates at various meetups over the years, and I'd say that's right on the money. We don't have hobbies, we have obsessions.

Was that Big Chiv?

I cannae remember! Whoever the CF that scored against Wolves that year in the UEFA Cup was, that was the guy.

By the way, seeing the game in person, I was impressed by Hutton and Kaboul of all people. I never would have expected that. Jenas, sadly, just isn't good. He's skilled but it seems as if it takes him two beats too long to decide what to do with the ball. The bloke behind me said JENAS! with a tone of murderous rage every time he touched the ball.

we have obsessions.

ie Ichiro threads! Sorry I missed that one...

I cannae remember! Whoever the CF that scored against Wolves that year in the UEFA Cup was, that was the guy.

Yep, that was Chivers. That's him on the right.

By the way, seeing the game in person, I was impressed by Hutton and Kaboul of all people. I never would have expected that. Jenas, sadly, just isn't good. He's skilled but it seems as if it takes him two beats too long to decide what to do with the ball. The bloke behind me said JENAS! with a tone of murderous rage every time he touched the ball.

Hutton and Kaboul both looked good on the telly as welly.

Jenas is afflicted with Walcott Syndrome, or maybe it's the other way around since JJ is older. They both have great physical gifts and, despite coming across as rather bright guys off the pitch, constantly dither on the ball before making a dumb decision when afforded time and space.

We need Lassus out with us as he doesn't drink and so can tell us the next day if we were full of crap or not.

I don't drink either and I'd love to hang out with the crew sometime, once finances allow.

I don't drink either and I'd love to hang out with the crew sometime, once finances allow.

Are you NYC-based? I always thought you were a New England guy. But you're always welcome. We should pick a (post-playoffs, perhaps) weekend to watch some footy.

On the one hand, I enjoyed their naked pleasure in meeting Van Der Vaart

This would be far more interesting if you were talking about Sylvie van der Vaart.

It would be even more interesting if he was talking about pleasuring a naked SVdV, but life is full disappointments.

Welcome back, Shooty. Was it the RER that confused you? Strikes? Stations with no direct Metro connections?

Are you NYC-based? I always thought you were a New England guy. But you're always welcome. We should pick a (post-playoffs, perhaps) weekend to watch some footy.

I am New England, hence when finances allow, heh. Driving down to NYC ain't cheap.

I'll be interested to see how Tottenham do tonight against Schteve's old team. Twente are unbeaten so far this season, although they've drawn too many. How are Spurs likely to line up?

One-nil, to the Real Madrid!

I presume I will be singing that quite often this season.

Si, senor.

One conceded in seven matches. Very un-Madrid like.

Speaking of Scheteve, he won again this weekend, meaning Wolfsburg are now sixth. Mainz, of all clubs, lead the table having won all six of their games.

Welcome back, Shooty. Was it the RER that confused you? Strikes? Stations with no direct Metro connections?

We dodged a strike, but the RER to Charles De Gaulle presented much difficulty. The Metro was ok but so, so crowded. The idea of waiting for the next train seems unappealing to the French. The tube in London was fantastic, in comparison, but much more expensive. But really, it was the RER that finally sent my girl over the edge. They had no one in their kiosks and their machines wouldn't take our credit cards or paper money and, shockingly, we didn't have 20 euros in loose change and the magazine and coffee places in the station wouldn't give her change. She told me there was a pack of refugee-like people from all over the world wandering Gare du Nord trying to figure out how to get tickets for the RER. (I was in charge of watching the baggage on the platform during all of this.)

How are Spurs likely to line up?

Fearless prediction:

Gomes
Hutton, Bassong, King, Assou-Ekotto
Van der Vaart, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale
Pavlyuchenko, Crouch

Keeper's about three yards off his line when VdV hits that. What is the point of the goal line officials again?

The thing about selling tickets in vending machines that only take domestic credit/debit cards (or require PINs for overseas cards that virtually no one has) is a real pain in the ass, but it isn't specific to France. I've seen it happen in Holland, Scandinavia and Switzerland (though you can almost always find a person in Switzerland). It's the Euro equivalent of baggage carts at US airports that only take singles and quarters (now largely gone, thank God).

The thing is that fare evasion is absolutely rampant on the RER, but there is no way you would have known that.

She no doubt told you how much better the S-bahns are. And she'd be right.

If Bale can keep abusing Rosales, I think Spurs should pull this out. Twente is struggling with Crouch's size in the box and I think it will pay dividends eventually. (It should have already, dammit!) Inter is killing Bremen so Spurs need all 3 points here. Rangers are winning, too. They could be ahead of Man U in their group at the end of the day!

She no doubt told you how much better the S-bahns are. And she'd be right.

When she got frustrated with the trains in Belgium and France I got a real earful about how great the German train system is. I think we'll be going to Freiburg next year.

Woo hoo!

edit: I told you the big man would come through!

Rosales is Bale's #####. I should be a halftime analyst!

Cruising now.

This is not good. Nope. Not good.

What a nutty game this is turning out to be.

I assume that means we'll be sans our Rafa when Inter and the other Rafa come to town. This makes me sad.

Eto'o just completed his hat trick against Werder. He's going to give Ledley fits.

Will Maicon be the primary defender on Bale? Or are they on opposite sides?

If they line up the way they did tonight, he would be, but I expect Rafa to switch things around, either putting Zanetti or Chivu there or someone in midfield charged with shutting him down.

If they line up the way they did tonight, he would be, but I expect Rafa to switch things around, either putting Zanetti or Chivu there or someone in midfield charged with shutting him down.

It'll be interesting. Bale will need to shine in that match.

I think 4-1 flattered Spurs but I'll take it! Twente looked tough out there, a very physical team.

So VDV sort of filled up the ol' stat sheet today didn't he? Were the cards legitimately given?

I assume that means we'll be sans our Rafa when Inter and the other Rafa come to town. This makes me sad.

Or when Spurs go to Italy, even. Got that backwards.

I'm terrified of that Eto'o/Sneijder combination too, ursus. We have no defenders who can live with that kind of pace. Every once in a while, though, Ledley will put on a masterclass against a super striker like that. I remember not last season but the one previous when he carried Drogba around in his pocket for 90 minutes against Chelsea. One of the best 1v1 defensive performances I've ever seen. He'll need to be in that kind of form if we're to have any hope of coping with Inter.

So VDV sort of filled up the ol' stat sheet today didn't he? Were the cards legitimately given?

I don't remember the first one that well, but the second was deserved if for no other reason than the stupidity of the challenge. VdV was up for it and then some tonight, and I think his adrenaline got the better of him when he went in on Rosales there.

It is kind of a bittersweet experience watching him. He's almost painfully better than everyone around him, especially with most of our squad struggling for form right now. I fear that if we don't pick it up quickly, he's going to get frustrated and start looking to move on before long.

Even Harry admitted that the 3d penalty was "soft" (i.e., beyond the realm of human comprehension).

Spurs aren't in the same league as Inter, but they are better organized and more resilent than Werder.

Had the full spectrum of pens tonight. One marginal (Crouch), one stonewall (Bale), and one head-scratcher (Pav). Refs certainly did their best to save us from ourselves tonight.

Rosales played like that on purpose, when he completely plays all over Bale at home, he'll never see it coming. ;-)

In other news, how do you say "the Special One" in Turkmen?

Rosales played like that on purpose, when he completely plays all over Bale at home, he'll never see it coming. ;-)

Heh. I almost felt sorry for Rosales. Also, it's a hell of a nice thing to see Hutton playing so well as I wasn't expecting much from him this year. The one thing I'm still struggling with in my nascent soccer fandom is a player falling in and out of form and falling in and out of favor with his manager. It's a strange alchemy.

So I watched the Manchester United Valencia game and some of the Inter--Werder game. There were a lot of empty seats in both stadiums. Why is that?

Anyone catch the end of that Colombus Crew/Municipal game last night? The game ended with both teams' managers on the pitch in a near-kerfuffle. Add to that a constant downpour the whole game, making the pitch play like a kiddie pool, and it was a rather enjoyable final 45 minutes.

#81. I can only speak for Inter, but in the four years that I had a season ticket there, the group CL games were always relatively poorly attended (c. 25-40K).

CL tickets are not part of the season ticket package (and are relatively expensive (though cheap by US standards)) and the opposition is not always considered "attractive". Another factor is that all of the Big 3 clubs in Italy draw significant support from outside of their "hometowns", and those people will not endure the significant hardship involved in attending midweek games unless it is genuinely "big".

There are a not insignificant number of Inter season ticket holders who only use their tickets for the matches against Milan, Juve and Roma.

Ugh. From the Guardian's liveblog, it appears I'm missing yet another tepid Liverpool performance. We really are ####.

The best thing I can say about this Liverpool game is that my stream is so bad, I can hardly tell what's happening.

Is Utrecht so bad that a draw on the road is embarassing?

They aren't terrible, but they aren't great, and other than Ricky van Wolfswinkel, there's probably not anybody who would get into a Liverpool team.

It's not so much the result--except for a fantastic long kick by Reina that found Kuyt in enough space to feed in Torres for what should have been an easy chance, we've just looked awful.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel

That is a fantastic name. I want him on Spurs just for the name.

I learned from a Liverpool transfer rumor thread about him that 'winkel' is a common euphemism in the UK for a male's member, which really only adds to the entertainment value.

More suited to Wolverhampton, I'd think.

Also a bit surprised that Wolfgang Wolf never signed him when he was managing Wolfsburg.

RvW was once the next big thing in Dutch football, but never fulfilled expectations.

RVW's still only 21, so plenty of time for him to become a serviceable player. Just got his first Oranje cap as well.

Oh yeah, and in USMNT news, Stuart Holden got a two year extension from Bolton. In less good news, Benny Feilhaber is the "hottest" US player in Europe which would be happier news if he weren't in the Danish second division.

Did Jay DeMerit ever latch on anywhere, by the way.

Did Jay DeMerit ever latch on anywhere, by the way.

No. The latest I read was a rumor linking him to Vancouver's new MLS club. Based on nothing more than speculation, I would bet that if he hasn't found a club by the winter window, he's coming to MLS. I'm rather surprised no one has picked him up. He was quite clearly the US' best defender (low bar, I know). I would think most non-elite clubs could find room for him, if only as a depth player. It almost has to be salary demands, right?

I would think most non-elite clubs could find room for him, if only as a depth player. It almost has to be salary demands, right?


No idea. Was he making that much at Watford?

He'd certainly be a DP in MLS.

I should have linked this a few days ago, but it sums up pretty well what's so insanely crazy about the way Hodsgon is setting out. (For those who don't want to click through, it's a comparison of the average position diagrams for the Sunderland game on Sunday and the corresponding fixture last season. Short summary: We used to play with width and high up the pitch (this particular game we played 4-4-2 and attacked IIRC, so it's not indicative of Rafa's LFC so much, but it's still significant in how different it is); now we play incredibly deep and narrow (remember these diagrams are an average of where players touch the ball I think--it's not like we're just defending narrowly, but attacking that way too) and might as well be playing 5 at the back.

USMNT call-ups for the coming friendlies versus Poland and Colombia. Some of the newer/more interesting names -- Jermaine Jones; Eric Lichaj; Brek Shea; Michael Parkhurst. Anyone you guys are disappointed to not see on the list?

Given that Bradley said that he wasn't selecting from MLS playoff teams, there are some guys who weren't going to get called in, but who probably will in January, like Gonzalez (again) and Corben Bone.

I wouldn't have minded seeing Conor Doyle, who's getting some time at Derby, and it's not like the striker pool is that deep.

Elston - don't you have to make some accounting for possession? In the 3-0 win we had 63% possession, in the 2-2 draw it was only 54%. That's a huge difference: having the ball 70% more than the other team, versus having the ball 17% more. When you have the ball your players are obviously going to be higher up the pitch and wider than when they don't. So are those average positions a function of tactical choices, or simply a reflection of having less of the ball?