Chelsea completed the FA Cup and EPL double with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth in Portsmouth’s last hurrah before relegation.  With the EPL season over and nothing to lose one would have thought that Portsmouth might have come out pretty loose and given Chelsea a hard time and they did.  Only allowing Didier Drogba the double-clenching goal in the 1st half.

What does this mean for the future of the EPL?  Well, it means that United is really pissed.  They already gave Chelsea the regular season title and now they had to watch the blues win the FA Cup.  It kind of makes that epic final from last year seem like a distant memory–doesn’t it?

Does this mean that Chelsea can start a run like United had the past few years?  Yes, it does.  They’ll have to contend with United for the top spot again next year and we can be assured that Arsenal is ready to spend to bring themselves closer to the title AND Tottenham is planning on doing more than just going to the Champs League and settling.

However, Chelsea has all the momentum.  They recovered from a horrible final loss last year that everyone on the planet saw to come back this season and be only the 7th team to complete the double.

In short, it means they handle adversity better than their rivals.  They have no problem bucking up and pulling their bootstraps up so they can make something work.  They showed that when their manager didn’t need to run constantly to the media–something that works–and they STILL finished the double in his first season at the helm.

Hopefully the World Cup isn’t too much of a drain because next season could be a wild ride in England with so many teams gunning for the top and every one of them ready to spend.  WOW!

photo credit: Stefan Meisel

New departure rumors are swirling around Rafa Benitez.  NOW it seems that his discontented–again–and he may just not be able to take it anymore.

“I decided to sign an extension because the squad was good and the money could be there.  At the end, things changed.

“We’ve had a bad season and hopefully things will be different in the future, but at the moment I can’t talk about the future because I don’t know what’s going on.”

“It’s not a question of money. I said no to massive offers. I decided to stay under some conditions which have changed.”

“I left Valencia because the conditions changed.”

“The players share the same frustrations.  I know how they feel because I’ve been talking to them all season. The season has not been good. That is clear. We know why and what has to change.”

So, when the going gets tough you jet.  Is that what you’re saying Rafa?  I mean, that’s what I’m reading right there.  Valencia was cool–until the going got tough.  Now the going is tough in Liverpool–AND you didn’t go to Juventus–so now you want to leave?

Could this rumor have anything to do with your positining on the EPL table whereby you are in the last Europa League slot at the moment?  I mean, this tactic has worked for Van Gaal and Mourinho–I’d try it too.

True, Liverpool hasn’t had the best season, but if they can stay in the Europa League they could run through and win that next season and really make waves for themselves.  Winning any trophy is quite impressive and I would be impressed to watch them walk through the Europa League next year.

So, if he’s angling for that then he’s smart–however, I hope he isn’t sincere.  He already turned down Juve–where would he go now?  I don’t know if I would hire him.  Would you?

photo credit: Jonathan Gill

Portsmouth has pushed itself into the FA Cup Final against Chelsea with a thrilling win over Tottenham Hotspur.  It’s one those things you can only read about in storybooks as Kevin Prince-Boateng had to pass a physical just to get on the field.  THEN he had to put away a crucial goal to quash Tottenham and secure a spot at Wembley in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea.

Remember, this is the same club that is facing relegation AND has already been put under administration by the EPL.  However, they can somehow pull together the strength to defeat the dreaded Spurs AND play Chelsea–the best team in the EPL–for the FA Cup Title.

They are ensuring us that they will not get drubbed 5-0 like they did against Chelsea earlier this season and I’m almost inclined to believe them.  They certainly are on fire right now and there is nothing to say that they can’t “catch a wild hare” and really work over the Blues.

However, Chelsea is a strong club and they carry Didier Drogba and John Terry, etc. etc. etc.  You get the idea.

Portsmouth is on a great tear, but I think we often see these tears end right before the final victory.  It won’t be a blowout, but these things usually fizzle right before the “great upset”.

Anyone who’s expecting Chelsea to fall to Pompey needs to re-evaluate.  It will be a very good match in a packed Wembley Stadium–but it will not end well for Portsmouth.  Either way they should be proud and probably will have more reason to because they can keep it close with Chelsea–in the end it should be a tight.

Put an inspired Boateng on the field and let him incite the troops just one more time for a close finish.

Chelsea-2   Portsmouth-1

FA Cup Final
Saturday 15 May: Chelsea v Portsmouth - Buy FA Cup Final Tickets

photo credit: kevmann16

This Fergie is WAY more interesting.

Just a note–while I am in the “media” I don’t consider myself a serious journalist or a part of the “press”.  The “press” seems so much more serious than me and I’m just not “hardcore” like that.  So, I’m not taking this personally–I’m just saying.

Fergie says:

“It is hard to understand the press.  Someone told me that coming back from the Champions League final in Rome last year they were all delighted on the press bus that we lost. They were absolutely pleased that we lost; the English press.”

“The person who told me was disgusted. That is a fact. He had no reason to lie to me. Our performance on Wednesday was fantastic. At 3-0 it could have been 5-0. We were magnificent. Absolutely magnificent. But that gets lost just because people want a headline out of what I said about the Germans. That is disgusting because the players deserved some praise.”

Ok, some free advice for Sir Alex:

You don’t get to tell the press what they should and should not like.  You’re the Barry Bonds of Soccer.  Everyone loves to hate you because you’re such a bad-sport and a curmudgeon that NO ONE cares what you think or even really likes you.

The press has every right to RIDE you for the “typical Germans” comment because it was–essentially–racial in nature.  So, not only are you someone no one wants to be around, but you’re the guy who says whatever he wants and complains when the “disgusting press” reports it.

If you really think Germans are cheats and frauds then you need to come right out and say it.  Actually, you did.  The intent was there.  You were exposed as a bigot and now everyone sees you for who you are.  You don’t get to complain about that.  You were stupid enough to open your mouth.

By the way, because your very rich club has a curmudgeonly Manager–you–and lots of overpaid players you are BOUND to be targeted.  You’re the Yankees of Soccer.  That’s fine, but don’t complain about it.  Make smart, incisive remarks–but don’t complain.

It’s pitiful.  You sound like a child complaining like this.  Get yourself together man.

And you wonder why everyone was so sad that ball went over the crossbar last year…

Typical Fergie…

photo credit: nicogenin

Jose Reina has signed a longterm deal to remain in Liverpool and hopefully give Fernando Torres what he wants.  The deal is for 6 years and should coincide quite nicely with the middle of Torres‘ career at Anfield Park.  Now, does this mean that Liverpool is going places?

Not really.

Having a great Goalkeeper in the backfield is essential to winning, but this doesn’t really do anything for Torres up front.  Does this mean Torres will keep complaining?  Probably.  Does this mean the club just spent money they could have spent in the midfield or at Forward?  Yep.  Should that matter?  No, not really.

I can guarantee you that Torres will still be griping about not having enough playmakers taking shots and in turn he will want to club to spend more up front when what they really need is a new coaching philosophy.  They need Rafa to start approaching the team a different way.  It IS possible to change your stripes and start anew–that’s what Rafa needs to do.

He can change his approach up front AND keep Torres happy at the same time.  Also, it will be pretty easy for a better-coached frontline to keep the ball away from their own end.  The more that happens the less Reina has to work.  The less Reina has to work the better the teams’ defense will play because they will be fresh MORE.

So, signing Reina is good.  Keeping Reina is better.  However, we need to remember that offense and defense affect each other in Soccer and that the improvement of the offense through coaching will serve the defense just as well as a 6-year contract.

Is there any reason to believe Rafa will change his ways?  I honestly don’t know.  I’m not calling for anyone’s job–I just want to see things done better.

photo credit: Jonathan Gill

Nani has been rewarded for a good season in redemption of his original deal that brought him to Old Trafford in 2007.  His new contract will keep him with United through 2014 and will likely give him the chance to finish his career with United.

What does this say about ManU?  For me it says 3 things:

1.  They know they can do just as well in-house as they can do on the open-market.

2.  They chased and landed someone who WANTS to be at Manchester United–not someone who wants to be in Manchester for the money.

3.  They are smarter enough to know what’s hot and what’s not.

Manchester looked around and said, “Man, some of these teams will even more high-priced talent than us aren’t playing up to their expectations this season.  Maybe we shouldn’t go on a manhunt.”

Well, by not man-hunting they have secured someone that Alex Ferguson said was:  “an emerging talent within the team and has developed tremendously since joining the club.  We are delighted he has signed a new contract and I am sure he will have a long and successful future here at Manchester United.”

Oh, and I left out #4:

Alex Ferguson also knows that Nani can finish his career in Manchester and do great things.  When you have the combination of a coach and player who both want the same things then you have the beginnings of something great.

I have slammed other teams for spending and spending and not producing.  I think United is spending smart AND will produce now and in the future.

photo credit: Paolo Camera

He needs to keep his talking on the field.

Andrey Arshavin knows that he contributes to Arsenal, but I guess he doesn’t think his contribution is enough.  He thinks that Arsenal needs more starpower to win trophies in England.  In fact, it goes something like this:

“I am still of the opinion that to win trophies Arsenal needs more players.  There is the simple fact that last summer we sold two players and bought only one. So there is an obvious deficit of at least one. Then we lost Van Persie, Gibbs and Ramsey for a long time. So for me it is natural we need new players.”

“Without the variety of players we have less diversity in attack. That allows our opponents to read our combinations more easily. Finally, it results in less ball possession for us and our defence comes under more pressure.

“The Premier League is very interesting, at least as long as we continue fighting to win it. But without new experienced players, real stars, it will be difficult to achieve success. Ideally we need three or four such experienced players and then among our youths there should be guys who are not only good at playing football but have real character.”

Ok, he can go on and on about how intense the Premier League is–and I agree–but then he can’t close with a comment about character as if he doesn’t already have that on his club.

You can’t buy guys with character.  You can’t buy championships with character.  Ask the Florida Marlins:

They bought both of their World Series titles in 1997 and 2003 and the next year their team got blown up because they LACKED character.  Why?  Because they bought the team–they didn’t build it.

Arsenal is building and shouldn’t stop because one player thinks they need more.  Perhaps they already have all they need.

photo credit: wonker

photo credit: kevmann16

This field could host the beginning of good days in English Soccer…

Carlo Ancelotti did exactly what I hoped he’d do and he’s told his club that they need to focus on pulling the league and FA Cup double.  Now, do I think that’s realistic?  No.  I like Chelsea–alot–but here’s the deal.

There’s too much to deal with.  Only 7 clubs in the vast history of English soccer have pulled the double and that makes the odds very slim.  Plus, there’s so much talent in the world today that it’s hard for a team to get a roll of such proportions that would allow them to win two tournaments at once.  We don’t ask teams to win the Super Bowl and then “The Other Super Bowl” and I think it would be pretty insane to ask Chelsea to do so.

However, Ancelotti is a genius because he knows if he challenges his team then they will say, “Why the hell CAN’T we do that?”  They have bulletin board material for the rest of the season.  They have a goal that seems unattainable, but if you’re a really tough athlete you can smell blood.  When you smell it you will get an adrenaline unlike any other.  So, this kind of motivation may be the thing that puts Chelsea on a hotstreak right here at the end of season.  Now, if that happens then Ancelotti will look like a genius.  If it doesn’t then we’ll just say, “Oh well, they tried”.

I hope they do try and I hope they succeed.  I love seeing greatness played out and I would LOVE to see so many teams in England succeed.  United could run through the Champion’s League and Chelsea could pull a double.  Would that not be a momentous occasion in English Soccer?

I can’t wait to see what happens!

photo credit: bhhardinge

The lights aren’t off…yet.

Pompey has been put on administration following their inability to find new ownership and new capital.  It’s a sad day for Portsmouth, but the day is not lost.  However, there are a couple things to consider:

1.  Their administrator Andrew Andronikou is charged with severely cutting costs and attempting to make the club solvent.  This is very good because at least the EPL has a vision for how this should get fixed.  Find a dude who works for a financial firm to fix this!  Most sports teams (including Pompey) aren’t that smart.

2.  Portsmouth is already in 20th and most definitely staring relegation in the face.  They’re 7 points down to their next closest rivals Burnley and Bolton (who also face relegation).  It’s possible that the community and fans might rally around the club for a push to get out of this hole.  OR…the community will rally around them next season in an effort to get back into the EPL.

It may sound stupid, but this might be one of the best things that could happen to them.  You need obsessed fans to keep you going and this might just bring the obsessed fans out of the woodwork.

3.  There is history here.  Fratton Park is an icon.  Portsmouth–as a friend of mine said–is an institution.  The EPL doesn’t want them to go away and the team so closely identifies with its hometown that I don’t see how anything HORRIBLE will happen.

At least preventative measures are being taken.  Yes, losing 9 points sucks, but that’s the price you pay for getting in this situation.  If the club plays it right they can begin a whole new “grass-roots” campaign simply based on belief in the club.

If I were them I’d do a campaign on generational fans and what the history and tradition of Portsmouth football means to the city and the country. 

I expect an e-mail people!  I’m a marketing genius I tell you! 

(Honestly, this can turn out well for them…it really can).

FA Cup holders Chelsea took a giant step closet to a domestic double by beating Aston Villa 3-0 in the FA Cup semi-final. Their opponent in the final will be Portsmouth who shocked Tottenham 2-0 on extra time.

Chelsea were outplayed by Aston Villa in the first half of their semi-final but came on stronger in the second half and got the all important first goal when Didier Drogba turned in John Terry‘s miscued shot.

As Villa pressed for an equalizer they left themselves open at the back and Chelsea took advantage as first Florent Malouda coolly finished Michael Ballack‘s deep cross and then five minutes into added time Frank Lampard added Chelsea’s third.

Portsmouth’s incredible FA Cup run continued thanks to a pair of goals in extra time. Frederic Piquionne struck the first after Spurs defender Michael Dawson had slipped when attempting to deal with a free-kick lobbed into the area, and Kevin-Prince Boateng made sure of the result with a penalty following Wilson Palacios’s foul on Aruna Dindane.

FA Cup Final
Saturday 15 May: Chelsea v Portsmouth - Buy FA Cup Final Tickets