photo credit: wonker

This Tuesday, Arsenal will play host to FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League second match aggregate battle.

THE PAST

FC Porto is basically the Man U or Real Madrid of Portugal and the club has won 24 league titles in their existence.  In fact the team has recently had such a nice run that the last time they didn’t win the league title was in 2004/2005.  And when it comes to tournaments the Portuguese squad doesn’t exactly disappoint either.  FC Porto has won the domestic cup 18 different times and the Champions League title twice.  The last time the club won the honor was in 2004 when Jose Mourinho was the coach.  It was his last year in Portugal before heading to Chelsea. 

THE PRESENT

FC Porto is having a very strange season considering that they are currently in third place in their league and 11points back from first place Benfica.  The club does have one great offensive performer in Radamel Falcao who has 17 goals this season in league play, but the club has given up 8 more goals then the first place squad has on defense.  Allowing nearly a goal a game in domestic play will likely not bode well down the road for the club.

THE PREDICTION

Originally I liked Arsenal’s chances of beating the Portuguese squad, but injuries and poor form on defense have me second guessing that pick.  My prediction before the series began saw Arsenal winning 4-2, but the club really played poorly in that first match and Fabregas has already been scratched from the lineup too.  With no Fabregas that will put a serious dent in Arsenal’s attack game and with that bizarre, lazy Campbell play last match that will likely not help their chances of winning, but I did pick Arsenal to win and even though things are working against the squad I still think they will find a way to win this week. 

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Liverpool’s chances to qualify for next season’s Champions League took another hit with a its first-ever loss to Wigan.

The loss left Liverpool in sixth place in the Premier League with 48 points, one behind Tottenham and Manchester City.

Hugo Rodallega was the hero for Wigan, scoring after a giveaway by Dirk Kuyt. The three points for Wigan moved them up to 14th place and four points clear of the relegation zone.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, as expetced, was not happy after the game saying:

“We have to be really disappointed. After a defeat always you cannot be happy but after a defeat in this way…the first half we didn’t do anything. We gave the ball away, we didn’t win any first or second ball, and that is difficult to explain. I think it was a question of attitude in the first half; sometimes we played too quickly, we were in too much of a hurry. It was a poor half.”

 

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Another week and another huge game for the Arsenal. This time it is in the Champions League as Arsenal try to overcome a 2-1 deficit and defeat Porto to move into the quarter-finals.

Arsenal will have to do it the difficult way, without inspirational leader Cesc Fabregas who will miss the game due to a hamstring injury, as well as William Gallas who will also miss the game due to a calf injury.

But the good news for Arsenal is that Sol Campbell has recovered from the groin problem that kept him out at the weekend, and with Arshavin, . But with Arshavin, Nasri and Walcott all fit, Arsene Wenger will have a good squad to pick from.

Arsene Wenger. Arsenal Manager:

There’s always something new in our game so we can innovate and change history. The team has a good chance to make history. We are very young and in a strong position and, of course, we want to win. Scoring away from home is still a massive advantage under UEFA rules and that’s why we are confident we can do it.

In the first game, Porto defended well. I don’t think they will be ultra-defensive. We conceded unusual goals in the first game so we want a better defensive performance and we want to score goals. We know it’s a tricky game, as it always is in the Champions League against an opponent of Porto’s quality, but we believe we can do it. We are confident and are in a good position, so let’s go for it.

Jesualdo Ferreira, Porto coach

We need to have confidence in what we do as the game will probably be decided by small details. The balance of the game and how the result pans out will be decisive so we don’t need to talk about different scenarios which might happen. At Porto we know what our qualities are and we are confident. We know it will be a difficult match but we have the weapons to make it difficult for Arsenal.

We know the [first-leg] goal they scored puts them in a very good position. For that reason we need to fight, be positive, get a good result and qualify. Last year we reached the quarter-finals and our objective is to do that again. I want to put right the fact that Porto have not won in England before – there’s always a first time for everything.

Match Facts

• Porto have progressed in the last 24 two-legged UEFA competition ties in which they were defending an advantage away from home. Arsenal have only managed to overturn one such deficit in nine attempts.
• Porto have lost all six of their trips to London including a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in this season’s group stage and 4-0 defeat by Arsenal last season.

Prediction
Porto are not an easy team to beat, but I expect Arsenal’s speed and passing ability to be the deciding factor in the game. That away goal in Portugal by Sol Campbell was huge and ultimately I expect that to be the difference.

I am not that confident that Arsenal can shut Porto out, but I believe that they will create enough chances to go through. The only potential problem I see is that Arsenal spurns a lot of chances in front of goal and I hope that doesn’t come back to haunt them.

Arsenal 3 Porto 1. Arsenal advances 4-3 on aggregate

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photo credit: asco

THE PAST

South Africa has never made it past the first round of the World Cup and the hosting nation has only played in two in their existence.  For decades South Africa was suspended from playing in the event by FIFA.  The nation had a law that black and white players could not be on the same team and this prohibited them from being allowed to play in the event for many years.  But the club played in their first World Cup match in France in 1998 and the following 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.  They did not qualify last World Cup though in Germany.

THE PRESENT

South Africa is the hosting nation of the World Cup, so they did not have to qualify for the event this season.  The club will have home field advantage heading into the event, but they have never won more then a single match in the tournament.  Benni McCarthy, the clubs only real notable player, is currently out of favor with the coaching staff and might not make the squad.  Pienaar is currently considered the club’s star and leader.  Overall the South African club will rely on a lot of relatively unknown players to perform at the highest of levels if they want to survive this Cup.

THE PREDICTION

Right now the odds that South Africa win the Cup are about 125/1, so in other words the odds makers think that the club will be very fortunate to survive the first round of teams.  Especially considering they had the bad luck of landing France in their group with the fourth seed.  The factor of home field advantage will only help South Africa’s chances of finally making it to the 16 team second round, but this is a squad that lacks a lot of premier talent and only has a few decent players.  I think they will earn less then three points and be bounced from the tournament.  

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones just spent a fortune.  How much money you ask?  Try 1.2 billion dollars.

Mr. Jones broke open the mega piggy bank because he believes in the old Kevin Costner theory from the film Field of Dreams:

If you build it; they will come.

Jones believes that by giving the fans a never-before-seen stadium the fans will lineup in never-before-seen attendance records.  In fact Jerry’s new pad in Dallas can fit over 100,000 people into the venue comfortably which is roughly over two times any other NFL stadium’s capacity. 

Jones, who is the biggest advocate of the Cowboy’s nickname America’s team, is going all out to bring in fans of the game from everywhere.  One ridiculous addition is a TV screen hovering 90 feet over the field that covers roughly eighty yards in length.  The price of the TV monitor alone is estimated to be over fifty million dollars.  I guess Jerry didn’t wait until Labor Day weekend to go to Best Buy and purchase that bad boy! 

Although what Jerry Jones is doing is controversial to the game (punts have already hit the mega-TV a few times), he is trying to bring in fans of the Cowboys that have never been to a game because they prefer the experience on TV.  When Jerry found out that less then 5% of NFL fans had ever been to a game, he decided to add some things to the experience.    

Did he build the Field of Dreams or will his fortunes sink into the abyss of Water World?  We will have to see what new stadiums in the 21st century can rival the Dallas creation. 

But for now every week we will take a look at a few Premier League Stadiums, old and new, and highlight some of their features as well.

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photo credit: gordonflood.com

Yes, we’re doing this again, but I finally have it figured out…

Ok, so this thing with Fabio Capello is getting out of hand.  Now Alex Ferguson is in the middle of this mayhem because Rooney hurt himself again in the English friendly with Egypt.

Now, here’s where I think we have some seriously backwards thinking.  Fergie says that Fabio Capello isn’t to blame for Rooney’s injury because Rooney should have “taken care of it himself”.  Ok, so what was Rooney supposed to do?  Tell Capello–a maniac–that:

“I’m sorry you gave me this unique opportunity to play for England but I’m not going to do as you say and jeopardize my chances of playing in the World Cup.”

I don’t think so.

Moreover, didn’t Fergie know that Capello didn’t even really think Rooney was hurt to begin with?  This is Capello’s fault.

However, Fergie has been bitching about the turf at Wembley for some time now and he LET Rooney go play for England.  So, somewhere in here I think we’ve figured out a few things.

1.  Managers, for some reason, seem to lack a general sense of reason.

2.  Managers are in it for themselves.

3.  I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.

What ever happened to the guy in charge saying “It’s all me.  Blame me.  I’m in charge, and I need to take care of this”.  Where did that era go?  Where did responsibility go?  Wayne Rooney is 24.  When I was 24 there was no way in hell I was going to tell some fruitcake like Capello that I wasn’t playing.  Would you?  Even if you knew you were hurt?

I have to push the blame all around and enact a new policy:

If you are an manager of a Soccer team then you no longer get the benefit of the doubt.  I don’t think I realized how selfish and self-centered these people are.  You can say that they get results–some of them–but those results possess no character at all.

Like a Conductorless Orchestra I think we need to have Managerless leagues.  These players know better than these phonies who are pretending to care about somebody other than themselves.

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photo credit: esivesind

1)  Kevin Nolan of Newcastle United

Nolan leads his first place side in goals scored this season and the forward is also among the best in the league this year with 11 goals.  He will not lead the league in the stat, but his club is the best in the division.

2)  Pete Whittingham of Cardiff City

Whit leads the league in most goals with 16 and his club has a solid shot at making it to the top division next season.  He could finish the season with around 25 total goals scored.  but I’m sure he would give it all away for a spot in the Premier League next year.

3)  Graham Dorrens of West Brom

Dorrens leads the league in assists with 14 and he also is a member of the best offense in the entire league.  I think West Brom will finish the season in second place and a big part of the reason why is due to the excellent passing of Dorrens.

4)  Michael Chopra of Cardiff City

Just two goals behind his teammate (Whittingham) Chopra is the second best goal scorer so far this season and the Cardiff City club doesn’t mind having the top two guys in the league in arguably the most important statistic (other then wins of course).

5)  Wayne Routledge of Newcastle United

Routledge is trailing the assist leader by three, but he is the best on his first place squad at dishing the ball this season.  It looks to be a special season for Newcastle as they climb back up to the top division in football.

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photo credit: Jonathan Gill

Things are look “up” in Red Country…

Rafa Benitez says that Liverpool can’t really take any more slip-ups if they want to finish in 4th place in the EPL and vault themselves into the Champion’s League next season.  He makes a good point, but perhaps now I think he has realized the error of his ways and decided to make this as positive as possible.

He knows–I think–that all the griping earlier in the season just made things harder and Torres talking about needing more playmakers was completely worthless. 

Because it looks like a 4-team race for 4th place things should get interesting.  Aston Villa, Man City, and tottenham have all attempted to climb higher on the table this year only to be stepped on by Arsenal on their way to 3rd Place.  Because none of these teams are catching Arsenal–who is 9 points up on 4th place right now–they have to fight each other for one spot.

However, because Rafa is taking the “We have to stop sucking” approach then things might go well.  This could be a wonderful motivational tool for Liverpool and they see Aston Villa and Tottenham slide while Man City continues to struggle. 

Liverpool knows that with their competitors out of action this weekend they can take another major step in securing 4th place, but that isn’t all.

They don’t get to play Man City, Aston Villa or Tottenham again before the end of the season so they hold their own fate in their hands AND they can’t do anything about Tottenham, Aston Villa, or Man City because they don’t play them.  Hence the “No more slip-ups” comment.

Finally, I think Rafa has decided to coach this team in-full and I LOVE it!  He’s taking the tough route and saying “We sucked, but now we can’t”.  Essentially, he’s taking responsibility for lackluster coaching early in the season.

Good for you Rafa…I bet Liverpool can pull this off!

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photo credit: ph-stop

Arsenal-Burnley

I think it is pretty safe to say that Burnley is the coldest club on the top tier right now and in fact they have only won a single match since October in league play.  Over that span the club has lost to Portsmouth, the Wolves, and even Reading in the FA Cup.  This week things should not get any easier as they take on the third place Gunners squad.  It looks like Burnley is all but a guarantee to join Portmsouth next year on the second tier of English football.

Final Prediction: Arsenal 3-0

Everton-Hull City

The Yanks are coming!  Donovan has been red hot since joining the EPL and Everton has launched way up the boards with recent wins against Chelsea and Man U.  Hull City, on the other hand, is on the brink of survival in the relegation zone and any points this weekend could probably save the side’s season.  Hopefully Jozy gets the start so that us Yanks can have a little extra interest in this match.

Final  Prediction: Everton 3-1 

Wigan-Liverpool

Its been a long time since that 9-1 thrashing Wigan experienced a few months back, but the club will likely remember the beating all season considering they are in the relegation bubble and need victories to climb out of the danger zone.  Liverpool is currently in 6th place, but the club should have no trouble against a club that has disappointed even more then they have this season.  Rafa’s Reds should make a late run for the top four by the end of the season.

Final Prediction: Liverpool 1-0

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Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden will be sidelined for up to six weeks after breaking his right leg in the U.S.s’ 2-1 loss to Holland yesterday.

Holden was hurt from a bad tackle by Nigel de Jong that somehow did not even earn the Dutch player a yellow card.

The U.S. Soccer Federation issued a statement Thursday saying that Holden was “recklessly tackled.” The USSF said the bone was the fractured was his fibula.

The 22-year-old Holden had started Bolton’s last two matches after leaving Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo to sign with the Premier League club in the January transfer window.

“It’s disappointing for Stuart because he has come into the team and done ever so well,” Bolton manager Owen Coyle was quoted as saying on the club’s Web site. “He has shown a real hunger and desire to do well for our football club. In both games, against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves, everybody saw the quality he has, so it is a blow, but the most important thing is that he returns bigger and better.”

The timetable for Holden’s injury should allow him to return before the end of the Premier League season on May 9 and the start of U.S. pre-World Cup training camp about a week later.

 

photo credit: William Holtkamp

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