Confederations Cup review
Monday, 29 June 2009
In the past, the Confederations Cup has been seen as something of an afterthought for the English football supporter. After all, we're never in it because we never even get close to winning anything, and its profile often leaves a bit to be desired. The typical English fan's lack of interest probably stemmed from general arrogance and our complete ignorance of world football.
I say it with an air of smugness, but the fact is I've never watched more than a few minutes before either, partly down to the competition being hidden away somewhere, probably in the Mark Bright-infested waters behind the BBC's red button.
This summer was different. I'm more of a football geek than I used to be. I have specific interests in American and Italian football, and I also have curiosities about the Brazilians and African football. Also, I'm absolutely buzzing about next summer's World Cup, for which the 2009 Confederations Cup was a dry run. Thankfully, the BBC was interested too, showing the games on BBC Three. God bless the new media age.
And what a wonderful tournament it was - the only major disappointment for me was that Mark Bright somehow remains in the BBC's employ. What a nauseating, boring, know-nothing utter tool he is.
Groups A and B
Way back on day one, the tournament's stuttering opener between Iraq and South Africa was quickly blasted from our memories by Spain's thumping 5-0 victory over New Zealand in Group A. Fernando Torres scored a hat-trick inside the first 17 minutes and it was almost impossible to see past Vicente Del Bosque's side as nailed on winners.
They did breeze through their group, followed by a South African side which qualified courtesy of a 2-0 win over New Zealand. Throughout the tournament the hosts looked rather good - giant defender Matthew Booth was excellent, as was Everton's Stephen Pienaar - but lacked the clinical finishing offered by stay-away striker Benni McCarthy.
In the other half of the draw, things seemed to be going to plan after day one. A Landon Donovan penalty wasn't enough for the USA as Italy came back to lead with goals from Giuseppe Rossi (an Italian-American who scored twice - one a screamer - against his homeland) and Daniele De Rossi. The US lost Rico Clark to a harsh red card, an occurrence which became a feature of their treatment in South Africa.
A stoppage time penalty saw Brazil to a win over an Egypt side which really had them on the ropes. That good form continued as Egpyt defeated world champions Italy in their second match, while Brazil easily disposed of the US. So as we headed into the final day of the group stage, it was assumed that Brazil would defeat Italy to top the group and an Egyptian result over the USA would give them a pass into the semis.
Not so. Through an amazing sequence of events, the United States - who headed into their final game against Egypt with no points on the board - joined Brazil in the semi-finals. Bob Bradley's side picked up an impressive 3-0 victory over Egypt while Brazil demolished Italy by the same scoreline to trigger the six goal swing required to send the US through ahead of their African opponents.
Knockout Rounds
The semi-finals were pretty special. The USA faced Spain in a game they were given no chance of winning, and surprised the world with a 2-0 victory. Jozy Altidore brilliantly turned Joan Capdevila to open the scoring, with Clint Dempsey capitalising on a terrible error by Sergio Ramos to seal a deserved win. Michael Bradley was wrongly dismissed, joining Clark and Sacha Kljestan on the red card list.
In the other, South Africa put in a superb performance against Brazil only to be undone by a thunderous free kick by substitute Dani Alves, who seems to have been permitted to wear a scarf on the field for some reason. Spain defeated South Africa in extra time yesterday to secure third place, but Katlego Mphela beat Iker Casillas with a phenomenal free kick - definitely goal of the tournament.
Kicking off on a high, maybe we shouldn't have been surprised to see the United States go into a 2-0 lead in the final against Brazil. Clint Dempsey's deft finish put them in front, and the US doubled their lead with a breathtaking counter attack. Landon Donovan raced forward and found Charlie Davies out wide before continuing his run to pick up a brilliant return pass, wrong-foot his defender and beat Julio Cesar.
Sadly, the States just ran out of steam. Luis Fabiano bagged a brace to level matters before Lucio thundered in the winning header. Luis Fabiano picked up the golden boot and Kaka, laughably, won player of the tournament.
The Good
Over the course of the tournament we were treated to some great moments by Booth, Pienaar, Mphela and their South African colleagues. Spain and Brazil showed their abilities in fits and starts and Egypt's first two performances were exceptional. But the plaudits must all go to the United States, who took the Confederations Cup by the scruff of the neck and used it to raise their profile globally and, more importantly, domestically.
We all know about Tim Howard, the Everton goalkeeper who was magnificent against Spain and Brazil. Many of us are aware of the quality of Landon Donovan, and he really stepped up to the plate. But the likes of Bradley Jr, Davies and Jay Demerit put themselves firmly in the shop window.
Success should also do football some favours in the States' fierce internal sports market. People are beginning to sit up and take notice, and that's a great first step.
The Bad
As enjoyable as the Confederations Cup was, I have concerns about some of the refereeing. Rico Clark and Michael Bradley should not have been sent off and there were - particularly in the early games - countless awful offside decisions. We also saw a Brazil goal wrongly chalked off last night, deemed not to have crossed the line. I would've expected the linesman to do a better job with that one.
Still, there's a year to go before FIFA need to sort their officials out. I have faith in them to do so. *Cough*
The Vuvus
Vuvuzelas, those long plastic buzzing horns, have been the talk of the football world. They sound like a swarm of bees or a speedway meeting, and have been hugely unpopular around the globe. But there are two things I'd like to point out in their defence: first, I've now completely tuned them out and barely notice them and, second, we can't make decisions based on what a global TV audience prefers. That's what's so crappy about the Premier League.
So congratulations to Brazil, but more so to the USA. The Cup was also a success for FIFA, and for South Africa both on and off the field. Now where the hell am I going to find football before the middle of August? Read more
Photo of the Week #7
Who will win MLS Cup?
Friday, 26 June 2009
My Soccerlens Major League Soccer column is now available for your reading pleasure. Feel free to leave your comments, good or bad, either here or on the article itself.
Who will win the 2009 MLS Cup?
What's all the fuss about Pato?
If you haven't heard of Alexandre Pato, you soon will have. For me, AC Milan's teenage Brazilian is the hottest property in world football. He is, purely and simply, a stunning talent. He's been thrust into the English football consciousness thanks to attention from Chelsea, which may or may not have culminated in this week's rejected "monster" bid from an English club.
19-year-old Pato was born in Pato Branco (hence the name), a city in southern Brazil, and joined Porto Alegre's Internacional as a youngster. He spent seven years at the club, making 10 first team performances, before attracting the attentions of the Rossoneri. His career was threatened before it even began by a malignant tumour resulting from a broken arm. Thankfully - for Pato and the world of football - a family friend operated for free. The rest is history.
Pato made his way to Italy aged 17 in August 2007, but had to wait until the following January to make his Serie A debut due to Italian age and transfer restrictions. And what a debut it was! As a Napoli fan, it was terrifying. He scored against Edy Reja's side at San Siro as Milan ran out 5-2 winners. Later that month, 18-year-old Pato bagged two as the Rossoneri overpowered Genoa. He hasn't looked back.
He now has 24 goals in 54 Milan appearances and has been capped eight times for his country. It may not be a perfect rule of thumb, but teenagers have to be pretty special to play for the Brazilian first team. In my view, Alexandre Pato is beyond special. Way beyond.
So what's the big deal? Why does the Duck enthuse my hyperbolic tendencies?
The kid is still a teenager but already has an almost complete game. His vision and skill - football brain, if you like - are second to none even in a world class club boasting the likes of Ronaldinho, Andrea Pirlo and, until recently, Kaka. He can pass and shoot as well as possessing lethal poacher skills, and he can use his pace by playing right on the shoulder of the last man, or play a deeper role which allows him to play some excellent link play. He's rather brilliant in the air too.
Pato's eye for goal is perhaps his finest attribute. He can score with both feet and his head, and his Milan record speaks for itself. Of course, it's easy when you've got the likes of David Beckham, Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf supporting and supplying the ammunition, but there is a bright and prolific future ahead of the Duck. It would be rude of me not to provide an example, so here it is. From Milan's 2-2 draw at Roma in January - a game I was lucky enough to watch live - I give you Alexandre Pato and my personal Italian goal of the season. Enjoy:
With Carlo Ancelotti, Pato's manager in San Siro, heading to Stamford Bridge this summer, the young Brazilian has been linked consistently with a move to Chelsea. His compatriot, Kaka, has already made a move away from San Siro. New head coach Leonardo was undoubtedly brought in with a view to maintaining the club's relationship with its Brazilian assets, I believe specifically Pato. That's how good this kid is: keeping hold of him is much more important than keeping Kaka (when Pato's age and the Kaka money are taken into consideration) - and Milan know it. Read more
Fantasy Football Fight #7: Van der Sar v Crouch
Thursday, 25 June 2009
In last week's bout, football bastard Harry "This Time Next Year, Rodders..." Redknapp knocked seven bells out of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, picking up an impressive 71% of the vote.
This week, it's a showdown between two streaks of piss. Fighting attributes? Long reach. Let's get ready to rumble...it's Edwin Van der Sar versus Peter Crouch!
Confederations Cup: Spain 0-2 USA
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Tonight's Confederations Cup semi final pitted the unlikeliest of candidates against the best international team in the world. The United States tore Egypt apart in the final Group B match and then waited for the result between Italy and Brazil to be confirmed, sending Bob Bradley's side to a last four match against Spain.
Spain were huge favourites for this game, and nobody - myself included - gave the USA a hope.
Shows what I know.
The US started brightly and created the game's first chance in the seventh minute. Good work on the right hand side resulted in a calm cross aimed at Landon Donovan, but Charlie Davies got there first and hit an acrobatic bicycle kick just wide. A minute later he failed to connect properly with a close range header, which was quickly followed by a shot narrowly wide by Clint Dempsey.
Four minutes later it was Spain threatening. Albert Riera picked out a fizzing ball across the six yard box but Fernando Torres, under pressure, couldn't control the finish. With that the game began to settle into a more predictable rhythm, Spain controlling the play and the US looking slightly wasteful in position. But it certainly wasn't one-way traffic. Defensively, the Americans were willing to throw everything at the ball to keep it out.
Just before the half hour, the unthinkable happened. Davies and Dempsey linked up superbly down the US left and Jozy Altidore showed fantastic strength to hold off and then roll his marker before firing in a powerful shot which caught Iker Casillas going the wrong way. The Real Madrid stopper could only palm the ball in off the post and the US were in front. Altidore was booked for his celebration, but who can blame him.
Spain continued to hold much of the possesion but were unable to make it count, and in the 36th minute Donovan swung in a lovely free kick and Dempsey took it right off Bocanegra's head. The USA skipper would almost certainly have scored the second.
Still the chances came for the Spanish, but their final ball just wasn't quite there, and they were far from clinical in front of goal as half time loomed. A strong save by Tim Howard from Fernando Torres took the US into the break ahead of the European champions.
The USA started the second half well but Spain forced a save from Howard in the 47th minute. The pressure continued and Spain really began to force the issue early on, but the US defence continued to be impressively strong. Jay Demerit's bravery and awareness kept the States in the game on a couple of occasions. Howard in the American goal played his part too, and Michael Bradley was brilliant in midfield throughout.
As the game reached the hour mark, Spain were getting closer and closer to an equaliser. David Villa came closest with a shot from distance which zipped past Howard's right hand post. Howard was called into action four minutes later, putting two firm fists behind a shot by Sergio Ramos, who had the freedom of the right wing in the second half.
Rico Clark blocked another Ramos shot at the very last second in the 66th minute, continuing some incredible US defending. Brave doesn't get close to describing it - it was heroic.
Charlie Davis was replaced by Benny Feilhaber in the 69th minute as Bob Bradley switched things around at the front. Dempsey moved up front with Altidore and Donovan moved to the left side of midfield.
After what seemed like an age of attacking, it was bad defending which caused real trouble for Spain. Brilliant play by Feilhaber found Donovan on the edge of the area. The Galaxy midfielder elected to play a pass across the six yard box. Ramos made the biggest error he will in his career, controlling the ball in front of goal without checking what was around him. What was around him was Clint Dempsey, who prodded the ball into the Spanish net to double the Americans' lead.
The States were robbed by two shocking offside calls, but despite their tiredness they held out to pick up a famous win. They weren't helped by Michael Bradley picking up a red card for a slightly studs-up challenge with four minutes left. To be frank, if that was a red card then I'm Eric f*cking Cantona.
Spain's long, long unbeaten and winning runs come to an end, and the USA will face Brazil or South Africa in the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup. Based on tonight's performance, they thoroughly deserve it.
twofootedtackle Football Podcast Ep 12
It may be the summer, but there's always football - just the way we like it. And where there's football, there's a twofootedtackle Football Podcast. Episode 12 is now available via iTunes or this here MP3.
With all our past and future guests on a coach trip to Eastbourne, Gary Andrews and myself decided to go it alone and put together a shorter show. As always it was still action-packed - we talked transfers (that's Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and..er...Stuart Taylor), the Confederations Cup, Major League Soccer and, of course, Aston Villa and Exeter City.
Well, it is the summer.
So tune in and enjoy. Don't forget to give us your feedback, correct our errors and praise our rare moments of insight. But most importantly, tell your friends and join the Facebook group.
Have a week.
Football Americana Week 14
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
My weekly Major League Soccer round-up is now available at Some People Are On The Pitch.
Check out Football Americana Week 14 for all the Week 14 action. Read more
Video of the Week #7
Can Arsenal gun for the title?
A guest post from Betfair blogger Gareth Freeman on Arsenal's prospects in 2009/10.
After four years without a trophy question marks have been asked of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and his transfer policy. To be honest I actually think they did quite well last season considering their huge list of injuries and getting to the semi-final stage of the Champions League was no disgrace. It is inevitable that some of their better players will attract the interest of other clubs but Wenger needs to hold onto his best players if he is to get Arsenal back to winning ways next season.
In all fairness an Arsenal best eleven looks fairly intimidating. Manuel Almunia in goal, Kolo Toure, William Gallas, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy in defence, a midfield of Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Perie, Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott would cause anyone problems and Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo up front would also be difficult to deal with. However, because of injuries a strong Arsenal line-up was rare last season and this is perhaps why they were so off the pace in the title race.
Without a doubt they need a decent holding midfielder, Abou Diaby looks good at times but he is still improving and probably not quite good enough to be a first team regular just yet. The loss of Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan was massive for the Gunners and they still haven’t found anyone to replace the Frenchman. Rumours have linked Wenger with moves for Sporting Lisbon’s Miguel Veloso and Real Madrid’s Mali international Mahmoud Diarra is also reportedly on the move this summer and could be a good signing, if Wenger will sign a player over the age of 25 of course.
A decent centre-half or two should be among Wenger’s top priorities. William Gallas has never really settled at the club and as good as he is he does tend to lose his head and become a liability at times. Kolo Toure is world-class but he has been linked with a move away from the Emirates and if he does go they will certainly be in trouble. I’ve never really rated Mikel Silvestre personally and he has done nothing to change my opinion since he switched to North London. Ajax defender Thomas Vermaelen has moved to Arsenal and he looks a decent player, whether or not he is the solution to their defensive problems remains to be seen though.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Wenger decided to cash in on Adebayor over the summer and pick up another striker. This could be beneficial because his attitude doesn’t seem great from interviews and he is perhaps a little over rated anyway. Eduardo was really starting to impress before that horrific leg-break but it remains to be seen whether he will return as the same player. A Striker with a proven goal scoring ability would be a good addition and if the Gunners can pick up a holding midfielder, a centre-half or two and another striker they’ll be a team to watch and fear again next season.
This is of course also dependant on them keeping hold of the players linked with moves away. Cesc Fabregas is vital to Arsenal in the way that Andres Iniesta is vital for Barcelona and if he leaves it would be catastrophic. Fabregas has been linked with Barca and as exciting as it would be to see Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas line-up together at club level it would be bad for the Premier League as he is without question one of the best midfielders in world football. Van Persie has been linked with a move to Premier League rivals Manchester United and although it wouldn’t be as bigger loss to the Gunners as Fabregas would be it is still important they keep him, despite his injury worries. If Wenger can get the right players in the right areas and hold on to his key men then for me Arsenal will certainly be in with a title shot next season.
Photo of the Week #6
twofootedtackle Summer Podcast 1
Friday, 19 June 2009
So, it's the close season and you're all laying back sipping on Pimms and nibbling ice-creams right? Football is the furthest thing from your mind, right?
WRONG!
As we all know, football NEVER stops and neither do we at twofootedtackle.com, so next week we bring you the first in an occasional series of Summer podcasts.
This one will be slightly different from the usual format - it'll be a lot shorter and will just be Mr twofootedtackle and myself chinwagging about all things football.
The podcast should be up on here on Wednesday. Until then, pour yourself another glass of Pimms and have another ice-cream.
Read more
Houston hot streak puts Dynamo in the driving seat
Another Friday, another opportunity to read my thoughts on Major League Soccer over at Soccerlens. This week, I look at the improving fortunes of Houston Dynamo.
Houston hot streak puts Dynamo in the driving seat.
Enjoy, comment, slate.
Fantasy Football Fight #6: Redknapp v Wenger
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Welcome to Tackle Square Garden for this week's Fantasy Football Fight! Last week Sir Alex Ferguson tore Cristiano Ronaldo a new arsehole with 95 percent of the vote. This time, we're off to North London for a battle of the wrinklies.
It's Harry "Gimme that fackin' 50p" Redknapp v Arsene Wenger.
Don't ban the vuvuzela
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
The vuvuzela is a long (now plastic) horn which can be found in the stadia of South Africa in huge numbers this summer, creating a cacophony to rival anything you'd have to tolerate at a Glasvegas concert. My god, they're shit.
It sounds like a swarm of bees, a trio of hellish street hockey playing teenagers or an over-excitable speedway crowd and it's bloody irritating. Reading through the posts of my Twitter folk during the matches predictably throws up hundreds of posts about the dreaded vuvuzela, and more importantly the fact that it will undoubtedly be the sound of the summer when the World Cup rolls into South Africa in 2010.
People around the world are queuing up to call for the instrument to be banned next summer because of how utterly annoying it is. Ginge eloquently makes one such call.
But I'm going to go against the grain and say NO! Don't ban the vuvuzela! Here's why.
It was initially banned for this tournament by FIFA on the grounds that it could be used as an offensive weapon - I think they meant physically rather than aurally. However, the South African FA won a reprieve on the basis that it is an essential part of South African football culture. And that's the point on which I'd like to focus:
I spend a huge amount of my spare time whining about how the Premier League is eroding my football culture. I'm not going to moan about somebody else's.
But...
I do think it would be funny if, by World Cup 2010, the word 'vuvuzelas' has replaced 'bollocks' in at least some conversations you have - hence the picture in the corner.
(Pic via flunkster @ Flickr) Read more
twofootedtackle Major League Soccer Blog Index, June 2009
I may be a middling football blogger by night, but by day I am a social media planner at Porter Novelli. As a combination of the two I've become interested in how influential/important/other stuff football bloggers are in their areas. Earlier in the month, I published my first Premier League Blog Index. Here's my first Major League Soccer effort, based on my friend Brendan Cooper's legendary blog index.
(Some parts of this blog post will be regurgitated month-by-month in order to explain the idea)
So I'm pleased to present the twofootedtackle Index, a statistical yet arbitrary measure of nothing in particular. I hope it somehow shows the most important football blogs, but importance is such a ridiculous word. I guess it just measures...something. Anyways, I'll be running the report once every two months and covering the Premier League and Major League Soccer. This here post brings you the twofootedtackle Major League Soccer Blogs Index (June 2009).
(Told you so)
The stats underneath all this were correct at 25th May 2009. Like the Premier League index, I'd like to turn this into a top 25, so if I've missed any blog you think is worthy of inclusion (within the rules, below), please leave me a comment. Also, if you feel aggrieved to have not been included I'll be happy to run the rule over your site and see if you make it. One notable omission is The Kartik Report, which I have deemed to have focused recently very heavily on the USMNT. Any disagreements, just let me know and I'll pop it back in.
The list came from my own blogrolls and a good few hours' searching, so it's not exactly scientific - more of an indicator. Many blogs didn't make the cut.
Under the hood
The twofootedtackle index is based on a series of not-very-complicated sums which were devised to make the maths easier for my feeble brain. I won't go into the calculations, but the important points are:
- The index covers Technorati authority, the number of comments attracted by the last ten relevant posts, the tenure (i.e. age) of the blog and the recency of the latest relevant post
- These factors are weighted. Technorati authority is the most important, followed by tenure, then comments. The recency of the latest relevant post is also factored in quite heavily, so the index numbers of blogs with a week or more since that post are affected significantly
- This is an index, so the highest scoring blog is given a score of 1.00, and the remaining blogs given a score below that based on percentages of the top blog's total
Major League Soccer, June 2009
- Soccerlens - Technorati Authority: 298, TFT Index: 1.00
- Soccer By Ives - Technorati Authority: 135, TFT Index: 0.82
- MLS Talk - Technorati Authority: 48, TFT Index: 0.30
- This Is American Soccer - Technorati Authority: 32, TFT Index: 0.28
- Climbing The Ladder - Technorati Authority: 26, TFT Index: 0.23
- WV Hooligan - Technorati Authority: 22, TFT Index: 0.18
- US Soccer Players - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.17
- MLS Offside - Technorati Authority: 24, TFT Index: 0.16
- The Kin Of Fish - Technorati Authority: 14, TFT Index: 0.14
- MLS Daily - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.11
- MLS Fan Blog - Technorati Authority: 4, TFT Index: 0.10
- Match Fit USA - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.09
- Inside Soccer USA - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.09
- The Zygo Soccer Report - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.09
- Ginge Talks The Footy - Technorati Authority: 5, TFT Index: 0.08
- The 24th Minute - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.08
- Soucie On Soccer - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.08
- Advantage Played - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.00
- The Touchline - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.00
Notes
So that's the first MLS twofootedtackle Index. No surprise to see Ahmed Bilal's Soccerlens up there, and I hope my weekly column will go some way to consolidating that position. I'm delighted to see Ives Galarceps right up there too - for anyone who's not come across Ives yet he is, in a word, brilliant. I suspect Jason Davis' Match Fit USA will creep up over the following months, while Ginge Talks The Footy and Soucie On Soccer also seem to be getting some traction.
I think one or two, notably the superb MLS Daily, are surprisingly low. Whether I caught them at a bad time or it highlights a specific flaw in my calculations remains to be seen. Apologies if I've offended anyone here.
The Rules
- No club-specific blogs
- No highlights blogs or aggregators
- Comment scores based on PL posts only
- Blogs were not included if they have not posted recently
- Major media outlets excluded
- Gossip sites excluded
- Relevancy of posts is at my discretion, but I'm nice about it
- Blogs without Technorati get an Authority of 1
- Liveblog posts do not count
- Larger sites with only one Technorati profile have their full Authority counted
Donations in memory of Tony Kempster
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
As promised yesterday, here is news of the late, great Tony Kempster's preferred charities for any donations in his memory. Please click below for Just Giving pages for his chosen organisations:
MacMillan Cancer Support
York Against Cancer
British Red Cross
Tyne & Wear Autistic Association
FSF Fans' Parliament 2009
Here at twofootedtackle we (that's me and Gary) are fully behind the great work done by the Football Supporters' Federation, whether it's poking the fire in an attempt to provoke a much-needed debate on safe standing or backing supporters' rights from weekend to weekend.
This coming weekend is a little different. The FSF is holding its annual Fans' Parliament in Newcastle on Saturday and Sunday. Here's why you should go: it's free, it comes complete with a Friday night pub crawl and a Sunday afternoon five-a-side competition.
On top of the fun stuff, there will be ample opportunity to educate and be educated - and not in a boring way. The Guardian's football genius David Conn will be a guest speaker on Saturday along with representatives from the Premier League, Football Association and PFA. On Saturday evening, the FSF will host a comedy quiz event featuring ex-pros and journalists.
What better way to spend a weekend?
Video of the Week #6
Football Americana Week 13
Monday, 15 June 2009
My weekly Major League Soccer round-up is now available at Some People Are On The Pitch.
Check out Football Americana Week 13 for a look back through Week 13's action Stateside and read all about Houston Dynamo's burst to the top. Read more
Confederations Cup: USA 1-3 Italy
Day 2 of the Confederations Cup in South Africa, and Brazil and Egypt served up a barnstorming opener. Brazil eventually won out, but the 4-3 win flattered them. Egypt's second half performance was breathtaking and it took a very late penalty to secure a Brazilian win.
This evening it was the turn of the world champions, Italy. Marcello Lippi's Azzurri faced Bob Bradley's United States of America in Pretoria and kicked off as clear favourites. In reality, it was nothing like as one-sided as some pundits assumed it would be.
The US had the first shot in the 9th minute. Jozy Altidore won a free kick 25 yards from goal, which Landon Donovan rolled to Clint Dempsey only for the Fulham man to slice high and wide. Mauro Camoranesi similarly thrashed at an effort for Italy two minutes later.
The first few minutes set the tone for Italy's off-the-ball tactics, a strategy characterised by niggling tackles and late challenges on the Americans. On the ball, they looked bright and played a tidy passing game which occasionally threatened to create a chance - but the US looked just as dangerous.
Alberto Gilardino forced the first save of the game in the 12th minute, Tim Howard getting down neatly to comfortably hold a low effort from the Fiorentina forward. In the 20th, Italy should have been in front. Andrea Pirlo's free kick found Nicola Legrottaglie with a free header, but he could only direct it wide of Howard's post.
Michael Bradley had a great chance to put the US in front on 25 minutes. Donovan burst purposefully through the midfield and found Bradley on the edge of the penalty area. Bradley's shot was weak. Jozy Altidore missed an even better chance four minutes later. Donovan superbly played the big striker through but he was caught in two minds as Gianluigi Buffon approached and scuffed his shot.
With just over half an hour gone, Ricardo Clark was dismissed for the United States. He overshot a touch and compensated with a rash challenge on Gennaro Gattuso which drew a controversial straight red.
A minute later, Fabio Grosso felled Donovan with a nasty elbow and the American was incensed - correctly - with the Chilean referee's decision to issue only a yellow card. The Galaxy player fired the free kick dismally wide.
But it was the USA who got off lightly with five minutes to go before half time. A stretching Jonathan Bornstein turned the ball past his own goalkeeper and found the net beyond a despairing Tim Howard. The goal didn't stand, however, because Camoranesi had been judged offside.
Giorgio Chiellini found himself in trouble in the 40th minute and it cost the Italians dear. The big defender was turned by Altidore and dragged him to the floor. Again, he should have been sent off but the Chilean referee said no. He did, however, give the penalty. And Landon Donovan coolly stroked it home to give the ten men of the United States a half time lead, and me my second big (sort of) win from the bookies in as many days.
Italy controlled a lacklustre start to the second half with sustained but toothless pressure. As the frustration increased, the little kicks returned, Camoranesi being the unsurprising worst culprit.
Their first meaningful chance of the half came from another misdirected Legrottaglie header on 55 minutes but the US continued to hold out strongly.
Down to ten men, it was inevitable that they would come under pressure, and how cruel it was that an American, Giuseppe Rossi, fired Italy level. Having been on the pitch for just a few minutes, the young striker advanced on Tim Howard's goal and let rip with a left footed thunderbolt which roared past the Everton goalkeeper. Italy were on equal terms, and in some style.
From that moment, Italy piled on the pressure. The US looked drained, which is understandable when you're holding the world champions. Rossi wasted another chance before Tim Howard palmed a shot from Pirlo straight into the path of Vincenzo Iaquinta, who could do nothing with the rebound.
The second Italian goal was always on its way, and it came through Daniele De Rossi. The strike was low and accurate, and flicked off the pitch before beating an ailing Tim Howard with 20 minutes left. Howard can rightly claim to have been unsighted but as a team the US should have avoided conceding from such a position.
With ten minutes left and against the run of play, USA were unlucky not to pick up another penalty. Legrottaglie clambered right over the top of Donovan with the ball swinging into the area. I rarely agree with the BBC's professionally irritating gimp Mark Bright, but had it happened in the middle of the pitch, Donovan would've been awarded a free kick.
The game almost dwindled to its conclusion with substitutes Luca Toni (twice) and Sacha Kljestan coming close to scoring at either end. Another substitute, Charlie Davis thumped a header over Buffon's crossbar in the last minute. He really should have hit the target.
Sadly for the US, there was a sting left in stoppage time. With Bradley's side committing everyone forward, Pirlo took his time on the byline to pick out an onrushing Giuseppe Rossi to smash home a third for the Italians.
All in all, it was a gripping match fitting of a decent opening first round in South Africa, and as a fan of Major League Soccer it was great to see the US put in a decent shift despite being harshly down to ten men.
Tony Kempster
It is with immeasurable sadness that I must report that Tony Kempster, a man familiar to all non-league football supporters, passed away over the weekend.
Tony's English Football Site was for over a decade an unrivaled source of information about the non-league game and was produced entirely voluntarily by a man who adored football and provided results and statistics for nothing other than the benefit of his fellow supporter.
Tony announced in April that he was freezing the site due to a liver tumour, and although his pain is now behind him, he will be sorely missed by everyone connected with the lower levels of the game.
I'm sure that someday soon, while Tony's doing keepy-ups in a better place, news will emerge of a charity fund. You can be sure I'll tell you about it.
Photo of the Week #5
Confederations Cup: New Zealand 0-5 Spain
Sunday, 14 June 2009
South Africa and Iraq drew in the Confederations Cup opener earlier today, so football geeks around the globe tuned into Spain v New Zealand hoping for the tournament's first goal.
Spain's unparalleled football in Euro 2008 and Barcelona's awesome demolition of Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final had supporters salivating in anticipation as the game began. For the record, New Zealand were a lengthy 22/1 to win this evening.
In the end it was a training match.
Spain's trademark one-touch passing made itself evident in the very first minute, setting a terrifying tone for New Zealand. They started positively and took just six minutes to take the lead. A simple pass found Fernando Torres in acres of space on the edge of the area. The Liverpool striker wasn't closed down and bent a lovely shot into the top corner.
In the 14th minute, it was Fernando Torres who scored once again. His Liverpool colleague Albert Riera cut in from the left and played a delightful through ball to Villa who found Torres waiting to tuck the ball confidently into the bottom corner. And in truth, it had been coming. Two minutes later, Villa was denied when attempting an identical finish.
And in the 17th minute it was three. Fernando Torres thumped in a header for his hat-trick after being picked out in between four New Zealand defenders by Joan Capdevila. An embarrassment began to look more than likely.
No sooner had New Zealand recovered from the third than Spain hit a fourth. A cheeky reverse pass found Capdevila in a ludicrous amount of space inside the area and he chose to roll the ball to Cesc Fabregas, who made no mistake from six yards. 4-0 to Spain with less than 25 minutes gone, and my bet on 5-0 was beginning to look hugely unambitious.
In the 27th minute New Zealand's Jeremy Brockie had their first shot on goal, chesting down a deflected cross and volleying well wide. It was to be his last act of the match, as the resulting goal kick triggered the substitution that awaited him.
Ten minutes of slow improvement for New Zealand was punctuated with Spanish attempts on goal and came to an end with nothing gained, despite a header from Chris Killen which brought a comfortable save in the 39th minute from Iker Casillas.
The Spanish stopper was in action again in the 44th minute, turning a swerving free kick wide to concede a corner as New Zealand looked to finish the first half strongly. In truth, Spain took their foot off the pedal after their fourth goal. New Zealand came into the game slightly at the end of the half.
They started the second half as they ended the first, but were 5-0 down within seconds. Torres skinned three men on the wing and scuffed his cross. But you can never say never when there are New York Red Bulls defenders around, and Andy Boyens' clearance struck nothing but air, leaving David Villa with a tap-in.
The chances kept coming for Spain but their clinical finishing deserted them throughout a largely uneventful second period and the game reached its finale with the score down to five. A much improved New Zealand side created a couple of chances and put together one or two nice passing moves in the second half, but Spain were, ultimately, always in control.
The Heart of Football
Friday, 12 June 2009
So well done to my friends at ITV and their friends at Sony, who've combined to create The Heart of England Football, which is the amazing beast in the photograph above (which I stole with my very own hands).
The heart itself was created by Fallon and is a fully-functioning heart (as in it moves about, clearly it doesn't pump blood around itself) made out of Sony components. After viewing all the videos on the website I can promise you that it's strangely hypnotic to watch.
Anyway, that's just a big gadget. The really cool part is that ITV and Sony are also representing the Heart in the form of a tool which pulls the posts from selected blogs - including this one - into a heart interior decorated with a mixture of red blood cells and ghostly mirages of Wembley.
Visitors can click through to those posts and leave their comments, but I think the best way to explain the whole shebang is simply to tell you to have a look. Is cool, no? Read more
What does Beckham's return mean for MLS and the Galaxy?
It's time for your Friday fix of Major League Soccer from twofootedtackle and Soccerlens, and this week it's a biggy.
David Beckham's heading back to California next month to hook up with his old pals at the Los Angeles Galaxy. Beckham's a bright guy (stop laughing at the back), so he'll know full well that a frosty reception awaits.
But what does Beckham's return mean for MLS and the Galaxy? Find out in my Soccerlens column 'What does Beckham's return mean for MLS and the Galaxy?', brought to you by my brain in conjunction with some coffee and a bunch of friendly bloggers.
Fantasy Football Fight #5: Ronaldo v Ferguson
Thursday, 11 June 2009
There was only ever going to be one showdown today, wasn't there?
Last week, the Battle of the Shinyheads amazingly resulted in a stalemate between Paul Konchesky and Lee Carsley, the dirty Bluenose bastard. Somehow I doubt the same thing will happen this time around.
It's Cristiano Ronaldo v Alex Ferguson.
UK Exclusive: Under Armour launches first boots
Podcast listeners will know that Gary Andrews interviewed Bobby Zamora for this site and Soccerlens a little while back. He was at a photo shoot for Under Armour, and twofootedtackle is proud to give you an exclusive look at Under Armour's first ever UK market football boots.
For the speedy players, the UA Create range (UA Create Pro FG, above) provides lightweight, structured support. This is not the boot for me - I'm not exactly a sprinter. It's a good looking beast too!
The UA Dominate Pro FG (above) is, as a striker, much more my cup of tea. It boasts H2Oi (Water Intelligence) technology (it keeps your feet dry) to keep it light, and offers power and responsiveness, two important traits for any self-respecting goalscorer.
"What I love most about the UA Dominate Boot is how it feels straight away. The leather is a different gear. It moulds to my foot and provides no restrictions. I hate wet boots and this leather keeps my feet bone dry. The MPZ piece gives me more power on straight shots, more grip when whipping the ball in from the flank, and protection from being trodden on." - Bobby Zamora, Fulham
The UA Create Pro FG retails at £100 and the UA Dominate Pro FG at £120. You can find stockist details on the UA11 website.
And just for good measure, twofootedtackle caught up with Under Armour's Senior Manager, Soccer and Slides, Alex Chater, who kindly told us how the company thinks it will fare in a market dominated by the likes of Nike and Adidas.
"Our company was founded on the guiding principle of performance. We offer a Universal Guarantee of Performance on every piece of product that Under Armour makes to ensure that our product technology performs as hard as the athlete who is wearing it does. Telling our story and offering soccer athletes specific boots that work to meet their needs as a player is what will differentiate us in the market." - Alex Chater, Under ArmourWhat do you guys think? Read more
United accept Ronaldo bid
Manchester United have accepted a bid of £80m for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. Following the signing of Kaka, Florentino Perez has now all but secured the signature of the Portuguese winger (United accepted the bid at the player's request), ushering in a brand new Galacticos era at the Bernabeu. Headcase.
Obviously this is basically a done deal. Ronaldo has long wanted the move, and Real have simply forced United's hand. I've already read somewhere that the fee represents a whopping 12% of United's total debt. You just can't turn that kind of money down.
The move means a couple of things for English football. First, we can (thankfully) no longer be held solely responsible for the demise of the game. And second, this summer is going to see a vibrant transfer market, sparked by United's influx of cash and need to replace one of the best players on the planet.
From my point of view, I'm not exactly sorry to see him go. He's a fine player, but he's just too much of a cheating dog's lipstick for my liking.
To the true United fans, I feel your pain but I'm sure you'll survive. A wantaway player is always replaceable.
To the United "fans" operating in Birmingham, London, Surrey and Devon - and exclusively in the month of May, when the smell of silverware wakes you from your slumber in football cluelessness - I have just this to say: HA!
Why England will qualify with maximum points
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
England host Andorra this evening in a capital city slowed down by a Tube strike. But I don't think our charge to World Cup 2010 in South Africa will be disrupted. Back in our first podcast, I predicted that England would qualify with a 100% record in Group Six.
Before this evening's game my prediction is intact and I believe it will stay that way. Six victories from six is an excellent achievement, and Croatia and Ukraine are no mugs. A professional performance at Wembley tonight would see Fabio Capello's side pick up 21 points out of 21 in World Cup Qualifying, with only three games to go.
I'm aware that I'm committing the ultimate football sin and assuming England will beat Andorra, but I can't imagine any other result. Our defeat of Ukraine reinforced my confidence because it showed the grit and determination is back in the squad. On top of that, the impressive victory in Croatia (undoubtedly the toughest game in the whole group) showed that there is a great deal of quality in the England team.
England will qualify for South Africa with time to spare, but I'm sure Capello will want to go into the tournament next summer on a huge run of wins. For me, it's simply a case of capitalising on momentum and maintaining concentration - and a little luck.
After Andorra, three games remain. There are two at home, against Croatia in September and Belarus in October. On a Wednesday night at Wembley, with the football season getting up to speed, England should have too much for Croatia. With a win ensuring qualification, it could be a special night. The final fixture against Belarus should be a dead rubber, so it's really up to Capello and the players to decide what they want from the game.
The toughest remaining game is away in the Ukraine in between those two. Eastern Europe is (almost) always a difficult region to visit, and Ukraine are a very good team. This is where the luck comes in. You can't guarantee beating good teams on their own turf, but I believe!
So what's changed? I think it's a case of excellent management, good discipline and a desire to restore hurt pride, combined with players maturing under Capello.
Wayne Rooney is deployed as the team's centrepiece, and Steven Gerrard increasingly links superbly well with him. Frank Lampard looks more and more comfortable in the England midfield, while Gareth Barry plays like he's been in it for years. John Terry plays better for England than he ever does for Chelsea, and in Rio Ferdinand he has a world class partner. Ashley Cole is back in fine form, and Glen Johnson is proving me wrong and developing into a superb marauding full back.
In short, it's a happy confluence of developments. What a shame the hype that will ensue will see us crash out early in the finals!
Football Americana Week 12
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
I'm delighted to announce that I will be writing a weekly roundup of Major League Soccer action for my good friends at Some People Are On The Pitch. I'd like to thank Chris Oakley for the opportunity, and Graham and Terry for the idea.
So here's the first of hopefully a loooong line of roundups: Football Americana Week 12. Read more
MLS: FC Dallas 2-2 San Jose Earthquakes
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Week 12 in Major League Soccer, and San Jose Earthquakes visited FC Dallas this afternoon with both teams coming off the back of wins in their last matches. Victory today would have seen either side go some way to putting a disappointing start behind them.
One look around a scorching Pizza Hut Park this afternoon revealed almost nothing but red seats. The stadium's location in Frisco and poor front office management have put Dallas in a very difficult position. Given their start, coach Schellas Hyndman's one match touchline ban possibly wasn't seen as such a bad thing.
Dallas led at half time thanks to David Ferreira, but the second half saw San Jose turn the game on its head with an own goal and a cracker from Arturo Alvarez late on. But you can never write off Kenny Cooper, and the Dallas striker kept his cool in the dying minutes to roll home FCD's equaliser.
A scrappy opening yielded few chances, the best coming when FCD's Marcelo Saragosa headed into the arms of the Quakes goalkeeper. Joe Cannon was in action again in the 15th minute, turning a curling effort by Dax McCarty neatly around the post. Saragosa picked up a yellow card for handling the resultant corner.
Dallas began knocking the ball around in the middle of the half as San Jose settled into a defensive approach. In the 20th minute Kenny Cooper found himself with a half chance in the area but was unable to rearrange his footing in time to direct his shot on target.
In the 29th minute Dallas found the net. Jeff Cunningham played the ball well beyond his marker Mike Zaher and murdered him for pace on the right hand side of the box. He then picked a pinpoint cut-back for David Ferreira, who made no mistake in passing the ball home for 1-0.
Thanks to the goal, San Jose would have to amend their approach. While it hadn't been ultra-defensive it was certainly more about keeping Dallas out for as long as possible than snatching an early goal.
Ray Burse in the FCD goal made his first meaningful save in the 40th minute, parrying away a free kick from Arturo Alvarez which evaded everybody and swung towards the back post. The corner was competently punched away too, but the Quakes were just beginning to show some attacking intent. Burse was called upon again seconds later and plucked the ball off the head of Ryan Johnson.
San Jose's Pablo Campos should arguably have been red carded with one minute left of the first half. Having already been booked, he blocked a quick Dallas free kick but was let off with a warning. The Dallas players were understandably upset with the decision and continued their protests after the half time whistle.
Dallas began the second half as they ended the first, with McCarty - playing excellently today - finding the dangerous Cunningham in space on the right. Kenny Cooper was in the wars early in the half, taking shots to the head and the nose which drew blood. Frisco's butterfly stitch manufacturers must have been rubbing their hands.
Burse had saved a swinging free kick in the first half, but came unstuck thanks to one on the hour mark. After several uneventful minutes, Shea Salinas bent the ball towards Burse's back post but Dallas captain Pablo Ricchetti got an awful touch to head the ball past his own goalkeeper into an empty net.
As the game picked up momentum it was Cannon making the next save, racing out from goal to block Cunningham off on the edge of the area after an excellent through ball from Ferreira. Burse's next action was to defeat Salinas in a one on one which resulted in the Quakes midfielder clipping the goalkeeper on the head as he tried to jump over him.
Despite San Jose's early defensive outlook, both teams were looking for the win as they entered the last 20 minutes level. In the 74th minute Cooper flicked a McCarty deep cross on to Drew Moor but the FCD defender could only head over.
With eight minutes left FCD's terrible defending cost them badly. Arturo Alvarez picked up the loose ball after Dallas refused several chances to clear, burst past Cooper and Saragosa before hitting a stunning shot past Burse into the top corner from a tight angle on the left. Having turned the game around, the Earthquakes would have welcomed the whistle with five minutes still to go.
Sadly for San Jose, it wasn't to be - Kenny Cooper tied the game with three minutes left. An excellent pass from substitute Brek Shea found the big striker one on one with Cannon, and he remained composed, waited for the goalkeeper to go to ground and slotted the ball home for 2-2.
The draw did neither team any favours and both will be disappointed. But Dallas can look back on a game which looked lost and ended in a draw, the type of ending which shows plenty of character. Positive performances from Cooper and McCarty in particular will help ease the disappointment too.
Five MLS players capable of succeeding in Europe
Friday, 5 June 2009
It's the end of another week, and that means it's time for my weekly Major League Soccer post on Soccerlens.
Having started to watch American football (round ball) on an alarmingly regular basis, people often ask me to compare the standard and/or style to a league in Europe. That's not an easy thing to do, but plenty of players in the league or more than good enough to play on this side of the Atlantic.
We all know about the obvious candidates - Landon Donovan, Kenny Cooper and so on - and they are obvious for the rights reasons. But who's playing over there that you wouldn't know about unless you watched?
If you want to know who's caught my eye, read 'Five MLS players capable of succeeding in Europe'.
Over and out.
Fantasy Football Fight #4: Konchesky v Carsley
Thursday, 4 June 2009
It's bald on bald this week, but before we ring the bell on our hairless bout, a quick check at last week's results show that 62 percent of voters think that Burnley's little fella Wade Elliott would defeat Villa's little fella Ashley Young.
FFF #4 is the Battle of the Slapheads, and I know who I really want to win. It's scary-looking and occasionally wonder-striking left back Paul Konchesky versus dirty Bluenose Lee Carsley.
twofootedtackle Premier League Blog Index, June 2009
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
In the real world I am a social media planner at Porter Novelli, concerning myself with how influential and important bloggers are and how public relations can and should act in the social media space. Inevitably, I've begun looking at football bloggers in this way, so if you feel like I'm staring at you through a telescope, you're right - and I apologise.
Anyway, a little while back I starting playing with some tools to try and establish the "influence" of various football blogs, and came up with a couple of graphs which showed the supposed influence of a bunch of Major League Soccer bloggers.
However, I increasingly think football is different, so I've come up with another way. I don't want to measure "influence", because I'm not sure it means anything to football bloggers. And then I went back to the blog of my friend Brendan Cooper, and his legendary blog index.
So I'm pleased to present the twofootedtackle Index, a statistical yet arbitrary measure of nothing in particular. I hope it somehow shows the most important football blogs, but importance is such a ridiculous word. I guess it just measures...something. Anyways, I'll be running the report once every two months and covering the Premier League and Major League Soccer. MLS is coming up in a couple of weeks, but this here post brings you the twofootedtackle Premier League Blogs Index (June 2009).
The stats underneath all this were correct at 16th May 2009. Incidentally, I'd like to turn this into a top 25, so if I've missed any blog you think is worthy of inclusion (within the rules, below), please leave me a comment. Also, if you feel aggrieved to have not been included I'll be happy to run the rule over your site and see if you make it. Just be nice.
The list came from my own blogrolls and a good few hours' searching, so it's not exactly scientific - more of an indicator. Many blogs didn't make the cut.
Under the hood
The twofootedtackle index is based on a series of not-very-complicated sums which were devised to make the maths easier for my feeble brain. I won't go into the calculations, but the important points are:
- The index covers Technorati authority, the number of comments attracted by the last ten relevant posts, the tenure (i.e. age) of the blog and the recency of the latest relevant post
- These factors are weighted. Technorati authority is the most important, followed by tenure, then comments. The recency of the latest relevant post is also factored in quite heavily, so the index numbers of blogs with a week or more since that post are affected significantly
- This is an index, so the highest scoring blog is given a score of 1.00, and the remaining blogs given a score below that based on percentages of the top blog's total
Premier League, June 2009
- Soccerlens - Technorati Authority: 305, TFT Index: 1.00
- EPL Offside - Technorati Authority: 191, TFT Index: 0.66
- EPL Talk - Technorati Authority: 119, TFT Index: 0.52
- Who Ate All The Pies - Technorati Authority: 113, TFT Index: 0.43
- Off The Post - Technorati Authority: 104, TFT Index: 0.40
- The Run of Play - Technorati Authority: 72, TFT Index: 0.33
- Unprofessional Foul - Technorati Authority: 57, TFT Index: 0.31
- Dirty Tackle - Technorati Authority: 77, TFT Index: 0.30
- Caught Offside - Technorati Authority: 54, TFT Index: 0.29
- Prem Tales - Technorati Authority: N/A (1), TFT Index: 0.26
- twohundredpercent - Technorati Authority: 36, TFT Index: 0.25
- twofootedtackle - Technorati Authority: 24, TFT Index: 0.16
- Football Corner - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.16
- A More Splendid Life - Technorati Authority: 12, TFT Index: 0.13
- Soccerpie - Technorati Authority: 18, TFT Index: 0.11
- Unsung Heroes - Technorati Authority: 4, TFT Index: 0.10
- Buzzin Football - Technorati Authority: 18, TFT Index: 0.09
- Left Back In The Changing Room - Technorati Authority: 1, TFT Index: 0.05
Notes
So there you have it, the first ever twofootedtackle Index. I don't think there are too many surprises. Ahmed Bilal's Soccerlens is the predictable leader despite covering all sorts of stuff outside the Premier League too. The Offside and EPL Talk follow, which is hardly shocking, and Who Ate All The Pies and Off The Post are both superb so it's good to see them up there.
There are one or two with which I'm not familiar, so I hope this post serves to open everybody's eyes to a new blog or two.
The Rules
- No club-specific blogs
- No highlights blogs or aggregators
- Comment scores based on PL posts only
- Blogs were not included if they have not posted recently
- Major media outlets excluded
- Gossip sites excluded
- Relevancy of posts is at my discretion, but I'm nice about it
- Blogs without Technorati get an Authority of 1
- Liveblog posts do not count
- Larger sites with only one Technorati profile have their full Authority counted
twofootedtackle podcast Episode 11
It's Wednesday, and that can mean only one thing: it's twofootedtackle podcast time!
Episode 11 saw the return of John Stanton, our very first podcast guest. He joined us to talk about the FA Cup and Champions League finals, the forthcoming England internationals, Major League Soccer, Sunderland, Chelsea and Gareth f*cking Barry.
You can download the show on iTunes by clicking the link at the top of this page or searching for twofootedpodcast.
Alternatively, you can click straight through to the MP3.
Over the summer, the show will be less regular and a lot shorter. But we'll still be around, because this podcasting stuff is, frankly, loads of fun.
Enjoy!
My apology letter to Gareth Barry
Dear Gareth,
I'm sorry you're a turncoat who played over 400 games for a club whose supporters will forever hold you in contempt.
I'm sorry you feel the need to unburden your guilt onto supporters who hate you.
I'm sorry a life of unimaginable luxury wasn't enough.
I'm sorry I wrote countless articles arguing that your lack of pace was counterbalanced by your attributes.
I'm sorry I steadfastly insisted you should be in the England squad despite the fact that you're not fit to be in the same midfield as Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard.
I'm sorry that your legs will have gone by the time Manchester City even get close to the top four.
I'm sorry for thinking you carried a poor team for two years.
I'm sorry that a poor team carried you for eight.
I'm sorry Steven Gerrard and the Champions League were so much more important than a decade of adoration.
I'm sorry they turned out to not be important at all.
I'm sorry for wishing you nothing but failure and suffering.
I'm sorry, Judas, but there's no forgiveness here.
F*ck you.
Video of the Week #4
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
twofootedtackle Podcast 11 preview
Monday, 1 June 2009
Is that the time? Wow, it only seems like yesterday than Chris, John Stanton and myself were sitting down for the first time to witter on about football, like nervous young prospects about to be thrown into the first team.
Today, of course, we're seasoned profe... no, wait.
Today, of course, we're a fans' favouri... no, wait.
Today, of course, we have ten podcasts under our belt and our preparing to round up the football season in style. Yes, it's the last regular twofootedtackle podcast before we break for the summer, although we'll still be in on a semi-regular basis and with a shortened format, as we champ at the bit for the new season to start.
So, as it's our last regular podcast of the season, we thought it only fitting to invite back in the man who was in the studio for the first ever pod. Yes, the Stanton Menace himself, John Stanton from the South London Press, will be joining us to discuss the final acts of the European football season.
Such acts will include wiping away the drool from our mouths as we discuss Barcelona's triumph, and giving a grudging level of respect to Chelsea for winning the "We'll pretend we wanted this one as much as the Champions League" Cup.
Plus, we'll have our suggestions on how best to fill the void over the next six weeks until the pre-season friendlies kick into gear again. Shopping will not feature in these.
The pod, as ever, will be up on Wednesday. Feel free to holler at us before then.
Read more
Legends retire in Milan
The Serie A 2008/9 season rolled to its conclusion yesterday, and took with it not only Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved ("I can stop running now. This was my last game and I need to stay close to my family"), but two Milan-based legends of their generation.
Luis Figo
After making his debut for Sporting in 1989, Luis Figo went on to play over 100 games each for Sporting, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, as well as piling on a tidy 127 international appearances for Portugal.
To play an entire career for four such illustrious clubs is not an achievement to be sniffed at, but when one considers the aura of the man when Figo came to town, his impact on European football will long be remembered. There's just something about him - I saw him play a couple of times and he's one of that rare breed of players whose very presence makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Figo won a Champions League, a Cup Winners Cup, two European Super Cups, an Intercontinental Cup, an under-20 World Cup, four Spanish titles, four (consecutive) Italian titles and European and World Player of the Year honours.
His swagger and skill defined his game and made him a favourite across Europe. He retires aged 36, though rumours of his joining Major League Soccer persist.
Paolo Maldini
Still, in my humble opinion Figo can't hold a candle to this fella. Paolo Maldini retires aged 40 after an entire career for Inter's city rivals AC Milan. For me, Maldini is simply the best. He's the best left back in world football in my lifetime, and he's a true professional, inspiring respect in fans and opponents alike.
He played for Milan for almost a quarter of a century and earned 126 caps for the Azzurri, making him the appearances record holder for both.
I'll miss Paolo Maldini. I'll miss his poise in the defence and his peerless composure. But I love Maldini for another reason: once upon a time, he did a Nike ad, from which my uncle managed to obtain his boots. I played in those boots for four years and felt honoured every Sunday to be wearing them.
Of course, a section of Milan's idiotic ultras spoiled his send-off, but the club has retired his number three shirt until such time as one of his children earns a first team squad number for the Rossoneri. A true captain, whatever anyone says. Read more
Weekend Roundup
Just to tidy up a couple of loose ends, here's the final English football weekend roundup of 2008/9.
Champions League
Seems an age ago now, but last Wednesday Barcelona were crowned the Champions of Europe after defeating Manchester United 2-0 in the final of the UEFA Champions League 2009 in Rome.
I've already done my swooning over this one, so suffice to say Barcelona were magnificent in their victory. Andres Iniesta laid on the first goal for Samuel Eto'o early on, and then Lionel Messi met a brilliant cross from Xavi to head Barca into an insurmountable lead.
Manchester United were below par, but I personally think that was largely down to Barcelona's incredible performance.
FA Cup
Finally, Everton and Chelsea battled it out over the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday. The weather was beautiful but the game really wasn't, though it was better than many of the finals we've endured recently (i.e. some stuff actually happened).
Louis Saha fired Everton into the lead after 25 seconds with a goal that was even better than it looked (trust me, that wasn't an easy chance) but Chelsea dominated from that point on and goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were enough to send Guus Hiddink back to Russia on a high note. Read more
Photo of the Week #3
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