The Offside

attacking style of play

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:46:39 -0500

Ahead of Saturday's friendly, Hubb Stevens commented that the focus upon the camp so far which has been to build the basics of attacking play, increase levels of fitness that the style of play is so dependent on and create a positive team-family atmosphere. Equally, scheduled friendlies are purposely lighter-affairs with complete focus upon the start of the campaign. To-date training ...

Daily Dose 07.25.08

Laurie — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:30:33 -0500

Some news to read as you mow the Mona Lisa into your lawn: Which league's results are the most boring? (LanguageCaster) Did ESPN coverage hit a new low at the All Star game? (EPL Talk) Or you can just see for yourself (This is Extra Time) Could the 2010 World Cup be Capello's last major tournament? (South Africa 2010) Suriname: Tragedy ...

key start to the campaign against Puebla

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:29:41 -0500

Remarkably as the season is just about to start, the first match is an important six-point affair against fellow-Group rival Puebla. Puebla, while in their first match since being promoted to La Primera División, will be no-means be a push-over and I expect the people of this beautiful historic city to pack Cuauhtémoc and provide an enormous advantage. The squad, with ...

Blackburn Rovers 3-2 Benfica (and 7-6 on pens?) W/ highlights

Jim — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:07:52 -0500

Tonight Rovers beat S.L. Benfica; 31 time Portuguese Liga Champions and regular in the Champions League. The game was highlighted by great performances by Brett Emerton and Morten Gamst Pederson. Brett Emo played on the right wing tonight. Right off the bat lets get one thing straight; I was just as scared as you were after hearing this news. However, tonight ...

the irony of it all

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:46:51 -0500

If I was to tell you that I have been waiting for this, it would be a gross understatement. Quite honestly the moment I heard of a new coach for El Tri on the horizon, I knew it would only be time for the new leader to come to the old leader. I should first say that I never agreed ...

MLS = European Basketball?

Sean — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:03:41 -0500

The thought occurred to me just now while watching the US take apart Canada, and the commentators were talking about Josh Childress, formerly of Stanfurd, and other players "defecting" overseas to play ball. It was not about a matter of not being able to cut it in the NBA, but the offer was just enticing enough to get him ...

Bye Kei

Ian — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:18:50 -0500

And just like that, he's gone. No more Kamara around these parts and in this blog. I spent the last few weeks cursing his name and his skills, but now I can't help feeling a bit sad that he's been traded to Houston. When he first arrived from Columbus, I was actually genuinely excited. I knew he was unproven at ...

Rovers Sign Paul Robinson

Jim — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:24:14 -0500

BRFC have officially announced today the signing of the 28 year old goal keeper from Spuds. It was a reported £3.5m deal that will see Robbo at Ewood Park for five years. No word yes about what wages he will be on. Sadly, this will be the beginning of the end for the time of Big Brad. The stipulation with Rovers ...

Steaua, Schedule & Jesus Returns

chris — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:35:46 -0500

Steaua v Roma I don't do double takes. In fact, I can count on one hand the number I've done in my life. Well today I did about seven: Totti's in the list for tomorrow. Today was his return to the field and he didn't finish out the day, so this is fairly surprising to say the least. Actually, kinda shocking. ...

How Can You Miss from There II

Bruno Romani — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:21:42 -0500

So this week, you heard about anincredible missed goal in Brazil. Well, at least that guy has an excuse since the match happened in third division. Last Wednesday, Landro Amaral from Vasco missed an opportunity as amazing in the derby against Fluminense. Luckly for him, He was able to score a beautiful goal in the same match. The two moments: ...

All You Need to Know About the Mid-Week Round of Campeonato Brasileiro

Bruno Romani — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:14:36 -0500

-Gremio is the new leader. And they reached the top in style. 7-1 over Figueirense. (and what a nice away kit Gremio was wearing in this match!) -Cruzeiro and Flamengo are going down. The former lost 1-0 at home against Goias. The latter just tied against Portuguesa in 2-2. -Flamengo is the best volleyball team in Brazil. The two goals they got ...

Gaston Machin is Leproso!

Jeremy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:45:26 -0500

Wow. That signing came out of nowhere. Independiente's talented 25 year old Gaston Machin midfielder will be taking Nico Cabrera's place in the lineup. I've read reports that the cost was 1.5 million dollars and it was an outright purchase. Other reports say it is a year long loan with a 700K purchase option. He ...

Philippe Mexès Gets His Daughter Back After Carjacking

Laurie — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:30:04 -0500

Roma (and occasionally France) player Philippe Mexès and his wife have been reunited with their two-year-old daughter Eva after thieves stole their car when Eva was in the back. There are several different versions of this story floating around, including that armed gunmen pulled a gun on Mexès himself before driving away. That's one's not particularly credible, since ...

Jack Hobbs to Leicester City

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:42:46 -0500

First off, I know, this is not a Leicester City blog but I feel something needed to be said as this has received very little note, too little notice and I'm annoyed. I suppose everyone in the footy world is too concerned over the debutantes and deals of epic proportions and has forgotten about the game at the core. I ...

Out of Office

Bob Kellett — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:10:12 -0500

The Portland Timbers Offside is suspending operations for two weeks for routine honeymooning maintenance. Please check back on August 11 for more grammatically incorrect musings about how a team that can't win or score at home is still going to win the league. Be well, friends. ...

AAAANNNNNDDDD They’re Off!

Ted — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:02:20 -0500

Today the bigwigs who run Series A were kind enough to release the coming season’s schedule of games, and it starts with a doozy for our beloved Fiorentina. The get Juve, at home, on the opening weekend of August 31. (It may be played on Saturday or Sunday depending on how the TV scheduling works out.) Aside from ...

Fergie to Help Choose His Successor at Man Utd, But Who Will it be?

Daryl — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:30:16 -0500

If Man Utd think this whole Cristiano Ronaldo thing is a nightmare, just wait til they have to deal with Alex Ferguson's retirement. Ronaldo might be a massively important part of the team, but Fergie is Man Utd right now, and once he swaps the Old Trafford dugout for comfy chair and slippers (in two or three years time apparently) ...

Preseason Rolls On

Matt — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:04:29 -0500

A couple of friendlies and a couple of run-away goalfests for Ajax. If preseason friendlies are any indication (and they are not) Marco does plan on outscoring the opposition all season. And with the cumulative score of the last two friendlies somewhere in the vicinity of 15-1, it does not look like a bad plan. A recap ...

blame the special one

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:53:14 -0500

That's right blame José Mourinho, it's all his fault. While he's off in Milano, likely sitting at great little café having an espresso (at least thats what I'd be doing right now after an early dinner), his £14m purchase of Sulley Muntari from Portsmouth has derailed Walter Smith's efforts to bring-in Pedro Mendes. Now Sully gone, Portsmouth Manager Harry Redknapp is ...

Stevie G is now the smartest footballer alive!

JRW — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:40:32 -0500

Just a bit on non-football news to report today involving our skipper, Steven Gerrard. The current MBE is now also an honorary fellow at the John Moores University -- yes, the same Moores family that used to own our beloved club -- to mark his achievements and contributions (and domination of Everton) to the sport. The service occured today at the ...