Who Should Lose Their Job?

He should be worried.

So, obviously I didn't really feel like discussing it, but Les Bleus lost 1-0 to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a friendly on Tuesday. Raymond Domenech's back-line selection of Fanni, Squillaci, Escudé, and Evra looked completely outclassed and were lucky to only concede 1 goal. Ray-Ray's response to the loss?

"The players tried to play to quickly, to dribble and enjoy themselves, but they forgot the basics. You can't win a football match if you forget the basics."

Les Bleus will face Turkey tomorrow night in another friendly, and then have 3 WC qualifiers late in the summer - against the Faroe Islands in August, and against Romania and Serbia in early September. Obviously, my thoughts on Raymond Domenech are clear - he needs to go, and sharpish! Apprently I'm not the only one, as nearly 91% of over 7,500 readers of Le Figaro agree with me. As you would expect, the comments on the latter post are thoughtful, mature, and not at all reactionary. Nevertheless, they are correct in calling for his head.

A little earlier today we discussed last night's shitshow v. Costa Rica, and much of our conversation focused on whether or not Bob Bradley was responsible.

So, who needs to go?

Read more on "Who Should Lose Their Job?"...

Quick Throw: Hope Howard Webb enjoys Coca-Cola...

In a move in no way induced by karma, Howard Webb will be calling contentious penalties in the Colaship this weekend, overseeing Reading v. Birmingham after royally screwing things up on Saturday in, ahem, that match.

The best part is Graham Poll's comment about the matter. Remember Poll? Guy who gave out 3 yellow cards to the same player in Germany '06? It's always nice when someone more incompetent than you turns up to help people forget.

[Guardian Sport]

Read more on "Quick Throw: Hope Howard Webb enjoys Coca-Cola..."...

Stay Tuned To ITV For A Special Presentation of 'Heidi' Following Tonight's FA Cup Match

Not to be outdone by Comcast in Arizona, ITV decided to have a laugh with all of England.

Everton were hosting Liverpool Wednesday for their 4th Round FA Cup replay. After almost 3 and a half hours of football (including the draw at Anfield about 10 days ago) the two teams were still even, and seemingly headed for penalty kicks. But two minutes from time youngster Dan Gosling scored the winner to send the Toffees on and the Reds out of the cup. Too bad nobody in England saw it.

On the plus side, they didn't have to see Evan Stone flap his dong around either.

But moments before Gosling's winner ITV inexplicably went to commercials. And fucking weird ones, too. For a second it was like someone put the Altered States of Drugachusetts back on TV. Good to see that ad men in Britain get as high as this kid before they go to work in the morning.

It really is incredible timing. Almost two hours of football on Wednesday and ITV manages to pick the only moments to royally screw things up. Again, this is about 12-and-a-half minutes into the second period of extra time (so maths: after 117:30 of 120 minutes).

But on another level, maybe they were sparing the Reds from a literal telling of events in favor of a more metaphorical one. Two workaday guys go after each other, just like the two Liverpudlian sides of Mersey. And right when the one guy gets defenestrated, that's probably about the exact moment that Gosling scored, a symbolic 'throwing through a window' if you will. As performance art, this was a masterpiece. As broadcasting, this was gross fucking incompetence.

Good thing nobody in Liverpool (or the rest of England) really cares about football.

Read more on "Stay Tuned To ITV For A Special Presentation of 'Heidi' Following Tonight's FA Cup Match"...