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It has been rumored previously that US President Barack Obama is a West Ham fan. UF doesn't buy that rumor, but was not able to come to a consensus on which club he would support. Although, the Arsenal argument was rejected rather dismissively.
However, at this time further evidence has come to light suggesting he may have more than a passing familiarity with Anglo-Franco club of North London. In a NBC News special on the Obama White House, the cameras caught the President's knowing glance of a young lad in an Arsenal kit, a Titi jersey no less.
This evidence surely should put to rest all speculation, right? No. Well, then lets just add this to the silly season rumors.
Check out the video of the event here (4:34 mark) or here (6:26 mark).
Or just watch this video.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
WWOS: Who Would Obama Support, Part Deux
Friday, May 8, 2009
Summer is Here, Woodgate Tips Spurs to Crack Top Four [next year]
The annual summer speculation that THIS will indeed be the year Spurs finally breach the Top Four has begun a bit early. The studly Jonathan Woodgate is the first to broach the topic in 2009, some 3.5 months ahead of next season's opener. With current form that would have Tottenham in the 5th position if the campaign had not begun until New Year's... and at least a few new "established" players set jump on the Harry bandwagon before 2009-10 kicks off, I'd have to say he won't be the last either.
Quoteth Woody:
"I want to finish as far as we can up the league," Woodgate said. "The aim is always to get in the top four and the Champions League... We'll see how we do. It's going to be a better team next year, you can see how the team has changed under the manager we have now."Sounds good to me. Read more on "Summer is Here, Woodgate Tips Spurs to Crack Top Four [next year]"...
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
EPL January Tranfser Window Oddsmaker
January 1st means only one thing around here: the start of the January transfer window! It’s like Christmas, Hanukkah and your birthday all wrapped up in one!
Looking ahead to the end of January, the British press's rumor pages will have managed to link every single player with a move to every single team. But the press isn't really to blame. They’re just catering to fans who are desperate for any sign that their team will be improved for the second half of the season.
In our own amateurish way, after the jump is a little run down of what yours truly thinks might actually happen in the English Premier League (suck it, Barclay’s!). Please don’t accuse me of pretending to have any special insight. I'm just making stuff up like the professional journos do.
Santa Cruz is unhappy, hasn’t been scoring goals this season, and the Big Fat Walrus could use some added cash to help Blackburn avoid relegation. Man City has There Will Be Blood-style oil-laden billions of cash to spend, even if Mark Hughes is warning that they actually won't be spending money like the proverbial drunken sailors (nice try convincing anyone one of that). As the BBC noted, Citeh have now set their sights slightly lower than Kaka, Torres and Buffon. Santa Cruz seems about right, especially with Jo stuttering badly. This one might seem fait accompli, but the gods of the transfer market are fickle, so we are going no higher than 75%.
A mighty cheer went up from the Gooner masses when the always-reliable Guardian reported that Arsenal are interested in signing Arteta. As the Arseblog explains far better than I could, Arteta fits the bill for what Arsenal need most desperately at the moment: an experienced midfielder with a great workrate who can stabilize the team while Fabregas is recuperating and can also play beside him down the road. That said, the question is whether Everton would sell, which really means whether Arteta will demand the move. The upside is an increased wage and Champion’s League play, and yes he can play this season (Rules 17.17 and 17.18). Moyes should be able to cover up for Arteta’s absence with some spackle and a couple 2-million-pound replacements, and could then use the extra cash on a badly needed striker. However, Arteta might choose loyalty to Everton above all else, and might figure that with Everton he’ll at least get UEFA Cup competition and the continued loving adoration of the supporters. This one gets a very non-committal 50%.
Poor Wigan, who in American terms are the quintessential small market team. They have a fantastic track record of bringing in talent, even if that talent is often in the form of much-traveled castoffs. And they have absolutely no ability to keep the players who develop into solid contributors. In many ways, it’s a tribute to Wigan’s management that they’ve remained viable in the Premiership for as long as they have when their stadium routinely draws no more than 18,000 attendees and most players available on the transfer market have no interest in joining the Latics. So now you have 50-year-old Emile Heskey, who has occasionally played himself back into international contention, who much like the Costello to a team's Abbott can be paired up to do a lot of the physical work up front, and who is out of a contract this summer and sure to leave for nothing. So, the chances of his departure in January are 100%. As for where, I'd reckon 30% to Aston Villa, who are in need of strengthening if they're serious about contending for Champion's League, 35% to Liverpool, who are in need of strengthening if they're serious about winning the Premiership, and 20% Spurs, especially if they don't land Defoe (see below). And yeah, I've left myself 15% for Heskey going somewhere else. It's called "hedging!"
This one has been talked about so much, it has to happen, right? Right?? Well, maybe. Defoe would return to Spurs after a pretty disappointing spell with Portsmouth, and would return to 'Arry's tutelage, who arguably did a decent job of getting Defoe to play up to his potential. The biggest hindrance appears to be Pompey's insistence on a large cash windfall, which according to the Independent would include wiping out the 7 million quid still owed plus a wheelbarrow full of cash. So, I rate this one at 35%. It just seems too cute and too perfect, and hence one of those deals that are destined to fall through.
West Ham is royally fuxxored (I know, but we're trying to keep it clean around here). Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has lost quadrillions thanks to the collapse of Iceland's economy, and they and they still have l'affair de Tevez floating around. And so, West Ham appear to be a selling club, despite Gianfranco Zola's best efforts to the contrary. The question is just how many first team players will find the exit door... Bellamy, Parker, Upson, Behrami and Green have all tipped. I'd say there is a 40% chance of at least three starters leaving, and 66% of at least two starters leaving. Any more than that and West Ham risk losing whatever modicum of respectability and stability they might have, as well as losing Zola. I wouldn't be surprised if Bellamy ends up staying through the end of the season, with Upson and Parker the likeliest pair to leave.
And I'm surely leaving out lots more, such as Keano going back to Spurs... so please have your say in the ol' comments
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Big thoughts based on a tournament no one takes seriously
Witnesses told O Globo that Lula, in a closed-door meeting, labeled the Olympic defeat a "humiliation,'' and was fuming. "I've never been so angry in all my life,'' Lula, a devoted soccer fan, reportedly said. "I saw a team that didn't show any will to win. … It's shameful to lose this way to Argentina.'' The front page of O Globo's sports section was designed as a funeral notice, announcing the "passing'' of the national soccer squad, (five-time World Cup champion), saying, "Please do not send flowers.''
I don't mean to add to an overflowing fountain of hyperbole, but when a world soccer power actually performs at or above expectations in a big tournament, praise is usually warranted. If we can mercilessly make fun of the disappointments (England, England, England), we should be able to front run with the winners, right? Argentina won its second straight gold medal in the Olympic soccer tournament over the weekend, beating Nigeria 1-0 on a goal by Angel Di Maria (the man who more or less made Freddy Adu expendable at Benfica). The game was played in stifling midday heat, and was not terribly captivating to the drunken bar patrons I was sitting next to at 2am. The Albiceleste arguably made a much bigger statement earlier last week, reducing Brazil to joga feo and shocking the Dutch in extra time thanks to a great through ball from Lionel Messi. At this point, they ought to be favorites to win the World Cup in 22 months (!) time.
You could pretty much swap the Olympic squad for the current senior team and not miss much. Of the overage players Argentina brought to the tournament, the temperamental genius Juan Roman Riquelme and Javier Mascherano would certainly keep their places, but most of the U-23s already start for the senior nationals. Messi, of course, is the chief attacking threat, but Di Maria, Kun Aguero, Gago, and Banega all offer substantial presence going forward. Of the offensive-minded senior team players not at the Olympics, only Carlos Tevez is assured of not losing his place to the new generation (and of course he is only 24).
Its different at the back, where the current first choice backline, anchored by Burdisso, Zanetti, and Heinze, probably doesn't include any of the U-23s. Zanetti is 35 though, and he will most likely not be starting come South Africa. Abbadonziari doesn't exactly inspire confidence in goal, either, but at 36 perhaps he can mentor his Getafe teammate Ustari.
In any case, Sergio Batista has to be a hot commodity in Argentine managerial circles right now. Should senior team manager Alfio Basile be looking over his shoulder? There are rumblings that Diego Simeone is unsettled at River Plate, Batista's former club (River lost at the weekend). Perhaps Los Millionarios will make a move for the newly hot commodity.
At this point, Argentina certainly look like the better bet for glory in 2010 than their arch rivals, who are currently in shambles. While Brazil beat the Albiceleste 3-0 in the Copa America final last year, it was due to Dunga's use of two defensive midfielders who were able to shut down Riquelme. Needless to say, the Brazilian press is not happy with the dour, Sven-esque tactics that have been used of late. According to the LA Times, even the President is pissed off:
First step for Brazil is to get Ronaldinho off the burgers. Then stop playing defensively when they can throw out Pato, Robinho, and Kaka in attack. Also fire Dunga. In any case, Argentina have put themselves up there with Spain as co favorites for South Africa. Olympic success doesn't usually translate at World Cups (Gold medals in the last twenty years: USSR, Spain, Nigeria, Cameroon, ArgieX2). Here's hoping that this summer's tournaments are a portend of things to come and teams like Argentina and Spain are in the final in two years time, instead of boring, defensive shitboxes like Germany and Italy.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Zidane to Transfer to US Team
From the Detroit Free Press:
French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane is once again being mentioned in transfer rumours to make his debut on the US soccer scene. Zizou, as he is known the world over, retired from club soccer in 2006 and retired from international soccer immediately after the 2006 World Cup. That was the World Cup, of course, that ended with Zizou being issued a red-card for headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi and being forced to watch his country lose the World Cup Finals on penalty kicks.
Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for the Maestro to arrive!
HT to Bigus Dickus for snapping this photo of Zizou in action at his new home.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Wild, Unsubstantiated Speculation: Jens Lehmann
Remarkable that Germany's number one goalkeeper should have such an ignominious fall, but it doesn't help when said goalkeeper has dealt with being benched by being a whiny, pouty, unfriendly cock. Who could I possibly be talking about? Why it's none other than Jens Lehmann! The latest news is that he's turned down a move to Dortmund due to "personal matters." To be fair to Lehmann, and being fair to Lehmann is quite a challenge, those matters likely involve transplanting school-age children away from England.
But let's just speculate for a moment about Premier League teams in need of a new goalkeeper. Hmmmm.... Can't think of any off the top of my head. What's that? Another North London team with a new coach who recently benched the England number one goalie? You know, the guy who consistently makes errors and whiffs on back passes. I'm talking about:
Well, out of the pan and into the fire. Nothing would give this Gooner more joy than Lehmann replacing Robinson and letting in even more soft goals for Sp*rs:
That would be very, very fitting.
[Update: The not-so-reliable WWL's Soccernet is reporting that Lehmann is staying with Arsenal. I'm not sure he actually said that, only that he wasn't going to Dortmund. If Lehmann does stay with the Gunners, less sniping of Almunia would be advised but is somehow still very unlikely.]
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Are Man City for real? Definitely Maybe
18 months ago, in the wake of yet another limp dick exit from a major tournament on penalty kicks, Sven Goran Eriksson was given the sack by the FA, to the delight of the myopic and xenophobic English press. As 2008 dawns, it is Sven who is having the last laugh, guiding Manchester City to their best league position in years. With 21 games played Man City sit on 39 points, which is good for fourth place, ahead of mighty Liverpool (you give up equalizers to Titus Bramble, you don't deserve to play in the Champions League). Whats more, for those of us who suffered through the kick-and-hope Neanderthal tactics employed by Stuart Pierce last year, Sven has got City playing something close to a Continental style. For those who think that the lower reaches of the Premiership play unattractive football, its refreshing to see something different emerge from Citeh.
Of course, City's resurgence has much to do with the players brought in over the summer, thanks to the transfer largess underwritten by one Trashcan Sinatra, the deposed Thai president. Elano, the Brazilian who Sven bought from the Ukrainian mafia, is one of the most technically gifted attacking players in the EPL. He forms the spear of a skilled midfield, along with Petrov, Hamman, Ireland, and Corluka. In the back, City have what might be the best centerback tandem in the Premiership, with the emergence of Micah Richards alongside Richard Dunne. The strikers, led by Vassel, have been serviceable, especially with the support they have been getting from Elano & Co. The only real question mark is in goal, where the hilariously green Kasper Schmeichel has been replaced by Joe Hart. At the moment, neither are exactly world class.
Sven was often accused of playing too conservatively and lacking attacking flair when he was in charge of England. He still keeps it close to the vest tactically, but he has City playing with some verve. If they could start winning more games on the road - today's beat down of Big Sam and the hapless Geordies was a step in the right direction - then City could legitimately push Liverpool for the final Champions League spot. And given the squad that Sven has assembled, you would have to say that City wouldn't look too out of place taking on the giants of European football. Hide your women and booze, citizens of Rome, Milan, Madrid, and Munich, because Liam and Noel Gallagher could be headed to your city in 2008!
Photo from the BBC.
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